Minor NFL Transactions: 4/6/16
Today’s minor moves:
- The Ravens announced that running back Terrance West has signed his exclusive rights tender, as Clifton Brown of CSNBaltimore.com tweets. West, 25, was the Browns’ leading rusher in his rookie season, accumulating 673 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, on 171 carries. However, the 2014 third-round pick was sent to the Titans prior to the 2015 season, and he didn’t have much of a role in Tennessee. The Ravens scooped him up in November and quickly promoted him from the taxi squad to the varsity team.
- The Buccaneers announced that ERFA linebacker Jeremiah George has inked his qualifying offer. George was claimed off waivers from Jacksonville prior to the start of the 2015 season and mostly appeared on special teams for the Bucs. Between the two teams, George has appeared in 21 regular season games total.
- The Ravens announced (on Twitter) that wide receiver Daniel Brown has signed his exclusive rights tender.
- Seantavius Jones, a wide receiver who never actually played or practiced with the Eagles, has been released with a non-football injury, Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News tweets.
- Texans linebacker John Simon has signed his restricted free agent tender, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
Latest On Broncos, Colin Kaepernick
It sounds like the Colin Kaepernick saga is not close to a resolution. The Broncos are pushing for Colin Kaepernick to agree to a drastic salary reduction that would call for him to earn $7MM in 2016 rather than the $12MM he’s currently scheduled to make. On top of that, as Tim Kawakami of The Mercury News writes, Denver is looking for the 49ers quarterback to also take pay cuts in each of the remaining years of his deal. 
The 49ers, as we’ve heard before, are unwilling to help bridge the gap by paying off part of Kaepernick’s contract. Meanwhile, Kaepernick’s camp is fairly committed to either keeping the salaries in tact or letting him hit free agency next offseason, when his controlling team could cut him loose before his salary becomes guaranteed for 2017. Kaepernick is not unwilling to take a pay cut, as Kawakami and others have reported, but he is not willing to give up quite this much in the way of guaranteed cash.
Meanwhile, the QB needs at least one more month before he is football-ready, a source tells Mindi Bach of CSNBayArea.com. As Mike Florio of PFT writes, that effectively sets a deadline for a potential Kaepernick trade since the 49ers will not want to chance him suffering a serious injury and thereby tanking his trade value. The Broncos believe that if they stand their ground, they will eventually convince the 49ers to eat part of Kaepernick’s salary.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Broncos Sign Jared Crick
3:08pm: Crick’s two-year deal is worth $4MM, a source tells Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
12:40pm: The Broncos announced that they have signed defensive end Jared Crick. It’ll be a two-year deal for the former Houston bookend. 
Crick played under head coach Gary Kubiak, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, and defensive line coach Bill Kollar when he was with the Texans and the staff’s familiarity with him surely played a role in the signing. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound defensive end will now join a rotation of defensive ends who will collectively try and make up for the departure of Malik Jackson. Jackson, of course, inked a massive six-year, $85.5MM deal with Jacksonville in March. Denver’s defensive ends depth chart also includes Vance Walker, Kenny Anunike, Derek Wolfe, and George Uko.
Over the last two seasons, Crick has racked up 5.5 sacks, eight passes defensed, 47 tackles, and one forced fumble across 31 starts. The former fourth-round pick was hampered by injuries in his first two NFL seasons.
The Broncos likely aren’t done adding defensive ends this offseason as Kubiak has previously indicated that the team will be eyeing defensive ends in the draft.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Reggie Nelson Unlikely To Sign With Raiders?
Just a few days ago, it seemed like an inevitability that Reggie Nelson would sign with the Raiders. However, the safety left his Oakland visit without an agreement between the two sides, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. While a deal could still get done, a pact is not necessarily likely. 
The Raiders have a need at safety and Nelson stands as the best available option left on the open market, so it’s not quite clear what has gotten in the way of a potential deal. Nelson is 33 and coming off of one of his best seasons to date, so he could be looking for a sizable payday on a multi-year deal. However, given his age, a team like the Raiders might be more comfortable with a one-year deal that includes incentives.
Nelson placed No. 41 on our Top 50 NFL Free Agents List and graded out as our No. 5 free agent safety behind George Iloka, Eric Weddle, Rodney McLeod, and Tashaun Gipson. The tenth-year veteran had 77 tackles and a league-leading 8 interceptions last year for Cincinnati.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
AFC Draft Updates: Bills, Lynch, Jags, Broncos
Most NFL teams have at least one representative in attendance at the pro day for Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch on Wednesday, but the Bills got a closer look at the young signal-caller on Tuesday night, according to Sal Paolantonio of ESPN, who reports that Buffalo took Lynch out for dinner (Twitter link via Mike Rodak).
The Bills have a quarterback they like in Tyrod Taylor, but Taylor has just one year remaining on his contract with the team, and an extension is not believed to be close, so it will be interesting to see if Buffalo nabs a QB early in this year’s draft. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman is in Memphis to check out Lynch.
Let’s round up a few more draft updates from across the AFC…
- We can add Alabama center Ryan Kelly, Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and Oregon defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the extensive list of pre-draft visitors meeting with the Jaguars today, according to tweets from John Oehser of Jaguars.com and Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union.
- The Broncos remain in the market for running back help, and are hosting Utah RB Devontae Booker for a visit today, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
- According to Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter links), Akron outside linebacker Jatavis Brown, Michigan State cornerback Arjen Colquhoun, and Baylor offensive lineman Blake Muir recently met with the Chiefs, who are hosting UTSA defensive tackle Brian Price for a visit today.
- UCLA offensive tackle Caleb Benenoch, Florida safety Keanu Neal, Boise State safety Darian Thompson, and Temple cornerback Tavon Young are in Pittsburgh today to visit the Steelers, per Bob Labriola (Twitter link).
- The Jets met extensively with Utah State linebacker Kyler Fackrell, a potential second-round pick, on Tuesday, according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net, who tweets that Fackrell would fit a “big need” for Gang Green.
Contract Details: A. Smith, V. Davis, Knighton
Here are the latest details on recently signed or agreed-upon contracts from around the NFL. All links are courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle unless otherwise indicated.
- Aldon Smith, OLB (Raiders): Two years, $11.5MM. Annual salaries of $1.25MM. Up to $4MM annually in per-game roster bonuses. $500K annual workout bonus. Up to $3.5MM in annual incentives (Twitter link).
- Vernon Davis, TE (Washington): One year, $2.4MM. $500K signing bonus. $600K of $1.35MM base salary is guaranteed. $150K roster bonus due on August 22. Up to $300K in per-game roster bonuses. Up to $2.1MM in incentives (Twitter links).
- Terrance Knighton, DT (Patriots): One year, $2.018MM. $250K signing bonus. Up to $500K in per-game roster bonuses. $100K workout bonus. Up to $300K in performance incentives. Up to $2MM in playing-time incentives. $500K Pro Bowl incentive (links via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- Jasper Brinkley, LB (Giants): One year, $1.8MM. $1.2MM base salary is guaranteed. $500K roster bonus paid on April 1. $100K workout bonus. Up to $500K in incentives for playing time (Twitter link)
- Stefen Wisniewski, C/G (Eagles): One year, $1.51MM. $500K signing bonus. Up to $250K in per-game roster bonuses. Up to $1.25MM in incentives (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports).
- Wallace Gilberry, DE (Lions): One year, $1.25MM. $340K signing bonus. $25K workout bonus. Up to $500K in incentives for performance and playing time (link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
- Jack Crawford, DE (Cowboys): One year, $1.1MM. $240K signing bonus. $100K workout de-escalator. Up to $500K in incentives (Twitter link).
- Spencer Paysinger, LB (Dolphins): One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K signing bonus. $120K of $760K base salary is guaranteed. (Twitter link).
- Kyle Love, DT (Panthers): One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K signing bonus (Twitter link).
AFC South Notes: Watt, Jaguars, Titans, Draft
Will Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt retire sooner rather than later? It’s probably too early to make any assumptions about how many years the perennial All-Pro has left, but as James Palmer of the NFL Network tweets, Watt did tell SportsRadio 610 in Houston that he won’t be one of those players who attempts to extend his career as long as possible.
Here are several more items from out of the AFC South…
- Several of this week’s pre-draft visitors for the Jaguars have already been reported, but Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link) identify a few more. According to O’Halloran, UCLA defensive tackle Kenny Clark, Mississippi State defensive tackle Chris Jones, and Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland were among the players at EverBank Field on Tuesday, while Rapoport reports that UGA linebacker Leonard Floyd is there today.
- Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle passes along a pair of Texans pre-draft updates, writing that Texas A&M kicker Taylor Bertolet has a private workout lined up with Texans assistant Larry Izzo and that FIU cornerback Richard Leonard worked out for the club.
- The Titans will soon host Clemson defensive tackle D.J. Reader for a pre-draft visit, a league source tells Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. As McCormick observes, Tennessee has been doing its homework on defensive lineman, and could use some depth at nose tackle.
Extra Points: Wisniewski, Fuchs, Cards, Vikings
The one-year contract for new Eagles offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski is worth slightly more than the $2.5MM he earned from Jacksonville last season, a source tells Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News. Still, Wisniewski was somewhat disappointed that he couldn’t land a longer-term deal this offseason.
“It’s been tough,” Wisniewski said. “I certainly was hoping to sign a long-term deal for some good money. I thought I’d played well enough to deserve that – a lot of people did. It just kind of didn’t work out, with circumstances and whatnot.”
Wisniewski, who said the Jaguars were “kind of lowballing me, to be honest,” is hoping to parlay his one-year pact with the Eagles into a multiyear agreement in Philadelphia or elsewhere in 2017, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. In order to have a chance to do that, Wisniewski will probably have to win the starting left guard job — otherwise, his playing time could depend on the health of center Jason Kelce.
Here are a few more Tuesday odds and ends from around the NFL…
- Leicester City defender Christian Fuchs told Patrick Davison of Sky Sports that he has “ambitions to become an NFL kicker.” The 29-year-old isn’t planning on moving on from soccer quite yet, but when he does, he believes he could potentially make the transition to American football. “If NFL managers want a footballer in their team, I know I can kick a 60-yard field goal,” Fuchs said. “Let’s see. Dreams can come true you know if you don’t dream you won’t reach anything.”
- Virginia Tech defensive end/linebacker Dadi Nicolas visited the Cardinals on Tuesday, as Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. The Cardinals also worked out Portland State long snapper Kameron Canaday – for a second time – and Portland State cornerback Aaron Sibley, tweets Getlin.
- The Vikings are hosting Vanderbilt pass rusher Stephen Weatherly on a pre-draft visit, and are also bringing in Clemson safety T.J. Green, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter links). Wolfson adds that Green – who visited Arizona on Monday – will also make a trip to Pittsburgh to meet with the Steelers.
- Alabama cornerback Cyrus Jones visited with the Eagles today, Geoff Mosher of 97.5 The Fanatic tweets.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
AFC Notes: Titans, Conklin, Broncos, Raiders
Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil is the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, but he’s not the only standout tackle the Titans are eyeing. A source tells Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com that the team is expected to host Michigan State tackle Jack Conklin for a visit soon. Conklin isn’t a candidate to come off the board first, but if Tennessee ends up moving down in the first round, he could be in play for the Titans.
Here’s more from across the AFC:
- Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott was hosted for a pre-draft visit by the Broncos today, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Prescott is unlikely to go in the first round, so the Broncos could look to target him in the second or third round of the draft.
- Central Arkansas defensive end Jonathan Woodard had a visit scheduled with the Raiders on Monday and will meet with the Titans on Friday, as Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News tweets.
- Oklahoma State defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah recently paid a visit to the Bills and will soon visit the Texans, tweets Rand Getlin of the NFL Network.
- Seth Walder of the New York Daily News provides some details on Brandon Marshall‘s civil trial stemming from an altercation outside a Manhattan nightclub in 2012. As Walder notes, Marshall didn’t face criminal charges at the time, but it’s unclear if the NFL might still consider discipline, should the Jets wideout lose the civil trial.
- Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, Ohio State tight end Nick Vannett said he has a visit on Sunday with the Jets (Twitter link via Alex Marvez of FOX Sports). Vannett has frequently been linked to Gang Green in recent weeks, having already privately worked out for and met with the team.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Contract Details: Harbor, A. Smith, Z. Brown
Here are several specific details on some recently agreed-upon and signed contracts from around the NFL:
- Clay Harbor, TE (Patriots): Two years, $3MM. $400K signing bonus. Roster bonuses of $200K (2016) and $400K (2017). $200K option bonus for 2017. Up to $500K annually in playing-time incentives (all Twitter links via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com).
- Aldon Smith, OLB (Raiders): Contract features $250K for each game Smith is on the Raiders’ 53-man roster in 2016 and 2017. Those per-game roster bonuses could max out at $4MM in 2017, but not in 2016 due to suspension (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com).
- Zach Brown, LB (Bills): One year, $1.25MM. $450K signing bonus. (Twitter link via Joe Buscaglia of WKBW).
- Corey White, CB (Bills): One year, minimum salary benefit. $80K signing bonus (Twitter link via Buscaglia).