HEADLINES

Transactions News & Rumors

Ravens Re-Sign Pernell McPhee

May 5th, 2020 at 12:34pm CST by Zachary Links

The Ravens are bringing Pernell McPhee back. The outside linebacker has re-upped on a one-year deal, per a club announcement. 

Roughly one year ago today, McPhee inked a one year deal with Baltimore to return back to where it all started. He was a 2011 fifth-round pick and an oft-featured sub for the Ravens before moving on to the Bears in free agency. He entered and went out with a bang in Baltimore – McPhee notched six sacks as a rookie and tallied a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2014, his contract year. McPhee parlayed that success into a five-year deal, $38.8MM deal with Chicago, but injuries cost him 12 regular season games over a three-year stretch. Still, he managed 14 sacks for Chicago.

Unfortunately, injuries also slowed him last year. A triceps tear shelved McPhee in October, taking him out of action after 260 snaps, the second-highest total on the team at the time.

McPhee, 31, has 34 career sacks across nine seasons with the Bears, Redskins, and Ravens. Despite his name recognition and substantial career earnings, he’s started in just 30 of his 116 NFL games.

Jets Sign RB Frank Gore

May 5th, 2020 at 10:21am CST by Ben Levine

Frank Gore‘s AFC East tour has taken him to New York. The veteran running back is signing a one-year deal with the Jets, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).

In New York, Gore will be reunited with head coach Adam Gase, who served as the Dolphins head coach during the running back’s stint in Miami. Gase was also an offensive assistant in San Francisco during Gore’s run with the 49ers.

In fact, ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe tweets that Gase tried to recruit the veteran to the Jets last offseason, so the coaching staff clear has a role for him. Gore will instantly become the second running back on the depth chart behind Le’Veon Bell. The Jets are also rostering the likes of Kenneth Dixon, Josh Adams, and fourth-round rookie La’Mical Perine.

After starting 14 games for the Dolphins in 2018, Gore signed with the Bills last offseason. He ended up seeing a significant role for Buffalo, starting eight of his 16 games while rushing for 599 yards and two scores. However, Gore averaged a career-worst 3.6 yards per carry, but he’s not far removed from his 4.6 YPC campaign in Miami.

Gore sits third on the all-time rushing list with 15,347 yards and third on the all-time carries list with 3,548. While his stats in Buffalo were underwhelming, the veteran isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. The soon-to-be 37 year old has only missed a pair of games since 2011.

Earlier this offseason, Gore indicated that he wanted to play in 2020 instead of hanging up his cleats. He hinted that a reunion in Miami could be a possibility, but he hadn’t been definitively connected to any teams over the past few months.

Jaguars Sign DE/LB Aaron Lynch

May 5th, 2020 at 9:30am CST by Ben Levine

Aaron Lynch is heading to Florida. The Jaguars announced that they’ve signed the defensive end/linebacker. It’s a one-year deal, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).

The 2014 fifth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers, and he compiled 12.5 sacks through his first two seasons in the NFL. Suspensions and injuries limited him to only 14 games between 2016 and 2017, and he moved on to Chicago in 2018.

The veteran has spent the past two seasons with the Bears, collecting 22 tackles and five sacks in 29 games (three starts).

Lynch will provide the Jaguars with a rotational pass-rusher, and he could be in for a bigger role if the front office finds a taker for Yannick Ngakoue.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/4/20

May 4th, 2020 at 6:49pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Wells is returning to Tampa Bay on a one-year deal, according to Greg Auman of The Athletic (Twitter link). Wells spent the 2019 campaign with the Bucs, starting two of his 13 games. He previously spent five seasons with the Jaguars, appearing in 39 games (nine starts).

Murphy had a solid run with the Bills back in 2018, rushing for 250 yards on 52 carries. After getting cut by Buffalo prior to the 2019 regular season, Murphy didn’t find a deal until inking a futures contract with the Panthers in December.

McNichols, a 2017 fifth-round pick, has four career carries. He’s spent time with seven organizations during his career.

Buccaneers Sign 13 UDFAs

May 4th, 2020 at 5:39pm CST by Ben Levine

After adding seven rookies via the 2020 NFL Draft, the Buccaneers announced the signing of nine undrafted free agents today:

Sinnett is naturally one of the most notable name on the list, as the quarterback guided the University of San Diego to the FCS playoffs after tossing 3,528 yards and 32 touchdowns. While he’s unlikely to crack a roster that includes Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert, and Ryan Griffin, it sounds like the Bucs want to hang on to a developmental QB on their practice squad.

Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle previously reported (via Twitter) that Sinnett will earn $152K in guaranteed money.

Jonsen proved to be a Swiss Army Knife during his time at Montana State, as he finished the 2019 campaign with 580 receiving yards and 527 rushing yards. He also completed six of his seven pass attempts for 64 yards and one score.

UPDATE

The Bucs announced the signing of four additional UDFAs:

  • John Hurst, WR (West Georgia)
  • Nick Leverett, G (Rice)
  • Parnell Motley, CB (Oklahoma)
  • Josh Pearson, WR (Jacksonville State)

Seahawks Sign 12 More UDFAs

May 4th, 2020 at 3:58pm CST by Zachary Links

The Seahawks can’t get enough undrafted rookies. On Monday, the Seahawks waived running back Adam Choice, linebacker Pita Taumoepenu, and defensive tackles Naz Jones and Shakir Soto to make room for a dozen undrafted free agents:

Those players will join a UDFA class that already includes:

Gordon, the successor to Gardner Minshew at Washington State, threw for an absurd 5,579 yards and 48 touchdowns in just 13 games. On the heels of a truly ridiculous year, he’ll push to serve as Russell Wilson‘s top backup.

Colts To Decline Malik Hooker’s Option

May 4th, 2020 at 2:14pm CST by Zachary Links

The Colts will decline the fifth-year option on Malik Hooker‘s contract, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated (on Twitter). With that, Hooker is set to be a free agent following the 2020 season. 

It’s a surprising decision – Hooker has seven career interceptions in just 34 games played and his would-be 2021 salary wasn’t prohibitive. Hooker, who was the No. 15 overall pick in the 2017 draft, would have cost $6.7MM to cuff for ’21, and that sum would have been guaranteed for injury only.

After Haason Reddick‘s option was (predictably) declined by the Cardinals, Hooker was left standing as the only 2017 first-round pick in limbo. The Colts waited right until the deadline to render their verdict and it’s a puzzling one. To be fair: Hooker has been hampered by injuries over the years. To be critical, again: He still offers tons of potential and he might just price himself out of Indianapolis with a big prove-it year.

Hooker likely would have been a Top 10 pick three years ago if not for injuries. With concerns about his surgically-repaired sports hernia and a torn labrum, the Colts landed him in the middle of the first round. And, as a rookie, he missed more than half of the season with a torn ACL. He hasn’t met all of his combine week expectations as a pro, but he still has time on his side. The Ohio State product just turned 24 in April and there are plenty of teams who would be happy to have him when he turns 25.

For now, the Colts’ safety group includes Hooker, rising sophomore Khari Willis, third-round pick Julian Blackmon, George Odum, and Rolan Milligan. Of that group, only Willis is under contract beyond ’20.

Cowboys Waive QB Cooper Rush

May 4th, 2020 at 10:29am CST by Zachary Links

The Cowboys have waived quarterback Cooper Rush, as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. With that, they’ve carved out a place on the QB depth chart for Dak Prescott‘s new backup, Andy Dalton.

[RELATED: Five Teams Pursued Andy Dalton]

Rush, a Central Michigan product, joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent prior to the 2017 season. Strangely enough, he got his opportunity when the Cowboys cut Kellen Moore, who now serves as the team’s offensive coordinator. Rush was set for restricted free agency this offseason, but the Cowboys cuffed him in March using the inexpensive original round tender. Now, he’ll move on in search of his next opportunity.

Over the last three seasons, Rush has appeared in five games for the Cowboys with zero starts and just three passes thrown. Dalton, meanwhile, joins with 133 career appearances – all starts – and ample experience to hold down the fort in case of a Prescott injury. He’s also equipped to run practices for the Cowboys later this year, in case the Prescott saga drags on.

Dalton was in high demand – four other teams wanted Dalton, but none of the five clubs in pursuit were offering him an opportunity to start. Ultimately, he settled on the Cowboys, who have given him a one-year, $3MM deal that can reach up to $7MM through performance bonuses.

Cardinals To Decline Haason Reddick’s Option

May 4th, 2020 at 8:17am CST by Zachary Links

Haason Reddick‘s fifth-year option will be turned down by the Cardinals, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). With that, the former first-round linebacker is on course for free agency after the 2020 season. 

Reddick came into the league with considerable buzz. Teams were enamored with his athleticism and versatility; scouts saw a player with the potential to star at inside linebacker or dominate on the edge, depending on the need. Unfortunately, Reddick was never able to get his footing in either area. All of the different coaching and scheme changes didn’t help matters either.

The former No. 13 overall pick has perfect attendance over the past three years, but still has just 7.5 sacks to his credit. He was bumped from the starting lineup midway through last year and saw his playing time dwindle as the year drew to a close. Even though the Cardinals took their time on this one, few expected Reddick to have his 2021 season guaranteed for injury.

Reddick will play out his final year with $2.3MM in salary and a $4.3MM cap hit. This could be an opportunity for him to cash in as a free agent, but that’ll only be possible if he gets enough snaps.

Looking ahead, the Cardinals are set to replace him with a younger and even more versatile player in Isaiah Simmons. The Clemson product and combine darling may have the ability to feature as both an edge rusher and a safety.

As shown in PFR’s fifth-year option tracker, Colts safety Malik Hooker is the only player still in limbo.

Chiefs To Sign QB Shea Patterson

May 3rd, 2020 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Once on track to be drafted, Shea Patterson exited the virtual event without a team. The Chiefs will end the former Michigan quarterback’s week-long stay in free agency, agreeing to terms with him, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Patterson, who began his career at Ole Miss, will join fellow Michigan alum Chad Henne and recent XFL starter Jordan Ta’amu as players vying to be part of Patrick Mahomes‘ backup crew.

Although Patterson threw more touchdown passes and for more yards as a senior, his completion percentage dropped by over eight points from his junior to senior years. The 6-foot passer completed just 56% of his throws in 2019. Patterson graded as Scouts Inc.’s No. 299 overall prospect and No. 16-rated quarterback.

During his two seasons as the Wolverines’ starter, Patterson sported a 45-15 TD-INT ratio. Patterson was a candidate to enter the 2019 draft but opted to return to school. That decision may have cost him, but landing with an Andy Reid-coached team profiles as a promising situation for a UDFA quarterback.

Both Patterson and Ta’amu would be candidates to land on Kansas City’s practice squad, should the Chiefs just keep Mahomes and Henne on their active roster. Between their taxi squad and 55-man roster, the Chiefs may only have room for three passers. The Chiefs have not re-signed Matt Moore, who put off retirement plans after a Henne preseason injury and ended up leading the eventual Super Bowl champions to a crucial win over the Vikings after Mahomes went down.

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