HEADLINES

Bryan Anger

Contract Details: Hill, Anger, Washington, Wheeler

March 30th, 2016 at 6:07pm CST by Luke Adams

Let’s round up several of the latest details on contracts that have been agreed upon or signed within the last week or two….

  • Josh Hill, TE (Saints): Matched Bears’ offer sheet. Three years, $7.051MM. $2.5MM signing bonus. No-trade clause for 2016 and 2017. $100K annual Pro Bowl incentive. $200K in per-game roster bonuses for 2017 and 2018. $750K escalator for 2018 for receptions and yards (link via Nick Underhill of The Advocate).
  • Bryan Anger, P (Buccaneers): One year, $1.75MM. $750K roster bonus (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of USA Today).
  • Jeremy Kerley, WR (Lions): One-year, $760K base salary. $50K signing bonus. $40K workout bonus. $300K possible through incentives (Twitter link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
  • Darrin Walls, CB (Lions): One-year, minimum salary benefit. $80K signing bonus guaranteed. Rest of deal non-guaranteed (Twitter link via Birkett).
  • Nate Washington, WR (Patriots): One year, minimum salary benefit. $478K split salary. $60K signing bonus. $20K workout bonus (Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).
  • Philip Wheeler, LB (Falcons): One year, minimum salary benefit (Twitter link via Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com).

South Notes: Jaguars, Reed, Panthers, Falcons

March 24th, 2016 at 10:40am CST by Luke Adams

While Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell appears confident that the team has improved its pass rush this offseason, it sounds like head coach Gus Bradley wouldn’t mind adding another pass rusher or two, as Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union details. Caldwell pointed to Malik Jackson, Dante Fowler Jr., and Sen’Derrick Marks as three players capable of getting after the quarterback that essentially weren’t a part of last year’s team (in some cases due to injuries). Bradley, meanwhile, suggests that Jacksonville will keep an eye on pass rushers during and after the draft.

Here’s more from around the NFL’s South divisions:

  • In another O’Halloran piece, the Times-Union scribe notes that the Jaguars appear to have offered punter Bryan Anger a multiyear contract before signing Brad Nortman. Anger ultimately signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay.
  • The Panthers met with and worked out Alabama defensive tackle Jarran Reed this week, and will have him in for a visit next month, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter links). In his latest mock draft, ESPN’s Todd McShay has Reed coming off the board at No. 19 to Buffalo, 11 spots before the Panthers’ first pick.
  • Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee is working out for the Falcons today, telling Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com that it’s the first workout on his schedule. “From what they told me at the combine, they need a lot of speed on the defensive side of the ball,” Lee said. Interestingly, McShay’s mock draft from today has Atlanta nabbing Lee with the 17th overall pick.
  • The Titans are taking a close look at a couple University of Florida prospects, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com, who writes that the team has worked out and met with inside linebacker Antonio Morrison and defensive lineman Jonathan Bullard. Per McCormick, Tennessee has also put Northern Iowa cornerback Deiondre’ Hall through a workout.
  • Before his pro day, Campbell defensive tackle Greg Milhouse had a dinner meeting with the Saints, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link). Head coach Sean Payton said this week that adding to the defensive line is a top priority for New Orleans heading into the draft.

Buccaneers To Sign Bryan Anger

March 22nd, 2016 at 12:34pm CST by Luke Adams

The Buccaneers have agreed to terms on a contract for Bryan Anger, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Caplan, it’s a one-year deal for the free agent punter.Bryan Anger

Anger, who was memorably selected by the Jaguars in the third round of the 2012 draft just ahead of players like Russell Wilson and T.Y. Hilton, spent four seasons in Jacksonville, averaging 46.8 yards per punt during that time. However, the Jaguars opted not to re-sign him when he became a free agent this year, instead landing ex-Panthers punter Brad Nortman on a four-year contract.

Having lost Nortman to the Jags, the Panthers had some preliminary talks with Anger, according to Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer. But rather than joining the NFC champs, the 27-year-old will be signing with Carolina’s division rivals in Tampa Bay.

Jake Schum, who made his NFL debut in 2015, handled punting duties for the Buccaneers. Schum averaged just 41.9 yards per attempt, which ranked second-last in the league among qualified players, but his net average was a decent 38.0, and opposing returners totaled just 140 yards on his punts.

Schum’s hold on the starting job looks tenuous with Anger now in the mix, though we’ll have to see the terms on Anger’s new deal to get a sense of how open the competition will be.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Free Agent Rumors: Jaguars, Wisniewski, Branch

March 10th, 2016 at 1:13pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest free agent rumors:

  • Jaguars GM David Caldwell says that he’s “not done” adding to the team’s offensive line (Twitter link via John Oehser of Jaguars.com). Caldwell went on to say that the door is not closed on Stefen Wisniewski either (Twitter link via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union).
  • Defensive lineman Andre Branch is on his way to visit Washington, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).
  • The Titans have been talking with the reps for nose tackle Al Woods and are hoping to get something done, Tiffany Blackmon of NFL Network tweets.
  • Free agent tackle Bradley Sowell has a visit scheduled with the Seahawks, according to Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
  • Before signing punter Brad Nortman, Caldwell says the Jaguars offered a new deal to incumbent Bryan Anger (Twitter link via O’Halloran).

Jaguars Sign Brad Nortman

March 10th, 2016 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 8:57am: The Jaguars have officially signed Nortman, per John Oehser of Jaguars.com (Twitter link). As reported on Wednesday, the four-year deal is worth $8.8MM, with $1.65MM guaranteed.

WEDNESDAY, 1:05pm: While this week has been dominated by big-name free agents making headlines, the Jaguars are once again making sure that punters don’t go overlooked. Four years after selecting Bryan Anger in the third round of the 2012 draft, Jacksonville is apparently replacing him — Rich Eisen of the NFL Network (Twitter link) reports that Brad Nortman will join the Jags on a four-year contract.Brad Nortman

It’s a bit of a surprising move, since news of a punter changing teams via a long-term deal isn’t what we’d typically expect from the legally tampering period. But Nortman was solid in Carolina last season, averaging 45.4 yards per punt, with a 39.8 net average. By comparison, Anger’s net average (39.5) was a little lower, and his punts resulted in 462 return yards, as opposed to 288 return yards on Nortman’s attempts.

With Nortman headed to Jacksonville, the Panthers figure to be in the market for a new punter, and Anger will be seeking a job elsewhere. While it would make sense to link Anger to the Carolina opening, the Panthers may opt for a cheaper alternative, leaving the former third-round pick to look elsewhere for his next contract.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.