Tag: Jurrell Casey

2 free agent defensive tackles ‘better’ than what the Texans have

Two free agent defensive tackles in Jurrell Casey and Sheldon Richardson are “better” than what the Houston Texans have on their roster currently.

What does it say when the there are two free agent defensive tackles who rank better than what the Houston Texans have on their roster heading into training camp?

According to Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus, not one Texans defensive tackle qualified for the football scouting’s ranking of the top-32 defensive tackles in the league. At No. 31, where a Texans player could have gone, went free agent Sheldon Richardson.

Richardson is one of the notable veteran defensive tackles still on the market following his release from Cleveland. It takes little projection to see him making an immediate impact as a starter. Richardson has played at least 600 defensive snaps and recorded a PFF grade of at least 68.0 in every season since joining the league in 2013. PFF WAR ranks him as the eighth-most valuable interior defender in the league across those seven years. He should generate interest in the post-draft free agent market leading up to the 2021 season. 

Another free agent defensive tackle who made the list while a Texans player didn’t was former Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos defensive tackle Jurrell Casey. Adding that Casey would provide “quality depth” wherever he ends up in 2021, Linsey noted that the 6-1, 305-pounder had a 74.4 PFF grade through the first three games of last year on 150-plus snaps. It was a torn biceps that summarily ended Casey’s lone year with Denver.

The Texans are counting on veteran Maliek Collins and second-year Ross Blacklock to provide starting quality at defensive tackle. Houston also has options in third-year Charles Omenihu and 28-year-old Brandon Dunn, who is recovering from a pelvic fracture and transitioning from a 3-4 nose tackle to the tackle roles in Lovie Smith’s Tampa 2.

Defensive line coach Bobby King expects Blacklock to take a step in his development now that the 2020 second-rounder from TCU will have an actual offseason under his belt.

“I expect a lot out of him,” said King on June 8 on a Zoom call with reporters. “He’s been as advertised with the weight staff, with everybody so far and with me. I look forward to working with Ross.”

The Texans were the worst in the NFL at stopping the run at 5.2 yards per carry surrendered. One way for Texans defensive tackles to start making such lists is to get stiffer in rush defense.

5 free agent DT’s that can help fill in for David Onyemata

5 free agent DT’s that can help fill in for David Onyemata

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New Orleans Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata shared Friday on Instagram that he has been suspended to start the 2021 NFL season after testing positive for a banned substance. With two of the top three Saints defensive tackles (Malcolm Brown and Sheldon Rankins) leaving the team this offseason, depth along the line was already worryingly thin.

The Saints will likely need to add a tackle to the roster in order to help fill the void Onyemata’s loss will create. Of the seven defensive tackles left on the roster, only one of them was drafted to enter the NFL, and he (practice squad holdover Ryan Glasgow) is also the only one with more than three years’ experience in the league.

An experienced option to hold it all together would be nice, but it’s worth noting everyone still available is either older, returning from injury, or both. Here are five free agent options New Orleans could pursue:

4 former Titans who can fill Tennessee’s remaining roster needs

These former Titans each fill a remaining need Tennessee has ahead of 2021.

The Tennessee Titans have had to part ways with several notable players over the last two offseasons, leading to quite the roster overhaul on both sides of the ball.

With that being the case, plenty of former Titans have been sprinkled around the league, finding new homes in 2021 — but there are also others who remain unsigned.

While some of the notable players on that latter list won’t be returning to Nashville, there are some former Titans who make sense for the team to reunite with in 2021 based on their current situation.

Let’s take a look at four notable former Titans who are still available in free agency and could help the team fill their remaining needs.

6 options Titans could explore to replace DaQuan Jones

The Titans could look to free agency, the draft, or in-house to replace DaQuan Jones.

The Tennessee Titans officially have a void in the middle of their defensive line after nose tackle DaQuan Jones signed with the Carolina Panthers recently.

Jones, who received a one-year, $4.05 million deal, spent his first seven NFL seasons in Nashville, providing the Titans with a consistent, solid player who was always a class act. He won’t be easily replaced in more ways than one.

The good news is the Titans will now have an opportunity to further upgrade their pass-rush, an area where Jones didn’t excel during his time with Tennessee.

With the 2021 NFL draft upcoming, and with free agency ongoing, the Titans do still have some options at their disposal to replace Jones. Trades are also another avenue general manager Jon Robinson can take.

It’s important to note that newly-signed defensive lineman Denico Autry has the ability to play up the middle, which means the Titans don’t necessarily have to find a prototypical nose tackle, giving the team some flexibility.

Here’s a look at six options the Titans could explore.

3 free agents the Lions could sign before the draft

With the Detroit Lions finalizing their draft board, there are 3 free agents they could sign while not affecting their draft strategy.

With the draft right around the corner, the free-agent market has come to a screeching halt. Teams are more focused on finalizing their draft board at this particular point and then turn sights to free agents afterward with positions they may not have filled through the draft.

The way the Lions have attacked free agency, don’t expect them to sign any players to multi-year deals considering they have only handed it out to a few this offseason, and from the looks of it, they are playing the compensatory game.

The Lions have also shown they are willing to take reclamation projects heading into the season and possibly get something out of them and boost their stock heading into next season like Charles Harris, Corn Elder, and Quinton Dunbar.

Even though there is a strong possibility those after-the-draft free agents not even making the team when it is all said and done, but there are a few free agents who might be able to battle out for one of those coveted roster spots heading into the season for the Lions.

WR Dede Westbrook

Westbrook missed the majority of last season after he tore his ACL after returning a kickoff. Thankfully, his injury occurred early last season, giving plenty of time to recover from the harsh injury. He has seen success as the primary slot receiver for Jacksonville Jaguars, catching  1,805 yards and nine touchdowns with a 65% catch rate through his four years as a fourth-round draft pick. Additionally, this all came from quarterbacks like Blake Bortles, Nick Foles, and Gardner Minshew slinging the ball.

With Westbrook coming off a tough injury, essentially sidelining him all last season, it comes as little surprise teams have not signed the 27-year old receiver. The Lions could get him for cheap and give him a one-year prove-it deal, hoping he can show the same spring in his step he had in Jacksonville, giving the Lions an established, young slot receiver who has return experience. By no means would this stop the Lions from drafting a receiver, but if they can find magic in Westbook, he could stick further into the rebuild either on offense and/or special teams as a returner.

 CB Darqueze Dennard

General manager Brad Holmes has not been shy in taking on former first-round picks in hopes of untapped potential, and Dennard fits right into that category. The seven-year veteran has been battling injuries the past two seasons, missing 15 games in that span, which could be the pinpoint reason for not finding a team this offseason. When he has seen the field, he has shown to a reliable corner with the versatility to play outside and inside.

Once again, injuries have played a part in Dennard’s market, but the Lions cornerback depth lacks both outside and inside, and Dennard could fill in both spots if push came to shove. With Jeff Okudah, Amani Oruwariye, or Quinton Dunbar taking care of the outside and Corn Elder handling the middle, no one should expect him to start. Still, the local Michigan State product could provide that necessary depth and veteran savviness the Lions could use during the rebuild.

DL Jurrell Casey

The Denver Broncos brought in Casey after trading only a seventh-round draft pick to the Tennesse Titans. Unfortunately, he would only play 156 for Denver when he tore his bicep ending his season prematurely. At which point the Broncos decided to cut bait with the oft-injured veteran clearing nearly $12 million in cap space. When he has seen the field, he has been a model of consistency, making five straight Pro Bowls from 2015-2019 and notching at least 50 pressures from 2013-2017. He has the versatility to align anywhere in the inside from the 1 to the 3 tech, bringing a repertoire that makes him an effective run stuffer and a pass rusher.

Even though the Lions have a fair amount of defensive lineman, you can never have enough versatile lineman that allows you to put your defense in the best matchup possible. Casey can be a strong presence as a rotational lineman due to his age and injury history. It wasn’t long ago Casey was viewed as one of the better defensive linemen in the league, where he earned a $60 million contract from the Titans. Now those days are probably long gone where you see the sack and pressure numbers, but he brings a skillset the Lions could use to bridge the rebuild for any young players Detroit could potentially bring in.

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Broncos just released an ideal Bengals free-agent target

The Cincinnati Bengals could get a roster upgrade in free agency thanks to the Denver Broncos.

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It’s no secret the Cincinnati Bengals will be on the hunt for help across the board in free agency this offseason.

Defensive tackle is one of those needy areas — and the Denver Broncos might have just provided an assist.

Denver just cut defensive lineman Jurrell Casey in a cap-saving measure to the tune of $11.9 million. That came an offseason after trading a seventh-round pick for him.

Casey only made it into three games with the Broncos before suffering a season-ending biceps injury. If he’s healthy, he makes for an ideal target as an interior disruptor who has 51 sacks since 2011. Now 31, Casey isn’t too far removed from an 85.4 Pro Football Focus grade in 2018.

Given the injury and age tandem, plus the odd free agency with a reduced salary cap, Casey could be a bargain. And the Bengals will need help at the spot as the team figures to move on from Geno Atkins in a cost-cutting measure of their own.

Casey is one of many potential cuts the Bengals should have an eye on this offseason:

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Report: Broncos DL Jurrell Casey likely done for season

Jurrell Casey’s season looks like it could be over after three games.

Denver Broncos defensive lineman and former Tennessee Titan, Jurrell Casey, is likely done for the season after suffering an injury in the Week 3 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Casey suffered a biceps tear that will likely end his 2020 season after just three games.

Of course, Casey spent his first nine seasons in the NFL with the Titans, who drafted him in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Tennessee traded Casey to the Broncos during the offseason for a seventh-round pick.

This is yet another devastating blow for a Broncos team that has been ravaged by injuries to key players.

Through three games with the Broncos, Casey totaled 14 combined tackles (one for loss), two QB hits and three passes defensed, two of which came against the Titans in Week 1.

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Broncos DL Jurrell Casey says he approached facing Titans like any other game

Broncos defensive lineman Jurrell Casey will face the Titans, his former team, in Week 1.

After totaling more than 50 sacks and earning five Pro Bowl selections during his time with the Titans, defensive lineman Jurrell Casey was traded to the Broncos this offseason for a mere seventh-round pick.

Denver will host Tennessee on “Monday Night Football” this evening, giving Casey an opportunity to make a statement against his former team. The veteran defender said he treated preparing for Week 1 like any other game, but it’s a little hard to believe him.

“My feelings this week are just how I approach every game every week,” Casey said last Friday. “I always have a mantra, ‘You have never played a bad season. You have never played a bad game,’ just keep making it on that same trend. Just because it’s the Titans across from me, I don’t approach the game any different. You attack the film study the same way. You attack practice the same way.”

While Casey said his game-prep remained the same, he did admit that he’s excited to face his former team.

“You go out there and get the job done. That’s my whole mindset going into this game. They’re a great program. I’m looking forward to playing them. I was there for the last nine years, helped them build to where they’re at now. It’s definitely exciting to see how they’re going to bring it.”

Monday’s game (8:20 p.m. MT) will be nationally televised on ESPN.

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Titans finally justify Jurrell Casey trade with Jadeveon Clowney signing

The Jurrell Casey trade was looking like a major blunder for the Titans before the Jadeveon Clowney signing.

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When the Tennessee Titans traded Jurrell Casey to the Denver Broncos in what amounted to a salary dump earlier this offseason, it bordered on shocking, but we always figured general manager Jon Robinson had something else up his sleeve for the money saved.

However, after nearly six months had passed and the Titans didn’t sign an impact player to replace Casey, the move was beginning to look like a major blunder, as Tennessee’s defense was no doubt worse off than it was in 2019.

After all, Casey was a defensive stalwart for the Titans for nearly a decade and one of the better players at his position in the NFL. Adding to that, he became a fan-favorite during his tenure in Nashville.

But now that the Titans have added Jadeveon Clowney to upgrade their pass-rush, the Casey trade is fully justified.

Clowney doesn’t just bring an impressive skill set at EDGE, he can also be lined up on the defensive front alongside DaQuan Jones and Jeffery Simmons, just like Casey was in 2019. That kind of versatility alone makes the Titans’ defense better.

Also consider that Clowney is an elite run defender and a disruptive force in the pass-rush (he has the second-best Pass Rush Win Rate in the NFL the past two seasons) and you can start to see why the Titans preferred him over keeping Casey.

One of the biggest goals for the Titans this offseason was to improve their defense and pass-rush so that it could compete with a team like the Kansas City Chiefs, who Tennessee lost to in the AFC Championship Game last season because of its in ability to get to Patrick Mahomes.

Clowney, along with Harold Landry and the addition of Vic Beasley, puts the Titans in a much better position to do that than they would have been had the team opted to keep Casey and not go after Clowney.

Broncos’ Jurrell Casey talks facing Titans, how to slow Derrick Henry

Jurrell Casey knows what the Broncos need to do to slow Derrick Henry.

One of the biggest storylines coming out of the Tennessee Titans’ season-opening matchup against the Denver Broncos will be Jurrell Casey’s debut with his new team coming against his old one.

Casey, who was a third-round pick of the Titans in 2011 and spent nine seasons with the franchise, was traded to the Broncos for a seventh-round pick early in the offseason in a salary-dump move that was surprising to many, including the veteran, who wasn’t thrilled about what transpired.

As you’d expect, Casey is quite excited to take the field against his old team, as he told the media on Thursday.

Aside from being a top-notch defender, Casey is also valuable in the sense that he can give insider information on the Titans to the Broncos — and it’s something Casey definitely plans on doing.

One thing Casey will have to get used to is defending against his former teammate in running back Derrick Henry, who won the rushing title last season with 1,540 yards.

Casey has a plan of attack for Henry in Week 1, but as the veteran and the rest of us know, pregame plans to stop or slow the Alabama product don’t always pan out once it’s time to hit the field.

The Titans and Broncos will meet on September 14 at Empower Field at Mile High in the second game of a Week 1 “Monday Night Football” doubleheader. Kickoff will take place at 9:10 p.m. CT.

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