2018 March - Pro Football Rumors

Cowboys Sign OT Cameron Fleming

March 26th, 2018 at 10:34am CST by Ryan Posner

The Cowboys have officially signed free agent offensive tackle Cameron Fleming to a one-year deal worth up to $3.5MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

The reported news of the Cowboys signing Fleming comes on the heels of the team restructuring the deals of tight end Jason Witten and center Travis Frederick, opening up around $10.5MM in available cap space. Fleming gives the Cowboys much-needed depth at tackle as they struggled last season while Tyron Smith missed three games due to injury.

Dallas also returns La’el Collins at right tackle. Chaz Green and Jarron Jones were the only other player on the Cowboys roster at tackle, with Byron Bell still unsigned in free agency.

The Patriots took Fleming in the fourth round of the 2014 draft and he’s appeared in 40 games in four seasons, making 20 starts. Fleming started six games last season and started in the AFC Championship game and Super Bowl as well.

Fleming was ranked as the No. 24 offensive tackle in the NFL for last season, per Pro Football Focus. The Cowboys had Fleming in for a visit earlier this week and the Patriots also showed interest in retaining him. The Cowboys could also opt to start Fleming at right tackle and move Collins to left guard.

Redskins Won’t Re-Sign LB Junior Galette

March 26th, 2018 at 10:12am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Redskins have informed free agent edge rusher Junior Galette that he will not be re-signed, as Washington senior vice president for personnel Doug Williams told Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.

“I did tell him we were going in another direction, and he was very thankful,” Williams said. “He had two Achilles’ injuries, and we stuck by him. We gave him a chance, and he’s very appreciative of it. He told me, ‘Thank you. If it wasn’t for you, I don’t know whether I’d still be here,’ so it was a good conversation.”

Galette, of course, was once a double-digit sack force with the Saints from 2013-14, but injuries and off-field issues have turned him into more a rotational player. After suffering those aforementioned torn Achilles tendons in both 2015 and 2016, Galette finally got in a full season with the Redskins in 2017, and played extremely well on 37% of the club’s defensive snaps.

While he only posted three sacks, Galette managed 25 pressures and graded as the league’s No. 30 edge defender among 106 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Reports recently indicated Washington was working to retain Galette, but Redskins always expected another team to make a better offer. Washington has already lost one free agent pass rusher this offseason, as Trent Murphy inked a three-year deal with Buffalo.

Galette, who turns 30 years old on Tuesday, isn’t wanting for interest, as he’s reportedly drawn the eye of both the Rams and Browns.

Giants To Sign S Michael Thomas

March 26th, 2018 at 9:40am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with free agent safety Michael Thomas, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Thomas is one of the league’s best special-teamers, as he played more than 70% of the Dolphins’ ST snaps over the past four seasons while leading the NFL in special teams tackles during that time. He should assist a Giants special teams unit that ranked dead last in DVOA a year ago, while he’ll also add a high-character voice in New York’s locker room. Rannan indicated earlier this offseason that Giants general manger Dave Gettleman was intent on altering the club’s culture, and Thomas was specifically mentioned as a viable option for aiding in that effort.

While his defensive playing time has decreased in each of the past two seasons, Thomas started 13 games for Miami as recently as 2015. A such, he could conceivably be in competition for a starting role with the Giants, as Darian Thompson graded as a bottom-20 safety (per Pro Football Focus) while playing opposite Pro Bowler Landon Collins. Thompson played on 96% of New York’s defensive snaps in 2017, so he won’t be easy to jar loose, but Thomas could be in line for snaps, if only in three-safety looks.

Before signing with the Giants, Thomas also took a visit with the Steelers.

Lions Sign LB Jonathan Freeny

March 26th, 2018 at 9:29am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions have signed free agent linebacker Jonathan Freeny, the club announced today.

Freeny, 28, should offer immediate scheme familiarity for the Lions, as he worked under new Detroit head coach Matt Patricia when both were employed by the Patriots from 2015-16. The Lions have already added several free agent linebackers this offseason, as signees Devon Kennard and Christian Jones will join a depth chart that also includes 2017 first-rounder Jarrad Davis, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Nick Bellore, and others.

Freeny saw action for the Patriots, Saints, and Ravens last season, and also enjoyed a brief non-playing stint on the Jaguars’ roster. While he’s become primarily a special-teamer, Freeny started seven games for New England as recently as 2015, so while he’ll likely begin his Lions tenure as a reserve, he has the upside to become a full-time fixture on the Detroit defense.

Before inking a deal with the Lions, Freeny also drew interest from New Orleans, which was open to re-signing the former undrafted free agent.

Raiders Interested In CB Leon Hall

March 26th, 2018 at 9:27am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Raiders are in talks with free agent cornerback Leon Hall, reports Vic Tafur of the Athletic (Twitter link).

Under new head coach Jon Gruden, Oakland has moved in a decidedly veteran direction this offseason, reaching deals with aging players such as wide receiver Jordy Nelson, running back Doug Martin, and safety Reggie Nelson. Hall — at age-33 — would certainly fit that bill, and give the Raiders another option in a secondary that’s seen considerable overhaul over the past several months.

Sean Smith, David Amerson, and T.J. Carrie are out in Oakland’s defensive backfield, while free agents Rashaan Melvin and Shareece Wright now join a cornerback depth chart that also includes 2017 first-round pick Gareon Conley. With Conley and Melvin as the projected outside starters, Hall would likely play in a nickel role if signed by the Raiders.

Hall, a longtime Bengal, has bounced around since 2016, and spent last season with the 49ers. In nine games (one start), Hall played on 34% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps and 20% of the club’s special teams snaps. In that time, Hall put up 15 tackles and one pass defensed.

Panthers To Exercise Shaq Thompson’s 2019 Option

March 26th, 2018 at 8:40am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers intend to exercise their 2019 fifth-year option for LB Shaq Thompson, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. While Carolina hasn’t officially picked up Thompson’s option, it will do so before the May 3 deadline.

While the price tag for Thompson’s fifth-year option hasn’t yet been made public, it will be the average of the third through 25th salaries at linebacker. In 2018, that value will be $8.718MM, so Thompson is likely looking a salary north of $9MM for 2019. While Thomas Davis plans to retire following the upcoming campaign, the Panthers will still have Luke Kuechly under contract, so they’ll be heavily invested at linebacker.

Thompson, 23, has seen his playtime increase in each of his three NFL seasons. Last year, Thompson saw action on 64% of Carolina’s defensive snaps, racking up 37 tackles, two sacks, one pass defensed, and one forced fumble during that time. While he missed two games with a foot injury, Thompson graded as the league’s No. 30 linebacker among 87 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

Odell Beckham Jr. Considering Holdout?

March 26th, 2018 at 8:24am CST by Dallas Robinson

Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. appears to be threatening a holdout, as he is reportedly unlikely to play in 2018 without a contract extension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Beckham’s reported stance is being made public just one day after Giants owner John Mara said he is “tired of answering questions about” Beckham’s behavior and refused to say that “anybody is untouchable.” The 25-year-old superstar was involved in controversy earlier this month, as he was witnessed in a video which may have contained drug use.

While New York almost surely won’t release Beckham, Mara said a “possibility” exists that OBJ could play out his rookie deal without a new contract. Beckham, though, doesn’t appear amenable to such a scenario, especially given that he’s coming off a fractured ankle which limited him to just four games last season. Scheduled to earn roughly $8.5MM for the upcoming campaign, Beckham will likely target a top-end wide receiver deal with an annual salary approaching $17MM+.

The Giants could conceivably trade Beckham, although it’s unclear what kind of return they could expect. NFL executives suggested wildly different offers to Mike Sando of ESPN.com, with some decision-makers saying New York could reap two first-round picks, with others indicating the Marcus Peters package — a second-rounder and a fourth-rounder — is more likely.

During his first three seasons in the league, Beckham was one of the more productive young wideouts in NFL history. From 2014-16, Beckham totaled 288 receptions, 4,122 yards, and 35 touchdowns, figures which rank first, second, and fourth, respectively, among wide receivers in NFL history during the first three seasons of their respective careers.

Rams Are Favorites For Ndamukong Suh

March 26th, 2018 at 8:08am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Rams are now the front-runners for free agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). While Suh has not officially ruled out the Titans or Saints, he seems to be focusing in on Los Angeles.

Suh has been linked to five clubs since being released by the Dolphins earlier this month. In addition to the Rams, Titans, and Saints, Suh also received an offer from the Jets, and that proposal was believed to have been the largest in terms of dollars. New York, however, rescinded their offer on Sunday, with owner Christopher Johnson indicating Suh “wasn’t in keeping with [the Jets’] long-term plans.” Suh was also scheduled to meet with the Raiders, but that visit was ultimately canceled.

Los Angeles uses a 3-4 scheme, meaning Suh would be moving away from a 4-3 defense for the first time in his career. The Titans and Jets also deploy 3-4 fronts, so working in a new look clearly doesn’t present an issue for Suh. With the Rams, Suh would play end opposite superstar Aaron Donald, providing the club with what would be the most feared defensive line in the NFL.

Suh is now 31 years old, but he’s still a dominant player: he managed 20.5 pressures and and 4.5 sacks from his defensive tackle position while grading as the NFL’s No. 5 interior defender in 2017, per Pro Football Focus. He’s also incredibly durable, as he hasn’t missed a single contest since 2012. Last season, Suh played a whopping 883 snaps, the second-most of any defensive tackle in the league.

At present, the Rams possess roughly $28MM in cap space, per Over the Cap, so they’ll have enough room to fit a hefty Suh salary on their 2018 books.

NFC Notes: Rodgers, Giants, Falcons, Saints

March 25th, 2018 at 9:13pm CST by Micah Powell

With the quarterback carousel of the 2018 offseason winding down, it is now time for team’s with entrenched signal-callers to review their current deals. At the forefront of that list is Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The two sides have been long expected to come to an agreement on a new deal this offseason and Packers president Mark Murphy still expects a new deal to get done this offseason, Chris Roth of WBAY-TV in Green Bay tweets.

It only made sense for Rodgers to wait for Kirk Cousins to set the bar, and he did that when he inked a three-year, $84MM deal with the Vikings earlier this month. Currently, Rodgers’ 2013 extension — which runs through 2019 — pays him $22MM annually. He can expect that number to inch close to an annual salary of $30MM.

Before missing nine games in 2017 with a collarbone injury, Rodgers had played in all 16 games in three consecutive seasons. During that time, the Packers great earned three Pro Bowl selections, a First Team All-Pro nod and claimed league MVP honors in 2014.

Here’s more from around the NFC:

The Giants trade of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul does not mean the team is dead set on taking his replacement with Bradley Chubb at the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft, SportsNet New York’s Ralph Vacchiano writes. He says the move was simply the team dumping JPP’s contract, and the team is happy to move forward with Olivier Vernon, Kareem Martin and Josh Mauro. That being said, the team could still nab the N.C. State standout if it is not sold on a quarterback or wary of taking a running back in Saquon Barkley.
The Falcons could be bringing back safety Kemal Ishmael, ESPN’s Vaughn McClure heads (Twitter link). The versatile hybrid safety has spent five seasons with the Falcons, starting 20 of his 65 career games. In 2017, Ishmael logged one sack and 24 tackles in 16 games.
Among several other spots, the Saints can also stand to improve their wide receiver corps, The Times-Picayune’s Larry Holder writes. The team is locked into Michael Thomas as the No. 1 of the future, but the Saints could also bring in a veteran like Jordan Matthews or address the position in the draft, according to Holder. The writer also mentions running back, tight end, fullback and defensive tackle as positions that need to be improved upon.

AFC Notes: Anthem, Jets, Raiders, Broncos

March 25th, 2018 at 7:30pm CST by Micah Powell

Among the most divisive issues facing the NFL today are national anthem protests. That division is also felt among the owners themselves, who are currently in Orlando for the annual owner’s meetings.

Outspoken on the subject for more than a year, Texans owner Bob McNair issued another statement on the issue on Sunday, saying, according to The Washington Post’s Mark Maske (Twitter link):

“We’re going to deal with it in such a way, I think, that people will understand that we want everybody to respect our country, respect our flag. And our playing fields, that’s not the place for political statements.”

Jets CEO Christopher Johnson, however, falls on the other side of the argument, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert (Twitter link).

“I can’t speak to how other people run their teams, but I just think that trying to forcibly get the players to shut up is a fantastically bad idea.”

Despite McNair’s seeming assuredness, the owners do not appear to be near to a solution. The issue is sure to permeate throughout the meetings.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Sticking with the Jets, wide receiver Robby Anderson had his court date moved from Monday to Aug. 6, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. The new date will now take place while the Jets are at training camp. The charges, stemming from a January incident, include three felonies: second-degree felony harm to a public servant or family, third-degree felony fleeing/eluding police while lights/siren active and third-degree felony speeding. After being arrested, Anderson threatened to sexually assault the wife of the arresting officer, according to reports. Anderson was allegedly clocked at 105 mph in 45-mph zone speeding away from police while running multiple red lights.
Broncos general manager and executive vice president of football operations John Elway said the team doesn’t know who it plans to take with the No. 5 pick in 2018 NFL Draft, 9 News’ Mike Klis writes. “You know we’re wide open, to be dead honest with you,’’ Elway said. “Who knows how it’s all going to fall. The Jets have already moved (from the No. 6 pick up to No. 3) and there’s going to be other teams that may be moving around, too, so we’re going to go through and have those discussions. I will tell ya, it’s funny how people think they know who you’re drafting because I don’t know who we’re drafting, yet. We’re going to do our homework and eventually get there.’’
Raiders owner Mark Davis said with the hiring of new head coach Jon Gruden, he plans to be done with the football side of the organization, NBC Sports’ Scott Bair tweets. “It was a six-year process to get Jon to be the head coach,” Davis said. “This year, he finally came on board. That allows me to see a long-term process working out on the football side. … I play devil’s advocate on certain things, but those guys make the decisions.”