2016 March - Pro Football Rumors

Texans To Re-Sign Shane Lechler, Nick Novak

March 8th, 2016 at 5:46pm CST by Zachary Links

TUESDAY, 5:46pm: The Texans announced that they have officially re-signed Novak.

MONDAY, 9:56am: The Texans have re-signed both Lechler and kicker Nick Novak, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter).

Novak was the Chargers’ full-time kicker from 2011 to 2014 before signing with Houston in September 2015. With San Diego, Novak converted on 101 of his 117 field goal attempts (86.3%), including 11 of 17 from 50+ yards. This past season in Houston, Novak nailed 18 of 21 field goal attempts, good for an 85.7% rate.

9:49am: The Texans will re-sign punter Shane Lechler on a one-year deal, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). Lechler averaged 47.3 yard per punt last season.

Lechler, 40 in August, logged 13 seasons with the Raiders before joining the Texans in 2013. The veteran indicated last month that he wanted to return to the league in 2016 in search of a Super Bowl ring. Despite Houston’s struggles in 2015, he believes that the Texans can give him that opportunity next season.

“I played in the Super Bowl one time, didn’t get a chance to win it,” Lechler told Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. “I want to win one. That’s my main goal. I go into every Sunday, even when I was on a 2-14 team here, 2-14 team twice in Oakland, I never went on the field thinking I wasn’t going to win. I want to win a championship. I’m not going to sit here and say I deserve to win one, because I had that chance. I want to win one.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/8/16

March 8th, 2016 at 5:26pm CST by Luke Adams

It’s been a day of huge news around the NFL, with top free agents like Malik Jackson and Kelechi Osemele reaching contract agreements. We don’t want to let some of the smaller deals from around the league slip through the cracks though, so let’s round up Tuesday’s minor transactions….

The Panthers have agreed to terms with Joe Webb on a new two-year contract, according to his agency, SportsTrust Advisors (Twitter link). Webb provides Carolina with a third quarterback on its depth chart, and can be utilized as a versatile, all-purpose weapon elsewhere on offense and special teams.
The 49ers have re-signed linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong, extending him through the 2016 season before he reaches free agency, the team announced today. San Francisco claimed Armstrong off waivers from the Raiders in 2015 after the linebacker and special-teamer made headlines for illegally taunting a police dog before a game against the Steelers.
The Colts announced today that they’ve signed undrafted free agent long snapper Forrest Hill, in what probably qualifies as the exact opposite of a “splash.” Nonetheless, Hill could be given an opportunity to compete for the job this summer in Indianapolis against incumbent LS Matt Overton.
Jaguars tight end Nic Jacobs has signed the one-year ERFA tender he received last week, the club announced today in a press release.
Seahawks defensive tackle A.J. Francis has also received his ERFA tender, per Dov Kleiman of RantSports (Twitter link).
The Seahawks waived defensive tackle Jesse Williams, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports (on Twitter).

Free Agent Rumors: Benjamin, Falcons, Hali

March 8th, 2016 at 5:23pm CST by Zachary Links

The Falcons have inquired about free agent receiver Travis Benjamin, a source tells Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com. Benjamin played under Falcons OC Kyle Shanahan in Cleveland during the 2014 season. Benjamin also worked with current Minnesota OC Norv Turner in Cleveland, but per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link), the Vikings have not show any interest in Benjamin.

Here are the latest free agent rumors:

Linebacker Tamba Hali was choosing between the Falcons and Kansas City before signing a three-year deal with the Chiefs, Kelsey Conway of AtlantaFalcons.com tweets.
The Patriots were interested in signing Michael Hoomanawanui before he re-signed with the Saints on Tuesdsay, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets.
The Texans are interested in re-signing safety Quintin Demps, as Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle writes. This past season, Demps started a career-high 13 games and recorded 61 tackles, one interception, six passes defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. The 30-year-old free agent is also drawing interest from other teams, however.
The Buccaneers may not tender free agent defensive end Olatunji Fatinikun, but they still could sign him later in summer, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. The DE is coming off of ACL surgery.

Dolphins Plan To Keep Cameron Wake

March 8th, 2016 at 5:11pm CST by Zachary Links

Even with Mario Williams in the mix, the Dolphins feel that they still have a place for Cameron Wake. The defensive end isn’t “going anywhere…anytime soon,” Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) says, but there are still details to be worked out between the two sides.

Wake has been in talks to restructure his deal, but it was reported earlier this month that negotiations were not going smoothly. The Dolphins were hoping to reduce Wake’s $9.8MM cap figure for 2016, while the defensive end assumed that any extension would ultimately result in more guaranteed money. This “divide” between the two sides, as a result, was said to be significant

The 34-year-old is entering the final year of the four-year, $49MM contract he signed in 2012. There’s no certainty that Wake will return when his contract expires, and some were speculating that the team could cut or trade the four-time Pro Bowler. As of this writing, however, it seems like Miami is intent on keeping him.

Wake appeared in only seven games last season, compiling nine tackles, seven sacks, and four forced fumbles.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Ravens To Sign TE Ben Watson

March 8th, 2016 at 5:07pm CST by Zachary Links

5:07pm: Watson will sign a two-year, $8MM deal with the Ravens, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

2:04pm: The Saints have lost tight end end Ben Watson to the Ravens, a source tells Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter). The tight end revived his career in New Orleans he will now try and keep things rolling in Baltimore.

The Ravens were in the hunt for a tight end this offseason due to some uncertainty at the position. Dennis Pitta is one of the league’s toughest matchups when healthy, but it has been a long time since he was on the field and productive. Ravens tight end Nick Boyle is facing a 10-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Tight end Crockett Gillmore, who offered solid offensive production in 2015, recently underwent surgery on both of his ailing shoulders. The team does still have rising sophomore Maxx Williams, but Watson will give Baltimore an experienced fallback at the position.

Now, the Saints have some work to do to fortify their tight end situation since Watson is out of the picture and Josh Hill is a restricted free agent. They made one move earlier today at tight end, however, re-signing Michael Hoomanawanui.

Watson was ranked as the No. 7 tight end on PFR’s free agent list, behind Antonio Gates, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, Ladarius Green, Zach Miller, and Jared Cook.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Dolphins Expected To Sign Mario Williams

March 8th, 2016 at 3:58pm CST by Luke Adams

3:58pm: It will be a two-year deal for Williams, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports, who tweets that it’s “not done yet, but it will be.”

3:49pm: A busy week in Miami continues, as the Dolphins appear poised to finalize a deal with ex-Bill Mario Williams. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter) that the Dolphins and Williams are expected to agree to terms today, and the contract should be worth in the ballpark of $8MM per year.

2015 was an ugly season for Williams, who didn’t mesh well with head coach Rex Ryan and the team’s new defensive scheme, and was accused of displaying a lack of effort at times. Coming off a five-sack performance in 2015, and with a huge cap hit on the books for 2016, Williams was released last week by the Bills.

Still, Williams is only a year removed from an All-Pro season in which he piled up 14.5 sacks though, so even though he turned 31 in January, he likely still has something left in the tank. Returning to a 4-3 system that better suits his skill-set could help him bounce back in 2016.

We heard earlier today that the Dolphins, who hosted the veteran pass rusher on a visit over the weekend, were the “clear front-runners” for Williams, with a separate report suggesting that the two sides may be nearing a deal worth about $8MM annually. Assuming the Dolphins get Williams locked up, the team will have a decision to make at the defensive end position.

Currently, the Dolphins have Olivier Vernon tentatively on their 2016 books for $12.7MM+ after placing the transition tag on him. However, Vernon has not signed that transition tender, so Miami could still remove it at any time. That would mean losing the right of first refusal if Vernon gets an offer from another club, but it would allow the Dolphins to collect a compensatory draft pick for 2017 if he leaves.

If the Dolphins prefer to keep Vernon, Cameron Wake could be the odd man out. Wake and the Dolphins are reportedly trying to rework a contract that currently features a $9.8MM cap charge for 2016, but as of last Tuesday, the two sides hadn’t made a whole lot of progress.

The Dolphins have a number of moves reportedly in the works, with a trade that will see them acquire Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso from the Eagles set to be finalized on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Giants To Re-Sign Jason Pierre-Paul

March 8th, 2016 at 3:45pm CST by Zachary Links

3:45pm: It’s a “real” $10MM deal with a chance for JPP to make $10.5MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Cardinals, he adds, offered “much more.”

1:23pm: Pierre-Paul has confirmed, via Instagram, that he will be returning to the Giants, though he made a note to specifically thank the Cardinals for their interest. Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports tweets that a source close to JPP was surprised the defensive end decided to return to New York, which suggests that another team – probably Arizona – made him a more lucrative offer.

12:46pm: It’s a one-year deal worth up to $10.5MM, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). He adds that the Cardinals made a late push for Pierre-Paul’s services.

12:39pm: The Giants are expected to keep Jason Pierre-Paul, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). JPP will sign a one-year deal with Big Blue, per Rapoport, and he apparently turned down more money elsewhere to stay put in the Meadowlands.

Other possible suitors were reportedly “hesitant” to offer Pierre-Paul a long-term pact, giving the Giants some optimism that they could get a deal done. They’ve done just that today, though the financial terms of the deal are not yet known.

Pierre-Paul has been one of Big Blue’s fiercest defenders since they drafted him 15th overall in 2010. The 27-year-old end totaled 42 sacks from 2010-14, including a career-high 16.5 during the Giants’ Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2011. However, his career took a terrible turn last summer when he lost his right index finger thanks to a July 4 fireworks accident.

Pierre-Paul returned to the field in November and ended up appearing in eight games, registering 26 tackles and a personal-low one sack. Despite his statistical decline, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) still ranked Pierre-Paul a solid 30th out of 91 qualifying edge rushers. The site remained impressed with his pass-rushing ability, though it gave him a poor grade against the run. He clearly disagrees in regards to the latter, having stated in December that, “I think I play the run better than I play the pass.”

JPP ranked No. 7 on Luke Adams’ list of Top 50 NFL Free Agents.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Patriots To Keep Alan Branch For 2016

March 8th, 2016 at 3:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have informed defensive tackle Alan Branch that they will pick up his $400K bonus due on Wednesday, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Branch is now locked in for the 2016 season.

Now that he’s been retained, the 31-year-old Branch is due to count $2.75MM against New England’s cap. The Patriots signed Branch to a two-year deal worth as much as $6.6MM last offseason. In the past, Branch has had some question marks about his work ethic and conditioning and those issues contributed to an up-and-down year with New England.

In 16 regular season games (15 starts), Branch totaled 35 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 pass deflections. Branch graded out as the No. 36 defensive tackle according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required), putting him ahead of notables such as Haloti Ngata, Ricky Jean-Francois, and Chris Canty.

Packers Eyeing Martellus Bennett

March 8th, 2016 at 3:17pm CST by Luke Adams

It appears Martellus Bennett‘s days in Chicago may be numbered, and one of the Bears’ division rivals is said to be eyeing the veteran tight end. A source tells Luke Rodgers of 247Sports.com (Twitter link) that the Packers have shown some interest in Bennett.

As last week’s reports suggested, agent Kennard McGuire and the Bears have been seeking out potential trade partners for the team in the hopes of finding Bennett an “agreeable landing spot.” However, there’s skepticism around the league that the Bears will be able to find a suitable offer for their tight end. The idea that the division-rival Packers would be able to work out a deal with the Bears seems even more far-fetched, so it’s not surprising that Ed Werder of ESPN (video link) suggests Green Bay would only have interest if Bennett were to be released.

Bennett, who will turn 29 on Thursday, was slowed by injuries in 2015, but still managed to haul in 53 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. Previously, Bennett established new career-highs across the board in 2014 with 90 receptions, 916 yards, and six TDs, earning his first Pro Bowl nod.

In the wake of that Pro Bowl season, Bennett sought a raise and an extension, skipping the Bears’ voluntary OTAs last spring. However, Chicago, having recently hired a new head coach and GM, was unwilling to work out a new deal at that point, and it now sounds as if the team would prefer to move on from Bennett, who reportedly “frustrated coaches and teammates” in 2015.

The Packers aren’t typically very active in free agency, but when they do explore the market, GM Ted Thompson and the team’s decision-makers often prefer players who have been released by other clubs, since those free agents don’t count toward the draft compensatory pick formula for the following season. So Green Bay is worth keeping an eye on if Bennett is ultimately cut by the Bears.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Free Agent Rumors: Ivory, Eagles, Powers

March 8th, 2016 at 3:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Chris Ivory wants roughly $6.5MM per year and is looking for at least a three-year commitment, Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday tweets. Some might view that as an ambitious ask, but Ivory could net that sort of deal this offseason given that there are many teams with significant cap space to use. On PFR’s list of top free agent running backs, Ivory stands as the No. 4 option behind Doug Martin, Lamar Miller, and Matt Forte.

Here are the very latest free agent rumors:

The Eagles have reached out to linebacker Nigel Bradham, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. The 26-year-old has a history with Philly DC Jim Schwartz.
Jerraud Powers says he’s unsure about future with the Cardinals as free agency nears, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com writes. “I think it’s close but at the same time, it’s not,” Powers said. “We’ve been in talks, but I don’t know what the waiting process is like. I’m starting to think that maybe they’re just going to move in another direction.” Powers, who made $4.35MM last season, wants a three- or four-year deal. He also says that he wants to join a club with a “winning pedigree” that can contend in 2016.
The Giants are nowhere near done making moves on the defensive line, Jordan Raanan of the Star-Ledger tweets. Raanan cautions to expect several more big moves. Earlier today, the Giants reached agreement with JPP on a new deal.
Charles Johnson has already visited the Giants and Buccaneers, but he might be signing with a different club based on the tone of this tweet. “2mor u will know my future!!! It’s going to be epic,” Johnson wrote.