North Rumors: Forsett, Bengals, Iupati, Ravens
The latest out of the NFL’s North divisions:
- The Falcons, Washington, and the Colts are interested in Ravens free agent running back Justin Forsett, league sources tell Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome recently made it clear that he’d like to keep Forsett in Baltimore.
- If the Buccaneers cut defensive end Michael Johnson, the Bengals are hoping to orchestrate a reunion with him, a league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter).
- The Vikings never inquired on guard Mike Iupati, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN tweets. The former 49ers standout is now reportedly headed to the Cardinals.
- Instead of using a restricted tender on special-teams ace Anthony Levine, the Ravens would like to bring him back on a longer-term contract, Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun tweets.
Latest On Greg Hardy
Although he’s one of the best available free agent pass-rushers, Greg Hardy‘s market will surely be affected by his murky eligibility status, given that he’s currently on the commissioner’s exempt list. Per Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), however, Hardy will meet with NFL officials tomorrow to learn whether or not he’ll be suspended for his 2014 domestic violence incident.
According to Cole, Hardy is expected to have a litany of suitors once his status is resolved, and the 49ers, Falcons, Jaguars, Titans, and Colts will be the clubs with the most interest. The 26-year-old Hardy played in just one game last season due to his placement on the exempt list, but he racked up 26 sacks in the two seasons prior. If he’s not suspended, he should face a healthy market for his services; if he is hit with a ban, interest in him would obviously be commensurately lowered.
Hardy, whom the Panthers are not expected to try to retain, ranked as the No. 11 free agent on PFR’s Top 50 list.
FA Rumors: Murray, Raiders, Orakpo, Hill
While DeMarco Murray may not land an eight-digit annual salary, his camp sounds confident that there are teams willing to pay $8MM per year for his services, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. However, as Getlin notes it’s not clear yet whether the Cowboys are one of those teams. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Murray is willing to move on from Dallas if a better opportunity presents itself, but the running back is approaching free agency slowly and methodically rather than rushing into any decision.
While we wait to see if Jerry Jones opens up his check book for the NFL’s leading rusher before Murray hits free agency tomorrow, let’s check in on some few other free agent news….
- The Raiders are “hot after” Mike Iupati, widely considered to be the top free agent guard available this winter, reports Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). Oakland figures to be up against the Bills and Jets, among other teams, in the bidding for Iupati. Landing the 49ers veteran after agreeing to terms with center Rodney Hudson would certainly help the Raiders solidify their offensive line.
- The Falcons were mentioned a week ago as a potential favorite for Brian Orakpo, and it doesn’t appear that’s changed. Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 Washington tweets that she’s hearing Atlanta is the current frontrunner for the free agent pass rusher.
- The Titans are still in play for Derrick Morgan, but so are about a half-dozen other teams, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean.
- According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter), the Cowboys and Raiders are among the teams showing interest in quarterback Shaun Hill, who also has reportedly has an offer on the table from the Vikings.
- The Steelers have no immediate plans to re-sign veteran outside linebacker James Harrison, who could potentially be a late-summer addition for the club, tweets Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- We can add the Chiefs to the growing list of teams that has inquired on free agent cornerback Cary Williams, tweets Nick Jacobs of TWC SportsChannel in Kansas City.
- Washington hasn’t been in contract with wide receiver Leonard Hankerson, but the free-agent-to-be has heard from a few other teams, says John Keim of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Vikings Pursuing Clint Boling
The Vikings are making a strong push for free agent guard Clint Boling, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. Boling has spent the last four years with the Bengals and Mike Zimmer was on staff for three of those seasons.
The Vikings are not the only team going after Boling, however. Boling’s trainer, Ryan Goldin, tells Tomasson that the Jets and Falcons are also very interested in Boling and the incumbent Bengals are hoping to retain him. Still, it sounds like Minnesota could have a leg up on the competition.
“He has a lot of interest in the Vikings,’’ Goldin said. “I know he likes the Vikings organization. It’s going to be an interesting 24 hours.’’
Goldin also works out Vikings guard David Yankey and he believes it would be a positive for Yankey if Boling ended up on the same team. Yankey, a rising sophomore, did not see any games last season as a rookie.
NFC Rumors: Iupati, Weatherspoon, Hill, Blalock
Mike Iupati has been a staple of the 49ers’ offensive line for his entire career, imposing his will on defensive linemen and linebackers in the running game, but his time with the team is likely coming to an end, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). The Raiders, Jets, and Bills seem to be the front runners for Iupati if he does not return to San Francisco.
Here are some more rumors from some NFC teams:
- The Falcons are preparing to lose linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, as the Cardinals are expected to offer him a two-year contract somewhere between $3MM and $4MM annually, writes Vaughn McClure of ESPN. He writes that the Falcons were close to a deal on Friday but talks fell apart.
- The Vikings and quarterback Shaun Hill have mutual interest, according to Ben Goessling of ESPN (via Twitter). There are other teams in the mix as well, but Hill is believed to have serious interest in joining the Vikings.
- Two of the other teams that have expressed interest in Hill are the Rams and Buccaneers, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).
- The Rams have also shown interest in guard Justin Blalock, writes Thomas (via Twitter).
- Linebacker David Hawthorne could be a possible cap casualty for the Saints, writes Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via Twitter).
Cards, Saints Vying For Sean Weatherspoon
11:16pm: According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Cardinals have some competition for Weatherspoon. Florio reports that the veteran linebacker is expected to eventually land with either the Cards or the Saints.
5:45pm: Former Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is considering a move to Arizona to join the Cardinals, tweets Yahoo Sports’ Rand Getlin.
Weatherspoon, a 2010 first-round pick, missed most of the past two seasons with Achilles and foot injuries, respectively, but was seen as a priority (Twitter link) for Atlanta. The Falcons remain interested in keeping their injury-prone tackler, however, per the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
After playing both inside and outside in the Falcons’ 4-3 scheme, Weatherspoon would be a fit inside in the Cardinals’ 3-4 look. The former Missouri linebacker had 86 tackles and four sacks in 2011, but that was the only season Weatherspoon played all 16 games.
The Cardinals have just $13MM+ in cap space, per OverTheCap, with nose tackle Dan Williams set to draw a healthy raise as free agency nears.
AFC Links: Parker, Williams, Searcy, Jaguars
One of the least-expected key free agents after he served as a special-teamer and backup in his first three years, Ron Parker looks ready to capitalize on the consistent playing time he received last season.
The four-year veteran who played corner and safety for the Chiefs last year has drawn the eye of several teams, including the Giants, Jets, Buccaneers and Falcons, according to Yahoo Sports’ Rand Getlin on Twitter.
The Chiefs, who signed Parker after the Seahawks and Panthers cut him, are also among the teams interested, but they are currently over the salary cap and may not have the ammunition to compete. Their interest in retaining standout center Rodney Hudson, who could cost up to $8MM per year, will almost certainly eliminate any Parker reunion.
Parker started 15 games for the Chiefs after appearing in the opening lineup once from 2011-13.
Elsewhere around the AFC …
- Recently cut cornerback Cary Williams will visit the Titans after completing a summit with the Jets, per the Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson on Twitter. The Jets and Seahawks, who will likely lose Byron Maxwell, are firmly in the mix for the ex-Ravens and Eagles corner.
- Fellow free agent defensive back Da’Norris Searcy also looks to have a slew of potential buyers. The Colts, Texans, Raiders and Dolphins are pursuing the 26-year-old safety, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson on Twitter. Like Parker, Searcy was a full-time starter for just one season, 2014, and he graded well against the run for the Bills last year (Pro Football Focus; subscription required). The Bills re-signing Searcy would mean keeping safeties in back-to-back years after they re-upped Aaron Williams last March.
- Flush with cap space and in dire need of pass-catchers, the Jaguars figure to make an offer to Julius Thomas, ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets. No team has more to spend than the Jaguars, at more than $68MM, and few have more needs. Florida Times-Union Jaguars columnist Gene Frenette believes the Jags are set to land at least two of the marquee free agents with their mountain of cash stashed after years of mediocre offseason hauls.
- The team that unleashed Thomas the past two years isn’t expected to replicate the signing sprees that brought so many impact players the past three springs, reports Denver Post Broncos reporter Mike Klis. The Broncos are trying to retain tight end Virgil Green but may lose their top four free agents: Terrance Knighton, Orlando Franklin, Rahim Moore and Thomas.
Falcons Re-Sign Eric Weems
SATURDAY, 9:25am: The two-year pact has an average annual value of about $1.5MM, tweets ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure. Presumably, the total value of the contract is just south of $3MM. McClure notes that the contract is one of the most lucrative among special teasers, and he adds that the contract has incentives for production at wide receiver.
FRIDAY, 4:33pm: The Falcons have reached an agreement with wide receiver and special teamer Eric Weems on a new two-year contract that will keep him off the open market, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Weems had been eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.
Weems, who turns 30 in July, was a key special teams player for the Falcons in 2014, recording 12 tackles in kick and punt coverage. The veteran also played over 200 offensive snaps, and while he didn’t see a ton of targets, two of his 10 receptions on the season went for touchdowns. The Falcons also used to utilize Weems as kick returner, but he probably won’t be asked to resume those duties as long as Devin Hester is around.
Financial terms of the deal aren’t yet know, but I’d expect a fairly modest salary figures for Weems.
NFC FA Rumors: Vikings, Seahawks, House
On the eve of 2015’s “legal tampering period,” during which teams can talk to agents for players who are eligible for unrestricted free agency on Tuesday, let’s round up a few FA updates from around the NFC….
- Having started his career in Minnesota, Tarvaris Jackson hasn’t played a game for the Vikings since 2010, but he’d have interest in returning to the team, he tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. “I still go (to Minnesota) to train every summer,” Jackson said. “Coming there, I think I could definitely help Teddy out. I love being in Minnesota. It’s a place that I’ll never forget. It’s a part of my life. … I don’t know why (the Vikings) wouldn’t be interested in me.” The Vikings will certainly be in the market for a backup after trading Matt Cassel, so they could take a look at Jackson, who has spent the last couple seasons backing up Russell Wilson in Seattle and is a free-agent-to-be.
- Speaking of Seattle, don’t be shocked if the Seahawks emerge as a viable landing spot for tight end Julius Thomas, tweets Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. A player like Thomas would certainly be a nice addition to Seattle’s offense, giving Wilson a top red zone option.
- Agent Kenny Zuckerman confirmed today that Packers cornerback Davon House expects to reach the open market, and Zuckerman thinks his client will draw “a lot of interest,” writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. That doesn’t rule out a return to Green Bay, but it looks like other teams will get the opportunity to pursue House.
- Cornerback Walter Thurmond, who is coming off a season-ending pectoral injury, is not expected to re-sign with the Giants, and Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com expects the Falcons to strongly consider the veteran. Thurmond formerly played on Dan Quinn‘s defense in Seattle.
- Expect the Buccaneers to kick the tires on free agent safety Chris Conte, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports, pointing out that Conte played for current Bucs head coach Lovie Smith in Chicago.
South Notes: Weatherspoon, Colts, Saints
As the 2015 free agent period inches a little closer, let’s check in on a few Friday mornings items from around the league’s two South divisions….
- ESPN.com’s Vaughn McClure tweets that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Falcons reached an agreement on a new contract with linebacker Sean Weatherspoon very soon. Weatherspoon, who missed the entire 2014 campaign with a ruptured Achilles, is due to hit the open market next week.
- Former Eagles offensive lineman Todd Herremans is paying a visit to the Colts today, according to Tim McManus of PhillyMag.com (via Twitter). Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets that there are other teams interested in bringing in Herremans for visits, but Indianapolis is first on his schedule.
- The Saints don’t plan to extend an RFA tender to defensive lineman Tyrunn Walker, a league source tells Mike Triplett of ESPN.com. One of three potential restricted free agents for the club, Walker is still drawing interest from New Orleans, but the team would prefer to bring him back at a lesser rate. According to Triplett, running back Travaris Cadet and offensive tackle Bryce Harris may ultimately be in the same boat, with the cap-strapped Saints potentially unwilling to make an offer of $1.5MM+ to either player.
- Greg Olsen‘s new deal with the Panthers is an extension that adds three new years from 2016 to 2018, but it will still have an impact on his 2015 cap hit. According to Joel Corry of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), Carolina created $1.5MM in cap room with the move, reducing Olsen’s cap number from $7.8MM to $6.3MM.