2015 March - Pro Football Rumors

Raiders To Sign Christian Ponder

March 13th, 2015 at 3:45pm CST by Luke Adams

3:45pm: With the Ponder deal set to be finalized, the Raiders are expected to cut Schaub unless a team is willing to give up a draft pick for him, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Bill Williamson of ESPN.com adds (via Twitter) that he wouldn’t be surprised if McGloin is eventually cut as well.

3:24pm: The Raiders are expected to sign Ponder to a one-year deal, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

2:48pm: Former Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder became an unrestricted free agent for the first time this week, and his first visit will be to Oakland to meet with the Raiders, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link). Bill Musgrave, who worked with Ponder in Minnesota for multiple seasons, was hired back in January as the Raiders’ new offensive coordinator

Ponder, who turned 27 last month, started 36 games during his four years with the Vikings, though he was essentially the team’s No. 3 signal-caller in 2014, behind Teddy Bridgewater and Matt Cassel on the depth chart. With a career 59.8% completion rate and 75.9 passer rating, Ponder likely isn’t being considered for any starting roles or even QB competitions this offseason, but he’s a former 12th overall pick and could still be a solid backup.

Derek Carr is set to enter the 2015 season as the Raiders’ starter, but the backup situation in Oakland is uncertain, particularly with a new coaching staff in place. Matt Schaub remains under contract, but the team could clear his entire $5.5MM cap hit from its books by cutting him. Matt McGloin is also under contract.

Browns Sign John Hughes To Extension

March 13th, 2015 at 3:28pm CST by Luke Adams

3:28pm: Hughes’ extension includes $3.56MM in guaranteed money, including a $2.5MM signing bonus, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, who tweets that the four-year deal can max out at $15MM.

3:12pm: While most players signing new deals this week saw their old contracts expire, defensive lineman John Hughes has agreed to a new pact with a year remaining on his rookie deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Rapoport reports that the Browns locked up Hughes to a four-year deal worth $14.4MM in new money.

Hughes, a 2012 draftee, became extension-eligible this winter for the first time, and the Browns didn’t waste much time in locking him up. The former third-round pick has started just seven games in his first three seasons in Cleveland, but appeared poised for a bigger role in 2014 before he landed on the injured reserve list for a good chunk of the season due to an MCL injury.

Although he only logged 212 defensive snaps for the Browns in 2014, Hughes was productive in his limited action, per Pro Football Focus’ metrics, which gave him a +5.2 grade (subscription required). The 26-year-old was similarly productive in 2013, ranking among PFF’s top 10 3-4 defensive ends despite playing only 402 defensive snaps.

NFL Issues Performance-Based Bonuses

March 13th, 2015 at 3:06pm CST by Luke Adams

The NFL has announced and issued its performance-based pay bonuses for the 2014 season, according to a press release from the league. The bonuses, which are based on a player’s playing time relative to his salary level, come from a pool of $3.633MM per team. Here are the top performance-based pay amounts for the past season:

Seantrel Henderson, T (Bills): $373,671
Corey Linsley, C (Packers): $339,566
Russell Bodine, C (Bengals): $318,612
Avery Williamson, LB (Titans): $315,120
E.J. Gaines, DB (Rams): $308,338
Zach Fulton, G (Chiefs): $303,352
Kelvin Beachum, T (Steelers): $297,687
Preston Brown, LB (Bills): $293,179
Michael Wilhoite, LB (49ers): $292,406
Paul Worrilow, LB (Falcons): $287,413

Broncos Sign Darian Stewart

March 13th, 2015 at 3:02pm CST by Luke Adams

3:02pm: The Broncos have officially confirmed their deal with Stewart, via a press release.

2:25pm: After losing Rahim Moore to the Texans, the Broncos have reached an agreement with a free agent safety of their own. Mike Klis of the Denver Post reports (via Twitter) that the team has struck a two-year deal with former Ravens safety Darian Stewart.

Stewart met with the Broncos earlier this week and visited the Falcons today. The Giants were also said to have interest in the 26-year-old, but Stewart apparently didn’t make it to New York for a visit.

Prior to the 2014 season, Stewart had alternated between reserve and starting roles in St. Louis during four seasons with the Rams. The Ravens made him a full-time starter last year, and he delivered 56 tackles to go along with an interception and a forced fumble. According to Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required), Stewart ranked as a solid starter, placing 30th out of 87 qualified safeties.

Saints Sign C.J. Spiller

March 13th, 2015 at 2:31pm CST by Luke Adams

2:31pm: Spiller’s four-year contract is worth $18MM, with $9MM in guaranteed money, including a $5MM signing bonus, according to Getlin (via Twitter). The deal could also void after three years, depending on the running back’s performance.

1:29pm: The Saints have officially announced the arrival of Spiller (Twitter link).

11:53am: As they finalize a deal with the Dolphins to send Kenny Stills to Miami, the Saints have added a piece to their offense. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that the club has agreed to terms with running back C.J. Spiller, who will join a backfield that also features Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson. It’s a four-year deal for Spiller, per Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).

Spiller, 27, spent his first five NFL seasons in Buffalo after being selected by the Bills with the ninth overall pick in the 2010 draft. He showed flashes of brilliance during those five years, particularly in 2012, when he racked up 1,244 rushing yards on 6.0 yards per carry, earning a spot in the Pro Bowl. However, his final season with the Bills was marred by injuries, and it became clear the team wouldn’t bring him back after the LeSean McCoy trade.

In New Orleans, Spiller will join a Saints offense that figures to look very different in 2015. While the team decided to retain Ingram, an unrestricted free agent, Jimmy Graham has been traded to the Seahawks, and Stills is on the verge of being dealt to the Dolphins. According to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (via Twitter), the Saints are telling their traded players they’re going all-in on building a defense, but the team appears to have found some wiggle room to add one more offensive piece in Spiller.

The addition of Spiller, who ranked 26th on PFR’s list of top 50 free agents, almost certainly eliminates the possibility of the Saints bringing in Reggie Bush, who had received some interest from his old team.

Mike Wallace Back On Trade Block

March 13th, 2015 at 2:15pm CST by Zachary Links

MARCH 13: After acquiring Kenny Stills today, the Dolphins put Wallace back on the trade block, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). Miami doesn’t appear to have made a decision on Wallace yet, but the team may not want him back at his current salary and cap number.

FEBRUARY 25: The Dolphins are exploring the trade route with wide receiver Mike Wallace, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (on Twitter). It’s widely believed that the Dolphins have been pushing Wallace to restructure his deal or take a pay cut.

Wallace signed a five-year, $60MM deal with Miami in 2014 and that price is too rich for the Dolphins’ blood as they look ahead to the 2015 season and beyond. The Dolphins will absorb a $12.1MM cap hit if Wallace is on the team, $9.6MM if he is cut without a post-June 1 designation, $6.6MM if he is traded, and $5.2MM if he is cut with a post-June 1 designation (which also would entail a 2016 cap hit). The cap hit is large, but not quite as bad as 2014’s $17.25MM number.

Wallace, 29 in August, caught 67 passes last season for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns. While his numbers haven’t been that of an elite wide receiver, he is obviously still very productive and he has also proved to be very durable over the years with just one missed game over the last six years. Statistically, Wallace’s best season came in 2011 with the Steelers when he had 72 catches for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns on his way to a Pro Bowl selection.

Presumably, any team trading for Wallace will also require him to re-work his deal.

AFC Rumors: Fins, Bush, Pats, Gresham, Titans

March 13th, 2015 at 1:53pm CST by Luke Adams

After signing Jordan Cameron and completing a deal for Kenny Stills, the Dolphins may not be done making moves, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, who notes that the team continues to work on a possible long-term deal for tight end Charles Clay. Beasley adds that the team appears to be open to keeping Mike Wallace, but that may hinge on the wideout’s willingness to redo his contract, so it looks like that situation remains uncertain for the time being.

Here’s more from around the AFC:

Running back Reggie Bush is moving forward with his Patriots visit, and is meeting with the team today, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com. We heard yesterday that a meeting with the Pats was on Bush’s schedule. The former Lion, who has also visited San Francisco this week, could be a good fit in a Shane Vereen-type role. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) believes there’s a good chance the Patriots could come away with either Bush or Percy Harvin, noting that the team has interest in both players.
According to Tom Curran of CSNNE.com (via Twitter), the Patriots aren’t currently in on any trade talks for Eagles guard Evan Mathis. We heard yesterday that New England had expressed interest in Mathis, who appears to be on the trade block.
A source tells Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link) that despite the team trying to lock him up this week, talks between the Raiders and tight end Jermaine Gresham are “dead for now.”
Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (Twitter link) hears that free agent offensive tackle Joe Barksdale is an option the Titans will consider. Tennessee lost two tackles this offseason, as Michael Roos retired and Michael Oher was released.

Titans Sign Brian Orakpo, Derrick Morgan

March 13th, 2015 at 1:39pm CST by Luke Adams

1:39pm: The Titans have now officially announced their deals with Orakpo, Morgan, and the three other players they agreed to sign today (Twitter link).

7:05am: After staying relatively silent throughout the first few days of 2015’s free agent period, the Titans have made their big splash on Friday morning, fortifying their defense with a pair of pass rushers, per multiple reports. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the team has agreed to terms with former Washington linebacker Brian Orakpo. Meanwhile, Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reports (via Twitter) that the club has also reached a deal to re-sign its own marquee free agent, Derrick Morgan.

Both players will be signing lucrative four-year contracts with Tennessee. Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports has the terms on both deals, tweeting that Orakpo’s four-year pact will have a $32MM base value, with $13.5MM guaranteed, and can be worth up to $35MM overall. Morgan’s deal is worth just a little less, with a max value of $30MM, a base value of $27MM, and $10.5MM in guarantees, tweets Garafolo.

The pair of signings are extra intriguing for a Titans defense that will be bringing aboard former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau for the coming season. Having made the switch to a 3-4 scheme a year ago, the Titans went through some growing pains en route to a 2-14 record, but LeBeau is expected to help smooth things out in 2015, and having a pair of talented pass rushers like Orakpo and Morgan on the outside should only help that transition.

Orakpo, 28, is coming off a disappointing 2014 season that ended after just seven games when he tore his pectoral muscle and was placed on injured reserve. Still, despite the fact that he logged just 0.5 sacks last year, the former first-round pick was viewed as one of the top free agent players a year ago, when he was coming off a 10.5-sack season and earned a franchise tag from Washington.

Orakpo, who had a multi-day visit to Tennessee this week and was expected to eventually visit the Cardinals if he didn’t work something out with the Titans, was ranked as the NFL’s fourth-best 3-4 outside linebacker in 2013 by Pro Football Focus’ grades (subscription required). Per PFF, Orakpo racked up an impressive 51 total quarterback pressures in ’13.

As for Morgan, his return to Tennessee is a little surprising, since he is considered a better fit as a 4-3 defensive end, and has never really lived up to his first-round billing in five seasons with the Titans. However, despite modest sack totals (his 6.5 in 2014 matched a career high), Morgan graded as a top-10 outside linebacker according to PFF, which ranked him eighth in 2014 and credited him with 49 total quarterback pressures.

Morgan paid visits to the Falcons and Buccaneers this week, and was reportedly scheduled to hit Dallas for a meeting with the Cowboys next. Instead, he’ll be returning to Tennessee, where LeBeau will be tasked with getting the most out of the former 16th overall pick, who will be entering his age-26 season.

When I ranked PFR’s top 50 free agents last weekend, both Orakpo and Morgan squeezed into the top 20, at 19th and 20th respectively. Outside of Greg Hardy, who has his share of off-field question marks, the two players looked like the clear-cut top pass rushers still available as we neared the end of the first week of free agency. The Titans did well to get them both, and if the club were to add to its front seven next month by drafting a player like USC’s Leonard Williams to complement Jurrell Casey, the defense in Tennessee could look significantly more dangerous heading into the 2015 season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Dolphins Acquire Kenny Stills From Saints

March 13th, 2015 at 1:30pm CST by Luke Adams

1:30pm: The Saints have officially confirmed the trade, as reported (Twitter link).

12:40pm: As part of the swap, Ellerbe has agreed to restructure his deal for the Saints, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).

11:51am: The Dolphins will send linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and a third-round pick to New Orleans for Stills, per Pro Football Talk (Twitter link). Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) first reported that the Saints would be getting a linebacker and a draft pick in the deal.

Ellerbe had been viewed as a likely cap casualty, given his $8.425MM base salary for 2015. I’d be surprised if the Saints are willing to pay him that much, or have the cap flexibility to accommodate that sort of number, so there may be a pay cut or restructure involved in the move.

The Dolphins will still carry $4.2MM on their 2015 cap in dead money for Ellerbe, but create $5.65MM in cap savings by moving him.

11:38am: The Saints are in the process of finalizing a trade that will send wide receiver Kenny Stills to the Dolphins, according to Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). We heard yesterday that the young wideout was among the many players the Saints were shopping as they overhaul their roster.

Stills, who turns just 23 next month, became an integral part of the Saints’ passing attack in 2014, hauling in 63 passes for 931 yards and three touchdowns. The Saints’ top deep threat, Stills have averaged 16.5 yards per catch since entering the league in 2013, and is on an inexpensive rookie contract for two more years, so it’s surprising that the team would be willing to move him.

Nonetheless, yesterday’s reports indicated that the Saints were shopping practically everyone on their roster, with the exception of Drew Brees and Brandin Cooks. Already this week, the team has completed deals that shipped longtime Saints Jimmy Graham and Ben Grubbs out of town.

As for the Dolphins, if they can finalize a trade for Stills, he’d be the second notable pass-catcher added by the team in the span of 24 hours. Miami also signed tight end Jordan Cameron to a contract last night.

After the Dolphins parted ways with Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson earlier in the offseason, it looked like Ryan Tannehill may not have many weapons at his disposal for the 2015 season, with Mike Wallace and Charles Clay also hanging in the balance. However, Wallace remains on the roster for now, despite his large cap hit, and Clay was given the transition tag by the club, though he may end up signing elsewhere now that Cameron is in the mix.

Fisher: Rams Were Offered First-Rounder For Bradford

March 13th, 2015 at 1:04pm CST by Luke Adams

When Eagles head coach Chip Kelly claimed earlier this week that he was offered a first-round pick for Sam Bradford immediately after acquiring him, he was met with plenty of raised eyebrows and outright skepticism. However, appearing today on PFT Live (Twitter link), Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said that his team was also offered a low first-round pick for Bradford, but that the Rams agreed to the deal with Philadelphia because he wanted Nick Foles.

A quick look at the draft order for 2015 reveals that there are no teams near the bottom of the first round with a need at quarterback. The Patriots, Saints, Packers, Colts, Broncos, Cowboys, Ravens, Panthers, Lions, and Steelers wouldn’t have interest in Bradford, and it’s extremely unlikely the Cardinals or Bengals would either. That means the first logical team to have potentially offered a first-rounder to the Rams is probably the Eagles at No. 20.

Fisher indicated today (Twitter link) that he wasn’t sure if the team that offered the Rams a first-round pick for Bradford was the same team that offered the Eagles a first-rounder for Bradford. That comment suggests that it wasn’t Philadelphia that made the Rams the offer. The Browns, with two first-round picks – including No. 19 – and a reported interest in Bradford, make the most sense.

Of course, while it’s entirely possible that the Browns – or another team – offered a first-round pick to both the Rams and Eagles, and both teams turned it down, it’s also possible that no such offer was on the table for either club. Fisher adamantly denied at the combine that the team was considering moving Bradford, so it’s not as if we should believe everything he says. As for Kelly, if he intends to move forward with Bradford as his starting quarterback, he has some motivation to display faith in the former first overall pick.