Redskins Re-Sign TE Vernon Davis
Vernon Davis isn’t going anywhere. The tight end has inked a new three-year deal with the Redskins, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. In total, the deal is worth $15MM. The Redskins have confirmed the deal via press release. And, if you were wondering, Davis has personally confirmed the transaction via Snapchat.
Davis was set to explore the open market on Thursday but he’ll instead stay put and collect a solid paycheck. All along, Davis has been open about his desire to remain in D.C.
“You know I’m letting my agent deal with that at the moment with hopes that I’ll be back with the Washington Redskins,” Davis said last week. “I’ll just be optimistic about it. I would love to stay here because it’s such a great organization. The locker room’s amazing. I’m extremely happy here, and it would only make sense to stay here and continue to be a Washington Redskin.”
Davis, a former standout at Maryland, signed with the Redskins last year on a one-year, $2.38MM deal. Now, he’s theoretically getting double the salary to stay through 2019.
In his first season with the team, Davis had 44 catches for 583 yards and two touchdowns. The 33-year-old was coming off of two down years with the Broncos and 49ers, but played closer to his 2013 Pro Bowl form. Davis was our No. 4 ranked tight end heading into this week.
Redskins Have Interest In Lawrence Guy
With Chris Baker potentially set to sign elsewhere, the Redskins are looking to address their defensive line and have shown interest in impending free agent tackle Lawrence Guy, report Mike Jones, Master Tesfatsion and Liz Clarke of the Washington Post.
The 26-year-old Guy has spent the majority of the past three seasons in nearby Baltimore, where he picked up a career-high 10 starts across 16 appearances in 2016. In 484 snaps, Guy only registered one sack – down from a personal-best 4.5 in 2015 – though his performance did rank an impressive 38th among Pro Football Focus’ 127 qualified interior defensive linemen.
Since the Packers chose Guy in the seventh round of the 2011 draft, he has appeared in 67 games (20 starts) and totaled 6.5 sacks. PFR’s Dallas Robinson ranks him 12th in this year’s class of unsigned interior D-linemen.
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Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Redskins Interested In Marquise Goodwin
- The Redskins have interest in receiver Marquise Goodwin, per Mike Jones, Master Tesfatsion and Liz Clarke of the Washington Post. The onetime Olympian (track and field) has thus far spent his four-year career in Buffalo, where he has totaled 49 receptions and six touchdowns in 39 games. Goodwin set career highs last year with 15 appearances, 29 catches, 68 targets and 431 yards. He also tied a personal best with three touchdowns.
Redskins, DeSean Jackson Expected To Part Ways
Following three seasons with the organization, it sounds like DeSean Jackson‘s tenure with the Redskins is over. According to Mike Jones, Master Tesfatsion, and Liz Clarke of The Washington Post, it’s expected that the two sides “will part ways.” Meanwhile, the trio report that the Patriots, Eagles, Buccaneers, and Cowboys have inquired on the 30-year-old.
Following an underwhelming 2015 campaign, Jackson bounced back in 2016. In 15 games, the veteran hauled in 56 receptions for 1,005 yards and four touchdowns. In nine NFL seasons, the wideout has averaged 55 receptions, 980 yards, and five touchdowns in 14 games per season.
The Buccaneers would be an intriguing option, as Jackson could team up with Mike Evans to provide Jameis Winston with a pair of dynamic receiving options. The veteran would easily fit the role of the veteran long threat in New England, and he’d provide the Eagles with the receiver they’ve been seeking since they lost Jackson following the 2013 season. The Cowboys would be an intriguing option, but it’d be hard to envision Jackson replacing Dez Bryant and Cole Beasley from the starting lineup.
Latest On Redskins GM Scot McCloughan
The league’s “legal tampering” window opened earlier today, but Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan was not at Redskins Park, reports Liz Clarke and Mike Jones of The Washington Post. When asked for an explanation on McCloughan’s absence, vice president of communications Tony Wyllie said, “[w]e’re busy with free agency.” Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes that it’s uncertain when McCloughan will come back or whether he’ll return at all.
We heard last week that the GM wasn’t at the Combine, and team sources said McCloughan was dealing with the death of his grandmother. However, agents were reportedly worried about the organization’s stability, perhaps implying that there may be another reason behind the executive’s absence. There were questions about who is currently “calling the shots,” although some agents acknowledged that they had been in recent contact with McCloughan. Previously, the general manager was not permitted to talk to the media at the Senior Bowl.
President Bruce Allen had previously said McCloughan would return once “things are handled,” and it was assumed that he could come back sometime this week. However, it’s certainly troubling that the Redskins general manager wasn’t even in the building during the first day free agents are allowed to formally talk to teams.
Calais Campbell, Chris Baker Generating Interest
The Jaguars are in the Calais Campbell market, while the Broncos, Buccaneers, and Colts are contenders for fellow free agent defensive lineman Chris Baker, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS (Twitter link) and Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Anderson adds that a Redskins return is still in the cards for Baker and he hopes to sign “quick” (link).
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Campbell, the best interior defender on the market in the estimation of PFR, should be in high demand this week, and the Cardinals are expecting to lose him to another club as a result. The Jaguars boast $60MM more in cap space than does Arizona, meaning Jacksonville would likely be able to outbid the Cards and many other suitors. Campbell, fresh off his ninth solid campaign in the desert, would add an All Pro presence to a Jaguars defense that has accrued veteran talent in recent offseasons.
Baker, meanwhile, is expecting an offer from the Redskins, but that doesn’t mean the 29-year-old won’t test free agency. Baker started all 16 games for the first time in his career in 2016, and graded as one of the league’s best interior defenders. The Broncos are expected to target defensive line help after struggling against the run last season, while Baker would give the Buccaneers another talented lineman to pair with Gerald McCoy.
Redskins Interested In Terrell McClain
- Free agent defensive tackle Terrell McClain is already expected to draw interest from Atlanta and Seattle, and the Redskins are also expected to give the 28-year-old a call, according to Jane Slater of NFL.com (Twitter link). McClain 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.
Pierre Garcon Requested Trade In 2016
Pierre Garcon requested a trade from the Redskins early in the 2016 season, as Chad Dukes of 106.7 The Fan first reported. John Keim of ESPN.com has since confirmed the news (Twitter links), and secured comment from Garcon’s agent, Brad Cicala. “Once it didn’t happen we respected it,” said Cicala. “We respect their interest and we were definitely interested in returning.”
[RELATED: Latest On DeSean Jackson’s Market]
Garcon, whom ranks as PFR’s seventh-best available wide receiver and No. 24 overall free agent, first heard from the Redskins about a potential new deal this week. Clearly, while Garcon’s agent indicates the 30-year-old pass-catcher is willing to return to Washington, the mere fact that he asked for a trade means that something was off was last season. Again, it’s impossible to know exactly what led Garcon to request out of the nation’s capital, but it’s likely to affect his view of the club as he looks for a new contract.
The Redskins could be faced with losing both Garcon and fellow free agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson, as both are expected to command yearly salaries north of $9MM. Garcon should face no shortage of suitors after posting his second career 1,000-yard season, and the Rams, Eagles, Bears, Cowboys, and 49ers have already been mentioned as possible fits.
Six Teams Interested In WR Andre Holmes
The 49ers, Redskins, Lions, Jets, Bears, and Raiders are all potential landing spots for pending free agent wide receiver Andre Holmes, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: PFR’s Top 50 2017 Free Agents]
Holmes, 28, has spent the past four seasons in Oakland after beginning his career with the Cowboys. The former undrafted free agent was a large part of the Raiders’ offense as recently as two years ago, as he posted 47 receptions for nearly 700 yards and four touchdowns during the 2014 campaign. In 2016, however, Holmes managed only 14 catches, but was a key cog on special teams, where he played over 65% of Oakland’s snaps.
Due to his lackluster offensive production, Holmes didn’t earn a spot among PFR’s free agent wide receiver rankings, but clearly clubs have already expressed interest in acquiring the 6’5″ pass-catcher. Holmes earned $2MM in 2016 on a one-year deal with Oakland, which was agreed to after other teams pushed to sign him.
Redskins Rumors: Jackson, Garcon
- Redskins free agent wide receiver DeSean Jackson will be looking for deals in the $10MM-12MM per-year range this week, several sources tell Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The market for Jackson is heating up and it sounds like he’ll put pen to paper just as soon as he’s allowed.
- The Redskins only just reached out to Pierre Garcon‘s reps this week, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets. With many expected suitors, it remains to be seen if the Redskins can keep him. It’s also not clear how badly they want him back.