Cowboys Re-Sign Darian Thompson
The Cowboys have retained safety Darian Thompson, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. After losing safety Jeff Heath to the Raiders earlier today, the team has maintained some continuity at the position.
A third-round pick in the 2016 draft by the Giants, Thompson started all 16 games of his second professional season in New York, but mediocre play and an injury led to his release in just his third season. The Cowboys soon picked him up and he appeared in 10 games at the close of 2018, but failed to record any statistics.
In his first full season in Dallas, Thompson made 4 starts but appeared in the Cowboys defensive backfield in 15 games throughout the season. Thompson recorded 45 tackles, 3 passes defended, 1.5 sacks, and received the 61st highest grade for a safety of the 86 qualified players, per Pro Football Focus.
Raiders To Sign Jeff Heath
Cowboys safety Jeff Heath becomes the third member of America’s team to depart for the Raiders organization today. Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports that Heath agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $8MM to join the Raiders in their inaugural season in Las Vegas.
Heath has spent his entire seven-year career in Dallas since joining the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Saginaw Valley State. Primarily a special teamer for much of his tenure, Heath became a starting defensive back over the previous three seasons. In his career, Heath has appeared in 106 games (54 starts) and made 346 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 8 interceptions, and 5 forced fumbles.
Raiders starting strong safety Karl Joseph remains a free agent and so Heath appears well-positioned to at least have a chance to compete for a starting spot in Sin City.
Broncos Interested In Kevin Johnson
The Broncos are targetting free agent slot cornerbacks in free agency with a particular focus on Kevin Johnson, according to Mike Klis of 9News. Denver has remained quiet on the defensive side of the ball thus far in free agency.
Johnson was a key part of the Bills strong defense this past season. Serving as the team’s slot corner, Johnson graded as the 23rd best corner (out of 113 qualified players), per Pro Football Focus, last season. Johnson previously played with the Texans from 2015-18.
Denver’s top cornerback, Chris Harris, remains a free agent himself. It will be worth watching whether Johnson is viewed as a fallback to failing to retain Harris or if the organization views Johnson (or another corner) as an upgrade.
Raiders To Sign Maliek Collins
Jason Witten is not the only Cowboy moving to Las Vegas, Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group reports that defensive tackle Maliek Collins is heading to the Raiders as well. Collins has been a starter on the interior of Dallas’ defensive line since his rookie year in 2016.
Still just 24 years old, Collins has already started 55 games in his four-year career, and while Collins has never put up big numbers, he has a rare combination of experience and youth valuable to any team. In 2019, Collins recorded 4 sacks, 20 tackles, 10 quarterback hits, and 6 tackles for loss.
The Cowboys will now need to look for another option along the front four, while the Raiders have a young, new addition to enter into the fold.
Vic Beasley To Sign With Titans
Vic Beasley is leaving the Falcons organization to sign with the Titans, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN. The 8th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft has spent his entire career in Atlanta up to this point. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com adds the deal is for one-year, includes $9.5MM in guarantees, and maxes out at $12MM.
The 27-year old edge rusher seemed poised to be one of the best edge rushers in football just a few seasons ago. In 2016, just his second professional season, Beasley led the league with 15.5 sacks and 6 forced fumbles but has yet to approach replicating that production since. While still a competent starter over the past few seasons, Beasley clearly hopes that another elite season of production could line him up for a massive payday next offseason.
After playing a more situational role in 2017 and 2018, Beasley returned to a prominent role in Atlanta’s defense last season. In 2019, he recorded 42 tackles, 12 quarterback hits, 8 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks, but graded as just the 88th highest graded edge rusher (out 107 qualified players) by Pro Football Focus.
Washington Nabs LB Kevin Pierre-Louis
Washington has signed linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis to a one-year deal worth up $3.45MM, according to Ian Rapoport. The six-year veteran will be joining his fifth organization.
Pierre-Louis appeared in 57 games from 2014-2018, but made a career-high (3) starts last season with the Bears. In 2019, Pierre-Louis recorded 37 tackles, 3 passes defended, 2 tackles for loss, and an interception.
Washington does not have elite talent at the linebacker position, but Pierre-Louis likely only factors in as a depth piece barring an injury or an exceptional preseason.
49ers, Jerick McKinnon Restructure Contract
The 49ers and running back Jerick McKinnon agreed to restructure his contract, a source tells Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. McKinnon had been seen as a likely cap casualty. Instead, he will stay in San Francisco.
McKinnon is now signed through 2020, with Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio noting (via Twitter) the running back agreed to trim a year off his contract. The ex-Viking agreed to slash a lofty salary down to the veteran minimum, per Caplan, who adds that does not include the per-game roster bonuses the veteran would be in line to receive (Twitter link).
McKinnon will earn $910K in base salary and, thanks to a $4MM prorated signing bonus, count for $2.91MM against the 49ers’ 2020 cap, according to OverTheCap.
The Niners organization has long hoped to see what McKinnon could do in head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s offense. Shanahan and general manager John Lynch targetted McKinnon in the 2018 offseason, signing the versatile back to a four-year, $30MM contract. However, two seasons later, McKinnon has yet to take the field in a regular-season game for the 49ers.
After suffering a torn-ACL during practice prior to the 2018 season, another knee surgery cost McKinnon the 2019 season as well. When we last saw McKinnon in regular-season action, McKinnon was working as a scatback for the Vikings contributing off of handoffs and catching passes out of the backfield. In his final season in Minnesota, McKinnon received 201 touches (150 carries and 51 receptions) for 991 yards from scrimmage (570 rushing and 421 receiving) and 5 touchdowns (3 rushing and 2 receiving).
Under his original agreement, McKinnon was set to count $8.55MM against the salary cap in 2020 and San Francisco could have saved $4.55MM in cap space from releasing him (per Over the Cap). With Matt Breida entering free agency and Tevin Coleman remaining a possible cap casualty, keeping McKinnon in the fold at a lower number gives the Niners some added financial flexibility.
Dolphins Sign Kamu Grugier-Hill
The Dolphins have agreed to a one-year deal with linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, according to Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. Miami continues its offseason spending spree to add some linebacking and special teams depth.
Grugier-Hill has been with the Eagles for his entire career since he was drafted in the sixth round of the 2016 draft. While he made 16 starts at linebacker in over the past two seasons, Grugier-Hill has served as a captain on special teams in Philadelphia for the previous three seasons.
In his career, Grugier-Hill has made 98 tackles, recorded one sack, one interception, 11 tackles for loss, 3 quarterback hits, and 2 forced fumbles.
49ers Re-Sign Ronald Blair
The 49ers defensive line underwent quite the shock on Monday when they traded DeForest Buckner to the Colts. However, after resigning Arik Armstead, San Francisco will also be reuniting with defensive lineman Ronald Blair on a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Over his four years in the Bay Area, Blair served as a situational pass-rusher and was the primary backup to Dee Ford and Nick Bosa this past season. Blair proved to be a solid option but suffered a torn-ACL in the team’s ninth game. Without Blair, San Francisco struggled to find another rotational piece to competently spell Bosa and Ford.
Blair seemed set to have an active market for his services this offseason, but the current situation surrounding COVID-19, which prevents teams from conducting physicals with free agents, likely limited interest from teams without familiarity with his ACL injury.
While San Francisco has a tough challenge to replace Buckner’s production, the team appears set to hope added depth (and better health) can help make up for some of their losses. Blair has recorded 88 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 27 quarterback hits, and 22 tackles for loss in 47 games over his career.
Dolphins Checked In On Ted Karras
As the Dolphins begin deploying their war chest of assets and cap space to upgrade a roster dearth of talent, the team appears to be eyeing options along the interior offensive line. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Miami has checked in with free-agent lineman Ted Karras. The team has yet to make a formal offer, per Jackson, but the sides are expected to talk further.
A rotational lineman in New England from 2016-2018, Karras had appeared in at least 13 games every season, but never started more than 2 games in any one season prior to 2019. However, in 2019, Karras became the team’s starting center, starting 15 games.
Karras did not perform exceptionally well but proved to be a solid option. Per Pro Football Focus, Karras ranked as the 20th highest graded center of 38 qualified players. Still just 27, and with only one season as a starter, there may be reason to expect Karras has more upside as well.