NFL Suspends Taylor Mays, Nick Moody
Free agent safety Taylor Mays has been suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Linebacker Nick Moody has also been suspended for the first four games, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Mays’ suspension is for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy (Twitter link via Rapoport).
Moody was a restricted free agent this offseason, but the Seahawks declined to issue him a tender. Since that decision, we have not heard much with regards to free agent interest for Moody. In 2015, Moody only saw time in three games for Seattle after spending much of the year on the team’s taxi squad. In 2014, he appeared in every regular season contest for the 49ers and even made two starts. In total, he notched 21 tackles with San Francisco in ’14.
Mays bounced all around the NFL last year and was yo-yo’ed on and off of the Raiders’ roster multiple times. The 28-year-old recorded 23 tackles and 5 passes defensed in his 14 Raiders games. Mays, who hopes to enter his seventh-year in the NFL, was selected in the second round of the 2010 draft by the 49ers. Needless to say, the USC product has not exactly fulfilled his expectations.
Seahawks To Sign Bradley Sowell
The Seahawks have agreed to sign Bradley Sowell to a one-year, $1.5MM deal, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The offensive lineman was a free agent of the Seahawks.
It was reported late last week that Sowell would be visiting with Seattle. Apparently, the two sides hit it off as a deal has been struck. Sowell did not earn a place on Pro Football Rumors’ Top 15 list of free agent tackles for this offseason, nor did he make honorable mention. Still, Sowell is an experienced tackle who comes to the Seahawks on a reasonable contract.
Sowell, 27 in June, appeared in all 16 regular season games for the Cardinals from 2013 to 2015. Prior to that, he spent his rookie season with the Colts. The 6’7, 316 pound lineman went undrafted out of Mississippi in 2012 and initially signed with the Bucs.
Jets Re-Sign Kellen Davis, Kenbrell Thompkins
The Jets may not have a starting quarterback lined up for the 2016 season yet, but they’ve brought back a pair of pass catchers from their 2015 squad. Pro Football Talk reports (via Twitter) that tight end Kellen Davis has signed a new one-year deal with the Jets, while Rand Getlin of the NFL Network tweets that wide receiver Kenbrell Thompkins has signed his RFA tender.
Davis, 30, caught just three balls in his first season with the Jets, but he started nine games for the team and played more offensive snaps than any other tight end on the roster. With Jace Amaro returning from a season-ending injury in 2016, Davis may see his role reduced, but I’d expect him to continue to get a decent amount of blocking work.
As for Thompkins, the 27-year-old received a promotion from the Jets’ practice squad last October and played a role for the club down the stretch. For the season, the former Patriot recorded a modest 165 yards through the air on 17 receptions, but the Jets liked him enough to assign him a contract tender worth $1.671MM, despite their relative lack of cap room.
With Jeremy Kerley having been released earlier this month, Thompkins may get an opportunity to compete for the slot receiver job on the Jets’ offense.
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Latest On Colin Kaepernick
Colin Kaepernick is reportedly willing to restructure his contract and take a pay cut to get out of San Francisco, and there are multiple teams – namely the Broncos and Browns – said to be interested in him. Meanwhile, despite their denials at the combine, the 49ers seem increasingly open to the idea of trading their quarterback.
So, what’s the hold up? Let’s dig in and find out. Here’s the latest on No. 7:
- The Broncos have told the 49ers they believe that Kaepernick is worth a fourth-round pick, according to Michael Silver of NFL Network (via Twitter). Of course, the two sides would have to figure out a way to make that work as the 49ers are hoping for much more in a potential deal.
- The Broncos have not offered a specific fourth-round pick, only suggesting to the 49ers that a fourth-round pick is the proper value for the quarterback (link). Denver’s fourth-rounder for 2016 currently belongs to the Ravens due to a previous trade, but the Broncos do hold the final non-compensatory pick of the third round.
- As of this morning, things were “quiet” with regards to a deal. The Broncos were holding firm, there had been no movement with regard to the Browns, and the 49ers were “chilling,” as Silver puts it (link).
- ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports (via colleague Pat McManamon) there have been “no serious discussions on draft pick considerations or compensation” between the Browns and 49ers. The report adds that the Browns are “being patient” as they consider how best to upgrade the quarterback spot.
49ers Sign Phil Dawson To One-Year Deal
MARCH 14, 3:19pm: The 49ers have officially re-signed Dawson, the team announced today in a press release.
MARCH 11, 8:48pm: Dawson and the 49ers have agreed to a one-year deal, reports Janie McCauley of The Associated Press. He’ll get a fully guaranteed base salary of $3.134MM, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
7:18pm: The 49ers are making progress toward a new deal with free agent kicker Phil Dawson and look poised to bring him back for his age-41 season, reports Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (Twitter link). Dawson would be the second over-40 kicker to ink 
a contract this offseason, joining the Colts’ Adam Vinatieri (43).
Despite his age, Dawson didn’t show any obvious signs of decline last season. The 17-year veteran hit an impressive 24 of 27 field goals, good for an 88.9% success rate (10th in the NFL). He also connected on all three of his attempts over 50 yards and nailed 20 of 21 extra points. Dawson hasn’t converted worse than 80% of his field goal tries since 2006, when he made only 72.4% of attempts as a member of the Browns.
As of now, Dawson, Josh Brown and Greg Zuerlein are among a thin class of established kickers who haven’t signed contracts. Dawson’s previous deal was a two-year pact worth $6.13M, including $3.5MM in guarantees. Earlier this month, Vinatieri landed two years, $6MM and $1MM in guarantees, which should be the neighborhood in which Dawson’s next accord resides.
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AFC FA Rumors: Weddle, Holmes, Fitzpatrick
The Steelers were among the teams rumored to be in the hunt for safety Eric Weddle, who ultimately agreed to join the division-rival Ravens, but Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) hears that Pittsburgh didn’t make a formal contract offer to the safety. According to La Canfora, the Steelers stopped monitoring Weddle’s market over the weekend, shifting their focus to landing an offensive tackle.
Meanwhile, the Patriots were also a team frequently cited as a potential suitor for Weddle, but New England wasn’t one of the finalists for his services, according to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Schrager notes that Weddle and his agent spent a few hours this morning “going back and forth with two teams.” One of those clubs was the Ravens, but the identity of the second team remains unclear.
Here’s more from around the AFC:
- The Raiders are making a push to bring back wide receiver Andre Holmes, tweets Bill Williamson of Fanrag Sports. Williamson cautions that nothing is done yet, and there’s no guarantee Holmes will return to Oakland, but the two sides appear headed toward a reunion for now.
- While there’s a belief that the Jets will eventually increase their offer to quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and find a middle ground, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders if Fitzpatrick may not give them the opportunity, possibly having been insulted by a lowball offer. Of course, for that to happen, the free agent quarterback will need to find a suitable offer elsewhere.
- According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (via Twitter), Patriots head coach Bill Belichick called Akiem Hicks last night in a last-ditch effort to keep him in New England. The defensive tackle ultimately signed with the Bears instead, and Howe suggests that the Pats’ offer was for more years, but at a lower annual salary.
- Former Ravens safety and special-teamer Brynden Trawick, who was non-tendered by Baltimore, is paying a visit to the Bengals, tweets Joe Goodberry of CincyJungle.com.
- Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald isn’t sure why the Dolphins are interested in veteran defensive end Chris Clemons.
Bucs Sign Josh Robinson
The Buccaneers announced that they have signed cornerback Josh Robinson on a one-year deal.Robinson spent the last four seasons with the Vikings. 
While he doesn’t come with the same name value, Robinson will now join a Bucs’ defense that has added former GIants defensive end Robert Ayers as well as cornerback Brent Grimes.
The Central Florida product was limited to only five games in 2015 due to an unfortunate pectoral injury suffered prior to the season. From 2012-14, Robinson saw time in 42 games with 21 starts for Minnesota. Over that span, he racked up 146 tackles, five interceptions, 15 passes defensed and a forced fumble.
Robinson is not to be confused with the running back of the same name.
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Rueben Randle To Visit Rams
Free agent wide receiver Rueben Randle, one of the top players at his position left on the board, will be paying a visit to the Rams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport adds that Randle’s trip to meet with the Rams is the first of several scheduled visits for him.
Randle, who will turn 25 in May, is one of the youngest unrestricted free agents on the market this month, and has put up solid numbers during his last few years in New York. He set career highs in 2014 with 71 receptions and 938 yards, then caught a career-best eight touchdowns in 2015, to go along with 57 catches and 797 yards.
Despite Randle’s productive on-field showing, the Giants reportedly questioned his work ethic and his “desire to be great,” per one report. There haven’t been any real indications recently that the Giants are working to bring the young wideout back, which could be a red flag for potential suitors.
Nonetheless, Randle is among the top receivers still available, and his age should make him appealing. Many of the other wideouts on the free agent market now are arguably past their primes — Anquan Boldin, Andre Johnson, Marques Colston, Roddy White, Mike Wallace, and James Jones are among the players still looking for new homes.
The Rams have already re-signed Brian Quick this offseason, but still should be in the market for receiving help. A year ago, the only Rams wideouts who caught more than 13 passes on the season were Tavon Austin (52) and Kenny Britt (36).
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Washington To Re-Sign Will Blackmon
Washington has agreed to terms with cornerback Will Blackmon on a new two-year contract, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). Blackmon, who received an offer from the team last week, reportedly received interest from other clubs and took the weekend to mull his options before making a decision.
Blackmon, 31, joined Washington as a depth piece in the secondary a year ago after making stops with the Packers, Giants, and Jaguars between 2007 and 2014. While the veteran corner wasn’t expected to play a major role, he ended up making a career-high 10 starts for Washington in 2015, as fellow free agent addition Chris Culliver missed a good chunk of the year due to a suspension and injuries.
While Blackmon earned nearly 900 defensive snaps, Pro Football Focus wasn’t overly fond of his play, ranking him 84th out of 111 qualified cornerbacks. Still, it would be a surprise if the former fourth-round pick doesn’t at least get an opportunity to compete for the nickel back role in 2016.
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Tyron Smith, King Dunlap Restructure Contracts
A pair of veteran offensive tackles have restructured their contracts, creating some cap room for their respective clubs. Todd Archer of ESPN.com has the details on Tyron Smith‘s reworked deal with the Cowboys, while Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports on King Dunlap‘s new-look contract with the Chargers.
As Archer explains, Smith’s contract change is a simple restructure, with the Cowboys converting $9MM of his $10MM base salary for 2016 into a signing bonus. Rather than counting solely against this year’s cap, that $9MM bonus will now be prorated over five seasons, counting for $1.8MM annually from 2016 to 2020. That means Dallas will free up $7.2MM in cap space for the ’16 season, while adding $1.8MM to the cap each year from 2017 to 2020.
Dunlap, meanwhile, was set to have his $4.5MM salary for 2016 fully guaranteed last week. Before that happened, according to Gehlken, the Chargers lowered his salary to $3.3MM, which is now guaranteed. The veteran tackle, who missed much of the 2015 season due to injury problems, can earn back that missing $1.2MM if he’s able to stay healthy for most of the 2016 campaign.
According to Gehlken, Dunlap will earn a $400K bonus if he plays 50% of San Diego’s offensive snaps in 2016. He’ll earn another $400K if he reaches the 65% threshold, and a final $400K if he makes it to 80%.
The move creates $1.2MM in cap savings for the Chargers.
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