2015 March - Pro Football Rumors

Panthers Sign Teddy Williams

March 12th, 2015 at 6:50pm CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers reached agreement on a deal with cornerback Teddy Williams on a two-year deal worth up to $2.3MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The deal will pay him $900K in year one. Williams is an extremely unique case – he never played college football and he has only one NFL snap on defense on his resume.

Williams spent last season with the Jaguars and even though he was a restricted free agent, the team declined to extend him a tender. The Jags claimed Williams in November after cutting linebacker Dekoda Watson. Williams didn’t see time on the gridiron in college, but he was a track and field superstar, so the Panthers are hoping that his speed can translate into football success.

Eagles Rumors: Murray, Mathews, Kelly

March 12th, 2015 at 6:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Eagles coach Chip Kelly took the podium today to announce the team’s signing of DeMarco Murray. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from that and more concerning the Eagles..

Kelly said his plan was always to bring in two running backs, according to the staff at PhiladelphiaEagles.com (on Twitter). Kelly believed that the three best backs in free agency were Murray, Ryan Mathews, and Frank Gore, and he wanted to get two to replace LeSean McCoy (link).
Despite speculation that the signing of Murray could dissuade Mathews from going through with his agreement, Mathews said the situation was never in doubt, according to Albert Breer of NFL.com (via Twitter). Breer also writes that people within the Eagles’ organization were uncertain of Mathews would sign with the team after Murray was signed (via Twitter).
Kelly said he thought Murray would be out of the Eagles’ price range, but Murray turned down more money to go to Philly, Chearean Williams of the Star-Telegram tweets.
Despite having Murray, Mathews, and Darren Sproles on the depth chart, Kelly said he still plans to retain restricted free agent Chris Polk, Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com tweets. Kelly also said that he might only carry three tight ends this year.
Kelly isn’t sure if he can or will make a move towards a wide receiver in free agency, but he’ll look hard at this year’s wide receiver crop in the draft, Mosher tweets.
Kelly went into free agency with dollar figure earmarked for each position, Mosher tweets. He said the numbers were flexible, but his actions clearly show that he values running backs over wide receivers.
Murray told reporters that he felt that the Eagles gave him a great opportunity to win a Super Bowl and that the deal “wasn’t about financial security or anything like that,” Williams tweets.

Extra Points: Mariota, Richardson, Culliver

March 12th, 2015 at 6:40pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Jets have scheduled a pre-draft visit with Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter). Mariota says he’ll be meeting with the Bucs, Eagles and Titans at his pro day, Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter) adds. Mariota’s pro day performance was underwhelming, Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean tweets, though as we saw last year with Teddy Bridgewater, we shouldn’t necessarily put a ton of stock into that. More from around the NFL..

After being officially waived by the Colts earlier, Trent Richardson gave an explanation for why it didn’t work out in Indianapolis, according to Mike Wells of ESPN (via Twitter). “Me and the GM didn’t see eye to eye,” said Richardson. “My next step, I’ll be the starter. Indy didn’t fit me.” The embattled halfback also confirmed that he was continually fined by the organization for being overweight (via Twitter). Richardson had told head coach Chuck Pagano he would have flown himself to New England for the AFC Championship game, but was told he would inactive regardless (via Twitter).
Long snapper James Winchester joined the Chiefs despite three other teams competing to sign him, writes Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). The Chiefs now have three long snappers on the roster.
Washington is bringing in cornerback Chris Culliver for a visit, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). However, La Canfora warns that a return to the 49ers for Culliver should not be ruled out, and that his value is rising with fewer top cornerbacks left on the market (via Twitter).
While both Shelley Smith and Stefen Wisniewski visited with the Seahawks, neither offensive lineman is expected to sign today, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter).
The 49ers have not closed the door on bringing Stevie Johnson back, a source tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter). San Francisco released Johnson earlier this week after signing Torrey Smith, but it sounds like they might consider bringing him back at a cheaper rate.

Browns Interested In Dwayne Bowe, Stevie Johnson

March 12th, 2015 at 6:31pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Browns have expressed interest in adding another receiver into the depth chart, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). Two names La Canfora gives as possible targets are Stevie Johnson and Dwayne Bowe.

Johnson was recently released from the 49ers after the two sides were unable to come to an agreement on a pay cut. Johnson was productive at times in limited snaps, but was anonymous for large stretches of times last season. He still managed to haul in 35 passes for 435 yards and three touchdowns. The 28-year old pass catcher had his best stretch from 2010-2012, when he caught 237 passes for more than 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns over a three-year stretch.

Bowe, who has ties to Browns general manager Ray Farmer from Farmer’s time with the Chiefs, is also definitely viewed as a potential commodity by the Browns, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer (via Twitter). Bowe was released by the Chiefs to make room for the signing of Jeremy Maclin. A former first-round pick out of LSU, Bowe also experienced his best three-year stretch between 2010 and 2012, but since his breakout 15 touchdown 2010 campaign, he has only caught 13 touchdowns in the last four seasons despite remaining relatively healthy throughout. He also headlined a group of receivers that failed to catch a single touchdown in 2014, which does not help his value.

Eagles Sign DeMarco Murray

March 12th, 2015 at 6:06pm CST by Zachary Links

6:06pm: The Eagles announced that they have signed Murray to a five-year deal, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

12:58pm: The Eagles and DeMarco Murray have reached financial agreement on a deal, according to Albert Breer of NFL Network (on Twitter). The deal is expected to be a five-year, $42MM pact, according to Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The pact will include a whopping $21MM guaranteed.

Murray, who has struggled with injuries in years past, put it all together in 2014 for his best campaign yet. The 26-year-old ran for 1,845 yards and 13 scores with 2,261 all-purpose yards. After a season in which he showed that he can stay healthy, produce (4.7 YPC), and work at a nearly unprecedented rate, Murray hit the open market as the top available. The advanced numbers also showed that Murray was also at the top of the heap last season. Pro Football Focus‘ numbers (subscription required) resulted in an overall score of 15.2, placing him fifth amongst all tailbacks in 2014. His lack of meaningful production in the passing game, fumbles, and below average blocking were his only real demerits.

Still, there were some critics who felt that his workload in 2014 was actually a negative given his age and medical records. In fact, the incumbent Cowboys were only willing to spend so much to retain the running back after cranking up his odometer. Based on a recent round of Murray rumors, it sounds as if the Cowboys’ most recent offer to their running back was in the $5MM per year range. The Eagles didn’t just beat the Cowboys’ total offer; they also put far more guaranteed money on the table than Dallas did.

With Murray in the fold, it’ll be interesting to see what happens with running back Ryan Mathews. The former Chargers notable agreed to sign with Philly this week but the addition of Murray could throw his situation into flux. The addition of Murray might not lead to Mathews’ deal getting ripped up, but it could lead to a reworking of the terms as they relate to his performance incentives.

As for the Cowboys, they’re probably going to turn their attention to the draft to find reinforcements at running back, Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com tweets. There likely isn’t a tailback worth spending big bucks on in free agency and they’d be better off spending that cash on defensive reinforcements. Murray texted Charean Williams of the Star-Telegram (on Twitter) on Thursday, presumably to let her know that he won’t be returning to the Cowboys:

“Things didn’t work out. No hard feelings at all. Wish those guys the best,” Murray said.

The Jaguars and Raiders were also heavily linked to Murray during the free agency period.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Latest On Terrance Knighton

March 12th, 2015 at 6:04pm CST by Zachary Links

6:04pm: Washington is closing in on a deal with Knighton, a league source tells Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).

3:07pm: Terrance Knighton is still in the nation’s capital and negotiating with Washington, but there are five other teams still chasing him, Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports tweets. Meanwhile, a source tells Getlin (on Twitter) that it’s unlikely that Knighton will sign with anyone today. It could be a while before we learn where he lands, according to Getlin’s source.

Knighton’s first visit with Washington went well, Troy E. Renck of The Denver Post hears. The Colts, Patriots and Chargers have expressed varying degrees of interest in Knighton, Renck writes, and he also identified the Seahawks and Ravens as teams with interest yesterday.

The Raiders appeared to be nearing a deal with Pot Roast, but on Tuesday we learned that he won’t be going to Oakland or returning to Denver. When Luke Adams listed PFR’s top 50 free agents recently, he ranked Pot Roast 16th on our list. The six-year veteran was an integral part of a Broncos team that had the league’s second-best run defense in 2014, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated Knighton 12th among 81 qualifying D-tackles last season. Knighton, 29 in July, recorded 33 total tackles with two sacks and three pass deflections last season.

Earlier today, a head coach told Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 that teams were afraid to sign Knighton because of his physical condition.

Chiefs To Sign Paul Fanaika

March 12th, 2015 at 5:51pm CST by Rob DiRe

The Chiefs have signed guard Paul Fanaika to a three-year deal worth $8.1MM, reports Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). The 28-year-old started 30 games with the Cardinals over the past two seasons.

Fanaika struggled in 2014, grading in as the 41st out 44 guards to play at least 75% of his team’s snaps, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He was not necessarily a shoe-in for a starting job, but the contract with the Chiefs suggests he will get every chance to get the starting spot.

Paylor noted that Fanaika was a mainstay at right guard, while newly acquired Ben Grubbs played left guard for the Saints. Both could be plugged into the Chiefs’ offensive line, writes Paylor (via Twitter). He wonders what this means for Jeff Allen‘s future with the team. Allen only played one game in 2014, stepping in at right tackle.

Saints Sign Brandon Browner

March 12th, 2015 at 4:58pm CST by Luke Adams

3:58pm: Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) has different numbers. He hears that it’s a three-year, $15MM deal with $10MM guaranteed.

1:46pm: It’s a three-year deal worth roughly $18MM for Browner, says Rapoport (via Twitter).

1:38pm: The Saints have signed Browner to a three-year deal, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports.

1:05pm: The Saints are closing in on a deal with with Browner, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (Twitter link), who hears from a source that it’s “almost finished.”

9:49am: As one cornerback expresses his discontent with the team, another corner is getting the hard sell from the Saints this week in free agency, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). According to Rapoport, the Saints have made a “major push” to sign former Patriot Brandon Browner, offering him more than $5MM per year.

Presumably, the Saints would like to add Browner to a secondary that also includes Keenan Lewis, but Browner could also represent an insurance policy for the team if the situation with Lewis isn’t salvageable. The veteran Saints corner indicated earlier this week that he’s uneasy about the moves New Orleans has made, and would like to be released if the club isn’t willing to guarantee the remaining years on his contract.

As for Browner, he hit the unrestricted market earlier this week after the Pats decided not to pick up his option. The veteran corner, who turns 31 in August, appeared in nine regular season games for New England in his suspension-shortened season. He recorded 32 total tackles, seven pass deflections, and one interception during that time. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) wasn’t wowed by Browner’s performance in 2014, ranking him No. 79 out of 108 qualified cornerbacks.

Elsewhere on the Saints front, we heard yesterday that the team is in the mix for C.J. Spiller and while that’s not a done deal yet, Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports tweets that the team is “very high” on the former Bills running back.

Falcons To Sign O’Brien Schofield

March 12th, 2015 at 4:53pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons have agreed to terms with linebacker O’Brien Schofield, according to Jay Adams of AtlantaFalcons.com (via Twitter). Schofield had been drawing interest from a number of teams, but it appears that he has decided to follow his former defensive coordinator to Atlanta.

On Wednesday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter learned from Schofield‘s agent that four teams were trying to sign him. Schofield, coming off of a solid year with the Seahawks, has been ticketed for Atlanta for some time thanks to his relationship with Dan Quinn. Schofield recorded 25 total tackles and two sacks last season with the Seahawks and played in all 16 regular season games.

Last offseason, Schofield reached an agreement with the Giants on a two-year contract worth a reported $8MM right after free agency opened, but the deal fell apart when he took a physical. After a strong year in Seattle, he wound up being rather thankful for that occurrence.

“I look at it now, and it probably was one of the bigger blessings of my career because I got the chance to work with this group of guys and these coaches again,’’ the 27-year-old (28 in April) said.

Now, with his deal in Atlanta, he’ll change zip codes but he’ll get to stay with a lot of the same faces.

FA Rumors: Morgan, Shorts, Gresham, Texans

March 12th, 2015 at 4:43pm CST by Luke Adams

As anticipated, Derrick Morgan left his meeting in Tampa Bay today without signing with the Buccaneers, tweets Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. The Cowboys are expected to be next on Morgan’s list of visits, and the Titans still want to re-sign him as well. As for the Bucs, if they decide to move on from Morgan, it’s not clear who they’d target instead. Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets that the club has yet to reach out to George Selvie, who played his college ball at the University of South Florida.

Here’s more on free agency:

The Jets have interest in wide receiver Cecil Shorts, according to Dom Cosentino of NJ.com. Wide receiver isn’t really an area of need for New York, since the team already has Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, and Jeremy Kerley on the roster, but adding more weapons would only help whichever quarterback ends up as the Jets’ starter.
Tight end Jermaine Gresham paid a visit to the Raiders this week, and still could sign with the team, but nothing is imminent at the moment, tweets Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle.
There’s “genuine mutual interest” between the Packers and free agent cornerback Tramon Williams, reports Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin.com (via Twitter). Having lost Davon House in free agency, Green Bay could use some depth at corner, and Williams, who has received some interest from around the league, is certainly a player the team is familiar with.
Despite locking up free agent safety Rahim Moore today, the Texans would still like to bring back their own free agent, Kendrick Lewis, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). As McClain notes, Houston often utilizes three safeties on defense.
Washington has inquired on free agent safety Taylor Mays and there’s “mutual interest” between the two sides, but it’s not clear if a visit has been scheduled yet, tweets John Keim of ESPN.com. Mays was primarily a special-teamer for the Bengals last season.