Vikings Re-Sign Charlie Johnson
WEDNESDAY, 12:34pm: The Vikings have confirmed Johnson’s new deal, and have also confirmed the signing of Fred Evans (Twitter links).
SATURDAY, 5:36pm: Johnson confirmed in a text message to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press that he and the Vikings have reached an agreement (via Twitter).
3:34pm: Guard Charlie Johnson is expected to re-sign with the Vikings, reports Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (via Twitter). In a separate tweet, Wolfson writes that the deal is a two-year contract worth $2.5MM per year.
Johnson has started 47 games for the Vikings over the last three seasons. He will rejoin an offensive line that will be together as a unit for the third straight year.
Patriots Sign Julian Edelman To Four-Year Deal
3:15pm: The Patriots have officially announced the signing of Edelman.
11:40am: Edelman’s four-year deal has a base value of $17MM, including $8MM guaranteed, with another $2MM available via incentives, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter).
TUESDAY, 11:00am: Appearing on WAAF this morning, Edelman indicated that his new contract with the Patriots is a four-year deal, tweets Field Yates of ESPN Boston.
SATURDAY, 1:57pm: Julian Edelman has agreed to terms on a deal that will have him returning to the Patriots, reports Ian Rapaport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
Edelman was the Patriots’ most productive receiver in 2013, catching 105 passes for ever 1,000 yards and six touchdowns. All of those marks were career highs for the 27-year-old wide receiver.
He was the only consistent weapon for Tom Brady, as he struggled with two rookie receivers and injuries in the backfield. The team’s top two receiving threats going into the season, Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski, both struggled to stay on the field.
Panthers Sign Roman Harper
TUESDAY, 1:46pm: The Panthers have officially announced the signing of Harper, via a press release.
SATURDAY, 2:21pm: Roman Harper and the Panthers have agreed on a two-year deal, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN (via Twitter). The deal will be worth $4.5MM and include a $1.5MM signing bonus.
The former Saint will help fill in the safety position that was vacated when Mike Mitchell signed with the Steelers earlier this week.
The 31-year-old Harper only started five games for the Saints in 2013, and became the odd man out when the team signed Jairus Byrd to pair with Kenny Vaccaro at safety.
Colts Sign Hakeem Nicks
TUESDAY, 12:20pm: Nicks’ deal has a base value of $3.975MM, which includes a $2MM signing bonus and a $1.6MM salary, tweets Mike Chapelle of the Indianapolis Star, noting that $2.25MM of the contract is guaranteed.
FRIDAY, 6:40pm: Nicks can earn up to another $2MM in incentives, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.
6:23pm: The Colts have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Nicks, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), and the team has since confirmed the agreement. Albert Breer of the NFL Network hears that the deal has a base value of $3.5MM with upside for more, via incentives (Twitter link).
Although Nicks is coming off a down year in 2013, having failed to score a single TD on 56 catches, while accumulating 896 yards, he has plenty of upside and is still just 26 years old. As I noted when I examined Nicks’ free agent stock, the former first-round pick could turn out to be a No. 1 caliber receiver available for the price of a No. 2. The former Giant ranked 12th overall in PFR’s list of 2014’s top 25 free agents, beating out Eric Decker as our top-ranked receiver.
Nicks had reportedly been seeking a multiyear contract, so the fact that he settled for a one-year, make-good deal suggests that there wasn’t a significant market for him. Playing alongside T.Y. Hilton and potentially a healthy Reggie Wayne in Indianapolis, Nicks will benefit from catching Andrew Luck passes in 2014, and could play himself into a much larger payday a year from now if he produces next season.
Multiple reports indicated that the Panthers were also interested in Nicks, but as Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports points out (via Twitter), heading to Indianapolis gives the veteran receiver a better chance at a fresh start than signing with the Panthers would have. In Carolina, the Charlotte native would have faced the pressure of playing for his hometown team, not to mention filling Steve Smith‘s shoes.
Ian Rapaport of NFL.com (via Twitter) first reported that the two sides were nearing a deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bengals Re-Sign Taylor Mays
MARCH 17: The Bengals officially announced their deal with Mays today. According to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com, it’s a one-year pact.
MARCH 11: The Bengals and strong safety Taylor Mays have come to an agreement for Mays to return to the team in 2014, reports Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter).
Over his last three seasons with the Bengals, Mays has seen time in 34 games and made four starts at safety.
Extra Points: Freeney, Young, Edelman
Dwight Freeney has agreed to take a pay cut to remain with the Chargers, according to Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego. The move clears about $900,000 in cap space for the team and reduces Freeney’s base salary from $2.5MM down to $1.625MM. It also reduces his roster bonus from $500,000 to $375,000.
Other notes from around the league this evening…
- Before signing with the Raiders, safety Usama Young visited with the Panthers, reports ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan (via Twitter).
- The re-signing of wide receiver Julian Edelman put a cherry on the top of a productive week for the Patriots, writes Ben Volin of The Boston Globe. The Pats signed cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner and re-signed tight end Michael Hoomanawanui.
- Jaguars defensive lineman Red Bryant told KJR Radio that the Seahawks never asked him about restructuring his contract before releasing him, according to Todd Dybas of The News Tribune.
- Colts GM Ryan Grigson has impressed ESPN’s Mike Wells with the team’s moves thus far, he writes.
FA Rumors: Fletcher, Starks, Penn
Linebacker Dane Fletcher is reportedly visiting with the Raiders, reports Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com reports that while Fletcher is interested in the Raiders, he will not be visiting them until tomorrow (via Twitter).
Here are some other free agent rumors from around the league:
- James Starks will be visiting the Steelers on Monday, reports Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal-Sentinel. Dunne believes that while running back is not a pressing need, the Packers would be interested in bringing Starks back.
- Donald Penn will be visiting with the Redskins on Sunday, reports John Keim of ESPN (via Twitter). The former Buccaneer was released earlier this week.
- The Raiders quarterback situation is still in flux, and Albert Breer of the NFL Network reports that the team is interested in Josh Freeman (via Twitter). The team will also look at Matt Schaub when he is released from the Texans, as expected. In a second tweet he writes that he imagines the Raiders will make a push after those two before considering Michael Vick.
Brandon Browner Signs With Patriots
SATURDAY, 10:41am: Browner has officially signed with the Patriots, who announced the addition via Twitter.
FRIDAY, 6:18PM: Brandon Browner has now agreed to a three-year deal with the Patriots, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the deal could be worth up $17MM for the 6’4″ cornerback (via Twitter).
Browner will join Darrelle Revis as the new toys for Bill Belichick’s defense. The former Seahawk will go from playing across from Richard Sherman to Revis, allowing him to do most of his work against number two receivers. Unlike Revis, Sherman did not follow number one receivers across the formation.
AFC Contract Details: Jones, Smith, Davis
Jacoby Jones has re-signed with the Ravens, on a modest four-year deal worth up to $12MM, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The deal includes a $3.5MM signing bonus, with no other money guaranteed.
Here are more details on contracts signed for players by AFC teams this week:
- Details on Steve Smith‘s deal with the Ravens were released earlier, but Wilson adds that his base salary for 2014 will only be $1MM, and will increase to $3MM for 2015 and 2016 (via Twitter).
- While Vontae Davis‘ contract with the Colts was originally reported as including $20MM guaranteed, according to OverTheCap.com only $15MM is fully guaranteed, with an additional $5MM partially guaranteed.
- Jason Babin‘s contract with the Jaguars will be a three-year deal worth $8.275MM, reports Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports (via Twitter). The contract is very incentive based (via Twitter).
- Brandon Ghee signed a two-year deal with the Chargers, worth $1.65MM, reports Wilson (via Twitter). The deal includes a $230,000 signing bonus.
- Richard Marshall‘s deal to re-sign with the Chargers is a one-year deal worth $855,000, reports Pelissero (via Twitter). The deal contains no guaranteed money.
- Husain Abdullah‘s new deal with the Chiefs contains a $750,000 signing bonus, according to Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
Antonio Smith Signs With Raiders
Antonio Smith has signed with the Raiders, reports Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The contract is a two-year deal, worth $9MM.
The former Texan has been a middle of the road pass rusher, amassing just 41.5 sacks over the past nine seasons, but has been able to consistently stay on the field, only missing one game since 2006. He will join Justin Tuck and LaMarr Woodley on a revamped defensive line for the Raiders.