2021 March - Pro Football Rumors

Raiders, Yannick Ngakoue Close To Deal

March 15th, 2021 at 4:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders are close to landing one of the top edge rushers available. Yannick Ngakoue and the Raiders are nearing an agreement, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Las Vegas moved onto the Ngakoue radar last year, and the team has a big need for pass-rushing help. Ngakoue, whom two teams traded last year, would certainly help provide that valuable skill.

While Ngakoue rose to prominence during Doug Marrone‘s Jaguars tenure, he came to Jacksonville during Gus Bradley‘s tenure. The Raiders hired Bradley as their defensive coordinator earlier this year. This would be a big get for a team that has struggled to pressure quarterbacks since trading Khalil Mack nearly three years ago.

Despite having played five seasons, Ngakoue will only turn 26 at the end of this month. The former third-round pick has registered 45.5 career sacks. Although the Ravens did not use him extensively in the playoffs, Ngakoue still posted eight sacks in Baltimore and Minnesota last year. The Jags placed the franchise tag on him in 2020 and traded him to the Vikings, after the Raiders had shown interest. The Vikings then shipped him to the Ravens. It looks like the veteran defensive end will land his long-sought-after long-term deal soon.

If signed, Ngakoue would lead a Raiders edge group housing Maxx Crosby and Clelin Ferrell. The latter’s difficulties establishing himself as a reliable pass rusher amplified Las Vegas’ need for edge aid.

Saints Re-Sign OL James Hurst

March 15th, 2021 at 4:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following a spree of cost-cutting or cost-reorganizing moves to get under the cap, the Saints made a depth signing Monday.

They will retain offensive lineman James Hurst, the team announced. Hurst will make $9MM over three years on his latest Saints accord, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.

The Saints initially added Hurst last year and used him as a swing backup and spot starter. The veteran offensive lineman has the ability to contribute at tackle and guard. This represents nice money for a second-string-type option.

A longtime Ravens blocker, Hurst started five games for the Saints last season. While it is unknown if he will block for Taysom Hill or Jameis Winston in 2021 (perhaps both?), he will be back with the Saints.

Steelers To Retain CB Cameron Sutton

March 15th, 2021 at 4:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite an unfavorable cap situation, the Steelers have found some room to keep one of their own free agents off the market.

They reached a deal to retain cornerback Cameron Sutton, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Sutton will stay in Pittsburgh on a two-year, $9MM pact.

The Steelers are expected to let a few higher-profile free agents walk, with JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner and Bud Dupree almost certainly on their way out. But a deal for a role player like Sutton figures to help out amid an offseason cap crunch.

Sutton has worked as a rotational cog in Pittsburgh, having started just eight games since the Steelers drafted him in the 2017 third round. Six of those starts came last season. The Steelers also face the prospect of losing longtime slot corner Mike Hilton, making corner a potential area to address for the defending AFC North champions.

49ers Agree To New Deal With Dee Ford

March 15th, 2021 at 4:07pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The 49ers are making the pass-rush a priority. Shortly after signing Samson Ebukam away from the Rams, San Francisco has agreed to terms on a new deal to keep Dee Ford in the fold, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.

The restructured contract is a two-year pact worth $24MM, he reports. Ford had previously been under a five-year, $85MM deal that he signed with the team when they traded for him almost exactly two years ago, and he wasn’t going to stick at that price. The 49ers gave up a second-round pick to get Ford away from the Chiefs and sign him to that contract, and the move has been somewhat of a disaster.

In his first season with the team, he was banged up but still had 6.5 sacks in 11 games. The 49ers shopped him around this time last year, but didn’t find any takers. Then injuries completely tanked his 2020 season, and he played in only one game.

This led to a lot of uncertainty about his status, and he now has a lot to prove. It now feels like ages since he had 13 sacks with Kansas City in 2018. If Ford can get healthy, Ebukam can contribute, and Nick Bosa returns to pre-ACL tear form, the 49ers’ pass-rush is going to be dramatically improved from last season.

Chargers To Re-Sign CB Michael Davis

March 15th, 2021 at 4:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Having just released Casey Hayward, the Chargers agreed to terms with one of their younger cornerbacks. They will keep Michael Davis off the free agent market via three-year deal, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).

A key Los Angeles contributor, Davis will stay in southern California and receive $15MM guaranteed to do so, per Garafolo (on Twitter). He received interest from a few other teams as well but will play his fifth season in L.A.

A year ago, the Bolts gave Davis a second-round tender. He intercepted a career-high three passes last year, following a 2019 season in which he nabbed two picks. The former UDFA graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 55 overall cornerback in 2020.

The Chargers have parted ways with two All-Pro corners over the past several months, having traded Desmond King — who also dabbled at safety in L.A. — to the Titans ahead of their Hayward cut. Going into the new league year, Davis and Chris Harris are the Bolts’ top corners.

Broncos To Re-Sign DT Shelby Harris

March 15th, 2021 at 3:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the second straight offseason, the Broncos reached an agreement to keep Shelby Harris in Denver. New GM George Paton will bring back one of John Elway‘s finds, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

A four-year contributor in Denver, Harris reached an agreement to re-sign much earlier than he did last year. The Broncos managed to land him on a one-year deal several days into free agency. Hours into this year’s legal tampering period, they moved to keep the interior defender off the market.

Harris’ new Denver deal will be worth $27MM over three years, Rapoport tweets. A nice payday for a former seventh-round pick who spent a year out of football before trekking to Colorado in 2017. Harris will receive $15MM guaranteed, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Set to turn 30 this year, Harris has expressed interest in staying in Denver for a while. He will return for a third season in Vic Fangio‘s defense.

A part-time starter under Vance Joseph, Harris has blossomed under Fangio. The 3-4 defensive end starter has become one of the NFL’s best pass deflectors, having swatted 16 passes over the past two seasons. He registered six sacks in 2019 but was limited in 2020, having contracted COVID-19. Harris did return down the stretch for the Broncos, who have now kept their top two free agents off the market. Denver was the first team to use its franchise tag this year, cuffing Justin Simmons for a second straight offseason.

Patriots To Re-Sign Deatrich Wise

March 15th, 2021 at 3:57pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Patriots have been the most aggressive team in the league so far, signing free agents left and right, and now they’re bringing back one of their own. New England has agreed to terms on a new deal to bring back defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, a source told Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

A fourth-round pick out of Arkansas back in 2017, Wise just wrapped up his initial rookie contract. He’s been a consistent role player during his four years in New England, starting at least three games each season but never more than seven. He had five sacks as a rookie and then 4.5 as a sophomore.

He started seven games this past year and appeared in all 16, playing around 55 percent of the defensive snaps. He finished with only 2.5 sacks this time as the Patriots’ pass-rush struggled as a whole.

The team has been making moves to upgrade the defensive front by adding defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and pass-rusher Matt Judon, but they clearly didn’t feel like that made Wise expendable.

Texans To Sign DT Maliek Collins

March 15th, 2021 at 3:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Maliek Collins will relocate for the second straight offseason. The veteran defensive tackle agreed to terms with the Texans on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

The former Cowboys draftee and 2020 Raiders contributor will sign a one-year contract worth up to $6MM, Schefter adds. This could represent good value for the rebuilding Texans, with Collins having started 66 games in his five-year career.

A third-round Cowboys pick in 2016, Collins became a Dallas regular immediately. He will a Houston D-line that lost J.J. Watt this offseason. Collins, who will turn 26 next month, played 12 games last season (11 starts) but failed to record a sack or a tackle for loss as a Raider.

This represents a “prove it”-type deal for the longtime starter. The Texans will surely add more starters to a defense that has fallen on hard times in recent years.

49ers To Sign Samson Ebukam

March 15th, 2021 at 3:49pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The 49ers are poaching away a young player from a division rival. San Francisco has agreed to terms on a deal with former Rams outside linebacker Samson Ebukam, sources tell Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).

It’s a two year pact worth $12MM that can be worth up to $13.5MM with incentives, Pelissero writes. A 2017 fourth-round pick, Ebukam has shown plenty of flashes although he’s never been able to have a full-time role in the Rams’ often loaded defensive front. This past year he started 14 games, but only played around 35 percent of the defensive snaps in a rotational role.

Even still, he managed to finish with 4.5 sacks, so it easily could’ve been double digits had he been playing every down. He’s also been durable, appearing in all 16 games in all four of his pro seasons.

The Eastern Washington product is still only 25, so this is a nice upside signing for a 49ers team that saw their pass-rushers get decimated by injuries this past year. Fortunately they’ll have Nick Bosa back in 2021, which should make Ebukam’s job easier just like playing next to Aaron Donald did.

Chargers To Sign C Corey Linsley

March 15th, 2021 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

After cutting multiple key veteran starters last week, the Chargers will use some of those funds to make a big addition on their offensive line. They are signing longtime Packers center Corey Linsley, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

The deal, which will reunite Linsley with former Green Bay O-line mate Bryan Bulaga, is expected to make Linsley the NFL’s highest-paid center. Linsley expected to hit the market, and after the Packers prioritized Aaron Jones just before the legal tampering period began, his Wisconsin exit appeared a near-certainty.

It is a five-year, $62.5MM contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. That will come in just above Ryan Kelly‘s recently established center-record contract.

Linsley broke through in his contract year, becoming an All-Pro blocker. Pro Football Focus slotted him as far and away the No. 1 overall center. The Bolts have battled issues up front for years, and their investments in Mike Pouncey and Trai Turner did not end up working out especially well. Pouncey retired after missing all of last season, and Turner saw his run of Pro Bowls stop after an injury-plagued 2020. The Chargers cut Turner last week.

This will give Justin Herbert a high-end offensive lineman to work with as well. Linsley and Bulaga were also teammates from 2014-19. The Packers signed Linsley to an extension that ran through 2020 but could not strike a deal to keep him off this year’s market. The 2021 season will be Linsley’s age-30 campaign.

Linsley will represent a key free agency loss for the Packers, who cut 2020 starter Ricky Wagner last month. The Jets were also interested in Linsley, likely joining several other teams, but the Chargers moved quickly to secure his services. Los Angeles still has holes on its offensive front, however, so Linsley might not be their last big upgrade here.