2014 April - Pro Football Rumors

Redskins Notes: Mesko, Jackson, Latimer

April 8th, 2014 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The Redskins signed Blake Clingan to a contract earlier today, giving the team a pair of punters on the roster — Clingan joins Robert Malone, who was signed following the end of the regular season. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), former Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko auditioned for Washington as well, but unless the club plans on a three-way competition in camp, it looks like Mesko’s workout with the Redskins won’t result in a contract.

Let’s round up a few more items out of Washington….

Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio yesterday, Redskins head coach Jay Gruden suggested that when someone like DeSean Jackson becomes available, the team wants to do “whatever it takes” to land that player.
Asked in the same interview whether the club is done signing free agents, Gruden indicated the Redskins are focused primarily on the draft unless someone else piques their interest in free agency.
The Redskins are scheduling a pre-draft visit with Indiana wide receiver Cody Latimer, says Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). According to Wilson (via Twitter), Latimer will hold a private workout day later this month, and at least 17 NFL teams have expressed interest in attending.
Wilson also reports (via Twitter) that Rob Jackson‘s new one-year contract with Washington is a minimum salary benefit deal that includes a $65K signing bonus.

Rams Sign Bobby Cowan

April 8th, 2014 at 4:15pm CST by Luke Adams

The Rams have officially signed punter Bobby Cowan to a contract, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but it figures to be a minimum salary pact with no guaranteed money.

Cowan, who played his college ball at Idaho, will likely just be brought in as a camp leg. The Rams’ incumbent punter, Johnny Hekker, ranked second out of 41 qualified players at the position in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required).

Chargers Cut Byron Jerideau

April 8th, 2014 at 4:12pm CST by Luke Adams

The Chargers have waived defensive tackle Byron Jerideau, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).

Jerideau, 24, signed with San Diego last May, but didn’t appear in a regular season game for the team, spending the year on injured reserve. The South Carolina product will become an unrestricted free agent if he goes unclaimed on waivers.

Bears Claim Josh Bellamy On Waivers

April 8th, 2014 at 4:02pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bears have been awarded wide receiver Josh Bellamy off waivers, according to Brian McIntyre (via Twitter). Bellamy had been cut by the Redskins.

Bellamy, who turns 25 next month, spent five games on Washington’s active roster last season. He didn’t play any offensive snaps, and has yet to record a reception in parts of two NFL seasons, but he played a little on special teams for the club, recording a pair of tackles.

NFC North Notes: Watkins, Lions, Bears, Vikes

April 8th, 2014 at 3:53pm CST by Luke Adams

The Lions, who already have the NFL’s top receiver in Calvin Johnson, have been frequently linked to the draft’s No. 1 wideout over the last several weeks and months, and today the team finally hosted Clemson’s Sammy Watkins on an official pre-draft visit, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Watkins is expected to be off the board by the time the Lions’ No. 10 pick arrives, so if the club really wants to land him, a trade will probably be required. Today’s visit could go a long way toward the Lions deciding whether or not to pursue such a move.

Here are several more items on the Lions and a couple of their NFC North rivals:

Birkett adds (via Twitter) that the Lions are also setting up a visit for Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller, who has several other meetings on his schedule, as we heard earlier in the afternoon.
New Detroit backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky is hoping to alleviate the concerns of Lions fans who aren’t happy to see him back on the roster after his last stint with the team included an 0-16 season. “I get the fears maybe with obviously fans and whatnot,” Orlovsky said, according to Birkett. “But the organization knows what they’re doing, and I know I’m a good player, and I certainly hope to just be part of changing some of that past, whether it’s directly or indirectly.”
Veteran defensive back Aaron Ross had a tryout with the Lions today, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
The Bears‘ workout with Josh Freeman was reported yesterday, as were the auditions for running backs Nate Eachus, Javon Ringer, and Phillip Tanner but those weren’t the only players to work out for the team. As Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post details, the club also auditioned quarterback Adam Weber and tight end Matthew Mulligan.
If veteran long snapper Patrick Mannelly doesn’t re-sign with the Bears, he’ll likely retire, writes Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com.
The Vikings will meet privately with quarterback Zach Mettenberger following his Pro Day, a source tells Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune (Twitter link). The club was said last week to have real interest in the LSU signal-caller.
Cassius Vaughn‘s one-year pact with the Lions is a minimum salary benefit contract with no signing bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson.

AFC Notes: Titans, Ravens, Draft Visits

April 8th, 2014 at 3:19pm CST by Luke Adams

Titans edge defender Kamerion Wimbley agreed earlier this week to restructure his contract, and Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com has the breakdown of what Wimbley’s new deal looks like. However, as Fitzgerald details, Wimbley wasn’t the only Titan to rework his contract this week. Tight end Craig Stevens also has a new 2014 cap figure, reducing his overall base salary by $1.7MM in exchange for a $500K guarantee. While Stevens’ 2015 salary remains unchanged, his ’14 cap number is now only about $2.69MM.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

The Ravens haven’t had an above-average, long-term solution at right tackle for a number of years, and Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun believes the team would be wise to address the position with its first-round pick this year. That’s one of a handful of topics Preston addresses in his Ravens notebook, which also touches on the club’s recent tight end and running back signings.
The Bills are eyeing a pair of offensive line prospects today, hosting Mississippi State’s Charles Siddoway for a pre-draft visit (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com) and having dinner tonight with Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 AM).
Having already met with the Steelers, Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard now has visits lined up with the Jets, Bengals, and Rams, as he said today on SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link).
Another cornerback, Virginia Tech’s Kyle Fuller, also has a handful of visits scheduled with AFC teams, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Fuller will meet with the Colts, Bengals, Raiders, Jets, Broncos, and Bears, says Wilson.
The Chargers will work out Troy quarterback Deon Anthony on April 22, reports Wilson at the National Football Post.
More from Wilson (via Twitter): The Patriots are working out Boise State’s Geraldo Boldewijn, Matt Paradis, and Charles Leno on Wednesday, while Virginia-Lynchburg cornerback Keith Lewis visited the Raiders and has a private workout lined up next week with the Chiefs (Twitter link).

Redskins Sign Blake Clingan

April 8th, 2014 at 3:02pm CST by Luke Adams

The Redskins have inked punter Blake Clingan to a contract, according to agent David Canter (Twitter link). A UCF product, Clingan signed with the Lions a year ago but didn’t earn a spot on the team’s regular-season roster.

While Sav Rocca was Washington’s punter in 2013, the veteran was released by the club earlier this offseason, so there could be an opening for Clingan to win the job for the 2014 season.

Falcons Sign Josh Wilson, Dwight Lowery

April 8th, 2014 at 2:36pm CST by Luke Adams

2:36pm: The Falcons have officially confirmed the signing of Wilson in a press release, and also announced the signing of safety Dwight Lowery. Lowery, a fourth-round pick in 2008, has spent his six NFL seasons with the Jets and Jaguars, starting 41 total contests.

1:51pm: The Falcons have agreed to sign free agent cornerback Josh Wilson to a one-year contract, reports Chick Hernandez of CSNWashington.com (via Twitter). As we noted earlier today, Wilson had been in Atlanta visiting the Falcons after meeting with the Lions yesterday.

Wilson, 29, has started every game for the Redskins over the last three seasons. Although his Pro Football Focus grade (subscription required) wasn’t overly impressive in 2013, Wilson made a number of big plays on defense, forcing a pair of fumbles and recovering three. The former second-round pick also logged two sacks, an interception, and 92 tackles.

In Washington, Wilson was a full-time player, appearing in 982 defensive snaps, but he may not be leaned upon so strongly in Atlanta. The Falcons parted ways with Asante Samuel this offseason, but have a number of other cornerbacks still in the fold, including Desmond Trufant, Robert McClain, Javier Arenas, and Robert Alford.

Vikings Sign Lestar Jean

April 8th, 2014 at 2:21pm CST by Luke Adams

The Vikings have officially signed free agent wideout Lestar Jean to a contract, the team announced today in a press release. Jean had been eligible to receive a contract tender from the Texans, but Houston elected to pass, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Jean, 26, spent three seasons with the Texans but never played a significant role in the offense, appearing in under 300 snaps during his time in Houston and spending the 2011 season on injured reserve. The Florida Atlantic alum visited the Panthers and Dolphins this offseason before agreeing to terms with the Vikings.

Bills Sign Jarius Wynn To One-Year Deal

April 8th, 2014 at 12:51pm CST by Luke Adams

12:51pm: The Bills have officially signed Wynn, the team announced today in a press release.

11:46am: The Bills further fortified their defensive line today, agreeing to terms on a contract with free agent defensive end Jarius Wynn, according to Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News. Gaughan tweeted earlier today that the club was hosting Wynn on a free agent visit.

Wynn, 27, started his career with three seasons in Green Bay before spending the last two seasons with the Titans, Chargers, and Cowboys. The former sixth-round pick has never been more than a part-time player, though he has recorded at least two sacks in each of his last three seasons. In his five-year career, he has yet to receive a positive grade from Pro Football Focus, having earned a score of -11.0 in just 369 defensive snaps in 2013 (subscription required).