2014 March - Pro Football Rumors

Extra Points: Hawkins, Graham, Martin, Byrd

March 11th, 2014 at 10:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Aaron Wilson of National Football Post has the goods on Andrew Hawkins‘ $13.1MM offer sheet with the Browns. The deal would give the wide receiver a $3MM signing bonus and a 2014 base salary of $1.8MM guaranteed for skill and injury. In 2015, he has a $2.3MM base that is guaranteed for injury only. He has non-guaranteed bases of $2.5MM in ’16 and $2.6MM in ’17. More from around the NFL..

One team other than the Ravens to keep an eye on for cornerback Corey Graham is the Dolphins, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. There’s an opening now that Nolan Carroll is unsigned and Dimitri Patterson has been cut.
The Dolphins will carry about $959K in dead money after the Jonathan Martin trade, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
If DeMarcus Ware is still on the market after the initial wave of interest, the Packers could get involved, but that’s unlikely, tweets Rob Demovsky of ESPN. It sounds like the Broncos are the frontrunner for his services.
The Bills‘ best offer to Jairus Byrd was a yearly average of about $7.5MM, tweets Tim Graham of the Buffalo News.
The Colts had conversations with the Dolphins about Martin and the Vikings also showed interest, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports.
Tracy Porter is visiting the Giants tonight, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter).

Chargers Sign Donald Brown

March 11th, 2014 at 10:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers have agreed to sign Donald Brown, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The deal is similar to the one signed by Toby Gerhart earlier today. It’s a three-year pact worth $10.5MM with $4MM guaranteed, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter).

Brown is cashing in coming off his best season as a pro, setting career highs in yards per carry and rushing touchdowns. Brown salvaged the Colts’ running game after Trent Richardson struggled to fit in to the team’s game plan.

Brown will join Danny Woodhead and Ryan Mathews in the Chargers’ backfield. He would be a great complement to Woodhead if Mathews injury concerns force Woodhead into an every down role.

Titans Rumors: Woods, Woodyard, Verner

March 11th, 2014 at 10:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier tonight, the Titans lost Alterraun Verner to the Buccaneers when Tampa Bay reached agreement on a four-year deal, worth $26.5MM with the standout cornerback. Here’s the latest out of Tennessee..

Steelers nose tackle Al Woods is scheduled to visit the Titans on Wednesday, sources tell Wyatt (on Twitter). The 6’4″, 307 pound lineman saw time in all 16 games last season (including two starts) and registered 2.0 sacks.
The Titans are interested in Broncos free agent linebacker Wesley Woodyard, tweets Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean. First, however, Woodyard will meet with the Patriots.
The Titans made a similar offer to Verner before he eventually opted to take the deal tonight from the Buccaneers, sources tell Jim Wyatt of The Tennesseean (on Twitter).

Broncos To Sign Aqib Talib

March 11th, 2014 at 10:20pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos have agreed to sign free agent cornerback Aqib Talib, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN. The deal gives Talib $26MM in guaranteed money, according to sources.

The total worth of the deal is six years and $57MM. With Vontae Davis and Alterraun Verner also signing contracts today, the top three cornerbacks are off the market, in addition to Sam Shields who was re-signed by the Packers earlier this offseason. That potentially leaves Darrelle Revis as the last big impact corner available.

Talib was the seventh ranked free agent according to our own Luke Adams, making him the number one corner available. One spot below him overall was Verner, who earned himself a contract just about half what Talib will receive from the Broncos.

Colts Sign Arthur Jones To Five-Year Deal

March 11th, 2014 at 10:01pm CST by Luke Adams

10:01pm: A source with knowledge of the contract says that Jones’ absolute guarantee is $10MM thanks to a $5.5MM signing bonus and a fully-guaranteed base of $4.5 for 2014, tweets Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The $16MM guarantee figure is including his $6MM 2015 base salary, guaranteed for injury only.

5:58pm: Wilson reported more details of Jones’ new contract, which will be worth $33MM over five years, and will include $16MM in guaranteed money. Jones will also receive a $5.5MM signing bonus as part of the deal (via Twitter).

3:18pm: The Colts and Jones have agreed to a five-year deal worth about $6MM annually, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

8:19am: There’s a strong chance that the Colts will sign defensive lineman Arthur Jones as soon as today, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Jones’ new deal is expected to be worth $6-7MM per season.

Jones, 27, had been expected to draw significant interest from other teams on the open market, and was viewed as a good bet to leave the Ravens in free agency. The Titans, Redskins, Giants, Vikings, and Packers were among the clubs said to be interested in the former fifth-round pick, who I ranked as the 23rd-best free agent available this offseason.

Playing primarily as a part-timer on his rookie contract, Jones hasn’t accumulated a whole lot of mileage, but has exhibited plenty of potential when he’s played. In 529 snaps for the Ravens in 2013, Jones recorded a +15.7 PFF grade, performing very well against the run while also compiling 25 quarterback pressures.

Assuming the Colts can finalize the signing, it will be the team’s second major defensive addition of the offseason. The club also reached an agreement with linebacker D’Qwell Jackson last week. Next up on Indianapolis’ to-do list will be filling out a secondary that might lose cornerback Vontae Davis and/or safety Antoine Bethea.

Playoff Teams Interested In DeMarcus Ware

March 11th, 2014 at 9:58pm CST by Rob DiRe

While it is already known that the Broncos are the front runners to sign DeMarcus Ware, 15 teams have called to express interest in the veteran pass rusher, including eight playoff teams, according to Rainer Sabin of DallasNews.com.

Ware is thought of as a very scheme versatile player, able to put his hand in the dirt and rush the passer as a 4-3 end or more naturally as a standup outside linebacker in a 3-4. He joins Julius Peppers and Jared Allen as the most accomplished quarterback killers on the market. All three players will most likely command smaller contracts, but should be able to choose contenders to play for as they all chase a Super Bowl, something none of the three have been able to attain.

NFC Rumors: Allen, Rams, Tillman, Costa

March 11th, 2014 at 9:40pm CST by Zachary Links

With the Broncos shifting their focus to DeMarcus Ware, Vikings free agent defensive end Jared Allen is talking with the Bears and Seahawks, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). More out of the NFC..

Contrary to some reports, free agent defensive end Antonio Smith is not making a free agent visit to the Rams, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The Rams decided not to make a tender offer to cornerback Quinton Pointer, an exclusive rights free agent, Thomas tweets.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter) would not be surprised to see the Panthers work to get in the game for free agent cornerback Charles Tillman. There was a lot of talk about Tillman reuniting with former coach Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay, but that’s probably off the table now that the Buccaneers have agreed to sign Alterraun Verner.
Former Cowboys veteran center Phil Costa visited the Lions today and will meet with the Patriots on Monday, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the Football Post. Costa, a 6-foot-3, 302-pounder from Maryland who has started 20 of 26 career games, started no games last season after the Cowboys drafted center Travis Frederick in the first round. For what it’s worth, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter) hears that the Pats visit took place yesterday.
The Buccaneers were pursuing offensive tackle Rodger Saffold last weekend, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Had they signed him, he would have played left tackle in Tampa. Instead, Saffold is Oakland bound.

AFC West Rumors: Allen, Howard, Saffold

March 11th, 2014 at 9:31pm CST by Rob DiRe

Jared Allen‘s first visit of his free agency will be with the Broncos, which was first reported by Ian Rapaport of NFL.com (Dan Hanzus of NFL.com credited him with the report). Allen could be a perfect fit for a team in need of a pass rusher, unless they somehow find a way to attract an even bigger name in free agency.

Here are some other notes from around the AFC West:

Austin Howard is visiting with the Raiders, as reported by Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). The much improved right tackle failed to come to an agreement to stay with the Jets, and could play opposite the Raiders’ new presumed left tackle Rodger Saffold (unless Saffold is a very expensive guard).
While the Raiders have already retained one running back, they may still be looking to add depth to their backfield. Ian Rapaport of NFL.com reports that the team also has an interest former Giant tailback Andre Brown (via Twitter).
Kavell Conner is visiting with the Chargers, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The former Colts linebacker was a starter for much of his first three seasons in Indianapolis, but did not start a single game in 2013.
Wide receiver Joe Morgan, who was non-tendered as a restricted free agent recently by the Saints, is visiting the Chiefs, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
The Chiefs are interested in veteran inside linebacker Joe Mays, who coach Andy Reid selected in the sixth round of the 2008 draft, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.

Jets Interested In Maurice Jones-Drew

March 11th, 2014 at 9:04pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Jets struggled on offense last season, and while most of the blame fell on rookie quarterback Geno Smith and an underachieving group of receivers, the team also found it difficult to move the ball on the ground. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that while the team is looking to upgrade its receivers, it also could look at improving at running back (via Twitter). One option he writes that the Jets are seriously considering is former Jaguar Maurice Jones-Drew.

Jones-Drew has struggled with injuries the past two seasons, but also dealt with offenses that were among the league’s worst. He is only a few year removed from toting the football all the way to the rushing title, amassing over 1,600 yards in 2011.

The 28-year-old workhorse does have over 1,800 carries under his belt, and has taken a beating in his NFL career. Jones-Drew is a reliable receiver out of the backfield, and can make an impact on third down both catching the football and protecting the quarterback. As veteran running backs such as Darren McFadden and Toby Gerhart have been signing cheap deals so far this offseason, albeit much less accomplished NFL players, Jones-Drew could make a difference sharing the tailback duties for the Jets with Chris Ivory.

Contract Details: Whitner, Jenkins, Blackmon

March 11th, 2014 at 8:49pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest particulars from various contracts signed today..

Donte Whitner‘s four-year, $28MM deal with the Browns includes $11MM fully guaranteed in 2014, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
Malcolm Jenkins‘ three-year deal with the Eagles is worth $15.5MM, Pelissero tweets. He gets $6MM fully guaranteed in 2014, plus $2.5MM of the $4MM base in ’15 now guaranteed for injury.
Will Blackmon‘s two-year, $1.725MM deal with the Jaguars included $500K guaranteed, Pelissero tweets. He earn up to $250K with playing time in ’14 and ’15.
Zane Beadles‘ five-year, $30MM deal with the Jaguars has $12.5MM in guaranteed money, Pelissero tweets. He’s scheduled to get roster bonuses of $4.5MM in ’14 and $2MM in ’15 is guaranteed for skill/injury.