2016 March - Pro Football Rumors

Raiders Release Curtis Lofton

March 11th, 2016 at 5:01pm CST by Luke Adams

The Raiders have released veteran linebacker Curtis Lofton, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). As a vested veteran, Lofton will immediately become a free agent without having to first pass through waivers.

Lofton, 29, joined the Raiders for the 2015 season after spending his previous seven NFL seasons in Atlanta and New Orleans. After inking a three-year, $18MM deal with Oakland, Lofton failed to make a real impact for the team, starting just nine games and struggling to produce. Pro Football Focus ranked him 94th out of 97 qualified linebackers.

Lofton’s contract stipulated that $3.5MM of his $5.35MM base salary for 2016 would become guaranteed last month, less than a week after the Super Bowl. Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle indicated earlier this week that the Raiders couldn’t cut the linebacker prior to that date because he was unable to pass a physical due to an arm injury. Indeed, Evan Woodbery of the New Orleans Times-Picayune tweets that Lofton was cut with a failed physical designation today.

While there has been some speculation that Lofton moved his guarantee date back, it appears for now that his $3.5MM guarantee will indeed count against the Raiders’ 2016 cap. If any new info surfaces, we’ll pass it along. Even with that dead money on the cap, Oakland creates $2MM in cap savings with the move.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jermaine Gresham, Shea McClellin Visiting Jets

March 11th, 2016 at 4:52pm CST by Luke Adams

The Jets are hosting tight end Jermaine Gresham and linebacker Shea McClellin on visits, according to multiple reports. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports (via Twitter) that McClellin is visiting Gang Green today, while ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that Gresham also met with the team.

Gresham, 27, signed with the Cardinals last season after spending five seasons with the Bengals. His role was reduced in Arizona, and he caught a career-low 18 balls for 223 yards and a touchdown. During his time in Cincinnati, Gresham earned two Pro Bowl nods, averaging 56 receptions per season.

The Jets, meanwhile, got little to no production from their tight ends in 2015. Gresham’s 18 receptions would have easily ranked first for New York, as the team’s TEs combined to catch just eight balls last season.

As for McClellin, the 26-year-old was the Bears’ first-round pick in 2012, and according to Biggs, Chicago would still like to re-sign him. However, the Jets figure to take a hard look at McClellin, since they have a need at inside linebacker, with both Demario Davis and Erin Henderson now on the free agent market.

The Jets are also hosting quarterback Robert Griffin and offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum on visits.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Robert Ayers Signs With Buccaneers

March 11th, 2016 at 4:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

4:20pm: Ayers’ deal looks to be worth slightly less than previously reported, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reporting (via Twitter) that it’s a three-year, $19.5MM accord for the eighth-year defensive end that could get to $21MM. The Bucs officially announced the signing, according to the team’s website.

3:59pm: The second Giants defender to change teams in a matter of minutes, Robert Ayers joins Prince Amukamara in agreeing to spend the next part of his career in Florida. Ayers will sign with the Buccaneers, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (on Twitter).

It’s a three-year, $21MM deal for Ayers, who will receive $10.5MM guaranteed.

Amukamara joined the Jaguars after the Giants signed his replacement, and Ayers will trek to Tampa Bay after Big Blue did the same at his position by bringing in Olivier Vernon on a historic accord.

A late-bloomer, Ayers continued his ascent that began late in his Broncos tenure by becoming a steady presence on the edge for the Giants. The former first-round pick is coming off his best pass-rushing season, recording nine sacks in his second contract season. The soon-to-be-31-year-old defensive end led the Giants as Jason Pierre-Paul, whom New York re-signed, encountered a career crisis stemming from a horrific hand injury.

Previously known for his strong run-defending acumen, Ayers’ improvement as a pass-rusher (Pro Football Focus tabbed him eighth among edge players last season) helped secure him a more lucrative contract than the pact he signed with the Giants in 2014. New York landed Ayers from Denver on a two-year, $3.75MM deal.

Ayers played in 12 games during each of the past two seasons, starting 11 in 2015, after signing a two-year deal with the Giants. He joins a Bucs front that has All-Pro Gerald McCoy inside and fourth-year player William Gholston on the edge.

The Bucs ranked 14th with 38 sacks last season.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Buccaneers Sign Brent Grimes

March 11th, 2016 at 4:14pm CST by Luke Adams

4:14pm: The Buccaneers have formally announced their deal with Grimes.

12:25pm: Grimes’ two-year deal has a base value of $13.5MM, and can be worth up to $16.5MM with playing-time and Pro Bowl incentives, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

11:51am: Brent Grimes will head over to the NFC for the 2016 season, but he’ll be staying in Florida. According to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (via Twitter), Grimes has agreed to terms with the Buccaneers on a two-year deal worth $16.5MM.

Grimes, 32, is coming off his third straight Pro Bowl season, having picked off at least four passes in each of his three years in Miami. In 2015, he intercepted four passes to go along with 49 tackles, and was ranked 41st out of 111 qualified cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus.

Despite his solid performance in Miami, the Dolphins decided to move on from him earlier this week, releasing him with two years left on his contract after acquiring Byron Maxwell from the Eagles. If Grimes plays out his new deal, he should earn more over the next two seasons than he would have had he stayed with the Fins.

The veteran corner had been on track to earn $15MM in salary in 2016 and 2017 in Miami. Of course, that money was non-guaranteed, and he’ll presumably get a decent portion of his new deal guaranteed, so he’s in better financial shape going forward.

By joining the Buccaneers, Grimes will reunite with his old head coach — he played under Mike Smith, Tampa Bay’s new defensive coordinator, during his years as a Falcon. With Tampa Bay corners Sterling Moore and Mike Jenkins eligible for free agency, and Moore not expected back, the Bucs had been in the market for some help at the position.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Packers Re-Sign Nick Perry

March 11th, 2016 at 4:12pm CST by Zachary Links

FRIDAY, 4:12pm: The Packers have officially re-signed Perry, the team announced today in a press release. The team also signed offensive lineman Vince Kowalski, according to the release. Kowalski spent training camp and most of the preseason with Green Bay in 2015.

THURSDAY, 6:25pm: The Packers have agreed to a one-year deal with outside linebacker Nick Perry, two NFL sources tell Tom Silverstein of the Journal-Sentinel (on Twitter). The deal is worth $5MM (link).

Green Bay declined Perry’s fifth-year option last year but will keep him in the fold at a lesser rate for 2016.

A fifth-year outside linebacker, Perry’s started one game last season while serving as a backup to Julius Peppers and Mike Neal at those respective edge slots in Green Bay.

Rating as Pro Football Focus’ No. 58 linebacker from last season, Perry could be in line for more work in 2016, depending on what the Packers do with Neal.

Also a free agent after starting 15 games for the Packers last season, Neal remains unsigned as an unrestricted free agent. The build-from-within style the Packers mostly use under Ted Thompson suggests Perry, the team’s first-round pick in 2012, would be the player pegged to ascend in Neal’s place in the event Green Bay allows its second-round selection from 2010 walk.

Neal rated as PFF’s No. 95 edge presence out of 110 players who qualified for a full-time assessment.

Perry started a career-high five games as a rookie and has recorded at least two sacks in each of his four campaigns — and at least three in each of the past three seasons in a mostly off-the-bench role — currently sitting on 12.5 career sacks.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Cowboys To Re-Sign Morris Claiborne

March 11th, 2016 at 3:56pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cowboys will bring back Morris Claiborne for another season, reports Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (via Twitter). According to Garafolo, the two sides have worked out a one-year contract for Claiborne to continue his career in Dallas. Todd Archer of ESPN.com tweets that the deal has a base value of $3MM, and can be worth up to $3.75MM.

The sixth overall pick in the 2012 draft, Claiborne hasn’t lived up to his draft billing. Since a rookie season in which he started 15 games, made 55 tackles, and recovered a pair of fumbles, the LSU product has made just 21 more starts for Dallas, having been plagued by injuries and underperformance.

In 2015, Claiborne started 11 games for Dallas, but he failed to grab even one interception for the first time in his career, and Pro Football Focus ranked him 104th out of 111 qualified cornerbacks.

As a 2012 first-round pick, Claiborne had been eligible for a fifth-year option for the 2016 season, but the Cowboys turned down that option last spring. Had they exercised it, Claiborne would have been on the books for $11MM+ in 2016, so the Cowboys got him back at a much less expensive rate.

With Claiborne locked up, the Cowboys aren’t necessarily done looking for cornerback help. They have been linked to Nolan Carroll, and Archer tweets that Carroll still could be in play, though nothing is imminent.

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Jaguars Sign Mackenzy Bernadeau

March 11th, 2016 at 3:24pm CST by Luke Adams

3:24pm: The deal is now official, per John Oehser of Jaguars.com (Twitter link).

2:59pm: The Jaguars have added some depth to their offensive line, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, who reports (via Twitter) that the team has agreed to terms with offensive lineman Mackenzy Bernadeau. It’ll be a two-year deal worth up to $4MM, says Garafolo.

Bernadeau, 30, started his career with the Panthers back in 2008 before joining the Cowboys in 2011. The former seventh-round pick was Dallas’ primary starter at right guard in 2012 and 2013, but returned to a reserve role in 2014 after the Cowboys drafted Zack Martin. Bernadeau will be the second reserve Cowboys lineman to join the Jaguars in free agency in the last two years — Jacksonville signed Jermey Parnell to a long-term deal last March.

While the Jaguars have a starting spot on their offensive line open after releasing Zane Beadles, Bernadeau is likely more of a depth piece. He may get a chance to compete for playing time with the team’s current in-house options, as well as whoever else joins the franchise in free agency or the draft.

Currently, A.J. Cann, Brandon Linder, and Luke Bowanko appear to be the top contenders to be in the mix for the two guard spots, along with Bernadeau. With veteran center Stefen Wisniewski also facing free agency, the team will need someone to fill that position as well, though it’s still possible Wisniewski will re-sign.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

La Canfora’s Latest: Kap, Glennon, Manziel

March 11th, 2016 at 3:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Colin Kaepernick‘s contract won’t be a stumbling block in a quarterback-needy team’s potential deal for the polarizing passer, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reports.

Citing the deals given to Sam Bradford, Brock Osweiler and career backup Chase Daniel, La Canfora notes Kapernick’s contract — which the 49ers can shed prior to April 1 — represents less risk than the deals handed to the aforementioned signal-callers. Following this season, a team that trades for Kaepernick could move on from him and take on barely any dead money.

La Canfora, though, expects the 49ers to cut Kaepernick before his $11.9MM base salary becomes guaranteed in April. This will affect the kind of compensation teams are willing to provide in exchange for Kaepernick’s services, La Canfora notes.

The Browns have emerged as the latest team in the driver’s seat for Kaepernick, but the 49ers aren’t in a rush to make a deal. The Broncos, though, strike La Canfora as the best possible landing site for the 28-year-old passer. La Canfora doesn’t believe Ryan Fitzpatrick or Robert Griffin III are too appealing to the Broncos’ brass.

Here are more items from the CBS Sports reporter, beginning with another possible Peyton Manning replacement.

The Buccaneers turned down a second-round pick from an unknown team in exchange for Mike Glennon, La Canfora writes. Despite the 26-year-old backup quarterback’s contract expiring after this season, the Bucs are inclined to keep Glennon as of now.
La Canfora can’t envision a team taking a chance on signing Johnny Manziel after he clears waivers following his turbulent and ineffective Browns tenure and hasn’t heard any buzz surrounding a potential landing spot for the third-year quarterback.
Most personnel men La Canfora’s conversed with rate Derek Wolfe as superior to Malik Jackson, and La Canfora notes the former probably has buyer’s remorse after signing a team-friendly four-year, $36.7MM deal with the Broncos only to watch Jackson land with the Jaguars on a six-year, $85.5MM accord. Pro Football Focus rated Jackson as the far superior player in 2014, when both were healthy after a seizure derailed Wolfe in 2013, but tabbed Wolfe as having a better 2015 season.
Following the signings of Janoris Jenkins and Sean Smith, Patrick Robinson should be the most coveted cornerback in the remaining crop, La Canfora writes. Robinson had a bounce-back season with the Chargers, but Prince Amukamara and Casey Hayward remain unsigned as well. The respective markets for that duo’s services could well surpass Robinson’s.
La Canfora expects a run on defensive linemen to come this weekend, with the Bears, Jets, Steelers and Washington being the teams who will be atop the list of suitors. Greg Hardy, Robert Ayers and Nick Fairley are among the best still available.
Donald Penn would be a suitable replacement for Russell Okung with the Seahawks, La Canfora writes. Penn probably won’t require the annual commitment of Okung as he’s going on his age-33 season. Okung is visiting the Giants and Lions today. Although multiple teams have shown interest, Penn has yet to meet with any teams after his two-year Raiders contract expired.

Cowboys Re-Sign Kyle Wilber, Charles Brown

March 11th, 2016 at 3:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

3:05pm: Wilber’s two-year deal has a $3.25MM base value, and can be worth up to $5.25MM, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

1:40pm: The Cowboys retained UFAs Kyle Wilber and Charles Brown today (Twitter links via the Cowboys’ official account and Todd Archer or ESPN.com).

It’s a two-year deal for Wilber, agent Jordan Woy tweets. Brown returns to Dallas on a one-year accord, per Archer.

A former second-round pick of the Saints’ in 2010, Brown started one game with the Cowboys last season, serving as a swing tackle. Wilber trotted out with Dallas’ first unit in six games in 2015.

Although Wilber has started 15 games at linebacker since the Cowboys took him in the fourth round in 2012, his primary contributions to the team have come on special teams. Wilber’s most notable contribution came when he notched an interception in the Cowboys’ wild card playoff victory over the Lions during the 2014 playoffs.

Dallas is set to return each of its three starting linebackers after coming to an agreement with Rolando McClain this week on a one-year, $5MM deal.

Chiefs To Re-Sign Jamell Fleming

March 11th, 2016 at 2:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs’ cornerback corps sustained a tough blow Thursday, when Sean Smith bolted to join the Raiders. Kansas City, however, will keep the player it used to help compensate for Smith’s suspension, with Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter) reporting the Chiefs re-signed the veteran cornerback.

One of the Chiefs’ key special-teamers, Fleming has spent the past two seasons in Kansas City after initially being selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2012 draft.

Fleming, 26, played in all 16 games for the first time last season. He’ll re-join a cornerback stable now fronted by reigning defensive rookie of the year Marcus Peters. The team’s third-rounders the past two years, Steven Nelson and Phillip Gaines, represent Kansas City’s other in-house options opposite Peters.

Fleming did play a part in shaping the Chiefs’ season despite not starting any games after lining up with the first unit during four contests in 2014. During’s Smith’s three-game hiatus, Fleming struggled to cover Emmanuel Sanders and yielded a game-tying touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to Sanders in the Chiefs’ Week 2 loss to the Broncos.