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ESPN's Rachel Nichols profiles former Mississippi left tackle Michael Oher's amazing journey.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

It's turned out to be a busy day at Chicago's Halas Hall practice facility. Not only has free agent offensive lineman Orlando Pace visited, but the Bears are also hosting free agent cornerback Ken Lucas. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times has the story.

Carolina released Lucas this winter for salary-cap reasons. He's been a solid cover man throughout his career with the Panthers and in Seattle, and you would think he'd be the top candidate to start opposite Charles Tillman if he is signed. Currently, that position is manned by Corey Graham and Nate Vasher.

The clock is ticking on both Lucas and Pace. Typically, NFL teams suspend their free agent evaluations at some point as the draft approaches. Then they resume negotiations after determining their remaining needs after the draft.

The Bears have been pretty quiet thus far in the free agent market, but it's starting to be bargain time. Plugging two holes, at least in the short-term, would help them focus their draft strategy considerably.

Posted by ESPN.com's James Walker

The starting left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first week of 2008 will be wearing another uniform in 2009.

According to ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli, former Pittsburgh offensive lineman Marvel Smith agreed to a multiyear deal with the San Francisco 49ers Friday.

The Steelers did not pursue Smith, 30, in part because of his history with back problems. Former backup Max Starks also filled in well for Smith at left tackle for the final 11 games last season and was re-signed by the Steelers, which sealed Smith's departure.

Smith, an Oakland native, played in Pittsburgh for nine seasons and made it to the Pro Bowl in 2004.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The 49ers' agreement with Marvel Smith and release of Jonas Jennings shouldn't stop them from drafting a tackle in the first round if one of the top prospects slips to them.

Smith

Smith is a good player when healthy, but he hasn't been able to stay healthy. The 49ers therefore cannot bank on having solved their tackle situation. Jennings has started 18 games over the last three seasons. Smith has started 17 over the last two.

If one of the top tackles were available to them in the draft, the 49ers could set up themselves for the long term by drafting him. And if they were really fortunate, the draft prospect would be good enough at left tackle for Joe Staley to play the right side, down the road if not in 2009.

The Smith signing simply makes it easier for the 49ers to go in another direction at No. 10 if one of the top tackles isn't available. And that is what free agency is about: Filling needs with known quantities so a team doesn't reach for needs in the draft.

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Minnesota's decision to retain fullback Naufahu Tahi, as reported here by Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune, seemed a foregone conclusion since the team lost out on free agent Leonard Weaver last week. So why did the Vikings take the full seven days to match?

Tahi

I asked coach Brad Childress that question earlier this week during the NFL owners' meeting. His response:

"You have a week and in these economic times, rather than take on a burden for an extra week of principle and interest, there's really no merit in jumping out of the box until 11:59:59 if that, in fact, is what you're going to do."

What does that mean? Tahi carried a $1.01 million cap charge on the Vikings' books when free agency began, the value of his restricted tender offer. When he signed an offer sheet with Cincinnati, the Bengals absorbed a $1.4 million charge.

When and if the Vikings matched, the difference in the charges -- $390,000 -- would be transferred to their books. There are no cash considerations, but in essence the Vikings bought themselves a week of extra salary-cap space. That didn't make a difference in their day-to-day operations, but in general it's a good policy to follow when the numbers are meaningful.

(Note: I updated the paragraphs above to clarify the explanation.)

To me, the bigger question is why the Vikings think it's so important to have a high-priced fullback on their roster when he plays less than 50 percent of their offensive snaps. This will be the fourth time in the past four years they have a fullback on the roster averaging $1 million or more on his contract. Tony Richardson was their starter in 2006 and 2007, while Thomas Tapeh earned $1.855 million for two games last season before being waived.

I've always thought the Vikings should find a way to maximize the time that Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor spend on the field together. When they absolutely need a fullback, they have H-back Jeff Dugan on their roster for that purpose. But that's just me.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

DANA POINT, Calif. -- The New York Jets have added yet another cornerback, signing Donald Strickland to a three-year deal, ESPN.com's John Clayton has reported.

Strickland

Strickland started two games last year for the San Francisco 49ers, making 39 tackles. He returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Jets have renovated a secondary that finished 29th in pass defense. They welcome back Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis, respected safety Kerry Rhodes and Dwight Lowery, who started the first 10 games at cornerback as a rookie.

But the Jets knew they had to overhaul the rest of their defensive backfield. They've traded for Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard and signed free-agent safety Jim Leonhard from the Baltimore Ravens.

They also have met with former Ravens cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Corey Ivy.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

DANA POINT, Calif. -- Jason Brown's departure from the Ravens to the Rams in free agency might have helped both teams in some ways.

	Joel Auerbach/US Presswire
	Practicing against the Ravens' defensive linemen made Jason Brown a better center.

The Rams gained a physical center to help open holes for Steven Jackson in the power running game St. Louis envisions developing. The Ravens lost a good young player, but they recovered by adding veteran Matt Birk.

The head coaches I polled on the subject -- Mike Tomlin, whose Steelers face the Ravens twice a year, and Rex Ryan, who coordinated the Ravens' defense before joining the Jets -- offered their perspectives from the NFL owners' meeting Tuesday. Tomlin coached with the Vikings when Birk played for Minnesota.

Ryan: Jason came a long way. He was a country kid and he's a great kid. But it's funny because we used to beat him up every day in practice. When he was going against Kelly Gregg and Trevor Pryce and Haloti Ngata every day, he would get to a game and the game was easy. He was one of the top centers in football. He grew up and it was great to watch because he's a great kid and he's going to be one of the top centers in football, I believe.

Tomlin: I know Matt Birk personally, and I don't know Jason Brown. But I have a great deal of respect for Matt Birk. What they are getting with him is immeasurable from what happens outside the white lines. This is a guy that is a program guy, that will be a leader in their offseason program, is a great communicator. I have all the respect in the world for Matt Birk as a professional. He is going to make them a better football team.

The part about Brown developing under fire in practice resonated in this situation. The Ravens' defense played and practiced with an attitude unseen elsewhere. Lining up against those nose tackles in practice would have forced Brown to step forward.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

DANA POINT, Calif. -- It's not every morning you bump into Titans head coach Jeff Fisher at the breakfast table. When else was I going to ask him about 49ers receiver Brandon Jones, who left Tennessee for San Francisco this offseason?

Jones

"We wanted Brandon back," Fisher said. "Brandon is one of my favorite players. He is very productive and a good practice player. It became more of a financial deal."

The Titans also wanted Steelers receiver Nate Washington. They signed Washington and let Jones depart for a five-year, $16.5 million deal with the 49ers.

What did Fisher like about Jones?

"His personality. He is just fun to be around," Fisher said. "He works hard. He takes coaching. He's just one of those guys you can tease with and joke around with, but you always knew he was going to do the best he could and work real hard."

Injuries were Jones' primary enemy in Tennessee. He suffered a torn ACL early in his career. He missed seven more games in 2007 before setting career highs with 41 receptions for 449 yards last season.

"He's not an injury-prone person," Fisher said. "It was freak injuries. But if he puts the injuries behind him and stacks a couple years together, he'll be very productive."

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

DANA POINT, Calif. -- The New England Patriots keep gaining assets.

The NFL on Monday announced at its annual owners' meeting that 32 compensatory draft picks have been awarded to 16 teams. The Patriots received the highest selection at 97th overall.

The Patriots also obtained extra fifth- and sixth-round picks, giving them 11 selections throughout the draft.

New England owns six selections within the first 97 slots: Nos. 23, 34, 47, 58, 89 and 97.

The Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets didn't receive any compensatory picks.

The NFL awards compensatory draft choices based on a formula of free agents lost and acquired the previous offseason. If a team signs more or better free agents than it loses, compensatory picks aren't given.

New England last offseason lost cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Randall Gay and receiver Donte Stallworth without signing any free agents of significance.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

The NFL has announced compensatory draft selections, which are determined by a formula that weighs measures free-agent losses versus free-agent gains from last year and factors in performance.

The compensatory selections cannot be traded, but give teams more flexibility in trading their other picks.

The Titans tied with the Bengals with a league high four compensatory picks. The Jaguars got two, the Colts one and the Texans none.

Tennessee:

Fourth round, 135th overall
Fifth round, 173rd
Sixth round, 206th
Seventh round, 242nd

Ten picks overall

Jacksonville:

Seventh round, 250th
Seventh round, 253rd

Nine picks overall

Indianapolis:

Fourth round, 136th

Eight picks overall

Houston:

None

Eight picks overall