2018 March - Pro Football Rumors

Eric Ebron To Meet With Colts, Could Also Visit Patriots

March 15th, 2018 at 6:20pm CST by Ben Levine

Eric Ebron is starting to rack up the visits. We learned earlier today that the tight end was set to meet with the Panthers, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Ebron will also meet with the Colts. The Indy meeting could “potentially” be followed by a visit to the Patriots, adds Schefter. The Ravens have also shown interest in the 24-year-old, who was released by the Lions earlier this week.

Ebron wouldn’t be confused with a blocking tight end, but he’s been plenty productive in the passing game. He finished last season with 53 catches for 574 yards and four touchdowns, and he appeared to get rid of his habit of dropping balls. The former first-rounder ultimately rated as an above-average tight end, as Pro Football Focus ranked him 13th among 71 candidates at the position.

Assuming Andrew Luck is healthy, Ebron would provide the quarterback with another talented target. The free agent would presumably displace Jack Doyle from the starting lineup in Indy, although there could be enough targets for the duo.

Meanwhile, he’d have to settle for a backup role behind Rob Gronkowski in New England, although he’d definitely be an upgrade over current backup tight end Dwayne Allen. The organization has had success fielding a pair of tight ends in recent seasons, so Ebron’s production might not necessarily take a dip if he joined the Patriots. Of course, Ebron would also be future insurance in the event that Gronkowski decided to hang up his cleats.

Jets Sign K Cairo Santos

March 15th, 2018 at 6:08pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets have announced the signing of free agent kicker Cairo Santos. It’s a one-year deal, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Gang Green is seeking to replace Chandler Catanzaro, who signed with the Buccaneers on Wednesday. Catanzaro received $9.75MM over three years from Tampa Bay, so the Jets have found a decidedly cheaper option.

Santos was the Chiefs’ kicker for three seasons, but an injury during pregame warmups before a game against the Chargers led to Santos’ Kansas City exit. The Brazilian specialist finished last season with the Bears, kicking in three games. The 26-year-old kicker made 31 of his 35 field goal tries during his last full slate with the Chiefs in 2016.

Cowboys Interested In Earl Thomas

March 15th, 2018 at 6:04pm CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks have at least one suitor for Earl Thomas. CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora tweets that the Cowboys are among the teams with interest in the veteran safety. Of course, the reporter adds that Dallas is “hardly alone” in their pursuit.

It sounds like the Cowboys would be the safety’s preferred landing spot. He connected himself to Dallas following a Seahawks’ win over Dallas, telling Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett to “come get me.” Thomas was also born in Orange, Texas and played at the University of Texas. Back in January, Thomas had threatened a holdout after pushing for a longterm deal. The safety signed a four-year $40 MM deal in 2014, which is set to expire after the 2018 season.

We learned earlier today that the Seahawks were seeking a first-round pick and a third-round pick in exchange for Thomas. Thomas, who will turn 29 in May, has earned six Pro Bowl selections in his eight seasons with Seattle. The safety had another solid campaign in 2017, compiling 56 tackles and two interceptions in 14 games (14 starts).

Titans To Meet With Ndamukong Suh

March 15th, 2018 at 6:04pm CST by Ben Levine

The Titans plan to host free agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). We learned earlier today that the 31-year-old was set to meet with the Saints, and Rapoport notes that Suh is expected to take more visits, as well.

Suh was released on Wednesday, clearing the way for teams to sign him. The defensive tackle was in the midst of a six-year, $114MM contract before he was let go by Miami. The free agent has already generated plenty of interest on the open market. Besides the Titans and Saints, the Cowboys and Seahawks have also expressed interested in Suh.

The 31-year-old 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. The 31-year-old had a another impressive campaign numbers-wise, as he finished the season with 48 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

Suh would presumably slide into the team’s starting lineup, displacing projected starter Sylvester Williams. The team could use some depth at the position, as Antwaun Woods is the only other defensive tackle on the roster.

Jets Host LB Kevin Pierre-Louis

March 15th, 2018 at 6:00pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jets met with free agent linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis on Thursday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Pierre-Louis had essentially been a linebacker in name only until 2017, as special teams had been his primary area of focus. But the former fourth-round pick saw a career-high 25% playtime on defense, managing 25 tackles during that time. The Chiefs picked up KPL in a trade with the Seahawks last July that sent fellow ‘backer D.J. Alexander to Seattle.

If signed by the Jets, Pierre-Louis would likely revert to his natural special teams role. New York signed former Titan Avery Williamson on Wednesday, and plan to deploy him at inside linebacker alongside former first-round pick Darron Lee.

Jaguars To Host TE Luke Willson

March 15th, 2018 at 5:54pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars will meet with free agent tight end Luke Willson on Friday, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM (Twitter link). Despite signing both Niles Paul and Austin Seferian-Jenkins, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets that the team is still interested in adding another player at the position. After all, “they love tight ends,” a source told Garafolo.

The 2013 fifth-round pick had spent his entire career with the Seahawks, earning himself a Super Bowl championship along the way. The 28-year-old wrapped up the 2017 season having hauled in 15 receptions for 153 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Pro Football Focus ranked Willson 43rd among 71 tight end candidates, but the site was fond of his run-blocking skills.

We learned earlier this week that Willson was set to visit with the Panthers.

Ricky Jean-Francois Visits Lions

March 15th, 2018 at 5:47pm CST by Ben Levine

Matt Patricia is looking to add some of his former Patriots defenders. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois visited with the Lions earlier today.

While Detroit’s new head coach may have interest in the defender, it doesn’t sound like New England is interested in retaining him. We heard last week that the Patriots likely wouldn’t be re-signing the 31-year-old.

The 2009 seventh-round pick was cut twice by the Packers last year before landing with New England. The Patriots also released him, but he quickly re-signed and remained with the club through their trip to the Super Bowl. The nine-year veteran ultimately finished the season with 10 tackles in six games for New England (he had another two tackles in six games with Green Bay).

Last week, the free agent said he was hoping his improvement in New England may help him generate some suitors this offseason.

“I plan on continuing to play at the highest level,” Jean-Francois said in a statement released through his PF agency (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss). “Hopefully I made a strong case for myself this past season. I did absolutely everything I could to help the Patriots during my short time there, and I learned that playbook immediately. It takes a special type of player and discipline to do that so quickly. My priority right now is to find a stable home where I can step in and make a similar impact for a few more seasons before I ride off into the sunset.”

Bears To Sign DE Aaron Lynch

March 15th, 2018 at 5:41pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Bears will sign free agent edge rusher Aaron Lynch to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Lynch spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers, with whom he had some overlap with current Chicago defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. His familiarity with the Bears’ scheme is an obvious place, and he could conceivably slot in at either defensive end or linebacker. Either way, Lynch will have one goal: get after opposing quarterbacks.

Lynch admittedly hasn’t been on the field much since 2016 (he’s averaged only 16% playtime over the past two seasons), and the 24-year-old Lynch was reportedly overweight and in danger of getting cut last May. But the former fifth-round pick posted 12.5 sacks over the first two years of his career, and ranked fifth in the NFL with 34 pressures as recently as 2015.

In Chicago, Lynch should have a good shot to rehab his value in advance of 2019 free agency. Although the Bears re-signed veteran outside linebacker Sam Acho to go along with Leonard Floyd on the edge, Acho doesn’t posses Lynch’s upside. With Pernell McPhee now out of the picture, Lynch should be able to soak up snaps as a pass rusher.

Alex Okafor Leaves Bucs Visit Without Deal

March 15th, 2018 at 5:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Alex Okafor isn’t signing with the Buccaneers… for now. Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports (via Twitter) that the defensive end met with the Buccaneers today but left without a deal. The reporter adds that there’s mutual interest between the two sides.

We heard yesterday that the veteran was set to visit with Tampa Bay. Okafor already had a connection to both general manager Jason Licht and defensive line coach Brentson Buckner, so the pairing makes plenty of sense. However, the Bucs could have some competition for his services. The Saints have interest in retaining their defender, according to Joel A. Erickson of the New Orleans Advocate.

Following four years with Arizona, the 27-year-old joined the Saints last offseason. The 2013 fourth-rounder ended up starting each of his 10 games for New Orleans, compiling 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a career-high 43 tackles. Unfortunately, Okafor’s season was cut short after he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 11.

Pro Football Focus was particularly fond of his performance last season, ranking him 22nd among 106 eligible edge defenders. Okafor was also listed sixth in our positional free agent rankings.

Ravens Void Deal With WR Ryan Grant

March 15th, 2018 at 5:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Ravens’ have voided their reported four-year agreement with wideout Ryan Grant according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Baltimore found an issue with Grant’s ankle that dated back to the 2017 season finale, per Schefter.

Baltimore had been scheduled to give Grant $14.5MM in injury guarantees, meaning he would get that money if he were cut due to a serious health question mark. The Ravens, or Grant, apparently had no interest in working out a revised deal, and the 27-year-old will now be free to sign with another club.

With Grant out of the picture, the Ravens have moved quickly to set up a visit with veteran wideout Michael Crabtree. Crabtree, who was released by the Raiders earlier today following Oakland’s signing of Jordy Nelson, is scheduled to meet with Baltimore on Friday.

Grant, a former fifth-round pick, broke out with 45 receptions for 573 yards and four touchdowns with Washington in 2017. Pro Football Focus ultimately ranked Grant 57th among 116 NFL wide receivers. The Redskins had previously expressed interest in retaining Grant, so it’s possible a reunion can be forged.

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was the first to report the Ravens had reached a snag with Grant after finding “something” in his physical (Twitter links). Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.