2019 March - Pro Football Rumors

Falcons Use Franchise Tag On Grady Jarrett

March 4th, 2019 at 3:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Grady Jarrett will not be reaching the market. The Falcons will retain their standout defensive tackle via the franchise tag, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

The Falcons have said for months they hoped to keep Jarrett in the fold, and this tag — worth $15.209MM — will allow them to keep working toward that goal. No deal is imminent, however. The Falcons have until July 15 to reach a long-term agreement with their soon-to-be 26-year-old interior defender.

This is the first defensive tackle among 2019 free agents-to-be to receive a tag, but fellow pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney, DeMarcus Lawrence and Frank Clark are being retained by their respective teams. So is Dee Ford. Jarrett would have been in line for a monster payday on the market, but the tag will still provide the 2015 fifth-round pick with a substantial raise.

One of the league’s top interior pass rushers, Jarrett is best known for his three-sack performance in Super Bowl LI. He has 14 career sacks, also forcing three fumbles last season.

Ravens Will Not Tag C.J. Mosley

March 4th, 2019 at 3:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

If the Ravens and C.J. Mosley are unable to reach an extension agreement by the time free agency opens March 13, they may risk losing him.

The team will not use its franchise tag on the sixth-year linebacker, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. This is not surprising, considering the tag system groups all linebackers together. Both edge defenders and off-ball ‘backers, despite their disparate values on the true market, both would receive $15.443MM if tagged. Mosley’s talents notwithstanding, that appears to be an untenable number for the Ravens.

New GM Eric DeCosta said in February he believed Mosley would be back in Baltimore next season. The parties have begun contract talks, but time is running out on the Ravens’ exclusive negotiation window. Mosley can begin talking to other teams March 11, when the legal tampering period begins.

Mosley, 26, is a perennial Pro Bowler, having been four times, and has anchored Baltimore’s linebacking corps for years. He is a three-down linebacker who stands to do well in free agency, if he ends up reaching the market. The Ravens have allowed plenty of impact defenders to leave via free agency in recent years, but they have done well to keep their cornerstone players. Mosley profiles as such, so the next several days will be interesting.

Jamie Collins‘ $12.5MM-per-year deal remains the top of the non-rush linebacker hierarchy, with Luke Kuechly‘s contract residing just below that. With Kuechly’s extension having occurred years ago and Collins not living up to his pact, Mosley can argue — in a $188MM-capped year — a case to be the game’s highest-paid off-ball ‘backer. But the Ravens are not notorious, their Joe Flacco deal notwithstanding, for these kind of accords. Teams in need of linebacking help are surely monitoring this situation.

Seahawks Use Franchise Tag On Frank Clark

March 4th, 2019 at 3:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

Teams are settling their franchise tag business on Monday. The Seahawks are the latest team to do so, with Albert Breer of SI.com reporting (via Twitter) the team has made the decision to apply the tag to Frank Clark.

Decisions for Clark’s and DeMarcus Lawrence‘s tags have come within the past hour, and the Texans franchised Jadeveon Clowney earlier today. The Chiefs and Buccaneers are using their tags on Dee Ford and Donovan Smith, respectively. Teams have until 3pm CT Tuesday to use their franchise tags.

Like the other moves, Seattle’s Clark decision was expected. Pete Carroll confirmed at the Combine the 25-year-old defensive end would be a Seahawk in 2019. The sides are already progressing on talks, and this deal may be one that gets done before the July 15 deadline.

The Michael Bennett/Cliff Avril sidekick had consistently shown he had higher-end pass-rushing abilities off the bench, and in his first full season as a starter, Clark broke out for 13 sacks — more than Bennett or Avril recorded in a season during their Seattle stays. Clark has 35 career sacks, combining for 19 between the 2016 and ’17 seasons. Although the Seahawks let numerous Super Bowls-era bastions go last year, Clark appears part of the organization’s long-term plans.

Clark has not resisted the tag and appears likely to sign his tender and attend offseason workouts. Tagging Clark will cost the Seahawks $17.128MM, which will be deducted from the team’s $49.8MM in cap space.

Cowboys To Tag DeMarcus Lawrence

March 4th, 2019 at 3:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another top-tier edge defender will not make it to the market. For the second straight year, the Cowboys will place their franchise tag on DeMarcus Lawrence, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Lawrence follows Dee Ford and Jadeveon Clowney, with Frank Clark‘s Seahawks tag imminent. Dallas’ top pass rusher, though, comes with a higher price. A second Lawrence tag will cost the Cowboys $20.57MM, and the sixth-year defender is not likely to sign this tender anytime soon. However, after the Cowboys appeared to be set to rent Lawrence in 2018, ESPN.com’s Todd Archer notes the team wants to have a long-term deal in place by the July 15 deadline.

The 26-year-old dynamo said in the past he would not sign this tender if tagged again. This is still his stance, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets. Lawrence signed his 2018 tender quickly and attended Cowboys offseason workouts. As could be the case with Ezekiel Elliott as well, Lawrence is not expected to show for OTAs and minicamp this year — unless the sides reach a long-term extension. And that does not appear to be on the horizon. Lawrence, though, does not plan to miss regular-season time, Calvin Watkins of The Athletic notes (subscription required).

Dallas does not believe Lawrence is worth a $20MM-per-year contract, Watkins adds, noting the team’s initial offers have not been for that amount. Only Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald are $20MM-AAV defenders, but Lawrence’s new tag likely will prevent him from accepting a deal averaging less than that figure. Lawrence is not demanding a deal that eclipses Mack’s or Donald’s, per Watkins, but merely one that places him in the top five at his position.

The Cowboys proceeding cautiously with Lawrence in 2018 made sense. He had dealt with multiple injuries during his first three seasons before breaking out for 14.5 sacks in 2017. Last season, the former second-round pick proved it again, registering 10.5 sacks. Though Jerry Jones said the Cowboys are more comfortable with his long-term outlook, and the team has made an offer, this could be a long waiting game.

This offseason will also include a Lawrence shoulder surgery as well, so without a contract in place, he will not be eager to return to the team. In fact, Watkins reports a procedure will not be scheduled until Lawrence has an extension in place. This would stand to make it more difficult for Lawrence to be ready on time for training camp.

Having a $20.57MM tag on its cap sheet will slice Dallas’ $47MM-plus in cap space almost in half, making it, for the time being, more difficult to add outside free agents or work with its litany of extension candidates on deals.

Browns Notes: Collins, Johnson, Perriman

March 4th, 2019 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Browns are not linked to a first-round quarterback for the first time in ages, this will be a pivotal offseason for a rising team. Here is the latest from Cleveland, courtesy of the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot:

It’s a near-certainty Jamie Collins will not play on an $11.75MM cap number this season. The Browns are likely going to restructure that deal or make a move to trade or release the outside linebacker, Cabot notes. John Dorsey met with Collins’ agent over the weekend, and the second-year GM characterized the highly paid ‘backer’s 2018 season as inconsistent. Collins has been the NFL’s highest-paid off-ball linebacker for nearly two years, though his deal contains no more guarantees. It would save the Browns $9.25MM by cutting Collins. Cleveland has Christian Kirksey signed long-term and has received quality play from Joe Schobert, with newcomer Genard Avery showing promise as a rookie.
The Kareem Hunt addition has prompted other teams to inquire about Duke Johnson‘s availability, Cabot reports. Three teams are interested in Johnson, she adds, despite the Browns’ pass-catching back coming off a down year. Johnson signed an extension in 2018, but the Browns now have Hunt in the fold to play alongside Nick Chubb. Dorsey said last month Johnson’s roster spot is not in jeopardy “yet” and confirmed he remains committed to the receiving back, as a running back, going forward. Hunt’s suspension timetable remains uncertain, but it is likely he will draw a ban longer than six games, thus keeping the need for Johnson present.
Dorsey has been in contact with Breshad Perriman and agent Drew Rosenhaus about a possible re-up, but Cabot adds the sides are not close on terms. Dorsey said he would “love” to have the former first-round pick, who ran a 4.25-second 40-yard dash at the 2015 Combine, back due to his speed-size combination. A constant injury risk in Baltimore before being waived last year, Perriman caught just 16 passes with Cleveland. However, he posted a 21.3-yard average as an intriguing deep threat.
The Browns will give Greg Robinson another chance to earn their starting left tackle job, agreeing to a second contract with the former No. 2 overall pick.

Eagles Extend G Isaac Seumalo

March 4th, 2019 at 2:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another Eagles extension is on tap. The team reached an agreement on a three-year contract with Isaac Seumalo, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The three-year add-on, which will lock him down through the 2022 season, will give him roughly $17MM in new money with about $12.6MM guaranteed, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).

The Seumalo re-up follows Jason Kelce‘s, which came after the Eagles’ decision to keep Brandon Graham in the fold long-term. Seumalo became a full-time starter last season, grading as Pro Football Focus’ No. 36 overall guard in his nine regular-season starts. This move shows the Eagles believe the 25-year-old Hawaiian can sustain the momentum.

This will not do much to help Philly’s cap situation, with Seumalo’s rookie deal calling for a $939K cap figure. But it will allow Philly to retain its youngest offensive line starter. Two of Seumalo’s line mates are north of 30, in Kelce and Jason Peters, and the other two starters — Brandon Brooks and Lane Johnson — are in their late 20s. Philly’s line now has five starters on veteran deals.

Seumalo did not develop quickly, as has been the case with numerous linemen who have come into the league under a CBA that cut back on practice time compared to prior agreements, having been benched in 2017. The Oregon State product served as a backup for the Eagles’ Super Bowl edition. His gradual emergence stands to help an Eagles team that employs one of the oldest offensive line starting fives in the game.

Eagles Shopping Michael Bennett

March 4th, 2019 at 1:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

After re-signing Brandon Graham via three-year, $40MM deal, the Eagles are gauging the market for Michael Bennett. A year after trading for the longtime Seahawks stalwart, Philadelphia discussed possible deals that would send the veteran defensive end elsewhere, Geoff Mosher of Patreon.com notes.

Graham’s return preserves the Eagles’ surplus at defensive end, and Philly.com’s Jeff McLane adds Derek Barnett will be penciled in as the other starter. Bennett was unhappy being a second-stringer to start last season, per McLane.

It is not yet certain if Philly will retain Chris Long, but the team’s two-deep depth chart here is among the strongest position groups in the NFL. However, the Eagles do not have much to spend this offseason, especially after bringing back Graham. Philadelphia holds just more than $4MM in cap space as of Monday. A Bennett trade would clear $7.2MM off the Eagles’ books. No guaranteed money remains on the versatile 33-year-old defender’s deal, which runs through 2020.

Philadelphia gave up a fifth-round pick to acquire Bennett from Seattle last year, and he delivered yet another quality campaign. Bennett registered nine sacks, tying the second-most he’s recorded in a season, and graded as a top-25 edge defender via Pro Football Focus.

With nickel sets so prominent in today’s game, Bennett obviously still has a place on the Eagles as an inside rusher. But he could help another team’s line and save Philly critical cash as well. And with the top free agent veteran edge defenders being franchise-tagged, Bennett’s market could be interesting, given his production and affordable deal.

Texans Franchise Tag Jadeveon Clowney

March 4th, 2019 at 12:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The Texans have franchise tagged outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, according to a team announcement. If no long-term deal is reached between now and the July extension deadline for franchised players, Clowney will be cuffed by a one-year, $15.443MM tender.

The Texans used the non-exclusive tag on Clowney, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. With this designation, Clowney can shop his offer sheet around, but an unmatched offer sheet would result in the new team sending two first-round picks to the Texans as compensation. The non-exclusive version used more commonly than the exclusive tag in the NFL and only occasionally results in a trade. Last year, however, the Dolphins and Browns swung a tag-and-trade involving Jarvis Landry, though the compensation was much lower than two first-round picks.

Teams have rankled players in the past by tagging them as outside linebackers rather than defensive ends, but it won’t make a huge difference for Clowney. Last year, the Texans gave Clowney an extra $1MM to settle a dispute over his fifth-year option, so the 120% rule on the tag would give him a $15.967MM salary for 2019. Therefore, the difference between Clowney’s tag and the tag he’d get as a defensive end ($17MM) is minimal.

Clowney likely would have preferred to test free agency before coming to the table with the Texans, but, like the other top edge rushers, Clowney will be held back by the tag. The 26-year-old would undoubtedly cash in as an unrestricted free agent, but the Texans are reportedly unwilling to go “anywhere near” the market-resetting deals signed by Khalil Mack and Aaron Donald last summer. For what it’s worth, GM Brian Gaine says the team’s “goal is to continue to work with his representation on a long-term contract.”

For his part, Clowney is expected to take his sweet time when it comes to signing the tender. Without a long-term deal or a signed tender, the defensive end will have the right to abstain from offseason activities, training camp, and even games. An in-season holdout would cost Clowney $900K+ for every missed game.

Giants To Keep Janoris Jenkins?

March 4th, 2019 at 12:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Janoris Jenkins‘ name has been brought up as a potential cap casualty, but the sense around the league is that the Giants have no plans to release the cornerback, according to NJ.com’s Matt Lombardo. The Giants aren’t planning on asking Jenkins to restructure his contract or take a pay cut, either, according to those sources.

The Giants figure to make significant changes to their defense this offseason, but Jenkins is still in their plans. The veteran is set to carry a $14.75MM cap hit this year, but releasing him would result in a $7MM cap hit with $7.75MM in savings. Losing Jenkins would also leave them with a thin secondary in the event that safety Landon Collins is tagged and refuses to show up for work.

Jenkins, 30, is entering the fourth year of his five-year, $62.5MM contract. Last year, he amassed 70 tackles and two interceptions in a full 16-game season but graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 53 ranked cornerback out of 112 qualified players. His $12.5MM average annual value, however, positions him as the ninth-highest paid CB in the NFL.

Titans Release Jonathan Cyprien

March 4th, 2019 at 11:26am CST by Zachary Links

The Titans are expected to release safety Jonathan Cyprien sometime this week, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, the Titans would like him back at a cheaper rate.

Tennessee pulled the trigger on this transaction on Tuesday, doing so with a failed-physical designation, NFL reporter Howard Balzer tweets.

Cyprien, 29 in July, was set to resume his role as the Titans’ starting strong safety in 2018. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL in August that sidelined him for the entire year. Cyprien is talented, but injuries have held him back in recent years. In 2017, a hamstring ailment limited him to just ten games.

Cyprien joined the Titans in 2017 on a four-year, $25MM free agent deal. The pact had just $9MM guaranteed, however, and the Titans will save $5.25MM against just $1.5MM in dead money.

In his first year with the club, Cyprien had 57 total tackles and one sack in his ten games. He graded out as one of the ten worst qualified safeties in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus, though PFF’s metrics have never been particularly high on him.