Jaguars’ Darqueze Dennard Deal Off
The Jaguars reached an apparent agreement to sign Darqueze Dennard last week, but the former first-round pick is heading back to free agency.
The team announced an agreement with Dennard could not ultimately be finalized, per Mark Long of the Associated Press (on Twitter). The veteran cornerback will return to unrestricted free agency.
No terms from the Jags’ Dennard agreement surfaced, and the team struck a deal with Rashaan Melvin earlier this week. Both of those developments make more sense now. Dennard is entering his age-29 season. He has spent his entire six-year career with the Bengals.
Jacksonville traded away each member of its top-tier cornerback duo over the past six months, and Dennard was viewed as one of the pieces that would help the team transition from the Jalen Ramsey–A.J. Bouye era. However, Dennard is primarily a slot cornerback. With slot defender D.J. Hayden residing as the Jaguars’ top incumbent corner, this was set to be an interesting fit. Hayden and Melvin are now the Jags’ two most proven corners. The draft figures to be a key avenue for the team upgrading at this position.
Jaguars To Sign Tyler Eifert
Tight end Tyler Eifert and the Jaguars have agreed to a two-year contract, per Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network (via Twitter). He’s set to earn $15.5MM over the course of the deal, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Eifert has one of the most extensive injury histories among active players, but he has also proven to be a productive receiver when healthy. He played in 16 games for the first time as a pro last season.
The seven-year veteran quietly posted 436 receiving yards and three touchdowns for the 2-14 Bengals in 2019. Eifert re-signed with Cincinnati on one-year deals in 2018 and ’19 but now leaves the team after seven seasons.
Eifert signed for $5.5MM in 2018 and $4MM last year. The 29-year-old tight end was a trade candidate at the October deadline, but the Bengals opted not to make any in-season sell-off moves.
Injuries have limited Eifert throughout his career. He missed 15 games in 2014, eight in 2016, 14 in 2017 and 12 in 2018. The one season when the former first-round pick managed to put it together — 2015 — has helped keep him on the radar. The Notre Dame product caught 13 touchdown passes that season, one that doubled as the Bengals’ most successful campaign in a generation.
The Jaguars have struggled to fill their TE post for years. After their Julius Thomas signing did not work out, they have generated next to nothing from this position. James O’Shaughnessy led Jags tight ends with 214 and 153 receiving yards over the past two seasons, respectively. Jacksonville selected Josh Oliver in the third round last year, but an injury limited him to four games as a rookie.
Jaguars To Sign CB Rashaan Melvin
Rashaan Melvin will soon join an eighth NFL team. The veteran cornerback agreed to terms with the Jaguars on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Melvin spent last season with the Lions and played the 2018 campaign with the Raiders. This will mark another one-year deal for the 30-year-old corner, per agent Drew Rosenhaus, with Schefter adding it’s worth $2.25MM.
The former UDFA started 12 games for the Lions last season and will join Darqueze Dennard as members of a new-look Jaguars cornerback crew, one that will be without both Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye in 2020. D.J. Hayden resides as the Jags’ top incumbent. He, Dennard and Melvin have a combined 19 years of NFL experience.
Perhaps Melvin’s top season came with the Colts in 2017. He graded well in the view of Pro Football Focus and attracted a better free agency deal from the Raiders. He signed for north of $5MM in Oakland and received north of $3MM in Detroit. Overall, Melvin has been employed by the Buccaneers, Ravens, Patriots, Dolphins, Colts, Raiders and Lions since 2013.
Last season, Melvin played 870 snaps and graded as PFF’s No. 88 overall corner. While the Jaguars could well make a move in the draft to upgrade, Melvin has a path to a starting role in 2020.
Jaguars Sign Al Woods, Cassius Marsh
The Jaguars have reached a one-year, $2.75MM deal with free agent defensive tackle Al Woods, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds Woods will earn $1MM guaranteed. Jacksonville has also agreed to terms on a one-year deal with defensive end/linebacker Cassius Marsh, tweets Mark Long of the Associated Press. Marsh receives $600K guaranteed, per Pelissero (on Twitter).
Woods, who turns 33 years old later this week, posted one of the best seasons of his 10-year career with the Seahawks in 2019. The veteran appeared in 14 games and made five starts while playing the second-most defensive snaps (450) of his NFL tenure. Woods was especially proficient at stymying opposing run games, as Pro Football Focus ranked him 12th among interior defenders in run defense grade.
Jacksonville is in need of big bodies in the middle of its defensive line. Not only did the club finish 27th in Football Outsiders‘ adjusted line yards, but it parted ways with the 6’3″, 330-pound Marcell Dareus this offseason. Woods, who’s even larger at 6’4″ and 330 pounds, should help fill that void.
Marsh, 27, has appeared in 84 total games since being selected by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. Capable of playing a hybrid DE/LB role, Marsh spent 2019 in Arizona, where he posted 2.5 sacks and five quarterback hits on 428 snaps.
AFC Contract Details: Bulaga, Cobb, Collins
Here are the latest contract details as of Sunday night. We will focus on the AFC here.
- Bryan Bulaga, T (Chargers): Three years, $30MM. $19.25MM guaranteed; $10MM signing bonus. Bulaga’s salaries in 2020 ($1.5MM) and 2021 ($7.75MM) are guaranteed. A $2.5MM roster bonus is due on Day 3 of the 2022 league year, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
- Randall Cobb, WR (Texans): Three years, $27MM. $18MM guaranteed; $6MM signing bonus. Base salaries in 2020 ($3.75MM) and ’21 ($8.25MM) are guaranteed; non-guaranteed salary of $7.9MM in 2022. Wilson notes (on Twitter).
- Rodney Gunter, DL (Jaguars): Three years, $18MM. $11.15MM guaranteed; $4.25MM signing bonus. 2020 and ’21 base salaries of $2MM and $4.9MM are guaranteed. Non-guaranteed 2022 base of $5.4MM, per Wilson (on Twitter).
- Vic Beasley, OLB (Titans): One year, $9.5MM. The $9.5MM is guaranteed and includes a $6MM signing bonus. $2.5MM worth of sack-based incentives exist in the deal, Wilson adds (on Twitter).
- Maliek Collins, DT (Raiders): One year, $6MM. $5.75MM guaranteed. Deal includes a $1.5MM sack-based incentive, Wilson tweets.
- De’Vante Bausby, CB (Broncos): One year, $825K. The deal contains no guaranteed money, Mike Klis of 9News tweets.
Latest On Yannick Ngakoue
We’ve already seen a few splash trades go down since the new league year began, and the next one many people have been talking about is the Jaguars’ Yannick Ngakoue. The defensive end has stated publicly that he doesn’t want to be in Jacksonville, so when the Jags franchise-tagged him anyway, many assumed it was the precursor to a tag-and-trade.
But while there’s been a ton of speculation, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that there’s nothing brewing on the trade front right now, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com (Twitter link). The fact that there’s no traction could have something to do with what Jacksonville is looking for. People around the league believe the Jaguars are looking for a compensation that “began with a first-round pick,” sources told Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
The Jags’ demands make sense given Ngakoue’s consistent production and the fact that he’s only 24, but it also makes sense why teams would be reluctant to part with a first-round pick considering he isn’t quite considered to be among the league’s true top-tier outside rushers. The Eagles are one team that’s been linked to some pass-rushers, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets that they have “a lot of interest” in Ngakoue.
Any team that trades for Ngakoue will likely immediately try to sign him to an extension, so it sounds like they’ll have to give up an early pick and dish out a big payday. The Maryland product was drafted 69th overall back in 2016. He’s had at least eight sacks in each of his four pro seasons, and made the Pro Bowl in 2017 when he had 12.5.
He’s also had at least four forced fumbles in three of those seasons, and led the league with six in 2017. Right now he’s in a bit of a stalemate with the Jaguars, and we’ll keep you posted as soon as we hear more.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/20/20
Today’s running list of minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: P Ryan Allen (this is only a procedural move and Allen is expected to be re-signed shortly, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tweets.)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Pharoh Cooper
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: S Deon Bush
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: CB C.J. Goodwin
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: S Miles Killebrew
- Signed: CB Tony McRae
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: OT Roderick Johnson
- Signed: DB Jaylen Watkins
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: OL Le’Raven Clark
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: LB Lerentee McCray
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: CB Justin Hardee
- Signed: FB Michael Burton
New York Jets
- Re-signed: CB Arthur Maulet
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: S Jordan Dangerfield
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: S Deon Bush
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: OT Roderick Johnson
New York Jets
- Re-signed: CB Arthur Maulet
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: S Jordan Dangerfield
Contract Details: JPP, Boston, Waynes
A new batch of contract details to pass along, all via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter):
- LB Jason Pierre-Paul, Buccaneers: two year extension. $25MM, including $20MM guaranteed. Salaries: $6.5MM, guaranteed (2020), $12.5MM, with $7.5MM guaranteed for injury (2021).
- S Tre Boston, Panthers: three years, $18MM. $8MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1.16MM (2020), $2.25MM (2021), $3.69MM (2022). $1MM third day 2020 roster bonus, $1MM third day 2022 roster bonus.
- CB Trae Waynes, Bengals: three years, $42MM. $15MM signing bonus. Salaries: $5MM (2020), $8.4MM (2021), $10.4MM (2022).
- DT Linval Joseph, Chargers: two years, $17MM. $8MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1.5MM (2020), $5.5MM (2021). $1MM annual playtime, sacks, Pro Bowl incentive.
- OL Wes Schweitzer, Redskins: three years, $13.5MM. $4MM guaranteed, $3MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM guaranteed (2020), $3.49MM (2021), $4.49MM (2022).
- LB A.J. Klein, Bills: three years, $18MM. $9.7MM guaranteed, $1.2MM signing bonus. Salaries: $2.2MM guaranteed (2020), $4.1MM, with $3.2MM guaranteed (2021), $4.2MM (2022).
- OL Tyler Shatley, Jaguars: signed. One-year, $1.511MM deal with $600K guaranteed. $1.375MM salary for 2020.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/18/20
Here are the minor moves from the first day of official free agency. The list will be updated throughout Wednesday.
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: OL Garrett McGhin
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: CB Donovan Olumba, DE Daniel Wise
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: CB De’Vante Bausby
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: T Tyler Shatley
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: C Evan Brown, DB Rashard Causey, T Chidi Okeke, WR T.J. Rahming
- Released with failed-physical designation: LB Mike Hull
Washington Redskins
- Re-signed: LB Nate Orchard
Jaguars Sign DL Rodney Gunter
Rodney Gunter is signing with the Jaguars, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). It’s a three-year for the defensive lineman.
The 2015 fourth-round pick had spent his entire career with the Cardinals, including a 2019 campaign where he started a career-high 13 games. The 28-year-old has compiled 11 sacks through five seasons in the NFL, including 7.5 over the past two years.
The Jaguars have been busy revamping their defense over the past few days. The front office spent big money to get linebacker Joe Schobert to Jacksonville, and they also signed cornerback Darqueze Dennard.