Tag: nfl free agents

Recently-released DE JJ Watt shouldn’t be among 49ers free agent targets

The San Francisco 49ers shouldn’t be among the teams trying to sign free agent DE JJ Watt after the Houston Texans released him.

The Houston Texans added a significant name to the free agent market when they released defensive end JJ Watt. While a team like San Francisco in need of edge help might venture a look at the five-time First-Team All-Pro, it’s hard to imagine they seriously kick tires on him.

While Watt is a surefire Hall of Famer with three Defensive Player of the Year awards under his belt, his days as a dominant player on the edge are behind him. He’s set to turn 32 in March and his 9.0 sacks in 24 games over the last two seasons. Watt has played just two full seasons since 2016 and only 48 of a possible 80 games, although he posted 16.0 sacks in a full 2018 season.

This isn’t to say Watt is a bad player. He can still help a team. However, his price tag given his resumé could see a significant inflation. ESPN’s Ed Werder reported as many as 12 teams have inquired about the former Texans star.

The issue the 49ers face is where he’d play. His most valuable role at this point in his career is probably in the same role Arik Armstead occupies as an edge-setting run defender in base packages and an interior rusher in sub packages. San Francisco has a ton of money tied up in Armstead and adding another relatively expensive player to that same role wouldn’t be a prudent use of the 49ers’ limited cap space.

If they were seeking to add edge help in free agency, it’ll probably be with less expensive players who they can try and fit into a specific role to maximize their talent. Their trade for DE Jordan Willis last season comes to mind where they utilized him solely as an edge rusher and didn’t ask him to drop in coverage or be a run-stuffing defensive end.

Kerry Hyder Jr. is also coming off a terrific year and at this point would likely be as valuable to the 49ers’ defense as Watt, but at a lesser price tag. If they were going to spend some in free agency, it’d behoove them to try and retain Hyder instead of going after the bigger name.

With the likes of Trent Williams, Kyle Juszcyzk and K’Waun Williams set to hit free agency for the 49ers, they’re going to have to spend wisely. Adding an edge player isn’t out of the question, but Watt shouldn’t be the player they’re targeting.

7 pending free agents most likely to leave Ravens this offseason

The Baltimore Ravens have quite a few big names entering free agency. These are the few that are most likely to leave this offseason.

AS the 2021 NFL offseason gets underway, the Baltimore Ravens will first turn their attention to their own players. With 16 unrestricted free agents set to hit the open market currently, there is plenty of work to be done still.

Under general manager Eric DeCosta, the Ravens have had a clear priority to bring back their own top pending free agents early, allowing them to have a solid core to build off of throughout free agency and the draft. But with a tight wallet thanks to the salary cap being expected to go down for the first time in over a decade, Baltimore will have to either get guys to come back for cheap or be frugal with who they re-sign. That opens up the opportunity for quite a few familiar names to have new homes in 2021.

Let’s take a closer look at the seven Ravens’ pending free agents most likely to leave this offseason.

49ers an enticing destination according to free agent C Alex Mack

Kyle Shanahan and free agent center Alex Mack know each other well, and the 49ers need a center.

Veteran center Alex Mack is very familiar with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. Mack is a soon-to-be free agent. Shanahan and the 49ers could be in the market for a center. A reunion would make a lot of sense, and Mack wasn’t shy about praising Shanahan in an interview with NBC Sports.

Mack, 35, has played 12 seasons in the NFL, including two in Shanahan’s offense.

“Kyle is an incredible coach,” Mack said via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. “He’s an incredible coach, great person, strong motivator and runs an offense that is something that I’d know really well and that I performed very well in.

“Yeah, that said, (the 49ers) are a very enticing thing.”

Shanahan coached Mack initially with the Browns in 2014 – the center’s sixth season in the league. During the 2016 offseason he signed a five-year, $47.5 million contract to join Shanahan in Atlanta where he helped the Falcons get to the Super Bowl.

The 49ers find themselves with a sizable hole at center going into the offseason. Weston Richburg’s health is a significant question mark after he missed all of last season due to complications from a knee injury he sustained late in 2019, and his replacement, Ben Garland, is a free agent.

There doesn’t appear to be a reliable option on the roster, which is why a Mack-Shanahan reunion makes sense. On the other hand, Mack could get priced out of San Francisco’s range given their potential salary cap restraints. They could opt to fill the center role through the draft while spending their available cap space on other needs.

Mack didn’t rule out San Francisco entirely though, and left a reunion with Shanahan on the table. He’ll be a name to keep a close eye on come free agency.

Should Chargers re-sign EDGE Melvin Ingram?

Melvin Ingram’s future with the Chargers remains to be seen.

Edge defender Melvin Ingram will be one of the most polarizing pending free agents. While Ingram has been a key piece of the defense and locker room for years now, his time in the blue and gold is up in the air.

Ingram, 31, was originally selected by the Chargers in the first-round of the 2012 NFL draft. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2017, 2018, and 2019 after posting 24.5 sacks during that time.

However, limited to only seven games in 2020, it was the first season in Ingram’s career in which he did not record a sack. His season was cut short after being placed on the injured reserve twice.

That could be a bad combination for a player entering free agency: injured and unproductive. But given Ingram’s production throughout his career, he should have a market.

Sure, the injuries might make the market limited and Los Angeles could sign him cheap, but the team may use the money elsewhere.

Los Angeles has other unrestricted free agents that have proven themselves as worth keeping like Hunter Henry, Michael Davis and Rayshawn Jenkins.

The team could also be looking to use that money on other positions of need like the offensive line.

Looking ahead if Ingram isn’t re-signed, L.A. can roll with Uchenna Nwosu as a full-time starter. Nwosu has shown to be capable of earning an expanded role, but was never given the extended playing time due to Ingram’s presence.

Or, the team can draft someone to add to their pass-rush group. This year’s class presents plenty of talent across the board.

If Ingram is re-signed, it will likely be in the ballpark of $8-10 million per year for a season or two and $12-14 million guaranteed at signing.

Predictions on which Chargers free agents will return in 2021

Who will Chargers general manager Tom Telesco bring back next season?

The Chargers enter this offseason with 17 players who will be unrestricted free agents, and everyone knows that the team can’t keep everyone.

The good news for Los Angeles is that they have the salary-cap space to ensure that they’re able to keep some of them, as they’re estimated to have a little over $23 million in estimated cap space.

So who will return this upcoming season?

It all starts with the top free agent not only on the team but among the entire league, with that being tight end Hunter Henry.

Henry, who played on the franchise tag this past season, proved that he’s worthy of receiving a long-term extension.

There have been some concerns over Henry’s injuries, but he played in all but two games in 2020, where he had a career-high 60 catches (93 targets) for 613 yards and four touchdowns.

He could command close to a top-of-the-market deal, which is in the per-year-range of $14 million to 15 million. However, tight ends like Henry don’t grow on trees, so it would be wise for the team to re-sign him.

Next on the list is cornerback Michael Davis.

Davis improved as a player this season, both as a tackler and in coverage. He surpassed career high in interceptions with three, including a pick-six against the Buccaneers. He appeared more confident, showing the ability to be a solid No. 2 corner.

Sticking in the secondary, safety Rayshawn Jenkins proved that he’s worthy of a contract extension.

Jenkins has shown to be a key contributor at both safety spots and as the team’s dime backer. The gradual growth with Jenkins has been evident and with a healthy Derwin James in 2021, the two would make a formidable safety tandem.

Head coach Brandon Staley’s defense is predicated off of good defensive back play, so he could be banking on getting the most out of them with his coaching.

Staying on the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Denzel Perryman enjoyed arguably his best season as a pro this past season.

Playing all but three games, Perryman performed at a high level. The former Miami product was strong against the run and he was improved in coverage. Plus, he presented a much-needed veteran presence in the middle of the defense, especially while LB Kenneth Murray dealt with growing pains.

The Chargers have three starters along the offensive line from this past season who are expected to be free agents, tackle Sam Tevi, guard Forrest Lamp and center Dan Feeney.

I see L.A. re-signing all of them.

After making the switch from right tackle to left tackle, Tevi played fine in the starting role. The Chargers like Tevi, and I believe they will keep him to at least serve as a depth piece.

Feeney was inconsistent this past season, but Los Angeles still seems confident that he will develop into a reliable starter in the middle of their offensive line. Plus, Feeney has been durable since entering the league in 2017, so it helps his case.

As for Lamp, he managed to put together a full season where he stayed healthy after being hampered with lower body injuries. I believe he will be re-signed to serve as a swing depth guard.

But regardless, the Chargers still need more talent up front.

So there you have it. I believe the Bolts will re-sign seven of their own players.

8 pending free agents to watch in the conference championship games

The Baltimore Ravens would be wise to tune into the NFC and AFC Championship Games this weekend to see some pending free agents

While there’s an inclination to stop watching football once your favorite team is eliminated from contention, there can be much to learn. For the Baltimore Ravens, that means getting a better look at some of the pending free agents they might want to target in the offseason.

It’s down to the final four teams now as the AFC and NFC fight amongst themselves to determine who will head to Super Bowl LV. While there are plenty of pending free agents not playing this weekend, there are more than a couple putting on a helmet and pads. With these games being some of the most important a player can be in, the Ravens should see the best possible versions of each pending free agent — something that can play a major impact on their status in the coming months.

Though the 2021 salary cap is expected to actually decrease after the coronavirus pandemic put a big dent in revenue, Baltimore is one of the few teams in the positive right now. With a limited market for free agents, the Ravens’ funds could go a long way in the offseason if they’re smart about where they spend it.

Let’s see which players Baltimore could be eyeing up today in the NFC and AFC Championship Games.

Note: These players are in no particular order

Poll: Which free agents should Chargers re-sign in 2021?

Which impending free agents should Chargers general manager Tom Telesco bring back next season?

The Chargers have a handful of impending free agents when the new league year begins in March. It’s unclear how many of these players the team will be able to keep, but they will have to be selective during the process.

Even though they have a decent amount of salary cap space available, they need to make sure that they have enough to bring in unrestricted free agents from other teams.

There are several of these players that will likely get attention on the open market because of their success that they had with the Bolts.

If the decision was up to you, which free agents would you have the Bolts re-sign in 2021?

While our poll only lists nine, you can find the full list of the team’s free agents here.

Note: You can pick more than one player.

https://fast-poll.com/poll/ba1c5587

PFF: Chargers predicted to sign four players of top 100 free agents

The Chargers are predicted to re-sign one of their own and three offensive players.

For the most, Chargers already have a talented roster in place, but there are certain positions that could be cleaned up.

Therefore, general manager Tom Telesco will likely dip into the free agency pool to address them, like he did last offseason when he signed four notable players to contracts. Telesco could have plenty of intriguing options to choose from.

Pro Football Focus released their annual list of the league’s top 100 free agents, where they gave a brief summary of each player and who they predict them to sign with this offseason.

PFF connected Los Angeles with four players. The first one is one of their own, tight end Hunter Henry.

He is a productive and capable tight end with plenty of tools to be an excellent receiver in any offense. Henry has the size to box defenders out underneath, the savvy to find holes in a defense and enough route-running skills to separate over the middle.

The next one listed is Packers center Corey Linsley. With Dan Feeney slated to hit the market and Mike Pouncey’s career up in the air due to injury concerns, L.A. could afford to revamp the position with one of the league’s best.

Linsley has been outstanding in pass protection this season, allowing just four pressures on 437 pass-blocking attempts in 2020. He is also a strong run-blocker, ranking in the 84th percentile in the percentage of positively graded blocks and the 85th percentile when it comes to avoiding negatives.

The Bolts address the offensive line, specifically the left tackle position, with another veteran in Steelers’ Alejandro Villenueva. Sam Tevi’s contract is up and there’s a chance that the team could let him walk, despite him performing well as a blindside blocker.

There’s immense value in solid, mid-tier offensive linemen, and that’s exactly what Villanueva has been throughout his career. He’s graded between 74.0 and 82.0 in each of his last five seasons; he ranks in the 54th percentile in PFF pass-blocking grade and the 46th percentile in pass-blocking grade on true pass sets during that time.

Finally, PFF predicted Los Angeles to sign Colts quarterback Jacoby Brissett to serve as the backup to Justin Herbert. Tyrod Taylor will be a free agent and might find an opportunity elsewhere. There’s the possibility of letting Easton Stick fill the role. They have been grooming him to be their backup since they drafted him in the fifth round in 2019.

Brissett has PFF grades of 62.4 in 2017 and 59.2 in 2019 as a starter, showing that he’s likely a high-end backup. Stylistically, Brissett has landed more on the game manager end of the spectrum, taking good care of the ball but also having a low percentage of big-time throws. When adding some rushing value to the mix, it’s clear that Brissett can be called upon to win a few games, but he hasn’t looked like a quarterback who is capable of carrying a team.

Two other Chargers are mentioned and PFF sees them signing elsewhere. Edge defender Melvin Ingram is predicted to sign with the Lions while linebacker Denzel Perryman is pegged to the Packers.

FB Kyle Juszczyk wants to stay with 49ers RB coach Bobby Turner

49ers RB coach Bobby Turner is a key reason fullback Kyle Juszcyk wants to return to San Francisco.

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The 49ers have a slew of pending free agents who likely won’t return for the 2021 season. It sounds like fullback Kyle Juszczyk wants to be among the group that will come back.

Juszczyk said in early December he’s only had informal discussions with the 49ers about a return. There’s no long-term deal on the table per the fullback.

While head coach Kyle Shanahan designs the offense that leans heavily on Juszczyk because of his skill set, it was running backs coach Bobby Turner who got the attention when the fullback showed up for his video conference wearing a t-shirt with Turner’s face and a popular saying of his on it.

“I’ve had a great four years now with the same position coach, a guy that knows me, I know him, and we have a good understanding,” Juszczyk told reporters about Turner per the Sacramento Bee. “It makes for a really good work environment. So that’s definitely something I can’t put a discount on. I definitely have really, really enjoyed my time with Bobby T, learning from him and would love to continue to work with my guy.”

There aren’t a lot of teams using fullbacks as frequently as the 49ers use theirs. Some teams, like the Los Angeles Rams, don’t even roster a fullback. Juszczyk’s important to what Shanahan wants to do on offense is reflected in the four-year, $21 million deal he got from the 49ers when Shanahan became the head coach in 2017. His $5.25 million average annual value is $2 million more than the second highest paid fullback.

Juszczyk is an important player for San Francisco. They run 21 personnel (two running backs, one tight end) the second-most in the league. They ran by far the highest rate of 21 personnel in the NFL the previous two seasons. That’s made possible by their do-everything fullback.

There are a few players the 49ers simply can’t let walk. Juszczyk is one of them, and it sounds like there’s mutual interest in his return beyond the 2020 campaign.

Richard Sherman believes only a miracle will get him back to 49ers

Richard Sherman is a free agent in 2021, and he’s probably not going to wind up with the San Francisco 49ers.

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The 49ers and their front office will be in uncharted waters next offseason. They’ll have a number of key free agents, and too many good players on the roster and in free agency to pay them all. Richard Sherman is well aware of this reality and wasn’t shy about stating it in a Thursday video conference with reporters.

Adding up the dollars and cents against a salary cap that could either stagnate or dip means some players San Francisco might like to retain will sign elsewhere for more money. That’s the reality of a league with a hard salary cap.

Sherman put two and two together and determined his value will probably exceed what the 49ers will be able to pay once all the dust settles with some long-term extensions they’re due to hand out.

“If there’s some miracle that happens, sure, there’s an opening” Sherman said about a return to the 49ers per the San Francisco Chronicle. “But there’s 40 free agents and they’ll probably have $40 million or less in cap (space0. And they’ve got to bring back Trent (Williams), who costs over $20 million. And they have to pay Fred, who costs $18 million-plus a year. So anybody who knows the situation understands that.”

Williams is set to hit free agency and earn a contract at the top of the tackle market. Green Bay’s David Bakhtiari is the highest-paid left tackle by average annual value at $23 million per season. It stands to reason Williams will eclipse that.

Warner has become one of the best off-ball linebackers in the NFL and he’s eligible for his first extension this offseason. Seattle’s Bobby Wagner is setting the market there with an $18 million AAV.

Sherman, 32, is still playing at a high level and earned a Second-Team All-Pro nod in 2019. He missed nine games through the middle portion of this season to deal with a calf injury, but he’ll still be coveted enough in free agency that he could get priced out of what the 49ers are willing to pay a corner going into his mid 30s.

The impact Sherman had on San Francisco’s turnaround since he arrived in 2018 can’t be understated, but it sounds like it’s nearing the point where both sides will have to move on.