2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Steelers Release T Zach Banner

March 16th, 2022 at 5:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers were prepared to use Zach Banner as a starter at multiple points, but that path did not pan out for the veteran tackle. Pittsburgh released Banner on Wednesday, wrapping his four-year run with the franchise.

This move will create a notable amount of cap space for the Steelers, who are opening up $5MM because of Banner’s exit. The Steelers gave the former Colts fourth-round pick a two-year, $9.25MM deal in 2021.

Pittsburgh paid Banner despite the 2020 right tackle starter suffering a torn ACL in Week 1 of that season. Banner played in seven games last season but battled more injury trouble and did not regain his starting job. The Steelers were unable to regroup up front in 2021, but as of now, Banner is not in line to be part of their 2022 solution. Overall, the 6-foot-8 blocker played 22 games as a Steeler, making two starts.

The team re-signed its 2021 right tackle starter, Chukwuma Okorafor, to a deal averaging nearly eight figures annually. Pittsburgh also signed interior linemen James Daniels and Mason Cole this week.

George Kittle, Arik Armstead Rework Contracts With 49ers

March 16th, 2022 at 5:32pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers have opened up a significant chunk of cap space. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the team has restructured the contracts of tight end George Kittle and defensive tackle Arik Armstead. These moves will open $18.75MM in cap space.

Kittle inked a sizable five-year, $75MM deal with the 49ers prior to the 2020 season, but he was limited to only eight games that year while dealing with a knee injury and a broken bone in his foot. He got into 14 games this past season and returned to his Pro Bowl form, hauling in 71 catches for 910 yards and six touchdowns.

Armstead has spent his entire career with San Francisco. The former first-round pick signed a five-year, $85MM deal ($48.5MM guaranteed) with the 49ers following a 2019 season where he finished with 10 sacks. Armstead has collected only 9.5 sacks over the past two seasons (33 starts), but he’s still collected 58 tackles and 24 QB hits.

Steelers To Sign LB Myles Jack

March 16th, 2022 at 5:12pm CST by Ben Levine

It didn’t take long for Myles Jack to find his next gig. The former Jaguars linebacker is signing with the Steelers, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). It’s a two-year deal worth $16MM.

Jacksonville’s spending spree was going to come with a cost, and the team ultimately decided to move on from their leading tackler yesterday. Jack inked a four-year, $57MM deal ($33MM guaranteed) with Jacksonville back in 2019.

With that said, Jack is still a productive player. He finished last season with 108 tackles in 15 starts, and he had a career-high 118 tackles as recently as 2020. The former second-round pick won’t turn 27 until September, so it makes sense that the Steelers still think he’s got something in the tank.

Many of the Steelers initial FA moves were focused on offense, but the team has started adding to their defense. We learned yesterday that the team was signing cornerback Levi Wallace to a two-year deal.

Raiders Sign WR Mack Hollins

March 16th, 2022 at 5:03pm CST by Ben Levine

The Raiders are adding another special team ace. The team is adding wideout/special teamer Mack Hollins, reports Taylor Vippolis of Inside Carolina (on Twitter).

Hollins appeared in every game for the Dolphins over the past two seasons, and while he was buried on the depth chart, he still managed to put up some numbers. He finished the season with 223 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns, and his 15.9 yards per catch ranked first on the team.

The 28-year-old also led the Dolphins in special teams tackles, finishing with 11 overall. In total, Hollins has collected 21 tackles throughout his career.

The former fourth-round pick spent the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Eagles, collecting 351 yards from scrimmage in 28 games.

Seahawks To Meet With T Trent Brown; Patriots Remain In Mix

March 16th, 2022 at 5:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

5:03pm: Brown is still considering a return to the Patriots, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, who relays Brown’s comments about his free agency (Twitter link). The mammoth tackle said he is open to signing with another contender as well. The right tackle market is especially thin, giving Brown some value as one of the best linemen still available. New England’s line will look a bit different next season, with starters Shaq Mason and Ted Karras departing. Brown’s decision will determine if the Pats need to replace two starting blockers or three.

3:36pm: After agreeing to terms with interior offensive lineman Austin Blythe, the Seahawks are eyeing a bigger (in every sense) fish on their line. Free agent tackle Trent Brown is planning to meet with the team Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Brown has spent time in the NFC West, beginning his career with the 49ers, before relocating via a 2018 trade. Brown’s value has yo-yoed in the years since that deal, but he played well when healthy in New England last season. The Seahawks are also short on tackles presently, having lacked a right-side option for a bit and having Duane Brown in free agency.

Trent Brown set an offensive lineman record when he signed a four-year, $66MM deal with the Raiders in 2019. That partnership proved effective for one season, when Brown became the rare right tackle invited to the Pro Bowl in 2019, but various 2020 setbacks led to the Raiders trading him back to the Patriots. Brown ran into more injury trouble in New England, missing eight games last season, but the 6-foot-8, 380-pound blocker was a key part of one of the NFL’s top O-lines when on the field.

With Duane Brown in free agency, the Seahawks only have one notable contract on their O-line — ex-Trent Brown Raiders teammate Gabe Jackson. The Seahawks acquired Jackson via trade last year. One year remains on his contract.

Trent Brown has played both left and right tackle in his seven pro seasons, though most of that work has come on the right side. Brown played left tackle for the Super Bowl-winning 2018 Patriots but has been a right-side fixture in every other season.

Raiders Cut LB Nick Kwiatkoski

March 16th, 2022 at 4:56pm CST by Ben Levine

The Raiders have released another defender. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic (on Twitter), the team has cut LB Nick Kwiatkoski.

After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Bears, Kwiatkoski joined the Raiders in 2020 on a three-year, $21MM deal. The linebacker will ultimately leave behind a $5MM cap hit.

Kwiatkoski was productive during his first season with the team, collecting a career-high 81 tackles in 12 games. However, he was limited to only eight games in 2021 thanks in part to an ankle injury, and he collected only 21 tackles and one forced fumble when he did see the field.

As Tafur points out, the new Raiders front office was quick to move on from Cory Littleton, Carl Nassib, and Kwiatkoski, and the trio will ultimately account for $25.6MM in dead cap over the next two years.

Texans To Extend S Eric Murray

March 16th, 2022 at 4:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not long after letting Justin Reid defect to the Chiefs, the Texans are retaining one of their own safeties. They reached an extension with Eric Murray, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets.

Previously set to go into a contract year, Murray agreed to a two-year bump worth a maximum of $10MM, Wilson adds (on Twitter). The Texans initially signed Murray in 2020, and he has been a regular starter in Houston.

Formerly a Chiefs draft choice once traded straight up for Emmanuel Ogbah, Murray came to Houston after a year in Cleveland. The 28-year-old defender has started 25 games over the past two seasons. Despite arriving during Bill O’Brien‘s decision-making stint, Murray is in position to keep contributing under Nick Caserio and new HC Lovie Smith.

This marks the second re-up in Houston’s secondary this week; the Texans re-signed Desmond King to keep him off the market. They also added ex-Browns safety M.J. Stewart.

Commanders Release Deshazor Everett

March 16th, 2022 at 4:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders have announced the release of four players, three of which were previously reported (Landon Collins, Matt Ioannidis, and Ereck Flowers). The newest addition to the list is safety Deshazor Everett, who also received his walking papers today.

Last month, Everett was charged with involuntary manslaughter as a result of a fatal car accident from December. Olivia Peters – who was Everett’s passenger – was killed. The 30-year-old turned himself into police after their investigation found that he was driving at more than twice the posted speed limit just before the crash. The players also suffered serious injuries, leading to the team placing him on the reserve/non-football injury list.

Everett, who joined Washington as an UDFA in 2015, had spent his entire NFL career in the nation’s capital. He saw time in 89 games (17 starts) for the organization, collecting 170 tackles, 11 passes defended, and two interceptions.

This past season, the 30-year-old finished with 10 tackles in 14 games, which the majority of his playing time coming on special teams.

Texans Sign RB Dare Ogunbowale

March 16th, 2022 at 4:39pm CST by Ben Levine

Dare Ogunbowale is off to Houston. The running back is signing with the Texans, reports Mike Garafolo (via Twitter).

The former Jaguars RB got a two-year, $3.3 million from Houston.

Ogunbowale actually got his first NFL gig with the Texans after going undrafted out of Wisconsin in 2017. It took him until 2019 to stick around for an entire NFL season when he got into 16 games for the Buccaneers. He finished that season with 303 yards from scrimmage, which still represents a career high.

The RB joined Jacksonville in 2020, and he saw time in 31 games for the organization over the past two years. He finished his Jaguars career having collected 450 yards from scrimmage and two scores. Ogunbowale also contributed on special teams, collecting 17 tackles during his two years in Jacksonville.

In Houston, he’ll be joining a depth chart that’s currently led by Rex Burkhead. Both David Johnson and Royce Freeman are currently free agents.

Dolphins, FB Alec Ingold Agree To Terms

March 16th, 2022 at 4:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mike McDaniel‘s previous team reset the fullback market. His new one is adding a well-regarded blocking back as well.

The Dolphins and Alec Ingold agreed to a deal Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. It is a two-year pact worth up to $7.5MM. While precise terms are not yet available, this is a nice fullback contract.

Although Ingold’s deal does not threaten Kyle Juszczyk‘s place atop the fullback salary hierarchy, the latter’s usage in Kyle Shanahan‘s offense points to Ingold being valued well by McDaniel’s team. The Raiders did not tender Ingold as a restricted free agent, but this deal points to him earning more than the low-end RFA tender figures would pay.

Ingold, 25, played between 20% and 23% of the Raiders’ offensive plays during his three-year stay with the team. Juszczyk was on the field for 56% of the 49ers’ snaps last season, making it safe to assume Ingold’s usage rate will increase in Miami.