2019 March - Pro Football Rumors

Raiders Sign OL Denzelle Good To One-Year Extension

March 2nd, 2019 at 12:46pm CST by Ben Levine

Denzelle Good apparently made a good impression during his late-season run with the Raiders. Adam Caplan reports (via Twitter) that the offensive lineman has signed a one-year extension with the organization. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the deal is worth $1.8MM and could hit a maximum value of $3MM.

The 2015 seventh-round pick spent the first three-plus seasons of his career with the Colts, including a 2016 campaign where he started 10 games. However, the 6-foot-5 offensive tackle could never establish a role in Indy, and the team ended up waiving him this past December.

The 27-year-old was subsequently claimed by the Raiders. When Gabe Jackson went down with an injury, Good filled in at right guard for his new team, earning three starts down the stretch. While he didn’t earn enough snaps to qualify for Pro Football Focus‘ rankings, he did receive relatively solid marks for his run blocking.

Good might not have another opportunity to start in 2019, but he should provide the Raiders with solid depth. The team only has several linemen hitting free agency, including Chaz Green and Jon Feliciano, and T.J. Clemmings, meaning there will surely be competitions on the offensive line come training camp.

Falcons Sign QB Matt Schaub To Two-Year Extension

March 2nd, 2019 at 12:13pm CST by Ben Levine

Matt Schaub will be sticking in Atlanta for a few more seasons. The Falcons announced that they have signed the veteran quarterback to a two-year extension. Schaub’s deal is worth $3.78MM in total and contains $750K in guaranteed money, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com, adding Atlanta will hold a team option for the 2020 season.

“Matt has a great understanding of our scheme and brings valuable experience to the position,” said head coach Dan Quinn.

The 37-year-old had spent the past three seasons with the Falcons, serving as the top backup to Matt Ryan. Predictably, Schaub hasn’t had too many opportunities to see the field; in his three seasons with the team, he’s made 10 pass attempts in seven games. Still, his familiarity with the Falcons’ offense is an asset, and he’s fine insurance should Ryan miss any time.

The last time Schaub started at least half of his team’s games was back in 2013 with the Texans. The veteran started eight games that season, completing 61.2-percent of his passes for 2,310 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Schaub had earned a pair of Pro Bowl births throughout his career, and he led the NFL in passing yards back in 2009.

Presumably, the two-year extension will also be plenty affordable; when Schaub signed a two-year extension with the Falcons in 2017, it was worth $9MM. The veteran was set to hit free agency this summer.

Patriots To Release TE Dwayne Allen

March 2nd, 2019 at 11:01am CST by Ben Levine

The Patriots are moving on from Dwayne Allen. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the organization has informed the veteran tight end that they’ll be releasing him.

Schefter notes that the team would be open to bringing Allen back for less money. The tight end was entering the final year of his contract in 2019 and was set to earn a $6.4MM base salary. The team will free up about $7.3MM in cap with the move, boosting their cap space total to around $25MM.

The 2012 third-round pick 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, 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. Allen also appeared in each of the Patriots’ six playoff games during that span, but he didn’t record a reception. 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.

Considering the uncertainty surrounding Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots could be seeking some reinforcement at tight end this offseason. The team is rostering some intriguing options in Stephen Anderson, Jacob Hollister, and Ryan Izzo, but none of the trio have the same amount of experience as Allen or Gronk.

Eagles Sign C Jason Kelce To Extension

March 2nd, 2019 at 10:10am CST by Ben Levine

Jason Kelce won’t be retiring after all. The Eagles announced that they’ve agreed to a one-year extension with the veteran offensive center.

Kelce is now under contract through 2021, and Adam Caplan tweets that the lineman will make around $11MM per season (making Kelce the highest-paid center in the NFL). As Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com points out, the 31-year-old was set to have a cap hit of $6.5MM next season.

Following the Eagles’ Divisional Round loss to the Saints, Kelce hinted that he may end up retiring, with the lineman telling reporters that he had actually considered retiring during each of the past couple seasons. Today’s extension means Kelce’s contract now lasts through the 2021 season, but it doesn’t sound like the veteran will stick around that long. Rather, today’s deal is basically a commitment by Kelce to return for the 2019 campaign.

The 2011 sixth-round pick has spent his entire NFL career with Philly, earning a pair of Pro Bowl nods. Kelce earned his second-straight First-Team All-Pro accolade this past season, and it was also the fourth-straight year that the lineman started all 16 games for the Eagles. Kecle also ranked first among Pro Football Focus‘ ranking of 38 eligible centers, the second-straight season he’s finished atop the list.

Jaguars Shopping DT Malik Jackson, RB Carlos Hyde

March 2nd, 2019 at 9:39am CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars are apparently looking to move on from a pair of veterans. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the organization is trying to trade defensive tackle Malik Jackson and running back Carlos Hyde. The team is hoping to make a move by the start of the league year on March 13th.

Jackson hasn’t missed a game with the Jaguars since he inked a massive six-year, $85.5MM contract ($31.5MM guaranteed) back in 2016. He started all 32 of his games during his first two seasons in Jacksonville, and he 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 85th among 112 interior defenders.

Jackson is owed more than $13MM in each of the next three seasons, and his cap hit exceeds $15MM in 2019 and 2020. If a team were to acquire Jackson, they’d surely be looking for him to take a significant pay cut. The Jaguars could also choose to cut the 29-year-old, although they’d be left with $4MM in dead cap in 2019 and $2MM in dead cap in 2020.

Hyde joined the Jaguars in a midseason trade with the Browns, and he proceeded to run for 189 yards and zero touchdowns in eight games (two starts). Hyde has two more years remaining on his deal, but Jacksonville does have the ability to get out of the contract this offseason. With T.J. Yeldon hitting free agency, the team could also decide to retain Hyde as Leonard Fournette insurance.

Dolphins Release DE Andre Branch

March 2nd, 2019 at 9:16am CST by Ben Levine

The Dolphins have made one of their first cost-cutting moves. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the team is releasing veteran pass-rusher Andre Branch.

Following an underwhelming tenure with the Jaguars, the former second-rounder joined the Dolphins back in 2016. He proceeded to sign a three-year, $24MM deal with the organization in 2017, but he hasn’t necessarily been worth the investment. After starting all 14 of his games in 2017, the 29-year-old only started one of his 14 games in 2018.

He finished the campaign with 25 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus wasn’t fond of his performance in 2018, ranking him 101st among 103 eligible edge defenders. With Branch set to earn close to $7MM in 2019, the Dolphins decided to move on from the veteran.

Cameron Wake and William Hayes are set to hit free agency this summer, leaving the team with Robert Quinn, Charles Harris, and Johnathan Woodard (ERFA) as their lone defensive ends. There were rumors that the Dolphins could be frontrunners for Patriots’ lineman Trey Flowers, and the organization can hope that some of the other top free agent pass rushers (a grouping that includes DeMarcus Lawrence, Jadeveon Clowney, Frank Clark and Dee Ford) somehow don’t get franchised.

Raiders, Redskins, Titans Have Shown “Most Interest” In WR Antonio Brown

March 2nd, 2019 at 8:37am CST by Ben Levine

While plenty of teams will surely express interest in Steelers receiver Antonio Brown, it sounds like a handful of teams have been particularly aggressive. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that three teams have “shown the most interest” in the wideout: the Raiders, the Redskins, and the Titans.

It’s not too surprising that these three teams are seemingly emerging from the pack, as they all struggled with wide receiver production in 2018. In fact, as ESPN’s Field Yates tweets, the Titans (seven), Redskins (eight), and Raiders (nine) were all in the bottom-three for touchdowns by receivers last season. For comparison’s sake, Brown finished the campaign with a league-leading 15 touchdown receptions.

It’s been almost a month since Brown requested a trade from the Steelers, but few teams have definitively been connected to the receiver. We heard earlier this week that the Jets were considering making a move for the veteran, although they had yet to reach out to Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Michael Silver of Sports Illustrated tweets that we should “keep an eye” on the Saints during this sweepstakes, and several other reporters have backed his sentiment.

We also heard about the Raiders interest in the receiver yesterday. The organization is a natural fit due to their need for talent and their draft capital, but our own Zach Links noted that the Steelers would be unlikely to pry away the fourth-overall pick. Instead, the Raiders’ pair of late first-rounders could be in play. Half of the Raiders receivers depth chart is set to hit some form of free agency, and the team will presumably be looking for an upgrade on Jordy Nelson as their top receiver.

It sounds like Redskins coach Jay Gruden will be battling with his brother to acquire the star receiver. With Alex Smith‘s future in doubt, the organization will also presumably be seeking another quarterback to compete with Colt McCoy. You could assume that Brown’s presence in Washington would improve their chances of attracting one of the top free agent signal-callers.

The Titans have struggled to surround Marcus Mariota with elite weapons during his brief career, although former first-rounder Corey Davis did take a major step forward last season. Adding Brown to the picture would surely improve the team’s chances of returning to the postseason.

NFC South Rumors: Coleman, Panthers, Olsen

March 1st, 2019 at 9:38pm CST by Micah Powell

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff gave an indication on the future status of running back Tevin Coleman, ESPN’s Vaughn McClure writes.

“Tevin’s going to do well, wherever he is,” he said.

The stumble of words just goes to confirm what many have expected: That Coleman will not be back with the Falcons in 2019. Projected as the No. 2 free agent running back behind Le’Veon Bell, the Indiana product is due for a big payday. That wasn’t likely to come from the Falcons, who already have the league’s third-highest-paid running back on the roster in Devonta Freeman.

The Falcons also have a capable backup ready to take Coleman’s role in Ito Smith, who gained 315 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. While it won’t be with the Falcons, Coleman is sure to command a primary back role with another team after showcasing a dual-threat skill set in his time in Atlanta.

Here’s more from around the NFC South:

If the Panthers are to bring in a new quarterback in 2019, head coach Ron Rivera said it is more likely to come through the draft rather than free agency, Panthers team writer Bill Voth tweets. That would take them out of the hunt for a proven veteran backup to Cam Newton, who dealt with injuries throughout the 2018 season.
Sticking with the Panthers, tight end Greg Olsen has met with ESPN about opportunities but that does not include the Monday Night Football post that was vacated yesterday when Jason Witten returned to the Cowboys, The Athletic’s Joseph Person writes. Those talks could eventually come, but the Panthers fully expect the veteran tight end to return to the field in 2019.
The Falcons view Ty Sambrailo as the team’s starting right tackle over Ryan Schraeder, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter writes. Sambrailo moved past Schraeder on the depth chart last season and started the final game at right guard. He will stay at right tackle because it’s easier to find guards and Sambrailo’s ability to pass protect, head coach Dan Quinn said.
The Saints have hired Declan Doyle to be an offensive assistant coach, Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune writes. Doyle previously worked as an offensive student assistant at the University of Iowa.

Latest On Marshawn Lynch, Raiders

March 1st, 2019 at 8:40pm CST by Micah Powell

The Raiders are still waiting to see how veteran running back Marshawn Lynch recovers from his groin injury to decide if they bring him back in 2019, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch writes.

Lynch, who will turn 33 before the 2019 season kicks off, is expected to have more of an interest in returning to his hometown team now that the team will for sure be playing their games in the Bay Area. Head coach Jon Gruden said the decision is one that will likely play itself out before the draft.

“I think the coming weeks will give us a better indication where is physically,” he said. “That’s the No. 1 agenda. We have to find out officially how he has responded to the injury. We’ll know something here in a couple of weeks.”

Though his season was cut short by that groin injury, Lynch still managed to average 4.2 yards per carry while gaining 376 yards on the ground. The five-time Pro Bowl selection ranks 29th all time in rushing yards and 16th in rushing touchdowns.

The Raiders are sure to be in the market for a running back as both Lynch and Doug Martin are free agents heading into 2019.

Cowboys Rumors: Earl Thomas, Witten, Draft

March 1st, 2019 at 8:14pm CST by Micah Powell

Seahawks free agent safety Earl Thomas is expected seek $15MM a year with his next deal, The Athletic’s Calvin Watkins tweets.

Watkins notes that figure might be too high for the Cowboys. Though possessing plenty of cap space this offseason, the team is expected to use most of that money in signing Demarcus Lawrence to a long-term deal and working on extensions for players like Dak Prescott and Byron Jones.

Thomas and the Cowboys have long been linked ever since the All-Pro safety told head coach Jason Garrett to “come get him” following a 2017 game. The Cowboys and Seahawks were in talks on trades for the star defender in the offseason but could not come to an agreement on draft-round compensation.

Thomas, a Texas native and longtime Cowboys fan, reportedly will not take a “hometown” discount with the team and is also expected to be courted by the 49ers.

Here’s more surrounding the Cowboys:

When asked whether the newly signed Jason Witten is a “coach in waiting,” owner Jerry Jones said that he will be with the team in the future, whether that is as a coach or in another position, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen tweets. After a year-long hiatus, Witten made a shocking decision when he decided to come back for another season in 2019. Long considered a future NFL coach, Witten is sure to make a move in that direction following what is, presumably, his last season.
Speaking of Witten, when the future Hall of Famer rejoined the team, it was expected the Cowboys would not take a tight end early in the draft. That might not be the case, as the team has already met with Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson, The Dallas Morning News’ Jon Machota tweets. Though they might have interest, the Cowboys do not possess their first-round pick thanks to the Amari Cooper trade and the college standout will likely be gone before their Day 2 selection.
Like we said earlier, the Cowboys are expected to use most of their cap space to resign their own players this year. The team has already met with the agents for Prescott, Jones and Cooper, and are expected to meet with Lawrence’s agent tonight, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Clarence Hill Jr. tweets. They have not met with Ezekiel Elliott‘s agent yet, but have indicated plenty of interest in resigning him at some point.