HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Bears To Re-Sign OL Germain Ifedi

March 16th, 2021 at 7:51pm CST by Rory Parks

It sounds like the Bears’ pursuit of Trent Williams will not result in a deal, but the club is bringing back one of its own offensive linemen. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Chicago is re-signing Germain Ifedi to a one-year deal worth up to $5MM (Twitter link). Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) that $4.25MM of that amount will be in the form of base salary.

This represents a nice raise for Ifedi, who signed a veteran salary benefit contract with the Bears last offseason. After serving as a guard during his rookie season in Seattle in 2016, the former first-round pick kicked out to right tackle for the 2017-19 seasons. Chicago moved him back into the interior of the line, and he performed reasonably well, grading out as Pro Football Focus’ 35th-best guard in the league (out of 80 qualifiers).

He also played better towards the end of the season, which certainly played a part in his pay bump. But after making a failed push for Williams and Russell Wilson, the Ifedi re-up is not likely to get the juices flowing for Bears fans.

The 26-year-old Texas A&M product will be blocking for Nick Foles, the newly-acquired Andy Dalton, or a rookie passer (or maybe all three).

Texans Expected To Sign CB Terrance Mitchell

March 16th, 2021 at 7:32pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Terrance Mitchell is returning to Houston. The free agent cornerback is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Texans, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The pact is worth up to $7.5MM.

The 2014 seventh-round pick out of Oregon has put together a seven-year career with six different teams. That includes a brief stint with the Texans in 2016; Mitchell was claimed off waivers by Houston during the 2016 offseason, but he was waived at the end of the preseason.

Mitchell inked a three-year, $12MM deal with the Browns back in 2018, but he didn’t settle into a full-time starting role until his final season in Cleveland. This past year, the 28-year-old started all 16 games for the Browns, compiling a career-high 65 tackles to go along with three forced fumbles and 13 passes defended.

The Texans have been busy adding to their defense. Over the past few days, the team has agreed to terms with linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, defensive tackle Maliek Collins, and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis.

Latest On Trent Williams’ Market

March 16th, 2021 at 7:28pm CST by Rory Parks

As expected, the market for free agent left tackle Trent Williams is very strong. Per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the Chiefs, Colts, Bears, and incumbent 49ers are all in the running (Twitter link). However, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune is hearing that Williams will not be heading to the Windy City (Twitter link).

We heard several days ago that San Francisco has been pushing to retain Williams, but the 32-year-old blocker sounded as if he wanted to see what the open market had in store. And he is probably happy he made that decision, because according to La Canfora, some GMs believe Williams could earn a $23MM/year deal, which would be right at the top of the LT market in terms of average annual value.

Kansas City, Indianapolis, and Chicago all qualified for the postseason in 2020, and though KC came up just a bit short in the Super Bowl, they did sign the top guard on the market, Joe Thuney. Adding Williams to Patrick Mahomes‘ offensive front would make the Chiefs an even tougher matchup than they already are.

The prospect of playing for the Chiefs’ high-flying offense could be quite appealing for Williams, who wasted away in Washington for most of his career and failed to reach the playoffs with the 49ers in 2020. Of course, Kansas City also has the best QB situation of the interested teams, as the Colts will trot out Carson Wentz, the Bears might be rolling with Andy Dalton, and the 49ers may or may not trade Jimmy Garoppolo.

After sitting out the entire 2019 season, Williams graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 overall tackle last year.

Bills Trade TE Lee Smith To Falcons

March 16th, 2021 at 7:11pm CST by Rory Parks

The Bills are trading veteran tight end Lee Smith to the Falcons, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Buffalo will get a 2022 late-round selection in the swap.

Smith signed a three-year, $9MM pact with the Bills in May 2019, but that deal was heavily front-loaded. Today’s trade leaves no dead money on Buffalo’s books and will clear $2.25MM in cap space. Smith was due a $250K roster bonus on March 21, as Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic tweets.

Now 33, Smith has caught just 64 passes for 458 yards over his 10-year career. But his blocking ability has allowed him to stick in the pros for as long as he has, and he will now take those skills to Atlanta. He will likely serve as a replacement for Luke Stocker, another veteran TE known more for his blocking prowess than his receiving talents.

Smith joins Hayden Hurst and Jaeden Graham in the Falcons’ TE room. He is due a $1.9MM salary in 2021.

Bills To Sign WR Emmanuel Sanders

March 16th, 2021 at 7:04pm CST by Ben Levine

7:05pm: Sanders is indeed joining the Bills. Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the veteran wideout will be signing a one-year deal with Buffalo. Sanders is set to fly to Buffalo on Thursday after he’s officially released by the Saints, at which time he’ll take a physical and finalize his deal. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the one-year deal is worth $6MM, including an additional $500K in incentives.

6:23pm: It sounds like Emmanuel Sanders could be heading to Buffalo. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Bills are in “serious talks” with the veteran free agent wideout.

As Pelissero notes, the Saints have yet to release Sanders, with that transaction expected to take place after 4pm tomorrow due to cap reasons. However, it’s been almost a week since we heard of New Orleans’ intent to cut the veteran, and the team formally announced the impending transaction today.

Sanders joined the Saints on a two-year, $16MM last offseason. The veteran went on to notch 61 catches for 726 yards and five touchdowns during his first season in the NFC. Even though he was productive, he was less efficient on a per-catch basis than usual; his 11.9 ypc average was among the lowest of his career and well below his finest work in Denver.

It’s been a while since Sanders was a 1,000-yard receiver, a mark he exceeded with the Broncos each season between 2014 and 2016. Since 2017, the veteran has averaged 754.5 yards per season, making him a serviceable second or third wideout on the depth chart.

That would presumably be his role in Buffalo. Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley are Josh Allen‘s top two targets, but following John Brown‘s release, the team is presumably seeking a third receiver who can compete with the likes of Gabriel Davis for targets.

Contract Details: Patriots, Moseley, Golden, Bills, Hyde

March 16th, 2021 at 6:57pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted contract details from around the NFL:

  • LB Matt Judon, Patriots: $18MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021), $11MM (2022), $11MM (2023), $9.5MM (2024). Up to $1MM in per-game roster bonuses, $500K All-Pro incentive between 2022 and 2024. Via ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter.
  • TE Jonnu Smith, Patriots: $15MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021), $9MM (2022), $10MM (2023), $11MM (2024). Up to $1MM in per-game roster bonuses. Via Yates on Twitter.
  • CB Emmanuel Moseley, 49ers: $500K per-game active roster bonus in 2022. Up to $750K play-time base salary escalator in 2022. Via Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson on Twitter.
  • LB Markus Golden, Cardinals: two years, $5MM, $2.5MM guaranteed. $1.5MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021, guaranteed), $2MM (2022). Up to $250K in annual per-game roster bonuses, up to $2MM in annual sack incentives. Via Wilson on Twitter.
  • OT Daryl Williams, Bills: $13.75MM guaranteed, $5.4MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1MM (2021), $6.725MM (2022), $5.475MM (2023). $3MM roster bonus in 2021, $1.25MM roster bonus in 2023. Per-game roster bonuses: $250K (2021), $300K (2022-2023). $100K annual workout bonuses. $2.2MM in additional annual incentives. Via Yates on Twitter.
  • RB Carlos Hyde, Jaguars: Two years, $4.5MM. $1.25MM base salary in 2021 is fully guaranteed. $900K signing bonus. Via TheMMQB’s Albert Breer on Twitter.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/16/21

March 16th, 2021 at 6:35pm CST by Zachary Links

Tomorrow is the deadline for NFL teams to extend tender offers to their own restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents. We’ll keep tabs on the latest here:

RFAs

Tendered: 

Non-Tendered:

Stephon Gilmore Still Available For Trade?

March 16th, 2021 at 6:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots have deviated from their usual free agency patience, handing out a number of lucrative deals this week. Stephon Gilmore received such treatment four years ago, but it is not certain he will link up with the host of UFAs the Pats have added this year.

After discussing Gilmore in trades last year, the Patriots are still believed to have the former Defensive Player of the Year on the block, Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com note (Insider link).

New England set a high asking price for Gilmore last year, seeking a first-round pick for the standout cover man. No team seriously approached that cost, and the market may be worse for Gilmore going into his contract year. Although he is due just $7MM in base salary next season, the expectation is a team trading for Gilmore would need to redo his deal.

The Pats were expected to discuss Gilmore’s contract, but it is unclear if the sides have reached a resolution. The sides agreed to a substantial pay bump for the 2020 season, but Gilmore remains attached to the five-year, $65MM contract he signed in 2017. Despite spending plenty of cash this week, the Patriots still have the cap room to retain Gilmore. But his hopes at an extension appear to be an issue.

The Pats have Jonathan Jones signed long-term, and they are expected to tender RFA J.C. Jackson. Jason McCourty is a free agent. New England also agreed to terms with safety/corner Jalen Mills this week. While Gilmore is not coming off his best season — one marred by a COVID-19 contraction — he is still one of the NFL’s best corners. Gilmore will turn 31 this year, so his prospects at landing a Jalen Ramsey– or Tre’Davious White-type extension will be minimized by his experience level.

Seahawks To Sign CB Ahkello Witherspoon

March 16th, 2021 at 6:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers have brought back two members of their huge class of free agent cornerbacks, but another appears headed to one of their top rivals. Ahkello Witherspoon is expected to sign with the Seahawks, according to veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson (on Twitter). Per Matt Barrows of The Athletic, it will be a one-year pact for the Colorado product (Twitter link). Witherspoon will join a Seattle team that just lost Shaquill Griffin.

A third-round pick in the 2017 draft, Witherspoon turned in a strong rookie campaign, but he regressed in his second professional season. He was benched several times in 2018, and he ultimately graded out as the worst full-time corner that year, per Pro Football Focus’ metrics.

He did show some signs of life in his platform season, however. Though he started just four games and appeared in only 32% of San Francisco’s defensive snaps in 2020 — both career-low marks — PFF considered him a top-10 corner in terms of coverage ability. He is not a perfect replacement for Griffin, who agreed to a three-year, $40MM deal with the Jaguars earlier today, but he will come much cheaper.

According to Barrows, Witherspoon also generated interest from the Jets, Broncos, and Panthers, among other clubs. The ‘Hawks did get to see him up close quite a bit over the last four seasons, and they clearly liked what they saw.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Saints To Sign FB Alex Armah

March 16th, 2021 at 5:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Alex Armah is switching NFC South teams. The free agent fullback in signing with the Saints, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).

The 26-year-old had spent his entire four-year career in Carolina, and he didn’t miss a game between the 2018 and 2020 seasons. During his four years with the Panthers, Armah ultimately compiled 64 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.

The former sixth-rounder also has plenty of experience on special teams, appearing in 868 special teams snaps through his four seasons in the NFL. Armah has five career tackles.

In New Orleans, Armah will be protecting a running back grouping that includes Alvin Kamara, Latavius Murray, and Ty Montgomery.

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