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DeForest Buckner

Latest On 49ers’ Deadline Plans

October 26th, 2024 at 10:19pm CST by Ben Levine

The 49ers currently sit with a disappointing 3-4 record, but they’re also only a game behind the Seahawks for the NFC West lead. Considering the conflicting outlooks, there have been some questions about how the front office would proceed at the trade deadline.

It sounds like John Lynch and co. will generally be aggressive when it comes to acquiring players. Michael Silver of The Athletic wrote earlier this week that the 49ers could be eyeing help at defensive tackle and wide receiver. While the front office has to consider future cap constraints, the organization is still eyeing both “marquee” acquisitions and affordable, “less glamorous” options.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic points to two potential trade targets in New England: wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and defensive lineman Davon Godchaux. Bourne has already been connected to his former club, especially following Brandon Aiyuk‘s season-ending injury. Bourne dismissed recent rumors that he’s pushing for a San Francisco reunion, but the veteran wideout would be a seamless fit for the WR-needy offense.

Godchaux would also be a logical fit with Javon Hargrave lost for the season. The soon-to-be 30-year-old has started 57 of his 58 appearances in New England across four seasons. According to Russini, the 49ers have also considered making a run at two former players in DeForest Buckner (Colts) and D.J. Jones (Broncos), although the reporter hasn’t gotten the impression that their current squads have reciprocated the trade interest.

Christian McCaffrey will soon be providing some firepower to the offense, and the team will eventually get some defensive reinforcement in linebacker Dre Greenlaw. While the 49ers may not have started the 2024 campaign on the best foot, there’s still good reason for optimism in San Francisco. We also know the 49ers are not strangers to trade-deadline acquisitions, with the team adding Chase Young, Charles Omenihu, Emmanuel Sanders, and Jimmy Garoppolo in recent years.

However, while the organization will try their hardest to make a playoff push, they still may consider subtracting from their current roster. Popular trade candidate Deebo Samuel is likely staying put following Aiyuk’s injury, but Russini says the team could consider dealing impending free agent cornerback Charvarius Ward.

Colts Activate DT DeForest Buckner From IR

October 26th, 2024 at 12:35pm CST by Ben Levine

DeForest Buckner is back. The Colts announced that they’ve activated their defensive lineman from injured reserve.

The team also announced that they’ve activated linebacker Cameron McGrone from IR. To make room, the team placed linebacker Jaylon Carlies on IR and waived running back Evan Hull. The Colts also promoted cornerback Kelvin Joseph from the practice squad as a standard gameday elevation.

Buckner suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 2, and there was initial belief that the defensive tackle would be on the shelf for several months. Instead, Buckner ended up only requiring a five-game stint on IR, and he’ll now return to a Colts defense that has struggled with the pass rush in recent weeks.

The Colts are currently tied with a handful of teams with 14 sacks this season, a total that ranks in the back half of the league. Dayo Odeyingbo and Laiatu Latu currently lead the squad with two sacks each; as Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star points out, Bucker had 1.5 sacks in just the season opener.

Buckner had previously only missed a single game with the Colts since joining the organization in 2020. Through his first four years with the team, the lineman collected 32.5 sacks and six forced fumbles while earning a pair of Pro Bowl nods. With Buckner out of the lineup, the Colts have leaned to a committee approach at defensive tackle. Taven Bryan, Raekwon Davis, and (to a lesser extent) Adetomiwa Adebawore have all seen an increase in snaps while playing alongside starter Grover Stewart.

Carlies will be sidelined for at least four weeks while dealing with both fibula and shoulder issues. The rookie fifth-round pick has started three of his seven games this year, collecting 21 tackles and one sack. He’ll be replaced on the roster by McGrone, who landed on IR prior to final cuts.

Colts Designate DT DeForest Buckner For Return

October 23rd, 2024 at 10:48am CST by Sam Robinson

Displaying optimal durability during his first four Colts seasons, DeForest Buckner ran into his first roadblock this year. An ankle injury sidelined the Pro Bowl defensive tackle in Week 2, but Indianapolis is poised to have its top D-lineman back soon.

Buckner has completed a key step en route back to the field; the Colts designated him for return Wednesday. Buckner now has 21 days to be activated. Shane Steichen was optimistic Buckner and Jonathan Taylor would be back, so it would surprise if the Colts waited another week to activate Buckner. Taylor is not on IR but has missed three games with a high ankle sprain.

The Colts earmarked IR returns for Samson Ebukam and Cameron McGrone, designating both for return before setting their 53-man roster. Those moves already count toward Indianapolis’ eight injury activations. Buckner being moved back to the 53-man roster will leave Indy with five activations, but his comeback will be vital for a defense that ranks 29th in yardage and 31st against the run.

A Pro Bowler in 2021 and ’23 and a first-team All-Pro in his 2020 Colts debut, Buckner had missed just one game as a Colt prior to his September ankle injury. He and Grover Stewart operated as one of the most reliable DT tandems in recent NFL history, with Stewart’s start streak stretching to five years before an injury stalled it last season. Buckner figures to be back working with Stewart soon.

Buckner, 30, signed a near-fully guaranteed extension this offseason. His reliability certainly played a central role in the Colts authorizing that two-year, $46MM deal. The former 49ers first-rounder totaled 32.5 sacks from 2020-23, remaining one of the game’s best interior D-linemen. With Ebukam out, the Colts will be eager for Buckner to reprise his role as their pass rush anchor. It does not appear they will be waiting much longer.

Colts Place DT DeForest Buckner On IR

September 17th, 2024 at 3:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

DeForest Buckner sustained an ankle injury against the Packers, and the Colts will not have their top defensive lineman available for a while. Buckner will head to IR.

This marks a change of pace for the durable defensive tackle, who entered this season having missed all of two games since his 2016 rookie season. A Monday report from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicated X-rays revealed Buckner suffered a sprained ankle that was not considered serious, and while the Pro Bowler’s season is not in jeopardy, he is out for at least four games.

An MRI affected this situation, Rapoport adds. The Colts signed defensive end Genard Avery to their active roster and added D-tackle Adam Gotsis to the practice squad. Indianapolis also signed cornerback Gregory Junior and defensive end Titus Leo to the practice squad, releasing D-tackle McTelvin Agim and corner Ameer Speed from the P-squad.

Buckner, 30, has rewarded the Colts for the trade they made with the 49ers four years ago. As San Francisco determined second contracts for both Buckner and Arik Armstead were not viable, the team dealt the former to Indianapolis for a 2020 first-round pick. While the 49ers did not do well to replace Buckner with that choice (Javon Kinlaw), the Colts enjoyed consistent production from the 2016 first-round pick. Buckner has made three Pro Bowls as a Colt, ascending to first-team All-Pro status in 2020 as well.

The Colts have seen Buckner spearhead their pass rush, with UFA addition Samson Ebukam and recent draftees Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo coming along to help the cause last season. Buckner has 1.5 sacks this year, though the Colts are 0-2. Replacing the ninth-year standout will be a tall order, as the team has not needed to play without him much. Buckner played through a UCL tear in his left elbow in 2022 and signed an extension (two years, $46MM, $43.25MM guaranteed) this offseason.

Indy re-signed nose tackle Grover Stewart and hybrid D-lineman Tyquan Lewis this offseason. The team also re-signed Taven Bryan and added former Dolphins DT Raekwon Davis. Buckner’s presence, however, has helped the team’s pass rush on the whole. With Ebukam out with a torn Achilles, the Colts look set for an uphill battle. They can activate Buckner in Week 7.

Colts Extend DT DeForest Buckner

April 17th, 2024 at 8:53am CST by Adam La Rose

APRIL 17: The Colts are guaranteeing nearly this entire pact, which reminds of the structure the Texans authorized for Danielle Hunter. Of Buckner’s $46MM, $43.25MM is guaranteed at signing. Both Buckner’s 2024 and ’25 base salaries ($2.25MM, $13MM) are fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap.

This profiles as a great deal for Buckner, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio indicating $10MM of his $13MM 2026 base salary shifts from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee in 2025. This would bump the practical guarantee in this through-2026 deal to $53.25MM. Indy used two void years for bonus proration purposes. The extension dropped Buckner’s 2024 cap number to $8.35MM, saving more than $14MM. Even with the void years, Buckner’s cap number spikes to $26.6MM in 2025.

APRIL 15: DeForest Buckner has become the latest defensive tackle to benefit from the position’s surging market. The three-time Pro Bowler agreed to a two-year, $46MM extension on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The deal is now official, per a team announcement.

The past two offseasons has seen a number of defensive tackle contributors land lucrative new deals, especially ascending players at the position securing second contracts. That does not apply in Buckner’s case, but the 30-year-old has been as advertised during his time in Indianapolis. In four years since Buckner was acquired via trade, he has racked up 32.5 sacks and (in the 2020 campaign) his lone career first-team All-Pro nod.

One year remained on the former 49er’s existing deal – a four-year, $84 pact signed upon arrival in Indianapolis – and he was set to carry a 2024 cap hit of $22.75MM. Schefter’s colleague Stephen Holder notes that figure could change with Buckner now on the books through 2026, but he adds the Colts rarely elect to backload extensions such as this one. In any case, he will carry a similar cost for the next two seasons ($23MM AAV) compared to his current pact.

Buckner has missed just one game during his Colts run, and he has remained a consistent producer during his time with the team. He has made between 58 and 81 tackles each season with Indianapolis, with the latter figure (posted in 2023) representing a career high. The former first-rounder has added between 21 and 26 QB hits each year in that span, and he will be expected to remain a top producer on the Colts’ defense for the intermediate future with this new deal now in hand.

Indianapolis has been busy this offseason with respect to retaining key players on both sides of the ball. That has included new deals for the likes of cornerback Kenny Moore and safety Julian Blackmon, along with an extension for linebacker Zaire Franklin. On offense, wideout Michael Pittman Jr. saw his time attached to a franchise tag come to an end once a three-year, $70MM deal was worked out.

Along the defensive line, the Colts have also elected to return much of the core which was in place last year. Grover Stewart and Tyquan Lewis each signed new deals in March, and the former is on the books for the next three years while the latter is in place for the next two. Stewart in particular has been a key figure in the Colts’ defensive interior, serving as a full-time starter for each of the past five years. His partnership alongside Buckner is now set to continue beyond 2024.

Buckner entered Monday ranked 11th in the league in terms of annual average compensation amongst defensive tackles. Seeing a slight bump in that regard will move him back into the top 10 with this pact, one which ensures he will remain a focal point of Indianapolis’ front seven for at least the next few years.

Largest 2023 Cap Hits: Defense

July 12th, 2023 at 9:52am CST by Sam Robinson

While the NFL’s top 2023 cap hits go to players on offense, a number of pass rushers are tied to lofty figures as well. None check in higher than Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams.

Williams and Chiefs D-tackle Chris Jones carry high contract-year cap hits, while the Steelers’ two front-seven cornerstones each are set to go into training camp with cap figures north of $20MM. As the salary cap climbed to $224.8MM this year, here are the top defensive cap figures as camps near:

  1. Leonard Williams, DL (Giants): $32.26MM
  2. T.J. Watt, OLB (Steelers): $29.37MM
  3. Myles Garrett, DE (Browns): $29.18MM
  4. Chris Jones, DT (Chiefs): $28.29MM
  5. Aaron Donald, DL (Rams): $26MM
  6. Arik Armstead, DT (49ers): $23.95MM
  7. Cameron Heyward, DL (Steelers): $22.26MM
  8. C.J. Mosley, LB (Jets): $21.48MM
  9. Jonathan Allen, DT (Commanders): $21.44MM
  10. Shaquil Barrett, OLB (Buccaneers): $21.25MM
  11. Grady Jarrett, DT (Falcons): $20.63MM
  12. Marlon Humphrey, CB (Ravens): $19.99MM
  13. Shaquille Leonard, LB (Colts): $19.79MM
  14. Kevin Byard, S (Titans): $19.62MM
  15. Adoree’ Jackson, CB (Giants): $19.08MM
  16. Harold Landry, OLB (Titans): $18.8MM
  17. Justin Simmons, S (Broncos): $18.15MM
  18. Jamal Adams, S (Seahawks): $18.11MM
  19. Matt Judon, DE (Patriots): $18.107MM
  20. Quandre Diggs, S (Seahawks): $18.1MM
  21. Nick Bosa, DE (49ers): $17.9MM
  22. DeForest Buckner, DT (Colts): $17.25MM
  23. Emmanuel Ogbah, DE (Dolphins): $17.19MM
  24. DeMarcus Lawrence, DE (Cowboys): $17.11MM
  25. Eddie Jackson, S (Bears): $17.1MM

The Chiefs are working toward a second extension agreement with Jones, who is in the final season of a four-year, $80MM contract. A new deal with the star inside pass rusher would free up cap space, and DeAndre Hopkins is believed to be monitoring this situation.

As for Williams, the Giants had wanted to adjust his deal to reduce his eye-opening cap number. As of mid-June, however, no extension appeared to be on the team’s radar. The previous Giants regime signed off on the 2021 Williams extension (three years, $63MM). The Giants are also uninterested — for the time being, at least — in extending Jackson, who was also a Dave Gettleman-era defensive addition.

Donald is in the second season of a three-year, $95MM deal. The Rams gave Donald a landmark raise last year, convincing the all-everything D-tackle to squash retirement talk. A no-trade clause exists in Donald’s contract, which pays out its guarantees this year. Mosley remains tied to the $17MM-per-year deal the Mike Maccagnan regime authorized with the Jets. That contract, which reset the off-ball linebacker market in 2019, still has two seasons remaining on it due to the deal tolling after Mosley’s 2020 COVID-19 opt-out call. The Jets restructured the deal last year.

Washington now has two D-tackles tied to deals of at least $18MM per year. While Daron Payne‘s pact is worth more ($22.5MM AAV), higher cap hits on that deal will come down the road. Three years remain on Allen’s 2021 agreement. At safety, no team is spending like the Seahawks. In addition to the big-ticket deals authorized for Adams and Diggs, Seattle gave ex-Giants starter Julian Love a two-year, $6MM accord in March.

New Titans GM Ran Carthon attempted to give Byard a pay cut. That request did not go over well, but the standout safety remains with the team and has not requested a trade. Tennessee re-signed Landry on a five-year, $87.5MM deal in 2022; the veteran edge rusher has yet to play on that deal due to the ACL tear he sustained just before last season.

The 49ers can bring Bosa’s number down via an extension, which has long been on the team’s docket. As San Francisco extended Deebo Samuel just after training camp began last year, Bosa received back-burner treatment due to the fifth-year option. The star defensive end’s price undoubtedly went up during the waiting period, with the former No. 2 overall pick earning Defensive Player of the Year acclaim in the fourth year of his rookie contract.

DL Notes: Reed, Donald, Colts, Steelers, Cards, Jags, Jets, Bucs, Panthers, Texans

April 19th, 2023 at 4:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jarran Reed‘s initial Seahawks tenure ended strangely, with the team’s attempt at a restructure leading to a communication breakdown that ended with the defensive tackle’s release. After Reed sought a Seahawks extension during the offseason in which the COVID-19 pandemic led to a salary cap reduction, he ended up signing a one-year deal with the Chiefs. That preceded a 2022 Packers pact. Reed is now back in Seattle, having signed a two-year, $9MM deal.

The veteran D-lineman said, via the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta, neither side wanted to part ways in 2021 and that he remained interested in a potential return while away. The Seahawks called Reed early in free agency, and the sides agreed to terms on what is a less lucrative contract compared to the one the team removed from its payroll two years ago (two years, $23MM). Reed, 30, will join Dre’Mont Jones as Seattle D-tackle additions.

Here is the latest from the D-line scene:

  • The Cardinals met with Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith on Wednesday, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), squeezing in a final visit before the deadline. They also recently brought in Texas Tech edge Tyree Wilson, Albert Breer of SI.com notes, adding the Jaguars also met with the former Big 12 dynamo for a late visit (Twitter link). The Cardinals hold the No. 3 overall pick. While Arizona has dangled it in trades, the team not receiving a viable offer opens the door to a best-defender-available pick. Wilson would qualify as an option at 3, though Smith — No. 17 on ESPN’s big board; No. 18 on Daniel Jeremiah’s — would seemingly enter Arizona’s equation after a trade-down maneuver.
  • BJ Ojulari resides as a possible option for a team late in the first round or in the early second, and a few teams brought in the LSU alum recently. The Jets, Buccaneers, Panthers and Texans met with Ojulari, Rapoport adds (on Twitter). The younger brother of Giants outside linebacker Azeez Ojulari, BJ profiles as a speed rusher. He combined for 12.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons with the Tigers, declaring for the draft after his junior year. Azeez Ojulari went 50th overall in 2020.
  • Both the Colts and Steelers have met with Clemson defensive lineman Bryan Bresee, per Rapoport and ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor (Twitter links). Bresee is in Indianapolis today. A former top-five recruit, Bresee is not a candidate to go in the top five of this draft. But the multiyear Clemson starter joins Myles Murphy as Tiger D-linemen on the Round 1 radar. The Steelers came up regarding Bresee last month, and while the team recently re-signed Larry Ogunjobi, Cam Heyward is going into his age-34 season. The Colts, who added former first-rounder Taven Bryan in free agency, have DeForest Buckner signed for two more seasons.
  • Buckner recently revealed he played all of last season with a UCL tear in his left elbow. Indicating he’s “not a quarterback or a pitcher,” Buckner said (via the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson) his injury will not require surgery. Buckner finished with eight sacks and a career-high 74 tackles in 2022. Although the Colts are at a crossroads after a wildly disappointing season, Erickson adds the team still views Buckner as a cornerstone. The former 49ers first-rounder is going into his age-29 season.
  • Aaron Donald saw an injury sideline him for the first time as a pro. A high ankle sprain led the Rams superstar out of action, and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes the all-time great underwent a tightrope procedure to repair the injury (Twitter link). This is not an uncommon procedure; Tony Pollard underwent the same surgery in January. Donald, 32 next month, has also returned to full strength, per Rodrigue. Two years remain on Donald’s record-setting contract.

Stephon Gilmore Requested Trade From Colts?

April 16th, 2023 at 1:00pm CST by Rory Parks

It came as something of a surprise when the Colts traded Stephon Gilmore to the Cowboys in March. After all, Indianapolis just signed the 2019 DPOY to a two-year, $20MM contract last year, and he was a rare bright spot in a generally disappointing 2022 season for the club.

Plus, while Gilmore’s age (he is entering his age-33 season) and contract status did not help matters, the Colts’ return of a fifth-round pick seemed underwhelming in light of Gilmore’s 2022 performance and overall track record. GM Chris Ballard later conceded that the trade was partly motivated by cap considerations, and we have since learned that Gilmore may have actually requested a trade out of Indianapolis.

Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner suggested as much, saying, “Gilly is at a different point in his career than I am. He just finished up Year 11, and I’m going into Year 9, so you know, if I was in his position, maybe I would have considered the same thing” (via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star). “That’s the best decision that he made for him and his family, and I’m all for it.”

It seems, then, that Gilmore was the one who set the wheels of a trade in motion, and he did so in order to play for a team that has more of a chance to compete for a championship in 2023, and perhaps beyond. Gilmore does have a Super Bowl ring from his time with the Patriots, though it makes sense that he would want a shot at another title and does not see the Colts — who appear poised to start either a rookie or a bridge passer at quarterback in 2023 — as an immediate contender.

The Gilmore trade does leave Indianapolis rather thin at the CB position, the team’s reported optimism about its incumbents notwithstanding. If Ballard hits on his expected selection of a QB with his top choice in this month’s draft, The Colts could quickly reemerge as championship hopefuls. However, Buckner — who also lived through a rebuild during the early part of his career with the 49ers — does not appear willing to do the same in Indianapolis.

“I hate that word (rebuild),” Buckner said. “My rookie year in San Francisco, we went 2-14, the coach got fired, we brought in Kyle [Shanahan] and the majority of the roster was gone. Brought in new guys, and it took a couple of years. … We were building a team, a culture and all of that, but I was a young player, so I was able to grind through those tough years. … As you get older, rebuild’s definitely not a word you want to hear.”

Buckner, who recently agreed to a restructure to provide the Colts with 2023 cap relief, is under contract through 2024. However, he is scheduled to carry a $22.8MM cap number next year, and depending on what Indianapolis’ future looks like at the end of the upcoming season, he may not be particularly amenable to an extension that would smooth out that charge.

Contract Details: Phillips, Green, Buckner

April 15th, 2023 at 1:35pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some of the details on a few deals reached recently around the league:

  • Jordan Phillips, DE (Bills): One-year, $3MM. We received some new details on the deal, thanks to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. We now see that the $1.22MM of guaranteed money is composed of a $500,000 signing bonus and $720,000 of Phillps’s base salary (worth a total of $1.81MM). He’ll receive a per game active roster bonus of $35,000 for a potential season total of $595,000, as well as a $100,000 offseason workout bonus. Additional money can come through incentives based on playing time ($750,000) and sacks ($850,000). The sacks incentive is broken down as follows: $200,000 for 3.0-4.5 sacks, $600,000 for 5.0-7.5 sacks, and $850,000 for eight sacks or more.
  • Rasheem Green, DE (Bears): One-year, $2.5MM. The deal, according to Wilson, has a guaranteed amount of $850,000 consisting of a $350,000 signing bonus and $500,000 of Green’s base salary (worth a total of $1.5MM). He can make an additional $250,000 through incentives and $150,000 in a workout bonus. A per game active roster bonus of $29,411, worth a potential season total of $500,000, pushes the maximum potential value of the contract to $2.75MM.

We also got some details recently on a newly restructured deal:

  • The Colts reached an agreement with defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to reduce his salary cap impact for the coming season, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The team converted $5MM of salary into a signing bonus in order to clear $2.5MM of cap space. Buckner is reportedly still set to earn $19.75MM in 2023, all of which is fully guaranteed.

Largest 2022 Cap Hits: Defense

July 5th, 2022 at 11:26am CST by Sam Robinson

After looking at this year’s top salary cap numbers on the offensive side of the ball, here is a rundown of the players counting the most toward their teams’ payrolls in 2022.

As could be expected, the salary figures here start below the quarterbacks. A few pass rushers, however, are tied to notable cap hits. Those numbers that check in within the top 20 leaguewide regardless of position. With the exception of true nose tackles and pure slot cornerbacks, every defensive position is represented here.

Here are the top cap figures on the defensive side for the ’22 season:

  1. T.J. Watt, OLB (Steelers): $31.12MM
  2. Chris Jones, DT (Chiefs): $29.42MM
  3. Joey Bosa, OLB (Chargers): $28.25MM
  4. Leonard Williams, DL (Giants): $27.3MM
  5. Aaron Donald, DT (Rams): $27MM
  6. Jalen Ramsey, CB (Rams): $23.2MM
  7. Deion Jones, LB (Falcons): $20.1MM
  8. Bud Dupree, OLB (Titans): $19.2MM
  9. Justin Simmons, S (Broncos): $18.85MM
  10. Javon Hargrave, DT (Eagles): $17.8MM
  11. C.J. Mosley, LB (Jets): $17.5MM
  12. Cameron Heyward, DL (Steelers): $17.42MM
  13. Robert Quinn, DE (Bears): $17.14MM
  14. Matt Judon, OLB (Patriots): $16.5MM
  15. DeForest Buckner, DT (Colts): $16MM
  16. Shaquill Griffin, CB (Jaguars): $16.44MM
  17. Tre’Davious White, CB (Bills): $16.4MM
  18. J.J. Watt, DL (Cardinals): $15.9MM
  19. Marcus Peters, CB (Ravens): $15.5MM
  20. Carl Lawson, DE (Jets): $15.33MM
  21. Eddie Jackson, S (Bears): $15.1MM
  22. Lavonte David, LB (Buccaneers): $14.79MM
  23. Budda Baker, S (Cardinals): $14.78MM
  24. Romeo Okwara, DE (Lions): $14.5MM
  25. Trey Hendrickson, DE (Bengals): $14.49MM
  • Illustrating how much the cap has climbed over the past several seasons, T.J. Watt is tied to a number nearly twice that of J.J. Watt, who has been tied to $16.7MM-per-year (a defender-record number in 2014) and $14MM-AAV deals as a pro. Trailing his older brother in Defensive Player of the Year honors, T.J. is signed to an edge defender-record $28MM-per-year accord.
  • Jones’ four-year Chiefs deal vaults from an $8.5MM cap number in 2021 to the league’s second-highest defensive figure this year. The standout defensive tackle’s cap hit accompanies Patrick Mahomes‘ $35.79MM number, which is well north of his 2021 figure, on Kansas City’s new-look payroll.
  • After two franchise tags, Williams scored a monster extension in 2021. The well-paid Giants D-lineman’s cap number this year is way up from his 2021 number ($9.4MM).
  • The Rams redid Donald’s contract last month, adding no new years to the through-2024 pact. The all-world defender’s cap hit actually decreases in 2023, dropping to $26MM
  • It is not certain Deion Jones will be back with the Falcons, who have jettisoned other Super Bowl LI cornerstones from the roster since the current regime took over in 2021. But they would save just $1MM were they to release the seventh-year linebacker.
  • To date, this represents the high-water mark for Mosley cap hits on his Jets deal, which at the time (2019) began a sea change for off-ball linebacker contracts. Mosley’s cap hit, on a pact that runs through 2024 because of the linebacker opting out of the 2020 season, increased by $10MM from 2021-22.
  • Hargrave is one of five Eagles pass rushers signed to veteran contracts. The ex-Steeler’s 2021 deal accompanies Brandon Graham, Josh Sweat, Haason Reddick, and Fletcher Cox‘s new agreement on Philadelphia’s defensive front. As cap hits do not reflect average salaries, Hargrave is the only member of this quartet tied to an eight-figure cap number in 2022.
  • Quinn has also been connected to a departure, with the 31-year-old pass rusher skipping minicamp after it became known he would like to be traded away from the rebuilding team. His cap hit tops the Bears’ payroll. The Bears would save $12.9MM by trading Quinn, should another team sign up for taking on his full 2022 base salary.
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