2020 March - Pro Football Rumors

Giants, T Cameron Fleming Agree To Deal

March 18th, 2020 at 8:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys opted not to pick up Cameron Fleming‘s option earlier this week, and the Giants are making a move to add him. Big Blue and the free agent tackle agreed to terms on a one-year deal Wednesday night, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

The longtime Patriot uniquely has a history with both Joe Judge and Jason Garrett, spending four seasons in New England and two in Dallas. The former Cowboys and Pats backup will be first in line to be the Giants’ right tackle starter, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY adds (via Twitter).

Fleming has played between 230-400 snaps in each of the past four seasons, working as a part-time starter throughout this stretch. The Giants are in the market for a new right tackle; they let 2019 starter Mike Remmers hit the market. With Pat Shurmur and Mike Shula out of the mix, it is expected Remmers will be elsewhere in 2020.

The former Patriots fourth-round pick will be entering his age-28 season. He has started 26 games in his career but never more than seven in a season. This could be a major opportunity for the veteran, though the Giants figure to be in the market for tackles in the draft as well.

Rams Sign DT A’Shawn Robinson

March 18th, 2020 at 8:16pm CST by Ben Levine

After losing several key defensive players, the Rams are now adding to their core. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the team is signing defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson. It’s a two-year deal worth $17MM.

The 2016 second-rounder had spent his entire career with the Lions. After starting all 16 games during the 2017 season, Robinson was limited to only 26 games (16 starts) over the past two years. Still, he combined for 89 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.

The Rams defense will look a whole lot different in 2020. Safety Eric Weddle retired, Cory Littleton, Michael Brockers, and Dante Fowler have all departed in free agency, and the team declined their option on usual slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman. So far, the organization has added former first-rounder Leonard Floyd and re-signed Austin Blythe.

They’ve also replaced defensive coordinator Wade Phillips with Brandon Staley, so it’s safe to say that side of the ball is getting a complete makeover after Sean McVay’s dissatisfaction with the previous structure became evident.

Packers Re-Sign TE Marcedes Lewis

March 18th, 2020 at 8:06pm CST by Ben Levine

Marcedes Lewis is sticking around for at least one more season. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the veteran tight end is returning to Green Bay. It’ll be a one-year deal worth $2.25MM.

The 35-year-old spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Jaguars, earning a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro recognition in 2010. He joined the Packers prior to the 2018 season, and he’s spent the past two seasons in Green Bay.

While Lewis has hauled in close to 400 receptions throughout his career, his offense has fallen off during his stint with the Packers. Despite appearing in all 32 games (with 15 starts) over the past two years, the tight end has combined for only 18 receptions for 195 yards and one touchdown.

In total, Lewis has appeared in 202 career games in parts of 14 seasons.

Seahawks Return In Play For Clowney?

March 18th, 2020 at 8:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

A slower-than-expected Jadeveon Clowney market has prompted the free agent pass rusher to make some adjustments. He is now open to a one- or two-year deal, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.

Clowney remaining in free agency on its third night may increase the former No. 1 overall pick’s chances of returning to Seattle. Many around the league expect Clowney to now re-sign with the Seahawks, Fowler adds.

Interested in Clowney before the market opened, the Seahawks were not believed to be ready to give their 2019 trade acquisition a top-tier deal. Clowney wants a $20MM-per-year deal, but teams have been hesitant to oblige due to the franchise tag prices. A defensive lineman tag costs $17.8MM this year, with a linebacker tender coming in at $15.8MM.

The Seahawks re-signed Jarran Reed, so bringing Clowney back would be a significant development for a Seattle pass rush that featured nearly all of its cogs entering free agency. While Clowney only registered three sacks last season and has not blossomed into a dominant pass rusher as a pro, he remains one of the league’s most versatile edge defenders. Seattle presently holds just less than $20MM in cap space.

A one-year deal would be an interesting development for Clowney, who saw the Texans fail to extend him prior to his fifth-year option season and then franchise-tagging him in advance of his sixth season. The Seahawks agreed not to use their 2020 tag on Clowney, allowing him to test the market for the first time. It could all end with yet another Clowney one-season arrangement.

Joe Looney To Rejoin Cowboys

March 18th, 2020 at 7:54pm CST by Marc Delucchi

Interior offensive lineman Joe Looney has agreed to a deal to stay with the Cowboys for at least one more season, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. With a new coaching staff in Dallas and Looney’s former head coach now with the Giants it was unclear whether Looney would remain with the team, but it appears, at least for now, that the team is happy with a reunion.

An eight-year veteran, Looney has been a solid rotational lineman with the flexibility to play anywhere on a line’s interior. In 2018, Looney started every Cowboys game at center, but otherwise, he has never started more than 6 games in a season.

Looney spent the first three years of his pro career in San Francisco before the 49ers waived him prior to the 2015 season. After a one year stint with the Titans, Looney joined America’s Team in 2016 and has appeared in every Cowboys game since.

Latest On Tom Brady’s FA Experience

March 18th, 2020 at 7:51pm CST by Ben Levine

As we await the terms on Tom Brady‘s new deal with the Buccaneers, Albert Breer of TheMMQB has tweeted out some of the quarterback’s “conditions.”

Brady was seeking a two-year deal that would be backed by guarantees, and while he was seeking $60MM, he was open to “creativity.” Of course, Breer also cautions that the negotiations weren’t entirely about money; after all, Brady wanted to “give his new team financial flexibility to add.”

Further, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes that Brady presented these conditions to both the Buccaneers and Chargers, with both organizations agreeing to the financial terms. As a result, the further Hall of Famer was able to basically choose between the two franchises.

Florio provides reasons why Brady ultimately opted for Tampa Bay over Los Angeles, noting the difference in income taxes between California (13.3-percent) and Florida (zero). Staying on the east coast also allowed Brady to remain relatively close to his 12-year-old son who lives in New York, and Florio is of the opinion that the Buccaneers are in a better position to compete than the Chargers.

AFC East Notes: Brady, Dolphins, Jets

March 18th, 2020 at 7:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the first time since they drafted Drew Bledsoe at No. 1 overall in 1993, the Patriots have a need at quarterback. Tom Brady‘s Buccaneers announcement appears imminent. As for Brady’s Foxborough exit, Robert Kraft did not believe the 42-year-old icon wanted to make it work in New England any longer.

“This wasn’t about that,” Kraft said regarding the financial component to this process (via Tom Curran of NBC Sports Boston). “Tom was not going to be happy being in our system.”

Brady will leave the Patriots for a team that employs arguably the NFL’s premier wideout tandem — in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin — and tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate. The Patriots’ refusal to give Brady an extension in 2019, along with their diminishing post-Rob Gronkowski skill-position cadre helped lead Brady to Florida, Curran posits. Replacing even an aging version of Brady will certainly not be easy for the Pats. They have been linked to Andy Dalton, but Albert Breer of SI.com anticipates the team will wait and acquire a cheaper veteran. Among the passers left in free agency: Jameis Winston, Colt McCoy and Blake Bortles.

Here is the latest from the AFC East, starting with news from the Jets’ latest effort to upgrade their edge-rushing situation:

Linked to being interested in a Joe Burrow trade-up, the Dolphins still plan to attempt that move, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald notes. While the Bengals are not expected to entertain trade-up offers, the Dolphins are the only team with three first-round picks. If the Dolphins cannot pull off a Burrow coup, they want to leave the draft with either Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert, Salguero adds. The Dolphins now must be cognizant of the Chargers’ actions. The Bolts, who pick one spot behind the Dolphins at No. 6, are not expected to pursue any veteran quarterbacks after missing on Brady. That points them to taking a passer at No. 6 or trading in front of the Dolphins to land one.
Long connected to Dante Fowler, the Jets watched the UFA edge defender choose the Falcons instead. The Jets were not prepared to go to the $16MM-AAV place the Falcons did, per Connor Hughes of The Athletic (on Twitter). Gang Green was linked to Fowler earlier in free agency, along with Jadeveon Clowney, however Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News noted to PFR the team was an aggressive player for Fowler and was not in the mix for the former top-five pick once free agency began. While the latter remains available, almost certainly due to injury concerns, the Jets’ edge options are narrowed. Longtime Jet Jordan Jenkins remains unsigned as well.
The Jets have designated Trumaine Johnson as a post-June 1 cut, allowing them to spread out the cap hit that comes from releasing a highly paid player two years into a five-year deal. Johnson’s release will now cost the Jets $4MM in 2020 and $8MM in 2021, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. Overall, the Jets saved $11MM in 2020 by making this cut. They cannot use any funds created by the Johnson release until June, however.

Redskins Sign RB J.D. McKissic

March 18th, 2020 at 7:19pm CST by Ben Levine

J.D. McKissic is heading to Washington. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Redskins are signing the running back. It’ll be a two-year deal for McKissic.

After getting cut by the Seahawks at the end of last preseason, McKissic was quickly claimed by the Lions. The 26-year-old ended up appearing in a career-high 16 games for Detroit, rushing for 205 yards on 38 carries. He also added another 34 receptions for 233 yards and one touchdown.

Other than a brief stint with the Falcons, McKissic had spent much of his first three NFL seasons in Seattle. He got into three playoff games during his stint with the Seahawks.

Browns To Add S Karl Joseph

March 18th, 2020 at 7:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Former first-round pick Karl Joseph will be heading east. The Browns will add the four-year Raiders safety on a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

The Raiders did not pick up Joseph’s fifth-year option in 2019, making him a 2020 free agent. After suffering a season-ending injury last year, Joseph will attempt to re-establish his value in Cleveland.

While the Raiders were open to a Joseph re-up, that was many months ago. And Las Vegas has been busy on defense this week, with one of those additions being safety Jeff Heath.

The Browns, however, have been active on the market as well. Joseph joins B.J. Goodson, Jack Conklin, Austin Hooper and Case Keenum as Cleveland-bound talents thus far in free agency. The Browns were discussing a potential tag-and-trade deal with the Vikings for Anthony Harris as well. Joseph may not interfere with those talks, but he has extensive starting experience and may be tabbed for one of Cleveland’s first-string spots. The Browns have already lost Eric Murray in free agency, and Damarious Randall is now on the market as well.

The No. 14 overall pick out of West Virginia in 2016, Joseph started 41 games as a Raider. He has never been a prolific ball hawk, intercepting four passes in four seasons, but has fared better in the box. Pro Football Focus has graded Joseph as a top-35 safety in each of the past two seasons, rating him as one of last season’s top run-defending safeties.

Panthers To Sign John Miller

March 18th, 2020 at 7:13pm CST by Marc Delucchi

The Bengals released right guard John Miller and replaced him with Xavier Su’a-Filo earlier today. Miller did not remain jobless for long though. The Panthers have agreed to terms with Miller on a one-year, $4MM contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. While the Bengals moved on from Miller, the Panthers have already traded guard Trai Turner and fellow interior offensive lineman Greg Van Roten remains a free agent.

Miller spent the first four years of his career as the primary right guard with the Bills. Last offseason the Bengals signed Miller to a three-year, $16.5MM deal. In 2019, Miller performed in line with his career history, starting 13 games and grading out as the 52nd highest-graded guard of 80 qualified players at Pro Football Focus, but the Bengals still decided to move on.