Free Agent Stock Watch: Eric Reid
It’s the first week of May and several notable NFL names are still floating in free agency. That list includes edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, quarterback and one-time MVP Cam Newton, the once unstoppable Devonta Freeman, and a well-accomplished safety on the right side of 30 in Eric Reid. 
[RELATED: Three Years Ago Today, The Panthers Signed Christian McCaffrey To His Rookie Deal]
It’s familiar territory for the 28-year-old, who waited all the way until September to find his home for 2018. In that offseason, Reid was coming off of yet another solid campaign as a starter for the 49ers. He was also viewed as controversial by some, thanks to his friendship and partnerships with Colin Kaepernick. Teams say otherwise, but the national anthem protests surely hampered Reid’s market. But, in the interest of equal time, it’s worth noting that other standout safeties – guys like Tre Boston, Tyvon Branch, Ron Parker, and Kenny Vaccaro – were also left waiting by the phone that year.
This time around, Reid still offers plenty of upside, though his platform year wasn’t as strong. His new career-high of 130 tackles – including four sacks – seems solid, but a deeper glance shows a few cracks. Pro Football Focus, for example, wasn’t fond of his work, which saw more than 77% of throws completed in his vicinity. After the season, the Panthers released Reid from the remaining year on his contract.
What’s next for Reid? There are several teams that make sense, but also far fewer clubs that are in desperate need of safety help post-draft. His younger brother, Justin Reid, is making a strong case for him to join up with the Texans. After releasing Tashaun Gipson last week, Reid would profile as a major upgrade to an underperforming secondary. The Cowboys, Raiders, and other contenders should also take a good look at him, especially since he can probably be had on a low-cost one-year deal. With that, and a strong season, Reid could be in position to cash in as a free agent next year – hopefully, in March this time.
This Date In Transactions History: Panthers Sign Christian McCaffrey
Three years ago today, the Panthers signed their new franchise face. Christian McCaffrey, the No. 8 overall pick, inked his first deal and became the first player in the 2017 class to finalize his rookie deal. 
[RELATED: PFR’s 2021 Option Tracker For The 2017 NFL Draft Class]
McCaffrey, per one NFL GM who spoke with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, had “the best combine workout” he’s ever seen. “Ever.” The Panthers more or less agreed, selecting him to bolster an offense that badly needed his blend of running ability and pass-catching acumen. In 2016, the Panthers ranked just 25th in DVOA. With McCaffrey to take the torch from established veteran Jonathan Stewart, they were off and running.
Heading into the draft, McCaffrey was a wanted man. The Broncos tried to make a legacy pick for Ed McCaffrey’s son with an offer to move up from No. 20. The Eagles, at No. 14, also wanted him. Ditto for several other clubs. Too bad, GM Marty Hurney said.
McCaffrey made his mark as a receiver immediately. As a rookie, he hauled in 80 catches for 651 yards, including a ten-catch game against the Eagles, just to rub it in (though, the Eagles won 28-23 thanks to two Zach Ertz touchdowns). As an NFL sophomore, the Stanford product stepped up his game to a whole new level – nearly 1,110 yards rushing, 107 catches for 867 yards, and 13 total touchdowns. And, last year, he was just flat out ridiculous: 1,387 yards on the ground, 116 catches for 1,005 yards, and 19 TDs all together. Similar to Le’Veon Bell in his prime years, McCaffrey has solidified himself as an elite RB1 and a top-level WR2, all rolled into one.
McCaffrey’s first contract paid him roughly $17.2MM over four years with a signing bonus of ~$10.7MM. This year, the Panthers rewarded him by effectively bypassing the fifth-year option process. CMC is now the highest-paid running back in NFL history thanks to his four-year, $64MM deal. That’s good for an average annual value of $16MM and a commitment through the 2025 season. (And, to the Panthers credit, they’ll be reasonably well protected against any unforeseen snags. The deal has $30MM fully guaranteed with $38MM in practical guarantees.)
The Eagles (Derek Barnett) and Broncos (Garett Bolles) wish they could go back in time and make a Godfather offer for CMC, but hindsight is 20/20 and rocket ships don’t have rear views. Today, the Panthers’ new head coach is pretty happy with how it all turned out.
“To label him a running back, that’s not respectful to him,” Matt Rhule said earlier this year. “He’s a tailback/wideout. He can do it all. I’m anxious to get him out there and to continue to build this thing around him.”
Cowboys Waive QB Cooper Rush
The Cowboys have waived quarterback Cooper Rush, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. With that, they’ve carved out a place on the QB depth chart for Dak Prescott‘s new backup, Andy Dalton.
[RELATED: Five Teams Pursued Andy Dalton]
Rush, a Central Michigan product, joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2017 season. Strangely enough, he got his opportunity when the Cowboys cut Kellen Moore, who now serves as the team’s offensive coordinator. Rush was set for restricted free agency this offseason, but the Cowboys cuffed him in March using the inexpensive original round tender. Now, he’ll move on in search of his next opportunity.
Over the last three seasons, Rush has appeared in five games for the Cowboys with zero starts and just three passes thrown. Dalton, meanwhile, joins with 133 career appearances – all starts – and ample experience to hold down the fort in case of a Prescott injury. He’s also equipped to run practices for the Cowboys later this year, in case the Prescott saga drags on.
Dalton was in high demand – four other teams wanted Dalton, but none of the five clubs in pursuit were offering him an opportunity to start. Ultimately, he settled on the Cowboys, who have given him a one-year, $3MM deal that can reach up to $7MM through performance bonuses.
Don Shula Passes Away At Age Of 90
Legendary Dolphins head coach Don Shula passed away on Monday morning, per a club announcement. The league’s all-time winningest coach was 90.
After his playing career with the Browns, Colts, and Redskins, Shula began his coaching career as the Lions’ defensive coordinator in 1960. After spending some time as the Colts’ head coach, the Dolphins traded a first-round pick for him and the rest, as they say, is history. Shula went on to coach the NFL’s only perfect season in 1972 and captured another Super Bowl ring in 1973.
“Don Shula will always be remembered as one of the greatest coaches and contributors in the history of our game,” commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “He made an extraordinarily positive impact on so many lives. The winningest coach in NFL history and the only one to lead a team to a perfect season, Coach Shula lived an unparalleled football life. As a player, Hall of Fame coach, and long-time member and co-chair of the NFL Competition Committee, he was a remarkable teacher and mentor who for decades inspired excellence and exemplified integrity. His iconic legacy will endure through his family and continue to inspire generations to come.”
Shula coached the Dolphins all the way through the 1995 season and was enshrined in Canton in 1997. Shula managed to win with different teams in very different eras, making him one of the league’s most respected and beloved figures.
“Don Shula was the patriarch of the Miami Dolphins for 50 years,” the Dolphins said in a statement. “He brought the winning edge to our franchise and put the Dolphins and the city of Miami in the national sports scene. Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to Mary Anne along with his children Dave, Donna, Sharon, Anne and Mike.”
Shula holds the NFL record with 347 total wins as a head coach. For reference, George Halas has 324 wins between the regular season and postseason and Bill Belichick has 304.
We here at PFR extend our condolences to the Shula family as well his extended Dolphins family.
Cardinals To Decline Haason Reddick’s Option
Haason Reddick‘s fifth-year option will be turned down by the Cardinals, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). With that, the former first-round linebacker is on course for free agency after the 2020 season. 
Reddick came into the league with considerable buzz. Teams were enamored with his athleticism and versatility; scouts saw a player with the potential to star at inside linebacker or dominate on the edge, depending on the need. Unfortunately, Reddick was never able to get his footing in either area. All of the different coaching and scheme changes didn’t help matters either.
The former No. 13 overall pick has perfect attendance over the past three years, but still has just 7.5 sacks to his credit. He was bumped from the starting lineup midway through last year and saw his playing time dwindle as the year drew to a close. Even though the Cardinals took their time on this one, few expected Reddick to have his 2021 season guaranteed for injury.
Reddick will play out his final year with $2.3MM in salary and a $4.3MM cap hit. This could be an opportunity for him to cash in as a free agent, but that’ll only be possible if he gets enough snaps.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals are set to replace him with a younger and even more versatile player in Isaiah Simmons. The Clemson product and combine darling may have the ability to feature as both an edge rusher and a safety.
As shown in PFR’s fifth-year option tracker, Colts safety Malik Hooker is the only player still in limbo.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/1/20
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: DT Josh Tupou
New York Giants
- Waived: DE Kevin Wilkins
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DL Treyvon Hester
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: S Ibraheim Campbell
2021 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker
NFL teams have until May 3 to officially pick up their 2021 options on players who are entering the final year of their rookie deals. These fifth-year options can only be exercised on first-round draft picks. The salaries are determined by where players were selected and what position they play.
If a player has his option exercised, his rookie contract will be extended by one year and he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2022, after the conclusion of the 2021 season. If a player’s option is declined, he’ll be eligible to hit the open market a year earlier. Of course, if a 2017 first-rounder is no longer on his rookie contract, there will be no option to exercise or decline.
Soon, we’ll learn the official salary figures for all 2021 fifth-year options. What we do know is that the option salaries for top 10 picks is equal to the transition tender at the player’s position during his fourth season. So, because the transition tag for defensive ends this year is worth more than $16MM, we already know the size of Myles Garrett‘s fifth-year option.
With the May deadline looming, we’ll use the space below to track all the option decisions from around the league based on various reports and official announcements. Here are this season’s fifth-year option decisions so far:
Updated 5-4-20, 02:30pm CT
- Myles Garrett, DE (Browns): Exercised
- Mitchell Trubisky, QB (Bears): Declined
- Solomon Thomas, DE (49ers): Declined
- Leonard Fournette, RB (Jaguars): Declined
- Corey Davis, WR (Titans): Declined
- Jamal Adams, S (Jets): Exercised
- Mike Williams, WR (Chargers): Exercised
- Christian McCaffrey, RB (Panthers): Exercised; Followed by extension
- John Ross, WR (Bengals): Declined
- Patrick Mahomes, QB (Chiefs): Exercised
- Marshon Lattimore, CB (Saints): Exercised
- Deshaun Watson, QB (Texans): Exercised
- Haason Reddick, LB (Cardinals): Declined
- Derek Barnett, DE (Eagles): Exercised
- Malik Hooker, S (Colts): Declined
- Marlon Humphrey, CB (Ravens): Exercised
- Jonathan Allen, DE (Redskins): Exercised
- Adoree’ Jackson, CB (Titans): Exercised
- O.J. Howard, TE (Buccaneers): Exercised
- Garett Bolles, OT (Broncos): Declined
- Jarrad Davis, LB (Lions): Declined
- Charles Harris, DE (Falcons, from Dolphins): Declined
- Evan Engram, TE (Giants): Exercised
- Gareon Conley, CB (Texans): Declined
- Jabrill Peppers, S (Giants): Exercised
- Takkarist McKinley, DE (Falcons): Declined
- Tre’Davious White, CB (Bills): Exercised
- Taco Charlton, DE (Dolphins): Waived
- David Njoku, TE (Browns): Exercised
- T.J. Watt, LB (Steelers): Exercised
- Reuben Foster, LB (Redskins): Declined
- Ryan Ramczyk, OT (Saints): Exercised
Broncos To Decline Garett Bolles’ Option
The Broncos will decline Garett Bolles‘ fifth-year option, according to Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). Instead of getting a guaranteed-for-injury 2021 salary of $11.064MM, Bolles will be ticketed for free agency after the 2020 season. 
[RELATED: 2021 Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
With that, Bolles will play out his original four-year rookie pact at a modest rate of $1.97MM. If he has a strong year, he’ll have an opportunity to cash in at a premium position, similar to D.J. Humphries. It’s not a terrible outcome for Bolles, even though he’s lost out on a bit of health insurance.
Bolles has had perfect attendance over the course of his three year career, appearing and starting in every possible game. At the same time, penalties have been a major problem for him.
“Well, it’s got to stop. Period. There are no more excuses for it,” GM John Elway said when asked about the flags back in September (via ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold). “He’s had 26 holding penalties in the last two years and two games, so it’s got to stop. The bottom line is if he thinks he’s getting singled out, he is. He’s got to understand that. He’s got to understand what he’s doing. And that was my question (to him last Sunday), ‘Does he know what holding is?’ Does he know what he can and can’t do?”
The Broncos will continue to work with him on his technique while putting him up against Elijah Wilkinson for the starting job. Last year, Bolles received 13 flags for holding.
NFC South Notes: Saints, Bucs, Brady
Despite the three Pro Bowl selections on his resume, Larry Warford‘s standing with the Saints is in flux. The Saints have been pondering his status throughout the offseason, according to Larry Holder of The Athletic.
Warford has started in every game he’s played throughout his career, including these last three Pro Bowl seasons with the Saints. Still, Sean Payton followed through on his promise to prioritize the interior line by drafting center Cesar Ruiz in the first round. He’s also indicated that Ruiz could be a first-stringer and that Warford will have to compete for his starting gig.
Warford is still on the right side of 30 (he turns 29 in June), but the Saints aren’t sold on him. It’s a situation to monitor as he enters the final year of the four-year, $34MM deal he inked as a free agent in 2017. If released, Warford would count for $5.125MM in dead money versus $7.75MM in cap savings.
The Saints are giving real thought to shedding that deal, especially with a combined $28MM committed to Terron Armstead and Andrus Peat in 2020. They also have an extension on the horizon for standout tackle Ryan Ramczyk, who just recently had his 2021 option exercised.
More from the NFC South:
- When Tom Brady visited Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, he accidentally walked into the wrong house. He also triggered some questions regarding league rules, since the visit occurred during the league’s “dark period” prior to virtual offseason activities. However, the league looked into it and determined that there were no rule violations, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link).
- The NFL has also determined that the Saints‘ signing of Jameis Winston will not count against their compensatory formula (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of New Orleans Football). It’s not clear whether Winston’s signing was actually borderline in this regard – his deal was reportedly signed after the deadline for the compensatory pick formula, which should have made this an automatic. In any case, Winston is now set to watch and learn from Drew Brees on his one-year contract.
- Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are hoping to finally figure out their kicking situation. They’re hopeful that Matt Gay will improve this year, GM Jason Licht says, but the Bucs are also “definitely planning on adding competition,” (via the Tampa Bay Times). Gay made only 27 of 35 field goals last year, but he did nail five of his tries from 50 yards out.
Jaguars To Sign RB Chris Thompson
The Jaguars are set to sign Chris Thompson, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. The deal will reunite the running back with his former head coach Jay Gruden, who now serves as the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator. 
When he was healthy, Thompson was a strong pass-catching specialist out of the backfield for the Redskins. And, in an admittedly limited sample size, he was effective on the ground, too.
The former fifth-round pick enjoyed a breakout season in 2017, his fifth year as a pro. That year, he caught 39 passes for 510 yards, good for 13.1 yards per grab. Unfortunately, that campaign ended in November, thanks to a fractured fibula. For his career, Thompson’s averaged 4.8 yards per tote, though he’s never logged more than 68 carries in any single season.
The Redskins liked him enough to give him a two-year, $7MM extension under Gruden’s watch and he’ll get a chance to work for him in Jacksonville. For now, the Jaguars are forging ahead with Leonard Fournette as their primary back; Thompson could be an option to spell him and keep defenders on their toes.