Bears Re-Sign Ben Braunecker
The Bears and tight end Ben Braunecker agreed to a two-year deal, according to a source who spoke with Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Bears did not tender Braunecker as a restricted free agent, but found a way to retain him nonetheless.
Meanwhile, the Bears carved out some additional cap space in advance of free agency, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Defensive tackle Eddie Goldman had a $3MM roster bonus coming to him, but the Bears have converted it into a signing bonus, giving them an extra $2.25MM in breathing room. Heading into Monday, the Bears had less than $20MM in cap room, putting them in the bottom third of the NFL. The Goldman adjustment won’t put them in the same league as cash-flush teams like the Jets, Colts, and Browns, but it will give them some extra flexibility.
Meanwhile, the Bears are reportedly discussing trades for Jordan Howard, which could give them some additional draft capital to work with.
Raiders Interested In Le’Veon Bell
Could Le’Veon Bell reunite with Antonio Brown in Oakland? The Raiders are a sleeper team for the running back, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com hears similar buzz as the Raiders are seeking to use their cap room on offensive firepower while bolstering the defense through the draft. 
Many teams would like to add Bell to the backfield, but only certain clubs are expected to go into the $12MM+/year range for his services. The Raiders, who are desperate for an offensive spark, could be in a position to add another elite weapon days after adding Brown.
Meanwhile, the Jets are the favorites to sign Bell, in the estimation of Peter King of NBC Sports. Lately, we’ve been hearing that the Jets will focus their efforts on second-tier running backs, but it appears there’s been a shift of thinking in New Jersey. Armed with $100MM+ in cap space, the Jets certainly have the resources to add the ex-Steelers back. King can’t envision Bell joining the Colts, unless it was at a discount, and that seems unlikely given the money sacrificed by Bell in 2018. King also believes the Redskins and Dolphins will be in the mix.
Jets, 49ers Interested In Kwon Alexander
The Jets and 49ers are interested in Buccaneers free agent linebacker Kwon Alexander, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (on Twitter) hears. Stroud also hears that Alexander is seeking a deal that would pay him between $10-$12MM. 
Alexander’s 2018 season ended in October after he suffered a torn ACL. Prior to the injury, the linebacker was discussing an extension with the Bucs, though they were unwilling to break the $10MM/year mark for him.
A fourth-round pick in the 2015 draft, Alexander has started 46 games over three-plus years with the Buccaneers. Last season, he posted 38 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one sack while grading as the No. 53 linebacker at the time of his injury, per Pro Football Focus. In 2017, Alexander earned his first career Pro Bowl selection and graded out as PFF’s No. 37 off-ball ‘backer. In 2016, he registered an eye-popping 145 stops.
The Niners are also expected to pursue C.J. Mosley (Ravens) and Anthony Barr (Vikings), according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports, so the linebacker position is high on their agenda.
Given the interest in Alexander, the Bucs are bracing to lose him, Stroud hears. And, on Monday morning, Alexander texted a group of his teammates telling them he’s going to miss them, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter).
The Buccaneers are in a similar boat with wide receiver Adam Humphries, says Stroud, since Humphries is expected to garner offers of $9MM-$10MM on the open market.
Buccaneers Shopping DeSean Jackson
The Buccaneers have been actively shopping DeSean Jackson for a trade, according to ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine. Laine also hears the Eagles would be a preferred destination for the wide receiver. 
The Bucs, naturally, would prefer to trade Jackson rather than releasing him outright. Jackson, meanwhile, would rather be released than traded. The veteran is under contract for one more season at a $10MM cap number, but that sum is completely non-guaranteed, so Jackson would rather start a negotiation from scratch while hand-picking his next team. Apparently, if Jackson had his druthers, he’d reunite with the Eagles.
The Eagles’ level of interest in trading for Jackson is not quite clear, but they would be a logical destination for the wide receiver since they need a deep threat. Last year, they thought they had a suitable deep threat in Mike Wallace, but their offense was limited after Wallace suffered a broken leg in September.
Jackson asked for a trade during the 2018 season and struggled to stay on the same page as Jameis Winston. And, although his 774 receiving yards marked an improvement from his disappointing 2017 showing, Jackson’s best games came when Ryan Fitzpatrick was throwing. The Bucs are committed to Winston for 2019, which will be Jackson’s 12th NFL season.
Eagles To Trade Michael Bennett To Patriots
The Eagles are trading defensive end Michael Bennett to the Patriots, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter). Philadelphia will acquire a 2020 fifth-round pick while New England will receive Bennett and a 2020 seventh-rounder, tweets McLane.
Philadelphia acquired Bennett for a fifth-round pick last year. The Pats attempted to land Bennett from the Seahawks last year; they will make the move a year later, in advance of the versatile defensive lineman’s age-34 season.
Lately, we’ve heard that the Eagles were planning to trade or release Bennett to improve their cap situation. Usually, when a talented player is involved, teams will ask that player to accept a pay cut. On Friday morning, Bennett went on national television to explain that he would not entertain such an offer. In fact, he made it known that he is expecting a raise from his $7.2MM salary for 2019.
It’s not immediately clear whether the Patriots will accommodate his request. Given their track record, it seems unlikely.
In any event, the Patriots have successfully safeguarded themselves against the potential loss of Trey Flowers. Flowers projects as one of the most highly-coveted free agents when the market opens up on Thursday and the Pats are not expected to outbid the competition.
In Bennett, the Patriots acquired a skilled sack artist, albeit one who is several years older than Flowers. Last year, Bennett amassed nine sacks for Philly, giving him his highest total since 2015. The three-time Pro Bowler has 63 career sacks to his name across nine NFL seasons.
Eric Weddle To Visit Rams
Eric Weddle‘s free agent tour is underway. The free agent safety has scheduled a visit with the Rams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Weddle accrued eleven offers since being released by the Ravens last week, Rapoport hears, but he has trimmed his list down to five potential suitors, including the Rams. At this rate, Weddle may find a home before everyone else’s free agency begins on March 13. An early signing would probably behoove Weddle, too, since this year’s free agent safety market is deep and talented.
Weddle did not miss a game during his Ravens run and combined for ten interceptions between the 2016-17 seasons. Before that, Weddle spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Chargers where he appeared in 137 out of a possible 144 regular-season games. In that span, Weddle earned three Pro Bowl nods, five All-Pro bids, and 19 interceptions. Since joining the Ravens, he’s added three more Pro Bowl trips, giving him five in total.
Cowboys To Pick Up Allen Hurns’ Option
The Cowboys will exercise the 2019 option on Allen Hurns‘ contract on Friday, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Per the terms of his deal, Hurns can make up to $6MM and will earn a base salary of $4MM. Word of Hurns’ option being exercised was first passed along by Mike Fisher of 24/7 Sports (on Twitter). 
Hurns signed a two-year, $12MM deal with the Cowboys last March, but was unable to establish himself in Dallas’ offense. He initially looked like he might be the team’s number one receiver after Dez Bryant was cut, but ended up catching just 20 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season. Then, Hurns suffered a dislocated ankle just minutes into the Cowboys’ wild card playoff game against the Seahawks. Unfortunately, it was one of those ugly injuries that non-doctors could immediately diagnose as a season-ender.
Fortunately, Hurns has resumed working out at the Cowboys’ facility, so he should be on track to play in 2019. If he’s able to get back to his old form, the Cowboys could have a very potent passing attack between him and WR1 Amari Cooper.
Jaguars Not Ready To Release Blake Bortles
Blake Bortles‘ time with the Jaguars could be coming to a close, but he won’t get his pink slip on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. Before potentially releasing the quarterback, the Jaguars will likely wait to make sure they can find a quality substitute in free agency. 
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That QB substitute, reportedly, will be Nick Foles, but nothing is final yet. Free agency does not formally begin until Thursday and the so-called “legal tampering” period does not get underway until Monday, March 11.
Only $6.5MM of Bortles’ $16.5MM contract is guaranteed for next season, so the Jaguars are expected to either release him or try to unload him in a Brock Osweiler type of trade. The former No. 3 overall pick is due a $1MM bonus on March 19, so it would be a shocker to see his situation linger beyond that date. By then, the Jaguars should either have a better signal caller in the fold or a plan to roll with Bortles plus a rookie passer.
Bortles, 27 in April, threw for only 13 touchdowns against eleven interceptions last season. In the middle of his 12 starts (which resulted in a 3-9 record), Bortles was demoted twice.
Steelers Trade Marcus Gilbert To Cardinals
The Steelers have agreed to trade tackle Marcus Gilbert to the Cardinals, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In return, the Steelers will receive a draft pick late in the sixth round. 
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The Steelers have been working the phone lines in an attempt to move Gilbert and they found a taker quickly after word broke on Friday. Gilbert, 31, has missed 23 regular season games over the last three years, but he can be a difference-maker for Arizona if he stays healthy and out of trouble with the league.
Since 2011, Gilbert has started in all but one of his games and he has graded out as a top 20 tackle in Pro Football Focus’ rankings in the past. Even in 2018, a down season marred by injury, Gilbert placed as PFF’s No. 41 tackle in the NFL.
The Cardinals’ offensive line was downright porous last offseason and the pocket failed to hold up around rookie quarterback Josh Rosen. Gilbert should help on that front, though the Cardinals – armed with the No. 1 overall pick – still have a ton of work ahead of them.
Jets, Panthers Eyeing Kevin Johnson
Cornerback Kevin Johnson will visit the Jets on Friday night, according to league source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The Panthers, he adds, are also interested in the former Houston cornerback. 
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The Texans released Johnson earlier this week to escape the $9.069MM he was owed for 2019. That was a high price to pay after Johnson lost virtually all of the 2018 season to concussion issues, but plenty of other clubs have interest in him. Already, Johnson has met with the Bills and Browns.
Johnson, a 2015 first-round pick, has missed 29 out of a possible 64 games over the last four seasons. Still, he could profile as a low-risk, high-reward signing on an affordable one-year deal. For the Jets, he’d provide insurance behind Trumaine Johnson who sagged in his first year with the club.