2017 March - Pro Football Rumors

Mutual Interest Between Raiders, Bennett

March 9th, 2017 at 12:11pm CST by Zachary Links

Is Martellus Bennett Oakland-bound? There is “heavy mutual interest” between the tight end and the Raiders, a source tells Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald (on Twitter). The Raiders’ interest in him has been known for about a week now, but it sounds like things are getting serious today.

On Wednesday night, we learned that the Bills and Giants are among the clubs who are also in pursuit of Bennett. The Titans and Lions are also known to be fishing for help at the position, but it’s not clear if they have Bennett in their sights.

Bennett wants seeking $9MM annually and he just might get that as the offseason’s No. 1 available tight end. He had a solid contract year, recording 701 receiving yards and seven touchdowns for New England as Rob Gronkowski‘s fill-in. This week, Jack Doyle re-signed with the Colts for nearly $7MM per season, and that should help his market. On the flipside, the Patriots are already known to be out of the bidding after acquiring Dwayne Allen via trade.

Bennett seemingly has every right to ask for $9MM, but a report last month indicated a “real possibility” that Bennett won’t be returning to the Patriots in 2017. Now that New England has acquired Dwayne Allen, Bennett is almost assuredly not returning to the Patriots.

Bennett ranks as PFR’s No. 20 overall free agent and top available tight end.

Eagles Exploring Markus Wheaton Addition

March 9th, 2017 at 12:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Linked to most of the upper-echelon receivers this offseason, the Eagles are now exploring the middle tier of the market. After adding the recently released Torrey Smith, Philadelphia is still on the hunt for veteran receiving help and is looking into several options — including Markus Wheaton, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets.

Wheaton did not enjoy a productive contract year but made a splash previously as Antonio Brown‘s sidekick in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He averaged 696.5 yards in those campaigns before losing most of his 2016 slate due to a shoulder injury that sent him to IR.

The Eagles remain involved in an Alshon Jeffery pursuit as well, joining other teams in that regard, but have barely $6MM in cap space. Wheaton would profile as a player who would fit that cost structure and potentially do so on a short-term deal to rebuild his value. The Steelers and Wheaton did not make progress on a re-up in the days leading up to free agency.

Giants, Jaguars Eyeing Rhett Ellison

March 9th, 2017 at 12:09pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants and Jaguars are interested in tight end/fullback Rhett Ellison, who could be looking at a $5MM annual salary, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com and Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links).

$5MM would represent a significant raise for Ellison, who re-signed with the Vikings in 2016 for just $1.75MM. Ellison, 28, has averaged just 10 receptions per season during his five-year run in Minnesota, so it’s certainly surprising that enough clubs’ interest would drive his price into the $5MM area. In 2016, Ellison appeared in 15 games but only secured 14 targets in the passing game.

The Giants are known to be interested in the tight end market, and have been mentioned as a possible suitor for Martellus Bennett and other free agents. The Jaguars, meanwhile, are on the hunt for a tight end after trading Julius Thomas to the Dolphins earlier this year.

Rams To Sign Aaron Murray

March 9th, 2017 at 12:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams will be the latest team to give Aaron Murray a shot, planning to sign the former fifth-round draft pick, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Murray spent last season on the Eagles’ practice squad, following offensive coordinator Doug Pederson from Kansas City to Philadelphia. Murray could not make the Chiefs’ roster out of training camp last year in a crowded competition that saw Nick Foles bump each previous backup-quarterback candidate down a peg.

Los Angeles has two QBs under contract presently, with Sean Mannion being behind Jared Goff. Case Keenum is a UFA. A Georgia product, Murray has yet to throw an NFL pass despite entering his fourth NFL offseason. He worked out for the Jets and Panthers in January after the Eagles did not retain him via reserve/futures deal.

Latest On Eagles’ Trade Discussions

March 9th, 2017 at 11:53am CST by Sam Robinson

Stationed up against the salary cap, the Eagles have placed several players on the trade block in recent days. That list now includes Jason Kelce, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The Eagles are now open to trading their longtime starting center but won’t do so just to unload his salary.

Kelce loomed as a cap-casualty candidate in January but remains attached to his initial 2017 salary — $5MM, $6.2MM cap hit — with free agency officially set to begin in a few hours.

Philadelphia continues to try to move Mychal Kendricks, according to La Canfora, but looks to have pulled back on an Allen Barbre trade. The team gave the veteran guard permission to seek a trade last week, but Jeff McLane of Philly.com reports (on Twitter) the Eagles will bring back the 32-year-old versatile lineman. Barbre’s set to make just $2.25MM in 2017 despite being set for his 11th NFL season.

The Eagles have made Kendricks the subject of trade overtures for a while now, having attempted to deal him last year. Formerly a key cog for the previous Philly regime, Kendricks was phased out of Jim Schwartz’s defense.

La Canfora adds the Eagles are still trying to acquire Brandin Cooks, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com later added the team has bowed out of the Cooks pursuit.

A.J. Bouye To Leave Texans

March 9th, 2017 at 11:48am CST by Sam Robinson

The A.J. Bouye pursuit looks like it will end up being too rich for the Texans to handle, as Bouye has informed Houston he’ll be signing elsewhere, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported earlier today (on Twitter) the coveted fifth-year cornerback would likely end up leaving Houston and signing elsewhere once free agency opens.

This may not mean the Texans won’t be seeing this former UDFA gem often. Each of the Texans’ AFC South brethren are in on Bouye — PFR’s No. 1 UFA — and each has far more cap space than the two-time defending division champions. The Texans come into free agency’s opening with $22MM-plus. That’s at least $25MM less than each of their division rivals.

Bouye broke out in a staggering way last season, becoming Pro Football Focus’ No. 3 overall cornerback after a previously nondescript career. The Texans offered Bouye a multiyear deal before 2016, but he opted to bet on himself and managed to reach free agency on the heels of one of the more notable contract years in recent memory. Houston, though, has made a commitment to its cornerback spot, having Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson on veteran contracts and having drafted Kevin Johnson in the first round.

Ravens Interested In Morris Claiborne

March 9th, 2017 at 11:44am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Ravens have expressed interest in free agent corner Morris Claiborne, tweets Matt Miller of Bleacher Report.

Claiborne, 26, transformed himself from a former draft bust to a legitimate top corner in his fifth NFL season, ranking as Pro Football Focus 12th-best corner last year year. Re-signed to a one-year deal worth only $3MM in 2016, Claiborne played in seven and posted one interception. Injuries forced Claiborne to miss more than half of the regular season, though he did return for the postseason.

Baltimore currently boasts Jimmy Smith, Tavon Young, Sheldon Price, Maurice Canaday, and Kyle Arrington at corner. The club made an addition to its secondary on Wednesday by signing safety Tony Jefferson, but cornerback help is still on the docket.

Dolphins To Place First-Round Tender On Kiko Alonso

March 9th, 2017 at 11:40am CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins are doing their best to ensure Kiko Alonso doesn’t bolt Miami as a restricted free agent, placing a first-round RFA tender on the linebacker, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets. Miami’s brass hopes this agreement will merely serve as a placeholder, because the Dolphins are attempting to sign Alonso long-term, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

This continues the Dolphins’ path for an Alonso re-up. By using the first-round tender, Alonso will see a $3.91MM salary in 2017 — around $3MM more than he made in 2016 — if no extension is reached by Week 1.

Alonso has been the rare twice-traded starter on a rookie contract, bouncing from Buffalo to Philadelphia to Miami. He rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 48 full-time linebacker last season.

The Dolphins also will place original-round tenders — $1.797MM — on safety Michael Thomas and running back Damien Williams.

Broncos To Sign Ronald Leary

March 9th, 2017 at 11:30am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Broncos will sign free agent guard Ronald Leary “assuming no last-minute snags,” tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Leary will ink a four-year deal worth $35MM, with $20MM in guarantees, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).

The Cowboys were never expected to retain Leary, who was blocked at guard by La’el Collins and Zack Martin, so instead he’ll head to a club in dire need of offensive line reinforcements. Guard was thought to be top priority for Denver this offseason, and they’ve now landed one of the top three guards on the market. Thought to be targeting $8MM per season, Leary will instead blow past that figure and nearly reach the $9MM mark.

Leary, who entered the NFL in 2012 as an undrafted free agent from Memphis, has spent his entire career with the Cowboys. He started in 35 straight appearances over his first three seasons, but he dealt with a groin injury in 2015 and Collins usurped his No. 1 role. With Collins on the shelf for most of this season, Leary made 12 starts in 13 games and ranked an impressive 25th in overall performance among Pro Football Focus’ 76 qualified guards.

While Denver now appears to be set on the interior offensive line with Leary, Matt Paradis, and Max Garcia, tackle is still a problem. The Broncos are still talking with Russell Okung after declining his option, and could need a new right tackle as well if they decide to release Donald Stephenson.

Hypothetically, Leary could be blocking for a familiar face in 2017, as the Broncos are viewed as a logical destination for free agent quarterback Tony Romo. Romo had been under center in Dallas for the entirety of Leary’s run with the club.

Packers Prioritizing Other Re-Ups Over Hyde

March 9th, 2017 at 11:28am CST by Sam Robinson

One of several notable Packers free agents, Micah Hyde may be on his way out of the NFL’s smallest market. The Packers look to have slotted the defensive back at a lower-priority spot in their free agent queue, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets.

Green Bay’s priorities seem to be Nick Perry, T.J. Lang and Jared Cook, per Silverstein. The Perry accord may already be done, with Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reporting the parties have agreed to a deal that will keep Perry in Wisconsin.

Not factoring in any Perry agreement yet, the Packers have $37MM in cap space. That would be enough for the traditionally free agency-averse team to re-sign at least two of these players. Cook, though, has other suitors who may be willing to pay more in the Lions and Bills. Lang was set on hitting free agency but was planning to give the Packers the option of matching whatever offers he received.

Hyde has played in Green Bay for four seasons, functioning as a return man, safety and slot corner for the perennial NFC contenders. He has not shown the ability the aforementioned UFAs have, though.