Week In Review News & Rumors

Here’s the original content produced by PFR during the past week:

• As part of our extension candidate series, Rory Parks took a look at Ravens defensive back Jimmy Smith, Peter Sowards wrote about Packers wideout Jordy Nelson and Luke Adams examined Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson.
• Luke analyzed the numbers on some team’s draft pick signings. You can also stay up to date on your team’s rookie signings by checking out our PFR Draft Pick Signing Tracker.
• We had two polls: Luke thought about Jimmy Graham‘s contract situation and I asked your opinion on the best remaining free agent.
• Finally, don’t forget that you can follow PFR on Facebook and Twitter.

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Major Move:

• The Bears signed wide receiver Brandon Marshall to a three-year, $30MM contract extension.

First-Round Pick Signings:

• Chiefs — DE Dee Ford (link)
• 49ers — S Jimmie Ward (link)
• Falcons — OT Jake Matthews (link)
• Vikings — QB Teddy Bridgewater (link)
• Vikings — LB Anthony Barr (link)
• Giants — Odell Beckham Jr. (link)

Find the full results of the 2014 draft at the PFR Draft Tracker.

Released:

• 49ers — OT Luke Marquandt (link)
• Seahawks — OT Garrett Scott (link)

Waivers:

• Raiders — claimed WR Greg Little off waivers from Browns.

Restructured:

• 49ers — LB NaVorro Bowman (link)

Extension Candidates:

• Ravens — CB Jimmy Smith (link)
• Packers — WR Jordy Nelson (link)
• Cardinals — CB Patrick Peterson (link)

Other Signings:

• Browns — LB Larry Grant (link)
• Chiefs — DL Kyle Love (link)
• Packers — TE Colt Lyerla (link)
• Browns — WR Anthony Armstrong (link)
• Chiefs — OT J’Marcus Webb (link)
• Eagles — WR Arrelious Benn (link)
• Raiders — QB Derek Carr (link)

Other:

• Bucs — Start contract talks with DT Gerald McCoy (link)
• Cowboys — QB Kyle Orton mulling retirement (link)
• Saints — QB Drew Brees hopes to play past age 40 (link)
• Seahawks — WR Doug Baldwin discusses contract (link)
• Lions — RB Reggie Bush wants to retire a Lion (link)

Follow all the latest news at PFR’s Transactions Page.

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Major Move:

• The Browns signed cornerback Joe Haden to a five-year, $68MM extension, with $22MM guaranteed.

First-Round Pick Signings:

• Bears – CB Kyle Fuller (link)
• Raiders – LB Khalil Mack (link)
• Saints – WR Brandin Cooks (link)

For a full recap of draft signings, visit the PFR Draft Pick Signing Tracker.

For a full breakdown of undfrafted free agent signings, click here.

Other Signings:

• 49ers – QB Josh Johnson (link)
• Browns – WR Miles Austin (link)
• Browns – WR Earl Bennett (link)
• Cowboys – RB Ryan Williams (link)

Waivers:

• Jets – claimed RB Daryl Richardson off waivers from the Rams (link)

Released:

• Browns – QB Vince Young (link)
• Browns – WR Greg Little (link)

Suspended:

• Colts edge rusher Robert Mathis: four games, violation of league policy on prohibited substances (link)

Other:

• Texans receiver Andre Johnson is frustrated with his team’s rebuilding phase, sparking rumors that the veteran could press for his release or a trade.

Follow all the latest news at PFR’s Transactions Page.

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Draft:

• The Texans selected South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney with the first overall pick.
• The Bills traded up to the No. 4 pick to draft Clemson WR Sammy Watkins.
• After much maneuvering, the Browns acquired pick No. 22 and selected Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel.
• The Vikings traded back into the first round and picked Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater with the 32nd pick.

Find the full results of the 2014 draft at the PFR Draft Tracker.

Major Move:

• The Seahawks signed CB Richard Sherman to a four-year, $56MM extension.

Other Signings:

• Broncos – DT Marvin Austin (link)
• Patriots – DE Will Smith (link)
• Cardinals – LB Larry Foote (link)
• Redskins – S Tanard Jackson (link)

Trades:

• 49ers – acquired WR Stevie Johnson from the Bills in exchange for a conditional 2015 third-round pick.
• Bills – acquired RB Bryce Brown from the Eagles in exchange for a conditional 2015 fourth-round pick or a 2016 third- or fourth-rounder.

Restricted Free Agency:

• Panthers offensive tackle Byron Bell signed his one-year, $2.187MM tender.

Retired:

• LB Bradie James (link)

Other:

• Browns receiver Josh Gordon is reportedly facing a season-long suspension following repeated violations of the league’s substance policy.

Follow all the latest news at PFR’s Transactions Page.

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Major Move:

• The Seahawks signed All-Pro safety Earl Thomas to a four-year, $40MM extension, with $27.725MM guaranteed.

Other Signings:

• Browns – quarterback Vince Young (link)
• Browns – quarterback Tyler Thigpen (link)
• Falcons – tight end Bear Pascoe (link)
• Seahawks  – cornerback A.J. Jefferson (link)
• Seahawks – linebacker O’Brien Schofield (link)

Fifth-Year Options Exercised:

• Rams defensive end Robert Quinn (link)
• Colts offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo (link)
• Saints running back Mark Ingram (link)
• Falcons receiver Julio Jones (link)
• Dolphins center Mike Pouncey (link)
• Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara (link)
• Broncos linebacker Von Miller (link)
• Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (link)
• Browns defensive lineman Phil Taylor (link)
• 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith (link)

Fifth-Year Options Declined:

• Titans quarterback Jake Locker (link)
• Packers offensive lineman Derek Sherrod (link)
• Seahawks offensive lineman James Carpenter (link)
• Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder (link)

Follow all the latest news at PFR’s Transactions page.

Here’s the original content produced by PFR during the past week:

• We began our prospect profile series, examining the strengths and weaknesses of the top players available in next month’s draft. Zach Links scrutinized Blake Bortles (link) and Sammy Watkins (link), and Rob DiRe took a look at Jadeveon Clowney (link), Teddy Bridgewater (link), and Mike Evans (link).
• David Kipke investigated the importance of the 2014 draft for the Browns, specifically in terms of finding a long-term answer at quarterback.
• Rob wrote an interesting piece focusing on recent free agent signings who will be facing their former teams during the 2014 season.
• Luke Adams looked at the largest 2014 free agent contracts by position, separated by overall value, average annual salary, and guaranteed money.
• Rory Parks delved into the trend of teams instantly throwing first-round quarterbacks into the fire as starters, and how this strategy could affect the draft stock of the this year’s crop of QB prospects.
• In our polls last week, Peter Sowards asked if Ndamukong Suh should be with the Lions during for offseason workouts (with about 44% responding “Yes”), and Luke wondered which quarterback should be selected first in the draft (with Bortles garnering almost 40% of the vote). Thanks for voting!

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Key Signings:

• The Bears signed receiver Josh Morgan to a one-year contract.
• The Cowboys signed quarterback Caleb Hanie to a one-year deal.
• The Cowboys re-signed pass rusher Anthony Spencer to a one-year pact.

Trade:

• Seahawks – acquired quarterback Terrelle Pryor from the Raiders in exchange for a 2014 seventh-round-pick.

Fifth-Year Options Exercised:

• Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan (link)
• Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (link)
• Bengals receiver A.J. Green (link)
• Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (link)
• Patriots offensive lineman Nate Solder (link)
• Bills defensive lineman Marcell Dareus (link)
• Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (link)

Fifth-Year Options Declined:

• Buccaneers defensive end Adrian Clayborn (link)

Retired:

• Center Phil Costa (link)
• Linebacker Rolando McClain (link)
• Cornerback Marcus Trufant (link)

Front Office:

• The Seahawks hired former Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland as a draft consultant.

Rumors:

• The Seahawks are progressing towards an extension with All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman.

It’s been a busy week on Pro Football Rumors. Here are the major headlines…

Signings:

• The Bengals signed punter T.J. Conley.
• The Browns signed fullback Chris Pressley.
• The Colts re-signed restricted free agent Joe Reitz.
• The Colts signed fullbacks Stephen Campbell and Cameron White.
• The 49ers signed receiver Brandon Lloyd to one-year contract.
• The Giants signed quarterback Josh Freeman to a one-year deal.
• The Jaguars re-signed running back Jordan Todman.
• The Jaguars re-signed receiver Mike Brown.
• The Jets signed running back Chris Johnson to a two-year deal.
• The Lions re-signed cornerback Rashean Mathis to a one-year deal.
• The Packers re-signed quarterback Matt Flynn.
• The Ravens signed linebacker D.J. Bryant
• The Redskins signed safety Akeem Davis.
• The Saints re-signed receiver Robert Meachem to a one-year contract.
• The Seahawks re-signed receiver Sidney Rice to a one-year deal.
• The Steelers signed punter Adam Podlesh to a one-year contract.
• The Texans signed defensive lineman Ricardo Mathews to a one-year deal.
• The Vikings signed tight end Allen Reisner to a one-year deal.
• The Vikings signed safety Kurt Coleman to a one-year contract.
• The Montreal Alouettes signed former NFL receiver Chad Johnson.

2015 Options:

• The Cardinals exercised the option on cornerback Patrick Peterson.
• The Cowboys exercised the option on offensive tackle Tyron Smith.
• The Jets exercised the option on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson.
• The Texans picked up the option on defensive end J.J. Watt.

Release/Waivers:

• The Bears waived defensive end Cheta Ozougwu.
• The Chargers cut linebacker Terrell Manning.
• The Falcons waived defensive back Saeed Lee and tight end Adam Nissley
• The Jaguars released linebacker Russell Allen. They also waived wide receiver Jabin Sambrano and defensive ends Will Pericak and D’Aundre Reed.

Waiver Claims:

• The Vikings claimed linebacker Terrell Manning off waivers.

Reinstatement:

• The Ravens reinstated linebacker Rolando McClain.

Follow all the latest news at PFR’s Transactions page.

The headlines from the past week at PFR:

Major Move:

• The Browns matched the Jaguars’ five-year, $42MM offer sheet for Alex Mack, which allows Cleveland to retain the veteran center for at least two seasons before Mack has the option to void the remainder of the deal.

Signings:

• Bears – center Brian De La Puente – one year (link)
• Browns – receiver Nate Burleson – one year (link)
• Texans – running back Andre Brown – one year (link)
• Saints – safety Rafael Bush – two years (matching Falcons’ offer sheet) (link)
• Panthers – receiver Jason Avant – one year (link)
• Bears – tight end Matthew Mulligan – one year (link)
• Bengals – receiver Dane Sanzenbacher – one year (link)
• Panthers – defensive lineman Colin Cole – one year (link)
• Panthers – tight end Ed Dickson – one year (link)
• Dolphins – receiver Damian Williams – one year (link)
• Panthers – safety Thomas DeCoud – two years (link)

Waivers:

• Bears – claimed receiver Josh Bellamy off waivers from the Redskins (link)

Follow all the latest news at PFR’s Transactions page.

The headline from the past week at PFR:

Key Signings:

• The Rams signed receiver Kenny Britt to a one-year contract.
• The Giants re-signed defensive tackle Mike Patterson to a one-year deal.
• The Jets signed cornerback Dimitri Patterson to a one-year pact.
• The Raiders signed cornerback Carlos Rogers to a one-year deal.
• The Redskins signed receiver DeSean Jackson to a four-year contract.
• The Giants signed defensive lineman Robert Ayers to a two-year pact.
• The Redskins signed safety Ryan Clark to a one-year deal.
• The Jets signed receiver Jacoby Ford to a one-year contract.
• The Broncos signed center Will Montgomery to a one-year pact.
• The Steelers signed receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey to a one-year contract.
• The Ravens signed tight end Owen Daniels to a one-year deal.
• The Lions signed quarterback Dan Orlovsky to a one-year contract.
• The Bengals signed safety Danieal Manning to a one-year pact.
• The Saints signed cornerback Champ Bailey to a two-year deal.

Trades:

• Bills – acquired receiver Mike Williams from the Buccaneers in exchange for a 2014 sixth-round-pick.

Extensions:

• Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll – three years (link)
• Broncos head coach John Fox – three years (link)

Contract Tenders:

• Broncos cornerback Chris Harris signed his restricted free agent tender.
• Browns center Alex Mack, who was extended a transition tag tender, met with the Jaguars, who are reportedly mulling signing the veteran to an offer sheet.
• Saints restricted free agent safety Rafael Bush signed an offer sheet with the Falcons.

Released:

• Raiders offensive lineman Mike Brisiel (link)
• Titans running back Chris Johnson (link)
• Patriots safety Adrian Wilson (link)

Retired:

• Linebacker Tim Shaw (link)
• Defensive lineman Marcus Spears (link)