2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Texans To Re-Sign C Justin Britt

March 14th, 2022 at 8:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Justin Britt completed a successful comeback season in 2021, and the Texans plan to bring him back. Houston is re-signing its starting center, Mark Berman of Fox 26 tweets.

This will be Britt’s fourth contract. While it does not measure up to the deal the Seahawks gave him in the late 2010s, it is a raise from his previous Texans pact. Houston is bringing Britt back on a two-year, $9MM accord, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson notes (on Twitter). Britt, 30, played for one year and $3.2MM in 2021.

The former Seahawks multi-position starter was not with a team in 2020, after having suffered an ACL tear in October 2019. But he worked as the Texans’ primary center last season. Britt will have a chance to reprise that role in 2022. The Texans may have some new parts up front, but they will try to run back the Britt-Davis Mills center-QB tandem.

A second-round pick back in 2014, Britt started 11 games for the Texans. He sustained a hyperextended knee during the season but returned to close out the year for his second NFL team. The longtime Seahawk said earlier this year he wanted to return to the Texans. While Britt has experience at guard and right tackle, he has settled in at center, having played there since 2016.

Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki Signs Franchise Tender

March 14th, 2022 at 8:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Mike Gesicki is officially locked in for next season. The Dolphins tight end has inked his franchise tender, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter).

The tag value for tight ends is set at $10.93MM, though that positional label could have been problematic in Gesicki’s case. Rarely used as an in-line blocker, the former second rounder primarily lines up in the slot to maximize his skill set. As a result, the possibility existed for him to file a grievance to be listed as a receiver.

Gesicki may have been willing to tolerate the TE tag because he’s anticipating a long-term deal with the Dolphins. The team sides could still ink an extension over the next few months.

The 26-year-old was considered one of this year’s top candidates for the tag, given the increasing role he has taken on within the Dolphins’ offense over his career. In the past three seasons, he has totaled 177 catches, 2,053 yards and 13 touchdowns. He would have been one of the most sought-after TEs on the open market. Instead, he’ll be sticking around Miami for at least another season.

Giants To Add OL Jon Feliciano

March 14th, 2022 at 7:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Daboll‘s presence led to the Giants being linked to Mitchell Trubisky. While that deal did not come to fruition, Big Blue is adding one of Daboll’s former charges.

Jon Feliciano is heading south to join Daboll in the Big Apple, Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com tweets. The Giants are planning to shift the veteran guard to center as well. Feliciano’s one-year Giants contract comes shortly after the Bills made him a cap casualty.

This marks the second starter-caliber O-lineman the Giants have added Monday night. Mark Glowinski agreed to terms earlier; he will stay a guard. As for Feliciano, the three-year Bills starting guard will give center a shot. Feliciano, 30, started 16 games for the Bills in 2019 but was limited to 15 starts over the ensuing two years. Injuries plagued Feliciano in 2020 and ’21, with a torn pec sidelining him for much of the ’20 season and a calf injury shelving him last year.

The Giants’ O-line plans are starting to come into focus. Glowinski is being paid to start. While the terms on Feliciano’s deal are not known, he was a starter for Daboll and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson — now the Giants’ O-line coach — for much of the past three seasons.

Bills To Sign DL DaQuan Jones

March 14th, 2022 at 7:47pm CST by Ben Levine

DaQuan Jones is heading to the AFC. The former Panthers defensive tackle is signing with the Bills, reports ESPN’s Dianna Russini (via Twitter).

After spending seven seasons with the Titans, Jones joined the Panthers on a one-year deal last offseason. He ended up starting all 17 games for his new squad, compiling 38 tackles, one sack, and six QB hits.

During his stint in Tennessee, Jones started 93 of his 99 appearances, collecting 273 tackles and 10 sacks. He also saw time in four playoff games, collecting another nine tackles and 1.5 sacks.

The Bills have also been busy adding to their defensive line today, as they signed Tim Settle to help stabilize their defensive line.

Chargers To Sign DT Sebastian Joseph-Day

March 14th, 2022 at 7:39pm CST by Ben Levine

Sebastian Joseph-Day is switching teams, but he won’t have to move all that far. The former Rams defensive tackle is signing with the Chargers, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).

It’s a three-year deal worth $24MM, including $15MM in guaranteed money.

The 2018 sixth-round pick had spent his entire career with the Rams. After being inactive for every game during his rookie campaign, the defensive tackle established himself as a consistent starter between 2019 and 2021. The defensive tackle started 31 games during his sophomore and junior year, and he started another seven games in 2021. He missed the second half of the campaign while dealing with a torn pectoral, but he managed to return in time to play in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory.

In total, he finished last season with 38 tackles, three tackles for loss, and a career-high three sacks.

The Chargers are loading up on defense. The team has been one of the most active teams, adding Khalil Mack, J.C. Jackson, and Austin Johnson.

Vikings, DT Harrison Phillips Agree To Deal

March 14th, 2022 at 7:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills have signed Tim Settle and DaQuan Jones, and one of their previous defensive tackle contributors is heading elsewhere. The Vikings are signing Harrison Phillips, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

Buffalo wanted to bring Phillips back, but the four-year veteran moved out of the AFC East champions’ price range, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. The former third-round pick will score a nice payday in Minnesota, signing for three years and $19.5MM.

Phillips worked as a starter and rotational player in Buffalo; he will collect a big raise to likely play a more prominent role in Minnesota. Phillips will join Dalvin Tomlinson in Minnesota, which has Sheldon Richardson on track for free agency and Michael Pierce uncertain to return.

After getting off to a strong start in 2019, Harrison saw that momentum blunted by an ACL tear. He made modest contributions in 2020 but enjoyed a better season last year, making a career-high 51 tackles (four for loss) and posting six quarterback hits. The Bills used Phillips as a starter in eight games last season.

Phillips, 26, joins a Vikings team that plans to address Pierce’s contract, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. The veteran defensive tackle is tied to a $10.2MM 2022 cap number. Since Pierce’s contract tolled after he opted out in 2020, his deal runs through 2023.

Panthers To Sign OL Austin Corbett

March 14th, 2022 at 7:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

7:32pm: The Panthers have agreed to terms with Corbett, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports. Carolina lands a guard with 40 starts’ worth of experience. Corbett agreed to a three-year contract worth $29.25MM, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal contains $13.6MM in guaranteed money, per ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter). The first two years of his deal are fully guaranteed.

6:49pm: The Rams reached agreements to retain center Brian Allen and swing tackle Joseph Noteboom, but they may be ready to see their other free agent offensive lineman of note depart.

Austin Corbett is close to an agreement with the Panthers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Carolina has multiple needs up front, one of those being at guard.

After a midseason trade in 2019, the former Browns second-round pick became a regular Rams starter. Corbett started every game for the past two Rams squads, including all 21 during the team’s Super Bowl-winning campaign. Operating as Los Angeles’ right guard, Corbett provided some stability at that spot as the Rams transitioned to Matthew Stafford under center and used three primary running backs last season. PFF assigned Corbett a 69.6 regular-season grade, which ranked tops among the Rams’ guards.

Carolina struggled consistently at guard, deploying John Miller (52.1) and Michael Jordan (50.8) as their primary first-stringers last season. While the Panthers encountered steady quarterback issues, their O-line did not do this collection of passers many favors.

The Panthers saw Pat Elflein play just nine games last season, though they restructured the would-be starter. Elflein-Corbett would likely be the team’s direction at guard, should the latter end up finalizing this agreement.

Chiefs, Saints Showing Most Interest In WR Jarvis Landry

March 14th, 2022 at 7:26pm CST by Ben Levine

Jarvis Landry earned his walking papers from the Browns earlier today, and the veteran wideout is already generating interest. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the Chiefs and the Saints are the two teams that have shown the most interest in Landry.

Despite a high-flying offense that’s led by receiving threats Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs have been mentioned as a suitor for wideouts this offseason. The team was previously connected to Mike Williams before he re-signed with the Chargers. Now, they’re eyeing a veteran slot receiver. Both Byron Pringle and Demarcus Robinson are free agents, so the Chiefs could easily slide Landry into their depth chart.

The Saints are currently in the mix for Deshaun Watson, but no matter who is under center, they’re looking to provide their future QB with another talented target outside of Michael Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara. Tre’Quan Smith and Ty Montgomery are both set to hit free agency for New Orleans.

Landry, 30 in November, agreed to a five-year, $75.5MM extension with the Browns after they traded for him in 2018. He delivered two Pro Bowl seasons in Cleveland and served as Baker Mayfield‘s most consistent target. However, the veteran averaged just 47.5 receiving yards per game last season and missed five weeks of action.

Jaguars To Sign WR Zay Jones

March 14th, 2022 at 7:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jacksonville’s spending spree continues. Zay Jones is headed to Florida on a three-year agreement, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

This deal comes not long after the Jags agreed to give Christian Kirk top-10 receiver money. They are signing Jones for three years and $24MM, with RapSheet adding the contract can max out at $30MM. The deal contains $14MM in guaranteed money, with his 2022 and 2023 base salaries fully guaranteed (per PFF’s Doug Kyed on Twitter). The deal also includes up to $1MM in incentives for each year of the deal.

Although Doug Pederson expressed interest in bringing back DJ Chark, the Jags have now committed big money to one target and reasonable cash to another wideout. Kirk and Zay Jones join Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault as the top Jacksonville receivers entering the 2022 league year. Evan Engram, who agreed to a one-year deal, will also be part of the equation to help Trevor Lawrence after his rocky rookie year.

A former second-round Bills pick, Zay Jones resurfaced as a decent Raiders option last season. With Henry Ruggs being cut midseason, the Raiders depended more on Jones than they had previously. He caught 47 passes — 33 more than he did in 16 2020 games — for 546 yards and a touchdown last season. While this contract is somewhat surprising, considering Jones reupped with the Raiders for one year and $2.5MM in 2021, the Jags clearly believe he can sustain that performance level.

Doubling as one of the most expensive days in Jaguars history, Monday has also included deals with Brandon Scherff, Folorunso Fatukasi and Foyesade Oluokun. The team that won four games over the past two seasons is certainly bringing in talent, regardless of cost.

Dolphins To Sign Keion Crossen

March 14th, 2022 at 7:02pm CST by Ben Levine

Keion Crossen is heading back to the AFC East. After starting his professional career with the Patriots, the special teams ace is signing with the Dolphins, reports Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).

Crossen got a three-year deal worth $10.5MM. The player negotiated the contract himself, per Wilson. The deal contains more than $3MM in guaranteed money, with only the first season of the deal fully guaranteed (Twitter link).

Following his rookie season in New England, Crossen spent two seasons with the Texans, including a 2020 campaign where he compiled a career-high 46 tackles while appearing in a career-high 28 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

Crossen was traded to the Giants last August for a sixth-round pick. He ended up getting into 16 games for his new team, compiling 13 tackles while primarily appearing on special teams.