Minor NFL Transactions: 3/20/19
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: QB Tyler Bray
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: LS L.P. Ladouceur
- Signed: LS Drew Scott
Denver Broncos
- Waived: WR Jimmy Williams
Green Bay Packers
- Signed exclusive rights tender: G Lucas Patrick
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed ERFA tender: LS Luke Rhodes
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: WR Geremy Davis
New York Giants
- Re-signed: LB Nate Stupar
New York Jets
- Re-signed: TE Eric Tomlinson
Bears, Jaguars Pursued Adrian Peterson
Adrian Peterson did not find a 2018 landing spot until mid-August, but his Redskins work last season was not the only catalyst for his contract to be finalized much earlier this year.
Both the Bears and Jaguars were in on the Peterson market, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. This likely drove up Peterson’s price. Via the two-year, $8MM deal Washington authorized, the soon-to-be 34-year-old running back is in line to make nearly four times the veteran-minimum money he earned in 2018.
Peterson played quite well in spurts for the 2017 Cardinals, who featured a bottom-tier offensive line, but scant interest came his way last year. On a 2018 Redskins team that saw their line decimated, Peterson still eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards — his eighth such season. He became only the fourth running back to exceed 1,000 yards in his age-33 season (John Henry Johnson, Franco Harris, Frank Gore). Only two — Johnson and John Riggins — have ventured into four-digit territory past age 33.
While Peterson is unlikely to replicate his 1,042-yard season, with Derrius Guice expected to be healthy by Week 1, he will still be in position to add to his Hall of Fame career.
The Bears still have Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen under contract but added Mike Davis early in free agency. The Jaguars feature a less settled running back situation, having cut Carlos Hyde and potentially in line to lose T.J. Yeldon as a free agent. Only 2018 seventh-round pick David Williams resides behind Leonard Fournette, so Jacksonville will be adding to its backfield in some way soon. But Peterson opted for familiarity by staying in Washington, as he said previously he’d hoped to do
Bears Re-Sign P Pat O’Donnell
Pat O’Donnell is returning to Chicago. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the punter will sign a two-year, $4MM deal with the Bears.
The 28-year-old has spent his entire five-year career with Chicago, missing only a single regular season game during that span. Despite finishing with a career-low 62 punts in 2018, O’Donnell still managed to tie a career-high with 28 punts inside of the 20. The former sixth-rounder’s 45-yards-per-punt was also on-par with his career numbers.
O’Donnell is now the third punter to ink a relatively lucrative deal this offseason. Bradley Pinion signed a four-year deal with the Buccaneers while Jordan Berry inked a two-year deal to stay with the Steelers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/19
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: DL Nick Williams
Cleveland Browns
- Re-signed: CB Phillip Gaines
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed exclusive rights free agent tender: DL Isaac Rochell
Oakland Raiders
- Re-signed: OL Chaz Green
- Signed ERFA tender: LB Jason Cabinda
Bears Sign WR Marvin Hall
The Bears have added another wideout. The team announced that they’ve inked receiver Marvin Hall to a deal.
The 25-year-old appeared in all 16 games for the Falcons last season. In only 185 offensive snaps, Hall hauled in 10 receptions for 149 yards and one score. He also served as Atlanta’s primary kick return, compiling 616 yards on 26 returns (good for a 23.7-yard average). The former undrafted free agent also put in some work on special teams, compiling four tackles.
The Bears have already added Cordarrelle Patterson, but they’ve lost Josh Bellamy and Kevin White. The team’s two free agent additions will be joining a receivers corps that already includes Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, and Anthony Miller.
Contract Details: Williams, Webb, Verrett
Here are the latest particulars in recently agreed-upon contracts, courtesy of the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson (unless otherwise noted).
- Tyrell Williams, WR (Raiders): Four years, $44.3MM. $22MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Wilson).
- B.W. Webb, CB (Bengals): Two years, $10.5MM. $2.5MM guaranteed. $1.5MM signing bonus (Twitter link).
- Jeff Heuerman, TE (Broncos): Two years, $9MM. $2MM fully guaranteed, per Mike Klis of 9News.
- Mike Davis, RB (Bears): Two years, $6MM. $3MM guaranteed. $2MM signing bonus (Twitter link).
- D.J. Fluker, OL (Seahawks): Two years, $6MM. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link).
- Jason Verrett, CB (49ers): One year, $3.6MM. $1MM guaranteed. $400K signing bonus (Twitter link).
- Markus Golden, OLB (Giants): One year, $3.75MM. $2.25MM guaranteed (Twitter link).
- Brian Poole, CB (Jets): One year, $2MM. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link).
- Marcedes Lewis, TE (Packers): One year, $2.1MM. $500K signing bonus, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
- Bruce Ellington, WR (Patriots): One year, $895K. $25K signing bonus (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com, on Twitter).
Bears To Sign Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
The Bears are replacing the recently-departed Adrian Amos with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). It will be a one-year deal for Clinton-Dix, who comes back to the NFC North after a brief hiatus in Washington. Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network tweets that Clinton-Dix will earn $3.5MM in 2019.
We learned yesterday that Clinton-Dix would be meeting with Chicago, and that visit apparently well for both sides. Although he is not as physical as Amos, who signed with the division-rival Packers (Clinton-Dix’s original team), Clinton-Dix does offer arguably better coverage ability. His skill-set is somewhat similar to that of new teammate and fellow safety Eddie Jackson, but the Bears, who boast one of the best overall defenses in the league, should be able to make it work.
The Redskins picked up Clinton-Dix from the Packers at the 2018 trade deadline in exchange for a fourth-round pick. In nine games in the nation’s capital, Clinton-Dix posted 66 tackles, three passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. All told, Pro Football Focus graded him as the league’s No. 17 safety last season.
Washington wanted him back, but the prospect of suiting up for a more legitimate contender and for a better defensive unit was the deciding factor. Indeed, Garafolo says that Clinton-Dix turned down more money “elsewhere” to play for Chicago and to reunite with Jackson, his former teammate at Alabama (it is unclear whether the Redskins’ offer was higher than the Bears’ proposal, but at least one team was offering more than $3.5MM).
Bears To Host Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
The Redskins want to re-sign Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, but they’ll have to fight off another interested club. The Bears are scheduled to meet with the veteran safety, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Chicago has already experienced turnover in its secondary, replacing slot corner Bryce Callahan with Buster Skrine, and now the club needs to find someone to step in for Adrian Amos, who signed with the Packers on Tuesday. Currently, 2016 fourth-rounder Deon Bush is slated to start next to Eddie Jackson in the Bears’ defensive backfield.
The Redskins picked up Clinton-Dix from the Packers at the trade deadline in exchange for a fourth-round pick, but he didn’t move the needle much in Washington. In nine games in the nation’s capital, Clinton-Dix posted 66 tackles, three passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. All told, Pro Football Focus graded him as the league’s No. 17 safety in 2019.
Unlike the Redskins, the Bears can offer Clinton-Dix a more realistic chance at contention and the ability to join arguably the NFL’s best defense. Additionally, Washington has already made one large commitment at the safety position (Landon Collins), so it’s unclear how far it’s willing to go to retain Clinton-Dix.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/13/19
Here is the latest news involving restricted free agents and exclusive-rights free agents, with updates coming throughout the day:
ERFA
Tendered:
- Bears: DE Roy Robertson-Harris, LB Isaiah Irving, OL Rashaad Coward
- Seahawks: LB Austin Calitro, LB Emmanuel Ellerbee, C Joey Hunt, RB J.D. McKissic, CB Kalan Reed
Non-tendered:
- Bears: S DeAndre Houston-Carson (via Howard Balzer on Twitter)
- Bengals: QB Brad Kaaya (via Balzer)
- Cardinals: LB Gabe Martin, DE Zach Moore, C Daniel Munyer (via Balzer)
- Chiefs: TE Alex Ellis (via Balzer)
- Colts: S Ronald Martin (via Balzer)
- Falcons: WR Marvin Hall (via Balzer)
- Giants: DT Kristjan Sokoli (via Balzer)
- Patriots: WR Cody Hollister (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
- Raiders: CB Tevin Mitchel (via Balzer)
- Rams: LB Garrett Sickels (via Balzer)
- Ravens: OT Steven Moore (via Balzer)
- Saints: DB Rickey Jefferson (per NOLA.com’s Josh Katzenstein, on Twitter)
- Seahawks: DE Ricky Ali’ifua, DB T.J. Green, RB Tre Madden, DB T.J. Mutcherson
- Steelers: T Joseph Cheek, S Malik Golden, LB Keith Kelsey, TE Jake McGee (via Balzer)
- Vikings: OT Cedrick Lang, TE Josiah Price (via Balzer)
RFA
Tendered at second-round level:
- Seahawks: T George Fant (per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, on Twitter)
Tendered at original-round level:
- Chiefs: S Jordan Lucas
- Saints: CB Ken Crawley (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate)
- Seahawks: DL Quinton Jefferson (via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, on Twitter)
Non-tendered:
- Bears: LS Patrick Scales (via Balzer)
- Bengals: TE Matt Lengel (via Balzer)
- Bills: TE Logan Thomas (via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
- Broncos: QB Kevin Hogan, LB Deiontrez Mount, WR Jordan Taylor (via Balzer)
- Browns: CB Juston Burris, TE Orson Charles (via Balzer)
- Buccaneers: TE Alan Cross, CB Javien Elliott, T Leonard Wester (via Balzer)
- Cardinals: LB Jeremy Cash, OT John Wetzel (via Balzer)
- Chiefs: LB Terrance Smith (via Balzer)
- Dolphins: WR Leonte Carroo (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald)
- 49ers: S Tyvis Powell (via Balzer)
- Jaguars: OG Chris Reed (via Balzer)
- Jets: DT Destiny Vaeao (via Balzer)
- Panthers: WR Damiere Byrd (via Balzer)
- Raiders: DE Shilique Calhoun (via Balzer)
- Redskins: WR Maurice Harris (per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, on Twitter), RB Rob Kelley (via Balzer)
- Saints: WR Tommylee Lewis (via Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com, on Twitter)
Bears Add OL Ted Larsen
Ted Larsen is headed back to Chicago. The two-year Dolphins blocker will return to the Bears, with whom he played in 2016.
The 10th-year veteran interior lineman will sign a one-year deal with the Bears, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets. The Bears announced the move.
Although the Buccaneers inquired about the 31-year-old free agent, Larsen will not trek back to Tampa. Instead, he may become key depth in Chicago.
A sixth-round Patriots pick in 2010, Larsen has played for the Bucs, Cardinals, Bears and Dolphins. He has vacillated between part- and full-time offensive line duties but was a full-timer in Miami, working as the Fins’ left guard. Amid an ongoing roster purge, the Dolphins cut Larsen last week.
With Chicago in 2016, Larsen was a part-timer, having started eight games. With Kyle Long, Cody Whitehair and James Daniels in place, Larsen may well become the Bears’ top interior-line backup.