HEADLINES

Cedric Thornton

Cowboys To Sign Cedric Thornton

March 10th, 2016 at 5:55pm CST by Zachary Links

5:55pm: Language in Thornton’s pact with the Cowboys calls for Thornton to receive $9MM in guaranteed money, with the aforementioned $6MM amount being the fully guaranteed portion, Getlin tweets.

4:57pm: The four-year deal is worth $17MM with a chance to reach $18MM, per Todd Archer of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Of that sum, $6MM is guaranteed.

4:18pm: The Cowboys have agreed to sign Cedric Thornton, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). It’s a four-year deal, per Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The deal is worth $18MM, per Rand Getlin of NFL.com (on Twitter). Cedric Thornton

Thornton, 28 in June, started all 16 games for the Eagles in 2014, posting 36 tackles, one sack, and three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. In that season, the Southern Arkansas alum graded as the league’s 20th-best 3-4 defensive end, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and was especially proficient against the run, where his +11.3 grade placed him eighth at his position.

This past season, Thornton racked up 32 total tackles, 1 sack, and 1 pass deflection. PFF (sub. req’d) rated him as the 44th best defensive tackle in the league with a 76.2 grade. That slotted him just behind fellow unrestricted free agents Haloti Ngata and Akiem Hicks. Here at PFR, we considered Thornton to be this year’s sixth-best available interior defensive lineman, behind Malik Jackson, Damon Harrison, Ian Williams, Jaye Howard, and Nick Fairley.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Free Agent Rumors: RG3, Rams, Chiefs

March 10th, 2016 at 12:18pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest free agent rumors:

  • Robert Griffin III would “very much” like to play for the Rams in Los Angeles, a source tells Vincent Bonsignore of the Daily News (on Twitter). The 49ers and the Broncos have also been connected to Griffin this week.
  • Despite outside interest, Tamba Hali says that he gave no thought at all to leaving the Chiefs, Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star tweets. The Falcons were reportedly a finalist for his services.
  • Stevan Ridley‘s market continues to unfold but the Patriots haven’t shown interest in a reunion, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald tweets. Still, Howe (link) points out that the Patriots reached out to Ridley late last offseason before he joined the Jets, so nothing can be completely ruled out, even though that union is still unlikely. Ridley racked up 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground back in 2012 for the Pats.
  • The Ravens reviewed eight free agent tight ends but after watching a handful of plays from Ben Watson on tape, they determined that he was their guy, GM Ozzie Newsome told reporters, including Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).
  • The Eagles‘ interest in defensive tackle Cedric Thornton is “tepid,” Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. The Eagles haven’t ruled out a return, however.
  • The Seahawks are interested in guard Ted Larsen, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). As we learned yesterday, Larsen will also take a visit with the 49ers.

Cowboys To Bring In Matt Moore, Cedric Thornton

March 9th, 2016 at 2:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys are expected to bring in quarterback Matt Moore and defensive end Cedric Thornton for visits on Thursday, Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com tweets. Things have been slow for Dallas today, but it sounds like they could make some free agent moves tomorrow.

Dolphins quarterback Logan Thomas recently indicated that he’s been told he’ll have a legitimate chance to compete for the Dolphins’ backup job behind Ryan Tannehill next season. That would imply that Moore’s future in Miami is in doubt. Moore may not have a chance to re-up with the Dolphins for 2016, but he now has at least one interested suitor in the Cowboys.

Thornton, 28 in June, started all 16 games for the Eagles in 2014, posting 36 tackles, one sack, and three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. In that season, the Southern Arkansas alum graded as the league’s 20th-best 3-4 defensive end, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and was especially proficient against the run, where his +11.3 grade placed him eighth at his position.

This past season, Thornton racked up 32 total tackles, 1 sack, and 1 pass deflection. PFF (sub. req’d) rated him as the 44th best defensive tackle in the league with a 76.2 grade. That slotted him just behind fellow unrestricted free agents Haloti Ngata and Akiem Hicks.

 

Free Agent Rumors: Schwartz, Boykin, Falcons

March 9th, 2016 at 11:21am CST by Zachary Links

Right tackle Mitchell Schwartz has a decent chance of returning to the Browns, Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer tweets. Schwartz’s deal could fall in the neighborhood of $7.5MM, she adds. Meanwhile, Michael Silver of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears that Schwartz likely won’t return to the Browns.

While we wait to see how Schwartz’s free agency plays out, check out this roundup of the latest free agent rumors:

  • There’s not much momentum between the Steelers and Brandon Boykin, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. The Falcons, however, are among the teams with interest in the cornerback.
  • Defensive end Chris Clemons is on his way to visit the Seahawks, Albert Breer of NFL.com tweets. If things go well, he could sign and make his return to Seattle.
  • Defensive end William Hayes is in play for the Dolphins, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald tweets. Hayes, along with new acquisition Mario Williams, would boost the defensive line if Olivier Vernon leaves in free agency as expected.
  • Chiefs free agent wide receiver Jason Avant says that he isn’t done yet and wants to continue his career, as Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star writes. Avant caught 15 passes for 119 yards during the regular season. In the Chiefs’ 27-20 AFC divisional-round loss to the Patriots, Avant caught four passes for 69 yards.
  • Left tackle Donald Penn has talked with the Seahawks, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times tweets.
  • The Cowboys and Seahawks are among the teams interested in defensive lineman Cedric Thornton, Rand Getlin of NFL.com tweets.
  • Mike Harris is now considering a one-year deal with the Vikings, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. Harris could battle with Brandon Fusco at right guard, Tomasson adds.

Eagles Re-Sign Cedric Thornton

April 13th, 2015 at 3:53pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Eagles announced they’ve re-signed defensive end Cedric Thornton, who was a restricted free agent (Twitter link via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Enquirer). The club had tendered Thornton at the second-round level, so he’ll earn $2.356MM for the 2015 season.

The 26-year-old Thornton started all 16 games for the Eagles last season, posting 36 tackles, one sack, and three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. The Southern Arkansas alum graded as the league’s 20th-best 3-4 defensive end, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and was especially proficient against the run, where his +11.3 grade placed him eighth at his position.

Thornton has become a key cog in defensive coordinator Bill Davis‘ 3-4 scheme, starting 32 games over the previous two seasons. The club clearly values him, as a source told Mark Eckel of NJ.com on Friday that the Eagles were working on a long-term extension with Thornton. Whether or not Thornton signing his tender means the two sides couldn’t come together on a multi-year pact is unclear, but they’ll now have a year to try to work something out.

Running back Chris Polk, who was assigned the lowest RFA tender, is Philadelphia’s only remaining restricted free agent who remains unsigned.

Tender Updates: Saturday

March 7th, 2015 at 9:01am CST by Ben Levine

As teams prepare for free agency, they have to figure out a plan for their restricted free agents. Teams will often slap these players with a mid-round tender, at least assuring some kind of compensation should they sign elsewhere. The second-round tender is popular, and this year’s value is worth $2.356MM. The value of a minimum-level tender is worth $1.542MM.

With that said, we’ll pass along any tender updates throughout the day, with the most recent updates added to the top of the list…

  • Defensive end Ryan Davis has signed his exclusive rights free agent tender with the Jaguars, reports Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter).
  • The Chiefs have tendered outside linebacker Josh Martin to a one-year deal, reports Terez Paylor of the Kansas City Star (via Twitter). Martin is an exclusive-rights free agent. The team has also tendered tight end Demetrius Harris (via Twitter).
  • The Dolphins have re-signed A.J. Sanders and Jordan Kovacs to their tenders, reports Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel (via Twitter). He notes that the team has not yet been able to re-sign Derrick Shelby or Michael Thomas.
  • The Broncos notified linebacker/special teams ace Steven Johnson that he would not be tendered, making him an unrestricted free agent, reports Mike Klis of The Denver Post. The 26-year-old started seven games for the Broncos last season, compiling a career-high in tackles (32). Klis notes that the organization could bring Johnson back on a cheaper contract, but their unwillingness to offer the one-year, $1.542MM contract indicates they won’t overspend.
  • Washington tendered kicker Kai Forbath, tweets ESPN’s John Keim. Citing Mike Jones of The Washington Post, Keim says the two sides haven’t discussed a longterm deal. The 27-year-old finished 2014 with career-highs in field goals made (24) and total points (103), while his 88.9 field goal percentage ranked in the top-10 in the NFL.
  • ESPN’s Field Yates passes along a pair of second-round tenders (via Twitter): Raiders wideout Rod Streater and Eagles defensive tackle Cedric Thornton. Streater didn’t have the best 2014 season, finishing with career-lows across the board. However, his performance in 2013 (60 catches, 888 yards, four touchdowns) showed that he can contribute in the NFL. Meanwhile, Thornton has continued improving during his three years in the league, and he finished last season with 52 tackles.
  • Streater’s teammate, receiver Andre Holmes, received the low tender from the Raiders, tweets Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo. The former undrafted free agent followed an impressive 2013 season with a better 2014, compiling 47 catches for 693 yards and four touchdowns.

Extra Points: Davis, Hankins, Vernon, Brown

June 27th, 2014 at 12:00pm CST by Matt Feminis

“Vernon Davis sounds resigned as if he’ll report to 49ers training camp in 26 days without a new contract,” writes Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News, and the tight end does not sound stressed about it.

Here’s more lunchtime links:

  • Giants 2013 second-round pick Johnathan Hankins came on strong down the stretch last season and is poised to inherit the nose tackle position vacated by Linval Joseph, who signed a free-agent deal with the Vikings, writes NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan.
  • Eagles defensive end Cedric Thornton was terrific against the run last season, but he’s making a concerted effort to improve his hand use and pass-rushing ability. In a story by CSNPhilly.com’s Geoff Mosher, Thornton says part of his motivation came from his wife telling him, “You only had one sack.”
  • Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon‘s stock is on the rise, says ESPN’s James Walker: “The former third-round pick exploded on the scene and led the Dolphins with 11.5 sacks…Vernon had another strong offseason, capped by his 2 1/2 sacks in Miami’s team scrimmage last week. Not only that, Vernon beat Dolphins Pro Bowl left tackle Branden Albert for two of his sacks…Vernon looks poised to hold onto his starting job and keep former No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan on the bench.”
  • Tarell Brown‘s one-year, $3.5MM deal is the Raiders’ best contract, while Sebastian Janikowski‘s four-year, $15.1MM deal — which “ranks in the top 10 of the Raiders annual salary structure, top 3 in total value for the team among veterans, and first overall among kickers in the NFL” — is the worst, in the opinion of OverTheCap.com’s Jason Fitzgerald.
  • Chiefs injury plagued tight end Tony Moeaki is on the bubble, explains ESPN’s Mike Rodak.
  • Same goes for Jaguars safety Josh Evans, thinks ESPN’s Michael DiRocco: “Evans will have to prove early in camp that he’s completely healthy and is more consistent than he was as a rookie. If he doesn’t, he’ll lose reps and could end up being the first David Caldwell draft pick who gets cut.”

Eagles Re-Sign Cedric Thornton

March 3rd, 2014 at 10:31am CST by Luke Adams

The Eagles have re-signed defensive end Cedric Thornton to a one-year deal, the team announced today (Twitter link). Thornton had been an exclusive rights free agent, so while he didn’t previously have a contract for 2014, he couldn’t sign with any NFL team except the Eagles.

Thornton, 25, had an excellent second season in Philadelphia, starting all 16 games for the team. In addition to racking up 62 tackles and a sack, Thornton graded as one of the NFL’s best run-stopping 3-4 defensive ends, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).

Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed, but given his limited leverage in negotiations, Thornton will likely be on a minimum salary contract for 2014. The Southern Arkansas alum will be eligible for restricted free agency a year from now.

NFC East Notes: Riley, Cowboys, Eagles

February 19th, 2014 at 2:16pm CST by Luke Adams

It’s already been a busy day for NFC East updates, as the Cowboys opened the morning by winning a coin flip for the 16th overall pick in the 2014 draft, while the Redskins followed up by finalizing their new contract agreement with cornerback DeAngelo Hall. We also heard that Washington will be seeking at least a second-round pick if the team decides to make Kirk Cousins available via trade. Now we’ve got a few more NFC East notes to pass along, so let’s dive in….

  • The Redskins and free agent linebacker Perry Riley haven’t made much progress so far in contract negotiations, sources tell Mark Maske of the Washington Post. The two sides continue to talk, and the Redskins still want to retain the free-agent-to-be, but no deal is close at this point, says Maske, adding that one source suggests Riley appears increasingly likely to test the open market in March.
  • Rich Tandler of CSNWashington.com explores the long-term implications of Hall’s new deal with the Redskins, in a post at RealRedskins.com.
  • The Cowboys are still “getting the lay of the land” when it comes to making roster decisions on players like DeMarcus Ware and Miles Austin, executive vice president Stephen Jones tells Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News.
  • There’s a very real chance that the Eagles draft a quarterback this May, as Reuben Frank details at CSNPhilly.com.
  • According to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Journal, Eagles defensive end Cedric Thornton has moved from CAA Sports to Joby Branion of Athletes First (Twitter link). Mullen adds that Branion, Carmen Wallace, and Athletes First will also represent Cowboys linebacker Bruce Carter, who has left former agent Carl Carey (Twitter links). Carter still has one year remaining on his contract, while Thornton is an exclusive rights free agent this offseason.