The Bills will host free-agent safety Maurice Alexander on a visit later this week, a source said Tuesday. Alexander exclusively played special teams for the Seahawks last season after four seasons contributing on defense for the Rams. Buffalo is deep at safety but its low-rated special teams could use a boost. NFL Network first reported the visit.
The Texans have signed backup quarterback AJ McCarron to one-year, $3 million contract, ESPN's Adam Schefter confirmed. McCarron will be an improvement at the position behind Deshaun Watson, who was backed up by Brandon Weeden and Joe Webb in 2018. Watson played through injuries last season, but played in all 16 regular season games, a season after recovering from a torn ACL.
The Rams have signed LB Clay Matthews to a two-year deal, the team announced. Matthews spent the last 10 seasons with the Packers, where he amassed 83.5 sacks and six interceptions. With the Rams, Matthews joins a linebacking corps that includes Cory Littleton, Dante Fowler and Samson Ebukam. Matthews attended Agoura HS, which is 15 miles from the Rams' training facility, and starred at USC.
Two long-time Packers move on within hours. On the same day, Clay Matthews signs with the Rams and Randall Cobb with the Cowboys. It became fairly obvious during the season that they would move on, but both were close with QB Aaron Rodgers so it could have an impact in the locker room if not on the field.
The Niners also officially named Dustin Little as their head athletic trainer. Showing full commitment to aligning their strength and conditioning staff with their athletic training staff, they now have a Dustin in charge of each. They earlier hired Dustin Perry as head S&C coach. Both Dustins will work closely with Ben Peterson, the team's recently-hired Head of Player Health and Performance.
The 49ers signed punter Justin Vogel, who spent the 2017 season with the Green Bay Packers. Vogel was with Cleveland last offseason but was released in September. Vogel will have a chance to compete for the spot left by Bradley Pinion's departure for Tampa Bay.
Robert Quinn and Eric Berry have concluded their visits with the Cowboys without any deals pending. Quinn is scheduled to visit with the New Orleans Saints, while Berry is looking at other options as well. The Cowboys and Miami Dolphins have had discussions regarding a trade for Quinn, according to sources, but nothing appears imminent.
Details of Mike Iupati's one-year deal with the Seahawks, per source: $1.25 million signing bonus; $1 million guaranteed base salary; $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses; up to $500,000 in playing-time incentives. So the guarantee is $2.25 million, the base value is $2.75 million and the max value is $3.25 million. As you would expect, this is a discount compared to the two-year deal that J.R. Sweezy got from Arizona after leaving Seattle as a free agent. Sweezy will make between $4.5 million and $6 million this season. Iupati will make between $2.25 million and $3.25 million.
On the day Randall Cobb is leaving for Dallas, Geronimo Allison's re-signing with the Packers became official, according to the NFL transactions. The Packers still need a slot receiver. Their top-three as it stands now -- Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison all are better suited to play the X or the Z.
The Lions have signed Rams RFA RB Malcolm Brown to an offer sheet, per ESPN's Field Yates. The Rams have five days to match it, or they will lose Brown and will not receive compensation. Brown served a special teams standout and as Todd Gurley's trusted backup until he suffered a clavicle injury in Week 13 - against the Lions - and was placed on IR. Brown's injury played a significant role in the Rams' decision to sign CJ Anderson. The Rams have expressed interest in re-signing Anderson in free agency. Brown, who received an original round tender, also is expected to provide depth at running back.
The Lions have given an offer sheet to Rams restricted free agent Malcolm Brown, ESPN Insider Field Yates is reporting. The Rams have five days to match the Lions' offer to retain Brown or let him go to Detroit. Because Brown was tendered at an original round level and went undrafted, the Lions should not owe Los Angeles any compensation. He would give Detroit another potential back behind Kerryon Johnson along with Zach Zenner and Theo Riddick.
With veteran receiver Randall Cobb coming to terms on a one-year deal , the Cowboys have filled their slot receiver need with Cole Beasley's departure to Buffalo last week. Cobb has been a reliable player in his career but he missed games in each of the last three seasons with injuries. The spot might be a little crowded with Cobb joining Allen Hurns and Tavon Austin as potential slot players but the Cowboys will not see it as a must to address receiver in the draft.
Welcome @KindaFunnyVids and best of luck against all the other teams in the @FCFLio except for mine of course. twitter.com/fcflio/status/…
Jets DL Henry Anderson admitted he was "a little worried" about his future with the team when Gregg Williams was named the defensive coordinator. The reason: Scheme fit. Williams ran a 4-3 in Cleveland, but he's switching to a 3-4. It's a better situation for Anderson, who had a career year in the Jets' 3-4. Anderson, whose concerns were allayed when he spoke to Williams before free agency, expects the Jets to use "a lot of different looks." Clearly, the Jets expect a lot of Anderson, whose three-year, $25.2 M contract includes a $17M guarantee at signing.
Jets LG Kelechi Osemele is coming off a down year with the Raiders, but that hasn't affected his confidence. Osemele, acquired in a March 10 trade, said he's in "the best shape of my life." He weighs 307; he was listed at 333 last season. An injury, the former Pro Bowler said, is the only thing that can stop him. "You can look at the film; the film speaks for itself," he said on a conference call. "I'm going to dominate like I always do." Osemele said he found out about the trade while walking out of church with his girlfriend.
Former Alabama players are scoring big in free agency. Mark Barron explains why.
New Steeler Mark Barron considers himself an every down inside linebacker, doesn't expect to come off the field.
Bruce Irvin remembered vividly the car Panthers coach Ron Rivera drove to a meeting with him prior to the 2012 draft, when he ultimately was selected in the first round (15th overall) by Seattle. "It was a black Hyundai,'' Irvin said after signing a one-year deal with Carolina. "Today it was a Mercedes. I think a S550. So slight upgrade.'' Irvin hopes he is an upgrade to the Carolina defense that wants to get back to a top 10 level.
New Jets WR Jamison Crowder expects to hit it off with Sam Darnold. Crowder, speaking to reporters on a conference call, believes he can be "very valuable" to a young QB because of his ability to find holes in a defense. He calls himself a "very friendly target." Crowder said Robby Anderson and Quincy Enunwa remind him of former Redskins teammates DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, respectively, both of whom topped 1,000 yards in 2016. Crowder said there were "some talks" with the Redskins about returning, but "not much."
Bruce Irvin says he feels more comfortable as a linebacker in the base defense Carolina is looking to run this season. Because of his experience he can also play defensive end and serve as a player and teacher of the scheme as the Panthers look to mix a 3-4 scheme into its 4-3. He's eager to share his experience with young players such as Bryan Cox Jr. Irvin said he had a long talk with defensive coordinator Eric Washington, who along with Ron Rivera wants this to be a “contentious'' defense.
Bashaud Breeland's deal with the Chiefs includes a $1.15 million signing bonus, an $805,000 base salary and a $45,000 workout bonus. In addition to that $2 million, he could earn up to $3 million more in incentives. Last year, he took home $608,823 in his partial season with the Packers.
Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said this on the team website regarding the signing of DE/LB Bruce Irvin to a one-year deal: "Our primary focus coming into the offseason was to add talent to our offensive line and our front on defense, primarily in the area of rushing the passer. Bruce has a knack for sacking and disrupting the quarterback.''
A source tells me that the Bucs had a private meeting with running back Miles Sanders at his Penn State pro day Tuesday. Running backs coach Todd McNair put him through a workout, along with running backs coaches for the Titans, Panthers and Bengals.
