Coffee & Cigarettes: Seahawks links for Saturday

Weekend!

Reality of free-agent contracts means that most teams have an out - CBSSports.com
The Broncos seem to be all-in to surround Peyton Manning with enough help to win a Super Bowl. But is Denver really committing as much as it seems?

The best big cornerback prospects in this year's draft. | SportsonEarth.com : Russ Lande Article
With the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl behind a great defense with a big secondary, many have pointed to NFL teams now wanting to find tall cornerbacks. However, NFL teams have always been searching for cornerbacks who are more than six feet tall and have the hips and speed to cover NFL receivers.

2014 NFL free agency mistakes: Rodger Saffold, Aqib Talib among missteps | Audibles - SI.com
With an incredible number of deals and more than $1 billion in total contract dollars already given to this year's crop of free agents, it stands to reason (and the law of averages) that there will be a few clunkers.

How the New England Patriots Can Maximize Darrelle Revis' Elite Coverage Skills
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the New England Patriots have signed cornerback Darrelle Revis to a two-year, $32 million contract. The second year of the deal is worth $20 million, which is a sum the Pats aren't likely to pay him. As a result, this is essentially a one-year deal with an option.

A rundown on Seahawks changes this week - Seattle Seahawks Blog - ESPN
So here's where things stand for the Seahawks heading into Day 4 of free agency:

Seattle Seahawks' draft needs: Xavier Su'a-Filo offers O-line help - NFL.com
The Seattle Seahawks are reigning Super Bowl champions, but even they can improve. Daniel Jeremiah identifies prospects who could bolster Pete Carroll's roster -- like USC product Marqise Lee.

Brandin Cooks, Aaron Donald could factor in Seahawks' draft - NFL.com
The Seattle Seahawks lost Golden Tate in free agency, but the team could look to the draft to create a dynamic receiving duo for Russell Wilson.

Henry Melton visitsing Seattle today | Seahawks Draft Blog
Henry Melton is exactly the type of opportunity this team looks for.

Seahawks' Michael Robinson learns different type of blocking in soap opera appearance - 710sports.com
The hits keep coming for Seahawks fullback Michael Robinson. First came a Super Bowl championship, and then the realization of another dream as the fullback learned a new kind of blocking as he made his acting debut on the longtime CBS soap opera 'The Young and the Restless.'

Julius Peppers, Henry Melton on Dallas Cowboys' radar - NFL.com
The Cowboys have interest in Julius Peppers and plan to meet with Henry Melton. Could those two defensive linemen make up for the departed DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher?

Worst free-agent signings so far - NFL.com
Our Around The League crew scanned the free-agent signings, compiling the biggest mistakes. Eric Decker, Karlos Dansby and pretty much anyone picked up by the Raiders made the list.

Best free-agent signings so far - NFL.com
The Around The League crew picks its favorite signings of free agency thus far. Newly minted Patriot Darrelle Revis is among them. Who else makes the list?

Agent's take: Free agency winners (Ware, CBs), losers (Allen, RBs) - CBSSports.com
Agent's take: DeMarcus Ware gets paid while Jared Allen, another over-30 sack specialist, loses out. We pinpoint other winners (CBs) and losers (RBs) from the signing frenzy.

2014 NFL Draft: Small school, big dreams - CBSSports.com
An average of 25 non-FBS prospects are drafted each year, here's my look at the 25 small schoolers who are most likely to hear their name called in the 2014 NFL Draft

Lions, TE Brandon Pettigrew agree on 4-year, $16 million deal - CBSSports.com
Tight end Brandon Pettigrew is returning to the Lions on a deal that will pay him $16 million over four years, the team announced Friday.

2014 Pro Days: Gilbert, Lowe turn heads at Oklahoma State workout - CBSSports.com
All 32 NFL teams were represented at the workout, which included some disconcerting results from likely first round cornerback Justin Gilbert and a surprising effort from safety Daytawion Lowe that could push him into Day Three of the draft.

Imports and exports | National Football Post
How often do players stay with the team that drafted them?

Louis Delmas mulls Dolphins' free agency offer: an inside look | The MMQB with Peter King
On the eve of free agency, the Dolphins made former Lions safety Louis Delmas an offer that, quite truthfully, he could refuse. The South Florida native had just two hours to give Miami his answer

Boston-bred Jets OT Giacomini hopes to make Patriots fans 'kick some rocks' | Shutdown Corner - Yahoo Sports
Although reluctant to admit so, Breno Giacomini grew up in Boston rooting for the New England Patriots. He signed a big contract with the New York Jets, and that means facing his former favorite team twice a season.

Free Agency Roundup — FootballPerspective.com
Dr. Jene Bramel (@JeneBramel), who always has interesting insights on defensive players and injuries in the NFL, is producing multiple daily updates for his excellent blog over at Footballguys.com. Jene is very high on DeMarcus Ware (calling the Broncos as good a fit as any schematically for Ware), a bit lukewarm on Jon Beason ("last year showed that he cannot execute sideline to sideline or in coverage"), and thinks the Bears were wise to sign Lamarr Houston.

2014 NFL free agency: Dolphins, Buccaneers, Jaguars turn page - NFL - Don Banks - SI.com
The rapid rate of change in the NFL does seem to move quicker all the time, and for proof, one only has to think back to the first week of November last year, and where the NFL's three Florida-based teams stood at midseason. It was a rather sorry spectacle, with Florida existing in a state of pro football disgrace.

NFL Prospect Focus: Rising stocks | National Football Post
Andre Williams and Ra’Shede Hageman are getting higher on teams' draft boards.

NFL Media claims Thursday’s Browner report was "right all along" | ProFootballTalk
After NFL Media jumped the gun last night, reporting that cornerback Brandon Browner already had agreed to a contract with the Patriots, I wondered whether NFL Media would eventually claim to have been right all along if Browner eventually agreed to a contract with the Patriots.

Chiefs sign Raiders DT Vance Walker | ProFootballTalk
The Chiefs, who suffered some personnel losses early in free agency, have added a defensive lineman from a division rival.

Free Agency Likely Altering Draft Plans for a Couple of NFL Teams
The one thing I dislike about mock drafts is that until about a week before the draft, they have no meaning. There are so many factors that go into trying to figure out which players teams will take. That said, after the first few days of free agency, we can look at some clubs and say what we thought that they were going to do is now out of the question.

Top Free Agent Signings by Position | The Daily Spot
Now some 64 hours into the 2014 NFL Free Agent Season and the chaos has certainly lived up to the hype. From blockbuster releases, to record-setting signings, followed by failed physicals, and even the lost art of trading, there’s no question that nearly all NFL teams still see free agency as the integral method for building their roster. We’ll cut into the mess and break down the biggest (or most impressive) contract at each position thus far.

New England Patriots, Brandon Browner reach agreement on deal - ESPN Boston
The New England Patriots have agreed to terms with suspended free agent cornerback Brandon Browner.

NFL Free Agency, Day 3: Breakin’ Up "
The third day of free agency was more notable for the players joining the market than the ones leaving the ranks of the unemployed. Two franchise stalwarts made their way toward the exit doors on Thursday, as Panthers wideout Steve Smith was cut after 13 seasons with the team, while 10-year Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork publicly requested to be released after the team reportedly asked him to restructure his contract. These two drastically different-size men have one thing in common: They both felt disrespected at the wrong time.

ICYMI: What we learned about top NFL draft prospects this week - NFL.com
While free-agent moves dominated NFL headlines this week, plenty of meaningful news about draft prospects was made. Here are the top 10 things we learned this week.

Brandt: Brandin Cooks 'reminds me of Wes Welker, only faster' - NFL.com
NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt gave a ringing endorsement of former Oregon State WR Brandin Cooks, comparing him to Denver Broncos star Wes Welker, "only faster."

2014 NFL Draft: Week two Pro Day takeaways - CBSSports.com
With double-digit workouts each day, it can be tough to properly track each prospect so we narrowed down the last week of Pro Days to the top-five storylines that every NFL Draft fan needs to know

Rankings Update: Offense
Updated rankings for all positions on the offensive side of the ball.