Jaguars To Sign Tyson Alualu
Tyson Alualu is headed back to where his career started. The veteran defensive tackle is signing with the Jaguars, his agent Kenny Zuckerman announced on Twitter.
It’s a two-year deal worth $6MM for Alualu, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tweeted. It’s a nice payday for a player that will turn 34 in May. It’s a familiar rate for Alualu, as each of his last three contracts signed have been two-year deals for about $6MM. The Cal product was the 10th overall pick of the Jags way back in 2010, and although he’s been a solid player he never really lived up to his draft status.
Alualu had a bit of a late career resurgence in Pittsburgh, and was widely praised for his work with the Steelers last year. He played about 44 percent of the defensive snaps in 2020 (on arguably the league’s best defense), and finished with 38 tackles, two sacks, and five passes defended. He received very strong marks from Pro Football Focus for his work as a run defender.
The big fella will now help man the middle of Urban Meyer’s first defense in Jacksonville. The Jags have been busy so far, and they just signed Shaquill Griffin to a big contract earlier this afternoon to anchor the secondary.
Saints Interested In Richard Sherman
The Saints are in a terrible cap situation, but that’s never stopped GM Mickey Loomis before. Loomis has been manipulating the cap like a madman, and he’s apparently comfortable enough in his process to still be pursuing some big name free agents.
New Orleans is “among the teams expressing interest” in Richard Sherman, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). As Pelissero points out there’s a coaching connection here, as current Saints defensive backs coach Kris Richard was Sherman’s DBs coach and then later defensive coordinator in Seattle.
The Saints released fellow cornerback Janoris Jenkins last week, so Sherman could theoretically slide in nicely opposite Marshon Lattimore in the secondary. Sherman and the 49ers had been appearing headed for divorce since late last season, and that was confirmed for certain last month.
Sherman will turn 33 later this month, but was a second-team All-Pro with San Francisco as recently as 2019. A calf injury cost him most of this past season, and he ended up playing in only five games. He does have somewhat of a history of lower leg injuries, but had only played in less than 14 games once prior to last year.
Either way, it doesn’t sound like his relatively advanced age is scaring that many teams away. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of deal he lands, from the Saints or whoever else.
Cowboys To Re-Sign C.J. Goodwin
The Cowboys haven’t been too active so far in free agency, but they’re now making a smaller move to keep one of their own in the fold. Dallas has agreed to terms on a new deal for cornerback/special teamer C.J. Goodwin, agent Drew Rosenhaus tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
It’s a two-year deal for $3.5MM with $2MM guaranteed, Rapsheet notes. Goodwin only played 18 defensive snaps last year but is one of the team’s most important special teams players, as he played over 70 percent of the total defensive snaps. Goodwin came into the league as an UDFA with the Steelers in 2014, but he didn’t crack the field until 2016 with the Falcons.
He carved out a role as a special teamer, and even started a game on defense for Atlanta that year. The D2 product was cut by four different teams in 2018 before signing with the Cowboys off the Bengals’ practice squad, and he’s now been in Dallas the past three seasons. Getting $2MM guaranteed is a massive win for a player with his story, so we all tip our cap to him.
Jets, Vikings, Browns, Bengals Interested In DE Trey Hendrickson
With Shaquil Barrett off the board after his re-signing with Tampa Bay the group of free agent pass-rushers took a hit, but there are still plenty of quality options available. One of those options is the Saints’ Trey Hendrickson, and we now have details on what the bidding for his services looks like.
The Jets, Vikings, and Browns have all shown interest in signing Hendrickson, a source told Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link). Anderson notes that list is in no particular order. We’ve heard all offseason that the Browns are looking to add a pass rusher next to Myles Garrett, so their interest isn’t surprising.
The Bengals are also interested in Hendrickson, per Anderson (on Twitter). Cincinnati did not place its franchise tag on Carl Lawson, running the risk of letting the emerging pass rusher defect in free agency. It will be interesting to see the prices for Hendrickson and Lawson. The former broke out in 2020, while the latter has been a producer for a bit longer.
Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network followed up with a tweet noting that the Jets view Hendrickson as a “great fit” for new coach Robert Saleh‘s system. New Orleans is in a really tough cap situation, and GM Mickey Loomis seemed to acknowledge last month that Hendrickson moving on was likely.
Hendrickson was a revelation last year, coming out of nowhere to start 15 games and rack up 13.5 sacks. The 2017 third-round pick had previously had only 6.5 sacks total over his first three years in the league, but set himself up nicely for a big payday in 2020. It’ll be very interesting to see what kind of contract he ends up landing. Yannick Ngakoue is another big edge rushing domino waiting to fall.
49ers Agree To New Deal With Dee Ford
The 49ers are making the pass-rush a priority. Shortly after signing Samson Ebukam away from the Rams, San Francisco has agreed to terms on a new deal to keep Dee Ford in the fold, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.
The restructured contract is a two-year pact worth $24MM, he reports. Ford had previously been under a five-year, $85MM deal that he signed with the team when they traded for him almost exactly two years ago, and he wasn’t going to stick at that price. The 49ers gave up a second-round pick to get Ford away from the Chiefs and sign him to that contract, and the move has been somewhat of a disaster.
In his first season with the team, he was banged up but still had 6.5 sacks in 11 games. The 49ers shopped him around this time last year, but didn’t find any takers. Then injuries completely tanked his 2020 season, and he played in only one game.
This led to a lot of uncertainty about his status, and he now has a lot to prove. It now feels like ages since he had 13 sacks with Kansas City in 2018. If Ford can get healthy, Ebukam can contribute, and Nick Bosa returns to pre-ACL tear form, the 49ers’ pass-rush is going to be dramatically improved from last season.
Patriots To Re-Sign Deatrich Wise
The Patriots have been the most aggressive team in the league so far, signing free agents left and right, and now they’re bringing back one of their own. New England has agreed to terms on a new deal to bring back defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, a source told Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
A fourth-round pick out of Arkansas back in 2017, Wise just wrapped up his initial rookie contract. He’s been a consistent role player during his four years in New England, starting at least three games each season but never more than seven. He had five sacks as a rookie and then 4.5 as a sophomore.
He started seven games this past year and appeared in all 16, playing around 55 percent of the defensive snaps. He finished with only 2.5 sacks this time as the Patriots’ pass-rush struggled as a whole.
The team has been making moves to upgrade the defensive front by adding defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and pass-rusher Matt Judon, but they clearly didn’t feel like that made Wise expendable.
49ers To Sign Samson Ebukam
The 49ers are poaching away a young player from a division rival. San Francisco has agreed to terms on a deal with former Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam, sources tell Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
It’s a two year pact worth $12MM that can be worth up to $13.5MM with incentives, Pelissero writes. A 2017 fourth-round pick, Ebukam has shown plenty of flashes although he’s never been able to have a full-time role in the Rams’ often loaded defensive front. This past year he started 14 games, but only played around 35 percent of the defensive snaps in a rotational role.
Even still, he managed to finish with 4.5 sacks, so it easily could’ve been double digits had he been playing every down. He’s also been durable, appearing in all 16 games in all four of his pro seasons.
The Eastern Washington product is still only 25, so this is a nice upside signing for a 49ers team that saw their pass-rushers get decimated by injuries this past year. Fortunately they’ll have Nick Bosa back in 2021, which should make Ebukam’s job easier just like playing next to Aaron Donald did.
Jets Receive Trade Calls On C.J. Mosley
The Jets just signed Jarrad Davis to a deal, and they now could be shipping out a different linebacker. New York has been receiving trade calls on C.J. Mosley, sources told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link).
That’s a bit surprising, considering Mosley is on what’s widely considered a very bad contract. He’s got four years and $56MM left on his current deal, and Pelissero writes that $22MM in guarantees remain on that. The Jets signed him to a massive five-year, $85MM deal in March of 2019, but he was limited to only two games that year due to a groin injury. He then opted out of this past season due to COVID-19.
As such, he’s barely played since 2018. A first-round pick of the Ravens in 2014, he was a second-team All-Pro in four of his five seasons in Baltimore. But the Alabama product has seen his stock drop significantly since then. That being said, Pelissero does point out that his 2021 cap hit to a potential new team would only be $6MM.
The signing of Davis makes Mosley look expendable to the rest of the league, and as Connor Hughes of The Athletic tweets, new Jets coach Robert Saleh recently offered a lukewarm assessment of his outlook with the team.
If the Jets do move Mosley, they likely wouldn’t get much at all in return. That’s not to say Mosley still couldn’t be a good player, he just comes with an AAV of $17MM. He’ll turn 29 in June.
Chiefs To Sign Joe Thuney
One of the most high profile free agents is off the board, and the Chiefs have made a big splash. Kansas City is signing guard Joe Thuney to a five-year deal, his agent Mike McCartney announced on Twitter.
Details soon trickled in, with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweeting that the five-year pact is worth a whopping $80MM. The first two years are fully guaranteed at $32.5MM, and while the third year is initially only guaranteed for injury it becomes fully guaranteed in year two, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. As such, he writes that $48MM of the deal is “practically guaranteed.”
Patrick Mahomes was running for his life during this past Super Bowl, and the Chiefs immediately set out to aggressively remake the offensive line. They cut both of their starting tackles, Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, and are expected to let starting center Austin Reiter walk in free agency.
At $16MM annually, Thuney is now the highest-paid guard in the league. Thuney was highly sought after, and we heard the Jets were preparing a push for the former Patriot. A third-round pick back in 2016, Thuney immediately became a starter in New England and has started all 80 possible games since entering the league.
That kind of durability must’ve been attractive to a Chiefs team that saw their O-line decimated by injuries last year. Thuney was a second-team All-Pro in 2019, and is one of the league’s best interior linemen. He has versatility, and started a couple of games at center for the Patriots in 2020.
Despite landing one of the big fishes on the market, Kansas City likely isn’t going to stop here with addressing Mahomes’ blockers. They’re also set to host the recently un-retired Kyle Long this week.
The Pats franchise tagged Thuney last offseason, but never got a long-term deal done. Minimal progress had been made right up until the point New England traded for Trent Brown, although Albert Breer of SI.com writes that “lines of communication” had recently reopened and that the Patriots had expressed interest in keeping Thuney.
Obviously nothing got done, and despite New England’s free-wheeling spending so far, Thuney got priced out of their range. It’s a big upgrade for the Chiefs.
Jets To Sign Jarrad Davis
We heard last night the Jets were expected to “make waves” in free agency, and they’re starting to heat up their activity. They’ve agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Jarrad Davis, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
The Jets are giving him a one-year deal for $7MM, Rapoport reports. New Jets coach Robert Saleh will be installing a 4-3 defense, and Davis fits nicely as a 4-3 outside linebacker. The 21st overall pick of the 2017 draft by the Lions, Davis didn’t quite pan out in Detroit. He certainly wasn’t terrible but didn’t live up to his draft status, and the Lions declined his fifth-year option last offseason, making him a free agent now.
All told, he started 45 games across his four years in Detroit. After starting at least 11 games in each of his first three pro seasons Matt Patricia curtailed his role sharply in 2020, as he only started four times and played just below 30 percent of the defensive snaps.
His most productive year was in 2018, when he started all 16 games and finished with 100 tackles, six sacks, and five passes defended.