NFL Notes: Buccaneers, Chiefs, Dolphins, Redskins

Buccaneers

• Roy Cummings offers five potential free agent additions for the Buccaneers to consider this offseason.
• Cummings’ list includes RB Eddie Lacy, WR Kenny Stills, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, S Tony Jefferson and TE Jack Doyle.

Chiefs

• Chiefs GM John Dorsey reiterated that Alex Smith will be the team’s starting quarterback for the 2017 season. (Pete Sweeney)
• When asked about RB Jamaal Charles‘ future with the team, Dorsey said: “He’s working like the dickens to get himself ready for 2017. We’ll see what happens in March, but right now I see him as a Chief.” (Terez A. Paylor)
• Joel Corry says that the Chiefs could afford to re-sign both free agent S Eric Berry and DT Dontari Poe if they cut QB Nick Foles and RB Jamaal Charles, which would free up $16,937,500 of cap room. Then they would have to sign him to contracts that include low first-year cap figures.

Dolphins

• Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes that while Miami TE David Njoku would be “very tempting” for the Dolphins in round one, he gets the sense that linebacker and defensive end are priorities for the team.
• Jackson does, however, say that the Dolphins are expected to add a tight end at some point this offseason.
• In regards to veteran DT Earl Mitchell, Jackson reports that there’s some internal support keeping him.

Redskins

According to Mike Jones of the Washington Post, Redskins president Bruce Allen is “breathing down” GM Scot McCloughan’s neck after the team’s lack of success in free agency and the limited results from the past two draft classes.

Jones says that Allen wouldn’t allow McCloughan to speak to reporters at the Senior Bowl and won’t permit him to do his interview session with reporters at the combine either. Allen reportedly wants McCloughan “completely locked in on talent evaluation” this offseason.

Depending on how things go for Washington in 2017, it’s possible that QB Kirk Cousins, HC Jay Gruden and McCloughan could all be elsewhere in 2018. This is assuming that Cousins isn’t signed to a long-term deal, but it appears as though there is a lot of pressure for the Redskins’ decision-makers.