FA Visits: Seahawks, Lions, Chiefs, Pats, Titans
After being released recently by the Jaguars, veteran edge defender Chris Clemons is expected to pay a visit to the Seahawks soon, and could sign with the team during that visit, according to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter). In fact, Condotta suspects that Clemons will sign.
If it happens, it would be a reunion for the two sides, as Clemons enjoyed the best years of his NFL career in Seattle. Although he was slowed down by injuries during his final year with the team in 2013, he recorded at least 11 sacks as a 16-game starter in each season from 2010 to 2012. At age 34, Clemons is unlikely to reach those totals again, but he could be a solid situational pass rusher if he rejoins the Seahawks.
Here’s more on potential free agent visits:
- While the Patriots would like to bring back defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, the veteran free agent is exploring his options, and those options include a pair of NFC North teams. In addition to making a previously-reported visit to the Bears, Hicks is planning to visit the Lions over the weekend, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
- Defensive tackle Al Woods is visiting the Seahawks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Seattle is bringing in both Woods and – as previously reported – Cam Thomas, as the team explore possible replacements for Brandon Mebane.
- The Chiefs may still get a chance to meet with wide receiver Rod Streater, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. Streater, who met with the Patriots on Thursday, is planning to head to Kansas City after visiting the Jets.
- Free agent cornerback Antwon Blake is scheduled to visit the Patriots and Titans this weekend, per Ralph N. Paulk of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter). Blake’s agent is also negotiating with four other teams, says Paulk. The 25-year-old has spent the last three seasons with the Steelers.
Chris Hogan Signs Patriots’ Offer Sheet
11:26am: Hogan has signed the offer sheet from the Patriots, according to John Wawrow of The Associated Press. Assuming that move becomes official today, the Bills will have five days to match.
FRIDAY, 8:12am: Barring a late snag, Hogan will sign a three-year, $12MM “heavily-guaranteed” deal to join the Patriots, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Bills now have five days to match the offer.
THURSDAY, 7:48pm: New England’s offer sheet to Hogan is expected to arrive Friday morning and be one the Bills will have a difficult time matching, according to Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News (on Twitter).
5:20pm: The Patriots are believed to be preparing an offer sheet for Bills wide receiver Chris Hogan, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Hogan is a restricted free agent who has drawn significant interest from New England this week. 
The Pats could sign the wide receiver/special-teamer to an offer sheet that the Bills would have five days to match.
Pats head coach Bill Belichick has done serious research on Hogan, so much so that he knows that Hogan could serve as a backup punter should the need ever arise. That versatility is a plus for Belichick though, of course, it’s not one of his main draws.
In 2015, Hogan hauled in 36 catches for 450 yards and two touchdowns. The New Jersey native had a similar season in 2014 for Buffalo when he caught 41 passes for 426 yards and four scores.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Lions Re-Sign Dan Orlovsky
The Lions have re-signed backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky to a new contract, the team announced today in a press release.
[RELATED: Lions re-sign LB Tahir Whitehead]
Orlovsky, 32, has been with the Lions for the last two seasons, and saw his first action in relief of Matthew Stafford in 2015. For the season, he completed 22 of 40 passes for 201 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He hasn’t started a game since the 2011 season, as a Colt. Of course, his longest stretch as a starter came in 2008 for the Lions team that went 0-16.
While Orlovsky looks like the current favorite to be No. 2 on Detroit’s depth chart again in 2016, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that he expects the team to draft a signal-caller to compete with Orlovsky this year.
Terms of the deal aren’t yet known, but I’d be surprised if it’s much more than a minimum salary contract.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Lions Re-Sign Tahir Whitehead
FRIDAY, 11:05am: The Lions have officially re-signed Whitehead, the team announced today in a press release. Financial details on his two-year deal can be found right here.
THURSDAY, 3:37pm: The Lions are set to re-sign linebacker Tahir Whitehead, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a two-year deal worth more than $8MM, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Whitehead was visiting with the Buccaneers today but, as it turns out, he’ll be staying put in Detroit. The 25-year-old (26 in April) ranked as our top non-rush outside linebacker when we examined 2016’s top defensive free agents over the weekend, though it should be noted that this was a weak crop of non-rush OLBs. In addition to the Bucs, the Eagles also showed interest in plucking Whitehead away from the Lions. Whitehead has said all along that his preference was to remain with the Lions, though he did say that he was focused on being a starter.
“Yes, that’s definitely one of the big factors because as a player in this league you don’t go somewhere or be on someone’s team just to be someone’s backup,” he said. “You want to go somewhere where you’re wanted, where you’re needed and you’re going to play. So I definitely want to be a starter. I think I’ve shown that I can be a starter in this league.”
Whitehead has appeared in all 16 of the Lions’ regular season games in the last three seasons.When Stephen Tulloch went down with a knee injury early in 2014, the Temple product was elevated to the starting lineup and wound up finishing second on the team in tackles. This past season, Whitehead took a backseat to Tulloch in the first half of the season but he started the final eight games and looked strong. In 2015, he started nine of his 16 games, recording 47 total tackles, 1 sack, six pass deflections, and one interception.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Contract Details: Kearse, Whitehead, Hali
Here are a few of the latest contract details for players who have agreed to new deals and/or signed them in recent days. All links are courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle unless otherwise indicated…
NFC:
- Jermaine Kearse, WR (Seahawks): Three years, $13.5MM. $6.3MM guaranteed. $5.5MM signing bonus. Up to $4.7MM in total incentives/escalators (Twitter links via Wilson and Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- Tahir Whitehead, LB (Lions): Two years, $8MM. $4.75MM guaranteed. $3MM signing bonus. $500K in annual playing-time/Pro Bowl incentives. $200K in per-game active roster bonuses in 2017 (Twitter links).
- Sherrick McManis, CB (Bears): Two years, $2.85MM. $600K signing bonus. $150K roster bonus due 10th day of 2016 league year. $50K annual workout bonus (Twitter link).
- Senio Kelemete, OL (Saints): Two years, $2.7MM. $300K signing bonus. $50K roster bonus due third day of 2017 league year. Up to $600K in annual incentives (Twitter links).
- Kenrick Ellis, DT (Vikings): One year, $810K. $25K workout bonus. $25K bonus for one game on 53-man roster (Twitter link via Pelissero).
AFC:
- Tamba Hali, OLB (Chiefs): Three years, $21MM. $11.5MM fully guaranteed. $4.75MM signing bonus. $500K annually in weight bonuses (five weigh-ins worth $100K each). $500K annually in per-game active roster bonuses (Twitter links via Wilson and Pelissero).
- Robert Golden, S (Steelers): Three years, $4.95MM. $1.25MM signing bonus (Twitter link).
- Eddie Pleasant, S (Texans): Two years, $2.15MM. $311K roster bonus in 2016. $36K roster bonus in 2017 (Twitter link).
- Shane Lechler, P (Texans): One year, $1.8MM. $500K signing bonus (Twitter link).
- Khiry Robinson, RB (Jets): One year, $1.175MM. $80K signing bonus. $20K roster bonus for first game. $350K in per-game roster bonuses (Twitter link).
- Nick Novak, K (Texans): One year, $965K. Minimum salary benefit. $80K roster bonus due March 14 (Twitter link).
Washington Signs DL Kendall Reyes
10:47am: The deal is official, as Stephen Czarda of the team’s website writes.
10:24am: Reyes’ one-year deal with Washington has a value of $2.5MM, and can be worth up to $3.35MM with incentives, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com.
9:16am: Washington has added another piece to its defensive line, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who tweets that the team has agreed to terms with former Charger Kendall Reyes. It will be a one-year deal for Reyes, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Reyes, a second-round pick in 2012, has been a starter on San Diego’s defensive line for the last three seasons. The 26-year-old, an interior player, racked up 10.5 sacks during his first two years in the league, but his numbers have been more modest in recent seasons. In 2015, Reyes picked up a pair of sacks to go along with 32 tackles and his first career interception.
While the Chargers leaned on Reyes heavily during his four years with the club, Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance last season. PFF ranked the Connecticut product 120th out of 123 qualified interior defenders, assigning him the third-worst grade as a run defender among those players.
Nonetheless, Washington liked what it saw enough to bring Reyes in on a one-year deal. He’ll join Chris Baker, Stephen Paea, Ricky Jean-Francois, and Kedric Golston in a defensive line rotation that may not feature either Jason Hatcher or Terrance Knighton in 2016 — both veterans are currently free agents. Reyes also reunites with former Chargers linebackers coach Joe Barry, who is now Washington’s defensive coordinator.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Free Agent Rumors: Wisniewski, Jaguars, Giants, Sanu
The latest free agent rumors:
- Center Stefen Wisniewski remains an option to return as a starter for the Jaguars, but he is still shopping himself around, Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports tweets. The Jaguars, meanwhile, continue to seek out depth on the offensive line. Cowboys free agent guard Mackenzy Bernadeau is visiting the Jaguars, Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets.
- New Falcons receiver Mohamed Sanu says that his agent indicated that the Giants, Chargers, Patriots, Bucs, Titans, and Washington were all interested in him, as Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com tweets.
- The Raiders sniffed around Jerrell Freeman but they seem closer to signing a different inside linebacker in Erin Henderson, Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. The Jets are also after Henderson, he adds.
- Browns free agent linebacker Craig Robertson is on his way to visit the Seahawks, Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer tweets.
Draft Rumors: Bosa, Powell, Chargers, Browns
The latest draft buzz:
- Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa will be dining with the Chargers on Friday evening, Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net tweets.
- Safety Tyvis Powell had one-on-one interviews with the Browns, Lions, Titans, and Saints, per Pauline (via WalterFootball.com). The Titans are looking to grab a safety on day two of the draft while the Lions are hoping to grab a safety early after whiffing on George Iloka in free agency.
- Tight end Nick Vannett met with the Eagles, 49ers, Broncos, Seahawks, Falcons, and Jets. The Ohio State tight end was said to have had a strong showing at the 2016 Senior Bowl. At 6’6″ and 257 pounds, he has the size to compete as an NFL tight end. The Jets met with Vannett previously, so they could have a heightened level of interest in him.
- Fast-rising Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee interviewed with the Browns and Saints on Thursday, per Pauline.
- Mississippi State defensive back Taveze Calhoun met “extensively” with the 49ers and he has had private meetings with the Dolphins, Giants, and Rams. It sounds like Calhoun could be rising up draft boards.
- Ohio State receiver Michael Thomas looked impressive at the program’s Pro Day and Pauline added that he met with the Saints on Thursday. He also had an “outstanding” meeting with the Browns and he’ll meet with the Patriots next week.
Latest On Washington, Kirk Cousins
Washington is expected to resume negotiations with Kirk Cousins on a long-term deal after the free agency period slows down, team president Bruce Allen says (via Tarik El-Bashir of CSNMidAtlantic.com). Washington used the franchise tag to cuff Cousins earlier this month and the QB inked the ~$20MM tender. That tender wasn’t cheap, but it doesn’t seem like an exorbitant price to pay for one year of Cousins in the wake of the deals signed by quarterbacks Brock Osweiler and Sam Bradford.
Cousins, 27, became Washington’s full-time starting quarterback for the first time last season, earning 16 of his 25 career starts in 2015. The four-year veteran finished the regular season on a tear, completing 74% of his passes for nearly 1,200 yards, 12 touchdowns, and a 134.0 quarterback rating over the final four weeks of the year.
That end-of-season run helped Cousins cement his standing as a quarterback Washington couldn’t afford to lose, but his first 12 games weren’t too bad either. For the season, Cousins thew 29 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, led the league in completion percentage (69.8%), and helped Washington win its first division title since 2012.
Apparently, Washington was only interested in giving Cousins a franchise tag and the $17.7MM transition tag was not a consideration.
“We thought the best thing to do was the franchise tag,” Allen said, according to El-Bashir. “It made it clear where we stood with him. We had told his agent that’s what we were going to do.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
FA Rumors: Steelers, Fitzpatrick, CBs, Chargers
The Steelers are exploring the possibility of adding some pass-rushing help in free agency, and have expressed interest in veteran defensive end Jason Jones, sources tell Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Jones is said to have a visit with the Dolphins scheduled for today.
Jones, 29, has been a full-time starter in Detroit for the last two seasons, picking up a total of 9.5 sacks in his last two seasons. In 2015, Pro Football Focus ranked him 43rd out of 110 qualified edge defenders, assigning him solid grades as both as a pass rusher and a run defender.
While Jones typically plays defensive end in a 4-3 system, Fowler suggests that the Steelers are intrigued by the possibility of Jones being able to rush from the outside and slide inside when necessary. Pittsburgh runs a 3-4 base, but defensive coordinator Keith Butler runs more 4-3 looks than you’d think, says Fowler.
As we wait to see what happens with Jones, here’s more on free agents around the NFL:
- The “staredown” between the Jets and Ryan Fitzpatrick is continuing today, according to Michael Silver of the NFL Network, who tweets that New York is considering other options. Silver confirms that the Broncos are pondering Fitzpatrick as a backup plan. We heard earlier today that the Browns and Rams don’t have real interest in the veteran QB.
- Prince Amukamara visiting the Jaguars could be the first domino to fall in the cornerback market, tweets Peter Schrager of FOX Sports. While most top free agents are off the board, there are still a handful of intriguing corners available, including Casey Hayward, Brandon Boykin, Brett Grimes, and Patrick Robinson.
- Having lost Ladarius Green to the Steelers, the Chargers are exploring the free agent market for tight ends, and will bring in James Hanna for a visit today, writes Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Hanna, who has been a Cowboy for the last four seasons, is also reportedly on the Vikings’ radar.
- Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio, free agent tackle J’Marcus Webb said he has a visit set up with the Seahawks, but he also believes that the Raiders would like to re-sign him (Twitter link via Eddie Borsilli).
- After a heavy focus on skill positions on Thursday, the Patriots have linemen on the radar for today as they schedule free agent visits, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Zach Links contributed to this post.