Panthers Re-Sign QB Taylor Heinicke
One of the lower-profile backup quarterbacks in the NFL last season, Taylor Heinicke saw some game action after Cam Newton‘s injury. The Panthers are bringing him back for another season.
The team announced Heinicke re-signed to stay in Carolina. He joins Newton and Kyle Allen as the Panthers’ quarterbacks.
A UDFA whom the Panthers brought in via waiver claim from the Texans last year, Heinicke made one start last season and finished his season with one touchdown pass and three interceptions. The Panthers turned to Allen by season’s end, with Heinicke suffering an elbow injury that sent him to IR. But they are keeping the 25-year-old Heinicke around nonetheless.
NFC Notes: Olsen, Suh, Remmers, 49ers
We now have some details on Mike Remmers‘ release from the Vikings earlier today. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle points out (on Twitter) that the offensive lineman was cut with a “failed physical designation.” ESPN’s Courtney Cronin notes (via Twitter) that the 29-year-old was listed on Minnesota’s final injury report of the season with a back injury, but he proceeded to play the entire game.
This provides a bit of reasoning for why the Vikings decided to bail on Remmers after inking him to a five-year, $30MM in 2017. In fact, it sounds like Minnesota is actually considering bringing Remmers back. Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press tweets that the team would considering re-signing the lineman on a lesser deal.
The move ultimately saved the organization $4.55MM against $1.8MM in dead cap. The veteran has experience playing both offensive guard and offensive tackle, so a team will surely bite on his versatility.
Let’s check out some more notes out of the NFC…
- Ndamukong Suh isn’t expected to stick with the Rams, but it sounds like the hulking defensive lineman wants to stay on the West Coast (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com). As the writer points out, that’d leave Suh with three options: the 49ers, Chargers, or Seahawks. The 32-year-old signed a one-year, $14MM deal with the Rams last offseason, and he proceeded to compile 59 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 16 starts.
- It sounds like some networks were working hard to add Panthers tight end Greg Olsen. Joe Person of The Athletic tweets that both ESPN and Fox made offers to the veteran, but it wasn’t enough to convince Olsen to retire. Person warns that Monday Night Football “could still come calling, but nothing imminent.” The 34-year-old battled injuries for a second straight season, finishing with 27 receptions for 291 yards and four scores in nine games.
- Bradley Roby isn’t the only cornerback the 49ers are eyeing. According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic (via Twitter), the team is also showing interest in Colts cornerback Pierre Desir. The 28-year-old has a breakout season with Indy in 2018, finishing with 79 tackles, eight passes defended, two forced fumbles, and one interception.
Dolphins Interested In Tyrod Taylor
The Dolphins are rumored to be targeting Tyrod Taylor to serve as a stopgap signal-caller after the expected release of Ryan Tannehill, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. That is in keeping with a report from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, who writes that Miami is expected to show interest in Taylor, and potentially one or two other free agent QBs.
The entire piece from Jackson is worth a read for Miami fans in need of some optimism, as he observes that the Dolphins are well-positioned to have $120MM of cap space in 2020. So, if Miami can land a franchise-caliber QB by the end of 2020 draft — a big “if,” to be sure — then the club will have plenty of flexibility to augment the roster in free agency and accelerate its rebuild.
In the meantime, new head coach Brian Flores understands that there may be some short-term pain. But Jackson writes that Flores does not want his team to completely tank, so a veteran QB that can at least keep the team somewhat competitive is definitely in the cards.
Dan Graziano of ESPN.com says the Ravens and Panthers are also obvious suitors for Taylor, so Miami may have some competition for him. As for Tannehill, Graziano suggests that he could reunite with Adam Gase, now the Jets‘ head coach, as Sam Darnold‘s backup.
Panthers Re-Sign Colin Jones
The Panthers have re-signed special teamer Colin Jones to a two-year deal, per Joe Person of The Athletic (via Twitter). Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer tweets that the deal is worth $2.6MM.
Jones just finished the two-year extension (worth $2.4MM) that he signed in March 2017. He is a safety by trade and has started eight games at safety over the past two seasons (racking up two interceptions during that time), but his true value comes on special teams. He appeared in over 82% of Carolina’s special teams snaps in 2018 and tied for the team lead in ST tackles. He also served as the Panthers’ special teams captain last year.
Jones entered the league as a sixth-round pick of the 49ers in 2011 but has been with the Panthers since 2012. Carolina clearly appreciates his special teams ability and the depth he offers in the secondary.
Rams Sign Eric Weddle
A fast-moving Friday will include Eric Weddle landing with a third NFL team. The veteran safety will sign with the Rams, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Zreibec (on Twitter).
With a “Fear the beard” tweet, the Rams appeared to confirm this transaction.
Weddle will join the defending NFC champions, who may now be set to let Lamarcus Joyner walk as a free agent. This is a two-year pact worth $10.5MM and one that could be worth up to $12.5MM, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He will receive $5.25MM fully guaranteed, per RapSheet (on Twitter).
Weddle had a visit scheduled with the Rams and received 11 offers since the Ravens released him earlier this week, and Albert Breer of SI.com tweets Weddle was at the Rams’ facility on Friday. The 34-year-old safety will be the latest addition to a star-studded roster, albeit one that could take some hits in free agency. Joiner is a free agent after playing 2018 on the franchise tag.
A three-time Pro Bowler with the Ravens and a player with six Pro Bowls on his 12-season resume, Weddle will join John Johnson on Los Angeles’ back line. The longtime San Diego Charger is back in southern California. The Panthers and Giants were two of the teams interested in Weddle, according to Joe Person of The Athletic and Matt Lombardo of NJ.com (Twitter links).
The two-time first-team All-Pro initially said he would retire if the Ravens released him but later backtracked on that. Weddle worked against the Rams in scrimmages last summer and will now attempt to be an integral figure on another defense.
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. 
[RELATED: Jets Tender Robby Anderson]
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.
Panthers Exercise Torrey Smith’s Option
The Panthers have exercised Torrey Smith‘s option for the 2019 season, ensuring the veteran wideout will return to Carolina next season, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweets.
Carolina acquired Smith, now 30 years old, from the Eagles last offseason in exchange for cornerback Daryl Worley. He’s due to collect a $5MM base salary in 2019, but the Panthers could have moved on without absorbing any dead money onto their salary cap, as Smith has no guarantees remaining in his deal. Smith will now reach free agency during the 2020 offseason.
Smith missed five games due to a knee injury last season, appearing in only 11 games while making six starts. He was targeted just 31 times on the year, hauling in 17 of those targets for 190 yards and two touchdowns. Smith has never been a volume receiver, but he hasn’t topped 12 yards per reception since 2015, and hasn’t posted more than 40 catches since 2014.
The Panthers are expected to let free agent wideout Devin Funchess walk this offseason, so Smith could be in line for more snaps. He’ll play alongside 2018 first-round pick D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, and Jarius Wright.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/6/19
Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agent tender decisions:
RFAs
Tendered at original-round level:
- Giants: WR Corey Coleman
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Dolphins: G Isaac Asiata, G/T Jesse Davis, T Zach Sterup, DE Jonathan Woodard
- Lions: S Charles Washington
- Giants: OL Jon Halapio, FB Elijhaa Penny, K Aldrick Rosas
- Panthers: DE Bryan Cox Jr.
Non-tendered:
- Giants: DL Jordan Williams
Panthers’ Williams Likely To Hit Free Agency
Contract talks have stalled between the Panthers and right tackle Daryl Williams, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. Williams is now on course to explore the open market when free agency begins on March 13, barring a shift in negotiations. 
Williams, 27 in August, played in only one game last season after undergoing knee surgery. However, he was solid in 2017 and earned a second-team All-Pro nod.
If Williams walks, Person speculates that the Panthers may lean towards keeping left tackle Matt Kalil, a long rumored potential salary cap casualty. Kalil missed the entire 2018 season a knee issue of his own and is set to carry a $12.15MM cap hit in 2019. On March 15, $1MM of Kalil’s $7MM base salary will become fully guaranteed. Ultimately, Taylor Moton could be the club’s only tackle of note to return.
Also of note – on the whole, Person hears from league sources that the Panthers will apply their limited funds to the second wave of free agency rather than going big on one or two free agents.
Panthers Re-Sign LB Jared Norris
Just before the start of free agency, the Panthers are locking up one of their own. Carolina is re-signing linebacker Jared Norris to a two-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Terms of the deal weren’t announced, but it’s likely pretty close to the minimum. Rapoport notes that the team gave him a $150K signing bonus, which would seem to indicate they plan on him making the team out of training camp. Norris was a standout linebacker at Utah, but went undrafted in 2016. He latched on with the Panthers, and was able to make the team as a rookie.
He appeared in just three games this past year after he was placed on injured reserve in October with a toe injury. Norris hasn’t played a single snap on defense in his three years with the team, but has been a key special teamer when healthy. An inside linebacker, Norris will provide emergency depth on defense and should be making plays on special teams again next year.