Contract Details: Campbell, Demps, Wheaton
Let’s take a look the financial details of some recently-signed contracts:
- Mike Adams, S (Panthers): Two years, $4.2MM. $1.15MM guaranteed. $650K signing bonus. $00K available annually via Pro Bowl and interception incentives (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Calais Campbell, DL (Jaguars): Four years, $60MM. $30MM guaranteed. $6MM signing bonus. Base salaries $9MM (guaranteed), $15MM (guaranteed), $12MM, $15MM. $3MM option bonus for 2019 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Marcus Cooper, CB (Bears): Three years, $16MM. $8MM guaranteed. $1.5MM signing bonus. $1MM available annually in Pro Bowl and interception incentives (Twitter links via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune).
- Quintin Demps, S (Bears): Three years, $13.5MM. $5MM guaranteed. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Ryan Griffin, TE (Texans): Three years, $9MM. $3.225MM guaranteed. Annual $100K workout base de-escalator (Twitter links via Wilson).
- D.J. Hayden, CB (Lions): One year, $3.75MM. $2.25MM guaranteed. $1MM signing bonus. $250K workout bonus. $1.5MM available via incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Ted Larsen, OL (Dolphins): Three years, $5.65MM. $1.75MM guaranteed. $1.25MM signing bonus. $500K escalator in 2018. $1MM escalator in 2019 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Josh Robinson, CB (Buccaneers): Two years, $5M. $2MM guaranteed. $1MM roster bonus due on eighth day of 2017 league year. $1.75MM team option in 2018. $750K available via incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Cornelius Washington, DL (Lions): Two years, $5.825MM. $1.5MM signing bonus. $1.5MM guaranteed (link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
- Markus Wheaton, WR (Bears): Two years, $11MM. $5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times)
- Terrance Williams, WR (Cowboys): Four years, $17MM. $9.5MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus. 2020 option season. Annual $200K workout base salary de-escalator (Twitter links via Wilson).
Jaguars To Release Roy Miller
The Jaguars will release defensive tackle Roy Miller, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
Miller, 29, won’t be part of a Jacksonville defensive line which has seen a good deal of change over the past several seasons. This week, the Jaguars signed former Cardinals defender Calais Campbell to a four-year, $60MM deal, marking the second time in as many years Jacksonville has nabbed one of free agency’s top interior players. In 2015, that lineman was Malik Jackson, who joined a front that now includes recent draft picks Dante Fowler Jr., Yannick Ngakoue, and Sheldon Day.
An eight-year NFL veteran, Miller had spent the past four seasons with the Jaguars, starting 49 games during that span. In 2016, Miller only managed to play in six contests before going down with a torn Achilles, an injury that knocked him out for the remainder of the year. Presumably, Miller is still recovering from that tear, meaning interested clubs will need to take a close look at his physical before inking him to a deal.
Miller had been signed through the 2018 campaign, and the Jaguars will now clear nearly $4MM in cap space by parting ways. Because all of Miller’s guaranteed money had been paid out, and because Jacksonville didn’t use an extravagant signing bonus, the club will only incur $200K in dead money. All told, the Jaguars now boast north of $60MM in cap room.
Miller becomes the second Jaguars defensive lineman to be released this week, as the club also cut Sen’Derrick Marks after first attempting to trade him.
Latavius Murray To Meet With Jags, Hawks
Free agent running back Latavius Murray will meet with the Jaguars on Monday and the Seahawks on Tuesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Murray averaged 4.0 yards per carry in each of his two seasons as the Raiders’ primary starter, a post he ascended to late in the 2014 season. While he rushed for 12 touchdowns in 2016, Murray saw Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington eat into his workload. He surpassed 1,000 yards in 2015 but rushed for only 788 last season.
The Seahawks are looking for a veteran, durable running back to play alongside Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise. Jacksonville makes less sense as a potential destination, given that the club recently spent a second-round pick on T.J. Yeldon and signed Chris Ivory to a hefty free agent contract last offseason. Theoretically, the Jags could cut Ivory, but they’d incur more than $7MM in dead money by doing so.
Jaguars Sign LB Audie Cole
After having signed defensive tackle Stefan Charles earlier today, the Jaguars are adding another player to their defense. Mike Kaye of First Coast News reports (via Twitter) that the team is expected to sign linebacker Audie Cole.
The former seventh-round pick had spent his entire five-year career with the Vikings, serving mostly as a sub and special teamer. In 16 games last season, Cole collected 12 tackles. His best season came in 2013, as he compiled a career-high 45 tackles and one sack. The 27-year-old has seven career starts under his belt. Previous reports indicated that a return to Minnesota was still in play.
Cole is the second linebacker the Jaguars have added this week, as the team signed former Bills defender Lerentee McCray. The duo will be joining a deep Jaguars linebackers corps that also includes Myles Jack, Paul Posluszny, Telvin Smith, Dan Skuta, Marcus Rush, Sean Porter, and Hayes Pullard.
Jaguars To Sign Stefan Charles
The Jaguars are expected to sign free agent defensive lineman Stefan Charles, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
Charles, 28, spent the 2016 campaign with the Lions after starting his career with the Bills, with whom he played from 2013-15. Last year, Charles acted as a rotational option on Detroit’s front four, managing to get in 235 defensive snaps in 12 games. He posted 12 tackles in that span, and also played on 17 special teams snaps. His best season came in 2014 when he compiled 23 tackles and three sacks in 16 games.
In Jacksonville, Charles will reunite with Doug Marrone, who coached Charles during the 2013-14 seasons in Buffalo. The Jaguars have already landed one elite option — Calais Campbell — to add to an impressive defensive line that also includes Malik Jackson, Dante Fowler Jr., Roy Miller, and Yannick Ngakoue.
Jaguars To Sign Earl Watford
The Jaguars have agreed to a two-year, $6MM deal with offensive lineman Earl Watford, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Watford, 26, has the ability to play all along the offensive line, as he saw time at both right guard and right tackle for the Cardinals in 2016. That quality alone makes him valuable to the Jaguars, who sorely needed to added front five depth this offseason. In Jacksonville, Watford will likely act as a reserve to tackles Branden Albert and Jermey Parnell and guards Patrick Omameh and A.J. Cann, although he could conceivably compete with Omameh to start at left guard.
A former fourth-round pick, Watford picked up 11 of his 13 career starts during the 2016 campaign. Pro Football Focus wasn’t very fond of his play, however, ranking him as the fourth-worst offensive tackle in the league last year.
Contract Details: Bennett, Bouye, Branch
Let’s take a look at the details of some recently-signed free agent contracts:
- Martellus Bennett, TE (Packers): Three years, $20.25MM. $6.3MM guaranteed. Base salaries of $900K, $3.6MM, $5.65MM. $2MM roster bonus due on first day of 2018 league year. $600K in annual per-game roster bonuses. $$250K annual workout bonus (link via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
- A.J. Bouye, CB (Jaguars): Five years, $65MM. $26MM guaranteed. $10MM signing bonus. Base salaries of $3MM, $13MM, $13MM, $13MM, $13MM. $500K annual workout bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Alan Branch, DT (Patriots): Two years, $8.45MM. $3MM guaranteed. $2MM signing bonus. Annual $400K workout and weight bonus of $400K each. $3.55MM available via not-likely-to-be-earned incentives (link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com).
- Ted Ginn, WR (Saints): Three years, $11MM. $3MM guaranteed. $3MM signing bonus. Base salaries of $2MM, $3MM, $2.5MM. 2018 $500K roster bonus. $500,000 aviailve vie playtime, catches incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Tanner Purdum, LS (Jets): One year, $980K. $400K guaranteed (Twitter link via Dennis Waszak Jr. of the Associated Press).
- Brandon Williams, DT (Ravens): Five years, $52.5MM. $27.5MM guaranteed. $12.5MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Jeff Zriebec of the Baltimore Sun).
- Blidi Wreh-Wilson, CB (Falcons): One year, $775K (minimum salary) (Twitter link via Wilson).
Dontari Poe Market Heating Up
Although he hasn’t yet found a new home, free agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe is in “high demand,” tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Poe will meet with the Colts on Sunday, while the Jaguars, Raiders, Dolphins, and Falcons also want to set up visits.
The 49ers and Redskins have also been linked to Poe, who recent reports indicate may have to accept a one-year contract. That might change, however, if the massive defensive tackle can generate enough of a market for himself. Poe, who is now on the open market after the Chiefs opted not to franchise him, ranks as PFR’s No. 17 free agent.
Poe served as a lane clogger in Kansas City but was a dynamo in terms of snaps played, logging more than any nose man during his rookie-deal tenure in Kansas City. But his sack totals decreased, plummeting from 10.5 between the 2013 and ’14 seasons (both Pro Bowl slates) to 2.5 combined in 2015 and ’16.
Extra Points: Lang, Jones, Jeffery, Cyprien
Some assorted notes from around the NFL…
- Free agent guard T.J. Lang will not be visiting the Broncos following the team’s signing of lineman Ronald Leary, tweets Mike Kliss of 9News. The second-best free agent interior lineman still has plenty of suitors, as he’s set to meet with the Lions and Seahawks. The Packers, his former team, also have interest.
- Had the Cardinals not extended Chandler Jones, the pass rusher would have eaten up over $14MM of spending space as their franchise player in 2017. He’ll instead take up around $10MM of cap room in 2017, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic.
- Alshon Jeffery‘s one-year, $14MM deal with the Eagles is the largest non-franchise tag one-year pact in NFL history, according to the NFL Media Research Group (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). Jeffery’s pact eclipsed Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s one-year, $12MM deal with the Jets.
- The Jaguars didn’t make a contract offer to strong safety Jonathan Cyprien, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union tweets. After spending four seasons in Jacksonville, the 26-year-old joined the Titans on a four-year, $25MM contract.
- The Rams‘ release of defensive end Eugene Sims came with a failed physical designation, Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch tweets. The 31-year-old was let go by the team early this morning.
- Akeem Spence said the Buccaneers expressed interest in bringing him back next season, but the defensive tackle needs a “fresh start,” tweets ESPN’s Michael Rothstein. Spence ultimately inked a three-year, $10.5MM deal with the Lions.
- Rudy Ford ran a 4.25 at today’s Auburn Pro Day, tweets agent Blake Baratz. The safety was told earlier this week that he wasn’t healthy enough to participate at the combine. Baratz declares Ford “the most underrated prospect in the draft.”
Jaguars Sign LB Lerentee McCray
Linebacker Lerentee McCray is joining the Jaguars, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The deal is worth $3.5MM with $1MM guaranteed.
The former undrafted free agent had a career-year during his lone season in Buffalo. In 13 games, McCray finished with 16 tackles and one forced fumble while accounting for 163 total snaps. The linebacker previously spent time with the Broncos and Packers.
McCray will join a Jaguars linebacker corps that currently has Myles Jack, Paul Posluszny, and Telvin Smith slotted in as starters. The 26-year-old defender will presumably be in the mix for a reserve role along with Dan Skuta, Marcus Rush, Sean Porter, and Hayes Pullard.