2016 April - Pro Football Rumors

Cowboys Rumors: Hardy, Goff, Wentz

April 4th, 2016 at 7:02pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest out of Dallas:

Free agent defensive end Greg Hardy sat down for an interview with Adam Schefter of ESPN (video link) and claimed that he never put his hands on his alleged domestic assault victim. Hardy had another solid season as a pass rusher in 2015, recording six sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception in 12 games for the Cowboys. However, he remains on the open market thanks to his reputation for being difficult in the locker room and the PR backlash that his signing would bring for a team.
The Cowboys will bring in quarterbacks Jared Goff, Carson Wentz, Paxton Lynch, Christian Hackenberg, Connor Cook, and Jacoby Brissett for visits, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes. Hackenberg, Cook, and Brissett could be had later in the draft while Goff, Wentz, and Lynch are likely first round picks.
Laquon Treadwell will visit with the Cowboys tomorrow, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Shaq Lawson‘s long anticipated visit to the Cowboys took place on Monday, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Alabama running back Derrick Henry will visit the Cowboys this week, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle (Twitter links) has the details on Joe Looney‘s two-year contract with Dallas. The interior lineman will get $1.675MM with a $100K signing bonus and salaries of $775K and $800K. He’ll also get a $250K play time incentive in 2016 and a $500K playtime incentive in 2017.
Jack Crawford‘s one-year deal will pay him $1.1MM but he can earn up to $1.6MM through incentives, Clarence Hill of The Star-Telegram tweets.

Raiders, Aldon Smith Reach Agreement

April 4th, 2016 at 5:25pm CST by Luke Adams

5:25pm: Smith’s two-year deal carries a base value of $11MM with a max value of $19.5MM, according to Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Smith can boost the value of his deal through sack and Pro Bowl incentives. Smith won’t earn the full amount of that deal due to his suspension, but he’s still slated for a nice payday when he does get back to football.

2:17pm: It’s a two-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

12:58pm: The Raiders and free agent outside linebacker Aldon Smith have an agreement in place, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). According to Schefter, Smith was spotted at the team’s facility today, attempting to put the finishing touches on a deal.

Although the Raiders and Smith can finalize a contract now, the veteran pass rusher will be ineligible to return to the field to begin the 2016 season. Last November, the NFL hit Smith with a suspension of at least one calendar year, meaning he can’t be reinstated until November 2016 at the earliest.

In nine games for the Raiders last season, Smith racked up 28 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three pass deflections. When healthy and on the field, Smith can be one of the league’s most effective pass rushers, as he exhibited during his first two years in the NFL. As a part-time player in his rookie season, the linebacker recorded 14 sacks, and he piled up another 19.5 as a starter in 2012, en route to a spot on the All-Pro first team.

However, Smith’s off-field issues limited his production in 2013 and 2014 — he missed nearly half the Niners’ games over that span after entering a rehabilitation facility in 2013 and serving a nine-game suspension in 2014. The Jaguars, Buccaneers, and Rams also made contract offers to Smith prior to the 2015 season and reportedly offered more money, but Smith chose to sign with Oakland partially because of its proximity to his Bay Area home. Given his proclivity for the Bay Area, it’s not a surprise to see him re-up with Oakland.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Patriots Sign Terrance Knighton

April 4th, 2016 at 4:58pm CST by Zachary Links

APRIL 4th, 4:58pm: The Pats formally announced the Knighton deal, as Ben Volin of The Boston Globe tweets.

MARCH 31st, 5:54pm: It’s a one-year, $4.5MM deal, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

5:04pm: Pot Roast has reached his verdict. Terrance Knighton has been deciding between offers from Washington and the Patriots this week and he has decided to join New England, according to Dianna Marie Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Knighton, who started his career in Jacksonville, spent two seasons in Denver before heading to Washington for the 2015 campaign. The 29-year-old has been very durable in his first seven NFL seasons, appearing in 108 total regular-season games, including 96 starts.

A nose tackle, in Washington’s 3-4 scheme, Pot Roast logged 29 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2015. Although he didn’t have quite the same impact last year that he did during his final season as a Bronco, Knighton ranked in the top half of Pro Football Focus’ list of qualified interior defenders, placing 58th out of 123 players. Predictably, PFF assigned Knighton a much better grade as a run defender than as a pass rusher.

Last offseason, Pot Roast was expected to net a sizable deal but wound up having to settle for a one-year, $4MM pact from Washington. The six-year veteran was an integral part of a Broncos team that had the league’s second-best run defense in 2014, and Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated Knighton 12th among 81 qualifying D-tackles. He’ll now try to get back to his 2014 form in New England.

The Patriots don’t run a 3-4 base, so he won’t be playing quite the same role that he did in D.C. Still, New England is in need of big bodies up front, having lost Akiem Hicks and Sealver Siliga in free agency earlier this month.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/4/16

April 4th, 2016 at 4:56pm CST by Zachary Links

Here are today’s minor moves from around the league:

The Giants have agreed to sign offensive lineman Ryan Seymour, as Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News tweets. Seymour, a veteran of five NFL teams over three seasons, was non-tendered by New Orleans in March.

Earlier Updates:

The Lions have agreed to sign former Cincinnati defensive end Wallace Gilberry, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The one-year deal is worth up to $1.75MM.
The Cowboys will re-sign defensive lineman Jack Crawford, as David Moore of the Dallas Morning News tweets. It’s a one-year deal, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes.
The Jaguars announced that they have claimed tackle Tanner Hawkinson off waivers from the Eagles. Hawkinson, a 2013 fifth-round pick of Cincinnati, did any snaps last year for Philadelphia despite being active for two contests.
The 49ers announced on Monday that offensive lineman Jordan Devey has signed a one-year exclusive rights tender. The Niners acquired Devey from New England in August of last year and he went on to appear in 15 games with nine starts.
The Panthers have signed punter Michael Palardy, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.
Former Pittsburgh H-back Will Johnson has agreed to sign with the Giants on a two-year deal, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler writes. Johnson can line up as a tight end, fullback, or running back and is also a special teams contributor. Johnson was reportedly looking to sign with a team that would give him more carries, so it’s possible that he will be a bigger part of the offense in New York than he was in Pittsburgh.
The Lions have signed veteran tight end Matthew Mulligan, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

Patriots Sign TE Clay Harbor

April 4th, 2016 at 4:55pm CST by Zachary Links

APRIL 4th: The Pats formally announced the signing, as Ben Volin of The Boston Globe tweets.

MARCH 30th: The Patriots have agreed to sign tight end Clay Harbor, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Harbor visited the Patriots at the start of free agency and while we haven’t heard much in the last three weeks, it appears the two sides have finally reached agreement on a deal.

After averaging 25 receptions per season from 2012 to 2014, Harbor caught 14 balls for 149 yards and a touchdown in 2015 for the Jaguars, primarily serving as a blocker. Pats coach Bill Belichick “spoke at length” last season about how Harbor was used, calling him a FB/TE hybrid, so his interest in the 28-year-old (29 in July) did not come as a huge surprise.

With major depth at the tight end position, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Harbor get a chunk of his playing time at fullback. On the tight end depth chart, Harbor figures to be slated behind star Rob Gronkowski and new acquisition Martellus Bennett. The Patriots also have 6’6″ Michael Williams in the fold.

In other Patriots news, New England could be on the verge of signing defensive lineman Terrance Knighton. The Pats also inked cornerback E.J. Biggers on Tuesday.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Reggie Nelson Visiting Raiders

April 4th, 2016 at 4:04pm CST by Zachary Links

Free agent safety Reggie Nelson is on his way to visit the Raiders, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Nelson will meet with Oakland later today and tomorrow.

Nelson placed No. 41 on our Top 50 NFL Free Agents List and stands as one of the best available players of the offseason. The tenth-year veteran had 77 tackles and a league-leading 8 interceptions last year for Cincinnati. Still, while he had a strong 2015, his earning power is somewhat limited as he enters his age-33 season.

We haven’t heard much about Nelson since the opening of free agency when the Vikings, Buccaneers, and Washington were all connected to him. Surprisingly, the Bengals did not make much of an effort to retain Nelson after offering him a two-year deal in early March. Here at PFR, we had Nelson ranked as the offseason’s No. 5 free agent safety behind George Iloka, Eric Weddle, Rodney McLeod, Tashaun Gipson. All four of those players signed lucrative deals last month.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Bills Sign Corey White

April 4th, 2016 at 2:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills announced the signing of defensive back Corey White. White visited Buffalo earlier today along with linebacker Zach Brown, who has also officially inked his deal with the Bills. In related news, the Bills have also officially signed wide receiver Leonard Hankerson.

From 2012 through 2014, White started 19 games with New Orleans, including 9 in 2014. The former fifth-round pick of the Saints started off the 2015 season with the Cowboys but was released in November. There were conflicting reports surrounding White’s exit from the team – one report indicted that White was cut for locker room reasons while another report asserted that he was released solely for football reasons. White, 26 in May, hooked on with the Cardinals in December of last year, taking the roster spot of Robert Nelson Jr.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Jets Sign Bruce Carter

April 4th, 2016 at 2:29pm CST by Ben Levine

MONDAY, 2:29pm: The Jets have officially announced the deal.

SATURDAY, 10:45am: NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport has confirmed the signing on Twitter, noting that it’s a one-year deal for Carter.

9:52am: Former Cowboys and Buccaneers linebacker Bruce Carter had zeroed in on a landing spot. According to Jenna Laine of Sports Talk 1040 (via Twitter), the 28-year-old is expected to sign with the Jets. The former second-round pick also visited the Lions and Bills this past week.

Carter joined the Buccaneers last offseason on a four-year deal, and he was expected to slide in as the team’s starting middle linebacker. His lone season with Tampa Bay ended up being rather uninspiring. The veteran started only three of his 14 games, and he ended up playing less than a third of his team’s defensive snaps. His counting stats were still solid, as he compiled 47 tackles and a pair of sacks. The Buccaneers eventually cut Carter in early March.

Prior to his tenure in Tampa Bay, Carter was a rather fearsome force in the middle of the Cowboys defense. His 2014 campaign saw him compiling 48 tackles, eight passes defended, and five interceptions (which led to one defensive touchdown). In 2013, he started 13 games and finished with a career-high 96 tackles.

Despite having re-signed Erin Henderson, the Jets were in the market for a linebacker after having lost Demario Davis in free agency. Carter’s ability to play inside and outside linebacker in 4-3 defensive schemes should make him a versatile addition to the defense.

Bills To Sign Zach Brown

April 4th, 2016 at 1:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Linebacker Zach Brown has signed a one-year deal with the Bills, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). Brown has seemingly confirmed the deal on Twitter. Exact terms of the deal are not yet known.

Brown, who started 33 games for the Titans over the last four years and had 77 tackles in 2015, is one of the more intriguing free agents still available. The linebacker visited with Buffalo on Monday morning and it didn’t take long for the two sides to shake hands on a deal.

The Bills also met with defensive back Corey White on Monday but it’s not yet known whether he’ll be joining Buffalo as well.

Last season, the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated Brown as the 30th best linebacker (tied with Bobby Wagner) in the NFL. Brown received strong marks for his coverage and pass rush, though his 43.3 run defense score was underwhelming. Ultimately, his overall grade slotted him ahead of NFL notables like David Harris, Lavonte David, Jasper Brinkley, and Clay Matthews.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

LeSean McCoy Will Not Be Charged

April 4th, 2016 at 1:44pm CST by Luke Adams

1:44pm: Philadelphia DA Seth Williams announced that there is “insufficient evidence” to bring charges against McCoy, as David Gabacorta of Philadelphia Magazine tweets.

10:00am: Dennis Cogan, McCoy’s attorney, tells Mark Schwarz of ESPN that the Philadelphia D.A.’s office will have a news conference at 2:30pm ET today, tweets Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.

9:53am: The Philadelphia District Attorney is not expected to issue any arrest warrants related to a February altercation between off-duty police officers and a group of four men that included Bills running back LeSean McCoy, reports Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter links). According to McLane, the D.A.’s office is expected to formally announce its decision today or tomorrow.

McCoy, who earned a Pro Bowl nod during his first season with the Bills in 2015, has been under investigation for nearly two months for his role in an altercation at a Philadelphia nightclub, when he and three of his companions fought with at least two off-duty police officers. As Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets, no charges will be filed due to a lack of clear evidence.

Still, while McCoy may not face legal ramifications for the altercation, a suspension is still a possibility for the running back, since the NFL will conduct its own investigation. A report in February indicated that the Bills were planning as if the Pro Bowler would miss games.

If McCoy is ultimately suspended for his role in the nightclub incident, the Bills would likely turn to Karlos Williams as their starter to open the 2016 season. Although McCoy would be missed in that scenario, Buffalo could probably get by with Williams leading the rushing attack for a few weeks — in his rookie season, he averaged an impressive 5.6 yards per carry and scored nine touchdowns.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.