2017 March - Pro Football Rumors

Jarvis Jones To Visit Rams

March 13th, 2017 at 6:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

After meeting with the Cardinals today, UFA linebacker Jarvis Jones will pay a visit to Los Angeles to meet with the Rams, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports (on Twitter).

The Rams are “very intrigued” by the fifth-year pass-rusher, La Canfora notes. Jones played for four seasons in the Steelers’ 3-4 and would be an obvious fit for a Rams team transitioning to such an alignment under new DC Wade Phillips.

Jones was believed to have a healthy market at free agency’s outset but is now one of the notable edge defenders unsigned as the player-movement period ventures to second-wave performers. A former first-round pick, Jones did not live up to his draft status, and Pittsburgh didn’t pick up his fifth-year option. But the Rams don’t possess a ton of depth behind now-outside linebacker Robert Quinn at that position. The team brought the now-retired DeMarcus Ware in for a visit recently.

The former Georgia edge player registered just six sacks in four seasons. He made a career-high 43 tackles in 2016, starting nine games for a Steelers team loaded with former first-round linebackers. Two of those players could be gone, with Jones trekking to NFC West locales and Lawrence Timmons signing with the Dolphins.

DeMarcus Ware Visited Rams

March 13th, 2017 at 6:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

DeMarcus Ware‘s retirement after 12 NFL seasons came despite multiple teams offering the revered pass-rusher more than $7MM per year. NFL.com’s Jane Slater reported the Broncos and Cowboys didn’t reach the numbers stage in their respective talks with Ware, and Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter) shed some light on another team that’s looking for pass-rushing help.

The Rams hosted Ware on a visit, per Pelissero. Other than the Broncos and Cowboys, a Ware-to-Los Angeles scenario made the most sense due to Wade Phillips‘ presence with the team. Phillips coached in Dallas and Denver, overseeing the edge defender’s work for six seasons. Three of Ware’s four first-team All-Pro appearances came under Phillips’ guidance.

Ware also delivered as a member of the Broncos, and Phillips joined up during Ware’s second Denver season. He registered 45 sacks during his three-season All-Pro run under Phillips in Dallas and added 11.5 in his final two Broncos seasons. Ware, though, came up big in both the 2015 AFC title game and Super Bowl 50 despite missing five games due to a back injury that season. Denver’s then-right outside linebacker hit Tom Brady seven times in the Broncos’ narrow AFC title conquest and sacked Cam Newton twice two weeks later.

The Rams are converting to a base 3-4 defense under Phillips and recently traded William Hayes to the Dolphins. The team doesn’t house a slew of edge-rushing depth behind Robert Quinn, though, despite employing interior-defending dynamo Aaron Donald and quality complement Michael Brockers.

Eagles Release Chase Daniel

March 13th, 2017 at 5:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Chase Daniel‘s time in Philadelphia will be limited to one year. The Eagles granted the 30-year-old quarterback’s wish and released him from the three-year contract he signed last March, the team confirmed (on Twitter).

It became clear the Eagles weren’t looking to retain Daniel at the lofty price for which he signed last year ($21MM over three years) after they reached an agreement to bring back Nick Foles (at two years and $11MM) earlier today. Daniel subsequently requested his release, and the move will create $6MM in cap space for Philadelphia while saddling the Eagles with $2MM in dead money.

Offset language does exist in Daniel’s deal, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link), taking the Eagles off the hook for up to $5MM should Daniel sign elsewhere. He would seemingly be a sought-after backup quarterback, having served in that capacity for the Saints, Chiefs and Eagles. Daniel was due a $7MM base salary in 2017.

When the Eagles added Daniel, he was set to serve as Sam Bradford‘s backup. But once Philly traded up and took Carson Wentz, that contract — one that included $12MM in guarantees — became an interesting part of the Eagles’ payroll. Once the Eagles traded Bradford, Wentz leapfrogged Daniel. He threw one pass with the Eagles.

“It was best to move forward in a different direction as circumstances have changed since he originally signed,” GM Howie Roseman said, via Jeff McLane of Philly.com (Twitter link).

The Eagles have been connected to releases, trades or pay cuts with numerous talents this month in order to create cap room. Daniel’s release will help an Eagles team creep into double figures in terms of space. Prior to this move, the Eagles had approximately $5MM in space after signing Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. Philly dangled Daniel in trade talks — just as it did Mychal Kendricks, Jason Kelce and Allen Barbre — but acted quickly to move on from the former University of Missouri talent.

Daniel has thrown just 78 NFL passes, most of which coming in two Week 17 starts for the Chiefs to close the 2013 and ’14 seasons.

Broncos To Sign Kasim Edebali

March 13th, 2017 at 5:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Non-tendered as an RFA by the Saints last week, Kasim Edebali found a new home quickly. The Broncos signed the fourth-year defensive end to a one-year deal, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post reports (on Twitter).

The Broncos expressed interest in the defender earlier today, and the 27-year-old ex-UDFA looks like he’ll serve as a depth piece in Denver. A Boston College product, Edebali played in all 48 possible Saints contests during his three years in New Orleans. He made two starts but mostly functioned as a rotational player and special-teamer.

Denver has now added three new front-seven performers, with Edebali joining Domata Peko and Zach Kerr. Edebali’s best Saints season came in 2015, when he registered a career-high five sacks. He has eight for his career to go along with 48 tackles. He played 254 snaps for the Saints’ defense last season.

Edebali could be set for an edge role in Denver. The Broncos saw DeMarcus Ware elect to retire, and although he was a free agent, Denver was interested in a fourth Ware season in orange. Shane Ray and Shaquil Barrett currently profile as the Broncos’ top complements to Von Miller at outside linebacker.

Bengals To Host Andre Smith On Visit

March 13th, 2017 at 5:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Andre Smith‘s one season away from Cincinnati didn’t go well, but the Bengals are interested in a possible reunion. The former Bengals first-round pick will visit with his initial NFL team soon, Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports (on Twitter).

This comes after Smith met with the Bills, so the 30-year-old tackle’s generated some curiosity among teams despite his rough stint with the Vikings. Smith played in a career-low four games after signing his one-year deal to venture to Minnesota. He spent most of last season on IR due to a triceps injury, missing most of what was a brutal year for the Vikes’ offensive front.

Smith signed a one-year, $3.5MM deal with the Vikings after playing for the Bengals during the first seven seasons of his career. Smith served as Cincinnati’s regular right tackle starter for most of this decade. The Bengals have Jake Fisher, Cedric Ogbuehi and Eric Winston as right-edge options. None performed well in the opinion of Pro Football Focus last season, though Smith didn’t either.

Although, Smith has some experience as a left tackle, and the Bengals lost stalwart blindside man Andrew Whitworth last week. So one of the aforementioned incumbents could well be set to move to the left side full-time after Whitworth joined Kevin Zeitler in leaving southwest Ohio for a more lucrative opportunity elsewhere.

Latest On Seahawks’ RB Search

March 13th, 2017 at 4:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks continue to organize a thorough search for a veteran running back. More clarity’s arrived on this expansive pursuit’s itinerary. Jamaal Charles will visit Seattle on Wednesday and Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

He will follow both Adrian Peterson and Latavius Murray. Peterson’s Seahawks summit encompassed Sunday and Monday, per Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter), but it looks to have concluded with the future Hall of Famer unsigned.

Murray’s visit will precede Charles’, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). Eddie Lacy is scheduled to visit, but the timing of that meeting isn’t known yet. Lacy visited the Vikings already, and Murray is visiting the Jaguars before being slated to fly to the Pacific Northwest. Peterson and Charles have not scheduled any known summits with other teams during their initial time as UFAs.

Currently, Seattle’s backfield houses Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise. Neither of which eclipsed 400 yards rushing last season, and both struggled with injuries in 2016. Rawls, though, fared much better in 2015, averaging 5.6 yards per carry after succeeding Marshawn Lynch. Rawls rushed for 830 yards despite making only seven starts. However, his per-carry figure plummeted to 3.2 last season.

DeMarcus Ware Retires From NFL

March 13th, 2017 at 4:41pm CST by Zachary Links

DeMarcus Ware is done playing football. The free agent linebacker announced his retirement via Twitter on Monday afternoon.

“I’m hanging up my cleats and beginning the journey to my next destination,” Ware wrote as a part of his statement.

Ware, 35 in July, piled up 21.5 sacks in three years as a member of the Broncos, giving him 138.5 for his career. Just over a week ago, there was word that he wanted to end his career as a member of the Cowboys. Broncos GM John Elway also wanted to re-sign the veteran. Despite the options that were out there, Ware has decided to focus on other ventures and spend more time with his family. He leaves the sport eighth on the all-time sack list.

A 2017 return would have represented Ware’s 13th NFL season, and there were offers for the pass-rusher to suit up again. Ware turned down proposals in the $7-$8MM-per-year range, per Jane Slater of NFL.com (on Twitter). “A few” teams made these kind of offers, per Slater, potentially meaning Ware drew serious interest from beyond the Broncos or Cowboys. Slater adds to the notion that other teams were pursuing Ware, noting the Cowboys and Broncos didn’t reach the offers stage of this pursuit (Twitter link). Those talks didn’t expand beyond the formative stage, per Slater.

Ware said in December he intended to play next season but ultimately decided to move on to other things.

The future Hall of Famer enjoyed some of his best seasons with Dallas, a run that included four first-team All-Pro selections and seven consecutive Pro Bowl nods. He continued to be productive in Denver, even though he wasn’t fully healthy in the last two seasons.

We here at PFR wish Ware the best in retirement.

Isaiah Crowell Drawing RFA Interest

March 13th, 2017 at 4:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Browns placed a second-round RFA tender on Isaiah Crowell but are seeing teams debate potential pursuits of the fourth-year running back. At least three teams have inquired about Crowell, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

It would cost another team a second-round pick to pry Crowell from Cleveland. However, the Browns under their Sashi Brown– and Paul DePodesta-headed leadership have prioritized draft capital. They traded down multiple times from their No. 2 overall perch during the 2016 draft and played a part in a historic trade for Brock Osweiler last week to acquire a second-round pick. So, seeing a team sign Crowell to an offer sheet might interest the Browns despite the team placing that second-round tender on their starting ball-carrier.

Crowell turned in his best season in 2016, rushing for 952 yards and seven touchdowns for the 1-15 Browns. He did so despite the team losing both of its starting guards — Joel Bitonio and John Greco — as the woeful season went along. The Browns also lost Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz to free agency and experienced a litany of quarterback injuries, but Crowell’s 4.8 yards-per-carry mark resided as by far his career-best figure.

Eagles Restructure Zach Ertz’s Contract

March 13th, 2017 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Eagles signed Zach Ertz to an extension last year and watched him turn in a second straight season with 800-plus receiving yards. However, the team used Ertz’s contract to create some cap space today via restructure, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

Philadelphia converted $3.225MM of Ertz’s 2017 base salary into a guaranteed roster bonus, creating $2.58MM in cap space, Yates reports. Despite signing Torrey Smith, Alshon Jeffery and Nick Foles, Philly has not operated with much wiggle room in free agency, holding less than $6MM in cap space (only the Ravens have less at this juncture).

Connected to numerous potential trades and roster cuts — involving players like Jason Kelce, Mychal Kendricks, Chase Daniel and Jason Peters — the Eagles have been busy financially this month. Last year, the Eagles authorized numerous extensions to help push them up against the 2017 cap ceiling. A Daniel release, one that’s likely coming, will create $6MM in additional space, though.

Ertz will now make just $775K in base salary in his fifth season.

Bears Host Vance Walker On Visit

March 13th, 2017 at 4:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

UFA interior defender Vance Walker paid a visit to Chicago for a Bears summit, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. The Broncos are still interested in retaining Walker, per Fowler, but the key factor here is how Walker recovers from the ACL tear he sustained last August.

The Broncos signed both Zach Kerr and Domata Peko to help fortify a defensive line that saw both Walker’s and Sylvester Williams‘ contracts come off the books and one that didn’t possess much depth compared to its Super Bowl championship season. Denver was interested in retaining Walker, who was slated to start at right defensive end opposite Derek Wolfe last season prior to the knee injury, in February as well.

Walker spent two seasons in Denver, serving as a backup behind Wolfe and Malik Jackson in 2015 and watching Jared Crick function as a starter in ’16. The Bears could use some depth at their end spot, with Akiem Hicks fronting a somewhat thin unit presently.

Formerly with the Falcons, Raiders and Chiefs, Walker made 32 tackles and recorded two sacks during his most recent healthy season. He turns 30 in April.