Lions To Meet With Matt Slauson
Chargers free agent guard Matt Slauson is visiting the Lions on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Slauson was ranked as PFR’s fifth best interior lineman available heading into free agency. 
Slauson, 32, started seven games at left guard the Chargers before being shelved in October with a biceps injury. He also offers previous experience at center. Last year’s starting center, Travis Swanson, is a free agent, so they could be eyeing Slauson to be their new starter in the middle.
Alternatively, Graham Glasgow could be shifted over to center with Slauson displacing Joe Dahl at one starting guard spot. For a complete look at the Lions’ offensive line situation and overall depth chart, check out their page on Roster Resource.
Saints To Meet With Ndamukong Suh
The Saints have interest in former Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). They’re working to bring the monster defensive tackle in on a visit this week.
Jane Slater of NFL.com reports (on Twitter) this visit will occur, with Suh set to trek to New Orleans on Friday. Slater notes the Cowboys are not expected to be in the running for the dominant defensive tackle. 
If New Orleans is the first visit for Suh, that bodes well for his chances to sign with the Saints, as Rapoport notes. The Seahawks are also among the clubs with interest and there are conflicting reports about the Cowboys’ level of interest in the multiple-time Pro Bowler.
Suh stands as the best free agent on the board after securing his release from Miami. The Dolphins’ decision to release Suh had more to do with his contract than his performance. Last year, he has the fifth-best interior defender in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. He also finished out the season with 48 tackles and 4.5 sacks – solid numbers, even if they’re down from previous seasons.
The Saints have a host of defensive linemen out in free agency, headlined by defensive end Alex Okafor. If the season were to start today – a funny phrase here in March – they’d project to start David Onyemata and Tyeler Davison in the middle. Needless to say, Suh would provide a major boost to New Orleans’ front four.
Raiders Sign WR Jordy Nelson
The Raiders have signed wide receiver Jordy Nelson, as first reported by his former teammate James Jones (on Twitter). It’s a two-year, $15MM deal with $13MM guaranteed. The news has been confirmed by Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). 
Nelson was a cap casualty of the Packers, but several teams were eager to bring him into the fold. The Raiders beat out the Seahawks and Saints, who were also making a strong push for him.
The Raiders released Michael Crabtree on Thursday in order to make room for Nelson. At this stage of their careers, not everyone would prefer Nelson to Crabtree, although the Raiders’ new head coach obviously does. Nelson is coming off of his worst season, statistically speaking, since 2012. He caught 53 passes for 482 yards and six touchdowns. Crabtree, meanwhile, had his worst season as a Raider, though he had 58 grabs for 618 yards and eight TDs.
Nelson now slots in as the Raiders’ No. 2 wide receiver behind Amari Cooper, as shown on Roster Resource. Seth Roberts and Cordarrelle Patterson are also on the depth chart. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Raiders continue to explore the wide receiver market for depth, though there will also be options in the draft.
This will be a chance for Nelson to bounce back. Although he was only selected to one Pro Bowl (in 2014) during his run as Aaron Rodgers‘ favorite target, Nelson became the Packers’ second-leading receiver scorer. Only Don Hutson caught more touchdowns as a Packer than Nelson’s 69. He has four 1,000-yard seasons to his credit, with the most recent coming in 2016 despite having suffered an ACL tear in 2015.
The former second-round pick and Super Bowl hero caught 97 passes for 1,257 yards and 14 TDs during his last full season with Rodgers, and the Raiders are clearly banking he can return to close to that level with this signing.
[RELATED: Raiders Depth Chart]
Raiders Release WR Michael Crabtree
The Raiders are releasing wide receiver Michael Crabtree, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). With Crabtree out of the picture, a source tells Schefter that there is a “high probability” of wide receiver Jordy Nelson landing in Oakland (UPDATE: Nelson has signed with the Raiders).
There have been whispers of Crabtree’s exit from Oakland for several months. At one point, Jon Gruden seemed to indicate that Crabtree would be back with the team in 2018. Such talk, apparently, was premature. The Raiders will move on from Crabtree’s $7MM salary and are likely to fill that void with Nelson.
Last season, Crabtree posted his worst season as a Raider, managing only 58 reception and 618 yards in 14 games. In January, his $7MM salary seemed a bit rich given his down year, but it’s not so crazy when compared to some of the free agent deals signed by other receivers this year.
Take Marqise Lee‘s new contract with the Jaguars, for example. He can earn a maximum of $38MM over the course of his four-year contract. Even if his “true” average annual value falls short of $9.5MM, it’s still a good indicator of what Crabtree can expect to get in free agency. On the other hand, many of this year’s wide receiver voids have already been filled.
Browns Trade Jason McCourty To Patriots
Jason McCourty isn’t being released by the Browns after all. The cornerback has been traded to the Patriots, according to an announcement from Cleveland. The deal will see McCourty and a seventh-round pick head to New England in exchange for the Patriots’ sixth-round choice. 
The Browns announced on Thursday afternoon that they would be releasing McCourty. Quickly, speculation emerged about McCourty joining up with the Patriots, who are in need of a cornerback after losing Malcolm Butler to free agency. He’s going to New England, but it’s going to be via a trade rather than a free agent signing.
Browns GM John Dorsey said that he was moving on from McCourty because he wasn’t sure if he would make the team’s roster in September. That doesn’t necessarily jive with the rest of the league’s assessment of McCourty’s skills. Last year, he graded out as a top-30 cornerback in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. His play, according to the advanced metrics, was in line with his best seasons with the Titans in 2012 and 2013.
This, of course, will reunite Jason McCourty with twin brother Devin McCourty, who is entering his ninth season as a Patriots safety. The duo played together at Rutgers, with Jason entering the draft in 2009 and Devin following him a year later.
The McCourtys will turn 31 during Patriots training camp. But the Pats could use a replacement for Butler. They may opt to seek younger help in the draft or at least bolster their position, but a two-McCourty setup could be a common site for New England’s defense this coming season. The Pats still have Eric Rowe in the fold for 2018 as well.
This also continues the Patriots-Browns pipeline that’s been flowing for a bit. Cleveland acquired Jamie Collins from New England in 2016, and the Patriots added Barkevious Mingo from the Browns earlier that year. And last weekend, the Browns shipped Danny Shelton to the Pats.
[RELATED: Patriots Depth Chart]
Extra Points: Seahawks, Nelson, Browns
The Raiders are in the mix to sign Jordy Nelson, but it’s not a done deal just yet. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) cautions not to count out the Seahawks in the Nelson chase, given John Schneider‘s history with the wide receiver.
In 2008, the Packers traded back with the Jets in the second round in order to select Nelson. Schneider was a big reason for that deal as he advocated for Nelson in the war room. Now, Schneider is at the helm in Seattle with a very real chance at signing the veteran.
The Saints, reportedly, are also pushing to sign Nelson.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Browns GM John Dorsey said he released cornerback Jason McCourty because he wasn’t sure he’d make the roster and, given his veteran status, wanted to give him a chance to catch on with another team (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon). McCourty had a solid bounce back year with the Browns, so it’s surprising to hear that Dorsey wasn’t sure if McCourty would quality for the 53-man roster. In any event, he figures to have a ripe market.
- Meanwhile, Browns coach Hue Jackson confirmed that Tyrod Taylor is the Browns starting quarterback for 2018. “He’s going to be the starting quarterback. There is no competition,” Jackson said (Twitter link via NFL.com’s James Palmer). The Browns hold the No. 1 and No. 4 overall picks in this year’s draft and one of those selections will almost certainly be used on a QB. Whoever that rookie is, apparently, will be learning from the bench at the outset.
- The Raiders were a close second for Johnathan Joseph before he agreed to re-sign with the Texans, according to Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (on Twitter). Joseph re-upped with Houston on Thursday with a two-year deal.
- The Eagles and Giants are showing interest in Bears free agent punter Pat O’Donnell, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Vikings Officially Sign Kirk Cousins
The worst kept secret in football is no longer a secret. The Vikings have officially inked quarterback Kirk Cousins to a three-year, fully guaranteed deal. 
Cousins now takes the reins of a Vikings team that came one win away from a Super Bowl appearance. Last year, Case Keenum transformed from an NFL afterthought to a legitimate NFL starter. Cousins comes in with a much stronger resume and, frankly, a sharper skillset.
Cousins’ three-year contract is worth a reported $84MM. The $28MM average annual value is less than anyone expected, but the deal is revolutionary in that it is 100% guaranteed. Cousins’ deal figures to shape the future deals of other quarterbacks, including upcoming extension talks for Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson, and other star signal callers.
There were plenty of clubs interested in Cousins – including the Jets, Cardinals, and Broncos – but Minnesota wound up being Cousins’ first and only free agent visit. The Jets had the most cap room of the bunch to work with, by far, but Cousins apparently valued the opportunity to win right away with the Vikings. The Jets wound up going to their Plan B by re-signing Josh McCown and adding Teddy Bridgewater. The Cardinals inked Sam Bradford to a short-term deal that will cost less than Cousins’ deal, but is still fairly hefty with $20MM coming to him in 2018. The Broncos, meanwhile, were the first of the group to sign a QB by inking Keenum.
[RELATED: Vikings Depth Chart]
Raiders To Sign FB Keith Smith
Jon Gruden vowed to restore the importance of the fullback position and he took a major step towards that endeavor on Thursday. The Raiders and fullback Keith Smith have agreed to terms on a two-year worth $4.2MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Smith, 26 in April, was non-tendered by the Cowboys this week. He quickly drew interest on the open market, not just from the Raiders, but the Falcons as well.
Smith is undoubtedly happy about the way things turned out. Had he been tendered by Dallas, he would have made just $1.908MM in 2018.
The Cowboys only used Smith on 12% of their snaps last season, but he could be in for an uptick in playing time with the Raiders, particularly since former Dallas special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia is in Oakland.
It remains to be seen exactly who he’ll be doing the lead blocking for, however. The Raiders inked Doug Martin to a one-year deal on Thursday and Marshawn Lynch‘s status remains murky.
Jets Likely To Sign K Cairo Santos
The Jets are meeting with kicker Cairo Santos, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Santos was PFR’s No. 7 ranked kicker heading into free agency, behind last year’s Jets kicker, Chandler Catanzaro.
Catanzaro has agreed to sign with the Bucs on a three-year deal worth $9.75MM, leaving the Jets with a void at kicker.
Santos was the Chiefs’ kicker for three seasons, but an injury during pregame warmups before a game against the Chargers led to Santos’ Kansas City exit. The Brazilian specialist finished last season with the Bears, kicking in three games. The 26-year-old kicker made 31 of his 35 field goal tries during his last full slate with the Chiefs in 2016.
Ravens Interested In TE Eric Ebron
The Ravens have interest in tight end Eric Ebron, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). Ebron became a free agent this week when the Lions opted to release him. 
With Jimmy Graham, Trey Burton, and Tyler Eifert spoken for, Ebron stands as the best tight end remaining, at least in terms of what he can do as a receiver. Ebron’s lack of blocking ability hurts his market somewhat, but he finished last season with 53 catches for 574 yards and four touchdowns and appeared to get his habit of dropped balls under control.
The Lions cut Ebron in order to get out of paying him $8.25MM in 2018. The Ravens, in all likelihood, can sign him for less.
In theory, Austin Seferian-Jenkins could also be an option for the Ravens, but there has been no reported link between the two parties this week.