2020 March - Pro Football Rumors

Contract Details: Lawson, Trufant, Shelton, Witten,

March 22nd, 2020 at 2:02pm CST by Marc Delucchi

Kyler Fackrell (Giants), One year, $4.6MM, $3.5MM guaranteed, base salary 2020: $2.6MM, $2MM roster bonus, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.

Antonio Hamilton (Chiefs), One year, $1.047MM, $887.5k guaranteed, $137.5k signing bonus; salary 2020: $910k ($750k guaranteed), according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Shaq Lawson (Dolphins), Three years, $30MM, $21MM guaranteed, $4MM signing bonus; salaries 2020: $6.4MM (fully guaranteed), 2021: $7.9MM (fully guaranteed), 2022: $8.9MM; $2.5MM fully guaranteed roster bonus in 2020, $100k workout bonus in 2020-2021, potential $2MM in annual incentives, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

John Miller (Panthers), One year, $4MM, $2MM guaranteed, $2MM signing bonus; salary 2020: $1.79MM; $160k in per-game roster bonuses, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Danny Shelton (Lions), Two years, $8MM, $4MM guaranteed, $2.5MM signing bonus; salaries 2020: $1.5MM (fully guaranteed), 2021: $4MM, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.

Desmond Trufant (Lions), Two years, $20MM, $14MM guaranteed, $5MM signing bonus; salaries 2020: $4.5MM (fully guaranteed), 2021: $9.5MM ($4.5MM guaranteed for injury at signing); $500k in annual per-game roster bonuses, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Jihad Ward (Ravens), One year, $1.047MM, $637.5k guaranteed, $137.5k signing bonus; salary 2020: $910,000 ($500,000 guaranteed), according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Jaylen Watkins (Texans), Two years, $3MM, $300k guaranteed, $300k guaranteed; salaries 2020: $1.1MM, 2021: $1.4MM; 200k first-game roster bonus in 2020, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Jason Witten (Raiders), One year, $4MM, $3.5MM guaranteed; salary 2020: $3.5MM (fully guaranteed); $500k in per-game roster bonuses, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.

Jets To Sign Pierre Desir

March 22nd, 2020 at 12:55pm CST by Rory Parks

One day after being released by the Colts, CB Pierre Desir has a new home. The Jets have agreed to sign Desir to a one-year deal, per Connor Hughes of The Athletic (via Twitter).

The Jets were connected to some of the top free agent corners this offseason, but GM Joe Douglas, unlike his predecessor, has shown a great deal of restraint when it comes to doling out FA contracts. Gang Green did not overbid on players like James Bradberry and Byron Jones, so as of right now, Desir is slated to line up opposite Brian Poole in a new-look secondary.

Of course, the club will continue to monitor the FA market and could add a CB or two in the draft, but Desir may turn out to be a solid addition, especially since he’s joining the team on a short-term pact. He graded out as the league’s 18th-best corner in 2018 per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, and even if that was not an entirely accurate portrayal of his effectiveness, there’s reason to believe he can be a decent starter.

The 2014 fourth-rounder has seen regular season action with the Browns, Seahawks, and Colts. Thanks to his strong 2018 showing, he earned a three-year extension with Indianapolis last March, but he only made it through the first year of that deal. He finished the 2019 season with 50 tackles, 11 passes defended, and a career-high three interceptions.

Jason Peters Open To Playing RT

March 22nd, 2020 at 12:49pm CST by Rory Parks

Longtime Eagles LT Jason Peters is open to playing right tackle if it will help him land a job, as Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network tweets. Peters graded out as the No. 6 overall tackle in 2019 per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, but he is still looking for work as we hit the second wave of free agency.

Of course, part of that is due to Peters’ advanced age. He turned 38 in January, so teams in need of an OT are likely trying to see if there are longer-term options available. At this point, it’s fair to wonder if Peters will need to wait until after the draft to find a new club.

But he will certainly be playing somewhere in 2020. Over a remarkable 16-year career, Peters has accumulated nine Pro Bowl nods, two First Team All-Pro bids, and a Super Bowl ring. He has played on the right side before, and it would probably not be too difficult for him to move back to RT if necessary.

The Buccaneers, who are clearly all-in on bringing home a championship in 2020, could see Peters as a win-now option at RT, and while the Browns filled their right tackle vacancy by signing Jack Conklin to a massive free agent deal, Cleveland’s LT job is still wide open. The Chargers also profile as a potential landing spot.

Cardinals Re-Sign Brett Hundley, Chris Banjo

March 22nd, 2020 at 12:23pm CST by Rory Parks

The Cardinals are re-signing QB Brett Hundley, the team announced. Hundley joined Arizona last March after serving as Russell Wilson‘s clipboard holder in Seattle in 2018.

Hundley, who at one time was viewed as a potential starter, has settled in as a QB2. He was drafted by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2015 draft and saw his most extended action in 2017, when Aaron Rodgers was lost to injury. Hundley went 3-6 in his nine starts for Green Bay that year, and the Packers traded him to the Seahawks in August 2018 in exchange for a sixth-round selection.

The former UCLA standout was Kyler Murray‘s backup for Murrary’s rookie campaign in 2019, and Arizona apparently likes the current layout of its quarterback room. Like Murray, one of Hundley’s best assets is his legs, so the team would not need to alter its offense too much if something should happen to Murray.

The Cardinals will also re-sign safety Chris Banjo, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Banjo has long been respected for his work as a special teams ace, and he will reprise that role with Arizona in 2020.

The former UDFA spent the first three-plus years of his career with the Packers, and he caught on with the Saints in November 2016. New Orleans actually agreed to a three-year extension with Banjo last March, but he surprisingly did not survive final roster cuts. He went on a few workouts after being cut by New Orleans and ultimately signed with the Cards.

Latest On Jets, WR Robby Anderson

March 22nd, 2020 at 11:51am CST by Rory Parks

Wide receiver Robby Anderson is a free agent, but a market has yet to develop for his services, per Connor Hughes of The Athletic. None of Hughes’ sources have heard of a team making a legitimate run at Anderson, which is somewhat surprising given that the big-play threat represents the best WR on the open market.

Indeed, Anderson was widely regarded as a nice consolation prize for WR-needy teams that were unable to land a top free agent like Amari Cooper or A.J. Green. Both of those players remained with their current clubs, several other teams filled receiving needs with splashy trades, and Anderson is still looking for a deal.

All of that is good news for the Jets, who legitimately like Anderson and who were always open to re-signing him if his price did not exceed $10MM per season. Now, it’s looking as though he will fit in their budget, and it will be interesting to see if clubs like the Ravens and Texans start to show interest.

Speaking of Jets receivers, Quincy Enunwa‘s $6MM salary for 2020 becomes fully-guaranteed today, as Rich Cimini of ESPN.com observes. There was some speculation that Enunwa could be cut, but since he is still recovering from a serious neck injury, he would have been entitled to $10.1MM in injury guarantees if he were released. He has yet to be cleared for football activities, so his playing career is still in doubt.

Broncos, Bryce Callahan Agree To Restructure

March 22nd, 2020 at 11:29am CST by Rory Parks

The Broncos and cornerback Bryce Callahan have agreed to a paycut/restructure, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Callahan is now scheduled to earn $5MM in 2020 and can earn another $2MM in playing time incentives. The move will free up $1.8MM in cap space for 2020.

Denver signed Callahan last March with the hope that his strong play as a slot CB with the Bears would carry over to Mile High. But Callahan suffered a broken foot towards the end of his tenure in Chicago, and he re-aggravated the injury during his first training camp with the Broncos. He ultimately underwent stem cell treatment on the foot and missed the entire 2019 campaign.

Still, the Broncos will likely be relying on Callahan to start in 2020. The club traded for A.J. Bouye earlier this month but saw Chris Harris depart in free agency, so Callahan will be a key part of a remade secondary. Denver is also reportedly interested in adding another CB via free agency or the draft.

In other Broncos news, Troy Renck of Denver7 reports that the team has shown no interest in retaining free agent DE Derek Wolfe, who is still in search of a new team.

Saints Re-Sign D.J. Swearinger

March 22nd, 2020 at 10:59am CST by Rory Parks

The Saints have re-signed safety D.J. Swearinger to a one-year deal, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle was first to report (via Twitter). The club picked up Swearinger towards the end of the 2019 campaign, and he played in New Orleans’ regular season finale.

Of course, the Saints made a more notable safety signing when they inked Malcolm Jenkins to a four-year pact earlier this week, but free agent Vonn Bell appears likely to sign elsewhere, so Swearinger could provide useful veteran depth and special teams work.

The Saints are Swearinger’s sixth team in his seven-year pro career. He has been a starter for most of that time, but he has a reputation for being a difficult locker room presence, which has led to something of a nomadic life for the former second-rounder. Still, he is just 28 years old and is not too far removed from providing solid, starter-level play, so it’s a worthwhile signing for the Saints.

And New Orleans is not taking too much of a financial gamble. Swearinger’s contract is worth $1.1MM, which, as Katherine Terrell of The Athletic tweets, makes him eligible for the veteran salary benefit under the new CBA. That means his cap hit will be just $800K.

Bucs Restructure TE Cameron Brate’s Contract

March 22nd, 2020 at 10:13am CST by Rory Parks

The Buccaneers have restructured the contract of tight end Cameron Brate, per Greg Auman of The Athletic (via Twitter). Earlier this month, Brate was rumored as a trade or release candidate, but Brate’s presence could prove critical for newly-minted QB Tom Brady.

Details of the restructure are not yet known, but it’s worth noting that $4MM of Brate’s $6MM 2020 salary was due to become guaranteed today. He will team with O.J. Howard to form a potentially formidable TE tandem for Brady, who will have a lot more weapons to work with in 2020 than he did in his last year with New England.

Brate, who will turn 29 in July, signed a six-year, $41MM deal ($18MM guaranteed) with the Bucs in March 2018. Over the prior two seasons, he averaged 52 catches for 625 yards and seven TDs, but the 2018-19 campaigns were not as kind to him. He underwent hip surgery last January, and his per-season averages dipped to 33/300/5.

But if nothing else, the former UDFA out of Harvard profiles as a reliable red zone threat, and he could become more with Brady under center.

Patriots Rumors: Brady, Edelman, Gilmore

March 22nd, 2020 at 9:51am CST by Rory Parks

We heard earlier this week that the Patriots made “no tangible effort” to retain Tom Brady, which drove Brady to leave Foxborough. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com paints a slightly different picture with respect to Brady’s departure, saying that Brady himself believed he had squeezed everything he could out of his relationship with head coach Bill Belichick (who may have felt similarly). Had Belichick approached Brady and suggested that the two sides do what they could to make sure the six-time Super Bowl champ finished his career with the Pats, Brady may have been receptive, but that is not Belichick’s style, and Brady never really expected that to happen.

The Patriots’ usual impersonal approach to their business, which has served them quite well over the past two decades, also played a role. The Pats generally withhold offers from players they are interested in retaining but who are allowed to test the market. That way, they avoid bidding against themselves and insulting the player, but by keeping an open dialogue, they are able to pounce if the price is right. In Brady’s case, no negotiations took place since August, and player and team may have been waiting for each other to make the first move.

Now for more from Foxborough:

So where do the Patriots go from here? Although New England is among the league leaders in dead cap charges for 2020 ($23MM), Reiss believes the club is in line for a reboot, not a rebuild. The Pats have a much rosier financial outlook in 2021, when they are projected to have roughly $100MM of cap space, so Reiss suggests they will look to get younger and clean up their cap situation this year so they can take full advantage of their flexibility next season.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe is more pessimistic about the Pats’ immediate prospects (though he does say that the salary cap ramifications stemming from a theoretical Brady re-up made it more logical for the team to part ways). He believes the club is in for a difficult rebuild, and while there do not appear to be any concrete trade rumblings, he suggests that New England could look into dealing WR Julian Edelman and CB Stephon Gilmore.
Indeed, Gilmore — the reigning Defensive Player of the Year — could be seeking a raise after seeing less accomplished CBs get PAID this offseason, and dealing him would certainly yield a nice return of draft capital. It depends, presumably, on whether the Patriots feel they can retool on the fly or need to tear down.
Despite being connected to Bengals’ QB Andy Dalton in offseason rumors, the Patriots have not discussed Dalton, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic (via Twitter). We heard several days ago that New England would instead seek a cheaper veteran, and Howe suggests former Patriot Brian Hoyer could be in play (Twitter link). Hoyer, who was released by the Colts yesterday, is reportedly open to a reunion with the Pats.

Latest On 2020 Draft

March 22nd, 2020 at 8:52am CST by Rory Parks

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no draft-related events of any kind in Las Vegas next month. Although the draft remains scheduled for April 23-25, Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times reports that the selections will be broadcast from a studio setting with cut-ins from the headquarters of the teams on the clock.

We heard last week that the league had canceled public events in Las Vegas, but it was unclear whether the draft would still proceed in some smaller scale fashion in Sin City. We speculated that the process would take place remotely via video conferencing, and that now seems to be the case.

Of course, one of the most exciting parts of the draft, for players and fans alike, is commissioner Roger Goodell‘s announcement of each first-round selection, followed by that player’s walk to the stage — assuming that player was invited to the event and elected to attend — to greet Goodell and receive his new jersey. As no one knows what travel restrictions will look like next month, it remains to be seen if the league will attempt to bring in this year’s top prospects in an effort to simulate the usual pomp and circumstance.

Farmer obtained a memo from Goodell to league employees with respect to the decision, which reads in part as follows:

“Planning for the Draft is a good example of how we need to think differently, embrace technology and collaborate. We will also use the Draft to help support fans and those people impacted in our communities. While there have been changes to the way we work and some of our plans, we have an unwavering commitment to upholding the NFL’s legacy of unifying and lifting the spirit of America, and bringing out the best in our fans and in our communities around the world. You’ll hear more from us in the days and weeks ahead about how we intend to demonstrate that commitment well beyond our fields.”