Texans Re-Sign DE Angelo Blackson
The Texans and defensive end Angelo Blackson agreed to a new three-year, $12MM deal, a source tells Adam Caplan of NFL.com (on Twitter). Blackson played in 40% of the team’s defensive snaps last season and emerged as a pleasant surprise for Houston. 
Blackson first joined the Texans in 2017 after spending the previous two seasons with the Titans. He had just nine tackles across nine games in Year One with Houston, but he took on a larger role last year. Appearing in all 16 games (four starts), Blackson amassed 24 tackles, one sack, and three passes defensed. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus graded him as just the 99th ranked interior defender out of 112 qualified players.
The Texans still have lots of work to do on the defensive line. Christian Covington, Brandon Dunn, and Joel Heath (RFA) still need to have their contracts addressed.
Raiders To Sign LT Trent Brown
The Raiders are making some serious noise in March. On Monday, the club agreed to sign former Patriots tackle Trent Brown to a four-year, $66MM deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The pact, which includes $36.75MM guaranteed, will make Brown the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. 
The league-wide dearth of quality offensive lineman has taken the OL market to previously unforeseen heights. Brown had an excellent platform season in his first (and only) year with the Patriots in 2018, but few expected him to break the bank in this fashion.
Last year, Brown started in all 19 regular and postseason games for New England en route to a Super Bowl championship. Pro Football Focus was bullish on his performance, ranking him 32nd among 80 eligible linemen.
The Raiders already had a left tackle in UCLA product Kolton Miller, but he’ll be shifted back over to the right side, Schefter hears (Twitter link). Miller, who many felt was a reach at No. 15 overall in last year’s draft, produced mixed results in his 16 starts last year. The youngster may have a greater comfort level on the opposite side of Brown.
Meanwhile, veteran Donald Penn is a “strong candidate for release,” according to Michael Gehlken of the Review- Journal (on Twitter). By cutting Penn, the Raiders can save $7.225MM against the 2019 cap. Due to injuries, the usually durable Penn was limited to only four games in 2018.
Vikings To Release G Mike Remmers
The Vikings are releasing starting guard Mike Remmers, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. This figures to be the first of several offensive line moves as the Vikings look to fortify their front five. 
Remmers inked a five-year, $30MM deal with the Vikings in March of 2017. Releasing him will save Minnesota $4.55MM in 2019 against $1.8MM in dead money.
Remmers worked as the Panthers’ starting right tackle from 2014-16, but he moved to right guard towards the end of the ’17 campaign with the Vikings. He hasn’t necessarily lived up to his deal, but the 29-year-old (30 in April) should still draw interest as a free agent.
In other Vikings news, the club declined to pick up the option on safety Andrew Sendejo.
Vikings To Decline Andrew Sendejo’s Option
The Vikings will decline the option on safety Andrew Sendejo, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Sendejo will join an exceptionally talented safety market, which could limit his earning potential. 
Sendejo, 32 in September, suffered a groin injury in Week 5 of last season and was unable to return. It may be coincidental, but the Vikings’ defense actually got better since turning to reserves Anthony Harris, George Iloka, and Jayron Kearse in his stead. In the first five weeks of the season, the Vikings surrendered 26.2 points per contest. Sendejo’s campaign ended with 27 total tackles and one pass deflection across five games.
The veteran was due a $5.5MM salary for 2019, but that sum was completely non-guaranteed. By declining Sendejo’s option, the Vikings will gain a good deal of flexibility to take care of their own free agents and make some small additions this week.
Buccaneers To Keep DeSean Jackson
The Buccaneers tried shopping DeSean Jackson, but they have been unable to find a suitable trade, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. So, for now, the Bucs’ plan is to keep the mercurial wide receiver, Russini hears. 
Jackson, 32, made a lot of noise about wanting out of Tampa Bay during the season. But, this offseason, new head coach Bruce Arians was vocal about wanting to keep the deep threat in the fold. Arians may still want to smooth things out with DJax, but there’s still the matter of his contract. Jackson is due $10MM in 2019, but that sum is completely non-guaranteed, and that does not sit well with Jackson.
Jackson’s stat line hasn’t been much to write home about over the last two years, but he still has the ability to blow the cover off of any secondary. Last season, he had just 774 yards receiving, but he led the league with 18.9 yards per reception. They say speed is the first attribute to go after the age of 30, but Jackson still has the jets to make big plays happen.
Of course, plans tend to change quickly this time of year, so this is still a situation worth monitoring. Jackson reportedly wants to reunite with the Eagles and an outright release still feels like a possibility.
Broncos Rumors: Amos, Barrett, Paradis, James
Here’s the latest on the Broncos, with all links going to Troy Renck of Denver7’s Twitter:
- The Broncos are expected to chase big names when free agency opens, including safety Adrian Amos (link). Amos is reportedly searching for $9MM-10MM per year, so it could be a costly acquisition for Denver. The Broncos could be willing to spend for him, however, given Amos’ connection with new head coach Vic Fangio.
- The Broncos have had good conversations with the reps for center Matt Paradis and linebacker Shaquil Barrett, but the plan remains for both to test free agency, Renck hears (link). Barrett says he wants a starting role, so that could be a factor in where he lands. Paradis, meanwhile, is one of the best available centers in free agency, and he has drawn interest from the Jets.
- The Broncos also have interest in re-signing Jared Veldheer, but they’re likely to let him test free agency before getting deep into negotiations (link). Instead, the Broncos could turn their attention to right tackle Ja’Wuan James, who could leave the Dolphins in free agency this week.
Eagles To Sign Malik Jackson
And then there was one. Malik Jackson will sign with the Eagles, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Word of Jackson’s impending deal comes moments after we learned the Eagles and Packers were the leading contenders to sign the defensive tackle. 
When all is said and done, it will be a three-year, $30MM deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). There’s no word yet on the guarantees or pay structure, but it sounds like a solid deal for both sides.
Jackson joined the Jaguars on a six-year, $85.5MM in 2016. Then, last week, the Jaguars released him in a cost-cutting measure. His release did not come as a huge surprise – Taven Bryan supplanted him down the stretch of the 2018 season and his contract precluded the club from trading him.
Last year, Jackson notched just 32 tackles and 3.5 sacks, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 85th among 112 interior defenders. However, he was a Pro Bowler as recently as 2017 and enjoyed a solid first season in Jacksonville. Jackson also racked up 14.5 sacks across his final three years in Denver, despite only spending one of those campaigns as a full-time starter.
With Jackson, the Eagles have successfully upgraded their defensive front after trading Michael Bennett to the Patriots.
Eagles, Packers Eyeing Malik Jackson
The Jaguars dumped Malik Jackson last week, but the defensive tackle won’t be out of work for long. Jackson is in advanced negotiations with both the Packers and Eagles, Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter) hears. Those two clubs are Jackson’s “primary options,” but there could be other clubs in on the veteran. 
Jackson had three years to go on the six-year, $85.5MM contract he inked with the Jaguars in 2016, but the Jags cut him to save $11MM against the cap. They tried to find a suitable trade for Jackson, but were unable to find a team willing to take on his contract and forfeit anything of value.
Jackson didn’t miss a single game during his time with the Jaguars and even earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2017. However, he took a step back in 2018 and was benched late in the season in favor of Taven Bryan. Jackson finished the season with 32 tackles and 3.5 sacks, with Pro Football Focus ranking him just 85th among 112 interior defenders.
The Packers have been looking for a defensive line upgrade and Jackson could be a strong value add. Meanwhile, the Eagles are looking to fortify their D-Line in the wake of the Michael Bennett trade.
Giants To Re-Sign C Spencer Pulley
The Giants are signing restricted free agent center Spencer Pulley, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The two sides have agreed to a three-year, $9.6MM extension, keeping him in the fold through the 2021 campaign. 
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Pulley, 26 in April, spent the first two seasons of his career with the Chargers. In 2017, he started every game in the middle for L.A. In 2018, he hooked on with the Giants, where he started in nine of his 13 games.
Last year, Pulley graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 26 ranked center in the NFL out of 38 qualified players. His 567 snaps made for a limited sample size, but the score was more or less the same as his 2017 showing.
Packers Won’t Sign Tashaun Gipson
The Packers had talks with safety Tashaun Gipson, but it appears he will be signing elsewhere, a source tells Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel (on Twitter). It’s not clear whether Gipson’s asking price was too high for Green Bay or if he simply preferred another team, but the Packers were interested in meeting with him. 
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Reading between the lines, this could mean that Gipson is on the verge of signing elsewhere. Released by the Jaguars late last week, Gipson was expected to have a strong market for his services.
Free agency officially begins on Wednesday, but Gipson has an early jump on the competition thanks to his Friday release. That’s excellent news for Gipson, because this year’s free agent safety market is positively stacked.