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Jaguars To Sign TE Evan Engram

March 14th, 2022 at 4:47pm CST by Ben Levine

The Jaguars continue to add to their offense. Jacksonville is signing tight end Evan Engram, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).

[RELATED: Jaguars To Sign Christian Kirk]

It’s a one-year deal worth $9MM, and the contract could be worth up to $10MM with incentives. PFF’s Doug Kyed tweets that the deal contains $8.25MM in guaranteed money, which includes a $3MM signing bonus and $5.25MM base salary. The tight end has $800K worth of reception and receiving yard incentives.

A first-round pick by the Giants in 2018, Engram had an inconsistent five years in New York. After missing 13 combined games between 2018 and 2019, Engram earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2020 after finishing with 63 receptions for 654 yards and one touchdown. However, his numbers took a step back in 2021, with the tight end finishing with 46 receptions for a career-low 408 receiving yards.

Still, those numbers would represent an upgrade at the position for the Jaguars. The team’s top receiving TE in 2021 was Dan Arnold, who finished with 28 receptions for 324 yards. Engram will join a tight ends depth chart that already includes Arnold, James O’Shaughnessy, Chris Manhertz, and Luke Farrell.

However, there’s a chance Engram doesn’t even line up as TE for his new squad. There were recent reports that teams were looking into Engram as a wide receiver, with the player’s combination of speed, agility, and size making him a potential matchup nightmare. We’ll see if that ends up being the case in Jacksonville. According to Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post (on Twitter), the Colts, 49ers, and Bills were among the teams to express interest in Engram before he landed in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars have been busy adding to their offense this afternoon. After agreeing to a deal with offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, the organization inked receiver Christian Kirk to a lucrative deal.

Bills To Sign Rodger Saffold

March 14th, 2022 at 1:43pm CST by Zachary Links

Rodger Saffold is joining up with the Bills (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). On Monday, the former Titans guard agreed to a brand new deal with Buffalo. It is a two-year deal in name only, with Saffold indicating (via CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, on Twitter) the second year is a void year for cap purposes.

The 33-year-old had one year to go on his Titans contract, with a scheduled cap hit of $12.8MM. If he had still been on the roster five days after the beginning of free agency next week, he would have received a $1MM roster bonus. Instead, the Titans elected for $10.4MM in cap room with a more modest $2.375MM dead money hit.

After nine years spent with the Rams, the former second rounder inked a four-year, $44MM deal to come to Nashville in 2019. He missed a total of three games in three campaigns with the Titans, and even earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2021. On the other hand, PFF assigned him an underwhelming grade of 68.8.

Despite his age, Saffold profiled as one of the top LGs on the open market. Now, he’ll help to protect star quarterback Josh Allen and work alongside middle man Mitch Morse, who agreed to a fresh two-year deal this week.

Bills Extend C Mitch Morse

March 14th, 2022 at 10:28am CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills continue to make moves along their offensive line. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the team is extending center Mitch Morse on a two-year, $19.5MM deal (Twitter link). Of that figure, $12MM is guaranteed. 

[RELATED: Bills To Release Daryl Williams]

As a result of the new pact, Morse is now under contract for three more seasons. Garafolo adds that his 2022 compensation will increase from $8.5MM to $11.25MM, though the deal will also lower his cap number (which was also slated to be $11.25MM prior to this news) to $9MM.

Morse, who will be 30 at the start of next season, signed with the Bills in 2019. With the four-year deal being worth over $11MM per year on average, it made him the league’s highest-paid center. However, he took a pay cut two years later to remain with the team.

2021 saw the former second rounder play 1,167 snaps as he played in all 17 games. That continues a career-long trend of durability for him, as he has played (and started) in 96 of a possible 113 contests. According to PFF, the veteran earned an overall grade of 63.4, with five penalties committed and two sacks allowed. That is on par with his metrics in recent years.

With a consistent piece of their offensive line in place for the foreseeable future, the Bills have another important piece of business done in the build-up to free agency.

Bills To Release Daryl Williams

March 14th, 2022 at 8:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Bills are releasing offensive tackle Daryl Williams (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). Williams was slated to count for $9.925MM against Buffalo’s cap. Instead, the Bills have opted to release him, saving $6.325MM against $3.6MM in dead money. 

Garafolo adds that a reunion is still possible, if the two sides can come to terms on a cheaper deal. It was roughly one year ago today that the Bills and Williams agreed to a fresh three-year deal worth $28.2MM in total with nearly $14MM guaranteed. At the time, he was fresh off of a one-year prove-it deal when he started all 16 games (plus two playoff games) and did a solid job of protecting star quarterback Josh Allen.

Williams, 30 in August, offers experience at both guard and tackle, but his best work has always been on the outside. In 2020, the former fourth-round pick graded out as PFF’s No. 21 ranked tackle in the NFL, putting him ahead of names like Orlando Brown Jr., Jake Matthews, Laremy Tunsil, and Alejandro Villanueva.

Yet, in 2021, the Bills asked Williams to do more on the interior. The results weren’t great — he earned an overall grade of 67.5 from PFF, positioning him as a middle-of-the-pack blocker.

Bills Re-Sign WR Isaiah McKenzie

March 13th, 2022 at 5:07pm CST by Ely Allen

The Bills have agreed to terms on a new two-year contract with wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The deal is reportedly worth $8MM, the biggest payday McKenzie has seen in his five-year career. 

McKenzie was picked up by the Bills off waivers after being waived by the Broncos, who drafted him in the 5th round of the 2017 NFL Draft. After finishing out that initial contract in Buffalo, he rode out two one-year deals in 2020 and 2021 worth around $1MM each.

His first year in Buffalo saw him used as the primary kick returner and a bit of a gadget player on offense, receiving and helping out in the rushing game after injuries to running backs LeSean McCoy and Chris Ivory. In his first full season as a Bill, his returner role was diminished with the addition of Andre Roberts, but he continued as a special teamer and gadget player, even contributing in Week 17 as a reserve cornerback.

After re-signing on his first one-year deal in Buffalo, McKenzie saw his most productive season in 2020. McKenzie saw career highs in receptions (30), receiving yards (282), and receiving touchdowns (5). He also recorded his first special teams touchdown on an 84-yard punt return.

The 2021 NFL season didn’t see a large change in McKenzie’s offensive production, but he re-cemented his role as the team’s return specialist, which appears to be the basis for his new contract. McKenzie did see his role on the offense increase a bit when Cole Beasley missed time due to COVID-19.

With star-receiver Stefon Diggs and Beasley set to return, along with Gabriel Davis who emerged as the team’s third receiver for the future, this signing gives the Bills a solid one through four in their receiving corps, with McKenzie set to continue handling return duties.

QB Rumors: Trubisky, Winston, Taylor, Lock

March 13th, 2022 at 4:47pm CST by Ely Allen

The Giants’ new head coach, Brian Daboll, worked with free agent quarterback Mitchell Trubisky when they were both with the Bills last year (Daboll as offensive coordinator). Well, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN, Daboll has interest in luring Trubisky to join him in New York.

There’s been some interest in bringing Trubisky to Pittsburgh, as well, where a path to starting is much more clear. If Daboll’s familiarity with the sixth-year quarterback is able to attract him to the Giants, though, the head coach sees the potential for him to mirror the results of Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee. A quick refresher: Tannehill arrived in Nashville in 2019 in a trade with the Dolphins. Tannehill started the season in the role of back up quarterback to the incumbent starter Marcus Mariota. After a 2-4 start to the season, Mariota was benched in favor of Tannehill, who went 7-3 for the rest of the year and led the Titans to the AFC Championship Game.

Daboll holds hope that, while Daniel Jones may retain the starting job in New York, if the need presents itself, Trubisky could provide the same effect as Tannehill.

Some other notes concerning quarterbacks around the league:

  • Another option the Steelers could be looking into, Jameis Winston is looking like the most likely starting quarterback for the Saints in 2022, according to Graziano. With Teddy Bridgewater headed to free agency, a return to New Orleans could be possible, and Winston may see some opportunities in testing the free agent market, himself. But Winston is a locker room favorite that saw success on the Saints before tearing his ACL midseason last year.
  • Tyrod Taylor lost the starting job in Houston last year to rookie quarterback Davis Mills. With Mills expected to return to the starting position next year, the Texans do have interest in bringing Taylor back in the role of back up quarterback, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Taylor has chased starting jobs throughout his career and has seen some success at times. He may search for a new opportunity to start, but, if not, Taylor has shown professionalism several times in back up roles mentoring young quarterbacks.
  • After receiving Drew Lock in the Russell Wilson-trade with the Broncos, Seattle is considering the elements to Lock’s lack of success in Denver, according to Fowler. Some believe that the revolving door of offensive coordinators contributed to his struggles. Seattle is analyzing whether they believe in Pete Carroll‘s ability to develop Lock, who showed glimpses of promise in his early appearances as a Bronco, or whether they need to make moves for Deshaun Watson to win now.

Bills Rework P Matt Haack’s Contract

March 12th, 2022 at 8:34am CST by Ben Levine

The Bills have reworked their punter’s contract. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter), the Bills have signed Matt Haack to a revised contract.

The deal will reduce Haack’s 2022 salary to $1.135MM, and it will also void the final year of his contract. As a result, the punter will hit free agency next offseason.

According to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic (on Twitter), the Bills also removed the $1MM base salary that would have been guaranteed on March 18. As a result, the Bills can set themselves up for a punting competition if they so desire.

Haack spent the first four seasons of his career with the Dolphins before inking a three-year deal with the Bills last offseason. His averages went down during his first season in Buffalo, as he averaged only 42.9 yards on his punts (with his previous career-low being at 44.5). While he wasn’t called on all that much during the postseason, he did see that average jump to 43.8 yards on four punts.

Latest On Chandler Jones’ Market

March 11th, 2022 at 1:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

While the Cardinals have a desire to keep him, Chandler Jones is expected to have plenty of suitors if he hits the open market. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, no fewer than six teams are interested in bringing in the veteran pass rusher. (Twitter link). 

[RELATED: Cardinals Want To Re-Sign Chandler Jones]

Schultz lists the Seahawks, Broncos, Dolphins, Falcons, Bills and Eagles as teams at least eyeing the two-time All-Pro. At 32, age will surely be a consideration with regards to the length of any deal, but salary should not be an issue. Schultz reports that Jones “will command at least $15-18MM”. A general manager he spoke to on the matter described Jones as “a guy who keeps himself in great shape”. That, coupled with the scarcity of such accomplished edge rushers, should leave him with any number of offers.

Not surprisingly, he also adds that the former Super Bowl winner is seeking to join a contender. The aforementioned teams cover a wide range in terms of expectations for the upcoming season, and – just as importantly – are in drastically different salary cap situations. His 10.5 sacks in 2021 show that a medium-term investment could put teams over the top in terms of a Super Bowl run, or help accelerate a re-tooling process at the position for squads aiming to take a step forward.

When asked about hitting the market, Jones said, “it’s not about money at all. Where I am in my career, I’ve gotten contracts, I’ve gotten the Super Bowl, but I think scheme is huge. Or for me, winning more championships… I will say I want to go to a place that maximizes my talents”.

While Jones will need to compete with the likes of Von Miller and a very highly-regarded draft class in terms of other notable sack artists, he seemingly won’t have an issue cashing in sometime in the very near future.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/10/22

March 10th, 2022 at 9:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor NFL transactions:

Buffalo Bills

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Signed: OL Brandon Murphy

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

Bills To Release G Jon Feliciano

March 9th, 2022 at 5:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jon Feliciano‘s time with the Bills appears to be up. The veteran guard tweeted a goodbye message Wednesday, and Syracuse.com’s Matt Parrino tweets the Bills are releasing him.

Feliciano had battled injuries over the past two seasons in Buffalo but had largely worked as a starter. By the playoffs, however, the seven-year veteran operated as a backup. Feliciano’s release will create just more than $3MM in cap space for the Bills.

The Bills re-signed Feliciano in March of last year, keeping him off the free agent market with a three-year, $14.4MM deal. Feliciano, 30, will now hit the market. As a street free agent, he is now free to sign with any team.

An ex-Raiders fourth-round pick, Feliciano caught on with the Bills in 2019 — via a two-year deal worth $7.25MM — and started 16 games for the playoff-bound squad that season. The Bills re-signed him despite a 2020 season featuring seven missed games due to a torn pectoral muscle. In 2021, Feliciano dealt with a calf injury.

Buffalo used UDFA Ryan Bates ahead of Feliciano in its two postseason games, with rookie Spencer Brown moving into the starting lineup as well this past season. The AFC East champions also have starter Daryl Williams and former second-round tackle/guard Cody Ford under contract for 2022; Bates can be retained through an RFA tender.

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