There’s a reason why left tackles are one of the most highly paid positions on the field: they’re few and far between.
This offseason, one of the league’s best is on the free agent market, and the suitors are multiplying by the day. Branden Albert is already the top priority of the Arizona Cardinals and his current team, the Kansas City Chiefs, aren’t going to let him walk without a fight. Now you can add the tackle-hungry Miami Dolphins to that list as well.
According to the latest NFL free agent rumors from Miami Herald, the Dolphins plan to pursue Albert a second straight offseason. Last year, the team attempted to acquire Albert via trade but management did not want to give up a high draft pick, so this year the team will open up its wallet to try and bring him to South Beach. The report also names the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a potential landing spot.
DeMarcus Ware isn’t an unrestricted free agent this offseason — at least not yet. Last week, CBS Sports named Ware as a potential cap casualty because of the $16 million cap number he’s due. The Dallas Cowboys are already $23.8 million over the cap, so if Ware is unwilling to restructure his deal, owner Jerry Jones said the former All-Pro could be released.
“There’s no question when you are where we are on the cap, even though we’ve had some new cap space added, and you have a defensive player that’s your highest paid defensive player, and he hasn’t been on the field much the last two years, that has to be considered,” Jones told the Dallas Morning News. “You can’t have it all.”
The absence of tight end Dennis Pitta for most of last season took a toll on the Baltimore Ravens offense, and now the impending free agent is due for a new deal. Some reports indicate Pitta is a candidate to be slapped with the franchise tag, but according to NFL.com the two sides are making progress toward a new deal.
#Ravens and TE Dennis Pitta are making progress to a new deal, per sources. Nothing imminent. Sides have until March 3 before he gets tagged
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 24, 2014
The Green Bay Packers have a boat-load of decisions to make regarding free agency, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Thus far, the team has made cornerback Sam Shields a priority. According to ESPN, discussions between the Packers and Shield heated up over the weekend and there’s optimism the two sides could strike an agreement before Shields hits the open market on March 11. Previously, Packers GM Ted Thompson ruled out using the franchise tag on the cornerback.
Green Bay also has four free agents along its defensive line, including B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett, and perhaps it’s time to rule out the team re-upping with Pickett. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, coach Mike McCarthy had high praise for 2013 fifth-round pick Josh Boyd, a potential replacement for Pickett. A return hasn’t been ruled out yet, though.
And what offseason wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Terrell Owens, who at 40 believes he can still contribute to a team. Owens had a tryout with the Seattle Seahawks back in 2012, and has since focused on his career as an actor. But the wide receiver said if he a team needed him he could still suit up and play, though he acknowledged it’s unlikely.
“No doubt there’s not a question that I can still play,” he told the Associated Press. “Perception, media portrayal is so negative. Anytime there’s a rumor that a team is interested in bringing me in, there’s all this media attention, and the negative things they have to say are more than the positives. It’s not about what I can bring to them. It’s about stuff I did five, 10 years ago.”
