NFL Off Season News /Rumors And Discussion

[NewYorkKnight]

Patriots signed NT Terrance Knighton, formerly of the Redskins, to a one-year, $4.5 million contract.

Concerned about Knighton's ever-troublesome conditioning, the Redskins were also only offering one year, but apparently less money. Although he's coming off a down season, Knighton provides a massive body for an interior line where the Patriots (effectively) mixed and matched post-Vince Wilfork in 2015. Going on 30, Knighton was highly effective in 2014, and can still be a disruptive force in the middle of a defense. He's reportedly in much better shape than he was last year, shedding 30-40 pounds.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Dolphins signed RB Daniel Thomas.

The Dolphins don't make things easy for their fans. Thomas is a mere camp body for a team desperately trying to restock its running back corps, but the optics of the move are humorous after Thomas spent years siphoning touches from a more deserving Lamar Miller. An inveterate fumbler, Thomas is going on 29 after spending 2015 out of the league. He owns a career 3.6 YPC. Even though he's just one of 90, it's hard to understand why the Dolphins have deemed Thomas worthy of a roster spot.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Chiefs signed RB Charcandrick West to a three-year extension through 2018.

Kansas City also gave RB Spencer Ware a two-year extension worth $3.6 million. West rushed for 586 yards, added another 205 through the air and scored five total touchdowns in 10 appearances after Jamaal Charles went down with a torn ACL last season. Charles is expected to be ready for training camp, but West should retain a change-of-pace role moving forward. He is also nice insurance as Charles enters the latter stages of his career. West turns 25 in June.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Redskins agreed to terms with TE Vernon Davis, formerly of the 49ers and Broncos, on a one-year contract.

Davis was drafted by Redskins GM Scot McCloughan in San Francisco. It is an interesting signing for the Redskins, who are more in need of a blocking tight end than one who can help in the passing game. Davis' play has been in sharp decline for the last couple years, and he did nothing after the Broncos traded for him midway through last season. Even if he sticks on the roster, Davis should be nothing more than veteran depth behind Jordan Reed.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Browns have waived DB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu with a non-football injury.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Raiders re-signed suspended OLB Aldon Smith

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Smith was suspended for 1-year on Nov. 17, 2015 and cannot reapply for reinstatement any sooner than 60 days before Nov. 17, 2016

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Jaguars claimed OL Tanner Hawkinson off waivers Monday, making him the first player to be claimed off waivers in 2016 league year.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Falcons CB Jalen Collins is suspended for the first 4 games of 2016 for violating NFL policy on performance enhancing substances

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the Broncos will consider trading for Josh McCown if they're unable to land Colin Kaepernick.

The Browns signed Robert Griffin III to a two-year, $15 million deal, and are expected to draft a quarterback. That leaves McCown as the odd man out, though the Browns would obviously prefer to get something in return rather than cut him. Ryan Fitzpatrick is likely headed back to the Jets, and Kaepernick remains unwilling to take a paycut to join the Broncos. McCown battled injuries last year but played well when healthy. He might be Denver's best option to keep winning now

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Jets LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson has retired from the NFL after 10 seasons.

As Jets beat writer Rich Cimini put it, it's "a stunner." The Jets wanted Ferguson to take a pay cut, and instead of accepting one, "Brick" chose to go out on his own terms. Ferguson is only 32, completely healthy, and still one of the better blindside protectors in the league. Gang Green is now without a left tackle and quarterback, though the $9 million-plus in cap room Ferguson's retirement creates should allow the Jets to re-sign Ryan Fitzpatrick. Ferguson isn't a Hall of Famer, but he deserves a place in the Jets' Ring of Honor. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2006 draft, Ferguson made three Pro Bowls and missed just one offensive snap in his entire career

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Fox Sports' Peter Schrager reports free agent Percy Harvin is unlikely to play next season.

This contradicts a report from Profootballtalk that said Harvin would "definitely" play in 2016. That report surfaced last week so perhaps he had a change of heart. The injury-prone gadget receiver has played in just 29 of a possible 64 games since the start of 2012. Harvin will be worth a training camp flyer if he does decide to play next season.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Jaguars' CB Aaron Colvin ... Titans' WR Andrew Turzilli each suspended for first four games by NFL.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Bengals signed coach Marvin Lewis to a one-year extension through 2017.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

DraftInsider's Tony Pauline reports the Jets have "inquired" about trading up to No. 1 overall in the draft, and labels them a "dark horse" to pull off the move.

The Jets are scheduled to pick 20th overall, so it would take a haul of picks and/or players to get to No. 1. They're very likely dangling franchise-tagged RE Muhammad Wilkerson as part of any package. Who the Jets would be targeting at No. 1 is anybody's guess, but Laremy Tunsil makes sense following LT D'Brickashaw's Ferguson's retirement. A quarterback like Jared Goff or Carson Wentz is also in play.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

9 News' Mike Klis reports the Broncos "will not sign" free agent Johnny Manziel.

Headlines were made Thursday when it was reported coach Gary Kubiak reached out to Manziel following his ouster from the Browns, but it appears that connection was more personal than business, as both Kubiak and Manziel are Texas A&M alums. Never say never about something happening down the line if the Broncos still need a passer, but it's not happening right now.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Baylor DE Shawn Oakman is the subject of a rape investigation.

The alleged incident took place Sunday morning. The victim had to be hospitalized, and reported the incident immediately. Police took evidence from Oakman's apartment on Sunday afternoon. Oakman has admitted to having sex with the accuser, but insists it was consensual. Oakman is considered a day-three prospect. He has a history of off-the-field issues, and was kicked off Bill O'Brien's Penn State team in 2012.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Bills LB A.J. Tarpley announced his retirement from the NFL.

Tarpley, 23, retired specifically due to concussions, as he explained on Instagram. "I suffered the 3rd and 4th concussions of my career this past season and I am walking away from the game I love to preserve my future health," he wrote. "This decision is the hardest I've made yet but after much research and contemplation I believe it's what is best for me going forward." Tarpley earned playing time in 14 games as an undrafted rookie last season, and had a legitimate chance at significant snaps in a weak Bills linebacker corps. It's fair to wonder if Tarpley's concussion-driven retirement will be one of the first of an eventual many, especially among players who aren't in the league's higher earning brackets.

 

[NewYorkKnight]

The New York Jets moved swiftly to fill the massive hole at left tackle created by the retirement of longtime cornerstone D'Brickashaw Ferguson.


NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported the Jets have worked a trade with the Denver Broncos for offensive tackle Ryan Clady, per a source involved in the trade.


The Jets will send a fifth-round pick to Denver in exchange for Clady, and get back a seventh-round selection along with the offensive lineman

 

[NewYorkKnight]

Ryan Clady ... two-year, $18 million contract.

The deal was signed as part of the trade in which New York acquired Clady and a seventh-round pick from the Broncos in exchange for a fifth-rounder. The new contract is a revision of Clady's Denver deal, which would've paid him $19 million over the next two seasons. Although the base value is $18 million, Clady's deal amounts to a one-year, $6 million pact with $3 million guaranteed and a non-guaranteed club option for 2017 at the price of $12 million. Incentives and escalators can push the deal's two-year worth to $21 million based on injury-ridded Clady's playing time. It's a fair contract for both player and team. The Jets now have Clady under control for his age-30 and age-31 seasons.