Dolphins To Sign CB Byron Jones
Just moments after James Bradberry agreed to sign with the Giants, another top cornerback has been taken off the market. Byron Jones has inked a deal with the Dolphins, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). It’s a five-year, $82.5 million deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The deal includes $57MM guaranteed and $40MM through the first two seasons.
The contract will make Jones the highest-paid player at his position, with the deal paying him $16.5MM annually. We heard last week that the market for the cornerback was expected to “start” at $16-17MM per year. Jones new teammate, Xavien Howard, previously led all cornerbacks with a $15.05MM annual salary.
ESPN’s Josina Anderson tweets that the Dolphins were willing to give Jones more guaranteed money than rival suitors, while Rapoport notes that the Raiders made a competitive offer to the defensive back (via Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area). Further, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets that both Miami and Vegas offered “huge money in tax-free states,” but Miami’s structure of up-front money appealed to Jones.
A number of teams, including the Raiders, Broncos, Lions, Eagles, Giants, and Jets, had been connected to Jones at some point during the offseason. The Cowboys had expressed some optimism in retaining the Pro Bowler. However, the Cowboys had some bigger fish to fry with both Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper, and it’s uncertain if they could afford Jones’ new pact, anyway.
Jones, 27, played safety during his first three years in Dallas but switched to corner in 2018, promptly earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors. In 2019, Jones started 14 games for the Cowboys, and ranked 14th in both Pro Football Focus‘ CB grades and Football Outsiders‘ success rate metric.
Lions Re-Sign LS Don Muhlbach
Don Muhlbach is returning to Detroit for a 17th season. The team announced today that they’ve re-signed the veteran long snapper.
While terms of the deal aren’t known, ESPN’s Michael Rothstein assumes that it’s a minimum-salary pact. Muhlbach has played the past few seasons under this kind of deal.
The 38-year-old has made all 244 of his career appearance with the Lions, and he’s only missed a single game since the start of the 2006 season. As Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com points out, Muhlbach is second in franchise history in games played (behind kicker Jason Hanson). The long snapper earned a pair of Pro Bowl nods (2012, 2018) during his career.
As Rothstein notes, the long snapper will some have competition for the gig in 2020. The organization signed James Fisher to a futures contract earlier this offseason.
Latest On Redskins OL Trent Williams
The Redskins’ asking price for offensive lineman Trent Williams is “starting” at a second-rounder, reports ESPN’s Josina Anderson (via Twitter).
However, the front office’s demands shouldn’t necessarily be blamed for a lack of a trade; rather, as Anderson points out, “a trade has been slowed” by Williams’ contractual demands. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport echoes those sentiments (Twitter link), noting that the “asking price on a new contract is more of an issue now than Washington’s ask on trade compensation.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean a team will simply hand over a second-round pick. Rapoport notes that teams still aren’t willing to meet the Redskins’ asking price. However, the reporter believes a potential suitor would be more flexible if the offensive lineman were to agree to a reasonable new deal.
We learned earlier this month that the organization was giving their perennial Pro Bowl left tackle permission to seek a trade. At the same time, Williams is seeking a new contract, and he wants to be the NFL’s highest-paid tackle. Williams is set to make $12.5MM in the final year of his current deal. The Browns and Jets have been mentioned as suitors for the veteran lineman.
The seven-time Pro Bowler missed 13 games from 2016-18 and became embroiled with previous Washington president Bruce Allen because of a health scare in 2019. The 31-year-old ended up sitting out the entire 2019 season.
Texans Re-Sign CB Phillip Gaines
Phillip Gaines is re-signing with Houston. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that the veteran cornerback has signed with the Texans. It’s a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum.
The 28-year-old has bounced around the league a bit since being selected in the third round of the 2014 draft. His best season came with the Chiefs in 2016, when he had 44 tackles, seven passes defended, an interception, and two forced fumbles.
After splitting the 2018 season with the Bills and Browns, Gaines signed with the Texans last September. After appearing in six games (two starts) for his new squad, Gaines landed on the injured reserve.
The Texans were presumably eyeing some cornerback reinforcement after the squad and Johnathan Joseph mutually agreed to part ways. On the flip side, the organization has reportedly made re-signing Bradley Roby a priority.
Bills Re-Sign TE Jason Croom
Jason Croom is re-signing with the Bills. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the tight end is inking a new one-year deal with Buffalo. Croom was an exclusive rights free agent.
Croom joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee in 2017. After bouncing between the practice squad and active roster during his rookie campaign, Croom finally had a chance to contribute in 2018. He ultimately led all Bills tight ends with 22 receptions, 259 yards, and one touchdown (he also had a pair of fumbles).
Croom dealt with a hamstring injury for much of last year’s offseason workouts, and the injury ultimately forced him to be placed on the injured reserve. As a result, the 26-year-old didn’t end up getting into a single game last season.
Croom will be re-joining a relatively deep tight ends corps in Buffalo. The current depth chart is led by the likes of Dawson Knox, Tyler Kroft, and Lee Smith.
Ravens Re-Sign De’Anthony Thomas
De’Anthony Thomas is sticking in Baltimore for at least one more season. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports (via Twitter) that the receiver/returner has re-signed with the Ravens. It’s a one-year deal for the 27-year-old.
The 2014 fourth-round pick spent the first five-plus seasons of his career with the Chiefs, and he earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association’s All-Rookie Team following his first year in the league. That rookie campaign proved to be Thomas’s best season in the NFL both offensively and in the return game.
Thomas re-signed with the Chiefs last offseason, but he was placed on the reserve list after violating the league’s policy on substance abuse. He was activated in mid-September, but he was released by the organization about a month later.
The wideout ended up catching on with the Ravens, and he proceeded to appear in eight games for his new team. While he really didn’t do anything offensively, he had 23 combined kick and punt returns, including three kick returns of 20+ yards.
Giants Re-Sign FB Eli Penny
Eli Penny is sticking with the Giants. The organization agreed to a two-year deal with the fullback, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (via Twitter). The 26-year-old was set to become a restricted free agent.
Penny, the older brother of Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny, was an undrafted free agent out of Idaho in 2016. After serving as a running back in college, he spent the first two-plus seasons of his career as a fullback with the Cardinals. He got into 16 games with Arizona in 2017, compiling 124 rushing yards and two scores on 31 attempts. He also added two receptions and 12 special teams tackles.
He joined the Giants during the 2018 campaign, and he’s spent the past season-plus with the organization. That includes a 2019 campaign where he appeared in 16 games and contributed 39 rushing yards.
Penny will once again be serving as the lead blocker for Saquon Barkley and Wayne Gallman in 2020.
LB Kenneth Murray To Meet With 15 Teams
Kenneth Murray is a popular man. The Oklahoma linebacker told NFL.com’s James Palmer that he’s set to meet with 15 teams in the coming weeks (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com).
Murray revealed that he’ll start his workout circuit with the Texans on March 18th before having visits “back-to-back-to-back.” The Ravens, Raiders, Cowboys and Cardinals are among the teams that the linebacker is expected to meet with.
After earning a second-team All-Big 12 nod in 2018, Murray got first-team recognition following a standout 2019 campaign. The junior finished the season with 102 tackles, four sacks, and four passes defended.
Murray is in contention to be the second linebacker off the board after Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, and he could be selected as early as midway through the first round. He didn’t participate in Oklahoma’s pro day today after having tweaked his hamstring during the 40-yard dash at the Combine. Fortunately, he told Palmer that he’s almost back to full health.
“The hamstring is doing good,” Murray told Palmer. “I’ll be fully healthy in a couple of days.”
Latest On Texans Free Agents
The Texans have a number of notable players hitting free agency, but it sounds like the front office has made re-signing Bradley Roby a priority. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports (via Twitter) that Houston will “do what they can” to keep many of their free agents, a grouping that’s “especially” led by the 28-year-old cornerback.
Roby inked a one-year, $10MM deal with the Texans last offseason, but he was limited to only 10 games (10 starts) during his first season in Houston. Roby finished the campaign having compiled 38 tackles, eight passes defended, two interceptions (including a pick-six), and one forced fumble.
On the other side of the ball, it sounds like the organization is hoping to retain veteran running back Carlos Hyde. However, as Wilson passes along, Hyde declined a contract offer from the organization and is set to hit free agency. The 29-year-old started 14 games and had his first career 1,000-yard season in 2019. Fellow running back Lamar Miller, who was sidelined with a torn ACL last year, will also be heading to free agency.
Wilson passes along updates on a number of other Texans free agents. The organization is hoping to re-sign running back/special teamer Taiwan Jones and linebackers Tyrell Adams, Dylan Cole and Barkevious Mingo. On the flip side, the organization isn’t expected to bring back safety Jahleel Addae.
Marcus Sherels Considering Retirement
Marcus Sherels could be calling it a career. There’s a “50-50” chance the Vikings special teams ace retires, reports Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com. The veteran will likely test free agency before making a decision.
The 32-year-old has spent much of his career with the Vikings organization, but 2019 saw him testing new waters. Minnesota didn’t make him an offer last offseason, leading to Sherels signing with the Saints. He was let go by New Orleans at the end of the preseason and went back to the Vikings, but Minny released him in late October. Following a brief stint with the Dolphins, Sherels once again signed with the Vikings. He ultimately appeared in eight total games last season, returning 12 punts.
The 2010 undrafted free agent out of Minnesota has compiled 2,503 punt return yards during his 10-year career, and his 2,480 yards with the Vikings is a franchise-best. Sherels has also returned 57 kickoffs during his career, and he has 108 tackles and one interception. Tomasson notes that it “would not be a surprise” if the front office moves on from the veteran.
With only $1.3MM of salary cap space, the front office will have to make some tough decisions this offseason. We’ve already learned that one of those decisions involves safety Anthony Harris, who sounds likely to leave Minnesota when free agency opens in March.