2016 March - Pro Football Rumors

Jaguars Sign Malik Jackson

March 10th, 2016 at 11:37am CST by Zachary Links

THURSDAY, 11:37am: The Jaguars have officially signed Jackson, John Oehser of Jaguars.com tweets.

TUESDAY, 1:35pm: Jackson and the Jaguars agreed to a six-year deal worth up to $90MM, with $42MM in fully guaranteed money, reports Mike Klis of 9NEWS. According to Klis, the deal is worth $85.5MM, with another $4.5MM in playing-time incentives for the final three seasons.

Jackson’s $42MM guarantee puts him right in the ballpark of Marcell Dareus ($42.9MM), exceeding every other defensive lineman’s guarantee except for Ndamukong Suh‘s (nearly $60MM).

12:20pm: If the deal is finalized between the Jags and Jackson, the defensive lineman will earn roughly $15MM per year, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

12:10pm: Malik Jackson has agreed to join the Jaguars. The former Broncos defensive lineman confirmed to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter) that he is Jacksonville-bound. Negotiations are still ongoing, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter), but it will be a six-year deal once it’s all done (link). Of course, no deal can be official until Wednesday at 4 ET/3 CT. Exact terms of the contract are not yet known.

Jackson recorded a personal-best 45 tackles and five sacks during his third straight 16-game regular season in 2015-16, finishing 16th out of Pro Football Focus’ 123 qualifying interior defenders in overall performance (subscription required). PFR’s Luke Adams ranks Jackson the second-best free agent in this year’s class. As of this writing, the Jaguars have roughly $82MM in cap space, per Over The Cap. The Jackson deal will obviously put a significant dent in that number.

The Jaguars are clearly high on Broncos players as they have signed Denver free agents to big deals in each of last three years. In 2014, they inked offensive lineman Zane Beadles. In 2015, the Jaguars added tight end Julius Thomas on a five-year deal with a base value of $45MM. So far, this pro-Broncos strategy has been something of a mixed bag for Denver. Thomas caught 46 passes for 455 yards and five touchdowns in an injury shortened season. Beadles, meanwhile, was released just days ago. In 2015, Pro Football Focus ranked the guard 64th out of 81 qualified guards.

In Jacksonville, Jackson might play a role similar to Michael Bennett where he is on the outside on early downs and inside on passing downs. The Jaguars are also expecting to have a healthy Dante Fowler in 2016, so the Jags’ pass rush is shaping up to be rather strong.

Before agreeing to sign with the Jags, Jackson was also being chased by a group of teams including the Raiders, Bears, and the incumbent Broncos.

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Saints Re-Sign Travaris Cadet

March 10th, 2016 at 11:24am CST by Zachary Links

The Saints announced that they have re-signed running back Travaris Cadet. Cadet, a four-year NFL vet, originally signed with New Orleans as a UDFA out of Appalachian State in 2012.

For his career, Cadet has appeared in 48 games (2 starts) with 62 catches for 559 yards and three scores plus 22 carries for 65 yards. This past season, he spent time with the Patriots and Niners. Cadet, 27, saw his first significant action for the Saints in 2014, hauling in 38 passes on 51 targets, totaling 296 yards and a touchdown on those receptions. He didn’t see that kind of usage in 2015 but he’s certainly hoping to find that same level of involvement in ’16 as he returns to New Orleans.

Within the announcement, the Saints also confirmed new deals for kicker Kai Forbath, tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, center/guard Senio Kelemete, and cornerback Kyle Wilson.

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C.J. Anderson Visiting Dolphins, May Sign Offer Sheet

March 10th, 2016 at 11:12am CST by Luke Adams

11:12am: Anderson had been scheduled to fly to Chicago to meet with the Bears, according to Mike Klis of 9NEWS. However, as Klis explains in a piece worth reading, the Dolphins convinced Anderson and agent Peter Schaffer that the running back should head to Miami instead. The expectation is that the Dolphins will sign Anderson to an offer sheet later today, per Klis.

10:12am: Restricted free agent running back C.J. Anderson will visit the Dolphins today, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Miami was one of four teams mentioned on Wednesday as suitors for Anderson, along with the Patriots, 49ers, and Bears. New England and Chicago would also like to bring in the RFA running back, according to Pro Football Talk (Twitter link).

Because Anderson received an RFA tender from the Broncos, the team can match any offer sheet the running back signs with another club, and Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald tweeted on Wednesday that Denver will likely do just that. Still, it was a bit of a surprise that the Broncos only gave Anderson a $1.671MM tender, giving them the right of first refusal, rather than a $2.553MM tender that would have assured them a second-round pick as compensation if Anderson signed elsewhere.

Of course, when the Broncos made their decision on Anderson, the team hadn’t yet lost Brock Osweiler, Malik Jackson, and Danny Trevathan to other teams. Now that Denver won’t have to worry about working those players into the team’s 2016 cap plans, it might be a little easier to match an offer sheet for Anderson.

Still, it sounds like Anderson’s suitors won’t make things easy — the running back appears likely to sign an offer sheet, and any team that signs him will try to structure in a way that makes it difficult for the Broncos to match it.

An undrafted free agent out of California in 2013, Anderson burst onto the scene during his sophomore season. He compiled 849 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in 2014, and he added another 324 receiving yards and two touchdowns through the air. Anderson only started six games in 2015, finishing with 720 yards and five scores on 152 attempts. Despite the up-and-down season, Anderson played a major part in Denver’s Super Bowl win, rushing for 90 yards and a touchdown in the championship game.

The Dolphins, whose new head coach Adam Gase worked with Anderson in Denver, are in the market for running back help after Lamar Miller agreed to sign with the Texans. Mike Klis of 9NEWS (Twitter link) believes that an offer sheet for Anderson could be agreed upon during his visit to Miami — the Broncos would have five days to match it once it’s officially signed.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

FA Visits: V. Davis, Vasquez, Titans, Jets

March 10th, 2016 at 11:04am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent tight end Vernon Davis will pay a visit to Washington today, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It’s an unsurprising piece of news, considering Davis is from the D.C. area, and Washington GM Scot McCloughan was working in the 49ers’ front office when San Francisco drafted the tight end.

Davis, traded from the 49ers to the Broncos midway through the 2015 season, didn’t have his best year, but still managed to catch 38 passes, including 20 after moving to Denver. If he were to sign with Washington, he would presumably be a complementary option to Jordan Reed, so we’ll see if there’s a fit there.

Here’s more on free agent visits happening around the NFL:

Former Broncos guard Louis Vasquez, recently released by Denver, will visit the Titans on Friday, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link). Tennessee is looking to beef up the interior of its offensive line, having already signed center Ben Jones away from the division-rival Texans.
The Cowboys are scheduled to host cornerback Nolan Carroll for a visit, says Todd Archer of ESPN.com. The Cowboys need help at cornerback, and we heard earlier today that Dallas would be a “team to watch” on Carroll, who hasn’t been on the same page as the Eagles in negotiations.
Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star (Twitter link) is hearing that Rod Streater may be planning to head east to visit some teams, and Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News confirms (via Twitter) that the Jets will host the free agent wideout on Friday. Paylor notes that the Chiefs have also expressed some interest in Streater, as he reported earlier in the week.
Titans GM Jon Robinson indicated today that the team plans to set up visits with a couple veteran free agent safeties, tweets Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com. The Titans – who cut longtime safety Michael Griffin last month – will also explore the position in the draft, per Robinson.

Jaguars Sign Tashaun Gipson

March 10th, 2016 at 10:57am CST by Dallas Robinson

THURSDAY, 10:57am: The deal is official, as John Oehser of Jaguars.com writes.

The five-year deal will pay Gipson $36MM in total, per Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). That pact includes $12MM guaranteed, a $4MM signing bonus, and salaries of $3MM, $5MM, $5.75MM, $7.25MM, and $7MM. His 2016 and 2017 base salaries are fully guaranteed.

The real money for Gipson is $35.5MM, tweets Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter). Incentives can push it to $36MM.

WEDNESDAY, 5:45pm: The Jaguars and safety Tashaun Gipson have agreed to terms on a contract, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Gipson will sign a five-year with a maximum value of $35.5MM deal, report Rand Getlin and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Jacksonville, which entered the free agent period with the most cap space in the league, continues to flex its financial muscle. The club not only agreed to a deal with defensive lineman Malik Jackson that will pay him more $15MM annually, but will sign running back Chris Ivory for more than $6MM per season. They also poached punter Brad Nortman from the Panthers, and were considered serious contenders for Olivier Vernon before he landed with the Giants.

The Browns, meanwhile, have now failed to retain not only Gipson, but center Alex Mack, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz, and receiver Travis Benjamin. A report earlier today indicated that agents were growing frustrated with a perceived lack of hesitation on the part of Cleveland during negotiations, and that lack of aggressiveness may be showing itself as the Browns lose several quality players.

Had Gipson been able to cash in following the 2014 season, he may have earned even more money than he will on his new Jaguars deal, as he posted six interceptions in just 11 games during that ’14 campaign. The 25-year-old was still solid in 2015, though, starting 13 games and racking up two picks and tackles. Gipson ranked as PFR’s No. 31 overall free agent and No. 4 safety.

Quite a few free agent safeties have come off the board today, as George Iloka re-signed with the Bengals while Rodney McLeod, Tyvon Branch, Isa Abdul-Quddus, Dwight Lowery, and others have found new homes. Eric Weddle, Walter Thurmond, and Reggie Nelson are some of the more high-profile names still available.

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Broncos, Browns, Jets Pursuing Colin Kaepernick

March 10th, 2016 at 10:53am CST by Zachary Links

10:53am: Even if the Browns landed Colin Kaepernick, they’d still be looking hard at drafting a quarterback with the No. 2 pick, according to NFL Network’s Michael Silver (Twitter link via Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal).

Silver also says that the Browns are “far more serious” about acquiring Kaepernick than the Jets are (Twitter link via Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday).

10:29am: The offers for Kaepernick have not yet been good enough for the 49ers to make a deal, a source tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (on Twitter). In addition to the Broncos, the Jets and Browns are involved. The Broncos are still the frontrunners, Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee tweets.

10:24am: The Broncos are out in front trying to trade for Kaepernick, but two other teams are involved on the QB, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

9:54am: Colin Kaepernick is the Broncos’ chief target at this time, according to Michael Silver of NFL.com (on Twitter), who believes that the Broncos will go after him via trade. The 49ers likely want a second-round pick while the Broncos may be willing to part with a third-round choice (link). Silver hears (link) that Kaepernick is likely willing to restructure his contract to the Broncos’ liking, though his deal is already somewhat team-friendly.

The 49ers received “some calls” on Kaepernick yesterday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, but nothing too serious. Things are expected to ramp up today when it comes to No. 7.

On Wednesday, a 49ers source told Jason Cole of Bleacher Report that the team has no interest in moving Kaepernick, though it seems possible that the team is only trying to build leverage in trade talks. The agents for Kaepernick requested permission from the 49ers to seek a trade late last month and there has been talk of new coach Chip Kelly not being too fond of him, so it stands to reason that the would listen on trade inquiries.

If the 49ers aren’t willing to move Kaepernick this week, things could linger on into next month. The QB’s $11.9MM salary for 2016 will become fully guaranteed on April 1st and that deadline could spur action on San Francisco’s part.

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AFC East Rumors: Fitzpatrick, Grimes, Patriots

March 10th, 2016 at 10:48am CST by Zachary Links

The latest from the AFC East:

Ryan Fitzpatrick wants to be paid in line with the salaries that starting quarterbacks seem to be getting, which begins at about $16MM per year and works its way up, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). The Jets are not comfortable going that far for the veteran quarterback and Cole says that the QB needs another team to get involved in the bidding process in order to make that kind of sum a reality.
The Jets have made an offer to Fitzpatrick that is only a little better than what Chase Daniel got from the Eagles, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. Daniel and the Eagles agreed to a three-year deal with a base value of $21MM on Wednesday. The pact carries a max value of $36MM with a $3MM signing bonus. That’s a far cry from what Fitzpatrick is currently seeking.
There isn’t acrimony between the Jets and Fitzpatrick, however, according to Breer (on Twitter). The Jets have told the veteran that they want him back as their starting QB, but they have set a price for him and they plan on sticking to it.
Three NFL GMs refuse to sign Brent Grimes because of his wife’s antics, per Cole (video link). Grimes’ wife continues to make news off the field and execs are worried that she can become a distraction. Grimes’ wife, Cole reports, was the main reason why the Dolphins pushed Grimes to take a pay cut for 2016. When the two sides couldn’t agree to terms, Miami simply cut the cornerback. Grimes is still considered to be a very talented player, but as long as Miko Grimes continues to make the news for all the wrong reasons, it sounds like teams will be wary of adding him.
Benny Cunningham is visiting the Patriots today, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).

Seahawks Re-Sign Jeremy Lane To Four-Year Deal

March 10th, 2016 at 10:07am CST by Connor J. Byrne

THURSDAY, 10:07am: It’s a four-year deal worth $23MM with $11MM guaranteed, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

WEDNESDAY, 10:07pm: The Seahawks have officially announced the signing, tweets Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.

7:46pm: The Seahawks and cornerback Jeremy Lane have agreed to a four-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Financial details of the contract are currently unavailable.

Lane, 25, joined the Seahawks as a sixth-round pick in 2012. He hasn’t garnered a ton of playing time since then, however, missing 23 of a possible 64 regular-season games and totaling only six starts.

Lane sat out the Seahawks’ first 10 games last season after breaking his arm and tearing his ACL in February 2015 on an interception in the club’s Super Bowl XLIX loss to the Patriots. The 6-foot, 184-pounder also missed nine games in 2014. Still, he recorded the first two regular-season INTs of his career during the 2015-16 campaign and ranked 51st out of 111 qualifying corners at Pro Football Focus, and he’s a good bet to start full-time opposite Richard Sherman going forward.

Lane is the second key defensive cog to re-sign with the Seahawks this week, joining tackle Ahtyba Rubin. However, fellow defenders Bruce Irvin (linebacker) and Brandon Mebane (DT) joined the Raiders and Chargers, respectively.

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Titans Sign Rishard Matthews

March 10th, 2016 at 9:57am CST by Sam Robinson

THURSDAY, 9:57am: The Titans announced that they have agreed to terms with Matthews, pending a physical. Matthews’ three-year deal will pay him $15MM with a $2.5MM signing bonus, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets. The wide receiver will earn salaries of $2.5MM, $5MM, and $5MM with an annual $750K stat incentive.

WEDNESDAY, 8:45pm: The cluster of No. 2-level wide receivers populating the free agent market is beginning thin out and bring clarity. Rishard Matthews and the Titans have agreed to terms on a there-year deal, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com reports.

Matthews follows Marvin Jones and Travis Benjamin among the market’s top-tier wideouts to find new homes on Day 1 of free agency.

The former Dolphins target established himself as a factor in free agency with a strong contract year before going down with a season-ending injury with five games to play. In 11 contests last season, Matthews totaled 662 yards and averaged 15.4 per reception as the Fins’ downfield complement to Jarvis Landry.

Matthews emerged after three uneven seasons and the Dolphins loading up their receiving corps last year. These events caused the former seventh-round pick to request a trade, but Matthews outplayed Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings while keeping DeVante Parker off the field.

In Tennessee, he’ll team with Dorial Green-Beckham and Kendall Wright, who is owed $7.32MM as part of his fifth-year option being exercised.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Chiefs Re-Sign Tamba Hali

March 10th, 2016 at 9:57am CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 9:57am: The Chiefs have officially re-signed Hali, the team announced today in a press release.

TUESDAY, 6:53pm: Hali and the Chiefs have agreed to a three-year, $22MM deal that contains nearly $12MM in guarantees, tweets Rand Getlin of NFL.com.

12:16pm: The Chiefs have reached an agreement on a three-year contract for outside linebacker Tamba Hali, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Schefter notes that the new deal will allow the veteran pass rusher to finish his career in Kansas City.

Hali, 32, has seen his sack totals decline a little over the last two seasons after he piled up a total of 46.5 from 2010 to 2013. However, despite picking up just 12.5 total sacks in 2014 and 2015, Hali has continued to be an effective edge defender for the Chiefs. Pro Football Focus ranked the veteran 11th out of 110 qualified players at the position in 2015, assigning him solid grades as both a pass rusher and a run defender.

As I noted in PFR’s top 50 free agents list, in which I placed Hali 22nd, the longtime Chief had been one of the few edge defenders who fit better in a 3-4 scheme as an outside linebacker, rather than a 4-3 defensive end, so Kansas City did well to keep him from rival suitors looking for pass-rushing help.

With Hali back in the fold, the Chiefs have now secured two of their key free agent defenders, having used their franchise tag on safety Eric Berry. Still, there are plenty of Chiefs on track to reach the open market tomorrow. Defensive lineman Jaye Howard, cornerback Sean Smith, and linebacker Derrick Johnson are among the team’s free-agents-to-be on defense, while backup quarterback Chase Daniel and starting guard Jeff Allen are also eligible to hit the market.

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