FA Rumors: Broncos, Allen, LaFell, Redskins
According to a Denver Post report, the Broncos are considering free agent linebackers Jon Beason and Daryl Smith. However, the report surfaced yesterday before word broke that the team had agreed to sign Aqib Talib and scheduled a visit with DeMarcus Ware, so it’s not clear whether Denver still has interest. The team certainly does seem to be going all-in to try to take advantage of Peyton Manning‘s final years though.
Here are several more Wednesday morning free agency updates:
- The Bears don’t presently appear to be in the mix to sign veteran defensive end Jared Allen, sources tells Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com (Twitter link).
- While Julian Edelman explores the open market, the Patriots will be hosting another free agent receiver, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who tweets that Brandon LaFell will visit New England.
- Free agent cornerback Corey Graham is set to visit the Redskins, says Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Graham has also reportedly drawn interest from a pair of Washington’s division rivals, the Giants and Eagles.
- The Redskins are also hosting offensive lineman Bruce Campbell, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- The Lions will host free agent fullback Henry Hynoski on Thursday, says Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter).
- Free agent guard Shelley Smith is visiting with the Giants today, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- The Bills have announced that free agents Chris Williams (OL) and Nolan Carroll (CB) will be visiting the team today, according to Joe Buscaglia of WGR550 (via Twitter).
- Free agent wide receiver Kevin Cone didn’t receive a tender offer from the Falcons and will now be an unrestricted free agent, says D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Defensive end Ronald Talley, who was eligible for restricted free agency, also appears to have gone untendered, having tweeted that he won’t be back with the Cardinals in 2014 (hat tip to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com).
Wilson On Steve Smith, Cuts, Daryl Smith
Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun has provided plenty of interesting tidbits on Twitter this morning, so let’s round up a few of the highlights. All links go to Wilson’s Twitter….
- Wilson first reported yesterday that if Steve Smith is cut by the Panthers, the veteran receiver would draw serious interest from the Ravens, and it sounds like that interest would be mutual. Sources tell Wilson that Smith would be “highly interested” in Baltimore if he becomes a free agent.
- Daryn Colledge (Cardinals), Thomas DeCoud (Falcons), David Baas (Giants), LaMarr Woodley (Steelers), Carlos Rogers (49ers) were all designated as post-June 1 cuts by their respective teams, says Wilson.
- There’s still a disconnect in negotiations between the Ravens and linebacker Daryl Smith, according to Wilson.
- It looks like the first free agent visit for defensive lineman Antonio Smith will be with the Redskins, as Wilson reports that Smith is heading to Washington today. We heard yesterday that the longtime Texan would also meet with the Titans, Rams, and Raiders, though the visit to St. Louis was shot down in a later report.
- Wilson provides the financial breakdown of Albert McClellan‘s two-year contract with the Ravens, which includes salary cap figures of $1MM for 2014 and $1.2MM for 2015.
Falcons Release Tony Gonzalez
The Falcons have officially released future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, reports Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The move is a technicality, because Gonzalez has already announced that he is retiring and will not return to the team in 2014. Gonzalez must not have turned in his retirement paperwork, and releasing him will free up $7MM, as his upcoming salary would have still counted against the cap until he retired.
P. Schrager of Fox Sports agrees that the only reason this move was necessary must have been due to Gonzalez not officially submitting the paperwork, but notes that the team would have had to pay him a $3MM roster bonus if he was still on the roster in a few days (via Twitter).
Falcons Sign Soliai, Jackson
6:53pm: Soliai’s contract is a five-year deal worth $32MM, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). $14MM of that is guaranteed, including a $7MM signing bonus.
4:29pm: The Falcons announced that they have signed defensive tackle Paul Soliai and defensive end Tyson Jackson. Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter) first reported that Soliai was Atlanta-bound. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link) had the goods on Jackson.
Soliai gets $33MM over five years, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. He has $14MM guaranteed over the life of the contract and can earn $11MM in 2014.
Jackson’s deal is also for five years and could be worth up to $25MM, Rapoport tweets.
Falcons, Hawley Agree To Deal
5:52pm: Hawley gets $6.5MM over two years with $3MM of it guaranteed, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN (on Twitter).
2:47pm: The Falcons agreed to terms with Joe Hawley on a two-year deal, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Atlanta has been working diligently to lock the offensive lineman up.
Hawley has been an offseason priority for Atlanta even though he hasn’t had an extended run as a starter in his four years in red and black. Financial terms for the center/guard are not yet known.
Earlier today, the Falcons took care of another free agent in defensive end Jonathan Babineaux.
Falcons Release Thomas DeCoud
The Falcons are set to release Pro Bowl safety Thomas DeCoud, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter). Atlanta has faced a bit of a numbers crunch this offseason and DeCoud is a notable victim.
The move has long been expected. A portion of DeCoud’s salary was set to become guaranteed if he remained on the team’s roster beyond March 14th. The 28-year-old earned a spot in the Pro Bowl a year ago due in large part to his six interceptions during the 2012 season. However, he didn’t grade well according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics that season, and was even worse in 2013, ranking 83rd out of 86 qualified safeties (subscription required).
The longtime Falcons starter had three years remaining on his contract, but the club has instead $3MM in 2014 cap savings by releasing him. DeCoud will join a group of free agent safeties that currently includes T.J. Ward, Jairus Byrd, Donte Whitner, Chris Clemons, and James Ihedigbo, among others.
NFC Rumors: Sproles, Tuck, Suh, Watson
Let’s check on the latest miscellaneous notes from around the NFC….
- The Saints are set to cut Darren Sproles today, but they are still holding out hope on trading him, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. There are more than ten teams interested in the diminutive tailback if he’s cut free, so it’s conceivable that they could find a trade partner.
- Justin Tuck‘s exploration of the free agent market may end up with him returning to the Giants, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio hears that one team was willing to pay Tuck $3MM per year, but the veteran defensive end would prefer to remain in New York at that price.
- Talks have yet to start between the Lions and Ndamukong Suh on reworking his deal, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The thinking previously was that Detroit had to re-work the deal before the start of free agency but that’s not the case.
- Buccaneers linebacker Dekoda Watson is likely to sign elsewhere at the start of free agency, a league source tells Mike Florio.
- The Bears would like to bring back cornerback/special teams player Sherrick McManis, but the Ravens, Eagles, and Falcons could be in play as well, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
- With Donte Whitner set to leave the 49ers, San Francisco could turn to safety Ryan Mundy as a fallback, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
- Free agent left tackle Jared Veldheer has fired his agent in order to hire his brother, James Veldheer, as his new agent, tweets Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910. Veldheer is expected to sign with the Cardinals.
- The Redskins are monitoring Kenny Britt, who could be had on a reasonable deal in a soft market, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times. Of course, the Redskins’ likely deal with Andre Roberts lessens their need for Britt.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Falcons, Babineaux Agree To Three-Year Deal
12:47pm: Babineaux’s new three-year contract includes $4MM in guaranteed money for the coming season, and is worth $9MM overall, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
12:28pm: The Falcons and Jonathan Babineaux have agreed to a new three-year deal, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Earlier today, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) reported that the two sides were nearing agreement.
The 32-year-old has been in talks with Atlanta for several weeks and it now appears that they will keep him out of the free agent pool with a brand new deal. Babs was one of many Falcons unrestricted free agents this year and among the team’s higher priorities. Atlanta freed up extra space to re-sign Babineaux and others by convincing cornerback Asante Samuel to restructure his deal and provide the team with ~$4MM in savings. It was rumored that the team would also try and get defensive end Osi Umenyiora, set to earn $3.5MM in 2014, to take a pay cut, but that no longer appears to be the case.
Statistically, this was a less productive season for Babs than previous campaigns as he registered one sack and 28 tackles.
East Notes: Giants, Jennings, Woodyard
The Giants are still in the mix for center Evan Dietrich-Smith, but it appears that guard Geoff Schwartz is their more immediate priority, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger says the club appears to be looking in house at center. Offensive lineman Kevin Boothe, who started six games at center last season, is being viewed as the possible short-term answer.
- The Giants have made an offer to free agent running back Rashad Jennings, a league source tells Fallon Smith of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter). The Raiders, meanwhile, would like to hang on to the tailback.
- Despite interest from the Cowboys, a source close to Wesley Woodyard told Brandon Krisztal of the Denver Post (on Twitter) that his first trip is to the Patriots with another team visit planned after.
- Tyson Jackson is getting an impressive amount of interest with suitors including the Dolphins, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Browns and Falcons are also interested while the Chiefs are still in the mix.
Falcons, Babineaux Nearing Three-Year Deal
The Falcons and Jonathan Babineaux are closing in on a three-year deal, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The 32-year-old has been in talks with Atlanta for several weeks and it now appears that they will keep him out of the free agent pool with a brand new deal.
Babs was one of many Falcons unrestricted free agents this year and among the team’s higher priorities. Atlanta freed up extra space to re-sign Babineaux and others by convincing cornerback Asante Samuel to restructure his deal and provide the team with ~$4MM in savings. It was rumored that the team would also try and get defensive end Osi Umenyiora, set to earn $3.5MM in 2014, to take a pay cut, but that no longer appears to be the case.
Statistically, this was a less productive season for Babs than previous campaigns as he registered one sack and 28 tackles.