Free Agency Notes: Visits, Jaguars, Patriots
A couple of notes from around the NFL to distract on this Selection Sunday…
- Defensive end Alex Carrington will be visiting the Raiders and the Rams, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- The Steelers will host receiver Lance Moore on Tuesday, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Moore was released by the Saints more than a week ago.
- The Jaguars still need to add an offensive lineman and are looking for depth at receiver, writes Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com.
- Having lost both Dane Fletcher and Brandon Spikes, the Patriots depth at linebacker is getting thin, opines Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com. Jerod Mayo, Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower were the only linebackers on the current roster to have played more than a single defensive snap last season and because of that, Yates thinks the team should consider bringing in more depth either through the draft or free agency.
- Michael Oher‘s new contract with the Titans is “scary,” says Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com. Oher signed a four-year, $20MM deal earlier this weekend.
- The Colts may need to cut a receiver after adding Hakeem Nicks, writes Mike Wells of ESPN.com. Wells believes the competition for the fifth receiver will be between Griff Whalen and LaVon Brazill.
49ers Acquire Blaine Gabbert
FRIDAY, 8:48pm: Gabbert passed his physical and is officially a member of the 49ers, the team announced earlier today (via Twitter).
TUESDAY, 7:10pm: Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com updated the conditions of the Gabbert trade, noting that in addition to the sixth-round pick as reported earlier, the Jaguars could also receive a conditional pick next year (via Twitter). The specifics of that pick have not been released, but it would be determined by Gabbert’s playing time in San Francisco.
4:15pm: The 49ers have acquired Blaine Gabbert from the Jaguars in exchange for a sixth-round pick, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN. Needless to say, this wasn’t the outcome that Jacksonville had in mind when they tapped the quarterback with the 10th overall pick in the 2011 draft.
AFC Contract Details: Jones, Smith, Davis
Jacoby Jones has re-signed with the Ravens, on a modest four-year deal worth up to $12MM, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). The deal includes a $3.5MM signing bonus, with no other money guaranteed.
Here are more details on contracts signed for players by AFC teams this week:
- Details on Steve Smith‘s deal with the Ravens were released earlier, but Wilson adds that his base salary for 2014 will only be $1MM, and will increase to $3MM for 2015 and 2016 (via Twitter).
- While Vontae Davis‘ contract with the Colts was originally reported as including $20MM guaranteed, according to OverTheCap.com only $15MM is fully guaranteed, with an additional $5MM partially guaranteed.
- Jason Babin‘s contract with the Jaguars will be a three-year deal worth $8.275MM, reports Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports (via Twitter). The contract is very incentive based (via Twitter).
- Brandon Ghee signed a two-year deal with the Chargers, worth $1.65MM, reports Wilson (via Twitter). The deal includes a $230,000 signing bonus.
- Richard Marshall‘s deal to re-sign with the Chargers is a one-year deal worth $855,000, reports Pelissero (via Twitter). The deal contains no guaranteed money.
- Husain Abdullah‘s new deal with the Chiefs contains a $750,000 signing bonus, according to Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter).
Florida Notes: Bucs, Thurmond, Dolphins
Let’s round up a few Friday afternoon items on Florida’s NFL teams….
- The Buccaneers aren’t in play for cornerback Walter Thurmond, according to Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (via Twitter). We heard earlier today that Thurmond’s visit with the Redskins had been canceled as well, so it sounds as if he may be close to making a decision. He has reportedly visited the Jaguars, as well as the 49ers.
- The new deals with the Buccaneers for quarterback Josh McCown and offensive tackle Anthony Collins include plenty of incentives, as Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com details.
- Free agent right tackle Zach Strief declined an offer to visit the Dolphins, with no explanation given, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
- Within the same piece, Jackson says the Dolphins hope to get a deal done with offensive lineman Shelley Smith today, and that owner Stephen Ross never met with Jonathan Martin before the team sent him to the Niners, despite repeatedly saying he would.
FA Rumors: Rice, Sanders, Thurmond, Melton
The latest free agent rumors..
- The 49ers will host Julian Edelman on Friday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN (on Twitter). The club is also interested in Hakeem Nicks.
- Jermichael Finley left his meeting with the Seahawks without a contract, sources tell Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter).
- The Seahawks are now interested in re-signing Sidney Rice, who was a salary cap casualty earlier in the offseason, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
- The Jets still have interest in Emmanuel Sanders, but they had to reschedule his visit due to conflicts, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. He’ll pay the Chiefs a visit tomorrow, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. The Ravens have yet to get involved, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweets.
- Cornerback Walter Thurmond told his fans via Twitter that he had a great meeting with the Jaguars and noted that the club is “headed in the right direction.” Thurmond’s next stop is San Francisco.
- Henry Melton plans to spend the rest of the evening in Minnesota with the Vikings, tweets Ben Goessling of ESPN.
- Ryan Clark tweeted to Richard Sherman to let him know his visit with the Redskins went well. Now he says that “the money guys have to work.”
- The Panthers aren’t showing interest in Hakeem Nicks yet, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. It should be noted that this report came out before Carolina officially said goodbye to Steve Smith. Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reported this evening that the Panthers indeed have interest.
- Jets free agent guard Vlad Ducasse will visit the Bengals before coming to the Vikings, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN (on Twitter).
- The Cardinals are still negotiating with Ben Dogra, the agent for Antonio Cromartie, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. This one isn’t as easy as some other deals, Somers adds.
- The Steelers are bringing Chargers free agent nose tackle Cam Thomas for a visit on Friday, tweets Alan Robinson, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. If he’s put in the middle, San Diego can move Steve McLendon over to defensive end.
Jags Sign Chris Clemons To Four-Year Deal
2:30pm: Clemons’ four-year contract is worth a total of $17.5MM, with $5.475MM in guaranteed money, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports and Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links).
1:08pm: The Jags have officially signed Clemons, according to John Oesher of Jaguars.com (Twitter link).
9:33am: It’ll be a four-year deal for Clemons, Breer adds (via Twitter).
THURSDAY, 9:27am: Clemons has agreed to terms with the Jaguars and is expected to officially sign his new deal today, reports Breer (via Twitter).
WEDNESDAY, 5:18pm: Albert Breer of NFL Network (on Twitter) indicates that nothing has been agreed to just yet, but he says that a multiyear deal is likely.
5:08pm: It appears that the Jaguars are set to sign defensive end Chris Clemons, tweets Terry Blount of ESPN.
Clemons is coming off a down year and was slated to have a cap hit of about $9.667MM in 2014, so his release from Seattle was not unexpected. The 32-year-old recorded at least 11 sacks in his first three seasons with the Seahawks, but recovery from a torn ACL slowed him down in 2013, resulting in just 4.5 sacks and a -7.7 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which placed him 42nd among 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends.
The Jaguars were also linked to Jared Allen, Jason Hatcher, and others, but with former Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley at the helm, Clemons was the logical fit.
Jaguars Sign Ziggy Hood To Four-Year Deal
2:28pm: Hood’s deal is worth $16MM over four years, with $5.5MM in guaranteed money, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports and Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter links).
11:31am: It’s a four-year contract for Hood, according to Octagon agent Andy Ross (via Twitter).
9:35am: The Jaguars have reached a deal with defensive lineman Ziggy Hood, reports Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter). It was O’Halloran that first broke word of Hood’s visit with the team yesterday.
Hood, a former first-round pick, has started 37 games on the Steelers’ defensive line over the last three seasons, recording 39 tackles and three sacks in 2013. However, Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics haven’t been kind to him — he has posted a grade of -10.0 or worse for those three seasons, ranking in the bottom five for 3-4 defensive ends each year.
The Jaguars have now agreed to terms with two new defensive linemen today, having also reached a four-year agreement with Chris Clemons.
Extra Points: Cousins, Hood, Graham, Saffold
A Kirk Cousins trade remains unlikely for the Redskins, write Mike Jones and Mark Maske of the Washington Post. There was talk that Washington would be open to moving the quarterback since he would like to start and he is stuck behind Robert Griffin III on the depth chart. For his part, Cousins has said that he will be professional and won’t demand a trade.
Here’s more from around the NFL:
- Before he agreed to sign with the Jaguars, defensive lineman Ziggy Hood received interest from the Redskins, Raiders, and Chiefs, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. Meanwhile, Chris Clemons said the Raiders and Falcons reached out to him before he agreed to sign with the Jaguars, according to O’Halloran (via Twitter).
- Cornerback Corey Graham, who signed with the Bills, told reporters today that he was preparing to go to dinner with the Redskins when he got the call from his agent about Buffalo’s offer (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WGR550).
- Wide receiver Jacoby Jones had a similar story to Graham, as Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun details in a pair of tweets. Jones says he was in New York, about to have dinner with the Giants, when he realized he wanted to stay with the Ravens and headed for the airport instead.
- Safety Mike Mitchell is extremely happy to be with the Steelers and tells reporters, including Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (on Twitter) that he wanted to come to Pittsburgh more than the club wanted him to be there.
- As expected, the Cardinals have paid Daryl Washington his option bonus, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. There was some talk that they wouldn’t pay out his bonus due to legal issues.
- Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle provides a look at the Raiders‘ perspective on why their deal with Rodger Saffold fell apart yesterday.
- Wide receiver prospect Marqise Lee is drawing significant interest from the Jets and had a private meeting with the team, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.
- Georgia tech outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, a projected second- or third-round pick tells Matt Zenitz of the Carroll County Times (Twitter links) that six teams have shown strong interest in him. Those clubs are the Ravens, Eagles, Titans, Redskins, Chargers, and Steelers.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Jaguars Re-Sign Jason Babin
Just three days after voiding his deal and hitting the free agent market, defensive lineman Jason Babin is returning to the Jaguars, having agreed to a new deal with the team, according to J.P. Shadrick of Jaguars.com (via Twitter).
Even after voiding his previous contract, Babin was vocal about his desire to return to Jacksonville. Babin, who turns 34 in May, played in all 16 games last season, racking up 31 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two passes defended. The well-traveled veteran has been with five clubs over the course of his NFL career and he won’t be making it six with today’s news.
The Jaguars have been extremely busy beefing up their defensive line today, also adding veterans Chris Clemons and Ziggy Hood.
Jaguars To Sign Dekoda Watson
THURSDAY, 12:06pm: Watson’s three-year contract is worth $6.25MM, with $1.5MM in guaranteed money, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
WEDNESDAY, 9:33am: The Jaguars have agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Dekoda Watson, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). Jenna Laine of Sports Talk Florida first reported that Watson would ink a deal with Jacksonville.
Watson, 26, also drew interest from the Dolphins and reportedly had a visit planned with the Bills if he hadn’t yet reached an agreement, but the Jaguars didn’t let him get past Jacksonville. Watson, a Florida State product, had been a part-timer during his four seasons with the Buccaneers, logging his best season in 2013. In 15 games, Watson saw 263 defensive snaps, recording 34 tackles, sacking the quarterback twice, and recording a solid +5.2 grade, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). The former seventh-round pick was also a solid contributor on special teams.
Financial details of the agreement aren’t yet known.