HEADLINES

Month: March 2018

Raiders To Sign LB Emmanuel Lamur

March 21st, 2018 at 7:06pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Raiders have reached an agreement with free agent linebacker Emmanuel Lamur, according to Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal (Twitter link).

Lamur had also been scheduled to meet with the Dolphins later this week, but Oakland never let him leave its building without a contract in hand. The Raiders employ former Bengals coaches Paul Guenther and David Lippincott as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, respectively, so Lamur — who played for Cincinnati from 2012-15 — should offer scheme familiarity.

While Lamur once started 13 games and played 91% of the Bengals’ defensive snaps, he’s been relegated to backup/special teams duty since that 2013 campaign. Last season, Lamur appeared in all 16 games for the Vikings (who also have another former Cincinnati coach — Mike Zimmer — at the helm), but only played 78 defensive snaps.

Despite his lack of production in recent campaigns, Lamur could have a decent shot at playing time in Oakland given the club’s lack of options at linebacker. While the Raiders recently signed fellow free agent Tahir Whitehead, they could lose NaVorro Bowman to the open market, while Bruce Irvin is expected to see most of his time at defensive end.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/21/17

March 21st, 2018 at 6:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

Saints, Falcons, Panthers Interested In DE Robert Ayers

March 21st, 2018 at 6:27pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Instead of taking multiple free agent visits, former Buccaneers defensive end Robert Ayers plans to meet with teams at the NFL’s annual meeting in Orlando, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link), who reports the Saints, Falcons, and Panthers all have interest in Ayers.

New Orleans, Atlanta, and Carolina, of course, all reside in the NFC South, meaning each club was able to see Ayers’ production from a close vantage point over the past two years as he played for Tampa Bay. The Saints, for their part, have addressed their pass rush by re-signing defensive end Alex Okafor, while the Panthers upgraded their interior by inking Dontari Poe. The Falcons haven’t yet added any new players on the edge, but they have met with free agent Pernell McPhee.

Ayers is now entering his age-32 campaign, but he’s still an outstanding pass rusher. While Ayers posted only two sacks a season ago, he managed 28 pressures (a better indication of production) and graded as Pro Football Focus‘ No. 10 edge defender. Ayers also offers experience in both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, although injuries will be a question mark, as he’s only played in 10 games in each of the past two seasons.

After being cut by the Buccaneers earlier this week, Ayers is now part of a free agent edge class that also includes McPhee, Connor Barwin, Junior Galette, Derrick Shelby, and Kony Ealy, among others.

Cowboys To Meet With WR Deonte Thompson

March 21st, 2018 at 5:58pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Cowboys met with wide receiver Deonte Thompson and linebacker Joe Thomas on Wednesday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com (Twitter links).

Dallas’ wide receiver depth chart is fluid at the moment, as the Cowboys haven’t yet asked No. 1 pass-catcher Dez Bryant to accept a pay cut in order to remain on the roster. It’s unclear if Bryant will even be forced to take a pay reduction, but the Cowboys have other problems at receiver beyond Bryant. Terrance Williams managed only 568 yards in the first year of a four-year extension, while Brice Butler is an unrestricted free agent.

Thompson played for two teams in 2017, as he signed with the Bills in October after being released by the Bears. Overall, last season marked Thompson’s best campaign to date, as he set career-highs in both receptions (38) and yards (555). Thompson, 29, has also reportedly drawn interest from the Broncos and the incumbent Bills, but his visit with the Cowboys will mark his first official free agent meeting.

Thompson wasn’t the only receiver scheduled to meet with the Cowboys today. Former Jaguars wideout Allen Hurns is taking the first visit of his free agent tour with Dallas, while Dontrelle Inman and Justin Hunter were also expected to be in Arlington.

Thomas, not to be confused with the former Browns tackle of the same same, is now on the open market after the Packers declined to tender him as a restricted free agent last week. The 26-year-old started seven games and played 60% of Green Bay’s defensive snaps in 2016, but saw his playtime drop to 13% last season. Thomas would serve as depth and contribute on special teams if signed by the Cowboys.

Falcons Sign TE Logan Paulsen

March 21st, 2018 at 5:38pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Falcons have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent tight end Logan Paulsen, the club announced today. The pact is worth $1.005MM and contains $200K guaranteed, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.

Atlanta hasn’t been very active during the first wave of the free agent period, but the club had been on the lookout for a veteran tight end to pair with Austin Hooper. After releasing Levine Toilolo earlier this month, the Falcons reportedly had interest in Ed Dickson before he landed with the Seahawks, and they met with Paulsen earlier today before inking him to a deal.

Paulsen, 31, has attracted a bit of interest on the free agent market, as he visited the Lions earlier this week. After hitting a high-water mark with 28 receptions for the Redskins in 2013, Paulsen’s offensive role — regardless of team — has been drastically reduced. He managed just three total catches with the Bears and 49ers in 2016-17, but he contributes on special teams and is one of the NFL’s best pass-blocking tight ends, per Pro Football Focus.

Colts Re-Sign RB Christine Michael

March 21st, 2018 at 5:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Colts have re-signed running back Christine Michael, the club announced today.

Michael, 27, has typically been long on talent and upside, but short on results, during his five-year NFL career. Last season, the former second-round pick signed with Indianapolis in early June only to be placed on injured reserve two weeks later. The Colts must have liked what they saw from Michael during that brief stay on the roster, as they’ve now agreed to bring him back for another campaign.

Michael’s most productive season came in 2016, when he split time between the Seahawks and Packers. After beginning the year as Seattle’s starting running back, Michael managed six touchdowns before being surprisingly released at midseason. He managed only 3.7 yards per carry after being picked up by the Packers, who eventually cut him the following summer.

The Colts do not plan to re-sign veteran Frank Gore, so Michael will join a running back depth chart currently comprised of Marlon Mack, Robert Turbin, Matt Jones, George Winn, and Josh Ferguson.

Terrelle Pryor Down To Jets and Seahawks?

March 21st, 2018 at 5:09pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent receiver Terrelle Pryor appears to be deciding between the Jets and Seahawks, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).

Pryor has been busy during the second wave of the free agent period, taking visits with both New York and Seattle. The Rams, too, have expressed some level of interest in Pryor, while Cabot recently reported Cleveland was still open to a reunion with Pryor, who broke out with the Browns as a full-time receiver in 2016. However, it appears the 28-year-old Pryor is only considering the Jets and Seahawks at present.

Pryor, of course, was anything but successful in 2017 after inking a one-year deal with the Redskins. Before landing on injured reserve in November, Pryor managed only 20 receptions, 240 yards, and one reception in nine games (two starts). Expected to serve as something close to Washington’s No. 1 receiver, Pryor was instead outplayed by Jamison Crowder, Ryan Grant, and Josh Doctson, and the Redskins don’t seem to have any interest in retaining him.

The Jets, for their part, haven’t made any additions to their receiving corps yet this offseason, although they have met or will meet with Allen Hurns and Charles Johnson. The Seahawks, meanwhile signed former Cardinals wideout Jaron Brown and acquired Marcus Johnson from the Eagles, but lost fellow pass-catcher Paul Richardson to free agency.

Colts Meet With WR Dontrelle Inman

March 21st, 2018 at 5:01pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts hosted free agent WR Dontrelle Inman on a visit, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. New Colts OC Nick Sirianni was Inman’s WR coach in Los Angeles.

The Cowboys also have interest in Inman, so there’s a market for him despite a strange year 2017. Inman slid down the Chargers’ depth chart and was traded to the Bears during the year. After doing little in Los Angeles, he caught 23 passes for 334 with one touchdown in eight games. He finished out third in catches and receiving yards amongst Bears players, despite having just half a season with the team.

In 2016, Inman had the best year of his career with 58 grabs for 810 yards and four TDs. The potential is there for him to be an impact player and he’s still just 29 years old.

The Colts have ten wide receivers under contract, but T.Y. Hilton and free agent pickup Ryan Grant are the only real notables of the bunch.

Broncos Sign DT Clinton McDonald

March 21st, 2018 at 4:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos have signed former Buccaneers defensive tackle Clinton McDonald, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a two-year deal worth $7MM, according to Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). McDonald has spent the past four seasons as a rotational lineman with Tampa Bay. 

McDonald met with the Raiders late last week, but left Oakland without a deal. Instead, he’ll be joining up with their divisional rivals.

McDonald, 31 split time with Chris Baker in 2017 and recorded five sacks with 18 tackles. The sack total is impressive, though the advanced analytics at Pro Football Focus were not high on him.

The Broncos will start Domata Peko in the middle with Zach Kerr and Kyle Peko in support. DeShawn Williams, who signed a futures deal with the club in January, will fight to make the final cut, but his path to the 53-man roster just got a lot tougher.

Ravens Meet With Cameron Meredith

March 21st, 2018 at 3:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens will host Bears restricted free agent wide receiver Cameron Meredith on a visit, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The meeting will primarily take place on Thursday. 

Meredith took a visit with the Colts on Tuesday and the Ravens are now the second known team to meet with him. The Bears opted to use the original round tender on Meredith earlier this month, so a team can sign him to an offer sheet without fear of losing draft picks.

Meredith, 25, is coming off a torn ACL, but he can be a major value addition if he’s healthy. In 2016, Meredith caught 66 passes for 888 yards in just 10 starts.

The Ravens bolstered their wide receiver corps this offseason by signing Michael Crabtree and John Brown, but they’re still scouring the market for additions, including Meredith and fellow restricted free agent Willie Snead.

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