Texans Sign CB Isaac Yiadom
After visiting the team almost two weeks ago, Isaac Yiadom has finally inked a contract with Houston. The Texans have signed the cornerback, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).
The Boston College product was a third-round pick by the Broncos in 2018. He lasted two seasons in Denver before he was shipped to the Giants for a future seventh-round pick in 2020. He spent one season in New York before he was traded again, this time to the Packers for cornerback Josh Jackson. Ultimately, his tenure in Green Bay only lasted one season, but at least this time, Yiadom had some say in where he landed next.
During his four seasons in the NFL, Yiadom has only missed four games. He got some extended run on defense with the Broncos and Giants in 2019 and 2020, but he reverted back to a special teams role with the Packers this past season. The 26-year-old saw time in 75 percent of Green Bay’s special teams snaps vs. only nine percent of their defensive snaps in 2021.
Yiadom has seen time in 61 career games (20 starts). That includes a 2021 campaign where he collected 10 tackles in 16 games (one start).
Patriots Pursuing WR Help
Many of the top free agent wide receivers are off the board, and despite efforts to add a player at the position, the Patriots have so far only landed Ty Montgomery. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, New England continues to “comb the market on wideouts, possibly via trade.”
Mac Jones‘ top receiver targets are Kendrick Bourne, Nelson Agholor, and Jakobi Meyers, leaving plenty of room for improvement. Per Fowler, the Patriots were seeking someone of Russell Gage‘s caliber, but they weren’t going to match the $30MM he got from the Buccaneers. The Patriots have continued to shop through the middle and bottom tiers of free agent receivers, but no transactions have materialized.
The Patriots are also wary of compromising their compensatory pick formula, especially considering that the losses of cornerback J.C. Jackson and offensive lineman Ted Karras should result in a couple of mid-round picks. All of these notes seem to be hinting that the Patriots could be eyeing receivers in the upcoming draft.
Speaking of, the Patriots didn’t let Karras go without a fight. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots offered the offensive lineman a deal worth $5MM per season, but Karras ended up scoring a three-year, $18MM from the Bengals.
ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/23/22
Here’s a look at the latest tender decisions from around the NFL:
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Rams: QB John Wolford
Signed:
- Commanders: DE Bunmi Rotimi
Vikings Considering Danielle Hunter Extension?
There was one point in the offseason where it sounded like Danielle Hunter might not stick around Minnesota. Now, the defensive end is apparently being considered for an extension. Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah told reporters that extending Hunter remains an option for the franchise.
“We feel great where we are with Danielle,” Adofo-Mensah said (via Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com). “Obviously, that roster bonus was a call to come to the table and get in conversation, dialogue, and we had great conversation with Danielle, his representation Zeke (Sandhu), all members of this organization, and I can say we’re all in a great place. (Hunter) called me from vacation (in Europe) the other day. … You can hear the urgency, the motivation in his voice to kind of resume where he is as one of the elite players in this league, and we’re excited to have back.”
There were rumors that the Vikings weren’t eager to pick up Hunter’s $18MM roster bonus, and as a result, the defensive end found himself on the trading block. Hunter was working against a new regime, a change in defensive schemes, and a lofty $25.8MM cap hit. Ultimately, the organization picked up the bonus and reworked the veteran’s contract, creating more than $13MM in cap space.
Hunter had 14.5 sacks in both 2018 and 2019, and despite missing 2020 due to neck surgery, he still possessed his pass-rushing prowess following his return to the field. In seven games this past season, the 27-year-old collected six sacks and 10 QB hits. He missed the final 10 games of the season thanks to a torn pectoral muscle. Fortunately, Hunter told reporters that he’s back to full health.
“I feel great,” the player said (via Tomasson). “The last two years were pretty unfortunate but I just got to stay positive and have positive people around me. My family’s been there, coaches have been there. So I’m ready to go this season.”
Saints QB Jameis Winston Should Be Healthy For Training Camp
If things go as planned, Jameis Winston should be good to go for Saints training camp. Winston should be fully recovered from his torn ACL by the time training camp rolls around “if everything continues to go smoothly with his rehab,” a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
Winston tore his ACL in late October, sidelining him for the rest of the 2021 season. Prior to that, Winston was playing some of the most efficient football of his career. While he was completing only 59 percent of his passes, the QB tossed 14 touchdowns vs. only three interceptions. The Saints also went 5-2 in Winston’s seven starts.
We learned yesterday that the Saints were giving the former No. 1 overall pick a two-year deal worth $28MM, including $21MM guaranteed. The Saints were connected to Winston before and after the Deshaun Watson sweepstakes, and with the QB carousel starting to slow down, the Saints decided to commit to their initial 2021 starter.
The former high-variance Bucs starter will face an interesting transition this year, with Sean Payton having retired. The team is retaining longtime OC Pete Carmichael, who is in line to call plays post-Payton. Assuming Winston is good to go for next season, the quarterback should slide atop the depth chart ahead of Taysom Hill, Ian Book, and Blake Bortles.
49ers Re-Sign DB Dontae Johnson, DL Jordan Willis
The 49ers are bringing back two key defenders. The 49ers have re-signed defensive lineman Jordan Willis and defensive back Dontae Johnson.
[RELATED: 49ers Re-Sign RB Jeff Wilson]
Willis made a name for himself in the playoffs, blocking a key punt that was returned for a game-tying touchdown in the 49ers’ playoff win over the Packers. Prior to that, the 26-year-old found himself in 10 regular season games, collecting 15 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble. He was suspended for the first six games of the season after violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Johnson has had two long stints with the 49ers, with his latest run beginning in the 2019. The former fourth-round pick also spent the first four seasons of his career in San Francisco. Johnson has appeared in 103 games (28 starts), including a 2021 campaign where he collected 30 tackles and one forced fumble in 16 games (three starts).
Earlier today, the 49ers re-signed running back Jeff Wilson to a one-year deal.
Titans S Kevin Byard Reworks Contract
Kevin Byard has helped the Titans open up a chunk of cap space. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the All-Pro safety has agreed to a restructured contract.
Specifically, the Titans converted $10.96MM of Byard’s salary into a signing bonus. This move ended up opening $8.7MM in cap space.
Byard reestablished himself as one of the league’s top safeties in 2021, earning his second career All-Pro and Pro Bowl nod. In 17 games, the 28-year-old finished with 88 tackles, 13 passes defended, and five interceptions. Byard has 23 interceptions in 97 games (88 starts), all with the Titans. He was a third-round pick by the organization in 2016.
The safety inked a five-year, $70.5MM deal ($31MM guaranteed) with the Titans in 2019. He restructured his deal last offseason to save the Titans some extra money, and for the second year in a row, Byard has helped Tennessee open some space.
OBJ Would Consider Browns Reunion
Could Odell Beckham Jr. return to Cleveland? According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, OBJ “is open to the possibility” of signing with the Browns. However, it’s uncertain if the Browns would have interest in a reunion.
Yesterday, Beckham responded to a tweet asking about his interest in joining the Browns, stating “that’s an interesting one.” Per Cabot, OBJ only wanted to move on from the Browns once his relationship with quarterback Baker Mayfield “reached the point of no return,” and the veteran “loved his teammates and Browns fans.” As Cabot notes, OBJ does have fans in owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and he still “has the full support of his former Browns teammates.”
In a world where OBJ does return to Cleveland, he’d be re-joining a completely revamped offense. Deshaun Watson is now under center, and while Jarvis Landry won’t be back, the Browns upgraded to Amari Cooper. Beckham would surely have a significant role in the Cleveland offense despite his inconsistent two-plus seasons with the organization.
OBJ joined the Rams after getting let go by the Browns, and he proceeded to haul in 27 receptions for 305 yards and five touchdowns in eight games (seven starts) down the stretch. He hauled in another two touchdowns in the playoffs before suffering a knee injury during the Super Bowl.
Bears Sign OL Dakota Dozier
Dakota Dozier is switching NFC North teams. The Bears are signing the offensive lineman, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Bears To Sign OL Lucas Patrick]
Dozier spent the past three seasons with the Vikings, including a 2020 campaign where he started all 16 games without missing an offensive snap. Despite his role, he was cut following the 2021 preseason. He ended up spending the majority of last season on Minnesota’s practice squad, with his six appearances all coming on special teams. The Vikings told the lineman after the season that they wouldn’t be re-signing him, per Tomasson.
The former fourth-round pick spent the beginning of his career with the Jets, starting seven of his 38 games in four years with the organization.
In Chicago, Dozier will likely compete for a backup role on the offensive line. Chicago added fellow lineman Lucas Patrick on a two-year deal last week.
Seahawks Sign CB Justin Coleman
Justin Coleman is back in Seattle. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Seahawks have agreed to terms with the free agent cornerback. Coleman is signing a one-year deal.
Coleman had two previous stints with the Seahawks. He spent time on their practice squad as a rookie, and he returned to the organization via trade in 2017. Coleman ended up spending two seasons with the organization, seeing time in all 32 games (10 starts). Coleman had three interceptions and two sacks during his two years in Seattle.
Since leaving Seattle, Coleman has had stints with the Lions and Dolphins. He made his NFL debut with the Patriots, and he earned a Super Bowl ring during the 2016 season.
The 28-year-old signed a one-year deal with Miami last offseason. He got into 16 games (four starts) for the Dolphins, collecting 27 tackles, three passes defended, and two interceptions while appearing in 35 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.