Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/19
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Eric Kush
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Antonio Hamilton
Free Agent Rumors: Seahawks, Texans, Bills
With the first wave of NFL free agency largely in the books, teams have begun hosting lesser-known options that remain on the market:
- The Seahawks met with free agent defensive tackle Caraun Reid on Thursday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The 27-year-old Reid has bounced around the league, but spent most of the 2018 campaign in Dallas, compiling 10 tackles and a half-sack on 28% playtime. Seattle lost defensive tackle Shamar Stephen in free agency, meaning the club is looking for depth behind Jarran Reed and Nazair Jones.
- Wide receiver Jaydon Mickens visited with the Texans today, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. Mickens is a wideout-in-name-only, as he’s garnered only six total receptions over his two-year career (all in 2017). Instead, Mickens is a core special-teamer, with a focus on punt returns. He handled 27 for Jacksonville last season, managing 10.6 yards per return with one touchdown. Houston is already one of the best return teams in the NFL, per Football Outsiders‘ metrics, and is bringing back DeAndre Carter, who split return duty last season.
- The Bills hosted linebacker Mark Nzeocha on Thursday, per Yates (Twitter link). Like Mickens, Nzeocha is primarily a special teams player, topping 60% ST playtime in each of the past two years with the 49ers. But he saw a bit of action on defense in 2018, starting three games and playing on 13% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps. He’d give Buffalo depth at linebacker.
49ers Re-Sign Antone Exum
The 49ers have agreed to re-sign safety Antone Exum to a one-year deal worth $895K, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Exum, 28, was one of five San Francisco safeties that saw at least 25% playtime in 2018, joining Jaquiski Tartt, Marcell Harris, Adrian Colbert, and D.J. Reed. Add in Jimmie Ward, who re-signed on Wednesday and can play both corner and safety, and the 49ers will likely have quite the competition in their defensive backfield.
Exum played the most snaps of any of those aforementioned safeties last year, appearing in 15 games while starting seven. In that time, the former sixth-round pick posted 40 tackles, one interception, and one sack while grading as the NFL’s No. 61 safety among 93 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
Jets Sign CB Brian Poole
The Jets have agreed to sign cornerback Brian Poole to a one-year, $3.5MM deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Poole, 26, was recently non-tendered by the Falcons as a restricted free agency. Financially speaking, however, Poole is going to come out ahead on his new deal with New York. The original round tender would have netted Poole only $2.025MM and wouldn’t have come with any guarantees. He’ll earn more with the Jets, and likely secured some level of guaranteed money.
In line to replace Buster Skrine as the Jets’ slot corner, Poole set new career highs in in tackles (74), sacks (three), and interceptions (three) last season. However, most advanced metrics weren’t complimentary of Poole’s play. Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 81 CB among 112 qualifiers, while Poole ranked as bottom-three corner in success rate, per Football Outsiders’ charting data.
Poole had drawn other interest around the league before signing with the Jets, taking a visit with the Bengals on Wednesday.
Contract Details: McCourty, Williams, Lewis
Let’s take a look at the details of a few recently-signed contracts:
- Jason McCourty, CB (Patriots): Two years, $10MM. Maximum value of $11MM. $6MM paid out in 2019 (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com). $5.5MM guaranteed. Team option for 2020; roster bonus of $500K due if option exercised (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of the Advocate).
- Daryl Williams, T (Panthers): One year, $6MM. $3MM signing bonus. $2.25MM base salary. $750K in per-game roster bonuses. Can earn $500K by making the Pro Bowl (Twitter link via Joe Person of The Athletic).
- Marcedes Lewis, TE (Packers): One year, $2.1MM. Maximum value of $2.35MM (per Pelissero).
- Brandon Mebane, DT (Chargers): Two years, $9.3MM. $5.25MM guaranteed (per Pelissero).
- Kevin Johnson, CB (Bills): One year, $3MM. $400K signing bonus. $2MM base salary. Per-game roster bonus and workout bonus of $300K each (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
- Bradley Pinion, P (Buccaneers): Four years, $11MM. $3.6MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Greg Auman of The Athletic).
- Zach Zenner, RB (Lions): One year, $805K. $250K guaranteed. $150K signing bonus (Twitter link via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com).
Giants To Sign Markus Golden
The Giants have agreed to a one-year deal with edge rusher Markus Golden, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Golden will leave the Cardinals to follow former Arizona defensive coordinator James Bettcher to New York. At only 28 years of age, Golden had developed a market in free agency, with the Raiders, Buccaneers, and Chiefs all expressing various levels of interest.
In 2016, Golden notched 12.5 sacks for the Cardinals. Unfortunately, a torn ACL ended his 2017 campaign early and cost him time in 2018. He managed to return for eleven games last year, but he wasn’t the same player – Golden had just 2.5 sacks and 30 tackles and graded out as one of the lowest-ranked edge defenders in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
Golden should get plenty of opportunities to rush the passer in New York. No other Giants player has posted more than 10 career sacks, and Big Blue finished 31st in adjusted sack rate a year ago.
Cardinals Sign WR Kevin White
The Cardinals will sign free agent wideout Kevin White after meeting with him on Thursday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The Cardinals also confirmed the signing and announced that it is a one-year pact.
It’s difficult to call White anything other than a first-round bust at this point. Many observers were high on White’s talent when he left West Virginia to enter the 2015 draft, and that upside made him the seventh overall pick of the Bears. But he simply hasn’t been able to stay on the field.
Various injuries have cost White time over the past four seasons, with shin and shoulder ailments doing the most damage. White missed the entirety of his rookie campaign, and subsequently appeared in only 16 games in the following three years. 2018 actually marked White’s healthiest years (he played in nine games), but he only posted four receptions for 92 yards.
Arizona is looking to surround its quarterback of the future — be that Josh Rosen or Kyler Murray — with weapons. At present, the club’s wide receiver depth chart is topped by Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk, and Chad Williams.
Saints Re-Sign Teddy Bridgewater
The Saints have re-signed quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the team announced. The news was first reported by Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
It’s a one-year, fully guaranteed deal worth $7.25MM for Bridgewater, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The pact has a maximum value of $12.5MM, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
The Dolphins were also interested in Bridgewater, and met with him when the free agent period opened on Wednesday. Miami likely could have offered Bridgewater a starting role, but he only would have joined the Dolphins for “life-changing money,” tweets Russini. Bridgewater may see himself as Drew Brees‘ heir apparent, although Brees has shown no signs of slowing down, and Bridgewater’s pact will only keep him with the Saints for a single season.
Bridgewater, of course, suffered a gruesome leg injury in 2016 that knocked him out of action for the following two seasons. He inked a one-year deal with the Jets last offseason, but was eventually dealt to the Saints for a third-round pick. Bridgewater started New Orleans’ final regular season game, completing 14-of-22 passes for 118 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Bridgewater started 28 games for the Vikings from 2014-15, averaging 3,075 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions during that time. Among the 30 quarterbacks who attempted at least 500 passes in those two seasons, Bridgewater ranked 22nd in passer rating, 25th in adjusted net yards per attempt, and 29th in touchdown percentage
Giants To Re-Sign CB Tony Lippett
The Giants have re-signed cornerback Tony Lippett to a one-year deal, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Lippett, who transformed from a collegiate wideout to an NFL corner, was a 13-game starter for the Dolphins in 2016, but didn’t make it through final cutdowns in 2018 after missing the previous season with a torn Achilles. He worked out for a number of teams last season, and ultimately landed with the Giants in October. Although he appeared in three games, Lippett saw only 12 snaps on defense.
Lippett could potentially be in for more work in 2019, as the Giants don’t have much at cornerback behind Janoris Jenkins, especially now that B.W. Webb departed via free agency. Still only 26 years old, Lippett will fight Sam Beal, Antonio Hamilton, and others for playing time.
Latest On Saints, Bridgewater, Tannehill
The Saints have been linked to both Teddy Bridgewater and Ryan Tannehill as they search for a backup quarterback, and we have updates on both situations.
Bridgewater is reportedly deciding between deals from both New Orleans and Miami, but he may have concerns about head coach Sean Payton‘s longevity with the Saints. Payton has long been linked to a potential opening with the Cowboys, and Bridgewater may not be interested in re-signing with New Orleans if Payton isn’t going to be around, per Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, Tannehill has been floated as a potential replacement if Bridgewater doesn’t re-sign with the Saints, but that may not be likely. A source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link) there’s “no way” Tannehill lands in New Orleans. New Orleans assistant general manager Jeff Ireland originally drafted Tannehill in Miami.