2018 March - Pro Football Rumors

Panthers Sign OL Jeremiah Sirles

March 23rd, 2018 at 10:43am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers have signed free agent offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles to a one-year deal, the club announced today.

Sirles, 26, hit the open market last week when the Vikings opted not to tender him as a restricted free agent. Capable of playing both tackle and guard, Sirles started 14 games from 2016-17 in Minnesota. Last year, Sirles played on 366 offensive snaps and graded as the NFL’s No. 48 tackle among 81 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

In Carolina, Sirles will likely compete for time at left guard, a position vacated last week by Andrew Norwell, who inked a massive five-year deal with the Jaguars. Along with Sirles, Tyler Larsen and 2017 second-round pick Taylor Moton could be in line for playing time on the left side of the Panthers’ offensive line.

Seahawks To Sign DT Tom Johnson

March 23rd, 2018 at 10:06am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks have agreed to sign defensive tackle Tom Johnson to a one-year deal worth up to $2.7MM, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Seattle witnessed the Vikings poach interior defender Sheldon Richardson last week, and now the Seahawks have done the same to Minnesota by signing Johnson. Of course, the 32-year-old Johnson isn’t the caliber of player that is Richardson, but he’ll give Seattle depth along its defensive line as the club enters something of a mini-rebuild.

Johnson is coming off a four-year run with the Vikings during which he played at least 40% of the team’s defensive snaps in each campaign. In 2017, Johnson saw a career-high 68% playtime, and posted 17 tackles and two sacks during that time. Pro Football Focus graded him as roughly a league-average defensive tackle, as Johnson ranked 60th among 122 qualifying interior defenders.

The Seahawks, who have also met with Vikings free agent Shamar Stephen, will add Johnson to a defensive tackle group that also includes Jarran Reed, Nazair Jones, Garrison Smith, and — depending on his health — 2017 second-round pick Malik McDowell.

Cardinals To Host CB Marcus Cooper

March 23rd, 2018 at 9:30am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cardinals will host free agent cornerback Marcus Cooper on Friday, as first reported by John Gambadoro of ArizonaSports.com (Twitter link).

Cooper should be familiar to Arizona management after spending the 2016 campaign in the desert. That season still marks the 28-year-old Cooper’s only season as a full-time starter, as he lined up opposite Patrick Peterson for 13 games. While saw 83% playtime, Cooper wasn’t all that successful, as he ranked just 62nd among 84 qualifiers in Football Outsiders‘ success rate.

Despite that lackluster performance, Cooper garnered a three-year, $16MM deal from the Bears last spring. Expected to be a starter, Cooper only played on a quarter of Chicago’s defensive snaps (fourth-most among Bears CBs), collecting 15 tackles and three passes defensed during that time. He was released last week, and hasn’t generated any other known interest at this point.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, are (once again) in need of a corner to play next to Peterson, as veteran Tramon Williams — who played exceedingly well in 2017 — signed a two-year deal with the Packers on Thursday. Justin Bethel, and C.J. Goodwin are both unrestricted free agents, leaving former third-rounder Brandon Williams, who played just a single defensive snap last year, as Arizona’s projected No. 2 cornerback.

Vikings OL Joe Berger To Retire

March 23rd, 2018 at 9:07am CST by Dallas Robinson

Longtime NFL offensive lineman Joe Berger has announced his retirement following a 13-year career, according to a statement provided to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link).

“After a lot of careful though and prayer I have decide(d) to retire from football,” reads the statement, in part. “I have been fortunate to enjoy seasons and have had the opportunity to play with so many good players and coaches. I was on some great teams before the Vikings, but it wasn’t until I got to Minnesota that I really felt at home. For seven years I was able to play for a great organization and in front of the best fans. U.S. Bank Stadium is an incredible place to play football.”

Berger, 35, certainly isn’t hanging up his cleats due to lack of interest. Both the Vikings and the Lions had standing offers out to Berger, while at least two other unidentified clubs may have also been involved in talks. However, reports had surfaced as early as last June indication that Berger was expected to retire following the 2017 campaign, so after testing free agency, he’s following through on what was likely his original plan.

A former sixth-round pick, Berger started at least 10 games only one time during the first decade of his career before signing with Minnesota in 2015. Berger, who also spent time with the Dolphins and Cowboys, became a fixture on the Vikings’ front five, starting 46 games over the next three campaigns. Capable of playing both center and guard, Berger was still effective in 2017, as Pro Football Focus graded him as the NFL’s No. 23 guard among 77 qualifiers.

PFR extends its best wishes to Berger and his family as he enters retirement.

Rams, Browns Interested In Junior Galette

March 23rd, 2018 at 8:46am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Rams and Browns both have interest in Redskins free agent edge rusher Junior Galette, according to Chick Hernandez of CSN Washington (Twitter link). While Los Angeles and Cleveland are indeed eyeing Galette, neither club has made an official offer, reports John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

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 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 last week indicated Washington was working to retain Galette, but Keim says the Redskins expect 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.

The Rams make sense as a Galette destination not only because they need edge rushing help (especially after trading Robert Quinn), but because Los Angeles coaches Sean McVay and Joe Barry each worked with Galette in Washington. If signed by the Rams, Galette would likely be in for a major role, as the club’s current crop of outside linebackers — Matt Longacre, Samson Ebukam, and Carlos Thompson — don’t offer a ton of experience.

The Browns, too, have connections to Galette, as front office consultant Scot McCloughan brought Galette to Washington as the Redskins’ general manager, while defensive coordinator Gregg Williams held the same title in New Orleans during the early portion of Galette’s career. Cleveland ranked 17th in adjusted sack rate a season ago, and its only free agent addition on the edge (thus far) is former Bengal Chris Smith, although the Browns did attempt to trade for Quinn.

Extra Points: Panthers, Steelers, Giants

March 22nd, 2018 at 9:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers are for sale, and the price has reportedly risen to more than $2.5 billion, according to Scott Soshnick of Bloomberg. For reference, the last NFL team to change hands — the Bills — reportedly went for $1.1 billion. The excessive price tag has caused at least one potential bidder, sports apparel mogul Michael Rubin, to drop out of the running, per Soshnick. However, a new suitor has emerged, as Alan Kestenbaum, CEO of private equity firm Bedrock Industries, has expressed interest in the Panther franchise, per Rick Rothacker and Katherine Peralta of the Charlotte Observer.

Here’s more from around the NFL:

The Los Angeles district attorney does not plan to file vandalism charges against Bills wide receiver Zay Jones following a bizarre incident which was caught on video earlier this week, reports Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link), who adds insufficient evidence is available to press charges. Jones was arrested following a troubling entanglement in which he struggled with his brother — the Vikings’ Cayleb Jones — before kicking through a glass window. Buffalo selected Jones out of East Carolina in the second round of the 2017 draft. In his rookie campaign, Jones started 10 games and posted 27 receptions for 316 yards and two touchdowns.
Several teams have been in contact with free agent running back Alfred Blue, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Steelers, presumably in the market for a veteran backup to Le’Veon Bell, are one of those clubs, but it doesn’t appear as though Blue will be signing with Pittsburgh. Blue, 26, hit his high-water mark in 2015 by rushing for 698 yards in nine starts for the Texans, but the addition of Lamar Miller has forced Houston to scale back Blue’s role since then. In 2017, Blue played on 21% of the Texans’ offensive snaps but managed only 3.7 yards per carry.
The Giants are still searching for cornerback help after cutting Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie earlier this month, and they’re assessing the market for internal free agent Ross Cockrell, as Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com writes. Cockrell, whom New York acquired from Pittsburgh last September, started nine games for Big Blue in 2017. He finished first in Football Outsiders’ success rate, which measures cornerbacks on their ability to consistently stop opposing wideouts short of the sticks. Thus far, the Giants have agreed to terms with lower-tier defensive backs such as B.W. Webb, Teddy Williams, and Curtis Riley.
Although John Bowlen — son of Broncos owner Pat Bowlen — recently announced his intention to sell his minority stake in the club, he’s since agreed to sell a portion of his total ownership (which is roughly 30-35%) back to the team, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. John Bowlen’s decision to sell wouldn’t have necessarily affected day-to-day operations of the Broncos, as Pat Bowlen — who stepped down as principal owner in 2014 due to Alzheimer’s disease — would have still held the majority of the club and be entitled to designate one of his other children as his successor.

Jaguars RB Corey Grant Signs RFA Tender

March 22nd, 2018 at 9:25pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Jaguars running back Corey Grant has signed his second-round restricted free agent tender, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Exclusive rights free agent tight end Ben Koyack has also inked his tender, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.

Grant was one of 14 NFL restricted free agents to be tender at the second-round level, and he’s the second — following Falcons guard Ben Garland — to officially sign his tender. There was no rush for Grant to ink his tender, as RFAs have until April 20 to work out offer sheets with other clubs. However, it was always unlikely that any NFL team would have been willing to sacrifice a second-round pick in order to land Grant.

Grant, 26, has never been a focal point of Jacksonville’s offense, but he’s contributed when on the field. Over the past two years, Grant has averaged a whopping 6.6 yards per carry on 62 rushes while scoring three touchdowns. He also served as the Jaguars’ primary kick returner in 2017, and has seen at least 45% special teams playtime in each of his three NFL campaigns.

The Jaguars released veteran running back Chris Ivory earlier this offseason, so Grant could conceivably see more of a role on offense. However, Jacksonville’s running game will clearly be centered around starter Leonard Fournette, with backup T.J. Yeldon chipping in on passing downs.

Jets To Sign WR Terrelle Pryor

March 22nd, 2018 at 8:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets have agreed to sign wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, reports Calvin Watkins of Newsday (Twitter link). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com first indicated Pryor was nearing a deal with New York.

Pryor didn’t exactly pick the right time to hit the open market, as he’s coming off a lost campaign with the Redskins. After starring with the Browns in 2016, Pryor inked a one-year deal with Washington after reportedly rejecting offers from Cleveland. Before landing on injured reserve in November, Pryor managed only 20 receptions, 240 yards, and one reception in nine games (two starts).

But Pryor wowed during his first full season as a wide receiver, putting up an astounding 77/1,007/4 with the Browns in 2016. That upside allowed Pryor to create something of a market for himself following a disastrous year in the nation’s capital. The Browns and Rams each expressed some level of interest in the 28-year-old, but Pryor was deciding between the Jets and Seahawks as of Wednesday.

New York was clearly looking at affordable wide receiver additions, as the club met with both Allen Hurns and Charles Johnson over the past week. With Pryor on board, it appears less likely the Jets will pursue either of those options, as the club also pass-catchers Jermaine Kearse, Robby Anderson, Chad Hansen, ArDarius Stewart, and Quincy Enunwa on their roster.

Despite his down 2017 output, Pryor should be in line to start for Gang Green. Anderson, for his part, has been arrested twice this offseason and could be facing a league-imposed suspension, while Enunwa is recovering from a serious neck injury. Given that Hansen and Stewart — both of whom are entering their second NFL seasons — don’t offer much experience, Pryor could be in line for starter’s reps. And given that New York played 63% of its offensive snaps with three wide receivers on the field a season ago, Pryor should see plenty of action, regardless.

With both Pryor and fellow wideout Mike Wallace coming off the board today, the second-tier of free agent receivers is rapidly thinning. At present, the best pass-catchers who remain unsigned include Hurns, Jordan Matthews, Eric Decker, Brice Butler, and Dontrelle Inman.

[RELATED: Jets Depth Chart]

NFL Contract Details: Scandrick, Shelby, Latimer, Wynn

March 22nd, 2018 at 8:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Let’s take a look at the most recent new contracts around the NFL:

Orlando Scandrick, CB (Redskins): Two years, $6.85MM. $1MM guaranteed. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link via John Keim of ESPN.com).
Derrick Shelby, DE (Falcons): One year, $3.25MM. $2MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
Cody Latimer, WR (Giants): One year, $2.5MM. $2.47MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com).
Marshall Newhouse, T (Bills): One year, $1.5MM. $500K guaranteed. $500K signing bonus. $250K available via playing time incentive (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
Kerry Wynn, DE (Giants): One year, $1.25MM. $500K guaranteed (Twitter link via Raanan).
L.P. Ladouceur, LS (Cowboys): One year, $1.015MM. $630K guaranteed. $90K signing bonus. Minimum salary benefit (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPN.com).

Cardinals To Host CB Robert McClain

March 22nd, 2018 at 8:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent cornerback Robert McClain will meet with the Cardinals on Thursday, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle first reported Arizona’s interest in McClain.

McClain would be a natural fit with the Cardinals for several reasons, with coaching familiarity being a primary factor. McClain played for the Panthers in 2015-16 when now-Arizona head coach Steve Wilks served as Carolina’s defensive backs coach. Additionally, the Cardinals are in need of defensive back depth after releasing Tyrann Mathieu and losing Tramon Williams to the Packers. Tyvon Branch, Justin Bethel, and C.J. Goodwin, meanwhile, are still on the open market.

Typically a slot corner, McClain saw the most playing time of his career in 2017, as he was on the field for 75% of the Buccaneers’ defensive snaps. In 14 games (nine starts), the 29-year-old McClain posted a career-high three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown against now-Cardinals quarterback Mike Glennon.