The Latest: Source Says Osweiler And Picks To Browns
The Associated Press
The Latest on NFL free agency (all times Eastern):
4:15 p.m.
A person familiar with the trade says the Cleveland Browns have acquired quarterback Brock Osweiler from the Houston Texans.
Cleveland sent a fourth-round selection to Houston for Osweiler, a 2018 second-round pick and a sixth rounder, said the person who spoke Thursday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the teams have not announced the deal.
Osweiler's massive contract this season made him difficult to move without adding the draft picks.
Cleveland has been searching for a franchise quarterback, but Osweiler failed to fill that role for the Texans. The Browns do have a roster decision to make in the next few days on Robert Griffin III, and Osweiler gives them a temporary option.
The Browns own the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft after going 1-15 last season.
Osweiler went 8-6 in 14 starts for Houston last season. The Texans are in the market to upgrade the position in free agency and through a trade or a free agent, including possibly Tony Romo.
— Tom Withers reporting from Cleveland.
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3:55 p.m.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are spending big in free agency for the third consecutive year.
According to a person familiar with the deals, the Jaguars have agreed to terms with Arizona defensive end Calais Campbell and Dallas safety Barry Church. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the Jaguars won't announce any deals until players sign contracts Friday.
Campbell agreed to a four-year deal worth $60 million, with $30 million guaranteed, the person said. Church agreed to a four-year contract worth around $24 million.
The duo should significantly upgrade a defense that ranked sixth in the NFL in 2016 but failed to general game-changing turnovers.
The 30-year-old Campbell will replace Jared Odrick, who was released last month.
The 29-year-old Church will replace Johnathan Cyprien, a second-round draft pick in 2013.
The Jaguars also are expected to make a huge offer to Houston cornerback A.J. Bouye.
— Mark Long reporting from Jacksonville, Florida.
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3:51 p.m.
The Los Angeles Chargers are taking three of their own free agents north.
The Chargers re-signed safety Jahleel Addae, quarterback Kellen Clemens and long snapper Mike Windt.
Addae rose from an undrafted free agent to a starter in four seasons with the Chargers. He broke his collarbone last season and appeared in just eight games, but the Chargers kept him with a four-year deal.
Windt also got a four-year deal after spending the last seven seasons with the Chargers.
Clemens will return for his fourth season as Philip Rivers' backup.
— Greg Beacham reporting from Los Angeles
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3:50 p.m.
A person familiar with the negotiations says the New York Jets are re-signing versatile offensive lineman Ben Ijalana to a two-year contract.
The deal is worth a maximum of $11 million, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not yet announced the move Thursday.
NFL Network first reported the new deal for Ijalana, who could be the starter at left tackle this season.
Ijalana played both right and left tackle last season for New York, finishing the year on the left side for the final eight after Ryan Clady was injured. The Jets did not pick up the option for Clady, making him a free agent, and they opted instead to bring back Ijalana, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent.
Ijalana has spent the last four seasons with the Jets, who claimed him off waivers from Indianapolis in 2013.
A second-round pick out of Villanova in 2011, Ijalana has played in 23 games with 13 starts — all last season.
— Dennis Waszak Jr. reporting from New York.
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3:15 p.m.
The San Francisco 49ers have agreed to a deal with free-agent tight end Logan Paulsen.
A person familiar with the contract says Paulsen will join the 49ers officially Thursday after 4 p.m. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been signed. CSN Bay Area first reported the deal.
Paulsen is more of a blocking tight end who has 82 career catches in six seasons with Washington and Chicago. He has ties to new 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, having spent four years in Washington when Shanahan was offensive coordinator.
The 49ers agreed to deals on Wednesday with quarterback Brian Hoyer and Pro Bowl fullback Kyle Juszczyk, a second person familiar with the deals said on condition of anonymity because they also had not been signed.
— Josh Dubow reporting from Santa Clara, California.
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3:07 p.m.
The Washington Redskins are set to sign former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Terrell McClain to a four-year deal when free agency opens.
McClain called the deal a "dream come true." A similar system to what he has played before drew him to the Redskins.
McClain, who had 40 tackles and 2 ½ sacks last season for Dallas, wasn't concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the Redskins, from franchised quarterback Kirk Cousins to questions about the role of general manager Scot McCloughan.
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3:02 p.m.
A person familiar with the negotiations says the Cleveland Browns will sign free agent guard Kevin Zeitler.
After giving left guard Joel Bitonio a five-year contract extension earlier Thursday, the Browns are investing heavily into their line by adding Zeitler, said the person who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal can't be announced until 4 p.m.
The 27-yer-old Zeitler has spent the past three seasons with Cincinnati. He will be reunited in Cleveland with coach Hue Jackson, who spent two seasons as the Bengals offensive coordinator before he was hired by the Browns.
Cleveland's offensive line was ravaged by injuries last season as both Bitonio and right guard John Greco sustained serious foot injuries. The Browns were unable to protect their quarterbacks, contributing to the team's 1-15 season.
— Tom Withers reporting from Cleveland.
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2:55 p.m.
Safety Antoine Bethea, released by San Francisco this week, has agreed to a three-year contract with Arizona.
The Cardinals also brought back center A.Q. Shipley on a two-year deal.
Bethea is a three-time Pro Bowl player (2007, 2009, 2014) and an 11-year NFL veteran who spent his first eight seasons with the Colts (2006-13). He has nine 100-plus tackle seasons, including a team-leading 135 tackles in 2016. Bethea won a Super Bowl with the Colts.
Shipley played 28 games (19 starts) the past two seasons with the Cardinals after signings as a free agent in 2015. He also has played for Indianapolis and Baltimore.
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1:25 p.m.
Before throwing money around in free agency, the Browns tossed some big bucks at one of their own.
Cleveland signed left guard Joel Bitonio to a 5-year contract extension Thursday, locking up a player the Browns feel can help their climb from a new low point following a 1-15 season.
Although Bitonio's past two seasons have been cut short by injuries, the Browns view him as one of the NFL's best young interior linemen. With Bitonio and seven-time All Pro tackle Joe Thomas, the Browns are at least set on the left side of their offensive line.
Cleveland is nearly $102 million under the salary cap and the Browns have been aggressive over the past few days in lining up deals.
Wide receiver is a pressing need and the Browns have targeted veteran Kenny Britt of the Rams. Britt's expected signing doesn't mean the Browns have given up on re-signing Terrelle Pryor, the former quarterback who gained 1,007 yards in his first full season at receiver.
— Tom Withers reporting from Cleveland.
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1:01 p.m.
The New York Jets have given second-round tenders to center Wesley Johnson and cornerback Marcus Williams, both restricted free agents.
The second-round tenders, which came a few hours before the NFL's free agency period started Thursday, are each worth $2.7 million. The Jets would receive that amount for each in compensation if another team signs either Johnson or Williams before they sign their tenders.
Johnson is the likely replacement for Nick Mangold, who was recently released. Johnson, a fifth-rounder by Pittsburgh in 2014, started eight of the Jets' final nine games when Mangold was injured.
Williams has eight interceptions in the last two seasons for New York, including two last year while starting four games. He could be in the mix to replace Darrelle Revis, who has been told he is being released Thursday.
— Dennis Waszak reporting from New York.
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12:54 p.m.
The Miami Dolphins have placed a $3.9 million first-round tender on linebacker Kiko Alonso, making it likely he'll remain with the team in 2017.
The Dolphins also placed original round tenders on safety Michael Thomas and running back Damien Williams for $1.8 million each, and restructured the contract of defensive end Nick Williams.
Alonso, Thomas and Damien Williams were tendered Thursday as restricted free agents. The Dolphins have the right to match another team's offer to any of those three, and would get a compensatory first-round pick if Alonso leaves.
Alonso started 15 games in 2016 and led Miami with 115 tackles (69 solo). He had four fumble recoveries, which tied for the NFL lead, and two interceptions.
Thomas played in all 16 games in 2016 and made eight starts.
— Steve Wine reporting from Miami.
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12:35 p.m.
The Chiefs are declining their option on backup quarterback Nick Foles.
The move was widely expected because Kansas City is hard against the salary cap, and letting Foles go saves $6.75 million. But it also means that Tyler Bray — who has never played a regular season game — becomes the backup to Alex Smith.
Foles won the only game he started for the Chiefs last season, when Smith had a concussion. Other teams will almost certainly show interest in Foles as a backup or even a starter.
The Chiefs could also bring him back on a less expensive deal.
— David Skretta reporting from Kansas City, Missouri.
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12:19 p.m.
Aaron Williams' bid to resume his career in Buffalo following a second serious neck injury is over after the Bills released the starting safety.
The Bills provided no reason for the move in a one-sentence statement. Williams and his family have indicated he would like to continue playing.
Williams had two seasons left on his contract and was scheduled to make a $3.6 million base salary this season.
The sixth-year player's season ended last year when he was sidelined by a blindside hit to the head by Dolphins receiver Jarvis Landry in October. In 2015, Williams' season was cut short after being hurt attempting to make a diving headfirst tackle. Surgeons shaved two of his disks to alleviate nerve damage.
— John Wawrow reporting from Orchard Park, New York.
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12:04 p.m.
The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to contract extensions with backup quarterback Matt Schaub and defensive tackle Courtney Upshaw.
The NFC champions have focused on retaining players in the offseason.
"Courtney proved to be versatile in our defensive scheme and he will continue to play several roles along our defensive line," general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. "We know the value of having an experienced backup at quarterback."
Schaub spent his first three seasons in Atlanta, before being traded to the Houston Texans in the 2007 offseason. He returned to Atlanta last season as a backup to Matt Ryan.
Upshaw, a star at Alabama, was signed by Atlanta during the 2016 offseason and was converted to defensive tackle after playing outside linebacker during his time with Baltimore.
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11:50 a.m.
The Philadelphia Eagles have signed wide receiver Torrey Smith to a three-year contract.
Smith was released by the San Francisco 49ers last week.
The 28-year-old Smith caught 53 passes for 930 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons with the 49ers. He never became the deep threat that he was with Baltimore, where he helped the Ravens beat San Francisco in the Super Bowl following the 2012 season.
Smith had just 20 catches for 267 yards last season before missing the final three games with a concussion.
In six seasons, Smith has 266 catches for 4,521 yards and 37 touchdowns.
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