Former Atlanta Falcons safety Ricardo Allen visited with the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday, according to a source. It's Allen's first known visit since he was released by the Falcons last month. All seven of his NFL seasons came with the Falcons, and he was a starter for the last six seasons in Atlanta. Allen recorded 25 tackles and two interceptions in 12 games for the team in 2020. Defensive backs Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell played nearly every defensive snap for Cincy last season and remain under contract in 2021, but backups Shawn Williams and Brandon Wilson are set for free agency in a few weeks. Allen would provide the Bengals with veteran leadership and depth in their secondary if he were to sign with them.

From RotoBaller

The New Orleans Saints have had trade conversations about potentially dealing defensive tackle Malcom Brown, according to sources. In the third year of a three-year, $15 million contract, a trade or release would save the Saints around $5 million against the 2021 salary cap. Brown has appeared in 29 games with the Saints in his first two seasons, recording 61 tackles (nine for loss), three sacks and one fumble recovery. New Orleans currently has the worst salary cap situation in the league, with Over The Cap pegging the Saints at $69.5 million over a projected cap of $180.5 million. Trading Brown would free up a small portion of the total but would create a hole at a position that will likely be without Sheldon Rankins, who is set to enter free agency, in 2021.

From RotoBaller

Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said that impending free-agent running back Aaron Jones is a candidate for the franchise tag, but also said there are "usually better ways to avoid it." Gutekunst said he would use the tag on Jones if it is what's best for the team. Jones would make around $8 million if he was slapped with the franchise tag in 2021. The 26-year-old running back finished as the No. 5 fantasy running back in Yahoo leagues in 2020, carrying the ball 201 times for 1,104 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games. He also had 47 receptions on 63 targets for an additional 355 yards through the air and two scores. Jones will remain an RB1 target in fantasy in 2021 if he remains with Green Bay, but he'd be plenty valuable elsewhere in a lead-back role.

From RotoBaller

The Houston Texans released cornerbacks Mark Fields and Brandon Williams on Tuesday, per the league's transaction wire. Fields started the 2020 season with the Minnesota Vikings and played in two games before joining the Texans. He played in just two more games in Houston and had two total tackles. Williams appeared in six games and had just one tackle for the Giants in 2020 before signing with Houston in January. He appeared in 45 games for the Cardinals between 2016 and 2018. The moves will free up around $1.5 million in salary cap space for the Texans entering the 2021 season.

From RotoBaller

The Houston Texans and running back David Johnson agreed to a restructured deal on Tuesday, according to a source. Johnson's one-year deal will be worth up to $6 million with $4.25 million fully guaranteed at signing. His total cash is lower than his previous contract, but his full guarantee for the 2021 season more than doubles from $2.1 million. Johnson came to Houston as part of the blockbuster deal that sent All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals before last season. He had a career-high yards-per-carry average of 4.7 on 147 rushing attempts, scoring six touchdowns in 2020. The 29-year-old wasn't a game-changer for the Texans, though, and his injury history may give some fantasy managers pause. However, he could be a decent draft pick in 2021 with Duke Johnson now out of the picture.

From RotoBaller

The Miami Dolphins informed linebacker Kyle Van Noy that he will be released, according to a source. The move comes just one year into a four-year, $51 million contract. The 29-year-old had just 69 tackles and six sacks in his lone season with the Dolphins. His release will save the Dolphins $9.75 million against the 2021 salary cap, while he'll incur a $4.125 dead-cap hit. With the release of Van Noy, linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel should move into a much larger role next season. While it is a somewhat surprising move, Van Noy's release just one year into a four-year deal won't hamstring the club much at all heading into the 2021 season with a lowered overall salary cap.

From RotoBaller

Tennessee Titans impending free-agent pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney (knee) is expected to be fully cleared from surgery to fix a torn meniscus in April, according to a source. Clowney is close to being ready now, but it could delay his signing with a new team for a few weeks. The three-time Pro Bowler can wreak havoc in opposing backfields when he's healthy, but the problem is he's rarely healthy. Clowney has played in just one full season in seven years in the NFL, and he managed just eight games for the Titans in 2020. In those eight games, he had 19 tackles (four for loss), six QB hits, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and no sacks. The 28-year-old former first overall pick in 2014 could once again encounter a cold market coming off yet another surgery.

From RotoBaller

The representatives for Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Orlando Brown have started to explore trade possibilities as he looks for a full-time spot at left tackle, according to a source. The Ravens value the three-year starter and Pro Bowler but are aware of his plans and are open to discussions about his future. Baltimore drafted Brown in 2018 to play right tackle opposite left tackle Ronnie Stanley, but Stanley suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in Week 8 last year after signing a five-year extension in October. In his place, Brown had a 76.4 Pro Football Focus grade and earned his second straight Pro Bowl selection in the final 10 regular season and playoff games. Brown was a third-round pick and can become a free agent after the 2022 season.

From RotoBaller

New York Giants offensive tackle Nate Solder, who opted out of the 2020 season because of concerns for his family with COVID-19, intends to play in 2021 if the situation is right. Solder was considered a high-risk opt-out and his contract tolled. He's scheduled to make $10 million in 2021 while costing $16.5 million against the salary cap. The Giants are expected to meet with the veteran tackle once they know the official salary cap number for 2021. The 32-year-old was the team's starting left tackle in 2018 and 2019 and spent the previous seven seasons with the Patriots, where he won two Super Bowls. New York would save $6 million if they release Solder and $10 million if they made it a post-June 1 cut. Andrew Thomas, the fourth overall pick last year, progressed at left tackle as the season progressed.

From RotoBaller

The Tennessee Titans re-signed cornerback Breon Borders on Monday to an undisclosed deal. Borders was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Duke and spent much of last season on the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster. He recorded 27 tackles, one interception, six passes defensed and one tackle for a loss in six games played (five starts) in 2020. The Titans waived Borders last Thursday before re-signing him. The 25-year-old earned the fifth-highest Pro Football Focus grade of any cornerback in the NFL from Weeks 8 through 12. But his promising rookie campaign ended in Week 13 due to an injury. At the very worst, Borders gives Tennessee's secondary some much-needed depth, and he could push for a starting role this summer.

From RotoBaller

Chicago Bears CB Buster Skrine was released Monday, March 1.

From TheHuddle

New England Patriots QB Cam Newton scored 12 rushing touchdowns inside the red zone in 2020 - the most in the league by a quarterback - according to Pro Football Focus.

Fantasy Spin: There was much focused based on the fact Newton threw for eight touchdowns versus 10 interceptions in 2020, but his ability to serve as his own goal-line back occasionally made him a somewhat serviceable fantasy QB2 down the stretch even after he cooled following a strong start. It seems reasonable to believe New England will draft someone within the first three rounds to compete with him this season if he returns to the Patriots, but he looks like the best bet to be their Week 1 starter again right now.

From TheHuddle

Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook ran for 13 of his 16 rushing touchdowns inside the red zone in 2020, according to Pro Football Focus.

Fantasy Spin: Cook finally put together the kind of high-volume season fantasy owners have been hoping for since he arrived as a second-round pick in 2017. The Vikings are hoping a smooth transition from father (Gary Kubiak) to son (Klint) at offensive coordinator can lead to another such season, but caution is warranted. Fantasy owners can't expect Klint to be the same great play-caller Gary Kubiak was in his first shot as an NFL offensive coordinator, and Cook's durability remains a huge question mark.

From TheHuddle

New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara scored a league-high 16 rushing touchdowns inside the red zone in 2020, according to Pro Football Focus.

Fantasy Spin: Kamara is more than just a great receiving option out of the backfield and this is more proof of that. The 25-year-old has yet to log 200 carries in any of his four seasons but has somehow managed to post at least 14 rushing scores in two of those years. If we forgive Kamara for his injury-plagued 2019 campaign, he has produced at least 13 total TDs in every other season.

From TheHuddle

The Houston Texans released quarterback Josh McCown on Monday, according to the NFL's transaction wire. The 41-year-old played in three games for the Eagles in 2019 and became the league's oldest practice-squad player after he served as an emergency quarterback at the start of last season. McCown was signed to the active roster in November, but he never saw the field. The Texans actually interviewed him for their vacant head-coaching position in January, so McCown could get into coaching once he retires as a player. The Texans also announced on Monday that they signed running backs Buddy Howell and Dontrell Hilliard and cornerback Cornell Armstrong to contract extensions.

From RotoBaller

The Chicago Bears released cornerback Buster Skrine on Monday, according to a source. Skrine, a 10-year veteran who will turn 32 years old in April, played 68 percent of the defensive snaps in 2019, but he missed the final four games and the playoffs due to the sixth reported concussion of his career. He had 68 tackles while playing 52 percent of the snaps in 2020, and opposing quarterbacks had a 125.7 passer rating when throwing his way, according to Pro Football Reference. The Bears don't have an obvious replacement for him on their roster, but Duke Shelley and Kindle Vildor could be asked to step up. By cutting Skrine, Chicago will take a $3.3 million dead salary cap hit. The veteran would've been owed $6 million in 2021.

From RotoBaller

Arizona Cardinals impending free-agent LB Haason Reddick and CB Patrick Peterson are players the Cardinals are interested in re-signing this offseason.

From TheHuddle

Baltimore Ravens impending free-agent LB Pernell McPhee said he wants to re-sign with the Ravens this offseason.

From TheHuddle

Houston Texans QB Josh McCown was released Monday, March 1, according to a source.

From TheHuddle

New Orleans Saints impending free-agent S Marcus Williams will be a priority for the Saints this offseason despite their salary cap situation, according to sources.

From TheHuddle