Bills, McCarron agree to two-year contract
The Buffalo Bills took the first step in restocking their quarterback position by agreeing to a two-year contract with A.J. McCarron yesterday.
The 27-year-old spent the past four seasons backing up Andy Dalton in Cincinnati after being selected by the Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 draft.
McCarron’s signing came a few hours after the NFL’s free agency period opened, and five days after Buffalo traded three-year starter Tyrod Taylor to Cleveland. The trade left 2017 fifthround pick Nathan Peterman as the only quarterback on Buffalo’s roster.
Also, two people with direct knowledge the decision confirm to The Associated Press the Bills have agreed to sign free agent defensive end Trent Murphy to a three-year contract.
Murphy spent the past four seasons in Washington.
Cuts run deep
Arizona released safety Tyrann Mathieu when it couldn’t rework his deal. On Tuesday, the Cardinals let running back Adrian Peterson go.
Baltimore cut receiver Jeremy Maclin. Detroit said goodbye to tight end Eric Ebron. Pittsburgh tore up a secondary that often was torn up by opposing quarterbacks, releasing Mike Mitchell, Robert Golden and William Gay.
But Carolina had more success with a veteran, completing a one-year deal with defensive end Julius Peppers.
Thomas retires
Cleveland Browns tackle Joe Thomas announced his retirement. The Browns save his $10.3 million salary for 2018 and a $3 million bonus but lose their best player and leader in the expansion era (1999-present), a 10-time Pro Bowler.
Hours after Thomas announced he’s retiring, the Browns confirmed the acquisition of Taylor, wide receiver Jarvis Landry and cornerback Damarious Randall in three separate deals pulled off last week.
The Browns stayed just as aggressive in free agency, reaching contract agreements with seven players, including offensive tackles Chris Hubbard and Donald Stephenson. Running back Carlos Hyde also is leaving San Francisco for Cleveland.
Jets add QBs
The New York Jets brought back quarterback Josh McCown on a one-year deal worth $10 million and agreed to terms with former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater on a one-year contract, according to published reports.
New York is far from set at the quarterback position, though. The Jets have the No. 6 overall pick in the draft in April and could add a top rookie to the mix to compete with McCown and Bridgewater for the starting job.
The Jets also signed linebacker Avery Williamson to a three-year contract worth $22.5 million. Williamson spent his first four NFL seasons with Tennessee and led the Titans in tackles in two of those years.
Smith, Skins official
The Alex Smith era has begun in Washington as the Redskins completed their trade for the veteran quarterback.
Smith joined the Redskins from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a thirdround pick and cornerback Kendall Fuller. The deal and Smith’s subsequent fouryear contract extension were agreed to in February but couldn’t become official until yesterday’s start of the new league year . . . .
Five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and tight end Julius Thomas were released by the Miami Dolphins . . . .
The Seattle Seahawks agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $10.1 million with former Patriots linebacker Barkevious Mingo ....
The Chicago Bears have agreed to contracts with linebacker Sam Acho and cornerback Prince Amukamara . . . .
Case Keenum is joining his fifth team in five years and the Denver Broncos are turning to their fifth quarterback since Peyton Manning retired 24 months ago.
General manager John Elway called Keenum “a great fit for us” after the sixth-year pro parlayed a breakout year in Minnesota into a two-year, $36 million deal with Denver.