Thread For Our F/a Prospects

[ChrisW]

Going to try and keep this thread updated with current info on F/A prospects that we all have an interest in.

My main source of info will be NFL Trade Rumors. For those that don't know, they compile info about trades and signings from popular media outlets and social media.

Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean has a “hunch” that the Titans will have hard time preventing impending free agent CB Alterraun Verner from testing the open market this March.

• Wyatt doesn’t see the Titans using their franchise tag on Verner as it would run them close to $11 million for the 2014 season.
• Wyatt adds that the Titans do have some talent at the cornerback position including Jason McCourty, Blidi Wreh-Wilson, Coty Sensabaugh and Tommie Campbell that could help to mitigate the loss of Verner.

Verner, 25, is in great position to secure a solid contract on the open market as he’s coming off of a Pro Bowl season for the Titans. He finished the year with 57 tackles, five interceptions including one for a touchdown, two fumble recoveries and 23 passes defensed.

 

[ChrisW]

Jeff Fisher has made a habit of bringing players he coached in Tennessee over to St. Louis since becoming Head Coach in 2012.

As Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes, CB Alterraun Verner could be the next player making that switch.

“I think Verner makes a lot of sense.” Thomas writes while answering a question regarding the Rams’ potential interest in Verner. “Not only does Fisher know about him, but he blossomed into a Pro Bowler last season when Gregg Williams was a senior defensive assistant.“

Thomas even went so far as to say; “In fact, I would be surprised if the Rams didn’t make an effort to get him signed.“

Clearly, the Rams pursuit of Verner would make sense. In addition to Verner’s connections to the current Rams coaching staff, it appears increasingly unlikely that Tennessee will be able to bring Verner back.

Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean recently mentioned that the team does not plan to place the franchise tag on Verner, which would cost roughly $11.2 million for one season. Further, Tennessee has already spent substantial money on the cornerback position, most notably on Jason McCourty.

The Rams could certainly use an upgrade at cornerback, as both Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnsonstruggled last year. Cortland Finnegan was a big disappointment for the Rams and could be cut, which would save the Rams roughly $4 million in cap space.

Signing Verner would require some tinkering to their roster to make this happen financially, as the Rams currently have less than $1 million in available cap space, according to OverTheCap.com.

 

[ChrisW]

Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 Buffalo writes that, depending on how things go in the coming weeks, the Bills could apply their franchise tag to impending free agent S Jairus Byrd with the intention of trading him this offseason.

According to Buscaglia, the Bills are expected to meet with Byrd’s agent, Eugene Parker, at the Scouting Combine next week to discuss a potential long-term.

Buscaglia adds that re-signing Byrd could lead to Aaron Williams playing elsewhere in 2015, as it’s unlikely that Buffalo would be willing to pay him close to $5 million annually in his next contract.

The Bills franchised Byrd last year, so they would be looking at a one-year tender worth $8.299 million in 2014 if they were to go this route.

Byrd, 27, is reportedly seeking a similar contract to that of Eric Weddle, who received a five-year, $40 million deal from the Chargers. Assuming that the Bills are willing to trade Byrd, they would most likely be seeking at least second-round pick in return for him seeing as they would almost certainly receive a third-round compensatory pick if he were to sign elsewhere in free agency.

 

[ChrisW]

Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland reports that contract negotiations between the Browns and C Alex Mack won’t begin until Mack returns from a humanitarian trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the end of the month.

• Grossi adds that the Browns will then have less than two weeks to negotiate a long-term agreement that would prevent him from testing the open market.

Cleveland discussed an extension with Mack back in October, but the two sides were reportedly off on both total value and the number of years included.

• Grossi mentions that the Browns were hoping to sign him to a five-year deal, but Mack was looking for a three-year contract and later agreed to discuss a four-year pact.

Mack’s agent Marv Demoff told Grossi that Mack has a “lot of questions about the future direction of the team” to be answered, which is hardly surprising given that they surprisingly fired HC Rob Chudzinski after one year, and then cleaned out the front office just a little over a week ago.

Mack has played every snap for the Browns since being drafted in the first round in the 2009 NFL Draft. He will undoubtedly be the top center available this offseason, and will likely command something in the vicinity of the league’s highest paid center Ryan Kalil– who signed a six-year, $49.1 million deal in 2011.

That cost may be prohibitive however, considering that Cleveland is projected to have more than $45 million in estimated cap space pursuant to OverTheCap.com.

 

[ChrisW]

Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reports that the Titans will meet with the representatives for free agent CBAlterraun Verner at Combine in the hope of working out a long-term deal.

• Wyatt adds that there is still plenty of work to be done in order for Verner to back in Tennessee next season.
• Wyatt also mentions that the franchise tag still is not expected to be an option for the Titans.

Titans GM Ruston Webster said that he has already been i contact with Verner’s agent “and we’ll continue to talk.“

The Rams and Vikings have both been floated as possible options for Verner in free agency, depending of course on what happens with the Titans.

Verner, 25, is in great position to secure a solid contract on the open market as he’s coming off of a Pro Bowl season for the Titans. He finished the year with 57 tackles, five interceptions including one for a touchdown, two fumble recoveries and 23 passes defensed.

 

[ChrisW]

Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net reports that the St. Louis Rams are expected to discuss a new contract with impending free agent OL Rodger Saffold at the Combine this weekend.

Pauline adds that the two sides had previously broached the topic of a contract extension last month.

Rams GM Les Snead told reporters last month that they would like to re-sign Saffold. Although, he may prefer to test the market and look for an opportunity to play left tackle again after the Rams moved him to guard following the addition of Jake Long last year.

Saffold, 25, appeared in 12 games for the Rams this season and rated as the No. 18 guard in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.

 

[ChrisW]

Titans info. This could have implications towards Verner.

Bernard Pollard
Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reports that the Titans are in talks with impending free agent S Bernard Pollard regarding a new contract.

Pollard, 29, signed a signed a one-year deal with the Titans back in March of last year. In 2013, he totaled 99 tackles, a half sack, and three interceptions.

Pro Football Focus rated him as the No. 21 safety in the league. We have Pollard listed as the No. 72 player in our Top 100 Free Agents list.

Kamerion Wimbley
The Titans reportedly see DE Kamerion Wimbley as a “good fit” in a changing defense. However, Jim Wyatt can’t see Wimbley returning at his current price tag.

Wyatt adds that although there is no meeting currently scheduled between the two parties, there is still time to get something worked out before free agency.

Wimbley, 30, signed a five-year deal worth $35 million that included $13.5 million guaranteed with the Titans after the Raiders were forced to part ways with him in attempt to get a handle on their cap situation.

The Titans would free up $2.4 million in cap space by releasing Wimbley who is set to count $7.8 million against the team’s 2014 cap.

Wimbley hasn’t developed into the impact player the Titans though they were getting a few years ago. This season, he totaled just 11 tackles and three sacks over the course of 16 games. He played just 360 in all of 2013, so you can see why he would come up as a potential cap casualty.

Ropati Pitoitua
Jim Wyatt adds that the Titans are still interested in re-signing DL Ropati Pitoitua and are expected to speak to his agent at the Combine regarding a contract extension.

Pitoitua, 28, played in all 16 games for the Titans this past season and totaled 44 tackles and four sacks.

 

[jjab360]

Thanks for this, great info all around.

 

[PhxRam]

Good job dude.

 

[ChrisW]

Thanks for this, great info all around.

NP, at all. Just trying to consolidate info that might pertain to our F/A period.

 

[ChrisW]

Lots of Titans rumors popping up at the moment.

 

[ChrisW]

Jim Wyatt reports that the Titans are scheduled to meet with RB Chris Johnson’s agent at the Combine this week.

There have been rumors circulating for several months now that Johnson could be on the chopping block and this could be an indication that they intend to ask him to accept a pay cut.

Johnson, 28, still has three years remaining on his six-year, $55.26 million contract. The Titans could save $4 million in cap space if they were to release him outright, according to OverTheCap.com. However, Tennessee could boost that figure to $8 million by designating him as a post-June 1 cut.

Johnson opted to play out the season, despite the fact that he suffered a meniscus tear back in Week 3. He managed to go over the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth consecutive season and contributed 10 total touchdowns in 2013.

 

[ChrisW]

According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, the titans are likely to keep S Michael Griffin and WR Nate Washington, despite their high salaries.

Both players have been rumored to be on the chopping block this offseason, but it sounds like the Titans would prefer to hang to them rather than look for cheaper replacements.

Griffin, 29, has undergone multiple procedures this offseason and will make $6.2 million for the 2014 season. He’ll be entering the third year of a five-year, $35 million contract that he signed with the Titans back in 2012. The Titans could save $2.6 million by releasing him outright.

Washington, 30, caught 58 passes for 919 yards and three touchdowns last season. The Titans stand to gain $4.8 million by releasing him, but there is a chance that he could agree to a pay cut at some point, depending on whether or not the Titans need the additional cap space.

 

[ChrisW]

Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reports that the Titans remain interested in re-signing CB Alterraun Verner.

However, Wyatt mentions that doing so “could prove to be too expensive,” and the franchise tag is unlikely to be an option for Tennessee.

 

[ChrisW]

Cheap receiver option. Was he drafted by Fisher in his last year?

Jim Wyatt reports that the Titans have “no plans” to re-sign impending free agent WR Kenny Britt to a new contract.

This, of course, come as little surprise given how the past three years have played out for Britt in Tennessee.

Britt, 25, wound up being a healthy inactive for three of Titans final four games, and even when he played, he was underwhelming.

In 2013, Britt totaled 11 receptions for 96 yards receiving over the course of 11 games. At one point, many thought Britt could be among the best receivers in the game after two solid years to start his career, but since then Britt has become a non-factor and will have a hard time securing anymore than a short-term contract.

 

[ChrisW]

Update:

Jim Thomas confirms that the Rams will meet with free agent OL Rodger Saffold’s agent at the Combine on Saturday to discuss new contract.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Why is Saffold at the combine? Is it the hip place to be for veteran players these days?

 

[ChrisW]

Why is Saffold at the combine? Is it the hip place to be for veteran players these days?

I'm not sure. But, my guess is that it was agreed upon to meet there since the staff is assembled there in the offseason for the workouts.

 

[Mojo Ram]

I'm not sure. But, my guess is that it was agreed upon to meet there since the staff is assembled there in the offseason for the workouts.

Maybe its just all the player agents...that would make more sense.

 

[ChrisW]

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Seahawks are releasing WR Sidney Rice.

There has been speculation that Rice could be on the chopping block for several weeks now, so this doesn’t come as much of a surprise.

Rice, 27, signed a five-year contract worth $41 million that included $18.5 million guaranteed with the Seahawks back in 2011. He had two years remaining on his contract with base salaries of $8.5 million and $9 million.

Rice would have counted $9.7 million against the Seahawks 2014 salary cap, but this move should free up $7.3 million in cap space for Seattle.

The Seahawks have a number of free agents and extension candidates to address including WR Golden Taint, DE Michael Bennett, CB Richard Sherman and S Earl Thomas so this extra cap space will go a long way towards retaining some of them in the long-run.