HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Minor Moves: Thursday

March 12th, 2015 at 4:32pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves…

  • The Giants have agreed to terms with cornerback Chykie Brown, writes Jordan Raanan of NJ.com. Brown was picked up by the Giants midway through last season after being waived by the Ravens. Brown played 375 snaps for the Giants after joining the team in early November, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
  • The Dolphins signed defensive back T.J. Heath, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (via Twitter).
  • The Patriots signed linebacker Jonathan Freeny, who had been with the Dolphins since going undrafted out of Rutgers in 2011, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (on Twitter).
  • Long snapper James Winchester signed with the Chiefs today, according to agent Ken Sarnoff (on Twitter).
  • Panthers free agent cornerback James Dockery is set to sign with the Raiders, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Dockery took to Instagram not long ago to thank his fans in the Charlotte area.
  • The Broncos (via Twitter) have signed rookie punter Karl Schmitz to a contract. He handled punts and kickoffs for Jacksonville University in 2008 before transferring to University of Missouri-St. Louis and graduating in 2011.
  • Long snapper Tanner Purdum has signed a new two-year deal with the Jets, according to agent Robert Roche (via Twitter). Purdum, who became an unrestricted free agent Tuesday, has been close to perfect in his five seasons as the Jets’ snapper, as Randy Lange of NewYorkJets.com writes. He’s made every one of the punt and placement snaps in that time, 783 snaps over 83 regular- and postseason games, without a single fumble, wild snap or penalty.

Broncos Sign Vance Walker

March 12th, 2015 at 4:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Defensive lineman Vance Walker has jumped from one AFC West team to another. Less than a week after being cut by the Chiefs, Walker has signed with the Broncos on a two-year deal worth $5MM, according to agent Thomas Sims (via Twitter). Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com tweets that the pact is worth $4MM, so there may be a gap between the base value and the max value.

Walker, who started 15 games for the Raiders in 2013, never became a regular contributor for the Chiefs, playing just 238 defensive snaps after appearing in nearly 800 in Oakland a year earlier. Kansas City released him only a year after signing him to a three-year, $10MM contract in free agency last offseason.

In Denver, Walker will help create depth on a defensive line that figures to be without Terrance Knighton in 2015.

Colts Waive Trent Richardson

March 12th, 2015 at 4:10pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts announced that they have waived running backs Trent Richardson and Michael Hill.

Richardson had a bizarre ending to the season with the Colts, to say the least. The running back did not make the trip to New England with the team for the AFC Championship game against the Patriots. There was no specific reason for his absence at the time and it was only classified as a move made for personal reasons at the time. Richardson was actually a healthy scratch in favor of Hill for the team’s previous playoff game against the Broncos.

The Colts acquired the powerful tailback in a trade with the Browns in September of 2013. Indianapolis. looking to fortify their run game, sent Cleveland their first-round choice in 2014. Needless to say, the deal didn’t work out well for the Colts. The former No. 3 overall pick recorded 316 rushing attempts for 977 yards and six touchdowns across two seasons, while adding 55 receptions for 494 yards and a touchdown in 29 games (20 starts). In his time in blue and white, he averaged just 3.1 yards per carry. Richardson was owed just north of $3.18MM for 2015.

Hill was signed by the Colts as a free agent in January and appeared in two postseason games on special teams when T-Rich was not on the roster. In his two-year (2013-14) NFL career, Hill has recorded nine rushing attempts for 23 yards and two receptions for 23 yards in eight games played.

Both Richardson and Hill will have to pass through waivers before joining another team.

Eagles Sign Ryan Mathews

March 12th, 2015 at 3:52pm CST by Luke Adams

3:52pm: The Eagles have officially announced the deal (via Twitter).

THURSDAY, 3:41pm: Despite the fact that the Eagles are adding DeMarco Murray, Mathews will finalize his deal and sign with the team, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). So the former Charger will join a Philadelphia backfield that will also feature Murray and Sproles.

WEDNESDAY, 1:01pm: Mathews and the Eagles have agreed to terms on a three-year, $11.5MM contract that features $5MM in guaranteed money, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

7:32am: Free agent running back Ryan Mathews is paying a visit to the Eagles today, and the team isn’t expected to let him leave Philadelphia without a deal, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter links). Garafolo reports that the Eagles are expected to sign Mathews to a new contract today.

Considered an injury-prone player for the first three seasons of his career, Mathews finally stayed healthy and put it all together for the Chargers in 2013, rushing for a career-high 1,255 yards. He was unable to keep that run of good health going in 2014 though, playing just eight games for San Diego due to injuries. The former 12th overall pick can be one of the league’s best backs when he’s at 100%, so assuming they finalize an agreement with him, the Eagles will be banking on good health for Mathews in 2015.

Having traded away LeSean McCoy to the Bills, the Eagles thought they had found their replacement in former Niner Frank Gore, reportedly agreeing to terms with the veteran back over the weekend. However, Gore had second thoughts about the arrangement, and ultimately decided to head to the Colts instead, leaving Philadelphia on the market for a player to complement Darren Sproles and Chris Polk (if he returns) in the team’s backfield

The Eagles and top free agent running back DeMarco Murray had been rumored to have mutual interest, but if the club signs Mathews, it’s hard to imagine there being room for Murray as well.

Charles Clay, Dolphins Talking Long-Term Deal

March 12th, 2015 at 3:39pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bills are contemplating signing tight end Charles Clay to a lucrative offer sheet, but the team may not get the opportunity to do so, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter links), who reports that the Dolphins are talking to their transition player about a long-term contract. If Clay were to reach an agreement with Miami on a multiyear deal, it would take him off the free agent market.

Having designated Clay as their transition player, the Dolphins tendered him a one-year offer worth $7.071MM, which gives the team the right to match any offer sheet the tight end signs with another suitor, such as the Bills. However, the Fins wouldn’t receive any draft-pick compensation if they don’t match that offer sheet, and Buffalo has reportedly been trying to structure its offer sheet in a way that would make it difficult for Miami to match it.

Complicating matters is the fact that the Dolphins currently have another top free agent tight end, Jordan Cameron, in Miami on a free agent visit, and there’s mutual interest between the two sides. While Cameron represents a nice fallback option if the Fins lose Clay, the former Browns tight end is drawing interest from other clubs, including Cleveland. The Browns are also said to have interest in Clay.

The Bills, meanwhile, are badly in need of some help at the tight end position after releasing Scott Chandler and letting Lee Smith walk in free agency. If Buffalo ends up empty-handed in the Clay and Cameron sweepstakes, it’s not clear where the team would turn next. For his part, GM Doug Whaley told SiriusXM NFL Radio today his Bills are still debating whether to make Clay an offer, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.

Reactions To DeMarco Murray Joining Eagles

March 12th, 2015 at 3:33pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, the Eagles reached agreement on a deal with the 2014’s rushing leader, DeMarco Murray. The Eagles have been aggressively revamping their roster over the last week and the addition of Murray gives them major star power in their backfield after dealing LeSean McCoy to the Bills. Here’s a look at some of the reactions and fallout from the Murray deal..

  • Murray was offered a deal very heavy on incentives that would have maxed out at an average of $8MM per year from another team, so it’ll be interesting to see what kind of incentives he got in Philly, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets.
  • Meanwhile, the fate of Ryan Mathews lingers. The Raiders and 49ers are the teams to watch when it comes to the former Bolts back, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network tweets.
  • The Eagles’ deal with Murray was considerably head of the Cowboys offer in terms of average, guarantee, incentives, and more, Ed Werder of ESPN.com tweets.
  • One source told Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that it was the Eagles who asked if Murray could talk with coach Chip Kelly on Wednesday. That helped to bump up an already strong offer that was in place. It was widely reported that Murray was doing most of the campaigning to make a union between him and the Eagles happen.
  • With Murray out of the picture, Todd Archer of ESPNDallas.com cautions Cowboys fans not to expect Adrian Peterson to walk through the door.

Contract Details: Maxwell, Murray, McPhee

March 12th, 2015 at 3:19pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are some key details on some of the notable contracts agreed to or signed around the NFL this week:

NFC deals:

  • Byron Maxwell, CB (Eagles): Six years, $63MM base value. $25MM fully guaranteed. $6MM signing bonus (Twitter links via Tom Pelissero of USA Today and Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun).
  • DeMarco Murray, RB (Eagles): Five years, $40MM base value. $42MM max value. $18MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link via Albert Breer of the NFL Network).
  • Pernell McPhee, OLB (Bears): Five years, $38.75MM base value. $8.675MM fully guaranteed (Twitter link via Pelissero).
  • Antrel Rolle, S (Bears): Three years, $11.25MM base value. $4.9MM guaranteed. $3.9MM roster bonus in 2015 (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Tom Johnson, DT (Vikings): Three years, $7MM base value. $2.75MM guaranteed. $1.5MM roster bonus in 2015 (Twitter link via Wilson).
  • Matt Prater, K (Lions): Two years, $4.55MM base value. Third-year team option for 2017 (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).

AFC deals:

Cardinals To Release Lyle Sendlein

March 12th, 2015 at 2:56pm CST by Zachary Links

2:56pm: It’s official, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter).

2:54pm: The Cardinals will release Lyle Sendlein soon, sources tell Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter). Somers suspects that Sendlein declined to take a pay cut. The door will be open for Sendlein to return, according to Somers, but he’ll test the open market first.

Sendlein, 30, was set to carry a $4.275MM in 2015. By releasing him, Arizona will save $3.15MM while carrying $1.125MM in dead money. Sendlein finished with an overall score of -29.1, per the metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That atrocious number placed him as the second-to-worst qualified center in the NFL last season. In 2013, Sendlein graded out as an above average center with 3.8 overall score.

49ers Re-Sign Blaine Gabbert

March 12th, 2015 at 2:48pm CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 2:48pm: The 49ers have officially confirmed their new deal with Gabbert, along with the previously reported re-signing of tight end Garrett Celek.

TUESDAY, 10:19pm: It’s a two-year, $2MM deal for Gabbert, per Chris Mortensen of ESPN (Twitter link).

7:20pm: A year after acquiring him from the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick, the 49ers are re-signing backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). A source tells Anderson that Gabbert is “staying in San Francisco.”

Gabbert, a former 10th overall pick, served as Colin Kaepernick‘s primary backup last season, though he only saw the field in mop-up duty, since Kaepernick stayed healthy all year. The two signal-callers are currently the only two QBs on San Francisco’s roster, so it looks like the former Jaguar will have the inside track on the No. 2 job for 2015, though there could be another move coming for the Niners.

While we haven’t yet seen what Gabbert could do away from Jacksonville, his track record suggests that the 49ers would be in trouble if he saw any extended action in 2015. For his career, the 25-year-old has completed 53.2% of his passes and thrown more interceptions than touchdowns, en route to a 5-22 record as a starter.

Texans, Rahim Moore Agree To Deal

March 12th, 2015 at 2:39pm CST by Luke Adams

2:39pm: It’s a three-year, $12MM contract for Moore, according to McClain (via Twitter). That figure is unexpectedly low, so assuming no one inadvertently flipped any numbers along the way, it looks like a very nice deal for the Texans.

2:18pm: The Texans and Moore are now in agreement on a new deal, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

10:54am: Upon making a visit to Houston to meet with the Texans, Rahim Moore appears to be moving toward joining the team. John McClain of the Houston Chronicle was the first to tweet that it looks like the Texans are closing in on an agreement with the young safety, with Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston confirming (via Twitter) that the two sides are indeed moving closer to a deal.

Moore initially ranked as the 28th-best overall free agent and the second-best safety in this year’s class, in our estimation. However, with Devin McCourty back in New England and players like Antrel Rolle and Da’Norris Searcy also off the board, Moore looks like the most-coveted safety currently on the market. The UCLA product was Denver’s free safety for the majority of the last four seasons, and was very impressive in 2014, racking up 51 tackles to go along with four interceptions.

Two of the Texans’ top three safeties from a year ago are currently free agents, including Kendrick Lewis, the team’s starting free safety. While the team may not end up bringing back Lewis or Danieal Manning, adding Moore to a secondary that also includes Johnathan Joseph, D.J. Swearinger, and newly-resigned cornerback Kareem Jackson would give Houston a nice collection of defensive backs.

If Moore finalizes a contract with the Texans, I expect it will be worth something closer to Searcy’s new agreement with the Titans (~$6MM per year) rather than McCourty’s contract with the Patriots ($9.5MM per year). However, Moore is still just 25 years old, so he should do well on this deal.

As for the Broncos, they’re hosting Darian Stewart for a visit today as they consider their options for replacing Moore.

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