Minor Moves: Thursday
We’ve already covered today’s restricted free agency decisions, so let’s take a look at the other minor moves happening around the league…
- Via an Instagram post, defensive lineman Greg Scruggs says he’s been re-signed by the Seahawks. Scruggs, 24, appeared in three games for Seattle last season.
Earlier updates:
- The Broncos have agreed to a four-year, $4MM extension with long-snapper Aaron Brewer, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The 24-year-old Brewer was set to become an unrestricted free agent, where the lowest tender is $1.59MM; instead, he’ll earn a $1MM AAV.
- The Dolphins have re-signed safety Jordan Kovacs, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Signed off the Eagles’ practice squad in November, Kovacs went on to appear in eight games for Miami.
- CFL linebacker Josh Francis has agreed to a deal with the Packers, reports Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. Francis went undrafted out of West Virginia in 2012, and spent 2014 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Peyton Manning Officially Back With Broncos
The Broncos have finally made official (via Twitter) what we’ve known – or at least suspected – for the last several weeks: Peyton Manning will be returning to the team for the 2015 season. Manning was at the team’s facility today to sign his new contract and to take a physical.
As detailed yesterday, Manning has agreed to a deal that reduces his base salary for the coming year from $19MM to $15MM. That extra $4MM will still be available to the future Hall-of-Famer via incentives, but he’d have to reach the Super Bowl to earn any of it — he’ll reportedly receive $2MM if the Broncos win the AFC, and another $2MM if they win the Super Bowl.
Manning, who turns 39 later this month, had another excellent season for the Broncos in 2014, putting up 4,727 passing yards to go along with 39 touchdown passes. However, he was hampered by injuries late in the season and struggled down the stretch, particularly in the team’s divisional playoff loss to the Colts, in which he totaled just 211 passing yards on 46 attempts.
Given the way the season ended, plus the fact that head coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase both found new jobs, there was some doubt that Manning would return for another year. However, John Elway, Gary Kubiak, and the Broncos maintained all along that they’d welcome back the former MVP.
Manning’s new deal frees up an extra $4MM in cap space for the Broncos, but that shouldn’t have a significant impact on the team’s plans for free agency. Several key players are set to the open market in a matter of days, including tight end Julius Thomas, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, safety Rahim Moore, and guard Orlando Franklin.
Extra Points: Suh, Flowers, Titans, NFLPA
The money could get silly for guys like Ndamukong Suh and Darrelle Revis since some teams will need to spend to reach the cap minimum and a lack of in-house guys to reward could push free agent prices through the roof, says Albert Breer of NFL.com (Twitter links). Here’s more from around the NFL:
- The Dolphins and Colts are expected to make the strongest pushes for Suh, multiple league sources told Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. Both teams have been heavily linked to the impending free agent defensive tackle in recent days.
- Appearing today on the NFL Network, cornerback Brandon Flowers said he’d like to remain with the Chargers, and is in discussions with the club about a new deal, writes Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com. Flowers described his situation as win-win: “If I stay in San Diego, it’s a place I loved stepping in from Day 1. It’s a nice place to live, and with a quarterback like Philip Rivers, you always have a chance. And if I’m not able to go back, I’m going to the free agency market.”
- Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean looked at the Titans‘ free agents and ran down which ones the team should look to re-sign. The top priorities, he says, should be linebacker Derrick Morgan, punter Brett Kern, and defensive lineman Karl Klug.
- Former NFLPA staff counsel Arthur McAfee is officially on the ballot for the upcoming executive director election, tweets Getlin. Jim Acho, a Michigan attorney running for the job, has also been told he has the three nominations needed to get on the final ballot, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets. Additionally, sports advisor Rob London tells Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link) that he also received the necessary recommendations from player reps to qualify as a candidate. There are now eight candidates in the mix for the position.
- In this week’s mailbag, a reader asked Mike Klis of the Denver Post if the Broncos would consider former fan favorite Peyton Hillis at fullback. If he were a bit more spry, Hillis would be close to an ideal fullback in Gary Kubiak‘s system, but even then he’s still too small for the position.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
West Notes: Smith, 49ers, Manning
Justin Smith stopped by the 49ers offices today, presumably to speak with coach Jim Tomsula, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com tweets.Despite the injuries he has dealt with, Smith is still regarded as one of the top defensive linemen in the league, so SF badly wants to keep him. However, there’s no word yet on whether he plans to play in 2015. Here’s more from the West divisions..
- Former Broncos who were coached by Gary Kubiak believe that Peyton Manning can play in his offense, including Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe and quarterback Jake Plummer, Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post writes.
- Alex Marvez of FOX Sports wonders if Manning has enough left in the tank for another championship run and frames the Broncos quarterback as something of an underdog given his age and decreasing arm strength.
- Manning’s pay cut gives the Broncos options, USA Today’s Lindsay H. Jones writes. Manning will have adjustments to make in 2015, but it’ll be a lot easier if that money is used to bring tight end Julius Thomas back to Denver. It still remains to be seen how things will work out with Denver’s numerous key free agents, but with Manning in the fold Jones sees the Broncos as the favorites yet again in the AFC West.
- Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie said a few weeks back that D.J. Hayden, Travis Carrie, and Keith McGill don’t need veteran leadership to succeed. Still, they could be in the market for cornerbacks and Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com ran down their options.
- According to a recent study, San Diego County would have to cover up to 65 percent of the cost of a new stadium for the Chargers based on what other NFL markets have contributed, Roger Showley of U-T San Diego writes.
Peyton Manning To Take Pay Cut
7:59pm: Manning can earn $2MM for winning the AFC Championship Game and $2MM for winning the Super Bowl, according to Legwold and Mortensen. Achieving those milestones would bring Manning back to his originally scheduled salary of $19MM for 2015. Manning’s 2016 base of $19MM remains in tact, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter).
4:38pm: According to Mortensen and Legwold (Twitter links), the two sides have agreed to terms on the new deal, pending a physical and the formal signing of the contract tomorrow. The duo adds that Manning’s incentives are tied to winning the AFC championship game and the Super Bowl, which makes sense — for incentives to not count against the team’s cap, they can’t have been achieved the previous year, so tying them to playoff performance rather than individual performance was expected.
3:41pm: The Broncos initially proposed a more severe pay cut to Manning, sources tell Mike Klis of the Denver Post. It doesn’t seem as if his contract will be altered significantly, however – Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the quarterback will have the opportunity to earn the lost $4MM back in incentives, and the deal isn’t expected to change the team’s approach to free agency.
2:35pm: According to the full report from Mortensen and Legwold, the two sides are still finalizing a few details of the agreement, which won’t become official until Manning takes a physical. That’s expected to happen within the next 24 hours.
2:10pm: Peyton Manning and the Broncos have yet to officially announce that the quarterback will return to the team for the 2015 season, but every development over the last several weeks has suggested he’ll be back. With the future Hall of Famer poised to continue his playing career, he’ll also take a modest pay cut for the coming year, according to Chris Mortensen and Jeff Legwold. The ESPN.com duo reports (via Twitter) that Manning is nearing an agreement with the team on a new deal that will pay him $15MM instead of $19MM for the 2015 season.
It’s not clear yet if reducing Manning’s base salary from $19MM to $15MM for 2015 is the only change being made to his contract. If so, his cap number will dip by $4MM as well, from $21.5MM to $17.5MM. However, the two sides may be making additional tweaks to the deal, or it may be torn up entirely in favor of a new agreement, so we’ll have to wait for further details.
Either way though, it appears as if the move will give the Broncos a little more spending flexibility with free agency around the corner. The team has already used its franchise tag on Demaryius Thomas, but still has a handful of key contributors eligible for unrestricted free agency, including tight end Julius Thomas, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, safety Rahim Moore, and guard Orlando Franklin. It remains to be seen how Denver will use its cap savings, but presumably Manning would like the team to bring back his tight end, if possible — Thomas has caught 24 touchdowns from the former MVP over the last two seasons.
Manning’s current contract runs through the 2016 season, with one additional year that features a $19MM base salary and $21.5MM cap hit, identical to the current 2015 figures. Presumably, if the Broncos want to reduce the quarterback’s salary for 2015, they may want to do the same for the following season, though that may end up being a moot point if Manning decides this will be the final year of his playing career.
49ers Sign Jarryd Hayne
WEDNESDAY, 4:13pm: Hayne’s signing has been made official, and the NFL’s transaction wire lists him as a kick returner, tweets Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
MONDAY, 10:01pm: Australian rugby league star Jarryd Hayne announced on Monday night that he will sign with the 49ers, as Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post writes. Hayne received a $100K guarantee from San Francisco, an impressive sum considering that he’s never played American football before in his life.
“I’m going to be a San Francisco 49er,” Hayne said before putting on a 49ers hat.
49ers coach Jim Tomsula has a background in NFL Europe developing Europeans into NFL players, which helped push Hayne towards choosing SF. Agent Jack Bechta noted that his client also visited with the Seahawks and Lions and indicated that they also had a lot to offer in terms of their plan for developing him. Hayne’s game plan will be to contribute as a return specialist while also trying to make it as a running back. Despite his star status down under, Hayne is prepared to fight for a job and start out on special teams.
The Saints, Vikings, Broncos, Titans, Buccaneers, and Jets also showed interest in the 6-foot-2, 226 pounder.
Broncos Franchise Demaryius Thomas
1:17pm: The Broncos have confirmed that Thomas received the non-exclusive tag, and passed along a statement from John Elway indicating that the team continues to work toward a long-term with the wideout (Twitter links). If no multiyear pact is reached, Thomas’ one-year franchise salary for 2015 will be $12.823MM.
MONDAY, 12:53pm: Thomas has officially been tagged by the Broncos, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).
SUNDAY, 6:33pm: Barring any unforeseen contract agreement, the Broncos will place the franchise tag on receiver Demaryius Thomas tomorrow, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The tag will guarantee Thomas approximately $12.797MM for the 2015 season.
Per Klis, the Broncos will use the more popular non-exclusive franchise tag, which will allow Thomas to have talks with other teams but will entitle Denver to two first-round picks if they decide to not match an offer sheet. As Klis notes, this is highly unlikely to happen, so Thomas is almost certainly a lock to play for the Broncos in 2015.
Denver was widely expected to use the tag, and speaking at the combine earlier this month, Broncos general manager John Elway confirmed that the club would utilize the tag on Thomas if a long-term contract could not be worked out. Elway said the the team would still like to work out an extension with Thomas, and now the two sides will have until July 15 to negotiate a multi-year agreement.
The 27-year-old Thomas was set to be a part of a loaded free agent receiver crop, which includes Dez Bryant (who is also expected to be tagged tomorrow), Jeremy Maclin, Randall Cobb, and Torrey Smith. Thomas, who finished last season with 111 receptions for 1,619 yards and 11 touchdowns, would have been in line for a contract averaging close to $14MM per season. A long-term deal with the Broncos should come close to that figure, but with Denver now holding the leverage, the AAV expectations might be tempered.
Thomas has shown some willingness to take a hometown discount, indicating that he enjoys playing with future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. But Manning, at age 38, could be entering his final season in the NFL, and it’s unclear if Thomas would show the same inclination to stay in Denver were Manning retired.
After accounting for the franchise tag, the Broncos are projected to have about $16.5MM of cap space to work with as free agency approaches. The club and Manning are reportedly discussing some sort of contract restructure, so Denver could conceivably carve out a little extra financial room. As Klis reported earlier today, the Broncos are expected to be active participants in free agency, targeting help at offensive line, tight end, and safety, but they aren’t expected to retain some of their own free agents, such as Julius Thomas, Terrance Knighton, and Orlando Franklin.
Both Demaryius Thomas and Dez Bryant were long believed to contenders for the franchise tag, and now other clubs will have until tomorrow to decide whether to apply their own tag. Justin Houston (Chiefs) and Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants) are each expected to be tagged by their respective teams, while Devin McCourty (Patriots) and Jerry Hughes (Bills) are also candidates for the tag. Check out PFR’s Luke Adams’ recap of all the franchise tag candidates here.
AFC Notes: Fins, Broncos, FA Targets, Ravens
Always among the biggest players in free agency, the Dolphins will look to fill several holes when the new league year begins next week. Corner, defensive tackle, and linebacker are among the positions that could use upgrades in South Beach, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald offers several names that could be of interest to the Fins. Per Jackson, the Dolphins have internally discussed both Kareem Jackson and Brandon Flowers at corner, and the club also wants to re-sign Jimmy Wilson.
Along the defensive line, Miami is interested in Tom Johnson, Corey Peters, and Terrance Knighton, the latter of whom, as Jackson adds, will be the most expensive. Kenrick Ellis is viewed as a “backup option,” while Haloti Ngata will be on the Dolphins’ radar if he’s released by the Ravens. At linebacker, Jackson has previously reported that Miami is intrigued by David Harris, Mason Foster, and Dan Skuta.
Here’s more from the AFC:
- Like the Dolphins, the Broncos are expected to be heavily involved in free agency, as they have been for the duration of GM John Elway’s reign. According to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, the Broncos will target a variety of positions next week, with offensive line, safety, tight end, and defensive end among them. Center Rodney Hudson, edge defender Pernell McPhee, and and tight end Charles Clay all figure to spark Denver’s interest, per Klis, who adds that center is the one position where the Broncos will surely add a high-profile free agent.
- Ravens cornerback Victor Hampton was arrested for DWI last night, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. Hampton was signed to a futures deal in January, and given Baltimore’s low-tolerance for off-the-field incidents at the moment, Aaron Wilson of the Sun (via Twitter) doesn’t see Hampton ever setting foot on a field for the Ravens.
- The Raiders haven’t officially released safety Tyvon Branch, leading Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap to believe (Twitter link) that Branch will be designated a post-June 1 cut. Such releases can’t be formalized until the new league year begins next week.
- In a full-length piece, Fitzgerald takes a look at the Colts’ cap situation as they head into free agency. Check out PFR’s Connor Byrne’s Indianapolis outlook here.
FA Notes: Weatherspoon, Thomas, Houston, Forsett
As we heard yesterday, Falcons head coach Dan Quinn is hoping the organization can keep linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, citing the player’s athleticism and attitude.
“With him, it’s that toughness and the speed that he can play with so, yes, definitely someone that we’re talking to,” Quinn said (via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com). “I know he’s got that kind of attitude. And you know me, just from watching our style of defense, it’s fast and physical. And that’s what Sean is. So, we’re certainly hoping that he can be a big part of it moving forward.”
However, the coach acknowledged that he is worried about the veteran’s past injuries, including an Achilles tear last season.
“I think you always are,” he said. “But at the same time, what’s the rehab like? You can tell when a guy is going for it in that way, too. All that factors in.
“By the same token, he hit a string of bad luck. Can he come back and play at a level that he’s capable of? That’s what we’re excited to find out.”
Let’s take a look at some more notes pertaining to this year’s free agent class…
- As expected, the Broncos will likely slap receiver Demaryius Thomas with the franchise tag. Sources tell Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that it’s a “safe bet” the team will place the tag as they try to work on a longterm deal. Meanwhile, Florio wonders if Peyton Manning‘s rumored restructuring could mean a return for tight end Julius Thomas.
- Following news that the Chiefs and Justin Houston were working on a multi-year deal, Florio says such a deal is unlikely at this point. Instead, the All-Pro linebacker seems destined for the franchise tag, and Florio notes that the 26-year-old’s leverage will rise when similar free agents start receiving lucrative deals.
- For the time being, Reuben Frank and Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com believe the Eagles shouldn’t invest money in a linebacker like Brandon Spikes. However, if the team decides to move on from DeMeco Ryans, the team would be in the market for a starting linebacker, in which case Spikes could be a viable option.
- Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome made it clear that he’d like to keep running back Justin Forsett in Baltimore. “We would like to retain Justin,” Newsome said (via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com). “I’ve learned something since the end of the season about Justin that I didn’t really know. He has mentored some very good, young backs, starting with Arian Foster,Marshawn Lynch, Maurice Jones-Drew when he was in Jacksonville. Having Justin here — and with the opportunity [of] also bringing in hopefully another young running back — to have Justin be around that guy would be an asset also. So, we will work to try to retain Justin.” If the team loses out on Forsett, Hensley suggests free agents Frank Gore, C.J. Spiller, and Mark Ingram as potential replacements.
AFC Notes: Broncos, Coleman, Ravens, Revis
Following up on a report that indicated the Broncos and Peyton Manning are engaged in contract discussions, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link) notes that the veteran quarterback would like the team to re-sign tight end Julius Thomas, even though that seems increasingly unlikely. Whether Manning takes a pay cut or simply restructures his deal, the move could create $7-9MM in cap room, which would certainly give the club more flexibility to bring back free agents like Thomas and Terrance Knighton.
- Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall is still a year away from even being eligible for restricted free agency, but he has signed with Rosenhaus Sports, and will be represented by Drew Rosenhaus and Jason Katz, reports Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal (via Twitter).
- The Chiefs met with the representative for safety Kurt Coleman at the combine, and talks between the two sides were positive, a source tells Herbie Teope of ChiefsDigest.com. Earlier in the month, we heard that Coleman would likely be seeking $1.5-2MM per year, and would prefer to sign with a team that gives him the opportunity to start.
- There’s a case to be made for the Ravens to try to retain most of their free agents, but Pernell McPhee looks like a goner, writes Jason Fitzgerald of Over The Cap in his preview of Baltimore’s offseason. You can find PFR’s own look ahead at the Ravens’ offseason right here.
- Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com also weighs in on the Ravens‘ upcoming moves, focusing on the immediate future and explaining what the team could do to create $15MM+ in cap room.
- Joel Corry of CBSSports.com breaks down the Darrelle Revis situation, writing that it wouldn’t surprise him if the cornerback left a little money on the table to re-sign with the Patriots, but still drove a very hard bargain. Corry could imagine the first three years of such a deal exceeding Patrick Peterson‘s contract with the Cardinals, but falling short of top contracts like J.J. Watt‘s and Mario Williams‘.