Rams To Release LB Mark Barron
A Rams starter since their St. Louis days, Mark Barron will be looking for a new team. The defending NFC champions are releasing the veteran linebacker, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
While this move will create another need on Los Angeles’ defensive second level, it will free up $6.3MM in cap space. Barron becomes the second starter the Rams made the decision to jettison on Tuesday, joining center John Sullivan.
The No. 7 overall pick in 2012, Barron signed a five-year, $45MM deal to stay with the Rams after the 2016 season. Following the team’s trades of Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn, Barron became the preeminent veteran on Los Angeles’ linebacking corps — a group otherwise stripped of high salaries to cover costs elsewhere. Now, with Dante Fowler also expected to hit the market, the Rams do not have a veteran contract at any linebacker spot.
No guaranteed money remained on Barron’s deal, which called for him to play for a $5MM base salary. This move also comes before Barron, who accepted a $500K pay cut last year, was due a $3MM roster bonus. The 29-year-old defender started 12 regular-season games last season and 56 as a Ram.
A former safety, Barron revived his career as a Rams linebacker, peaking between the 2015-16 seasons. He registered more than 110 tackles in each and made 16 stops for loss in 2015. The Rams have only second-year player Micah Kiser under contract at inside ‘backer, though it should be expected the team will tender and retain 2o18 starter Cory Littleton, who is an RFA.
Bucs, Donovan Smith Agree To Extension
Buccaneers tackle Donovan Smith received a small fortune in a new deal with the club. Smith has agreed to a new three-year, $41.25MM deal including $27MM guaranteed at signing, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
The new deal positions Smith as the fourth-highest paid offensive tackle in the league behind Taylor Lewan, Nate Solder, and Jake Matthews. Meanwhile, he graded out as just the No. 46 ranked tackle in the NFL in 2018, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. His so-so 66.4 score was roughly in line with his scores from the previous three seasons.
The Bucs were planning to apply the franchise tag to Smith, which would have earmarked him for $14.077MM this year. Instead, the long term deal smooths out the cap hit slightly and keeps him under club control through 2021.
Smith’s payout is indicative of the lack of offensive tackle talent throughout the NFL. Elite tackles in their prime rarely reach the open market, which has driven up the price for lower-tier options such as Smith. That means a similarly large deal could be on the way for Dolphins free agent Ja’Wuan James, even though James is not among the best at the right tackle position.
Smith’s durability likely gave the Bucs additional comfort in the deal. According to the team, he’s just the second player in franchise history to start every game in his first four seasons. The pact will also keep things consistent on the O-Line after they locked up fellow 2015 draftee Ali Marpet on a pricey extension last year.
Giants Won’t Franchise Tag Landon Collins
The Giants will not apply the franchise tag to Landon Collins, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). With that, the Giants are likely set to move on from one of the game’s best young safeties. 
Recently, GM Dave Gettleman expressed doubt about cuffing Collins, but many expected the two sides to patch things up.
“So let’s go to the conversation of eliminating distractions,” Gettleman said. “You tag a guy. He’s mad. And that’s all you guys are going to write about. For six months it’s what it’s going to be. So I have to say to myself, ‘Is it worth it?‘”
Collins clashed with the Giants last year and made it clear that he would not show up for work if he was tagged. Still, the move is perplexing to many in the football world – the Giants need talent in their secondary, yet they are somehow willing to lose out on a three-time Pro Bowler.
Collins, 25, joins a free agent safety group that also includes Earl Thomas, Tyrann Mathieu, Lamarcus Joyner, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Adrian Amos, and Kenny Vaccaro. Last year’s free agent safeties were met with disappointing offers, but it could be a different story this time around given the amount of cap space around the league and the lackluster talent at other positions.
The Buccaneers, Chiefs, and many other teams with safety needs figure to be in on Collins when free agency begins next week.
Chiefs Use Franchise Tag On Dee Ford
Another franchise tag is official. The Chiefs placed theirs on Dee Ford, as has been long expected.
Kansas City’s pass rusher situation is far from certain, as free agency approaches. Both Ford and Justin Houston, who is still a Chief for now, have been dangled in trade talks. But the younger player appears likely to stay for the 2019 season.
The expectation now is Houston will be released before free agency commences. This would place a greater internal value on Ford, who has not been a consistent pass rusher but is nevertheless coming off his best season. Ford forced seven fumbles in 2018 and registered 13 sacks, finally delivering on the promise the Chiefs envisioned when they used their 2014 first-round pick on him.
Ford sticking around for 2019 would mean a switch to defensive end, with new DC Steve Spagnuolo converting the Chiefs to a 4-3 team. Ford, 28, may be set for a fight about his position distinction, with the Chiefs potentially arguing he should be tagged as a linebacker — since he played five years in their old 3-4 scheme. However, Ford’s camp will certainly counter he should be classified as an end, since that’s where he will play in 2019. The linebacker tag is $15.443MM; tagged ends receive $17.128MM.
Chiefs Expected To Release Justin Houston
The Chiefs have put out trade feelers for both Justin Houston and Dee Ford. While it’s not known what kind of interest the team’s bookend pass rushers are drawing, the older member of this duo may be set to hit the market.
A report surfaced Monday indicating that Houston will be released, but NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets the Chiefs have yet to pull the trigger. However, that is the expected endgame here, per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (on Twitter). The franchise looks to still be trying to trade Houston, per Pelissero, hoping to take advantage of what has become a less flashy pass rusher market.
While Houston may not be attractive at a $15.25MM base salary, he figures to be in demand as a first-time free agent. The expected franchise tag recipients, including Ford, received news they will be tagged, opening the door for the second-tier pass rushers to top the true free agent market. Houston is more accomplished than any of those players, and despite his age (30) and recent history of injuries, the former All-Pro will generate interest.
If released, Houston stands to join Trey Flowers, Dante Fowler, Preston Smith, Za’Darius Smith and Ziggy Ansah as the market’s top edge defenders. Houston has played four seasons on the six-year, $101MM deal. He has not lived up to that price, and said contract calls for a $21.1MM cap number in 2019, failing to eclipse 10 sacks in a season since his 22-sack 2014 showing.
Eagles To Decline Timmy Jernigan’s Option
Timmy Jernigan signed a four-year, $48MM extension late in the 2017 season. The Eagles are cutting bait after that deal’s first season.
The Eagles will not pick up the defensive tackle’s option, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). This was rumored to be in the works, and it will save the team $7MM. However, because of the early dismissal, the Eagles will eat $6MM in dead money.
After missing a chunk of last season because of an offseason injury, Jernigan will not head to the market with much steam. The Ravens traded him to the Eagles in 2017, and he performed well enough the eventual Super Bowl champions authorized a high-end extension. Jernigan played just 100 snaps last season, suiting up for just three regular-season games.
Howie Roseman has been busy recently, having authorized a new deal for Brandon Graham and extended Jason Kelce and Isaac Seumalo. The Eagles, who entered the day with barely $4MM in cap space, are also shopping Michael Bennett and his $7.2MM salary. Jernigan would have made $11MM in base salary next season.
Giants Unlikely To Tag Landon Collins
Landon Collins may reach free agency after all. The Giants are now not expected to apply their franchise tag to the decorated safety, Kim Jones and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com report (via Twitter).
This is a course change from a previous report. The Giants believe in Collins’ talent and long-term viability, but the NFL.com duo adds team brass views the safety tag number ($11.15MM) as too high to make this move.
No significant talks between the Giants and Collins are believed to have occurred, and the fifth-year defender went through a much-publicized locker-cleanout session recently. He now may be a week away from being able to speak to other teams about deals. The NFL’s legal tampering period opens March 11.
Collins just turned 25 and likely will have a robust market awaiting him, despite being in the process of rehabbing a shoulder injury. He is a three-time Pro Bowler who landed on the 2016 All-Pro first team.
The Giants are not flush with cap space, holding $27MM-plus, but have plenty of needs. A Collins defection will create a big one in New York’s secondary, which already has holes. Janoris Jenkins is now expected to stick around — and on his $14.75MM cap number — but the Giants do not have much of note beyond him. This will be an interesting situation, if/once Collins walks.
Falcons Use Franchise Tag On Grady Jarrett
Grady Jarrett will not be reaching the market. The Falcons will retain their standout defensive tackle via the franchise tag, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
The Falcons have said for months they hoped to keep Jarrett in the fold, and this tag — worth $15.209MM — will allow them to keep working toward that goal. No deal is imminent, however. The Falcons have until July 15 to reach a long-term agreement with their soon-to-be 26-year-old interior defender.
This is the first defensive tackle among 2019 free agents-to-be to receive a tag, but fellow pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney, DeMarcus Lawrence and Frank Clark are being retained by their respective teams. So is Dee Ford. Jarrett would have been in line for a monster payday on the market, but the tag will still provide the 2015 fifth-round pick with a substantial raise.
One of the league’s top interior pass rushers, Jarrett is best known for his three-sack performance in Super Bowl LI. He has 14 career sacks, also forcing three fumbles last season.
Seahawks Use Franchise Tag On Frank Clark
Teams are settling their franchise tag business on Monday. The Seahawks are the latest team to do so, with Albert Breer of SI.com reporting (via Twitter) the team has made the decision to apply the tag to Frank Clark.
Decisions for Clark’s and DeMarcus Lawrence‘s tags have come within the past hour, and the Texans franchised Jadeveon Clowney earlier today. The Chiefs and Buccaneers are using their tags on Dee Ford and Donovan Smith, respectively. Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to use their franchise tags.
Like the other moves, Seattle’s Clark decision was expected. Pete Carroll confirmed at the Combine the 25-year-old defensive end would be a Seahawk in 2019. The sides are already progressing on talks, and this deal may be one that gets done before the July 15 deadline.
The Michael Bennett/Cliff Avril sidekick had consistently shown he had higher-end pass-rushing abilities off the bench, and in his first full season as a starter, Clark broke out for 13 sacks — more than Bennett or Avril recorded in a season during their Seattle stays. Clark has 35 career sacks, combining for 19 between the 2016 and ’17 seasons. Although the Seahawks let numerous Super Bowls-era bastions go last year, Clark appears part of the organization’s long-term plans.
Clark has not resisted the tag and appears likely to sign his tender and attend offseason workouts. Tagging Clark will cost the Seahawks $17.128MM, which will be deducted from the team’s $49.8MM in cap space.
Cowboys To Tag DeMarcus Lawrence
Another top-tier edge defender will not make it to the market. For the second straight year, the Cowboys will place their franchise tag on DeMarcus Lawrence, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Lawrence follows Dee Ford and Jadeveon Clowney, with Frank Clark‘s Seahawks tag imminent. Dallas’ top pass rusher, though, comes with a higher price. A second Lawrence tag will cost the Cowboys $20.57MM, and the sixth-year defender is not likely to sign this tender anytime soon. However, after the Cowboys appeared to be set to rent Lawrence in 2018, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer notes the team wants to have a long-term deal in place by the July 15 deadline.
The 26-year-old dynamo said in the past he would not sign this tender if tagged again. This is still his stance, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets. Lawrence signed his 2018 tender quickly and attended Cowboys offseason workouts. As could be the case with Ezekiel Elliott as well, Lawrence is not expected to show for OTAs and minicamp this year — unless the sides reach a long-term extension. And that does not appear to be on the horizon. Lawrence, though, does not plan to miss regular-season time, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic notes (subscription required).
Dallas does not believe Lawrence is worth a $20MM-per-year contract, Watkins adds, noting the team’s initial offers have not been for that amount. Only Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald are $20MM-AAV defenders, but Lawrence’s new tag likely will prevent him from accepting a deal averaging less than that figure. Lawrence is not demanding a deal that eclipses Mack’s or Donald’s, per Watkins, but merely one that places him in the top five at his position.
The Cowboys proceeding cautiously with Lawrence in 2018 made sense. He had dealt with multiple injuries during his first three seasons before breaking out for 14.5 sacks in 2017. Last season, the former second-round pick proved it again, registering 10.5 sacks. Though Jerry Jones said the Cowboys are more comfortable with his long-term outlook, and the team has made an offer, this could be a long waiting game.
This offseason will also include a Lawrence shoulder surgery as well, so without a contract in place, he will not be eager to return to the team. In fact, Watkins reports a procedure will not be scheduled until Lawrence has an extension in place. This would stand to make it more difficult for Lawrence to be ready on time for training camp.
Having a $20.57MM tag on its cap sheet will slice Dallas’ $47MM-plus in cap space almost in half, making it, for the time being, more difficult to add outside free agents or work with its litany of extension candidates on deals.