Andre Holmes To Visit Lions
Free agent wide receiver Andre Holmes will visit the Lions on Sunday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Detroit was one of six teams with reported interest in Holmes earlier this month, a list that also included the Raiders, 49ers, Redskins, Jets, and Bears. As of yet, the Lions have mostly focused on defensive additions this offseason, with their one offensive signing being tackle Ricky Wagner. Wide receiver Corey Brown took a visit with the club on Friday, however, while the Lions have also been linked to pass-catchers Andre Roberts, Jared Cook, and Darren Fells.
Holmes, 28, has spent the past four seasons in Oakland after beginning his career with the Cowboys. The former undrafted free agent was a large part of the Raiders’ offense as recently as two years ago, as he posted 47 receptions for nearly 700 yards and four touchdowns during the 2014 campaign. In 2016, however, Holmes managed only 14 catches, but was a key cog on special teams, where he played over 65% of Oakland’s snaps.
Due to his lackluster offensive production, Holmes didn’t earn a spot among PFR’s free agent wide receiver rankings, but clearly clubs have already expressed interest in acquiring the 6’5″ pass-catcher. Holmes earned $2MM in 2016 on a one-year deal with Oakland, which was agreed to after other teams pushed to sign him.
Contract Details: Bennett, Bouye, Branch
Let’s take a look at the details of some recently-signed free agent contracts:
- Martellus Bennett, TE (Packers): Three years, $20.25MM. $6.3MM guaranteed. Base salaries of $900K, $3.6MM, $5.65MM. $2MM roster bonus due on first day of 2018 league year. $600K in annual per-game roster bonuses. $$250K annual workout bonus (link via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
- A.J. Bouye, CB (Jaguars): Five years, $65MM. $26MM guaranteed. $10MM signing bonus. Base salaries of $3MM, $13MM, $13MM, $13MM, $13MM. $500K annual workout bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Alan Branch, DT (Patriots): Two years, $8.45MM. $3MM guaranteed. $2MM signing bonus. Annual $400K workout and weight bonus of $400K each. $3.55MM available via not-likely-to-be-earned incentives (link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com).
- Ted Ginn, WR (Saints): Three years, $11MM. $3MM guaranteed. $3MM signing bonus. Base salaries of $2MM, $3MM, $2.5MM. 2018 $500K roster bonus. $500,000 aviailve vie playtime, catches incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Tanner Purdum, LS (Jets): One year, $980K. $400K guaranteed (Twitter link via Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press).
- Brandon Williams, DT (Ravens): Five years, $52.5MM. $27.5MM guaranteed. $12.5MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun).
- Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB (Falcons): One year, $775K (minimum salary) (Twitter link via Wilson).
Jets Sign Kelvin Beachum
The Jets have signed free agent tackle Kelvin Beachum, the club announced. It’s reportedly a a three-year, $24MM deal with $12MM in guarantees. Beachum will receive a $4.5MM signing bonus, and earns the right to opt out of the final year of the contract if he makes the Pro Bowl in either 2017 or 2018.
Beachum will become New York’s new blindside protector, although it’s unclear as of yet who he’ll be protecting. Gang Green declined its option on incumbent left tackle Ryan Clady earlier this offseason, and although the club re-signed offensive lineman Ben Ijalana — who filled in on the left side for the majority of the 2016 campaign — he figures to slide to right tackle now that Beachum is under contract.
Last offseason, Jacksonville signed Beachum to a unique contract which included a $5MM option bonus for 2017-2020. The option, which would have fully guaranteed Beachum an additional $13MM in base salary, had to be exercised or declined 22 days prior to the start of the new league year. The Jaguars opted not to pick up the option, and subsequently traded for fellow left tackle Branden Albert.
Beachum, 27, was an elite left tackle in 2014 with the Steelers, but an ACL injury during the 2015 campaign ended his season and torpedoed his free agent value. Like fellow injury-affected left tackle Russell Okung, Beachum agreed to an oddly-structured contract that fully guaranteed him only $1.5MM, but contained the aforementioned option bonus, option years, and $11MM in incentives and escalators.
Perhaps still recovering from his knee injury, Beachum struggled in 2016, grading as the league’s No. 63 tackle among 78 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus, the same organization that rated him as the NFL’s fifth-best OT in 2014. As such, it’s fair to wonder how much the ACL is/was still bothering Beachum, even though he was able to remain on the field for 15 games.
FOX Sports (Twitter link) first reported the signing. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) added the length of the deal and its basic financial details. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported (Twitter link) the signing bonus and opt-out provision. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Darius Butler Visiting Bears
Defensive back Darius Butler is meeting with the Bears today, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), who adds this will be the first of “several scheduled trips” for Butler. La Canfora reported on Friday that Butler had reached an impasse in negotiations with the Colts and was planning to visit other clubs.
Butler, a former second-round pick, had played cornerback for most of his career before transitioning to safety in the middle of last season. He wants to continue playing deep, as he told Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star last week, and that’s presumably how Butler is marketing himself to potential suitors. Pro Football Focus still graded Butler among corners in 2016, and the 30-year-old finished as the league’s No. 20 CB.
Chicago has already signed one safety this week, agreeing to terms with former Houston defensive back Quintin Demps. Demps will pair with incumbent Adrian Amos in the Bears’ secondary, but given the popularity of three-safety (“big nickel”) sets in today’s NFL, Chicago still has room for Butler. Plus, given Butler’s ability to cover the slot, he’d presumably find ample playing time.
Butler, who appeared in 12 games (seven starts) for Indianapolis, ranks as PFR’s No. 48 overall free agent. Among safeties, we placed him fourth thanks to his coverage ability.
2017 NFL Trades
Although the NFL isn’t typically considered a trade-happy league, that reputation has been earned due to a lack of major trade-deadline activity, and doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story. In the NFL offseason, big-name players and early-round draft picks change hands with greater frequency, as trades serve as a key tool for teams looking to upgrade their rosters or accelerate a rebuild.
We’ve already seen a few trades consummated since the 2017 league year began on March 9th, and with the draft not too far off, several more deals figure to be completed this spring. We’ll track those moves – and the rest of the year’s trades, right up until the fall deadline – in this space.
Here’s a breakdown of 2017’s trades to date, in reverse chronological order:
Post-Draft
- Bills acquired WR Kelvin Benjamin.
- Panthers acquired a 2018 third-round pick and a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Jets acquired CB Rashard Robinson.
- 49ers acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick.
- Eagles acquired RB Jay Ajayi.
- Dolphins acquired a conditional 2018 fourth-round pick.
- 49ers acquired QB Jimmy Garoppolo.
- Patriots acquired a 2018 second-round pick.
- Seahawks acquired T Duane Brown and a 2018 fifth-round pick.
- Texans acquired a 2018 third-round pick and a 2019 second-round pick.
- Jaguars acquired DT Marcell Dareus.
- Bills acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick.
- Bears acquired WR Dontrelle Inman.
- Chargers acquired a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Cardinals acquired RB Adrian Peterson.
- Saints acquired a conditional 2018 sixth-round pick.
- Dolphins acquired LB Stephone Anthony.
- Saints acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick.
- Steelers acquired S J.J. Wilcox and a 2019 seventh-round pick.
- Buccaneers acquired a 2018 sixth-round pick.
- Cowboys acquired LB Jayrone Elliott.
- Packers acquired a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Patriots acquired DE Cassius Marsh.
- Seahawks acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick and a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Seahawks acquired T Isaiah Battle.
- Chiefs acquired a conditional draft pick.
- Bills acquired WR Kaelin Clay.
- Panthers acquired CB Kevon Seymour and a 2019 seventh-round pick.
- Giants acquired CB Ross Cockrell.
- Steelers acquired a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Ravens acquired OL Luke Bowanko.
- Jaguars acquired a 2019 seventh-round pick.
- Colts acquired QB Jacoby Brissett.
- Patriots acquired WR Phillip Dorsett.
- Rams acquired TE Derek Carrier.
- Redskins acquired a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Cowboys acquired CB Bene Benwikere.
- Bengals acquired a conditional 2019 sixth-round pick.
- Browns acquired WR Sammie Coates and a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Steelers acquired a 2018 sixth-round pick.
- Patriots acquired S Johnson Bademosi.
- Lions acquired a 2019 sixth-round pick.
- Titans acquired DE David King.
- Chiefs acquired a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Vikings acquired CB Tramaine Brock.
- Seahawks acquired a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Seahawks acquired DL Sheldon Richardson and a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Jets acquired WR Jermaine Kearse, a 2018 second-round pick, and a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Seahawks acquired CB Justin Coleman.
- Patriots acquired a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Ravens acquired OL Tony Bergstrom.
- Cardinals acquired a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Falcons acquired T Ty Sambrailo.
- Broncos acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick.
- 49ers acquired G Laken Tomlinson.
- Lions acquired a 2019 fifth-round pick.
- Chiefs acquired OL Cameron Erving.
- Browns acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick.
- Steelers acquired TE Vance McDonald and a 2018 fifth-round pick.
- 49ers acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick.
- Patriots acquired LB Marquis Flowers.
- Bengals acquired a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Saints acquired LS Jon Dorenbos.
- Eagles acquired a 2019 seventh-round pick (pick returned to New Orleans due to Dorenbos’ heart condition).
- Chiefs acquired LB Reggie Ragland.
- Bills acquired a 2019 fourth-round pick.
- Colts acquired LS Thomas Hennessy.
- Jets acquired S Ronald Martin.
- Eagles acquired CB Dexter McDougle.
- Jets acquired S Terrence Brooks.
- Steelers acquired CB Dashaun Phillips.
- Redskins acquired C Lucas Crowley.
- Seahawks acquired T Matt Tobin and a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Eagles acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick.
- Bills acquired WR Jordan Matthews and a 2018 third-round pick.
- Eagles acquired CB Ronald Darby.
- Rams acquired WR Sammy Watkins and a 2018 sixth-round pick.
- Bills acquired CB E.J. Gaines and a 2018 second-round pick.
- Chiefs acquired LB Kevin Pierre-Louis.
- Seahawks acquired LB D.J. Alexander.
- Chargers acquired QB Cardale Jones.
- Bills acquired a conditional seventh-round pick in 2018 or 2019.
- Broncos acquired G Allen Barbre.
- Eagles acquired a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick.
- Lions acquired T Greg Robinson.
- Rams acquired a 2018 sixth-round pick.
- Browns acquired S Calvin Pryor.
- Jets acquired LB Demario Davis.
During Draft
- Buccaneers acquired a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 223; DT Steve Tu’ikolovatu).
- Dolphins acquired a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 237; WR Isaiah Ford) and a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Patriots acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 211; T Conor McDermott).
- Cowboys acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 216; CB Marquez White) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 239; WR Noah Brown).
- Cardinals acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 208; S Johnathan Ford).
- Raiders acquired a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 221; DB Shalom Luani) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 231; T Jylan Ware).
- Bengals acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 207; S Brandon Wilson).
- Titans acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 217; OL Corey Levin) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 227; LB Josh Carraway).
- Giants acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 200; T Adam Bisnowaty).
- Titans acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 207) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 241; RB Khalfani Muhammad).
- Redskins acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 199; C Chase Roullier) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 230; S Josh Harvey-Clemons).
- Vikings acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 201; TE Bucky Hodges) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 220; DE Ifeadi Odenigbo).
- Cowboys acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 191; S Xavier Woods).
- Jets acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick.
- Broncos acquired a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 172; WR Isaiah McKenzie).
- Packers acquired a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 175; WR DeAngelo Yancey) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 238; RB Devante Mays).
- Dolphins acquired a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 164; OL Isaac Asiata) and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 194; DT Vincent Taylor).
- Eagles acquired a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 166; WR Shelton Gibson) and a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 184; S Nathan Gerry).
- Browns acquired a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 160; OL Roderick Johnson) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 224; K Zane Gonzalez).
- Jets acquired a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 181; LB Dylan Donahue) and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 188; RB Elijah McGuire).
- Chiefs acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 139; WR Jehu Chesson).
- Vikings acquired a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 170; WR Rodney Adams) and a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 180; OL Danny Isidora).
- Eagles acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 132; RB Donnel Pumphrey).
- Vikings acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 139) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 230).
- Browns acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 126; CB Howard Wilson) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 252; RB Matthew Dayes).
- Broncos acquired a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 145; TE Jake Butt) and a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 175).
- Rams acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 125; LB Samson Ebukam).
- Jets acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 141; WR Chad Hansen) and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 197; CB Jeremy Clark).
- 49ers acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 121; RB Joe Williams).
- Colts acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 143; RB Marlon Mack) and a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 161; LB Anthony Walker).
- 49ers acquired RB Kapri Bibbs and a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 177; WR Trent Taylor).
- Broncos acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick.
- Bears acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 112; S Eddie Jackson).
- Rams acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 117; WR Josh Reynolds) and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 197).
- Patriots acquired TE James O’Shaughnessy and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 216).
- Chiefs acquired a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 183; LB Ukeme Eligwe).
- Buccaneers acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 107; LB Kendell Beckwith).
- Jets acquired a 2018 fourth-round pick (No. 125) and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 204; CB Derrick Jones).
- 49ers acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 104; QB C.J. Beathard).
- Vikings acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 109; DT Jaleel Johnson) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 219; WR Stacy Coley).
- Chiefs acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 86; RB Kareem Hunt).
- Vikings acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 104), a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 132) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 245; CB Jack Tocho).
- Patriots acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 85; OL Antonio Garcia).
- Lions acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 96; Kenny Golladay) and a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 124; LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin).
- Panthers acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 77; DE Daeshon Hall).
- Cardinals acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 98; WR Chad Williams) and a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 115; OL Dorian Johnson).
- Titans acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 72; WR Taywan Taylor) and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 200).
- Patriots acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 83; DE Derek Rivers) and a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 124).
- Vikings acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 70; OL Pat Elflein).
- Jets acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 79; WR ArDarius Stewart) and a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 160).
- Saints acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 67; RB Alvin Kamara).
- 49ers acquired a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 229; CB Adrian Colbert) and a 2018 second-round pick.
- Bills acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 63; OL Dion Dawkins).
- Falcons acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 75; LB Duke Riley), 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 149; CB Damontae Kazee), and a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 156; RB Brian Hill).
- Vikings acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 41; RB Dalvin Cook).
- Bengals acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 48; RB Joe Mixon) and a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 128; WR Josh Malone).
- Bills acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 37; WR Zay Jones) and a 2017 fifth-round pick (No. 149).
- Rams acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 44; TE Gerald Everett) and a 2017 third-round pick (No. 91; S John Johnson).
- Cardinals acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 36; S Budda Baker) and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 221).
- Bears acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 45; TE Adam Shaheen), a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 119; RB Tarik Cohen), a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 197), and a 2018 fourth-round pick.
- Jaguars acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 34; T Cam Robinson).
- Seahawks acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 35; DT Malik McDowell) and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 187; S Mike Tyson).
- 49ers acquired a 2017 first-round pick (No. 31; LB Reuben Foster).
- Seahawks acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 34) and a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 111; S Tedric Thompson).
- Browns acquired a 2017 first-round pick (No. 29; TE David Njoku).
- Packers acquired a 2017 second-round pick (No. 33; CB Kevin King) and a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 108; LB Vince Biegel).
- Falcons acquired a 2017 first-round pick (No. 25; DE Takkarist McKinley).
- Seahawks acquired a 2017 first-round pick (No. 31), a 2017 third-round pick (No. 95; S Delano Hill), and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 249; RB Chris Carson).
- Texans acquired a 2017 first-round pick (No. 12; QB Deshaun Watson).
- Browns acquired a 2017 first-round pick (No. 25; S Jabrill Peppers) and a 2018 first-round pick.
- Chiefs acquired a 2017 first-round pick (No. 10; QB Patrick Mahomes).
- Bills acquired a 2017 first-round pick (No. 27; CB Tre’Davious White), a 2017 third-round pick (No. 91), and a 2018 first-round pick.
- Bears acquired a 2017 first-round pick (No. 2; QB Mitch Trubisky).
- 49ers acquired a 2017 first-round pick (No. 3; DL Solomon Thomas), a 2017 third-round pick (No. 67), a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 111), and a 2018 third-round pick.
Pre-Draft
- Raiders acquired RB Marshawn Lynch and a 2018 sixth-round pick.
- Seahawks acquired a 2018 fifth-round pick.
- Bengals acquired DE Chris Smith.
- Jaguars acquired a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Eagles acquired DT Timmy Jernigan and a 2017 third-round pick (No. 99).
- Ravens acquired a 2017 third-round pick (No. 74).
- 49ers acquired C Jeremy Zuttah and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 198).
- Ravens acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 186).
- Patriots acquired WR Brandin Cooks and 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 118).
- Saints acquired a 2017 first-round pick (No. 32) and a 2017 third-round pick (No. 103).
- Patriots acquired DE Kony Ealy and a 2017 third-round pick (No. 72).
- Panthers acquired 2017 second-round pick (No. 64).
- Dolphins acquired DE William Hayes and a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 223).
- Rams acquired a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 206).
- Browns acquired QB Brock Osweiler, a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 188), and a 2018 second-round pick.
- Texans acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 142).
- Patriots acquired TE Dwayne Allen and a 2017 sixth-round pick (No. 200).
- Colts acquired a 2017 fourth-round pick (No. 137).
- Dolphins acquired TE Julius Thomas.
- Jaguars acquired a 2017 seventh-round pick (No. 240).
- Jaguars acquired T Branden Albert.
- Dolphins acquired a 2018 seventh-round pick (returned due to Albert’s release).
Extra Points: Browns, Osweiler, Jets, Eagles
The Browns are reportedly trying to trade Brock Osweiler after acquiring him (and more specifically, his contract) from the Texans yesterday, and while Cleveland might be willing to pay Osweiler’s deal down to $8MM or so, some executives don’t think the Browns will find a taker. “Get the [expletive] out of here,” said one personnel man, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Another evaluator: “No one will do their new trade … but I don’t blame them for trying.”
Here’s more from around the league:
- Free agent safety Tony Jefferson reportedly turned down a better proposal from the Browns before signing with the Ravens, and Jefferson himself says Cleveland $1.5MM more than Baltimore, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link), Jefferson claims the Jets offered him the same overage, although Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News disputes that assertion (Twitter link).
- Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks saw $4.35MM of his $4.85MM 2017 base salary fully guarantee today, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. Kendricks has long been the subject of trade rumors, and the base salary guarantee could impact any such discussions. Unlike signing bonus money, which accelerates onto the original team’s cap in the event of a trade, guaranteed base salaries stay with the player and carry over to the acquring club.
- Both linebacker DeAndre Levy (Lions) and safety Aaron Williams (Bills) were designated as post-June 1 releases, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com and Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Those decisions will save Detroit and Buffalo some cap space the short term, but both teams will see dead money incur on their 2018 books.
49ers Sign Special-Teamer Don Jones
The 49ers have agreed to a deal with special teams ace Don Jones, the club announced. Jones, a safety by trade, signed a two-year pact.
Jones, 26, has played for two clubs per season in each of the last three years. That’s the life of pure special teamer who doesn’t often see the field on defense. Since entering the league, Jones has only started one career game, and that came last year with the Texans. Overall, Jones played on nearly 40% of Houston’s special teams snaps despite appearing in only nine games with the team after being cut by Cleveland.
San Francisco ranked 17th in special teams DVOA in 2016, and was below-average on both kick and punt returns.
Marcus Cooper Visiting Bears
Free agent cornerback Marcus Cooper is visiting with the Bears, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Chicago is the third team known to be eyeing Cooper, as both the Jets and Steelers reportedly have interest in the 27-year-old defensive back. The Bears have already addressed their secondary this week, agreeing to terms with corner Prince Amukamara on a one-year deal, and inking veteran safety Quintin Demps to a three-year pact. Chicago can use all the help it can get in the back end, however, as safety Adrian Amos was the only sure starting-caliber player the club boasted coming into the offseason.
Initially arriving in Kansas City as a waiver claim, Cooper became an instant contributor for the 2013 Chiefs, intercepting three passes. But Cooper’s role slowly began to diminish in the years that followed. After starting 27 games between the ’13 and ’14 slates, Cooper seldom played on a 2015 Chiefs team that only used two cornerbacks in dime packages. Pro Football Focus, though, is less bullish on Cooper’s resurgence last season, slotting the now-27-year-old defender as its No. 101 full-time corner.
Titans To Sign Sylvester Williams
The Titans have agreed to a three-year deal with defensive tackle Sylvester Williams, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com.
Williams, 28, is a former first-round pick of the Broncos, who weren’t expected to re-sign him after declining his fifth-year option last summer. However, they did make Williams a multiyear offer before he accepted the Titans’ proposal, according to Mike Klis of 9News. Williams asked the Broncos for a one-year pact, though (Twitter link).
Although he’s never lived up to his draft status, Williams has been a contributor: he’s started 48 games during his four-year career, and appeared in 60 contests overall. Williams is a pure run-stuffer, though, as he’s posted just 5.5 career sacks and was pushed down the Pro Football Focus interior defender rankings thanks to a lackluster pass-rushing grade.
Tennessee had a need for a defensive lineman after parting ways with Al Woods earlier this week, and after targeting a big fish in the Ravens’ Brandon Williams, it decided to settle for another Williams instead. The Titans have mostly addressed their secondary so far this offseason, signing Jonathan Cyprien and Logan Ryan, but they’ve also re-upped interior rusher Karl Klug. Jurrell Casey, of course, is the star of Tennessee’s front, while DaQuan Jones and Austin Johnson also play roles.
Williams ranked as PFR’s No. 15 interior defender heading into the free agent period.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/10/17
Today’s minor moves:
- The Bears will sign free agent offensive tackle Tom Compton, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (Twitter link). The 27-year-old has primarily worked as a reserve during his five NFL seasons, having started in just 11 of 44 appearances with Washington and Atlanta. Last season was Compton’s only one as a member of the Falcons. While he played in all of the NFC champions’ games, he didn’t start any of them.
- The Cowboys have signed defensive end Damontre Moore, according to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). Moore, a former third-round pick, has appeared in 49 career games but never started a contest. Although he’s posted 10 sacks during his NFL tenure, Moore might be best known for getting cut by the Giants after a headphone-related altercation. He’ll compete for a rotational role in Dallas.
- The Chiefs re-signed offensive lineman Mike Person, tweets Terez A. Paylor. Person, 28, was a 14-games starter for the Falcons in 2015 but didn’t see the field last year. Person, who has 31 career starts under his belt, is in the mix for a reserve role for Kansas City.
- After being non-tendered by the Seahawks earlier this week, linebacker Brock Coyle has now signed with the division-rival 49ers, per his agency (Twitter link). Coyle is a former undrafted agent, and though he’s never been a full-time starter, he’s appeared in 35 games during his three-year career.
- The Jets announced that they’ve re-signed long snapper Tanner Purdum. Purdum has been with Gang Green since 2010 and has appeared in every game during that time.