Panthers To Sign Da’Norris Searcy
The Panthers are have signed free agent safety Da’Norris Searcy to a two-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The pact is worth $5.7MM, and Searcy can earn as much as $3.1MM in 2017.
Carolina is on the lookout for defensive back help after releasing veteran Kurt Coleman earlier this month. Coleman played on nearly three-quarters of the Panthers’ defensive snaps in 2017, second only to fellow starter Mike Adams. At present, Colin Jones — who has spent most of his career as a special-teamer — is projected to start alongside Adams, but Searcy will give Carolina another option.
Searcy, 29, inked a four-year deal with the Titans in 2015 and began his tenure with the club as a full-time starter. Tennessee moved to a safety rotation in subsequent seasons, however, and Searcy saw only 33% playtime in 2017. A former fourth-round pick, Searcy managed 12 tackles and one interception last year while grading as the NFL’s No. 61 safety among 87 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
The free agent safety market has been extremely slow-moving this offseason, and even with Searcy off the board, a number of high-quality defensive backs remain available. Tre Boston, Eric Reid, Kenny Vaccaro, Tyvon Branch, Ron Parker, and Reggie Nelson are among the safeties who have yet to land new contracts.
[RELATED: Panthers Depth Chart]
Jets To Sign WR Terrelle Pryor
The Jets have agreed to sign wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, reports Calvin Watkins of Newsday (Twitter link). Ian Rapoport of NFL.com first indicated Pryor was nearing a deal with New York.
Pryor didn’t exactly pick the right time to hit the open market, as he’s coming off a lost campaign with the Redskins. After starring with the Browns in 2016, Pryor inked a one-year deal with Washington after reportedly rejecting offers from Cleveland. Before landing on injured reserve in November, Pryor managed only 20 receptions, 240 yards, and one reception in nine games (two starts).
But Pryor wowed during his first full season as a wide receiver, putting up an astounding 77/1,007/4 with the Browns in 2016. That upside allowed Pryor to create something of a market for himself following a disastrous year in the nation’s capital. The Browns and Rams each expressed some level of interest in the 28-year-old, but Pryor was deciding between the Jets and Seahawks as of Wednesday.
New York was clearly looking at affordable wide receiver additions, as the club met with both Allen Hurns and Charles Johnson over the past week. With Pryor on board, it appears less likely the Jets will pursue either of those options, as the club also pass-catchers Jermaine Kearse, Robby Anderson, Chad Hansen, ArDarius Stewart, and Quincy Enunwa on their roster.
Despite his down 2017 output, Pryor should be in line to start for Gang Green. Anderson, for his part, has been arrested twice this offseason and could be facing a league-imposed suspension, while Enunwa is recovering from a serious neck injury. Given that Hansen and Stewart — both of whom are entering their second NFL seasons — don’t offer much experience, Pryor could be in line for starter’s reps. And given that New York played 63% of its offensive snaps with three wide receivers on the field a season ago, Pryor should see plenty of action, regardless.
With both Pryor and fellow wideout Mike Wallace coming off the board today, the second-tier of free agent receivers is rapidly thinning. At present, the best pass-catchers who remain unsigned include Hurns, Jordan Matthews, Eric Decker, Brice Butler, and Dontrelle Inman.
[RELATED: Jets Depth Chart]
Jets Nearing Deal With WR Terrelle Pryor
The Jets are close to a deal with free agent wide receiver Terrelle Pryor, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported Wednesday that Pryor was choosing between New York and Seattle.
Despite his disaster of a 2017 campaign, Pryor could be in line for a starting role with Gang Green. Jermaine Kearse is locked in as one of the Jets’ top-two wideouts, but Robby Anderson has been arrested twice in the past calendar year and could theoretically be facing a league-imposed suspension. New York used three wideouts on 63% of its offensive plays a season ago, so Pryor will likely see a good deal of action as part of a depth chart that also includes Chad Hansen, ArDarius Stewart, and a rehabbing Quincy Enunwa, among others.
Pryor, of course, was anything but successful in 2017 after inking a one-year deal with the Redskins. Before landing on injured reserve in November, Pryor managed only 20 receptions, 240 yards, and one reception in nine games (two starts). Expected to serve as something close to Washington’s No. 1 receiver, Pryor was instead outplayed by Jamison Crowder, Ryan Grant, and Josh Doctson, and the Redskins didn’t seem to have any interest in retaining him.
Cleveland saw the best of Pryor in 2016, as put up an astounding 77/1,007/4 line during his first full season as a wideout. The Browns, who reportedly attempted to trade for Pryor during the 2017 season., were also in Pryor, while the Rams also expressed some level of interest, but — like Cleveland — never set up a visit.
Packers Host WR Jordan Matthews
The Packers will visit with free agent wideout Jordan Matthews on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
While Green Bay could certainly be in the market for a new wide receiver after parting ways with franchise icon Jordy Nelson earlier this month, Matthews would seem to be a curious fit on paper. Matthews has experienced most of his NFL success in the slot, but that area of the field is spoken for by Randall Cobb in Green Bay. Unless the Packers have plans to move on from Cobb, Matthews might be redundant.
That’s not to say Matthews isn’t a talented player, although 2017 was not his best showing. Matthews, who has also met with the Cardinals, wasn’t able to stay healthy last season, and ultimately manged only 25 receptions in 10 games for Buffalo. The 25-year-old has said he’s now healthy after dealing with knee and ankle injuries, but clubs will certainly have questions about his physical status.
At his best, Matthews was productive for the Eagles from 2014-16. In those three campaigns, Matthews averaged 75 receptions for 891 yards and six touchdowns. But Philadelphia — in need of a cornerback — opted to trade him to the Bills last spring in exchange for cornerback Ronald Darby.
Eagles To Sign WR Mike Wallace
The Eagles have agreed to a one-year deal with free agent wide receiver Mike Wallace, according to Peter Schrager of NFL.com (Twitter link). The pact is worth $2.5MM and contains incentives, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, and the maximum value of the contract is $4MM, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
In Wallace, Philadelphia has found a replacement for Torrey Smith, whom the club dealt to the Panthers in exchange for cornerback Daryl Worley earlier this month. Not only does Wallace represent an upgrade over Smith, but he’s also cheaper, as Smith was scheduled to earn a $5MM base salary in 2018. That level of savings is critical for the Eagles, who are among the most cap-strapped teams in the NFL.
Wallace, 32, will now join the fifth club of his pro career after spending the past two seasons with the Ravens. In 15 games (14 starts) in 2017, Wallace hauled in 52 receptions for 748 yards and four touchdowns. While those numbers were a bit lower than his career averages, Wallace managed 72 catches and 1,000+ yards just one year prior.
With the Eagles, Wallace will now join an offense that not only boasts a more talented quarterback than do the Ravens, but a more enviable offensive corps in total. Wallace will catch passes from MVP contender Carson Wentz, and he’ll be surrounded by skill position players such as Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, Mack Hollins, Jay Ajayi, and Corey Clement.
Baltimore, for its part, reportedly didn’t publicly rule out a reunion with Wallace, but their free agent machinations said otherwise. Not only did the Ravens sign both John Brown and Michael Crabtree, but they’ve met with restricted free agents Cameron Meredith and Willie Snead in recent days.
Dolphins To Sign RB Frank Gore
The Dolphins have agreed to sign running back Frank Gore, according to Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal for the veteran. 
Gore, a potential future Hall of Famer, now has the opportunity to finish his career where it all began. Gore was born in Coral Gables, Florida and made his name at the University of Miami. After ten seasons in San Francisco and three seasons in Indianapolis, he gets to ply his craft in Miami once again.
The Dolphins project to start Kenyan Drake at running back, but the opportunity is there for Gore to split carries with him. The remainder of the Dolphins’ running back depth chart is decidedly less accomplished than Gore as Senorise Perry, De’Veon Smith, and Brandon Radcliff are all former undrafted free agents with minimal live action on their resume.
Gore, 35 in May, has 14,000+ career rushing yards to his credit, as well as five Pro Bowl selections. He nearly turned in a tenth 1,000 yard season in 2017, but he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. Gore is no longer the star that he was with the 49ers, but he can still be a useful piece in Miami’s backfield. From the Dolphins perspective, it’s a low-risk proposition that they can bail on, if necessary, without any real financial penalty.
[RELATED: Dolphins Depth Chart]
Chris Long Signs New Deal With Eagles
Chris Long has yet to address the retirement rumors surrounding him, but the latest word indicates that he’s planning to play in 2018. Long signed the new contract that was offered to him last week, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter). 
As previously reported, the new deal guarantees Long $3MM in 2018 and includes a jump in base salary from a non-guaranteed $1MM to $2.5MM guaranteed. In theory, Long can still retire after signing the new deal, but his signature on the dotted line suggests that he intends to play.
The Eagles’ recent acquisition of Michael Bennett means that Long would be ticketed for a reserve role, but he also hasn’t been a full time starter in the last three seasons. And, with his 33rd birthday coming up on Monday, a limited snap count probably suits him well. If he continues to play, Long will be behind starters Brandon Graham and Bennett while last year’s first round pick Derek Barnett also participates in the rotation.
Long was on the field for 588 regular season snaps last year, down from 677 in the previous season with the Patriots.
Giants Trade Jason Pierre-Paul To Bucs
The Giants are trading defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and a 2018 fourth-round pick to the Buccaneers, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Giants will receive a 2018 third-round pick and a fourth-round pick in the deal. 
The move comes as a total surprise as we have not heard any rumblings of JPP not being in the Giants’ plans for the coming season. But, there’s a new regime in New York headed by GM Dave Gettleman and coach Pat Shurmur and they do not view him in the same light as the last administration. It’s likely that they do not view Pierre-Paul as a fit for defensive coordinator James Bettcher‘s 3-4 heavy scheme.
The Giants inked JPP to a four-year, $62MM deal with $40MM guaranteed roughly one year ago today. He responded by turning in his first complete season since 2014 and tallying 8.5 sacks with 68 total tackles. The advanced metrics indicated that it was only a so-so season for him and Gettleman’s review of the game tape conferred.
Still, Pierre-Paul is undeniably a high-impact player and he’ll now join a revamped and upgraded Bucs defensive line. This year, the Buccaneers signed Vinny Curry to hold down one defensive end spot and added Beau Allen at defensive tackle. Pierre-Paul now joins the group and those three new faces plus Gerald McCoy will give the Bucs one of the most talented defensive lines in the entire NFL. Tampa Bay also has former second-round pick Noah Spence and former Bears DE Mitch Unrein in support.
The Buccaneers tried to trade for Rams edge rusher Robert Quinn, but ultimately lost out to another Florida team. Less than three weeks later, they managed to land a different superstar defensive end.
The deal figures to have major implications for the Giants’ offseason plans. The G-Men now have additional cap room to work with in the second wave of free agency and their draft plans could radically shift. It’s possible that the Giants will consider Bradley Chubb at No. 2 overall rather than selecting Eli Manning‘s successor. They could also trade down if they believe they can land a pass rusher plus a quality QB later on.
The Giants will now own the fifth pick in the third round (No. 69 overall) in addition to that round’s second pick (No. 65). In the fourth round, the Bucs move up to No. 102 overall while parting with the No. 108 selection.
[RELATED: Buccaneers Depth Chart]
Dolphins To Meet With Frank Gore
Frank Gore could finish his football career back where it all started. Gore is slated to visit with the Dolphins on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Gore was born in Coral Gables, Florida and played his college football at the University of Miami. With the Hurricanes, Gore averaged 5.7 yards per carry and became a third round pick of the Niners in 2005. Thirteen years later, GMs regret allowing him to slip all the way to No. 65 overall. Gore has had a remarkable career and has been shockingly durable throughout as well. He has missed only 12 possible regular season games in his career and has missed none since 2010.
The five-time Pro Bowler is no longer among the very best at his position, but he remains healthy and somewhat productive on the verge of his 35th birthday. Last year, Gore ran for 961 yards off of 261 carries, giving him a 3.7 yards per carry average. That wasn’t terribly efficient, but he did add 29 catches for 245 yards and one score.
It’s possible that Gore can perform better after moving on from the Colts, who finished 18th in run blocking last season, per Football Outsiders. The Dolphins were ranked even lower by FO’s stats, but they do have a new look offensive line that features guard Josh Sitton and Daniel Kilgore and is bookended by a pair of former first round picks in Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James.
Terrelle Pryor Down To Jets and Seahawks?
Free agent receiver Terrelle Pryor appears to be deciding between the Jets and Seahawks, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).
Pryor has been busy during the second wave of the free agent period, taking visits with both New York and Seattle. The Rams, too, have expressed some level of interest in Pryor, while Cabot recently reported Cleveland was still open to a reunion with Pryor, who broke out with the Browns as a full-time receiver in 2016. However, it appears the 28-year-old Pryor is only considering the Jets and Seahawks at present.
Pryor, of course, was anything but successful in 2017 after inking a one-year deal with the Redskins. Before landing on injured reserve in November, Pryor managed only 20 receptions, 240 yards, and one reception in nine games (two starts). Expected to serve as something close to Washington’s No. 1 receiver, Pryor was instead outplayed by Jamison Crowder, Ryan Grant, and Josh Doctson, and the Redskins don’t seem to have any interest in retaining him.
The Jets, for their part, haven’t made any additions to their receiving corps yet this offseason, although they have met or will meet with Allen Hurns and Charles Johnson. The Seahawks, meanwhile signed former Cardinals wideout Jaron Brown and acquired Marcus Johnson from the Eagles, but lost fellow pass-catcher Paul Richardson to free agency.