2015 March - Pro Football Rumors

J.D. Walton To Join Dolphins

March 19th, 2015 at 5:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins agreed to a deal with former Broncos and Giants center J.D. Walton, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter.

Walton, who visited with the Dolphins today, started two years with the Broncos and one with the Giants. Last year’s starting snapper in Miami, Samson Satele saw his one-year contract expired earlier this month, opening up the Dolphins’ center position. But former Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey, moved to right guard last season, could return to his former post and make Walton a depth piece. ESPN Dolphins reporter James Walker expects this to be the case.

Terms of the deal are not yet disclosed. The Giants released Walton, a 2010 third-round pick of the Broncos, one season into the two-year, $6MM contract he signed last March. Walton, who will be 28 in five days, endured a rough 2014 campaign, finishing as the league’s 38th-best center, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required). But with the Giants having no better option, the ex-Baylor standout led all centers in snaps with 1,145.

The Dolphins didn’t receive much better production from Satele, brought in last August, and appear to be letting him move on in free agency.

Starting 16 games in both 2010 and 2011, Walton blocked for both Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow in those seasons. But a severe ankle injury sustained four games into Peyton Manning‘s tenure a year later sidelined him for the rest of 2012 and led to the Broncos waiving him in December 2013. Walton drew PFF’s ire in both of his Broncos campaigns as well, finishing as the fourth-worst and worst center, respectively, in his first two seasons.

Minor Moves: Thursday

March 19th, 2015 at 5:20pm CST by Luke Adams

With this year’s NCAA basketball tournament underway, the Colts‘ latest signing is a topical one. According to a team release, Indianapolis has signed Demarco Cox, a 6’8″, 294-pound basketball center who played his college ball at Ole Miss and Georgia Tech. Cox played football in high school before choosing basketball in college, and will be joining the Colts as an offensive tackle. While he may not be a good bet to make the team’s regular season roster, Cox should get a look from the Colts’ coaching staff this summer.

Here are the rest of Thursday’s minor transactions from around the NFL, with the latest moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:

Restricted free agent Dezman Moses re-signed with the Chiefs, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun tweeted. Kansas City Star reporter Terez Paylor noted Moses’ one-year agreement earlier this month, according to a source (Twitter link). Moses played for the Chiefs in 2013 as a backup linebacker after starting six games for the Packers in 2012. The Chiefs waived Moses during training camp last season after he underwent elbow surgery, and the former undrafted free agent spent 2014 on injured reserve. This marks the second reserve backer Kansas City brought back this offseason after inking Josh Mauga to a new deal earlier this month.
The Seahawks have brought back defensive lineman D’Anthony Smith, a former third-round pick who was with the team last season, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.com. The ex-Jaguar, who has played 28 regular season NFL games, spent 2014 on Seattle’s injured reserve list.
Linebacker Reggie Walker has moved from one AFC West team to another, according to agent David Canter, who tweets that the former Charger has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Broncos. After playing a career-high 549 defensive snaps in 2013, Walker returned to a much smaller role for San Diego in 2014, recording 12 total tackles and 0.5 sacks while playing 150 defensive snaps and contributing on special teams.

Earlier updates:

Former Packers running back DuJuan Harris has signed a one-year deal with the Vikings, according to agent Andy Simms (Twitter link). The 26-year-old Harris, who played sparingly for Green Bay in 2014, was non-tendered by the club earlier this month, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Free agent offensive tackle Byron Stingily has agreed to terms with the Titans on a multiyear contract that will keep him in Tennessee, the club announced today in a press release. According to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (via Twitter), it’s a two-year contract worth $2.5MM, and it features an additional $800K in incentives. Stingily, who started at right tackle down the stretch for the Titans in 2014, could have an opportunity to claim the starting job in 2015 with Michael Roos and Michael Oher no longer on the roster.
The Jets have signed free agent tackle James Brewer, the team announced today in a press release. Brewer, who spent his first four years with the Giants, will be making the move from one New York team to the other, and figures to provide depth on the offensive line for the Jets. Brian Costello of the New York Post first reported (via Twitter) that the team had agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Brewer, who started eight games in 2013 but didn’t play much last season.

Giants Owner Talks FAs, Eli, JPP, Draft

March 19th, 2015 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to reporters today, Giants co-owner John Mara answered questions about his team’s approach to free agency, the contract status of a pair of the club’s most notable players, and a handful of other topics. Tom Rock of Newsday passed along several highlights from the session, so let’s round them up, with all links going to Twitter….

Acknowledging that the Giants “still have some holes to fill” on their roster, Mara said the team has done a good job so far in free agency.
Asked about the top free agents available, Mara admitted that the Giants made a big push for Devin McCourty. The club also inquired on Ndamukong Suh, but he was “a little too pricey” for the team’s liking. According to Mara, this year’s free agent class was a mediocre one, and many of the players who signed lucrative deals did so because a lot of teams had plenty of cap space. The Giants didn’t want to invest in those higher-end players at inflated prices.
No contract extension is imminent for Eli Manning, but “obviously something will be done at some point,” according to Mara.
The Giants co-owner would like to see Osi Umenyiora retire as a Giant, but Mara hasn’t spoken to coaches or GM Jerry Reese about signing the veteran pass rusher this year.
Mara would prefer to lock up Jason Pierre-Paul to a long-term contract, but is comfortable having JPP play out the 2015 season on the one-year franchise tag if necessary. The two sides have until July to work out a multiyear extension.
Wide receiver won’t be a top priority for the Giants early in this year’s draft, but the club won’t be averse to taking one if there’s value to be had.

Contract Details: Shorts, Lewis, Cadet

March 19th, 2015 at 4:34pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are some details on a few of the contracts agreed to or signed within the last few days:

Cecil Shorts, WR (Texans): Two years, $6MM base value. $1MM signing bonus. $750K of $1MM 2015 base salary fully guaranteed (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
Kendrick Lewis, S (Ravens): Three years, $5.4MM. $1.4MM signing bonus (link via Wilson).
Garrett Reynolds, OL (Rams): Two years, $2.2MM base value. $250K roster bonus for 2015. Up to $1MM annually in playing-time and team-related incentives (Twitter links via Wilson).
Travaris Cadet, RB (Patriots): Two years, $1.75MM. $65K signing bonus. Various roster bonuses (Twitter links via Wilson).
Bradley Fletcher, CB (Patriots): One year, $1.5MM base value. $100K signing bonus. $250K of $800K base salary guaranteed. Up to $1MM in incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).

Bills Sign Charles Clay

March 19th, 2015 at 4:13pm CST by Luke Adams

4:13pm: After the Dolphins formally declared their intention not to match Buffalo’s offer sheet, the Bills have officially announced the signing of Clay.

3:08pm: According to James Walker of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the paperwork has officially been filed by the Dolphins to the NFL, confirming their decision and making Clay a Bill.

10:24am: The Dolphins have decided not to match the Bills’ offer sheet for tight end Charles Clay, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). While the team has a few more days to change its mind, Miami is moving on, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), paving the way for Clay to become a member of the Bills.

Clay, who turned 26 last month, saw his numbers dip a little in 2014 after he set career highs with 69 receptions, 759 yards, and three touchdowns in his breakout 2013 season. Still, the Dolphins liked him enough to make him their transition player, assigning him a one-year tender worth $7.071MM.

The transition tag essentially makes a free agent restricted, allowing his current team to match any offer sheet from a rival suitor. However, Miami won’t receive any compensation for losing him now that the team has decided not to match Buffalo’s offer.

That Bills’ offer was a massive one — Buffalo will lock up Clay for five years at a price tag of $38MM, and the deal includes more than $20MM in guaranteed money, according to reports. The former sixth-round pick is the latest offensive weapon to join Rex Ryan in Western New York, following recent additions LeSean McCoy and Percy Harvin to the Bills.

As for the Dolphins, while they lose Clay, they also free up some cap space by removing his $7MM+ transition offer from their books. The team has also lined up a replacement already, signing Jordan Cameron last week to join Dion Sims at the tight end position.

Bears Re-Sign Dante Rosario

March 19th, 2015 at 3:24pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran tight end Dante Rosario has re-signed with the Bears on a one-year deal, the team announced today (via Twitter).

Rosario, 30, was the second tight end on Chicago’s depth chart last season, behind Martellus Bennett. The former fifth-round pick caught 16 balls for 116 yards, but primarily served as a blocker during his 323 offensive snaps. Although his Pro Football Focus grades weren’t spectacular in 2014, Rosario has traditionally been a very solid run blocker.

Jaguars Claim Bernard Pierce

March 19th, 2015 at 3:18pm CST by Luke Adams

A day after he was cut by the Ravens following his DUI arrest, running back Bernard Pierce has been claimed off waivers by the Jaguars, tweets Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun.

After facing criticism for mishandling the Ray Rice situation last year, the Ravens have been making a concerted effort to move on from players who run into legal trouble off the field. Terrence Cody, Victor Hampton, and Pierce have all been cut shortly after being arrested this year.

As such, it’s slightly surprising that any team would claim Pierce, particularly with his legal case still unresolved. Driving under the influence hasn’t been the sort of hot-button issue that domestic violence has been for the league within the last 12 months, but it’s still not a great look for a team to pounce on a player who faces a DUI charge.

Last season, Pierce appeared in 13 regular season games for the Ravens, rushing for a career-low 366 yards off of 93 attempts with two touchdowns. Even with Baltimore’s backfield situation in flux, Pierce was unable to become a major part of the rushing attack, slipping down the depth chart after Justin Forsett emerged as the team’s No. 1 back.

Pierce, who turns 25 in May, could face a suspension from the NFL, depending on the outcome of his pending legal case. He has one more year remaining on his rookie contract.

Falcons Sign Jacob Tamme

March 19th, 2015 at 2:31pm CST by Luke Adams

2:31pm: The two-year pact has a max value of just over $4MM, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.

10:14am: Tamme’s deal with the Falcons is for two years, says Mike Klis of the Denver Post.

9:50am: The Falcons have added a tight end to their roster, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve signed veteran free agent Jacob Tamme away from the Broncos. Tamme himself tweeted about the news as well, expressing his excitement this morning about joining the Falcons.

On a crowded Broncos depth chart that also featured Julius Thomas and Virgil Green, Tamme saw his role reduced in recent years — after he grabbed 52 balls in 2012, the former fourth-round pick had his reception total drop to 20 in 2013 and to just 14 in 2014.

Although he wasn’t playing a huge role in the Denver offense, Tamme, who turned 30 this past Sunday, still drew interest from the Broncos this offseason. Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com first reported this morning (via Twitter) that Tamme was likely to sign with the Broncos, but cautioned that the Broncos could still make a last-minute play for their tight end. Denver lost Thomas in free agency earlier this month, but re-signed Green and added Owen Daniels.

For Atlanta, Tamme will help try to solidify a position that has been lacking for the team since Tony Gonzalez retired. In 2014, Levine Toilolo was the Falcons’ primary tight end, but he caught just 31 balls for 238 yards and a pair of touchdowns, as Matt Ryan relied primarily on his receivers and running backs when he dropped back to pass.

Falcons Sign Tony Moeaki

March 19th, 2015 at 2:26pm CST by Luke Adams

After signing Jacob Tamme earlier today, the Falcons have added some more depth at the tight end position, announcing (via Twitter) that they’ve also signed Tony Moeaki. The veteran tight end, who gets a one-year deal, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com (Twitter link), becomes the latest former Seahawks to follow new Falcons head coach Dan Quinn to Atlanta.

Moeaki, 27, was a pass-catching threat earlier in his career in Kansas City, averaging 40 receptions during his first two full seasons with the Chiefs. However, over the last two seasons, in stints with the Chiefs, Bills, and Seahawks, Moeaki has caught just eight balls. The former third-round pick likely won’t play a significant role in the Falcons’ offense.

Financial terms of the deal aren’t yet known, but I’d be surprised if it’s more than a minimum salary pact. Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun confirms (via Twitter) that it’s a one-year deal.

Besides having a connection to Quinn, Moeaki also has history with Falcons executive Scott Pioli, who worked in the Chiefs’ front office when the tight end was drafted.

Bucs, Sterling Moore Agree To Terms

March 19th, 2015 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

1:25pm: According to Rapoport (via Twitter), the pact has a max value of about $1.525MM, which is very close to what Moore would’ve earned if he’d received the low-end RFA tender from Dallas.

12:51pm: It’s a one-year deal for Moore, tweets Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com.

12:42pm: The Buccaneers have struck an agreement on a contract for free agent defensive back Sterling Moore, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Moore had been eligible for restricted free agency, but was non-tendered by the Cowboys, so Dallas won’t have the right to match Tampa Bay’s offer.

Moore, 25, played an increased role for the Cowboys in 2014, starting seven regular season games for the team and appearing in all 16. Playing 866 defensive snaps, Moore didn’t grab an interception, but defended 13 passes and made 50 tackles. He also ranked 22nd out of 108 qualified cornerbacks during his time at the position, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

After not receiving an RFA tender from the Cowboys, Moore visited the Bucs first, then also met with the Steelers and 49ers. As Rapoport points out (via Twitter), the young defensive back has a little history with current Bucs GM Jason Licht — the former Patriots executive was in New England when Moore was signed to the Pats’ practice squad and then promoted to their active roster in 2011.