Jerrell Freeman To Visit Bears
Jerrell Freeman will be in Chicago today to visit with the Bears, Chris Hagan of FOX 59 tweets. The Giants and Falcons are also showing interest in the veteran linebacker. 
Freeman would be an interesting pickup for the Bears, who have already added one of this offseason’s top inside linebackers. On Wednesday, Chicago reached agreement on a four-year, $24.5MM deal with former Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan.
Talks between Freeman and the Colts are at a “stand still,” Hagan adds. Last night we heard that the two sides are not close on a new contract. One report indicated that the Colts’ offer for the inside linebacker could be a take-it-or-leave-it proposition. Freeman finished last season as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4-ranked linebacker and as PFR’s No. 23-rated UFA resides as one of the best players still on the market.
In 2015, Freeman racked up 112 total tackles with 3 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 defensive touchdown. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) were very high on Freeman’s performance last year, ranking him as the No. 4 linebacker in the NFL and the top linebacker amongst this year’s unrestricted free agents. PFF’s gave Freeman a 97.9 grade for run defense, giving him the highest mark in that category for any linebacker in 2015. Freeman’s only unimpressive grade came in coverage where he was given a score of 78.8.
The Chiefs have also “poked around” on Freeman this week.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Rams, Browns Not Interested In Ryan Fitzpatrick
On Thursday, the Broncos reached out to Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s representation to express their interest in the veteran quarterback. However, other quarterback-needy teams are not as high on the veteran signal caller. The Browns are not interested in Fitzpatrick and the Rams don’t want to spend significant money to sign him, according to sources who spoke with Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. 
Mehta suggests that the Browns are disinterested in Fitzpatrick because they already have a veteran signal caller in Josh McCown. The Browns are expected by many to draft a quarterback at No. 2 overall while potentially using McCown as a transitional option. It sounds as though the Rams may have some interest in Fitzpatrick, but if they do, it’s likely only as a failsafe. If the Rams aren’t willing to spend significant money on the Harvard product, then they’re unlikely to vault beat out the Jets for his services.
Fitzpatrick is said to be seeking an average annual payout close to what Brock Osweiler and Sam Bradford have netted this offseason. The Jets, at this point, are unwilling to pay something in the neighborhood of $16MM/year, having offered something only a little better than what Chase Daniel got from the Eagles. Daniel and the Eagles agreed to a three-year deal with a base value of $21MM on Wednesday.
The Browns have been tied to Colin Kaepernick this week and they are said to be more interested in him than the Jets are. Meanwhile, the polarizing sixth-year passer is reportedly the Broncos’ top quarterback target. Robert Griffin III would reportedly like to be under center for the Rams, but it’s not clear if Los Angeles is reciprocating that interest.
At age 33, Fitzpatrick is coming off of a career year. In 2015, Fitzpatrick started all 16 games for the Jets, setting new career highs by tossing 31 touchdowns and racking up 3,905 yards through the air. He led the team to a 10-6 record for the season, narrowly missing a playoff berth.
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Seahawks Re-Sign Jermaine Kearse
10:16pm: The Seahawks have officially confirmed Kearse’s new deal, tweets Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times.
7:42pm: Kearse’s three-year pact is worth $13.5MM, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
7:14pm: The Seahawks aren’t allowing the remaining free agents from their talented 2012 draft class to depart en masse, and that now includes 2012 UDFA Jermaine Kearse. Seattle reached an agreement to keep Kearse in his home state, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Kearse’s deal to stick with the Seahawks is for three years, Schefter tweets.
This is especially noteworthy since Kearse told Schefter last week he didn’t plan to re-sign with the Seahawks and was looking forward to joining a new team.
Kearse was one of the top receivers remaining on the UFA market. The Seahawks, who already re-signed Jeremy Lane, look to have fortified the outside positions on the other side of the ball in keeping Kearse to again team with Doug Baldwin.
Most of the Seahawks’ 2012 draft/UDFA class have reached lucrative agreements either this week or last year. The most notable came obviously when second-rounder Bobby Wagner and third-rounder Russell Wilson re-upped with the team. Bruce Irvin signed with the Raiders, fourth-rounder Jaye Howard reached an agreement to stay with the Chiefs and seventh-rounder J.R. Sweezy landed in Tampa Bay on a lofty guard contract. Lane was a sixth-rounder in that historic class and agreed to stay in Seattle last night.
Kearse does not have Baldwin’s numbers but served as a capable No. 2 target for Wilson after Jimmy Graham went down last season. Starting 16 games for the first time, Kearse amassed a career-high 685 yards and five touchdowns.
Kearse’s work out wide coincided with Wilson’s career-best stretch as a pocket passer. The former Washington Husky, though, remains known for hauling in Wilson’s game-winning toss to beat the Packers in the 2014 NFC championship game.
Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images
Falcons To Sign Sean Weatherspoon
More than two years after playing his last game for the Falcons, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is returning to Atlanta for the 2016 season. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links) reports that the Falcons and Weatherspoon have agreed to terms on a one-year contract.
Weatherspoon, 28, originally entered the NFL as a Falcons first-round draft pick, joining the team as the 19th player selected in the 2010 draft. Over the next four seasons, Weatherspoon played 47 games for Atlanta — in 2011, he started all 16 games, racking up 125 tackles to go along with four sacks. In his final two seasons with the Falcons, however, he missed all but seven games due to an Achilles injury in 2014, and knee and foot issues in 2013.
The Cardinals signed Weatherspoon a year ago as a free agent, but the veteran linebacker didn’t play a major role in Arizona, earning just 159 defensive snaps. Another year removed from his Achilles injury, Weatherspoon will attempt to make an impact in 2016 for the Falcons.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Free Agent Rumors: Weddle, Kerley, Broncos
Here’s the latest from some of the free agents yet to sign on Day 2.
- Eric Weddle won’t be in a rush to determine his new location, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Despite the eagerness Weddle displayed to leave San Diego during his acrimonious final days with the Chargers, the 10th-year safety figures to take his time and mull the options that present themselves to the 31-year-old two-time first-team All-Pro, La Canfora notes. Weddle, though, has four teams after him, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune tweets. One of those is the Raiders, as expected.
- Although it will take more than just money to secure the services of Colin Kaepernick given that he’s under contract with the 49ers, the sixth-year quarterback was high among the Broncos‘ plan B options, a source told 9News’ Mike Klis before Brock Osweiler agreed to the four-year, $72MM that sent him to Houston.
- Should the Broncos not be able to pry Kaepernick away from the 49ers or sign Ryan Fitzpatrick, one of their options should be a two-pronged approach, Klis writes, involving a trade for either Brian Hoyer or Nick Foles and selecting a quarterback in the first round. While Fitzpatrick wants a salary in line with other franchise QBs at ~$16MM AAV, Foles’ salary for 2016 is $7.75MM and Hoyer set to earn $4.86MM. Klis, who rates this as the No. 1 option the Broncos should consider, lists Connor Cook and Dak Prescott as QBs that will be available at No. 31.
- The Chiefs‘ perpetual search for a No. 2 wide receiver will continue when the team hosts Jeremy Kerley on a visit, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Kerley will meet with the Chiefs on Friday, ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson reports (via Twitter). The Jets recently released Kerley despite having signed the slot receiver to an extension in Oct. 2014. Kerley, who will be 28 this year, finished with career-worst numbers after being phased out of Chan Gailey‘s offense as Eric Decker took over primary slot duties. Kerley’s best season came in 2012, when he caught 56 passes for 827 yards and two touchdowns. He hasn’t topped 550 yards since.
- Rafael Bush will visit the Lions on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. A torn pectoral muscle sidelined Bush after one game last season, but he started in 13 combined contests in 2013-14 for the Saints.
Contract Details: Smith, Martin, Sweezy, Thornton
Here are some of the latest details on recently agreed-upon or signed contracts from around the NFL. All Twitter links are courtesy of Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle unless otherwise indicated…
- Sean Smith, CB (Raiders): Four years, $38MM. $20MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus. 2016 $5.75MM base salary is guaranteed. 2017 $5MM salary guaranteed against injury upon signing. 2018 base: $8.25MM. 2019: $8.75MM. $500K annual Pro Bowl incentive. Smith has $4.25MM roster bonus guaranteed on third day of 2017 league year. (Twitter links). $15.25MM fully guaranteed in first 12 months of the deal, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter)
- Byron Maxwell, CB (Dolphins): As part of restructure, gave back $1.5MM in cash on 2017 salary in exchange for $2MM guaranteed in ’17, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter)
- Doug Martin, RB (Buccaneers): Five years, $35.75MM. $15MM guaranteed. $4MM roster bonus on March 14. Guaranteed base salaries of $4MM, $7MM in 2016, 2017. Salaries from 2018-20: $6.75MM, $7MM, $7MM. $1.44MM escalator for stats, playing time, Pro Bowls from 2017-20 (Twitter links)
- J.R. Sweezy, G (Buccaneers): Five years, $32.5MM. $14.5MM guaranteed. $5MM roster bonus on March 15. Base salaries from 2016-20: $4.5MM, $2.5MM, $6.5MM, $5.75MM, $5.75MM. $2.75MM roster bonus in 2017. (Twitter link)
- Cedric Thornton, DE (Cowboys): Four years, $17MM. $9MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus. Base salaries 2016-19: $1MM (guaranteed), $3MM (guaranteed against injury), $4MM, $4MM. (Twitter link)
- Tracy Porter, CB (Bears): Three years, $12MM. $4.25MM guaranteed. $900K signing bonus. $1.6MM roster bonus on March 30. Base salaries from 2016-18: $1.5MM, $3.5MM, $3.5MM. $1MM Pro Bowl bonus in each year. (Twitter links via Wilson and Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times)
- Bilal Powell, RB (Jets): Three years, $11.25MM. $250MM signing bonus. 2016 base salary of $850K, which is guaranteed. $2.5MM of $3.75MM 2017 base salary guaranteed. (Twitter link)
- Tony Bergstrom, C (Texans): Two years, $5.75MM. $750K signing bonus. $1.5MM guaranteed. Base salaries in 2016-17: $1.23MM (guaranteed), $2.63MM (guaranteed against injury). $750K roster bonus April 18. (Twitter links)
- Johnson Bademosi, DB (Lions): Two years, $4.5MM. $2.9MM guaranteed. Base salaries in 2016-17: $1.1MM, $1.3MM. $50K annual workout bonus. $400K Pro Bowl incentive. (Twitter link)
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/10/16
Today’s minor moves from around the NFL:
- The Cardinals have re-signed tight end Ifeanyi Momah, tweets Howard Balzer of The SportsXchange. Momah survived Arizona’s preseason roster cuts in 2015, but suffered a torn meniscus before Week 1, ending his season. Momah received an ERFA tender from the Cards last week.
- Corey Fuller signed his exclusive-rights tender with the Lions, Wilson tweets. Fuller caught four passes for 76 yards last season after posting 212 yards on 14 receptions in 2014.
- A Saints cog from 2012-14, tackle Bryce Harris re-signed with the Falcons, his 2015 employer, according to Evan Woodberry of NOLA.com (on Twitter). The former UDFA played in two games for the Falcons last season.
- The Cardinals cut wide receiver Damond Powell with a non-football injury designation, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
Earlier updates:
- The Cowboys have re-signed cornerback Josh Thomas to a one-year contract, says Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Thomas, originally selected in the fifth round of the 2011 draft by the Cowboys, rejoined the team at the end of last season. In between his two stints in Dallas, he played 51 regular-season contests for the Panthers, Lions, Colts, Jets, and Seahawks.
- Tight end Zach Sudfeld has re-signed with the Jets, agent Jason Bernstein tweets. Manish Mehta of the Daily News (on Twitter) adds that it is a one-year deal. Sudfeld was a restricted free agent, so his new deal will presumably be for less than the low-round tender of $1.671MM.
- The Chiefs announced (on Twitter) that they have signed defensive lineman David King and linebacker Efe Obada.
- The Dolphins have re-signed linebacker James-Michael Johnson, per Howard Balzer of USA Today Sports (on Twitter).
- The Chargers re-signed ERFA guard Kenny Wiggins, Balzer tweets.
- The Jets will not tender an offer to punter Ryan Quigley, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets.
Jets Sign Matt Forte
THURSDAY, 8:09pm: The Jets’ deal with Forte is official, Mike Garafolo and Peter Schrager of Fox Sports report (Twitter links). There was a slight hold-up due to Forte’s physical, but nothing emerged that the team viewed as significant, Garafolo reports.
THURSDAY, 9:03am: Forte is getting a three-year deal worth $12MM from the Jets, tweets Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. The contract features an $8MM guarantee and has an additional $4MM available in incentives.
WEDNESDAY, 2:08pm: The Jets have agreed to sign free agent running back Matt Forte, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Forte must wait until 3pm to officially sign, but it looks like he’s heading to New York.
Numerous clubs were said to be interested in Forte after the Bears informed him that he would not be re-signed after eight seasons in Chicago. The Jets had previously been mentioned as a potential destination, as had the Dolphins, and even the division rival Packers were said to have said to be intrigued by Forte.
The 30-year-old Forte will head to the Big Apple, where the Jets are certainly in need of running back help after Chris Ivory agreed to sign with the Jaguars last night. New York’s No. 2 back, Bilal Powell, might also be on his way out, as the market is said to be intensifying for his services.
Forte had a relatively down season in 2015, missing three games with injury and failing to top 1,000 yards rushing for the first time since 2011. But he still managed almost 1,300 yards from scrimmage thanks to his receiving ability — he caught 44 passes out of the backfield for almost 400 yards. Whether Forte is asked to carry the full load in New York or instead serves as a receiving back remains to be seen, as the Jets could certainly add even more weapons in the backfield.
Given his age, Forte isn’t going to command a lengthy deal or a large salary, but it will be interesting to see the specifics of his contract with the Jets. One report earlier this year claimed that Forte would be “lucky” to get $3MM per year on the open market, and while that figure seems a bit low, running backs — especially those over 30 years of age — certainly aren’t valued all that highly in free agency.
PFR listed Forte as the No. 3 free agent running back, behind Doug Martin and Lamar Miller. Martin has already re-signed with the Buccaneers, so Miller remains the best back available, followed by Alfred Morris, Arian Foster, Powell, and Chris Johnson.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Latest On Colin Kaepernick
7:58pm: The Kaepernick derby looks to extend into Friday, with the Jets, Browns, Broncos and 49ers in a holding pattern right now, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
The Jets remain far apart in contract talks with Ryan Fitzpatrick and could be considering Brian Hoyer as well. The Browns are considered to be more serious about a Kaepernick deal than the Jets are as well, with the polarizing sixth-year passer being the Broncos’ top quarterback target.
3:15pm: There has been no recent movement in trade talks involving Colin Kaepernick, Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter). That means that things are quiet currently between the 49ers and the Broncos, Browns, and Jets, but Maiocco (link) cautions that things could heat up quickly.
In fact, Mike Silver of NFL.com (on Twitter) believes that a move will go down in the next 24 hours.
Right now, things are two-pronged as the 49ers need to find a suitable trade and any team looking to acquire Kaepernick needs to work out contract issues with the player (link via Maiocco). No. 7 still has five years left on his hefty $114MM extension, though 2015-2017 are guaranteed for injury only.
The Jets believe that Kaepernick is on his way to the Broncos, Manish Mehta of the Daily News tweets. The Broncos have been heavily connected to Kaepernick over the last 24 hours after watching Brock Osweiler sign a lucrative four-year, $72MM deal with the Texans.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Raiders Sign Bruce Irvin To Four-Year Deal
THURSDAY, 7:50pm: The Raiders have officially signed Irvin, the team announced today (link via CSNBayArea.com).
WEDNESDAY, 9:03am: Irvin’s deal with the Raiders will be worth $37MM over four years, including $12.5MM in the first year, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. The deal has a max value of $39MM if Irvin reaches certain Pro Bowl incentives, per Pelissero (via Twitter).
TUESDAY, 8:06pm: The Raiders have reached an agreement with linebacker Bruce Irvin, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Irvin, like all other unrestricted free agents, must wait until 3pm CT on Wednesday to officially sign.
[RELATED: Raiders, Kelechi Osemele agree to terms]
In Irvin and offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele (whom Oakland agreed to sign earlier today), the Raiders have added two of the league’s most coveted free agents — Irvin ranked sixth among PFR’s Top 50 free agents while Osemele ranked fourth. Oakland entered the free agent period with more than $60MM in available cap space, and thus far, they’ve put that money to good use, scoring impressive coups on both sides of the ball.
The Raiders had not been mentioned as a potential suitor for Irvin, so this signing is all the more surprising given that Oakland’s interest had not been reported. Rather, the Jaguars and Falcons — each of whom employ former Seahawks defensive coordinators as head coaches — were thought to be among the favorites to land Irvin, and a report earlier today tied the Cardinals to the edge rusher, as well.
Instead, Irvin will head to the Bay Area, where the Raiders are quietly assembling a solid defense to pair with an offense that is already full of young stars. Irvin will team with Khalil Mack, who posted 15 sacks last year, to form an imposing duo sure to put fear in opposing quarterbacks. Oakland needs more pieces on the defensive side of the ball, to be sure, but Mack and Irvin — along with solid role players like Dan Williams and David Amerson — are a nice start.
A former first-round pick, Irvin became a full-time starter during his sophomore campaign, and has started 37 contests since that time. His sack numbers aren’t eye-popping — he’s totaled just 12 sacks during the past two seasons — but he ranked as the league’s No. 18 linebacker in 2015, per Pro Football Focus. In a scheme different than the Seahawks’, where he’s one of the primary rushers, Irvin should be expected to top those sack totals.
As Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times notes (via Twitter), it’s possible that Ken Norton Jr.‘s presence on the Raiders’ coaching staff made a difference in Oakland being able to land Irvin. Norton Jr. — who is now Oakland’s defensive coordinator — was Irvin’s linebackers coach during his first three seasons in Seattle.
From the Seahawks perspective, losing Irvin is another reminder than a contending club can’t afford to keep everyone. After extending Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, and others on defense, Irvin was the odd man out, and Seattle seemed to know that it had no chance to retain Irvin — although, the Hawks could have kept Irvin for one more season had it exercised its fifth-year option.
Depending on the value of Irvin’s new deal with Oakland, the Seahawks figure to earn a compensatory pick (likely either in the third or fourth round) in the 2017 draft.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.