Jaguars Sign Davon House
WEDNESDAY, 10:18am: The Jaguars have officially signed House, the club announced today (via Twitter).
TUESDAY, 10:40am: House’s deal will feature $10MM in guaranteed money, tweets Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
10:17am: The Jaguars continue to be busy as the NFL’s free agent period nears. Having already reached tentative agreements with Julius Thomas, Jermey Parnell, Jared Odrick, and Dan Skuta, the Jags have also agreed to terms with cornerback Davon House on a deal worth about $6.25MM per year, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). It’ll be a four-year contract for House, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports.
ESPN’s Adam Caplan had tweeted earlier today that several teams were pushing to land House. Caplan specifically named the Jags as a viable destination for the cornerback, given the presence of former DeWayne Walker on the team’s coaching staff. Walker, Jacksonville’s defensive backs coach, was the New Mexico State head coach when House was in college.
House, 25, was one of two Packers cornerbacks eligible for free agency today, along with Tramon Williams. Williams was one of Green Bay’s starters in 2014, while House saw part-time action in nickel and dime packages, but the younger player of the duo will likely end up doing better on the free agent market.
When I ranked this year’s top 50 free agents, I listed House 34th, four spots ahead of Williams. As I noted in that piece, quarterbacks only completed 46.8% of their passes into House’s coverage last season, per Pro Football Focus, which placed him fourth among all qualified cornerbacks.
The Packers, Jets, Seahawks, Bears, Cowboys, and Vikings had also been viewed as potential players for House.
Colts Sign Frank Gore
WEDNESDAY, 9:59am: Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed today (via Twitter) that his client has officially signed with the Colts.
TUESDAY, 5:12pm: As expected, the Colts have agreed to terms with running back Frank Gore, the team announced today in a press release. Considering Gore appeared to have a deal locked up with the Eagles this weekend, reports that had the former Niner headed to Indianapolis required some additional confirmation, and the Colts have now provided that confirmation. Drew Rosenhaus, Gore’s agent, tweets that Gore has not yet signed the contract, but with Indy already announcing the deal, it’s to safe to say that Gore will be a Colt.
The 31-year-old Gore will apparently earn similar money in his new home — according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the deal Gore is expected to sign with the Colts is similar to the one he would’ve signed with the Eagles. It’s for three years, with a total value of $12MM, and $7.5MM guaranteed.
We’ll surely learn more about why Gore spurned Philadelphia for Indianapolis, but early reports indicated that the veteran didn’t want to deal with an aggressive coach like Chip Kelly. Gore also had a more favorable impression of the Colts’ offense, especially given that Jeremy Maclin is headed to the Chiefs. Additionally, the chance to play to with Andrew Luck is surely more appealing that whomever the Eagles plan to turn to, whether it be Sam Bradford or Mark Sanchez.
Gore, who had spent his entire career with the 49ers, was said to be targeting a $4MM annual salary, so it looks like he’ll hit that goal. With the Colts, he’ll add stability at the running back position, where Indy is expected to try to release Trent Richardson.
Jaguars Sign Jared Odrick
WEDNESDAY, 9:53am: The Jaguars’ deal with Odrick is now official, the team announced today (via Twitter).
TUESDAY, 3:38pm: It was originally reported that Odrick would get $7MM per year, but he’ll actually earn $8.5MM per season with $22MM guaranteed overall, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
MONDAY, 11:58am: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com suggests (via Twitter) that the Jags have “locked up” Odrick. No deal can become official until Tuesday, but based on Rapoport’s wording, it sounds like there’s at least a verbal agreement in place between the two sides. The deal will be worth about $7MM annually, per Rapoport.
9:44am: With Ndamukong Suh headed to South Beach, the Dolphins almost certainly won’t be re-signing defensive tackle Jared Odrick, but according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Odrick could end up staying put in Florida. Florio reports that the expectation heading into Tuesday’s free agent period is that Odrick will land in Jacksonville, signing a new deal with the Jaguars.
When I listed my top 50 free agents on Saturday, I ranked Odrick 23rd, as the fourth defensive tackle on the board behind Suh, Terrance Knighton, and Nick Fairley. At the time, I estimated the 27-year-old’s asking price would be in the neighborhood of $6MM annually. However, Chris Perkins and Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel hear that Odrick could get a contract in the range of $7MM per year.
Citing an NFL source, the Sun Sentinel report indicates that – in addition to the Jaguars – the Raiders and Broncos are also talking to Odrick.
King’s Latest: Peterson, Cowboys, Forsett
Following a wild Tuesday in the NFL, Peter King of TheMMQB.com introduced a one-time-only Wednesday Morning Quarterback column to reflect on yesterday’s highlights from around the NFL. The piece included a handful of interesting tidbits worth passing along, so let’s dive in….
- King hears that running back Adrian Peterson hasn’t changed his mind about wanting out of Minnesota, and notes that if a team like the Jaguars or Raiders ends up landing DeMarco Murray, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys could be willing to move a draft pick for the Vikings star.
- Speaking of Murray and the Cowboys, LeSean McCoy‘s lucrative new contract with the Bills is having a “chilling effect” on Dallas’ efforts to re-sign the NFL’s leading rusher, says King.
- The Ravens would very much like to re-sign Justin Forsett, but are expected to bow out if the bidding gets too high.
- Seahawks GM John Schneider only had first-round grades on 16 players in this year’s draft class, so when he parted with the No. 31 overall pick in yesterday’s Jimmy Graham trade, he essentially viewed that pick as a second-rounder.
- The league appears to be concerned, but “not fuming,” over all the contract agreements that were leaked before the start of the free agent period. We heard yesterday that the league had asked teams to hang onto their phone records, but King doesn’t believe we’ll see much more than “an angry finger-wag” at teams and their general managers.
- Jameis Winston met with commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL officials last Thursday, in a meeting that was instigated by the young quarterback and his camp, writes King. The purpose of the sit-down was to allow Winston to tell his own story about his history of off-field incidents, and to get the lay of the land for his future in the NFL. “He went out of his way to make a good impression, and to show that he understood what was going to be expected of him in the NFL,” one league official told King.
NFC FA Visits: Knighton, Browner, Bush
The start of free agency at 3:00pm central time on Tuesday opened the door for players to officially sign contracts with new teams. It also opened the door for teams and players to begin scheduling formal visits, so free agents can get a better sense of what to expect from their potential suitors. Early on Wednesday morning, we have a few updates on notable free agents meetings with NFC clubs, so let’s round them up….
- Terrance Knighton, who said yesterday that he has essentially ruled out a return to Denver or a reunion with Jack Del Rio in Oakland, will visit Washington today, he tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Washington has already added Stephen Paea and Ricky Jean-Francois to its roster, so signing Knighton would really solidify the team’s interior defensive line.
- We heard last night that the Saints have interest in cornerback Brandon Browner, and Browner will make his first visit to New Orleans, followed by one to Washington, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. According to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link), the Ravens, Browns, and Jaguars also have interest in the former Pats corner.
- Reggie Bush, who has received interest from a number of teams since being cut by the Lions, is visiting the 49ers today, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). The Saints, Patriots, and Eagles were cited in a Tuesday report as also being possible options for the veteran running back.
49ers Sign Torrey Smith To Five-Year Deal
WEDNESDAY, 6:57am: Smith officially signed his new contract with the 49ers last night, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 3:46pm: Smith has reached agreement on a five-year deal with the 49ers, according to Adam Caplan and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The deal will pay Smith $40MM over five years with $22MM guaranteed, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweets.
9:42am: Niners wideout Anquan Boldin tells Jamey Eisenberg of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) that Smith to San Francisco is a “done deal” and that he helped the team with recruiting. Boldin probably hasn’t been kept apprised on all the talks conducted by the front office, so this doesn’t necessarily seal the deal on Smith signing with the 49ers, but it certainly appears to be headed in that direction.
SUNDAY, 1:39pm: With Randall Cobb off the board, competition for the top remaining free agent wideouts is heating up, and according to multiple reports, the 49ers look to be in the lead for Torrey Smith. Sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) that there’s “strong mutual interest” between Smith and the Niners, while Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the two sides are expected to get something done unless the wideout’s asking price is too rich for San Francisco.
The Niners are in the market for receiving help with Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd expected to leave the team in free agency. Stevie Johnson is also viewed as a likely cap casualty, meaning the team needs to find a wideout to pair with Anquan Boldin. A player who can stretch the field makes sense, and Smith certainly fits that bill, having excelled at making big plays – and drawing big pass interference penalties – for the Ravens in recent years.
While the 49ers look like the frontrunners for Smith, no agreement is in place yet, and other suitors remain in play. According to Caplan (via Twitter), the Colts and Texans are among the other teams with interest in the 26-year-old, though both clubs are evaluating other options as well. The Raiders and Chargers are also believed to be considering Smith.
Jason Worilds To Retire
On the heels of 26-year-old Jake Locker announcing his retirement earlier today, free agent linebacker Jason Worilds, who just turned 27 last Tuesday, has also confirmed he plans to step away from football, according to a statement released by his agent Jason Bernstein (Twitter link).
“I appreciate all of the interest from the organizations that have reached out to us the past few days,” Worilds said in the statement. “With that being said, after much thought and consideration I have chosen to step away from football as I have opted to pursue other interests. I am especially grateful of the opportunity to play before some of the greatest fans in football today. Despite any concern and speculation that may ensue, I appreciate those that are respectful of my decision.”
While Locker and Patrick Willis, who also announced his retirement today, had dealt with injury problems during the 2014 season, Worilds played and started all 16 games for the Steelers, turning in perhaps the best season of his career with 62 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Over the weekend, I ranked the former second-round pick 14th on my list of this year’s top 50 free agents.
According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links), Worilds’ decision comes as a result of experiencing a “spiritual awakening,” and he intends to pursue his faith after ending his NFL career. La Canfora tweets that Worilds’ reps have told interested teams this week that their client was grappling with his future and was likely to explore a new career path. By opting for that new path, Worilds is likely walking away from a $7-8MM annual salary, with at least $15MM in guaranteed money, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
In addition to the Steelers, who were open to re-signing Worilds, the Titans were also viewed as a serious suitor for the Virginia Tech product, given the presence of former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau on their staff. The Eagles had been mentioned as a possible landing spot as well, though their interest likely waned once they re-signed Brandon Graham.
With Worilds off the market, the Titans – and other teams eyeing an outside pass rusher could become more aggressive in their pursuit of players like Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NFC Notes: Bradford, Eagles, Seahawks, Saints
Before the Eagles finalized their acquisition of Sam Bradford, there were other teams in the mix for the former first overall pick, says Peter King of TheMMQB.com (via Twitter). Per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link), the Browns may have been one of those teams. However, no other club was willing to give up as much as Chip Kelly and the Eagles, who had eyed Bradford for weeks and believe he has the goods to be a franchise quarterback, according to Dave Spadaro of PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
As we recover from what’s been a surprising and hectic day of action around the NFL, let’s round up a few more leftover NFC items….
- Former Dolphins guard Shelley Smith, who was just cut by the team earlier today, already has a visit lined up with the Seahawks for Wednesday, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Seattle is in the market for some interior line help after trading Max Unger and losing James Carpenter in free agency.
- Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis acknowledged that the team will “obviously” look to add another tight end after trading Jimmy Graham, and added that he never asked Drew Brees to restructure his contract this offseason because it “wasn’t necessary for us” (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- The 49ers aren’t in the running for their own free agent cornerback Perrish Cox, writes Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (Twitter link) suggests keeping an eye on linebacker Akeem Ayers as a potential free agent target for the Rams, and Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link) agrees that the club has interest.
Bears Interested In Eddie Royal
While free agents flew off the board today, there was confusion surrounding the contract status of Eddie Royal. Multiple reports (via Twitter) suggested the veteran wideout had agreed to terms, or was close to a deal, with the Bears, but those reports were just as quickly shot down (Twitter link).
However, according to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link) and Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com, Royal is at least paying a visit to Chicago, even if he hasn’t agreed to a deal with the team yet. According to Dickerson, several other potential suitors have expressed interest in Royal, but the Bears are the “clear frontrunner” to sign him.
Royal, who caught balls from Jay Cutler in Denver earlier in his career, isn’t exactly an ideal candidate to replace Brandon Marshall, who was officially traded to the Jets today. But the Bears are rebuilding a wide receiving corps that doesn’t feature a ton of talent behind Alshon Jeffery, so adding a slot receiver like Royal is also a priority for the club.
In San Diego last season, Royal caught 62 balls for 778 receiving yards. Both marks were his best since his rookie season with the Broncos in 2008.
Contract Details: Franklin, Kern, Cole, Vereen
A few details on some noteworthy new contracts from around the NFL:
- Orlando Franklin, G (Chargers): Five years, $35.5MM base value. $15.5MM fully guaranteed at signing (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- Brett Kern, P (Titans): Five years, $15MM base value. $2.5MM signing bonus. $5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com).
- Trent Cole, OLB (Colts): Two years, $14MM base value. $2MM signing bonus. $8MM guaranteed at signing. $1MM annually in playing-time/sack incentives (Twitter links via Joel Corry of CBSSports.com).
- Shane Vereen, RB (Giants): Three years, $12.3MM base value. $3.5MM signing bonus. $4.75MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
- J.T. Thomas, LB (Giants): Three years, $10MM base value. $4.5MM guaranteed. $1MM annual escalators in 2016, 2017 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Virgil Green, TE (Broncos): Three years, $8.4MM base value. $4.2MM guaranteed. Max value of $11.25MM (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Sergio Brown, S (Jaguars): Three years, $7MM base value. $1MM guaranteed. Escalators can push total value up to $9MM (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Ed Dickson, TE (Panthers): Three years, $6.8MM base value. $2MM signing bonus ($700K deferred) (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Joe Berger, OL (Vikings): Two years, $2.155MM base value. $130K guaranteed. $800K available in incentives (Twitter link via Pelissero).