AFC Notes: Broncos, Patriots, Ravens

Broncos

• The Broncos are considered the team to watch for Kirk Cousins in free agency, but it could be a difficult contract for Denver fit into their salary cap. (NFLTR)
• Eric Galko has been told the Broncos could offer Cousins a “lower-than-you’d think” average salary, but “very high” guarantees that would top the $70 million Derek Carr got from the Raiders.
• This would give Cousins the kind of guaranteed money he would be looking for, but also make it a little easier on the Broncos’ cap situation in the short-term.
• We have him featured in our Top 100  – 2018 NFL Free Agents list.

Patriots

• Mike Reiss projects the Patriots’ inactives for Super Bowl LII to be DT Alan Branch, WR Kenny Britt, OL Cole Croston, RB Mike Gillislee, LB David Harris, TE Jacob Hollister and PR Bernard Reedy.
• Regarding the recent report that the Patriots are expected to interview Ohio State DC Greg Schiano for their defensive coordinator job, Reiss points out that Schiano wouldn’t have to interview for a job with New England, considering how close is with Bill Belichick. If Schiano were interested in joining the Patriots’ staff, Reiss says he could be hired tomorrow.
• Reiss mentions that CB Malcolm Butler‘s future with the Patriots will come down to the kind of offers he gets on the open market. If a team steps up and offers him the best contract, Reiss believes he’ll probably be playing elsewhere next season.
• We have Butler featured in our Top 100  – 2018 NFL Free Agents list.

Ravens

Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome released the following statement regarding his future with the team:

“I will remain as the Ravens’ GM through the 2018 season and continue my role directing free agency and the draft. After that, Eric (DeCosta) will take over as our GM and assume all the duties that come with that, including heading our personnel department and directing free agency and the draft.

“I plan to remain with the Ravens in a significant position in personnel and help us win more Super Bowls. We have planned this succession over the last five years.”

• The NFL tells Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk that the Ravens will not have to conduct any interviews with other candidates to fulfill the Rooney Rule and they are permitted to promote Eric DeCosta as Ozzie Newsome’s replacement.
• According to Smith, the Rooney Rule stipulates that teams can make a promotion of a personnel executive to GM without conducting any interviews if they’ve labeled an executive as the team’s GM in waiting, which DeCosta has been for several years now.