Redskins Exercise Adrian Peterson’s Option
The Redskins announced that they have exercised Adrian Peterson‘s option for the 2020 season. With that, they’ve committed to the legendary running back for his age-35 campaign. 
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Peterson will count for a $3.1MM hit against the Redskins’ 2020 cap. Had they declined the option, the Redskins would have saved $2.4MM.
In 2020, Peterson will be chasing history. He currently sits fifth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list and he can leapfrog Barry Sanders with another ~1,000 yards. That won’t be easy to do, but Peterson ran for 1,042 yards in his first season with the Redskins and notched 898 yards on the ground last year.
Peterson has had his ups and downs, but he staved off Father Time in 2019. Last year, he played in 15 games and averaged 4.3 yards per tote. At the same time, Derrius Guice was limited to just five games and there are serious question marks about his status given his longstanding medical history.
Bringing back Peterson solves one part of the Redskins’ RB puzzle. They still have to figure out what they’ll do with pass-catching specialist Chris Thompson, who is slated for free agency. The Redskins will also have to keep an eye on 2019 fourth-round pick Bryce Love who has yet to play an NFL down thanks to his pre-draft ACL tear.
Seahawks Sign TE Greg Olsen
Greg Olsen‘s first free agency tour will produce a deal with the Seahawks. The veteran tight end will choose Seattle over Buffalo and Washington, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
The 13-year veteran agreed to a one-year, $7MM deal with the Seahawks, per Schefter, who adds this pact comes with $5.5MM guaranteed. The chance to play with Russell Wilson helped make Seattle a more attractive destination than those with ex-Panthers staffers in place, per Schefter (on Twitter).
Wilson has gone through a few tight ends since Jimmy Graham‘s departure. Ed Dickson experienced consistent injury troubles over the past two years; so has promising youngster Will Dissly. Olsen will add a proven weapon to Seattle’s pass-catching corps, coming in for his age-35 season.
The Seahawks last season were down both Dickson and Dissly, and they traded Nick Vannett to the Steelers early in the season. Jacob Hollister started both playoff games. Barring injury, Olsen will be in line to join Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf as one of Wilson’s top three targets next season. The Seahawks will be Olsen’s third team, following the Bears and Panthers.
In nine Carolina seasons, Olsen became one of the best players in franchise history. He eclipsed 1,000 yards en route to three Pro Bowls from 2014-16 and helped the Panthers to a 15-1 season that produced an NFC championship. Since coming into the league as a first-round pick out of Miami in 2007, Olsen has 8,444 receiving yards — third-most in the NFL among tight ends in that span.
Olsen, however, experienced significant foot trouble late in his Panthers tenure. Although Olsen played 14 games last season, he missed 16 games between the 2017-18 campaigns because of multiple foot maladies. This marks another injury-prone tight end on Seattle’s roster. The potentially rebuilding Panthers released Olsen, who had one more season left on his Carolina contract, earlier this month.
This will put Ron Rivera‘s Redskins in the market for another tight end and may move Sean McDermott‘s Bills to pursue one as well. FOX will need to delay plans to hire Olsen for one of its Sunday broadcast teams as well. The network has used Olsen for multiple broadcasts late in his career and made him an offer to join full-time this offseason.
Falcons Re-Sign Younghoe Koo, Ryan Allen
The Falcons have re-upped two key members of their special teams unit. Kicker Younghoe Koo and punter Ryan Allen will return on new one-year deals, per a club announcement.
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Last year, Koo flashed his unique onside kick ability, helping Atlanta recover the ball on multiple occasions in crunch time. That included three straight conversions against the Saints on Thanksgiving, if counting the one that was erased by a penalty. He also nailed 15 of his 16 field goal tries, proving that he belongs in the NFL and solidifying his place in Atlanta’s offseason plans.
Last year, Matt Bosher‘s groin injury started a cycle of punters. Allen latched on with the team in November, lost his spot a few weeks later when Bosher returned, then rejoined his old friends in early December when Bosher reverted to the injured reserve list.
In other Falcons news, they’ll have a decision to make on longtime running back Devonta Freeman.
Eagles Part Ways With Nigel Bradham
The Eagles are moving on from linebacker Nigel Bradham, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. By declining his option, they’ll make him a free agent in mid-March. 
After spending his first four seasons with the Bills, Bradham joined the Eagles as a free agent in 2016. That first deal – two years at $7MM – proved to be a tremendous value. After that, he was re-upped on a five-year, $40MM deal that delivered mix results. And, thanks to a one-game suspension for aggravated assault, Bradham’s $14MM in guarantees were wiped out.
Bradham did not perform up to his usual standards in 2019 and he was limited to just 12 games. Over the last four years, he’s started in all 58 of his games for the Birds, notching 348 tackles along the way.
Had he stayed, Bradham would have counted for $9.7MM against the salary cap. Instead, they’ll save roughly $4.5MM.
Given his history with the team, it’s possible that he could return on a cheaper deal, but the Eagles will prioritize other linebacker options in the interim. Bradham surely would have liked to play out the remainder of his $40MM contract, but they’ve at least done him a solid by giving him advanced notice.
Bradham, turns 31 in September, just before the start of what would be his ninth career season as a pro.
Browns Release Carrie, Harris, Kush
The Browns are in the midst of some serious spring cleaning. On Monday, the Browns announced that they’ve cut cornerback T.J. Carrie, tight end Demetrius Harris, and guard Eric Kush, in addition to the previously reported release of linebacker Adarius Taylor.
In total, the moves will open up more than $13MM in cap room for the Browns with less than $4MM in dead money left over. It’s yet another signal that the club is committed to a significant roster haul under the guidance of new head coach Kevin Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry. All four released players were brought on board by former GM John Dorsey.
Carrie joined the Browns on a four-year deal in 2018 after turning in a strong contract year as the Raiders’ slot cornerback. Over the past two seasons, he’s appeared in every possible game and started in 14 of those contests. Last year, he notched 52 tackles and one interception, but he was unable to get into a rhythm and his coverage was nowhere near his best work in Oakland.
Harris, too, will see his contract terminated at the midway point. In his lone Browns season, he had 15 grabs for 149 yards and three scores. On the line, Kush had a perfect attendance record and started seven times, but the advanced metrics painted him as one of the worst qualified interior linemen in the NFL.
While those four players will be let go, much of the Browns’ core will remain in tact. At his introductory presser, Berry indicated that Odell Beckham Jr. will probably not be traded, despite all of the speculation. The latest misstep of running back Kareem Hunt, meanwhile, won’t rule him out for 2020.
49ers Release Ethan Westbrooks
That was fast. Two days after signing Ethan Westbrooks, the 49ers have released the defensive lineman, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
It’s not clear why the Niners have reversed course so quickly, but this sort of thing usually happens when players are flagged on their physicals. Soon, we’ll probably hear more on why the NFC champs dropped him.
Westbrooks saw a good amount of playing time for the Rams during his five seasons. In 2017, he saw snaps at multiple DL spots and notched four sacks in 16 games, which included nine starts.
Last year, Westbrooks signed an offseason deal with the Raiders but did not survive final cuts. He didn’t hook on elsewhere after that, leaving him out of football in 2019.
The Niners will turn their attention to more pressing matters on the defensive line, starting with Arik Armstead‘s impending free agency.
Ravens To Release Tony Jefferson
The Ravens will release safety Tony Jefferson, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Jefferson was set to count for just under $12MM against the cap in 2020. Instead, the Ravens will erase a big chunk of it by cutting him. 
After making a name for himself with the Cardinals, Jefferson signed a four-year, $34MM deal with the Ravens in 2017. Since then, he’s started in all of his games for the Ravens over the last three seasons. Last year, he saw his season cut short by an October ACL tear.
The move does not come as a surprise – Jefferson only played in five games last year and he was gone for most of the Ravens’ incredible 12-game win streak. Earlier this month, they extended fellow safety Chuck Clark, adding $15MM+ and three years to his last remaining contract year. Clark and Earl Thomas will start at safety for Baltimore in 2020 while Jefferson moves on to a new team.
After dropping Jefferson, the Ravens will have an additional $7MM as they head into the offseason. They’ll still be on the hook for $4.7MM in dead money, but that’s preferable to paying ~$12MM for a backup.
The Ravens appear poised to contend once again in 2020, but they’ll have some key issues to address this offseason. The to-do list includes the status of Pro Bowl outside linebacker Matt Judon, who could be tagged-and-traded. They’ll also look to extend left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who helped Lamar Jackson capture the MVP trophy.
NFL Suspends Ravens’ James Hurst
Ravens offensive tackle James Hurst has been suspended by the NFL, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. He’ll miss the first four games of the 2020 season after violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. 
Hurst appeared in all 16 games for the Ravens last year and started twice. But, even before the ban, he was on shaky ground. He’s slated to carry a $5.25MM cap figure this year; the Ravens could save $2.75MM by cutting him, leaving $2.5MM in dead money.
With cheaper backups coming available in free agency, and much cheaper offensive line to be had in the late stages of the draft, it seems likely that this will seal Hurst’s fate. The 28-year-old former UDFA has been with the Ravens since 2014 with 90 appearances in that span. Hurst started in 44 of those contests and was first-string for all of his games in 2017 and 2018.
In other Ravens news, the club cut ties with Tony Jefferson on Friday afternoon. The move will save the club roughly $7MM against the cap as they shift safety responsibilities to Chuck Clark.
Redskins Release Paul Richardson
The Redskins could be on the verge of a Valentine’s Day massacre. Shortly after cutting Josh Norman, they released wide receiver Paul Richardson, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Redskins Release Josh Norman]
The Redskins gave Richardson a five-year, $40MM contract in 2018 with the expectation that he would take off in his prime years. Things, unfortunately, did not work out. Injuries have limited the former second-round pick to just 17 combined games over the last two seasons. resulting in a combined stat line of 48 catches, 507 yards, and four touchdowns. He also averaged just 10.6 yards per grab; the Redskins expected him to be a deep threat.
By releasing Richardson, the Redskins will save $2.5MM and incur $6MM in dead money. It’s a steep price to pay, but the Redskins’ new regime did not see much value in keeping him on the roster.
Richardson was something of a one-year wonder. He made noise in 2016 with the Seahawks as a supporting target, but he took a giant leap forward in 2017 as he caught 44 passes for 703 yards and six touchdowns. That averaged out to 16 yards per grab and positioned him as one of the best available receivers in the forthcoming free agent class.
The Colorado product’s natural ability has never been in question; his ability to stay on the field has been the main issue. Thanks to an ACL in Seattle’s divisional playoff win against the Panthers, he missed Super Bowl XLIX and all but one game in 2015. In six seasons as a pro, Richardson has only been healthy for about half of them.
Redskins Release Josh Norman
The Redskins have released cornerback Josh Norman, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter). Some believed that new Redskins head coach and old friend Ron Rivera would keep Norman on board, but his outsized contract ultimately pushed him out of the picture. 
[RELATED: Redskins’ Dunbar Requests Trade Or Release]
Norman was at odds with the Redskins last year and the club tried to shop him at the deadline. Towards the end of the season, he missed time due a reported illness and saw his snap count dwindle. He wound up playing in just 12 games total and recorded 40 tackles, his lowest career showing for any season with double-digit appearances.
The advanced metrics also showed that he lost a step or three in 2019. Norman graded out as the third-worst qualified cornerback in PFF’s rankings with a putrid 45.6 overall score. It was a precipitous fall for the 32-year-old, who was once one of the league’s best.
Norman joined the Redskins on a five-year, $75MM deal in April of 2016 following a messy breakup with the Panthers. At the start of the offseason, the Panthers employed the franchise tag to keep Norman from testing free agency – a one-year, $14MM deal. Then, they hit a stalemate in long-term talks when Norman demanded roughly $16MM per season. The Panthers stunned everyone by rescinding the tag and the Redskins were happy to pounce on the opportunity.
At the time, Norman profiled as an absolute game-changer. In 2015, he was named to the All Pro first team and notched career highs in interceptions (four) and passes defensed (18). In that season, he was PFF’s No. 12 ranked CB.
With drama throughout the organization and issues on both sides of the ball, the Redskins have been mired in an absolute rut for years. Norman, never one to pull punches, was openly critical of Washington throughout.
Cornerback now profiles as one of the Redskins’ top needs this offseason, and they’ll have a bit of extra cap room to land a new cover man. Panthers free agent James Bradberry – one of Rivera’s faves from their time together in Carolina – figures to be heavily connected to the Redskins as they reconfigure their secondary. For his part, Bradberry says he wouldn’t mind a reunion, though staying with the Panthers would be his top choice.
By releasing Norman, the Redskins will save $12.5MM against the 2020 salary cap with just $3MM in dead money.