Bills Acquire WR Jordan Matthews
The Bills have announced their second major trade of the day, as they’ve acquired wide receiver Jordan Matthews and a 2018 third-round pick from the Eagles in exchange for cornerback Ronald Darby.
[RELATED: Bills Trade Sammy Watkins To Rams]
Matthews, 26, will presumably step into the void left by Sammy Watkins, whom Buffalo shipped to the Rams earlier today. However, Matthews isn’t the outside receiver that is Watkins, as Matthews has spent the majority of his career in the slot. In fact, he’s a relatively similar player to veteran pass-catcher Anquan Boldin, whom the Bills also now employ. Matthews has been a productive offensive weapon through his three-year career, averaging 75 receptions, nearly 900 yards, and six touchdowns per season.
Of course, Matthews’ contract status also plays a role in this trade, and was likely a key factor in the Eagles trading him away. Matthews is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and now that Philadelphia has Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith, Nelson Agholor, and Mack Hollins in tow, the club had made no effort towards extending Matthews’ contract. Buffalo, on the other hand, should be expected to work towards a multi-year agreement with Matthews, as the franchise tag is too expensive for a slot receiver.
By dealing Matthews, the Eagles have finally acquired a young, experienced cornerback, the defensive item their roster has been craving most. Philadelphia ranked second in DVOA against the pass in 2016, but that was largely due to its excellent pass rush. While the Eagles added Sidney Jones in the second round of the draft, he may not be ready to play immediately as he returns from injury. Before Darby came aboard, Philadelphia’s top defensive back options included a lackluster cast of Patrick Robinson, Ron Brooks, Jalen Mills, and Rasul Douglas.
The Bills are instituting a new defensive scheme under head coach Sean McDermott, so it’s possible Buffalo didn’t view Darby as a fit. But the former second-round pick has been productive through two NFL campaigns, although his Pro Football Focus graded tumbled from 85.9 to 62.7 (68th among corners) in 2016. Darby is eminently affordable, as he’s under team control for two more seasons with base salaries hovering around $1MM each year.
Through each of their trades executed today, the Bills have acquired a vast amount of 2018 draft pick capital. Buffalo already owned two first-round picks next year as a result of the Patrick Mahomes draft day deal, and now has received an additional second- and third-round selection for next season.
Bills Trade Sammy Watkins To Rams
In a blockbuster trade, the Bills have sent wide receiver Sammy Watkins and a 2018 sixth-round pick to the Rams in exchange for for cornerback E.J. Gaines and a 2018 second-round pick, Buffalo announced.
[RELATED: Bills Acquire WR Jordan Matthews]
Los Angeles headed into the 2017 offseason with the goal of adding offensive weapons around second-year quarterback Jared Goff, and — when healthy — Watkins is a top-flight NFL wideout. After averaging 62 receptions for more than 1,000 and six touchdowns during his first two pro seasons, Watkins dealt with nagging injuries in 2016, and only managed 28 catches in eight appearances.
That lack of availability led Buffalo to decline its 2018 fifth-year option for Watkins, which would have paid him north of $13MM. As such, the Rams are acquiring Watkins as he enters his contract season, though they’ll certainly have options through which to retain him. The franchise tag will be on the table, and would allow Los Angeles to keep Watkins through at least 2018. Alternatively, the Rams could work out an extension with Watkins, something that’s presumably an ideal solution given the draft capital the club just sacrificed.
Watkins will now reunite with his former Bills teammate Robert Woods, who agreed to a free agent contract with the Rams this spring. Los Angeles also used several draft choices to upgrade a passing offense that ranked dead last in DVOA a season ago, selecting wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds while also adding tight end Gerald Everett in the second round.
Acquiring Watkins came at a price, however, as the Rams are not only giving up a 2018 second-round pick (a choice that, given the Rams’ current roster talent, could be a top-40 selection) but a young cornerback in Gaines. Gaines, 25, was a solid defender during his rookie campaign in 2014, missed the entirety of 2015 with an injury, and then struggled in 2016, grading as a bottom-four NFL corner, according to Pro Football Focus. Like Watkins, Gaines is entering the final year of his contract, during which he’ll earn $1.797MM.
For the Bills, this trade meshes with another deal struck by the club today in which Buffalo acquired wide receiver Jordan Matthews and sent cornerback Ronald Darby to the Eagles. Matthews, presumably, will be asked to replicate some form of Watkins’ production, while Gaines will be counted to start in place of Darby.
Extra Points: Pats, Cowboys, Panthers, Bills
Newly-acquired defensive end Kony Ealy is in a “legitimate fight” to earn a place on the Patriots roster, opines Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Thought to be a contender for a starting job (especially following Rob Ninkovich‘s retirement), Ealy has been practicing with New England’s reserves, per Reiss, who indicates Ealy simply “hasn’t clicked” since joining the defending Super Bowl champions. The Patriots essentially got Ealy for free from the Panthers, as they moved down only eight picks in the draft to pick up the 25-year-old. He’s signed through the 2017 season, but his $800K salary isn’t guaranteed.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Alfred Morris played ahead of Rod Smith during the Cowboys‘ Hall of Game exhibition last week despite having seen fewer carries than Smith during training camp, leading Todd Archer of ESPN.com to wonder if Dallas was showcasing Morris for a potential trade. Reports in March indicated the Cowboys were likely to shop Morris, who is behind Ezekiel Elliott, Darren McFadden, and Smith on the backfield depth chart, but his salary ($1.2MM) could prove a hindrance. Plus, with Elliott likely to serve a league-mandated suspension, Morris’ presence on the roster could become all the more important. In his first season in Dallas, Morris managed 69 carries for 243 yards and two touchdowns.
- Second-year defensive tackle Vernon Butler is believed to have escaped with only a knee sprain after leaving the Panthers‘ first preseason game on Wednesday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Butler will undergo an MRI today, but even a sprain could lead to a multi-week absence, meaning Butler may not be ready for the regular season opener. The 30th overall pick in the 2016 draft, Butler is expected to serve as Carolina’s third interior defender behind Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei. Butler played 21% of the Panthers’ defensive snaps a season ago.
- Expected to battle for a starting role, Bills linebacker Reggie Ragland is now playing with the club’s third-team defense, and is now behind both Preston Brown and free agent addition Gerald Hodges on Buffalo’s depth chart, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com. As such, it’s conceivable the 2016 second-round draft pick could become a trade candidate, Rodak opines. Ragland not only missed the entirety of his rookie campaign with a torn ACL, but was selected by the Bills’ prior regime. Neither general manager Brandon Beane nor head coach Sean McDermott has any link to Ragland, so the 23-year-old could be on the block.
- The Cardinals worked out punter Brock Miller on Wednesday, reports Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Miller, a former undrafted free agent out of Southern Utah, has been on the NFL workout circuit for much of the past three years. He signed a reserve/futures contract with San Francisco earlier this year, but was waived in May. Arizona sifted through three punters in 2016, and while Matt Wile is currently the incumbent, Richie Leone is also on the roster.
Saints To Work Out CB Tharold Simon
The Saints are scheduled to work out veteran defensive back Tharold Simon on Friday, reports Nick Underhill of the Advocate (Twitter link).
Simon, 26, was once a five-game starter with Seattle’s Legion of Boom back in 2014, but he’s mostly been a bit part over the past two seasons. The former fifth-round draft selection played in just one contest with the Seahawks during the 2015 campaign, and then saw only 143 totals snaps with the Cardinals a season ago. Nearly half of those snaps were on special teams, which would be Simon’s area of focus with the Saints.
New Orleans was extremely poor on special teams in 2016 (27th in DVOA), and have since replaced their special teams coordinator, hiring Brad Banta to replace Greg McMahon. Per Football Outsiders, the Saints’ was particularly lacking on kick returns, as the club lost eight points of field position on such plays (30th in the NFL).
Of course, given New Orleans’ woes in the secondary, there’s always a chance Simon could earn playing time as a cornerback. First-round pick Marshon Lattimore and veterans Delvin Breaux and Sterling Moore are the only New Orleans corners with any sort of roster hold, so if injuries were to strike, Simon’s (admittedly limited) starting experience may appear comforting to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived from IR: LB Gabe Martin (Twitter link via Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic)
Carolina Panthers
- Waived from IR: S Travell Dixon (Twitter link via Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer)
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: K Travis Coons
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DL Christian French (Twitter link via DEC Management)
- Waived/injured: LB Ronald Powell (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
49ers’ Joshua Garnett Likely To Miss Games
Although 49ers guard Joshua Garnett was originally given a one-month recovery period following knee surgery, that rehabilitation timeline has since been increased to six weeks, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). While it’s a subtle change, the increased timetable means Garnett is likely to miss regular season action.
With Garnett sidelined, San Francisco is likely to turn to veteran Brandon Fusco as its starting right guard opposite Zane Beadles. Fusco, a Viking from 2011-16, inked a one-year, $1.4MM contract with the 49ers this spring. The 29-year-old has started 64 games during his career, so he offers plenty of experience and should be a capable replacement while Garnett is out.
Garnett, the 28th overall selection in the 2016 draft, entered the 49ers’ starting lineup in October and went on to start 11 games during his rookie campaign. He played on 70% of San Francisco’s offensive snaps, but Pro Football Focus wasn’t a fan of his work, as the outlet graded Garnett as one of the NFL’s seven worst guards. The 49ers’ offensive line was a disaster as a unit last season, ranking dead last in adjusted line yards and 30th in adjusted sack rate, per Football Outsiders.
San Francisco’s offensive line has seen plenty of upheaval, as the club released veteran center Jeremy Zuttah on Wednesday. Zuttah, acquired from the Ravens during the offseason, had been expected to play a reserve role along the interior.
Tony Romo Would Only Return For Cowboys
Tony Romo would only return to the NFL if Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott suffers an injury and Dallas is in need of a quarterback, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link), who labels Romo a “break-the-glass emergency [option]” for the Cowboys.
While Jay Cutler put off a broadcasting career in order to sign with the Dolphins this week, Romo doesn’t sound as willing to return to the league. However, he has vacillated on the subject of complete retirement this offseason. In mid-July, Romo said he was “done” playing football, but just eight days later he left the door open a crack, saying he was only “99.9% done”. It’s a fine distinction, but one that seems to leave a window for a potential comeback, especially given that Romo hasn’t officially filed retirement papers.
The Cowboys no longer hold Romo’s rights after releasing him following his retirement announcement, meaning Romo could technically sign with any club. But he was never mentioned as a possible solution for Miami after Ryan Tannehill‘s knee injury, and other clubs such as the Broncos may be out of luck if Romo only wants to play for Dallas. Kellen Moore and Luke McCown currently represent the backup options behind Prescott, so Romo would clearly offer an improvement if Prescott were to go down during the season.
Unless Romo decides to return to the field, he’ll serve as the No. 1 color commentator for CBS, working alongside Jim Nantz.
Offseason In Review: Green Bay Packers
The Packers have earned postseason berths in eight consecutive seasons, but they haven’t made a Super Bowl appearance since the 2010 campaign. While most NFL clubs would be satisfied with that record of sustained success, anything less than a championship is a disappointment for a team that boasts one of the league’s two best quarterbacks. Green Bay is hardly ever active during the free agent period, but the club’s front office had work to do — especially on the defensive side of the ball — this offseason.
Notable signings:
- Nick Perry, LB: Five years, $60MM. $18.5MM guaranteed.
- Martellus Bennett, TE: Three years, $21MM. $6.3MM guaranteed.
- Lance Kendricks, TE: Two years, $4MM. $1.2MM guaranteed. $1.2MM available via incentives.
- Davon House, CB: One year, $2.8MM. $850K guaranteed.
- Jayrone Elliott, LB: One year, $1.6MM. $350K guaranteed.
- Ricky Jean-Francois, DL: One year, $2MM. $250K guaranteed.
- Jahri Evans, G: One year, $2.25MM. $200K guaranteed.
- Don Barclay, OL: One year, $1.025MM. $150K guaranteed.
- Jordan Tripp, LB: One year, $690K.
The Packers made Nick Perry the 28th overall selection in the 2012 draft, but after he started only 16 total games through his first four seasons in Green Bay, it was fair to label the USC Trojan a bust. He hit the open market in 2016 at the age of 25 after the Packers declined his fifth-year option, but after generating little interest as a free agent, Perry re-signed with Green Bay for just $5MM on a one-year contract.
Things changed in 2016: as Perry explained to Robert Mays of the Ringer, he began “expanding his vision” and acting “more aggressive in his initial movements,” and the results were almost immediate. Perry reached a career-high with 14 starts and played on nearly 60% of the Packers’ defensive snaps. In that time, he registered 11 sacks, 47 quarterback pressures, and 37 defensive stops, with that final total being good for ninth among edge defenders, per Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus. For his efforts, Perry was rewarded with a pact which ranks 10th among pass rushers in annual value and 15th in full guarantees.
While Perry’s return should help the Packers maintain a pass rush that ranked eighth in adjusted sack rate last season, new addition Ricky Jean-Francois will assist in the run game, where Green Bay finished 14th in DVOA. Jean-Francois, 30, is a classic Packers signing: he’s a not-too-flashy veteran who’d been cut by his previous team (the Redskins), meaning his signing won’t affect the 2018 compensatory formula. With Letroy Guion now off the roster, and rookie defensive lineman Montravius Adams expected to miss time, Jean-Francois — whom Green Bay had reportedly been interested in for years — should see ample playing time.
Fixing the front seven wasn’t the main concern for the Packers this offseason, however, as the team’s secondary was its primary area of weakness in 2016. Green Bay ranked 23rd in pass defense DVOA, per Football Outsiders, and finished 26th, 26th, and 28th, against opposing No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 wide receivers. To address their defensive backfield, the Packers brought back a familiar face, signing Davon House — who spent 2011-14 in Green Bay — to a one-year deal. House lost his starting role with the Jaguars a season ago, but he’s now back with defensive coordinator Dom Capers, under whom House played well during his prior Packers stint. The early reviews on the 28-year-old have been positive, and it won’t be surprising if he’s a starting corner in Week 1.
On offense, Green Bay signed veteran right guard Jahri Evans, who will be entering his 12th NFL season. Now 33 years old, Evans has been extremely durable throughout his career, as he’s missed only seven total games. 2016 will mark his first campaign as a non-Saint, but Evans should immediately slide into the right guard vacancy created by T.J. Lang‘s free agent defection. While Evans isn’t the All Pro lineman he was in the latter portion of the 2000s, he’s still an above-average guard: last year, Evans graded as the league’s No. 33 guard among 75 qualifiers, according to Pro Football Focus.
The Packers double-dipped at tight end, agreeing to multi-year contracts with both Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks. While both are assured of roster spots, Bennett will undoubtedly play more snaps, as he’s arguably the best tight end Aaron Rodgers have ever played with. Catching passes from Tom Brady in 2016, Bennett managed 73 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns while finishing fifth among NFL tight ends in yards per target. Bennett posted those totals while dealing a myriad of injuries, so if he’s able to stay healthy during the upcoming season, he could reach or surpass career-highs in several statistical categories.
Kendricks, meanwhile, will allow the Packers to run two-tight end sets, something they did on only 9% of plays a season ago, per the Football Outsiders Almanac. The 29-year-old Kendricks has reportedly ingratiated himself in Green Bay, as he’s already running ahead of fellow tight end Richard Rodgers in some offensive packages, as Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com writes. Despite playing on one of the league’s worst offense last season, Kendricks posted a career-high 50 receptions, but still earned atrocious blocking grades from PFF.
Latest On CB Tramaine Brock
Tramaine Brock was cleared of domestic violence charges on Wednesday, and today the lawyer of his alleged victim released a statement offering an explanation of the incident, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
“On August 8, 2017, my client chose not to testify, availing herself of her Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination,” attorney Alan M. Lagod writes. “She then was given immunity and continued to refuse to testify utilizing the protections afforded by California Code of Civil Procedure § 1219. She was subsequently found in contempt and fined $100.00.
“My client’s choice not to testify was voluntary and not dependent upon past or future actions by any part. She has indicated to me that this was a verbal altercation. She and Mr. Brock look forward to co-parenting their two young children.”
The statement should arguably enable Brock to land a new contract, especially if the episode was indeed simply a verbal altercation. Several clubs have reportedly already reached out to Brock with interest, but the 49ers aren’t expected to re-sign him. The 28-year-old Brock has been a full-time starter in each of the past two seasons, and in 2016 graded as the league’s No. 23 corner while playing 95% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
The NFL is still entitled to hand Brock a suspension, but as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes, it will be tough for the league to issue a ban if Brock’s alleged victim won’t cooperate with an investigation.
Lions Re-Sign TE Tim Wright
The Lions have re-signed free agent tight end Tim Wright, the club announced today. In a related move, Detroit has waived fellow tight end Brandon Barnes.
Wright, 27, was originally traded to the Lions prior to the 2015 season, and managed nine receptions in nine games during that campaign. The former Buccaneer and Patriot, who has 41 career games under his belt, looked primed to contend for a roster spot in 2016, but a torn ACL in May ended Wright’s season before it began. He spent the entirety of the year on injured reserve, and reached the open market this spring.
Detroit has already addressed its tight end group this offseason, as it signed former Cardinal Darren Fells and selected Toledo product Michael Roberts in the fourth round of the draft. While other reserve options include Khari Lee and Cole Wick, starter Eric Ebron is already dealing with a hamstring injury, so the Lions are searching for a bit more depth in the form of Wright.
Barnes, meanwhile, is an undrafted rookie free agent out of Alabama State. He managed five receptions, 85 yards, and one touchdown during his final collegiate season.