HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Lions Won’t Tender DL Kerry Hyder

March 4th, 2019 at 7:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions will not tender defensive lineman Kerry Hyder, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Hyder had eight sacks two years ago, but the Lions will allow him to explore the open market as an unrestricted free agent. 

Hyder, 27, missed the entire 2017 season due to a torn Achilles and only appeared in seven games last season. With just one sack last year and a limited sample of work, it’s not surprising the Lions didn’t want to give him the lowest tender, which would’ve paid him $2.025MM next season. The Texas Tech product was an undrafted free agent back in 2014, and it took him a while to find his footing in the league.

He initially signed with the Jets, but was cut after his first preseason and signed to the practice squad. He then latched on with the Lions the following year, and spent most of the 2015 season on their practice squad. He made the 53-man roster in 2016, and came out of nowhere to rack up eight sacks. But the Achilles injury derailed what looked to be a promising career, and he fell out of favor with new coach Matt Patricia.

He was inactive most of the year, and recorded his only sack in Week 17. Fortunately for him he’s still relatively young, and thanks to the potential he showed in 2016, he should be able to find a new home relatively soon. With the Lions also unlikely to retain Ezekiel Ansah, their defensive line will look a lot different next year.

Latest On Ohio State CB Kendall Sheffield

March 4th, 2019 at 7:17pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

We heard yesterday that Ohio State cornerback Kendall Sheffield had suffered a torn left pectoral while bench pressing at the NFL scouting combine, and now we have an update. Sheffield has a partially torn pec, but he won’t need surgery for the injury, he told Kimberly Jones of NFL Network (Twitter link).

Sheffield is apparently in good spirits, and remained at the combine to support the other cornerbacks participating in drills. While it’s still a tough blow, it’s not as quite as serious as it initially seemed, and he’s lucky to dodge surgery. Fellow Buckeye Billy Price tore his pec doing the bench press at last year’s combine and ended up having to have surgery and miss the entire offseason program.

It’s still unclear how long Sheffield will be sidelined, but it doesn’t sound like it’ll be a prolonged absence or anything that will impact his draft status too much. It’s a shame Sheffield didn’t get to participate in the 40-yard dash or any of the other drills, because he was expected to test very well. He’s a great athlete, and a source told Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link), that he had been clocking in the 4.2’s during his combine training. Anderson added in a second tweet that the “hope is” it’s just a 4-6 week injury. Most mock drafts projected Sheffield as a middle round pick heading into the combine.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/4/19

March 4th, 2019 at 6:47pm CST by Zachary Links

Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agent tender decisions, with the list being updated throughout the day:

ERFAs

Tendered:

Non-Tendered:

RFAs

Non-Tendered:

Browns To Tender Rashard Higgins

March 4th, 2019 at 6:42pm CST by Zachary Links

The Browns will tender restricted free agent Rashard Higgins, according to GM John Dorsey (via Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer). However, Dorsey did not indicate whether the Browns will employ the first- or second-round tender to cuff the wide receiver. 

[RELATED: Teams Interested In Browns’ Duke Johnson]

The first- or second-round tender will determine what pick a team would have to give the Browns if they were sign him. The first-round tender in 2019 is worth $4.407MM and the second-round tender is worth $3.095MM. It stands to reason that the second-round tender would be enough to scare away interested teams, even though this year’s wide receiver group in both free agency and the draft is underwhelming.

Higgins caught 39 passes for 572 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. More importantly, he developed a nice rapport with rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield in the second half of the season. With Jarvis Landry entrenched in the slot, Higgins should have an opportunity to start outside next year.

Jason La Canfora On Brown, Steelers, Eagles

March 4th, 2019 at 6:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire in two years, but Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com gets the sense than an extension will be struck before its expiration, which would mean no strike or lockout. One high-ranking league source tells JLC that a deal could even be reached prior to the start of the 2020 season, though an NFLPA source cautioned that things are still in their infancy.

Here’s more from JLC:

  • The Raiders and Eagles are the team’s to keep an eye on in the sweepstakes for Steelers star Antonio Brown, JLC hears. The Titans, he says, have nothing going on with the Steelers right now and the Redskins’ front office is divided on AB, even as owner Dan Snyder pushes for a deal. The Saints and Seahawks also discussed AB internally, but don’t appear to be moving forward with the pursuit.
  • Talent evaluators tell JLC that they are iffy on the talent of this year’s wide receiver class. “You might as well trade for AB or OBJ, because this is a bad draft for receivers,” one exec said. “I don’t care who ran what, this is not a good group.” JLC asked that particular exec about extraordinary athlete D.K. Metcalf as well, but he was not impressed by his fluidity or natural catching ability.

Four Teams Interested In Dwayne Allen

March 4th, 2019 at 6:07pm CST by Zachary Links

A market is already starting to take shape for Dwayne Allen. The Ravens, Bills, Dolphins, and Lions all have interest in meeting with the tight end, according to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 

Over the weekend, the Patriots parted ways with the 29-year-old, making him immediately available. The Patriots are open to bringing him back at a cheaper rate, but they might not get that opportunity given the early interest he is receiving.

Allen was set to enter the final year of his contract in 2019 with a base salary of $6.4MM. By cutting him, the Pats saved about $7.3MM in cap room, boosting their total cap space to roughly $25MM.

Allen spent the first six seasons 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, the 2012 third-rounder didn’t play as much of a role in the offense in New England.

In 29 games (16 starts), Allen only hauled in 13 receptions for 113 yards and one score. Allen also appeared in each of the Patriots’ six playoff games during that span, but he didn’t record a reception in those contests. While Allen has earned some recent praise for his blocking prowess, Pro Football Focus ranked him just 65th among 70 eligible tight ends in 2018.

Chiefs Use Franchise Tag On Dee Ford

March 4th, 2019 at 4:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another franchise tag is official. The Chiefs placed theirs on Dee Ford, as has been long expected.

Kansas City’s pass rusher situation is far from certain, as free agency approaches. Both Ford and Justin Houston, who is still a Chief for now, have been dangled in trade talks. But the younger player appears likely to stay for the 2019 season.

The expectation now is Houston will be released before free agency commences. This would place a greater internal value on Ford, who has not been a consistent pass rusher but is nevertheless coming off his best season. Ford forced seven fumbles in 2018 and registered 13 sacks, finally delivering on the promise the Chiefs envisioned when they used their 2014 first-round pick on him.

Ford sticking around for 2019 would mean a switch to defensive end, with new DC Steve Spagnuolo converting the Chiefs to a 4-3 team. Ford, 28, may be set for a fight about his position distinction, with the Chiefs potentially arguing he should be tagged as a linebacker — since he played five years in their old 3-4 scheme. However, Ford’s camp will certainly counter he should be classified as an end, since that’s where he will play in 2019. The linebacker tag is $15.443MM; tagged ends receive $17.128MM.

Chiefs Expected To Release Justin Houston

March 4th, 2019 at 4:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs have put out trade feelers for both Justin Houston and Dee Ford. While it’s not known what kind of interest the team’s bookend pass rushers are drawing, the older member of this duo may be set to hit the market.

A report surfaced Monday indicating that Houston will be released, but NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets the Chiefs have yet to pull the trigger. However, that is the expected endgame here, per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (on Twitter). The franchise looks to still be trying to trade Houston, per Pelissero, hoping to take advantage of what has become a less flashy pass rusher market.

While Houston may not be attractive at a $15.25MM base salary, he figures to be in demand as a first-time free agent. The expected franchise tag recipients, including Ford, received news they will be tagged, opening the door for the second-tier pass rushers to top the true free agent market. Houston is more accomplished than any of those players, and despite his age (30) and recent history of injuries, the former All-Pro will generate interest.

If released, Houston stands to join Trey Flowers, Dante Fowler, Preston Smith, Za’Darius Smith and Ziggy Ansah as the market’s top edge defenders. Houston has played four seasons on the six-year, $101MM deal. He has not lived up to that price, and said contract calls for a $21.1MM cap number in 2019, failing to eclipse 10 sacks in a season since his 22-sack 2014 showing.

Eagles To Decline Timmy Jernigan’s Option

March 4th, 2019 at 4:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Timmy Jernigan signed a four-year, $48MM extension late in the 2017 season. The Eagles are cutting bait after that deal’s first season.

The Eagles will not pick up the defensive tackle’s option, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). This was rumored to be in the works, and it will save the team $7MM. However, because of the early dismissal, the Eagles will eat $6MM in dead money.

After missing a chunk of last season because of an offseason injury, Jernigan will not head to the market with much steam. The Ravens traded him to the Eagles in 2017, and he performed well enough the eventual Super Bowl champions authorized a high-end extension. Jernigan played just 100 snaps last season, suiting up for just three regular-season games.

Howie Roseman has been busy recently, having authorized a new deal for Brandon Graham and extended Jason Kelce and Isaac Seumalo. The Eagles, who entered the day with barely $4MM in cap space, are also shopping Michael Bennett and his $7.2MM salary. Jernigan would have made $11MM in base salary next season.

Giants Unlikely To Tag Landon Collins

March 4th, 2019 at 4:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

Landon Collins may reach free agency after all. The Giants are now not expected to apply their franchise tag to the decorated safety, Kim Jones and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com report (via Twitter).

This is a course change from a previous report. The Giants believe in Collins’ talent and long-term viability, but the NFL.com duo adds team brass views the safety tag number ($11.15MM) as too high to make this move.

No significant talks between the Giants and Collins are believed to have occurred, and the fifth-year defender went through a much-publicized locker-cleanout session recently. He now may be a week away from being able to speak to other teams about deals. The NFL’s legal tampering period opens March 11.

Collins just turned 25 and likely will have a robust market awaiting him, despite being in the process of rehabbing a shoulder injury. He is a three-time Pro Bowler who landed on the 2016 All-Pro first team.

The Giants are not flush with cap space, holding $27MM-plus, but have plenty of needs. A Collins defection will create a big one in New York’s secondary, which already has holes. Janoris Jenkins is now expected to stick around — and on his $14.75MM cap number — but the Giants do not have much of note beyond him. This will be an interesting situation, if/once Collins walks.

Load More Posts