2014 March - Pro Football Rumors

FA Rumors: Melton, Walker, Cromartie

March 13th, 2014 at 2:34pm CST by Zachary Links

Unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Henry Melton, who is visiting with the Vikings on Thursday, is the center of a lawsuit from a bar altercation where he is alleged to have bitten the restaurant owner, writes Master Tesfatsion of the Star-Tribune. That could be a sticking point for the Vikings, who dealt with four player arrests in 2013. The latest free agent rumors from around the NFL…

Vance Walker is visiting with the Chiefs today, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN. The defensive tackle also has a visit lined up with the Packers, tweets Rob Demovsky of ESPN.
Former Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie is visiting with the Cardinals today, a source tells Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (on Twitter).
Quarterback Shaun Hill could still return to the Lions, a source tells Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. The Buccaneers seemed like a real option for Hill until they inked Josh McCown this week.
Akeem Jordan‘s visit with the Titans has been moved up from Monday to Friday, says Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean, adding that the Redskins would like to bring in the linebacker for a visit if he doesn’t sign with Tennessee (Twitter links).
Tight end Owen Daniels is set to visit with the Redskins, a source tells ESPN’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter).
Return specialist Ted Ginn is visiting the Cardinals, tweets P. Schrager of FOXSports.com.

Jags Sign Chris Clemons To Four-Year Deal

March 13th, 2014 at 2:30pm CST by Zachary Links

2:30pm: Clemons’ four-year contract is worth a total of $17.5MM, with $5.475MM in guaranteed money, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports and Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links).

1:08pm: The Jags have officially signed Clemons, according to John Oesher of Jaguars.com (Twitter link).

9:33am: It’ll be a four-year deal for Clemons, Breer adds (via Twitter).

THURSDAY, 9:27am: Clemons has agreed to terms with the Jaguars and is expected to officially sign his new deal today, reports Breer (via Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, 5:18pm: Albert Breer of NFL Network (on Twitter) indicates that nothing has been agreed to just yet, but he says that a multiyear deal is likely.

5:08pm: It appears that the Jaguars are set to sign defensive end Chris Clemons, tweets Terry Blount of ESPN.

Clemons is coming off a down year and was slated to have a cap hit of about $9.667MM in 2014, so his release from Seattle was not unexpected. The 32-year-old recorded at least 11 sacks in his first three seasons with the Seahawks, but recovery from a torn ACL slowed him down in 2013, resulting in just 4.5 sacks and a -7.7 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which placed him 42nd among 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends.

The Jaguars were also linked to Jared Allen, Jason Hatcher, and others, but with former Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley at the helm, Clemons was the logical fit.

Jaguars Sign Ziggy Hood To Four-Year Deal

March 13th, 2014 at 2:28pm CST by Luke Adams

2:28pm: Hood’s deal is worth $16MM over four years, with $5.5MM in guaranteed money, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports and Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links).

11:31am: It’s a four-year contract for Hood, according to Octagon agent Andy Ross (via Twitter).

9:35am: The Jaguars have reached a deal with defensive lineman Ziggy Hood, reports Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter). It was O’Halloran that first broke word of Hood’s visit with the team yesterday.

Hood, a former first-round pick, has started 37 games on the Steelers’ defensive line over the last three seasons, recording 39 tackles and three sacks in 2013. However, Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics haven’t been kind to him — he has posted a grade of -10.0 or worse for those three seasons, ranking in the bottom five for 3-4 defensive ends each year.

The Jaguars have now agreed to terms with two new defensive linemen today, having also reached a four-year agreement with Chris Clemons.

Raiders Sign Justin Tuck To Two-Year Deal

March 13th, 2014 at 2:18pm CST by Luke Adams

2:18pm: The Raiders have signed Tuck, the team officially announced (Twitter link).

2:05pm: After giving the Giants a chance to improve their offer, Justin Tuck will part ways with the team and is headed west to Oakland, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Schefter reports that Tuck has accepted a two-year, $11MM deal with the Raiders.

Tuck has spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Giants, and it sounds as if he was interested in continuing his tenure in New York. However, with New York unwilling to match the Raiders’ offer, Tuck will join an Oakland team that is also attempting to sign LaMarr Woodley and Jason Hatcher, among others.

While we heard yesterday that there were more teams in play for Tuck besides the Giants and Raiders, no other specific suitors were identified. A report earlier in the week suggested Tuck’s best offer was $3MM per season, so it seems his market improved a little over the last couple days — perhaps as a result of DeMarcus Ware‘s unexpectedly large three-year deal with the Broncos.

Although he’ll turn 31 this month, Tuck has continued to produce in recent seasons, racking up 11 sacks and forcing a pair of fumbles in 2013. He also received an impressive grade as a run-stopper, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which placed him seventh among 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends last season. Tuck will help fill the defensive end void created in Oakland when Lamarr Houston agreed to sign with the Bears.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Redskins Sign Clifton Geathers

March 13th, 2014 at 2:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins announced via Twitter that they have signed defensive end Clifton Geathers.

Geathers, 26, was a sparingly-used reserve for the Eagles last season. In a full 16-game season, Geathers registered just nine tackles in total. Late last month, it was reported that a reunion for Clifton and Philadelphia was unlikely to take place. Over the course of his four year career, Geathers has also had stops in Dallas, Miami, and Indianapolis.

Extra Points: Cousins, Hood, Graham, Saffold

March 13th, 2014 at 2:03pm CST by Luke Adams

A Kirk Cousins trade remains unlikely for the Redskins, write Mike Jones and Mark Maske of the Washington Post. There was talk that Washington would be open to moving the quarterback since he would like to start and he is stuck behind Robert Griffin III on the depth chart. For his part, Cousins has said that he will be professional and won’t demand a trade.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

Before he agreed to sign with the Jaguars, defensive lineman Ziggy Hood received interest from the Redskins, Raiders, and Chiefs, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Meanwhile, Chris Clemons said the Raiders and Falcons reached out to him before he agreed to sign with the Jaguars, according to O’Halloran (via Twitter).
Cornerback Corey Graham, who signed with the Bills, told reporters today that he was preparing to go to dinner with the Redskins when he got the call from his agent about Buffalo’s offer (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WGR550).
Wide receiver Jacoby Jones had a similar story to Graham, as Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun details in a pair of tweets. Jones says he was in New York, about to have dinner with the Giants, when he realized he wanted to stay with the Ravens and headed for the airport instead.
Safety Mike Mitchell is extremely happy to be with the Steelers and tells reporters, including Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (on Twitter) that he wanted to come to Pittsburgh more than the club wanted him to be there.
As expected, the Cardinals have paid Daryl Washington his option bonus, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. There was some talk that they wouldn’t pay out his bonus due to legal issues.
Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle provides a look at the Raiders‘ perspective on why their deal with Rodger Saffold fell apart yesterday.
Wide receiver prospect Marqise Lee is drawing significant interest from the Jets and had a private meeting with the team, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
Georgia tech outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, a projected second- or third-round pick tells Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times (Twitter links) that six teams have shown strong interest in him. Those clubs are the Ravens, Eagles, Titans, Redskins, Chargers, and Steelers.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Vince Wilfork Asks Pats To Release Him

March 13th, 2014 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

Longtime Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork has requested his release, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). While no further details have surfaced yet, it had been expected that the club and Wilfork would have to restructure the veteran’s contract at some point in the near future if he was to remain in New England.

Entering the final year of his contract, Wilfork had been on the books for a cap hit of $11.6MM in 2014. With $3.6MM of dead money included in that amount, the Pats would create $8MM in cap savings if they were to release the 32-year-old. According to Rapoport and Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links), there had been no recent talks between the team and Wilfork, and the idea of reworking his contract was a non-starter for the former first-round pick.

Wilfork, who will be returning from a torn Achilles in 2014, appeared in just four games for the Pats in 2013, but has consistently posted positive grades at defensive tackle for the club in his healthy seasons, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). If the five-time Pro Bowler were to hit the open market, he would draw plenty of interest from virtually every team in need of interior defensive line help.

Jaguars Re-Sign Jason Babin

March 13th, 2014 at 1:14pm CST by Luke Adams

Just three days after voiding his deal and hitting the free agent market, defensive lineman Jason Babin is returning to the Jaguars, having agreed to a new deal with the team, according to J.P. Shadrick of Jaguars.com (via Twitter).

Even after voiding his previous contract, Babin was vocal about his desire to return to Jacksonville. Babin, who turns 34 in May, played in all 16 games last season, racking up 31 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two passes defended. The well-traveled veteran has been with five clubs over the course of his NFL career and he won’t be making it six with today’s news.

The Jaguars have been extremely busy beefing up their defensive line today, also adding veterans Chris Clemons and Ziggy Hood.

Browns Sign Jim Dray

March 13th, 2014 at 1:11pm CST by Luke Adams

The Browns have signed free agent tight end Jim Dray, the team announced today (Twitter link). An unrestricted free agent, Dray spent his first four NFL seasons with the Cardinals. The agreement between the two sides is a three-year deal worth $5.625MM, with $2.25MM in the first year, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter).

Dray, 27, got his first shot at significant playing time in 2013, and easily set career highs in receptions (26), receiving yards (215), and touchdowns (2). However, he ranked just 62nd out of 64 qualified tight ends on Pro Football Focus (subscription required) due to poor grades as a run blocker.

Packers Re-Sign Andrew Quarless

March 13th, 2014 at 1:01pm CST by Luke Adams

The Packers have re-signed free agent tight end Andrew Quarless, the team announced today in a press release. The terms of Quarless’ new contract weren’t disclosed, but it’ll be a two-year deal, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Post-Gazette (via Twitter).

Quarless, who reportedly drew interest from seven teams in free agency, including the Giants, set career-highs with 32 receptions, 312 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns in the 2013 season. The 25-year-old’s increased role in the Packers offense came as a result of injuries to Jermichael Finley, and with Finley a free agent himself, Quarless could continue to see increased playing time in 2014.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Finley left Seattle today after visiting the Seahawks, and while there’s mutual interest in a deal, Finley is still waiting on medical clearance.