Chargers Decline Fifth-Year Option On DL Jerry Tillery
In a bit of a surprising move, the Chargers have declined the fifth-year option on their 2019 first-round pick. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter), the Chargers declined the fifth-year option on defensive lineman Jerry Tillery.
While this move will help Tillery hit free agency a year early, Rapoport notes that the defensive lineman is still “firmly in [the Chargers’] long-term plans.” GM Tom Telesco also recently gave the player a vote of confidence, stating that the organization is expecting “an even bigger role” in 2022. Still, the front office wasn’t willing to commit to his $11.8MM cap hit for 2023.
Tillery had a standout career at Notre Dame, leading to him being the 28th pick by the Chargers in 2019. The defensive lineman found himself in and out of the starting lineup through his first two seasons in the NFL, but he firmly established himself as a starting defensive tackle in 2021.
In 16 games (15 start), Tillery set career-highs across the board, including tackles (51), sacks (4.5), tackles for loss (six), and QB hits (14). The 26-year-0ld will earn around $3.6MM in 2022 before hitting the open market next offseason.
Texans Trade CB Lonnie Johnson Jr. To Chiefs
Lonnie Johnson Jr.‘s stint in Houston has come to an end. According to Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus (on Twitter), the Texans have traded the cornerback to the Chiefs. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the Texans will receive a 2024 conditional seventh-round pick.
Johnson was a 2019 second-round pick by the Texans, but he failed to establish himself as a starter during his three years in Houston. The defensive back ultimately saw time in 44 games (19 starts) for the Texans, collecting 172 tackles. He seemed to take a step forward in 2021, as the 26-year-old finished with 55 tackles, three interceptions, and six passes defended.
The Texans weren’t done making moves today. Per Kyed (on Twitter), the Texans signed defensive Rasheem Green and waived/injured running back Scottie Phillips. Green, a 2018 fourth-round pick, spent his first four professional seasons with the Seahawks, including a 2021 campaign where he finished with a career-high 6.5 sacks in 17 games (16 starts). Phillips spent two years in Houston, collecting 38 yards from scrimmage.
The Texans have also added defensive end Mario Addison, per Mark Berman of FOX 26 in Houston (on Twitter). Addison is inking a two-year deal, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter). Following a long stint with the Panthers that saw him collect 55 sacks in 111 games, Addison spent the past two seasons with the Bills, where he added another 12 sacks in 32 games. The lineman played under current Texans defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire in Buffalo.
Finally, the Texans picked up the fifth-year option on offensive lineman Tytus Howard (per Rapoport on Twitter). Howard has started all 37 of his appearances in the NFL, but he’s missed 12 total games through his first three seasons. Howard has shown plenty of versatility during his NFL career, spending time at both tackle and guard.
49ers Re-Sign CB Jason Verrett
For the third straight year, the 49ers are signing veteran cornerback Jason Verrett. The team also confirmed that, once again, he is inking a one-year deal. 
Verrett, 30, was a first-round pick of the Chargers in 2014. He flashed potential throughout his time with the team, including a Pro Bowl 2015 campaign. That year, he posted 47 tackles, three interceptions and 12 pass deflections. Injuries have become a major issue during his NFL tenure, however, including a torn Achilles which cost him the entire 2018 season.
That led him to San Francisco on his first one-year flier. An ankle injury limited him to a single game, though. The 49ers took another chance on him one year later, and saw he much more success that time around. In 13 games, the TCU product made a career-high 60 tackles, adding a pair of interceptions along the way. That was rewarded with another one-year deal from the team, as San Francisco looked to keep as much of its secondary intact given the departure of Richard Sherman.
Unfortunately, Verrett’s third season in the Bay Area went much like the first. He suffered a torn ACL during Week 1, leaving him with, essentially, yet another lost season. As a result, this latest deal likely won’t have the $5.5MM maximum value of his last one, though it wouldn’t come as a surprise for it to once again be incentive-laden. At a minimum, he will be able to provide experience to the 49ers’ secondary as they look to make another deep playoff run.
Falcons Exercise Chris Lindstrom’s Fifth-Year Option, Decline Kaleb McGary’s
The Falcons are splitting the decisions on their 2019 first-round offensive linemen. In a pair of tweets, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Atlanta is picking up the fifth-year option on guard Chris Lindstrom, but declining to do so with tackle Kaleb McGary. 
Neither move is seen as much of a surprise. Lindstrom, the 14th overall selection and second offensive linemen to come off the board in that class, has started all 38 games he has played in. While that total includes only five games in his rookie season, he has improved from year to year so far. He was credited with just two penalties committed and zero sacks allowed by PFF, helping him earn a career-high 83.7 grade.
For McGary, who went 31st overall, the transition to the NFL hasn’t gone as smoothly. He has also logged plenty of snaps, starting 45 of 46 career games, but has had neither the immediate impact nor the upward trajectory of Lindstrom. His PFF grades have been in the low-to-mid-60s the past two seasons, and in 2021 he ranked 59th out of 83 qualifying tackles. He will head into this season unsure of his future with the team beyond that point.
By picking up Lindstrom’s option, Atlanta will have a key cog on the offensive line in place for at least two more seasons. As a Tier 3 player for financial purposes, he will earn just over $13.2MM in 2023. Given his level of play – and, to a lesser extent, the team’s lack of significant additions at the position in the draft – it would come as little surprise for a long-term deal to be on the horizon for him.
Commanders To Sign OL Trai Turner
Trai Turner is set to reunite with his former head coach. The Commanders are signing the veteran guard to a one-year, $3MM deal (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 
Turner, 28, began his career under Ron Rivera in Carolina. He started nine of 13 games in 2014, his rookie season. That set the stage for him to occupy the right guard spot full-time throughout the remaining five years he spent with the Panthers. Over that stretch, he established himself as one of the best interior linemen in the league, being selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls.
In March 2020, though, Turner was traded to the Chargers in exchange for Russell Okung. That started a short-lived and disappointing tenure in Los Angeles, which was marred by injuries limiting him to nine games. Unable to find a trade partner willing to take on a cap hit over $11MM, the Chargers released him last offseason.
On the move for the second time in his career, the LSU alum joined the Steelers a few months later. He signed an identical deal with Pittsburgh to what he is signing now with Washington. Turner started all 17 games on a re-vamped Steelers offensive front, earning a 69.4 PFF grade. While that came up short of his ratings during his Carolina days, it ranked 31st in the league amongst qualified guards, which should make him at least a serviceable addition to the team’s offense.
Falcons To Release Mike Davis
The Falcons are moving on from veteran running back Mike Davis. ESPN’s Michael Rothstein confirmed (on Twitter) Jordan Schultz’s original report that Atlanta is releasing him. 
Davis, 29, signed a two-year deal last offseason. That marked a homecoming for him, and the only multi-year contract the team handed out at the time. There was plenty of optimism for the journeyman to take on the starter’s role, given his impressive 2020 campaign in Carolina.
Filling in for the injured Christian McCaffrey, Davis found success as the Panthers’ No. 1 back that year. He rushed for 642 yards and six touchdowns, adding 373 yards and another two scores in the passing game. He was expected to carry a large workload in Atlanta, but his performance was more in line with his career averages. The South Carolina alum totalled 762 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns, staring only eight of 17 games.
The reason for his reduced role, of course, was the emergence of Cordarrelle Patterson as the Falcons’ lead back. His production both on the ground and in the air – not to mention the lack of guaranteed money on the second year of Davis’ deal – opened the door to this move being made.
By releasing Davis, the Falcons will save $2.5MM in cap space. He will look to catch on with what could be his sixth different team in the NFL. Atlanta, meanwhile, will move forward with Patterson, free agent signing Damien Williams and fifth-round rookie Tyler Allgeier in their backfield.
Texans To Sign Rasheem Green
The Texans didn’t add much to their defensive line during the draft, but they are set to bring in another piece to that position group in free agency. Houston is signing defensive end Rasheem Green to a one-year deal, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). 
Green, 25 at the start of the season, visited the Texans last week, so a contract comes as little surprise. He had a limited role during the first three years of his time in Seattle, though he flashed potential with a four sack 2019 campaign. By far his best year, however, came in 2021; he set career highs in starts (16), sacks (6.5), tackles (48) and quarterback hits (15).
That generated plenty of interest as he hit free agency for the first time. The USC product met with the Ravens in March, and the Panthers in April. While that signalled a departure was likely, it was reported at the time that he could still re-sign with the Seahawks. Ultimately, the third meeting was the charm for him to find his new NFL home.
In Houston, Green will join a defensive front which – like most of the rest of the roster – is lacking in veterans and long-term, expensive commitments. If he can replicate his level of play from last season, however, he should be able to continue his upward trajectory and help the team’s rebuild.
Saints Expected To Sign Tyrann Mathieu
9:06 AM: New Orleans has, for a while now, been seen as the favorite to land safety Tyrann Mathieu. It appears they have indeed added the veteran, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (on Twitter) that the Saints are “expected to sign” him in the coming days.
3:40 PM: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the deal is indeed in place, and will be officially signed shortly (Twitter link). Mathieu will earn $33MM over three years, with $18MM fully guaranteed.
It was reported yesterday that the Saints would make an “aggressive push” for the soon-to-be 30-year-old. The deal would represent a homecoming for the New Orleans native who played at LSU in college. It would also mark his fourth career NFL team, after he had a one-year stint in Houston between stays in Arizona and Kansas City.
It was with the Chiefs that Mathieu had the bulk of his individual and collective success. He added two more Pro Bowls and All-Pro nods to his resume, and won his lone Super Bowl during his three seasons there. A starter and valued team leader throughout that time, he totalled 13 interceptions in Kansas City, showcasing his positional versatility along the way.
The Chiefs moved on in free agency, however, signing Justin Reid to take over Mathieu’s starting role. That led to speculation the Saints – who lost Marcus Williams and Malcolm Jenkins this offseason – could be interested in the All-Decade member. The team has already signed Marcus Maye and ex-Chief Daniel Sorensen, but they avoided drafting a safety this weekend. Meanwhile, teams like the Rams and Steelers showed interest, and the Eagles hosted him on a free agent visit as well.
Assuming the deal isn’t officially signed until after 3 PM central time, the Chiefs won’t be in line for a 2023 compensatory pick. The Saints, meanwhile, will add a hometown player as a key part of their rebuilt safety room.
Steelers Sign S Damontae Kazee
The Steelers have signed free agent safety Damontae Kazee to a one-year deal, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (via Twitter). After re-signing Karl Joseph in March and reuniting with Terrell Edmunds at the end of April, it would seem that Pittsburgh’s safety contingent, led by two-time First Team All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick, is largely set.
Kazee brings plenty of starting experience to the table, with 49 starts in 69 regular season appearances. After four seasons with the Falcons, who made him a fifth-round draft choice in 2017, Kazee signed a one-year contract with the Cowboys last offseason. The San Diego State product appeared in nearly 80% of Dallas’ defensive snaps in 2021, recording 52 tackles, two forced fumbles, and a pair of interceptions.
Pro Football Focus assigned him a middling overall grade of 60.9, but given his experience and playmaking upside — 12 career picks, including a league-best seven in 2018 — he can be a useful part of the Steelers’ DB rotation. He also offers some positional versatility, as he is capable of playing corner as well as safety.
Kazee, who will turn 29 in June, also visited with the Seahawks in April. Given that Seattle’s safety depth chart is topped by Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, Kazee perhaps saw a better opportunity in Pittsburgh, despite the presence of Fitzpatrick.
The Steelers had been linked to free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu, but the transactions the club has made at the safety position in recent weeks suggest that Mathieu will be looking elsewhere for his next home. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, may be exploring a monster extension for Fitzpatrick, who is entering the final year of his contract.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/1/22
We will keep track of all of today’s minor moves here:
Tennessee Titans
- Released: QB Kevin Hogan. After the Titans selected Liberty QB Malik Willis in the third round of the 2022 draft, the writing was on the wall for Hogan, who has not thrown a regular season pass since 2017. In addition to Willis and presumptive starter Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee is also rostering Logan Woodside, whom the club re-signed in March.