Tag: Marcell Dareus

Could Jaguars DL Marcell Dareus help the Texans’ defensive line?

The Houston Texans could need help at defensive tackle. Jacksonville Jaguars DT Marcell Dareus could be a fit until they figure out the future.

The Houston Texans have decisions to make in free agency, and one of them revolves around defensive tackle D.J. Reader. Despite center Nick Martin and outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus earning contract extensions throughout the regular season, Reader and the Texans weren’t able to work anything out between August and December.

If the Texans and Reader aren’t able to come to terms, one option the club could keep an eye on is Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Marcell Dareus.

According to Joel Corry of CBS Sports, the two-time Pro Bowler may be looking for his third team as he could be a salary cap casualty in the 2020 offseason.

Dareus took a $2.5 million pay cut last offseason in order to avoid being a cap casualty. He had a chance to make back the $2.5 million with at least 55 percent defensive playtime for the season. Any chance of earning the incentive went out the window when a core muscle injury requiring surgery ended Dareus’ season after Jacksonville’s seventh game. Dareus’ 2021 contract year was eliminated in the renegotiation while his 2020 contract year became an option year that the Jaguars must exercise by the 22nd day before the start of the 2020 league, which is Feb. 25. If exercised, Dareus’ $9.5 million 2020 base salary becomes fully guaranteed and a $10 million fifth day of the 2020 league year roster bonus due on March 22 will be guaranteed for skill and injury.

Dareus would be 30 years old by the time Week 1 kicked off. At 6-3, 331 pounds, he would be 16 pounds lighter than Reader, but the same height. Dareus would be the perfect role to bridge the gap between the present and the future, much the same way Vince Wilfork played nose tackle for the Texans from 2015-16 while Reader developed into the interior defensive line force he has become.

Of course, the Jaguars would have to release Dareus, and the Texans would have to move on from Reader. If both of those possibilities become reality, then at least Houston would have an option.

13 big NFL names that could be cap casualties in 2020

Carolina quarterback Cam Newton headlines a list of 13 players that could be salary cap casualties.

The Super Bowl hasn’t been played yet, but it’s time to start looking ahead to the 2020 season. The 30 teams not in the Super Bowl already are doing that.

One of the first things teams do in the offseason is look at their salary cap. They start looking for ways to trim it before the league year and free agency begin in March. Inevitably, there are some big names that are released or traded to clear cap space. This year is no exception.

Let’s take a look at 13 big names that could be cap casualties before the 2020 season:

13. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Houston Texans

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Picked up off waivers from Tampa Bay during last season, Hargreaves’ production didn’t match up with his salary. The Texans can clear $9.9 million against the cap by cutting him. The former first-round pick has to join a new team at a bargain rate and reinvent himself if he ever is going to get another big contract.

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ESPN says interior DL is Jags’ biggest need

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot of needs to address this offseason but we listed linebacker as their top in our postseason assessment of the team. However, some would say the Jags have more pressing needs, including ESPN. In their network’s …

The Jacksonville Jaguars have a lot of needs to address this offseason but we listed linebacker as their top in our postseason assessment of the team. However, some would say the Jags have more pressing needs, including ESPN.

In their network’s biggest 2020 offseason needs article, Jags beat writer Mike DiRocco identified the interior defensive line as the Jags’ most pressing need of the offseason:

Jacksonville Jaguars

Fix the interior of the defensive line. The Jaguars finished 28th in rushing defense and gave up more than 200 yards on the ground four times. They’re not bringing back defensive tackle Marcell Dareus ($20 million cap savings), and 2018 first-round pick Taven Bryan, who played well in the season finale, has been largely disappointing. Jacksonville has major needs at other positions (linebacker, left tackle, receiver and cornerback), but the defensive front is the key to the team’s resurgence in 2020. — Mike DiRocco

A good point is made about the Jags’ struggles without Marcell Dareus, who was the team’s best run defender without a doubt. Once he was placed on injured reserve due to a core muscle injury that ended with surgery, the Jags began to get gashed up the middle in the run game week in and week out. Still, the unit at least has solid pass-rushers in Yannick Ngakoue, Josh Allen and Calais Campbell, which is why we listed it as our fourth most pressing need.

In looking ahead, the draft will be the place to replenish the Jags’ defensive line issues in the interior because getting a player who is a starting caliber lineman on the defensive line will be expensive. Additionally, if the Jags need to give any defensive lineman a boatload of money in free agency, it’s Ngakoue.

There have been some mocks where Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown has fallen in the Jags lap and he’d be a tremendous addition if the Jags can pull it off. If they can’t land him, I think settling for Javon Kinlaw of South Carolina would be just fine in the eyes of Jags fans.

Bills in the 2010s: Best defensive players of the decade

Here are the best players on defense for Buffalo during the last decade. 

The defense has been the stronger unit of the Buffalo Bills over the past 10 years. Defensive coordinators Leslie Frazier and Jim Schwartz have each guided their respective units to top-10 finishes during the past number of years.

As the 2010s close, it’s a natural time to review how the Bills have looked on the defensive side of the ball over the past decade.

Here are the best players on defense for Buffalo during the last decade:

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams. Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive tackle: Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus

Kyle Williams was a fixture in Buffalo for 13 seasons. During his play in this decade, he led defensive linemen with 396 total tackles and 71 tackles for loss. Tack in 40.5 sacks in 121 games, and you have quite the player for the interior of the Bills line. Williams was named to six Pro Bowls during this time period.

Marcell Dareus is a story of what could have been. In 91 games, he recorded 300 total tackles and 35 sacks. He surely was dominant at times, but he just did not gel with the Sean McDermott regime. Dareus was a two-time Pro-Bowl selection with Buffalo and was an All-Pro with the squad in 2014.

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