NFL Notes: Roster Cuts, Bears, Redskins, Seahawks

February 7, 2018

Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com takes a look at some notable receivers worth watching in the coming weeks who could be potential roster cuts.

Fitzgerald’s list includes Markus Wheaton (Bears), Brandon Marshall (Giants), Allen Hurns (Jaguars), Tavon Austin (Rams), Jarius Wright (Vikings), Torrey Smith (Eagles), Jordy Nelson (Packers), Travis Benjamin (Chargers), Michael Crabtree (Raiders), Kelvin Benjamin (Bills), Jeremy Maclin (Ravens), Randall Cobb (Packers), Dwayne Harris (Giants), Dez Bryant (Cowboys) and Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos).

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune expects offensive line to be an offseason priority for the Bears.
According to Biggs, there’s a “good chance” Chicago will use one of their top two picks on a lineman.
The biggest decision the Bears will need to make in the coming months, according to Biggs, is regarding veteran G Josh Sitton and whether to pick up his 2018 option.

Rich Tandler of CSN Washington expects Redskins free agent CB Bashaud Breeland to command a salary of $10 million per year on the open market and possibly exceed that when all is said and done.
Washington needs some help at cornerback after trading away Kendall Fuller in the deal for Alex Smith and the possibility that they could lose Breeland in free agency. Tandler mentions that the ideal scenario for the Redskins would be to plan on using Joshua Holsey in the slot and let Quinton Dunbar and Fabian Moreau compete for the job opposite of Josh Norman.
Tandler says that if the Redskins are considering the possibility of targeting a big-name cornerback in free agency, they may as well re-sign Breeland.

Brady Henderson of ESPN writes that if contract talks between the Seahawks and Pro Bowl S Earl Thomas lead to an impasse this offseason, it’s possible Seattle could consider shopping Thomas in trade talks like they did with CB Richard Sherman last year.
Should another team step up and make the Seahawks a worthwhile offer, Henderson could see Seattle pulling the trigger on a trade, even though it wouldn’t make them better right away.
As for Richard Sherman, Henderson thinks injuries could severely diminish his trade value this offseason and led to the Seahawks keeping him for the 2018 season.
Henderson admits that there are no guarantees Sherman will be back next year, given that he’s coming off of an Achilles injury, carries a $13.2 million cap figure and the Seahawks could free up $11 million if they were to cut him.
A number of factors could work in DE Michael Bennett‘s favor for being back in Seattle including the fact that the Seahawks would only pick up $2.2 million by releasing him, Cliff Avril‘s career could be over, and he was second on the team with 8.5 sacks last year, despite playing through injuries.