NFC Contract Details: Cousins, Bradford, Poe
Here are figures on some of the recent contracts signed around the NFL, with all links going to Twitter unless noted otherwise.
- Dontari Poe, DT (Panthers): Three years, $28MM. $13.3MM guaranteed, $10MM signing bonus. Poe’s 2020 season doubles as an $8.5MM Panthers option (per veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer). $600K (2018), $900K (2019), $900K (2020) workout bonuses, with another $500K for four weigh-ins a year (via Balzer).
- Kirk Cousins (Vikings): three years, $84MM. $6MM in incentives, including $500K for Super Bowl victory, $1MM for Super Bowl and top-five in points scored, $1.5MM for Super Bowl and top-three in points, $2MM for Super Bowl MVP and top-eight in points (via Albert Breer of The MMQB).
- Sam Bradford, QB (Cardinals): Two years, $40MM ($15MM guaranteed). $10MM signing bonus, $5MM if he appears in every game this season. 2019 option year ($20MM), no-trade clause (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle and Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).
- Dominique Easley, DE (Rams): One year, $1.85MM. $705K base salary ($50K guaranteed). $2.145MM in roster bonuses and incentives (via Wilson and Volin).
- Muhammad Wilkerson, DE (Packers): One year, $1.6MM base salary, $1.5MM signing bonus. $1MM reporting bonus, up to $600K in per-game roster bonuses. Cap number at $4.587MM (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky).
- Daniel Brown, TE (Bears): One year, $925K, $70K signing bonus (via Balzer).
Rams Re-Sign Dominique Easley
The Rams are re-signing defensive tackle Dominique Easley on a one-year deal, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Terms of the deal are not yet known. 
Easley, 26, is a former first-round pick of the Patriots. So far, his career has not gone according to plan due to health issues. He has suffered three torn ACLs since 2011 and has not seen the field since the 2016 season.
If he can stay healthy, however, he can be a high-level contributor in Wade Phillips‘ 3-4 defense. He’ll support a Rams defensive line unit that starts Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, and Ethan Westbrooks – or potentially work his way into the starting lineup. That group could get even stronger if Ndamukong Suh‘s visit goes well this week.
Ndamukong Suh To Meet With Rams
The Rams are set to meet with Ndamukong Suh, according to Jordan Schultz of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Suh recently visited with the Titans and Saints, but has not signed with either club.
The Rams defense already looks terrifying with a projected starting lineup featuring the likes of defensive linemen Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib (not to mention Kayvon Webster and Nickell Robey-Coleman), free safety LaMarcus Joyner, strong safety John Johnson, and linebacker Mark Barron. The addition of Suh could push Ethan Westbrooks out of the picture, but that likely wouldn’t deter L.A. from signing him.
Last year, Suh graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 interior defensive lineman in the NFL in 2017, and he finished the season with 48 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He recently turned 31, but he remains one of the league’s most fearsome defensive linemen.
In other Rams news, L.A. is working to re-sign former first round defensive lineman Dominique Easley.
Rams Working To Re-Sign Dominique Easley
The Rams are working on a deal to re-sign free agent defensive lineman Dominique Easley, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).
Easley hasn’t generated any known interest since free agency opened last Wednesday, and that’s likely due to his health questions. Although he’s only 26 years old, Easley has suffered three torn ACLs since 2011, and he missed the entirety of the 2017 campaign with the same ailment.
When healthy, however, Easley has been extremely effective. He earned positive marks from Pro Football Focus in both 2015 and 2016, and had been expected to see an increase in playing time in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips‘ 3-4 scheme. A prototypical 3-4 defensive end, Easley has been able to generate pressure from the interior, and posted 5.5 sacks from 2015-16.
The Rams, for their part, have made a number of additions via both free agency and trade, but have yet to address their defensive line, perhaps in the hope that they could re-sign Easley. If he’s brought back, Easley — a first-round pick of the Patriots in the 2014 draft — would likely take over as Los Angeles’ starting defensive end opposite Aaron Donald.
Contract Details/Restructures: 3/18/18
Let’s take a look at the most recent new contracts and restructures around the NFL:
New Contracts
- Justin Pugh, OL (Cardinals): Five years, $45MM. $20MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com).
Restructures
- Rams: Converted Tavon Austin‘s 2018 pay ($3MM base salary, $5MM roster bonus) to $1MM base salary, $4MM roster bonus, and $3MM in incentives ($2MM for game-day active incentives and $1MM in combined rushing/receiving yards) (Twitter links via Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports). Austin can still make $8MM this year if he hits all incentives.
Rams To Re-Sign C John Sullivan
The Rams elected for continuity along their offensive line, bringing back veteran center John Sullivan on a two-year deal, ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez tweets. The contract is worth up to $15MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.
Sullivan had drawn interest from the Giants and Redskins, but Rams general manager Les Snead also mentioned recently the team had already begun talks to bring him back. With interest from a pair of teams in need of offensive line help, Snead and the Rams made sure the team’s center would not get away.
Sullivan, 32, played 15 games for the Rams last year and graded out as the tenth-best center in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. After sliding down the Redskins’ depth chart in 2016, he re-established himself as a starting-caliber player.
[RELATED: Rams Depth Chart]
Rams To Retain WR Tavon Austin
The Rams will retain wide receiver Tavon Austin following a contract restructure, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News (Twitter link). Although Los Angeles had reportedly been set on trading or releasing Austin, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported (via Twitter) the club was “intent” on keeping the small-statured wideout.
The Rams could have released Austin immediately and save $3MM against their salary cap, although they would’ve incurred $5MM in dead money. Austin would have seen his $3MM base salary become fully guaranteed on Friday, setting a deadline for a potential transaction.
That $3MM figure is now attainable through incentives, tweets Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com, but those incentives appear to be classified as “likely to be earned,” per Bonsignore (Twitter link). As such, the Rams aren’t likely to see any cap relief in 2018, although they could get a credit in 2019.
Despite the Rams reigniting their offense under Sean McVay after finishing as the league’s worst passing attack a year earlier, Austin managed just 13 receptions for 47 yards last season. However, the gadget weapon did rush for 270 yards and a score.
Los Angeles lost pass-catcher Sammy Watkins to the Chiefs on Wednesday, and while Austin could conceivably help replace Watkins, the Rams are likely to turn to fellow wideouts Josh Reynolnds and Mike Thomas, instead.
Giants, Redskins Pursuing John Sullivan
The Giants have asked to meet with Rams veteran center John Sullivan, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Rapoport hears that he’s also drawing interest from the Redskins. 
The Giants are in search of a new center after losing to the 49ers. Richburg netted a pact worth $47.5MM, with $28.5MM in guaranteed money, but Sullivan would be considerably cheaper.
Sullivan, 32, played 15 games for the Rams last year and graded out as the tenth-best center in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. After sliding down the Redskins’ depth chart in 2016, he re-established himself as a starting-caliber player.
The Giants missed out on the best possible upgrade to their interior line when guard Andrew Norwell signed a mammoth deal with the Jaguars. Still, they landed a great consolation prize in tackle Nate Solder, even if the deal is something of an overpay, and former Jaguar Patrick Omameh projects to hold down one of the team’s starting guard spots.
The Redskins also lost their a center to free agency when Spencer Long agreed to join the Jets. As it stands, Chase Roullier projects as their No. 1 center, as shown on Roster Resource.
On Wednesday, Rams general manager Les Snead said that he has begun talks with Sullivan on a new deal.
Rams Add To WR Robert Woods’ Deal
The Rams are doing right by wide receiver Robert Woods after his strong debut season in Los Angeles.
A 2017 free agent signee, Woods was a healthy scratch in Week 17 because the Rams rested most of their key contributors to prepare for their wild-card playoff game. As a result, Woods missed out on a performance incentive. But the Rams are making it up to him.
The franchise will add $200K to Woods’ $3MM roster bonus, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports. Woods needed just 19 yards to reach 800 last season, and doing so would have increased his incentives to $600K instead of the $400K he collected.
Woods played in 12 games for the Rams last season and cleared the 19-yard threshold in 10 of those. But the Rams did not need to win in Week 17 to secure a division title.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/18
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: OL Vinston Painter
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: DL Angelo Blackson
- Re-signed: LB Brian Peters
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: OLB Garrett Sickels
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: LS John Denney
New York Giants
- Re-signed: DT Robert Thomas (ERFA)
- Signed: CB Curtis Riley
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: RB Fitzgerald Toussaint