Colts Release Andre Johnson
MARCH 9: The Colts announced that they’ve released Johnson.
MARCH 4: To no one’s surprise, the Colts have told wide receiver Andre Johnson that they will be releasing him, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. A February report had suggested that Johnson had played his last down in Indianapolis.
[RELATED: PFR previews the Colts’ offseason]
After spending 12 seasons in Houston, Johnson signed a three-year, $21MM contract with the Colts a year ago, and looked poised to enjoy the benefits of catching balls from Andrew Luck after playing with a cavalcade of mediocre quarterbacks over the years with the Texans. However, Luck missed more than half the season, and Johnson struggled, averaging a career-low 31.4 receiving yards per game. For the season, he had 41 catches for 503 yards and four touchdowns, easily the worst full-season marks of his career.
Given how weak this year’s free agent market for wide receivers is, Johnson would likely receive interest from a handful of teams when he officially becomes available. But for a player who averaged more than 1,100 receiving yards per season during the first 12 years of his career, earning seven Pro Bowl nods during that time, last year’s drop-off was precipitous.
Nonetheless, agent Kennard McGuire recently indicated that his client isn’t contemplating retirement, telling Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link) that Johnson doesn’t intend to call it a career anytime soon. “Retirement hasn’t been discussed,” McGuire said. “Andre is training and preparing for next season.”
Half of Johnson’s $5MM base salary for 2016 is fully guaranteed, so releasing the veteran wideout will leave $2.5MM in dead money on the Colts’ books. However, the club will clear the other half of that salary and will avoid paying Johnson a $2.5MM roster bonus, creating $5MM in overall cap savings for the coming season.
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Trumaine Johnson Accepts Franchise Tender
TODAY, 3:34pm: Johnson has officially signed his franchise tender, reports ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
MARCH 4th, 9:57pm: Johnson has accepted his franchise tender, but he hasn’t signed it yet because he’s awaiting paperwork from the Rams, Fields and a team spokesman told Steve Wyche of NFL Media (link via Kevin Patra of NFL.com).
8:27pm: Not so fast. Johnson has not signed his franchise tender, according to his agent, Chafie Fields (Twitter link).
2:57pm: Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson has become the fourth player to receive the franchise tag and sign his tender within the next week, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Peter Schrager of FOX Sports reported earlier today that Johnson would accept his franchise tender before the end of the work week.
By signing his tender, Johnson guarantees himself a base salary of $13.952MM for the 2016 season. He joins Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, and Bills offensive tackle Cordy Glenn as franchised players who have accepted the one-year offers from their respective clubs.
Johnson, 26, had just 20 career starts on his NFL résumé prior to 2015, but he established himself as a reliable starting cornerback last season, picking up 71 tackles, seven interceptions, and 17 passes defended. His performance earned him the Rams’ franchise tag over fellow cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who also reportedly received consideration.
The Rams and Johnson can still work out a multiyear contract anytime before July 15th, but if the two sides don’t strike a deal by that date, the cornerback will play the 2016 season on his one-year franchise contract, and would be eligible for unrestricted free agency again next winter.
Signing the franchise tender ensures that Johnson is no longer technically a free agent, and he can’t explore signing an offer sheet with another team — of course, any club interested in signing him would have had to give up two first-round picks to do so, meaning that was never a realistic outcome.
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Dolphins Acquire Byron Maxwell, Kiko Alonso
3:10pm: The Eagles have confirmed the trade on Twitter. Maxwell, Alonso and the 13th pick in the draft will go to Miami for the eighth selection.
10:33am: Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter link) confirms that the deal, as currently constructed, would send Maxwell, Alonso, and the 13th overall pick to the Dolphins in exchange for the eighth overall pick. We’ll have to wait until the deal becomes official sometime after 3:00pm CT today, but it doesn’t appear any other picks will be involved.
9:50am: Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News (Twitter link) is one of a handful of writers to report that the Eagles/Dolphins trade will once again move forward as planned.
9:41am: Maxwell’s shoulder has been cleared by the Dolphins’ medical staff, according to his agent Alvin Keels (Twitter link). As such, the trade between Miami and Philadelphia should be back on.
7:36am: Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald stresses (via Twitter) that the trade is “not off” yet. The Dolphins are continuing to gather more information to determine their comfort level going forward, says Salguero.
7:06am: According to Werder (via Twitter), the trade would have seen the Dolphins and Eagles swap first-round picks, with Philadelphia moving up from No. 13 to No. 8. Werder adds, however, that the deal can be considered “dead” for the time being.
7:00am: The agreed-upon trade between the Dolphins and Eagles that will send Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso to Miami is in limbo, as the new league year approaches, according to multiple reports.
A source initially told Chris Mortensen and Ed Werder of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that the trade may be off due to concerns from the Dolphins’ side about Maxwell’s shoulder, which he injured at the end of last season. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links) indicates that, while the deal is “held up” as the Dolphins take a closer look at Maxwell’s shoulder, it’s not off yet. Rapoport describes Miami’s examination Maxwell’s health as “concerning, but not abnormal.”
On Monday, the Dolphins and Eagles reached an agreement on a trade involving Maxwell and Alonso, but that agreement was pending physicals. Since no trade can be finalized until the new league year begins at 3:00pm central time today, neither team is necessarily locked into it quite yet.
Still, with both clubs having been pursuing other moves that are somewhat dependent on this trade going through, it would be a major upset if it fell apart — the Dolphins’ concerns about Maxwell’s shoulder would have to be pretty serious.
While we haven’t yet heard what sort of compensation the Eagles will be getting in the deal, it’s worth considering that perhaps news of the Dolphins’ apprehensions has leaked in an effort to encourage Philadelphia to agree to a lesser draft pick in the trade in order to get it done.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on this deal as the day progresses.
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Free Agent Rumors: Saints, Fleener, Falcons
A deal between tight end Ladarius Green and the Steelers remains imminent, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets. The Saints were looking at the athletic tight end as well, but they’ll now turn their attention to Coby Fleener. Fleener is available and less likely to be retained by the Colts after they signed Dwayne Allen to a hefty new contract.
Here are the latest free agent rumors on what has been a crazy day:
- After adding one of the league’s top centers in Alex Mack, Gino Gradkowski is not expected to be retained by the Falcons, according to a source who spoke with Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- The Jets are exploring the market for offensive lineman, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). Mehta reports that New York did its homework on tackle Donald Stephenson before he agreed to terms with the Broncos, and adds that J.R. Sweezy is worth keeping an eye on as a Jets target.
- Jenna Laine of SportsTalkFlorida confirms (via Twitter) that the Buccaneers are likely moving on from cornerback Sterling Moore, as first reported by JoeBucsFan.com.
- After receiving a low-end tender from the Broncos, RFA running back C.J. Anderson has generated interest from “multiple” teams, tweets Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. Denver has the right to match any offer sheet Anderson signs, but won’t receive compensation if he leaves.
- The market for Ravens outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw is “not exactly wild,” tweets Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports. Upshaw may ultimately return to Baltimore, though the Colts are worth monitoring — Indianapolis’ new defensive coordinator is Upshaw’s former linebackers coach, Ted Monachino.
Dolphins Release Brent Grimes
WEDNESDAY, 3:00pm: The Dolphins have tweeted confirmation of Grimes’ release.
2:52pm: The Dolphins are cutting Grimes, per Albert Breer of NFL.com (Twitter link).
9:15am: According to Kelly (via Twitter), the Dolphins have now asked Grimes if he’d be willing to stay in Miami. With the Dolphins/Eagles trade in jeopardy, Miami is presumably exploring a contingency plan in case that deal falls through. As Kelly notes though, the “damage is done” with Grimes, so it’s hard to imagine him wearing a Dolphins uniform in 2016. We’ll see how the situation plays out.
MONDAY, 1:26pm: The Dolphins are expected to release cornerback Brent Grimes in the near future, sources tell Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. According to Kelly, the Dolphins approached Grimes about restructuring his contract, and the defensive back declined, preferring to his unrestricted free agency.
While the move has not yet been made official, it seems the two sides are “past the point of no return,” Kelly writes. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com chimes in on the story as well, tweeting that the Dolphins figure to officially cut Grimes when they acquire his replacement.
[RELATED: Dolphins, Eagles discussing Byron Maxwell trade]
Of course, it was Rapoport who reported earlier today that the Dolphins have engaged in discussions with the Eagles about a possible trade for cornerback Byron Maxwell. If Maxwell heads to Miami, releasing Grimes would make sense, both in terms of creating a spot on the depth chart and freeing up some cap room to accommodate the move.
Still, it doesn’t sound like anything is done yet between the Dolphins and Eagles, and it’s possible Miami has another replacement in mind for Grimes. Pro Football Talk tweets that the decision to cut Grimes could mean that the Dolphins are confident they have a shot to land free agent cornerback Adam Jones, who played under new Miami defensive coordinator Vance Joseph in Cincinnati. Because the legal tampering window is now open, the Dolphins can engage in talks with Jones’ reps.
Grimes is coming off his third straight Pro Bowl season, so if Miami cuts him, it would be a bit of a surprise. Still, he’ll turn 33 this July, his cap hit is one of the team’s largest, and the new coaching staff may not view him as an ideal fit.
If and when Grimes’ release becomes official, the Dolphins would create $6.5MM in cap savings, or $8MM if he’s designated a post-June 1 cut. He’s currently set to count for $9.5MM against the team’s 2016 cap, with $3MM in total dead money.
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Jets Release TE Jeff Cumberland
The Jets have opened up some additional cap space by releasing tight end Jeff Cumberland, according to Seth Walder of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). The move will create $1.9MM in cap savings, since that was the amount of Cumberland’s base salary, which was non-guaranteed.
Cumberland, 28, caught a total of 78 passes for the Jets from 2012 to 2014, starting 38 games for the team during that stretch and racking up 10 touchdowns. However, he saw his role in the offense significantly reduced last season, as Ryan Fitzpatrick rarely looked to throw to his tight ends. Cumberland had just five receptions on 14 targets in 2015.
Because he’s a vested veteran, Cumberland will immediately become a free agent with the ability to sign anywhere else once the move is made official by the Jets. New York, meanwhile, may be in the market for tight end help this offseason, even with Jace Amaro returning from a season-ending injury.
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Texans Pushing To Land Lamar Miller
WEDNESDAY, 1:15pm: The Texans are still the “team to beat” for Miller, according to Rapoport, who tweets that the Cowboys are in the mix, but that the price tag may be too high for Dallas.
TUESDAY, 1:16pm: The Texans released Arian Foster last week, signaling the end of an era at the running back position in Houston. Could Lamar Miller become the next player to carry the load for the Texans? According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Houston is making a “strong push” to sign the free agent running back when the new league years begins on Wednesday.
[RELATED: Texans re-sign P Shane Lechler, K Nick Novak]
Miller, who turns 25 in April, is one of the most talented running backs on the market this year. The fact that he was somewhat underused in Miami may have frustrated Dolphins fans, but it could increase his appeal to rival suitors, since his 638 career rushing attempts don’t represent a huge workload.
In 2015, Miller ran for 872 yards and eight touchdowns on just 194 carries, adding another 397 yards and two TDs through the air on 47 receptions. His lone 1,000-yard season came in 2014, when he piled up 1,099 yards on the ground, with an impressive 5.1 yards per carry average.
Reports today have suggested that the Texans have “strong interest” in Miller, and that the Dolphins are increasingly unlikely to re-sign their free agent back. Miller is reportedly seeking an annual salary of $6MM+, so if Houston decides his price tag is too high, the team could see if Chris Ivory is more affordable — Ivory’s market is competitive too though, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, who writes that seven teams inquired on the Jets running back on Monday.
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Chargers Re-Sign Antonio Gates
11:38am: It’ll be a two-year, $12MM contract, with the previously-reported $6MM guarantee, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. The Chargers have now confirmed the signing.
11:23am: Gates will get $6MM in guaranteed money on his new contract, tweets Rand Getlin of the NFL Network.
10:57am: Gates will get a two-year deal from the Chargers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who tweets that the agreement should allow the veteran tight end to finish his career with the team.
10:53am: In an unsurprising move, the Chargers have agreed to terms on a new deal with longtime tight end Antonio Gates, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
Gates, an eight-time Pro Bowler, was eligible for unrestricted free agency this month, but he never seemed likely to leave the team with whom he has spent the last 13 seasons. Although he’ll turn 36 this summer, Gates remains extremely productive. In just 11 games last season, he racked up 56 receptions for 630 yards and five touchdowns. In 2014, he grabbed 69 balls for 821 yards and 12 TDs.
While Gates is heading back to San Diego, the status of fellow free agent tight end Ladarius Green remains up in the air. Green, who is about a decade younger than Gates, has reportedly received interest on the free agent market, and could be in line for a nice payday from a team willing to give him a bigger role than he has had in San Diego.
Terms of Gates’ new deal aren’t yet known, but given his age and the uncertainty facing the Chargers’ franchise beyond the 2016 season, a one-year contract would make the most sense.
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AFC Contract Details: Osemele, Irvin, M. Jackson
Here are the latest updates on many recently agreed-upon or signed contracts from around the AFC:
AFC West:
- Kelechi Osemele, G/T (Raiders): Five years, $58.5MM. $25.4MM fully guaranteed. Max value of $60MM via Pro Bowl incentives. Guaranteed base salaries of $6.7MM in 2016 and 2017. $6MM roster bonuses in 2016 and 2017 (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today and Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post).
- Bruce Irvin, OLB (Raiders): Four years, $37MM. $14.5MM fully guaranteed. $19MM total guarantee. $6MM roster bonus in 2016, $2.25MM roster bonus in 2017 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Joe Barksdale, T (Chargers): Four years, $22MM. $10.5MM fully guaranteed. $4MM signing bonus. Fully guaranteed $3.5MM salary in 2016. $3MM of $4.5MM salary in 2017 fully guaranteed (Twitter links via Wilson).
AFC South:
- Malik Jackson, DL (Jaguars): Six years, $85.5MM. $31.5MM fully guaranteed. $42MM total guarantee. $10.5MM of $13.5MM base salary for 2018 becomes fully guaranteed in March 2018 (Twitter links via Pelissero).
- Dwayne Allen, TE (Colts): Four years, $29.4MM. $4MM signing bonus. $16MM total guarantee (including injury guarantee). $5.5MM roster bonus in 2016. $2MM roster bonus on fifth day of 2017 league year (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Ben Jones, C/G (Titans): Four years, $17.5MM. $3.5MM signing bonus. $7.5MM guaranteed. $2.5MM of $3.5MM salary for 2017 is fully guaranteed. $500K roster bonus due in March 2016 (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Chris Clark, T (Texans): Two years, $6MM. $1MM signing bonus. $750K roster bonus due on March 16 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Adam Vinatieri, K (Colts): Two years, $6MM. $1MM of $3.25MM salary for 2016 is guaranteed. Can earn $500K in field-goal percentage incentives each year (Twitter link via Wilson).
AFC North:
- Shareece Wright, CB (Ravens): Three years, $13MM. $4MM signing bonus. Up to $1MM annually in playing-time incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- William Gay, CB (Steelers): Three years, $7.5MM. $1.9MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Ben Watson, TE (Ravens): Two years, $7MM. $2MM signing bonus. $3MM fully guaranteed. $1MM roster bonus due April 1, 2016. $1MM escalator for 2017 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Tank Carder, LB (Browns): Two years, $2.5MM. $300K signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
AFC East:
- Mario Williams, DE (Dolphins): Two years, $17MM. $4MM signing bonus. Fully guaranteed $4.485MM salary for 2016. $3.5MM of $8.45MM salary for 2017 guaranteed for injury; becomes fully guaranteed on fifth day of 2017 league year. Deal includes incentives for sacks, playing time, Pro Bowls (all Twitter links via Wilson).
- LaAdrian Waddle, T (Patriots): Two years, $2.35MM. $250K signing bonus. $200K annually in per-game roster bonuses (Twitter links via Wilson and Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
Dolphins Rescind Olivier Vernon’s Transition Tag
The Dolphins have pulled the transition tag from defensive end Olivier Vernon, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The team will no longer have the right of first refusal on Vernon, allowing him to become a true unrestricted free agent.
The move comes in the wake of the Dolphins’ signing of defensive end Mario Williams. Assuming the team intends to keep Cameron Wake as well, as has been reported, it didn’t make sense to carry all three defensive ends on significant contracts, making Vernon – and his $12.734MM transition tag – the odd man out.
In addition to clearing more than $12MM from their cap, the Dolphins now assure that they’ll receive a compensatory pick in 2017 for Vernon. Depending on the sort of contract he signs, Miami could be in line for a pick as high as a third-rounder as compensation for losing the young defensive end.
Vernon, 25, is coming off a season in which he recorded 7.5 sacks to go along with 61 tackles. While his counting stats weren’t eye-popping, Vernon ranked as the league’s third-best edge defender according to Pro Football Focus’ grades, behind only Khalil Mack and Von Miller.
In his first four seasons in the NFL, Vernon has notched a total of 29 sacks, including a career-best 11.5 in 2013. Since he won’t turn 26 until October, the former third-round pick should have plenty of prime seasons left, which will make him a very appealing target for some of the many NFL teams in need of pass-rush help. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com suggests (via Twitter) that the Giants, Falcons, Jaguars, and Cardinals are among the teams “very interested” in pass rushers, making them potential suitors for Vernon.
Teams aren’t allowed to negotiate with the representatives for transition players during the legal tampering period, so now that Vernon’s tag has been lifted, his reps can begin seeking out a new deal for their client.
Vernon ranked as the top free agent in our top 50 list.
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