Rules proposals on the docket for Annual League Meeting By Andrew Mason DenverBroncos.com March 23, 2019

The three rules-change proposals offered by the Broncos for discussion at the Annual League Meeting in Phoenix are among a series of proposed tweaks that team officials will disseminate beginning Sunday.

The climate appears to be favorable for more changes, due to the success of alterations that achieved two key objectives: a reduction in concussions and a quickened game.

Last year's changes to kickoffs resulted in a 35 percent reduction in concussions on those plays alone. The first Competition Committee proposal involves making those changes permanent.

Other recent alterations -- including expanded protections to defenseless players and increased punishment for various forms of helmet-to-helmet contact -- helped contribute to a 25 percent drop in concussions across the board, McKay said.

A series of tweaks over the last three years also yielded a three-minute, 51-second reduction in average game time, from three hours, eight minutes and 18 seconds to three hours, four minutes and 27 seconds. The time lost hasn't affected the raw number of plays per game, but trimmed what Competition Committee Chairman Rich McKay referred to as "dead time."

"That's what our fans tell us over and over that they want to see less of: dead time," McKay said.

The Broncos proposed three rules changes. The first, on kickoffs, would give a trailing team one chance in the first quarter to attempt a fourth-and-15 play from its 35-yard line in lieu of an onside kickoff.

"The Denver proposal really goes to the Greg Schiano rules proposal," McKay said, referring to the idea originally espoused by the current New England defensive coordinator and former Buccaneers head coach.

A similar rule exists in the first-year Alliance of . In the AAF, the on-side kick replacement is fourth-and-12 at the offense's 28-yard line. McKay said the Competition Committee monitors other football circuits, including the AAF, for ideas.

"We'll look at that, we'll look at the CFL, , and we'll talk to all of them," he said. "We also have to pay attention to our game and the way our game is played, and listen to our players and our coaches and make sure that we're paying attention to them as we begin to craft [any potential changes]."

Denver's other two proposals involve expanding the scope of automatic instant-replay reviews to include all fourth-down plays that fail to reach the line to gain and all extra-point and two-point conversion attempts. The latter came up during the Broncos' Week 11 win over the Chargers in last November.

These represent two of nine proposed rules changes that involve instant replay. These represent more than half of the 16 overall proposals.

The Competition Committee submitted two proposals involving instant replay. Both of them incorporate the Broncos’ proposal regarding automatic reviews on extra points and two-point conversions. The first Competition Committee proposal would make pass-interference penalties reviewable. The second proposal would make pass-interference, roughing-the-passer and hit-on-a-defenseless-player penalties subject to coaches’ challenges and review.

Any expansion of instant replay could result in slowing down the game, which is part of the balance that will be considered.

Kansas City proposed three changes to overtime rules, the most notable of which would guarantee each team one overtime possession. Overtime ideas were discussed "at length" by the Competition Committee said McKay.

"We'll see how the proposal fares,” McKay said. “We've had a lot of discussion about the OT procedures over the years, and it's been a good one driven by data."

“Data tells us since 2001, 80 percent of the time, both teams touch the ball [in overtime],” said Troy Vincent, the NFL's executive vice president of football operations. "And just putting on my old cap, you've got to play D. You've got to stop the offense, and when the offense gets on the field, you've got to score.

“There's something about that -- not just tradition -- but you've got to play ball. Statistically, when people raise it, it's because they fell short on the other end. They didn't, the team that won the toss, took the ball down the field, which happens maybe 20 percent of the time. Other than that, you've got to play ball.”

McKay also said the NFL will experiment with an eighth official during the preseason, but the league is still trying to determine where on the field that official would be aligned.

But the key is that an eighth official would be on the field. McKay said there was "no support" in the Competition Committee for having a "sky judge" that could assess penalties from a press-box perch.

"We went through a lot of what the benefits could be and what the downsides could be," McKay said.

Big Board Update: A look at the dark-horse options for the Broncos at 10 By Andre Simone DenverBroncos.com March 23, 2019

With pro days still in full swing and the biggest names in free agency all locked down to new record- breaking figures, our focus, like the rest of the NFL, turns to the draft.

As our coverage starts to ramp up, it was time to update our big board, extending it to the top-100 prospects in the draft and focusing on risers on our board who could be selected early on by the .

Stay tuned, this is just the beginning. Much, much more draft content is coming to a screen near you.

Dark horse options at 10 Missouri , LSU linebacker , and Houston defensive Ed Oliver are the most logical options at 10 overall for the Broncos right now, but they’re far from the only names Denver will consider.

Here are some other names to keep in mind.

Quinnen Williams, DL, Alabama Williams rose to the top spot on our board in this update, after putting a stamp on his stock with an outlandish combine performance, showing elite athleticism for his size.

Despite that, other positions will get valued higher than defensive tackle, with Williams potentially sliding a bit if teams at the top of the draft go edge-rusher crazy and we see a few trades for .

Still, Williams slipping all the way to 10th overall remains highly unlikely—his floor should be ninth overall to the —but there seems to be a slim possibility this happens.

Just a one-year starter, Williams’ combination of power and athleticism give him elite upside, and he’s already devastating as a zero-technique who feasts on centers both against the run and pass. That type of game-wrecking ability could make him an instant star in ’s new defense.

As the best player on our board, he’d be a slam dunk pick and could potentially be the best player on Denver’s roster not named .

D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss Metcalf has slowly been rising up the rankings in the last few months, after somewhat unexpectedly declaring for the draft and then confirming his freakish athleticism in Indianapolis. At this point, Metcalf feels like a lock to go in the top 10, and given his big-play ability, he’d be worth considering if still available.

Metcalf’s lack of statistical production, combined with his injury concerns, is very reminiscent of Demaryius Thomas when he entered the league coming from Georgia Tech. The two are especially comparable with their outlandish combination of size and athleticism.

The Broncos have a budding group of young receivers but are lacking that true alpha dog on the outside who can stress coverages vertically, Metcalf has the potential to be that guy.

He might not be the Broncos’ top target, but if he’s around, he’d certainly warrant consideration as improving the offense should be the top priority for John Elway and Co.

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa Denver loves their Big Ten tight ends, that’s been made clear through the years, and they still have three on the roster with significant promise—if they can stay healthy.

Hockenson might be too good to pass up, though, given his devastating combination of athleticism, blocking ability, and noticeable upside as a receiver. His steady hands and route running already stand out, and if T.J. can be more of a red zone threat and polish out the rest of his game, the sky is the limit for him.

With a top-10 selection, Hockenson has to become one of the best players at his position, which makes him a bit of a risky pick that high, even if he’s generally seen as a pretty safe prospect. Still, don’t discount Hockenson being the best player available for Denver if their defensive targets are gone by their first-round selection.

Devin Bush, LB, Michigan Bush and Devin White went toe-to-toe at The Combine, and while White fell one spot from our pre- combine big board, Bush has climbed the rankings into our top-15.

Like Hockenson, the value of this selection wouldn’t be great at 10, but it wouldn’t be terrible, either, especially considering how the ultra-athletic backer would fit perfectly in Fangio’s defensive scheme.

Beyond being ideally suited to drop in deep zones and cover plenty of ground, Bush has the speed and instincts to run down tight ends or running backs in man coverage, a big issue for the Broncos for years now.

Despite his less-than-ideal size, he’s a physical tone-setting finisher, though he needs to be better in taking on blockers.

His ideal fit in Denver’s new ‘D’ makes him the most likely selection of all the names on this list as Bush could be the quarterback of Fangio’s defense for years to come.

And beyond , DT, Notre Dame As we alluded to in the headline, it’s not all about the 10th pick, with our board having plenty of risers who would fit in Denver and can be found later in the draft.

Tillery is the first name on the list due to a monster performance in Indianapolis and elite flashes in 2018, where the big 6-foot-6 defensive lineman wracked up eight sacks.

At this point, hoping Tillery slides to 41—Denver’s second-round pick—is too much to ask, but he’d be an ideal target if the Broncos were to trade down from 10, or trade back up from 41. His fit in Fangio’s defense would be perfect given his stout presence against the run and ability to annihilate clean pockets up the middle. Tillery’s length is also reminiscent of standout Akiem Hicks, who blossomed into a star last season for Fangio, and could have a similar impact down the road in Denver’s defense.

Chris Lindstrom, OG, Boston College Another post-combine riser, Lindstrom had a strong showing at the Senior Bowl and is an absolute mauler in the run game. How he tested athletically suggests the big guard could work in a zone-blocking scheme, too, and given the Broncos need for more talent on the interior of the offensive line, Lindstrom—in addition to Garrett Bradburry—is a name to keep a close eye on.

John Cominsky, DL, Charleston The small-school standout has drastically increased his stock between the Senior Bowl, where he showed he belonged with some of the top prospects in the country, and his combine showing.

Cominsky’s combination of athleticism, size and unlimited upside make him very appealing in the Broncos’ scheme. He’d be a big roll of the dice on the draft’s second day that could pay off in a major way.

Safeties rising While we wait to verify the athleticism of two of the top safeties in the class, Alabama’s Deionte Thompson and Washington’s Taylor Rapp, the rest of the safety class is rising quickly.

The biggest riser of all is ’s Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, a physical slot defender who excels close to the line and is fluid in coverage. This is exactly the type of DB the Broncos have targeted this offseason, and Gardner-Johnson could add significant value and versatility to the Broncos secondary in sub packages.

If he dropped to 41—yes, at this point him being available in the early second would be a drop—he’d be a really nice fit in Fangio’s ‘D’.

Another safety—among the nine in our top 100—is Mississippi State’s Jonathan Abram, who has made significant strides up our board. Abram is far from perfect but plays with a contagious intensity, and while his strength is coming downhill to deliver big hits, he’s more than athletic enough to match up with tight ends and play in two-deep safety looks on occasion, crucial for Fangio’s defense. He’ll be another name to know when considering second-round options for the Broncos.

Thompson remains atop our rankings due to his infinite range and high upside as a true single-high safety. Rapp’s also up there on our board, as a more reliable enforcer in the secondary than Abram who can also cover TEs and play in two-high looks.

There are lots of options for the Denver to add a dynamic safety in this draft, that’s for sure.

NFL experts predict: Answering questions on 2019 free agency By Staff ESPN.com March 23, 2019

The first wave of 2019 NFL free agency has passed, and most of the top available players have been signed. A few trades also shook up the league, including superstar wide receivers added in Cleveland and Oakland. Which teams made out well over the past week? And which teams still face questions?

Our panel of ESPN NFL experts wraps up the free-agent frenzy and answers questions on the biggest topics around the league. Come back each day this week for a new question.

What has been the best bargain deal? Matt Bowen, NFL writer: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Bears for one year, $3.5 million. The safety fills a need in Chicago next to Eddie Jackson after signed with the Packers. And GM Ryan Pace gets it done at a reasonable rate. Clinton-Dix can find the ball, and he has the instincts to make plays in the passing game. While I would like to see the former Pro Bowler take cleaner angles to the ball and finish with more consistency at the point of attack versus the run, the traits are there to fit in Chicago's system behind one of the NFL's top front sevens.

Mike Clay, fantasy writer: to the 49ers for one year, $3.6 million. The Niners are headed the right direction, but getting the defense in order is an absolute must. The second perimeter corner opposite Richard Sherman has been a big problem area, so throwing a low-risk, high-reward dart at Verrett makes a ton of sense. The 2014 first-round pick enjoyed a breakout 2015 season in which he was one of the league's best in coverage, but injuries have limited him to just five games the past three seasons.

Dan Graziano, national NFL writer: to the Rams for two years, up to $12.5 million. There was a lot of chatter about the Rams being in the Earl Thomas sweepstakes, which would have required a major spend and might have kept them from signing Jr. and affected other aspects of their offseason. Weddle coming available and wanting to stay close to his San Diego home was a gift for the Rams, who filled their need at safety much more cheaply with a player who will help them in many ways.

Mina Kimes, NFL writer: Eric Weddle to the Rams for two years, up to $12.5 million. This looks like a solid value, given how much other safeties got paid last week. Sure, Weddle is 34 years old and wasn't as productive last season as he has been in the past, but he still anchored one of the league's best defenses and fills a hole on the Rams' roster. Los Angeles can move on after one year without taking too much of a hit.

Jason Reid, The Undefeated senior NFL writer: to the 49ers for two years, up to $10 million. Coleman's 2019 salary is only $3.6 million. The rest of his package is great for the team as well, and 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan knows how to use backs who catch the ball as well as Coleman.

Mike Sando, senior NFL writer: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Bears for one year, $3.5 million. The safety market got pricey this offseason, making this deal a bargain by comparison. Clinton-Dix is 26 years old and has not missed a regular-season game in five NFL seasons. Chicago looks like a good landing spot.

Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: Tevin Coleman to the 49ers for two years, up to $10 million. Teams are well-advised to avoid spending on veteran running backs, but in reality, the deal is quite friendly to the 49ers. They will pay Coleman $3.6 million in 2019, and his 2020 salary would not be guaranteed until next year. Compare that to the $12 million the 49ers paid free-agent tailback Jerick McKinnon in 2018. Plus, Coleman has relatively low mileage (528 rushes in four seasons) and is an excellent receiver.

Field Yates, NFL analyst: Jason McCourty back to the Patriots for two years, $10 million. The defensive back played every snap for the Patriots in LIII and was one of the team's steadiest players all of 2018. Retaining him for two years and $10 million is a terrific value for the champs, as McCourty not only brings quality play on the field but also is an excellent teammate and valuable member of the locker room.

What has been the most head-scratching move? Bowen: Golden Tate to the Giants. Tate can play. Let's just get that out there. The veteran receiver has the versatility to line up in the slot or outside of the numbers and is tough after the catch. But with the Giants trading away Odell Beckham Jr. -- a unique talent just entering his prime years -- I'm confused about the Giants' plan for building this roster. Tate turns 31 years old in August.

Clay: This has to be Golden Tate to the Giants, right? He is a terrific player, and his four-year, $37.5 million deal was well-deserved, but the connection to the Giants makes little sense. For starters, they already have enough short-area/slot targets in Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram and Saquon Barkley. Even worse, the signing is expected to cost the rebuilding Giants a fifth-round compensatory pick and net the NFC East-rival Eagles a fourth-round pick. Yikes.

Graziano: The Giants' whole plan. Trading Beckham is a terrible idea. Letting walk without franchising him was a terrible decision. Signing Tate when your best remaining receiver is one who plays the same position -- not great. Trading your only good pass-rusher in . I could go on and on. I feel as if I have been for weeks.

Kimes: I still don't understand why Jacksonville paid $88 million. Sure, the Jaguars can get out the deal after two years with a relatively reasonable dead cap hit ($12.5 million). And yes, I understand why Jacksonville wanted Foles, given that it saw him as the best quarterback available. But the question remains: Whom were the Jaguars bidding against?

Reid: All the Giants' moves. I know, I know. I'm not working precisely within my editor's parameters. But indulge me for a moment. The Giants have made so many head-scratchers, they deserve their own category. The Giants announced that they're sticking with future Hall of Famer for another season, which means their inevitable rebuild won't begin in earnest for at least another year. Then after they recommitted to Manning, the Giants traded OBJ. They also let safety Landon Collins, a rock both on the field and in the locker room, walk. He joined Washington, the Giants' NFC East division rivals. And what's up with giving Tate a four-year deal when that aforementioned rebuild is coming? For many Giants fans, general manager Dave Gettleman is fast approaching Ray Handley territory.

Sando: C.J. Mosley is a good player, but why are the Jets paying $17 million a year for an inside linebacker? As an NFL team exec explained recently, the Jets and other bad teams do not get to pick which players will be available in free agency, so the market disproportionately dictates how they are going to build their teams. They will enter the 2019 season with a combined $30 million in salary dedicated to the inside linebacker and they signed in free agency.

Seifert: The Giants' trading Odell Beckham Jr. Let's not overthink this. Beckham is a 26-year-old, generational talent who has had one of the most productive starts to his career (92 receiving yards per game) in NFL history. He was locked into a contract that could have kept him off the market through his prime and would have helped elevate any Giants quarterback he played with. If you're worried about maturity issues, then you're going to miss out on some of the most dynamic playmakers in the game.

Yates: I'll use the Golden Tate move as a symbol for the confusion surrounding the Giants' direction. Tate is awesome and worth the contract he earned, but all signs pointed toward the Giants rebuilding this offseason, prior to their handing out a four-year deal to the soon-to-be-31-year-old wideout.

What has been the best offseason addition? Bowen: Earl Thomas to Baltimore. Yes, the veteran safety has to stay healthy, but the former Seahawk has the skill set and versatility to make an immediate impact in the Ravens' multiple defensive system. He has ball skills, range, toughness and leadership. Thomas is a great fit in Baltimore, joining one of the league's top secondaries. It's a physical group.

Clay: Odell Beckham Jr. to Cleveland. The Browns acquired one of the best players in the NFL in his prime for a pair of dart throws in the draft and , a strong safety who has yet to play an every-down role in the NFL. I'm no baseball expert, but that sounds like a home run. New York could strike gold with both picks, and it still wouldn't justify this move from the Giants' end (process over results, always).

Graziano: OBJ to Cleveland. Beckham is the best player who changed teams in this cycle, and it would have been the best move no matter which team got him. Heck, if the Giants had decided not to trade him, that would have been a candidate for best move. It's so easy to bog down in the negativity around these situations and forget how good some of these players -- Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, Beckham -- actually are. Beckham will remind us soon enough.

Kimes: OBJ to Cleveland. If Beckham performs at anywhere close to the level he has achieved so far in his career, Cleveland's landing him for a relatively modest haul will go down as one of the biggest heists in NFL history.

Reid: OBJ to Cleveland. Look, one can find merit in many of the moves made this cycle, and there are several that really jump off the page. That established, the Browns won free agency in a big, big way. Beckham is a game-changer now paired with second-year quarterback , who's on the verge of becoming a perennial all-pro for a decade or so. Every other team this cycle is looking up at the Browns.

Sando: Michael Bennett to New England. I liked the Patriots acquiring Bennett for their defensive line while knowing they would get a 2020 third-round compensatory choice for losing . Bennett is 33 and could decline at any time, but the Patriots are getting short-term and long-term insurance without handing Flowers the $18 million-a-year deal Detroit gave him.

Seifert: Antonio Brown to Oakland. Brown paved the way for more star movement. Picking up where pass-rusher left off last summer, Brown broke free from what he considered an untenable situation in Pittsburgh. You can argue whether Brown was right about that, if he went about it the right away and whether Oakland will be any better for him. No one wants to see the NFL emulate the NBA's player-driven team-building structure, but the NFL is more interesting when stars can push through a system that otherwise lets teams sit on them.

Yates: OBJ to Cleveland. The Browns acquired one of the premium players in the NFL the deal with the Giants. While first-round picks are valuable, Beckham is an unquestioned star talent who is just 26 years old and under contract for five more seasons. It was a home run.

Which team -- other than Cleveland -- is most improved after the first wave of free agency? Bowen: . The Jets are my pick after they added offensive pieces around second-year quarterback Sam Darnold with running back Le'Veon Bell, and guard Kelechi Osemele. Plus, New York landed a defensive leader in linebacker C.J. Mosley. And the Jets still hold the No. 3 overall pick, which could put them in a position to draft an impact defensive lineman or edge rusher for defensive coordinator ' unit.

Clay: . The Packers were already underrated entering free agency, and they did a nice job filling some obvious voids. Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith reinvigorate the pass rush, Adrian Amos is an impact player at safety, and Billy Turner offers an upgrade at guard. With a terrific quarterback, offensive line and defensive front, as well as some intriguing youth in the secondary, Green Bay is primed to jump back into the NFC North race.

Graziano: Oakland Raiders. If Odell Beckham Jr. wasn't the best player to change teams, Antonio Brown would have been. Tyrell Williams is a nice complement to him at receiver. Safety fits a need on defense, which is the side of the ball I expect them to focus on early in the draft. And should be a helpful left tackle. The Raiders might be gearing up for Las Vegas, but the final year in Oakland has a chance to be a lot better than the past two were.

Kimes: Oakland Raiders. I'll go with the Raiders, who added one of the best wide receivers in the league (Antonio Brown) and the most talented receiver available in free agency (Tyrell Williams). I'm worried that new left tackle Trent Brown won't be able to match his success in New England, and there's a ton of work to be done on that defense, but the Raiders undeniably got significantly better last week.

Reid: New York Jets. In adding Le'Veon Bell, Jamison Crowder and Kelechi Osemele, the Jets bolstered their offense in a big way. On defense, C.J. Mosley makes a whole lot of tackles. Granted, the Jets spent a whole lot of money, but it appears they spent well.

Sando: Oakland Raiders. I'll take the Raiders over the Browns regardless, because there was more room for improvement (Oakland was 4-12 last season, compared with 7-8-1 for Cleveland). Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, Trent Brown and Lamarcus Joyner will give Oakland a solid boost.

Seifert: . Let's not forget what the Eagles have done, amid outsized concerns that they would be too tight against the salary cap to do much. They signed defensive tackle Malik Jackson to play alongside Fletcher Cox, as potent an interior pairing as there is in the NFL. And they brought back receiver DeSean Jackson, who is still one of the NFL's top deep threats and is adept at the routes quarterback throws best.

Yates: Buffalo Bills. I love the approach the Bills have taken this offseason with a blend of significant investments (center Mitch Morse for four years, for example) and one-year fliers to patch up roster holes and evaluate whether a player fits in long term (offensive lineman LaAdrian Waddle, for example). General manager Brandon Beane and coach Sean McDermott have preached patience and process, and we're seeing the team make major strides.

Agent's Take: 12 contract-related thoughts and observations about the NFL offseason so far By Joel Corry CBSSports.com March 23, 2019

The initial days of free agency were a buyer's market, as usual, where several players received mind- boggling contracts. With more than $1 billion of collective salary-cap space, some NFL teams spent like money was burning a hole in their pockets.

The tide has turned since the first wave of free agency ended. It's now a seller's market. Teams are exercising more fiscal restraint and starting to sign players at a much better value. Most of the consensus best players available in free agency are off the market. Defensive end Ziggy Ansah and defensive tackle are among those still unsigned.

The NFL annual owners meeting -- March 24-27 in Phoenix, Arizona -- typically signifies the end of free agency for all practical purposes. Teams will devote most of their attention to the upcoming NFL Draft -- April 25-27 -- after the meeting wraps up.

Here are a dozen contract-related thoughts and observations relating to free agency and the early part of the offseason.

1. Gaming the system Antonio Brown may have created a blueprint for superstar-caliber players to follow when disgruntled. Conventional wisdom suggested that Brown's antics on social media and wanting to renegotiate his contract severely diminished his trade market and value. The Steelers received only 2019 third- and fifth-round picks from the Raiders instead of the desired first-round pick but that isn't any of Brown's concern. He got a change in scenery and an upgraded contract. Brown received an $11.2 million raise over the three remaining years of his contract to bring his total compensation during this span to $50.125 million with the potential of an additional $4 million through incentives. None of the $38.925 million in Brown's contract prior to the trade was secure. His adjusted contract has $30.125 million fully guaranteed.

2. Le'Veon Bell's blunder Bell became the NFL's second-highest-paid running back at $13.125 million per year with the four-year, $52.5 million contract he received from the Jets. His deal has a veteran running back contract record $27 million fully guaranteed at signing. There are $35 million in overall guarantees. Incentives and salary escalators make the maximum value of the deal $60.15 million.

Under ordinary circumstances, a contract like Bell's would be considered a big financial win, but that's not the case in his situation. Bell sat out the 2018 season rather than make $14.544 million playing under a franchise tag for a second-straight year. He previously rejected a five-year deal in the $14 million to $15 million per year range containing a $10 million signing bonus and a $10 million roster bonus due a few days after signing as the mid-July deadline for long-term deals with franchise players was approaching, according to various reports. $33 million of the money was in the first two years. The three-year cash flow was $45 million to $47 million.

Bell's contract doesn't fundamentally change how running backs are compensated, like he repeatedly said he wanted to do over the last two years. He had also suggested that he should be paid like a No. 1 running back and a No. 2 wide receiver because of his dual threat capabilities.

Bell is in a worse financial position compared to his breakeven points with the rejected Pittsburgh offer. His Jets deal needed to have $33 million in the first year to be in the same place he would have been through 2019 with the Pittsburgh offer, since he voluntarily didn't earn any money in 2018. It has $14.5 million, which is essentially the same amount as his 2018 franchise tag. Practically speaking, Bell was virtually assured of making the $33 million regardless of how he did in 2018. Pittsburgh almost never releases a player one year into a multi-year contract despite the second year being unsecured.

Additionally, the first two years of Bell's new contract have $28 million. There was $45 million in the Pittsburgh offer through 2020.

Bell recouping the $14.544 million of lost income from the second franchise tag will be nearly impossible. Trading a high priced peak earning year in 2018 for potential career longevity because of avoiding consecutive high mileage seasons in 2017 and 2018 isn't a sound move economically. If Bell finishes his Jets contract, he will be 31 when looking for a new deal. Typically, running backs don't make big NFL money after turning 30. There wasn't a running back last season who signed in his 30s with a contract averaging more than $4.5 million per year.

3. The power of the franchise tag The franchise designation is a powerful management tool that hinders players from getting fair market value and can depress salaries. Landon Collins is a good illustration of these notions. He should be thankful that the Giants didn't place a franchise tag on him for $11.15 million. A second franchise tag in 2020 at a Collective Bargaining Agreement mandated 20 percent raise would have been $13.38 million.

Landon Collins signed a six-year, $84 million contract containing $44.5 million in guarantees with the Redskins on the open market. His deal has a fully guaranteed $32 million in the first two years. Collins would have made $24.53 million during this period playing under two franchise tags, which is slightly under $7.5 million less than in Redskins' contract.

Trey Flowers benefitted from the best potentially available edge rushers (Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark, Texans outside linebacker , Chiefs outside linebacker and Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence) getting franchise tags. Without the additional competition in free agency, Flowers signed a five-year, $90 million contract containing $56 million in guarantees with the Lions; $40 million was fully guaranteed at signing.

By contrast, Ford signed a five-year, $85 million deal when he was traded to the 49ers for a 2020 second-round pick. Not only did Flowers sign for more money, but he got a vastly superior contract structure. Ford had $19.5 million fully guaranteed at signing and $45 million in overall guarantees. Flowers' $28.07 million signing bonus is nearly 45 percent more than Ford's fully guaranteed money. Ford's overall guarantees aren't much more than Flowers had fully guaranteed at signing.

4. Cleveland's talent collection The Browns made the leap to NFL respectability last season by going 7-8-1 after a winning one game in 2016 and 2017 combined. Baker Mayfield, the 2018 first-overall pick, is potentially Cleveland's best quarterback since Bernie Kosar in the late 1980s.

A high-caliber quarterback on a rookie contract, like Mayfield, is the most valuable commodity in the NFL because of the roster flexibility it can provide. Mayfield's cap numbers for the next three years are just over $7.425 million, a little under $8.915 million and approximately $10.4 million. General manager John Dorsey is taking advantage of the window he has to amass talent before Mayfield becomes eligible for a new deal at the conclusion of the 2020 regular season. This is what the Rams did last offseason by going all in with a "Super Bowl or bust" mentality after quarterback started living up to the potential that made him 2016's first overall pick.

The Browns aren't at that same stage as the Rams. The last time the Browns made the playoffs was the 2002 season. Cleveland is now considered as odds-on favorites to win the AFC North after acquiring wide receiver Odell Beckham, Jr. and edge rusher Olivier Vernon in trades with the Giants while also signing interior defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson to a three-year, $36 million deal worth up to $40.5 million through salary escalators. Running back Kareem Hunt, who was the NFL's rushing leader in 2017, is trying to resurrect his career in Cleveland after being released by the Chiefs late last season once video of him assaulting a woman surfaced. Hunt will miss the first half of the 2019 season, serving an eight-game suspension under the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy.

The biggest concern about the Browns is whether first time head coach Freddie Kitchens is up to task with the raised expectations.

5. Safety market correction An extremely soft market in 2018 has corrected itself despite a deep pool of safeties. , who didn't find a job in 2018 until the early part of the season, re-signing with the Panthers in February for $22.05 million over three year (worth up to $24 million with incentives) was the first inkling things would be different.

Landon Collins got the biggest deal. He signed a six-year, $84 million contract containing $44.5 million in guarantees with the Redskins. Tyrann Mathieu betting on himself last year after the Cardinals released him by signing a one-year, $7 million "prove-it" deal with the Texans paid off. He took a three-year, $42 million contract with $26.8 million fully guaranteed from the Chiefs. Five-time All-Pro safety Earl Thomas received a four-year, $55 million deal with $32 million fully guaranteed from the Ravens.

Lamarcus Joyner, who was designated as a franchise player by the Rams last year, also signed a contract averaging more than $10 million per year. His four-year, $42 million contract with the Raiders has $21.3 million fully guaranteed at signing.

6. Daunting dead money Teams are showing more of a willingness to absorb massive amounts of dead money, which is a cap charge for a player no longer on the roster. The current CBA allowing teams to carry over unused salary cap room from one year to the next helps make this possible. The Steelers have a $21.12 million residual cap charge or dead money from Antonio Brown's trade to the Raiders. If $12.96 million of Brown's 2018 salary hadn't been converted to signing bonus, the dead money would have been $11.4 million instead.

The Giants are absorbing a $16 million cap charge for trading Odell Beckham, Jr. one year into a five- year, $90 million extension (worth a maximum of $95 million) that had a $20 million signing bonus. The Dolphins have an $18,423,334 cap charge after trading quarterback to the Titans. $5 million of Tannehill's 2019 salary was converted to signing bonus, which is part of Miami's dead money to facilitate the trade.

The Jaguars are taking a $15.5 million cap hit from releasing quarterback ; $6.5 million of Bortles' 2019 salary was guaranteed in the contract extension he signed last offseason with the Jaguars. Since the guarantee has an offset, the Jaguars are getting $1 million of cap relief from Bortles' fully guaranteed $1 million contract with the Rams, which has been factored into the dead money.

The Ravens' trade of quarterback to the Broncos produced a $16 million residual cap charge. His 2016 extension contained a then-record $40 million signing bonus.

7. It pays to be in the trenches Offensive linemen continued to be paid a premium in free agency. The Raiders made offensive tackle Trent Brown the NFL's highest-paid offensive lineman at $16.5 million per year. Brown signed a four- year, $66 million contract with $36.25 million fully guaranteed. He successfully made the transition to left tackle in 2018 once the Patriots acquired him from the 49ers in a trade during last year's NFL Draft after primarily playing right tackle. It remains to be seen on which side of the offensive line Brown will play. 2018 first-round pick was Oakland's left tackle last season.

Ju'Wuan James raised the salary bar at right tackle, assuming Brown remains on the left side. James received a four-year, $51 million deal with $32 million in guarantees from the Broncos. The Bills made Mitch Morse the NFL's highest-paid center on a deal averaging $11.25 million per year. Morse signed a four-year, $44.5 million contract with $26.5 million in guarantees.

8. Colts caution The Colts entered free agency with an NFL-best $102.067 million of salary cap room, according to NFLPA data. General manager Chris Ballard has stuck to his plan of being judicious in free agency rather making high-priced, splash signings. He can afford to be patient because of the Colts' six-game improvement from 2017 to a 10-win season, making the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

His first move was finding quarterback Andrew Luck another wide receiver in the passing game to go with T.Y. Hilton. was signed to a one-year, $10 million deal that's worth up to $13 million with incentives. His addition doesn't preclude a Dontrelle Inman re-signing.

Cornerback , Indianapolis' best cover man, returns on a three-year, $22.5 million contract with $12 million in guarantees. Incentives and salary escalators bring the maximum value to $25.2 million.

Ballard also bolstered the pass rush by signing Justin Houston, reportedly to a two-year, $24 million contract. Houston was released by the Chiefs, where Ballard was a front office executive for the four years prior to going to Indianapolis in 2017.

Ballard's moves should put the Colts in a position to win the AFC South. Challenging the Patriots for AFC supremacy might be a different story.

9. Injuries aren't a kiss of death in free agency anymore A serious injury in a contract year used to be the kiss of the death in free agency. Signing a one year "prove-it" deal or a below market long-term contract was almost a certainty. Teams are beginning to take a more enlightened approach toward injured free agents.

Kwon Alexander, who tore the ACL in his left knee during the middle of last season, briefly raised the bar for what had been a stagnant inside linebacker market. He received a four-year, $54 million deal with $27.5 million in guarantees from the 49ers.

Safety Earl Thomas fracturing his left leg for the second time in three years last season didn't prevent him from becoming one of the NFL's highest-paid safeties. The five-time All-Pro signed a four-year contract averaging $13.75 million per year with the Ravens. Thomas, who turns 30 before the 2019 season starts, has $32 million fully guaranteed.

This doesn't mean high-caliber injured players aren't going to still sign "prove-it" deals. Right tackle Daryl Williams' 2018 season was derailed by injuries to his right knee. He played only one game. Williams returned to the Panthers on a one-year, $6 million contract with additional $500,000 in incentives. Regaining his 2017 form, which earned second team All-Pro honors, could put Williams in position to eclipse the four-year deal averaging $12.75 million per year Ju'Wuan James signed with the Broncos.

Ronald Darby has occasionally shown shutdown potential during his four NFL seasons. He was the Eagles' best when he tore his right ACL last November. Darby is staying in Philadelphia with a one-year $6.5 million deal that's worth as much as $8.5 million with incentives. Getting to the open market again as a 26 year old isn't a given for Darby. The Eagles have a track record of signing players performing well in "prove-it" situations to contract extensions (i.e.; , Tim Jernigan, etc.).

10. End of inside linebacker salary stagnation A stagnant inside linebacker market underwent a major reset. briefly became the NFL's highest-paid inside linebacker with the four-year, $54 million deal containing $27.5 million in guarantees he received from the 49ers. C.J. Mosley quickly took inside linebacker compensation to a different level. He signed a five-year, $85 million contract with the Jets. The deal has $51 million in guarantees, of which $43 million is fully guaranteed at signing. I would imagine Mosley's deal caught the eye of Seahawks five-time All-Pro middle linebacker Bobby Wagner. He is in a contract year and can make an excellent case that he is clearly the NFL's best inside linebacker.

11. The new Packers philosophy Second year general manager Brian Gutekunst's methods of roster building don't resemble Ted Thompson's, his predecessor. Thompson preferred a draft and develop approach while making limited use of free agency.

Gutekunst has been much more aggressive in free agency than Thompson ever was. He has revamped the defense through the open market. Outside linebackers Za'Darius and Preston Smith were signed to four-year deals worth $66 million and $52 million, respectively, to provide a pass rush. Safety Adrian Amos received a four-year, $37 million contract to stay in the NFC North, migrating from the Bears. Billy Turner, who can play both guard and tackle, was brought in to help shore up the right side of the offensive line on a four-year, $28 million deal.

Gutekunst adhering to Green Bay's longstanding policy of structuring veteran contracts where a signing bonus is the only form of true guaranteed money obviously wasn't an impediment in free agency. The lone exception to the policy has been quarterback , whose contracts have had salary guarantees.

12. Brian Hampton's brilliance Some of the most integral people in an NFL team's front office are also the most unheralded. That's definitely the case with Brian Hampton. As the 49ers' long-time director of football administration and analytics, Hampton's responsibilities include negotiating player contracts and managing the salary cap. His fingerprints were all over San Francisco's free agent signings with team-friendly contract structures.

Kwon Alexander signed a four-year deal averaging $13.5 million per year, which is near the top of the inside linebacker market. The 49ers are protected in case Alexander doesn't bounce back from last season's ACL tear. Unlike most contracts of this size, the first two years aren't fully guaranteed at signing. The 49ers can get out the deal next year with minor cap consequences because Alexander received only a $4 million signing bonus and his $11.25 million 2020 base salary, which is guaranteed for injury, doesn't become fully guaranteed until that April 1. San Francisco would only have a $3 million cap charge in 2020 if a healthy Alexander were released next offseason before April 1.

San Francisco's guarantee vesting date is the latest in the NFL. With most teams, the guarantee vesting date is in March during the first few days of the new league year.

The 49ers traded a 2020 second-round pick to the Chiefs for edge rusher Dee Ford, who had been franchised. A five-year, $85 million contract with Ford, who had a career-high 13 sacks last season, was signed in the process. Ford's $19.5 million fully guaranteed at signing doesn't measure up to comparable contracts. For example, the Cardinals signed edge rusher Chandler Jones to a five-year, $82.5 million deal with $31 million fully guaranteed at signing in 2017 after he was designated as franchise player. Jones' contract has $53 million in overall guarantees. Ford's contains $45 million. His $11.6 million salary guarantee in 2021 is only for injury. All of Jones' $53 million was capable of becoming fully guaranteed.

Similar flexibility as in Alexander's contract exists because Ford's signing bonus is $8 million. Both deals have significant annual 46-man per game active roster bonuses, which are customary in San Francisco's larger veteran contracts. The primary benefit of the roster bonuses, which is $750,000 annually for both players, is providing the 49ers some financial and cap relief with injuries. The per game amount is payable only if a player is on the 46-man active roster for that particular game.

Adam Jones reaches plea agreement on charges from casino arrest By Josh Alper Pro Football Talk March 23, 2019

Free agent cornerback Adam Jones has reached a plea agreement to resolve charges filed against him as a result of a February arrest at an Indiana casino.

Jones was accused of threatening to kill an Indiana Gaming Commission Enforcement agent who engaged Jones regarding an accusation that he tried to add chips to a winning bet after the result of the game was known. Jones faced charges of intimidation, battery against a public safety official, cheating at gambling, attempted theft, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and two counts of resisting law enforcement after being arrested on February 27.

Five more felony counts of cheating while gambling were added on Thursday, but Ohio County prosecutor Lynn Deddens told the Cincinnati Enquirer that those counts have been dismissed as a result of the plea deal. Neither Deddens nor Jones’ attorney would elaborate on other facets of the deal as it has not yet been approved by the court.

Jones played seven games for the Broncos last season, but has been unemployed since being released on November 20.

One rule proposal would let coaches challenge uncalled penalties in replay By Michael David Smith Pro Football Talk March 23, 2019

For years, there have been calls for the NFL to expand instant replay to allow coaches to challenge an uncalled penalty. And for years, the argument against that has been that it’s opening a Pandora’s box where every big play by one team is followed by a challenge from the coach of the other team, who says, “I think there was holding on that play.” And if the officiating office looks closely enough, they can probably find holding on every play.

But a proposal the owners will consider next week allows uncalled penalties to be reviewed — only if the coach can cite a specific penalty committed by a specific player.

“Once a challenge is initiated, the Head Coach must provide the Referee with the specific player (jersey number) and the specific foul that was committed on the play, regardless of whether there was a penalty called by the on-field officiating crew,” the proposal states.

In other words, Saints coach Sean Payton could have challenged the pass interference non-call on Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman in the NFC Championship Game, and that call would have been made in replay. But a coach couldn’t simply challenge a play and tell the referee, “I think you can find a penalty.”

The proposal was made by Washington — not by the Competition Committee, which has put forward a narrower replay proposal for the owners to consider next week. The broad proposal put forward by Washington has previously been proposed by Patriots coach , so it appears that at least two teams will vote for it. But it takes 24 of 32 votes to change a rule, and in the past other owners have been much more cautious about broadly expanding replay.

NFL free agency moved faster this year By Michael David Smith Pro Football Talk March 23, 2019

Free agency moved at a faster pace this year than last year.

That was apparent from even before the start of free agency, when several major deals were reported as done before the free agency period officially started. But an Associated Press analysis says it goes beyond just those high-profile deals and has been a more active free agency period league-wide than a year ago.

NFL teams have signed 148 players to contracts worth a total of $2.227 billion, with $1.116 billion guaranteed, according to the AP, with information from the players’ union. That’s an increase over the 120 signings for $1.836 billion and $965 million guaranteed at this point last year.

However, while the total number of contracts is up, the average value of those contracts is down, from $15.3 million last year to $15.0 million this year. And the percentage of that money that is guaranteed is down as well, according to the union, although Kirk Cousins‘ fully guaranteed contract with the Vikings last year skews those numbers enough that if you remove Cousins’ contract, the guaranteed percentage is up this year.

Our Free Agent Top 100 shows slim pickings at the top, with No. 23 Ndamukong Suh and No. 27 Ezekiel Ansash the only players remaining in the Top 30.

Low settlement makes it far less likely Kaepernick ever plays in NFL again By Mike Florio Pro Football Talk March 23, 2019

The moment that attorney Mark Geragos said Colin Kaepernick could still play in the NFL even after settling his collusion grievance — and predicted that someone soon would “do the right thing” and sign him — I started to think it would never happen. The moment Andrew Beaton of the Wall Street Journal reported that Kaepernick and Eric Reid received a total of less than $10 million to settle their collusion grievances, I became convinced that no NFL team will ever sign Kaepernick again.

The fact that I’m stating it this strongly likely means that someone will sign him this weekend. But that would be a shock. The league bought the past ability to shun Kaepernick for less than $300,000 per team, gladly welcoming the possibility that Kaepernick could sue them again, if he continues to not be gainfully employed by the NFL.

Most recently, the Dolphins had to scramble for a quarterback, and they apparently never gave a moment’s consideration to Kaepernick, even though new coach once witnessed first hand while working as a Patriots assistant coach the things Kaepernick can do. With offseason rosters at 90 and no one even mentioning the possibility of signing Kaepernick, it’s feeling more and more like the ship has permanently sailed, with the league ultimately buying their way out of an ongoing P.R. headache for the equivalent of a bag of boiled peanuts.

So why did Kaepernick take the deal when he could have forced the NFL to go through the motions of a full-blown arbitration hearing? It’s believed that the hearing would have lasted for much of the year, in fits and starts as sessions of the hearing convened on the turf and at the convenience of the various owners who would have been testifying — a far different approach than a hearing that would have unfolded like the trial in the Seinfeld finale, with one owner after another walking through the double doors of a big conference room to be placed under oath and grilled at lenght. It’s also possible (total speculation alert) that the arbitrator sent a clear message to Geragos at a final pre-trial hearing that the evidence of collusion was lacking and that Geragos and Kaepernick were potentially going to spend a lot of time and travel money to ultimately win nothing.

The arbitrator likewise may have persuade the NFL to divert the massive legal and travel expenses that would have been incurred for the full-blown hearing to a settlement fund, kick in a little extra for good measure, and there’s the done deal. And Kaepernick likely will to not try to take a second bite at the collusion crabapple based on any future unemployment. The next time around the evidence would have been even harder to come by, because the league would be smarter about not generating any of it.