Minor NFL Transactions: 3/19/22
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DT Justin Jones
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Mekhi Sargent
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: OL Alex Bars
Jaguars Re-Sign CB Tre Herndon
Tre Herndon is returning to Jacksonville. The Jaguars have re-signed the cornerback, reports Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).
Herndon has spent his entire career with the Jaguars, and he’s seen an inconsistent role through his first four years in the league. He started 26 games for the organization between 2019 and 2020, but he only started three of his nine games in 2021. A knee injury delayed his start to last season, and he was also inactive for five of the team’s final 10 games.
Still, Herndon managed to compile 17 tackles while playing a role on special teams. In total, the 26-year-old has collected 161 tackles and three interceptions in 52 career games.
The cornerback will presumably play behind Shaquill Griffin and Rudy Ford in 2022.
Commanders Expected To Sign Andrew Norwell
The Commanders look to be adding a significant piece to their offensive line. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, they are “close” to signing guard Andrew Norwell (Twitter link). An update from ESPN’s John Keim (on Twitter) adds that Norwell “has agreed to the deal”, the terms of which are not yet know. 
[RELATED: J.D. McKissic Staying In Washington]
Norwell, 30, began his career in Carolina in 2014. He was a full-time starter during that period, which overlapped with current Commanders head coach Ron Rivera‘s time in charge of the Panthers. He saved his best year for last in Charlotte, earning Pro Bowl and All Pro honors.
That earned him a lucrative second contract. The former Buckeye signed a five-year, $66.5MM deal with the Jaguars in 2018. While his play has been consistent in Jacksonville, it hasn’t reached the level of that 2017 campaign, at least from an analytical perspective. Norwell earned a solid 70.5 PFF grade in his first year in Duval County, but has been rated in the mid-60s ever since.
That makes it unsurprising that the Jaguars would allow the former UDFA to head elsewhere in free agency. After making $9MM in salary and carrying a cap charge of $15MM in 2021, Norwell became less of a priority on the interior of their o-line after the addition of Washington standout Brandon Scherff. It now appears that the Commanders have reciprocated that move by adding Norwell.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/16/22
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: WR Brandon Zylstra
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: LS Clark Harris
Houston Texans
- Acquired via trade (from Jets): LB Blake Cashman
- Signed: TE Scott Quessenberry
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: OL Will Richardson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: FB Jakob Johnson
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-signed: P Jordan Berry
- Signed: TE Johnny Mundt, OL Austin Schlottmann
New York Giants
- Re-signed: LS Casey Kreiter
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DT Hassan Ridgeway
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Trenton Cannon
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/16/22
Here’s a look at the latest tender decisions from around the NFL:
RFAs
Tendered:
- Bills: OL Ryan Bates
- Broncos: OLB Malik Reed
- Commanders: K Joey Slye
- 49ers: LB Azeez Al-Shaair
- Jets: K Eddy Pineiro, QB Mike White
- Rams: LB Travin Howard
- Saints: DL Shy Tuttle
Non-tendered:
- Bills: DT Justin Zimmer
- Broncos: DL DeShawn Williams
- Chiefs: CB Chris Lammons
- Giants: QB Jake Fromm
- Jets: DE Kyle Phillips, OT Greg Senat
- Raiders: CB Keisean Nixon
- Jaguars: RB Dare Ogunbowale
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Commanders: C Keith Ismael, K Brian Johnson, DE Bunmi Rotimi
Jaguars To Sign Darious Williams
The Jaguars are set to sign free agent cornerback Darious Williams (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Once finalized, it’ll be a three-year deal worth $30MM with incentives that could push the overall value to $39MM. Williams also gets $18MM fully guaranteed, so more than half is already locked in.
Williams had a down year in 2021, thanks in part to an early season ankle injury. Before that, in 2020, Pro Football Focus graded Williams as its No. 4 overall corner as he set new personal watermarks in tackles (44), interceptions (four), and passes defended (14). Last offseason, the Rams let Troy Hill walk and prioritized Williams as a restricted free agent. He rewarded their confidence with four interceptions in 2020, but did not record an INT in 2021.
Now, the Rams will have to replace Williams while dealing with a cap crunch. He leaves Los Angeles with 130 tackles, six interceptions, and two fumble recoveries across 46 career appearances.
Williams’ camp tells RapSheet that he had more lucrative offers elsewhere. But, as a Florida native, he chose to take less money to return home.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/15/22
Here’s a look at the latest tender decisions from around the NFL:
RFAs
Tendered:
- Eagles: G Nate Herbig
- Falcons: WR Olamide Zaccheaus
- Jaguars: S Andrew Wingard
- Raiders: S Dallin Leavitt
- Rams: K Matt Gay
- Steelers: S Marcus Allen, LB Robert Spillane ($2.433MM)
- 49ers: LB Azeez Al-Shaair, OL Daniel Brunskill
Non-tendered:
- Bengals: WR Stanley Morgan
- Buccaneers: DE Pat O’Connor
- Eagles: RB Boston Scott, WR Greg Ward
- Titans: FB Khari Blasingame
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Chargers: WR Jalen Guyton, T Storm Norton
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/22
We’ll keep tabs on today’s minor moves here:
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: S Sean Chandler
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: LS Patrick Scales
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: TE Jeremy Sprinkle
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Extended: WR Terry Godwin
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: CB Darius Phillips
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: LB Duke Riley, LB Elandon Roberts
Philadelphia Eagles
- Re-signed: DB Andre Chachere, WR Greg Ward
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: S A.J. Moore
Jaguars To Release Myles Jack
Something had to give. After signing scores of high-end free agents on Monday, the Jaguars are releasing linebacker Myles Jack, according to a source who spoke with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). 
Jack led the Jags with 108 tackles last year, his sixth season in Jacksonville. Ultimately, however, he was the victim of a numbers crunch, and the team had no room for the remainder of his four-year, $57MM deal.
It was less than a month ago that newly-hired defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell told reporters how much he was looking forward to working with Jack.
“With Myles he was just, ‘Coach, I’m ready to go, whatever he wants to do,”‘ Caldwell said (via Sports Illustrated). “He’s that type of guy that whatever the team asks him to do, he’s a team-oriented guy. Whatever we want him to do, he’s going to go out there and do it to the best of his ability. But as coaches, it’s our job to let him go do what he does well, and that’s what we plan on doing.”
The “Jack Of All Trades” was a true disruptor in 2020 when he notched 118 stops, one sack, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception, and five passes defensed. He was less of a factor in 2021, though the overall situation in Jacksonville certainly didn’t help.
Jack won’t turn 27 until September and should garner plenty of attention on the open market this week.
Jaguars To Sign WR Zay Jones
Jacksonville’s spending spree continues. Zay Jones is headed to Florida on a three-year agreement, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
This deal comes not long after the Jags agreed to give Christian Kirk top-10 receiver money. They are signing Jones for three years and $24MM, with RapSheet adding the contract can max out at $30MM. The deal contains $14MM in guaranteed money, with his 2022 and 2023 base salaries fully guaranteed (per PFF’s Doug Kyed on Twitter). The deal also includes up to $1MM in incentives for each year of the deal.
Although Doug Pederson expressed interest in bringing back DJ Chark, the Jags have now committed big money to one target and reasonable cash to another wideout. Kirk and Zay Jones join Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault as the top Jacksonville receivers entering the 2022 league year. Evan Engram, who agreed to a one-year deal, will also be part of the equation to help Trevor Lawrence after his rocky rookie year.
A former second-round Bills pick, Zay Jones resurfaced as a decent Raiders option last season. With Henry Ruggs being cut midseason, the Raiders depended more on Jones than they had previously. He caught 47 passes — 33 more than he did in 16 2020 games — for 546 yards and a touchdown last season. While this contract is somewhat surprising, considering Jones reupped with the Raiders for one year and $2.5MM in 2021, the Jags clearly believe he can sustain that performance level.
Doubling as one of the most expensive days in Jaguars history, Monday has also included deals with Brandon Scherff, Folorunso Fatukasi and Foyesade Oluokun. The team that won four games over the past two seasons is certainly bringing in talent, regardless of cost.