FA Rumors: Bolden, Bears, Morris, Larsen
The free agent contracts for players like Brock Osweiler, Olivier Vernon, and Malik Jackson dominated NFL discussions when the new league year opened earlier this month, but Field Yates of ESPN.com wants to make sure that some of this year’s less heralded deals don’t fly entirely under the radar.
In an Insider-only piece, Yates identifies the Panthers‘ one-year deal with defensive end Charles Johnson, the Seahawks‘ three-year agreement with wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, and three other signings as moves that perhaps didn’t get the attention they deserved.
Here’s more on 2016 free agency:
- Omar Bolden‘s previously-reported visit to the Bears is set to happen next Wednesday, according to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, who tweets that Chicago is the favorite to land the versatile defensive back, special-teamer, and return man.
- Sean Stellato, the agent for Alfred Morris, appeared on 105.3 FM-KRLD The Fan in Dallas to discuss why his client was ready to move on from Washington, and why he wanted to sign with the Cowboys. The Dallas Morning News has the key quotes from Stellato, who said Morris was seeking “a fresh start.”
- Free agent guard Ted Larsen continues to consider his options and isn’t expected to sign a contract today, but his visit with the Falcons went “great,” a source tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
- As Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com details, new Jets running back Matt Forte wasn’t thrilled with the Bears‘ willingness to pursue C.J. Anderson in free agency after announcing they were moving on from Forte. Despite comments from head coach John Fox suggesting the team was happy with its young, in-house backs, the Bears reportedly made Anderson an offer higher than the one he signed with Miami.
Lions Rumors: S. Martin, Center, Frohnapfel
Standout players like Ezekiel Ansah and Darius Slay will receive most of the attention when the Lions look to extend members of their 2013 draft class. But Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press warns not to overlook a late-rounder from ’13 — fifth-round punter Sam Martin recently changed agents, hiring Sean Kiernan and Erik Burkhardt of Select Sports, signaling that he’s open to discussing a new contract.
Martin, 26, won’t be in line for any sort of mega-deal, but he should do well for a punter. In 2015, his 42.0 net-yard average was fourth in the NFL, and just three of his 80 attempts went for touchbacks. As Over The Cap’s data shows, to crack the top 10 highest-paid punters in the league, Martin would have to average $2.8MM annually on an extension, and he’s probably a good bet to match or exceed that figure.
Here’s more out of Detroit:
- The Lions have made a habit of including playing-time incentives and/or per-game roster bonuses in most of the free agent contracts they’ve handed out this offseason, Birkett observes in a piece for the Free Press. New GM Bob Quinn explained that it’s a way to protect the team a little, while also giving players a chance to max out their value. “We want these guys to earn their contracts,” Quinn said.
- The Lions weren’t in the mix for Alex Mack and haven’t shown any real interest in the second tier of free agent centers, but the team would still like to add some competition for center Travis Swanson, according to Birkett. Quinn was noncommittal when asked if the center position would be a priority in the draft: “If there’s a center there that I like, yeah. I mean, you tell me who’s going to be there and I’ll tell you if it’s a priority or not.”
- Massachusetts quarterback Blake Frohnapfel met with a Lions scout and quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan in advance of his pro day on Thursday, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/25/16
Here are Friday’s minor signings, cuts, and other transactions from around the NFL, with any new moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- The Bears have re-signed safety and special-teamer Chris Prosinski to a one-year contract, the team announced today (via Twitter). Although Prosinski, who turns 29 next month, did make five starts for the Bears last season, he has primarily been a reserve since entering the league in 2011, and figures to return to that role in 2016 if Antrel Rolle and Adrian Amos are healthy.
- Linebacker Steven Johnson has agreed to a one-year contract with the Steelers, the team announced today (Twitter link via Burt Lauten). Johnson, 28 next Monday, spent his first three NFL seasons in Denver before playing in Tennessee in 2015. He projects as a depth piece and a special-teamer in Pittsburgh.
Patriots Out On Nick Fairley; Saints Favorites
The Patriots will drop out of the running for defensive tackle Nick Fairley, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport adds that it’s an indication Fairley is expected to sign with the Saints.
While there’s no official word yet that Fairley and the Saints have a deal in place, New England and New Orleans were reportedly the only two clubs to formally meet with the 28-year-old. The Jets and Eagles had also been viewed as teams with interest in Fairley, who said earlier this week that he was still talking to the Rams as well.
A free agent a year ago, Fairley signed a one-year pact with the Rams, and was a rotational piece on the team’s talented defensive line in 2015, appearing in less than 40% of the defensive snaps. Although he wasn’t a full-time player and his counting stats were modest (29 tackles and 0.5 sacks), the former first-round pick graded out as a top-25 interior defender, according to Pro Football Focus.
If the Saints do end up officially landing Fairley, the team will have to make at least one cap-clearing move to accommodate the signing. After the terms of the the club’s agreement with James Laurinaitis were confirmed today, the NFLPA now lists New Orleans as having less than $1MM in cap space, and that count doesn’t include the Saints’ deal with linebacker Craig Robertson.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
RGIII Leftovers: Jets, Broncos, Draft, McCown
With Robert Griffin III now a member of the Browns, the Jets have lost one of their backup plans at quarterback, as Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News writes. According to Mehta, RGIII would have been an “acceptable fallback choice with upside” for the Jets, who continue to prioritize Ryan Fitzpatrick. With their alternatives dwindling, the Jets should increase their offer to Fitzpatrick and get something done, in Mehta’s view.
Here are a few more reactions to Griffin’s new deal in Cleveland:
- Having lost Brock Osweiler to Houston, Broncos GM John Elway briefly considered RGIII as an option in Denver, but after making some phone calls, Elway had concerns about the signal-caller’s character, says Mike Klis of 9NEWS. According to Klis, the team never reached out to Griffin’s camp to express interest.
- Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports suggests the Browns were the only team with legit interest in RGIII, noting that teams in need of a backup like the Cowboys and Chiefs never engaged.
- In a slideshow at Cleveland.com, Mary Kay Cabot breaks down five things the Griffin signing means for the Browns, suggesting that the team will likely still draft a quarterback early, and that Josh McCown figures to be a goner.
- Pat McManamon of ESPN.com echoes the idea that the Browns should still select a quarterback early in the draft, writing that signing Griffin is just the start of the team’s QB search — not the end of it.
- Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap examines the contract signed by the former second overall pick, explaining that the deal suggests the Browns gave him the best chance to start. As Fitzgerald points out, if Griffin thought he could get a starting job somewhere, it might have made more sense to take a one-year, prove-it deal to try to land a bigger contract a year from now — instead, he locked himself into a two-year pact that will be team-friendly if he ends up starting and playing well.
- Browns head coach Hue Jackson was extremely impressed with what he saw from Griffin when the QB worked out for the team last week, as Jeff Darlington of NFL.com details. Given Jackson’s reputation for understanding quarterbacks “as well as anyone,” his endorsement helped convince the team to get a deal done.
Patriots Sign Nate Washington
7:06pm: It’s a one-year deal for Washington, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter).
4:04pm: The Patriots officially announced the deal.
3:43pm: The Patriots are signing veteran free agent receiver Nate Washington, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Terms of the agreement between Washington and the Pats aren’t yet known.
Washington, 32, had been one of the more intriguing wideouts still available on the free agent market. While he doesn’t necessarily have the big-name appeal of players like Roddy White, Andre Johnson, or Marques Colston, Washington hasn’t seen his production fall off in recent years, and continues to perform well as a complementary target.
In 2015, his first and only season as a Texan, Washington played in 14 games, grabbing 47 balls for 658 yards and four touchdowns. As Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter), spending a season in Bill O’Brien‘s offense in Houston will likely help Washington make the transition to the Pats, O’Brien’s old team. Reiss adds that the veteran worked out for New England last week.
The Patriots have been active this month adding pass catchers for Tom Brady. In addition to striking a deal with Washington, the team has also signed wideout Chris Hogan and traded for tight end Martellus Bennett. With Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, and others already on the roster, it’s looking increasingly like there may not be room for Amendola and his $6.8MM+ cap charge, though that’s just my speculation.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Falcons Re-Sign Philip Wheeler
4:40pm: The Falcons formally announced the deal, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets.
3:15pm: The Falcons have re-signed veteran linebacker Philip Wheeler, the team formally announced today in a press release. The news comes on the heels of head coach Dan Quinn confirming at the owners’ meetings this week that the two sides remained engaged in talks.
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Wheeler, 31, began his career with the Colts after being selected in the third round of the 2008 draft. He spent four years in Indianapolis, one in Oakland, and two in Miami before joining the Falcons for the 2015 campaign. Appearing in nine game for Atlanta (two starts), Wheeler recorded 29 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.
Wheeler saw most of his 2015 playing time in the second half of the season, and may earn an increased role in 2016, but the Falcons have already ensured that linebacker Paul Worrilow received an RFA tender, and brought back Sean Weatherspoon in free agency, so we’ll have to wait and see how the defensive snaps shake out on Atlanta’s linebacking corps.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Contract Details: RGIII, McLendon, Morris
Here are some specific details on contracts that have been agreed upon or signed within the last several days:
- Robert Griffin III, QB (Browns): Two years, $15MM. $6.75MM guaranteed. $3.5MM signing bonus. $750K annually in per-game roster bonuses. Base salaries of $3.5MM (guaranteed) and $6MM. $750K roster bonus on third day of 2017 league year. Up to $3.5MM in annual incentives based on playing time, yards, and passer rating (Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle and Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- Steve McLendon, DT (Jets): Three years, $10.5MM. $4MM guaranteed. $2.25MM signing bonus. $250K option bonus after 2017 season. $250K annually in per-game roster bonuses in 2017 and 2018. $750K escalator (Links via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com and Wilson).
- Alfred Morris, RB (Cowboys): Two years, $3.5MM. $1.8MM fully guaranteed. $1MM signing bonus. Can be worth up to $5.5MM with incentives/escalator. $500K in per-game roster bonuses in 2017. $1MM rushing-yard escalator for 2017. Threshold for incentives begins at 1,000 yards (Twitter links via Todd Archer of ESPN.com, Pelissero, and Wilson).
- Daryl Smith, LB (Buccaneers): One year, $2.5MM. $2MM guaranteed. $650K signing bonus. $500K in per-game roster bonuses (Twitter link via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times).
- Taylor Mays, S (Bengals): One year, $840K. $25K signing bonus. $35K October 10th 53-man roster bonus (following suspension). $40K playing-time incentive (Twitter link via Wilson).
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/24/16
Here are today’s minor roster moves from around the NFL:
- Bills offensive lineman Jordan Mills has inked his low-round tender, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). Mills will earn $1.671MM for 2016.
Earlier Updates:
- Defensive tackle Brandon Thompson has re-signed with the Bengals, according to his representatives at Element Sports Group (Twitter link). Thompson, who visited the Seahawks earlier in free agency, figures to join Pat Sims in a rotational role behind starting defensive tackles Geno Atkins and Domata Peko. Rand Getlin of the NFL Network tweets that it’s a one-year deal, while Ian Rapoport of NFL.com suggests (via Twitter) that there will be playing-time bonuses or incentives for Thompson, who tore his ACL near the end of the 2015 season.
- The Bears have re-signed receiver and return man Deonte Thompson on a one-year contract, the club announced today (via Twitter). Thompson, who didn’t play much of a role on Chicago’s offense last season, did post an impressive 29.2 yard average on kickoff returns, though he got just 14 attempts.
- Ravens tight end Chase Ford has signed his restricted free agent tender, officially taking him off the market, the team announced today (via Twitter). Baltimore signed Ford off the Vikings’ practice squad last year, but placed him on IR with a season-ending shoulder injury shortly thereafter. He got the low-end RFA tender, worth $1.671MM.
- The Seahawks have released snapper Andrew East, as Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets.
Jets Re-Sign Erin Henderson
THURSDAY, 2:55pm: The Jets have officially re-signed Henderson, the team announced today on its website.
WEDNESDAY, 3:41pm: Free agent linebacker Erin Henderson is heading back to New York for 2016, having agreed to re-sign with the Jets, reports Dom Cosentino of NJ.com. According to Cosentino, the two sides have struck a two-year deal worth up to $5MM, including $750K in guaranteed money. Per Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link), the base value of the pact is a modest $3.1MM, with the remaining $1.9MM made up of various incentives and escalators.
Henderson first joined the Jets last April after missing the entire 2014 season due to off-field issues. The 29-year-old has been arrested multiple times for DUI-related incidents, and has been suspended by the league for his off-field behavior, but made it through 2015 without making any negative headlines.
During his last season as a starter, Henderson racked up 112 tackles, four sacks, and two interceptions for the Vikings in just 14 games in 2013. His numbers for the 2015 Jets were more modest, as he didn’t see much action in the first half of the season, but he was solid down the stretch.
In our preview of the Jets’ offseason, I suggested that the team would be wise to let Demario Davis walk and re-sign Henderson on an inexpensive, short-term deal as his replacement, which is what the club has done — Davis inked a two-year, $8MM contract with the Browns last week, so Henderson comes a little cheaper. He currently projects as a potential starter for the Jets, alongside David Harris.
The Jets only have about $2.5MM in cap room, so even though they may be able to squeeze Henderson’s deal under the cap, the team will soon have to restructure, trade, or terminate other contracts to create additional flexibility.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.