2021 March - Pro Football Rumors

Bears Restructure Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson, Cody Whitehair Contracts

March 13th, 2021 at 3:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Residing over the cap entering the weekend, the Bears made a few moves to create more than $20MM in cap space and inch under the $182.5MM salary ceiling.

Chicago will restructure the contracts of Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson and Cody Whitehair, according to Adam Schefter, who adds these moves will create more than $23MM in cap space (Twitter link). The Bears previously had the NFL’s second-worst cap situation, residing nearly $20MM over the cap.

The Bears previously restructured Mack’s deal in 2019. He was due to count more than $26MM against Chicago’s 2021 cap. This marks the first restructure of Jackson’s five-year, $58.4MM deal. Ditto for Whitehair’s five-year, $51.3MM pact. The two combined to count just more than $20MM against Chicago’s cap this year.

The team still has work to do in the cap-space department, and the reshufflings will certainly be connected to a potential quarterback salary. In dire need at quarterback, the Bears are planning to pursue a Russell Wilson trade. Were the Bears to pull off a miraculous deal, they would need to account for by far the biggest contract in franchise history. Wilson’s $35MM-per-year accord runs through 2023.

Jets Re-Sign WR Vyncint Smith

March 13th, 2021 at 3:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets reached an agreement Saturday retain one of their backup wide receivers. Would-be restricted free agent Vyncint Smith re-signed to stay with the Jets, the team announced.

Offering Smith a tender would have cost the Jets more than $2MM. Instead, as Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports, the two sides agreed to a “highly-incentivized” one-year pact with some guaranteed cash to give Smith a little security.

A former UDFA out of Division II Limestone College, Smith has been with the Jets since September 2019. Gang Green poached him off the Texans’ practice squad early that season. The Texans added the small-school product as a UDFA in 2018. Smith started four games in 2019, catching 17 passes for 225 yards, but only totaled one reception last season.

Two days away from the legal tampering period, the Jets have most of their 2020 receiving corps under contract. Only Breshad Perriman is a UFA-to-be; Chris Hogan has since returned to lacrosse. Though Jamison Crowder was a rumored cut candidate, thanks to his team-high $11.4MM cap number, he remains with the team.

Chargers Release CB Casey Hayward

March 13th, 2021 at 3:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the better free agent signings in recent years, Casey Hayward will be forced to head back to the market. The Chargers are releasing the veteran cornerback, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The team announced the move.

A former Packer, Hayward spent the past five seasons with the Bolts. The Chargers will save $9.75MM by cutting Hayward in the final year of his contract. They attempted to trade Hayward first.

“I’ve known for a couple of days,” Hayward said (via veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson, on Twitter) of the Bolts’ plans to move on. “I know they were seeing if they could trade me, wanting to keep my salary the same. I’m definitely open to new possibilities now. I want to play at least a couple more years.”

This marks a major change for the Bolts, who saw their initial Hayward contract — three years, $15.3MM — produce two Pro Bowls and a second-team All-Pro honor. Hayward agreed to a three-year, $34.25MM re-up ahead of the 2018 season.

Going into the 2020 slate, the Chargers had three All-Pro corners — Hayward, Desmond King and 2020 signing Chris Harris. Entering free agency, Harris is the only one left for a Bolts defense that will transition to Brandon Staley‘s scheme. While Staley was only with the Broncos for one season and helmed the outside linebackers during his Denver stint, Harris was with the team during Staley’s stay.

Hayward, 31, led the NFL with seven INTs in 2016. He picked off four passes in his second Chargers season, another Pro Bowl slate, and was a key presence for a Chargers defense that ranked third overall in the team’s 2018 playoff campaign. The nine-year veteran’s play tailed off last season, with Pro Football Focus slotting him outside the top 60 players at his position.

With the cuts of Hayward and Trai Turner, the Chargers have moved their cap-space figure north of $45MM. This will help the now-Justin Herbert-centered team in need areas. The offensive line certainly profiles as one. But with Hayward gone and Michael Davis a free agent-to-be, cornerback will be an area to address as well.

Giants, Nate Solder Finalizing Reworked Deal

March 13th, 2021 at 2:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants are on track to have Nate Solder back for the 2021 season. They are finalizing a reworked deal for the veteran left tackle, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).

Solder opted out of last season but expressed a desire to play in 2021. The 6-foot-8 tackle is attached to a $16.5MM cap number, after his contract tolled from 2020. That number will be coming down.

This process has been in the works for a bit now. Despite the Giants’ big-ticket free agency deal with Solder not working out to their liking, the former first-round pick would have cost the team $10.5MM in dead money to release. (A post-June 1 cut would have been in play as well, given the circumstances.) The team just used its franchise tag on Leonard Williams for the second straight year, and Dalvin Tomlinson remains in the picture to be re-signed. Carrying a $16.5MM cap figure for a middling tackle would be an impediment to the Giants’ free agency plans.

It will now be interesting to see how the Giants configure their offensive line. They used 2020 No. 4 overall pick Andrew Thomas at Solder’s left tackle position last season. Prior to Solder’s opt-out decision, the tentative Big Blue plan was for Thomas to begin his career at right tackle during what was expected to be Solder’s final year as a Giant. Solder played right tackle as a rookie with the Patriots but has spent the bulk of his career on the left side.

New York worked in third-round pick Matt Peart at right tackle for stretches last season; the UConn product played 15% of the Giants’ offensive snaps in 2020. It is certainly possible Peart continues to be a contributor, but Solder returning would place the second-year blocker on track to be a backup again.

Packers Renegotiate Contracts With S Adrian Amos, OL Billy Turner

March 13th, 2021 at 12:50pm CST by Ben Levine

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst continues to open up cap space. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Green Bay reworked the contract of safety Adrian Amos. Meanwhile, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that Packers offensive lineman Billy Turner also reworked his deal.

Amos was set to have a cap hit north of $10.3MM, and Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com estimates that the reworked deal will save the Packers around $3MM in space. Turner’s renegotiated deal should see the Packers save at least $500K by converting the player’s roster bonus into a signing bonus; that total could go up based on how much of Turner’s $5.525MM salary was converted into a signing bonus (per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Twitter). After these two transactions and linebacker Preston Smith’s recent pay cut, Silverstein estimates that the front office managed to get under the cap.

Following four seasons with the Bears, Amos joined the Packers on a four-year, $37MM deal in 2019. He’s started all 32 regular season games for Green Bay over the past two years, averaging 66.5 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions per season. Amos also picked off Tom Brady in the Packers’ loss to the Buccaneers in this past year’s NFC Championship Game.

Turner bounced around the NFL a bit before seemingly finding a home with the Packers in 2019. After starting 25 games through his first five seasons in the NFL, Turner has started all 30 of his games for Green Bay over the past two years. The 29-year-old initially signed a four-year, $28MM deal with the Packers in 2019.

49ers Want To Retain OL Trent Williams

March 13th, 2021 at 11:27am CST by Ben Levine

Earlier this week, offensive tackle Trent Williams hinted that he’d be interested in sticking with the 49ers. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (on Twitter), the 49ers are hoping that’s the case, as the organization is making a push to sign the veteran before the start of the league year on March 17.

Per Garafolo, the 49ers front office has made “strong offers” to Williams’ camp, and the organization is “hopeful” that they can get a deal done at some point next week. However, Garafolo warns that Williams won’t be taking any kind of discount to stay in San Francisco. While the offensive tackle apparently enjoyed his stint with the 49ers, he also “wants to see his value” reflected on his next contract. As Garafolo notes, Williams’ desire for a lucrative long-term pact was part of the reason why the lineman required a provision in his contract that stated that he couldn’t be slapped with the franchise tag.

Williams had a strong comeback campaign in 2020. After sitting out the entire 2019 season, Williams graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 overall tackle this past year. The current rate for top offensive tackles is around $22MM per year. At 32 years old, Williams may not be able to command that kind of AAV, but he should easily be able to secure a deal that pays him north of $18MM.

During a recent appearance on the Cris Collinsworth Podcast, Richard Sherman predicted Williams would stay with the 49ers and indicated he would play several more seasons. Also on the podcast, Williams replied (via NFL.com), “That’s not a bad take, fellas. Y’all barking up the right tree.”

Latest On FA RB Marlon Mack

March 13th, 2021 at 10:45am CST by Ben Levine

After tearing his Achilles back in September, Marlon Mack is getting healthy and is ready for his next opportunity. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports (via Twitter) that the running back is “progressing well in his rehab” from the injury and is expected to be ready in time for training camp. The running back is also expected to test free agency.

The 25-year-old isn’t far removed from two impressive seasons with the Colts. Between the 2018 and 2019 seasons, Mack compiled 2,184 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns, and he added another 200 yards and one touchdown in a pair of playoff games. However, he was limited to only a single game and seven touches after tearing his Achilles in Week 1 of the 2020 campaign.

The Achilles injury was unfortunate timing for the impending free agent, who will probably have to settle for a prove-it deal during his comeback season. Either way, it doesn’t sound like he’ll immediately be re-signing with the Colts.

Even before Mack suffered his injury, there was uncertainty surrounding his future in Indy. The team drafted Jonathan Taylor in the second round of last year’s draft, and they used a pair of 2018 draft picks in Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins.

49ers C Weston Richburg “Likely” To Retire

March 13th, 2021 at 9:53am CST by Ben Levine

Weston Richburg may be calling it a career. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the 49ers center “likely ends up retiring” this offseason. To prepare for the apparent retirement, the 49ers front office restructured Richburg’s contract this morning, saving the team $6.875MM.

We learned last week that the 29-year-old was set to undergo hip surgery. Richburg missed all of 2020 with injuries, including a torn patellar tendon. There was some optimism that the veteran would be able to return late in the season, but he never made it back on the field.

Richburg had a tough time living up to the five-year, $47.5MM deal he signed with the 49ers back in 2018. While he didn’t allow a sack during the 2019 campaign, Pro Football Focus graded him as one of the league’s worst blockers, and he committed eight penalties between the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

The former second-rounder earned that massive contract thanks to a solid four-year stint with the Giants to start his career. The Colorado State product ultimately started 50 of his 51 games with New York, although he was limited to only four contests in 2017.

Lions Sign TE Josh Hill

March 13th, 2021 at 9:32am CST by Ben Levine

As expected, new Lions head coach Dan Campbell is already starting to poach players from his former team. The team announced this morning that they’ve signed free agent tight end Josh Hill. It’s a one-year deal, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football (on Twitter).

Campbell and Hill spent five years together with the Saints, where Campbell had served as assistant head coach and tight ends coach since 2016. Hill joined New Orleans way back in 2013, appearing in 126 games (regular season and postseason) during his eight years in New Orleans. While his offensive numbers have always been modest (116 career receptions, 15 touchdowns), Hill has made a career as a blocking tight end; Pro Football Focus graded Hill as the No. 4 overall run-blocking tight end in 2020. The veteran also has extensive experience on special teams.

The Saints moved on from Hill earlier this month, saving the team around $2.5MM in space. The 30-year-old was set to enter the final season of a three-year, $8.5MM deal he signed with New Orleans in 2018.

The Lions were in need of some extra tight end depth after releasing Jesse James earlier this week. Hill will likely slide into the depth chart behind starter T.J. Hockenson.

Dez Bryant Wants To Join Cardinals

March 12th, 2021 at 9:13pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Cowboys star Dez Bryant says he would like to join up with the Cardinals (via TMZ). It’s not clear whether the interest is mutual, however.

“I think that would be dope being next to my boy D Hop [DeAndre Hopkins], [and] Christian Kirk, [and] Kyler Murray,” Bryant said. “I think they have a dope offense. I feel like they got a dope defense. I think they got a dope coach … If I had to choose, yeah, if that opportunity presented itself, I think I would take it.”

The Cardinals offense is, in fact, dope, which means that the team doesn’t necessarily have room for Bryant. A Larry Fitzgerald retirement could open up a spot for Bryant but, even then, there’d be a drop-off in production. Bryant, who will turn 33 this year, had just six grabs in six games for 47 yards and two touchdowns. No one expected Bryant to leapfrog Marquise Brown in the Ravens’ pecking order, but Bryant was also far behind Miles Boykin and Willie Snead IV on the depth chart. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald had 54 catches, 409 yards, and one touchdown in a relative down year — and he’s about five years older than Bryant.

During his heyday with the Cowboys, Bryant totaled 7,459 receiving yards and 73 touchdowns. His best season came in 2014 when he led NFL with 16 receiving touchdowns, leading to his five-year, $70MM Dallas deal.