Greg Jennings Visited Panthers
Free agent wide receiver Greg Jennings visited the Panthers on Saturday, according to Bill Voth of the Black and Blue Review.
Jennings, whom the Vikings released last week, hauled in 59 passes and six touchdowns last season – his ninth in the NFL. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him a respectable 48th out of 110 qualifying wideouts in 2014.
Jennings, 31, has 552 receptions and 63 scores during his career – most of which has been spent with the Packers – and would give Panthers quarterback Cam Newton another accomplished target to team with fellow receiver Kelvin Benjamin and tight end Greg Olsen. The Panthers are a fit for more offensive weaponry after finishing last season 19th in both passing and points per game.
C.J. Wilson To Visit Seahawks
Free agent defensive end C.J. Wilson will visit the Seahawks in the upcoming week, reports Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).
This isn’t the first time the defensive end position has made news this week for the Seahawks. The reigning NFC champions were previously connected to a pair of free agent ends – Greg Hardy, who ultimately signed with the Cowboys, and Chris Canty, who re-signed with Baltimore. Further, there was talk that one of the Seahawks’ own, Michael Bennett, wanted out of Seattle. The Seahawks subsequently shot down the notion that Bennett was seeking a trade, but that isn’t precluding them from trying to beef up their D-line.
Wilson, who will turn 28 later this month, spent 2014 with the Raiders and accrued 23 tackles and two sacks in 16 games (seven starts). Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Wilson 27th out of 57 qualifying 4-3 defensive ends for his work. The five-year veteran entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the Packers in 2010 and spent his first four seasons in Green Bay, with which he appeared in 50 games and made 11 starts.
North Notes: Jennings, Bears, Browns
Some Saturday evening notes from the NFL’s two North divisions:
- Wide receiver Greg Jennings, whom the Vikings released last week after two seasons in Minnesota, thrived during the first seven years of his career as a member of the Packers. Nevertheless, according to Jason Wilde of ESPN, don’t expect the 31-year-old to return to Green Bay. Although the Packers – who already have high-paid wideouts Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb – previously expressed interest this offseason in veteran free agents Andre Johnson and Percy Harvin, both of whom have since signed elsewhere, Wilde doesn’t see Jennings as a fit for the team because of the ugly way he left in 2013. Jennings took shots at the Packers after signing with the Vikings, as ESPN’s Rob Demovsky detailed earlier this week, and Wilde doesn’t expect Packers management to forgive and forget in Jennings’ case. That’s despite Jennings saying Tuesday that he’d be “open” to a reunion with Green Bay.
- The Bears have a number of needs to address entering the upcoming NFL draft, with wide receiver and pass rusher chief among them. Luckily for general manager Ryan Pace, those areas happen to be two of the strongest and deepest in the draft class, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The Bears could target a wideout or pass rusher with the seventh overall pick, where receivers Amari Cooper (Alabama) and Kevin White (West Virginia) and defenders Randy Gregory (Nebraska), Dante Fowler (Florida) and Shane Ray (Missouri) are likely to be available. If not, they still might be able to find second- and third-round receivers and pass rushers capable of coming in and making an immediate impact.
- As of now, the Browns’ starting quarterback in 2015 is probably either going to be Josh McCown or Johnny Manziel. Understandably, their fans aren’t content with either option, and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com answered some of their QB-related inquiries in a mailbag. According to Cabot, the Browns could land Baylor’s Bryce Petty with the 19th overall pick in the draft. Their new quarterbacks coach, Kevin O’Connell, has trained Petty in the past – which means O’Connell has plenty of info on Petty and might be in position to steer Browns management either toward the 23-year-old or away from him.
Chiefs, Ben Grubbs Agree On New Deal
The Chiefs and guard Ben Grubbs have agreed on a new contract, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The deal is for four years and $24MM, and it includes $8MM in guarantees. Another $3MM will become guaranteed if Grubbs is still on the Chiefs’ 90-man roster in March 2017.
Kansas City acquired the 31-year-old Grubbs from the Saints for a fifth-round pick on Thursday. Before reaching a new deal with the Chiefs, the eight-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowler was scheduled to be on their books for the next two seasons at cap hits of $6.6MM and $7.3MM, respectively. He’ll still get $6.6MM in 2015, per Florio.
Stevie Johnson Visited Chargers
It was reported Friday that the Patriots were “targeting” free agent wide receiver Stevie Johnson. If true, it appears they’ll have serious competition for the seven-year veteran’s services. Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune writes that Johnson visited the Chargers on Friday. According to Gehlken, Johnson left San Diego unsigned, but the visit was a “positive” one and he’s likely to make a decision on his future “no later than Monday.”
The 49ers released Johnson earlier this week after a disappointing season that saw the 28-year-old total a mere 35 catches in 13 games. He does have a successful track record, though, having amassed 336 catches and 31 touchdowns during his career – mostly in Buffalo – and would lend help to a receiver-needy Chargers team.
San Diego has pursued big-time targets this offseason to improve its receiving corps, only to come up empty on the likes of Andre Johnson and Eddie Royal – both of whom signed with other clubs. Royal, who was a member of the Chargers the past three seasons, finished second among Bolts wideouts in receptions (62) and yards (778) in 2014. His seven touchdowns led all San Diego receivers. In the wake of his departure, the only starting-caliber receivers left on the Chargers’ roster are Malcom Floyd and Keenan Allen. Although effective, the two have combined for just a single 1,000-yard season (Allen in 2013), while Johnson has three to his name.
Johnson’s impressive career production has come despite never having played with an elite-level quarterback, which the Chargers have in Philip Rivers. During his six years with the Bills, Johnson was mostly on the receiving end of passes from journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick, while his QB in San Francisco was Colin Kaepernick – who underwhelmed last season.
Extra Points: Saints, Wilfork, Jets
The Saints addressed their secondary in a big way Thursday when they signed free agent cornerback Brandon Browner, but another of the team’s corners seemingly faces a less certain future in New Orleans.
Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweeted Friday that the Saints are “actively shopping” Keenan Lewis, who voiced his displeasure with the team’s direction on social media earlier this week. Shortly after La Canfora’s tweet, though, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported (Twitter link) that the Saints are restructuring Lewis’ contract in an effort to appease the six-year veteran. Lewis has three years and $10.8MM in guarantees left on the five-year, $26.5MM deal he signed with the Saints in 2013. Lewis, 28, said Tuesday that the Saints should either guarantee all of the remaining three years or release him. However, he changed his tune Friday night. According to Evan Woodbery of NOLA.com (via Twitter), Lewis wrote on Instagram that “leaving was never an option.” We’ll see whether that proves true.
In other news:
- Elsewhere on the Saints front, Woodbery writes that, despite its recent moves to open up spending room, the team is still in cap trouble. Woodbery speculates that the Saints will have to do something with 31-year-old guard Jahri Evans, which could mean restructuring his current deal, trading him or releasing him. Evans is signed for two more years at cap numbers of $11.2MM and $10MM, respectively.
- Vince Wilfork‘s agent, Kennard McGuire, said Friday that the Texans have a “legitimate shot” to sign the free agent defensive lineman, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 in Houston. “One of the benefits from the organization’s standpoint is that of familiarity.” said McGuire. “Vince played with (linebackers coach Mike) Vrabel. He was coached by (head coach) Billy O (O’Brien) and Rac (defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel).” The 33-year-old Wilfork spent the first 11 seasons of his career in New England, with which he made five Pro Bowls and won two Super Bowls. He’d further beef up a Texans defense that finished a solid 10th against the run last season. Wilfork is unlikely to join the Texans (or anyone else) imminently, however, as his agent said the player would “take his time” on choosing a team.
- Multiple sources told Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) that the NFL is investigating the Jets for possibly tampering with free agent cornerback Darrelle Revis, whom they signed earlier this week. The negotiating period between teams and free agents opened last Saturday, and the league is taking the notion that the Jets may have had contact with Revis prior to then “incredibly seriously,” per Cole.
Chargers Sign Jimmy Wilson
8:23pm: Wilson’s deal is worth $4.85MM, per Salguero (Twitter link).
6:59pm: The Chargers have signed free agent defensive back Jimmy Wilson to a two-year contract, the team announced (via Twitter). Financial terms of the deal have not yet been reported.
Wilson, 28, spent the first four years of his career in Miami. As recently as Wednesday, the Dolphins were in talks with Wilson’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, in hopes of retaining him, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweeted.
Wilson appeared in 60 games as a Dolphin and intercepted four passes. He totaled just eight starts during his first three seasons before amassing a career-high 13 in 2014. Eight of those starts came at cornerback, while the other five were from the safety position. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) wasn’t impressed with Wilson’s work as a corner last year, ranking him 94th out of 108 qualifiers. However, the site rated him a far better 34th out of 87 safeties.
Wilson will add depth and versatility to a Chargers defense that finished fourth against the pass in 2014. However, San Diego has already lost safety Marcus Gilchrist to free agency this year and could also see cornerback Shareece Wright depart.
Broncos To Sign Shelley Smith
The Broncos have agreed to a deal with free agent guard Shelley Smith. It’s a two-year pact worth $5.65MM, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
Miami released the 27-year-old Smith on Tuesday, but he wasn’t on the market for long. The four-year veteran appeared in 11 games for the Dolphins last season and started three. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked him 54th out of 78 qualifying guards for his 2014 performance.
Smith, who has made 40 appearances and 13 starts as a member of three different organizations during his career, will join a Denver team that lost starting left guard Orlando Franklin to the Chargers via free agency earlier this week. According to Mike Kils of the Denver Post (via Twitter), Smith will compete with Ben Garland for the spot Franklin vacated.
Patriots Eyeing Stevie Johnson
The Patriots have addressed their receiving corps in multiple ways this week, first signing free agent Brandon Gibson and then restructuring the contract of Danny Amendola. Now they might do something more significant at the position. Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4 tweets that the Pats are “targeting” free agent Stevie Johnson, whom the 49ers released Wednesday.
New England is familiar with Johnson, who spent the first six years of his career with AFC East rival Buffalo. The 28-year-old impressed as a member of the Bills from 2008-13, racking up three different seasons of 70-plus catches and over 1,000 yards. The Bills traded him to San Francisco last offseason and he wasn’t nearly as successful as a 49er, for whom he totaled just 35 catches in 13 games.
If Johnson lands with the Patriots, he’ll join a receiving corps that already includes Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Amendola and Gibson. Edelman and LaFell had far more productive 2014 campaigns than Johnson, whose numbers were more in line with the unspectacular ones amassed by Amendola and Gibson. Nevertheless, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Johnson a terrific 22nd out of 110 qualifying wideouts last season.
Minor Moves: Friday
Today’s minor moves…
- The Jaguars have signed return specialist Bryan Walters, according to the team’s official website. The 27-year-old spent last season with the Seahawks and is hoping to earn a chance as a slot receiver. He may get that opportunity in Jacksonville, per John Oehser of Jaguars.com.
- Washington re-signed cornerback Justin Rogers, the team tweeted. Rogers appeared in Washington’s final three games last season. He spent the first three years of his career in Buffalo (2011-13), where he played 34 games and totaled three interceptions.
- Fullback Ray Agnew tweeted that he’s joining the Cowboys. The 24-year-old Agnew’s only NFL experience came last season in Cleveland, with which he appeared in 12 games.
- Cornerback James Dockery has officially signed with the Raiders (via Instagram). The four-year veteran will join his third NFL team. He was previously with the Browns and Panthers, having spent the last three seasons with the latter. His career includes 39 appearances and 31 tackles.