Packers, Sam Shields Reach Four-Year Deal
6:57pm: Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com predicts a cap hit just north of $5.62MM in 2014 for Shields.
6:10pm: The deal calls for Shields to earn $15MM in 2014 and $30MM by 2016, wrote Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk. The Packers had over $34MM in cap room before the this deal.
An undrafted free agent in 2010, the former Miami Hurricane has 13 interceptions in four seasons and set a career-high with 17 passes defended in 2013. Shields played last season on a one-year restricted free agent tender of $2.02MM.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed the deal with the following tweet: “Congrats to RSR client Sam Shields & the Green Bay Packers on the new contract!”
6:07pm: Shields’ deal includes a $12.5MM signing bonus, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter).
6:00pm: The Packers have signed free-agent cornerback Sam Shields to a four-year contract, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio tweets that the deal is worth $39MM.
ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky confirmed the deal’s length and overall figure, but said he does not know the guarantees and structure yet.
Reports had pointed to Shields hitting the open market, though some Packers beat writers viewed the reports as a marketing ploy by agent Drew Rosenhaus.
NFC North Notes: Packers, Lions, Allen, Verner
While Packers‘ free agents Sam Shields and B.J. Raji have been getting all of the attention early on this offseason, Bill Polian of ESPN writes that neither player is the top free agent the Packers must try to re-sign. According to Polian, Evan Dietrich-Smith is the free agent with the highest grade. He wrote that while Shields is a good cover corner, he is not a great tackler, and that Raji would only fit in a defense that would not require movement from its nose tackle.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC North:
- The Lions have a need at safety, but they will not have the resources to go after a big name in free agency, writes Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com. He sees James Ihedigbo, Ryan Clark, and Donte Whitner as affordable options. Other interesting and cheap options could include Steve Gregory and Chris Clemons. If the team would like to attract a bigger name, they could look at converting either Champ Bailey or Rashean Mathis to safety from corner.
- While Jared Allen and his agent have not talked to the Vikings about returning yet, the free agent defensive end has not ruled them out as a potential landing spot, reports Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter).
- The Vikings called to gauge interest in Alterraun Verner, reports Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Vikings defensive back coach Jerry Gray was previously Verner’s defensive coordinator with the Titans. The team has also expressed interest in defensive tackle Paul Soliai, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities (via Twitter).
B.J. Raji To Test Free Agency
While earlier this week it sounded as if B.J. Raji and the Packers would be able to agree to a one-year deal to bring the giant defensive lineman back to Green Bay in 2014, it now looks like Raji will hit free agency, reports Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk.
Ian Rapaport of NFL.com originally reported that his return to the Packers was not a done deal (via Twitter). The one-year deal being talked about was reportedly worth between $4MM and $6.5MM with incentives, but the former first-round pick could command more money on a longer term contract on the open market.
There is also some contention about how Raji is being utilized under Dom Capers in Green Bay, and if Raji secures a one-year “prove it” deal with a team that will allow him to put up bigger sack numbers, he may choose to go there and re-establish his value before hitting free agency again in 2015.
NFC Notes: Umenyiora, Sproles, Smith, Rudolph, Dietrich-Smith
A handful of Saturday morning notes from around the NFC leading up to the opening of free agency:
- If Osi Umenyiora declines to accept a pay cut in Atlanta, a Giants reunion would be a possibility, writes Conor Orr of the New Jersey Star Ledger.
- Darren Sproles would be an “outstanding fit for the Bears,” writes Dan Pompei, who says the former Saint could replace Devin Hester and be a dynamic change-of-pace back the team has been unable to field behind Matt Forte. Additionally, Pompei notes the connection between Sproles and offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, who was with Sproles in New Orleans.
- “Financially, it makes little sense” for the Panthers to release Steve Smith because the team would take a financial hit in each of the next two seasons, says ESPN.com’s David Newton. The writer thinks the decision isn’t so much about money as it is the effect in the locker room. If the veteran’s role is reduced, would he turn sour?
- The Vikings have $41MM worth of cap space to play with, and ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling thinks a chunk of it will go to Kyle Rudolph, who is scheduled to hit free agency next year but has said he wants to remain in Minnesota long-term. It could behoove the team to act now, as Rudolph could see his production (read: value) increase under new offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
- The Packers have expressed their desire to bring back center Evan Dietrich-Smith, says the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein, who compares Dietrich-Smith’s free agent situation to Scott Wells‘ in 2012. Back then, the team thought they could let Wells negotiate with other teams and still retain his services, but they miscalculated and lost him to the Rams. The Packers are taking the same approach with Dietrich-Smith, who, coincidentally, has the same agent as Wells.
FA Rumors: Falcons, Finley, Winston, Neal
Let’s follow up on this morning’s free agent rumors with another round of them for the afternoon….
- The Falcons are engaged in active talks to bring back offensive lineman Mike Johnson, but appear ready to part ways with defensive tackle Peria Jerry, reports D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Consitution.
- Tight end Jermichael Finley has drawn interest from the Jets, Chiefs, Seahawks, Giants, and Steelers, tweets Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The former Packers standout still hasn’t been medically cleared, however.
- The Cardinals have maintained interest in offensive lineman Eric Winston, but with no deal imminent, the veteran tackle could hit the open market, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- The Packers have had meaningful discussions with outside linebacker Mike Neal, but they haven’t come up with a large enough offer to keep him from testing the open market, tweets Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
- Wilson also passes along an update on former Ravens defensive tackle Bryan Hall, who worked out for eight NFL teams at Arkansas State today. Hall was converted to linebacker by Baltimore, but is back to playing on the line now (Twitter links).
- According to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (Twitter link), defensive tackle Antonio Johnson continues to talk to the Titans, as the team tries to re-sign some of its players scheduled to be unrestricted free agents
- Having re-signed Marcus Sherels, the Vikings have one restricted free agent left, in linebacker Larry Dean. A source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link) the team is having ongoing discussions on the possibility of bringing Dean back.
- Tight end Dustin Keller, who was doing exceptionally well in camp with the Dolphins last offseason before tearing his ACL, is on track to return for this season, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Keller is an unrestricted free agent.
Extra Points: Jackson, Carlson, Quarless
The agent for D’Qwell Jackson says that his client asked for his release from the Browns and adds that his client is happy to be with the Colts, tweets Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. Cleveland would have owed Jackson a $4MM roster bonus on March 16th but they cut him loose well in advance. This could be a case of Jackson’s agent trying to put a positive spin on things – it’s more likely that the Browns asked him to take a pay cut that was too steep for his liking.
- The Jets and Packers are among the clubs with interest in tight end John Carlson, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. We learned earlier that Carlson, who was cut loose by the Vikings, is meeting with the Cardinals today.
- The Packers are talking to tight end Andrew Quarless about a new deal before he hits the open market on Thursday, writes Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel. Of course, there’s also uncertainty surrounding the future of fellow tight end Jermichael Finley this offseason, but bringing back Quarless, who hauled in 32 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns, could give them more certainty at the position.
- There’s mutual interest between the Bears and linebacker D.J. Williams in working out a new deal, tweets Michael C. Wright of ESPN. The two sides are talking and that’s expected to continue through the weekend. The former University of Miami standout spent his whole career in Denver up until 2013 when he joined Chicago. Unfortunately, his season ended when he ruptured his pectoral tendon against the Giants in Week 6.
- Brandon Smith got a two-year deal from the Bills, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The cornerback was an exclusive rights free agent for Buffalo and accepted his offer earlier today.
- The Cowboys are interested in TCU prospect Jason Verrett, writes ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins. The cornerback is a potential late-first round/early-second round pick, despite the fact that he is recovering from a torn labrum. “[The doctors] feel like it’s gonna be a very short process,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “Everybody that’s done it has been able to be back before camp. On the high road, I think that’s what he’s anticipating. That he’ll be back before camp.”
- Steve Serby of the New York Post is less-than-thrilled about the idea of the Jets signing Michael Vick.
- Former Jaguars wide receiver Mike-Sims Walker was released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.
NFC North Notes: Vikings, Kuhn, Lions
With Matt Cassel and Josh Freeman eligible for free agency, Vikings GM Rick Spielman told ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd today that he would like to draft a young quarterback and also sign a QB in free agency, writes Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune.
“We’re looking defense, I can tell you that,” Spielman said. “We have to improve on the defensive side of the ball. The QB scenario will work itself out. We don’t play any games next week. We’re not going to force the issue…. We’ll be able to find a young quarterback in this draft, because there’s enough depth. But we’re also going to have to look at one in free agency as well.”
Here’s more on the Vikings and their NFC rivals:
- Cassel is one free agent quarterback the Vikings will consider, and head coach Mike Zimmer told reporters today, including Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, that he hopes the team can bring Cassel back for 2014.
- Free agent linebacker Jameel McClain will visit with the Vikings next, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). McClain has already met with the Bills and Giants since being released by the Ravens.
- Fan favorite John Kuhn won’t sign a new contract with the Packers before Tuesday, and will reach the open market, a source tells Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. According to Demovsky’s source, the Packers and their longtime fullback intend to keep in touch, so there’s still a chance Kuhn could return to Green Bay.
- In order to draft Sammy Watkins, the Lions would almost certainly have to move up from No. 10, but Detroit is showing “a ton of interest” in the Clemson wide receiver, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
B.J. Raji, Packers Close To One-Year Deal?
11:01am: Jason Wilde passes along a report from his ESPN colleague Steven Haywood, who hears from a source that Green Bay’s offer to Raji could be worth up to $6.5MM with incentives (Twitter link). It sounds as if Raji plans to sign with the Packers, though nothing is official yet.
8:50am: According to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers have made one- and two-year offers to Raji. The one-year offer is worth about $4MM.
7:47am: The Packers and B.J. Raji are close to reaching a one-year agreement that will keep the defensive tackle in Green Bay, reports ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. Raji is coming off a down year, and is hoping to bounce back in 2014 before potentially hitting the open market a year from now, according to Schefter.
However, a pair of sources have told Aaron Nagler of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) “not so fast” on Raji, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) hears that all options continue to be in play for the former ninth overall pick. The Packers continue to have exclusive negotiating rights with Raji until Saturday, and Green Bay is the only club that can sign him before Tuesday, so we’ll have to wait and see if the two sides get anything finalized by then.
Raji, 27, reportedly rejected a contract offer from the Packers in 2013 that would have been worth $8MM per year, and his new deal figures to be worth less than that. The big defensive lineman failed to record a sack for the second straight season in 2013, and ranked 43rd out of 45 qualified 3-4 defensive ends, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
As Schefter notes, Raji’s role in Green Bay’s defense often involves eating up blockers rather than actually making plays, and there were question marks about his fit going forward when a February report suggested the Packers would be seeking smaller, more athletic linemen. Head coach Mike McCarthy threw cold water on that idea at the combine in Indianapolis, so we’ll see if the front office backs up his comments by locking up Raji for another year. If he does return to Green Bay, Raji figures to return to his old nose tackle position, tweets Rapoport.
NFC Notes: Packers, Hester, Mitchell, Smith
Nate Davis of USA Today ran down the Packers‘ offseason needs and rightfully noted that the D-Line will need to be addressed. Tyson Jackson, Arthur Jones, and Paul Soliai could be candidates for Green Bay, especially since B.J. Raji seems to have played his way off the roster. Here’s more out of the NFC..
- In an interview with NFL Network. Bears return specialist Devin Hester indicated that he’ll likely be elsewhere in 2014, writes Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. “From my knowledge, I know that Chicago wants to go a different route with me,” Hester said, pretty much confirming a similar report from earlier in the week. “All I can say is thanks to the fans (for) the support. Always been great to me, always been loyal. I couldn’t want to play for a better city than those guys.” Hester averaged 27.6 yards per kickoff return and 14.2 yards per punt return last season, tying Sanders’ touchdown record with an 81-yard punt return against the Redskins in October.
- Panthers safety Michael Mitchell is a shining example of how one-year deals can actually benefit veterans, writes USA Today’s Tom Pelissero. The 26-year-old didn’t get much opportunity in Oakland but after totaling four interceptions, two forced fumbles and 3.5 sacks in 15 games (14 starts) in 2013 with Carolina, he figures to see a bigger pay day this year.
- Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer says Panthers GM Dave Gettleman holds the cards in his standoff with wide receiver Steve Smith. The inventive columnist even goes so far as to come up with dialogue for an imagined meeting between the two men.
- The Vikings want to re-sign veteran wide receiver Jerome Simpson, writes Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. A source tells Tomasson that Minnesota is interested in a third year with Simpson even though he was arrested in November on suspicion of a DUI.
- It’s no secret that the 49ers are trying to get deals done with Donte Whitner and Tarell Brown before they hit free agency, but it may be difficult to get both men to bypass the open market, writes Bill Williamson of ESPN.com (Twitter links).
- Bears guard Kyle Long has already begun lobbying for the team to sign free agent defensive tackle Nate Collins, writes John Mullin of CSNChicago.com. Earlier tonight, the Bears came to terms with fellow DT Jeremiah Ratliff.
NFC Notes: Graham, Jones, Tate, Guion
The franchise tag is viewed as a way to essentially take an unrestricted free agent off the market, but that’s not technically what the tag does. It simply makes it more costly for another team to sign that free agent away from his current club, since the signing team would have to give up two first-round picks as compensation.
For some players though, that price tag may be worth paying, and there’s a sense around the league that a team may be willing to do so for Jimmy Graham, writes Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report. It’s not clear yet which club might make a run at Graham, but teams with late first-round picks like the Seahawks and Patriots have been mentioned as possible candidates, and Freeman says not to rule out the Ravens either. For what it’s worth, a Packers source tells Freeman that Green Bay making a run at Graham “won’t happen.” Still, it sounds as if the Saints may need to fight to keep their star pass-catcher.
Here’s more from around the NFC:
- James Jones isn’t expected to be back in Green Bay next season, but the free agent receiver still thinks there’s a chance he could re-sign with the Packers, as he told Around the League on the NFL Network yesterday (link via Dan Hanzus of NFL.com). If he doesn’t continue with the Packers, Jones thinks the Colts and Chargers might be good fits for him.
- With just a few days until he can hit the open market, Golden Tate tells SiriusXM NFL Radio that he hasn’t heard much from the Seahawks, as Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk details. “I’ve kind of just trusted in my agent and him being good at his work,” Tate said. “Todd [France] has had some great deals in the past and so I’m letting him handle it. Just trying to stay stress free and really enjoying being a Super Bowl champ.”
- Veteran defensive tackle Letroy Guion, who only played in about a third of the Vikings‘ defensive snaps in 2013, may be asked to take a pay cut, says Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Guion has a 2014 base salary worth $3.95MM and a total cap number of $4.3MM.
- If the Buccaneers are going to trade Darrelle Revis this offseason, it will likely happen sooner rather than later. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains why.