ERFA Tender Decisions: 4/6/22
Here’s a look at the latest tender decisions from around the NFL:
ERFAs
Signed:
- Ravens: S Geno Stone
Buccaneers Bring Back Blaine Gabbert
The Buccaneers will ensure complete quarterback continuity by re-signing Blaine Gabbert. The team announced its backup’s return Wednesday.
A month ago, Tampa Bay was in market to replace Tom Brady. Bruce Arians having been Gabbert’s biggest backer also seemed to cloud the former first-rounder’s return prospects following the coach’s surprise exit. But Brady’s backup will return.
Gabbert has been with the Bucs since Arians’ Tampa arrival in 2019, initially backing up Jameis Winston. His return gives the Bucs a proven backup while also offering up questions about second-rounder Kyle Trask‘s status. The Bucs have Trask and longtime reserve Ryan Griffin, who recently re-signed, on their roster.
Given Brady’s return, it makes sense the Bucs wanting to backstop him with an experienced QB2. This will be Gabbert’s 12th NFL season. His run as the Jaguars’ starter did not last into a fourth season, and after three years with the 49ers, Gabbert found his way into Arians’ system. The ex-Missouri prospect made five starts with the 2017 Cardinals, impressing Arians to the point he not only brought the quarterback to Tampa but had talked him up as a possible Brady successor. GM Jason Licht has done the same.
The Bucs have not needed to start Gabbert, with Winston and Brady not missing any time over the past three seasons. This coming season will be his fourth with Byron Leftwich as an offensive coordinator.
Buccaneers To Sign S Keanu Neal
After a year back in Dan Quinn‘s system, Keanu Neal will return to the NFC South. The veteran defender is signing with the Buccaneers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Neal moved to linebacker during his year with the Cowboys, but the longtime Falcons safety has switched back to his initial NFL position. That appears to be where Todd Bowles sees him. Despite being a seventh-year veteran, Neal is 26. He stands to give the Bucs another veteran presence in a safety group that added Logan Ryan this offseason.
Although Neal was on a Cowboys team that housed Micah Parsons, Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith entering last season, he played 61% of Dallas’ defensive snaps. The Cowboys cut Smith and used Parsons as a pass rusher frequently, helping lead to Neal’s snap rate despite just five starts. Neal registered 72 tackles (four for loss) in 14 games last season. The Cowboys re-signed Vander Esch last month.
A central Florida native and former Florida Gator, Neal spent five years with the Falcons after coming into the NFL as a top-20 pick. He has been more valuable as a tackler than a cover man, but the ex-Super Bowl starter has a Pro Bowl on his resume (2017). Neal has also bounced back from two injury-nullified seasons, having played just four games from 2018-19. He made at least 100 tackles in his other three Falcons seasons.
The Bucs lost starter Jordan Whitehead in free agency but now have two veterans joining Antoine Winfield Jr. at safety. Both Ryan and Neal have notable histories at other positions, with the former being a cornerback for years to start his career. It will be interesting to see how the Bucs deploy their new arrivals next season.
Whitney Mercilus Retires
After 10 years in the NFL, Whitney Mercilus is calling it a career. The pass rusher announced his retirement today on Instagram. 
“I’ve decided I’m hanging up the cleats” he said. “I’m looking forward to the next chapter of my life.”
The 31-year-old spent a decade in Houston after the Texans selected him in the first round of the 2012 Draft. During most of that span, he was an integral part of the team’s defense, pairing with J.J. Watt as their most consistent and effective pass rushers. The year which sticks out the most statistically is 2015; in that campaign, he posted 12 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Mercilus’ time in Houston coincided with the team’s most successful years. He was a member of five division-winning squads (out of six in franchise history, which remain the only ones to qualify for the postseason). While the team never made it past the Divisional round of the playoffs, the Illinois alum played a consistent role throughout his tenure in the Lone Star State. Overall, he totalled 57 sacks in 134 games with Houston, along with another seven in eight postseason contests.
He saw his playing time reduced in 2021, however. As the team transitioned to the likes of Jonathan Greenard and Jacob Martin, Mercilus was released. That led to his mid-season signing by the Packers, who were looking for pass rush help in the absence of Za’Darius Smith. A biceps tear limited his time in green and gold to just four games, however.
Ultimately, Mercilus will be remembered as one of the top players in Texans’ history; his retirement announcement indicated that he will now focus more time on family and his foundation.
Falcons Sign Germain Ifedi
Not long after visiting the Falcons, offensive linemen Germain Ifedi has indeed joined the team. Atlanta announced on Wednesday that they have signed the veteran to a one-year contract. 
Ifedi met with the Falcons less than two weeks ago, so this move doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The 27-year-old was a first-round pick of the Seahawks in 2016. In four seasons there, he started all 60 games he appeared in. He manned both the right guard and right tackle spots, but never graded out well in terms of PFF ratings.
Ifedi then signed with the Bears two years ago. The first of his campaigns in the Windy City saw his best performance to date, as he played every snap and earned a PFF grade of 65. Availability became a problem for the first time in his career in 2021, however; a knee injury helped limit him to seven starts and nine games played. Just like in Seattle, Ifedi spent time at both guard and tackle.
By signing in Atlanta, the Texas A&M alum becomes the fifth ex-Bear to join the Falcons. The team’s starters at the RG and RT spots – Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary, respectively – are each under contract for one more season. Ifedi could, at a minimum, provide experienced depth at each position for the 2022 campaign and perhaps earn himself an extended stay with his play there.
Bills Extend Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs is staying put. On Wednesday morning, the Bills wide receiver agreed to a brand new four-year, $96MM deal that could be worth more through incentives (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 
[RELATED: Bills Re-Sign McKenzie]
Diggs was previously on the five-year, $72MM deal he signed with the Vikings in 2018. That deal gave him an average annual value of $14.4MM per season. Since then, however, the market has advanced quite a bit and Diggs has stepped his game up. Since arriving in Buffalo in 2020, Diggs has notched 230 receptions for 2,760 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Since Diggs still has two years to go on his old contract, this new deal will keep him in Western New York through 2027. While he’s slotted 21st among all NFL players in AAV right now, the new money average vaults him much higher, in the same space as Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill. From GM Brandon Beane‘s perspective, it’s a worthwhile investment.
“He’s all in on winning and, sure, everybody wants to be paid but he wants to be on a winning team,” Beane said. “I think he’s been the best version of himself. So I don’t see that being an issue.”
Diggs, 28, has notched four straight 1,000-yard seasons, including 2020 when he finished with 127 grabs for 1,535 yards and eight touchdowns. Last year, he kept up the good work with 103 catches for 1,225 yards and ten TDs.
As an added bonus for the Bills, the new deal will lower Diggs’ 2022 cap number by over $6MM, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/5/22
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed ERFA tender: TE Jesper Horsted
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: TE Nick Eubanks
Denver Broncos
- Signed ERFA tender: LB Jonas Griffith
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE J.P. Holtz
New York Jets
- Signed: T Greg Senat
Colts Sign S Armani Watts
The Colts added some depth to their secondary Tuesday. They reached an agreement with safety Armani Watts, per Jim Irsay (on Twitter).
A former fourth-round pick, Watts worked primarily as a special-teamer in four seasons with the Chiefs. The Texas A&M product missed just one Chiefs game over the past three seasons, playing at least 70% of Kansas City’s special teams plays in each of the past two.
Watts stands to replace George Odum as a Colts backup safety and steady special-teamer. Odum signed with the 49ers earlier this offseason. Odum, who started seven games at safety last season, earned All-Pro acclaim as a special-teamer in 2020. Watts, 26, made nine tackles during the Chiefs’ three-game playoff run last season.
The Colts have Julian Blackmon and Khari Willis positioned as their safety starters. The former is coming off a torn Achilles, magnifying Indianapolis’ safety depth. The Colts used Andrew Sendejo as a 10-game starter last season; the 12-year veteran is a free agent.
Kansas City is retooling on its back end, having let Watts and longtime contributor Daniel Sorensen walk in free agency. The Chiefs are likely to separate from Tyrann Mathieu as well, having signed Justin Reid early in free agency. Juan Thornhill is going into a contract year.
Chiefs To Sign DT Taylor Stallworth
Nontendered as a restricted free agent last month, Taylor Stallworth found a new home Tuesday. The Chiefs are signing the young defensive tackle, according to his agent (on Twitter).
Stallworth agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Kansas City, which will be his third NFL team. Beginning his career with the Saints in 2018, the 26-year-old defensive lineman spent the past two seasons as a rotational D-lineman with the Colts.
While Stallworth made just two starts for Indianapolis, he worked as a consistent part of the team’s D-line group. The South Carolina product missed just one game as a Colt and played at least 25% of the team’s defensive snaps in each season. Last season, Stallworth finished with a 33% defensive snap rate and tallied a career-high three sacks. The 12 quarterback hits Stallworth accumulated in 2021 were 10 more than he’d compiled in his career to that point.
The Chiefs have questions on the edge, but their defensive tackle situation features more known commodities. All-Pro Chris Jones and nose tackle starter Derrick Nnadi return, with the latter being re-signed last month. The Chiefs also roster backup D-tackle Khalen Saunders, who played 31% of the team’s defensive snaps last season. The AFC West champs lost Jarran Reed in free agency; Reed is now a Packer.
Rams Sign P Riley Dixon
The Rams parted ways with one of the most decorated special-teamers in NFL history this offseason, cutting Johnny Hekker. They have tabbed a replacement for the four-time All-Pro.
Former Broncos and Giants punter Riley Dixon agreed to terms with the Rams on Tuesday, according to a team announcement. It is a one-year deal, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Dixon is a six-year veteran who has not missed a game since entering the NFL as a seventh-round pick in 2016.
Dixon surfaced this offseason as one of the cuts made by the Giants’ new regime. He punted in New York for the past four seasons, signing an extension to stay on with Big Blue. The Giants released Dixon five days before the Rams axed Hekker. The latter has since made his way to the Panthers, while Dixon will receive an opportunity with a third NFL team. The Broncos traded Dixon to the Giants in 2018.
Dixon, 28, averaged just more than 44 yards per punt in his final two Giants seasons. Despite beginning his career with two seasons in Denver’s thin air, Dixon posted his best average in New Jersey’s less friendly punting environment. He notched a 46.1-yard average in 2019. Hekker was attached to a high salary (on the punter spectrum) and finished with a 44.2-yard average last season.