Jurrell Casey - Pro Football Rumors

DL Jurrell Casey Announces Retirement

September 2nd, 2021 at 8:18am CST by Sam Robinson

Jurrell Casey‘s 2020 season came to an early end, and the Pro Bowl defensive lineman will not return for an 11th NFL campaign. The former Titans and Broncos defender announced his retirement Thursday morning.

The former third-round pick’s string of Pro Bowls ran through the 2019 season, when the Titans defensive end received his fifth such nod. Casey played nine seasons with Tennessee and was a starter from the outset. One of the top interior D-linemen of the 2010s, Casey ended up making 140 career starts.

The Titans made Casey an integral defensive component throughout the 2010s, signing him to two extensions. The USC product inked his first new deal — a four-year, $36MM pact — in 2014 and continued to play at a high level to the point the Titans gave him a third contract in 2017 (four years, $60MM).

Casey finished his career with 51 sacks — second-most in the franchise’s Tennessee years, one behind Jevon Kearse‘s total — and 85 tackles for loss. Casey is by far the Titans’ TFL king, registering 20-plus more than any other player in the franchise’s 22-season Tennessee stay.

Although the Titans struggled for much of Casey’s career, he contributed on two playoff-bound teams after signing his second extension. In the 2019 slate, Casey returned from injury to factor into Tennessee’s upset wins over New England and Baltimore. He dropped Lamar Jackson for two sacks in the latter victory, which cemented the Titans’ first AFC championship game trip in 17 years.

Tennessee traded Casey to Denver in 2020, but a biceps tear ended his season after three games. Injuries to Casey, Von Miller and other starters did well to sink Denver’s 2020 season. The Broncos released Casey in February, and although he popped up on teams’ radars this offseason, the accomplished defender changed course to lead to Thursday’s announcement.

DT Jurrell Casey “Mulling Multiple Offers”

July 13th, 2021 at 7:16pm CST by Ben Levine

We haven’t heard much from Jurrell Casey since he was released by the Broncos back in February…but that doesn’t mean there’s a lack of interest. According to Adam H. Beasley of ProFootballNetwork.com, the veteran defensive tackle “is mulling multiple offers.” However, a deal isn’t imminent.

Casey, 31, made the Pro Bowl every year from 2015-2019, and from 2013-2019, the USC product had at least five sacks from the interior. His best work earned him a four-year, $60.4MM extension from the Titans. Last offseason, the Broncos agreed to take on that contract, and all it cost them (besides cash and cap flexibility) was a seventh-round pick.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, Casey’s first Denver season ended in September. Unable to return after a bicep tear, Casey finished out with just three appearances and a grand total of 14 tackles. It was his first season with fewer than 14 games played and his first ever sackless campaign.

Back in February, the Broncos cut the veteran, providing the organization with more than $11MM in cap relief. Once teams identify their need for defensive line depth, there will surely be suitors who are willing to pony up for the five-time Pro Bowler.

Broncos Release Jurrell Casey

February 25th, 2021 at 11:37am CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos will release defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The move will clear $11.875MM from the Broncos’ books and put the veteran on the open market.

Casey, 31, made the Pro Bowl every year from 2015-2019. And, from 2013-2019, the USC product had at least five sacks from the interior. His best work earned him a four-year, $60.4MM extension from the Titans. Last offseason, the Broncos agreed to take on that contract. All it cost them (besides cash and cap flexibility) was a seventh-round pick.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, Casey’s first Denver season ended in September. Unable to return after a bicep tear, Casey finished out with just three appearances and a grand total of 14 tackles. It was his first season with less than 14 games played and his first ever sackless campaign.

There was no guaranteed money left on Casey’s deal, so the Broncos get to wipe the entirety of his remaining commitment from the books. Heading into today, the Broncos had roughly $166MM on the cap for 2021. Now, between this and the recent release of cornerback A.J. Bouye, they should have upwards of $35MM to spend, depending on where the final cap number lands. For now, all we know is that the cap will be no lower than $180MM, the agreed upon floor for the coming year.

Broncos’ Jurrell Casey Likely Done For The Year

September 28th, 2020 at 12:52pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Bad day for defensive tackles and their biceps. Just moments after it was reported that Washington’s Matt Ioannidis was done for the year, we’ve got word that Broncos defensive tackle Jurrell Casey also has a torn bicep and is likely out for the season as well, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).

The hits just keep on coming for Denver, who has been sending players to injured reserve on a seemingly daily basis. Von Miller, Drew Lock, Courtland Sutton, and A.J. Bouye are just a small sampling of the high profile guys to go down with serious injuries. The Broncos acquired Casey in a trade with the Titans back in March, giving up only a seventh-round pick due to the veteran’s healthy salary.

He’s still a very solid player, making the Pro Bowl in each of the last five seasons, and it’s yet another huge blow to the Broncos’ defense. The USC product has had at least five sacks from the interior in each of the last seven seasons.

Needless to say, the 0-3 Broncos will be quit shorthanded for their trip to take on the Jets on Thursday Night Football this week. With Dre’Mont Jones also on injured reserve, this Denver defensive line is being held together by a thread. Casey is signed through the 2022 season thanks to the four-year, $60.4MM extension he signed in July of 2017.

South Notes: Titans, Casey, Texans, O’Brien

June 9th, 2020 at 7:42pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After spending nine seasons the Titans, defensive tackle Jurrell Casey felt entirely disrespected when he was traded to the Broncos in exchange for a seventh-round pick earlier this year. “For us to get to that point to get better and to be a main focus of that and then you just throw me away to the trash like I wasn’t a main block of that, especially coming off an injury the year before and playing the whole season for ya’ll,” Casey tells Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com. “No complaints, I did everything you wanted me to do and you throw me like a piece of trash.” Tennessee shopped Casey before trading him, per McCormick, and moved on him from largely due to his upcoming salary. But Casey says he wasn’t aware of any trade talks until roughly 30 seconds before the deal was finalized.

Here’s more from the NFL’s two South divisions:

Count Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan among those who believe Colin Kaepernick should have a shot to return to the NFL. Speaking to reporters, Ryan said Kaepernick, who was essentially blackballed for protesting police brutality in 2016, should have “every opportunity” to join an NFL roster this year (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com). The status of the 32-year-old Kaepernick has re-entered the news following the killing of George Floyd and subsequent nationwide protests against police violence and systemic racism.
The Texans fired ex-general manager Brian Gaine one year ago Sunday, paving the way for head coach Bill O’Brien to assume total power in Houston. Aaron Reiss of The Athletic looked back at the past year of O’Brien’s decision-making and highlighted that O’Brien is largely bucking conventional wisdom at every turn. Not only did O’Brien trade away a proven pass-catcher in DeAndre Hopkins, but he’s also placed little value on accumulating draft picks while deploying assets on running backs.
PFR’s Zach Links recently profiled Texans cornerback Gareon Conley as he enters a make-or-break year in 2020.

Titans Trade Jurrell Casey To Broncos

March 18th, 2020 at 10:54am CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos have landed Jurrell Casey, and it didn’t cost him much. On Wednesday, the Titans agreed to send the defensive tackle to Denver in exchange for a seventh-round pick.

Casey is on the books for $11.85MM in 2020, with $5.45MM of that sum becoming fully guaranteed this weekend. The Titans were likely to release him, but they found a taker and a small bit of compensation instead.

Casey, 30, missed the final game of the 2018 season with a knee injury and was held out of training camp as he recovered. He passed his physical in time for 2019 and managed to appear in 14 games, all starts. Casey has been first-string for his entire Titans tenure; he has 139 career games and has started in all but two of them.

With this deal, the Broncos have added a five-time Pro Bowler to their defensive line on the cheap. Casey has 51 career sacks from the interior under his belt and an impressive track record of disruption on the line. Last year, Pro Football Focus gave him a 74.3 score – a notch below his usual work, but still good enough to place as the No. 24 ranked interior defender in the NFL.

Titans Sign RB Akeem Hunt, Three Others

August 10th, 2019 at 12:55pm CST by Ben Levine

The Titans overhauled the bottom of their roster this morning, according to Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com. The team added four players: running back Akeem Hunt, defensive end Eric Cotton, receiver DeAngelo Yancey and linebacker Ukeme Eligwe. The Titans also activated Jurrell Casey from the Physically Unable to Perform list.

To make room on the roster, the team made a series of roster moves: receiver Jalen Tolliver was waived, while linebacker Riley Bullough and offensive lineman Cody Conway were waived/injured. Wide receiver Cameron Batson and linebacker D’Andre Walker, a fifth-rounder out of Georgia, was placed on injured reserve.

Hunt is the most notable name among the additions, as the 26-year-old has appeared in 30 games during his four-year career. Hunt’s last stint in the NFL came in 2017, when he appeared in a career-high 15 games for the Chiefs. The running back finished that season with 23 rushing yards on eight attempts, and he added another 31 yards on four receptions. He also had 25 kick returns and five special teams tackles.

Yancey, a 2017 fifth-round pick out of Purdue, hasn’t seen the field for a regular season game. He’s had stints with the Packers, Jets, and Titans. Eligwe, a 2017 fifth-rounder out of Georgia Southern, has 12 career tackles in 24 games with the Giants and Chiefs. Cotton, a former undrafted free agent out of Stanford, had a previous stint with the Packers.

Casey suffered a knee injury towards the end of last season that ended up shelving him for training camp. The four-time Pro Bowler recently passed his physical, and he’ll immediately take his starting gig on the defensive line.

Titans Place DL Jurrell Casey On IR

December 24th, 2018 at 11:50am CST by Ben Levine

The Titans will be battling the Colts this weekend for a playoff spot, but they’ll be without the services of a key defensive lineman. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the team is placing defensive end Jurrell Casey on the injured reserve.

Casey exited yesterday’s win over the Redskins with a knee injury, and Schefter notes that veteran suffered a sprained MCL. The defensive lineman had also suffered a knee injury during the Titans previous game against the Giants, but it’s uncertain if Casey aggravated that ailment or suffered a brand-new injury. Either way, the lineman’s season has come to an end.

Losing Casey will certainly hurt, as the Titans had been relying on the 29-year-old all season. In 15 games, the eight-year veteran had compiled 62 tackles, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles, a performance that helped earn him his fifth-straight Pro Bowl nod. Pro Football Focus was bullish of his performance in 2018, ranking him 13th among 118 eligible interior defenders.

Casey would have been particularly useful against Marlon Mack and the Colts rushing game this weekend, as the lineman had graded out as one of the top run-stoppers in the league. Now, the team will have to rely on their depth to make up for Casey’s absence, although that’s easier said than done. With Casey now out of the picture, the team is only rostering a pair of healthy defensive ends in DaQuan Jones and Matt Dickerson.

South Notes: Falcons, Jones, Titans, Casey

July 18th, 2018 at 4:16pm CST by Zachary Links

Everyone is waiting to see whether Julio Jones will show up for Falcons training camp, but fans received an encouraging sign this week when Jones arrived at Matt Ryan‘s offseason passing camp (Twitter link via team). Jones has stayed away from the team this offseason in hopes of reworking his contract and it’s not clear if he’ll join his teammates on July 26 in Georgia.

Jones is underpaid for what he does, but he has three years to go on his deal and the Falcons aren’t under any real pressure to revise his deal. His yearly average of $14.25MM once seemed like a lot, but it’s now good for eighth among wide receivers. Jones could, in theory, improve his leverage by continuing to skip team activities, but he’ll have to pay substantial fines.

Here’s more from the South divisions:

Titans defensive end Jurrell Casey says he’ll stay on the field and protest during the national anthem, while accepting any fines levied against him under the terms of the new anthem policy. “I’m going to take a fine this year, why not?” said Casey (via CNN). “I’m going to protest during the flag. That’s what I’m going to say now.” Casey, 28, inked a four-year, $60.4MM extension with the Titans in 2017, so he can probably afford to pay some fines. It remains to be seen whether other players will follow suit.
Linebacker Darius Leonard is the only unsigned rookie left in the Colts‘ draft class yet to sign his contract, but that might not be the case for long. The Colts still expect to have a deal done by the time rookies report on Sunday, a source tells Stephen Holder of the Indy Star (on Twitter).

Contract Details: Griffen, Casey, Kelly

July 29th, 2017 at 3:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

This week, two defensive linemen signed landmark extensions with their franchises. Here’s how their contracts are structured.

Everson Griffen‘s four-year, $58MM Vikings extension included $18.8MM fully guaranteed at signing, and that will pay out over the next two years, Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Griffen’s 2017 cap number rises to $8.6MM, and in 2018, that figure comes in at $11.6MM. The 29-year-old defensive end’s cap figures from 2019-22 are as follows: $11.9MM in ’19, $13.9MM (’20), $14.4MM (’21) and $15.5MM (’22). Griffen received a $2MM signing bonus. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports Griffen’s $3.9MM base salary for 2018 is guaranteed for injury at signing and becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the next league year. His $10.9MM base in ’19 becomes fully guaranteed on Day 3 of the 2019 league year. After ’19, though, the guarantees are partial. $4.3MM of Griffen’s 2020 base ($12.9MM) is guaranteed for injury only at signing. Griffen has no guarantees attached to the 2021 or ’22 seasons, leading Florio to tab this a two-year deal with extra injury protection in the following two seasons.
Jurrell Casey‘s four-year, $60.4MM Titans re-up contains $22MM fully guaranteed at signing, Florio reports. Over the next two years, the interior defender will make $25.2MM — $11.27MM of which will be new money, per Florio. Most of Casey’s 2017 wages come through bonuses; he will earn $1.4MM in base salary. In 2018 and ’19, Casey will earn $10.6MM base salaries. The 2018 base is over $4MM more than he was set to earn under the terms of the initial Titans extension he signed in 2014. That rises to $11.25MM in 2020 and climbs to $11.68MM in ’21. By 2022, which would be Casey’s age-31 season, the two-time Pro Bowler is set to earn $13.25MM.
The Titans agreed to extend offensive lineman Dennis Kelly as well. It’s a two-year deal worth $3.05MM, with $400K guaranteed, per Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The swing backup will earn base salaries of $775K (2017), $1.1MM (’18) and $1.35MM (’19), per Terry McCormick of TitansInsider (via Twitter).