We’ve mentioned Branden Albert’s list of suitors is growing by the day — with the Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Miami Dolphins all named as potential landing spots — but some teams are forming a Plan B.
According to the latest NFL free agent rumors from Miami Herald, the Dolphins will also pursue Eugene Monroe, who was traded to the Baltimore Ravens midway through last season and is believed to be the team’s top offseason priority. If the Ravens are unable to come to terms with the left tackle, expect the Dolphins to make a strong push. And according to the report, the addition of a free-agent tackle will not prevent the team from drafting another one in the first round of the draft.
Lovie Smith’s defenses have always had a surefire pass-rusher on the edge. Now that he’s at the helm of the Buccaneers, he’s likely in the market to bring one to Tampa.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is a prime target for the Bucs. Allen played under defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier in Minnesota and, at 31 years old, he may not command as expensive or long of a deal as Greg Hardy could.
The report also names a bunch of former Bears — including Charles Tillman, Devin Hester, Corey Wooten, and Josh McCown — as potential targets.
The New York Jets are in the market for a veteran backup quarterback this offseason, and the team has already shown interest in the Chicago Bears’ Josh McCown. But apparently, the team is not yet ready to rule out retaining Mark Sanchez.
According to ESPN New York, the team and Sanchez met to discuss the quarterback’s future, and while nothing was settled, the team will monitor his surgically repaired shoulder. After it was considered a done deal that Sanchez would be released and likely move on from New York, a source told ESPN New York there’s a 20- to 30-percent chance Sanchez returns to the team, of course, if he’s willing to accept a pay cut.
One of the potential Sanchez replacements in New York is Michael Vick, who is one of the top free-agent quarterbacks on the market this spring.
According to CBS Sports, the Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Philadelphia Eagles have interest in Vick as a backup, while the Oakland Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, and Houston Texans are potential landing spots where he’d have an opportunity to start.
And what about the kickers? One of the league’s best, Adam Vinatieri, is an impending free agent. But it doesn’t appear as if the Indianapolis Colts are ready to let him go just yet.
According to the Indianapolis Star, Vinatieri is a candidate to receive the franchise tag and would make about $4 million in 2014, a bit higher than the $3.4 million placekickers are due because that’s what Vinatieri made this past season. Though it’s a steep price to pay for a kicker, it does allow the Colts to avoid handing Vinatieri an expensive long-term deal. In 2013, Sebastian Janikowski received a four-year deal worth $19 million; Robbie Gould got four years at $15 million; and Rob Bironas received two years at $6.675 million.
