Knowing they would almost certainly lose him to a higher bidder in free agency, the Dallas Cowboys made sure to keep their offensive line intact by signing offensive tackle Doug Free to a three-year, $15 million contract, with $6 million guaranteed.
Free has been a starter for the Cowboys at left and right tackle since 2010. By re-signing Free, they’ll likely let his back-up, Jeremy Parnell, go in free agency. Parnell projects as a starter for many teams in the league.
Free missed five games last season with an injured ankle and had surgery on it this offseason. He’s expected to be back to full strength in time for training camp.
Chargers sign Jacoby Jones
The Chargers have an opening at wide receiver with the possible departure of Eddie Royal and Jacoby Jones isn’t likely the guy to fill it. Still, the team added him to their roster with a two-year contract Saturday.
What Jones does provide is a spark in the kick and punt return game. Even as his production at receiver declined last season for the Baltimore Ravens, Jones was still deadly as a returner, gaining almost 1,000 yards on kick retrurns alone and scoring a 108-yard touchdown.
Texans lock in Derek Newton
With the loss of Free already hitting the free agent market, the Houston Texans kept their own line together, re-signing right tackle Derek Newton to a five-year, $26.5 million contact with $10 million in guaranteed money.
The 27-year-old Newton has started every game for the Texans over the last two seasons. Newton’s spotty play at times causes issues for the Texans, but his improvement over his first four seasons is enough for the Texans to want to keep him long term.
Jaguars and Tyson Alualu work out new deal
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Tyson Alualu won’t have to look for a job after March 10. The team signed the potential free agent to a two-year contract Saturday. Terms of the contract were not released.
Alualu had been a starter for the Jaguars until he was beaten out by Red Bryant. Aluala’s demotion didn’t adversely affect his stats as he put up similar numbers to his usual performance with 30 tackles, five hurries and two sacks.
Keeping Alualu is a surprise move for the Jaguars as the defensive end has been a disappointment for the team since they drafted him with the No. 10 pick in the 2010 NFL draft. Alualu has never recorded more than 3.5 sacks in a season. And while the deal is likely a cheap one, capitalizing on Alualu’s back-up status, it’s rare to see teams hang on to draft busts, even if they can still contribute.
Michael Oher wasn’t blindsided by Carolina Panthers’ offer
Michael Oher, the offensive tackle more famous for the bio pic Blindside that earned star Sandra Bullock an Oscar, will get to continue his somewhat disappointing NFL career after the Carolina Panthers signed him to a two-year contract. Terms of the deal haven’t been released.
Oher started 11 games for the Tennessee last season, before ending the season on injured reserve with a toe injury. The 27-year-old Oher was a first round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 draft out of Ole Miss. Oher won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2012.
Mauluga re-signs with Cincinnati Bengals
There were thoughts that the Cincinnati would be looking at an upgrade at middle linebacker either in the draft or free agency, but apparently they remain satisfied enough with Rey Maualuga to re-sign him to a three-year contract. Terms have not been disclosed.
Maualuga hasn’t lit up the tackle stat book in his time with the Bengals, surpassing 75 tackles only twice in his six-year career. He’s also been bitten by the injury bug over the last two seasons, missing seven games. Mauluga was a second-round pick out of USC in 2009. Last year he recorded 59 tackles, one interception and four defended passes.
Titans keep their punter, Brett Kern
Brett Kern can go ahead and set down roots in Nashville after the Tennessee Titans re-siigned him to a five-year, $15 million contract Saturday. Kern is a seven year veteran and been with the Titans for the last five. Kern has a lifetime 45.1 yard punting average and punted 88 times last season.
