NFC Notes: Buccaneers, Falcons, Saints

Buccaneers

• Buccaneers HC Bruce Arians said QB Tom Brady may not participate much when he arrives at minicamp: “He may be doing a lot of coaching.” (Jenna Laine)
• Arians admitted that he would like more players to show up for OTAs this week: “These guys out here are working their ass off. I’d like to see about 10 more of them that are fighting for jobs that they don’t know they’re fighting for.” (Greg Auman)
• Arians acknowledged WR Tyler Johnson is working out with Brady instead of being at OTAs with the team. (Auman)
• RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn is another player who Arians said has decided to work out with Brady. (Auman)
• OLB Anthony Nelson said even though he is fine with dropping into coverage, he wants to rush the passer: “I’m a pass-rusher, through and through.” (Auman)
• QB Ryan Griffin mentioned the team told him it was planning to draft a quarterback and re-sign Blaine Gabbert. (Auman)
• Buccaneers first-round DE Joe Tryon is “real close” to be ready to participate in OTAs, per Arians. (NFL.com)

Falcons

• Josina Anderson said teams seem hesitant to meet the Falcons’ asking price for WR Julio Jones, quoting a source from an NFL team who explained: “He’s legit still (superb), but older player. Falcons are asking a lot. They may get it. I don’t know. So whether those teams have a 1st or not, is it good business to give it away?” 
• Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reports the Falcons told at least one team they wanted a first-round pick and players for Jones.
• According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the team that trades for Jones will also probably need to give him a new contract.
• Florio writes Jones may look for a more robust contract extension either after the trade or next year. Jones is scheduled to make $38.326 million over the next three years, which averages out to $12.775 million annually.

Saints

• SI’s Albert Breer believes there’s a “big push” within the Saints organization to sign members of the 2017 Draft class, RT Ryan Ramczyk, S Marcus Williams, and CB Marshon Lattimore to new contracts, in order to help clear up cap space in 2021 so they can sign their rookie class.
• Breer explains that these three are owed $31.982 million in 2021 with Lattimore and Ramczyk playing out the season under the fifth-year option at $10.244 million and $11.064 million, respectively. Meanwhile, Williams is on the franchise tag that worth $10.612 million this season.
• Breer mentions that extending any of these players would offer the Saints some much-needed cap relief. 
• Although, Breer doesn’t rule out the possibility of making one of them available for trade at some point. Breer adds that other teams that inquired on Lattimore and Ramczyk earlier in the offseason but got shut down by New Orleans. He takes this as a sign the Saints could make a “big push” to get extensions in place for these three.
• Per Over The Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald, the Saints will pick up an additional $1.1 million in cap space after processing QB Drew Brees‘ retirement following June 1. Brees will still count $11.15 million in dead money against the cap this year and $11.5 million in 2022. 
• Per ESPN’s Mike Triplett, the Saints have been connected as an interested team in CB Richard Sherman. He acknowledged on First Take that New Orleans would be a “hand in glove” fit but didn’t sound optimistic about joining the Saints: “I just don’t think they have the need that people think they do.”
• The Saints drafted Stanford CB Paulson Adebo in the third round and still have Patrick Robinson and P.J. Williams, though the latter two play more slot corner and safety than outside.
• Other free agents available include Bashaud Breeland, Steven Nelson, Josh Norman, Brian Poole and Gareon Conley.
• Triplett thinks the Saints could also add some help at wide receiver, defensive tackle and linebacker once they free up some cap space.