Falcons Hosting OL Andrew Gardner
The Falcons are hosting free agent offensive lineman Andrew Gardner today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Falcons Meet With DT Sean Lissemore]
Atlanta failed to land a high-profile guard during the free agent period to replace the retired Chris Chester, so the club is now seemingly throwing several possible solutions against the wall to see what sticks. Internal option Ben Garland is a candidate to take over at right guard, while the Falcons also spent a fourth-round pick on Oregon State product Sean Harlow. Additionally, Atlanta signed former Bears interior lineman Cornelius Edison on Wednesday, and he could conceivably be in the running for a starting gig.
Gardner, 31, has bounced around since entering the league in 2009, and most recently spent time with the 49ers at the tail end of last season. His most notable experience, however, came with the Eagles, for whom Gardner started 11 games from 2014-15.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/17/17
Today’s draft pick signings:
- The Ravens have signed third-round defensive lineman Chris Wormley, as Wormley himself indicated on Twitter. Wormley, drafted with the 78th overall selection, would seem to be a ready-made replacement for Timmy Jernigan, whom Baltimore traded to Philadelphia earlier this year. With Wormley now under contract, fellow third-round pick Tim Williams is the only Ravens draft choice who remains unsigned.
- The Chargers have signed fourth-round safety Rayshawn Jenkins, per a club announcement. After appearing 48 games over four years at Miami, Jenkins appears ticketed for backup and special teams duty during his rookie campaign. Not only does Los Angeles return two starting safeties in Dwight Lowery and Jahleel Addae, but it also added free agent Tre Boston earlier this week.
- The Bengals announced that they’ve signed signed fourth-round wide receiver Josh Malone. Malone, a Tennessee product, was the second pass-catcher selected by Cincinnati in the draft, following No. 9 overall pick John Ross. While Ross figures to play a large role during his rookie campaign (and perhaps even immediately serve as a starter), Malone will begin the 2017 campaign further down the depth chart. A.J. Green, Brandon LaFell, Ross, and Tyler Boyd all figure to see ample playing time, so Malone will compete with Cody Core, Alex Erickson, and Jake Kumerow for snaps.
- The Colts announced that they’ve signed fourth-round running back Marlon Mack. After three years at South Florida, Mack could have an easy ascendance to Indianapolis’ No. 2 running back role behind starter Frank Gore, as his only competition is Robert Turbin and Josh Ferguson. At the very least, Mack should see playing time as a pass-catching back in the Colts’ offense.
- The Browns have agreed to terms with seventh-round kicker Zane Gonzalez, the club announced today. Gonzalez, an Arizona State product, was widely viewed as the best kicker available in the 2017 draft, although he didn’t come off the board first. That honor went to Memphis placekicker Jake Elliott, who was selected in the fifth round by Cincinnati. Gonzalez made 92% of his field goal attempts in 2016 and also converted 39 of 40 extra points in 2016. Per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Gonzalez has forced touchbacks on 75% of kickoffs over the past two seasons.
Latest On Browns Draft Pick Caleb Brantley
While the initial police report documenting an April incident involving defensive tackle Caleb Brantley indicated he had knocked a a woman unconscious, new evidence has shown Brantley was in fact defending himself against an assault, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Brantley, originally viewed as a Day 2 draft pick, eventually fell to Round 6 where he was selected by the Browns. Cleveland wasn’t willing to commit to Brantley pending the results of the investigation, but given that charges against the Florida product have been dropped, Brantley now figures to stick on the Browns roster. However, NFL clubs did have other concerns about Brantley leading up to the draft, including his undersized stature and his maturity level, as Tom Pelissero of USA Today details.
“Based on our information, we understood there was a reasonable chance that the charges would be dismissed,” said executive VP of football operation Sashi Brown in a statement. “As we previously discussed, the allegations made regarding were not something we take lightly.
Caleb understands that we have an expectation and standard for every member of our organization. He’s a talented young man with a great opportunity in front of him. He is now able to move forward and focus on earning a spot on this roster.”
Jaguars To Work Out LB Mike Morgan
The Jaguars will audition free agent linebacker Mike Morgan on Thursday, and Morgan could sign with Jacksonville if the tryout goes well, according to Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com.
Morgan, 29, was nominally the Seahawks’ starting strongside linebacker in 2016, but because Seattle spent so much time in nickel, Morgan’s defensive snaps were limited. Morgan’s contributions were further restricted by injury last year, as he spent eight weeks on injured reserve while dealing with a sports hernia. All told, Morgan played only 138 defensive snaps and posted just 10 tackles.
Jacksonville is already well-stocked with linebackers in the forms of Myles Jack, Paul Posluszny, Telvin Smith, and fifth-round pick Blair Brown, so Morgan would likely be limited to special teams duty. That’s a role Morgan has played before, as he saw action on more than 60% of the Seahawks’ special teams plays in 2015. The Jaguars ranked a lowly 25th in special teams DVOA last season.
Details On Adrian Peterson’s Saints Contract
Although Adrian Peterson‘s two-year deal with the Saints has a maximum value of $15.25MM, the veteran running back will have to work to reach that total, as the majority of that figure can only be attained through incentives, as Nick Underhill of the Advocate details.
Incentives are linked to both Peterson’s statistics and New Orleans’ team performance, per Underhill. Peterson can earn $150K, $250K, $750K, or $1MM by rushing for 750, 1,000, 1,250, or 1,500 yards, respectively, in each of the next two seasons. He can bring in another $250K, $500K, or $750K if he scores six, eight, or 10 touchdowns, respectively, although Peterson will only unlock the $750K incentive if he also leads the NFL in rushing scores.
If Peterson rushes for 750 yards and the Saints earn a postseason berth, more incentives are available, according to Underhill. Making the playoffs alone in that scenario is worth $250K to Peterson. A conference championship appearance is worth $500K, while a Super Bowl victory would bring Peterson $1MM.
Peterson can also earn $400K in per-game roster bonuses, although that figure could increase based on his 2017 incentives. The amount of incentives Peterson earns in 2017 will be tacked on to his per-game bonus in 2018, per Underhill. Peterson can also take in $73,529 for each week he makes the Saints’ 53-man roster.
Photo courtesy of Pro Football Rumors on Instagram.
Bucs DE Jacquies Smith Signs RFA Tender
Buccaneers defensive end Jacquies Smith has signed his restricted free agent tender, the club announced today.
Because Smith was tendered at the original round level, he’s scheduled to earn a non-guaranteed $1,797MM base salary for the 2017 season. Smith met with the 49ers earlier this offseason, and because he originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent, Tampa Bay wouldn’t have received any draft pick compensation had Smith signed with San Francisco (or any other club). However, the Buccaneers would have had the right to match any offer sheet Smith received.
Instead, Smith will head back to Tampa Bay and become part of a defensive end rotation that includes Robert Ayers, William Gholston, Noah Spence, and others. Smith, 27, registered 13.5 sacks between the 2014 and 2015 campaigns, but suffered a torn ACL in the 2016 season opener. But Smith is now reportedly well on his way to a full recovery, and should be able to contribute early in the upcoming season.
With Smith now under contract, Broncos kicker Brandon McManus is now the only restricted free agent yet to sign his tender.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/17/17
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Mikey Bart
- Waived: DT Collin Bevins
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Cornelius Edison
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: G Dan Skipper
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: P Toby Baker
- Waived: T Mason Zandi
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: DT Toby Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Canaan Severin
- Waived: LB Akil Blount, QB Nick Schuessler
Extra Points: Redskins, Packers, Cowboys
The Redskins auditioned Josh Norman’s older brother, Marrio Norman, as Nora Princiotti of the Washington Times writes. “Josh has been touting him pretty hard for the last year and a half, so we wanted to give him a shot and give him a look,” head coach Jay Gruden said. “You know, he’s got a skill set. I’ll tell you what, he’s a good player. He’s played in a couple different leagues and runs around out there good.” The elder Norman, who also plays cornerback, last spent time on an NFL roster in 2014 (Baltimore), and also boasts three stints in the Arena Football League.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Lane Taylor has earned a $400K raise for the 2017 season after reaching performance escalators last year, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Taylor, who became the Packers‘ starting left guard after the club surprisingly released Josh Sitton, will now take in a base salary of $2.25MM. Scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next spring once his two-year deal runs out, Taylor graded as the league’s No. 41 guard among 72 qualifiers in 2016, per Pro Football Focus.
- The Cowboys will officially gain $14MM in cap space on June 2 when Tony Romo‘s release becomes official, and Dallas could use that savings to ink guard Zack Martin to a long-term extension, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com speculates. Martin, 26, is currently signed through the 2018 season thanks to the Cowboys exercising his fifth-year option, but executive VP Stephen Jones has called a Martin deal a “big priority.” As Archer details, Dallas could conceivably frontload Martin’s next contract in an attempt to fully realize the benefit of quarterback Dak Prescott‘s cheap rookie deal.
- The Texans could find it difficult to replace executive Brian Gaine, whom the Bills hired as vice president of player personnel on Monday, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com details. Gaine had acted as something of a liaison between Houston’s coaching staff and front office, a critical role in an organization where decision-makers haven’t always “been on the same page,” per Breer. In Buffalo, Gaine will oversee the Bills’ pro and college scouting departments.
Latest On Colin Kaepernick
The Seahawks are considering Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III as they look for a backup quarterback, but the club reportedly prefers the former 49ers signal-caller as a reserve behind starter Russell Wilson. Wilson, for what it’s worth, would be comfortable with Seattle adding Kaepernick despite the pair’s rivalry.
Let’s take a look at the latest on Kaepernick as his market seemingly heats up:
- Kaepernick is fully intent on playing the 2017 campaign, and been getting ready for football as if he was a starting quarterback for an NFL team,” trainer Josh Hidalgo tells Peter King of TheMMQB.com. While clubs are reportedly concerned about Kaepernick’s weight and vegan diet, or the fact that he may be more committed to social justice issues than football, Hidalgo paints a strikingly different picture of the free agent quarterback. “From the beginning, Colin laid it out: These are the things NFL teams will be concerned about—my weight, my diet,” Hidalgo says. “Then we took care of his explosiveness, and now there is nothing he cannot do.”
- The Seahawks’ interest in Kaepernick makes sense for a multitude of reasons, opines Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. Given that multiple Seattle players have voiced support for Kaepernick’s stance on the national anthem, he wouldn’t present a problem in the locker room — especially because head coach Pete Carroll wouldn’t attempt to restrict what Kaepernick can or cannot say. On the field, Kaepernick doesn’t turn the ball over and can offer a running element, something Wilson couldn’t do in 2016 thanks to a litany of injuries.
- Defensive lineman Michael Bennett is among the Seahawks players who would welcome Kaepernick with open arms, as he called Seattle a “perfect place” for Kaepernick during an appearance on 710 ESPN (link via Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com). “I think a person that’s dedicating their life to creating change, why wouldn’t you want that type of leadership in your locker room?” said Bennett. “I think he would be very good in our locker room,” Bennett said. “I don’t know why he wouldn’t. I think we all talk about the same issues. It’s just that he had the courage to be able to step up, and I get it.”
DeAngelo Hall May Start Season On PUP List
Veteran Redskins safety DeAngelo Hall may begin the season on the physically unable to perform list, head coach Jay Gruden told reporters, including John Keim of ESPN.com.
Hall, 33, appeared in only three games last season before suffering a torn ACL. Scheduled to earn $4.25MM in non-guaranteed base salary in 2017, Hall could conceivably be viewed as a candidate for release. But Washington has no plans to cut Hall at the moment, per Keim, as the club wants to give him a shot at recovery before deciding to part ways.
If Hall does have to miss time at the start of the 2017 campaign, the Redskins should be well-prepared to account for his absence. Washington signed D.J. Swearinger to a three-year, $13.5MM contract in March, and plans to use 2016 second-round pick Su’a Cravens at safety full-time. Other safeties on the Redskins’ roster include Will Blackmon, Montae Nicholson, Deshazor Everett, and Josh Harvey-Clemons.