Jacksonville Jaguars impending free-agent OT Kelvin Beachum could receive interest from the Minnesota Vikings during free agency.
Footballguys View: The Vikings have a bad offensive line, and they should focus plenty of their attention there this offseason. With only $18.8 million in cap space, they’ll have some salary cap gymnastics to get through in order to be a player on the free agent market.
Green Bay Packers impending free-agent TE Jared Cook averaged 13.5 yards per catch over the final seven games of the regular season, which ranked third among tight ends in the NFL in the category.
Footballguys View: Cook is fantastic when healthy and motivated…something that has seemingly always been a problem for him as a pro. He developed great chemistry with QB Aaron Rodgers and is a TE1 for fantasy owners in 2017.
The Detroit Lions may add a quarterback in free agency or the 2017 NFL draft that will compete with QB Jake Rudock for the No. 2 quarterback job during training camp.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers impending free-agent QB Mike Glennon is expected to receive interest from the New York Jets this offseason.
Footballguys View: The Jets may want someone like Tyrod Taylor, but they may have to settle for a player like Glennon. He was a competent starter for the Bucs before they added QB Jameis Winston, and somebody will give him a shot to start again. The Jets spent a second-round pick on Christian Hackenberg last year and it looks like he’s a complete flop.
Minnesota Vikings RBs Adrian Peterson and/or Jerick McKinnon could see increased usage in 2017 with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. Shurmur wants to improve the offense as a whole, but he said the key and focal point of the offense will be to do a better job in the running game.
Footballguys View: The team needs to open things up more for the passing game. Sam Bradford proved he can be incredibly accurate on short passes, but the team needs a vertical element to challenge defenses. That vertical passing game can be set up by a strong rushing attack. We don’t think Peterson returns in 2017, so McKinnon may get a huge bump in fantasy potential. Stay tuned.
Jacksonville Jaguars TE Julius Thomas is being traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a late-round 2017 draft pick Monday, Feb. 20.
Footballguys View: So Thomas is on the move to Miami, but it’s not for LT Branden Albert. The Jaguars didn’t get much out of Thomas, and he still has yet to play a full 16-game season in the pros. With such a rich draft class coming into the league this year, expect the Jags to spend a pick on the position.
Jacksonville Jaguars TE Julius Thomas is being acquired by the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a late-round 2017 draft pick Monday, Feb. 20.
Footballguys View: The Dolphins don’t send LT Branden Albert to the Jaguars, but they do get Thomas for a late pick. Thomas is reunited with Adam Gase, and he should step in as their lead tight end. He’s a receiving weapon when healthy, and Thomas put up the best numbers of his career working under Gase when they were both with the Denver Broncos. Now, Ryan Tannehill is no Peyton Manning, but Thomas should be able to be used to the best of his ability with Gase calling the shots.
Dallas Cowboys OT Tyron Smith and C Travis Frederick had their contracts restructured Monday, Feb. 20, to free up about $17.3 million in salary cap space. The moves place them under the proposed salary cap of $168 million for this year, according to a source. About $21 million of the $24 million Smith and Frederick were due was turned into a signing bonus in order to create the cap space. Smith and Frederick were set to make $10.00 million and $14.22 million next season, respectively.
In 2016, Tennessee Titans QB Marcus Mariota became the seventh player in NFL history to throw for at least 6,000 yards and rush for at least 600 yards in his first two seasons combined.
Tennessee Titans WR Rishard Matthews posted career highs in catches (65), receiving yards (945) and touchdowns (9) last season. The 65 catches were tied for the team lead, while his nine touchdowns were the most on the Titans.