Giants Sign TE Eric Tomlinson
Eric Tomlinson is heading back to New York. The veteran tight end has signed with the Giants, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (via Twitter).
After brief stints with the Eagles and Texans to start his career, the UTEP product spent two-plus seasons with the Jets. He started 24 of his 29 games between the 2017 and 2018 seasons, hauling in a combined 16 receptions for 193 yards and one score.
The 6-foot-6, 263-pound tight end was cut by the Jets at the end of the 2019 preseason. When all was said and done, Tomlinson split the regular season between the Giants, Patriots, and Raiders, hauling in a single one-yard catch in eight games (three starts).
As Raanan points out on Twitter, the Giants will be running a “tight end heavy offense” under new offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. The team is currently rostering six tight ends in Tomlinson, Evan Engram, Levine Toilolo, Kaden Smith, Garrett Dickerson, and C.J. Conrad.
Giants To Sign DT Austin Johnson
After franchise-tagging Leonard Williams, the Giants will add another piece to their defensive line. They agreed to terms with defensive tackle Austin Johnson on Thursday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic tweets.
Johnson has spent his entire career with the Titans, who drafted him in the 2016 second round. The Penn State alum worked as a 13-game starter in Tennessee but played in every Titans game from 2017-19.
A clear connection helps explain the signing. One of Johnson’s defensive line coaches with the Nittany Lions is making the move to the NFL; Joe Judge hired Sean Spencer to coach the Giants’ D-line. Johnson played his final two seasons under Spencer with the Big Ten program.
Johnson played 29% of the Titans’ defensive snaps last season and 38% in 2018. The 6-foot-4, 314-pound run-stuffing lineman registered 23 tackles in 2019. He will join a Giants defensive line that is by far their defense’s deepest position. Williams, Dexter Lawrence, Dalvin Tomlinson and B.J. Hill reside up front for the Giants.
Likely set for a rotational role, Johnson will beef up a Giants defense that already ranked seventh in run-defense DVOA last season.
Giants Unlikely To Pay Williams $16MM/Year?
- Although nearly half the league used a franchise or a transition tag this year, the Giants‘ Leonard Williams tag may have been the most interesting decision. New York’s Williams tag will cost at least $16.1MM (the defensive tackle price) and could run as much as $17.8MM (for defensive ends), but Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes the Giants are not likely to sign the former Jets first-rounder to a deal that averages $16MM per year. If that is the case, Williams should be expected to play 2020 on the tag.
- The Giants‘ deal for ex-Patriots special-teamer Nate Ebner is a one-year, $2MM pact, per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Ebner will receive a $950K roster bonus and a $1.05MM base salary.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/24/20
Here are today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB LaRoy Reynolds
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: WR Chris Moore
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Mike Thomas
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB DeMarquis Gates (XFL)
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Dravon Askew-Henry (XFL)
New York Jets
- Re-signed: DB Bennett Jackson
James Bradberry Chose Giants Over Lions
The Redskins and Jets loomed as known suitors for James Bradberry, but the standout cornerback chose the Giants. But neither the Redskins nor the Jets finished second in this pursuit.
Bradberry said his final decision was a Giants-over-Lions move. Giants GM Dave Gettleman, who drafted Bradberry in the second round when he was with the Panthers, played a role in Bradberry’s choice.
“It was either the Lions or New York, and I felt like New York was a better fit for me,” Bradberry said during an appearance on the Jim Rome Show (via the New York Post). “I knew Mr. Gettleman; I know what type of organization he’s trying to build over there.
“… I feel like both organizations were great; I feel like both coaches were great. I just feel New York might have been a better feel for me. It’s a great city; it’s something new for me.”
It took a three-year, $43.5MM offer for Bradberry to sign with the Giants. The Lions went in a less expensive direction after finishing second here. They instead signed the recently released Desmond Trufant for two years and $20MM.
It appears Bradberry was Detroit’s first choice as their Darius Slay replacement. The Lions subsequently traded Slay to the Eagles. Going with a lucrative Bradberry pact and trading Slay would have been interesting, however, given the Lions’ hesitancy about paying Slay — a three-time Pro Bowler. Bradberry, 26, is two years younger but has yet to be selected to a Pro Bowl.
The Lions have Trufant and slot man Justin Coleman as their top cornerbacks, post-Slay, and have been frequently mentioned as the team that will select Ohio State corner Jeff Okudah in mock drafts. Bradberry will now anchor the Giants’ cornerback corps.
Giants Pursued Joe Looney
- The Giants pursued free agent center Joe Looney before he re-signed with the Cowboys, according to Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. New York will continue to look for help at center, where Spencer Pulley is currently the projected starter as Jon Halapio recovers from an Achilles tear. Looney, for his part, may now be a starter in Dallas following the retirement of Travis Frederick.
Giants, Dion Lewis Agree To Deal
Dion Lewis will be heading back east. Recently released by the Titans, the veteran running back will sign with the Giants, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The parties agreed to a one-year deal.
The former Patriots running back spent two years with the Titans. While Lewis will turn 30 in September, he has logged only 710 touches in since coming into the league in 2011.
A 2011 Eagles fifth-round pick, Lewis was a late-blooming talent. He caught on as a key Patriots presence in the mid-2010s and led the team in rushing (with 896 yards) in 2017. The Titans signed the diminutive back to a four-year, $20MM deal. Lewis’ market did not hit the level it did two years ago, but he will have a chance to work as the top complementary option to Saquon Barkley.
This move will also reunite Lewis with Joe Judge. He becomes the latest Patriot to join the Giants, following tackle Cameron Fleming and special-teamer Nate Ebner. Lewis spent three seasons with the Patriots, coming back from injuries in both 2015 and ’16 to spearhead the ’17 Pats’ ground attack. Lewis scored nine of his 18 career touchdowns during that 2017 slate. Lewis lost out to rushing champion Derrick Henry last year, totaling just 54 carries and just 373 scrimmage yards.
The Giants have struggled to fill their No. 2 running back spot. Wayne Gallman remains under contract, but he was drafted two coaching staffs ago and saw just 29 carries last season.
Giants To Bring Back Corey Coleman
Despite their transition to a new coaching staff and Corey Coleman having missed all of last season due to injury, the Giants are re-signing the former first-round pick. They will retain Coleman to a one-year deal, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets.
Coleman missed all of last season due to a summer ACL tear. He will now make another attempt to contribute in New York. The former No. 15 overall pick has not fared well since his initial weeks in the NFL in 2016. Coleman caught just five passes in eight Giants games in 2018.
Set to turn 26 in July, Coleman has enjoyed a modicum of stability with the Giants after being discarded by a few AFC teams in the months prior. Shortly after Coleman displayed an extensive sneaker collection on 2018’s Hard Knocks installment, the Browns traded him to the Bills. Buffalo then waived him. The Patriots cut him from their practice squad in the fall of 2018. Coleman then rose from the Giants’ P-squad to their active roster.
Despite this latest Giants agreement, Coleman is nearly out of chances in the NFL. The first receiver taken in the 2016 draft has 61 receptions for 789 yards and five touchdowns in his career. He will be no higher than fourth on a Giants depth chart that houses Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate and Darius Slayton.
Contract Details: Lawson, Trufant, Shelton, Witten,
Kyler Fackrell (Giants), One year, $4.6MM, $3.5MM guaranteed, base salary 2020: $2.6MM, $2MM roster bonus, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.
Antonio Hamilton (Chiefs), One year, $1.047MM, $887.5k guaranteed, $137.5k signing bonus; salary 2020: $910k ($750k guaranteed), according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Shaq Lawson (Dolphins), Three years, $30MM, $21MM guaranteed, $4MM signing bonus; salaries 2020: $6.4MM (fully guaranteed), 2021: $7.9MM (fully guaranteed), 2022: $8.9MM; $2.5MM fully guaranteed roster bonus in 2020, $100k workout bonus in 2020-2021, potential $2MM in annual incentives, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
John Miller (Panthers), One year, $4MM, $2MM guaranteed, $2MM signing bonus; salary 2020: $1.79MM; $160k in per-game roster bonuses, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Danny Shelton (Lions), Two years, $8MM, $4MM guaranteed, $2.5MM signing bonus; salaries 2020: $1.5MM (fully guaranteed), 2021: $4MM, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.
Desmond Trufant (Lions), Two years, $20MM, $14MM guaranteed, $5MM signing bonus; salaries 2020: $4.5MM (fully guaranteed), 2021: $9.5MM ($4.5MM guaranteed for injury at signing); $500k in annual per-game roster bonuses, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Jihad Ward (Ravens), One year, $1.047MM, $637.5k guaranteed, $137.5k signing bonus; salary 2020: $910,000 ($500,000 guaranteed), according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Jaylen Watkins (Texans), Two years, $3MM, $300k guaranteed, $300k guaranteed; salaries 2020: $1.1MM, 2021: $1.4MM; 200k first-game roster bonus in 2020, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
Jason Witten (Raiders), One year, $4MM, $3.5MM guaranteed; salary 2020: $3.5MM (fully guaranteed); $500k in per-game roster bonuses, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.
Contract Details: Mayo, Patriots, Bailey
A handful of contract details to pass along:
- LB David Mayo, Giants: three-year extension. $8.4MM deal, including $3.5MM guaranteed. Salaries: $1.5MM guaranteed (2020), $2.25MM (2021), $2.5MM (2022). Via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter.
- WR Damiere Byrd, Patriots: one year, $2.5MM. $1MM base salary, $350K signing bonus, $900K in receptions incentives. Via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter.
- S Adrian Phillips, Patriots: two years. Deal worth up to $7.5MM, $3MM guaranteed, $1.5MM signing bonus. Can earn up to $4MM in 2020. Via Yates on Twitter.
- K Dan Bailey, Vikings: re-signed. Three-year deal worth up to $12MM. $5MM guaranteed, $3.15MM signing bonus. Via Yates on Twitter.
- OL Joe Looney, Cowboys: signed. One-year, $2.4375MM deal. As Mike Garafolo of NFL Network tweets, one of the new CBA’s veteran benefits is that the deal will count $1.25MM less on the cap than it would have last season.
- OT Shon Coleman, 49ers: one-year extension. Worth $962.5K, including $825K base salary and $137.5K signing bonus. Via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner on Twitter.
- DB Jaylen Watkins, Texans: signed. Two-year deal worth $3MM, per Wilson.
- OT Roderick Johnson, Texans: re-signed. One-year deal worth $1.75MM, per Wilson.