NFL Notebook: Cardinals release S Mathieu

The Arizona Cardinals released safety Tyrann Mathieu, the team announced on Wednesday.

The move comes only hours before $5.75 million of Mathieu’s 2018 salary and $8 million of his 2019 salary were to be guaranteed on Wednesday afternoon, the first day of the new league year. Mathieu was also due a $5 million roster bonus on Friday.

Mathieu said last week that the team had asked him to take a pay cut. The 25-year-old signed a five-year contract extension in 2016, with $21 million in guaranteed money.

–The Miami Dolphins officially released defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and tight end Julius Thomas, in addition to officially trading wide receiver Jarvis Landry to the Cleveland Browns and acquiring defensive end Robert Quinn from the Los Angeles Rams.

Suh spent three seasons in Miami after he was signed as an unrestricted free agent from Detroit in 2015. He started all 48 games in three seasons with the Dolphins and totaled 181 tackles (109 solo), 15.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

Thomas was acquired by Miami in a trade with Jacksonville on March 9, 2017. He played in 14 games with 12 starts for Miami, making 41 receptions for 388 yards and three touchdowns before he was placed on injured reserve because of a foot injury on Dec. 20.

The trades were reported earlier but became official on Wednesday.

–Offensive tackle Joe Thomas, who played 10,363 consecutive snaps and made 10 Pro Bowls playing for the Cleveland Browns, announced his retirement.

Thomas, 33, played every snap spanning 167 games before the streak ended last October when he sustained a torn triceps in his left arm while blocking Tennessee Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo.

–The Baltimore Ravens released wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, then announced they signed wide receivers John Brown and Ryan Grant.

Multiple media outlets reported Grant agreed to a four-year, $29 million deal with $10 million guaranteed, and Brown signed a one-year deal worth $5 million with an additional $1.5 million available in incentives.

–Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers will be back for a 17th NFL season, the team announced.

Peppers, 38, had been mulling whether to continue playing but opted to return to the team with which he played his first eight NFL seasons.

–Linebacker Anthony Hitchens reached agreement with the Kansas City Chiefs on a five-year deal worth $45 million with $21.9 million guaranteed, according to multiple media outlets.

Hitchens spent his first four seasons with the Cowboys.

–Running back Jerick McKinnon has agreed to a four-year, $30 million deal with the San Francisco 49ers, multiple outlets reported.

The $7.5 million annually puts McKinnon as the fourth-highest paid running back in the NFL after he rushed for 570 yards during the regular season for the Vikings in 2017.

–Cornerback Prince Amukamara re-signed with the Chicago Bears, the team announced. He agreed to a three-year, $27-million deal, according to multiple outlets.

The Bears also announced they re-signed veteran linebacker Sam Acho. He agreed to a two-year, $7.5 million deal, including $3 million guaranteed, according to the Daily Herald.

–Cornerback Trumaine Johnson and the New York Jets reached agreement on a deal worth $72.5 million over five years, including $34 million in guaranteed salary, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Johnson has spent all six of his NFL seasons with the Rams, who used the franchise tag on the star cornerback in each of the last two years.

The 28-year-old Johnson had 65 tackles and two interceptions last season for the Rams, who used their franchise tag this season on safety Lamarcus Joyner to finally give Johnson the chance to hit free agency.

–Former Pro Bowl defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson has agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal with the Green Bay Packers, multiple outlets reported.

Wilkerson had been released by the New York Jets.

–Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nigel Bradham agreed to terms on a five-year contract, the team announced. Multiple outlets reported that the deal was for $40 million.

–The Tennessee Titans are expected to sign running back Dion Lewis to a four-year contract, multiple outlets reported.

The Titans also addressed the offensive line in front of Lewis by signing right guard Josh Kline, the team announced. ESPN reported that it is a four-year deal worth $26 million — with $12 million guaranteed.

Tennessee also signed defensive lineman David King to a one-year contract and tendered left guard Quinton Spain, the team announced.

–The Denver Broncos plan to sign free-agent cornerback Tramaine Brock to a one-year, $4 million contract, Mike Klis of Denver television station KUSA reported Wednesday.

Brock, 29, played 11 games in 2017 during his only season with the Minnesota Vikings, but did not start any of them.

–Running back Carlos Hyde is expected to sign with the Cleveland Browns on a three-year deal worth more than $15 million, multiple outlets reported.

Hyde rushed for 938 yards and eight touchdowns last season with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Browns are also expected to sign tight end Darren Fells to a three-year, $12 million deal.

–The New York Giants agreed to terms with left tackle Nate Solders, multiple media outlets reported.

Solder, who played for the New England Patriots last season, will become the highest paid offensive lineman in the league with a four-year contract worth $62 million, including $35 million guaranteed, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

–The Los Angeles Chargers re-signed safety Adrian Phillips a one-year contract, and the Chargers agreed to a three-year deal with free agent tight end Virgil Green, the team announced.

The Chargers also agreed to a two-year contract with offensive tackle Michael Schofield.

–After being unable to find a trade partner for Eric Ebron, the Detroit Lions released the tight end, the team announced.
Ebron’s contract contained a fifth-year option for next season worth $8.25 million.

–The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms on a three-year deal with cornerback D.J. Hayden, according to a published report.

Hayden’s contract is for $19 million, with $9.5 million guaranteed, SiriusXM NFL Radio reported.

Jacksonville also agreed to terms with safety Don Carey, who spent the last seven seasons with the Detroit Lions, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported.

–The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to sign nose tackle Beau Allen, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

–Journeyman backup quarterback Chase Daniel has agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Chicago Bears, multiple outlets reported.

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the contract is worth $10 million, with $7 million guaranteed.

–Cornerback Jeremy Lane, who was released by the Seattle Seahawks last week, was formally charged with driving while under the influence, according to a report in the Seattle Times.

–Cornerback Bashaud Breeland, who played for the Redskins last season, has agreed to sign a three-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, multiple outlets reported.

The contract is for $24 million, with $11 million in guarantees, according to the NFL Network.

–Defensive lineman Jarvis Jenkins with remain with the Kansas City Chiefs, his representative tweeted. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

–The Tampa Bay Buccaneers plan to re-sign safety Keith Tandy to a contract, the team announced .

Tandy was set to become an unrestricted free agent but was retained on a two-year deal.

–The Oakland Raiders plan to re-sign tight end Lee Smith, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday.

Smith has agreed to a three-year contract, the Bay Area News Group reported.

The agreement with Smith was reached one day after the Bay Area News Group reported the Raiders will sign blocking tight end Derek Carrier to a three-year deal as well.

–Free-agent cornerback Patrick Robinson agreed to a four-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported.

He played last season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

–The Houston Texans have reached agreement with free-agent offensive lineman Zach Fulton on a contract, multiple media outlets reported.

The Houston Chronicle reports that his salary will average $7.5 million per year, although the length of the contract remains unclear.

–Linebacker Trent Murphy, who missed the 2017 season while with the Redskins because of a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, will sign a three-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, multiple media outlets reported.

–Linebacker Demario Davis signed a three-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, according to multiple media outlets.

ESPN reported Davis, who played for the Jets last season, will be paid $24 million, with $18 million of the money guaranteed.

–The Cincinnati Bengals signed punter Kevin Huber to a three-year deal, according to Cincinnati.com.

–The Cleveland Browns reached agreement with free-agent cornerback T.J. Carrie on a contract, multiple media outlets.

Carrie, who played for the Oakland Raiders last season, will sign a four-year deal worth $31 million, including $15.5 million in total guarantees, according to ESPN.

–The New England Patriots re-signed running back Rex Burkhead to a multi-year contract, the Boston Globe reported.

The NFL Network reported that Burkhead’s deal is for three years and is “heavy” on guarantees.

–The Washington Redskins officially acquired quarterback Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs. The Redskins sent cornerback Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick in the 2018 draft for Smith.

–The Carolina Panthers officially acquired wide receiver Torrey Smith from the Philadelphia Eagles. The Panthers traded cornerback Daryl Worley to the Eagles in exchange for Smith.

–The Denver Broncos officially announced they have agreed to terms with free-agent quarterback Case Keenum on a two-year contract.

Mike Klis of 9NEWS reported that the contract is for at least $36 million, and the Denver Post reported Keenum will have an annual salary approaching $20 million.

–The Atlanta Falcons agreed to terms with free agent offensive lineman Brandon Fusco on a three-year contract.

Last season, the 29-year-old Fusco started all 16 games at right guard for the San Francisco 49ers.