2:15pm: Clayborn’s contract will have a max value of $4.5MM for one year, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
1:45pm: The Falcons have agreed to terms with defensive end Adrian Clayborn, according to Pat Yasinkas of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Falcons (on Twitter) have confirmed the signing of Clayborn while also announcing that they have added cornerback Phillip Adams.
Clayborn, 27 in July, played only one game for the Bucs before being placed on IR last September. He made 16 starts in 2013 at right defensive end and tallied 43 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Clayborn was hoping to establish himself in 2014, his contract year, but he didn’t get the opportunity to show what he can do before hitting open market. The Bucs declined their fifth-year option on the former No. 20 overall pick in April of 2014. Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) weren’t all that fond of Clayborn’s performance in 2013, ranking him 47th out of 52 qualified 4-3 defensive ends.
Adams, 27 in July, spent two seasons with the Raiders before hooking on with the Jets last September. Adams appeared in 12 games for Gang Green, racking up 24 total tackles, three pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and one interception. The former seventh-rounder was Oakland’s primary punt returner in 2012, when he returned 25 punts for 139 yards. He finished the Raiders’ 2013 season with 30 total tackles and a fumble recovery.