Contract Tenders: 49ers, Jaguars, Broncos
Players who have three years or less of NFL experience and no contract for 2014 continue to receive contract tenders from their current teams. For exclusive rights free agents, these tenders essentially represent the contracts they’ll be playing under in 2014, since ERFAs aren’t permitted to negotiate with any of the league’s other 31 teams. Restricted free agents, on the other hand, can accept these one-year contract offers, but will also have the freedom to negotiate with other suitors and perhaps sign an offer sheet once the free agent period begins.
Here are some of the latest ERFA and RFA contract tenders:
- The 49ers extended a contract tender worth $1.431MM to restricted free agent Demarcus Dobbs, reports Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). The team also tendered ERFA linebacker Michael Wilhoite, says Pelissero.
Earlier updates:
- The Falcons tendered cornerback Robert McClain with a $1.431MM offer, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. McClain was the team’s only restricted free agent this offseason.
- The Jaguars tendered offers to wide receivers Mike Brown ($495K) and Kerry Taylor ($495K), offensive tackle Austin Pasztor ($570K), fullback Will Ta’ufo’ou ($570K), and tailback Jordan Todman ($645K), according to Pelissero (Twitter links). Todman, a former UConn notable, had only practice squad experience before making his on-field debut with the Jags in 2012. He had 256 yards and two scores on the ground with 14 catches, 116 receiving yards, and a touchdown through the air.
- The Dolphins tendered offers to wide receiver Armon Binns ($495K) and linebacker Jonathan Freeny ($570K), Pelissero tweets.
- More from Pelissero, who tweets that the Broncos have tendered offers to defensive end Mitch Unrein ($1.431M) and Brandon Marshall ($495K). Of course, that’s the Marshall who plays linebacker, not the star receiver.
- The Lions have tendered offers to kick returner Jeremy Ross ($570K), linebacker Julian Stanford ($570K), cornerback Chris Greenwood ($570K), and tight end Matt Veldman ($420K), tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (on Twitter) adds that wide receiver Kris Durham was also tendered an offer. Durham had an opportunity to shine when the Lions lost Nate Burleson to injury early in the season but he wasn’t able to break out even with double coverage on Calvin Johnson.
- The Buccaneers are on the verge of tendering exclusive rights free agents Eric Page and Deveron Carr, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Jaguars To Re-Sign Chad Henne
The Jaguars have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with quarterback Chad Henne, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Ryan O’Hallaron of the Florida Times-Union had reported yesterday that the club expected to lock up Henne within the next couple days.
Henne’s two-year deal is worth $8MM, including $4.5MM guaranteed, according to Alex Marvez of FOX Sports (Twitter links). The contract includes a $1.5MM signing bonus and a $3MM roster bonus, and features incentives that can be earned based on playing time and other criteria. You can check out the full details from Marvez on Twitter, but the upshot is that the more Henne plays – and the better he performs – the more his salary will increase in both 2014 and 2015.
Henne, 28, started 13 games for the Jaguars last season after taking over the job from Blaine Gabbert. The veteran signal-caller completed 60.6% of his attempts, compiling 3,241 passing yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with his 14 interceptions. While those numbers aren’t spectacular, the Jaguars had insisted since the regular season ended that they wanted to bring Henne back, and the team has now backed up those comments.
Although Henne will be back in Jacksonville next season, that doesn’t mean the team will simply hand him the starting job. The former second-round pick might head into 2014 as the No. 1 guy, or at least with a chance to compete for that spot, but the Jaguars are expected to select a quarterback fairly early in May’s draft. Henne’s spot on the depth chart could ultimately depend on whether Jacksonville uses its No. 3 overall pick on that signal-caller, or whether the club waits until the second or third round to draft a QB.
A league source told O’Halloran today that he doesn’t expect the Jaguars to prioritize a signal-caller in the draft after re-signing Henne (Twitter link). O’Halloran’s source figures the club won’t draft a quarterback until at least the second round, and perhaps the third or fourth.
Had Henne reached the open market, he would have drawn interest from other teams, including the Texans, tweets Garafolo. Clubs seeking a veteran quarterback will have to turn to other available options such as Michael Vick, Josh McCown, Matt Cassel, and Josh Freeman. Matt Schaub and Mark Sanchez may also hit the market, as they’re are among the signal-callers expected to become cap casualties within the next few weeks.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jaguars Re-Sign Cameron Bradfield
FRIDAY, 11:20am: Bradfield’s two-year deal is worth $3MM, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today, who adds (via Twitter) that the contract includes a $1.225MM guaranteed base in 2014, along with a $25K workout bonus and $400K in incentives.
THURSDAY, 10:25am: The Jaguars have re-signed offensive tackle Cameron Bradfield, tweets agent Andy Simms of PlayersRep Sports (hat tip to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun). Bradfield’s new deal with the team will be a two-year contract, according to Simms.
Bradfield, who had been eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, was forced into left tackle duty last season when Eugene Monroe was traded and Luke Joeckel went down with a broken ankle. The 26-year-old didn’t play particularly well in his new role, grading as the fourth-worst tackle in the league out of 76 qualified players, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). However, Bradfield performed passably at right tackle in 2012 as the club’s starter, and will likely either move back to that spot or come off the bench in 2014.
The new deal for Bradfield may close the book on the Jaguars’ restricted free agent business this offseason, tweets Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. According to O’Halloran, the club isn’t expected to tender offers to tight end Allen Reisner or defensive tackle Kyle Love. Both players would become unrestricted FAs if they don’t receive tenders from Jacksonville.
Jaguars, Harbor Agree To Two-Year Deal
FRIDAY, 11:18am: Harbor’s two-year deal is worth $3MM, with a $1.35MM guaranteed base in 2014 to go along with a $100K roster bonus and a $50K workout bonus, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
THURSDAY, 12:03pm: The Jaguars agreed to terms with tight end Clay Harbor on a two-year deal, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter). Harbor, 27 in July, made seven starts at tight end in his first season with Jacksonville.
The unrestricted free agent hauled in 24 catches for 292 yards last year and was on the field for all 16 regular season games. Prior to 2013, Harbor spent three years with the Eagles where he saw inconsistent playing time at TE with some fullback duty mixed in. Financial terms of the deal aren’t yet known for the former Missouri State standout, but he earned a minimum salary of $630K last season with the Jags, so another minimum deal wouldn’t be a surprise. While Harbor wasn’t quite the focal point of the Jaguars’ passing attack, he did show that he could be a useful offensive weapon with good speed for the position.
In addition to Harbor and Cameron Bradfield, the Jaguars have also re-signed unrestricted free agent Sam Young, according to John Oehser of Jaguars.com (on Twitter). The 6’8″, 316 pound bruiser played mostly on special teams in 2013.
Extra Points: Jackson, Carlson, Quarless
The agent for D’Qwell Jackson says that his client asked for his release from the Browns and adds that his client is happy to be with the Colts, tweets Jeff Schudel of The News-Herald. Cleveland would have owed Jackson a $4MM roster bonus on March 16th but they cut him loose well in advance. This could be a case of Jackson’s agent trying to put a positive spin on things – it’s more likely that the Browns asked him to take a pay cut that was too steep for his liking.
- The Jets and Packers are among the clubs with interest in tight end John Carlson, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. We learned earlier that Carlson, who was cut loose by the Vikings, is meeting with the Cardinals today.
- The Packers are talking to tight end Andrew Quarless about a new deal before he hits the open market on Thursday, writes Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel. Of course, there’s also uncertainty surrounding the future of fellow tight end Jermichael Finley this offseason, but bringing back Quarless, who hauled in 32 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns, could give them more certainty at the position.
- There’s mutual interest between the Bears and linebacker D.J. Williams in working out a new deal, tweets Michael C. Wright of ESPN. The two sides are talking and that’s expected to continue through the weekend. The former University of Miami standout spent his whole career in Denver up until 2013 when he joined Chicago. Unfortunately, his season ended when he ruptured his pectoral tendon against the Giants in Week 6.
- Brandon Smith got a two-year deal from the Bills, tweets Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun. The cornerback was an exclusive rights free agent for Buffalo and accepted his offer earlier today.
- The Cowboys are interested in TCU prospect Jason Verrett, writes ESPN.com’s Calvin Watkins. The cornerback is a potential late-first round/early-second round pick, despite the fact that he is recovering from a torn labrum. “[The doctors] feel like it’s gonna be a very short process,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “Everybody that’s done it has been able to be back before camp. On the high road, I think that’s what he’s anticipating. That he’ll be back before camp.”
- Steve Serby of the New York Post is less-than-thrilled about the idea of the Jets signing Michael Vick.
- Former Jaguars wide receiver Mike-Sims Walker was released by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.
Jaguars Expect To Re-Sign Chad Henne
The “expectation inside EverBank Field” is that the Jaguars will reach an agreement with Chad Henne on a new contract within the next couple days, reports Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter). If Henne remains unsigned by Saturday, his agent can begin talking to teams besides the Jaguars, but it sounds like it may not reach that point.
Henne, 28, started 13 games for the Jaguars last season after taking over the job from Blaine Gabbert. The veteran signal-caller completed 60.6% of his attempts, compiling 3,241 passing yards and 13 touchdowns to go along with his 14 interceptions.
While those numbers aren’t spectacular, they make Henne one of the more desirable options among a underwhelming group of free agent quarterbacks that also includes Michael Vick, Josh McCown, and Matt Cassel. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter) suggested earlier today that the Jaguars shouldn’t be ruled out as a potential suitor for Vick or McCown. However, if Jacksonville finalizes a new deal with Henne, the team will likely turn to the draft to add a second quarterback.
Depending on how high the Jaguars select a quarterback, Henne may head into 2014 competing for the starting job in Jacksonville, assuming he re-signs with the club.
Michael Bennett To Test Open Market
Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett won’t ink a new deal with Seattle before Tuesday, and will test the open market, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). After the Seahawks decided not to use their franchise tag on Bennett, he had appeared likely to reach unrestricted free agency.
After playing the 2013 season and winning the Super Bowl on a modest one-year deal worth about $5MM, Bennett figures to see a larger payday this time around. The former Buccaneer played a large part in the Seahawks’ strong pass rush last season, recording 8.5 sacks, forcing four fumbles, and recovering three more. He is viewed as one of the players available this offseason, and in fact ranks first overall on Pro Football Focus’ list of 2014’s top 75 free agents.
The Seahawks have made Bennett an offer, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), and there appears to be some mutual interest in a reunion. However, the 28-year-old wants to see what other potential suitors have to say. As Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports 1 tweets, the Jaguars and Raiders could be involved. The Bears are also expected to be in the mix, with Martellus Bennett attempting to recruit his brother to Chicago.
Jaguars Release Uche Nwaneri
The Jaguars have released longtime starting guard Uche Nwaneri, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (via Twitter). Nwaneri had a cap number of $5.895MM for 2014, which will be reduced to $2.189MM in dead money, creating $3.706MM in cap savings for the team.
Hays Carlyon of the Florida Times-Union writes that the Jaguars made the move for performance reasons, which makes sense given the huge chunk of cap space already available to the team. Still, while Nwaneri wasn’t one of the league’s top guards, he ranked a respectable 34th among 81 qualified players in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics, and had an overall grade of +18.0 over the last five seasons.
Nwaneri had been under contract through the 2015 season, and was owed a roster bonus worth $1MM for 2014. Rather than playing out his deal and collecting that bonus money, he’ll immediately hit the open market, where he’ll be competing for jobs with players like Geoff Schwartz, Travelle Wharton, Jon Asamoah, and Zane Beadles. I examined the free agent market for guards in a piece yesterday.
As for the Jaguars, they’re now in the market for starters at right guard, left guard, and center this offseason.
AFC Notes: Broncos, Browns, Raiders, Jaguars
A couple of notes from around the AFC on this Sunday evening…
- D’Qwell Jackson flew to Denver to meet with the Broncos today, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. It was reported last week that Jackson would also meet with the Titans.
- The Browns will not cut or restructure the contract of defensive lineman Ahtyba Rubin, Cabot writes in another article. There were rumblings that Rubin might be a cap casualty only a couple of days ago.
- The Raiders like Derek Carr more than Johnny Manziel, writes Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times. As Farmer points out, the team is known to make unconventional picks, so Manziel would “seem like a natural fit for them.”
- Justin Forsett and Jason Babin could potentially be cut by the Jaguars, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com writes.
- In the same article, DiRocco says that the Jaguars’ cap room means they can get involved with free agents like Alex Mack or Brian Orakpo.
AFC South Notes: Jaguars, Martin, Clowney
While some teams received some extra cap relief as the new salary cap number was released, there are some teams that are not benefiting from the extra room just yet. The Jaguars are estimated to now have just over $56MM in cap space this offseason, according to OverTheCap.com. Every team could use a little extra cap space, but the Jaguars are still worried about hitting the minimum 89% cash spending requirement, writes Alfie Crow of BigCatCountry. Crow does explain that they do not have to hit that mark in 2014, but instead must reach the mark over a four-year period.
Here are some other notes from around the AFC South:
- The Jaguars have plenty of options if they want to spend their money, either up to the brink of the cap or even just to approach the 89% mark. Nate Davis of USA Today advises that the team’s general manager Dave Caldwell start by courting a big name wideout such as Hakeem Nicks, and handing out a big payday to Browns center Alex Mack in order to replace the retiring Brad Meester.
- Jonathan Martin will most likely be looking for a new team in the near future, and although he has many friends in the Colts’ locker room, Mike Wells of ESPN.com writes that the team is not in need of a tackle. Pro Football Rumors recognized this unfortunate reality as well, earlier this month.
- The Titans hold the 11th pick in the NFL Draft, and while the team has many holes to fill, Nicholas Pitakos of TitanSized.com explored the possibility of the team moving up to draft Jadeveon Clowney out of South Carolina. While he sees Clowney as a once in a lifetime prospect, and he is scared of him ending up in the AFC South with either the Texans or Jaguars, Pitakos sees the price just being too costly for the Titans to move up.