Bills To Sign OL Ty Nsekhe
The Bills are making their third signing of the day. Buffalo has agreed to terms on a contract with offensive lineman Ty Nsekhe, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Nsekhe will get a two-year deal worth $14.5MM with $7.7MM of that guaranteed, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Rodak writes that the amount of money “certainly means he’s projected to start at right tackle.”
Nsekhe comes to Buffalo from Washington, where he spent the past four seasons with the Redskins. Nsekhe was always a reserve, but thanks to the Redskins’ frequently injured offensive line, ended up starting at least four games each of the past three years. This past season, he started five games and split time between left guard and left tackle.
Nsekhe is an interesting case, as he bounced around the arena league for a handful of years before breaking through in the NFL. He’s been regarded as one of the league’s better backup linemen the last couple of years, so this could prove to be a sneaky good singing for Buffalo. Between Nsekhe now, center Mitch Morse yesterday, and receivers Cole Beasley and John Brown earlier today, the Bills have significantly upgraded their offense.
They’ve also done it without breaking the bank for any one player. These added pieces will greatly help Josh Allen next season in what will be a critical year for the young quarterback. Nsekhe received above average grades from Pro Football Focus for his work last season.
Ravens Out On Le’Veon Bell?
It appears the Le’Veon Bell sweepstakes are coming to an end. It “seems like” Bell is down to the Jets and the Ravens as his final two choices on where to sign, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Contradicting Rapoport’s report, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets that he continues “to be told the Ravens are not in on Le’Veon Bell.” It’s unclear who’s right, but the Ravens would definitely be at a significant disadvantage as they’re in a much worse cap situation than the Jets.
The Jets have been the team most consistently and heavily linked to Bell over the past handful of months, but the Ravens appear to be making a late push and coming on strong, depending on who you believe. We also just heard the Ravens were the “frontrunners” to sign Mark Ingram, which could limit their willingness to pursue Bell.
Bell appears genuinely interested in the Ravens, and “has indicated to some friends around the league how much he likes Baltimore,” Rapoport writes. Less than an hour ago it was reported the Raiders hadn’t quite ruled out signing Bell yet, but it appears they’re lagging far behind if they’re even still in it at all.
The Jets were just spurned by linebacker Anthony Barr, and the latest word is that the Jets were going to use some of the money they were going to pay Barr to make “a last and final big offer” to Bell. The Jets desperately need a running back and have some of the most cap space in the NFL, so they can outbid anybody.
The Colts have officially been declared out and other teams like the Texans and Bills always seemed like long-shots. If it’s really down to just the Jets and Ravens like it appears to be, we should know where Bell is heading very soon.
Ravens Frontrunners For Mark Ingram
New Orleans signing running back Latavius Murray seemed to signal the end of the Mark Ingram era in New Orleans. But the longtime Saints running back might not be on the open market very long.
The Ravens have emerged as the “frontrunner” for Ingram’s services, according to Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune (Twitter link). Ingram has been with the Saints ever since New Orleans took him in the first round back in 2011. The former Heisman Trophy winner is 29 now, but his play hasn’t dipped much.
He averaged a robust 4.7 yards per carry this past season, which was actually his lowest total in the last three years. He was suspended for the first four games of the season for using PEDs, but came back as his reliable self for the final 12.ecause Ingram has always split time in a committee with the Saints, he doesn’t have as much tread on his tires as your typical 29-year-old running back. The Saints apparently want to get Alvin Kamara more touches, and don’t want to pay Ingram the salary he’s seeking.
Ingram was making around $4MM annually on his most recent contract, and seems to be looking for a raise. The Ravens have also been linked to Le’Veon Bell recently, and signing Ingram would presumably remove them from those sweepstakes. Whoever the Ravens end up signing is likely to see a heavy workload, as Baltimore has transitioned to the league’s most run-heavy offense with Lamar Jackson.
Steelers Interested In WR Tyrell Williams
The Steelers lost one of the top receivers in the league when they traded away Antonio Brown, and now they’re looking to replace him. The team is “involved in the receiver market,” and they’ve inquired about Tyrell Williams, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). 
If Pittsburgh is indeed going after Williams, they won’t be alone. The Browns are reportedly interested in the young wideout, and the Steelers may also face competition from the team they traded Brown to. Even after acquiring Brown, the Raiders are still interested in adding Williams, according to Michael Gehlken of The Las Vegas Review Journal (Twitter link). The Colts have also been linked to Williams, but their signing of Devin Funchess probably took them out of the running.
Williams has spent the last four seasons with the Charges, and has been one of the most buzzed about free agent receivers. Due to the Chargers’ crowded receiving depth chart, it seems like a foregone conclusion that he’ll be walking. A 2015 undrafted free agent from Western Oregon, Williams barely played as a rookie.
But he broke out in his second season, catching 69 passes for 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns. That was the year Keenan Allen missed the entire season with a torn ACL, and Williams’ production has dipped the last couple of years after Allen returned and the Chargers drafted Mike Williams in the first round. Still though, Williams is a big, talented receiver who can also beat teams deep, and he’d be a great addition as a team’s number two option.
Bills To Sign WR John Brown
The Bills didn’t end up landing Antonio Brown, but they are bringing in a receiver. Buffalo is going to sign John Brown, a source told Peter Schrager of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
Adam Schefter of ESPN.com followed up with a tweet reporting that Brown will get $27MM over three years. Brown comes to the Bills from the Ravens, where he spent the 2018 season after inking a one year deal. Brown will provide an immediate upgrade to the Bills’ weak receiving corp, and will be a great asset for Josh Allen as he continues to develop as a passer. Buffalo’s leading receiver last year was Zay Jones, which wasn’t going to cut it moving forward.
Brown will provide a much-needed deep threat for Buffalo’s offense, and he’s still one of the fastest receivers in the league. Brown was always high on talent, and showed flashes during his years with the Cardinals. He broke out with 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns in 2015, but struggled with injuries and inconsistency the next couple of years.
He got off to a really hot start in Baltimore, and revitalized his career last year. He showed an instant connection with Joe Flacco, and had at least 85 yards in four of his first seven games. His production really dropped off the second half of the season, but only because Lamar Jackson took over at quarterback and the team stopped throwing deep as much. Brown is still only 28, and will immediately slide in as Buffalo’s best receiver.
Dolphins, DeVante Parker Agree To Extension
The Dolphins have been quiet so far in free agency, but they’re on the verge of locking up one of their own. Miami is “closing in on” a two-year extension with receiver DeVante Parker, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link).
In a separate tweet, Pelissero reports the two-year deal will be worth up to $13MM including incentives. It’s been a tumultuous ride for Parker in Miami. A first round pick in 2015, he had been heading into the final year of his rookie deal after the Dolphins picked up his fifth-year option last year. He had been widely expected to be cut this offseason, so this is a bit of a surprise.
A new front office and coaching staff is in place in Miami, and they want to give Parker one more shot to get things figured out. Parker has always been high on talent, but has been plagued by injuries and inconsistent playing time. Notably, Parker was at the center of an incident last season where his agent publicly blasted then Dolphins coach Adam Gase.
Seemingly every year, Parker has been hyped as a breakout candidate during training camp, but it’s never materialized. The Louisville product reeled in 24 balls for 304 yards and one touchdown in 11 games last year. The 304 yards were by far the lowest of his career, and the year before he had 670. The old coaching staff never really seemed to believe in Parker, so it’s definitely possible he’ll fare better under new coach Brian Flores.
Cardinals To Sign Jordan Hicks
The Cardinals aren’t done signing linebackers. After inking outside linebacker Terrell Suggs, Arizona has agreed to terms on a contract with inside linebacker Jordan Hicks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Rapoport reports the deal is for four years and $36MM. Hicks will get a $12MM signing bonus, and $20MM of the deal is fully guaranteed. Hicks comes to the desert from the Eagles, after spending the first four years of his career in Philadelphia. A third round pick in 2015, Hicks became a near-immediate starter in Philly.
Hicks has always been a good player when on the field, but he does have a somewhat lengthy injury history. His rookie season was cut short by a torn pectoral, and he missed the final nine games of the 2017 season after tearing his Achilles. He then missed four games last year with a calf injury. The Cardinals are signaling that they’ll be aggressive rebuilding their defense as they transition into the Kliff Kingsbury era.
It’s a lot of money to plunk down, but if Hicks can stay healthy he should be worth it. He earned great marks from Pro Football Focus last year, grading out as the tenth-best linebacker in the league by PFF’s metrics. New defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will be running a 3-4 defense in Arizona, and now the Cardinals have Hicks to play alongside 2017 first round pick Haason Reddick in the middle.
Steelers Toll Ryan Shazier’s Contract Into 2019
The Steelers are once again doing right by Ryan Shazier. The team is tolling his contract into 2019, with plans to eventually place him on the reserve/PUP list, according to Bob Labriola of Steelers.com. 
Shazier was nearly paralyzed after making a tackle in a now infamous 2017 game against the Bengals. Since then he’s undergone several surgeries as he continues the lengthy rehabilitation process. Pittsburgh’s move today ensures that Shazier “will be paid a salary commensurate with his years of service in the NFL, he will continue to accrue seasons toward his NFL players’ pension, and his medical insurance plan will be the same coverage that all active NFL players receive,” Labriola writes.
Shazier will be paid $473K in 2019, according to Albert Breer of SI.com (Twitter link). It’s a classy move by Steelers ownership, and they’ve stuck by the linebacker every step of the way. Shazier has remained around the team in an informal coaching role, and will continue to do so.
“We will continue to support Ryan’s efforts to return to play,” Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said in a statement. “Although he won’t be able to help us on the field in 2019, his leadership, insight, and emotional support have always been very valuable to us, and we look forward to his contributions in our pursuit of a championship.”
Shazier has remained steadfast in his insistence that he wants to return to the field one day, but it won’t be in 2019. A first round pick out of Ohio State in 2014, Shazier had blossomed into a star at the time of his injury.
Le’Veon Bell Deciding Between Five Teams?
Free agents have been flying off the board but perhaps the biggest name, running back Le’Veon Bell, remains unsigned. The market does appear to be narrowing down for Bell’s services, and there’s a “good likelihood” he signs with one of the Jets, Colts, Ravens, Packers, Texans, or Bills, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
However, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com soon tweeted that the Colts are officially out on Bell, which would narrow down the list to five teams. Furthermore, the Packers have already spent a ton of money today on Adrian Amos, Za’Darius Smith, and Preston Smith, so they might not no longer be able to fit the massive contract Bell is seeking into their cap.
The Jets have been the team most heavily linked to Bell for months now. There have been conflicting reports about their level of interest, and rumors they’re concerned about his weight, but they’ve been the one constant when discussing Bell. The Jets are looking to add some excitement, need a running back, and have plenty of cap space, so they still make the most sense on paper.
The Ravens make some sense as well, as they’re looking for weapons for Lamar Jackson and are planning to have a very run-heavy offense. The Texans and Bills are more outside the box options, as both have established running backs. The Texans have Lamar Miller, while the Bills have LeSean McCoy and just added Frank Gore. Both Gore and McCoy are getting up there in age while the Texans could get out of Miller’s contract fairly easily, so they’re both definitely options.
Interestingly, Anderson’s list doesn’t include the Raiders. After trading for Antonio Brown, rumors began swirling that Jon Gruden would attempt to re-pair him with Bell in Oakland. That could still be the case, although they didn’t make Anderson’s shortlist.
Packers To Sign OLB Preston Smith
The Packers won’t stop adding to their defense. Green Bay has agreed to terms with outside linebacker Preston Smith, a source told Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweeted that it’s a four-year deal for Smith worth $52MM. He’ll get $16MM to sign with $27.5MM coming his way over the first two years of the deal, Rapoport reports. It’s been a big day for the Packers, particularly on defense, as they’ve already added safety Adrian Amos and fellow outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith. The three big signings in one day are indicative in the change of philosophy the Packers’ front office has undergone.
Under old GM Ted Thompson, the Packers were generally conservative and not very active in free agency. With team president Mark Murphy and new GM Brian Gutekunst now in charge, the team has been much more aggressive. With new coach Matt LaFleur in tow, the Packers have clearly decided to go bold.
They’ve already re-invented their defense, and will now have a very solid group of pass-rushers in both Smiths, Kenny Clark, and Mike Daniels. Smith comes to Green Bay from the Redskins, where he spent the first four years of his career. Last year he had 53 tackles, four sacks and one interception. The year before that he had eight sacks and two interceptions.
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, who LaFleur retained from Mike McCarthy’s staff, will have a lot of new pieces to work with. Paired with the returning pieces of Daniels, Clark, and the promising young cornerback duo of Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson, the Packers’ defense has the potential to be really good next year.