Minor Moves: Thursday
We’ll round up today’s minor transactions from around the NFL in this space, with any additional moves listed at the top of the page throughout the afternoon and evening:
- Raiders defensive back Neiko Thorpe has signed his exclusive right free agent tender, placing him back under contract, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
Earlier updates:
- The Bengals have brought back former backup signal-caller Josh Johnson, signing him to a new contract today, according to the team (Twitter link). Johnson, who visited Cincinnati today, spent time with the 49ers in 2014 after serving as Andy Dalton‘s backup for the Bengals in 2013.
- Zeke Motta, a 2013 seventh-rounder who played sparingly for the Falcons in his rookie year, was cut by Atlanta today, according to a team release. Matta missed the entire 2014 campaign due to a neck injury, and will have to pass through waivers before becoming a free agent.
- Safety Anthony Walters, who played in 37 regular season contests during four seasons with the Bears, has been cut, the team announced today (via Twitter). Walters had primarily contributed on special teams for Chicago. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link) wonders if Walters’ release opens up the door for the team to re-sign Danny McCray, which had been previously considered.
- After adding Mike Kafka to their roster, the Vikings have parted ways with another quarterback, formally announcing that they’ve waived Pat Devlin. The ex-Dolphin had signed a futures contract with Minnesota after spending some time on the team’s practice squad in 2014.
- Having visited Minnesota and Tampa Bay this week, tight end Emmanuel Ogbuehi will be signing with the Buccaneers, reports Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune (via Twitter). Ogbuehi, who spent time on the practice squads for the Ravens and Browns during the 2014 season, is getting a two-year deal, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- Former Miami Hurricanes linebacker Shayon Green has signed with the Steelers, according to PR rep Burt Lauten (via Twitter).
Denarius Moore Visiting Bengals
Free agent wide receiver Denarius Moore, who has generated little buzz over the last few weeks, will pay a visit to the Bengals today, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Moore, 26, showed some promise during his first three seasons with the Raiders, averaging about 43 receptions, 685 yards, and six touchdowns per season in spite of inconsistent quarterback play. However, he had a poor 2014 campaign, as Andre Holmes took on a bigger role in Oakland’s offense and free agent signee James Jones entered the mix. Moore caught just 12 balls for 115 yards and no TDs, and missed the final few weeks of the season with knee and ankle issues.
As a third or fourth receiver on a team with a few other reliable targets, like Cincinnati, Moore could be an intriguing option, particularly as a deep threat. He’ll likely be inexpensive, not requiring more than a very modest guarantee, if that. According to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com (via Twitter), there’s little to no chance of a reunion with the Raiders for the Tennessee product.
Cincinnati’s interest likely stems, at least in part, from Hue Jackson‘s history with Moore. The current Bengals offensive coordinator had just been promoted from OC to head coach in Oakland when the Raiders selected Moore in the fifth round of the 2011 draft.
FA Notes: Ravens, Paysinger, Fins, Bengals
The Ravens have accumulated more compensatory draft picks than any other NFL team over the past two decades, and Peter King of TheMMQB.com notes (via Twitter) that the Matt Schaub signing this week is a good example of how the team does it. Schaub, who was cut by the Raiders, won’t count toward the compensatory draft pick formula, but former backup Tyrod Taylor, whose contract expired, will count toward that formula. In other words, by swapping out one backup QB for another, the club could net a seventh-round comp next year.
Here are a few more notes on free agency, including some updates on players who remain unsigned:
- The Dolphins are hosting free agent linebacker Spencer Paysinger for a visit today, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald (via Twitter). Paysinger, who has spent his first four NFL seasons with the Giants, was a regular contributor on defense in 2013, but returned to a backup and special teams role last season.
- Quarterback Josh Johnson, who spent a good chunk of the 2014 season with the 49ers, is visiting the Bengals today, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). La Canfora notes that Johnson’s athleticism and experience in different offensive systems should bode well for his chances of signing with Cincinnati or another team.
- As shown by their apparent interest in veteran guard Dan Connolly, the Buccaneers haven’t given up on the idea of signing an interior offensive lineman in free agency, tweets Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. It’s not clear yet if the Bucs will shift their focus to another veteran if they don’t land Connolly, or if they’ll simply wait and address the spot in the draft.
- Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times wonders if the NFL’s decision to move up a key free agency date from June 1 to May 12 will affect the Seahawks‘ pursuit of a veteran center.
Draft Notes: Raiders, Williams, Winston
Peter King of The MMQB doesn’t believe in mock drafts, but today he gave us his “best guess” draft. Going by “the look in coach Ken Whisenhunt’s eyes when he talked about the pick last week at the league meetings,” King projects that the Titans will take Marcus Mariota at No. 2 after Jameis Winston is taken with the top pick. After that, he rounds out the top five with the Jaguars taking Florida outside linebacker Dante Fowler at No. 3, the Raiders selecting USC defensive tackle Leonard Williams at No. 4, and Washington taking West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White at No. 5, before trading him to the Rams for the No. 10 and 72 picks. Here’s a look at today’s draft news..
- The Raiders are high on Williams and could trade up to land him, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Oakland is in the pivot spot at No. 4 and although people have pegged them to land a wide receiver, they want the USC superstar and fear that he’ll be gone by No. 3. If they can’t get up land him, Cole says that they could move back to still take White or Amari Cooper while adding another asset.
- The NFL is still concerned about Winston’s maturity, according to Cole (video link). King (on Twitter) adds that the Bucs have done major homework on the FSU star. Their private eyes have interviewed more than 75 people in Winston’s past.
- Winston isn’t the only FSU product tied to the Buccaneers. Guard Josue Matias said he is scheduled to visit the Bucs next week as well, as Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com writes. Matias is viewed by draft experts as a second- or third-round pick. The Bucs, meanwhile, have a glaring need at right guard and their offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL in 2014.
- Former South Carolina guard A.J. Cann is drawing a ton of pre-draft interest, Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports tweets. Right now, Cann has visits and/or workouts scheduled with 14 different teams. Getlin adds that the Ravens, Saints, Vikings, and Buccaneers are among the teams the young lineman will meet with (link).
- South Carolina running back Mike Davis would be a great fit for the Patriots and Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) hears that he indeed has a visit lined up with them.
- Albany tight end Brian Parker will work out for the Eagles and visit the Bengals, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Parker has also drawn interest from the Vikings, Bills, and Seahawks. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder caught 39 passes for 500 yards and five touchdowns last season.
- The Buccaneers worked out Idaho defensive lineman Quayshawne Buckley on Wednesday, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net (via Twitter). Pauline describes him as a sleeper and a strong fit for Tampa Bay’s system.
- University of Miami tight end Clive Walford has visits or workouts lined up with the Saints, Falcons, Dolphins, 49ers, Ravens, Chiefs, and Buccaneers, according to Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel (via Twitter).
FA Notes: Wisniewski, Lowery, Housler, Sam
One of the last of our top 50 free agents who is still without a deal, center Stefen Wisniewski has seen his market move slowly in part because he underwent shoulder surgery this offseason to repair a torn labrum. However, things may be picking up for the former Raider.
According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (via Twitter), Wisniewski visited the Patriots earlier this week, and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets that the center visited the Jaguars today. There’s no deal with either team in place yet, but it could just be a matter of time until Wisniewski find a new home.
Here’s more on Wisniewski and a few other free agents:
- The Vikings could use an interior lineman like Wisniewski, but Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities says (via Twitter) that Minnesota hasn’t expressed any interest in the veteran free agent.
- According to Breer (via Twitter), free agent safety Dwight Lowery visited the Colts this week. The last update on the Lowery front came two weeks ago, when he admitted the Falcons hadn’t shown a ton of interest in re-signing him.
- The Bengals are hosting tight end Rob Housler for a free agent visit on Thursday, writes Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Tyler Eifert figures to take on a bigger role for Cincinnati in 2015 if he’s back to full health, but with Jermaine Gresham unlikely to return, the Bengals could use another tight end. Housler has also visited Atlanta and Baltimore, and received a contract offer from the Ravens.
- Tight end Emmanuel Ogbuehi, who spent time on the Browns‘ and Ravens‘ practice squads in 2014, is visiting the Vikings and Buccaneers this week, according to Wilson.
- The Montreal Alouettes hold Michael Sam‘s CFL rights, and general manager Jim Popp told Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette this week that he believes his team has a “50/50” shot at signing the former Rams draftee.
Bengals Re-Sign Brandon Tate
The Bengals have re-signed wide receiver and return man Brandon Tate, the team announced today (via Twitter). Terms of the agreement weren’t immediately disclosed.
Tate, 27, was selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2009 draft, but only lasted two seasons in New England. The North Carolina product has spent the last four years in Cincinnati, returning kicks and punts for the club and occasionally contributing on offense as well.
Tate didn’t have much of an impact in the return game in 2014, averaging 9.7 yards per punt return and a career-low 22.1 yards per kick return; he hasn’t had a return touchdown since 2011. With the Bengals dealing with multiple injuries to pass-catchers, Tate played more on offense than he had in the previous two seasons, grabbing 17 balls for 193 yards and a TD.
Although he’s back on the roster, Tate isn’t necessarily guaranteed a role as the team’s primary returner, or even a spot on the roster. Coley Harvey of ESPN.com and Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer both tweet that they still expect the Bengals to draft a return-type receiver in a few weeks, with Tate providing insurance and competition.
Tate previously paid a visit to the Chiefs.
AFC Mailbags: Jets, Steelers, Bengals, Colts, Jags
It’s Saturday mailbag time, and as free agency is coming to crawl, ESPN.com’s NFL writers are opening their mailbags and answering questions from readers. Here are some notes from the AFC:
- While the Jets have been linked to Marcus Mariota at six, Rich Cimini would be stunned if the team tried to trade up to get him.
- The Steelers released Hines Ward ago despite his legendary status in Pittsburgh, but are willing to wait for Troy Polamalu to decide for himself whether it is time to retire. The difference being this time around the team does not have any pressing salary cap issues that are being held up by the decision, according to Scott Brown.
- The Bengals signed Pat Sims, and fans want to know if the team will still add to their defensive line. Coley Harvey doesn’t think they will go that route early in the draft, writing that the signing likely indicates they will look to fill holes elsewhere in rounds one through three.
- The Colts have had one of the more miserable running back situations in the league over the past few seasons, due to injury, poor performance, and Trent Richardson. They will have a chance to put more assets toward the position in the draft, although Mike Wells hesitates to say which round the team will find a back deserving a draft pick.
- The Jaguars need to have an impactful draft class, and Michael DiRocco answers a number of questions in his mailbag regarding draft prospects. He writes that the he thinks the team would take Leonard Williams over Dante Fowler Jr. if both were available, that he would be surprised of Todd Gurley was available for them in round two, and that Randy Gregory’s positive marijuana test should scare them.
- The Texans were plagued for most of their existence with the inability to find a second receiver to complement Andre Johnson. In 2015, Johnson won’t be there anymore, and the team will now try to find a player to complement DeAndre Hopkins. The coaching staff values versatility, writes Tania Ganguli, and that could leave an “outside receiver” like DeVier Posey the odd man out.
- The Raiders made a choice to sign Dan Williams over Terrance Knighton, and Bill Williamson answers the simple question, why? Williamson writes the team saw Williams as a more reliable long-term option, with Knighton’s weight issues.
- The Chiefs signed Jeremy Maclin to add some firepower to a position group that failed to register a single touchdown catch in 2014. Still, the situation was desolate enough that Chiefs’ fans are still wondering if the team will target a wideout high in the draft. Adam Teicher writes that they could be interested in Davante Parker if he is available at No. 18, but the chances of taking Dorial Green-Beckham are diminished with Maclin in the fold.
FA Notes: Moss, Copeland, Lloyd, Bishop
As we heard yesterday, Washington coach Jay Gruden wouldn’t hesitate in bringing back veteran wideout Santana Moss. The 35-year-old has played in Washington for the past ten seasons, and he finished last season with ten catches for 116 yards. If he returns, Moss can expect to continue to contribute at a reduced role, considering the presence of fellow receivers DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, and Andre Roberts. Still, Gruden appreciates the veteran’s role on the field and in the locker room:
“You know what? I could always play with Santana,” Gruden told Mike Jones of the Washington Post. “Santana’s a great person. He’s great in the locker room for us. He knows all the positions. I know he’s going to be in great shape, and I would not hesitate one bit to call him.”
“We’ve talked about everybody. It’s just about when, how. We don’t want — we’ll wait until the draft to see what we have as far as numbers at every position and go from there. You know, that’s something that we know where Santana is, and he knows where we are, and something may work out down the road.”
Some more assorted notes from around the NFL…
- As we previously heard, linebacker Brandon Copeland has received interest from multiple teams following his performance at the Veteran Combine. “My phone’s been ringing,” he told Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. “It’s been pretty good so far. I’m not going to say what teams, but four teams have offered me contracts so far. It was definitely successful for me to go to the veteran combine.” Among the teams showing interest in Copeland are the Lions, Eagles, Bengals, Chiefs, Colts, Giants and Titans.
- Meanwhile, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets that the 49ers are not among the estimated 13 teams to have shown some level of interest in Copeland.
- ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez says the 49ers haven’t had any conversations with wideout Brandon Lloyd. He notes that the team previously has little interest in bringing back linebacker Desmond Bishop, but he acknowledges that the mindset may have changed following the roster overhaul.
- Some have drawn comparisons between the Texans signing of Ed Reed last offseason and their addition of free agent Vince Wilfork this year. Texans owner Bob McNair recognizes the difference, however. “I think the difference is when you have someone at a position where they have to be able to run, then age is more of a consideration,” McNair told ESPN.com’s Tania Ganguli. “We thought Ed was in good shape and was going to be able to come down and play and he was a big disappointment. At nose tackle, you don’t have to run that much. He’s got to be strong. So there’s some positions you can play for more years and you aren’t taking as much risk.
Bengals Sign Pat Sims
2:54pm: It’s a one-year, minimum salary benefit deal for Sims, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer (via Twitter).
2:03pm: After spending two seasons with the Raiders, veteran defensive tackle Pat Sims is returning to the team with which he spent the first five years of his NFL career. The Bengals announced today (via Twitter) that they’ve brought back Sims, officially signing him to a new contract.
Sims, 29, was selected by the third round of the 2008 draft by the Bengals, and played 60 regular season contests for the team during his first five years in the league. The big defensive lineman left for Oakland after the 2012 season, and spent the last two seasons with the Raiders, starting 18 of the 32 games he played for the club. With seven career sacks, Sims doesn’t get to the quarterback too often, but he’s very solid against the run.
By re-signing Sims, the Bengals have brought back one of their former defensive players for the third time so far this offseason. The team also re-signed defensive end Michael Johnson and cornerback Brandon Ghee, former Cincinnati draftees who played elsewhere in 2014.
AFC North Notes: Bengals, Ravens, Browns
Earlier today, we rounded up some key quotes from AFC East coaches at this morning’s coaches’ breakfast in Phoenix. Now, we’ll shift our focus to the AFC North, where every head coach except perhaps Mike Tomlin of the Steelers offered up a handful of interesting nuggets to reporters. Here are some highlights:
Marvin Lewis, Bengals (Twitter links via Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com):
- The Bengals’ top priority this offseason was securing a pass rusher, or at least an impact player on the defensive line. Defensive end Michael Johnson isn’t exactly an elite pass rusher, but he’s a good fit for Cincinnati, in Lewis’ view.
- Lewis views 2015 as a crucial year for the franchise since a number of key young players are heading into contract years. The head coach hopes to see some of those players, including wideout A.J. Green, locked up to extensions this offseason.
- With the No. 21 overall pick in the draft, the Bengals will prioritize players who can have a long-term impact over players who could step in and contribute immediately. Of course, I’m sure the ideal draftee would fit both criteria.
- Jermaine Gresham, who underwent back surgery last week, remains an option for the Bengals — Lewis just talked to the free agent tight end yesterday.
John Harbaugh, Ravens (Twitter links via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley and Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun):
- It doesn’t sound like the Ravens are done adding free agents. Harbaugh indicated it would be very helpful to make a few more moves before the draft, since it takes some pressure off when the team doesn’t necessarily have to draft for need.
- The Ravens are particularly eyeing the free agent market on the offensive side of the ball. Harbaugh believes Keith Wenning has a bright future, but would like to upgrade at the backup quarterback spot. He also wants to add another running back and wide receiver, if the fit is right, and didn’t rule out free agency at either spot.
- Wide receiver is also an option in the draft, and Harbaugh believes the Ravens will have good options at the position in rounds one through seven.
- There are no new updates on Dennis Pitta‘s status. Harbaugh expects news to come in the summer, and reiterated today that it will be Pitta’s decision. The veteran tight end is recovering from a season-ending – and career-threatening – hip injury.
- Referring to recently-signed safety Kendrick Lewis, Harbaugh said “his best football is ahead of him.”
Mike Pettine, Browns (Twitter links via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal and ESPN.com’s Pat McManamon):
- Pettine has received good feedback about Johnny Manziel‘s progress in rehab, and while no date has been finalized for his discharge, the Browns expect him to be at next month’s workouts.
- Pettine downplayed the idea that the Browns’ quarterback situation is “uncertain,” pointing to Josh McCown as a solid veteran and suggesting that the club could also address the spot on the draft. Asked about the possibility of trading up for Marcus Mariota, Pettine acknowledged that quarterback is one position worth trading up for, and pointed out that having two first-round picks creates flexibility. However, he added that talk of trading up for Mariota makes him rolls his eyes.
- The Browns still need an edge rusher, and while Pettine likes Barkevious Mingo and Scott Solomon, he also noted that there’s good depth at that spot in the draft.
- Finding a developmental center is on the team’s radar, since Alex Mack‘s contract includes a potential out after the 2015 season.
- The Browns may draft a kicker this year, according to Pettine. The club currently has Garrett Hartley, Travis Coons, and Carey Spear on its roster after cutting Billy Cundiff toward the end of the 2014 season.