Balzer: Available free agents quickly dwindling
Cornerback Kyle Fuller will remain with the Bears.
Even as the weekend arrived and the league year entered Friday night, there was no respite from contracts getting accomplished.
Just when it felt like there might be a break from the relentless succession of deal-making that began in earnest Tuesday, two top-rated offensive linemen reached agreement on contracts north of $40 million.
Arizona added guard/tackle Justin Pugh (Giants; 25th in the top 81) for a reported $45 million over five years, while Tampa Bay paid a reported $42 million over five years with $22 million guaranteed for center Ryan Jensen (Ravens; 44th). In addition, the Rams re-signed center John Sullivan (72nd) for two years and $15 million.
Those three capped a day in which eight of the top 81 came off the board, including cornerback Kyle Fuller, Chicago's transition player. The Bears made a quick decision to match a four-year offer sheet executed by the Packers worth $56 million over four years with $18 million guaranteed.
Those contract terms raised eyebrows because it was difficult to understand why the Packers even bothered.
The transition tender for Fuller was $12.971 million and the average per year on the offer sheet is $14 million, slightly higher than $1 million more. Plus, the structure of the contract, which includes a $1 million base salary plus a $500,000 workout bonus and a potential total of $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses creates a salary-cap figure of $6.5 million in 2018, about half of what Fuller would have counted if he played for the tender.
In essence, the Packers merely negotiated Fuller's contract on the Bears' behalf.
The others in the top 81, a number that grew from the original 75 when players were released: No. 9 defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, Seattle to Minnesota; No. 18 cornerback Rashaan Melvin, Indianapolis to Oakland; No. 40 defensive end Adrian Clayborn, Atlanta to New England; and No. 50 tight end Ed Dickson, Carolina to Seattle.
Not counting five restricted free agents on the list and three unsigned franchise players, only 13 of the 81 are still available. Of the 169 players listed in the position rankings, just 59 are unsigned.
In an odd two-day period, two Redskins players that had agreed to terms had their deals voided after failing physicals: wide receiver Ryan Grant and cornerback Bashaud Breeland.
Grant, who was set to sign with Baltimore, was reported to have an ankle injury suffered late in the 2017 season while Breeland's agreement with Carolina disappeared because of a foot injury suffered this month while in the Dominican Republic. Breeland told espn.com a cut on his left foot required a skin graft, and there were reports he might not be able to pass a physical for several months.
The Ravens wasted no time finding another receiver, quickly signing Michael Crabtree, who was released by the Raiders Thursday. Crabtree signed a three-year contract Friday reportedly worth up to $21 million.
Meanwhile, quarterback Sam Bradford's contract with Arizona became official when he passed a physical. Bradford has had knee issues since tearing his ACL twice during his time in St. Louis with the Rams. Last season with the Vikings, there were more games missed with some reports he had a degenerative problem.
However, in comments to the team website, Bradford proclaimed himself in a good place. "My knee feels good," he said. "I went through some struggles last year with it, and it was probably one of the most frustrating seasons I've had mentally. The first part of the season, I just couldn't get it to calm down. But with the procedure I had in November, I was able to get myself into a position to suit up for the playoff games, and really since then, it felt good."
Friday produced another oddity when three players waived by Cleveland Thursday were claimed: linebacker Jeremy Cash by Arizona, tackle Zach Banner by Carolina and wide receiver Sammie Coates by Houston.
In addition to the signing of Clayborn Friday, the Patriots got busy after a quiet two days by signing running back Jeremy Hill (Bengals) and tackle Matt Tobin (Seahawks). The Lions had visits from running backs Frank Gore and LeGarrette Blount before signing Blount Friday night.
Here is a look at players that were reported having visits Thursday and Friday that remain unsigned or were signed by a different team:
LB Jonathan Casillas (UFA Giants): New England Thursday.
DL Tank Carradine (UFA 49ers): Seattle Friday; signed by Raiders.
DT Quinton Dial (UFA Packers): Detroit Thursday, Seattle Friday.
TE Eric Ebron (cut Lions): Carolina Friday.
G/T D.J. Fluker (UFA Giants): Seattle Thursday.
LB Jonathan Freeny (UFA Saints): Lions Friday.
RB Frank Gore (UFA Colts): Detroit Thursday.
QB Chad Henne (UFA Jaguars): Tennessee Friday; signed by Chiefs.
K Sebastian Janikowski (UFA Raiders): L.A. Chargers tryout Friday.
DL Ricky Jean Francois (UFA Patriots): Detroit Thursday.
C Ryan Jensen (UFA Ravens): Indianapolis Friday; signed by Buccaneers.
WR Jordan Matthews (UFA Bills): Arizona Friday.
DT Clinton McDonald (UFA Buccaneers): Oakland Friday.
DE Alex Okafor (UFA Saints): Tampa Bay Thursday; re-signed by Saints.
LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (UFA Chiefs): N.Y. Jets Thursday, Chicago Friday.
C/G Matt Slauson (UFA Chargers): Detroit Friday.
DT Shamar Stephen (UFA Vikings): Detroit Friday.
K Caleb Sturgis (UFA Eagles): Seattle Thursday; signed by Chargers.
TE Luke Willson (UFA Seahawks): Carolina Thursday, Jacksonville Friday.
Players that have lined up reported visits include C Mike Pouncey (cut Dolphins) to L.A. Chargers; WR Markus Wheaton (cut Steelers) to Seattle; DT Tom Johnson (UFA Vikings) to Seattle; DE Benson Mayowa (cut Cowboys) to Indianapolis; RB Mike Davis (not tendered as RFA by Seahawks) to Detroit, a visit that might not happen after the Lions signed Blount.
Following is The Sports Xchange's top 81 free agents. Below the elite 81 are our free-agent rankings by position that include numerous players beyond the first 81.
- QB Drew Brees, New Orleans; re-signed
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas (FFA; signed tender)
- CB Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams; signed by Jets
- RB Le'Veon Bell, Pittsburgh (FFA)
- DE Ezekiel Ansah, Detroit (FFA)
- T Nate Solder, New England; signed by Giants
- G Andrew Norwell, Carolina; signed by Jaguars
- QB Kirk Cousins, Washington; signed by Vikings
- DT Sheldon Richardson, Seattle; signed by Vikings
- CB Kyle Fuller, Chicago (TFA); Bears expected to match Packers offer sheet of $56M/4 yrs, $18M guaranteed
- DT Dontari Poe, Atlanta; signed by Panthers
- WR Sammy Watkins, L.A. Rams; signed by Chiefs
- WR Allen Robinson, Jacksonville; signed by Bears
- DT *Ndamukong Suh, Miami
- DT *Muhammad Wilkerson, N.Y. Jets; signed by Packers
- QB Case Keenum, Minnesota; signed by Broncos
- WR Jarvis Landry, Miami (FFA); re-signed, traded to Browns
- CB Rashaan Melvin, Indianapolis; signed by Raiders
- S Lamarcus Joyner, L.A. Rams (FFA)
- CB Brent Grimes, Tampa Bay; re-signed
- CB Malcolm Butler, New England; signed by Titans
- C Weston Richburg, N.Y. Giants; signed by 49ers
- QB Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota; signed by Jets
- RB *Doug Martin, Tampa Bay; signed by Raiders
- T/G Justin Pugh, N.Y. Giants; signed by Cardinals
- QB AJ McCarron, Cincinnati; signed by Bills
- RB Carlos Hyde, San Francisco; signed by Browns
- CB Patrick Robinson, Philadelphia; signed by Saints
- CB Aaron Colvin, Jacksonville; signed by Texans
- G Alex Boone, Arizona
- LB Avery Williamson, Tennessee; signed by Jets
- LB Nigel Bradham, Philadelphia; re-signed
- DT Star Lotulelei, Carolina; signed by Bills
- WR *Jordy Nelson, Green Bay; signed by Raiders
- WR Terrelle Pryor Sr., Washington
- TE Jimmy Graham, Seattle; signed by Packers
- TE Trey Burton, Philadelphia; signed by Bears
- S Kenny Vaccaro, New Orleans
- G Jack Mewhort, Indianapolis
- DE Adrian Clayborn, Atlanta; signed by Patriots
- T Chris Hubbard, Pittsburgh; signed by Browns
- WR Paul Richardson Jr., Seattle; signed by Redskins
- CB Bashaud Breeland, Washington
- C Ryan Jensen, Baltimore; signed by Buccaneers
- RB Dion Lewis, New England; signed by Titans
- C/G Zach Fulton, Kansas City; signed by Texans
- WR *Michael Crabtree, Oakland; signed by Ravens
- WR Danny Amendola, New England; signed by Dolphins
- S Tre Boston, L.A. Chargers
- LB Zach Brown, Washington; re-signed
- TE Ed Dickson, Carolina; signed by Seahawks
- Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati; re-signed
- *RB DeMarco Murray, Tennessee
- WR Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis; signed by Jaguars
- LB NaVorro Bowman, Oakland
- G Nick Easton, Minnesota (RFA)
- WR Marqise Lee, Jacksonville; re-signed
- *DE Vinny Curry, Philadelphia
- RB Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland; signed by Jets
- DE Julius Peppers, Carolina; re-signed
- CB Prince Amukamara, Chicago; re-signed
- LB Demario Davis, N.Y. Jets; signed by Saints
- LB Todd Davis, Denver; re-signed
- *DT Karl Klug, Tennessee
- DT Bennie Logan, Kansas City
- CB E.J. Gaines, Buffalo
- G Josh Sitton, Chicago; signed by Dolphins
- WR Tyrell Williams, L.A. Chargers (RFA)
- TE Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay (RFA); re-signed by Bucs
- G Josh Kline, Tennessee; re-signed
- WR Mike Wallace, Baltimore
- S Morgan Burnett, Green Bay
- DL David Irving, Dallas (RFA)
- RB Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota; signed by 49ers
- C John Sullivan, L.A. Rams;re-signed
- C *Mike Pouncey, Miami
- G Quinton Spain, Tennessee (RFA)
- WR Albert Wilson, Kansas City; signed by Dolphins
- RB Frank Gore, Indianapolis
- C Matt Paradis, Denver (RFA)
- CB *Richard Sherman, Seattle; signed by 49ers
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