2017 March - Pro Football Rumors

Contract Details: Gholston, Colquitt, Doyle, Davis

March 8th, 2017 at 4:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Updates on the contracts signed over the past couple of days, mostly via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle…

Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston‘s contract includes $13.5MM in guaranteed money, as well as a guaranteed base salary of $3MM for the 2017 season (via Twitter). The 25-year-old’s $6.5MM 2018 salary becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2017 league year.
Defensive tackle Khyri Thornton‘s deal with the Lions is worth $3.3MM with a $325K bonus (Twitter). Thornton will make $700K in 2017, followed by a $1.325MM salary in 2018. He can earn another $12.5K via annual per game active roster bonus, as well as $225K via a weight bonus.
Punter Britton Colquitt‘s new deal with the Browns is worth $11.2MM and $4.5MM guaranteed (via Twitter). The former fourth-rounder will earn $1.65MM in 2017, followed by salaries of $2.55MM (2018), $2.7MM (2019), and $2.8M (2020).
Colts tight end Jack Doyle will earn $18.9MM on his next contract (via Twitter). Doyle will earn a guaranteed $1MM next season, followed by a $3.5MM salary in 2018 (guaranteed fifth day of league year) and $5.15MM salary in 2019. The tight end will also earn a $6.5MM roster bonus on March 10th.
Fullback James Develin earned a $2.45MM contract from the Patriots along with a $300K signing bonus, reports Wilson (Twitter). Develin will earn $800K each year, with a guaranteed $200K base salary for 2017. He can earn another $12.5K via a per-game active annual roster bonus.
ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets that tight end Vernon Davis will receive $15MM ($7.5MM guaranteed) from the Redskins. The veteran will make $6MM in the first year of the three-year deal.
Punter Shane Lechler‘s new deal with the Texans is for one-year and $2MM ($1MM guaranteed), reports Caplan (via Twitter).

Bills Sign FB/RB Mike Tolbert

March 8th, 2017 at 4:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The human bowling ball is now rolling up to Buffalo. The Bills have announced the signing of running back/fullback Mike Tolbert to a one-year, $1MM deal.

The news is a bit surprising since the Bills stuck agreement with fellow fullback Patrick DiMarco just a couple of hours ago. It’s likely that DiMarco will be tasked more with a run blocking role and Tolbert will be used more as a traditional running back. Tolbert did amass roughly 1,600 all-purpose yards in his first four years with the Panthers before taking a backseat in the offense last year.

I had Tolbert ranked seventh amongst free agent fullbacks due to his age and diminished blocking skills. He’ll turn 32 in November. In 2016, he had 35 carries for 114 yards and just ten catches for 72 yards.

Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com first reported the agreeement. Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer had the details. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Browns Have High Bid On Tony Jefferson

March 8th, 2017 at 4:21pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns are in on Tony Jefferson and their offer is currently the most lucrative one on the table, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. The Ravens, he adds, are also involved.

This week, I ranked Jefferson No. 11 on my Top 50 Free Agents List, which lists players in order of earning power. I estimated a $10MM+/year salary for Jefferson, particularly since Eric Berry is now off of the market. Jefferson is far and away the best strong safety in this year’s free agent crop.

The Cardinals want to keep Jefferson, but they expect to lose him. The Buccaneers, Redskins, Titans, and Panthers would all make varying degrees of sense for him, but it’s not clear if they are serious bidders.

One notable safety came off the market on Wednesday when Barry Church agreed to terms with the Jaguars. Duron Harmon, Jonathan Cyprien, T.J. McDonald, and Micah Hyde remain on the board. Darius Butler could also play safety, if asked.

Dolphins Looking To Extend Kiko Alonso

March 8th, 2017 at 4:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The Dolphins are looking to sign Kiko Alonso to a multi-year contract, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (via Twitter). The linebacker is set to hit restricted free agency tomorrow, meaning the team can match any offer he receives (or receive draft pick compensation if he signs elsewhere). According to Garafolo, Miami is trying to extend Alonso as opposed to tendering him.

The former second-round pick has bounced around the NFL since entering the league in 2013. Alonso was dealt from the Bills to the Eagles in exchange for LeSean McCoy in 2015, and he was subsequently traded to the Dolphins along with Byron Maxwell last offseason.

The linebacker responded with one of his strongest seasons in years. Alonso compiled 115 tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. He made it clear earlier this offseason that he has little interest in moving to middle linebacker next season.

The team’s current linebacker depth chart consists of Koa Misi, Mike Hull, Neville Hewitt, and Trevor Reilly.

Jets Interested In Marcus Cooper

March 8th, 2017 at 4:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Marcus Cooper finished the 2016 preseason buried on the Chiefs’ depth chart, but after standing out following a trade to the Cardinals, the cornerback has established himself as a viable free agent. The Jets are interested in adding Cooper to their reconfigured cornerback corps, Connor Hughes of NJ.com reports.

Cooper defensed 11 passes and intercepted a career-high four in Arizona, returning one of those picks for a score. Deficient at the cornerback spot opposite Patrick Peterson, the Cardinals want to re-sign Cooper but are aware his price might be too high.

The Jets are making a move toward a younger position group after cutting Darrelle Revis. Gang Green still has Buster Skrine under contract and is expected to tender Marcus Williams at the second-round level.

Initially arriving in Kansas City as a waiver claim, Cooper became an instant contributor for the 2013 Chiefs, intercepting three passes. But Cooper’s role slowly began to diminish in the years that followed. After starting 27 games between the ’13 and ’14 slates, Cooper seldom played on a 2015 Chiefs team that only used two cornerbacks in dime packages. Pro Football Focus, though, is less bullish on Cooper’s resurgence last season, slotting the now-27-year-old defender as its No. 101 full-time corner.

49ers Waive C Marcus Martin

March 8th, 2017 at 4:05pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers have been busy adding players today, and now they’ve subtracted one from their roster. The team announced that they have waived center Marcus Martin.

The former third-round pick started 24 of his 26 games over three seasons with the team. Martin only played in five games last season before being placed on the injured reserve. In college, the lineman started 33 starts over three seasons with USC.

Zane Beadles is the lone center remaining on the 49ers roster. Veteran Daniel Kilgore filled in at the position for much of last season. The team could also presumably look for more versatility from backups Andrew Tiller, John Theus, and Alex Balducci.

Dolphins Make Offer To Kenny Stills

March 8th, 2017 at 4:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

After two upper-echelon UFA wide receivers came off the market today in Brandon Marshall and Pierre Garcon, the Dolphins are moving to retain their top remaining free agent. Miami made an offer to UFA wideout Kenny Stills, CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora tweets. The Dolphins’ offer is believed to be in the $8MM-per-year range, La Canfora notes. They’re one of at least three teams in the mix for Stills’ services, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

This might not be enough to retain the 24-year-old deep threat, with reports he could land a deal in the $12MM-AAV realm. But Miami has shown interest in keeping its downfield target, and such an acquisition would solidify Adam Gase‘s passing attack. Jarvis Landry has one more season left on his deal, and DeVante Parker is under team control for the foreseeable future. Former Gase success story Julius Thomas now resides in this offense.

Stills caught 42 passes for 726 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns in 2016. He joins DeSean Jackson and Torrey Smith as key long-range receiving options on the market. But Stills is much younger; he’ll only turn 25 this year. Stills resides as PFR’s No. 3 overall free agent.

Miami is also still interested in retaining UFA tight end Dion Sims, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets. This comes after a late-February report indicated the Fins wanted to keep Sims. Thomas has been notoriously injury-prone during his six-year career, so Sims could represent some level of insurance for the Dolphins as they move forward with the former Broncos Pro Bowler.

Miami re-signed Andre Branch this afternoon, putting Stills at the top of the Dolphins’ queue.

49ers Expected To Sign Kyle Juszczyk

March 8th, 2017 at 3:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The 49ers are expected to sign fullback Kyle Juszczyk, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a four-year contract worth $21MM ($10.5MM guaranteed), according to ESPN’s Treavor Scales (via Twitter). Juszczyk was my No. 1 rated free agent fullback this year and was pretty much universally regarded as the best FB out there.

Pro Football Focus graded Juszczyk as its No. 1 fullback in the NFL in 2016. The fullback has shown to be particularly elite in the passing game, with PFF appreciating his receiving and pass blocking skills. Of course, Juszczyk still ranks in the top-10 for rushing and run blocking.

The 25-year-old (26 in April) has 97 career receptions for 769 yards and five touchdowns. The former fourth-rounder has spent his entire four year career in Baltimore. He’s gotten more involved in the passing game over the past two years, including a standout 2015 campaign where the Harvard product caught 41 passes.

Bengals To Re-Sign Brandon LaFell

March 8th, 2017 at 3:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals and veteran wide receiver Brandon LaFell agreed on a deal one day before the official start of free agency, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It’s a two-year accord, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com tweets. He’ll get $9MM worth of base pay over the life of the deal, Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports (via Twitter).

The 30-year-old wideout rebounded in 2016, hauling in 64 passes for 862 yards and six touchdowns. This helps keep A.J. Green‘s complementary crew together, along with Tyler Boyd and Tyler Eifert, after the Bengals lost both Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu in free agency last March.

LaFell indicated recently he wanted to return to Cincinnati, and he’ll get his wish. The Bills had interest in acquiring the eighth-year pass-catcher, but LaFell will sign his second Bengals contract and continue to work in the Andy Dalton-led offense. Last year, he signed for one year and $2.5MM. After rebuilding his value to some degree after an injury-plagued 2015 season, it will be interesting to see what LaFell earns on his most recent contract.

The bounce-back 2016 campaign doubled as the former Panthers draft choice’s second-most receiving yards in a season. The 2014 slate in which he functioned as one of Tom Brady‘s auxiliary targets represents LaFell’s best at 953 yards. But in Cincy last season — on a team that did not have Green and Eifert together for long — LaFell increased his yards-per-catch figure to 13.5 from his best NFL season.

Ravens Likely To Sign Torrey Smith?

March 8th, 2017 at 3:20pm CST by Zachary Links

There is “a very, very strong likelihood” of Torrey Smith signing with the Ravens, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Smith, of course, spent the first four seasons of his career in Baltimore.

A reunion with Smith would be more than a great feel good story – it could potentially give the Ravens a replacement for Kamar Aiken if he gets away via free agency. Currently, the Ravens’ wide receiver depth chart is headlined by Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman, and Chris Moore. Wallace could wind up as a cap casualty this spring.

While with the Ravens, Smith averaged 53 catches, 898 yards, and eight touchdowns per season. His strongest overall year came in 2013 when he caught 65 passes for 1,128 yards and four scores, but his eleven touchdown total in the following campaign was nearly as impressive.

The Niners cut Smith this week while he was in the midst of his $40MM deal. The wideout wasn’t nearly as productive in San Francisco. Smith caught 33 passes for 663 yards and four touchdowns during his first season with the 49ers, and he led the league with a 20.1 yard-per-reception mark. The veteran played in 12 games in 2016, but he finished with career-lows in receptions (20), yards (267) and touchdowns (three).

Previous reports linked Smith to both the Ravens and the Eagles. We ranked the veteran as the eighth-best available wideout.