Ravens Sign Kamar Aiken, Trent Richardson
With their offseason program set to get underway, the Ravens have confirmed a series of signings, including officially locking up several of their own players for 2016. Per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), wide receiver Kamar Aiken has formally signed his RFA tender, while the team has announced in a press release that running back Trent Richardson has signed a contract to join the Ravens.
In addition to re-signing Aiken and adding Richardson, the Ravens also secured a few exclusive-rights free agent. According to the team (via Twitter), wide receiver Jeremy Butler, wide receiver and return specialist Kaelin Clay, and offensive lineman Ryan Jensen have all signed their ERFA tenders.
Aiken, who turns 27 next month, had a breakout 2015 campaign, leading the team with 75 catches for 944 yards. Although Aiken didn’t fully emerge as a go-to option in Baltimore’s offense until after Steve Smith went down for the season with an Achilles injury, the Central Florida product figures to have a significant role going forward. Despite their limited cap flexibility in March, the Ravens assigned Aiken a second-round tender worth $2.553MM, signaling how much they value him.
Richardson, meanwhile, visited Baltimore back in February and has been expected to sign with them for quite some time. GM Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens had been somewhat concerned about Richardson’s conditioning, but agreed to sign him if he lost some weight, which he has. The former third overall pick may have an uphill battle to earn a roster spot in a crowded backfield in Baltimore, but it looks like a low-risk flier for the Ravens.
As for Butler, Clay, and Jensen, while they were technically considered free agents, the Ravens held their exclusive rights, so none of those players could explore the market.
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No Pre-Draft Deal Expected For Fitzpatrick, Jets
Barring a “significant breakthrough” in their contract negotiations, the Jets and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick aren’t expected to reach a contract agreement prior to the draft, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). As Rapoport notes, that could add some intrigue to the Jets’ draft approach.
While the Jets have made it clear that Fitzpatrick is their preferred option at quarterback, the two sides have been at an impasse since the signal-caller’s contract expired last month. The team has reportedly offered the 33-year-old an incentive-heavy deal which doesn’t feature an annual average salary in line with what most other veteran starters around the league are earning.
Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, has been pushing for a per-year salary closer to what quarterbacks like Brock Osweiler and Sam Bradford received on their new deals — neither Osweiler nor Bradford had as strong a season as the Jets signal-caller did in 2015, but they each got contracts in the neighborhood of $18MM annually. Fitzpatrick, who is several years older than Osweiler and Bradford, likely isn’t seeking that sort of money, but it makes sense that he’d be after a salary in the $14-15MM range.
An 11-year veteran, Fitzpatrick is coming off the best season of his NFL career. The former seventh-round pick established new career highs by throwing for 3,905 yards and 31 touchdowns, and led the Jets to a 10-6 record, just narrowly missing a playoff berth.
With the Jets and Fitzpatrick not making real progress, the club will likely continue to mull its fallback options as the draft approaches. The Texans are releasing Brian Hoyer, and there have been indications that the Jets will at least kick the tires on Hoyer, perhaps bringing him in for a visit.
Additionally, as Rapoport alludes to, the Jets could target a quarterback on one of the first two days of the draft if they’re not optimistic about bringing back Fitzpatrick. Of course, the threat of signing Hoyer or drafting a QB could also create some additional leverage for the Jets in their talks with Fitzpatrick.
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Ravens, Dennis Pitta Restructure Contract
SATURDAY, 8:20am: The Ravens officially announced the contract restructuring, according to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com.
“Dennis wants to continue his playing career, and we want to give him that opportunity,” general manager Ozzie Newsome said (via Mink). “We have reworked his contract, and we’re excited to help him with his comeback. Everyone here wants Dennis to succeed.”
“I am thankful for this opportunity to continue my career,” added Pitta. “I’m excited to get back to work with my teammates and for this organization. Physically, I feel great and am ready to begin building toward a successful 2016 season.”
FRIDAY, 7:52am: Pitta’s base salary has been reduced from $5MM to $1MM, resulting in a cap hit of $3.2MM for 2016, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle adds (via Twitter) that the tight end’s new deal has injury waivers for 2016, 2017, and 2018.
TUESDAY, 10:55am: Just hours after a report indicated that tight end Dennis Pitta had decided to continue his NFL career, Pitta and the Ravens have agreed to a restructured contract that will reduce his cap number, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Zrebiec adds that Pitta could officially sign the new deal as early as today.
[RELATED: Pitta to continue NFL playing career]
Pitta, who has missed the majority of the last two seasons due to major hip injuries, consulted with doctors before making his decision to attempt a comeback in 2016. He’ll be in attendance at Baltimore’s offseason program in the hopes of making it back on the field this summer. Although he has received the go-ahead from medical professionals, he’ll still need to be cleared by the Ravens’ team doctors, who advised him last fall not to return to the field in 2015.
The 30-year-old had been owed a $5MM base salary this season, with an overall cap hit of $7.2MM. However, that salary was non-guaranteed, and considering Pitta has not appeared in an NFL game since September of 2014, it was unrealistic not to expect some sort of adjustment to his contract.
Although specific details on Pitta’s reworked deal aren’t yet known, Zrebiec tweets that the veteran tight end will have the opportunity to make back some of that $5MM via incentives. If the restructured contract includes per-game roster bonuses, they won’t initially count against Baltimore’s cap for 2016 — since Pitta didn’t play in any games last season, those bonuses would be viewed as not likely to be earned.
In addition to proving that he’s healthy, Pitta will also have to beat out some competition in training camp to earn a spot on the Ravens’ 53-man roster. Recent draftees Maxx Williams, Crockett Gillmore, and Nick Boyle are in the tight end mix, along with free agent signee Ben Watson, among others. Boyle will start the 2016 season on the suspended list.
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Extra Points: Broncos, Kaepernick, P. Lynch, Bears
The blockbuster trade between the Rams and Titans that saw Los Angeles acquire the first pick in the draft, with which it will presumably select a quarterback, could have a notable ripple effect on the Broncos’ pursuit of Colin Kaepernick, writes Troy Renck of the Denver Post. If the Rams take Cal signal-caller Jared Goff and the Browns, who hold the second choice, prefer Goff to North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, it might lead Cleveland to trade down with a team that wants Wentz. If that team isn’t San Francisco, which is scheduled to pick seventh, it could result in the 49ers closing the door on trading Kaepernick. Renck doesn’t expect the 49ers to deal him without a legitimate solution at quarterback in place, and their best non-Kaepernick option right now is the less-than-stellar Blaine Gabbert.
More from around the NFL:
- Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch is still making pre-draft visits, and the Bears are one of the teams hosting him next week, per Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (Twitter link). PFR’s Rob DiRe had Chicago picking Lynch in our first mock draft last week.
- Before releasing him, the Steelers asked cornerback Cortez Allen to take a pay cut, tweets Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. However, it seems the two sides couldn’t find common ground on a reworked contract.
- Georgia edge defender Jordan Jenkins, who projects as a probable day two pick, recently worked out for the Jets, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News.
- Eastern Michigan running back Darius Jackson visited the Jets on Monday, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets. Jackson also has visits with the Ravens, Dolphins, and Lions on his schedule.
- The one-year contract cornerback Greg Toler inked with Washington earlier this week is worth $840K, including an $80K bonus, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
- Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander‘s one-year deal with the Bills is worth $885K – $75K of which is guaranteed – with a $428K split, Wilson reports (Twitter link).
- Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com provides the full list of the 23 prospects with ties to the Tampa area who participated in the Buccaneers‘ local workout day on Friday.
Connor Byrne and Zach Links contributed to this post.
West Rumors: Broncos, Keenum, Rams, Foles
With the Rams poised to use their newly-acquired No. 1 pick to select a quarterback, the Broncos might have some interest in Case Keenum, who had been in line to be the starter in Los Angeles, tweets Mike Klis of 9NEWS. Troy Renck of the Denver Post adds (via Twitter) that the Broncos had some interest in Keenum before the Rams placed a first-round RFA tender on the QB.
Even if the Broncos are interested in working out a deal for Keenum, it’s not clear if the Rams would be on board. With Carson Wentz or Jared Goff joining the team, the depth chart at QB will certainly be crowded, with the rookie joining Keenum, Sean Mannion, and Nick Foles. However, the Rams like Keenum enough that they may prefer to explore a deal involving Foles or Mannion.
In fact, when Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk asked Rams head coach Jeff Fisher whether Foles will be on the team’s regular-season roster in 2016, Fisher was noncommittal, but called it a “good question,” hinting that the former Eagle could be the odd man out.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s West divisions, including a few more Rams-related notes:
- Rams general manager Les Snead said today during an appearance on ESPN Radio that his team is “97% sure” about which player will be the first overall pick, as Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com tweets.
- As part of the trade for the No. 1 pick, the Rams agreed to send a 2017 third-round pick to the Titans. According to Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com, that third-rounder will be a compensatory pick, since those comp picks can be traded beginning in 2017, and the Rams expect to get one for losing Janoris Jenkins. If L.A. doesn’t get a third-round comp pick, the team will send its own pick to Tennessee, and get a 2017 seventh-rounder back from the Titans.
- The Broncos are expected to re-sign free agent safety Shiloh Keo when their offseason program gets underway next week, reports Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post (via Twitter). Keo, who signed in Denver last December, was arrested for driving under the influence in February.
- The Rams hosted Iowa tight end Henry Krieger-Coble for a pre-draft visit today, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
- While the Chargers are viewed as a near-lock to select Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil if he’s on the board at No. 3, Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune explains why Tunsil may be a bit of a “messy fit” in San Diego. Gehlken makes some good points, but given the Chargers’ offensive line woes in recent years, it would still be a surprise if they pass on the draft’s top tackle.
Texans Pick Up 2017 Option On DeAndre Hopkins
The Texans have made a roster move that likely didn’t require much deliberation, exercising their fifth-year option for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). McClain reports that Hopkins will earn a $7.915MM salary on his 2017 option.
Despite catching passes from a rotating cast of quarterbacks since making his NFL debut in 2013, Hopkins has managed to take major steps forward each season, and is now one of the most productive pass-catchers in the league. After grabbing 76 balls for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns in 2014, the Clemson product improved his numbers across the board en route to his first Pro Bowl nod in 2015, recording 111 receptions, 1,521 receiving yards, and 11 TDs.
Although Hopkins is now under team control for two more seasons, and the Texans would have the option of using the franchise tag after that, a long-term extension is still possible at any time. The Texans showed with J.J. Watt that they were willing to extend one of their stars well before he played out his fifth-year option, and Hopkins is the club’s top player on the other side of the ball. He has also expressed interest in remaining in Houston for the rest of his career.
“If I can play my whole career here, I would,” Hopkins said in February. “I love this place. This organization took a chance on drafting me. You have to look at that…. I love this organization. I love the fans here. I’ll never forget after we went 2-14 (2013), I don’t recall too many fans bailing out on us. It speaks a lot about this city and who they are.”
Hopkins is the latest 2013 first-rounder to have his option for 2017 exercised — Kenny Vaccaro of the Saints, Tyler Eifert of the Bengals, and Kyle Long of the Bears had their fifth-year options picked up this week as well.
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Rams Re-Sign Greg Zuerlein
5:15pm: Zuerlein’s one-year deal has a base value of just $1.25MM, but includes $675K guaranteed and can max out at $3.3MM, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (Twitter link). That indicates that Zuerlein should have a leg up on any competition the Rams bring in for training camp.
5:05pm: The Rams have agreed to terms on a new contract with free agent kicker Greg Zuerlein, per Myles Simmons of TheRams.com (Twitter link). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds (via Twitter) that it’s a one-year deal.
Zuerlein, 28, has a huge leg, but has struggled with his accuracy since entering the league in 2012. Outside of the 2013 season, when he missed just two kicks all year, Zuerlein has never made more than 80% of his field goal tries in a year. In 2015, he made just 20 of 30 field goals (66.7%), and missed a pair of extra points as well.
While the majority of Zuerlein’s misses – both in 2015 and earlier in his career – have come from beyond 50 yards (3-for-9 in 2015, 16-for-31 for his career), he hasn’t been automatic on shorter kicks either. For instance, in his four seasons, he has missed five of 38 field goal attempts from between 30 and 39 yards.
Head coach Jeff Fisher indicated at last month’s owners meetings that he and the Rams intended to bring in some competition at kicker even if Zuerlein returned, and that remains the plan, says Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (Twitter link). In a follow-up tweet on his initial report, Simmons noted that he believes the Rams will bring in another kicker who will have “a decent shot” at beating out Zuerlein for the job.
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Titans Working To Move Back Into Top 10?
After the Titans sent their No. 1 overall pick and two other selections to Los Angeles in exchange for four 2016 picks and two 2017 selections, general manager Jon Robinson referred to his collection of picks as “currency,” suggesting that his team might not be done trading. And according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), Robinson may be trying to make another first-round move.
[RELATED: Titans send No. 1 pick to Rams]
La Canfora reports that he continues to hear the Titans are “working hard” to trade back into the top 10. Tennessee is currently set to pick at No. 15, and getting back into the top 10 would ensure that the team could land a top defensive player or offensive tackle.
While the Titans explore another draft-pick swap, the Browns, who hold the No. 2 overall pick, are also mulling a move, says La Canfora (Twitter link). According to the CBSSports.com insider, most teams expect the Rams to use their top pick on Cal quarterback Jared Goff, who is Cleveland’s preferred signal-caller. Taking that into account, the Browns’ interest in trading their pick has “intensified,” since they don’t think Goff will be available for them.
Of course, while La Canfora’s sources seem confident that both the Rams and Browns prefer Goff to Carson Wentz, there have been conflicting reports on both fronts. As we detailed yesterday, Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times and ESPN’s John Clayton are among the reporters who believe the Rams intend to pick Wentz, and multiple reports in recent weeks have indicated the Browns like Wentz as well.
Many draft-pick trades aren’t officially consummated until draft day, once teams trading up can be sure that their desired target(s) will be available, so there may not be any resolution on these situations within the next few days. It’s certainly something worth monitoring as April 28th approaches though — it seems possible that there could be a decent amount of movement at the top of this year’s draft.
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Saints Re-Sign Tim Hightower
APRIL 15: The Saints’ signing of Hightower has been processed, and is now official, tweets Evan Woodbery of the Times-Picayune.
APRIL 8: After successfully revitalizing his NFL career last year with the Saints, running back Tim Hightower is returning to New Orleans. A source tells Katherine Terrell of NOLA.com that, after meeting last week, Hightower and the Saints have agreed to initial terms on a new deal.
A fifth-round pick in 2008, Hightower spent three seasons with the Cardinals and a fourth with Washington, but for several years, it looked like his brief stint in D.C. in 2011 might represent the end of his playing career. Having missed three full seasons, Hightower got a chance to return to the field in 2015 for the Saints, and made the most of it.
In eight games (three starts) for New Orleans last season, Hightower ran for 375 yards and four touchdowns on 96 carries, adding another 129 yards through the air on 12 receptions. Although the veteran back will turn 30 in May, he doesn’t have a ton of mileage on his legs due to his time away from the game — he has totaled just 619 career carries.
If Hightower hopes to continue his comeback story with the Saints during the 2016 season, he may have to beat out some competition to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Mark Ingram, C.J. Spiller, and Travaris Cadet currently sit atop the depth chart in New Orleans, with players like Vick Ballard and Marcus Murphy in the running back mix as well.
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Patriots Cut Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, Chris Jones
The Patriots continue to overhaul their defensive line, waiving two more defensive tackles today, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com. Yates reports (via Twitter) that New England has cut Ishmaa’ily Kitchen and Chris Jones from the roster. The team has since confirmed the two moves.
Kitchen, who spent the first three years of his NFL career with Cleveland, spent some time with the Lions and Pats in 2015, but didn’t play a real role for Bill Belichick‘s team. As for Jones, he missed the entire 2015 campaign, spending it on the PUP list, but was solid in his first two seasons in New England, recording nine total sacks in 28 games.
Because of his play during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Jones was in line for an increased salary of $1.671MM in 2016, having been a recipient of a proven performance escalator. While those pay bumps are meant to be rewards for young players who have outperformed their draft slot, the raise may have actually contributed to Jones’ release, since the Pats likely deemed the $1.671MM non-guaranteed salary too rich for a player coming off a lost year.
The Patriots have added Terrance Knighton and Markus Kuhn in free agency this offseason, but have seen many defensive tackles depart New England. In addition to Kitchen and Jones, the team also cut Dominique Easley this week, and had Akiem Hicks and Sealver Siliga sign elsewhere as free agents.
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