Raiders Expected To Sign Lamarcus Joyner
Lamarcus Joyner is heading to the Raiders. The team is expected to sign the former Rams safety, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez tweets that the deal is expected to pay Joyner around $10.5MM per season.
The 2014 second-rounder had spent his entire career with the Rams organization, and he continued to take on a bigger role with the team throughout his five-year tenure. Joyner started a (then) career-high 12 games in 2017, finishing with 49 tackles, nine passes defended, and three picks. This led to the Rams slapping him with the franchise tag, and the safety proceeded to play the 2018 season on a one-year, $11.28MM deal.
Joyner earned his worth last season, compiling 78 tackles, one sack, three passes defended, and one interception in 15 games. The 28-year-old also appeared in all three playoff games for Los Angeles, and he had six tackles in the Rams’ Super Bowl loss. Pro Football Focus was particularly bullish of his 2018 performance, ranking him 29th among 93 eligible safeties.
The Raiders have been busy over the past two days. After trading for Antonio Brown and trading away guard Kelechi Osemele to the Jets yesterday, the team opened free agency by signing offensive tackle Trent Brown and re-signing defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins.
LB Anthony Barr Intends To Sign With Jets
Anthony Barr is heading to the Big Apple. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the veteran linebacker intends to sign with the Jets.
Terms of this deal reveal how high the Jets are on Barr, with Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reporting (via Twitter) the former Vikings ‘backer will earn more than $14MM per year. If the Jets are planning to use Barr as an off-ball ‘backer, that would be far and away the top such contract in the league. However, they may be planning something different.
The Vikings used Barr as a 4-3 outside linebacker, but at UCLA, the eventual 2014 first-round pick played as an edge player. Barr stands to return to that role, per ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini (on Twitter). This will be a fascinating experiment, in that event, and the Jets stationing Barr on the outside means they did not pay top-market price to land him. While Barr is not an experienced NFL pass rusher, he registered 23.5 sacks between the 2012-13 seasons for the Bruins.
Gregg Williams plans to keep the Jets as a 3-4 team, so it looks like Barr will serve as one of the team’s outside linebackers. The Jets entered free agency expected to aggressively pursue that position, and their No. 3 overall pick may be used on it, too — if Gang Green hangs onto it.
We heard earlier today that the Jets were eyeing the soon-to-be 27-year-old Barr. This morning, the team whiffed on Kwon Alexander, who ultimately agreed to a lucrative four-year deal with the 49ers. The Jets then shifted their focus to Barr, and the two sides apparently agreed to a deal relatively quickly.
The linebacker had spent his entire five-year career with the Vikings, earning four Pro Bowl nods along the way. The former first-rounder had another standout season in 2018, finishing with 55 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble. The Vikings ultimately decided to pass on franchising Barr, a move that would have cost $15.9MM.
Broncos To Sign DB Kareem Jackson
The Broncos entered this free agency period with needs at multiple secondary spots. They are signing a player with experience at both of them.
Denver reached an agreement to sign Kareem Jackson, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. It’s a three-year deal for the longtime Texans cornerback/safety. Jackson will join the Broncos for $33MM, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who adds the veteran defender will receive $23MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link).
This marks the second key defensive back the Texans have lost in the past two hours, with Tyrann Mathieu reaching a record-tying agreement to join the Chiefs. For the Broncos, Jackson adds some interesting flexibility and is coming off a Pro Bowl-caliber season. A nine-season Texans starter, Jackson was Houston’s longest-tenured player.
Pro Football Focus’ No. 14-graded cornerback in 2018, Jackson began the 2018 season at safety. He fared well there before being moved back to corner. The former first-round pick has been regarded as a top-flight tackler at the corner position throughout his career. The 2019 season will be Jackson’s age-31 campaign, so if he sticks at cornerback, Denver will have two corners north of 30.
Jackson’s impending deal may have interesting implications for longtime Broncos stalwart Chris Harris, who is no longer the team’s highest-paid corner. Jackson’s contract eclipses Harris’ by a considerable margin. Jackson has yet to make a Pro Bowl. Considering the soon-to-be 30-year-old Harris is one of this era’s premier corners, it will be interesting to see how Denver addresses the four-time Pro Bowler’s situation. The Broncos are believed to be discussing a Harris extension, but nothing is imminent on that front.
The Broncos also have a need at safety opposite Justin Simmons, with the team having released four-year starter Darian Stewart. While most of Jackson’s NFL experience has come at corner, and he should be considered likely to replace Bradley Roby as the starter opposite Harris, the team may have an interesting fallback option for the well-compensated free agent.
Chargers Tender CB Trevor Williams
The Chargers have tendered cornerback Trevor Williams at the original round tender value, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com (via Twitter). If he doesn’t end up signing elsewhere, Williams will play next season on a one-year, $2.025MM deal.
Since Williams was undrafted, a team wouldn’t be required to give up compensation in order to sign him. Considering the inexpensive $2MM price tag it’d take to pry him away from Los Angeles, it wouldn’t be surprising if the cornerback is playing elsewhere in 2019.
Williams has evolved into one of the Chargers top defensive backs. After starting 15 games in 2017, Williams started seven of his nine games in 2018. He finished the campaign with 23 tackles, four passes defended, and one interception. The 25-year-old suffered a knee injury in Week 9, and he proceed to miss four of his next five games before landing on the injured reserve.
Assuming everyone is healthy heading into next season, Williams would likely slot behind Desmond King and Casey Hayward on the Chargers’ cornerbacks depth chart.
Colts Tender WR Chester Rogers
Another Colts wide receiver transaction went down Monday, with Chester Rogers being tendered as a restricted free agent, per Stephen Holder of The Athletic (on Twitter).
Rogers will be tendered at the second-round level, per Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). That will bump the complementary wideout’s salary to nearly $3.1MM.
The Colts now have Devin Funchess in the fold, joining T.Y. Hilton. This stands to limit Rogers’ opportunities, but he made the most of them last season. Rogers caught 53 passes for 485 yards (second among Indianapolis wideouts) and two scores last season, his third with the Colts.
Indianapolis entered Monday with a league-high cap space figure, more than $100MM, so Chris Ballard is almost certainly not done adding to his team. The third-year Colts GM has been known to seek second-wave bargain signings and thus far has not spent big for one of this year’s prized talents. Though, it’s still early on that front.
Jets To Sign WR Josh Bellamy
After adding Jamison Crowder earlier today, the Jets are signing another receiver. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the team is close to a deal with wideout Josh Bellamy. Rapoport adds that the deal is for two years and has a max value of $7MM (with $2.75MM guaranteed).
The 29-year-old receiver had spent the past four seasons with the Bears, and he finished with at least 200 receiving yards in three of those four years. Bellamy’s numbers took a step back in 2018, as he finished with 14 receptions for 117 yards and one touchdown. The veteran has also proven to be a reliable special teamer, compiling 23 tackles throughout his career.
That’s presumably where Bellamy will make the most significant contribution with the Jets in 2019. After all, the team appears to be relatively loaded at receiver, with Crowder, Robby Anderson, and Quincy Enunwa leading the depth chart.
Eagles Tender QB Nate Sudfeld
Nate Sudfeld is a restricted free agent. Adam Caplan tweets that the Eagles have slapped the quarterback with a second-round tender. The one-year tender will pay Sudfeld $3.095MM for the upcoming season.
As a restricted free agent, the quarterback can negotiate with any club through April 19. If he signs an offer sheet with a new club, the Eagles could match the offer to keep him. If the Eagles do not match such an offer, they will receive a second-round draft choice. While Sudfeld has shown some intrigue in four NFL appearance, it seems unlikely that a team will offer him substantial money and forfeit a valuable second-round pick in order to add him.
The 2016 sixth-round pick out of Indiana started his career with the Redskins. After being waived by Washington prior to the 2017 season, Sudfeld joined the Eagles practice squad. In two seasons with the team, the 25-year-old has appeared in four games (including playoffs). He got an extended look during the 2017 regular season finale, completing 19 of his 23 pass attempts for 134 passing yards. He also added another 22 rushing yards.
With Nick Foles out of the picture, Sudfeld will likely be the main backup to Carson Wentz in 2019.
Vikings To Bring Back DT Shamar Stephen
Shamar Stephen spent the 2018 season with the Seahawks but will return to the Vikings next season. The free agent defensive tackle will sign a three-year deal with Minnesota, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets.
The Seahawks used Stephen as a starter for most of their playoff-qualifying campaign. Stephen was a full-time starter for the 2016 Vikings but was used as a backup prior to his free agency defection.
This move may be a more cost-effective option than retaining Sheldon Richardson, but it’s not certain the high-profile interior defender is out of the picture for the Vikings just yet. Although, Minnesota is low on cap space.
Stephen’s impending Twin Cities return will continue the Seattle-to-Minnesota defensive line pipeline. Richardson joined the Vikings in 2018, and after a short Seahawks stay, Tom Johnson returned to the Vikings after being cut last year. Johnson is also a free agent.
A seventh-round Vikings pick in 2014, Stephen registered a career-high two sacks last season. He played 538 snaps with the Seahawks, grading as Pro Football Focus’ No. 98 overall interior defender in 2018.
Colts To Sign WR Devin Funchess
Devin Funchess is heading to Indy. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the free agent wideout will sign a one-year deal with the Colts. The deal is worth $13MM ($10MM plus another $3MM in incentives), according to veteran NFL reports Chris Mortensen (via Twitter).
The 24-year-old has yet to fully put it together through his first four years in the NFL. With Kelvin Benjamin out of the picture, Funchess seemed to be taking a step forward in 2017, as he finished the campaign with 63 receptions for 840 yards and eight touchdowns.
However, the wideout took a step back in 2018, compiling only 44 receptions for 549 yards and four scores in 14 games (12 starts). His downtick in product could be partly attributed to quarterback Cam Newton‘s injury. Funchess’s production also took a dip after he returned from a back injury.
He should certainly have a chance to revitalize his career playing alongside Andrew Luck in Indianapolis. With T.Y. Hilton requiring attention from the opponent’s top cornerback, Funchess should have a chance to build off his 2017 numbers. At the very least, he’ll provide Luck with a big target alongside Hilton, Zach Pascal, and tight ends Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle.
Chiefs, Tyrann Mathieu Agree To Deal
Connected to high-profile safeties at last year’s trade deadline, the Chiefs are continuing their pursuit months later. They are close to a deal with Tyrann Mathieu, Terez Paylor of Yahoo.com tweets.
It looks like a contract will be agreed upon, and it is quite the deal. The Chiefs are signing Mathieu for three years and $42MM, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The average annual value would match that of Landon Collins‘ Redskins pact. The 26-year-old Mathieu profiled as the Chiefs’ top offseason target, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link), and the contract certainly reflects that.
Mathieu signed a one-year, $7MM deal with the Texans last season; he is on the verge of doubling that a year later, illustrating the safety market’s rapid resurgence.
The Texans have been discussing a contract with Mathieu for a while, but the sides have not come to terms. This is considerably north of the proposal the Texans reportedly made, with Houston’s offer being for $9.5MM per year.
This is interesting, given the Texans’ favorable amount of cap space when compared to the Chiefs’. But Kansas City has needs across its defense and will be allocating a considerable amount of money to a position that recently saw its value stagnate.
The Chiefs still have Eric Berry‘s $13MM-AAV contract on their books but have an opening opposite the All-Pro. Berry, 30, is not a reasonable cut candidate this year. It would cost the Chiefs more than $14MM in dead money to jettison the three-time All-Pro. But Kansas City is now heavily invested at a position that has seen its value reignite in a matter of hours.
With the Legion of Boom having disbanded, no team comes close to matching what Kansas City will have allotted to its safety position. But the Chiefs had considerable issues in pass coverage last season, including at pivotal points during their AFC championship game loss, and Mathieu helped rebuild his stock in 2018. The Chiefs were connected to Collins and the still-unattached Earl Thomas early last season but opted to stand pat. While they were agonizingly close to a Super Bowl without making a move, the team is addressing a need area now.
Coming off some disappointing seasons in Arizona, following the Cardinals signing Mathieu to a then-record safety deal (five years, $62.5MM), Mathieu made the most of his one-year Texans pact. He graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 21 safety last season.
It appears Houston will need to look for another safety. While the market still has some key players, two of the top targets are no longer available.