NFL Notes: Colts, Eagles, Lions

February 24, 2018

Colts

Tommy Birch reports that the Colts are hiring Iowa State OC coach Tom Manning as their new tight ends coach.

Eagles

Eagles veteran WR Torrey Smith said he expects to be back in Philadelphia for the 2018 season, but added that there would be no “hard feelings” if the team decided to move on.

“I’m expecting to be back, but I know how the business goes,” Smith said, via Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “There would never be any hard feelings. How can you be mad at someone who gave you a chance to win a ring.”

Smith is set to carry a cap number of $5 million and has come up as a potential cap casualty to watch for the Eagles.

“I don’t know how it’s going to play out,” Smith said. “But I’m expecting to be back, and I definitely want to be.”

Lions

Michael Rothstein of ESPN writes that new Lions HC Matt Patricia will have a large say in who the team drafts, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
Rothstein does not expect Lions RB Theo Riddick to be a cap casualty this offseason, but admits it’s “not impossible.” Riddick has no guaranteed money left on his contract and carries a cap figure of $4,137,500.
Regardless, Rothstein believes it only makes sense to cut Riddick if the team believes that they have a better option to choose from.
As for free-agent DE Ezekiel Ansah, Rothstein does not think the Lions will allow him to reach the open market and if it were up to him, he’d use the franchise tag on Ansah at around $17 million for the 2018 season.
One potential breakout candidate to keep an eye on next season, according to Rothstein, is CB Teez Tabor, who could secure a starting role opposite of CB Darius Slay.
Rothstein guesses that Lions GM Bob Quinn will at least inquire about free agent G Josh Sitton.
Only two of four restricted free agents stand out to Rothstein as players worth being tendered contracts — WR T.J. Jones and edge defender Brandon Copeland.