Chiefs Sign Vance Walker
Vance Walker and the Chiefs have come to terms on a three-year deal to bring the defensive tackle to Kansas City, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). According to Paylor, it’s worth $13MM, including $3.75MM in guaranteed money.
Walker, 26, started 15 games for the Raiders last season, recording 40 tackles and three sacks for the club. Oakland reportedly extended a contract offer to Walker before the free agent period opened, but the Georgia Tech product was interested in the rare opportunity to test the market as an unrestricted free agent.
A report this morning erroneously suggested that Walker had already reached a deal with the Chiefs, but at that point no deal was in place. Had Kansas City failed to lock up Walker, he was set to visit the Seahawks on Sunday.
Titans To Sign Michael Oher
Michael Oher and the Titans have agreed to a contract that will bring the offensive tackle to Tennessee, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN. The four-year deal is worth $20MM, with $9.5MM in guaranteed money.
The former Raven was expendable after Eugene Monroe signed an extension with the team. Oher has had ups and downs in Baltimore, but has shown the ability to play both right and left tackle.
Titans Notes: Verner, Woodyard, Stewart
New Buccaneer Alterraun Verner spoke earlier about his decision to leave the Titans earlier today, saying he felt undervalued by the team, writes Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com.
“I think it’s very tough because there’s a lot of changeover, new coaches and everything like that,” Verner said. “At times, I felt that I could have been undervalued or maybe not appreciated enough.”
He said the Titans offered him a contract close to what he got in Tampa Bay, but the decision was not solely about the money.
- Details of Wesley Woodyard‘s new contract with the Titanns have been released, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun and Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). The $16MM contract includes $4.75MM in guaranteed money.
- Wyatt also reported that the team’s former right tackle David Stewart is unlikely to continue his career (via Twitter). Stewart was released earlier in the week.
- Chris Johnson has become more willing to take a pay cut if it helps the Titans to trade him, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. It is unclear if teams would be interested in the 28-year-old running back.
Giants, Jameel McClain Agree To Deal
FRIDAY, 4:48pm: McClain’s deal with the Giants is for two years and $4.1MM, with the potential to max out at $5.6MM via incentives, according to Pelissero, who provides extensive details in a pair of tweets.
THURSDAY, 9:44pm: Linebacker Jameel McClain has agreed to a deal with the Giants, reports Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports (via Twitter).
The 28-year-old McClain has played his entire career with the Ravens, spending the last four years as a starter at various positions in the linebacker group. He announced his signing with the Giants (via Twitter), paying respect to Baltimore in the process.
He will be joining a group of linebackers that includes Jon Beason and (most likely) Spencer Paysinger. McClain’s versatility should help him fit in, even as he adjusts to the 4-3 defense employed by the Giants, as opposed to the 3-4 consistently run by the Ravens. McClain has missed nine games in the past two seasons, but hopes to provide stability for a Giants team that has not had a steady group of linebackers in recent memory.
Redskins Sign Jason Hatcher
FRIDAY, 2:53pm: The Redskins have officially signed Hatcher, the team announced today (Twitter link).
THURSDAY, 5:20pm: Former Cowboy Jason Hatcher is signing with the Redskins, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the contract is a four-year deal (via Twitter), with Todd Archer of ESPN.com adding that the total worth of the contract is $27.5MM (via Twitter).
The defensive lineman was a valuable member of the Cowboys this past season, after recording 19.5 sacks as a defensive end and defensive tackle over the past three years. However, the team’s cap situation kept them from competing to retain his services. Hatcher will be the latest addition to the Redskins defense this afternoon.
No Deal For Brandon Browner, Patriots
11:33am: Breer and Rapoport hear from Redskins sources that Browner’s visit, which was called off as of this morning, is now back on for this afternoon (Twitter link).
9:29am: We now have conflicting reports coming even from the same reporter. Acknowledging how messy the story has become, Albert Breer says he’s hearing from two Redskins sources that Browner’s visit has been called off, even though agent Peter Schaffer still says it’s a go (Twitter links).
9:09am: Once again, we have conflicting reports on Browner, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk hears that today’s visit with the Redskins is still happening. According to Florio’s source, the meeting was delayed, not canceled.
FRIDAY, 8:37am: Although Browner had been scheduled for a visit in Washington next, he’s still in the Boston-area this morning and continues to talk to the Patriots, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson and Field Yates (Twitter links). Ian Rapoport hears that the visit with the Redskins may have been canceled, while Albert Breer says Washington is under the impression Browner may do a deal with New England (Twitter links).
THURSDAY, 9:45pm: Agent Peter Schaffer tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that reports of Browner signing with New England are “100% untrue.” Schaffer added that he has four teams to still negotiate with. Meanwhile, Rapoport tweets that the cornerback is telling those close to him that he is New England-bound. Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune (on Twitter) says those four teams are the Patriots, Saints, Redskins, and Raiders.
9:10pm: Brandon Browner and the Patriots have come to an agreement on a two-year deal, reports Ian Rapaport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Browner must serve his four-game suspension to begin 2014.
The giant Browner, who is among the tallest cornerbacks in the league if not the tallest, will be paired with Darrelle Revis when he gets back from suspension. The former Seahawk had previously played across from another one of the league’s best defensive playmakers in Richard Sherman.
Browner will be 30 years old at the start of the upcoming season, and has only played three seasons in the NFL, all with the Seahawks. Browner was also suspended in 2011, also for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Phil Emery On Henry Melton, Charles Tillman
The Bears have been active in retooling a defense that struggled in 2013, already adding a number of pieces to a unit that fell behind the offense for one of the few times in team history. The revamping on the defensive side of the ball does not necessarily have room for some of the Bears recent defensive stalwarts.
Julius Peppers was already released, and is now looking to free agency for his next contract. Henry Melton, who was involved in an altercation that has led to a civil suit being filed against him, has been visiting with teams but has yet to receive a substantial offer. The Bears could still utilize him, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com, but his legal issues make his return to the team uncertain. Bears general manager Phil Emery spoke about where Melton currently stands with the organization:
“We pretty much left it with [agent] Jordan [Woy] that he was gonna go through this process, and when he got through it and he had a pretty good idea of what his market is, we could talk at that time,” Emery said. “Of course, the clock is ticking. So our resources or what we have at the time may have changed. But we’ll see where we’re at when that’s all finished.”
Charles Tillman struggled with injuries in 2013, missing eight games due to torn triceps. Even still, Tillman has been a tremendous talent, arguably the best defensive back in team history according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com. The 33-year-old cornerback was disappointed that he did not receive a contract extension to keep him with the team.
He has been taking visits, garnering little interest from around the league. He was closely linked to the Buccaneers, but the signing of Alterraun Verner diminishes his value to the team. The Bears have not ruled out the idea that Tillman could return.
“No different than yesterday,” Emery said. “It’s an ongoing process.”
Dickerson writes that Tillman still has a chance to make an impression on a short-term deal with the Jaguars, Panthers, Cowboys, and Redskins if he is not open to returning to the Bears.
Derek Cox Signs With Vikings
Derek Cox and the Vikings have agreed to terms on a one-year deal, reports Michael Gehlken of the U-T San Diego (via Twitter). The former Charger will join newly signed Captain Munnerlyn and 2013 first-round draft pick Xavier Rhodes to create a deep rotation at the cornerback position.
Cox spent his first four seasons with the Jaguars before signing a four-year $20MM contract with the Chargers one year ago today. He was released after just one season despite receiving $10.25MM in guaranteed money. He played in all 16 games for the Chargers in 2013, but started only 11 games.
Jo-Lonn Dunbar Re-Signs With Rams
Linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar has come to terms on a two-year deal to return to the Rams, reports Ian Rapaport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The deal could be worth up to $3.5MM.
The deal is a wonderful birthday present for Dunbar, who just turned 29 today. Dunbar started all 16 games for St. Louis in 2012 and he recorded 88 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two picks, four passes defended, and two forced fumbles.
However, he missed the first four games of the 2013 season after violating the league’s performance enhancing drugs policy. The suspension led to his release, but the club re-signed him on October 1st. He finished 2013 with 33 tackles in total.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Captain Munnerlyn Signs With Vikings
6:13pm: The Vikings announced on Twitter that the deal is now official.
5:36pm: Munnerlyn’s deal is worth $14.25MM over three years, with $7MM guaranteed, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
5:05pm: Captain Munnerlyn and the Vikings have to terms on a three-year contract agreement, reports Ian Rapaport of NFL.com (via Twitter). According to Rapaport, the deal could be worth as much a $15MM (via Twitter).
The former Panther had an excellent season for the division champions, after signing a one-year deal last offseason to stay with the team. He reportedly wanted to remain with the Panthers, but with their cap troubles he was able to secure more money with the Vikings, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter).
Munnerlyn, 26 in April, started all 16 games last season for Carolina, registering 52 tackles, one fumble recovery, two picks, and two defensive touchdowns.