Dolphins Sign Ndamukong Suh
6:20pm: Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun has all the details on Suh’s contract (via Twitter). The guaranteed portion is worth $59.955M, and the defensive tackle will receive a $25.5M signing bonus. The base salaries for each year (chronologically) are $985K, $23.485MM, $9.985MM, $16.985MM, $18.985MM and $8.36MM.
WEDNESDAY, 1:49pm: Suh has signed his deal, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes.
SUNDAY, 12:12pm: Ndamukong Suh will sign with the Dolphins on Tuesday, tweets ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. It will be a six-year contract worth around $114MM with $60MM guaranteed.
The deal will bring an end to perhaps the biggest storyline of the 2015 offseason. Because of Suh’s generational talent, it was not a foregone conclusion that the Lions would decline to put the franchise tag on Suh this year, despite the $26.9MM cap number that the tag would have carried. After all, Suh has established himself as one of the league’s top defensive linemen, having earned four Pro Bowl berths and three First-Team All-Pro nods. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) have ranked the former second overall pick among the NFL’s top four defensive tackles in each of the last three seasons.
By PFF’s count, Suh racked up 72 total quarterback pressures in 2013, well ahead of any other DT besides Gerald McCoy, and he generated 57 quarterback pressures in 2014, tops in the league among defensive tackles. Suh also excels against the run, and he will team with Cameron Wake to form an intimidating defensive front for Miami.
As expected, Suh’s deal will top the contract that J.J. Watt signed with Houston last year, and it marks the richest deal ever given to a defensive player. The Lions had consistently expressed optimism that they would be able to retain their superstar lineman, but when they tabled extension talks last July, Suh’s departure became more likely. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Detroit had offered Suh a contract worth $17MM annually–his deal with Miami will average $19MM per year–including $58MM guaranteed. In the end, however, the Lions “did not want to approach Miami’s money.” Birkett reaffirms that the Raiders, Jaguars, Colts, and Chargers all had some degree of interest in Suh.
Along with the transcendent talent, of course, comes a number of well-documented behavioral concerns. While Suh has never been plagued by off-field issues, he has been justifiably labeled as one of the dirtier players in the game, as evidenced by past encounters with, among others, Evan Dietrich-Smith and Matt Schaub. Suh was initially suspended for the Lions’ wild card playoff matchup against Dallas for stepping on Aaron Rodgers‘ leg during Detroit’s Week 17 loss to Green Bay, though the suspension was ultimately overturned. So, in addition to the financial ramifications of the deal, Miami does have a few other reasons to be concerned with bringing Suh into the fold.
As for the Lions, Suh’s departure leaves an irreplaceable void in the middle of the team’s defensive line. As Birkett writes, Detroit will now shift its focus to re-signing Nick Fairley and adding a complementary run-stuffer. Although the Lions will miss Suh’s talent, they will at least avoid the strain that his contract will put on his new club’s salary cap. The Dolphins, meanwhile, have proven that their past missteps in free agency will not deter their free-spending ways, and by landing the biggest fish in this year’s free agent pool, they might have taken a number of risks, but they also got a lot better.
Luke Adams contributed to this post
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Colts, Todd Herremans Agree To Terms
MONDAY, 10:53am: Herremeans’ one-year contract with the Colts can be worth up to $3.5MM, and has a base value of $2.25MM, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
SUNDAY, 10:37am: The Colts have agreed to terms with free agent guard Todd Herremans, who was released by the Eagles at the end of February. The news was first reported by Kevin Bowen of Colts.com (via Twitter) and has been confirmed by a number of sources.
Herremans had been with the Eagles since the club selected him in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. Over the course of the last decade, the 10-year veteran has appeared in 127 games for the Eagles, starting 124 of them at every spot besides center on the offensive line. In recent years, Herremans had served as Philadelphia’s right guard or right tackle, though his 2014 campaign came to an early end due to a biceps injury.
As Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com tweets, the signing makes sense given Herremans’ connections with Colts GM Ryan Grigson, who served as a scout for the Eagles and as Philadelphia’s director of player personnel, and given the Colts’ status as a legitimate contender.
ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets that it is a one-year deal worth $3.5MM. Herremans will add to the team’s guard competition while also providing insurance at the tackle positions. PFR’s Luke Adams wrote that Herremans was visiting with the Colts on Friday.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Minor Moves: Sunday
We’ll keep track of any minor moves that are made over the course of the day right here:
- The Vikings have come to terms on a one-year deal with long snapper Cullen Loeffler, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
Earlier updates:
- The Packers have agreed to a one-year, $1.35MM pact with reserve quarterback Scott Tolzien, according to Packer Report (Twitter link). Tolzien has been with Green Bay since 2013. Fellow backup QB Matt Flynn is also a free agent.
- The Seahawks and TE Anthony McCoy have agreed to a one-year deal, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Chris Johnson Shot, Expected To Be OK
Former Jets and Titans running back Chris Johnson was shot in the arm last night and is currently recovering in an Orlando hospital, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). The Jets declined to pick up Johnson’s 2015 option last month, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Rapoport adds in a separate tweet that Johnson was riding in a car with a few friends when the car was hit by gunfire. Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com tweets that one of Johnson’s friends was killed in the shooting, and no arrests have been made at this time.
East Notes: Maclin, Gore, Clay
There are a number of rumblings from the league’s east divisions today, so let’s dive right in:
- We learned earlier today that Randall Cobb‘s decision to remain with the Packers would give the Eagles‘ Jeremy Maclin a little more leverage in his contract negotiations, and Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com has a little more on that front. Mosher writes that Maclin, who has asked for at least $11MM per season, is clearly the best wide receiver left on the free agent market, but the fact that he is two years older than Cobb and has torn his ACL twice since the start of his college career could deter teams from handing Maclin the same type of contract that Cobb received. Therefore, Mosher believes the stage could be set for Maclin’s return to Philadelphia.
- Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com writes that the Eagles are interested in free agent running back Frank Gore and says that a deal could be done as soon as Tuesday.
- The Bills are expected to make a “substantial offer” to Dolphins tight end Charles Clay, writes Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. Miami placed the transition tag on Clay last week.
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com has a deeper look into the Jets‘ trade for Brandon Marshall and what it means for the team moving forward.
- In the same piece, Cimini looks at the future of Darrelle Revis. Cimini writes that the Jets will almost certainly try to overpay for Revis, who will have to choose between the mega-bucks in New York and a lifetime membership in Patriots owner Robert Kraft‘s fraternity.
- Washington and the Giants have both expressed interest in Arizona nose tackle Dan Williams (Twitter links to ESPN’s John Keim and Dan Graziano).
Updates On Maxwell And McCourty
We learned last night that the Eagles would be aggressive suitors for prospective free agents Devin McCourty and Byron Maxwell, and the team seems to be especially active in its pursuit of Maxwell. Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports tweeted yesterday that the Eagles were “out in front” for Maxwell, and Getlin added (via Twitter) this morning that Philadelphia is willing to give Maxwell a deal worth over $10MM a year, which would be a somewhat surprising top-of-the-market offer.
If Philadelphia displays the same aggressiveness with McCourty, they may be able to land him as well. As Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com writes, the Patriots would love to have McCourty back, but if the bidding goes much higher than $8MM per season, New England may have to bow out. We heard yesterday that McCourty is seeking at least $9MM per year, which Jairus Byrd was able to land last season. PFR’s Luke Adams predicted yesterday that McCourty, who has been a consistently productive defensive back over the course of his career, would be able to make at least as much.
The Giants are also reported to have interest in McCourty, but Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets that the team may be more interested in addressing its defensive line in free agency. As of right now, the smart money seems to be on the Eagles using a big chunk of their newfound $36MM in cap space to boost their secondary with both McCourty and Maxwell.
Dolphins Front-Runners For Suh?
PFR’s Luke Adams wrote last night that one “high-placed source” is confident that standout defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will land with the Dolphins, and Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports lends even more credence to the Suh-to-Miami rumors. Robinson tweets that “multiple league sources” definitively believe that Suh will be plugging the middle of the Dolphins’ defensive line for the foreseeable future.
Robinson adds that Suh’s deal is expected to set a new league record for the amount of guaranteed money given to a defensive player, which will not come as a surprise to anyone. The Texans gave J.J. Watt a six-year deal worth over $100MM last season, with nearly $52MM of that guaranteed, and Suh’s next contract was always expected to at least match that figure.
The Dolphins, of course, have been major players in the free agent market in recent seasons, but they have yet to enjoy much on-field success during that time. Although Branden Albert was playing at a high level before being placed on IR last season, Mike Wallace and Dannell Ellerbe have been disappointments for Miami in a number of ways, and the teams that spend the most money in free agency are rarely among the legitimate contenders when the season draws to a close.
As such, it may be difficult for Dolphins fans to get especially excited about this development, but Suh’s talent is undeniable. Although the financial commitment is an obvious risk, Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report correctly points out that Suh is one of those rare players who is probably worth that risk. As a dominant interior lineman who can stop a running game in its tracks and get after the passer, Suh alone could give Miami enough of a lift to contend for a playoff spot in 2015. And he does not seem to be the type of player who will rest on his laurels after getting a big payday.
So while the Dolphins have learned all too well what the term caveat emptor means over the past several offseasons, it would be tough to criticize their decision to sign Suh.
Fallout From Randall Cobb Deal
Randall Cobb‘s decision to remain in Green Bay on a four-year, $40MM contract has had an impact on a number of teams in the league, especially those with a need at the wide receiver position. Let’s take a look at some of the fallout from the Cobb deal:
- The Chargers were “real players” for Cobb, tweets Kevin Acee of U-T San Diego. However, they were prepared for the Packers to re-sign Cobb before the star slot receiver could hit the open market. It is unclear if the Chargers, who have a number of irons in the fire at the moment, will consider a run at Jeremy Maclin or Torrey Smith.
- Confirming what we heard last night, Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com reports that Cobb had been one of the Raiders‘ top free agent targets. With plenty of money to spend, Oakland will continue its attempts to upgrade its wide receiving corps in free agency and the draft. If the Raiders cannot land one of the top free agents still on the board, second-tier options like Michael Crabtree, Cecil Shorts, and Kenny Britt could be options.
- Chris Boden of CSNChicago.com wonders if the Cobb deal will “force the Bears into a greater focus to consider a change-of-pace, over-the-top receiver in the first three rounds of the NFL draft.” Boden notes that the team really needs someone to take the pressure off Alshon Jeffery now that Brandon Marshall is in New York, and the only true deep threat left in free agency is Baltimore’s Smith.
- ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that Cobb’s lucrative deal is a win for Smith and Maclin, who now have more leverage as they seek their next contract.
- Smith was already expected to leave the Ravens, as Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports, but now Wilson would not be surprised if Smith’s next deal approached the $10MM average annual value that Cobb received from Green Bay.
AFC North Notes: Steelers, Taylor, McCown
The Steelers, much like the division-rival Ravens, rarely make a big splash in free agency, choosing instead to build through the draft and locking up their own premier players before they become free agents. But Pittsburgh has glaring needs in the secondary and at outside linebacker, and as Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes, “the Steelers will have more disposable money to use in free agency than any time in recent memory.”
The team recently bought a little breathing room by restructuring the contracts of Marcus Gilbert, Maurkice Pouncey, and Mike Mitchell, and it could create even more cap space by releasing players like Troy Polamalu and Brett Keisel. As such, the Steelers could address their most significant holes in the first wave of free agency next week. Kaboly’s colleague at the Tribune-Review, Chris Adamski, takes a look at some of the most notable names that Pittsburgh could target, and while the team will likely not go all-in for the big-ticket items, the second tier of free agents at cornerback and outside linebacker includes intriguing players that would look good in black-and-gold.
Now for a few more notes from the AFC North:
- In his second mailbag of the weekend, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com looks at a few Ravens-related topics, including how the team will address the cornerback position. Although the secondary was the team’s biggest weakness in 2014, Hensley does not foresee a major overhaul. Instead, the team will rely on the healthy returns of players like Jimmy Smith and Asa Jackson. Although the Ravens could target an under-the-radar free agent, they will not be major players for the big names that will sign new deals next week, and unless Marcus Peters falls in their lap, there will likely not be an opportunity to make an im,mediate upgrade in the draft.
- Hensley also believes the Ravens will part ways with backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor and will sign a free agent to compete with last year’s sixth-round choice, Keith Wenning.
- Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com attempts to explain why the Browns signed Josh McCown instead of making an effort to retain Brian Hoyer. Grossi writes, “It’s obvious to me that the Browns considered McCown the better fit in the role they envisioned – a potential short-term starter and real long-term mentor who will create no waves and do whatever is asked of him.” However, Grossi also feels that Cleveland may have felt threatened by Hoyer’s “smartness and his forthrightness” and did not believe his play outweighed the potential internal strife that he could create by his willingness to question the way things were being done.
- For his part, McCown says he will do whatever he can to help embattled Browns second-year quarterback Johnny Manziel, writes Marc Sessler of NFL.com.
East Notes: Cowboys, Maclin, Forbath
Dez Bryant and DeMarco Murray have understandably dominated the discussion surrounding the Cowboys‘ offseason, but there are still other decisions for Dallas to make once the Bryant and Murray situations are resolved. For instance, Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News recently predicted that the team would opt not to exercise Morris Claiborne‘s fifth-year option, which is surprising in that it directly contradicts what owner Jerry Jones said last month. And, on the topic of underperforming defensive backs, Machota thinks the Cowboys will retain Brandon Carr but that Carr will probably end up taking a pay cut, which reaffirms what our Ben Levine wrote last night.
Now for some more notes from the league’s east divisions:
- Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News takes a look at how the Cowboys will address their backup quarterback situation in 2015. Although Brandon Weeden is still under contract, Jones did not give Weeden a ringing endorsement at the NFL combine a few weeks ago, and the team is high on third-stringer Dustin Vaughan. George does not believe Dallas will ultimately sign a free agent to replace Weeden, but he does note that the Cowboys would not hesitate to do so if the right deal came along.
- The Cowboys’ decision to put the franchise tag on Bryant is good news for the Eagles, as it prevents Bryant from setting a market price for wide receivers like Jeremy Maclin that Philadelphia would be unable to meet. But Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com tweets that, if the Eagles cannot agree to a long-term deal with Maclin by tomorrow afternoon, then Maclin will also get the franchise tag.
- Sheil Kapadia of PhillyMag.com passes along Eagles executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman‘s thoughts on trading up in the draft. Roseman is generally against such a move, which is interesting given the rumors surrounding the team’s alleged desire to move up to select Marcus Mariota. But Roseman, of course, will not have a say in the Eagles’ ultimate decision to trade up or stay put as a result of his redefined role in the team’s front office.
- Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com examines whether Washington should part ways with kicker Kai Forbath, a restricted fee agent. Washington has not been particularly eager to extend an offer to Forbath, who would be the most accurate kicker in team history if he had enough attempts to qualify, and Tandler says the reason for that is Forbath’s leg strength. Forbath was near the bottom of the league in net kickoff average, and the team may choose to trade a little accuracy in field goal attempts below 50 yards for improved field position and the chance to make a long-range field goal every once in a while.
- After the Bills missed out on Josh McCown, Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News took a look at other signal-callers that the team could pursue. The free agent class is, of course, underwhelming, with the possible exception of Brian Hoyer, though Nick Foles or even Jay Cutler could be intriguing trade targets.
- Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com looks at the free agent case of right guard Willie Colon. Colon could make sense for another team looking for a one-year stopgap, but the Jets are likely to seek an upgrade in free agency.