2017 March - Pro Football Rumors

Packers To Sign Lance Kendricks

March 11th, 2017 at 3:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Packers have agreed to sign free agent tight end Lance Kendricks, according to Adam Schefter and Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Green Bay has now added two tight ends in two days, as the club inked Martellus Bennett to a three-year pact on Friday. Kendricks, 29, should slot in behind Bennett as the Packers’ No. 2 tight end, joining a position group that also includes Richard Rodgers. But don’t worry, Ted Thompson: Kendricks was released by the Rams this week, so he won’t count against the compensatory pick formula.

Kendricks was in the midst of a contract that was supposed to pay him $18.5MM over four years. Instead, the Rams got out of the deal two years early. Kendricks had a career-high 50 receptions last year for 499 yards and two scores in 2016, but the new regime didn’t feel he was worth keeping.

A Milwaukee native who played collegiately at Wisconsin, Kendricks is now experiencing something of a homecoming.

Buccaneers To Re-Sign Josh Robinson

March 11th, 2017 at 3:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Buccaneers have reached an agreement to re-sign cornerback Josh Robinson to a two-year, $6.5MM deal that includes $3.5MM guaranteed, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Robinson, 26, signed a one-year, $2MM deal with Tampa Bay last offseason, joining the Bucs after four years with the Vikings. He barely played — at least on defense — in 2016, however, managing all of two defensive snaps. Instead, Robinson’s contributions came on special teams, where he played on nearly 70% of Tampa’s plays, emerging as an excellent gunner.

While Robinson’s price tag could foretell a larger role on defense in 2017, he’ll likely be stuck behind Brent Grimes, Vernon Hargreaves, and others when the regular season begins.

Broncos To Sign Domata Peko, Zach Kerr

March 11th, 2017 at 3:23pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos have agreed to free agent deals with defensive linemen Domata Peko and Zach Kerr, tweets Mike Klis of 9NEWS. Peko will receive a two-year, $7.5MM contract that includes $3.8MM guaranteed, per Klis (Twitter link). Kerr will also garner a two-year pact, reports Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post (Twitter link).

Peko, 32, will now leave the Bengals after spending the past 11 seasons in Cincinnati. The former fourth-round pick appeared in 171 games with the Bengals during his time in the Queen City, starting 156 of those contests. Although he’s started every game for the past seven seasons, Peko’s playing time had started to dwindle, as he’d only managed roughly half of Cincinnati’s defensive snaps over the past two years. Peko registered 37 tackles in 2016 while grading as the league’s No. 106 interior defender, Pro Football Focus, which has given Peko disastrous marks for the past four years.

Addressing the defensive line was thought to be a primary focus for Denver this offseason, but Peko and Kerr are the the only defensive linemen the club has added thus far. That’s not for lack of trying, however, as the Broncos were reportedly among the final suitors for Calais Campbell before he signed with the Jaguars. Denver had to ward off other teams in order to land Peko, as the Vikings apparently had interest in the 6’3″, 307 pound defender, tweets Matt Vensel of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Kerr, 26, was not tendered a restricted free agent contract by the Colts after appearing in 12 games (four starts) for the club last year. Appearing on nearly a third of Indy’s defensive snaps, Kerr posted 19 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery in his third NFL campaign. Kerr drew interest from the 49ers and Lions before signing with the Broncos, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link).

Bears Re-Sign Johnthan Banks

March 11th, 2017 at 3:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent cornerback Johnthan Banks announced today via Twitter that he’s been re-signed by the Bears. Chicago has since confirmed the transaction, and announced that it’s a one-year deal for Banks.

The 2016 season was a year of tumult for the 27-year-old Banks, as the former second-round pick spent time with three clubs. The team that originally drafted him — the Buccaneers — traded Banks to the Lions in November, but Detroit waived him just a month later. Banks stayed in the NFC North, however, as Chicago claimed him off waivers. All told, Banks — who offers good size at 6’2″ — played in nine games last season, and started two contests (both with the Bears).

Improving the secondary loomed a primary goal for the Bears heading into the offseason, and while Banks is likely being viewed as depth rather than a starting piece, Chicago has made other moves to bolster its defensive backfield this week. The club agreed to a one-year deal with cornerback Prince Amukamara, and also signed veteran safety Quintin Demps to a three-year pact. Additionally, the Bears have met with free agents Darius Butler and Marcus Cooper.

DT Bennie Logan Planning Other Visits

March 11th, 2017 at 2:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After taking a visit with the Redskins on Friday, free agent defensive tackle Bennie Logan plans to take meetings with other clubs, tweets John Keim of ESPN.com. No contract is imminent between the two parties, adds Keim.

The Redskins’ interest in Logan, 27, dates back until at least January, though he has obviously been on their radar for longer as a division rival. Washington finished last year 25th in DVOA against the run and has since lost lineman Chris Baker to Tampa Bay, so the fact that it’s pursuing Logan isn’t surprising. The 309-pound Logan is a well-regarded run defender, and while Pro Football Focus assigned him poor grades last season, his most recent work came in a 4-3 defense. The Redskins run a 3-4, for which Logan is better suited.

Logan, a third-round pick in 2013, has missed five games since entering the league – all in the past two seasons – and totaled 51 starts and 5.5 sacks. He’s coming off the third straight year in which he started in each of his appearances, and he notched personal bests in sacks (2.5) and forced fumbles (two).

Logan earned an honorable mention on PFR’s Top 50 Free Agents list, and ranked as our No. 6 free agent interior defender.

Lions Sign Keshawn Martin

March 11th, 2017 at 2:32pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions have signed wide receiver Keshawn Martin to an undisclosed contract, the team announced today.

Martin only appeared in one game last season after signing with the 49ers, and while he didn’t post any receiving statistics, he did return two kickoffs. After getting cut in November, Martin worked out for the Bears and Broncos, but never landed another contract. Now, he’ll head to Detroit where general manager Bob Quinn should be familiar with Martin given the pair’s time with the Patriots.

Martin, 26, was traded from the Texans to New England in September 2015, and he ended up appearing in nine games (eight starts) for the Patriots, compiling 24 catches for 269 yards and two touchdowns. The former Michigan State Spartan agreed to an extension with the Patriots in January 2016 that included $600K guaranteed, but New England cut bait relatively soon. Over his five-year career, Martin has 62 receptions for 685 yards and five touchdowns.

Vikings Still Considering Matt Asiata

March 11th, 2017 at 1:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Vikings are still mulling a reunion with running back Matt Asiata, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link), who adds the door is “not closed” between the two parties. Still, Asiata is still considering other clubs, and is primarily waiting for the top free agent backs to sign before agreeing to a deal himself.

Now that Minnesota has cut ties with Adrian Peterson, its backfield is comprised of only Jerick McKinnon and C.J. Ham. Peterson might still return to the Vikings down the line, while the club is also meeting with free agent runner Eddie Lacy. Whatever running back avenue the Vikings choose to go down, the team clearly needs to add depth at the position, and possibly a starter.

Asiata, 29, would fall more into the depth category, as although he managed 121 carries for the Vikings last year, he only averaged a plodding 3.3 yards per carry. All told, he scored six touchdowns on the ground, and added 32 receptions in the passing game. Asiata also played on roughly a quarter of Minnesota’s special teams snaps.

Patriots To Sign Lawrence Guy

March 11th, 2017 at 1:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Patriots have agreed to sign defensive lineman Lawrence Guy to a four-year deal worth up to $20MM, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Guy, 27, next week, had been linked to a number of teams during the free agent period, but the Ravens were reportedly monitoring his market and had interest in re-signing him. Instead, Guy will head to New England after visiting with the club earlier this week. Guy, who ranked as PFR’s No. 12 interior defender, also drew interest from the Redskins and Dolphins.

The Patriots are revamping their defensive line after finishing just 26th in adjusted sack rate in 2016. After re-signing defensive tackle Alan Branch to a two-year deal, New England also traded for Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy. While they’ve lost Jabaal Sheard to the Colts, the Patriots still boast Trey Flowers, Malcom Brown, and Geneo Grissom.

Guy hasn’t missed a game over the past two seasons, earning 16 combined starts for the Ravens. After recording 4.5 sacks during the 2015 campaign, Guy finished the 2016 season with 28 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.

Browns Will Trade Or Cut Brock Osweiler

March 11th, 2017 at 1:07pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Browns are attempting to trade recently-acquired quarterback Brock Osweiler and a fifth-round pick in exchange for a third-round selection, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. If they can’t unload Osweiler via trade, the Browns will simply release him.

Cleveland’s move to acquire Osweiler from the Texans was solely about absorbing his cap charge in order to pick up a second-round pick, so it’s not a surprise that he isn’t in the club’s long-term plans. As previous reports have indicated, the Browns are willing to pay as much as half of Osweiler’s $16MM base salary in order to facilitate a trade. To do so, Cleveland would convert a portion of Osweiler’s salary into a signing bonus, and pay that figure before dealing him elsewhere.

Given the Browns’ ample cap space, they could probably negotiate Osweiler’s salary all the way down to $1MM, making the 26-year-old quarterback a much more valuable asset. Either way, other executives are skeptical Cleveland’s plan to flip Osweiler will be successful, as one personnel man told Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com “no one will do their new trade.”

Latest On Tony Romo, Cowboys

March 11th, 2017 at 12:55pm CST by Ben Levine

When Tony Romo inevitably joins a new team, it will likely be via free agency. ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets that it’d be a “major upset” if the Cowboys trade the veteran quarterback, noting that it’s much more likely that he’s ultimately released.

There were whispers from earlier this week that the team was going to cut the four-time Pro Bowler, but subsequent reports indicated that the team was instead going to trade the 36-year-old instead. Regardless, Romo’s tenure in Dallas is surely over as the team looks to move forward with Dak Prescott.

The Broncos have consistently been connected to Romo, and we learned earlier this week that the veteran wants to play for Denver. The Texans have also been mentioned as a likely suitor, and the organization’s trade of Brock Osweiler may have been motivated by an impending Romo trade or signing.

Despite the rumors, the market for the quarterback has been “laid back,” although I don’t necessarily attribute this to a lack of interest. Rather, teams may not want to give up any type of assets for Romo. After all, the Cowboys won’t head into next season with another quarterback controversy, so their hand will eventually be forced.

Romo last played full-time during the 2014 season, when he completed a league-high 69.9% of his passes for 3,705 yards and 34 touchdowns against just nine interceptions.