2022 March - Pro Football Rumors

Commanders To Extend OC Scott Turner

March 14th, 2022 at 2:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Washington will start a different Week 1 quarterback for a sixth straight season, acquiring Carson Wentz to be the latest. But the team ensured play-calling continuity by agreeing to terms on an extension with Scott Turner.

Turner, who took over as Washington’s offensive coordinator when Ron Rivera arrived in 2020, agreed to a multiyear extension, J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Washington tweets.

Formerly the Panthers’ quarterbacks coach, who moved up to Carolina’s OC to close out the 2019 season, Turner will aim to maximize Wentz’s talents. Turner, 39, has been in the NFL since 2011 and is on his second run as an OC. The second-generation NFL play-caller has mentored Dwayne Haskins, Ryan Fitzpatrick (briefly) and Taylor Heinicke. Turner will be tasked with rehabilitating Wentz’s career, which has skidded off track after the Eagles and Colts traded him in the past year.

Washington did not rank inside the top 20 in points or yards during Turner’s first two seasons, but the team did not exactly have much at quarterback during that time. This led to the Commanders sending the Colts two Day 2 picks and a 2022 second-round swap for Wentz. How Wentz performs may well determine Rivera and Turner’s fates come 2023.

Bengals To Re-Sign DT B.J. Hill

March 14th, 2022 at 1:50pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals are re-signing defensive tackle B.J. Hill (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Once finalized, it’ll be a three-year, $30MM pact with $15MM paid in Year One.

[RELATED: Bears To Sign Ogunjobi]

Hill was shipped from the Giants to the Bengals last August in exchange for offensive lineman Billy Price. Price went on to give the Giants 16 games and 15 starts – the most first-string appearances he’s ever had.

Hill, meanwhile, shined in the Bengals’ interior rotation, notching 5.5 sacks and 50 stops across 16 games, even though he only started twice. Playing behind D.J. Reader and Larry Ogunjobi, he showed promise as a run-stuffer who can also get to the quarterback on passing downs. Now, he’s got a contract to match, one that puts him closer to that of Reader, who inked a four-year, $53MM contract with Cincy.

Ogunjobi, meanwhile, has left the AFC North for the NFC North. On Monday, the defensive tackle agreed to a three-year, $40.5MM deal with the Bears.

Bills To Sign Rodger Saffold

March 14th, 2022 at 1:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Rodger Saffold is joining up with the Bills (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). On Monday, the former Titans guard agreed to a brand new deal with Buffalo. It is a two-year deal in name only, with Saffold indicating (via CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, on Twitter) the second year is a void year for cap purposes.

The 33-year-old had one year to go on his Titans contract, with a scheduled cap hit of $12.8MM. If he had still been on the roster five days after the beginning of free agency next week, he would have received a $1MM roster bonus. Instead, the Titans elected for $10.4MM in cap room with a more modest $2.375MM dead money hit.

After nine years spent with the Rams, the former second rounder inked a four-year, $44MM deal to come to Nashville in 2019. He missed a total of three games in three campaigns with the Titans, and even earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2021. On the other hand, PFF assigned him an underwhelming grade of 68.8.

Despite his age, Saffold profiled as one of the top LGs on the open market. Now, he’ll help to protect star quarterback Josh Allen and work alongside middle man Mitch Morse, who agreed to a fresh two-year deal this week.

Eagles To Sign Haason Reddick

March 14th, 2022 at 1:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the top pass rushers in this year’s free agent class has reportedly found his new home. The Eagles are signing Haason Reddick to a three-year, $45MM deal (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network). He adds that $30MM is guaranteed, and that the deal can reach of maximum value of $49.5MM.

The 27-year-old started his career in Arizona, but was primarily used as a middle linebacker for much of his time there. A 12.5 sack campaign in 2020 showed, however, that he could be used effectively as more of a pure pass rusher. That earned him a ‘prove-it‘ deal in Carolina, where he reunited with former Temple head coach Matt Rhule. Now he will head to back to Pennsylvania.

In 2021, the former first rounder replicated his success from the previous year. He posted 11 sacks and 18 QB hits, as well as two forced fumbles. That production led to the expectation he would price himself out of Carolina, while the team focused on other free agents. It was reported last week that he Reddick would be seeking a deal averaging up to $17MM per season. At $15MM, this contract comes up just short of that figure, but still represents a sizeable pay raise from what he has earned to date in his career.

Reddick represents one of what is expected to be multiple moves the Eagles make to bolster their pass rush. After the team ranked 31st in the league in sacks, they could very well add another free agent, or use at least one of their three first round picks on further edge rushing help.

Jaguars To Sign Christian Kirk

March 14th, 2022 at 1:39pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars are set to sign former Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero).

[RELATED: Jaguars To Sign Fatukasi]

The Jaguars are giving Kirk a four-year, $72MM deal, one that Ian Rapoport of NFL.com indicates (via Twitter) can max out at $84MM. A lot will be on the former second-round pick’s shoulders, as the Jaguars will expect him to be Trevor Lawrence‘s No. 1 target.

Kirk will collect a $20MM signing bonus, with ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson tweeting his 2022 and ’23 base salaries ($1.5MM and $15.5MM, respectively, are guaranteed). The deal comes with $37MM fully guaranteed, Pelissero tweets. Each year contains $3MM in incentives, creating the $84MM ceiling. Kirk is now among the NFL’s top 10 for receiver contracts, something that has not gone unnoticed among the wideout community Monday.

Kirk, 26 in November, put up solid complementary numbers in his first three seasons in the desert. His best campaign of that stretch came in 2019, when he posted 69 catches for 709 yards. The 2018 second-round pick took a big step forward in 2021, however, notching career-highs in receptions (77) and yards (982) while finding the end zone five times. That was Kirk’s first full slate as a pro and his first where he truly lived up to his pre-draft hype.

The cash-strapped Cardinals didn’t have the space to keep him, but the Jaguars were happy to put him on their books. He’s just the latest high-priced addition for Jacksonville, joining offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, linebacker Foye Oluokun, and defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi.

Without Kirk, the Cardinals will have to find more pass-catchers to support DeAndre Hopkins and Rondale Moore. On the plus side, they’ve re-upped tight end Zach Ertz on a three-year contract.

Jets To Re-Sign Braxton Berrios

March 14th, 2022 at 1:25pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets are re-signing Braxton Berrios (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The wide receiver will stay on a two-year deal worth $12MM with $7MM fully guaranteed, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Berrios’ new contract does provide an out after the 2022 season. Per ESPN’s Rich Cimini on Twitter, the wideout will earn a $5.5MM base salary in 2023 and will be attached to an $8.3MM cap hit. However, only $500K of his base salary is guaranteed, meaning the Jets could cut Berrios and save $4.5MM.

Berrios posted solid numbers in 2021, thanks in large part to some big second-half performances. Heading into this week, there was buzz that Berrios could fetch something in the $9MM/year neighborhood, though the Jets were not willing to go that high. Ultimately, Berrios’ market was a little cooler than that, but the 26-year-old (27 in October) still managed to earn the biggest contract of his career by a wide margin.

The ex-Miami Hurricane scored five touchdowns, in three varieties, in his third Jets season. He also finished as the NFL’s leader in yards per kick return (30.4), bolstered greatly by his 102-yard TD against the Jaguars in Week 16. He also held down the fort while Corey Davis and Elijah Moore were out, notching 46 catches for 431 yards and two scores. One of those TDs came in the Jets’ near-upset win the Buccaneers in the season finale. Berrios also had two rushing TDs on the year, and he’ll look to bring more of that to Gang Green in 2022.

Titans To Sign Jamarco Jones

March 14th, 2022 at 1:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Seattle offensive lineman Jamarco Jones will sign a two-year, $5.75MM deal with the Titans (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The deal will also include $3.15MM guaranteed, marking a solid pay bump for the 25-year-old (26 in June).

[RELATED: Titans Cut Saffold]

Jones, a 2018 fifth-round pick, has been hampered by injuries throughout his young career. This year, he was limited to just ten games with a back issue, though he did make a couple starts in place of Damien Lewis at left guard. Still, he’s been productive while healthy. According to Pro Football Focus, he’s allowed just three sacks while on the field throughout his entire career.

Jones isn’t a world-beater, but he should a versatile piece of the puzzle for the Titans. Last year alone, he saw time at three different positions — right tackle, right guard, and left guard. In 2020, he played at every spot, save for center.

His exact role isn’t quite clear, but he’ll provide valuable support for an offensive line that will be without veteran Rodger Saffold.

Jaguars To Sign Folorunso Fatukasi

March 14th, 2022 at 1:09pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars have agreed to sign Folorunso Fatukasi (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Peter Schrager). Once finalized, it’ll be a three-year, $30MM deal with $20MM fully guaranteed.

The run-stuffing defensive tackle had a lot going for him heading into this week. The four-year veteran started 15 games in 2021, after combining for just eight starts across his first three seasons. The Jets were already bracing for this, knowing that the former sixth-round pick would be out of their price range.

The Jets have deployed below-average defenses over the last two seasons, but Fatukasi has played well on an individual level. The UConn product, who just recently turned 27, should offer the Jags multiple prime seasons on this deal. The Jets, meanwhile, will look to add another piece to join Quinnen Williams (under contract through 2023) and Sheldon Rankins, who will see $1.25MM of his $4.5MM base salary become guaranteed on March 20, the fifth day of the 2022 league year.

Jets To Sign Laken Tomlinson

March 14th, 2022 at 1:04pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets have agreed to sign Laken Tomlinson (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). Once finalized, it’ll be a three-year, $40MM with $27MM guaranteed for the former Niners guard.

Tomlinson, 30, just wrapped a three-year, $18MM deal in San Francisco. As the No. 28 overall pick in the 2015 draft, he got off to a shaky start as a pro. However, he’s improved significantly with the Niners. Serving mostly as the starting left guard, Tomlinson hasn’t missed a single game since 2017. This year, he earned his first ever Pro Bowl nod and a solid 78.6 overall score from the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus.

This marks the Jets’ first major pickup of the so-called “legal tampering period”. Per league rules, the deal cannot be fully executed until the official start of free agency on Wednesday, March 16.

There will be more to come out of the Meadowlands as the Jets pursue high-end cornerback help and plug other areas of need.

Lions To Re-Sign Tracy Walker

March 14th, 2022 at 12:56pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have agreed to a brand new deal with safety Tracy Walker. The veteran will return on a three-year, $25MM contract with $17MM guaranteed, according to a source who spoke with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Walker, a third-round pick in 2018, was pegged by many draft analysts as a late-round selection. However, the Lions saw something in him and they weren’t willing to let him get away. Now, they know that they made the right choice, especially since the Panthers were ready to pounce at No. 85 overall.

Walker, 27, started in all 15 of his games this year, notching 108 tackles, one sack, one interception, and six passes defensed. Heading into free agency, Pro Football Focus estimated that the safety could notch a two-year, $13MM deal. That’s more or less what he has here, in terms of annual average value, though the Lions went a touch higher at $8MM+ per annum and added an extra year. The details of the deal will be telling — it’s possible that Walker has little in the way of guarantees for that third season.

While Walker could have generated interest on the open market, he was not as valued as other safeties in this year’s class. This year’s group featured Saints standout Marcus Williams (Saints), Chiefs veteran Tyrann Mathieu, and promising Jets safety Marcus Maye.