2016 March - Pro Football Rumors

Dwight Freeney Eyes One More Season

March 9th, 2016 at 7:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dwight Freeney wants to play one more season, preferably with the Cardinals, Alex Marvez of Fox Sports reports (on Twitter).

An unrestricted free agent, Freeney not ruling out a landing with another team but made it clear Arizona’s his ideal destination. The now-36-year-old defensive end told Marvez (Twitter link) he was one week away from retiring last year before they contacted him and signed the three-time first-team All-Pro pass-rusher.

Freeney turned out to be a vital addition after he posted eight sacks in 11 games despite playing for just $970K. That total represented the most for Freeney since his age-31 season in 2011 with the Colts.

After an injury-marred an unmemorable stint with the Chargers, Freeney went on to lead the NFC West champions with eight sacks, registering three more than the next-best Cardinals rusher. He did so despite starting no games.

Serving in pass-rush situations, Freeney delivered, particularly against the Packers. After a three-sack game in the teams’ regular-season clash, Freeney brought down Aaron Rodgers once in the playoff encounter.

It doesn’t look like Freeney will be in a rush to sign with anyone, so the Cardinals can be patient with the Syracuse alumnus and seven-time Pro Bowler.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Chiefs, Frank Zombo Agree To Three-Year Deal

March 9th, 2016 at 6:52pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Shortly after agreeing to a three-year deal with linebacker Derrick Johnson, the Chiefs have reached a three-year pact with fellow LB Frank Zombo, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Zombo’s deal is worth $3.6MM and includes another possible $750K in incentives, per Pelissero.

Zombo, 29, began his career with the Packers as an undrafted free agent from Central Michigan in 2010. After a three-year stint in Green Bay, he joined the Chiefs in 2013 and has since appeared in 48 straight regular-season games. Zombo logged two starts last season and amassed three sacks, the second-highest total of his career. He also played an impressive 80.9 percent of special teams plays for Kansas City and racked up nine ST tackles.

Eagles, Ron Brooks Agree To Terms

March 9th, 2016 at 6:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills-to-Eagles pipeline continues to flow on Day 1 of free agency, with cornerback Ron Brooks agreeing to terms to head to Philadelphia on a three-year deal, the Eagles announced via Twitter.

New DC Jim Schwartz has already added Nigel Bradham and Leodis McKelvin and now will bring Brooks aboard. The 27-year-old Brooks’ deal is for $6MM, with the potential to rise to $8.7MM in playing-time incentives, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).

Brooks has started just three games in his career but played under Schwartz in Buffalo in 2014. The 2012 fourth-round pick has played in 46 games the past four seasons.

The Eagles have added two former Bills corners over the past two days while shipping out Byron Maxwell. Nolan Carroll remains a free agent.

Extra Points: Cruz, Hoyer, Glennon, Falcons

March 9th, 2016 at 6:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

On a day where the Giants are making aggressive efforts to improve their team in free agency, some clarity on one of their holdovers could be coming soon.

Victor Cruz is working out details in order to stay on the Giants, Art Stapleton of the Bergen Record reports (on Twitter). The former Pro Bowl slot stalwart has been M.I.A. with the Giants over the past 1 1/2 years due to knee and calf injuries. The Giants intended to release Cruz if the sides were unable to work out a restructure that would lower the receiver’s cap number, which currently sits at $9.90MM. But the sides have been optimistic this week about a resolution that keeps Cruz with the Giants.

Cruz and Odell Beckham have only started one game together, leaving a what-if factor looming around the Giants’ passing game. Cruz will be 30 in November.

Here’s the latest from around the league.

Buccaneers backup Mike Glennon could be a trade chip but will cost teams at least a third-round pick due to a potential compensatory draft selection’s involvement down the line, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweets. Glennon has one more season left on his rookie deal after which he can become an unrestricted free agent. The Bucs started No. 1 pick Jameis Winston in all 16 games last season. Glennon, who’s completed 58.8% of his passes in 18 starts and has thrown 29 touchdown passes compared to 15 interceptions, has been competent during previous stints and could be an attractive option for a quarterback-needy team. The Texans no longer reside in that group, but several other teams do, including the defending Super Bowl champions.
Fresh off making Brock Osweiler their quarterback of the future earlier today, the Texans now could include Brian Hoyer in trade scenarios, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle writes. Despite committing five turnovers in the wild card playoff loss to the Chiefs, Hoyer threw 19 TD passes compared to seven INTs last season in just nine starts. The 30-year-old signal-caller has one season left on the two-year, $10.5MM deal he signed last year with the Texans and is due to make $4MM in base salary this season.
The Falcons were interested in bringing aboard Mark Barron before he signed to stay with the Rams, Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). McClure notes the Falcons were “very high” on Barron to perhaps return to strong safety. The Rams re-signed him with the intent to keep him at weakside linebacker.

Eagles Sign Rodney McLeod

March 9th, 2016 at 6:19pm CST by Luke Adams

6:19pm: The Eagles have announced that they’ve officially signed McLeod.

11:45am: The Eagles and free agent safety Rodney McLeod have agreed to terms on a five-year, $37MM contract, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). The deal, which averages more than $7MM annually, will feature $17MM in guarantees, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It can be made official after 3:00pm central time today.

McLeod, 25, has started all 48 regular season games in the Rams’ secondary over the last three seasons, picking up five career interceptions and six fumble recoveries during that time. Pro Football Focus has been fond of McLeod’s play, ranking him 10th among safeties in 2015, grading him as both a solid run defender and coverage man.

In Philadelphia, McLeod will be the most recent addition to an Eagles’ defensive backfield that’s seen turnover already this offseason. Cornerback Byron Maxwell, signed to a massive free agent deal just last year, will be shipped to the Dolphins, while fellow CB Nolan Carroll is a free agent. The Eagles did agree to an extension with safety Malcolm Jenkins last month, but the signing of McLeod likely means that Walter Thurmond, who played well in his first season after transitioning to safety, will head elsewhere on the open market.

The Rams, meanwhile, will lose the second key member of their secondary, as McLeod will follow corner Janoris Jenkins — who earlier today agreed to sign with the Giants — out the door. Los Angeles did place the franchise tag on CB Trumaine Johnson, so they still have at least one solid option in the defensive backfield, but with a lot of cap space in reserve, the secondary might be an area the club targets in the coming days.

McLeod was ranked as PFR’s No. 14 free agent. He becomes the second high-profile safety to agree to terms today, as George Iloka has reportedly agreed to return to the Bengals.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Marcedes Lewis Re-Signs With Jaguars

March 9th, 2016 at 6:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

6:16pm: Lewis’ three-year deal will be worth $12MM, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (Twitter link).

5:32pn: Marcedes Lewis‘ once-tenuous tenure with the Jaguars will now extend throughout perhaps the remainder of the veteran tight end’s career. The Jags have re-signed Lewis on a three-year deal, Mark Long of the Associated Press reports (on Twitter).

The soon-to-be 32-year-old Lewis decided to stay with the Jaguars despite late interest from the Rams, Long reports.

Lewis took a massive pay cut to stick with the Jags last season, slicing his cap number from $6.8MM to $2.65MM. The terms of this deal have not been announced, but it should be in that range considering where Lewis is at this juncture of his career.

Once thought to be expendable once Jacksonville brought in Julius Thomas on a five-year deal last season, Lewis remained and functioned as the team’s No. 2 tight end for most of 2015. But the former first-round pick in 2006 started all 16 games.

The 11th-year veteran has spent his entire career with the Jaguars. He caught 16 passes for 226 yards last season while operating as one of the best pass-blockers at the position when assigned to stay in and help.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Free Agent Rumors: Vikings, Weddle, Steelers

March 9th, 2016 at 6:03pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Vikings are negotiating to bring back tight end Rhett Ellison, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). If Ellison can’t be retained, however, one option to replace him might be free agent James Hanna, formerly of the Cowboys, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link).

Here’s a look at some of the latest news and rumors on this crazy day of action:

Terence Newman is also a Vikings free agent, and the club will talk to his agent once again later tonight or tomorrow, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. Wolfson also says that Minnesota did not show interest in guard Jeff Allen, as Alex Boone was their target all along.
The Steelers like veteran safety Eric Weddle, a source tells Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (Twitter link), but the club thinks he’s too expensive at the moment. Pittsburgh is hoping Weddle’s price falls.
Free agent offensive lineman Ted Larsen will take a visit with the 49ers, tweets Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (Twitter link).
The Bears are not done looking for free agent offensive lineman, even after agreeing to a deal with Bobby Massie, reports Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times (Twitter link).
Texans restricted free agent corner A.J. Bouye is drawing interest from other clubs, but no offer sheet is yet on the table, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Bouye was tendered at the lowest level, so Houston won’t get any compensation if it fails to match an offer.

Lions Re-Sign Haloti Ngata

March 9th, 2016 at 5:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

5:50pm: Ngata’s new two-year deal with the Lions is worth $12MM, with $6MM in fully guaranteed money, tweets Alex Marvez of FOX Sports. The veteran defender gets a $6.25MM payout in 2016.

2:32pm: The Lions have agreed to re-sign defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, his agent Mike McCartney tweets. It’ll be a two-year pact between Ngata and Detroit.

Ngata, 32, was traded from the Ravens to the Lions on the first day of free agency in 2015. In his first season in the Motor City, Ngata started 15 games, posting 15 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Ngata said in February that intended to continue playing, and a recent report indicated that he was “increasingly likely” to be retained by the Lions.

Ngata isn’t the only defensive lineman to re-sign with the Lions in the past week, as Detroit also reached an agreement with Tyrunn Walker on March 4.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Eagles, Nigel Bradham Agree To Two-Year Deal

March 9th, 2016 at 5:48pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Eagles and free agent linebacker Nigel Bradham have agreed to a deal, reports Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (Twitter link). It’s a two-year accord, per Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter). Financial details are not yet available.

Bradham’s decision to sign with Philadelphia will reunite him with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. The two were together in Buffalo in 2014, when Bradham posted easily the best season of his four-year career. The ex-Florida State Seminole totaled 104 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in 14 games under Schwartz, also earning a reserve spot on Pro Football Focus’ Pro Bowl team. Bradham’s performance fell off significantly without Schwartz last season, as he struggled to fit into the Bills’ Rex Ryan-led defense. The 26-year-old totaled 45 fewer tackles (59) and one sack in 11 games, ranking 81st out of 97 qualifying LBs at PFF.

In Philadelphia, Bradham figures to garner significant playing time in a linebacking corps that no longer features his ex-Buffalo teammate Kiko Alonso, whom the Eagles traded to Miami earlier today. Bradham will join a high-upside group featuring Mychal Kendricks and Jordan Hicks.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Eagles Sign Brandon Brooks

March 9th, 2016 at 5:48pm CST by Zachary Links

5:48pm: The Eagles have officially announced their deal with Brooks (via Twitter).

2:33pm: The Eagles are set to sign guard Brandon Brooks, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’ll be a five-year, $40MM deal.

Earlier this week, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report indicated that Brooks could be in line for a deal in the range of $8MM per season and that’s exactly what he appears to have gotten. Brooks’ representatives were reportedly in touch with the Texans since the Combine but the two sides could not work out a deal to keep the guard in Houston. Brooks rated as Pro Football Focus’ 37th-ranked guard in 2015, and he got a sizable payday despite joining a crowded guard class fronted by Kelechi Osemele.

According to the advanced metrics, Brooks struggled as a run-blocker in 2015, but his pass-blocking was excellent, ranking among the league’s top 10 guards. In past seasons, Brooks has been more consistent in both aspects of his game, which helped lead to his hefty deal with Philly.

Brooks was PFR’s No. 7 ranked available interior offensive lineman, putting him behind Osemele, Alex Mack, Jeff Allen, Richie Incognito, Alex Boone, and Evan Mathis. That designation put Brooks ahead of notable names such as Ramon Foster, Stefen Wisniewski, Ben Jones, Jahri Evans, Manny Ramirez, Geoff Schwartz, Mike Harris, and J.R. Sweezy.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.