Rams To Retain WR Tavon Austin
The Rams will retain wide receiver Tavon Austin following a contract restructure, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link). Although Los Angeles had reportedly been set on trading or releasing Austin, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported (via Twitter) the club was “intent” on keeping the small-statured wideout.
The Rams could have released Austin immediately and save $3MM against their salary cap, although they would’ve incurred $5MM in dead money. Austin would have seen his $3MM base salary become fully guaranteed on Friday, setting a deadline for a potential transaction.
That $3MM figure is now attainable through incentives, tweets Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com, but those incentives appear to be classified as “likely to be earned,” per Bonsignore (Twitter link). As such, the Rams aren’t likely to see any cap relief in 2018, although they could get a credit in 2019.
Despite the Rams reigniting their offense under Sean McVay after finishing as the league’s worst passing attack a year earlier, Austin managed just 13 receptions for 47 yards last season. However, the gadget weapon did rush for 270 yards and a score.
Los Angeles lost pass-catcher Sammy Watkins to the Chiefs on Wednesday, and while Austin could conceivably help replace Watkins, the Rams are likely to turn to fellow wideouts Josh Reynolnds and Mike Thomas, instead.
Delvin Breaux Leaves Broncos With No Deal
While previous reports indicated that free agent cornerback Delvin Breaux was close to a deal with the Broncos, he’s now leaving Denver without a deal, per Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link), who adds Breaux appears set to visit other clubs.
The 28-year-old wasn’t tendered by the Saints earlier this week, making him an unrestricted free agent. Breaux had his highs and lows while in New Orleans: he was a standout in 2015, grading out as a high-end starter per Pro Football Focus’ metrics, but didn’t deliver an encore performance in 2016, and his 2017 season was lost to injury.
The Saints designated Breaux to return from IR in October, but the cornerback had a setback that kept him out for another month. Ultimately, New Orleans did not activate him within the window, meaning that his season was done.
The former CFL player’s standout 2015 campaign saw him compile 45 tackles, 19 passes defended, and three interceptions. Injuries have been an issue with Breaux, who has broken his fibula twice and missed time with a shoulder injury.
Denver didn’t completely miss on free agent cornerback additions, as they signed veteran Tramaine Brock on Wednesday.
Raiders To Sign Marcus Gilchrist
The Raiders have agreed to sign free agent safety Marcus Gilchrist to a one-year deal, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Reggie Nelson‘s contract expired after last season, the second of a two-year deal, and Oakland has a need on its back line alongside Karl Joseph. The Raiders were targeting secondary help this offseason but have yet to bolster that unit with an addition. They lost slot corner T.J. Carrie to the Browns on Wednesday.
Pro Football Focus graded Gilchrist, 29, as a middle-of-the-road safety last season, when he was with the Texans. Despite some big expenses over the past few years, the Raiders have continued to struggle in coverage. They’re now set to have three new starters in their secondary.
While Oakland has spent much of its offseason resources on offensive additions such as Jordy Nelson, Doug Martin, and Derek Carrier, the club also re-signed defensive tackle Justin Ellis and is nearing a deal with linebacker Tahir Whitehad.
[RELATED: Raiders Depth Chart]
Buccaneers Re-Sign DE Will Clarke
The Buccaneers have re-signed defensive end Will Clarke, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). It’s a minimum benefit salary pact, and Clarke will receive a $700K base salary and a signing bonus of $90K.
The Bengals selected Clarke in the third round of the 2014 draft, but he never lived up to that billing. Cincinnati waived Clarke after he failed to start a game with the club, and the Buccaneers picked him up prior to the 2017 campaign.
Clarke, 26, didn’t make much on an impact in Tampa Bay, either. While he played on roughly a third of the Bucs’ defensive snaps, Clarke posted only 2.5 sacks and graded as the No. 84 edge defender among 106 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Clarke also chipped in on special teams, where he saw nearly 50% playtime.
Bears Re-Sign P Pat O’Donnell
The Bears have re-signed punter Pat O’Donnell to a one-year deal, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The pact is worth $1.5MM, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
O’Donnell, 26, has spent his entire career in Chicago after being selected in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. Last season, O’Donnell managed 39.7 net yards per punt, which ranked just 24th in the league. As a unit, the Bears ranked second-to-last in Football Outsiders‘ punt rankings by giving up 12.3 points.
Both the Eagles and Giants reportedly expressed interest in O’Donnell before he re-upped with the Bears.
Jets Sign K Cairo Santos
The Jets have announced the signing of free agent kicker Cairo Santos. It’s a one-year deal, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Gang Green is seeking to replace Chandler Catanzaro, who signed with the Buccaneers on Wednesday. Catanzaro received $9.75MM over three years from Tampa Bay, so the Jets have found a decidedly cheaper option.
Santos was the Chiefs’ kicker for three seasons, but an injury during pregame warmups before a game against the Chargers led to Santos’ Kansas City exit. The Brazilian specialist finished last season with the Bears, kicking in three games. The 26-year-old kicker made 31 of his 35 field goal tries during his last full slate with the Chiefs in 2016.
Jets Host LB Kevin Pierre-Louis
The Jets met with free agent linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis on Thursday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Pierre-Louis had essentially been a linebacker in name only until 2017, as special teams had been his primary area of focus. But the former fourth-round pick saw a career-high 25% playtime on defense, managing 25 tackles during that time. The Chiefs picked up KPL in a trade with the Seahawks last July that sent fellow ‘backer D.J. Alexander to Seattle.
If signed by the Jets, Pierre-Louis would likely revert to his natural special teams role. New York signed former Titan Avery Williamson on Wednesday, and plan to deploy him at inside linebacker alongside former first-round pick Darron Lee.
Bears To Sign DE Aaron Lynch
The Bears will sign free agent edge rusher Aaron Lynch to a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Lynch spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers, with whom he had some overlap with current Chicago defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. His familiarity with the Bears’ scheme is an obvious place, and he could conceivably slot in at either defensive end or linebacker. Either way, Lynch will have one goal: get after opposing quarterbacks.
Lynch admittedly hasn’t been on the field much since 2016 (he’s averaged only 16% playtime over the past two seasons), and the 24-year-old Lynch was reportedly overweight and in danger of getting cut last May. But the former fifth-round pick posted 12.5 sacks over the first two years of his career, and ranked fifth in the NFL with 34 pressures as recently as 2015.
In Chicago, Lynch should have a good shot to rehab his value in advance of 2019 free agency. Although the Bears re-signed veteran outside linebacker Sam Acho to go along with Leonard Floyd on the edge, Acho doesn’t posses Lynch’s upside. With Pernell McPhee now out of the picture, Lynch should be able to soak up snaps as a pass rusher.
Ravens Void Deal With WR Ryan Grant
The Ravens’ have voided their reported four-year agreement with wideout Ryan Grant according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Baltimore found an issue with Grant’s ankle that dated back to the 2017 season finale, per Schefter. 
Baltimore had been scheduled to give Grant $14.5MM in injury guarantees, meaning he would get that money if he were cut due to a serious health question mark. The Ravens, or Grant, apparently had no interest in working out a revised deal, and the 27-year-old will now be free to sign with another club.
With Grant out of the picture, the Ravens have moved quickly to set up a visit with veteran wideout Michael Crabtree. Crabtree, who was released by the Raiders earlier today following Oakland’s signing of Jordy Nelson, is scheduled to meet with Baltimore on Friday.
Grant, a former fifth-round pick, broke out with 45 receptions for 573 yards and four touchdowns with Washington in 2017. Pro Football Focus ultimately ranked Grant 57th among 116 NFL wide receivers. The Redskins had previously expressed interest in retaining Grant, so it’s possible a reunion can be forged.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com was the first to report the Ravens had reached a snag with Grant after finding “something” in his physical (Twitter links). Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Patriots To Meet With DE Adrian Clayborn
The Patriots will plan to host free agent defensive end Adrian Clayborn, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
New England can use all the pass rush help it can get, as the club ranked 31st in adjusted sack rate a year ago. Clayborn can help with that, as the 29-year-old managed 9.5 sacks in 2017. However, Clayborn famously posted six of those sacks in one game against overpowered Cowboys left tackle Chaz Green.
While the Patriots appear to be Clayborn’s first free agent visit, he is not wanting for overall interest. The Colts, Buccaneers, Browns, and the incumbent Falcons are all eyeing a pact with Clayborn, who — unsurprisingly — is being targeted by clubs that run predominantly 4-3 schemes.
PFR ranked Clayborn as the No. 7 edge defender heading into free agency, but three of the pass rushers listed above him — Julius Peppers, William Hayes, and Trent Murphy — have already landed new contracts.