Titans and Eagles will swap their draft spots
NASHVILLE — New Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson made his first big move in rebuilding the struggling franchise, but acquiring DeMarco Murray, the NFL’s 2014 offensive player of the year, cost only a new contract for the running back and a simple swap of fourth-round draft picks with Philadelphia.
The Titans confirmed the trade Wednesday and tweeted out a photo of Murray signing his new deal.
Murray’s agency announced he would be traded with a new contract Monday night, but what Tennessee had to give up to the Eagles had been unknown. The Titans will drop only 13 spots to No. 15, with the Eagles taking their pick at No. 2 in the fourth round for what Robinson called a premium running back in the NFL.
“I have admired his running style from afar for a long time,” Robinson said in a statement. “We are expecting him to embody all that we want to be about as a team moving forward — tough, dependable and team-first. He will be a workhorse for us, and his presence in our offense will help everyone around him.”
Murray was the 2014 NFL rushing leader with 1,845 yards with 13 touchdowns for the Dallas Cowboys.
Then he signed a five-year, $ 40 million contract with $ 21 million guaranteed in Philadelphia last March. But he was considered a bust in coach Chip Kelly’s offense, rushing for only 702 yards with the Eagles when forced to work out of the shotgun formation instead of deeper in the backfield.
Even with that poor season, Murray still would have led the Titans in rushing. Tennessee hasn’t had a running back gain 100 or more yards in a game since Chris Johnson in the 2013 season finale, and the Titans released Johnson in April 2014. Tennessee is 5-27 since releasing Johnson.
The Titans also have agreed to terms with Texans center Ben Jones and veteran quarterback Matt Cassel, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deals had not been finalized.
Source says Osweiler bolting from Broncos
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans have filled their biggest need, starting free agency with a splash by snagging Brock Osweiler from Denver.
A person familiar with the negotiations said the free agent quarterback agreed to a multiyear contract with the team on Wednesday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been announced by the team.
The Broncos hoped to keep Osweiler in the wake of Peyton Manning’s retirement on Monday. Instead he’s heading to Houston, where the Texans were looking to upgrade the position after Brian Hoyer’s struggles last season, particularly his turnover-filled performance in their wild-card playoff loss to Kansas City.
Osweiler appeared in eight games with seven starts last season for the Super Bowl champion Broncos. He started the last seven games of the regular season but was benched in favor of Manning for the postseason. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound player spent the first four years of his career with the Broncos after being drafted in the second round in 2012 out of Arizona State.
Osweiler’s decision leaves the Broncos with Trevor Siemian as the only quarterback on their roster. The seventh-round pick took just one snap as a rookie last season.
Big break for Buccaneers as RB Martin remains
TAMPA, Fla. — All-Pro running back Doug Martin is staying with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, re-signing for five seasons.
The top player at his position on the market, Martin will get more than $35 million, with $15 million guaranteed.
Martin, 27, has had two outstanding seasons with the Bucs and two injury-plagued years.