Latest On Free Agent RB LeGarrette Blount
The Patriots used a May 9 tender on free agent running back LeGarrette Blount earlier this week, ensuring that they’d be entitled to a compensatory pick if Blount signs elsewhere. Clubs with interest in Blount are now attempting to “navigate” the compensatory pick process, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN.com, and are working on “deal structures” that could work around the comp selection system.
[RELATED: Top 8 Fits For LeGarrette Blount]
Blount, 30, had reportedly been nearing a deal with an unidentified team before being slapped with the New England tender. He can still negotiate with other clubs, but will now count against the 2018 compensatory formula. However, the last compensatory pick is currently tied to a $2.05MM annual salary, so the club that inks Blount would only sacrifice a 2018 comp selection if Blount earns more than that total.
Some teams with interest in Blount, such as the Lions, don’t have to consider any possible compensatory pick forfeiture, as they aren’t projected to earn any comp selections in 2018. Other clubs, like the Giants and Ravens, could conceivably work out a trade with the Patriots after New England signs Blount, as Nick Korte of Over the Cap speculates.
If Blount doesn’t sign by July 22, the Patriots will own exclusive negotiating rights through Week 10 of the regular season. If Blount doesn’t sign his tender (or agree to another deal) with New England before then, he’ll be forced to sit out the entire 2017 campaign.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/17
Today’s minor moves:
- The Steelers have waived running back Dreamius Smith, the club announced on Friday. Smith, 24, originally entered the league as a Chargers undrafted free agent in 2015, and spent most of his rookie campaign on San Diego’s practice squad before being promoted for one contest near the end of that year. He’d signed a futures deal with Pittsburgh in January, but the Steelers didn’t have an opening at running back after drafting James Conner in the third round.
- The Giants have swapped out three roster spots at the back end of their roster, signing running back Khalid Abdullah, cornerback SaQwan Edwards, and safety Trey Robinson while waiving cornerback Nigel Tribune, wide receiver Rob Wheelwright, and running back Daryl Virgies, tweets James Kratch of NJ.com. New York also formally announced the signing of undrafted free agent offensive lineman Chad Wheeler, who reportedly landed a $20K bonus.
- The Rams have waived guard Alex Kozan and cornerback Ishmael Adams, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Both players were signed as undrafted college free agents earlier this month, but didn’t make it to Los Angeles’ rookie minicamp.
Broncos Sign 17 Undrafted Free Agents
The Broncos announced that they’ve signed the following 17 undrafted college free agents:
- Erik Austell, OL (Charleston Southern)
- Josh Banderas, LB (Nebraska)
- Dante Barnett, S (Kansas State)
- Jamal Carter, S (Miami)
- Ken Ekanem, DE/LB (Virginia Tech)
- Jerrol Garcia-Williams, LB (Hawaii)
- Deon Hollins, LB (UCLA)
- Cameron Hunt, T (Oregon)
- Tyrique Jarrett, DT (Pittsburgh)
- Anthony Nash, WR (Duke)
- Dontrell Nelson, CB (Memphis)
- Marcus Rios, CB (UCLA)
- Kyle Sloter, QB (Northern Colorado)
- Shakir Soto, DL (Pittsburgh)
- Orion Stewart, DB (Baylor)
- Dymonte Thomas, S (Michigan)
- Elijah Wilkinson, OL (Massachusetts)
Cardinals Sign QB Blaine Gabbert
The Cardinals have signed quarterback Blaine Gabbert to a one-year deal, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com first reported (Twitter link). The pact is worth $855K, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. The team has since confirmed the news via press release.
Gabbert, 27, worked out for Arizona last week, and he’ll now give the Cardinals a fifth quarterback alongside Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton, Zac Dysert, and Trevor Knight. Palmer, clearly, isn’t going anywhere, but it’s fair to wonder what Gabbert’s signing means for Stanton or Dysert. Stanton, specifically, is entering the final year of his contract, and while Arizona could save $1.65MM by releasing him, it would also incur $2.5MM in dead money by doing so.
The 10th overall pick in the 2011 draft, Gabbert hasn’t experienced success at the NFL level, but reportedly has a supporter in Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians. In five games as the 49ers’ starter last season, Gabbert posted a 1-4 record, while completing 56.9% of his passes for five touchdowns and six interceptions.
Extra Points: Stafford, Ravens, Rams, Bills
At least one NFL source believes Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford will wait for the Raiders to extend Derek Carr before working out his own long-term deal, reports Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Both Oakland and Carr want extension talks to wrap up as quickly as possible, at which point Stafford and his representation would be able to point to Carr’s new figures as a starting point. Detroit is reportedly in the early stages of negotiations with Stafford, who — like Carr — is scheduled to become a free agent in 2018.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- After the Ravens surprisingly didn’t add a wide receiver at any point during the draft, the club could conceivably turn to the trade market in its search for a pass-catcher, as Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun and Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com write. Both scribes point to New England’s Danny Amendola and Los Angeles’ Dontrelle Inman as logical potential acquisitions, as higher-caliber wideouts such as the Bills’ Sammy Watkins and the Jets’ Eric Decker probably aren’t feasible. It’s not known whether the Ravens are calling teams about wide receivers, but as Zrebiec notes, they’ve gone this route before. In 2010, Baltimore traded two draft picks to Arizona to acquire Anquan Boldin, and one year later, dealt for Buffalo’s Lee Evans.
- Although he was being courted by the Rams, Joe Hortiz will remain in place as the Ravens‘ director of college scouting, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Hortiz, who has worked in Baltimore for 19 years, was Los Angeles’ top choice to lead its reshuffled scouting department. Although the Ravens couldn’t block Hortiz from leaving, he’s chosen to stay in his current role. Hortiz was a contender for a top personnel role with the Eagles in 2015, but either declined to interview or wasn’t allowed to by the Ravens.
- The Bills have found a new general manager in former Panthers executive Brandon Beane, but the club has more work to in its front office, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. Jim Overdorf, Buffalo’s chief contract negotiator, could be on the chopping block given that Beane’s prior work history is rife with salary cap experience. As such, Beane may look to bring in his own financial staffers instead of relying on Overdorf, who’s handled the Bills’ cap since 2008. As Carucci explains, Buffalo’s roster is full of “bloated contracts”, meaning the next negotiator will have his hands full.
Colts Add Morocco Brown To Front Office
The Colts have added another face to their evolving front office, as the club has agreed to hire former Redskins and Browns executive Morocco Brown, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Brown will serve as Indianapolis’ director of college scouting, reports Albert Breer of the TheMMQB.com (Twitter link).
Chris Ballard has now hired three fresh names to the Colts personnel staff in the past two days, as the new general manager brought in former Seahawks executive Ed Dodds and ex-Jets college scouting director Rex Hogan on Tuesday. As Breer indicated yesterday, Dodds and Hogan will act as co-vice presidents of player personnel. Incumbent director of pro personnel Kevin Rogers will stay in his current role, per Breer.
Ballard is clearly valuing familiarity in his new hires, as he enjoys a prior working relationship with both Hogan and Brown. Brown, who previously served as Cleveland’s vice president of player personnel and Washington’s director of pro personnel, worked alongside Ballard with the Bears. Brown was tangentially linked to the 49ers’ general manager vacancy earlier this year.
Jaylon Smith Expects To Be Ready For Opener
Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith is still recovering from the knee injury that forced him down 2016 draft boards and caused him to miss the entirety of his rookie season, but he’s confident he’ll be ready for the 2017 season opener, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).
Smith is still using a brace for his drop foot condition, and it’s unclear if he’ll be forced to wear it during the regular season, tweets Charean Williams of the Star Telegram. Ultimately, the brace use will depend on the condition of Smith’s nerve, which is reportedly regenerating. If Smith is required to wear the brace for drop foot, he’d be the first NFL player to do so.
“At the end of the day, we’re very optimistic about where [Smith] is at this point,” said Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones, per Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). “I think if anything, we think he’s starting to make a lot bigger jumps than we even might have thought he could have when he first got here last year and heading into the season.”
In his final season at Notre Dame, Smith compiled 115 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. Prior to his unfortunate injury, Smith was widely projected as a top 10 pick in the 2016 draft. Instead, he fell to the Cowboys in the second round. If he’s able to make a recovery, Dallas’ risk could pay major dividends in 2017.
Keenan Robinson Rejected Multi-Year Offers
Before re-signing with the Giants, linebacker Keenan Robinson received multi-year offers from other clubs, as he explains to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com.
“Other teams offered multiple-year deals, but I’m still young,” said Robinson. “A one-year deal is fine. I’m still 27, so, like I said, right now I’m in a great situation. So I wanted to be a part of it. I was willing to make it work and be flexible as far as that goes.”
Robinson, who visited the Bengals and Bills prior to re-upping with New York, ultimately received $2.6MM ($1MM guaranteed) from Big Blue. Returning in a similar role, Robinson will likely serve as the Giants’ nickel linebacker in 2017, per Raanan — the fifth-pro played 70% of the team’s defensive snaps in that capacity last season.
Titans WR Tajae Sharpe Accused Of Assault
Titans wide receiver Tajae Sharpe has been accused of assault in a federal civil suit, according to Stacey Barchenger of the Tennessean.
Nashville police are investigating Dante Satterfield’s claims that Sharpe beat him until he was rendered unconscious outside a bar on April 27. Sharpe was allegedly upset at the Titans’ first-round selection of fellow wideout Corey Davis, and “took exception” to Satterfield’s comments about the draft choice. After the group left the bar out a back door, Sharpe reportedly punched Satterfield in the face while Titans offensive lineman Sebastian Tretola stood watch.
Satterfield is now dealing with broken bones in his face, a perforated eardrum, and a concussion, and is seeking $500K in damages. Sharpe’s lawyer, for what it’s worth, calls Satterfield’s claims “ridiculous.”
Clearly, given how the situation plays out, Sharpe could be in danger of not only earning a league-imposed suspension, but losing his roster spot altogether. Tretola, too, could face discipline depending on his level of involvement.
Draft Pick Signings: 5/10/17
Today’s draft pick signings:
- The Giants have agreed to terms with second-round defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson, tweet his agents at SportsTrust. Tomlinson, the No. 55 overall selection, could help New York make up for the loss of Johnathan Hankins, who signed a free agent deal with Indianapolis. Although he’s more of a nose tackle, Tomlinson will likely play much more three-technique for the Giants given the presence of All Pro Damon Harrison at nose. Tomlinson’s four-year deal with Big Blue should be worth approximately $4.572MM in total, while the Alabama product will receive a signing bonus of ~$1.465MM.
- The Jets have signed sixth-round cornerback Jeremy Clark, the club announced today. Clark, a Michigan product, likely would have been selected much higher in the draft had he not torn his ACL after playing in only four games last season. Despite a pressing need in the defensive backfield, New York only picked one other corner (fellow sixth-rounder Derrick Jones) in addition to Clark, so the former Wolverine could have a shot to earn snaps during his rookie campaign. Clark, whose four-year deal should come with a signing bonus of roughly $148K, becomes the third Jets draft pick to sign, joining Jones and running back Elijah McGuire.
- The Steelers announced that they’ve signed seventh-round linebacker Keion Adams. A Western Michigan product, Adams is viewed as an edge rusher in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 scheme, according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. As such, Adams could face an uphill battle to make the Steelers’ roster given that the club added first-rounder T.J. Watt to an outside linebacker crop that already includes Bud Dupree and James Harrison. Adams posted 13 sacks over his final two years with WMU.