NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Chris Carson returning to Seahawks on two-year deal



The Seahawks are keeping Chris Carson.

The running back has agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $14.625 million, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports. The deal contains a voidable third season to reduce Carson’s cap number this year, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Carson ranked 79th on PFT’s list of top 100 free agents, one of the top running backs on the market.

Carson, 26, had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2019 before 681 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games last season. He also caught 37 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns in 2020.

The Seahawks made Carson a seventh-round choice in 2017, and he has rushed for 21 touchdowns and 3,270 yards.

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A no-brainer.

 

Giants sign Kenny Golladay



The best available wide receiver in free agency has found his new home.

Kenny Golladay has signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Giants, according to multiple reports.

Golladay has spent his entire career with the Lions, who selected him in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He led the NFL with 11 touchdown catches in 2019 but had an injury-plagued 2020 season in which he played in just five games.

Now he’ll play with Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and attempt to improve a franchise that hasn’t won more than six games in a season since 2016. The Giants need someone who can make plays on offense, and they’ll hope Golladay proves to be a big part of a franchise turnaround.

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Broncos, Kyle Fuller agree to deal



That was fast.

Just moments after the Bears officially cut cornerback Kyle Fuller, he has agreed to a contract with the Broncos.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that it’s a one-year, $9.5 million deal, including $9 million fully guaranteed.

The Broncos were always viewed as the favorites to sign Fuller, given his close connection to Denver head coach Vic Fangio, who was previously the defensive coordinator in Chicago. Still, it’s a surprise that the agreement happened this fast.

Fuller was slated to earn $14 million if he had stayed with the Bears this year, so he’s taking a significant pay cut, but he’s in a place where he knows he’s wanted, with a coach who knows how to bring out the best in him.

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Miles Killebrew signing with the Steelers

The Steelers re-signed wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster late last week and they spent the weekend bringing in a couple of players from outside the organization.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the team is signing defensive back Miles Killebrew to a one-year deal. They also came to an agreement with offensive lineman Joe Haeg.

Killebrew was a 2016 fifth-round pick of the Lions and spent the last five seasons in Detroit. Teryl Austin was the Lions’ defensive coordinator for the first two of those seasons and is now on the Steelers staff as the secondary coach and a senior defensive assistant.

Killebrew played 502 defensive snaps when Austin was in Detroit, but has played just 88 over the last three seasons while taking on a core special teams role. He has 105 tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble, and an interception return for a touchdown in 78 career games.

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Receiver DeSean Jackson has a new NFL home, in his hometown.

Jackson has agreed to terms with the Rams on a one-year deal. The team announced the move on Sunday night.

The 34-year-old Jackson was a second-round pick of the Eagles in 2008. He spent six seasons with the Eagles, three in Washington, two in Tampa, and two more in Philadelphia.

Jackson worked with Rams coach Sean McVay during Jackson’s time in Washington.

Jackson instantly gives the Rams a field-stretching deep threat for quarterback Matthew Stafford, one that will soften up the crossing routes and underneath areas where Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp function best. The biggest question with Jackson is age and health. He missed 11 games in 2020, and he missed 13 games in 2019.

If healthy, he’s a difference maker. Assuming the price is right, it’s a prudent risk for a Rams team that will be short on draft picks, thanks to its propensity to trade them away.

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Giants signing former Titans CB Adoree' Jackson to three-year, $39M contract

Adoree' Jackson's stay in unemployment didn't last long.

The cornerback is signing a three-year, $39 million deal with the New York Giants, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. The contract includes $16 million in 2021 and $27 million of the $39 million total in its first two years, Rapoport added, with a max value of $44.5 million.

New York later announced the signing.

The Giants convinced Jackson New York was the place for him by putting on the press during his interactions with the team, with multiple current Giants recruiting Jackson and the team even flying in former teammate and current Giants safety Logan Ryan for a sales pitch. It worked, prompting Jackson to sign with Big Blue and cancel his visit to NFC East-rival Philadelphia, per Rapoport.

Jackson was a surprise cut made by the Titans, who elected to forgo keeping Jackson for the fifth and final year of his rookie deal and instead released him, saving more than $10 million in cap space in 2021 by shedding his nonguaranteed fifth-year option. New York pounced on the opportunity, signing the former USC star and 2017 first-round pick to bolster a defensive backfield that desperately needed help a little over a year ago before rounding out into a solid unit that finished tied for 16th in the NFL against the pass.

Jackson joins a defensive backfield that also includes Ryan, 2020 Pro Bowler James Bradberry, strong safety Jabrill Peppers and promising youngster Darnay Holmes. Jackson will step into a starting role with compensation that matches, helping him quickly pick up where he left off following his release from Tennessee.

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Linebacker Christian Jones signs with Bears on one-year deal



The Chicago Bears have brought back linebacker Christian Jones after a three-year stint with the Detroit Lions.

Jones began his career with the Bears in 2014 when he signed with the team as an undrafted free agent out of Florida State. After four years with the Bears Jones signed with the Lions. Jones appeared in 45 games for Detroit over the last three seasons before re-signing with the Bears on Tuesday.

Jones appeared in 63 games with 31 starts for Chicago during his first years in the NFL. In 2017, Jones stated 11 of 16 games and posted a career-high 90 tackles with two sacks and a forced fumble before leaving in free agency. Jones was a full-time starter for the Lions, starting 42 of his 45 games played for the team over the past three seasons. He had 57 tackles for the Lions last season.

Jones’ deal with the Bears is one year.

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This is cool!

Patriots’ Justin Herron hailed as a hero after rescuing woman attacked in park



Patriots offensive lineman Justin Herron is being described as a hero by police in Tempe, Arizona, who say he came to the aid of a woman who was being attacked in a public park.

Police say a man pushed a 71-year-old woman to the ground, started trying to pull her pants down and made comments about sexually assaulting her when Herron heard the woman screaming. Herron is doing offseason training in Arizona and happened to be walking through the park at the time.

“At that moment, I was in shock,” Herron said, via 12 News in Tempe. “It was 11 a.m., middle of the day, in a very open field and the fact that it happened there at that time was just very shocking. I wish I could tell you what I was thinking, but I could just tell someone needed help. All I could do was rush myself over there to make sure I could help the victim and I could comfort her and be the best person I can be.”

The 6-foot-5, 304-pound Herron grabbed the man and held him there until police arrived.

“I’m a football player, so I’m kind of big. I try not to be too aggressive with people knowing I could potentially hurt somebody,” Herron said. “I do have a loud voice. I yelled, told him to get off of her and then yanked him off and I told him to sit down and I told him to wait until the cops come.”

A 30-year-old man named Kevin Caballero has been arrested. The Tempe Police Department presented Herron and Murry Rogers, another man who came to the woman’s aid, with Outstanding Service Awards today.

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T.Y. Hilton returning to Colts on one-year deal



Receiver T.Y. Hilton spent a week on the free agent market, shopping for a new home. Hilton, though, is ending up back where he started.

The Colts are signing Hilton to a one-year deal worth $10 million with $8 million guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Hilton, 31, tweeted shortly after news broke of his return: “One thing i kno about this city. Is that they love me. And i love them. I listen to all the songs. I read all the tweets. I will cherish this forever. It’s only right i finish what i started. #TYISHOME”

It was the first time for Hilton to hit the open market in his career.

In 15 games in 2020, Hilton caught 56 passes for 762 yards and five touchdowns. He has five 1,000-yard seasons on his résumé — the last of which was in 2018 when he caught 76 passes for 1,270 yards with six scores.

Hilton is third on the franchise list in receiving yards with 9,360, behind Marvin Harrison (14,580) and Reggie Wayne (14,345).

The Colts drafted Hilton in the third round in 2012.

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Cardinals sign Malcolm Butler



Another well-known veteran is signing with the Cardinals.

This time it’s cornerback Malcolm Butler, who agreed to terms with the Cardinals on a one-year contract.

Butler was cut by the Titans, who saved more than $10 million off their salary cap with the move, this month. Last season Butler started all 16 games in Tennessee.

Originally an undrafted free agent with the Patriots, Butler spent four years in New England and three in Tennessee. A two-time Pro Bowler, he’s best known for his game-clinching interception in Super Bowl XLIX, and for the Patriots’ baffling decision to bench him in Super Bowl LII.

Among the players Butler will join in Arizona are J.J. Watt and A.J. Green, as the Cardinals have made a concerted effort to get better by signing big-name players.

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Vikings trade for Mason Cole



The Cardinals are trading offensive lineman Mason Cole to the Vikings, Mark Sanchez of ESPN reports. Arizona will get a sixth-round draft choice in return, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.

The Vikings could play Cole, a center with the Cardinals, at guard, Rapoport adds.

Cole started 14 games last season.

He joined the Cardinals as a third-round choice in 2018. In three seasons in Arizona, Cole played 46 games with 32 starts.

The Vikings expressed interest in free agent guard Nick Easton, who played for them from 2015-18, but Easton continues to visit other places.

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Demarcus Robinson re-signing with Chiefs



The Chiefs have retained one of their own.

Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson is heading back to Kansas City on a one-year deal, according to several reports.

This is the second year in a row that Robinson has stuck with the Chiefs on a one-year deal. He was originally a fourth-round pick by the club back in 2016.

Robinson has been a significant piece of Kansas City’s offense, particularly over the last two years. He started nine games in 2020, playing 65 percent of the team’s offensive snaps. He recorded career-highs in both receptions (45) and yards (466) while catching three touchdowns. Robinson also caught a pair of passes in the postseason.

Teammate Tyreek Hill was apparently happy to receive the news, retweeting a report with, “Thank you Chiefs.”

In 80 career games, Robinson has caught 120 passes for 1,415 yards with 11 touchdowns.

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Matt Breida agrees to terms with Bills



Matt Breida is moving from one AFC East team to another.

The running back has agreed to terms with the Bills on a one-year deal, Buffalo announced on Thursday.

Breida played the 2020 season with Miami, where he appeared in 12 games and rushed for 254 yards. He also made nine receptions for 96 yards.

Originally entering the league as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia Southern, Breida spent his first three seasons with the 49ers. He started 13 games in 2018, recording 1,075 yards from scrimmage with five touchdowns. The 49ers placed a second-round tender on Breida as a restricted free agent before trading him to Miami last offseason.

In all Breida has rushed for 2,156 yards with six touchdowns and caught 76 passes for 657 yards with four TDs in his four-year career.

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Adam Humphries agrees to one-year deal with Washington

The Washington Football Team has agreed terms with receiver Adam Humphries, the team announced. Multiple reports say it a one-year deal.

The Titans released Humphries a month ago, and he visited Washington on Thursday.

Washington also has added Curtis Samuel to the receivers room this offseason.

Humphries played only seven games last season, with one start, and finished with career-lows in catches (23) and receiving yards (228).

Humphries, 27, signed a four-year, $36 million contract with the Titans before the 2019 season after four years in Tampa.

In his six seasons, Humphries has appeared in 79 games with 21 starts. He has totaled 279 catches for 2,931 yards and 13 touchdowns.

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Carlos Dunlap is heading back to Seattle.

A late-season addition to the team in 2020, Dunlap is re-signing with the Seahawks on a two-year deal worth $16.6 million with $8.5 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported via Dunlap's agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Acquired via trade with the Bengals last season, Dunlap was released earlier this offseason by Seattle as he came with a $14 million cap hit, but he's back in the fold on an eventful Thursday for the Seahawks' defensive front, as Seattle is also set to part ways with longtime starter Jarran Reed.

After things soured for Dunlap in Cincinnati, he was sent to the Pacific Northwest and provided punch down the stretch in Seattle's playoff push. Dunlap recorded five sacks in eight games with the Seahawks, giving them a weapon on the edge they've long sought.

With Dunlap now returning along with Benson Mayowa, the addition of Kerry Hyder and the presence of safety Jamal Adams, who led the team in sacks last year, Seattle's pass rush looks a bit more promising entering a season than it has in a while.

Ranked 34th in Gregg Rosenthal's Top 101 free agents of 2021, the 32-year-old Dunlap was a fit on the field for the Seahawks and is now a fit financially for Seattle.

NFL.com

 

49ers trade up to No. 3 overall, send Dolphins next three first-round picks



The 49ers have pulled off a blockbuster trade to move up in the 2021 NFL draft, one that makes clear Jimmy Garoppolo‘s days are numbered, and one that bolsters Tua Tagovailoa‘s status as the Dolphins’ franchise quarterback.

The trade features the Dolphins sending the third overall pick to the 49ers in exchange for San Francisco’s No. 12 overall pick this year, a third-round compensatory pick this year, and first-round picks in both 2022 and 2023.

Obviously, the 49ers wouldn’t give up that kind of draft capital unless they planned to take one of the top quarterback prospects in this year’s draft. Trading up to No. 3 means the 49ers think there are at least three franchise quarterbacks in this draft, and they’ll take any of them. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, BYU’s Zach Wilson, Ohio State’s Justin Fields, North Dakota State’s Trey Lance and Alabama’s Mac Jones are all considered first-round prospects.

We don’t know which of those quarterbacks the 49ers will take, but one of them is heading to San Francisco.

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follow up

 

Basically SF wanted to trade up and Miami wanted a minor trade down but didn't want to go that far. They called Philly in advance and worked out splitting the spoils from SF to both move down a bit.

 

I'm not so sure Miami will necessarily be good next year. New England should bounce back some and Buffalo is still there. Did they overachieve?

 

Does this show that the Jets didn't want to move and that their guy is a QB? SF gotta go QB right? Does that mean they are cool with whoever is there at 3?