2016 NFL Trades
Although the NFL isn’t typically considered a trade-happy league, that reputation has been earned due to a lack of major trade-deadline activity, and doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story. In the NFL’s offseasons, big-name players and early-round draft picks change hands with greater frequency, as trades serve as a key tool for teams looking to upgrade their rosters or accelerate a rebuild.
We’ve already seen plenty of trades consummated since the 2016 league year began on March 9th, and with the draft not too far off, several more deals figure to be completed this spring. We’ll track those moves – and the rest of the year’s trades, right up until the fall deadline – in this space. You can find this page, our 2016 NFL trade tracker, on our right-hand sidebar under the “PFR Features” menu at any time.
Here’s a breakdown of 2016’s trades to date, in reverse chronological order:
After Draft:
- Lions acquire CB Johnthan Banks.
- Buccaneers acquire a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Browns acquire LB Jamie Collins.
- Patriots acquire a conditional 2017 compensatory third-round pick.
- Broncos acquire TE A.J. Derby.
- Patriots acquire a 2017 fifth-round pick.
- Patriots acquire LB Kyle Van Noy and a 2017 seventh-round pick.
- Lions acquire a 2017 sixth-round pick.
- Packers acquire RB Knile Davis.
- Chiefs acquire a conditional 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Patriots acquire CB Eric Rowe.
- Eagles acquire a conditional 2018 fourth-round pick.
- Pick becomes third-rounder if Rowe plays 50% of snaps in either 2016 or 2017.
- 49ers acquire WR Rod Streater and a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick.
- Chiefs acquire a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick.
- Seahawks acquire S Dewey McDonald.
- Raiders acquire a conditional 2017 seventh-round pick.
- Vikings acquire QB Sam Bradford.
- Eagles acquire a 2017 first-round pick and a conditional 2018 fourth-round pick.
- Fourth-round pick becomes third-rounder if Vikings make NFC Championship Game, and becomes second-rounder if Vikings win Super Bowl.
- Cardinals acquire CB Marcus Cooper.
- Chiefs acquire a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Bills acquire LB Lerentee McCray.
- Packers acquire a conditional 2018 seventh round pick.
- Saints acquire LB/DE Chris McCain.
- Dolphins acquire a conditional 2017 seventh-round pick.
- Panthers acquire P Andy Lee and a 2017 seventh-round pick.
- Browns acquire Kasey Redfern and a 2018 fourth-round pick.
- 49ers acquire WR Jeremy Kerley.
- Lions acquire OL Brandon Thomas.
- Chiefs acquire CB Kenneth Acker.
- 49ers acquire a 2018 seventh-round pick.
- Patriots acquire LB Barkevious Mingo.
- Browns acquire a 2017 fifth-round pick.
- Eagles acquire WR Dorial Green-Beckham.
- Titans acquire OL Dennis Kelly.
- Lions acquire LB Jon Bostic.
- Patriots acquire a conditional 2017 seventh-round pick.
During Draft:
- Browns acquire CB Jamar Taylor and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 250; LB Scooby Wright).
- Dolphins acquire a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 223; QB Brandon Doughty).
- Vikings acquire a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 188; TE David Morgan).
- Eagles acquire a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 196; DB Blake Countess) and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 240; DE Alex McCalister).
- Dolphins acquire a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 186; WR Jakeem Grant)
- Vikings acquire a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 196) and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 227; LB Stephen Weatherly).
- Jets acquire a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 158; T Brandon Shell).
- Washington acquires a 2017 fourth-round pick.
- Titans acquire a 2015 fifth-round pick (No. 157; CB LeShaun Sims) and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 253; DB Kalan Reed).
- Broncos acquire a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 176; FB Andy Janovich) and a 2017 sixth-round pick.
- Seahawks acquire a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 147; T Caleb Benenoch).
- Patriots acquire a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 225; WR Devin Lucien) and a 2017 fourth-round pick.
- Patriots acquire a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 147).
- Dolphins acquire two sixth-round picks (Nos. 196 and 204; DB Jordan Lucas) and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 250).
- Saints acquire a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 120).
- Washington acquires a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 152) and a 2017 fifth-round pick.
- Bears acquire a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 113; LB Nick Kwiatkoski).
- Rams acquire a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 117; WR Pharoh Cooper) and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 206; WR Mike Thomas).
- Raiders acquire a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 100; QB Connor Cook).
- Browns acquire a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 114; WR Ricardo Louis) and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 154; WR Jordan Payton).
- Dolphins acquire a 2016 third-round pick (No. 86; WR Leonte Carroo).
- Vikings acquire a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 186), a 2017 third-round pick, and a 2017 fourth-round pick.
- 2017 fourth-rounder acquired by Vikings will be a compensatory pick if Dolphins receive one.
- Panthers acquire a 2016 third-round pick (No. 77; DB Daryl Worley) and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 141; CB Zack Sanchez).
- Browns acquire a 2016 third-round pick (No. 93; QB Cody Kessler), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 129; S Derrick Kindred), and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 168; OL Spencer Drango).
- Saints acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 61; S Vonn Bell).
- Patriots acquire a 2016 third-round pick (No. 78; OL Joe Thuney) and a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 112; WR Malcolm Mitchell).
- Buccaneers acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 59; K Roberto Aguayo).
- Chiefs acquire a 2016 third-round pick (No. 74; DB KeiVarae Russell) and a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 106; CB Eric Murray).
- Texans acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 50; C Nick Martin).
- Falcons acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 52; LB Deion Jones) and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 195; OL Wes Schweitzer).
- Seahawks acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 49; DT Jarran Reed).
- Bears acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 56; G Cody Whitehair) and a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 124; DB Deon Bush).
- Packers acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 48; T Jason Spriggs).
- Colts acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 57; S T.J. Green), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 125; LB Antonio Morrison), and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 248; C Austin Blythe).
- Bills acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 41; LB Reggie Ragland).
- Bears acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 49), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 117), and a 2017 fourth-round pick.
- Dolphins acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 38; CB Xavien Howard).
- Ravens acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 42; DE/OLB Kamalei Correa) and a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 107; WR Chris Moore).
- Jaguars acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 36; LB Myles Jack).
- Ravens acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 38) and a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 146; DE Matt Judon).
- 49ers acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 28; G Joshua Garnett) and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 249; DB Prince Charles Iworah).
- Chiefs acquire a 2016 second-round pick (No. 37; DT Chris Jones), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 105; G Parker Ehinger), and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 178; CB D.J. White).
- Broncos acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 26; QB Paxton Lynch).
- Seahawks acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 31; T Germain Ifedi) and a 2016 third-round pick (No. 94; TE Nick Vannett).
- Texans acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 21: WR Will Fuller).
- Washington acquires a 2016 first-round pick (No. 22; WR Josh Doctson) and a 2017 sixth-round pick.
- Bears acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 9; OLB Leonard Floyd).
- Buccaneers acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 11; CB Vernon Hargreaves) and a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 106).
- Titans acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 8; T Jack Conklin) and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 176).
- Browns acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 15; WR Corey Coleman), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 76; T Shon Coleman), and a 2017 third-round pick.
Pre-Draft:
- Eagles acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 2; QB Carson Wentz) and a 2017 fourth-round pick.
- Browns acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 8), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 77), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 100), a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2018 second-round pick.
- Rams acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 1; QB Jared Goff), a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 113), and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 177; TE Temarrick Hemingway).
- Titans acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 15), two 2016 second-round picks (Nos. 43 and 45; DL Austin Johnson and RB Derrick Henry), a 2016 third-round pick (No. 76), a 2017 first-round pick, and a 2017 third-round pick.
- Rams will also acquire a 2017 seventh-round pick if they send their own 2017 third-rounder to the Titans, rather than a third-round comp pick.
- Jets acquire T Ryan Clady and a 2016 seventh-round pick (No. 235; P Lachlan Edwards).
- Broncos acquire a 2016 fifth-round pick (No. 157).
- Patriots acquire TE Martellus Bennett and a 2016 sixth-round pick (No. 204).
- Bears acquire a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 127; DB Deiondre’ Hall).
- Cardinals acquire OLB Chandler Jones.
- Patriots acquire C/G Jonathan Cooper and a 2016 second-round pick (No. 61).
- Broncos acquire QB Mark Sanchez.
- Eagles acquire a conditional 2017 seventh-round pick.
- Titans acquire RB DeMarco Murray and a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 113).
- Eagles acquire a 2016 fourth-round pick (No. 100).
- Dolphins acquire CB Byron Maxwell, LB Kiko Alonso, and a 2016 first-round pick (No. 13; T Laremy Tunsil).
- Eagles acquire a 2016 first-round pick (No. 8).
Browns’ Terrelle Pryor, Don Jones Sign RFA Tenders
The Browns have confirmed a handful of signings, announcing today in a press release that wide receiver Terrelle Pryor and defensive back Don Jones have inked their restricted free agent tenders to remain with the team. The club also confirmed the previously-reported addition of safety Rahim Moore.
Pryor, a quarterback-turned-wide receiver, appeared in three games with two starts in 2015, notching one reception for 42 yards on eight targets. In total, for his career, he has appeared in 18 career games with 12 starts, though of course the majority of those appearances came at quarterback.
Turning the talented Pryor into a receiver was an experiment conducted by the old Browns regime, but it appears the team’s new decision-makers – and new head coach Hue Jackson – have some interest in continuing down that road as well.
Jones, meanwhile, has jumped from team to team since entering the league in 2013, having spent time with the Dolphins, Patriots, Saints, and Browns. He played exclusively on special teams in nine games with Cleveland last season after joining the club.
Both Pryor and Jones will be in line for non-guaranteed $1.671MM base salaries for the 2016 season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Ravens Re-Sign Marlon Brown, Chris Carter
The Ravens have brought back a pair of their own free agents, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’re re-signing wide receiver Marlon Brown and outside linebacker Chris Carter. Terms of the deals weren’t announced, but inexpensive, short-term contracts seem likely.
[RELATED: Ravens sign Eric Weddle]
Brown, who turns 25 in April, has spent the last three seasons in Baltimore, though he his seen his role in the offense decline since making his debut in 2013. In his rookie season, the Georgia product caught 49 balls for 524 yards and seven touchdowns. He has failed to reach the end zone since then, and recorded just 14 receptions and 112 yards in 2015.
While Brown contributes occasionally on special teams, he hasn’t been a key piece of that unit. When taking into account his reduced role on offense, it was no surprise that the team opted not to extend him an RFA tender last week. He figures to earn less than the $1.671MM he would have been tendered as a restricted free agent.
As for Carter, the former fifth-round pick has practically done a full tour of the AFC North since entering the league in 2011, spending time with the Steelers, Bengals, and Ravens. Although he has appeared in 48 total regular season contests, he hasn’t started a game since 2013, serving primarily as a defensive reserve and a special-teamer.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC Notes: Amendola, Jordan, Titans, Jets
After acquiring tight end Martellus Bennett and signing wide receiver Chris Hogan, the Patriots are now carrying five pass-catchers whose 2016 cap hits exceed $4.4MM. The two new additions almost certainly aren’t going anywhere, and the same can be said for tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Julian Edelman, whose $4.421MM cap number is the smallest in the group.
That leaves Danny Amendola and his $6.804MM cap charge, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk hears from a source with knowledge of the situation that Amendola’s spot on the Patriots’ roster isn’t necessarily safe. That doesn’t mean he’ll be cut — the two sides could work out a new deal that reduces Amendola’s cap hit for 2016 and allows him to stick around. But his contract is likely to be addressed in some form or another.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- Defensive end Dion Jordan is eligible for reinstatement from his suspension next month, and the Dolphins are open to the possibility of having him back on the team for 2016, as Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald details.
- More than a week into free agency, the Titans have made plenty of moves, but there’s no indication that the team is interested in signing an offensive tackle, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. The team has 2014 first-rounder Taylor Lewan penciled in as one of its starters at tackle, but Byron Bell‘s free agency leaves a hole on the other side, and it seems increasingly likely that the team will address that spot in the draft — perhaps by using its No. 1 pick on Laremy Tunsil.
- After Demario Davis and Antonio Allen signed with new teams on Wednesday, the Jets were left with no players from their 2012 draft class on their roster. Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News takes a look back at the impact – or lack thereof – that the Jets’ 2012 draftees had on the franchise, as well as GM Mike Maccagnan.
Chris Johnson Visiting Dolphins
7:20pm: Johnson is deciding between the Dolphins and Cardinals, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Other teams have requested visits with Johnson, but he’s not expected to make them, per La Canfora.
10:50am: Having missed out on their targets at running back so far this month, the Dolphins are now eyeing veteran free agent Chris Johnson. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that CJ2K is traveling to Miami today to visit with the club.
Johnson, who turned 30 last September, had a bounce-back season of sorts in 2015 with the Cardinals. While his average of 4.2 yards per carry was actually a slight step down from his production with the Jets, the former first-round pick saw more playing time and got more touches in Arizona, racking up 814 rushing yards in just 11 games.
Unfortunately for Johnson, a fractured tibia suffered in the second half of the season sidelined him for the stretch run. Having been placed on IR with the designation to return, the veteran back would have been eligible to return to action if the Cardinals made the Super Bowl, but the team fell just short, losing to the Panthers in the NFC championship game.
Although Johnson has expressed a desire to re-sign with the Cardinals, Arizona has David Johnson penciled in for the starting role, with Andre Ellington as a change of pace, so it makes sense that CJ2K would explore other opportunities. If were to sign with the Dolphins, Johnson may have an opportunity to carry a heavier load, since second-year back Jay Ajayi currently its atop the depth chart.
The Dolphins saw Lamar Miller depart in free agency, signing a four-year deal with the Texans. Miami then attempted to land restricted free agent C.J. Anderson, but the Broncos ultimately decided to match Anderson’s four-year, $18MM offer sheet from the Fins.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Contract Details: Bruton, Soliai, M. Wallace
Here are specific details on several of the latest agreed-upon and signed contracts from around the NFL. All links are courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle unless otherwise indicated…
NFC:
- David Bruton, S (Washington): Three years, $9MM. $3.4MM guaranteed. $2.5MM signing bonus. $500K annual playing-time escalator in 2017 and 2018. $500K in incentives in 2018 (Twitter links via Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post).
- Paul Soliai, DT (Panthers): Two years, $6.5MM. $3MM guaranteed. $2MM signing bonus. $740K in annual per-game active roster bonuses. $500K roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2017 league year (Twitter link).
- Leodis McKelvin, CB (Eagles): Two years, $6.2MM. $3MM guaranteed. $500K signing bonus. $1.2MM bonus due on fifth day of 2017 league year. $100K Pro Bowl incentive. $350K playing-time incentive (Twitter link).
- Cory Harkey, TE (Rams): Three years, $5.7MM. $2.5MM guaranteed. $500K roster bonus due on 10th day of 2016 league year. $500K roster bonus due in 2017, guaranteed for skill and injury (Twitter link).
- Rolando McClain, LB (Cowboys): One year, $4MM. $750K signing bonus. $1.25MM base salary. $2MM in per-game roster bonuses. Up to $1MM in playing-time and playoff incentives (Twitter link).
- Rhett Ellison, TE (Vikings): One year, $1.75MM. $100K signing bonus. $790K in per-game active roster bonuses. Up to $500K in incentives (Twitter link).
- Chris Givens, WR (Eagles): One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K signing bonus. $100K of $760K base salary is guaranteed (Twitter link via Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News).
AFC:
- Mike Wallace, WR (Ravens): Two years, $11.5MM. $4.5MM signing bonus. $1MM roster bonus due on fifth day of 2017 league year. Option for second year to be exercised/declined prior to end of 2016 league year (Twitter links).
- Matt Moore, QB (Dolphins): Two years, $3.55MM. $2.25MM guaranteed. $750K signing bonus. $1.25MM in annual incentives (Twitter link).
- Sean Spence, LB (Titans): One year, $2.5MM. $500K signing bonus. $500K in per-game active roster bonuses (Twitter link).
- Robert Turbin, RB (Colts): One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K in incentives for rushing yards (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
Ravens To Cut Will Hill
4:22pm: Hill has been suspended ten games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, league sources tell Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
4:02pm: As I speculated below, the Ravens may in fact have known something that we didn’t regarding Hill’s off-field behavior. According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link), the safety is facing potential discipline from the NFL. Since Hill has already been suspended three times by the league, he could be facing a lengthy ban if he’s suspended again.
2:10pm: Following the Ravens’ signing of free agent safety Eric Weddle, the other shoe has dropped. According to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), the team is releasing safety Will Hill. The move has since been confirmed by the team.
After acquiring Weddle, the Ravens had a glut at the safety position to address, with Hill, Lardarius Webb, Kendrick Lewis, and Matt Elam among the players on the club’s depth chart. Although Hill didn’t have as large a cap hit as Webb, and likely had a better chance of making an on-field impact in 2016 than Lewis or Elam, he’s the one who finds himself out of a job.
Having made 14 starts in 2015 and received a contract extension from the team, Hill was Baltimore’s best safety according to Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 17th out of 88 qualified safeties at the position. For the season, he had 64 tackles, a sack, an interception, and six passes defended, but he saw his role reduced near the end of the season, appearing in just 49 defensive snaps in the Ravens’ final two games.
Hill has violated NFL policies in the past, resulting in multiple suspensions, and it’s possible the Ravens know something that we don’t regarding his off-field behavior. For now though, it looks like an on-field decision, with the team prepared to pair Weddle with Webb in its starting lineup. By cutting Hill, the Ravens will create $2.84MM in cap savings for the 2016 season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bills’ Kyle Williams Takes Pay Cut
The Bills have reworked another contract, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, who writes that defensive tackle Kyle Williams is the latest Buffalo player to have adjustments made to his deal for the 2016 season.
[RELATED: Bills rework Dan Carpenter’s contract]
Per Rodak, NFLPA records show that Williams’ $6MM base salary for the 2016 season has been sliced to $4.25MM. The move has apparently created $1.75MM in cap room for the team, reducing the 32-year-old’s cap charge from $8MM to $6.25MM.
Typically, when a player takes that sort of pay cut, he gets some sort of bonus or incentive added to his contract to help make up for the lost salary, potentially giving him a chance to earn it back. However, Rodak suggests that the records don’t indicate Williams’ restructure includes anything besides the pay cut.
Williams had been owed a $500K roster bonus earlier this week, so it’s possible that the Bills agreed to pay out that bonus if the veteran defensive lineman agreed to reduce his pay. This is just my speculation, but Buffalo could have created $5MM in cap room by releasing Williams, so perhaps the team used that scenario as leverage to encourage a restructure.
Williams remains under contract with the Bills for two more years, with a cap hit of $8.3MM and a base salary of $6.3MM for 2017.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
South Notes: D. Jackson, Titans, Brees, Draft
Earlier this week, Colts linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was found guilty of simple assault, stemming from a February 2015 altercation with a delivery driver. On Tuesday, Jackson responded to the decision by issuing the following statement, per Mike Berman of CBS4 in Indianapolis (Twitter link):
“I was surprised and disappointed by yesterday’s verdict and we are planning to appeal. I sincerely believe justice will eventually prevail. Nevertheless, I sincerely regret that this case ever happened and has gotten to this point. I will continue to live my life in a way that confirms I am a good and honorable citizen.”
While Jackson seems unlikely to face severe legal penalties, no matter how the case is resolved, the NFL could eventually hand down discipline of its own for the incident.
Here’s more from around the NFL’s two South divisions:
- Word in league circles is that the Titans are still shopping the first overall pick, exploring trade options, a league source tells Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (Twitter link). If Tennessee does make a deal involving its No. 1 pick, it’s unlikely to be consummated until much closer to draft day.
- Former agent Joel Corry takes a deep dive into the Drew Brees contract situation in a piece for CBSSports.com, explaining how the Saints could create $10MM in 2016 cap room by signing their star quarterback to an extension through the 2020 season.
- Albama running back Derrick Henry and Clemson defensive end Kevin Dodd are among the draft prospects set to visit the Panthers, per multiple reports (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today and Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer). David Newton of ESPN.com explores Henry’s potential fit in Carolina.
- The Falcons, who are looking to improve their team speed at the linebacker position, have a private workout scheduled with LSU’s Deion Jones on Thursday, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com details.
Cardinals To Sign Evan Mathis
3:15pm: Mathis’ one-year deal with the Cardinals, which can max out at $6,000,069, features a $2MM signing bonus, a $1MM guaranteed base salary, up to $1MM in per-game active roster bonuses, writes Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com, citing colleague Adam Caplan.
2:26pm: It didn’t take the Patriots long to find their replacement for defensive end Chandler Jones, as they struck a deal with Chris Long. Now, the other team involved in the Jones trade has found a replacement of its own. According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter), Evan Mathis has agreed to one-year, $6MM deal with the Cardinals, who had a vacancy on their offensive line after sending Jonathan Cooper to New England.
[RELATED: Cardinals acquire Chandler Jones from Patriots]
We heard on Tuesday that the Cardinals had offered Mathis a two-year deal, but Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that the veteran guard will earn more money by signing for one year.
It’s unlikely that the Cardinals had been offering less than $6MM for two years, so McLane presumably means that Mathis will make more money in 2016, with the opportunity to potentially sign a new deal a year from now. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports clarifies (via Twitter) that $6MM is the max value of Mathis’ new deal.
Despite the fact that he’s now 34 years old, Mathis continued to perform at a high level in 2015, serving as a key cog on the offensive line for the Super Bowl champion Broncos. Pro Football Focus ranked him third overall among guards in 2015, assigning him the best run-blocking grade of anyone at the position.
In the wake of Denver’s Super Bowl win, Mathis contemplated retirement, but he recently resumed working out with an eye toward continuing his career, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post. According to Renck, the Broncos weren’t looking to re-sign Mathis. Meanwhile, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter) that Mathis owns a gym in Arizona, so his workouts figure to take place there going forward.
In Arizona, Mathis will join an offensive line that features another highly-touted guard, Mike Iupati. Jared Veldheer and D.J. Humphries are currently penciled in as the starting tackles, while there may be a handful of contenders for the center spot — Cooper had been expected to shift over from guard to compete for that job.
The Cardinals had been scheduled to bring in veteran guard Geoff Schwartz for a visit on Thursday, but with Mathis now in the mix, it seems Arizona is no longer a potential landing spot for Schwartz. “Well things change quickly in this league,” Schwartz tweeted after the Mathis news broke. “Staying put for now.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.