HEADLINES

Month: December 2024

Browns Exercise Damarious Randall’s Option

April 30th, 2018 at 12:23pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns have exercised the fifth-year option for defensive back Damarious Randall, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Browns acquired Randall from the Packers via trade earlier this offseason. 

[RELATED: 2019 Fifth-Year Option Decision Tracker]

The fifth-year option is guaranteed for injury only, so the Browns will have the option to bail for any non-health reason. Assuming he remains with the club through 2019, Randall will earn $9.069MM, as shown on PFR’s fifth-year option tracker.

A first-round selection (No. 30 overall) in 2015, Randall appeared in 39 games with 30 starts for the Packers. In that time, he amassed ten interceptions, including four in 2017, one of which was taken to the house for a pick six.

Randall placed as the 81st ranked corner in the NFL last year, per Pro Football Focus, but GM John Dorsey isn’t overly concerned with analytics. This year, the Browns will convert Randall from cornerback to free safety as fellow newcomers T.J. Carrie and Denzel Ward start on the outside.

Redskins Release DL A.J. Francis

April 30th, 2018 at 12:14pm CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins are cleaning house on the defensive line. The team has informed defensive tackle/end A.J. Francis of his release, according to JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington (on Twitter). 

[RELATED: Redskins Cut Terrell McClain]

News of Francis’ release came moments after it was learned that defensive lineman Terrell McClain has been cut. The Redskins’ new-look defensive tackle group will be headlined by first-round pick Da’Ron Payne and will likely include fifth-round choice Tim Settle.

Francis has bounced around the NFL since entering the league in 2014, including stints with the Dolphins and Seahawks. Last year, he appeared in six contests for the ‘Skins and totaled 18 tackles.

Jets To Re-Sign DE David Bass

April 30th, 2018 at 12:05pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets have agreed to re-sign defensive end David Bass, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. The news was first reported by NFL Draft Diamonds (Twitter link). 

Bass, 28 in September, hooked on with the Jets prior to their Week 3 game last year. He went on to total 22 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 13 games (two starts). Bass only had a limited sample of 326 snaps, but for what it’s worth, he did place as the 45th ranked edge defender in the league out of 106 qualified players, per Pro Football Focus. His strong 81.6 run coverage score was good for 28th amongst edge rushers and his overall score was the best of any Jets DE in 2017.

In other Jets news, the team dropped wide receiver Jalin Marshall after the conclusion of the draft.

Vikings Sign 17 Undrafted Free Agents

April 30th, 2018 at 11:55am CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings have agreed to terms with 17 undrafted free agents. Here’s the complete rundown:

Hill received $75K guaranteed in the form of a $15K signing bonus and $60K in base salary, which is the most money received by UDFA since Mike Zimmer became the team’s head coach in 2014, writes Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune.

Robertson received $50K guaranteed with his deal, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. The wide receiver caught 76 passes for 1,106 yards for Southern Mississippi last season.

Wieneke, a native of Maple Grove, Minnesota, said this week that he is ecstatic about the opportunity to play for the Vikings.

“It’s the best feeling in the world,’’ said Wieneke (via Tomasson). “I get to stay with the team I grew up loving and I get to stay in Minnesota. It can’t be anything better than this.’’

Dooley received $41K in guaranteed money with an $11K signing bonus and $30K in base salary.

Hill may be the most intriguing prospect of the bunch. The cornerback was suspended by Texas for the last month of the season for reasons that are still unknown. In terms of talent, he was regarded as a draftable player.

Meanwhile, running backs Thomas and Boone and fullback/running back Pettway have a reach chance at making the roster after the Vikings declined to select a running back over the weekend. After the departure of Jerick McKinnon, there are no other running backs to support Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray.

Redskins Release DL Terrell McClain

April 30th, 2018 at 11:28am CST by Zachary Links

The Redskins have cut defensive lineman Terrell McClain, a source tells John Keim of ESPN.com (on Twitter). McClain had three years left on his contract, but his base salary of $3.25MM for 2018 was not guaranteed. 

[RELATED: Redskins Cut A.J. Francis]

McClain is being pushed out after the Redskins drafted two defensive linemen in Da’Ron Payne (first round) and Tim Settle (fifth round). McClain appeared in 12 games with two starts for the Redskins last year, but he did not make a huge impact in his first season in D.C. McClain graded out as one of the three worst qualified defensive tackles in the NFL last year, per Pro Football Focus, though he did manage two sacks from the interior.

Payne projects to start at nose tackle in the Redskins’ 3-4 scheme with Settle, Ziggy Hood, Montori Hughes, and Ondre Pipkins among those vying for jobs in support. Hood is also coming off of a rough season with marks that were similar to McClain’s, so his spot on the team is not secure either. Releasing Hood would save the Redskins $150K with $1.6MM+ in cap savings.

Raiders’ Donald Penn Accused Of Domestic Violence

April 30th, 2018 at 11:03am CST by Zachary Links

Raiders left tackle Donald Penn is a suspect in a domestic violence incident, according to TMZ. Penn allegedly slapped his wife’s behind and poured a drink on her head, which resulted in her calling the police. By the time cops arrived at their Los Angeles home, Penn had already left the scene.

In a joint statement to TMZ, Penn and his wife downplayed the incident:

“There was a verbal disagreement, there was NO physical altercation. The two are in the middle of a divorce and it is a hard time for both parties.”

New head coach Jon Gruden shook things up this offseason, but Penn remains a big part of the Raiders’ game plan for 2018. He didn’t have his best campaign last year, but he still graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 23 ranked tackle in the NFL. Quality tackles are in short supply in today’s game and the Raiders badly need to have Penn on the field this year.

Last offseason, Penn had some offseason contract drama with the Raiders, but the two sides smoothed things out in time for the start of the season. In September, they agreed to a two-year, $21MM extension that is supposed to him in place through 2019. The revised deal calls for a $8.35MM cap number this year ($3MM guaranteed) and a $10.35MM cap figure in ’19 (non-guaranteed).

Penn is slated to start for Oakland on the left side with first-round pick Kolton Miller manning the other.

Vikings Pick Up Trae Waynes’ Option

April 30th, 2018 at 10:55am CST by Zachary Links

On Monday, the Vikings made an easy call. The fifth-year option for cornerback Trae Waynes has been exercised, according to a team announcement. 

As the No. 11 pick in the 2015 draft, Waynes will earn $9.069MM in 2019. As shown on PFR’s Fifth-Year Option Tracker, many of the first-round picks from that class have already had the extra season tacked on to their contracts. Teams have until Thursday to make determinations on the remaining players.

Waynes started in all 16 games for the first time in his career last year. He tallied 65 total tackles, two interceptions, eleven passes defensed, and his first career sack.

Waynes will return as the team’s CB2 alongside First-Team All-Pro Xavier Rhodes. The Vikings will also get cornerback Mike Hughes involved after selecting the UCF product with a late first-round choice.

The bar is set high in Minnesota after the team finished out as the league’s No. 1 defense in 2017, but the unit looks as fierce as ever thanks to the addition of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.

Jaguars Release P Brad Nortman

April 30th, 2018 at 10:28am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars announced that they have released punter Brad Nortman. The move indicates that the Jaguars expect seventh-round pick Logan Cooke to handle punting duties in 2018. 

Nortman, 29 in September, spent the first four years of his career with the Panthers before signing a free agent deal with the Jaguars in 2016. His contract was set to run through 2019, but Jacksonville has opted to bail in order to save $2.1MM+ in cap room. However, they will be left on the hook for $250K in dead money.

Nortman averaged 45.3 yards per kick for the Jaguars over the last two years, though his average dropped slightly in 2017. Overall, the move appears to be less about Nortman’s ability and more about saving money as the Jags believe they have found a comparable talent at a cheaper rate in Cooke.

Browns Sign QB Joel Stave

April 30th, 2018 at 9:45am CST by Zachary Links

The Browns signed quarterback Joel Stave on Monday, per a team announcement. To make room for Stave and other signings to come, they waived wide receivers Matt Hazel and Kasen Williams and free safety Kai Nacua.

Stave, a 6’5″ QB, first entered the league with the Vikings in 2016 as an undrafted free agent. Since then, he’s made stops with the Vikings, Seahawks, Chiefs, Redskins, and the Jets. GM John Dorsey was at the helm in Kansas City two years ago when the Chiefs signed Stave, so he’s curious enough to check in on him. Stave finished his career Wisconsin’s all-time winningest quarterback (31-10 record), but he remains untested at the pro level. He also faces long odds of making the final cut in Cleveland with Tyrod Taylor, Baker Mayfield, and Drew Stanton ahead of him.

Williams was one of the standouts of the 2017 preseason when he reeled in nine catches, 208 yards, and one touchdown for the Seahawks. Seattle tried to sneak him through waivers in order to sign him to the practice squad, but the Browns jumped at the chance to sign him to the active roster.

Kasen Williams became one of the preseason’s success stories. The Seahawks wanted to pass the wide receiver through to their practice squad then, but the Browns swooped in and signed him to their active roster. Williams had nine catches for 84 yards in seven games for Cleveland, but spent the rest of the year on the taxi squad. The old regime had some interest in Williams, but Dorsey no longer sees a spot for him on the expanded roster.

Texans Re-Sign RB Alfred Blue

April 30th, 2018 at 9:30am CST by Zachary Links

Alfred Blue is officially back with the Texans. Houston has re-signed the running back to a one-year deal, Aaron Wilson of The Houston Chronicle tweets.

The Texans will start Lamar Miller at running back, but Blue will help to provide support further down the depth chart, particularly with D’Onta Foreman recovering from a torn Achilles. As a No. 3 or No. 4 RB, Blue would offer occasional relief for both players while also pitching in on special teams.

Blue, 27, did his best work in 2015 when he rushed for 698 yards in nine starts for Houston. The addition of Miller reduced his role, however, and he was decidedly less effective last year. In 2017, Blue played on 21% of the Texans’ offensive snaps but managed only 3.7 yards per carry.

Things were pretty quiet for Blue this offseason, though he reportedly did hear from multiple teams, including the Steelers. Ultimately, the Texans circled back to him after they did not select an RB in the draft. It’s still possible that they could sign veterans or UDFAs to compete with Blue for a spot as a backup running back, however.

Load More Posts