2018 March - Pro Football Rumors

Jets Have Largest Offer To Ndamukong Suh

March 23rd, 2018 at 1:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets have the largest offer out to free agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports was the first to report (via Twitter) that New York had expressed interest in Suh.

Gang Green hadn’t been previously mentioned as a suitor for Suh, and his potential destinations were thought to be narrowed to the Rams, Saints, and Titans. The Jets have the most cap space of any of the teams involved in the bidding, and while they haven’t yet set up a visit with Suh, they have explained how they would deploy the veteran interior defender.

New York utilizes a 3-4 scheme, and while Suh has only played in 4-3 looks during his career, shifting fronts doesn’t appear to be a problem, as both Los Angeles and Tennessee also use a 3-4 defense. The Jets’ once-vaunted defensive line is now without the Muhammad Wilkerson/Sheldon Richardson/Damon Harrison trio from 2015, and Suh would presumably replace Mike Pennel as a starting end opposite Leonard Williams.

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.

While the Jets are willing to offer Suh the most money, he won’t necessarily follow the dollars, per Rapoport. The Rams, Saints, and Titans each made the postseason in 2017, while New York is still embarking on a rebuild, so Suh could potentially forgo the largest contract offered in order to sign with a contender.

Eagles DE Michael Bennett Indicted On Felony Charge

March 23rd, 2018 at 1:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The district attorney for Harris County, Texas has indicted Eagles defensive lineman Michael Bennett on a felony charge after he reportedly injured a 66-year-old paraplegic while attempting to gain field access during Super Bowl LI, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), who adds a warrant has been issued for Bennett’s arrest.

The NFL is “looking into” Bennett’s indictment, a league spokesperson told Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com (on Twitter).

Bennett, of course, was traded from Seattle to Philadelphia earlier this month, and the Eagles apparently did not know this indictment was coming down, tweets Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. While details are sparse at the moment, Bennett could be subject to an NFL-imposed suspension regardless of the legal outcome.

Bennett, a three-time Pro Bowler, is scheduled to suit up for an Eagles defensive line that also includes Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Haloti Ngata, Derek Barnett, and Chris Long. He’s under contract through 2020, although Philadelphia could exit the deal without any penalty.

Jets To Sign WR Andre Roberts

March 23rd, 2018 at 1:34pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets have agreed to sign free agent wide receiver Andre Roberts, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

By inking Roberts and Terrelle Pryor — who agreed to a deal last night — New York has continued to add depth to a receiving corps that could see some upheaval in 2018. Robby Anderson, the club’s pass-catcher a season ago, has been arrested twice in the past calendar year and could be facing a league-imposed suspension, while Quincy Enunwa is recovering from a serious neck injury.

Unlike Pryor, Roberts won’t be counted on to start, as he was almost exclusively used a special-teamer for the Falcons in 2017. The 30-year-old Roberts, who’s also spent time with the Cardinals, Redskins, and Lions, caught only pass for Atlanta last year, but served served as the team’s primary kick and punt returner. Roberts led the NFL with 38 kick returns and averaged 22.6 yards per attempt.

The Jets, for their part, were dreadful on kick returns in 2017, as Football Outsiders ranked them dead last in the league with -12.2 points of field position created.

Dolphins Re-Sign T Sam Young

March 23rd, 2018 at 1:13pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Dolphins have re-signed offensive tackle Sam Young to a one-year deal, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).

Young, 30, has been in the NFL since 2010 and has spent time with the Cowboys, Bills, and Jaguars in addition to the Dolphins. In 2017, Young tied a career-high with six starts and played on nearly 70% of Miami’s offensive snaps. The results were middling, as Pro Football Focus graded Young as the league’s No. 48 tackle among 81 qualifiers.

The Dolphins are already set at tackle with Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James on the left and right sides, respectively, so Young will return as a clear reserve. Other backup tackles on the Miami roster include Zach Sterup, Eric Smith, and Sean Hickey.

Browns To Sign CB E.J. Gaines

March 23rd, 2018 at 12:37pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Browns have reached an agreement with free agent cornerback E.J. Gaines, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). It’s a one-year deal worth $4MM, while an additional $1MM is available via incentives, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com first reported Cleveland was nearing a deal with Gaines.

After ranking 27th in pass defense DVOA in 2017, Cleveland has overhauled its secondary this offseason. Not only did the Browns trade veteran Jason McCourty to the Patriots in exchange for pennies, but they’ve also signed free agents T.J. Carrie and Terrance Mitchell to multi-year deals. With Gaines in tow, Cleveland will now have a bit of depth in a defensive backfield that also includes Jamar Taylor and Briean Boddy-Calhoun.

Heading into free agency, PFR ranked Gaines as the fourth-best cornerback on the market and the No. 18 free agent overall. While other corners such as Trumaine Johnson, Malcolm Butler, and Aaron Colvin quickly flew off the board, Gaines’ market took longer to develop. He wasn’t exactly wanting for interest, though, as the Jets, Cardinals, and Texans all expressed some level of intrigue in Gaines.

Gaines, 26, appeared in 11 games for the Bills a season ago after being traded as part of the Sammy Watkins deal. During that time, Gaines ranked 12th in Pro Football Focus’ cornerback grades and ninth in Football Outsiders’ success rate. A former sixth-round pick, Gaines has started 37 total games and posted three interceptions during his four-year NFL career.

With Gaines off the market, the free agent cornerback class is now comprised of options such as Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Bashaud Breeland, Delvin Breaux, Dontae Johnson, and Jeremy Lane.

[RELATED: Browns Depth Chart]

Cowboys Sign WR Allen Hurns

March 23rd, 2018 at 11:50am CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent receiver Allen Hurns plans to sign with the Cowboys, as he tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It’s a two-year deal worth $12MM, report Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).

The Cowboys officially announced the deal Saturday morning (on Twitter).

Dallas has yet to make major additions on either side of the ball, but it clearly wanted to address its receiving corps. While the Cowboys have yet to make a decision on veteran Dez Bryant‘s fate, Jerry Jones & Co. reportedly made a push for Sammy Watkins before he signed with the Chiefs, and also signed a complementary pass-catcher in Deonte Thompson.

Hurns is only 26 years old, but he hasn’t had much success since the 2015 campaign. During that season, Hurns served as the Jaguars’ No. 2 receiver behind Allen Robinson and posted a 64/1,031/10 line. Subsequently, Hurns’ role in the Jacksonville offense was drastically scaled back, while injuries have also limited him. He failed to top 500 yards receiving in either 2016 or 2017.

Hurns will join Bryant, Thompson, Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams, and Ryan Switzer in the Cowboys’ receiving corps. Dallas, cap-strapped as ever, could save $8.5MM by cutting ties with Bryant (and $12.5MM if he’s a post-June 1 release), but Williams is almost certainly stuck on the Cowboys’ roster despite his lack of production. The Cowboys would pay more to cut Williams than release him prior to June 1, and they wouldn’t net any savings even if Williams was a post-June release.

A number of clubs, including the Bears, Bills, Saints, Texans, Jets, Raiders, Panthers, Browns, and Ravens also expressed interest in Hurns, but Hurns only visited Dallas and New York.

[RELATED: Cowboys Depth Chart]

Panthers To Sign Da’Norris Searcy

March 23rd, 2018 at 11:26am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers are have signed free agent safety Da’Norris Searcy to a two-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The pact is worth $5.7MM, and Searcy can earn as much as $3.1MM in 2017.

Carolina is on the lookout for defensive back help after releasing veteran Kurt Coleman earlier this month. Coleman played on nearly three-quarters of the Panthers’ defensive snaps in 2017, second only to fellow starter Mike Adams. At present, Colin Jones — who has spent most of his career as a special-teamer — is projected to start alongside Adams, but Searcy will give Carolina another option.

Searcy, 29, inked a four-year deal with the Titans in 2015 and began his tenure with the club as a full-time starter. Tennessee moved to a safety rotation in subsequent seasons, however, and Searcy saw only 33% playtime in 2017. A former fourth-round pick, Searcy managed 12 tackles and one interception last year while grading as the NFL’s No. 61 safety among 87 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

The free agent safety market has been extremely slow-moving this offseason, and even with Searcy off the board, a number of high-quality defensive backs remain available. Tre Boston, Eric Reid, Kenny Vaccaro, Tyvon Branch, Ron Parker, and Reggie Nelson are among the safeties who have yet to land new contracts.

[RELATED: Panthers Depth Chart]

Titans To Host LB Will Compton

March 23rd, 2018 at 11:23am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Titans will meet with free agent linebacker Will Compton on Friday, a source tells John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Tennessee is clearly aiming to add a veteran linebacker to its depth chart after losing free agent Avery Williamson to the Jets last week. While the Titans still have Wesley Woodyard, they could use another ‘backer to start on the inside of their 3-4 scheme. 2017 fifth-rounder Jayon Brown could be a candidate to start, but adding Compton would allow the second-year pro to join a reserve unit that also includes Nate Palmer and Daren Bates. Tennessee has also reportedly met with former Giants linebacker Keenan Robinson.

Compton, for his part, was a regular for the Redskins from 2015-16, but a Lisranc injury ended his 2017 campaign in November. While he’s never earned positive marks from Pro Football Focus, the 28-year-old Compton would add 57 games worth of pro experience to the Titans’ roster. Compton has already met with the Bills this offseason, so Tennessee may have competition for his services.

Aldon Smith Arrested Again

March 23rd, 2018 at 11:08am CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent linebacker Aldon Smith has been arrested again in San Francisco, reports Evan Sernoffsky of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Smith had been ordered to refrain from contact with a victim involved in a domestic violence incident, but police issued a warrant after Smith violated the mandate. The 28-year-old turned himself into authorities earlier today, per Sernoffsky.

Smith, of course, has been no stranger to off-field incidents since being selected in the first round of the 2011 draft, and the aforementioned domestic violence altercation was just the latest in a string of troubling incidents. The Raiders quickly released Smith following the episode earlier this month, and it’s becoming obvious that Smith will never play in the NFL again.

While his disturbing behavior will likely keep him off NFL rosters, Smith was once an excellent talent. During his first two seasons in the league, Smith posted an astounding 33.5 sacks, and even managed to put up 8.5 sacks during an abbreviated 2013 campaign.

Panthers To Sign CB Ross Cockrell

March 23rd, 2018 at 10:46am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers have signed cornerback Ross Cockrell to a two-year, $6.8MM contract, according to his agents at Reign Sports Management (Twitter link).

Cockrell, 26, was sent to the Giants in a September 2017 trade that netted the Steelers a conditional seventh-round draft pick. A former fourth-round pick, Cockrell went on to start nine games for Big Blue, collecting three interceptions and grading as the NFL’s No. 39 cornerback among 120 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

As I noted when evaluating the NFL’s best defensive free agents, Cockrell stood out as a potential bargain option. In 2017, Cockrell finished first in Football Outsiders’ success rate, which measures cornerbacks on their ability to consistently stop opposing wideouts short of the sticks. In fact, Cockrell was one of only eight defenders who stopped a receiver short of a successful gain on over half their tackles a season ago, as FO’s Aaron Schatz recently tweeted, but the league has consistently undervalued him and his skill-set.

Cockrell will now join a Panthers secondary that also includes corners James Bradberry, Captain Munnerlyn, and Kevon Seymour, among others. Carolina reached an agreement with free agent Bashaud Breeland last week only to void the deal following a failed physical, while Daryl Worley (trade), Teddy Williams (free agency), and Ladarius Gunter (non-tendered) are also missing from the Panthers’ defensive backfield.

[RELATED: Panthers Depth Chart]