NFL free agency tracker: SUU's LeShaun Sims trades Nashville for Cincinnati on 1-year deal

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AROUND THE SHIELD — The NFL's new league year has begun, and with it comes the start of free agency.

And there's a lot to digest for former Utah high school and college football standouts playing in the National Football League.

We'll try to round up each local as they sign with new teams or even those who sign tenders to return to their current franchise. So bookmark this page and revisit it as new information is added.

See the rest of this year's local free agent class in the list here.

Wednesday, 12:15pm

SUU's LeShaun Sims trades Nashville for Cincinnati on 1-year deal

LeShaun Sims is on the move. The Las Vegas-born cornerback who played at Southern Utah has reportedly moved on from the Tennessee Titans in favor of the Cincinnati Bengals, according to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner, Jr.

#Bengals signing former Tennessee CB Leshaun Sims, source said.

The massive overhaul of the CB room continues.
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) March 25, 2020

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported the deal is for one year. A fifth-round pick in the 2016 draft, Sims started two of the 14 games he played in 2019 en route to 35 tackles (24 solo stops), two pass breakups and a fumble return in the Titan’s defensive backfield. In four seasons in Nashville, the 6-foot, 203-pound defensive back amassed 115 tackkles, including 89 solo stops, with three tackles for loss, eight pass breakups and a pair of interceptions — including one end-zone toe-tapper against Houston that left Jadaveon Clowney speechless.

👀🏈😲😲 Jadeveon Clowney was left speechless after chirping LeShaun Sims prior to this play 😳😂 (via @nflfilms) pic.twitter.com/rsphflvlOV
— Fanatics View (@fanaticsview) February 3, 2018

Tuesday, 06:24pm

Utah State LB Nick Vigil reportedly signs 1-year deal with Chargers

Nick Vigil is coming back west. Really west. The former Utah State linebacker agreed to terms with the Los Angeles Chargers, according to Sirius XM NFL reporter Adam Caplan.

#Chargers and former #Bengals LB Nick Vigil have agreed to terms on a contract, source said.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 24, 2020

Terms of the deal were not known, though ESPN’s Ben Baby said it is a one-year deal. Vigil joins former BYU cornerback Michael Davis with the Chargers, who placed a second-round tender on the Cougar defensive back to make him a restricted free agent. Vigil joins fellow Aggie linebacker alum Kyler Fackrell on the move in the offseason, after the Green Bay draft pick signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound Fremont High grad spent four seasons in Cincinnati, accumulating 295 tackles (182 solo), 12 tackles for loss and two interceptions in 54 games with the Bengals. Vigil had 16 of his 32 career starts in 2020, when he recorded 111 tackles, three tackles for loss, four quarterback hits and five pass breakups. A third-round draft pick in 2016, Vigil, who will turn 27 in August, made a base salary of $2.025 million in 2019, according to Over The Cap.

Friday, 09:48pm

SUU's Miles Killebrew returning to Detroit

Former Southern Utah safety Miles Killebrew was due to enter free agency for the first time in his NFL career. His free agency lasted three days, and he’s sticking around Detroit. Killebrew agreed to terms with the Lions, the two sides announced Friday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The safety-turned-linebacker was the No. 111 overall selection (fourth round) in the 2016 NFL Draft. He’s appeared in 63 career games, including four starts, and logged 56 tackles for Detroit, including six passes defended, two interceptions and one interception returned for a touchdown. Even while the Lions tried to move him to flash linebacker last year, Killebrew made a name for himself on special teams, logging 37 tackles on kick and punt return.

Thursday, 06:24pm

Aggies' JoJo Natson trades Rams, West Coast for Browns, the Land

Former Utah State wide receiver JoJo Natson is headed to familiar territory. Natson, who played his senior season at Akron, agreed to terms with on a 1-year, $1 million deal with the Cleveland Browns, as first reported by the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He’ll be the primary punt returner for the Browns, according to Cleveland.com. The 26-year-old Natson averaged 22.2 yards on 13 kickoff returns, and added 7.8 yards across 19 punt returns for the Los Angeles Rams in 2019. He also spent time with he Indianapolis Colts in 2017.

Thursday, 11:46am

Utah's Nate Orchard set to return to Washington

Five-year NFL veteran Nate Orchard has agreed to terms with the Washington Redskins, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The 6-foot-4, 251-pound defensive end was a second-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns before spending time with Buffalo and Kansas City in 2018.

DE Nate Orchard returning to Washington on a one-year deal, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 18, 2020

The 27-year-old Utah and Highland High grad has appeared in 43 career regular-season games, including 13 starts, amassing 83 tackles, 6.0 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, six passes defended, and an interception.

Tuesday, 03:24pm

Kyler Fackrell agrees to 1-year deal with Giants

Kyler Fackrell's time with the Green Bay Packers is over. The former Utah State standout is headed to the New York Giants on a one-year, $4.6-million contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Fackrell is a likely replacement for New York’s Marcus Golden, who is expected to move on as a free agent. He racked up 10.5 sacks with the Packers in 2018 but saw his production drop off last year. A third-round pick by the Packers in 2016, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Fackrell amassed 111 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks in four seasons in Green Bay.

Former Packers’ LB Kyler Fackrell to Giants on a 1-year, $4.6 million deal, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2020

Monday, 06:24pm

Former BYU LB Kyle Van Noy reportedly heads to Miami on 4-year deal

No sooner had NFL opened free agency Monday than New England Patriots linebacker Kyle Van Noy had hit the market. And just as quickly, the former BYU star was off it. Van Noy is signing a four-year, $51 million deal with the Miami Dolphins, according to NFL Network reporters Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport. Van Noy also tweeted the 😎😎😎 emoji at the Miami Dolphins' Twitter account, essentially confirming the early reports himself. He followed up with a thank you to New England, saying he was "forever grateful" for the Patriots and calling his time there "legendary."

Dolphins signing LB Kyle Van Noy to four-year, $51M deal. (via @MikeGarafolo + @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/8BY8UGhM4M
— NFL (@NFL) March 17, 2020

It’s the biggest payday in Van Noy’s pro career, which started as a second-round draft pick of the Detroit Lions before injuries cut short his playing time and sent him to New England via trade in 2016. "I wasn’t swimming fast enough for them, and they elected to trade me," Van Noy said on an episode of Rapoport's Rap Sheet podcast. "What a blessing that was, because I went to a team that had a vision for me, that had their arms open for me, and they had a very big plan for me. I was so appreciative of that, because it was so refreshing." With the Patriots, Van Noy revived his career, compiling 221 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, two interceptions and two touchdowns while winning a Super Bowl under head coach Bill Belichick. Now he’s moving to Miami, where he will be reunited with former defensive coordinator Brian Flores — where he fills a need. “I just want to go where I’m wanted," Van Noy told Rapoport. "I’ve worked really hard to get to this opportunity. There are so many players who don’t get this opportunity, and I’m just looking to maximize it the best I can. And enjoy the process; there are a lot of things that go on, and I’m excited for it.” The Dolphins also reportedly added former Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones to a $57 million deal over five years, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, with a possibility for as much s $82.5 million with incentives. That would make Jones the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL to pair with Xavier Howard. In news tangentially related to a former local standout, Miami tendered a pair of restricted free agents, including linebacker Vince Biegel. The third-year linebacker from Wisconsin who had 27 tackles and 2.5 sacks a year ago is the son of former BYU linebacker Rocky Biegel, who starred for the Cougars from 1988-91. Van Noy was one of 25 players with local ties who entered free agency on Monday, including 16 unrestricted free agents. Highland High alum Fish Smithson, Utah State’s Devante Mays, BYU’s Kai Nacua and Layton High’s Marcus Kemp all entered unrestricted free agency after their respective teams did not extend a qualifying offer by the start of the league's new year Wednesday. Utah State’s Dallin Leavitt, BYU’s Michael Davis and Highland High’s Bryan Mone were each tendered by the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks, respectively. The trio join former BYU quarterback Taysom Hill, who was tendered by the New Orleans Saints.

NFL free agency tracker: SUU's LeShaun Sims trades Nashville for Cincinnati on 1-year deal

By Sean Walker, KSL | Updated - March 25, 2020 at 12:22 p.m. | Posted - March 16, 2020 at 6:24 p.m.

SUU's LeShaun Sims trades Nashville for Cincinnati on 1-year deal

Utah State LB Nick Vigil reportedly signs 1-year deal with Chargers

SUU's Miles Killebrew returning to Detroit

Aggies' JoJo Natson trades Rams, West Coast for Browns, the Land

Utah's Nate Orchard set to return to Washington

Kyler Fackrell agrees to 1-year deal with Giants

Former BYU LB Kyle Van Noy reportedly heads to Miami on 4-year deal

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NFL free agency tracker: SUU's LeShaun Sims trades Nashville for Cincinnati on 1-year deal

By Sean Walker, KSL | Updated - March 25, 2020 at 12:22 p.m. | Posted - March 16, 2020 at 6:24 p.m.

SUU's LeShaun Sims trades Nashville for Cincinnati on 1-year deal

Utah State LB Nick Vigil reportedly signs 1-year deal with Chargers

SUU's Miles Killebrew returning to Detroit

Aggies' JoJo Natson trades Rams, West Coast for Browns, the Land

Utah's Nate Orchard set to return to Washington

Kyler Fackrell agrees to 1-year deal with Giants

Former BYU LB Kyle Van Noy reportedly heads to Miami on 4-year deal

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