Orlando Scandrick To Visit Redskins
The Redskins will meet with free agent cornerback Orlando Scandrick on Sunday, according to Todd Archer of ESPN.com. (Twitter link). Scandrick was granted his release from the Cowboys earlier today, but could now stay in the NFC East.
[RELATED: Redskins Host Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie]
Washington could be on the hunt for multiple cornerbacks this offseason, as the club not only traded slot corner Kendall Fuller in order to acquire quarterback Alex Smith, but witnessed Bashaud Breeland agreed to a three-year deal with the Panthers. Breeland’s pact with Carolina has since been voided due to a failed physical, but there’s no word as to whether the Redskins would be open to re-signing Breeland.
Scandrick has the ability to play outside or inside corner, so he could help replace Fuller, who was one of the NFL’s best slot men in 2017. As a team, the Redskins ranked fourth in DVOA against opposing slot receivers. Washington could potentially use Quinton Dunbar or Fabian Moreau in the slot, but Scandrick may provide an upgrade.
Scandrick, 31, has spent his entire nine-year career in Dallas. He’s dealt with injuries over the past two years, and missed nine games during that span. Last season, Scandrick played on roughly 58% of the Cowboys’ defensive snaps, but graded as a bottom-10 cornerback, per Pro Football Focus.
Colts To Host CB Phillip Gaines
The Colts will host free agent cornerback Phillip Gaines on Sunday, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Indianapolis recently lost top corner Rashaan Melvin to the Raiders, and the club’s defensive back depth chart is among the weakest in the NFL. At present, the Colts are projected to start Quincy Wilson and Kenny Moore at cornerback — each are 2017 rookies who offered a combined six starts worth of experience. Last season, Indy ranked dead last in Football Outsiders‘ pass defense DVOA.
Gaines, 26, is a former third-round pick who appeared in 41 games with the Chiefs over the past three seasons. Typically a slot corner, Gaines graded as the second-worst CB in the NFL a season ago, per Pro Football Focus. He’s unlikely to return to Kansas City after the club added David Amerson and Kendall Fuller, but he’d offer familiarity in Indianapolis, where former Chiefs executive Chris Ballard is now general manager.
Colts Interested In Mike Pouncey
The Colts are among the clubs with interest in free agent center Mike Pouncey, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
Pouncey hasn’t been wanting for interest since earning his release from the Dolphins earlier this week. In addition to the Colts, both the Buccaneers and Chargers are reportedly eyeing Pouncey, although Tampa Bay’s current level of intrigue is unclear given that it signed fellow interior lineman Ryan Jensen. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is reportedly meeting with Pouncey today.
If signed by the Colts, Pouncey would likely be moved to guard given the presence of former first-round pick Ryan Kelly at center. That shouldn’t be a problem for the 28-year-old Pouncey, who has earned Pro Bowl berths at both guard and center in the past.
After playing in only five games in 2016, Pouncey’s play was limited by a hip injury last season. Pro Football Focus noted his lackluster performance, grading Pouncey as just the No. 27 center in the NFL. It’s possible Pouncey will require hip replacement surgery down the road, while at least one doctor has reportedly recommended that Pouncey retire, but he’s rejected that advice tho this point.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/18
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: OL Billy Turner
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: OL Jordan Devey
Oakland Raiders
- Waived: LS Bradley Northnagel
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: DB Akeem King
Raiders To Host CB Rashaan Melvin
The Raiders will host free agent cornerback Rashaan Melvin on Friday, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Both Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link) and Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal have reported that Oakland has had conversations with Melvin.
Melvin, a 2013 undrafted free agent out of Northern Illinois, spent the past two seasons with the Colts, where he’s had a pair of solid campaigns. Following a breakout season in 2016, Melvin was just as productive this year, finishing with 36 tackles, three interceptions, and 13 passes defended. Pro Football Focus was particularly fond of his performance, ranking him 17th among 120 eligible cornerbacks. PFR ranked Melvin as the No. 12 free agent cornerback.
The Raiders could certainly use some reinforcement at cornerback, as the club is currently projected to start 2017 first- rounder Gareon Conley and former seventh-rounder Dexter McDonald. Oakland also has Darius Hillary, Antonio Mitchel, and Shaquille Richardson on their CB depth chart.
Oakland isn’t the only team eyeing Melvin, as the Packers also reportedly have interest in the 28-year-old.
Giants Move Ereck Flowers To Right Tackle
The Giants confirmed their signing of left tackle Nate Solder to a four-year, $62MM deal, and in so doing, announced former first-round pick Ereck Flowers will move to right tackle.
The news doesn’t come as a complete surprise. Flowers had to play somewhere after all (unless New York intended to trade or release him), so the only question was whether he would shift to guard or right tackle. The former first-round pick was considered a guard prospect by many during the 2015 pre-draft process, but Flowers will stay at tackle, only on the right side.
“As soon as we announced the signing of Nate, [head coach] Pat [Shurmur] spoke with Ereck,” general manager Dave Gettleman said, per John Healy of the New York Daily News. “He called him on the phone to talk to him and said, ‘Listen, we’re going to move you to right, and at the end of the day, the five best offensive linemen play.’ That’s where they left it, and Ereck was fine on the phone.”
Although he’s only 23 years old, Flowers already has plenty of NFL experience, as he’s started 46 games for the Giants over the past three years. He’s never been effective, however: 2017 marked his best campaign to date, but that only resulted in Flowers grading as the league’s No. 54 tackle among 81 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
Contractually, Flowers’ position change doesn’t have any immediate effects. New York needs to decide on his 2019 fifth-year option by early May, but his move to right tackle won’t change anything. Fifth-year option values — like franchise tags — don’t have different values for tackles and interior linemen, let alone left and right tackles.
Seahawks, Chargers Eyeing Caleb Sturgis
Free agent kicker Caleb Sturgis met with the Seahawks on Thursday and will take a visit with the Chargers on Friday, according to Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Los Angeles is certainly in need of a new kicker this offseason, as the club deployed four different kickers in 2017 without much success. The Chargers have already met with former Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski, so they’re looking at all available options. Seattle, meanwhile, signed Jason Myers — who has a 36 games worth of experience — to a futures deal earlier this year, but Sturgis could represent an upgrade.
Sturgis, for his part, barely played last season, as he suffered a hip injury in Week 1 of the Eagles’ season. Jake Elliott experienced success as Sturgis’ replacement in Philadelphia, so a reunion between the Eagles and Sturgis doesn’t seem possible. Sturgis, 28, owns a career field goal percentage of 81.0 over parts of five NFL campaigns.
Raiders Sign LB Tahir Whitehead
The Raiders have signed free agent linebacker Tahir Whitehead, the club announced tonight. It’s a three-year deal worth more than $6MM annually, per Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review Journal (Twitter link).
Oakland has been on the lookout for linebackers for several seasons, and last year acquired veteran NaVorro Bowman from the 49ers. Although the Raiders still had interest in re-signing Bowman as of earlier this week, it’s possible the club’s addition of Whitehead will end Bowman’s tenure. However, Bowman plays on the inside while Whitehead is best at outside ‘backer, so there is certainly room for both in the Bay Area.
Whitehead was drafted by the Lions as a fifth-rounder in 2012, but he didn’t become a fixture on the club’s defense until 2014. Since that time, he’s started 55 games and racked up 283 tackles. Whitehead, 27, has hit the open market before, but ended up re-signing with the Lions on a two-year deal.
Whitehead, whom PFR ranked as the No. 8 available linebacker entering free agency, would line up alongside Oakland linebackers Bruce Irvin and Marquel Lee if the season began today, but it’s possible the Raiders will make further second-level additions.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) first reported Whitehead was nearing a deal with Oakland. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
[RELATED: Raiders Depth Chart]
Contract Details: Lotulelei, Bradham, Lewis
Let’s take a look at the details from the latest contracts signed in the NFL:
- Star Lotulelei, DT (Bills): Five years, $50MM. $18.5MM guaranteed. $33.5MM over first three seasons (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com).
- Nigel Bradham, LB (Eagles): Five years, $40MM. $14MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus. Eagles have team options for 2020-22 seasons (Twitter link via Sheil Kapadia of the Athletic).
- Dion Lewis, RB (Titans): Four years, $19.8MM. $4.25MM guaranteed. $2.25MM signing bonus. Max value of $22.3MM (Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).
- Kareem Martin, LB (Giants): Three years, $15MM. $7.25MM guaranteed. $3MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Patrick Omameh, G (Giants): Three years, $15MM. $5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com).
- Keith Tandy, S (Buccaneers): Two years, $2.74MM. $600K guaranteed (Twitter link via Howard Balzer).
- Kenny Wiggins, OL (Lions): Two years, $5MM. $750K guaranteed. $750K signing bonus (story via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
- Kevin Huber, P (Bengals): Three years, $7.95MM. $1.55MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Wilson).
Jets Re-Sign CB Morris Claiborne
The Jets have re-signed cornerback Morris Claiborne to a one-year, $7MM deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Gang Green entered the free agent period hoping to acquire two starting corners, and the club has now accomplished that goal. General manager Mike Maccagnan inked Trumaine Johnson to a five-year deal on Wednesday, and he’ll now retain Claiborne, whose first season in New York was considered a success.
Claiborne is a former top-10 draft pick, and although he’s generally been effective when on the field, injuries have been an issue. During the first five seasons of his career, all of which came with the Cowboys, Claiborne managed to play in more than 12 games only once, and that was during his rookie campaign.
Things were different in 2017, however, as Claiborne managed to stay healthy for 15 contests. During that time, he served as the Jets’ No. 1 cornerback, managing eight passes defensed and one interception. Pro Football Focus wasn’t fond of Claiborne’s work, though, as he graded as a bottom-20 corner among 121 qualifiers.
Entering free agency, PFR ranked Claiborne as the fifth-best available corner. Of the four CBs that placed above Claiborne, only E.J. Gaines has yet to land a new deal.
[RELATED: Jets Depth Chart]