2020 March - Pro Football Rumors

Browns To Sign S Andrew Sendejo

March 20th, 2020 at 10:03am CST by Zachary Links

Andrew Sendejo is going from the NFC North to the AFC North. On Friday, the Vikings agreed to sign the safety to a one-year, $2.25MM deal with the Browns, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

Sendejo spent eight seasons with the Vikings up until March of last year when he hooked on with the Eagles. That union didn’t last long – the Birds dropped him in November, leading him back to Minnesota to close out the season.

Sendejo was a staple in the Vikings’ secondary up until 2018, when a groin injury put him on the sidelines. After that point, the Vikings’ D actually improved with Anthony Harris, George Iloka, and Jayron Kearse taking on a larger share of the workload.

In Cleveland, he’ll play alongside a cornerback group headlined by Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams with support from newcomer Kevin Johnson.

Buccaneers To Sign Joe Haeg

March 20th, 2020 at 9:14am CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers will sign guard/tackle Joe Haeg, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). The former fifth-round pick will help protect new quarterback Tom Brady, who finalized his deal earlier today. It’s a one-year pact worth $2.3MM that can inflate to $3.3MM if he hits incentives, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.

Haeg, who just turned 27, appeared in all 16 games for the Colts last year. Over the last four years, he’s suited up for 55 games with 35 of those contests coming as starts. He was a full-time starter in 2016 and 2017, but operated as Indy’s backup reserve tackle last year due to the strength of their offensive line.

At 6’6″ and 298 pounds, Haeg offers valuable size and versatility. He’ll likely remain as a reserve in Tampa, but an important one that can be used on the outside and on the interior.

Cowboys To Sign Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

March 20th, 2020 at 8:25am CST by Zachary Links

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is headed to Dallas. Early this morning, the safety’s agency announced that he has agreed to join the Cowboys.

Clinton-Dix will receive a one-year, $4MM deal with $2.5MM guaranteed, according to Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (on Twitter). The pact will reunite him with Mike McCarthy, his longtime coach in Green Bay.

Clinton-Dix, 27, started in every game for the Bears last year and finished out with 78 tackles and two interceptions. He wasn’t a top-tier defender like predecessor Adrian Amos, but he proved to be a solid value on his one-year, $3MM deal.

His Cowboys deal is similarly inexpensive and may also prove to be something of a bargain. Even if he doesn’t regain his Pro Bowl (2016) form, he’ll likely outperform Jeff Heath. Also, by taking a safety spot off the to-do list, the Cowboys will be able to focus on other areas in the third wave of free agency and the April draft.

Buccaneers Officially Sign Tom Brady

March 20th, 2020 at 8:15am CST by Zachary Links

Tom Brady verbally agreed to sign with the Buccaneers on Tuesday. On Friday morning, the Bucs made it official:

“Tom Brady is officially a Tampa Bay Buccaneer!,” the club tweeted.

Brady, like the rest of the league’s free agents, was unable to take a physical exam with team doctors due to the travel restrictions. On Thursday, there were rumblings of a possible hitch – Brady was willing to get poked and prodded in New York, but the two sides had to agree on the doctor. Haggling over the MD turned out to be NBD: Brady is officially a Buc.

The future Hall of Famer has agreed to a two-year deal with a maximum value of $59MM, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The deal includes $50MM fully guaranteed – a nice locked-in pay day for one of the sport’s all-time legends.

“Excited, humble and hungry …if there is one thing I have learned about football, it’s that nobody cares what you did last year or the year before that,” Brady wrote on Instagram. “You earn the trust and respect of those around through your commitment every single day. I’m starting a new football journey and thankful for the Buccaneers for giving me an opportunity to do what I love to do. I look forward to meeting all my new teammates and coaches and proving to them that they can believe and trust in me. I have always believed that well done is better than well said, so I’m not gonna say much more – I’m just gonna get to work!”

The Buccaneers, as you might expect, are also pretty excited about their new QB.

“Tom is a proven champion who has achieved greatness on the field because he demands the best out of himself and his teammates,” said GM Jason Licht in a press release. “I’ve known Tom since we drafted him in New England 20 years ago and through this process it became very clear that his desire to be a champion burns as strong today as it ever has. He possesses the type of rare natural leadership qualities that will immediately impact our entire organization.”

Falcons To Sign Todd Gurley

March 20th, 2020 at 7:54am CST by Zachary Links

That didn’t take long. On Friday, the Falcons formally announced the signing of running back Todd Gurley.

Gurley has agreed to a one-year deal with Atlanta, less than 24 hours after being let go by the Rams. One important thing to note: Gurley, who has been plagued by injuries, may still need to undergo a physical with the team before the deal is all legal eagle. Of course, that’s not possible at the moment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the league’s restrictions on travel.

Soon after Gurley was cut loose, we heard that Gurley was interested in joining the Falcons or Dolphins. The Falcons were the perfect fit for Gurley, a University of Georgia product who can occupy the role once filled by Devonta Freeman. Backed by Ito Smith and Brian Hill, Gurley will try to get back to his old form in familiar surroundings.

Gurley was an NFL megastar just a couple of years ago. Between 2017 and 2018, Gurley racked up 40 touchdowns and roughly 4,000 yards from scrimmage. And, in 2018, he signed a four-year, $57.5MM extension with the Rams that rebooted the running back market.

Here’s the breakdown of his new deal, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Gurley will earn $11MM in total with $7.5MM coming from the Rams, $6MM on the Falcons’ books, and a $2.5MM offset. It all adds up to a one-year deal that keeps Gurley as one of the NFL’s three highest-paid running backs.

Unfortunately, the knee injury he suffered near the end of the ’18 campaign changed things and hasn’t looked like the same player since. Father Time is not kind to running backs; nor is the injury bug. Still, no one would be surprised if Gurley thrives with the Falcons in his age-26 season.

Josh Kline Could Re-Sign With Vikings

March 19th, 2020 at 9:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although the Vikings released guard Josh Kline on Wednesday, a reunion between the two parties “isn’t out of the question,” reports Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune (Twitter link).

Minnesota attempted to get Kline to restructure his contract before cutting him, per Goessling. In this case, “restructure” almost assuredly meant “pay cut,” something Kline was apparently unwilling to do. The 30-year-old Kline signed a three-year, $15.5MM pact with the Vikings just last offseason, but made it through only one year before being released. Minnesota saved $1.56MM in cap space by parting ways with Kline but absorbed $4.46MM in dead money.

Kline, who has also spent time with the Patriots and Titans, played in 13 games for the Vikings a year ago, missing the other three contests due to injury. Pro Football Focus graded him the league’s 42nd-best guard among 63 qualifiers. He now joins a free agent guard market that also includes Andrus Peat, Ronald Leary, and Daryl Williams, among others.

Latest On Jadeveon Clowney’s Market

March 19th, 2020 at 9:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While most of the the NFL’s top free agents have already come off the board, one still resides on the open market. Jadeveon Clowney, viewed as arguably the best available, non-franchise-tagged edge defender, still hasn’t found a new club, and reports of interest around the league have been few and far between.

Clowney had been (and still may be) seeking a $20MM annual salary, but it’s unclear if any club is willing to meet that asking price. The 27-year-old is now reportedly open to a one- or two-year pact, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported Wednesday, adding that many around the NFL now believe Clowney will re-sign with the Seahawks.

Speaking on NFL Network earlier today, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero indicated Clowney does have an offer on the table from Seattle, but it doesn’t meet the pass-rusher’s requirements for salary or length. Clowney, meanwhile, is reportedly hoping that rival clubs will express interest and pressure the Seahawks into raising their offer.

Seattle is likely proposing something in the range of $17-19MM per year, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, who adds Clowney’s health issues are likely a factor in his weak market. While Clowney’s January core muscle surgery typically wouldn’t be viewed as much of a barrier to a deal, COVID-19 restrictions currently prevent him from taking a proper physical.

Steelers To Sign Stefen Wisniewski

March 19th, 2020 at 8:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers have agreed to a two-year deal with offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Pittsburgh had been searching for a new face at left guard, where Ramon Foster had been a linchpin since the 2009 campaign. Foster retired from the NFL earlier this week, leaving a massive hole along the Steelers’ front five. Now, Wisniewski will likely line up at guard in between left takcle Alejandro Villanueva and center Maurkice Pouncey.

Wisniewski, who turns 31 years old later this week, has played in 134 games since entering the NFL as a second-round Raiders draft pick in 2011. The Penn State alum appeared in 46 games with the Eagles from 2016-18 and won a Super Bowl, then joined the Chiefs last October for another Super Bowl run. Wisniewski started the final two games of the regular season for Kansas City before starting every game during the playoffs.

The Jets, whose interest in Wisniewski was reported earlier this week, made an “earnest effort” to sign the veteran guard, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. But Wisniewski, a Pittsburgh native, ultimately decided on a homecoming.

Saints Exercise 2021 Options On Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk

March 19th, 2020 at 8:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints have exercised their 2021 fifth-year options on cornerback Marshon Lattimore and offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Lattimore and Ramczyk become the first members of the 2017 draft class to have their options picked up, and are also the first to have their options fully guaranteed. Under the terms of the new contractual bargaining agreement, fifth-year options — which are available for all first-round picks and had previously been guaranteed for injury only — are now guaranteed for injury, cap, and skill purposes.

Part of a 2017 Saints draft class that also included Alvin Kamara and Marcus Williams, Lattimore and Ramczyk have quickly become essential cogs for New Orleans. Lattimore has started 43 games and posted eight interceptions over his first three years in the NFL, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 and Pro Bowl nods in both 2017 and 2019.

Ramcyzk, meanwhile, has only missed one contest since entering the league and is arguably the NFL’s premier right tackle. Indeed, Pro Football Focus graded the former Wisconsin Badger as the league’s No. 1 offensive tackle — even including those that play on the blindside — in 2019. Both he and Lattimore should be in for hefty extensions in the near future.

CB Rumors: Slay, Lions, Harris, Trufant

March 19th, 2020 at 7:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Speaking to WJR-AM in Detroit following his trade from the Lions to the Eagles, cornerback Darius Slay didn’t hold back on his substandard connection with Lions head coach Matt Patricia. Slay, who’d been in Detroit since 2013, said Patricia told him he shouldn’t have been working out with fellow corners like Richard Sherman and Aqib Talib because those players are “elite” while Slay is simply “good,” per Justin Rogers of the Detroit News (all Twitter links).

Slay also indicated his relationship with Patricia was “destroyed” in 2018, adding that he didn’t respect Patricia as a person. Clearly, the nature of Slay’s dissatisfaction played a large role in Detroit’s decision, but as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link), the Lions also had no interest in handing Slay another new deal after inking him to a four-year, $48MM extension in 2016. Philadelphia, meanwhile, gave Slay a three-year, $50MM pact after acquiring him.

Here’s more on the cornerback circuit:

Veteran cornerback Chris Harris says he turned down a three-year offer from the Raiders before inking a two-year, $20MM deal with the Chargers, tweets Mike Klis of 9News. Per Harris, he simply didn’t feel “comfortable” with the Raiders, and preferred to join a Chargers defense that already includes stalwarts like Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Casey Hayward, and Derwin James. Harris, 30, also attracted interest from teams like the Saints, Jets, Eagles, and says he picked up “tons” of one-year offers before deciding on Los Angeles.
After losing Harris, the Broncos are looking into adding another cornerback, according to Troy Renck of Denver7 (Twitter link). Denver acquired A.J. Bouye from the Jaguars earlier this month to pair with incumbent Bryce Callahan, but the club could still use another defensive back, either via free agency or the draft. Jimmy Smith, Logan Ryan, Nickell Robey-Coleman, and Ronald Darby are among the top corners still remaining on the open market.
The Falcons officially designated cornerback Desmond Trufant as a post-June 1 release. That move will allow Atlanta to spread Trufant’s dead money out over both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Trufant, of course, has already found a new home, landing a two-year, $21MM deal with the Lions.