2014 March - Pro Football Rumors

Texans To Sign Chris Clemons

March 28th, 2014 at 4:45pm CST by Luke Adams

4:45pm: Clemons’ two-year deal with the Texans will be worth $2.7MM, with $450K guaranteed, tweets John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

4:09pm: The Texans have agreed to terms on a two-year deal with safety Chris Clemons, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The former Dolphin, of course, is not the same Chris Clemons that signed with the Jaguars earlier this month.

The newest Texan joins a crowded mix of safeties in Houston, considering the team already added Kendrick Lewis to a group that figures to include Shiloh Keo, Danieal Manning, and D.J. Swearinger as well. Earlier today, Ganguli reported that the Texans were working on getting Manning to accept a pay cut, so it’ll be interesting to see how the signing of Clemons relates to that situation — if Manning declines, perhaps Clemons will replace him on the roster. Either way, a restructure or release of Manning would help create some cap flexibility to put toward Clemons’ deal.

Clemons, 28, started all 32 games for the Dolphins over the last two seasons, recording 92 tackles and an interception in 2013. Only Reshad Jones played more snaps in 2013 at safety than Clemons, who graded as the league’s 19th-best player at the position among 86 qualified candidates, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).

Raiders Sign C.J. Wilson

March 28th, 2014 at 4:44pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raiders have officially signed free agent defensive end C.J. Wilson, according to the team (Twitter link). Wilson spent the first four seasons of his career with the Packers, so he has a connection to former Green Bay exec and current Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie.

Wilson, 26, started seven games for the Packers in 2012, recording 24 tackles and 2.5 sacks for the season. However, the former seventh-round pick returned to a reserve role last season, appearing in just over 100 defensive snaps in eight regular season games.

It’s the third signing of the day for the Raiders, who also added running back Maurice Jones-Drew and re-signed nose tackle Pat Sims.

Steelers Sign LeGarrette Blount

March 28th, 2014 at 4:05pm CST by Luke Adams

4:05pm: Blount’s new two-year deal is worth $3.85MM, with a $950K signing bonus, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

3:49pm: The Steelers have officially signed Blount, according to a press release.

2:25pm: The Steelers have reached an agreement on a two-year contract with LeGarrette Blount, league sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). According to Wilson (via Twitter), the Ravens maintained interest in Blount up until the end. The Patriots were also be interested in bringing back the free agent running back, though not at the price as the Steelers were willing to offer, tweets Wilson.

Blount, 27, emerged as the Patriots’ primary ball-carrier last season, racking up 772 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 5.0 yards per carry during the regular season. He also ran for 166 yards and four touchdowns in the second round of the postseason against the Colts, but was bottled up for just six yards on five carries in Denver.

By signing with the Steelers, Blount will give the team a complementary runner in a backfield that already includes youngster Le’Veon Bell. I’d imagine Bell will receive more carries than Blount, but the veteran could handle short-yardage and goal-line duties in addition to spelling the 2013 second-rounder.

It’ll be interesting to see what sort of salary Blount receives from the Steelers, considering the team was nearly capped out. Barring some creative bookkeeping on Blount’s deal, the Steelers may have to restructure or release another player’s contract to create the space necessary to finalize the signing.

With Blount off the board and Knowshon Moreno and Maurice Jones-Drew also finding new homes this week, the running back market is starting to look pretty thin. Teams still in need of a rusher can peruse a group that includes Andre Brown, Willis McGahee, and Justin Forsett, among others.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

North Notes: Carr, Ravens, Bears, Flynn

March 28th, 2014 at 3:30pm CST by Luke Adams

On a busy Friday for NFL signings (Maurice Jones-Drew, LeGarrette Blount) and cuts (DeSean Jackson), let’s check out some of the latest headlines from around the league’s two North divisions….

Derek Carr‘s private workout with the Browns is scheduled for Monday, a source tells Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
In a round-up of Ravens notes, Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun says he gets the sense from talking to people around the team that Corey Graham was the toughest free agent departure this month. Zrebiec also writes that that if Baltimore doesn’t draft a quarterback, the club could wait until after the draft to see if a team that does take a QB jettisons one of its veterans.
As Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune details, Bears head coach Marc Trestman has a number of traits he’s looking for in a No. 2 quarterback.
It appears likely that the Packers will ultimately end up re-signing Matt Flynn to compete with Scott Tolzien for the team’s backup job, writes Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.
As Nick Fairley heads into the 2014 season without the security of the Lions picking up his fifth-year option for 2015, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com says the team shouldn’t reward Fairley with a lucrative contract next year even if he has a strong ’14.
Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com has the details on a pair of new contracts: Vlad Ducasse inked a one-year, minimum salary benefit deal with the Vikings that includes a $65K signing bonus, while Domata Peko‘s two-year extension with the Bengals includes a $4.4MM roster bonus for 2014 and is worth $9MM in total.

Chris Johnson Drawing Trade Interest?

March 28th, 2014 at 3:17pm CST by Luke Adams

MARCH 28: The Titans have yet to find a trade partner for Johnson, and if their efforts continue to fail over the next few days, the veteran running back is “very likely” to be released next week, tweets Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com.

MARCH 19: Although there has long been a belief that the Titans may release Chris Johnson this offseason, a pair of March reports indicated the team was looking to trade him and that the veteran running back would be willing to restructure his contract to help facilitate a deal. That has resulted in an emerging trade market for Johnson, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, who reports that while no move is imminent, multiple teams have “real interest” in the longtime Titan. ESPN.com’s Ed Werder is hearing similar rumblings.

As Werder notes, Titans general manager Ruston Webster said on The Midday 180 yesterday that there’s “no real timetable” for when the club needs to make a move. Johnson isn’t owed any workout or roster bonuses this year, so there are no potential deadlines looming that would force Tennessee’s hand. Still, clearing a chunk of the 28-year-old’s $10MM cap number for 2014 would give the club some additional flexibility.

Johnson, who has only missed one game in his six NFL seasons, has compiled at least 1,000 rushing yards in each of those seasons. In 2013, he posted 1,077 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns despite reportedly playing through a torn meniscus.

Raiders Sign Maurice Jones-Drew

March 28th, 2014 at 2:04pm CST by Luke Adams

2:04pm: According to Schefter (via Twitter), Jones-Drew is “officially a Raider,” having signed a three-year contract with the team.

8:26am: The Raiders are in the process of finalizing a contract with free agent running back Maurice Jones-Drew, according to multiple reports. Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com hears from two sources that the sides have agreed to terms and that the deal is just pending a physical. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the agreement isn’t quite official, but MJD and the Raiders are expected to agree on a three-year deal later today.

An agreement appeared to come together quickly after word broke yesterday that Jones-Drew would be visiting the Raiders today. A report earlier in the week suggested that the Steelers, Jets, Dolphins, and Patriots were all in the mix for the veteran back, but the Dolphins agreed to sign Knowshon Moreno, and a separate report indicated that the Pats haven’t been in contact with MJD. As such, it looks like the Steelers and Jets, who both met with the former Jaguar earlier this month, were the Raiders’ prime competition to land him.

By signing with the Raiders, Jones-Drew will be joining the team he rooted for growing up — the California native still lives in the area. Oakland also re-signed Darren McFadden earlier in the month, but McFadden has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and will be on a one-year, prove-it deal. With Jones-Drew in the fold, the Raiders are hoping to replace the 2013 production provided by Rashad Jennings, who signed with the Giants. Unproven backs like Latavius Murray and Kory Sheets could also be in the mix for carries in Oakland.

Following an excellent 2011 season, in which he averaged more than 100 rushing yards per game, Jones-Drew was slowed by injuries in 2012. He appeared in 15 games in 2013, but underachieved for a subpar Jacksonville team, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, a significant drop-off from his previous career low of 4.2. Having turned 29 last week and accumulated more than 1,800 carries in his NFL career, the former second-round pick’s best days are likely behind him, but a modest bounce-back season in 2014 definitely isn’t out of the question.

With Jones-Drew and Moreno off the market, LeGarrette Blount represents perhaps the most appealing free agent running back still available. According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter), Blount flew into Pittsburgh last night for a Friday visit with the Steelers. Blount is also drawing interest from his old team, the Pats.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

49ers Re-Sign Perrish Cox

March 28th, 2014 at 1:51pm CST by Luke Adams

FRIDAY, 1:51pm: The 49ers have officially announced their new deal with Cox, according to a team release.

TUESDAY, 12:01pm: The 49ers and free agent defensive back Perrish Cox have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter). Cox had been eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, but the Niners decided not to tender him an offer, so the new agreement between the two sides will likely be worth the minimum, or something close to it.

Cox, 27, saw more defensive snaps in the postseason (83) than he did in the regular season (81), according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That increased playing time at season’s end may earn him a longer look in 2014, though he’s still not a lock to make the roster, given San Francisco’s depth in the secondary.

Cox has spent time with the Broncos, Seahawks, and Niners since being selected in the fifth round of the 2010 draft by Denver.

Redskins Sign Mike McGlynn

March 28th, 2014 at 1:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent offensive lineman Mike McGlynn has signed with the Redskins, according to agent Michael Perrett (via Twitter). Terms of the deal aren’t yet known.

McGlynn, 29, has started 30 games, primarily at right guard, for the Colts over the last two seasons. He didn’t perform particularly well in 2012 or 2013, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required). Out of 81 qualified guards in PFF’s rankings, McGlynn placed 81st in 2012 and 73rd in 2013.

Before he agreed to sign with the Redskins, McGlynn also met with the Rams, Titans, and Packers since the start of free agency.

Broncos Re-Sign Winston Justice

March 28th, 2014 at 1:20pm CST by Luke Adams

The Broncos have re-signed backup offensive lineman Winston Justice to a one-year contract, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter). Justice had been an unrestricted free agent.

Justice, 29, was added to the Broncos’ roster as an insurance policy in September 2013 after Ryan Clady went down with a Lisfranc injury. However, the former second-round pick didn’t see much playing time, appearing in just 19 offensive snaps for the team in two regular season contests. Still, Justice has experience playing as a starter for the Eagles and Colts, so he’ll be a fairly reliable depth piece for the Broncos in 2014.

Fallout From DeSean Jackson’s Release

March 28th, 2014 at 1:13pm CST by Luke Adams

After weeks of trade rumors, the Eagles officially parted ways with DeSean Jackson today, releasing him after they couldn’t find a satisfactory deal. In the wake of the move and a report from NJ.com that suggested the team was concerned about the receiver’s possible gang ties, Jackson has issued a statement, as ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter details. It reads, in part:

“I would like to make it very clear that I am not and never have been part of any gang. I am not a gang member and to speculate and assume that I am involved in such activity off the field is reckless and irresponsible.”

As Jackson works to clear his name and assuage the concerns of potential suitors, here’s a round-up of several links related to his release:

At least four teams reached out to agent Joel Segal within a half-hour of Jackson being released, according to Schefter (via Twitter), who says talks are ongoing. Schefter added in a later tweet that the number of clubs inquiring on Jackson is now up to six and counting.
It’s not entirely clear yet which teams are in the mix for Jackson, but several writers expressed a belief that the Seahawks will be in the mix (all Twitter links).
Based on a conversation he had recently with a Redskins source, John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link) would be “shocked” if Washington pursued Jackson.
Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer says not to expect the Panthers to pursue Jackson, but head coach Ron Rivera tells Jim Corbett of USA Today that his team might have some interest. “He’s an intriguing player and we’ll take a look at him,” Rivera said.
The Chiefs don’t appear to be a serious contender for Jackson, tweets Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.
Given their track record of giving players second chances, the Bills could emerge as a candidate for Jackson, suggests Tim Graham of the Buffalo News.
According to Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter), the Eagles didn’t previously know about the contents of NJ.com’s report until this week. Albert Breer of the NFL Network and Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News both suggest (Twitter links) the NJ.com story didn’t make the Eagles decide to release Jackson, but it certainly accelerated the process.
Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com looks at the move from a financial perspective, estimating what sort of salary Jackson might be looking at on a new deal.
A league source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that the Eagles didn’t designate Jackson as a post-June 1 cut, so it’ll be a $6MM cap hit for the team this year.
Florio also notes that wide receiver Mike Evans said today that he’ll be visiting the Eagles soon. Evans isn’t likely to be on the board at No. 22 for Philadelphia, but the Eagles’ apparent interest shows they’ll consider drafting a receiver.