2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Bills To Sign Shaq Lawson

March 17th, 2022 at 3:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Shaq Lawson is back in Buffalo. On Thursday, the edge rusher agreed to a one-year deal with the Bills (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero).

[RELATED: Bills To Sign V. Miller]

Lawson, 27, was a first rounder of the Bills back in 2016. He racked up 16.5 sacks during his four-year stay in Buffalo, which wasn’t enough for the team to pick up his fifth-year option. He stayed in the division when he signed with the Dolphins in 2020 on a three-year, $30MM deal. His production was essentially on par with his days in Buffalo, though, and he found himself being traded to the Texans one year later.

Lawson never played in Houston, however, being moved once again later that offseason, this time to the Jets. In New York, he managed just one sack and was let go before the end of the campaign. Over his six years in the NFL, he has established himself as a capable rotational pass rusher, and a return to Buffalo could allow him to get back to his old form.

The Bills, meanwhile, get to bolster their pass rush despite a limited budget. Much of their cap room has been allocated towards Von Miller, who will team with Lawson up front.

Giants To Cut Logan Ryan

March 17th, 2022 at 3:28pm CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are releasing defensive back Logan Ryan (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The Giants will not classify this as a post-June 1 designation, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic (on Twitter), which means they’ll absorb the full dead money hit in 2022.

Ryan, 31, first joined the Giants on a one-year, $7.5MM deal. Towards the end of the 2020 season, the Giants re-upped him on a three-year, $31MM extension. That deal has now been cut short — instead of making $9.25MM with the G-Men this year, Ryan is back on the market.

Last year, Ryan logged 117 total tackles, two tackles for loss, a pair of forced fumbles, and eight passes defensed across 15 games. While he’s still productive, he’ll likely have to settle for a lesser deal elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Giants’ new regime still has to figure out what to do with James Bradberry. Teams have made trade inquiries on Dave Gettleman‘s high-priced addition, but the offers have been underwhelming so far. The Giants could keep Bradberry, table trade talks until sometime after the draft, or just release him outright. Cutting Bradberry would save the team upwards of $10MM in 2022.

Eagles To Release Fletcher Cox

March 17th, 2022 at 3:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

In a cost-cutting move, the Eagles have, at least for now, parted ways with a mainstay of their defense. The team has released defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link).

He adds that Cox is being designated as a post-June 1st cut. The reason for the release’s timing is due to the fact that at 4:00 PM EST, $18MM of the compensation he was owed – nearly the entire amount – would have become fully guaranteed. Cutting him in this way creates over $12.8MM in dead money, while opening $2.1MM in cap space.

Garafolo does note, however, that a return to Philadelphia is still possible, something corroborated by ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Both Cox’s representatives and the team are in communication to work out a new contract. Cox originally had one more season on his deal, along with two void years.

Cox, a first rounder in 2012, has spent his entire career with the Eagles. Included in his tenure there is a stretch of six consecutive Pro Bowls from 2015 to 2020. He also earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2018. The 2021 season was essentially on par with his career averages, as he totalled 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

However, he generated trade buzz both around this season’s trade deadline and during the offseason. A swap would’ve been complicated by his sizeable contract. As a free agent now, though, he should be more affordable to interested teams.

Rams To Sign Allen Robinson

March 17th, 2022 at 2:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

The league’s top free agent receiver has reportedly found a new home. The Rams are signing Allen Robinson to a three-year, $46.5MM deal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). He adds that the contract includes $30.7MM in guaranteed money.

Robinson, 28, has spent four seasons with each of the Jaguars and Bears. Despite playing with underwhelming quarterbacks throughout most – if not all – of that span, he has established himself as one of the league’s most productive possession receivers. He has three 1,000 yard seasons to his name.

However, his time with the Bears was thought to be coming to an end before the 2021 season had finished. With the exception of 2017, where he only appeared in one game, the former second rounder produced career-lows statistically. He totalled 38 receptions for 410 yards and a single touchdown.

That lack of production created the possibility of a depressed market for his services. However, many saw the disappointing campaign more as an indictment of Matt Nagy and the Bears’ overall struggles on offense than a sign of Robinson slowing down. That, coupled with the fact that other top options such as Davante Adams and Chris Godwin were franchise tagged (and subsequently extended, in the latter’s case) left the Penn State product at the top of the list in terms of available options.

In Los Angeles, Robinson will join a receiving corps which already includes Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. With newfound money due to Von Miller leaving in free agency, the team could afford a splashy signing such as this one. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that the Rams “still have money left over for Odell Beckham Jr. and hope to re-sign him” (Twitter link).

While it remains to be seen if Beckham remains in L.A. now, the Rams have, in any event, upgraded what was already one of the league’s best passing attacks. With Matt Stafford in place, along with an even more talented skill-position core around him, they should remain firmly in contention to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

Browns’ Baker Mayfield Requests Trade

March 17th, 2022 at 2:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Baker Mayfield wants out. On Thursday afternoon, the quarterback formally asked the Browns to trade him (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). For now, the Browns say that they will not accommodate his request (Twitter link via Jake Trotter of ESPN.com).

For what it’s worth, there is a difference between a trade request and a trade demand. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) hears that it’s the former, which may mean that a resolution is still possible.

The Browns’ pursuit of Deshaun Watson irked Mayfield, who was hoping to get back to his old form for Cleveland following shoulder rehab. The Browns offered to fly to Texas, meet with Mayfield, and talk things out. The quarterback has told them not to bother. Now, the Browns are out of the Watson sweepstakes and might not have Mayfield to fall back on.

Mayfield still has another year on his contract at a salary of $18.86MM. Given where the QB market is right now, that might be an appealing proposition for the Colts — a preferred destination for Mayfield.

Mayfield, 27 in April, finished 2021 with a 60.5% completion rate, 3,010 passing yards and 17 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. That’s a dramatic step back from his 2020 stats — 3,563 yards, 26 TDs, and eight INTs with a 62.8% success rate.

The Browns regressed on the whole in 2021, compiling an 8-9 record and failing to make it back to the playoffs. However, it’s hard to judge Mayfield on an individual level, given the torn labrum on his non-throwing side. The QB finished near the bottom of the league in of QBR, but he was top ten league-wide just one year prior. That 2020 campaign resulted in a divisional round appearance and what looked to be the start of something special.

More to come..

Steelers To Re-Sign Ahkello Witherspoon

March 17th, 2022 at 2:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers are holding on to Ahkello Witherspoon. The cornerback has reached agreement with the team on a brand new two-year deal, according to a league source who spoke with Josina Anderson of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The deal is worth $8MM, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (on Twitter).

While Witherspoon is staying put, the Steelers may be bracing for Joe Haden‘s departure. Haden is out-of-contract and in talks with other clubs and the Steelers have already added Levi Wallace on a low-cost deal. Haden, in theory, could still be brought back, but it’d have to be at something near the veteran’s minimum.

Witherspoon is not a world-beater but he did have some strong performances down the stretch of the 2021 season. He’s also got youth on his side as he’ll turn 27 early next week.

Last year, Witherspoon notched a new career with three interceptions and 15 total tackles in just nine games (three starts). If he’s healthy, he should be in line for more substantial work in 2022.

Za’Darius Smith Not Signing With Ravens

March 17th, 2022 at 1:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

It seemed as though the Ravens had added another major piece to their defense by reuniting with Za’Darius Smith. However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that he is in fact not signing with Baltimore (Twitter link).

It had been announced yesterday that the former Packer was coming back to Baltimore on a four-year, $35MM deal. The news came after Smith, 29, was released by Green Bay in a cost-cutting move. They had been open to keeping him at a reduced cost, but the split seemed to be mutual.

That opened the door to a reunion with Baltimore, where he had spent the first four years of his career and established himself as a productive pass rusher. Between the familiarity with the organization, and the lack of proven veterans at the position for the Ravens, the reported deal made perfect sense. Now, however the former fourth rounder will remain on the open market.

At his media availability announcing the additions of safety Marcus Williams and offensive tackle Morgan Moses, general manager Eric DeCosta didn’t confirm the Smith deal. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports that the team “felt like they had a verbal agreement” in place with Smith (Twitter link). While he adds that a deal with Baltimore is technically still possible, he states that “it seems unlikely this [situation] is salvageable”.

Smith’s decision comes one day after the edge rusher market changed dramatically. Von Miller, Chandler Jones and Uchenna Nwosu all found new homes in free agency. That, coupled with the recent trades of Khalil Mack and Yannick Ngakoue, should place Smith at the top of the list with respect to the remaining names available.

The Ravens, meanwhile, will now search for a backup plan at the position. With plenty of question marks remaining in their front seven, and limited cap space to work with, they face a much different situation than they did 24 hours ago.

Bengals To Re-Sign Brandon Allen

March 17th, 2022 at 1:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bengals are set to retain the top two names on their quarterback depth chart. The team is re-signing backup Brandon Allen on a one-year contract, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link).

Pelissero notes that Allen “was Cincinnati’s top choice” to serve as Joe Burrow‘s No. 2, so the move shouldn’t come as a surprise. The 29-year-old has been with the Bengals for the past two seasons, after he spent one year in Denver. He’s made a total of nine starts in his career, going 2-7 while completing 56.2% of his passes. The former sixth round pick has thrown 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.

In his time in Cincinnati, the numbers look slightly better. Allen’s completion percentage sits at 60.8% with the Bengals, and his passer rating is 82. While he doesn’t seem destined to find a starting role in the NFL, the former Razorback has clearly pleased the Bengals enough for him to be their preference as a backup.

Before the deal was announced, the Bengals still had just under $13MM in cap space to work with. That should leave them the flexibility to make at least one more noteworthy signing to augment the roster of last season’s AFC-winning team. In any event, they will at least carry over the same quarterbacks that they had that season into 2022.

Patriots To Sign Ty Montgomery

March 17th, 2022 at 1:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have reached agreement with Ty Montgomery (Twitter link via Josina Anderson of CBSSports.com). The running back’s two-year deal could pay up to$4MM, according to a source who spoke with Anderson.

Montgomery, 29, spent the first three-plus seasons of his career in Green Bay, moving from wide receiver to running back. His best work came in 2016, when he collected 805 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. He was traded to the Ravens midway through the 2018 campaign, and he served as Le’Veon Bell‘s backup with the Jets in 2019.

Montgomery signed with the Saints in 2020 and spent last year at both positions. He finished out with 15 carries for 44 yards, plus 16 catches for 95 yards. The Patriots may look to reprise that role for the former third-round pick, using him as a receiver, a James White-type running back, and a special teamer. The Pats could use a player like Montgomery, especially after backup RB Brandon Bolden left to join the Raiders.

Meanwhile, the Pats still have some work to do up front after trading standout guard Shaq Mason to the Buccaneers.

Cowboys To Release La’el Collins

March 17th, 2022 at 12:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, the Cowboys will be moving on from right tackle La’el Collins. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, he will be released later today (Twitter link).

It had been reported earlier this week that the team was trying to find a trade partner for Collins. There was apparently a market developing for teams to trade for him, but he will hit the open market instead. Archer adds that the 28-year-old will be designated a post-June 1st cut. Doing so will save the Cowboys $10MM in cap space, as opposed to $1.3MM had they traded him.

Collins joined the Cowboys as a UDFA in 2015. He quickly established himself as the team’s starting right tackle, playing a significant role on one of the league’s best offensive lines. Durability wasn’t a concern during a three-year stretch from 2017 to 2019, where he only missed one game. In 2021, however, he was limited to 12 contests.

While he only played 671 snaps this past season, the LSU product showed he’s still capable of playing at a high level. He earned a PFF grade of 82, confirming that his release is related to finances, not performance. Between his age and caliber of play, he is likely to have a number of suitors interested in his services.

The Cowboys, meanwhile, are set to move forward with 2020 UDFA Terence Steele as their new starting right tackle.