RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/8/19
Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive rights free agent tender decisions:
RFAs
Second round tender:
- Bengals: OL Trey Hopkins
- Ravens: LB Patrick Onwuasor
Tendered at original-round level:
- Browns: WR Rashard Higgins
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Browns: DT Trevon Coley, DB Jermaine Whitehead
- Colts: WR Marcus Johnson
- Buccaneers: S Isaiah Johnson, OL Mike Liedtke
- Packers: TE Robert Tonyan
- Cardinals: TE Ricky Seals-Jones
Packers Waive LB Antonio Morrison
The Packers are waiving linebacker Antonio Morrison, a source told Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Morrison was traded from the Colts to the Packers last August, and ended up lasting just one season in Green Bay. Morrison appeared in all 16 games for the Packers last year and started eight of them, so it’s a pretty significant move as they look to overhaul their defense. Morrison had 48 tackles, five tackles for loss, and one sack for the Packers last year.
He was going to count $2.025MM against the cap in 2019, which the Packers deemed too expensive. However, he “could be brought back at a cheaper price,” writes Tom Silverstein of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link). A Florida product, Morrison was taken by the Colts in the fourth round of the 2016 draft.
He quickly became a starter in Indianapolis, but they decided to swap him for cornerback Lenzy Pipkins after just two seasons. He started 15 games for the Colts in 2017. Morrison received average marks from Pro Football Focus for his work last year.
Latest On Potential Antonio Brown Trade
We know that Antonio Brown is not Buffalo-bound, but, beyond that, his situation remains murky. The Steelers still want a first-round pick for the wide receiver and “several teams” are waiting for the club to reduce its asking price before making an aggressive pursuit, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. 
The Steelers’ leverage was already weakened by Brown’s outspoken criticism of the team and his refusal to join the Bills further complicates matters. It’s hard to imagine clubs offering significant draft capital for the star player when they can’t be certain that he’ll show up for work.
Teams such as the Redskins, Raiders, and Titans were in on Brown earlier this month, but no longer appear to be in the chase. We can add the Packers to that list, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Demovsky hears the Packers have not had any conversations with the Steelers – despite their glaring need for receiver help – and won’t jump in now.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/7/19
Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive rights free agent tender decisions:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Jets: TE Eric Tomlinson
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Broncos: LB Joseph Jones, WR Tim Patrick, S Dymonte Thomas, T Elijah Wilkinson
- Packers: G Justin McCray
- Raiders: LB Jason Cabinda, K Daniel Carlson
- Steelers: OL Matt Feiler, CB Mike Hilton
Non-tendered:
- Broncos: LB Jerrol Garcia-Williams
Patriots Inquired On Packers’ Randall Cobb
There’s reason to believe the Patriots could target a quality wide receiver via trade. At some point last year, the Patriots inquired on Packers pass catcher Randall Cobb, according to Jay Glazer of The Athletic. 
The Packers started receiving Cobb inquiries late last offseason, but wound up hanging on to the veteran. In the spring of 2018, Cobb’s roster spot was in jeopardy, but the club opted to cut fellow wide receiver Jordy Nelson instead, saving them $10.2MM against the cap. Cobb’s contract, and his $12.72MM cap hit, remained on the books for 2018. This year, Cobb is a free agent after an injury-plagued season resulted in just 38 catches for 383 yards and two touchdowns.
The Patriots, in theory, could revisit the idea of adding Cobb on a low-cost one-year deal. News of their past Cobb interest may also indicate their willingness to part with some draft capital and open up the checkbook for an impact wide receiver.
Last summer, the Patriots decided against pursuing Odell Beckham Jr. as a replacement for Brandin Cooks, but one has to wonder whether they’d consider such a move now that OBJ is – somehow – involved in trade rumors after signing a mammoth extension. Other top flight WRs could be on the Pats’ radar, especially since this year’s rookie wide receiver class is a bit underwhelming.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/6/19
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: K Chris Blewitt
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed to one-year deal: DL Fadol Brown (had been scheduled to become exclusive rights free agent)
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: RB Daniel Lasco
John Kuhn Announces Retirement
Longtime NFL fullback John Kuhn has retired as a member of the Packers, Green Bay announced today.
“John was a terrific football player and tremendous teammate who contributed to many years of success for the Packers,” Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “He was a true professional whose work ethic and leadership set a great example both on the field and in the locker room. We want to thank John and his family for all they did for the Packers and in the community as well as wish them nothing but the best.”
While he’s best known as a member of the Packers, Kuhn actually began his career with the Steelers after going undrafted in 2005. He appeared in nine games with Pittsburgh (all in 2006) and won a Super Bowl before joining Green Bay in 2007. Kuhn went on to spend the next nine years with the Packers, earning another Super Bowl title in the process. All told, Kuhn handled 196 carries for Green Bay, scoring 24 total touchdowns while collecting three Pro Bowl nods, one first-team All-Pro selection, and one second-team All-Pro berth.
Kuhn signed with the Saints in advance of the 2016 campaign and wound up spending parts of two seasons with the club, appearing in 18 games over that span. He didn’t play in the NFL in 2018, though he did express interest in doing so. PFR extends its best wishes to Kuhn as he enters retirement.
Packers Like Polite
- The Packers could really use some extra pass-rushing help, and they might already have their eyes set on someone in this year’s draft class. The Packers “really like” Florida edge rusher Jachai Polite, according to Tony Pauline of Draftanalyst.com. Green Bay owns the 12th pick in the draft, and that’s right around where Polite is slated to go in most mock drafts as of right now, so it could be a good fit. Polite racked up 11 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss this past season with the Gators.
Packers Rumors: Perry, Wilkerson, Campbell
The latest out of Green Bay:
- Outside linebacker Nick Perry wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers declined to pay his $4.8MM roster bonus due on March 15, a source close to Perry tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, Perry isn’t sure if the Packers would offer a restructure or just move on in that scenario. Perry landed on IR in November with a knee injury and finished out with a career-low 1.5 sacks. The Packers happily re-upped him on a five-year, $60MM extension in 2017, but he’s missed eleven games since then.
- There’s “mutual interest” between the Packers and defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson for next season, a source tells Demovsky (on Twitter). Wilkerson joined the Packers on a one-year, $5MM deal last year and he’s probably looking at another prove-it deal if he wants to stay in Green Bay. The ex-Jet appeared in just three games last year before an ankle injury wiped out his season.
- The Packers still have an interest in bringing back free agent safety Ibraheim Campbell, according to Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel (on Twitter). However, Campbell suffered a torn ACL against the Cardinals in December, which the team didn’t disclose. The safety, who was effective in his three games for the Packers, could be ready by training camp and brought back.
Packers Uncertain About Nick Perry Return
- Brian Gutekunst confirmed what we heard recently: Jimmy Graham will have a second chance to make an impact with the Packers. A possible cap casualty, Graham is in line to come back, per Gutekunst (via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky). When asked Wednesday about Graham, Matt LaFleur was not yet sure the 32-year-old is the type of tight end that can create matchup problems at this point in his career, adding the caveat of not being in Green Bay last year to observe the physical issues with which Graham dealt.
- Gutekunst was non-committal about Nick Perry‘s future with the team. Indicating the veteran outside linebacker has been productive when on the field, the second-year Packers GM said a decision has not been made on this front. “Nick’s struggled through some injuries,” Gutekunst said. “It’s been unfortunate. When he’s been out there, he’s been a good player for us. We’ll make those decisions as they come.” It would not be financially advantageous for the Packers to cut Perry. The cap savings would barely exceed $3MM, while the dead-money figure would surpass $11MM. Three years remain on the contract Perry signed in 2017. Perry played in nine games last season and 12 in 2017. He registered just 1.5 sacks last season.