Contract Details: Gholston, Colquitt, Doyle, Davis
Updates on the contracts signed over the past couple of days, mostly via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle…
- Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston‘s contract includes $13.5MM in guaranteed money, as well as a guaranteed base salary of $3MM for the 2017 season (via Twitter). The 25-year-old’s $6.5MM 2018 salary becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2017 league year.
- Defensive tackle Khyri Thornton‘s deal with the Lions is worth $3.3MM with a $325K bonus (Twitter). Thornton will make $700K in 2017, followed by a $1.325MM salary in 2018. He can earn another $12.5K via annual per game active roster bonus, as well as $225K via a weight bonus.
- Punter Britton Colquitt‘s new deal with the Browns is worth $11.2MM and $4.5MM guaranteed (via Twitter). The former fourth-rounder will earn $1.65MM in 2017, followed by salaries of $2.55MM (2018), $2.7MM (2019), and $2.8M (2020).
- Colts tight end Jack Doyle will earn $18.9MM on his next contract (via Twitter). Doyle will earn a guaranteed $1MM next season, followed by a $3.5MM salary in 2018 (guaranteed fifth day of league year) and $5.15MM salary in 2019. The tight end will also earn a $6.5MM roster bonus on March 10th.
- Fullback James Develin earned a $2.45MM contract from the Patriots along with a $300K signing bonus, reports Wilson (Twitter). Develin will earn $800K each year, with a guaranteed $200K base salary for 2017. He can earn another $12.5K via a per-game active annual roster bonus.
- ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets that tight end Vernon Davis will receive $15MM ($7.5MM guaranteed) from the Redskins. The veteran will make $6MM in the first year of the three-year deal.
- Punter Shane Lechler‘s new deal with the Texans is for one-year and $2MM ($1MM guaranteed), reports Caplan (via Twitter).
Colts Join Kevin Zeitler Pursuit
The Kevin Zeitler market continues to intensify with free agency’s second tampering day underway. In addition to interest from the Browns and Jaguars, the Colts have entered the fray, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets.
PFR’s No. 5-ranked free agent and top-slotted offensive lineman, Zeitler headlines a deep guard class that’s gauging the market currently. Free agency opens on Thursday, but the five-year Bengals starter could set a new guard standard at $12MM per year. The Browns have a record $102MM-plus in cap space, but the Jags are over $75MM, and the Colts also reside toward the top of this list at more than $54MM.
Indianapolis has encountered trouble protecting Andrew Luck or opening steady holes for Frank Gore the past two years, but the team has an offensive line foundation on the left side. Anthony Castonzo, Jack Mewhort and Ryan Kelly will return as starters, but the right side of the Colts’ line has room for growth. The Colts did not establish much consistency on that side of its line. The team, though, devoted substantial draft resources to fortifying this position last year. That said, only Castonzo resides as a veteran contract on Indy’s offensive front, so Chris Ballard could have room to add one of the 2017 UFA class’ impact guards.
Colts Re-Sign Jack Doyle
The Colts have announced the re-signing of tight end Jack Doyle to a three-year deal. The pact is worth $19MM and includes $2MM in incentives, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). Half of the $19MM ($9.5MM) is guaranteed, tweets ESPN’s Adam Caplan.
Had Doyle gotten to free agency, he would have been among the most sought-after tight ends on the open market. In a breakout 2016 campaign, the 27-year-old Doyle posted across-the-board career highs with 59 catches, 75 targets, 584 yards and five touchdowns. During the previous three seasons of his career, Doyle combined 42 receptions, 209 yards and three TDs.
Doyle now joins Dwayne Allen as one of two well-compensated Colts tight ends. Allen nearly reached free agency last offseason, but the Colts stopped that from happening with a four-year, $29MM offer. The fact that Doyle won’t hit the market this year should increase the demand for free agency’s other top tight ends, Martellus Bennett and Jared Cook, and aid them in their quests to land raises.
Chris Hagan of FOX 59 first reported the news (Twitter link). Garafolo first tweeted the length of the deal. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Colts DT David Parry Arrested
Colts defensive tackle David Parry was arrested in Arizona in late February, and the lineman is facing a number of chargers. According to Stephen Holder of The Indy Star, Parry has been charged with theft of a means of transportation and resisting arrest with physical force, which are both felonies. The defensive lineman was also charged with misdemeanor assault.
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Parry was reportedly one of three passengers in a “transportation cart” — per Hays, essentially a golf cart taxi — whose driver was ultimately the victim who contacted police. Per the victim, once the other two riders had been dropped off, Parry hit the driver in the head and stole the cart. Police later found the cart crashed into a gate, with Parry, apparently intoxicated, on the sidewalk.
Parry, 25 next week, was selected by the Colts in the fifth round of the 2015 draft. During the first two years of his NFL career, Parry has started every game and racked up four sacks. Last year, Parry graded as just the No. 110 interior defender among 127 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Entering the third year of his rookie deal, Parry is set to make the minimum in 2017, with a cap charge of roughly $670K.
While it’s too early to assess Parry’s legal status or standing with the Colts, the charges and description of the incident clearly represent the culmination of several poor decisions. New Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard will now have the Parry’s fate in his hands as he gathers facts on the situation.
Latest On Market For A.J. Bouye
We figured that cornerback A.J. Bouye would be one of the most sought-after free agents, and that sentiment has certainly been confirmed today. ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco reports (via Twitter) that the Jaguars, Bears, Buccaneers, and Titans have been linked to the defensive back.
The Jets and Eagles were among the teams previously mentioned as potential landing spots, and the Texans are also reportedly interested in re-signing him. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle clarifies (via Twitter) that the Eagles will indeed have interest in Bouye, but they’re not expected to “emerge as a serious player” for his services. Wilson also adds the 49ers, Browns, and Colts as teams that are expected to be “extremely competitive” when it comes to signing Bouye. Considering that long list of suitors, Wilson says there’s a good chance Bouye sticks around the AFC South.
Meanwhile, Wilson tweets that all of the offers for Bouye have averaged at least $12MM annually.
The 2013 undrafted free agent played sparingly during his rookie season, but he established himself as one of the team’s most reliable corners over the past three seasons. Bouye arguably had his best season in 2016, compiling 63 tackles, one sack, and one interception.
Among the teams listed above, Bouye would seemingly be able to slide into every starting lineup. Brice McCain (Titans), Aaron Colvin (Jaguars), Brent Grimes (Buccaneers) are among the defensive backs who could be pushed out of the lineup if their respective teams sign Bouye.
PFR listed Bouye above Logan Ryan as the best available free agent cornerback. Meanwhile, our own Zach Links anticipates that the 25-year-old will be the highest-earning free agent this offseason.
Colts A Potential Suitor For OL D.J. Fluker
- When it comes to offensive lineman D.J. Fluker, the Saints, Lions, Seahawks, Colts, Vikings, Giants, Cardinals, and Falcons are among the potential teams to watch, according to Josina Anderson on Twitter.
[SOURCE LINK]
Jack Doyle To Get $6MM+ Year?
Following his most productive NFL season, Colts tight end Jack Doyle is expected to get paid. NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets that the free agent could earn more than $6MM a season on his next contract.
We learned in late February that the 26-year-old would hit free agency after he failed to agree on an extension with the Colts. After playing in a reserve role during his first three seasons in the league, Doyle had a breakout campaign in 2016. The tight end collected 59 catches, 584 yards and five scores, and his 75 targets were the second-highest total on the team. As our own Connor Byrne noted, Doyle also rated as an above-average run blocker.
During his first three years in the league, the former undrafted free agent collected 42 receptions for 209 yards and three touchdowns.
Doyle ranked behind Martellus Bennett and Jared Cook on our list of the best available free agent tight ends.
Joe Reitz Announces Retirement
Colts offensive lineman Joe Reitz announced his retirement on Tuesday. In seven NFL seasons, the veteran played in 73 games with 44 starts.
“I’m privileged to have had the opportunity to coach Joe for five seasons here in Indianapolis,” head coach Chuck Pagano said. “He stood out as a selfless player who was respected by his teammates in addition to being a tremendous family man.
“As a native of the Indianapolis area, Joe made an impact on the community he grew up in. He demonstrated how one should conduct himself on and off the field and all Hoosiers and Colts fans alike should be proud of the way he represented himself. We are thankful for Joe’s contributions to this organization and wish him the best moving forward.”
The Western Michigan product entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2008, and he proceeded to spend several years in the Ravens and Dolphins organizations. He caught on with his hometown Colts in 2010, and he subsequently spent seven seasons in Indianapolis.
Calais Campbell, Chris Baker Generating Interest
The Jaguars are in the Calais Campbell market, while the Broncos, Buccaneers, and Colts are contenders for fellow free agent defensive lineman Chris Baker, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS (Twitter link) and Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Anderson adds that a Redskins return is still in the cards for Baker and he hopes to sign “quick” (link).
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Campbell, the best interior defender on the market in the estimation of PFR, should be in high demand this week, and the Cardinals are expecting to lose him to another club as a result. The Jaguars boast $60MM more in cap space than does Arizona, meaning Jacksonville would likely be able to outbid the Cards and many other suitors. Campbell, fresh off his ninth solid campaign in the desert, would add an All Pro presence to a Jaguars defense that has accrued veteran talent in recent offseasons.
Baker, meanwhile, is expecting an offer from the Redskins, but that doesn’t mean the 29-year-old won’t test free agency. Baker started all 16 games for the first time in his career in 2016, and graded as one of the league’s best interior defenders. The Broncos are expected to target defensive line help after struggling against the run last season, while Baker would give the Buccaneers another talented lineman to pair with Gerald McCoy.
Colts Won’t Re-Sign S Mike Adams
The Colts don’t intend to re-sign free agent safety Mike Adams, as Adams himself posted on Instagram that today was his “last day” with Indianapolis. Adams later confirmed to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star (Twitter link) that the Colts intend to pursue younger players on the defensive side of the ball.
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Adams, 36, later this month, was something of a journeyman before joining the Colts prior to the 2014 campaign, as he’d spent time with 49ers, Browns, and Broncos. But over the past three seasons, Adams has become a legitimately above-average starter, and earned two Pro Bowl nods during that time. In 2016, Adams started 15 games, racked up 79 tackles, and posted two interceptions.
Adams placed as the No. 14 safety on PFR’s positional free agent ranks, and while he won’t be in for a long-term deal given his age, he could make a nice stopgap for a contending team. On the free agent market, he’ll compete with other safeties including Tony Jefferson, Duron Harmon, and Barry Church.