The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Report: Colts, QB Rivers agree on one-year deal
Philip Rivers spent more than a decade picking apart the Colts and irritating their fans. Today, he’ll become their new quarterback.
The longtime Chargers star agreed to a one-year contract with Indianapolis on Tuesday, according to a person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be officially announced until today.
General manager Chris Ballard has now filled two major offseason needs in two days — adding an eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback to the roster less than 24 hours after acquiring Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner in a trade with San Francisco.
What the Colts are getting with the 38-year-old Rivers is a 16-year veteran, coming off a season in which he had his fewest touchdown passes (23) since 2007 and his most interceptions (20) since 2016. It was one reason the Chargers decided not to bring back the franchise’s career passing leader.
In Indy, Rivers will be reunited with coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni. Reich was the Chargers quarterbacks coach in 2013 and the offensive coordinator in 2014 and 2015. Sirianni spent five seasons in San Diego, two as quarterbacks coach.
Saints
New Orleans and record-setting quarterback Drew Brees agreed on a twoyear, $50 million contract, a person familiar with the situation said.
Brees, 41, missed five games with a throwing hand injury that required surgery but was still productive last season while leading New Orleans to a third straight playoff appearance. Brees’ 74.3% completion rate ranked second in NFL history behind only his 2018 record of 74.4%.
He also passed for 27 touchdowns while throwing just four interceptions and was selected to a fourth straight Pro Bowl, the 13th of his career.
Titans
Former Falcons defensive end/linebacker Vic Beasley, the eighth overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft, has agreed to a one-year deal to sign with Tennessee, according to his agents.
Beasley was allowed to become a free agent after five seasons with the Falcons. After playing his rookie season with a torn labrum, Beasley had 15.5 sacks during his second season as he helped the Falcons reach Super Bowl LI.
After teams adjusted to his speed rushes, Beasley was slow to add counter moves. He was held to five sacks in both 2017 and 2018. In 2019, Beasley started to embrace using more than just his speed and was moved from the left to the right side. He finished with eight sacks. — D. ORLANDO LEDBETTER
Bears
The Chicago Bears have released outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, parting with a former first-round draft pick out of Georgia who never boosted their pass rush the way they envisioned.
Floyd contributed against the run and in pass coverage. But he did not develop as a pass rusher the way the Bears thought he would when they traded up to draft him at No. 9 overall in 2016.
Floyd had 18½ sacks in four seasons, including a career-low three last year. The Bears agreed to a fiveyear, $70 million deal with former All-Pro pass rusher Robert Quinn on Tuesday to join forces with Khalil Mack. That made it clear Floyd was on his way out of Chicago.
Raiders
A person familiar with the deal says veteran tight end Jason Witten has agreed to a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Witten turns 38 in May and will team up with the coach he once replaced in the “Monday Night Football” announcing booth. Witten retired from the NFL following the 2017 season to take a job as an analyst for ESPN after Jon Gruden left the broadcast booth to return to the Raiders.
Witten changed course a year later and returned to the Dallas Cowboys. He had 63 catches for 529 yards and four TDs last season.
Las Vegas also agreed with free-agent linebacker Cory Littleton on a three-year contract. The former Ram is the second big free-agent addition at linebacker for the Raiders, who agreed to a three-year deal with former Bear Nick Kwiatkoski.
Bills
Stefon Diggs is headed to Buffalo in a splashy trade intended to boost quarterback Josh Allen’s development. Buffalo is set to acquire the big-play receiver and a seventh-round draft pick from the Vikings in exchange for four draft picks, a person with direct knowledge of the move confirmed to The Associated Press.
The Bills agreed to give up their first-round selection this year (22nd overall) and three other picks to land a fifth-year player who has topped 1,000 yards receiving in each of the past two seasons, the person said.
The Vikings will also get Buffalo’s fifth- and sixthround draft picks this year, and a fourth-round choice in next year’s draft.
Eagles
Philadelphia released safety standout Malcolm Jenkins, who led their secondary for the last six years and helped them win the 2017 NFL title. Jenkins, 32, had one year left on his contract at $7.6 million. He will cost the team $6 million under the cap, but the Eagles also save nearly $5 million by cutting Jenkins.
Jenkins has been a strong voice in the players’ union, and a leader in the players’ social justice initiatives.
Jaguars
Jacksonville agreed to terms with free-agent linebacker Joe Schobert, filling one of the team’s biggest needs. Schobert spent the past four years in Cleveland, where he led the team in tackles twice and made a Pro Bowl.
A person familiar with the transaction says Schobert will sign a five-year contract worth $53.75 million and includes $22.5 million guaranteed.