Steelers K Chris Boswell Restructures Contract
The Steelers are eyeing limited cap space this offseason, but one of their veterans is helping them out a bit. SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter) that kicker Chris Boswell has restructured his contract.
After bouncing between the Texans and Giants during his first year-plus in the NFL, Boswell has found a home in Pittsburgh. He’s appeared in 74 games during his five seasons with the Steelers, including a 2017 campaign where he earned a Pro Bowl nod.
The 29-year-old had one of his best seasons in 2019, connecting on 93.5-percent of his field goal attempts (29 of 31) and all 28 of his extra point tries.
Boswell signed a four-year deal worth close to $17MM prior to last season. He was set to have about a $3.6MM cap hit in 2020.
Cowboys Eyeing Greg Zuerlein, Kai Forbath
The Cowboys are reportedly eyeing free agent kickers. Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports (via Twitter) that the organization has expressed interest in re-signing Kai Forbath. More notably, the reporter notes that Greg Zuerlein is on the team’s radar.
Greg The Leg has spent his entire seven-year career with the Rams, including a 2017 campaign where he earned a Pro Bowl nod and first-team All-Pro recognition. While the veteran has connected on 82-percent of his field goal attempts during his career, that number dropped to only 72.7-percent in 2019.
Forbath had a three-game stint with the Cowboys last season, connecting on all 10 of his field goal attempts (including seven from the 40-49-yard range). He also spent two games with New England during the 2019 campaign.
The veteran has had stints with seven different organizations during his career, appearing in 81 career games.
Texans Sign S Eric Murray
Eric Murray is heading to Houston. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the safety is inking a three-year, $20.25MM deal with the Texans.
The 2016 fourth-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Chiefs, and he started nine game for Kansas City during the 2018 campaign. The defensive back appeared in 45 games during his stint with the Chiefs.
Last offseason, he was dealt to Cleveland in exchange of Emmanuel Ogbah, and he proceeded to appear in nine games (four starts) for his new squad. Murray finished the year having compiled 24 tackles and one sack.
This is the second (former) Browns safety to sign elsewhere tonight. Earlier, we learned that Juston Burris was joining the Panthers.
Eagles Sign NT Javon Hargrave
Javon Hargrave is now the highest-paid nose tackle in the NFL. The former Steelers standout has inked a three-year, $39MM deal with the Eagles, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The deal includes $26MM in guaranteed money.
Following a standout career at South Carolina State, the Steelers selected Hargrave in the third round of the 2016 draft. The lineman ended up spending four years in Pittsburgh, missing only a single regular season game along the way. Hargrave built off his breakout 2018 campaign this past year, finishing with 60 tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble.
It always seemed unlikely that he’d end up sticking with the Steelers. For starters, the organization had previously handed out significant contracts to Stephon Tuitt and Cameron Heyward, so it was uncertain if the front office would want to invest even more money on the defensive line. Further, the organization was already eyeing limited cap space.
Hargrave made the decision to switch agencies back in February, with the lineman hiring Drew Rosenhaus for his representation.
Saints Make Offer To Jamie Collins
The Saints are eyeing Jamie Collins. Nick Underhill reports (via Twitter) that the team has made an offer to the veteran linebacker. However, the reporter cautions that “it might take more to close the deal.”
Following a two-plus year stint with the Browns, Collins reunited with the Patriots last offseason on a one-year deal. The 30-year-old ended up setting a career-high with seven sacks to go along with 81 tackles, three interceptions and three forced fumbles.
We heard earlier this month that the Saints could have interest in the veteran, even with the organization already rostering a 30-something starting linebacker in Demario Davis.
Unsurprisingly, the Patriots were also reportedly looking to retain the veteran. New England has already agreed to new deals with a pair of stalwarts in Devin McCourty and Matthew Slater.
Offseason Team Activities Delayed Indefinitely
In a memo to NFL teams, the league announced that offseason team activities have been delayed indefinitely (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter). The league has also imposed some subtle changes to the free agent process.
In regards to OTAs, the league’s memo stated that “[t]he league and the NFLPA will continue to monitor the developing situation and follow the guidance of medical and public health professionals, including their respective medical advisors to determine an appropriate state date for such activities and other related considerations.”
The NFL also announced that free agency will still open on March 18th at 4pm. While teams and free agents are allowed to agree to contracts during this period, the NFL has requested that “clubs may not bring any free agent player, including their own, to a club facility or other location to meet with club personnel.”
Further, “club personnel, including members of the club medical staff, may not travel to any location to meet with a free agent player.”
As the memo notes, players and teams can still agree on whether a free agent will undergo a physical in “the player’s home city of other nearby location.” A team could “refrain from signing a player until the player either undergoes a neutral physical exam or the restrictions are lifted.”
Panthers Sign S Juston Burris
Juston Burris is heading to Carolina. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the free agent safety is signing a two-year, $8MM deal with the Panthers.
The former fourth-rounder has bounced around the league a bit after spending the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Jets. He was waived by the Browns at the end of the 2019 preseason, and after briefly catching on with the Raiders, he was cut again.
He re-signed with Cleveland in late September, and he proceeded to have the best season of his career in 2019. He finished the campaign having compiled 32 tackles, one sack, seven passes defended, two picks, and one forced fumble. In total, the 26-year-old has seen time in 52 career games.
Cardinals Place Second-Round Tender On K Zane Gonzalez
The Cardinals are placing a second-round tender on kicker Zane Gonzalez, per SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan (via Twitter).
After appearing in five games for Arizona during the 2018 season, Gonzalez got into all 16 games during the 2019 campaign. He ended up having the best season of his professional career, connecting on 88.6-percent of his field goal tries and 97.1-percent of his extra point attempts.
The 2017 seventh-round pick out of Arizona State spent the first year-plus of his career with the Browns.
Seahawks Place Second-Round Tender On TE Jacob Hollister
Despite having one of the deepest tight end corps in the NFL, the Seahawks won’t let Jacob Hollister walk for nothing. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets that Seattle is placing a second-round tender on the tight end.
If any team signs Hollister to an offer sheet and the Seahawks decline to match, they’d get that team’s second-round pick in return. That could actually be an option in Seattle, where the team has already added veteran Greg Olsen this offseason. They’re also rostering Will Dissly, who hauled in four touchdowns last season before succumbing to injury.
As for Hollister, the 26-year-old joined the Seahawks last offseason after spending two years with the Patriots. He ended up having a breakout season, hauling in 41 receptions for 349 yards and three touchdowns.
DE Stephen Weatherly Signs With Panthers
Defensive end Stephen Weatherly has signed a two-year, $12.5MM deal with the Panthers, agent Blake Baratz announced on Twitter.
Weatherly had spent his entire career with the Vikings after being selected in the seventh round of the 2016 draft. The 25-year-old appeared in all 32 regular season games for Minnesota over the past two years, collecting three sacks each season. Weatherly also had a sack during the Vikings Divisional Round loss to the 49ers this past year.
It’s been a relatively quiet day in Carolina. The Panthers only other move came when they released special teams captain Colin Jones earlier this afternoon.