Cowboys, DE DeMarcus Lawrence Agree To New Deal
The Cowboys asked DeMarcus Lawrence to take a pay cut, but he refused. However, the sides agreed on a deal that will lower Lawrence’s 2022 cap hit and give him additional guaranteed money.
Dallas and Lawrence agreed to terms on a three-year, $40MM deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. This contract comes with $30MM fully guaranteed, a positive development for Lawrence, who is coming off an injury-limited season.
Lawrence’s cap hit will drop from its previously steep perch ($27MM), giving Dallas more space. The 2022 number will drop to $14MM, Todd Archer of ESPN tweets. The Cowboys will run into a similar situation in 2023, when Lawrence’s cap figure vaults to $26MM. Dallas included a void year (2025) to spread out the cap hit.
This agreement will also benefit the Pro Bowl edge rusher in his early 30s. The guarantees from his previous five-year, $105MM contract only ran through the 2021 season. With Randy Gregory free to negotiate with other teams, the Cowboys have at least ensured their cornerstone defensive end will be back.
It appeared Dallas had balked when Lawrence refused to take a pay cut, but this compromise will bump the NFC East champs’ cap space north from its present $15MM-plus place. The Cowboys have already shipped out Amari Cooper‘s five-year, $100MM contract — a deal that had a nonguaranteed three years and $60MM remaining — and let Cedrick Wilson defect to the Dolphins. The team is set to cut or trade La’el Collins.
Lawrence, 30 in April, missed 10 games after suffering a foot injury ahead of Dallas’ Week 2 game. He finished the season with just three sacks, marking the former second-round pick’s third straight season with fewer than seven sacks. The Cowboys franchise-tagged Lawrence twice, during a period in which he made two Pro Bowls, but extended him in 2019. This marks the third long-term contract Lawrence has signed with the Cowboys.
Jets To Re-Sign RB Tevin Coleman
Tevin Coleman will spend at least another season in New York. The veteran running back is re-signing with the Jets, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). Coleman’s new deal is for one year worth $1.5MM, including $650K in guaranteed money (per Pelissero on Twitter).
Following a two-year stint with the 49ers, Coleman joined the Jets last offseason on a one-year, $2MM deal. He ended up getting into 11 games (five starts) for New York, collecting 356 rushing yards on 84 carries. He also added another 11 receptions for 49 yards.
Coleman will likely see a similar amount of playing time in 2022, serving as the older counterpart to Michael Carter. The Jets are also rostering Ty Johnson, Austin Walter, and La’Mical Perine.
Prior to his two seasons in San Francisco, Coleman spent the first four seasons of his career with the Falcons. This included a 2018 campaign where he finished with a career-high 1,076 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns on 199 touches.
Browns, DT Taven Bryan Agree To Deal
The Browns will take a flier on a former first-round pick. Ex-Jaguars top draft choice Taven Bryan will switch AFC employers, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
Cleveland is adding the fifth-year defensive tackle on a one-year deal worth up to $5MM. Bryan did not catch on in Jacksonville but will have an opportunity to rebound as a depth piece in Ohio.
Despite housing a host of quality D-linemen in 2018, the Jags drafted Bryan 29th overall. The Florida product managed to start 17 games, mostly during the 2019 and ’20 seasons, but did not see his fifth-year option picked up and was used strictly as a rotational player last season. Bryan registered two sacks and eight QB hits as a backup in 2021.
The Browns have some issues to sort out at defensive tackle. Malik Jackson, who was ahead of Bryan on the 2018 Jags’ depth chart, is a free agent. Malik McDowell, who surprised by moving into the Browns’ starting lineup last season, is not expected back after an offseason arrest. McDowell’s departure is not yet official. The Browns can tender him as an exclusive rights free agent.
Bills To Sign DT Tim Settle
Tim Settle is heading north. The defensive tackle is signing with the Bills, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
It’s a two-year deal for Settle. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets that the deal is worth $9MM and a max of $10.6MM. The deal contains $7MM in guaranteed money, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter).
The 2018 fifth-round pick out of Virginia Tech had spent his entire career with Washington, missing only a pair of games. Used mostly in a platoon role (only two starts), Settle collected seven sacks during his four season with Washington. The six-foot-three, 308-pound defensive lineman also collected 12 QB hits and 12 tackle for loss.
Following a 2020 season where he finished with a career-high five sacks, Settle was unable to compile a single sack in 2021. He still managed to collect 13 tackles while getting into 20 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.
Considering his familiarity with the organization, Washington was keeping tabs on the free agent, per ESPN’s John Keim (on Twitter). Ultimately, Settle decided to take his talents up north.
Texans Release OL Marcus Cannon
Marcus Cannon‘s stint with the Texans has come to an end. The Texans are releasing the veteran offensive lineman, reports Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).
On Thursday, it will be the one-year anniversary of Cannon joining Houston. The Texans acquired the lineman from the Patriots (along with a fifth- and sixth-round pick) for a fourth- and sixth-round pick.
Cannon started the first four games for the Texans, getting in 88 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. However, he landed on IR in early October with a disc issue, and he didn’t end up seeing the field again during the 2021 campaign.
The 2011 fifth-round pick had previously spent his entire career in New England, earning three Super Bowl rings and a second-team All-Pro nod. The lineman started 69 of his 115 games with the Patriots, including 15 starts in 2020. The 33-year-old also got into 19 playoff games, starting 11.
Jaguars To Sign TE Evan Engram
The Jaguars continue to add to their offense. Jacksonville is signing tight end Evan Engram, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Jaguars To Sign Christian Kirk]
It’s a one-year deal worth $9MM, and the contract could be worth up to $10MM with incentives. PFF’s Doug Kyed tweets that the deal contains $8.25MM in guaranteed money, which includes a $3MM signing bonus and $5.25MM base salary. The tight end has $800K worth of reception and receiving yard incentives.
A first-round pick by the Giants in 2018, Engram had an inconsistent five years in New York. After missing 13 combined games between 2018 and 2019, Engram earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2020 after finishing with 63 receptions for 654 yards and one touchdown. However, his numbers took a step back in 2021, with the tight end finishing with 46 receptions for a career-low 408 receiving yards.
Still, those numbers would represent an upgrade at the position for the Jaguars. The team’s top receiving TE in 2021 was Dan Arnold, who finished with 28 receptions for 324 yards. Engram will join a tight ends depth chart that already includes Arnold, James O’Shaughnessy, Chris Manhertz, and Luke Farrell.
However, there’s a chance Engram doesn’t even line up as TE for his new squad. There were recent reports that teams were looking into Engram as a wide receiver, with the player’s combination of speed, agility, and size making him a potential matchup nightmare. We’ll see if that ends up being the case in Jacksonville. According to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post (on Twitter), the Colts, 49ers, and Bills were among the teams to express interest in Engram before he landed in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars have been busy adding to their offense this afternoon. After agreeing to a deal with offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, the organization inked receiver Christian Kirk to a lucrative deal.
Steelers To Re-Sign OL Chukwuma Okorafor
Chukwuma Okorafor is heading back to Pittsburgh. The Steelers are re-signing the offensive lineman, reports NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Steelers To Sign Mitch Trubisky]
It’s a three-year deal worth $29.25MM, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Okorafor will earn $20.5MM in the first two years of the pact.
The 2018 third-round pick has spent his entire career with the Steelers, seeing time in 46 games. He’s taken on a larger role in recent seasons, starting 31 games for Pittsburgh between 2020 and 2021. He saw time in 97 percent of his team’s offensive snaps this past season.
Okorafor’s versatility (he’s even started games at tight end) makes him a commodity, even if he doesn’t hold a starting gig. Naturally, the 24-year-old generated plenty of interest around the NFL, per Garafolo.
Cardinals Re-Sign Dennis Gardeck
“The Barbarian” is heading back to Arizona. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the Cardinals have re-signed linebacker and special teams ace Dennis Gardeck.
It’s a three-year deal worth $12MM for Gardeck.
An undrafted free agent in 2018, Gardeck has spent his entire four-year career with the Cardinals. He was a key member of Arizona’s special teams unit through his first three seasons in the NFL, collecting 34 tackles in 44 games.
Gardeck saw a larger role on defense in 2021, getting into a career-high 19 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Coupled with his usual special teams duties, the 27-year-old managed to finish with a career-high 23 tackles.
Patriots Re-Sign Matthew Slater
Matthew Slater is returning to New England for a 15th season. The key special teamer is re-signing with the Patriots, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter). It’s a one-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $2.62MM. The deal includes a $152K signing bonus, according to Doug Kyed of ProFootballFocus.com (via Twitter).
Since being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 draft, Slater has put together an impressive resume. He’s earned three Super Bowl rings, 10 Pro Bowl appearances, and five All-Pro nods (including two first-team recognitions). Slater needs just one more regular season appearance to claim sole possession of third place on the Patriots all-time games played list (behind Tom Brady and Bruce Armstrong).
Slater earned his third-straight Pro Bowl appearance in 2021 after finishing with 11 tackles in 17 games. The 36-year-old saw time in 80 percent of his team’s special teams snaps.
Originally drafted as a wideout, Slater has collected three touches for 57 yards from scrimmage in his career.
Buccaneers, CB Carlton Davis Agree To Deal
Carlton Davis will follow Ryan Jensen in staying with the Buccaneers. The standout cornerback agreed to terms with the Bucs on Monday afternoon, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
It is a three-year, $45MM pact, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets, adding that it comes with $30MM guaranteed (Twitter link). Davis will see $23.5MM fully guaranteed, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe notes (on Twitter), adding that Davis’ pact maxes out at $45MM. The base total figures to come in a bit below that.
Tampa Bay was over the cap before this Davis agreement, so the team will need to continue to make moves ahead of Wednesday’s start to the 2022 league year. But Davis returning fills a key need for a Bucs team that is now firmly back in the Super Bowl mix, Tom Brady having unretired and all. A team that was close to falling to fringe-contender status now has re-upped its center and top cornerback, spending to fortify its roster as it did in 2021.
Within minutes, cornerback-seeking teams have seen the two top UFAs move off the board. The Chargers just gave J.C. Jackson a $16.5MM-per-year deal; Davis’ checks in just below that. The former Bucs second-round pick will still earn top-10 cornerback money.
Although Davis missed seven games last season with a quad injury, he returned in early December and finished the season to re-establish his value. After a four-interception 2020 season, Davis nabbed just one pick last year. He allowed an 83.2 passer rating when targeted and entered the offseason as one of the top free agents available. This will ensure the Bucs’ top corners from recent years — the homegrown trio of Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean — are on track to reprise their roles in 2022. The latter two will go into contract years.
Tampa Bay has lost both its guard starters from the past four seasons — Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa — to retirement and a Bengals defection, respectively, but the team has done well to make these deals happen. Although, the Bucs might have to dip into the void-year realm again to fit these contracts onto their payroll. (No void years are present in Davis’ deal, however, Greg Auman of The Athletic tweets.) Leonard Fournette, Rob Gronkowski, Jason Pierre-Paul and Ndamukong Suh are still unattached.