Jaguars Sign Ziggy Hood To Four-Year Deal
2:28pm: Hood’s deal is worth $16MM over four years, with $5.5MM in guaranteed money, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports and Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links).
11:31am: It’s a four-year contract for Hood, according to Octagon agent Andy Ross (via Twitter).
9:35am: The Jaguars have reached a deal with defensive lineman Ziggy Hood, reports Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter). It was O’Halloran that first broke word of Hood’s visit with the team yesterday.
Hood, a former first-round pick, has started 37 games on the Steelers’ defensive line over the last three seasons, recording 39 tackles and three sacks in 2013. However, Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics haven’t been kind to him — he has posted a grade of -10.0 or worse for those three seasons, ranking in the bottom five for 3-4 defensive ends each year.
The Jaguars have now agreed to terms with two new defensive linemen today, having also reached a four-year agreement with Chris Clemons.
Raiders Sign Justin Tuck To Two-Year Deal
2:18pm: The Raiders have signed Tuck, the team officially announced (Twitter link).
2:05pm: After giving the Giants a chance to improve their offer, Justin Tuck will part ways with the team and is headed west to Oakland, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Schefter reports that Tuck has accepted a two-year, $11MM deal with the Raiders.
Tuck has spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Giants, and it sounds as if he was interested in continuing his tenure in New York. However, with New York unwilling to match the Raiders’ offer, Tuck will join an Oakland team that is also attempting to sign LaMarr Woodley and Jason Hatcher, among others.
While we heard yesterday that there were more teams in play for Tuck besides the Giants and Raiders, no other specific suitors were identified. A report earlier in the week suggested Tuck’s best offer was $3MM per season, so it seems his market improved a little over the last couple days — perhaps as a result of DeMarcus Ware‘s unexpectedly large three-year deal with the Broncos.
Although he’ll turn 31 this month, Tuck has continued to produce in recent seasons, racking up 11 sacks and forcing a pair of fumbles in 2013. He also received an impressive grade as a run-stopper, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which placed him seventh among 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends last season. Tuck will help fill the defensive end void created in Oakland when Lamarr Houston agreed to sign with the Bears.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Extra Points: Cousins, Hood, Graham, Saffold
A Kirk Cousins trade remains unlikely for the Redskins, write Mike Jones and Mark Maske of the Washington Post. There was talk that Washington would be open to moving the quarterback since he would like to start and he is stuck behind Robert Griffin III on the depth chart. For his part, Cousins has said that he will be professional and won’t demand a trade.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Before he agreed to sign with the Jaguars, defensive lineman Ziggy Hood received interest from the Redskins, Raiders, and Chiefs, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Meanwhile, Chris Clemons said the Raiders and Falcons reached out to him before he agreed to sign with the Jaguars, according to O’Halloran (via Twitter).
- Cornerback Corey Graham, who signed with the Bills, told reporters today that he was preparing to go to dinner with the Redskins when he got the call from his agent about Buffalo’s offer (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WGR550).
- Wide receiver Jacoby Jones had a similar story to Graham, as Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun details in a pair of tweets. Jones says he was in New York, about to have dinner with the Giants, when he realized he wanted to stay with the Ravens and headed for the airport instead.
- Safety Mike Mitchell is extremely happy to be with the Steelers and tells reporters, including Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (on Twitter) that he wanted to come to Pittsburgh more than the club wanted him to be there.
- As expected, the Cardinals have paid Daryl Washington his option bonus, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. There was some talk that they wouldn’t pay out his bonus due to legal issues.
- Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle provides a look at the Raiders‘ perspective on why their deal with Rodger Saffold fell apart yesterday.
- Wide receiver prospect Marqise Lee is drawing significant interest from the Jets and had a private meeting with the team, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
- Georgia tech outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, a projected second- or third-round pick tells Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times (Twitter links) that six teams have shown strong interest in him. Those clubs are the Ravens, Eagles, Titans, Redskins, Chargers, and Steelers.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Vince Wilfork Asks Pats To Release Him
Longtime Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork has requested his release, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). While no further details have surfaced yet, it had been expected that the club and Wilfork would have to restructure the veteran’s contract at some point in the near future if he was to remain in New England.
Entering the final year of his contract, Wilfork had been on the books for a cap hit of $11.6MM in 2014. With $3.6MM of dead money included in that amount, the Pats would create $8MM in cap savings if they were to release the 32-year-old. According to Rapoport and Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links), there had been no recent talks between the team and Wilfork, and the idea of reworking his contract was a non-starter for the former first-round pick.
Wilfork, who will be returning from a torn Achilles in 2014, appeared in just four games for the Pats in 2013, but has consistently posted positive grades at defensive tackle for the club in his healthy seasons, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). If the five-time Pro Bowler were to hit the open market, he would draw plenty of interest from virtually every team in need of interior defensive line help.
Jaguars Re-Sign Jason Babin
Just three days after voiding his deal and hitting the free agent market, defensive lineman Jason Babin is returning to the Jaguars, having agreed to a new deal with the team, according to J.P. Shadrick of Jaguars.com (via Twitter).
Even after voiding his previous contract, Babin was vocal about his desire to return to Jacksonville. Babin, who turns 34 in May, played in all 16 games last season, racking up 31 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two passes defended. The well-traveled veteran has been with five clubs over the course of his NFL career and he won’t be making it six with today’s news.
The Jaguars have been extremely busy beefing up their defensive line today, also adding veterans Chris Clemons and Ziggy Hood.
Browns Sign Jim Dray
The Browns have signed free agent tight end Jim Dray, the team announced today (Twitter link). An unrestricted free agent, Dray spent his first four NFL seasons with the Cardinals. The agreement between the two sides is a three-year deal worth $5.625MM, with $2.25MM in the first year, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter).
Dray, 27, got his first shot at significant playing time in 2013, and easily set career highs in receptions (26), receiving yards (215), and touchdowns (2). However, he ranked just 62nd out of 64 qualified tight ends on Pro Football Focus (subscription required) due to poor grades as a run blocker.
Packers Re-Sign Andrew Quarless
The Packers have re-signed free agent tight end Andrew Quarless, the team announced today in a press release. The terms of Quarless’ new contract weren’t disclosed, but it’ll be a two-year deal, according to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Post-Gazette (via Twitter).
Quarless, who reportedly drew interest from seven teams in free agency, including the Giants, set career-highs with 32 receptions, 312 receiving yards, and a pair of touchdowns in the 2013 season. The 25-year-old’s increased role in the Packers offense came as a result of injuries to Jermichael Finley, and with Finley a free agent himself, Quarless could continue to see increased playing time in 2014.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Finley left Seattle today after visiting the Seahawks, and while there’s mutual interest in a deal, Finley is still waiting on medical clearance.
Jaguars To Sign Dekoda Watson
THURSDAY, 12:06pm: Watson’s three-year contract is worth $6.25MM, with $1.5MM in guaranteed money, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
WEDNESDAY, 9:33am: The Jaguars have agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Dekoda Watson, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). Jenna Laine of Sports Talk Florida first reported that Watson would ink a deal with Jacksonville.
Watson, 26, also drew interest from the Dolphins and reportedly had a visit planned with the Bills if he hadn’t yet reached an agreement, but the Jaguars didn’t let him get past Jacksonville. Watson, a Florida State product, had been a part-timer during his four seasons with the Buccaneers, logging his best season in 2013. In 15 games, Watson saw 263 defensive snaps, recording 34 tackles, sacking the quarterback twice, and recording a solid +5.2 grade, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). The former seventh-round pick was also a solid contributor on special teams.
Financial details of the agreement aren’t yet known.
Lions Expected To Sign James Ihedigbo
12:02pm: Ihedigbo left his visit with the Lions today without officially signing anything, but says it’s very possible he’ll sign soon, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Birkett adds that the free agent safety needs to get his agent situation “squared away” and is heading home to visit his pregnant wife (Twitter links).
8:49am: The Lions and safety James Ihedigbo are expected to reach a contract agreement soon, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press had reported earlier today that Ihedigbo was headed to Detroit for a visit.
Ihedigbo, 30, started all 16 games last season for the Ravens after recording just 15 starts in the first five years of his career. With the added playing time, Ihedigbo delivered, ranking 16th among 86 qualified safeties, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), and playing more defensive snaps (1,098) than all but seven of those safeties. As the team’s full-time strong safety, Ihedigbo racked up 100 tackles, grabbed three interceptions, and recovered a pair of fumbles.
Assuming Ihedigbo finalizes a deal with Detroit, he’ll be joining a secondary that lost Louis Delmas but still features Glover Quin. Like Ihedigbo, Quin had a very good season as a strong safety in 2013, so it’ll be interesting to see which player the team plans to move over to free safety. Ihedigbo would also be rejoining Teryl Austin, who served as the Ravens’ secondary coach for the last several seasons. Austin was hired as the Lions’ defensive coordinator earlier this offseason.
Hakeem Nicks Visiting Colts
As we heard this morning, the Panthers have interest in Charlotte native Hakeem Nicks, but Carolina isn’t the only team in on the free agent receiver. Nicks tells Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link) that he’s flying to Indianapolis tonight to meet with the Colts tomorrow.
With Eric Decker and Golden Tate off the market, Nicks looks like the top receiving option still available. However, after a pair of down years in 2012 and 2013, he may not see the kind of big-money, long-term offers signed by Decker and Tate. Nonetheless, it sounds like the former Giant is more interested in signing a multiyear deal than playing on a one-year contract to rebuild his value.
The Chargers are also believed to have interest in Nicks, writes Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk.