Steelers Apply Second-Round Tender To K Chris Boswell
The Steelers are applying the second-round tender to kicker Chris Boswell, as Adam Caplan of SiriusXM tweets. By applying the tender to Boswell, the Steelers have placed a one-year, $2.914MM placeholder on him for 2018.
In theory, another team can sign the restricted free agent away, but that’s unlikely to occur. An unmatched offer sheet would mean surrendering a second-round pick to the Steelers. As good as Boswell is, no kicker is truly worth that amount.
It stands to reason that the Steelers will work to hammer out a lengthier deal with Boswell from here. Last year, Boswell earned his first ever Pro Bowl nod after connecting on 35 of 38 field goal attempts. He also made all but two of his extra point tries.
Buccaneers Extend Cameron Brate
Cameron Brate is set to be a member of the Buccaneers for a long time. The tight end has agreed to a six-year extension, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
Brate, 27 in July, was slated to be a restricted free agent this offseason. It’s a six-year, $41MM agreement for Brate, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports, adding that $18MM will be guaranteed.
The Bucs have decided to devote plenty of resources to stocking their tight end position, considering they used their first-round pick on O.J. Howard last year. But Brate continued to be a key weapon on Tampa Bay’s offense last season despite Howard’s arrival. The former undrafted free agent out of Harvard finished the 2017 campaign with 48 receptions for 591 yards and six scores.
Brate has now caught 14 touchdown passes over the past two years and has amassed more than 1,300 receiving yards in that span. He and Howard combined for 12 touchdown grabs, and the Bucs are keen on making tight end targeting a key component of future offenses. Pair this duo with quarterback Jameis Winston and wideouts Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, and Chris Godwin, and the Buccaneers should have another top-10 passing attack in 2018.
With a $6.8MM-per-year salary, Brate will fall into the middle tier of tight end contracts (right behind Coby Fleener, C.J. Fiedorowicz, and Jermaine Gresham). This will provide a major raise, however, after the former UDFA out of Harvard made just $690K last year.
Texans Pursuing LT Nate Solder
The Texans are making a strong run at left tackle Nate Solder, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The Texans started five different left tackles in 2017, so they are anxious to plug the hole with a capable player like Solder. 
If the Texans are intent on landing Solder, they’ll have to pony up some serious bucks. The veteran ranks fifth on our list of this year’s Top 50 NFL Free Agents.
Solder didn’t have his best season in 2017, but much of that can be attributed to injuries. The incumbent Patriots would like to re-sign him, but the belief is that he’ll garner offers of $12MM/year, which could be too rich for New England’s blood.
The Texans created an opening at left tackle after trading four-time Pro Bowler Duane Brown to the Seahawks last season. That need is compounded by the fact that Chris Clark, who played in 10 games at left tackle last year, starting eight, is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo is also due to become a free agent.
Solder, 29, has consistently rated as an above-average tackle since the Patriots selected him 17th overall in 2011. Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 32 tackle last season and he was in the top 20 the year prior. Solder has appeared in at least 15 games in six of his first seven seasons in the league and would certainly provide protection to the blindside of Deshaun Watson, who’ll be coming off his ACL injury.
Texans Interested In Malcolm Butler
The Texans are among several NFL teams with interest in cornerback Malcolm Butler, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). As reported earlier today, the Saints are also among the teams looking into the Patriots free agent. 
Butler was conspicuously absent from the Super Bowl and did not look like his usual self in 2017. Still, he stands as one of the very best cornerbacks available in this year’s crop. Last week, PFR’s Dallas Robinson ranked Butler as the No. 2 CB available, ahead of Bashaud Breeland, E.J. Gaines, Morris Claiborne, Aaron Colvin, T.J. Carrie, Patrick Robinson, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Prince Amukamara. He trailed only Trumaine Johnson on the list.
Cornerback is high on the Texans’ agenda after Kevin Johnson disappointed and Kareem Jackson turned in an up-and-down season. In hindsight, the Texans probably wish that they made a stronger effort to retain A.J. Bouye last offseason.
Cowboys’ Orlando Scandrick Requests Release
Cowboys cornerback Orlando Scandrick has requested his release from the team, according to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer (on Twitter). The Cowboys are reportedly planning to trade or release Scandrick, but the veteran would prefer to choose his own destination. 
Scandrick is scheduled to carry a $5.28MM cap hit in 2018. By moving on from him, the Cowboys will save $1.4MM while carrying $3.88MM in dead money.
The Cowboys won’t realize any great savings by dumping Scandrick, but his performance last year necessitated the move. In 2017, Scandrick totaled 38 tackles and graded out as one of the ten worst qualified cornerbacks in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. With that in mind, it’s hard to see a trade for him materializing.
The Cowboys nearly traded Scandrick to the Saints during the 2017 draft, but ultimately did not come to terms on a deal that would have brought safety Kenny Vaccaro to Dallas.
Steelers To Release CB Will Gay
The Steelers plan to release cornerback Will Gay on Wednesday, a source tells ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). Gay has also confirmed the news via his own Instagram account.
By releasing Gay, the Steelers will save $1.75MM in cap space. The 33-year-old has never missed a game during his eleven years in the league, but the Steelers are opting to spend that money elsewhere rather than retaining the durable veteran. Gay was set to enter the final year of a three-year, $7.5MM deal.
The Steelers don’t have too many key contributors due to become free agents this offseason. But they still need to figure out if they’re going to extend running back Le’Veon Bell, who they placed their franchise tag on for the second straight season. The Steelers return Joe Haden and Artie Burns as their starting cornerbacks, with Keion Adams, Brian Allen, Cameron Sutton and Antonio Crawford on the roster as well.
Gay,33, is set to enter a cornerback free-agent class led by the likes of Trumaine Johnson, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Prince Amukamara, Brent Grimes and Johnathan Joseph, among others. Richard Sherman became the first cornerback to agree to terms this offseason, agreeing to a three-year, $27.15MM deal with the 49ers, with $7MM guaranteed.
Gay was picked in the fifth round by the Steelers back in 2007. Outside of a year with the Cardinals in 2012, he’s spent his entire career in Pittsburgh, including their Super Bowl title run in 2008.
Dolphins Release Lawrence Timmons
The Dolphins have released Lawrence Timmons, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It was first reported back in February that Miami would be moving on from the veteran linebacker.
By cutting Timmons, the Dolphins will save $5.5MM against the cap. Thomas joined the team on a two-year, $12MM deal last offseason, but leaves after appearing in 14 games (13 starts) and recording 58 tackles. His 58 tackles were his lowest total in any season since 2009.
This move became much easier to make after the Dolphins suspended Timmons in September of last year. That voided some of the linebacker’s future guarantees. Had that not occurred, Timmons probably wouldn’t be an easy cap casualty.
The longtime Steelers starter defected to the Dolphins last March on a two-year, $12MM deal with $11MM guaranteed. He finished 2017 with a middling Pro Football Focus grade, mostly due to porous run defense, and will head back to the market.
The Steelers have announced Ryan Shazier will not play in 2018, so they now have a vacancy at inside linebacker and could possibly be amendable to a Timmons deal at a cheaper rate. But with Timmons going into his age-32 season, it’s also possible (if not likely) the AFC North champions go after a younger player to fill in for Shazier.
Seahawks Hope To Keep DeShawn Shead
The Seahawks are planning to release DeShawn Shead on Monday in a procedural move, but they hope to re-sign him, as Brady Henderson of ESPN.com writes. Shead’s contract tolled, but Seattle is honoring a promise made to him by allowing him to explore free agency. 
The Seahawks will be up against other suitors for the 28-year-old (29 in June), including the Lions. After moving on from Richard Sherman and Jeremy Lane in recent days, the Seahawks would ideally like to maintain some consistency in the secondary.
The Seahawks have four cornerbacks under contract for 2018, but only one – Shaquill Griffin – has started for the team.
Packers Interested In Jimmy Graham
The Packers have reached out to the representatives for tight end Jimmy Graham, according to Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Graham is one of the best tight ends available in this year’s free agent crop and is PFR’s No. 2 ranked player at the position.
The Packers tried to upgrade at tight end last offseason by signing Martellus Bennett to a free agent contract. That deal quickly went sideways, but the Packers remain determined to find a quality red zone threat for Aaron Rodgers at tight end.
Graham was the league’s highest-paid tight end over the last four years with average annual salary of $10MM. He’s not quite the same player that he was in New Orleans, but he’ll also cost a lot less for any team that signs him.
The Saints are said to have interest in a reunion with Graham, but the Packers also profile as a contender and should be of interest to the veteran.
Saints’ Zach Strief Announces Retirement
As expected, Saints offensive lineman Zach Strief has announced his retirement from the NFL. Strief finalized the decision with a Monday afternoon press conference attended by teammates Drew Brees, Coby Fleener, Mark Ingram, Thomas Morstead, and Cam Jordan. 
Strief, a seventh round pick in 2006, spent all 12 seasons of his NFL career with the Saints. The longtime team captain leaves the game after earning millions of dollars and a Super Bowl ring. The lineman was set to earn $4MM in salary and bonuses this season, according to ESPN’s Mike Triplett (via Twitter).
Strief turned in a strong campaign in 2016, but he was limited in 2017 after suffering serious knee injuries. In light of his medical issues, Strief is opting to transition to a new phase of his life with his 35th birthday on the horizon.
The Saints will miss Strief, but they have two quality starting tackles in Terron Armstead and 2017 first-round pick Ryan Ramczyk.