Saints To Sign DT Malcom Brown
The Saints are signing defensive tackle Malcom Brown to a three-year deal worth up to $15MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Ben Volin of the Boston Globe provides additional details, reporting that while Brown’s contract maxes out at $15MM, it’s really a two-year, $10MM pact for all intents and purposes (Twitter link). Brown is guaranteed $7.5MM and will earn $5.5MM in 2019 and $4.5MM in 2020. It’s a solid deal for the Saints, who are adding a former first-round pick to the defensive line. 
Brown, 25, started in 51 of his 60 games for the Patriots, including 14 starts last season. This past year, he did not record any sacks, but he was on the field for just 279 pass snaps. In the previous three seasons, Brown managed 8.5 sacks from the interior.
Heading into this week, defensive tackle was a huge need for the Saints. With the Brown deal, they’ve managed to partially fill that gap at a reasonable rate. Sheldon Rankins will serve as the team’s top DT, but questions remain about him, Tyeler Davison and David Onyemata. Rankins suffered a torn Achilles in the NFC title game, Davison is in free agent limbo, and Onyemata may face a suspension after a citation for marijuana possession.
The Patriots, meanwhile, replaced Brown by signing former Jets defensive lineman Mike Pennel for half the price. Pennel’s work in 2018 garnered favorable reviews from the advanced metrics, and he should have an opportunity for an increased workload with New England.
49ers To Sign CB Jason Verrett
The 49ers are signing former Chargers’ cornerback Jason Verrett to a one-year, $3.6MM deal, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The former first-round pick has played in just five games over the last three years, but he could be a strong value signing if he stays on the field. 
Verrett missed the entire 2018 campaign after suffering a torn Achilles during a conditioning test last July. The Texans and Chiefs were also said to have had interest in Verrett, but they were also closely looking into his health situation.
Verrett was a Pro Bowler in 2015 and looked primed to establish himself as one of the best young corners in the league. Reportedly, before the latest injury, he looked like his old self in practice, so there’s reason to believe that he’ll make the most of his one-year prove-it deal.
The Niners made major upgrades to their defense this week, signing Kwon Alexander and trading for (and extending) Dee Ford. They also made an offer to cornerback Bradley Roby before he chose to sign with the Texans. They didn’t land Roby, but they got another former first-round pick out of the AFC West in Verrett.
Bengals To Meet With John Miller
Guard John Miller will visit with the Bengals on Thursday, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). To date, Miller has spent all four years of his pro career with the Bills. 
Miller, a third-round pick in 2015, has started 47 games over the last four years with Buffalo, including all 15 of his games last year. The Bengals could stand to upgrade their O-line even after re-signing right tackle Bobby Hart, so Miller could help them solidify the unit.
Miller has only played at right guard in his professional career, a position that Alex Redmond held down in 2018 for Cincinnati. Redmond, a former UDFA, performed decently, but he was hardly a world-beater, and the same can be said for left guard Clint Boling. At the very least, Miller would provide young, experienced depth.
For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics preferred Miller to Redmond last year. Miller was demoted in favor of Vlad Ducasse during the 2017 season, but he regained his starting job in 2018, and he may have done enough to land a modest multi-year pact.
One year ago, the Bills traded left tackle Cordy Glenn to the Bengals, and Miller could soon reunite with his former line mate in Cincinnati.
Rams Interested In Clay Matthews?
The Rams could be a potential landing spot for Clay Matthews, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link). The long-time Packers star is set to join another club for the first time in his career, and Los Angeles is the first club with reported interest.
We learned at the beginning of the 2018 campaign that Green Bay was prepared to let the 32-year-old linebacker (33 in May) hit free agency. And although Matthews produced just 3.5 sacks in 2018, he still graded out as an above-average edge defender, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. Plus, he is one year removed from a very strong 2017 campaign, when he recorded 7.5 sacks and graded out as one of the better pass rushers in the league.
The double-digit sack seasons appear to be in the rear-view mirror, but Matthews clearly has something left in the tank as a situational pass rusher. The Rams have a couple of members of their front seven who are capable of getting to the quarterback (see, Aaron Donald, Dante Fowler), and Matthews would further enhance a unit that ranked in the middle of the pack in sacks last season.
Matthews has six Pro Bowl bids and one First Team All-Pro nod to his credit, though he hasn’t received either honor since the 2015 season.
Seahawks To Re-Sign D.J. Fluker
The Seahawks are finalizing a new two-year deal for guard and Patrice O’Neal lookalike D.J. Fluker (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL.com). The pact is worth up to $9MM, tweets Herbie Teope of NFL.com. The Seahawks also signed guard Mike Iupati on Thursday morning, but there’s apparently room for both former first-round picks in Seattle.
The Seahawks just lost last year’s 15-game starter at left guard, J.R. Sweezy, to the Cardinals, but things are shaping up nicely on the interior line between Iupati’s arrival and Fluker’s new contract.
Fluker joined the Seahawks last offseason after having spent the 2017 campaign with the Giants. He proceeded to start nine of his 10 games with Seattle, as a hamstring injury forced him to sit out a handful of contests. Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance in 2018, ranking him 68th among 77 eligible offensive guards.
However, he was an integral member of the club’s top-rated rushing attack in 2018, and Seattle has been working hard to retain him. Although there were no other teams publicly connected to him as of yet, he would surely have attracted more suitors in the coming days.
Contract Details: Taylor, Wright, Harris, Lutz
Some assorted contract details from the around the NFL:
- Tyrod Taylor, QB (Chargers): Two years, $11MM. $6MM guaranteed in year one. Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
- K.J. Wright, LB (Seahawks): Two years, worth “up to” $15MM. Twitter link via Josina Anderson of ESPN.
- Demetrius Harris, TE (Browns): Two years, $6MM. $3.25MM guaranteed. Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.
- Wil Lutz, K (Saints): Five years, $20.25MM. $9.2MM guaranteed. Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
- Ryan Griffin, QB (Buccaneers): Two years, $2.9MM. Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Cowboys To Re-Sign WR Tavon Austin
The Cowboys are keeping wide receiver Tavon Austin, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Clarence Hill Jr. of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets that it’s a one-year deal, although financial terms of the deal are not yet known. 
The Rams made Austin the No. 8 overall pick in the 2013 draft after being blown away by his blazing speed. So far, Austin has yet to live up to his draft billing, but the Cowboys are still intrigued by his ability. Last year, Austin notched just eight catches in seven games, but he averaged 17.5 yards per grab.
He also has the ability to make plays out of the backfield, as evidenced by his career 6.8 yards per carry average. The Cowboys talked up Austin relentlessly last offseason, and insisted they were going to get him involved on offense after acquiring him. That never really materialized, but they’re willing to give it another shot in 2019.
He can also contribute on special teams, and had a 51-yard punt return in the playoffs this past season that almost went for a touchdown. With Cole Beasley gone to Buffalo, Austin should be the team’s primary punt returner in 2019. Austin struggled with a groin injury in 2018 that ended up costing him nine games.
Giants To Meet With Mike Remmers
The Giants will meet with offensive tackle/guard Mike Remmers on Thursday, according to agent Brett Tessler (on Twitter).
As Tessler points out, Remmers played under current Giants coach Pat Shurmur in Minnesota, when Shurmur was his offensive coordinator. The Vikings released Remmers a few days ago after a two year stint in Minnesota. He started all 16 games for the Vikings last year, but his salary proved to be too expensive to keep him around. He was cut with an failed physical designation, as he’s apparently dealing with an unknown injury. Remmers had been the Panthers’ starting right tackle in 2016, then signed a five-year $30MM deal with the Vikings in March of 2017.
Offensive line has been a concern for New York for a while now, so it makes sense why they’re interested. The Giants have indicated they plan on rolling with Eli Manning for at least another year, and if they want to get him back to a serviceable level he’ll need to be well-protected.
Remmers transitioned from tackle to guard during the 2017 season, and then played exclusively at right guard last year. He can play either inside or outside, so he’s a nice depth option. He received average marks from Pro Football Focus last year, grading out as their 48th-best guard.
Multiple Teams Showing Interest In Markus Golden
The Raiders are among several teams who have shown interest in former Cardinals edge rusher Markus Golden, according to Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area (on Twitter). Golden has already fielded multiple offers and he’s currently weighing his options. The Buccaneers are also interested in Golden’s services (Twitter link via Jenna Laine of ESPN.com), and Vic Tafur tweets that the Chiefs are in on him as well, as they seek to strengthen a suddenly depleted pass rush.
The Raiders have been extremely active in March, but they could still use some additional firepower in the pass rush department. Golden would help on that front, though the Raiders are still expected to address that area in the draft next month. The Bucs are in better shape as far as pass rushers are concerned, but they still ranked in the bottom half of the league in total sacks last year and were one of the worst teams against the pass.
In 2016, Golden notched 12.5 sacks for the Cardinals. Unfortunately, a torn ACL ended his 2017 campaign early and cost him time in 2018. He managed to return for eleven games last year, but he wasn’t the same player – Golden had just 2.5 sacks and 30 tackles and graded out as one of the lowest-ranked edge defenders in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
The Giants and defensive coordinator James Bettcher also reportedly have Golden on the radar, which Tafur confirmed.
Steelers To Re-Sign DT Dan McCullers
The Steelers will re-sign defensive tackle Daniel McCullers to a two-year, $2.75MM deal, a source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). With that, the Steelers will have Big Dan back for a sixth season with the team, and possibly a seventh.
McCullers doesn’t play a ton, but the team likes having him around. An old-fashioned run-stuffing nose tackle, McCullers checks in at 352 pounds. He played only around 10% of the defensive snaps last year, and had five tackles with one sack while clogging up the occasional running lane.
A Tennessee product, the Steelers took McCullers in the sixth round of the draft back in 2014. McCullers barely played last year, and his most meaningful role was in 2016, when he played 17.5% of the defensive snaps. It’s not a bad chunk of change for a player used so sparingly.