Giants’ Tom Coughlin Signs Extension
7:24pm: The Giants have officially extended Coughlin’s contract through the 2016 season, tweets Schwartz.
MARCH 11, 4:22pm: Coughlin’s one-year extension will be announced soon, perhaps even Wednesday afternoon, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (on Twitter).
FEBRUARY 23: During his press conference at the combine in Indianapolis, Giants head coach Tom Coughlin said that extension talks between he and the team had occurred, and he would soon be able to provide an update on that front. It appears that update will come today. According to Kimberly Jones of NFL.com (via Twitter), the expectation is that Coughlin will sign a one-year extension with the Giants after he returns from the combine today.
Almost exactly a year ago to the day, Coughlin agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Giants, and it looks like his new deal will be another one-year pact. While the longtime coach joked at season’s end that he thinks he has at least another decade in him, he’ll turn 69 before the 2015 season begins, so it makes sense that he and the club would keep agreeing to short-term extensions rather than a multiyear pact. Coughlin’s current contract would have expired at the end of the coming season, so tacking on an extra year will allow him to avoid heading into the year as a lame-duck coach.
For a time during the 2014 season, the Giants were playing so poorly that it seemed as if it could be Coughlin’s last year in New York. However, the team won three of its last four games, and the emergence of rookie wideout Odell Beckham in the season’s second half provided some optimism for the franchise going forward. Coughlin also had to deal with an unusual number of injuries in ’14 — per Spotrac, no club finished the season with more players on the injured reserve list than the Giants, who had 22 guys on IR.
Financial terms of Coughlin’s new deal aren’t yet known, but if he earns a similar salary to his previous contract, his one-year compensation figures to be in the neighborhood of $7MM.
Bills Pushing For Charles Clay, Percy Harvin
5:33pm: Clay appears to be a top target for the Browns, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Still, the Bills are the clubhouse leader on him.
4:31pm: It’ll be tough to match what the Bills are preparing to offer, but the Dolphins are not ready to concede on Clay, Tim Graham of The Buffalo News tweets. The Browns, meanwhile, are a wild card when it comes to the tight end.
9:37am: The Bills are still preparing their offer sheet for Dolphins tight end Charles Clay, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (all Twitter links). As we heard yesterday, Buffalo intends to structure its offer in a way that makes it difficult for Miami to match it. La Canfora notes that the offer figures to be heavily frontloaded, with at least $9MM in the first year, but the Bills will wait until the Dolphins finalize their deal with Ndamukong Suh, so they have a better idea of their division rival’s cap situation.
Having designated Clay as their transition player, the Dolphins tendered him a one-year offer worth $7.071MM, which gives the team the right to match any offer sheet the tight end signs with another team. However, the Fins wouldn’t receive any draft-pick compensation if they don’t match that offer sheet, and La Canfora suggests that Miami may not be able to accommodate a big first-year cap hit, even if more cuts are on the way for the team that already released Randy Starks, today, and Philip Wheeler, and Shelley Smith yesterday.
As for the Bills, in addition to making a run at Clay, they’re trying to lock up Percy Harvin, who is visiting Buffalo, to a one-year deal, says La Canfora. A one-year, prove-it contract makes the most sense for Harvin, but he’d probably prefer a destination with a more proven quarterback to help rebuild his value. Still, as La Canfora points out, the Bills seem prepared to throw money around, so it’s possible Harvin’s best offer will come from Buffalo.
Texans Sign Brian Hoyer
WEDNESDAY, 5:23pm: The Texans officially announced the signing of Hoyer.
12:45pm: The Texans have completed their two-year deal with Hoyer, tweets Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle.
11:52am: Hoyer’s deal will be a two-year pact worth $10.5MM with $4.75MM guaranteed, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
TUESDAY, 12:54pm: Agent Joe Linta tells Pro Football Talk (Twitter link) that Hoyer’s deal isn’t done yet, which may signal that he could land elsewhere, or may just mean that the Texans and Hoyer’s camp are trying to avoid the NFL’s wrath on early agreements.
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle tweets that he expects the Texans to take their time to make the deal official, since the league is “all over” teams about reaching deals prior to the start of free agency. Houston may even have Hoyer in for a visit, says McClain.
10:48am: Hoyer will sign with the Texans after all, per Schefter and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Caplan notes (via Twitter) that the Jets were insistent on getting their shot at Hoyer, but the veteran quarterback ultimately decided on Houston.
MONDAY, 9:33am: While Hoyer is still expected to land in Houston, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com and Brian Costello of the New York Post both report (via Twitter) that the Jets haven’t given up yet.
8:48am: The Texans are expected to add a free agent quarterback to the roster as soon as teams can officially sign players tomorrow, according to Albert Breer of the NFL Network, who reports (via Twitter) that the club intends to sign Brian Hoyer. Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 Washington first reported this morning (via Twitter) that Hoyer would be a Texan.
While it sounds like the Texans and Hoyer have reached a verbal agreement, nothing’s official yet, and according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the Jets were expected to make a push for the former Browns signal-caller today. Pat McManamon of ESPN.com also tweeted that the Jets were set to make a last-ditch offer, but both ESPN scribes acknowledged that Hoyer would likely end up in Houston.
Hoyer, 29, saw his first extended run as a starter in 2014, and though his overall numbers – including a 55.3% completion percentage, 12 touchdowns to 13 interceptions, and a 76.5 passer rating – weren’t overly impressive, he led the Browns to a 7-6 record in his starts before giving way to Johnny Manziel and Connor Shaw near the end of the season.
Despite his winning record, Hoyer didn’t receive much interest from the Browns this offseason, as the team opted instead to bring in former Buccaneers starter Josh McCown. So, rather than returning to Cleveland to compete again with Manziel, Hoyer will be reuniting with Bill O’Brien, who coached him during his years with the Patriots.
The Texans also continue to move toward a new deal with Ryan Mallett, and the team plans on bringing in both veteran free agent signal-callers, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. With Case Keenum and 2014 draftee Tom Savage also under contract for the 2015 season, it sounds like there could be a wide open competition for the Texans’ starting job, and perhaps for the No. 2 and No. 3 roles as well.
Hoyer’s new contract with the Texans will likely be for three years, tweets Breer.
Saints In Mix For C.J. Spiller; Cowboys Lurking
While the DeMarco Murray chase heats up, the market for C.J. Spiller, likely the second-best running back on the board, is beginning to take shape. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Saints are taking advantage of some newfound cap space by entering the mix for Spiller, while the Cowboys “lurk” around the edges.
Presumably, the Cowboys’ involvement in the Spiller sweepstakes hinges on how things with Murray play out. As for the Saints, they’ve already re-signed Mark Ingram, but could view Spiller as a versatile weapon capable of giving them the type of production players like Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles have in the past.
The Patriots, Jets, Dolphins, Cardinals, 49ers, Lions, and Washington were mentioned over the weekend as potential suitors for Spiller, though reports since then have downplayed the interest of the AFC East teams. Of course, a reunion with the Bills also seems out of the question for the running back, after Buffalo acquired LeSean McCoy.
Contract Details: Maclin, Thomas, Hughes, Odrick
Here are a few details on some of this week’s noteworthy new contracts:
AFC deals:
- Jeremy Maclin, WR (Chiefs): Five years, $55MM. $22.5MM fully guaranteed. $12MM signing bonus (Twitter links via Joel Corry of CBSSports.com).
- Julius Thomas, TE (Jaguars): Five years, $46MM. $21MM fully guaranteed. $28.3MM in first three years (Twitter link via Albert Breer of the NFL Network).
- Jerry Hughes, DE (Bills): Five years, $45MM base value. $7MM signing bonus. $11.775MM fully guaranteed. $1MM annually in sack-based incentives (Twitter links via Corry and Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- Jared Odrick, DL (Jaguars): Five years, $42.5MM. $22.5MM guaranteed. $5MM roster bonus in 2015 (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
- Brandon Flowers, CB (Chargers): Four years, $36.4MM base value. $20.5MM guaranteed. $8MM signing bonus. $2.25MM first-year cap hit (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Curtis Lofton, LB (Raiders): Three years, $18MM base value. $10MM guaranteed. $6.5MM in first year, including $3.5MM roster bonus (Twitter links via Pelissero and Wilson).
- Kendall Langford, DT (Colts): Four years, $17.2MM base value. $2.5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports).
- Brian Hoyer, QB (Texans): Two years, $10.5MM base value. $3.75MM roster bonus to be paid this month. $5.25MM annual cap hits (Twitter link via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle).
- A.J. Hawk, LB (Bengals): Two years, $3.25MM base value. $500K guaranteed (Twitter link via Pelissero).
NFC deals:
- Torrey Smith, WR (49ers): Five years, $40MM base value. $8MM signing bonus. $8.75MM fully guaranteed. $3.6MM first-year cap hit (Twitter links via Corry).
- Bryan Bulaga, T (Packers): Five years, $33.75MM base value. $8MM signing bonus. $3.6MM first-year cap hit (Twitter links via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com).
- Stephen Paea, DT (Washington): Four years, $21MM. $7.85MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Corey Peters, DT (Cardinals): Three years, $9MM base value. $5.75MM guaranteed. $2MM signing bonus (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Justin Durant, LB (Falcons): Three years, $10.8MM base value. $4.5MM in 2015. $3MM available in incentives (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Dwan Edwards, DT (Panthers): Two years, $4MM base value. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Sean Weatherspoon, LB (Cardinals): One year, $3.58MM base value. $1.25MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Major Wright, S (Buccaneers): Two years, $3MM base value (Twitter link via Pelissero).
Raiders Sign Rodney Hudson
WEDNESDAY, 4:09pm: The Raiders have officially signed Hudson, the team announced today (via Twitter). The five-year, $44.5MM pact includes a $6.9MM roster bonus for 2015 and a little less than $13MM in fully guaranteed money, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) and Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links).
MONDAY, 7:50am: After missing out on a handful of top targets this weekend, including Ndamukong Suh, Randall Cobb, and Jerry Hughes, the Raiders are on the board. According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter), the team has agreed to terms with Rodney Hudson. The Chiefs center is expected to sign a five-year, $44.5MM contract with Oakland once the free agent period begins on Tuesday.
We’ll have to wait for the specifics on Hudson’s contract to know for sure, but if the base value is indeed $44.5MM, that would put the average annual value at $8.9MM, making the 25-year-old the highest-paid center in the league.
Hudson, a former second-round pick, has been the Chiefs’ full-time starter at center for the last two seasons. In 2014, Hudson ranked as the third-best center in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), grading as an above-average run blocker and pass blocker — he even led all centers in PFF’s screen-blocking grade.
As recently as Saturday, we heard that the Chiefs were making a push to re-sign Hudson, but after the four-year veteran turned down a $6MM-per-year offer from Kansas City during the season, his asking price was believed to be up to $8MM+ at that point. That likely made it tricky for the Chiefs to work something out, since the team is already right up against the cap even before it finalizes its agreement with wide receiver Jeremy Maclin.
In Oakland, Hudson is expected to take over the starting center job vacated by Stefen Wisniewski, who will officially become a free agent and sign elsewhere tomorrow. As for the Chiefs, Eric Kush looks like the logical in-house option to replace Hudson in the middle of the offensive line, though it’s possible that the team will address the position in free agency or the draft.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bills Release Scott Chandler
As the Bills prepare to make a big offer to free agent tight end Charles Clay, the team has parted ways with its incumbent starter at the position. The Bills announced today in a press release that they’ve released tight end Scott Chandler.
Chandler, 30 in July, hauled in 47 catches for 497 yards and three touchdowns in 2014. Chandler was something of a late bloomer in the league, as he did not see any time on an NFL field between his debut in 2007 with the Chargers and his return in 2010 with the Bills. in Buffalo, he asserted himself as a real NFL talent and not just a taxi squad filler.
Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (on Twitter) wouldn’t be surprised to see the Patriots get in on Chandler. Chandler has a history of doing well against New England and the Pats could use a tight end.
Titans Sign Da’Norris Searcy
WEDNESDAY, 3:10pm: The Titans have officially announced the signing of Searcy (via Twitter). Per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), the four-year deal has a base value of $23.75MM with $10.5MM guaranteed, including a $4.5MM signing bonus.
TUESDAY, 3:50pm: A Titans source confirmed to ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky (on Twitter) that the deal is done. Searcy will get $24MM over four years with $10.5MM guaranteed, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter).
1:06pm: A source tells Anderson (Twitter link) that Searcy’s camp remains in talks with the Chiefs and Bears, in addition to the Titans.
12:48pm: A source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that Searcy’s camp is still fielding calls from other teams. Since the NFL expressed its displeasure with teams reaching agreements prior to the official start of free agency, there has been plenty of push-back whenever an agreement is reported, and I’d expect that’s the case here too — I think the Titans and Searcy will ultimately finalize a deal, but it’s not official yet.
12:28pm: The deal is expected to be $24MM over four years with $10.5MM guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
11:09am: The Titans are “poised to land” Bills safety Da’Norris Searcy, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennesssean (via Twitter). While Wyatt doesn’t say that an agreement in place, it sounds like Tennessee is a good bet to officially lock up Searcy when he becomes a free agent later today.
Searcy, 26, started a career-high 13 games for the Bills in 2014, racking up 65 tackles for the club to go along with three interceptions, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The former fourth-round pick has shown a knack for coming up with big plays over the last couple years — in 2013, he scored touchdowns on an interception return and a fumble return.
Having also been linked to the Giants, Bears, Colts, Texans, Raiders and Dolphins, Searcy had no shortage of suitors over the last few days. Assuming he finalizes an agreement with the Titans, he’d replace Bernard Pollard, who was released last month.
Bucs Release Michael Johnson
3:02pm: The Buccaneers have officially released Johnson, the team announced in a press release.
2:31pm: The Buccaneers continue to part ways with their top pickups from 2014’s free agent period. Having already cut quarterback Josh McCown and tackle Anthony Collins, the team is releasing defensive end Michael Johnson today, reports Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter).
It was a year ago today that the Bucs signed Johnson to a five-year, $43.75MM contract to help solidify Tampa Bay’s defensive line. Like most Bucs, Johnson had an underwhelming 2014 campaign — he logged just four sacks, and Pro Football Focus graded him as the league’s 53rd-best 4-3 defensive end, out of 59 qualified players (subscription required).
Johnson has never been a particularly dangerous pass rusher, outside of his 11.5-sack season in 2012, but even his usually strong run defense fell off last season, per PFF. By cutting him now, the Bucs will still carry $7MM in dead money, but will avoid having additional money become guaranteed. Per Over the Cap, Johnson’s guarantee would’ve increased by a total of $7MM if he had remained on the roster beyond this week. Tampa Bay clears $2MM in cap space with the move.
The Bengals, Johnson’s old team, are expected to have interest once he officially becomes available, and I expect they’ll have plenty of company. The 28-year-old will also have the opportunity to double-dip in free agency — his contract with the Bucs, which guaranteed some of his 2015 base salary, didn’t feature offsets, so he’ll receive that money on top of whatever he gets on a new deal.
NFC Rumors: Graham, Saints, Orakpo
Speaking to reporters today, Brandon Graham said he felt like there was only ever a “10% chance” that he’d sign with a team besides the Eagles (Twitter link). The Giants and Titans were known to be in the running for the free agent edge defender. More out of the NFC..
- The Saints had some concerns about Jimmy Graham’s long-term health, and wanted to fortify their offensive line to keep Drew Brees upright, which resulted in their willingness to send the star tight end to the Seahawks, says Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link).
- Brian Orakpo hasn’t completely closed the door on returning to Washington, but he’s prepared to “face the reality” that he could sign with another team this week, he tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (TwitLonger link). Visits with the Titans and Cardinals are up first for the free agent edge defender.
- ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter has learned from O’Brien Schofield‘s agent that four teams are trying to sign him, according to Terry Blount of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Schofield, coming off of a solid year with the Seahawks, has been connected to the Falcons thanks to his connection with new head coach Dan Quinn.
Zach Links contributed to this post.