5 DTs the Ravens could sign now after pulling Michael Brockers offer

The Baltimore Ravens aren’t going to sign DT Michael Brockers which leaves them with a big hole to fill. These five names could be an answer

With the Baltimore Ravens pulling their offer from free-agent defensive tackle Michael Brockers, it puts the team in an odd spot. All the top free agents have already signed, including their own in Michael Pierce, leaving the Ravens with a huge hole in the center of their defensive line. Baltimore will now have to take a look at a picked over free-agent market to hopefully find a replacement.

The Ravens still have some options and don’t necessarily have to rush to make any moves. They could look to the 2020 NFL Draft or even the second wave of free agency following the draft when aging players get cut. But with no guarantees in either situation, Baltimore could look at these five defensive tackles as options right now.

Shelby Harris

Harris doesn’t have the same size as Brockers, falling three inches and 15 pounds lighter. But Harris can play all over the defensive line and was productive last year for the Denver Broncos.

Over the last three years, Harris has started 22 of the 48 games he’s played in, notching an interception, forced fumble, 14 sacks, 22 quarterback hits and 122 combined tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned a 76.8 overall grade last season, which ranked 17th among defensive linemen.

Harris has been a little hot and cold throughout his career. The question for the Ravens is if they feel he can remain more consistent with Baltimore and handle a sizeable workload as more of a space-eating defensive tackle.

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10 free agents the Lions should consider adding

The Detroit Lions have been very active so far in free agency but they still have a few more holes on their roster where they should consider adding talent.

Not all the Lions’ free-agent contracts have been reported, but based on our best guess, they have around $12 million in available salary-cap space that they can still spend in free agency. So with that in mind, here a list of remaining free agents they should consider.

1. Kamalei Correa, JACK LB

Correa is everything the Lions are looking for in a JACK linebacker. Comfortable pass-rushing, stopping the run, and dropping into coverage, Correa fits the mold of the hybrid linebacker the Lions have slowly been moving towards over the past two offseasons. As a career rotational player, Correa shouldn’t command a hefty payday, but his experience working with new Lions’ linebacker coach Tyrone McKenzie, could be enough to entice him to sign on with the Lions.

2. Daryl Williams, T/G

I had Greg Van Roten pegged here, but he signed with the Jets last night, so I shifted gears to his teammate in 2019, Daryl Williams. Williams is capable of playing both tackle and guard at a starter level and is arguably the top remaining guard in free agency. He is coming off a subpar year in 2019 and season-ending knee injury in 2018, but in 2017, he was one of the best right tackles in the league. His ability to play multiple positions and win in the running game will appeal to the Lions. He’s capable of starting at right guard on this current roster and should come with a reasonable price tag after his previous two seasons.

3. Shelby Harris, DT

The Lions have already signed Nick Williams and Danny Shelton, but it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibilities for them to add another defensive tackle. The biggest obstacle for adding Harris will likely be price but if the Lions aren’t interested in adding a defensive tackle in the draft, he may be the most impactful option.

Marcel Dareus is someone the Lions were looking into at the Combine, and Mike Daniels is another option the Lions would consider bringing back, but both are coming off multiple seasons where injuries impacted their availability.

4. David Morgan, TE

My 2016 draft crush, Morgan is a blocking tight end with basketball skills and vice-grip hands that make him an ideal TE3, who could push Jesse James for TE2 snaps. A knee injury cost him last season with the Vikings and the current world situation makes getting him medically cleared a large obstacle, but he’s worth making the effort for.

5. Ronald Darby, CB

Injuries have been a massive problem for Darby and significantly damaged his perceived value. But, he has a history of working with new Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin and his above-average cover skills make him a capable starter. He would give the Lions insurance if they don’t land Jeff Okudah in the draft and if Amani Oruwariye isn’t ready for a starting role. If he signs, expect a contract heavy with incentives surrounding performance and availability.

Logan Ryan and Aqib Talib are also starting level corners with ties to the coaching staff but both come with a glaring concern. Ryan’s reportedly asking for a minimum contract that averages $10 million, while Talib is 34-years-old and coming off a season-long rib injury.

6. Breshad Perriman, WR

Robby Anderson is the top wide receiver available in free agency but the cost of adding him would likely force the Lions to make a hard decision on Marvin Jones. Anderson is three years younger than Jones, but he probably comes with a higher price tag as well.

Perriman, whose father had a long career with the Lions, is a tick younger than Anderson, and after tough first few years in the league, has found his confidence. He is a legitimate vertical threat with sub-4.3 speed and would fit in this scheme like a glove.

Phillip Dorsett is another vertical threat with sub-4.3 speed and could also be in the mix.

7. Dion Lewis, RB

At this point in his career, Lewis is likely a third-down back only, but with the departure of J.D McKissic, the Lions are in the market for one. Lewis is declining a bit as a runner, but he can still be a weapon in the passing game, especially as a pass protector.

Devonta Freeman should also be in the mix, but will likely require a higher price to secure.

8. Josh Kline, RG

Kline was in Minnesota in 2019 but spent his first three years in the NFL with the Patriots. He has always been a solid pass protector, which will appeal to the Lions, but he is probably better suited as a spot starter and rotational player at this point in his career — which may fit what the Lions are looking for.

9. Everson Griffen, DDE

Griffen is one of the top available pass rushers remaining in free agency and even at age 32, is terrific at creating pressure. The Lions would love to get him on their team as opposed to facing him twice a year, but the big question is can the Lions afford him?

10. Clay Matthews, pass-rushing specialist

By the time the 2020 season opens, Matthews will be 34-years old and far removed from his days of glory, but he showed last season (8 sacks) he is still capable of contributing as a pass-rushing specialist. He could fill a void as a rotational JACK linebacker for the Lions.

6 defensive prospects for Jaguars fans to watch at the NFL Scouting Combine

With workouts scheduled to begin tomorrow, here are 6 defensive prospects for Jaguars’ fans to watch at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Starting Thursday, this 2020’s crop of draft hopefuls will be poked, prodded, and interviewed by NFL teams. Whilst the most important aspects of the NFL Scouting Combine for teams are all conducted off the pitch, the spectacle of public workouts has drawn fans’ attention to Indianapolis for years.

With an additional first-round selection thanks to Jalen Ramsey, Jags fans will have a wide variety of early round selections to watch, making the 2020 Combine the most interesting in years.

The Jaguars’ defense is somewhat undergoing an overhaul at the moment. Ramsey’s subtraction left a hole, as did the release of Marcell Dareus (at least temporarily). Meanwhile, Calais Campbell isn’t getting any younger or cheaper.

Oh yeah, add to this the looming uncertainty surrounding pending free-agent Yannick Ngakoue, too.

Clearly, it would be wise for the Jaguars to use some of their draft capital on reshaping what was once a dominant force. With that in mind, here are some defensive prospects for fans of the team to watch this week:

Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State

With his teammate and fellow top-five talent Chase Young opting to sit out of workouts this week, many feared that Jeff Okudah would do the same. Thankfully for fans, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound corner is set to tear up the variety of defensive back drills that the 2020 Combine has to offer.

Many are calling Okudah the best cornerback prospect since Ramsey left Florida State, so Jaguars fans should be hoping that an early run on quarterbacks allows another blue-chip corner fall straight to them.

The former Buckeye has elite man coverage skills, good length, and the quickness to thrive in Todd Wash’s scheme. Scouts expect Okudah’s vertical and broad jumps to be impressive, but they will likely be matched with a low 4.4 in the 40-yard dash.

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Report: Jaguars to decline option on ex-Bills DT Marcell Dareus

Jaguars to decline option on contract of former Buffalo Bills DT Marcell Dareus.

Former Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is going to hit the free agent market.

The 29-year-old former third-overall pick of the Bills in 2011 is expected to have the option on his contract decline by his current team, the Jaguars, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Bills traded Dareus to the Jags in 2017 for a conditional fifth-round pick. Dareus’ move to the Jags was apart of the “house cleaning” made by the Bills’ current front office in their first year at the helm, a group led by general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott.

During his time with the Jags, Dareus was a positive influence on their defense as a run stopped, accumulating 45 tackles and 2.5. The two sides could still come to an agreement on a new deal, however, there are no reports of such a situation coming up just yet.

Once official, the Jags will save $20 million towards their salary cap in 2020 but not picking up Dareus’ option. In 2015, the Bills gave Dareus a six-year, $95.1 million contract, but he restructured his contract in February 2019.

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DT Marcell Dareus expected to become free agent as Jaguars won’t pick up option

The former All-Pro could be someone the Cardinals look into as free agency begins next month.

The Arizona Cardinals are expected to be active in free agency next month and plan on adding defensive linemen to a group that underperformed and was hit by injuries. A big name is expected to become a free agent, as the Jacksonville Jaguars are not expected to pick up a contract option.

Big defensive tackle Marcell Dareus is not expected to have his contract option picked up for 2020, which will make him a free agent when the new league year begins.

The report comes originally from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The #Jaguars are not expected to pick up the contract option for DT Marcell Dareus, sources say. The option would have guaranteed Dareus nearly $20M, and now frees up cap space and cash for Jacksonville. The deadline to pick it up is tomorrow.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2020

The Jaguars have until Tuesday to pick up the option.

It is no surprise. Dareus, who will turn 30 years old in a few days, was due a $10 million roster bonus was due to make $9.5 million in salary. The move saves the Jags nearly $20 million against the salary cap.

Dareus is a former Pro Bowler and All-Pro but only played in six games in 2019 before suffering a severe core injury that landed him on injured reserve. He had only 13 tackles and half a sack in 2019.

He has had as many as 10 sacks in a season and is known as a good run defender but his age and recent injuries will likely scare some teams away.

If he is now healthy, he could become a target for the Cardinals, who could be intrigued with his high ceiling of production and leadership. He probably will not command a big contract, but because the Cardinals suffered so many injuries on the defensive line a season ago, they might want to stay away.

Either way, the move does simply add another talented interior defender to the market, which should help the Cardinals upgrade that part of the defense.

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Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Sub scribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

Ep. 258

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Ep. 257

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Jags not expected to pick up Marcell Dareus’ contract option

As expected the Jags will elect to decline the contract option of Marcell Dareus to gain $20 million against the cap.

As anticipated, the Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to decline the last year of Marcell Dareus’ contract this week. Once they officially do they will save $20 million towards their salary cap in 2020 and get themselves trending in the right direction with free agency coming up.

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As we pointed out last week, the Jags had until Tuesday February 25 to make a decision on if they would accept or decline his option. He still could end up re-signing with the Jags afterward, however, nothing has been reported about both sides working on a new deal, so it appears the Jags may look to get younger and cheaper in his place.

Dareus was traded to the Jags (from the Buffalo Bills) in 2017 for a fifth-round pick. He helped improve their run defense significantly from that point on and managed to accumulate 45 tackles and 2.5 sacks as a Jaguar over the span of three years.

In 2019, Dareus had issues staying healthy, however, and missed 10 games. He suffered a severe core injury Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals which resulted in surgery and put him on season-ending injured reserve.

Luckily, the 2020 draft class is strong at defensive tackle so the team could go that route to replace the veteran come April. They also could get a younger proven player out of free agency, which is something we looked into Sunday.

1 pending free agent Dolphins should avoid from each AFC South team

Who should the Dolphins avoid targeting in free agency? Here’s one player from each team in the AFC South

The Miami Dolphins roster rebuild isn’t just about the players added to the roster via the draft and free agency. No, some of the most important moves are the ones that the Dolphins decide not to make. Because one wrong decision can hinder on the field play, it could hinder the team’s salary cap situation, it could sour the chemistry in the locker room and more. The Dolphins have an embarrassment of assets at their disposal, but that doesn’t mean the team should spend like gangbusters and sign anyone that moves to a deal.

Looking across the NFL landscape, there’s a ton of potential contributors set to hit the market. The Dolphins will need to choose their spots wisely. Here’s one pending free agent from each team in the AFC South that the Dolphins should pass on calling:

Houston Texans – Cornerback Vernon Hargreaves

Jan 4, 2020; Houston, Texas, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver John Brown (15) runs the ball against Houston Texans cornerback Vernon III Hargreaves (28) during the second quarter in the AFC Wild Card NFL Playoff game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The Dolphins’ needs in the secondary are well established. This team crossed the finish line in 2020 running on fumes on the back end, with street free agents starting just weeks into their tenure with the team. But a need at cornerback isn’t a license to sign anyone.

Vernon Hargreaves has flamed out with both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Houston Texans in a span of his four seasons in the NFL — and his latest tenure has already been cut short, as the Texans cut Hargreaves after just 6 games.

The former top-10 selection allowed a quarterback rating of 116.1 on 101 targets against his coverage this season and gave up 7 touchdowns and over 900 yards of receiving through 15 games.

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5 potential salary cap casualties that could interest the Eagles

A.J. Bouye among 5 potential salary-cap casualties that could interest the Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2020 NFL offseason with a need for dynamic playmakers on offense as Howie Roseman and company look to upgrade the defense at several pertinent positions also.

With the Eagles needing playmakers and upgrades on both sides of the ball and reduced prices, here are five potential salary-cap casualties that could interest the Birds:

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1. A.J. Bouye, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars cornerback is due $15.4 million next season and his recent play doesn’t suggest that he’s worth that type of money anymore. At just 28 years of age, Bouye has both Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors on his resume.

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NFL.com gives Jags an A- for 2019 draft class in season review

In a year where a lot didn’t go right for the Jacksonville Jaguars, many would agree that the team’s 2020 draft class did their part. Count NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice amongst those who were impressed with the group as he gave the Jags’ class an A- in …

A big reason for praising the class, of course, was the impact of rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew II, who went 6-6 as a starter.

Let’s start with the most interesting development in an otherwise-forgettable Jaguars season: MINSHEW MANIA!! OK, I won’t go completelyoverboard here, because let’s be honest: At least some of the allure had to do with the mustache and the headband and the distinct je ne sais quoi that tickled the average football watcher’s fancy. That said, the Jock Strap Kingposted a 21:6 TD-to-INT ratio and went 6-6 as a rookie starter for a team that finished the season at 6-10. Fumbles were an issue, but overall, he clearly outplayed prized free-agent signee Nick Foles.

As many would imagine, Filice also praise the performance of the Jags’ first-round selection, Josh Allen, as he lead all rookies in sacks in 2019 with 10.5.

Five rounds and 171 picks prior, the Jags had Allen fall right into their lap, and the no-brainer selection paid off in a major way, racking up 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Resident draft guru Daniel Jeremiah ranked Allen as his No. 5 overall rookie (second on defense, behind only Nick Bosa) and offered this enticing appraisal: “He has the potential to eventually lead the league in sacks.”

Without a doubt, the Jags got two of the most productive rookies in the whole 2020 class between Minshew and Allen, but when you add in the fact that right tackle Jawaan Taylor was the only rookie in the league to play 100% of his snaps, it’s hard not to have hope about the future production of the roster.

In his review, Filice looked ahead to the needs of the Jags heading forward. He stated what many have echoed and that’s the fact that the Jags need to pay Yannick Ngakoue and deemed Marcell Dareus as a player who could be released or restructured to make the cap space for Ngakoue’s deal. He added that Calais Campbell was in the same boat as well as cornerback A.J. Bouye.

Of the three, I believe Campbell, who is the heart and soul of the defense is the most likely to stay. Releasing Dareus, which I feel is likely, would be a tremendous relief off the cap as he’d free up over $20 million.

Bouye on the other hand may have a 50-50 shot to stay or be released. He’d free up over $10 million if released. His fate could boil down to whether or not he wants to restructure, and if he doesn’t, the Jags may look in the draft for an answer.

NFL.com explains what Jags need to do to dethrone Chiefs

The Chiefs will be the AFC’s top team in 2020 and to dethrone them the Jags must have a solid offseason.

The Jacksonville Jaguars were the first team in the 2019 regular season to get a chance to see if they could go toe-to-toe with the AFC Champions in the Kansas City Chiefs and it wasn’t a pretty outing, to say the least. It then became clear that the Chiefs were miles ahead of the Jags and the regular season further proved that point.

Now, here we are just a few days away from the Super Bowl and the Chiefs have proven to be the force most thought. Regardless of the outcome of the Super Bowl, the Chiefs will be the team the Jags and every other AFC team will look to dethrone with their high powered offense.

NFL Network’s Gregg Rosenthal recently posted an article stating what each team needs to do to dethrone the Chiefs, and for the Jags, the solution comes down to moving on from the past and making some tough personnel decisions.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Get unemotional about past personnel mistakes.

Jaguars general manager David Caldwell is getting another chance to re-shape the roster after the departure of Tom Coughlin. To move forward, the team needs to make some tough choices regarding some of the moves Coughlin and Caldwell made over the last few years. They have a raft of cap-related decisions pertaining to veterans like cornerback A.J. Bouye, guard Andrew Norwell, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, wide receiver Marqise Lee, linebacker Jake Ryan and possibly even running back Leonard Fournette. The Nick Foles-Gardner Minshew QB conundrum won’t be easy to solve because of Foles’ contract, but the arrival of new coordinator Jay Gruden was a big step in the right direction. Jacksonville has prized continuity to a fault over Caldwell’s seven seasons, resulting in one campaign with more than six wins. Before Caldwell gets to spend his three top-50 draft picks in April, he needs to honestly assess what’s gone wrong.

The Jags are about $3.2 million over the cap according to Over the Cap, so Rosenthal is right about the moves they need to make to get them out of the negative. Releasing Marcell Dareus, who would free up $22.5 million, is clearly where they will need to start but they can’t stop there. They will need more cap space to address a couple of needs in free agency, pay Yannick Ngakoue and pay their rookie draft class. That said, decisions will have to be made on the other names Rosenthal mentioned.

With nine picks in both 2020 and 2021, it’s time for general manager Dave Caldwell and the front office to stop relying on free agency at the capacity they have and look for more bargains on the open market while also being precise in the draft. With Tom Coughlin out of the picture, that sounds like the path Caldwell will take this year as he told ESPN 690’s Brent Martineau that the Jags will look to be “wise” in free agency.

“I think this could be a quick flip,” Caldwell said about a turnaround. “I think if we make wise choices in free agency, and it might not be market-setters, but wise choices, then we’ll follow it up with a good draft. We have all the way up until the beginning of September to have the roster set so it’s going to be a fluid thing, but we have to make the right choices all the way up to the trade deadline and in the middle of [the regular season].”

Another key variable in taking down the Chiefs will be defensive coordinator Todd Wash. Several coordinators have figured his scheme out and Week 1’s game proved the Chiefs were amongst that group. He’s going to have to adapt and improve as a coordinator in 2020 because the Jags probably won’t have the defensive talent they did in 2017.