Category: 2020 free agency

Saints, Titans ‘making strong pushes’ to recruit Jadeveon Clowney

Ex-Seahawks DE Jadeveon Clowney is the best free agent available in the NFL, and the New Orleans Saints are making a run at signing him.

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The New Orleans Saints are making a last-minute run at one of the top free agents still available, per ESPN’s Dianna Russini. Russini reports that the Saints and Tennessee Titans are each trying to lock down pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney near the end of training camp, looking to add a blue chip talent that just might be the missing piece of their Super Bowl puzzle.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero characterized the Saints’ recent interest in Clowney as “an all out blitz” including conversations with Sean Payton, but noted that several other teams are in on his sweepstakes.

Clowney played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 after they acquired him in a trade from the Houston Texans, who drafted him first overall back in 2014. Seattle was unable to reach an agreement with Clowney on a contract extension and he turned down a $15 million per-year offer from the Cleveland Browns, so it’s unclear just how high he’s expecting his 2020 salary to climb.

Landing Clowney would beef up a Saints pass rush rotation that became a strength of the team last year, allowing them to platoon a solid mix of veteran players including Clowney, Cameron Jordan, and Mario Edwards Jr. with an ascending group of youngsters like Marcus Davenport, Trey Hendrickson, and Carl Granderson. But bagging Clowney won’t be easy, especially if the Saints are still determined to extend Alvin Kamara’s contract before the start of the season. Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops.

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Report: Saints to sign CFL linebacker Wynton McManis after group tryout

The New Orleans Saints are expected to sign linebacker Wynton McManis, a special teams ace and starter for the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders.

The New Orelans Saints are expected to sign Wynton McManis, a linebacker who last played for the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. McManis joined the Stampeders in 2017 after a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers, who signed McManis as an undrafted rookie out of Memphis.

McManis opted out of his CFL contract on Monday after the Canadian league canceled its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, opening up this opportunity in the NFL. He tried out for the Saints on Thursday as part of a six-man group of free agents, which the team reported on the daily NFL transactions wire:

  • DE T.J. Carter (6-foot-4, 289 pounds)
  • DE Anthony Lanier (6-foot-6, 285 pounds)
  • DE Cameron Malveaux (6-foot-5, 265 pounds)
  • LB Mike Hull (6-foot-0, 232 pounds)
  • LB Jan Johnson (6-foot-2, 231 pounds)
  • LB Wynton McManis (6-foot-1, 225 pounds)

The addition of McManis should bring the Saints back to 79 of 80 roster spots filled, with one vacancy remaining. The team recently lost defensive lineman Jalen Dalton and cornerback Johnson Bademosi to injuries that will likely end their seasons.

They also released linebacker Nigel Bradham earlier this week, opening a spot in the rotation for McManis to compete. He’ll be pushing youngsters like Kaden Elliss and Joe Bachie for a backup job, but there are only a handful of practice sessions left for him to make an impression before roster cuts.

That said, he has the skills to make a splash. McManis broke out in 2019 with 15 starts and 86 combined tackles, including nine stops on special teams. He cut his teeth in the CFL with his efforts in the game’s third phase, having paced the league with 25 special teams tackles in 2018. If he’s going to earn a spot on the Saints roster, it’ll come with big moments in the kicking game.

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Earl Thomas to Cowboys? McCarthy cites locker room ‘fit’ when asked about free agents

The Dallas head coach said he’s ‘very confident’ with the team’s current roster, but said that the free agent safety’s name has come up.

After an extensive reshuffling of the deck in Dallas following the 2019 season, the current Cowboys franchise has been attempting to settle in and make the most of the crazy hand that’s been dealt to the entire league in the form of the coronavirus.

Now, less than three weeks before opening day, a wild card has been tossed onto the table. And while Mike McCarthy may simply be playing things close to the vest, the coach made it sound on Monday like he may be just as happy to stand pat when it comes to Earl Thomas.

Reports after the coach’s Monday morning Q-and-A session with media indicate that Thomas’s name did, in fact, come up in conversation within the Cowboys front office after his release by Baltimore over the weekend.

“We read the news, too,” McCarthy stated.

McCarthy cautioned, though, not to read too much into the seven-time Pro Bowler being discussed internally, as any newly-available player would be expected to be looked at, even as a matter of course.

Said McCarthy:

“We had a chance to have a thorough personnel meeting just two days ago. We’re very confident in where we are as far as the 80-man roster. As far as any prospect that’s available, those are more conversations for Jerry, Stephen, and Will McClay as far as looking at that situation. So I have nothing really to report.”

Is that a bluff? Maybe.

Or maybe not.

McCarthy did give a possible hint as to why Thomas hasn’t already been signed by the Cowboys, a team he’s had a very public flirtation with for three years and the club he’s been most consistently (and loudly) linked to since things went south for him in Seattle.

“I think the most important question you need to ask,” McCarthy offered, “is, ‘How does a player fit into the locker room?'”

At 31, Thomas assuredly isn’t the same player, skillwise, that he was during the Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” heyday, but he likely still has something left in the tank and could be a veteran asset to the right organization. Being unceremoniously sent packing, though, by both Pete Carroll and John Harbaugh, considered to be among the most player-friendly coaches in the league, may be a significant red flag to any club thinking of kicking the tires.

Thomas may be worth the gamble for some team out there. And maybe the Cowboys end up pushing all their chips to the center of the table and going all in. But just because there’s an ace up for grabs doesn’t mean it necessarily goes with the hand they’re trying to win with.

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Saints sign tight end Ethan Wolf after free agent tryouts

The New Orleans Saints signed former Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Volunteers tight end Ethan Wolf, a college teammate of Alvin Kamara’s.

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The New Orleans Saints signed one of the free agents invited for a tryout earlier this week, with Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reporting that the Saints added the 6-foot-5, 258-pound Ethan Wolf. Wolf was among a group of four veteran tight ends to audition in front of Saints coaches. It’s unclear just yet which player was removed from the 80-man roster in a corresponding move.

So why the addition? Longtime co-starter Josh Hill has missed time with an injury Saints coach Sean Payton defined as a “tweak,” and two experienced backups opted out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 when training camp first kicked off. That left a vacuum on the depth chart for Wolf to step into as someone with more NFL reps than rookies Adam Trautman and Tommy Stevens.

But who is Wolf? He played for the Tennessee Volunteers at the college level, where he was a teammate of Alvin Kamara’s in 2015 and 2016. Wolf caught 91 passes in his four-year career at Rocky Top, gaining 996 receiving yards and scoring seven touchdowns. He was initially signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad as an undrafted rookie, and will now look to compete in Saints training camp.

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Cowboys add XFL lineman to help with offensive tackle issues

The Cowboys signed Pace Murphy to add depth to the offensive line while a few offensive tackles try and get back to form.

The Dallas Cowboys have had two major obstacles to their early days of training camp. One led to a solution for the other on Tuesday afternoon. After the release of Gerald McCoy, the defensive tackle who was ruled out for the year after a quad injury, the team now has the roster space to solve their issue of offensive tackle depth.

With La’El Collins and Cameron Erving currently not practicing, the Cowboys signed Pace Murphy to join the rotation opposite Tyron Smith.

Murphy entered the league in 2016 as an undrafted free agent signed by the Los Angeles Rams. He appeared in just two games that season and hasn’t seen any regular season action in the NFL since.  Murphy was a member of the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs practice squads until his release in early 2020. He then entered the XFL Phase Two Draft and was taken in the second round by the Dallas Renegades.

The league suspended play in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and he became a free agent once again.

Murphy comes to Dallas as added depth with the team currently being down a few offensive tackles Collins is working to get into game shape and according to Mike McCarthy, Cameron Erving is dealing with an undisclosed ailment that isn’t considered too serious.

On the first day of camp practice, Dallas trotted out 2019 UDFA Wyatt Miller as the starting right tackle. In all likelihood the club would probably like to limit the amount of snaps Smith sees, and in order for the defensive line to get in their proper amount of work, offensive line depth has to be serviceable.

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Mercs For Hire: Cowboys loading up on one-year rentals in 2020

The 2020 offseason acquisitions may signal a new era of player acquisition for the Dallas Cowboys.

There are only three mechanisms to improve an NFL roster: via trade, via the draft or through free agency. For the vast majority of the interminable Jason Garrett era, the Dallas Cowboys were content to sit two of the three out. Once in a blue moon the team would dip their toes into free agency, but nearly never dabbled in the mercenary business.

The one-year rental can be a boon to an NFL team. Adding veteran talent far below their pay grade offers up the kind of low-risk avenue every contender should be fighting for. Worst case scenario, the player under-performs and the team loses a minimal amount of cap space for one season before moving on. Best case scenario, the player out-performs their single season prove-it deal, cashes in the following offseason and the team gets a compensatory pick, or even better, signs back and becomes an integral part of the team for years to come.

Every year, mercenaries are available deep into the summer due to age, contract demands, or a willingness to wait for the right suitor.

And every year, the Dallas brain trust was content to sit it out, with Garrett often saying, “We like the guys we have here.” The players the Cowboys would sign for a single season in years past were more likely to be cut or retire than suit up for the team. Here’s a list of one-year signings who played meaningful snaps over the last decade:

Year Player
2020 Everson Griffen
Andy Dalton
Aldon Smith
HaHa Clinton-Dix
2019 Randall Cobb
Kerry Hyder
Christian Covington
2018 Cameron Fleming
2017 Byron Bell
Kellen Moore
Jonathan Cooper
2016 Justin Durant
Mark Sanchez
2015 Greg Hardy
2014 Jack Crawford
2013 Jon Kitna
2012 None
2011 Abram Elam
2010 None

Prior to this year, among one-year free agent signings, there’s two hits on the list (forget about the players who did absolutely nothing for the team) in guard Jonathan Cooper and wide receiver Randall Cobb, though pass rusher Greg Hardy did provide the team something else entirely. And, to be fair and give credit where it’s due, the front office did make two trades last year that paid huge dividends for defensive ends Robert Quinn and Michael Bennett.

Still, the upside of the 2020 mercenary group is higher than the entirety of the previous decade, and it doesn’t even include defensive tackles Gerald McCoy or Dontari Poe who have little or no guaranteed money on their contracts past this season.

If nothing else, the hiring of Mike McCarthy has shown a willingness to change and a philosophy shift to join the current era of player acquisition. Wednesday’s signing of defensive end Everson Griffen is the kind of move fans and pundits alike have been clamoring for since before Dak Prescott could vote. It’s also the kind of move that can push a team over the edge.

The 2020 hired gun may end up being an anomaly. With McCarthy in his first year and the team having an unprecedented amount of free agents this past offseason, maybe the club will revert to their old ways. He may have just been looking for gap fillers as he became familiar with his roster; the front office hesitant to commit long-term dollars. The uncertainty of future caps thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic that hit at the beginning of the league year could also have influenced the team’s thinking.

Either way, for now the Cowboys have committed to invested in not just stop-gaps, but certifiable talent which should help in their quest to earn a sixth Lombardi.

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Contract details, cap impact of Everson Griffen deal with Cowboys

Taking a look at Griffen’s impact on the 2020 cap, and the financial picture of the defensive line.

The Dallas Cowboys rounded out their defensive line rotation late Wednesday night, agreeing to a deal with one of the top remaining free agents, defensive end Everson Griffen.

The NFL lifted the ban on free-agent visits this week and just one day later, the former Minnesota Viking — who opted out of the final three years of his deal this past March — is now a Cowboy. The details of Griffen’s deal have started to emerge, as it’s a one-year deal for a maximum of $6 million, according to Kimberley A. Martin.

The Cowboys entered the day with approximately $10.3 million in cap space, per Over The Cap, after signing their 2020 draft class and getting some space back after Covid-19 opt outs.

Although Griffen’s base salary is just $3 million, he played in all 16 games in 2019 so his roster bonuses are going to be difficult to count as not-likely-to-be-earned. It’s likely his cap hit will be close to or all of the $6 million totality of the deal if the structure Martin reports is correct.

If that’s the case, Dallas having $4.3 million in remaining space puts them right against the glass ceiling of the amount of room teams like to go into the season with.

Most NFL clubs like to have between $3 million and $5 million for free agent signings due to in-season injuries.

It also brings into question whether or not the Cowboys will look to make any salary-cap saving moves, such as restructuring or releasing fellow defensive lineman Tyrone Crawford.

Griffen currently slots as the third-highest cap hit among 2020 defensive linemen for the Cowboys.

Left defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence will count $21.9 million against the cap;$16.9 million in base salary and another $5 million in prorated signing bonus. Crawford is on the books for $8 million in base salary, all of which would come back were he to be released, and another $1.1 million in prorated bonus.

Free-agent signings Gerald McCoy ($4.25 million) and Dontari Poe ($3.94 million) round out the top five along the defensive line.

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Breaking: Dallas Cowboys adding DE Everson Griffen to mix on 1-year deal

The Dallas Cowboys did not answer the gaping hole at right defensive end during free agency. After losing Robert Quinn and his 11.5 sacks from 2019 to the Chicago Bears, they did not spend a high draft pick on the position either, waiting until the …

The Dallas Cowboys did not answer the gaping hole at right defensive end during free agency. After losing Robert Quinn and his 11.5 sacks from 2019 to the Chicago Bears, they did not spend a high draft pick on the position either, waiting until the fifth round to select Utah’s Bradlee Anae. But just two days before the club convenes for training camp practice, they’ve made a big splash at the position after all.

The Cowboys have signed the top remaining free agent on the market, former Minnesota Vikings DE and four-time Pro Bowler Everson Griffen.

The Cowboys have been linked with Griffen since the spring, the timing just hadn’t been right.

Earlier in the offseason, the four-time Pro Bowler (including 2019) opted out of his final remaining three years with the Vikings. Prior to the 2019 league year, the club renegotiated with Griffen to give them salary cap space for the just-finished season.  Griffen turned in a strong performance, notching eight sacks in his 10th year in the league. In March he cut off contract talks, but had since not signed with anyone.

Griffen is fourth in Minnesota Viking history in sacks with 74.5, behind John Randle, Chris Doleman and Jared Allen.

Griffen spent the last six seasons with George Edwards as his defensive coordinator. Edwards joined the Cowboys staff under head coach Mike McCarthy as the senior defensive assistant next to defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. Griffen’s four Pro Bowls have all come with Edwards on the staff.

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Griffen was recently named the top remaining free agent by CBS Sports HQ, ahead of fellow defensive end and more ballyhooed Jadeveon Clowney. The Cowboys now have Griffen, Aldon Smith and Anae as new additions to the position opposite franchise defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence. The team also brought in defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe, as well as third-round draft pick Neville Gallimore to add to Tyrone Crawford and Antwaun Woods returning from injury-plauged seasons.

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Saints agree to terms with former Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham

The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Nigel Bradham, who started four years with the Philadelphia Eagles.

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The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms on a one-year contract with former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham on Thursday, reported ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Bradham had been a free agent since the Eagles released him back in February.

Bradham was one of the more experienced linebackers available in free agency; turning 31 in September, he started all 64 games he appeared in for the Eagles (including the playoffs) since joining them back in 2016. Before that, he started 38 of 57 games played with the Buffalo Bills as a fourth-round draft pick in 2012.

The veteran is known for his skills in defending the run and for dropping back into pass coverage; last season, he notched 61 combined tackles while intercepting a pass and deflecting five others in 12 games played. At this late stage in the offseason, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a stronger resume to find in free agency.

Bradham’s arrival comes a day after Saints coach Sean Payton said that Kiko Alonso may be unavailable for the opening of training camp; Alonso suffered a torn ACL in the Saints’ playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings in January. If nothing else, adding Bradham to the mix with Alonso, Alex Anzalone, and rookie draft pick Zack Baun ensures that the Saints will be trotting out the best possible No. 2 linebacker to run with 2019 All-Pro Demario Davis.

Other names to remember include former Pittsburgh Steelers backup Anthony Chickillo, Michigan State Spartans rookie free agent Joe Bachie, and longtime Saints special teams captain Craig Robertson. Plus last year’s late-round gem, Kaden Elliss out of Idaho, who was carving out a role for himself before suffering his own ACL injury.

Because the Saints had two players opt out due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic — backup tight ends Cole Wick and Jason Vander Laan — they won’t have to make a corresponding roster move to add Bradham. All NFL teams must cut their rosters down to 80 players by Aug. 17, however, so stay tuned for updates in the weeks ahead.

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Saints running backs coach is a big, big fan of signing Ty Montgomery

New Orleans Saints coach Joel Thomas is eager to get to work with ex-Packers RB Ty Montgomery, a versatile pass-catcher with a big toolbox.

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One of the more underrated moves of the New Orleans Saints offseason might be the signing of free agent running back Ty Montgomery, if his new position coach’s thoughts are any indication. Joel Thomas works with the running backs in New Orleans, and he spoke at length on what Montgomery — who experienced some starts and stops with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, after rising to prominence for the Green Bay Packers — brings to the table.

Intriguingly, Thomas has something of a history with Montgomery; he saw firsthand what the converted wide receiver can do when Montgomery starred for the Stanford Cardinal against Thomas’s Washington Huskies back in the day. While Montgomery has since lined up more often at running back than at receiver, Thomas still sees plenty of room for growth from the 27-year old.

“When you look back at it, he has only been a running back for five seasons so that is where I see the piece of putty we can hopefully mold into what we want him to be within our offense,” Thomas said in a recent conference call “I love the versatility out of the backfield. We can line him up in empty. We can put him back there as a single back seven-yards deep. I don’t think he’s gonna be put in a single position and that’s what he does.”

Thomas also pointed to a pair of past Saints running backs who made a name for themselves catching passes: Travaris Cadet and Pierre Thomas. But he was quick to clarify that Cadet didn’t have the size or ability to run between the tackles that Montgomery boasts, whereas the “PT Bruiser” lacked his route-running nuance. In some ways, Montgomery has the best of both worlds.

He continued, “The meetings I’ve had with him, he is smart, obviously Stanford educated, but he’s smart, very coachable, I like what he’s bringing to the table as far as what we’ve got with this signing.”

Still, it would be surprising if Montgomery carves out a big role in the offense. He’s behind Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray on the depth chart (at least; special teams ace Dwayne Washington is also in the mix, along with a few other reserves). But if Montgomery can do more than pick up Kamara’s playbook and show enough in training camp to earn snaps once the season starts, his No. 88 might continue to catch the eye.

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