Devonta Freeman - Pro Football Rumors

Devonta Freeman Hires Drew Rosenhaus

July 22nd, 2020 at 10:34am CST by Zachary Links

Devonta Freeman has hired Drew Rosenhaus as his new agent, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Freeman’s free agency has dragged, but Rosenhaus seems to think that the running back will sign in time for training camp.

“We want to work out a deal in the immediate future, and we are open to any team,” Rosenhaus said. “He’s healthy, he’s in shape, and I’m on a mission to have him give a team a lift in late July.”

Freeman was dropped by his former rep, Kristin Campbell, earlier this month. Reading between the lines, it’s possible that Campbell wanted the veteran to take the one-year, $3MM offer he received from the Seahawks. Freeman said no, believing that he could land something better.

At this point, the longtime Falcons star will probably have to ease his expectations. Freeman’s last deal was set to pay him about $8MM in 2020 before the Falcons released him. It’s hard to imagine him doing much better than $3MM in base comp at this stage of the offseason, especially in this economic climate.

The Buccaneers could be one landing spot for Freeman, if they want to solidify their group behind Ronald Jones. The Eagles – who have young talent in Miles Sanders and Boston Scott – could also give him a look. We haven’t heard much on either front lately, however.

Devonta Freeman, Agent Part Ways

July 13th, 2020 at 9:46am CST by Zachary Links

Devonta Freeman is without a team and without an agent. Agent Kristin Campbell has informed the running back that she’s terminating their business relationship, according to NFL.com’s Michael Silver (on Twitter).

Campbell’s decision comes in the midst of Freeman’s protracted free agency stint. Earlier this year, Freeman turned down a one-year, $3MM offer from the Seahawks. We can’t say for sure, but it’s possible that Campbell wanted Freeman to take that deal.

It’s not clear what the longtime Falcons star is looking for. The Seahawks would have presented Freeman an opportunity to reclaim his status as one of the league’s better backs while playing in a talent-laden offense. Freeman’s last deal was set to pay him about $8MM this year; there’s no chance that he’ll hit that number in base pay.

The Buccaneers and Eagles profile as logical landing spots for Freeman, but we haven’t heard much on either front lately. The Bucs are currently set to enter the year with Ronald Jones as their top back with a pair of rookies – Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Raymond Calais – as his primary backups. The Eagles have a young group led by Miles Sanders and Boston Scott, and a veteran like Freeman could help them round out the backfield.

There’s no way he’ll come close to that salary in base pay, but it stands to reason that he could find middle ground with the Bucs. The Bucs have upgraded much of their roster around Tom Brady, but RB remains a problem area. As of this writing, they’re set to roll out the promising yet inconsistent Ronald Jones as their top rusher with support from rookies.

Devonta Freeman: “A Number” Of Teams Have Interest In Signing Me

June 5th, 2020 at 9:59am CST by Zachary Links

Devonta Freeman‘s free agency has dragged into June and could continue deep into the summer. For what it’s worth, the running back isn’t too concerned. On Twitter, Freeman let his fans know that “a number of teams are interested” in signing him.

“I read in the media that Tampa Bay Buccaneers are interested. A number of teams are interested, but we can’t negotiate through the media, the Buccaneers can reach out to me directly,” Freeman tweeted.

The Bucs – Freeman’s longtime divisional rival – do indeed have interest in Freeman, as conveyed by head coach Bruce Arians. However, Arians says that Freeman’s current sticker price is too rich for their blood. Previous reports indicated that the Bucs put an offer on the table for Freeman, but based on what the running back is saying, it sounds like the conversations came to a hard stop.

Freeman also received, and rejected a one-year, $3MM offer from the Seahawks. It’s not clear what the longtime Falcons star is demanding, but it’ll take more in the way of base compensation and probably an achievable incentives package to get him to sign right now. As we get closer to September, Freeman may or may not ease up on his stance. No matter what, Freeman says retirement is not on the table.

Freeman’s last deal was set to pay him about $8MM in 2020. There’s no way he’ll come close to that salary in base pay, but it stands to reason that he could find middle ground with the Bucs. The Bucs have upgraded much of their roster around Tom Brady, but RB remains a problem area. As of this writing, they’re set to roll out the promising yet inconsistent Ronald Jones as their top rusher with support from rookies Ke’Shawn Vaughn and Raymond Calais.

The Eagles are also interested in Freeman, though they may prefer the familiarity and price tag of LeSean McCoy. However, they have yet to make an offer to Shady.

Devonta Freeman’s Asking Price Too High For Bucs

June 4th, 2020 at 12:09pm CST by Rory Parks

Interest in former Falcons RB Devonta Freeman has picked up significantly over the past couple of weeks. Atlanta released Freeman on March 16, and there were no public reports of interest in his services for some time, but the Jets, Eagles, Seahawks, and Buccaneers have recently kicked the tires on the two-time Pro Bowler.

Seattle ultimately filled its RB need by signing Carlos Hyde. The club submitted a one-year, $3MM pitch to Freeman, but when he did not sign, the Seahawks pivoted to Hyde, who landed a one-year pact worth up to $4MM with incentives. Philadelphia and Tampa have yet to pick up a veteran RB to add to their stable, and unless Freeman’s asking price comes down, he will not be joining up with the Bucs.

Tampa head coach Bruce Arians says his club would have interest in Freeman if his price tag wasn’t so high (Twitter link via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). The way he phrased that statement is interesting, because an earlier report from Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Enquirer suggested the Bucs had made an offer to Freeman, who was considering that proposal along with one he received from the Eagles. Arians’ statement today implies that Tampa either never made an offer or else is not willing to further engage until Freeman lowers his demands.

The Bucs were rumored as a potential landing spot for an RB upgrade earlier this offseason, as their depth chart is currently topped by 2018 second-rounder Ronald Jones, who had an up-and-down season in 2019 after a disastrous rookie campaign. GM Jason Licht has expressed confidence in Jones, but the team was looking for a pass-catching back to complement him, and Licht did pick up two RBs in the draft: Ke’Shawn Vaughn (third round) and Raymond Calais (seventh). Freeman profiles as a potential upgrade for a team that suddenly has Super Bowl aspirations.

For his part, Freeman recently shot down rumors that he is considering sitting out the 2020 season. He appears to be aiming for a 2020 payout closer to the one that he was scheduled to receive from the Falcons (about $8MM), but that’s likely not coming his way, as he is now two years removed from his last effective season.

Eagles Haven’t Made Offer To RB LeSean McCoy

May 28th, 2020 at 10:49am CST by Ben Levine

While the Eagles are reportedly “open to the idea” of bringing back LeSean McCoy, it doesn’t sound like they’ve seriously pursued the veteran running back. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports (via Twitter) that Philly hasn’t made an offer to their former Pro Bowler.

However, the Eagles have (or, at least, did) make offers to other veteran running backs. McLane notes that the organization made an offer to Carlos Hyde, who has since signed with the Seahawks. The organization also made an offer to Devonta Freeman, who is currently weighing his options.

We heard last week that there was some mutual interest in an Eagles/McCoy reunion. The running back spent six seasons in Philly between 2009 and 2014, earning three Pro Bowl trips and two First-Team All-Pro nods. Of course, the Eagles wouldn’t be getting that version of McCoy in 2020; despite starting 22 games for the Bills and Chiefs over the past two years, the veteran has only compiled 979 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 262 carries.

On the flip side, the Eagles probably wouldn’t be expecting a whole lot of production out of the 31-year-old (32 in July). Instead, he’ll be a mentor in a relatively young running backs room, a grouping that’s currently led by Miles Sanders and Boston Scott.

Devonta Freeman: I’ve “Got 10 More Years In Me”

May 26th, 2020 at 9:37am CST by Zachary Links

Over the weekend, there was talk of Devonta Freeman potentially sitting out the 2020 season and speculation that he could consider retirement if he does not find a deal to his liking. On Monday night, Freeman set the record straight in a tweet that he deleted moments later (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL.com). The family-friendly portion of the message that we can share here: “I got ten more years in me. Kill that fake retirement [stuff]!”

Freeman talked with the Jets and Eagles in recent weeks and turned down a one-year, $3MM offer to join up with the Seahawks. It’s unlikely that he’ll land a deal to match his last one – a five-year,$41.25MM deal with an average annual value of about $8MM – but he’s aiming for something in between. Only trouble is, there aren’t a ton of teams that are desperate for RB help at this stage of the offseason and Freeman’s stock has taken a tumble.

In 2018, Freeman was limited to just two games. Last year, he managed to play in 14 of the Falcons’ 16 games, but he looked like a shell of his former self and averaged just 3.6 yards per attempt.

Roughly three years ago, Freeman became the second-highest paid running back in the NFL on an annual basis, behind only the franchise-tagged Le’Veon Bell. As a reminder of how quickly things change in this league – the league’s other leaders in compensation in 2017 were LeSean McCoy and Doug Martin. McCoy may be on the cusp of a bargain basement deal to return to the Eagles and Doug Martin has not played a down since the 2018 season.

Devonta Freeman Willing To Skip 2020 NFL Season

May 25th, 2020 at 1:40pm CST by Zachary Links

So far this offseason, Devonta Freeman hasn’t been able to find a deal to his liking. If that doesn’t change between now and the fall, the running back is willing to sit out the entire 2020 season, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).

In theory, the 28-year-old could easily walk away – he’s earned upwards of $24MM and he’s got plenty of spectacular performances to look back upon. Retirement, however, is not a consideration for Freeman at this time, Rapoport hears.

Freeman’s drawn interest from the Seahawks, Jets, and Eagles since being released by the Falcons. And, just recently, Seattle tried to sell him on a one-year deal worth $3MM – he said no, prompting Pete Carroll & Co. to turn to Carlos Hyde. The Eagles may still be a fit for Freeman, Rapoport posits, despite the presence of Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Corey Clement, and the newly-signed LeSean McCoy. Ditto for the Jets, who are looking to fortify the group behind Le’Veon Bell. Ultimately, it’ll come down to dollars and Freeman would rather stay patient than slash his price here in May.

Last year, Freeman appeared in 14 games for the Falcons but averaged just 3.6 yards per tote on 184 carries. Meanwhile, Football Outsiders placed him just 41st among 43 running backs in success rate. In 2020, Freeman is hoping to redeem himself and get closer to the form he exhibited in 2016, his last Pro Bowl campaign. In that season, Freeman ran for 4.8 yards per try and scored 13 all-purpose touchdowns.

Seahawks Submit Final Offer To Devonta Freeman?

May 22nd, 2020 at 3:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks’ interest in Devonta Freeman may have hit a tipping point. They have submitted a final offer to the longtime Falcons running back, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reports.

Freeman, however, is not prepared to accept the proposal, Condotta adds. The Seahawks’ desire to add a veteran to their backfield remains, though, leading the team to potentially circle back to Carlos Hyde.

A potential Seahawks-Freeman partnership surfaced Wednesday. The team is believed to have offered the two-time Pro Bowler a one-year deal worth $3MM. Freeman has also generated interest from the Eagles and Jets, and the 28-year-old back may well be holding out for more money. The Falcons released Freeman earlier this offseason. He was previously attached to a deal worth more than $8MM per year.

The Seahawks appear prepared to move on to talks with Hyde, Condotta adds. The former 49ers second-round pick has bounced around the league but is coming off his first 1,000-yard season. Seahawks interest in Hyde emerged earlier this week as well. While the six-year veteran is coming off a much better season than Freeman, he may be a cheaper option.

Both of Seattle’s top backs — Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny — went down with injuries near season’s end, leading the team to bring back Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks have not ruled out another Lynch contract. This running back interest stems from uncertainty surrounding Penny’s status. The third-year back is not certain to be ready for camp after suffering a knee injury late last season.

Jets, Eagles Interested In Devonta Freeman

May 20th, 2020 at 7:29pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Devonta Freeman‘s market is heating up. The Seahawks have reportedly offered the veteran back a one-year deal, and the Jets and Eagles have also expressed interest in adding Freeman, per Mike Silver of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Seattle is proposing a pact in the $3-4MM range, so New York and/or Philadelphia would likely need to top that figure in order to land Freeman. On the other hand, Freeman has already collected nearly $25MM in his NFL career, so he could be searching for the right role instead of the highest salary.

If that’s the case, the Eagles are arguably the best destination for Freeman. Miles Sanders is slotted in as Philadelphia’s top back, but Freeman could augment a backup group that also includes Boston Scott and Corey Clement. Freeman isn’t the only veteran option the Eagles have considered, as they’ve also discussed Carlos Hyde.

The Jets, meanwhile, don’t have an open role for Freeman, at least on paper. Le’Veon Bell will take the majority of the work both in the rushing and passing game, while Frank Gore is around to soak up any non-Bell carries.

In addition to Freeman and Hyde, other free agent backs still available include Lamar Miller, LeSean McCoy, Theo Riddick, and Alfred Blue.

Seahawks, Devonta Freeman Discussing Deal

May 20th, 2020 at 3:59pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks are showing interest in one of the NFL’s best remaining free agents. They’ve made an offer to running back Devonta Freeman, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM reports (via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). However, they’re not aligned on dollars, and the Seahawks are holding their ground for now. Seattle is offering a one-year deal with a base value of less than $3MM and a maximum value of up to $4MM, tweets Mike Silver of NFL.com.

The Seahawks’ interest in Freeman is partially due to Rashaad Penny‘s knee injury. Penny is unlikely to be available for the start of training camp and Caplan hears that his Week 1 availability is in question. Beyond Penny, the Seahawks also have Chris Carson, Travis Homer, and fourth-round pick Deejay Dallas on the depth chart.

Seattle believes Carson will be good to go this year and feels big things are in store for Homer after he averaged 6.3 yards per carry as a rookie. Still, they could use more help at RB and Homer’s impressive showing came in a limited sample size of totes.

Freeman, 28, appeared in 14 games for the Falcons in 2019 but averaged just 3.6 yards per carry on 184 attempts. Advanced metrics weren’t any more complimentary of Freeman’s performance, as Football Outsiders ranked him just 41st among 43 running backs in success rate.

Meanwhile, the Seahawks have also discussed a reunion with Marshawn Lynch. There’s likely only room for one of the two vets in Seattle.