Wednesday Buzz
10:15 PM ET (via Tony Pauline): More news on the Jets and WR Robby Anderson
To build upon my story below from yesterday on expected free agent receivers, sources from within the Jets organization confirm they intend on making a push to re-sign Robby Anderson.
Front office personnel from the Jets admit that it will cost a lot to retain Anderson. In fact, they believe Anderson will ultimately get the money he is looking for because there will be several teams bidding for his services.
Anderson has already made it known that he won’t give the Jets a hometown discount. Based on market trends and the number of expected bidders, Anderson may end up signing a contract that pays him up to $15 million per year. However, the Jets intend to make a push to keep their lethal big-play threat from going elsewhere.
9:45 PM ET (via Ben Allbright): Tua Tagovailoa still the target for the Miami Dolphins
Despite all the chatter around QB Justin Herbert and the Miami Dolphins, sources tell Ben Allbright that Tua Tagovailoa is still the target for Miami. Of course, this can change if Tagovailoa’s medicals take a turn for the worse in upcoming follow-up appointments. But as of now, he appears to be on schedule with his injury rehab.
Tagovailoa, who is recovering from a hip injury he suffered during the CFB season, has been undergoing extensive medical tests at the NFL Combine this week. According to numerous reports, Tagovailoa’s medicals have checked out well and he is recovering nicely.
In a press conference earlier in the week, Tagovailoa said he expects full medical clearance by March 9 and hopes to take part in the Alabama Crimson Tide Pro Day on March 24.
9:30 PM ET (via Ben Allbright): Derek Carr’s time as a Raider coming to an end?
Sources at the NFL Combine tell PFN Insider Ben Allbright that Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is “being heavily shopped” to other teams. This news comes after Raiders GM Mike Mayock admitted during his press conference on Tuesday that the team is open to replacing Carr.
“Derek Carr played at a high level. I was very happy with Derek Carr. Every position gets evaluated every year, and if we can upgrade it, we will,” Mayock said.
Several weeks ago, PFN Insider Tony Pauline noted that the Raiders were going to make a heavy push for QB Tom Brady. If the Raiders moved on from Carr, it would create $13.16 million in cap space. Allbright has previously reported that the Chicago Bears were quietly interested in acquiring Carr.
2:28 PM ET (via Ben Allbright): Redskins interest in QBs more than due diligence
On Monday, Tony Pauline reported that the Redskins would be bringing in Tua Tagovailoa for an interview. Today, JP Finlay of NBC Sports tweeted that they would also be bringing in Joe Burrow. He also said that this is more than just due diligence, and I am able to confirm that all options are on the table for Washington.
10:20 AM ET (via Tony Pauline): What are Chargers planning to do at QB?
Since I started off the day talking about quarterback Philip Rivers, let’s talk about his former team, the Los Angeles Chargers. It’s a consensus in the world of mock drafts that the Chargers will take a quarterback with their first-round selection, which happens to be the sixth pick of the draft. Back in November, during our CFB Gameday blog, I first mentioned the Chargers would address the quarterback position early in the 2020 draft.
Let me also add this – the Chargers will also add a left tackle early in the draft. This could come in many forms, including using that sixth pick on one if the highest player on their board is a left tackle when they are on the clock, or if they are somehow locked out of the quarterbacks they want early in round one. Otherwise, they will address the left tackle need on day two with Ezra Cleveland being a solid bet with pick number 37, assuming the Boise State tackle gets out of the first round.
9:30 AM ET (via Tony Pauline): Is the first QB domino about to fall?
What will the Indianapolis Colts do to solve their quarterback dilemma? It’s been reported the past few days that soon to be free agent Philip Rivers would be the perfect solution and people at the NFL Combine tell me they believe “this will happen.”
They point to the fact Rivers has a great relationship with head coach Frank Reich. It should also be an easy signing as the Colts are projected to have a lot of room under the cap.
If the Colts do sign Philip Rivers, where will they turn to in the draft? I’m told they will focus on pass rushers, front, and center. However, this assumes they don’t sign a pass rusher in free agency.
Remember- just a year ago I mentioned Indianapolis lost out to the Green Bay Packers for the services of Preston Smith in the waning moments of contract negotiations. I don’t expect that to happen this time around if Chris Ballard is focused on such a player in free agency.
Tuesday Buzz
8:30 PM ET (via Tony Pauline): Atlanta Falcons free agency and draft plans
Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff publicly announced today what I first reported from the Senior Bowl and then reiterated in last week’s mailbag – tight end Austin Hooper will hit the free agent market.
Dimitroff hasn’t ruled out bringing Hooper back and says the team hopes to negotiate with the tight end during the free agent period. Yet, the team has admitted to people here in Indianapolis they will not be able to do as much unless there’s a new CBA in place before the start of free agency, which includes a big bump in the salary cap.
Hence, the Falcons have told people at the Combine that tight end, along with strong-side linebacker and center, are their priority positions come draft day unless something changes.
The Falcons own the 16th selection of the draft, a pair of selections in round two (numbers 47 and 55) as well as pick number 78 in round three. The Falcons could fill their desired needs during the second day of the draft with their present selections, so it will be interesting to see which direction they go in round one.
5:15 PM ET (via Ben Allbright): AFC West News and Notes
The Denver Broncos have opened long-term negotiations again with S Justin Simmons. If they can’t agree to a deal, the Broncos will likely franchise him.
Staying in the AFC West, I’m told that the Los Angeles Chargers are eyeing a possible trade-up in the first round of the NFL Draft. We’re working to uncover more details and hope to have more information later today.
4:45 PM ET (via Tony Pauline): New Orleans Saints to draft WRs?
Yesterday, I mentioned that numerous general managers expect 15 receivers to be selected during the initial two rounds of the draft. Some are saying as many as 25 receivers could be drafted by the time the third round closes out.
Word at the NFL Combine is that the New Orleans Saints could select at least two of those 25 receivers. With Drew Brees announcing he will be returning to the Saints in 2020 and the need to add depth at the receiver position around Michael Thomas, sources in Indianapolis tell me it’s very likely the Saints use both the 24th and 88th selections of the draft on a receiver. This is not inconceivable considering the need for the Saints and the depth at the position.
11:45 AM ET (via Tony Pauline): Latest on free agent wide receivers
While most of the conversation centers around the crop of receivers available in this year’s draft, there’s an equally talented group expected to be available in free agency. The free agent receivers offer quality at the top as well as several third and fourth wideouts who will not be too pricey. So how do they stack up? Here’s a look at how teams rate the top four receivers slated for free agency and what their next course of action may be:
1) AJ Green/Cincinnati Bengals: Green is far and away the top receiver that could hit the open market, which is his desire. As has been reported, the Bengals will either sign him to a long-term deal or place the franchise tag on Green.
2) Amari Cooper/Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys would like to keep Cooper after giving the Raiders a first-round pick for him two years ago – but do they have the money? I’m told Dallas could put the franchise tag on Cooper if they can fit him under the salary cap.
3) Emmanuel Sanders/San Francisco 49ers: Sanders wants to stay with the Niners and San Francisco wants him back. If the contract is not too exorbitant, it’s very likely Sanders ends up back with the Niners.
4) Robby Anderson/NY Jets: League sources tell me the word is the Jets will try and re-sign Anderson. And why not? He’s been the team’s most consistent receiver and lethal downfield threat. He’s also built a great rapport on the field with quarterback Sam Darnold the past two years and that’s something the Jets probably don’t want to disturb.
If Cooper is tagged by the Cowboys, and both Green and Sanders re-sign with their existing teams, the conversation changes. Anderson will then be the top receiver on the free agent market and may price himself out of New York. The natural fit would be the Philadelphia Eagles, as the team needs speed at receiver, expects to lose Nelson Agholor to free agency, and Anderson is a Temple product. Then again, would the Eagles spend $10 million a year on a receiver when it seems that money is likely to be used on a cornerback?
Monday Buzz
9:30 PM ET (via Tony Pauline): CBA negotiations slowing down free agency?
As general managers await details of the new CBA, assuming there is indeed a new CBA, team operations across the league have slowed.
This evening I’ve learned the slow down of operations has extended to contract offerings of restricted free agents and players expected to be tendered. Sources tell me they also expect free agent talk at the Combine to be lighter than usual until such time that teams have a better idea of what the future holds.
7:00 PM ET (via Tony Pauline): Six receivers in the first round?
There’s been plenty of talk about the strength of the wide receiver class in the 2020 NFL Draft but what do general managers around the league think will happen as the Combine opens up?
I’m told the expectations right now are six receivers will end up in the first round and a total of 15 will be off the board by the end of round two. Obviously, that is subject to change over the next month and a half but that’s the present feeling as the position is set to work out on Thursday.
Related: Building the perfect wide receiver prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft
6:05 PM ET (via Tony Pauline): Latest on Tua Tagovailoa and Jerry Jeudy
I’m told Tua Tagovailoa’s father will be in Indianapolis for the Combine to be with his son. It’s rare for families to travel to the Combine to be with their kids as they have no access to the workouts, as compared to the Senior Bowl or Shrine Game where families routinely fill the stands during practice. Then again Tua has a very close relationship with his dad, so this makes sense.
Interestingly enough, Tua has an official 45 meeting with the Washington Redskins at the Combine. While there are some in the Washington organization not sold on Dwayne Haskins, I would not read too much into this. Though an interesting talking point, in the end, it’s Washington doing their due diligence.
Related | Tony Pauline Mailbag: Redskins already set on their first-round draft pick?
Meanwhile, Tagovailoa’s favorite target, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, has every intention of running the forty and working out later this week. As someone told me, “Jerry is here to compete.”
12:28 PM ET (via Ben Allbright): Increasing chatter on the Panthers moving up
There is increasing chatter at the NFL Combine regarding the Carolina Panthers and them making a move up the draft board for the first overall pick. The feeling within some NFL circles is that there is some legitimacy to this rumor. Allbright and PFN are working to uncover more details on this situation.