Vikings DE Danielle Hunter Reworks Contract
10:38am: The Vikings converted $8MM of Hunter’s $10.9MM salary into a signing bonus, according to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin (via Twitter). The pass-rushers $14.5MM cap hit has been reduced to $9MM.
8:33am: Danielle Hunter has reworked his contract. The NFL’s transactions page listed the defensive end as having “signed, renegotiated contract,” per Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com.
It’s unclear how Hunter’s contract has changed. Tomasson notes that $10.4MM of Hunter’s $10.9MM 2020 base salary was set to become fully-guaranteed on Friday. The Vikings have been scrambling around for some extra cap space, and restructuring contracts is one natural solution.
The 2015 third-round pick has emerged into one of the NFL’s top pass rushers, earning a pair of Pro Bowl nods during his five years with Minnesota. That includes a 2019 campaign where Hunter compiled 70 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and 14.5 sacks – the second-straight season that he’s finished with that many sacks.
The Vikings’ cap problems may have played a role in their breakup with Everson Griffen. Yesterday, the player’s agent said they’ve “broken off talks with Minnesota because they have to spend their money elsewhere.”
Contract Details: Mayo, Patriots, Bailey
A handful of contract details to pass along:
- LB David Mayo, Giants: three-year extension. $8.4MM deal, including $3.5MM guaranteed. Salaries: $1.5MM guaranteed (2020), $2.25MM (2021), $2.5MM (2022). Via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter.
- WR Damiere Byrd, Patriots: one year, $2.5MM. $1MM base salary, $350K signing bonus, $900K in receptions incentives. Via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter.
- S Adrian Phillips, Patriots: two years. Deal worth up to $7.5MM, $3MM guaranteed, $1.5MM signing bonus. Can earn up to $4MM in 2020. Via Yates on Twitter.
- K Dan Bailey, Vikings: re-signed. Three-year deal worth up to $12MM. $5MM guaranteed, $3.15MM signing bonus. Via Yates on Twitter.
- OL Joe Looney, Cowboys: signed. One-year, $2.4375MM deal. As Mike Garafolo of NFL Network tweets, one of the new CBA’s veteran benefits is that the deal will count $1.25MM less on the cap than it would have last season.
- OT Shon Coleman, 49ers: one-year extension. Worth $962.5K, including $825K base salary and $137.5K signing bonus. Via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner on Twitter.
- DB Jaylen Watkins, Texans: signed. Two-year deal worth $3MM, per Wilson.
- OT Roderick Johnson, Texans: re-signed. One-year deal worth $1.75MM, per Wilson.
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Wants To Play Next Season
While Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has flirted with retirement in the past, it sounds like the veteran has no intentions of hanging up his cleats. The defensive back told ESPN’s Josina Anderson that he wants to play in 2020 (Twitter link).
“It’s still easy and I still don’t see anyone out running me,” Rodgers-Cromartie told Anderson. “I just happened to get hurt. I still got too much left in me. I got to end the right way.”
DRC announced his retirement midway through the 2018 season, but he ended up walking that back before signing with the Redskins last offseason. The 33-year-old only got into a pair of games (one start) for his new team, compiling seven tackles. He landed on the injured reserve in September after tearing a ligament in his ankle.
In total, Rodgers-Cromartie has appeared in 162 regular season games in parts of 12 NFL seasons. The 2008 first-round pick has made a pair of Pro Bowls during his career.
Contract Details: JPP, Boston, Waynes
A new batch of contract details to pass along, all via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter):
- LB Jason Pierre-Paul, Buccaneers: two year extension. $25MM, including $20MM guaranteed. Salaries: $6.5MM, guaranteed (2020), $12.5MM, with $7.5MM guaranteed for injury (2021).
- S Tre Boston, Panthers: three years, $18MM. $8MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1.16MM (2020), $2.25MM (2021), $3.69MM (2022). $1MM third day 2020 roster bonus, $1MM third day 2022 roster bonus.
- CB Trae Waynes, Bengals: three years, $42MM. $15MM signing bonus. Salaries: $5MM (2020), $8.4MM (2021), $10.4MM (2022).
- DT Linval Joseph, Chargers: two years, $17MM. $8MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1.5MM (2020), $5.5MM (2021). $1MM annual playtime, sacks, Pro Bowl incentive.
- OL Wes Schweitzer, Redskins: three years, $13.5MM. $4MM guaranteed, $3MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM guaranteed (2020), $3.49MM (2021), $4.49MM (2022).
- LB A.J. Klein, Bills: three years, $18MM. $9.7MM guaranteed, $1.2MM signing bonus. Salaries: $2.2MM guaranteed (2020), $4.1MM, with $3.2MM guaranteed (2021), $4.2MM (2022).
- OL Tyler Shatley, Jaguars: signed. One-year, $1.511MM deal with $600K guaranteed. $1.375MM salary for 2020.
Steelers OL Maurkice Pouncey Restructures Contract
Another hour, another Steelers veteran restructuring their contract. This time, it’s offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN (via Twitter).
As the reporter points out, Pouncey was due a $5MM base salary in 2020, plus a $3MM roster bonus and a $3MM pro-rated bonus this year. Last offseason, Pouncey signed a two-year extension worth $22MM, setting him up to be the highest-paid center in the NFL (from an average annual value perspective).
The 30-year-old has spent his entire career with the Steelers, earning eight Pro Bowl nods and a pair of first-time All-Pro honors. Pouncey started all 13 of his games in 2019, and he missed a pair of games following the fallout from the Myles Garrett/Mason Rudolph brawl.
Pouncey joins a growing list of Steelers who have restructured their contracts in recent days. As Dulac points out, that list includes the likes quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, tight end Vance McDonald, cornerbacks Joe Haden and Steven Nelson and kicker Chris Boswell. When also accounting for the team’s released players, the organization has already opened up around $35MM in cap space.
Bears OL Cody Whitehair Restructures Contract
In an effort to clear up more cap space, the Bears have restructured lineman Cody Whitehair‘s contract, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter).
The former second-round has spent his entire career with Chicago, earning All-Rookie Team recognition in 2016 and a Pro Bowl nod in 2018. Whitehair hasn’t missed a regular season game since entering the league, and he’s started each of his 64 appearances.
While the Bears may have slightly reworked Nick Foles contract, the team will still be looking to carve out extra space after acquiring the pricey quarterback. As Yates notes, the front office has traditionally converted base salaries into signing bonuses in an attempt to open up cap space.
Rams Sign DT A’Shawn Robinson
After losing several key defensive players, the Rams are now adding to their core. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the team is signing defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson. It’s a two-year deal worth $17MM.
The 2016 second-rounder had spent his entire career with the Lions. After starting all 16 games during the 2017 season, Robinson was limited to only 26 games (16 starts) over the past two years. Still, he combined for 89 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
The Rams defense will look a whole lot different in 2020. Safety Eric Weddle retired, Cory Littleton, Michael Brockers, and Dante Fowler have all departed in free agency, and the team declined their option on usual slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman. So far, the organization has added former first-rounder Leonard Floyd and re-signed Austin Blythe.
They’ve also replaced defensive coordinator Wade Phillips with Brandon Staley, so it’s safe to say that side of the ball is getting a complete makeover after Sean McVay’s dissatisfaction with the previous structure became evident.
Packers Re-Sign TE Marcedes Lewis
Marcedes Lewis is sticking around for at least one more season. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the veteran tight end is returning to Green Bay. It’ll be a one-year deal worth $2.25MM.
The 35-year-old spent the first 12 seasons of his career with the Jaguars, earning a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro recognition in 2010. He joined the Packers prior to the 2018 season, and he’s spent the past two seasons in Green Bay.
While Lewis has hauled in close to 400 receptions throughout his career, his offense has fallen off during his stint with the Packers. Despite appearing in all 32 games (with 15 starts) over the past two years, the tight end has combined for only 18 receptions for 195 yards and one touchdown.
In total, Lewis has appeared in 202 career games in parts of 14 seasons.
Latest On Tom Brady’s FA Experience
As we await the terms on Tom Brady‘s new deal with the Buccaneers, Albert Breer of TheMMQB has tweeted out some of the quarterback’s “conditions.”
Brady was seeking a two-year deal that would be backed by guarantees, and while he was seeking $60MM, he was open to “creativity.” Of course, Breer also cautions that the negotiations weren’t entirely about money; after all, Brady wanted to “give his new team financial flexibility to add.”
Further, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes that Brady presented these conditions to both the Buccaneers and Chargers, with both organizations agreeing to the financial terms. As a result, the further Hall of Famer was able to basically choose between the two franchises.
Florio provides reasons why Brady ultimately opted for Tampa Bay over Los Angeles, noting the difference in income taxes between California (13.3-percent) and Florida (zero). Staying on the east coast also allowed Brady to remain relatively close to his 12-year-old son who lives in New York, and Florio is of the opinion that the Buccaneers are in a better position to compete than the Chargers.
Redskins Sign RB J.D. McKissic
J.D. McKissic is heading to Washington. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Redskins are signing the running back. It’ll be a two-year deal for McKissic.
After getting cut by the Seahawks at the end of last preseason, McKissic was quickly claimed by the Lions. The 26-year-old ended up appearing in a career-high 16 games for Detroit, rushing for 205 yards on 38 carries. He also added another 34 receptions for 233 yards and one touchdown.
Other than a brief stint with the Falcons, McKissic had spent much of his first three NFL seasons in Seattle. He got into three playoff games during his stint with the Seahawks.