2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Eagles Won’t Tender LB Alex Singleton

March 14th, 2022 at 6:46pm CST by Ben Levine

Despite leading his team in tackles over the past two seasons, Alex Singleton won’t receive a tender. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the Eagles won’t be tendering the linebacker, making him a free agent.

The 2015 first-round pick found himself with three different organizations during his rookie campaign, and he ended up having to spend three seasons in the CFL, where he earned All Star appearances and a Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award.

The Eagles gave him another shot in the NFL in 2019, and following a first season with the organization where he exclusively played on special teams, Singleton established himself as one of the most dependable members of the defense over the past two seasons.

After finishing with a team-leading 120 tackles in 2020, Singleton took it to another level in 2021. The 28-year-old finished this past season with 137 tackles to go along with four passes defended in 16 games (eight starts).

Lions To Re-Sign OL Evan Brown

March 14th, 2022 at 6:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

Set to be a restricted free agent, Evan Brown is bypassing that process to stay with the Lions. The team’s Frank Ragnow replacement is staying on a one-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

After Ragnow went down early in the season, Brown stepped in and started 12 games. Pro Football Focus graded the Lions’ O-line 13th, and while Brown checked in with the lowest grade among full-time starters, he posted a respectable mark for his position. This move bolsters the Lions’ depth for the 2022 season.

Brown’s deal is worth just more than $2MM, Doug Kyed and Brad Spielberger of PFF note (via Twitter). This salary comes in just below the right-of-first-refusal tender figure, the lowest of the RFA tender values.

The former UDFA out of SMU remains on track for unrestricted free agency in 2023. The Lions now have all five O-line starters and nearly their entire backup nucleus signed for next season.

Giants Discussing Saquon Barkley, James Bradberry Trades

March 14th, 2022 at 6:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both Saquon Barkley and James Bradberry have surfaced as trade candidates, though it is unclear how seriously the Giants are with those respective courses of action. It appears the team is fairly intent on moving at least one.

In pursing their goal of clearing $40MM-plus in cap space, the Giants have had discussions with multiple teams about trading Barkley and/or Bradberry, Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reports. However, the duo is not generating too much interest. A Day 3 choice may be the max value the Giants could net for either player, Vacchiano notes. That is unlikely to move the needle for the Giants on Barkley.

Bradberry was reported to have more value than Barkley, the latter’s reputation and dominant rookie season notwithstanding. But their current values may put the new Giants regime to key decisions. They are likely to move on from at least one of the duo, Vacchiano adds, due to cap constraints.

It would be rather strange to see Barkley unloaded, given his reduced trade value after three injury-plagued years. The former No. 2 overall pick carries just a $7.2MM cap number — down from $10MM in 2021 — on his fifth-year option. Both Barkley and Bradberry’s deals expire after the 2022 season. Leaguewide concern exists on Barkley’s health, per Vacchiano. A high ankle sprain, ACL and MCL tears and another ankle issue have felled Barkley over the past three years. The would-be superstar faces perhaps a make-or-break season in 2022.

A Bradberry swap would give the Giants $12.1MM in cap space. The ex-Panther cornerback signed a three-year, $45MM deal in 2020. Dropping Bradberry would also leave the Giants shorthanded at corner. No. 1 corners are certainly more difficult to replace than running backs.

It will be interesting to see where the Giants go here. They made multiple cuts but also reached pay-cut agreements to retain Blake Martinez and Sterling Shepard. As of Monday evening, Big Blue remains over the 2022 cap.

Panthers To Sign S Xavier Woods

March 14th, 2022 at 6:26pm CST by Ben Levine

After having to settle for a one-year deal last offseason, Xavier Woods is now getting paid. The safety is signing a three-year deal with the Panthers, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The three-year pact is worth $15.75MM.

The 2017 sixth-round pick evolved into a consistent starter during his time in Dallas, including a 2020 campaign where he finished with 72 tackles in 15 starts. However, the safety didn’t endear himself to Cowboys fans when he admitted that he didn’t play “full speed for 70 plays” following an October 2020 loss to the Browns, comments that proved to be the beginning of the end for Woods in Dallas.

He ended up having to opt for a one-year deal with the Vikings last offseason. During his lone season in Minnesota, Woods collected a career-high 108 tackles to go along with 10 passes defended and three interceptions in 17 starts. He was also the NFL’s only defensive player to play in every one of his team’s defensive snaps last season (per ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).

Giants, G Mark Glowinski Agree To Deal

March 14th, 2022 at 6:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

In need of another offensive line overhaul, the Giants added a piece Monday night. They agreed to sign former Colts guard Mark Glowinski, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Part of a top-tier Colts O-line for the past four seasons, Glowinski agreed to join the Giants on a three-year deal worth $20MM. The veteran inside blocker will receive $11.4MM fully guaranteed, RapSheet adds.

Although Glowinski was far from the best O-linemen the Colts deployed in recent years, he helped Indianapolis’ cause and started in each of his four seasons with the team. The Colts gave the ex-Seahawks fourth-round draftee a three-year, $16.2MM extension in January 2019, making this a slight pay bump for the seven-year veteran.

The Giants played shorthanded on their interior line throughout last season, seeing Nick Gates and Shane Lemieux suffer season-ending injuries early on. The team acquired Billy Price and Ben Bredeson as stopgaps, adding fellow ex-Raven Matt Skura as well. Both ex-Baltimore cogs are under contract for 2022, but four-year starter Will Hernandez is a free agent.

New York may well be starting over up front, with the exception of left tackle Andrew Thomas. Glowinski will certainly take over as one of the team’s starting guards, having made 74 career starts. But the team has more work to do up front going forward. The draft will be a key resource here, with the Giants the rare team to hold two top-10 picks in a draft.

Chargers To Sign DL Austin Johnson

March 14th, 2022 at 6:16pm CST by Ben Levine

The Chargers have added another player to their defense. The team is signing defensive tackle Austin Johnson, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). It’s a two-year deal worth up to $14MM, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter).

Johnson had a breakout season for the Giants in 2021, setting career-highs across the board. In 17 starts, the defensive tackle collected 72 tackles, 3.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and seven QB hits. Entering this season, Johnson had 54 tackles and 3.5 sacks in five seasons with the Titans and Giants.

A 2016 second-round pick, Johnson spent the first four seasons of his career with Tennessee. He joined the Giants organization in 2020.

The acquisitions of Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson will steal the headlines, but Johnson should find a role for himself on the Chargers defense. Justin Jones and Linval Joseph combined for 23 starts last season, but both players are hitting free agency. Even backup Christian Covington, who started three games in 2021, is a free agent.

Steelers To Sign OL Mason Cole

March 14th, 2022 at 6:06pm CST by Ben Levine

After re-signing Chukwuma Okorafor earlier today, the Steelers are adding another offensive lineman to the mix. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the Steelers are signing center Mason Cole. It will be a three-year deal for the offensive lineman. Cole is getting a three-year deal worth $15.75MM, with $11MM paid out in the first two years (per ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).

The 2018 third-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Cardinals, starting 32 of his 46 appearances. He was traded to the Vikings last offseason for a sixth-round pick, and he proceeded to start seven of his 14 games for Minnesota. Cole spent time at both center and right guard before his season ended early due to an elbow injury.

2021 third-round pick Kendrick Green ran with the starting center gig last year, starting all 15 of his games. The team is also rostering center J.C. Hassenauer.

Jets To Sign TE C.J. Uzomah

March 14th, 2022 at 6:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

After seven seasons in Cincinnati, C.J. Uzomah will have a new home. The veteran tight end agreed to terms with the Jets on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

It’s a three-year, $24MM deal for the longtime Bengals pass catcher. Uzomah is coming off his best season, having helped the Bengals to their first Super Bowl in 33 years, and ended it by playing hurt against the Rams. The former fifth-round pick will cash in.

The Bengals spent money on two interior offensive linemen Monday — Alex Cappa and Ted Karras — and will let one of Joe Burrow‘s weapons walk. The team still has Burrow’s top three targets — Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd — under contract, softening the blow of Uzomah’s defection.

Still, Uzomah was a popular presence in Cincinnati’s locker room and worked as a key complementary target for the rising team. The 6-foot-6 tight end overcame an MCL sprain in the AFC championship game to play in Super Bowl LVI. After combining for 13 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown in the Bengals’ first two playoff games, he caught two passes in the team’s loss to the Rams.

Uzomah, 29, established new career-high marks across the board in 2021 by catching 49 passes for 493 yards and five touchdowns. Working his way up after playing behind Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft, Uzomah has been a regular starter in Cincinnati for the past four seasons. He will head to the Jets to help out Zach Wilson. Ryan Griffin led Jets tight ends with just 27 receptions for 261 yards last year.

Cowboys, DE DeMarcus Lawrence Agree To New Deal

March 14th, 2022 at 5:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys asked DeMarcus Lawrence to take a pay cut, but he refused. However, the sides agreed on a deal that will lower Lawrence’s 2022 cap hit and give him additional guaranteed money.

Dallas and Lawrence agreed to terms on a three-year, $40MM deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. This contract comes with $30MM fully guaranteed, a positive development for Lawrence, who is coming off an injury-limited season.

Lawrence’s cap hit will drop from its previously steep perch ($27MM), giving Dallas more space. The 2022 number will drop to $14MM, Todd Archer of ESPN tweets. The Cowboys will run into a similar situation in 2023, when Lawrence’s cap figure vaults to $26MM. Dallas included a void year (2025) to spread out the cap hit.

This agreement will also benefit the Pro Bowl edge rusher in his early 30s. The guarantees from his previous five-year, $105MM contract only ran through the 2021 season. With Randy Gregory free to negotiate with other teams, the Cowboys have at least ensured their cornerstone defensive end will be back.

It appeared Dallas had balked when Lawrence refused to take a pay cut, but this compromise will bump the NFC East champs’ cap space north from its present $15MM-plus place. The Cowboys have already shipped out Amari Cooper‘s five-year, $100MM contract — a deal that had a nonguaranteed three years and $60MM remaining — and let Cedrick Wilson defect to the Dolphins. The team is set to cut or trade La’el Collins.

Lawrence, 30 in April, missed 10 games after suffering a foot injury ahead of Dallas’ Week 2 game. He finished the season with just three sacks, marking the former second-round pick’s third straight season with fewer than seven sacks. The Cowboys franchise-tagged Lawrence twice, during a period in which he made two Pro Bowls, but extended him in 2019. This marks the third long-term contract Lawrence has signed with the Cowboys.

Jets To Re-Sign RB Tevin Coleman

March 14th, 2022 at 5:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Tevin Coleman will spend at least another season in New York. The veteran running back is re-signing with the Jets, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). Coleman’s new deal is for one year worth $1.5MM, including $650K in guaranteed money (per Pelissero on Twitter).

Following a two-year stint with the 49ers, Coleman joined the Jets last offseason on a one-year, $2MM deal. He ended up getting into 11 games (five starts) for New York, collecting 356 rushing yards on 84 carries. He also added another 11 receptions for 49 yards.

Coleman will likely see a similar amount of playing time in 2022, serving as the older counterpart to Michael Carter. The Jets are also rostering Ty Johnson, Austin Walter, and La’Mical Perine.

Prior to his two seasons in San Francisco, Coleman spent the first four seasons of his career with the Falcons. This included a 2018 campaign where he finished with a career-high 1,076 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 199 touches.