HEADLINES

Month: March 2015

49ers, Derek Carrier Agree To Extension

March 9th, 2015 at 12:27pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers signed tight end Derek Carrier to a two-year contract extension through the 2017 season, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com writes. The deal can be worth up to $3.3MM.

Carrier was set to become a restricted free agent next offseason but the 49ers decided to lock him up through the 2016 season, after which point he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency. Carrier, 25 in July, appeared in 11 games for San Francisco last season, recording nine catches for 105 yards.

Now, Carrier is expected to compete for the backup role behind starter Vernon Davis along with Vance McDonald and Garrett Celek, who was re-signed to a one-year deal on Friday.

Back in August, then-49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman spoke highly of Carrier who was seeing more reps in the wake of an injury to Celek.

“He’s got a chance to be a productive player in this league. There’s no doubt,” Roman said of the Division III product. “Derek’s got a nice feel for the passing game, he’s got good hands, and he can cover some ground now – he can really run. I don’t like to put timetables on people, but this a big year for him. He’s got a hell of an opportunity this year to really take a big step.”

Chargers Re-Sign Brandon Flowers

March 9th, 2015 at 12:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

MONDAY, 12:23pm: Flowers’ four-year deal with the Chargers is now official, the team announced today in a press release.

SUNDAY, 2:58pm: The Chargers have reached an agreement on a four-year deal with cornerback Brandon Flowers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). Flowers will earn a $9MM AAV, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. Although Flowers was set to become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday, we heard yesterday that a reunion between him and San Diego was likely.

In his first season with the Charger, Flowers finished as the league’s 15th-best CB among 108 qualifiers per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The 29-year-old, who ranked as PFR’s No. 22 free agent, started 14 games, accruing two interceptions in the process. After being released by the Chiefs last summer, Flowers signed on with San Diego on a one-year pact that netted him $3MM — he should be in for a significant pay bump this time around.

The Chargers have about $27MM in cap space, so while we don’t know how Flowers’ contract specifics will affect their room, the club should have money left to spend if they want to make upgrades via free agency. San Diego has already been active this offseason, re-signing left tackle King Dunlap to a four-year deal, but they have other pending free agents in Ryan Mathews, Dwight Freeney, and Eddie Royal who could be retained.

Flowers’ re-signing contributes to the thinning of an already meager free agent CB market — top option Byron Maxwell is said to be heading to Philadelphia, and Kareem Jackson has already re-signed with the Texans, so options are few for secondary-needy clubs. Antonio Cromartie, Chris Culliver, and Davon House represent the best remaining corners available.

Market For Davon House Heating Up

March 9th, 2015 at 12:21pm CST by Luke Adams

The market for Packers cornerback Davon House, who is eligible to sign with a new team in a little over 24 hours, is “heating up,” according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Getlin identifies the Packers, Jets, Jaguars, Seahawks, Bears, and Cowboys as teams in play for House.

House, 25, is one of two Packers cornerbacks eligible for free agency tomorrow, along with Tramon Williams. Williams was one of Green Bay’s starters in 2014, while House saw part-time action in nickel and dime packages, but the younger player of the duo could end up doing better on the free agent market.

When I ranked this year’s top 50 free agents, I listed House 34th, four spots ahead of Williams. As I noted in that piece, quarterbacks only completed 46.8% of their passes into House’s coverage last season, per Pro Football Focus, which placed him fourth among all qualified cornerbacks.

While House probably won’t match the $8-10MM annual salaries landed by players like Kareem Jackson, Brandon Flowers, and Byron Maxwell, a $6MM-per-year offer appears within reach for a player who is poised to become a full-time contributor.

Bills Targeting Bryan Bulaga, Others

March 9th, 2015 at 12:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills aren’t done making big splashes this offseason. Ross Jones of FOX Sports (on Twitter) hears that Buffalo is pushing to sign Mike Iupati or Bryan Bulaga. Other options for the Bills could include guard Jahri Evans and wide receiver Percy Harvin if/when they become available (link).

Recently it was reported that the Raiders, Jets, and Bills appeared to be the front runners for Iupati if he does not return to San Francisco. Recently, two league sources told Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Bulaga is seeking a contract worth at least $7-8MM per year. The Bucs, Jaguars, and Washington were all identified as teams that have interest in the free agent.

Evans would likely represent a cheaper alternative to either Iupati or Bulaga. The Saints are expected to release Evans from his hefty contract, but would like to re-sign him at a cheaper rate. As it stands, Evans’ deal calls for him to have the highest cap hit of any guard in the NFL.

New Bills coach Rex Ryan got to familiarize himself with Harvin this past season in New York. While Harvin has gotten a bad rap for his locker room demeanor, Ryan spoke glowingly of the wide receiver and his behavior while with the Jets. The veteran receiver and return man didn’t have a huge impact on-field in New York, however, totaling 29 receptions for 350 yards and a touchdown in his eight games with the Jets.

Panthers Sign Ted Ginn Jr.

March 9th, 2015 at 12:01pm CST by Luke Adams

12:01pm: It’s a two-year deal for Ginn, the Panthers announced in their press release confirming the signing.

11:15am: Ginn confirmed on Instagram that he’s returning to Carolina, posting a photo of him signing his new deal with the Panthers.

8:18am: Wide receiver and return man Ted Ginn Jr., who spent the 2013 season with the Panthers, is back in Charlotte today and is expected to sign a new deal to return to the team, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. The years and dollars on Ginn’s new contract with the Panthers aren’t yet known.

Ginn agreed to a three-year, $9.75MM contract with the Cardinals a year ago, coming off a season in which he was an all-purpose threat for the Panthers, accumulating 36 catches, 26 punt returns, 25 kickoff returns, and even four carries. In his first and only season in Arizona, Ginn didn’t have the same impact, outside of one 71-yard punt return touchdown back in September. For the season, Ginn posted a career-low 19.0 yards per return on kickoffs, and caught just 14 balls on offense. He was cut by Arizona last month.

Presumably, by adding him back to the mix, the Panthers are hoping Ginn can recapture his 2013 form. The Browns, Titans, and 49ers were also linked to the 29-year-old since his release by the Cards.

Free Agent Rumors: Melton, Parker, Graham

March 9th, 2015 at 11:48am CST by Zachary Links

The chase for defensive tackle Henry Melton is heating up, as Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports tweets. Melton has heard from six teams so far and he’s likely to take a few trips this week to visit with interested teams. The Cowboys declined Melton’s option in February after he compiled 15 tackles, five sacks, and four passes defended in 2014. His season ended in December when he was placed on IR with a serious bone bruise bordering on a fracture. Here’s the latest free agent news from around the league..

  • The Dolphins‘ interest in free agent safety Ron Parker is quite real, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald tweets. However, they have some serious competition for his services as there are six to eight teams that stand as legitimate suitors for his services. We heard recently that the four-year veteran, who played corner and safety for the Chiefs last year, has drawn the eye of several teams, including the Giants, Jets, Buccaneers and Falcons. The Jets also have interest in Parker and he could be on the Eagles’ radar now that Devin McCourty is off the board.
  • Eagles free agent linebacker Brandon Graham is leaning towards the Dolphins and Titans, but now the Giants may make him an offer he can’t refuse, Derrick Gunn of CSNPhilly.com tweets. Pass rushing is thought to be a priority for the Giants this offseason. Recently, Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer speculated that Graham could net a deal north of $40MM in total value and $20MM in guarantees.
  • The Vikings still aren’t close on a deal with center Joe Berger, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com tweets. They’re working on one with restricted free agent running back Matt Asiata, however.
  • The Bears are currently targeting inside linebackers and safeties, Aaron Leming of BearReport.com tweets. He lists Mason Foster, Da’Norris Searcy, and Antrel Rolle as names to watch. Rolle is one of the Bears’ top targets and they appear to be the frontrunners for his services, Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com tweets.

Contract Details: Lynch, McCoy, Ingram, Paul

March 9th, 2015 at 11:36am CST by Luke Adams

There were some conflicting – or at least confusing – reports on Friday night about the value of Marshawn Lynch‘s new contract with the Seahawks, and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun provides some clarity today, via Twitter. According to Wilson, Lynch’s new three-year pact is worth $31MM, which features $15MM in guaranteed money, including a $7.5MM signing bonus.

Wilson has plenty more numbers on new contract agreements, so let’s round up those updates, with all links going to his Twitter unless otherwise indicated:

Panthers Sign Michael Oher

March 9th, 2015 at 10:58am CST by Luke Adams

MONDAY, 10:58am: Oher’s two-year deal with the Panthers is worth $7MM, including a $2.5MM signing bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

FRIDAY, 1:00pm: The player who protected Cam Newton‘s blind side in 2014 – Byron Bell – won’t return to the Panthers for 2015, and now the team has signed the player who was the inspiration for The Blind Side. The Panthers announced today in a press release that they’ve added offensive tackle Michael Oher on a two-year contract.

After spending his first five seasons in Baltimore, Oher inked a four-year, $20MM contract with Tennessee last winter that was widely viewed as an overpay at the time. Sure enough, after one disappointing season with the Titans, the club cut him loose a month ago, allowing him to test the open market early. Oher reportedly visited with the Panthers last week.

Although he was mostly solid during his time with the Ravens, Oher struggled in 2014 with Tennessee, battling injuries and underperforming at right tackle for the club. In 11 games, the 28-year-old allowed six sacks and 26 quarterback hurries before he landed on the injured reserve list, ending his season.

It’s not clear yet whether the Panthers envision Oher as their new left tackle, but with Bell out of the picture, the former first-round pick looks like the early favorite for the position.

Dolphins Offered Cobb More Than Packers

March 9th, 2015 at 10:57am CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins paid big bucks to sign Ndamukong Suh, but that’s not the only star they went after. Miami was also in the mix to sign Randall Cobb with a deal that was “significantly more,” than the four-year, $40MM deal he inked with Green Bay, a source told Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel.

The difference, Hyde writes, was that the Miami offer was backloaded, meaning that the final years of the contract paid the most money. That would have given the Dolphins time to get their salary situation in order and, perhaps, not be forced to release receiver Mike Wallace this upcoming season for financial reasons.

Cobb rated No. 3 on PFR’s top 50 free agents list and was reportedly seeking $12MM per year. At the time of the agreement with the Packers, it was said that Cobb had six or seven offers and turned down more money to stay in Green Bay.

The 5-foot-10 former second-round pick from Kentucky notched his first season of 1,000+ yards last year, re-establishing his value after missing 10 games due to a broken leg in 2013. Since entering the league in 2011, Cobb’s caught 75.2% of his targets — tops in the NFL in that span, per ESPN.

 

Colts, Todd Herremans Agree To Terms

March 9th, 2015 at 10:53am CST by Rory Parks

MONDAY, 10:53am: Herremeans’ one-year contract with the Colts can be worth up to $3.5MM, and has a base value of $2.25MM, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

SUNDAY, 10:37am: The Colts have agreed to terms with free agent guard Todd Herremans, who was released by the Eagles at the end of February. The news was first reported by Kevin Bowen of Colts.com (via Twitter) and has been confirmed by a number of sources.

Herremans had been with the Eagles since the club selected him in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. Over the course of the last decade, the 10-year veteran has appeared in 127 games for the Eagles, starting 124 of them at every spot besides center on the offensive line. In recent years, Herremans had served as Philadelphia’s right guard or right tackle, though his 2014 campaign came to an early end due to a biceps injury.

As Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com tweets, the signing makes sense given Herremans’ connections with Colts GM Ryan Grigson, who served as a scout for the Eagles and as Philadelphia’s director of player personnel, and given the Colts’ status as a legitimate contender.

ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets that it is a one-year deal worth $3.5MM. Herremans will add to the team’s guard competition while also providing insurance at the tackle positions. PFR’s Luke Adams wrote that Herremans was visiting with the Colts on Friday.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

 

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