2023 March - Pro Football Rumors

CB Greedy Williams Agrees To Terms With Eagles

March 16th, 2023 at 8:33pm CST by Ely Allen

As the Browns bring in one 2019 second-round pick who has failed to live up to expectations, it appears they will not be returning another as cornerback Greedy Williams has agreed to a new contract to join the Eagles, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. The 25-year-old is set to join the NFL’s 2022 runner-up for another run in 2023.

As a rookie, Williams started 12 games, missing a four-game stretch near the beginning of the season. He failed to nab an interception and only tallied two passes defensed as he struggled initially in coverage, but he was a strong defender against the run. Williams was forced to miss the 2020 season as he dealt with nerve issues in his shoulder.

Coming back from the injury in 2021, Williams had perhaps his strongest season. While Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome would serve as starters throughout the year, Williams played a large role, as well, playing in every game but one and starting eight contests. Williams received the third-largest snap share out of the cornerbacks room, playing just over half the team’s defensive snaps. Williams was productive in his second season on the field, as well, reeling in two interceptions and breaking up 10 pass attempts.

This most recent season saw injuries return to bite the young corner as he would start the year on injured reserve. Williams would return to the lineup after missing the team’s first five games, but following a 2-5 start to the season, the Browns began to search for possible trade partners willing to give up some value for Williams. With Williams future in Cleveland in question, his playing time plummeted to the point that he was only playing on special teams in the waning weeks of the season.

Williams now finds himself in a secondary with two veteran, established cornerbacks in James Bradberry, who re-signed this week, and Darius Slay, who narrowly avoided release and signed an extension today. Williams will find himself competing mainly with Avonte Maddox for backup snaps in Philadelphia. If he can return to his 2021 form, the Eagles will have four capable corners roaming in the secondary.

Browns Signing DT Trysten Hill

March 16th, 2023 at 7:47pm CST by Ely Allen

The Browns continue to reshape their defensive line, signing former Cowboys defensive tackle Trysten Hill, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The addition is one of several changes the team has made as Cleveland attempts to improve on a defense that gave up the eighth-most rushing yards in the league last year while tallying the sixth-fewest sacks.

A second-round pick out of UCF in 2019, Hill’s career has suffered from his inability to stay on the field. During a disappointing rookie season, Hill was a healthy scratch for nine games due to poor etiquette at the team facilities. The young lineman had been sent home for arriving late to practice and falling asleep during a presentation from guest speaker and NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas. Despite an injury to the team’s starting defensive tackle, Hill’s issues off the field were bad enough to keep him out of the lineup.

In his sophomore season, due to an injury to starter Gerald McCoy, Hill started the year as the team’s starting defensive tackle. An ACL tear would end his season after five games, though. Hill was finally able to return from the injury in November of the following year but was suspended for a game weeks later after punching then-Raiders lineman John Simpson in a postgame altercation. Between personal behavior, injuries, and suspensions, Hill has only appeared in 31 of a possible 66 games over his career.

As Hill continued to slide down the depth chart in Dallas, the Cowboys decided to waive the young tackle after failing to find a trade partner that might take him. He was claimed off the waiver wire by the Cardinals the next day, allowing him to compete for snaps with Leki Fotu, Jonathan Ledbetter, and Michael Dogbe. He functioned in a backup capacity for most of the rest of the season before being placed on injured reserve to end the season.

In Cleveland, Hill will serve as a depth piece on a retooled Browns defensive line that is losing Taven Bryan, Chase Winovich, and Jadeveon Clowney to free agency. The Browns targeted replacing some of that loss by signing veteran defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson earlier this week. The team was also considered a favorite to sign former Broncos defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones, as well, until the young defender agreed to a deal with the Seahawks.

Right now, favorites for playing time on the Browns’ defensive front are Tomlinson, Jordan Elliott, and Perrion Winfrey. Hill will compete with a number of other backups for playing time in rotation with those three. Cleveland will be a clean slate for him to attempt to make up for the shortcomings of his past NFL history.

Jets Sign OL Wes Schweitzer

March 16th, 2023 at 7:43pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jets have added some versatility to their offensive line. The team announced that they’ve agreed to a deal with offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer.

The former sixth-round pick has managed to put together a seven-year career thanks in part to that versatility. Schweitzer has played at least one career snap at every offensive line position, although the majority of his playing time has come at left guard and right guard.

Schweitzer started 36 of his 46 appearances for Atlanta between 2017 and 2019, and he started 13 games during his first season in Washington in 2020. He only started five of his 11 appearances in 2021 before returning to the starting lineup in 2022, starting six of his seven appearances thanks to an ankle injury that landed him on IR. He finished the season ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 27th center (among 36 qualifiers).

ESPN’s John Keim tweets that the Commanders were interested in retaining the free agent offensive lineman. Ultimately, the team determined that they already have several veterans who should be able to fill in for Schweitzer.

Schweitzer will enter the season as a backup, but his versatility obviously provides the Jets with some flexibility when an injury inevitably hits. The Jets have lost a bit of OL depth during the early days of free agency with Nate Herbig heading to the Steelers.

The Jets made another OL move today, re-signing Adam Pankey, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The 29-year-old has appeared in nine games since entering the NFL in 2017, although he didn’t make a single appearance in 2022 while sitting on the Jets’ practice squad.

Vikings Re-Sign OL Austin Schlottmann

March 16th, 2023 at 7:16pm CST by Ben Levine

The Vikings are bringing back Austin Schlottmann. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Vikings are re-signing the offensive lineman. Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets that Schlottmann will be signing a new one-year contract.

Schlottmann, a 2018 UDFA out of TCU, turned into a dependable backup lineman for the Broncos. He started seven of his 42 games for Denver between 2019 and 2021, and he also contributed a bit on special teams.

The lineman joined the Vikings last offseason and proceeded to appear in 16 games for his new squad, starting four. A broken fibula ended his season in Week 17 and kept him off the field for the postseason. He didn’t grade out all that well from Pro Football Focus, the third-straight season that he’s rated as a bottom-of-the-league lineman.

Apparently, the Vikings saw enough out of Schlottmann to keep him around for another year. Fellow Vikings offensive lineman Oli Udoh is also a free agent, but the team is otherwise looking to return much of their depth from 2022.

Bears Release QB Trevor Siemian

March 16th, 2023 at 6:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bears’ recent decision to add P.J. Walker to their quarterback room has resulted in a corresponding move. Per the transaction wire, Chicago has released Trevor Siemian.

The 31-year-old had one year remaining on the deal he signed last offseason, which brought him to his fourth career NFL home. Siemian’s pact gave him his latest backup opportunity, having previously served in the No. 2 role with the Jets and Saints. His career has seen him bounce around since his tenure as the Broncos’ starter came to an end in 2017.

Siemian joined a Bears team which had affirmed Justin Fields as the undisputed starter heading into the season, so it came as little surprise that he was limited to just one start and two appearances. The veteran completed 57% of his passes and complied a passer rating of 76.4 in that time. That performance left his roster status in question entering the offseason.

No guaranteed money was due in 2023 for the former seventh-rounder, making this release an easy one on the Bears’ part. Cutting Siemian will result in $1.965MM in savings while generating a dead money charge of $500K. Turning to Walker will give the team a younger option in the No. 2 spot, though likely not much more in the way of upside.

Now a member of the free agent pool, Siemian faces a shrinking number of potential suitors. The past few days have seen a slew of backup quarterback moves, as teams shake-up their depth charts under center ahead of the draft. That could leave Siemian waiting a while for his next opportunity in the NFL, as he looks to catch on with a fifth career team in the near future.

Saints Add OL Storm Norton, Re-Sign P Blake Gillikin

March 16th, 2023 at 6:50pm CST by Ben Levine

The Saints have added some depth on the offensive line. Storm Norton is signing a one-year deal with New Orleans, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).

The 2017 undrafted free agent out of Toledo bounced between the Lions, Cardinals, and Vikings (plus a brief stint in the XFL) before finding a home in Los Angeles in 2020. After starting three of his six appearances in 2020, Norton started 15 of his 17 appearances in 2021.

He didn’t start any of his 12 performances this past year, and Pro Football Focus would have graded him as one of the league’s worst offensive tackles had he qualified. However, the site was a bit more bullish on his production in 2020 and 2021.

The Saints may return much of their offensive line depth in 2022, with Norton representing their first move on that unit. Ethan Greenidge, who appeared in 15 games for the Saints back in 2020, is the team’s lone OL free agent.

The Saints weren’t done making moves today. Nick Underhill tweets that the team has re-signed punter Blake Gillikin. The Penn State product joined the Saints in 2020 but didn’t see the field for the team until 2021. He’s appeared in all 34 games for New Orleans over the past two years, averaging 47 yards on his punts. Gillikin has also landed 61 of his 160 punts inside the 20 yard line.

Bears, RB D’Onta Foreman Agree To Deal

March 16th, 2023 at 6:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bears have lost their starting running back from the past few seasons, but they have moved quickly to find a new member of their backfield. Chicago is signing running back D’Onta Foreman to a one-year, $3MM deal (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).

David Montgomery is set for a move within the NFC North, having agreed to a lucrative deal with the Lions earlier in free agency. His departure from the Windy City was expected, given his production, the Bears’ many needs elsewhere on the roster and the availability of several other capable backs in this year’s free agent class. Now, Chicago has found a low-cost replacement.

Foreman, 26, made his first foray outside the AFC South last year by joining the Panthers following two-year stints with the Texans and Titans, respectively. His play as Derrick Henry‘s backup led to the expectation that he could put up noteworthy production in the event he were to be given the opportunity to serve as a No. 1 in his new home.

That seemed unlikely while the Panthers had Christian McCaffrey at the top of their depth chart, but the team’s decision to trade him away before the deadline left Foreman with the chance to lead the team’s rushing attack. He totaled 914 yards on the ground in 2022; that represented by far the highest mark of his career. The fact that he also set a new personal mark with a yards per carry average of 4.5 pointed to his potential to remain efficient while taking on workhorse duties.

In the build-up to free agency, it was reported that the former third-rounder was expected to be a hot commodity on the open market. The Panthers’ decision to sign Miles Sanders proved that Foreman would need to head elsewhere to have a chance at remaining the lead back in his new home. This deal will give him the chance to do that, as he will compete with Khalil Herbert for the top spot on the Bears’ depth chart.

Bears Sign DT Andrew Billings

March 16th, 2023 at 6:16pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bears are adding to their defensive line. Chicago is signing defensive tackle Andrew Billings, according to agency SportsTrust Advisors (on Twitter).

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Billings will be getting a one-year deal worth $3.5MM. The contract includes $2.4MM in guaranteed money.

Billings opted out of the 2020 season and got into only six games with the Browns in 2021 before getting cut loose. He caught on with the Raiders last offseason and had his strongest showing since 2019. The defensive lineman ultimately started all 14 of his appearances, compiling 39 tackles and one sack. Pro Football Focus gave him high marks for his 2022 performance, ranking him 16th among 127 qualifying interior defenders.

The likes of Justin Jones, Mike Pennel, and Angelo Blackson didn’t rank nearly as high among interior defenders, so Billings should provide a temporary upgrade. The Bears have been busy adding to their defense this offseason, signing linebacker T.J. Edwards, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, and defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker.

Seahawks To Re-Sign QB Drew Lock

March 16th, 2023 at 6:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks will have both members of their quarterback tandem from 2022 in place for next year. Seattle has agreed to terms on a one-year, $4MM deal with Drew Lock (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). Incentives bring the maximum value of the contract to $7.5MM.

Lock, 26, was acquired by the Seahawks last offseason as part of the package the Broncos sent them in the Russell Wilson trade. That gave him the opportunity to compete for the starting job with veteran Geno Smith, something most expected him to secure during training camp. Instead, the latter took hold of the No. 1 spot on the depth chart and held it all year.

Smith went on to have one of the most surprising campaigns of the 2022 season, earning Comeback Player of the Year Honors. His success helped propel the Seahawks to a playoff berth, but it also kept Lock on the bench for the entirety of the campaign. Lock didn’t see a snap in the regular or postseason, something which clouded his value ahead of free agency.

The former second-rounder underwhelmed as a starter in Denver, going 8-13 during his time in the Mile High City. His lack of development included a league-leading 15 interceptions in the 2020 season, and a career completion percentage of just 59.3%. That made him a logical inclusion in the Wilson trade, as a fresh start was considered necessary for him to restart his career.

Seattle represented a suitable home for the Missouri product, given the optimism expressed by the team about his ability to win the starting role. Head coach Pete Carroll repeatedly spoke highly of Lock during the offseason, as he has throughout the year about Smith as well. The latter is on the books with his new, incentive-laden deal, and Lock is now in place to continue as his understudy.

Bears To Sign TE Robert Tonyan

March 16th, 2023 at 5:59pm CST by Ben Levine

After spending six seasons with the Packers, Robert Tonyan is moving to a division rival. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the tight end is signing with the Bears.

After not catching on with the Lions as an undrafted free agent, Tonyan joined the Packers in 2017. He didn’t play as a rookie and most appeared on special teams as a sophomore, but the tight end started to get some work on offense in 2019.

He had his breakout season in 2020, hauling in 52 receptions for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was hit with a second-round tender (and a sizable pay raise) the following offseason, but he only got into eight games in 2021 before tearing his ACL. Tonyan managed to return and appear in all 17 games this past year, collecting a career-high 53 receptions for 470 yards and two touchdowns.

Pro Football Focus has never been a fan of Tonyan, but that’s partly due to his abysmal blocking score. He’ll probably be on the field for sets that call for a pair of tight ends, with the free agent acquisition pairing with 2022 starter Cole Kmet.

The Packers offense will look a whole lot different next season with Aaron Rodgers, Allen Lazard, and likely Randall Cobb out the door. Tight end Marcedes Lewis is also a free agent, potentially opening up snaps for former third-round pick Josiah Deguara.