2017 March - Pro Football Rumors

Rams To Sign OT Andrew Whitworth

March 9th, 2017 at 8:28am CST by Zachary Links

Former Bengals tackle Andrew Whitworth is expected to sign with the Rams today, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In terms of talent, I had the veteran ranked as the top tackle on the open market.

It’s a three-year, $36MM deal with $15MM guaranteed, Schefter tweets. That also includes $2.5MM guaranteed for year two of the deal. The cash flow seems favorable as Whitworth is ticketed for $24.5MM through the first two years, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

This will result in former No. 2 overall pick Greg Robinson sliding inside to guard, Rapoport tweets. Under interim coach John Fassel, the Rams were exploring this idea. They’ll now follow through with it under Sean McVay in what seems like a last-ditch move to try and salvage Robinson’s career with the franchise.

Reportedly, the Bengals front office tried to convince teams at the scouting combine they’d ultimately re-sign the veteran.Whitworth’s camp, meanwhile, told potential suitors that a return to Cincinnati was not locked down. Whitworth’s crew wasn’t lying – he’s leaving.

Whitworth spent some time at guard last season but he’s likely going to play on the outside in L.A. Offensive line was one of the Rams’ major areas of need this offseason and they have found themselves a major piece to group with Rodger Saffold and Rob Havenstein. Now, rising sophomore quarterback Jared Goff should have much better pocket protection. Whitworth’s 92.5 score for pass blocking on Pro Football Focus led all tackles last season.

Whitworth, 35, spent his entire 11-year career in Cincinnati until now. He’s been remarkably durable, missing only two games since the start of the 2009 season. In 2016, PFF rated him as the second-best tackle in the entire NFL and he’s been a Top 5/Top 10 guy for the last five years in a row.

The former first-rounder has started 71 games during his five-year career.

Patriots To Sign CB Stephon Gilmore

March 9th, 2017 at 8:03am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots are making big moves this week. New England will sign cornerback Stephon Gilmore, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal is expected to come in at more than $14MM/year, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, but the length of the pact is not yet clear.

This deal spells the end of free agent Logan Ryan‘s time with the team, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets. In theory, Gilmore and Ryan could have formed one of league’s premier CB duos, but that would have been extremely costly for the Pats. I have Ryan ranked No. 6 on my Top 50 Free Agents list, which ranks players in terms of projected earning power. Gilmore was not far behind at No. 10.

Malcolm Butler, on the other hand, should still be returning to New England. This week, the Pats applied the first-round tender to the cornerback. In theory, another club could sign him to an offer sheet and forfeit a first-round choice if the Pats choose not to match. We’re not so sure Butler will be worth all of that for interested clubs.

The Bears made a strong push for Gilmore this week and the Bills were also working to re-sign him. Buffalo could have retained Gilmore with the franchise tag, but the team felt that the one-year tender for corners was too pricey. They allowed Gilmore to test the open market and they may or may not regret that decision today.

Gilmore did not play up to his ability in 2016 and some have speculated that he was playing it safe in his contract year. Others have wondered if Gilmore simply slipped as the Bills’ entire defense slumped.

The former first-rounder has started 66 games since entering the league in 2012. This year, he had a career-high five interceptions, but Pro Football Focus ranked him only 61st among 112 qualifying corners. Despite the so-so year, Gilmore still ranked as our third-best available free agent cornerback.

Buccaneers To Sign DeSean Jackson

March 9th, 2017 at 7:37am CST by Zachary Links

Wide receiver DeSean Jackson expects to sign with Tampa assuming no breakdown in the final negotiations, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Facebook link). He should provide Jameis Winston with the deep threat he has been seeking.

Jackson led the NFL in yards per reception for the second time in his career last season and showed that he hasn’t lost a bit of his blazing speed. He was also linked to the Patriots and the incumbent Redskins, but the Buccaneers have been in pursuit of him for days now (perhaps even before the start of the legal tampering period).

Jackson will now pair with Mike Evans at the top of the Bucs’ wide receiver depth chart. Adam Humphries and Josh Huff are also there, but the Bucs might look to add an additional receiver via free agency or the draft. Vincent Jackson, Cecil Shorts III, and Russell Shepard are all unrestricted free agents this week. The competition for Shepard is apparently heating up, so he might not be back. V. Jackson won’t be retiring, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be back in Tampa either.

Following an underwhelming 2015 campaign, Jackson bounced back in 2016. In 15 games, the veteran hauled in 56 receptions for 1,005 yards and four touchdowns. In nine NFL seasons, the wideout has averaged 55 receptions, 980 yards, and five touchdowns in 14 games per season.

Jackson rated as PFR’s No. 26 free agent based on projected earning power. He was our No. 5 ranked wide receiver based on ability, behind Alshon Jeffery, Terrelle Pryor, Kenny Stills, and Kenny Britt.

Packers To Re-Sign LB Nick Perry

March 9th, 2017 at 7:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Packers are re-signing outside linebacker Nick Perry, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Perry’s third Packers contract will be worth $60MM over five years, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets. Perry will receive and $18.5MM signing bonus. In terms of AAV, Perry’s deal will fall into fifth place among 3-4 outside linebackers in terms of per-year dollars. The Packers now employ two of the top-five players here, with Clay Matthews‘ $13.2MM-per-year deal ranking third in that hierarchy.

The first three years of this deal will be quite player-friendly. Perry’s total cash flow in 2018 will hit $20.8MM, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). For the first three years, that figure jumps to $39MM.

Last year, Perry had career highs in starts (12), sacks (11) and tackles (52). Perry entered the year with only 16 starts and 12.5 sacks across 46 appearances. He entered free agency at just the right time and picked up interest from multiple clubs in need of a difference-maker in the front seven. The Falcons, Colts, and Jets were among the teams in the mix for him.

After Chandler Jones, Melvin Ingram, and Jason Pierre-Paul came off the board, Perry stood as our No. 1 edge defender on the open market. On my Top 50 list, which rates players by earning power, he was No. 18 overall.

The Packers still have free agents of their own to address, including Eddie Lacy, Julius Peppers, James Starks, T.J. Lang, J.C. Tretter, Jared Cook, and Micah Hyde. Green Bay entered today with $37MM-plus in cap space, so retaining multiple other members of this group isn’t out of the question for this build-from-within franchise. Hyde, though, is expected to depart.

This comes a year after Perry re-signed to stay in Green Bay after tepid interest elsewhere, but after a standout season that came in what amounted to a second contract year, the soon-to-be 27-year-old edge player won’t come nearly as cheap. This continues the Packers’ pattern of prioritizing their own, following re-signings of Perry in 2016 and keeping the likes of Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga a year prior once they became UFAs. Perry will miss officially hitting the open market by a few hours.

Sam Robinson contributed to this report.

Panthers Sign Matt Kalil

March 9th, 2017 at 7:31am CST by Zachary Links

Former Minnesota offensive tackle Matt Kalil has signed with the Panthers, per a club announcement. The deal was first reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Now, Matt will play on the same offensive line as his brother, Ryan Kalil.

It’s a five-year, $55.5MM deal for Kalil, who will receive $24MM guaranteed, Joseph Person of The Charlotte Observer writes. However, that doesn’t quite tell the whole story. The deal is effectively a one-year pact with an option for more, based on what one source tells Mike Florio of PFT.

The Panthers have to decide between the first and fifth day of the 2018 league year whether to exercise a $10MM option bonus for 2021, with a $10MM non-exercise fee for 2018. The Panthers can avoid escape the option bonus by releasing or trading him prior to that deadline. Ultimately, this all measures out to a one-year, $13MM deal with a $1MM guarantee for 2018. Cutting ties with Kalil after one year would be costly, but it wouldn’t be out of the question if he underperforms.

The Vikings took Kalil No. 4 overall in 2012 draft and watched him enjoy a stellar rookie campaign. However, he’s been unable to replicate that success. Last year, he appeared in just two games due to injury. Hopefully, he’ll be able to turn in a 16-game season this year, like he did from 2012-2015.

There was mutual interest in a reunion between the Vikings and the 27-year-old (28 this summer), but Kalil was likely drawn to Carolina by the chance to play with his brother. Now, he’ll go to the Panthers and fill one of the team’s major offseason needs. Michael Oher was slated to be the team’s left tackle for 2017, but concussion issues have put his status in question.

Bears, Mike Glennon Agree To $45MM Deal

March 9th, 2017 at 7:18am CST by Zachary Links

It won’t be official until later today, but it sounds like Mike Glennon and the Bears have agreed to terms. When it’s all final, Glennon’s pact is expected to be a three-year deal at an average salary of $14.5MM per year, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears it will be a three-year, $45MM deal that includes $19MM guaranteed.

The Bears paid a pretty penny to get their man and it’s not immediately clear who they were bidding against. The Jets reported interest in him, we learned, was apparently overstated, and the 49ers were not in the mix either. Regardless, talk of Glennon getting $14-$15MM per year has come to fruition. At the same time, the average annual salary puts him 23rd amongst quarterbacks, so it’s not that ludicrous of a paycheck if the Bears believe he can be their starter.

The length of the deal can also be advantageous for both sides. The Bears do not have to commit to Glennon beyond the 2019 season, and that’s probably the safe way to go considering that he has thrown just eleven passes in the last two seasons as Jameis Winston’s understudy. At the same time, Glennon will be able to hit the open market again before his age-30 season.

As a rookie in 2013, Glennon started 13 games, completing 59.4% of his passes for 2,608 yards, 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. All in all, he’s 5-13 as a starting quarterback, but one could hardly blame him for all of the Bucs’ problems in 2013 and 2014.

In addition to signing the former Bucs signal caller, Rapoport adds that the Bears still plan on drafting a quarterback in April. It’s not immediately clear whether that means taking a quarterback with their No. 3 overall pick. If that’s the case, top QB prospects like Mitch Trubisky, Deshaun Watson, and Patrick Mahomes could be in play. Other quarterbacks like DeShone Kizer, Brad Kaaya (who was once said to be a Chicago target), and Davis Webb could potentially be on the board beyond the first round.

Photo courtesy of PFR on Instagram.

Jaguars To Sign Calais Campbell

March 8th, 2017 at 10:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

One of the top free agent defenders is now off the board, as the Jaguars are expected to sign defensive lineman Calais Campbell, reports Dianne Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Campbell’s new deal will average $14MM per season, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). The Redskins were the runner-up in the bidding for Campbell, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Jacksonville is no stranger to spending on its defensive line, as the club invested in Malik Jackson just last year. With Campbell now in tow, the Jaguars will feature a front four that includes Jackson, Dante Fowler Jr., Roy Miller, and Yannick Ngakoue, among others. While Jacksonville’s defense showed improvement in 2016, the presence of Campbell may help the unit take another leap during the 2017 campaign.

Despite entering his age-31 season, Campbell was one of the prizes of this year’s free agent market — he ranked as PFR’s No. 9 overall free agent and No. 1 interior defender. Capable of playing tackle or end, Campbell placed as the No. 2 interior player in 2016, according to Pro Football Focus, earning strong marks against the run and pass. Last year, he managed eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception while playing more than 800 snaps.

Campbell will now leave Arizona after nine seasons, joining Tony Jefferson — who has signed with the Ravens — as free agent defections. The Cardinals were fully expecting to lose Campbell after using the franchise tag on Chandler Jones, but they can probably expect to reap a 2018 compensatory pick as a result.

With Campbell now under contract, the interior defender market is now topped by the likes of Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Williams, Dontari Poe, Chris Baker, and Bennie Logan.

AFC Rumors: Stills, Siemian, Revis, Texans

March 8th, 2017 at 10:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Kenny Stills may have had another contract proposal from at least one other club before re-signing with the Dolphins, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. The Bears and Eagles were the two known teams with interest in Stills, but it’s entirely possible other clubs also pursued him. Ultimately, Stills re-upped with Miami at a cost of $32MM over four years.

Here’s more from the AFC:

If the Broncos end up signing the recently-released Tony Romo, they could end up discussing a Trevor Siemian trade with the Jets, opines Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). To be clear, this is only speculation on the part of Pelissero, but it’s an interesting thought experiment to imagine potential destinations for Siemian if Romo lands in Denver. Siemian isn’t the only semi-starting quarterback that could be affected by a Romo pursuit: if the Texans ink Romo, some executives think Houston will trade Tom Savage to the 49ers.
Former Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis showed evident signs of decline last season, and a developing legal issue led to the Jets ultimately cutting the veteran. One general manager recently told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News he wouldn’t pursue the veteran cornerback even if he was willing to play “for free.” Another executive told Mehta that “you respect the body of work throughout his career, but all good things come to an end.”
The Texans re-signed kicker Nick Novak last night, and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link) has the details on the new pact. Novak’s one-year deal is worth $1.15MM and includes a $250K signing bonus.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Saints Interested In Kevin Zeitler

March 8th, 2017 at 10:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

As Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported earlier today, nearly every NFL front office is interested in free agent guard Kevin Zeitler. The Saints can now be added to that list, as New Orleans may pursue the soon-to-be ex-Bengals lineman, tweets Herbie Teope of the Times-Picayune.

While Cincinnati has all but given up on re-signing Zeitler, the rest of the league is ready to pounce, meaning Zeitler (27 today) should be able to garner a contract in the $12MM range. Already, the Colts, Jaguars, and Browns have been linked to Zeitler, who ranks as PFR’s No. 5 overall free agent. A former first-round pick, Zeitler has started 71 games for the Bengals over the past five years, and hasn’t missed a contest in either of the past two campaigns.

If New Orleans signs Zeitler, the club would probably end any discussion of bringing veteran right guard Jahri Evans back for a 12th season. While the Saints could conceivably ink both guards and move Andrus Peat to right tackle, such a shift would be overly complicated and difficult, especially given that neither Zeitler nor Evans has ever played on the left side.

Redskins Pushing To Retain DeSean Jackson

March 8th, 2017 at 9:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Redskins will make a “final push” to re-sign free agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), who notes that such an overture will be expensive.

Washington had been expected to part ways with Jackson, and while a breakup could still occur, it sounds as though the Redskins haven’t yet given up on retaining the 30-year-old pass-catcher. Jackson has already developed a large market during the legal tampering period, as the Buccaneers, Eagles, and Cowboys have all been tied to the veteran pass-catcher. As such, his annual salary could conceivably brush the $12MM area.

Jackson, who led the NFL in yards per reception for the second time in his career last season, has also been linked to the Patriots, but he’s unlikely to land in New England unless he accepts a “steep discount,” tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. Jackson rates as PFR’s No. 26 free agent.