Jets Sign Marcus Gilchrist
MARCH 18th, 12:16pm: The Jets announced that the signing is official, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter).
MARCH 12th, 10:23pm: The Jets are not done adding to their secondary, as they are finalizing a four-year deal with former Chargers safety Marcus Gilchrist, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
Gilchrist was drafted by San Diego in the second round of the 2011 draft, and he started all 16 games for the club in each of the past two seasons. He fared poorly according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) in 2014, ranking 72nd out of 87 eligible safeties. However, he graded out much better in 2013, finishing as the 20th-best safety out of 88. He has tallied five interceptions in his four-year career, so he has not been much of a playmaker despite his strong tackling abilities and mentally-sound play.
But he does further bolster a unit that has already been rejuvenated with the recent additions of Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie,and Buster Skrine. As Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork tweets, Gilchrist’s versatility is especially appealing to the Jets. Gilchrist played 401 snaps in the slot, 306 snaps at strong safety, and 201 snaps at free safety last season, and he and Calvin Pryor will team up to create a fairly strong pair of interchangeable safeties. Of course, the secondary as a whole has been transformed from an embarrassingly undermanned group to perhaps the best set of defensive backs in the league in just a couple of days.
Cowboys Sign Jasper Brinkley
TUESDAY, 9:13am: The Cowboys have officially signed Brinkley, per the team’s official website.
THURSDAY, 10:41pm: The Cowboys have struck a two-year deal with former Vikings linebacker Jasper Brinkley, writes Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com. Brinkley started 11 games for Minnesota last season, compiling 54 tackles and one sack. The 30-year-old played for Arizona in 2013 before returning to the team that drafted him in the fifth round of the 2009 draft.
As Archer writes, Brinkley is a two-down middle linebacker, so his presence will allow the Cowboys to shift Sean Lee from inside linebacker to weak-side linebacker as he recovers from a torn ACL that ended his 2014 campaign before it started. Brinkley is the second free agent to join Dallas’ linebacker corps this offseason. The team also signed Keith Rivers while losing Justin Durant and Bruce Carter to the Falcons and Buccaneers, respectively.
The Cowboys will also have to decide whether they want to bring back Rolando McClain, who was a surprising contributor in 2014 but who is facing a four-game fine for violating the league’s substance abuse policy for the third time.
Bengals To Sign Michael Johnson
1:21pm: Schefter hears that Johnson won’t make quite $24MM, tweeting that the four-year deal will in fact be worth $20MM, with $6MM coming in 2015.
11:25am: It is a four-year, $24MM deal for Johnson, according to Tomasson (via Twitter).
10:08am: The Bengals and DE Michael Johnson have agreed to terms, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that it is a four-year deal.
It will be a homecoming of sorts for Johnson, who was drafted by Cincinnati in the third round of the 2009 draft. The Georgia Tech product played for the Bengals for five seasons before signing a five-year, $43.75MM deal with the Buccaneers last offseason. Tampa Bay released Johnson just a few days ago, saving themselves $2MM of cap room and setting the stage for Johnson’s reunion with Cincinnati. Rapoport (via Twitter) adds that Johnson made $16MM during his one year in Tampa Bay, and there are no offsets in his contract, so whatever he earns from the Bengals will be in addition to that $16MM figure. As Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets, Johnson was already due $7MM from the Buccaneers and is now set to make around $14MM in 2015 alone.
Johnson had a breakout season in 2012, contributing 11.5 sacks and grading out as the 14th-best 4-3 defensive end according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). He combined with Carlos Dunlap to form an imposing pair of bookends along the Bengals’ defensive line. Cincinnati put the franchise tag on Johnson after the 2012 campaign, and although his sack totals fell off considerably in 2013, PFF listed him as the 4th-best 4-3 DE in the league, largely as a result of his excellent play against the run. The performance made him a hot commodity last offseason, and he ultimately signed with Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers looked to bolster their front seven.
But Johnson’s lone season in Tampa was disappointing to say the least. He accrued just four sacks and even his run defense full off a cliff as he finished near the bottom of the league’s defensive ends per PFF. However, his talent is undeniable, and the Vikings recently brought him in for a visit that by all accounts left both sides with a good feeling. In the end, though, the attraction of playing for his original club was just too much. As Johnson said, “[Cincinnati] is my home. I feel like outside of Selma (Johnson’s Alabama hometown) this is my home” (Twitter link to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press).
Cincinnati, meanwhile, gets a quality player who should bring a lift to its defensive line, and a player who the team knows will fit into its system. Furthermore, the Bengals will get a third-round compensatory choice for losing Johnson last season, even though he is now back on the team, and because he was re-acquired after having been released, he will not count against the team’s compensatory pick formula next year. All in all, Johnson and the Bengals appear to have made out very well today.
Sunday Roundup: Ngata, Cameron, Rams
We have seen one major signing thus far today, as Michael Johnson and the Bengals agreed to reunite. As we wait for more free agent dominoes to fall, let’s take a look at a few more notes from around the league:
- Justin Rogers of MLive.com looks at how the Lions might work out an extension for newly-acquired DT Haloti Ngata. It is still unclear whether Detroit will even approach Ngata about an extension–the team may view him as a one-year stopgap, although the draft picks they sent to Baltimore suggest that is not the case–but Rogers believes a new three-year, $26MM deal might work well for both sides. Ngata himself said he believes he has three good years left, and such an extension would give Detroit a little more cap space for 2015 while creating manageable $7.5MM cap numbers in 2016 and 2017.
- Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com says the Browns‘ strategy in attempting to re-sign Jordan Cameron did not make much sense. The Browns could have put the transition tag on Cameron for cheaper than the deal they offered, but they did not use the tag before the deadline and then made Cameron an offer for more than the tag value.
- Despite the team’s flurry of activity in the first week of free agency, the Rams have a few major holes to fill, and most of those holes are along the offensive line. As Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes, the team has about $11MM in cap space, which should give them enough room to sign two out of the three of Stefen Wisniewski, Justin Blalock, and Joe Barksdale.
- Speaking of the Rams‘ offensive line, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com writes that recently-released Jake Long could be back as the team’s right tackle on a shorter, cheaper deal, but that likely would not happen until after the draft. As far as the team’s quarterback situation is concerned, Wagoner believes all options in the draft–trade up, trade down, etc.–are on the table, despite the acquisition of Nick Foles.
- Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (via Twitter) lauds the 49ers‘ signing of Reggie Bush, who will pair with Carlos Hyde to create a strong 1-2 punch in the backfield. Miller adds that the team’s acquisitions in free agency will allow them to once again pursue the best player available in the draft rather than drafting for need.
- Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun tweets that the Ravens had interest in Mike Wallace before he was traded to Minnesota. Baltimore thought that Miami might cut Wallace, thereby making him an unrestricted free agent.
- There is no new deal in place between the Saints and Keenan Lewis, but Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets that Lewis feels better about his long-term security with the club after meeting with unspecified team officials this week.
- While they will not receive any compensatory picks in this year’s draft, Mike Rodak of ESPN.com points out that the Bills are in line for multiple compensatory selections next year.
McKenzie, Woodson On Raiders’ Offseason
The Raiders, armed with a boatload of cap space, had hoped to make a big splash in free agency. They wanted Ndamukong Suh, they wanted DeMarco Murray, and they wanted Randall Cobb, among others. But while the Raiders were unable to land the biggest of the big names, they have acquired a number of quality players that should give the team a lift in 2015. Rodney Hudson is one of the league’s best centers, and Dan Williams and Curtis Lofton will give the front seven a much-needed boost. Roy Helu, meanwhile, has a ton of upside and could be one of the offseason’s biggest steals.
At the Raiders’ Commitment to Excellence dinner honoring free safety Charles Woodson last night, GM Reggie McKenzie and Woodson himself spoke about what the team has accomplished so far. Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group passes along a few interesting notes on what those two had to say (all links go to Twitter, unless otherwise noted):
- McKenzie said that the plan this offseason was to acquire younger players who are still in their prime years. Last year, of course, the Raiders targeted older players who could provide leadership and help to change the team’s culture.
- The older players that were acquired last season largely served their purpose, and some, like Donald Penn, Justin Tuck, and Woodson were retained, as they are still capable contributors. Otherwise, Oakland sought young “starter-types.”
- Confirming what we had already learned, McKenzie said the team did make a strong push Suh but will not pursue Greg Hardy.
- McKenzie spoke specifically about Hudson and new safety Nate Allen. He said that the Raiders jumped at the chance to sign Hudson, who is a skilled pass-blocker and run-blocker, and he cited Allen’s range, versatility, and instincts as the major factors in his signing.
- Both McKenzie and Woodson spoke of the positive energy that the new acquisitions bring with them, and Woodson discussed how a staff assembled of former players contribute to that energy.
- Woodson added that he helped to recruit a few of the team’s new additions, though most of them had already agreed to terms.
- In a full-length piece, McDonald provides a quote from Woodson that accurately summarizes the team’s offseason: “There’s no question that Suh would have been huge. He would have been a great addition to the team,” Woodson said. “At the same time, if you don’t get a Suh, you can get three or four other players to make up for it. And what that does is build depth.”
- For his part, McDonald tweets that this free agent class could end up being a great one, just like last year’s draft class. Given the quality of the signings and the impact they should have on the team’s overall depth, it appears McDonald’s optimism is well-founded.
East Notes: Cowboys, McCloughan, Wilkerson
After losing DeMarco Murray to the Eagles, the Cowboys will have more financial flexibility the rest of the offseason. However, Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News does not believe the team will be especially aggressive during the remainder of the free agency period. Executive vice president Stephen Jones, echoing his sentiments from last season, said that the team will be “efficient” in free agency, and Sabin has no reason to doubt him.
Indeed, letting Murray go is reflective of the team’s overall philosophy, as Sabin writes in a separate piece. Although Dallas would have liked to bring Murray back, it was not going to break the bank to re-sign him, given the other needs that need to be addressed. Furthermore, the Cowboys have allowed a few of their stronger defensive contributors to depart in their renewed commitment to build through the draft and to stay away from the disappointment that often accompanies highly-lucrative contracts. And assuming they do continue their “efficient” approach to the rest of the offseason, they should be able to net several valuable compensatory selections in next year’s draft.
Now for some more links from the league’s east divisions:
- Speaking of changing philosophies, Mike Jones of the Washington Post describes how new Washington GM Scot McCloughan has adhered to the plan he laid out at the beginning of the offseason: draft and build your own and re-sign your own, while wisely addressing any remaining gaps in free agency. Jones points out that McCloughan has made a number of solid but largely unheralded moves while staying away from the big-ticket items that would have filled a need but that would have handicapped the team’s salary cap.
- Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes that the Giants still have a number of first-unit spots to fill, but most of their efforts to address those needs in free agency have been thwarted. Schwartz writes that the team will likely have to wait until the draft to fill its remaining holes on the offensive line and at pass rusher, but he says the Giants must sign a starting safety, even though the most appealing options are off the board.
- Brian Costello of the New York Post applauds what new Jets GM Mike Maccagnan has accomplished this offseason, and he looks at what Maccagnan has left to do. At this point, any moves in free agency will be necessary but low-key depth signings, and the expectation is that an extension for star defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson will get done this spring.
- To truly make their offseason a resounding success, Gary Myers of the New York Daily News believes the Jets should do whatever it takes to land Marcus Mariota in the draft.
Dolphins Want To Keep Charles Clay
Even after signing Jordan Cameron tonight, the Dolphins hope to keep Charles Clay in the fold, tweets Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News. At the very least, Miami will keep the transition tag on Clay, thereby making it tougher for the Bills to sign him (Twitter links to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com and ProFootballTalk).
Per Carucci, Clay returned to Miami tonight after spending the last three days in Buffalo. We heard several days ago that the Bills were planning to make a strong push for the tight end’s services, but we learned within the last few hours that Clay and the Dolphins were discussing a long-term deal that would keep Clay in Miami. The Dolphins recently cut Brian Hartline and may yet part ways with Mike Wallace, but as Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post tweets, the combination of Cameron, Clay, and Dion Sims would help to offset the team’s lack of depth at wide receiver.
But Carucci adds in a separate tweet that Buffalo is by no means out of the running for Clay. Carucci believes the Bills could either sign Clay as an unrestricted free agent, if Miami ultimately chooses to remove the transition tag, or they could present him with an offer sheet that the Dolphins would not be willing to match. The Browns, on the other hand, lost out on Cameron and are apparently no longer a threat to sign Clay either (Twitter link to Carucci).
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.