AFC North Rumors: Gerhart, Nwaneri, Sanders
Three teams are showing interest in free agent running back Toby Gerhart, including the Browns, a source tells Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The Niners and Jaguars are also in the mix. The latest from the AFC North..
- Uche Nwaneri is visiting the Bengals this Thursday, reports Tania Ganguli os ESPN.com (via Twitter). Nwaneri was released by the Jaguars earlier this week.
- The Ravens really like Emmanuel Sanders, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). They have not reached out to him yet, but would love to steal him away from their division rivals if the price is right.
- The Steelers want to bring back Jerricho Cotchery, writes Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (via Twitter). The team has reached out to the veteran wide receiver, but no deal has been struck yet.
Rob DiRe contributed to this post.
49ers Re-Sign Eric Wright
The 49ers have come to terms on with their free agent cornerback, Eric Wright, reports Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Twitter). Maiocco reports that general manager Trent Baalke will be happy to have one of his favorite players back.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports that the signing will be on a one-year deal (via Twitter).
Defensive Back Rumors: Tillman, Bethea, Mitchell
The latest secondary news..
- The Buccaneers are interested in acquiring cornerback Charles Tillman, two sources tell Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune. The Bucs are preparing to part with star cornerback Darrelle Revis and Tillman could come and reunite with coach Lovie Smith.
- Antoine Bethea is a possibility for the 49ers at safety, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.
- It sounds like the Redskins are now a longshot to land free agent safety Mike Mitchell, tweets Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Mitchell is picking up interest after having a solid year with the Panthers on a one-year, make good contract. Diana Marie Russini of NBC Washington (on Twitter) hears the same thing and says that Jairus Byrd is even less likely.
49ers, Dawson Agree To New Deal
Kicker Phil Dawson announced via Twitter that he has reached agreement on a new deal with the 49ers, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Dawson adds that it’s a two-year pact (link).
Dawson, 39, set the 49ers franchise record with 27 consecutive made field goals. He made 32 of 36 attempts during the regular season in 2013 and was 7-for-7 in the postseason, including a 33-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Packers in the playoffs. The 15-year veteran holds the NFL record in accuracy of (84.5 percent) among all kickers with at least 300 made field goals in his career.
NFC Rumors: Sproles, Tuck, Suh, Watson
Let’s check on the latest miscellaneous notes from around the NFC….
- The Saints are set to cut Darren Sproles today, but they are still holding out hope on trading him, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. There are more than ten teams interested in the diminutive tailback if he’s cut free, so it’s conceivable that they could find a trade partner.
- Justin Tuck‘s exploration of the free agent market may end up with him returning to the Giants, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio hears that one team was willing to pay Tuck $3MM per year, but the veteran defensive end would prefer to remain in New York at that price.
- Talks have yet to start between the Lions and Ndamukong Suh on reworking his deal, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The thinking previously was that Detroit had to re-work the deal before the start of free agency but that’s not the case.
- Buccaneers linebacker Dekoda Watson is likely to sign elsewhere at the start of free agency, a league source tells Mike Florio.
- The Bears would like to bring back cornerback/special teams player Sherrick McManis, but the Ravens, Eagles, and Falcons could be in play as well, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
- With Donte Whitner set to leave the 49ers, San Francisco could turn to safety Ryan Mundy as a fallback, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
- Free agent left tackle Jared Veldheer has fired his agent in order to hire his brother, James Veldheer, as his new agent, tweets Mike Jurecki of FOX Sports 910. Veldheer is expected to sign with the Cardinals.
- The Redskins are monitoring Kenny Britt, who could be had on a reasonable deal in a soft market, tweets Zac Boyer of the Washington Times. Of course, the Redskins’ likely deal with Andre Roberts lessens their need for Britt.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Contract Tenders: Dobbs, Lattimore, Bears
The 49ers are expected to extend the restricted free agent tender to defensive lineman Demarcus Dobbs and extend a tender to exclusive rights free agent Michael Wilhoite, tweets Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. We’ll keep track of the latest contract tenders here..
- The Packers put the low ($1.431MM) restricted tender on linebacker Jamari Lattimore, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
- The Bears are not planning to place the restricted free agent tender on safety Anthony Walters, so he will become an unrestricted free agent this afternoon, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
- The Cardinals won’t tender Marcus Benard, Alfonso Smith, Ronald Talley, or Jake Ballard, tweets Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. That doesn’t mean they won’t return, it just means Arizona doesn’t want to pay the tender price.
- The Ravens have tendered Omar Brown, D.J. Bryant, Josh Bynes, Adrian Hamilton, Anthony Levine and Brynden Trawick, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
NFC Rumors: Ware, Beason, Mitchell
A look at the NFC..
- DeMarcus Ware has requested the Cowboys decide future before start of free agency signing period today, tweets Ed Werder of ESPN. Werder is unsure of the Cowboys’ response at this time.
- The Giants want to re-sign linebacker Jon Beason but Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears that he’s asking for more than Big Blue wants to pay. The Giants have 26 free agents and are alright with letting most of them go, but they’d like to keep the University of Miami product.
- If Donte Whitner goes elsewhere, the 49ers are looking at Panthers safety Mike Mitchell as a backup plan, a source tells Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Mitchell, 26, had a career high four interceptions to go along with eight pass breakups in 2013.
49ers To Cut Carlos Rogers
TUESDAY, 9:34am: The 49ers will release Rogers with the post-June 1st designation, freeing up more cap space for 2014, tweets Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee.
MONDAY, 3:34pm: Cornerback Carlos Rogers will no longer represent the largest cap hit on the 49ers’ books for 2014, as the team has decided to release him, allowing him to test the market, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
Rogers started all 16 regular season games for the 49ers in 2013, recording 49 tackles, two interceptions, and eight passes defended. However, the 32-year-old ranked just 71st out of 110 qualified corners, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required). His performance and age, combined with an $8.09MM cap number, made his return to San Francisco unlikely unless he accepted a pay cut. By cutting Rogers, the Niners will create more than $5MM in cap savings, as the defensive back’s salary will still count for nearly $3MM in dead money on the 2014 cap.
For the Niners, Tramaine Brock looks poised to take over one of the top two cornerback jobs. However, San Francisco may be in the market for a new corner at the other spot, with Tarell Brown eligible for free agency.
WR Rumors: Britt, Hawkins, Edelman, Jones
With about 17 hours left to go until the official start of free agency, here’s a look at some of the rumors regarding receivers:
- The Redskins have interest in both Kenny Britt and Andrew Hawkins, writes Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Britt is an unrestricted free agent who has had his share of struggles both on and off the field, but he can still be a playmaker. Hawkins is a restricted free agent who was tendered at the original-pick level; because he was an undrafted free agent, the Redskins would not have to sacrifice a draft pick to sign him. Hawkins played under Redskins head coach Jay Gruden the past three seasons with the Bengals.
- The Patriots are heavily engaged in contract talks with Julian Edelman, reports Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald. Edelman was on the free agent market for over a month last offseason before re-upping with the Pats, but that would assuredly not happen were he to reach free agency tomorrow.
- James Jones is receiving interest from both the Lions and the Jets, but a return to the Packers is not out of the question, tweets Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.
- The 49ers could be interested in Dexter McCluster, says ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson (via Twitter).
NFC Rumors: Cowboys, Bell, Vikings, Bears
The Cowboys are interested in re-signing free-agents-to-be Jason Hatcher and Anthony Spencer, but Dallas isn’t the only team with interest in the defensive linemen. According to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com, the free agent duo has at least seven interested suitors, including the Cowboys. Dallas is also interested in defensive tackle Henry Melton, according to Watkins (Twitter link), but the ESPN scribe cautions that there are no assurances of a deal, given the Cowboys’ limited cap space.
Here’s more from around the NFC, with free agency less than 24 hours away:
- The Lions continue to work hard on a new deal for restricted free agent running back Joique Bell, and hope to get something done before free agency begins tomorrow, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
- The Vikings have inquired about free agent defensive lineman Lamarr Houston but he’ll probably wind up elsewhere, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. Wolfson adds in a second tweet that the team has kicked the tires on defensive tackle Vance Walker as well.
- Packers free agent Jermichael Finley has yet to receive medical clearance, but nonetheless has visits lined up with potential suitors this week, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.
- Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report views the Redskins as the best potential fit for prospective free agent Darren Sproles, though he says the Patriots could be a dark horse.
- The Bears aren’t currently considering free agents Jairus Byrd or Michael Johnson, according to Patrick Finley and Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times.
- Jason La Canfora’s latest article at CBSSports.com includes plenty of interesting tidbits on free agents. Among them: The Buccaneers may release Jeremy Zuttah this week, and are focusing on signing Anthony Collins. La Canfora adds that the Packers are “very high” on free agent defensive lineman Arthur Jones.
- The door isn’t completely closed on center Jonathan Goodwin winding up back with the 49ers, a source tells Larry Holder of The Times-Picayune (Twitter link). Holder opines that Goodwin would be a good fit with the Saints also if Brian De La Puente leaves.
Zach Links contributed to this post.