Texans Re-Sign P Shane Lechler
The Texans have re-signed punter Shane Lechler, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). It’s a one-year, $2MM deal, according to Mark Berman of FOX 26 (on Twitter). 
Lechler, who was ranked fourth on PFR’s list of free agent punters, is entering his 19th year in the NFL. After spending the first 13 years of his career with the Raiders, Lechler joined up with the Texans in 2013 and has not missed a game in Houston. Last year, Lechler led the league in punting yards with 4,507 and put his boot to the ball 92 times. This year, the Texans hope to use him a little less often.
In other Texans news, the team also re-signed a pair of exclusive rights free agents in safety Corey Moore and defensive end Ufomba Kamalu.
Seahawks Host Jonathan Stewart On Visit
Former Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart is visiting the Seahawks on Thursday, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Garafolo adds that Seattle is looking at “all options” to ignite the running game. 
The Panthers cut Stewart, one of their longest-tenured players, in late February. Stewart found his role downsized in Carolina, but he may get an opportunity for more carries elsewhere. After a backfield combo involving free agent pickup Eddie Lacy flopped in 2017, the Panthers are searching high and low for solutions.
It’s not clear if Stewart has a whole lot left in the tank at this point in his career. In his younger days, Stewart impressed with 1,133 yards and ten touchdowns in the 2009 season. In 2011, he turned in a career-high average of 5.4 yards per carry. He also flirted with 1,000 yards as recently as 2015. However, he didn’t do much last season as had a career-low 3.4 yards per tote behind rookie Christian McCaffrey.
Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry Signs Franchise Tender
Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry signed his franchise tender on Thursday morning, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Landry is now under contract with the team for the 2018 season, but he’s unlikely to stay put for long. 
There was some dispute over whether Landry’s signature on the tender actually mattered. Popular thought was that Landry could not be dealt until he actually inked his one-year, $16MM+ tender. Meanwhile, Mike Florio of PFT reported that Landry has been trade eligible ever since “accepting” the tender, even without adding his signature.
In any case, we now know for certain that Landry can be moved and his signing of the tender could be a sign that a trade has been agreed upon. Where might he land? Several teams have interest in the slot receiver, but only a few of those clubs have the cap room to take him on and give him the long-term pact that he seeks. So far the Bears and Ravens have been linked to Landry. The Panthers, who could use some help at WR, reportedly are not among the clubs in the Landry chase.
Landry, 25, is thought to be seeking a $14MM annual salary and $30MM in guarantees on his next contract. Any team acquiring Landry will likely hammer out an extension with him before pulling the trigger on a trade.
Stedman Bailey Wants To Play Again
Former Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey is hoping to return to the NFL, as Grant Traylor of The Herald Dispatch writes. Many assumed that Bailey’s playing days were over after he survived two gunshots to the head in 2015, but he says his confidence never wavered. 
[RELATED: Tre Mason Looking To Make NFL Return]
“I never had a doubt in my mind that I’d be able to play again,” Bailey said. “It kind of hurt with reports from doctors that I may not be able to walk or I may have trouble speaking again. Me, just being a positive person that I am, I just waved those reports off like, ‘OK, we’ll see.’ I set it in my mind to show them differently. “That incident happened in November 2015 and, five months later, I was on the field running routes and feeling good.”
Bailey has discussed a comeback in the past, but he is even more optimistic now that he has had a surgery to insert a plate into his skull. He believes that plate will allow him to absorb the impact of major hits since it is stronger than skull bone.
Bailey spent three seasons in the NFL with his best campaign coming in 2014. In that season, Bailey hauled in 30 catches for 435 yards and one touchdown.
Bailey, a former West Virginia star, took part in Marshall’s pro day on Wednesday and reportedly looked strong. There’s no word on whether he has picked up interest from NFL teams yet, however.
49ers, Broncos Discuss Aqib Talib Trade
The Broncos and 49ers have discussed a trade that would have sent cornerback Aqib Talib to San Francisco, according to Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, that doesn’t look likely to go down at this time. Meanwhile, Talib’s preference is to be released so that he can sign with a team of his choosing and his top choice is the Patriots, Russini hears. 
Talib has been identified as a trade/release candidate for the Broncos due to his $11MM cap number in 2018. The veteran does not have a no trade clause, but any team acquiring him would want to know that he on board with joining them, so he effectively has the ability to scuttle a deal. That may be the case with the 49ers, who may also want Talib to adjust his contract.
Talib has two years remaining on the six-year, $57MM pact he signed with Denver in 2014. With Chris Harris Jr. and Bradley Roby already in-house, the Broncos can afford to move on from him. What they really can’t afford to do, however, is keep hm at his current rate. The Broncos have several needs to address this offseason, chiefly at the quarterback position.
Signing with the Patriots would represent something of a homecoming for Talib, who spent parts of two seasons with New England earlier this decade. The Patriots already have one high-priced cornerback in Stephon Gilmore, but they’re expected to lose Malcolm Butler to free agency. If Talib is willing to accept less than the $11MM base salary he’s scheduled to collect, New England would seem like an ideal destination.
The 49ers, meanwhile, also make sense as a landing spot for Talib given the state of their secondary and their ample amount of cap space. San Francisco could certainly take on Talib at his current salary, but it’s possible the club has asked Talib to accept a pay reduction under the terms of a trade. After ranking 28th in pass defensive DVOA a season ago, the 49ers can use all the help they can get in their defensive backfield.
Talib, 32, appeared in 15 games with the Broncos in 2017, a campaign which marked his fourth in Denver. Despite his advanced age, Talib is still playing like one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks. Pro Football Focus graded him as the 15th-best CB in the league, while Talib finished third in Football Outsiders’ success rate.
PFR’s Top 50 NFL Free Agents For 2018 1.0
There will be tons of free agents available in March, but only a some of them can be real difference makers for your favorite team. To help separate the wheat from the chaff, we’ve assembled our early list of the Top 50 NFL Free Agents for 2018.
Our early version of the NFL’s top 50 free agents may include players who will be re-signed between now and March 14. When we update this list next week, a few of the big names will be spoken for while new high-profile names will join the fray as veterans become cap casualties.
Recently, we broke down the top free agents by position on both offense and defense, but our rankings below may not have each player listed in the same order. Those position lists took the short-term value of a player into account more heavily, meaning many players in their 30s received prominent placement. Our overall top 50 list favors longer-term value, and is more about forecasting which players will be in highest demand when it comes to years and dollars.
With those caveats out of the way, let’s dive in! Here are Pro Football Rumors’ top 50 NFL free agents for 2018:
1. Kirk Cousins, QB (Redskins): At long last, Kirk Cousins is headed towards unrestricted free agency. You may or may not regard Cousins as a star, 
but he is the best quarterback in recent history to reach the open market and QB-needy teams will be rolling out the red carpet for him. The Jets, Vikings, Broncos, and Cardinals have been named as the top suitors for his services, but the NFL is full of surprises this time of year and we would not be surprised to see other teams get involved. The cash-flush Browns are reportedly keen on signing a lower-cost vet and drafting a QB early, but who’s to say they won’t change course and get in on the Cousins sweepstakes? The Bills, Giants, Dolphins, Bucs, and Colts could also consider kicking the tires here, but there are obstacles in that bunch ranging from established starters already in place (Eli Manning, Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston, and Andrew Luck) to financial constraints. No matter where he goes, it’s almost certain that Cousins will become the league’s highest-paid player of all-time. That is, until another top-tier QB signs a contract extension soon after.
2. Drew Brees (Saints): There are multiple possibilities for Cousins but it’s hard to see a scenario in which Brees actually leaves the Saints. Brees has already said that he does not plan on testing free agency, so he’ll likely put pen to paper before things begin on March 14. As far as we can tell, the only way Brees will think about leaving is if he is lowballed to an extreme degree by the Saints, but that seems improbable based on his history with the team
3. Case Keenum (Vikings): One year ago, no one ever would have expected Keenum to be one of 2018’s most sought-after free agents. The Vikings signed the former Rams signal caller to a one-year, $2MM deal in March with the idea that he would back up Sam Bradford and, eventually slide down to third on the depth chart when/if Teddy Bridgewater returned to full health. When Bradford went down in September, Keenum exceeded all expectations and put together the best season of his career. The 30-year-old graded out as Pro Football Focus’ ninth-ranked QB in 2017, putting him above the likes of Jimmy Garoppolo, Aaron Rodgers, Marcus Mariota, Matthew Stafford, and Tyrod Taylor. With Keenum at the helm, the Vikings earned a first-round bye and beat the Saints in a playoff thriller before succumbing to the Eagles in the NFC championship game. Of course, after four seasons of mediocrity, teams are wondering whether this was an aberration or a real sign of things to come. Teams know that Keenum is not a lock, but he’s also the best Plan B for any team that loses out on Cousins or doesn’t have the means to sign him.
4. Andrew Norwell, G (Panthers): There was a time when tackles were the only offensive linemen to really cash in on the open market. That’s no longer the case, as evidenced by the contracts of Kevin Zeitler (five years, $60MM) and Kelechi Osemele (five years, $58.5MM). Osemele inked his free agent deal with the Raiders in 2016 and Zeitler signed his in the 2017 offseason. Given the cap increase and the natural progression of the market, Norwell figures to reset the market for interior linemen. Keenum figures to gross no less than $20MM/year on his next contract, so he’s slotted behind him, but an average annual value of $13-14MM is not out of the question for the former undrafted free agent.
5. Nate Solder, OT (Patriots): Solder isn’t coming off of his best season and he might be the least sexy name in the top ten. Still, there’s a dearth of tackles league-wide and Solder has been among the league’s best at his position for quite some time. The Patriots are bracing for Solder to leave as they fear he’ll garner offers of $12MM/year. No other tackle in this year’s free agent crop is even close to him in terms of ability, so we’re also buying into the hype. Injuries contributed to Solder’s up-and-down season, particularly early on, so teams will take that into account when evaluating him.
6. Allen Robinson, WR (Jaguars): The Jaguars opted against using the franchise tag on Robinson, which is understandable since they have limited cap space. Robinson missed almost all of 2017 with an ACL tear, but his 2015 season (and even his so-so 2016 campaign) gives teams reason to believe that he can be a quality WR1. Robinson is one of only two such players on the unrestricted market, so expect him to get paid. Robinson probably couldn’t do worse than Kenny Britt‘s four-year, $32MM deal with the Browns from last season (and he should do a whole lot better), but if he is underwhelmed by the multi-year offers he receives, he could always go the Alshon Jeffery route. Jeffery inked a one-year, $9.5MM prove-it deal with the Eagles and that turned out to be a smashing success for both parties. Jeffery was rewarded with a four-year, $52MM extension in December, so Robinson’s camp will surely be open to a pillow contract if necessary. 
7. Sammy Watkins, WR (Rams): Some may view Robinson and Watkins as 1A and 1B in this year’s wide receiver class, particularly since Robinson missed all of 2017 and Watkins, despite his own injury history, played in all but one of the Rams’ games. Unfortunately, Watkins did not have the platform year he was hoping for as he caught just 39 passes for 593 yards. If we strike Robinson’s lost year and Watkins’ down year from the record, the breakdown favors the Jags receiver – Robinson averaged 77 receptions for 1,078 yards and eight touchdowns per 16 games in that set versus Watkins’ 66 grabs for 1,063 yards and seven scores. These two should come pretty close in average annual value, but we give the edge to Robinson.
8. Trumaine Johnson, CB (Rams): Players often bemoan the franchise tag, but Johnson can’t really complain after receiving two consecutive tags from the Rams and earning more than $30MM between 2016 and 2017. The Rams, rightfully, did not consider a third consecutive tag for Johnson at a cost of ~$20MM and they already have his replacement in Marcus Peters. That’s one suitor down, but plenty of other teams will be eager to speak with Johnson, who profiles as the best cornerback in a deep class.
9. Sheldon Richardson, DT (Seahawks): Richardson gave the Jets lots of headaches, but he also gave them high-end production. He didn’t quite match that production in Seattle, but Richardson is positioned for a massive payday anyway since impactful defensive linemen are at a premium. Our own Dallas Robinson estimates that Richardson will garner about $9MM/year, but I would say that is his floor. The top-end of free agency rarely yields team-friendly deals, so Richardson could easily creep into eight figures in AAV, particularly since he does not turn 28 until November.
10. Dontari Poe, DT (Falcons): Poe thought he was in for a monster contract last offseason, but concerns about his lingering back issues forced him to take a one-year, $8MM deal with Atlanta. Teams may still worry about his back being a ticking time bomb, but perhaps they’ll view him in a different light now that he has played back-to-back 16 game seasons and has only missed two regular season contests over the course of his career.
Bengals To Sign DT Chris Baker
The Bengals have signed former Bucs defensive tackle Chris Baker to a one-year deal worth a little more than $3MM, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Baker was released in February, so he did not have to wait until March 14 to sign with a club. 
Baker, 31 in October, disappointed in Tampa Bay after signing a three-year, $15.75MM deal free agent deal. With two years to go, the Bucs dropped him in order to save $4.875MM against the cap.
Because Baker is not a typical free agent, he will not count against the Bengals’ compensatory draft pick formula. He could also be a solid fill-in for Pat Sims, who is headed towards free agency.
Heading into Wednesday, PFR had Baker ranked as the No. 11 interior defensive lineman available in free agency.
Cowboys To Cut DE Benson Mayowa
The Cowboys have released defensive end Benson Mayowa, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Cutting Mayowa will give Dallas $2.75MM in cap room while leaving just $1MM in dead money. 
The Cowboys signed Mayowa in 2016 when he was a restricted free agent of the Raiders. Dallas inked him to a three-year offer sheet with a $3.3MM signing bonus, a deal that Oakland declined to match.
At the time, Mayowa had just three starts to his credit but demonstrated serious potential in his limited game film. Not wanting to cap his long-term earning potential, Mayowa’s reps pushed for a clause that would have allowed him to opt out this offseason if he appeared in 60% of Dallas’ snaps between ’16 and ’17. That never became a factor as Mayowa did not blossom as expected.
Mayowa, 27 in August, had just 31 tackles and one sack in his 381 snaps last season.
In a related move, the Cowboys have also cut defensive tackle Joe Vellano. Vellano hooked on with Dallas’ practice squad late last season and re-signed on a futures deal in January.
Patriots To Release Martellus Bennett
Big changes are on the horizon for both Bennett brothers. The Patriots are releasing tight end Martellus Bennett, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
The move will create about $6MM in salary cap space for New England, bringing their total cap space up around $23MM. That flexibility is hugely important for the Pats as they explore new deals for tackle Nate Solder and wide receiver Danny Amendola.
Bennett was due a $2MM roster bonus on March 14, putting the Pats in a tough position. Although he is immensely talented, Bennett did very little for the Packers (who were burned on an expensive free agent deal) and Pats in 2017.
Bennett will garner plenty of attention on the open market, but questions persist about his commitment to football and his abrupt exit from New England. For his part, Bennett wants to continue playing in 2018.
Bennett, who turns 31 on Saturday, had a great year for the Patriots in 2016, tallying 55 receptions for 701 yards and seven touchdowns.
Giants Acquire LB Alec Ogletree From Rams
The Rams are trading linebacker Alec Ogletree to the Giants, a league source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal will see Ogletree and the Rams’ 2019 seventh-rounder go to the G-Men in exchange for a fourth-round pick and sixth-round pick. 
Thanks to the extension he signed last fall, Ogletree is under contract through 2021. The Rams probably didn’t expect to part ways with him so soon even that the deal included $18MM in full guarantees with $33MM in cash flow over the first three years. L.A. is moving on from him, partially due to financial constraints, but the Giants believe they’re acquiring a quality playmaker on D.
Ogletree, a former first-round pick, started in all 15 of his games last season and racked up 95 tackles and two sacks. The advanced metrics have never been fond of him, but those who have watched him play disagree with the analytics.
Linebacker was one of the Giants’ biggest areas of need this offseason, particularly with Akeem Ayers, Jonathan Casillas, Mark Herzlich, Devon Kennard, Keenan Robinson, and Kelvin Sheppard all headed towards free agency. Last year, the Giants’ run defense sagged and opposing tight ends had their way across the middle of the field. The Giants are hoping that Ogletree’s presence will help in both areas.
The acquisition of Ogletree gives new defensive coordinator James Bettcher a big-time weapon to work with. Ogletree spent much of his career in a 4-3 scheme, but he transitioned to a 3-4 set under Wade Phillips last year, similar to Bettcher’s. It’s worth noting, however, that Ogletree didn’t cleanly fit into 3-4, as Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com (Twitter link) writes.
This marks the latest deal in what has been a busy offseason for the Rams. In recent weeks, L.A. has acquired cornerback Marcus Peters from the Chiefs and shipped defensive end Robert Quinn to the Dolphins.
The Rams were not expected to part ways with Ogletree, but it’s a logical move for cap reasons. Moving Ogletree may allow the Rams to hold on to linebacker Mark Barron and re-sign wide receiver Sammy Watkins. There’s also the outside chance that the Rams find space to retain cornerback Trumaine Johnson and the extra breathing room could help the team in their bid to eventually extend Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald, and Jared Goff.
Per league rules, the trade will not become official until March 14.