Lions To Re-Sign CB Marcus Cooper
Having been cut midway through last season, Marcus Cooper changed NFC North allegiances recently. He will stay with his second 2018 team.
The Lions are re-signing Cooper, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM Radio tweets. The veteran cornerback arrived in Detroit via waiver claim in November and looks set to stay in the Motor City as a depth piece.
Cooper played just 39 snaps last season, being buried on Chicago’s depth chart. With Detroit, he figures to compete for time as a backup and contribute on special teams. With the 2017 Bears, Cooper started four games but was benched during that season. He was a full-time player with the 2016 Cardinals, leading to a mid-level Bears contract a year later.
The 29-year-old defender has made 28 starts in a six-season career, having intercepted seven passes. All of those picks came during his two most prominent years as a corner — 2013 in Kansas City and 2016 in Arizona. The Lions added Justin Coleman earlier this week but still have some uncertainty beyond he and Darius Slay, so it would not be surprising if more additions arrived later this offseason.
Jaguars To Sign LB Jake Ryan
The Jaguars are signing linebacker Jake Ryan, reports NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter). The deal is pending a physical, and the terms of the deal aren’t yet known.
The former fourth-rounder once looked to be a future cornerstone of the Packers’ defense. Ryan compiled at least 80 tackles in both 2016 and 2017, and Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 19 among linebackers following that latter campaign. In total, the 27-year-old started 27 games during his three healthy seasons with Green Bay.
Unfortunately for Ryan, he tore his ACL during 2018 training camp, forcing him to sit out the entire campaign. While the linebacker was once eyeing a lucrative contract ahead of his walk year, he’ll likely have to settle for a shorter deal with Jacksonville.
Myles Jack and Telvin Smith seem like locks for the Jaguars’ starting lineup, but a healthy Ryan could easily supplant Leon Jacobs. Assuming Ryan continues playing on the outside, he’ll also be competing with Lerentee McCray, Blair Brown, and Christian Kuntz for playing time in Jacksonville.
Bengals Re-Sign TE Tyler Eifert
Tyler Eifert is sticking in Cincy. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the tight end is signing a one-year deal with the Bengals.
The 2013 first-round pick has spent his entire six-year career with the Bengals, and he’s been productive… when healthy. Eifert has only appeared in 13 or more games twice in his career, and he’s totaled only 14 contests over the past three years. The 28-year-old missed the majority of the 2017 season after undergoing both back and knee surgery, and a broken ankle limited him to only four games in 2018.
When Eifert’s been healthy, he’s been especially productive in the red zone. He had a breakout season in 2015 when he had 615 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. He was even productive in his four games in 2018, hauling in 15 receptions for 179 yards and one touchdown. If the tight end is able to stay on the field, he’ll provide Andy Dalton with another target; the Bengals’ offense currently features running backs Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard as well as wideouts A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, and John Ross.
Besides Eifert, the Bengals currently have five tight ends on their roster. This grouping includes former fifth-rounder C.J. Uzomah, who finished last season with 43 receptions for 439 yards and three scores.
Broncos To Re-Sign DL Zach Kerr
The Broncos are re-signing defensive lineman Zach Kerr, reports Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post (on Twitter). It’s a two-year deal, according to the team.
Following three seasons with the Colts, Kerr joined Denver on a two-year deal prior to the 2017 season. The defensive lineman has appeared in 27 games over the past two seasons, including a 16-game campaign in 2018.
Despite not starting a single game last season, the 334-pound lineman still finished with 33 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one pass defended. While Pro Football Focus gave him a solid score, he still only ranked 73rd among 112 eligible interior defenders.
Assuming Kerr is indeed returning, the Broncos will presumably continue to hunt for defensive tackles. The team is only rostering one player at the position in Caushaud Lyons.
Falcons Re-Sign TE Logan Paulsen
Logan Paulsen is signing another one-year pact with the Falcons. The team announced that they’ve re-signed the veteran tight end.
The 32-year-old joined the Falcons last offseason and proceeded to appear in 15 games (10 starts). The tight end didn’t contribute much in the passing game, finishing with nine catches for 91 yards and one touchdown. However, Paulsen did contribute as a blocker, with Pro Football Focus giving him solid grades for his pass-blocking. Ultimately, the site ranked the veteran 39th among 70 eligible tight ends.
Paulsen has had previous stints with the Redskins, Bears, and 49ers. His best season came in 2013 with Washington when he hauled in 28 receptions for 267 yards and three touchdowns.
Paulsen will be rejoining a Falcons tight end corps that already includes Austin Hooper and free agent addition Luke Stocker. The team is also currently rostering Eric Saubert, Alex Gray, and Jaeden Graham.
Jaguars Sign OL Cedric Ogbuehi, WR Chris Conley
The Jaguars are starting to shape their offense around Nick Foles. Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that the team has signed offensive tackle Cedric Ogbuehi and wideout Chris Conley.
The 26-year-old Ogbuehi was selected in the first round of the 2015 draft by the Bengals, but he only appeared in 35 total games through four years. The Bengals declined his fifth-year option back in May, and the lineman proceeded to appear in only two games in 2018.
The Jaguars do have a major need at offensive tackle. The team currently has Cam Robinson slotted in as one of the starters, and the former second-rounder did take a step forward last season. 2018 fourth-rounder Will Richardson is projected to start on the other side of the line, although he missed his entire rookie campaign with a knee injury.
Conley, 26, is an intriguing addition to the Jacksonville offense. The 26-year-old has battled injuries and inconsistency throughout his career, but he still put together a solid season with the Chiefs in 2018. The wideout finished the season having hauled in 32 receptions for 334 yards and a career-high five touchdowns.
Conley should have a chance to contribute in Jacksonville. The Jags’ current receiver corps consists of Marqise Lee, Dede Westbrook, DJ Chark, and Keelan Cole.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/19
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: DL Nick Williams
Cleveland Browns
- Re-signed: CB Phillip Gaines
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed exclusive rights free agent tender: DL Isaac Rochell
Oakland Raiders
- Re-signed: OL Chaz Green
- Signed ERFA tender: LB Jason Cabinda
Giants Sign DL Olsen Pierre
The Giants have signed defensive lineman Olsen Pierre, the club announced today.
Pierre, like new Giants safety Antoine Bethea, will offer New York familiarity with defensive coordinator James Bettcher‘s scheme, as Bettcher coached Pierre in Arizona in 2017. A Miami product, Pierre posted 5.5 sacks and nine quarterbacks in his year under Bettcher. Last season, his production dipped before he was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury in December.
Pierre will play five-technique defensive end in Bettcher’s 3-4 scheme. The Giants are currently projected to start Dalvin Tomlinson and R.J. McIntosh in those spots, and given that both played relatively well in 2018, Pierre may slot in as a reserve.
Buccaneers To Sign OL Earl Watford
The Buccaneers have agreed to sign offensive lineman Earl Watford, according to Adam Green (Twitter link). It’s a one-year deal, tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com.
Watford, who spent the 2013-17 seasons with the Cardinals, will now reunite with a bevy of ex-Arizona coaches — including head coach Bruce Arians and run game coordinator/offensive line coach Harold Goodwin — in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers’ offensive line is already set in stone, so Watford, who can play both tackle and guard, will settle in as a top reserve.
The 28-year-old Watford has historically served in a backup role, although he did start 11 games in 2016. All told, the James Madison product has appeared in 55 games and made 22 starts since entering the league as a fourth-round pick. Watford spent the 2018 campaign in Cleveland on a minimum salary deal.
Broncos To Sign CB Bryce Callahan
The Broncos are signing slot cornerback Bryce Callahan, Benjamin Allbright was the first to report (Twitter link). It’s a three-year deal, tweets James Palmer of NFL.com. The pact is worth $21MM in total and contains $10MM guaranteed, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Callahan will now reunite with new Broncos head coach Vic Fangio, who coached Callahan as the Bears’ defensive coordinator.A broken foot ended Callahan’s strong contract year, but Fangio coached the slot corner in all four of his NFL seasons. While Callahan will be a natural fit for Fangio’s defense in Denver, his injury and the makeup of the Broncos’ secondary will complicate it.
Chris Harris has handled the Broncos’ slot duties for most of this decade and has become one of this era’s top corners, being most identified for his inside coverage skills. While Harris plays outside in base sets, the Broncos use the veteran corner often in the slot. Harris, though, has requested at multiple junctures to be a full-time boundary corner, so Callahan being brought in may appease the incumbent.
Callahan, 27, finished his abbreviated season as Pro Football Focus’ No. 7 overall corner — just four spots behind Harris — and intercepted two passes in each of the past two seasons. The 5-foot-9 defender coming to Denver will, however, add another short corner to the Broncos’ secondary. Harris and Kareem Jackson stand 5-10.
The Broncos added Jackson on an $11MM-AAV deal earlier this week. Having played both corner and safety in Houston, though mostly corner, Jackson brings hybrid potential for the Broncos. However, Denver lost Bradley Roby and does not plan to re-sign Tramaine Brock, creating a need for two new cornerbacks. Callahan would potentially complete that trio.
The Jets were the only other team linked to Callahan this offseason, with the Bears not expected to pursue him. But the Jets signed former Falcons slot man Brian Poole, taking them out of the running.