Contract Details: McCarron, Green, Jones, Bushrod, Davis
Let’s take a look at the details from the latest contracts signed in the NFL, with all links going to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
- A.J. McCarron, QB (Bills): Two years, $10MM. $3MM in 2018, $7MM in 2019. $1.1MM of ’19 salary guaranteed for injury. 2019 salary fully guaranteed on Day 5 of 2019 league year. Bills would incur $2MM dead-money charge by cutting McCarron after one season (via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
- DaQuan Jones, DE (Titans): Three years, $21MM, $14MM fully guaranteed at signing. $6MM base salary for 2019 fully guaranteed (per Caplan).
- Virgil Green, TE (Chargers): Three years, $8.6MM, $5.9MM fully guaranteed, which covers the first two years of this deal (per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com, on Twitter).
- Cody Davis, S (Jaguars): Two years, $5MM, $2.5MM fully guaranteed. Deal contains option bonus due 22 days before the start of the 2019 league year (via Caplan).
- Jermon Bushrod, OL (Saints): One-year deal (via Herbie Teope of NOLA.com)
Chiefs Interested In Chad Henne, Matt Moore
The Chiefs will meet with Chad Henne on Thursday night, according to ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington (on Twitter). The Chiefs also have interest in Dolphins free agent signal caller Matt Moore, Darlington adds. 
The Titans and Dolphins are also showing interest in Henne, who has spent the last six seasons with the Jaguars. Henne has appeared in only six games since 2014, but NFL teams believe that he profiles as a solid backup option. In KC, he’d be the No. 2 QB behind Patrick Mahomes, giving them an experienced Plan B. The last time Henne, 33 in July, saw consistent playing time was 2013, when he completed 60.6% of his passes for 3,241 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions.
Moore, another free agent QB from a Florida team, will turn 34 in August. Last year, it was reported that he felt slighted by Miami’s signing of Jay Cutler, so he could be looking to move on this offseason.
DB Cody Davis Signs With Jaguars
Defensive back Cody Davis is headed to Jacksonville. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that the defensive back has signed with the Jaguars.
The 2013 undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech had spent his entire five-year career with the Rams, primarily serving in a backup role. Despite appearing in a career-low seven games (two starts) last season, the 28-year-old set career-highs in tackles (22) and passes defended (four). Davis didn’t earn enough snaps to qualify for Pro Football Focus‘ positional rankings, but his score would have placed him 45th among 87 eligible safeties.
Davis will join a Jaguars safety corps that already includes Barry Church, Tashaun Gipson, Don Carey, Jarrod Wilson, and Charlie Miller.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/14/18
Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agent tender decisions, with the list being updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:
RFAs
Tendered at the second-round level ($2.914MM):
- Cowboys DE David Irving (story)
- Giants: C Brett Jones (story via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY)
- Jets: Quincy Enunwa (story)
Tendered at original round level ($1.907MM):
- Browns: DT Jamie Meder
- Chiefs: DE Rakeem Nunez-Roches (via Adam Caplan of SiriusXM)
- Jets: OL Brent Qvale, TE Neal Sterling
- Lions: WR T.J. Jones (via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com)
- Rams: OLB Matt Longacre (via Rapoport)
- Seahawks: DE Dion Jordan (story)
- Texans: C Greg Mancz
Non-tendered:
- Buccaneers: DE Ryan Russell (via Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times)
- Chargers: LB Josh Keyes
- Chiefs: LB Ramik Wilson (via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
- Dolphins: OL Anthony Steen
- Falcons: RB Terron Ward (via D. Orlando Ledbetter)
- Jaguars: S Peyton Thompson, RB Tyler Gaffney
- Jets: DL Xavier Cooper
- Lions: RB Zach Zenner, DE Brandon Copeland, DL Zac Kerin
- Packers: LB Joe Thomas (via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Panthers: WR Kaelin Clay, CB Ladarius Gunter, TE Scott Simonson, OL David Yankey (via David Newton of ESPN.com)
- Rams: LB Cameron Lynch, T Darrell Williams
- Saints: WR Brandon Coleman, DT David Parry
- Seahawks: RB Thomas Rawls, RB Mike Davis (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
- Steelers: WR Eli Rogers (story via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review)
- Texans: LB Brian Peters, DE Angelo Blackson, LB Ben Heeney
- Titans: S Curtis Riley (via Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com), RB Bishop Sankey (via Chris Tomasson)
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Browns: QB Kevin Hogan
- Colts: TE Erik Swoope, G Jeremy Vujnovich, CB Christopher Milton, LS Luke Rhodes
- Dolphins: C Jake Brendel, LB Mike Hull, CB Jordan Lucas
- Giants: DT Robert Thomas (via Vacchiano)
- Jets: S Doug Middleton FB Lawrence Thomas TE Eric Tomlinson
- Lions: QB Jake Rudock, DT Christian Ringo
- Packers: WR Geronimo Allison (via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com)
- Rams: K Sam Ficken (via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com)
- Raiders: LB/DE James Cowser, S Erik Harris, G/T Denver Kirkland
- Ravens: LB Patrick Onwuasor, WR Quincy Adeboyejo, OL Matt Skura, OL Maurquice Shakir
- Seahawks: RB J.D. McKissic, DE Quinton Jefferson, DE Branden Jackson (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times)
Non-tendered:
- Chiefs: DB Keith Baxter (via Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star)
- Giants: TE Ryan O’Malley, LB Curtis Grant (via Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com)
- Lions: DT Rodney Coe, P Kasey Redfern (via Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com)
- Packers: CB Herb Waters, LS Taybor Pepper (via Silverstein)
- Saints: C Jack Allen
Jaguars To Sign TE Niles Paul
Niles Paul is leaving the Redskins. The Jaguars are set to sign the free agent tight end, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (on Twitter). It’s a two-year deal, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Paul, 29 in August, hasn’t been high on the NFL’s radar since catching 39 passes for 507 yards and one touchdown in 2014. After missing the 2015 season, he saw time in only eight games in ’16 and had a marginal role on the Redskins last year. Over the last two seasons, he has just 15 catches for 121 yards to his credit.
The Jaguars declined their option on Mychal Rivera in February, opening up a spot on the TE depth chart for Paul. However, Jacksonville exercised an option for fellow tight end Marcedes Lewis, while free agent Austin Seferian-Jenkins is scheduled to visit.
Jaguars To Sign DB Don Carey
After seven years away, Don Carey will return to Jacksonville. The Jaguars plan to sign the free agent defensive back, according to Mark Long of the Associated Press (on Twitter).
Primarily a special-teamer, Carey has spent the past seven seasons with the Lions. He hasn’t started a game since the 2014 season but has been a cornerstone member of the Lions’ special teams units. Carey’s 15 special teams tackles were fourth in the NFL during the 2015 campaign.
The 30-year-old defender was a starter for the 2010 Jaguars but gradually settled into a backup role. Now in his 10th season, he’ll be expected to be a reserve player in Jacksonville’s secondary and work on its ST units.
Seahawks, Jaguars To Host Austin Seferian-Jenkins
The Seahawks and Jaguars both plan to meet with free agent tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Seattle will get the first shot at Seferian-Jenkins, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
ASJ is drawing plenty of interest on the open market, and while the Seahawks and Jaguars will host him in the coming days, they aren’t the only clubs targeting the former second-round pick. Both the Saints and Falcons have also been connected to Seferian-Jenkins, who spent the 2017 campaign with the Jets.
Seattle is on the lookout for a new tight end after losing veteran Jimmy Graham to the Packers on Tuesday. While the Seahawks still have Nick Vannett on their roster, the club could use an established starter. Jacksonville, meanwhile, recently exercised its 2018 option for Marcedes Lewis, but Seferian-Jenkins would offer an upgrade on the longtime Jaguar.
In 13 games (10 starts) a season ago, the 25-year-old Seferian-Jenkins posted 50 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns. While his 50 catches ranked 13th among tight ends in 2017, Seferian-Jenkins doesn’t offer much as a blocker, as Pro Football Focus ranked him as just the 35th-best run-blocker.
Pro Football Rumors currently ranks Seferian-Jenkins as the No. 4 available tight end and the No. 37 free agent overall.
Jaguars To Sign CB D.J. Hayden
The Jaguars have agreed to terms with cornerback D.J. Hayden, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM (Twitter link). He’ll collect a three-year, $19MM deal which contains $9.5MM in guarantees and can max out at $21MM.
Jacksonville has invested heavily in its secondary over the past few years, and has added corners Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye through the draft and free agency, respectively. However, the Jaguars aren’t able to keep everyone in their defensive backfield, and Tuesday they lost slot cornerback Aaron Colvin to the division-rival Texans.
Colvin received $34MM over four years from Houston, so the Jaguars are saving quite a bit of cash and cap space by replacing him with Hayden. However, Jacksonville is also looking at a significant in talent, at least based on prior results. Although he’s a former No. 12 overall pick, Hayden has never lived up to the draft billing, and 2017 was no exception.
Hayden ranked as a the No. 96 cornerback among 121 qualifiers a season ago, per Pro Football Focus. Colvin, meanwhile, finished 47th in the same grades, so Jacksonville should expect a downgrade in its slot performance. Hayden will be flanked by All-Pro caliber outside corners in Ramsey and Bouye, so it’s possible he’ll show improvement, but he’ll need to exceed expectations to do so.
Jaguars, CB D.J. Hayden In Talks
The Jaguars working on deal with cornerback D.J. Hayden, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (on Twitter). Hayden spent last season with the Lions.
Jacksonville has invested heavily in its secondary over the past few years, and has added corners Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye through the draft and free agency, respectively. However, the Jaguars aren’t able to keep everyone in their defensive backfield, and today they lost slot cornerback Aaron Colvin to the division-rival Texans.
Hayden, a former first-round pick, could take over Colvin’s old role if signed by the Jaguars. Hayden, 27, has never lived up to his draft billing, but it’s possible his performance could improve if he’s sandwiched by All-Pro corners on either side of him. That would entail a large step forward, however: Pro Football Focus graded Hayden as a bottom-30 corner among 121 qualifiers.
Jaguars To Sign WR Donte Moncrief
Former Colts wide receiver Donte Moncrief is staying in the AFC South. Moncrief will sign with the Jaguars, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). He will earn a base salary of base salary of roughly $7MM, while incentives can bring the total value to $9.6MM, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com.
The addition of the 24-year-old will help to offset the loss of Allen Robinson, who agreed to a deal with the Bears early this morning. Moncrief will pair with Marqise Lee, who has been retained on a new deal, atop the receiver depth chart. Jacksonville could conceivably look to move on from one of their wideout, as they’re rostering 10 players at the position, including Allen Hurns, Keelan Cole, and Dede Westbrook.
Word on Moncrief’s compensation is not yet in, but it’s likely to be a fat deal given the contracts given to wide receivers thus far in free agency. The 2014 third-round pick had a relatively quiet 2017 campaign, hauling in 26 catches for 391 yards and two scores in 12 games (eight starts). His best season came in 2015, when he collected 733 receiving yards and six touchdowns.