2016 March - Pro Football Rumors

Free Agent Rumors: Jaguars, Wisniewski, Branch

March 10th, 2016 at 1:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest free agent rumors:

Jaguars GM David Caldwell says that he’s “not done” adding to the team’s offensive line (Twitter link via John Oehser of Jaguars.com). Caldwell went on to say that the door is not closed on Stefen Wisniewski either (Twitter link via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union).
Defensive lineman Andre Branch is on his way to visit Washington, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
The Titans have been talking with the reps for nose tackle Al Woods and are hoping to get something done, Tiffany Blackmon of NFL Network tweets.
Free agent tackle Bradley Sowell has a visit scheduled with the Seahawks, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Before signing punter Brad Nortman, Caldwell says the Jaguars offered a new deal to incumbent Bryan Anger (Twitter link via O’Halloran).

Robert Ayers To Visit Jaguars

March 10th, 2016 at 1:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Robert Ayers is on his way to visit with the Jaguars rather than the Dolphins as originally scheduled, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Ayers was with the Buccaneers earlier today.

While the Jaguars have already landed one of the offseason’s to prizes in Malik Jackson, they were also interested in fellow bookend Olivier Vernon before the Giants blew them out of the water. Ayers could now be the free agent brought in to help bolster the pass rush along with Jackson.

Ayers graded as one of the top pass rushers in the NFL in 2015, according to PFF’s metrics. The 30-year-old enjoyed a career year with the Giants, picking up nine sacks to go along with 41 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles. The 273-pounder was primarily been a reserve for most of his seven-year career (five with Denver), but he altered his stock in a major way last season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Titans Sign C Ben Jones

March 10th, 2016 at 1:02pm CST by Dallas Robinson

THURSDAY, 1:02pm: The Titans have officially signed Jones to his new contract, the team announced today (via Twitter). The financial details on the deal can be found right here.

TUESDAY, 7:14pm: The Titans have poached a free agent from a division rival, as the club has agreed to sign center Ben Jones away from the Texans, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Per Wilson, Jones and Tennessee have agreed to a four-year deal.

Jones, 26, has been with the Texans since 2012, when he entered the league as a fourth-round pick out of Georgia. He became Houston’s full-time starter in 2014, and he’s started all 32 games since. Jones posted solid marks from Pro Football Focus, which ranked him as the No. 18 center in the league last season, noting that he was better in the pass game than as a run-blocker.

In Tennesee, Jones will take over at center for Brian Schwenke and Andy Gallik, both of whom saw starts last year. Offensive line was expected to be an area of focus for the Titans this offseason, and the club could still look to add help at tackle, potentially by selecting Ole Miss prospect Laremy Tunsil with the first overall pick.

It’s been a whirlwind few days for new Titans GM Jon Robinson, who in addition to agreeing to terms with Jones, also struck a deal to bring running back DeMarco Murray to Tennessee.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Buccaneers Sign J.R. Sweezy

March 10th, 2016 at 12:56pm CST by Dallas Robinson

THURSDAY, 12:56pm: The Buccaneers have formally announced their deal with Sweezy, via a press release.

WEDNESDAY, 7:13pm: Sweezy’s deal is a five-year, $32.5MM accord, according to Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).

4:43pm: The Buccaneers have agreed to sign guard J.R. Sweezy, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link).

Sweezy will join a Tampa Bay offensive line that is now quietly full of players who are both young and talented. The club will field two sophomores in left tackle Donovan Smith and guard Ali Marpet, plus veterans Joe Hawley at center, some combination of Gosder Cherilus and Demar Dotson at right tackle, and now Sweezy at left guard.

But Sweezy won’t be replacing a scrub — no, he’ll be stepping into the shoes of veteran left guard Logan Mankins, who recently announced his retirement. Sweezy clearly isn’t the player that Mankins was, but he’s competent, and perhaps more importantly, reliable, having missed just two starts during the past three seasons.

The 26-year-old Sweezy ranked as PFR’s No. 15 free agent interior offensive lineman, and it’s a position that has seen a lot of action over the past several days. Kelechi Osemele, Alex Mack, Richie Incognito, Brandon Brooks, Jeff Allen, and others have all flown off the board.

Losing Sweezy will further hamper Seattle’s offensive line, but the club is negotiating to keep left tackle Russell Okung.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Panthers Sign Gino Gradkowski

March 10th, 2016 at 12:55pm CST by Zachary Links

12:55pm: The Panthers’ deal with Gradkowski is now official.

11:05am: The Panthers will sign free agent offensive lineman Gino Gradkowski to a three-year deal, Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer tweets. Gradkowski will back up center Ryan Kalil in Carolina.

A Delaware product, Gradkowski has appeared in 44 games during the course of his four-year career, and was a full-time starter for the Ravens during the 2013 season. He wasn’t very productive that year, grading as the worst center in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Last year, Gradkowski appeared in four games (one start) for Atlanta.

The Falcons added one of the league’s top centers in Alex Mack on Wednesday and soon after it was reported that they would not retain Gradkowski.

Vikings To Sign Alex Boone

March 10th, 2016 at 12:47pm CST by Zachary Links

THURSDAY, 12:47pm: The Vikings announced that their deal with Boone is now official.

WEDNESDAY ,3:18pm: Boone’s four-year deal is worth $26.8MM in total with $10MM guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. Boone get $1.6MM in year one followed by three years at $6.6M with a $100K workout bonus.

10:50am: The Vikings will sign Alex Boone, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Exact terms of the deal are not yet known.

After missing out on Kelechi Osemele this offseason, Boone was the Vikings’ Plan B. Boone does not offer the versatility that Osemele provides, but he is a solid consolation prize. On our list of free agent guards and centers for this offseason, Boone placed No. 5 behind Osemele, Alex Mack, Jeff Allen, and Richie Incognito.

According to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Boone was the 38th best guard in the NFL last season with a strong 82.1 grade for pass blocking and a not-so-hot 44.9 grade for run blocking. Boone was on the field for 477 pass snaps and 308 run snaps last season with San Francisco.

It was reported that Boone could land a deal in the neighborhood of $8MM per year. With several suitors, including the Dolphins, the incumbent 49ers, and the Vikings, Boone was in prime position to cash in this month. Boone won’t be the anchor on any offensive lines, but he has made 59 starts over the last four seasons for the Niners and is a stalwart option at either guard position. PFR’s Luke Adams projected that a per-year salary in the $6-7MM range was within reach for Boone.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Vikings To Sign Emmanuel Lamur

March 10th, 2016 at 12:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

THURSDAY, 12:46pm: The Vikings announced that their deal with Lamur is now official.

WEDNESDAY, 4:43pm: Lamur’s deal will be worth $6MM over two years, with $2.5MM guaranteed, according to Jim Osczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer (on Twitter). The Bengals were not interested in retaining Lamur, per Osczarski; they did not make an offer.

3:56pm: It’s a two-year deal for Lamur and the Vikings, tweets Tomasson.

3:41pm: Emmanuel Lamur will join the Vikings’ linebacking corps next season, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter links).

The former Bengals outside linebacker will re-join Mike Zimmer, who coached the fifth-year veteran from 2012-13. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Lamur, who didn’t start for the Bengals last season after breaking with the first unit in 13 games in 2014, did not fare well — according to Pro Football Focus — last season. The website graded the Bengals backer as its No. 82 overall linebacker. Lamur, an undrafted free agent in 2012, did not fare well during his full-time season as a starter, either, grading as PFF’s No. 39 linebacker out of 40 qualified 4-3 second-level performers.
The 6-foot-4 Lamur did record two interceptions during his third year and signed a second-round tenure to stay in Cincinnati last season. 2015 free agent acquisition A.J. Hawk replaced him in the Bengals’ starting lineup.

Entering his age-27 season, Lamur will likely be given an opportunity to start alongside Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks.

This doesn’t necessarily rule out a Chad Greenway return to the Twin Cities for a prospective 11th season, especially since Greenway’s likely a candidate for a one-year deal, but it clouds the prospect.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Free Agent Rumors: RG3, Rams, Chiefs

March 10th, 2016 at 12:18pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest free agent rumors:

Robert Griffin III would “very much” like to play for the Rams in Los Angeles, a source tells Vincent Bonsignore of the Daily News (on Twitter). The 49ers and the Broncos have also been connected to Griffin this week.
Despite outside interest, Tamba Hali says that he gave no thought at all to leaving the Chiefs, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets. The Falcons were reportedly a finalist for his services.
Stevan Ridley‘s market continues to unfold but the Patriots haven’t shown interest in a reunion, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald tweets. Still, Howe (link) points out that the Patriots reached out to Ridley late last offseason before he joined the Jets, so nothing can be completely ruled out, even though that union is still unlikely. Ridley racked up 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground back in 2012 for the Pats.
The Ravens reviewed eight free agent tight ends but after watching a handful of plays from Ben Watson on tape, they determined that he was their guy, GM Ozzie Newsome told reporters, including Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
The Eagles‘ interest in defensive tackle Cedric Thornton is “tepid,” Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. The Eagles haven’t ruled out a return, however.
The Seahawks are interested in guard Ted Larsen, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). As we learned yesterday, Larsen will also take a visit with the 49ers.

QB Rumors: RG3, Kaepernick, Jets, Hoyer

March 10th, 2016 at 11:52am CST by Zachary Links

If Colin Kaepernick leaves for the Broncos, Browns, or Jets, Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) expects 49ers head coach Chip Kelly to have serious interest in Robert Griffin III. RG3 has already been connected to the Broncos, but it sounds like this week’s game of quarterback musical chairs could put the Baylor product in San Francisco instead.

Here are the latest QB rumors:

If the cannot re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) expects the Jets to inquire about Texans quarterback Brian Hoyer. As Rapoport notes, the Jets already traded for one Texans QB in Fitzpatrick last year. Brian Costello of the New York Post (on Twitter) notes that the Jets talked to Hoyer last year, but they preferred Fitzpatrick to him.
Hoyer is expected to exit the Texans‘ roster “sooner than later,” a source tells Mike Florio of PFT.
The Jets have yet to “put their cards on the table” with regards to their talks for Kaepernick, a source tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Before making a move for Kaepernick, the Jets could be waiting to see if they can first get a new deal done with Fitzpatrick.
Quarterback Scott Tolzien will visit with the Colts today, Tom Silverstein of the Journal-Sentinel tweets. The Bears are also showing interest in the Packers free agent.

Eagles Sign Chase Daniel To Three-Year Deal

March 10th, 2016 at 11:41am CST by Zachary Links

THURSDAY, 11:41am: The Eagles have officially announced their three-year contract with Daniel (via Twitter). Terms of the deal can be found right here.

WEDNESDAY, 3:03pm: Daniel’s three-year pact could be worth up to $36MM, including $12MM fully guaranteed, according to Caplan (Twitter links). The base value of the contract is $21MM, so it sounds like it may be heavy on playing-time incentives.

10:59am: The Eagles and Chase Daniel agreed in principle on a multi-year deal, according to Adam Schefter and Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It’s a three-year deal, per Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Financial terms of the deal are not yet known.

The deal reunites Daniel with Doug Pederson who was his offensive coordinator in Kansas City. As a result, Daniel has been connected to the Eagles for much of the offseason and the coach did not hide his affinity for Daniel as a player. Daniel, in all likelihood, will slot in behind Sam Bradford as the starter in Philly. That would leave Mark Sanchez on the outside looking in and the QB presumably will not return as a third stringer. Given that this is a three-year pact for Daniel, it is fair to wonder if he might even have a chance to compete with Bradford for the starting role this summer.

Daniel, entering his age-30 season, is almost all promise — he’s only attempted 77 passes in his career while backing up Drew Brees and Alex Smith. But in a league where competent quarterback play is so rare (yet so needed), it’s easy to see a club taking a chance on Daniel as its starter. He’d already been one of the backups in the NFL, earning $3.33MM annually during his time with Kansas City.

Daniel ranked as PFR’s No. 3 available quarterback, slotting in behind Brock Osweiler and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.