https://theringer.com/picking-the-ideal-free-agent-for-all-32-nfl-teams-67b802e92a43#.wref455wu

Millionaire Matchmaker, NFL Edition
From Brandon Marshall and the Eagles to Julius Peppers and the Patriots, we picked out the ideal free agent for each NFL team
Danny Kelly
Staff Writer, The Ringer

When free agency kicks off on March 9, teams across the NFL will be operating with varying amounts of cap space, but with the right contract maneuvering, every franchise has enough to make at least one signing to bolster depth or add playmaking talent to its roster. So, before everything gets crazy, let’s play matchmaker and find one high-impact free agent (or soon-to-be free agent) for every team in the NFL.

Los Angeles Rams: DB Tony Jefferson
With T.J. McDonald expected to sign elsewhere in free agency, new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips shouldn’t look far to find a replacement. Jefferson had a career year in Arizona last season, racking up 92.0 tackles, two sacks, and two forced fumbles.

Phillips will be hoping to add a physical tone-setter near the line of scrimmage — à la T.J. Ward in Denver — for his new squad, and Jefferson has developed into one of the best box safeties in the league. Oh, and he can cover, too.

Arizona Cardinals: DE Chris Baker
With stalwart defensive ends Calais Campbell and Frostee Rucker hitting free agency — and Robert Nkemdiche coming off a poor rookie performance — the Cardinals need to bolster their defensive front. Baker plays the run well and provides push against the pass, with an average of 42.5 quarterback pressures a year over the past two seasons.

Atlanta Falcons: DL Calais Campbell
With defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux and defensive end Dwight Freeney hitting free agency, Atlanta is also thin on its defensive front. Dan Quinn has a history of utilizing 3–4 defensive ends in his 4–3 scheme (see: Red Bryant and Tony McDaniel in Seattle) and loves to move his guys around on the line (see: Vic Beasley in Atlanta and Michael Bennett in Seattle), making the versatile 6-foot-8 300-pounder an intriguing fit. Campbell registered 56 quarterback pressures last season.

Baltimore Ravens: WR DeSean Jackson
Steve Smith is retired, Kamar Aiken is a free agent, and Breshad Perriman is still a work in progress, so receiver is a position of need for Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense. Jackson would give the big-armed QB another field-stretching threat opposite Mike Wallace, and he would be a great fit in a Marty Mornhinweg offense that wants to throw deep off play-action. Jackson tied for the NFL lead in yards per reception (17.9) in 2016 and netted 19 catches of more than 20 yards.

Buffalo Bills: WR Kenny Britt
Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, Justin Hunter, and Brandon Tate are all free agents, and the health of Sammy Watkins’s foot remains a question mark, so Buffalo must address the lack of depth and talent at receiver. Britt somehow managed to look like a true no. 1 in the Rams’ awful passing attack led by Case Keenum and Jared Goff in 2016, hauling in 68 passes for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns.

Whether it’s Tyrod Taylor or someone else throwing passes for Buffalo next year, the Bills signal-caller will need weapons to look for downfield, and at 28 years old, Britt appears to still be an ascending talent.

Carolina Panthers: OT Andrew Whitworth
With left tackle Michael Oher still in concussion protocol, the future of Cam Newton’s blindside protection remains in flux. He’s not a long-term solution, but the 35-year-old Whitworth would represent the anchor on Carolina’s line: He’s still an excellent pass protector, and is nasty enough in the ground game to be a great fit for the Panthers’ run-heavy approach.

Chicago Bears: CB A.J. Bouye
GM Ryan Pace has accumulated a lot of quality pieces for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s front seven, but the defensive secondary is still a work in progress. Tracy Porter was miscast as a no. 1 cornerback last year, rookie Cre’Von LeBlanc showed promise at times but isn’t ready to take over that role, and Kyle Fuller’s future with the team is in doubt. Chicago needs to make upgrades at corner, and an aggressive, physical cover cornerback like Bouye would be a great start.

Cincinnati Bengals: OG Ronald Leary
With starting right guard Kevin Zeitler expected to leave Cincinnati in free agency, the Bengals have a huge hole to fill in the interior. Enter the 27-year-old Leary, who came into last season with the Cowboys as La’el Collins’s backup, but played like a worthy starter when injuries forced him back into the lineup. Leary didn’t give up a sack all year, per Pro Football Focus, and helped blaze a path for NFL rushing champ Ezekiel Elliott.

Cleveland Browns: C J.C. Tretter
There’s no end to the list of needs on the Browns roster, so why not just start right in the middle? Cameron Erving, a 2015 first-rounder, has been a disappointment, leaving a hole to fill at center.

While Tretter is an injury concern (he’s missed time in two out of his three seasons in the league), he played well in seven starts for the Packers last season. He’s just 26 years old and offers positional versatility at both guard spots and even at tackle in a real pinch.

Dallas Cowboys: CB Logan Ryan
With Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne hitting free agency, cornerback is clearly the Cowboys’ top priority. Ryan offers positional versatility, as he’s able to line up on the outside or in the slot. Plus, the Patriots playmaker can cover and is an aggressive, physical tackler. He’s also got plenty of playoff experience even though he’s just 26 years old.

Denver Broncos: QB Tony Romo
Romo isn’t on the free-agent market just yet, but assuming he’s released (with a wink-nod agreement not to sign with a rival, as Pro Football Talk has speculated), the Broncos make a ton of sense as a landing spot.

They had the top-ranked defense by Football Outsiders DVOA last year, boast two star receivers in Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas to throw to, and play a wide-zone, play-action-heavy scheme that fits Romo’s skill set.

The Broncos would have to convince the veteran QB that they’d be able to protect him (and his back) with a solid offensive line and a run game, but if Romo wants to win now, Denver probably gives him his best chance.

Detroit Lions: DE Jabaal Sheard
It might not be the big-splash signing the Lions need to solve all their pass-rushing woes — Detroit finished 2016 with just 26 sacks, tied for 30th in the league — but with a lack of options in free agency thanks to the franchise tag, Sheard would be Detroit’s best reasonably priced option to upgrade the team’s defensive line.

He’s a rotational pass rusher (13 sacks in the past two years in New England), can set the edge against the run on the strong side, and would bolster a group that already includes the explosive Ziggy Ansah and 2016 breakout player Kerry Hyder.

Green Bay Packers: CB Stephon Gilmore
The Packers don’t typically venture out into big-money free agency under Ted Thompson, but they need cornerbacks more than any team needs anything. Gilmore’s inconsistency is a red flag, but he provides elite cornerback traits with his size, speed, and playmaking ability. The 6-foot 190-pounder had five picks for the Bills last year, and he’s only 26 years old.

Houston Texans: OG Kevin Zeitler
Houston may not have many options at its biggest position of need (quarterback) thanks to Brock Osweiler’s $19 million cap hit in 2017, but the team can at least try to protect whoever’s throwing passes. Guards Jeff Allen and Xavier Su’a-Filo were both disappointments for Houston last year, so adding Zeitler, who hasn’t missed a game in two years, would be a huge upgrade in both pass protection and in the ground game. As is becoming a trend in this list, he’s also 26 years old.

Indianapolis Colts: DE Nick Perry
With Jason Pierre-Paul, Melvin Ingram, and Chandler Jones all receiving the franchise tag from their respective clubs, Perry is left as the top pass-rushing talent on the market. The Colts have Robert Mathis, Trent Cole, and Akeem Ayers all hitting free agency, so they need to add a pass rusher, and Perry, who’s coming off of an 11-sack season, would be a great fit. He’s a risk with just one top-tier season under his belt, but he looks like a player on the rise. And what do you know? He’s 26, too.

Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Russell Okung
The Kelvin Beachum experiment didn’t work out and Luke Joeckel is a free agent, so Jacksonville must address the left side of its offensive line this offseason. Okung is highly experienced, on the right side of 30, and proved he can stay healthy by playing in every game this past season.

Despite his omnipresence, he struggled in 2016 with the Broncos, who declined to pick up his four-year option, but he’s still probably the best left tackle on the market. Jacksonville has the cap space to overpay for a problem it needs to fix.

Kansas City Chiefs: ILB Dont’a Hightower
The Chiefs run defense struggled last year after Derrick Johnson went out with an Achilles tendon tear in Week 14, and with his status for the beginning of next season in doubt — not to mention that he’s 34 years old — Kansas City could benefit from another playmaker in the middle.

Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton could deploy the former Patriot in a number of ways, as Hightower can play the run, cover tight ends and backs out of the backfield, and even rush the passer.

Los Angeles Chargers: OG Larry Warford
New head coach Anthony Lynn coordinated the NFL’s most effective and prolific run game in Buffalo last year, and he’ll be looking to bring aspects of a run game that mixes schemes (gap/zone) and styles (read-option, wildcat) to Los Angeles. A road-grader like Warford represents an upgrade over Orlando Franklin, whose play has dropped off the past two years, and D.J. Fluker, who has yet to live up to his first-round billing.

Miami Dolphins: OG T.J. Lang
Branden Albert is gone in a trade with the Jags, Laremy Tunsil is slated to move to left tackle, and Jermon Bushrod is a free agent. That leaves Miami with two holes to fill at its guard spots, and the 29-year-old Lang is one of the best.

The 2016 Pro Bowler has missed just five games in the past six seasons, and he’s proficient in pass protection and in the run game. Miami’s offense showed promise last year, but the Dolphins need to add talent on the interior of their line if they hope to protect Ryan Tannehill and clear the path for running back Jay Ajayi.

Minnesota Vikings: OG Chance Warmack
Warmack took a big step backward in 2016, but could represent a nice value pickup with upside for the Vikings. Bad seasons can be outliers, too. Signing Warmack would allow offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to move Joe Berger back to center and give them a little stability up the middle with a combination of Alex Boone, Berger, and Warmack on the interior. They still need to figure out the tackle spots, but this would be a start to rebuilding a broken offensive line.

New England Patriots: DE Julius Peppers
The Patriots don’t have many holes, but the pass rush is one area Bill Belichick and Co. will likely be looking to upgrade in 2017. With Chris Long and Sheard hitting the open market, New England may try to add in another veteran situational pass rusher, and Peppers would be a logical fit.

Peppers wants to win a championship, so assuming he decides to play again in 2017, he’d give the Patriots a still-effective force on the edge in passing situations, as he had 7.5 sacks last year.

New Orleans Saints: NT Brandon Williams
The Saints need to take a long look at the cornerback market this offseason, but the defensive line needs attention, too. After watching the impact that Damon “Snacks” Harrison made on the Giants defense last year, elite run-defending defensive tackles will be in high demand this offseason, and Williams is near the top of that list. Pairing Williams with Sheldon Rankins would give defensive coordinator Dennis Allen one of the most talented interior duos in the league.

New York Giants: WR Pierre Garçon
New York would do well to make upgrades at both tackle positions, but in a weak free-agent class at that spot, finding another playmaking weapon for the offense might be the next-best thing. Garçon is as physical after the catch as any receiver in the league — and he also has some of the most reliable hands, with just one drop on 110 targets last year, per Pro Football Focus.

The Redskin isn’t a big-ticket pickup, but he would be a dependable producer and third-down converter on underneath routes. With teams tilting coverage over to Odell Beckham Jr., Garçon could emerge as an end zone threat against primarily one-on-one coverage.

New York Jets: QB Brian Hoyer
The Jets need to do a lot of things this offseason, but with Christian Hackenberg, Bryce Petty, and someone named Jason Vander Laan the only quarterbacks on the roster, adding a competent-ish quarterback should be priority no. 1.

Hoyer’s not a long-term solution, but he does offer New York a bridge option until the team is able to draft and develop its next starter. In his past 16 regular-season appearances, the 31-year-old has completed 64 percent of his passes with a 24–6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 95 passer rating.

Oakland Raiders: RB Eddie Lacy
In 2016, Latavius Murray forced 20 missed tackles on 195 carries in 14 games, per Pro Football Focus. Lacy forced 19 missed tackles on 71 totes … in five games.

Murray is big and fast and the Raiders could look to re-sign their incumbent high-floor starter, but Lacy offers a much higher ceiling on first and second down because of his bruising elusiveness. DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard are great change-of-pace backs and more effective on third down and obvious passing situations, but when he’s healthy and trim, Lacy can be a top-tier sustainer in the run game.

Philadelphia Eagles: WR Brandon Marshall
The Eagles need to give second-year starter Carson Wentz better options in the passing game, and Marshall remains one of the most dangerous red zone targets in the league. He’d improve an area of weakness for a team that accumulated just 16 passing touchdowns in 2016.

At 32 years old, Marshall may not be the all-around, unstoppable threat that he once was, but he can still tilt coverage his way. Adding him would also allow the Eagles to keep Jordan Matthews in the slot, where he’s most effective.

Pittsburgh Steelers: OLB DeMarcus Ware
Jarvis Jones is a free agent, and Pittsburgh needs to find a pass-rushing outside linebacker to pair with Bud Dupree on passing downs. Ware is reportedly deciding whether or not to play in 2017 after having offseason surgery on a disk in his back, but the 34-year-old can still get after the quarterback, recording four sacks and 26 quarterback pressures on 213 pass-rush snaps last season.

San Francisco 49ers: WR Terrelle Pryor
Kyle Shanahan coordinated one of the most prolific offenses in league history last year in Atlanta, in part because of his ability to spread the ball around to so many playmakers. Adding talented pass catchers to his new team’s roster, then, should be a top priority.

He’s off to a good start by handing an extension to shifty slot receiver Jeremy Kerley, but he’d make a big splash by adding Pryor on the outside. He caught 77 passes for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns in Cleveland’s dysfunctional offense last year, so his ceiling with anything resembling a competent quarterback is sky high.

Adding Pryor would give the Niners a solid receiving trio along with Kerley and Torrey Smith — and the playmaking potential that could provide a softer landing spot for whichever quarterback Shanahan decides to go with this season.

Seattle Seahawks: OT Ricky Wagner
Seattle did little in free agency last year to address its offensive line, and the one seemingly good move it made — signing guard Jahri Evans — was quickly negated when the team cut him in final roster trim-downs. Seattle’s lack of investment at the position (among all teams, the Seahawks dedicated by far the least money to that group) was a major miscue, and the offense paid the price.

The normally dominant run game (third in DVOA in 2015) took a huge step back (23rd in 2016) and Russell Wilson suffered multiple injuries as he was battered by opposing defenses. This year, Seattle’s not likely to be so cheap at that position.

Wagner’s been inconsistent over the past three seasons (he was a disaster in 2015 and solid in 2014 and 2016), but he’s probably the top right tackle on the market. He’s clearly better than either of Seattle’s current tackles, George Fant and Garry Gilliam.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: S Duron Harmon
With Chris Conte and Brad McDougald out of contract, both of Tampa Bay’s starting safety spots are up for grabs. Harmon was a part-time player for the Patriots in 2016, but he’s a versatile playmaker who can patrol the deep middle and come up into the box against the run.

Finding a reliable coverage safety is no easy task, and if he produces at the same level despite increased playing time, Harmon could represent a big upgrade at the position for the Bucs.

Tennessee Titans: TE Martellus Bennett
Mike Mularkey, who played the position in the NFL, loves to utilize tight ends in his offense in Tennessee. With aging veteran Anthony Fasano hitting free agency, the Titans need a replacement. Bennett’s ability to block in the run game makes him a natural fit for a team that wants to pound the football for four quarters with DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry, and his route-running and catching prowess would give quarterback Marcus Mariota plenty of opportunities to target Bennett downfield on play-action.

Washington Redskins: WR Alshon Jeffery
Washington’s going to pay Kirk Cousins $24 million to play quarterback in 2017, so the team better give him some playmaking talent to throw to. Cousins has had a lot of success throwing to his big-bodied tight end Jordan Reed, and Jeffery presents the same type of mismatch advantage against smaller corners and safeties. With Jackson and Garçon likely leaving in free agency, Jeffery would be a good consolation prize.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/06/negotiating-window-open-at-1200-p-m-et-tuesday/

Negotiating window open at 12:00 p.m. ET Tuesday
Posted by Mike Florio on March 6, 2017



The 2017 calendar has jammed the end of the Scouting Combine and the start of free agency closer together than ever before, with the workouts in Indianapolis ending on Monday and the free agency period opening on Tuesday. (Hopefully, future NFL calendars will return to the one-week buffer.)

Specifically, the annual two-day negotiating period launches at 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday. (Yes, we’ve already written about the annual legal tampering period memo; however, some believe that, because free agency opens on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. ET, the negotiating window opens on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. ET.)

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/06/nfl-sends-out-annual-legal-tampering-memo/

NFL sends out annual legal tampering memo
Posted by Mike Florio on March 6, 2017

Several years ago, the NFL acknowledged the rampant pre-free agency tampering by creating a window for permissible pre-free agency tampering. Meanwhile, impermissible pre-free agency tampering continues, largely unchecked.

Each year, the league office sends out a memo containing a list of do’s and don’ts. The 2017 memo was distributed to all teams today.

The permissible pre-free agency tampering window opens at 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, and it lasts until “3:59:59 p.m.” ET on Thursday. During that window, teams may enter into contract negotiations with agents representing the players who will become free agents at 4:00 p.m. ET on Thursday.

“During the two-day negotiating period, all clubs may negotiate all aspects of an NFL Player Contract with the certified agent of any prospective UFA,” the memo explains. “However, a new club may not execute an NFL Player Contract with a prospective UFA until 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 9, when the player’s 2016 contract expires.”

Prohibited actions during the legal tampering window include: (1) executing a player contract; (2) executing an agreement in principle “or similar document”; (3) announcing that an agreement in principle or similar agreement has been reached; (4) violating the CBA provisions that relate to undisclosed contractual terms. (That last one presumably applies even after free agency officially begins.)

Reading between the lines, a verbal agreement in principle is permitted, as long as it’s not announced. Inevitably, agreements in principle will be reached and leaked. Still, no deal is done until it is signed, and no deal can be signed until after 4:00 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Teams also cannot make travel arrangements for player visits, and there can be no communication with the player — even if he represents himself. This means that the rest of the tackle market will get even more of a head start on Russell Okung, especially after the illegal tampering that happened at the Scouting Combine. (At one point, there was a belief that Okung would show up in Indianapolis with the goal of negotiating a contract.)

Even though free agency doesn’t really open until Thursday, it actually opens on Tuesday. And plenty of unofficial deals will be done, quickly.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay sits down for an interview as he gears up for his first season with the Rams.

Watch McVay Interview

https://www.google.com/amp/fox40.com/2017/03/06/la-rams-ethan-westbrooks-arrested-in-sacramento/amp/

SACRAMENTO -- Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman 26-year-old Ethan Westbrooks was arrested Sunday on charges of domestic violence after Sacramento police say an argument he had about custody of a child with that child's mother got physical.

"The fact that there was a visible injury, it constituted a felony," said Officer Matt McPhail, spokesman for the Sacramento Police Department.

Westbrooks was a stand-out high school player for Franklin High in Elk Grove, and later for Sacramento City College. He signed in with the Rams in 2014 as an undrafted free agent.

He was out of jail and back to a home near Elk Grove in South Sacramento on Monday evening.

Records indicate the home belongs to a family member. It's the same house where he was arrested after the confrontation.

Police say Westbrooks' victim was injured on her upper body, but those injuries weren't life threatening.

"Unfortunately there were some children present in this instance, which leads to the seriousness of our investigation," McPhail said.

Westbrooks refused to comment to FOX40's Ben Deci when asked about the situation.

It's unclear Monday whether the NFL was aware of the charges. The Los Angeles Rams failed to return multiple calls for comment on Monday.

The gold has to go. It looks ridiculous with the blue and white helms.

As expected the quality of this class showed today. Top 15 times all 4.45 and below... Dayum.

Lotta teams gonna get right in the secondary in this draft.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/

Kenny Britt drawing interest, too
Posted by Mike Florio on March 6, 2017

Getty Images

DeSean Jackson and Terrelle Pryor aren’t the only two teams generating interest before the free agency market opens. Kenny Britt will have options right out of the gates, too.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Rams receiver Kenny Britt has several interested suitors. The Eagles, Washington, 49ers, and Seahawks are believed to be in the mix. At least one more team has currently emerged (not the Patriots, despite the Rutgers connection), and more could eventually join the fray.

The question becomes whether a team views him as a No. 1 or a No. 2 receiver. That dynamic will drive the value of the deal, with a No. 2 contract in the range of $6 million to $8 million per year and a No. 1 contract potentially reaching $10 million.

Britt, who had a string of off-field incidents early in his career, has been a model citizen in recent seasons — and he’s still only 28. He quietly generated a career-high 68 catches and his first 1,000-yard season in 2016 while playing for one of the worst offenses in football.

A first-round pick in 2009 who was 20 when his rookie year began, Britt rocketed to a strong start in 2011, with 271 yards in his first two games before tearing an ACL in Week Three. He could be on the brink of returning to a level of prominence that he temporarily reached five years ago.

Based on the numbers he racked up while playing with an overmatched offense that lacked either strong quarterback or running back play, what could he do with a great quarterback, a great running back, and a great receiver across from him?

Torrey Smith - WR - Free Agent
49ers released WR Torrey Smith.

The move clears $4.675 million in cap space, a number that would increase to $7.875 million if designated as a post-June 1 cut. Smith was a colossal bust in San Francisco, catching 53 total passes for 930 yards. It exposed the limitations in Smith's game, but his struggles were more about the 49ers' staggering incompetence on offense than anything else. The sides were simply a disastrous match. Still only 28 with some of the league's purest speed, Smith won't take more than a few days to find a new home.
Related: 49ers

Source: Steve Smith Sr. on Twitter
Mar 6 - 4:17 PM

Updated Free Agent Top 100

From Evan Silva

[www.rotoworld.com]

The 2017 NFL Free Agent market has been whittled down by franchise tags and early extensions, but there are still premium talents available atop what amounts to a top-heavy class. Using recently-signed contracts by comparable players and buzz emanating from the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, I ranked what’s left based on anticipated contractual value. These rankings are limited to unrestricted free agents and exclude restricted free agents, who very rarely change teams.

The NFL’s “legal tampering” window allows for pre-free agency negotiations between players and teams and begins on Tuesday. At 4pm ET on Thursday, the market officially opens for business.

1. WR Alshon Jeffery (27) -- $14-15 million/year – Despite missing 34% of the Bears’ games the past two seasons with soft-tissue injuries and a PEDs suspension, Jeffery has a real chance to become the NFL’s highest-paid receiver. Current top-paid wideout Antonio Brown is due $14.54 million annually over the next five years. A true alpha receiver with 4.48 speed and elite contested-catch capability at 6-foot-3, 216, Jeffery is still in his athletic prime with a higher career yards-per-catch average (15.0) than A.J. Green (14.8) and superior yards-per-target average (8.6) to Dez Bryant (8.5). In Combine rumors, Jeffery has been most often linked to the Titans, 49ers, and Eagles.

2. CB A.J. Bouye (25) -- $14-15 million/year – Undrafted out of Central Florida in 2013, Bouye paid his dues on special teams and in reserve roles before emerging as a starter last season, and asserting himself as the Texans’ best defensive back. Bouye earned Pro Football Focus’ No. 5 pass-coverage grade among 120 qualified cornerbacks, allowing just two touchdowns and an average of 5.4 yards on 77 targets. In Houston, there is some hope the Texans will find a way to re-sign Bouye, which would likely move LCB Johnathan Joseph onto the trade block. Bouye would maximize his earnings by testing the open market.

3. CB Stephon Gilmore (26) -- $14-15 million/year – Unlike Bouye, Gilmore has a high-profile pedigree as a former top-ten pick who played in the SEC and entered the NFL with elite tools, running 4.4-flat at 6-foot-1, 190 at the 2012 Combine. Also unlike Bouye, Gilmore is coming off a down season in which he increasingly became a liability as the year progressed. Still, Gilmore is reportedly seeking top-five cornerback money and is likely to get it. Inconsistent in St. Louis, Janoris Jenkins had a similar profile at this time last year before signing a deal with the Giants that made him the NFL’s seventh-richest corner. The Bears are expected to make a strong push for Gilmore when free agency opens on Thursday.

4. CB Logan Ryan (26) -- $12.5-15 million/year – Ryan is not talked about as much as Bouye or Gilmore, but he will emerge from free agency as one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive backs. A third-round steal out of Rutgers in the 2013 draft, Ryan has not missed a game through four NFL seasons and broke out last year as a versatile cover man the Pats used both at slot corner and to shadow No. 1 receivers. Most notably, Ryan held DeAndre Hopkins to 121 scoreless yards on 17 targets in two meetings with the Texans, and he also chased Julio Jones for much of Super Bowl 51. Reports from the Combine indicated the Bengals are preparing to sign Ryan. Lions beat writers also expect Ryan to draw interest in Detroit.

5. DE Calais Campbell (30) -- $12-15 million/year – A Pro Bowler in two of the last three years, Campbell has spent his entire career as an extremely disruptive 3-4 end who frequently kicks inside. At 6-foot-8, 290, Campbell is immovable in run defense and much too athletic and powerful for guards and centers to block. Muhammad Wilkerson and J.J. Watt are currently the NFL’s two highest-paid 3-4 ends at $17.2 million and $16.7 million, respectively. I think Campbell will command a bit less, but he should become the NFL’s third-richest player at his position. The Redskins and Broncos are expected to pursue him.

6. WR Terrelle Pryor (27) -- $11-12 million/year – Pryor was one of the NFL’s best stories in 2016, embracing a position switch from quarterback to receiver and topping 1,000 yards despite catching passes from a motley cast of signal callers that included Robert Griffin III, Cody Kessler, Kevin Hogan, Josh McCown, and Charlie Whitehurst. Always an obscene athlete, Pryor famously ran 4.38 at 6-foot-5, 240 before Al Davis selected him in the third round of the 2011 Supplemental Draft. The Browns have repeatedly spoken of how they want to re-sign Pryor, but they didn’t tag him and beat writers think he’ll hit the market. With his arrow screaming upward after just one year at his new position, Pryor deserves to be valued above Tavon Austin ($10.6 million/year) and Jeremy Maclin ($11 million).

7. ILB Dont’a Hightower (27) -- $10.5-12.5 million/year – I had Hightower too low in my initial Free Agent Top 100. Inside linebackers generally don’t make big bucks, but I think there’s a chance Hightower will become the league’s highest-paid player at his position, bypassing Bobby Wagner ($10.75 million/year) and rivaling Luke Kuechly ($12.4 million). For a 6-foot-2, 265-pound man, Hightower offers an extraordinary blend of run-stopping, pass-rushing, and pass-coverage ability. Still, it is a red flag that Hightower has missed 11 games over the past three years with recurring shoulder and knee ailments.

8. OG Kevin Zeitler (27) -- $10-12 million/year – Kelechi Osemele ($11.7 million/year) is currently the NFL’s highest-paid guard, with Kyle Long and David DeCastro ($10 million) tied for second. Zeitler’s pay range is thus easy to identify. Zeitler has gone consecutive seasons without missing a start and earned Pro Football Focus’ Nos. 6, 9, and 10 overall guard grades over the past three years, shining in both run blocking and pass protection. PFF has charged Zeitler with just two sacks allowed over his last 47 games.

9. WR DeSean Jackson (30) -- $10-12 million/year – Jackson blazed a 4.35 forty coming out Cal in 2008 and hasn’t slowed down later in his career, leading the NFL in yards per reception in two of the past three seasons. Three different offseason reports have indicated the Bucs are heavily interested in D-Jax, and latest word from the Combine is that Tampa Bay is indeed the front-runner for Jackson’s services.

10. EDGE Nick Perry (26) -- $10-12 million/year – A 2012 first-round pick out of USC, the initial years of Perry’s career were disappointing enough that the Packers declined his fifth-year option before the 2015 season. Perry had to settle for a one-year, $5 million prove-it deal from the Packers last March. “Prove it” Perry did, leading Green Bay in sacks (11) and earning Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 run-defense grade among 59 qualified 3-4 outside linebackers. Perry is now the premier edge player on the open market.

11. CB Dre Kirkpatrick (27) -- $10-12 million/year – A solid-if-unspectacular starter in Cincinnati the past two years, Kirkpatrick is a plus-sized (6’2/186) boundary corner who tied a career high in interceptions (3) last season and is hitting free agency at an opportune time. NFL teams are flush with cap room, and Kirkpatrick is a competent starter at a position that increases in value every year. It would be surprising if Kirkpatrick did not beat the $9.5 million annually Sean Smith landed from the Raiders last offseason. Reports indicate the Steelers and Titans are preparing to make runs at Kirkpatrick beginning Thursday.

12. NT Brandon Williams (28) -- $10-12 million/year – A prototypical 3-4 nose tackle at 6-foot-1 and 335 pounds, Williams has anchored Baltimore’s league-best run defense for the past three seasons. Because Williams is ideally used as a two-down defender and supplies minimal pass-rush juice, his value is somewhat tough to gauge. NT Damon Harrison got $9.25 million per year from the Giants last March.

13. LT Andrew Whitworth (35) -- $10-12 million/year – While Whitworth has vowed to test the market, the Bengals badly want him back. Even at his advanced age, Whitworth will command premier left tackle money. The NFL’s top-ten left tackles all make between $10 million and $13 million per year. Whitworth has missed just two games over the past eight years, earning Pro Bowl berths in three of the past five.

14. NT Dontari Poe (26) -- $10-11.5 million/year – More athletic with a bigger name than fellow free agent NT Brandon Williams, Poe is nevertheless not as good. The Chiefs’ run defense has struggled more often than not with Poe as its anchor, and he provides little pass-rush push. Still, Poe is a freakish athlete at 6-foot-4, 346 pounds, and there’s a chance his best football is still ahead of him. After Kansas City opted against franchise tagging Poe, Chiefs beat writers expect him to sign elsewhere in free agency.

15. DT Johnathan Hankins (25) -- $9.5-11.5 million/year – Brandon Williams, Dontari Poe, and Hankins figure to target Michael Brockers money ($11.1 million/year) with Damon Harrison ($9.25 million) as their floor and the NFL’s salary-cap inflation working in their favor. 320-pound Hankins is the youngest of the bunch and has flashed the most pass-rush potential with ten sacks over the past three years.

16. LT Russell Okung (29) -- $9.5-11.5 million/year – The Broncos declined Okung’s four-year, $48 million option last month. It’s a decision they may regret. There are very few quality left tackles available in free agency, and this year’s draft is extremely weak at the position. GM John Elway said at the Combine that Denver had not yet “moved on” from Okung and may try to re-sign him. CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported the Giants, Jets, Chargers, and Vikings all have interest in Okung despite his sub-par 2016.

17. OG Larry Warford (25) -- $9.5-11 million/year – Brandon Brooks landed $8 million per year from the Eagles last year, a deal Warford will make look like a bargain. At 6-foot-3, 332, Warford is a power blocker with athletic limitations. Still, he is exceptionally young for a free agent and should still have room to improve. The Lions are reportedly prioritizing keeping free agent RT Riley Reiff over Warford.

18. SS Tony Jefferson (27) -- $9-11 million/year – When the Chiefs re-signed SS Eric Berry to a six-year, $78 million contract, Jefferson vaulted atop the free agent safety class. Jefferson went undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2013 because he ran a 4.75 forty at the Combine. Jefferson has proven to be a very good football player, however, forcing seven turnovers and piling up four sacks over the past two seasons. Jefferson also showed an ability to effectively match up with tight ends in man coverage in Arizona.

19. WR Kenny Stills (24) -- $9-11 million/year – Reports of Stills commanding $12 million annually are aggressive, but he will come close. At 6-foot-1, 194 with 4.38 speed, Stills has dropped just 12-of-276 (4.3%) career targets while averaging an explosive 16.7 yards per catch. With DeSean Jackson looking likely to join the Bucs, Stills will be the top consolation prize for teams pursuing a long-ball speedster.

20. QB Mike Glennon (27) -- $9-15 million/year – Glennon lost his job to Josh McCown in 2014, then spent the last two years backing up Jameis Winston. At 6-foot-7, 225, Glennon is a lanky, slow-twitch passer who doesn’t maximize his theoretical arm talent, averaging under 7.0 yards per attempt in college and 6.5 YPA in the pros. Still, the NFL is quarterback needy enough that Glennon now seems likely to land a starting job, ideally as a “caretaker” supported by a strong running game. The Bears have that and are expected to be his most ardent suitor, with the Jets close behind. For Glennon’s contract terms, quarterback desperation makes his price tag difficult to peg. Either way, Glennon's deal should be heavily incentive laden.

21. CB Prince Amukamara (27) -- $8.5-10.5 million/year – Respectable No. 2 corner finished 44th among 120 qualifiers in PFF’s 2016 cornerback grades. Has battled minor injuries and never been a big takeaway threat.

22. CB Brandon Carr (30) -- $8.5-10.5 million/year – Inconsistent man-coverage specialist coming off a solid year in Dallas. Has never missed a start in nine-year career. One interception past three seasons.

23. LT Matt Kalil (27) -- $8.5-10.5 million/year – Has struggled mightily, at least partly due to persistent knee and hip injuries. Shortage of available left tackles will work in his favor. Reportedly healthy now.

24. WR Pierre Garcon (30) -- $8.5-10.5 million/year – Run-after-catch specialist has become one of the NFL’s best route runners. Great hands: Has dropped only 8-of-330 targets (2.4%) over the last three years.

25. RT Rick Wagner (27) -- $8-10 million/year – Comfortably atop this year’s free agent right tackle market. Wagner earned Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 pass-blocking grade among right tackles last season.

26. RT Riley Reiff (28) -- $8-9.5 million/year – Reiff been a league-average starter in stints at both left and right tackle. Availability is a plus: He has missed only three starts through five NFL seasons.

27. OG T.J. Lang (29) -- $8-9.5 million/year – Market would be stronger if not for hip and foot surgeries after the season. The Packers don’t believe Lang will be recovered until training camp at the earliest.

28. OG Ronald Leary (27) -- $8-9 million/year – The Saints tried to trade for Leary last offseason, but the Cowboys balked. At 6-foot-3, 315, Leary is one of the NFL’s top run-blocking guards.

29. WR Brandon Marshall (33) -- $8-9 million/year – Patriots, Giants, Ravens have all been linked to Marshall since his release from the Jets. Should have a year or two of quality football left.

30. WR Kenny Britt (28) -- $7.5-8.5 million/year – Coming off his first career 1,000-yard season with Case Keenum and Jared Goff at quarterback. Not the athlete he once was, but still a quality starter.

31. DE Chris Baker (29) -- $7.5-8.5 million/year – 6-foot-2, 326-pound 3-4 end was Washington’s best defensive lineman the past two seasons. Effective run stopper doubles as interior pocket pusher.

32. LT Kelvin Beachum (27) -- $7.5-8.5 million/year – Tore ACL in 2015, had rough season with Jags, and got cut. Still young, it’s not crazy to think Beachum will be better a year removed from knee surgery.

33. LT Ryan Clady (30) -- $7.5-8.5 million/year – 21 missed games the past three seasons. Ended 2016 on injured reserve with a torn rotator cuff. NFL’s shortage of left-tackle talent will help his market.

34. TE Martellus Bennett (30) -- $7.5-8.5 million/year – Was a warrior playing through knee and ankle injuries all last year. Patriots want him back, but not expected to jump into any bidding wars.

35. FS Duron Harmon (26) -- $7-8 million/year – Emerged as leader in Patriots locker room last year, serving as the team’s third safety. Fully expected to land starter money on the open market.

36. SS Barry Church (29) -- $7-8 million/year – Box safety at 6-foot-2, 222. Annual tackling machine.
37. DE Jabaal Sheard (27) -- $6.5-8.5 million/year – Rotational pass rusher lost starting job in 2016.
38. NT Bennie Logan (27) -- $6.5-8 million/year – Run stuffer’s play slipped in Eagles’ move to 4-3.
39. WR Cordarrelle Patterson (26) -- $6.5-8 million/year – Has five kick-return TDs last four years.
40. CB Darrelle Revis (31) -- $6.5-8 million/year – Could retire. Still has $6M guaranteed from Jets.
41. EDGE Julius Peppers (37) -- $6.5-8 million/year – Had 7.5 sacks in rotational pass-rusher role.
42. CB Morris Claiborne (27) -- $6.5-7.5 million/year – Coming off best season, but got hurt again.
43. SS Johnathan Cyprien (26) -- $6.5-7.5 million/year – Strong run defender but coverage liability.
44. SS T.J. McDonald (26) -- $6.5-7.5 million/year – Likely facing suspension after DUI/drug charge.
45. DT Nick Fairley (29) -- $6.5-7.5 million/year – Difference maker who struggles to stay in shape.
46. C J.C. Tretter (26) -- $6.5-7.5 million/year – Easily the top young center available in free agency.
47. TE Jack Doyle (26) -- $6.5-7.5 million/year – Efficient possession receiver, quality run blocker.
48. C Nick Mangold (33) -- $6.5-7.5 million/year – Should get interest from playoff contenders.
49. ILB Lawrence Timmons (30) -- $6.5-7.5 million/year – Career Steeler coming off rough season.
50. TE Jared Cook (29) -- $5.5-7 million/year – Gave Packers offense new dimension when healthy.
51. CB Captain Munnerlyn (28) -- $6.5-7 million/year – Feisty slot corner sounds likely to leave MIN.
52. S/CB Darius Butler (31) -- $6.5-7 million/year – Career slot corner wants to transition to safety.
53. SS Bradley McDougald (26) -- $6-7 million/year – Box safety with experience covering tight ends.
54. SS D.J. Swearinger (25) -- $5.5-7 million/year – Early-career disappointment broke out in Arizona.
55. S/CB Micah Hyde (26) -- $5.5-7 million/year – Hyde is a jack of many trades, but master of none.
56. QB Colin Kaepernick (29) -- $5-7 million/year – This might be aggressive. Kap a tough FA to peg.
57. RB Adrian Peterson (32) -- $5-7 million/year – Two-down RB only, increasingly injured, and old.
58. WR Robert Woods (24) -- $5-6.5 million/year – Possession slot/Z receiver with reliable hands.
59. WR Kendall Wright (27) -- $5-6.5 million/year – Underachiever. Slot guy with vertical ability.
60. WR Terrance Williams (27) -- $5-6.5 million/year – Probably best suited for third receiver role.
61. ILB Zach Brown (27) -- $5-6.5 million/year – Highly athletic linebacker faded as 2016 went on.
62. EDGE Lorenzo Alexander (33) -- $4.5-6.5 million/year – Career special teamer had 12.5 sacks.
63. DL Jared Odrick (29) -- $4.5-6 million/year – Versatile with experience at 3-4 DE, 4-3 DT, 4-3 DE.
64. RT Mike Remmers (27) -- $4.5-6 million/year – Serviceable right tackle, destroyed at left tackle.
65. WR Ted Ginn (31) -- $4.5-6 million/year – Still useful role player as lid lifter and return specialist.
66. EDGE John Simon (26) -- $4-6 million/year – Impact role player in Houston. Edge setter vs. run.
67. SS Jahleel Addae (27) -- $4-5.5 million/year – Physical safety undersized and frequently injured.
68. DE Charles Johnson (30) -- $4-5.5 million/year – Rotational early-down DE moves inside vs. pass.
69. DE William Gholston (25) -- $4-5.5 million/year – Broad-bodied defensive end best against run.
70. DE Andre Branch (27) -- $4-5.5 million/year – Started over Mario Williams in Miami, had 5.5 sacks.
71. DE Datone Jones (26) -- $4-5.5 million/year – Swiss-army-knife defender can play DE, DT, 3-4 OLB.
72. DL Stacy McGee (27) -- $4-5.5 million/year – Quality rotational DT/DE coming off his best season.
73. ILB Gerald Hodges (26) -- $4-5 million/year – The only 49er who made plays vs. the run last year.
74. FS Jairus Byrd (30) -- $4-5 million/year – Cap casualty quietly had his best year as a Saint in ’16.
75. DT Alan Branch (32) -- $4-5 million/year – Old and limited, but anchored the Pats’ run defense.
76. ILB Perry Riley (28) -- $4-5 million/year – Has signed a big deal before and didn’t love up to it.
77. QB Brian Hoyer (31) -- $4-5 million/year – Probably the best pure backup quarterback in NFL.
78. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (34) -- $4-5 million/year – FitzMagic should land a high-end backup deal.
79. CB Nolan Carroll (30) -- $4-5 million/year – Best suited for fourth corner/spot starter role.
80. WR Michael Floyd (27) -- $3.5-5 million/year – Career underachiever with $12M/year talent.
81. EDGE DeMarcus Ware (34) -- $3.5-5 million/year – Aging former All Pro with back problems.
82. RB Latavius Murray (26) -- $3.5-4.5 million/year – Underwhelmed behind AFC’s best O-Line.
83. ILB Kevin Minter (26) -- $3.5-4 million/year – Roughly replacement-level 3-4 inside ‘backer.
84. QB Josh McCown (37) -- $3.5-4 million/year – Sounds like a lock to sign with the Cowboys.
85. RB Eddie Lacy (26) -- $3-5 million/year – Prime candidate for a one-year, “prove-it” deal.
86. TE Ryan Griffin (27) -- $3-4 million/year – Possession tight end best suited for a No. 2 role.
87. OG Chance Warmack (25) -- $2.5-4 million/year – Draft bust missed all but two games in ’16.
88. EDGE Alex Okafor (26) -- $2.5-4 million/year – Has 13.5 sacks over the past three seasons.
89. EDGE Jarvis Jones (27) -- $2.5-4 million/year – Fits best in edge-setter, non-pass-rush role.
90. EDGE Dwight Freeney (37) -- $2-4 million/year – Late-career mercenary can still rush the QB.
91. CB Terence Newman (38) -- $2-4 million/year – Hasn’t announced if he’ll continue his career.
92. EDGE Chris Long (32) -- $2-4 million/year – Apparently hopes to be an every-down DE again.
93. OLB Erik Walden (31) -- $2-4 million/year – Could get overpaid after fluky 11-sack campaign.
94. DE Lawrence Guy (27) -- $2-4 million/year – Run-stopping five-technique 3-4 defensive end.
95. NT Sylvester Williams (28) -- $2-4 million/year – Draft bust got pushed around all last season.
96. OG Brandon Fusco (28) -- $2-4 million/year – Reclamation project looked promising in 2014.
97. RB Danny Woodhead (32) -- $2.5-3.5 million/year – Chargers actively working to re-sign him.
98. RB Rex Burkhead (26) -- $2.5-3.5 million/year – My personal favorite RB in this year’s FA class.
99. RB Jamaal Charles (30) -- $2.5-3.5 million/year – 30-year-old running back with two bad knees.
100. RB LeGarrette Blount (30) -- $2-3 million/year – One-dimensional grinder/clock-killer back.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/05/report-cardinals-unlikely-to-sign-calais-campbell-or-tony-jefferson/

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports that word around the Scouting Combine this week is that the Cardinals will lose both defensive end Calais Campbell and safety Tony Jefferson as free agents. Per Somers, the players — who rank 10th and 14thon PFT’s list of the top 100 free agents — are “going to command more money” than the Cardinals will be willing or able to pay them to remain in Arizona.

Campbell’s departure would leave the Cardinals without a player that has been a fixture in the Arizona lineup since coming to the team as a second-round pick in 2008. Mike Klis of KUSA in Denver reported this week that the Broncos are expected to make a run at signing Campbell.

Cardinals insider Mike Jurecki mentioned last night ARZ offering 3 years $33M, $17M guaranteed but Campbell has numerous suitors.

These are excerpts. The combine and draft part of the article is posted on this thread over in the NFL Draft section: http://www.ramsondemand.com/forums/nfl-draft-college-football.52/.

The NFL news is on this thread. To read the whole article click the link below. Btw since Peter King didn't write this article and one of his employees did, I'm guessing there's a quota of Patriot's butt-kissing that has to occur in each article.
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http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/03/06/myles-garrett-combine-cleveland-browns-nfl-draft

Myles Garrett and the Browns’ Difficult Decision
The top draft prospect put on a show in Indianapolis, making the No. 1 choice pretty easy—or that much harder. Here’s a look at the Cleveland dilemma. Plus items on the D.C. drama, the Patriots’ new DVD and more
By Albert Breer


Photo: Toni L. Sandys/ The Washington Post via Getty Images

A year ago it seemed like the old Redskins circus had finally closed up shop. Jay Gruden grew into a very good head coach with a rock-solid staff behind him, and Washington had a potential long-term answer at quarterback and arguably the best talent-evaluator of the past decade as their GM. The team was coming off a playoff berth. There was no drama.

Not anymore. It’s been a strange offseason already in Washington. Here’s a quick synopsis.

• Staff: Gruden lost offensive coordinator Sean McVay to the Rams as head coach, and the Skins fired defensive coordinator Joe Barry. The team wound up elevating quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh and linebackers coach Greg Manusky to replace them.

• Quarterback: Kirk Cousins has been franchised again, and there’s legitimate uncertainty about his immediate future.

• Scot McCloughan: The third-year GM was left home from Indy amid a twister of speculation. The given reason: His 100-year-old grandmother died Feb. 6. His past demons were raised on D.C. radio by ex-Redskins tight end Chris Cooley. Given that no one in football is better/more passionate about scouting the draft than McCloughan, his absence was glaring, and the future here looks murkier than it did.

• Free agents: The offense could look significantly different next year with receivers Pierre Garçon and DeSean Jackson both expected to draw robust interest as free agents.

One source described the vibe in DC succinctly: “Just a bunch of strange s---.”

There are lots of dominoes that have to fall soon. As for the big one, I don’t think the Skins are afraid to lose Cousins, and the reason is Colt McCoy. Is the 30-year-old McCoy a 10-year answer for Washington at the position?

No. But he can be what Cousins can’t be at this point, and that’s a bridge quarterback, which is why the question isn’t Cousins versus McCoy in a vacuum. It’s the brass buying Cousins and hitching its job security to his successes and failures, versus renting McCoy while looking for a younger upgrade at the position.

The latter would be risky as hell, to be sure, and I wouldn’t call it likely. But the Redskins do believe they can win in the short term with McCoy, and there’s a feeling that it’d be better to just resolve the Cousins situation now—whether it’s giving him a new deal or trading him—and not setting up to be in this position again in spring 2018.

Of course, the brass and the team could look a lot different by then. Stay tuned.

* * *

A New Look at the Patriots’ Title Season


Photo: Getty Images :: NFL Productions

If you thought the wires coming out of the Super Bowl—whether it was on SoundFX on NFL Network or Inside the NFL on Showtime—were particularly strong this year, you aren’t alone. The people who shot it at NFL Films feel the same way.

And this week you’ll get another way to enjoy all of that with Cinedigm and NFL Films’ release of “Super Bowl LI Champions: New England Patriots” Tuesday on Blu-Ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD.

They were nice enough to send me an advance copy. Here are a few things I hadn’t seen previously but got to see thanks to the work of all the NFL Films cameramen and sound people.

1. Before the Patriots’ Week 3 win over the Texans, Bill Belichick showed a little worry as rookie Jacoby Brissett readied for his first NFL start at quarterback. “He looks a little wild here in warmups,” the head coach said to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who then responded, “Eh, a couple. He threw the ball well to the receivers. He’ll be fine, he’ll settle into it.” (Brissett went 11 for 19 for 103 yards—no TDs, no INTs—and ran for a touchdown in a 27-0 win over the Texans.)

2. During the highlights of the team’s comeback win over Jets in November, someone who sounds like Belichick is voicing over a shot of Brady saying, “He’s as good a situational football player as I’ve ever been around.”

3. Rob Gronkowski didn’t wait long to kick off the celebration after setting the Patriots’ team record for career touchdowns on Oct. 30 in Buffalo, nor did he lose track of the number. As he was leaving the field after that 53-yard score, he shouted down the sideline, “That’s 69, baby!” (Not sure what he means.)

4. Julian Edelman is basically the main character. In the Houston playoff game, Edelman is shown bantering with refs. “I get so defensive, I’m sorry,” Edelman said. Chris Hogan then jumped in—“He’s sensitive”—before Edelman added, “My therapist yells at me for that.” Then, in the Steelers playoff game, you see Edelman blocking rookie corner Artie Burns. “I’m here! I’m here!” barked Burns. Edelman coolly shot back: ”The fact that you gotta talk about it means you’re not.”

5. Patriots messaging early in Super Bowl 51 was pretty much how they have said it has been—level. “Just relax, go back out there, we had a nice drive going, we just gotta keep going,” explained long-time line coach Dante Scarnecchia in the first half. “We gotta keep doing the same s--- we do.”

6. McDaniels, similarly, delivered this at halftime: “Do you believe we’re gonna win? I do, too. Let’s just play our best half. I don’t want anyone to do anything that you can’t do. Don’t try to make it all up in one play, just play each play by itself, OK?”

7. And here’s one from defensive tackle Alan Branch in the third quarter: “They ain’t running no more, yo! They ain’t running no more!” The Falcons had 86 rushing yards on nine carries before the break. They went for 18 on nine carries after the break.

Add it up and this is a good, entertaining watch. You can pre-order it here before it’s released on Tuesday.

Just make sure you have a working DVD player. Those, evidently, aren’t as easy to find as you’d expect them to be. I couldn’t locate a place that sells them anywhere in downtown Indianapolis. I had my cab driver stop at places along the way en route to the airport. No dice. And ultimately I had to wait till I got home to watch it anyway. So there’s my advice for the week.

* * *

These are the 22 quarterbacks who are on deals for the 2017 season that average $16 million per or more.

• $22 million-plus: Andrew Luck ($24.6M), Carson Palmer ($24.4M), Drew Brees ($24.3M), Kirk Cousins ($23.94M), Joe Flacco ($22.1M), Aaron Rodgers ($22.0M).

• $19 million to $21.9 million: Russell Wilson ($21.9M), Ben Roethlisberger ($21.8M), Eli Manning ($21.0M), Philip Rivers ($20.8M), Cam Newton ($20.8M), Matt Ryan ($20.8M), Tom Brady ($20.5M), Ryan Tannehill ($19.3M).

• $16 million to $18.9 million: Jay Cutler ($18.1M), Tyrod Taylor ($18.0M), Tony Romo ($18.0M), Brock Osweiler ($18.0M), Matthew Stafford ($17.7M), Sam Bradford ($17.5M), Alex Smith ($17.0M), Andy Dalton ($16.0M)

Now, Cutler is coming off the list, and Taylor and Romo might, too, though they could also just wind up back on soon thereafter. Before too long, Derek Carr—eligible for a second contract this offseason—will be joining the list too, and Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota will be in the not-so-distant future as well. Jimmy Garoppolo is ticketed to land on it too, if he’s traded.

You get the picture. Here’s the point: Quarterbacks aren’t paid like everyone else.

So when this year’s sticker-shock quarterback, Tampa Bay’s Mike Glennon, gets more than $12 million per this week, and gets a lot closer to what Osweiler got last year than most think, don’t react by letting your jaw hit the floor.

Say Glennon goes to Chicago, and the Bears draft a rookie QB with the third overall pick (last year’s third pick, Joey Bosa, makes $6.47 million per year). They’re probably then allotting a little more than $20 million to the position—or less than they did last year at quarterback with Cutler and Brian Hoyer on the roster.

This is just the price of doing business at the most important position in sports.

* * *

Pretty cool to hear that 16 Dolphins players actually paid their own way to New York to take part in owner Stephen Ross’s business combine, especially considering how many guys struggle when football is over. It’s proof positive that the message the league and union have been trying to send those guys about preparing for when the cheering stops is getting through. The Miami Herald’s Armando Salgeuro wrote last week on this particular “combine.”

* * *

Last Friday, Eagles EVP of football operations Howie Roseman joined me on my podcast, and we went deep into the process of identifying a quarterback in the draft, and positioning yourself to get there. Here are a couple snippets...

• On where the process on Carson Wentz was at the combine last year: “We were picking 13th with no second-round pick. We knew we wanted to move up. It was clear to us, with the research we had done, the tape we watched, being able to go to the Senior Bowl and see him throw live and interview him, that we knew we wanted to move up. And the first step? This is like the winter meetings for us, getting us all together. This is where trades take shape.

And we came here with the intent of trying to move up in the draft. And when we started to talk to teams that were picking 1 and 2, it was daunting to them to move back to 13 when we didn’t have a 2. So we kind of then went to this 5-10 range and said, “Maybe we can make two moves. Maybe we can get into that 5-10 range, and be appealing to the teams at 1 and 2.” And say, “Alright, now you don’t have to move back as far, let’s find a way to make this happen.”

• Was there an Oh, crap moment when the Rams acquired the pick you were trying to get: “If an ‘Oh, crap’ moment means getting the news and walking out of the draft room and taking a moment to yourself, then yeah, I think there was an ‘Oh, crap’ moment there. It was, ‘We gotta figure this out.’ And then the conversations were the same with the Browns. If we’re gonna do this, we’re not gonna do it on draft day. We want to understand where we’re at and what we have to do, and working with the Browns to figure out a solution.

That was the definition of a win-win trade for both teams. They get picks that keep on coming, certainly picks in this draft and still have a 2 coming next year. So the price of admission was high, but for us, we felt it was the only to build it the way we saw fit, to build it around a quarterback that we thought could be here for a long time.

It’s interesting, because one of the compelling things for us to make the trade, because it was so many picks, was looking at the teams that drafted quarterbacks in 2004. You may say, why are you looking at teams that drafted quarterbacks in 2004? What’s interesting is those teams—the Giants, the Steelers and the Chargers—are still drafting around those quarterbacks in 2017.”

* * *

Things I Think I Think

1. I think the idea of Tony Romo going to the Texans makes a lot of sense. Peter King mentioned a couple weeks back that, from a personal standpoint, Houston makes the most sense for the Cowboys quarterback for a number of reasons. And my sense is that the Houston staff would view Romo as a very good fit if he became available. Remember, Romo played in an offense that’s a basically a first cousin of Bill O’Brien’s scheme in his first four NFL season under Bill Parcells.

The question, in my mind, is how far the Texans are willing to go to make it happen. Trading for him would be easier than most think. Romo is due $14 million for 2017—a below-average rate for a starting quarterback—and his base salaries of $19.5 million and $20.5 million in 2018 and ’19 would in essence serve as team options, with no guaranteed money left in Romo’s deal. The Texans do, at least as of right now, have sufficient cap space to take on the existing contract.

The question is whether they’ll want to, which would probably be a tougher call for them than parting with a middling draft pick. Burgeoning star corner A.J. Bouye is likely to get upwards of $14 million per on the open market, and bringing in Romo may mean saying goodbye to Bouye and a few other free agents. My feeling is that, if the season started right now, Tom Savage would be under center for the Texans. And Houston feels good about him. But Romo would be an upgrade.

2. I think it also makes sense for the Bills to pick up Tyrod Taylor’s contract option. You’d be doing your new offensive coordinator a favor—Rick Dennison coached Taylor in Baltimore in 2014, and the Ravens offensive staff liked him enough to try to import him to Denver after Gary Kubiak took the Broncos head-coaching job. You’d be sending a positive message to the locker room.

But most of all you’d buy yourself time to find a quarterback of the future. Worst thing you can do is pigeonhole yourself into a single offseason to find a long-term answer at the position. That’s how Christian Ponder goes 12th overall to the Vikings in 2011 and Brock Osweiler gets $18 million per year in Houston. Having Taylor would give the Bills, at the very least, a bridge to the next franchise quarterback. So if they like, say, Watson at 10th overall, they can take him and don’t have to play him right away.

If they don’t like any of the quarterbacks or the one they like doesn’t get to them, they can wait until next year. And the terms for Taylor—it’s really a three-year, $54.1 million deal—are middling for a starting quarterback in 2017. To me, it just makes sense to stabilize the most important position on the field, even if you aren’t answering who your quarterback might be in 2022.

3. I think the Jets are doing what Mike Maccagnan and Todd Bowles probably should’ve done two years ago—swallowing hard and readying for a youth movement. The ousters of Brandon Marshall, Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold et al signal a purge of the core of the team’s shot at a competitive rebuild, a term used internally to describe the effort to gut the roster from bottom up without bottoming out.

There are just four draft picks from the John Idzik era under contract for 2017: Sheldon Richardson, Brian Winters, Quincy Enunwa and Calvin Pryor. And Mo Wilkerson is the only one left from Mike Tannenbaum’s time in green. In other words, the Jets are now virtually bereft of homegrown players in their prime earning years. That explains why, no matter how much lipstick they smeared on the 2015 season, this rough path always was bound to come.

4. I think the Seahawks were paying attention when Chiefs safety Eric Berry got paid. Earl Thomas turns 28 in May and has two years left on the extension he did in 2014. Kam Chancellor turns 29 in April and is going into a contract year.

Those two have been central to the Seahawks’ defensive identity—Chancellor as a hybrid thumper and Thomas as silly-rangy centerfielder—over the last half-decade. They were rewarded for it with deals worth $17 million per year combined. Fair to guess, they’ll be more expensive to do third deals and, because of age, are naturally riskier propositions.

5. I think I’ll repeat that offensive linemen figure to get paid on the open market this week—and the final effect could be that guards wind up paid like tackles. Why? The offensive line franchise tag number ($14.271 million) isn’t broken down by position, which means it’s based on what left tackles make. That, in turn, makes it tough to tag even a great guard.

And so premier guards can make it to the market. As of now, there are 14 linemen making eight figures per. Only three of them are guards. Add to all of this that the coming draft class of offensive linemen is weak, and Kevin Zeitler, Ron Leary and Larry Warford could join the group, or at least settle on the fringes of it.

6. I think the flip side is that the market at both corner and receiver—two spots where there’s relative strength (Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall, Kenny Stills, DeSean Jackson at receiver; Bouye, Stephon Gilmore, Dre Kirkpatrick at CB)—could be adversely affected by the historic quality of the draft class at corner and strong depth of the class at receiver.

It’s not out of the question that Jeffery becomes the second- or third-highest-paid receiver in league history, and Bouye and Gilmore easily outdistance the deal Janoris Jenkins got last year. But there’ll be a number of would-be suitors who balk at the prices and sit tight until April, which is one reason why you shouldn’t panic if your team is strangely quiet in filling those needs this week.

Alec Ogletree is entering the final year of his deal at $8.37MM/season...

Any news on an extension?

Any guesses on how it would be structured?

His role in the new defense?

These are excerpts. To read the whole article click the link below.
**********************************************************************
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/03/06/myles-garrett-combine-cleveland-browns-nfl-draft

Myles Garrett and the Browns’ Difficult Decision
The top draft prospect put on a show in Indianapolis, making the No. 1 choice pretty easy—or that much harder. Here’s a look at the Cleveland dilemma
by Albert Breer

Photo: Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS — “Hello, Cleveland!”

Those were the words of NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock as Texas A&M phenom Myles Garrett crossed the finish line of the 40-yard dash in a staggering 4.64 seconds on Sunday, putting a bow on the show that most scouts expected he’d put on here at Lucas Oil Stadium. And that run by Garrett, who weighs 272 pounds, only punctuated what everyone knew when we arrived in Indy: Garrett is the odds-on favorite to go first overall.

“He’s good,” texted an AFC exec from the stands, “like everyone knows.”

“Lol. How about him?” texted one AFC area scout assigned to A&M. “Special.”

How special? If Cleveland takes Garrett first overall, he’ll be the third edge rusher in the past 15 years to top the draft. Here’s how he stacks up, athletically, against the other two.

Myles Garrett, Texas A&M, 2017
6'4", 272 lbs.; 40: 4.64; Vertical: 41"; Broad jump: 10'8"; Bench: 33 reps.

Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina, 2014
6'5", 266 lbs., 40: 4.53; Vertical: 37.5"; Broad jump: 10'4"; Bench: 21 reps.

Mario Williams, N.C. State, 2006
6'7", 295 lbs.; 40: 4.73; Vertical: 40.5"; Broad jump: 10'0"; Bench: 35 reps.

In short, on Sunday at the NFL scouting combine, Garrett confirmed that he belongs with the freakiest of pro football’s athletes. (Good luck to a historically strong defensive back group that takes the FieldTurf today in trying to top what we saw from Garrett.)

And Garrett didn’t make the April 27 decision for the Browns any simpler. The reality is that the history of taking a pass-rusher first overall is just so-so (you can go back to Cleveland’s Courtney Brown in 2000 for more evidence), and the Browns haven’t had a real long-term answer at the most important position on the field since local folk hero Bernie Kosar led the team in the ’80s.

Big call? Yeah, probably the biggest one in an offseason full of those for the Browns.

Work on the first pick “is gonna be extremely detailed,” Cleveland coach Hue Jackson said over his cellphone Saturday, between workouts and interviews. “We’re slowly starting into the process. You work through the Senior Bowl, you work through the combine, next thing that will come up will be private workouts, pro days, your top 30 visits. Then you have to take all that information and start into making decisions.

“We’re just starting into it; there’ll be so much more.”

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/03/05/...es-garrett-cleveland-browns-no-1-overall-pick

Myles Garrett’s Combine: ‘He Looked Like Wolverine’
If there was any doubt that Myles Garrett was the draft's best prospect, there isn't now after the Texas A&M edge rusher put together a combine performance for the ages.
by Robert Klemko

INDIANAPOLIS — Ask any NFL talent evaluator entering the combine, and they would’ve told you it would be impossible for the league’s collective opinion of Myles Garrett to get any higher. In a class devoid of a safe QB1, Garrett arrived in Indianapolis as the biggest show in town.

Somehow, he got bigger.

“I don’t have a player comparison for what I just saw. He looked like Wolverine,” says one defensive coordinator. “Assuming the medical is good and he doesn’t tell the Browns he wants to be a Cowboy when they interview him, he’s it.”


Photo: David J. Phillip/AP

Garrett was the runaway star of a combine that saw Chris Johnson’s 40-yard dash record fall to Washington receiver John Ross. Garrett’s 4.6 forty, at 272 pounds, brought back memories of Jadeveon Clowney, who not long ago was considered a once-in-a-generation talent here. Make that twice in a generation.

* * *

Since the boss, Peter King, spent the weekend in Boston (where I live, and where the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference was) and not here (where I am), I’m taking the reins for today’s column. And we’re going to get you more on how the quarterbacks here did, Jaylon Smith’s drop foot, the strange case of Reuben Foster and the Patriots’ championship ride, with plenty of draft and free agency nuggets as well.

But we’ll start right there with Garrett, and Cleveland, and the global picture of what’s ahead for an embattled Browns franchise.

If the current regime gets this once proud franchise back to respectability, the moves GM Sashi Brown, Jackson and company make over the next six months figure to be a gigantic part of it. Cleveland has 11 picks in April’s draft, five in the first 65 selections and 10 in the first five rounds. The Browns have more than $100 million in cap space, and only one big free agent (Terrelle Pryor) to re-sign.

“It’s very exciting. But it’s pressure-packed too,” Jackson said. “You gotta get it right, because these are opportunities to take this organization in a whole new direction. So the thought of doing it the right way, doing it right all together, it’s on all of our minds. We want to get this right. We know this could catapult us into the future, and we have a lot of different ways to have success. “

Now, here’s the unspoken truth about the most interesting offseason confronting any team in the NFL: The analytically-driven approach that drove the accumulation of all those assets now must give way to something as simple and old as the league itself.

The Browns need to go get better players. The good news? As Jackson said, the Browns have plenty of different ways to get that done. In fact, I’m not sure there’s ever been a team that’s entered an offseason quote like this…

• Roster: The Browns currently list 74 players on their roster. More than half of them—40!—have either one accrued NFL season or none. There are just 10 players who have been in the league for more than four seasons.

• Cap space: No one in league history has had so much room. The Browns figure to enter the league year, depending on what happens with Pryor, with about $102 million to spend. The entire salary cap in 2006: $102 million. As recently as 2013, the cap was just $123 million.

• Draft picks: two first-rounders (1, 12), two second-rounders (33, 52), one third-rounder (65), two fourth-rounders (108, 142), three fifth-rounders (145, 177, 183), one sixth-rounder (187). Business Insider ran the numbers: By the old Jimmy Johnson draft-value chart, the Browns picks add up to 4,145 points. The 49ers have the second most draft capital this year behind Cleveland. They’re at 2,656 points.

It’s pretty simple. The Browns have to come out of this offseason with some valuable concrete as Jackson, Brown, vice president of player personnel Andrew Berry and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta try to lay a championship foundation.

All eyes are where they always are in the NFL: Under center. So that was Question No. 1 for Jackson: Do you have to come out of this offseason with your long-term quarterback?

“We hope to,” Jackson said. “We go into it looking to solve that. We all know until we have our quarterback, the guy that we want on our team [long-term], it’s hard to move forward. Now, that said, we’re not sure that guy is not on our team yet. I’m not trying to discount the guys that are on the team. You’re just always looking to improve everywhere that you can. We’re going to search high and low.”

That search has already begun.

The background work on the veteran market is just about complete. “Every quarterback who has potential to be a free agent or someone that could be traded, I’ve watched everything they’ve done,” Jackson says. He can’t say the names, per league rules. But you can guess them. Jimmy Garoppolo. AJ McCarron. Mike Glennon. Tyrod Taylor. And probably a few more.

The work on the college kids is underway, but not nearly complete. Jackson came to the combine having watched five or six full games from each of the top half-dozen or so college signal-callers, and the team spent the last few days interviewing them and watching them work out.

“It’s a very intriguing group,” Jackson said. “You have a guy who’s won a national championship, you have a guy who hasn’t played a ton of football, you have guys who have played a ton of football, you have guys who can throw the ball all across the field, you have guys with football IQ through the roof. You have guys with a lot of different skill sets. You gotta make sure that you dig through it all.

“We just gotta spend more time with them. It’s not just the tape. You’ve had a 15-minute conversation with most of them in a meting room. That’s not enough time.”

By the time April rolls around, Jackson says he’ll have watched every snap played by all the top draft-eligible quarterbacks, and give his input to his front-office colleagues. “I hope they lean on my expertise at the position as we get closer to making a decision about the position,” he says. “But we’re doing this thing collaboratively.”

Like everyone else, Jackson was impressed with what he saw from Garrett on Sunday. And though neither he nor anyone else in Cleveland came out and said it, it sure looks like it’s Garrett vs. the quarterbacks for the first overall pick, with guys like Alabama defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Stanford pass rusher Solomon Thomas as dark horses.

And that’s one of a few dozen decisions the Browns know they have to get right over the next two months. It’s not overstating the situation to say the future of the team’s current brass rides of it.

“Where we go, where we’re headed, this offseason is such a huge piece,” Jackson said. “We’re all thinking it, from top to the bottom, everyone’s focused on getting this right. … It’ll determine what we all achieve in the future, whether we win, and win consistently. And the only way to do that, you have to have great players.”

* * *

No Clarity in the QB Derby

After spending a week in Indianapolis, and four days last month in Mobile, I’d tell you there are five quarterbacks with a shot at going in the first round—Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer, Texas Tech’s Pat Mahomes, North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, and Cal’s Davis Webb.

In what order, I don’t know. And I don’t think NFL teams have that figured out yet, either. But some themes to the class have emerged.

“First off, what stands out, I think there’s only one guy that’s ever taken a snap from under center,” Chiefs GM John Dorsey told me. “How about that one? It shows how we’re evolving into a spread-option era. Then, what you have to analyze is can they spit out a play in the huddle? If you look at the majority of these guys, everybody’s signaling everything in from the sideline.

“These are the types of things people are looking for as they sit and talk to these players. Can they sit and regurgitate an offensive play? That’s hard to do, especially in [our] system, it’s really hard to do. But on the whole they’re a more athletic group.

“Are there any finished products here? I don’t think so. So where are the warts, and are you willing to live with the warts? That’s what people are asking.”

I then asked Dorsey if he thought any of the quarterbacks are ready to play. He smiled and said, “Me personally?” Then a long pause, another smile, and a “No.”

Again, that doesn’t mean there’s not plenty to like with the group, and more to dissect. So I asked one AFC personnel director to break down for me what he saw from the quarterbacks. He missed Webb but got the other four. Here are his notes, with the caveat he wanted to emphasize—these guys are throwing different routes to receivers they don’t know …

• Kizer: Big, strong, good arm and velocity. Smooth release. Inconsistent feet, timing and accuracy. Had the same misses on multiple reps.

• Mahomes: Tight release, but thought he would be more consistent and better throwing deep.

• Trubisky: Athletic, good arm strength. Some inconsistency in accuracy and timing and deep ball.

• Watson: Very consistent, athletic. Easy motion. Easy ball to catch.

A winner for the week? It was Watson. He blew teams away in interviews to the point where I know a couple clubs that weren’t wild about him were eager to go back and take a second look at the tape to see if they missed on their evaluation. And his field work was very good.

I wrote last month that Trubisky was the leader to be the first quarterback taken, and I still think that’s probably the likelihood. But Watson has gained some ground.

* * *

“He has elite versatility. The guy could’ve started for us at receiver. He’s one of those guys who can do so many things, and in a league that—especially with what New England and all of them do—really puts a premium on versatility. I mean, there’s nobody out there better. And he’s still getting better and better all the time.

He missed his entire first year, so there were some things developmentwise. He was just really getting better quickly. And he still has a long ways to go. … Yeah, he has special ability, but his versatility sets him apart. He can get you the tough yard in the I, he can play on third down, you can put him out at receiver. He threw a touchdown pass this year. He can literally do just about anything.”

—Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley on Joe Mixon.

This is a leftover from last week’s Game Plan lead on Mixon, and explains why Mixon will be drafted, and maybe before Day 2 is done. Ezekiel Elliott’s value last year was that he was built like a big back but had skills of a smaller runner. Mixon isn’t Elliott, but he is that way too. His pro day is Wednesday. He told me he hopes to post a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash.

Downtown Rams Draft Profile: Penn State WR Chris Godwin

https://www.downtownrams.com/single...Rams-Draft-Profile-Penn-State-WR-Chris-Godwin

Our new massive series here at Downtown Rams will give you players that catch our eye. We will bring you bring you draft prospects, see where their fit is with the Rams and of course give you a player comparison.

Who is the 6-foot-1 and 209 pound WR Chris Godwin?
Godwin was a one man army at WR for Penn State. He flashed NFL ability all over the field and at many moments in the season he put the team on his back. Godwin had a blistering performance versus the USC Trojans in the Rose Bowl where he practically took over that game himself until USC came back to win. Godwin exploded onto the scene at the combine posting a 4.42 forty yard dash and conquering all the on-field drills with ease and showing off his natural catching ability.

Strengths
Great speed (ran 4.42 forty time)
One of the strongest WR's in this class (19 bench reps)
Good route runner
NFL receiver size
Willing to fight for every yard after the catch
The most natural hands catcher in the draft
Ability to go up and high point the ball
Shows keen awareness in adjusting to errant passes
Creates great separation that was often times underrated by the accuracy of the QB
Excellent concentration
Has a willingness to block and continue to engage
Shows tremendous ability to improvise and help out his QB
Elevates play in big games
Runs through tacklers like a running back at times
Able to quickly accelerate in and out of breaks

Weaknesses
Needs to be aggressive when blocking; can get too passive at times
He needs to consistently be an improviser; in Rose Bowl he stopped and let the cornerback undercut him for a huge game losing interception
His reckless abandon style of play could cause him to get injured often

How does he fit with the Rams?
Chris Godwin is one of the high rising WR's in this draft. He is coming off a tremendous combine performance where he basically checked all the boxes. As you can see he's a pretty well rounded WR with very few weaknesses. One of them before the combine was to see if his speed and tape matched up. He confirmed it did at Indianapolis. Godwin can start day one for the Los Angeles Rams. I believe he may not be everyone's ideal pick but this kid is clearly going to be a very good WR for a long time. Godwin is one of the more safer receivers in this draft and he comes from Penn State's offense that has shown the ability to develop solid WR's at the next level -- most notably Allen Robinson. Godwin has prototypical NFL receiver size and to go with that he runs in the 4.4's which could make him a deep threat to go with Tavon Austin and Pharoh Cooper. The Rams would sure love to add a player like this that can catch and make plays on the outside especially after being the 32nd ranked offense.

Draft Grade
2nd round

Player Comparison
Pierre Garcon

I feel like I have already compared someone to Garcon . . . but he happens already be in the NFL so I am using my Pierre Garcon draft comparison card here for Chris Godwin. Now, Godwin didn't come from division three school like Garcon did but they both measured identically.

(6-1 , 209 lbs)Godwin vs. (6-0 , 209 lbs)Garcon
40 Yard Dash: 4.42 vs. 4.48
Bench Press: 19 reps vs 20 reps
Vertical Jump: 36 inches vs 36.5 inches
Broad Jump: 126 inches vs 125 inches
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.00 vs 4.19

Yeah, it's eerily similar if you think about it. So maybe the Rams don't need to get Garcon after all and they can just draft Mr.Godwin here. Or maybe they should double up on both? Regardless, Godwin looks primed to translate to the next level easily.

Free Agency

Sign Pierre Garcon WR Redskins
This signing would be huge. Garcon will be our #1 reciever. He is a very dependable and reliable safety blanket that Goff can grow and develop with. McVay brings in one of his best receivers that can help be a great leader for our young WR corps. Also he will help develop Goff with such a sure handed WR.


Sign Russell Okung LT Broncos
Russell improved a lot last year. He was finally healthy all last year and he was very productive. He had some penalties but he only allowed one Quarterback sack all year. With such a weak OT class this year Okung is our best option. He is a tremendous upgrade over Robinson. We can move Robinson to guard and have Okung at LT. This fixes two positions on our offensive line.


NFL Draft

Round Two- Evan Engram TE Ole Miss
I have been keeping an eye out on Engram for the past couple of years. He seems like a player that would intrigue McVay. He reminds me a little bit of Jordan Reed and McVay loves using his tight ends. Engram is a mismatch nightmare. He explodes off of the line of scrimmage and his catch radius is all over the place. He can catch the ball low or high. He is extremely athletic and he has a lot of vertical speed.


Round Three- Ahkello Witherspoon CB Colorado
Witherspoon is an exciting prospect. I like his length and he seems like a great fluid runner that sticks with the receiver very well. He can compete for that #2 CB position. He just has very quick feet and mirrors receivers very well.


Key Position Fixes

LT- Russell Okung - (Stable and upgrade over Robinson. This is much needed to help develop Goff)

WR- Pierre Garcon- ( #1 WR that is a safety blanket / Possession reciver)
Tavon Austin- (Speed WR / Gadet Player / Decoy / RB / Quick Screen WR)
Paroh Cooper- (I think he can play like Crowder did last year)

TE- Evan Engram (Extremely athletic TE that reminds me of Jordan Reed. He can score on any play and his hands are great.)

CB - Trumaine Johnson and Ahkello Witherspoon (Tall Lanky CB that can play on an island and let Wade blitz at will)

Offensively speaking,we have quite a bit of work to be done in free agency
and the draft.
Got to get that oline much improved and surround Goff with the skill
players he needs to move the ball down the field on a consistent basis.
Can you imagine that? An offense that moves the ball on a consistent basis.

There are a couple players that I am truly excited about,players already on
the roster.Aside from the obvious guys,such as Goff and Gurly.

I can't wait to see Higbee and Pharoh develop under McVay.
I think these guys will hear their number called quite a bit next year.
Here are a few vids that I was watching today.Really got me
jacked .Pumped for our future!!




Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnPN6zyDOpk



Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/nHXqZLftR4E



Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/v467tXB3ebM

Well, the Jets just released Mangold. What do you guys think. Mack was just what Ryan needed.
Should we get him, for the right price ?

Enter if you Dare.

Offensive line coach Aaron Kromer talks about what he looks for when building an offensive line, particularly at the NFL Combine.

[www.therams.com]

T.J. McDonald is likely done with the Rams, but they have a guy on the roster that could replace him

https://www.downtownrams.com/single...ve-a-guy-on-the-roster-that-could-replace-him

According to Vincent Bonsignore of the LA Daily News the Rams are expected to lose T.J. McDonald when he hits the open market and will have a new starting safety next season to go alongside Maurice Alexander.
Now, many believe the Rams will look to replace him in free agency or even the draft but I think ultimately the Rams may have a replacement for McDonald already on the roster. Brian Randolph is a former fan favorite at Tennessee and played both safety positions. The Rams signed him as an undrafted free agent and he was starting to gain a reputation as a violent hard hitting and hard nosed player in camp. On Hard Knocks players and coaches often reffered Randolph to that of a Rhino by simply calling him Rhino.

Randolph unfortunately had everything he worked so hard for taken a way for a year as he ended up tearing his ACL in his first NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys in preseason. The Rams weren't worried though about giving up on him. Former head coach Jeff Fisher made it known in the press conference that this was a loss and that he will be placed on injured reserve to come back and compete next season. I believe that Randolph is the ultimate sleeper this off-season. He has a new coaching staff, he's coming off an ACL tear and he never played in a regular season game. It's what Randolph possesses and shows on tape that has me believing he's going to have a future in this league.

Randolph has good size at 6-feet and he weighs almost 200 pounds. He benched 31 reps at his pro day so that shows how much core strength he has (which can easily be see on his tape). He ran a high 4.4 forty yard dash which shows up on time as well in the sense he could play as a center field safety. He showed off a solid vertical jump of 33 inches as well. Randolph is one of those players I don't know why a team didn't draft. He showed extreme leadership qualities, energy, range, tackling ability, burst, closing speed, long speed, strength and play making ability that includes how well he tracks the ball. The more I go back and watch tape I just can't understand why no one talked about him at all coming out of the draft.

Just watch his highlights below and decide for yourself. I know an ACL tear is a hard thing to come back from but this guy looks like he could be exactly what the Rams needed at safety last year.


So it seems to me as though there are pre-conceived notions on Randolph and the one team that decided to give him a chance was the Los Angeles Rams. They ended up having some serious talent in their undrafted free agent class and Randolph should be no exception to that list. He clearly had a freak injury that set him back because in college he started 53 games breaking a school record. With the new coaching staff in place expect Brian Randolph to get a fair shake in possibly filling in the safety void left by McDonald. In my personal opinion this guy is special and if given the opportunity the Rams have a diamond in the rough. Remember the name Brian Randolph.

March 2, 2017

Updated 4:25 p.m.


INDIANAPOLIS – Like the super smart kid in class who teachers sometimes neglect in order to tend to their less-gifted students, new Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is probably feeling a bit overlooked these days.

It's one of the double-edged swords of taking over a unit that, frankly, is already playoff caliber


Especially when the group it has been lining up against every day in practice is, well, challenged.

As the Rams work through free agency and draft preparations – including this week in Indianapolis at the NFL draft combine – so much of the focus and talk and concentration is on lifting an offense that ranks dead last in nearly every category that Phillips sometimes feels invisible.

To the point of speaking up.

“And as any good coach will do, (he'll say) ‘Hey, don't forget about us over here. We're playing defense too,’” is how Rams general manager Les Snead put it.

Good luck with all that, Wade.

No matter how many times he raises his hand or jumps up and down or tries to bring attention to himself, the Rams need to ignore him as much as possible.

Nothing personal, good sir.

The Rams won't completely shun Phillips this offseason – the change to his 3-4 scheme preference creates a natural need for specific additions – but let's not get things twisted.

They arrived here in Indianapolis with a particular game plan. And it's one they'll carry into free agency next week and the draft seven weeks later in Philadelphia.

It's time to pull the offense into the 21st century, once and for all.

That was the driving force behind firing Jeff Fisher last November.

And it was the motivation in identifying the offensive minded Sean McVay as Fisher's replacement, and then locking him up almost immediately after first meeting with him.

“We've got to improve the offense,” Snead said, rather obviously.

Step one in that direction was taken care of when they hired McVay, a 30-year-old ball of energy and enthusiasm who spent the last three years as Washington’s offensive coordinator and whose entire coaching roots are planted exclusively on that side of the ball.

Step two was McVay hiring an offensive staff heavy on quarterback development experience and with strong backgrounds in designing offenses.

That includes new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, quarterback coach Greg Olson and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer.

Along with McVay, they'll form a virtual offensive think tank

Now comes the really fun part.

And probably the hardest.

It's time to find the necessary talent to carry out McVay's vision.

Which, at the risk of putting poor Wade Phillips on mute for now, means the Rams focusing almost entirely on offense this offseason.

The needs are too vast.

Like capable blockers to protect second-year quarterback Jared Goff.

And perimeter skill players to surround Goff with, preferably ones who strike fear in the hearts of opposing defenses and, as absurd as it might sound, can be counted on to run precise routes and hold onto the ball when targeted.

Maybe the fresh breath of offensive air McVay will blow on the Rams will transform previously ineffective players into assets.

Certainly Goff will make the natural progression in his second year. And third-year running back Todd Gurley is much too talented to suffer through another season like the last. The offensive line still tilts to the young side, so upside remains.

But across the rest of the board, improvement will require bringing in better players.

And that process begins now.

After spending the last month taking a deep dive into the Rams present roster – deciding who fits and who doesn't – and talking through philosophies, preferable scheme fits and desired skill sets, Snead and McVay and their staffs now get a chance to put potential replacements to all those theories and prototypes they've been talking about.

“That’s why it’s been beneficial to have Les be able to kind of give me a jump start on, what are our needs?” McVay said. “And then is this something we feel we might be able to address in the draft or in free agency? Because just like in both, there are certain positions where there’s a little more depth in free agency. Certain positions where there’s a little more depth in the draft. And being able to use those two ways of acquiring players to improve is going to be really important for us.”

The Rams won't find all their answers in Indianapolis, where more than 300 of the best college football prospects are gathered, a handful of whom will soon find their way to Los Angeles.

Nor will all their problems get fixed in free agency, which opens next week and offers a group of serviceable offensive lineman and wide receivers who offer immediate upgrades from last year.

But it's a start.

And they can take a big step forward by drafting and spending their cap space money wisely.

In an encouraging sign, it looks like the Rams are ready to pounce on the free agent market. And Snead specifically mentioned the wide receiver position as a focus.

“We're confident that we knowmarket and who, in that market, fits Sean the most, and from there we've got to wait and see what happens next week,” Snead said. “But we're confident we're prepared to test that market, and that we're prepared to test the market in the draft as well. We know we want to get better on offense.”

If that means sticking Wade Phillips in the corner or Snead and McVay clasping their ears to tune him out, so be it.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-745521-mcvay-offensive.html

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2...rimed-to-land-tyrod-taylor-bears-eye-glennon/

INDIANAPOLIS -- The quarterback shuffle in the NFL is about to begin and two of first dominoes to fall should be Mike Glennon and Tyrod Taylor. A Tony Romo or Jimmy Garoppolo trade could take some time to develop, while the Redskins now have until July 15 to get a long-term deal done with Kirk Cousins.

The Bills do not plan to retain Taylor at his current contract , according to sources, as they continue to meet with agents for free agent quarterbacks and explore other options. And while the Bills have proposals at a lesser salary on the table, no one I’ve talked to here at the combine -- general manager, cap guy or agent -- can figure any reason why Taylor should accept anything from the Bills at this point. Especially with him being coveted as a free agent.

League sources said the Browns have significant interest in Taylor as a free agent. Taylor has strong ties to some on the Browns staff already and if/when he hits the open market I would be shocked if the Browns don’t make a real push for him. Many in the league believe that’s where he will end up -- he’s young and athletic and protects the football and has upside. That would allow the Browns to take the two best players available with their two first-round picks -- beginning with Myles Garrett first overall. The Browns also continue to try to push to retain pending free agent receiver Terrelle Pryor to have some weapons for the new QB.

As for Glennon, he is clearly poised at the top of a very shallow starting quarterback free agent market and several GMs around the league believe Chicago has the strongest current interest in him and will emerge as the front-runner to land him coming out of the combine. The Bears love Jimmy Garoppolo but that requires parting with multiple significant assets and they seem convinced Glennon can do the job. I’d anticipate the money being in the Ryan Fitzpatrick range from a year ago - $12 million per season -- with the chance to earn significantly more via production and incentives.

How bout them Lady Huskies from UCONN... 105 straight wins and counting

avg scoring margin over 32 points a game..second to #2 ranked Baylor

Florio has a problem with the Skins organization due to the fact that Daniel Snyder refuses to change the team's name, thus snarky articles like this. It could be just that Snyder feels like Gruden is doing a decent job and deserves another shot at coaching the team, so he gave him two more years to prove himself.

Btw "this marks the first time Redskins owner Dan Snyder has extended a head coach since he bought the team in 1999. In fact, no head coach has lasted more than four years under Snyder. He has had seven head coaches and one interim coach during his tenure."

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18827226/washington-redskins-extend-head-coach-jay-gruden
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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/05/washington-gives-jay-gruden-two-year-extension/

Washington gives Jay Gruden two-year extension
Posted by Mike Florio on March 5, 2017

Getty Images

It’s the year of Bright, Shiny Objects in the nation’s capital, and the local NFL team has whipped one out in an effort to lessen the perception that the franchise is in total disarray.

Per multiple reports, Washington has given coach Jay Gruden a two-year extension. The new deal puts him under contract through 2020. Previously, Gruden had a commitment through 2018.

The timing reeks of an effort to change the narrative, especially since (as Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports) the agreement was reached on Saturday night at Prime 47 in Indianapolis, where plenty of elbow-bending has been happening on each and every evening of the Underwear Olympics.

If true, it seems even more like a desperate effort to alter the league-wide perception of the organization — especially since a deal of that magnitude isn’t truly done until it’s reduced to writing and signed by both parties.

Ultimately, the final version could be meaningless, with Gruden possibly having no guaranteed payments beyond 2018. If that’s what happen, why would he agree to it? Because news of it helps to stabilize a bad situation only a few days before free agency.

While the notion that agents will actively steer their clients away from Washington is a bit overblown, it would have (and still could) cost more to get a guy to sign with Washington than with another team. Already, PFT has heard that some free-agent receivers want to know what the quarterback situation will be for 2017 and beyond before committing to a contract there.

The coaching situation for 2017 and beyond will be Jay Gruden in charge. How far beyond 2017 doesn’t really matter; as blood-alcohol concentrations rose on Saturday night, the team turned a garden hose on a brush fire by shaking hands on a new contract that ultimately may be worth not much more than the paper it currently isn’t written on.