Latest On Chris Johnson
The Titans’ offseason workouts get underway a week from today, and one way or another, the team will likely make a move with Chris Johnson by that point, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. As Rapoport explains (via Twitter), the Titans haven’t released Johnson yet because he has drawn some trade interest, but that interest has to turn into something tangible within the next few days, or else the club will likely end up cutting the veteran running back.
While we haven’t heard much so far about teams with potential interest in Johnson, Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Jets may be in the mix. New York appears reluctant to jump into the hunt for DeSean Jackson, but the team has a “level of interest” in the Titans running back.
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link) echoes Rapoport’s note on the Jets having a level of interest in Johnson, adding that the team has missed out on a pair of its running back targets already this month: Donald Brown and Maurice Jones-Drew. We knew the Jets were pursuing Jones-Drew, but the fact that Brown was the club’s No. 1 RB choice, as Mehta tweets, is new information. Sources told Mehta a week ago that GM John Idzik‘s “hard-line stance” cost the Jets their top running back target earlier in free agency and that the player had signed with another AFC team — I speculated that it might have been Ben Tate, but it seems it was Brown instead.
As for Johnson, while there may be other teams with interest in him, don’t expect him to land with the Falcons. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported yesterday that Atlanta isn’t a likely suitor for the former 2,000-yard rusher.
AFC South Notes: Locker, Draft, Nicks, Jags
The Titans are unlikely to pick up their 2015 option on quarterback Jake Locker, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. As a first-round-pick under the new CBA, Locker would be entitled to a one-year salary at the average of the top-ten highest-paid quarterbacks, which would amount to roughly $14MM. If Locker performs well this season, the Titans could look to sign him to an extension, but if not, the team needs more insurance than the recently-signed Charlie Whitehurst. Wyatt argues the team should draft Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray in the 4th-5th round of the draft, and ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky agrees, noting the team should select “one of the injured SEC guys.”
More from the AFC South:
- In the above piece, and in a similar article summarizing the Titans defensive unit, Wyatt points to running back, offensive line depth, and speed on the defensive edge as the primary needs for Tennessee in the draft.
- In his mailbag (linked above), Kuharsky agrees that a running back is needed in Tennessee, writing that the backfield plan is “draft pick + Shonn Greene + Dexter McCluster.”
- The Colts would be interested in retaining receiver Hakeem Nicks if he plays well this season, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com. The Colts signed Nicks to one-year deal worth ~$4MM.
- Wells also thinks that the Colts will use a running-back-by-committee approach, cycling through Trent Richardson, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Vick Ballard.
- In his mailbag segment, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com notes that he believes the Jaguars will select Jadeveon Clowney if he is available. If not, he thinks their preferences are (in order) Khalil Mack and Sammy Watkins.
NFC Notes: Johnson, Eagles, Sanchez, Jackson
The Falcons have no interest in Titans running back Chris Johnson, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. On Friday, Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean tweeted that Atlanta would be a prime destination for Johnson, but a source tells Florio that this union will not come to fruition. It seemed dubious that the Falcons would want to invest in another aging running back to pair with veteran Steven Jackson, and the draft seems like a more viable way for Atlanta to infuse talent into their backfield. For his part, Johnson is widely expected to be released within the coming weeks.
More notes from the NFC:
- Following the release of DeSean Jackson, the Eagles are thin at wide receiver, writes Dan Graziano of ESPN.com. Besides Riley Cooper, Jeremy Maclin and Arrelious Benn are both coming off torn ACLs, and Damaris Johnson is unproven. Newly-acquired Darren Sproles, with his acumen in the passing game, could play a key role in the Eagles offense this season.
- The Eagles signing of Mark Sanchez doesn’t figure to start any type of quarterback controversy, but that doesn’t mean Sanchez has lost his competitive edge, notes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. “I’m always going to want to start,” said the quarterback. “It doesn’t matter where you are, you want to play. There’s nothing wrong with having that drive. I’ll keep that fire going and try to help this team the best I can.” A nice preseason, followed by competency in the case of a Nick Foles injury would the best way for Sanchez to rehabilitate his value.
- Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com mentioned the 49ers as a team that could be in play for Jackson (podcast link). We noted earlier this week that the 49ers may not be able to fit him on their roster financially, but Fitzgerald argues that Anquan Boldin will likely be cut after this season, and that Jackson could be signed to contract with a low first-year base salary.
AFC South Notes: Draft, Jackson, Nicks, Mack
While the Titans may not be committed to Jake Locker as their quarterback of the future, the team is unlikely to consider the position with their first-round pick, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. Even if the Titans were to have their choice between Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles, and Johnny Manziel, Kuharsky believes none of those three would be in the top 11 on their board anyway. The team is much more likely to see what it has in Locker, and possibly look for a quarterback later in the draft to serve as a backup or eventual replacement option down the road.
Here are some other notes from the AFC South:
- Kuharsky also writes that although Mike Evans (wide receiver out of Texas A&M) could be the best player available when the Titans are called up on draft day, the team would be hesitant to take him due to their depth at the position. The team sees Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter, Nate Washington, and Dexter McCluster as a strong group, and may be reluctant to add to it with such a high draft pick.
- The Colts will not have any interest in the recently released DeSean Jackson, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com. The team may have considered him had they not already added Hakeem Nicks earlier this offseason.
- Speaking about Nicks’ long term future, Wells wrote that if he succeeds this year, he could see the Colts giving him a long-term extension to keep him as one of Andrew Luck‘s weapons going forward, joining him with T.Y. Hilton, Coby Fleener, and Dwayne Allen.
- While Alex Mack still remains a possibiliy, the Colts are not expected to make him a substantial offer, writes Wells. He believes the team is comfortable entering the season with Phil Costa and Khaled Holmes competing to start at center.
- Despite notions that the Texans might be willing to move down in the draft, Daniel Kim of NFL.com writes that currently Jadeveon Clowney is the favorite if they keep the first overall pick. NFL Network’s Kurt Warner says that Clowney is still a better option than Manziel, and Kim notes that four out of six NFL.com mock drafts have the Texans taking the pass rusher.
Chris Johnson Drawing Trade Interest?
MARCH 28: The Titans have yet to find a trade partner for Johnson, and if their efforts continue to fail over the next few days, the veteran running back is “very likely” to be released next week, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
MARCH 19: Although there has long been a belief that the Titans may release Chris Johnson this offseason, a pair of March reports indicated the team was looking to trade him and that the veteran running back would be willing to restructure his contract to help facilitate a deal. That has resulted in an emerging trade market for Johnson, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who reports that while no move is imminent, multiple teams have “real interest” in the longtime Titan. ESPN.com’s Ed Werder is hearing similar rumblings.
As Werder notes, Titans general manager Ruston Webster said on The Midday 180 yesterday that there’s “no real timetable” for when the club needs to make a move. Johnson isn’t owed any workout or roster bonuses this year, so there are no potential deadlines looming that would force Tennessee’s hand. Still, clearing a chunk of the 28-year-old’s $10MM cap number for 2014 would give the club some additional flexibility.
Johnson, who has only missed one game in his six NFL seasons, has compiled at least 1,000 rushing yards in each of those seasons. In 2013, he posted 1,077 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns despite reportedly playing through a torn meniscus.
AFC Notes: Titans, Dolphins, Ravens, Steelers
Let’s take a look at some rumblings from around the AFC to wrap up this Thursday night…
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The Titans hope to keep linebacker Kamerion Wimbley but are apprehensive about his high salary, tweets Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com.
- The current quandary between the Titans and Chris Johnson is similar to what the team went through with Steve McNair in 2006, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. That offseason, the team attempted to trade their quarterback but couldn’t find any suitors. McNair “forced” the issue by showing up for offseason workouts, which the Titans prevented him from attending. McNair filed a grievance, which he eventually won.
- Since the Dolphins don’t have to pay a franchise quarterback, the team is currently in “the golden years” with their cap, tweets James Walker of ESPN. As Walker points out, they’ll eventually have to pay someone at the position (whether it’s Ryan Tannehill or somebody else). As a result, this is the time to take advantage of the flexibility (via Twitter).
- If the Ravens were to address two more positions in free agency, it would likely be tight end and a backup defensive lineman, writes Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. Hensley suggests that the tight end could be Ed Dickson on a cheap deal.
- Wide receiver is one of the Steelers‘ biggest needs, opines Scott Brown of ESPN.com, and the team will likely add to their depth via the draft. Brown adds that the team could consider reuniting with Plaxico Burress, but also adds that he can’t see the team adding another veteran wideout after inking Lance Moore to a deal.
Draft Notes: Manziel, Barr, Bucannon, Webster
As mentioned earlier today, the Browns were one of only two teams that weren’t in attendance for Texas A&M’s (or, realistically, Johnny Manziel‘s) Pro Day. This is interesting, considering the team has the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft and has been seeking a franchise quarterback for a very long time. Among those that believe the team will snag a quarterback in the first round is Brown’s wide receiver Josh Gordon. The All-Pro talent said that he was “pretty sure” that his team would select a quarterback, but Gordon did not initially mention Johnny Football. According to Pat McManamon of ESPN.com, the receiver instead brought up former UCF quarterback Blake Bortles or Louisville junior Teddy Bridgewater. Of course, Gordon eventually added Manziel to his list, saying the former Heisman winner would “seem to be the top guy on (his) list right now.”
A couple of other notes regarding some NFL prospects…
- Former UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr will meet with the Cowboys, Falcons, Titans and Vikings, according to Ross Jones of FoxSports.com. The meeting with the Falcons is scheduled for this Saturday.
- All-American safety Deone Bucannon will visit the Ravens today and tomorrow, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The former Washington State Cougar would fit in nicely with a secondary that just lost veteran James Ihedigbo to the Lions.
- Bloomsburg defender Larry Webster has a busy week ahead of him, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter). Webster has a visit and workout scheduled with the Lions, a workout scheduled with the Panthers, and visits set up with the Cardinals and Buccaneers.
Titans, Shaun Phillips Agree To Two-Year Deal
Veteran free agent Shaun Phillips has reached an agreement with the Titans on a two-year deal worth up to $6MM, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The contract includes $2.5MM in guaranteed money, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com had reported earlier today that Phillips was visiting the team.
Phillips, who turns 33 in May, played nine seasons for the Chargers before joining the Broncos last season. Although he had a solid season in Denver, recording 10 sacks and ranking 18th among 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), his departure appeared likely after the team brought DeMarcus Ware aboard earlier this month.
After playing outside linebacker in the Chargers’ 3-4 scheme, Phillips transitioned to a defensive end role in the Broncos’ 4-3 defense last season. As such, he has the flexibility to shift around a little – if needed – in the Titans’ system, led by new defensive coordinator Ray Horton.
AFC Notes: Titans, Dolphins, Browns, Steelers
Reports of free agents visiting teams have slowed down considerably over the last couple weeks, but the Titans are on of the clubs staying busy as they weigh options at several positions. The team brought offensive lineman Mike McGlynn in this week, and is also hosting former Charger and Bronco Shaun Phillips today, according to Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Phillips will turn 33 in May, so his best years are probably behind him, but he’s coming off a 10-sack season, and could still be an asset for a defense, particularly if the price isn’t prohibitive.
As Phillips visits the Titans, let’s check out a few more items from around the AFC….
- The Dolphins still haven’t ruled out the possibility of re-signing Bryant McKinnie to play right tackle, though a signing likely wouldn’t happen until after the draft, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- New GM Ray Farmer and the Browns haven’t tipped their hand when it comes to the fourth overall pick, but wide receiver Josh Gordon thinks the club will use the selection on a quarterback, as he said on SportsCenter today (link via Pat McManamon of ESPN.com). Gordon also suggested that Johnny Manziel would probably be the top signal-caller on his personal draft board.
- The Steelers will probably need to create some cap space if they hope to sign Maurice Jones-Drew or LeGarrette Blount, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who suggests that restructuring Lawrence Timmons‘ contract could do the trick.
- Joel Corry of CBSSports.com explores whether the Broncos have mortgaged their future by going all-in on free agency this offseason. Corry concludes that most of Denver’s big contracts are flexible enough that the team may not be in bad shape long-term.
- The Bills have officially named their seven representatives for a committee that will explore the possibility of building a new stadium in the area, writes Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. Erie County previously appointed seven members to the group, and New York State added five.
- Indiana running back Stephen Houston worked out for nearly an hour with Patriots running back Ivan Fears today, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.
Contract Details: Schaub, Allen, Ihedigbo
Matt Schaub‘s reworked deal with the Raiders includes pay cuts in both 2014 and 2015, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link), who identifies Schaub’s new cap numbers as $8MM (2014) and $5.5MM (2015). The contract now includes $3MM in performance-based incentives in both 2014 and 2015, but the 2016 season has been totally removed, according to Pelissero (Twitter links). Jason Fitzgerald breaks down the new-look deal in chart form at OverTheCap.com.
Here are a few more contract details from around the NFL:
- Jared Allen‘s deal with the Bears includes guaranteed base salaries of $3MM in 2014 and $1MM for 2015, with an $11.5MM ’15 roster bonus guaranteed for skill and injury, says Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links). As Breer notes, the $8.5MM and $8MM salaries for 2016 and 2017 essentially amount to team options, and if Allen posts 12+ sacks in any season between 2014 and 2016, the final year of the contract voids.
- According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter links), James Ihedigbo‘s two-year pact with the Lions functions more like a one-year deal, with a roster bonus decision due in March 2015. The contract, which will be worth $3.15MM ($750K guaranteed) over two years, would see the safety earn $1.525MM in 2014 and $1.625MM in 2015, if he sticks.
- Paul McQuistan‘s two-year, $3MM contract with the Browns features annual base salaries of $855K (2014) and $1.395MM (2015), with up to $1MM per year in incentives, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- Wilson tweets that Marc Mariani‘s one-year deal with the Titans is a minimum salary contract, with an extra $40K workout bonus. It also features a split salary as an IR precaution for the oft-injured receiver.