HEADLINES

Author: Dallas Robinson

Chiefs To Sign XFL QB Jordan Ta’amu

March 23rd, 2020 at 6:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Chiefs have agreed to a one-year deal with former XFL quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

Ta’amu, 22, went undrafted out of Ole Miss in 2019 but spent a month with the Texans after being signed as an undrafted free agent. Soon after, Ta’amu joined the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL and proceeded to complete 72% of his passes for 1,050 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. He became available to NFL teams when the XFL suspended its 2020 season due to coronavirus earlier this month.

Clearly, Ta’amu won’t come anywhere near the starting job in Kansas City, and doesn’t have a realistic shot at the No. 2 role after the Chiefs re-signed veteran Chad Henne. But Ta’amu will get the opportunity to join the reigning Super Bowl champions and work with one of the league’s best quarterback gurus in Andy Reid.

Cowboys’ Travis Frederick Announces Retirement

March 23rd, 2020 at 5:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Cowboys center Travis Frederick, who missed the entire 2018 season while dealing with Guillain–Barré syndrome before returning for the 2019 campaign, has announced his retirement from the NFL.

“[2019] was a difficult year for me,” Frederick said in a statement released on Twitter. “Each day I faced a struggle: I could no longer perform at my highest level. Playing “well” is not what I expect of myself and is not what my teammates deserve.”

Selected by the Cowboys with the 31st overall pick in the 2013 draft, Frederick is arguably the greatest center of his generation. In his six healthy NFL seasons, Frederick started all 96 possible games, and routinely graded at the top of Pro Football Focus’ center rankings.

Still only 29 years old, Frederick was a key cog in a Dallas offensive line that was the NFL’s best for most of the 2010s. A five-time Pro Bowler (including in 2019), Frederick also earned a first-team All-Pro nod in 2016 and second-team berths in 2014 and 2015.

The loss of Frederick creates a massive hole in the middle of the Cowboys’ front five. Veteran Joe Looney, re-signed to a new contract last week, could take over at the pivot, as could 2019 third-rounder Connor McGovern. Alternatively, Dallas could look to the free agent market (where the options are slim), explore a trade for a center, or spend another draft pick on the position.

Clearly, Frederick’s long-term health is the most important factor in his hanging up his cleats, but his retirement will have an effect on the Cowboys’ salary cap. Dallas will incur a dead money charge of $11.04MM in 2020 due to Frederick’s retirement, while the move opens up just $935K in cap space.

Ravens To Re-Sign CB Jimmy Smith

March 23rd, 2020 at 5:08pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Ravens have agreed to re-sign cornerback Jimmy Smith, as Smith himself tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Smith will ink a one-year deal worth $3.5MM, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who adds Smith can earn another $2.5MM via playtime incentives.

Smith had spent his entire career in Baltimore since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2011, but it was unclear if he’d be sticking with the Ravens going forward. Baltimore allowed the veteran defensive back to reach the free agent market, but he’s now returning on a relatively team-friendly deal.

Smith made the fewest starts of his career (five) in 2019, thanks in large part to a knee injury that sidelined him for much of the season. Health questions have historically been a problem for Smith, who has only played a full 16-game slate twice in nine NFL seasons.

Baltimore ranked fourth in the league in pass defense DVOA, and the club will now return almost all of its cornerbacks — save for Brandon Carr — in 2020. Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, and Tavon Young comprise the Ravens’ starting corner package, leaving Smith as a well-compensated, highly-experienced dime defensive back.

Seahawks To Acquire CB Quinton Dunbar

March 23rd, 2020 at 5:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Seahawks have agreed to acquire cornerback Quinton Dunbar from the Redskins, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Seattle will ship a fifth-round pick to Washington in exchange for Dunbar, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.

Unhappy with the extension he signed with the Redskins in 2018, Dunbar has been attempting to orchestrate a trade or release since February. Further reports indicated that Dunbar had been open to working out a “reasonable” restructure of his contract with the Redskins, but the club reportedly had no interest in doing so.

Dunbar, 27, arguably has every reason to be displeased with the three-year, $10.5MM deal he inked two years ago, as he’s largely outplayed the pact. The former undrafted free agent played the most snaps of his NFL tenure in 2019 and posted a career-high four interceptions. Pro Football Focus, meanwhile, graded Dunbar as the league’s second-best cornerback behind only Richard Sherman.

Now heading into the final year of his contract, Dunbar will surely ask the Seahawks for an extension at something closer to market value. On the field, he’ll compete with Tre Flowers — who took a large step back in his second NFL campaign — to play opposite Shaquill Griffin.

Washington, meanwhile, is losing yet another member of its defensive backfield after parting ways with Josh Norman earlier this offseason. The Redskins brought back Kendall Fuller on a four-year deal last week, but the club’s secondary depth behind him is largely barren.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/23/20

March 23rd, 2020 at 4:55pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Tennessee Titans

Washington Redskins

Josh Kline Could Re-Sign With Vikings

March 19th, 2020 at 9:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although the Vikings released guard Josh Kline on Wednesday, a reunion between the two parties “isn’t out of the question,” reports Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune (Twitter link).

Minnesota attempted to get Kline to restructure his contract before cutting him, per Goessling. In this case, “restructure” almost assuredly meant “pay cut,” something Kline was apparently unwilling to do. The 30-year-old Kline signed a three-year, $15.5MM pact with the Vikings just last offseason, but made it through only one year before being released. Minnesota saved $1.56MM in cap space by parting ways with Kline but absorbed $4.46MM in dead money.

Kline, who has also spent time with the Patriots and Titans, played in 13 games for the Vikings a year ago, missing the other three contests due to injury. Pro Football Focus graded him the league’s 42nd-best guard among 63 qualifiers. He now joins a free agent guard market that also includes Andrus Peat, Ronald Leary, and Daryl Williams, among others.

Latest On Jadeveon Clowney’s Market

March 19th, 2020 at 9:12pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While most of the the NFL’s top free agents have already come off the board, one still resides on the open market. Jadeveon Clowney, viewed as arguably the best available, non-franchise-tagged edge defender, still hasn’t found a new club, and reports of interest around the league have been few and far between.

Clowney had been (and still may be) seeking a $20MM annual salary, but it’s unclear if any club is willing to meet that asking price. The 27-year-old is now reportedly open to a one- or two-year pact, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported Wednesday, adding that many around the NFL now believe Clowney will re-sign with the Seahawks.

Speaking on NFL Network earlier today, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero indicated Clowney does have an offer on the table from Seattle, but it doesn’t meet the pass-rusher’s requirements for salary or length. Clowney, meanwhile, is reportedly hoping that rival clubs will express interest and pressure the Seahawks into raising their offer.

Seattle is likely proposing something in the range of $17-19MM per year, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, who adds Clowney’s health issues are likely a factor in his weak market. While Clowney’s January core muscle surgery typically wouldn’t be viewed as much of a barrier to a deal, COVID-19 restrictions currently prevent him from taking a proper physical.

Steelers To Sign Stefen Wisniewski

March 19th, 2020 at 8:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Steelers have agreed to a two-year deal with offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Pittsburgh had been searching for a new face at left guard, where Ramon Foster had been a linchpin since the 2009 campaign. Foster retired from the NFL earlier this week, leaving a massive hole along the Steelers’ front five. Now, Wisniewski will likely line up at guard in between left takcle Alejandro Villanueva and center Maurkice Pouncey.

Wisniewski, who turns 31 years old later this week, has played in 134 games since entering the NFL as a second-round Raiders draft pick in 2011. The Penn State alum appeared in 46 games with the Eagles from 2016-18 and won a Super Bowl, then joined the Chiefs last October for another Super Bowl run. Wisniewski started the final two games of the regular season for Kansas City before starting every game during the playoffs.

The Jets, whose interest in Wisniewski was reported earlier this week, made an “earnest effort” to sign the veteran guard, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. But Wisniewski, a Pittsburgh native, ultimately decided on a homecoming.

Saints Exercise 2021 Options On Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk

March 19th, 2020 at 8:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Saints have exercised their 2021 fifth-year options on cornerback Marshon Lattimore and offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Lattimore and Ramczyk become the first members of the 2017 draft class to have their options picked up, and are also the first to have their options fully guaranteed. Under the terms of the new contractual bargaining agreement, fifth-year options — which are available for all first-round picks and had previously been guaranteed for injury only — are now guaranteed for injury, cap, and skill purposes.

Part of a 2017 Saints draft class that also included Alvin Kamara and Marcus Williams, Lattimore and Ramczyk have quickly become essential cogs for New Orleans. Lattimore has started 43 games and posted eight interceptions over his first three years in the NFL, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 and Pro Bowl nods in both 2017 and 2019.

Ramcyzk, meanwhile, has only missed one contest since entering the league and is arguably the NFL’s premier right tackle. Indeed, Pro Football Focus graded the former Wisconsin Badger as the league’s No. 1 offensive tackle — even including those that play on the blindside — in 2019. Both he and Lattimore should be in for hefty extensions in the near future.

CB Rumors: Slay, Lions, Harris, Trufant

March 19th, 2020 at 7:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Speaking to WJR-AM in Detroit following his trade from the Lions to the Eagles, cornerback Darius Slay didn’t hold back on his substandard connection with Lions head coach Matt Patricia. Slay, who’d been in Detroit since 2013, said Patricia told him he shouldn’t have been working out with fellow corners like Richard Sherman and Aqib Talib because those players are “elite” while Slay is simply “good,” per Justin Rogers of the Detroit News (all Twitter links).

Slay also indicated his relationship with Patricia was “destroyed” in 2018, adding that he didn’t respect Patricia as a person. Clearly, the nature of Slay’s dissatisfaction played a large role in Detroit’s decision, but as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (video link), the Lions also had no interest in handing Slay another new deal after inking him to a four-year, $48MM extension in 2016. Philadelphia, meanwhile, gave Slay a three-year, $50MM pact after acquiring him.

Here’s more on the cornerback circuit:

  • Veteran cornerback Chris Harris says he turned down a three-year offer from the Raiders before inking a two-year, $20MM deal with the Chargers, tweets Mike Klis of 9News. Per Harris, he simply didn’t feel “comfortable” with the Raiders, and preferred to join a Chargers defense that already includes stalwarts like Joey Bosa, Melvin Ingram, Casey Hayward, and Derwin James. Harris, 30, also attracted interest from teams like the Saints, Jets, Eagles, and says he picked up “tons” of one-year offers before deciding on Los Angeles.
  • After losing Harris, the Broncos are looking into adding another cornerback, according to Troy Renck of Denver7 (Twitter link). Denver acquired A.J. Bouye from the Jaguars earlier this month to pair with incumbent Bryce Callahan, but the club could still use another defensive back, either via free agency or the draft. Jimmy Smith, Logan Ryan, Nickell Robey-Coleman, and Ronald Darby are among the top corners still remaining on the open market.
  • The Falcons officially designated cornerback Desmond Trufant as a post-June 1 release. That move will allow Atlanta to spread Trufant’s dead money out over both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Trufant, of course, has already found a new home, landing a two-year, $21MM deal with the Lions.
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