News: Jadeveon Clowney targeting Cowboys, Blake Jarwin a sleeper?

Jadeveon Clowney has his eye on Dallas. Ezekiel Elliott being sued. Blake Jarwin’s value is rising. Dak Prescott’s contract value high.

The topic of conversation over the last few days for the Dallas Cowboys has been All-Pro safety Jamal Adams and who media members and fans would give up in a trade to acquire him. That all shifted today when reports of top free agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney was said to have had his eye on just a few teams to finally sign with, one of them being the Cowboys.

Adding a top-tier edge rusher would definitely benefit this year’s team, but once again, money seems to always be the overriding issue. Could Dallas afford him? The Cowboys will be making more moves as the summer grows long. One thing to keep an eye on, however, is the long-term extension of the recently franchise tagged Dak Prescott, who has been mentioned as one of the more valuable contracts waiting to get done. The team’s star running back is also back in the news for all the wrong reasons, but it likely won’t be labeled as detrimental as issues of the past. And Blake Jarwin finds himself in fantasy football talks? All this and much more in today’s Cowboys news.

Report: Dallas Cowboys are one of two teams on top of free agent DE Jadeveon Clowney’s preferred list :: Blogging the Boys

PFN’s Tony Pauline reports that the former Texans and Seahawks pass rusher has mentioned Dallas and New Orleans at the top of his wish list when forecasting his 2020 roster spot. RJ Ochoa digs into whether the Cowboys can afford him… and perhaps more important, whether they even need him.



Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott faces lawsuit over dog attack :: Cowboys Wire

The star Cowboys running back is in the news today, and it has nothing to do with COVID-19. Ezekiel Elliott is being sued after his dogs allegedly attacked a worker at Elliott’s home.


Mahomes, Prescott among those who most deserve new contracts :: NFL.com

Echoing what most Cowboys fans have been screaming for, the network’s analytics expert Cynthia Frelund uses “win-share model results and forward-looking projections to estimate future win impact” and says Dak Prescott, who she calls “crucial to the Cowboys’ success,” is the third-most urgent deal waiting to get done leaguewide.


Film room: 3 free agents who could still improve the Cowboys’ roster, including this immovable object at nose tackle :: Dallas Morning News

John Owning goes shopping to stock the shelves in Dallas. He comes away with wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, who he calls “basically a more productive version of Tavon Austin,” edge rusher Cam Wake to perhaps platoon with Aldon Smith and Bradlee Anae opposite DeMarcus Lawrence, and Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison, the aforementioned immovable object “who can absorb double-teams to keep his linebackers clean, defeat single blocks and make plays around or behind the line of scrimmage.”


Building the best NFL team money can buy under the 2020 salary cap :: NFL.com

In this interesting hypothetical bang-for-the-buck exercise, media researcher Anthony Holzman-Escareno crunches both stats and salaries. La’el Collins makes his squad’s starting lineup at right tackle, while Joe Looney, Gerald McCoy, Anthony Brown, and Xavier Woods are all on the 53-man roster as backups.


Is Blake Jarwin a deep sleeper to target on the loaded Dallas Cowboys offense? :: Yahoo Sports

With the NFL season set to start in just a few months, it’s also time to dive deep into fantasy football. Blake Jarwin could be a late-round player to benefit greatly from a stacked 2020 Dallas Cowboys offense.



High expectations, unyielding family demands couldn’t stop Cowboys Tyron Smith from greatness :: Cowboys Wire

One of the best offensive tackles in football is showcased this ongoing countdown to the start of the season. Take a look back at Smith’s early years, his rise to the top rankings at his position, his setbacks, and his outlook as the man responsible for protecting Dak Prescott’s blind side.


Rank ‘Em: The Cowboys’ 8 all-time franchise tags :: The Mothership

The franchise tag has been a pivotal tool for the Cowboys over the years. The team website ranks the top 8 franchise tags of all time. You’ll find the obvious and most recent ones towards the front of the list: Dak Prescott, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Dez Bryant. But a few forgotten names mentioned go to show how this tag has evolved over time (and how much better the Cowboys are now as a team).


New Orleans Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins on coronavirus risk: Football ‘nonessential’ :: ESPN

The 12-year veteran and NFLPA executive committee member told CNN this week that the risk surrounding COVID-19 “has to really be eliminated” before he would be comfortable returning to play. There are no doubt plenty of other players who feel the same, even as the league tells teams to open their 2020 training camps on time.

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Should the Seahawks pursue free agent DT Josh Mauro?

The Seattle Seahawks need a veteran, run-stuffing defensive tackle, and free agent Josh Mauro is a cheap, versatile option.

The Seattle Seahawks, like clockwork, always add a veteran defensive tackle to help shore up the run-defense. Guys like Al Woods, Shamar Stephen and Sheldon Richardson have been brought in over the last few years to do exactly that, filling a niche role for one season before departing.

With Jarran Reed and Poona Ford locked into starting roles, the Seahawks are left with young, unproven guys like Bryan Mone and Demarcus Christmas vying for that third tackle role – making the likelihood of another addition very high.

While they could pony up a good chunk of their remaining cap space on a guy like Damon Harrison or Mike Daniels, or a reunion with Brandon Mebane, they could also opt to go a cheaper route and look at someone like journeyman Josh Mauro.

Mauro starred at Stanford from 2010-2013, and after going undrafted he has bounced around the league quite a bit over the past six seasons, playing for the Cardinals, Steelers, Giants and the Raiders.

He’s played all across the defensive line, a versatility that coach Pete Carroll will love, although he’s primarily succeeded at plugging holes and stopping the run, only tallying three career sacks and 11 quarterback hits in 72 games.

Mauro is not one of the flashier options remaining on the open market, but he’s an upgrade over Christmas and Mone and would provide Seattle with a versatile veteran who can plug holes up the middle and line up on the outside if necessary.

In an offseason that could look quite different thanks to COVID-19, an experienced veteran might be much preferred for a key area of need for the Seahawks, and Mauro is the best remaining option that won’t break the bank.

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Why the Seahawks should sign free agent DT Damon Harrison

The Seattle Seahawks need a run-stuffing defensive tackle, and Damon Harrison is a perfect fit in free agency.

It’s no secret the Seattle Seahawks are going to add a veteran defensive tackle before the 2020 season kicks off.

After all, recent years have seen late additions of Al Woods, Shamar Stephen and Sheldon Richardson, and this year’s squad has almost no depth behind presumed starters Jarran Reed and Poona Ford.

The question, however, is how much Seattle will be willing to spend on a third defensive tackle, a role typically reserved for a veteran guy near the end of their productive NFL seasons.

If they are willing to dip into their cap space, one name who would really help shore things up on the front lines is Damon “Snacks” Harrison.

Harrison spent the first 6.5 years of his career in New York, split between the Jets and the Giants, before joining the Lions for the last half of the 2018 season and all of 2019.

Named an All-Pro in 2016, Harrison racked up 485 tackles, 11 sacks, 10 passes defended and four forced fumbles in his career – cementing himself among the best run-stuffers in the NFL over the last decade.

As a No. 3 option behind Reed and Ford, Harrison would give Seattle some desperately needed depth on a defensive line that struggled against both the run and the pass last year, and lost Jadeveon Clowney and Quinton Jefferson, as well as Woods, this offseason.

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A look at how Carlos Hyde limits the Seahawks financially

The Seattle Seahawks, if they sign Carlos Hyde at $4 million as reported, will have just $4.1 million in cap space remaining.

The Seattle Seahawks reportedly agreed to sign veteran running back Carlos Hyde, coming off a 1,000 yard season in Houston, to a one-year deal worth up to $4 million dollars including incentives.

With Rashaad Penny’s ACL injury expected to limit him during training camp, and possibly into the regular season, the Seahawks jumped at the chance to add some depth in the form of Hyde, a veteran running back who had a career-year in 2019.

Even after making a handful of depth signings, Seattle has yet to make a big free agency splash. Pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Everson Griffen are still on the open market, as well as interior defensive tackles like Damon Harrison and Mike Daniels, all players the team could use to shore up a big area of need in 2020.

The addition of Hyde and the signing of Geno Smith hampered their cap flexibility, however, and while they could always make room by cutting other veteran pieces, it seems unlikely Seattle will make another big move.

According to Overthecap, the Seahawks have $15.9 million in cap space after the Smith signing. That will come down to $11.9 million once the Hyde contract is completed, if the details we have our correct.

Considering general manager John Schneider’s insistence on keeping cap flexibility, in case the team wants to make an in-season acquisition, that likely prevents the team from making another big addition, barring cuts.

Justin Britt and D.J. Fluker were cuts many expected the team to make, and any other potential cuts are either not enough money (Jacob Hollister, David Moore, Branden Jackson) don’t seem likely due to team chemistry and need (K.J. Wright, Bradley McDougald) or are currently engrossed in a legal battle (Quinton Dunbar).

So, this leaves the Seahawks in a tricky situation. Cutting Hollister or Moore to make room for a veteran defensive tackle like Harrison or Daniels makes sense, but adding a $10+ million dollar contract like Griffen or Clowney may officially be off the table.

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9 remaining free agent options the Patriots can explore

Here are nine free agent options the Patriots can explore before the 2020 season.

The 2020 season will bring in a new era for the New England Patriots.

Without Tom Brady suiting up in Foxborough, a new identity will have to be formed. It all begins with Bill Belichick and how he decides to construct the team. He’s appearing to build a run-heavy offensive team that relies on solid defense and special teams. Unfortunately for Belichick, he lost some key defensive players who anchored the unit in 2019.

The Patriots had a quiet free agency and went to the NFL draft to fill the necessary holes. They managed to plug some of these holes with talented rookies — but that’s what they still are, rookies. Another issue the Patriots ran into this offseason is the lack of cap space — currently carrying less than $1 million to pay out. There are numerous solutions and ways to create cap space, but Belichick will have to get creative.

Given the idea New England can free up some finances — here are 9 available free agents the team could look into to solidify the 53-man roster.

Cam Newton, QB

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Cam Newton is one of the most controversial free agents on the market right now. The former MVP is 31-years-old and coming off shoulder and foot injuries that sidelined him for 16 games over the past two seasons. He’s by far the most talented free agent in the group, but injury concerns have kept  him on the market.

The Patriots are going forward with Jarrett Stidham right now and he would be the cheaper option. But, Newton would be more equipped for the magnitude of replacing Brady and New England is the betting favorite to land him. Anything can happen before the NFL season begins, and Newton to the Patriots isn’t the most unrealistic possibility.

Mike Daniels, DL

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest weakness on New England’s historically good defense last season was the defensive line. Opposing teams began exposing the weakness and realized the best opportunities came on the ground. Danny Shelton took off in free agency, leaving Lawrence Guy and Adam Butler to pick up the slack. The Patriots also have Byron Cowart and added Beau Allen in free agency, but they could use some help still.

Mike Daniels, 31, only played nine games last year with the Detroit Lions because of an arm injury. He’s been extremely reliable his entire career and is in a scenario where the Patriots could have contract leverage — due to his age and recent injury. Daniels is a run-stuffing starter who could provide some much-needed value in the trenches.

4 former Giants named to PFF’s All-Decade Top 101

Four former members of the New York Giants, including one draft pick, have been named to Pro Football Focus’ All-Decade Top 101.

On Thursday, Pro Football Focus released their top 101 players of the past decade. Three former New members of the York Giants made the list, but it may not be in the order you would think.

Damon “Snacks” Harrison came in at No. 56 overall and you could argue that he was the best of the big-name free agents that were acquired in the 2016 free agency spending spree:

56. DI DAMON HARRISON SR.

In a different era of the game, Damon Harrison would go down as one of the greatest players to ever play. In today’s NFL, he will be remembered as the best run defender of his era, at a time where the run game became progressively less important year by year. Harrison earned a PFF run-defense grade above 90.0 for five of his six first seasons as a starter, and he topped 40 run stops four consecutive seasons, a mark only a couple of other players have ever managed from the defensive line. Harrison was an immovable force against the run and changed the way teams attacked on the ground, but never managed more than 22 total pressures over a season, despite rushing the passer at least 300 times for three straight years.

Snacks was with the New York Jets for four years before coming over to the crosstown rival Giants during the 2016 offseason. Snacks spent the last season and a half with the Detroit Lions after he was reluctantly traded from the Giants to the Lions during the 2018 season.

Just five spots later came wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who many have either forgotten was a member of the Giants or hope to forget that he was. Regardless, Marshall was an elite receiver for the better part of the last decade which helped land him at number 61 on the list:

61. WR BRANDON MARSHALL

One of the most physically gifted receivers of his generation, Brandon Marshall’s best years came over the past decade. The player dubbed “baby T.O.” — in reference to Terrell Owens — shared many of the same characteristics. Like T.O., drops were always his biggest issue, and he accrued 84 of them over the nine years he played in the last decade. But he also broke 81 tackles and was one of the most physically imposing receivers in the league. Even late in his career, he was able to go toe-to-toe with physically dominant cornerbacks like Richard Sherman and catch almost 100 yards’ worth of passes and score a touchdown.

Marshall’s time with the Giants was extremely short-lived and was a major bust of a free agent signing.

Recently, Marshall said in an interview that the Giants are not a well-run organization. However, it should be noted that most former members of the organization do not share that thought.

The only player who made the list that the Giants drafted was wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who checked in at No. 91.

Beckham spent the first five years of his career with the Giants before being shipped off to the Cleveland Browns last offseason. From a talent perspective, he could be considered the best receiver to made the list.

Beckham’s time with the Giants, let alone his time in the league, has been controversial to say the least. Even the trade that sent him to the Browns was considered highly controversial, and there are still Giants fans who express disappointment over his departure.

91. WR ODELL BECKHAM JR.

There are few more-talented receivers in NFL history than OBJ. The start of his career showed the kind of impact he could have, but injuries have begun to derail that impact, whether it was missing time in New York or battling through pain only to look like a shadow of himself in his first season with the Cleveland Browns. He has broken 20 or more tackles in a season twice in his career while notching double-digit totals in every healthy season. OBJ is one of the most dynamic receivers in the league after the catch, and you only have to watch his pregame warm-up routine to see his natural catching ability. The receiving talent pool in the NFL has never been deeper, but even so, OBJ has the potential to be as good as any.

One thing there is no debating is Beckham’s talent. Beckham gave Giants fans some of the most exciting plays in recent memory and he certainly belongs on the list regardless of how you feel about him.

Finally, there was a bit of an outlier.

Although he only spent three months with the Giants and did not see the field in either the preseason or regular season, New York did sign edge rusher Cameron Wake as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2005. He checked in at No. 41 overall.

41. EDGE CAMERON WAKE

Cameron Wake’s NFL beginnings seem hard to believe, given what he became — one of the top pure pass-rushers of his generation. Only Von Miller has a higher PFF pass-rush grade than Wake among edge rushers over the past decade, and only Miller surpassed the 600 total pressures that Wake amassed to go with his incredibly impressive 16.5% pressure rate. Wake was one of the most devastating speed-rushers the league has ever seen, and because his NFL career took some time to get going, the decade captured pretty much the entirety of his elite-level play.

The Giants’ current roster is full of youngsters with a bunch of potential. Hopefully, 10 years from now when PFF comes out with this list for 2020 decade we are talking about more current and former Giants — possibly even Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley.

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The Lions quietly improved their pass rushing this offseason, per PFF

Through the draft and free agency, the Detroit Lions have one of more improved pass-rushing units in the league according to PFF

It seems like year after year, fans are begging the Detroit Lions to improve their pass rush. When you are letting quarterbacks like Mitchell Trubisky look like a Pro Bowler, you know there is some serious room for improvement. After this offseason, it looks the Lions might’ve quietly improved their pass rush.

Pro football focus’ Ben Linsey listed the five teams who most improved their pass rush this offseason and the Lions checked in at number three — just below the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins.

The Lions struggled to rush the passer in 2019, ranking at the bottom of the league with a dismal 29.2-percent pressure rate. The standout player was Trey Flowers, who “played well, generating a pass-rushing grade of 78.8 with 62 total pressures in a full season of action”.

Flowers can’t do this all himself, but fortunately, based on the moves made this offseason, he will have some help in 2020.

Devon Kennard registered seven sacks last season — tied for the team lead with Trey Flowers — but his ability to cause consistent pressure left something to be desired. The Lions released him this offseason and drafted his replacement in Julian Okwara.

In theory, Okwara should provide a boost to the Lions’ pass rush, after registering elite pass-rushing grades during his 2018 and 2019 college years. Expectations should be tempered for the rookie, but he has the length and athleticism to be a disruptor on the edge opposite of Flowers.

One of the biggest offseason moves the Lions made was signing former Patriot Jamie Collins to bolster a questionable linebacking corps. Collins has established a reputation in the league as one of the better pass-rushing linebackers, and last year was no exception as “his pass-rushing grade of 76.8 was a top-five mark at the position”. Even though it is expected that Collins will play multiple roles on the defense, he provides a pass-rushing repertoire the Lions have been sorely missing.

The Lions’ defensive line will almost be unrecognizable in 2020, having said goodbye to A’Shawn Robinson, Damon Harrison, and Mike Daniels this offseason. In turn, the Lions signed one of the better pass-rushing nose tackles in another former Patriot Danny Shelton.

Even though Shelton has made a career as a run stuffer, this past year, he was able to elevate his pass rush. His “73.3. pass-rushing grade in 2019 was the highest of his career” and ranked among the Top-15 pass-rushing defensive tackles. With a similar scheme in Detroit, the transition should be seamless for a potential repeat performance.

Pass rushing has been the Achilles heel for the Lions but this offseason the Lions were able to bring in players who should be able to contribute immediately. In theory, the Lions have upgraded their pass rush and if all the pieces click how they are supposed to, they should have a defense that will make them tough to play against.

The 5 best available free agents for the Browns still on the market

The 5 best available free agents for the Browns still on the market after the 2020 NFL Draft

The draft is over and the free agent market is slowing down to a trickle. But there are still some veterans out there who can help the Cleveland Browns, if the price and fit are right.

Note that this is not a general “best free agents” list, because the Browns are not in the market for some of those players. These are realistic options the Browns could sign, not a dream list without context.

Everson Griffen

Griffen made the Pro Bowl in 2019, bagging eight sacks and 24 QB hits for the Vikings. That’s where coach Kevin Stefanski hails, of course, and Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods was on the defensive staff in Minnesota for the first few years of Griffen’s long and fantastic career, too.

Griffen is 32 but he’s still got “it”. The combination of get-off at the snap, bend around the edge, power to attack inside is all still there. The Browns are deep at EDGE with Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon and Adrian Clayborn, but Griffen would take it to another level. His familiarity in the defensive scheme is a definite plus.

13 post-draft free agents for Bills to consider

13 post-2020 NFL Draft free agents for the Buffalo Bills to consider signing.

The 2020 NFL Draft is in the books, so the Buffalo Bills’ roster is all set, right?

Well, not exactly. The grind doesn’t stop for Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane and his scouting department. While there’s new rookies on the club, there’s still some veterans out on the free agent market that could help the Bills next season.

Here are 13 current free agents the Bills could still consider adding following the 2020 NFL Draft:

Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

RB Devonta Freeman

Age: 28

As soon as Devonta Freeman was released by the Falcons, the Bills connections were made. Since then, Buffalo added Utah’s Zack Moss via a third-round pick at the draft. But Freeman could be another solid complement to their complement. Devin Singletary is the No. 1, shifty runner for the Bills. Moss gets the heavy lifting done at times while Freeman is a solid third-down option as a proven pass catcher. During his career, Freeman has been among the league’s best in that category. The jukes, the power and the hands in the Bills’ backfield sounds nice.

 

3 defensive tackles the Seahawks could still sign in free agency

The Seattle Seahawks need to add a defensive tackle via free agency, and here are three options they could pursue.

The Seattle Seahawks did not address the interior defensive line during the 2020 NFL draft, instead focusing on the LEO position and the offense.

That’s not too surprising, as Seattle has preferred to add veteran, run-stuffing defensive tackles via free agency the past few years, including Shamar Stephen, Tom Johnson and Al Woods.

This year’s crop still has a handful of options for the Seahawks to choose from, and it’s basically a guarantee they’ll find someone else to add to a mix that already includes starters Jarran Reed and Poona Ford as well as a trio of backup candidates: Nazair Jones, Bryan Mone and Demarcus Christmas.

Adding any of these three guys would shore up a big-time position of need for the Seahawks, and should not break the bank.