Bills To Sign Frank Gore
Frank Gore just won’t quit. On Monday, the ageless running back agreed to sign with the Bills on a one-year, $2MM deal, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. 
Gore, 36 in May, continues to defy the odds with productive season after productive season. Last year, Gore managed 4.6 yards per carry off of 156 attempts and added 12 catches for 124 yards. He no longer profiles as a workhorse back, but he’s still extremely effective when used in the right measure.
In addition to being extremely efficient last year, Gore also graded out as the Dolphins’ best pass-blocker, per Pro Football Focus. Football Outsiders’ metrics lauded Gore as well, as he ranked as a top-20 back in DYAR, DVOA, and success rate.
The Bills already have star LeSean McCoy leading the way with Chris Ivory in reserve, but Gore could be a change-of-pace option as the Bills move forward. The extra insurance can’t hurt, especially since McCoy averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per try in 2018.
Lions To Sign TE Jesse James
The Lions have agreed to a deal with former Steelers tight end Jesse James, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). This marks the latest deal on what has proven to be a busy day in Detroit. It’s a four-year deal worth $25MM with $11MM fully guaranteed, according to a source who spoke with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Earlier today, the Lions agreed to sign defensive end Trey Flowers, nickel corner Justin Coleman, and wide receiver Danny Amendola. Now, James joins the mix, and he could be an important addition despite his lack of star power.
James, 25 in June, has averaged 37 catches for 378 yards and nearly three touchdowns over the last three seasons in Pittsburgh. He also graded out as one of the better pass blocking TEs in the NFL last year, according to Pro Football Focus.
With Luke Willson and Levine Toilolo headed towards free agency, the Lions needed a new face at tight end. They have their man in James, though you can expect another addition or two to the TE group this offseason.
Titans To Re-Sign Kenny Vaccaro
It appears the safety market is back on track. A key member from 2018’s mysterious market will receive a big raise.
The Titans and Kenny Vaccaro have reached an agreement to keep the former first-round pick in Tennessee long-term, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. It’s a four-year, $26MM deal, per RapSheet, who adds this will come with $11.5MM guaranteed.
Vaccaro joined Tre Boston and Eric Reid, the latter being the centerpiece of last year’s slowdown, in having to wait months to land deals in 2018. The Titans swooped in and signed Vaccaro on the cheap before training camp, and with Reid having already re-signed to stay in Carolina, Vaccaro’s second team took similar action. Vaccaro’s deal comes in just north of Reid’s.
The former Saints five-year secondary piece started 13 games with the Titans last season. The safety/slot defender will be a part of Tennessee secondaries going forward, and while Landon Collins‘ Redskins deal will grab justified headlines, the seventh-year veteran’s re-up is a good sign for this year’s safety market.
Jets, Jamison Crowder Agree To Deal
The Jets are adding a weapon for Sam Darnold. Jamison Crowder and the Jets agreed to terms on a three-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
Crowder’s contract is worth $28.5MM, with $17MM fully guaranteed at signing, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).
This will help a Jets receiving corps light on surefire long-term pieces. Crowder will join the recently extended Quincy Enunwa as parts of the next Gang Green aerial attack.
Crowder broke into the role of Washington’s slot receiver early in his career, posting multiple seasons north of 775 yards — the first of which on a Redskins offense that still had Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson. Crowder’s best season came when he was working with Kirk Cousins and that duo, an 847-yard, seven-touchdown 2016.
He struggled to stay healthy last season, playing in only nine games but is likely to see a hefty payday. Mike Maccagnan said the Jets were going to be aggressive in free agency, and the market’s top slot receivers were viewed as players set to cash in this year.
The Jets are in position to have Enunwa, Crowder and Robby Anderson in the fold for 2019, with the latter being given a second-round tender. Though, with the team still connected to Le’Veon Bell, it is unlikely the Jets are done adding skill-position talent this week.
Saints Re-Sign Craig Robertson
The Saints are keeping linebacker Craig Robertson, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). He’ll return on a two-year deal worth more than $4MM.
Like safety Chris Banjo, Robertson is a key special teams player for New Orleans. Banjo himself received a new deal from the Saints this week, a three-year extension worth $9MM.
Robertson was not believed to be a priority for the Saints heading into this week, but they still found the room to keep him on an inexpensive deal. Moving forward, the Saints’ top priorities are expected to be at tight end, defensive tackle, and backup quarterback.
Texans Tender Ka’imi Fairbairn, Brennan Scarlett; Re-Sign Joel Heath
In a day full of big headlines, the Texans took care of some less conspicuous business. Per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, the club tendered RFA kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn at the second-round level ($3.095MM). That was a no-brainer for Houston, as Fairbairn turned in an excellent season in 2018, nailing 88.1% of his field goals and sinking all of his attempts of less than 40 yards. He also made 39 of 41 extra point tries and led the NFL with 150 points.
The Texans also retained RFA linebacker Brennan Scarlett with a $2.025MM original round tender. Scarlett started three games for the club last year, compiling 18 tackles to go along with a forced fumble and an interception.
Houston did not tender defensive end Joel Heath, another RFA, but they did re-sign him to a one-year deal worth less than the $2.025MM original round tender. Heath appeared in five games last year but did not record a sack as he saw his usage decrease considerably from 2017.
None of these moves come as a surprise, as the Texans were expected to retain all of their restricted free agents. Houston also re-signed DE Angelo Blackson earlier today.
Bengals To Re-Sign T Bobby Hart
Bobby Hart‘s second NFL team plans to reward him after his 16-start season. The Bengals are re-signing the fifth-year offensive lineman, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Cincinnati’s full-time starter at right tackle last season, Hart will sign for $21MM over three years, Schefter adds. This marks a major step for Hart, whom the Giants cut on Day 1 of Dave Gettleman‘s GM tenure.
Hart did not fare well in New York, and Gettleman waived him in December 2017. A former seventh-round pick during the Jerry Reese era, Hart caught on with the Bengals and started every game last season. While Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 69 tackle last season, this is starter-level money. It appears the Bengals are showing faith in Hart continuing to man the right edge of their front.
The Bengals now have three veteran contracts along their O-line, with Hart’s deal joining the pacts on which Cordy Glenn and Clint Boling are attached. Despite his Giants performance, Hart is now tied to a deal that places him seventh among right tackles, in terms of per-year earnings.
Lions To Sign Trey Flowers
The Lions have agreed to sign free agent DE Trey Flowers, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Schefter tweets that it will be a five-year pact, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that it will be worth around $16MM-$17MM per year.
The official Flowers numbers are in. It’s a five-year, $90MM deal for the former Patriots defensive end, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter), adding Flowers will receive $56MM guaranteed and $40MM fully guaranteed at signing. All of that fully guaranteed cash will come Flowers’ way by 2020, per Albert Breer of SI.com (on Twitter). Flowers will earn $28.88MM in 2019 and $54.37MM in the first three years of this deal.
This contract will bring a $28MM signing bonus, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter). The first two base salaries — $805K in 2019 and $11.13MM (2020) — are fully guaranteed, per Wilson, who adds Flowers’ next two salaries will be $14.38MM (2021, with that total being guaranteed for injury only) and $10MM. The $10MM 2022 figure becomes fully guaranteed if Flowers is on the Lions’ roster on the third day of the 2021 league year.
Flowers was one of the top defenders available on the market this year, and it was reported this morning that the Bills were interested in his services. The Jets and Dolphins were also rumored to be interested in the soon-to-be former Patriot, but he instead opted to reunite with Matt Patricia in Detroit to bolster a pass rush that definitely needs some help.
Flowers won’t turn 26 until August, so he has the chance to build on an already impressive resume. Last year, he set a new career high with 7.5 sacks and continued to generate pressure against opposing QBs. He graded out as the sixth-best edge rusher in the entire NFL according to Pro Football Focus, and he posted a career-best 88.7 overall score. That mark put him below only Calais Campbell, Khalil Mack, J.J. Watt, Von Miller, and Cameron Jordan.
The Lions were expected to be active in free agency, and they have not disappointed. Flowers is the biggest addition the club has made so far, but they also signed Danny Amendola this morning and are expected to sign Justin Coleman.
Bengals Re-Sign TE C.J. Uzomah
Tight end C.J. Uzomah has agreed to terms on a new deal with the Bengals. The fresh pact will be a three-year deal worth upwards of $18MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Uzomah, 26, set new career highs in catches (43), yards (439), and touchdowns (3) in 2018. The Bengals aimed to keep Uzomah, especially with Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft also bound for free agency, and they got a deal done on the first day of the legal tampering period.
Eifert has missed an astounding 34 games since his 2015 Pro Bowl season, but the team reportedly still has some level of interest in retaining him. Kroft also lost time due to injury, but there’s reportedly a path for him to return as well.
Redskins To Sign Landon Collins
Landon Collins has agreed to sign with the Redskins (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson). It’s a whopper of a contract: Collins will receive a six-year, $84MM deal with $45MM guaranteed to be paid out over the first three years, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). 
That’s an astronomical figure for a box safety and a huge change from last year’s safety market, which led to disappointing deals for big names such as Tyrann Mathieu. Many feared that the safety market would continue to stall, but things are looking up for the NFL’s last line of defense.
Up until this point, Collins spent his entire career with the rival Giants, a team that did not feel he was worthy of the franchise tag this offseason. Collins clashed with team brass over his contract and threatened to hold out, leading to his exit. The Giants ultimately preferred a shot at a 2020 third-round compensatory pick to keeping one of the game’s most talented young safeties.
Collins, a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, has been a full-time starter for the Giants since entering the league. A two-time Pro Bowler, Collins posted 96 tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble in 2018 while grading as the NFL’s 39th-best safety, per Pro Football Focus.
The Redskins acquired safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix from the Packers last year, but his status is in limbo as an unrestricted free agent. Collins will solidify a group that has moved on from D.J. Swearinger and might not include Montae Nicholson.