Rams land a shutdown corner. Following days of chatter, the Chiefs shipped cornerback Marcus Peters to the Rams last week. Terms of the deal are currently unknown — although Kansas City is expected to receive a “package” of draft picks — and the swap can’t become official until the new league year begins on March 14, but the trade has wide-ranging ramifications for both teams involved. Los Angeles now seems unlikely to retain free agent defensive back Trumaine Johnson, while the Chiefs could be entering something of a mini-rebuild.
Blake Bortles gets a new deal. After serving as offensive caretaker for a Jaguars club that reached the AFC Championship Game, Bortles has landed an extension through the 2020 campaign. Already under contract for $19MM in 2017, Bortles will receive $54MM over the next three years on a pact that includes $26.5MM guaranteed. Reports had indicated Jacksonville was exploring potential upgrades under center, but Bortles now appears to be the team’s quarterback choice for at least one more season. Bortles’ 2017 cap charge is now reduced to just $10MM, and the Jaguars can still exit the contract with relative ease following the upcoming campaign.
Franchise tag season is underway. NFL teams could begin deploying the franchise tag beginning last Tuesday, and can continue to do so through March 6. The Dolphins became the first team to officially use the tender by assigning it to wide receiver Jarvis Landry (whom they are still attempting to trade), while the Cowboys confirmed they will use the tag if a long-term deal isn’t reached with defensive end Demarcus Lawrence. Other candidates for the franchise tender could include Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, Jaguars receiver Allen Robinson, and Panthers kicker Graham Gano. The Seahawks, meanwhile, won’t tag defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.
Panthers (sort of) have a new GM. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss, as Carolina announced interim general manager Marty Hurney has been named to the full-time position. Hurney, who previously served as the Panthers’ GM from 2002-12, took over again last summer when the club fired Dave Gettleman. Before appointing Hurney, Carolina also interviewed Bills assistant director of college scouting Lake Dawson, 49ers senior personnel executive Martin Mayhew, and Texans vice president of player personnel Jimmy Raye III.
NFL announces compensatory draft picks. The league formally announced 2018’s compensatory draft picks, awarding extra selections to 15 teams. The Bengals, Cowboys, Packers, and Raiders each received four picks, the maximum one club can earn. Arizona, Houston, Denver, and Cincinnati each gained an extra third-rounder, the earliest possible compensatory selection. As a reminder, the NFL’s compensatory pick process is based on the prior year’s free agent process and revolves around a complicated cancellation chart which factors free agents signed/lost, annual salary, and playing time.