2017 June - Pro Football Rumors

Chiefs Sign DT Cam Thomas

June 8th, 2017 at 2:11pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chiefs have signed defensive tackle Cam Thomas, according to his agent (on Twitter). Thomas previously spent time with the Rams, Chargers, and Steelers.

Thomas began his career with the Chargers and enjoyed his best season in 2013 as he appeared in every regular season games and made ten starts. After that, he parlayed his success into a free agent deal with the Steelers, but things did not go according to plan. Last year, he appeared in every regular season game for the Rams and made two starts with 15 tackles and one sack.

The 30-year-old Thomas isn’t a superstar, but he could be a worthwhile early-down player for Kansas City. Thomas will try to hook on as a reserve nose tackle in the Chiefs’ 3-4 scheme. Free agent Bennie Logan is projected to start in the middle with T.J. Barnes among the reserves.

Patriots, Julian Edelman Nearing Extension

June 8th, 2017 at 1:02pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots and wide receiver Julian Edelman are moving toward a contract extension, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. The new deal should be completed in the next day or so, he adds.

Edelman’s current deal is set to expire after the 2017 season. He’s set to carry a $5.75MM cap number in the final year of the four-year, $17MM pact he inked in March 2014. As he enters his age-31 season, Edelman’s next deal could be his last in the NFL.

The Patriots added Brandin Cooks to the fold this offseason, but Edelman still figures to be a key part of Tom Brady‘s passing attack. Last year, Edelman set a career high in receiving yards (1,106) with 98 catches and three touchdowns. Over the last four years, Edelman has an average of 104 grabs and 1,113 yards with six touchdowns per 16 games. He has largely stayed healthy over that span too, with the exception of his nine-game 2015 campaign.

The Patriots currently have upwards of $19MM in cap room, so there is plenty of space to work with for New England.

AFC East Rumors: Bills, Maclin, Jets, Decker

June 8th, 2017 at 12:14pm CST by Zachary Links

Jeremy Maclin left his Bills visit without a contract, but that doesn’t mean Buffalo is out of the running, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Garafolo hears that Maclin enjoyed his visit in Buffalo, but he still wanted to pay a visit to the Ravens.

Earlier today, Eagles coach Doug Pederson said that the Eagles are not interested in signing Maclin at this time. Even if that’s the case, one has to imagine that other teams could get in on the former Pro Bowler, giving the Bills some additional competition.

Here’s more out of the AFC East:

As the Jets get ready to move on from Eric Decker, Darryl Slater‏ of NJ.com wonders if they’ll have fellow receiver Robby Anderson on the field. Anderson projects as the team’s No. 2 receiver behind Quincy Enunwa, but his arrest for allegedly pushing a police officer could impact his availability. Ultimately, Slater feels that the Jets will have Anderson for the full season, even though he is facing a felony charge. League discipline is always possible, but a suspension might not come down until the 2018 season, if it happens at all.
More from Slater, who doesn’t like the Jets‘ chances of getting anything for Decker now that word of their plans is out. It’s hard to argue with Slater’s point: Decker played in just three games last season and has a hefty contract that runs through 2018, so why wouldn’t a rival club just wait for the Jets to release him? Either way, it sounds like we’ll have closure on the Decker situation before the week is through.
The Dolphins and receiver Jarvis Landry have discussed an extension.
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo says he is open to discussing a new deal with the Patriots.

NFC Rumors: Vikings, Decker, Saints

June 8th, 2017 at 10:59am CST by Zachary Links

It doesn’t sound like the Vikings will be going after Eric Decker. When asked about the veteran receiver, GM Rick Spielman indicated that the team is content at the position.

“We always look at everybody that is released, but we feel pretty confident with our receiving corps right now,’’ Spielman said (via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press). “Just watching Stefon Diggs (and) Adam Thielen. … Laquon Treadwell is totally different (than as a rookie last year). … And to pick up a Michael Floyd, he’s been real impressive. Jarius Wright, he’s been kind of a forgotten man, but he’s out there making plays every day and we have two rookies that are pretty impressive so far (in Rodney Adams and Stacy Coley). So we feel pretty confident at this point where our depth is at that position, that we do have some weapons. … But … you never know. We always keep the door open for everybody.’’

Here’s more from the NFC:

He might be getting ahead of himself a little bit, but Saints running back Adrian Peterson says that he wants to play several more years. Peterson was sporting No. 37 at a charity softball game this week and he told reporters that 37 might be a good age for him to hang ’em up. “I’d be lying to you say it doesn’t give you a chip [on your shoulder]. Especially being a competitor,” the 32-year-old said, via Nick Underhill of the New Orleans Advocate. “It’s not my main focus. It’s something that drives you a little bit. After 30, because it was the same back then. ‘Oh, he’s 30.’ Then I ended up leading the league in 2015. Same thing the next year. Stuff will continue to repeat itself until I finish.” Peterson inked a two-year deal with New Orleans this offseason.
Lions safety Tavon Wilson, who is in a contract year, has changed agents. He’s now represented by Wesley Spencer (Twitter link).
This week, the Cardinals shifted Andre Ellington back to running back. The Cardinals were experimenting with the idea of moving Ellington to wide receiver.

Eagles HC: No Interest In Jeremy Maclin

June 8th, 2017 at 10:34am CST by Zachary Links

It has been reported that the Eagles have interest in a reunion with Jeremy Maclin, but head coach Doug Pederson says that isn’t the case. Pederson told reporters that the team is not pursuing Maclin “at this time,” (Twitter link via NFL.com’s James Palmer).

Maclin spent his first five NFL seasons with the Eagles, but it doesn’t sound like a reunion is in the cards if Pederson is to be believed. Earlier this week, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter heard that the Eagles have some degree of interest in signing him, so perhaps Pederson’s words should be taken with a grain of salt.

Even if the Eagles do want to add Maclin to the fold, they’ll have some stiff competition for his services. The Bills’ meeting with Maclin stretched into a second day and the Ravens, who met with Maclin on Wednesday afternoon, are making a hard pitch to add the wide receiver. The Browns, per Schefter’s aforementioned report, are also interested in Maclin.

The Eagles’ receiver group was disappointing in 2016 but the team is banking on free agent pickup Alshon Jeffery providing a boost in that department. Philly also signed Torrey Smith and added a pair of rookies – Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson – in the draft.

Cowboys To Audition QB Ryan Nassib

June 8th, 2017 at 9:42am CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys are auditioning four players today, including former Giants quarterback Ryan Nassib, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets. Safeties Jeron Johnson and Duke Williams and wide receiver Lance Lenoir are also working out for the team.

To date, Nassib has spent his professional career as a clipboard holder for Eli Manning. Since being selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft, the Syracuse product hasn’t made a single start for the Giants. Nassib received praise from Giants coaches for his work in practice, but the team didn’t make much of an effort to retain him this offseason.

Nassib’s workout will be key for the Cowboys since they only have have preseason games and the occasional regular season cameo on film to evaluate him on. If signed, Nassib could compete for the No. 3 QB role behind Dak Prescott and Kellen Moore. Recently, the Cowboys claimed Zac Dysert off waivers from the Cardinals and he is also hoping to make the cut.

RB Darrin Reaves Arrested

June 8th, 2017 at 8:08am CST by Zachary Links

It might be a while before we see Darrin Reaves sign with a team. The free agent running back was arrested over the weekend after an alleged a domestic incident involving two women (via WRMJ).

Details are sparse, but what we do know is that Reaves faces two felony counts of unlawful restraint plus a misdemeanor count of criminal trespassing. The state’s attorney’s office says that Reaves had a previous relationship with one of the women and both have filed restraining orders against him. The running back is currently free on $10K bond but is due back in court on July 10.

Reaves first entered the league as a UDFA with the Panthers in 2014. He then spent time on the Chiefs’ practice squad from 2015 to 2017. Two months ago, KC released the 24-year-old.

Lions Sign DTs Ego Ferguson, Bruce Gaston

June 8th, 2017 at 7:45am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have signed free agent defensive tackles Ego Ferguson and Bruce Gaston, the team announced. To make room on the roster, the Lions waived defensive tackles Nick James and Maurice Swain.

Ferguson has now signed contracts with three of the NFC North’s four teams this offseason. After being cut by the Bears in April, Ferguson’s deal with the Packers was scuttled when he could not pass a physical. Apparently, he was healthy enough this week to sign a deal with Detroit. If he doesn’t make the Lions’ 53-man roster, perhaps he can try his luck with the Vikings.

Ferguson, 26 in September, appeared in all 16 games during his rookie campaign with the Bears in 2014, but ailments have limited him to just four games since then. The Raiders auditioned him after the Packers deal fell through, but the Lions are the only other team we’ve heard linked to him in the last two months. As Justin Rogers of The Detroit News (on Twitter) notes, Lions fans may remember Ferguson from a 2014 incident in which Lions center Dominic Raiola stepped on Ferguson’s leg. That dirty play resulted in a one-game suspension for Raiola.

Gaston, another former Bear, appeared in seven games for Chicago in 2015. Last year, he was with the Panthers’ practice squad. Gaston had shoulder surgery in 2016, but he has likely recovered by now.

Extra Points: Jets, Kap, OBJ, Megatron

June 7th, 2017 at 9:03pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Jets moved on from linebacker David Harris and wide receiver Eric Decker solely for financial reasons, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. Jets owner Woody Johnson, realizing that the team wasn’t going to compete this year even with Harris and Decker, decided it would make more sense to save $13.75MM than spend it on the two veterans. Committing to a rebuild is a commendable approach, writes Mehta, though he questions the way the Jets handled the Harris situation. Jets bigwigs assured Harris back in March that he’d return to the team for an 11th year, but they then approached him about a pay cut 72 hours before releasing him, per Mehta. Johnson’s desire to save money drove that decision, and Harris is now looking for work at a time when free agency has died down. Harris’ agents complained Tuesday that the Jets didn’t just release the defender over the winter, as doing so probably would’ve led to a stronger market for his services.

As for two of Johnson’s highest-ranking employees, general manager Mike Maccagnan and head coach Todd Bowles, they should be in line to return in 2018 if the rebuilding club’s young players progress this year, writes Mehta. But Brian Costello of the New York Post passes along somewhat different information, relaying that Maccagnan will probably stay on but that “Bowles is viewed as a goner by nearly everyone.” Talent-wise, the deck is stacked against Bowles as he enters his third season with the Jets and the penultimate year of his contract. “They have the worst roster in the league and it’s not close,” one executive told Costello. Harris’ release added another hole to the roster, and his exit hit Bowles “hard,” according to Costello.

Colin Kaepernick‘s inability to find a job as a backup quarterback continues to be a popular topic, and one of his friends, Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin, weighed in on the matter after Seattle signed Austin Davis instead of Kaepernick. “The organizations, they’re going to be giving the younger guys the first and second look. They know what Colin can do,” Baldwin told the Associated Press on Tuesday. “They know he’s a starter in this league. They’re going to give every opportunity for the young guys to compete, show their talents, and then whatever falls he’ll get his opportunities once all this dust settles.” While many believe Kaepernick is unemployed largely because the then-49er refused to stand for the national anthem last season, Baldwin doesn’t see that as a significant factor. “To some degree, but I think that’s really minor,” Baldwin said. “There are 32 teams out there. Not all of them really care about that. I have no doubt in my mind he’ll have a job here rather quickly.”
With one report suggesting that Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. hasn’t attended OTAs because he wants a raise, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk contends that it would likely take a multiyear deal with at least $30MM guaranteed to lock him up. Meanwhile, Steve Serby of the New York Post proposes a six-year, $103.5MM contract – including $47.5MM guaranteed – that would make Beckham the game’s highest-paid wideout.
Contrary to a prior report, Calvin Johnson did not repay the Lions $320K of his $3.2MM signing bonus when he retired in March 2016. The former receiver actually forked over a much larger sum, at least $1MM, according to Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.

NFC Notes: OBJ, Rodgers, E. Decker, Lions

June 7th, 2017 at 7:02pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday morning that Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been away from OTAs because he wants a new contract. That isn’t the case, according to The Record’s Art Stapleton, as a source told him that Beckham’s absence amounts to nothing more than a player exercising his right to skip voluntary workouts. Regardless of where the truth lies, the Giants are motivated to keep the 24-year-old superstar for the long haul. Contract negotiations haven’t begun yet, co-owner John Mara revealed Tuesday, but he added, “Obviously we want him to be a Giant for the rest of his career.”