The New York Jets added Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca to the left side of their offensive line Saturday, while the Buffalo Bills inserted big-bodied Marcus Stroud in their defensive front.
The Jets and Faneca agreed to a five-year, $40 million contract Saturday, making the former Pittsburgh player the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL.
The Bills acquired Stroud, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, in a trade with Jacksonville for undisclosed draft picks.
Detroit also completed a trade that sent defensive tackle Shaun Rogers to Cleveland for cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round pick in April. The deal was announced Saturday, a day after a trade with Cincinnati fell through that would have sent Rogers to the Bengals for third- and fifth-round picks.
San Francisco signed free-agent defensive end Justin Smith, the No. 4 overall pick by Cincinnati in 2001. The deal is reportedly for six years and $45 million, including $20 million in guarantees. He had 43 1/2 sacks in seven seasons with the Bengals.
Meanwhile, Minnesota reached an agreement on a six-year contract with Bernard Berrian, the receiver who had a career-high 71 catches for 951 yards and five touchdowns for Chicago last year.
Also, Pro Bowl safety John Lynch took a pay cut to remain with Denver, agreeing to a one-year deal after meeting with owner Pat Bowlen and coach Mike Shanahan.
Lynch was scheduled to make $2 million in 2008 and hesitated about returning to the team after he was asked to take a salary cut, the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News reported. Lynch was due a $1.12 million roster bonus March 4.
Cleveland added another prime target for newly re-signed quarterback Derek Anderson, agreeing with Donte’ Stallworth on a seven-year contract. Last season with New England, Stallworth had 46 receptions for 697 yards and three touchdowns.
Faneca’s agent, Rick Smith, told The Associated Press on Saturday that the 31-year-old guard planned to fly to New York on Sunday, take a physical and officially sign the deal Monday. After making nearly $4.4 million in salary and bonuses last season, Faneca got a huge deal that Smith said includes $21 million in guarantees.
A Jets spokesman declined comment on the signing of the seven-time Pro Bowl selection, considered perhaps the league’s best left guard.
Faneca chose New York over San Francisco and St. Louis, all teams that had losing records last season and need help on their offensive lines.
“When he examined the situations, Alan felt this team would make the biggest impact,” Smith said.
New York sorely needed a standout left guard after trading Pete Kendall to Washington following a bitter contract dispute before last season.
Faneca will step in between left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold to give the Jets a terrific left side. Ferguson and Mangold thrived as rookies with Kendall, but struggled at times without his veteran influence last season.
“Alan can’t wait to work with those guys,” Smith said. “He likes to take young guys under his wing and help them develop.”
Stroud, listed at 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds, immediately solidifies a Buffalo defensive line that also features pass-rushing end Aaron Schobel
The move was completed after the Bills began revamping their defense Friday, the first day of NFL free agency, by signing linebacker Kawika Mitchell to a five-year deal and releasing defensive tackle Larry Tripplett. Also Saturday the Bills signed former Minnesota defensive tackle Spencer Johnson to a five-year contract.
In other moves:
-Philadelphia signed free-agent defensive end Chris Clemons to a five-year contract, a day after adding All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel. Clemons had eight sacks in a reserve role with Oakland last season.
-Miami signed free-agent linebacker Reggie Torbor, agreeing to a four-year deal with the former New York Giants player. The Dolphins also signed linebacker Charlie Anderson to a three-year deal, and agreed to five-year deals with defensive tackle Randy Starks and guard Justin Smiley.
-St. Louis replaced retiring kicker Jeff Wilkins almost immediately, signing former Seattle kicker Josh Brown to a five-year, $14.2 million deal late Friday night. Wilkins announced his retirement Friday after 14 seasons.
– Atlanta signed free-agent defensive backs Erik Coleman and Von Hutchins. Coleman had seven interceptions and 338 tackles in four years with the Jets.
-Carolina agreed to terms with free-agent cornerback and kick returner Ricardo Colclough on a two-year, $4 million deal.
-New Orleans re-signed wide receiver Devery Henderson and terminated linebacker Brian Simmons’ contract.
-Tampa Bay signed free-agent tight end John Gilmore and defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson.
-Houston signed former Dallas cornerback Jacques Reeves.
-Jacksonville signed free-agent cornerback Drayton Florence.
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