Bengals Sign LB Preston Brown
The Bengals have signed linebacker Preston Brown, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal for the Cincinnati native. 
Brown was hoping to re-sign with the Bills on a multi-year deal, Jim Owczarski of the Enquirer writes, but that never materialized. Earlier this month, we heard that the Patriots had interest in Brown, but it’s not clear if that ever came close to happening.
Brown, 26 in October, led the league in tackles in 2017 while playing the third-most defensive snaps (1,180) of any linebacker in the NFL. The former third-round pick has started nearly every possible game (62 of 64) during his four-year career and has never missed a contest due to injury. I had Brown ranked as one of the 50 best free agents available heading into this week.
Brown projects to start at middle linebacker, which will allow Vontaze Burfict to remain at outside linebacker.
The Bengals haven’t had the flashiest offseason in the NFL, but they’ve made some moves of note. This week, they traded for Bills left tackle Cordy Glenn and re-signed tight end Tyler Eifert.
[RELATED: Bengals Depth Chart]
Texans To Sign Johnson Bademosi
Former Patriots’ special teams standout Johnson Bademosi has agreed to a two-year, $6.25MM deal with the Texans, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The new deal makes him the highest-paid special teams player in the NFL. 
Bademosi was traded from the Lions to the Patriots last September in a deal that netted Detroit a 2019 sixth-round pick. By allowing Bademosi to walk, the Patriots figure to recoup some draft capital. Bademosi is the Pats’ fifth compensatory free agent to depart, which should improve their draw in 2019.
Bademosi, 28 in July, could also see some time at cornerback for Houston. He made six starts at CB over the last two seasons.
The Texans made two moves of note in the secondary this week by adding Aaron Colvin and re-signing Johnathan Joseph. Meanwhile, safety Marcus Gilchrist left to sign with the Raiders.
Panthers’ Greg Olsen Auditions For ESPN
Could Greg Olsen transition to the broadcast booth? The Panthers tight end is auditioning to be an analyst on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post (Twitter links). Marchand adds that he could also be in the mix for FOX’s Thursday Night Football, if Peyton Manning turns down the job. 
While Olsen was sidelined last season, he called a game for FOX and did well. His performance during the Nov. 19 game between the Rams and Vikings led many to think that Olsen could have a future in TV someday. Few thought that Olsen could consider the transition now, however.
For what it’s worth, Panthers officials are aware that Olsen is in Bristol, Connecticut (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s David Newton). However, they believe this is more about planning for the future and that Olsen plans to play this season.
Olsen, 33, pushed the Panthers for a new contract last season. Ultimately, he agreed to continue on his deal, though the team added $2MM in incentives to his pact for 2017. If Olsen is on the fence between suiting up in 2018 or beginning his broadcasting career, the Panthers may have to sweeten the pot yet again.
Seahawks To Sign TE Ed Dickson
The Seahawks have signed tight end Ed Dickson, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a three-year deal with a maximum value of $14MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Dickson currently projects to take over as the Seahawks’ starting tight end following Jimmy Graham‘s departure in free agency. Graham signed a much more lucrative three-year deal with the Packers earlier this week.
The Panthers were hoping to re-sign Dickson, but they bowed out of the bidding on Friday morning. The Panthers will now search for a new No. 2 tight end to slot behind star Greg Olsen and that endeavor effectively could result in a tight end swap between Carolina and Seattle. The Panthers have interest in Seahawks free agent Luke Willson and met with him earlier this week.
At present, Seattle’s tight end depth chart is comprised of Dickson, Nick Vannett, and 2017 undrafted free agent Tyrone Swoopes.
Saints To Re-Sign Alex Okafor
Alex Okafor is back with the Saints. New Orleans has re-signed the pass rusher to a two-year deal worth up to $10MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Okafor visited the rival Buccaneers this week, but wound up staying put. That was Okafor’s only known outside visit and it’s quite possible that his list of suitors was limited by the torn Achilles that ended his 2017 early. Rapoport hears that he is recovering well from his torn Achilles, though he is still not 100%.
Before the injury, Okafor started in all ten of his games and racked up 4.5 sacks with a career high 43 tackles. He’ll look to turn in a similarly strong performance over a 16-game set this time around.
In addition to re-signing Okafor, the Saints have also added Demario Davis to the front seven.
Colts To Meet With WR Ryan Grant
Free agent wide receiver Ryan Grant is set to meet with the Colts, his agent tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Grant had an agreement to join the Ravens, but that deal was nullified on Thursday due to the results of his physical. 
While the Ravens’ doctors were not comfortable with signing Grant, agent Rocky Arceneaux says that his ankle is a non-issue. Arceneaux says his client has been working out and running routes without any issue. Grant’s ankle was cleared by famed surgeon Dr. Robert Anderson, the agent says, and he insists his client is ready to rock.
“If there were a game tomorrow, Ryan would be able to play,” the agent said.
Grant had a breakout season in 2017, notching 45 receptions for 573 yards and four touchdowns with Washington. The Redskins previously expressed interest in retaining Grant, so that could be another possibility for him if a deal doesn’t come together with the Colts.
Extra Points: DRC, Redskins, Maxwell
Free agent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie says he’s in no rush to make a decision in free agency. Right now, he’s hoping to make a decision “in April sometime” (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson).
Rodgers-Cromartie visited with the Redskins and had a meeting scheduled with the Saints, but it seems that New Orleans lost interest after signing fellow corner Patrick Robinson. The Redskins could still use an addition to their cornerback group, but it’s possible that their offer was not to DRC’s liking. Or, perhaps no offer was made.
Before he was released by the Giants, DRC reportedly agreed to play safety in 2018. That could be a solution for him if his market continues to stall.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- As teams try to hold onto their own players, two to watch: The Redskins are working to keep outside linebacker Junior Galette and the Seahawks are doing the same with cornerback Byron Maxwell, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). We had Galette ranked as a top-12 edge rusher heading into free agency. Maxwell did not make the top 15 at his position due to his decline in performance and the depth of this year’s CB crop.
- Linebacker Demario Davis says the Jets didn’t make him an offer before he signed with the Saints. “The shocking thing was the Jets didn’t make me an offer, so that made my decision easy because all I had to do was look at the contenders,” Davis said (via Rod Walker of The Advocate). “It would have been something to weigh. The hardest decision isn’t where to go, but deciding if you want to go or stay. So I didn’t have to make that decision so that was the peaceful thing about it. I was able to just weight my options objectively.” Things worked out just fine for Davis as he signed a three-year, $24MM deal with New Orleans.
- The Dolphins have been talking with agent Drew Rosenhaus about re-signing offensive tackle Sam Young, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald tweets. If retained, Young would return as Miami’s third offensive tackle.
Benson Mayowa To Visit Colts
Former Cowboys edge rusher Benson Mayowa is visiting with the Colts, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Mayowa has also reportedly drawn the interest of the Jets, Redskins, and Seahawks, but he remains unsigned more than one week after being informed of his released from the Cowboys. 
Mayowa, 27 in August, had just 31 tackles and one sack in his 381 snaps for Dallas in 2017. However, he had six sacks in the previous season. The Cowboys initially signed Mayowa when he was a restricted free agent and regarded as a high-potential player out of Oakland. Although he didn’t do much last year, he’s still young and teams believe he has upside.
The Colts agreed to sign Denico Autry, another ex-Raider, to a three-year deal worth nearly $18MM on Wednesday. Autry is likely to start at one defensive end spot, opposite Jabaal Sheard. Johnathan Hankins and Al Woods, meanwhile, figure to start in between.
Latest On TE Ed Dickson
The Panthers are out of the bidding for tight end Ed Dickson, a source tells Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Dickson’s visit with the Seahawks has been extended into Friday as the two sides work towards finalizing a deal. 
The Panthers were hoping to retain Dickson, but he found a sizable market this week. The Seahawks are keenly interested, especially after losing star Jimmy Graham to the Packers.
Dickson, 31 this summer, was mainly used as a secondary blocking tight end for most of his stay with the Panthers. However, he got a chance to shine last year when starting tight end Greg Olsen was lost to injury. He racked up 437 receiving yards and a touchdown last season, an improvement over his 370 receiving yards from 2014-16.
Dickson is also on the Falcons’ radar as they seek a complementary tight end to play behind/with Austin Hooper. From the sound of it, Seattle may beat them to the punch.
Lions To Meet With RB Mike Davis
The Lions will meet with running back Mike Davis on Friday, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Davis also has other visits lined up after his Detroit trip, Rapoport adds. 
Davis, a fourth-round pick of the Niners in 2015, was claimed off waivers by Seattle in May. Although he didn’t make the Week 1 cut, the Seahawks signed him to the taxi squad after releasing him. In November, Davis earned a promotion to the varsity squad when C.J. Prosise landed on IR.
Davis’ stat line doesn’t jump off the page, but he did have some performances of note late last season. On Dec. 10 against Jacksonville, he ran for 66 yards off of 15 carries, good for a 4.4 yards per carry average. Then, in the season finale against Arizona, he had 48 yards off of ten attempts. He’s not a surefire answer for the Lions’ running woes, but he could compete for a spot on the roster.
On Friday morning, the Lions announced that running back Zach Zenner has been re-signed. If Davis is inked, that would make six RBs under contract for Detroit. Even then, they’d still continue to explore options in free agency and the draft.