Contract Details: Smith, James, Wake
The latest details on deals from around the NFL:
- Za’Darius Smith, OLB (Packers): Four years, $66MM. $20MM guaranteed. $20MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Ja’Wuan James, T (Broncos): Four years, $51MM. $32MM guaranteed. $12MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Steven Nelson, CB (Steelers): Three years, $25.5MM. $7.5MM guaranteed. $7.5MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Cameron Wake, DE (Titans): Three years, $23MM. $9.75MM guaranteed. $4MM signing bonus. (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Latavius Murray, RB (Saints): Four years, $14.4MM. $7.2MM guaranteed. $3.4MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Spencer Pulley, C/G (Giants): Three years, $8.025MM. $2.325MM guaranteed. (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan).
- Eric Rowe, CB (Dolphins): One year, $3.5MM. $500K signing bonus. (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Ryan Griffin, QB (Buccaneers): Two years, $2.9MM. $450K signing bonus. (Twitter link via Greg Auman of The Athletic).
- Deone Bucannon, LB (Buccaneers): One year, $2.5MM. $1.45MM guaranteed. (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Brett Hundley, QB (Cardinals): One year, $1.875MM. $750K guaranteed. (Twitter link via Wilson).
Browns, Giants Alter Zeitler/Vernon Trade
When the Browns and Giants agreed to swap guard Kevin Zeitler and defensive end Olivier Vernon earlier this week, the two clubs also decided to trade draft picks: Cleveland was set to give up a fifth-round pick (No. 155) to New York, while Big Blue send a fourth-round pick (No. 132) to the Browns. Now, following the deal that will send Odell Beckham Jr. to Cleveland, the two teams have agreed to revise the Zeitler/Brown trade.
The pick swap will no longer occur, according to Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com (Twitter link). Instead, Zeitler will simply be traded straight up for Vernon, while OBJ will go to the Browns in a separate move. However, you can look at both swaps together as such: Beckham and Vernon for Zeitler, Peppers, No. 17 overall and No. 95 overall.
It’s unclear as to why the Giants and Browns have reached this agreement. The return for Beckham has been widely panned, so it’s possible the Giants asked for the Vernon/Zeitler pick swap to be eliminated as something of a face-saving move (although undoing a 23-spot drop in the draft probably isn’t worth all that much).
OBJ Notes: Manning, 49ers, Bills
In the deal of the day, the Giants sent Pro Bowl wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the Browns. In return, New York received a 2019 first-rounder (No. 17 overall), a 2019 third-rounder (No. 95), and safety Jabrill Peppers. This marks the end of an era for the Giants organization, and it also means the front office may be preparing for a full-on rebuild.
There have naturally been a number of Giants-centric and Beckham-focused notes since the deal was reported earlier this evening. We’ve compiled some of the more notable rumblings below…
- The 49ers were among the teams that expressed interest in OBJ, writes ESPN’s Adam Schefter. San Francisco has been connected to several big-name playmakers, and the team could certainly use some additional weapons for Jimmy Garoppolo. Marquise Goodwin and Dante Pettis currently lead the 49ers’ depth chart, and while the pair certainly have plenty of talent, the team could easily transform the duo into a trio.
- The Bills also had discussions about Beckham, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo (on Twitter). Tim Graham of The Athletic clarifies (on Twitter) that the Giants approached Buffalo about a trade, not the other way around. It’s not entirely surprising that Buffalo was considering a premier wideout, especially after the team failed to complete an Antonio Brown deal. The Bills have already added two free agent wideouts in John Brown and Cole Beasley, but their additions probably wouldn’t have prevented the organization from adding a player of OBJ’s caliber.
- Following the Beckham trade, Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com explores whether the Giants will end up holding on to veteran quarterback Eli Manning. There’s no denying that the organization is rebuilding, as the team has also moved on from Landon Collins and Olivier Vernon. Ultimately, the writer opines that the pairing doesn’t make sense for either side; the Giants won’t want the one or two extra wins that Manning could provide, while the veteran quarterback surely doesn’t want to spend his last few years playing for a middling team. The Giants may have to make some kind of decision by Monday, when Manning is set to earn a $5MM roster bonus that counts for a portion of his $23MM cap hit.
- We heard that Beckham may be seeking a new contract with the Browns, and it sounds like the two sides are already talking. Jason La Canfora tweets that “there has been contact” between the Browns and the receiver’s reps. The reporter attributes the negotiations to the “ramifications of the [Antonio Brown] contract,” noting that Beckham should look to capitalize on the trend of traded players securing guaranteed money.
Giants Trade Odell Beckham Jr. To Browns
Odell Beckham Jr. is finally on the move. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that the Giants are trading the wide receiver to the Browns.
It sound like New York has received a relative haul for their star receiver. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Giants will be receiving a 2019 first-rounder (No. 17 overall), a 2019 third-rounder (No. 95), and safety Jabrill Peppers. The deal will leave $16MM in dead money for the Giants, who inked the receiver to a five-year, $95 million contract ($65MM guaranteed) back in August. The move will open up $5MM in cap space, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
This would seem to be a relatively big haul for Beckham, especially when you consider what the Steelers recently received for Antonio Brown. While Brown is older and desired a new contract, Pittsburgh was still only able to fetch a third-round pick (No. 66 overall) and fifth-round pick (No. 141) from the Raiders. Of course; Beckham may also be seeking a new deal; NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the receiver is expected to ask Cleveland for a new contract.
There had been conflicting reports regarding Beckham’s availability in recent days. Despite general manager Dave Gettleman‘s consistent insistence that Beckham was not available, we learned yesterday that the Giants had been discussing a trade. We heard earlier today that an AFC North team was engaged in conversations with the Giants, and we’ve now learned that the team was Cleveland.
The Browns seemed like a relatively natural fit for Beckham and his $18MM salary. Despite signing Jarvis Landry to a lucrative deal last offseason, Cleveland’s front office was still hunting around for a big-name addition. The 26-year-old surely fits that bill, as he’ll team up with Landry, quarterback Baker Mayfield, and running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt to form one of the more talented offenses in the NFL.
The 26-year-old was still productive in 2018 despite missing four games due to a quad injury. In 12 games, Beckham hauled in 77 receptions for 1,052 yards and six touchdowns. The former first-rounder is all over the Giants all-time leaders list, with top-five appearances in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions.
While the focus of the trade will surround Beckham, Peppers is an intriguing inclusion in the deal. The former Michigan standout had spent the first two seasons of his career in Cleveland, including a 2018 campaign where he compiled 79 tackles, one sack, and five passes defended. While the 23-year-old hasn’t necessarily displayed the talent that earned him a first-round selection, he’s still an intriguing asset for the Giants. While the team recently added Antoine Bethea, Peppers could theoretically supplant Michael Thomas in the starting lineup.
Giants To Re-Sign Zak DeOssie
Zak DeOssie and the Giants can’t seem to get enough of each other. Ryan Dunleavy of NJ.com tweets that Big Blue is re-signing its long-time long snapper, though he does not pass along any other contract details.
DeOssie has been with the Giants since New York selected him in the fourth round of the 2007 draft, which makes him the second-longest-tenured member of the roster (behind only Eli Manning). He has been named to the Pro Bowl twice (in 2008 and 2010) and has only missed four games in his career, all in the 2015 season.
The 34-year-old Ivy Leaguer just finished a two-year pact worth $2.315MM.
Giants To Sign Antoine Bethea
The Giants are signing veteran safety Antoine Bethea, according to former teammate Reggie Wayne (on Twitter). The news has been confirmed by Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (Twitter link). 
Bethea, entering his 14th NFL season, will be 35 by the time Giants training camp begins. He profiles as a cheap replacement for Landon Collins, whom New York declined to use its franchise tag on then watched defect to Washington.
Despite his age, Bethea was a full-time Cards starter in 2018. After starting for the 2006 Super Bowl champion Colts as a rookie, the former sixth-round pick has previously played for the Colts, 49ers, and, most recently, the Cardinals. Over the course of his career, he’s made three Pro Bowls, with the most recent one coming in 2014 with SF.
While Bethea is nearing the end of a nice career, he has produced in recent years. In 2017, his first year in Arizona, Bethea intercepted a career-high five passes. Last season, he registered a career-best three sacks. Bethea will trek to the Giants with 24 career interceptions.
The safety market was absolutely flooded this year, leading many to believe that Bethea would have to wait things out before finding a home. That wasn’t the case, as Bethea quickly found a landing spot with the G-Men. This move helps patch up a spot, but the Giants will need more help in their secondary given the current personnel.
Latest On Giants’ Odell Beckham Jr.
An AFC North team is engaged in conversations with the Giants regarding Odell Beckham Jr., according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Beckham, she hears, remains available, despite the Giants’ previous denials.
Dave Gettleman‘s consistent insistence Beckham is not available has not stopped trade buzz, which has swirled around the superstar Giant for two offseasons.
If an AFC North team is in the running, one jumps out more than the others. The Browns are the most willing of these franchises to make big-splash outside additions, with the Bengals, Ravens and Steelers being more conservative regarding outside hires. Cleveland also has its rivals outflanked in cap space, and despite Jarvis Landry‘s 2018 deal, the Browns could seemingly make Beckham’s $18MM-per-year contract work.
However, the Steelers just lost arguably the best wide receiver in franchise history and only received third- and fifth-round picks for him. Beckham would be a fascinating replacement for Antonio Brown, though it would be interesting to see the Steelers abandon the Brown drama for a mercurial talent like Beckham. Although, Beckham is generally well-liked and respected in the Giants’ locker room.
Baltimore could use receiving help, and with Lamar Jackson in the fold, the Ravens may have to draft or trade for it — given free agent pass-catchers’ potential reluctance to sign with a run-based team. But Baltimore also may not want to allocate immense resources to the receiver spot, due to the nature of its new-look offense. The Bengals have A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and John Ross under contract, refuting a report the latter was on the trade block.
Beckham, 26, has five years remaining on his extension — one signed barely six months ago. Previous reports have indicated the Giants will only deal him if they are blown away by an offer.
Giants Re-Sign FB Eli Penny
The Giants have been very quiet in free agency so far, but they’re bringing back one of their own. The Giants have re-signed fullback Eli Penny, according to a team announcement. Penny was signed off the Cardinals’ practice squad in September and appeared in the team’s final 14 games of the season.
Penny was an undrafted rookie out of Idaho back in 2016. He spent his entire rookie season on the practice squad, then made the 53-man roster as a sophomore. He played a meaningful role in the offense that year, rushing for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries.
In his time with the Giants last season, Penny racked up 25 yards on seven carries and added eight receptions for 50 yards. All told, he played around 12 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. Assuming New York decides to carry a fullback on the final 53-man roster, Penny will be back to help block for Saquon Barkley next year.
New York Notes: Tannehill, Mosley, Giants
The Jets made some noise on Day 1 of the legal tampering period, adding Anthony Barr, Jamison Crowder and Josh Bellamy to the mix. Their Barr deal also may not preclude them from a C.J. Mosley pact. The Jets aggressively pursued the four-time Pro Bowl linebacker on Monday, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets. Other teams — including the Browns, Colts and Redskins, in addition to the Ravens — made pushes for Mosley, and those may start back up again Tuesday. The linebacker remains unsigned. The Jets still have plenty of cap room and may be set to waive Darron Lee soon, creating room for Mosley alongside Avery Williamson.
While Barr is expected to help the Jets’ edge rush, he is also viewed as someone who will play off the ball, Mehta notes, comparing the latest high-priced Gregg Williams chess piece to Jamie Collins — the Browns’ off-ball ‘backer who would rush quarterbacks as well. However, it sounds like Barr — a UCLA edge defender — will see more time in rush roles than Collins did.
Here is more from the Jets’ first day of unofficial free agency and the latest from Giants headquarters:
- A third Josh McCown Jets season could occur, with the team maintaining some interest in the soon-to-be 40-year-old passer backing up Sam Darnold, per SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano. But McCown released a statement Monday night indicating he is undecided on continuing his career, which could put the Jets in the market for another backup.
- One of those options figures to be Ryan Tannehill, given his three-year run with Adam Gase in Miami. However, the soon-to-be-released quarterback has not come up in Jets meetings about filling their QB2 role, per Mehta. Tannehill could command a higher-end backup salary, like McCown, due to his extensive run as a starter. But he has not proven he can stay healthy since his knee troubles began in 2016.
- A Mosley backup plan may be former Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall. The Jets expressed interest in the longtime Denver starter, according to Vacchiano. This would also point to Lee not being in the team’s plans any longer.
- A third Morris Claiborne contract will not be on the Jets’ agenda, despite their need at corner, Vacchiano adds. Claiborne’s past two free agency stays ended with Jets deals; the veteran corner will likely have to seek his latest contract elsewhere.
- The Broncos just reset the right tackle market, with their four-year, $52MM deal for Ja’Wuan James, and that should drive up the price for Daryl Williams. The Giants are likely to express interest in the former Panthers starter, Vacchiano notes. But as was the case with former Dave Gettleman find Andrew Norwell, whom the Giants tried to sign last year, Williams probably won’t come cheap. That said, Norwell and James were coming off healthy seasons; Williams missed almost all of last season because of leg injuries.
- Big Blue, per Vacchiano, also inquired Monday about former Redskins outside linebacker Preston Smith, who is one of this market’s top edge defenders. The Giants just traded Olivier Vernon to the Browns and have a massive need on the edge. But Smith will also be a coveted commodity on this market.
Extra Points: Golden, Jackson, Marshall
Here’s the latest from around the NFL:
- The Giants have interest in Cardinals free agent Markus Golden, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). As per usual, free agent pass rushers are expected to cash in big, so Golden could be looking at a substantial deal. Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher coached Golden in Arizona in 2016 when he notched 12.5 sacks, so it’s a logical fit.
- The Broncos placed a call on Malik Jackson after his release from Jacksonville, a source close to the player tells Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). However, the Broncos didn’t really need Jackson, and they have placed a greater emphasis on finding a nose tackle. Jackson, of course, inked a three-year, $30MM deal with the Eagles this morning.
- Five teams are interested in Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall, according to ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson (on Twitter). As previously reported, Marshall’s option for 2019 will not be exercised.