2019 March - Pro Football Rumors

Extra Points: Brown, Steelers, CBA, Draft, AAF

March 9th, 2019 at 6:15pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

We heard yesterday that an Antonio Brown trade was “close” and that three teams were “still alive”, but over 24 hours later we still don’t have a deal. While we await an end to the saga, it’s worth examining why the Steelers are so willing to meet Brown’s demands and trade him, writes Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. Florio questions why the Steelers are seemingly “letting Brown dictate the terms of his employment,” and came up with a hypothesis based on his relationship with Ben Roethlisberger.

Brown has publicly gone after Roethlisberger in recent weeks, which could’ve solidified the Steelers’ resolve to ship him out. Florio theorizes that the feud between Brown and Roethlisberger isn’t just one-sided, and that Roethlisberger may be pushing for Brown to be gone behind the scenes. Florio thinks Roethlisberger may have given Pittsburgh’s management an ultimatum, and that could be why the team hasn’t tried to reconcile with Brown at all. It makes some sense, and if nothing else it’s an interesting theory.

Here’s more from around the league:

There’s been a lot of talk about a potential work stoppage when it comes time to negotiate the next CBA between the owners and the players’ union. There will be intense battles over things like contract guarantees, but one area the league plans to cede ground is on the substance abuse policy. The NFL is poised “to make major concessions regarding the substance-abuse policy, especially as it relates to marijuana,” according to Florio. Florio cautions that the details haven’t been ironed out yet, but the new CBA could completely get rid of any mention of Marijuana, making it permissible for everyone in the league.
There was a lot of talk about whether or not Kyler Murray made a bad impression in his combine interviews, but one player certainly did. Florida edge rusher Jachai Polite interviewed terrible, and his draft stock “is taking a massive tumble” as a result, according to Matt Miller of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Polite had been projected by many as a first round pick, but that now appears to be in serious jeopardy. Polite also performed poorly in the athletic testing portion of the combine, and later claimed an injury was responsible.
The new startup football league, the AAF, has had a tumultuous start. There was a good amount of drama surrounding their finances after the first week, but things appear to have stabilized since then with a huge $250MM investment coming from NHL owner Tom Dundon. Now Bill Polian, the Hall of Fame former Colts GM and one of the founders of the AAF, is hopeful about a potential partnership with the NFL. Polian said in a recent conference call with reporters that talk about a formal partnership with the league “is ramping up” behind the scenes, according to Tom Krasovic of The San Diego Union Tribune. “Our hope would be that that would happen as quickly as it possibly can,” Polian added.

NFC Rumors: Redskins, Childress, 49ers

March 9th, 2019 at 4:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of Eric Weddle‘s many suitors came from the NFC East. The Redskins inquired about the safety, according to NBC Sports Washington’s Ben Standig, but Weddle preferred the Rams’ proposal. Washington may be a spot for one of the many starter-caliber safeties on this year’s market, with the team having waived D.J. Swearinger and with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix‘s contract having expired.

Here is the latest from Washington, along with other NFC teams, with the legal tampering period less than 48 hours away.

The Redskins’ Case Keenum trade frees them up to make more competitive offers to non-quarterbacks in free agency, instead of seeing Teddy Bridgewater or Tyrod Taylor proposals complicate the team’s plan. However, Washington is still expected to add at this spot this offseason, and Standig notes it won’t be a Josh Johnson reunion — barring a Colt McCoy departure. Another Johnson pact was previously mentioned as a possibility, but that may no longer be in the cards. Washington profiles as a possible quarterback destination in this year’s draft, but in picking at No. 15 and unlikely to trade up, this may be one of the teams that waits for 2020’s higher-profile group of quarterbacks.
The rumors of Markus Golden hitting the market look accurate, with AZCardinals.com’s Mike Jurecki tweeting the veteran edge rusher is set for free agency. The Cardinals and Golden engaged in talks earlier this offseason, but nothing of consequence emerged from those discussions. While Golden stands to benefit from the franchise tags handed out to the top-tier pass rushers who could have hit the market, and Jurecki posits a possible Golden reunion with former Cards DC James Bettcher via Giants signing, the former second-round pick has not been productive since the 2016 season. Golden’s ACL tear in 2017 sidetracked his career, halting the momentum he’d created with a 12.5-sack 2016.
Brad Childress may be ready to circle back to the Bears. Affiliated with Matt Nagy‘s first Bears staff briefly, Childress then bolted for the Alliance of American Football. But he did not last until the AAF’s opener. However, Childress looks set to rejoin Nagy in Chicago, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweeting the former Vikings HC is expected to serve in an offensive consulting role under Nagy. Childress and Nagy worked together with the Chiefs. Childress also retired after the 2017 season, but that turned out to be quite short-lived.
The 49ers still want to bring back Jimmie Ward, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, but it doesn’t appear their interest goes beyond the one-year offer they were dangling for the 2014 first-round pick. Ward was thought to be on the outs in San Francisco, but the team did not receive much consistency from its secondary last season. San Francisco’s staff graded the versatile defensive back as the team’s best secondary cog, Maiocco adds, prior to his season-ending injury in November, Maiocco adds.
The contract the 49ers gave kicker Jonathan Brown is a two-year deal, the team announced. San Francisco used its franchise tag on Robbie Gould. Brown was with the Bengals during the past three training camps but has yet to play in a regular-season game.

Chiefs Sign RB Carlos Hyde

March 9th, 2019 at 2:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Carlos Hyde‘s Saturday visit to Kansas City will land him a deal. One of the Jaguars’ Friday cap casualties, the running back will sign with the three-time defending AFC West champions, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Chiefs announced the move.

It’s a one-year deal for Hyde, who will be on his third AFC team in the past six months. The 28-year-old back’s contract is worth $2.8MM, Terez Paylor of Yahoo.com tweets.

Despite the Chiefs having accomplished far more than Hyde’s previous teams, he will have a better chance of earning a starting job in Kansas City.

The Browns traded Hyde last season to allow for Nick Chubb to commandeer their top backfield role, and the Jaguars have Leonard Fournette in tow. The Chiefs cut Kareem Hunt midway through last season, and previous third-stringer Damien Williams ended up as the No. 1-seeded team’s top running back in the playoffs.

Williams signed a two-year, $5.1MM extension and will play on a $1.7MM cap number in 2019. The Chiefs may well end up drafting another back, but a Williams-Hyde partnership may be the 2019 team’s primary tandem. Kansas City, of course, has plenty of defensive needs it may want to address in the draft. It appears the Justin Houston–Dee Ford pairing will break up, creating an immediate need that didn’t exist entering last year’s draft.

This does double as a fairly steep downgrade for Hyde, who signed a three-year, $15MM contract with the Browns last year. However, he may be a bargain for Chiefs. Hyde is relatively fresh for a running back entering his age-29 season.

Since being a 49ers second-round pick in 2014, he has only taken 827 handoffs. Injuries posed a problem earlier in Hyde’s career, but he was a 16-game San Francisco starter in 2017 and suited up for 14 contests last year. Hyde, however, averaged just 3.3 yards per carry with the Browns and Jags in 2018. His 2017 season featured a 3.9 yards-per-carry figure. Although Hyde was barely used as a receiver last season (10 catches, 33 yards), he totaled 59 receptions and 350 yards for the ’17 49ers, adding a potential auxiliary weapon to a Chiefs offense that likes to involve its backs as outlet options.

Jets To Re-Sign OL Jonotthan Harrison

March 9th, 2019 at 2:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jonotthan Harrison agreed to terms on a deal that will keep him with the Jets, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News tweets.

While terms are not immediately available, this may be the third one-year contract Harrison has agreed to with the Jets. He played on a one-year, $880K pact in 2018 and ended up starting eight games and playing in all 16.

The former Colts starter initially caught on with the Jets in 2017, playing in eight games and starting one. He did not grade out well, in the view of Pro Football Focus, last season. But this may profile as a depth signing for Gang Green, with the plan being to chase some veteran talent in free agency.

Harrison started the Jets’ final seven games at center last season. Spencer Long, who was not especially effective at the center spot in 2018, has since been released. While the Jets are expected to add a center and possibly a guard in free agency, they now have a swing player in the 27-year-old Harrison.

NFC East Notes: Giants, Cowboys, Brown

March 9th, 2019 at 2:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Landon Collins and Olivier Vernon out of the picture, the Giants‘ defense has plenty of needs. Second-year GM Dave Gettleman has also jettisoned Jason Pierre-Paul, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Eli Apple and Damon Harrison from the team since taking over. Collins’ reputation as a box safety, albeit one of the best in the NFL, looks to have played into the Giants’ reasoning for refusing to use an $11MM-plus franchise tag on him, with Ralph Vacchiano of SNY noting the team did not always believe the All-Pro defender was an adequate cover man. Gettleman considered the contracts handed out to both Pierre-Paul and Harrison as onerous, and Vacchiano adds neither Pro Bowl player was viewed as a plus locker room presence. That said, the Giants have one of the least talented defenses in the NFL, boasting deficiencies at nearly every spot going into free agency. It would seem that would be where Gettleman looks to improve in the next two months.

Here is more out of the Big Apple and the latest from the NFC East:

While the Giants already have two monster contracts on their offensive line now, having acquired Kevin Zeitler‘s $12MM-AAV deal, they are going to pursue a right tackle in free agency. Big Blue will “almost certainly” add a right tackle on the market, per Vacchiano, who adds former Gettleman draftee Daryl Williams may be a top target. Williams was a fourth-round Gettleman pick in 2015 but is coming off an injury-nullified season. The Giants tried to sign former Gettleman find Andrew Norwell last year, so Williams will be a name to monitor in the coming days.
Sean Lee‘s Cowboys restructure will slash his 2019 salary from $7MM to $3.5MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Although Lee has seen younger linebackers replace him as Dallas’ go-to second-level defenders, the Cowboys will keep the veteran around. One season remains on Lee’s contract.
If the Raiders are now the team to beat regarding Antonio Brown, the Eagles should not be completely discounted. Philadelphia is the other destination CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora is hearing in the Brown sweepstakes as of Saturday (Twitter link). The Eagles have been hard at work clearing cap space; they are north of $24MM now — before Michael Bennett‘s $6.2MM salary comes off their books. It would be interesting to see the team clear so much off its roster to add a player who has produced so much drama, but the Eagles have not been averse to splash moves in recent years.
Connected to a safety upgrade for many months, the Cowboys may opt to seek second-tier options at this position. Extensions for their homegrown standouts may price the Cowboys out of the high-end safeties on this year’s market, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. The Cowboys remain connected to Earl Thomas, and Richard Sherman said recently his former teammate would choose Dallas if the offers were equal. Another report confirmed no discount was coming. But they may well not end up being equal, complicating this long-rumored partnership. But plenty of safety help will be available next week.

TE Dwayne Allen To Sign With Dolphins

March 9th, 2019 at 12:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Tight end Dwayne Allen is set to join another AFC East team. The veteran told ESPN’s Josina Anderson that he’s going to sign with the Dolphins (Twitter link). It’s a two-year deal worth $7MM, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

The veteran has been busy since being released by the Patriots last week. The 29-year-old also met with the Ravens, Bills, and Lions. We learned earlier this week that Allen was set to meet with Miami.

The 2012 third-round pick spent the first six years of his career with the Colts before being dealt to the Patriots in 2017. After having compiled at least 350 receiving yards in three of his five healthy seasons, Allen didn’t play as much of a role in the offense during his two seasons in New England.

In 29 games (16 starts), Allen only hauled in 13 receptions for 113 yards and one score. While Allen has earned some recent praise for his blocking prowess, Pro Football Focus still ranked him 65th among 70 eligible tight ends in 2018.

Chargers To Release S Jahleel Addae

March 9th, 2019 at 12:22pm CST by Ben Levine

The Chargers are moving on from one of their longest-tenured players. ESPN’s Eric Williams reports (via Twitter) that the team is releasing safety Jahleel Addae.

Addae signed a four-year, $22.5MM deal with the organization back in 2017. The 29-year-old was set to earn $11MM over the next two seasons, but the organization had an opportunity to get out of the contract. The Chargers are apparently opting for that route, leaving the team with $1MM in dead cap.

The former undrafted free agent out of Central Michigan had spent his entire six-year career with the organization. He started all 16 games in each of the past two seasons, including a 2018 campaign where he compiled 75 tackles, one sack, three passed defended, and one interception. While Addae had previously earned high marks via Pro Football Focus, he was ranked 76th among 93 eligible safeties in 2018.

With Addae out of the picture, the team will now have a bit more money to throw at safety Adrian Phillips, who is set to hit free agency. The 26-year-old earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2018. This move could also provide a playing opportunity for former fourth-rounder Rayshawn Jenkins.

Titans RB Dion Lewis Not On Roster Bubble

March 9th, 2019 at 11:47am CST by Ben Levine

There’s been some speculation that Titans running back Dion Lewis could be on the roster bubble, but it sounds like the veteran isn’t going anywhere. Veteran NFL reporters Paul Kuharsky tweets that Lewis is “not on any bubble” and is “on the roster without question.”

This isn’t overly surprising news, as the Titans inked Lewis to a four-year, $20MM deal last offseason. However, the “roster bubble” speculation wasn’t completely unfounded. Lewis saw a reduced role following the late-season emergence of Derrick Henry, and the Titans could save a chunk of money by letting go of Lewis. Specifically, the team could save $3.175MM by releasing him prior to March 17th.

On the flip side, Lewis provides running back depth and some much-needed passing-catching prowess. While his 2018 stats don’t match the numbers he compiled with the Patriots in 2017, the 28-year-old was still solid during his first season in Tennessee. In 16 games (seven starts), Lewis compiled 517 rushing yards and one touchdown, and he added a career-high 59 receptions for 400 yards and another touchdown.

If the team were to move on from Lewis, they’d still be left with plenty of running back depth. Outside of Henry, the Titans are also rostering Jeremy McNichols and Dalyn Dawkins, and ERFA David Fluellen is expected to return next season.

Ravens Expected To Tender DT Michael Pierce

March 9th, 2019 at 11:04am CST by Ben Levine

The Ravens are expected to place a second-round tender on nose tackle Michael Pierce, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (via Twitter). The 26-year-old will earn $3.095MM via the tender.

The move officially makes Pierce a restricted free agent, meaning he can field offers until April 19th. If he signs an offer sheet with another team, the Ravens will have the ability to match. If Baltimore doesn’t match, they’d receive a second-rounder.

While Pierce has shown some intriguing flashes through his first three years in the NFL, it’s unlikely a team would be willing to give up that kind of capital to secure his services. It’s most likely that the defensive tackle ultimately returns to Baltimore on the one-year tender.

The 2016 undrafted free agent appeared in all 16 games as a rookie, and that led to him earning a starting nod in 2017. Pierce only started two game in 2018, but he still finished the campaign with 32 tackles. Pro Football Focus has always been a particularly big fan of Pierce, and they ranked him fifth among 112 interior defenders last season.

Packers, 49ers Have Expressed Interest In Dee Ford

March 9th, 2019 at 9:34am CST by Ben Levine

The Chiefs have some suitors for Dee Ford. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the organization has a “market” for the pass rusher, with the Packers and 49ers among the teams that have expressed interest in a trade.

Kansas City slapped Ford with the franchise tag earlier this week, and subsequent reports indicated that they were shopping the Pro Bowler. The Chiefs are reportedly seeking a second-rounder for the 27-year-old, who finished last season with 55 tackles, 13 sacks, and seven forced fumbles.

While the asking price isn’t particularly high, an acquiring team would be required to pay Ford’s $15.433MM salary for next season. This number has the chance to increase; as our own Dallas Robinson pointed out, Ford is likely to file a grievance arguing that he’s a defensive end, and that would boost his franchise value to $17.128MM in 2019.

The Packers have been seeking an edge rusher, and Ford would be an easy replacement for free agent linebacker Clay Matthews. Meanwhile, the 49ers defensive line showed some intrigue in 2018, and adding a player of Ford’s caliber would surely boost the defense’s ceiling in 2019.