49ers Sign Tevin Coleman
The 49ers have signed running back Tevin Coleman to a two-year, $10MM deal, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
San Francisco was surprisingly in the running back market even after inking Jerick McKinnon to a four-year, $30MM contract last offseason. McKinnon, of course, missed the entire 2018 season after tearing his ACL, and it wouldn’t result in a significant financial hit for the 49ers to part ways with him. SF reportedly also pursued Le’Veon Bell before he signed with the Jets.
For Coleman, a $5MM annual value is the disappointing result of a disappointing campaign. Coleman witnessed the Falcons give starting running back Devonta Freeman an $8.25MM annual average on a 2017 extension, all but ensuring Coleman wouldn’t be back in Atlanta when his contract expired. When Freeman went down in 2018, Coleman wasn’t able to capitalize with his expanded work load on the ground. While he managed 4.8 yards per carry, Coleman was also among the least efficient backs in the league, per Football Outsiders‘ metrics.
Where Coleman does excel is in the passing game. He’s posted at least 25 receptions in each of the past three seasons, while FO ranked him as a top-20 back in terms of receiving efficiency. Matt Breida, who took over as the 49ers’ starting back once McKinnon went down, isn’t much of a pass-catcher, so Coleman would complement him well. But if Coleman is taking over as San Francisco’s receiving back, McKinnon might not have a role (or a job).
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/13/19
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: K Cole Murphy
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Adarius Taylor (two-year deal)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: DT Brandon Mebane (two-year deal)
New York Jets
- Re-signed: LB Neville Hewitt
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: P Jordan Berry (two-year deal)
Final Terms Of Odell Beckham Jr. Trade
The trades of Odell Beckham Jr. and Olivier Vernon were originally reported as separate moves, but the Browns and Giants have have each announced the acquisitions as one large transaction. Additionally, as Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com first reported, the fourth- and fifth-round picks that were originally part of the Vernon/Kevin Zeitler trade are no longer involved in the swap.
Here are the full terms of the stunning trade:
Browns acquire:
- WR Odell Beckham Jr.
- DE Olivier Vernon
Giants acquire:
- G Kevin Zeitler
- S Jabrill Peppers
- 2019 first-round pick (No. 17)
- 2019 third-round pick (No. 95)
Seahawks Re-Sign LB Mychal Kendricks
The Seahawks have re-signed linebacker Mychal Kendricks, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (Twitter link). It’s a one-year, $4MM deal, tweets Mike Garfolo of NFL.com. Kendricks, of course, was arrested for insider trading last year and will face sentencing next month.
Previously, head coach Pete Carroll indicated that he would like Kendricks back in 2019, provided that a prison sentence did not interfere with his availability. Kendricks could be facing 30-to-37 months in prison, so there’s no way of knowing whether he’ll be able to play football again anytime soon. If he is imprisoned for 37 months, he’ll be 31 years old at the time of his release and three years removed from the game.
Kendricks made his Seahawks debut — following a post-arrest release from the Browns — in Week 2 against the Bears, but after some back-and-forth with the league, he was hit with an eight-game suspension in October. His 2018 season ended with 20 tackles and two sacks over the course of four games.
Seattle could potentially lose fellow linebacker K.J. Wright to free agency, so Kendricks could help fill at the second level, provided he’s allowed to play.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/13/19
Here is the latest news involving restricted free agents and exclusive-rights free agents, with updates coming throughout the day:
ERFA
Tendered:
- Bears: DE Roy Robertson-Harris, LB Isaiah Irving, OL Rashaad Coward
- Seahawks: LB Austin Calitro, LB Emmanuel Ellerbee, C Joey Hunt, RB J.D. McKissic, CB Kalan Reed
Non-tendered:
- Bears: S DeAndre Houston-Carson (via Howard Balzer on Twitter)
- Bengals: QB Brad Kaaya (via Balzer)
- Cardinals: LB Gabe Martin, DE Zach Moore, C Daniel Munyer (via Balzer)
- Chiefs: TE Alex Ellis (via Balzer)
- Colts: S Ronald Martin (via Balzer)
- Falcons: WR Marvin Hall (via Balzer)
- Giants: DT Kristjan Sokoli (via Balzer)
- Patriots: WR Cody Hollister (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
- Raiders: CB Tevin Mitchel (via Balzer)
- Rams: LB Garrett Sickels (via Balzer)
- Ravens: OT Steven Moore (via Balzer)
- Saints: DB Rickey Jefferson (per NOLA.com’s Josh Katzenstein, on Twitter)
- Seahawks: DE Ricky Ali’ifua, DB T.J. Green, RB Tre Madden, DB T.J. Mutcherson
- Steelers: T Joseph Cheek, S Malik Golden, LB Keith Kelsey, TE Jake McGee (via Balzer)
- Vikings: OT Cedrick Lang, TE Josiah Price (via Balzer)
RFA
Tendered at second-round level:
- Seahawks: T George Fant (per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, on Twitter)
Tendered at original-round level:
- Chiefs: S Jordan Lucas
- Saints: CB Ken Crawley (Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate)
- Seahawks: DL Quinton Jefferson (via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com, on Twitter)
Non-tendered:
- Bears: LS Patrick Scales (via Balzer)
- Bengals: TE Matt Lengel (via Balzer)
- Bills: TE Logan Thomas (via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com, on Twitter)
- Broncos: QB Kevin Hogan, LB Deiontrez Mount, WR Jordan Taylor (via Balzer)
- Browns: CB Juston Burris, TE Orson Charles (via Balzer)
- Buccaneers: TE Alan Cross, CB Javien Elliott, T Leonard Wester (via Balzer)
- Cardinals: LB Jeremy Cash, OT John Wetzel (via Balzer)
- Chiefs: LB Terrance Smith (via Balzer)
- Dolphins: WR Leonte Carroo (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald)
- 49ers: S Tyvis Powell (via Balzer)
- Jaguars: OG Chris Reed (via Balzer)
- Jets: DT Destiny Vaeao (via Balzer)
- Panthers: WR Damiere Byrd (via Balzer)
- Raiders: DE Shilique Calhoun (via Balzer)
- Redskins: WR Maurice Harris (per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, on Twitter), RB Rob Kelley (via Balzer)
- Saints: WR Tommylee Lewis (via Josh Katzenstein of NOLA.com, on Twitter)
Packers Tender WR Geronimo Allison
The Packers have tendered restricted free agent wide receiver Geronimo Allison at the original round level, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link). Allison will collect $2.025MM for the 2019 season.
Allison is a former undrafted free agent, so Green Bay won’t receive any compensation if he signs elsewhere. However, the Packers have secured the right of first refusal, meaning they’ll be able to match any offer sheet that Allison receives.
Allison, 25, managed 20 receptions in four games last season before being placed on injured reserve with hamstring and groin issues. Despite his limited track record, Allison could be in for an expanded role next year, playing as Green Bay’s No. 3 receiver behind Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
Additionally, the Packers have opted not to tender restricted free agent safety Kentrell Brice, tweets Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com, who notes Brice became obsolete after Green Bay signed fellow defensive back Adrian Amos.
Cowboys To Retain T Cameron Fleming
Cameron Fleming‘s one-year deal with the Cowboys will entice the franchise to retain him on a longer-term contract.
Dallas will bring back the veteran tackle on a two-year deal worth up to $8.5MM, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes (on Twitter).
Fleming served primarily as the Cowboys’ swing tackle last season, lining up as an in-case-of-emergency option behind Tyron Smith and La’el Collins. With both of Dallas’ first-string tackles due back, this will likely be Fleming’s role again.
He did start three games last season, keeping with his career pattern. The Patriots used Fleming as a part-time player as well but did not opt to keep him last year. He provides quality depth for the Cowboys, who are paying him a higher-end backup salary to work as insurance.
Buccaneers Re-Sign RB Peyton Barber
The Buccaneers are keeping Peyton Barber in the fold. On Wednesday, the Bucs re-signed the running back rather than placing the low-round tender on the restricted free agent, as Greg Auman of The Athletic tweets.
The low-round tender, worth $2.02MM, would have given the Bucs the first right of refusal. However, they would have received no compensation for the former undrafted free agent if they chose not to match. Conversely, with the second-round tender, the Bucs probably would have been able to scare away any other interested team. That tender, meanwhile, would have cost them just over $3MM for 2019. They avoided that whole mess by simply hammering out a one-year deal with him.
Barber, 25, ran for 871 yards off of 234 carries last year, giving him a 3.7 yards per tote average. That mark was a career low for him, while his 234 carries were far and away his career best.
Dolphins Release Josh Sitton
Josh Sitton expected the Dolphins to make him part of their roster cuts, as they venture in a rebuilding direction. That happened Wednesday afternoon.
Minutes after the 2019 league year began, the Dolphins parted ways with Sitton. The former Pro Bowl guard was limited to one game in Miami, with an injury shelving him after Week 1.
A longtime Packer-turned-two-year Bear, Sitton has played 11 NFL seasons. Should he opt to continue his career and land elsewhere, he will be entering his age-33 campaign. Sitton made Pro Bowls with both Green Bay and Chicago, his most recent coming in 2016. The Bears declined his 2018 option last year.
Sitton tore a rotator cuff, cutting short his Dolphins tenure. While he has been one of this decade’s better guards, Sitton will almost certainly have to accept a one-year deal — and at a lower rate than the two-year, $13.5MM pact he signed with the Dolphins — if he is to play in 2019.
The Dolphins have now cut ties with two of their guards, with Ted Larsen being the other departure, and saw their efforts to keep right tackle Ja’Wuan James end with the Broncos making James the NFL’s highest-paid right tackle. Brian Flores’ team will have a new-look line next season.
Chiefs Release Eric Berry
The Chiefs have released Eric Berry, the club announced today.
“I’d like to thank Eric for his contributions to our team and the Kansas City community over the last nine years,” head coach Andy Reid said. “Seeing his passion and watching his love for the game has been truly remarkable. He’s a special person, and we wish him the best as his career moves forward.”
Berry, 30, was widely expected to be cut after Kansas City inked fellow safety Tyrann Mathieu to a three-year, $42MM. The two defensive backs could have complemented each other in the Chiefs’ secondary, but most teams are simply reluctant to spent an exorbitant amount of cap and cash on a single positional group.
Berry signed a six-year, $78MM extension with the Chiefs in 2017, and that deal had kept him as the NFL’s highest-paid safety until Landon Collins topped him earlier this week. Kansas City will designate Berry as a post-June 1 release (Twitter link via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk), meaning it will take on $6.95MM in dead money this year and $8MM in 2020. The Chiefs will see $9.55MM in cap relief, but they won’t receive that until this summer.
A terrific safety when on the field, Berry has been limited by health issues throughout his career. In five of his nine pro seasons, Berry has failed to play more than five games. He’s been available for only three total regular season contests over the past two years after rupturing his Achilles in September 2017. In spite of that, Berry doesn’t plan to undergo offseason surgery to correct his nagging heel concerns.
Berry’s market will be one to watch in the coming weeks, as the safety position has mostly been picked over in free agency. That should leave Berry as one of the more attractive options still available, but it also means many clubs have already filled their safety void. Given his injury history, it won’t be a surprise if the three-time All-Pro is forced to settle for a one-year deal.