Falcons To Sign Mike Davis
The Falcons are set to sign running back Mike Davis to a two-year contract, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The former Falcons running back will earn $5.5MM in the deal with $3MM fully guaranteed in the first year.
Davis filled-in for Christian McCaffrey last year and turned in a solid year with 1,015 all-purpose yards and eight total touchdowns. Even though his averages of 3.9 yards per carry and 6.3 yards per grab weren’t quite CMC numbers, Davis demonstrated his value as a reliable and durable veteran.
Before that, the 28-year-old joined the Panthers as a waiver wire claim. Although he’s bounced around, Davis isn’t just a one-hit wonder. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry with the Seahawks in 2018 to go along with four rushing touchdowns.
Now, Davis will stay in the division as he joins Ito Smith and Qadree Ollison on Atlanta’s RB depth chart.
Cardinals To Sign Brian Winters
The Cardinals have agreed to sign offensive lineman Brian Winters. Meanwhile, they’ve also re-upped backup lineman Max Garcia. 
Winters joined the Bills last year after a number of seasons as the Jets’ starting right guard. In Buffalo, he played in all 16 games, including nine starts at RG. Now, he’s ticketed for a competition with incumbent Justin Murray and 2020 third-round pick Josh Jones.
The Cardinals have reshaped their offensive line in recent days by trading for Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson. They’ve also re-upped right tackle Kelvin Beachum in an effort to give Kyler Murray better protection up front. There’s still plenty of time to go between now and the start of the 2021 season, but the Cards’ starting OL currently projects to include D.J. Humphries at left tackle, Justin Pugh at left guard, Hudson at center, Winters at right guard, and Kelvin Beachum at right tackle.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/22/21
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Released: K Lirim Hajrullahu
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: TE Stephen Anderson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DL Matt Dickerson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR/QB: Kai Locksley
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Ola Adeniyi
49ers To Sign Tavon Wilson
The 49ers have agreed to sign Tavon Wilson (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Wilson may wind up replacing free agent Jaquiski Tartt in San Francisco.
Wilson, 31, has spent time with the Patriots, Lions, and Colts since entering the league in 2012. At his latest stop in Indy, the Illinois product suited up for 15 games including two starts. He’s best known for his time in Detroit, where he started in 39 of his 56 games across four seasons. Tartt, meanwhile, has started in all of his games since 2017, but he’s missed roughly half of all possible games due to injuries.
The Niners know that Wilson isn’t far removed from his best work. In 2019, he graded out as the No. 26 ranked safety in the leaggue, per Pro Football Focus,. That marked his best showing since 2016, his first go-round with the Lions.
As it stands, the Niners have Jimmie Ward, Wilson, Tarvarius Moore, and Marcell Harris in their safety unit.
Raiders Re-Sign Andre James
The Raiders have re-signed offensive lineman Andre James with a new three-year contract worth $12.5MM (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The deal includes roughly $6MM guaranteed and keeps him beyond his would-be final year before restricted free agency. James, billed as the team’s center of the future, is now locked in through 2023. 
[RELATED: Raiders Trade Hudson To Cardinals]
Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson, right tackle Trent Brown, and longtime right guard Gabe Jackson are out of the picture, leaving James with an opportunity to take the next step forward. It’s not clear on how the team will use James and newly-acquired center Nick Martin, however, but both players figure to factor into the front five.
The Raiders were set to release Hudson outright before they struck a deal with the Cardinals last week. After paving the way for three 1,000-yard rushing seasons, he leaves some big shoes to fill. Just last year, Pro Football Focus graded the veteran as its No. 8 overall center in the NFL.
Texans’ Deshaun Watson Facing Ten Lawsuits
Three more civil lawsuits have been filed against Deshaun Watson, as Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com tweets. The Texans quarterback is now facing ten suits in total with allegations of inappropriate conduct and sexual assault. 
“I’m extremely proud to represent Deshaun Watson and wholly stand behind him against what we believe are meritless allegations,” his attorney, Rusty Hardin, said recently. “However, we will wait to comment in detail until we’ve completed our review of the numerous, evolving allegations from Mr. Buzbee. We will respond next week and ask you to keep an open mind until we do so.”
Last week, three massage therapists filed against Watson with one accuser alleging that Watson forced her to perform oral sex. Through the first seven cases, Watson denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, the Texans say they are cooperating with the investigations.
Watson, a three-time Pro Bowler, was previously in the news for his long-standing trade request. Obviously, his off-the-field matters could put those discussions on pause.
Chiefs To Meet With K’Waun Williams
K’Waun Williams will get together with the Chiefs on Tuesday, as Mike Kaye of NJ.com tweets. The Jets are also said to have interest in the former 49ers corner, so he could be on the verge of a deal this week. 
Pro Football Focus graded Williams as the league’s No. 7 overall corner in 2019. In 2020, he was slowed down by knee and ankle injuries. Ultimately, he played in just eight games, compiling 22 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble. Of course, he wasn’t the only Niners player to be hit by the injury bug. All in all, eight different players started at corner for the 49ers last year.
The 49ers recently re-upped Jason Verrett on a one-year deal worth up to $5.5MM, so it’s not clear if there’s still room to retain Williams. Meanwhile, the Chiefs could install Williams as their new starting slot corner, push L’Jarius Sneed to the outside.
Eagles To Meet With Joe Flacco
The Eagles are bringing in Joe Flacco for a visit (Twitter link via PFT). This marks the second known meeting for Flacco this year, following a get-together with the 49ers.
Flacco profiles as a potential backup for Jalen Hurts, though Nate Sudfeld remains unsigned in free agency. Flacco, 36, obviously comes with credentials, but he’s bounced around since parting ways with the Ravens a few years ago. His Broncos tenure was cut short by a neck injury and later found his way to the Jets, where he wound up making four starts in Sam Darnold‘s stead. Flacco threw for six touchdowns against three interceptions, but he averaged just 6.4 yards per throw with a 55% completion rate.
Still, the Eagles see Flacco as a steady hand who can backstop and mentor Hurts as they enter the post-Carson Wentz era. He wouldn’t hurt the cap, either — the South Jersey could likely be had on a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum.
Titans To Sign Josh Reynolds
The Titans have agreed to sign former Rams wide receiver Josh Reynolds on a one-year deal, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (on Twitter). Exact terms of the deal are not yet known. 
Reynolds, a 2017 fourth-round pick, spent his entire career with the Rams up until today. He’s coming off of a career year with 52 grabs for 618 yards, plus two touchdowns. In the three previous seasons combined, he had 61 catches for 832 yards. Reynolds found his footing as the Rams’ No. 3 receiver — now, he’ll be tasked with replacing former first-round pick Corey Davis in Nashville. Or, at least, replacing some of Davis’ production in support of A.J. Brown.
The Rams were not expected to retain Reynolds, especially given their numbers crunch. Currently, the Rams project to use 2020 second-rounder Van Jefferson as the No. 3WR behind Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp.
Jets To Sign Sheldon Rankins
The Jets have struck a deal with Sheldon Rankins. The defensive tackle will join Gang Green on a two-year deal worth up to $17MM, according to a source who spoke with NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). 
Rankins, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2016 draft, saw his career sidetracked by Achilles and MCL injuries. Rankins seemed on track for superstardom up until his first Achilles tear in the 2018 playoffs. Playing from the interior, he notched eight sacks that season.
The 26-year-old (27 in April) has missed ten regular season games over the last two years. Between 2019 and 2020, Rankins has tallied just 30 stops and 3.5 sacks. But, with the Jets, Rankins has a chance to reassert himself.
“The healthier I got the better I felt and the more I was able to play like me,” Rankins said recently (via Conor Orr of SI.com). “There’s no limitations. I’m ready to get back to doing the things I’m accustomed to doing.”
The Jets still have lots of work to do on defense and cornerback ranks high on their list of needs. With Quinnen Williams and promising linemen Folorunso Fatukasi and John Franklin-Myers, the Jets were already well set up front, but new head coach Robert Saleh wants to prioritize D-Line depth.