2019 March - Pro Football Rumors

Jets, Panthers Eyeing Kevin Johnson

March 8th, 2019 at 12:13pm CST by Zachary Links

Cornerback Kevin Johnson will visit the Jets on Friday night, according to league source who spoke with Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). The Panthers, he adds, are also interested in the former Houston cornerback.

The Texans released Johnson earlier this week to escape the $9.069MM he was owed for 2019. That was a high price to pay after Johnson lost virtually all of the 2018 season to concussion issues, but plenty of other clubs have interest in him. Already, Johnson has met with the Bills and Browns.

Johnson, a 2015 first-round pick, has missed 29 out of a possible 64 games over the last four seasons. Still, he could profile as a low-risk, high-reward signing on an affordable one-year deal. For the Jets, he’d provide insurance behind Trumaine Johnson who sagged in his first year with the club.

Jaguars To Release RT Jermey Parnell

March 8th, 2019 at 11:48am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars’ spring cleaning is in full effect. The team will release right tackle Jermey Parnell, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Parnell was due $6MM in 2019, but none of that money was guaranteed. The Jaguars now have somewhere in the neighborhood of $30MM in cap space after their litany of cuts on Friday morning.

Before Parnell’s exit, the Jaguars also released defensive tackle Malik Jackson, running back Carlos Hyde, and safety Tashaun Gipson. At this rate, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see even more key players released by the end of the business day.

Parnell, a 2009 undrafted free agent out of Mississippi, bounced around the NFL before landing with the Cowboys in 2010. The offensive tackle established himself as one of Dallas’ key backups, and he turned that experience into a starting gig with the Jaguars. The 32-year-old spent the past four years in Jacksonville, starting each of his 57 games. He appeared in 13 games last season, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 49th among 83 eligible offensive tackles at the time of his season-ending injury in December.

Jaguars Release Tashaun Gipson

March 8th, 2019 at 11:30am CST by Zachary Links

It’s a bloodbath in Jacksonville. On Friday, the Jaguars released safety Tashaun Gipson, according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano (Twitter link).

Word of Gipson’s release comes moments after the club dropped defensive tackle Malik Jackson and running back Carlos Hyde. Between the three transactions, the Jags have saved a total of $23.2MM in salary cap space for the coming year.

Heading into Friday, the Jaguars had less than $3MM in breathing room, so the trio of cuts will make a world of difference for the Jags. By the same token, the Jaguars will have to find someone to replace Gipson – a reliable starter – in the secondary.

Gipson was due upwards of $8MM in 2019 but teams still called on him prior to his release, so he figures to find a healthy market in the coming days. The 28-year-old (29 in August) started in every possible game for the Jaguars since joining the squad in 2016. In 2018, he racked up 54 tackles, one interception, and seven passes defensed playing primarily at free safety. For Gipson’s efforts last year, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the No. 37 safety in the NFL, placing him ahead of notables like T.J. McDonald, Landon Collins, and Duron Harmon.

Lions Release T.J. Lang

March 8th, 2019 at 11:08am CST by Zachary Links

On Friday, the Lions announced the release of guard T.J. Lang. The move will save the Lions $8.84MM against the cap and leave them with $2.67MM in dead money. By releasing him before March 16, they’ve also avoided having to pay him a $500K roster bonus.

“We would like to personally thank T.J. Lang for his two seasons with the Lions. He represented everything you could want from a football player and team captain,” Lions GM Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia said in a joint statement. “We all publicly saw him perform on the field at a very high level, but what was seen in the building every day was a player who had great leadership, professionalism and passion for the game of football. It meant a lot for T.J. to play in his home city and we have the utmost respect for him as a man. We wish T.J. and his family all the best in the future.”

Indeed, Lang is regarded as one of the nicer guys in the NFL. He was also a heck of a lineman during his best years.

Lang spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Packers and started in all of his games from 2011-2016. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in his final year with the club and did the same in Year One with the Lions after signing a three-year, $28.5MM deal with the club. Unfortunately, a neck injury landed him on IR in November of 2018 and his football future remains murky.

Jaguars To Release Carlos Hyde

March 8th, 2019 at 11:04am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars showed Malik Jackson the door, and Carlos Hyde will follow him out. The running back will be released by the Jaguars on Friday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter).

The Jaguars tried to trade Jackson and Hyde, but couldn’t find a worthwhile deal. Hyde, who joined the Jaguars in a midseason trade with the Browns, had two years left on his deal but nothing in the way of guarantees. Understandably, clubs passed on trading for Hyde and taking on a $4.7MM cap hold. Hyde will now get an early crack at free agency before the market formally opens on Thursday.

Last year, Hyde ran for 189 yards and zero touchdowns in his eight games (two starts) with Jacksonville. In theory, Hyde could have returned on a lesser deal to help stopgap Leonard Fournette, but the Jags will instead look in another direction. Fournette could be backed up by T.J. Yeldon, but that would require re-signing the impending free agent.

The Jags have opened up significant cap room by dismissing Hyde and Jackson – by our calculation, they’ve gone from having $2.6MM in space to roughly $20MM by virtue of the two cuts.

Jaguars To Release Malik Jackson

March 8th, 2019 at 10:49am CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars informed defensive tackle Malik Jackson that he will be released, a source tells Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jackson still has three years to go on the six-year, $85.5MM contract he inked in 2016, but the Jags will cut him to save $11MM against $4MM in dead money.

Jackson didn’t missed a single game during his time with the Jaguars and earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2017. However, he took a bit of a step back in 2018, and he was ultimately benched for Taven Bryan down the stretch. He finished the season with 32 tackles and 3.5 sacks, with Pro Football Focus ranking him just 85th among 112 interior defenders.

The Jaguars tried, and failed, to find a suitable trade for Jackson. Jackson still has value, of course, but no team gave real consideration to adding the veteran at his current salary. After his release is finalized, he’ll be free to sign elsewhere, albeit at a cheaper rate than his previous deal.

After losing his starting job in December, Jackson saw the writing on the wall.

“In my mind, if I’m third or fourth on the depth chart making $14.5MM to $15MM, I don’t see too much future for me in Jacksonville,” Jackson said. “I’m not trying to be a journeyman by any means. But it’s a business and soon as you try to forget that then it’s a rude awakening for sure.”

Giants To Trade Olivier Vernon To Browns

March 8th, 2019 at 10:28am CST by Zachary Links

The Giants are trading Olivier Vernon to the Browns, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). In return, the Giants will receive guard Kevin Zeitler (Twitter link). The Giants had originally agreed to send the No. 132 pick to Cleveland, with the Browns shipping No. 155 back to New York, but the two side have since canceled that portion of the swap.

The deal gives the Browns a formidable defensive end combo between Vernon and Myles Garrett. The swap also allows the Browns to focus on other areas of need next week, rather than overpaying for valued edge rushers.

Vernon inked a massive five-year, $85MM deal with the Giants in 2016. A few years later, the Giants found themselves looking to unload him or potentially release him outright. Vernon is still productive, but he no longer profiles as one of the best edge rushers in the NFL. Even at his time of signing, his contract was a function of an inflated pass rushing market that continues to be player friendly.

Vernon is due $15.5MM in each of the two remaining years on his deal. The Browns had roughly $77MM in cap space entering Friday, but it’s not immediately clear whether the Giants will be chipping in towards what Vernon is owed. Such an arrangement is not unheard of. In the Case Keenum trade between the Broncos and Redskins, for example, the Broncos agreed to pay half of Keenum’s 2019 salary.

Vernon, 28, gave the Giants a career-high 8.5 sacks in his first season with the club. He’s continued to get to the QB with 22 sacks over the course of three years, but injuries have cost him nine games over the last two campaigns. Last year, he averaged four pressures per contest in eleven games.

The Giants, meanwhile, pick up one of the league’s best interior lineman in the trade. Zeitler was Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 ranked guard last season and is midway through a five-year, $60MM deal. The 29-year-old is set to make $10MM this season, though much of that hit will be absorbed by the Browns.

Latest On Potential Antonio Brown Trade

March 8th, 2019 at 10:09am CST by Zachary Links

We know that Antonio Brown is not Buffalo-bound, but, beyond that, his situation remains murky. The Steelers still want a first-round pick for the wide receiver and “several teams” are waiting for the club to reduce its asking price before making an aggressive pursuit, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.

The Steelers’ leverage was already weakened by Brown’s outspoken criticism of the team and his refusal to join the Bills further complicates matters. It’s hard to imagine clubs offering significant draft capital for the star player when they can’t be certain that he’ll show up for work.

Teams such as the Redskins, Raiders, and Titans were in on Brown earlier this month, but no longer appear to be in the chase. We can add the Packers to that list, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Demovsky hears the Packers have not had any conversations with the Steelers – despite their glaring need for receiver help – and won’t jump in now.

Eagles’ Michael Bennett Wants Pay Raise

March 8th, 2019 at 9:53am CST by Zachary Links

The Eagles can trade or release Michael Bennett this offseason without incurring a dead money hit, which may give them leverage in restructuring talks. However, the defensive lineman isn’t on board with that plan. If anything, Bennett says, he wants a pay increase regardless of where he winds up.

“You’re always caught off guard whenever your name is brought up in the trade blocks, or being traded, but you understand that people want to acquire your services and we’re in a tough situation as far as the salary cap,” Bennett told NFL Network. “But I’m not willing to take a pay cut. I actually want a pay raise at this point, and so whatever happens just to know that whatever team I go to I want to get paid more than I get paid right now.”

Under his current deal, Bennett is slated to earn $7.2MM from Philly this season. The Eagles, meanwhile, would prefer to move him to a team desperate for pass rush help and add to their draft pick arsenal. Trading or releasing Bennett would also help their cap situation – the Eagles have less than $18MM in cap room, which is way behind this year’s clubhouse leaders.

For his part, Bennett says he’d like to stay in Philadelphia, but doesn’t know what the future holds.

“Well, I don’t know what’s happening with the Eagles,” Bennett said. “Of course you always want to be with the team that you play with. At the same time, we all know it’s a business, and we want to be able to make money whenever you get the opportunities. And I feel like if you’re on the trading block, it’s just a part of the game. But at the same time, I still know that I’m one of the best players in the NFL. You look at statistically last year, quarterback hits, TFLs, and with how I approach the game I love football and whatever team I’m on, I’m going to take that same attitude and go out there and be a nasty player and try to dominate on the defensive line and be the best teammate and the best player that I can possibly be.”

Steelers Shopping Marcus Gilbert

March 8th, 2019 at 9:41am CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers are shopping right tackle Marcus Gilbert for a potential trade, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Gilbert tweeted an apparent farewell to the Steelers on Friday morning, so it sounds like a trade could be imminent.

Gilbert, 31, has missed 23 regular season games over the last three years. In 2018, a knee injury sidelined him in October, but other injuries and suspensions have limited him in the past.

When healthy and on the field, Gilbert has been a quality blocker for Pittsburgh. 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 Steelers will work the phones to find a suitable deal for Gilbert and they hope he’ll cooperate with a trade, unlike teammate Antonio Brown.