NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Comp Pick List @Lyman

 

Saw the info on NFL.com

I'm on it for the GMO

 

Saints will release Janoris Jenkins



The Saints’ push to get under the salary cap will continue with the departure of cornerback Janoris Jenkins.

According to multiple reports, the Saints will release Jenkins. The move comes a day after word of their plans to release wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and linebacker Kwon Alexander came to light.

Jenkins was set to make a $10 million salary in 2021 with a cap number of $14.2 million. The Saints will see $7 million in cap savings as a result of the move.

Jenkins had 55 tackles and three interceptions last season. He returned one of the interceptions for the ninth touchdown of his NFL career.

The Saints have been reworking contracts in addition to making cuts and they still have more work to do with the start of the new league year less than a week away.

NBC

 

Damn. It's getting to the point that I'm afraid to turn on my computer in the morning.

 

Cowboys OL Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, La'el Collins restructure deals to save team $18.975M

Three-fifths of the group in charge of protecting Dallas' new $160 million quarterback are getting their money up front.

The Cowboys have officially restructured the contracts for offensive tackles Tyron Smith and La'el Collins and guard Zack Martin, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

The combination of restructures creates $18.975 million in cap space for the Cowboys, who had less than $1 million in space before the adjustments to the contracts.

Dallas dealt with an unusual amount of injuries to key linemen in 2020. Smith's season was essentially lost to injury, as the seven-time Pro Bowl tackle appeared in just two games. Martin was limited to 10 games, while Collins missed the entire season, spending it on injured reserve due to a hip injury.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott suffered as a result, recording a career-low 4.0 yards per carry on 244 attempts and scoring six touchdowns in 15 games.

Dallas will hope to have its line back at full strength instead of being forced to shuffle backups around to find the right mix. With Dak Prescott returning from injury, a healthy line will be essential to the Cowboys' chances of authoring a redemption campaign in 2021.

Here is other news Around The NFL is monitoring Thursday:

• The Kansas City Chiefs released starting tackles Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz, Rapoport reported.
• The Houston Texans restructured wide receiver Brandin Cooks to save $6.53 million versus the cap, per Rapoport.
• The Philadelphia Eagles gained $9.408 million of cap flexibility after restructuring defensive tackle Javon Hargrave's deal, Rapoport reported.
• The Atlanta Falcons have signed defensive tackle Jacob Tuioti-Mariner to a one year extension, per Rapoport.

NFL.com

 

Mark Ingram signing with Texans



Running back Mark Ingram‘s set to continue his NFL career in Houston.

According to multiple reports, Ingram has agreed to a contract with the Texans. It is a one-year deal worth up to $3 million.

Ingram was released by the Ravens after their playoff loss to the Bills in January. He fell out of the team’s lineup over the back end of the 2020 season with just 22 carries in the final eight weeks and he did not play at all in the postseason.

Ingram had 72 carries for 299 yards and two touchdowns over the entire year.

David Johnson recently took a pay cut to remain on the roster in Houston, so Ingram will be looking at a complementary role in their backfield. Buddy Howell, Scottie Phillips, and Dontrell Hilliard are also on the roster.

NBC

 

Matt Milano signed a 4 year extension with the Buffalo Bills. The exact contract terms are not yet known, but it’ll be $11MM+ AAV.

Matt gets paid, but left money on the table considering what he’d likely have gotten from the open market. The key factor is that he gets to stay in Buffalo and compete for a SB each season over the length of his contract.

 

How good did it feel to say that out loud?

 

Damned good, and about 30 years coming!

 

Bills agree to terms on three-year deal with Daryl Williams



One of the top free agent offensive linemen won’t be hitting the free market.

The Bills have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with Daryl Williams, the team announced on Friday. Per multiple reports, Williams’ deal is worth $28.2 million with nearly $14 million guaranteed.

Williams signed with the Bills last April on a one-year contract and earned the right tackle spot. He started all 16 games for the Bills last year.

Williams was listed at No. 38 on the PFT Top 100 free agents list.

Prior to his arrival in Buffalo, Williams spent his first five seasons with the Panthers. Carolina selected Williams in the fourth round of the 2015 draft.

Williams has started 57 games over the last six seasons, missing all but one game in 2018 due to a knee injury.

NBC

 

Wow Bills got a nice deal there.

 

Pats are gonna try the Cam experiment again

 

Chargers release CB Casey Hayward after five seasons

Free agency has just added another intriguing name to the talent pool.

The Los Angeles Chargers announced Saturday that the club has released multi-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl cornerback Casey Hayward. He has been with the Chargers for the past five seasons.

"When we signed Casey during free agency back in 2016, we felt that we were adding a starting-caliber corner who still had a considerable amount of unrealized potential," general manager Tom Telesco said in a statement. "Not only did Casey realize that potential in the years that followed, he exceeded our high expectations and became a prominent leader for our team both on and off the field.

"He started 75-of-78 games with us, was named to a pair of All-Pro teams, made two trips to the Pro Bowl, earned our 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination and has been a multi-year team captain. These type of well-rounded individuals don't come around very often, and we're incredibly fortunate to have had Casey Hayward on this football team the past five years."

A 2012 second-round pick out of Vanderbilt, Hayward spent his first four professional years with the Packers before signing a three-year, $15.30 million contract with the Bolts in March 2016. His signing proved immediately impactful as he went on to lead the NFL in interceptions (7) and earn his first of back-to-back Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro nods.

As Telesco highlighted, Hayward served as a pillar of consistency throughout his time with the franchise. The 31-year-old turned in another solid campaign in 2020, appearing in 14 games (13 starts) and recording 41 tackles, eight passes defensed and one interception.

Though he was placed on injured reserve near the end of last season with a hamstring injury, Hayward is a worthwhile target several CB-needy squads should take a hard look at this offseason.

"While the decision to add Casey to the team was obviously one of the best free agent signings we have ever made, this roster-related decision is one of the most difficult," Telesco continued. "At the end of the day, however, this decision does not diminish what Casey has meant to the Chargers organization nor our gratitude for his time here. Casey is the consummate professional and a shining example for everyone who aspires to play in the NFL."



NFL.com

 

Detroit Lions sign free-agent TE Josh Hill

Lions head coach Dan Campbell will bring in a familiar face to shore up the tight end position in Detroit.

Josh Hill signed a free-agent contract with the Detroit Lions on Saturday, the team announced. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Hill, who will turn 31 in May, spent all eight seasons of his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints. He was cut in March as part of the Saints' number of cap casualties this offseason. The do-it-all TE has appeared in 117 career games (61 starts), hauling in 116 balls for 1,071 yards and 15 touchdowns, however, Hill's prowess as a run-blocker isn't something measured by stats.

Campbell, who was the Saints TEs coach the past five seasons, is well aware of the overall value Hill brings to the table. The signing of Hill comes after the Lions cut TE Jesse James in a cap-saving move. Along with pass-catching TE T.J. Hockenson and Hunter Bryant, the Lions seem to be set at the position.

Here is other news Around The NFL is monitoring Saturday:

• The details of Tom Brady's new contract with the Bucs were reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Brady is due $41.075M in 2021 and just $8.925M in 2022. The deal includes postseason incentives and there are three voidable years, lowering his cap number in 2021 to $9.075M. Brady's cap hit in '21 before the extension was at $28.375M and the total cap savings in '21 for the Bucs is $19.3M with the new deal.
• The San Francisco 49ers have restructured the contract of center Weston Richburg to create $6.875 million in cap room for a player likely facing retirement, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
• The Atlanta Falcons have restructured the contract of tackle Jake Matthews to create $7.95 million in cap room, according to Pelissero.
• Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Billy Turner is doing a simple restructure in order for the team to clear cap space, a source tells Pelissero. Turner's restructure will be a straight salary conversion.
• Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Addison and defensive tackle Vernon Butler have taken less money in order to help the team's cap room. According to Rapoport, Addison will take $1.99 million less while Butler took a pay cut of $2 million. Rapoport adds that both Addison and Butler will have incentives.
• The Pittsburgh Steelers will not tender restricted free-agent linebacker and special teams ace Ola Adeniyi, a source tells Rapoport. Adeniyi will become a free agent.
• The Cleveland Browns will not tender restricted free-agent linebacker/special teamer Tae Davis, a source tells Pelissero. Davis will become a free agent.
• New York Giants tackle Nate Solder has agreed in principle to a reworked deal that will make way for his return to New York, Rapoport reports, per a source.
• The New York Jets re-signed receiver Vyncint Smith, who was set to become a restricted free agent.
• The Los Angeles Chargers announced they have released veteran cornerback Casey Hayward after five seasons with the team.

NFL.com

 

Where will Trent Williams land?



In 2019, he sat out the full season in Washington. In 2020, he instantly became the starting left tackle in San Francisco. Now, Trent Williams is heading to free agency for the first time.

Regarded as one of the top available offensive linemen in free agency, the 49ers want to keep Williams. He recently said he’d like to stay with the 49ers. Mike Garafolo of NFL Media recently said that the 49ers are making a “strong push” to keep Williams.

Williams, however, wants fair value. And even though the legal tampering period doesn’t begin until Monday, illegal tampering has been happening for weeks. Indeed, if Williams were to sign before Monday, it would mean that his agents knows what else is available, and the 49ers offered something good enough to Williams in comparison to other teams.

That’s one of the things to keep in mind as new deals get done in these days before the pre-free agency negotiating period. Players that re-sign with their current teams do so after knowing what is (or isn’t) out there elsewhere.

Williams, who turns 33 in June, could help any team that needs a plug-and-play left tackle. The question becomes cost, especially with a reduced salary cap. The Chiefs just cut Eric Fisher, the Vikings have released Riley Reiff, and Anthony Costanzo retired from the Colts. Any of those teams could use him immediately.

Other teams, given the cap space, also could be in play. That could force the 49ers to pay more than they’d like to pay to keep him.

NBC
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Look good in Purple, but I bet he stays in San Francisco.

 

49ers set to re-sign Kyle Juszczyk



The 49ers said they would do everything they could to re-sign fullback Kyle Juszczyk before he could leave in free agency, and it appears they’ve done both that.

Although no official signing has been announced, 49ers General Manager John Lynch strongly hinted that it’s going to happen on Twitter.

“I’m thirsty. Niners fans, you want some ‘Juice?'” Lynch wrote, using Juszczyk’s nickname.

The 49ers previously signed Juszczyk to a four-year, $21 million deal that was the biggest ever given to a fullback. Now Juszczyk has played out that contract and would hit free agency on Wednesday, but it appears he’ll be staying put.

The 49ers have about $30 million in cap space and may have an active first week of free agency.

NBC

 

Bears gain $23 million in cap space with reworked deals for Khalil Mack, others



The Bears are whittling away as they seek to get underneath the salary cap and accommodate the $18 million franchise tag for receiver Allen Robinson.

The NFLPA lists the Bears as $22.4 million over the 2021 salary cap. That doesn’t include the expected release of right tackle Bobby Massie.

It also doesn’t include the $23 million the Bears gained with reworked deals for linebacker Khalil Mack, safety Eddie Jackson and offensive lineman Cody Whitehair, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Bears plan to convert base salary into signing bonus money for the players.

Mack, who previously had his contract restructured in 2019, was scheduled to have a team-high salary cap hit of $26.646 million.

The restructure will create ridiculous cap hits for Mack in 2022 and 2023. He already was scheduled to count $27.15 million and $25.5 million against the cap in those two years.

His contract is scheduled to expire after the 2024 season.

The restructure likely takes Mack out of any potential trade scenarios.

This marks the first restructure of Jackson’s five-year, $58.4 million deal and the first of Whitehair’s five-year, $51.3 million contract. Jackson was scheduled to count $11.45 million against the cap in 2021 and Whitehair $9.6 million.

NBC

 

Texans trade Benardrick McKinney to Dolphins for Shaq Lawson



The Texans and Dolphins have agreed to a trade.

Houston will send linebacker Benardrick McKinney to Miami for linebacker Shaq Lawson, according to multiple reports. A swap of late-round picks is also involved.

McKinney was the Texans’ second-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He was a Pro Bowler in 2018. Last year he was limited to just four games with a shoulder injury. He has three more years on his contract and will make a base salary of $7 million this year.

Lawson was a first-round pick of the Bills in 2016 and signed with the Dolphins last year. In his one year in Miami, he played in 14 games, with seven starts. He has two more years on his contract and will make a base salary of $8.4 million this year.

Trades can be agreed to now but do not become official until the new league year starts on Wednesday.

NBC

 

Aaron Jones stays with Packers



Packers running back Aaron Jones won’t hit free agency after all.

Jones revealed on Twitter that he is staying with the Packers. Agent Drew Rosenhaus told PFT that Jones will sign a four-year contract worth $48 million, with a $13 million signing bonus.

When the Packers decided not to use the franchise tag on Jones, many league observers thought that meant he was heading elsewhere. The Packers used a second-round draft pick on running back AJ Dillon last year, so that would have made it easier for Green Bay to say goodbye.

But instead the Packers will keep Jones in place and attempt to keep their offense largely intact, hoping that Aaron Rodgers‘ MVP play last year can continue this year, and that the Packers can go even further in the postseason, with all the pieces in place.

NBC

 

Drew Brees officially retires!