Tag: Brandon Carr

7 potential options for the cornerback-needy Giants

The New York Giants are starved for cornerbacks and here are seven free agents they should consider signing.

The New York Giants were prepared to enter the 2020 season relatively thin at the cornerback position, but they couldn’t have prepared themselves for what was to come.

DeAndre Baker found himself in hot water following an arrest for an alleged armed robbery in Florida, ultimately landing him on the commissioner’s exempt list, and then Sam Beal decided to opt out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

An already thin group became a dire cause for concern, and with training camps now underway, the Giants find themselves running out of time to locate reinforcements.

We’ve broken down similar lists earlier this year, but now is the time to do it again. Here are seven cornerbacks the Giants could potentially turn to in the coming days, weeks and months.

Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Logan Ryan

This will sound like a broken record, but Ryan is the most obvious choice for the Giants because he’s arguably the best cornerback remaining on the free agent market. He’s also been connected to the team quite a bit through rumor and speculation.

Back in March, Ryan praised Giants head coach Joe Judge, while Giants Wire also listed him as an under-the-radar free agent to sign around the same time.

The former Rutgers and New England Patriots star should be very high on the Giants’ shopping list. They need a veteran corner who knows the ropes and how to win and the connection to Joe Judge and Patrick Graham has to come into play here.

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7 cornerbacks Giants could sign to replace DeAndre Baker

Here’s a look at seven cornerback the New York Giants could sign to replace DeAndre Baker, who is facing eight felony counts.

The New York Giants find themselves in an exceptionally difficult spot thanks to cornerback DeAndre Baker, who is facing eight serious counts after allegedly robbing a private party on Wednesday night with Seattle Seahawks cornerback Quinton Dunbar and a third party.

Baker has yet to turn himself in and neither the Giants nor the NFL have issued substantial comment, but expect a suspension or release in the coming hours or days.

Although the Giants have loaded up at the cornerback position over the past two seasons, their positional group will take a substantial hit without the presence of Baker, a first-round pick in 2019.

With that in mind, here’s a rough guide to seven players the Giants could sign to replace Baker.

Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Logan Ryan

Ryan is probably the most obvious choice for the Giants not only because he’s arguably the best cornerback remaining on the free agent market, but because he’s been connected to the team quite a bit this offseason.

Ryan recently praised head coach Joe Judge, while Giants Wire also listed him as an under-the-radar free agent to sign back in March.

The former Rutgers and New England Patriots star should be very high on the Giants’ shopping list. They need a veteran corner who knows the ropes and how to win and the connection to Joe Judge and Patrick Graham has to come into play here.

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Is the Ravens’ roster already better than last season?

We’re not even finished with the 2020 NFL offseason but the Ravens already look better than last year’s 14-2 squad after free agency

With all the losses and additions this offseason, are the Baltimore Ravens a better team than last season? That’s the mark of a successful offseason, especially for a team in the middle of their Super Bowl window like Baltimore. Simply improving upon last year’s roster and patching up their biggest weaknesses should get them closer to their goal of another Super Bowl.

The good news for Ravens fans is that they are, at least one paper.

After getting into the playoffs as the AFC’s No. 1 seed, Baltimore was unceremoniously dismissed in embarrassing fashion thanks to the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens’ vaunted defense allowed Titans running back Derrick Henry to gouge them all game long, to the tune of 195 rushing yards and a 6.5 yard-per-carry average by himself. But it wasn’t the first time Baltimore struggled to defend the run last season. On the year as a whole, they gave up 4.4 yards-per-game on the ground, which was the 12th worst average in the NFL.

With a clear goal in mind this offseason, general manager Eric DeCosta was aggressive in fixing the Ravens’ run defense. Before free agency even began, the Baltimore pulled off a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for defensive end Calais Campbell. Then came the Ravens re-signing Justin Ellis and Jihad Ward to provide more experienced depth. As if that wasn’t enough, Baltimore found their upgrade for Michael Pierce in Derek Wolfe, adding much-needed size and production to their defensive front.

The Ravens have completely revamped their defensive line this offseason, replacing two of their three starters and bringing back valuable experienced depth to perhaps their weakest defensive unit from last season. But not only do they look like a better run defense on paper, but their pass rush has gotten better as well. Wolfe and Campbell bring with them the type of interior pass rush production Baltimore has failed to have over the last five years, hopefully helping outside linebacker Matthew Judon get free more often.

Beyond the defensive line, the Ravens have suffered very few free-agent losses this offseason. For a team that went 14-2 last season, returning 18 of their 22 starters and upgrading at two more starting roles is a pretty massive win.

The only free agents Baltimore has lost have been linebackers Josh Bynes and Patrick Onwuasor along with Pierce and wide receiver Seth Roberts. While Baltimore was in talks with Onwuasor to return, the Ravens seemed fine with the rest of their free-agent losses. Trading tight end Hayden Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons and defensive end Chris Wormley to the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as declining cornerback Brandon Carr’s 2020 option eliminated a bit of depth but it was all at positions where Baltimore was stacked already.

By shoring up their biggest weakness, the team has improved upon their fourth-ranked defense to pair with their league-leading scoring offense that features the best rushing attack in NFL history and the 2019 NFL MVP in Lamar Jackson.

It’s unrealistic to expect the Ravens to go 14-2 or better next season but, at least on paper right now, Baltimore is a better team than they were in 2019. They’ll continue to build up their roster in the 2020 NFL Draft and in the second wave of free agency but the hope is they’ve already done enough to get over the playoff hump and back to another Super Bowl.

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7 remaining free agents who can still help the Lions before the draft

7 remaining free agents who can still help the Lions before the 2020 NFL draft

The NFL free agent market isn’t exactly the barren toilet paper aisle at the local superstore, but after two weeks of frenzied shopping, it’s pretty picked over. There are still some goodies stocked on the shelves, however.

If the Detroit Lions want to spend more of their remaining salary cap room to continue to stock the roster shelf before the draft, they will find a few remaining free agents worthy of putting in the cart.

Here are seven free agents I believe can still help fill some needs on the Lions, listed in alphabetical order and covering the gamut from premium to bargain-basement.

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Reunion potential abound as Ravens’ free agents remain unsigned

The Baltimore Ravens could turn to their own free agents now that the NFL free agency period has slowed down and money has begun to dry up.

The Baltimore Ravens entered free agency with 13 unrestricted free agents set to hit the open market. And after the two-day legal tampering period and a full day of free agency, not many former Ravens have signed elsewhere. Only defensive tackle Michael Pierce and wide receiver Seth Roberts have agreed to terms with other teams, which seem to be partly Baltimore not being very interested. The lack of deals leaves a bunch of former Ravens available for a potential reunion.

Top among them is cornerback Jimmy Smith, who general manager Eric DeCosta had previously said the team would like to re-sign. While it was initially thought the market for cornerbacks would price Smith out of returning to Baltimore, especially after the Buffalo Bills signed Josh Norman. However, some of the deals done for cornerbacks during free agency indicate that might not necessarily be the case after all. Just take a look at these few deals for prime examples of the market being a little stunted.

If the market for cornerbacks remains a little stagnant, Baltimore might be able to woo Smith back on a short-term deal with terms they like. And if not, Brandon Carr — who the Ravens are set to let go by not picking up his 2020 option — remains a viable option to return on a more cap-friendly deal.

The same could be said for linebackers Josh Bynes, Pernell McPhee and safety Anthony Levine. All were solid players last season and with Baltimore tending to favor continuity instead of shaking the boat, all could be low-cost options that fill important roles as stop-gap solutions until draft picks can supplant them.

Bynes was a godsend last season, joining Baltimore prior to Week 5 and quickly earning a starting spot and a hefty percentage of the defensive snaps. In his very first game with the Ravens in 2019, Bynes recorded an interception in what was a very close game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With his experience and good play came more stability not only at linebacker but on the defense as a whole.

McPhee showed he was still a capable pass rusher, actually beating out several other players including Shane Ray for a spot on the 53-man roster. Through seven games, McPhee started each one and accounted for three sacks and nine total pressures.

Levine might be Baltimore’s most versatile player. While many casual fans might not realize it by looking at his stat sheet but Levine is asked to play all over the defense and is one of their top special-teams players.

While none of these players is really at a starter caliber at this point in their careers, they all provide valuable experience and flexibility while bringing the type of familiarity with the scheme very few outside free agents would have. If the Ravens are eyeing up some low-cost veterans to help round out their roster, looking past their own free agents would be a mistake as long as the money side of things makes sense.

Baltimore was so close to a Super Bowl last season and simply bringing back most of their own guys would give them a solid roster and another good chance at a trophy. With free agency being a little slower for the Ravens’ free agents, a reunion for many of them seems to be shaping up.

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Chiefs could seek reunion with former draft pick Brandon Carr

Could a familiar face reunite with the Kansas City Chiefs this season?

A familiar face became available at the onset of free agency on Wednesday when the Baltimore Ravens declined their club option for CB Brandon Carr. A former fifth-round pick by the Chiefs in 2008, Carr has seen a long and productive career. He left the Chiefs in free agency in 2012 and signed a five-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. He played out the full contract before joining the Baltimore Ravens in 2017.

Carr would be an optimal replacement for a player like Kendall Fuller, who has agreed to terms with the Washington Redskins in free agency. His versatility is something that should be appealing to the Chiefs, as the 33-year-old has the ability to play anywhere in the secondary. In 2019, the Ravens used Carr on blitzes from the slot, racking up career highs in hurries, sacks and QB hits. He’s also proven to be extremely reliable, starting in 192-of-192 games during his career, dating back to his time with the Chiefs.

The bottom line here is that Kansas City absolutely needs to add to their cornerback room in free agency. They might be dealing with salary cap constraints, but you can’t go into the draft with so few proven commodities.  Right now they only have four players under contract and only two of those players logged significant defensive snaps last season. Adding a player like Carr gives the team a veteran that likely won’t come with a steep price tag.

Another benefit of signing a player like Carr is that he wouldn’t count against the compensatory pick formula, where the Chiefs are already projected to earn two picks in 2021.

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Report: Ravens not picking up CB Brandon Carr’s 2020 option, making him a free agent

The Baltimore Ravens needed the cap space after making a ton of moves. Not picking up CB Brandon Carr’s 2020 option frees up $6 million.

The Baltimore Ravens are not picking up cornerback Brandon Carr’s option for 2020, according to Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson. The decision will make Carr a free agent.

Baltimore has been busy before free agency officially even begins. During the legal tampering period, the Ravens have agreed to terms on two different trades, on a deal with defensive tackle Michael Brockers and have re-signed some of their own players. With all the moves, Baltimore is likely hurting for some cap space right now.

By not picking up Carr’s option, it frees up $6 million on the Ravens’ 2020 salary cap, according to Over The Cap. That would get Baltimore back into the positive on the salary cap and leave them with just $3.58 million, according to OTC’s records. However, the Ravens are set to rework Calais Campbell’s deal and could still re-sign outside linebacker Matthew Judon to free up some additional space on their salary cap for this season.

Carr played three seasons for Baltimore, starting all 48 games and notching six interceptions, 29 passes defensed and two sacks. Carr played both inside and outside at cornerback and even got some playing time at safety this season with the Ravens stacking their cornerback depth chart thanks to the trade for Marcus Peters.

Though Carr is effectively being cut, Baltimore could still be in the mix to re-sign him at a lower contract if they wanted. But the Ravens have also shown interest in re-signing cornerback Jimmy Smith as well.

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Obvious cuts Ravens should make in 2020 offseason

The Baltimore Ravens have a few overpaid players on their roster who should be heading out the door this offseason.

The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2020 offseason in pretty good shape. They’ve got a roster with a solid core of young players that got them to a 14-2 record. The Ravens also have a decent amount of cap space expected and not very many major holes to fill this offseason.

That might seem like the perfect recipe for rolling forward as they stand while adding talent through free agency and the draft. But Baltimore has always tried to perfect their roster, at times with the philosophy of addition via subtraction.

Looking over the Ravens’ roster and current contracts, they have a handful of players that are overpaid and pretty obvious cuts. Not only would these cuts free up quite a bit more cap space, but it would also allow younger players who have proven themselves to step up into the spotlight more.

Let’s take a look at the two players who are seemingly no-brainer decisions for Baltimore to make this offseason.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

S Tony Jefferson

Cap savings: $7 million

Jefferson suffered a devastating knee injury this season that put him on injured reserve. When the injury happened, I posited the idea that Jefferson might have played his final snaps in Baltimore. Now with the offseason here, I’ve only strengthened my opinion on the matter.

In Jefferson’s absence, the Ravens turned to Chuck Clark, who played excellent football. In fact, Clark actually played better in the starting role than Jefferson had, earning a 72.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus against Jefferson’s 49.4 for 2019.

With an obvious replacement already on the roster and some depth in the form of DeShon Elliott, the Ravens can easily transition away from Jefferson. Combine that with a $7 million savings and it’s difficult seeing Jefferson remaining on the roster for next season, even though he means a lot to the locker room.

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Demario Davis named a finalist for NFLPA’s Alan Page Community Award

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis was named one of five finalists for the NFLPA Alan Page Community Award, along with Bobby Wagner

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New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis was named a first-team All-Pro, and now he could add another honor to his trophy case. Davis was named one of five finalists for the NFL Players Association’s Alan Page Community Award for his efforts off the field, embracing the New Orleans community and working to enact positive change with his neighbors. The award’s winner will receive a $100,000 donation to a charity of their choosing.

Davis rose to prominence in the wake of a controversial NFL uniform violation fine. The league initially fined him for wearing a headband labeled “Man of God” during an early-season game, which he overturned in appeals. Davis then sold similar headbands in a fund-raiser for a Mississippi hospital, reporting more than $120,000 in donations. He also met with students and faculty at a New Orleans-area elementary school who had supported him during the appeals process.

The winner of this NFLPA award will be named during Super Bowl LIV. Here all five finalists:

  • Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Brandon Carr, Baltimore Ravens
  • Brandon Copeland, New York Jets
  • Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints
  • Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks

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7 potential cap casualties for the Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens could choose to cut any or all seven of these players in order to free up more room on their 2020 NFL salary cap.

The Baltimore Ravens now turn to the offseason in preparation for the 2020 NFL regular season. The Ravens are set to have plenty of salary cap next season but will also have to figure out how to handle their 21 pending free agents. A few big contracts could push Baltimore to look at their current roster for some players who have higher cap hits but little dead money as potential cap casualties.

Using Over The Cap, we took a look at the Ravens’ potential cap casualties this offseason. That’s not to say any or all of these players will actually be cut but that they have the largest cap savings, making them more tempting. If all seven of these players were cut, Baltimore could have as much as $67 million in cap space for 2020.

CB Brandon Carr

AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

Carr has started every game for the Ravens over the past three seasons and been a consistent force in the secondary. But despite the team’s success in 2019, it was not a banner year for Carr. He gave up 11.6 yards per completion as well as five touchdowns in coverage. He had only six passes defended and no interceptions, his lowest number since 2015.

Carr was used more at safety this season thanks to the addition of Marcus Peters to the combo of Jimmy Smith and Marlon Humphrey. He still found plenty of playing time but is clearly not the starting outside cornerback he once was.

The Ravens can save $6,000,000 by releasing Carr. Though it wouldn’t be shocking to see Baltimore cut him only to re-sign him to a more cap friendly deal to finish out his career.

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