Bucs To Acquire George Johnson Via Trade
1:25pm: The Buccaneers will send the Lions a fifth-round pick in exchange for Johnson’s services, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com. The Buccaneers will also receive a seventh-round pick from the Lions as part of the trade.
7:50am: More than a week after he first sign an offer sheet with the Buccaneers, defensive end George Johnson is finally officially heading to Tampa Bay, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Stroud reports (via Twitter) that the Lions and Bucs have agreed to a trade that will allow the Bucs to land Johnson, with the two clubs swapping late-round picks.
While it’s not clear yet exactly which picks are involved in the swap, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that the deal is “done,” pending league and union approval. The CBA allows for a player who is signed for an offer sheet to be traded, though a certain procedure must be followed in that instance — presumably, the Lions and Bucs have followed that procedure here.
The offer sheet Johnson signed with the Bucs initially was worth a total of $9MM over three years, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the defensive lineman will still receive that amount. Restricted free agency gives teams five days to match an offer sheet, but before the Lions’ deadline rolled around on Monday, Detroit disputed the offer sheet, seeking a clarification on exactly what terms must be matched, since the contract included de-escalators for years two and three. Working out a trade agreement allows the two sides to avoid having an arbitrator make a ruling on the issue.
An undrafted free agent in 2011, Johnson originally signed multiple contracts early in his career with the Buccaneers, and spent parts of the next two seasons with the club. The 27-year-old was quietly effective in 2014, appearing in all 16 games for the Lions and earning a positive grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), largely thanks to his excellent pass-rushing acumen.
In Tampa Bay, Johnson figures to slot in at one of the defensive end spots along the team’s defensive line, essentially replacing Michael Johnson, who was released.
NFC Notes: AP, Wisniewski, Wootton, Saints
Today is April 15, which means that, under the terms of the NFL’s original suspension, Adrian Peterson is now eligible to be reinstated. Still, nothing has happened on that front so far today, and few expect anything definitive or formal to actually happen in the next few hours either, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
As Rapoport notes (via Twitter), the legal case related to Peterson’s suspension may still drag out for some time, but the league can reinstate him in the meantime, which will signal the end of his time served, making him eligible to start the 2015 season. Time will tell whether that happens with the Vikings or another team.
Let’s round up a few more items from across the NFC….
- Free agent center Stefen Wisniewski visited Washington this week, but the club is “probably” not the frontrunner for him at the moment, tweets John Keim of ESPN.com. Wisniewski has made a handful of visits since free agency opened, having met with the Patriots, Jaguars, and Titans as well. However, it’s not clear whether all those teams have real interest in him, or if the visits were more exploratory in nature — perhaps to get a closer look at Wisniewski’s surgically-repaired shoulder.
- Veteran defensive lineman Corey Wootton, who tried out for the Jaguars and Titans earlier in the offseason, is visiting the Saints today, according to Sean Fazende of FOX 8 in New Orleans (Twitter link).
- The Vikings and Saints, a pair of teams in need of a cornerback, are hosting Georgia corner Damian Swann for pre-draft visits, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- Florida State’s Cameron Erving, viewed as the top center in this year’s draft class, is paying a visit to St. Louis to meet with the Rams, today, reports Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter). The offensive line figures to be one of main areas of focus for the Rams during the draft.
- The Packers will take a closer look at BYU wide receiver Jordan Leslie, who is scheduled to visit the team prior to the draft, writes Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post.
Draft Notes: Titans, Fowler, QBs, Darby
Clemson edge rusher Vic Beasley and Alabama wideout Amari Cooper, two probable top-10 picks, are making visits to Tennessee today to meet with the Titans, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter links). I don’t expect either player to go as high as No. 2 overall, but there’s certainly no guarantee that the Titans will keep that pick, so it makes sense that they’re exploring their options. As Wyatt notes (via Twitter), the club is taking a look at several top pass rushers, having also hosted Shane Ray and Dante Fowler Jr. on previously-reported visits.
Here are a few more draft updates from around the NFL:
- Speaking of Fowler, the Florida pass rusher will be in Washington today to meet with the team that holds the fifth overall pick, tweets John Keim of ESPN.com.
- Despite recent buzz surrounding Marcus Mariota, Jameis Winston is still the strong favorite to go first overall in this month’s draft, writes Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. La Canfora suggests that the No. 2 pick is still worth keeping a close eye on though, since Mariota will likely be selected in that spot — the Rams, Chargers, Eagles, and Browns are among the teams with at least some level of interest in nabbing the Oregon QB, and they’d all likely have to move up to do so.
- Armed with two first-round picks, the Browns are considering all their options, and brought in Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong for a pre-draft visit on Monday, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post adds the Panthers to the list of teams Florida State cornerback Ronald Darby has visited. Darby has also met with the Saints and Jets, and worked out for the Buccaneers.
- The Dolphins, who figure to target linebackers at some point in this year’s draft, will host top ILB prospect Benardrick McKinney of Mississippi State this Friday, writes Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Contract Details: Crabtree, Ridley, Casey
The details for a few of the more notable recent free agent signings are in, so let’s take a look at some specifics, starting with the newest wide receiver in Oakland….
- Michael Crabtree, WR (Raiders): One year, $3.2MM base value. $1.4MM base salary. $1.3Mm signing bonus. $250K workout bonus. $250K in per-game roster bonuses. $1.8MM in not-likely-to-be-earned incentives — $400K for Pro Bowl and $1.4MM based on catches or receiving yards. Lowest incentive threshold is $400K for 70 catches or 900 yards. Can max out at $1.4MM by exceeding 100 catches or 1,400 yards (three Twitter links via Joel Corry of CBSSports.com).
- Stevan Ridley, RB (Jets): One year, $1.25MM base value. $750K base salary. $80K signing bonus. $50K workout bonus. $20K first-game roster bonus. $350K in per-game roster bonuses. Has injury waiver, which voids if he’s on 53-man roster in Week 1 (Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
- James Casey, TE (Broncos): One year, $1.25MM base value. $750K base salary. $500K roster bonus. Has injury waiver, split salary (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Joe Mays, LB (Jets): One year, minimum salary benefit. $870K base salary. $20K first-game roster bonus. $60K signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- John Kuhn, FB (Packers): One year, minimum salary benefit. $870K base salary. $25K workout bonus. $25K Pro Bowl incentive (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Zackary Bowman, CB (Dolphins): One year, minimum salary benefit. $745K base salary. $80K signing bonus. Has injury waiver (Twitter link via Wilson).
Minor Moves: Tuesday
Here are Tuesday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with the latest minor moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- Wide receiver Ricardo Lockette signed his exclusive-rights tender with the Seahawks, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun and National Football Post. The 28-year-old Lockette appeared in all 16 of Seattle’s games in 2014 and made 11 catches.
- A trio of exclusive rights free agents are now officially back under contract with the Ravens, the team announced today in a press release. According to the club, safety Brynden Trawick, cornerback Rashaan Melvin, and offensive lineman Ryan Jensen are now locked up for the 2015 season, having signed their one-year ERFA contract tenders.
- The Steelers announced today that they’ve signed former Eastern Kentucky punter Jordan Berry to a contract, giving the team three punters on its offseason roster (Twitter link). Berry will join Richie Leone and incumbent Brad Wing in the battle for the 2015 job.
Greg Jennings Plans To Visit Saints
Greg Jennings appears to be in no rush to decide on a new team, as he continues to make free agent visits and weigh his options. After meeting with the Jaguars yesterday, the plan is for the veteran wideout to visit the Saints, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
So far this offseason, the Saints have parted ways with their top two pass catchers from the 2014 season, trading Jimmy Graham to the Seahawks and Kenny Stills to the Dolphins. Those two players, who combined for nearly 150 receptions last season, netted New Orleans first- and third-round picks for the coming draft, so the assumption has been that the Saints will move forward with Brandin Cooks and Marques Colston anchoring the receiving corps, adding at least one more wideout in the draft.
While that could still be the Saints’ plan, the fact that they’re planning to host Jennings suggests that they remain in the market for possible veteran help at the wide receiver position as well.
Jennings, 31, caught just 59 balls for 742 yards during the 2014 season, prompting the Vikings to cut him just two years into a massive five-year contract. The two-time Pro Bowler never seemed like an ideal fit in Minnesota, so a fresh start could benefit him. However, he’s unlikely to return to the highs of his earlier years in Green Bay. From 2008 to 2010, Jennings averaged about 75 receptions, 1,220 yards, and eight touchdowns per year with the Packers.
In addition to visiting the Jaguars, Jennings also paid a visit to Miami to meet with the Dolphins, and has been linked to the Panthers.
AFC Notes: Chargers, Bills, Dolphins, Jets
The Chargers appear to be contemplating the post-Philip Rivers era in San Diego, as they take a closer look at Oregon signal-caller Marcus Mariota today. After working out Mariota, the team’s brass will head to Los Angeles to put UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley through a workout of his own, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
GM Tom Telesco and head coach Mike McCoy have repeatedly stated they want Rivers to retire as a Charger, so there may be no need to identify his successor quite yet. But Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune believes this offseason is the prime time for San Diego to trade Rivers in a deal to snag Mariota, arguing that all the factors in play point to it being a win-win move for the franchise and for the veteran quarterback, who is entering the final year of his contract.
We still have a little more than two weeks until the draft gets underway, so it will be interesting to see if the Rivers trade rumors pick up steam or die down as April 30 approaches. In the meantime, here are a few more notes from across the AFC:
- Free agent wide receiver Brad Smith is paying a visit to Buffalo to meet with the Bills, as Mike Rodak of ESPN.com details. Smith played for Rex Ryan on the Jets, but it’s not clear if there’s a spot for him on Ryan’s new club, with players like Percy Harvin, Marcus Easley, and Marcus Thigpen already in the mix as potentially versatile offensive weapons, returners, or special-teamers.
- Given where we’ve seen running backs drafted in the last couple years, it would be surprise to see one go as high as No. 14 overall this year. Nonetheless, the Dolphins, who hold that pick, are hosting Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon for a visit next week, per Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (via Twitter).
- Outside pass rushers Bud Dupree and Shane Ray will be visiting the Jets, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter links). Although there has been plenty of chatter linking Mariota to New York, the team is in a good spot at No. 6 to add a top pass rushing prospect.
- The Steelers hosted Washington State defensive tackle Xavier Cooper, Ohio State tight end Jeff Heuerman, and UAB tight end Kennard Backman on pre-draft visits today, tweets ESPN.com’s Scott Brown. Cooper met with the Saints in New Orleans yesterday, but we haven’t heard much to date about the tight ends.
- Florida State cornerback Ronald Darby is visiting the Colts today, according to Rapoport (via Twitter).
- On the heels of the Raiders‘ agreement with free agent wide receiver Michael Crabtree, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com shares a few initial thoughts on the deal, outlining why the former Niner is worth the risk on a one-year investment.
Contract Details: Johnson, Spencer, Lattimore
We learned yesterday that the Lions have disputed the Buccaneers‘ offer sheet to George Johnson, extending the process beyond yesterday’s initial decision deadline. However, it wasn’t immediately clear what Detroit’s issue with the offer sheet was.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk sheds a little light on the subject today, reporting that the Lions want to know whether they have to match all the specifics of a Bucs’ offer that includes de-escalators in the second and third years of the deal. Per Florio, the three-year, $9MM proposal could shrink to $7MM over three years if the de-escalators are applied, so depending on how an arbitrator rules, Detroit may only have to match that lower $7MM figure.
As we wait for resolution on Johnson, which should come by the end of next week, let’s break down a few more new contracts from around the NFL…
- Anthony Spencer inked a minimum salary benefit contract with the Saints, allowing the team to carry a cap hit of just $665K, tweets Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Spencer’s one-year deal includes an $80K signing bonus to go along with a base salary of $870K.
- Jamari Lattimore also signed a minimum salary deal with the Jets, though since he has less NFL experience than Spencer, his base salary is just $745K, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. The linebacker’s one-year contract includes a $60K signing bonus and a $20K roster bonus.
- Wilson passes along the details on one more minimum salary benefit contract, tweeting that Will Allen‘s deal with the Steelers is worth $1.05MM, including a $970K base salary and an $80K signing bonus. Like Spencer and Lattimore, Allen will count for only $665K against his team’s cap.
NFC Draft Notes: Winston, Bears, Rams
Having already met with Oregon’s Marcus Mariota, the Bears will get a closer look at the other top quarterback in this year’s draft class on Wednesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Schefter reports that Jameis Winston is set to meet with the Bears, who hold the seventh overall pick. Of course, the Florida State signal-caller is unlikely to make it past the No. 1 pick, so Chicago is likely just doing its due diligence.
Here are a few more draft-related updates from around the NFC:
- Mississippi State’s Benardrick McKinney, widely considered the top inside linebacker in this year’s draft class, is in St. Louis today to visit the Rams, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.
- The Cowboys haven’t drafted a quarterback since 2009, but perhaps this is the year they buck that trend. A source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), the team will work out Oregon State signal-caller Sean Mannion tomorrow.
- Michigan pass catcher Devin Funchess, who has experience at both wide receiver and tight end, is set to visit the 49ers, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. A report last week suggested that concerns about Funchess’ route-running was causing teams to drop him on their draft boards.
- According to Mike Jones of the Washington Post (via Twitter), Kansas cornerback Dexter McDonald is among the prospects who will pay a pre-draft visit to Washington this week. McDonald projects as a likely late-round pick or an undrafted free agent.
Stefen Wisniewski Visited Washington
With Michael Crabtree now under contract with the Raiders, only two of PFR’s top 50 free agents for 2015 remain unsigned, and one of those two players is former Raiders center Stefen Wisniewski. While Wisniewski doesn’t appear to be on the verge of a contract, he did receive interest last week from a potential suitor. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Washington hosted Wisniewski for a visit last Friday.
A market has been slow to develop for Wisniewski, but that can be at least partly attributed to the fact that he underwent surgery this offseason to repair a torn labrum. The veteran lineman has made several visits since free agency began, meeting with the Patriots, Jaguars, and the Titans before he headed to Washington. Presumably, a physical exam played a significant part in those visits for Wisniewski.
Wisniewski, who turned 26 last month, wasn’t at his best in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which rated him as the league’s 22nd-best center. Of course, his shoulder injury could have played a role in his decreased production, as PFF has assigned him a higher grade in years past.
Washington got solid production at center in 2014 from Kory Lichtensteiger, who ranked as PFF’s ninth-best player at the position. However, it was Lichtensteiger’s first season at center, after he spent the previous few seasons playing left guard for the club. Chris Chester and Shawn Lauvao held their own as Washington’s guards last season, and both players appear poised to return for the 2015 season, but signing Wisniewski could give the team a little more depth and a few more options along its offensive line.