Cowboys To Sign Mark Sanchez
The Cowboys will sign free agent quarterback Mark Sanchez, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It’s a one-year deal with a base value of $2MM and a max value of $5.375MM, with incentives based on playtime and team performance incentives, according to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
Dallas has been looking for a veteran backup to play behind rookie Dak Prescott since it was announced that Tony Romo will be sidelined for awhile with a back injury. The Cowboys talked to the Browns about Josh McCown, but found their asking price to be too high, and also had discussions with Nick Foles earlier this offseason. Dallas’ other option at No. 2 QB would be 2015 UDFA Jameil Showers.
The Broncos traded for Sanchez this spring as a Plan B in case they were unable to re-sign Brock Osweiler or bring in an established veteran at QB. Denver did not retain Osweiler or land a vet, but Sanchez was unable to win the starting job or even secure the No. 2 role.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Workout Notes: Pats, Chiefs, Broncos, Jets
Now that cutdowns are completed, teams have begun auditioning players that are still on the free agent market, either in an effort to upgrade their current roster or to update their emergency free agent lists. Let’s take a look at the workouts that have been reported today:
- Over the last day or so, the Patriots have auditioned offensive tackle Clay DeBord, tight end Nic Jacobs, wide receiver Mitch Mathews, wide receiver K.J. Maye, defensive back Tyler Patmon, and running back David Cobb, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- The Chiefs also worked out Cobb, and also took a look at running back Zac Brooks, who was waived by the Seahawks this week, tweets Howard Balzer. Kansas City also worked out offensive lineman Anthony Fabiano, defensive lineman David Moala, guard Ian Silberman, and defensive end Quanterus Smith, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
- The Broncos auditioned wide receiver/return specialist Brandon Tate, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Tate was released by the Bengals last week after several years with the club.
- The Jets worked out cornerbacks Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Patmon, as well as guard Kristjan Sokoli and tight end Brian Leonardt, report Yates and Balzer (Twitter links). Per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, New York also looked at tight ends Nic Jacobs and Steven Scheu.
- Long snapper Brett Goode worked out for the Packers today, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Goode, who had been with Green Bay since 2008, is expected to sign tomorrow if he checks out medically. The Packers don’t currently have a long snapper on their roster.
- The Seahawks also auditioned long snappers, according to Balzer (Twitter link), who says Seattle looked at Tyler Ott, John DePalma, Reid Ferguson, and Jeff Overbaugh.
- Tight end RaShaun Allen took a visit with the Steelers, per Wilson (Twitter link).
Reactions To Sam Bradford Trade
Eagles GM Howie Roseman says that his plan wasn’t to trade Sam Bradford this offseason, but, “circumstances change” (Twitter link via Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com). It’s true, plans can change pretty rapidly when a team offers a massive haul for your quarterback and you have two more waiting in the wings.
On Saturday, the Vikings made Roseman & Co. an offer they could not refuse, sending first- and fourth-round picks to Philly in exchange for the former No. 1 overall pick. Here’s a look at some of today’s reactions to the surprising deal:
- Roseman says the Eagles didn’t call any teams about Bradford and teams called them (Twitter link via Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com). I’m inclined to believe Roseman. At this stage of the offseason, just about every team has their quarterback situation settled. When Teddy Bridgewater went down with his gruesome leg injury, Roseman surely knew that a Vikings call was just around the corner. By waiting for Minnesota’s inquiry instead of taking an active role, Roseman maintained his leverage.
- Vikings general manager Rick Spielman indicated that having the option of keeping Bradford in 2017 played a role in acquiring him from the Eagles, tweets Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. Presumably, that’s because the nature of Bridgewater’s injury means he might not be back to start next season.
- Spielman was also adamant that Minnesota did not “mortgage the future” with this trade (Twitter link per Tomasson), and reiterated that the Vikings still have eight picks in next year’s draft, per Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Raiders Trim Roster To 53
The Raiders have moved their roster to 53 players by making the following moves:
Waived:
- RB George Atkinson III
- G Mitch Bell
- WR K.J. Brent
- CB Kenneth Durden
- WR Marvin Hall
- DL Drew Iddings
- DL Branden Jackson
- G Denver Kirkland
- DT Derrick Lott
- LB John Lotulelei
- TE Jake McGee
- WR Jaydon Mickens
- TE Ryan O’Malley
- G Oni Omoile
- CB Neiko Thorpe
- LB Korey Toomer
- DE Greg Townsend Jr.
- LB Kyrie Wilson
Waived/injured:
- LB Neiron Ball
- LB James Cowser
Additionally, the Raiders also traded safety Dewey McDonald to the Seahawks earlier today.
Bears’ Roster At 53
The Bears have officially reduced their roster to 53 players, and in doing so, placed LB Pernell McPhee and WR Marquess Wilson on PUP. As such, each player will be forced to miss at leas the first six games of the season.
Cut:
- LS Patrick Scales (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune)
- OL Jason Weaver (Twitter link via Biggs)
- WR Daniel Braverman (Twitter link via Pro Football Talk)
- TE Tony Moeaki (Twitter link via Biggs)
- CB De’Vante Bausby (Twitter link via Biggs)
- WR Marc Mariani (Twitter link via Biggs)
- TE Ben Braunecker
- CB Taveze Calhoun
- QB David Fales
- LB John Timu
- TE Rob Housler
- RB Jacquizz Rodgers
- T Garry Williams
Waived/Injured:
- DT Ego Ferguson
- LB Danny Mason
PUP:
- LB Pernell McPhee
- WR Marquess Wilson
Braverman was the club’s seventh-round pick this year after posting a whopping 109 receptions for Western Michigan in 2015.
Moeaki has bounced around a bit since leaving the Chiefs in 2012. The 29-year-old played in 11 games for the Falcons last season, but he only hauled in three catches for 58 yards. Following a 2012 campaign where he caught 33 passes for 453 yards and a score, Moeaki has only compiled 11 catches for 192 yards over the past three seasons.
Saints Move Roster To 53
The Saints have now announced their full list of transactions that bring them down to 53 players.
Cut:
- OL Khalif Barnes (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate)
- OL Tyrus Thompson (Twitter link via Herbie Teope of NOLA.com)
- OT Tony Hills (Twitter link via Underhill)
- FB Austin Johnson (Twitter link via Underhill)
- S Trae Elston (Twitter link via Joel Erickson of the Advocate)
- DE Bobby Richardson (Twitter link via Underhill)
- CB Brian Dixon (Twitter link via Mike Triplett of ESPN.com)
- C Jack Allen (Twitter link via Underhill)
- K Connor Barth (Twitter link via Underhill)
- RB Travaris Cadet (Twitter link via Underhill)
- TE Garrett Griffin (Twitter link via Erickson)
- DE Darryl Tapp
- DL C.J. Wilson
- WR Jordan Williams-Lambert
- G John Fullington
- LB Jeff Schoettmer
- WR Jake Lampman
- C Marcus Henry
- LB Davis Tull
- DE Chris McCain (story)
Placed on IR:
Barnes signed with the Saints last Sunday, meaning his stay in New Orleans lasted less than a week. In 11 NFL seasons, the 34-year-old has seen action in more than 150 games (117 starts) with the Jaguars and Raiders. Barnes lost his starting job in Oakland last season, but still appeared in 14 games.
Packers Bring Roster Down To 53
The Packers have announced the cuts that will bring their roster down to 53. The club has made the following moves:
Cut:
- G Josh Sitton (story)
- TE Casey Pierce (Twitter link via Michael Cohen of the Journal-Sentinel)
- DL Brian Price (Twitter link via Cohen)
- FB Alstevis Squirewell (Twitter link via Ryan Wood of the Press-Gazette)
- OL Lucas Patrick
- RB Brandon Ross (Twitter link via Cohen)
- ILB Carl Bradford (Twitter link via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- OLB Reggie Gilbert (Twitter link via Ryan Wood of Green Bay Press-Gazette)
- CB Robertson Daniel (Twitter link via Wood)
- WR Herb Waters (Twitter link via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
- TE Kennard Backman (waived/injured; Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
- LB Sam Barrington (Twitter link via Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)
- WR Geronimo Allison
- LB Beniquez Brown
- CB Warren Gatewood
- LS Rick Lovato
- S Jermaine Whitehead
- QB Marquise Williams
Placed On IR:
- C Kyle Steuck
- DT Tyler Kuder
Reserve/Suspended:
- DT Mike Pennel
- CB Demetri Goodson
Cardinals’ Roster Now At 53
The Cardinals will release defensive lineman Red Bryant, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN (on Twitter). The 32-year-old Bryant, who was previously a starter in Seattle and Jacksonville, played sparingly in six games with the Cardinals last season. The club brought him back on a one-year deal in March, but he wasn’t able to crack its roster.
Arizona will also cut receiver Brittan Golden, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), and waive/injured pass rusher Tristan Okpalaugo, according to his agent, Brett Tessler (Twitter link).
The club’s full list of cuts is as follows:
- QB Matt Barkley
- DT Red Bryant
- S Matthias Farley
- WR Brittan Golden
- CB Trevon Hartfield
- WR Chris Hubert
- CB Harlan Miller
- TE Ifeanyi Momah
- RB Elijhaa Penny
- T Givens Price
- LB Shaq Riddick
- TE Hakeem Valles
- CB Ronald Zamort
Seahawks’ Roster Now At 53
The Seahawks haven’t officially released their moves today, but as Curtis Crabtree of KJR noted (Twitter link), the club has listed their transactions on their official team depth chart.
Cut:
- G Jahri Evans (story)
- FB Will Tukuafu
- DT Brandin Bryant
- TE Clayton Echard
- QB Jake Heaps
- LB Steve Longa
- WR Douglas McNeil III
- WR Uzoma Nwachukwu
- WR Kasen Williams
- RB Troymaine Pope
- G/C Will Pericak
- WR Antwan Goodley
- DE Tylor Harris
- S Keenan Lambert
- WR Kenny Lawler
- LB Kache Palacio
- DE Ryan Robinson
- CB Tye Smith
- DT Tani Tupou
Waived/injured:
- TE Joe Sommers
- CB Marcus Burley
- DTJordan Hill
- LB Eric Pinkins
- T Terry Poole
Waived From IR:
- RB George Farmer
- DB Trovon Reed
- WR Kevin Smith
- DT Sealver Siliga
The Seahawks also announced that they’ve acquired defensive back Dewey McDonald (for a conditional 2017 pick, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com) from the Raiders, and, as we previously noted, acquired safety L.J. McCray from the 49ers.
Josh Sitton Drawing Widespread Interest
There are already upwards of ten teams with interest in talking to Josh Sitton, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports tweets. Sitton was released by the Packers on Saturday as they worked their way down to a 53-man roster. 
The Packers reportedly shopped Sitton to other teams but he was released on Saturday after the Packers could not find a trade for him. Prior to his release, Sitton was scheduled to earn $6.15MM in base salary for the coming season. Apparently, teams were reluctant to take him on at that price but still had interest in him as a football player. Sitton told Tom Silverstein of the Journal-Sentinel (on Twitter) that there was no showdown over his contract with the Packers.
“I was prepared to play the season,” he said.
Last year, Sitton graded out as the sixth-best guard in the NFL, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. He received a strong 91.1 pass blocking grade (tied for fourth-best in the NFL) with a still respectable 81.2 mark against the run.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.