Frank Gore Leaning Toward Colts, Not Eagles
7:09pm: Gore is “intent” on joining the Colts, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports.
6:28pm: Gore is speaking with Colts players to learn more about the organization, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
MONDAY, 5:54pm: Gore is reconsidering his potential deal with the Eagles, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Rapoport suggests that the Colts could enter the mix if things don’t work out in Philly (link).
SUNDAY, 4:02pm: Gore will sign a three-year deal that will guarantee him $7.5MM in the first two seasons, tweets Schefter.
3:31pm: After trading LeSean McCoy to the Bills last week, the Eagles appear to have have found a replacement at running back, as Frank Gore has told people close to him that he will sign with Philadelphia next week, per Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link). Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link) was the first to report that the Eagles had an offer out to Gore that would pay him $5MM annually, with $7MM in guarantees.
Per Getlin, the 49ers, Gore’s former team, were “bracing to lose” their longtime running back. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee tweets that San Francisco values the running back at $4MM per year, so it looks like the Eagles are set to top that figure. With McCoy out of the picture, Gore will vault to the top of the Eagles’ RB depth chart, joining Darren Sproles, Chris Polk, and Kenjon Barner. The transition from McCoy to Gore makes some sense — though Gore is five years older, he’ll cost much less, and could save Philadelphia more than $5MM in 2015 alone.
The Eagles, who are reportedly set to sign free agent corner Byron Maxwell, still need to re-sign their top offensive free agent, receiver Jeremy Maclin. The 49ers, meanwhile, will presumably turn their running back job over to second-year player Carlos Hyde, and they have work to do in free agency, as well. They’ve already added Jerome Simpson, and with Michael Crabtree not expected to return, their entire receiving corps could be revamped.
With Gore and Mark Ingram now off the board, clubs with RB needs will turn their attention to the No. 1 available running back — DeMarco Murray — while also keeping an eye on other options like Shane Vereen, Ryan Mathews, and C.J. Spiller.
Latest On Greg Hardy
Although he’s one of the best available free agent pass-rushers, Greg Hardy‘s market will surely be affected by his murky eligibility status, given that he’s currently on the commissioner’s exempt list. Per Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), however, Hardy will meet with NFL officials tomorrow to learn whether or not he’ll be suspended for his 2014 domestic violence incident.
According to Cole, Hardy is expected to have a litany of suitors once his status is resolved, and the 49ers, Falcons, Jaguars, Titans, and Colts will be the clubs with the most interest. The 26-year-old Hardy played in just one game last season due to his placement on the exempt list, but he racked up 26 sacks in the two seasons prior. If he’s not suspended, he should face a healthy market for his services; if he is hit with a ban, interest in him would obviously be commensurately lowered.
Hardy, whom the Panthers are not expected to try to retain, ranked as the No. 11 free agent on PFR’s Top 50 list.
Colts, Todd Herremans Agree To Terms
MONDAY, 10:53am: Herremeans’ one-year contract with the Colts can be worth up to $3.5MM, and has a base value of $2.25MM, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
SUNDAY, 10:37am: The Colts have agreed to terms with free agent guard Todd Herremans, who was released by the Eagles at the end of February. The news was first reported by Kevin Bowen of Colts.com (via Twitter) and has been confirmed by a number of sources.
Herremans had been with the Eagles since the club selected him in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. Over the course of the last decade, the 10-year veteran has appeared in 127 games for the Eagles, starting 124 of them at every spot besides center on the offensive line. In recent years, Herremans had served as Philadelphia’s right guard or right tackle, though his 2014 campaign came to an early end due to a biceps injury.
As Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com tweets, the signing makes sense given Herremans’ connections with Colts GM Ryan Grigson, who served as a scout for the Eagles and as Philadelphia’s director of player personnel, and given the Colts’ status as a legitimate contender.
ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets that it is a one-year deal worth $3.5MM. Herremans will add to the team’s guard competition while also providing insurance at the tackle positions. PFR’s Luke Adams wrote that Herremans was visiting with the Colts on Friday.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
AFC Rumors: Cameron, Bulaga, Langford, Raiders
Tight end Jordan Cameron has become one of the most sought after free agents in the league during this “legal tampering” period, drawing interest from the Browns, Raiders, Broncos, and Seahawks, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The Jaguars would also be in the mix if they are unable to sign Julius Thomas.
Here are some other rumors from around the AFC:
- One name the Bills could target heavily in free agency is versatile offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga, writes Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (via Twitter). Graham writes there will be plenty of competition for his services.
- The Broncos have scheduled a visit with defensive tackle Kendall Langford, writes Mike Klis of the Denver Post. The 29-year old veteran would provide a stout body for either a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense.
- In addition to Denver, Langford is scheduled to visit the Colts, writes Nick Wagoner of ESPN (via Twitter). Langford already met with the Lions, Jets, and Saints.
- The Raiders are interested in Cameron to fill their tight end woes, but are also targeting Jermaine Gresham, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN (via Twitter). The team is trying to work out a deal with the former Bengal by Tuesday, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter).
- Williamson also wrote an overview of the Raiders’ free agent options after top targets Ndamukong Suh and Randall Cobb agreed to deals this Sunday.
- With Cobb and Jeremy Maclin signing big money deals, and Torrey Smith leaning towards the 49ers, the Raiders will have to look at veterans released to fill their wide receiver woes, writes Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com (via Twitter). Percy Harvin, Andre Johnson, and Dwayne Bowe could all be options for the Raiders.
- The Titans have expressed interest in pass rusher Brandon Graham, reports Paul Kuharsky of ESPN (via Twitter).
- The Titans are also targeting a number of players, and Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean dives into ten topics the team will address this offseason. Among other things, Wyatt mentions the team needs to continue to pursue cornerbacks, writing that the team has expressed interest in Cary Williams, and could also chase Tramon Williams and Buster Skrine.
Colts To Extend Darius Butler
9:56 PM: Butler’s deal with the Colts is a two-year extension worth $5MM, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com (via Twitter). Butler receives $1MM to sign and then $1.5MM and $2.5MM in base salaries over the next two seasons, respectively.
8:46 PM: The Colts have announced an extension for nickel cornerback Darius Butler, reports Kevin Bowen of Colts.com (via Twitter). The former second-round pick busted out with the Patriots, but has been a very solid player since arriving in Indianapolis in 2012.
With the extension, the team will return a trio of corners including Vontae Davis and Greg Toler who put their talents on display last season for a unit that finished fifth in pass coverage according to Pro Football Focus despite finishing 30th in pass rush (subscription required), an astonishing feat for two very interconnected aspects of the defense.
The three were never more on display than in the divisional playoff game against the Broncos, where they consistently draped some of the league’s top receivers and knocked down Peyton Manning passes.
Safety Mike Adams may be the next member of the secondary to receive a contract as the Colts try to roll back the strength of their defense for 2015, writes Mike Wells of ESPN (via Twitter).
AFC FA Rumors: Raiders, Jags, Colts, Jets
The Raiders may have missed out on two big-name free agent targets — Ndamukong Suh and Randall Cobb — but they may have other players in mind. According to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link), Oakland will continue to make a “strong push” for center Rodney Hudson, though the Chiefs haven’t given up on retaining him. Elsewhere, the Raiders have expressed interest in free agent tight end Jermaine Gresham, tweets Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports, who adds that the Browns also have interest.
Let’s dive in to the latest AFC rumors…
- The Jaguars have an “opportunity” with running back DeMarco Murray, per Robinson (Twitter link). It’s not entirely clear if that means Jacksonville has been talking with the free agent RB, but Robinson says the Jags could outbid the Cowboys.
- More on the Jaguars: Despite their ample cap space, they were “never in” on Ndamukong Suh, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter).
- While it’s not a priority, the Colts are expected to talk to edge rusher Brian Orakpo in the coming days, tweets Robinson. Orakpo has also drawn interest from the Falcons. Jaguars, Cardinals, as well as his current team, Washington.
- The Jets have interest in free agent safety Ron Parker, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com (Twitter link). We learned earlier today that Parker and the Bucs have mutual interest.
- Given the nature of recent CB contracts, Buster Skrine is one cornerback who could be in for a big payday, according to Garfolo (on Twitter).
- With Jordan Cameron unlikely to return, the Browns are expected to show interest in tight end Ed Dickson, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
NFC Rumors: Peterson, Hoyer, Eagles, Cards
If Adrian Peterson is able to work his way out of Minnesota, his preferred destination would be Arizona, tweets Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports, who adds that the veteran running back’s other top landing spots are the Colts, Cowboys, Buccaneers, and Chargers. For their part, the Cardinals have denied any interest in the Vikings running back, adds Robinson’s colleague Rand Getlin (via Twitter). However, Getlin does tweet that a source told him the Cards’ release of Darnell Dockett was done to clear out cap room for Peterson.
Let’s check out the latest from the NFC as free agency approaches…
- Both the Vikings and the 49ers have expressed interest in quarterback Brian Hoyer, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link). But with other teams like the Jets and Texans (who could potentially offer a starting role) showing interest, as well, I’d bet the Hoyer would look unfavorably upon joining Minnesota or San Francisco, where he’d be the clear backup.
- Though they’re about to add Byron Maxwell, the Eagles could still use another corner, but the club hasn’t shown interest in either Buster Skrine or Chris Culliver, tweets Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com, who adds in a separate tweet that Walter Thurmond is also not on Philly’s radar.
- Washington appears set on adding help along the defensive line — they’re intrigued by Terrance Knighton, and they’ve also expressed interest in free agents Stephen Paea and Dan Williams, per John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- After re-signing Scott Tolzien earlier today, the Packers aren’t interested in retaining fellow backup QB Matt Flynn, tweets Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
- The Cardinals are interested in linebacker Brian Orakpo, per Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910 (Twitter link). Arizona is also interested in Trent Cole (Twitter link via Adam Caplan of ESPN), so it looks like they’re targeting OLB help.
- The Buccaneers are looking for safety help, and there is mutual interest between the club and FA Ron Parker, according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune (Twitter link).
Raiders, Colts, Others Eyeing Knighton
With Ndamukong Suh apparently headed to Miami, teams that missed out on 2015’s top free agent defensive tackle figure to turn their attention to the second tier. Terrance Knighton, who may be at the head of that second tier, is now drawing “serious interest” from a handful of teams, including the Raiders, Colts, Bears, and Washington, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
All four of those teams had been mentioned as possible Suh suitors, though only the Raiders were really considered to be a serious contender for the star defender after Miami emerged as a frontrunner. Oakland has also long been viewed as a logical landing spot for Knighton, considering his history with new Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio. Not only did “Pot Roast” play for Del Rio’s defense in Denver; he also played under Del Rio in Jacksonville earlier in his career.
Still, no deal between Knighton and the Raiders looks imminent quite yet. The Colts, Bears, and Washington all have plenty of cap space to make a play for the veteran defensive tackle, and all three teams have a need in the middle. Indianapolis cut Ricky Jean-Francois last month, the Bears may lose Stephen Paea in free agency, and Washington recently released Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen.
When I listed PFR’s top 50 free agents yesterday, I ranked Knighton 16th on our list, identifying the Raiders as his most logical suitor.
AFC Links: Parker, Williams, Searcy, Jaguars
One of the least-expected key free agents after he served as a special-teamer and backup in his first three years, Ron Parker looks ready to capitalize on the consistent playing time he received last season.
The four-year veteran who played corner and safety for the Chiefs last year has drawn the eye of several teams, including the Giants, Jets, Buccaneers and Falcons, according to Yahoo Sports’ Rand Getlin on Twitter.
The Chiefs, who signed Parker after the Seahawks and Panthers cut him, are also among the teams interested, but they are currently over the salary cap and may not have the ammunition to compete. Their interest in retaining standout center Rodney Hudson, who could cost up to $8MM per year, will almost certainly eliminate any Parker reunion.
Parker started 15 games for the Chiefs after appearing in the opening lineup once from 2011-13.
Elsewhere around the AFC …
- Recently cut cornerback Cary Williams will visit the Titans after completing a summit with the Jets, per the Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson on Twitter. The Jets and Seahawks, who will likely lose Byron Maxwell, are firmly in the mix for the ex-Ravens and Eagles corner.
- Fellow free agent defensive back Da’Norris Searcy also looks to have a slew of potential buyers. The Colts, Texans, Raiders and Dolphins are pursuing the 26-year-old safety, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson on Twitter. Like Parker, Searcy was a full-time starter for just one season, 2014, and he graded well against the run for the Bills last year (Pro Football Focus; subscription required). The Bills re-signing Searcy would mean keeping safeties in back-to-back years after they re-upped Aaron Williams last March.
- Flush with cap space and in dire need of pass-catchers, the Jaguars figure to make an offer to Julius Thomas, ESPN’s Adam Caplan tweets. No team has more to spend than the Jaguars, at more than $68MM, and few have more needs. Florida Times-Union Jaguars columnist Gene Frenette believes the Jags are set to land at least two of the marquee free agents with their mountain of cash stashed after years of mediocre offseason hauls.
- The team that unleashed Thomas the past two years isn’t expected to replicate the signing sprees that brought so many impact players the past three springs, reports Denver Post Broncos reporter Mike Klis. The Broncos are trying to retain tight end Virgil Green but may lose their top four free agents: Terrance Knighton, Orlando Franklin, Rahim Moore and Thomas.
AFC Rumors: Revis, Hughes, Skrine, Hoyer
The Patriots have a couple more days to work out a new deal with cornerback Darrelle Revis before they have to either cut him or pick up his option for 2015. According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News (via Twitter), Revis plans to explore his options on the open market, and if he receives offers comparable to the Pats’ proposal, he’ll return to New England.
Here’s more from around the AFC, with the three-day “legal tampering” window now open:
- Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports and Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (Twitter links) both hear from a source that the Bills are working on re-signing Jerry Hughes, and have made progress. However, Graham says both sides are “very aware” that the clock is ticking, and Robinson suggests other teams may get in on the bidding.
- Browns cornerback Buster Skrine has been a popular target in the early hours of free agency. Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports (via Twitter) that eight teams expressed interest in Skrine during the first three hours of this afternoon’s negotiating window.
- At least four teams have shown early interest in Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer, a source tells Tony Grossi of ESPNCleveland.com (Twitter link).
- The Colts, Texans, Raiders, and Dolphins are among the teams that made preliminary inquiries on Bills safety Da’Norris Searcy today, tweets Josina Anderson of ESPN.com.