2021 March - Pro Football Rumors

Texans Sign C Justin Britt

March 5th, 2021 at 6:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

After missing the 2020 season, Justin Britt appears to have secured an opportunity. The veteran offensive lineman is signing with the Texans, according to his Instagram.

This Houston agreement, which NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates is worth $3.2MM and could max out at $5MM (Twitter link), marks a rebound chance and a potential buy-low player for a Texans team in transition at center.

Britt made multiple visits during the 2020 campaign but did not land a gig. The Seahawks cut him shortly after the draft last year, and that move came after he tore an ACL in October 2019.

The Texans released longtime center Nick Martin last week. Prior to missing the past 1 1/2 seasons, Britt was a full-time Seahawks starter. He spent the 2016-18 seasons as Seattle’s center, not missing a game, and has also enjoyed full seasons at guard and tackle.

A former second-round pick, Britt will turn 30 ahead of Week 1. He visited the Seahawks before the start of last season and made a trip to Kansas City to meet with Chiefs brass during the team’s playoff run. With neither producing a contract, Britt is set to join a Texans team potentially readying for a rebuild. Whether he will make any snaps to Deshaun Watson remains uncertain.

Raiders To Release G Richie Incognito; Return Expected?

March 5th, 2021 at 6:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

6:01pm: It is not out of the question Incognito returns to the Raiders on a new deal, however. The expectation is the veteran guard re-signs with the team on a lower-cost accord, Vic Tafur of The Athletic tweets.

5:48pm: The Raiders are making big changes on their offensive line. Following a Gabe Jackson release, Las Vegas plans to cut Richie Incognito, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

Incognito played well in 2019, when the Raiders ended the second of his NFL sabbaticals, and signed an extension late in that season. However, an early-season injury shelved the veteran guard in 2020. Incognito is believed to be healthy and wants to play in 2021, per Rapoport.

An Incognito release will save the Raiders $5.5MM. He was signed only through the 2021 season. The controversial O-lineman played only two games last season, suffering a foot injury that ended up requiring surgery two months later. The Raiders entered Friday with barely $3MM in cap space.

While Incognito is better known for his off-field reputation — the bullying scandal that led him out of Miami and out of the league for the 2014 and another incident that preceded him being out of football in 2018 and left him suspended to start his Raiders tenure — the 37-year-old blocker has been a productive player when available. Pro Football Focus has graded him as a top-25 guard in every season he has played since 2010. Incognito made the Pro Bowl in each of his three Bills seasons — 2015-17 — and helped the Raiders’ 2019 O-line rate as one of the league’s best. That group has splintered this week.

In addition to releasing their Week 1 guard starters from last season, the Raiders are shopping right tackle Trent Brown. The player who took over for Incognito, Denzelle Good, is a free agent. Only left tackle Kolton Miller and standout center Rodney Hudson appear to be on solid ground among Las Vegas’ first-string blockers.

Saints Restructure Wil Lutz’s Contract

March 5th, 2021 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints continue to methodically move down toward the NFL’s projected salary cap. While they have a long way to go, the team made another move Friday afternoon on the path toward cap compliance ahead of the 2021 league year.

New Orleans will restructure Wil Lutz‘s contract, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). This move will create $1.74MM in cap space for the team. Lutz is attached to a five-year, $20.25MM extension he signed in March 2019. The five-year Saints kicker is signed through the 2023 season.

Many more moves will be required over the next week and change. The Saints entered Friday just more than $60MM over the $180MM mark that represents the floor for the 2021 salary cap. They have begun doing work to clear space, though the lion’s share of this process has yet to transpire.

The Saints released veterans Thomas Morstead and Josh Hill this week and restructured David Onyemata‘s contract. Along with Friday’s Lutz restructure, this work week’s round of moves created upwards of $11MM in cap space. The team still has the most work to do on the cap front of any NFL team as the 2020 league year winds down.

Von Miller Will Not Face Charges

March 5th, 2021 at 4:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Von Miller is not certain to be back with the Broncos for an 11th season, but the veteran linebacker navigated a key issue Friday. He will not face charges in connection with an unspecified incident, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

An investigation of this incident began in January, and the Parker (Colo.) Police Department turned the case over to the D.A.’s office late last month. Neither the police nor the district attorney revealed the nature of the investigation.

“After reviewing all of the materials, the District Attorney’s Office of the 18th Judicial District has determined that no charges will be filed in this case,” 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Vikki Migoya said in a statement, via Denver7’s Troy Renck. “Based on our review of information that is currently available, we cannot meet that standard and must decline to file charges in this case.”

Miller’s offseason will now transition to a Broncos decision. The team has until March 16 to pick up the future Hall of Famer’s 2021 option. Should the Broncos do so, Miller will be tethered to a $17.5MM base salary and $22.13MM cap number. But the Broncos have long been expected to ask their perennial Pro Bowl pass rusher to lower the latter number, via pay cut or possible extension.

New GM George Paton indicated Thursday he would like to have the soon-to-be 32-year-old defender back next season. Friday’s development stands to help on this front.

Lions Restructure Jamie Collins’ Deal

March 5th, 2021 at 3:09pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have restructured Jamie Collins‘ contract, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Collins will still earn $9MM as scheduled, except with the addition of some voidable years. The exact new cap number is not yet clear, but the linebacker will come in at a lower figure than his slated $11.3MM.

Collins reunited with old Patriots pal Matt Patricia last offseason. Even though Patricia is out of the picture, Collins will be staying put. He still effectively has two years to go on his initial three-year, $30MM deal.

The 31-year-old (32 in October) logged a career-high seven sacks in 2019 for the Pats, plus 81 total tackles, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles. In his first Lions season, Collins did less pass rushing, but did record 101 stops.

The Lions still have some work to do on that side of the ball, such as finding a replacement for cornerback Desmond Trufant. Meanwhile, they’ve already begun to shape their wide receiver group. Tyrell Williams agreed to a one-year deal this week — the Lions hope that he’ll be serving as the WR2, behind Kenny Golladay.

Broncos To Franchise Tag Justin Simmons

March 5th, 2021 at 2:36pm CST by Zachary Links

The Broncos will use the franchise tag on safety Justin Simmons, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The news was first reported by Benjamin Albright of KOA (Twitter link).

“Justin is one of our core guys. Our goal is to sign him to a long-term deal,” new GM George Paton said recently, with Simmons echoing that sentiment.

The two sides now have until mid-July to hammer out a multi-year deal. If they don’t, Simmons will play out the year with a 20% increase over last year’s tag. Since Simmons received an $11.4MM tag last year, his 2021 price would rise to $13.7MM.

There are five safeties averaging at least $14MM on their respective long-term contracts, establishing a clear floor for Simmons. The Broncos already have plenty invested at safety, with Kareem Jackson making $11MM/year on average, but in his prime at the age of 27. He is also coming off his first Pro Bowl nod after nabbing five interceptions and playing on every defensive snap the third year in a row.

Panthers Likely To Tag Taylor Moton

March 5th, 2021 at 2:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Panthers tackle Taylor Moton is expected to receive the franchise tag, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The possibility of a long-term deal remains, but it sounds like the Panthers will buy themselves some time by first using the tag, then negotiating between now and mid-July.

Moton talked contract with Carolina brass ahead of last season, but things cooled off during the year. The Panthers want Moton for the long haul, but they’d also be comfortable with a one-year arrangement. A new deal would probably cost around $15MM — maybe a touch less, depending on where the salary cap lands.

Pro Football Focus has graded Moton as a top-20 tackle in each of the past three years. He came in as a top-five right tackle in 2020, providing all the more reason for the Panthers to retain him. They’ll definitely need Moton in place hope to land, and adequately protect, Deshaun Watson.

Moton, a 2017 second-round pick, has started 48 straight games at right tackle. The Panthers have until March 9 to make the call.

Bills Extend Micah Hyde

March 5th, 2021 at 2:11pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bills have signed Micah Hyde to a brand new deal. The safety is now locked up through 2023, thanks to his two-year extension. The add-on is worth $19.25MM, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), keeping his cap number roughly the same as last season.

Hyde spent the early part of his career with the Packers, the joined the Bills on a five-year, $30MM deal in 2017. In that first year, Hyde earned a Pro Bowl nod along with second-team All-Pro honors. He’s racked up 17 interceptions over the years, including his most recent one against the Niners in December. In 2020, he also notched 70 tackles and five passes defensed. The Bills now have Hyde and Jordan Poyer locked up for multiple seasons, securing one of the league’s stronger safety duos.

There’s still more work to be done in Buffalo, including today’s get-together with Michael Palardy. This will mark the punter’s first visit since getting dropped by the Panthers.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/5/21

March 5th, 2021 at 1:10pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of the latest minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Released: K Zane Gonzalez

Los Angeles Chargers

Signed: K Tristan Vizcaino

Pittsburgh Steelers

Re-signed: C J.C. Hassenauer

San Francisco 49ers

Re-signed: TE Ross Dwelley, S Marcell Harris

Tennessee Titans

Re-signed: RB/FB Khari Blasingame

Chargers Shopping Trai Turner

March 5th, 2021 at 1:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers are actively shopping Trai Turner, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The former Pro-Bowl guard seems on course to be traded or released soon, Schefter adds.

Turner is set to make $11.5MM this year, the final season of the four-year, $45MM pact he signed with the Panthers. The Bolts were happy to pick up the tab around this time last year in the trade that sent Russell Okung to Carolina. Turner was hot off of five straight Pro Bowl appearances and just graded out as the No. 31 ranked guard in the league, according to the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. Plus, there was the hope that he could get back to his best work. In 2015 – his coming-out party – he ranked as one of the game’s very best.

Unfortunately, injuries limited Turner to just nine games in Los Angeles. The Chargers, meanwhile, are out to remake their offensive line and shore up Justin Herbert‘s protection. In a matter of days, Turner will either be elsewhere or looking for his next opportunity.