Joe Barksdale To Visit Titans
Joe Barksdale, one of the few players on PFR’s list of top 50 free agents who remains on the market, has a visit lined up with the Titans, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the visit will happen on Thursday.
When I placed Barksdale 36th on our list of 2015’s best free agents, I noted that the lack of reliable, consistent tackles with starting experience made the veteran a potentially attractive option. However, upside has trumped reliability in some cases — Jermey Parnell, who has made just seven career starts, landed a five-year, $32.5MM deal from the Jaguars, while Barksdale is still unsigned.
As our Dallas Robinson observed when he examined Barksdale’s free agent stock, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked the former Ram just 48th out of 84 qualified tackles. However, his +5.6 run-blocking grade placed him just outside the top 10 in that category.
Barksdale’s market may also have been slowed by the fact that he got married and went on his honeymoon within the last few weeks. Now that he’s back and focusing on football, we’ll see if he finds a job quickly, or if interested teams – such as the Titans and Rams – wait until after the draft to try to lock him up.
AFC South Draft Visits: Jags, Titans, Texans
The AFC South has been dominated by the Colts in recent seasons, and the other clubs in the division — two of whom own top-three selections — will hope the upcoming draft affords them the opportunity to acquire several top-notch prospects. Here’s the latest from Jacksonville, Tennessee, Houston…
- Owners of the third overall pick, the Jaguars will visit some of the draft’s top prospects on Tuesday, meeting with USC’s Leonard Williams, Missouri’s Shane Ray, and Nebraska’s Randy Gregory, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- The Jaguars will also meet with another of the league’s top edge rushers tomorrow, as Albert Breer of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that Dante Fowler Jr. will head to Jacksonville following Florida’s Pro Day.
- Williams and Fowler Jr. aren’t the only defenders meeting with the Jaguars tomorrow — Clemson’s Vic Beasley and Ohio State’s Michael Bennett will both take a visit with Jacksonville on Tuesday as well, tweets Rapoport.
- Meanwhile, another club with a top-three selection — the Titans — will meet with Ray, Florida State Ronald Darby tomorrow, while Fowler Jr. has a visit scheduled for next week, according to Rapoport (Twitter link).
- The Texans already signed two veteran quarterbacks this offseason, but UCLA QB Brett Hundley could draw the interest of the club, as Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Hundley will take a visit with Houston tomorrow.
Draft Notes: Pats, Titans, Falcons, Bucs
Today’s draft news..
- Florida State offensive guard Tre Jackson told Rhett Lewis of NFL Network (on Twitter) that he’s had extended conversations with the Patriots and has a visit scheduled with them on April 12th. If the Patriots select Jackson, it would reunite him with center Bryan Stork, Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (on Twitter) notes. Stork was a former FSU notable and was a Pats fourth-round pick last year.
- A source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter) that Oklahoma offensive tackle Daryl Williams is visiting the Titans today. The former four-star recruit was an All-Big 12 selection last season.
- Boston College linebacker Josh Keyes worked out for the Falcons and Buccaneers, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder started every game last season at strongside linebacker and was named third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference as he recorded 63 tackles, 11.5 for losses and four sacks.
- Memphis cornerback Bobby McCain had a private meeting with the Buccaneers, league sources tell Wilson. McCain previously had private workouts with the Patriots and Colts. The All-Conference USA selection is projected as a late-round draft pick.
- FAU safety Damien Parms has pre-draft visits lined up with the Raiders and Cardinals, according to James Walker of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Stefen Wisniewski Visiting Titans
Free agent center Stefen Wisniewski is visiting the Titans today, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The former Raiders lineman has met with a handful of teams in recent weeks.
The 26-year-old stands as one of the last of PFR’s top 50 free agents who is still without a deal. The center visited the Patriots late last month and met with the Jaguars last week, but he has yet to find a deal. The Vikings would seem like a logical landing spot for a quality interior lineman like Wisniewski, but Minnesota reportedly has yet to express interest.
It’s somewhat surprising to see Wisniewski still on the shelf, but we learned recently that the lineman’s market has been held up as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. The former Raiders apparently played the 2014 season with a torn labrum and clubs understandably want to know that he’s healthy before making a sizable committment to him. Still, Wisniewski is reportedly seeking a $4MM per year salary, a figure that wouldn’t even place him inside the top ten at his position.
Wisniewski didn’t fare too well in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which rated him as the league’s 22nd-best center. Of course, his injury could have played a role in his decreased production, as PFF has assigned him a higher grade in years past. The Penn State alum was PFR’s No. 39 free agent.
A return to Oakland is out, of course, after the Raiders inked Rodney Hudson to a five-year, $44.5MM deal.
Extra Points: Lions, Titans, Draft, Pats
Let’s take a look at a handful of stories from around the NFL this evening:
- Aside from acquiring Haloti Ngata, the Lions haven’t made any major headlines this offseason. They’re fine with that, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. “We’re not out just reaching to grab anyone and high-fiving in March,” said Lions vice president of pro personnel Sheldon White, per Meinke. “We’re trying to find guys who selectively fit our profile, fit what the coaches need and we all get together and come up with a plan that we think will help the Detroit Lions.” Nevertheless, despite what team president Tom Lewand calls the organization’s “selectively aggressive” approach, Meinke notes that it still has several holes to fix. Left guard and running back lead the way.
- Last year’s NFL draft featured a deep, star-studded receiving class that included the likes of Odell Beckham, Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins and Kelvin Benjamin. This year’s class of wideouts could be nearly equal to the 2014 group in terms of both ability and depth, an AFC personnel executive told Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. “Could see five or six going in the first round,” the exec said, “and at least a dozen in the first three rounds. It’s really deep again.”
- ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky answered fans’ questions in a Titans mailbag. One of the Titans’ issues Kuharsky addressed is receiver, an area he thinks the team should prioritize in the draft because of its lack of playmakers.
- Nik Beimler of WEEI.com profiled Hobart guard Ali Marpet, who could be a fit for the Patriots in the draft. Marpet is expected to be hear his name called in the second or third round.
Poll: Titans’ Options With No. 2 Overall Pick
According to most reports, Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is a near-lock to be selected by the Buccaneers with the first overall pick in the NFL draft later this month. The more interesting position, then, becomes the No. 2 overall slot, where the Titans will have several options to choose from.
As Bill Barnwell of Grantland recently outlined, the two most plausible picks for Tennessee are probably Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams. Mariota, a potential franchise QB, would signal a shift from incumbent signal-caller Zach Mettenberger, while Williams would pair with Jurrell Casey to form a fearsome defensive line. The Titans could also take a look at edge rushers Dante Fowler Jr. and Vic Beasley, and though it’s unlikely the club selects a receiver, Amari Cooper or Kevin White might be too talented to pass up.
Of course, Tennessee could also opt to trade the second pick — the Titans’ overall roster is among the league’s worst, so acquiring a bevy of picks in exchange for the No. 2 selection could be the most advantageous route. Specifically, a team looking to move up for Mariota could be willing to part with a haul of picks, and the Titans would probably be willing to entertain offers.
So what do you think? Will the Titans be loathe to pass up a chance at Mariota? Will they add another piece to their defense? Or will they trade the pick? Vote below!
What will the Titans do with the No. 2 overall pick?
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Trade the pick 54% (768)
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Draft Leonard Williams 22% (307)
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Draft Marcus Mariota 20% (289)
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Draft Amari Cooper 1% (21)
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Draft Kevin White 1% (18)
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Draft Dante Fowler Jr. 1% (13)
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Draft Vic Beasley 0% (7)
Total votes: 1,423
Saturday Mailbags: Paea, Manziel, Titans
More from the designated mailbag day from the NFL media. Some notes from Washington, Cleveland and Tennessee rumblings from ESPN’s John Keim, the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot and ESPN’s Paul Kuharsky, respectively.
- In signing two players who started as 4-3 defensive tackles for their former teams last season, Washington must relocate one of them in their 3-4 look, writes Keim. Before either Terrance Knighton or Stephen Paea will put on a red and gold jersey, Paea appears to be the one on the move. The former Bears defensive tackle will slide to end as Knighton, at more than 340 pounds, is expected to clog the A gap. Paea will be expected to rush from inside on passing downs, however, with Knighton coming off the field in many of those scenarios as he did in Denver last season. Keim said Jason Hatcher, Ricky Jean-Francois or Chris Baker will spell Knighton on passing downs.
- Keim is uncertain why Washington, which pursued Derek Newton before he re-signed with the Texans and eventual Jaguars signee Jermey Parnell, hasn’t made a push to sign Joe Barksdale. The Rams right tackle’s initial asking price reportedly surprised Jeff Fisher, but Keim expects Barksdale to be back in St. Louis next season. Keim lists right tackle, where unsigned free agent Tyler Polumbus and Tom Compton struggled last season, as the team’s biggest pre-draft offensive need.
- Despite rumors out of Cleveland earlier this week that the Browns‘ intent was to move on from Johnny Manziel, Cabot does not expect that to occur after just seven quarters of NFL quarterbacking experience. Manziel, still in rehab despite his recent golf outing (Twitter link), is expected to be given a chance to prove his tools can translate in a run-oriented offense despite evidence to the contrary last year. Per Cabot, Manziel progressed under new quarterbacks coach Kevin O’Connell in preparing for the draft last year, furthering the belief the Browns intend on giving him another chance.
- Cabot estimates a trade up for Marcus Mariota could cost the Browns three first-round picks. Cleveland owns selections 12 and 19 this year. Defensive lineman Danny Shelton will be a target for the Browns at No. 12 after they ranked last in the league in run stoppage in 2014, according to Cabot.
- The Titans drafting a running back in the second round doesn’t make sense to Kuharsky, considering the team’s previous second-round investment in Bishop Sankey, the first back off the board last year.
AFC Links: Odrick, Lewis, Dareus, Titans
Deploying just seven position players that received positive grades from Pro Football Focus last season, the Jaguars have a steep climb back to contention. The fulcrum of that attempted ascent, however, could reside on their defensive front, with talent returning and incoming.
Two of the aforementioned septet came on the defensive line, Sen’Derrick Marks and Ryan Davis, and high-priced supplement Jared Odrick, who signed a five-year, $42.5MM contract on Day 2 of free agency, will add to this unit in a specific role, writes Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
Jags defensive line coach Todd Wash expects to plug Odrick at their 4B spot, which is the bigger of the two defensive ends in Jacksonville’s 4-3 scheme, according to O’Halloran. Odrick played defensive tackle in the Dolphins’ 4-3 alignment last season and rated as PFF’s 19th-best interior lineman (subscription required) — two slots behind Marks. Odrick’s last season as a 4-3 end (2012), however, marked his worst as a pro. His previous work as an outside starter in a 3-4 scheme (2011) resulted in a career-best six sacks, half of which came in coverage, per O’Halloran.
Marks and Davis’ success came almost exclusively inside, making the edge a priority. The Jaguars could have their pick of ends Dante Fowler Jr. or Leonard Williams at No. 3 overall, depending on Marcus Mariota‘s potential to go at No. 2, providing a significant starting point in their rebuild.
- Fowler will reportedly visit Jacksonville this week after his pro day in Gainesville, Fla., reports O’Halloran. The Jags probably won’t use all of their 30 permitted player visits but could exercise 20 of those meetings, O’Halloran reports.
- Using Dashon Goldson‘s recent trade where the Bucs agreed to pick up the safety’s $4MM signing bonus in 2015 as he suits up for Washington, O’Halloran suggests this method as a way to make Marcedes Lewis a movable commodity for a potential late-round pick. No longer the starting tight end after the Jags signed Julius Thomas, Lewis is slated to count $8.2MM against the cap this year as Thomas accounts for $10.3MM of it — a league-high amount at the position, making the current arrangement unlikely to last.
- In addition to a report earlier this week regarding Marcell Dareus‘ potential extension with the Bills, ESPN’s Josina Anderson hears the team will address this after the draft, although no offer has been sent yet (Twitter link).
- The Titans could trade down if they don’t envision Mariota leading their offense or Williams chasing signal-callers, and The Tennesseean’s Jim Wyatt speculates wide-receiving help could arrive in that scenario in the form of Amari Cooper, Kevin White or DeVante Parker. ESPN’s Todd McShay has that trio going off the boardat Nos. 3, 7 and 10, respectively, in his latest mock draft (subscription required). The Titans selected current starter Kendall Wright in the first round in 2012.
- While listing wideout, running back and starting right tackle as the team’s biggest needs, Wyatt envisions one of the top backs, Todd Gurley or Melvin Gordon, as Titans targets at No. 34.
Draft Notes: White, Bears, Browns, Ravens
West Virginia wideout Kevin White is expected to be an early first-round pick in the upcoming draft, but the speedster hasn’t received much interest from NFL clubs. Earlier this week, the player told Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that he hadn’t heard from any teams since the Scouting Combine:
“Until they call or I have a set workout schedule, I’m just going to continue to do what I have to do and wherever I do go, if I have a workout or prior workout, I’ll enjoy it and try to make the most out of it.”
White finally got a call late this week, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the receiver will meet with the Titans. For the time being, that’s White only scheduled visit.
Let’s take a look at some more draft notes from around the league, with updates added to the top:
- Toledo linebacker Junior Sylvestre visited with the Chiefs Friday, writes Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
- The Patriots had UConn wide receiver Geremy Davis in for a private workout yesterday, writes Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter).
- The Eagles have a need at safety, and Alabama’s Landon Collins has been a popular target in mock drafts. However, he might not make it to the Eagles’ pick at No. 20, and might not be a fit for Chip Kelly anyway, writes Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com. Mosher picks out a number of safeties the team could target later in the draft, including Michigan State’s Kurtis Drummond and Northwestern’s Ibraheim Campbell.
Earlier Updates:
- Clemson outside linebacker Vic Beasley will visit the Bears, according to Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com. The writer notes that Chicago’s new 3-4 defense could be a perfect fit for Beasley.
- The Browns are going to be busy in the coming weeks, as Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that the organization will be bringing in 30 draft prospects. The group includes Louisville wideout DeVante Parker and Miami left tackle Ereck Flowers.
- Maryland linebacker Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil will attend the Ravens local prospects day in late April, according to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The Patriots, Eagles and Chargers have each checked out the versatile defender.
South Notes: Brees, Fowler, Jags, Bucs
In an interview with WWL radio in New Orleans on Thursday, quarterback Drew Brees said he intends to retire with the Saints, and dismissed any speculation about potential trade talks involving him.
“I have a close enough relationship with everybody within the Saints organization that if something was going on, I would have heard about it from them,” Brees said. “If there was any seriousness, you know, reality (to the rumors), that would be discussed. Anything that I hear or get wind of is typically false. False reports.”
Of course, the reports Brees calls “false” never really existed. Some columnists wrote speculative articles about the possibility of quarterback-needy teams checking in on Brees while the Saints were seemingly making everyone available, but at least one report suggested the quarterback was one of the only players the team was not shopping. Nonetheless, GM Mickey Loomis, head coach Sean Payton, and Brees himself have all felt the need to shoot down that speculation.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s two South divisions:
- Asked about upcoming pre-draft meetings, Florida pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. says he has visits lined up with the Jaguars and Titans, writes Jenny Vrentas of TheMMQB.com. Fowler is considered one of the top pass rushers in the draft, and projects as a potential top-five pick — Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN recently expressed confidence that Fowler will go third overall to Jacksonville.
- Center Stefen Wisniewski left his visit with the Jaguars without a deal in place, but head coach Gus Bradley said the team will “have more conversations about him,” per Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Bradley also said that, while the team is keeping its options open in regard to adding a fullback, it’s conceivable that Jacksonville starts the season with four tight ends and no fullbacks on its roster.
- We can add linebacker Larry Dean to the list of free agents to visit the Buccaneers this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Guard Dan Connolly, wide receiver Jerrel Jernigan, and defensive end George Johnson are among the other players who recently paid a visit to Tampa Bay.