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Lions Sign Joshua Garnett

By | at February 3, 2020 4:45 pm

The Lions have signed free agent guard Joshua Garnett, the team announced. The 49ers selected Garnett with the No. 28 overall pick of the 2016 draft, but he never came close to living up to that draft status. Though the Stanford product started in 11 of his 15 games as a rookie, he failed to impress, and then he missed all of 2017 after undergoing knee surgery.

He appeared in only seven games as a reserve in 2018, so it was no surprise when San Francisco cut ties with him before the 2019 campaign got underway. Garnett, who will turn 26 later this month, generated plenty of interest on the workout circuit this past season and wound up auditioning for six different clubs. He did not sign a contract with any of them, though he reportedly showed well during his November workout with the Texans.

The Lions’ O-line was not particularly good at run-blocking or pass protection in 2019 and earned below-average DVOA marks in both categories. Detroit will presumably return Joe Dahl at left guard in 2020, but even though right guard Graham Glasgow performed well in 2019, he is eligible for unrestricted free agency in March and the team is likely going to let him walk. If that happens, Garnett could get a shot at a starting job

Though the Lions have been rumored as a potential landing spot for one of this year’s top QB prospects, recent rumors have suggested that they could trade down from their current No. 3 overall pick in an effort to collect more draft capital and address their many needs.

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Panthers Release Greg Olsen

By | at February 3, 2020 3:47 pm

Feb. 3: On the first day veterans can be released, the Panthers made this move official. For the first time since coming into the league in 2007, Olsen is a free agent.

Jan. 30: Greg Olsen has not decided on returning for a 14th season or beginning a full-time broadcasting career, but he will not be part of Matt Rhule‘s first Panthers team. Olsen and the Panthers confirmed as much Thursday afternoon.

After meeting with GM Marty Hurney, Olsen said (via Twitter) he will not be part of the 2020 Panthers. The team will move on from the former Pro Bowl tight end.

It does not sound like FOX is a lock to land Olsen, who has one season left on his Panthers contract. The soon-to-be 35-year-old veteran is interested in joining another team, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, who adds agent Drew Rosenhaus will be communicating with other teams after the Super Bowl (Twitter link).

“The team and I are both on the same page that it is best we go in different directions for now,” Olsen said. “At this time I have not closed the door on any potential career options. I still have the love of football in my heart and will explore all opportunities presented to me.”

Acquired in a trade from the Bears in 2011, the former first-round pick revitalized his career with Carolina. He made three Pro Bowls from 2014-16, serving as Cam Newton‘s top target in the immediate post-Steve Smith years. Olsen eclipsed 1,000 yards in each of those seasons but struggled with foot injuries from 2017-18. Olsen returned to play 14 games this past season, catching 52 passes for 597 yards for a Panthers team that struggled in the season’s second half and used three quarterbacks.

The Panthers releasing Olsen will free up $8.1MM in cap space, tagging the team with $3.7MM in dead money. Olsen hitting free agency would add a name to an already intriguing mix potentially set to hit the market. Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper and Eric Ebron are also free agents-to-be. And Jason Witten is now open to opportunities beyond Dallas. While Henry and Hooper are tag possibilities, this could be an interesting signing period for the tight end position.

For the Panthers, Olsen departing represents another major change for an organization that has gone through many in recent weeks. The Panthers fired Ron Rivera after eight-plus seasons, and Rhule brought in new coordinators Joe Brady and Phil Snow from the college ranks. Luke Kuechly surprised the football world by choosing to retire at 28. And Newton’s status is far from certain as he recovers from foot surgery.

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Colts Reinstate Rodney Adams

By | at January 31, 2020 11:38 am

This week, the Colts reinstated wide receiver Rodney Adams from the reserve/retired list. It’s likely an indication that the former fifth-round pick is planning to play in 2020.

[RELATED: Latest On Andrew Luck]

Adams was parked on the reserve/retired list in April of 2018, months after signing a futures deal with the Colts. He’s yet to see live action, despite spending some time on the Vikings’ active roster and practice squad as a rookie in 2017.

Adams, 26 in September, put himself on the NFL radar after transferring from Toledo to South Florida. As a junior, he caught 44 passes for 816 yards and nine scores. Then, he wrapped his collegiate career with a 67/822/5 stat line. His speed and proficiency in the run game put him on the radar for several teams on Day 3 of the ’17 draft and the Vikings pulled the trigger. Even though he didn’t stick in Minnesota, the Colts were curious enough to give him a spot on their 90-man roster.

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Browns Sign FB Johnny Stanton

By | at January 29, 2020 9:45 am

On Wednesday morning, new Browns GM Andrew Berry shook up his front office. He also made a roster move that is less splashy on the surface, but notable in its own right.

[RELATED: Browns Part Ways With Eliot Wolf, Alonzo Highsmith]

The Browns announced the signing of fullback Johnny Stanton, a UNLV product who converted from the quarterback position. Last year, Stanton went to camp with the Vikings as a UDFA and spent some time on their practice squad.

The Browns did not use a fullback in their offense last year, but Kevin Stefanski had C.J. Ham on the field for a good number of snaps in 2019. Ham blocked for Dalvin Cook, who drove the Vikings to the playoffs with a career-high 1,654 scrimmage yards and 13 touchdowns. Stanton, or another fullback, could feature heavily in the Browns’ offense as they look to get the most out of their backfield talent.

Speaking of the Browns’ backfield, Kareem Hunt recently found himself in some off-the-field trouble following a traffic stop. The Browns can retain Hunt via the restricted free agent tender, but the incident could impact his standing with the club in light of his previous issues.

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Bears To Sign CFL CB Tre Roberson

By | at January 28, 2020 8:10 pm

A Canadian Football League cornerback who has been on the NFL radar for several weeks, Tre Roberson made his decision. He agreed to a deal with the Bears, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Roberson, who is viewed as this year’s best CFL-to-NFL prospect, participated in a few workouts and drew the attention of at least 10 teams during this process. He will join the Bears, however, and for a higher rate than the usual CFL imports receive.

The 27-year-old defender will sign for what is believed to be the highest rate for a CFL import since the Dolphins added Cameron Wake in 2009, Schefter adds. Wake received a four-year deal worth nearly $5MM, with close to $1MM guaranteed, 11 years ago. While Roberson will not exactly make high-end cornerback money on this Bears deal, the investment is notable nonetheless.

This is not Roberson’s first NFL venture, though. He spent the 2016 and ’17 offseasons with the Vikings and went to camp with Minnesota each year. He did not make the team either summer but did spend extensive time on Minnesota’s practice squad.

A 2016 UDFA out of Illinois State, Roberson resurfaced on the NFL radar after two seasons in Canada. He played two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, helping the franchise win the Grey Cup during his time up north. He intercepted seven passes and notched two return touchdowns during the Stampeders’ 2019 season.

The Bears have starters Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara signed long-term. They added slot man Buster Skrine last year and drafted Kevin Toliver in the sixth round last year. Based on the guarantee, Roberson will be a great bet to be part of this group next season.

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Saints Sign Tommylee Lewis To Reserve/Futures Deal

By | at January 27, 2020 4:55 pm

The Saints are reuniting with old friend Tommylee Lewis by signing him to a reserve/futures deal, as Katherine Terrell of The Athletic reports (via Twitter). Lewis signed with New Orleans as an undrafted free agent in May 2016 and spent the 2016-18 campaigns with the club.

However, the Saints opted against giving him a restricted free agent tender last offseason, so Lewis signed with the Lions. Detroit cut him prior to the start of the regular season, and he was out of football entirely in 2019, despite auditioning for the Bills and Bucs.

But he will be back in the game shortly. The Northern Illinois product was selected by the XFL’s Dallas Renegades in the league’s October draft, and Dallas’ season will start on February 9. If the team advances to the XFL championship, Lewis may miss some practice time with the Saints. The championship game is slated for April 26, but New Orleans can begin its offseason workouts on April 20.

Lewis, a wide receiver by trade, has 20 career receptions, but he’s spent the majority of his pro career on special teams. Lewis averaged 22 yards on kick returns and 9.3 yards on punt returns during his stint in New Orleans. The 27-year-old is perhaps best known for being the intended receiver on the infamous non-pass interference call in the 2018 NFC Championship Game that denied the Saints a chance at a Super Bowl title.

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