NFL Notes: Jimmy Garoppolo, Cowboys, Jaguars, Raiders, Vikings

Jimmy Garoppolo

• Jason La Canfora mentions that Patriots backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo would have plenty of leverage with whatever team trades for him because he’s currently in the final year of his rookie deal.
• A team would need to get an extension in place before agreeing to a trade or be prepared to franchise him the following year in order to justify a trade.

Cowboys

• Todd Archer of ESPN views impending free agents CB Brandon Carr, S Barry Church and RB Darren McFadden as the Cowboys’ top priorities to re-sign this offseason.
• Archer does not think the Cowboys will re-sign G Ronald Leary since he will likely command an annual salary of $8 million on the open market.
• As a result, Archer cannot see the Cowboys committing that kind of money towards Leary due to RG Zack Martin entering the final year of his rookie contract, while LT Tyron Smith and C Travis Frederick are already on lucrative contracts.
• As for impending free agent cornerbacks, Archer believes Carr is a better candidate for extension over CB Morris Claiborne since he has proven to be more durable than Claiborne in his career.
• At the wide receiver position, Archer thinks Terrance Williams could price himself out of Dallas on the open market, while Brice Butler could re-sign on a short-term deal.
• Archer could see the Cowboys re-signing impending free agent QB Mark Sanchez due to the expected market for quarterbacks and the salary cap implications of releasing or trading QB Tony Romo.
• Additionally, Sanchez became a “confidante” towards Dak Prescott last season, making him valuable to Dallas’ roster. Beyond that, Archer does not think the Cowboys will select a quarterback during the mid-rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft.

Jaguars

Jaguars owner Shad Kahn said Tom Coughlin, who was recently hired as the team’s executive vice president of football operations, did not request control over Jacksonville’s 53-man roster. However, Coughlin will still evaluate players going forward.

“For this thing to work, Tom can’t be a hood ornament,” Khan said, via Ryan O’Halloran of The Florida Times-Union. “For him to contribute, he has to have some authority and this is one way of giving him the authority. In all fairness, he never asked for it. The more I thought about it and reflected on it, he doesn’t want to be a pencil-pushing executive and from my automotive background, I don’t need him to be a hood ornament. We want his experience and his judgement to help the Jags win.”

Raiders

• When asked about the team’s relocation situation, Raiders owner Mark Davis said: “Right now, we’re the Oakland Raiders.” (Nicki Jhabvala)

Vikings

• Ben Goessling of ESPN says the offensive tackle position is the Vikings’ largest need this offseason and mentions the Bengals’ Andrew Whitworth, Lions’ Riley Reiff, and Ravens’ Ricky Wagner as possible free agent options should they reach the open market.
• Goessling includes that their need at tackle could lead to the Vikings re-signing LT Matt Kalil under a “reasonable” contract.
• Goessling also mentions that Minnesota must decide if it is worth pursuing a “big money” guard in free agency, given that they signed G Alex Boone to a four-year, $26.8 million contract last offseason.
• As for possible trade candidates, Goessling names Cowboys OT Doug Free as an option that could come at an affordable for the Vikings.