Browns To Cut Johnny Manziel This Week
4:51pm: The Browns will cut Manziel sometime this week, Kinkhabwala reports (on Twitter).
4:21pm: It was widely reported over the last several weeks that the Browns would cut quarterback Johnny Manziel today – the first day of the league year – but that will not happen (yet), according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (Twitter link). Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com wonders (on Twitter) if the Browns are holding off on releasing Manziel in hopes of a quarterback-needy team trading a late-round pick for him within the next couple days.
Notably, if the Browns release Manziel before June 1, they’ll incur upward of $2.8MM in dead money. On the other hand, if they 
designate him a post-June 1 cut, they’ll rid themselves of any dead money responsibility. Further, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter pointed out earlier this week (via Cork Gaines of Business Insider), the Browns will be in posiiton to recoup some of Manziel’s bonus money if the NFL goes the likely route and suspends him for his off-field behavior. Thus, the Browns have clear incentive to keep Manziel until June 1 at the latest. He certainly won’t return to Cleveland for a third season.
Since the Browns drafted the former Texas A&M star in the 2014 first round, he has appeared in 15 games, made eight starts, and tossed seven touchdowns and seven picks. Manziel showed progress in parts of his six starts last season, but his off-field issues overshadowed his positive steps on the gridiron and have carried into the offseason. The Dallas County District Attorney’s office is currently investigating the 23-year-old over a Jan. 30 altercation with ex-girlfriend Colleen Crowley, who alleges that Manziel assaulted her and ruptured her eardrum.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Chiefs Docked Two Draft Picks, Fined $250K
The Chiefs signed Jeremy Maclin during free agency last year, and now the NFL is imposing discipline on the club for the path it took to land the receiver. The Chiefs will forfeit a third-round pick this year and a sixth-rounder in 2017 because of a violation of the league’s anti-tampering policy (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com). Additionally, the league has fined the team $250K, head coach Andy Reid $75K, and general manager John Dorsey $25K.
The Chiefs allegedly had contact with Maclin during the league’s legal tampering window prior to free agency, but that’s not allowed. Teams are only permitted to talk with player representatives in that time frame.
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt has issued a statement in response to the league’s decision (via the team’s website):
“Today we were informed by the National Football League that our club will be disciplined for an infraction during the 2015 free agency negotiating period.
“While we respect Commissioner Goodell and the process, we believe that the penalties proposed in this case are inconsistent with discipline enforced in similar matters – particularly given the league’s inconsistent communication of its policies on contact with potential free agents.
“As an organization, we take great care to conduct ourselves with integrity and operate within the guidelines of the NFL. We have been fully cooperative and transparent with the league in this matter, and we are disappointed with the league’s decision. I want to make it clear that I fully support the leadership of both Coach Reid and John Dorsey. We will continue to explore our options under the appeal process.”
An appeal is indeed on the way, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Robert Ayers To Visit Buccaneers
Defensive end Robert Ayers, the best pass rusher left on the free agent market, has a visit set up with the Buccaneers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
With the Giants having agreed to deals with fellow ends Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon, it appears Ayers’ stint with 
Big Blue will end after two years. During those two campaigns, the 30-year-old appeared in 24 regular-season games and recorded 14 sacks. Ayers has registered five-plus sacks in three straight years, including a career-best nine (plus 18 quarterback hurries) last season.
The 273-pounder has primarily been a reserve in his seven-year career (five with Denver), but he has totaled double-digit starts three times (including 11 in 2015-16). For his work last season, Ayers earned a tremendous mark from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him eighth out of 110 qualifying edge defenders.
If Ayers signs with the Bucs, he’ll join a team that was middle of the pack in sacks last season with 38. However, none of Tampa’s edge rushers had more than seven. It might take upward of $10MM per year to sign Ayers, as Jason Cole of Bleacher Report named that as his asking price earlier this week (Twitter link).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Falcons To Host Mohamed Sanu, May Sign Him
4:30pm: According to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (Twitter link), Sanu’s current asking price exceeds what the Pats had been looking to spend on a receiver. That may increase the odds of Sanu signing a deal with the Falcons before he leaves Atlanta for New England.
3:44pm: Not so fast, says Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Anderson gets an update from Sanu himself, who says the plan is to visit the Patriots after meeting with the Falcons. It’s still possible that the Falcons won’t let the wideout make that visit to New England, locking him up to a new deal during his visit, but it appears it’s not set in stone yet.
3:29pm: Free agent receiver Mohamed Sanu is on his way to Atlanta to sign a deal worth $7MM per year, ESPN’s Dianna Marie Russini reports (Twitter link). A long list of clubs have expressed interest in Sanu, including the Giants, Patriots, Cowboys, Buccaneers, and Washington, but the Falcons will come out on top for his services.
Sanu, whom the Bengals selected in the third round of the 2012 draft, totaled 152 receptions and 15 touchdowns in Cincy. Eleven of those scores came as a receiver, while he also ran and passed for two apiece. The 26-year-old took a backseat in the Bengals’ passing game last season to A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert and Marvin Jones, catching 33 passes for 394 yards and no TDs. He was far more productive in 2014, though, putting up career bests in catches (56), receiving yards (790), YPC (14.1) and TDs (five). He’s a good bet to return to similar form as the Falcons’ top option behind Julio Jones.
Sanu is the second Bengals wideout to depart Cincinnati today, joining Jones – who’s headed to the Lions on a five-year, $40MM accord. Prior to free agency, Sanu ranked as PFR’s seventh-best available receiver.
Photo Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cardinals Tender RFA D.J. Swearinger
4:00pm: It’s actually an original round tender for Swearinger, which will pay him $1.671MM, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. But because Swearinger was drafted in the second round, the Cardinals would receive a second-rounder as compensation if they declined to match an offer sheet.
3:53pm: The Cardinals have slapped a second-round tender on safety D.J. Swearinger, who will make $2.55MM in 2016 as a result, according to Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 (Twitter link). There was a report last week that the Cardinals had tendered Swearinger at the lowest level, but that obviously appears false. Now, should any team attempt to sign Swearinger, it will have
to surrender a second-rounder for his services.
Given Arizona’s move to place a low-level tender on fellow safety Tony Jefferson last week, its decision to put second-round value on Swearinger is curious. Jefferson has appeared in all 48 possible regular-season games (17 starts) as a Cardinal, playing in over 70% of their defensive snaps in 2015-16. The production has been there, too — Jefferson graded as the No. 18 safety among 88 qualifiers in 2015, per Pro Football Focus.
Swearinger, on the other hand, joined the Cardinals last season after the Buccaneers waived him. He appeared in seven games (zero starts) and registered 12 tackles. PFF gave him a 55.1 overall grade, far below Jefferson’s 81.3. The 24-year-old Swearinger was Houston’s second-round pick in 2013. He started 22 of 32 regular-season games for the Texans, with whom he picked off four passes and forced three fumbles.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Lions Sign Tavon Wilson
The Lions have signed safety Tavon Wilson, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link). Details of Wilson’s contract aren’t yet available.
Wilson, 25, spent the first four years of his career in New England, appearing in 54 regular-season games and logging four starts. He has amassed five interceptions, four of which came during his rookie year in 2012. The Patriots drafted Wilson in the second round. New Lions general manager Bob Quinn was in the Pats’ front office at the time.
Bengals Re-Sign Eric Winston
Eric Winston will return to the Bengals for a third season, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson, who tweets that the offensive tackle has agreed to a one-year deal. It’s worth $1.09MM, and features a $985K salary and an $80K bonus.
Winston, a 10-year veteran, joined the Bengals in 2014 and has since made four starts in 17 appearances. The 32-year-old has 141 appearances and 123 starts to his name with the Texans, Chiefs, Cardinals and Bengals. Winston suited up for 13 games last season and made two starts for the AFC North champions.
Patriots, Ramon Humber Agree To One-Year Deal
The Patriots and linebacker Ramon Humber have agreed to a one-year contract, reports Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com (on Twitter). Financial details are not yet available.
Humber, whom the Saints waived last month, served as a key special teams cog for the club after it signed him during the 2010 season. Since signing with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of North Dakota State in 2009, the 28-year-old has appeared in 92 regular-season games and made 18 starts at linebacker.
Chargers, Joe Barksdale Agree To Four-Year Deal
TUESDAY, 10:27am: Barksdale’s new four-year deal with the Chargers is worth $22.2MM, with $10.5MM in fully guaranteed money, per Caplan (Twitter link).
MONDAY, 8:48pm: Joe Barksdale was close to becoming one of the top right tackles on this year’s free agent market, but he’s staying put. Barksdale will re-sign the Chargers, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link). It’s a four-year pact, reports ESPN’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter). Financial details are not yet available.
“We got the deal done. I’ll be signing tomorrow,” Barksdale said.
Barksdale proved to be a bargain for the Chargers last season after joining them on a one-year deal. The 27-year-old made 16 starts and played the second-most snaps in the league among tackles (1,150). His performance earned him the No. 21 overall ranking among 77 qualifying OTs from Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Barksdale, a third-round pick of the Raiders in 2011, joined the Rams in 2012 and emerged as a dependable starter the next season. Since then, he has appeared in 48 straight games and made 45 starts for the Rams and Chargers.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Extra Points: Megatron, JPP, Cardinals, Wallace
The Lions hope to know whether receiver Calvin Johnson will return or retire by Tuesday, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, as his decision will greatly impact how they approach free agency. If Megatron retires or the Lions release him by Wednesday, they’ll open up over $11MM in cap space for 2016. Otherwise, Johnson’s $15.95MM base salary and $24MM-plus cap number will go on the team’s books this year.
Here’s more from around the NFL, including some intriguing notes on pending free agents:
- There’s “optimism” that the Giants will be able to re-sign defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, reports ESPN’s Dan Graziano, who adds that the club has offered JPP a one-year deal. Other possible suitors are “hesitant” to offer Pierre-Paul a long-term pact, per Graziano. However, there’s an “aggressive” market for his services, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Thus, it’s hard to believe he’d have to settle for a one-year deal.
- If Pierre-Paul leaves New York, he could go to the Cardinals. They’ll pursue JPP, Mario Williams and the previously reported William Hayes, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link).
- The Vikings reportedly wanted to bring back wideout Mike Wallace at a reduced cost as of last Friday, but Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports “would be shocked” if he isn’t released by Wednesday (Twitter link). The Vikings will save $11MM if they part with Wallace.
- The Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick are the best fit for one another, opines the New York Daily News’ Manish Mehta, who expects the two to renew their relationship. Mehta lists a two-year deal with $14MM in guarantees as the floor for Fitzpatrick’s next contract, adding that the ceiling on guarantees could stretch to $18MM.
- The Raiders are looking for a replacement for inside linebacker Curtis Lofton, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). Last month, $3.5MM of Lofton’s $5.35MM base salary for 2016 became guaranteed. The Raiders had to pay it because Lofton had an arm injury at the time, per Tafur, and a team isn’t allowed to release a player if he’s hurt when he’s due guaranteed money.
- Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette examines the Steelers’ need for a cornerback, suggesting this year could be the first time since 1997 that the team uses a first-round pick on a corner.
Zach Links contributed to this post.