Eagles To Re-Sign RB Jordan Howard
Jordan Howard is returning to Philly. The veteran running back is re-signing with the Eagles, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). It’s a one-year deal for the 26-year-old.
Howard inked a two-year deal with the Dolphins last offseason, but he waived in November after averaging 1.7 yards per carry. He eventually caught on with the Eagles for his second stint with the organization, although he had to settle for a practice squad gig. He was ultimately elevated for a pair of games, rushing for 27 yards on only seven carries. Howard’s first stint with the organization came in 2019, when he was traded from the Bears for a sixth-rounder. The running back finished that season with 584 yards from scrimmage.
The 2016 fifth-rounder has had a tough time matching the numbers from his rookie campaign, when he rushed for more than 1,300 yards en route to a Pro Bowl appearance. While his yards per carry continued to drop, Howard still put up decent numbers between the 2017 and 2018 seasons, averaging 1,163.5 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns per year.
Miles Sanders and Boston Scott will likely be slotted in as the top two running backs on Philly’s depth chart next season. Howard will compete with the likes of Jason Huntley, Elijah Holyfield, Adrian Killins, and (presumably) rookies for the third spot on the depth chart.
Eagles To Sign LB Eric Wilson
Eric Wilson is heading to Philly. The free agent linebacker is signing with the Eagles, reports NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter). It’s a one-year deal worth up to $3.25MM.
The former undrafted free agent spent the first four seasons of his career with the Vikings, evolving from a special teamer into one of the team’s best defenders. After starting 10 games through the first three seasons of his career, Wilson started 15 of his 16 games in 2020 and put up career numbers. He finished the campaign having compiled 122 tackles, three sacks, and three interceptions, earning him the nickname “walking turnover” from fellow linebacker Eric Kendricks.
New Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon has been busy bringing in former players, and Wilson is no exception; Gannon served as the Vikings assistant defensive backs coach during Wilson’s rookie season. Wilson also worked with Eagles linebackers coach Nick Rallis during their stints in Minnesota (per Zach Berman of The Athletic on Twitter).
In Philly, Wilson will likely retain his starting gig as the Eagles’ starting middle linebacker. The team is still rostering T.J. Edwards, who started 12 games for the Eagles in 2020.
49ers Sign QB Nate Sudfeld
Nate Sudfeld finished out his Eagles contract in interesting fashion, seeing late-game action in Week 17. The veteran backup will vie for a roster spot elsewhere in 2021.
The 49ers signed Sudfeld on Wednesday, the team announced. A former Washington sixth-round pick, Sudfeld spent the past four seasons in Philadelphia. It’s a one-year deal.
With Carson Wentz unavailable for the 2017 and 2018 postseasons, the Eagles had Sudfeld slotted behind then-starter Nick Foles in each of those years. Sudfeld’s most notable NFL work came in January, when Doug Pederson surprised the football-following world by subbing in his backup late in a game that featured playoff ramifications (though not for the Eagles). Sudfeld fared poorly, helping Washington win the NFC East, and his exit will leave Jalen Hurts alone from Philly’s previous QB room. The Eagles have now moved on from Wentz and Sudfeld, whom they re-signed last year, this offseason.
The Indiana product, who will follow assistant Rich Scangarello from Philly to San Francisco, will head to a 49ers team in transition. The 49ers are set to draft a quarterback at No. 3 overall and are still planning to employ Jimmy Garoppolo in 2021. They have, however, seen four-year backup C.J. Beathard depart, and Nick Mullens is a free agent.
After the first night of the draft, the 49ers’ quarterback depth chart — which also houses Josh Johnson — will be quite crowded. Sudfeld may point Mullens elsewhere. The 2018 and 2020 spot starter is recovering from elbow surgery this offseason. Josh Rosen, though, is also under contract with the 49ers. While Rosen is eligible to be on San Francisco’s practice squad next season, the Sudfeld signing proves somewhat interesting for the former top-10 pick.
Cowboys Sign TE Jeremy Sprinkle
The Cowboys added a piece to their tight end room Wednesday, poaching one from rival Washington. Four-year Washington contributor Jeremy Sprinkle signed with Dallas.
Washington used Sprinkle as a frequent starter, trotting him out as a first-stringer in 33 games. The former fifth-round pick will join a Cowboys team that saw blocking tight end Blake Bell head back to the Chiefs this offseason.
Logan Thomas emerged as Washington’s top receiving tight end in 2020, but Sprinkle still played an extensive role. He suited up for all 17 Washington games, making six starts, but only caught two passes. The second came in Washington’s playoff loss. Sprinkle, however, played 64% of Washington’s snaps in 2019, when the team lost Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis to season-ending injuries. He caught 26 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown in his third year.
The 26-year-old blocker/occasional pass catcher will join Blake Jarwin and Dalton Schultz at tight end in Dallas.
Ravens To Re-Sign Anthony Levine
The Ravens are keeping a key piece of their locker room in the fold. Baltimore has agreed to terms with safety Anthony Levine on a new deal, his agent Dan Saffron announced on Twitter.
It’s a one-year contract, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic tweets. Levine is one of the longest-tenured members of the organization as well as a team captain, so he’s an important piece even though he doesn’t play much on defense. Levine has been with the team since originally signing to their practice squad back in 2012. He got his start in the league as an UDFA with the Packers in 2010.
A Tennessee State product, Levine played only a few percent of the defensive snaps last year, but is a core special teamer. As recently as 2019 though he played a sizable role on defense, logging 17 percent of the defensive snaps that season. He got $1.812MM on the one-year deal he signed in March of last year, so we can probably assume this new contract is worth somewhere around there. He turned 34 last month.ant
Bills Sign Forrest Lamp
The Bills have signed guard Forrest Lamp to a one-year deal, per a club announcement. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it’s likely for something near the veteran’s minimum.
[RELATED: Bills Meet With Le’Raven Clark]
The Chargers selected Lamp in the second round of the 2017 draft to solidify their offensive line. Considered one of the safest offensive line prospects in the draft, the Western Kentucky product has yet to live up to that billing. Lamp’s first season was spiked by a torn ACL. After a knee procedure in 2018 and a broken ankle in 2019, Lamp suited up for just nine total games in his first three years under contract.
Injuries have kept him on the sidelines for much of his career, but he bounced back last year to play on 100% of his snaps last year. With the Bills, he has a chance to prove that the injury bug is behind him.
Bengals Release Giovani Bernard
The Bengals have released Giovani Bernard, per a club announcement. The move will save the team $4.1MM against the 2021 salary cap. 
Bernard, 30 in November, still profiles as one of the league’s best pass-catching tailbacks. Last year, he managed 47 catches for 355 yards and three receiving touchdowns — his best line since 2017. Since 2013, Bernard has reeled in 342 grabs for 2,867 yards, good for an 8.4 yards per catch average.
Last year, Bernard saw more carries than expected while Joe Mixon was injured, but he wasn’t all that productive on the ground, gaining 416 yards on 124 carries. Bernard’s always been better known for his receiving abilities, but his 3.4 yards per tote average was well below his career average of 4.0 yards.
The Bengals recently re-upped Samaje Perine, a sign that Bernard would be pushed out of the picture. The veteran was aware of that too — he actually requested his release so that he could hook on elsewhere, according to a source who spoke with Mike Garafolo of NFL.com on Twitter).
Bernard was set to enter his final year under contract with $3.7MM in base salary and a $4.76MM cap hit. The Bengals will save $4.1MM of that sum with $667K in dead money.
Texans To Sign TE Antony Auclair
The Buccaneers have not lost many free agents this offseason, but they will see one of their depth players depart. The Texans agreed to terms with tight end Antony Auclair on Tuesday night, according to the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson.
Auclair played four seasons with the Bucs, starting 20 games. He started two games for last season’s Super Bowl champion Bucs squad, working as a supporting-caster for a team that featured Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate.
After attending college in Canada, Auclair joined the Bucs as a UDFA in 2017. He topped out at a 30% snap rate for the 2018 Tampa Bay edition. The Bucs mostly utilized the 27-year-old tight end as a blocker. Auclair, whom the Bucs activated at the midseason point last year after he spent several weeks on IR, was inactive for each of the Bucs’ four playoff games.
The 6-foot-6 tight end will join a less flashy tight end stable. The Texans released Darren Fells earlier this year but still have Jordan Akins on their roster. Houston also signed former New England tight end Ryan Izzo and has Pharaoh Brown and ex-third-round pick Kahale Warring on its roster.
Tampa Bay is planning to return O.J. Howard to its historically deep tight end crew next season. Howard suffered a season-ending Achilles tear last October, but Bruce Arians expects the former first-round pick to participate in offseason work and rejoin Brate and the recently re-signed Gronkowski.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/6/21
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DB Jalen Julius, DB J.T. Ibe
Broncos To Sign Shamar Stephen
The Broncos have already made several moves in the secondary this offseason, and now they’re addressing the defensive front. Denver has agreed to terms on a deal with defensive tackle Shamar Stephen, a source told Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post (Twitter link).
There’s some familiarity here, as new Broncos GM George Paton came over from Minnesota, where Stephen has spent most of his career. Stephen was drafted in the seventh-round back in 2014, and was with the Vikings for his first four seasons. He signed a one-year deal with the Seahawks in 2018 before returning home in 2019 with a three-year, $12.45MM contract from the Vikings.
He made it through two years of that pact before being released last month. He started all 16 games for Minnesota last year, racking up 34 tackles and a half sack while playing just over 60 percent of the defensive snaps. He’s started 65 games in his seven-year career, including at least 14 in each of the past three.
Dre’Mont Jones, Shelby Harris, and nose tackle Mike Purcell currently slot in as the three starters up front in Denver’s 3-4 defense. Stephen could play either outside or inside and will presumably fill a rotational role behind those three guys.