2015 March - Pro Football Rumors

Percy Harvin To Visit Bills

March 10th, 2015 at 6:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Both Percy Harvin and Rex Ryan were dumped by the Jets in the past few months, but a reunion between the two could be on the horizon. Harvin, who was officially released by New York earlier today, will take his first free agent visit with the Bills, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter).

Buffalo has been of the league’s most active teams during the past weeks, as they’ve traded for LeSean McCoy, retained Jerry Hughes, and signed Jerome Felton. But the club could still use an upgrade at receiver, especially in the slot between Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods. When he’s at his best, Harvin is one of the most dangerous slot men in the NFL, and given that offensive coordinator Greg Roman is expected to implement a run-heavy scheme, Harvin could be utilized out of the backfield, as well.

Harvin has played for three teams during his five-year career, starting with the Vikings before being moved to the Seahawks and Jets, each time thorough trade. New York released Harvin today, clearing more than $10MM in cap space and guaranteeing that it would only send a sixth-round pick to Seattle rather than a fourth-rounder (as per terms of the deal). While the 26-year-old Harvin won’t come to close to matching his previous double-digit salary, I could see him securing $6-7MM per year.

Bills Acquire Matt Cassel

March 10th, 2015 at 6:33pm CST by Luke Adams

MARCH 10, 6:30pm: Cassel has passed his physical and is now officially a member of the Bills, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Tim Graham of the Buffalo News tweets that Cassel initially failed his physical with the team on account of a broken foot. However, the Bills passed him because of the minimal risk associated with the injury.

MARCH 4, 11:53am: According to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports (via Twitter), the Bills are sending one of their 2015 fifth-round picks (from the Buccaneers) and a 2016 seventh-rounder to the Vikings for Cassel, and will get a 2015 sixth-rounder back from Minnesota.

MARCH 4, 11:36am: Following their reported acquisition of LeSean McCoy, the Bills have struck another deal to add an offensive starter. The team announced today that it has agreed to terms with the Vikings on a trade that will send Matt Cassel and an undisclosed draft pick to Buffalo in exchange for two undisclosed picks. Like the McCoy swap, this trade can’t be made official until the new league year begins next Tuesday, but the two sides are in agreement.

Cassel, who turns 33 in May, started just three games for the Vikings in 2014 before a broken foot landing him on the injured reserve list, ending his season. Given the way Teddy Bridgewater took the starting job and ran with it after Cassel went down, the veteran wouldn’t have been more than a backup had he returned to Minnesota — in Buffalo, he’ll get a chance to compete for the starting job.

Cassel, who is entering the final season of a two-year contract he inked last winter, is owed a base salary of $4.15MM, along with a roster bonus of $500K (due March 17) and a $100K workout bonus. The Bills will assume all those amounts, for a total cap hit of $4.75MM, leaving no dead money on Minnesota’s books for the coming year.

After starting his career with the Patriots, Cassel saw his first action as a starter during the 2008 season when Tom Brady was sidelined for the year. He parlayed a solid season in New England into a free agent deal with the Chiefs, and while his stint with Kansas City had some bright stops – including a Pro Bowl 2010 season – the team decided to move on from the signal-caller after a 2012 campaign in which he threw for just six touchdowns to 12 interceptions.

In Buffalo this summer, Cassel figures to battle with EJ Manuel for the No. 1 job, and if the club’s goal is to contend immediately, Rex Ryan and his staff may opt for the veteran. With McCoy expected to be in the mix, and last year’s fourth overall pick Sammy Watkins developing into a big-play threat, Cassel would have some solid weapons at his disposal if he wins the job. The trade allows the Bills to avoid diving into a free agent market where the top available options would have been players like Mark Sanchez, Brian Hoyer, and Jake Locker.

Of course, the Vikings may now become players in that market. While there’s no question that Bridgewater will enter the 2015 season as Minnesota’s top signal-caller, Christian Ponder is eligible for free agency, meaning Bridgewater will be the only QB on the team’s roster as of next Tuesday. Signing a veteran backup as an insurance policy for the second-year man makes some sense for the Vikes.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Chargers To Re-Sign Ricardo Mathews

March 10th, 2015 at 6:20pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Chargers and defensive lineman Ricardo Mathews have agreed to a one-year contract, tweets Rand Getlin of Yahoo! Sports. Financial terms of the agreement have not yet been disclosed.

A seventh-round pick in 2010, Mathews spent the first four seasons of his career as a Colt and latched on with the Chargers in 2014. The 27-year-old made 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 12 games – which earned him a 19th-place ranking out of 46 qualifying 3-4 defensive ends at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) – and obviously impressed Chargers brass enough to merit another deal.

Eagles Sign Byron Maxwell

March 10th, 2015 at 6:17pm CST by Dallas Robinson

TUESDAY, 6:17pm: The Eagles have announced the transaction (via Twitter), making it official.

SUNDAY, 3:54pm: Maxwell was clear to ESPN’s Josina Anderson by phone (Twitter link): “I’m going to Philly.”

3:49pm: In his article reporting Frank Gore’s signing with the Eagles, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Seahawks are making a “last-ditch effort” to retain Maxwell.

3:02pm: After spending the past week clearing out cap space, the Eagles are close to landing one of their top targets. Philadelphia is nearing an agreement with free agent cornerback Byron Maxwell, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Jayson Braddock of KBME Houston was the first to report the deal, and says that it’s a five-year contract worth $53-54MM, with $25MM guaranteed (Twitter links).

Maxwell, widely viewed as the best FA corner available, ranked as the No. 9 overall free agent on PFR’s Top 50 list. The 27-year-old enjoyed his first season as full-time starter for the Seahawks, starting 12 games as Seattle made it second consecutive Super Bowl appearance. The Eagles were seen as the favorites to land Maxwell, although the Jets have also been listed as a possible suitor. In Philadelphia, he’ll join a secondary where the only other sure starter on the roster is safety Malcolm Jenkins.

The Eagles are also said to be targeting former Patriots safety Devin McCourty, who isn’t encumbered by the franchise tag. Philadelphia certainly has money to spend, having traded LeSean McCoy and his contract to the Bills and released Cary Williams and Trent Cole. Projected to be major players in free agency, the Eagles have almost $45MM in cap space to work with. Philadelphia has other concerns this offseason, as key contributors Jeremy Maclin and Brandon Graham are pending free agents. Both are sure to get hefty offers on the open market starting on Tuesday, and while Maclin looks more likely to return than Graham, the Eagles have the money to retain both.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, will lose their No. 2 corner for the second consecutive season, having seen Brandon Browner sign with the Patriots last March. Seattle reportedly has interest in adding Packers free agent Tramon Williams to their Legion of Boom, but the draft could be another avenue by which the club could add secondary talent.

Eagles, Rams Swap Nick Foles, Sam Bradford

March 10th, 2015 at 6:14pm CST by Ben Levine

6:14pm: More clarification, this time from Schefter: Philadelphia will give up its 2016 second-rounder in the deal no matter what, according to ESPN’s NFL insider. However, as noted below, the team will get a fourth-rounder back from the Rams that year if Bradford plays less than 50% of the Eagles’ offensive snaps in 2015. If he’s injured and doesn’t play at all, the Eagles get a 2016 third-rounder from the Rams.

So the picks initially announced by the Eagles are not conditional, and will definitely all change hands.

6:01pm: Continuing to try to clarify the compensation, Rapoport tweets that the Eagles get a conditional pick back if Bradford doesn’t play in 50% of the team’s snaps in 2015.

5:55pm: Unexpectedly, it’s the Eagles giving up a little extra draft compensation in the swap. Philadelphia announces (via Twitter) that it’s getting Bradford and a 2015 fifth-round pick from the Rams in exchange for Foles, a ’15 fourth-rounder, and a ’16 second-rounder.

However, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), the Eagles will get that 2016 second-rounder back if Bradford isn’t their starter. And Albert Breer of the NFL Network tweets that if Bradford doesn’t start eight games in 2015 for the Eagles, the team gets a fourth-round pick — if he gets reinjured, Philadelphia gets a third-round pick.

All in all, it’s a bit of a confusing swap, but the upshot is that the less the Eagles get out of Bradford, the less they’ll end up giving to the Rams.

5:18pm: The deal is now official, according to Schefter (via Twitter), though the draft pick compensation remains unclear. By all accounts, the Eagles will get extra compensation in 2016, and the two teams will also swap picks in 2015.

3:57pm: The teams will be swapping undisclosed picks in 2015, and at least one team will be sending out 2016 draft choices, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (via Twitter).

3:04pm: The Eagles are on the verge of acquiring quarterback Sam Bradford from the Rams in exchange for Nick Foles and draft picks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). While Albert Breer previously said on (on Twitter) that the Rams would be sending a second-rounder to Philadelphia, the report clarifies that the draft-pick compensation is still being worked out (Twitter link).

It was no secret that Chip Kelly and the Eagles were seeking a potential replacement for Foles, with the team linked to prospect Marcus Mariota. The team also recently re-signed quarterback Mark Sanchez, but it was assumed the veteran would be competing for a back-up role.

Bradford has battled injuries over the past two seasons, including an ACL injury that forced him to miss the entire 2014 season. In his last full season, the former first-overall pick threw for 3,702 yards, 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. During that 2012 campaign, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked Bradford 21st among 38 quarterback candidates.

Foles, a former third-round pick, had his breakout season in 2013, when he threw for 2,891 yards, 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions. A broken collar bone ended his 2014 season, and the 26-year-old finished with 2,163 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in eight games.

Seahawks Sign Cary Williams

March 10th, 2015 at 6:08pm CST by Dallas Robinson

6:08pm: The Seahawks have confirmed the transaction, making it official, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times (via Twitter).

8:08am: The three-year pact will be worth $18MM, including $7MM in year one, a source tells Wilson (Twitter link).

TUESDAY, 7:26am: Williams is expected to sign a three-year deal with the Seahawks, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, who tweets that the lack of state income tax in Washington played a part in the cornerback’s decision.

MONDAY, 10:03pm: After drawing interest from numerous clubs, Cary Williams has decided to join the Legion of Boom and sign with the Seahawks, according to Aaron Wilson on the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). After being released by the Eagles, Williams considered the Ravens, Titans, and Jets before settling on Seattle.

The 30-year-old Williams has started all 16 games in each of the past three seasons, racking up nine interceptions during that time. Miscast as a No. 1 corner with the Eagles, Williams is a perfectly complementary option at defensive back, and he’ll be playing in the best secondary in the league when he arrives in Seattle. The Washburn alum will flip-flop clubs and roles with Byron Maxwell, who agreed to terms on a six-year deal with Philadelphia yesterday.

The Seahawks were also reportedly considering Tramon Williams as an option to replace Maxwell, but they’ll settle for a player who merely shares the surname. Seattle added more secondary help earlier today, agreeing to a deal with ex-Jaguar Will Blackmon, who isn’t a candidate to start.

FA Rumors: Carter, Helu, Gresham, McCain

March 10th, 2015 at 6:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent linebacker Bruce Carter is drawing interest on the open market, and he’ll first visit the Buccaneers, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). If he doesn’t sign with Tampa, he’ll head to Houston to meet with the Texans, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Here’s more from the free agent front…

The Buccaneers will meet with center Stefen Wisniewski, per Adam Caplan of ESPN (via Twitter). Tampa just signed center Evan Dietrich-Smith last offseason so Wisniewski could be viewed as a guard.
Cornerback Tramon Williams will visit with the Saints tonight, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN. The veteran CB is wrighing a return to Green Bay and has also drawn other interest.
Running back Roy Helu probably won’t be returning to Washington, per John Keim of ESPN.com (Twitter link), but he does have other suitors, including the Patriots, Raiders, and Jets (link).
The Patriots are interested in another free agent running back, C.J. Spiller, tweets Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, but their interest isn’t considered serious.
As we’ve heard earlier, the Raiders want to sign tight end Jermaine Gresham, Caplan (via Twitter) would be surprised if a deal doesn’t get done.
The Vikings were hoping to meet with cornerback Brice McCain, but he’s meeting with a mystery team and taking a physical, reports Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link).

Patriots To Sign Brandon Gibson

March 10th, 2015 at 6:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Patriots have bigger fish to fry as they look to retain Darrelle Revis, but they’ve made a smaller move today, signing receiver Brandon Gibson to a one-year deal worth $825K, per Field Yates of ESPN (Twitter link). Gibson was released by the division rival Dolphins last month.

In New England, he’ll join Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, and Danny Amendola in catching passes from Tom Brady. As Gibson is primarily a slot receiver, however, his signing could be a sign that the Pats are considering releasing Amendola, a move that would create $4.5MM if he were designated as a post June-1 cut. That cap room could be valuable as the Patriots attempt to re-sign Revis.

A former Ram, Gibson joined the Dolphins prior to the 2013 season, and put up nearly identical numbers in his first two seasons with the club. Of course, in 2013, when he grabbed 30 balls for 326 yards and three touchdowns, he did so in just seven games. In 2014, he totaled 29 receptions for 295 yards and a TD in 14 contests.

Gibson earned more than $3.2MM in base salary last season, so he’ll take a significant pay cut to join the Super Bowl champs.

Nick Fairley to Visit Bengals

March 10th, 2015 at 5:57pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After the Lions acquired Haloti Ngata earlier today, there might not be a spot left in Detroit for free agent defensive tackle Nick Fairley. Instead, Fairley will meet with the Bengals, a team that could use help along the defensive line, reports Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link). The visit will take place on Tuesday, per Anderson.

The Bengals have been typically quiet thus far in free agency, signing only linebacker A.J. Hawk to a two-year deal. However, as they finished last in the league with only 20 sacks last season, the club was expected to target pass-rushing help during the FA period. Cincinnati could still look for an outside rusher, but Fairley is extremely adept at creating disruption from his spot at the interior of line. He’d team with former All-Pro Geno Atkins if signed.

Nearly every defensive tackle on Detroit’s roster was set to become a free agent, so there would certainly be space on the team for Fairley. But Ngata’s $8.5MM base salary will eat up quite a bit of cap space, so after losing Ndamukong Suh, the Lions might look to bring back C.J. Mosley or another cheaper option to pair with Ngata.

Fairley, 27, ranked 27th on PFR’s Top 50 free agent list.

Seahawks Acquire Jimmy Graham

March 10th, 2015 at 5:41pm CST by Zachary Links

5:41pm: The trade is now official, according to the Seahawks’ website.

2:47pm: The deal has been agreed to, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Graham and a fourth-round choice will go to Seattle in exchange for Unger and a first-round pick.

The Saints have spoken to Seattle and at least one other team about a potential Graham trade, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

2:45pm: The Saints and Seahawks are working to finalize a trade that would send Jimmy Graham and a fourth rounder to New Orleans for Max Unger and a first-round choice, according to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Just minutes prior to Glazer’s filing, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that the Saints were shopping many of their players, including Graham.

Graham’s 2015 salary became guaranteed on the third day of the waiver period, which fell on February 4th. Now, after counting for just $4MM against New Orleans’ cap in 2014, the tight end’s cap number has jumped to $11MM for the coming year. The Saints, of course, are tight against the cap this offseason and have been making some tough choices regarding their veteran players. Dealing Graham would be the most surprising move of all, however.

Less than a year ago, Graham ended an uncomfortable stalemate with the Saints by agreeing to a four-year, $40MM deal. The deal includes another $9MM in 2016 and $10MM in 2017, meaning the annual cap hits going forward are $11MM, $12MM, and $13MM, respectively.

Graham was been the league’s most consistent and productive tight end from 2011 through 2013, averaging 90 receptions, 1,169 yards, and 12 touchdowns per season during that span. Last season, he continued the trend with 85 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Unger, 29 in April, played in just six games in 2014 due to injuries. In that short span, Pro Football Focus (subscription required and recommended) ranked Unger as the fourth best center in the NFL, placing him behind only Nick Mangold of the Jets, Travis Frederick of the Cowboys, and Rodney Hudson of the Chiefs. With 25-year-old guard/center Tim Lelito waiting in the wings, the center position wasn’t necessarily at the forefront of the Saints’ shopping list. Still, the trade gives the Saints a bit of cap relief while also giving them one of the very best centers in the game today.