Redskins To Re-Sign Adrian Peterson
The Redskins will re-sign running back Adrian Peterson to a two-year deal worth $8MM, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Peterson had indicated he’d like to stay in Washington, while the Redskins also expressed interest in retaining the veteran back. Despite some chatter that other clubs could target Peterson, he’ll return to the nation’s capital following a successful 2018 campaign.
After collecting only a minimum salary deal last year, Peterson will now see a nice pay increase. He joined the Redskins after the club lost rookie second-round pick Derrius Guice to a torn ACL, and went on to rush 251 times for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns. Advanced metrics weren’t nearly as bullish on Peterson, as he finished just 28th in success rate, but he was running behind a Washington offensive line that ranked just 24th in adjusted line yards.
Guice will be back in 2019, as will pass-catching back Chris Thompson, so it shouldn’t be a surprise if Peterson’s attempt see a drastic decrease next year. However, with Case Keenum under center, the Redskins may need to utilize a run-heavy offense, meaning Peterson will still be involved in the offense.
Peterson will 34 years old when next season gets underway, and only one running back age-34 or older has ever topped 1,000 rushing yards: John Riggins, who did it twice for the Redskins (1983 and 1984).
Redskins Want To Re-Sign Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Even after inking Landon Collins to a massive free agent deal, the Redskins would still like to re-sign fellow safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Collins and Clinton-Dix are both safeties, but they play two very different roles. Collins has historically been an in-the-box safety, spending most of his time closer to the line of scrimmage, while Clinton-Dix has worked in a center field-type role. There’s room for both in Washington’s defense, but teams don’t often spend significant money on two safeties.
Having said that, it’s unclear how much Clinton-Dix will cost. The free agent safety market was flooded with option, but many of those choices — including Earl Thomas, Tyrann Mathieu, Lamarcus Joyner, and Adrian Amos — are now off the board. With many clubs having already taken care of their safety needs, Clinton-Dix’s market may be shrinking.
The Redskins picked up Clinton-Dix from the Packers at the trade deadline in exchange for a fourth-round pick, but he didn’t move the needle much in Washington. In nine games in the nation’s capital, Clinton-Dix posted 66 tackles, three passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. All told, Pro Football Focus graded him as the league’s No. 17 safety in 2019.
Redskins To Release LB Zach Brown
The Redskins are going to release linebacker Zach Brown, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Redskins unsuccessfully tried to move Brown in a trade, but he should find plenty of suitors now that he is an unrestricted free agent. 
[RELATED: Redskins To Release DL Stacy McGee]
Brown, 30 in October, 96 tackles and one sack as the Redskins’ inside linebacker last season. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus were extremely high on him, grading him as the third-best LB in the NFL behind only Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly. Brown’s old contract ran through 2020, but it’s now a clean slate for the veteran and any interested clubs.
Brown, ultimately, saw this day coming. Back in December, after clashing with coaches, he said that he expected to be released in the offseason.
“I think they’re just going in a different direction towards everything,” Brown said. “I’m going this direction, they’re going that direction.”
Brown would’ve counted for $8.75M against the Redskins’ cap. Instead, they’ll save $5.75MM while absorbing a dead cap hit of $3MM.
In an offseason that has been extremely lucrative for off-ball linebackers, Brown could be in line for a strong payday.
Redskins To Release DL Stacy McGee
The Redskins are releasing defensive lineman Stacy McGee, a source tells Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Redskins tried to shop McGee on the trade block, but were unable to find a suitable deal. 
McGee joined the Redskins on a five-year, $25MM contract prior to the 2017 season and appeared in all 16 games (ten starts) for the club in his first year, managing 44 tackles in the process. In 2018, however, he was held back by a June thigh surgery. Playing hurt and in a reserve role, McGee had just nine tackles and one sack in his eight games. Ultimately, McGee was overshadowed by a D-Line that also included Jonathan Allen, Da’Ron Payne, Matt Ioannidis, Tim Settle, and Caleb Brantley.
McGee will now have the opportunity to shop himself to other interested clubs, though he’ll probably fall short of his previous $5MM/year AAV.
Contract Details: Collins, Morse, Graham
Let’s take a look at the details of a few recently-signed contracts from around the NFL:
- Landon Collins, S (Redskins): Six years, $84MM deal, $45MM guaranteed. $15MM signing bonus, $6MM option bonus for 2024 (exercised between first and fifth of 2020). Deal includes $32MM guaranteed over the first two seasons. $5MM of his 2021 salary is guaranteed at signing. Salaries: $1MM (2019), $10MM (2020), $12.5MM (2021), $11.5MM (2022), $12.5MM (2023), $13.5MM (2024). All Twitter links via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, and ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
- Mitch Morse, C (Bills): Four years, $44.5MM, $26.5MM guaranteed (original story). Receives $19.5MM in 2019, $28.375MM in 2020. Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.
- Brandon Graham, DE (Eagles): Three years, $40MM. $23.5MM guaranteed. $12.5MM signing bonus. Salary: $1MM (2019), $10MM (2020). Team option for 2021: $13MM salary and $3.5MM option bonus. Twitter link via Sheil Kapadia of The Athletic.
- Danny Amendola, WR (Lions): One year, $4.5MM. $4.25MM fully guaranteed. $250K in per-game roster bonuses, $1.25MM in incentives. Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
- Tyler Kroft, TE (Bills): Three years, $18.75MM. $8.3MM guaranteed, $2.4MM signing bonus. Will earn $1.8MM salary in 2019, $4.45MM in 2020. Roster bonuses include $2.1MM (2019), $750K (2020), $750K (2021). Twitter links via Wilson and ESPN’s Mike Rodak.
Ravens Increase Offer For C.J. Mosley
The Ravens chose not to franchise-tag inside linebacker C.J. Mosley, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want him back. The Ravens are working to retain him and “have sweetened their offer,” according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic (Twitter link).
While the Ravens have upped their offer, Zrebiec notes there “is still a gap” between what Baltimore is offering, and the offers from the Jets and potentially more teams. The Jets have been strongly connected to the Alabama product, and we’ve also heard teams like the Browns and Redskins are interested.
Judging by the deal Kwon Alexander landed from the 49ers, Mosley is about to cash in. Mosley is widely thought to be the better player, and Alexander just got four years and $54MM while coming off a torn ACL. In a separate tweet Zrebiec notes that the Redskins’ signing of Landon Collins might’ve diminished their interest in Mosley.
In the same tweet Zrebiec highlights the Colts as a potential suitor for Mosley in addition to the Browns and Jets. He also says it “sounds like Jets have been the most aggressive with the offer.” The 17th overall pick of the 2014 draft, Mosley has made the Pro Bowl in four of his five seasons in the league and is still only 26, so it makes sense why so many teams are interested.
Redskins To Sign Landon Collins
Landon Collins has agreed to sign with the Redskins (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson). It’s a whopper of a contract: Collins will receive a six-year, $84MM deal with $45MM guaranteed to be paid out over the first three years, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). 
That’s an astronomical figure for a box safety and a huge change from last year’s safety market, which led to disappointing deals for big names such as Tyrann Mathieu. Many feared that the safety market would continue to stall, but things are looking up for the NFL’s last line of defense.
Up until this point, Collins spent his entire career with the rival Giants, a team that did not feel he was worthy of the franchise tag this offseason. Collins clashed with team brass over his contract and threatened to hold out, leading to his exit. The Giants ultimately preferred a shot at a 2020 third-round compensatory pick to keeping one of the game’s most talented young safeties.
Collins, a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, has been a full-time starter for the Giants since entering the league. A two-time Pro Bowler, Collins posted 96 tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble in 2018 while grading as the NFL’s 39th-best safety, per Pro Football Focus.
The Redskins acquired safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix from the Packers last year, but his status is in limbo as an unrestricted free agent. Collins will solidify a group that has moved on from D.J. Swearinger and might not include Montae Nicholson.
Redskins Shopping Zach Brown, Mason Foster
The Redskins are actively shopping several players in trade talks, including linebackers Zach Brown and Mason Foster, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Meanwhile, the Redskins are also strong players for Ravens free agent linebacker C.J. Mosley.
Mosley already figured to have a huge market with teams like the 49ers on his tail. The Redskins, meanwhile, figure to make a strong play for him while overhauling their own LB corps.
Brown was solid in his second season with the Redskins, but he also clashed with coaches. In December, Brown said that he expected to be released in the offseason.
“I think they’re just going in a different direction towards everything,” Brown said. “I’m going this direction, they’re going that direction.”
Brown, 29, had 96 tackles and one sack as the Redskins’ inside linebacker last season. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus were extremely high on him, grading him as the third-best LB in the NFL behind only Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly. Brown’s contract runs through 2020, but teams could still have interest in acquiring him.
Foster, 30, has spent hte last four seasons with the Redskins. He’s dealt with injuries in the past, but he started in all 16 games last season en route to compiling 131 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack.
Raiders Interested In Le’Veon Bell
Could Le’Veon Bell reunite with Antonio Brown in Oakland? The Raiders are a sleeper team for the running back, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Meanwhile, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com hears similar buzz as the Raiders are seeking to use their cap room on offensive firepower while bolstering the defense through the draft. 
Many teams would like to add Bell to the backfield, but only certain clubs are expected to go into the $12MM+/year range for his services. The Raiders, who are desperate for an offensive spark, could be in a position to add another elite weapon days after adding Brown.
Meanwhile, the Jets are the favorites to sign Bell, in the estimation of Peter King of NBC Sports. Lately, we’ve been hearing that the Jets will focus their efforts on second-tier running backs, but it appears there’s been a shift of thinking in New Jersey. Armed with $100MM+ in cap space, the Jets certainly have the resources to add the ex-Steelers back. King can’t envision Bell joining the Colts, unless it was at a discount, and that seems unlikely given the money sacrificed by Bell in 2018. King also believes the Redskins and Dolphins will be in the mix.
Redskins Interested In Landon Collins
The Rams’ decision to sign Eric Weddle last week could have a ripple effect on the rest of the league. The Rams had been interested in signing fellow safety Earl Thomas, but will no longer be pursuing him after signing Weddle, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Bob Condotta posted in a follow-up tweet that echoed what he had heard about Thomas and the Rams. Condotta also said the Cowboys, Chiefs, 49ers are “all thought now to be potential bidders for Thomas.” The 49ers have both been heavily linked to Thomas, and the Chiefs nearly traded for him last fall.
Elsewhere in the video Rapoport posted, he broke down the whole safety market. Unlike last year, where the safety market took very long to develop and seemingly nobody got paid, Rapoport expects big contracts to be flying left and right for safeties this time around. He also notes that the Redskins are expected to be interested in Landon Collins, who the Giants recently decided to let walk.
Here’s the latest from around the league on the night before free agency opens:
- In addition to safeties, it should be a very active market for free agent pass-rushers. Premier defensive linemen like Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald are starting to get more than $20MM per year on deals and we should get used to that, writes former NFL agent and current CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry. “Mack and Donald should soon have company in the $20 million-per-year non-quarterback club”, Corry writes. Corry broke down the market for edge rushers, and has a bunch of interesting tidbits in the article that is well-worth a read. Notably, he thinks Demarcus Lawrence could challenge and surpass the record-setting deals signed by Von Miller and Aaron Donald.
- In case you were yearning for a Chad Kelly update, we’ve got one. The former Ole Miss star was released by the Broncos back in November after he was arrested following an incident after Von Miller’s Halloween party. He’s been out of a job ever since, but he appeared in court again last week. The young quarterback pleaded not guilty to the felony criminal trespassing charges he’s facing, according to Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com. He’ll be back in court in April, but it sounds like he’s fighting the case rather than accepting a plea deal. He’ll likely face discipline from the league if a team decides to give him another chance.
- In case you missed it, despite rumors to the contrary, Dion Lewis is safe in Tennessee.