NFL - NEWS & NOTES

The Browns have landed a second agreement with one of this year’s top free agents.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus told PFT that his client Jack Conklin has agreed to a three-year deal with the Browns. It’s a $42 million deal with $30 million fully guaranteed and $20 million going to the former Titans right tackle in 2020.

Conklin will only be 28 when the three-year pact is up, so continued strong play in the coming years should set him up for another big payday with the salary cap expected to go up in the future.

The Browns also agreed to terms with tight end Austin Hooper on Monday, so they’ve made a pair of additions that should make offensive players in Cleveland happy heading into the 2020 season.

NBC

 

Dolphins add Byron Jones



Free agent cornerback Byron Jones is taking his talents to South Beach.

Jones, the athletic corner who has played five seasons with the Cowboys, has agreed to terms with the Dolphins, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Cowboys would have loved to keep Jones, but with Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper also hitting free agency this offseason, they didn’t have enough salary cap space for everyone.

Now Jones will head to a Dolphins team that has plenty of cap space to spend and is willing to spend it. Miami should improve this year, and Jones will be a big part of it.

NBC

 

Panthers agree to terms with Stephen Weatherly on two-year deal



The Panthers have agreed to terms with free agent defensive end Stephen Weatherly.

The deal, announced by Weatherly’s agent, Blake Baratz, is for two years and $12.5 million.

Weatherly, 25, spent his first four seasons with the Vikings after they made him a seventh-round choice in 2016.

He played 49 games with seven starts as a key reserve behind starters Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter.

In 2019, Weatherly made one start in 16 games, recording 24 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble.

In his career, Weatherly has 67 tackles and six sacks.

NBC

 

The Panthers are signing safety Juston Burris, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The deal is for two years and $8 million.

Burris, 26, spent last season in Cleveland after joining the Browns on Nov. 7, 2018, off the Jets’ practice squad.

The Jets drafted him in the fourth round in 2016.

Burris has appeared in 52 games with 11 starts in his career, making 71 tackles, four interceptions, 14 pass breakups and a sack.

In 2019, he played 409 defensive snaps and 139 on special teams. Burris made 32 tackles, a sack and two interceptions.

NBC

 

Stefon Diggs to Buffalo.

 

Any thoughts on what MIN got back in that deal compared to Houston??

Seems like one GM maximized his return, and the other was shortsighted, IMO

 

I think Bill O'Brien was privy to Hopkins preparing to holdout this off-season.

Tough to know for sure, but it feels like some blackmail was about to be afoot.

 

Still wonder if he could have hidden that better from his trade partner.

Obviously people have different opinions. But it’s tough to find anyone who doesn’t think Houston lost day 1 more than any other team. Especially when you consider the “Win now” aspect of what they paid to acquire Laremy Tunsil. To turn around less than a full season later and trade away a WR who has proven top 3 at his position over a 4 year span. And only get what amounts to a 2 & 3(could debate Johnson’s value). Seems illogical

 

Off top... I agree with all of this.

However, I always try to find what may be the motivation on the other end.

With that in mind - This is an extremely deep wide receiver class and the Texans could be looking at dodging the bullet with Nuk and replacing him with something they expect to be available when they come on the clock in round two.

 

And at some point @RTTRUTH , I'm going to have you on the podcast as a guest to talk whatever kind of bullshit that happens to come across the table.

 

Bills made Vikings an offer they couldn’t refuse for Stefon Diggs



On Monday, the Texans struck a deal to trade one of the best receivers in football for a running back the Cardinals didn’t want, a second-round pick, and a flip-flop of fourth-rounders. Also on Monday, the Vikings got a lot more for Stefon Diggs.

Minnesota reportedly gets a first-round pick (No. 22 overall), a fifth-round pick, a sixth-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick from the Bills, for Diggs and a 2020 seventh-round pick. That gives the Vikings a pair for first-rounders plus more for Diggs, who simply became a luxury the Vikings couldn’t afford, given the team’s new-look, run-centric offense.

Even though Diggs finished the year with a career-high 1,130 receiving yards, he went AWOL for a couple of days after a Week Four loss to the Bears, and he’s had other periodic streaks of moodiness over the years, which the Vikings did a good job of handling — but with which the Vikings surely grew exasperated.

And is it a coincidence that Diggs went no-minced-words public with his desire to leave Minnesota on the same day the Vikings gave Kirk Cousins a fresh three-year, $96 million deal? Diggs has never seemed fully on board with the quarterback who arrived only weeks after Case Keenum and Diggs connected for the Minneapolis Miracle, and now Diggs will be catching passes from a strong-armed youngster in Josh Allen, who’s never had a receiver with Diggs’ skills.

So it’s a win-win, with Buffalo getting the receiver they wanted to get last year, when they tried to trade for Antonio Brown, and the Vikings getting the ability to draft four younger, cheaper players who, if properly selected and developed, will become part of the team’s nucleus in the coming years.

NBC

 

Mario Addison reportedly headed to Buffalo on three-year deal



The Buffalo Bills made another move of significance on Monday night.

After reaching a deal to acquire wide receiver Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings, the Bills have now reached an agreement with former Carolina Panthers defensive end Mario Addison. According to Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com, Addison has reached a three-year deal with Buffalo.

The obvious connection the Bills being Buffalo General Manager Brandon Beane, who worked for the Panthers front office when Addison joined the team in 2012.

Addison has been a consistent pass rushing producer for the Panthers over the last four seasons. He’s had at least nine sacks in each of the last four years as he forced his way into a starting role beginning in 2017. Addison has racked up 39 sacks over the past four years with a career-high 11.0 sacks coming in 2017. He’s also forced two fumbles in each of the last four seasons.

Addison’s addition will help the Bills replace Lorenzo Alexander, who announced his retirement at the end of last season.

NBC

 

Randall Cobb headed to Houston for three years, $27 million

The Texans traded receiver DeAndre Hopkins. They added Randall Cobb.

Cobb agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal, James Jones of NFL Media reports.

Cobb, who plays the slot, certainly isn’t a replacement for Hopkins, who was All-Pro the past three seasons. But Cobb is another solid option for Deshaun Watson.

The Cowboys were the favorites to retain Cobb after hiring Mike McCarthy as their head coach. Cobb, 29, played for McCarthy in Green Bay.

But the Cowboys agreed to terms with Amari Cooper on a five-year, $100 million deal Monday night, leaving precious little cap room for another rich deal for a receiver.

He caught 55 passes for 828 yards and three touchdowns in his only season in Dallas.

NBC

 

Lions agree to terms with Nick Williams on two-year, $10 million deal

The Lions have agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with defensive tackle Nick Williams, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM NFL Radio reports.

Williams, 30, made six sacks and 42 tackles last season with the Bears.

The Lions went into the offseason wanting to improve the talent at the position, and this figures to be the first move in an effort to accomplish that.

The Steelers made Williams a seventh-round choice in 2013, but he never played a down for Pittsburgh.

He spent 2 1/2 seasons in Kansas City before joining the Dolphins.

Williams appeared in 18 games with five starts in his two seasons with the Bears.

NBC

 

Amari Cooper turns down Washington to re-sign with Dallas



The Cowboys have managed to keep both Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper.

After using the exclusive franchise tag on their quarterback earlier Monday, the Cowboys reached agreement on a new deal with Cooper.

The Pro Bowl receiver will sign a five-year, $100 million contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Cooper, 25, entertained an offer from Washington but had said all along he wanted to return to Dallas.

The Cowboys restructured the deals of running back Ezekiel Elliott and right tackle La'el Collins earlier in the day to help with the new deal for Cooper and potentially to make room for a long-term contract for Prescott, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Cooper spent much of 2019 on the injury report, with injuries to a foot, a quadriceps, an ankle and a knee. He played in every game, making 79 catches for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns.

In 25 games with the Cowboys after a trade from the Raiders, Cooper has 132 catches for 1,914 yards and 14 touchdowns.

NBC

 

Brady is no longer a Patriot.

 

Uhmm, any details?

Curious Bills fans would like to know.

 

Good news for Drew Bledsoe....he can finally have his starting job back.

 

He announced on social media he would not be re-signing with the Pats. No other details.

 

Considering Tom just started a production company, I could see him taking paychecks from the Chargers and building LA connections.