HEADLINES

Month: March 2017

Kirk Cousins Won’t Push For Trade

March 9th, 2017 at 7:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins will sign his franchise tag soon, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Cousins, he adds, will be a “good soldier” and understands that he’s unlikely to get dealt, despite his personal appeal to owner Dan Snyder for a trade.

Kirk Cousins

Once he signs, Cousins will be slated to play out the 2017 campaign while earning nearly $24MM. In theory, the two sides can work out an extension between now and July. Based on the way talks have gone between Cousins and the Redskins to date, that doesn’t seem likely. Then again, with GM Scot McCloughan on the way out and the entire franchise in general disarray, it’s anyone’s guess as to who his reps would be negotiating with or what that lead decision maker would be inclined to do.

If Cousins doesn’t ink a multiyear deal with the Redskins by midsummer or end up in another uniform via trade in the coming months, next season could go down as his last in Washington. Tagging an unsigned Cousins again next offseason would cost the Redskins upward of $34MM, an unpalatable total.

For the second straight year, then, Cousins is in line to play without any long-term security, though he’s also on track to rake in $43MM-plus between last season and 2017 on account of the tag. Cousins has made his case for a big-money deal since breaking out during the 2015 campaign, his first as the Redskins’ full-time starter. The 28-year-old started all of the Redskins’ games over the past two seasons and helped the team to a 17-14-1 record, including an NFC East title in 2015. Along the way, Cousins combined for over 9,000 yards and 54 touchdowns against 23 interceptions.

Contract Details: Garcon, Baker, Klein, Jones

March 9th, 2017 at 6:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a look at some details of the free agent contracts signed today:

  • Chris Baker, DL (Buccaneers): Three years, $15.75MM. $9MM guaranteed. $1MM in sack incentives each season (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post).
  • Jack Crawford, DL (Falcons): Three years, $10.3MM. $3.75MM in 2017 (Twitter link via Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com).
  • Pierre Garcon, WR (49ers): Two years, $23MM. $17MM guaranteed. Options for 2019 ($6MM), 2020 ($8.9MM), and 2021 ($9.6MM) (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
  • Landry Jones, QB (Steelers): Two years, $4.4MM. $600K signing bonus (Twitter link via Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com).
  • A.J. Klein, LB (Saints): Four years, $24MM. $4MM signing bonus. $9.4MM guaranteed. 2020 season will void Klein is on Saints roster on last day of 2019 league year (via Nick Underhill of the Advocate).
  • Jeff Locke, P (Colts): Two years, $3.45MM. $1.25MM guaranteed (Twitter links via Ben Goessling of ESPN.com and Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star).
  • Ryan Mallett, QB (Ravens): One year, $2MM. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Akeem Spence, DL (Lions): Three years, $9MM. $3.5MM guaranteed. $1MM available via escalators (Twitter link via Peliserro).
  • D.J. Swearinger, S (Redskins): Three years, $13.5MM. $9MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Kinkhabwala).

J.J. Wilcox To Visit Seahawks

March 9th, 2017 at 6:53pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

In addition to meeting with the Buccaneers, free agent safety J.J. Wilcox will visit the Seahawks, reports Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Wilcox spent the first four seasons of his career with the Cowboys, but they won’t attempt to re-sign the 26-year-old, per George.

J.J. Wilcox (Vertical)

Wilcox is now poised to become the second safety to leave Dallas in free agency this year, joining soon-to-be Jaguar Barry Church. Functioning as the Cowboys’ third safety behind Church and Byron Jones last season, Wilcox appeared in 13 games and picked off the fifth pass of his career. Wilcox only started four contests – down from 16 in 2014 and 13 in 2015 – but Pro Football Focus ranked his performance a terrific 27th among 89 qualified safeties.

The next chapter of Wilcox’s career could take him to Seattle, which boasts a highly accomplished secondary and two star safeties in Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas. Chancellor is currently scheduled to become a free agent next offseason, though, and Thomas flirted with retirement after an injury-shortened 2016.

Extra Points: Raiders, Holmes, Whitworth

March 9th, 2017 at 6:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The latest from around the NFL:

Jets To Re-Sign Josh Martin

March 9th, 2017 at 6:37pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Jets are bringing back linebacker Josh Martin on a two-year, $4.3MM deal, tweets ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Josh Martin

The 25-year-old Martin is coming off his first season as a member of the Jets, with whom he totaled a career-high 15 appearances. While Martin was barely a factor on defense, having registered just one tackle and a half-sack, he was a key special teams cog. Martin took part in 76.9 percent of the Jets’ ST snaps.

Before joining the Jets last year, Martin divided his first three seasons between the Chiefs and Buccaneers. He originally signed with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent from Columbia University in 2013.

Redskins Fire GM Scot McCloughan

March 9th, 2017 at 6:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins are firing GM Scout McCloughan after two seasons at the helm, according to The Washington Post. McCloughan is being let go due to his ongoing issues with alcohol, one official says. Scot McCloughan (vertical)

“He’s had multiple relapses due to alcohol,” said the official. “He showed up in the locker room drunk on multiple occasions. . . . This has been a disaster for 18 months.”

The same official intimated that McCloughan also lost his two previous NFL jobs due to alcohol abuse. The exec did not “make the best of his third chance” in the league, in the anonymous source’s estimation.

Meanwhile, there were rumblings late in the season that some in the Washington front office were jealous of McCloughan’s power, Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets. Ultimately, he was told, team management would one day use McCloughan’s drinking as an excuse to fire him. McCloughan’s players, scouting staff, and even coaches all respected and appreciated him, Jones tweets.

“The Washington Redskins have released Scot McCloughan from the organization effective immediately,”Redskins president Bruce Allen said in a statement. “We wish him success in his future endeavors. The team will have no further comment on his departure. The organization remains confident in our personnel department as we execute our free agency plans as well as prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.” .

This brings an end to a bizarre saga that has been playing out in D.C. for weeks now. McCloughan has been out of pocket during the most critical part of the offseason and things got really strange when he was not present at the Scouting Combine in late February. This week, as the madness of free agency swirled, agents found themselves negotiating with other officials in the team’s front office. Reportedly, the chaos in Washington made the representatives of free agents question the team’s stability. Quarterback Kirk Cousins may also feel the same way – he personally asked owner Dan Snyder to trade him.

The Redskins have been “entertaining” new general manager options for “quite some time,” according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. He mentioned Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik as a candidate whose name has surfaced in internal talks. La Canfora also suggested that the team could promote executive Alex Santos to the GM spot, but it’s not clear if that has been a consideration. The Redskins have never promoted an executive from within to fill the GM role.

Without their GM in the building, the Redskins made a number of notable moves this week. Here’s a quick rundown:

The Redskins also lost DeSean Jackson and Chris Baker to the Buccaneers, lost Pierre Garcon to the 49ers, and came up short in their efforts to sign Calais Campbell.

Titans Interested In Brandon Williams

March 9th, 2017 at 6:18pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Titans are among the teams with interest in free agent defensive tackle Brandon Williams, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (Twitter link). However, the two might not be able to find common ground on a price, McCormick adds.

Brandon Williams (Vertical)

As of earlier Thursday, Williams’ agent was working on a contract with the Ravens, the 28-year-old’s only NFL employer to date. Williams entered the league as a third-round pick in 2013 and has since piled up 55 appearances and 46 starts in Baltimore. Last year was the third straight 16-game campaign for Williams, who also started all of the Ravens’ games for the second season in a row and ranked 39th in performance among Pro Football Focus‘ 127 qualified D-linemen.

Given his track record, the 335-pound Williams – who ranks as one of the top free agents left on the board – figures to come at a high cost. An adept run defender, Williams would further beef up a Tennessee ‘D’ that already fared well against opposing rushers last season, when it ranked second in ground yards allowed and 10th in DVOA versus the run.

Bears Sign WR Markus Wheaton

March 9th, 2017 at 6:13pm CST by Ben Levine

After losing Alshon Jeffery to the Eagles earlier today, the Bears have added a new wideout. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that Chicago has signed receiver Markus Wheaton.

Markus WheatonWheaton, 26, had spent his entire four-year career with the Steelers. The wideout cotinually progressed after getting selected in the third-round of the 2013 draft, as he finished the 2015 campaign with 44 receptions and career-highs in yards (749) and touchdowns (five). The receiver played in three games (two starts) this past season, collecting four receptions for 51 yards and one touchdown. A shoulder injury ultimately led to him being placed on the injured reserve in late November.

After losing Jeffery today, the Bears are looking at a crop of unproven receivers. Besides Eddie Royal, all of the wideouts are 27 or younger. Cameron Meredith and former first-rounder Kevin White figure to be the starters next season. Wheaton will likely compete with Josh Bellamy, Daniel Braverman, and Bralon Addison for snaps.

We ranked Wheaton as the 10th-best wideout available via free agency.

Dolphins To Sign Ted Larsen

March 9th, 2017 at 5:52pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

A busy day continues for the Dolphins: The team is set to sign free agent guard Ted Larsen to a three-year deal, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link).Ted Larsen (vertical)

With 2016 starter Jermon Bushrod now on the market, the Dolphins entered Thursday in search of help along the interior O-line. Larsen could help the Dolphins’ cause, then. The soon-to-be 30-year-old will certainly provide versatility to Miami, having lined up at each guard spot and center during his seven-season career.

As a member of the Bears in 2016, Larsen appeared in 15 games, made eight starts and ranked 44th in performance among Pro Football Focus’ 72 qualified guards. He previously combined for 86 appearances and 57 starts with the Buccaneers and Cardinals from 2010-15.

TE Darren Fells To Visit Lions

March 9th, 2017 at 5:46pm CST by Ben Levine

Former Cardinals tight end Darren Fells will be visiting the Lions tomorrow, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Arizona decided to non-tender the restricted free agent earlier today. It was expected that Fells’ tenure in Arizona might be over following the team’s signing of Jermaine Gresham.Darren Fells

Following a breakout 2015 campaign, Fells took a step back this past season. The tight end ultimately played in 14 games (seven starts), hauling in 14 receptions for 154 yards and one touchdown. In three NFL seasons, the 30-year-old has collected 40 receptions for 536 yards and four touchdowns.

The Lions could use some depth at the position, as they’re currently rostering only a pair of tight ends in Eric Ebron and Cole Wick.

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