The Offseason Weekend: NFL Draft, Free Agency and Team Rumors and News

– The Packers are bringing back free agent WR Randall Cobb on four-year, $40 million deal.

RW’s Take: The Trashman was right all along, Cobb is an Aaron Rodgers favorite and Rodgers clearly has pull in getting what he wants. What this means for fantasy is a major tapping of the breaks in regard to projecting too much of an increased role for Davante Adams in 2015 as many dynasty leaguers were hoping for.

– But the Packers have “no intention” of bringing back OT Brian Bulaga at $7-8 million a year.

RW’s Take: We’ve seen that Ted Thompson believes that cheap, younger players can be perfectly suitable along the offensive line in recent years, so this should come as no surprise.

– The RB Mark Ingram sweepstakes ends right where it started, in New Orleans.

RW’s Take: We’ve always known that the Saints had a (sometimes infuriating) very deep love for Ingram, even through all his time on the stationary bike and the sidelines through his rookie contract. Ingram finally made the team look smart in 2014 once relatively healthy (and still young at 25), but the signing only further financially straps a front-office that has a ton of work cut out for it to get under the cap.

– WR Jeremy Maclin looks to be gone in Philly, the Eagles offered $9 million per year, Maclin wants $11M.

RW’s Take: Maclin bet on himself coming into 2014 on a one-year, prove-it deal and proved what he set out to. $11M is too much to pay for a player like Maclin who comes with a horrible injury history. This is why we recommended selling high on Maclin in dynasty last season. He will not be as productive in a new offense in 2015, he’s still an injury liability, and god forbid he ends up with the Chiefs or the Dolphins or a similar situation. The clear fantasy beneficiary of Maclin’s impending absence will be Jordan Matthews.

– QB Marcus Mariota‘s agent is floating the idea around that the Bears are “very interested.”

RW’s Take: We’re sure they’re “very interested” in a lot of players – and the agent would likely tell you every team is “very interested” in his client. The fact is, Jay Cutler’s contract at this juncture makes him virtually uncuttable and largely un-trade-able.

– With Free Agency set to begin Tuesday, this infograph by @SportsTaxMan shows a nice breakdown of state-by-state income tax penalties.

RW’s Take: It’s a big deal, but not as big a deal as some make it out to be. Players are taxed for each game separately under the tax regulations of the state the game took place in. Furthermore, signing bonuses and other up-front forms of guaranteed money do not have to be claimed in the city and state of the football team, but rather the “home state” of the player.

– Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports dropped an interesting nugget Saturday, saying that if RB Adrian Peterson is dealt, that the Cardinals would be his “top preference” as a landing spot.

RW’s Take: This one seems to come from out of left field, and we still believe the landing spot that makes most sense and the true “top preference” for Peterson based on conversations with sources close to the situation is none other than the Dallas Cowboys.

– Tania Ganguli of ESPN is reporting what we’ve been telling RW Nation since the combine. The Texans interest in QB Brian Hoyer does not negate interest in QB Ryan Mallett.

RW’s Take: This has been our exact take since the beginning. The minute Hoyer was released in Cleveland, this was the most obvious scenario. He’s a veteran with deep knowledge of Bill O’Brien’s system who still sees himself as an NFL starter. He’s the perfect player to bring in as competition for the player the team hopes is the future of the franchise in Ryan Mallett.

– A word to the wise – if you’re looking to keep up with RB Demarco Murray free agency news and rumors, don’t trust his wikipedia page.

– The Denver Post is reporting that the Broncos have offered TE Virgil Green a “multi-year deal.”

RW’s Take: The team hates Julius Thomas and it’s becoming more and more apparent that Thomas doesn’t love football and is quite possibly a turd. This is a clear indicator that dynasty owners should be giving a good kick to the tires of Virgil Green as a player who will benefit greatly from Thomas’ impending absence.

– Adam Caplan is reporting the Raiders have interest in free agent TE Jermaine Gresham.

RW’s Take: It makes plenty of sense, and we’ve always felt Gresham was an underrated player athletically for all he can do to help a team. Spending 1/3 to 1/2 on Gresham that would have been spent on Julius Thomas is a solid thought for Reggie McKenzie to be pondering.

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