Allen Hurns Has Interest From Seven Teams
Appearing on Charlotte’s WFNZ following his release from the Jaguars earlier today, free agent wide receiver Allen Hurns said he’s received interest from the Bears, Bills, Saints, Texans, Jets, Raiders, and Panthers, according to Joel Erickson of the Advocate.
A number of those clubs have already added significant help at the wideout position this offseason. Chicago signed both Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, Oakland replaced Michael Crabtree with Jordy Nelson and are now meeting with Eric Decker, and Carolina signed Jarius Wright and acquired Torrey Smith. Other teams, such as Buffalo, New Orleans, and Houston, have done little to address their pass-catching needs.
Hurns is only 26 years old, but he hasn’t had much success since the 2015 campaign. During that season, Hurns served as the Jaguars’ No. 2 receiver behind Allen Robinson and posted a 64/1,031/10 line. Since then, Hurns’ role in the Jacksonville offense has been drastically scaled back, while injuries have also limited him. He failed to top 500 yards receiving in either 2016 or 2017.
Hurns’ first free agent visit is expected to take place with the Jets on Wednesday.
Saints Rumors: Brees, Robinson
Drew Brees is back with the Saints on a two-year, $50MM deal that is arguably under market for what he provides. However, a deeper look at his contract shows some additional value. There is language in Brees’ deal that prevents the team from using the franchise tag on him after the 2019 season, according to Nick Underhill of The Times-Picayune (on Twitter).
This is familiar territory for the two parties. Brees’ previous deal also prohibited the Saints from using the tag on him, which forced New Orleans to negotiate a fresh contract with him this offseason.
Brees will be 41 in 2020 and there’s no guarantee that he’ll still be an elite QB or even willing to continue playing, But, if he is still at the top of his game, the Saints will have a little less leverage to work with.
- Cornerback Patrick Robinson says three other teams were pursuing him when he agreed to deal with the Saints (Twitter link via Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune). Robinson added that he did not want to leave the Eagles, but “it just made more sense for me to come [to New Orleans].“
Raiders To Meet With Eric Decker
On Tuesday morning, there were rumblings online of Eric Decker meeting with the Saints. It turns out that Decker is meeting with a team today, but not that one. He’ll be meeting with the Raiders, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic (on Twitter). 
The meeting with the Raiders marks his first visit of free agency. In Oakland, Decker could become the No. 3 wide receiver on a depth chart that already includes Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson.
Decker was a late surprise cut by the Jets last year, leading him to sign a one-year deal with the Titans. He fell a little flat in Tennessee, recording 54 catches for just 563 yards and one touchdown. Decker also missed most of 2016 due to injury, so the 31-year-old is now two years removed from being a high-end wide receiver.
In 2015, Decker’s last complete season, he hauled in 80 catches for 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Jets. He also had 1,000+ yard seasons in 2012 and 2013 with the Broncos and nearly hit that mark in his first Jets season in 2014.
Saints WR Josh Huff Suspended Two Games
If he makes the roster, Josh Huff won’t be in uniform for the Saints’ first two contests next season. Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com reports that the wide receiver has been suspended two games by the NFL “for violating the league’s policies on substances for abuse and personal conduct.”
As Katzenstein details, the suspension stems from a 2016 arrest. During the incident, Huff was allegedly found carrying a handgun and a small amount of marijuana. All of the charges from the incident have since been dismissed. Huff entered a pre-trail intervention program following a conditional guilty plea, and the charges were subsequently dismissed.
The 2014 third-round pick hasn’t matched his production from his Eagles tenure. Following a 2015 campaign that saw him haul in 27 receptions for 312 yards and three touchdowns, Huff hasn’t been nearly as productive since that time. The 26-year-old had 16 receptions in 10 games with the Bucs and Eagles in 2016, and he sat out the entire 2017 campaign. He ultimately landed a futures contract with the Saints back in January.
Contract Details: Cousins, Graham, Davis
Let’s take a look at the most recent new contracts around the NFL:
- Kirk Cousins, QB (Vikings): Three years, $84MM. Guaranteed salaries of $22.5MM, $27.5MM and $29.5MM. Guaranteed $500K workout bonuses each year. Up to $2MM in incentives per year. No-trade clause and a no-transition tag provision in 2021 (Twitter link via Dan Graziano of ESPN).
- Jimmy Graham, TE (Packers): Three years, $30MM. $11MM signing bonus, $300K per-game roster bonuses each year. $2MM base salary in 2018, $3.45MM in 2019 and $7.45MM in 2020. $5.67MM 2018 cap number. $5MM roster bonus due on third day of 2019 season (Twitter links via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein).
- Demario Davis, LB (Saints): Three years, $24MM. $16MM guaranteed. $9.2MM signing bonus. Annual salaries of $850K, $5.95MM (guaranteed) and $7.35MM. (Twitter links via Graziano and Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Jeremy Hill, RB (Patriots): One year, $1.5MM. $150K signing bonus. $1M base salary. (via Pelissero, on Twitter, and ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss).
- Bruce Ellington, WR (Texans): One year, $1.25MM. $730K base salary, $200K signing bonus (via Wilson, on Twitter).
Latest On Ndamukong Suh
Free agent DT Ndamukong Suh left New Orleans without a contract and met with the Titans last night, per Jordan Schultz of Yahoo! Sports, who adds that his dinner with Tennessee brass went well past midnight (Twitter links). Mike Triplett of ESPN.com tweets that the door is not closed on a Suh-Saints marriage, as the visit with New Orleans was always intended to be a feeling-out session rather than an all-out recruiting mission. Indeed, as Schultz notes in a separate tweet, Suh has expressed his desire to take his time and evaluate his numerous options with his family. 
Nonetheless, the fact that the Titans have parted with Karl Klug and Sylvester Williams over the past several days could be a sign that they are optimistic about landing Suh when he comes to Nashville. Of course, if Suh really does plan to take his time and visit other, as-yet-unnamed clubs — which we heard when the Tennessee visit was reported earlier this week — then it could take awhile before we know where Suh will be suiting up in 2018.
Florida Football Insiders, in a purely speculative piece, also names the Patriots as a potential landing spot for the three-time All-Pro. The Pats have a little bit of money to spend, and if they can acquire Suh on a one-year pact — much like they did with Darrelle Revis in 2014 — they may jump on the opportunity. FFI suggests that a one-year, “prove-it” contract might be in Suh’s best interest, and if he goes that route, New England could certainly get involved.
The Seahawks and Cowboys have also expressed interest in Suh, and Schultz tweets that Suh and Seattle head coach Pete Carroll have had two positive telephone conversations this week. The two men share a great deal of mutual respect, and Suh wants to visit the Seahawks.
The 31-year-old Suh may be getting older, but he’s still plenty productive. He 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.
Saints' Nick Fairley Grievance Not Settled
- Although the Saints received a salary cap credit as a result of their Nick Fairley grievance, the grievance itself has not been settled, per Josh Katzenstein of the New Orleans Times-Picayune (Twitter link). That $3MM credit was only related to Fairley’s signing bonus, so the Saints are presumably trying to recoup a portion of Fairley’s base salary after he was forced to sit out the 2017 campaign with a heart condition. For what it’s worth, Fairley hopes to play during the upcoming season, but it’s difficult to imagine any team medically clearing him.
Saints, Thomas Morstead Agree To Extension
The Saints have signed punter Thomas Morstead to a new five-year contract (Twitter link via Omar Ruiz of NFL.com). Morstead was heading into final year of his old contract, but the new pact will keep him under contract through 2022.
The deal is worth $20MM with roughly $9MM guaranteed. As Ruiz notes, Morstead acted as his own agent in the negotiations, not unlike new 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman.
Last year, Morstead averaged 47.0 yards per punt, good for eighth-highest in the league. His net average of 42.2 yards per attempt placed him sixth amongst all punters, behind Brett Kern, Johnny Hekker, Marquette King, Rigoberto Sanchez, and Michael Palardy.
Lions, Saints In On LB Jonathan Freeny
Free agent linebacker Jonathan Freeny will meet with the Lions on Friday, according to Herbie Teope of the Times-Picayune (on Twitter). Meanwhile, a return to the Saints could still be in the cards. 
Freeny joined the Saints in December and worked his way into the linebacker rotation. He appeared in two regular season games as well as both of New Orleans’ playoff contests. In the postseason, he tallied five tackles and one sack (pictured).
In other Lions news, the team re-signed running back Zach Zenner on Friday and has a meeting scheduled with running back Mike Davis.
Saints To Re-Sign Alex Okafor
Alex Okafor is back with the Saints. New Orleans has re-signed the pass rusher to a two-year deal worth up to $10MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Okafor visited the rival Buccaneers this week, but wound up staying put. That was Okafor’s only known outside visit and it’s quite possible that his list of suitors was limited by the torn Achilles that ended his 2017 early. Rapoport hears that he is recovering well from his torn Achilles, though he is still not 100%.
Before the injury, Okafor started in all ten of his games and racked up 4.5 sacks with a career high 43 tackles. He’ll look to turn in a similarly strong performance over a 16-game set this time around.
In addition to re-signing Okafor, the Saints have also added Demario Davis to the front seven.