Contract Details: Jackson, Whitworth, Hyde
Let’s take a look at details of some recent free agent contracts:
- Wide receiver DeSean Jackson‘s deal with the Buccaneers is a three-year, $33.5MM pact that features $20MM in guarantees and $23.5MM over the first two seasons, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link).
- Safety D.J. Swearinger‘s new deal with the Redskins includes $9MM in guaranteed money, reports Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post (via Twitter). The journeyman will earn $3MM in 2018 and $4.25MM in 2019.
- Tackle Andrew Whitworth‘s new deal with the Rams is worth $36MM with $15MM guaranteed, but a big chunk of that $15MM could be realized in 2017. As Jason La Canfora tweets, the lineman’s $12.5MM 2017 salary is guaranteed, and he’s owed another $2.5MM bonus. Therefore, the contract could be interpreted as a one-year deal worth $15MM.
- Micah Hyde‘s new contract will count $4MM against the Bills salary cap next season, reports ESPN’s Mike Rodak. The safety’s 2017 salary is guaranteed, while the 2018 salary is guaranteed for injury (it becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the 2018 league year).
Kirk Cousins Won’t Push For Trade
Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins will sign his franchise tag soon, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Cousins, he adds, will be a “good soldier” and understands that he’s unlikely to get dealt, despite his personal appeal to owner Dan Snyder for a trade.
Once he signs, Cousins will be slated to play out the 2017 campaign while earning nearly $24MM. In theory, the two sides can work out an extension between now and July. Based on the way talks have gone between Cousins and the Redskins to date, that doesn’t seem likely. Then again, with GM Scot McCloughan on the way out and the entire franchise in general disarray, it’s anyone’s guess as to who his reps would be negotiating with or what that lead decision maker would be inclined to do.
If Cousins doesn’t ink a multiyear deal with the Redskins by midsummer or end up in another uniform via trade in the coming months, next season could go down as his last in Washington. Tagging an unsigned Cousins again next offseason would cost the Redskins upward of $34MM, an unpalatable total.
For the second straight year, then, Cousins is in line to play without any long-term security, though he’s also on track to rake in $43MM-plus between last season and 2017 on account of the tag. Cousins has made his case for a big-money deal since breaking out during the 2015 campaign, his first as the Redskins’ full-time starter. The 28-year-old started all of the Redskins’ games over the past two seasons and helped the team to a 17-14-1 record, including an NFC East title in 2015. Along the way, Cousins combined for over 9,000 yards and 54 touchdowns against 23 interceptions.
Contract Details: Garcon, Baker, Klein, Jones
Let’s take a look at some details of the free agent contracts signed today:
- Chris Baker, DL (Buccaneers): Three years, $15.75MM. $9MM guaranteed. $1MM in sack incentives each season (Twitter link via Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post).
- Jack Crawford, DL (Falcons): Three years, $10.3MM. $3.75MM in 2017 (Twitter link via Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com).
- Pierre Garcon, WR (49ers): Two years, $23MM. $17MM guaranteed. Options for 2019 ($6MM), 2020 ($8.9MM), and 2021 ($9.6MM) (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
- Landry Jones, QB (Steelers): Two years, $4.4MM. $600K signing bonus (Twitter link via Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com).
- A.J. Klein, LB (Saints): Four years, $24MM. $4MM signing bonus. $9.4MM guaranteed. 2020 season will void Klein is on Saints roster on last day of 2019 league year (via Nick Underhill of the Advocate).
- Jeff Locke, P (Colts): Two years, $3.45MM. $1.25MM guaranteed (Twitter links via Ben Goessling of ESPN.com and Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star).
- Ryan Mallett, QB (Ravens): One year, $2MM. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Pelissero).
- Akeem Spence, DL (Lions): Three years, $9MM. $3.5MM guaranteed. $1MM available via escalators (Twitter link via Peliserro).
- D.J. Swearinger, S (Redskins): Three years, $13.5MM. $9MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Kinkhabwala).
Redskins Fire GM Scot McCloughan
The Redskins are firing GM Scout McCloughan after two seasons at the helm, according to The Washington Post. McCloughan is being let go due to his ongoing issues with alcohol, one official says. 
“He’s had multiple relapses due to alcohol,” said the official. “He showed up in the locker room drunk on multiple occasions. . . . This has been a disaster for 18 months.”
The same official intimated that McCloughan also lost his two previous NFL jobs due to alcohol abuse. The exec did not “make the best of his third chance” in the league, in the anonymous source’s estimation.
Meanwhile, there were rumblings late in the season that some in the Washington front office were jealous of McCloughan’s power, Mike Jones of the Washington Post tweets. Ultimately, he was told, team management would one day use McCloughan’s drinking as an excuse to fire him. McCloughan’s players, scouting staff, and even coaches all respected and appreciated him, Jones tweets.
“The Washington Redskins have released Scot McCloughan from the organization effective immediately,”Redskins president Bruce Allen said in a statement. “We wish him success in his future endeavors. The team will have no further comment on his departure. The organization remains confident in our personnel department as we execute our free agency plans as well as prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.” .
This brings an end to a bizarre saga that has been playing out in D.C. for weeks now. McCloughan has been out of pocket during the most critical part of the offseason and things got really strange when he was not present at the Scouting Combine in late February. This week, as the madness of free agency swirled, agents found themselves negotiating with other officials in the team’s front office. Reportedly, the chaos in Washington made the representatives of free agents question the team’s stability. Quarterback Kirk Cousins may also feel the same way – he personally asked owner Dan Snyder to trade him.
The Redskins have been “entertaining” new general manager options for “quite some time,” according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. He mentioned Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik as a candidate whose name has surfaced in internal talks. La Canfora also suggested that the team could promote executive Alex Santos to the GM spot, but it’s not clear if that has been a consideration. The Redskins have never promoted an executive from within to fill the GM role.
Without their GM in the building, the Redskins made a number of notable moves this week. Here’s a quick rundown:
- Signed safety D.J. Swearinger.
- Signed defensive tackle Stacy McGee.
- Made contact with free agent wide receiver Terrelle Pryor and arranged meeting.
- Signed defensive tackle Terrell McClain.
- Applied second-round tender to running back Chris Thompson.
- Re-signed tight end Vernon Davis.
- Extended the contract of coach Jay Gruden.
The Redskins also lost DeSean Jackson and Chris Baker to the Buccaneers, lost Pierre Garcon to the 49ers, and came up short in their efforts to sign Calais Campbell.
Redskins To Sign D.J. Swearinger
The Redskins have agreed to sign safety D.J. Swearinger, according to John Keim of ESPN.com. It’s a three-year deal worth $4.5MM annually, and Swearinger will collect $6MM in 2017, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Swearinger, a former second-round pick who bounced around before finding a home in Arizona, started 12 games in 2016 and posted 64 tackles, three interceptions, eight passes defensed, and two sacks. Among free agent safeties, Swearinger ranks seventh in PFR’s estimation, just behind Micah Hyde and ahead of Jahleel Addae.
In Washington, Swearinger will join an interesting safety group that already includes Su’a Cravens, Will Blackmon, and DeAngelo Hall. Hall could be released in the coming days, while there’s been some chatter that second-year defensive back Kendall Fuller may also move to safety. The Redskins have been active with defensive signings today, as they’ve also brought in linemen Terrell McClain and Stacy McGee.
For the Cardinals, Swearinger is just the latest key defensive piece to defect, joining Calais Campbell and Tony Jefferson.
Redskins To Sign Stacy McGee
The Redskins have agreed to sign defensive tackle Stacy McGee to a five-year, $25MM contract, reports Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).
Washington lost defensive lineman Chris Baker to the Buccaneers today, but it’s replaced him by adding both McGee and Terrell McClain. Defensive line was a clear need area for the Redskins this offseason, and they’ve now signed two solid — if unspectacular — veterans to fill roles up front. McGee and McClain will team up with Anthony Lanier, RickyJean-Francois, and Matt Ioannidis along the line.
McGee, who ranked as PFR’s No. 12 free agent interior defender, appeared in nine games for the Raiders last season, starting each of those contests. The 27-year-old posted 14 tackles. 2.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries during that time, earning strong grades against both the run and pass from Pro Football Focus.
Terrelle Pryor To Visit Redskins
The Redskins lost both of their starting receivers in free agency but will attempt to land another high-upside target. Terrelle Pryor will visit Washington, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
Washington lost both DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, with their pair of 1,000-yard receivers agreeing to join the Buccaneers and 49ers, respectively. Pryor emerged as one of 2016’s top breakout players, going for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns on a team with arguably the worst quarterback situation in football.
Pryor and the Browns engaged in discussions this offseason, but Cleveland agreed to sign Kenny Britt earlier today, leaving Pryor’s role murky. The former Ohio State and Raiders quarterback is not expected to re-sign with the Browns. Pryor will turn 28 in June but is still nearly three years younger than both Garcon and Jackson. Washington, though, is the first team to lose two 1,000-yard wide receivers in the same offseason.
Contract Details: Jones, Taylor, Branch, D-Jax, Bitonio, Davis
Here’s the latest on some of the latest contracts agreed to this week.
- Chandler Jones‘ five-year Cardinals extension will pay him $16.5MM per year, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com tweets. Jones will make $53MM in guaranteed money from his second NFL contract, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports adds (on Twitter).
- Tyrod Taylor‘s restructured Bills deal is a two-year, $30.5MM pact, La Canfora reports (on Twitter), adding that the rest of it voids after 2018. Taylor will make $15.5MM in guarantees as a result of the re-done pact and $14.5MM in 2017. La Canfora adds the quarterback stands to collect $16MM in ’18.
- Andre Branch‘s three-year Dolphins deal is worth $24MM, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reports (on Twitter). Volin adds the contract includes two fully guaranteed years– at $17MM — for the 27-year-old pass-rusher. Volin adds that Branch could see $3.75MM more via incentives. Branch will receive a $6MM signing bonus, make $2.9MM in base salary in 2017, $7.9MM in ’18 and $6.9MM in ’19, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).
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DeSean Jackson‘s Buccaneers pact will be worth approximately $11MM per year, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.
- Joel Bitonio‘s five-year Browns extension will pay out $47.5MM in base salary, Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com tweets, adding $23MM in guarantees are included. The new deal kicks in after Bitonio’s 2017 season, so he’s under contract in Cleveland through 2022.
- Vernon Davis‘ second Redskins contract will include a $4MM signing bonus and $7.5MM guaranteed, Wilson tweets. His base salaries from 2017-19, respectively, are $2MM, $3.75MM and $4.75MM.
- Courtney Upshaw re-signing with the Falcons on a one-year deal will result in $1.15MM coming his way in 2017, Wilson tweets. The defender gets a $125K signing bonus and will make $775K in base salary this season.
Redskins To Sign DT Terrell McClain
The Redskins will sign free agent defensive tackle Terrell McClain to a four-year, $21MM+ deal, tweets Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post.
One of the more underrated free agents on the board, McClain witness no shortage of interest during the legal tampering period. The 49ers, Seahawks, Falcons, and Dolphins were all thought to have been eyeing McClain, while the Cowboys were also hoping to re-sign him. With that level of interest around the league, McClain was able to garner an annual salary north of $5MM.
McClain, 28, is coming off the best season of his career, as he started more 12 or more games for the first time since 2012. In 15 starts, McClain put up 39 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. PFR ranked him as the No. 11 free agent interior defender.
Kirk Cousins Wants Redskins To Trade Him
After being hit with the exclusive franchise tag, Kirk Cousins is not free to negotiate with teams this week. However, he wants out. Cousins appealed personally to owner Daniel Snyder for a trade, but was told not to get his hopes up, sources tell ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen (on Twitter). Washington has shown “zero inclination” to trade Cousins, adds Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Cousins has been the subject of trade talk for some time with the 49ers often linked to him. The Redskins have been reluctant to commit to Cousins on a long-term deal, but the Niners would presumably be happy to give him the kind of monster deal he is seeking – provided that they also wouldn’t have to give up too much to acquire him via trade. The Browns, who have even more cap room than the Niners, have also been brought up as a possible landing spot.
On Wednesday, we learned that Snyder may be holding up a potential trade to San Francisco due to his bad relationship with the Shanahans, Kyle and Mike. Snyder reportedly still holds a grudge against the Shanahans after firing the pair following the 2013 campaign, per Jones, and especially dislikes that the duo’s prediction of a failed Robert Griffin III career ultimately proved true. As such, Snyder has no interest in “helping” Kyle Shanahan in any regard, including sending him a ready-made franchise quarterback in Cousins.
Ultimately, Cousins may have no choice but to sign the franchise tender and hope he can reach the 2018 free agent market unfettered. If he chooses that route, he’ll play out the 2017 campaign while earning nearly $24MM.