NFL - NEWS & NOTES

After releasing Xavien Howard, the Dolphins are bringing in another free-agent cornerback.

Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Miami has agreed to terms with Kendall Fuller on a two-year contract.

Fowler reports the deal is worth $16.5 million.

Fuller, 29, has spent most of his career with Washington. He was a third-round pick in 2016 and played his first two seasons with the team. But he was sent to Kansas City as part of the Alex Smith trade in early 2018.

 

One of the best defensive players available is off the board in free agency.

According to multiple reports, the Lions have agreed to sign defensive tackle D.J. Reader to a two-year deal worth up to $27.25 million.

Reader, 29, suffered a torn quad late in the 2023 season that sidelined him for Cincinnati’s last three games. But he finished the year with 34 total tackles, two tackles for loss, seven QB hits, and a sack.

Known as a strong run stuffer, Reader should provide a boost to Detroit’s defense whenever he’s healthy.

A fifth-round pick in 2016, Reader played his first four years with the Texans before signing with the Bengals in 2020. In 105 career games, he’s recorded 23 tackles for loss, 44 QB hits, 9.5 sacks, and eight passes defensed.

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Damn, so he counts nothing against the Bengals??

 

Nope...

 

Browns add a linebacker

Cleveland is signing former Steelers and Seahawks LB Devin Bush to a one-year deal, according to ESPN. The Browns saw Anthony Walker leave in free agency and had already previously signed Jordan Hicks to work alongside Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

 

Armstead's deal terms

The contract Arik Armstead is signing with the Jaguars will pay him $51 million over three years, per reports. That $17 million per year average matches the five-year, $85 million contract he signed with San Francisco in 2020. The 49ers released him from that deal on Wednesday to save money against the cap.

 

Falcons have a need for speed

After trading Desmond Ridder for Rondale Moore earlier in the day, Atlanta is now adding former 49ers and Steelers wide receiver and return man Ray-Ray McCloud, according to NFL Media. He'll sign a two-year deal for $6 million.

 

Running back Joe Mixon has a new team. He also has a new deal.

Per a source with knowledge of the terms, the Texans and Mixon have reached agreement on a three-year deal. It has a base value of $25.5 million, with $500,000 per year in available incentives.

It replaces the final year of his Bengals contract, which would have paid out roughly $6 million. He really didn’t have much leverage to get a new deal at this point.

The contract has $13 million in full guarantees, with $9 million in 2024 and $4 million in 2025. He also has per-game roster bonuses of $1 million total in 2024; that’s a high number, but it creates a very clear incentive to be fully available to play.

Mixon had more than 1,000 yards rushing in 2023, even though the Bengals did not have quarterback Joe Burrow for much of the season.

 

The Bills saw Gabe Davis leave for the Jaguars early in free agency and they added a piece to their receiving corps on Thursday.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that they are signing Curtis Samuel to a three-year deal. The pact is worth $24 million with $15 million guaranteed and another $6 million available in incentives.

 

If you're KC you at least kick the tires on Odell

 

The Chiefs have brought in a receiver.

Marquise Brown has agreed to a one-year deal with Kansas City, according to multiple reports.

The initial reporting is that Brown’s contract is worth up to $11 million.

A first-round pick in the 2019 draft, Brown played his first three seasons with the Ravens. He had his best season in 2021 when he caught 91 passes for 1,008 yards with six touchdowns.

Baltimore traded Brown to Arizona on the first night of the 2022 draft. His production has dipped over the last two seasons as he’s also dealt with injuries. In 14 games last season, he caught 51 passes for 574 yards with four touchdowns. His 41.0 yards per game was down from 59.1 in 2022.

Despite winning Super Bowl LVIII, the Chiefs had a clear need at receiver. The team released Marquez Valdes-Scantling late last month.

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Good Morning to all. Have a blessed day. Thats an order!

 

The Bears have acquired receiver Keenan Allen from the Chargers for a fourth-round draft pick, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports.

Allen declined a pay cut when the Chargers approached him Thursday, so the team dealt him after 11 seasons. Edge rushers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa agreed to pay reductions to stay with the Chargers.

The Bears don’t know who their quarterback will be, but whoever it is will have Allen and DJ Moore.

Allen made his sixth Pro Bowl in 2023, catching 108 passes for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns.

In his career, he has 904 receptions for 10,530 yards and 59 touchdowns.

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If I’m reading that tweet correctly, Bengals are paying the veteran minimum. Same sort of situation as Steelers and Wilson.

 

QBs in the NFC west sleeping a little better tonight

 

49ers agree to deal with De’Vondre Campbell

The 49ers’ strong interest in linebacker De’Vondre Campbell turned out to be mutual.

A report this week indicated that the 49ers wanted to add Campbell to their roster and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the two sides have now agreed to a deal. It is a one-year deal for the former Packer.

Green Bay released Campbell earlier this month, so signing him will not factor into the NFL’s compensatory draft pick policy. The move comes a few days after the 49ers’ verbal agreement with Eric Kendricks fell apart, so the team was in the market for another experienced linebacker.

Campbell played five years in Atlanta before spending three years with the Packers, so he certainly qualifies on that front. He will help fill in for any absence for Dre Greenlaw as he recovers from the torn Achilles he suffered in the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs.

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Cleaning House...


Cowboys release Michael Gallup, Leighton Vander Esch

The Cowboys have released receiver Michael Gallup and released linebacker Leighton Vander Esch with a failed physical designation, the team announced. Both moves were expected.

The Cowboys had given Gallup permission to seek a trade, but, also as expected, no one wanted to take on his contract. Gallup had three years remaining on his current deal with cap hits of $13.850 million, $15.850 million and $15.850 million.

He had a $4 million injury guarantee for 2024 that vested to a full guarantee next week.

The Cowboys are likely designating Gallup as a post-June 1 cut, according to the team website, saving them $9.5 million in room this year. Gallup, though, will count $8.7 million in dead money in 2025.

He has not been the same since an ACL tear during the 2021 season. In the past two seasons combined, Gallup had 73 receptions for 842 yards and six touchdowns total.

Vander Esch’s neck injuries are expected to force him to retire.

The 28-year-old, the 19th overall pick in 2019, will walk away after 65 starts, 469 tackles, 13 pass breakups and three interceptions. He earned his only Pro Bowl as a rookie.

The Cowboys will take on $2.2 million in dead money but will save another $2.2 million.

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