2016 March - Pro Football Rumors

Rams Re-Sign Eugene Sims

March 13th, 2016 at 9:08am CST by Sam Robinson

SUNDAY, 9:08am: The Rams have officially re-signed Sims, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). It will be a three-year, $10MM deal for Sims, including $3.75MM in guarantees.

SATURDAY, 3:08pm: After releasing Chris Long before free agency opened, the Rams appear to be set to retain another defensive end. Following William Hayes‘ re-signing to join the team in Los Angeles, Eugene Sims will sign to stay with the Rams, according to his Instagram account (via Vincent Bonsignore of InsideSoCal.com).

An unrestricted free agent, Sims started nine games for the Rams last season after previously starting three in his initial five years in the league — all in St. Louis. He registered 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Sims attended a team meeting in Los Angeles last week, per Bonsignore, a sign the UFA intended to stay with the Rams.

The soon-to-be-30-year-old Sims served as defensive line depth during his previous five seasons after arriving via sixth-round draft pick of the Rams’ in 2010. He should be in line to back up Hayes and Robert Quinn next season.

Broncos Reach Out To Ryan Fitzpatrick’s Agent

March 13th, 2016 at 9:00am CST by Zachary Links

SUNDAY, 9:00am: ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms that the Broncos have indeed reached out to Fitzpatrick, but, like the Jets, the Broncos are currently unwilling to meet Fitzpatrick’s salary demands (Fitzpatrick is said to be seeking a contract that will pay him $16MM-$18MM per year). Per Schefter, Denver will monitor the Fitzpatrick situation while continuing to pursue other signal-callers to compete with the recently-acquired Mark Sanchez.

THURSDAY, 5:38pm: The Broncos are looking into Plan B scenarios and, as expected, they are exploring the idea of signing Ryan Fitzpatrick, as Michael Silver of NFL Network tweets. Denver has been in touch with Fitzpatrick’s agent about a possible deal.

It’s not immediately clear how close the two sides might be to a deal or whether numbers have been exchanged. And, even though the Broncos were not able to retain their top QB choice in Brock Osweiler, they still have multiple options to choose from. With Robert Griffin III also on the open market and Colin Kaepernick likely available via trade, Fitzpatrick may not be their No. 2 or even No. 3 choice.

At age 33, Fitzpatrick is coming off of a career year. Naturally, his value is pretty hard to nail down. On one hand, Fitzpatrick guided the Jets offense extremely well in 2015 and talent at the quarterback position is scarce. On the other hand, some would argue that Fitzpatrick represents a decent transitional option at best, and pessimists could point to his solid campaign as a fluke. Still, it’s the market that dictates a player’s value and there aren’t a whole lot of quality quarterback options out there. After celebrating a Super Bowl victory, the Broncos certainly want to have a capable QB under center in 2016.

In 2015, Fitzpatrick started all 16 games for the Jets, setting new career highs by tossing 31 touchdowns and racking up 3,905 yards through the air. He led the team to a 10-6 record for the season, narrowly missing a playoff berth.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Dak Prescott Arrested For DUI

March 13th, 2016 at 8:43am CST by Rory Parks

Former Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott, who has been projected as a second- or third-round prospect in this year’s draft, was arrested for DUI early Saturday morning, according to a report from Michael Bonner and Sarah Fowler of The Clarion-Ledger. The arrest took place near the Cotton District in Starkville at 12:45 a.m., and Prescott was later released on bond. No further details are available at this time, and Prescott’s representation, Pro Sports Management, has refused comment.

Prescott is one of the most-beloved Mississippi State players in the history of the program, having led the Bulldogs to a five-week stint as the No. 1 team in the country, as well as an Orange Bowl appearance, in the 2014 season. A dynamic dual-threat talent, Prescott holds every school passing record and was named MVP of this year’s Senior Bowl after guiding Mississippi State to a convincing victory in the 2015 Belk Bowl. The Bulldogs also took home the 2013 Liberty Bowl with Prescott under center, and he, along with head coach Dan Mullen, was a driving force behind the school’s rise to relevance in the powerhouse SEC.

NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock lists Prescott as the fifth-best quarterback in this year’s draft class, behind presumptive first-rounders Carson Wentz, Jared Goff, and Paxton Lynch, and one spot behind Michigan State’s Connor Cook. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report tweets that Prescott has been moving up his draft board, and Prescott has been mentioned as at least a speculative fit for the Cowboys and Broncos. He met with every team in the league at this year’s scouting combine, and as Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News tweets, he was set to meet with the Bills prior to the draft.

Prescott was in Starkville for Mississippi State’s pro day on Thursday, which helped cement his status as a second-day prospect. His DUI arrest, however, will almost certainly impact his draft stock.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

West Notes: Kaepernick, Ware, Dunlap, Irvin

March 12th, 2016 at 9:49pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Colin Kaepernick should call the 49ers‘ bluff and rescind his trade request, opines Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Kaepernick’s $11.9MM base salary becomes fully guaranteed on April 1 — the Browns reportedly are willing to send a third-round pick to San Francisco in exchange for Kaepernick, but only if the quarterback agrees to lower his salary. The 49ers don’t want to pay that total, either, so Florio argues that if Kaepernick drops his request to be dealt, he forces the Niners to either guarantee him almost $12MM or release him, allowing Kaepernick to choose his next destination.

Here’s more the NFL’s two West divisions…

We learned earlier today that as part of his restructure, Broncos linebacker DeMarcus Ware can earn back all the money he agreed to cut through sack-based incentives. Per Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com, Ware can earn between $1.25MM and $3.5MM when he hits eight, nine, 11, and 13 sacks. It’s a smart structure by Denver — because Ware posted 7.5 sacks in 2015, every penny of those incentives will be labeled “not likely to be earned,” meaning the club won’t have to carry any portion of that total on its 2016 cap.
Chargers left tackle King Dunlaps‘s 2016 base salary of $4.5MM became fully guaranteed today, as Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune notes (Twitter link). Dunlap, entering the second year of a four-year deal, will count for roughly $6.34MM on San Diego’s cap next year.
Former Seahawks linebackers coach — and current Raiders defensive coordinator — Ken Norton Jr. played a large role in luring Bruce Irvin to Oakland, as Irvin explains to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. “I wanted to get back with him,” Irvin said of Norton Jr. “Like I said before, that guy, he’s done a lot for me, not only on the field, but off the field. He saved my career by bringing me from defensive end to a linebacker, so I have the utmost respect for that guy.”
In a separate column, Florio reports that agents are advising their clients not to sign contracts with the Rams that seem to be bound by Missouri laws. The issue, per Florio, is that California, where the Rams will play next season, has much more pro-labor workers’ rights laws, thus the club would rather the deals be controlled by Missouri language.

South Notes: Fleener, Weddle, Amukamara

March 12th, 2016 at 9:04pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Colts chose to re-sign Dwayne Allen over fellow tight end Coby Fleener, and the latter went on to sign a five-year, $36MM deal with the Saints. And according to Fleener, it doesn’t sound Indianapolis put up too much of a fight to keep him. “The Colts’ lack of interest and the Saints’ interest made going to New Orleans an easy choice,” Fleener told Mike Wells of ESPN.com.

Here are a few more notes from the South divisions…

Another former Colt, linebacker Jerrell Freeman, says the club never made him a free agent offer, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link). That seems to conflict from a report earlier today that indicated Indianapolis offered Freeman the same contract he ultimately signed with the Bears, but the dispute could stem from the notion that Freeman wasn’t offered a deal during free agency — this afternoon’s report said the Colts gave Freeman their proposal prior to March 9.
The Buccaneers are not among the contenders for free agent safety Eric Weddle, tweets Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times. Weddle is reportedly weighing offers from four teams, thought to be the Ravens, Steelers, Cowboys, and Raiders.
Cornerback Prince Amukamara had other free agent trips planned, but he never got around to taking them after finding that he liked what the Jaguars were offering, Amukamara explained to reporters, including John Oehser of Jaguars.com. Amukamara agreed to a one-year deal with Jacksonville.

TE Zach Miller To Visit Rams

March 12th, 2016 at 8:46pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Veteran tight end Zach Miller hasn’t found a new home thus far in free agency, but he has now set up his first reported visit. Miller has scheduled a meeting with the Rams on Sunday, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Miller, who spent the 2015 season with the Bears, could still return to Chicago, as reports indicated that the two sides had resumed negotiations on Tuesday night — the club is looking to trade Martellus Bennett, so Miller, if re-signed, could take over as the Bears’ No. 1 tight end.. But the Rams would make a lot of sense for Miller, especially after the club released fellow tight Jared Cook earlier this month. Los Angeles still has Lance Kendricks on the roster, but the team doesn’t have a lot of other reliable receiving options, so Miller could add another dynamic in the passing game.

Not to be confused for former Pro Bowler Zach Miller, who spent time with the Raiders and Seahawks, this Zach Miller had an improbable comeback to the NFL in 2015 after not having appeared in a game since the 2011 season due to various injuries. The former sixth-round pick, who came into the season having recorded 45 career receptions, set new career highs by grabbing 34 balls for 439 yards and five touchdowns in 2015.

The 31-year-old Miller isn’t a great run-blocker, though, and neither is Kendricks, and with the Rams set up to field a run-based offense led by Todd Gurley, Los Angeles might look to find a tight end who could be an asset in that part of the game, especially given that its offensive line ranked in the bottom-third of the league in adjusted line yards in 2015. Cook, for all his faults, was a top-15 run-blocking tight end last season, per Pro Football Focus.

Earlier this offseason, Miller was said to be seeking $5MM annually, and while that figure may seem high, it could be a bit more palatable now that Dwayne Allen, for example, was able to score $7MM per year. Miller is the best tight end remaining on the free agent market, as Antonio Gates, Coby Fleener, Allen, and Ladarius Green have all signed new contracts.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

North Notes: Wallace, Hicks, Bryant, Vikings

March 12th, 2016 at 8:14pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Even after being released by the Vikings earlier this week, Mike Wallace still might return to Minnesota, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who says that the possibility of Wallace re-signing with the Vikings is “on the table.” Wallace hasn’t been the same player since leaving the Steelers after 2012, as he’s averaged just 755 yards and six touchdowns with the Dolphins and Vikings in the three years since. But he’s not yet 30 years old, and given the crop of free agent wideouts, he should be able to find a nice landing spot.

Wallace was set to count $11.5MM against the cap in 2016, so if Minnesota does want to re-sign him, it will obviously be for far less than that total. The Ravens will reportedly have Wallace in for a visit, and while it’s just my speculation, I wonder if the Steelers would be interested in a reunion given that Martavis Bryant is facing a yearlong suspension.

Let’s take a look at some more notes from the NFL’s two North divisions…

Free agent defensive lineman Akiem Hicks is in Chicago deciding his next move, and no resolution is expected to be announced today, reports Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link). The Bears are still in the hunt for Hicks, per Finley, while the Lions have also expressed interest.
The Steelers have known about Bryant’s suspension since before the combine, tweets Albert Breer of NFL.com, so today’s news didn’t come as a major surprise.
Two Vikings‘ linebackers — Travis Lewis and Audie Cole — received one-year, minimum salary benefit deals, according to Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com and Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter links). Lewis received a $50K signing bonus, per Rothstein, while Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reported (via Twitter) a few days ago that Cole received a $40K bonus.

Miller’s Latest: Glennon, Hackenberg, Doctson

March 12th, 2016 at 7:30pm CST by Dallas Robinson

While the Buccaneers have floated the idea of acquiring a first-round pick for quarterback Mike Glennon, Matt Miller of Bleacher Report hears the Tampa Bay would accept a third-rounder if it were from a team picking relatively high. That conflicts with a recent report by Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com which said the Bucs turned down a second-round pick for its backup quarterback. Of course, La Canfora’s report didn’t given any sense of a timetable, so Tampa’s view of Glennon’s market could have changed since it rejected a second-rounder. Glennon is generating the most trade interest of any signal-caller outside of Colin Kaepernick, per Miller.

Here’s more from Miller’s latest column, with a heavy focus on the NFL draft…

Some around the NFL don’t expect Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg to have any chance at being a first-round pick now that the Texans have signed Brock Osweiler, according to Miller. Houston head coach Bill O’Brien tutored Hackenberg at Penn State, but now Hackenberg looks to be a second- or third-round pick.
Instead of focusing on quarterback, the Texans could now look to find help at either wide receiver or defensive tackle early in the draft, the clubs’ scouts told Miller.
Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche‘s character concerns have caused some teams to take him off their draft boards, and one NFC West general manager sounds like he’s employed by one of them. “Take Nkemdiche out of your mock drafts,” the GM said, per Miller. “No one is that stupid.”
After releasing Mike Wallace earlier this week, the Vikings are expected to target receivers early in the draft, and one player to keep an eye on could be Josh Doctson of TCU, per Miller, as a team source tells the Bleacher Report scribe that Minnesota has a high grade on Horned Frog pass-catcher.
Linebacker Reggie Ragland struggled during his Pro Day, and could now possibly fall to the second round. One scout told Miller that the Alabama product looked “slow, sluggish, and heavy” during his workout.
Another Alabama defender — defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson — is viewed as a two-down run-stopper, and therefore might fall out of the first round.
Oklahoma cornerback Zack Sanchez is earning good reports from NFL scouts, says Miller, and he’s moved up enough draft boards that he could now be a late first-round pick.
Some teams are wary of running back Devontae Booker because the Utah product has undergone two surgeries to clean up a torn meniscus.

Washington Could Re-Sign Dashon Goldson

March 12th, 2016 at 6:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Washington could look to bring back safety Dashon Goldson, according to John Keim of ESPN.com. Goldson, of course, was just released by the club on Monday.

When Goldson’s release was reported, Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com reported that Washington attempted to restructure Goldson’s contract before cutting him, but when the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement, the veteran defensive back was released. That jibes with Keim’s report, which states that Washington wanted Goldson to return in 2016, but not at his $8MM cap figure.

So while Washington and Goldson clearly had different ideas about his value prior to the start of free agency, it remains to be seen if Goldson can find a better deal on the open market. Clearly, no competing club was in a rush to sign him during the opening wave of the free agent period when a number of other safeties — such as Rodney McLeod, Tashaun Gipson, and George Iloka — flew off the board. Goldson, at 31 years of age, is quite a bit older than those options, so he might need to sit on the market for awhile before landing a new contract.

Washington still has abut $17.22MM left in 2016 cap space, so finding room for Goldson shouldn’t be an issue. The team also has a need in the back end, especially after releasing another safety — 2015 signee Jeron Johnson — earlier this week. DeAngelo Hall and 2015 sixth-round pick Kyshoen Jarrett are currently penciled as Washington’s starters, with Duke Ihenacho available off the bench, so Goldson could certainly find a role among that group.

Of course, Goldson has never quite been the player he was in San Francisco, where he was named first-team All Pro in 2012. He started 15 games for Washington last season, playing on more than 90% of the team’s defensive snaps. Goldson posted 70 tackles and one interception, grading as the No. 70 safety among 88 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Free Agency Rumors: Freeman, Carroll, Blount

March 12th, 2016 at 6:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts offered Jerrell Freeman the same three-year, $12MM deal that the Bears ultimately handed the 30-year-old linebacker, Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com reports (on Twitter). The No. 23 player on PFR’s list of 2016’s top free agents, Freeman spurned the Colts’ offer and decided to change agents, winding up in Drew Rosenhaus’ stable, according to Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. Freeman held out for a better deal after not being scooped up during free agency’s opening two days, and the Colts moved on after Freeman turned down their initial offer, Holder reports.

Here’s at look at the latest free agent notes:

Veteran corner Nolan Carroll left his visit with the Cowboys without agreeing to a contract, according to Tim McManus of 97.5 The Fanatic (Twitter link), who adds that the Dolphins and Eagles are apparently still in play for Carroll. Carroll, 29, started 11 games for Philadelphia last season.
LeGarrette Blount did not undergo surgery on the injured hip that ended his season early, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Still unsigned, Blount, who suffered a chipped bone in his hip, is 100% healthy and would be ready for OTAs should a team sign him.
Johnny Manziel cleared waivers, and the Browns as of now owe their latest first-round flameout quarterback $2.17MM, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. The Browns will attempt to recoup some of that money, should Manziel be suspended for his role in an alleged domestic violence incident this January in Dallas. Cleveland waited until Friday to waive Manziel, who’s been photographed at nightclubs in each of the past 10 nights, in hopes of a team attempting to trade for him.
The Dolphins confirmed (via Twitter) three previously-reported free agent visits, announcing that defensive end Jason Jones, linebacker Sean Spence, and quarterback Brandon Weeden had all met with the team.

Dallas Robinson contributed to this post.