Offseason Outlook: San Francisco 49ers
Pending free agents:
- Desmond Bishop, LB
- Garrett Celek, TE (restricted)
- Chris Cook, CB
- Perrish Cox, CB
- Michael Crabtree, WR
- Chris Culliver, CB
- Blaine Gabbert, QB
- Frank Gore, RB
- Mike Iupati, G
- Josh Johnson, QB
- Brandon Lloyd, WR
- Kyle Nelson, LS (restricted)
- Kassim Osgood, WR
- Dan Skuta, LB
- Alfonso Smith, RB
- Phillip Tanner, RB
- Bubba Ventrone, S
Top 10 2015 cap hits:
- Colin Kaepernick, QB: $15,265,753
- Aldon Smith, OLB: $9,754,000
- Patrick Willis, ILB: $8,268,000
- NaVorro Bowman, ILB: $7,654,000
- Ahmad Brooks, OLB: $7,055,000
- Vernon Davis, TE: $6,967,920
- Anquan Boldin, WR: $6,909,000
- Justin Smith, DE: $6,436,668
- Joe Staley, T: $6,400,000
- Stevie Johnson, WR: $6,025,000
Notable coaching changes:
- Head coach: Jim Tomsula replaces Jim Harbaugh
- Offensive coordinator: Geep Chryst replaces Greg Roman
- Defensive coordinator: Eric Mangini replaces Vic Fangio
- Hired 2014 Raiders interim head coach Tony Sparano as tight ends coach.
- Hired 2014 Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver as senior defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach.
Draft:
- No. 15 overall pick
- Acquired fourth-round pick from Broncos in deal for Cody Latimer.
- Acquired seventh-round pick from Colts in deal for Cam Johnson.
- Owe fourth-round pick to Bills in deal for Stevie Johnson.
- Owe seventh-round pick to Dolphins for Jonathan Martin.
Other:
- Current projected cap room (via Over the Cap): $6.16MM
- Top extension candidates: Aldon Smith, Alex Boone, Vernon Davis
Overview:
The 2014 season was a massive letdown for the 49ers, whose recent stretch near the top of the NFL standings surprisingly came to a halt. San Francisco was expected to contend last year after a three-year stretch from 2011-13 that included a combined 36-11-1 regular season record, three straight NFC championship games, and a Super Bowl appearance. Instead, thanks primarily to an ineffectual offense, the 49ers finished an uninspiring 8-8 and missed the postseason for the first time since 2010. That spurred the conclusion of a coaching era and, as the offseason progresses, will surely prompt noteworthy roster modifications.
Coaching Changes:
The 49ers were mired in an eight-year playoff drought when they named Jim Harbaugh their head coach in 2011. The team went an embarrassing 46-82 
and mustered just one .500 season during that time frame. Harbaugh’s arrival brought dramatic improvement in the on-field product, as he helped guide the Niners to a tremendous 44-19-1 regular-season mark and three playoff berths. However, his relationship with CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke deteriorated over time and became particularly discordant in 2014. That culminated in December with the end of the coach’s four-year stint in the Bay Area.
After interviewing several outside candidates, the Niners hired from within and chose longtime assistant Jim Tomsula to succeed Harbaugh. The 46-year-old Tomsula had run the 49ers’ defensive line since 2007 and was their interim head coach for one game back in 2010 (a 38-7 win over the Cardinals).
Tomsula stayed in the organization to replace Harbaugh’s departed coordinators, Greg Roman (offense) and Vic Fangio (defense), with Geep Chryst and Eric Mangini.
Chryst, San Francisco’s quarterbacks coach the past four years, has previous experience as a coordinator – he oversaw the Chargers’ offense from 1999-2000. Although Mangini was an offensive consultant with the 49ers in 2013 and their tight ends coach last season, most of his coaching career has been spent on defensive staffs.
Key Free Agents:
The start of the free agent period on March 10 could bring about the exits of three players who have long been 49ers offensive pillars — running back Frank Gore, left guard Mike Iupati and wide receiver Michael Crabtree.
Gore, the longest-tenured member of the trio, has spent all 10 of his pro seasons in San Francisco. Even at 31, he finished last year ranked ninth in the league in rushing (1,106 yards) on a respectable per-carry average of 4.3. Baalke has indicated that the 49ers want Gore back for his age-32 season. “I talked to him the other day on the phone and we’re going to do what we can to get him back as a 49er,” Baalke said earlier this month, according to the 49ers’ official website. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com has reported that Gore, who made $6.45MM last season, is seeking $4MM per annum and that people around the league believe San Francisco is the likeliest team to meet his asking price.
Unfortunately for the 49ers, chances are they’ll have a harder time retaining Iupati. The three-time Pro Bowler is primed to become one of the NFL’s top-paid guards this offseason, and, with little cap space to work with, the 49ers seemingly aren’t in the right position to outbid the market for the 27-year-old’s services.
Then there’s Crabtree, the only one of the group who is coming off a subpar season (698 yards, 10.3 YPC). Tomsula recently said he would “absolutely” like Crabtree back, but both the Sacramento Bee’s Matt Barrows and Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole (video link) have reported the six-year veteran will probably end up elsewhere.
As is the case on offense, the 49ers’ defense also has important pieces scheduled to hit free agency. Those defenders happen to be both of the Niners’ starting cornerbacks from last season, Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox. The pair excelled in 2014, combining for nine interceptions and ranking well above average in Pro Football Focus’ grading system (subscription required) — Culliver was 14th and Cox 35th out of 108 qualifying corners. San Francisco is going to have difficulty keeping both, per Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com, and the one who’s expected to cost less (Cox) has a better chance of returning.
Positions Of Need:
The 49ers’ offense was the main culprit behind their woes last season, as mentioned earlier. The unit ran the ball effectively, but averaged a meager 19.1 points per game (25th in the league) and its Colin Kaepernick-led passing attack finished 30th in yardage and 22nd in Football Outsiders’ rankings. To Kaepernick’s credit, he greatly aided San Francisco’s ground game with 639 yards, second only to the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson among quarterbacks. The four-year veteran was merely middle of the pack in most relevant passing statistics, though.
In order for Kaepernick to realize his vast potential, the 49ers are going to have to surround him with more weapons. It starts at receiver, where Baalke has already acknowledged that the 49ers are seeking downfield threats. Further, the 49ers’ receivers coaches were among the few members of their staff who attended the recent scouting combine.
Given their dearth of cap space, the 49ers could have trouble filling their receiver void via free agency. That means they probably won’t be able to take advantage of a deep class of established wideouts, which would make drafting one with their first-rounder – the 15th overall selection – a strong possibility. The 49ers need to find a complement to (and potential long-term replacement for) 34-year-old Anquan Boldin, and they might land one in DeVante Parker (Louisiville) or Kevin White (West Virginia) with their top pick.
In the event the 49ers don’t take a receiver at 15, speedsters like Phillip Dorsett (Miami), Devin Smith (Ohio State) and Sammie Coates (Auburn) are potential targets who could be available after the first round. There’s also Dorial Green-Beckham, whom Bucky Brooks of NFL.com sees as a possible fit for San Francisco. At 6-foot-5, 237 pounds, Green-Beckham has elite size to accompany 4.49 speed. Despite that enticing combination, he might drop in the draft because of past off-field transgressions – ones that led to his dismissal from Missouri’s football team in 2014.
Other than receiver, San Francisco doesn’t have any glaring offensive holes. If Gore leaves, the 49ers have an in-house option in Carlos Hyde, a second-round pick last April who averaged 4.0 yards per carry as a rookie and scored four touchdowns. Replacing Iupati would be a tougher task, but another player from last year’s draft class (third-rounder Brandon Thomas) would have the inside track to take the reins at left guard. The 24-year-old Thomas was thought to be better than a third-round prospect before tearing his ACL a few weeks prior to the draft.
Defensively, the Niners were terrific last season, ranking fifth in both yardage and DVOA and 10th in points allowed. Ideally, they’ll be even better in 2015 with full seasons from brand-name linebackers Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith. Those three combined to miss 35 games last season (Bowman lost all 16 because of a torn ACL and MCL), but they’ve also combined to make 10 Pro Bowls in the past. In 2013, when each of them played the majority of the season, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Bowman and Willis first and third, respectively, among 3-4 ILBs, while the site graded Smith as the fifth-best 3-4 OLB. Having those three and a pair of outstanding second-year men in Chris Borland and Aaron Lynch gives the 49ers an embarrassment of riches at linebacker.
The prospect of a deep and dominant linebacking corps is certainly a plus, but the 49ers do have defensive needs. Those needs begin along the line, where one end (Ray McDonald) has already been released and another (Justin Smith) is considering retirement. Although McDonald ranged from good to great during his eight-year 49ers career, the team cut him in December because of poor off-field conduct. Smith, 36 in September, has missed just two games since joining the Niners in 2008. His advanced age aside, Smith was still a crucial part of San Francisco’s defense last season. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) agreed, ranking him as the league’s 11th-best 3-4 end in 2014.
The 49ers have already tried to combat some of their D-line issues by bringing back one of their former players, Ricky Jean-Francois. The Colts released the six-year veteran and four-year Niner earlier this month, but he chose to sign with Washington. Regardless, it’s clear that the 49ers are aware of their line problems. They’ll likely continue trying to address them as the offseason moves forward.
San Francisco’s other defensive questions lie at cornerback, given the nebulous statuses of Culliver and Cox. On the bright side, the secondary will get Tramaine Brock back at full strength next season. Brock broke out in 2013 with five interceptions as a nickel back, which led to the 49ers giving him a four-year, $16 million extension, and then missed 13 of 16 games last season with toe and hamstring injuries. Brock’s return will be a boon to a pass defense that managed to finish 10th without him. Brock’s comeback won’t mean as much if both Culliver and Cox walk, obviously, but even if the Niners can only keep one of the two, they should still be in decent shape at corner.
Possible Cap Casualties/Contract Restructurings:
Odds are the 49ers will release Ahmad Brooks this offseason, considering his recent below-average play and the team’s wealth at the linebacker position. If the 49ers drop Brooks on June 1, they’ll save $4.71MM on next season’s cap.
Receiver Stevie Johnson‘s roster spot is also in jeopardy, even though San Francisco is weak at wideout. Moving on from Johnson, who caught just 35 passes last season, would avail north of $6MM in cap room for the 49ers.
Regardless of whom they part ways with, the 49ers should look to restructure some of their veterans’ deals this offseason. Aldon Smith, Willis and Bowman are scheduled to have the second-, third- and fourth-highest cap hits on the team next season. Combined, they’ll take up roughly $25MM. Both Willis and Bowman have restructured their contracts in the past to create spending space for the club, so there’s precedent with both of them.
Extension Candidates:
The 49ers will have decisions to make regarding the futures of Aldon Smith, Vernon Davis and Alex Boone in the coming year. All three are scheduled for free agency in 2016.
Smith has demonstrated immense ability during his four-year career, totaling 44 sacks in 50 games. Unfortunately, the four-year veteran’s on-field accomplishments have come with serious off-field negatives. The latest, an April 2014 incident between Smith and TSA agent at the Los Angeles Airport, led to a nine-game suspension for the 25-year-old last season. Despite Smith’s problems, Baalke recently referred to him as “a great young man.” Smith will count $9.75MM against San Francisco’s cap this year. Whether Smith is in Baalke’s long-term plans is likely to depend on how he fares both on and off the field in 2015. If all goes well, Smith will have a strong chance to become one of the highest-paid 3-4 OLBs in the league. At the moment, Green Bay’s Clay Matthews has the richest contract at the position in both total and annual value ($66MM and $13.2MM, respectively). Matthews signed that deal in 2013 as a four-year vet with 42.5 sacks in 58 games.
As for Davis and Boone, both expressed dissatisfaction in regards to their contracts during holdouts last year. Davis skipped the team’s voluntary and mandatory minicamps, while Boone sat out the entire summer and reported to the 49ers a week before the regular season started.
The 31-year-old Davis is just two years removed from a 13-touchdown showing, but 2014 was his worst season since 2008. He amassed a paltry 26 catches with all-time lows in yardage and YPC, while his two TDs tied a career worst. Even if he bounces back in 2015, the odds of San Francisco giving Davis a sizable contract extension don’t seem high. Although he has been among the top tight ends in the league for the better part of his nine-year career, it’s fair to wonder if Davis’ best days are behind him.
Unlike Davis, it’s clear Boone has plenty left in the tank. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated the 27-year-old as the 17th-best guard in the league in 2014 – just three spots behind Iupati – out of 78 qualifiers. Boone will make $3.74MM in 2015, the final year of his contract. That’s just below the value of the 10th-highest-paid right guard in the league (Washington’s Chris Chester at $4MM). In all likelihood, an extension for Boone would mean signing him to a deal that would at least get him into the top 10 in total value, yearly value and guaranteed money. With Iupati’s time as a Niner on the brink of ending, San Francisco would be wise to get Boone locked up at some point in the next year. For a team that has prioritized running the ball, losing its two outstanding guards in a 12-month span would be quite a setback.
Overall Outlook:
Despite the failures of last season and the resulting coaching change, the 49ers are still more talented than the majority of teams around the league. Because of that, they’ll have a shot to return to the playoffs in 2015 – particularly if Kaepernick rebounds and Tomsula doesn’t end up drowning in his new role. Nevertheless, the ultra-competitive NFC West certainly won’t make life easy for Kaepernick, Tomsula or the rest of the 49ers.
Information from Over The Cap was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC Links: Willis, Bowman, Johnson, Cobb
The 49ers have a pair of decisions to make on their All-Pro inside linebackers, who are scheduled to make nearly $14MM in 2015. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman both missed significant time with injuries last year, but replacements Chris Borland and Michael Wilhoite filled in admirably. However, general manager Trent Baalke is confident both Willis and Bowman will be back next season, writes Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “I think if you look into those numbers, they’re not as daunting as you might think,” Baalke said.
Here are some more links from around the NFC:
- The 49ers also have a decision to make on veteran receiver Stevie Johnson. There is much debate over whether the team will release him or ask him to take a pay cut to stay with the team, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio adds that the club is unlikely to release him without first trying to negotiate a new contract number.
- The Packers have a huge question mark on offense as the team has not made progress in extension talks with Randall Cobb, but the team is still focused on re-signing the star slot receiver, writes Rob Demovsky in his mailbag for ESPN.
- There has also been rumors that the Buccaneers have asked star wide receiver Vincent Jackson to take a pay cut, but that is not true according to Florio. He writes that the team could ask him to do so down the line, but more than likely won’t since they believe he is an important part of the team and that his contract reflects the current market for wide receivers.
NFC Notes: Raji, Iupati, Fitz, Weatherspoon
Packers defensive lineman B.J. Raji is scheduled to become a free agent next month, but it appears that the 28-year-old will remain in Green Bay for at least another season. Bill Huber of PackerReport.com writes that, according to a league source, Green Bay is expected to re-sign the six-year veteran.
Raji missed all of 2014 after tearing his right bicep during the preseason, but he stayed with the team through the season to rehab and should be at full strength by training camp. Raji has played in 76 games for the Packers since they drafted him ninth overall out of Boston College in 2009. The one-time All-Pro made $4MM last season and, per Huber, is likely to re-up in Green Bay on a one-year deal.
Here’s the latest on some of Raji’s fellow NFC players:
- Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweeted Friday that 49ers guard Mike Iupati is expected to hit the open negotiating market March 7. Even if that happens, the three-time Pro Bowler could still end up re-signing with the 49ers, according to Maiocco.
- Earlier this month, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald agreed to a two-year contract to stay with the Cardinals, for whom he has caught over 900 passes in 11 seasons. Albert Breer of NFL Network reports that Fitzgerald’s deal is rare in that it contains a no-trade clause.
- New Falcons head coach Dan Quinn hopes the team can retain linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Weatherspoon, who’s currently without a contract, sat out all of last season because of an Achilles’ tear and missed nine games in 2013 on account of a Lisfranc injury. The five-year veteran’s only 16-game season came in 2011, when he totaled 115 tackles and four sacks
WR Rumors: Marshall, V-Jax, Wallace, Harvin
With Reggie Wayne‘s NFL future still up in the air, the Colts have explored the possibility of bringing in a veteran wide receiver to start opposite T.Y. Hilton, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). According to Cole, the team has internally discussed players like Brandon Marshall, Andre Johnson, Mike Wallace, and Vincent Jackson as potential targets. Not all of those players will become available in the next few weeks, but one or more could be traded or released, and if the Colts had their pick, Marshall may be their top choice, per Cole.
While we wait to see if any opportunities open up for the Colts, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com has a few more tidbits for us on the wide receiver market. Let’s dive in….
- Cole noted in the above video that Jackson likely isn’t going anywhere, and La Canfora agrees that it looks like he’ll be back with the Buccaneers. However, it doesn’t seem as if Jackson will be willing to take a pay cut, sources tell La Canfora.
- La Canfora also touches on the Marshall situation, noting that if a team were to call asking about a possible trade, “it’s not like [the Bears] wouldn’t pick up the phone.”
- According to multiple general managers, Wallace is the only wideout being “actively shopped” at the moment. The Dolphins continue to explore a deal, and La Canfora suggests Wallace himself would be interested in returning to the Steelers, though it’s not clear if that interest is mutual. $3MM of Wallace’s base salary for 2015 becomes guaranteed on March 13, so that may act as a deadline of sorts for Miami.
- Percy Harvin won’t accept a pay cut to stick with the Jets, and trading him would likely be impossible, so he looks like a good bet to be cut. If that happens, many teams would want to pick him up on a short-term deal, says La Canfora.
- We can expect the Dwayne Bowe situation to come to a head soon — paying him $11MM with a $14MM cap hit is a luxury the Chiefs can’t afford, so Bowe may be willing to accept a pay cut, knowing he won’t make close to that amount on the open market.
- With cap numbers for Anquan Boldin and Stevie Johnson on the rise, and Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd eligible for free agency, La Canfora wouldn’t be surprised if only one of those four players returns to the 49ers for next season — if that.
- Johnson and the Texans had a bit of a stand-off a year ago, and with the veteran wideout carrying a $16MM into the 2015 season, the two sides may be headed for another interesting summer. La Canfora isn’t convinced Johnson will remain in Houston long-term, but says “time will tell.”
- Two Dolphins wideouts have already been released today, and according to Armando Salguero the Miami Herald (Twitter links), Rishard Matthews asked the team to be cut or traded as well. However, Miami has denied that request for now, says Salguero.
West Notes: Chargers, Raiders, V. Davis
As the West Coast wakes up on this Thursday morning, let’s take a look at a few items out of the NFL’s two West divisions….
- Free agent running back Reggie Bush likely doesn’t make sense for the Chargers, according to Tom Krasovic of U-T San Diego. At running back the Chargers already employ a pass-catching specialist in Danny Woodhead, who caught 76 passes from Philip Rivers in 2013. San Diego’s focus instead will probably be on finding a back with power, rather than one that has a similar skill set to Woodhead.
- Don’t tell that to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com, who feels that Bush could reinvent himself with the Chargers. Williams doesn’t see Bush as an every-down back at this point in his career, but he could see him thriving in a role where he gets 10 touches a game on jet sweeps, reverses, bubble screens, and slants from the slot.
- The Chargers‘ signing of King Dunlap to a four-year contract last week wasn’t without significant risk, but it would have been a greater risk for both sides if they parted ways, Krasovic writes for the Union-Tribune. The Bolts had no other left tackle that they could have trusted to protect Rivers and losing Dunlap would have meant duking it out on a seller’s free-agent market.
- Bill Williamson of ESPN.com wonders if LeSean McCoy and a package of picks would be worth the Raiders‘ No. 4 pick. At 26 years old, McCoy is still effective and had a combined 2,926 rushing yards over the past two years. On top of that, new Oakland offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave was the quarterbacks coach in Philadelphia last season and he wants to run a fast-paced, no-huddle offense as a base.
- After both Bush and A.J. Hawk were cut yesterday, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis is one of just two top-10 picks from the 2006 draft class to remain on his original team, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com writes. The two-time Pro Bowl tight end is entering the final year of a contract that is scheduled to pay him $4.95MM — that would normally make him a prime extension candidate, but Davis is also coming off the worst season of his NFL career, so his contract situation will be interesting to monitor.
NFC West Notes: Palmer, Dockett, Seahawks
While he appeared over the weekend to be headed to Detroit, Australian rugby league star Jarryd Hayne still hasn’t officially signed with an NFL team. That leaves the door open for another suitor to swoop in, and agent Jack Bechta confirms to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com that there’s mutual interest between Hayne and the 49ers. Per Maiocco, the Niners don’t have a standing offer out to Hayne, but could still put something on the table — the former rugby player is expected to decide on his NFL team early next week.
- The Cardinals may decide to restructure Carson Palmer‘s contract in order to create some cap flexibility, tweets Mike Jurecki of 910 Fox Sports Arizona. Palmer’s has a $9.5MM roster bonus coming up in March, which could be converted into a signing bonus to free up a chunk of cap room for 2015.
- Kent Somers of Arizona Republic dives into the Darnell Dockett situation in Arizona, explaining why the Cardinals will likely have a harder time finding common ground with the veteran defensive lineman than they did with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
- We heard earlier today that Ricky Jean-Francois has visits lined up with Washington and the 49ers, and those aren’t the only teams that he’s scheduled to meet. According to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter), a visit with the Seahawks is also on the free agent defensive lineman’s docket for this week.
- With the idea of a fully guaranteed contract for Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson gaining steam (at least among reporters), Joel Corry of CBSSports.com notes that one difficult aspect of such a deal would involve team ownership having to put the entire amount of the contract in escrow up front. While that wouldn’t be an issue for Seahawks owner Paul Allen, who is one of the richest men in America, if it were to set a precedent, other owners may be reluctant to sign off on fully guaranteed deals where $50-100MM could be tied up.
FA Rumors: Pascoe, Jean-Francois, McCourty
The agent for tight end Bear Pascoe tells D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that his client will be moving on from the Falcons next month.
“We had a great conversation with the Falcons and it looks like at this point Bear is going to explore some other options for next year and the Falcons are going to do the same,” said Noel LaMontagne, Pascoe’s agent. “The front office and Bear both were really appreciative of everything over the last year, but with coaching changes, there will always be other changes, so Bear is going to see what else is out there for the future.”
Let’s round up a few more Wednesday updates on 2015’s prospective free agents:
- After been released by the Colts earlier this week, defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois is seeking a new home for the 2015 season, and a pair of potential suitors has already surfaced. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Jean-Francois has visits lined up with Washington and the 49ers this week. Jean-Francois has a history with the Niners, having spent the first four years of his NFL career in San Francisco.
- Asked about the possibility of being franchised by the Patriots, safety Devin McCourty wasn’t sure if that’s the team’s plan, but said being tagged wouldn’t be the worst thing (Twitter link via Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald). “The franchise tag is player-friendly now,” McCourty said (Twitter link via Phil Perry of CSNNE.com). “It’s a good number.”
- After some confusion about his contract status, Lions defensive end George Johnson is being considered a restricted free agent by both the NFL and NFLPA, says Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link). As such, there’s a very good chance Johnson returns to Detroit.
- Appearing on PFT Live today, veteran safety Mike Adams said he’d like to retire as a Colt (Twitter link). Adams, who is eligible for free agency, turns 34 next month, so there’s a chance his next contract will be his last.
- As we heard this morning, the Dolphins are working to get a deal done with tight end Charles Clay. If he remains unsigned when the free agent period arrives though, Clay’s market will be “very strong,” tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk takes a look at a few clubs to watch in free agency, identifying the Falcons, Buccaneers, Raiders, Jaguars, and Bills as the teams poised to spend big.
West Notes: Wilson, Hudson, Culliver, Casey
As Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) explains, the idea that Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson could land a fully guaranteed contract is causing concern for both team executives and agents. Team execs are worried about the precedent that a fully guaranteed deal might set, while agents are concerned that a full guarantee may prompt Wilson to settle for a salary several million dollars less than what he might otherwise land.
Let’s look at some more notes from the NFL’s West divisions…
- The Chiefs met with the representative for center Rodney Hudson at the combine in Indianapolis, and talks will continue between the two sides, a source tells Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter links). Paylor writes that he expects Hudson – a prospective free agent – to command a per-year salary in the neighborhood of $6MM this winter.
- The free agent market for cornerbacks is devoid of depth, but 49ers CB Chris Culliver might find more offers than expected when free agency starts next month, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. As Florio details, Culliver has had off-the-field trouble, but “chatter” around the league suggest he could find a healthy amount of suitors.
- Adding to an earlier report, Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports that the meeting between free agent tight end James Casey and the Broncos will take place on Thursday.
- In addition to Casey, the Broncos expect to target centers early in free agency, tweets Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. Denver used both Manuel Ramirez and Will Montgomery at center in 2014.
Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.
NFC Links: Johnson, Eagles, Packers, Gore
Some notes from around the NFC…
- Despite Calvin Johnson‘s 2016 cap-hit of more than $24MM, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew made it clear that the team would do whatever it takes to keep the talented wideout in Detroit. “Calvin’s a stud,” Mayhew said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “Calvin’s a great player. He’s a phenomenal player. He has a very bright future and a very bright past. I plan on him being around for a long time. He’s a heck of a player.”
- Draft prospect Eric Kendricks would be thrilled to play with his brother, linebacker Mychal Kendricks, on the Eagles. “Man, that’d be crazy,” the UCLA linebacker told Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. “I played with him in high school and I think I took it for granted at the time, as far as how cool it was. But that would be unreal to say the least.” The younger Kendricks brother is expected to be a late-first, early-second round pick.
- Jason Pierre-Paul is the type of pass-rusher Falcons head coach Dan Quinn loves, and D. Orlando Ledbetter says the organization is keeping an eye on the Giants defensive end.
- Former Packers special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum still had one season left on his contract, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky points out (via Twitter). As a result, the team will pay the ousted coach for 2015.
- Following news that 49ers running back Frank Gore could be seeking $4MM annually, Eric Branch of the San Franciscion Chronicle questions whether the veteran is worth the asking price. Ultimately, the writer believes the team will let Gore walk if he can “fetch” that $4MM in free agency.
Frank Gore To Seek $4MM Annual Salary
As he nears unrestricted free agency, veteran running back Frank Gore appears to be seeking about $4MM per year on a new deal, says Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. According to La Canfora, people around the NFL believe that Gore’s best chance – and perhaps his only chance – to land that kind of money is if he returns to the 49ers.
Gore and the Niners have both publicly expressed interest in continuing their relationship, though an Instagram post from the running back earlier this week suggested he was skeptical that the team’s front office is as eager as he is to work out a new deal. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report indicated earlier this week that Gore seems unlikely to re-sign with San Francisco — Miller identified the Colts, the Dolphins, and Washington as probable suitors for the 31-year-old.
Although Gore will turn 32 in May and has racked up nearly 2,500 career carries, a $4MM annual salary doesn’t seem unreasonable for a back who has rushed for more than 1,100 yards in each of the last four years, and has never averaged less than 4.1 yards per carry in a season. For comparison’s sake, Chris Johnson inked a two-year, $8MM deal with the Jets last winter, though that contract admittedly didn’t work out too well for the team. For Gore, a deal worth $4MM per year would be a step down from his current pact, which averages $6MM+.
We heard earlier today that running back Shane Vereen, who is younger than Gore but has never produced like the longtime Niner – will aim for $5MM per year. Ultimately, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see both backs settle for contracts in the range of $3-3.5MM annually.