Contract Details: Castonzo, Kirksey, Cousins, Jarwin
- Anthony Castonzo, (Colts): two-years, $33MM deal, $17MM guaranteed; salaries 2020: $7MM (fully guaranteed), 2021: $10MM; $10MM roster bonus in 2020 guaranteed on the fifth day of the league year, $6MM roster bonus in 2021 guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2021 league year; $500k annual Pro Bowl or first-team All-Pro incentive, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
- Christian Kirksey, (Packers): two-years, $13MM, $4MM guaranteed; salaries 2020: $1.75MM, 2021: $3MM; $1.5MM roster bonus in 2021, $1MM per-game roster bonus in 2020, $1.25MM total 2021 roster bonuses, $250k workout bonus, $1.5MM in annual incentives, $1.75MM incentive for Pro Bowl selection in 2021, $250k escalator for Pro Bowl selection, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
- Kirk Cousins, (Vikings): two-years, $66MM, $66MM guaranteed, $30MM signing bonus; salaries 2020: $9.5MM (fully guaranteed), $21MM (fully guaranteed), $35MM (guaranteed for injury at signing, fully guaranteed on the third day of 2021 league year), according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
- Blake Jarwin, (Cowboys): four-years, $22MM, $9.25MM guaranteed, $4MM signing bonus; salaries 2020: $2.25MM (fully guaranteed), 2021: $3.5MM ($3MM guaranteed for injury at signing), 2022: $4.5MM, 2023: $5.5MM; up to $750K roster bonus per game active 2021-23, $750K in playtime, catches, and playoff based escalators 2021-23, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Blake Jarwin Agrees To Extension With Cowboys
Sources tell Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com that tight end Blake Jarwin has agreed to a three-year deal to remain with the Cowboys for up to $24.25MM with $9.25MM in guarantees.
Jarwin was an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State in 2017 who earned his way onto the Cowboys practice squad, before a mid-season promotion brought him to the 53-man roster. While he only appeared in one game (and recorded no statistics) as a rookie, over the past two seasons, Jarwin has made 58 receptions for 678 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns.
The return of Jason Witten last season likely cut into what would have been an even larger role for Jarwin last season in Dallas. Still just 26, the Cowboys clearly have high hopes for him to develop in a frontline contributor as his new deal pays him in line with a mid-tier starter.
CB Rumors: Harris, Bills, Jones, Dolphins, Trufant, Jets
The latest on key cornerbacks from around the NFL:
- The Jets remain zeroed in on James Bradberry, but they’re also in the hunt for a second free agent cornerback. That search could lead them to Desmond Trufant, Connor Hughes of The Athletic tweets. Trufant will be cut loose by at Atlanta this week.
- The Dolphins are among the clubs that have discussed impending Dallas free agent Byron Jones, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. You can add Miami to the list of previously reported suitors for Jones, which includes the Jets, Raiders, and Eagles.
- More from Anderson (via Twitter), who notes that the Bills are now in on veteran Chris Harris. They join the Cowboys, Bills, Jets, Raiders, and other clubs in search of the experienced secondary help that Harris would provide.
Cowboys Place Franchise Tag On Dak Prescott
The Cowboys have placed exclusive franchise tag on Dak Prescott, according to David Moore of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter). This move means that no other team will be allowed to negotiate with him, which has pros and cons for the QB.
Under the traditional non-exclusive tag, Prescott would have been able to talk with other clubs that would potentially be willing to cough up a pair of first-round picks for the right to sign him. On the flipside, the exclusive tag would pay Prescott at the average of the league’s top-five salaries for the 2020 season. With the non-exclusive tag, it would have been the top-five average of last year.
The non-exclusive tag would have come at $26.8MM. With the exclusive version, the number should be somewhere around $31.6MM.
The Cowboys’ long-term negotiations with Prescott have been going on for some time and there was talk just before the season that the two sides were nearing a deal. Since then, the Cowboys haven’t made much progress in bridging the gap, though Jerry Jones & Co. have said repeatedly that they would keep him, one way or another.
With Prescott cuffed for the 2020 season, the Cowboys will turn their attention to finalizing a long-term deal with star receiver Amari Cooper. A new deal for Cooper won’t come cheap, though the depth of this year’s WR class in the draft may work to the Cowboys’ favor. Teams, in theory, could keep a lid on their offers with an eye on finding cheaper and younger receiving talent in April. Cooper’s camp is acutely aware of this scenario – even if they won’t admit it publicly.
In 2019, Cooper registered 79 receptions for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns and graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 10 receiver in the NFL. Meanwhile, Prescott threw for 4,902 yards and 30 touchdowns and turned in an electric first half to the season.
NFC East Notes: Cooper, Williams, Bryant, Jenkins
In good news for Cowboys fans and management, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports speculates that there may not be as robust a free-agent market for wide receiver Amari Cooper as expected. Cooper would be the biggest name free-agent receiver to hit the open market without a franchise tag in some time, but Robinson notes that the incredible depth of this year’s NFL Draft class at wide receiver might make teams more skittish about resetting the market to sign Cooper. Granted, Robinson also adds, “it only takes one suitor.”
Here are some more notes from around the NFC East:
- Washington’s negotiations with star left tackle Trent Williams have been well documented since last offseason. The ultimate fallout led Williams to sit out all of last season. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports that negotiations disintegrated when Williams asked for quarterback money. Of course, it’s hard to know what that specifically means. Some lower-tier quarterbacks (like Mike Glennon and Case Keenum) have received deals with average values only slightly above the highest-paid tackles around the league.
- Cowboys wide receiver Ventell Bryant was arrested on a DUI charge in Tampa, Florida on Wednesday, per Greg Auman of The Athletic. In Bryant’s arrest report, the arresting officer notes that Bryant admitted to having a number of drinks before getting behind the wheel and tested at a blood-alcohol level of .102 and .099 on a breathalyzer (well above the legal limit of .08). Bryant made Dallas as an undrafted free agent out of Temple and emerged as a key contributor on special teams in his rookie season.
- The Eagles face a difficult decision surrounding the contract of veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins, according to ESPN staff writer Tim McManus. Philadelphia must decide whether to enact a club option in Jenkins’ contract before the start of the new league year on March 18th for $7.6MM. However, Jenkins has made clear that he will not play under those terms. He had wanted a new contract prior to last season but was willing to play under his contract in 2020. While Jenkins has remained an elite defensive back, the Eagles have been tentative to give the 32-year old a new contract that could pay him into his mid-30s.
Broncos Notes: Harrises, Wolfe, OL, RBs
The Broncos both traded for A.J. Bouye (and a $13MM salary) and used their franchise tag on Justin Simmons, signaling Chris Harris‘ time in Denver was almost certainly up. The four-time Pro Bowler said during an NFL Network appearance the door is “pretty much” closed on a 10th Broncos season (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala). The decorated cornerback is expected to have at least 10 teams pursuing him, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. The Browns, Cardinals, Chargers, Chiefs, Cowboys, Jets, Lions, Raiders, Seahawks and Texans are expected to have “strong” interest in signing the 30-year-old defender, Renck adds. This list interestingly omits the Eagles, who have been linked to Harris at multiple junctures over the past five months.
Although Harris is arguably the best slot cornerback in NFL history, his consistent usage as a boundary player as well will likely push his market near the current corner standard of $15MM per year. He turned down the Broncos’ three-year, $36MM proposal before the trade deadline.
Here is the latest out of Denver:
- Denver’s Week 1 starting defensive line consisted of Derek Wolfe, Shelby Harris and Adam Gotsis. All three are poised to hit the market, with Gotsis doing so after being benched early in the season. Shelby Harris would prefer to stay in Denver but has acknowledged, at 28, this is his lone chance at a big payday. The Colts are among the teams interested in the late-blooming D-lineman, Renck notes.
- On the Wolfe subject, the eight-year veteran has been the most vocal about returning to Denver. His agent’s Combine meeting with the Broncos led him to believe he will hit the market. “[The Broncos] talked to my agent at the Combine. … It looks like they’re going to let me hit free agency, see what the market is,” Wolfe said during an interview with KOA Radio (via DNVR Sports’ Andrew Mason, on Twitter). “… It’s a nice way of saying, ‘We like you; we love you, but not for that kind of money.” The Broncos may bring back Wolfe or Shelby Harris, but not both. The team drafted Dre’Mont Jones in Round 3 last year, so it may be covered at one of its defensive end spots. Wolfe, 29, said during an interview with Sirius XM Radio (audio link) he is eyeing two to four more seasons.
- The Broncos’ interest in a running back stems not necessarily from their current regime’s desire to replace Phillip Lindsay but to complement him, per Renck, who adds the team is expected to add a bigger back in either free agency or the draft. Royce Freeman has underwhelmed in that role over the past two seasons.
- The Broncos plan to pursue a guard on the market, Renck notes (on Twitter). They declined Ronald Leary‘s 2020 option, so a replacement will be needed. They also may try to add a swing tackle and are likely to draft a tackle, which makes sense given left tackle Garett Bolles‘ struggles.
- Elijah Wilkinson was supposed to work as a Broncos swing man in 2019, but Ja’Wuan James‘ near-season-long absence thrust Wilkinson into Denver’s right tackle spot. He spent time as a first-string guard in 2018 and stands to factor into the Broncos’ 2020 plans at one of those two positions. The team is expected to use a priority tender on Wilkinson, per Renck. This will likely mean a second-round tender. That will cost more than $3MM.
Byron Jones Likely To Become NFL’s Highest-Paid CB
The market for Cowboys free agent cornerback Byron Jones is expected to “start” at $16-17MM per year, which would make Jones the NFL’s highest-paid corner, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
Jones is widely expected to leave Dallas, where the Cowboys simply have too many other stars — namely Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper — to re-sign before they can turn their attention to Jones. Thus far, a number of clubs have been tied to the Jones market, including the Raiders, Broncos, Lions, Eagles, Giants, and Jets.
The Dolphins’ Xavien Howard currently leads all cornerbacks with a $15.05MM annual salary. Recently-released Jet Trumaine Johnson had been second at $14.5MM, while the Vikings’ Xavier Rhodes, who could be cut himself in a matter of days, is third at $14.02MM. Jones should easily top all those figures, especially if interested parties drive up his price.
Jones, 27, played safety during his first three years in Dallas but switched to corner in 2018, promptly earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors. In 2019, Jones started 14 games for the Cowboys, and ranked 14th in both Pro Football Focus‘ CB grades and Football Outsiders‘ success rate metric.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/12/20
Today’s restricted free agent and exclusive rights free agent tender decisions will be posted below:
RFAs
Tendered:
- Cowboys: QB Cooper Rush (original round level)
- Texans: LB Dylan Cole (original round level)
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Bengals: CB Tony Brown
- Dolphins: WR Isaiah Ford, LB Trent Harris, DT Zach Sieler
- Eagles: P Cameron Johnston
LB Kenneth Murray To Meet With 15 Teams
Kenneth Murray is a popular man. The Oklahoma linebacker told NFL.com’s James Palmer that he’s set to meet with 15 teams in the coming weeks (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com).
Murray revealed that he’ll start his workout circuit with the Texans on March 18th before having visits “back-to-back-to-back.” The Ravens, Raiders, Cowboys and Cardinals are among the teams that the linebacker is expected to meet with.
After earning a second-team All-Big 12 nod in 2018, Murray got first-team recognition following a standout 2019 campaign. The junior finished the season with 102 tackles, four sacks, and four passes defended.
Murray is in contention to be the second linebacker off the board after Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, and he could be selected as early as midway through the first round. He didn’t participate in Oklahoma’s pro day today after having tweaked his hamstring during the 40-yard dash at the Combine. Fortunately, he told Palmer that he’s almost back to full health.
“The hamstring is doing good,” Murray told Palmer. “I’ll be fully healthy in a couple of days.”
Cowboys Increase Offer To Dak Prescott
March 11: There is no “new” contract offer to Prescott, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link). While the Cowboys’ latest offer does indeed represent an increase over the $33MM/year proposal they put forth in the early stages of the 2019 season, the revised offer was made around the time of this year’s combine and is now several weeks old. That suggests that the offer has not gained any traction and that there is still a large gap to bridge.
And the gap may not just be money-related. Rapoport, echoing reports we’ve heard previously, says that Prescott is likely targeting a four-year deal so he can get back to free agency sooner, while the Cowboys would prefer a longer arrangement.
March 9: Barely 72 hours remain until Thursday’s deadline for teams to designate franchise and transition players. The Cowboys are on the clock, and they are reigniting a push to extend Dak Prescott.
The Cowboys have submitted a new proposal to Prescott, according to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. Terms are not clear, but Archer notes that Prescott turned down Dallas’ $33MM-per-year offer and that this one is likely in the Aaron Rodgers–Jared Goff range. It is indeed an increased offer, per Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (on Twitter).
Both Rodgers and Goff are at $33.5MM in AAV, so this Cowboys offer may not be substantially more than the $33MM-AAV one they made last season. Prescott is believed to be seeking a deal on the Russell Wilson level; the Seahawks quarterback earns $35MM on average.
Dallas has offered Prescott $105MM guaranteed. While that is not the guarantee at signing, it would land fourth among quarterbacks. Prescott, however, has some additional leverage now. The Cowboys have just three days left with the franchise or transition tag to use on Amari Cooper. They have met with both Prescott and Cooper’s agents twice since the Combine, but if the CBA is ratified this week, teams can only use one tag. Cooper, then, would be in line to negotiate with other teams when the legal tampering period opens March 16.
The looming TV deals, should this CBA be finalized, are also expected to produce bigger cap spikes. Prescott’s camp may not be eager to do a deal before more of the NFL’s 2020s financial landscape becomes clear. If the Cowboys cannot get a deal done with Prescott by March 12, they are prepared to use the exclusive franchise tag on him. If the sides cannot agree on terms by July 15, Prescott would play the season on that $31MM-plus number.