Tag: NFL Free Agency

Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with LT Kelvin Beachum?

Jets Wire takes a look at whether or not New York should bring back cornerback and impending free-agent left tackle Kelvin Beachum.

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

The Jets have 32 players set to hit the open market this offseason. Some don’t figure to factor into New York’s plans for 2020, while it’s safe to assume the Jets would like to keep others around for a while. Either way, Douglas has a lot of work to do in his first offseason on the job.

Kelvin Beachum has served as New York’s starting left tackle for the last two years. He performed well as Sam Darnold’s blindside protector, but has battled a bevy of injuries and isn’t getting any younger. Should Douglas keep the veteran around for another year? Let’s evaluate the situation in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of bringing him back

The Jets struggled mightily in the trenches in 2019, but Adam Gase and company never had to worry about what Beachum would bring to the table on a weekly basis.

When healthy, Beachum delivered in both run and pass protection He helped keep the pocket relatively clean and Darnold off his back more often than not.

Beachum is not an elite left tackle anymore, but he gets the job done better than most. It’s tough to find reliable tackles on the open market and rookies take some time getting used to dealing with NFL edge rushers. With that in mind, Douglas should at least consider bringing the veteran back for another go around.

Cons of bringing him back

Beachum missed four games in 2019 due to injury and played through a variety of ailments down the stretch, including two sprained ankles.

Beachum will turn 31 before the beginning of next season. Considering how physical things get in the trenches, it’s worth questioning Beachum’s durability moving forward. Yes, he toughed it out through injuries last season, but will he be able to do the same in 2020? That might not be worth betting on.

The verdict

It’s tough to let solid players walk, but the Jets need to get younger on both sides of the ball. If New York was a sure-fire contender heading into next season, the decision on Beachum would be an easy one. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

He’s not going to be easy to replace, but odds are Douglas and the Jets elect to move on from Beachum in the offseason. Look for Douglas to target an offensive tackle with New York’s No. 11 overall pick to fill the void.

Knock it off with the Tom Brady-to-Broncos predictions 

Will Broncos general manager John Elway sign quarterback Tom Brady during NFL free agency?

After 20 seasons with the Patriots, 42-year-old quarterback Tom Brady is set to become a free agent in March. So what’s next for the six-time Super Bowl champion?

Will he retire? Will he re-sign with the Patriots? Perhaps he’ll land with the Chargers — or maybe with the Browns?

Will the Broncos be among Brady’s potential suitors? Oddsmakers seem to think that’s possible, giving Denver 12-to-1 odds of signing Brady. Former ESPN senior writer John Clayton recently wrote in a Washington Post article that the Broncos and Brady would be a logical match.

Clayton referenced when general manager John Elway signed an aging Peyton Manning in 2012 and Denver went on to reach two Super Bowls, winning one of them. Manning was turning 36 when he signed with the Broncos, though, nearly eight years younger than Brady is now.

So the Manning comparison isn’t really fair.

And Elway signed Manning because he didn’t believe Denver had a quarterback of the future on the roster. Elway has Drew Lock now and it doesn’t sound like he’s going to look for alternative options this offseason.

“We’re excited about where Drew is,” Elway said during his end-of-season press conference on Dec. 31. “[I] don’t like to show our hand, but I think it’s unrealistic to say that we’re going a different direction.”

The Broncos may bring in a veteran this offseason to serve as Lock’s backup but Brady won’t be interested in a backup job. If he leaves New England, Brady will likely join a team in need of a new starter.

Elway tried short-term fixes with Case Keenum and Joe Flacco and neither of them worked out. Brady would be another temporary solution and it’s hard to imagine Elway benching Lock for a QB nearing the end of his career.

With Lock poised to start in 2020, don’t expect Denver to go after Brady.

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9 key players who could be playing their last games with Ravens

As the Baltimore Ravens prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans, there’s a chance this could be the final game of the 2019 season for them. Though the Ravens are huge favorites to win this game and Super Bowl LIV, that’s the nature of the …

As the Baltimore Ravens prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans, there’s a chance this could be the final game of the 2019 season for them. Though the Ravens are huge favorites to win this game and Super Bowl LIV, that’s the nature of the postseason.

If this is indeed the week Baltimore’s season is completed, it could be the end of several key players’ tenures with the Ravens as well. I took a closer look at a few of the pending free agents and potential cap casualties that could be playing their final game in Baltimore.

S Tony Jefferson

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

When Jefferson was put on injured reserve, I wrote at the time about how he could have played his last down for the Ravens. With the emergence of Chuck Clark in his absence, it seems almost like a foregone conclusion at this point.

Cutting Jefferson would free up $7 million on top of the large amount of cap space Baltimore is already expected to have next season, according to Over the Cap. While Jefferson means a lot more to the franchise than his stat sheet, it’s a hefty amount to justify for a player that has been replaced effectively already.

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Tom Brady to the Colts? The internet seems to think so

Colts are emerging as a popular landing spot for Tom Brady.

Just imagine it. Tom Brady, the player that Indianapolis Colts fans have rooted against above everyone, suiting up and wearing the horseshoe in 2020.

While that seems like a ridiculous proposal (it is), the internet seems fairly convinced that the Colts are the perfect landing spot for Brady, whose current contract expires when the new league year arrives in March.

Because the Colts are a competitive but quarterback-needy team and Brady is set to hit the free-agent market at the age of 42, Indy has become a popular choice for the next potential team for Brady.

Colin Cowherd got the conversation stirring plenty earlier this month saying Brady and the Colts are a sensible fit.

Todd Haislop of Sporting News listed the Colts as a potential landing spot for Brady even despite admitting the rivalry between the two sides.

The Colts are another team positioned to contend with stable QB play, though former Patriot Jacoby Brissett had a solid 2019 season despite the team’s struggles, most of which were tied to injuries. This would be an interesting signing given the history the Colts have with the Patriots.

And don’t even get started with Twitter. While there are many who don’t understand why the Colts are linked to Brady outside of team needs, there are plenty floating around the notion that it’s a good fit for both sides.

Given what the Colts have around the quarterback position, it is easy to say it would be a good fit for the most decorated player in the history of the game.

But outside of that, Brady’s performance simply isn’t what it used to be. He’s no longer the quarterback that elevates the offense to the point of being elite. An upgraded offensive line would certainly help him, but he posted a measly 6.6 yards per attempt in 2019. For comparison, Jacoby Brissett posted the exact same number.

Colts fans will always root against Brady and some fans would likely be okay bringing him in if they thought a playoff run was in the cards.

But it’s not. Given his age and the play he put on the field in 2019, Brady isn’t going to magically make the Colts a playoff contender anymore than drafting a quarterback in the first round would.

But don’t be surprised to see the Colts floating around as a potential landing spot for the 42-year-old.

4 pending free agents the Colts should re-sign

These Colts should be re-signed this offseason.

2020 will be one of the biggest off-seasons in recent Indianapolis Colts’ history. After finishing the season losing five of the final six games, the Colts finished 7-9 and have a lot of questions about their roster going into the offseason.

Indianapolis have a few free agents going into the 2020 off-season and with a projected $93 million in cap space, there is no strap for cash to keep the guys they want to.

The Colts have 14 unrestricted free agents. These players will be able to sign with anyone in March when the new league year starts.

With the Colts having a large amount of cap space to sign players, let’s look at some players the Colts should re-sign:

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

OT Anthony Castonzo

Pending the decision if Castonzo retires, he should be the first Colt to be re-signed this offseason.

Castonzo has been the rock at left tackle for the Colts since being drafted here in 2011, and he plays a valuable position.

At 31 years old, and feeling the best he has in his life, it should be a no-brainer the Colts keep the continuity of the offensive line in check and re-sign Castonzo to a nice, multi-year contract.

Coming off of what is arguably his best season yet, the Colts desperately need his consistent production on the left side next to All-Pro Quenton Nelson.

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4 pending free agents the Colts should let walk

Colts should let these pending free agents walk.

2020 will be one of the biggest offseasons in recent Indianapolis Colts’ history. After finishing the season losing five of the final six games, the Colts finished 7-9 and have a lot of questions about their roster going into the offseason.

Indianapolis has a few free agents going into the offseason and with a projected $93 million in cap space, there is no strap for cash to keep the guys they want to.

The Colts have 14 unrestricted free agents. These players will be able to sign with anyone in March when the new league year starts. Or the Colts can sign them to an extension beforehand. But not all of the pending free agents should be re-signed.

Let’s look at some unrestricted free agents that the Colts should let go:

Indystar

K Adam Vinatieri

Last offseason, the Colts brought back Vinatieri on a one-year deal. As the oldest player in the league at age 46 going into the 2019 season, there were questions if Vinatieri could still kick at a high level.

After suffering a knee injury that had him miss most of the training camp and the preseason, Vinatieri struggled out of the gate missing two field goals and two extra points in the first two games of the season. The Colts tried out some kickers but stuck with Vinatieri.

Vinatieri was put on injured reserve after going 1 of 4 versus the Tennessee Titans, one of which was blocked, and the Colts turned to rookie Chase McLaughlin.

McLaughlin finished the final five games 5 of 6 on field goals and a perfect 11 of 11 on extra points. Indianapolis re-signed McLaughlin to a one-year extension on December 30.

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Dylan Moses draft decision places added emphasis on Bengals in free agency

Dylan Moses just changed the complexion of the 2020 NFL draft.

Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Dylan Moses says he’s heading back to school in 2020 instead of entering the 2020 NFL draft.

Which again emphasizes the importance of free agency for the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason.

Moses’ decision comes on the heels of missing the entirety of this past season after a brief apparent spat with insurance issues. He was pegged as a early first-round pick before the injury but apparently has a second-round grade from the advisory board now (those grades are always up for debate).

No matter what happens with Moses, the Bengals again have a tough call on their hands, as he’s not the only high-profile linebacker to say “no thanks” to the 2020 draft.

And the Bengals need plenty of help at the spot. Yes, things improved after the team cut the mistake that was the Preston Brown extension. And yes, Germaine Pratt started to show promise down the stretch.

But a serious investment in the position needs to happen. The early second round seemed like a sweet spot, especially if a high-upside talent like Moses fell.

With the draft class constricting yet again, it might be better to prioritize linebacker in free agency. If the team could lure in a quality type like a Cory Littleton or Kyle Van Noy the unit not only improves, that number of needs for that early second-round pick gets smaller.

This is thinking way ahead, obviously. But a big setback like this for an area of need on draft day is worth pointing out from a Bengals perspective, especially when the team has been so adamant on building through the draft and not spending on notable free agents at positions of need.

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8 free agents the Jets should bring back in 2020

Jets Wire breaks down which free agents the Jets should bring back next season.

With the 2019 regular season in the books, it’s time for the Jets to look ahead.

Joe Douglas has a lot of decisions to make in his first offseason as a general manager. New York has a whopping 32 players set to hit free agency. Some have no chance of returning to One Jets Drive. Others are certainly worth keeping around for 2020 and beyond.

So, which free agents should Douglas place an emphasis on keeping in the Big Apple? Let’s take a look.

Robby Anderson

Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

This one is a no brainer. The Jets aren’t going to get any better on offense in 2020 if they don’t have weapons. Anderson isn’t quite a true No. 1 wideout, but he possesses a skill set that can help Sam Darnold take the next step next season.

Whether or not Anderson returns to New York depends on if Douglas is willing to meet his contractual demands. If Anderson wants around $13-15 million per year, as The Athletic’s Connor Hughes reported, the Jets might be better off allowing the Temple product to seek a new home. He’s worth keeping around at the right price, though.

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How much cap space are Chargers expected to have in 2020?

The Los Angeles Chargers find themselves near the middle of the pack in cap space when the new league year begins in the middle of March.

The time to start preparing for the future is now.

After being near the bottom of the league in salary cap space last year, the Los Angeles Chargers find themselves near the middle of the pack when the new league year begins in the middle of March.

Even though the estimations aren’t exact because the league has yet to announce what the salary cap will be, the Chargers are expected to have a little over $53 million in salary cap space based on a $200 million cap. That ranks No. 14 in the league.

Despite possessing one of the more talented rosters, the Bolts have several needs to address this offseason. Upgrading the offensive line and adding to the wide receiver, cornerback and defensive tackle room is a must.

At the same time, a good chunk of that money will likely be used on a few key free agents of their own, including tight end Hunter Henry, safety Adrian Phillips, guard Michael Schofield among others.

The Chargers can’t begin negotiating with other free agents until March 16, which is officially the start date of the legal tampering period.

This will be one of the more enticing offseasons for Los Angeles. It wouldn’t be all that surprising if general manager Tom Telesco does some more wheeling and dealing this free agency period than he has ever done to bring in players that have proven their worth in the league already.

How Marcus Peters’ signing affects Ravens offseason plans

The Baltimore Ravens have made it far clearer what they plan on doing this offseason after inking CB Marcus Peters to a three-year deal

The Baltimore Ravens continued their new tradition of re-signing their high priority free agents early with the three-year contract extension given to cornerback Marcus Peters. Peters is now one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league with quite a lot of guaranteed money on his deal. Though the 2019 season hasn’t even ended yet, Peters’ signing has pretty big implications on what the Ravens will end up doing in the offseason.

Peters will join Marlon Humphrey as the two top cornerbacks on the team with Tavon Young returning to his typical slot role after ending this season on injured reserve. While the Ravens have loved having a wealth of top cornerbacks this season, they’ll have quite a bit of money invested in the position after giving Young a three-year, $25.8 million deal in February. That will likely jeopardize the standing of both Jimmy Smith and Brandon Carr this offseason.

Smith is set to hit free agency this offseason after yet another down year in which he missed a bunch of games due to injury. Smith went down in Week 1 with a knee sprain after just six snaps, sitting out until Week 9. His 10 games played this season are his fewest since 2014 and make 19 games missed in the last four seasons. Though it’s possible Smith could return on a short-term deal with a low cap hit, it seems far more likely he’ll find bigger money elsewhere if another team is willing to bet he can remain healthy for 16 games.

Carr is still signed through the 2020 season but has a $1.5 million roster bonus due on March 10, according to Over The Cap. With only $1 million in dead money for next season, Baltimore would effectively save $6 million by cutting Carr before his roster bonus is due.

Much like Smith, it’s possible Carr could return to Baltimore, especially if the Ravens want to retain some experienced depth. Carr has played both inside and outside coverages and has even bounced back to safety this season in a floater role that allows him to still see plenty of snaps in spite of being the fourth cornerback on the depth chart. Given the injuries the Ravens have had at cornerback over the last few years and Carr’s age (he’ll be 34 next season), he could be a low-cost option to be cut and re-sign for Baltimore.

More importantly, Peters’ signing gives the Ravens a little more flexibility with regards to Humphrey in a few years. As a first-round pick, Humphrey has a fifth-year option available that would keep him signed through 2021. Baltimore would then have a clearer picture of their salary cap at that time and which cornerback they’d want to retain long-term.

Peters’ signing effectively makes him the Ravens’ No. 2 cornerback next season and continues Baltimore’s infatuation with having the league’s most talented and deep secondary. It also ensures the defense won’t change too much, continuing their Super Bowl window a little further.

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