2019 March - Pro Football Rumors

Rams Sign Eric Weddle

March 8th, 2019 at 3:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

A fast-moving Friday will include Eric Weddle landing with a third NFL team. The veteran safety will sign with the Rams, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Zreibec (on Twitter).

With a “Fear the beard” tweet, the Rams appeared to confirm this transaction.

Weddle will join the defending NFC champions, who may now be set to let Lamarcus Joyner walk as a free agent. This is a two-year pact worth $10.5MM and one that could be worth up to $12.5MM, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He will receive $5.25MM fully guaranteed, per RapSheet (on Twitter).

Weddle had a visit scheduled with the Rams and received 11 offers since the Ravens released him earlier this week, and Albert Breer of SI.com tweets Weddle was at the Rams’ facility on Friday. The 34-year-old safety will be the latest addition to a star-studded roster, albeit one that could take some hits in free agency. Joiner is a free agent after playing 2018 on the franchise tag.

A three-time Pro Bowler with the Ravens and a player with six Pro Bowls on his 12-season resume, Weddle will join John Johnson on Los Angeles’ back line. The longtime San Diego Charger is back in southern California. The Panthers and Giants were two of the teams interested in Weddle, according to Joe Person of The Athletic and Matt Lombardo of NJ.com (Twitter links).

The two-time first-team All-Pro initially said he would retire if the Ravens released him but later backtracked on that. Weddle worked against the Rams in scrimmages last summer and will now attempt to be an integral figure on another defense.

Martellus Bennett Wants To Rejoin Patriots

March 8th, 2019 at 3:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

In March of 2018, Martellus Bennett announced his retirement. In an understandable development, given Friday’s events, the tight end wants to backtrack on that decision.

After the Patriots agreed to trade for his older brother, Michael Bennett, Martellus Bennett is eyeing a return to the Patriots, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The brothers have always wanted to be on the same NFL team, per Schefter, and Martellus enjoyed two stints with Patriots teams — the most recent coming in 2017.

Teammates at Texas A&M in the 2000s, Martellus was a second-round pick in 2008. Despite being more than a year older, Michael did not begin his NFL career until 2009, doing so as a UDFA. But it’s the latter who has been the more productive NFLer, at least over the past several seasons.

Martellus enjoyed an eventful final season, threatening retirement after joining the Packers as a free agent. Green Bay waived him months after he’s signed there, ending a controversial Wisconsin stay, before the Patriots reacquired him. Martellus’ second Patriots stay was not as productive, with the well-traveled tight end only playing in two games for the Pats during the 2017 season. He finished that year on IR.

In 2016, however, he played a vital role, replacing the injured Rob Gronkowski as New England’s top tight end for the stretch run. The Patriots have a need at tight end again, having released Dwayne Allen and with Gronkowski yet to inform them if he’s returning for a 10th season. But it’s uncertain at this point if the team wants to pair the Bennetts. The Pats obviously have a recent history of this, having used the McCourty brothers to help secure their sixth Super Bowl title.

Dolphins To Release Danny Amendola

March 8th, 2019 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another veteran will be departing the Dolphins. They are releasing Danny Amendola, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).

Parting ways with the veteran wide receiver will create $6MM in cap room for Miami, which will be hit with no dead-money charges. The 33-year-old target is the latest Dolphins veteran to receive his walking papers.

Amendola also has interest in rejoining the Patriots, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe (on Twitter). The Dolphins and Amendola’s agent went through discussions about keeping him in Miami, per Rapoport (via Twitter), but a release will take place anyway.

Amendola signed a two-year, $12MM deal with the Dolphins in 2018. He functioned as an every-week starter for a Dolphins team riddled with receiver injuries, posting 579 receiving yards and catching one touchdown pass. But even as former Patriots assistant Brian Flores takes over, along with former Pats wideouts coach-turned-Fins OC Chad O’Shea, the longtime New England wideout will head for free agency.

This cut will bump the Dolphins’ salary cap space north of $23MM, but they plan on adding significantly to that figure before free agency opens.

The 10-year veteran was rumored to be one of the players the rebuilding Dolphins were targeting for release, along with Ryan Tannehill‘s lofty salary. They have already cut Andre Branch and Ted Larsen. Miami is rumored to be set to release Josh Sitton and DeVante Parker as well, also dangling Robert Quinn in trade offers.

Vikings, Adam Thielen Discussing Extension

March 8th, 2019 at 3:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Attempting to correct an imbalance that has developed over the past two years, the Vikings and wide receiver Adam Thielen are discussing a possible extension, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (on Twitter).

At this juncture, however, sources tell Tomasson that it’s impossible to say whether something will be ironed out soon. Thielen is criminally underpaid, but extensions tend to be tricky when players have two years left on their deal.

In 2017, Thielen signed what turned out to be an incredibly team-friendly deal to stay in Minnesota. That contract pays him less than $5MM on average, though the Pro Bowl wideout will earn just more than $5MM in base salaries the next two seasons. However, Minnesota then rewarded No. 2 receiver Stefon Diggs a five-year, $72MM extension with $40MM guaranteed, creating a strange situation among their wideout group.

An undrafted Division II product, Thielen has put together back-to-back 1,200-plus-yard seasons, going for 1,373 and a career-high nine touchdown receptions in 2018. Minnesota has inked plenty of homegrown veterans to extensions in recent years and has just $5MM in cap space left. So while the Vikings might not be too active in free agency, it appears they are trying to do right by their 28-year-old pass-catcher success story.

Although Thielen has expressed a desire for a new deal, he is not believed to be a threat to hold out. So perhaps the parties can work together this offseason to correct this imbalance.

Chargers, Denzel Perryman Agree To Deal

March 8th, 2019 at 2:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite Denzel Perryman‘s injury trouble over the past two seasons, the Chargers plan to give him another chance. They are re-signing the inside linebacker to a two-year contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

A former second-round pick, Perryman has had stretches of quality play but has also been known for the time he’s missed. The Bolts’ top middle linebacker has been unavailable for 22 games during his career, 32 of which coming in the past two seasons.

But when he was healthy in 2018, Perryman was productive. Pro Football Focus graded the second-level defender as its No. 32 linebacker. The Chargers had to get creative at linebacker in the playoffs, using defensive backs in that role against the Ravens and Patriots. The strategy had mixed results, but the Bolts are hoping Perryman’s return can help stabilize the unit.

Following the New England defeat, Tom Telesco said he would make a point to address the team’s linebacker situation this offseason.

Perryman started 11 games during the 2016 season but underwent ankle surgery during the 2017 offseason before suffering a hamstring injury after returning late that season. Perryman’s 2018 campaign ended early because of an LCL injury. He will return to a promising Chargers team, albeit one that has experienced persistent injury trouble on both sides of the ball in recent years.

Eagles To Trade Michael Bennett To Patriots

March 8th, 2019 at 2:25pm CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles are trading defensive end Michael Bennett to the Patriots, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter). Philadelphia will acquire a 2020 fifth-round pick while New England will receive Bennett and a 2020 seventh-rounder, tweets McLane.

Philadelphia acquired Bennett for a fifth-round pick last year. The Pats attempted to land Bennett from the Seahawks last year; they will make the move a year later, in advance of the versatile defensive lineman’s age-34 season.

Lately, we’ve heard that the Eagles were planning to trade or release Bennett to improve their cap situation. Usually, when a talented player is involved, teams will ask that player to accept a pay cut. On Friday morning, Bennett went on national television to explain that he would not entertain such an offer. In fact, he made it known that he is expecting a raise from his $7.2MM salary for 2019.

It’s not immediately clear whether the Patriots will accommodate his request. Given their track record, it seems unlikely.

In any event, the Patriots have successfully safeguarded themselves against the potential loss of Trey Flowers. Flowers projects as one of the most highly-coveted free agents when the market opens up on Thursday and the Pats are not expected to outbid the competition.

In Bennett, the Patriots acquired a skilled sack artist, albeit one who is several years older than Flowers. Last year, Bennett amassed nine sacks for Philly, giving him his highest total since 2015. The three-time Pro Bowler has 63 career sacks to his name across nine NFL seasons.

Eric Weddle To Visit Rams

March 8th, 2019 at 2:14pm CST by Zachary Links

Eric Weddle‘s free agent tour is underway. The free agent safety has scheduled a visit with the Rams, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Weddle accrued eleven offers since being released by the Ravens last week, Rapoport hears, but he has trimmed his list down to five potential suitors, including the Rams. At this rate, Weddle may find a home before everyone else’s free agency begins on March 13. An early signing would probably behoove Weddle, too, since this year’s free agent safety market is deep and talented.

Weddle did not miss a game during his Ravens run and combined for ten interceptions between the 2016-17 seasons. Before that, Weddle spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Chargers where he appeared in 137 out of a possible 144 regular-season games. In that span, Weddle earned three Pro Bowl nods, five All-Pro bids, and 19 interceptions. Since joining the Ravens, he’s added three more Pro Bowl trips, giving him five in total.

Cowboys To Pick Up Allen Hurns’ Option

March 8th, 2019 at 1:03pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys will exercise the 2019 option on Allen Hurns‘ contract on Friday, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Per the terms of his deal, Hurns can make up to $6MM and will earn a base salary of $4MM. Word of Hurns’ option being exercised was first passed along by Mike Fisher of 24/7 Sports (on Twitter).

Hurns signed a two-year, $12MM deal with the Cowboys last March, but was unable to establish himself in Dallas’ offense. He initially looked like he might be the team’s number one receiver after Dez Bryant was cut, but ended up catching just 20 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns in the regular season. Then, Hurns suffered a dislocated ankle just minutes into the Cowboys’ wild card playoff game against the Seahawks. Unfortunately, it was one of those ugly injuries that non-doctors could immediately diagnose as a season-ender.

Fortunately, Hurns has resumed working out at the Cowboys’ facility, so he should be on track to play in 2019. If he’s able to get back to his old form, the Cowboys could have a very potent passing attack between him and WR1 Amari Cooper.

Jaguars Not Ready To Release Blake Bortles

March 8th, 2019 at 12:52pm CST by Zachary Links

Blake Bortles‘ time with the Jaguars could be coming to a close, but he won’t get his pink slip on Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. Before potentially releasing the quarterback, the Jaguars will likely wait to make sure they can find a quality substitute in free agency.

That QB substitute, reportedly, will be Nick Foles, but nothing is final yet. Free agency does not formally begin until Thursday and the so-called “legal tampering” period does not get underway until Monday, March 11.

Only $6.5MM of Bortles’ $16.5MM contract is guaranteed for next season, so the Jaguars are expected to either release him or try to unload him in a Brock Osweiler type of trade. The former No. 3 overall pick is due a $1MM bonus on March 19, so it would be a shocker to see his situation linger beyond that date. By then, the Jaguars should either have a better signal caller in the fold or a plan to roll with Bortles plus a rookie passer.

Bortles, 27 in April, threw for only 13 touchdowns against eleven interceptions last season. In the middle of his 12 starts (which resulted in a 3-9 record), Bortles was demoted twice.

Steelers Trade Marcus Gilbert To Cardinals

March 8th, 2019 at 12:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers have agreed to trade tackle Marcus Gilbert to the Cardinals, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). In return, the Steelers will receive a draft pick late in the sixth round.

The Steelers have been working the phone lines in an attempt to move Gilbert and they found a taker quickly after word broke on Friday. Gilbert, 31, has missed 23 regular season games over the last three years, but he can be a difference-maker for Arizona if he stays healthy and out of trouble with the league.

Since 2011, Gilbert has started in all but one of his games and he has graded out as a top 20 tackle in Pro Football Focus’ rankings in the past. Even in 2018, a down season marred by injury, Gilbert placed as PFF’s No. 41 tackle in the NFL.

The Cardinals’ offensive line was downright porous last offseason and the pocket failed to hold up around rookie quarterback Josh Rosen. Gilbert should help on that front, though the Cardinals – armed with the No. 1 overall pick – still have a ton of work ahead of them.