Andre Smith (OT) - Pro Football Rumors

Latest Rumors: Osweiler, Broncos, A. Smith, Titans

March 13th, 2016 at 7:17pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Earlier this week, quarterback Brock Osweiler agreed to leave the Broncos for a four-year, $72MM contract with the Texans, but agent Jimmy Sexton never gave Denver a chance to match the offer, reports John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

Sexton told Osweiler not to return any calls from any Broncos employees until the agent had reached a deal with either Denver or Houston. Osweiler wanted out of the Mile High City after the Broncos went back to Peyton Manning for their playoff run, a source close to Osweiler’s family told Mike Klis of 9News (Twitter link). If true, that obviously helped the Texans win the battle for his services.

“They wanted him in Denver, but (general manager) Rick (Smith) hung in there and got the deal consummated,” Texans owner Bob McNair said. “I couldn’t be more excited.”

Smith and head coach Bill O’Brien undoubtedly join McNair in his excitement. After watching tape of pending free agent QBs, both came to an agreement that Osweiler was atop their wish list.

“We came out of the film room agreeing that Brock Osweiler was the quarterback to lead us where we want to go,” Smith said.

However, the Texans didn’t know whether they’d have a chance to land Osweiler, as McNair stated.

“He could have signed (with Denver) and not been available. We really didn’t know, but we were still looking at him and hoping he would be available,” said McNair.

More on the Broncos and a couple other NFL teams:

With Manning and Osweiler gone, the Broncos are “exercising patience” in their search for a signal-caller, tweets The Denver Post’s Troy Renck, who lists Colin Kaepernick, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brian Hoyer, and draft prospects as their targets. They aren’t yet considering Robert Griffin III, per Renck.
Offensive tackle Andre Smith – who visited the Vikings on Sunday – doesn’t have any more meetings currently lined up, but his agent told him this morning there are other teams that could be interested in him (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press). Smith spent 2009-15 with the Bengals after they selected him sixth overall and made 73 regular-season starts in 82 appearances. If Smith signs with the Vikings, he’d be the third starting-caliber O-lineman to do so this offseason, joining guards Alex Boone and Mike Harris.
Linebacker Terence Garvin will visit the Titans on Monday, according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com (Twitter link). Garvin has been with the Steelers since they signed him as an undrafted free agent from West Virginia in 2012. The 25-year-old has appeared in 43 regular-season games (one start) and amassed 21 special teams tackles. Garvin met with Washington earlier this week.

NFC FA Rumors: Vikings, Cowboys, Long, Conte

March 11th, 2016 at 5:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Andre Smith is expected to visit the Vikings on Sunday, Darren Wolfson of KSTP tweets. The 38th-ranked player in PFR’s top 50 free agents list, Smith’s market has been slower to materialize than Mitchell Schwartz, the other top right tackle in this year’s class. The veteran right-edge player rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 58 tackle last season and doesn’t have much left tackle experience.

The Vikings restructured the recently injury-prone Phil Loadholt‘s contract earlier this week, seemingly clearing up some of their uncertainty up front. But Loadholt’s sustained two season-ending injuries over the past two seasons and has just one year left on his contract, so it makes sense that Minnesota would have interest in adding some insurance.

Here’s more on free agents from around the NFC:

Chris Long‘s previously-reported visit with the Cowboys is now expected to happen next week, writes David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. According to Moore, no firm date has been set yet, but Dallas has interest in the veteran defensive end.
It’s a three-team race for free agent safety Chris Conte, according to Rand Getlin of the NFL Network, who tweets that the Buccaneers, Saints, and Giants are in the hunt. Having played for the Bucs last season, it sounds like Conte is drawing interest from his former team even though Lovie Smith is no longer the head coach — the safety played under Smith in Chicago as well.
The Vikings aren’t looking to bring back linebacker Jason Trusnik, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports (on Twitter). A 32-year-old edge player, Trusnik played in eight games for the Vikings last season and in order to continue his nine-year career, Trusnik, who started six games for the Dolphins in 2014, will have to search for a fifth NFL destination.
Linebacker Terence Garvin will visit Washington, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets. The Steelers backup sat behind the myriad ex-first-rounders in Pittsburgh, starting one game in three seasons. Garvin totaled 21 special teams tackles during his time with the Steelers. Washington recently lost Keenan Robinson to the Giants, creating a need for additional cogs on its second level.
Previously reported to have visited Washington, Andre Branch has additional meetings lined up and won’t make his decision yet, John Keim of ESPN.com tweets.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Free Agent Visits: Ayers, C. Long, Whitehead

March 10th, 2016 at 8:18am CST by Luke Adams

With most top available pass rushers having flown off the board early on in the free agent period, defensive end Robert Ayers is in position to cash in with a team that missed out on that first wave of edge rushers. Ayers has a visit lined up with the Buccaneers, but that’s not the only meeting on his schedule.

Accordingn to Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (Twitter link), Ayers plans to remain in Florida following his visit with the Bucs, heading to Miami for a visit with the Dolphins. Miami has already signed one veteran defensive end in Mario Williams this week, but the team has also lost Olivier Vernon and Derrick Shelby, who each saw significant playing time in 2015. So the club could use another end to add to a group that already features Williams and Cameron Wake.

As we wait to see if Ayers ends up landing with a team in the Sunshine State, let’s round up the latest news on a few more free agent visits…

Defensive end Chris Long, who has already paid a visit to Washington, will visit with the Falcons today, according to ESPN’s Trey Wingo (Twitter link). Wingo’s colleague, Adam Schefter, reported on Wednesday that Long would be meeting with the Cowboys this week, but it appears that visit is either on hold or is not happening.
The Buccaneers are hosting linebacker Tahir Whitehead on a visit today, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. If Tampa Bay were to get something done with Whitehead, he would be a nice addition to a linebacking corps that features Lavonte David.
Free agent offensive tackle Andre Smith is expected to visit the Vikings next week, a source tells Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link). Wolfson cautions that the situation is fluid, but says Smith is definitely on Minnesota’s radar. The Vikes have already fortified their offensive line by striking a deal with Alex Boone, but they continue to look for upgrades.
The Seahawks are hosting defensive tackle Cam Thomas for a visit today, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), who notes that Seattle may view the former Steeler as an affordable replacement for Brandon Mebane, who agreed to sign with San Diego.

AFC Notes: Browns, Texans, Bengals, Jets

September 26th, 2015 at 11:44am CST by Ben Levine

Browns cornerback K’Waun Williams told his team that he was experiencing headaches recently, and the second-year player was ultimately diagnosed with his third concussion in two years. As the NFL looks to fight off head injuries, Tom Reed of Cleveland.com says it’s a positive step that the youngster took the initiative to report the injury.

Many of his teammates stand by Williams’ decision, including cornerback Joe Haden:

“Yeah, definitely man, because that’s your head, and K’Waun, he’s a young dude,” Haden said. “He hasn’t been in the league that long, so if he’s messed up like that, he felt like he needed to go get himself checked out and make sure everything’s okay, then, I’m all in support for him just making sure he’s okay.”

Let’s take a look at some more notes from around the AFC…

Texans offensive lineman Jeff Adams is out for the season with a torn patellar tendon in his right knee. Still, the 26-year-old isn’t discouraged, even though he may have missed out on a payday when he reached free agency following the season. “Yeah, that’s kind of how it works,” he told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “You just focus on what you can control and that’s surgery and rehab…Yeah, you just put all the effort into the season and focus on things one day at a time. It’s how I’m trying to take it right now.”
Following the extension signed by Bengals lineman Andrew Whitworth, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Cincinnati Enquirer believes (via Twitter) it’s still too early to tell whether Andre Smith will stick around. The former first-rounder will reach free agency next summer, and Dehner says he could be back for the right price.
All signs are pointing to a divorce between the Jets and Muhammad Wilkerson following this season, and Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News believes the organization could use that extra cash to pursue a veteran quarterback.

Bengals, Andrew Whitworth Agree To Extension

September 26th, 2015 at 10:00am CST by Ben Levine

10:00am: Joel Corry of CBSSports.com passes along some specifics on the contract (all via Twitter). Whitworth’s 2015 cap number has increased from $6.2MM to $7.2MM, with his 2016 cap number expected to be at $8MM.

The lineman will earn a $5.8MM base salary next season, with $200K worth of workout bonus and $1MM worth of active roster bonuses ($62.5K a game). $2MM of the $9MM extension will come via a signing bonus. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets that Whitworth also has a $1.2MM Pro Bowl escalator clause in his contract.

Also of note, Wilson reports that the deal was actually finalized on Wednesday, but the sides waited until today to break the news (Twitter link).

8:28am: After having extended one lineman and drafted two others, the Bengals secured another spot on their offensive line today. ESPN.com’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the team has come to an agreement on a one-year extension with offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth. The one-year, $9MM deal will keep the 33-year-old in Cincinnati through 2016.

The Louisiana State product has spent his entire career with the Bengals since being selected in the second round of the 2006 draft. Since then, he’s been named a Pro Bowler (2012) and a Second-team All-Pro (2014). He’s only missed eight games during his nine-plus years in the league, and he’s started in 134 of his 138 games.

Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has consistently ranked Whitworth as one of the most valuable members of the Cincinnati offense, and he’s never been listed lower than 15th on the website’s yearly rankings of offensive tackles. Last season, he rated as the second-best tackle in the NFL, trailing only the Eagles’ Jason Peters.

The Bengals dedicated resources to reinforcing their offensive line during the offseason. They re-signed guard Clint Boling, and they also used their first two draft picks on linemen Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher. As Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller notes (on Twitter), former first-round pick Andre Smith is still set to hit free agency following the season.

In May, our own Dallas Robinson explored Whitworth’s extension candidacy.

Bengals Unlikely To Trade Whitworth Or Smith

May 30th, 2015 at 5:52pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Despite selecting offensive tackles with both their first- and second-round picks, the Bengals don’t plan to trade either Andrew Whitworth or Andre Smith, reports Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. The veterans comprise Cincinnati’s incumbent tackle duo, and while the club has discussed the possibility of dealing one (or perhaps both), Hobson describes such internal talks as “pie-in-the-sky-what-if exercises.”

Both the 33-year-old Whitworth and the 28-year-old Smith are set to become unrestricted free agents following the 2015 season. Given that the Bengals drafted both Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher last month, it makes sense that the team could look into trading one of the two veterans. However, Ogbuehi is still recovering from a torn ACL, while Cincinnati hopes to use Fisher as a versatile reserve who could potentially backup all five spots along the line, so keeping both Whitworth and Smith for 2015 might be best for the development of the two rookies.

As Hobson notes, the Broncos and Giants are among the clubs who could be interested in dealing for one Cincinnati’s tackles (Whitworth, a left tackle, would probably be the best fit for both teams). Denver’s Ryan Clady will miss the entire season after tearing his ACL earlier this week, while New York lost Will Beatty for at least the first half of the season after he tore his pectoral.

It’s also possible that the Bengals have interest in retaining either Whitworth or Smith beyond 2015. As I wrote last week when assessing the chances of an extension between Cincinnati and Whitworth, Smith is probably going to be the odd one out among the front five after this season, but a short pact for Whitworth is entirely possible.

Bengals Place Smith On IR, Sign Meredith

November 25th, 2014 at 2:28pm CST by Ben Levine

MONDAY, 2:28pm: The Bengals have officially placed Smith on injured reserve, signing free agent tackle Jamon Meredith to replace him on the roster, the club announced today (via Twitter).

SUNDAY, 10:45pm: Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith has a tear in his tricep/bicep area, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The former first-round pick will need surgery next week, ending his season. Smith was injured in Sunday’s victory over the Texans.

Smith suffered a number of injuries early in his career, but he had seemed to have overcame those woes, missing only four games since 2011. The 27-year-old has been one of the Bengals top lineman in recent years, and Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) consistently ranked him among the top 20 tackles in the league. Those same numbers indicated that Smith was struggling this year, but it may have been a result of the ankle injury that forced him from two games this season.

The former Crimson Tide lineman was drafted sixth overall in the 2009 draft, and he signed a three-year extension worth $18MM in 2013. Offseason addition Marshall Newhouse will likely start in place of Smith.

Injury Updates: Sunday

November 23rd, 2014 at 10:24pm CST by Rob DiRe

We don’t pass along news on every injury here at Pro Football Rumors, but we’ll keep tabs on those injuries that may be serious enough to warrant a player heading to IR, or his team making a roster move in order to make up for his absence.

This list will be updated as more information becomes available, as always, with news added to the top of the list as it trickles in.

Washington linebacker Adam Hayward will miss the rest of the season with a broken bone in his kneecap, reports Mike Jones of the Washington Post.
Texans‘ quarterback Ryan Mallett practiced and played with a right pectoral injury this past week, and will likely miss several weeks, reports John McClain of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). He will undergo an MRI to confirm, but the team expects Ryan Fitzpatrick to start next week against the Titans.
Dolphins‘ cornerback Jamar Taylor suffered a shoulder injury that could end his season, reports Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. If that is true, he will be the third Miami defensive back to have his season end this November.
NFL interception leader and Browns‘ safety Tashaun Gipson left the game with a knee injury that could sideline him for the remainder of the season, writes Tom Reed of Cleveland.com. He will undergo an MRI Monday to confirm the severeness of the injury.

Earlier Updates

Bengals’ offensive tackle Andre Smith exited today’s game against the Texans with a possible triceps injury. He will have an MRI on Monday to see the extent of the injury, reports Coley Harvey of ESPN (via Twitter). If Smith has a torn triceps, he will likely miss the remainder of the season.
Washington cornerback Tracy Porter joined a long list of defensive backs who were off the field when he exited with a right shoulder injury, reports Tarik El-Bashir of CSNWashington.com (via Twitter). Porter was ruled out for the game, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter), and could leave the team thin at corner if he misses an extended period of time.
Titans‘ linebacker Kamerion Wimbley suffered a hamstring injury in the loss to the Eagles earlier today, reports Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean (via Twitter).
Dolphins‘ first-round pick Ja’Wuan James started at left tackle, but was forced out of the game due to a stinger and failed to return, writes James Walker of ESPN (via Twitter). With Branden Albert already out for the season, the team could be very thin at that position.

AFC Notes: Sanders, Bengals, Gipson, Steelers

November 23rd, 2014 at 4:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

After joining the Broncos on a three-year, $15MM contract during the offseason, receiver Emmanuel Sanders is enjoying the best season of his career. In fact, his production will allow him to collect on several incentives that were included in his deal. Per Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, Sanders can earn $250K for catching 90 passes, another $250K for scoring 14 touchdowns, and $500K for accruing 1,200 receiving yards. Currently, Sanders is posting a 67-954-7 line, so those goals remain in reach (though the TD mark will be tough to attain). At the link, La Canfora lists each increment of Sanders’ incentives in chart form. Here’s more from the AFC…

After missing the previous two games while dealing with an ankle ailment, Bengals right tackle Andre Smith was forced from today’s game with a triceps injury, and the team believes it could be a significant concern, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports (Twitter link). If Smith tore his triceps, he would likely miss the remainder of the season, meaning Cincinnati would turn to reserve lineman Marshall Newhouse (who was also sidelined today).
Browns safety Tashaun Gipson, who leads the NFL with six interceptions, had to be carted off the field during today’s game after suffering a knee injury, writes Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Losing Gipson would be a major blow to Cleveland defense that boasts the league’s seventh-best DVOA against the pass.
The Steelers expect safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker Ryan Shazier, both of whom have been dealing with health concerns, to return for next week’s game against the Saints, reports La Canfora. However, LB Jarvis Jones (who was placed on IR-DTR) and CB Ike Taylor might need a bit more recovery time before they return to action.
The Bills will host the Jets tomorrow night in Detroit due to extreme weather conditions in Buffalo, but Bills president Russ Brandon tells La Canfora that Ralph Wilson Stadium will be ready for next week’s contest against the Browns.

Extra Points: Zimmer, 49ers, Texans, Bengals

June 2nd, 2014 at 11:05pm CST by Dallas Robinson

A few assorted items to close out this Monday evening:

The union between the Vikings and new head coach Mike Zimmer almost didn’t happen, writes Mike Garafolo of FoxSports.com. Having missed out on the Titans job, Zimmer felt as though his opportunity for a head coaching job might never come. “I almost didn’t go (on the second interview with Minnesota), yeah. I was so disappointed,” said Zimmer. “It was like, ‘Why even do this?’ It was to that point. I figured I was getting too old. I thought, ‘Forget this.'” Zimmer had been a successful defensive coordinator for the past 14 seasons.
The 49ers are creating more cap space to make room for a Colin Kaepernick extension, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. San Francisco got $6.6MM in relief when Carlos Rogers‘ contract (a post-June 1 designation) was cleared off the books, and received another $2.6MM after NaVorro Bowman converted some of his base salary into a signing bonus.
Keshawn Martin will face competition for the Texans’ returner job, per David Barron of the Houston Chronicle. “There are many candidates for those jobs,” said head coach Bill O’Brien. “Preseason is when we really have to get a true evaluation of the guys who are back there and who is going to return punts, who are going to be the kickoff return guys, and who will be the emergency guys if something happens to the starters.”
New Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson thinks that right tackle Andre Smith is entering the upcoming season with a new fire, writes Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “In my opinion, this Andre Smith is a different Andre Smith than the one I’ve ever seen,” said Jackson. “He’s a more focused, agile, hungry guy after something.” Pro Football Focus rated Smith as the 20th-best offensive tackle in the NFL last season (subscription required).
It might just be the usual preseason platitudes, but Raiders coach Dennis Allen claims there is no official depth chart as of yet, and states he is especially looking forward to the running back competition between Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew. “We’re going to put the best players on the field, and the guys that give us the best opportunity to win, whoever that may be,” said Allen. “I do know this: I do know throughout the course of a 16-game season, you’re going to need everybody. I think it’s great when you have multiple players that you feel confident that they can come in and do the job. We’ll let the competition dictate who plays and how much they play. It’s a good feeling to know that you’ve got some qualified people in the running back room that can carry the loads for you.”