2016 March - Pro Football Rumors

Free Agent Rumors: Wisniewski, Browns, Pacman

March 7th, 2016 at 4:47pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns have expressed interest in Jaguars free agent center Stefen Wisniewski, a league source tells Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter). The Browns are in danger of losing three-time Pro Bowl center Alex Mack to free agency and they could turn to the 26-year-old as a replacement. Hue Jackson was the coach in Oakland when the Raiders used their 2011 second round draft choice on Wisniewski.

The latest free agent rumors from around the NFL:

The Browns have expressed interest in free agent cornerback Adam Jones, a league source tells Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer (on Twitter). Jones, a Bengals free agent, has been heavily linked to Miami in recent weeks thanks to his connection with defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
The Vikings and Matt Asiata are far apart on a possible contract, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (on Twitter) hears from a source. Several other teams expressed an interest in the running back on Monday, he adds. Asiata has previously stated that he would like to return to Minnesota.
49ers free agent Alex Boone and Cardinals free agent Bobby Massie are two offensive linemen who could get north of $8MM per season, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) hears.
The Vikings have reached out to the representative of Bengals free agent linebacker Vincent Rey, per Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (on Twitter). The Vikings are in need of a linebacker and Mike Zimmer is familiar with Rey from their previous time together.
Backup quarterback Drew Stanton is unlikely to return to the Cardinals, an NFL source tells Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter).
The Eagles had significant interest in signing wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey before he re-upped with the Steelers, as Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets.

Broncos Place Peyton Manning On Reserve/Retired List

March 7th, 2016 at 4:42pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ve known for some time that Peyton Manning would retire, but it wasn’t immediately clear whether the Broncos would place him on the reserve/retired list or simply release him. Today, we have our answer, as the Broncos have officially placed Manning on the reserve/retired list. Now, if Manning ever does decide to return to football, the Broncos will retain his rights.

Manning decided to retire from the NFL over the weekend, leaving the sport as a two-time Super Bowl champion and a shoe-in Hall of Famer. No. 18 leaves the game as the league’s all-time leader in total wins by a QB (200), passing yards (71,940), and passing touchdowns (539) and also leaves the sport as the highest-paid player in league history. Over his career, Manning has netted roughly a quarter-billion dollars, and that’s before considering his sponsorship deals.

Manning evened the score with brother Eli Manning when he secured his second Super Bowl ring, but Manning had a tumultuous year to say the least. Manning struggled mightily to open the season but many didn’t notice as the Broncos came out of the gate 7-0 thanks to their defense. Soon after that, however, Manning’s decline became quite apparent to all observers. The Broncos eventually installed Brock Osweiler as their starting QB and it wasn’t until Week 17 when they put the Sheriff back in the starting role.

Nevertheless, Manning leaves the game as one of the very best quarterbacks of all-time. And, if he ever pulls a Brett Favre, the Broncos will own his NFL rights.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Panthers Re-Sign Stephen Hill

March 7th, 2016 at 4:27pm CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers (Twitter link) announced that they have re-signed wide receiver Stephen Hill to a one-year deal. Hill missed all of the 2015 season after tearing his ACL over the summer.

Prior to Hill’s unfortunate injury, the team was said to be high on the wide receiver. Hill’s talent led the Jets to take him in the second round of the 2012 draft, but he was never able to come close to what was expected of him. After two disappointing seasons, the Jets cut Hill prior to the 2014 season. Soon after, the Panthers added him to their taxi squad. In July of last year, Hill was issued a citation for a drug paraphernalia charge during a traffic stop in Concord, North Carolina. Despite all the bumps in the road, the Panthers are apparently not ready to give up on Hill.

Terms of the deal are not yet known, but it’s doubtful that the Panthers are committing serious dollars to Hill.

RFA Tender Signings & Decisions: 3/7/16

March 7th, 2016 at 4:20pm CST by Zachary Links

When teams assign first- or second-round tenders to their restricted free agents, or when those RFAs accept the tender, we’ll devote full news stories to those moves. For news concerning everyone else getting the lower tenders, we’ll round it up in the space below, with the latest updates added to the top of the list throughout the day….

Fullback James Develin announced that he is returning to the Patriots on a one-year deal, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. The Patriots did not plan to tender Develin an offer at $1.6MM, so the two sides worked out a reduced one-year pact (link).
Defensive tackle Stefan Charles will not be tendered an offer by the Bills, per John Kryk of The Toronto Sun (on Twitter). Defensive tackle Corbin Bryant, wide receiver Chris Hogan, and tackle Jordan Mills were tendered offers, however. There could be some teams interested in Hogan, Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News tweets, and that low tender might not ward of interested clubs.
Washington has tendered a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Duke Ihenacho, a source tells John Keim of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Fullback Jorvorskie Lane will not be getting a tender from the Buccaneers, Greg Auman of The Tampa Bay Times tweets.
The Panthers will not tender defensive end Frank Alexander an offer or re-sign him, a source tells Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter). Alexander must sit out until November thanks to his third drug suspension.

Jaguars’ Ryan Davis Signs One-Year Tender

March 7th, 2016 at 4:03pm CST by Zachary Links

Jaguars defensive end Ryan Davis signed his one-year tender, according to Mike DiRocco of ESPN.com. He will make $2.553MM in 2016 , which, as DiRocco notes, is more than four times what he made in 2015.

Davis, 27, has appeared in 38 games over the last four years for Jacksonville, earning three accrued seasons during that stretch. He has never played more than a part-time role, but he has shown a knack for getting after the quarterback when he sees the field, recording 11 sacks and three forced fumbles in his NFL career. In 2015, Davis played 250 defensive snaps and picked up 3.5 sacks. He also received the top pass-rushing grade from Pro Football Focus out of any of the Jaguars’ edge defenders or interior linemen.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Saints To Re-Sign Kyle Wilson

March 7th, 2016 at 3:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Pending free agent cornerback Kyle Wilson won’t hit the open market on Wednesday, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network, who reports (via Twitter) that the Saints and Wilson have agreed to terms on a one-year contract that will keep him in New Orleans.

Wilson, a former first-round pick, spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Jets before heading to New Orleans for the 2015 season. While he didn’t live up to expectations in the Big Apple, Wilson played well as the Saints’ third cornerback last season, picking up 27 tackles and an interception. Pro Football Focus ranked him 47th out of 111 qualified players at the position.

Despite re-signing Wilson and retaining Delvin Breaux, the Saints will likely be in the market for help at the cornerback position this offseason. The team reportedly intends to cut Brandon Browner from its roster when the new league year begins on Wednesday, after Browner ranked dead-last among PFF’s cornerback rankings in 2015.

FA Rumors: Whitehead, Clayborn, Vikings, Jags

March 7th, 2016 at 3:44pm CST by Luke Adams

With Kiko Alonso set to head to Miami once the trade between the Dolphins and Eagles becomes official, Philadelphia will be in the market for a new linebacker. And Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com hears that the Eagles are targeting a player with whom new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is familiar.

According to Shorr-Parks, the Eagles have expressed interest in Lions linebacker Tahir Whitehead, who can become a free agent this week. Whitehead ranked as our top non-rush outside linebacker when we examined 2016’s top defensive free agents over the weekend, and he’d represent an upgrade over Alonso. However, he’ll also be more expensive, so we’ll see if Howie Roseman and the Eagles can make it work.

Here’s more updates on free agents around the NFL:

Free agent defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn, who has experience playing inside and outside, is drawing interest from a few teams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Rapoport identifies the Giants, Jaguars, Cowboys, and Dolphins as some of the clubs “lurking” on Clayborn.
Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press passes along a couple updates on the Vikings‘ free agent prospects, reporting (via Twitter) that the team has inquired on safety Reggie Nelson, who previously played for Mike Zimmer in Cincinnati. Tomasson adds (via Twitter) that he’s hearing offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele may be too expensive for Minnesota.
Could defensive lineman Malik Jackson be a top target for the Jaguars this week? Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk explains why it could be a good match, noting that Jacksonville is believed to have several targets for the first wave of free agency.
Free agent wide receiver James Jones tells Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link) that he wants to keep playing for “at least three more years”
Buccaneers safety Keith Tandy, an unrestricted free agent, has been in talks to return to Tampa Bay, and there’s a good chance he re-signs with the team within the next few days, says Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link).

Panthers To Use Second-Round Tender On Mike Remmers

March 7th, 2016 at 3:28pm CST by Zachary Links

The Panthers have used the second round RFA tender on starting right tackle Mike Remmers, agent Brett Tessler tweets. GM Dave Gettleman indicated in late February that Remmers would be retained and Carolina has taken a strong step towards that with their decision today.

The Panthers first acquired Remmers when they signed him off the Rams’ taxi squad in October of 2014. Looking at how he has improved his value since that point, the Rams might regret keeping him on the practice squad rather than the 53-man roster. Pro Football Focus (sub. req’d) rated Remmers as the 43rd best tackle in the league last season, giving him significantly higher marks for his run blocking than his pass blocking.

For more on the Panthers’ offseason plans, check out PFR’s Offseason Outlook for Carolina.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Cowboys Use Second-Round Tender On Ronald Leary

March 7th, 2016 at 3:17pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys have placed a second-round tender on restricted free agent guard Ronald Leary, according to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. The tender would pay Leary $2.553MM in 2016. Meanwhile, safety Jeff Heath was given the low tender worth $1.671MM.

Leary was on the field for 137 pass snaps and 84 run snaps this season, according to the stats compiled by Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Although he did not qualify to be ranked based on that limited sample size, Leary was given an overall grade of 72.2, which would have placed him near the backend of the top 30.

In other Cowboys news, we recently learned that quarterback Tony Romo will go under the knife next week to have a “Mumford procedure” on his collarbone, rather than having a plate inserted. Meanwhile, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told Gil Brandt of NFL.com that he will not take a QB with the No. 4 overall pick.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Dolphins Agree To Acquire Byron Maxwell, Kiko Alonso

March 7th, 2016 at 3:15pm CST by Luke Adams

3:15pm: The Dolphins will be taking on Maxwell’s full contract for 2016, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter links), who adds that the cornerback’s deal will be reworked for 2017.

2:25pm: Maxwell and Alonso have both been informed that they’re being dealt to the Dolphins, pending physicals, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter). Contract work between the Dolphins and Maxwell is being finalized, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. The deal can’t become official until the start of the new league year.

2:02pm: The Dolphins and Eagles are attempting to finalize a trade that would send Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso – another Kelly acquisition – to Miami in exchange for draft-pick compensation, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

10:49am: The Dolphins and Eagles are discussing a trade that would send cornerback Byron Maxwell to Miami, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, who tweets that it’s “in the works.”

Less than a year ago, Maxwell signed a six-year, $63MM contract to join the Eagles as a free agent. With Chip Kelly no longer making personnel decisions in Philadelphia this offseason, it seems the club is interested in moving on from the former head coach’s most expensive addition.

Maxwell’s contract would leave $4.8MM in dead money on the Eagles’ cap if they were to move him in a trade. For the Dolphins, it would mean taking on a fully guaranteed $8.5MM base salary for 2016, plus a partially guaranteed $10MM base salary ($3MM guaranteed) for 2017. Maxwell’s salaries for 2018 to 2020 are fully non-guaranteed.

In his first season in Philadelphia, Maxwell was underwhelming, though that impression can be attributed to the increased expectations that his huge contract brought with him. Prior to 2015, Maxwell had only made 17 career starts, and the fact that the Seahawks’ secondary also featured Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and Earl Thomas certainly helped him look better. As the top option in a weak free agent class of corners, Maxwell got paid more than he should have.

If the Dolphins acquire Maxwell, the team will likely either rework his contract or make additional roster moves to help accommodate the deal. Miami is in the market for help at cornerback, with Brice McCain released and Brent Grimes and Jamar Taylor coming off unspectacular 2015 campaigns. As Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets, Grimes – whose cap hit is $9.5MM in 2016 – could be affected by a Maxwell trade.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.