Browns To Sign Donte Whitner
3:10pm: The Browns have reached an agreement on a four-year, $28MM deal with Whitner, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
2:44pm: The Browns’ agreement with Whitner is expected to be worth in the neighborhood of $7MM annually over four years, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The deal would make Whitner one of the league’s top 10 highest-paid safeties and sounds like it’d be similar to contracts signed by Kam Chancellor and Reshad Jones.
12:51pm: In addition to being the favorites to land free agent linebacker Karlos Dansby, the Browns are also in pole position for safety Donte Whitner, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. Cabot reports that Whitner is expected to ink a deal with the Browns today when free agency opens, replacing T.J. Ward, who figures to sign elsewhere.
Coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, Whitner was one of the league’s best safeties in pass coverage last season, limiting yards after the catch and grabbing a pair of interceptions. At age 28, the longtime Bill and 49ers should have plenty of productive years left in him, and represents the best possible free agent replacement if the Browns had to lose Ward.
As we noted yesterday, the Browns, Bears, and Jets were in the mix for Whitner, and it was the Browns that sounded the most serious about landing the Cleveland native. Albert Breer of the NFL Network reported earlier today that there was a lot of talk about Whitner joining new Browns head coach Mike Pettine in Cleveland.
Austin Howard To Hit Open Market
The Jets couldn’t strike a deal with Austin Howard before free agency begins today, and the offensive tackle will reach the open market, reports Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter). According to Mehta (via Twitter), a few teams have already reached out to Howard.
While Howard has played right tackle for the Jets for the last two seasons, it’ll be interesting to see if he draws interest from teams who missed out on the top tier of left tackles. Branden Albert, Anthony Collins, Jared Veldheer, and Eugene Monroe are among the linemen who look like they’ll finalize new agreements today.
Giants To Re-Sign Curtis Painter
The Giants will re-sign prospective free agent quarterback Curtis Painter after the new league year gets underway, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Painter acted as the team’s backup signal-caller behind Eli Manning last season.
Painter, who started eight games for the Colts in 2011 between the Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck eras in Indianapolis, saw action in three games for New York in 2013, completing just half of his 16 pass attempts and throwing a pair of interceptions. Painter may not return to his No. 2 role next season if he’s beaten out by Ryan Nassib, the Giants’ fourth-round pick in 2013.
Painter played at the minimum salary last season, and I expect his new contract will be worth the minimum as well.
AFC Rumors: Raiders, Chargers, Haden, Edelman
It appears the Raiders, the team with the most cap room in the NFL, will let both of their marquee free agents walk, says Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio hears from a source that Oakland believes Jared Veldheer is better suited to right tackle than left tackle, and that the team can’t justify paying $7MM annually to a defensive end (Lamarr Houston) who is more a run-stopper than a pass-rusher.
With free agency looming at the top of the hour, here’s more from around the AFC:
- Raiders defensive tackle Vance Walker will test the market at 3:00pm CT, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Oakland made Walker an offer, and he likes playing for the Raiders, but he wants to take advantage of the rare opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent, says Tafur.
- The Chargers are “very much in the mix” for free agent defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, tweets Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
- The Colts remain in talks to bring Ahmad Bradshaw back, tweets Albert Breer of the NFL Network. The former Giants running back was an impact player last year before his injury.
- The Browns‘ talks with Joe Haden on a long-term deal are ongoing, tweets Breer, adding that it would be interesting to see how a deal for Darrelle Revis would affect those talks.
- Sources tell Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star that the Chiefs have interest in wide receivers Jason Avant and Devin Hester.
- Assuming the Patriots can’t re-sign Julian Edelman, Andrew Hawkins is a target to keep in mind for the team, says Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Hawkins received an RFA tender from the Bengals, so Cincinnati would have a chance to match any offer for the receiver.
- Speaking of Edelman, the Ravens have interest in him, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). Wilson also hears from a source that the Ravens will evaluate tight end Owen Daniels, who was released by the Texans (Twitter link).
- After voiding his deal and becoming a free agent yesterday, defensive lineman Jason Babin told SiriusXM NFL Radio today that he’d like to return to the Jaguars if it’s possible. Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union has the details and quotes.
- Bills GM Doug Whaley told WGR 550 that “offers are on the table” for tight end Scott Chandler and kicker Dan Carpenter, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Colts Re-Sign Vinatieri To Two-Year Deal
2:00pm: Vinatieri gets $5MM over two years, tweets Mike Chappell of the Indy Star.
9:24am: The Colts have re-signed veteran kicker Adam Vinatieri to a two-year contract, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Having re-signed punter Pat McAfee to a long-term deal last week, Indianpolis now has both of its key right legs locked up through at least the 2015 season.
Vinatieri, the NFL’s active leading scorer, converted 35 of 40 field goals for the Colts last season, including four of six from beyond 50 yards. At season’s end, he indicated that he wasn’t considering retirement, and that he hoped to keep playing for “two or three more years,” so there’s a chance this may not even be his last NFL contract.
Karlos Dansby, Browns Agree To Four-Year Deal
The Browns have reached an agreement to sign free agent linebacker Karlos Dansby, according to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter). Dansby’s four-year deal with Cleveland will be worth a total of $24MM, with $10MM in the first year and $14MM in guaranteed money.
Although he’ll turn 33 in November, Dansby certainly didn’t show any signs of falling off in 2013, racking up 121 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and a career-high four interceptions, including two for touchdowns. The former 33rd overall pick also ranked fifth among inside linebackers, according to Pro Football Focus, grading exceptionally well in pass coverage. Dansby will replace D’Qwell Jackson at inside linebacker for the Browns, and receives a deal similar to the one Jackson signed in Indianapolis.
The Browns’ new-look defense under head coach Mike Pettine is starting to come into focus, with the team also expected to lock up hard-hitting safety Donte Whitner when free agency opens later today. When I ranked 2014’s top 25 free agents over the weekend, both Whitner and Dansby placed inside my top 20, at Nos. 17 and 19 respectively.
Mary Kay Cabot first reported earlier today that the Browns were expected to seriously pursue Dansby, while Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that the Browns had emerged as “the team to beat” in the Dansby sweepstakes, with the Titans and Cardinals having fallen out of the running.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Seahawks Re-Sign Anthony McCoy
TUESDAY, 1:42pm: The Seahawks have officially re-signed McCoy, the team announced today.
MONDAY, 5:38pm: It may not be the team’s most exciting contract agreement of the day, but the Seahawks appear to have agreed to terms with another player, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports, who reports (via Twitter) that Anthony McCoy will re-sign with Seattle. The deal isn’t official yet but it’s expected to be finalized soon, says Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter)
McCoy, 26, caught 18 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns for the Seahawks in 2012, but spent the entire 2013 season on injured reserve after tearing his Achilles. Assuming he’s fully healthy for 2014, McCoy figures to compete for playing time at the tight end position.
Terms of the deal haven’t been reported yet, but I imagine it’ll be a short-term contract worth the minimum salary, perhaps with a small bonus.
Jaguars Pursuing Beadles, Eyeing Decker
Free agent guard Zane Beadles has narrowed his free agent options down to the Jaguars and one other team, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post. That second team isn’t the Broncos, according to Klis, who says Beadles won’t be returning to Denver. Linebacker Wesley Woodyard also won’t be re-signing with the Broncos, Klis adds.
While it’s not clear what sort of contracts the Jaguars and the mystery suitor are offering Beadles, the guard figures to command a salary in the neighborhood of $5MM per year, says Klis. Considering the Broncos are already heavily invested in left tackle Ryan Clady and right guard Louis Vasquez, the team wasn’t comfortable making a big offer to Beadles as well.
As the Jaguars pursue Beadles, the team is also eyeing another one of the Broncos’ prospective free agents. According to Klis, Jacksonville has expressed interest in wide receiver Eric Decker.
Browns Frontrunners For Karlos Dansby
The Browns have emerged as “the team to beat” in the Karlos Dansby sweepstakes, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The Titans and Cardinals have been the other teams frequently linked to Dansby, but both of those clubs feel like they may be out of the running, says Rapoport.
Although he’ll turn 33 in November, Dansby certainly didn’t show any signs of falling off in 2013, racking up 121 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and a career-high four interceptions, including two for touchdowns. The former 33rd overall pick also ranked fifth among inside linebackers, according to Pro Football Focus, grading exceptionally well in pass coverage. If Cleveland can lock him up, Dansby will replace D’Qwell Jackson at inside linebacker.
Mary Kay Cabot reported earlier today that the Browns were expected to seriously pursue Dansby.
Raiders Rumors: QBs, Revis, Jenkins, Jennings
The Raiders are interested in quarterback Josh McCown, but the team is also waiting to see what the Texans will do with Matt Schaub, says Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter). Additionally, many believe the McCown sweepstakes could be down to the Bears and Buccaneers, according to Tafur. Here’s more on the Raiders:
- The Raiders are thought to be “strong players” in the Darrelle Revis sweepstakes, according to Tafur (via Twitter), who says the Browns are involved as well. Both clubs have a boatload of cap space available this offseason, which makes them logical destinations to either absorb Revis’ contract in a trade or outbid other teams should he reach free agency.
- Five teams are interested in free agent cornerback Mike Jenkins, who may be harder for the Raiders to re-sign than they expected, tweets Tafur.
- Rashad Jennings may make a decision today, and it appears the Raiders and Giants are his top two suitors, says Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Twitter links).
- There’s nothing new on the Raiders front when it comes to Jared Veldheer and Lamarr Houston, tweets Tafur. It continues to look like Veldheer will land in Arizona, and Houston could sign elsewhere too.