2012 Free Agent Watch

[woodbuck27]

Panthers retain Derek Anderson on one-year deal

Posted by Evan Silva on March 14, 2012, 4:26 PM EDT
Getty Images
Derek Anderson’s history with Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski is keeping him in the NFL.

Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports that Carolina has re-signed the big-armed passer to a one-year contract.

Anderson, 29 in June, spent last season as Cam Newton’s primary backup after beating out Jimmy Clausen for the role in training camp. He knows Chudzinski’s system and is a scheme fit because he can throw deep.

The Panthers won’t want Anderson throwing at all in 2012, however. Newton is coming off an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, and should benefit from offensive continuity. The sky is the limit for last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick.

[woodbuck27]

Vikings re-sign Guion for three years, $9 million

Posted by Evan Silva on March 14, 2012, 3:21 PM EDT
Getty Images
Adam Caplan of TheSidelineView.com reports that the Vikings have reached an agreement with defensive tackle Letroy Guion on a three-year contract.

The deal is worth $9 million, per Caplan, and contains $2.5 million guaranteed.

Though considered a physically gifted, three-technique style tackle, Guion has been a disappointment when given opportunities for significant playing time in Minnesota. He’s managed just two sacks in 39 career appearances.

The Vikings appear to be paying Guion based on what they envision him doing in the future. He’s still only 25 years old.

[woodbuck27]

Browns lure Frostee Rucker away from division rival Bengals

Posted by Evan Silva on March 14, 2012, 3:09 PM EDT
Reuters
Citing a league source, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that the Browns will sign defensive end Frostee Rucker today.

Contract details are unavailable. Rucker, a former third-round pick out of USC, tallied career highs in tackles (33) and sacks (four) last season with the Bengals. He started 11-of-16 games.

The Browns haven’t had a premier pass rusher in quite some time. Rucker is unlikely to be the answer, but he could help as a rotational rusher off the bench.

In the matter of an hour, Cincinnati has lost two of its key defensive line cogs from last season. Rucker will stay in the division, and Jonathan Fanene is gone to New England.

[woodbuck27]

Patriots sign defensive lineman Fanene to three-year deal

Posted by Evan Silva on March 14, 2012, 3:02 PM EDT
AP

Scout.com’s Aaron Wilson reports that the Patriots have signed versatile defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene to a three-year contract.

Greg Bedard of the Boston Globe has confirmed the news. Fanene, who can play both defensive end and defensive tackle at 6-foot-4 and 292 pounds, set a career high with 6.5 sacks last season. He turns 30 years old next week.

Fanene figures to play end in New England’s 3-4 looks and kick to tackle on passing downs.

He spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Bengals.

[woodbuck27]

Raiders release Cooper Carlisle and John Henderson

Posted by Evan Silva on March 14, 2012, 2:24 PM EDT
AP
The Oakland Raiders announced Wednesday that they have released guard Cooper Carlisle and defensive tackle John Henderson. Combined, the moves clear $7 million in salary off the Raiders’ 2012 books.

Henderson was released with the “failed physical” designation after played through knee woes in 2011. He was owed $4 million in salary. Henderson is 32 years old.

Carlisle is going on age 35 and was due $3 million.

These are the kinds of players with which new G.M. Reggie McKenzie is aggressively looking to part.

[woodbuck27]

Eagles part ways with Jamaal Jackson

Posted by Mike Florio on March 14, 2012, 2:14 PM EDT
Getty Images
The Eagles have extended the contracts of a couple of linemen in the past two days. And they’ve traded a lineman.

Now they’ve cut a lineman.

Jamaal Jackson has been released. The team announced the move Wednesday afternoon.

Due to receive a base salary of $1.775 million in 2012, Jackson was signed through 2013.

A full-time starter since 2006, Jackson missed 15 games in 2010 with a torn ACL. He appeared in every game last season, but started none of them.

[Fritz]

Holy smokes. That's a lot of cap money being spent, fast. And none on centers yet, right?

[woodbuck27]

Chargers sign linebacker Jarret Johnson for four years

Posted by Evan Silva on March 14, 2012, 2:08 PM EDT
Getty Images
The San Diego Chargers announced Wednesday that they have signed linebacker Jarret Johnson to a four-year contract.

Johnson isn’t a dynamic pass rusher, but he’s long been one of the better edge-setting, run-defending outside linebackers in the game. Johnson can play several linebacker positions.

If the Chargers are seeking a sack specialist, however, they will need to turn to April’s draft. Johnson turns 31 this summer and has never recorded more than six sacks in a season.

He only has four sacks over the past two years, a 32-game stretch.

[woodbuck27]

Titans to host Scott Wells
Posted by Mike Florio on March 14, 2012, 1:52 PM EDT
Getty Images
The Titans are looking for a center. They’re reportedly interested in Texans center David Myers.

And now they’re reportedly interested in Packers center Scott Wells.

According to ESPN (via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel), the Titans will host Wells on Wednesday.

Of course, the Titans could be bringing in Wells, who lives only 15 minutes from the Tennessee facility in the offseason, in order to show Myers that the Titans’ have other options. And for Wells, it makes sense to do it even if the Titans actually want Myers, since it gets Wells’ name into circulation.

[woodbuck27]

Chiefs announce the addition of Peyton Hillis

Posted by Evan Silva on March 14, 2012, 7:13 PM EDT
AP
The Kansas City Chiefs announced Wednesday that they have signed running back Peyton Hillis, formerly of the Browns.

Hillis has a coaching staff connection in K.C. New Chiefs offensive coordinator Brian Daboll ran the offense in Cleveland during Hillis’ breakout 2010 season. Hillis’ 2011 campaign was marred by injuries and a distracting contract situation, but he’s only 26 years old and one of the top power runners in football when healthy.

With Jamaal Charles returning from a torn ACL, the Chiefs will be able to field a Thunder and Lightning-style backfield duo. Expect the team to revert to a run-heavy offense in 2012.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hillis’ deal is worth $3 million for one year.

Hillis was the No. 39 overall player on the PFT Hot 100.

[woodbuck27]

Le’Ron McClain chooses the Chargers

Posted by Mike Florio on March 14, 2012, 7:11 PM EDT
Getty Images
At about the same time the Chiefs were adding running back Peyton Hillis, Chiefs running back Le’Ron McClain was making plans to stay in the division.

McClain has agreed to terms with the Chargers on a three-year deal, a league source tells PFT.

McClain spent one season in Kansas City after four in Baltimore. Primarily a fullback, McClain rushed for 902 yards in 2008, his second NFL season.
Last year, he had 29 total touches in 16 games.

It’ll be interesting to see whether the Chargers give him more touches, or expect him to block for guys like Ryan Mathews.

[woodbuck27]

Kellen Davis stays in Chicago, signing two-year deal

Posted by Evan Silva on March 14, 2012, 7:34 PM EDT
Reuters

Bears coach Lovie Smith has been wanting to keep free agent tight end Kellen Davis in Chicago because he sees untapped potential in the athletic, 6-foot-7, 262-pound specimen.

Smith’s wish has been granted by management. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports Davis has re-signed for two seasons.

Davis was drawing interest from the Bengals, Cowboys, and Steelers. Only the Bears could offer him a surefire starting job.

Look for Davis’ production to increase in new Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice’s scheme. Tight ends rarely caught passes under ex-coordinator Mike Martz.

Davis was the No. 95 overall player on the PFT Hot 100.

[woodbuck27]

Garçon’s deal comes close to DeSean’s

Posted by Mike Florio on March 14, 2012, 7:03 PM EDT
Getty Images

Receiver Pierre Garçon hasn’t consistently played like a No. 1 wideout. But the Redskins have decided to pay him like one.

As usual, the original reports of a big-money deal make the deal seem much bigger than it is. Still, Garçon will be pocketing plenty of cash, especially in comparison to one of the other receivers who plays in the NFC East.

Per a source with knowledge of the deal, Garçon will be paid $13.1 million in fully guaranteed money, via an $11 million signing bonus and a $2.1 million base salary in 2012 that is guaranteed for skill/injury/cap.

Garçon’s $5.6 million base salary in 2013 is guaranteed for injury, and it becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2013 league year. Another $1.8 million of Garçon’s 2014 base salary of $7.1 million is guaranteed for injury on signing, and fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2014 league year.

In contrast, DeSean Jackson received $15 million in fully guaranteed money, with another $3 million guaranteed for injury only.

In the Garçon deal, the base salaries for 2015 and 2016 are $7.1 million and $7.6 million, respectively. Also, Garçon will receive per-game bonuses of up to $250,000 per season, based on whether he’s on the 46-man game-day active roster. He is eligible for annual workout bonuses of $150,000.

It adds up to a five-year deal with a maximum value of $42.5 million. Though several million lower than the five-year, $47 million deal signed on Wednesday by Jackson, it’s close enough to make folks wonder whether the Redskins are expecting too much from a guy who never had had a 1,000-yard season and who has generated, on average, four touchdown passes per year.

Then again, the fact that Garçon caught 70 passes for 947 yards from the Kerry Collins/Curtis Painter/Dan Orlovsky combo platter is encouraging.

[pbmax]

Greg Jennings is going to be very, very rich in a year or so.

[swede]

It's kind of quiet here in the Free Agent thread.

Maybe we can make up some Joe Arrigo Tweets.

From Joe Arrigo: Packers are meeting with a mid to high-level free agent tomorrow or the day after. Can't say who, but this could be big!