2019 March - Pro Football Rumors

Buccaneers To Sign Shaq Barrett

March 15th, 2019 at 1:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Buccaneers have agreed to sign Shaquil Barrett, as Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. It’s a one-year deal for the Bucs and the former Broncos linebacker.

Barrett drew some interest on the open market and met with the Bengals on Thursday. Ultimately, he wound up in a warmer climate. The UDFA success story, though, did not land a long-term deal. He agreed to a one-year, $5MM Bucs contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

The Broncos discussed a new deal with Barrett, but he aimed for more playing time this offseason. At the end of last season, Barrett publicly declared he wanted to be a full-time starter in 2019.

“I want to start. I want to be a guy somewhere. I don’t want to just be a role player,” Barrett said. “I can’t do it. … Reserve role is done for me, unless that’s the only role I got after this year. But that’s not what I’m looking for going into free agency,” Barrett said at the time.

Barrett put himself on the map with 5.5 sacks in 2015. He hasn’t been able to replicate that production since, mostly due to lack of playing time, but the Broncos thought highly enough of him to put a second round tender on him last offseason.

While Barrett’s sack numbers are not eye-popping, he was one of the better run defenders at his position during his Denver years. He became a more reliable cog than former first-round pick Shane Ray, and this continued in the duo’s contract years — Barrett being the Broncos’ top off-the-bench option and Ray ending his season as a healthy scratch.

This move crystallizes the Broncos’ need for edge help off the bench, with the team’s run of depth at this position ending with this signing, the Bucs have a proven defender that could perhaps push for a starting role in Todd Bowles‘ 3-4 defense. Jason Pierre-Paul remains on the Bucs’ roster but has never functioned as a 3-4 outside linebacker, a role in which Barrett has played exclusively. Tampa Bay also released Vinny Curry earlier this offseason.

Raiders Add WR J.J. Nelson

March 15th, 2019 at 1:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

A third new wide receiver will join the Raiders’ corps. Following the additions of Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams, J.J. Nelson is joining the fold.

The four-year Cardinals auxiliary weapon figures to compete for a similar role in Oakland. Based on how Nelson played during the Bruce Arians era, the Raiders may have brought in another key contributor. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound receiver is one of the league’s top deep threats, despite having been used in a niche capacity.

Nelson totaled more than 1,000 yards between the 2016 and ’17 seasons, the latter coming when the Cardinals had to turn to mostly backup quarterbacks. Nelson’s 17.8 yards per catch leads all NFL receivers since 2015.

In 2016, Nelson hauled in six touchdown receptions, and he followed that up by posting 508 yards on just 29 receptions while working mostly with Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert in 2017. But last season, Nelson was a non-factor. Working in the NFL’s worst offense, the former fifth-round pick caught just seven passes for 64 yards.

Oakland has released Jordy Nelson, and beyond Brown and Williams, this seems to be a wide-open competition.

Bucs Re-Sign Rakeem Nunez-Roches

March 15th, 2019 at 12:47pm CST by Ben Levine

Rakeem Nunez-Roches is returning to Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers announced that they’ve re-signed the defensive tackle to a one-year deal.

The 25-year-old was waived by the Colts prior to the 2018 season, and the lineman eventually caught on with the Bucs in October. Nunez-Roches proceeded to play in three games for Tampa Bay, compiling a pair of tackles. He’s only a year removed from a 2017 campaign where he started 11 of his 16 games with the Chiefs.

It will be tough for Nunez-Roches to supplant either Gerald McCoy or Vita Vea in the starting lineup, but he should be able to compete with Beau Allen and Stevie Tu’ikolovatu for snaps.

Nunez-Roches is the eighth player to re-sign with the Bucs over the past few days. We learned earlier today that the team was re-signing cornerback De’Vante Harris.

Saints Expected To Sign DE Mario Edwards Jr.

March 15th, 2019 at 12:22pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints are adding a defensive end. Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate tweets that the team is expected to sign Mario Edwards Jr. today. It will be a two-year, $5MM deal with $1.5MM “upside for sacks,” according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com (via Twitter).

The 25-year-old was claimed off waivers by the Giants in September after having spent the first three seasons of his career with the Raiders. The former second-rounder proceeded to play in 15 games for the Giants, compiling 14 tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble.

While Edwards didn’t play enough snaps (232) to earn a spot on Pro Football Focus‘ interior defender rankings, his grade indicates that he performed as an above-average lineman in 2018.

We heard earlier this week that the Saints had interest in Edwards. The lineman would likely play a backup role behind Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport. Edwards would also be competing with Trey Hendrickson and Tomasi Laulile for reps.

Redskins, DRC Agree To Deal

March 15th, 2019 at 12:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has a new team. The veteran cornerback, who backtracked on his recent retirement, will sign with the Redskins, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

After retiring midseason, the soon-to-be 33-year-old cornerback revealed intentions to resume his career just prior to free agency. He found a taker and will join former Giants teammate Landon Collins in a changing Redskins secondary. While this will be DRC’s first run in Washington, the Redskins did show interest during training camp last year.

Should DRC be on the Redskins’ roster come Week 1, he will have bounced from a Jon Gruden-coached team to Jay Gruden‘s roster. DRC ended up retiring in October of last year, doing so after Jon Gruden did not play him a snap in a game against the Colts. Rodgers-Cromartie played 147 snaps last season, functioning in an inconsistent Raiders secondary. He occupied a more prominent place with the Giants, with whom he was a four-season starter.

DRC and Collins started together in Giants secondaries from 2015-17, before the Giants cut him after pondering an experiment where the former would move to safety. It is not clear if Washington plans to play the lanky defender at corner or safety. Washington is a bit thinner at safety, even with Collins now heading that unit, but DRC has been a corner throughout his 11-year run of game action.

He made the Pro Bowl with the 2015 Giants, the second of his two Pro Bowl honors, and intercepted six passes in 2016. He has 30 career picks, six of which he returned for touchdowns. This will be DRC’s fifth NFL team and third NFC East employer. The Eagles traded for him in 2011, beginning a two-season run for the former first-round pick in Philadelphia.

Browns Sign T Kendall Lamm

March 15th, 2019 at 12:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kendall Lamm‘s 2018 run as a Texans starter ended up helping him secure a raise in free agency. The Browns are signing the fifth-year tackle, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.

It’s a two-year deal worth more than $7MM. This contract figures to position Lamm for a swing-type role in Cleveland. However, Lamm did function as a starter for most of last season — albeit for an embattled Houston offensive front.

While the Browns have an entrenched right tackle in Chris Hubbard, who signed a long-term pact in 2018, they never exactly settled their left tackle position after Joe Thomas‘ retirement. Greg Robinson ended up there by season’s end and re-signed on a one-year, $7MM deal. It would seem the No. 2 overall pick has the inside track on the job, at this point. But this would appear to be Lamm’s best path to another first-string role.

A 2015 UDFA, Lamm started 13 games last season after opening 11 games with the Texans’ first unit from 2015-17. He graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 52 overall tackle, far better than Houston left tackle Julie’n Davenport, and profiled as a competent pass blocker. Although, Houston’s line did allow Deshaun Watson to be sacked 62 times, which was more than any other quarterback went down last season.

Jaguars To Host OT Cedric Ogbuehi

March 15th, 2019 at 12:06pm CST by Ben Levine

Cedric Ogbuehi is set to visit with the Jaguars, reports ESPN’s Jordan Schultz (via Twitter). This is the first reported visit for the free agent offensive tackle.

The 26-year-old was selected in the first round of the 2015 draft by the Bengals, but he never emerged as a reliable starter during his tenure in Cincinnati. In four years, Ogbuehi only appeared in 35 total games, although he did start 25 games between 2016 and 2017.

The Bengals declined his fifth-year option back in May, and the lineman proceeded to appear in only two games in 2018. Ogbuehi didn’t suffer any major injuries during the season, and he was a healthy scratch for the majority of the Bengals’ outings.

The Jaguars do have a major need at offensive tackle. The team currently has Cam Robinson slotted in as one of the starters, although the former second-rounder did take a step forward last season. 2018 fourth-rounder Will Richardson is projected to start on the other side of the line, although he missed his entire rookie campaign with a knee injury.

Broncos Re-Sign TE Jeff Heuerman

March 15th, 2019 at 11:55am CST by Ben Levine

Jeff Heuerman is returning to Denver. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reports (via Twitter) that the tight end is signing a two-year, $9MM deal with the Broncos.

The 2013 third-round pick has spent his entire four-year career with the Broncos, including a 2018 campaign where he established himself as a legitimate threat in the passing game. Heuerman finished the campaign with career-highs across the board, including receptions (31), receiving yards (281), and touchdowns (two).

The 26-year-old earned more praise from Pro Football Focus for his blocking ability, with the site ultimately ranking him 41st among 70 eligible tight ends. The tight end’s season ended on the injured reserve after he suffered three broken ribs and a bruised lung.

The Broncos lost tight end Matt LaCosse to the Patriots, meaning Heuerman will presumably slide behind Jake Butt on the team’s tight end depth chart. Denver is also rostering Troy Fumagalli and Temarrick Hemingway.

Raiders To Play In Oakland In 2019

March 15th, 2019 at 11:53am CST by Zachary Links

At long last, it’s a done deal. The Raiders finalized a lease agreement to play at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum in 2019, a source tells Michael Gehlken of the Review-Journal (on Twitter). Meanwhile, the Coliseum Authority board voted to approve the agreement (Twitter link via David DeBolt of the East Bay Times).

There were a number of scenarios discussed for the Raiders in recent months, including one in which the Raiders would play in San Francisco’s Oracle Park, the home of MLB’s Giants. That accord ran into issues, however, as the 49ers refused to waive their territorial rights to the San Francisco area. Ultimately, they circled back to Oakland where they’ll play until their new Las Vegas stadium is open for business.

The Raiders are expected to pay a $7.5MM fee to play in the Coliseum in 2019, a price tag that has been agreed upon for some time. Additionally, the deal will come with an option that would let the Raiders spend the 2020 campaign in Oakland if the LV site is not ready by then.

Bengals To Sign G John Miller

March 15th, 2019 at 11:13am CST by Zachary Links

John Miller is heading to Cincinnati. The Bengals will sign the free agent guard to a three-year, $16.5MM deal, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Miller, a third-round pick in 2015, started 47 games over the last four years with Buffalo, including all 15 of his games last year. By signing Miller, the Bengals have upgraded an O-line that will return right tackle Bobby Hart.

Miller has only played at right guard in his professional career, a position that Alex Redmond held down in 2018 for Cincinnati. Redmond, a former UDFA, performed decently, but he was hardly a world-beater, and the same can be said for left guard Clint Boling. At the very least, Miller will provide young, experienced depth.

For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics preferred Miller to Redmond last year. Miller was demoted in favor of Vlad Ducasse during the 2017 season, but he regained his starting job in 2018, and he may have done enough to land a modest multi-year pact.

One year ago, the Bills traded left tackle Cordy Glenn to the Bengals. Now, Miller will reunite with his former line mate in Cincinnati.