Contract Details: Maclin, Thomas, Hughes, Odrick
Here are a few details on some of this week’s noteworthy new contracts:
AFC deals:
- Jeremy Maclin, WR (Chiefs): Five years, $55MM. $22.5MM fully guaranteed. $12MM signing bonus (Twitter links via Joel Corry of CBSSports.com).
- Julius Thomas, TE (Jaguars): Five years, $46MM. $21MM fully guaranteed. $28.3MM in first three years (Twitter link via Albert Breer of the NFL Network).
- Jerry Hughes, DE (Bills): Five years, $45MM base value. $7MM signing bonus. $11.775MM fully guaranteed. $1MM annually in sack-based incentives (Twitter links via Corry and Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- Jared Odrick, DL (Jaguars): Five years, $42.5MM. $22.5MM guaranteed. $5MM roster bonus in 2015 (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
- Brandon Flowers, CB (Chargers): Four years, $36.4MM base value. $20.5MM guaranteed. $8MM signing bonus. $2.25MM first-year cap hit (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Curtis Lofton, LB (Raiders): Three years, $18MM base value. $10MM guaranteed. $6.5MM in first year, including $3.5MM roster bonus (Twitter links via Pelissero and Wilson).
- Kendall Langford, DT (Colts): Four years, $17.2MM base value. $2.5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports).
- Brian Hoyer, QB (Texans): Two years, $10.5MM base value. $3.75MM roster bonus to be paid this month. $5.25MM annual cap hits (Twitter link via John McClain of the Houston Chronicle).
- A.J. Hawk, LB (Bengals): Two years, $3.25MM base value. $500K guaranteed (Twitter link via Pelissero).
NFC deals:
- Torrey Smith, WR (49ers): Five years, $40MM base value. $8MM signing bonus. $8.75MM fully guaranteed. $3.6MM first-year cap hit (Twitter links via Corry).
- Bryan Bulaga, T (Packers): Five years, $33.75MM base value. $8MM signing bonus. $3.6MM first-year cap hit (Twitter links via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com).
- Stephen Paea, DT (Washington): Four years, $21MM. $7.85MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Corey Peters, DT (Cardinals): Three years, $9MM base value. $5.75MM guaranteed. $2MM signing bonus (Twitter links via Wilson).
- Justin Durant, LB (Falcons): Three years, $10.8MM base value. $4.5MM in 2015. $3MM available in incentives (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Dwan Edwards, DT (Panthers): Two years, $4MM base value. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Sean Weatherspoon, LB (Cardinals): One year, $3.58MM base value. $1.25MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Major Wright, S (Buccaneers): Two years, $3MM base value (Twitter link via Pelissero).
NFC FA Visits: Knighton, Browner, Bush
The start of free agency at 3:00pm central time on Tuesday opened the door for players to officially sign contracts with new teams. It also opened the door for teams and players to begin scheduling formal visits, so free agents can get a better sense of what to expect from their potential suitors. Early on Wednesday morning, we have a few updates on notable free agents meetings with NFC clubs, so let’s round them up….
- Terrance Knighton, who said yesterday that he has essentially ruled out a return to Denver or a reunion with Jack Del Rio in Oakland, will visit Washington today, he tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Washington has already added Stephen Paea and Ricky Jean-Francois to its roster, so signing Knighton would really solidify the team’s interior defensive line.
- We heard last night that the Saints have interest in cornerback Brandon Browner, and Browner will make his first visit to New Orleans, followed by one to Washington, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. According to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link), the Ravens, Browns, and Jaguars also have interest in the former Pats corner.
- Reggie Bush, who has received interest from a number of teams since being cut by the Lions, is visiting the 49ers today, reports Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (via Twitter). The Saints, Patriots, and Eagles were cited in a Tuesday report as also being possible options for the veteran running back.
49ers Sign Torrey Smith To Five-Year Deal
WEDNESDAY, 6:57am: Smith officially signed his new contract with the 49ers last night, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).
TUESDAY, 3:46pm: Smith has reached agreement on a five-year deal with the 49ers, according to Adam Caplan and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The deal will pay Smith $40MM over five years with $22MM guaranteed, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweets.
9:42am: Niners wideout Anquan Boldin tells Jamey Eisenberg of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) that Smith to San Francisco is a “done deal” and that he helped the team with recruiting. Boldin probably hasn’t been kept apprised on all the talks conducted by the front office, so this doesn’t necessarily seal the deal on Smith signing with the 49ers, but it certainly appears to be headed in that direction.
SUNDAY, 1:39pm: With Randall Cobb off the board, competition for the top remaining free agent wideouts is heating up, and according to multiple reports, the 49ers look to be in the lead for Torrey Smith. Sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link) that there’s “strong mutual interest” between Smith and the Niners, while Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the two sides are expected to get something done unless the wideout’s asking price is too rich for San Francisco.
The Niners are in the market for receiving help with Michael Crabtree and Brandon Lloyd expected to leave the team in free agency. Stevie Johnson is also viewed as a likely cap casualty, meaning the team needs to find a wideout to pair with Anquan Boldin. A player who can stretch the field makes sense, and Smith certainly fits that bill, having excelled at making big plays – and drawing big pass interference penalties – for the Ravens in recent years.
While the 49ers look like the frontrunners for Smith, no agreement is in place yet, and other suitors remain in play. According to Caplan (via Twitter), the Colts and Texans are among the other teams with interest in the 26-year-old, though both clubs are evaluating other options as well. The Raiders and Chargers are also believed to be considering Smith.
NFC Notes: Bradford, Eagles, Seahawks, Saints
Before the Eagles finalized their acquisition of Sam Bradford, there were other teams in the mix for the former first overall pick, says Peter King of TheMMQB.com (via Twitter). Per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link), the Browns may have been one of those teams. However, no other club was willing to give up as much as Chip Kelly and the Eagles, who had eyed Bradford for weeks and believe he has the goods to be a franchise quarterback, according to Dave Spadaro of PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
As we recover from what’s been a surprising and hectic day of action around the NFL, let’s round up a few more leftover NFC items….
- Former Dolphins guard Shelley Smith, who was just cut by the team earlier today, already has a visit lined up with the Seahawks for Wednesday, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Seattle is in the market for some interior line help after trading Max Unger and losing James Carpenter in free agency.
- Appearing on SiriusXM NFL Radio today, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis acknowledged that the team will “obviously” look to add another tight end after trading Jimmy Graham, and added that he never asked Drew Brees to restructure his contract this offseason because it “wasn’t necessary for us” (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- The 49ers aren’t in the running for their own free agent cornerback Perrish Cox, writes Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com (Twitter link) suggests keeping an eye on linebacker Akeem Ayers as a potential free agent target for the Rams, and Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link) agrees that the club has interest.
NFC Rumors: Cox, Boykin, Orakpo, Moore
Let’s take a look at the latest news from the NFC…
- Free agent cornerback Perrish Cox will visit with Washington tomorrow, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The 28-year-old Cox started 14 games for the 49ers last season, but isn’t expected back in San Francisco, as Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle adds (via Twitter).
- On the lookout for help at the receiver position, the Panthers will meet with ex-Packers Jarrett Boykin, tweets Rapoport. Boykin was phased out of Green Bay’s offense in 2014 in favor of rookie Davante Adams.
- We’ve already heard that Brian Orakpo will meet with the Titans today, and if he’s allowed to leave without a contract, the edge rusher will visit with the Cardinals, a source tells John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- The Giants are “heavily considering” signing safety Rahim Moore, according to Cecil Lammey of ESPN.com (via Twitter). With Antrel Rolle looking for a big deal in free agency, Moore could be a fit in New York’s secondary.
- Though Washington has interest in running back Justin Forsett, he has yet to receive an offer or schedule a visit, per Keim (on Twitter).
Extra Points: Hartline, Murray, Browner, Bush
The latest from around the league…
- Brian Hartline‘s decision ultimately came down to the Browns and the Patriots, the receiver tells Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal (Twitter link). Hartline ended up signing a two-year pact with Cleveland yesterday.
- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says the club wants to re-sign DeMarco Murray, emphasizing that Dallas is still in negotiations with its free agent running back (Twitter links via Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram).
- The Panthers don’t seem to be showing much interest in edge rusher Derrick Morgan, tweets Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer.
- The Titans have interest in cornerback Brandon Browner, according to Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter). Browner isn’t expected to take a pay cut to remain in New England. Browner is receiving a lot of interest around the league, but he could still return to the Patriots, per Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link).
- Jahri Evans is still a candidate for release in New Orleans, and if the Saints do cut him, expect the Bills to be in on the veteran guard, says Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- Most observers expected free agent receiver Michael Crabtree to depart San Francisco, but the 49ers do have interest in re-signing him, according to Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 (via Twitter).
- Having been cut by the Lions earlier in the offseason, running back Reggie Bush is considering a return to the Saints, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. According to Rapoport, the Patriots and Eagles are among the other teams in play for Bush.
NFC FA Rumors: Hardy, Peterson, Worilds
Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter) hears there’s at least some cursory interest in Greg Hardy from the 49ers. Still, it’s very early in the process and his signing might drag on for some time. No matter who signs him, Robinson says (link) that it’ll be a slow process and he expects to see some media leaks to see how it plays publicly. More from the NFC..
- Vikings running back Adrian Peterson met with the Wilfs in New York on Monday and GM Rick Spielman, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today. It was a continuation of the discussion Peterson had last week with Spielman and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer, who huddled with Peterson for about four hours at his home outside Houston to discuss his future with the team.
- Jason Worilds has a clear idea of what he wants but both the Giants and Steelers think that price is too high, Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com tweets. As one source told the NFL.com scribe, “We’re not paying $1MM per sack.” Worilds notched 7.5 sacks in 2014.
- B.J. Raji‘s preference is to return to the Packers but he’s weighing offers and his return is no sure thing right now, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
- The Lions are still trying to get something done with Nick Fairley but he’s got some interest elsewhere, Robinson tweets.
- The Packers are not pursuing Andre Johnson at this time, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets. It appears that Johnson was only being looked at in case Randall Cobb went elsewhere.
- The Falcons are expected to be in play for Rams tight end Lance Kendricks, according to Jim Thomas of the Post Dispatch (on Twitter).
Patrick Willis, Justin Smith Expected To Retire
TUESDAY, 10:05am: The 49ers have officially announced in a press release that Willis is retiring.
MONDAY, 2:14pm: Speaking to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, Smith said today that he still isn’t quite ready to formally announce his retirement.
“I’m going to decide by next week probably,” Smith said. “So you’ll know by then. It’s not 100 percent.”
Multiple reports have indicated that Smith will call it a career, but only the veteran defender himself can make that decision official. Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports notes (via Twitter) that the 49ers would be willing to explore options to limit the physical toll on Smith if he wanted to come back.
9:57am: According to Florio, Willis will in fact retire, with a formal announcement expected to come on Tuesday. Florio confirms that Smith will also call it a career, meaning two longtime cornerstones for the 49ers defense will retire this offseason.
Smith, 35, spent seven years in San Francisco after a seven-year stint with the Bengals. For his career, he appeared in 221 total regular season contests, racking up 87 total sacks and earning spots in five consecutive Pro Bowls from 2009 to 2013.
Willis, who played and started 112 games for the Niners, averaged nearly 119 tackles per season during his NFL career, even taking into account his abridged 2014 campaign.
9:18am: The big 49ers news hinted at by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk earlier today appears to involve linebacker Patrick Willis. According to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter), the 49ers are bracing for the loss of Willis, who is expected to retire from the NFL.
While the Niners had been preparing for the possibility that veteran defensive end Justin Smith decides to call it a career this winter, the news of Willis potentially deciding to end his career comes as a surprise. Prior to a 2014 season cut short by injury, Willis had earned a spot in the Pro Bowl in each of his even seasons, and only turned 30 years old in January.
However, when he landed on the injured reserve list back in November, Willis revealed that the toe on which he was undergoing surgery had been a chronic issue, limiting his effectiveness for years.
“I don’t look to play this game for just another year,” Willis told Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com at the time. “I feel like I have five or six more great years of football left in my body. Unfortunately, this toe was telling me otherwise.”
We’ve yet to hear from Willis himself that he’ll retire, and even if he does decide to bow out of the NFL, it’s not clear that it’s entirely due to the toe issues. However, given his stated desire to play “five or six more” seasons, the veteran linebacker presumably wouldn’t announce his retirement unless he felt his body wouldn’t allow him to continue playing.
With two years still left on his contract, Willis is due a salary north of $7MM for 2015, so if he were to retire, the 49ers would create about $7.425MM in cap savings. While the loss of Willis in the middle of their defense would be significant, the Niners appear to have uncovered a gem in 2014 draftee Chris Borland, who could start for the team alongside NaVorro Bowman in 2015.
A recent report suggested San Francisco was shopping inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite, who stepped in as a starter for the club last season when Bowman and Willis were injured. If Willis does retire, the team may be more inclined to keep Wilhoite in the mix rather than selling him off for a late-round draft pick.
West Notes: Wisniewski, Chargers, Raiders
The Rams have touched base with the reps for free agent center Stefen Wisniewski, Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch tweets. Wisniewski could be a replacement for Scott Wells, who was released on Monday night.
Let’s check out more rumors from the West divisions:
- The Chargers are still in communication with running back Ryan Mathews, according to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link), but nothing is close to happening at the moment.
- As does seemingly half the league, the Raiders have interest in free agent safety Ron Parker, per Bill Williamson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- Despite reports that the Raiders are nearing an agreement with Terrance Knighton, Williamson tweets that the situation is still “fluid.”
- Also from Williamson (Twitter link), Malcolm Smith is expected to have a “fast market,” and the Raiders could be in on him.
- 49ers fullback Bruce Miller was last week on a spousal abuse charge, reports Jenna Laine of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Miller, who signed an extension last March, could be in line for a suspension via the league’s domestic violence policy.
Latest On Greg Hardy
Although he’s one of the best available free agent pass-rushers, Greg Hardy‘s market will surely be affected by his murky eligibility status, given that he’s currently on the commissioner’s exempt list. Per Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link), however, Hardy will meet with NFL officials tomorrow to learn whether or not he’ll be suspended for his 2014 domestic violence incident.
According to Cole, Hardy is expected to have a litany of suitors once his status is resolved, and the 49ers, Falcons, Jaguars, Titans, and Colts will be the clubs with the most interest. The 26-year-old Hardy played in just one game last season due to his placement on the exempt list, but he racked up 26 sacks in the two seasons prior. If he’s not suspended, he should face a healthy market for his services; if he is hit with a ban, interest in him would obviously be commensurately lowered.
Hardy, whom the Panthers are not expected to try to retain, ranked as the No. 11 free agent on PFR’s Top 50 list.