Seahawks To Meet With Gerald Hodges
The Seahawks will host free agent linebacker Gerald Hodges on Wednesday, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
Seattle, of course, already employs two of the league’s best linebackers in Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, but the club does need to replace the production void left by Mike Morgan, who remains unsigned at present. Hodges, 26, could fill that role after playing for the division rival 49ers for the past season-plus.
Hodges started 12 games in 2016, playing on roughly half of San Francisco’s defensive snaps while grading as the NFL’s No. 21 linebacker, per Pro Football Focus. In 15 total games, Hodges racked up 80 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions. He also chipped in on special teams (73 snaps).
Although he ranks as PFR’s third-best free agent linebacker, Hodges hasn’t generated much interest since the market opened. His only known visit came with the Chiefs earlier this month, but the two sides couldn’t agree to a pact.
Bears Sign Benny Cunningham
After hosting him for a visit today, the Bears have signed running back Benny Cunningham to a one-year deal, the club announced.
Cunningham, 26, will slot in behind Jordan Howard, Jeremy Langford, and Ka’Deem Carey on Chicago’s running back depth chart, but most of his impact will be as a kick returner. On 22 kick returns, Cunningham ranked third in the NFL with 27.2 yards per return in 2016, while the Bears lost 1.1 yards of field position in the return game, according to Football Outsiders.
While it’s not out of the question Cunningham could chip in on offense if injuries affect the Bears, he’s averaged only 43 carries during his four-year NFL career. Cunningham did put up a career high 45 receptions in 2014, so perhaps a passing game role is in his future. More likely, he’ll compete with Deonte Thompson (who was re-signed today) for return duties.
Cunningham ranked as PFR’s No. 9 free agent running back still on the board. He’d visited the Jets already this offseason, and had also been loosely linked to the Seahawks.
Ricky Jean-Francois To Visit Packers
Free agent defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois‘ next meeting will be with the Packers, as Jean-Francois himself tweets. The visit will take place on Wednesday, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Jean-Francois, 30, played in 32 games (eight starts) with the Redskins over the past two seasons. Last year, he saw action on roughly 40% of the club’s defensive snaps, racking up 32 tackles and 1.5 sacks in that span.
The Packers have expressed interest in Jean-Francois in the past, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel (Twitter link). RJF would help Green Bay account for the loss of Datone Jones, who signed with the division rival Vikings, and Letroy Guion, who is suspended for the first four games of the 2017 campaign.
Jean-Francois ranks as PFR’s No. 5 free agent interior defender still on the board. Since being released by Washington, Jean-Francois has visited the Seahawks and Bears.
Bears Host RB Benny Cunningham
The Bears are meeting with free agent running back Benny Cunningham on Tuesday, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, and have also re-signed wide receiver Deonte Thompson, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).
Given that clear-cut starter Jordan Howard is backed up by both Jeremy Langford and Ka’Deem Carey in Chicago, Cunningham would take on a purely special teams role with the Bears. The 26-year-old Cunningham didn’t play much on offense in 2016, anyway, as he managed only 21 carries for the Rams. His role as a returner, though, was far more clear.
On 22 kick returns, Cunningham ranked third in the NFL with 27.2 yards per return. Thompson, meanwhile, was Chicago’s kick returner last season, but only averaged 23 yards per return. The Bears lost 1.1 yards of field position on kick returns in 2016, according to Football Outsiders, so adding Cunningham could theoretically offer an improvement over Thompson.
Thompson is now under contract, however, which could lead the Bears to rethink a Cunningham acquisition. In contrast to Cunningham, Thompson played a bit of an offensive role last year, as he reeled in 22 of 36 targets for 249 yards and two touchdowns.
Lions Re-Sign Armonty Bryant
The Lions have re-signed defensive end Armonty Bryant, the club announced today. It’s a one-year, minimum salary benefit deal that comes with a $40K signing bonus, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Detroit claimed Bryant off waivers from the Browns last October, but a knee injury and a four-game PED suspension ensured he only played in five games with the club. During that span, Bryant managed three sacks on just 104 defensive snaps. Still only 26 years old, Bryant will compete for time at defensive end on a Lions team that hasn’t yet re-signed 2016 starter Devin Taylor.
Under the terms of the minimum salary benefit, Bryant will only count for $655K on Detroit’s salary cap despite earning $855K.
Draft Rumors: Jones, Mixon, Trubisky, 49ers
Washington cornerback Sidney Jones underwent surgery today to repair his torn Achilles, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Jones, who suffered the devastating injury at his Pro Day earlier this month, is expected to resume running in four months. Projected to be selected in the first round before the Achilles tear, Jones himself tweeted today that he’ll be able to play during the 2017 season, though that could certainly be optimistic.
Here’s more on the 2017 draft:
- Jones isn’t the only cornerback prospect to be hit by injury, as UCLA defensive back Fabian Moreau is believed to have suffered a pectoral injury while performing a bench press today, tweets Courtney Fallon of NFL.com, who cautions that the “full extent” of the injury is unclear at present. Rob Rang of CBSSports.com projected Moreau as a back-end first round pick (and the third-best cornerback on the board) before news of his injury broke.
- UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky will work out for the Browns, Jets, 49ers, and Chiefs, among others, per Andrew Carter of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link). Trubisky, considered one of the top-three signal-callers in this year’s class, is a surefire first-round pick and may be selected within the top five. Cleveland, for one, was said to be “strongly considering” Trubisky with the first overall pick, although that talk has died down recently.
- Controversial running back Joe Mixon met with the Raiders on Monday, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Because Mixon is from the Bay Area, his visit with Oakland won’t count against the Raiders’ allotment of 30 predraft meetings. Although video has surfaced of Mixon physically assaulting a female, he’s still expected to be drafted next month and a number of clubs have preceded the Raiders in meeting with the Oklahoma back.
5 Key Stories: 3/12/17 – 3/19/17
Saints talking with Malcolm Butler. While the Patriots acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the Saints without sacrificing restricted free agent cornerback Malcolm Butler, New Orleans is now coming after Butler, whom New England tendered at the first-round level. Butler, 27, is reportedly looking for a Stephon Gilmore-level contract (five years, $65MM) and is frustrated by the Patriots’ lack of movement on a new deal. The Saints, meanwhile, have met with Butler and are working towards a pact, although it seems unlikely they’d part with the No. 11 pick through the RFA process. A trade involving lesser compensation is probably the more palatable outcome.
Beast Mode in Oakland? After sitting out the 2016 campaign as part of his “retirement,” running back Marshawn Lynch may return to the league in 2017 to play for the Raiders. Oakland wants to pursue Lynch, but it won’t part with any significant draft assets in order to acquire him from Seattle. Lynch would count $9MM on Seattle’s cap if he returns, and because the Hawks don’t have much financial wiggle room (and already signed Eddie Lacy), they wouldn’t be able to keep Lynch on the books for long. For his part, Lynch has reportedly stayed in shape and has the “itch” to play again.
Dont’a Hightower heads back to New England. Following flirtations with the Jets, Steelers, and Titans, linebacker Dont’a Hightower eventually ended up where he started, agreeing to a four-year, $35.5MM deal with the Patriots. While the Jets reportedly had the largest offer on the table, Gang Green also had concerns with Hightower’s physical. Hightower can max out at $43.5MM with New England if he reaches all his incentives and bonuses.
Adrian Peterson done in Minnesota. Now that the Vikings have agreed to a three-year deal with running back Latavius Murray, franchise icon Adrian Peterson will not return to the club in 2017. Minnesota had already declined its 2017 option on Peterson, but until Murray was inked, a Peterson reunion was still possible. Instead, Peterson will remain on the open market and keep searching for a new club. Several rumored suitors – the Texans, Patriots, Raiders, Giants – have shown little to no interest in Peterson, while the Seahawks visited with him but then opted to sign Lacy instead.
Poe in ATL. After taking visits with the Colts, Jaguars, and Dolphins, free agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe finally found a landing spot by agreeing to a one-year, $8MM deal with the Falcons. Poe, 26, can make up to $10MM through incentives. Not only will Poe be reuniting with Atlanta assistant general manager Scott Pioli (who drafted Poe in Kansas City), but he’ll be shifting to 4-3 scheme for the first time in his career. The Chiefs, meanwhile, replace Poe by adding former Eagles interior defender Bennie Logan.
Chase Daniel Visiting Saints
Free agent quarterback Chase Daniel is meeting with the Saints today, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Daniel, 30, spent the first three years of his career in New Orleans after entering the league as an undrafted free agent. He only attempted nine passes during that time while backing up Drew Brees, and he’d be coming to the Saints as a clear-cut No. 2 signal-caller once again. Given that the Eagles were unable to trade Daniel earlier this month, it’s perhaps unsurprising that he may have to accept a backup job without the chance to start.
Daniel inked a lucrative contract with the Eagles last offeason that made him one of the highest-paid backup quarterbacks in the NFL. Despite his paycheck, Daniel is very inexperienced as an NFL passer, as he’s attempted only 78 passes during his seven-year career. Still, as many as six teams were interested in Daniel last year before he signed with Philadelphia, so he figures to have suitors as a free agent this time around.
At present, the Saints have veteran Luke McCown and former third-round pick Garrett Grayson under contract behind Brees.
Latest Between Jets, Josh McCown
Free agent quarterback Josh McCown has left his visit with the Jets, and while the two sides are still in contact, no deal is “imminent,” tweets Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com.
New York reportedly did discuss contract parameters with McCown, as Ralph Vacchiano of SNY detailed yesterday, but it doesn’t sound as though the two parties will come together on an agreement anytime soon. McCown is now entering his age-38 season and hasn’t been able to stay healthy in recent seasons, but he’d be able to give the Jets some level of competency at the quarterback position. Geno Smith, who may have been an option for Gang Green, signed with the crosstown rival Giants last week.
Appearing in five games (three starts) for the Browns in 2016, McCown completed 54.5% of his attempts for 1,100 yards, six touchdowns, and six interceptions. He’s also drawn interest from the Cowboys this offseason, and took a visit to Dallas earlier this month.
McCown ranks as PFR’s No. 5 free agent quarterback still on the market.
Colts Hosting TE Brandon Williams
The Colts will take a meeting with free agent tight end Brandon Williams, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
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Williams, 29, would slot in behind Jack Doyle and Erik Swoope on Indianapolis’ tight end depth chart, but his primarily role would probably come on special teams. As a member of the Seahawks in 2016, Williams played on 335 special teams snaps, good for second-most among all Seattle players. The Colts ranked fifth in special teams DVOA last season.
Given the Colts’ lack of depth at tight end, it’s certainly possible Williams would be able to carve out a role on offense, but that’s not something he’s done throughout his career. In four NFL seasons, Williams has managed only six receptions for 80 yards. Of his 158 offensive snaps in 2016, 123 (78%) involved blocking duty of some kind.