TAMPA, Fla. — I’m on my way to see a New York Yankees spring training game (weather permitting) tonight. But I had to pull over to give you a little update on Jake Delhomme.

Delhomme

The former Carolina quarterback visited the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, but, as we’ve been saying all along, there remains a real possibility of him staying in the NFC South. There are reports Delhomme’s next visit will be to the New Orleans Saints.



We’ve even heard from a reliable source in New Orleans that coach Sean Payton was heard publicly praising Delhomme earlier today.



This one makes sense on a lot of levels. Payton tried to get Delhomme to Dallas when he was an assistant coach there. He also currently is in the market for a backup quarterback because Mark Brunell is a free agent or could be heading for retirement. Delhomme would be an upgrade over Brunell because he’s younger. He also would be a good extra pair of eyes for starter Drew Brees and is a good guy to have in the locker room.



Then, there’s Delhomme’s history. He grew up in Louisiana and loves it there. He began his career with the Saints and was a fan favorite. That was back at a time when former coach Jim Haslett was obligated to “franchise’’ quarterback Aaron Brooks because of his draft status. Delhomme never had a shot to compete with Brooks.



In the current climate, Delhomme also would be a backup because nobody’s going to take Brees’ job anytime soon. But Delhomme may be at a point in his life and his career where he can be content with that. Plus, he’d be back home.



We’ll see what happens over the next few days.

Falling



Redskins defensive end Andre Carter: Yes, we’re bringing back this wildly popular entry for a couple of months. And honestly, I think it’s too early to suggest that any of the four NFC teams are in the “falling” category. The Cowboys are certainly the quietest team in free agency, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. But in the interest of participation, let’s put Carter in the “falling” section. I’ve said from the start that he’s not a good fit as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 and now there’s speculation he could lose his starting job. Carter’s been a highly productive player in the league, but he’s looked awkward in the past when asked to stand up in the 3-4. Greg Ellis went through this in Dallas under Bill Parcells, but he eventually became a productive outside linebacker. We’ll see how things turn out for Carter.



Rising



Philadelphia Eagles: This is a team that is desperately trying to close the gap with the Cowboys. I like that general manager Howie Roseman has locked up talented players such as Leonard Weaver and Jason Avant. And signing former Colts cornerback Marlin Jackson is a good risk to take. Yes, he’s had two torn ACLs (one on each knee). But the Eagles reportedly kept the guaranteed money low enough that they won’t feel burned if he struggles. If the 26-year-old returns to form, he could start at free safety for the next three or four years. The Eagles also restructured guard Stacy Andrews‘ contract. I bumped into offensive line coach Juan Castillo in Indianapolis and he truly believes Andrews will come back strong in 2010 after being hampered by a knee injury.



Welcome back to the Stock Watch. That’s how I see it.

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: Recent history.



Dallas Cowboys



One of the reasons the Cowboys don’t have any glaring needs (other than place-kicker) is that they hit on some picks in ‘07 and ‘08. And of course, you can’t discount what Bill Parcells and Jeff Ireland accomplished in stocking this team with talent from 2003 to 2006. Owner Jerry Jones has spent a lot of his money on defense, and in the first round in ‘07 he turned to Purdue outside linebacker Anthony Spencer, who was brilliant down the stretch in ‘09. In 2008, the Cowboys found a running back and a cornerback in the first round. Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins could both be stars in the league for years. Because of the Roy Williams trade in ‘08, the ‘09 draft was pretty much a wash. The Cowboys tried to land special-teams standouts who could hopefully play their way into larger roles. Other than kickoff specialist David Buehler, the ‘09 draft is still a mystery. With the 27th pick in next month’s draft, the Cowboys don’t have to reach for any position. I know they’re hoping to see a couple of cornerbacks slip in the first round and it would be nice to add a linebacker. But there are no glaring needs heading into the draft, and that puts Dallas in an enviable position. But if you study trends over the past seven years or so, you’d have to expect the Cowboys to go with a defensive player in the first round.



New York Giants



The Giants can’t rest on their laurels of that outstanding class of ‘07. When you land a quality running back such as Ahmad Bradshaw in the seventh round, you’re on a roll. And general manager Jerry Reese will always be remembered for a class that included Aaron Ross, Steve Smith and Kevin Boss. It was an immediate impact draft, and the Giants need another one in April. In ‘08, the Giants took a safety and cornerback with their first two picks. Safety Kenny Phillips out of Miami has the talent to become a Pro Bowler if he can recover from a serious knee injury, and cornerback Terrell Thomas was one of the few defenders who played well in ‘08. The Giants selected wide receiver Mario Manningham in the third round, but the ‘08 draft was about creating depth on defense. It’s hard to nail down a trend with Reese and his scouting staff because they’re pretty patient about waiting for the right players. They rarely get obsessed with a certain position, although linebacker is certainly a big need in April. I expect the Giants to stay right where they are at No. 15 and select a talented player. But I promise you that Reese hasn’t committed to taking a linebacker.



Philadelphia Eagles



In the 2007 draft, the Eagles drafted their future (presumably) quarterback in Kevin Kolb. Then they landed starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley in the third round and superb tight end Brent Celek in the fifth. Defensive end Victor Abiamiri has never really lived up to his second-round status and running back Tony Hunt was an outright bust from the start. The Eagles tried to bolster their defensive line in ‘08, but Trevor Laws has been a disappointment and Bryan Smith is nowhere to be found. The draft was saved by a wide receiver out of Cal named DeSean Jackson. He’s become one of the most feared offensive players in the game. The Eagles continued to covet speed and quickness on offense in ‘09 by drafting wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy. They also hit on late-round pick Moise Fokou, who could emerge as an outstanding special-teams player — if he’ll stop getting penalties. The Eagles haven’t done enough in the draft to bolster their secondary over the past three years. It’s time to start drafting cornerbacks and safeties a little earlier. Macho Harris and Quintin Demps have been decent finds, but you can’t just throw them out there as starters. It’s time for the Eagles to use premium picks on the defensive side of the ball if they want to close the gap with the Cowboys. To be clear, it’s time to find someone who can cover Jason Witten and Miles Austin.



Washington Redskins



With new coach Mike Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen, this organization is headed in a different direction. We haven’t seen any of the splashy moves in free agency that owner Dan Snyder loved. In the past, the Redskins rarely had a lot of picks in the draft. They took safety LaRon Landry in ‘07, but he’s never really met expectations. He obviously has a lot of physical gifts but his habit of biting on double moves gets the Skins in big trouble. In ‘08, Snyder and Vinny Cerrato turned to the offensive side of the ball and spent their three second-round picks on two receivers and a tight end. The verdict’s still out on the ‘08 draft, but tight end Fred Davis emerged as a consistent threat when Chris Cooley was injured last season. And Devin Thomas has rare speed and quickness as a wideout. Now, he needs to continue showing maturity. With the addition of pass-rusher Brian Orakpo in ‘09, the Redskins landed a Pro Bowl player. Now it’s time to start drafting offensive and defensive linemen. That’s the trend that stands out over the past decade. The Redskins didn’t build in the trenches, and they’ve paid the price. With the No. 4 pick, Shanahan will be tempted to take a left tackle. Especially if Sam Bradford’s already gone. And it’s hard to go wrong with either Russell Okung or Bryan Bulaga.

The item comparing the Cardinals’ current offseason to their 1999 offseason did not go over well with a few fans who know the organization has made significant strides since then.



I was comparing only the personnel losses.



The Cardinals in their current form are obviously better positioned to weather turnover. But the current Cardinals are also suffering far more significant personnel losses than the team suffered after beating Dallas in the playoffs following the 1998 season. Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle are very good players.



“Sando, I’d like to leave the door open for the Cardinals to somewhat make out OK,” Facebook friend Andrew wrote. “For you to compare the 1999 Cardinals to the 2010 Cardinals is a bit of rhetoric. The organization has come a long way since then. So this offseason is yet to be written.”



Andrew is a hardcore Cardinals fan. I’ve tailgated with him at University of Phoenix Stadium and talked Cardinals with him at training camp in Flagstaff. A couple seasons ago, I was the one trying to convince Andrew and other weary Arizona fans that the organization had indeed turned a corner. Every time the Cardinals appeared close to breaking through, fans seemed to brace for imminent failure. The organization had let them down so many times before.



Andrew is right when he says it’s too early to write off the Cardinals’ offseason. The team could still fortify its roster with a few lower-priced free-agent finds. The team could discover another immediate contributor or two in the draft. Matt Leinart could exceed expectations. Beanie Wells could enjoy a breakout season.



“It seems bad, but it’s only the first day of free agency,” Facebook friend Sue cautioned. “There are a few guys on the radar, so let’s see how this plays out before we write the eulogy.”



Fair enough. But when you watch Warner, Boldin, Dansby and Rolle walk away in a matter of weeks, it’s also fair to expect a dropoff.



“Mike — You have been anti-Arizona the last three months,” Andy wrote. “We’re still NFC West champs two years running. I only wish we could have kept Dansby, but you always must consider value vs. money. Boldin and Rolle have been liabilities for years.”



Arizona has had some negative things happen in the last few months. That will be reflected in the coverage. No one said Arizona was not NFC West champs for two years running. Boldin a liability? I wouldn’t call him that. We’ll see what kind of liability Rolle has been if/when Rashad Johnson, Matt Ware or someone else is on the back end. Arizona has done a nice job filling holes, but anyone looking at this team right now should be able to see what has happened recently. Not good.

The 1998 Cardinals beat Dallas in the playoffs, then lost tackle Lomas Brown, fullback Larry Centers and linebacker Jamir Miller in a free-agent exodus precipitating a 6-10 record the following season.



The current offseason is feeling somewhat similar.



The Cardinals have lost Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and Bertrand Berry since their most recent game.



They will not be considered an NFC power heading into the 2010 season.



“Don’t think just because we lost some key guys that we ain’t gone (sic) bust heads,” defensive end Darnell Dockett tweeted after Rolle agreed to terms with the Giants.



Dockett might be right. The Cardinals have bucked expectations recently. But their inability to re-sign Dansby or Rolle — on the same day they traded Boldin — makes Friday one of the darker days recently for Arizona.



Losing Warner alone could have set back the Cardinals multiple games in the standings. They’ll have to scramble now.

We have been tracking guaranteed money on this blog ever since Detroit committed quarterback Matthew Stafford to an NFL-record $41.7 million on the eve of the 2009 draft. Finally, it’s time for Stafford’s deal to take a back seat.



But as it turns out, the record remains in the NFC North family. (Would you have expected anything else?) Chicago guaranteed defensive end Julius Peppers $42 million on Friday, putting Peppers at the top of our list:



Chicago defensive end Julius Peppers: $42 million

Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford: $41.7 million

Washington defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth: $41 million

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers: $38 million

Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick: $37 million*

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger: $36 million

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning: $35 million

Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan: $34.8 million

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning: $34.5 million

Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell: $31.5 million

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo: $30 million

*Vick’s deal has since been terminated.



It will be interesting to see how long Peppers’ record stands. If a quarterback is drafted No. 1 overall next month, you would think his guaranteed money would overtake Stafford. With only a $300,000 difference between Stafford and Peppers, there is a chance the record could soon fall. Other candidates include Manning and New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees, both of whom are expected to receive contract extensions this offseason.

Occasionally, us blog networkers come together and have a brainstorming session.



This week, we pitched ideas about the best bets from our receptive divisions on the restricted free agent market. The following are some restricted free agents who could fit in the AFC West:



Denver



Rob Sims, guard, Seattle, fourth-round tender: He weighs 312 pounds. Denver wants to get bigger on the interior line.



Marcus Spears, defensive end, Dallas, second-round tender: He’d be a solid addition at end in Denver’s 3-4 scheme.



Kansas City



Atari Bigby, safety, Green Bay, second-round tender: Bigby is solid and the Chiefs, who have two second-round picks, need help at safety.



Domenik Hixon, receiver/returner, New York Giants, second-round tender: He could help Kansas City on offense and special teams.



Leon Washington, running back, returner, New York Jets, second-round tender: If healthy, he could be a nice fit.



Oakland



Barry Cofield, defensive tackle, New York Giants, second-round tender: He’d reunite former Giants line coach Mike Waufle in Oakland. I like this fit.



Troy Smith, quarterback, Baltimore, fifth-round tender: He is likely going to be on the move. Why not reunite him with Hue Jackson in Oakland and throw him in the quarterback competition?



San Diego



Jerious Norwood, running back, Atlanta, second-round tender: He has big talent. San Diego needs a running back badly. The only hitch is the Chargers may rather use their second-round pick on a player from a deep rookie running back class.

Every time a team lands a wide receiver via trade, you know whose name will come up in Dallas. And the news of Cardinals wideout Anquan Boldin heading to the Ravens for third and fourth-round picks has to be particularly galling to Cowboys fans.



Boldin has been an incredibly productive receiver in the league — as evidenced by his five 1,000-yard seasons. The Cowboys’ Roy Williams is still sitting on one 1,000-yard season. And the Cowboys had to give up a first, third and sixth-round pick to land him during the ‘08 season.



Can you imagine Miles Austin lining up across from Boldin? OK, stop doing that to yourself.

Dallas Cowboys



Potential unrestricted free agents: G Montrae Holland



Potential restricted free agents: NT Junior Siavii, WR Miles Austin, DE Stephen Bowen, CB Cletis Gordon, DE Jason Hatcher, WR Sam Hurd, T Pat McQuistan, C Duke Preston, G Cory Procter, S Gerald Sensabaugh, DE Marcus Spears, S Pat Watkins, K Shaun Suisham.



What to expect: Anything is possible with Jerry Jones in charge, and the Cowboys could make a big splash after an underwhelming offseason a year ago. But in terms of team needs and what is required to take the next step, Dallas really doesn’t need much. A big-time impact safety makes some sense and could make a very good defense great, but that might be a project for the draft in a trade-up scenario for someone like Earl Thomas. But Darren Sharper might pique their interest. They also need to get younger along the offensive line, particularly at tackle, but that seems like a draft-day project, too. Maybe Jones gets real aggressive in the wide receiver market, as Roy Williams certainly is not living up to his billing, but the Cowboys are still rather stacked with pass-catchers. All in all, this is a team that is sitting pretty and doesn’t have a prominent unrestricted free agent who is poised to leave.



New York Giants



Potential unrestricted free agents: QB David Carr, LB Danny Clark, P Jeff Feagles, DT Fred Robbins



Potential restricted free agents: WR Domenik Hixon, TE Darcy Johnson, DE Dave Tollefson, G Kevin Boothe, S C.C. Brown, DT Barry Cofield, CB Kevin Dockery, WR Derek Hagan, WR Sinorice Moss, T Guy Whimper, LB Gerris Wilkinson.



What to expect: Big things could be in the works here, as there are already rumors swirling that New York could be a prime suitor for linebacker Karlos Dansby. An impact linebacker is certainly near the top of their wish list and Dansby fits the bill. Plus, he is extremely versatile. Getting faster on defense is a huge priority with new coordinator Perry Fewell stressing the ability to cover a lot of ground. However, Dansby isn’t really the thumper they need in the middle and is more of an outside linebacker for this system, although he would be great on passing downs. This is a group of decision-makers who might be starting to feel some heat, so do not rule out a big move or two.



Philadelphia Eagles



Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Jason Babin, S Sean Jones, LB Jeremiah Trotter, LB Tracy White



Potential restricted free agents: LB Akeem Jordan, P Saverio Rocca, WR Jason Avant, C Nick Cole, LB Omar Gaither, LB Chris Gocong, CB Ellis Hobbs, G Max Jean-Gilles, TE Alex Smith, FB Leonard Weaver.



What to expect: There are questions on the offensive line, but overall, the Eagles are in a prime situation to improve their defense, particularly up front and at safety. Remember, they have quarterbacks to dangle as trade bait and really do not have any unrestricted guys that they need to bring back. This is a possible landing spot for Julius Peppers and he would be terrific on the opposite side of Trent Cole, who is among the most underrated players in the game and could blow up with someone taking pass protection attention away from his side. Count on the Eagles being aggressive in the free-agent and/or trade market. It might just be enough to get them that ever elusive Lombardi trophy. Stranger things have happened.



Washington Redskins



Potential unrestricted free agents: LS Ethan Albright, DE Phillip Daniels, T Levi Jones, C Casey Rabach,

P Hunter Smith, T Mike Williams, DE Renaldo Wynn, TE Todd Yoder.



Potential restricted free agents: DE Lorenzo Alexander, T Stephon Heyer, LB Chris Wilson, QB Jason Campbell, S Reed Doughty, DT Kedric Golston, LB Rocky McIntosh, DT Anthony Montgomery, C Will Montgomery, CB Carlos Rogers.



What to expect: This is a difficult team to get a grasp on in terms of what they might do in free agency, but I think it is safe to say that ownership will not hold Mike Shanahan and company back from opening up the check book and signing (and even overpaying) players whom they desire. It would be wise for Washington to have an excellent idea of what they are going to do with the fourth overall draft pick in terms of going quarterback or offensive tackle before really devising a free-agency plan. Rebuilding the offensive line is a must and Shanahan needs lighter, quicker (and younger) linemen than are on the roster. A running back they can trust wouldn’t hurt either, although it looks as though Clinton Portis will return, which they may regret. But don’t forget, this is a team that — unwisely in my opinion — is switching to a 3-4 scheme, so inside linebacker help is required, as are defensive linemen who fit the new scheme. The Redskins have a long wish list, but also have the ownership to endorse big spending when free agency opens.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is working to refine his throwing motion. Will he play QB or some other position in the NFL? Let’s assess his chances of landing in the NFC East.



Dallas Cowboys: This is Jerry Jones that we are talking about, so Tim Tebow might just end up in Dallas. That’s not an indictment of Tony Romo, but grooming another quarterback for the Cowboys’ stable might not be such a terrible idea this year. Why this year specifically? Well, when looking at each NFL team and analyzing their specific needs, Dallas might just have fewer than anyone else. It would be great to add a real playmaker at safety and adding youth along the offensive line makes sense, but overall, there isn’t one massive need — outside of kicker — that Dallas needs to address to be a contender. Plus, that is quite a large stadium that Jones just built and if something were to happen to Romo, having Tebow waiting in the wings would ensure that they keep it packed with paying customers.



Draft probability: Low.



New York Giants: This one doesn’t seem likely to me, but the Giants certainly are in the market for an upgrade at backup quarterback. Still, my guess is that New York will not use the pick needed on draft weekend to secure Tebow’s services. The reasons are simple; they just have too many pressing defensive needs. The Giants would be wise to use the top of their draft to get younger, faster and more talented at safety and linebacker and maybe add a beefy, run-stopping nose tackle. The offensive needs are not as pressing, but using a high draft pick along the offensive line would make more sense than using it on Tebow. But, as I said, they do need to improve the backup quarterback spot. Imagine Tebow-mania in the Big Apple!



Draft probability: Low.



Philadelphia Eagles: As it stands, the Eagles now have more quarterbacks than they know what to do with. But hear me out. Let’s say that the Rams (or another team) offer the Eagles very good value for Michael Vick and the Browns offer up their early first-round pick for Kevin Kolb — two situations that could come to fruition. Then Tebow could come into the mix as the long-term successor to Donovan McNabb. Andy Reid does value strong quarterbacks who move well — like McNabb — and is a collector at the position, but this West Coast scheme is predicated on getting the ball out quickly, which clearly is not Tebow’s strong suit. But the Eagles might take a win-now approach in the above scenario and would be the type of team who could allow Tebow to work on his craft behind McNabb while also taking over for Vick in the Wildcat package.



Draft probability: Low.



Washington Redskins: With Tebow’s long release and inability to get the ball out quickly, he does not appear to be a good fit in Mike Shanahan’s offense (or anyone’s offense) in Washington. However, he does move very well, has a strong arm and off-the-chart intangibles, so he might just pique Shanahan’s interest. This only works, though, if the Redskins decide to make Jason Campbell the starting quarterback for the near future and assemble a supporting cast for him with their offseason resources — which is what I would do. If the Redskins instead add Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen with their first-round pick, Tebow becomes a nonfactor. But if they hedge their bets, go with Campbell for the short term, use the first-round pick on say, a left tackle, and then use a later pick on a developmental quarterback like Tebow, the former Gator could find himself in Washington, where the owner has been known to like making a splash.



Draft probability: Medium.