Texans To Re-Sign Vernon Hargreaves
Vernon Hargreaves is staying put. On Friday, the Texans re-signed the cornerback to a new one-year deal (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle). 
The Texans claimed Hargreaves off waivers from the Bucs last year in a low-risk move to fortify their secondary. Then, they re-signed the former first-round pick on a one-year, $1.325MM deal. He went on to start in all 16 of his games while registering 72 stops, seven passes defensed, and one interception. However, the advanced metrics weren’t fond of his work — Pro Football Focus ranked him near the bottom at cornerback, out of 126 qualified NFL corners.
After allowing ~400 yards per game and parting ways with several key veterans, the Texans still have lots of work to do. Hargreaves would probably be a better fit as a rotational piece, but the Texans’ rebuild could put him back in the starting lineup for 2021.
Chargers Release Trai Turner
The Chargers have officially released Trai Turner (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The Chargers were unable to find a suitable trade for the Pro Bowl guard. Instead, they’ll release him outright to save ~$11MM against the salary cap.
The Bolts acquired Turner from the Panthers last year, in exchange for sent Russell Okung. When the Bolts acquired him, Turner was hot off of five straight Pro Bowl appearances and just graded out as the No. 31-ranked guard in the league, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. Plus, there was the hope that he could get back to his best work. In 2015 – his coming-out party – he ranked as one of the game’s very best.
Turner was set enter the final season of the four-year, $45MM pact he signed with the Panthers. The decorated blocker missed much of his Bolts debut season, playing in just nine games. Knee and groin injuries led to Turner missing most of the season’s first half.
He will join a host of talented offensive linemen as cap casualties leading up to free agency, a list that includes longtime guard starters Kevin Zeitler and Gabe Jackson. With his age-28 season still ahead, Turner should generate interest on the open market.
Featuring veteran-laden offensive line after last year’s free agency period, Los Angeles now has some key holes up front. Mike Pouncey‘s retirement and the Turner move will give the Chargers some work to do in free agency and the draft.
Bills Re-Sign Daryl Williams
The Bills have agreed to a new three-year deal with offensive tackle Daryl Williams, per a club announcement. The pact will be worth $28.2MM in total with nearly $14MM guaranteed (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 
The Bills inked Williams to a one-year prove-it deal last year. He proved it. The 28-year-old started all 16 games — plus two playoff games — helping to protect Josh Allen and powering Buffalo’s offense.
Williams, 28, spent the early part of his career with the Panthers. In 2019, his final Carolina season, he moved all across front five and spent more time on the interior than on the outside. Pro Football Focus graded him 57th out of 80 qualifiers as a guard, but his best work has always been at tackle.
In 2020, the former fourth-round pick graded out as PFF’s No. 21 ranked tackle in the NFL, putting him ahead of names like Orlando Brown Jr., Jake Matthews, Laremy Tunsil, and Alejandro Villanueva. Now, the six-year vet has a lucrative new deal that will tie him to the Bills through 2023.
Jaguars Re-Sign Tre Herndon
The Jaguars have re-signed cornerback Tre Herndon, per a club announcement. Terms of the deal are not yet known. 
Herndon, a former UDFA, was set for restricted free agency. The Jaguars could have retained him for roughly $2.1MM – instead, they hashed out a new deal.
The Vanderbilt product started in 12 of his 14 games last season, bringing him to a total of 26 starts over the last two seasons. He finished out 2020 with 76 tackles and one sack while grading out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 90 ranked cornerback out of 121 qualifiers.
Now set to enter his fourth season in the NFL, Herndon is likely to be slotted as a reserve. Last year, Herndon was one of the Jags’ most penalized players with seven flags. Rookie C.J. Henderson will return as a starter, but the Jaguars will be looking to reboot the rest of their CB group. They’ll have a pretty clean slate, as corners D.J. Hayden, Sidney Jones, and Greg Mabin approach the open market.
Dolphins Sign P Michael Palardy
Michael Palardy has a new team. After getting released by the Panthers in February, the veteran punter has agreed to join up with the Dolphins (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 
Palardy started out as a journeyman, but grabbed the Panthers’ full-time punting job in 2017. He missed all of 2020 with an ACL tear, but he’s said to be healthy after seven months of post-surgery rehab. The Bills — featuring old friend Brandon Beane — hosted him on his first visit. Instead, he’ll see the Bills twice this year.
With Palardy on board, it’s likely that incumbent Matt Haack will be headed elsewhere. Haack is out of contract, so he’ll be free to sign with any team starting next week.
Buccaneers Re-Sign Kevin Minter
The Buccaneers have agreed to a new one-year deal with Kevin Minter. The linebacker was due to hit free agency next week, but he’ll instead stay with the defending champions. 
Minter joined the Bucs during the 2018 season, helping to replace Kwon Alexander and Jack Cichy after ACL tears. The deal reunited him with GM Jason Licht, who was in Arizona when Minter was drafted in 2013. Then, in January of 2019, old pal Bruce Arians signed on as head coach. Arians pushed to re-sign Minter, a move that paid off.
In 2020, Minter stepped up while former first-round pick Devin White was relegated to the COVID list. Between his steady support as a reserve and his quality work on special teams, the Buccaneers wouldn’t let Minter get away.
Ravens Re-Sign Pernell McPhee
The Ravens have re-signed outside linebacker Pernell McPhee (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter). Exact terms of the deal are not yet known. 
[RELATED: Ravens Restructure Marcus Peters’ Deal]
It’s likely another low-cost, short-term contract for the veteran. McPhee, 32, was one of several Ravens edge rushers due for free agency, along with Matthew Judon, Yannick Ngakoue, Jihad Ward, and Tyus Bowser. Judon and Ngakoue may be the biggest names of the group, but McPhee has been one of the club’s locker room leaders and will ensure at least some consistency heading into 2021.
McPhee appeared in 15 games with 13 starts last season. He notched 34 tackles with three sacks and wound up as the team’s best outside linebacker in 2020, per Pro Football Focus. For his career, McPhee has 246 tackles and 37 sacks to his credit, including time with the Bears and the Washington Football Team.
Patriots Re-Sign Justin Bethel
The Patriots have agreed to a brand new deal with special teams standout Justin Bethel (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss). The new three-year, $6MM deal will tie Bethel to the Pats through 2023.
[RELATED: Patriots Re-Sign QB Cam Newton]
Early in his career, Bethel made a name for himself with the Cardinals. He made the Pro Bowl every year from 2013-2015 and stayed with the club through ’17. Then, he moved around a bit, spending time with the Falcons and Ravens before finding his place with the Patriots.
Roughly one year ago today, Bethel had surgery to repair a shoulder issue that had been hindering him. Fortunately, he was able to bounce back for the start of the season and appear in all 16 games for New England in 2020.
Cardinals Re-Sign Robert Alford
The Cardinals are bringing back Robert Alford (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Alford was released by the team earlier this week, but he’s agreed to return on a cheaper contract. 
Alford signed a three-year, $22.5MM deal with the Cardinals in 2019, but never suited up for them. First, he fractured a tibia in August of 2019, leaving him on injured reserve for the season. Then, in August of 2020, he suffered a season-ending pec tear. As Rapoport says, he has “unfinished business” in the desert.
Alford entered the league as a second-round pick of the Falcons in 2013 and spent his first six pro seasons with Atlanta. The 32-year-old (33 in October) is now a few years removed from his best work. Alford started 15 games in 2018 but it the worst campaign of his pro career. Pro Football Focus graded him as a bottom-10 cornerback league-wide that year. He also ranked dead last in Football Outsiders’ yards per pass allowed and success rate in 2018.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/12/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Re-signed: TE Jaeden Graham
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: FB John Lovett
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: OL Tyler Shatley
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released: LB Malik Jefferson
New York Giants
- Re-signed: WR C.J. Board