2019 March - Pro Football Rumors

Jets Give Le’Veon Bell Deadline On Decision

March 12th, 2019 at 1:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

The team most closely connected to Le’Veon Bell this offseason has given the running back a deadline to determine if he will or will not sign. The Jets have notified the All-Pro back of a deadline, per The Athletic’s Connor Hughes (on Twitter).

Gang Green has plenty of cap space to outmuscle others on this market, and with the Ravens potentially set to bow out, the Jets’ offer may be the best one out there for Bell. But nothing concrete has emerged from about how much the Jets are proposing yet.

Bell maneuvered his way to the market by becoming the first player in 20 years to sit out a full season after being franchise-tagged. He watched Todd Gurley and David Johnson each reshape the running back market, with each signing for at least $13MM per year. Both of those backs have far less mileage on their NFL odometers, which will make Bell’s pact interesting — especially given how much he has prepared for this week.

The Jets have been the team most consistently and heavily linked to Bell over the past handful of months, but the Ravens were believed to be making a late push and coming on strong. But we also just heard the Ravens were the “frontrunners” to sign Mark Ingram, which could limit their willingness to compete with the Jets for Bell.

The Jets were just spurned by linebacker Anthony Barr, and the latest word is that the team was going to use some of the newly available money to make “a last and final big offer” to Bell.

Bell opting for another team would remind of the Jets’ 2018 Kirk Cousins pursuit, which involved a better offer than the Vikings submitted. Cousins revealed the Jets were the leverage team that drove up the Vikings’ price. It is unclear, however, if another team will enter the Jets’ ballpark for Bell.

Bills To Sign OL Ty Nsekhe

March 12th, 2019 at 1:12pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Bills are making their third signing of the day. Buffalo has agreed to terms on a contract with offensive lineman Ty Nsekhe, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Nsekhe will get a two-year deal worth $14.5MM with $7.7MM of that guaranteed, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Rodak writes that the amount of money “certainly means he’s projected to start at right tackle.”

Nsekhe comes to Buffalo from Washington, where he spent the past four seasons with the Redskins. Nsekhe was always a reserve, but thanks to the Redskins’ frequently injured offensive line, ended up starting at least four games each of the past three years. This past season, he started five games and split time between left guard and left tackle.

Nsekhe is an interesting case, as he bounced around the arena league for a handful of years before breaking through in the NFL. He’s been regarded as one of the league’s better backup linemen the last couple of years, so this could prove to be a sneaky good singing for Buffalo. Between Nsekhe now, center Mitch Morse yesterday, and receivers Cole Beasley and John Brown earlier today, the Bills have significantly upgraded their offense.

They’ve also done it without breaking the bank for any one player. These added pieces will greatly help Josh Allen next season in what will be a critical year for the young quarterback. Nsekhe received above average grades from Pro Football Focus for his work last season.

Rams Do Not Expect To Keep Rodger Saffold

March 12th, 2019 at 1:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rodger Saffold said multiple times he would like to return to the Rams, but that is now looking increasingly unlikely.

The veteran guard may be on his way to another team, with Rams GM Les Snead expecting him to receive an offer they will not be able to match, per Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

A 2010 St. Louis Rams second-round pick, Saffold has played his entire career with this franchise. But this is not a particularly strong guard market, and even as he enters his age-31 season, Saffold figures to command plenty of attention this week.

The Jets looked into Saffold before trading for Kelechi Osemele, so news about the longtime Rams blocker’s suitors should emerge soon. Saffold has started 111 games for the Rams since his rookie season. He signed his second contract to stay with then-St. Louis and continued to be an anchor for Sean McVay‘s offenses.

Los Angeles retained Dante Fowler but allowed Lamarcus Joyner to defect to the Raiders. The Rams’ slew of high-end contracts will force tough choices, and it appears Saffold will be a player the team will let walk — barring his market unexpectedly cratering.

Everson Griffen’s Roster Spot Uncertain?

March 12th, 2019 at 12:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Thought to be the high-profile member of the Vikings’ defensive core that received his money elsewhere, Anthony Barr is staying in Minnesota. The linebacker’s $13.5MM-AAV deal, however, may force another homegrown talent out.

Everson Griffen‘s deal may soon be under consideration for a restructure, but if the veteran defensive end does not agree to do so, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets it is likely Griffen will be released.

As could be expected given the bevy of extensions in recent years and the fully guaranteed contract for Kirk Cousins, the Vikings are up against the cap. Griffen, 31, and the Vikings agreed to an extension in 2017. That deal runs through 2022, but if the Vikings moved on, they would save more than $10MM in cap space.

Griffen’s stock is also not at an especially high level, given his five-game stint away from the Vikings last season. Minnesota also re-upped Danielle Hunter, who is only set for his age-25 season, last year. The Pro Bowl sack artist will be a priority to retain over Griffen. The latter, though, has played nine seasons with the Vikings and was a Pro Bowler from 2015-17. Griffen has 66.5 career sacks and would figure to generate some interest on the market.

While Rick Spielman has managed to squeeze many veterans’ high-end contracts under the cap, it appears the Vikings are not interested in bringing Griffen back on a $10.9MM salary for 2019.

Ravens Out On Le’Veon Bell?

March 12th, 2019 at 12:47pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

It appears the Le’Veon Bell sweepstakes are coming to an end. It “seems like” Bell is down to the Jets and the Ravens as his final two choices on where to sign, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).

Contradicting Rapoport’s report, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets that he continues “to be told the Ravens are not in on Le’Veon Bell.” It’s unclear who’s right, but the Ravens would definitely be at a significant disadvantage as they’re in a much worse cap situation than the Jets.

The Jets have been the team most consistently and heavily linked to Bell over the past handful of months, but the Ravens appear to be making a late push and coming on strong, depending on who you believe. We also just heard the Ravens were the “frontrunners” to sign Mark Ingram, which could limit their willingness to pursue Bell.

Bell appears genuinely interested in the Ravens, and “has indicated to some friends around the league how much he likes Baltimore,” Rapoport writes. Less than an hour ago it was reported the Raiders hadn’t quite ruled out signing Bell yet, but it appears they’re lagging far behind if they’re even still in it at all.

The Jets were just spurned by linebacker Anthony Barr, and the latest word is that the Jets were going to use some of the money they were going to pay Barr to make “a last and final big offer” to Bell. The Jets desperately need a running back and have some of the most cap space in the NFL, so they can outbid anybody.

The Colts have officially been declared out and other teams like the Texans and Bills always seemed like long-shots. If it’s really down to just the Jets and Ravens like it appears to be, we should know where Bell is heading very soon.

Ravens Frontrunners For Mark Ingram

March 12th, 2019 at 12:44pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

New Orleans signing running back Latavius Murray seemed to signal the end of the Mark Ingram era in New Orleans. But the longtime Saints running back might not be on the open market very long.

The Ravens have emerged as the “frontrunner” for Ingram’s services, according to Josh Katzenstein of The New Orleans Times-Picayune (Twitter link). Ingram has been with the Saints ever since New Orleans took him in the first round back in 2011. The former Heisman Trophy winner is 29 now, but his play hasn’t dipped much.

He averaged a robust 4.7 yards per carry this past season, which was actually his lowest total in the last three years. He was suspended for the first four games of the season for using PEDs, but came back as his reliable self for the final 12.ecause Ingram has always split time in a committee with the Saints, he doesn’t have as much tread on his tires as your typical 29-year-old running back. The Saints apparently want to get Alvin Kamara more touches, and don’t want to pay Ingram the salary he’s seeking.

Ingram was making around $4MM annually on his most recent contract, and seems to be looking for a raise. The Ravens have also been linked to Le’Veon Bell recently, and signing Ingram would presumably remove them from those sweepstakes. Whoever the Ravens end up signing is likely to see a heavy workload, as Baltimore has transitioned to the league’s most run-heavy offense with Lamar Jackson.

Steelers Interested In WR Tyrell Williams

March 12th, 2019 at 12:27pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Steelers lost one of the top receivers in the league when they traded away Antonio Brown, and now they’re looking to replace him. The team is “involved in the receiver market,” and they’ve inquired about Tyrell Williams, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

If Pittsburgh is indeed going after Williams, they won’t be alone. The Browns are reportedly interested in the young wideout, and the Steelers may also face competition from the team they traded Brown to. Even after acquiring Brown, the Raiders are still interested in adding Williams, according to Michael Gehlken of The Las Vegas Review Journal (Twitter link). The Colts have also been linked to Williams, but their signing of Devin Funchess probably took them out of the running.

Williams has spent the last four seasons with the Charges, and has been one of the most buzzed about free agent receivers. Due to the Chargers’ crowded receiving depth chart, it seems like a foregone conclusion that he’ll be walking. A 2015 undrafted free agent from Western Oregon, Williams barely played as a rookie.

But he broke out in his second season, catching 69 passes for 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns. That was the year Keenan Allen missed the entire season with a torn ACL, and Williams’ production has dipped the last couple of years after Allen returned and the Chargers drafted Mike Williams in the first round. Still though, Williams is a big, talented receiver who can also beat teams deep, and he’d be a great addition as a team’s number two option.

Raiders Haven’t Ruled Out Le’Veon Bell

March 12th, 2019 at 12:19pm CST by Zachary Links

The Raiders have already made big splashes by trading for Antonio Brown and signing Trent Brown. However, a pursuit of Le’Veon Bell should not be ruled out just yet, Michael Gehlken of the Review-Journal tweets.

On Tuesday morning, we heard that there were five teams still in on Bell – the Jets, Ravens, Packers, Texans, and Bills. The Raiders were conspicuously absent from that list, but we can add them back into the mix. Bell now appears to have six leading suitors and a decision could be just around the corner.

Anthony Barr‘s decision to spurn the Jets and return to the Vikings prompted the former to make a stronger push, possibly a take-it-or-leave-it proposal, for Bell. But nothing concrete about terms for any of these teams’ offers have emerged.

The Raiders have a barren running back depth chart, with both Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin residing as free agents. Oakland placed a second-round tender on Jalen Richard. While some of Richard’s game overlaps with Bell’s, he is not nearly as well-rounded as the two-time All-Pro.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the Raiders still hold more than $42MM in cap space. Their skill-position situation remains somewhat thin, with Jared Cook also a free agent. A Bell addition would stand to give this corps a significant upgrade. Although Bell has more tread on his tires than most marquee running back free agents have over the past several years, with 1,541 career regular-season touches, he avoided further punishment by making the rare decision to sit out an entire season. He figures to have some prime years remaining, though it can’t be certain how many are left.

Bills, Saints To Host Ziggy Ansah

March 12th, 2019 at 12:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The pass rusher market has begun to move rapidly, with the Packers doing much of the heavy lifting on this front Tuesday. One of the biggest names left unsigned will enter the picture now.

Ziggy Ansah has visits scheduled with the Bills and Saints, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Bills will get the first visit, per Rapoport.

While free agent peers Trey Flowers, Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith agreed to deals without visits, teams obviously want to examine Ansah given his recent struggles with injuries. The former top-five overall pick missed most of last season due to injury, and the Lions’ Flowers addition signals they are indeed moving on from their six-year defensive end.

Ansah, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, played in just seven Lions games last season. This came after Detroit franchise-tagged its top pass rusher. Ansah, who is set to turn 30 in May, has two 12-plus-sack seasons — the most recent coming in 2017. But he has battled injuries for a while now.

Buffalo could obviously outbid New Orleans for Ansah, given the cap space disparity between these franchises, but Ansah’s recent history might not point to a high-end deal.

Panthers Re-Sign QB Taylor Heinicke

March 12th, 2019 at 12:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the lower-profile backup quarterbacks in the NFL last season, Taylor Heinicke saw some game action after Cam Newton‘s injury. The Panthers are bringing him back for another season.

The team announced Heinicke re-signed to stay in Carolina. He joins Newton and Kyle Allen as the Panthers’ quarterbacks.

A UDFA whom the Panthers brought in via waiver claim from the Texans last year, Heinicke made one start last season and finished his season with one touchdown pass and three interceptions. The Panthers turned to Allen by season’s end, with Heinicke suffering an elbow injury that sent him to IR. But they are keeping the 25-year-old Heinicke around nonetheless.