NFL transaction roundup: DE Randy Gregory jumps from Dallas to Denver

[March 16, 2022]  Randy Gregory did an about-face on Tuesday, opting against re-signing with the Dallas Cowboys in favor of agreeing to a deal with the Denver Broncos.

The Cowboys have since deleted a tweet announcing their deal with Gregory.

Gregory agreed with Denver on a five-year, $70 million contract with $28 million guaranteed -- the same agreement he had with the Cowboys earlier Tuesday.

The Cowboys' deal with the defensive end reportedly fell apart after the team inserted language in the contract that protected the team in the event of future suspensions. Gregory was suspended by the league in 2016, 2107, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Gregory, 29, tied his career high with six sacks last season despite playing in just 12 games (11 starts) in 2021. Gregory reportedly had knee surgery in January. He missed four games last season with a calf strain and another due to COVID-19.

In 50 games (12 starts) with the Cowboys, he has 85 tackles (19 for loss), 52 quarterback hits, 16.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

The Broncos also reached terms on a two-year deal with linebacker Josey Jewell, who missed all but two games of the 2021 season with a torn pectoral muscle.

ESPN put the value of the deal at $11 million.

Jewell, 27, was injured in the second game of the season and put on injured reserve. He has 217 career tackles in 49 games (30 starts) since the Broncos selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 draft.

--NFL Network reported the Cowboys are keeping safety Malik Hooker on a two-year deal worth $8 million.

Hooker, 25, had 44 tackles and one interception in 15 games (three starts) with the Cowboys last season.

--The Chargers are releasing offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, multiple outlets reported. The team will save $10.7 million in salary cap.

Bulaga, who turns 33 next week, signed a three-year, $30 million contract before the 2020 season but was limited to 11 games over two seasons due to injuries.

--Linebacker Zaire Franklin will remain with the Indianapolis Colts, according to multiple outlets. His contract reportedly is for three years and $12 million and includes $4 million in guarantees.

Franklin, a seventh-round draft pick in 2018, hasn't missed a game in his career. The 25-year-old has 94 career tackles in 65 games.

--The Jacksonville Jaguars are releasing linebacker Myles Jack in a move that will save the team $8.35 million, ESPN reported.

The reported move comes one day after the Jaguars reached deals with six free agents, including Foye Oluokun on a reported three-year contract worth up to $46.5 million. Oluokun led the NFL in tackles last season with 192 while playing for the Atlanta Falcons.

Jack, 26, recorded a team-best 108 tackles in 15 games last season.

--The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to terms on a three-year deal with free agent offensive lineman James Daniels, according to multiple reports.

The deal is worth $26.5 million, per the reports.

Daniels, 24, was drafted in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Bears and played four seasons in Chicago. He can play both guard and center. Daniels played in 54 games (48 starts) for the Bears, including starting all 17 games in 2021.

--The Miami Dolphins are signing free agent guard Connor Williams to a two-year, $14 million deal, his agents told ESPN. The deal includes $7.5 million guaranteed.

Williams, 24, played the last four seasons in Dallas after the Cowboys selected him in the second round of the 2018 draft. He started 51 of 57 games for the Cowboys.

Williams was flagged for 12 penalties -- 11 holding calls -- in 2021. He had another three penalties declined.

--The Tennessee Titans will release cornerback Janoris Jenkins, according to multiple reports.

The move will save the Titans $6.9 million against the salary cap.

Jenkins, 33, had an interception, six passes defensed and a forced fumble in 14 games (13 starts) in 2021, his only season in Tennessee. He has 27 career picks in 142 career games (138 starts) for four teams. He made the Pro Bowl in 2016 with the New York Giants.

--The New York Jets are signing cornerback D.J. Reed to a three-year, $33 million deal, his agents told NFL Network.

Reed, 25, played the last two seasons in Seattle, recording four interceptions in 24 games (22 starts). He began his career in San Francisco, starting two of 31 games after being taken by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 2018 draft.

Reed graded out with a career-best 78.6 in 2021, according Pro Football Focus.

The Jets kept working on their secondary by signing safety Jordan Whitehead to a two-year deal, his agent said. CBS Sports added the deal was worth $14.5 million.

Whitehead has played four seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after they picked him in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. In 59 career games (55 starts), Whitehead has 292 tackles, two sacks, five interceptions (two in each of the past two seasons) and 25 pass breakups.

--Wide receiver DJ Chark is expected to sign a one-year, $10 million deal with the Detroit Lions, multiple media outlets reported.

Chark, 25, made just seven catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns after being limited to four games last season with the Jaguars due to a broken ankle.

The 6-foot-4 wideout has 147 catches for 2,042 yards and 15 touchdowns in 43 career games since being selected by Jacksonville in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Lions are also keeping wide receiver Kalif Raymond on a two-year deal worth $9.5 million, according to reports.

Raymond, 27, hauled in 48 passes for 576 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games (14 starts) in 2021. The catches were the more than his first four seasons combined by far.

He also returned 21 punts for an average of 11.6 yards per return. It was his first season in Detroit after stints with the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, New York Jets and Tennessee Titans.

--Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Russell Gage is expected to sign with the NFC South rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers, multiple media outlets reported.

Gage, 26, had 66 catches for 770 yards and a career high-tying four touchdowns in 14 games last season. His reception total was two shy of the team lead (tight end Kyle Pitts), while his touchdown total was one fewer than Cordarrelle Patterson.

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory (94) reacts after recovering the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Falcons' current wide receiver roster available to play in the 2022 season consists of Christian Blake, Olamide Zaccheaus, Frank Darby, Chad Hansen, Brayden Lenius, Austin Trammell and Tajae Sharpe. Star Calvin Ridley was suspended for at least one year earlier this month for betting on NFL games during the 2021 season.

--The Los Angeles Rams plan to release punter Johnny Hekker after 10 seasons with the team, Pat McAfee reported.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time first-team All-Pro, Hekker has averaged a robust 46.7 yards per punt in his career.

Hekker, 32, signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

--The Cleveland Browns released eight-year veteran center JC Tretter.

The move saves the Browns $8.235 against the cap.

Tretter, 31, spent the last five years in Cleveland, starting all 80 games at center for the Browns. He played his first three seasons in Green Bay after the Packers selected him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft.

Tretter has served as president of the NFL Players Association since 2020.

--Quarterback Chase Daniel has agreed to a one-year, $2.25 million deal to return to the Los Angeles Chargers, ESPN reported.

Daniel, who is expected to serve as the backup to Justin Herbert, took all of five snaps during his lone appearance last season with the Chargers.

Daniel, 35, has thrown for 1,694 yards with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in 70 games (five starts) with the New Orleans Saints (2010-12, '17), Kansas City Chiefs (2013-15), Philadelphia Eagles (2016), Bears (2018-19), Lions (2020) and Chargers.

--The Buffalo Bills are signing running back J.D. McKissic to a two-year contract with a potential of an additional $1 million in incentives, NFL Network reported.

McKissic, 28, recorded 609 yards from scrimmage (212 rushing, 397 receiving) and four total touchdowns (two rushing, two receiving) in 11 games (three starts) last season with Washington.

McKissic has 2,480 yards from scrimmage (979 rushing, 1,501 receiving) and 11 total scores (four rushing, seven receiving) in 62 games (14 starts) with the Seattle Seahawks, Lions and Washington.

--The Washington Commanders are re-signing cornerback Bobby McCain to a two-year, $11 million extension, his agents told ESPN.

McCain, 28, hauled in a career-high four interceptions and nine passes defensed in 2021, his first in D.C. He started 16 of 17 games for the club.

McCain played his first six seasons in Miami, starting 55 of 87 games and collecting seven interceptions. The Dolphins cut McCain in May 2021, leading to Washington signing him on a one-year deal.

--The New England Patriots have retained running back James White with a two-year deal worth $2.5 million, per ESPN and NFL Network.

White, 30, has played his entire career in New England. White played in just three games last season before being placed on injured reserve with a hip injury.

The three-time Super Bowl champion has gained 4,556 yards from scrimmage and scored 36 touchdowns in 95 games with the Patriots, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2014.

--The Houston Texans kept defensive tackle Maliek Collins on a two-year contract and added former Rams outside linebacker Ogbo Okoronkwo, according to reports.

ESPN reports Collins will get $17 million, including $8.5 guaranteed. Terms for Okoronkwo were not reported.

Collins, 26, had 29 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception in 15 starts last season, his first in Houston. Collins has 17 career sacks in 88 games (81 starts) with Dallas, Las Vegas and Houston.

Okoronkwo, 26, had 15 tackles and two forced fumbles in 13 games in 2021 with the Super Bowl winning Rams. He's appeared in 33 games (no starts) since being taken in the fifth round of the 2018 draft.

-- The New York Giants plan to sign veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

ESPN said the sides agreed on a two-year contract worth $17 million, with $8.5 million of it guaranteed.

The Giants would mark the sixth NFL team for Taylor since he entered the league in 2011. It remains to be seen whether the franchise's new staff, headed by coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, want Taylor to back up incumbent Daniel Jones or compete with him for the starting job.

Taylor, 32, opened the 2021 season as the Houston Texans' starting quarterback with Deshaun Watson sidelined amid his legal trouble. Taylor missed some time with a hamstring injury, and in December, he was benched in favor of rookie Davis Mills for the remainder of the season.

A 2015 Pro Bowler, Taylor finished 2021 with six starts, 966 passing yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.

--The Carolina Panthers agreed to terms with running back D'Onta Foreman, multiple reports said. CBS Sports reported that the deal is for one year and $2 million.

Foreman, 25, spent the past two seasons with the Tennessee Titans and is coming off a career year, when he took over for Derrick Henry after the star went down with a foot injury. In nine games (three starts), Foreman posted career highs of 133 carries, 566 rushing yards and three touchdowns, adding nine catches for 123 yards.

Carolina will be Foreman's third team after the Houston Texans selected him in the third round of the 2017 draft.

The Panthers will add the 236-pound power back to a running backs room that features oft-injured star Christian McCaffrey and 2021 fourth-round pick Chuba Hubbard.

--Field Level Media

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