Panthers To Sign OL Austin Corbett
7:32pm: The Panthers have agreed to terms with Corbett, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports. Carolina lands a guard with 40 starts’ worth of experience. Corbett agreed to a three-year contract worth $29.25MM, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal contains $13.6MM in guaranteed money, per ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter). The first two years of his deal are fully guaranteed.
6:49pm: The Rams reached agreements to retain center Brian Allen and swing tackle Joseph Noteboom, but they may be ready to see their other free agent offensive lineman of note depart.
Austin Corbett is close to an agreement with the Panthers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Carolina has multiple needs up front, one of those being at guard.
After a midseason trade in 2019, the former Browns second-round pick became a regular Rams starter. Corbett started every game for the past two Rams squads, including all 21 during the team’s Super Bowl-winning campaign. Operating as Los Angeles’ right guard, Corbett provided some stability at that spot as the Rams transitioned to Matthew Stafford under center and used three primary running backs last season. PFF assigned Corbett a 69.6 regular-season grade, which ranked tops among the Rams’ guards.
Carolina struggled consistently at guard, deploying John Miller (52.1) and Michael Jordan (50.8) as their primary first-stringers last season. While the Panthers encountered steady quarterback issues, their O-line did not do this collection of passers many favors.
The Panthers saw Pat Elflein play just nine games last season, though they restructured the would-be starter. Elflein-Corbett would likely be the team’s direction at guard, should the latter end up finalizing this agreement.
Jaguars To Sign WR Zay Jones
Jacksonville’s spending spree continues. Zay Jones is headed to Florida on a three-year agreement, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
This deal comes not long after the Jags agreed to give Christian Kirk top-10 receiver money. They are signing Jones for three years and $24MM, with RapSheet adding the contract can max out at $30MM. The deal contains $14MM in guaranteed money, with his 2022 and 2023 base salaries fully guaranteed (per PFF’s Doug Kyed on Twitter). The deal also includes up to $1MM in incentives for each year of the deal.
Although Doug Pederson expressed interest in bringing back DJ Chark, the Jags have now committed big money to one target and reasonable cash to another wideout. Kirk and Zay Jones join Marvin Jones and Laviska Shenault as the top Jacksonville receivers entering the 2022 league year. Evan Engram, who agreed to a one-year deal, will also be part of the equation to help Trevor Lawrence after his rocky rookie year.
A former second-round Bills pick, Zay Jones resurfaced as a decent Raiders option last season. With Henry Ruggs being cut midseason, the Raiders depended more on Jones than they had previously. He caught 47 passes — 33 more than he did in 16 2020 games — for 546 yards and a touchdown last season. While this contract is somewhat surprising, considering Jones reupped with the Raiders for one year and $2.5MM in 2021, the Jags clearly believe he can sustain that performance level.
Doubling as one of the most expensive days in Jaguars history, Monday has also included deals with Brandon Scherff, Folorunso Fatukasi and Foyesade Oluokun. The team that won four games over the past two seasons is certainly bringing in talent, regardless of cost.
Dolphins To Sign Keion Crossen
Keion Crossen is heading back to the AFC East. After starting his professional career with the Patriots, the special teams ace is signing with the Dolphins, reports Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).
Crossen got a three-year deal worth $10.5MM. The player negotiated the contract himself, per Wilson. The deal contains more than $3MM in guaranteed money, with only the first season of the deal fully guaranteed (Twitter link).
Following his rookie season in New England, Crossen spent two seasons with the Texans, including a 2020 campaign where he compiled a career-high 46 tackles while appearing in a career-high 28 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.
Crossen was traded to the Giants last August for a sixth-round pick. He ended up getting into 16 games for his new team, compiling 13 tackles while primarily appearing on special teams.
Eagles Won’t Tender LB Alex Singleton
Despite leading his team in tackles over the past two seasons, Alex Singleton won’t receive a tender. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the Eagles won’t be tendering the linebacker, making him a free agent.
The 2015 first-round pick found himself with three different organizations during his rookie campaign, and he ended up having to spend three seasons in the CFL, where he earned All Star appearances and a Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award.
The Eagles gave him another shot in the NFL in 2019, and following a first season with the organization where he exclusively played on special teams, Singleton established himself as one of the most dependable members of the defense over the past two seasons.
After finishing with a team-leading 120 tackles in 2020, Singleton took it to another level in 2021. The 28-year-old finished this past season with 137 tackles to go along with four passes defended in 16 games (eight starts).
Lions To Re-Sign OL Evan Brown
Set to be a restricted free agent, Evan Brown is bypassing that process to stay with the Lions. The team’s Frank Ragnow replacement is staying on a one-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
After Ragnow went down early in the season, Brown stepped in and started 12 games. Pro Football Focus graded the Lions’ O-line 13th, and while Brown checked in with the lowest grade among full-time starters, he posted a respectable mark for his position. This move bolsters the Lions’ depth for the 2022 season.
Brown’s deal is worth just more than $2MM, Doug Kyed and Brad Spielberger of PFF note (via Twitter). This salary comes in just below the right-of-first-refusal tender figure, the lowest of the RFA tender values.
The former UDFA out of SMU remains on track for unrestricted free agency in 2023. The Lions now have all five O-line starters and nearly their entire backup nucleus signed for next season.
Panthers To Sign S Xavier Woods
After having to settle for a one-year deal last offseason, Xavier Woods is now getting paid. The safety is signing a three-year deal with the Panthers, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The three-year pact is worth $15.75MM.
The 2017 sixth-round pick evolved into a consistent starter during his time in Dallas, including a 2020 campaign where he finished with 72 tackles in 15 starts. However, the safety didn’t endear himself to Cowboys fans when he admitted that he didn’t play “full speed for 70 plays” following an October 2020 loss to the Browns, comments that proved to be the beginning of the end for Woods in Dallas.
He ended up having to opt for a one-year deal with the Vikings last offseason. During his lone season in Minnesota, Woods collected a career-high 108 tackles to go along with 10 passes defended and three interceptions in 17 starts. He was also the NFL’s only defensive player to play in every one of his team’s defensive snaps last season (per ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).
Giants, G Mark Glowinski Agree To Deal
In need of another offensive line overhaul, the Giants added a piece Monday night. They agreed to sign former Colts guard Mark Glowinski, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Part of a top-tier Colts O-line for the past four seasons, Glowinski agreed to join the Giants on a three-year deal worth $20MM. The veteran inside blocker will receive $11.4MM fully guaranteed, RapSheet adds.
Although Glowinski was far from the best O-linemen the Colts deployed in recent years, he helped Indianapolis’ cause and started in each of his four seasons with the team. The Colts gave the ex-Seahawks fourth-round draftee a three-year, $16.2MM extension in January 2019, making this a slight pay bump for the seven-year veteran.
The Giants played shorthanded on their interior line throughout last season, seeing Nick Gates and Shane Lemieux suffer season-ending injuries early on. The team acquired Billy Price and Ben Bredeson as stopgaps, adding fellow ex-Raven Matt Skura as well. Both ex-Baltimore cogs are under contract for 2022, but four-year starter Will Hernandez is a free agent.
New York may well be starting over up front, with the exception of left tackle Andrew Thomas. Glowinski will certainly take over as one of the team’s starting guards, having made 74 career starts. But the team has more work to do up front going forward. The draft will be a key resource here, with the Giants the rare team to hold two top-10 picks in a draft.
Chargers To Sign DL Austin Johnson
The Chargers have added another player to their defense. The team is signing defensive tackle Austin Johnson, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). It’s a two-year deal worth up to $14MM, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter).
Johnson had a breakout season for the Giants in 2021, setting career-highs across the board. In 17 starts, the defensive tackle collected 72 tackles, 3.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and seven QB hits. Entering this season, Johnson had 54 tackles and 3.5 sacks in five seasons with the Titans and Giants.
A 2016 second-round pick, Johnson spent the first four seasons of his career with Tennessee. He joined the Giants organization in 2020.
The acquisitions of Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson will steal the headlines, but Johnson should find a role for himself on the Chargers defense. Justin Jones and Linval Joseph combined for 23 starts last season, but both players are hitting free agency. Even backup Christian Covington, who started three games in 2021, is a free agent.
Steelers To Sign OL Mason Cole
After re-signing Chukwuma Okorafor earlier today, the Steelers are adding another offensive lineman to the mix. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the Steelers are signing center Mason Cole. It will be a three-year deal for the offensive lineman. Cole is getting a three-year deal worth $15.75MM, with $11MM paid out in the first two years (per ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter).
[RELATED: Steelers To Re-Sign OL Chukwuma Okorafor]
The 2018 third-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Cardinals, starting 32 of his 46 appearances. He was traded to the Vikings last offseason for a sixth-round pick, and he proceeded to start seven of his 14 games for Minnesota. Cole spent time at both center and right guard before his season ended early due to an elbow injury.
2021 third-round pick Kendrick Green ran with the starting center gig last year, starting all 15 of his games. The team is also rostering center J.C. Hassenauer.
Jets To Sign TE C.J. Uzomah
After seven seasons in Cincinnati, C.J. Uzomah will have a new home. The veteran tight end agreed to terms with the Jets on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
It’s a three-year, $24MM deal for the longtime Bengals pass catcher. Uzomah is coming off his best season, having helped the Bengals to their first Super Bowl in 33 years, and ended it by playing hurt against the Rams. The former fifth-round pick will cash in.
The Bengals spent money on two interior offensive linemen Monday — Alex Cappa and Ted Karras — and will let one of Joe Burrow‘s weapons walk. The team still has Burrow’s top three targets — Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd — under contract, softening the blow of Uzomah’s defection.
Still, Uzomah was a popular presence in Cincinnati’s locker room and worked as a key complementary target for the rising team. The 6-foot-6 tight end overcame an MCL sprain in the AFC championship game to play in Super Bowl LVI. After combining for 13 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown in the Bengals’ first two playoff games, he caught two passes in the team’s loss to the Rams.
Uzomah, 29, established new career-high marks across the board in 2021 by catching 49 passes for 493 yards and five touchdowns. Working his way up after playing behind Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft, Uzomah has been a regular starter in Cincinnati for the past four seasons. He will head to the Jets to help out Zach Wilson. Ryan Griffin led Jets tight ends with just 27 receptions for 261 yards last year.