Chargers To Sign LB Nick Vigil
The Chargers have agreed to sign free agent LB Nick Vigil, per NFL Insider Adam Caplan (via Twitter). Ben Baby of ESPN.com tweets that it’s a one-year deal. Vigil was selected by the Bengals in the third round of the 2016 draft and spent the first four years of his career with Cincinnati.
The Utah State turned in a productive platform year in 2019, starting in all 16 games and recording 111 tackles while playing virtually all of the Bengals’ defensive snaps. Advanced metrics were not overly fond of his work, ranking him as the 42nd-best linebacker out of 58 players who played in at least half of his team’s snaps.
But Vigil will not turn 27 until August, and a short-term pact on a fairly young ‘backer with plenty of starting experience and tackling ability makes sense for the Chargers. Indeed, the division-rival Raiders were said to be interested in Vigil before filling their LB needs elsewhere.
Vigil represents the third significant addition to the Bolts’ defense since the start of free agency, joining Linval Joseph and Chris Harris. He becomes part of a LB corps that includes the oft-injured Denzel Perryman and unproven youngsters Uchenna Nwosu and Malik Jefferson, so he is in line to see plenty of action.
Cardinals Re-Sign G Max Garcia, S Charles Washington
The Cardinals will bring back two role players from Kliff Kingsbury‘s first season in charge. Guard Max Garcia and safety Charles Washington signed to stay with Arizona.
Garcia has seen his responsibilities gradually reduced as his career has gone along, but the five-year veteran has logged 41 starts and profiles as one of the NFL’s most experienced second-string offensive linemen entering the 2020 season.
The Broncos used Garcia as a rotational guard during their 2015 Super Bowl season and as a 16-game starter in 2016 and ’17, but by 2018, the former fourth-round pick started just four games and saw an injury end his contract-year campaign. He signed with the Cardinals for one year and $2MM last March. This pact will likely be for a similar amount, seeing as Garcia played in seven games and started none in his Arizona debut. The Cards, however, employ injury-prone starting guards in Justin Pugh and J.R. Sweezy, so it makes sense to have an experienced backup.
This will also be Washington’s second Cardinals season. The former UDFA spent two years with the Lions before signing with the Cards in 2019. He did not see any defensive snaps but played on 45% of Arizona’s special teams plays.
Panthers, Robby Anderson Agree To Deal
On an afternoon featuring action on the wideout market, the top prize is now committed to a team. Robby Anderson will sign with the Panthers, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports (on Twitter).
It’s a two-year, $20MM deal for the four-year Jets contributor, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Anderson will receive $12MM in 2020. Like P.J. Walker, Anderson is a Temple alum and spent most of his Owls tenure playing for new Panthers HC Matt Rhule.
Anderson adds a weapon to an intriguing Carolina skill-position corps that already includes Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel. The Jets had hoped to re-sign Anderson, and the four-year Jet wanted to stay. But the Jets preferred Anderson return for a price, and it appears the Panthers exceeded said price.
Anderson will also reunite with Teddy Bridgewater, his brief teammate during the 2018 offseason. Walker, however, was Anderson’s quarterback while at Temple. The Panthers signed Bridgewater and released Cam Newton on Tuesday. Interestingly, Bridgewater’s skill group looks far better than the one Newton took to Super Bowl 50. The Panthers saved $19MM by cutting Newton, helping them afford Anderson.
A New Jersey native, Anderson became one of the league’s premier deep threats despite going undrafted in 2016. He developed a rapport with Sam Darnold, but the Jets often struggled to assemble an aerial corps around Anderson. Still, the 26-year-old talent topped 750 receiving yards in three straight seasons and eclipsed 900 with Josh McCown running the show in 2017. Anderson averaged between 14.9 and 15.0 yards per reception from 2017-19.
While Anderson has encountered off-field trouble, he now has an eight-figure-AAV contract and will have the chance to re-enter free agency in his 20s.
Panthers Release Cam Newton
The Panthers’ efforts to trade Cam Newton evidently did not take off. They are expected to release the former MVP as soon as Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Carolina made the move official Tuesday afternoon.
While the Panthers attempted to deal Newton to the Bears and Chargers, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, they could not find a taker. Newton had one season remaining on a deal he signed back in 2015. He was set to earn $18.6MM in 2020 base salary; Carolina will take on just $2MM in dead money for releasing Newton but clear $19.1MM in cap space. The Bears subsequently traded for Nick Foles instead, and the Chargers appear focused on the draft. After pursuing Tom Brady, the Bolts no longer intend to add a veteran quarterback.
A Newton release was the expected outcome, given the unique complications this offseason presents for the Panthers to trade their three-time Pro Bowl passer. This will end a nine-year run for Newton in Charlotte. The move also comes less than a month after Matt Rhule indicated he wanted to keep Newton for the 2020 season. Carolina moved swiftly in another direction after that pronouncement.
The No. 1 overall pick in 2011, Newton fairly quickly solidified himself as the best quarterback in Panthers history. He helped the Panthers to four playoff berths in a five-season span and piloted them to Super Bowl 50 in 2015. However, injuries intervened in the late 2010s and will lead the former superstar to the open market for the first time.
Newton, 30, is recovering from the Lisfanc surgery he underwent in December. The NFL’s all-time QB rushing-touchdown king has not been fully healthy since early in the 2018 season, when he suffered a shoulder injury. Newton is not expected to be game-ready for months.
Considering the changes the COVID-19 pandemic has made to this NFL offseason, Newton could be in limbo. Teams are not permitted to host free agents on visits, and while third-party doctors can still examine players, any franchise signing off on a Newton contract would probably want to put its medical staff to work on the injury-prone passer.
Because of this strange scenario, the Panthers were able to pry a fifth-rounder from the Redskins for Kyle Allen on Monday and will be forced to release Newton. Carolina’s quarterback depth chart now sits at Teddy Bridgewater–P.J. Walker–Will Grier. The Panthers officially signed Walker on Tuesday morning. Bridgewater signed his three-year, $63MM deal Monday night, and David Newton of ESPN.com notes the Panthers will not carry both Bridgewater and Newton’s salaries. The Newton-to-Bridgewater transition will begin Tuesday.
Newton had regressed considerably since the Panthers’ Super Bowl 50 loss, ranking 30th in QBR since 2016, but the nine-year veteran showed promise in Norv Turner‘s offense early in 2018 certainly would have brought back a trade package of some sort in a normal NFL offseason. The former Heisman winner now must continue his rehab on his own and do so in one of the most uncertain times to go about a rehab effort. The NFL may well end up canceling all offseason activities due to conoravirus-related uncertainty, so it might be difficult for Newton to land a noteworthy contract for the 2020 season.
Carolina will have parted ways with Newton, Greg Olsen, Luke Kuechly, Trai Turner and Mario Addison this offseason. Rhule’s team will certainly look different when the Panthers are permitted to reconvene under their new coach.
Redskins To Sign RB Peyton Barber
Free agency action has resumed Tuesday afternoon, and another running back is off the board. Peyton Barber will sign with the Redskins, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
The former Buccaneers starter agreed to a two-year, $3MM deal that comes with $600K guaranteed, per Anderson. Barber will join Adrian Peterson and Derrius Guice in a suddenly crowded Washington backfield. This deal may have been in the works for a few days, with The Athletic’s Greg Auman tweeting Sunday that Barber was finalizing a contract.
Barber started 28 games with the Bucs, 23 of those coming over the past two seasons, but fell out of favor during Bruce Arians‘ first season. The 26-year-old ex-UDFA started 16 games in Dirk Koetter‘s final season but lost his job to Ronald Jones last year. Barber, who led the Bucs in 2018 with 871 rushing yards, averaged just 3.1 yards per carry on 154 totes in 2019.
The Auburn alum has never topped 115 receiving yards in a season, however. With Peterson also mostly a run downs-only back, the Redskins appear set to devote at least half of their backfield resources to players who are not accomplished passing-game weapons.
In addition to their most notable incumbents, the Redskins also have the recently added J.D. McKissic and 2019 draftee Bryce Love in the fold. Their roster certainly will not have room for all five backs, which will make for an interesting competition when the Redskins reconvene for 2020 work.
49ers, WR Travis Benjamin Agree To Deal
On a suddenly busy afternoon for auxiliary wide receiver deals, Travis Benjamin landed another job. The 49ers are signing the former Browns and Chargers receiver to a one-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The defending NFC champions lost out on retaining Emmanuel Sanders, when he signed with the Saints. While Benjamin is not on Sanders’ level, he stands to potentially help as a depth piece. The 49ers were in the mix for Phillip Dorsett, but he opted for the Seahawks — literally seconds before the Benjamin agreement surfaced.
Benjamin, 30, entered free agency for a second time. The Chargers signed the deep threat/return man in 2016 but did not opt to bring him back on another deal. Benjamin missed most of the 2019 season and missed four games in 2018. Mike Williams‘ arrival minimized Benjamin’s role. Over the past two seasons combined, Benjamin did not total 300 receiving yards.
However, the former Browns fourth-round pick out of Miami posted north of 550 receiving yards in three straight seasons — from 2015-17 — and has four career punt-return touchdowns. Benjamin will attempt to make a 49ers team that features Deebo Samuel, Kendrick Bourne, slot receiver Trent Taylor and inconsistent 2018 second-rounder Dante Pettis.
Jaguars To Sign CB Rashaan Melvin
Rashaan Melvin will soon join an eighth NFL team. The veteran cornerback agreed to terms with the Jaguars on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Melvin spent last season with the Lions and played the 2018 campaign with the Raiders. This will mark another one-year deal for the 30-year-old corner, per agent Drew Rosenhaus, with Schefter adding it’s worth $2.25MM.
The former UDFA started 12 games for the Lions last season and will join Darqueze Dennard as members of a new-look Jaguars cornerback crew, one that will be without both Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye in 2020. D.J. Hayden resides as the Jags’ top incumbent. He, Dennard and Melvin have a combined 19 years of NFL experience.
Perhaps Melvin’s top season came with the Colts in 2017. He graded well in the view of Pro Football Focus and attracted a better free agency deal from the Raiders. He signed for north of $5MM in Oakland and received north of $3MM in Detroit. Overall, Melvin has been employed by the Buccaneers, Ravens, Patriots, Dolphins, Colts, Raiders and Lions since 2013.
Last season, Melvin played 870 snaps and graded as PFF’s No. 88 overall corner. While the Jaguars could well make a move in the draft to upgrade, Melvin has a path to a starting role in 2020.
Bills To Re-Sign WR Isaiah McKenzie
When the Bills assessed their restricted free agent situation, Isaiah McKenzie did not receive a tender offer. But the wide receiver/return man will stay in Buffalo nonetheless.
McKenzie agreed to re-sign with the Bills, according to his agents (on Twitter). He has been with the Bills since they claimed him on waivers in 2018. This deal will certainly be less than the original-round tender price ($2.13MM).
A former Broncos fifth-round pick, McKenzie could not stick in Denver due to fumbling issues. But he established himself as a role player in Buffalo. The 5-foot-8 wideout caught 27 passes for a career-high 254 yards and a touchdown last season. He will attempt to play a role in a receiving corps that now includes Stefon Diggs.
Having signed Andre Roberts, the Bills did not use McKenzie as much in the return game last season. McKenzie, 24, served as the Bills’ primary return man down the stretch in 2018. Roberts is under contract for 2020, but the Bills are bringing McKenzie back regardless.
Jaguars Sign Al Woods, Cassius Marsh
The Jaguars have reached a one-year, $2.75MM deal with free agent defensive tackle Al Woods, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link), who adds Woods will earn $1MM guaranteed. Jacksonville has also agreed to terms on a one-year deal with defensive end/linebacker Cassius Marsh, tweets Mark Long of the Associated Press. Marsh receives $600K guaranteed, per Pelissero (on Twitter).
Woods, who turns 33 years old later this week, posted one of the best seasons of his 10-year career with the Seahawks in 2019. The veteran appeared in 14 games and made five starts while playing the second-most defensive snaps (450) of his NFL tenure. Woods was especially proficient at stymying opposing run games, as Pro Football Focus ranked him 12th among interior defenders in run defense grade.
Jacksonville is in need of big bodies in the middle of its defensive line. Not only did the club finish 27th in Football Outsiders‘ adjusted line yards, but it parted ways with the 6’3″, 330-pound Marcell Dareus this offseason. Woods, who’s even larger at 6’4″ and 330 pounds, should help fill that void.
Marsh, 27, has appeared in 84 total games since being selected by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. Capable of playing a hybrid DE/LB role, Marsh spent 2019 in Arizona, where he posted 2.5 sacks and five quarterback hits on 428 snaps.
Broncos To Re-Sign Jeremiah Attaochu
The Broncos will re-sign edge rusher Jeremiah Attaochu to a one-year deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Attaochu will earn $1.5MM, per Mike Klis of 9News.
A second-round pick in 2014, Attaochu hasn’t necessarily lived up to that draft billing, but he has carved out an NFL career that’s thus far lasted 61 games. After spending time with the Chargers, 49ers, Jets, and Chiefs, Attaochu latched on with Denver last October, and ended up appearing in 12 games and posting 3.5 sacks.
The Broncos boast one of the NFL’s best pass-rushing duos in Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, so Attaochu will return as strict depth. However, he’ll likely be the first man up if either Miller or Chubb goes down.