NFL Notes: Jets, Panthers, Seahawks, Vikings

Nate Bouda

February 2, 2018

Jets

Darryl Slater of NJ.com takes a look at some draft prospects worth watching for the Jets at No. 6 overall if they end up signing Kirk Cousins in free agency.
Signing Cousins to a massive long-term extension would obviously free up the Jets’ No. 6 pick to use on another position.
Slater’s list includes Penn State RB Saquon Barkley, N.C. State DE Bradley Chubb, Alabama CB Minkah Fitzpatrick, Oklahoma OT Orlando Brown, SMU WR Courtland Sutton and Ohio State CB Denzel Ward.

Panthers

While there was speculation that the Panthers would interview Titans player personnel director Ryan Cowden for their GM job, Joe Person reports that a formal request to do so was never made.
Jason La Canfora reports that “several” suitors have already emerged to purchase the Carolina Panthers and the process is moving along “fairly rapidly.”

Seahawks

John Clayton of ESPN 710 has reported that the Seahawks are unwilling to go above $5.5 million per year to retain WR Paul Richardson this offseason, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.
Condotta says that some have suggested Richardson wants $7 million per year, which could prove to be too much for Seattle and lead to him playing elsewhere in 2018.
According to Condotta, it’s possible that the Seahawks will end up keeping just one of Richardson or Tyler Lockett moving forward.
Condotta suggests Brice Butler of the Cowboys and Taylor Gabriel of the Falcons as two free agents who could make sense for Seattle.
Should Seattle prefer to use a mid-round pick on a receiver, Condotta believes Washington’s Dante Pettis could be an intriguing option for them.
We have Richardson featured in our Top 100 – 2018 NFL Free Agents list.

Vikings

Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater says that he hasn’t thought about what will happen this offseason and where he’ll be for the start of the 2018 season.

“No, I haven’t,” Bridgewater told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “Right now I’m just focused on becoming a better person and a better football player. … I’m looking forward to this offseason just training and taking my game to another level,” he said. “I’m healthy. I don’t really like putting numbers on it. It’s all mental. I feel great. I think the doctors wouldn’t have cleared me if I didn’t feel great. It was great that I was able to overcome everything and I’m just looking forward to the future.”