Lions To Sign Justin Coleman
The Lions are closing in on a deal with former Seahawks cornerback Justin Coleman, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The contract will make Coleman the NFL’s highest-paid nickel corner. It’s a four-year, $36MM deal, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
After spending two seasons in New England, Coleman was traded to Seattle in the 2017 offseason for a seventh-round pick in 2018. Mainly serving as a nickel back with the Seahawks, Coleman proved to be a brilliant add. Coleman hasn’t missed a game for the Seahawks in the past two seasons and has emerged as a quality stopper at an increasingly important position.
You may recall that Tavon Young, way back when in late February, became the league’s highest-paid nickel corner when the Ravens re-upped him on a three-year, $25.8MM extension. That mantle now belongs to Coleman, a player who had the benefit of shopping the open market.
Free agency does not formally begin until Wednesday, but Coleman reached his deal with Detroit on Monday, the first day of the so-called “legal tampering” period. Later this week, the contract will be made official.
Frank Clark Won’t Report To Training Camp Without Extension
Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark has no intention of signing his franchise tag or reporting to training camp unless he receives an extension, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Clark was one of five pass-rushers to receive the franchise tender last week, but he may have been the closest of the group to reaching a long-term agreement. Reports just before the tag deadline indicated Seattle was progressing on a new deal with Clark, so there may be some momentum in discussions. The Seahawks have until July 15 to work out a extension with Clark — if they don’t, he’ll be forced to play out the 2019 campaign under the franchise tender.
A former second-round pick, Clark will collect $17.128MM for the 2019 season, a total which will become fully guaranteed once he signs his tag. While that’s a hefty total for a single season, it doesn’t represent Clark’s true value on the open market, or what he’s likely searching for via an extension. While he’s probably not going to exceed Khalil Mack‘s $23.5MM annual average, Clark could feel secure in targeting a $20MM+ yearly salary on a long-term pact.
Clark, 25, has been a wrecking ball over the past three seasons, ranking seventh among NFL defensive linemen in sacks (32) and 10th in quarterbacks hits (66) during that time. Last year, Pro Football Focus graded Clark as the league’s No. 18 edge defender.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/8/19
Today’s minor moves from another busy day of action across the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: RB D.J. Foster
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: DT Daniel Ross
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: LS Carson Tinker
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: K Jonathan Brown
Seattle Seahawks
- Re-signed: DB Akeem King
Jason La Canfora On Brown, Steelers, Eagles
The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in two years, but Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com gets the sense than an extension will be struck before its expiration, which would mean no strike or lockout. One high-ranking league source tells JLC that a deal could even be reached prior to the start of the 2020 season, though an NFLPA source cautioned that things are still in their infancy.
Here’s more from JLC:
- The Raiders and Eagles are the team’s to keep an eye on in the sweepstakes for Steelers star Antonio Brown, JLC hears. The Titans, he says, have nothing going on with the Steelers right now and the Redskins’ front office is divided on AB, even as owner Dan Snyder pushes for a deal. The Saints and Seahawks also discussed AB internally, but don’t appear to be moving forward with the pursuit.
- Talent evaluators tell JLC that they are iffy on the talent of this year’s wide receiver class. “You might as well trade for AB or OBJ, because this is a bad draft for receivers,” one exec said. “I don’t care who ran what, this is not a good group.” JLC asked that particular exec about extraordinary athlete D.K. Metcalf as well, but he was not impressed by his fluidity or natural catching ability.
Seahawks Use Franchise Tag On Frank Clark
Teams are settling their franchise tag business on Monday. The Seahawks are the latest team to do so, with Albert Breer of SI.com reporting (via Twitter) the team has made the decision to apply the tag to Frank Clark.
Decisions for Clark’s and DeMarcus Lawrence‘s tags have come within the past hour, and the Texans franchised Jadeveon Clowney earlier today. The Chiefs and Buccaneers are using their tags on Dee Ford and Donovan Smith, respectively. Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to use their franchise tags.
Like the other moves, Seattle’s Clark decision was expected. Pete Carroll confirmed at the Combine the 25-year-old defensive end would be a Seahawk in 2019. The sides are already progressing on talks, and this deal may be one that gets done before the July 15 deadline.
The Michael Bennett/Cliff Avril sidekick had consistently shown he had higher-end pass-rushing abilities off the bench, and in his first full season as a starter, Clark broke out for 13 sacks — more than Bennett or Avril recorded in a season during their Seattle stays. Clark has 35 career sacks, combining for 19 between the 2016 and ’17 seasons. Although the Seahawks let numerous Super Bowls-era bastions go last year, Clark appears part of the organization’s long-term plans.
Clark has not resisted the tag and appears likely to sign his tender and attend offseason workouts. Tagging Clark will cost the Seahawks $17.128MM, which will be deducted from the team’s $49.8MM in cap space.
Baldwin Had Offseason Surgery
- Doug Baldwin never looked 100 percent right for the Seahawks this past season, and we now have confirmation he was dealing with multiple serious injuries. The receiver underwent surgery on his knee and his shoulder after the season ended, Pete Carroll revealed from the combine this week, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times (Twitter link). Carroll did say that Baldwin, 30, will be fine for the start of the regular season. Baldwin missed three games in 2018 with a knee injury, and was clearly not fully healthy during the 13 games he was on the field. He finished with just 614 yards, by far his lowest total since he became a starter in 2013.
Seahawks Waive DT Malik McDowell
A 2017 second-round pick, Malik McDowell saw an ATV accident change his NFL fortunes. And the Seahawks are finally moving on from the one-time well-regarded defensive tackle prospect.
The Seahawks waived McDowell on Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This marks the end of the Michigan State product’s run in Seattle.
McDowell reverted to Seattle’s IR list last year upon being waived. He’s now unattached, but Rapoport adds the 22-year-old lineman hopes to continue his career. One of the top-rated defensive lineman two years ago, McDowell tallied 24.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in 32 games at Michigan State.
Seahawks, Frank Clark Progressing On Deal
One member of the free agent pass rusher contingent that will not be permitted to reach the market, Frank Clark may be on the verge of reaching a long-term agreement with the Seahawks.
The sides are making progress on a new deal, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (on Twitter). The Seahawks have until 3pm Tuesday to determine whether Clark will be their franchise player.
Pete Carroll said this week Clark will be a Seahawk in 2019, so the team will tag the 25-year-old standout if no agreement is reached by Tuesday afternoon. The long-rumored tag scenario — officially worth $17.128MM — would eat into Seattle’s $49.8MM in cap space.
Clark joins Jadeveon Clowney, Dee Ford and perhaps Grady Jarrett and Trey Flowers as candidates for that $17MM-plus figure. DeMarcus Lawrence‘s tag will be worth just more than $20MM. Clark has been more consistent than Ford and produced a better statistical season than Flowers or Clowney has, though the latter is a higher-profile player because of his all-around game and draft pedigree. It may take a $20MM-plus-AAV pact to keep him long-term.
The Seahawks did not authorize even a $10MM-per-year pact with Michael Bennett or Cliff Avril, so it would be interesting to see how far the team goes for Clark — who backed up this duo for much of his first three years in the league.
Earl Thomas Won’t Give Discount To Cowboys
Earl Thomas is looking to become the highest paid safety in the NFL, a source tells Clarence Hill of the Star Telegram. Therefore, as Hill hears, the Texas native will not be offering any sort of hometown discount to the Cowboys. 
Thomas has long been connected to the Cowboys. Last year, he bowed to the Dallas bench after an interception in September, cut in-season plans short to catch the Cowboys on TV, and appeared to have further word of his interest to the press through backchannels. Recently, former Seahawks teammate Richard Sherman indicated that Thomas would sign with the Cowboys if they matched any other offer, but Thomas’ camp probably moved to silence such talk with today’s leak.
Becoming the highest-paid safety in the league would require Thomas to beat out Eric Berry‘s $13MM/year contract. That could be tough for a few reasons: Thomas is coming off of a season-ending leg fracture, he’ll turn 30 in May, and the free agent safety market was a huge letdown for top players last offseason.
On the other hand, Thomas still profiles as one of the best free safeties in the NFL. In 2017, Thomas earned his sixth Pro Bowl nod, logged his second career pick six, and graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 5 safety. He finished out with 88 tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defensed in that season.
The Cowboys would ostensibly love to add Thomas, but they’re not exactly flush with cap space. If Thomas is intent on getting the biggest payday possible, he’s unlikely to wind up in Dallas.
Austin Davis Joins Seahawks Staff
The Seahawks recently announced several changes to their coaching staff, and perhaps the most notable was the addition of former NFL quarterback Austin Davis as an offensive assistant. Davis hadn’t formally announced his retirement after being cut by the Titans earlier this month, but it’s now to safe assume he’s ended his playing career.
A 2012 undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi, Davis bounced around during his seven-year career, spending time with the Rams (two stints), Dolphins, Browns, Broncos, Seahawks, and Titans. All told, Davis appeared in 16 total games, with his most significant action coming with St. Louis in 2014. That year, he started eight contests, completing 63.4% of his passes for 2,001 yards, 12 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Last season, Davis was on call at various points for the Titans, signing with the club when fellow quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Blaine Gabbert suffered injuries. Davis spent the 2017 campaign as Russell Wilson‘s backup in Seattle, and the Seahawks’ coaches were apparently impressed enough by his football acumen to add him to the staff.
In addition to hiring Davis, the Seahawks also promoted Steve Shimko from offensive assistant to assistant quarterbacks coach and hired assistant wide receivers coach Brad Idzik.