Minor NFL Transactions: 3/11/19
Following a busy day around the NFL, here are today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: TE Codey McElroy
Detroit Lions
- Released: LB Trevor Bates
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: RB David Fluellen
Cowboys Will Make ‘Strong Push’ For Earl Thomas
We heard a couple of weeks ago that Earl Thomas could get priced out of the Cowboys’ range, even though there’s been a long-rumored connection between the two sides. But Dallas apparently hasn’t been scared off by Thomas’ asking price and will make a “strong push” for the safety when free agency opens, according to David Moore of The Dallas Morning News.
The latest word is that Thomas is seeking a deal that will pay him around $13MM annually. Thomas is from Texas and played his college ball for the Texas Longhorns, and it hasn’t been much of a secret that he’s interested in returning home. Thomas wants to become the highest paid safety in the game, and Moore writes that the Cowboys “regard Thomas as a special talent.” He also notes that they aren’t concerned about his age, Thomas will be 30 in May, and that they “will make a competitive offer” for his services.
We heard more confirmation earlier today that numerous teams will be interested in signing Thomas, so the Cowboys won’t have it easy. The 49ers are expected to be aggressive in pursuing the All-Pro as are the Chiefs, who attempted to trade for him last fall. Thomas has indicated he won’t be giving the Cowboys much of a hometown discount, but it sounds like they’re willing to match, or at least come close to, what other teams are offering.
Thomas played in just four games last season before a leg injury landed him on injured reserve, but he’ll be fully recovered by the time the 2019 season rolls around. The six-time Pro Bowler would be a massive addition to the Cowboys’ already promising defense.
NFC East Notes: Giants, Cowboys, Eagles
The Eagles did their due diligence on Antonio Brown before their in-state rival elected to ship him to Oakland, but Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com believes Philadelphia should “absolutely” pursue Brown’s soon-to-be former teammate, Le’Veon Bell. There have been rumors linking Bell to the Eagles this offseason, and Shorr-Parks sums it up thusly: “[T]he Eagles’ biggest need is running back. Bell is the best one available. They have the money to sign him, and they have a quarterback that needs him.”
The Brown saga appears to be wrapped up, and the Bell story will have a new chapter this week, when the talented back finds a new home. As we look ahead to free agency, let’s round up a few other NFC East items:
- The slot receiver market may be among the interesting to watch when free agency opens on Wednesday, tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. Teams like the Cowboys, Redskins, and Eagles, who are expected to respectively lose Cole Beasley, Jamison Crowder, and Golden Tate, shouldb be in line to target new slot options. Additionally, clubs such as the Colts, Raiders, Lions, Titans, and Bills are also searching for inside weapons, per Garfolo.
- Given all of the needs they have, and their relatively modest amount of cap room, the Giants are likely to make a few ripples in the pool of free agent talent rather than a major splash, as Paul Schwartz of the New York Post opines. The team needs to fortify a few positions (like strong safety and cornerback) so that they do not have to reach for a particular position in the draft.
- Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv lauds the Giants‘ return in the recent Olivier Vernon trade, but he wonders how it will impact the rest of the team’s offseason. For instance, although free agency is loaded with quality pass rushers, Big Blue will not able to afford even a second-tier option if it wants to adequately address all of its needs, and it now becomes more possible that the Giants will take a pass rusher with the No. 6 overall pick (which would certainly upset plenty of Giants fans if Kyler Murray or Dwayne Haskins is still on the board).
NFC East Notes: Giants, Cowboys, Brown
With Landon Collins and Olivier Vernon out of the picture, the Giants‘ defense has plenty of needs. Second-year GM Dave Gettleman has also jettisoned Jason Pierre-Paul, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Eli Apple and Damon Harrison from the team since taking over. Collins’ reputation as a box safety, albeit one of the best in the NFL, looks to have played into the Giants’ reasoning for refusing to use an $11MM-plus franchise tag on him, with Ralph Vacchiano of SNY noting the team did not always believe the All-Pro defender was an adequate cover man. Gettleman considered the contracts handed out to both Pierre-Paul and Harrison as onerous, and Vacchiano adds neither Pro Bowl player was viewed as a plus locker room presence. That said, the Giants have one of the least talented defenses in the NFL, boasting deficiencies at nearly every spot going into free agency. It would seem that would be where Gettleman looks to improve in the next two months.
Here is more out of the Big Apple and the latest from the NFC East:
- While the Giants already have two monster contracts on their offensive line now, having acquired Kevin Zeitler‘s $12MM-AAV deal, they are going to pursue a right tackle in free agency. Big Blue will “almost certainly” add a right tackle on the market, per Vacchiano, who adds former Gettleman draftee Daryl Williams may be a top target. Williams was a fourth-round Gettleman pick in 2015 but is coming off an injury-nullified season. The Giants tried to sign former Gettleman find Andrew Norwell last year, so Williams will be a name to monitor in the coming days.
- Sean Lee‘s Cowboys restructure will slash his 2019 salary from $7MM to $3.5MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Although Lee has seen younger linebackers replace him as Dallas’ go-to second-level defenders, the Cowboys will keep the veteran around. One season remains on Lee’s contract.
- If the Raiders are now the team to beat regarding Antonio Brown, the Eagles should not be completely discounted. Philadelphia is the other destination CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora is hearing in the Brown sweepstakes as of Saturday (Twitter link). The Eagles have been hard at work clearing cap space; they are north of $24MM now — before Michael Bennett‘s $6.2MM salary comes off their books. It would be interesting to see the team clear so much off its roster to add a player who has produced so much drama, but the Eagles have not been averse to splash moves in recent years.
- Connected to a safety upgrade for many months, the Cowboys may opt to seek second-tier options at this position. Extensions for their homegrown standouts may price the Cowboys out of the high-end safeties on this year’s market, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. The Cowboys remain connected to Earl Thomas, and Richard Sherman said recently his former teammate would choose Dallas if the offers were equal. Another report confirmed no discount was coming. But they may well not end up being equal, complicating this long-rumored partnership. But plenty of safety help will be available next week.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/8/19
Today’s minor moves from another busy day of action across the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: RB D.J. Foster
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: DT Daniel Ross
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: LS Carson Tinker
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: K Jonathan Brown
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: DB Akeem King
Cowboys Pick Up Options On C Joe Looney, LB Joe Thomas
The Cowboys picked up an option on receiver Allen Hurns earlier today, and that wasn’t the only one they exercised. The team is also picking up their options on center Joe Looney and linebacker Joe Thomas, a source told Calvin Watkins of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Looney has been with the Cowboys the past three seasons, and was a backup interior lineman the first two. After starter Travis Frederick missed the entire 2018 season, Looney ended up starting all 16 games. He signed a two-year deal with the team last March, but the second year was a team option that needed to be decided on by March 13th.
Looney will get paid a base salary of $1MM in 2019 with incentives worth up to $500k, according to Mike Fisher of 105.3 The Fan. Assuming Frederick is able to return in 2019, which looks to be the case, Looney should return to a reserve role. He received poor marks from Pro Football Focus last year, and was ranked the 32nd best center in the league by PFF.
Thomas played sparingly on defense last season, but was a contributor on special teams. He signed a two-year deal worth up to $3.6MM last March.
Sean Lee Will Return To Cowboys In 2019, Working On New Contract
We heard recently that the Cowboys were interested in bringing back linebacker Sean Lee for one more season, and now it’s official. Lee and the Cowboys have agreed to stick together for 2019, and are ironing out the details on what his contract will look like, sources told David Moore of The Dallas Morning News. 
Lee is a Cowboys legend, and it was looking for a while like his time with the team might be coming to an end toward the end of the 2018 season. But Lee expressed interest in playing again, and the team is willing to make it happen. Lee has been unable to stay on the field the past few years, as he’s dealt with recurring hamstring issues and other ailments.
Moore thinks the incentive-heavy deal the Cowboys just gave Jason Witten will “provide a template” for the deal Lee will get once his contract is restructured. Lee was schedule to make a non-guaranteed $7MM this season, which was always going to be untenable.
Lee saw his playing time scaled back dramatically this season even when he was healthy, as rookie Leighton Vander Esch emerged. Lee has spent all nine years of his career with Dallas, and will be making it a tenth now. He’ll likely function as somewhat of a player-coach in a veteran mentor role for the 2019 season.
Cowboys To Pick Up Allen Hurns’ Option
The Cowboys will exercise the 2019 option on Allen Hurns‘ contract on Friday, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Per the terms of his deal, Hurns can make up to $6MM and will earn a base salary of $4MM. Word of Hurns’ option being exercised was first passed along by Mike Fisher of 24/7 Sports (on Twitter). 
Hurns signed a two-year, $12MM deal with the Cowboys last March, but was unable to establish himself in Dallas’ offense. He initially looked like he might be the team’s number one receiver after Dez Bryant was cut, but ended up catching just 20 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season. Then, Hurns suffered a dislocated ankle just minutes into the Cowboys’ wild card playoff game against the Seahawks. Unfortunately, it was one of those ugly injuries that non-doctors could immediately diagnose as a season-ender.
Fortunately, Hurns has resumed working out at the Cowboys’ facility, so he should be on track to play in 2019. If he’s able to get back to his old form, the Cowboys could have a very potent passing attack between him and WR1 Amari Cooper.
David Irving Says He’s Quitting Football
Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving said on Instagram that he’s quitting football after being suspended indefinitely by the NFL last week (Twitter link via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News).
Irving was smoking marijuana while making the statement, so take it with a grain of salt. Only 26 years old, Irving has dealt with myriad off-field issues during his time in the NFL, and it’s clear he’ll need to go through a lengthy reinstatement process — one that likely involves some form of rehab and counseling sessions — before he gets back on the field.
Still a talented player, Irving posted seven sacks in eight games as recently as 2017, but he’s only been available for 10 total contests over the past two seasons. Scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next week, Irving could have been poised to cash in on the open market. Instead, he’s unlikely to garner any interest until his status with the NFL is resolved.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/7/19
Today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: LB Justin March-Lillard, DB Darian Thompson
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: LS Casey Kreiter
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: LS Matt Overton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DB Harold Jones-Quartey