2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Dolphins To Sign Connor Williams

March 15th, 2022 at 10:38am CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins have agreed to sign Connor Williams (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The former Cowboys offensive lineman will take his talents to South Beach on a two-year, $14MM deal with $7.5MM fully guaranteed.

This year’s guard market was headlined by the likes of Brandon Scherff, Laken Tomlinson, Alex Cappa, and Mark Glowinski. Scherff (Jaguars, $16.5MM/year) and Tomlinson (Jets, $13.3MM/year) found huge paydays earlier this week, clearing the way for the next tier of interior lineman like Williams.

Williams emerged as a key piece of the Cowboys’ front five as a rookie in 2018. All together, he’s started in 51 of his 57 games, improving steadily from 2018 through 2020. Last year, however, he got a little bit sloppy as he drew 15 flags on the year. The Cowboys shuffled him in and out of the lineup at times, an indication that they’d look to upgrade at guard.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins have welcomed back one of their own Williams-es on Tuesday. Wide receiver Preston Williams, who has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, agreed to a one-year deal that could pay ~$2MM.

Packers Place Second-Round RFA Tender On Allen Lazard

March 15th, 2022 at 10:27am CST by Adam La Rose

It looks like another piece of the Packers’ passing attack will likely remain in Green Bay. The team is placing the second-round tender on wide receiver Allen Lazard (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo).

The one-year deal will come in at a price of just under $4MM. That will roughly double the former UDFA’s career earnings. After making a single reception in 2018, the 26-year-old has grown into a significant role in Green Bay’s offense.

Following two straight campaigns with almost identical numbers in 2019 and 2020, Lazard had a career year last season. In 15 games, he registered 40 catches for 513 yards and eight touchdowns. Alongside Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, he played a key role in the team’s receiver room.

Tom Silverstein of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets that it is “likely” the Packers guarantee a portion of the salary the tender comes with. If that does happen, it may encourage Lazard to sign it, which would open up the possibility of a restructure – something the Packers have become intimately familiar with this offseason, as they try to keep as many pieces of last year’s NFC-topping squad around as possible.

Lazard now has until April 22 to see what his market could be regarding offer sheets from outside teams. If he were to land a more lucrative offer, the Packers would receive a second round pick (along with some financial breathing room) in return. However, that would leave them in need of a replacement for a solid complimentary piece to their offensive core.

Dolphins To Re-Sign Preston Williams

March 15th, 2022 at 10:04am CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins will re-sign Preston Williams to a one-year deal (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). Williams can earn up to $1.99MM on the contract, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).

[RELATED: Dolphins To Sign Wilson]

Williams joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He’s since appeared in 24 games for Miami, notching 56 grabs for 787 yards and seven touchdowns. Williams has impressed at times, including his rookie year when he managed 32 receptions for 428 yards and three TDs in eight games.

Still, injuries and other issues have sidetracked him. That aforementioned rookie year ended with an ACL tear and his 2021 was cut short by a foot injury. Williams has played in exactly eight games in each of his three seasons, losing ground on the depth chart with time. As a result, the Dolphins were hesitant to cuff the restricted free agent with a $2.6MM tender.

Now that he’s back in the fold, he’ll fight for playing time alongside WRs DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, and Cedrick Wilson.

Cowboys, Randy Gregory Agree On New Deal

March 15th, 2022 at 9:41am CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys will indeed be able to keep their three-headed pass-rushing monster from last season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Cowboys are set to re-sign Randy Gregory to a five-year, $70MM deal (Twitter link). He adds that $28MM of the total is guaranteed.

The Cowboys had already made the expected move of placing the franchise tag on tight end Dalton Schultz. Gregory was named as the only other viable candidate for the one-year pact, but the team’s preference was always a long-term deal. Despite being 29, this offseason would have been his first foray into free agency, but instead he will now remain with the only team he’s played for in the NFL.

A second round pick in 2015, suspensions and injuries have been a constant in his tenure with the Cowboys. However, the team has remained committed to the talented edge rusher. He rewarded the team for their patience, recording six sacks and three forced fumbles in 2021. Alongside fellow defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence and Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons, the Nebraska product was an integral part of the Cowboys’ pass rush in particular, and their takeaway-prone defense in general.

Through a number of cost-cutting moves – including, most notably, trading away Amari Cooper – the Cowboys have been able to make enough room financially to keep the bulk of last season’s division-winning team intact. While this deal’s $14MM per-year average value will eat up most of the remaining space for 2022, the team’s defense will look very similar to the one which ranked seventh in the league in scoring in 2021.

Titans To Release Janoris Jenkins

March 15th, 2022 at 9:32am CST by Adam La Rose

The cost-cutting moves continue in Nashville. The team has released cornerback Janoris Jenkins, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). The move saves the team just over $6.9MM in cap space.

The 33-year-old signed with the Titans one year ago, as they re-vamped their secondary. He represented a veteran starter to help offset the losses of Malcolm Butler and Adoree’ Jackson, but his stay in Tennessee was short lived. In 14 games (including 13 starts), he registered 54 tackles, one interception and six pass deflections.

A second round pick in 2012, ‘Jackrabbit’ established himself as a quality starter early in his time with the Rams. He then moved on to the Giants, where he earned his only Pro Bowl nod, along with being named second-team All Pro. In 2019, New York traded him to the Saints but one year later, he found himself in the same position he is in today.

From an analytical standpoint, the veteran’s 2021 season was on par with his recent history. With a PFF grade of 65.4, he remains a solid cover man whom plenty of teams will likely be interested in. While his passing rating allowed (100.2) this year shows he may not be the high-end starter he once was, he will rank among the better options at the position on the open market.

Cowboys To Re-Sign Malik Hooker

March 15th, 2022 at 9:28am CST by Zachary Links

Malik Hooker is staying put. On Tuesday, the Cowboys agreed to a new two-year, $8MM deal with the veteran safety (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com).

The Ohio State product joined the Cowboys in the 2021 offseason, reuniting with old pal Dan Quinn. At the time, Hooker was coming off of an injury-riddled season in which an Achilles tear limited him to just two games. He inked a one-year prove-it deal and he indeed proved it. Hooker suited up for a career-high 15 games with three starts, notching 44 stops, two passes defensed, and an interception against the Giants in Week 14.

Last time around, the Steelers and Dolphins also showed interest in Hooker. This round of free agency would have seen even more suitors, so the Cowboys didn’t want to roll the dice. Hooker, 26 in April, still has room to grow, so this deal could wind up being extremely team-friendly.

In other Cowboys news, defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is set to return on a revised deal that will lower his 2022 cap hit.

Jaguars To Release Myles Jack

March 15th, 2022 at 9:19am CST by Zachary Links

Something had to give. After signing scores of high-end free agents on Monday, the Jaguars are releasing linebacker Myles Jack, according to a source who spoke with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Jack led the Jags with 108 tackles last year, his sixth season in Jacksonville. Ultimately, however, he was the victim of a numbers crunch, and the team had no room for the remainder of his four-year, $57MM deal.

It was less than a month ago that newly-hired defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell told reporters how much he was looking forward to working with Jack.

“With Myles he was just, ‘Coach, I’m ready to go, whatever he wants to do,”‘ Caldwell said (via Sports Illustrated). “He’s that type of guy that whatever the team asks him to do, he’s a team-oriented guy. Whatever we want him to do, he’s going to go out there and do it to the best of his ability. But as coaches, it’s our job to let him go do what he does well, and that’s what we plan on doing.”

The “Jack Of All Trades” was a true disruptor in 2020 when he notched 118 stops, one sack, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception, and five passes defensed. He was less of a factor in 2021, though the overall situation in Jacksonville certainly didn’t help.

Jack won’t turn 27 until September and should garner plenty of attention on the open market this week.

Deshaun Watson To Meet With Browns

March 15th, 2022 at 9:12am CST by Adam La Rose

After visiting two NFC South rivals vying to trade for him, Deshaun Watson has a third team meeting lined up. Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson reports that the quarterback will sit down with the Browns today.

Wilson adds that while New Orleans and Carolina have been at the forefront of pitching the three-time Pro Bowler to come to their respective clubs, Cleveland is amongst the others that are still interested. As he writes, the Browns “are not entirely sold on moving forward with Baker Mayfield as their starting quarterback and have fielded exploratory trade calls”.

The only two teams known to have made trade offers for the 26-year-old are the aforementioned Saints and Panthers, but it was reported last week that Cleveland has been keeping a close eye on his legal situation. After trading the pick Houston used to draft Watson in 2017, the Browns were said to have “done their homework” on him, leaving open the possibility of a trade.

Mayfield is under contract for one more season, the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. It carries a value of $18.8MM and is fully guaranteed. While Cleveland has stated their intentions of keeping the former No. 1 pick recently, they are clearly willing to at least entertain the thought of adding an upgrade at the QB spot. Mayfield struggled throughout the 2021 campaign, playing through injury while the Browns fell well short of expectations. Nothing tangible would come from this meeting without Watson being willing to waive his no-trade clause, to say nothing of the trade compensation which the Texans would ask for to make a swap possible.

The Seahawks have also been named as a potential suitor for Watson now that the franchise needs a Russell Wilson replacement. For now, though, the list of teams willing to go as far as meeting in person with the embattled star has increased to three.

Rams To Cut Johnny Hekker

March 15th, 2022 at 8:44am CST by Zachary Links

The Rams will release longtime punter Johnny Hekker, according to talk show host Pat McAfee (on Twitter). The move will save the Rams $2.05MM in cap room while leaving a dead money hit of $1.142MM.

Hekker, a four-time first-team All-Pro, spent his entire career with the Rams, starting in St. Louis before moving on to Los Angeles. He’s had perfect attendance throughout his career, appearing in all 161 regular season games plus ten playoff contests. Now, the league’s All-Decade punter of the 2010s will be moving on.

The Rams considered moving on from Hekker last year, but the punter agreed to a pay cut. As a part of the restructuring, the Rams agreed to remove the 2023 season from Hekker’s contract, enabling him to reach free agency one year earlier. Now, he’s on the open market two years ahead of schedule.

Still only 32, Hekker should have little trouble finding work elsewhere. While his per-punt average dipped to 44.2 yards last year, he’s long been regarded as one of the best at his position.

Patriots Trade Chase Winovich To Browns

March 15th, 2022 at 8:35am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have agreed to send outside linebacker Chase Winovich (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). In exchange, the Browns will send linebacker Mack Wilson to the Patriots. The trade will be processed tomorrow at 4pm ET/3pm CT, when the new league year officially begins.

“I am so grateful for my experience in New England,” Winovich tweeted. “The love, spirit, and support have been absolutely unreal. This entire region will always hold the most special of places in my heart. The time is now for the next chapter of my journey. ”

Winovich, 27 in April, notched 5.5 sacks in each of his first two pro seasons. Last year, he saw a little less action as he appeared in 13 games with zero starts and notched just eleven tackles in total. For his career, Winovich has 45 regular season appearances (nine starts) with 85 tackles, eleven sacks, one interception, two passes defensed, and one forced fumble.

It’s a similar story for Wilson, who has slipped down the Browns’ depth chart in each pro season. Last year, he saw a near even split between special teams and defense, notching 42 tackles across his 14 games. Across the last three years, he’s got 163 tackles, one sack, nine passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one interception to his credit.