NFL rumors: Latest buzz around free agency, trades, 2015 NFL draft
With NFL free agency set to open on March 10, and the draft following quickly thereafter, the NFL rumor mill is abuzz. What's the latest? Check back often as we update below with all the latest scoops.
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March 6
• The Falcons sign special teams player Eric Weems to two-year deal according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
• Green Bay Packers CB Davon House will hit free agency according to an ESPN report. House's agent Kenny Zuckerman was cited in the reported, insisted there'd be "a lot of interest" in the 25-year-old corner.
• The Seahawks have extended a second-round tender to wide receiver Jermaine Kearse, ESPN's Field Yates reports. Kearse is a restricted free agent. If he signs with another team, that team would owe the Seahawks a second-round pick. If he stays with Seattle it would be a one-year, $2.4 million contract.
• The Giants are reportedly looking at safeties Devin McCourty and Rahim Moore, reports NJ.com.
• The Bears reportedly trade five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets for a fifth-round draft pick, according to ESPN.com's Adam Schefter.
• Outside linebacker Aldon Smith and the San Francisco 49ers agreed to a restructured contract that could pay him $9.754 million next season through roster bonuses, according to CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco.
• The Carolina Panthers signed tight end Greg Olsen to a three-year contract extension.
• The New Orleans Saints do not plan to tender restricted free agent defensive lineman Tyrunn Walker, according to ESPN.com's Mike Triplett.
• The Cincinnati Bengals and linebacker Ray Maualuga have agreed to a three-year contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
• Seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs will not return to the Chicago Bears next season, according to CSN Chicago's Jen Lada.
• The Bears have re-signed backup quarterback Jimmy Clausen, reports ESPN.com's Adam Schefter.
• Cornerback Byron Maxwell tells CSNPhily.com that the Eagles' defensive scheme “definitely” fits him.
• The Miami Dolphins have re-signed offensive tackle Jason Fox to a two-year, $2.5 million contract.
• The Oakland Raiders released defensive end LaMarr Woodley.
• The San Francisco 49ers signed wide receiver Jerome Simpson to a two-year contract.
March 5
• Cornerback Cary Williams is scheduled to visit the Tennessee Titans and the New York Jets, according to Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.
• Ndamukong Suh will reportedly visit the Oakland Raiders next week, according to NFL.com's Mike Silver.
• The Patriots declined to pick up veteran defensive tackle Vince Wilfork's option, the defensive tackle announced on Twitter. Wilfork was set to receive a $4 million roster bonus at the start of the league year.
• The agent for Steelers safety Troy Polamalu says he is undecided on whether he will return for a 13th season.
• The Cowboys signed free agent linebacker Keith Rivers to a one-year deal on Wednesday, as the team's top linebackers from last season as set to hit free agency.
• The Seahawks are courting free-agent cornerbacks Cary Williams and Tramon Williams, the Seattle Times reports. Williams was released by the Eagles and Williams will be a free agent on March 10.
• Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole says free agents are “leery” of Chip Kelly's philosophy after the Eagles traded LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills for Kiko Alonso.
• Darnell Dockett signs a two-year, $7.5 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers.
• The 49ers are reportedly attempting to trade linebacker Michael Wilhoite, according to the Sacramento Bee.
• Free agent WR Brian Hartline is reportedly visiting the Houston Texans after visiting the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears earlier in the week. The New England Patriots are also reportedly interested in Hartline.
March 4
• If Marcus Mariota is available at the No. 6 pick in the draft, the Eagles will trade up to select the former Oregon quarterback, a source told Metro sportswriter Kristian Dyer. The Jets currently hold that pick but would be willing to deal it to Philadelphia, according to the report.
• Former Ravens defensive end Chris Canty will visit with the Jets on Friday and Saturday, reportsThe Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson.
• According to a report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Jeff Legwold, Peyton Manning is prepared to take a $4 million pay cut as he returns to the Denver Broncos next season.
• Bills running back C.J. Spiller turned down a $4.5 million per year contract offer from Buffalo, according to NBC 4's Dianna Marie Russini. On Tuesday, the Bills traded linebacker Kiko Alonso to the Eagles for running back LeSean McCoy.
• Saints linebacker Curtis Lofton is on the market, reports NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. New Orleans is looking to trade the 28-year-old Lofton, who is set to count $9.25 million against the Saints' salary cap in 2015.
• Former Ravens receiver Jacoby Jones will visit the San Diego Chargers, according to The Baltimore Sun.
• The Steelers are "hoping" Troy Polamalu retires, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette.
• The Eagles are expected to pursue OLB Jason Worilds "as soon as free agency starts," reports NBC 4's Dianna Marie Russini.
• ESPN's Josina Anderson reports a source said LeSean McCoy is "frustrated" and "not happy" with being traded to the Bills.
• Safety Tyvon Branch, who was cut by the Raiders last week, is visiting the Colts on Wednesday, according to Connor Orr of Around the NFL.
• Andre Johnson's agent told ProFootballTalk that he has requested the wide receiver be released by the Houston Texans.
• Lions teammates want Ndamukong Suh to return to Detroit, reports Rod Beard of The Detroit News.
• Cowboys VP Stephen Jones believes DeMarco Murray wants to stay in Dallas (via NFL.com). "[A]t end of the day I do think he wants to stay in Dallas. I know he knows we want him here."
• Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett is reportedly deciding between the 49ers and Cardinals.
• According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Bob McGinn, the Packers are willing to give Randall Cobb a five-year deal averaging between $8M to $9M, but Cobb's agent expects more lucrative offers to come in unrestricted free agency. "Some personnel people are convinced the market for Cobb will be between $9 million and $10 million," McGinn writes, "but ... [i]t wouldn't be shocking, given the number of clubs flush with cap space, to see a five-year deal for Cobb averaging $12 million, perhaps even $13 million with guarantees well in excess of $30 million."
March 3
• The Eagles will reportedly trade RB LeSean McCoy to the Bills for LB Kiko Alonso.
• C.J. Spiller says he will not return to Buffalo Bills in 2015.
• The Eagles will release LB Trent Cole after failing to agree on a new deal.
• The Eagles announced that they have released cornerback Cary Williams.
• The Cowboys agreed to terms with wide receiver Cole Beasley on a four-year, $13.6 million deal, reports Rand Getlin of Yahoo Sports.
• The Buccaneers announced that they are meeting with quarterback Jameis Winston on Tuesday.
• The Jets have been trying to keep Percy Harvin by lowering his salary, ESPN's Ed Werder reports. Werder said both sides realize this is unlikely and hope to have a resolution by March 19.
• John McClain of the Houston Chroniclereports the Texans have granted Andre Johnson the ability to seek a trade after he was told his role would be reduced in 2015. If a trade isn't worked out, Johnson will be waived.
• ProFootballTalk reports that wide receiver Brian Hartline, who was cut by the Dolphins last week, will visit the Browns on Tuesday.
• Saints coach Sean Payton told Fox Sports Southwest that running back Mark Ingram is "someone that we want to keep."
• NBC 4's Dianna Marie Russini reports the Jaguars are "very interested" in LB Brian Orakpo.
• The New York Daily Newsreports the Jets are in talks for possibly making a push for former New York cornerback Darrelle Revis.
• NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports the chances of DeMarco Murray returning to the Cowboys next year are "slim." Rapoport says the Cardinals, Colts and Jaguars are all "potential suitors" for Murray.
• The Titans will reportedly release veteran safety Bernard Pollard.
March 2
• Australian rugby star JarrydHayneannounced he signed a futures/reserves contract with the 49ers.
• The Cowboys announced that they placed their franchise tag on wide receiver Dez Bryant.
• Former Packers linebacker Brad Jones signed with the Eagles.
• The Dolphins released veteran cornerback Cortland Finnegan after just one season with the team.
• Free agency officially kicks off on March 10, but the NFL announced on Monday that its salary cap would be $143.28 million in 2015.
The Patriots have used their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostowski, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
• Minnesota has had an "open dialogue" with Adrian Peterson since last week's ruling which enabled the team to communicate with its star running back, says GM Rick Spielman (via the St. Paul Pioneer Press's Chris Tomasson).
• Vikings Territory, however, reports that Minnesota is working hard to trade Peterson and is willing to ship him out "anyway [it] can."
• Count the Buccaneers, Jaguars and Raiders among the teams interested in Ndamukong Suh if he hits the open market, reports NBC 4's Dianna Marie Russini.
• Cowboys plan to make a "respectable" offer to DeMarco Murray, reports ESPN's Ed Werder, with the hope that he gives them a chance to match competing offers.
• The Raiders are projected to have over $55M in cap space, and NFL.com's Ian Rapoport expects them to spend "a lot" in free agency.
• Former Cardinals DT Darnell Dockett has a visit scheduled with the 49ers, reports ESPN's Ed Werder.
• Despite earlier reports, the Eagles have not asked LeSean McCoy to restructure his contract, says the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jeff McLane.
• Following a league suspension for domestic violence accusations, Greg Hardy (whose case was dismissed earlier this year) is unlikely to return to the Panthers, says Bill Voth of the Black and Blue Review.
• Don't look for the Eagles' Jeremy Maclin or the Packers' Randall Cobb to garner the franchise tag, says NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
• Look for the Buccaneers and Redskins to pursue guard Mike Iupati if he doesn't re-sign with the 49ers, reports NBC 4's Dianna Marie Russini.
• The Dolphins want to add at least one "quality" cornerback this off-season and have discussed Texans free agent Kareem Jackson and Chargers free agent Brandon Flowers, says the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson.
• Signed to a five-year deal last off-season, Buccaneers OT Anthony Collins now finds himself on the trade block, per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
• UCLA QB Brett Hundley said it would be a "dream come true" to be drafted by his hometown Cardinals (viaThe Rich Eisen Show).
