Ravens Discussing Extensions With Matt Judon, Ronnie Stanley
The Ravens have started discussing new deals with edge rusher Matt Judon and left tackle Ronnie Stanley, according to GM Eric DeCosta (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley). A deal with one of those players, or both, would give the Ravens some much needed breathing room against the salary cap for 2020.
[RELATED: Ravens Interested In Clowney?]
The Ravens have until the middle of July to hash out a deal with Judon, who was cuffed via the franchise tag. For now, Judon is set to play out the 2020 season at a rate of $15.8MM since he has been classified as a linebacker. However, as we’ve seen before with DE/LBs, a grievance could be coming. If Judon fights back and wins, he could be in line for roughly $17.8MM this year.
“I’d rather have a long-term deal for stability. It is what it is,” Judon said in March (Twitter link via Josina Anderson of ESPN.com). “I feel like this is what many of us go through that are facing free agency. At the end of the day, I know I’m playing football next season.”
Judon has been a key weapon for the Ravens for years. Last year, he took another giant step forward with 9.5 sacks and a total of 33 quarterback hits. The 27-year-old has 24.5 sacks over the past three seasons and lots of leverage as he discusses a new pact with Baltimore.
Stanley also has one year to go, thanks to his fifth-year option. Last year, he graded out as Pro Football Focus’ top pass blocker in the NFL. In 2020, he’s slated to earn $12.8MM.
Seahawks Unlikely To Re-Sign Jadeveon Clowney
Jadeveon Clowney wouldn’t mind returning to the Seahawks, but a reunion doesn’t seem too likely. The defensive end would have to take far less money than what the Seahawks were previously offering him in order to facilitate a return, a league source tells ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson.
[RELATED: Eagles, Ravens Interested In Clowney?]
Publicly, GM John Schneider hasn’t ruled out the former No. 1 overall pick, though he has hinted that its not in the cards. In early March, Clowney was reportedly asking for $21MM per year. In late March, he dropped his ask to $17-$18MM per year. Now, we’re in May, and most of the NFL’s dollars have dried up. The Seahawks, meanwhile, do not have an offer currently on the table for him.
The Seahawks have already made improvements to the front seven by adding Bruce Irvin and Benson Mayowa. Mayowa’s one-year deal is reportedly worth $3MM while the figures on Irvin’s contract are not yet known. What we do know is that the Seahawks have less than $20MM in cap space at present and they still have other needs to address. They also found edge help in the draft by selecting outside linebacker Darrell Taylor (second round) and defensive end Alton Robinson (fifth round).
The Browns and Titans have been heavily linked to Clowney and the Eagles and Ravens may have some level of interest in him. At this stage of free agency, he stands as the best available edge rusher on the market, even though he finished 2019 with just three regular season sacks.
The Top QBs Left In NFL Free Agency
Just after the NFL Draft, Jameis Winston found his new NFL home by signing a low-cost one-year deal with the Saints. Even with the former No. 1 overall pick off the market, there are still several notable names left. Here’s a rundown of some of the passers available here in May:
- Cam Newton: A slew of injuries have hampered the one-time MVP and the ongoing pandemic has prevented clubs from having their team doctors take a close inspection. Newton has gone under the knife multiple times throughout his career, including surgeries to his throwing shoulder and left foot. While Winston settled for a deal to serve as a backup – and perhaps a QB3 – Newton is still pushing for a starting job. Right now, there aren’t any clubs willing to hand him a QB1 gig, so he’ll probably have to wait this one out or temper his expectations. The Patriots, who currently have Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham as their top QBs, could be a fit, but there hasn’t been much movement on that front yet.
- Joe Flacco: Was Flacco an elite quarterback in his prime? That question will plague the football world forever. What we do know is that Flacco profiles as an experienced and inexpensive backup option for teams in need. The 35-year-old was sidelined for the second half of 2019 – his first season with the Broncos – and waiting for an opportunity to open up. At one point, Flacco was asked about his thoughts on the Eagles. But, with Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts, Nate Sudfeld, and Kyle Lauletta on the depth chart, that no longer seems like a fit.
- Blake Bortles: Despite all of his flaws, the Jaguars handed Blake Bortles a three-year, $54MM deal in 2018 with $26.5MM guaranteed. One year later, they pushed him out the door for Nick Foles, leading him to L.A. After throwing a grand total of three passes last year, the former No. 3 overall pick is looking for a solid backup opportunity. The Rams have several QBs under contract behind Jared Goff, but there could still be an opportunity for him to return.
- Mike Glennon: With a dearth of quality QBs on the market in 2017, Glennon landed a three-year, $45MM deal with the Bears. Now 30 with a career 6-16 record, he’ll come for a lot cheaper. He earned just $1MM in base pay last year with the Raiders.
- Cody Kessler: Even after Tom Brady bid farewell, the Patriots decided that they didn’t need the former fourth-round pick on the roster. He’s got 12 career starts on his resume – unfortunately, the first eight came with the 2016 Browns.
- Trevor Siemian: We haven’t heard Siemian’s name mentioned recently. Fortunately, he’s said to have made a full recovery from his brutal Week 2 ankle injury.
Patriots Sign Second-Round Pick Josh Uche
Josh Uche is now officially a member of the Patriots. On Wednesday, the second-round linebacker inked his rookie contract, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. 
Uche notched 8.5 sacks in 2019 to lead the Wolverines in the category for yet another year. Pro Football Focus had him rated as one of the very best in the nation at generating pressure and that was further evidenced by his 11.5 tackles for loss.
Leading up to the draft, there was some concern about Uche’s size for the NFL level and some evaluators wondered whether he could last as a linebacker. That didn’t ward off the Patriots, who saw him power through blocks over and over in his highlight reel. Uche isn’t the biggest ‘backer out there, but he seems to find a way. Just ask first-round tackle Jedrick Wills:
“It was Josh Uche,” said Wills when asked to name his toughest matchup in college (video link). “He was a really good pass rusher. Has some counter moves, some speed to him. So it was a good matchup that I went against.”
With the No. 60 overall pick signed, the Patriots have many more deals to go. Here’s the full rundown of the Patriots’ draft class, via PFR’s team-by-team tracker:
2-37: Kyle Dugger, S (Lenoir-Rhyne)
2-60: Josh Uche, LB (Michigan): Signed
3-87: Anfernee Jennings, OLB (Alabama)
3-91: Devin Asiasi, TE (UCLA)
3-101: Dalton Keene, TE (Virginia Tech)
5-159: Justin Rohrwasser, K (Marshall)
6-182: Michael Onwenu, G (Michigan)
6-195: Justin Herron, T (Wake Forest)
6-204: Cassh Maluia, LB (Wyoming)
7-230: Dustin Woodard, C (Memphis)
Cowboys To Sign Cameron Erving
The Cowboys have agreed to a one-year deal with Cameron Erving, according to a source who spoke with Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). The deal with the former Chiefs offensive lineman will be totally finalized with a passed physical. 
Erving saw his playing time dip towards the end of the 2019 season, but he did take the field for KC’s Super Bowl victory in February. He came to the Chiefs by way of a trade with the Browns in 2017. In 2018, he started in 13 of his 14 games for his new club. After the season, he inked a brand new two-year deal, though the Chiefs did not exercise his option for 2020.
Erving’s versatility should be a major plus for the Cowboys. With experience at tackle, guard, and center, Erving could theoretically backstop the offensive line at all five spots. He may also get a chance to compete for the starting center job. Currently, the Cowboys have Joe Looney, Connor McGovern, and Connor Williams vying for the gig.
With that said, head coach Mike McCarthy said in April that he was comfortable with his in-house center options.
“I think Travis [Frederick] is a player that’s had a great career,” McCarthy said. “But when we look at our current depth with the offensive line, you start off with Joe Looney and the two Connors. I think we’ve got great competition, great depth…I think the fact that we have that much experience with the veteran group that we have here, I feel very good about moving forward.”
Redskins To Sign Mike Liedtke
The Redskins have agreed to sign offensive lineman Mike Liedtke, according to agent Brett Tessler (Twitter link). The 28-year-old was non-tendered by the Bucs earlier this year, making him a free agent.
[RELATED: Redskins Decline Reuben Foster’s Option]
The deal marks Liedtke’s sixth NFL stop, though it’s his first in the NFC East. The 28-year-old spent 2016-2019 with the Bucs, bouncing between the active roster and practice squad. In 2018, he suited up for a career-high nine. He missed the entire 2019 campaign thanks to shoulder surgery, but he was reportedly near 100% health at the time of the non-tender in March.
Liedtke went undrafted out of Illinois State in 2015 but went on to spend time with the Dolphins, Chiefs, Jets, Browns, and Bucs. With the Redskins, he’ll try to find a spot behind Brandon Scherff, Morgan Moses, Wes Schweitzer, and the rest of the O-Linemen in D.C.
Without Trent Williams on the field last year, the Redskins’ front five surrendered the fifth-highest sack total in the NFL. Now, after trading Williams in San Francisco, they’ll have to find ways to protect the pocket and create running lanes with what they’ve got. Fourth-round tackle Saahdiq Charles may help on the outside, though he’ll have to work on his overall strength before making a dent at the pro level.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/5/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Derrick Gore
New York Giants
- Waived: WR Reggie White
New York Jets
- Waived: CB Kyron Brown, WR Keon Hatcher, RB Jalin Moore, DE Charles Tapper
Giants Claim QB Cooper Rush Off Waivers From Cowboys
The Giants have claimed Cooper Rush off waivers, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The quarterback was cut by Dallas earlier this week, giving all 31 of the NFL’s other teams an opportunity to grab him.
The move brings Rush back together with Jason Garrett, the Cowboys’ former head coach and the Giants’ current offensive coordinator. Their relationship won’t necessarily guarantee him a spot on the final roster, however.
The Giants have Daniel Jones locked in as their starter with Colt McCoy slated to serve as his primary backup. There’s also Alex Tanney and undrafted rookie Case Cookus on board, making Rush the fifth QB on the offseason roster. For what it’s worth, the Giants have flexibility in this space – Cookus’ UDFA deal is dirt cheap and Tanney’s contract can be dropped without any fiscal penalty between now and the start of the year.
Rush, 26, has appeared in just two NFL games since going pro out of Central Michigan.
Raiders Waive QB DeShone Kizer
The Raiders will cut quarterback DeShone Kizer, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). With that, Kizer will hit the waiver wire, where the Bengals hold the top priority. 
[RELATED: Raiders Sign Sam Young]
A second-round selection in 2017, Kizer was pegged as a green talent that had high upside. Unfortunately for him, he was taken by the Browns, who proceeded to lose every game that season. At year’s end, he was shipped to Green Bay. Last year, the Packers dropped him before the final cut to 53, leading him to the Raiders. Unless he circles back to the Packers or Browns, he’ll join the fourth team of his NFL career.
Kizer is still only 24, but Jon Gruden & Co. didn’t see a place for him on the roster with Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, and Nathan Peterman already in the QB room. Mariota, who joined on a two-year, $17.6MM deal, will be one freak or blown play away from taking the field in Las Vegas. Peterman, who was retained with a $2MM+ tender as a restricted free agent, figures to be the QB3.
Kizer has made 18 appearances over the course of his NFL career, most of which came during the Browns’ winless season. All in all, he’s got eleven touchdowns against 24 interceptions.
In addition to Kizer, the Raiders have also waived tight end Paul Butler, defensive end Kendall Donnerson, offensive lineman Kyle Kalis, and linebackers Te’Von Coney and Quentin Poling.
Broderick Washington Inks Ravens Deal
Defensive tackle Broderick Washington was the 170th player selected in this year’s NFL Draft. Today, he became the first place to formally sign his rookie deal, per an announcement from the Ravens. 
[RELATED: Ravens Re-Sign Pernell McPhee]
The Texas Tech product will receive a four-year pact worth roughly $3.6MM, according to Over The Cap‘s slot estimates. For reference, Ravens first-round linebacker Patrick Queen – taken with the No. 28 overall pick – is set to earn $12.16MM over the same four year period. And, in case you were wondering, No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow will collect $36.2MM on his rookie deal with the Bengals.
Washington was taken two rounds after Texas A&M’s Justin Madubuike to further strengthen the Ravens’ interior line. The Ravens see the 6’2″, 305-pound lineman as a solid run stuffer who can help them beef up in the trenches.
With Washington signed, we’ll be waiting on the signings of 254 more NFL Draft picks. To spare your Twitter feed, we’ll group most of these signings in daily posts here at Pro Football Rumors. For first-rounders and other notable signings, we’ll provide a more detailed breakdown.