Colts To Sign WR Ryan Grant
Ryan Grant has agreed to sign with the Colts, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a one-year, $5MM deal for the wide receiver. 
Presumably, Grant has passed the Colts’ physical, which he did not able to do with the Ravens. Grant had a four-year deal worth $29MM ($14.5MM guaranteed) in place with Baltimore, but the Ravens nullified the agreement when they found an issue with Grant’s ankle that dated back to the final game of the 2017 season.
It’s not uncommon for players to fail a physical evaluation with one team and pass a physical with another club. Grant’s ankle, apparently, did not deter the Colts and it did not deter the Raiders from showing interest in him either. There’s also the possibility that the Ravens simply found a way to bail on the Grant deal once Michael Crabtree became available.
As shown on Roster Resource, Grant currently projects to be the Colts’ No. 2 wide receiver behind star T.Y. Hilton. Indianapolis figures to further bolster that group, which also includes eight other receivers who are of the late-round and UDFA variety.
Grant had 45 catches for 573 yards and four touchdowns with the Redskins last year. Pro Football Focus ranked Grant just 57th out of 116 qualified NFL wide receivers.
Jaguars Release WR Allen Hurns
The Jaguars are releasing wide receiver Allen Hurns, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move comes as a surprise since Hurns has been a regularly featured player for Jacksonville over the past four seasons. 
[RELATED: Jaguars Release TE Marcedes Lewis]
Hurns was midway through a four-year extension worth roughly $40MM with $20MM in guaranteed money. Those guarantees were paid down over the first two years of the deal, so the Jaguars will carry no dead money while saving $7MM against the 2018 cap.
Last year, injuries limited Hurns to just ten games. He has missed eleven games since 2016 and that was likely a factor in Jacksonville’s decision to let him go.
Although a great deal of cap room has already been spent around the league, there are still dollars out there for someone like Hurns in the second wave of free agency. The Jets, for example, still have $40MM to work with and continue to scour the free agent market for help at wide receiver.
The Jaguars, who mounted an impressive run to the AFC title game, will return with a revamped group of wide receivers in 2018. Star Allen Robinson, who missed the majority of the 2017 season, left in free agency to sign a lucrative deal with the Bears. Meanwhile, it appears that new pickup Donte Moncrief will serve as the team’s No. 2 WR behind Marqise Lee as he replaces Hurns on the depth chart. New tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins also figures to see a lot of passes thrown in his direction.
Steelers To Sign Morgan Burnett
The Steelers will sign defensive back Morgan Burnett, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a three-year deal worth close to $14.5MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Burnett just wrapped up a four-year, $24.75MM deal with the Packers and he was said to be seeking a deal worth more than $8.5MM per year at one point. He fell short of that goal, but he still did well considering how stagnant the free agent safety market has been this year.
In eight years with the Packers, Burnett logged snaps at cornerback, free safety, and even linebacker. Heading into free agency, the Bears and Browns had some interest, but it’s not clear if they ever made offers to him. Ultimately, Burnett chose the Steelers because he wanted the chance to play for two historic franchises that also value veteran leadership, Fowler hears (on Twitter).
With the Steelers, Burnett seems likely to take over at one of the starting safety spots in place of Mike Mitchell. He’ll also help fill in some gaps at cornerback and free safety now that Will Gay is out of the picture.
Burnett, 29, has been an effective and versatile player throughout his career, but injuries have been an issue. He has not played a full season since 2012 and he has missed ten regular season games over the past three seasons.
News of Burnett signing with the Steelers was first reported by former Packer James Jones (Twitter link).
Colts Sign TE Eric Ebron
Eric Ebron has found a new home. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the tight end has signed with the Colts. It will be a two-year deal worth a maximum of $15MM.
Ebron’s blocking skills leave a bit to be desired, but the tight end has been plenty productive in the passing game throughout his career. He finished the 2017 season with 53 catches for 574 yards and four touchdowns. The former first-rounder ultimately rated as an above-average tight end, as Pro Football Focus ranked him 13th among 71 candidates at the position.
Assuming Andrew Luck is healthy, Ebron would provide the quarterback with another talented target. The free agent would presumably displace Jack Doyle from the starting lineup in Indy, although there could be enough targets for the duo. Doyle had his best NFL season in 2017, hauling in 80 receptions for 690 yards and four scores.
The Colts will have to ultimately make some decisions at tight end. The team is now rostering seven players at the position, including Darrell Daniels, Ross Travis, and Erik Swoope.
After being released by the Lions, there was plenty of interest in the 24-year-old. Besides the Colts, the Patriots, Panthers, and Ravens were all connected to Ebron.
Bills Sign OL Russell Bodine, Marshall Newhouse
The Bills instantly added depth to their depleted offensive line following the trade of left tackle Cordy Glenn, agreeing to deals with Marshall Newhouse and Russell Bodine, with Buffalo confirming both deals. Bodine will receive a two-year deal and Newhouse will join the team on a one-year deal. Bodine’s pact will be worth $5MM, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Newhouse’s deal is worth up to $2MM, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM (on Twitter).
Bodine looks to be the major haul of the two after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Bengals while starting all 16 games at center each season. Eric Wood started all 16 regular-season games at center for the Bills last year but was forced to call it a career after failing his end-of-season physical with a neck injury. The Bills hosted Bodine for a visit Sunday and Monday. The Bengals offered the lineman a long-term, low-guarantee deal, but Rapoport notes that Bodine decided the Bills offer “is best for his future.”
The 25-year-old center graded as one of the bottom-10 centers in the NFL out of last season’s qualifiers, according to Pro Football Focus. With other centers like Ryan Jensen and Weston Richburg off the market, Bodine served as one of the top players at the position still available in free agency.
Newhouse, 29, started 14 games at right tackle for the Raiders last season. The Raiders released Newhouse earlier this month, a year into a two-year $3.5MM deal signed last offseason. Along with the trade of Glenn, the Bills lost Seantrel Henderson, who signed with the Texans this offseason. The Bills were set to enter the season with Dion Dawkins and Jordan Mills starting at tackle.
Newhouse was graded in the bottom-third of tackle qualifiers last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s appeared in 100 games and has made 70 starts over a seven-year career, including stints with the Packers, Giants and Bengals.
[RELATED: Bills Depth Chart]
Seahawks Acquire CB C.J. Smith From Browns
The Seahawks and Browns struck a deal Monday, as Cleveland agreed to send cornerback C.J. Smith to Seattle for a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Browns confirmed the deal (on Twitter).
The 24-year-old was originally signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent by the Eagles in 2016 out of North Dakota State. He appeared in 10 games with the Eagles as a rookie. Smith was signed to the Browns’ practice squad early last season and was activated for the team’s final three regular-season games.
The Seahawks were in need of some depth at cornerback, with Richard Sherman and Jeremy Lane being released and Byron Maxwell an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Seattle currently has Neiko Thorpe, Shaquill Griffin, Deandre Elliot and Justin Coleman atop its depth chart at cornerback.
Cleveland shored up its defensive backfield with the signing of former Raiders cornerback T.J. Carrie and former Chiefs cornerback Terrance Mitchell this offseason. Jamar Taylor and Briean Boddy-Calhoun return atop the team’s depth chart at cornerback.
Patriots Release LB Shea McClellin
The Patriots have parted ways with linebacker Shea McClellin, releasing him with a failed physical designation, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). McLellin was unable to suit up last year after beginning the season on injured reserve and suffering a concussion at practice during his comeback attempt.
McClellin, 28, was taken in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Bears in 2012. He was set to enter the second season of a three-year, $9MM deal ($3.5MM guaranteed) signed with the Patriots in 2015. In his lone season with the Patriots in 2016, he appeared in 14 games — starting four — and recorded just one sack. He was graded by Pro Football Focus as the No. 72 edge rusher in the NFL out of 108 qualified players.
In four seasons with the Bears, McClellin appeared in 52 games and made 31 starts. His finest season came in 2014 when he recorded a career-best four sacks and matched his career high by appearing in 14 games.
McClellin would have likely worked as a rotational player behind Patriot starters Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy. Injuries limited Hightower to just five games last season. New England also has Elandon Roberts, Nic Grigsby and Harvey Langi rostered at linebacker, with James Harrison and Marquis Flowers unrestricted free agents this offseason.
Mike Pouncey Signs 2-Year Deal With Chargers
The Chargers announced Tuesday that they’ve agreed to a two-year deal with Mike Pouncey after the three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman visited the team’s facility earlier in the day. The visit with the Chargers was the first for Pouncey with another team since he requested and was granted his release from the Dolphins last week.
The Chargers are set to give Pouncey $15MM over the two-year deal, with $10MM guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
Pouncey certainly serves as an upgrade to the Chargers’ interior offensive line, with Spencer Pulley and second-year guard Dan Feeney previously set to return at center and right guard, respectively. They also lost versatile offensive lineman Kenny Wiggins to the Lions in free agency this offseason.
Matt Slauson, who started seven games at left guard for the Chargers last year before a biceps injury cut his season short, is an unrestricted free agent and has already visited with the Lions, with a visit scheduled Tuesday with the Colts, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Colts had also reportedly shown interest in Pouncey.
The Dolphins and Pouncey parted ways last week after drafting him with the 15th overall pick of the 2011 draft out of Florida. He battled a hip injury last season but still managed to start all 16 games for the third time in his career. He was graded as the No. 25 center in the NFL out of qualifiers last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Hip injuries have hampered Pouncey throughout his career and held him to just five games in 2016 before being placed on injured reserve.
The Dolphins signed Pouncey to a five-year $52.15MM extension back in 2015 but he was one of the team’s numerous cuts as part of an effort to reduce their cap number. Some of those other releases included defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, linebacker Lawrence Timmons and tight end Julius Thomas. The Dolphins cleared $9MM in cap space, with $2MM in dead cap, by releasing Pouncey.
[RELATED: Chargers Depth Chart]
Redskins To Sign Orlando Scandrick
Orlando Scandrick‘s free agency stay did not last long, and he’ll be seeing his longtime employer twice next season. The Redskins and a the recently released cornerback agreed to terms on Monday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
Washington authorized a two-year deal with Scandrick, whom Dallas cut over the weekend after 10 seasons. The contract carries a max value of $10MM. This comes after Scandrick spent the previous two days visiting the Redskins.
The Redskins also looked into recent Giants cut Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, per John Keim of ESPN.com (on Twitter), but learned that 10-year veteran’s asking price was too high.
The Cowboys made Scandrick a March cut, which was a long-rumored move. Despite the cornerback already having 10 years of NFL experience, 2018 will only be his age-31 season. He functioned as Dallas’ primary slot corner for many years, and after the Redskins included ascending slot stopper Kendall Fuller in their trade for Alex Smith, Scandrick may be set to fill that role.
A 2008 fifth-round pick, Scandrick played a key role on the past several Cowboys defenses. He started 11 games in 2017. He’ll join a Redskins team that lost Fuller and may well see Bashaud Breeland defect as well. Breeland was set to sign with the Panthers, but a non-football injury scuttled that deal to leave him in free agency for the time being.
With only Josh Norman previously locked in as a key contributor, the Redskins were thin at cornerback. They drafted Fabian Moreau in last year’s third round and could address the position further in the upcoming draft. However, the Cowboys making the decision to cut their longest-tenured defender changed the Redskins’ plans at this position.
Patriots To Extend Patrick Chung
Patrick Chung will be sticking around New England through the 2020 season. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots have signed the veteran safety to a “short-term” extension. The new deal is worth $11.5MM through 2020, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter).
Chung was originally set to earn $2MM in 2018, 
which was the final year of his former deal. It now appears that year has been ripped up as he’ll earn $5.4MM in the coming year. All in all, it’s an extra $9.1MM in new money for the 30-year-old (31 in August).
The 2009 second-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career in New England before signing with the Eagles in 2013. However, he was released by Philly less than a year later, and he landed back with the Patriots. Since 2014, Chung has been a dependable presence on the Patriots secondary, missing only one regular season game during that span.
He had another productive campaign in 2017, compiling 84 tackles, nine passes defended, and one interception in 16 games (11 starts). Pro Football Focus ranked Chung 42nd among 87 eligible safety candidates, which was a huge improvement over his lackluster rating from 2016.