2015 June - Pro Football Rumors

Eagles Sign Jared Wheeler

June 15th, 2015 at 3:13pm CST by Rob DiRe

MONDAY, 3:13pm: As Tessler initially suggested they would, the Eagles signed Wheeler today to a one-year contract, following his workout with the team (Twitter link).

SATURDAY, 6:26pm: As Mosher previously reported, Wheeler hasn’t signed with the Eagles and will work out for the team Monday, tweets Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

4:22pm: While Tessler believes the Eagles are planning to sign Wheeler, Geoff Mosher of CSNPhilly.com isn’t so sure (via Twitter). He writes that Wheeler is coming in for a workout on Monday, and there isn’t a deal in place for him when he gets there.

3:52pm: The Eagles are looking to add to their offensive line depth in the wake of Evan Mathis‘ release, and they are planning to sign former University of Miami offensive lineman Jared Wheeler on Monday, according to NFL agent Brett Tessler (via Twitter).

Wheeler had tried out with the 49ers earlier this offseason, and was most recently seen on the Seahawks roster. He also spent time with the Bills and Panthers, previously.

Wheeler has experience at both center and guard, and could provide versatility and depth to the team’s depth chart. It is probably not likely that Wheeler comes in as the starter after being a journeyman so far in his career, especially with the various options the team has on the roster and in free agency, but stranger things have happened.

Panthers Sign Chris Houston

June 15th, 2015 at 2:58pm CST by Luke Adams

The Panthers added some interesting veteran depth to their secondary today, announcing (via Twitter) that they’ve signed cornerback Chris Houston. To make room on their roster, the Panthers cut another cornerback, Jocquel Skinner.

Houston, 30, sat out the 2014 season, having been released almost a year ago to the day by the Lions. At the time, Houston had recently undergone surgery on his toe, and the team cited his recovery from that “significant medical procedure” as the primary reason why he was let go. The cornerback’s agent said in the wake of his release that he expected his client to return to the field in 2014, but that didn’t happen.

Before he missed the 2014 campaign, Houston was a longtime starter at cornerback in Detroit, having signed a five-year, $25MM contract with the team just a year before he was cut. While the Lions carried a chunk of dead money from that deal on their cap, the Panthers will get Houston at a much cheaper rate. If it turns out he’s not fully healthy, or not as effective as he was before his injury problems, Carolina should be able to cut ties with Houston at little or no cost.

In Carolina, Houston will join a group of cornerbacks that includes Josh Norman, Bene Benwikere, Melvin White, and fellow free agent signee Charles Tillman.

Martellus Bennett Reports To Bears’ Minicamp

June 15th, 2015 at 2:31pm CST by Luke Adams

Another spring holdout is coming to an end, according to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune, who reports that Bears tight end Martellus Bennett reported to Halas Hall on Monday for the team’s mandatory June minicamp. Barring an unforeseen twist, Bennett will participate in practice when the Bears’ minicamp begins on Tuesday, tweets Dan Wiederer of the Tribune.

Bennett, 28, is coming off his best season, having racked up 90 receptions, 916 receiving yards, and six touchdowns for the Bears in 2014 — all of those figures were career-highs. The Pro Bowl campaign prompted Bennett to seek a new contract for the coming season, and he had been absent from Chicago’s OTAs while he sought that new deal.

Those OTAs, unlike this week’s minicamp, were voluntary, so Bennett won’t face any fines for not being in attendance. However, he was the only Bear who had missed the team’s offseason program up until this point under the new regime, which includes head coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Adam Gase.

Bennett is slated to earn about $5MM annually in 2015 and 2016, the final two years of his contract. While those are respectable salaries, Bennett presumably took notice of what happened on the free agent market this offseason, as players like Jordan Cameron and Charles Clay signed for $7.5MM per year — between them, Cameron and Clay combined for fewer catches than Bennett had in 2014. Additionally, Bennett’s salaries for the next two years are currently non-guaranteed.

Thomas Davis, Panthers Agree To Extension

June 15th, 2015 at 2:12pm CST by Luke Adams

2:12pm: Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the details on Davis’ extension, reporting that the linebacker will get a $9MM signing bonus, and salaries of $1.25MM (2015), $3.5MM (2016), and $4.25MM (2017). This year’s money ($10.5MM) is fully guaranteed, while next year’s salary is partially guaranteed ($1.5MM) for injury only.

1:23pm: The Panthers have officially announced (via Twitter) their two-year extension for Davis, who said in a statement, “I now get to officially end my career as a Carolina Panther and that means the world to me.”

1:11pm: The Panthers have reached an agreement with linebacker Thomas Davis on a deal that will extend his contract by two seasons, reports Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (all Twitter links). According to Person, Davis’ new contract, which will run from 2015 to 2017, is expected to be worth about $18MM. The Carolina linebacker figures to sign the pact later today.

Davis, 32, had been set to earn a $7.25MM base salary in 2015 before becoming eligible for free agency in 2016. While his old contract technically ran through the 2018 season, as Over The Cap details, that was only to stretch a previous signing bonus out for cap purposes — the deal was set to void following the coming season.

As I noted last week when I examined the top cap hits by defensive position, Davis’ deal was an outlier, as he was the only outside linebacker with a top-10 cap number for 2015 who plays in a 4-3 scheme rather than a 3-4 defense. The veteran linebacker’s new contract should reduce that $9.9MM cap charge for 2015, though the initial figures suggest he’ll still be paid well at a position that typically doesn’t feature many of the league’s top earners.

The 14th overall pick out of Georgia back in 2005, Davis has been a key piece of the Panthers’ defense since entering the league, appearing in 117 games (99 starts) for the team over the last decade. For his career, he has racked up nearly 750 tackles to go along with 17.5 sacks, six interceptions, and 13 forced fumbles.

Having taken care of Davis, the Panthers will likely shift their attention to another linebacker soon, as Luke Kuechly is nearing the end of his rookie contract. Because he was also a first-round pick, Kuechly has a fifth-year option for 2016 on his deal, which the Panthers exercised earlier this spring. However, the club still may explore an extension sometime before the 2015 season rather than waiting until next year to lock up the Pro Bowler.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Mike Pollak To Retire

June 15th, 2015 at 1:56pm CST by Luke Adams

The free agent market for guards continues to thin out. After we heard earlier today that former Falcon Justin Blalock had decided to retire, Jordan Raanan of NJ.com reports (via Twitter) that another unsigned guard, Mike Pollak, is also calling it a career.

While Pollak doesn’t have quite the NFL résumé that Blalock does, he saw plenty of time as a starter during his NFL career. The 30-year-old began his career in 2008 with the Colts before joining the Panthers briefly and then landing in Cincinnati.

In two years with the Bengals, he appeared in 22 games, starting 11 of them. The former second-round pick spent time at both left guard and right guard for the team in 2014, but the Bengals ultimately finished the season with Kevin Zeitler on the right side and Clint Boling on the left, oping to release Pollak back in February.

Like Blalock, Pollak will end his NFL career after a season in which his performance was still reasonably solid — according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he was an above-average pass blocker and run blocker in 2014, finishing with a +4.6 grade in 456 offensive snaps.

Justin Blalock To Retire

June 15th, 2015 at 1:04pm CST by Luke Adams

1:04pm: Blalock appears to have confirmed Rapoport’s report, publishing the following statement (TwitLonger link):

“I’d like to sincerely thank the Atlanta Falcons, all my teammates and especially the fans. I’ve had an unbelievable 8 years and only wish I could have helped bring a championship to the ATL.”

12:45pm: After being released by the Falcons earlier in the offseason, veteran guard Justin Blalock has decided to retire, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter).

Blalock, 31, had been a mainstay at the left guard spot in Atlanta since entering the league in 2007, having started all 125 games he played during his career with the Falcons. The former second-round pick continued to be viewed an above-average guard by Pro Football Focus right up until his release — Blalock received positive grades from the site for each of the last five seasons (subscription required).

For the Falcons, Blalock’s price tag was too high, but it seemed as though the guard would land elsewhere. He paid a visit to the Lions, and the Rams and Titans reportedly had some level of interest in him as well. It’s possible that the alleged interest from those teams never materialized into a formal offer, though Blalock may have simply decided he preferred not to continue his NFL career with a new team.

With Blalock apparently off the market, players like Rob Sims, Dan Connolly, and perhaps newly-released Sam Baker, who has spent most of his career playing tackle, are among the top veteran guards available. Of course, the prize of the group at this point is Evan Mathis, cut by the Eagles last week.

When Blalock makes his decision official, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him re-sign with the Falcons on a one-day contract before calling it a career.

Jason Campbell Planning To Retire

June 15th, 2015 at 11:22am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran quarterback Jason Campbell is set to retire from the NFL, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). According to Rapoport, Campbell has yet to officially make his decision, but with training camps approaching, retirement is the current plan for the 10-year veteran.

Rapoport’s report echoes what we heard back in April, when Campbell remained on the market following the first month of free agency. At the time, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk suggested that Campbell had turned down multiple opportunities to sign contracts, including possible offers from the Ravens and Bengals.

Over the course of his NFL career, Campbell has appeared in 90 games (79 starts) for Washington, Oakland, Chicago, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. He saw his most extensive action in D.C., where he started 52 contests for Washington after being selected by the club in the first round of the 2005 draft. Most recently, he backed up Andy Dalton with the Bengals in 2014.

While Campbell’s 32-47 career record as a starter isn’t overly impressive, his career stats – including a 60.3% completion percentage, an 81.7 passer rating, and 87 touchdowns to 60 interceptions – are respectable.

Falcons Release Sam Baker

June 15th, 2015 at 10:52am CST by Luke Adams

The Falcons have released offensive tackle Sam Baker, the team announced today in a press release. Because Baker is a vested veteran, he’ll immediately become a free agent without having to pass through waivers.

Bakers, who turned 30 last month, had been recovering from a torn right patellar tendon that forced him out of action for the entire 2014 season. Knee issues limited him to less than 200 offensive snaps in 2013 as well, so health and cap concerns likely both played a part in the Falcons’ decision to part ways with him.

Baker had been set to count for $7.3MM against Atlanta’s cap this year, and that number actually would’ve increased had the team opted to cut him prior to June 1. Instead, he’ll have a $2.8MM dead money cap hit for the Falcons this year, creating $4.5MM in cap room. The remaining $6.4MM in dead money on Baker’s contract will be on the club’s books for 2016.

Baker, a first-round pick in 2008, played 66 games (57 starts) at left tackle for the Falcons from 2008 to 2012 before injuries limited him over the last two seasons. While his solid play earned Baker a big contract, the team drafted Jake Matthews in 2014 intending to make Matthews the long-term left tackle. Had he remained on the team for the 2015 season, Baker likely would’ve played guard.

Depending on his health, Baker could be a low-cost investment with upside for a team in need of offensive line help. I wouldn’t put him at left tackle anymore, but it’s possible he could play on the right side, or at one of the guard spots. Are there any teams you view as a potential fit for the longtime Falcon? Feel free to weigh in below in the comments section.

Eric Weddle To Attend Chargers’ Minicamp

June 15th, 2015 at 10:28am CST by Luke Adams

After sitting out the team’s OTAs in search of a new contract, veteran safety Eric Weddle will report to the Chargers’ mandatory minicamp this week, reports Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (via Twitter). Agent David Canter (Twitter link) confirms that his client will be in attendance and will participate in all activities.

Weddle, 30, is scheduled to make $7.5MM in base salary in the final year of a five-year, $40MM deal, making him the fourth-highest paid safety in terms of total compensation in 2015. In late April, GM Tom Telesco indicated that, while he was focused on the draft at that point, he eventually wanted to discuss Weddle’s contract, so it came as a bit of a surprise two weeks ago when a report indicated the Chargers were shutting down talks until after the season.

At the time, Canter called the team’s stance “disappointing,” strongly suggesting that Weddle would opt to hit free agency in 2016 rather than attempting to work something out with San Diego after the season. Still, the Pro Bowler’s agent also indicated that his client would go all-out for the Chargers this season, so it makes sense that Weddle would show up this week.

If Weddle had opted to skip this week’s minicamp, he would’ve been subject to fines for the first time this offseason — OTAs were voluntary, so the veteran’s pay wasn’t docked for missing those. As Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune tweets, Weddle also intends to report to training camp and will be good to go for the season, which may very well be his last with the Chargers.

Dez, Houston, JPP Won’t Be At Minicamp

June 15th, 2015 at 10:01am CST by Luke Adams

When the Broncos held their mandatory June minicamp last week, franchised wide receiver Demaryius Thomas wasn’t in attendance. Thomas is one of four players who received the franchise tag but have yet to sign their tenders, and the other three appears set to follow his lead this week. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Dez Bryant, Justin Houston, and Jason Pierre-Paul won’t report to their respective clubs’ minicamp on Tuesday.

Houston’s anticipated absence from the Chiefs’ minicamp is perhaps the least surprising of the three. Head coach Andy Reid indicated last week that the NFL’s reigning sack leader “probably” wouldn’t be in attendance this week. After Ndamukong Suh signed a record-setting deal with the Dolphins in March, Houston’s asking price likely increased, and there’s no indication yet that he and the Chiefs are anywhere close to an agreement.

Bryant, meanwhile, made a brief cameo at the Cowboys’ OTAs, a hint that perhaps he’d report sooner rather than later. However, a Friday report suggested that he was shifting to a more hard-line negotiating stance, threatening to sit out Dallas’ regular season opener if he and the club haven’t agreed to a multiyear extension by that point.

As for Pierre-Paul, Giants head coach Tom Coughlin had stressed in recent weeks that he expected the veteran pass rusher to attend the team’s June minicamp, but it looks like Coughlin’s prediction won’t come to fruition. The fact that JPP – like Thomas, Houston, and Bryant – has yet to sign his franchise tender means he isn’t subject to fines for missing this week’s supposedly “mandatory” minicamp, since he isn’t technically under contract.

All four franchise-tag players have a month to work out long-term extensions with their respective teams. If a franchised player doesn’t have a multiyear deal in place by July 15, he’ll have to play the 2015 season on a one-year contract, if he plays at all.