Saints To Re-Sign Kyle Wilson
Pending free agent cornerback Kyle Wilson won’t hit the open market on Wednesday, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network, who reports (via Twitter) that the Saints and Wilson have agreed to terms on a one-year contract that will keep him in New Orleans.
Wilson, a former first-round pick, spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Jets before heading to New Orleans for the 2015 season. While he didn’t live up to expectations in the Big Apple, Wilson played well as the Saints’ third cornerback last season, picking up 27 tackles and an interception. Pro Football Focus ranked him 47th out of 111 qualified players at the position.
Despite re-signing Wilson and retaining Delvin Breaux, the Saints will likely be in the market for help at the cornerback position this offseason. The team reportedly intends to cut Brandon Browner from its roster when the new league year begins on Wednesday, after Browner ranked dead-last among PFF’s cornerback rankings in 2015.
FA Rumors: Whitehead, Clayborn, Vikings, Jags
With Kiko Alonso set to head to Miami once the trade between the Dolphins and Eagles becomes official, Philadelphia will be in the market for a new linebacker. And Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com hears that the Eagles are targeting a player with whom new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is familiar.
According to Shorr-Parks, the Eagles have expressed interest in Lions linebacker Tahir Whitehead, who can become a free agent this week. Whitehead ranked as our top non-rush outside linebacker when we examined 2016’s top defensive free agents over the weekend, and he’d represent an upgrade over Alonso. However, he’ll also be more expensive, so we’ll see if Howie Roseman and the Eagles can make it work.
Here’s more updates on free agents around the NFL:
- Free agent defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn, who has experience playing inside and outside, is drawing interest from a few teams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Rapoport identifies the Giants, Jaguars, Cowboys, and Dolphins as some of the clubs “lurking” on Clayborn.
- Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press passes along a couple updates on the Vikings‘ free agent prospects, reporting (via Twitter) that the team has inquired on safety Reggie Nelson, who previously played for Mike Zimmer in Cincinnati. Tomasson adds (via Twitter) that he’s hearing offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele may be too expensive for Minnesota.
- Could defensive lineman Malik Jackson be a top target for the Jaguars this week? Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains why it could be a good match, noting that Jacksonville is believed to have several targets for the first wave of free agency.
- Free agent wide receiver James Jones tells Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link) that he wants to keep playing for “at least three more years”
- Buccaneers safety Keith Tandy, an unrestricted free agent, has been in talks to return to Tampa Bay, and there’s a good chance he re-signs with the team within the next few days, says Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link).
Panthers To Use Second-Round Tender On Mike Remmers
The Panthers have used the second round RFA tender on starting right tackle Mike Remmers, agent Brett Tessler tweets. GM Dave Gettleman indicated in late February that Remmers would be retained and Carolina has taken a strong step towards that with their decision today. 
The Panthers first acquired Remmers when they signed him off the Rams’ taxi squad in October of 2014. Looking at how he has improved his value since that point, the Rams might regret keeping him on the practice squad rather than the 53-man roster. Pro Football Focus (sub. req’d) rated Remmers as the 43rd best tackle in the league last season, giving him significantly higher marks for his run blocking than his pass blocking.
For more on the Panthers’ offseason plans, check out PFR’s Offseason Outlook for Carolina.
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Cowboys Use Second-Round Tender On Ronald Leary
The Cowboys have placed a second-round tender on restricted free agent guard Ronald Leary, according to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. The tender would pay Leary $2.553MM in 2016. Meanwhile, safety Jeff Heath was given the low tender worth $1.671MM. 
Leary was on the field for 137 pass snaps and 84 run snaps this season, according to the stats compiled by Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Although he did not qualify to be ranked based on that limited sample size, Leary was given an overall grade of 72.2, which would have placed him near the backend of the top 30.
In other Cowboys news, we recently learned that quarterback Tony Romo will go under the knife next week to have a “Mumford procedure” on his collarbone, rather than having a plate inserted. Meanwhile, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Gil Brandt of NFL.com that he will not take a QB with the No. 4 overall pick.
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Dolphins Agree To Acquire Byron Maxwell, Kiko Alonso
3:15pm: The Dolphins will be taking on Maxwell’s full contract for 2016, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links), who adds that the cornerback’s deal will be reworked for 2017.
2:25pm: Maxwell and Alonso have both been informed that they’re being dealt to the Dolphins, pending physicals, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Contract work between the Dolphins and Maxwell is being finalized, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. The deal can’t become official until the start of the new league year.
2:02pm: The Dolphins and Eagles are attempting to finalize a trade that would send Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso – another Kelly acquisition – to Miami in exchange for draft-pick compensation, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
10:49am: The Dolphins and Eagles are discussing a trade that would send cornerback Byron Maxwell to Miami, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who tweets that it’s “in the works.”
Less than a year ago, Maxwell signed a six-year, $63MM contract to join the Eagles as a free agent. With Chip Kelly no longer making personnel decisions in Philadelphia this offseason, it seems the club is interested in moving on from the former head coach’s most expensive addition.
Maxwell’s contract would leave $4.8MM in dead money on the Eagles’ cap if they were to move him in a trade. For the Dolphins, it would mean taking on a fully guaranteed $8.5MM base salary for 2016, plus a partially guaranteed $10MM base salary ($3MM guaranteed) for 2017. Maxwell’s salaries for 2018 to 2020 are fully non-guaranteed.
In his first season in Philadelphia, Maxwell was underwhelming, though that impression can be attributed to the increased expectations that his huge contract brought with him. Prior to 2015, Maxwell had only made 17 career starts, and the fact that the Seahawks’ secondary also featured Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas certainly helped him look better. As the top option in a weak free agent class of corners, Maxwell got paid more than he should have.
If the Dolphins acquire Maxwell, the team will likely either rework his contract or make additional roster moves to help accommodate the deal. Miami is in the market for help at cornerback, with Brice McCain released and Brent Grimes and Jamar Taylor coming off unspectacular 2015 campaigns. As Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets, Grimes – whose cap hit is $9.5MM in 2016 – could be affected by a Maxwell trade.
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Washington Releases Robert Griffin III
3:05pm: Washington has officially issued a press release announcing that Griffin has been cut. The team also confirmed several other cuts reported today, including Jason Hatcher and Jeron Johnson.
9:40am: Washington has released RG3, per Mike Jones of The Washington Post (on Twitter). A formal announcement from the team is presumably forthcoming.
9:36am: Washington will inform Robert Griffin III today of his release, sources tell Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN (on Twitter). Griffin’s salary was slated to become fully guaranteed on Wednesday.
Washington was in no rush to release Griffin since his $16.155MM salary for 2016 was to remain non-guaranteed until the start of the league year. At one time, a trade thought to be somewhat possible, but Washington apparently couldn’t find a proper deal.
In nine games in 2014, Griffin finished with 1,694 passing yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions. He added 176 yards on the ground. Last season, Griffin did not see the field as the team shifted its focus towards Kirk Cousins at quarterback. Griffin’s release has long been considered to be an inevitability.
At least two teams have talked to Washington about a trade this winter, so we can expect the Baylor product to field calls this week. Recently, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com identified the Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers, Broncos, and Cowboys as possible suitors for Griffin.
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Mitchell Schwartz Drawing Interest From Giants, Others
Browns right tackle Mitchell Schwartz is drawing interest from several teams, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. The Buccaneers, Giants, Vikings, and Falcons are all expressing interest in signing the talented offensive lineman. 
Cabot writes that Schwartz is in line to become the highest-paid right tackle in the league at roughly $8.5MM per year. Eagles lineman Lane Johnson presently ranks first at $11.25MM, but he’s expected to eventually shift to left tackle. Since the Browns took Schwartz in the second round of the 2012 draft, he has appeared in and started 64 straight games. For his work last season, the 26-year-old ranked sixth out of 77 qualifying tackles by Pro Football Focus’ standards (subscription required).
The Browns may or may not be willing to pay left tackle money to re-sign their right tackle, but it appears that one of these interested suitors could make that jump.
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Washington Releases Dashon Goldson
3:04pm: Washington has officially confirmed Goldson’s release.
12:55pm: Washington will release safety Dashon Goldson, according to Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (on Twitter). Washington had hoped to restructure Goldson’s deal, but the two sides could not come to an agreement (link). Goldson is the latest in a long line of Washington vets to receive his pink slip today.
Washington was said to value what Goldson can provide both on the field and in the locker room, but their valuation of him did not sync up with his own. Clearly, Goldson is not the same player that commanded a massive five-year contract worth $47.5MM with the Bucs prior to the 2013 season. In April of last year, the Bucs traded Goldson to Washington, where he quickly agreed to a restructured deal.
Goldson was slated to make $8MM with Washington this season, a price tag that was far too rich given the level of production he currently provides. His entire salary was non-guaranteed, meaning that it will all come off of Washington’s cap without fiscal repercussions.
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Eagles Willing To Trade Ryan Mathews
The Eagles seem eager to do away with many of the team’s “Chip Kelly guys” this offseason. In addition to DeMarco Murray, the Eagles are also willing to move running back Ryan Mathews for the right price, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
The Eagles signed Mathews roughly one year ago in an effort to bulk up their backfield after trading LeSean McCoy. At the time of signing, it was believed that Mathews would be the team’s lead back. Soon after, however, the Eagles also signed Murray to a mammoth deal. A significant portion of Mathews’ three-year deal was tied into performance incentives, so the two sides had to come back to the negotiating table afterwards to rework some of the deal’s language.
In total, Mathews ran the ball for 539 yards off of 107 carries and six TDs to go along with 20 catches for 146 yards. Mathews appeared in 13 games and battled a groin injury for much of the season.
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Cardinals Have Interest In Bruce Irvin
One of the top free agents on this year’s market, outside linebacker Bruce Irvin, has been frequently mentioned as a target for the Jaguars and Falcons, two teams who employ former Seahawks defensive coordinators. However, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), there’s at least one more team worth keeping an eye on.
Rapoport identifies the Cardinals as a club that likes Irvin, and Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic confirms (via Twitter) that the Cards have interest in the Seattle defender. It’s not clear yet how serious the team’s pursuit of Irvin will be — reports have suggested that he has a chance to exceed $10MM in annual salary on his next deal, and Arizona’s cap situation isn’t as conducive to a bidding war as a team like Jacksonville’s is.
While Irvin is one potential target for the Cardinals, he’s not the only pass rusher the team is eyeing. Somers reported earlier today that Arizona also has interest in Rams defensive end William Hayes. Improving the pass rush is a top priority this offseason for the Cardinals, whose most effective edge rusher, Dwight Freeney, just turned 36 years old and is eligible for free agency.
Irvin ranked sixth overall in PFR’s top 50 free agents list.
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