FA Visits: Woodley, Munnerlyn, Browner
Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie and head coach Dennis Allen were out to dinner with edge defenders LaMarr Woodley and Justin Tuck Wednesday night with the Raiders, and things are moving in the right direction with both players, says Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter links). Here’s more from around the NFL on free agent visits:
- While it sounds as if Woodley’s meeting with the Raiders went well, the ex-Steeler is on his way to Tennessee to meet with the Titans today, tweets Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com.
- Panthers free agent cornerback Captain Munnerlyn visited the Vikings last night and also has appointments planned with the Jets and Buccaneers, tweets Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer.
- After reaching an agreement yesterday with ex-Buc Darrelle Revis, the Patriots will host another free agent cornerback for a visit today, according to Mark Ockerbloom of Fox 25 Boston, who tweets that Brandon Browner will meet with the team.
- Defensive lineman Anthony Spencer is visiting the Redskins, according to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.
- The Panthers brought free agent defensive back Roman Harper in for a visit, writes Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
- Free agent linebacker Darryl Sharpton is meeting with the Titans today, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- The Lions are hosting free agent safety James Ihedigbo for a visit, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who notes (via Twitter) that Ihedigbo has a history with new defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.
Extra Points: Phillips, Lions, Tate, Ducasse
Free agent defensive end Shaun Phillips tells Josina Anderson of ESPN (on Twitter) that as much as he wants to return to the Broncos, he knows it’s not in the cards with the signing of DeMarcus Ware. “It’s definitely not mutual now just because they found a baller and we play the same position. DeMarcus (Ware) is a baller. He’s a great player and a great pick-up for them. More than likely I won’t be back there. You never know, but more than likely I will not be there.,” the veteran said. More from around the NFL…
- The Lions officially signed unrestricted free agent Kevin Ogletree and exclusive rights free agents Kris Durham, Julian Stanford, and Matt Veldman, tweets Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com.
- Golden Tate took to KJR Sports Radio in Seattle to discuss free agency and his decision not to return to the Seahawks (via Todd Dybas of the Tacoma News Tribune on Twitter). He spoke fondly of his time with Seattle, but also mentioned that the team “didn’t reward (him) enough.” He said that he gave the team an opportunity to offer a lesser contract, but the team didn’t bite. He also mentioned the 49ers interest, but claimed he “couldn’t do that to Seattle right after winning.” Tate signed with the Lions earlier today.
- Free agent cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, who is meeting with the Vikings today, also has visits scheduled with the Jets and Buccaneers, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).
- Free agent offensive lineman Vlad Ducasse is expected to visit with the Vikings next week, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN. Ducasse started off his Jets career as a skilled athlete with little polish, but he was able to round out his game over time.
- Antoine Bethea told SiriusXM NFL Radio (Twitter link) that the interest between himself and the Colts “wasn’t mutual.” Before he signed with the 49ers, he says that he got some contact from the Packers, Chiefs, and Lions.
- Cornerback Chris Cook will visit the 49ers tomorrow, a source tells Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (on Twitter).
Cardinals To Re-Sign Matt Shaughnessy
8:04pm: Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 has details on the contract (via Twitter): the deal is worth $4.4MM over two years with another $2.2MM in incentives.
6:23pm: The Cardinals and Matt Shaughnessy have agreed to terms on a two-year deal, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter). The new agreement will keep the free agent linebacker in Arizona after he drew some interest from the Patriots.
After spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Raiders, Shaughnessy signed in Arizona last season and started 12 games for the club, accumulating 36 tackles, three sacks, and three fumble recoveries. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Shaughnessy performed well against the run, but was only the league’s 34th-best 3-4 outside linebacker out of 42 qualified players.
While the Cardinals have agreed to contracts with a few players since free agency began, including offensive tackle Jared Veldheer, Shaughnessy is the first player the team has brought back or added to a linebacker corps that will be without Karlos Dansby in 2014.
Patriots Re-Sign Michael Hoomanawanui
WEDNESDAY, 7:40pm: Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (on Twitter) has the specifics on the contract: it’s $2.4MM over two years with $500K guaranteed, $400K in incentives each year, and a roster bonus of $6K per game. Hooman has cap numbers of $1.401MM and $1.38MM, assuming he hits the playtime incentives
11:47am: The Pats have officially announced the signing of Hoomanawanui.
MONDAY, 10:19am: The Patriots will re-sign tight end Michael Hoomanawanui to a two-year contract, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports first reported (via Twitter) that Hoomanawanui, who had been eligible for unrestricted free agency, reached an agreement with the Pats.
Hoomanawanui, 25, has spent the last two seasons in New England after starting his career with the Rams. The former fifth-round pick played more than 700 snaps in 2013, grabbing 12 balls for 136 yards and a touchdown. According to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), Hoomanawanui wasn’t an effective run blocker, though he graded as slightly above average as a pass blocker.
Having earned the minimum salary in 2013, Hoomanawanui will likely be in line for another minimum deal this time around, though specific details aren’t yet known.
Raiders Sign Austin Howard To Five-Year Deal
WEDNESDAY, 7:22pm: The Raiders have officially announced their deal with Howard.
TUESDAY, 11:26pm: Howard’s deal will be a five-year pact worth $30MM, with $15MM guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
11:23pm: The Raiders have an agreement in place with free agent tackle Austin Howard, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). The Jets made an effort to re-sign their right tackle before he hit the open market today, but fell short, and Howard will now head west for the 2014 season.
Howard, 26, started all 16 games at right tackle for New York for a second consecutive season in 2013, allowing just two quarterback sacks and ranking as one of the best tackles in the league when it came to avoiding penalties, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). While right tackles typically don’t receive the same kind of paydays as their counterparts on the left side of the line, the Raiders entered the day with the most cap space in the league and already spent big money on Rodger Saffold, who may play guard for the team. In other words, I’d expect Howard will make out pretty well on his new deal.
Last month, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com suggested that Howard could be in line for a deal similar to the one signed by Patriots right tackle Sebastian Vollmer a year ago. Vollmer agreed to a four-year, $17MM contract that could increase to an overall value of up to $27MM due to various incentives. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if Howard surpassed those dollar amounts.
The Saints, Cardinals, and one other team had interest in Howard before he reached a deal with the Raiders, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
Browns To Sign Isaiah Trufant
5:46pm: Trufant got a two two-year, $1.54MM deal from the Browns that includes $1MM guaranteed, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
7:50am: The Browns have agreed to terms with ex-Jet Isaiah Trufant, his agent Doug Hendrickson announced on Twitter last night (hat tip to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News). The veteran cornerback was an unrestricted free agent this winter after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career in New York.
Trufant, 31, has only started one game out of 39 career contests, and has never appeared in more than 121 defensive snaps in a season, so it’s not as if his arrival will prompt the Browns to close the door on Darrelle Revis or other potential cornerback additions. Still, Trufant should represent a decent and modestly priced depth piece for Mike Pettine’s defense in Cleveland, and he could end up contributing on special teams as well.
Broncos Sign DeMarcus Ware
5:38pm: Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter) has the particulars. It’s a three-year, $30MM deal with $20MM guaranteed and a $5MM bonus. Ware will get base salaries of $3MM, $7MM, and $7MM.
3:36pm: Ware has officially signed with the Broncos, tweets Lindsay Jones of USA Today.
1:00pm: Continuing their defensive overhaul, the Broncos have agreed to sign veteran free agent DeMarcus Ware to a three-year, $30MM deal, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The contract, which will be finalized after Ware takes a physical, includes $20MM in guaranteed money, according to Schefter. That $20MM in guaranteed money is all in the first two years of the pact, says Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
Ware, 31, was released by the Cowboys earlier this week due to the $16MM cap number for 2014 on his previous deal. The team discussed the possibility of Ware taking a pay cut, but the longtime Cowboy expected to do well on the open market if the club released him, and he was certainly right. According to Schefter (via Twitter), Ware will earn $13MM in 2014 on his new deal, which is slightly more than he would have earned on his previous contract in Dallas.
Ware, once among the NFL’s elite front seven personnel, is on the verge of turning 32 and isn’t the type of game-changing talent that he once was. However, even if his days of flirting with 20 sacks per season are behind him, the former 11th overall pick is still capable of terrorizing quarterbacks, and figures to make of one half of a formidable pass-rushing duo in Denver, where Von Miller will play on the other end of the line.
The Broncos’ agreement with Ware is the third major splash the team has made on the defensive side of the ball since free agency opened. The club also splurged on the secondary, signing safety T.J. Ward away from the Browns and cornerback Aqib Talib away from the Patriots. With Peyton Manning nearing the end of his career, Denver is clearly in win-now mode, and is going all-in over the next couple seasons in an attempt to win a Super Bowl.
With Ware coming off the board at $10MM per year, veteran pass rushers like Jared Allen, Justin Tuck, and LaMarr Woodley have to be happy, as it should improve their position in negotiations. I wouldn’t expect any of those three to match Ware’s price tag, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (Twitter links) that Denver would have made a similar three-year offer for Allen if Ware had turned it down.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Titans Release David Stewart
The Titans have released offensive tackle David Stewart, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). The move had been expected, as the team is able to clear Stewart’s entire $6.4MM cap number for 2014 from its books by cutting him.
Stewart, who turns 32 this summer, battled leg and shoulder injuries toward the end of the 2013 season, and was released with the “failed physical” designation, according to Wyatt (Twitter link). If he can get healthy for 2014, he still has the ability to be a positive contributor — in 813 offensive snaps last season, Stewart recorded a +2.8 grade, according to Pro Football Focus. However, Wyatt expects the longtime Texan to retire (Twitter link).
Corey Graham, Bills Agree To Four-Year Deal
4:50pm: Graham’s deal could max out at over $19MM if he reaches certain incentives, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who tweets that the deal is worth $5.5MM for 2014.
4:33pm: The Bills and free agent cornerback Corey Graham have reached an agreement on a four-year contract, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Graham reportedly visited with the Redskins today, and was also said to be drawing interest from the Eagles and Giants.
Graham, 28, alternated between a full- and part-time role for the Ravens over the last two seasons, including a stint as a starter during the club’s Super Bowl run a year ago. In 705 defensive snaps during the 2013 season, the Buffalo native logged 74 tackles, picked off four passes, and recorded a +4.0 grade, according to Pro Football Focus. That performance was strong enough to rank him 34th out of 110 qualified corners, according to PFF, and should earn him a starting role in Buffalo.
For the Bills, it’s their second notable contract for a defensive back this month. Although Jairus Byrd left Buffalo in free agency, the team locked up safety Aaron Williams to a long-term extension a week ago.
Seahawks To Re-Sign Tony McDaniel
4:26pm: McDaniel’s new two-year deal has a max value of $6.3MM, according to Rapoport (via Twitter).
4:21pm: The Seahawks and defensive lineman Tony McDaniel have reached an agreement on a new contract, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com had reported earlier today that talks between the two sides were “heating up.”
In 2013, his first season in Seattle, McDaniel recorded 26 tackles and two sacks at left defensive tackle. The 29-year-old appeared in all 16 games last season, something he hasn’t accomplished since 2009, and also was a regular starter for the first time — 15 of his 20 career stats came in 2013 with the Seahawks.
The Cowboys were among the teams with interest in McDaniel before he agreed to re-sign with Seattle.