Raiders To Exercise Amari Cooper’s Option
As expected, the Raiders plan to exercise Amari Cooper‘s fifth-year option, per ESPN’s Josina Anderson (via Twitter). The move will keep Cooper under club control through 2019 and will lock Cooper into a $13.924MM salary — guaranteed for injury only — for the 2019 campaign.
However, as we learned just a couple of days ago, the Raiders have begun discussing a long-term contract with Cooper’s agent, and if the two sides come to terms, Oakland will need to pony up more than the fifth-year option amount on an average annual basis. The high-priced deals signed by this year’s free agent receivers, as well as the mega-extension for Bucs wideout Mike Evans, will only boost Cooper’s leverage in talks.
Coooper, who doesn’t turn 24 until June, has compiled more than 2,900 receiving yards over the past three years. He positioned himself as one of the league’s best receivers right out of the gate as a rookie when he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2015. He earned Pro Bowl honors once again in 2016, catching 83 passes for 1,153 yards and five scores.
However, Cooper’s numbers were less impressive last year, as he posted just 680 yards and saw a sizable dip in targets (though he did play in only 14 games after suiting up for all 16 contests in his first two seasons in the league). He’ll look to get back on track under new head coach Jon Gruden and will hope that opposing defenses will be paying some attention to new WR2 Jordy Nelson, though it’s debatable as to whether Nelson is a bigger threat than former Raider Michael Crabtree.
In any event, we can expect to see the former Alabama standout and No. 4 overall pick in black-and-silver for the foreseeable future.
Saints Not Planning To Match Ravens’ Willie Snead Offer Sheet
After four years in New Orleans, Willie Snead looks like he will head north. The Saints are not planning to match the Ravens’ offer sheet, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (Twitter link), which will send the RFA wide receiver to Baltimore.
The Ravens only submitted this two-year offer sheet on Friday, but as of Saturday, it doesn’t look like the Saints are planning to retain Snead. This could have been expected after the Saints signed Cameron Meredith to a two-year, $9.6MM RFA offer sheet and agreed to bring back Brandon Coleman. This seemingly locks in a 2018 top four of Michael Thomas/Ted Ginn/Meredith/Coleman and left Snead without a surefire role.
He figures to have one with the Ravens, who continue to overhaul their receiving corps. The 25-year-old pass-catcher joins Michael Crabtree and John Brown as new Raven receivers, and this could well affect the franchise’s potential pursuit of Dez Bryant. Thus far, they’ve been the only team to express interest in the former Cowboys Pro Bowler.
Although, this two-year, $7MM deal, with some incentives, would have been a major discount based on Snead’s 2015 and ’16 seasons. But after a vast production dip in 2017 (eight receptions, 92 yards), Snead will earn a raise nonetheless. This through-2019 contract could double as an audition for Snead, who was negotiating with the Saints for a new deal last offseason. But he’ll be departing the league’s most consistent passing attack for one that hasn’t enjoyed as much success in recent years, so it will be interesting to see how Baltimore pieces together its new-look aerial group.
The former UDFA’s best work came during his age-23 and age-24 seasons, when he totaled 141 receptions for 1,895 yards and seven touchdowns between them. The Ravens are obviously hoping he can move closer to that form instead of the one that relegated him to a surprising afterthought in 2017.
Jets Pick Up Leonard Williams’ Fifth-Year Option
It’s official. The New York Jets announced this morning (via Twitter) that they’ve picked up defensive lineman Leonard Williams‘ fifth-year option. We heard earlier this month that the organization would pick up the option before the May 3rd deadline.
Williams was already under contract for an affordable $2.975MM in 2018, but as our own Zach Links pointed out, it’s uncertain what kind of money he’ll be making in 2019. After all, the 23-year-old has spent time at defensive end and defensive tackle, so he could realistically be listed at either position.
The fifth-year option for former top-10 picks is similar to the transition tag, so Williams’ 2019 salary will be based on the top-10 salaries at his respective position. Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com believes that Williams’ salary could come in around $14.2MM. Regardless, his listed 2019 salary might soon be irrelevant, as the two sides could still agree to a long-term extension.
The former first-rounder out of USC hasn’t missed a game since entering the league in 2015. After compiling seven sacks en route to a Pro Bowl birth in 2016, Williams’ numbers took a bit of a hit in 2017. The lineman ultimately finished the campaign with 47 tackles and two sacks in 16 games, both career-lows. However, Williams still graded out as a top-25 defensive tackle last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Giants To Acquire Riley Dixon From Broncos
The Broncos’ Marquette King signing made Riley Dixon expendable, and it looks like the team has found a taker for the third-year punter’s services.
Dixon looks to be on his way back to the east coast, with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reporting (via Twitter) the Giants are in the process of finalizing a trade for the specialist. Dixon’s been the Broncos’ primary punter for the past two seasons and has two years remaining on his rookie deal.
The Giants will send a conditional 2019 seventh-round pick to the Broncos for Dixon, Rapoport tweets, adding this trade is now finalized.
Brad Wing served as Big Blue’s punter for the past four seasons, but the team cut him in March.
Denver turned to Dixon in 2016 after selecting him in the seventh round, and the younger player beat out longtime punter Britton Colquitt for the job. Dixon is a New York native and played his college ball at Syracuse.
The 24-year-old Dixon finished his two Broncos seasons with averages of 45.7 and 45.6 yards per punt. Playing in less friendly punting confines, Wing concluded his 2017 season with a 44.1 yards per punt; that ranked 26th among punters last year. Both players had two punts blocked last year, the only two such instances of their respective careers.
This trade going through would mark the second time since 2015 that the Giants and Broncos agreed on terms of a specialty trade. New York shipped Brandon McManus to Denver in 2015, and he’s been the Broncos’ kicker since.
Eagles Rework Nick Foles’ Contract
The reigning Super Bowl MVP has himself a new contract. Quarterback Nick Foles and the Eagles have struck agreement on a revised deal, sources tell Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Foles’ new deal includes a mutual option for the 2019 season, giving Foles the opportunity to reach free agency next spring. Originally, Foles was slated to reach the free agency market after the 2018 campaign. The new deal gives him a $2MM signing bonus and several millions in incentives if he’s the starter and hits certain benchmarks, a source tells NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
The new pact is about giving him extra compensation in light of his postseason performance and not a reflection of the team’s feeling on Wentz’s recovery, according to Garafolo. The Eagles remain confident that Wentz will be back at 100% this season.
With Wentz on the mend, trade rumors surrounding Foles swirled this offseason. The Eagles, who value Foles and want to have a quality backstop in the event of another Wentz injury, placed a remarkably high price tag on the veteran. Reportedly, the Eagles were seeking more than the first-round pick and fourth-round pick they received from the Vikings in the Sam Bradford deal.
Recent comments from Foles indicated that he would like the opportunity to be a starter again, but the new deal is a reasonable compromise for the QB.
Ravens Sign WR Willie Snead To Offer Sheet
Saints restricted free agent wide receiver Willie Snead is signing an offer sheet with the Ravens, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a two-year, $7MM offer sheet with another $3.4MM in incentives. The deal also includes a $2MM signing bonus. Per league rules, the Saints have five days to match. 
This week, Snead reported to the Saints even though he did not have a deal in place with the team. Some took this as a sign that his market in restricted free agency hadn’t drawn much in the way of interest but, apparently, he did draw a sizable offer sheet from at least one team. Friday marks the deadline for RFAs to sign offer sheets and the Ravens have put the squeeze on the Saints at the buzzer.
Snead was tendered at the lowest level this offseason, giving the Saints the right to match any offer sheet. However, they will not receive any draft compensation in that event. Snead now stands to earn a significant bump over his one-year, $1.907MM placeholder, regardless of what the Saints do over the next five days.
The Saints will probably take their time in making a call on Snead, but it would be a surprise to see them match. After inking another RFA in former Bear Cameron Meredith, New Orleans will probably allow Snead to walk.
Meanwhile, for the Ravens, the move is an indication that they will not be signing Dez Bryant. The Ravens were among the clubs with interest, but they may have sensed that Bryant is on the verge of signing elsewhere.
Snead, 26 in October, was not a major contributor in the Saints offense last year. However, he averaged 70 catches for 940 yards and four touchdowns over the previous two seasons. Last year, as an exclusive rights free agent, he pushed for a better deal and didn’t get it. Now, based off of past performance and potential, he’ll be moving up a level.
The Ravens have upgraded their wide receiver stable by adding Michael Crabtree and John Brown in March. Neither Chris Moore nor Breshad Perriman did a whole lot last season, so the Ravens are looking to provide Joe Flacco with another weapon. The addition of Snead would give the Ravens a formidable trio at receiver and allow them to focus on other areas in the draft.
Dwight Freeney Retires From NFL
Dwight Freeney is calling it a career. After 16 seasons in the NFL, Freeney will sign a one-day contract with Indianapolis to retire as a member of the Colts. 
Freeney entered the league as the No. 11 pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. Since then, he has racked up seven Pro Bowl nods, three first-team All-Pro selections, and a Super Bowl ring.
Freeney, 38, will be best remembered for his time in blue and white, where he amassed 107. 5 sacks across eleven seasons. All in all, he has 125.5 career sacks to his credit, tying him for 17th all-time in NFL history.
The Colts averaged 11 wins per year during Freeney’s run with the Colts and had 11 sacks in his 22 playoff games with the team. Many thought the Colts were reaching when they selected Freeney in ’02, but he turned out to be the perfect fit for first-year head coach Tony Dungy.
“Bill [Polian] had seen Dwight and thought he was exactly the guy I had been talking about,” Dungy said of Freeney. “We’re sitting at No. 11 in the first round and people looked at his size and thought it was too high to draft him. Bill, to his credit, said, ‘If this is going to be the big piece of the puzzle, let’s not worry about where we take Dwight and what other people think. Let’s get the guy who is going to be the perfect piece.’ Dwight was the straw that stirred the drink.”
The Syracuse product played in three Super Bowls — two with the Colts, one with the Falcons — and started in 19 postseason games. All seven of Freeney’s double-digit sack seasons came with the Colts.
Following his Colts run, which ran through the 2012 season, Freeney played with five more teams. His most notable post-Indianapolis season came with the 2015 Cardinals, for whom he registered eight sacks and helped to the NFC title game despite being an off-the-bench edge rusher. He recorded three sacks in each of the past two seasons, playing in Atlanta, Seattle and Detroit. Prior to Arizona, Freeney spent two seasons in San Diego.
Giants Release WR Brandon Marshall
The Giants released wide receiver Brandon Marshall with a failed physical designation, GM Dave Gettleman announced. Marshall was set to enter the final year of a two-year, $12MM contract signed in 2017. 
By releasing the veteran, the G-Men will save $5.1MM against the salary cap. Marshall, 34, feels that he has multiple seasons left in the tank, but the Giants do not concur. At least, they did not feel that Marshall had enough juice to justify his salary.
“I’m all-in on football. I’ve rebuilt my body,” Marshall said in December. “I think I’m two great years away from — and I’ll say it, I want to be a Hall of Famer, and I think I got two great years to go to be mentioned with some of the greats. I’m not just playing this game just to be a guy; I want to be remembered for the product that I put out on the field.”
Marshall was one of several Giants receivers to succumb to injury in 2017 as he missed the bulk of the year after undergoing ankle surgery. He topped 1,500 yards in his 2015 season with the Jets, but he has not been able to reprise that production. In 2016, he had just 59 catches for 788 yards and three touchdowns, a big step back from the previous year in which he had a league-leading 14 TDs.
Earlier this week, Marshall took to social media to inform free agent Dez Bryant that there is “no room” for him in New York. The Giants now have the necessary space – from both financial and football perspectives – to add Bryant, if they wish. For his part, Bryant is eager to join up with the Giants and exact revenge on his former employers.
Tom Brady Will Play In 2018, Wants New Contract
Tom Brady will indeed suit up for the 2018 campaign, but he’d like a new contract from the Patriots prior to the season getting underway, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com.
Earlier today, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported that while most close to Brady expected he would return for New England for another year, the future Hall of Famer hadn’t officially committed to continuing his career. Per the NFL.com scribes, Brady is not giving any thought to an immediate retirement, and the Patriots are planning as if he will be their starting quarterback.
While Brady is hoping to work out a fresh deal before the season begins, his contractual status is “not driving” his absence from voluntary workouts, tweets Garafolo. In fact, it doesn’t seem as though a new pact is a pressing issue, as Garafolo notes the most important matter on the table is determining Brady’s “short- and long-term future.”
Brady, who has long been a bargain by quarterback contract standards, is currently signed through the 2019 campaign. In each of the next two years, he’s scheduled to earn a base salary of $15MM, while $7MM of annually prorated signing bonus money will bring the 40-year-old’s cap charges to $22MM in each season.
New England, of course, dealt Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers at the 2017 trade deadline, so the club doesnt’t currently have a youthful quarterback on its roster. Veteran Brian Hoyer is the only signal-caller aside from Brady on the Patriots’ depth chart, but the team has been linked to a number of quarterback prospects leading up to the 2018 draft.
2019 Fifth-Year Option Decision Tracker
Teams across the NFL have until May 3 to officially pick up their 2019 options on players who are entering the final year of their rookie contracts. These fifth-year options can only be exercised on first-round picks, and the salaries are determined by where players were drafted and what position they play.
If a player has his option exercised, his rookie contract will be extended by one year and he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2020, after the conclusion of the 2019 season. If a player’s option is declined, he’ll be eligible to hit the open market a year earlier. Of course, if a 2015 first-rounder is no longer on his rookie contract, there will be no option to exercise or decline. We explained the intricacies of the fifth-year option in a PFR Glossary post, so you can read up on the specific details there.
Soon, we’ll learn the official salary figures for all 2019 fifth-year options. What we do know is that the option salaries for top 10 picks is equal to the transition tender at the player’s position during his fourth season. So, because the transition tag for quarterbacks this year was $20.922MM, we already know that Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston‘s fifth-year option will be worth that amount.
With next month’s deadline looming, we’ll use the space below to track all the option decisions from around the league based on various reports and official announcements. Here are this season’s fifth-year option decisions so far:
1. Jameis Winston, QB, $20.922MM (Buccaneers): Exercised
2. Marcus Mariota, QB, $20.922MM (Titans): Exercised
3. Dante Fowler, DE, $14.2MM (Jaguars): Declined
4. Amari Cooper, WR, $13.924MM (Raiders): Exercised
5. Brandon Scherff, G, $12.525MM (Redskins): Exercised
6. Leonard Williams, DE, $14.2MM (Jets): Exercised
7. Kevin White, WR, $13.924MM (Bears): Declined
8. Vic Beasley, DE, $14.2MM (Falcons): Exercised
9. Ereck Flowers, OT, $12.525MM (Giants): Declined
10. Todd Gurley, RB, $9.630MM (Rams): Exercised
11. Trae Waynes, CB, $9.069MM (Vikings): Exercised
12. Danny Shelton, DT, $7.154MM (Patriots): Declined
13. Andrus Peat, OL, $9.625MM (Saints): Exercised
14. DeVante Parker, WR, $9.387MM (Dolphins): Exercised
15. Melvin Gordon, RB, $5.605MM (Chargers): Exercised
16. Kevin Johnson, CB, $9.069MM (Texans): Exercised
17. Arik Armstead, DE, $9.046MM (49ers): Exercised
18. Marcus Peters, CB, $9.069MM (Rams): Exercised
19. Cameron Erving, OL, $9.625MM (Chiefs): Declined
20. Nelson Agholor, WR, $9.387MM (Eagles): Exercised
21. Cedric Ogbuehi, OT, $9.625MM (Bengals): Declined
22. Bud Dupree, LB, $9.232MM (Steelers): Exercised
23. Shane Ray, LB, $9.232MM (Broncos): Declined
24. D.J. Humphries, OT, $9.625MM (Cardinals): Exercised
25. Shaq Thompson, LB, $9.232MM (Panthers): Exercised
26. Breshad Perriman, WR, $9.387MM (Ravens): Declined
27. Byron Jones, S, $6.26MM (Cowboys): Exercised
28. Laken Tomlinson, G, $9.625MM (49ers): Declined
29. Phillip Dorsett, WR, $9.387MM (Patriots): Declined
30. Damarious Randall, CB, $9.069MM (Browns): Exercised
31. Stephone Anthony, LB, $9.232MM (Dolphins): Declined
32. Malcom Brown, DT, $7.154MM (Patriots): Declined