Dolphins LB Vince Biegel Signs RFA Tender
Vince Biegel will play next season under the RFA tender. The restricted free agent linebacker signed his deal with the Dolphins today (per the team’s Twitter account). Biegel will earn around $2.13MM next season.
We heard back in January that the two sides were working on a long-term, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald tweets that that was indeed the case. However, the two sides couldn’t agree to terms, resulting in today’s transaction. Biegel was initially tendered at his original-round level by the Dolphins back in March.
The 2017 fourth-round pick spent his first two professional seasons in a backup role for the Packers and Saints. Prior to the start of the 2019 regular season, he was traded to Miami for Kiko Alonso, and he proceeded to have the best season of his career. The 26-year-old established career-highs across the board, finishing with 59 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one interception in 15 games (10 starts).
Biegel isn’t the first restricted free agent to sign his tender with the Dolphins. Last week, punter Matt Haack inked his new deal with Miami.
This Date In Transactions History: Patriots Trade Brandin Cooks To Rams
With all of the action we’ve seen this offseason, it’s easy to forget that April blockbusters are also relatively common. In fact, we had a significant trade go down two years ago today. On April 4th, 2018, the Rams acquired wideout Brandin Cooks and a fourth-rounder from the Patriots for a first-rounder and sixth-rounder.
Cooks had actually been acquired by New England only 13 months before the Rams/Pats deal. While the former first-rounder had a solid season as one of Tom Brady‘s main targets, he didn’t match his production with the Saints from 2015 or 2016. Cooks ultimately finished the 2017 regular season with 65 receptions, 1,082 yards, and seven scores. While the receiver had a standout performance during that year’s AFC Championship, he was limited to only a single catch in the Super Bowl before exiting with a concussion.
With Cooks set to hit free agency following the 2018 season, the Pats decided to ship the receiver to Los Angeles. The Rams immediately inked the wideout to a five-year, $81MM extension, and that looked to be a good decision at first. Despite playing alongside Robert Woods, Todd Gurley, and Cooper Kupp, Cooks finished that year with 80 receptions, five touchdowns, and a career-high 1,204 receiving yards. He was productive during the Rams’ run to the Super Bowl, finishing with 292 receiving yards in three games.
However, the wheels somewhat fell off in 2019. Cooks battled several ailments, including a concussion that knocked him out of the lineup for several weeks. When all was said and done, Cooks put up some of his lowest numbers since his rookie campaign, finishing with 42 receptions for 583 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games.
With $12MM guaranteed in 2020 and his contract lasting through the 2023 season, there were rumblings that the Rams could look to trade the receiver this offseason. However, following the organization’s decision to move on from Gurley, it sounds like Cooks isn’t on the block.
On New England’s side, the team used that first-rounder to select offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn. The Georgia product sat out his entire rookie campaign, and he landed on IR following Week 2 of the 2019 season. However, he managed to return in Week 12, and he proceeded to start each of the Patriots’ remaining regular season and postseason games. In true New England fashion, they traded the sixth-rounder for a pair of seventh-rounders.
Both Cooks and (to a lesser extent) Wynn have been productive for their teams so far. However, their future performance will go a long way in determining who won this specific trade. For the time being, we’re comfortable grading both squads as “incomplete.”
Antonio Brown Facing Three Criminal Charges
Welcome back to the news, Antonio Brown. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the embattled wideout is facing three formal charges stemming from an alleged January assault.
Specifically, Brown is facing “felony burglary conveyance, misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal mischief charges.”
To review: a delivery driver alleged that Brown and his trainer assaulted him outside of the receiver’s Florida home. As Fowler notes, the battery charge “states that Brown was “actually and intentionally striking” the driver against his will,” while the mischief charge states that Brown “injured” the driver’s property of $200 or less. Brown had turned himself in to Florida authorities in late January and was later released on bond.
Realistic, the current coronavirus pandemic could delay court proceedings, providing extra time for Brown’s team to compile “depositions and provide its own witnesses.” Alternatively, the state may present Brown with a chance to negotiate a plea deal. The case will also be reviewed by the NFL.
It’s been a relatively quiet offseason for Brown, who’s looking to make his return to the field. There were rumblings that Tom Brady wanted to reunite with the wideout in Tampa Bay, but Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians has indicated that that isn’t realistic.
Colts Notes: Rivers, Gates, Rhodes
There were several times during the 2019 campaign that Antonio Gates considered joining the Colts. The veteran tight end told Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star that he was close to teaming up with several of his former Chargers coaches, including former offensive coordinator (and current Indy head coach) Frank Reich, former wide receivers coach (and current Indy offensive coordinator) Nick Sirianni, and former tight ends coach (and, well, current Indy tight ends coach) Jason Michael in Indianapolis.
“It was just so familiar,” Gates said. “Even the players had, like, similarities if that makes sense. It’s just crazy how everything works. It did look familiar and when they called plays, it just fit what we had done over the course of a decade in California.”
Considering that connection, it was natural for some to wonder if the 39-year-old would finally land in Indy to team up with his former quarterback, Philip Rivers, in 2020. However, Gates made it clear that he isn’t planning on ending his retirement.
“No, no, no,” Gates said. “Last year, I was fresh out. I was hesitant about coming back, but I always wanted to keep open the opportunity of winning a championship. I really, truly feel like the Colts have that opportunity now with Philip. But for me, I can’t be who I was, from a mental standpoint. That’s why I retired. What I would have to go through mentally and the things I’d do to prepare, I just don’t feel like I can give that effort right now. I wouldn’t want to do that to anybody.”
Let’s check out some more notes out of Indy:
- Gates also provided some interesting insight into why he believes Rivers chose Indianapolis. “I was in the same boat Philip is in now,” said Gates. “You understand the people you’re going to work with. They don’t have to worry about me as a human being. They know me. And they know, ‘OK, this is his ritual and how he gets prepared and gets ready.’ Sometimes as a veteran, you need that. That helps you….Say I would have gone to New England. I never played under (Bill) Belichick. He doesn’t really understand how Antonio Gates works. He wouldn’t know, I need this day off. I’ll train on this day. So he has a philosophy he’s accustomed to, therefore they have no relationship with me. All they know is what they see. And that wouldn’t have worked. And I really think it’s the same for Philip. I’m 98-99% sure that’s why he went to Indy.”
- Meanwhile, cornerback Xavier Rhodes didn’t mince words when explaining why he joined the Colts. The veteran said defensive backs/cornerbacks coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive backs/safeties coach Alan Williams were “the big reasons” he signed with the Colts (via Joel A. Erickson of the Star on Twitter). Gannon coached Rhodes in Minnesota between 2014 and 2017, while Williams was the Vikings defensive coordinator in 2012 and 2013.
- In case you missed it, the Colts and cornerback T.J. Carrie agreed to terms Monday.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/30/20
We’ve compiled today’s minor moves below:
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: CB Donte Deayon
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DE Dewayne Hendrix
AFC Contract Details: Eifert, Day, Ravens
We already took a look at NFC contract details, so let’s switch focus to the other conference. Like last time, all notes via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter:
- Tyler Eifert, TE (Jaguars): Two years. Worth $9.5MM, including $3.25MM guaranteed. $2.25MM signing bonus. $1.25MM per-game roster bonus, $2M in incentives (2020). Up to $1M per-game roster bonus, $2M in incentives (2021, if options is exercised).
- Sheldon Day, DT (Colts): Signed. One-year, $1.75M deal, including $1MM guaranteed. $500K signing bonus, $1MM salary (of which $500K is guaranteed). Up to $250K in per-game roster bonuses.
- Andrew Billings, DT (Browns): One year, $3.5MM. Fully guaranteed deal. Includes $2MM signing bonus.
- Anthony Levine, S (Ravens): Signed. One-year, $1.812MM deal, including $350K guaranteed. $137.6K signing bonus, $1.675MM salary (of which $212.5K is guaranteed).
- Chris Moore, WR (Ravens): Re-signed. One-year, $1.672MM deal, including $275K guaranteed. $137.5K signing bonus, $1.535MM salary (of which $137.5K is guaranteed).
- Nick Dzubnar, LB (Titans): Signed. One-year, $1.047MM deal. Includes $137.5K signing bonus, $910K salary.
NFC Contract Details: Funchess, Blythe, Redskins, Cardinals
We’ve got a handful of contract details to pass along. We’ll start with the latest NFC notes, all via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter:
- Devin Funchess, WR (Packers): One year, $2.5MM. Includes $3.75MM in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns incentives.
- Austin Blythe, OL (Rams): One year. Worth $3.9MM, including $3.5MM guaranteed. $950K signing bonus, $2.95MM salary (of which $2.55MM is guaranteed).
- Peyton Barber, RB (Redskins): Two year, $3MM. Includes $600K signing bonus. Salaries: $910K (2020), $1.14MM (2021). $150K per-game maximum roster bonus in 2020, $199K+ per-game maximum roster bonus in 2021.
- Nate Orchard, LB (Redskins): Re-signed. One-year, $1.047MM deal. Includes $137.5K signing bonus, $910K salary.
- Seth Roberts, WR (Panthers): One year, $3.75MM. Includes $600K signing bonus, $3.1MM salary, $50K workout bonus.
- Marcus Gilbert, OT (Cardinals): One year, $3.75MM. $1.05MM base salary (of which only $150K is guaranteed). Up to $2.7MM in playing time incentives.
- Max Garcia, OL (Cardinals): Re-signed. One-year, $1.25MM deal, including $600K guaranteed. Up to $190K per-game maximum roster bonus, up to $1MM in playing time incentives.
- Cameron Fleming, OL (Giants): Signed. One-year, $3.5MM deal (as opposed to previously-reported one-year, $4MM deal). Includes $2MM guaranteed. Up to $500K per-game roster bonus, up to $500K playing time incentives.
- Kerry Hyder, DE (49ers): One year. $1.5MM, including $550K guaranteed. Up to $250K in per-game roster bonus.
Dak Prescott Eyeing Short-Term Contract?
While much of the discussion surrounding Dak Prescott‘s next contract has been focused on AAV and guaranteed money, the length of the contract is also of particular interest to the quarterback. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports (via Twitter) that the Cowboys quarterback may prefer a short-term deal.
As Fowler explains, there’s an expectation that the salary cap will see a significant jump thanks to an extra week of the regular season plus newfound gambling money. Therefore, Prescott is looking to hit free agency again so he can capitalize on that adjustment to the cap, and that means he might prefer a two- or three-year pact.
This is a bit different than how the Cowboys normally operate, as the front office has traditionally handed out longer contracts to their key players. We saw that last year when they signed Ezekiel Elliott to a six-year agreement, and we also saw it when the inked Amari Cooper to a five-year deal earlier this offseason.
We heard last week that there was a belief that Prescott would emerge from negotiations as the NFL’s highest-paid player. From an average-annual-value standpoint, the 26-year-old could still accomplish that. Russell Wilson‘s $35MM-AAV deal remains the NFL’s high-water mark. If Prescott plays next season under the franchise tag, he’ll be making around $33MM per year.
Dolphins, Bengals Interested In WR Cam Phillips
Following a standout showing in the XFL, Cam Phillips is drawing some interest from the NFL. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports that both the Dolphins and Bengals have expressed interest in the wideout.
The 24-year-old led the XFL in receiving yards with 455, and he also hauled in 31 receptions and nine touchdowns in only five games. Thanks to his consistent performance with the Houston Roughnecks, the six-foot, 202-pound wideout won a handful of Player of the Week awards.
The former undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech had a previous NFL gig, as he caught on with the Bills back in 2018. He spent much of that season on the practice squad, but he did haul in a nine-yard reception in two games. He was waived by Buffalo at the end of the 2019 preseason.
As we noted earlier today, a number of Phillips’ Roughnecks teammates have already signed NFL contracts. That grouping includes quarterback P.J. Walker, cornerback Deatrick Nichols (Saints), linebacker DeMarquis Gates (Vikings), and linebacker Edmond Robinson (Falcons).
NFC Contract Details: Zuerlein, Poe, Shell, Vikings
We’ve got a bunch of contract details to pass along, all out of the NFC:
- Greg Zuerlein, K (Cowboys): Three years, $7.5MM. Includes $2.25MM in guaranteed money (via ESPN’s Todd Archer).
- Dontari Poe, DT (Cowboys): Signed. Two-year deal worth up to $10.5MM (via Archer).
- Brandon Shell, OT (Seahawks): Two years, $11MM. Includes $5.1MM guaranteed, $4MM signing bonus. Yearly $500K playing-time incentives, up to $400K roster bonus in 2020, up to $425K roster bonus in 2021 (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Rashod Hill, OT (Vikings): Signed. One-year, $1.047MM deal. $887.5K guaranteed, including $137.5K signing bonus and $750K (of $910K) base salary (via Wilson).
- Dakota Dozier, OL (Vikings): One year, $1MM. $90K signing bonus, will count $840K against the cap (via Wilson).
- Oday Aboushi, OL (Lions): One year. Worth $1.187MM. $300K guaranteed, including $137.5K signing bonus and $162.5K (of $1.05MM) salary (via Wilson).
- Logan Thomas, TE (Redskins): Signed. Two-year deal worth $6.145MM, including $2.25MM signing bonus (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero).
- Hassan Ridgeway, DT (Eagles): Signed. One-year, $1.01MM deal. Includes $25K signing bonus, $910K salary, $900K in sacks incentives (via Wilson).