HEADLINES

Month: March 2018

Raiders To Re-Sign TE Lee Smith

March 14th, 2018 at 12:47pm CST by Zachary Links

Veteran tight end Lee Smith is re-signing with the Raiders, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Terms of the deal are not yet known. It’s a three-year deal for Smith, reports Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Smith, our No. 11 ranked tight end, doesn’t have gaudy stat lines on his resume, but he is a solid blocker. Back in February, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com cautioned that he could make more than expected.

The Raiders should now be set at tight end for the 2018 campaign, as they had already signed free agent Derek Carrier on Tuesday. Smith and Carrier will join starter Jared Cook to give Oakland a diverse group at the tight end position.

Smith, 30, has never been an offensive force, as his career-high in season receptions sits at 12. However, he will essentially act as a sixth offensive lineman when on the field, as Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 13th-best pass-blocking tight end in the league.

Latest On CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

March 14th, 2018 at 12:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie may have found his next home. After meeting with the Redskins, DRC says he’s “not taking anymore visits,” according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Initially, the cornerback was slated to meet with the Saints after his meeting with the Redskins. His change in plans could indicate that a deal with D.C. is in the works.

Last year, Rodgers-Cromartie turned in what was arguably the worst season of his career to date. His clashing with Giants coaches also didn’t help matters. He was suspended indefinitely after an argument with then-head coach Ben McAdoo and wound up missing one game.

Rodgers-Cromartie had a 77.2 overall score from Pro Football Focus last season, which was his lowest since 2012. He graded out the No. 58 cornerback in the league, which would indicate he’s on the fringe of starter value.

The Redskins could use DRC, particularly after dealing slot corner Kendall Fuller to the Chiefs in the Alex Smith trade. They’ll also be losing Bashaud Breeland, who agreed to a three-year deal with the Panthers on Tuesday. They still have Josh Norman and Quinton Dunbar atop their depth chart at cornerback.

The Saints have already added to their secondary this offseason, signing former Panthers safety Kurt Coleman to a three-year, $16.35MM deal. Fellow safety Kenny Vaccaro is an unrestricted free agent.

The Giants had hoped to move Rodgers-Cromartie to safety and asked him to take a pay cut before eventually releasing him. Rodgers-Cromartie was due to make $6.48MM with the Giants next season with a cap hit of $8.5MM.

Five Teams In On DE Adrian Clayborn

March 14th, 2018 at 12:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Defensive end Adrian Clayborn is drawing interest from a number of teams. The Patriots, Colts, Bucs, Browns, and the incumbent Falcons are all in the mix, a source tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Clayborn led the Falcons with 9.5 sacks last season, a career high, and entered free agency as one of our top 50 free agents available. Nearly two-thirds of that total came against the Cowboys when Tyron Smith was sidelined. With more than half of that list spoken for, he now stands as one of the best edge rushers available.

Clayborn graded out as PFF’s No. 19 ranked edge defender in 2017. Each of these teams utilize a 4-3 scheme, a setup in which Clayborn has spent his entire NFL career.

A Bucs reunion is in play. Tampa Bay, which let Clayborn walk in 2015 after an injury-riddled run in south Florida, has Robert Ayers and William Gholston penciled in as starters. The Colts hold more than $7oMM in cap space and have yet to make much of a splash thus far on the market. They are converting to a 4-3 look and could use proven linemen. The Browns have already added rotational cog Chris Smith and also have Emmanuel Ogbah and Carl Nassib as Myles Garrett complements. New England skated by without much depth at end last season but has Trey Flowers back and some unproven young cogs as well.

Contract Details: CBs, McDougald, Ellis

March 14th, 2018 at 12:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Let’s take a look at the details from the latest contracts signed in the NFL, with all links going to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Cardinals Release Tyrann Mathieu

March 14th, 2018 at 12:23pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals have released Tyrann Mathieu, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Cardinals asked Mathieu to accept a pay cut, but those talks did not result in a revised deal.

Had Mathieu remained on Arizona’s roster after today, he would have had a large chunk of his contract guaranteed. Unwilling to carry his $14.1MM cap hit in 2018, the Cardinals are releasing him in order to free up resources for free agency. The 25-year-old defender said he was willing to restructure his deal but balked at the notion of the pay cut.

The Cards are not making Mathieu a post-June 1 cut, instead opting to take on the $9.3MM dead-money hit all in 2018, per Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).

“I’ve never made a secret that Tyrann has always had a special place in my heart and always will,” GM Steve Keim said. “While we all understand this is a part of the business, that certainly doesn’t make it any easier. We all wish Tyrann nothing but continued success in his career and beyond.”

Mathieu inked a five-year, $62.5MM extension with the Cardinals back in 2016. That deal came after an ACL tear ended his 2015 campaign early. In 2016, he suited up for just ten games. Last year, he played a full 16-game slate, but didn’t look like his usual self.

It wasn’t the best platform year for his free agency, but Mathieu will have a host of suitors due to his playmaking ability and versatility. The 25-year-old will join an impressive free agent safety class that also includes Eric Reid, Morgan Burnett, Tre Boston, Kenny Vaccaro, and Tyvon Branch, but it’s difficult to argue Mathieu won’t be a more desirable option than any of those defensive backs.

The Jets, for one, would have made sense as a speculative destination for Mathieu given the presence of former Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, but New York likely isn’t interested, tweets Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. Gang Green, of course, drafted safeties with each of their first two 2017 picks. For what it’s worth, the Giants also employ a former Arizona DC in James Bettcher.

Ravens Release Jeremy Maclin

March 14th, 2018 at 12:21pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens are releasing Jeremy Maclin, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Maclin now joins an underwhelming crop of free agent wide receivers, which could help his cause as he looks for a new team. 

Maclin had 40 catches for 440 yards with three touchdowns last season. It was the lowest output in catches and receiving yards in his career. Maclin was selected to the Pro Bowl while with the Eagles in 2014, setting career highs in receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,318).

The 29-year-old was in the second year of a two-year, $11MM deal signed with the Ravens last offseason after being cut by the Chiefs. He was set to have a $7.5MM cap hit toward this season. Maclin was due a $1MM bonus if he was still on the Ravens’ roster Friday.

The decision to cut Maclin comes a day after the Ravens agreed to deals with John Brown and Ryan Grant. Brown should help replace the speed threat presented by Mike Wallace, who’s an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Grant caught a career-best four touchdowns with the Redskins last year.

Along with Wallace, Michael Campanaro is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Ravens still have Chris Moore, Breshad Perriman, Quincy Adeboyejo, DeVier Posey and Tim White rostered at wide receiver

Maclin joins a wide receivers market that features Wallace, Jordy Nelson, Terrelle Pryor and Eric Decker. Maclin was a fairly reliable option through his first five years in the league, which came with the Eagles who drafted him 19th overall in 2009. He played in at least 15 games in four of those seasons and had 60-plus catches in four of the seasons as well before signing with the Chiefs in 2015.

Broncos Sign CB Tramaine Brock

March 14th, 2018 at 12:18pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos and cornerback Tramaine Brock have agreed to a deal, according to Mike Klis of 9News. It will be a one-year, $4MM pact, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Denver has officially announced the deal.

Brock is coming off of a strange 2017. In April, the 49ers released him on the heels of a domestic violence arrest. After that charge was dropped in August, the Seahawks scooped him. Then, before the start of the season, Seattle shipped Brock to Minnesota for a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.

Brock, who had started 31 games for San Francisco from 2015-16, barely played in a stacked Vikings secondary. The 29-year-old saw action on just 5% of Minnesota’s defensive snaps, playing behind Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, and Terence Newman. Brock did contribute on special teams, however, playing on nearly 40% of the Vikings’ ST snaps.

The Broncos are clearly trying to add an affordable corner after trading veteran Aqib Talib to the Rams earlier this offseason. Denver reportedly also has interest in former Raiders CB T.J. Carrie. Brock will likely play in nickel packages alongside Chris Harris and Bradley Roby.

Seahawks, Jaguars To Host Austin Seferian-Jenkins

March 14th, 2018 at 12:11pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks and Jaguars both plan to meet with free agent tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Seattle will get the first shot at Seferian-Jenkins, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

ASJ is drawing plenty of interest on the open market, and while the Seahawks and Jaguars will host him in the coming days, they aren’t the only clubs targeting the former second-round pick. Both the Saints and Falcons have also been connected to Seferian-Jenkins, who spent the 2017 campaign with the Jets.

Seattle is on the lookout for a new tight end after losing veteran Jimmy Graham to the Packers on Tuesday. While the Seahawks still have Nick Vannett on their roster, the club could use an established starter. Jacksonville, meanwhile, recently exercised its 2018 option for Marcedes Lewis, but Seferian-Jenkins would offer an upgrade on the longtime Jaguar.

In 13 games (10 starts) a season ago, the 25-year-old Seferian-Jenkins posted 50 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns. While his 50 catches ranked 13th among tight ends in 2017, Seferian-Jenkins doesn’t offer much as a blocker, as Pro Football Focus ranked him as just the 35th-best run-blocker.

Pro Football Rumors currently ranks Seferian-Jenkins as the No. 4 available tight end and the No. 37 free agent overall.

Buccaneers Re-Sign S Keith Tandy

March 14th, 2018 at 12:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers will retain Keith Tandy on a two-year deal, doing so for the second time in three years, Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com reports. He was set to become a UFA this afternoon.

A former sixth-round Bucs pick in 2012, the safety has worked as a depth piece and a part-time starter in Tampa Bay for several seasons. Tandy made three starts last season, seeing action on 226 defensive plays. He started five games in 2016.

Despite limited playing time, the former West Virginia safety has demonstrated a nose for the ball. Although he didn’t notch any interceptions last season, four passes landed in Tandy’s possession in 2016. He has eight career picks.

The Bucs have Justin Evans due back at safety, with veteran Chris Conte signed there as well. Tandy looks set to supply more depth in south Florida.

Panthers To Re-Sign DE Julius Peppers

March 14th, 2018 at 11:55am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Panthers have re-signed veteran defensive end Julius Peppers to a one-year, $5MM deal, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter links).

The 2018 free agent edge defender class is extremely weak, so much so that PFR named Peppers as the best pass rusher on the market. That’s not to say Peppers isn’t still a talented player, but a 38-year-old isn’t often viewed as the best available free agent at his position.

Peppers, of course, spent the first eight years of his career with the Panthers before reuniting on a one-year pact for 2017. The veteran defensive end collected $3.5MM with Carolina a season ago, and he will now see a pay increase after a successful campaign.

And successful it was, as Peppers managed 11 sacks, his highest total 2012. Sacks can be fluky, of course, but Pro Football Focus graded Peppers as a league-average defensive end, ranking him 63rd among 110 qualifying edge defenders.

Peppers played 50% of Carolina’s defensive snaps in 2017, and he’ll likely continue in a rotational role during the upcoming season. He’ll play alongside other Panthers defensive linemen including Mario Addison, Wes Horton, and Daeshon Hall.

[RELATED: Panthers Depth Chart]

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