Giants Sign Geoff Schwartz
WEDNESDAY, 1:40pm: Schwartz has signed his four-year deal with the Giants, and it will be worth $16.8MM, with $6.2MM in guaranteed money, his agent tells Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 4:12pm: The Giants are set to sign guard Geoff Schwartz tomorrow, according to Kim Jones of WFAN (on Twitter). We learned earlier today that Big Blue was interested in the former Chiefs guard.
The 27-year-old moved into the starting lineup at right guard for Kansas City late in the season. The Chiefs will have to work diligently to make sure their offensive line is solid in 2014. In addition to Schwartz, KC’s other primary right guard, Jon Asamoah, is also on the verge of hitting unrestricted free agency.
Schwartz was a seventh-round pick of the Panthers in 2008 and made enough of a mark there to see time in all 16 games during his rookie season, including three starts. In his sophomore campaign, he started all 16 games at right guard. He went a couple of years without another start until this past season with KC.
Giants Re-Sign Josh Brown
WEDNESDAY, 11:18am: The Giants gave kicker Josh Brown a two-year deal with a $2.5MM base and another $500K in incentives, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. That’s a step up from the veteran’s minimum that he earned last year.
TUESDAY, 5:42pm: Kicker Josh Brown announced via Twitter that he has re-signed with the Giants. We learned yesterday that Big Blue and Brown were close to an agreement.
Brown, 35 next month, only missed three field goals in 2013. Terms of the pact are not yet known but other kickers have inked new deals with annual salaries exceeding $3MM so far this offseason.
Earlier today, the other Meadowlands tenant took care of their placekicker when they inked Nick Folk to a multi-year deal.
NFC East Rumors: Ayers, Wendell, Tuck
The latest from the NFC East..
- The Cowboys are interested in defensive end Robert Ayers, tweets Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com. However, no visit has been scheduled with the Broncos free agent. Ayers, 28, registered a career-high 5.5 sacks in 15 games (3 starts) last season for Denver.
- Center Ryan Wendell is a name to watch for the Giants, tweets Dan Graziano of ESPN. Pro Football Focus’ metrics weren’t kind to Wendell in 2013, placing him 33rd out of 36 eligible centers.
- There are more teams in play for free agent Justin Tuck than the Raiders and Giants, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports. Tuck has been a staple in New York for the last nine seasons but this could be the winter that he winds up somewhere else. Last season, Tuck recorded 11.0 sacks and appeared in all 16 games, starting in 15 of those contests.
Darrelle Revis Rumors: Wednesday
If there was any question about whether the Buccaneers would move Darrelle Revis, it appears that the club has answered that with an emphatic yes. Last night, the Bucs signed one of the top available cornerbacks on the market in Alterraun Verner. With a four-year, $26.5MM deal struck with the former Titans standout, we can expect Revis to be donning a different uniform in 2014. Hopefully, it’s something nicer than the Bucs’ calculator font jerseys. The latest on Revis…
- Albert Breer of the NFL Network doesn’t think there’s any way the Patriots would trade for Revis, but says the team has talked about signing the cornerback if he’s released (Twitter link).
- The Falcons, Eagles, and Giants are among the other clubs that have called Tampa Bay about Revis, according to Ian Rapoport, though he adds (via Twitter) that he’s not sure any of those teams will trade for him. Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (Twitter link) thinks the Giants were just checking out the situation and aren’t likely to pursue Revis even if he’s cut.
- Rapoport also notes (via Twitter) that restructuring Revis’ deal to convert this year’s salary into a signing bonus would reduce the cornerback’s 2014 cap hit to just $5.6MM.
Earlier updates:
- The Patriots have been among those who have called to expressed interest in a trade for Revis, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Still, Revis doesn’t plan on taking a pay cut. Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune (on Twitter) also hears that the Pats are a possibility.
- Reports are out saying Bucs have released Revis but they appear to be premature, Cummings tweets.
Pats Rumors: Amendola, Smith, Shaughnessy
Late last night, the Broncos agreed to a six-year, $57MM deal with free agent cornerback Aqib Talib. While the Kansas product’s departure isn’t a total shock, it does leave the Pats with a significant gap to fill this offseason. The latest out of Foxboro..
- Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (on Twitter) notes that $2MM of Danny Amendola‘s $3MM base salary with the Patriots became guaranteed yesterday. While he has offsets, the $2MM guarantee means he’ll likely stay put in New England.
- The Giants have competition for guard Shelley Smith, tweets Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger. He also has a scheduled visit with the Patriots on Thursday.
- The Patriots are hosting outside linebacker Matt Shaughnessy on a visit today, a league source tells Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com (on Twitter).
Giants Release Marcus Dowtin
The Giants have released linebacker Marcus Dowtin, tweets Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News. Dowtin saw three games of action with Big Blue in 2013.
Dowtin, who went undrafted in 2012, has bounced around a bit in the last two years. After hooking on with the Jets as an undrafted free agent, the 25-year-old had stints with the Bills and Eagles before landing with the Giants. In his three games last season, Dowtin recorded two tackles.
Five Teams In Mix For Brandon Pettigrew?
The Giants, Jets, Texans, and Raiders are among the potential landing spots for free agent tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who could also return to the Lions, says Mike Silver of the NFL Network (Twitter link). It’s not clear whether Pettigrew has any visits lined up yet, but it seems that those five clubs have expressed some level of interest in the 29-year-old.
Pettigrew, who had 71 receptions in 2010 and 83 in 2011, is perhaps the top tight end on the unrestricted free agent market, with Dennis Pitta having re-signed with the Ravens and Jimmy Graham designated as the Saints’ franchise player.
As for Pettigrew’s potential suitors, all of them will likely lose one of their top two tight ends in free agency this offseason. The Giants saw Brandon Myers sign with the Bucs, the Texans released Owen Daniels, and the Jets and Raiders may end up parting ways with UFAs Kellen Winslow and Jeron Mastrud, respectively.
FA Rumors: Broncos, Allen, LaFell, Redskins
According to a Denver Post report, the Broncos are considering free agent linebackers Jon Beason and Daryl Smith. However, the report surfaced yesterday before word broke that the team had agreed to sign Aqib Talib and scheduled a visit with DeMarcus Ware, so it’s not clear whether Denver still has interest. The team certainly does seem to be going all-in to try to take advantage of Peyton Manning‘s final years though.
Here are several more Wednesday morning free agency updates:
- The Bears don’t presently appear to be in the mix to sign veteran defensive end Jared Allen, sources tells Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com (Twitter link).
- While Julian Edelman explores the open market, the Patriots will be hosting another free agent receiver, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who tweets that Brandon LaFell will visit New England.
- Free agent cornerback Corey Graham is set to visit the Redskins, says Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Graham has also reportedly drawn interest from a pair of Washington’s division rivals, the Giants and Eagles.
- The Redskins are also hosting offensive lineman Bruce Campbell, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.
- The Lions will host free agent fullback Henry Hynoski on Thursday, says Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter).
- Free agent guard Shelley Smith is visiting with the Giants today, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
- The Bills have announced that free agents Chris Williams (OL) and Nolan Carroll (CB) will be visiting the team today, according to Joe Buscaglia of WGR550 (via Twitter).
- Free agent wide receiver Kevin Cone didn’t receive a tender offer from the Falcons and will now be an unrestricted free agent, says D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Defensive end Ronald Talley, who was eligible for restricted free agency, also appears to have gone untendered, having tweeted that he won’t be back with the Cardinals in 2014 (hat tip to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com).
Wilson On Steve Smith, Cuts, Daryl Smith
Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun has provided plenty of interesting tidbits on Twitter this morning, so let’s round up a few of the highlights. All links go to Wilson’s Twitter….
- Wilson first reported yesterday that if Steve Smith is cut by the Panthers, the veteran receiver would draw serious interest from the Ravens, and it sounds like that interest would be mutual. Sources tell Wilson that Smith would be “highly interested” in Baltimore if he becomes a free agent.
- Daryn Colledge (Cardinals), Thomas DeCoud (Falcons), David Baas (Giants), LaMarr Woodley (Steelers), Carlos Rogers (49ers) were all designated as post-June 1 cuts by their respective teams, says Wilson.
- There’s still a disconnect in negotiations between the Ravens and linebacker Daryl Smith, according to Wilson.
- It looks like the first free agent visit for defensive lineman Antonio Smith will be with the Redskins, as Wilson reports that Smith is heading to Washington today. We heard yesterday that the longtime Texan would also meet with the Titans, Rams, and Raiders, though the visit to St. Louis was shot down in a later report.
- Wilson provides the financial breakdown of Albert McClellan‘s two-year contract with the Ravens, which includes salary cap figures of $1MM for 2014 and $1.2MM for 2015.
Remaining Options At Cornerback
The Aqib Talib contract is the latest free agent signing that has shaken up the NFL landscape, leaving few options at cornerback and many teams with a need at the position. There are still some very productive players, and even a few big names on the market that could fill those needs. Here’s a brief roundup:
- Assuming Darrelle Revis gets cut by the Buccaneers, an assumption that seems safe at this point, he will become the top free agent left on the market. He could have many potential landing spots, and will most likely draw interest from the Patriots to replace Talib.
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was in negotiations to return to the Broncos, but the team has reportedly pulled their offer after signing Talib, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter).
- Tracy Porter is visiting with the Giants, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Porter was one of the few bright spots for the Raiders in 2013.
- Charles Tillman and Cortland Finnegan are both veterans that could be available for small money on short term deals. Tillman was thought to be a fit with the Buccaneers before Verner signed there. Finnegan has not drawn much interest so far.
- The Jets and Lions are both still in need of help at corner, and it would be risky to go into the draft without adding anything at the position.