Minor NFL Transactions: 3/1/22
Today’s minor transactions around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Joe Thomas
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: CB Jalen Davis
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: OL Jeremiah Poutasi
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: DT Albert Huggins
Jaguars Re-Sign OL Tyler Shatley
Tyler Shatley will be sticking around Jacksonville. The Jaguars have re-signed the offensive lineman, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
It’s a two-year deal that can be worth up to $6.8MM, per Pelissero. The deal includes $2.35MM in guaranteed money.
Shatley’s versatility on the offensive line has made him a mainstay in Jacksonville. After going undrafted out of Clemson in 2014, the lineman caught on with the Jaguars, and he’s been with the team ever since.
The 30-year-0ld has seen time in 111 games (33 starts) during his eight years with the organization. That includes a 2021 campaign where he started eight of his 17 games, with the majority of his playing time coming at center. Considering his experience and ability to play multiple positions, the Jaguars made it a clear priority to re-sign the veteran. Now, he’ll be locked in through the 2023 campaign.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 2/28/22
Here are the Reserve/Futures deals signed around the NFL today:
Los Angeles Rams
Raiders Sign DT Andrew Billings
The Raiders added some depth to their defensive line before the start of free agency. Per an announcement from his agency (Twitter link), the team has signed defensive tackle Andrew Billings.
Billings, 26, was originally a fourth round pick of the Bengals in 2016. In 47 games in Cincinnati (including 37 starts), he compiled 81 tackles, 12 QB hits and 3.5 sacks. His next stop was set to be Cleveland, where he signed a one-year deal in March 2020; however, he opted out of that season, keeping him in Ohio for the 2021 campaign.
The 6-foot-one, 328-pounder only ended up playing in six contests with the Browns, recording a single tackle before being waived. He bounced around during the latter part of the campaign, joining the practice squads of the Dolphins and Chiefs in November and January, respectively. He didn’t end up making any appearances for either team during his brief stints there, however.
In Las Vegas, Billings will add depth to a defensive line that could stand to be upgraded. In 2021, the Raiders gave up just over 114 yards per game on the ground, ranking them in the bottom half of the league. This move could very well be the first of many along the defensive front, as Quinton Jefferson, Johnathan Hankins, Solomon Thomas and Gerald McCoy are all scheduled to hit free agency in March.
Buccaneers’ Ali Marpet To Retire
The Bucs have at least one more starter to replace. On Sunday, Pro Bowl guard Ali Marpet announced his retirement from the NFL.
“After seven formidable years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, I’ve come to the decision to retire from the game that has given me so much,” Marpet wrote on Instagram. “This organization and the people surrounding it have helped not only fulfill a dream, but also helped build me into the person I am today. I’ve made Tampa Bay my home and I look forward to serving this community in the coming years. To the coaches and teammates, family and friends, an Instagram post simply can’t express the profound impact you’ve had on me. I’m eternally grateful. Thank you Tampa Bay.”
Marpet joined the Bucs as a second-round pick in 2015. Ever since, he’s spent his entire career in Tampa. The lineman has started each of his 101 games since entering the NFL, including a Super Bowl-winning 2020 campaign where he started each of his 13 regular season games and all four of his postseason contests. This past season, he suited up for 16 regular season contests en route to his first Pro Bowl selection.
This announcement comes as a huge surprise — Marpet won’t turn 29 until April and is arguably coming off of his best season yet. Last year, he allowed just two sacks in total while collecting only four penalty flags. And, in his 16 regular season games, Pro Football Focus assigned him an 86.3 score for his run-blocking, matching his own personal best.
Marpet still had two years and nearly $20MM to go on his contract, but he’ll be leaving all of that on the table as he turns his attention to new endeavors. His retirement will give the Buccaneers some additional space to work with, but it won’t be easy to replace his production. Meanwhile, they may have to make other moves on the offensive line with center Ryan Jensen and right guard Alex Cappa scheduled for free agency.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/25/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Renell Wren
Panthers Re-Sign TE Ian Thomas
The Panthers have re-upped another one of their pending free agents. Per a team announcement, they have re-signed TE Ian Thomas to a three-year deal. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds that the contract is worth a total of $16.95MM, with $8MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link).
Thomas’ rookie contract was set to expire, but he will now stay put in Carolina. A former fourth round pick, his rookie campaign was the most productive, as he totalled 36 catches for 333 yards and two touchdowns. Since then, though, it has become clear that blocking is his forte.
In the the past three years, the 25-year-old hasn’t topped 20 receptions or 188 yards. His work as a blocker has made up for that, earning him a snap rate of over 60% for each of the past two seasons. Durability hasn’t been an issue, either, as he has yet to miss a game in his career. With new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo, Thomas and 2021 rookie Tommy Tremble could be in line for an increased workload.
The new deal puts Thomas in the neighborhood of other highly-regarded blocking tight ends. Last season, for instance, the Ravens gave Nick Boyle a two-year, $13MM contract. The $5.65MM annual average makes Thomas’s deal the largest of the three taken care of by the Panthers so far, the other two being linebacker Frankie Luvu and long snapper J.J. Jansen.
Ravens Re-Sign S Tony Jefferson
After being out of game action for nearly two years, Tony Jefferson resurfaced in 2021. The 49ers and Ravens signed Jefferson last year, and he will end up sticking with the latter organization in the offseason.
The Ravens re-signed Jefferson on Thursday. He is now under contract for the 2022 season, which would be his ninth. Jefferson, 30, returned to play in four games with the Ravens last season.
Jefferson worked as a starter for the Ravens from 2017-19, following his free agent agreement with the team. An ACL tear in October 2019 led to the Ravens releasing him in 2020. Jefferson missed the 2020 season and did not land with a team again until the 49ers signed him last summer. Groin and hamstring injuries led him to San Francisco’s IR, but he returned to play in two games with the team. San Francisco cut Jefferson early in the season, however.
The former Cardinals UDFA caught on with the Ravens via a practice squad signing in October. He made 17 tackles and recorded a sack in his short run back in Baltimore. Jefferson will have a chance to play a fifth season with the Ravens in 2022.
Baltimore has starter Chuck Clark under contract for next season and used a third-round pick on Brandon Stephens last year. DeShon Elliott, whose injury opened the door for 11 Stephens starts, is on track for free agency. So is veteran hybrid Jimmy Smith.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/24/22
Today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: LB Tae Davis
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Justin Lawler
Bills Re-Up Siran Neal
The Bills and Siran Neal have agreed to a new three-year deal, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The new pact — worth up to $10.9MM — will keep the special teams standout in Buffalo for years to come. Before the new contract, Neal was set to become an unrestricted free agent in March.
[RELATED: Bills LBs Coach Bob Babich To Retire]
Neal entered the league in 2018 as a fifth-round draft pick of the Bills. The safety out of Jacksonville State has since appeared in 64 games while spending much of his time on special teams. All in all, he’s got 83 career tackles, four tackles for loss, two QB hits, one sack, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
He’s been a reliable presence for the Bills, having missed just one game over the last four years. And, since ’18, he’s suited up in six playoff games for Buffalo, tallying seven tackles and one sack in those contests.
With Neal’s contract taken care of, the Bills will turn their attention to more pressing matters, including a potential new deal for cornerback Levi Wallace. Wallace, a former UDFA, has started in all of his games since 2018. This year, he was more crucial than ever as the Bills were forced to play without Pro Bowler Tre’Davious White in the second half of the season.