2018 March - Pro Football Rumors

Dolphins Restructure Ryan Tannehill’s Deal

March 14th, 2018 at 3:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins continue to create cap space on a busy day. After making the decision to cut Ndamukong Suh, the Dolphins have agreed on a restructure with its offensive centerpiece player.

Miami reworked Ryan Tannehill‘s contract, per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, and will save $11.2MM in cap space because of this move. Coupled with the team’s restructuring of Reshad Jones‘ contract, the Dolphins created $17.8MM in additional cap space.

Tannehill’s cap number will be reduced from $19.8MM to $8.6MM this season. This will make it more difficult to cut the injury-besieged quarterback in the near future, but this won’t be too much of a deterrent. The Dolphins, who are obviously hoping their starting quarterback can shake his knee trouble this season, would now save just more than $15MM by cutting Tannehill in 2019 compared to the previous $18MM-plus amount.

The Dolphins used some their cap space already by agreeing to terms with future Tannehill targets Albert Wilson and Danny Amendola.

Patriots To Re-Sign RB Rex Burkhead

March 14th, 2018 at 3:52pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have agreed to a multi-year contract with running back Rex Burkhead, according to a league source who spoke with Jim McBride of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). The news has been confirmed by Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), who adds that it is a three-year pact with significant guarantees.

The Pats lost Dion Lewis in free agency when he inked a four-year deal with the Titans, but they’re holding on to their other major free agent tailback.

Burkhead accumulated more than 500 all-purpose yards with eight touchdowns last season. He will rejoin James White as a versatile running back. New England also retained Brandon Bolden recently, so a Burkhead pact will ensure three of the Pats’ top four backs are in line to return in 2018.

A four-year Bengals contributor, Burkhead posted his career yards-from-scrimmage high-water mark during his Patriots season despite an injury limiting him to just 10 games. He came back and played in two of New England’s postseason contests and will likely be entrusted with more key responsibilities as Tom Brady prepares for his age-41 season.

While the Pats could still use some backfield help to replace Lewis — the best of their ball-carriers last season — they appear to have their pass-catching contingent shored up minutes into free agency.

Cardinals To Sign OT Andre Smith

March 14th, 2018 at 3:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Bengals tackle Andre Smith is signing a two-year, $8MM deal with the Cardinals, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal could be worth up to $10.2MM with bonuses.

Smith will receive $2.85MM in fully guaranteed funds, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. He’ll be due a $500K roster bonus on the third day of the 2019 league year.

Smith, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with Cincinnati after being selected No. 6 overall in the 2009 draft, reunited with the Bengals last offseason. He signed a one-year deal with the notion that he would be the team’s starting right guard. He lost that competition to Trey Hopkins, but a spot opened up at right tackle when Jake Fisher was shut down for the year with a heart condition.

Back at his native tackle position, Smith didn’t really deliver. Pro Football Focus rated him as just the No. 64 tackle out of 85 qualified players in December when he was placed on IR. Smith hasn’t earned a quality score from PFF since 2014, a sign that he has declined in recent years.

Seahawks Tender Dion Jordan

March 14th, 2018 at 3:44pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks have tendered defensive end Dion Jordan at the first-round level, according to the NFL’s transactions wire. This will spike Jordan’s salary to 4.129MM next season.

The reported decision to tender Jordan at the highest level comes as a surprise. The former No. 3 overall pick could have been retained with the original-round tender, which would have entitled the Seahawks to the first-round compensation in the event of an unmatched offer sheet, only with a cheaper placeholder for the Seahawks. The Seahawks could just be rewarding Jordan for his hard work in 2017 and putting out a show of good faith as they ponder a longer deal with the defensive end.

A bust with the Dolphins due to suspensions and injuries, Jordan landed in Seattle and played sparingly. But during the 135 snaps he did play, Pro Football Focus bestowed a strong grade upon the former top-five pick.

Considering the Seahawks traded Michael Bennett and have Cliff Avril possibly facing retirement, Jordan could see more time next season. This financial decision should ensure it, although it will be on the one-time high-end prospect to stay healthy.

Packers Interested In Rashaan Melvin

March 14th, 2018 at 3:39pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers have expressed interest in signing Colts free agent cornerback Rashaan Melvin, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Melvin stands as one of the better available CBs after Trumaine Johnson, Bashaud Breeland, and other notables have come off the board.

The Raiders are also among the teams with interest. Green Bay has been more active during free agency’s first wave than it generally was during Ted Thompson’s run, with the now-Brian Gutekunst-managed franchise adding both Jimmy Graham and Muhammad Wilkerson.

However, the Packers have been in need of cornerback help. They’ve used a few high draft choices to address that position, but it remains a need area. And Green Bay traded 2015 first-round pick Damarious Randall to the Browns last week, further depleting its corner contingent.

Melvin broke out for the Colts last season after a mostly anonymous career leading up to it.

Dolphins Release Julius Thomas

March 14th, 2018 at 3:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Julius Thomas will be back on the market after the Dolphins followed through with their decision to cut the former Pro Bowl tight end. The Dolphins will save $6.6MM as a result.

Thomas ended his first season with the Dolphins on injured reserve. Although the injury-prone Thomas played in 14 games in 2017, his most since 2013, he finished last season with just 41 catches for 388 yards. That marked an uptick from his final Jaguars season but nowhere near what was expected of the tight end when he was last in free agency.

This continues a downward swoon for Thomas, who signed a massive five-year, $46MM contract with the Jaguars the last time he was an in-demand UFA three years ago.

The two seasons the pass-catcher played with Peyton Manning in Denver now look like the outlier; the seven-year player just hasn’t been able to stay healthy.

Steelers Release DB Robert Golden

March 14th, 2018 at 3:26pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers have released safety Robert Golden, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Pittsburgh will save nearly $1.5MM against the salary cap by parting ways with Golden. He’s not the only veteran defensive back the Steelers have released in cost-cutting moves, as William Gay and Mike Mitchell are also on their way out.

Golden, 27, has spent his entire six-year career with the Steelers. In 2017, Golden appeared in all 16 games, posting 11 tackles and one interception in that time.

Giants To Sign CB Teddy Williams

March 14th, 2018 at 3:22pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants have signed cornerback Teddy Williams to a one-year contract, per Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Williams, 29, has been in the NFL since 2012, but he’s never started a game as he mostly sticks on special teams duty. He’ll likely provide the same role for New York. Last year, Williams appeared in three games for the Panthers and managed five tackles.

Jets Re-Sign S Terrence Brooks

March 14th, 2018 at 3:14pm CST by Zachary Links

Safety Terrence Brooks safety is re-signing a two-year deal with the Jets, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Jets acquired Brooks from the Eagles just prior to last season in exchange for cornerback Dexter McDougle.

Brooks played in 15 games during his first season with the Jets, starting one, and will supply depth behind second-year starters Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye.

A former third-round Ravens pick in 2014, Brooks was primarily used on special teams last season. However, he did notch two interceptions.

Broncos To Re-Sign ILB Todd Davis

March 14th, 2018 at 3:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Brandon Marshall–Danny Trevathan inside linebacker setup the Broncos used during their Super Bowl season broke up after one season when Trevathan defected in free agency, but Denver plans to ensure its post-Trevathan arrangement will continue for much longer.

Todd Davis loomed as one of the Broncos’ top UFAs, and he will stay in Denver, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The fifth-year linebacker agreed to a three-year, $15MM deal to stay, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post (Twitter link). She adds $6MM will come Davis’ way in guarantees.

Davis has been a starter alongside Marshall for two seasons, and now both of the Broncos’ first-string inside ‘backers are attached to veteran contracts. However, with Davis profiling as more of a run-defending type and less of a pure three-down performer, the Broncos were able to keep him for $3MM (per year) cheaper than it took to extend Marshall two years ago.

The Broncos were hoping to re-sign Corey Nelson, but the longtime backup opted for a one-year Eagles deal. They ramped their efforts to retain Davis after that transpired, and Davis will be back for a fifth Broncos season and third as a starter.

Davis, 25, graded as one of the league’s best run-defending linebackers last season, per Pro Football Focus.

[RELATED: Broncos Depth Chart]