RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/12/18
Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agent tender decisions, with the list being updated throughout the day.
RFAs
Tendered at second-round level:
- Falcons: G Ben Garland (via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution)
- Jaguars: RB Corey Grant (via John Oehser of Jaguars.com, on Twitter)
- Redskins: T Ty Nsekhe (via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
- Titans: G Quinton Spain (Twitter link via Paul Kuharsky)
- Vikings: G/C Nick Easton (per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, on Twitter)
Tendered at original-round level:
- Bears: CB Bryce Callahan, WR Cameron Meredith, WR Josh Bellamy (via Rich Campbell and Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, all Twitter links)
Non-Tendered:
- Broncos: WR Bennie Fowler (via Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post, on Twitter)
- Packers: P Jake Schum (per Rob Demovsky of ESPN)
ERFAs
Tendered:
- 49ers: RB Raheem Mostert (per Mostert’s agent, Brett Tessler, on Twitter)
- Broncos: LS Casey Kreiter, WR Jordan Taylor, LB Zaire Anderson, T Elijah Wilkinson, LB Jerrol Garcia-Williams, LB Joseph Jones (Jhabvala reports, Twitter links)
- Giants: G Jon Halapio (via ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan, on Twitter)
- Jaguars: TE Ben Koyack, OL William Poehls (Twitter links, via Oehser)
- Packers: WR Michael Clark, OL Justin McCray, CB Donatello Brown (all Twitter links via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com and Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
- Raiders: K Giorgio Tavecchio, LB Shilique Calhoun (Twitter links via Michael Gehlken of the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Josina Anderson of ESPN.com)
- Rams: RB Malcolm Brown, CB Troy Hill (per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
Non-Tendered:
- Bears: LS Patrick Scales (via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, on Twitter)
- Cardinals: TE Ifeanyi Momah (Twitter link via Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic)
Rams To Release Tavon Austin
Tavon Austin‘s two-year Rams extension did not end up working out to the franchise’s liking, and less than two years after authorizing it, the Rams are moving on from the wideout.
The Rams plan to release Austin, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports (on Twitter).
While the Ravens would seem like a logical landing spot, given their pursuit of now-Browns wideout Jarvis Landry and the fact Austin is from Baltimore, La Canfora reports an Austin/Ravens agreement isn’t likely.
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.
Austin will hit the Rams with a $5MM dead-money charge thanks to a fully guaranteed roster bonus — due whether he’s on the team or not — but no additional dead money remains on the 26-year-old’s deal. And by cutting him before March 16, the Rams save $3MM against their 2018 cap.
Austin signed a four-year, $42MM deal in the summer of 2016. That contract does contain offset language, so the Rams would potentially be off the hook for some of that dead money. But given what’s happened in the former No. 8 overall pick’s career, it’s hard to see a team adding Austin for much more than the league minimum.
Aqib Talib Discusses Trade To Rams
Before the Broncos agreed to trade Aqib Talib to the Rams, they had a deal in place that would have sent him to the 49ers. However, Talib rejected that trade, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), and he ended up with Los Angeles (San Francisco, of course, found a pretty nice consolation prize in Richard Sherman). 
Talib recently spoke with James Palmer of the NFL Network (video link), which marked the first time he publicly commented on the trade. In the interview, Talib said he wanted to remain in Denver but is excited about the “fourth quarter” of his playing career and about the opportunity to reunite with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.
Given the amount of money that Denver had tied up at the cornerback position, Talib saw the writing on the wall and realized that his time as a Bronco was probably coming to an end, though he still hoped to stay with the club. He said, “I had established real friendships [in Denver]. Robe (Bradley Roby), Chris [Harris] — they’re my guys. Von [Miller], Stew (Darian Stewart). I established real friends there…It wasn’t an issue where I wanted to get out of there. There’s no reason to want to get out of there. That’s a great organization. But it’s a business. We had too much talent on the backend [of the defense].”
He did indicate that, if he had to be traded, he was happy to be traded to the Rams (previous reports indicated that if Denver wanted to move on from him, he would prefer to be released so he could become a free agent, and in that scenario, he would have been interested in rejoining the Patriots). He did not comment on his decision to nix the Broncos-49ers trade, though he did say that there was never any issue between him and embattled Broncos head coach Vance Joseph.
Talib will fly to Los Angeles tonight and take a physical tomorrow morning. If all goes well, the trade will be made official on Wednesday.
Credit to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post for her recap of the Talib-Palmer interview.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/9/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Tendered: CB C.J. Goodwin (ERFA)
- Tendered: RB Elijhaa Penny (ERFA)
- Tendered: DL Olsen Pierre (ERFA)
- Tendered: OL John Wetzel (ERFA)
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: DL Drew Iddings
- Tendered: P Michael Palardy (ERFA)
- Tendered: WR Damiere Byrd (ERFA)
- Tendered: OL Tyler Larsen (ERFA)
- Tendered: TE Chris Manhertz (ERFA)
Denver Broncos
- Tendered: DE Shelby Harris (ERFA)
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: OL Jake McQuaide
Rams Release RB Lance Dunbar
The Rams have released running back Lance Dunbar, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Dunbar, 28, was already due to reach free agency on Wednesday.
Dunbar played sparingly in his first and only season with the Rams, appearing in just four games and attempting 11 carries. For what it’s worth, he averaged 4.6 yards per tote in that extremely limited sample. He also had a rushing touchdown and a receiving TD.
Dunbar spent the first five seasons of his career with the Cowboys and played mostly in a reserve role. He lost the bulk of the 2015 season to an ACL tear and sat out most of 2017 with knee pain.
Broncos, Rams Agree On Aqib Talib Trade
The Rams will reunite Aqib Talib and Wade Phillips, and the Broncos will receive compensation for a cornerback they’ve been trying to unload.
Los Angeles agreed to acquire Talib from Denver on Thursday, James Palmer and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com report (on Twitter). This continues a busy offseason for the Rams, who will now have two of the best corners to come through the AFC West this decade on their team.
Talib will net the Broncos a fifth-round pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
The 32-year-old cornerback has two years remaining on the six-year Broncos-constructed contract and will count $12MM toward the Rams’ cap this season. This trade won’t involve any adjustment to Talib’s contract, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports (via Twitter).
Schefter reports (on Twitter) Talib wanted to again play for Phillips or Bill Belichick, and this helped dictate the trade terms. The 49ers and Patriots had surfaced as suitors who discussed the 11th-year cornerback with the Broncos, but Denver dealt with the Rams and pair Talib and Marcus Peters.
While the Rams are gambling on a tandem featuring two polarizing corners, they now have two of the three corners from the 2016 All-Pro first team. The Broncos previously enjoyed that setup, with Talib and fellow ’16 All-Pro Chris Harris being a four-season tandem for a dominant defense, but Talib’s age and salary did not line up for a team that is pursuing the most expensive free agent in NFL history in Kirk Cousins.
In Peters and Talib, the Rams will have two of the NFL’s best defensive playmakers. Peters is on a record takeaway pace for a cornerback, and Talib sits fourth in NFL history with 10 interceptions returned for touchdowns. That figure leads all active players by three.
While known plenty for his on- and off-field antics that caused headaches and suspensions, Talib has been one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks for many years. He stabilized his career in Denver and was a four-time Pro Bowler since signing with the Broncos in 2014. The former Patriot was a key component of a 2015 Broncos defense that became an all-time great unit, helping Denver to a third Super Bowl title. And Talib thrived under Phillips a year later as well en route to his first All-Pro honor.
Talib will reunite with Kayvon Webster, who may be the only notable corner to see time for both the 2017 and ’18 Rams. The Rams have now agreed to trade for Peters and Talib and also took a flier on former Packers top corner Sam Shields. Trumaine Johnson is expected to depart, and Nickell Robey-Coleman may follow him out of L.A.
The Rams continue to vacillate between shedding salary and taking on money in blockbuster trades. They’ve also created significant cap space over the past week by trading Robert Quinn and Alec Ogletree away, with Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link) categorizing the departing players as poor fits for Phillips’ scheme.
The Broncos now have 11 picks in the coming draft and have created $11MM in cap space, pushing their total north of $35MM. While that’s still less than the Vikings or Jets — the other primary Cousins suitors — have, it puts the franchise in better position to make a competitive offer.
[RELATED: Rams Depth Chart]
Rams To Sign CB Sam Shields
Sam Shields will receive a comeback opportunity from the Rams, who made the decision Thursday to sign the former Packers standout, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
The Rams and Browns hosted Shields on visits, and the defending NFC West champions will see what the former Packers longtime starter has left.
Having struggled with concussions, the 30-year-old cornerback has only played in one game since the 2015 season. Prior to that, however, he was a well-regarded corner that logged extensive time for one of the league’s highest-profile teams. A concussion sustained in Week 1 of Green Bay’s 2016 season stalled Shields’ career. But he expressed intent to return to the league last month and will now receive that chance after being out of football in 2017.
Shields will join a revamped secondary, with Marcus Peters set to become the team’s No. 1 cornerback. Kayvon Webster is returning from an Achilles tear, though, leaving the Rams somewhat shorthanded. They are not expected to re-sign Trumaine Johnson, and Nickell Robey-Coleman is also a free agent.
Stedman Bailey Wants To Play Again
Former Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey is hoping to return to the NFL, as Grant Traylor of The Herald Dispatch writes. Many assumed that Bailey’s playing days were over after he survived two gunshots to the head in 2015, but he says his confidence never wavered. 
[RELATED: Tre Mason Looking To Make NFL Return]
“I never had a doubt in my mind that I’d be able to play again,” Bailey said. “It kind of hurt with reports from doctors that I may not be able to walk or I may have trouble speaking again. Me, just being a positive person that I am, I just waved those reports off like, ‘OK, we’ll see.’ I set it in my mind to show them differently. “That incident happened in November 2015 and, five months later, I was on the field running routes and feeling good.”
Bailey has discussed a comeback in the past, but he is even more optimistic now that he has had a surgery to insert a plate into his skull. He believes that plate will allow him to absorb the impact of major hits since it is stronger than skull bone.
Bailey spent three seasons in the NFL with his best campaign coming in 2014. In that season, Bailey hauled in 30 catches for 435 yards and one touchdown.
Bailey, a former West Virginia star, took part in Marshall’s pro day on Wednesday and reportedly looked strong. There’s no word on whether he has picked up interest from NFL teams yet, however.
Rams Offered Alec Ogletree To Chiefs
Before Alec Ogletree was traded to the Giants earlier today, the Rams also offered the veteran linebacker to the Chiefs, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Los Angeles recently completed a Marcus Peters-centered trade with Kansas City, but it’s clear if Ogletree was part of those talks, or discussed in a separate deal. The Chiefs have already announced that team icon Derrick Johnson will not be re-signed, but Kansas City could still use another inside linebacker to play opposite Reggie Ragland in its 3-4 scheme. However, the Chiefs are one of the more-cap strapped teams in the NFL, so it’s unlikely they could have taken on Ogletree’s $10MM guarantee in 2018.
Giants Acquire LB Alec Ogletree From Rams
The Rams are trading linebacker Alec Ogletree to the Giants, a league source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal will see Ogletree and the Rams’ 2019 seventh-rounder go to the G-Men in exchange for a fourth-round pick and sixth-round pick. 
Thanks to the extension he signed last fall, Ogletree is under contract through 2021. The Rams probably didn’t expect to part ways with him so soon even that the deal included $18MM in full guarantees with $33MM in cash flow over the first three years. L.A. is moving on from him, partially due to financial constraints, but the Giants believe they’re acquiring a quality playmaker on D.
Ogletree, a former first-round pick, started in all 15 of his games last season and racked up 95 tackles and two sacks. The advanced metrics have never been fond of him, but those who have watched him play disagree with the analytics.
Linebacker was one of the Giants’ biggest areas of need this offseason, particularly with Akeem Ayers, Jonathan Casillas, Mark Herzlich, Devon Kennard, Keenan Robinson, and Kelvin Sheppard all headed towards free agency. Last year, the Giants’ run defense sagged and opposing tight ends had their way across the middle of the field. The Giants are hoping that Ogletree’s presence will help in both areas.
The acquisition of Ogletree gives new defensive coordinator James Bettcher a big-time weapon to work with. Ogletree spent much of his career in a 4-3 scheme, but he transitioned to a 3-4 set under Wade Phillips last year, similar to Bettcher’s. It’s worth noting, however, that Ogletree didn’t cleanly fit into 3-4, as Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com (Twitter link) writes.
This marks the latest deal in what has been a busy offseason for the Rams. In recent weeks, L.A. has acquired cornerback Marcus Peters from the Chiefs and shipped defensive end Robert Quinn to the Dolphins.
The Rams were not expected to part ways with Ogletree, but it’s a logical move for cap reasons. Moving Ogletree may allow the Rams to hold on to linebacker Mark Barron and re-sign wide receiver Sammy Watkins. There’s also the outside chance that the Rams find space to retain cornerback Trumaine Johnson and the extra breathing room could help the team in their bid to eventually extend Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald, and Jared Goff.
Per league rules, the trade will not become official until March 14.