nfl free agents – Page 12 – Syndication Server

49ers make sense as destination for WR Taylor Gabriel

Taylor Gabriel is the kind of free agent the 49ers should target in the offseason.

The Chicago Bears are set to release wide receiver Taylor Gabriel and cornerback Prince Amukamara according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. With a relatively unproven receiving corps going into the 2020 offseason, Gabriel is the kind of free agent the 49ers could target in a year where they have some holes to fill and not a ton of money to spend.

The speedy wide receiver played only nine games last season while battling injuries, but prior to that had put together a few productive years in the NFL. He got his start in the pros as an undrafted free agent with the Browns in 2014 when 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was the offensive coordinator in Cleveland.

Gabriel had a strong rookie campaign in Shanahan’s offense with 36 catches for 621 yards and one touchdown. His 17.3 yards per reception was the highest mark of his career.

He didn’t see that same success in 2015, the year Shanahan left Cleveland to become the Falcons’ offensive coordinator. Gabriel caught 28 balls for 241 yards and no touchdowns in 13 games. He revitalized his career the following season by reuniting with Shanahan when the Falcons claimed Gabriel off waiver from Cleveland. In 2016, Gabriel had 35 catches for 579 yards and a career-high six touchdowns. His production again fell off the next year when Shanahan left to become the 49ers’ head coach.

Through his first four seasons, Gabriel had 71 catches for 1200 yards and seven touchdowns in two years with Shanahan, and 61 catches for 619 yards and one touchdown without him.

The Bears signed Gabriel in 2018 to a four-year deal worth $28 million. Head coach Matt Nagy got big-time production from Gabriel in their first season together. The receiver set career highs with 67 receptions and 688 yards. Injuries last season limited him to just 29 catches for 353 yards, but he did score four touchdowns in nine games.

Chicago is only working with about $18 million in cap space going into the offseason according to Over the Cap, and releasing Gabriel saved the Bears about $4.5 million in cap space.

He was due $6.5 million this season, which is in the range where the 49ers might be able to afford to add a productive receiver to their roster, assuming he commanded that same type of deal on the open market. San Francisco can clear some of that space if they release Marquise Goodwin at a savings of $3.6 million.

Gabriel offers the speed element that stretches defenses vertically, but he’s also shifty enough to create space in the short and intermediate areas of the passing game. The 49ers badly need an additional speed element in their receiving corps, and Goodwin’s last two seasons haven’t been consistent enough to rely on him for a significant role in the passing game. Gabriel’s history in Shanahan’s offense, and his strong 2018 season, provide optimism that he can step in right away and make the 49ers’ receiving corps better.

The 49ers won’t have a ton of cash to go out and spend in free agency, but smaller, prudent moves to tweak the roster are necessary, and Gabriel certainly fits that mold.

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GM Eric DeCosta saving Ravens from free-agency hell

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta’s philosophy of signing key players early is already having a major impact on the NFL free agency this offseason

The 2020 NFL free agency period begins in less than a month. But for Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, free agency is a never-ending process that can happen any day of the year.

Since taking over for Ozzie Newsome, DeCosta has gotten in the habit of re-signing players early. It’s partially to end the cycle of developing players for other teams by keeping key players from hitting the free-agent market and ultimately leaving. But a secondary effect is that Baltimore saves money by inking players to a deal at the current market value instead of in a year or two when the increasing salary cap will drive up salaries.

In the case of this offseason, DeCosta’s philosophy is already having a major impact. Though Baltimore started the offseason with 21 pending free agents, including key starters in Matthew Judon and Michael Pierce, things could have been a lot worse had DeCosta not gotten a head start.

The Ravens have signed a number of players early, including nine that would have been free agents this offseason:

Player	Position
Patrick Ricard	FB/DL
Willie Snead	WR
Andre Smith	T
Jordan Richards	DB
Justin Tucker	K
Marcus Peters	CB
Tavon Young	CB
Marshal Yanda	G
L.J. Fort	ILB

Just imagine the Ravens having to try to re-sign Pro Bowlers like Ricard, Peters, Tucker and Yanda, alongside Judon and Pierce. It’s very likely Baltimore would have struggled to retain even the number of guys they already had, at least not without breaking the bank and dipping further into their salary cap.

As we saw last offseason with C.J. Mosley, Za’Darius Smith and even Terrell Suggs, plenty of other teams are more than capable of beating any offer the Ravens can throw out. In the case of those three free agents, all earned bigger contracts than expected. Even re-signing one at their current contracts would have bankrupted Baltimore’s salary cap for the near future, ultimately forcing DeCosta to watch them leave with no real plan to replace them. Hopefully, DeCosta’s current philosophy will change that practice and see fewer star players leave after their rookie contracts.

It’s a strategy that has its potential negatives, however. In the case of Young, who spent last season on injured reserve, the Ravens might have been able to get a better value on his contract had they waited until now. Still, signing players early eliminates some of the anxiety of having to work on multiple contracts at once. As long as DeCosta and Baltimore’s front office do their due diligence and have a good eye for talent, they should have far more hits than misses.

As it stands now, the Ravens head into free agency this offseason with a clearer picture of how the salary cap looks for the next few years. With just two major free agents set to hit the market, Baltimore is in far greater shape to make decisions about the future of the franchise and be aggressive in making moves as soon as free agency begins on March 18.

The Ravens will likely turn their attention to tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Marlon Humphrey next in an effort to keep their two biggest pending free agents in Baltimore for the long haul.

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9 potential cuts around the NFL the Ravens could be interested in

The Baltimore Ravens love a bargain in free agency and could look to other teams’ salary cap casualties this offseason to fill needs cheaply

NFL free agency comes in a few waves every year. Though all the attention is focused on the big-name players who have expiring contracts, the salary-cap casualties are often the free agents the Baltimore Ravens are most interested in. Around the NFL’s Gregg Rosenthal looked at a bunch of players who could get cut this offseason.

Though they have more salary-cap space expected than in previous years, I’d suspect that will once again be their strategy this offseason as they look to fill their needs with value additions.

In addition to typically being cheaper options, cut players don’t count against the compensatory pick formula. The Ravens love to play against that formula to get something in return for departing players they couldn’t afford. With outside linebacker Matthew Judon among the 21 pending free agents potentially on the way out, being savvy with who they sign would be wise for Baltimore to once again game that system this year.

Here are the 9 potential cuts that would be intriguing for the Ravens this offseason.

EDGE Trent Murphy, Buffalo Bills

Though Murphy never quite lived up to his second-round status for the Washington Redskins, he’s still been a productive member of the Bills since being drafted. Over the last three years, Murphy has 18 sacks and started 26 of the 45 games he’s been active for.

He’s not the star player many fans would want but he’s an impact contributor who could likely be signed for a steal when compared to the top pass rushers that will hit free agency. If the Ravens are trying to completely restock their outside linebacker depth chart this offseason, Murphy would likely find a good role given Baltimore only had one player (Matthew Judon) with more sacks in 2019.

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Ravens re-sign T Andre Smith to 1-year contract

Though T Andre Smith didn’t play in any games for the Baltimore Ravens, they liked what they saw from him enough to re-sign him

One of the first things the Baltimore Ravens have to do this offseason is to figure out which of their own players they want to try to re-sign. Though the Ravens have much higher priorities among their 21 pending free agents, Baltimore has gotten an early start on the process. The team announced they re-signed tackle Andre Smith to a one-year contract.

The Ravens had signed Smith just prior to their playoff game against the Tennessee Titans. Though Smith was a healthy scratch for the playoff game, it appears as though Baltimore liked what they saw and were interested in keeping him as experienced depth.

Smith really doesn’t have a shot at the starting lineup, barring an injury ahead of him. The Ravens are set with both tackles Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown Jr. going to the Pro Bowl for 2019. However, offensive lineman James Hurst could be a potential salary-cap casualty this offseason and the addition of Smith might point to Baltimore believing the same thing. While Smith’s contract details haven’t been reported yet, he’ll likely be cheaper than the $5.25 million cap hit Hurst carries in 2020, per OTC.

Even if Hurst isn’t cut this offseason, Smith’s 11 years of experience would be valuable to an offensive line that has very little experienced depth behind Stanley and Brown.

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Mapping out the Ravens’ perfect 2020 offseason

The Ravens have a little cap space to burn but a bunch of pending free agents and holes to fill. How can they kill it this offseason?

The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2020 NFL offseason with a bitter taste in their mouths. They’ll try to turn the disappointment of their playoff loss into action this offseason in an effort to get better and make a serious run at Super Bowl LV.

In order to do that, Baltimore will need to have a great offseason. That means getting values in free agency and picking the right players in the 2020 NFL Draft to bolster the roster and hopefully patch up their biggest holes. Though both free agency and the draft offer never-ending scenarios that will affect what the Ravens can do, we’ll take a look at what the perfect offseason would look like for Baltimore.

The Ravens are expected to have roughly $27.75 million in available cap space to start, according to Over The Cap. So let’s take a look at how they can free up a little more.

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Cutting players:

Baltimore has a number of players who could be on the chopping block as salary cap casualties this offseason. But I feel like two players are pretty much guaranteed to be cut.

Safety Tony Jefferson was replaced well by Chuck Clark and cornerback Brandon Carr is just too expensive given his role as a depth player and floater in the secondary. Cutting both players would add roughly $13 million to the Ravens’ salary cap, according to OTC, giving them $40.75 million to play with.

We’ll also assume guard Marshal Yanda returns for the 2020 season, which won’t free up any additional money but won’t create a new hole for Baltimore to fill. Though if Yanda does retire, that would add another $7 million to the Ravens’ available salary cap, according to OTC.

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Do the Ravens need to be big spenders in free agency?

With a young core of solid talent and plenty of picks in the 2020 NFL draft, the Baltimore Ravens don’t need to spend all their cap space

The Baltimore Ravens are expected to have more cap space available than in recent years thanks to a conscious decision to make their roster younger. Combined with a young core of talent led by quarterback Lamar Jackson, many are eyeing up the 2020 offseason as a chance for Baltimore to be buyers in free agency to fill their remaining roster holes and push for a Super Bowl.

But in reality, do the Ravens need to go all out this offseason and eat up all their cap space? The more I look at the roster and their cap situation for the next few years, I’m beginning to lean towards being more cautious in their offseason approach this year.

Every offseason offers tantalizing talent in free agency and 2020 is no different. Pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney, Chris Jones, Yannick Ngakoue and Shaq Barrett are pending free agents alongside wide receivers like A.J. Green, Amari Cooper and Emmanuel Sanders. Though Baltimore should have enough cap space to throw their hat into the ring on maybe one or two of these types of players, it would almost undoubtedly leave their bank accounts empty and more than a few holes remaining after the dust settles.

Instead, Baltimore already has a solid core of young talent they can lean on to at least be above average and they should build cautiously from there.

On offense, the Ravens have a pretty stacked group with Jackson, Mark Andrews, Patrick Ricard, Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown Jr. all earning Pro Bowl nods this past season. Add to the group some up-and-coming players like Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Patrick Mekari, Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin and you have a really exciting lineup that already ranked among the best offenses in the NFL last season and should get better.

Defensively, Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey were the young Pro Bowl nominations for the 2019 season. But safety Chuck Clark deserves plenty of accolades and there’s some other talent ready to emerge in Tyus Bowser and Jaylon Ferguson.

From that foundation, the Ravens don’t need to be so eager in their free-agency approach and instead look towards the second-tier options that offer more bang for the buck. Baltimore has several holes they’ll want to fill this offseason and likely a few they’ll want to staff with veteran additions to act as a stop-gap while 2020 draft picks come up to speed over the next few years.

Both inside and outside linebacker are primed for an immediate upgrade after Baltimore limped through the 2019 season that saw mid-season additions pushed into starting roles thanks to lackluster play by the incumbents and little-to-no depth behind them. Coach John Harbaugh noted the team is interested in adding two different types of wide receivers this offseason — likely an outside possession receiver and another deep threat. Offensive guard could quickly become the Ravens’ biggest need of the offseason if Marshal Yanda decides to retire.

While Baltimore is expected to have a little more cap space than in previous years, they still rank in the bottom third of the league, according to OTC. That will make filling even half of their needs with top free agents a pipe dream this offseason. Instead, the Ravens could be more creative in how they shop in free agency to get better results for a fraction of the cost.

As we saw last season with Matthew Judon, having one good pass rusher often isn’t enough as opponents key in on stopping that lone player. So instead of breaking the bank on a top free-agent pass rusher, Baltimore could very well look to sign two lesser-known guys that fit into their scheme for the same price or less. And with two solid players, it could force opposing offenses to spread themselves too thin trying to manage both pass rushers while also dealing with Don Martindale’s crazy blitzes. That option doesn’t even include the idea that Ferguson and/or Bowser could take a jump up in play next season and bolster the unit further.

The same could be done at inside linebacker where the Ravens could look to sign players for dedicated roles and swap them out depending on needs. An early-down, run-stuffing linebacker gets matched up with a more athletic linebacker that plays only on passing downs and they rotate in based on the opponent and situational packages. It ends up being cheaper than trying to find a C.J. Mosley-like player who can do everything reasonably well.

Baltimore also has to look forward to the next offseason as well. While they don’t know what the salary cap will look like or even what the new CBA will include, they’ll have some key players heading to free agency they’ll want to re-sign. Clark, Ronnie Stanley and Marlon Humphrey are all set to hit free agency after the 2020 season and at least Stanley and Humphrey are likely to break the bank at their respective positions. Being able to roll some money forward into next offseason would be wise for the Ravens, even though they’re estimated to have $97 million in cap space for 2021.

In all, the Ravens have plenty of major contributors still on rookie deals, regardless of how this offseason works out. And with an expected nine picks in the 2020 NFL draft (seven inside the top-150, per OTC‘s compensatory pick formulations), Baltimore will have opportunities to add more impact players for dirt cheap this offseason without spending a dime in free agency. It might not be as sexy as trying to sign every big name that hits the market but it’s a strategy that will have better long-term success for the Ravens if done right.

So sadly, don’t be shocked if Baltimore is once again miserly with their checkbook this offseason.

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Should the Ravens target OLB Shaq Barrett in free agency?

The folks at Pro Football Focus think that the Ravens pass-rushing woes could be solved by targeting this player in free agency.

Getting after the quarterback was something that the Baltimore Ravens struggled to do in 2019. Despite blitzing at the highest rate in the NFL, Baltimore pass rushers managed just 37 sacks — 20 teams got to the quarterback more. With their leading pass rusher Matt Judon heading for free agency and potentially on the trading block, the Ravens will be looking to bolster their pass rush prior to the 2020 season.

One pending free agent the Ravens should pursue is outside linebacker Shaq Barrett, who enjoyed a breakout season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019. After signing a one-year deal last offseason, Barrett had a franchise-record 19.5 sacks, with a further 19 tackles for loss. It was a dramatic leap up in production for Barrett, who had 14 sacks and 25 tackles for loss combined over five seasons with the Denver Broncos prior to 2019.

Pro Football Focus, in their piece about a free agent that every time should target, notes that Barrett outplayed every Baltimore pass rusher last season.

“His 82 pressures on the year were the fourth most and 20 more than any other Raven.”

A proven pass rusher would certainly be a boost to the Ravens defense. But there are a number of reasons why I don’t think it’s likely that Barrett will be a Baltimore Raven in 2020.

First of all, there is the worry regarding whether we can actually class Barrett as a proven pass rusher. After all, 2019 was the only year he’s really put it all together. Granted, he was among PFF’s top-25 ranked pass rushers in his first five seasons while with the Broncos. But PFF grades are one thing, actual sack totals are another and 58.2% of Barrett’s career sacks came in a single season, albeit the last one.

Secondly, Barrett isn’t going to be cheap. If the Ravens will potentially balk at what Judon could earn on the free-agent market, Barrett could easily earn a lot more given his sack total last year. Spotract puts Barrett’s market value just shy of $16 million per year, which isn’t much in savings over where they have Judon.

Plus, and this is the most important — I don’t think it is likely that Barrett will actually get to the open market. The Buccaneers have the fourth-most estimated effective cap space heading into 2020, so they don’t have to be cheap when it comes to keeping their best players around. Barrett was the one good thing about Tampa Bay’s pass defense last season and they’d be really crazy to let him walk. If a long-term deal cannot be reached, then there are also the franchise or transition tags.

Don’t get me wrong, the Ravens need to upgrade the pass rush and Barrett is a name we’re going to hear as a dream free agent for Baltimore. But for all the reasons Judon isn’t a slam dunk to re-sign, Barrett falls into the same problems for the Ravens.

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Ravens 2020 free agency preview: DT Michael Pierce

DT Michael Pierce is heading for unrestricted free agency. How did he perform in 2019, and will he be back in Baltimore in 2020?

Successful teams often see a host of their key parts depart following NFL seasons. Coordinators become head coaches, position coaches become coordinators and players with expiring contracts become big-money players.

The Baltimore Ravens went 14-2 in the regular season but managed to retain their entire coaching staff this offseason. They do have players who are looking for a big payday, however. Though Baltimore is expected to have a decent amount of cap space this offseason, they’ll have a tough time re-signing all 21 pending free agents while also working to restock the roster with fresh, new talent.

One of the biggest names is the defensive tackle, Michael Pierce. So what better person to choose next on our free-agent preview than a guy Baltimore have to thank for their stout run defense over the last few seasons.

Also, check out our other Ravens free-agent previews for 2020.

Michael Pierce – 2019 review:

Michael Pierce was a vital piece of the Ravens’ defensive front, helping the team allow the fifth-fewest rushing yards in the NFL in 2019.

Baltimore doesn’t typically ask their defensive linemen to get after the quarterback. That means Pierce’s stats aren’t very impressive, with only half of a sack and two tackles-for-loss to go with 35 combined tackles in 2019.

But Pierce and Brandon Williams’s role in Wink Martindale’s unit is to occupy blockers and allow the linebackers to make the plays. This, allied to his only playing on 49% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps, goes a long way towards explaining away any apparent lack of production.

Martindale himself has nicknamed Pierce and Williams the “FSU Brothers”, due to their mucking up opposing running games. And no, FSU isn’t a school . . .

Review / Potential / Value / Chances to re-sign

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New England Patriots should target former Georgia football WR this offseason

Why the New England Patriots should target former Georgia football WR AJ Green this offseason.

The New England Patriots are in big need of an elite wide receiver, and a former Bulldog could be the answer to their problems.

The Patriots at one point had Julian Edelman, Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon on the roster. However, Gordon and Brown did not work out, leaving Edelman as the only elite receiver on the depth chart. Edelman was his usual reliable self until injuries slowed him down and forced him to undergo shoulder surgery at the end of the season.

With that in mind, former Georgia wide receiver AJ Green would be a great fit in New England’s offense if he is not franchise tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals. On the topic of being franchise tagged, that is not what Green wants. He will take the money and play if tagged, but he thinks it sends the wrong message.

“The franchise tag is not the best thing,” Green told Elise Jesse of WLWT in Cincinnati. “But like I said, I’m not turning down $18 million.”

Green wants to remain with the Bengals, but a one year tag does not excite him like a multi-year contract would.

AJ Green told me a franchise tag would speak volumes to him. "A franchise tag is not the best thing". pic.twitter.com/IwSKBPXpbc

— Elise Jesse (@Elise_JesseWLWT) January 23, 2020

Green has spent his entire career with the Bengals, and the 31 year old has earned a spot in the Pro Bowl seven times. There is risk involved with Green, though – he’s played in just 35 of a possible 64 games since 2015.

But when he’s healthy, there’s no denying he is one of the league’s top talents at the receiver position.

Green and the Patriots would be a match made in heaven. Bill Belichick runs a tight shift, likes his players to remain out of the spotlight and enjoys keeping a low profile. That describes Green – one of the most humble players in the league, someone who is rather inactive on social media and a guy who performs at a high level without added drama.

After what the Patriots went through with Gordon and Brown, they’d be thrilled to add a no-drama player like Green.

Tom Brady is a free agent for the first time in nearly two decades, and in order to keep him around owner Robert Kraft will be more inclined to make a move to get more playmakers around his aging quarterback.

New England currently has $42m in cap space, and a large chunk of that would go to Brady. But Kraft knows that if he wants to get Brady another Super Bowl, he will have to make some moves to add an elite wide receiver.

AJ Green, David Andrews and Sony Michel all on the same offense? Yes please.

7 free-agent offensive linemen Rams should consider signing

There are options available if the Rams want to sign a free agent to bolster the offensive line.

The Los Angeles Rams have taken a few big hits to their offensive line recently, losing Brian Allen for the season and Rob Havenstein for at least one week, but possibly more. There will be a lot of shuffling up front, which already began on Sunday.

As it stands right now, Austin Blythe will move from guard to center, while Austin Corbett will likely take over at left guard. David Edwards should remain at right guard with Bobby Evans taking over for Havenstein. No matter how it shakes out, the Rams are in trouble.

Sean McVay said the Rams will look at free agents this week, so here are seven potential options for Los Angeles.

C John Sullivan

A familiar face for the Rams, Sullivan should at least be in consideration. The team moved on from him this offseason by declining his 2019 option, which was an understandable move after he struggled last season.

However, his veteran leadership would at least bring some stability to the line, and he’s obviously familiar with the blocking scheme.

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