2018 March - Pro Football Rumors

Titans Release DL Karl Klug

March 16th, 2018 at 1:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Titans announced that they have released defensive lineman Karl Klug. Klug, one of the longest tenured players on the Titans’ roster, had been with the team since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in 2011.

“I really appreciate all that Karl gave to this team in his seven seasons with the Titans. He is a tireless worker, and his passion for football showed in how he prepared for and played the game. I know all of us who worked with him here wish him and his family the best moving forward,” Titans GM Jon Robinson said in a press release.

Klug’s NFL career started strong with seven sacks in his rookie campaign. The production didn’t stay at that level, however, and his role on the team has fluctuated over the years. In the last four seasons, Klug has started just two games.

This year, Klug was slated to count for $2.484MM against the Titans’ cap. None of that money was guaranteed, however, so there will be no dead money for Tennessee. Klug will turn 30 on Mar. 31.

This week, the Titans re-signed a pair of their own defensive linemen in DaQuan Jones and David King. They’re also interested in signing Ndamukong Suh.

Raiders Sign LS Andrew DePaola

March 16th, 2018 at 12:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Bears long snapper Andrew DePaola signed with the Raiders, agent Sean Stellato tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a four-year deal worth $4.27MM with $875K guaranteed.

DePaola, 31 in July, spent three seasons with the Buccaneers before hooking on with the Bears last season. The signing leaves the Bears without a long snapper for the moment, but Patrick Scales, who was non-tendered, could be brought back to fill that hole.

DePaola’s deal is uncharacteristically high for a long snapper, but coach Jon Gruden isn’t afraid to go against the grain. Gruden has vowed to “‘throw the game back to 1998” and he took a step in that direction this week by signing fullback Keith Smith to a two-year, $4.2MM deal.

Bengals’ Vontaze Burfict Facing Suspension

March 16th, 2018 at 12:34pm CST by Zachary Links

Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Performance Enhancing Drug policy, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). He’ll presumably appeal, though no hearing date has been set as of this writing.

Burfict is no stranger to suspensions, but this marks his first potential ban for PEDs. In the past, Burfict has been sidelined for violations of league safety rules.

In the 2016 playoffs, Burfict was penalized for an illegal hit to the head on Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown, which led to a suspension to start the 2016 season. In 2017, he was handed a five-game ban for a hit made on Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman in the preseason. That suspension was later reduced to three games.

Between injuries and suspensions, Burfict has missed 28 regular season games over the past four years. Still, he is among the very best at his position. Last year, Burfict managed 69 tackles and 1.5 sacks in his partial season.

If Burfict loses his appeal, the guarantees in his three-year, $33MM contract will void, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) notes. If that $11.3MM guarantee is wiped out, the Bengals will have the ability to move on from Burfict – if they want to – without fiscal penalty.

Latest On Eric Reid

March 16th, 2018 at 12:32pm CST by Zachary Links

Many of this year’s top free agents have come off the board, but there has been nary a word of interest in safety Eric Reid. The former 49er believes that teams are staying away from him due to his social activism and decision to knee during the national anthem.

“The notion that I can be a great signing for your team for cheap, not because of my skill set, but because I’ve protested systemic oppression, is ludicrous. If you think is, then your mindset is part of the problem too,” Reid tweeted.

Before the start of free agency, I ranked Reid as the 23rd best player available on our top 50 list with the caveat that Reid’s anthem protest participation could hurt him. That’s likely the case, as lesser free agents at his position have already found NFL homes for 2018. For his part, Reid believes that football evaluators are interested in signing him, but owners of teams are standing in the way of a deal.

“GMs aren’t the hold up, broski,” Reid wrote in response to someone on Twitter. “It’s ownership. People who know football know who can play. People who know me, know my character.”

Reid graded out as the No. 30 ranked safety in the NFL last year, per Pro Football Focus, and did so while playing a number of snaps out of position at linebacker. At just 26 years old, he profiles as a candidate for a substantial multi-year deal in terms of football ability.

In recent days, safeties Kurt Coleman, Tavon Wilson, Cody Davis, Nate Ebner Rafael Bush, and Keith Tandy inked multi-year deals with clubs. All of those players are older than Reid and ranked substantially lower in PFF’s advanced metrics last year. At the same time, the safety market has moved slower than other position groups, so Reid could have better luck once bigger names such as Tyrann Mathieu, Tre Boston, and Kenny Vaccaro ink deals.

Chiefs Meet With RB Thomas Rawls

March 16th, 2018 at 12:00pm CST by Zachary Links

Running back Thomas Rawls will meet with the Chiefs on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Rawls was non-tendered by the Seahawks this month, making him an unrestricted free agent.

The Chiefs have Kareem Hunt, Spencer Ware, and Charcandrick West under contract (along with others), so there’s not a clear spot for Rawls in Kansas City. But, after two down years in Seattle, Rawls will probably have to fight for his roster spot anywhere he goes.

Rawls joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2015 and electrified in his rookie year. He ran for 830 yards off of 147 carries, good for an eye-popping 5.6 yards per attempt. He also had four rushing touchdowns and a receiving TD in that season. Things haven’t been the same since, however. Rawls has averaged just three yards per carry over the last two seasons.

Bengals Sign LB Preston Brown

March 16th, 2018 at 11:16am CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals have signed linebacker Preston Brown, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal for the Cincinnati native.

Brown was hoping to re-sign with the Bills on a multi-year deal, Jim Owczarski of the Enquirer writes, but that never materialized. Earlier this month, we heard that the Patriots had interest in Brown, but it’s not clear if that ever came close to happening.

Brown, 26 in October, led the league in tackles in 2017 while playing the third-most defensive snaps (1,180) of any linebacker in the NFL. The former third-round pick has started nearly every possible game (62 of 64) during his four-year career and has never missed a contest due to injury. I had Brown ranked as one of the 50 best free agents available heading into this week.

Brown projects to start at middle linebacker, which will allow Vontaze Burfict to remain at outside linebacker.

The Bengals haven’t had the flashiest offseason in the NFL, but they’ve made some moves of note. This week, they traded for Bills left tackle Cordy Glenn and re-signed tight end Tyler Eifert.

[RELATED: Bengals Depth Chart]

Texans To Sign Johnson Bademosi

March 16th, 2018 at 11:11am CST by Zachary Links

Former Patriots’ special teams standout Johnson Bademosi has agreed to a two-year, $6.25MM deal with the Texans, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The new deal makes him the highest-paid special teams player in the NFL.

Bademosi was traded from the Lions to the Patriots last September in a deal that netted Detroit a 2019 sixth-round pick. By allowing Bademosi to walk, the Patriots figure to recoup some draft capital. Bademosi is the Pats’ fifth compensatory free agent to depart, which should improve their draw in 2019.

Bademosi, 28 in July, could also see some time at cornerback for Houston. He made six starts at CB over the last two seasons.

The Texans made two moves of note in the secondary this week by adding Aaron Colvin and re-signing Johnathan Joseph. Meanwhile, safety Marcus Gilchrist left to sign with the Raiders.

Panthers’ Greg Olsen Auditions For ESPN

March 16th, 2018 at 11:00am CST by Zachary Links

Could Greg Olsen transition to the broadcast booth? The Panthers tight end is auditioning to be an analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post (Twitter links). Marchand adds that he could also be in the mix for FOX’s Thursday Night Football, if Peyton Manning turns down the job.

While Olsen was sidelined last season, he called a game for FOX and did well. His performance during the Nov. 19 game between the Rams and Vikings led many to think that Olsen could have a future in TV someday. Few thought that Olsen could consider the transition now, however.

For what it’s worth, Panthers officials are aware that Olsen is in Bristol, Connecticut (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s David Newton). However, they believe this is more about planning for the future and that Olsen plans to play this season.

Olsen, 33, pushed the Panthers for a new contract last season. Ultimately, he agreed to continue on his deal, though the team added $2MM in incentives to his pact for 2017. If Olsen is on the fence between suiting up in 2018 or beginning his broadcasting career, the Panthers may have to sweeten the pot yet again.

Seahawks To Sign TE Ed Dickson

March 16th, 2018 at 10:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks have signed tight end Ed Dickson, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a three-year deal with a maximum value of $14MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Dickson currently projects to take over as the Seahawks’ starting tight end following Jimmy Graham‘s departure in free agency. Graham signed a much more lucrative three-year deal with the Packers earlier this week.

The Panthers were hoping to re-sign Dickson, but they bowed out of the bidding on Friday morning. The Panthers will now search for a new No. 2 tight end to slot behind star Greg Olsen and that endeavor effectively could result in a tight end swap between Carolina and Seattle. The Panthers have interest in Seahawks free agent Luke Willson and met with him earlier this week.

At present, Seattle’s tight end depth chart is comprised of Dickson, Nick Vannett, and 2017 undrafted free agent Tyrone Swoopes.

Saints To Re-Sign Alex Okafor

March 16th, 2018 at 10:25am CST by Zachary Links

Alex Okafor is back with the Saints. New Orleans has re-signed the pass rusher to a two-year deal worth up to $10MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Okafor visited the rival Buccaneers this week, but wound up staying put. That was Okafor’s only known outside visit and it’s quite possible that his list of suitors was limited by the torn Achilles that ended his 2017 early. Rapoport hears that he is recovering well from his torn Achilles, though he is still not 100%.

Before the injury, Okafor started in all ten of his games and racked up 4.5 sacks with a career high 43 tackles. He’ll look to turn in a similarly strong performance over a 16-game set this time around.

In addition to re-signing Okafor, the Saints have also added Demario Davis to the front seven.