HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Bears To Sign RB Travis Homer

March 14th, 2023 at 10:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Shortly after losing their starting running back, the Bears have added at the position. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Chicago has agreed to a deal with running back Travis Homer. Homer got a two-year deal worth a maximum of $4.5MM, per Schefter.

[RELATED: Lions To Sign RB David Montgomery]

David Montgomery started 43 games for the Bears over the past three years, including 16 starts in 2022. However, the former third-round pick left for the Lions earlier this evening, opening up a significant spot on the depth chart.

Homer shouldn’t be expected to carry the load in Chicago, but he’ll provide the coaching staff with some dependable depth at the position. The former sixth-round pick has seen time in 49 games for Seattle over the past four seasons. He had his best season in 2021, finishing with 338 yards from scrimmage. He followed that up with a 2022 campaign that saw him compile 231 offensive yards and one touchdown.

The Bears probably aren’t done adding at the position, but it’s noteworthy that they didn’t look to immediately replace Montgomery with another big name. This bodes well for Khalil Herbert‘s ability to earn the starting gig in 2023. The former sixth-round pick has been productive in his three starts over the past two years, topping 100 yards from scrimmage in each of those contests.

In Seattle, the Seahawks will be eyeing a slightly different RB depth chart in 2023 with Homer gone and Rashaad Penny joining the Eagles. The Seahawks will surely be looking for some additional depth behind Kenneth Walker and DeeJay Dallas.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/14/23

March 14th, 2023 at 9:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s tender decisions from around the NFL:

RFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/23

March 14th, 2023 at 9:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Titans To Sign DL Arden Key

March 14th, 2023 at 9:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Arden Key has parlayed a one-year, prove-it deal into a multiyear contract. The defensive lineman is signing with the Titans, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter).

Key is inking a three-year deal worth $21MM, per Garafolo. The contract has the potential to hit $24MM in value and includes $13MM in guaranteed money.

The former third-round pick showed hints of his talent during his time with the Raiders, but he truly showed his stuff with the 49ers in 2021. Key got into all 17 games that season, finishing with 6.5 sacks and 17 QB hits. Considering his limited track record, Key was only able to get a one-year deal from the Jaguars last offseason.

He continued building off that 2021 campaign. In 17 games (three starts) with Jacksonville this past year, Key compiled a career-high 27 tackles to go along with 4.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, and 15 QB hits. He finished the campaign as Pro Football Focus’ 28th edge defender (among 119 qualifying players), the second-straight season he’s finished as a top-40 edge.

In Tennessee, Key will be expected to provide some pass-rushing prowess on the defensive line. New Titans GM Ran Carthon was the 49ers’ director of pro personnel when Key had his breakout season, so he’s certainly familiar with the player’s potential.

Vikings To Sign CB Byron Murphy

March 14th, 2023 at 9:06pm CST by Ben Levine

The Vikings have found their replacement for Patrick Peterson. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), the Vikings are finalizing a deal with cornerback Byron Murphy.

Byron Murphy (vertical)[RELATED: Steelers To Sign CB Patrick Peterson]

Murphy is inking a two-year deal, according to Rapoport (on Twitter). Minnesota will pick up Arizona’s No. 1 corner of the past two seasons on just a two-year, $17.5MM deal, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets.

Going into his age-25 season, the fifth-year defender will see $12.5MM guaranteed. The deal includes $2MM in playing time and Pro Bowl incentives. Of Murphy’s 2024 salary, $4.5MM is already guaranteed for injury. That shifts to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2024 league year, per Wilson, giving the Vikings some options.

The former second-round pick emerged as one of Arizona’s most dependable defenders in recent years. The defensive back started only half of his games during his sophomore campaign but rebounded nicely in 2021, starting all 16 of his appearances and finishing the season with a team-leading four interceptions and 12 passes defended.

Murphy had a firm hold on the starting gig heading into the 2022 campaign. He started the first nine games for the Cardinals, compiling 36 tackles and four passes defended. A back injury forced him off the field for the second half of the season, and he was ultimately placed on season-ending injured reserve.

Despite the injury, Murphy still showed more than enough to establish himself as one of the top CBs available in free agency. While Pro Football Focus has generally graded Murphy as a slightly above-average cornerback, the site has always been fond of his run-stopping ability.

Murphy will fill in the void left by Peterson, who ended up signing with the Steelers. Peterson expressed an interest in re-signing with Minnesota, but it’s uncertain if the interest was reciprocated. With Peterson entering his age-33 season, it’s feasible that the organization preferred the 25-year-old Murphy.

Lions To Sign RB David Montgomery

March 14th, 2023 at 8:32pm CST by Ben Levine

The Lions are snagging a running back from a division rival. Detroit has agreed to terms with running back David Montgomery, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).

Montgomery is signing a three-year deal worth $18MM, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The deal includes $11MM in guaranteed money, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).

The former third-round running back was handed the full-time starting gig in 2020 and was more than productive, finishing with 1,508 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns, with more than 400 of those yards coming via 54 receptions.

After topping 1,000 rushing yards during that 2020 campaign, Montgomery wasn’t able to eclipse that mark in 2021 nor 2022, averaging 825 rushing yards between those two seasons. Thanks to his receiving ability, he was still able to top 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of the past two years, but his sub-4.0 yards per rush still left plenty to be desired.

In Detroit, Montgomery won’t necessarily be leading the traditional rushing attack, as the organization could still look to squeeze some production out of D’Andre Swift. Instead, it sounds like this signing could spell the end of Jamaal Williams‘s tenure in Detroit, per Pelissero (on Twitter). Earlier tonight, Tyler Dunne tweeted that Williams and the Lions were far apart on a deal.

The Bears gave former sixth-round pick Khalil Herbert a look last season, and there’s a chance the team continues to add to the position.

Titans To Sign OL Daniel Brunskill

March 14th, 2023 at 8:08pm CST by Ben Levine

Daniel Brunskill is off to Tennessee. The Titans are signing the offensive lineman, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). It’s a two-year deal, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic (via Twitter).

[RELATED: Titans To Sign T Andre Dillard]

A former undrafted free agent out of San Diego State, Brunskill transformed into a versatile OL option for the 49ers. The 29-year-old has played right guard, both tackle positions, and center during his professional career, and his 42 games of starting experience makes him more than your standard swing lineman.

Brunskill started 33 games for the 49ers between 2020 and 2021, but he only got two starts in 2022. Still, he managed to appear in all 17 games and played more than 500 offensive snaps. He finished the 2022 campaign as Pro Football Focus’ 23rd-ranked guard among 77 qualifiers, the highest finish of his career.

The Titans have been busy reworking their offensive line during the early part of free agency. Yesterday, the team agreed to terms with former Eagles first-round pick Andre Dillard,

Lions To Re-Sign DB Will Harris

March 14th, 2023 at 8:01pm CST by Ben Levine

The Lions’ secondary will look a bit different next season, but they’re hanging on to one of their key defensive backs. The team has agreed to a one-year contract with defensive back Will Harris, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

[RELATED: Lions To Sign CB Cameron Sutton]

Harris, a 2019 third-round pick out of Boston College, has spent his entire four-year career in Detroit. He’s spent time switching between safety and cornerback throughout his career, but as Birkett notes, he played his best football when serving as the Lions’ slot cornerback last season.

The 27-year-old finished the campaign having started 10 of his 15 appearances, finishing with 57 tackles and four passes defended. He only graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 64th cornerback (among 118 qualifying players), although the site did grade him close to the top-third at the position in coverage. Harris will likely continue in his slot role in 2023, but his versatility does provide the Lions with some options.

The Lions have been busy reworking a unit that finished last in total defense last season. The team made one of the biggest splashes of free agency when they signed cornerback Cameron Sutton, and they’ve also added former 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley.

Vikings To Re-Sign K Greg Joseph, LS Andrew DePaula

March 14th, 2023 at 7:34pm CST by Ben Levine

Greg Joseph struggled at points early last season, but after submitting a better second half, he is on track to remain the Vikings’ kicker. Joseph is re-signing with Minnesota, per his agent (on Twitter). The one-year pact has a base value of $2MM and offers an extra $500K in incentives, per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com (on Twitter).

Joseph bounced around the league a bit before finding a home in Minnesota prior to the 2021 campaign. The kicker connected on 86.8 percent of his field goal attempts and 36 of his 40 extra point tries during his first season in Minny, but he took a step back in 2022.

The 28-year-old struggled a bit this past year, missing seven of his 33 field goal attempts (although six of those misses came from beyond 50 yards). He also missed six of his 46 XP tries, leading to some questions about his future with the organization. Ultimately, it sounds like the front office is willing to give him another go for at least the 2023 campaign, although it wouldn’t be surprising if the Vikings bring in some competition.

The Vikings are also bringing back their All-Pro long snapper, Andrew DePaola, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The veteran has been hanging around the NFL since 2014, and he’s spent the past three years with the Vikings. After getting into all 17 games for Minnesota in 2022, DePaola earned his first career All-Pro and Pro Bowl nod.

G Will Hernandez To Stay With Cardinals

March 14th, 2023 at 7:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bringing in a new head coach-general manager combination, the Cardinals are not yet making big changes up front. Instead, they are re-signing blockers added by the previous regime.

After agreeing to terms with right tackle Kelvin Beachum, the Cards, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, are re-signing guard Will Hernandez (Twitter link). The former Giants second-round pick agreed to a two-year, $9MM accord, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

Hernandez did not leave New York with much momentum last year, settling for a one-year pact worth the league minimum. Despite missing some time during his first Cardinals season, Hernandez will have a chance to reprise his role as a first-stringer for the rebuilding team.

The Giants used Hernandez as a full-time starter during his first, second and fourth seasons. Despite this early-career seasoning, his market was ice cold last year. This time around, it is clear other teams showed interest. Hernandez, 27, started 13 games for the Cards and ranked seventh in ESPN’s pass block win rate metric among guards. Pro Football Focus slotted the five-year veteran 30th at the position.

Although the Cards lost a few blockers to major injuries last season (D.J. Humphries, Rodney Hudson, Justin Pugh), Hernandez did not need one of the starters to go down to commandeer a first-string gig. He won the job opposite Pugh from the jump. Pugh is unsigned, while Hudson is expected to retire. Humphries remains in the picture, as does Beachum, who is staying on a two-year deal.

PFF ranked Arizona’s O-line as a whole 24th, but the Monti Ossenfort-Jonathan Gannon regime will be expecting a better performance with more games from the starters. Hernandez will represent part of the new regime’s equation up front.

Load More Posts