NFL Draft 2015 Trades, Free Agents News Update: Eagles Drop Cary Williams; Cowboys to Spend $13.6M on Cole Beasley
Two of the more attention-grabbing movements to happen March 3 are the exit of Cary Williams from the Philadelphia Eagles and Cole Beasley's rumored multimillion deal with the Dallas Cowboys.
Williams, 30, has been on the starting lineup of the Eagles for all regular-season and playoff games over two seasons, noted ESPN. The move on Tuesday will likely open the door for a replacement, it added.
The release cuts ties with the defensive back registering the most snaps, the second-most over four seasons, per the report.
The Bleacher Report labels it a cost-cutting move, and interprets it as a response to last season's worst pass defenses in the league. It freed up $6.5 million in cap space, said Philly.com.
The move opts to end a three-year deal signed in 2013 -- after Williams won the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, per Philly.com -- a year earlier than its expiration, explained ESPN. The contract was set to give the player a $6.5-million salary for 2015, but the team still needs to allocate $1.67 million toward the cap.
Williams has no ill feelings, according to ESPN.
"They wanted to go in a new direction... That was fine with me. I'm not disappointed in anything that went on in Philadelphia. I enjoyed my time there. I enjoyed the fans, and I enjoyed my teammates," he told ESPN-related 97.5 The Fanatic.
The Eagles are set to lose starting cornerback Bradley Fletcher and starting safety Nate Allen, it added. Therefore, Philly.com explained, the team will aggressively seek replacements when free agency arrives on March 10.
Williams, the report recounted, grabbed headlines when he began with the Eagles, after missing portions of the offseason program. He was also an outspoken figure. He brings with him a record of 111 tackles, 5 interceptions and 25 passes defended, Philly.com said.
Williams also suited up for the Tennessee Titans, said Sports Illustrated. He was a seventh-round pick in 2008.
Cole Beasley joins Cowboys?
Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports' Rand Getlin revealed on Twitter: "Sources: The #Cowboys and WR Cole Beasley have agreed to terms on a 4-year deal worth $13.6M with $7M in guarantees and a $4M signing bonus."
He detailed in another tweet that the deal "could be worth up to $15.1M if he hits certain escalators."
This deal closes as the Dallas Cowboys continue discussions on Dez Bryant, said the Bleacher Report. It comes a day after the franchise tag was used on him, just before turning into an unrestricted free agent. The Wall Street Journal put a price to the tag: $12.8 million for 2015.
The report also noted that Beasley, 25, made 37 receptions for 420 yards and four touchdowns in 2014. ESPN said that he was a trusted receiver in the eyes of Tony Romo, adding to the 2014 stats four touchdowns.
On the wide-receiver trio of the Cowboys he is now part of, Beasley said: "We all pull for each other. We're all real team guys. We don't care who's eating as long as one of us is," per Jordan Ross on Twitter.