2018 March - Pro Football Rumors

Colts To Sign DL Denico Autry

March 14th, 2018 at 3:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Colts have an agreement with free agent defensive lineman Denico Autry, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). It’s a three-year deal worth $17.8MM in total and contains $6.5MM guaranteed.

Indianapolis and general manager Chris Ballard have shown a willingness to invest in its defensive line over the past two years. In 2017, the Colts brought in free agents Johnathan Hankins and Jabal Sheard, and now they’ll add Autry to the mix.

While Autry may not be a household name, he’s been an underrated player for the Raiders over the past four seasons. Last year, the 27-year-old appeared in all 16 games (three starts) and posted 23 tackles and three sacks. For that effort, Pro Football Focus graded Autry as the No. 56 interior defender among 122 qualifiers.

The Colts haven’t made any other free agent moves this week, but they are clearly interested in defensive lineman, as they are reportedly targeting Benson Mayowa and Adrian Clayborn.

Jets Use Second-Round Tender On Quincy Enunwa

March 14th, 2018 at 3:09pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets announced that they have used a second-round tender on wide receiver Quincy Enunwa.

With the move, the Jets have put a one-year, $2.91MM placeholder on him. In the event of an unmatched offer sheet, the Jets will receive a second-round pick. However, it seems unlikely that another club would pony up a second-round pick for Enunwa given that he missed the entire 2017 campaign with a neck injury.

Enunwa broke out in 2016 with 58 catches for 857 yards and four touchdowns, and he should still have a role with the Jets going forward, especially given the legal troubles of fellow pass-catcher Robbie Anderson. Other wideouts on the Jets’ roster include Jermaine Kearse, Chad Hansen, and ArDarius Stewart,

Chargers Sign TE Virgil Green

March 14th, 2018 at 3:08pm CST by Zachary Links

Virgil Green is sticking around the AFC West. The Chargers are signing the free agent tight end, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Green, who spent his entire seven-year career with Denver, had 14 catches for 191 yards and one touchdown last season. The former seventh-round pick has one receiving TD to his credit in each of the last four campaigns, but his real bread and butter is blocking. While Pro Football Focus ranked Green an underwhelming 63rd among 71 tight end candidates, his blocking grade was fourth at the position. Green was listed as the fifth-best tight end in our positional free agent rankings.

[RELATED: Chargers Depth Chart]

The Chargers will likely rely on Green as a blocking tight end. Former second-rounder Hunter Henry sits atop the depth chart, and the team is also rostering Sean Culkin and Braedon Bowman. Meanwhile, long-time tight end Antonio Gates is considering retirement.

Vikings Exploring Sheldon Richardson Add

March 14th, 2018 at 3:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Vikings have already made their big splash, and one of the defining moves of the NFL’s free agency era, they may not be done looking into big-name talent.

Minnesota has inquired about a possible Sheldon Richardson signing, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Richardson is one of the top free agents still unattached.

However, the Seahawks are still interesting in bringing Richardson back and would prefer to retain the sixth-year defensive lineman, per Pelissero.

Richardson assimilated into a 4-3 scheme last season and would obviously do the same in Minnesota. The Vikings have a bit of a hole at defensive tackle alongside Linval Joseph. Tom Johnson is a free agent. Richardson, though, would cost much more than Johnson. He is, however, just 27 and should have a few prime years remaining despite not quite being as dominant in Seattle as he was at his Jets peak.

LB Josh Bynes Re-Signs With Cardinals

March 14th, 2018 at 3:03pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Josh Bynes is sticking around Arizona. ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reports (via Twitter) that the linebacker is expected to re-sign with the Cardinals. It’s a three-year deal worth up to $10MM, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

The 2011 undrafted free agent out of Auburn joined the Cardinals last offseason following stints with the Ravens and Lions. The 28-year-old proceeded to play in 14 games (one start) for Arizona, compiling 36 tackles, one sack, and two forced fumbles. After playing in 236 snaps, Bynes didn’t qualify for Pro Football Focus’ linebacker ratings, but he likely would have been ranked in the top-35 at his position.

Bynes is likely to play a top reserve role behind Chandler Jones, Scooby Wright, Deone Bucannon, and Markus Golden. We previously heard that the organization wanted to retain Bynes, but it was expected that the organization would pursue additional reinforcement via the draft.

[RELATED: Cardinals Depth Chart]

Patriots’ James Harrison In No Rush To Sign

March 14th, 2018 at 2:59pm CST by Zachary Links

James Harrison doesn’t appear to be in a rush to sign anywhere, barring an aggressive pitch from a team, according to Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald (on Twitter). He adds that the Patriots have expressed interest in a reunion, but it’s not clear to what degree.

Of course, Harrison may not have much of a choice in not landing an immediate contract. While Harrison was productive after being signed by the Patriots, there may not be a healthy market for a near-40-year-old edge defender with a recent history of locker room problems.

Harrison was released by the Steelers last December after his defensive role was greatly reduced. New England picked him up relatively quickly, and the veteran pass rusher went on to post two sacks with the Patriots during the regular season before performing well in the playoffs.

Bills Intend To Keep Jerry Hughes

March 14th, 2018 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite Jerry Hughes being set to take up $10.4MM of the Bills’ 2018 cap and the team having agreed to terms with Trent Murphy, it doesn’t look like Hughes is going anywhere.

Buffalo will not be cutting or trading Hughes, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News tweets.

Despite the Doug Whaley regime green-lighting Hughes’ five-year deal in 2015, the team wants to keep as much defensive end depth as it can. Shaq Lawson isn’t in danger of being moved, either, per Carucci (on Twitter), despite also arriving under Whaley.

The Bills have traded a few Whaley-era standouts recently, but Hughes and Lawson are in line to work alongside Murphy as the team’s defensive ends next season. Hughes will turn 30 during training camp and has not matched the back-to-back 10-sack seasons that occurred prior to his re-signing. But he still enjoyed a strong season, grading as a top-10 run defender (among edge players) last season, in Pro Football Focus’ view.

Chargers Re-Sign Adrian Phillips

March 14th, 2018 at 2:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chargers have re-signed safety Adrian Phillips, who was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, the club announced.

An original round RFA tender for Phillips would have been worth $1.907MM, so the Titans presumably signed him to a cheaper pact. However, RFA tenders are non-guaranteed, so players often have incentive to accept a reduced overall rate in exchange for some level of guarantees.

Phillips, 25, appeared in 15 games and more starts for Los Angeles in 2017. He will provide depth in the event fellow safety Tre Boston does not re-sign with the Bolts.

WR Brian Quick To Return To Redskins

March 14th, 2018 at 2:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Redskins have reached an agreement to bring back Brian Quick, according to his agency (via Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, on Twitter).

Last season marked Quick’s first in Washington, and he was not an often-used component of the Redskins’ passing game. Quick caught just six passes — 35 fewer than he had with the 2016 Rams — but he will return to the nation’s capital.

Washington agreed to terms with Paul Richardson on Tuesday and will bring back Jamison Crowder and Josh Doctson. While the Redskins lost Ryan Grant to the Ravens, Quick will likely remain a depth performer and special-teamer in what will be his seventh NFL season.

Bengals To Re-Sign P Kevin Huber

March 14th, 2018 at 2:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kevin Huber has played football in just one city since high school, and the Bengals saw to it that wasn’t going to chance despite another team expressing interest in their longtime punter.

Cincinnati agreed to a three-year deal to keep Huber on Wednesday, Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. The Bears had shown interest in prying Huber away, with Owczarski calling it a “strong push” to lure the specialist to the Windy City, but he will stay in his home town.

A 2014 Pro Bowler, Huber has been the Bengals’ punter since the 2009 season. The 32-year-old former Cincinnati Bearcat has been part of all six Bengals playoff appearances in that span.