HEADLINES

Matt LaCosse

Contract Details: Funchess, LaCosse, Golden

March 15th, 2019 at 1:09pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted contract notes from around the NFL:

  • Devin Funchess, WR (Colts): One year, $10MM. $7MM guaranteed via roster bonus. $3MM base salary. $3MM in incentives for receptions, receiving yards, TDs, Pro Bowl, All-Pro. Twitter link via Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star.
  • Tyrann Mathieu, S (Chiefs): Three years, $42MM. $26.8MM guaranteed, $14.8MM signing bonus. Base salaries: $850K (2019), $1.15MM (2020), $14.5MM (2021, nonguaranteed). Details via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
  • K.J. Wright, LB (Seahawks): Two years, up to $15MM (original story). $8MM in 2019, including $5MM signing bonus, $1.5MM base salary, $1.5MM roster bonus. Second year isn’t guaranteed. Twitter link via ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
  • Matt LaCosse, TE (Patriots): Two years, $2MM, $500K guaranteed for 2019 (original story). Base salaries: $700K (2019), $1MM (2020). $300K signing bonus, $25K per-game bonus. $500K in playing time/receptions incentives. Twitter link via Nick Underhill of The New Orleans Advocate.
  • Markus Golden, LB (Giants): One year. Worth up to $4.75MM, $2.225MM guaranteed. Twitter link via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.
  • Cameron Fleming, OT (Cowboys): Two years, $8.5MM. 2019: $1MM base salary, $1.5MM signing bonus, $2.25MM cap number. $300K for 60-percent playing time, $600K for 70-percent. Twitter link via ESPN’s Todd Archer.
  • Bruce Ellington, WR (Patriots): One year, $25K guaranteed. Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.

Patriots To Sign Mike Pennel, Matt LaCosse

March 14th, 2019 at 4:47pm CST by Zachary Links

While some teams are splurging, the Patriots are spreading the wealth. On Thursday afternoon, the Pats agreed to sign former Jets defensive lineman Mike Pennel and former Broncos tight end Matt LaCosse, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a two-year deal for Pennel, per his agent (Twitter link).

Pennel was a staple of the Jets’ defense in recent years, appearing in every game over the last two seasons. His Jets stint, which included ten starts, yielded an average of 31 tackles per season with zero sacks. His traditional stats did not jump off of the page, but the advanced metrics were very high on his work in 2018. Pennel was tied as the 14th best defensive tackle in the NFL last year, according to Pro Football Focus, though his 358 snaps were the lowest sum of anyone in the top 40. Earlier this month, the Jets turned down his option.

LaCosse had 24 catches and 250 yards while filling in as the Broncos’ starting tight end for a period last year, but Denver non-tendered him this offseason. With Rob Gronkowski‘s status for next year still up in the air, LaCosse could be an option to help fill the gap, albeit one with less star power.

Patriots Host Ellington, Harris, LaCosse

March 14th, 2019 at 9:46am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots will meet with wide receivers Bruce Ellington and Maurice Harris on Thursday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The club will also meet with tight end Matt LaCosse, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).

Ellington and Harris aren’t exactly start players, but they both profile as quality depth options. Last year, Ellington had 23 catches for 132 yards in just four games for the Lions, showing what he could do when healthy. Earlier in the season he caught eight balls for 92 yards and a touchdown in less than three full games with the Texans, before Houston waived him with an injury settlement.

He latched on in Detroit, but unfortunately the hamstring injury that hampered him in Houston re-emerged while he was with the Lions, landing Ellington on IR in December. Harris, meanwhile, had 28 grabs for 304 yards in 12 games for the Redskins.

The Patriots are clearly focused on filling out their receiving corp, re-signing Phillip Dorsett on a one-year deal last night. LaCosse had 24 catches and 250 yards while filling in as the Broncos’ starting tight end for a period last year, but Denver non-tendered him this offseason. With Rob Gronkowski‘s status for next year still up in the air, it makes sense why New England is digging into the free agent tight ends. LaCaosse appears to have legit interest on the open market.

TE Matt LaCosse To Meet With Three Teams

March 13th, 2019 at 9:46pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Matt LaCosse has a number of suitors. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver tweets that the tight end is set to visit with three teams by Saturday. The reporter adds that the Broncos continue to have interest.

The 26-year-old had a breakout season with Denver in 2018, establishing career-highs across the board. In 15 games (five starts), he hauled in 24 receptions for 250 yards and one touchdown. Pro Football Focus gave LaCosse solid marks for his receiving and pass blocking, but they weren’t as fond of his run blocking.

Earlier this month, the Broncos decided not to tender LaCosse as a restricted free agent. The lowest tender option would have been $2.025MM, so we at least have an indication of how far Denver’s willing to take the bidding.

The Broncos could still use another experienced tight end to pair with Jake Butt. The team is also rostering Troy Fumagalli and Temarrick Hemingway.

Broncos Won’t Tender Matt LaCosse

March 2nd, 2019 at 9:40pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Teams are starting to have make decisions on tendering their restricted free agents, and the Broncos made a big one late Saturday night. The team won’t be tendering tight end Matt LaCosse, a source told Mike Klis (Twitter link). 

LaCosse became the team’s starter down the stretch this past season, and showed some promise. The lowest tender option will be $2.025MM this year, which Denver apparently thinks is too expensive. Klis posted a followup tweet new Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello’s offense “needs tight ends who are plus blockers”, and that while LaCosse is “a nice receiving tight end and willing blocker”, he’s “just not built like other TEs.”

Klis expects the team to add a blocking tight end. Troy Renck of ABC Denver tweeted in response that the team is expected to draft a tight end. The Broncos haven’t had a reliable tight end option in recent years, and getting a consistent one would be a huge boost for new quarterback Joe Flacco.

LaCosse entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2015, and spent the next few years bouncing on and off of the Giants’ roster before landing in Denver in late 2017. Last season he had 24 catches for 250 yards and one touchdown.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/11/17

December 11th, 2017 at 9:05pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Denver Broncos

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Promoted from practice squad: S Leon McQuay
  • Placed on injured reserve: S Steven Terrell on IR

New York Giants

Los Angeles Chargers

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/17

November 13th, 2017 at 7:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: CB Jarell Carter

Chicago Bears

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

  • Placed on injured list: OL J.P. Flynn

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/17

November 11th, 2017 at 5:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s minor moves.

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed off Chiefs’ practice squad: DT Daniel Ross

Los Angeles Rams

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Signed: WR JoJo Natson
  • Waived/injured: DL Ed Stinson

Washington Redskins

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/14/17

February 14th, 2017 at 6:22pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Tuesday’s minor moves:

  • The Giants have re-signed a pair of exclusive rights free agents – tight end Matt LaCosse and defensive tackle Robert Thomas – via Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com and Ralph Vacchiano of SNY (Twitter link). LaCosse didn’t play at all last season because of a knee injury, while action for Thomas was scarce. The lineman took the field for just 68 defensive snaps in his eight appearances, during which he picked up five tackles and a sack.
  • The Steelers have added six free agents on reserve/futures deals – cornerback Devonte Johnson, linebackers Akil Blount and Jason Fanaika, offensive linemen Kyle Friend and Mike Matthews, and running back Trey Williams – per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Blount is the son of Steelers legend and Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Blount. Matthews’ father is one of Blount’s fellow Canton enshrinees, longtime Oilers/Titans offensive tackle Bruce Matthews.

Giants Trim Roster To 86

August 29th, 2016 at 6:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Giants have begun whittling down their roster in advance of tomorrow’s 75-man deadline, and they’ve made four transactions today. New York still has 86 players on its roster, so it will need to make several more moves before Tuesday.

Waived:

Waived/Injured:

LaCosse, a 2015 UDFA will require knee surgery and will be sidelined indefinitely. If he and Whitlock clear waivers, they’ll revert to the Giants’ IR list.

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