Contract Re-Workings: Bucs, Evans, 49ers, Ford, Steelers, DeCastro, Seahawks, Moore
On this busy Saturday morning we’ve got a few contract re-workings to pass along. A few teams, all franchises hoping to compete for a championship this year, are freeing up some cap space, possibly to pursue some of the veterans left on the market:
- Mike Evans, WR (Buccaneers): Tampa freed up $9.5MM by converting some of Evans’ salary into a signing bonus, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The Bucs are loading up for their potential Tom Brady title run, having just signed Leonard Fournette earlier this week, and it’s possible they aren’t done yet. Evans is under contract through the 2023 season.
- Dee Ford, DE (49ers): San Francisco also created $9.5MM in space by doing the same thing with Ford, Yates notes in the same tweet. Ford was a disappointment in his first year with the 49ers in 2019 as he battled various health issues that limited him to 11 games, and the organization reportedly shopped him before the draft. He’s signed through the 2023 season as well, although there are outs earlier. He’s also reportedly dealing with a relatively minor calf issue at the moment.
- David DeCastro, OL (Steelers): Pittsburgh created $3.85MM with the signing bonus trick with DeCastro, Yates notes. The veteran guard has two years left on his five-year, $50MM pact.
- David Moore, WR (Seahawks): Moore has reworked his deal to stay in Seattle, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. This one sounds like more of a pay cut in order to keep his roster spot rather than the vets above who just had salary converted to signing bonuses. Rapoport notes that Moore had been set to make $2.13MM under his RFA tender, and he presumably took less than that to make the 53. He had 17 receptions for 301 yards and two touchdowns last year.
Saints, Titans Pushing To Sign Jadeveon Clowney
The Titans look to have company in their pursuit of Jadeveon Clowney. The Saints are now be in the mix, with ESPN.com’s Dianna Russini reporting both New Orleans and Tennessee are making strong pushes to sign the Pro Bowl pass rusher (Twitter link).
Clowney has listed New Orleans as a place he would like to land, while Tennessee has been one of the teams most closely linked to the former No. 1 overall pick this year. On Friday, head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed that the Titans have an offer out to the edge rusher, though he declined to go into further detail (Twitter link via Jim Wyatt of the team website). Add the Jaguars to the mix as well, per Russini (on Twitter). While Pete Carroll did rule out a Clowney signing, Russini adds the Seahawks still view Clowney’s price tag as too high.
This could mean a high-stakes bidding war for the Titans, who have monitored Clowney for months. But the Saints are throwing an all-out attack at Clowney, per Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who note Sean Payton has spoken to the free agent defender multiple times about a deal (Twitter link).
Both teams want Clowney under contract by Monday, Russini adds, noting Titans and Saints players and coaches are acting accordingly by attempting to persuade the former No. 1 overall pick (Twitter link). This would put him in position to clear COVID-19 protocols and be in uniform for Week 1. This now makes two straight years the 27-year-old talent has skipped training camp.
The Titans hold $22MM-plus in cap space; the Saints possess less than $7MM. However, New Orleans has approached multiple veterans about restructuring to free up room, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
While two unnamed teams remain in the Clowney mix, per NFL.com, the Saints entering the equation would be significant given Clowney’s previous interest and the team’s status as a Super Bowl frontrunner. The Saints have added Emmanuel Sanders and Malcolm Jenkins to a roster that already stood as one of the NFL’s best. Clowney would join a defensive front that already houses All-Pro Cameron Jordan and former first-round pick Marcus Davenport.
It is unclear if Clowney has dropped his price at the 11th hour, but that would make sense given the apparent acceleration of his market. The former Texans and Seahawks edge player sought a $20MM-per-year deal, then lowered it later in the spring. The Browns and Seahawks offered Clowney deals in the $15MM-AAV ballpark. The Ravens and Raiders have also been mentioned as Clowney suitors as well. The Browns redid Olivier Vernon‘s deal over the summer and have not been viewed as strong Clowney pursuers since.
The Titans may be growing frustrated with the three-time Pro Bowler, who apparently has been difficult to pin down recently. He would join Harold Landry and the recently signed Vic Beasley in Tennessee. The Seahawks would seemingly need Clowney most, but they have stood pat with lower-profile edge rushers all offseason. However, Seattle waited until roster cutdown day to reform their pass rush around Clowney last year. Regarding Jacksonville, Clowney may not be especially interested given his rebuffing of a trade to rebuilding Miami last year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/3/20
Here are Thursday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Khari Lee
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: RB Antonio Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: WR Tommylee Lewis
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: T O’Shea Dugas, LB Brady Sheldon and DE Bryce Sterk
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: S J.T. Hassell, CB Donnie Lewis, WR J’Mon Moore, DT Ricky Walker
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: WR Artavis Scott
New England Patriots
- Waived: CB Michael Jackson
- Waived/injured: DT Michael Barnett
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: T Andre Dillard
- Waived: DB Grayland Arnold, WR Manasseh Bailey, WR Deontay Burnett, WR Travis Fulgham, G Julian Good-Jones, WR Marcus Green, RB Elijah Holyfield, C Luke Juriga, RB Adrian Killins, DB Elijah Riley, TE Tyrone Swoopes, RB Michael Warren
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: CB Jamar Taylor
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DE Damontre Moore
- Waived: WR Seth Dawkins, DE Pita Taumoepenu
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: DT Kyle Love
Titans Frustrated With Jadeveon Clowney
A recent report indicated that the Ravens may be the frontrunners for free agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, but the Titans — who, unlike the Ravens, actually offered Clowney a contract earlier this year — continue to lurk.
Tennessee GM Jon Robinson said back in July that he was still monitoring the Clowney situation, but he wanted to get the former No. 1 overall pick in the Titans’ facility for a physical. So while Robinson may have been willing to bring Clowney in on a fairly low-risk deal without a medical examination, he needs to be assured that Clowney is in good health if he is going to authorize a significant contract.
However, it seems that Clowney has been hard to pin down. In an interview with 102.5 The Game this morning, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports said that the Titans are frustrated with the “lack of engagement” on Clowney’s part (h/t Joe Rexrode of The Athletic on Twitter). Tennessee still wants to bring him in for a physical, but for reasons that are presently unclear, Clowney — who has posted videos to social media suggesting that he is fully healthy — appears reluctant.
Robinson goes on to say that the Titans or Seahawks, not the Ravens, will be the team to land Clowney. In either case, he will sign a contract worth around $12MM per year, a far cry from the $20MM that he was shooting for at the outset of free agency.
The Titans have always looked like a good fit given the presence of head coach Mike Vrabel — the Texans’ LB coach and defensive coordinator during Clowney’s first four years in Houston — and given the club’s need for another pass rusher. The team did take a flier on Vic Beasley and will return Harold Landry, who posted nine sacks in a promising sophomore effort in 2019, but Clowney could provide a major boost to the Titans’ defensive front.
Seahawks Re-Sign Josh Gordon
The Seahawks are re-signing talented but troubled wideout Josh Gordon, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com was first to report (Twitter link). Gordon was hit with an indefinite suspension in December for violating the league’s policies on performance-enhancing substances and substances of abuse, but he applied for reinstatement in June. According to Fowler, that process is going well, so Gordon may be cleared for a return soon (Twitter link).
Most NFL fans are familiar with Gordon’s saga at this point. The December ban marked Gordon’s sixth suspension since he entered the league as a supplemental draft choice in 2012, and he missed the entire 2014-15 campaigns due to violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Teams continue to be intrigued by his undeniable talent, but he is getting farther and farther away from his tremendous 2013 season with the Browns, when he piled up 87 catches for a league-best 1,646 yards and nine TDs. The Patriots acquired him from Cleveland in September of 2018, and he produced pretty well for New England that year, tallying 40 catches for 720 yards and three scores during 11 regular season games. But in what would become something of a Christmas tradition, Gordon was suspended indefinitely in December 2018 for another substance abuse violation.
He was reinstated last August and returned to the Pats, who had placed an original-round RFA tender on him to secure his services. New England placed him on IR in October due to a knee injury and waived him about a week later. The Seahawks subsequently claimed him off waivers.
Gordon, 29, showed flashes of his old self in Seattle, and prior to his latest suspension, he expressed his desire to return to the Seahawks. The ‘Hawks reciprocated that interest in July, and Gordon has been working out in the Seattle area in the hopes of getting a call.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports that Gordon’s contract is a one-year pact that can be worth a little over $1MM (Twitter link). That’s a low-risk, high-reward flier for the Seahawks, who recently re-signed Paul Richardson to add to a solid WR corps that also includes Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/31/20
Here are the NFL’s most recent minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: TE Ryan Becker, OL Steven Gonzalez, CB Zane Lewis, DE Adam Shuler
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: DE John Daka, WR Michael Dereus, C Sean Pollard
- Placed on IR: WR DeAndrew White
Chicago Bears
- Re-Signed: RB Napoleon Maxwell
- Placed on IR: CB Michael Joseph
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DT Olive Sagapolu
- Placed on IR: FB Nick Bawden
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Andy Jones
- Waived: LB James Crawford
New York Jets
- Claimed (from Cardinals): CB Zane Lewis
- Waived: K Brett Maher
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: DL Alex Barrett
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Lance Lenoir
- Placed on IR: Branden Jackson
- Waived/injured: RB Patrick Carr
Washington Football Team
- Signed: WR Tony Brown
- Waived: WR Darvin Kidsy
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/30/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves right here:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: WR D.J. Montgomery
- Waived with failed physical designation: WR Damion Willis
- Waived off IR: C Casey Dunn
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR DeAndre Thompkins
- Waived: CB Alexander Myres
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: DE Eli Mencer
Seahawks, Paul Richardson Agree To Deal
Paul Richardson‘s Seahawks visit indeed produced a contract offer. The former Seahawks second-round pick agreed to rejoin the team on Saturday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
The six-year veteran wide receiver resurfaced on the free agency radar by trekking to Seattle, where he played from 2014-17. The recent Washington cap casualty will attempt to reignite his career in a familiar place.
Richardson enjoyed his best season (44 catches, 703 yards, six touchdown receptions) in his 2017 contract year and parlayed it into a five-year, $40MM deal with Washington. However, injuries plagued the ex-Colorado prospect in the nation’s capital. Washington released him in February, taking on some dead money to do so.
Connected to higher-profile veteran receivers for months now, the Seahawks are adding Richardson to a stable that includes Tyler Lockett, D.K. Metcalf and Phillip Dorsett. The latter, however, is currently sidelined with a foot injury. John Ursua, a 2019 draftee, is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Richardson, 28, probably cannot be considered a lock to make the Seahawks’ roster — given his inconsistent career that includes just one 300-plus-yard season in six tries. The Seahawks have also changed offensive coordinators since his previous run with the team. But if the now-two-time Seahawk is healthy, he will bolster the team’s depth for the time being. The Seahawks have been the team most closely connected to Antonio Brown and Josh Gordon. Those suspended talents will likely remain on the team’s radar, though no resolutions are in sight for either player.
Seahawks Host C Justin Britt
Two former Seahawks were back at the team’s facility Wednesday. Justin Britt joined Paul Richardson in meeting with team brass, per Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
The Seahawks used Britt as a starting offensive lineman from 2014-19 but released him shortly after the draft. No team has brought the veteran center in for a visit since. No Britt-Seahawks reunion is imminent, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio tweets.
Britt started 86 games for the Seahawks in his career, including Super Bowl XLIX, but missed eight regular-season games last season. He underwent knee surgery last year. Wednesday’s visit will likely feature a key determination about Britt’s recovery.
Seattle brought in former Pittsburgh part-time starter B.J. Finney to play center this offseason, so it is certainly interesting to see the team reach out to Britt four months after cutting him. However, Britt has been a full-time starter at guard (2015) and tackle (2014). He spent the past four seasons as Seattle’s starting center, earning a contract extension in 2017 for his work in that role. This would be Britt’s age-29 season.
Seahawks Meeting With Paul Richardson
The Seahawks are looking at one of their former draft choices to potentially help out at wide receiver. Paul Richardson is at the team’s facility Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
A former four-year Seahawks contributor, Richardson may be on track to sign. He is taking a COVID-19 test with the team and could be back with Seattle soon, Garafolo adds. Richardson spent the past two seasons with Washington.
Washington gave Richardson a lucrative deal — five years, $40MM — to join its receiving corps in 2018, but that partnership did not last. The team released the veteran deep threat two seasons into that deal. Richardson, 28, did not eclipse 300 yards in either of his two injury-shortened Washington seasons. Excepting his promising contract-year showing in 2017 (703 receiving yards, six TDs), Richardson has never exceeded 300 yards in a season.
Richardson was Seattle’s top pick in the 2014 draft, being selected 45th overall out of Colorado. He mostly served as a depth cog with the Seahawks, but they used him as a starter in 13 games during his breakout 2017 slate.
Seattle added a depth piece already this offseason, signing former first-round pick Phillip Dorsett. However, the former Colts and Patriots target is currently dealing with a foot injury. The team has also been the primary suitor connected to Antonio Brown, but the mercurial superstar is set to serve an eight-game suspension.