2021 March - Pro Football Rumors

49ers Re-Sign DL Jordan Willis

March 23rd, 2021 at 6:40pm CST by Ben Levine

Jordan Willis is off to San Francisco. The defensive end has signed with the 49ers, reports Matt Barrows of the The Athletic (via Twitter). It’s a one-year deal for the 25-year-old.

The former Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year was a third-round pick of the Bengals in 2017. He spent a pair of seasons with Cincinnati before moving on to the Jets in 2019, where he spent a year-plus. Last October, he was acquired by the 49ers (along with a seventh-rounder) in for a sixth-round pick, and Willis proceeded to appear in seven games for San Francisco.

Serving as defensive line coach Kris Kocurek “bravo” (or, simply, backup) defensive end, Willis finished the season having compiled 13 tackles and a career-high 2.5 sacks.

The 49ers lost some defensive line depth earlier today. After starting a career-high 14 games for the 49ers last season, defensive end Kerry Hyder is set to ink a three-year deal with the Seahawks.

Seahawks To Sign DE Kerry Hyder

March 23rd, 2021 at 5:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks’ pass-rushing plans are coming into focus. Shortly after they agreed to re-sign Benson Mayowa, the Seahawks agreed to terms with defensive end Kerry Hyder.

Hyder will join the Seahawks on a three-year, $16.5MM contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, adding that the former Lions, Cowboys and 49ers D-end can make up to $17.5MM on this accord.

This deal marks a big pay bump for Hyder, who signed with the 49ers for one year and $1.5MM during the 2020 offseason. Despite the salary cap reduction, the 29-year-old pass rusher will cash in on a midlevel accord. Hyder is coming off an 8.5-sack season. He has two seasons of at least eight sacks, with the other coming back in 2016 with Detroit.

For a 49ers team that lost Nick Bosa and Dee Ford at the beginning of the season, the Hyder signing proved pivotal. The former UDFA led the team in sacks and recorded 18 QB hits and 10 tackles for loss. Hyder recorded just two sacks over the previous two seasons, however, and missed all of 2017.

This signing might impede Seattle from bringing back Carlos Dunlap, whom the team released earlier this month. However, it remains to be seen how Dunlap will fare on the market.

Seahawks To Re-Sign DE Benson Mayowa

March 23rd, 2021 at 5:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Needing some help on the edge, the Seahawks will bring back Benson Mayowa. The veteran pass rusher agreed to re-sign with the team Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Mayowa signed with the Seahawks last year — for one year and $3.1MM — and started nine games. Mayowa contributed six sacks and now has 13 over his past two seasons. This stands to mark the first time Mayowa will have played with the same team in consecutive seasons since he was with the Cowboys from 2016-17.

The 29-year-old defender began his career with the Seahawks, playing a backup role on their 2013 Super Bowl-winning squad, and played two stints with the Raiders. Mayowa was also with the Cardinals in 2018. He will rejoin a Seahawks pass rush that houses 2019 first-round pick L.J. Collier, Jarran Reed and the recently re-signed Poona Ford. Both Carlos Dunlap and Bruce Irvin, fellow Seattle 2020 acquisitions, are in free agency.

Twenty-four of Mayowa’s 26 career sacks have come over the past five seasons. He has three six-plus-sack slates in that span. The Seahawks released Dunlap, in a cost-cutting move, earlier this month. The sides could well agree to a reunion at a reduced rate, but for now, Mayowa represents a key addition for the team.

Eagles, Joe Flacco Agree To Terms

March 23rd, 2021 at 5:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joe Flacco will join his fourth NFL team. The 13-year veteran quarterback agreed to a deal with the Eagles, according to his agency (Twitter link).

Flacco will sign a one-year, $3.5MM deal, with Sirius XM Radio’s Adam Caplan reporting the veteran quarterback can make up to $7.5MM through incentives (Twitter links). That $3.5MM is fully guaranteed.

The former Ravens, Broncos and Jets passer visited the 49ers and Eagles. But the New Jersey native will opt to return closer to home. This will seemingly install Flacco as Jalen Hurts‘ backup.

This agreement figures to affect the draft as well. Following the Eagles’ decision to trade Carson Wentz to the Colts, rumors emerged that the team wanted to bring in competition for Hurts. That would have made a quarterback pick viable at No. 6 overall. However, a subsequent report surfaced indicating owner Jeffrey Lurie preferred the team roll with Hurts as its starter and attempt to see if he can be a long-term solution. This may well have led to the Eagles looking at backup options. At this stage of his career, Flacco certainly profiles as such.

Flacco saw his run as a starter end when the Ravens did not give him his job back after a 2018 hip injury. Lamar Jackson took over, leading the Ravens to trade Flacco the following offseason. Flacco’s Broncos run ended after a second straight midseason injury, this time a neck malady, and the team released him in 2020. The Jets, however, pounced and installed Flacco as Sam Darnold‘s backup. A Darnold injury thrust Flacco back into action; he started four games last season.

Were Flacco to beat out Hurts for Philadelphia’s QB1 gig, it would appear the team’s initial post-Wentz plan has veered off course. But this agreement does provide the team with a proven arm. The former Super Bowl MVP has started 175 of the 176 games he’s played. The 2021 season will be Flacco’s age-36 campaign.

Health Issue Holding Up Giants’ Kyle Rudolph Deal

March 23rd, 2021 at 5:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants’ contract agreement with longtime Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph is no longer a certainty. An injury issue emerged during Rudolph’s physical, and the sides are determining how to proceed, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

Following the physical, the Giants’ medical staff expressed concern about a foot issue, and Giants doctors believe Rudolph will require surgery, according to Garafolo. This could scuttle Rudolph’s two-year Giants accord. The sides previously agreed to terms, but Rudolph has not signed a contract.

This deal does not appear to be dead, however. Rudolph is still in New York and will meet with the Giants tonight, Garafolo tweets. Rather than send Rudolph back to free agency, the Giants may move forward despite the veteran needing to undergo surgery.

Rudolph agreed to a two-year, $12MM Giants pact that can max out at $14MM. However, after they agreed to terms with Rudolph, the Giants have been aggressive in free agency. The team has authorized high-end deals for Kenny Golladay and Adoree’ Jackson. The Giants also already have a No. 1 tight end, with Evan Engram going into a contract year.

A foot injury ended Rudolph’s 2020 season. The Vikings placed him on IR ahead of Week 17, doing so after their longtime tight end had missed the previous three games.

Trent Williams: Chiefs Deal Felt ‘Imminent’

March 23rd, 2021 at 5:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Trent Williams opted to re-sign with the 49ers, doing so on a record-setting agreement for an offensive lineman. However, the veteran left tackle said Tuesday he felt a Chiefs agreement was “imminent,” via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner (on Twitter).

The Chiefs were in talks with Williams, who said those discussions reached a point that had him believing he was on track to join the two-time reigning AFC champions. However, Williams placed a call to Kyle Shanahan to relay where his negotiations with the Chiefs stood, and the 49ers later finalized a deal to retain their 2020 trade acquisition.

Signed to a six-year, $138.1MM deal, Williams said he had promised Shanahan he would keep him in the loop on his negotiations. That pledge led to the 49ers giving Williams his long-sought-after third NFL contract. It came in much higher than his second NFL deal — a five-year, $68MM pact in 2015.

Taking over for 13-year starter Joe Staley, Williams made his eighth Pro Bowl last season. The lineman recently told ESPN’s Nick Wagoner (Twitter link) that he believes he can play until he’s 40, and the player “has something to prove” as he looks to play out his six-year pact.

Kansas City was prepared to authorize two monster O-line contracts, having already received a commitment from former New England guard Joe Thuney on a five-year, $80MM accord, but the Chiefs are still in need at left tackle. The team released eight-year starter Eric Fisher earlier this month, with All-Pro right tackle Mitchell Schwartz joining him as a cap casualty. The Chiefs have since re-signed Mike Remmers, their left tackle from Super Bowl LV, and he may have a clearer-than-expected path to becoming Schwartz’s replacement on the right side. While it should not be considered a certainty Remmers will start at right tackle, the team does not have a surefire left tackle starter at this point.

This near-agreement is similar to the Chiefs’ pursuit of Earl Thomas in 2019. The perennial Pro Bowl safety indicated he was all set to sign with the Chiefs on a one-year deal, but the Ravens swooped in at the 11th hour with a better offer.

Watson Lawyer: Allegations Against QB False

March 23rd, 2021 at 5:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Deshaun Watson‘s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said Tuesday he believes all the allegations against his client are false. The Texans quarterback has been accused of sexual misconduct or assault by 16 women, with two more accusers emerging Tuesday.

“Any allegation that Deshaun forced a woman to commit a sexual act is completely false,” Hardin said, via ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop.

Hardin also accused Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the massage therapists who have accused Watson, of denying his requests to provide the plaintiffs’ names in order for their claims to be investigated. Additionally, Watson marketing manager Bryan Burney said one of the accusers attempted to blackmail his client for $30K in January, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

In an affidavit, Burney said one of Watson’s accusers — who has alleged he forced her to perform oral sex on him at a Houston office building — confirmed everything that occurred during her encounter with Watson was consensual. The woman then sought a payment for her silence on the events of that encounter, Burney said, adding that Watson would not pay her $30K.

However, after the Hardin and Burney statements emerged, 15th and 16th accusers joined the other massage therapists, Aaron Reiss of The Athletic tweets. Buzbee has alleged he has made contact with 22 alleged victims. No criminal charges have been filed against Watson.

Texans Waive WR Chad Hansen

March 23rd, 2021 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

After turning to Chad Hansen late last season, the Texans waived the young wide receiver Tuesday. Hansen played in five games for the Texans last season.

Originally a Jets fourth-round pick, Hansen did not play in 2018 or ’19. However, the Texans turned to him late last season, doing so after the team’s original receiver quartet — Will Fuller, Kenny Stills, Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb — became unavailable due to either injuries, a suspension (Fuller) or a release (Stills). Hansen caught 17 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown in five Houston contests (two starts).

The Texans originally added Hansen in 2019, claiming him off waivers from the Saints. Hansen spent the ’19 season on the Texans’ practice squad and was taxi-squadder in Houston for part of the ’20 campaign. He is now back on waivers.

New Texans GM added some new potential depth pieces at receiver last week, bringing in ex-Ravens wideout Chris Moore and the well-traveled Donte Moncrief. While Fuller signed with the Dolphins, the Texans still have Cobb, Cooks and Keke Coutee on their roster.

Cardinals G Justin Pugh Accepts Pay Cut

March 23rd, 2021 at 4:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cardinals have added a few key pieces this offseason. One of their starting offensive linemen agreed to a pay cut to help them do so.

In the wake of the Cards adding J.J. Watt, A.J. Green and Rodney Hudson, three-year Cardinals guard starter Justin Pugh revealed he accepted a pay cut (Twitter link). Pugh signed a five-year, $45MM deal in 2018 but agreed to trim some of his 2021 salary recently.

Pugh will drop his 2021 base salary from $7.75MM to $5MM, SI.com’s Howard Balzer notes. In exchange for Pugh agreeing to the slight reduction, the Cardinals will guarantee $4MM of his 2021 base. The Cardinals created nearly $5MM in cap space by making this move, with Pugh’s cap number set to drop from $11.2MM to $6.9MM. He can collect up to $1MM in per-game roster bonuses as well, per Balzer.

Cards GM Steve Keim said Monday he views Pugh as the team’s starting left guard going forward. The former first-round pick has stabilized his career while working at this position over the past two seasons. After injuries derailed his 2017 and ’18 seasons, Pugh has started 31 games since Kyler Murray‘s 2019 arrival. Pugh, 30, remains signed through the 2022 season.

Patriots To Waive K Justin Rohrwasser

March 23rd, 2021 at 4:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots will end Justin Rohrwasser‘s tenure after one year. New England is waiving the 2020 fifth-round pick, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets.

A standout college kicker, Rohrwasser did not kick in a game for the Patriots. The team used Nick Folk as its kicker last season, its first without Stephen Gostkowski since 2005, and re-signed Folk last week.

Ex-second-round pick Roberto Aguayo also resides on the Patriots’ roster, leaving little room for Rohrwasser. New England initially added Folk just before Week 1 last year, cutting Rohrwasser. However, the team brought him back via practice squad deal and retained the younger specialist on a reserve/futures contract. As of Tuesday afternoon, he is back on the waiver wire.

Folk, 36, made 93% of his field goal tries last season — a career-best mark — and received some guaranteed money to stay on as the Pats’ kicker.