East Rumors: Jets, Wilkerson, Cowboys, Giants
Although general manager Mike Maccagnan says that the Jets aren’t “actively pursuing” a trade involving Muhammad Wilkerson, a source tells Brian Costello of the New York Post that the team continues to quietly shop the defensive lineman, as we heard last week. There’s skepticism around the NFL that Gang Green will find a trade partner willing to meet the club’s asking price, but Costello suggests that Maccagnan has four weeks to resolve the situation, since trading Wilkerson becomes much trickier after the draft.
As Rich Cimini of ESPN.com outlines, trading Wilkerson and his $15.7MM would help the Jets solve their current cap crunch. However, Cimini points out that moving Wilkerson would mean letting go of the only player out of the team’s three highest-paid veterans who is still in his prime. Darrelle Revis and D’Brickashaw Ferguson round out the Jets’ top three cap numbers, and both players are arguably on the decline.
As we wait to see how Maccagnan moves forward in New York, let’s round up a few more items from out of the NFL’s East divisions…
- While it remains to be seen whether or not they’ll draft a quarterback this year, the Cowboys are interested in the possibility of adding a developmental signal-caller to their depth chart. One prospect who might fit that bill is Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg, and Dallas held a private workout for him on Wednesday, per Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Hackenberg will also work out for the Eagles next week, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- The Giants left the door open for Tom Coughlin to assume a role within the organization after he stepped down as the team’s head coach, but it doesn’t sound like that will be happening. As Ryan Lazo of the New York Post details, Coughlin said in an appearance at Mike Francesa’s and Chris Russo’s reunion show that he doesn’t expect to be with the Giants “in any capacity this season.”
- Jasper Brinkley‘s one-year deal with the Giants is worth $1.8MM, and all but $100K of that money is guaranteed, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ.com (Twitter link).
- The Patriots added another tight end to their roster on Wednesday when they agreed to terms with ex-Jaguar Clay Harbor. Mike Reiss of ESPN.com takes a closer look at exactly what the Pats are getting in Harbor.
Contract Details: Hill, Anger, Washington, Wheeler
Let’s round up several of the latest details on contracts that have been agreed upon or signed within the last week or two….
- Josh Hill, TE (Saints): Matched Bears’ offer sheet. Three years, $7.051MM. $2.5MM signing bonus. No-trade clause for 2016 and 2017. $100K annual Pro Bowl incentive. $200K in per-game roster bonuses for 2017 and 2018. $750K escalator for 2018 for receptions and yards (link via Nick Underhill of The Advocate).
- Bryan Anger, P (Buccaneers): One year, $1.75MM. $750K roster bonus (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- Jeremy Kerley, WR (Lions): One-year, $760K base salary. $50K signing bonus. $40K workout bonus. $300K possible through incentives (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
- Darrin Walls, CB (Lions): One-year, minimum salary benefit. $80K signing bonus guaranteed. Rest of deal non-guaranteed (Twitter link via Birkett).
- Nate Washington, WR (Patriots): One year, minimum salary benefit. $478K split salary. $60K signing bonus. $20K workout bonus (Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).
- Philip Wheeler, LB (Falcons): One year, minimum salary benefit (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com).
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/30/16
Here are the latest minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL:
- The Bills have officially re-signed offensive tackle Jordan Mills, the club confirmed in a press release. Mills had been a restricted free agent, having received a low-end $1.671MM tender from Buffalo — he has now formally signed that tender.
- The Chargers are signing former UNC quarterback Bryn Renner after working him out along with some other signal-callers today, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Renner has spent time with Denver, Baltimore, and Tennessee, though his stints with those clubs came primarily during training camp or as a practice-squad player.
- The Colts announced today in a press release that they’ve signed free agent tight end Mike McFarland and waived offensive tackle Pierce Burton. McFarland joined the Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2015, but was placed on injured reserve before the end of the 2015 preseason.
- Mike Chappell of Fox59/CBS4 tweets that the Colts have also waived cornerback Josh Mitchell, who spent the 2015 season on the injured reserve list. Mitchell signed with Indianapolis as an undrafted free agent out of Nebraska last May, but he landed on IR later that month.
AFC Notes: Bills, Broncos, Titans, Dolphins
In an interview with NFL Network this week, Bills head coach Rex Ryan admitted that his roster isn’t particularly deep at several positions. As Mike Rodak of ESPN.com details, though, Ryan is confident that Buffalo will be able to replenish those spots in the draft.
“We don’t have a whole lot of depth right now, so we’re going to have to do a great job in the draft, which we will,” Ryan said. “[Bills GM] Doug Whaley is an outstanding evaluator of talent. We have to hit in the draft, there is no doubt, but I think there are some opportunities there to help us.”
Let’s round up a few more items from across the AFC…
- Despite the departures of Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, it’s not time to panic for Broncos fans, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who writes that GM John Elway still has plenty of quarterback options available. As La Canfora outlines, Denver ranked in the bottom 10 in the NFL in most passing categories in 2015, meaning the team doesn’t have to land a star QB to match or exceed last year’s production.
- Ohio State director of player personnel Mark Pantoni announced today (on Twitter) that Titans head coach Mike Mularkey, GM Jon Robinson, and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau were at the school to work out five Buckeyes prospects. Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets that Tennessee was getting a closer look at DE Joey Bosa, LB Darron Lee, S Vonn Bell, S Tyvis Powell, and DL Adolphus Washington
- As they prepare for the 2016 draft, the Dolphins‘ top priority in the first two days of that draft will be landing a starting cornerback, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. According to Salguero, cornerback is one of two positions – along with running back – that is a “must-have” for the team.
- In a piece for CBSSports.com, former player agent Joel Corry provides a cheat sheet for Andrew Luck‘s representatives as they prepare to ramp up contract extension negotiations with the Colts.
Terrance Knighton Visits Pats, Washington
WEDNESDAY, 1:44pm: Having visited New England and Washington, Knighton is believed to be leaning toward signing with the Patriots, according to Anthony Gulizia of The Washington Times. It’s not clear whether both teams have made contract offers.
TUESDAY, 7:43pm: It appears that Washington does, in fact, want to see what sort of shape Knighton is in. According to John Keim of ESPN.com, if the team is satisfied with Pot Roast’s physical condition, he will likely return to Washington. Keim observes that Knighton has lost roughly 30 pounds this offseason, and although Washington deploys a nickel defense about 75% of the time, the team still needs someone who can play nose tackle at a fairly high level while still contributing in other packages. A slimmer Knighton could certainly be that player.
TUESDAY, 3:29pm: After meeting with the Pats, Knighton is visiting Washington, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). It’s a little odd that Pot Roast would be visiting the team he played for last season, particularly since there have been no changes at GM and head coach, but perhaps the team wants to get a first-hand look at what sort of shape Knighton is in.
MONDAY, 9:00am: The Patriots made an effort to sign Nick Fairley, but with Fairley heading to the Saints, Bill Belichick and the Pats aren’t wasting any time moving onto other potential targets. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), New England is hosting free agent defensive tackle Terrance Knighton for a visit today.
Knighton, who started his career in Jacksonville, spent two seasons in Denver before heading to Washington for the 2015 campaign. The 29-year-old has been very durable in his first seven NFL seasons, appearing in 108 total regular-season games, including 96 starts.
A nose tackle, in Washington’s 3-4 scheme, Pot Roast logged 29 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2015. Although he didn’t have quite the same impact last year that he did during his final season as a Bronco, Knighton ranked in the top half of Pro Football Focus’ list of qualified interior defenders, placing 58th out of 123 players. Predictably, PFF assigned Knighton a much grade as a run defender than as a pass rusher.
The Patriots don’t run a 3-4 base, so if they do sign Knighton, he wouldn’t play quite the same role that he did in D.C. Still, New England is in need of big bodies up front, having lost Akiem Hicks and Sealver Siliga in free agency earlier this month.
According to Rapoport (via Twitter), Washington also has interest in bringing back Knighton.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bears Sign OL Manny Ramirez
The Bears have further fortified their offensive line, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, who tweets that the club has signed veteran offensive lineman Manny Ramirez to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal aren’t yet known.
Ramirez, who entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick in 2007, spent four seasons with the Broncos from 2011 to 2014, so Bears head coach John Fox is very familiar with him from his time in Denver. Ramirez saw his most extensive action as a starter in those seasons, making a total of 43 regular-season starts for the Broncos at center and right guard.
Having joined the Lions for the 2015 campaign, Ramirez played well when he saw the field, and showed a little versatility too. His seven starts for the club last season came at three different positions — center, left guard, and right guard.
For the Bears, it’s possible Ramirez will continue to play that role as the first lineman off the bench at center and guard, contributing when he’s needed. However, the 33-year-old should also have an opportunity to compete for a starting job, with interior linemen Patrick Omameh, Vlad Ducasse, and Will Montgomery all eligible for free agency.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
FA Rumors: Jets, Carter, Thurmond, Colon
Although they re-signed Erin Henderson earlier this month, the Jets lost Demario Davis in free agency and remain in the market for help at the linebacker position. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the team’s search for reinforcements at linebacker will result in a visit for veteran free agent Bruce Carter.
Having played both inside and outside in 4-3 schemes, Carter would project as an inside linebacker for the Jets. Gang Green currently has David Harris and Henderson penciled in as potential starters, but if he were to sign with the club, Carter could push for playing time.
Here are a few more free agent updates and notes from around the NFL:
- Defensive back Walter Thurmond continues to contemplate retirement, but if he does decide to continue his career, he shouldn’t lack options. Rapoport tweets that Thurmond has turned down offers of $4MM+ per year.
- Earlier this month, veteran guard Willie Colon said during an appearance on ESPN New York 98.7 FM that he was “on the fence” about potentially retiring. However, Darryl Slater of NJ.com hears from a source that Colon doesn’t intend to retire and hopes to sign a new contract for the 2016 season. The Jets have yet to reach out to Colon about re-signing him, the source tells Slater.
- Having signed with the Packers this week, tight end Jared Cook explained that it was “imperative” during his hunt for a new team that he find a team with a quarterback “known for getting the job done” like Aaron Rodgers. Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has the quotes and the details.
- Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal examines why the Browns prefer newly-signed linebacker Demario Davis to Karlos Dansby, who was cut by Cleveland early on in the new league year.
Broncos’ Brandon Marshall Seeks Multiyear Deal
Restricted free agent linebacker Brandon Marshall technically remains unsigned, but having received a second-round tender from the Broncos earlier this month, his options are free agency are limited. While Marshall would prefer to sign a multiyear deal, rival teams figure to be unwilling to part with a second-round pick to land him, and there’s no urgency for the Broncos to up their one-year, $2.553MM offer.
According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS, Marshall is contemplating the possibility of holding out from Denver’s offseason program in the hopes of gaining some leverage for a long-term extension. Marshall and agent Drew Rosenhaus declined to comment on Klis’ report, but as the 9NEWS scribe points out, as long as the linebacker has yet to sign his tender, the team can’t penalize him for missing spring workouts.
If Marshall were to skip the Broncos’ offseason program, the next date to watch would be June 15th — at that point, the team would have the right to reduce the 26-year-old’s RFA tender to about $644K, and the club’s mandatory mini-camp is expected to take place around that time as well.
A former fifth-round pick, Marshall is a key cog in the Broncos’ defense, starting all 16 games and three postseason contests for the club in 2015. Over the course of the regular season, he totaled 101 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception.
Marshall’s importance to the Broncos has actually worked against his chances of landing a multiyear contract this offseason. Fellow RFA C.J. Anderson received a low-end tender from Denver, which allowed him to explore the market without any potential compensatory picks attached to him. Anderson ultimately signed a four-year, $18MM offer sheet with the Dolphins, which the Broncos matched.
If Marshall had received a low-end ($1.671MM) tender from the Broncos, a rival suitor would only have had to give up a fifth-round pick to sign him away, but Denver decided not to take that risk, tendering him at the second-round level.
At the time of the move, one report indicated that the Dolphins and Seahawks may have some interest in Marshall. However, I speculated that the second-round tender would diminish his value on the open market, writing that the most probable scenario would involve Marshall playing out the 2016 season on his one-year tender before becoming eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2017. So far, that continues to look like the most likely outcome, but we’ll see if the threat of a holdout changes anything for the Broncos and their standout linebacker.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jerraud Powers Visiting Giants
Free agent cornerback Jerraud Powers is making his first visit of the month on Thursday, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com, who tweets that Powers is set to meet with the Giants. Although Powers’ first free agent visit will be to New York, there could be more on the way after that, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Powers, 28, spent the first four years of his NFL career in Indianapolis before playing for the Cardinals for the last three seasons. Having started 82 of his 87 career regular-season games, the former third-round pick is one of the more accomplished cornerbacks still available on the free agent market.
In 2015, Powers started 13 games for Arizona, picking up an interception to go along with 50 tackles, nine passes defended, and a pair of fumble recoveries. However, Pro Football Focus wasn’t overly fond of his play, ranking him 79th out of 111 qualified cornerbacks, assigning him mediocre grades for both his pass coverage and run defense.
For the Giants, Powers would likely be viewed as a nickel corner if he were to sign, since the team has two solid – and well-paid – outside starters in Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Jordan Raanan of NJ.com mentioned in mid-March that Big Blue was seeking corners capable of playing in the slot, and identified Powers as a possible target.
During the legal tampering period earlier this month, Powers told Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com that he’d like to sign a three- or four-year deal, and hoped to join a title contender. He’s unlikely to land a long-term contract at this point, and the Giants may still be a few pieces away from becoming legit Super Bowl contenders, but considering he’s still unsigned three weeks into free agency, Powers’ market apparently didn’t develop quite like he had hoped.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Saints Restructure Mark Ingram’s Contract
The Saints continue to make changes to the contracts of players on their roster, having most recently restructured running back Mark Ingram‘s deal, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The move comes on the heels of the team also reworking Cameron Jordan‘s and Thomas Morstead‘s contracts.
[RELATED: Saints sign Nick Fairley]
Ingram, who had been in line for a $3MM base salary in 2016, saw $2.235MM of that money converted into a signing bonus, reducing his base salary to just $765K. The signing bonus is prorated over the next three seasons, opening up $1.49MM in cap room for the Saints in 2016. The running back’s cap hit has been reduced from $4MM to $2.51MM, but his 2017 and 2018 cap charges have increased to $5.245MM and $6.245MM respectively.
In the short term, the move gives the Saints a little more flexibility to continue to conduct offseason business, including finalizing Nick Fairley‘s new deal with the team. After Jordan’s and Morstead’s contracts were restructured, the Saints were said to have about $3.03MM in cap room, but Fairley is set to count for $3MM against the cap, reducing the minimal flexibility New Orleans had. Ingram’s restructure gives the club a bit of breathing room.
As for the long-term ramifications of the move, with Ingram’s cap hit on the rise for 2017 and 2018, the odds of him playing out his entire contract have probably diminished. Depending on how he performs in 2016, Ingram may have his deal addressed again in some form by the Saints a year from now.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.