2018 April - Pro Football Rumors

Chargers Rework Corey Liuget’s Contract

April 16th, 2018 at 1:29pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers and defensive tackle Corey Liuget have agreed to terms on a revised contract to keep him in Los Angeles for another season, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Liuget was set to earn $8MM in 2018, but his status was unclear heading into this year.

Liuget will miss the first four games of the season after violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. The 28-year-old was already going to lose out on $2MM in base salary, but he’ll now make even less under the revised terms of his contract.

The former first-round pick appeared in 12 games in 2017, posting 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He graded out as the league’s No. 32 ranked interior run defender, per Pro Football Focus, and was especially proficient as a pass rusher. His 81.8 grade ranked 15th amongst all defensive tackles last year.

For the first month of the season, the Chargers will rely on reserves Darius Philon, Damion Square, and Kaleb Eulis to fill in for Liuget alongside Brandon Mebane. The Bolts may also bolster that unit through next week’s draft.

Eagles QB Nick Foles Open To Trade?

April 16th, 2018 at 1:15pm CST by Zachary Links

The reigning Super Bowl MVP is set to serve as a backup next season. Nick Foles is alright with that, but he sounds like he wouldn’t be opposed to a trade either.

“We love Philly. I know there was some stuff going around, a possible trade, and I would love the opportunity to be a starter again. I know my spot in Philly. I think I’ve shown what I can do,” Foles told KVUE in Texas. “I’m signed for one more year and I love the team, I love the city. I’m excited for Carson [Wentz] to get back on his feet. I’ll be ready to go whenever they need me. But we’ll see. Just living in the moment.”

The Eagles were reportedly seeking at least a first- and fourth-round pick for Foles this offseason, but that kind of deal never materialized. In late March, head coach Doug Pederson pretty much put the kibosh on any trade talk.

It would be surprising to see the Eagles move Foles at this juncture, but they pulled off a similar move in 2016 when they dealt Sam Bradford to the Vikings in September of 2016. The Eagles value Foles and want to keep him on board in the event that Wentz gets injured again, but it’s possible that a contender will blow them away with an offer in the event of an injury to a starting QB.

Redskins Pick Up Brandon Scherff’s Option

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

The Redskins have exercised the fifth-year option on guard Brandon Scherff, Albert Breer of The MMQB tweets. The two-time Pro Bowler is now under contract through the 2019 season.

The decision to extend Scherff for another season was a no-brainer for the Redskins. The former No. 5 pick in the 2015 draft has started in every one of his games over the last three seasons and has been rated as a top-tier lineman by the advanced metrics in each of the last two years. Last season, Scherff earned a career-best 83.2 overall score from Pro Football Focus, making him the eighth-highest ranked guard in the NFL. He placed ahead of many notables, including Ronald Leary, Richie Incognito, T.J. Lang, and Kelechi Osemele.

The fifth-year option is guaranteed for injury only, so the Redskins will be able to press the eject button before the additional year kicks in if Scherff’s performance suffers. The additional year for players taken in the top ten is equal to the transition tender at the player’s position during his fourth season. The transition tag for offensive lineman this year was $12.525MM, so that will be Scherff’s projected salary for ’19.

Ravens Interested In Dez Bryant

April 16th, 2018 at 12:39pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens are interested in former Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, a source tells Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun. The Ravens missed their opportunity to select Bryant in the 2010 draft, but they have an opportunity to snag him now after his release from Dallas.

In theory, Bryant could give the Ravens another major weapon to pair with Michael Crabtree at the top of their wide receiver depth chart. However, it’s fair to wonder if Bryant is still capable of high-level production. Between 2012 and 2014, he averaged 91 catches for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Cowboys. Over the last three years, those averages have plummeted to 50 catches for 678 yards and 6 TDs. Bryant stayed healthy last season, but he missed ten games due to injury between 2015 and 2016.

Bryant is reportedly out for revenge on his former team, which may mean looking to join up with an NFC East rival that will allow him to face the Cowboys twice per year. Still, it’s not clear whether there’s serious interest from the Giants or Eagles and the Redskins do not have him on the radar. Beggars can’t be choosers at this stage of free agency and Bryant may have to move on to another division if he wants to land a decent payday.

The Ravens have upwards of $10MM in cap space, so they have the flexibility to add Bryant.

Vikings Sign Eric Kendricks To Extension

April 16th, 2018 at 12:17pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings have signed linebacker Eric Kendricks to a contract extension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a five-year, $50MM deal with $25MM guaranteed.

Kendricks, a product of the 2015 draft, was set to enter the final year of his rookie contract. Because he was a second round pick, the Vikings did not have the option of extending him via the fifth-year option.

The linebacker earned his big money deal after leading the Vikings in tackles in each of his first three seasons. In total, he has racked up 314 regular season tackles, plus 24 in the postseason. Last year, he set a new career high with 113 tackles and played on 1,099 snaps which was good for seventh amongst all linebackers in the NFL.

Kendricks’ work against the pass has helped the Vikings bottle up opposing tight ends as well as pass-catching running backs. Last year, the Vikings D allowed the fewest passing yards to opposing tailbacks in the league. Meanwhile, Football Outsiders had them ranked as the top overall defense in the NFL.

The Vikings have several defensive stars locked up with cornerback Xavier Rhodes, safety Harrison Smith, defensive end Everson Griffen, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, and Kendricks under contract for multiple seasons. There’s still some work to be done, however, with linebacker Anthony Barr and edge rusher Danielle Hunter on the agenda.

Bills Sign WR Jeremy Kerley

April 16th, 2018 at 10:57am CST by Zachary Links

The Bills announced that they have signed wide receiver Jeremy Kerley. The team also signed defensive tackle Tenny Palepoi.

Kerley, 29, has a few productive seasons on his resume. The wide receiver played for the Jets for five years before signing up with the Niners in 2016. In San Francisco, he broke out with 64 catches for 667 yards and three touchdowns. Last year, he returned to Gang Green but was unable to reprise that performance. He had 22 catches for 217 yards and one score in eight games before he was hit with a PED suspension and eventually released. Kerley auditioned for the Ravens towards the end of the year but did not sign with another team.

Kerley will now fight to make the Bills’ final cut as a supporting piece behind top receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Zay Jones. Meanwhile, Palepoi will look to serve as a reserve behind Star Lotulelei and Kyle Williams.

Seahawks Re-Sign QB Austin Davis

April 16th, 2018 at 10:20am CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks are re-signing quarterback Austin Davis on a minimum-salary deal, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). However, Garafolo hears this will not end the team’s talks with Colin Kaepernick.

Davis spent last season as Russell Wilson’s backup, though he did not throw a pass in the regular season. His last attempted throw came in 2015 with the Browns as he appeared in three games with two starts. Davis is perhaps best known for his time with the Rams, which included eight starts (3-5 record) in 2014.

Last week, the Seahawks postponed a scheduled workout with Kaepernick as they look to get a read on the quarterback’s future plans, including whether he’ll kneel for the anthem in the coming season. Reportedly, the team “asked for his plan moving forward on how to handle everything and there was not a firm plan.” The Seahawks are also said to have concerns about Kaepernick’s overall commitment to football as he continues to push social justice initiatives.

Browns Re-Sign WR Josh Gordon

April 16th, 2018 at 10:03am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns announced that they have officially re-signed exclusive rights free agent Josh Gordon. In addition to the star wide receiver, the Browns have also formally re-upped wide receiver Matt Hazel, offensive lineman Austin Reiter, and fullback Danny Vitale. All four players are set to take part in the team’s offseason program, which started on Monday morning.

Gordon should have been an unrestricted free agent by now, but multiple suspensions caused his contract to toll. As a result, Gordon did not have any options this offseason and the Browns had full control over his rights.

Gordon, 26, appeared in five games for Cleveland in 2017. In that time, he posted 18 receptions for 335 yards and one touchdown. This year, he’ll play alongside Corey Coleman and the newly-acquired Jarvis Landry. If Gordon is able to stay on track, he could thrive as a deep threat in the Browns’ revamped offense.

Gordon first joined the Browns as a second-round pick in the 2012 supplemental draft. All in all, he has appeared in 40 games and recorded 179 receptions for 3,089 yards and 15 touchdowns. In 2013, he led the league with 1,646 receiving yards.

Broncos To Release RB C.J. Anderson

April 16th, 2018 at 9:45am CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos are releasing running back C.J. Anderson, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Denver tried to trade Anderson this offseason, but they were unable to find a suitable deal for him.

The Broncos aren’t exactly stacked in the backfield, but they do have third-year player Devontae Booker and intriguing second-year rusher De’Angelo Henderson. Apparently, the Broncos will look to bolster that unit in the draft rather than retain Anderson at a high cost.

Anderson enjoyed his first 1,000-yard season in 2017 after tearing a meniscus in 2016. However, with no guaranteed money remaining on his deal, the Broncos have opted to save $4.5MM.

The veteran should find a decent market for his services, though he will not be able to match his old contract at this stage of the offseason.The Dolphins showed interest in Anderson recently and, depending on who you ask, the two sides may have been close to a deal that would have sent Anderson to Miami in exchange for right tackle Ju’Wuan James. Even though the Dolphins already have Kenyan Drake and veteran Frank Gore atop the depth chart, they could circle back to Anderson to give themselves a powerful three-headed monster in the backfield.

Former Steelers LB James Harrison Retires

April 16th, 2018 at 9:37am CST by Zachary Links

Former Steelers great James Harrison is calling it a career. The linebacker, who most recently suited up for the Patriots, announced on Instagram that he is retiring from football.

Of course, we’ve been down this road before with Harrison. The linebacker also “retired” in 2014, only to return months later and play for another four seasons. This time, his announcement comes with the hashtag “#2ndAndFinalRetirement.” Harrison cites his family as the primary reason for his retirement, stating that he has “missed way too much for way too long.”

Earlier this month, Harrison indicated that he would wait until after the draft to sign with a team. It’s possible that the veteran, who will turn 40 in May, didn’t find the kind of interest that he was expecting.

Harrison leaves the game after a remarkable 17-season career. After going undrafted in 2002, the undersized linebacker hooked on with the Steelers and spent the bulk of his first two seasons on and off their practice squad. In between stints with Pittsburgh, he also spent time with the Ravens and the Rhein Fire of the NFL Europe.

Over time, Harrison developed into a key player for the Steelers, but it was not until 2007 that he became a full-fledged starter. In that season, he earned his first of five Pro Bowl appearances. The veteran would go on to win two Super Bowls with the Steelers as the anchor of their defense and secure two First-Team All-Pro nods.

Harrison spent the vast majority of his career in black and yellow, but also suited up for the Bengals in 2013 and wrapped up his career with the Patriots in 2017 when he was surprisingly cut late in the season by Pittsburgh.

We here at PFR wish Harrison the best in retirement.