Week In Review News & Rumors

Patriots deploy tender on LeGarrette Blount. Thinking outside the box as usual, New England utilized a May 9 tender on Blount, ensuring that it will reap a compensatory pick if Blount signs elsewhere. Blount, who had reportedly been nearing a deal prior to the tender, has until July 22 to reach a deal with another club. If he doesn’t sign by then, the Patriots control his rights. Rival teams are now trying to “navigate” the compensatory pick process in order to land Blount.

Josh Gordon denied reinstatement. The NFL refused Gordon’s attempt to re-enter the league, but the Browns receiver is eligible to re-apply in the fall. Gordon, 26, originally applied for reinstatement in March. Although he hasn’t played sine 2014 (and hasn’t been effective since 2013), Gordon may be welcomed back by Cleveland if Roger Goodell & Co. allow his reinstatement. Gordon’s agent terminated their relationship several weeks ago, so Gordon is currently without representation.

Bills find a new general manager. Having fired Doug Whaley one day after the conclusion of the draft, Buffalo hired former Panthers executive Brandon Beane as its new GM. Beane has a working history with Bills head coach Sean McDermott, and is expected to have final say over the club’s 53-man roster (although he and McDermott will work closely on personnel issues). The Bills have also poached ex-Dolphins staffer Joe Schoen and named him assistant general manager, while incumbent contract negotiator Jim Overdorf could be on the chopping block.

Victor Cruz market heating up. While Cruz had garnered scant free agent interest since being released by the Giants earlier this year (only the Panthers had set up a visit), the veteran wide receiver was linked to three clubs in the span of two days last week. The Jaguars and Bears are organizing meetings with Cruz, while the Ravens also have interest in the 30-year-old wideout.

Cardinals cut ties with Daryl Washington. Unlike Gordon, Washington was granted reinstatement, but he won’t be playing for Arizona in 2017. The Cardinals officially released Washington, who hasn’t been on the field since 2013. While Arizona had interest in retaining Washington, the two sides apparently couldn’t agree on a deal. Washington, 30, had been due $2.9MM next season.

Michael Floyd finds a landing spot. More than two months after the opening of free agency, Floyd finally landed a contract, agreeing to a one-year pact with the Vikings. The new contract is reportedly worth $1.5MM, but Floyd can earn up to $6MM via incentives. Floyd, who was charged with DUI last year, is likely to serve a suspension during the 2017 campaign.

Teams move up for quarterbacks. Three clubs made traded up the draft board to acquire long-term options under center on Thursday night, as the Bears moved up to No. 2 for North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky, the Chiefs went to No. 10 for Patrick Mahomes (Texas Tech), and the Texans came up to No. 12 for Clemson’s Deshaun Watson. Each of the three clubs sacrificed a good deal, as both Kansas City and Houston gave up 2018 first-round selections, while Chicago may have been bidding against itself to move up one spot. None of Trubisky, Mahomes, or Watson is entering training camp as a starter, but that could certainly change as the season progresses.

Browns land a quarterback, as well. Cleveland sat tight at No. 1 overall and selected Texas A&M edge rusher Myles Garrett, and the club eventually made two other picks in the first round: Michigan safety Jabrill Peppers and Miami tight end David Njoku. After reportedly discussing trades for veteran quarterbacks during Round 1, the Browns ultimately drafted Notre Dame signal-caller DeShone Kizer during the second round, and could allow him to start during his rookie campaign. In Round 6, Cleveland picked up Florida’s Caleb Brantley, who is facing assault charges (but may not keep him on the roster).

Gareon Conley comes off the board in Round 1. Despite being accused of sexual assault in the week leading up to the draft, Conley was still drafted in the first round, as the Raiders selected him 24th overall. Conley has strongly refuted the allegations, and spoke with representatives of all 32 NFL clubs before the draft got underway. Initial reports suggested the Ohio State product could fall to the third round, but Oakland will have acquired a value pick if the accusations Conley prove unfounded.

Bills fire GM Doug Whaley. Just one day after the conclusion of the draft, the Bills fired Whaley, who had been running the club’s front office since 2013. The move was somewhat expected, as reports had indicated major changes could be coming to the Bills’ personnel staff. New head coach Sean McDermott has reportedly taken the lead in much of Buffalo’s machinations recently.

Veteran backs find new homes. A trio of running backs found landing spots this week, as the Saints signed Adrian Peterson to a two-year deal, the Raiders formally acquired Marshawn Lynch (and signed him to a new contract), and the Patriots landed Mike Gillislee after the Bills declined to match New England’s offer sheet. New Orleans, notably, selected another running back in the draft (Tennessee’s Alvin Kamara) despite now employing both Peterson and Mark Ingram.

Tony Romo hangs up his cleats. Instead of attempting to land with a team like the Texans or Broncos, Romo announced his decision to retire from the NFL to join CBS as a broadcaster, where he’ll replace Phil Simms as the network’s No. 1 color commentator. The Cowboys have officially released Romo, waiving its rights to the veteran quarterback if he ever decides to attempt a comeback — something he hasn’t entirely ruled out. Romo said “never say never” in regards to an NFL return, but another source says “it’s over” for the 36-year-old.

Richard Sherman still on trade block. Seahawks general manager John Schneider opened up about the Sherman trade discussions, confessing that the rumors are “real.” Sherman, in fact, appears to have been the instigator in the trade talks, as he reportedly asked for a trade. Seattle, meanwhile, has set its asking price: a “very good player plus a high draft pick.” One possible suitor, the Patriots, aren’t interested in dealing for Sherman.

Beast Mode to Oakland? The Raiders are continuing their pursuit of retired running back Marshawn Lynch, and the veteran runner met with Oakland brass at their facility last week. During that visit, Lynch reportedly told the Raiders he’s ready to return to the NFL. The final hurdle apparently rests with head coach Jack Del Rio, who must sign off on a Lynch acquisition. Consistent with what we’ve heard, Lynch only has interest in playing for Oakland if he comes out of retirement.

Adrian Peterson market heating up. After drawing little to no interest during the first month or free agency, Peterson will now meet with two teams in the span of a week. Peterson took a visit with and worked out for the Patriots last week, but left town without a deal. New England is stocked with running backs, and has an offer out to LeGarrette Blount. Meanwhile, the Saints will meet with Peterson at some point this week.

Zach Brown finds a home. One of only four PFR Top 50 free agents who remained unsigned, Brown has now landed with the Redskins on a one-year deal. Reportedly looking for a contract in the $6MM range, Brown didn’t come anywhere near that with Washington. He’ll earn a base value of $2.25MM and $700K guaranteed, while another $2.3MM is available via statistical and team performance incentives.

Viva Las Vegas. As expected, NFL owners approved the Raiders’ plan to relocate to Las Vegas by a tally of 31-1, with the Dolphins registering the only “no” vote. While the club is expected to remain in Oakland for the next two seasons, San Antonio has also been mentioned as a possible interim site. The Raiders’ new stadium is expected to cost $1.9MM billion, but the team secured a record $750MM in public money to put towards the effort.

Seahawks discussed Richard Sherman trade. While Pete Carroll admitted Seattle had listened on offers for Sherman, he indicated that no deal was likely to take place. One team which reportedly called on Sherman was the Patriots, who subsequently signed free agent Stephon Gilmore and are now presumably not interested in the Seahawks All Pro. Sherman, for his part, was comfortable with his name coming up.

Browns open to Josh Gordon return. Although nearly every report out of Cleveland has indicated the Browns are likely to trade or release Gordon if he’s reinstated, executive vice president Sashi Brown said last week that his club is willing to accept Gordon once again. “We’re not in position at wide receiver to turn down a guy like Josh if we feel he’s settled himself,” Brown said. Gordon, still only 25 years old, hasn’t played a full season since 2013, when he led the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards.

TV wants Tony Romo. Both CBS and FOX are thought to be courting Romo, who has yet to be either released or traded by the Cowboys. CBS, specifically, is willing to hand Romo its top commentator job, where he’d take the place of Phil Simms. Romo would slide into the network’s No. 1 broadcasting team, working with Jim Nantz on the week’s top game.

Eagles add a pair of veterans. In need of help both up front and in the secondary, Philadelphia inked defensive end Chris Long and cornerback Patrick Robinson last week, fortifying its defense with a duo that teems with experience. Long didn’t plan to re-sign with the Patriots as he searched for a larger role, while Robinson was cut by the Colts last month. Despite adding Long, the Eagles are still expected to target pass rushers in the draft.

Viva Las Vegas. The Raiders appear all but certain to relocate from Oakland to Las Vegas, as team owner Mark Davis is reportedly “dead set” on moving his club to Sin City. NFL owners are expected to vote on the issue tomorrow, and the Raiders will likely pay a far cheaper relocation fee than either the Ram or Chargers did. Commissioner Roger Goodell and Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf have sent each other dueling letters, with Schaaf attempting to lay out the city’s argument for keeping the team and Goodell arguing that no such solution exists.

Saints looking at Johnny Manziel. As New Orleans tries to find a successor to Drew Brees, it’s apparently checking out an unorthodox option, as head coach Sean Payton was seen having breakfast with former Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel. Manziel, of course, flamed out of the league after multiple off-field incidents and ineffective play, but is reportedly making a renewed commitment to sobriety. Reports earlier this month indicated league-wide interest in Manziel, and while the Saints may not sign him at this time, Manziel could make a comeback in the near future.

The Jets find a quarterback. While he’s a not a particularly inspiring option, Josh McCown will give the Jets more stability at the quarterback position than they had in 2016 after agreeing to a one-year, $6MM contract last week. Gang Green has been linked to Jay Cutler and other veteran signal-callers this offseason, but after inking McCown, the club is unlikely to add another experienced option. McCown, 37, has struggled to stay healthy recently, so Bryce Petty and/or Christian Hackenberg could conceivably garner starts in 2017.

Adrian Peterson is still waiting. Although some reports have indicated Adrian Peterson‘s asking price is keeping him on the open market, Peterson himself took to Twitter to say he’s not demanding an $8MM salary and wants to play for a winning club. The Packers have some interest in Peterson, but likely won’t have him in for a visit until the draft is complete, at which point Green Bay can further assess its options in the backfield.

Beast Mode to Oakland? The Raiders are still trying to lure former Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch out of retirement, and Lynch is interested in a return, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported it’s the “Raiders or bust” for Lynch, meaning the 30-year-old won’t play for any club besides Oakland. Lynch’s agent claims he hasn’t spoken to his client about a comeback, but didn’t that the itch to play football is still there.

Saints talking with Malcolm Butler. While the Patriots acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the Saints without sacrificing restricted free agent cornerback Malcolm Butler, New Orleans is now coming after Butler, whom New England tendered at the first-round level. Butler, 27, is reportedly looking for a Stephon Gilmore-level contract (five years, $65MM) and is frustrated by the Patriots’ lack of movement on a new deal. The Saints, meanwhile, have met with Butler and are working towards a pact, although it seems unlikely they’d part with the No. 11 pick through the RFA process. A trade involving lesser compensation is probably the more palatable outcome.

Beast Mode in Oakland? After sitting out the 2016 campaign as part of his “retirement,” running back Marshawn Lynch may return to the league in 2017 to play for the Raiders. Oakland wants to pursue Lynch, but it won’t part with any significant draft assets in order to acquire him from Seattle. Lynch would count $9MM on Seattle’s cap if he returns, and because the Hawks don’t have much financial wiggle room (and already signed Eddie Lacy), they wouldn’t be able to keep Lynch on the books for long. For his part, Lynch has reportedly stayed in shape and has the “itch” to play again.

Dont’a Hightower heads back to New England. Following flirtations with the Jets, Steelers, and Titans, linebacker Dont’a Hightower eventually ended up where he started, agreeing to a four-year, $35.5MM deal with the Patriots. While the Jets reportedly had the largest offer on the table, Gang Green also had concerns with Hightower’s physical. Hightower can max out at $43.5MM with New England if he reaches all his incentives and bonuses.

Adrian Peterson done in Minnesota. Now that the Vikings have agreed to a three-year deal with running back Latavius Murray, franchise icon Adrian Peterson will not return to the club in 2017. Minnesota had already declined its 2017 option on Peterson, but until Murray was inked, a Peterson reunion was still possible. Instead, Peterson will remain on the open market and keep searching for a new club. Several rumored suitors – the Texans, Patriots, Raiders, Giants – have shown little to no interest in Peterson, while the Seahawks visited with him but then opted to sign Lacy instead.

Poe in ATL. After taking visits with the Colts, Jaguars, and Dolphins, free agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe finally found a landing spot by agreeing to a one-year, $8MM deal with the Falcons. Poe, 26, can make up to $10MM through incentives. Not only will Poe be reuniting with Atlanta assistant general manager Scott Pioli (who drafted Poe in Kansas City), but he’ll be shifting to 4-3 scheme for the first time in his career. The Chiefs, meanwhile, replace Poe by adding former Eagles interior defender Bennie Logan.

Free agency opens! The busiest week of the NFL calendar was as crazy, as the free agent period officially opened on Thursday after a two-day legal tampering period. The sheer magnitude of signings means we won’t be able to go over all of them (or even a fraction of them) here, but there are several ways you can look back on the week that was. First, our Transactions tag will allow you to read stories that simply focus on actual moves, filtering out all rumors. The Newsstand tag, meanwhile, will show you the most important posts of the week. Check out our Top 50 Free Agents list, which is constantly being updated when each player signs, and bookmark our master list of 2017 free agents, which is also updated after each transaction.

The Browns go Moneyball. Cleveland made the first NBA-style trade in league history last week, acquiring quarterback Brock Osweiler, his contract (an entity unto itself), a 2018 second-round pick, and a 2017 sixth-round pick from the Texans in exchange for a 2017 sixth-round choice. The Browns effectively bought a second-round pick by taking on Osweiler’s fully guaranteed $16MM base salary, but Cleveland has little interest in Osweiler himself. The club is already trying to trade the 27-year-old (and are willing to pay roughly half his deal to do so), and will release him if no takers are found.

Patriots wheel and deal. The Browns weren’t the only club to operate in the trade market last week, as the Patriots made three (three!) of their own deals. First, they acquired tight end Dwayne Allen from the Colts to replace Martellus Bennett, and then picked up defensive end Kony Ealy from the Panther to bolster their pass rush. New England saved the largest move for last, however, sending a first- and a third-round pick to the Saints for wide receiver Brandin Cooks. You can keep track of all the moves by bookmarking our list of 2017 NFL Trades.

Redskins in turmoil. Washington fired general manager Scot McCloughan on the first day of free agency, a highly unusual decision even for a franchise known for making them. McCloughan’s status with the club had been in question for some time, and while the longtime evalutor’s admitted alcoholism may have played a role in his demise, the move may have simply been a power grab by others in the Redskins’ front office. While the distrust within the organization might have disrupted its free agency plans, Washington still signed a number of players including Stacy McGee, Terrell McClain, and D.J. Swearinger.

AP still waiting. Adrian Peterson remains unsigned and only has one visit scheduled (Seahawks), as more teams have indicated they’re not interested in Peterson than called to express intrigue. The Texans, Patriots, Raiders, Giants, and have all said “thanks, but no thanks” to Peterson, who could still return to the Vikings even after they declined his 2017 option. Peterson, 32 later this month, is the No. 2 running back on PFR’s board.