The quarterback dominoes continue to fall.Following the reported departure of Case Keenum and arrival of Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings, Sam Bradford is expected to sign with the Arizona Cardinals, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Schefter adds that the deal is worth $20 million for one season with $15 million guaranteed. There's an option for a second year at $20 million.The 30-year-old made just one other start in 2017 after suffering a knee injury following a spectacular Week 1 performance against the New Orleans Saints in which he completed 27 of 32 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns.He missed the next three games but returned to start against the Chicago Bears in Week 5, though he attempted just 11 passes before being pulled in favor of Keenum after aggravating his injury.While the signing can't be made official until Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, Bradford would be the Cardinals' only quarterback signed for the 2018 season. Carson Palmer has retired, and all three of Drew Stanton, Blaine Gabbert, and Matt Barkley will be unrestricted free agents at the beginning of the new league year.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Danny Amendola is leaving the New England Patriots but staying in the AFC East, as the free-agent receiver is expected to sign with the Miami Dolphins, a source told Dan Hellie of NFL Network.The deal is for two years at $12 million with $8.25 million guaranteed, according to Peter Schrager of FoxSports.com.Amendola will likely replace slot receiver Jarvis Landry, whom the Dolphins will reportedly trade to the Cleveland Browns. No trade can be completed until Wednesday, the start of the league new year.The 32-year-old Amendola has spent the past five seasons in New England. He is coming off his best year as a Patriot in terms of yards (659) in 2017.He also excelled in the postseason, catching 26 passes for 348 yards and two touchdowns while helping New England reach the Super Bowl.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The free-agent wide receiver market continues to dry up.The Washington Redskins are expected to sign former Seattle Seahawks receiver Paul Richardson to a five-year deal worth $40 million, with $20 million guaranteed, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.Richardson had temporarily been the top available receiver, following the reported signings of Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson earlier Tuesday.Richardson, who'll turn 26 years old in mid-April, was originally drafted by the Seahawks 45th overall in 2014. He enjoyed a career year in 2017, starting 13 of 16 games played and catching 44 of 80 targets for 703 yards and six touchdowns.He'll join a Redskins' receiving corps that includes Josh Doctson and Jamison Crowder.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills are bringing back their longest tenured player, re-signing defensive tackle Kyle Williams to a one-year contract, the team announced Tuesday.The deal is worth $6 million with $5 million guaranteed, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The five-time Pro Bowler will be 35 when the 2018 season begins, his 13th year in the league. Williams has spent his entire career with the Bills, making his first postseason appearance in 2017.Williams will return to a stronger defensive line as the Bills are reportedly signing defensive tackle Star Lotulelei to a five-year contract.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Now that Kirk Cousins is expected to sign with Minnesota, the New York Jets will turn their attention to free-agent quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, team sources told ESPN's Dianna Russini.The Jets were reportedly among the final four teams in the running for Cousins' services. However, he's expected to land a fully guaranteed three-year contract with the Vikings in the $86-million range. The Jets were apparently willing to spend whatever it would take to land Cousins, but now they'll switch to Plan B.Bridgewater returned from a gruesome knee injury he suffered ahead of the 2016 season to suit up in a backup role in 2017.Though he's only made two pass attempts since the end of the 2015 season, he was named to the Pro Bowl that year and generally appeared to be on an upward trajectory. He'll likely be asked to take a short-term deal and prove he's fully recovered, both physically and psychologically.The Jets are expected to let 2017 starter Josh McCown hit free agency and would be left with Bryce Petty, Christian Hackenberg, and Joel Stave on the depth chart.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Johnny Manziel says he would jump at the chance to serve as Tom Brady's backup."I'll go to New England in a heartbeat," Manziel told TMZ Sports over the weekend, adding that he doesn't think there would be pressure because "you learn from the GOAT."His comments come after former NFL wide receiver and current NFL Network analyst Nate Burleson explained why Manziel could be a good fit for the Patriots.Manziel wore a Brady jersey to the Patriots' 2016 AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and cheered on New England in Super Bowl LII.

The Minnesota Vikings pounced early to land free agency's biggest prize.Kirk Cousins plans to sign a three-year, fully guaranteed contract with the team Thursday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The deal is worth $86 million "or so," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Cousins is set to have dinner with Vikings coaches and personnel Wednesday night once the 2018 league year has officially begun, sources told Rapaport, and will make his first visit to the team's facility Thursday.The move comes shortly after it was reported that Case Keenum intends to sign with the Denver Broncos at the official beginning of free agency.Cousins was widely regarded as the top quarterback on the free-agent market, and the No. 1 target of the Vikings and several other QB-needy teams.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Chicago Bears are expected to sign tight end Trey Burton to a four-year, $32-million contract, sources told NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport.The versatile pass-catcher is perhaps best known for his role in the "Philly Special" trick play in which he threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Nick Foles in Super Bowl LII.Burton spent four seasons in Philly and was expected to command a ton of attention in free agency.The Bears are spending heavily to rebuild their offense around quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Chicago reportedly landed top free-agent receiver Allen Robinson on a three-year, $42-million deal.

Just when you thought the Philadelphia Eagles' defensive front couldn't get any more intimidating.The defending Super Bowl champions will add veteran defensive tackle Haloti Ngata on a one-year deal, ESPN's Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen report.The transaction comes after the pending acquisition of Michael Bennett via trade.The Eagles are currently over the cap and will have to find room to incorporate these additions. They're reportedly shopping defensive end Vinny Curry.Philadelphia's vaunted stable of D-linemen is led by Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, Timmy Jernigan, Chris Long, and Derek Barnett.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Baltimore Ravens will release running back Danny Woodhead due to salary-cap constraints, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Woodhead carried cap numbers of $3.3 million for 2018 and $3.75 million for 2019, according to Over The Cap. Cutting him now saves $1.8 million against the cap next season.The 33-year-old was signed to a three-year, $8.8-million contract last offseason. He played just eight games in his one season with the Ravens, spending time on the injured reserve due to a hamstring injury suffered in Week 1.He finished the season with 14 carries for 56 yards and no touchdowns, adding 33 receptions for 200 yards.His release leaves Alex Collins and Javorius Allen as the lead backs in Baltimore's backfield.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

He's back, and he never left.The New Orleans Saints have reached an agreement with franchise quarterback Drew Brees on a two-year deal worth $50 million with $27 million guaranteed, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports, citing sources.The contract is written as a one-year deal with a team option for a second season and a no-trade clause, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The Saints had until the beginning of free agency to sign Brees to a new deal or $18 million in dead money would have counted against the team's cap for 2018. In the interim, several other teams reached out to Brees' camp in hopes he'd consider another destination.Instead, Brees will return to the Big Easy for a 13th season with the Saints.He had the team on the brink of a berth into the NFC Championship Game in 2017, only to see it slip away thanks to a miraculous final play in a divisional playoff battle with the Minnesota Vikings.The Saints finished the year ranked second in team offense and fifth in passing.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The reconstruction of the Buffalo Bills' defensive line continues.The Bills intend to sign defensive tackle Star Lotulelei to a five-year deal, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.Buffalo traded defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to the Jacksonville Jaguars in October and Kyle Williams is expected to hit free agency. With the addition of Lotulelei, the Bills are making strides to improve their 29th-ranked run defense.The move reunites Lotulelei with Sean McDermott. The Bills head coach was the Carolina Panthers' defensive coordinator for the first five years of Lotulelei's career.In five seasons, Lotulelei has 141 career tackles and 11.5 sacks.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins are planning to sign former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Albert Wilson to a three-year, $24-million contract when the 2018 league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Wilson, who turns 26 in July, was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2014.He played 13 games last season with seven starts, catching 42 of 62 targets for 554 yards and three touchdowns.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Cleveland Browns are making preparations in the event they won't have Joe Thomas at left tackle.The Browns are said to be making a big run at soon-to-be free-agent left tackle Nate Solder, the Boston Globe's Ben Volin reports, citing a source.In his 11 seasons in Cleveland, Thomas never missed a game until he tore his triceps halfway through the 2017 season. He's regarded as the best left tackle in football, but the 33-year-old is mulling retirement.Solder is considered the best left tackle on the market. The two-time Super Bowl champ has spent seven seasons in New England and the Patriots are also reportedly working to keep him. But the Browns are armed with the second-most cap space and are embarking on a substantial rebuild after a winless 2017 season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kirk Cousins is taking full advantage of his first free-agent experience after being hit with two consecutive franchise tags with the Washington Redskins.Cousins has had a video crew follow him and his family over the last couple weeks to record his decision process, and he plans to produce his own video, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN."We are opening up our home to allow a behind-the-scenes look into what really transpires before the contract number scrolls across the bottom line of ESPN," Cousins said Monday night.Related - Report: At least 2 teams willing to offer Cousins 3-year, fully guaranteed dealIt's unclear where he plans to air the footage.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Now the Kansas City Chiefs have turned their attention to the defensive side of the ball.Sammy Watkins is on his way to Kansas City, and the team also plans to sign linebacker Anthony Hitchens on a five-year deal that will pay him $9 million per season, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star, citing a source.The Chiefs cleared room under the salary cap by releasing Tamba Hali and Ron Parker and are expected to part with Derrick Johnson as well, but will need replacements on the defensive end.Hitchens spent the past four years in Dallas, corralling 304 total tackles for the Cowboys. He's now expected to make a little more than Dont'a Hightower next season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Zach Strief's retirement announcement Monday may have played a significant role in allowing the New Orleans Saints to keep their quarterback.The Saints and quarterback Drew Brees are expected to finalize a two-year deal Tuesday, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The two sides reportedly made significant progress toward an agreement Monday, when Brees and team staff were in attendance for Strief's retirement press conference.Brees had insisted all along that he wouldn't be playing anywhere but New Orleans in 2018, but he was free to negotiate with other teams when the legal tampering window opened Monday. Teams such as the NFC finalist Minnesota Vikings were among those to reportedly reach out.The 39-year-old has spent the past 12 seasons with the Saints. He's been named to 10 Pro Bowls, made first-team All-Pro in 2006, and won Super Bowl XLIV. Over 17 seasons in the NFL, he's totaled 70,445 yards and 488 touchdowns on a completion percentage of 66.9. He was originally drafted 32nd overall by the San Diego Chargers in 2001.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The top offensive lineman of the 2018 free-agent class is reportedly off the market.Guard Andrew Norwell intends to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The deal is expected to be for five years and $66.5 million with $30 million guaranteed.The contract will make Norwell the highest-paid guard in the league.

The Kansas City Chiefs have reached a deal with impending free-agent receiver Sammy Watkins, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.The young talent will sign for three years on a deal that will pay him an average of $16 million per season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, with $30 million fully guaranteed.Watkins is just four years into his NFL career. At the age of 24, the deal would make him the fourth-highest-paid receiver in the league on annual average. Only Antonio Brown ($17 million per year), Mike Evans ($16.5 million), and DeAndre Hopkins ($16.2 million) are set to make more in each of the next three seasons.His deal with the Chiefs would allow him to hit free agency again at age 27.Watkins was projected to be a star coming out of Clemson, but he's battled injuries for much of his professional career and has just one 1,000-yard season to his name.Now, he's set to join a Chiefs offense fronted by cannon-armed quarterback Patrick Mahomes and complemented by 2017 rushing champ Kareem Hunt, speedster Tyreek Hill, and star tight end Travis Kelce.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The first free-agent wide receiver is reportedly off the board.The Chicago Bears are expected to sign Allen Robinson, sources told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport. This will happen when the market opens Wednesday "barring any last-minute snags," reports ESPN's Adam Schefter, citing a source.Robinson told ESPN's Josina Anderson he'll sign a three-year deal worth $42 million.Robinson recorded only one catch in 2017 before suffering a torn ACL that cost him his season. The Jacksonville Jaguars allowed him to hit free agency instead of using the franchise or transition tag on him.At 24 and with a 1,400-yard season to his name, Robinson was thought to be one of the more sought-after receiver targets. He has 22 career touchdowns.He credited the Bears' hiring of Matt Nagy as head coach as a big reason for him choosing them as his destination."I like what coach (Matt) Nagy did from an offensive standpoint in Kansas City. Me being able to see what he did in KC, being able to know that he is an offensive-minded coach and seeing what he's done before (helped me)," Robinson told Anderson.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Here we go.Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Case Keenum intends to sign with the Denver Broncos when free agency opens Wednesday, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.Keenum, who turned 30 in February, is coming off the finest season of his career. He went 11-3 for the Vikings, setting career highs in completion percentage (67.6 percent), yards (3,547), touchdowns (22), and quarterback rating (98.3).Minnesota finished the season an impressive 13-3, eventually losing the NFC Championship Game to the Philadelphia Eagles. That loss came after a wild divisional-round win over the New Orleans Saints, in which Keenum threw for over 300 yards and the game-winning touchdown.Denver, meanwhile, has found its quarterback. The team considered Kirk Cousins and discussed Teddy Bridgewater, but Keenum's the man, Schefter reports.There's no word on Keenum's contract details as of late Monday night, but he's in for a big raise on the $2 million the Vikings paid him in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

All-Pro guard Andrew Norwell has apparently whittled down his search for a new club with the free-agency period set to begin Wednesday.Norwell has narrowed his three finalists to the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and Indianapolis Colts, a source told Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com.Stapleton adds that the Giants remain confident they will land the former Carolina Panther.Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, who signed Norwell as an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State in 2014, has long been the favorite to obtain the lineman's services, but it appears he may have competition from the cap-flush Colts and 49ers.Norwell had a career year in 2017, grading out as Pro Football Focus' No. 3 offensive guard.The 26-year-old is expected to command the league's highest contract at his position when he hits the open market.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It was a tale of two seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in 2017 and Richard Sherman took that into account when considering his new club.The 49ers were dreadful for the vast majority of the year, going 1-10 and appeared destined for another long offseason. After acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo in October, the 49ers eventually turned the offense over to him and won their final five games.Sherman revealed Garoppolo's outstanding 2017 campaign was a major reason why he agreed to join the 49ers."That had a huge part of it," Sherman said, via ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "The way he played down the stretch was inspiring, it was incredible. It was poised. Sometimes you can get hot, a quarterback can get hot and then the next year fall off the face of the earth and you never hear from them again. What I saw from him was consistency. I saw poise. I saw leadership. I saw respect of his teammates, I saw command of the offense and he'd only been there a few weeks."Sherman also raved about the camaraderie between Garoppolo and head coach Kyle Shanahan as another enticing factor, along with a defense that mimics Seattle's Cover 3 base scheme."I think that Kyle is one of the most innovative and creative offensive minds in football," Sherman said. "He and (Rams coach) Sean McVay, and I told him such. That's from playing against him and seeing his schemes, and that's when he was in Washington, when he was in Atlanta and also in San Fran, he's always coming up with two or three concepts that we've never seen and we really had no answer for outside of some real bastardizations of our defense. And that's on the field, spur of the moment, having three or four All-Pro players who can adjust on the fly that way."But outside of that, some of the concepts were tough to stop. I think that he and Jimmy together will contribute a lot of wins for this football team. And I think defensively I can bring a presence and a leadership that will stabilize and help this defense rise to prominence as well."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

It appears free-agent running back DeMarco Murray is receiving interest from multiple teams.Murray will reportedly visit the Seattle Seahawks this week, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.The visit will be his second since he was released by the Titans, as it was reported he'll visit the Lions on Tuesday. If he doesn't sign with Detroit, Murray will make his way to Seattle.Both teams have glaring voids at running back and are looking to upgrade bottom-10 rush offenses in 2017.While Murray is an experienced and productive player, he comes with considerable risk. The 30-year-old averaged a career-low 3.58 yards per carry last season while battling various injuries. He appeared to run out of gas toward the end of the year, averaging 3 yards per carry over his last six games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Seattle Seahawks signed safety Bradley McDougald to a multi-year contract extension Monday.NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reports the deal is a three-year extension worth $13.95 million.McDougald recorded 75 tackles and four pass deflections in 16 games in 2017, making nine starts.Seattle appears to be in a state of transition after releasing cornerback Richard Sherman, while some have speculated safety Kam Chancellor may retire, thus giving McDougald a larger role.McDougald is capable of playing both free and strong safety.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is expected back at the team facility this week after rehabbing in California with a number of quarterback coaches, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Luck missed the entire 2017 season after suffering a setback in his recovery from shoulder surgery. He insisted in February that another surgery isn't an option at the moment.Colts head coach Frank Reich previously expressed optimism that Luck would be able to throw during OTAs in late April.Luck is the team's foundational player and his return would be welcomed after the Colts slumped to a 4-12 record without him in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Former Oakland Raiders linebacker Aldon Smith pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Monday, facing misdemeanor counts of domestic violence, assault, false imprisonment, and vandalism, San Francisco District Attorney spokesperson Alex Bastian confirmed to TMZ Sports.Smith is expected back in court on April 5.The linebacker turned himself into San Francisco Police on March 6 after police had obtained a warrant for his arrest the previous day. Smith's fiancee, Shawna McKnight, said she was the victim in the incident and that the linebacker called her parents, asking them to check him into a rehab facility, with which they complied.Smith was released by the Raiders on March 5.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Richard Sherman's agreement to join the San Francisco 49ers reverberated across league circles, and you can count one future Hall of Famer who is empathetic toward the veteran cornerback.Without an agent, the former Seattle Seahawks star reportedly signed an incentive-laden three-year deal worth up to $39 million, and Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas feels Sherman may have been taken advantage of by the 49ers.Related: Sherman admits feeling 'vengeful' toward Seahawks"You really feel bad for Richard Sherman, but this is clearly a case of ego getting in the way of his pocket book. He got absolutely crushed on this contract while working as his own agent," Thomas tweeted Monday.Sherman will earn $2 million in base salary for the 2018 season, and will get a $3-million signing bonus along with a $2-million roster bonus on the first day of training camp. However, he'll gain $1 million in incentives if he makes the Pro Bowl and another $2 million for All-Pro honors. As such, Thomas believes the 49ers secured a low-risk, high-reward scenario for themselves.

Adam Gotsis has been arrested after a woman said the Denver Broncos defensive tackle raped her in 2013 when he played for Georgia Tech, reports Kirk Mitchell of The Denver Post.Gotsis surrendered on March 7 at Atlanta's Fulton County Jail, according to an Atlanta police incident report.The 30-year-old woman says she was raped in Atlanta on March 9, 2013. The woman reported the incident on Feb. 1, according to the police report."Our organization was aware of his arrest on March 7, and it is our understanding that no determination has been made at this time as to whether any charges will be filed," the Broncos said in a statement to The Denver Post. "The Broncos take an accusation of this nature very seriously and will continue to closely monitor the legal proceedings."Gotsis' attorney, Sara Becker, released a statement in response to the arrest:"Although the incident in question allegedly occurred more than five years ago, Adam first learned of these shocking accusations last month. We immediately reached out to law enforcement and have proactively cooperated with all aspects of the investigation while maintaining communication with the team. While we were disappointed to learn of the turn the investigation was taking, we steadfastly maintain that the allegations are false. We will continue to advocate strongly for Adam’s innocence."Denver drafted Gotsis in the second round in 2016. He started 13 of 16 games in 2017.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Buffalo Bills are trading offensive tackle Cordy Glenn to the Cincinnati Bengals, a source told ESPN's Josina Anderson.The Bills are sending the 21st overall pick in the 2018 draft to the Bengals along with Glenn for the 12th overall pick, MMQB's Albert Breer reports. The teams will also swap fifth- and sixth-round picks this year.Glenn has three years and $30 million left on his deal. Buffalo will take a $9.6-million dead cap hit, but clear $4.85 million in 2018 cap space, according to Spotrac.Meanwhile, the Bengals address a massive need along their offensive line, as both Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher struggled in 2017.Selected in the second round of the 2012 Draft, Glenn is one of the league's better tackles when healthy. However, he has been plagued by injuries over the past two years, missing 15 games.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings have reached out to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees now that the NFL's free-agent negotiation window has opened, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, several other teams in need of a signal-caller have contacted Brees' agent Tom Condon as well.The 39-year-old Brees will officially become an unrestricted free agent at 4 p.m. ET on March 14.Brees has long been expected to re-sign in New Orleans, but with the two sides unable to reach a deal to this point in the offseason, several suitors are seizing the opportunity to make a bid for his services.Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater, and Sam Bradford all being set to hit free agency puts the Vikings in the market for a quarterback. Minnesota is reportedly expected to be among the final four teams in the running for Kirk Cousins.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

There is significant interest in the services of impending free-agent receiver Sammy Watkins.Formerly property of the Los Angeles Rams, Watkins is drawing interest from the likes of the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, and could be an option for the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.The Rams are also trying to bring him back for a second season with the team."He's going to have several interested teams. Green Bay Packers would be one, the Bears, the Kansas City Chiefs. What about the Jacksonville Jaguars, near his home, and if they lose Allen Robinson, I would believe Sammy Watkins would be in the mix there," Rapoport said on NFL Network.Mike Kaye of First Coast News later reported that the Jaguars are indeed interested in Watkins.Most receiver-needy teams will identify Watkins as a target, as Rapoport pointed out. The Packers would be an intriguing contender as they typically shy away from spending on the free-agent market.The Packers are under new management, however, with Brian Gutekunst replacing Ted Thompson as general manager.The Bears are woefully lacking at the receiver position and the Chiefs and Jaguars are looking to restock their depleted corps.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Brent Grimes can call Florida home for a little while longer.The ball-hawking cornerback has agreed to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million to return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a third season, Michael Silver of NFL Media reports.Grimes joined the Bucs in March 2016 on a two-year, $16.5-million contract following a trio of seasons with the Miami Dolphins. The 34-year-old finished his 2017 campaign with 49 tackles, 11 pass breakups, and three picks across 13 starts.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced they've agreed to a six-year extension with tight end Cameron Brate. A source told ESPN's Jenna Laine that the deal is worth $41 million, with $18 million guaranteed.The four-year veteran was a restricted free agent. He caught 48 of 77 targets last season for 591 yards and six touchdowns in 2017. He has career totals of 129 receptions, 1,556 yards, and 17 touchdowns.He represents one half of one of the league's best tight end duos along with 2017 first-round pick O.J. Howard.The two ranked as Pro Football Focus' No. 6 and 68 tight ends, respectively, last season.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kirk Cousins' time in Washington has come to an end, with the passer hitting free agency this week and certain to move on to a new team.But Cousins has one final message to Redskins fans - and it's one of gratitude.Cousins penned a farewell letter to Washington fans and posted it on his website on Monday, notably tagging the Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets.The tags have since been deleted.

Warning: Story contains graphic imagesPhotos have emerged from Tom Brady's "Tom vs. Time" documentary of the thumb injury he suffered in advance of the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Houston Texans fancy a pair of former New England Patriots.Texans head coach Bill O'Brien spent five years on the Patriots' coaching staff, and now Houston is making a push for impending free-agent left tackle Nate Solder, reports John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. The team is also showing interest in corner Malcolm Butler, a source told Michael Giardi of NBC Sports Boston.Offensive line and corner are significant areas of need for the Texans and they're eyeing the top players available at those positions.Solder spent the first seven years of his career in Foxboro and is considered the best tackle available in free agency. Butler has spent four seasons with the Patriots and helped them attain two championships. He was, however, famously benched for Super Bowl LII.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins have put an end to the Lawrence Timmons experiment.The Dolphins have released the linebacker just one year into the two-year, $12-million deal he inked with the team last March, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.Timmons' short stint in the Sunshine State got off to a rough start, as he was briefly suspended early in the 2017 season for going AWOL prior to the Dolphins' Week 2 tilt against the Los Angeles Chargers. He was reinstated shortly thereafter and played in 14 of 16 games, compiling 84 tackles and three pass breakups.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Kansas City Chiefs are releasing linebacker Tamba Hali after 12 seasons with the team, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports, citing a source.Hali only managed five games in 2017 due to knee issues. Before last season, he'd been a consistent, reliable performer for much of his career. He was named to five Pro Bowls and his 89.5 career sacks rank second in team history, behind only Derrick Thomas' 126.5.The move continues the Chiefs' offseason purge of veteran talent. The team agreed to trade quarterback Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins and corner Marcus Peters to the Los Angeles Rams, released safety Ron Parker on Monday, and is expected to let linebacker Derrick Johnson hit free agency.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Denver Broncos will listen to trade offers for running back C.J. Anderson, but do not expect to release him at this time, according to Mike Klis of 9News.Anderson will carry a cap hit of $4.5 million in both 2018 and 2019, but can be cut this year with zero cost against the salary cap, according to Spotrac.The 27-year-old is three seasons removed from a Pro Bowl campaign in 2014 when he rushed for 849 yards and eight touchdowns, recording 324 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver.He has played in 38 games with 28 starts over the past three seasons, totaling 2,164 rushing yards, 535 receiving yards, and 14 combined touchdowns over that time.He ranked as Pro Football Focus' No. 6 running back this past season, while teammate Devontae Booker ranked 39th.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The band may be getting back together.The NFL's legal tampering period opened Monday and the New Orleans Saints have strong interest in a reunion with impending free-agent tight end Jimmy Graham, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports.The Green Bay Packers have also reached out to Graham's reps, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports, citing sourcesGraham spent the first five years of his career in Louisiana before he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks in 2015 for Max Unger and a first-round draft pick.The Saints have had trouble replacing the 31-year-old since the deal was made.Graham recovered from a patellar tendon injury to be a consistent producer for the Seahawks. He tallied 2,048 yards and 18 touchdowns during his three-year stint in Seattle.While paired with quarterback Drew Brees from 2010-14, the red-zone target caught 51 touchdowns, was a one-time First-Team All-Pro, and was named a Pro Bowler on three separate occasions.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders will reportedly release corner Sean Smith, who will plead guilty to a felony charge of assault Tuesday, a source told Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times.He'll serve a one-year jail sentence plus three years' probation as part of his plea agreement, Fenno reports.Smith is accused of beating his sister's boyfriend and stomping on his head July 4 in Pasadena.Smith signed a four-year, $38-million deal with the Raiders in 2016. His release saves the team $8.5 million in cap space but leaves the team's secondary particularly thin.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

NFL teams are reportedly in the final stages of trade talks, with bonuses and guaranteed money for certain players set to kick in on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.Among the players being shopped are Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry, and Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.Austin, the eighth overall pick of the 2013 draft, signed a four-year, $42-million extension in the summer of 2016. It's set to kick in this season, but cutting him would incur just $5 million in dead cap space, according to Spotrac.The 27-year-old caught just 13 of 22 targets for 47 yards and no touchdowns this season. He had 270 rushing yards and a touchdown on 59 carries.Curry can be cut at a cost of $6 million in dead cap for 2018, $4 million in 2019, and $2 million in 2020. The Super Bowl LII champion started all 19 games this season, compiling 42 combined tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble.James graded as Pro Football Focus' No. 17 tackle this season, starting and playing just eight games. He has a cap hit of $9.341 million this season, but he can be cut with no dead cap cost.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Miami Dolphins are planning to release defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh as early as Monday, according to Jeff Darlington of ESPN.Darlington adds that the formal release that would make Suh available to other teams is likely to happen on Wednesday.The 31-year-old is a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro. He made 47 combined tackles last season, adding 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.Suh signed a six-year, $114-million contract with the Dolphins in March 2015 as a free agent, after spending the first five years of his career with the Detroit Lions, who selected him second overall in the 2010 draft.Suh represented a cap hit of $26.1 million in 2018.Cutting Suh will leave the Dolphins with $22.2 million in dead cap space, according to Spotrac. Applying the post-June 1 designation to his release will allow them to spread that hit over the next two seasons, with $9.1 million counting against the 2018 cap and $13.1 million left to count against the cap for 2019, according to Edward Lewis of NFL.com.Suh shared a tweet Monday morning stating that he was in Seattle and that his followers "should stay tuned, there'll be some exciting news going on."

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and new cornerback Richard Sherman shared intimate details of their negotiations to Peter King of The MMQB - among them, a discussion about the Seattle Seahawks' painful decision to throw the ball from the 1-yard line at the end of Super Bowl XLIX."I promise you, we won't throw it this time," Lynch assured Sherman.Sherman was released by the Seahawks on March 9 and the veteran corner entered discussions with the Niners the following day.In the whirlwind that followed, Sherman and his fiancee shared a four-hour dinner with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and his wife. Sherman represented himself in contract negotiations, and even stepped out of his meeting with Lynch to call other interested GMs.Aside from the money, the opportunity to stay on the West Coast, and the chance to play for a contender, the 49ers were uniquely positioned to give Sherman something else."We had something no other team could offer ... the ability to play Seattle twice a year," Lynch said.Sherman didn't dispute that aspect of the 49ers' appeal."I'm vengeful in that way," he said.Sherman added, "I love the fan base to death, and I loved playing there. It was such a great opportunity. I helped the organization get to a great place and stay there. But now it's like I abandoned them. People are out there burning my jersey. Come on. I'm not the one who let me go. They let me go. I didn't abandon anybody."Sherman fought for a heavily incentivized deal that other teams like the Seahawks, Raiders, and Lions weren't willing to offer. One such stipulation will award Sherman $11 million - what he would have earned with the Seahawks - if he plays in 90 percent of the team's snaps in 2018 and makes the Pro Bowl, even if he can't play in the game because the 49ers are in the Super Bowl."I don't think any agent in the business could have done a better job of negotiating this contract," Sherman said to King. "As long as I'm content with what I'm making, nothing else matters to me."Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly working hard to retain one of their unsung heroes before he hits the free-agent market.The Eagles are expected to reach a deal with corner Patrick Robinson before the legal tampering window with free agents opens Monday, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.Related: 2018 NFL Free Agency Primer: Everything you need to knowRobinson has bounced around the league over the last four years, but he found a role with the Eagles in 2017 and helped them attain their first championship in the Super Bowl era. He hauled in four interceptions during the regular season and his 50-yard pick-6 helped turn the tide in the NFC Championship Game.Robinson was expected to command a lot of attention in free agency, but the Eagles hope to avoid such a scenario.The Eagles will have to get creative to do so, as they enter the free-agency period $9 million over the cap.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Adrian Peterson era in Arizona appears to be nearing an end, or at least an intermission.The Cardinals are expected to release Peterson on Monday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN.Peterson is due a bonus of $750,000 on Friday, the third day of the new league year, if he's on the roster. The Cardinals could, however, re-sign Peterson later, Schefter's source said.Related: Top NFL free agents by positionThe 32-year-old compiled 448 rushing yards and two touchdowns in six games with the Cardinals, while being used as one of several running backs to replace an injured David Johnson. He averaged 3.5 yards per carry and added 66 yards through the air on nine receptions.He missed the final five games of the season, as the Cardinals placed him on injured reserve due to a neck injury suffered in Week 12.Peterson was signed by the New Orleans Saints last offseason to a two-year deal worth a total of $7 million. He ended up stuck behind Pro Bowler Mark Ingram and Offensive Rookie of the Year Alvin Kamara in the backfield timeshare and carried the ball just 27 times over four games, going for 81 yards and no touchdowns.He was traded to the Cardinals following Week 4 in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2018 draft. The pick will be the 189th overall selection.Copyright © 2018 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The NFL's free-agency period officially begins March 14. The 32 teams around the league are afforded two extra days prior to the 14th to enter into contract negotiations with unrestricted players.Get. Your. Popcorn. Ready.It's free agency time! The most glorious time of the NFL year is upon us, and the cash is about to flow like never before.And, like always, theScore is here to cater to your every free-agency need as the market gets set to open.Top free agentsQBRBWR1. Kirk Cousins1. Dion Lewis1. Allen Robinson2. Drew Brees2. Carlos Hyde2. Sammy Watkins3. Case Keenum3. Rex Burkhead3. Paul RichardsonDLLBDB1. Ndamukong Suh1. Nigel Bradham1. Malcolm Butler2. Sheldon Richardson2. Zach Brown2. Trumaine Johnson3. Muhammad Wilkerson3. Avery Williamson3. Dominique Rodgers-CromartieDon't forget to check out the full list of top free agents, broken down by the best 10 at each position. Read More.Free-agency predictions