2016 March - Pro Football Rumors

RFA Tender Decisions: 3/5/16

March 5th, 2016 at 3:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

When teams assign first- or second-round tenders to their restricted free agents, like the Raiders did with quarterback Matt McGloin, we’ll devote full news stories to those moves. But for the most part, RFAs around the league can expect to be either non-tendered or given a low-end tender worth $1.671MM. Teams have until Wednesday to tender restricted free agents. We’ll round up the players that fall into that group on Saturday in the space below, with the latest updates added to the top of the list throughout the day….

The Seahawks have offered center Patrick Lewis the low-end tender of $1.67MM, according to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (Twitter link). Lewis ascended into a full-time starting position with the Seahawks last season, starting all nine of the games in which he played. Lewis replaced Drew Nowak in October to become Seattle’s primary snapper. The 24-year-old ex-UDFA started in both of the Seahawks’ playoff games. Pro Football Focus didn’t have a strong preference for either Nowak or Lewis, ranking them as its Nos. 24 and 25 centers in 2015, respectively. Lewis will draw a raise of more than $1MM, however, after playing for $585K last season.

Vikings To Re-Sign Kenrick Ellis

March 5th, 2016 at 3:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Hours after reaching an agreement with UFA safety Andrew Sendejo, the Vikings have come to terms with Kenrick Ellis on a one-year deal, Tom Pelissero of USA Today reports (on Twitter).

Financial terms of Ellis’ impending accord are not yet known. The sixth-year defensive tackle will re-join a well-stocked Vikings interior-line rotation, one that’s fronted by starters Linval Joseph and Shariff Floyd and supplemented by Tom Johnson.

The Vikings initially snagged Ellis last October after he’d bounced between the Giants’ practice squad and active roster. A former third-round pick of the Jets’ in 2011, Ellis played four seasons with New Jersey’s AFC team before signing with its NFC counterpart last year. Ellis, though, didn’t see game action for the Giants after starting in five contests for the Jets from 2011-13.

The 28-year-old nose tackle played in nine games for the Vikings, however, contributing sparingly on defense while Joseph missed time due to injury. Pro Football Focus tabbed the 346-pound player with a 65.6 grade in part-time action.

Bucs’ Talks With Doug Martin Break Down

March 5th, 2016 at 2:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Doug Martin appeared headed for the free agent market as potentially the No. 1 running back available, but the Buccaneers engaged in discussions to retain the fifth-year running back.

Those talks did not materialize into common ground, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, who reports Martin will be expected to discuss his worth with other teams once the legal tampering period opens Monday.

Discussions between and Martin’s agent, Brian Murphy, ventured into Saturday afternoon without a solution that will keep the NFL’s second-leading rusher last season away from free agency.

We heard last week Martin was hoping to “hit the jackpot” in free agency after producing the second 1,400-yard rushing season of his career. Martin’s 1,402 ground yards last season also came on a career-best 4.9-yards-per-carry average. Martin, however, sputtered in his second and third seasons, combining to gain fewer than 1,000 yards and saw his per-carry average slink below 4.0.

Charles Sims matched Martin’s per-tote average, albeit on 181 fewer carries, but served as a superior passing-game option in gaining 561 yards compared to Martin’s 271.

Lamar Miller, Matt Forte, Chris Ivory and now Arian Foster would join Martin, who turned 27 in January, as the top proven ball-carriers on the market if the Bucs 2012 first-round pick becomes available for discussions with other teams.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Mario Williams Visits Dolphins

March 5th, 2016 at 2:34pm CST by Ben Levine

2:34pm: Williams arrived at the Dolphins’ facility, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). Beasley’s suspicions of a $6MM pact being enough to land Williams are accurate, according to an NFL source. Williams’ cap number was set to balloon to $19.9MM, leading to his release from the Bills. Beasley suggests the Dolphins could make room for Williams by rescinding their transition tag to Vernon and making the defensive end a free agent. The Dolphins are more than $3MM over the cap.

9:59am: As the Dolphins seek some reinforcement on the edge, they’re reportedly going to to host a former first-overall pick. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), Mario Williams is set to visit Miami today.

The Dolphins could be seeking some defensive line help, even after having inked Ndamukong Suh to a pricey contract last offseason. The team has been working with defensive end Cameron Wake on a new deal, and the 34-year-old’s future in Miami is uncertain. Meanwhile, the team placed the transition tag on defensive end Olivier Vernon, meaning there’s no guarantee that the 25-year-old will return next season.

Williams would certainly be an adequate replacement, even after a subpar 2015 season. The 31-year-0ld had compiled 38 sacks over his first three seasons with the Bills, but he finished this past campaign with only 19 tackles and five sacks. Darin Gantt of ProFootballTalk.com questions whether this reduced production could be attributed to new coach Rex Ryan or a lack of effort from Williams. The former North Carolina State standout joined the Bills on six-year, $100MM contract back in 2012.

As a result of his underwhelming season, Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald predicts (via Twitter) that the Dolphins wouldn’t have to break the bank to secure Williams’ services. The writer guesses that the defensive lineman may end up with a contract with about $6MM in average annual value. Rapoport believes there will be several suitors for the Pro Bowler, and the writer wouldn’t be shocked if Williams ends up signing a one-year, “prove-it deal” if he doesn’t receive any lucrative long-term offers.

Broncos Increase Offer To Brock Osweiler

March 5th, 2016 at 2:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two days away from being free to negotiate with other teams, Brock Osweiler now has more to consider about staying in Denver.

The Broncos have reportedly upped their offer to Osweiler, submitting one that’s worth more than $45MM over three years, according to Mike Klis of 9News.

Previously, we heard Osweiler’s top offer from the Broncos was for more than $12MM per season. This latest development looks like John Elway is serious about keeping the fifth-year quarterback off the market.

Elway noted at the Combine he would approach these negotiations with the 25-year-old Osweiler with the idea his second contract would be the one where he’d have the opportunity to prove he’s worth established-starter money, which is around $16MM. Twenty quarterbacks earn that on average, with most of the starters not beyond that salary still playing on their rookie deals.

Osweiler’s previous offer was in line with what Nick Foles signed for with the Rams last year, but this one’s closer in AAV to Andy Dalton‘s $16MM pact. Of course, without knowing how much guaranteed money’s involved, it’s difficult to compare.

Klis hears this offer has incentives and is uncertain about how much of this deal would be fully guaranteed. The Texans, Jets, Browns, Rams and 49ers have uncertainty at quarterback and could be among the suitors for the 2012 second-round pick if he reaches the market.

With Sam Bradford now back with the Eagles and Kirk Cousins signing his franchise tender with Washington, Osweiler and Ryan Fitzpatrick have ascended to the top of the prospective free agent market. This could entice Osweiler to at least gauge his worth beginning Monday, when the NFL’s soft free agency period begins and runs until the market official opens Wednesday afternoon.

In a solid-yet-unspectacular audition that concluded with a 61% completion rate and a 10-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, Osweiler went 5-2 as a starter last season for the Super Bowl champions after making no starts in the previous three campaigns.

Peyton Manning, meanwhile, still hasn’t informed the Broncos of his plans. The team is expected to move on from Manning, who, according to Klis, will get an update from the 39-year-old signal-caller on Monday or Tuesday.

Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images

Quarterback Notes: Flacco, Brees, Manning

March 5th, 2016 at 12:32pm CST by Ben Levine

Despite what the Ravens may be saying, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio is convinced that Joe Flacco‘s new contract is simply about saving money. The team’s website published an article earlier this week stating that the extension was about winning, not money.

“We did not do a deal to gain cap room,” Newsome had said (via Florio). “We did a deal so Joe Flacco could be on this football team for the next six years.”

However, the quarterback basically admitted that the new contract was intended to create more cap flexibility.

“We’ve got a bunch of good players and we’ve got a great foundation already but with the way the deal was before I mean it might not have been this year but at some point there was gonna be a strain on what we could do and what kind of guys we could bring in,” Flacco said on PFT Live. “You don’t wanna see any of the guys on your team have to be let go because of some issue with the cap and I wanted to play here. I wanted to play here, I want to play here, continue to play here for a long time.”

Let’s check out some other notes regarding several of the league’s top signal callers…

Considering the extra flexibility, Flacco would like to see the Ravens bring in some reinforcement on the offensive line. When appearing on PFT Live, the quarterback also seemed to hint that he’d prefer the team re-sign Kelechi Osemele. “The one thing is I would say we need to get our O-line solidified, see who’s going to be there for sure,” Flacco said (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). “We’ve got a couple guys, at least one guy who’s out in the open there, whether we’re going to get a contract done with him or not. So once we get those guys nailed down and see who they’re going to be, I think that’s the biggest part of a championship, as far as the offensive side of the ball.”
Drew Brees‘ 2016 cap number will balloon to $30MM in the next several days, and Florio wonders if the 37-year-old will break the recent monetary records set by Flacco. A new deal may benefit each side, especially since the Saints will owe the quarterback $43.2MM if they tag him in 2017.
Even if Brock Osweiler ends up leaving Denver, Mike Klis of 9 News can’t envision the Broncos bringing back Peyton Manning. Despite a successful four years with the franchise, the writer is convinced that it’s time to begin the “post-Manning era.”

FA Notes: Winslow, Hali, Evans, Fitzpatrick

March 5th, 2016 at 11:38am CST by Ben Levine

In January, former first-round pick Kellen Winslow tweeted that he was focused on an NFL comeback. The 32-year-old confirmed this sentiment when he appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio this week.

“My body feels good enough to come back and play at a high level, even better I think because I’m just a little wiser,” Winslow said (via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com). “It was good to get away from the game just to work on me. I want to be a better player than I was before. I think I can.”

Winslow has caught 469 passes for 5,236 yards and 25 touchdowns during his ten-year career, but he hasn’t played an NFL game since 2013. Let’s check out some more notes regarding some of the league’s notable free agents…

The Chiefs didn’t ink impending free agent Tamba Hali prior to the March 4th deadline, meaning the outside linebacker’s contract was automatically voided. According to Terez A. Paylor of KansasCity.com, the Chiefs will be charged $4MM against the cap, even if the 32-year-old ends up returning.
Jerrold Colton, the agent for former Saints guard Jahri Evans, told 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia (including Geoff Mosher) that his client “has [a] good chance” to sign a contract prior to the start of free agency.
Sam Bradford‘s new deal with the Eagles could have an impact on Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s future contract, writes ESPN’s Rich Cimini. Since the Jets presumably wouldn’t want to commit to the 33-year-old longterm, the writer wonders if the quarterback could secure a similar two-year deal.
ESPN’s James Walker mentions three potential destinations for free agent defensive end Olivier Vernon: the Jaguars, Giants, and Cowboys.

Raiders Tender RFA Offer To Neiko Thorpe

March 5th, 2016 at 10:37am CST by Ben Levine

Quarterback Matt McGloin wasn’t the only member of the Raiders to be receive a second-round tender offer. According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (via Twitter), the team has assigned an identical tender to safety Neiko Thorpe. The second-round tender is worth $2.553MM, which would ultimately be the 26-year-old’s non-guaranteed base salary for next season. If Thorpe signs elsewhere, the Raiders will now be able to recoup a second-round pick.

The former undrafted free agent out of Auburn had a career season in 2015. Thorpe compiled career-highs in tackles (40), passes defended (six), and interceptions (one) while starting two of his 14 games. The cornerback joined the Raiders in early 2014 after having spent time with the Chiefs and the Toronto Argonauts.

We learned yesterday that the team had also assigned a low-end tender to offensive lineman Matt McCants, and Pelissero tweets that defensive end Benson Mayowa had received an identical tender offer. The 24-year-old spent the past two seasons with Oakland, and he finished 2015 with 16 tackles and one sack.

Corey Graham Restructures Contract

March 5th, 2016 at 10:05am CST by Sam Robinson

SATURDAY, 10:05am: ESPN’s Mike Rodak tweets that Graham’s new cap number is worth $4.775MM, resulting in a $600K savings for the franchise. Reversely, after having converted the defensive back’s $500K roster bonus and $700,000 in incentives, the team increased Graham’s 2017 cap hold by $600K (via Rodak). The length and base salary of the new deal remains unchanged.

THURSDAY, 5:04pm: Versatile Bills defensive back Corey Graham agreed to restructure his deal, the team announced on its Twitter account.

Terms of the safety’s adjusted contract have not been disclosed. Graham was owed $6.35MM in base salaries over the final two seasons of his four-year, $16.3MM deal he signed with Buffalo in 2014.

Graham, who moved from cornerback to safety and led the Bills with 122 tackles in 2015, was scheduled to have a $5.375MM cap hold. He’s the latest player to restructure as the 2015 league year winds down. Graham is entering his age-31 season.

Charles Clay did so late last month despite going into only his second year with the team.

The Bills need to carve out at least $13.706MM of their cap after placing the franchise tag on left tackle Cordy Glenn. Buffalo also has resurgent guard Richie Incognito looming as an unrestricted free agent.

The Bills began moving their way toward that figure and then some earlier this week by axing Mario Williams, Anthony Dixon and Kraig Urbik.

Packers Re-Sign Mason Crosby

March 5th, 2016 at 8:45am CST by Ben Levine

SATURDAY, 8:45am: Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has several more details on the deal. Crosby will be paid $6.15MM in 2016, and his salary cap number will be worth $2.4MM.

The contract contains escalators that could increase the value over the final three years, and the kicker will have $1.25MM worth of prorated signing bonus as cap obligation for each year of the contract. This means if the team wanted to cut him following the 2016 season, they’d have to “absorb” $3.75MM into their cap. If they wanted to cut him a year later, they’d be responsible for $2.5MM.

WEDNESDAY, 1:34pm: The Packers have officially announced their new deal with Crosby in a press release.

TUESDAY, 6:25pm: Crosby’s contract is worth $16.1MM with a $5MM signing bonus, tweets Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky tweets that Crosby’s $4.025MM average annual salary trails only Justin Tucker and Stephen Gostkowski among kickers.

5:47pm: Although the Packers decided to not slap kicker Mason Crosby with the franchise tag, there was still a belief that the long-time Green Bay standout would return to the franchise. Those sentiments proved to be accurate, as Crosby’s agent, Mike McCartney, announced on Twitter that the kicker has signed a four-year contract with the Packers.

This was presumably the ideal route for the organization, as the franchise tag would have required the team to pay Crosby $4.5MM for 2016. Our own Luke Adams wrote that Crosby would likely secure a lower annual value if he signed an extension, although he should expect more overall guaranteed money.

The 31-year-old has spent the entirety of his nine-year career with the Packers, and he’s coming off one of the best seasons of his career. Crosby finished with career-highs in field goal percentage (85.7 percent) and efficiency from 50-plus yards (80 percent). The veteran kicker was also perfect on extra points, improving his career average to 99.1-percent. The former sixth-round pick has yet to miss a game during his career.