AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jaguars, Raiders, Titans

January 23, 2018

Dolphins

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins are fully committed to QB Ryan Tannehill for the upcoming season and they believe the addition of new OC Dowell Loggains will help Tannehill’s pocket presence.
However, Salguero mentions backup QB Matt Moore is likely done in Miami after seven seasons with the Dolphins.
A source with knowledge of Moore’s thinking tells Salguero that Moore wants to explore his options to see if there’s a better fit out there for him.
Salguero writes that the easy solution for finding a backup quarterback to Tannehill would be to draft a prospect. Although, Salguero admits that the Dolphins may not be comfortable going that route and could instead target a veteran option.

Jaguars

Joel Corry of CBS Sports takes a look at some potential veteran replacements for the Jaguars should they elect to move on from Blake Bortles this offseason.

Corry says that it’s hard to envision a realistic scenario where Drew Brees doesn’t re-sign with the Saints.
As for making a run at Kirk Cousins, Corry mentions that the Jaguars won’t have the “abundance of cap room” it would require to create an offer sheet that the Redskins couldn’t match if Washington uses the transition tag on him. Corry adds that signing Cousins to an offer sheet or as an unrestricted free agent will likely require making him the NFL’s highest paid player, topping Matthew Stafford‘s five-year, $135 million contract that included $92 million guaranteed.
If the Jaguars want to look to the trade market, Corry could see the Chiefs looking for compensation close to the second- and fourth-round picks the Eagles got for Donovan McNabb several years ago. On top of that, it would make sense for a team to sign Smith to an extension, which Corry says could cost them around $23 million per year and $60 million guaranteed.
Another free agent option, according to Corry, could be Case Keenum. Corry writes that Keenum has likely put himself in position to secure a similar deal to the three-year, $45 million signed by Bears QB Mike Glennon last year.

Raiders

Raiders QB Derek Carr admitted that the back injury he sustained in Week 4 affected his play last season.

“When you break three bones in your back, it doesn’t feel good,” Carr said, via Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area. “I’m thankful God healed me to the point I could walk around and be able to practice. Injuries will never be something I talk about, especially during the season, but since it’s after the season, the (back issue) was one of those things that was there.”

Carr specifically suffered transverse process fractures and missed just one game.

“I had to deal with it,” Carr said. “I had to do certain things to manage it, but I just didn’t talk about it. I didn’t want it to be an excuse. It was a want more than anything else. I didn’t want it to be a reason. I couldn’t let that be a reason why I couldn’t do A, B or C.”

Titans

Cameron Wolfe reports that while new Titans HC Mike Vrabel is overhauling the team’s coaching staff, it’s possible that DBs coach Deshea Townsend could remain with the team.