Jets Sign Darrelle Revis To Five-Year Deal
WEDNESDAY, 9:12pm: The deal is official, the team announced on Twitter.
TUESDAY, 8:40pm: After becoming a free agent earlier today, cornerback Darrelle Revis will head from AFC East team to another, according to his representatives at Schwartz & Feinsod, who announced on Twitter that Revis will sign with the Jets.
The four-time first-team All-Pro cornerback will return to the team that drafted him on a five-year, $70MM deal that produces $39MM guaranteed, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported (Twitter link). Revis will make fully guaranteed sums of $16MM and $17MM, respectively, in the contract’s first two years, according to Mehta (via Twitter).
This accord’s total value matches Patrick Peterson‘s $70MM extension he signed last summer. While the the guarantees fall short of the $48MM the Cardinals standout corner received, Revis’ $39MM is fully guaranteed, while a good chunk of Peterson’s guarantee was for injury only.
This concludes another rapid free agency for Revis, whose 2015 option wasn’t renewed by the Patriots on Monday.
The Patriots, who sent their one-year mercenary at No. 1 receivers all year en route to their fourth Super Bowl title, opted not to plug Revis back in at a $25MM cap number for next season after signing him to what amounted to be a one-year deal last March. The move now leaves a massive void at cornerback for the Patriots after they also let No. 2 corner Brandon Browner test the market.
The Patriots, having chosen to lock up safety Devin McCourty long-term, got the sense earlier today they were going to lose Revis to their rival, and the elite corner parlayed his stint in Massachusetts into another megadeal. Revis signed a $96MM contract with the Buccaneers in 2012, but played in a system that didn’t utilize his lockdown man coverage as much. As a result, the Bucs were able to get out of that deal, which included annual $16MM base salaries and no dead money, after that one season and ultimately provide the Patriots with a unique weapon that they did use in the man looks in which he thrives.
Revis earned three of his All-Pro distinctions with the Jets from 2009-11, with the fourth coming last year in New England, and will now play for their new regime under Todd Bowles. Entering his age-31 season, Revis re-established his elite form after a torn ACL sustained in 2011 with Rex Ryan‘s Jets and will get a chance to help lift Gang Green back to prominence.
It marked a busy day for Bowles, the former Cardinals DC, and the Jets, after they added ex-Browns No. 2 corner Buster Skrine on a four-year, $25MM deal. That’s a significant investment on the Jets’ flanks. They have much more firepower now after having to start Darrin Walls and Marcus Williams for much of last year.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Minor Moves: Wednesday
Today’s minor moves…
- The Giants have waived cornerback Travis Howard, according to the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz (via Twitter). The 25-year-old has yet to play an NFL game, and he spent last season on the injured reserve.
Earlier updates:
- The Chiefs will sign offensive lineman Paul Fanaika, according to Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star (via Twitter). The 28-year-old started 30 games with the Cardinals over the past two seasons.
- The Patriots have added cornerback Chimdi Chekwa on a one-year deal, according to ProFootballTalk (on Twitter). The former fourth-rounder had spent the entirety of his four-year career with the Raiders.
- The Patriots signed wide receiver Kevin Dorsey, according to Howard Balzer of USA Today (on Twitter). Dorsey also had interest from the 49ers.
- Veteran long snapper Mike Leach re-signed with the Cardinals on a one-year deal today, tweets Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Terms weren’t disclosed, but it figures to be a minimum salary benefit contract with a modest signing bonus for the 38-year-old
- The Patriots have re-signed wide receiver Brian Tyms according to the NFL’s transaction wire, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe tweets. The Pats declined to make Tyms a qualifying offer on Tuesday but they’ve presumably signed him at a lesser rate.
- The Browns announced that they have re-signed wide receiver and top special teams contributor Marlon Moore. Moore, 27, appeared in 13 games and was the team’s leading kickoff returner with an average of 24.8 yards on his 13 attempts.
Patriots To Sign Jabaal Sheard
The Patriots and Jabaal Sheard have reached agreement on a contract, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). It’s a two-year deal for Sheard worth $11MM in total. The pact includes a $4MM bonus with salaries of $1MM and $4MM. His roster bonuses will be worth $1MM in each year.
The Pats appear to be taking some of the money that they saved by allowing Darrelle Revis to walk and pushing it towards the team’s front seven. Sheard, who turns 26 in May, appeared in all 16 games for the Browns last season and made five starts. In that time, the edge defender racked up 44 straight tackles, three pass deflections, and 2 sacks. Until now, Sheard has spent all four years of his career in Cleveland.
Sheard will join Rob Ninkovich, Chandler Jones and the returning Sealver Siliga on the Patriots’ defensive line. He ranked 32nd on Luke Adams’ list of the top 50 free agents.
Extra Points: Suh, Wilson, Revis
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says he’s confident that the Dolphins did not break any rules in the lead up to the Ndamukong Suh signing, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald writes. The Dolphins appear to have struck an agreement with the defensive tackle during the “legal tampering” period, but the league specifically asked that handshake deals not go down during that time. Of course, other teams certainly exchanged figures prior to Tuesday, but Suh was one of the most prominent free agents available. More from around the NFL..
- Seahawks GM John Schneider said the team has met with the agents for Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, though the reps for each player know Seahawks have other things to do, as well, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (Twitter links).
- A year ago, the Raiders were willing to assume all of Darrelle Revis‘ existing contract with the Buccaneers but the cornerback’s camp convinced the team that he wouldn’t report, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets.
- The Patriots dropped out of negotiations with Revis upon hearing he was seeking $16MM per year and $40MM guaranteed, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports tweets.
- The Chargers offered Andre Johnson more money than he got from the Colts, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network tweets. It’s not known how much San Diego offered, but the Colts got Johnson for $21MM over three years.
- Tom Benson, principal owner of the Saints and the NBA’s Pelicans, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday to remove all stock in the sports franchises from the trust funds that he set up for his daughter and grandchildren, Andy Grimm of The Times-Picayune writes.
Packers, Patriots Interested In Percy Harvin
The Packers and Patriots are among the teams showing interest in Percy Harvin, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Twitter). On Tuesday, Rapoport identified the Patriots as a team to watch when it comes to Harvin. The Packers appear to be a new team in the mix for the athletic wide receiver.
Harvin has played for three teams during his five-year career, starting with the Vikings before being moved to the Seahawks and Jets, each time thorough trade. New York released Harvin earlier this week, clearing more than $10MM in cap space and guaranteeing that it would only send a sixth-round pick to Seattle rather than a fourth-rounder (as per terms of the deal).
Harvin, 26, was acquired by the Jets from the Seahawks back in October in the most surprising in-season trade of 2014. However, the veteran receiver and return man didn’t have a huge impact in New York, totaling 29 receptions for 350 yards and a touchdown in his eight games with the Jets. Harvin also averaged just 24.8 yards per kick return, with no TDs.
Pats, Seahawks, Ravens Interested In Knighton
Free agent defensive tackle Terrance Knighton is drawing interest from the Patriots, Seahawks, and Ravens, according to Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post. Knighton is also visiting with Washington today.
The Raiders appeared to be nearing a deal with Pot Roast, but on Tuesday he reached out to ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson to let everyone know that he won’t be joining up with Oakland or returning to Denver.
When Luke Adams listed PFR’s top 50 free agents recently, he ranked Pot Roast 16th on our list. The six-year veteran was an integral part of a Broncos team that had the league’s second-best run defense in 2014, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated Knighton 12th among 81 qualifying D-tackles last season. Knighton, 29 in July, recorded 33 total tackles with two sacks and three pass deflections last season.
East Rumors: Revis, Mariota, Washington
The Jets had a significantly higher offer on the table for cornerback Darrelle Revis than the Patriots did, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald tweets. Howe isn’t exactly sure of what the gap was, but the Pats apparently didn’t approach the five-year, $70MM pact that includes $39MM in guaranteed cash. Howe (link) was also told that the Patriots did not give Revis permission to explore his value from the competition before the official opening of free agency on Tuesday like they did with Browner. Here’s more from the AFC and NFC East..
- John Clayton of ESPN.com (on Twitter) is convinced that Washington will take quarterback Marcus Mariota if he falls to No. 5 overall.
- Sal Paolantonio of ESPN said on 97.5 The Fanatic that relative of Nick Foles relative said the quarterback is ecstatic to no longer be a member of the Eagles, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk writes. “I just talked to a member of Nick Foles’ family. He is absolutely pumped, overjoyed he’s out of Philly,” Paolantonio said. Foles is now a member of the Rams following Tuesday’s trade.
- New Washington defensive lineman Stephen Paea says the Lions, Broncos, and Buccaneers were also in the mix for his services, as John Keim of ESPN.com writes.
- When asked if the Bills ever considered cutting running back Fred Jackson, GM Doug Whaley flatly said “no,” Mike Rodak of ESPN.com tweets. Whaley also said that he does not have a framework of a deal with fullback Jerome Felton, Joe Buscaglia of WGR tweets.
- Earlier today, we rounded up the latest on Cowboys free agent running back DeMarco Murray.
Patriots Re-Sign Devin McCourty
WEDNESDAY, 10:27am: McCourty’s signing is now official, tweets Volin.
SUNDAY, 9:40pm: The Patriots have been in the driver’s seat in terms of retaining Pro Bowl safety Devin McCourty, and it looks like he will be returning to New England on a new deal, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports 1 (via Twitter).
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com has confirmed the report (via Twitter). McCourty will sign a five-year deal worth $47.5MM, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). He also writes that McCourty turned down larger offers to remain with the team. Mike Reiss of ESPN adds that the deal includes $28.5MM in guaranteed money (via Twitter).
McCourty was the top safety on the market and had drawn tremendous interest around the league. The Jaguars, Eagles, and Giants all made hard pushes to sign the play making free safety.
Other interested teams have been notified that McCourty plans to return to the Patriots, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN (via Twitter). The team will likely turn all of its attention to working out a long-term deal for Darrelle Revis. Keeping both Revis and McCourty will ensure a successful offseason for the Patriots, writes Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (via Twitter).
Volin writes that the deal is not finalized, but that McCourty will be back with the Patriots in 2015 (via Twitter).
With McCourty off the market, Ron Parker and Rahim Moore jump to the top of the list of free agent safeties. The market for those players should heat up quickly, writes Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter).
AFC Notes: Revis, Cameron, Lofton, Parker
Allowing that it could just be a rumor, the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe says (Twitter links) says he’s heard that the Patriots dropped out of the running for Darrelle Revis last night, forcing the Jets to bid against themselves. If so, it doesn’t seem to have lowered the CB’s price, as Revis secured a three-year, $48MM deal from New York.
More from the AFC…
- Even after landing Ndamukong Suh, the Dolphins aren’t done, and their two main free agent targets at this point are tight end Jordan Cameron and cornerback Brice McCain, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, who adds that McCain is currently in town. Cameron would presumably take the place of Charles Clay if the latter signs with the Bills.
- Having recently been released by the Saints, linebacker Curtis Lofton will visit the Raiders, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN (Twitter link).
- While they are in on Lofton, the Raiders don’t have any interest in free agent safety Ron Parker, per Bill Williamson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- The Browns have are pursuing cornerback Perrish Cox, whom we earlier heard has a visit set up Washington, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. In fact, Cox will visit Cleveland on Thursday, says Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).
- The Patriots will host linebacker Colin McCarthy for a visit, says Field Yates of ESPN (via Twitter). A former Titan, McCartthy the entirety of the 2014 season on injured reserve.
Minor Moves: Tuesday
Today’s minor moves…
- The Patriots have agreed to terms to re-sign linebacker and special-teamer Chris White, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
- The Broncos have signed tight end Joe Don Duncan, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Duncan went undrafted in 2014 out of Dixie State.
Earlier updates
- The Giants cut offensive tackle Rogers Gaines, Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post tweets.
- After losing safety Sergio Brown earlier today, the Colts have re-signed fellow safety Colt Anderson, who is a core special teams player, per Kevin Bowen of Colts.com (Twitter link).
- The Texans announced they’ve re-signed linebacker Jeff Tarpinian. The 27-year-old has played in 22 games over the past two seasons, and Houston in special teams tackles in 2014.
- The Giants are set to re-sign Chris Ogbonnaya today, Dan Graziano of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. The 28-year-old (29 in May) joined up with the Giants in December of last year amidst their rash of injuries.
- Washington announced the re-signing of safety Trent Robinson. Robinson, 23, was originally drafted by the 49ers in the sixth round of the 2012 draft. He signed with Washington in October of 2013 and has appeared in 26 games with the Redskins across the last two seasons.