HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Colts To Re-Sign CB Pierre Desir

March 13th, 2019 at 12:40pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Colts have reached an agreement to re-sign cornerback Pierre Desir, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). It’s a multi-year deal, tweets Garafolo, with the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson noting Desir will be tied to the Colts for three seasons.

This contract will be worth up to $25MM, with Erickson adding (via Twitter) Desir will see $12MM guaranteed.

A former fourth-round pick of the Browns, Desir bounced around the NFL without much success until Indianapolis claimed him off waivers in 2017. He earned a starting role midway through that season, and subsequently started 12 games for the Colts in 2018. Desir, 28, posted 79 tackles, one interception, and eight passes defensed on an Indianapolis pass defense that ranked just 20th in DVOA.

Pro Football Focus graded Desir as the NFL’s 18th-best corner a year ago, but Football Outsiders’ charting data didn’t paint as rosy a picture. Among 85 qualifying corners, Desir ranked as roughly a league-average player: 52nd in success rate and 63rd in yards allowed per pass.

Desir will return to a Colts secondary that also includes Kenny Moore, Quincy Wilson, Nate Hairston, and Jalen Collins, but his new deal shouldn’t prevent Indianapolis from targeting another defensive backfield upgrade, either through free agency or the draft.

Jaguars To Re-Sign A.J. Cann

March 13th, 2019 at 12:31pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Jaguars will re-sign guard A.J. Cann to a three-year contract worth just more than $15MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Jacksonville has attempted to fix its offensive line in each of the past two offseasons, first drafting left tackle Cam Robinson in 2017 before signing left guard Andrew Norwell last year. Despite those changes, the Jaguars still ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in Football Outsiders‘ run- and pass-blocking metrics.

Cann, at the least, will give the Jaguars some level of continuity on the right side of its front five. Jacksonville released right tackle Jermey Parnell earlier this month, so Cann will lining up next to a new starter in 2019. That could potentially be 2018 fourth-round pick Will Richardson, or the Jags could add another option.

High-quality interior offensive line options were not plentiful in this year’s free agent class, and Cann — at age-27 — represents one of the younger choices at the position. He’s been a full-time starter in Jacksonville ever since entering the league as a third-round pick in the 2015 draft, starting 60 games over the past four years. In 2018, Pro Football Focus graded Cann as roughly league-average, ranking him No. 44 among 77 qualified guards.

Cowboys To Re-Sign FB Jamize Olawale

March 13th, 2019 at 12:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Veteran fullback Jamize Olawale will have another opportunity in Dallas. The 2018 trade acquisition agreed to a new Cowboys deal, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter).

This agreement is worth $5.4MM over three years, per Machota, who adds $2.8MM is guaranteed. Olawale finished his first season with the Cowboys, playing 132 snaps and on special teams. A $1.8MM signing bonus is including in this pact, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic tweets.

The Raiders traded Olawale to the Cowboys nearly a year ago. The soon-to-be 30-year-old blocking back was not used as a ball-carrier, which was the case sparingly in Oakland. But he’ll nonetheless stay a part of Dallas’ backfield in 2019.

The eighth-year UDFA’s contract falls in line with the non-Kyle Juszczyk wing of this position, Olawale’s per-year salary placing him in the top five among fullbacks. He had previously played out a three-year extension, which he signed as a Raider near the end of the 2015 season.

Redskins Want To Re-Sign Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

March 13th, 2019 at 12:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Even after inking Landon Collins to a massive free agent deal, the Redskins would still like to re-sign fellow safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Collins and Clinton-Dix are both safeties, but they play two very different roles. Collins has historically been an in-the-box safety, spending most of his time closer to the line of scrimmage, while Clinton-Dix has worked in a center field-type role. There’s room for both in Washington’s defense, but teams don’t often spend significant money on two safeties.

Having said that, it’s unclear how much Clinton-Dix will cost. The free agent safety market was flooded with option, but many of those choices — including Earl Thomas, Tyrann Mathieu, Lamarcus Joyner, and Adrian Amos — are now off the board. With many clubs having already taken care of their safety needs, Clinton-Dix’s market may be shrinking.

The Redskins picked up Clinton-Dix from the Packers at the trade deadline in exchange for a fourth-round pick, but he didn’t move the needle much in Washington. In nine games in the nation’s capital, Clinton-Dix posted 66 tackles, three passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. All told, Pro Football Focus graded him as the league’s No. 17 safety in 2019.

Jason Myers Won’t Return To Jets

March 13th, 2019 at 12:08pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jets are in the market for a new kicker. On Wednesday, Jason Myers took to Twitter to bid farewell to Gang Green. 

“Thank you Jets fans!,” Myers wrote. “I had a hell of a year in New York. I’ll truly cherish my time there and It’ll always hold a special place in my heart. You welcomed me and my family with support and love, and I’ll forever be thankful!”

Myers spent last offseason with the Seahawks before being displaced by Sebastian Janikowski. Later, he hooked on with the Jets and survived an uncertain period in which the club auditioned kickers such as Dan Bailey and Roberto Aguayo.

In 16 games, Myers connected on 91.7% of his field goals and 30-of-33 extra point attempts. Myers also impressed from long distance by nailing 6-of-7 attempts from 50+ yards.

Chargers To Sign Tyrod Taylor

March 13th, 2019 at 11:53am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers have agreed to terms with quarterback Tyrod Taylor on a two-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Dolphins were intently interested in signing Taylor, but they’ll have to refocus their efforts on a different QB.

Taylor, 30 in August, began the season as the Browns’ starter. However, he ceded the gig early in the year when an injury took him out of a fall matchup with the Jets. Baker Mayfield entered the game and engineered a comeback, and the rest was history.

In a characteristically weak market for QBs, Taylor profiled as one of the best options out there. The Dolphins, with serious questions under center, saw Taylor as a possible replacement for Ryan Tannehill. Instead, the Chargers have scooped him up to serve as Philip Rivers‘ understudy.

During his 2015 Pro Bowl campaign, Taylor averaged 8.0 yards per pass, threw 20 touchdown passes, six interceptions and ran for 568 yards. All in all, he owns a career 23-21-1 record as a starter. Taylor is historically safe with the football: among quarterbacks with at least 1,000 attempts since 2015, Taylor ranks third in interception percentage.

Taylor will only be 30 years old when the 2019 campaign gets underway, so there’s a possibility he could become a long term answer in Los Angeles if Rivers retires in the near future. More likely, though, he’ll serve as a rarely-used backup, as Rivers has never missed a game since becoming the Chargers’ starter in 2006.

Patriots To Re-Sign CB Jason McCourty

March 13th, 2019 at 11:52am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Patriots will re-sign cornerback Jason McCourty to a two-year deal, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link).

McCourty made some waves by admitting that he’d contemplate retirement this offseason, but he’d since indicated he not only wanted to continue his career, but preferred to re-sign with the Patriots. That didn’t come as much of a surprise, as McCourty’s twin brother Devin is also expected back in New England next season.

New England acquired Jason McCourty from the Browns in exchange for a 14-slot drop in the sixth/seventh round of the 2018 draft, and he proved to be a valuable pickup. The former sixth-round pick played on 80% of the Patriots’ defensive snaps, grading as the No. 6 cornerback in the league, per Pro Football Focus. McCourty also ranked 21st among corners in Football Outsiders‘ success rate, meaning he was effective at stopping opposing wide receivers short of the sticks.

McCourty should line up opposite Stephon Gilmore as one of New England’s starting cornerbacks next season. Following his excellent 2018 season, McCourty should also be slated for a pay bump after collecting an average salary of just $2.375MM on his last deal.

Contract Details: Amos, Patterson, Carpenter, Brown

March 13th, 2019 at 11:50am CST by Zachary Links

Let’s take a look at the details of a few freshly-signed contracts:

Ravens To Sign Mark Ingram

March 13th, 2019 at 11:32am CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens will sign running back Mark Ingram, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. When finalized, it’ll be a three-year, $15MM pact.

Ingram was displaced this week when the Saints agreed to sign Latavius Murray. Murray will now serve as the backup to Alvin Kamara while Ingram will move on to Baltimore, where he’ll part of a rotation likely to include Gus Edwards and Kenneth Dixon. Ingram’s move to the Ravens will likely decrease the chances that fellow running back Javorius Allen — a free agent — returns to Baltimore.

Ingram, 29, served a four-game suspension to begin the 2018 campaign, but was highly effective once he returned to the field. On 138 carries, Ingram rushed for 638 yards and scored six touchdowns, while he also chipped in 21 catches, 170 yards, and a score in the passing game.

Ingram’s efficiency was off the charts, as he ranked third in Football Outsiders‘ success rate, meaning he was excellent at keeping the Saints’ offense on schedule with regard to down and distance. Meanwhile, Pro Football Focus assigned Ingram a 75.7 grade in pass-blocking, placing him among the best at his position.

Browns, Giants Alter Zeitler/Vernon Trade

March 13th, 2019 at 11:20am CST by Dallas Robinson

When the Browns and Giants agreed to swap guard Kevin Zeitler and defensive end Olivier Vernon earlier this week, the two clubs also decided to trade draft picks: Cleveland was set to give up a fifth-round pick (No. 155) to New York, while Big Blue send a fourth-round pick (No. 132) to the Browns. Now, following the deal that will send Odell Beckham Jr. to Cleveland, the two teams have agreed to revise the Zeitler/Brown trade.

The pick swap will no longer occur, according to Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com (Twitter link). Instead, Zeitler will simply be traded straight up for Vernon, while OBJ will go to the Browns in a separate move. However, you can look at both swaps together as such: Beckham and Vernon for Zeitler, Peppers, No. 17 overall and No. 95 overall.

It’s unclear as to why the Giants and Browns have reached this agreement. The return for Beckham has been widely panned, so it’s possible the Giants asked for the Vernon/Zeitler pick swap to be eliminated as something of a face-saving move (although undoing a 23-spot drop in the draft probably isn’t worth all that much).

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