Tag: Taylor Gabriel

Bears WR Ted Ginn Jr. on speed: ‘Don’t let the age and years fool you’

The Bears added some speed to their offense with the addition of WR Ted Ginn Jr., who still believes he brings a lot to the table.

In back-to-back days, a new member of the Chicago Bears was introduced to the media. Yesterday, Tashaun Gipson noted that he and Eddie Jackson could form one of the best safety duos in the NFL.

Today was Ted Ginn Jr.’s turn. The Bears said goodbye to Taylor Gabriel earlier this offseason, and needing to add speed, they turned to the 35-year-old Ginn. However, the former Ohio State product iterated that his speed remains intact.

With Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller occupying the wide receiver one and two spots, respectively, it remained unclear which player on the roster would step up into a regular starter role.

The Bears took Javon Wims in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He’s shown flashes in limited action, hauling in 18 balls for 186 yards and a touchdown in 2019. And last year, they selected Riley Ridley in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, but he recorded just six receptions in five games in his rookie year.

Cordarrelle Patterson is a valuable asset in his own way, but his best receiving season came as a rookie in 2013.

The Bears added speed via the draft with Tulane’s Darnell Mooney. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, which is approximately the same as Ginn’s 4.37 40-time recorded at Ohio State’s Pro Day.

That said, Matt Nagy’s history of using rookie wide receivers would lead to the belief that Mooney will not see much of the field unless injuries present playing opportunities. Ginn is expected to be the third wide receiver on the depth chart, and hopefully, he can help stretch the field.

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The 5 best available free agents for the Browns still on the market

The 5 best available free agents for the Browns still on the market after the 2020 NFL Draft

The draft is over and the free agent market is slowing down to a trickle. But there are still some veterans out there who can help the Cleveland Browns, if the price and fit are right.

Note that this is not a general “best free agents” list, because the Browns are not in the market for some of those players. These are realistic options the Browns could sign, not a dream list without context.

Everson Griffen

Griffen made the Pro Bowl in 2019, bagging eight sacks and 24 QB hits for the Vikings. That’s where coach Kevin Stefanski hails, of course, and Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods was on the defensive staff in Minnesota for the first few years of Griffen’s long and fantastic career, too.

Griffen is 32 but he’s still got “it”. The combination of get-off at the snap, bend around the edge, power to attack inside is all still there. The Browns are deep at EDGE with Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon and Adrian Clayborn, but Griffen would take it to another level. His familiarity in the defensive scheme is a definite plus.

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3 free agents the Texans should sign post-draft

The Houston Texans can now sign free agents and not have it impact their compensatory formula. Here are the three free agents they should target.

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As of 3:00 p.m. Central Time Monday, free agents that the Houston Texans sign won’t count against their compensatory pick formula for 2021. That means the second wave of free agency is here.

The Texans are still filling out their 90-man roster, and coach and general Bill O’Brien believes that 2020 will be an offseason that favors veterans. Here are three free agents the Texans should sign.

1. CB Darqueze Dennard

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati decided to go in a different direction with their cornerbacks. The former 2014 first-round pick from Michigan State played in nine games last year, starting in five of them, and producing 37 tackles and five pass breakups. Dennard could add a veteran presence to the Texans’ secondary, and the ability to play inside or outside. Even with a crowded cornerback room, there could be a place for Denanrd, and he would bring experience.

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The best available free agents after the 2020 NFL draft

With the comensatory pick factor coming to a close in the new league year, expect an uptick in second-level free-agent signings.

On Monday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. EST, the formula for free agency changes. That’s when the window closes for compensatory picks to be awarded to teams whose former players, now unrestricted free agents, are signed by other teams. With that in mind, you can expect a flurry of signings for the players still on the open market. It’s likely why the Saints, who have all but agreed to terms with former Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, haven’t officially announced the deal.

Here are the best free agents left on the open market, and whose agents should be seeing an uptick in their minutes once the comp pick equation comes to a close.

QB Cam Newton

(Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

From Week 1 through Week 12 of the 2018 season, Cam Newton completed 69.6% of his passes for 2699 yards, 22 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Only eight quarterbacks had more touchdown passes in that span. Only five had a higher completion percentage. Only six had a higher passer rating than Newton’s 103.7.

And then it all fell apart. Injuries limited Newton’s effectiveness when he was on the field, and in 2019, he managed just 89 attempts. But if it’s true that Newton has recovered from the shoulder and foot injuries that stood in his way over the last two seasons, he’s an outstanding mid-priced option for any team in need of a quarterback who can still get it done in the right system.

WR Taylor Gabriel

(Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

The Bears released Gabriel in February following an injury-plagued season in which he saw action in just nine games, catching 29 passes in 48 targets for 353 yards and four touchdowns. But in a vertical, multi-receiver system with a quarterback that has a better GPS than Mitchell Trubisky does, Gabriel has a lot of potential as an outside and slot weapon who can test defenders up the seam.

OT Jason Peters

(Getty Images)

Last season, Peters was what he has been through most of his career — one of the strongest and most consistent tackles in the game. At age 37, he allowed just three sacks and 25 total pressures in 62 pass-blocking snaps for the Eagles. Philadelphia chose to let Peters hit the free-agent market, and he’s a short-term option at this point, but any team in need of a plug-and-play starter right now at the left tackle position (and that’s a lot of NFL teams) should be highly interested in the nine-time Pro Bowler.

EDGE Jadeveon Clowney

(Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports)

Based on comments from Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider, it appears that Seattle is ready to move on from Clowney, who excelled for them in 2019 when healthy following a trade with the Texans. Clowney has seen his projected market collapse in a relative sense, but as the Seahawks proved, he’s still a force multiplier when he’s tasked to put his hand on the ground from the edge and hunt for the quarterback. This may come down to Clowney’s side understanding what his market is at this point.

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5 things to know about new Bears WR Darnell Mooney

Darnell Mooney, one of the fastest WRs in the draft, gives the Bears a weapon who can take the top off of the defense.

One of the questions heading into the 2020 NFL Draft was when the Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Pace would take advantage of one of the deepest receiver classes in recent memory and select someone who can fill a need in their offense.

Their answer came about halfway through the final day as they selected Tulane WR Darnell Mooney after trading their sixth-round picks with the Philadelphia Eagles to move up and grab him.

Mooney, one of the fastest wideouts in the draft, gives the Bears a weapon who can take the top off of the defense and will fill the void left by the release of Taylor Gabriel in February.

Here are a few things to know about the newest Bears burner:

1. Mooney ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Mooney’s key attribute is of course his speed, and he shouldn’t disappoint when he steps foot on the field. The former Tulane standout ran an official 4.38 40-yard dash, tied for third among all wide receivers who participated, according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.

While 40 times aren’t a huge factor in whether or not a player is successful in the NFL, his speed absolutely fills a need in head coach Matt Nagy’s offense.

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Everson Griffen among 4 vet free agents for the Cowboys to consider

There are still some veterans in free agency who can help the Dallas Cowboys for the 2020 season.

It was one heck of a draft from the Dallas Cowboys. They stayed true to their board, drafted quality players at positions of need, never reached for a prospect and got aggressive at the right time. By most accounts, the Cowboys had one of the best drafts in the league.

However, their work is not done. Now that the 2020 NFL Draft has ended, Dallas can look into dipping back into free agency for more help. The Cowboys addressed many of their needs, but not every hole was filled.Β Β The post-draft free agency period can also assist Dallas.

As most teams believe they improved and fixed their own situations in the draft, there are veteran players who now see themselves in a different position. They might not command the same deal as they thought they could score before the draft and salary demands could get lowered.

The time to pounce on some available free agents is in the very near future. Players who were released from their contracts already come with no expense outside their new deal, and naturalized free agents no longer qualify for the comp pick formula after Tuesday.

Here are some names that would make sense for the Cowboys:

Defensive End Everson Griffen

Although the team drafted Utah’s Bradlee Anae, they still need edge help at defensive end. Aldon Smith and Randy Gregory are not guaranteed reinstatement, and both have had significant time away from the game in the past few years so it would be wise for the Cowboys to protect themselves with another pass rusher.

The defense could use the eight sacks Griffen accumulated last season and his connection to senior defensive assistant George Edwards remains a valuable connection. A team can never have enough pass rushers.

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Ranking each Bears’ free agency class under Ryan Pace

Bears GM Ryan Pace has had major hits and huge misses in free agency. But how does each of his FA classes stack up against one another?

There’s no doubt that NFL free agency is one of the most exciting time of the year for football fans. It’s the first major opportunity for teams to find new talent, shuffle their roster, and make the necessary changes to contend for a playoff spot in the season to come.

However, while a free agency class can take a team to the next level, another can cripple them financially and pull them down to the bottom of the division. When it comes to the Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Pace, they’ve experienced both situations.

Pace, now in his sixth season leading the Bears, has had major hits and huge misses in free agency. But how does each of his free agent classes stack up against one another? Below is a ranking from Pace’s worst to best free agent groups between 2015 and 2019.

5) 2017 free agent class

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Key hits – CB Prince Amukamara

Key misses – QB Mike Glennon, S Quintin Demps, TE Dion Sims, WR Markus Wheaton

What a group, huh? When free agency officially opened, Pace inked Glennon, Demps and Sims to three-year deals right off the bat, possibly becoming one of the worst “big three” ever assembled in sports. Glennon, signed from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was given the opportunity to start but only lasted four games before rookie quarterback and first-round selection Mitchell Trubisky took the reins.

Demps, meanwhile, truly only had one memorable play as a Bear which took place in week one when Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper stiff-armed the veteran to the ground on his way to an 88-yard score. Demps went on injured reserve just two weeks later. Both only lasted one season in Chicago.

Sims at least made it through two seasons, but was lackluster at best. Other signings such as receiver Markus Wheaton, who caught three more passes than I did for the Bears and cornerback Marcus Cooper, who’s most memorable moment in Chicago was showboating after an interception, turning a pick-six into a pick-three.

The only true standout from the class was cornerback Prince Amukamara, who was a consolation prize for the Bears after other corners such as A.J. Bouye and Stephon Gillmore spurned them for other teams. Amukamara became a solid starter for an eventual playoff team and turned his tryout into a bigger contract. But overall, this class was a colossal failure for Pace.

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4 remaining free agents Chargers should consider signing

With about $8.5 million left in spending money, the Los Angeles Chargers can make one more signing.

The Chargers have been quite active this free agency period, signing three well-known players, which have addressed some critical positions of need.

After all of the moves made, Los Angeles has about $8.5 million left in spending money, according to The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.

In-house players like safety Adrian Phillips and defensive tackle Damion Square who remain unsigned could be who they ultimately use that money on.

However, general manager Tom Telesco could dip into the free agency pool one last time to make a signing.

With that being said, here are the 4 remaining free agents that would fill a need and fit within their budget.

Jason Peters, OT

The signing of Bryan Bulaga fills a glaring need at the right tackle position, but the left tackle spot is an unknown. The team could be looking to address it in the draft or they feel confident enough in Trey Pipkins. But I think bringing in a proven veteran like Peters would do wonders and aide in the development of Pipkins. Even at 38 years of age, Peters only allowed 21 pressures on 562 pass-blocking attempts last season. He had the fourth-highest grade in pass blocking and 17th-highest grade in run blocking, per Pro Football Focus. Peters would likely be willing to take a short-term deal worth less than $10 million annually.

Andrus Peat, OL

The Chargers have shored up the right side of the offensive line with the acquisitions of Bulaga and guard Trai Turner. However, the left side remains in a flux. Even at the guard spot, it’s uncertain how the team feels about Dan Feeney and Forrest Lamp moving forward. If they wanted to bring someone that provides inside-out versatility, Peat is an option. The former Stanford product has made two Pro Bowls in his career. In his first three seasons in the NFL, he has posted overall grades of 67.1, 71.5 and 68.3 while spending time at both left tackle and left guard, per PFF. He was up and down in 2019 and has missed nine games over the past two seasons with various injuries. But overall, he is a complete blocker and has very few penalties against him.

Josh Bynes, LB

The Chargers released Thomas Davis last week, which created a bit of a hole at the linebacker position. Denzel Perryman and Drue Tranquill are slated to be the starters, with Kyzir White projected to be starting OTTO. However, the depth at the position is slim and injury concerns with Perryman are still there. Bringing in a 10-year veteran like Bynes wouldn’t be a bad idea. Bynes has been a bit of a journeyman, playing for three different teams, but he might be one of the more underrated linebackers in the league. He’s an intelligent player, stout against the run and good in coverage. According to PFF, he’s had two of his highest coverage grades in his career this past two stintsβ€” in 2019 he was the 12th best linebacker in coverage.

Taylor Gabriel, WR

I am a firm believer that the Chargers are better off taking advantage of a deep wide receiver draft class and spend the money that they have elsewhere. But if they want a guy that has been in the league for a few years and meets what they should be looking for (speed), Gabriel is proven and wouldn’t cost all that much. He averaged 7.8 yards after the catch per reception with the Falcons in 2016 and he averaged 6.6 in 2017. Gabriel spent two seasons after that in Chicago after signing a four-year deal in 2018, catching 96 passes for 1,041 yards and six touchdowns over the two stints.

3 free agent WRs the Vikings should be interested in

Here are two under-the-radar candidates for the Vikings to sign, along with a player who could be a fit if it’s the right price.

Even before trading Stefon Diggs on Monday, the Vikings needed help at wide receiver. Obviously, there’s even more urgency for Rick Spielman and Co. now.

The 2020 draft seems to be loaded with receivers. The free agency class? Not so much. Here are two under-the-radar candidates for the Vikings to sign, along with a player who could be a fit if it’s the right price.

Phillip Dorsett

Dorsett is never going to live up to being drafted in the first round of the 2015 draft.

But he was competent for the Patriots last season, catching 29 passes for 397 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.

Dorsett isn’t going to fill Diggs’ role, of course, but there’s more to worry about than just Diggs. The best receiver on this team after Adam Thielen is second-year player Bisi Johnson. Dorsett would be affordable and is a player who survived with the Patriots for three seasons, meaning he’s probably a pretty good pro. He’d be a good third options for this team.

Taylor Gabriel

Gabriel would be a fun slot receiver in Minnesota’s offense. He’s speedy and is just two years removed catching 67 passes for 688 yards . . . with Mitch Trubisky at quarterback. He also caught 72 percent of the passes thrown his way.

There’s a lot to like about this fit, and given what Gabriel would cost, this might be my favorite free-agent fit. He’s not a top-tier receiver, but there’s not one in this free-agency class.

Robby Anderson

Anderson is probably going to get overpaid this offseason. If he is, the Vikings shouldn’t be one of the teams going after him. But, if somehow the market isn’t so kind to the speedster, he’d be a solid option across from Thielen.

With a not-so-great group of Jets quarterbacks, Anderson still finished with 52 catches for 779 yards and five touchdowns last season.

Again, this is super unlikely. But, if the Vikings can get away without paying Anderson too much, I’d be in for this deal. Kirk Cousins probably would, too.

Perfect draft pick and free agent for every Chargers positional need

Chargers Wire’s Gavino Borquez identifies the ideal free agent and draft pick for the Los Angeles Chargers’ most pressing needs.

The Chargers’ list of needs will fluctuate between free agency, which kicks off next week and the NFL draft at the end of April.

With more money to spend than previous years, they will have enough to spend on big-name free agents. The draft will also offer several opportunities to add the talent to fill out the bigger holes on their roster.

With that, we find a draft prospect and free agent to fill each of Los Angeles’ biggest needs this offseason.

Nose tackle

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Draft – Davon Hamilton, Ohio State

Hamilton, the 6-foot-3 and 320 pounder is a seasoned veteran who is a space-eater to dominate against the run, as well as someone that can get to the quarterback with a powerful punch and bullrush. In 54 career games where he started 17 of them, Hamilton amassed 66 tackles, 33 quarterback pressures, 21 tackles for loss and eight sacks, six of those coming in the 2019 season.

Free agency – Beau Allen

At 6-foot-2 and 333 pounds, Allen has the functional strength to occupy blocks, has a desirable mentality for the position, brings energy, plays hard and gives terrific pursuit effort. After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Eagles, Allen played the last two with the Bucs as a rotational defender where he amassed 40 tackles, four tackles for loss and four quarterback hits.

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