The pipeline from New England to Detroit remains open.
Patriots free agent defensive lineman Danny Shelton is signing a two-year contract worth $8 million, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday, per agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Shelton spent the past two seasons in New England. The 26-year-old played at a higher level in 2019, earning three sacks with 61 tackles. He joins fellow ex-Patriot Jamie Collins leaving New England to join Matt Patricia in Detroit.
Shelton’s time with the Patriots didn’t overlap with Patricia, but it’s clear the ex-New England staff in Detroit seeks the same type of defenders. Shelton, a former Cleveland Browns first-round pick, also comes cheaper than some other DTs who have agreed to deals this offseason, as Lions GM Bob Quinn attempts to revamp his defensive line.
The Lions also added some depth to their defensive backfield with … another former Patriot. Detroit traded for safety Duron Harmon, who had been in New England since being drafted in 2013 and played under Patricia for five seasons.
Elsewhere in the NFL on Wednesday:
» The Bears look to have a new starting quarterback. They are sending a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars for Nick Foles, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported. Foles’ contract will be restructured in Chicago, Garafolo added.
As NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted, Jacksonville paid $30.5 million for one season of Foles, who started four games and leaves behind $18.75 million in dead money on the salary cap.
» Philip Rivers wasn’t the Colts‘ lone consideration at quarterback. Garafolo reported that before reaching an agreement with the 38-year-old Pro Bowler, Indianapolis was looking into multiple QB options, including a potential trade for Foles.
» Rivers’ former team is poised to stand pat in free agency at the QB position. After not landing Tom Brady, Garafolo and Rapoport reported the Chargers are prepared to move forward with Tyrod Taylor as their starter, while keeping the door open on drafting a long-term option.
“Brady was always kind of an outlier,” Garafolo said on Free Agency Frenzy. “It was just, Tom Brady‘s available. We’ve got the potential to bring him as we’re moving into this new stadium, to have him come out here and be part of our organization. Maybe he doesn’t fit what we want to do offensively, but don’t worry, we’ll make it work. That’s more or less what this was. … [Taylor] can do some of the things that you want to do off of your running game, the ability to boot and those things that Philip Rivers couldn’t do. And now you’re running the ball more effectively, that was part of the reason that they traded for Trai Turner.”
The Chargers have agreed with former Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph on a two-year, $17 million deal that includes another $2 million in incentives, Rapoport reported.
» The Bengals released cornerback B.W. Webb, who started 12 games last year. He tallied 37 tackles, one interception and seven passes defensed in his one season with Cincinnati.
» Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jurrell Casey is being traded from the Titans to the Broncos in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Acquiring one big contract might mean unloading another. Rapoport reported Denver will likely release veteran QB Joe Flacco after just one season, per a source. That situation is expected to be resolved later today.
» The Broncos put a second-round tender on defensive lineman Mike Purcell, Pelissero reported per Purcell’s agent.
» Free-agent pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney hasn’t found the market he expected and the Seahawks‘ offer might prove to be the best he gets, Garafolo reported.
» The Falcons are signing pass rusher Dante Fowler Jr. to a three-year deal worth up to $48 million, per Rapoport and Pelissero. The Rams tried to keep Fowler but he opted to leave for Atlanta, Rapoport added.
» Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders might not be returning to the defending NFC champion 49ers. NFL Network’s Jane Slater reported there is mutual interest between the Cowboys and the veteran wideout.
Dallas has agreed to terms with veteran defensive lineman Gerald McCoy on a three-year deal, per Rapoport.
» Former Patriots center Ted Karras has agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with the Dolphins, Rapoport reported.
» The Los Angeles Rams agreed to a one-year deal with offensive lineman Austin Blythe. He played right guard and center last year as Los Angeles surrendered an NFL-low 22 sacks.
» Trumaine Johnson‘s time with the New York Jets is coming to an end. Rapoport reported the Jets will part ways with the cornerback.
» NFL Network’s Mike Girardi reported the Patriots will pursue another option at quarterback after parting ways with Tom Brady, but are not rushing to do so.
» The Saints are close to a reunion with veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins, Rapoport reported. The Eagles recently parted ways with the former first-round pick, whom New Orleans drafted in 2009.
» The Panthers announced they have released veteran safety Eric Reid after two seasons.
Free-agent wide receiver Seth Roberts is signing with the Panthers, Rapoport reported. He caught 21 passes for the Ravens last year after spending four seasons with the Raiders.
» The Kansas City Chiefs have converted $5 million of defensive end Frank Clark‘s base salary into a signing bonus to give the team more cap flexibility, per Garafolo.
» The San Francisco 49ers are re-signing center Ben Garland on a 1-year deal worth $2.25 million, Rapoport reported.
» The Ravens signed punter Sam Koch to a two-year extension.
» The New York Jets are re-signing cornerback Brian Poole to a one-year deal for $5 million guaranteed, Rapoport reported per Poole’s agent.
» The Buffalo Bills are signing reserve running back Taiwan Jones to a one-year deal, Garafolo reported.