HEADLINES

Month: March 2018

Cowboys To Host Cameron Fleming

March 18th, 2018 at 11:23am CST by Rory Parks

The Cowboys are scheduled to meet with free agent OT Cameron Fleming, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirmed the report (via Twitter) and added that the visit will take place tomorrow and Tuesday.

Rapoport also reiterated that New England wants to keep Fleming, which we heard previously. The Patriots lost their long-time left tackle, Nate Solder, earlier this week, when Solder signed a four-year, $62MM deal with the Giants. Fleming, though, has demonstrated the ability to play left tackle in the past, and in 2017, he graded as the league’s No. 24 offensive tackle, per Pro Football Focus. He is the best pure offensive tackle remaining on the open market, and if he were to sign elsewhere, the Pats may be forced to re-sign LaAdrian Waddle and insert him as Tom Brady‘s regular blindside protector (unless they can acquire a starting-caliber player in the draft, of course).

The Cowboys’ O-line has been a source of strength for the team over the past several seasons, and Fleming would further reinforce that unit. Archer notes that Fleming could start at right tackle for Dallas, which could then move La’el Collins back to left guard and strengthen the team’s up-the-middle protection.

Alternatively, the Cowboys could sign Fleming with an eye towards using him as a swing tackle, but it’s unlikely he would turn down a starting job with the Patriots or some other club to become a backup in Dallas. After all, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets, the market for Fleming is heating up, so it’s not as though he won’t have options.

As of right now, Dallas is the only team that has not yet signed a free agent.

49ers Unlikely To Make More Major FA Signings

March 18th, 2018 at 10:43am CST by Rory Parks

The 49ers still have about $33MM in spending money, per GM John Lynch, but as Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle writes, the team is unlikely to use that cash to make any major free agent signings.

Lynch said, “We’re not all the way done yet, perhaps. We’ll use that wisely. We got the guys that we targeted that would help us best become a better football team.”

Branch has taken that statement to mean that San Francisco is going to stand pat with respect to notable free agents that are still available. As Lynch said at the scouting combine, the team is not one player away from being a true title contender, so while the addition of Richard Sherman may have suggested to some that the 49ers had hopes of a deep playoff run in 2018, San Francisco is still apparently committed to its youth movement (as Branch observes, the 49ers have just five offensive or defensive players who are 30 or older).

Lynch indicated that the 49ers will spend their available cash, but will use it to lock up young players who are already on the roster. As Branch writes, right tackle Trent Brown, 24, and safeties Jaquiski Tartt, 26, and Jimmie Ward, 26, are all recent draft picks in the final year of their contracts, and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, 24, will be eligible to receive what figures to be a hefty contract extension after the 2018 season. The team might also use some of its money to give a pay raise to LT Joe Staley.

So, outside of the potential reward for the 33-year-old Staley, the 49ers are using their money to continue building a youthful core that can form the foundation of a competitive team for the foreseeable future. The additions of Sherman, Weston Richburg, and Jerick McKinnon, then, appear to be the only major outside additions for Lynch & Co. this offseason.

Contract Details/Restructures: 3/18/18

March 18th, 2018 at 10:22am CST by Rory Parks

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

New Contracts

Restructures

  • Rams: Converted Tavon Austin‘s 2018 pay ($3MM base salary, $5MM roster bonus) to $1MM base salary, $4MM roster bonus, and $3MM in incentives ($2MM for game-day active incentives and $1MM in combined rushing/receiving yards) (Twitter links via Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports). Austin can still make $8MM this year if he hits all incentives.

Bills To Host Russell Bodine

March 18th, 2018 at 10:01am CST by Rory Parks

The Bills are set to host free agent center Russell Bodine today and tomorrow, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Buffalo has a major need at center following Eric Wood‘s retirement.

Bodine, of course, is not an ideal replacement. Although he has started all 64 possible games since entering the league as a fourth-round pick of the Bengals in 2014, he has not been overly effective. In 2017, he graded as a bottom-10 center, per Pro Football Focus.

But he is young, durable, and has significant starting experience. Indeed, the Bengals previously expressed interest in retaining his services, and Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis said several months ago, “Russell’s been, physically, mentally a tough football player for us. He was installed there as a rookie and he’s done nothing but continue to grow and get better and frankly grow into a guy you can count on to help lead the football team. I feel really good about him. So hopefully we’ll be able to get that done.”

Bodine did not crack PFR’s original list of top free agent interior lineman, but now that top centers like Ryan Jensen and Weston Richburg have signed with new clubs, Bodine will start to attract more interest. Buffalo also has Ryan Groy on the roster as a potential Wood replacement.

Latest On Ndamukong Suh

March 18th, 2018 at 9:44am CST by Rory Parks

Free agent DT Ndamukong Suh left New Orleans without a contract and met with the Titans last night, per Jordan Schultz of Yahoo! Sports, who adds that his dinner with Tennessee brass went well past midnight (Twitter links). Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets that the door is not closed on a Suh-Saints marriage, as the visit with New Orleans was always intended to be a feeling-out session rather than an all-out recruiting mission. Indeed, as Schultz notes in a separate tweet, Suh has expressed his desire to take his time and evaluate his numerous options with his family. 

Nonetheless, the fact that the Titans have parted with Karl Klug and Sylvester Williams over the past several days could be a sign that they are optimistic about landing Suh when he comes to Nashville. Of course, if Suh really does plan to take his time and visit other, as-yet-unnamed clubs — which we heard when the Tennessee visit was reported earlier this week — then it could take awhile before we know where Suh will be suiting up in 2018.

Florida Football Insiders, in a purely speculative piece, also names the Patriots as a potential landing spot for the three-time All-Pro. The Pats have a little bit of money to spend, and if they can acquire Suh on a one-year pact — much like they did with Darrelle Revis in 2014 — they may jump on the opportunity. FFI suggests that a one-year, “prove-it” contract might be in Suh’s best interest, and if he goes that route, New England could certainly get involved.

The Seahawks and Cowboys have also expressed interest in Suh, and Schultz tweets that Suh and Seattle head coach Pete Carroll have had two positive telephone conversations this week. The two men share a great deal of mutual respect, and Suh wants to visit the Seahawks.

The 31-year-old Suh may be getting older, but he’s still plenty productive. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 interior defensive lineman in the NFL in 2017, and he finished the season with 48 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

Steelers Sign LB Jon Bostic

March 18th, 2018 at 8:46am CST by Rory Parks

The Steelers have signed LB Jon Bostic to a two-year deal, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Pittsburgh has been quiet since free agency officially opened earlier this week, and Bostic represents the club’s first free agent signing of the new league year.

And it’s a signing the team needed to make. As PFR observed last month, the Steelers’ top priority this offseason was to find a way to replace the production of Ryan Shazier, who will miss the entirety of the 2018 season (at least). Pittsburgh’s run defense collapsed after Shazier’s horrific injury last season, as five of the Steelers’ final six opponents surpassed 100 rushing yards, and the team yielded 164 yards on the ground to the Jaguars in the AFC Divisional Round matchup, damaging the franchise’s hopes of parlaying its first bye in seven years into at least a return to the AFC title game.

Bostic, whom the Bears selected in the second round of the 2013 draft, was a solid, if unspectacular, performer for Chicago during his first two years in the league. He was traded to the Patriots prior to the 2015 campaign but was not as productive in New England as he had been in the Windy City. However, after spending all of 2016 on IR following a trade to Detroit, he turned in a strong 2017 season for the Colts, starting 14 games and posting a career-high 97 tackles along with one sack, one fumble recovery, and three passes defended. He also graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 40 linebacker in the NFL, a career best, and he was listed as PFR’s 14th-best FA linebacker in this year’s free agent class.

Unless the Steelers make another move either in free agency or the draft, Bostic will pair with Vince Williams to form the starting ILB tandem for Pittsburgh in 2018.

2018 NFL Trades

March 17th, 2018 at 10:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

We’ve already seen a few trades consummated since the 2018 league year began on March 14th, and with the draft not too far off, several more deals figure to be completed this spring. We’ll track those moves – and the rest of the year’s trades, right up until the fall deadline – in this space.

Here’s a breakdown of 2018’s trades to date, in reverse chronological order:

Post-Draft

October 31

October 31

  • Rams acquired DE Dante Fowler.
  • Jaguars acquired a 2019 third-round pick and a 2020 fifth-round pick.
    • Third-round pick will be Los Angeles’ highest compensatory selection if it receives one in 2019. If not, pick will be Rams’ assigned third-rounder.

October 31

  • Ravens acquired RB Ty Montgomery.
  • Packers acquired a 2020 seventh-round pick.

October 31

  • Eagles acquired WR Golden Tate.
  • Lions acquired a 2019 third-round pick.

October 31

  • Texans acquired WR Demaryius Thomas and a 2019 seventh-round pick.
  • Broncos acquired a 2019 fourth-round pick and a 2019 seventh-round pick.

October 24

  • Lions acquired DT Damon Harrison.
  • Giants acquired a conditional 2019 fifth-round pick.

October 23

  • Saints acquired CB Eli Apple.
  • Giants acquired a 2019 fourth-round pick and a 2020 seventh-round pick.

October 22

  • Cowboys acquired WR Amari Cooper.
  • Raiders acquired a 2019 first-round pick.

October 19

  • Jaguars acquired RB Carlos Hyde.
  • Browns acquired a 2019 fifth-round pick.

September 25

  • Panthers acquired T Marshall Newhouse.
  • Bills acquired a 2021 conditional seventh-round pick.

September 17

  • Patriots acquired WR Josh Gordon and a 2019 seventh-round pick.
  • Browns acquired a 2019 fifth-round pick.

September 1

  • Eagles acquired DB Deiondre’ Hall.
  • Bears acquired a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick.

September 1

  • Browns acquired DL Devaroe Lawrence.
  • Saints acquired a 2019 seventh-round pick.

September 1

  • Raiders acquired QB A.J. McCarron.
  • Bills acquired a 2019 fifth-round pick.

September 1

September 1

  • Seahawks acquired S Shalom Luani.
  • Raiders acquired a 2019 seventh-round pick.

September 1

  • Panthers acquired T Corey Robinson.
  • Lions acquired a conditional 2020 seventh-round pick.

September 1

  • Bears acquired LB Khalil Mack, a 2020 second-round pick, and a conditional 2020 fifth-round pick.
  • Raiders acquired a 2019 first-round pick, 2019 sixth-round pick, a 2020 first-round pick, and a 2020 third-round pick. .

August 31

  • 49ers acquired T Shon Coleman.
  • Browns acquired a 2019 seventh-round pick.

August 31

  • Chiefs acquired S Jordan Lucas.
  • Dolphins acquired a 2020 seventh-round pick.

August 31

  • Falcons acquired S Jordan Richards.
  • Patriots acquired a conditional 2020 seventh-round pick.

August 30

August 29

  • Saints acquired QB Teddy Bridgewater and a 2019 sixth-round pick.
  • Jets acquired a 2019 third-round pick.

August 29

  • Seahawks acquired QB Brett Hundley.
  • Packers acquired a 2019 sixth-round pick.

August 28

  • Titans acquired LB Kamalei Correa.
  • Ravens acquired a 2019 sixth-round pick.

August 27

  • Steelers acquired WR Ryan Switzer and a 2019 sixth-round pick.
  • Raiders acquired a 2019 fifth-round pick.

August 26

  • Vikings acquired C Brett Jones.
  • Giants acquired a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick.

August 26

August 24

  • Lions acquired LB Eli Harold.
  • 49ers acquired a conditional 2020 seventh-round pick.
    • 49ers will acquire 2020 pick if Harold is on Lions’ roster for four weeks.

August 5

  • Bills acquired WR Corey Coleman.
  • Browns acquired a 2020 seventh-round pick.

May 22

May 18

  • Cardinals acquired CB Jamar Taylor.
  • Browns acquired a 2020 sixth-round pick.

May 3

  • Dolphins acquired DT Akeem Spence.
  • Lions acquired a 2019 seventh-round pick.

During Draft

April 28

April 28

  • Eagles acquired a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 233; OL Jordan Mailata).
  • Patriots acquired a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 250; TE Ryan Izzo) and a 2019 seventh-round pick.

April 28

April 28

  • Chiefs acquired a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 198; DT Kahlil McKenzie).
  • Patriots acquired a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 233) and a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 243; CB Keion Crossen).

April 28

  • Falcons acquired a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 194; WR Russell Gage).
  • Rams acquired a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 244; DE Justin Lawler) and a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 256).

April 28

April 28

April 28

April 28

  • Vikings acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 157; TE Tyler Conklin).
  • Jets acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 167) and a 2018 seventh-round pick.

April 28

  • Cowboys acquired WR Tavon Austin.
  • Rams acquired a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 192; T Jamil Denby).

April 28

April 28

April 28

  • Raiders acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 140; DT Maurice Hurst).
  • Colts acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 159; WR Daurice Fountain) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 185; WR Deon Cain).

April 28

  • Panthers acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 136; WR Jaleel Scott).
  • Rams acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 147; LB Micah Kiser) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 197).

April 28

  • Lions acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 114; DL Da’Shawn Hand).
  • Patriots acquired a 2019 third-round pick.

April 28

  • Browns acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 105; WR Antonio Callaway).
  • Patriots acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 114) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 178; LB Christian Sam).

April 27

  • Buccaneers acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 94; OL Alex Cappa).
  • Vikings acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 102; DE Jalyn Holmes) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 180).

April 27

  • Packers acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 88; LB Oren Burks).
  • Panthers acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 101; TE Ian Thomas) and a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 147).

April 27

  • Raiders acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 87; DE Arden Key).
  • Rams acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 89; Joseph Noteboom) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 217).

April 27

  • Steelers acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 76; QB Mason Rudolph).
  • Seahawks acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 79; DE Rasheem Green) and a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 220; QB Alex McGough).

April 27

  • Chiefs acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 75; DL Derrick Nnadi).
  • Ravens acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 86; TE Mark Andrews) and a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 122; LB Kenny Young).

April 27

  • Raiders acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 65; OL Brandon Parker).
  • Ravens acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 75), a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 152), and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 212; T Greg Senat).

April 27

  • Colts acquired a 2018 second-round pick (No. 64; DE Tyquan Lewis).
  • Browns acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 67; DE Chad Thomas) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 178).

April 27

  • Patriots acquired a 2018 second-round pick (No. 56; CB Duke Dawson).
  • Buccaneers acquired a 2018 second-round pick (No. 63; CB Carlton Davis), and a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 117; S Jordan Whitehead).

April 27

  • Bears acquired a 2018 second-round pick (No. 51; WR Anthony Miller).
  • Patriots acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 105) and a 2019 second-round pick.

April 27

April 27

April 27

  • 49ers acquired a 2018 second-round pick (No. 44; WR Dante Pettis) and a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 142; CB D.J. Reed).
  • Redskins acquired a 2018 second-round pick (No. 59; RB Derrius Guice) and a 2018 third-round pick (No. 74; T Geron Christian).

April 27

  • Lions acquired a 2018 second-round pick (No. 43; RB Kerryon Johnson).
  • Patriots acquired a 2018 second-round pick (No. 51) and a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 117).

April 27

  • Titans acquired a 2018 second-round pick (No. 41; LB Rashaan Evans).
  • Raiders acquired a 2018 second-round pick (No. 57; DT P.J. Hall) and a 2019 third-round pick (No. 89).

April 27

April 26

  • Ravens acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 32; QB Lamar Jackson) and a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 132; WR Jaleel Scott).
  • Eagles acquired a 2018 second-round pick (No. 52), a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 125; CB Avonte Maddox), and a 2019 second-round pick.

April 26

  • Titans acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 22; LB Rashaan Evans) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 215).
  • Ravens acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 25; TE Hayden Hurst) and a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 125).

April 26

  • Raiders acquired WR Martavis Bryant.
  • Steelers acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 79).

April 26

  • Packers acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 18; CB Jaire Alexander) and a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 248; LB Kendall Donnerson).
  • Seahawks acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 27; RB Rashaad Penny), a 2018 third-round pick (No. 76), and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 186; LB Jacob Martin).

April 26

  • Bills acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 16; LB Tremaine Edmunds) and a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 154; S Siran Neal).
  • Ravens acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 22) and a 2018 third-round pick (No. 65).

April 26

  • Saints acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 14; DE Marcus Davenport).
  • Packers acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 27), a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 147), and a 2019 first-round pick.

April 26

  • Cardinals acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 10; QB Josh Rosen).
  • Raiders acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 15; T Kolton Miller), a 2018 third-round pick (No. 79), and a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 152).

April 26

  • Bills acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 7; QB Josh Allen).
  • Buccaneers acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 12; DT Vita Vea), a 2018 second-round pick (No. 53; CB M.J. Stewart), a 2018 second-round pick (No. 56), and a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 255).

Pre-Draft

April 23

  • Giants acquired P Riley Dixon.
  • Broncos acquired a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick.

April 6

  • Redskins acquired QB Kevin Hogan and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 205).
  • Browns acquired a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 188).

April 3

  • Rams acquired WR Brandin Cooks and a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 136).
  • Patriots acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 23) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 198).

March 28

  • Jaguars acquired QB Cody Kessler.
  • Browns acquired a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick.
    • Browns will acquire 2019 pick if Kessler is on Jaguars’ active 46-man roster for six games in 2018.

March 28

  • Broncos acquired S Su’a Cravens, a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 113), and a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 149).
  • Redskins acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 109), a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 142), and a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 163), and a conditional 2020 sixth-round pick.
    • Redskins will acquire 2020 pick if Cravens appears in a playoff game for the Broncos.

March 23

  • Broncos acquired T Jared Veldheer.
  • Cardinals acquired a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 182).

March 22

  • Buccaneers acquired DE Jason Pierre-Paul and a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 102).
  • Giants acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 69) and a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 108).

March 20

  • Cowboys acquired FB Jamize Olawale and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 192).
  • Raiders acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 173).

March 18

  • Patriots acquired WR Cordarrelle Patterson and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 210).
  • Raiders acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 159).

March 17

  • Jets acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 3 overall).
  • Colts acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 6 overall), a 2018 second-round pick (No. 37), a 2018 second-round pick (No. 49), and a 2019 second-round pick.

March 15

  • Patriots acquired CB Jason McCourty and a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 219).
  • Browns acquired a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 205).

March 15

  • Dolphins acquired C Daniel Kilgore and a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 227).
  • 49ers acquired a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 223).

March 14

  • Vikings acquired QB Trevor Siemian and a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 225).
  • Broncos acquired a 2019 fifth-round pick.

March 14

  • Bengals acquired T Cordy Glenn, a 2018 first-round pick (No. 21), and a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 158).
  • Bills acquired a 2018 first-round pick (No. 12) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 187).

March 14

  • Patriots acquired DT Danny Shelton and a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 159).
  • Browns acquired a 2019 third-round pick.

March 14

  • Packers acquired QB DeShone Kizer, a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 101), and a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 138).
  • Browns acquired DB Damarious Randall, a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 114), and a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 150).

March 14

  • Browns acquired QB Tyrod Taylor.
  • Bills acquired a 2018 third-round pick (No. 65).

March 14

  • Browns acquired WR Jarvis Landry.
  • Dolphins acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 123) and a 2019 seventh-round pick.

March 14

March 14

  • Rams acquired CB Aqib Talib.
  • Broncos acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 160).

March 14

  • Giants acquired LB Alec Ogletree and a 2019 seventh-round pick.
  • Rams acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 135) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 176).

March 14

  • Eagles acquired DE Michael Bennett and a 2018 seventh-round pick (No. 250).
  • Seahawks acquired WR Marcus Johnson and a 2018 fifth-round pick (No. 156).

March 14

  • Dolphins acquired DE Robert Quinn and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 209)
  • Rams acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 111) and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 183).

March 14

  • Rams acquired CB Marcus Peters and a 2018 sixth-round pick (No. 209).
  • Chiefs acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 120) and a 2019 second-round pick.

March 14

Extra Points: Boldin, Burfict, Mathieu, Saints

March 17th, 2018 at 10:24pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Anquan Boldin may not be done playing in the NFL, as he said today that he hasn’t made a decision on the future of his career, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Boldin signed a one-year deal with the Bills last August, but retired just two weeks later. The 37-year-old expressed some interest in returning during the 2017 season, but the Bills had no intention of releasing him. Buffalo has now done so, as it cut Boldin from the reserve/retired list this week. For what it’s worth, the Patriots and Boldin reportedly had mutual interest last September.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is expected to argue that his four-game performance-enhancing drug suspension should be overturned given that he was using prescription medications to recover from injury after he’d already been ruled out for the season, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. If Burfict’s ban is upheld, the remaining $11.3MM guarantee on his contract will void, meaning Cincinnati could potentially move on without any financial consequences. As Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, Burfict is hoping an arcane section of the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement will save him, but the league is unlikely to overturn his suspension.
  • Former All Pro defensive back Tyrann Mathieu had an offer to return to the Cardinals at an $8MM salary, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. The 25-year-old Mathieu declined the overture, and instead signed with the Texans for one year and $7MM. the Mathieu was a Pro Bowler and one of the NFL’s best defensive backs as recently as 2015, but he’s struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness over the past two seasons. Last year, Mathieu managed to start all 16 games, but only graded as the league’s No. 61 cornerback among 121 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
  • Although the Saints received a salary cap credit as a result of their Nick Fairley grievance, the grievance itself has not been settled, per Josh Katzenstein of the New Orleans Times-Picayune (Twitter link). That $3MM credit was only related to Fairley’s signing bonus, so the Saints are presumably trying to recoup a portion of Fairley’s base salary after he was forced to sit out the 2017 campaign with a heart condition. For what it’s worth, Fairley hopes to play during the upcoming season, but it’s difficult to imagine any team medically clearing him.
  • The Steelers curiously signed restricted free agent punter Jordan Berry to a one-year extension with a similar salary to the RFA tender, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com has explained the club’s rationale. Berry, a native Australian, would have been considered unemployed if he returned to his home country without an RFA tender in place, meaning his work authorization paperwork could have taken extra time. Given that he’s getting married this year, Berry didn’t want to deal with any confusion, so Pittsburgh obliged him by giving him a one-year deal, the value of which has sent been altered to match the original round tender figure of $1.907MM.

Contract Details/Restructures: 3/17/18

March 17th, 2018 at 9:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

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

New Contracts

  • Allen Robinson, WR (Bears): Three years, $42MM. $25.2MM guaranteed. $6MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
  • Teddy Bridgewater, QB (Jets): One year, $6MM. $1MM guaranteed. $9MM available via playtime incentives (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com).
  • Chad Henne, QB (Chiefs): Two years, $6.7MM. $3.1MM signing bonus. Performance incentives and escalators available (Twitter link via Jason Wolf of the Tennessean).

Restructures

  • Cardinals: Created $500K in 2018 cap space by converting S Antoine Bethea‘s roster bouns into a signing bonus (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Vikings: Created $1.15MM in 2018 cap space by reducing RB Latavius Murray‘s base salary from $5.15MM to $3.65M; his roster bonus from $500K to $250K; and his incentives from $2.3MM to $1MM (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com).

Raiders Meet With DT Clinton McDonald

March 17th, 2018 at 9:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Raiders have met with free agent defensive tackle Clinton McDonald, according to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer (Twitter link).

McDonald, who is now entering his age-32 campaign, has spent the past four seasons as a rotational lineman with the Buccaneers. In 2017, McDonald split time with high-profile free agent addition Chris Baker, managing five sacks and 18 tackles from the interior. However, Pro Football Focus graded McDonald as a bottom-10 defensive tackle among 121 qualifiers.

Oakland has made a flurry of free agent signings this week, and the club’s defensive line was not forgotten. Defensive tackle Justin Ellis was re-signed on a three-year deal, while former 49ers end Tank Carradine was also added. The Raiders did lose Denico Autry, however, so McDonald could help fill out the club’s interior.

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