Washington Notes: Kerrigan, Williams, Scherff
Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan has accrued an impressive 38 sacks during his four seasons in Washington and is a year away from free agency, where he stands to cash in big. Kerrigan might not reach the open market, however, as ongoing extension talks between his agent and Washington “are progressing well,” he told Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (Twitter link). Kerrigan, who racked up a career-high 13.5 sacks last season, will make just over $7MM in the final year of his contract.
In addition to Kerrigan, Washington is at risk of losing three-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Trent Williams to free agency after next season. General manager Scot McCloughan hopes to keep Williams, whom Pro football Focus (subscription required) ranked 18th out of 84 qualifying tackles last season and who will count over $13.7MM against Washington’s cap in 2015.
“We’re going to take care of our own. That’s very important,” McCloughan said, per El-Bashir (Twitter link).
More news and notes on Washington:
- Washington agreed to deals with nine of its 10 draft picks from this year’s class earlier Monday. The only one without a contract, first-rounder Brandon Scherff, won’t be unsigned for much longer. An agreement between the team and its highly touted offensive lineman is “very close,” said McCloughan, according to Tom Schad of the Washington Times (via Twitter). It could get done in time for the club’s rookie minicamp this weekend.
- Robert Griffin III’s first year under Jay Gruden didn’t go well, but the head coach is expecting improvement from his quarterback in 2015. Gruden believes RGIII knows the system better and won’t have to think as much, tweeted Mike Jones of the Washington Post. For his part, Griffin says he feels better mentally (Twitter link).
- Former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims will try out for Washington as a running back or slot receiver this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Sims worked out for teams as a return man prior to the draft.
- McCloughan originally wanted to sign 13 undrafted free agents. Two fell through, one on account of retirement, per Schad (Twitter).
Browns Sign Nine, Waive Four
The Browns have signed sixth-round cornerback Charles Gaines and eight players who tried out for them at their recent rookie camp, reports ESPN’s Pat McManamon (via Twitter). The list of tryout signings comes courtesy of Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link):
- E.J. Bibbs, tight end, Iowa
- Paul Browning, wide receiver, Colorado State-Pueblo
- Landon Feichter, defensive back, Purdue
- Kevin Haplea, tight end, Florida State
- Darius Jennings, wide receiver, Virginia
- Luke Lundy, running back, Ottawa
- Rodman Noel, linebacker, North Carolina State
- Brandon Stephens, defensive back, Miami (Ohio)
To make room for their newest players, the Browns cut kicker Garrett Hartley, wideout Phil Bates, cornerback Varmah Sonie, and defensive end Christian Tupou, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
Raiders Sign Amari Cooper
MAY 11: Cooper’s deal with the Raiders is for four years. It includes $22.7MM in guaranteed money and a $14.8MM signing bonus, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link)
MAY 7: The Raiders announced that they have signed first-round pick Amari Cooper, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). Oakland selected Cooper, believed by many to be the best wide receiver in this year’s class, with the No. 4 overall pick.
As Daniel Brown of the Mercury News notes, both GM Reggie McKenzie and coach Jack Del Rio described the Alabama star as “polished” numerous times on draft day. Cooper doesn’t just come with high upside, he comes with the ability to make a major impact right out of the gate in Oakland. His skills have impressed the best of the best, including Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff.
“If you know nothing about football, you might not see that he’s mature beyond his years,” Biletnikoff, 72, told Brown. “But he’s a step ahead when it comes to the things required to be a receiver. The way he runs his routes, catches balls, gets open. He can do it against man-to-man coverage or press or zone. This guy is not one-dimensional. “He can line up inside, outside, right or left and do a good job wherever he is. Jack and Reggie and the staff were dead on when they talked about him.”
In 2014, Cooper hauled in 124 catches for 1,727 yards and 16 TDs across 14 games.
Jaguars Sign Five, Waive Four
The Jaguars have signed five players who tried out at their rookie camp this past weekend, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (Twitter link). The team agreed to deals with defensive end Nordly Capi, defensive tackle Richard Ash, returner Kasey Closs, free safety Desmond Cooper, and offensive lineman Jack Rummels.
To make room for their five new additions, the Jags waived tight end Marcel Jensen, safety Jeremy Deering, kicker Derek Dimke, and wide receiver Tommy Streeter, reports ESPN’s Michael DiRocco (via Twitter).
Patriots Release Kyle Arrington
The Patriots have informed cornerback Kyle Arrington of his release, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (via Twitter).
Arrington, who signed a four-year, $16MM contract with the Patriots in 2013, had two years left on his deal at non-guaranteed salaries of $3MM in 2015 and $3.5MM in 2016. A reunion between him and the Pats at a reduced salary hasn’t been ruled out, per both Reiss and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).
The 28-year-old Arrington joined the Patriots in 2009 after going undrafted out of Hofstra in 2008. He appeared in 86 regular-season games with New England and totaled nine interceptions (including a league-best seven in 2011).
If Arrington doesn’t return to the Pats, they’ll have lost their top three corners from last season’s Super Bowl-winning team – Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner departed earlier this offseason in free agency.
Steelers Sign Two Draft Picks
The Steelers have signed a pair of draft picks, inking fourth-round cornerback Dorian Grant and sixth-round linebacker Anthony Chickillo to deals, according to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link).
With Grant and Chickillo aboard, the Steelers have now signed three of eight picks from their 2015 draft class. They came to an agreement with sixth-round defensive tackle L.T. Walton last week.
Patriots, Fred Davis Agree To Deal
The Patriots and free agent tight end Fred Davis have agreed to a one-year contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Financial terms of the deal are not yet available.
Davis, 29, sat out all of last season after the NFL suspended him indefinitely for substance-abuse violations. The league reinstated him last week. Prior to 2014, he spent six seasons in Washington and caught 162 passes and 13 touchdowns. His best output came in 2011, when he amassed 59 receptions and 796 yards.
As a member of the Patriots, Davis will join a crowded tight end group that includes superstar Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler, Tim Wright, Michael Hoomanawanui, and sixth-round rookie A.J. Derby.
Washington Agrees To Terms With 10, Waives One
Washington has agreed to terms with nine of 10 picks from its 2015 draft class, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Eight of the nine have signed their contracts, according to ESPN’s John Keim (Twitter link). The only member of the class without a deal is first-rounder Brandon Scherff. Here’s the full list of picks with whom Washington has reached agreements:
- Preston Smith, linebacker, Mississippi State (second round, 38th overall)
- Matt Jones, running back, Florida (third round, 95th overall)
- Jamison Crowder, wide receiver, Duke (fourth round, 105th overall)
- Arie Kouandjio, offensive lineman, Alabama (fourth round, 112th overall)
- Martrell Spaight, linebacker, Arkansas (fifth round, 141st overall)
- Kyshoen Jarrett, safety, Virginia Tech (sixth round, 181st overall)
- Tevin Mitchel, cornerback, Arkansas (sixth round, 182nd overall)
- Evan Spencer, wide receiver, Ohio State (sixth round, 187th overall)
- Austin Reiter, center, South Florida (seventh round, 222nd overall)
Additionally, Washington has re-signed offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe and waived cornerback Courtney Bridget, according to Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (via Twitter). The team waived Nsekhe last week before deciding to bring him back.
Extra Points: Bears, Saints, Titans, Lions
After firing their college scouting director and a top scout last week, the Bears have also parted ways with associate director of player personnel Dwayne Joseph, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Joseph was actually offered a promotion (to director of player personnel), per Biggs, but turned it down to explore other opportunities.
Here’s more from around the league…
- The Saints’ selection of tackle Andrus Peat in the first round and quarterback Garrett Grayson in the third show that GM Mickey Loomis and head coach Sean Payton aren’t simply in win-now mode, writes Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. The Grayson pick, specifically, conveys that the club’s decision-makers are planning for the long haul (and the eventual exit of Drew Brees) instead of going all-in on 2015.
- Zack Moore of Over the Cap singles out some of the biggest cap sins in the NFL in 2014, pointing to Ndamukong Suh (who took up 16.85% of the Lions’ cap) on the individual player side, and to the Falcons, Cowboys, and Saints as clubs who were unrestrained with their caps.
- Running back Shonn Greene will head to camp with the Titans, but he probably won’t make the 53-man roster, opines Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com in his latest mailbag.
- Lions head coach Jim Caldwell is both open-minded and excited about what undrafted free agents have to offer, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press explains.
- Former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims attended the Packers recent minicamp on a tryout basis, but Green Bay won’t be signing him, according to Rob Demovksky of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Instead, Sims will attend Washington‘s rookie camp, albeit as a running back.
Minor Moves: Sunday
Today’s minor moves…
- Former Alabama and Winston-Salem State quarterback Phillip Sims has agreed to a deal with the Cardinals after he participated in the club’s rookie tryout, according to Matt Zenitz of the Alabama Media Group (Twitter link).
- After working out with the Raiders over the weekend, Emporia State receiver Austin Willis has signed a contract with the team, tweets Herbie Teope of ChiefsDigest.com. Emporia State, a Division II school located in Kansas, also produced former Cowboy Leon Lett.
Earlier updates:
- After holding their rookie minicamp this weekend, the Lions have decided to offer three players contracts, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (all Twitter links). Safety Nathan Lindsey (Fort Hays State), receiver Erik Lora (Eastern Illinois), and receiver Jarred Haggins (Florida State) all scored deals with Detroit.
- The Colts have signed running back Abou Toure, reports Stephen Holder of the Indy Star (via Twitter). The Tennessee-Martin (and Utah State) product had previously been signed to a tryout contract. As a senior, Toure ran for 1,160 yards and eight touchdowns.
- The Colts have also waived outside linebacker Terrell Hartsfield, reports Holder. The rookie was signed as an undrafted free agent last week. The former Cincinnati Bearcat compiled nine sacks and 12 tackles for loss last season.
- The Giants have signed running back Kenny Harper, according to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). The Temple product ran for 1,113 yards and 17 touchdowns on 269 attempts during his four-year career.
- The Falcons offered a contract to offensive tackle Matt Huffer, Wilson reports (via Twitter). The former South Dakota Coyote tried out for Atlanta last week.