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junker-town · 3 years

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Carson Wentz has become the NFL’s biggest gamble

Carson Wentz is broken. Can he be fixed?

While much of the football world waits to see if the Texans will trade Deshaun Watson, the Eagles are still desperately trying to find a home for Carson Wentz. The Eagles are ready to go in a different direction at quarterback and need to get rid of Wentz’s $128M contract, but they also want to get value for a player who was an MVP candidate only a couple years ago. It’s a buyer’s market on the quarterback, but who wants to buy?

What began with a flurry of interest from a number of teams has now now died down. The Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts appear to the be the last teams willing to at least listen to Philadelphia’s current demands long after the rest of the league submitted offers. While we don’t know precisely what the Eagles want, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the team wants “strong compensation.” It seems like Philadelphia would want a first round pick and more for Wentz.

Could that happen? Perhaps. Should it happen? Absolutely not, unless a general manager wants to risk his reputation on a fundamentally broken player who needs to be rebuilt. If you bet wrong on Wentz your career might well be over. No general manager can conceivably take this risk, absorb Wentz’s contract, offer high draft compensation, get it wrong, and still keep their job.

If you get it right though, if you fix the problems and bring back the player who powered the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl before Nick Foles finished the job — well, it might be the biggest bargain at the position since the Titans landed Ryan Tannehill for peanuts. That’s an enticing gamble for a lot of GMs, especially Bears GM Ryan Pace who seems to have fallen in love with the idea of trading for Wentz with his job on the line. Colts GM Chris Ballard is also looking to keep a promising team on an upward trajectory after Philip Rivers’ retirement.

What went wrong with Wentz last year? Can he be fixed? These are the things a franchise needs to weigh before trading for the QB.

Carson Wentz reportedly has an ego problem

One of the more mystifying pieces of information to come out of Philadelphia during the offseason, and subsequent firing of Doug Pederson, was that he and Wentz no longer had a good relationship. From the outside looking in Wentz seemed to have a quiet, mild-mannered demeanor about him, but behind closed doors this was anything but the case.

In a ranging breakdown of Wentz’s regression, the Philadelphia Inquirer painted the picture of a player who had greatness thrust upon him by those around him, and fell for the hype a little too much.

“Every great quarterback wants to be coached and they want to be coached hard and by the best, and it doesn’t seem like [Wentz] wants that,” one source said. “It’s kind of like whoever’s coaching him is working for him. But it can’t be that way.”

Here was a player who at 25-years-old was viewed as the catalyst in a turnaround for Philadelphia football the city had been craving for decades. Nick Foles got all the glory in the end for beating the Patriots, but inside the organization there was no mistaking who the Eagles viewed as “their guy” for the future. Foles was traded away to the Jaguars, Wentz would resume the mantle, and the assumption, at least at first, is that the team would pick up where it left off.

Obviously that didn’t happen. The team began to lose, and while it was apparent that Wentz had the relentless, Type-A personality teams look for in quarterbacks to lead them to wins, he didn’t display the same willingness to put losses on his shoulders too, even when they were his fault.

“He doesn’t understand that he lost games for us,” a veteran player said. “He will never admit that and that’s a problem because he can’t get it corrected.”

Not only did Wentz not accept blame, he wasn’t held accountable for making excuses for poor performance. It’s noted that Wentz would routinely be shown mistakes he made in the film room, only to shift blame to others and not accept responsibility for his own failings. To make matters worse, Press Taylor, who was the Eagles quarterback coach at the time (and only a few years Wentz’s senior) didn’t hold him accountable either, allowing the excuses to flow without correction.

“For instance, there would be a play when he didn’t throw to an open receiver. The read was drawn up as designed, the coverage played out as expected, and he would be asked why he didn’t pull the trigger.

And Wentz would say the look wasn’t there, or he would overemphasize the pass rush, and when it was suggested the play be run again in practice as to get it right, he would object.”

Wentz became conditioned to believe he was perfect, because there were a lot of voices in the organization telling him he was perfect. GM Howie Roseman reportedly has a giant Fathead of Wentz on the wall of his office, a shrine to the draft pick he thought he hit a home run on. It’s one thing to be thankful you took a player you believe to be the future, another entirely to venerate them for all to see. On some level you can’t blame Wentz for thinking he was the greatest thing to grace The Linc, because he was routinely told he was.

There’s major on-field problems too.

There’s a consistent theme to Wentz’s collapse where nothing is entirely his fault, not really. It seems hilarious to talk about him not accepting blame, then not foisting all the blame on him — but this is a nuanced situation.

The ego, the unwillingness to be coached, shifting blame. Those are symptoms of an ego run amok. Failing to deal with pass pressure on the field, making ill-advised throws, not standing tall in the pocket, well, that’s what happens when you’re sacked as often as Wentz was.

Protection became a major issue for Philadelphia. This was a unit that was never spotless, allowing 36 sacks during the 2017 Super Bowl season (16th in the league), but middling was good enough when paired with Wentz’s playmaking ability.

Injuries wrecked the left side of the line in particular, and without his blind side protected Wentz went down, a lot. Patchwork jobs on the line trying to keep Wentz up had the opposite effect, and in 2020 the team led the league in sacks allowed with a stunning 65.

The inability to protect Wentz drastically altered his play style, and suddenly the once-steady hand that led the Eagles to the Super Bowl was replaced with a completely different player. Losing faith in his protection, you could see Wentz’s eyes drop off his progression and check down the pass rush — whether it was there or not. It was an all-consuming concern for the quarterback, and often you could see him check the rush even when protection was adequate. Then he would need to return his eyes to the second level, relocate his receivers, pausing just enough for the coverage to get there if he forced an ill-advised throw. Often he would simply miss a lurking safety or dropping linebacker.

It’s not so much that Wentz was afraid to take a hit, and more that he played like he had no faith in the teammates around him. At least those responsible for pass blocking. I believe this is the true heart of his problems in 2020, and would also explain why he wouldn’t honestly answer questions about him missing reads. Nobody wants to be the guy who throws his teammates under the bus, or lose the respect of those around him. The issue is he didn’t learn how to put trust back into these players, even when they earned it.

By Week 12 the complete collapse of Wentz as an elite quarterback was seen on Monday Night Football. Wentz may have had lower points in his season than a 23-17 loss to Seattle, but after throwing 45 times for a paltry 215 yards, missing open receivers and being sacked six times it was clear he was done. The next week the Eagles made the switch to Hurts mid-game, and so ended Wentz’s season.

Can you rebuild all this?

This is a situation where we’re not just talking about a small hitch in Wentz’s game, or a minor issue that can be ironed out, but a player who needs to be broken down and built back up, both physically and mentally.

Wentz’s newfound propensity to check the pass rush needs to be erased, and he needs to be willing to trust the offensive line. That’s a difficult prospect considering this would be a new team, with a new set of players to mesh with. The saving grace, however, is that both Chicago, and Indianapolis, who are rumored to be the front-runners for Wentz, have fairly solid offensive lines. The Colts allowed 21 sacks this season, partially attributable to Philip Rivers’ unnatural release speed and feel for pressure, but also a testament to their talent. The Bears allowed 36 this season, markedly worse, but the unit seemed to improve as a whole as the season went on.

Either landing spot would give Wentz far more to work with when it comes to protection than he received from Philadelphia, but getting him to a point where he trusts standing in the pocket knowing these guys have his back, that might be another story.

This is a mechanical concern, but one I think is fixable. It’s not like Wentz is inherently scared of contact the way you saw David Carr or Jimmy Clausen become gun shy. It can be corrected with time and bonding.

The far greater concern as I see it is the ego issues. Every player should believe they’re the best, because it’s the fuel athletes need to succeed — but when that steps over the line to believing there’s nothing to learn, or everything is someone else’s fault, that’s far worse. I don’t know how a coaching staff can have a realistic expectation they can “fix” Wentz when there’s evidence from inside his current organization that he doesn’t think anything needs to be fixed. That lack of humility will not be coddled by coaches who didn’t draft him, or a general manager worshipping the ground he walks on.

This leaves us with a giant conundrum. Carson Wentz has been statistically brilliant for three solid years of his career, and a dumpster fire in 2020. Conventional wisdom would say this means last season was an outlier, and there’s something to work with — but it carries a colossal risk. Wentz is on a contract that will make him the 4th highest paid quarterback in the league in 2021, with a cap hit of $34.7M. He will make more than Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, or Russell Wilson. Framed this way the idea of taking a flier on a player who needs to be fixed is absolutely ridiculous, but the allure and the promise Wentz can return to form will be far too great for someone to pass up.

Whether that’s the Bears, the Colts, or someone else, they will be going all in on a hand without even knowing the cards they’re holding. That should absolutely terrify any fan of a team interested in making a serious run at Wentz.

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costchard98-blog · 5 years

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The Linc - “Smart people I talk to around the league think the Eagles apply the tag” to Nick Foles

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

2019 NFL Free Agency: Ranking the likelihood that Le’Veon Bell, Demarcus Lawrence and others will be tagged - CBS Sports The Eagles are weighing playing a very dangerous game with their back-up QB. IF they tag Foles he will sign it ASAP and lock in his $25M. Ultimately, besides Jacksonville I don’t know who else trades anything of value for him, and it’s not like Foles is the only QB out there (Teddy Bridgewater, anyone?). How much more than the fourth-round pick Baltimore got for Joe Flacco can the Eagles hope for? And does it make more sense to just take the comp pick return in 2020 rather than risk it in 2019? Smart people I talk to around the league think the Eagles apply the tag in the end. Personally, I would not.

ESPN has a 5 step plan for the Eagles’ 2019 offseason - BGN I really don’t love the idea of moving on from Jason Peters. It’s tempting to want to save $10.5 million by not bringing him back in 2019 ... but who’s starting at left tackle if he isn’t back? Halapoulivaati Vaitai and/or a rookie protecting Carson Wentz’s blindside for 16 games is not a comforting prospect. I think the Eagles should bring back JP for one more year. They should also draft a rookie who can potentially take over in 2020. Jordan Mailata also might be ready to make a meaningful impact by next year.

The Kist & Solak Show #79: Overrated & Underrated Draft Prospects - BGN Radio Michael Kist and Benjamin Solak discuss what they think the Eagles’ philosophy will be in the free agency period before hitting up their picks for overrated and underrated prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft! Powered by SB Nation and Bleeding Green Nation.

Clearing up Eagles DE Chris Long’s contract status - PhillyVoice I’ve gotten to the bottom of it, and it’s not that complicated. Long signed a two-year deal in 2017, but then signed a new deal in 2018 that added an extra year in 2019. He is under contract through the 2019 season.

Answers From Within - Iggles Blitz I wrote about that for PE.com. The Eagles must get improved play from players already on the roster if the team is going to be a Super Bowl contender. There are going to be salary cap issues in 2019 so the team can’t just hunt for help. They need cheap answers…young players already in place. Mack Hollins could be a key player. The Eagles could have really used his ability as a deep threat last year. WRs normally struggle as rookies and take a big step forward in their second or third year. It would help tremendously if Hollins could do that in 2019. Hollins is a big guy, but was an exceptional deep threat in college. He averaged 21 yards per reception for his career.

2019 NFL franchise tag primer and candidates: Everything you need to know - ESPN Can a tagged player be traded? Yes. In fact, there have been reports that the Philadelphia Eagles could do just that with quarterback Nick Foles. In this scenario, the compensation is agreed to by both teams and does not necessarily have to be two first-round picks. The new team can accept the terms of the tag or renegotiate into a multiyear deal.

How to navigate all of the swirling NFL offseason rumors - The Athletic Foles holds most of all the cards. As long as he remains unsigned, he can’t be traded, as no player under a tender is tradable. Foles can’t sign a deal until he picks his new team and that team agrees on compensation with the Eagles. The Eagles might be offered a two from a non-divisional opponent, but let’s pretend Foles wants to go to the Giants and play in the division. He won’t sign the deal, and the Eagles will remain restricted from improving their team until Foles’ cap number comes off the cap. This game of chicken has the potential to backfire on the Eagles and unless they can make a quick deal with a team Foles approves of, then the longer this goes on, the less attractive the pick becomes for the Birds. Expect Foles and the Eagles to get something done at the Combine.

Le’Veon Bell—Yes, Le’Veon Bell—and the Other Players Who Could Be Hit With the Franchise Tag Starting Tuesday - The Ringer Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles: Foles’s situation is unlike the rest. If the Eagles place the franchise tag on Foles, they almost certainly would not be doing so to keep him: They would tag him intending to trade him. If they don’t sense a big enough trade market for Foles, they may choose to let him leave as a free agent, which would likely give them a compensatory pick in 2020. If the Eagles do use the tag, however, they could send him to a team—Jacksonville?—that would sacrifice a draft pick to avoid bidding against another team on the open market

Four Downs: NFC East - Football Outsiders The Eagles have the second-worst cap situation in the league, per Spotrac; they’re $1.7 million over the cap already. As such, their free-agency period is going to be one of triage, figuring out where they can save some cash and which contributors they’re going to have to let walk. Graham and Hicks are probably the highest-priority names here; the Eagles are going to have to wait out the initial free-agency splurge and hope that Graham and Hicks will return on team-friendly deals. They’ll need a starting running back, too, but they’ll likely have to find someone cheaper than Ajayi or Sproles to go alongside Wendell Smallwood. The biggest name is Foles, who is going to start for someone in 2019. There’s been talk of franchising him in order to trade him, but that would require freeing up gobs of cap space by cutting names like Jason Peters or Nelson Agholor. Better to let him walk and take the third-round compensatory pick in 2020.

2019 Free Agency Profile: Jay Ajayi - PFF Question marks surrounding Ajayi’s health should keep his asking price lower than other veteran backs on the market. Expect him to take on a lead role for an NFL team willing to take a low-cost bet on his health in hopes of getting the playmaking ability his displayed with the Miami Dolphins in 2016. Ajayi earned a career-high 77.3 overall grade and forced 62 missed tackles that season.

Top pending free agents from NFC East - NBCSP 4. Brandon Graham, DE, Eagles. BG is 30 now and is coming off a season where he had just four sacks, but he’ll still be a highly sought-after free agent. The former first-round pick has played all nine of his NFL seasons in Philly, but will likely get to test the free agent waters. Graham isn’t the top DE in this free agent market, but that doesn’t mean he won’t get a big deal.

Fran Duffy’s Combine Preview: Edge Rusher - PE.com Jachai Polite, Florida: Polite is a freakish athlete, and he should perform extremely well in Indianapolis in all of the athletic tests. He has an explosive first step to pair with great flexibility turning the corner, and that’s how he wins as a pass rusher more often than not. That athleticism will transfer to the bag drills, but let’s not look over one other part of his skill set. While he’s more of a “high-side” rusher, relying on speed to win upfield, I thought Polite had pretty violent hands when attacking blockers. I think that will show up in those drills as well.

3 Running Backs With Most To Prove At Combine - The Draft Network Devin Singletary, Florida Atlantic: Singletary is an absolute joy to watch on film. The cuts he executes often don’t make sense and lead to some of the most creative tracks I’ve ever seen a running back take. His elusive ability is rare and tacklers just look silly trying to square him up in space. The strange thing about how Singletary wins and how he profiles to the next level is that he doesn’t have the burst or long speed expected for his skill set. While he makes insanely dynamic cuts, his acceleration and home run speed disappoint. Is he faster than I am giving credit for? We’ll find out in Indy. I’d also expect a back with his creativity and ability to create in space to be featured more as a receiver in college. He only caught six passes in 2018, with his receiving output declining every season of his career at FAU. Why wasn’t catching the football a bigger part of his collegiate role? We’ll get a deep look at his ability to run routes and catch the football at the Combine. Looking natural doing so will boost his stock.

NFL Franchise Tag Thoughts, Sean McVay’s Coaching Staff, More NFL News and Updates - MMQB I’d be surprised if the Cowboys paid top dollar for Earl Thomas, who’s played footsy with Dallas for some time. Xavier Woods, at a cost of $685,000, showed promise last year; he’s not Thomas, but he’s a lot less expensive for a team that has Lawrence, Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper and Byron Jones to take care over the next year or so. Maybe Thomas takes a discount to come home. If not, I don’t get the sense the brass is going to bend over backwards to make it happen.

Patriots’ interest in OBJ made Giants think twice about trading him - PFT The Giants came close to trading receiver Odell Beckham Jr. last year. And then they didn’t trade him. So what happened? As Chris Simms explained on Monday’s PFT Live, New England’s interest in Beckham ultimately caused the Giants to think twice. Basically, if the Patriots saw something in Beckham that would have caused them to give up significant trade compensation and to cough up a significant second contract even though he’d never previously played for the Patriots, the Giants should be more inclined to keep him around.

PFT: A ‘sense persists’ the 49ers will pursue Odell Beckham Jr. - Niners Nation Pro Football Talk is offering the latest speculation about OBJ. At the turn of the new year, they reported there was buzz the San Francisco 49ers would be interested if the Giants made him available. Things quieted down amidst all the Brown hubbub, and then last week, NFL reporter Jay Glazer predicted OBJ was going to be traded this offseason. He did not say to whom and he simply predicted rather than reported, but it got tongues wagging. This evening, PFT reported that a “sense persists” the 49ers will try and make a run at OBJ. They say the No. 2 overall pick for OBJ might be too high, but maybe they would send it if the Giants sent back a third or fourth round pick. It is worth noting PFT also suggests the Rams might decide another big splash is needed, but does not offer up any sort of persisting sense.

2 maps that might help you decide which AAF team to cheer for - SB Nation The AAF’s Eastern Conference has teams in Atlanta, Memphis, Birmingham, and Orlando. The Western Conference has teams in Phoenix, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, and San Diego. But if you don’t happen to live in one of those eight cities, you might be wandering who you should cheer for. Everyone knows geography is one of the best ways to pick a team, and that is where the map below comes into play.

...

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Source: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2019/2/19/18229717/eagles-news-smart-people-talk-around-league-think-eagles-apply-franchise-tag-nick-foles-philadelphia

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junker-town · 3 years

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Carson Wentz has become the NFL’s biggest gamble

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Carson Wentz is broken. Can he be fixed?

What went wrong with Wentz last year? Can he be fixed? These are the things a franchise needs to weigh before trading for the QB.

Carson Wentz reportedly has an ego problem

“He doesn’t understand that he lost games for us,” a veteran player said. “He will never admit that and that’s a problem because he can’t get it corrected.”

And Wentz would say the look wasn’t there, or he would overemphasize the pass rush, and when it was suggested the play be run again in practice as to get it right, he would object.”

There’s major on-field problems too.

Can you rebuild all this?

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junker-town · 4 years

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The 5 best NFL destinations for Teddy Bridgewater

Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images

Bridgewater will be a starter in 2020. The question is where.

It took four years and an incalculable amount of hard work, but Teddy Bridgewater did it. He restored his value as an NFL starting quarterback.

The former Vikings signal caller’s trajectory was indelibly altered by the dislocated knee that cost him all of 2016 and all but a few snaps in 2017. Backup stints with the Jets and Saints helped him rebuild his career. Bridgewater spent 2019 as the league’s highest-paid backup thanks to a one-year, $7.25 million deal with the Saints. He rewarded that faith with a 5-0 record as a starter after Drew Brees missed a chunk of the season with a thumb injury.

He’s now set to cash in as a free agent. The 27-year-old stands out among a crowded crop of veteran quarterbacks on this year’s open market. His relatively young age and growing potential should earn him more than $20 million annually.

New Orleans lacks the cap space to keep him on its roster and still has Brees. A new team will to swoop in with Bridgewater’s biggest contract yet, but the question is who?

There are five clear options, broken down by fit.

The best place to make the most of his short throws: Carolina Panthers

Bridgewater’s success in 2019 came through a high concentration of short throws: 143 of his 196 passes traveled nine yards or fewer downfield. His 5.8 air yards per attempt was by far the lowest of any starting quarterback in the NFL.

That’s concerning, but it worked! After knocking some early rust off, he averaged 278 passing yards per game and a 108.4 passer rating over his final three starts.

Much of that had to do with his biggest short-range target. In the five games where Bridgewater had the opportunity to throw to a healthy Alvin Kamara, the Pro Bowl back averaged more than six targets and 40 yards per contest.

Kamara is a great pass-catching running back, but Bridgewater could go to a needy team with an even better one in 2020.

Panthers tailback Christian McCaffrey became just the third player in NFL history to run for 1,000+ yards and have at least 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. At 7.2 average yards after catch, he could take Bridgewater’s well-placed passes and spin them into gold upfield.

Chance it happens: 1/10

The Panthers still have Cam Newton under contract for 2020, but he can released with just $2 million stuck to their salary cap. Owner David Tepper has made some wholesale changes that point to a rebuild in Carolina. Swapping out Newton and installing the slightly younger Bridgewater could be the kind of bold move that helps Tepper distance himself from the Panthers’ old identity. Even so, Newton’s best fit is in Charlotte, and the club is open to giving him a chance to take the reins once more if he’s finally healthy.

The best place to prove he can throw deep: Los Angeles Chargers

While Bridgewater didn’t take many chances downfield in 2019, he was able to use his short passes to set up some big plays. His 42.8 percent completion rate on passes of 20+ yards was better than quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, and Tom Brady last season, albeit on only 14 attempts.

A move to the Buccaneers would also make sense when it comes to changing that narrative, but let’s focus on the QB-needy team that finished the season fourth when it came to big throws: the Chargers. Philip Rivers threw 73 passes of 20+ yards last fall, turning Mike Williams into the NFL’s yards-per-reception leader in the process (20.4). Keenan Allen averaged 10.1 air yards per throw, and Hunter Henry had a 9.5 air yards average. That’s a testament to head coach Anthony Lynn’s willingness to take risks downfield.

LA would give Bridgewater an excellent opportunity to turn one of his primary criticisms into a strength. The Chargers can offer top-notch receiving help and carte blanche when it comes to loading his cannon and firing deep. Plus, if Los Angeles retains restricted free agent Austin Ekeler, Bridgewater will also have a trusted tailback to target out of the backfield.

Chance it happens: 3/10

Rivers won’t be coming back to LA. The Chargers need a quarterback.

They could justifiably promote Tyrod Taylor, but they might be looking for a young veteran with franchise quarterback upside. Bridgewater fits that bill, though his limited resume the past four seasons casts a shadow over his recent achievements.

The best lineup to play to his strengths: Indianapolis Colts

The Colts could give Bridgewater deep threat T.Y. Hilton, who averaged 16 yards per catch in his career before an injury-filled 2019 dragged down his numbers. He’d have a steady-handed Pro Bowl tight end to connect with on short routes in Jack Doyle. Nyheim Hines, occasionally unstoppable as a punt returner, has untapped potential as a receiving back even after making 107 catches in his first two seasons.

Then there’s the offensive line that kept Jacoby Brissett and backup Brian Hoyer upright on approximately 94 percent of their dropbacks. Just as importantly, that group has been able to pave the way for running back Marlon Mack. Quenton Nelson has been named an All-Pro in each of his two seasons. Ryan Kelly was a Pro Bowler in 2019. Braden Smith is a solid right tackle who has only improved.

Though left tackle Anthony Castonzo is a free agent, the Colts have over $86 million in spending room before they’d bump up against the salary cap. They could retain Castonzo, sign Bridgewater, and add even more talent to the roster and still have cash to spare.

Combine all that with a former NFL quarterback who knows all about the jump from backup to starter — Frank Reich — at head coach, and you’ve got a tremendous foundation for Bridgewater to build the next chapter of his career.

Chance it happens: 5/10

The Colts have Brissett under contract in 2020 for a reasonable price and may still be assessing him after his hot start to last season fizzled due to a Week 8 injury. Adding Bridgewater would spark a QB competition. If Reich isn’t sold on Brissett, Bridgewater may be his best option.

The best place to overcome low expectations: Chicago Bears

The Bears went from NFC North champions to .500 despite a solid collection of offensive talent and a defense that ranked eighth in overall efficiency last season. All it may take to get Chicago back to the playoffs in 2020 is a league-average quarterback, something Mitchell Trubisky has failed to be.

That leaves the Bears in the market for an upgrade — and without a first-round pick. Bridgewater’s turnover-averse play would be a welcome deviation from the past decade of QB play in Chicago. His 1.4 percent interception rate as a Saint is less than half the INT rate of Bears passers between 2010 and 2019 (3.0).

He could also commandeer a young core of skill players that still has room to grow. Allen Robinson is coming off a season with 1,147 receiving yards even while trying to haul in passes from Trubisky. He’s flanked by a rising Anthony Miller and tight end Trey Burton, who could thrive under a new quarterback. Tailbacks David Montgomery and Tarik Cohen would also provide a run-pass punch out of the backfield.

Though there are issues with the offensive line, especially after Kyle Long’s retirement, Bridgewater could be the key to a postseason return — the next player to get Chicago’s hopes up about a new franchise QB.

Chance it happens: 0.5/10

General manager Ryan Pace says Trubisky’s his guy for 2020, but that may be out of necessity than choice. The Bears only have around $13 million in spending room this offseason, and some of that cash will have to be used to replace or retain free agent starters Danny Trevathan and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Clearing enough space to acquire Bridgewater would chip away at the depth that makes the Chicago job so appealing.

The best place to make his return to the playoffs: New England Patriots

Bridgewater could be the offensive centerpiece of a team that’s won 16 of the last 17 AFC East championships if Tom Brady leaves New England. With only 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham and Browns/Jaguars castoff Cody Kessler waiting in the wings, a Brady-less Patriots may have to scramble to pair a starting quarterback with a championship-caliber defense.

Several veteran options could fit the bill. At the top of the list could be another quarterback who, like Brady nearly two decades ago, had his promotion from backup to starter aided by a long run of short, confidence-building throws. Bridgewater’s ceiling at 27 years old is obviously lower than Brady’s was at 25, but he could still fulfill his Pro Bowl potential in Foxborough.

The problem is, this may be the worst time to be a Patriot quarterback in more than a decade. Brady’s targets last season were Julian Edelman, James White, and a handful of replacement-level players. While N’Keal Harry and Mohamed Sanu could each improve in their second seasons with the team, the smoking crater Rob Gronkowski’s retirement left behind gives New England a bleak tight end situation.

There’s more to be concerned about, like the offensive line. The team’s blocking should be better if it can get full seasons from left tackle Isaiah Wynn and center David Andrews. However, the retirement of legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia suggests a regression is equally likely.

Chance it happens: 0.5/10

The only way Bridgewater lands on the Patriots’ radar is if Brady signs elsewhere. That seems unlikely. Even if Brady departs, New England may opt for a more proven, cheaper option than a player with only five starts since 2015. Bill Belichick likes to buy low with the majority of his veteran acquisitions. An ascending Bridgewater doesn’t fit that bill — but Belichick’s rules may not apply when it comes to the most important position on the field.

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junker-town · 4 years

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Is Tom Brady really worth $30 million to the Patriots now?

Tom Brady is set to be a free agent for the first time in his career.

Or would the Patriots be overpaying for continuity and past production?

Tom Brady is set to hit the open market for the first time in a 20-year career. After years of signing bargain contracts for hometown discounts, the six-time Super Bowl champion could reclaim his status as one of the league’s highest-paid players.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported New England is willing to give the passer responsible for all six of the franchise’s NFL championships a $30 million+ salary to keep him with the only team he’s ever known. This would be a big turnaround for a player who’s signed below-market deals recently in order to pad out his roster around him.

It would also leave major questions for the Patriots to face this offseason, even with their veteran quarterback in tow. Namely: How much is a 43-year-old Brady worth?

Brady (finally) backslid in 2019

Paying Brady a top-six salary in 2020 based on his 2019 performance would be a leap of faith from the Patriots, who typically have been steely when it comes to retaining aging talent. A contract with an average value of $30+ million would stand as one of the 10 richest in the NFL — more than Jimmy Garoppolo, Matthew Stafford, or Derek Carr averaged in previous record-setting deals. It would still trail, even with inflation, the mega-extensions signed by fellow veterans Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger, though both are only in their late-30s instead of their early-40s.

There’s no doubt Brady was worthy of a top salary all the way up until 2018, but this past leaves room for concern. Here’s where he ranked statistically as a passer in his age-42 season.

Passing yards: 7th (4,057)

Completion rate: 27th (60.8)

Touchdown rate: 26th (3.9)

Yards/pass: 29th (6.6)

Adjusted yards/pass: 21st (6.8)

Passer rating: 19th (88.0)

QBR: 19th (52.5)

That doesn’t tell the whole story of his 2019. He was the driving offensive force behind a 12-4 team that won the AFC East for the 11th straight season. But much of that strength came from a defense that ranked best in the NFL in both yards and points allowed. When that unit needed an extra counterpunch to beat good teams, Brady struggled to provide it.

His Patriots went just 3-4 against playoff teams, and the two teams they did beat — the Bills and Eagles — failed to advance out of the Wild Card Round. Brady threw for 637 yards in those games and recorded just 5.4 yards per attempt.

Here were his numbers in the seven starts he had against teams that advanced to the postseason, including the Patriots’ loss to the Titans:

Not good! Jay Cutler, for comparison’s sake, had a 75.1 passer rating and a 9:7 touchdown:interception ratio in his lone comeback season with the Dolphins in 2017.

This wasn’t all on Brady

One major caveat in Brady’s sudden downturn can be traced to his lack of playmaking support. Rob Gronkowski retired and was replaced by Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo, and a 38-year-old Ben Watson. Together, they combined for 36 catches, 418 yards, and two touchdowns.

An overtaxed receiving corps couldn’t pick up that slack. Julian Edelman remained a reliable target (11 drops aside), but his supporting cast couldn’t keep pace. First-round rookie N’Keal Harry missed the first half of the season due to injury and didn’t make much of a difference upon his return. Josh Gordon was mostly a non-factor before getting hurt and then released; he’s currently on the league’s exempt list after failing another league drug test.

Antonio Brown signed a $10 million contract with the Pats and lasted one game before his off-field baggage led to his release. Mohamed Sanu, acquired before the trade deadline at the steep cost of a second-round pick, had little influence upon his arrival, injured his ankle soon after, and had 15 catches in his final seven games. Despite all these opportunities, Phillip Dorsett was mostly an ignored presence on the depth chart.

This put all the more pressure on New England’s offensive line and running game, which didn’t step up. Center David Andrews missed the entire season due to blood clots in his lungs. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn was out half the season with a lower leg injury, forcing the team to turn to September free agent Marshall Newhouse to protect Brady’s blindside for its first eight games. That went ... poorly.

Marshall Newhouse... pic.twitter.com/BlDmY97HWO

— Tucker Boynton (@Tucker_TnL) November 17, 2019

Fullback James Develin went on injured reserve after just two games. His replacement, Jakob Johnson, made it four games before landing on IR. Linebacker Elandon Roberts had to move to the backfield in their steads.

This all contributed to a massive sophomore slump from Sony Michel. The former first-round pick was electric in New England’s run to Super Bowl 53, rushing for six touchdowns in three postseason games. But in 2019, his yards per carry dropped from 4.5 to 3.7 — even as his yards after contact (2.4 to 2.4) and broken tackle rate (11.0 to 10.9 percent) remained the same.

That’s a lot of moving parts that went awry, and it would be foolish to believe Brady was insulated by the swirling tide of awfulness that surrounded him. At no one point was this more evident than in the team’s home loss to the Titans in the playoffs.

And despite all this, New England still ranked 11th in the league in offensive efficiency, per Football Outsiders. There’s room to build from there.

That leaves this team with plenty of holes to plug in order to make one or two (or three?) seasons of mid-40s Brady worthwhile at a high price. So how would they get there?

Brady could rebound with a better supporting cast ... but where will that money come from?

As it currently stands, the Patriots are slated to have a little more than $50 million in cap space headed into the 2020 offseason, not counting Brady’s voided $6.7 million hit. Brady’s deal would eat up somewhere between $20 and $30 million in space for next season, which would immediately handcuff the club when it comes to signing veteran help. The bulk of whatever’s left over would likely go toward pending free agents like Devin McCourty, Kyle Van Noy, Danny Shelton, or Jamie Collins, all of whom were vital to the Pats’ league-best defense last season.

Not all of those guys will be back, but the ones who re-sign will leave precious little salary cap space around them. While players like A.J. Green, Emmanuel Sanders, and Eric Ebron will be available in free agency, New England may not be able to harvest the cream of that underwhelming crop. The Pats could be stuck trying to turn other teams’ unpolished goods into gems, either through that market or via low-key trade.

That works out great when those guys turn out to be Wes Welker, LeGarrette Blount, or Randy Moss. It’s been much less of a boon when those buy-low deals have brought in players like Eric Decker, Jordan Matthews, or Scott Chandler.

The draft is another viable avenue to add talent, but not an especially reliable one. Bill Belichick’s track record with receiver prospects isn’t especially successful, and the jury’s still out on last year’s top pick Harry. The Patriots are also without their second-round pick thanks to the aforementioned Sanu trade.

This puts the them in a bit of a catch-22. Brady needs better targets, but if he’s going to re-sign in New England for $30 million, the team won’t be able to afford many upgrades. That leaves a thin line for Belichick to walk when it comes to balancing his roster over the final however-many years of his star quarterback’s career.

The Patriots’ willingness to spend suggests Brady will stay, but that’s no guarantee

There’s a chance Brady finishes his career outside New England. The Raiders are reportedly interested in making him the crown jewel of their debut season in Las Vegas. Or the two-time regular season MVP could make a return to his home state now that no one’s really quite sure what the future holds for the Chargers and free agent quarterback Philip Rivers. Several other teams could use him as a towering bridge between their present and future at quarterback.

It’s easy to see why he’d be a wanted man outside Foxborough. Brady has spent the back half of his career shattering expectations for aging quarterbacks. He’s the oldest player to ever win MVP honors and the oldest starting QB to win a Super Bowl. Projecting his decline is a futile exercise.

His 2019, however, was not a season worthy of a $30 million deal, no matter what his legacy says. Paying out the nose for Brady would ensure a New England legend stays in town, but it would also handicap his team’s ability to fill the holes that led to its worst playoff performance in a decade. There’s no way both Brady and Belichick don’t know that.

So the question now is whether they hurtle forward toward mutually assured destruction, or whether they’ll return to the careful roster building that’s helped make the Patriots the most accomplished team of the millennium.

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junker-town · 5 years

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Has Cam Newton played his last game for the Panthers?

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

Newton went on injured reserve and has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract.

Cam Newton won’t be returning to the Panthers’ lineup anytime soon, if ever. Carolina put its starting quarterback on injured reserve in advance of a Week 10 showdown with the Packers, ending his 2019 regular season after only two games due to a foot injury.

That decision puts a middling franchise at a crossroad. Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP, has only one year and no guaranteed money remaining on his contract. His replacement, former undrafted free agent Kyle Allen, won his first four games as a starter in his stead. Allen has since hit a rough patch and has the Panthers on a four-game skid. Now coach Ron Rivera has been fired and any hopes for the postseason are shot.

All that turmoil makes moving on from Newton via trade an interesting possibility. It would likely bring some draft assets back in return while saving the team more than $19 million in salary cap space in 2020.

A Newton trade or release seemed unheard of four years ago when the dual-threat passer rallied his team to a 15-1 regular season record and a victory in the NFC Championship. His Panthers have stagnated since then; he’s an even 23-23 as a starter in the three-plus years since.

In that span, they’ve missed the postseason twice — a third miss is on the way — and gotten a new owner who may be looking to make a splash. David Tepper bought the franchise from a scandal-embroiled Jerry Richardson after a wildly successful finance career based predicated on bold moves. He already moved on from Rivera and could make another such deal by swapping out his starting QB.

So what are the odds Carolina moves on from its all-time passing leader?

Christian D’Andrea: 50 percent (was 20 percent before Rivera’s firing)

There’s some logic to moving on from a former MVP who is only 30 years old. Newton’s breakthrough 2015 looks more like an oasis in a desert of mediocrity the further it gets in the rear view mirror. In the 3.5 years since, he’s completed less than 60 percent of his passes, thrown 44 interceptions in 46 starts, and averaged only 6.9 yards per attempt. Of the 42 quarterbacks who’ve thrown at least 500 passes in that span, Newton’s 82.6 passer rating ranks 33rd — just beneath Joe Flacco and Josh McCown but just ahead of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Blake Bortles.

These are all numbers that likely make a man with an analytical background like Tepper’s very uneasy. With Rivera gone, there’s reason to believe firing a head coach but not cleaning house would be a half measure where a full one is needed. There’s a not-insignificant chance Newton wears a color other than teal for the first time in his NFL career come 2020.

That might be a rash decision whose risks outweigh its potential rewards. Newton’s top gear puts him on a completely different plane than those guys. While it may be panning for fool’s gold to hope he’ll ever be the same player he was — especially as nagging injuries have conspired to sap a little bit more of his strength every year — he still brings plenty to the table.

Newton’s 2020 cap number is a relatively affordable $21.1 million. Combine that with the paltry six-figure/low seven-figure number Allen will receive as an exclusive rights restricted free agent, and you’ve got a QB rotation that would likely cost the Panthers less than the Jaguars will pay Nick Foles next fall.

That’s a fair price to keep a reliable QB tandem in town, and few teams understand the value of a useable backup more than the Panthers right now. If Newton doesn’t work out, he can leave in free agency the following year without Carolina owing him anything. If he does — and the team still believes in Allen as its future — the club could still move him before the trade deadline to a needy team with postseason aspirations and a shaky passing offense.

There isn’t much incentive to release Newton. Trading him while his value may never have been lower isn’t likely to bring the kind of return for which the Panthers would hope. If some team — i.e. the Bears — bowls Carolina over with an offer, Newton could be gone. Otherwise there’s little risk involved with keeping Newton around and seeing what he can do after a full year of rehab.

James Dator: 45 percent

Never, ever underestimate the possibility of the Panthers doing something monumentally stupid — and make no mistake, moving on from Newton would be colossally idiotic. Newton is the first and only true, franchise quarterback the team has ever had, and it took them almost 20 years to draft him.

That said, there are salary cap and coaching issues at play too. Now that the Panthers decided to part ways with Rivera (and likely general manager Marty Hurney by extension), there is a plausible scenario where a new leadership team wants “their guy” to be the quarterback moving forward. Newton will eat up a sizable chunk of the team’s cap space next season, and it might seem prudent on paper to free up that money and get some draft picks in exchange.

Should this happen then the Panthers deserve the next decade of mediocrity. The team’s defense and Christian McCaffrey are good enough that they won’t see a top-five pick anytime soon, so they’ll limp along to a series of 6-10 and 7-9 seasons with Kyle Allen or whomever at the helm until someone finally gets fed up and lets the team tank.

On a personal level, moving on from Newton is just gross. The front office retained their jobs on his back for the last eight years, floundering to give their franchise QB decent receivers or an offensive line of note. He still went on to take them to a Super Bowl and become the best passer in team history despite every card in the beck being stacked against him. Newton never threw the organization under the bus, even when they deserved it. Turnabout is fair play and they deserve to stick with him now.

But football is a cruel, harsh business sometimes run by total idiots who can’t see the forest for the trees — so a scenario absolutely exists where he’s gone by the draft. If Newton is traded to another team they deserve to kick the crap out of Carolina every year until Newton eventually retires.

What does this mean for the Panthers going forward?

D’Andrea: Two questions for you, James.

What do you think Tepper’s presence means to the franchise and how much he’s ready to take the wheel after leaving things relatively stable in his first year as owner?

What you think the Panthers would do with the extra cash/assets the team would glean from moving on from Newton?

Dator: Tepper was resolutely behind Newton when he took over as owner, largely taking the approach that he would support whatever his football staff believed was the right. It’s still early to put a pin on what Tepper really believes in as owner, however. This is still the honeymoon phase, and there’s no doubt he’s monitoring how fans are reacting to Newton being hurt.

In terms of what the team would do with potential assets — that really depends on who the GM is. There’s a scenario where I can envision them finally building from the inside out and shoring up their offensive line before trying to find a quarterback, but fans are also growing weary of mediocrity. If the Panthers decide to part ways with Newton they better have an answer, and fast.

Remember when the Chargers let Drew Brees go to New Orleans? That didn’t sting very much because Philip Rivers is excellent. If that same scenario plays out and the Panthers don’t have a Rivers-like QB to insert then there are no depths of how upset fans will be. The big problem: The team is winning right now.

Some questions for you, since you don’t have a vested interest as a fan.

Is there a scenario you see where the Panthers can compete in the next five years without Newton?

Looking ahead to the draft: Is there any way the Panthers could conceivably find another franchise QB quickly?

D’Andrea: I think the Panthers could be a couple of impact defensive players away from being able to succeed with a caretaker QB. Hell, they hit the midway point of the season 5-3 with Allen playing roughly as well as late-stage Andy Dalton. McCaffrey’s cheat code abilities out of the backfield should boost any quarterback, and adding another few difference makers to the core of Luke Kuechly, Brian Burns, Donte Jackson, Kawann Short, and a potentially re-signed Mario Addison could mire opponents long enough for an average QB to squeak out a series of wins. The last two guys on that list are starting to get old, though — so Carolina would have to make that move soon.

Finding another franchise quarterback, especially without a top-10 pick, will be tough but not impossible. In recent years we’ve seen players like Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, Teddy Bridgewater, Jacoby Brissett, Derek Carr, Jimmy Garoppolo, Russell Wilson, and Nick Foles fall to the back end of the first round or deeper. The Panthers could also take a chance on a rehabilitation project on the free agent market like Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota, if they want to swing hard in 2020. Neither path is ideal. I like the draft idea far more than trying to break a middling QB’s bad habits, especially when you consider the contract costs involved, but Carolina has options.

The Panthers started 5-1 without Newton in the lineup in 2019 and jumped into the thick of the NFC playoff race behind Allen, stout defense, and McCaffrey’s MVP-like performance. That fell apart, though. Now the team is a rudderless, sinking ship that’ll be eliminated from playoff contention soon.

Rivera’s team could wind up stuck in the league’s middle class as 2019 winds to a close; not good enough for the postseason but not ready to rebuild either. That’ll push some serious questions about this team’s future to the forefront of its offseason planning. All things considered, it makes sense for Newton to play out his contract in Charlotte — but asking the Panthers to make the logical choice isn’t always a safe bet.

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junker-town · 5 years

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Has Cam Newton played his last game for the Panthers?

Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

Newton went on injured reserve and has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract.

Cam Newton won’t be returning to the Panthers’ lineup anytime soon. Carolina put its starting quarterback on injured reserve in advance of a Week 10 showdown with the Packers, ending his 2019 regular season after only two games due to a foot injury.

That decision puts a middling franchise at a crossroad. Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP, has only one year and no guaranteed money remaining on his contract. His replacement, former undrafted free agent Kyle Allen, is 5-1 as a starter in his stead. Moving on from Newton via trade would likely bring some draft assets back in return while saving the team more than $19 million in salary cap space in 2020.

A Newton trade or release seemed unheard of four years ago when the dual-threat passer rallied his team to a 15-1 regular season record and the NFC championship. His Panthers have stagnated since then; he’s an even 23-23 as a starter in the three-plus years since.

In that span, they’ve missed the postseason twice and gotten a new owner who may be looking to make a splash. David Tepper bought the franchise from a scandal-embroiled Jerry Richardson after a wildly successful finance career based predicated on bold moves. He could make another such deal by swapping out his starting QB and head coach Ron Rivera this offseason.

So what are the odds Carolina moves on from its all-time passing leader?

Christian D’Andrea: 20 percent

Still, Newton’s top gear puts him on a completely different plane than those guys. While it may be panning for fool’s gold to hope he’ll ever be the same player he was — especially as nagging injuries have conspired to sap a little bit more of his strength every year — he still brings plenty to the table.

James Dator: 45 percent

That said, there are salary cap and coaching issues at play too. Should the Panthers decide to part ways with Rivera (and general manager Marty Hurney by extension) after the season, then there is a plausible scenario where a new leadership team wants “their guy” to be the quarterback moving forward. Newton will eat up a sizable chunk of the team’s cap space next season, and it might seem prudent on paper to free up that money and get some draft picks in exchange.

On a personal level, moving on from Newton is just gross. The front office retained their jobs on his back for the last 8 years, floundering to give their franchise QB decent receivers or an offensive line of note. He still went on to take them to a Super Bowl and become the best passer in team history despite every card in the beck being stacked against him. Newton never threw the organization under the bus, even when they deserved it. Turnabout is fair play and they deserve to stick with him now.

What does this mean for the Panthers going forward?

D’Andrea: Two questions for you, James.

What do you think Tepper’s presence means to the franchise and how much he’s ready to take the wheel after leaving things relatively stable in his first year as owner?

What you think the Panthers would do with the extra cash/assets the team would glean from moving on from Newton?

Some questions for you, since you don’t have a vested interest as a fan.

Is there a scenario you see where the Panthers can compete in the next five years without Newton?

Looking ahead to the draft: Is there any way the Panthers could conceivably find another franchise QB quickly?

D’Andrea: I think the Panthers could be a couple of impact defensive players away from being able to succeed with a caretaker QB. Hell, they’re 5-3 right now with Allen playing roughly as well as late-stage Andy Dalton. McCaffrey’s cheat code abilities out of the backfield should boost any quarterback, and adding another few difference makers to the core of Luke Kuechly, Brian Burns, Donte Jackson, Kawann Short, and a potentially re-signed Mario Addison could mire opponents long enough for an average QB to squeak out a series of wins. The last two guys on that list are starting to get old, though — so Carolina would have to make that move soon.

The Panthers have gone 5-1 without Newton in the lineup in 2019 and have jumped into the thick of the NFC playoff race behind Allen, stout defense, and McCaffrey’s MVP-like performance. However, Carolina is only 1-2 against teams with winning records this season and still has plenty of work to do before putting a capital “C” on their contender status.

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junker-town · 5 years

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All the NFL free agency rumors you need to know

Le’Veon Bell finally has a new home and a bunch of big names got traded. What will happen next?

The race to Super Bowl 54 begins March 13. That’s the first day teams can officially sign the free agents who can push their rosters over the top and into the NFL’s record books.

This year’s class of available players is loaded with talent, though most of it comes on the defensive side of the ball. Pocket-crumpling pass rushers like DeMarcus Lawrence, Jadeveon Clowney, and Frank Clark all received the franchise tag and will be staying put. Versatile safeties like Landon Collins, Earl Thomas, and Lamarcus Joyner all cashed in during free agency.

There aren’t as many recognizable offensive standouts in this year’s list of available players, but the headliner is big enough to make up for a lack of depth behind him. Le’Veon Bell finally earned unrestricted free agency after two years of Steelers’ franchise tags, one of which the three-time All-Pro played an Uno “skip” card. The 27-year-old tailback got to choose where he’ll like to play next as he searches for the massive multi-year deal that includes the guaranteed money he couldn’t find in Pittsburgh — and he picked the Jets.

Even though there are many big playmakers hitting free agency, a couple more could be available via trade. The Steelers traded Antonio Brown, while the Giants sent Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns.

How are franchises lining up for what promises to be a mid-March spending spree? Here are some of the rumors following the league’s top free agents into the official start of bidding season.

Free agent rumors

Jay Ajayi, RB

2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles

Ajayi only played in four games last year due to injury, but he’s just 25 and has been productive when healthy. He has a visit lined up with the Colts.

Kwon Alexander, ILB

2018 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Alexander has missed 14 games the past two seasons, but that’s not scaring off the 49ers. General manager John Lynch is set to make him the highest-paid inside linebacker in the game with a four-year, $54 million deal.

Dwayne Allen, TE

2018 team: New England Patriots

The day after he was officially released by the Patriots, Allen visited the Ravens. The veteran tight end is also drawing interest from the Bills and met with the Lions and Dolphins as well.

Shortly after, he decided to stay in the AFC East and reunite with Brian Flores:

The #Dolphins and TE Dwayne Allen agreed to terms on a 2-year deal worth $7M, source said. A nice payday for a locker room leader and good guy.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2019

Danny Amendola, WR

2018 team: Miami Dolphins

33-year-old Amendola spend just one season in Miami before getting released. As soon as he was, the rumors already started up about a possible return to New England:

Amendola would be interested in returning to the Patriots https://t.co/d6qXNWaZYR

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) March 8, 2019

But instead of moving back to New England, Amendola picked the Great Value version of Bill Belichick’s team — he’ll reunite with Matt Patricia by signing with the Detroit Lions. The deal is a one-year pact worth up to $5.75 million.

Ezekiel Ansah, DE

2018 team: Detroit Lions

Ansah played in just seven games last season and is recovering from shoulder surgery, so he has received a ton of interest on the market. Still, the 30-year-old pass rusher met with the Bills and will next visit the Saints.

Anthony Barr, LB

2018 team: Minnesota Vikings

Barr was expected to sign with the Jets, where he could return to his old college position off the edge. And welp, never mind:

Plot twist! LB Anthony Barr has decided to agree to terms to remain with the #Vikings, sources say. He will not be a member of the #Jets after all.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2019

Cole Beasley, WR

2018 team: Dallas Cowboys

The Bills needed receivers to help second-year quarterback Josh Allen. They might not have gotten Antonio Brown, but they did add John Brown and now Beasley:

#Bills aren't done at WR. They will sign WR Cole Beasley, sources say. He'll get $29 million over four years.

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2019

Le’Veon Bell, RB

2018 team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert says the team won’t franchise or transition tag Bell this offseason. He’ll be completely free to negotiate with teams across the league this spring.

The Jets have long been a favorite to land Bell’s services, but after the combine, the Ravens emerged as another strong contender. The Raiders, who famously acquired Bell’s former Pittsburgh teammate Antonio Brown, are also in the mix. The Colts, however, are not.

And while the Jets lost out on Anthony Barr, they’re still trying to make a push for Bell:

With Anthony Barr spurning the #Jets, they have some extra money. I’m told they’ve taken some of that money and made a last and final big offer to Le’Veon Bell. It’s decision time for the ex-#Steelers RB.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019

Former NFL receiver Antonio Bryant says that Bell has made up his mind, though the team is still TBD. It’s likely down to the Jets, Ravens, ... and maybe the Raiders?

Well, if there’s one thing Le’Veon Bell likes, it’s deadlines:

The #Jets have given Le’Veon Bell a deadline to decide if he is going to sign or not, per sources. They’re not waiting forever.

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 12, 2019

If he doesn’t land in New York, there’s reportedly a list of teams waiting for the price to drop so they can jump in the mix.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen suggested some NFL teams are waiting to pounce if Le'Veon Bell's price comes down with market slower than expected. "I know some teams that are waiting to jump in there at a lower market value."

— Evan Silva (@evansilva) March 12, 2019

Maybe the Jets’ ultimatum worked or maybe there wasn’t much of a bidding war, but Bell landed exactly where most predicted he would:

Former Steelers’ RB Le’Veon Bell plans to sign with…the New York Jets, a league source tells ESPN

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2019

Martellus Bennett, TE

2018 team: n/a

Marty B spent the 2017 season with the Packers and Patriots before retiring in the offseason. With brother Michael Bennett heading to New England, Martellus might consider a return to the NFL to play alongside his older sibling:

Michael and Martellus Bennett always have wanted to play together. Now that the Patriots are trading for Michael, Martellus is interested in coming out of retirement to join his brother in New England, per a source. Then would be the McCourty and Bennett Bros. in New England.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2019

The Patriots also have an open spot at tight end after Dwayne Allen’s release. Michael Bennett isn’t buying it, though.

Eric Berry, S

2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs

Shortly after free agency officially began, the Chiefs announced the release of safety Eric Berry. It’s a surprising move simply because he leaves the Chiefs with $14.95 million in dead cap. Berry has only played in three games over the past two seasons, but before that, he was one of the league’s best safeties since being selected in the first round by the Chiefs in 2010. The Cowboys were unable to sign Earl Thomas, but they could find solace in another former All-Pro in Berry.

If not, Berry should garner interest from other teams:

Eric Berry’s visit in Dallas is complete, I’m told. He’s headed to the airport. More visits are expected to be scheduled.

— Terez A. Paylor (@TerezPaylor) March 19, 2019

Blake Bortles, QB

2018 team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Foles’ impending arrival in Florida means the Jags have to do something with Bortles — and paying him $21 million to serve as a backup isn’t in the card. After the team signed Nick Foles, the former No. 3 overall pick was released, leaving him free to sign with any other team in the league.

He only needed one free agent visit to find his new home — he’ll back up Jared Goff with the LA Rams.

Free agent QB Blake Bortles, recently released by the Jaguars, will visit the Rams on Monday, according to a team source... @AroundTheNFL @nflnetwork

— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) March 16, 2019

Teddy Bridgewater, QB

2018 team: New Orleans Saints

One report said that Bridgewater wasn’t out of the running for the Jaguars’ job, though that ended up going to Nick Foles. He reportedly turned down a more lucrative offer to compete for Miami’s starting role to remain in New Orleans as Drew Brees’ eventual successor, but that’s still TBD as well.

One reason that he might be hesitant to stay with the Saints: The rumor that Sean Payton could replace Jason Garrett in 2020.

Bridgewater visited the Dolphins at the start of free agency, though he left without a deal and ended up re-signing with the Saints for a year.

John Brown, WR

2018 team: Baltimore Ravens

The Bills finally landed a receiver with the last name Brown:

WR John Brown and the Buffalo Bills have agreed to terms, per source. @nflnetwork

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) March 12, 2019

Trent Brown, LT

2018 team: New England Patriots

Brown is one of the hottest offensive linemen available in 2019, and he’s not expected to linger on this year’s open market. Teams expect him to decide on a new contract in advance of Wednesday’s official start to free agency.

So far, the Raiders look like the early favorite, although Ian Rapoport also mentioned the Texans as a possibility.

Keep an eye on the #Raiders as OT Trent Brown's market heats up. Internally, he's one of their top targets in free agency. pic.twitter.com/xIalBaf4fw

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2019

“This a player, I’m told, internally they love and are ready to spend for. This could be a player that the Oakland Raiders lock in pretty quickly in free agency if all goes well.”

Indeed, it was the Raiders who jumped up with a big offer — one Brown intends to sign Wednesday afternoon.

Former Patriots’ OT Trent Brown intends to sign a four-year, $66 million contract that includes $36.75 million guaranteed with the Oakland Raiders, per source, making him highest paid OL in NFL history.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2019

Dez Bryant, WR

2018 team: New Orleans Saints

Bryant tore his Achilles days after signing with the Saints last offseason. As they’ve said all along, they’re interested in bringing him back.

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S

2018 teams: Green Bay Packers, Washington

Washington hasn’t been able to re-sign the player it traded for midway through the 2018 season. Now it’s in danger of losing him to the Bears, who need a replacement for Adrian Amos.

Shortly after Clinton-Dix’s visit in Chicago, he signed with the Bears.

Randall Cobb, WR

2018 team: Green Bay Packers

The versatile veteran could wind up filling a major need with the. Cowboys. He’s taking a visit to Dallas March 18.

It must have gone well, because Cobb signed a one-year deal with the team the following day.

Tevin Coleman, RB

2018 team: Atlanta Falcons

As one of the youngest, top running backs to hit free agency, Coleman should have a few suitors. One of them is the tailback-needy Eagles, but he decided to reunite with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco.

Jamie Collins, LB

2018 team: Cleveland Browns

The Browns were unable to find a trade partner to offload their high-priced inside linebacker, so they decided to release him instead — saving more than $9 million in cap space in the process. The 28-year-old now heads to free agency, where he can be a valuable, if limited, presence in the middle of the field.

Landon Collins, S

2018 team: New York Giants

Collins is headed for free agency, which in retrospective, shouldn’t be a surprise. The safety reportedly packed up much of his locker in northern New Jersey in February. ESPN’s Josina Anderson’s sources suggested he doesn’t expect to be with the club in 2019, while the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz refuted those reports. Collins himself checked in to make it clear he wasn’t entirely thrilled about the idea of playing for New York under a tag.

The stuff in that locker that I have left I do not need

— LANDON COLLINS (@TheHumble_21) February 20, 2019

Collins was reportedly prepared for a long contract standoff if he got tagged this spring — possibly long enough to last into the 2019 season. The Giants could’ve kept him in white and blue with the franchise tag at a cost of just over $12 million for 2019. However, despite contract talks between the two sides, the Giants let Collins walk.

Now, the Giants’ loss is another team’s gain. The Chiefs reportedly are high on the idea of adding the three-time Pro Bowler. The Cowboys, however, are not.

Collins ended up staying in the NFC East, signing a huge deal with Washington.

Jared Cook, TE

2018 team: Oakland Raiders

Cook, who was arguably the Raiders’ best weapon last year, would be a solid add for any team that needs a veteran tight end. Like the Saints, who lost Benjamin Watson to retirement:

#Raiders FA TE Jared Cook, the top available player at his position, is scheduled to visit the #Saints tomorrow, source said. There is a void there right now.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2019

Cook is expected to sign with New Orleans, giving Drew Brees a third dynamic weapon alongside Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara in 2019.

Michael Crabtree, WR

2018 team: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens signed the veteran receiver to a three-year deal last March, but they’re releasing him after just one season. He finished 2018 with just 54 catches for 607 yards and three touchdowns. That’s not much production and Crabtree will be 32 at the start of next season. Still, this isn’t a deep year for free agent receivers.

Jamison Crowder, WR

2018 team: Washington

Crowder’s dynamic play from the slot was underutilized in a bad offensive season for Washington. He’ll work to rebuild his value after signing with the receiver-needy Jets.

Jonathan Cyprien, S

2018 team: Tennessee Titans

Cyprien’s disappointing run in Nashville will come to an end this spring. The Titans plan to release the run-stuffing safety after two seasons and only 10 games with the club. The move will create nearly $5 million in salary cap savings and clears Tennessee to re-sign him at a lower price in 2019.

Pierre Desir, CB

2018 team: Indianapolis Colts

At least a couple teams are interested in the 28-year-old corner, including the Giants and 49ers. But he’s staying in Indianapolis on a new three-year deal.

Ryan Fitzpatrick

2018 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Fitzmagic is staying in Florida. But he’s making his way back to the AFC East, this time with the Miami Dolphins on a two-year deal.

Nick Foles, QB

2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles

Foles voided his mutual option for the 2019 season, but the Eagles could have still use their franchise tag to retain his rights. They won’t, though, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent this spring.

The Jaguars were always the favorites to sign Foles, but one report says the Giants could be interested too. During the NFL Combine, one report said the Jaguars were the only team with real interest in Foles. Now, they’re signing him.

For a tremendous amount of money.

Guranteed money for Nick Foles in Jacksonville, per source: $50.125 million. https://t.co/45h5eJtHkM

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2019

Trey Flowers, DE

2018 team: New England Patriots

Flowers will hit the free agent market this spring, as the Patriots don’t intend to use their franchise tag on him or any player in 2019. He then reunited with his former DC, Matt Patricia, in Detroit.

Dante Fowler Jr., EDGE

2018 teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams

Fowler has yet to live up to the pre-draft pedigree that pushed the Jags to draft him with the No. 3 overall pick in 2016, but that hasn’t scared away potential suitors this spring. The Jets and 49ers are both reportedly lining up offers for the 24-year-old pass rusher. But the Rams ended up keeping Fowler, who played well once he was traded to LA, on a “prove it” deal.

Devin Funchess, WR

2018 team: Carolina Panthers

The once-rising wideout won’t return to Carolina for his fifth season in the league. The former Michigan star failed to follow up on 2017’s breakout 840-yard campaign, but a change of scenery could be all he needs to get back on track as a starting receiver. He’s getting a one-year deal with the Colts that could pay him up to $13 million.

Frank Gore, RB

2018 team: Miami Dolphins

The ageless Gore finished 2018 on injured reserve, but that didn’t stop his season from proving he’s still got plenty of gas left in the tank. The Bills are dealing with their own veteran tailback in LeSean McCoy, but they’re allegedly interested in keeping Gore in the AFC East. A one-year, $2 million deal ensured Buffalo would have the league’s oldest tailback platoon.

Robbie Gould, K

2018 team: San Francisco 49ers

The Niners used their franchise tag to retain Gould, who led the league in field goal percentage after making 33 of his 34 attempts in 2018.

Robert Griffin III, QB

2018 team: Baltimore Ravens

Griffin is a free agent, but he’s interested in staying with Baltimore to support second-year quarterback Lamar Jackson as the team’s backup in 2019.

Johnathan Hankins, DT

2018 team: Oakland Raiders

Hankins continued his streak of excellent play in the middle last fall, and that caught John Elway’s eye. The Broncos were interested in adding him to their stable., but Big Hank ended up staying with the Raiders on a new two-year deal.

Carlos Hyde, RB

2018: Cleveland Brown, Jacksonville Jaguars

Shortly after his release from Jacksonville, Hyde already has a free agent visit lined up. The veteran back met with the Chiefs.

And just like that, he signed a new deal with Kansas City:

Chiefs are giving former Jaguars’ RB Carlos Hyde a one-year, $2.8 million deal - $1.6 million of which is guaranteed, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2019

Mark Ingram, RB

2018 team: New Orleans Saints

The dynamic backfield duo of Ingram and Alvin Kamara is no more. The Saints are signing Latavius Murray to a four-year deal — though they did offer Ingram an undisclosed amount to stay:

The #Saints reached out to Ingram. Made an offer and repeatedly said they wanted him to stay. Loved his flexibility and interchangeability in the offense. Will miss the closeness he and Alvin Kamara. Unique bond. https://t.co/Yk1MAqp5NP

— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 12, 2019

He’ll now hit free agency, where the Ravens are interested — and then landed Ingram on a three-year deal.

Malik Jackson, DT

2018 team: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars parted ways with their prized free agent acquisition of 2016 to get some salary cap relief. Immediately after his release, Jackson drew interest. According to Pro Football Talk, the Packers were one of the finalists for the 2017 Pro Bowler.

Instead it was the Eagles that nabbed Jackson on a three-year, $30 million deal.

The #Eagles are expected to sign DT Malik Jackson on a 3-year deal worth $30M, source said. The deal isn’t agreed to yet, but it is getting there.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2019

Ja’Wuan James, OT

2018 team: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins were interested in re-signing James, but it’s hard to top an offer like the Broncos made him:

Former Dolpins’ OT JaWuan James intends to sign a four-year, $52 million deal that includes $32 million guaranteed with the Denver Broncos, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2019

James will now be the highest-paid right tackle in the league.

Grady Jarrett, DT

2018 team: Atlanta Falcons

Jarrett is staying in Atlanta in 2019. The problem-solving defensive mainstay signed his franchise tender for the upcoming season, locking him into at least one more year with the Falcons.

Kevin Johnson, CB

2018 team: Houston Texans

The oft-injured former first round pick is drawing plenty of interest after being released by the Texans. He visited the Bills, Browns, and Jets in his quest to find a new NFL home. He’s set to sign with Buffalo, pending a contract review.

Lamarcus Joyner, S

2018 team: Los Angeles Rams

A year after getting the franchise tag from the Rams, Joyner instead will hit the open market as one of the top safeties in a crowded market. It didn’t take long for him to land a deal, though. He’s joining the Raiders on a four-year deal.

DeMarcus Lawrence, DE

2018 team: Dallas Cowboys

Lawrence isn’t interested in being tagged by the Cowboys for a second straight year. The dynamic pass rusher would reportedly refuse to sign a franchise tender this spring, giving way to a potential Bell-esque showdown between the two sides. Dallas would prefer to sign Lawrence to a long-term deal rather than resort to using the tag anyway.

That didn’t happen. Lawrence, to his displeasure, got the franchise tag yet again. He has already said he won’t sign the tender, meaning the two sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal or things will get ugly in Dallas. NFL Network’s Jane Slater also said Lawrence felt “disrespected” by what has happened.

You know what’s a good cure for disrespect? A nine-figure contract. Lawrence is expected to re-sign with the Cowboys on a five-year deal worth more than $100 million.

Tyrann Mathieu, S

2018 team: Houston Texans

Mathieu is one of the most dynamic playmakers at the safety position, and the Texans want to bring him back. Unfortunately for them, it doesn’t seem like that’s happening, as Mathieu is joining the Chiefs on a three-year, $42 million deal.

C.J. Mosley, LB

2018 team: Baltimore Ravens

The rangy inside linebacker will get the opportunity to test the waters of free agency this spring. Baltimore won’t use its franchise tag to retain Mosley, though that doesn’t mean he won’t be back with the team. They are currently trying to re-sign Mosley to a long-term deal, and have “sweetened their offer” to him, but the two sides haven’t agreed to anything yet.

No matter how sweet that offer was, it probably didn’t touch the Jets’. New York reset the inside linebacker market by inking Mosley to a five-year, $85 million contract that pays him over $4m more annually than Carolina’s Luke Kuechly.

Latavius Murray, RB

2018 team: Minnesota Vikings

The 29-year-old Murray will serve as Mark Ingram’s replacement/Alvin Kamara’s complement in New Orleans. He signed a four-year deal with the Saints.

Jordy Nelson, WR

2018 team: Oakland Raiders

With Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams on board, the Raiders said goodbye to Nelson after one season. The soon-to-be 34-year-old was the most productive receiver for Oakland in 2018. He’s got a visit with the Seahawks coming up soon, but there are several suitors interested in his services.

Former Packers’ WR Jordy Nelson is scheduled to visit the Seahawks on Tuesday, per source. They were interested in Nelson last year; GM John Schneider loves Nelson. Other interested teams at this point include: Patriots, Titans, Chiefs, Raiders.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 18, 2019

DeVante Parker, WR

2018 team: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins were expected to release the former first-round pick. Parker had his least productive season as a pro in 2018, making only 24 receptions in 11 games. Instead, they’re giving him a new two-year deal worth $13 million.

Cody Parkey, K

2018 team: Chicago Bears

To no surprise of anyone who watched the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, the Bears are expected to release Parkey at the start of the new league year. Despite his infamous double-doink field goal miss that ended Chicago’s 2018 season, Parkey should be able to find a new team.

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/KR

2018 team: New England Patriots

New England’s Swiss Army Knife is headed to Chicago to give the Bears the league’s deadliest special teams tandem. Patterson will team with Tarik Cohen in the NFC North after signing a two-year, $10 million deal with Chicago.

Breshad Perriman, WR

2018 team: Cleveland Browns

Perriman never panned out with the Ravens, but the former first-round pick caught on with the Browns last season. That was enough for them to re-sign the receiver to a one-year deal ... until they traded for OBJ. Now he’s going to the Bucs:

After trade for Odell Beckham Jr., Browns’ GM John Dorsey and agent Drew Rosenhaus mutually agreed to not to follow through on verbal agreement with WR Breshad Perriman, per @mortreport and me. Perriman now will sign a one-year, $4 million deal with Tampa Bay, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2019

Adrian Peterson, RB

2018 team: Washington

After an “I’m not washed yet” season with Washington, the soon-to-be 34-year-old is returning to the nation’s capital:

RB Adrian Peterson just called me and told me "I am going back to the #Redskins. It will be a 2-year deal. I feel like we made some good moves to get to where we are trying to go."

— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 13, 2019

Spencer Pulley, OL

2018 team: New York Giants

The Giants made a major move to overhaul their o-line by trading for Kevin Zeitler, but decided Spencer Pulley did well enough in his lone year in north Jersey to stick around. The club signed the former undrafted free agent to a three-year deal.

Sheldon Richardson, DT

2018 team: Minnesota Vikings

Richardson’s solid season in his first year away from New York earned him a three-year, $39 million contract to add some veteran punch to the middle of the Browns’ defensive line. He’ll join Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon, and Larry Ogunjobi to form one of the AFC’s fastest-rising pass rushes.

Greg Robinson, OL

2018 team: Cleveland Browns

The former No. 2 overall pick will re-sign with the Browns after putting together one of the best seasons of his maligned career in Cleveland.

Bradley Roby, CB

2018 team: Denver Broncos

The former first-round pick is getting plenty of attention on the free agent market, but he’s decided to sign with the cornerback-needy Texans:

Broncos former first round pick CB Bradley Roby is signing with the the Texans for 1 year and 10 million, per source.

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 12, 2019

Roby said he turned down offers from the Steelers and 49ers to take the “prove it” deal with the Texans.

Rodger Saffold, LG

2018 team: Los Angeles Rams

Saffold is scheduled to become a free agent and the Rams are not expected to re-sign him due to their limited cap space. Rams GM Les Snead said that Saffold would be too “expensive” for them to retain. That made him one of the more coveted players on the free agent market, given how rarely high-end offensive linemen become available.

The Titans snapped him up on a four-year deal.

Za’Darius Smith, LB

2018 team: Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay is adding an underrated punch to its pass rush. The Packers reportedly scooped Smith away from Baltimore after his breakout 8.5-sack season with a multi-year deal.

Terrell Suggs, LB

2018 team: Baltimore Ravens

Suggs is coming back for a 17th season, and possibly his first outside of Baltimore. The Ravens are interested in keeping the veteran leader around, but instead, he’s signing with the Cardinals.

Ndamukong Suh, DT

2018 team: Los Angeles Rams

The Rams acquired Suh on a one-year deal last season and it paid off, though not with a Super Bowl win. And now that the one-year rental is done, the Rams plan to let Suh hit free agency to test his market. One report says he wants to play for a West Coast team.

Golden Tate, WR

2018 teams: Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles

Tate may be the top option on a limited list of free agent wideouts, and he’s interested in catching passes from Tom Brady. New England needs to replenish its receiving corps, but Bill Belichick’s bargain hunting ways kept the veteran WR from being a realistic option in Foxborough. Tate ended up not too far away, with the Giants, who were suddenly in need of a No. 1 WR.

Tyrod Taylor, QB

2018 team: Cleveland Browns

The Dolphins are expected to move on from Ryan Tannehill and draft a quarterback this year. That leaves an opening for a veteran quarterback to either start or to mentor the rookie — something Taylor is familiar with after his season in Cleveland. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Dolphins have interest in the 29-year-old.

But surprisingly, Taylor landed with the Chargers, where he’ll reunite with Anthony Lynn:

Source: The #Chargers agreed to terms with QB Tyrod Taylor on a 2-year deal.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2019

Earl Thomas, S

2018 team: Seattle Seahawks

Thomas, a Texas native, has been linked to the Cowboys ever since becoming disillusioned with his place on the Seahawks’ spending sheet. He may not be able to earn what he feels he’s worth in Dallas, either. The Athletic’s Calvin Watkins reports a Cowboys’ source doesn’t see the team as more than “bargain shoppers” when it comes to the All-Pro safety.

Watkins also confirmed that the Cowboys met with Thomas’ representatives at the scouting combine, to gauge what kind of contract Thomas is looking for. With Dallas already dropping $3.5 million to $5 million on Jason Witten and with big extensions for Amari Cooper and Dak Prescott looming, the franchise may not be able to afford the All-Pro safety:

Let’s clear this up now. A source tells @TheAthleticDFW Cowboys have no interest in Earl Thomas or Landon Collins. The financial price is too steep. This isn’t new news. Now Cowboys also have no interest in Eric Weddle either. Price is everything.

— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) March 6, 2019

Thomas could get the mega-deal for which he’s been looking, if a saturated safety market allows it:

I said “rumored to be” but can now confirm, at least in the market of 14M or more a year, per source. He wants to beat S Eric Berry’s number which is roughly 13M a year https://t.co/uj7ntUHI7L

— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 11, 2019

Following Tyrann Mathieu’s signing with the Chiefs, the Texans were sniffing around Thomas. But they’re out of the bidding after signing Tashaun Gipson.

There was talk about Thomas joining the wave in Cleveland, but that’s not going to happen. He is coming to the AFC North, however: Thomas signed a big-money contract with the Ravens.

Jason Verrett, CB

2018 team: Los Angeles Chargers

The former first-rounder, but oft-injured, Verrett is getting some attention on the open market. He has visits lined up with the 49ers, Texans, and Chiefs. He ended up staying in California on a one-year deal with the 49ers.

Eric Weddle, S

2018 team: Baltimore Ravens

In one of 2019’s more surprising cuts, the Ravens got out of the Eric Weddle business. The veteran defensive back put together another strong season at age 33 last fall, earning a Pro Bowl berth and rating out as Pro Football Focus’s 10th-rated safety. It didn’t take him long to draw interest elsewhere.

Three days after his release, Weddle agreed to a two-year deal with the Rams worth up to $12.5 million.

Tyrell Williams, WR

2018 team: Los Angeles Chargers

Following four seasons with the Chargers, Williams will play for a new team in 2019. He could’ve found himself in the AFC North, considering the Browns and Steelers are both interested in his services.

But he’ll stay on the West Coast:

Former Chargers’ WR Tyrell Williams intends to sign with the Oakland Raiders, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2019

K.J. Wright, LB

2018 team: Seattle Seahawks

The veteran middle linebacker is staying in Seattle.

And now that I just woke up and saw the message and reached out, Wright adds in another text, “it’s a “2-year deal worth up to $15M.” https://t.co/554Y34JiXe

— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 14, 2019

Trade rumors

Odell Beckham Jr., WR

2018 team: New York Giants

Persistent rumors that Beckham could be traded are a little odd considering he received a lengthy extension from the Giants just before the 2018 season began. But Jay Glazer told The Athletic he believes the receiver will get dealt before the 2019 season gets started.

It was real enough that the Browns reportedly went to the Giants with a trade offer of Kevin Zeitler, Emmanuel Ogbah and one more player. The Giants laughed at the offer, according to NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala. That hasn’t kept the team from continuing to shop its All-Pro wideout as the official start to free agency approaches and at least one team is still reaching out:

Via @JosinaAnderson on NFL LIVE: there is an AFC North team that as recently as today continues to inquire on Odell Beckham, Jr.'s availability and discussions have remained ongoing.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 12, 2019

Perhaps it’s the Browns again?

I’m, uh, receiving some texts pic.twitter.com/TQfsTICwYs

— Jordan Zirm (@clevezirm) March 12, 2019

All this smoke doesn’t necessarily mean a fire, though.

“Everything that I have heard has been consistent that they are not looking to trade Odell Beckham Jr.,” NFL Network’s Kimberly Jones reported Tuesday. “I believe they want him in the fold. They know they’re better with him on the field. Would two No. 1 picks do it? Perhaps. But there doesn’t seem to be a team lining up with that kind of mega-offer.”

Oh wait, never mind. Because it DID happen. OBJ got traded to the Browns.

Michael Bennett, DE

2018 team: Philadelphia Eagles

Soon after signing Brandon Graham to an extension, the Eagles sent feelers out to the league about Bennett. The veteran defensive end has a $7.2 million cap hit for 2019.

Bennett told NFL Network that not only would he not be willing to take a pay cut, but that he actually wants a raise. That meant that Bennett likely wouldn’t be back with the Eagles, whether that be a release or a trade.

It was the Patriots that stepped up to get the deal done. The trade is expected to move the Eagles up from the seventh-round to the fifth-round in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Eric Berry, S

2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs

The writing is probably on the wall for Berry. The safety has missed 29 games the past two seasons, and the Chiefs signed Tyrann Mathieu in free agency. But it’s still possible the Chiefs trade Berry rather than release him. And guess who has an open spot at safety?

Hearing rumors that John Dorsey and Browns could be making a play to pluck Eric Berry out of Kansas City. Normally I'd ignore those rumors, but after the events of last night, this is another one I'll be keeping an eye on.

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) March 13, 2019

However, the Chiefs ended up releasing Berry.

Antonio Brown, WR

2018 team: Pittsburgh Steelers

Brown’s tumultuous tenure in Pittsburgh appears to be on its last legs after he formally requested a trade this winter. Now the Steelers are fielding offers and preparing to turn the team’s receiving corps over to JuJu Smith-Schuster.

After originally ruling out AFC North rivals and the New England Patriots as trade partners, Colbert now appears willing to trade Brown to any team willing to meet his asking price.

The Saints and Raiders are two clubs that cropped up on the horizon as the Steelers embark on their journey to trade Brown. ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports the market has shrunk down to one club that’s willing to meet the Steelers’ asking price.

Interesting take on Antonio Brown market from a league source, as of early this morning (in their opinion): "one team race...I think the other teams decided the price was too high."

— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 6, 2019

The Buffalo Bills came close to landing Brown, but the deal never happened:

A statement from GM Brandon Beane. pic.twitter.com/GK8wMqFTCA

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) March 8, 2019

Just over a day later, Brown finally got what he wanted and was traded to the Raiders, who are making him the league’s highest-paid receiver again.

Derek Carr, QB

2018 team: Oakland Raiders

Is Jon Gruden ready to find his own handpicked franchise quarterback? Maybe:

Hearing the Raiders were shopping Derek Carr at the NFL Combine

— Master (@MasterTes) March 2, 2019

The Raiders have three first-round picks, including the fourth overall selection, if there’s a quarterback they like in this draft class.

Dee Ford, DE

2018: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs used their franchise tag on Ford, but they’ve been open to trading their 2014 first-round pick. If a trade partner didn’t emerge, he’d stay in Kansas City and play 2019 under the tag. The Packers and 49ers have both expressed interest in the pass rusher, and the 49ers worked out a deal to land Ford.

Marcus Gilbert, RT

2018 team: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers put Gilbert on the block alongside Antonio Brown. But the Gilbert deal got done first; the right tackle was sent to Arizona:

Steelers OT Marcus Gilbert traded to the Cardinals, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2019

It’s gonna be a busy offseason in Pittsburgh.

Justin Houston, LB

2018 team: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs would have liked to keep their Pro Bowl pass rusher around, but at a cap hit of $21.1 million and with Dee Ford now earning a franchise tag salary of more than $15 million, the 30-year-old will have to find a new home this offseason. Kansas City had engaged in trade talks with multiple teams regarding his availability, but no suitors emerged and the expensive pass rusher ended up getting released.

Jordan Howard, RB

2018 team: Chicago Bears

The Bears running back was a Pro Bowler as a rookie, but only averaged 3.7 yards per carry in 2018. Now, he might be on the trading block heading into the final season of his rookie deal.

According to Adam Schefter, multiple teams have reached out to the Bears about a deal for Howard. Discussions are reportedly “ongoing.”

DeSean Jackson, WR

2018 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

ESPN reports the Bucs are shopping Jackson, who would prefer to get dealt to the team that drafted him: the Eagles. It’s also possible Tampa Bay cuts Jackson instead of trading him. In either situation, a return to receiver-needy Philadelphia is possible.

The problem is that the trade market for Jackson reportedly isn’t strong and it may be in the Bucs’ best interest just to keep the receiver on the team.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not finding any takers in a trade for DeSean Jackson. I’m told for now... the plan is to keep him on the roster. Key words “for now”

— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 11, 2019

In the end, a trade back to Philadelphia turned out to be the best solution for each side.

Tampa it was a great experience, but things didn’t work out !! Looking forward to my next destination .. Stay Tuned #0ne0fone https://t.co/dNsVXC3RMZ

— Desean Jackson (@DeSeanJackson11) March 11, 2019

Duke Johnson, RB

2018: Cleveland Browns

In February, the Browns signed Kareem Hunt (even though they didn’t have to). Despite Hunt facing a lengthy suspension, the Browns have a crowded running backs room, with 2018 rookie Nick Chubb and Duke Johnson. That leaves Johnson as the odd man out. He is reportedly being shopping and getting some interest from other teams, including the Eagles.

Case Keenum, QB

2018 team: Denver Broncos

Washington is reportedly finalizing a deal that will involve a swap of late-round selections in the 2020 NFL Draft for Keenum. Essentially, the Broncos will get nothing for the quarterback, but they will move most of the money owed to the passer off the books. Washington will get a cheap veteran to step in as the starter with Alex Smith expected to miss the 2019 season due to a broken leg.

Emmanuel Ogbah, DE

2018 team: Cleveland Browns

The Browns might not be done making moves. This time, they might be trading away a player rather than acquiring one:

Browns are now shopping former defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah after acquiring Olivier Vernon, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2019

Robet Quinn, DE

2018 team: Miami Dolphins

Miami’s bottoming-out in 2019 now likely includes trading away Quinn, a prized trade acquisition for the Dolphins just a year ago. Dallas could be his destination of choice; he was seen touring the Cowboys’ facilities March 19.

Josh Rosen, QB

2018 team: Arizona Cardinals

Rosen is less than a year removed from being the 11th pick in the NFL Draft, but with new head coach Kliff Kingsbury entirely enamored with Kyler Murray, his time in Arizona may be short. He’s reportedly on the trading block, but it’s unclear just what the Cardinals can recoup for him after a rough rookie campaign as the centerpiece of a talent-starved offense.

The Cardinals reportedly rebuffed offers for Rosen at the combine. Whether or not that resistance holds true through the 2019 draft is another story. There’s at least one team interested:

#Giants would explore a trade for Cardinals QB Josh Rosen if he is made available, per ESPN.

— Ryan Field (@RyanFieldABC) March 14, 2019

John Ross, WR

2018 team: Cincinnati Bengals

Ross isn’t a free agent, but the player Cincinnati spent the ninth overall pick on in 2017 is reportedly available via trade.

Two years ago, top WR prospect John Ross set fire to the Combine with his 40 time. Now, sources say the #Bengals are shopping their former first rounder. A fresh start would be welcome by both parties, sounds like.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 26, 2019

It’s unclear just what he’d command from other teams after recording only 21 receptions in his first two seasons as a pro. A fresh start could be a boon for the oft-injured deep threat, but nothing in his Bengals tenure suggests he’ll be able to live up to the lofty expectations of his first-round pedigree.

The Bears have reportedly shown interest, while the Bengals are denying that they’re shopping Ross.

Ryan Tannehill, QB

2018 team: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins kicked the tires on Teddy Bridgewater, and the Saints were expected to make a run at Tannehill.

Orrrrr, maybe they weren’t:

Source on the possibility of the Saints signing Ryan Tannehill: "No way."

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 13, 2019

It didn’t end up mattering. Tannehill’s career in Miami is over, but he wasn’t released as expected. He was traded to the Titans to back up Marcus Mariota.

Olivier Vernon, EDGE

2018 team: New York Giants

Vernon was New York’s prized $85 million signing in 2016, but he may not see out the end of his contract with the club. The Giants were reportedly listening to trade offers on the impactful pass rusher in hopes of recouping the young assets that can lead a rebuild in northern New Jersey.

In the end, they got a deal done with the Browns. In return, the Giants are getting guard Kevin Zeitler.

0 notes

junker-town · 7 years

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A shopper’s guide to the 2017 NFL quarterback market

This is shaping up to be a buyer’s market for teams in need of a quarterback, with plenty of options available one way or another.

There’s no position in football more important than quarterback, and the league’s salaries confirm that.

Brock Osweiler, a man whose 72.2 passer rating ranked him 29th among 30 qualified starters, did so on the back of a four-year, $72 million contract. The only QB he was better than, Ryan Fitzpatrick, earned $12 million for one year of work despite a history of abject mediocrity. Colin Kaepernick and Jay Cutler teamed up to make more than $37 million; together, they helped produce five combined wins.

As the 2017 free agent crop looms, some mediocre passers will stumble backward into big paydays. Some will play above their pay scale, like Brian Hoyer last season. Others will drop below expectations like Osweiler and Fitzpatrick.

With a dearth of quality quarterbacks in the league, the risk isn’t just acceptable for some teams — it’s necessary. A look at the AFC’s Super Bowl representatives — where Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, and Peyton Manning have been the conference’s men under center in 14 of the last 16 NFL championships — is proof you need a high-level passer to compete. Several teams will forage through this year’s free agent crop in search of the answer to their problems on offense. Most will leave disappointed.

Here’s a breakdown of both the interested buyers and the quarterbacks in line for a change of scenery this spring.

The buyers

Teams in need of a quarterback headed into the 2017 NFL season.

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo has an above-average quarterback on its roster, but is primed to move on from Tyrod Taylor thanks to a guaranteed $27.5 million payout attached to his presence in the lineup next fall. However, his actual salary cap hit would be just under $16 million, a mark ranked 20th in the NFL in 2017. Taylor had a disappointing 2016, but can still make a case as a top-20 quarterback and will likely be able to command a similar salary elsewhere this spring.

If the Bills move on from Taylor, they’re unlikely to find a better option. The only free agent passer with a better combination of production and potential is Kirk Cousins, and he’s unlikely to make his way to upstate New York. With the six-year veteran’s cap number more palatable than it seems, Buffalo may be best served holding on to Taylor and trying to develop a quarterback through the draft.

Chicago Bears

The Jay Cutler era isn’t officially over yet, but Chicago appears set to move on from its franchise quarterback in the name of a fresh start. Cutler was equal parts injured and ineffective in 2016, posting the second-lowest rating of his career in the five games he played. While the team can release him and absorb only $2 million in dead cap money this spring, the Bears are also working to trade the veteran passer in order to get some kind of asset in return.

If Cutler goes, Chicago will have to make a decision about retaining Matt Barkley and Hoyer, who are both unrestricted free agents this spring. Hoyer was the best passer of the group, but his history suggests his uptick last fall is not sustainable. Barkley is a bit more intriguing as a 26-year-old quarterback.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns are the tattered painting Bill Belichick keeps in his attic, aging and fading while the Patriots refuse to show any sign of decline. Cleveland lacks a premier playmaker, as is tradition. Robert Griffin III could still stage a comeback and Cody Kessler looked good in spurts as a rookie. The franchise is still looking for someone to be the foundation of its offense.

With the No. 1, No. 12, and No. 33 picks in this year’s draft, the Browns could work on developing a young passer and instead sign a veteran quarterback to mentor their prospects — assuming they don’t think Griffin can be that kind of leader. A young veteran in the mold of Mike Glennon or Tyrod Taylor could make sense, as well, assuming they can be lured to northeastern Ohio’s factory of sadness.

Houston Texans

Osweiler doesn’t look like the answer, but his onerous contract may keep Houston from spending too much on a possible replacement. The Texans could bring in a veteran passer to push him for the top spot on the depth chart. Tom Savage’s cromulence in limited action to end the season may be enough to vault him into the team’s top spot while they rely on the league’s toughest defense for one more year.

New York Jets

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s resurgent 2015 season had all the structural integrity of a sandcastle; the only thing that kept him from leading the league in interceptions last fall was getting pulled from the starting role in favor of quarterbacks Geno Smith and Bryce Petty. Smith and Fitzpatrick are both free agents, and neither seems likely to return. That leaves Petty, who threw interceptions on more than 5 percent of his passes, and 2016 second-round pick Christian Hackenberg as the team’s holdovers.

Neither one looks like the answer, but both are young quarterbacks who could maybe develop while earning inexpensive salaries. That’s where a player like Tomy Romo or Jay Cutler would come in handy. However, the Jets don’t have an abundance of cap room, which could price them out of an upper-tier veteran. If that’s the case, a lower-profile journeyman like Hoyer could make sense — though it didn’t work out so hot for them last fall.

San Francisco 49ers

Colin Kaepernick is expected to void his contract this spring, making him a free agent — though he could return to the franchise he once led to a Super Bowl. His 6.8 yards per pass were the second-lowest of his career, but he was still miles better than the rest of San Francisco’s depth chart at quarterback — overstuffed scarecrow Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder. The 49ers need help at every position and will be active in free agency this spring.

The quarterbacks

It’s a sellers market for passers, even though the buyers won’t exactly be overwhelmed.

Kirk Cousins

Cousins is leagues ahead of the competition on the free agent market after an age-28 season in which he threw for more than 4,900 yards. Though questions remain about his effectiveness in the red zone — his backbreaking turnovers helped keep his team from the postseason — he’s established himself as a building block in Washington.

The team will have the opportunity to give him the franchise tag, which would keep him in town for one more year at a shade under $24 million and create space for a contract extension. If Washington decides to seek help elsewhere, Cousins will have plenty of suitors lined up to give him a deal that will assuredly go above and beyond the four years, $72 million Osweiler got last year.

Even if the team keeps him for 2017, the relationship between the two sides may be so frayed a long-term deal could be out of the picture.

Tony Romo

Romo isn’t a free agent yet, but with a $24.7 million cap hit, he’d be the league’s most costly quarterback while playing backup to Dak Prescott. That massive number will make him very difficult to trade, leaving an outright release and its ensuing free agency as the most likely outcome.

The four-time Pro Bowler will be 37 in 2017 and has only played five games in the past two seasons. However, his last healthy season was his best, a 34-touchdown campaign that featured a league-high 113.9 passer rating. Romo got better as he got older, but that’s a bell curve almost certain to start trending downward.

He’ll be a perfect fit as a short-term solution for a franchise grooming a young candidate at quarterback. That could be for a team with a possible solution already on the roster — the Broncos, Texans, or Jets, for example — or waiting for one in this year’s NFL draft. No matter the case, he’ll have a few buyers at the ready once Dallas cuts him free.

Jay Cutler

Like Romo, Cutler is still technically under contract but unlikely to return to the franchise he called home. The Bears can escape his reign of terror while eating just $2 million in dead cap space, leaving him free to continue his career elsewhere. Even better, they could trade him and get something — even a late-round pick -- in return.

Cutler played in just five games last season, but had his best performance with the team in 2015. The veteran threw for 3,659 passing yards and posted a 21:11 TD:INT ratio and a career-high 7.6 yards per pass. However, his Bears went 6-10 that year and ranked just 22nd in the league in scoring offense.

Season after season of lackluster returns in Chicago have worn out the potential that made him a rising star eight years ago, but he still provides value behind center. Cutler has the arm to make throws few NFL quarterbacks can. Though his decision making still isn’t great, he can be a stopgap solution for a team in team of a talented hand behind center. The Jets and Browns could both be good fits.

Tyrod Taylor

Taylor could be the second-most valued quarterback on the market, which could be why the Bills would be loathe to let him go, even if keeping him will cost them $27.5 million. He’s made the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons — though that’s more of a statement on how weak the field has been rather than Taylor’s own talent.

His 2016 season was a step back from his breakout the year prior — his yards per pass decreased by more than a full yard — but he has proven to be a capable quarterback who protects the ball (37:12 TD:INT ratio since ‘15) and can make plays with his feet. You could do a lot worse than a borderline top 20 quarterback in this league, and pairing Taylor up with some legitimate weapons (and not just a limping Sammy Watkins) could be the key to unlocking his full potential as a passer.

Colin Kaepernick

Kaepernick has the strongest resume of any quarterback on the potential free agent market; he’s the only one who’s been to a Super Bowl. His star has dimmed considerably in the years that followed, but his decline can be correlated to a 49ers franchise that seemingly stopped caring sometime in 2014. Kaepernick lost his playmakers and was given few avenues for success in 2016.

Though accuracy remains a concern, he played better than his 1-10 record as a starter would suggest. Kaepernick regained his spot as San Francisco’s top playmaker, setting himself up for a solid run at free agency. He remains a dangerous two-way player who may just need a change in scenery to jump-start his career. With “anywhere but Cleveland” serving as an upgrade, the free agent market should look extremely tempting for the 29-year-old.

Mike Glennon

The former starter in Tampa Bay is an interesting prospect. His tenure as a starter didn’t last much beyond his rookie year in 2013, and anyone looking to sign him will have to live with the fact they’re bringing in a passer who was replaced with Josh McCown twice in one season. He’s only thrown 11 passes since the Buccaneers drafted Jameis Winston with the top choice of the 2015 NFL draft.

That lack of action has made him a man of mystery in this year’s free agent crop. Glennon is just 5-13 as a starter, but is relatively careful with the ball (2.4 percent interception rate) and steady enough to be a league-average quarterback for a needy team. At 27 years old, there’s still time for him to break out and develop into the player the Buccaneers hoped he would become. A team willing to take a flier on a passer who isn’t quite a prospect but not yet a veteran will give him a home — someone like the Browns, Bills, or Jaguars.

Nick Foles

Foles is due $6.2 million this season, making him an expensive backup for the Chiefs. If Kansas City releases him — which seems increasingly likely — he’ll join the upper tier of a weak quarterback market.

He hasn’t been able to play up to the level of his breakout season with Philadelphia in 2013, but restored some of his value with a strong performance as Alex Smith’s backup last season. While he only threw the ball 55 times, he avoided mistakes and stood out as a competent leader, winning both games in which he attempted a pass. For that reason, he could leapfrog over a player like Glennon and land in a position where he could challenge for a starting spot on a roster with an unsettled quarterback situation, like in Jacksonville, Houston, or San Francisco.

Brian Hoyer

The journeyman passer put together one of the best performances of his career in 2016, though injuries kept his sample size relatively small. He outplayed Jay Cutler in Chicago before suffering a broken arm in late October. In five starts he posted career highs in completion percentage, yards per attempt, and passer rating — though his Bears went just 1-4 in that span.

Hoyer has thrown for more than 4,000 yards and has a 25:7 TD:INT ratio in his last 17 starts, a stat that dates back to his departure from the quarterback graveyard known as Cleveland. While he hasn’t proven himself as a winner, he’s a talented and underrated pickup for a team in need of a short term starter. He won’t thrive, but he can be entirely competent in the proper setting.

His platoon-mate, Matt Barkley, is also an interesting free agent — though his dismal 60.0 passer rating did his free agency stock few favors last fall.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown, Geno Smith, Case Keenum, EJ Manuel, Ryan Mallett

Sign at your own risk. All could be reasonable backups, but none have proved trustworthy as potential starters for 2017. Smith looked the best of the group in limited snaps last fall, but quickly got injured and proved he’s not a safe bet to last a 16 game season as a starter.

Trade targets

These players aren’t free agents, but could be the answer for quarterback needy teams willing to give up some assets in return.

Jimmy Garoppolo

Garoppolo doesn’t have a wealth of experience as a starting quarterback, but his two-game audition in Tom Brady’s Deflategate-induced absence was an impressive one. In just six quarters of action, he threw for 496 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions as the Patriots went 2-0 to kick off the season.

At just 25 years old, he’s a commodity — and New England has not been shy about moving commodities to fill holes in its roster. The Patriots have Tom Brady signed for the next three seasons and are working on an extension to keep him in Foxborough through his mid-40s. That makes Garoppolo expendable and for the right price — likely a premium pick in the upcoming draft — he could be someone else’s quarterback of the future.

The Browns, who have three of the first 33 picks in April, seem like a natural fit. The Texans and Cardinals could also be interested in bringing the young passer in to compete for a starting spot. Garoppolo has ignored the trade talk so far this season, but if a hot rumor hits the dirt sheets this spring, his mom will be the first person to let him know.

AJ McCarron

McCarron understands his value as a tradable asset this spring, and a move from Cincinnati could give him the opportunity to bloom into a starting quarterback — an ascension Andy Dalton blocks with the Bengals. He went 2-2 filling in for Dalton in 2015, but the Red Rifle’s return to robustness limited him to only one appearance and zero pass attempts last season.

The former Alabama standout still has plenty to prove before cementing his status as a starter. While he was solid in the regular season (97.1 rating), the Steelers rattled him in the playoffs, limiting him to an inefficient 5.2 yards per pass attempt. There’s still plenty of room to grow from there — that game was only his fourth start — but it’s likely to put a damper on his trade value.

McCarron is unproven, but talented. His youth could make him a more attractive option than some of the veteran passers who have put up comparable numbers in recent years. The only question is whether a needy team will send Cincinnati the compensation it’s looking for in order to give the quarterback a new home.

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junker-town · 7 years

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A shopper’s guide to the 2017 NFL quarterback market

This is shaping up to be a buyer’s market for teams in need of a quarterback, with plenty of options available one way or another.

There’s no position in football more important than quarterback, and the league’s salaries confirm that.

With a dearth of quality quarterbacks in the league, the risk isn’t just acceptable for some teams — it’s necessary. A look at the AFC’s Super Bowl representatives, where Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, and Peyton Manning have been the conference’s men under center in 14 of the last 16 NFL championships, is proof you need a high-level passer to compete. Several teams will forage through this year’s free agent crop in search of the answer to their problems on offense. Most will leave disappointed.

Here’s a breakdown of both the interested buyers and the quarterbacks in line for a change of scenery this spring.

The buyers

Teams in need of a quarterback headed into the 2017 NFL season.

Buffalo Bills

Buffalo has an above-average quarterback on its roster, but is primed to move on from Tyrod Taylor thanks to a guaranteed $27.5 million payout attached to his presence in the lineup next fall. However, his actual salary cap hit would be just under $16 million, a mark ranked 20th in the NFL in 2017. Taylor had a disappointing 2016, but can still make a case as a top 20 quarterback and will likely be able to command a similar salary elsewhere this spring.

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

With the No. 1, No. 12, and No. 33 picks in this year’s draft, the Browns could work on developing a young passer and instead sign a veteran quarterback to mentor their prospects — assuming they don’t think Griffin can be that kind of leader. A young veteran in the mold of Mike Glennon or Tyrod Taylor could make sense as well, assuming they can be lured to northeastern Ohio’s factory of sadness.

Houston Texans

New York Jets

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s resurgent 2015 season had all the structural integrity of a sandcastle; the only thing that kept him from leading the league in interceptions last fall was getting pulled from the starting role in favor of quarterbacks Geno Smith and Bryce Petty. Smith and Fitzpatrick are both free agents, and neither seems likely to return. That leaves Petty, who threw interceptions on more than five percent of his passes, and 2016 second-round pick Christian Hackenberg as the team’s holdovers.

San Francisco 49ers

Colin Kaepernick is expected to void his contract this spring, making him a free agent — though he could return to the franchise he once led to a Super Bowl. His 6.8 yards per pass were the second lowest of his career, but he was still miles better than the rest of San Francisco’s depth chart at quarterback — overstuffed scarecrow Blaine Gabbert and Christian Ponder. The 49ers need help at every position and will be active in free agency this spring.

The quarterbacks

It’s a sellers market for passers, even though the buyers won’t exactly be overwhelmed.

Kirk Cousins

Even if the team keeps him for 2017, the relationship between the two sides may be so frayed a long term deal could be out of the picture.

Tony Romo

The four-time Pro Bowler will be 37 in 2017 and has only played five games in the past two seasons. However, his last healthy season was his best; a 34-touchdown campaign that featured a league-high 113.9 passer rating. Romo got better as he got older, but that’s a bell curve almost certain to start trending downward.

He’ll be a perfect fit as a short term solution for a franchise grooming a young candidate at quarterback. That could be for a team with a possible solution already on the roster — the Broncos, Texans, or Jets, for example — or waiting for one in this year’s NFL Draft. No matter the case, he’ll have a few buyers at the ready once Dallas cuts him free.

Jay Cutler

Cutler played in just five games last season, but had his best performance with the team in 2015. The veteran threw for nearly 3,700 passing yards and posted a 21:11 TD:INT ratio and a career-high 7.6 yards per pass. However, his Bears went 6-10 that year and ranked just 22nd in the league in scoring offense.

Tyrod Taylor

Colin Kaepernick

Mike Glennon

Nick Foles

Brian Hoyer

His platoon-mate, Matt Barkley, is also an interesting free agent — though his dismal 60.0 passer rating did his free agency stock few favors last fall.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown, Geno Smith, Case Keenum, EJ Manuel, Ryan Mallett

Trade targets

These players aren’t free agents, but could be the answer for quarterback needy teams willing to give up some assets in return.

Jimmy Garoppolo

AJ McCarron

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