HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Contract Details: Decker, Mixon, Ngakoue, Dotson

September 2nd, 2020 at 5:00pm CST by Ben Levine

There have been a handful of extensions, reworked contracts, and brand-new deals signed over the past few weeks. We’ve provided updates on some of those notable deals below:

  • Taylor Decker, LT (Lions): Four-year, $60MM extension. Includes $7.5MM signing bonus (paid out in 17 installments in 2020). Salaries: $6.85MM (2020), $13MM fully guaranteed (2021), $14.75MM fully guaranteed (2022), $13.7MM (2023), $12.95MM (2024). $250K workout bonuses (2022-2024), $500 roster bonus (2024). Via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter.
  • Joe Mixon, RB (Bengals): Four-year, $48MM extension. Includes $10MM signing bonus. Salaries: $1.3MM (2020), $8MM (2021), $8MM (2022), $9.4MM (2023). $9.6MM club option in 2024. $500K in playing time bonuses, $200K in offseason workout bonuses (each season). Via Rapoport on Twitter.
  • Yannick Ngakoue, DE (Vikings): One year, $12MM reworked deal. $8MM base salary and $4MM signing bonus. Via Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling on Twitter.
  • Demar Dotson, RT (Broncos): One-year, $3MM deal. $1.15MM salary ($400K guaranteed). $100K roster bonus, $250K game-day roster bonuses. $1.5MM in incentives. Via Mike Klis of 9News on Twitter.

Patriots Interested In Leonard Fournette

September 2nd, 2020 at 3:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Leonard Fournette cleared waivers Tuesday and has at least one suitor as a free agent. The Patriots have expressed interest in the former No. 4 overall pick, Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets.

The Pats saw 2018 first-rounder Sony Michel miss time again during training camp, and although recent signing Lamar Miller has been cleared and 2019 third-round pick Damien Harris has impressed, New England’s backfield is somewhat muddled as the regular season approaches.

Despite the Jaguars waiving Fournette, he should garner interest from more than just the Patriots. The LSU product has two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume. He played a key role in helping a Blake Bortles-quarterbacked team to the 2017 AFC championship game, where the Jags narrowly lost to the Patriots.

Last season, Fournette rushed for a career-high 1,152 yards. However, he has only cleared 4.0 yards per carry once in a season (2019) and slumped through an injury- and suspension-marred 2018 slate. Fournette, 25, does not offer much in the passing game, but the Patriots have a veteran passing-down specialist in James White.

New England returns Michel, Rex Burkhead and White from its 2019 rotation but signed Miller last month. Miller is attempting to return from a torn ACL. Neither he nor Michel is eligible to be stashed on the Pats’ reserve/PUP list.

Thus far, however, the Patriots represent Fournette’s only known suitor. The Bears, who are without David Montgomery currently, are not looking to sign him.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/20

September 2nd, 2020 at 3:42pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • Acquired via trade: 2021 7th-Round Pick (from Giants)

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Signed: RB Pete Guerriero
  • Waived: LB B.J. Bello, DL Sterling Johnson

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

49ers Rumors: Reed, Bosa, Ford, Juszczyk

September 2nd, 2020 at 3:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the NFL’s most injury-prone players, Jordan Reed considered retirement after missing all of the 2019 season. The ex-Washington tight end dealt with another concussion last year, adding to a lengthy list of head injuries for the former Pro Bowler. But he signed with the 49ers this summer and is set to back up George Kittle.

“I definitely thought about hanging it up after last season,” Reed said, via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Eric Branch. “But it was when I watched the Super Bowl is what really ignited me again. I want to play in those big games. … Before I made my decision, I saw some professionals. And I did my rehab. All the tests were clear. I’m healthy and I’m good to go.”

Following last season, Reed has missed 25 NFL games because of concussions. He also suffered at least one in each of his three Florida seasons. The 30-year-old playmaker signed a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum ($1.05MM for an eighth-year player).

Here is the latest out of San Francisco:

  • Both Nick Bosa and Dee Ford are currently sidelined with injuries. Bosa is dealing with a strained muscle, while Ford is battling a calf malady. However, Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday he would be “very surprised” if his high-end edge rushers were unavailable for Week 1, via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner (on Twitter). Bosa dealt with a high ankle sprain during the 49ers’ 2019 training camp but played every game last season. Ford ran into knee and foot trouble and was limited to a part-time role.
  • Kyle Juszczyk is also on the shelf for the 49ers. The acclaimed fullback suffered a hamstring strain, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes. The 49ers, however, expect him to be ready by the time they face the Cardinals in Week 1.
  • During a late-summer wide receiver shuffle, the 49ers placed J.J. Nelson on IR and cut Jaron Brown. Kevin White and Tavon Austin remain on the roster, and the latter has performed well during camp, Branch notes. A former top-10 pick who turned 30 this year, Austin has not met expectations as a pro. But he’s played seven NFL seasons and, despite being listed as a wideout, has 10 rushing TDs in his career. San Francisco remains down Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk as well, complicating its receiver depth chart. Injuries will certainly play a key part in how the 49ers’ receiver group looks after Saturday’s roster cutdown.
  • Despite White and Austin being vested veterans, each would be eligible for a practice squad spot. Due to the pandemic, teams can use up to six of their 16 P-squad slots on veterans with any amount of NFL experience this year. Shanahan is interested in taking advantage of this one-time-only luxury. “I love the fact that they’ll let us have vets on it,” the fourth-year 49ers coach said (via Maiocco). “I understand that some players won’t want to do that, but we’ll do our best to tell them why we think it’s a good opportunity for them.” Vested vets are slated to earn $12K per week on the taxi squad this season.

Cowboys To Cut WR Devin Smith

September 2nd, 2020 at 2:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Devin Smith played a minor role for the Cowboys last season, starting two games despite not playing in any during the 2017 and ’18 campaigns. But Dallas will not carry the wideout over to its 53-man roster this year.

The Cowboys are cutting Smith, Jon Machota of The Athletic tweets. They also waived offensive lineman Adam Redmond on Wednesday.

A former second-round Jets pick, Smith signed with the Cowboys via reserve/futures contract in January of 2019. This followed an injury-plagued New York stay, but the Ohio State product could not carve out much of a role with Dallas either. He caught five passes last season, and while one of them went for a long touchdown, Smith only played in four games.

Dallas drafted CeeDee Lamb in Round 1 and has other capable holdovers behind starters Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup. Originally a Colts UDFA out of Harvard, Redmond played in 10 games for the Cowboys in 2018 but did not see action last season. He landed on IR in November.

QB Notes: Washington, Taylor, Ravens

September 2nd, 2020 at 1:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest developments from quarterback rooms around the league. At least 11 teams will go with different starting QBs compared to Week 1 of last season. Two teams confirmed they are going in that direction Wednesday:

  • Alex Smith has made a remarkable recovery, having returned to team drills after undergoing 17 surgeries to repair career-altering injuries. But Washington ended any suspense about its quarterback competition Wednesday, announcing Dwayne Haskins will start in Week 1. This was the expected route for the rebuilding team, which selected Haskins 15th overall last year. Kyle Allen is in line to back up the second-year player, with Smith looming as a wild card. The latter is guaranteed a $16MM base salary this season.
  • Hard Knocks has given more attention to Justin Herbert‘s throws, but Tyrod Taylor did not lose his job in the Chargers‘ abbreviated offseason. While the No. 6 overall pick looms, Anthony Lynn did not throw a curveball and named Taylor as his Week 1 starter. “Tyrod Taylor is our starter right now,” Lynn said, via ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. “Until someone steps up and shows that they can run this team, that’s [how] we’re going into it.” Taylor was a Week 1 starter from 2015-18 and worked with Lynn in Buffalo from 2015-16. While Herbert should be expected to take this job at some point this season, Taylor may have it for longer than he held off Baker Mayfield two years ago in Cleveland.
  • In a lower-stakes competition, the Ravens have not decided on their third quarterback. Lamar Jackson and Robert Griffin III are locked in, but Baltimore’s QB3 race between Trace McSorley and Tyler Huntley remains “up in the air,” Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets. McSorley, a sixth-round 2019 pick out of Penn State, held this job last year. The Ravens signed Huntley as a UDFA out of Utah this year. The latter was a three-year starter for the Utes, though McSorley was the more productive college passer and rusher.
  • Both the Cowboys and Falcons changed up their quarterback depth charts Wednesday. The latter brought in a former Giants mid-round pick.

Latest On Saints, Alvin Kamara

September 2nd, 2020 at 12:54pm CST by Zachary Links

Saints running back Alvin Kamara met with head coach Sean Payton on Wednesday to clear the air, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Kamara is expected to practice with the team this afternoon as his camp continues extension talks with the front office. 

Kamara isn’t seeking Christian McCaffrey coin, but he wants something better than the Saints’ most recent offer of $50MM over four years. That deal would put him in line with Titans star Derrick Henry, but Kamara is aiming higher.

The Saints don’t consider Kamara to be untouchable, but they’d reportedly want a first-round pick in exchange for him. For now, it seems like the two parties are on okay terms, but it’s definitely something to file away. Even if the Saints don’t move Kamara between now and the season opener, they could explore trades all the way until late October.

Kamara’s salary demand isn’t quite clear, but he’s probably seeking something that puts him in between McCaffrey and Joe Mixon‘s recent extension.

Only four players have outgained Kamara from scrimmage over the past three seasons, and Kamara’s 6.1 yards per touch betters the three running backs ahead of him. But, in the interest of equal time, Kamara’s per-catch average has also slipped in each of the last three seasons. After averaging 10.2 yards per grab as a rookie and 8.8 yards per catch in 2018, Kamara posted just 6.6 yards per reception in 2019.

Bears Won’t Pursue Leonard Fournette

September 2nd, 2020 at 12:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bears have been connected to Leonard Fournette, but it doesn’t sound like the former Jaguars standout will be coming to Chicago. When asked about the former No. 4 overall pick, head coach Matt Nagy told reporters that he’s comfortable with his current group of running backs (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Jeff Dickerson).

The Jaguars released Fournette earlier this week and all 31 of the league’s other teams passed on claiming the remainder of his contract. Fournette would have earned nearly $4.2MM for 2020, and that price tag was too high for everyone else. Now, Fournette is a full-fledged free agent, but he’ll likely have to settle for less money than he wanted.

Fournette totaled a career-high 1,674 yards from scrimmage last season, but Jay Gruden wasn’t a huge fan of his work. Instead, Gruden signed old pal Chris Thompson to lead the charge and add some pass-catching ability to the backfield. Ryquell Armstead, a 2019 fifth-rounder who averaged just 3.1 yards per carry as a rookie, also figures to have a sizable role at RB.

Chargers Interested In Jahleel Addae

September 2nd, 2020 at 10:41am CST by Zachary Links

The Chargers aren’t keen on Earl Thomas, but they could sign another veteran safety to fill the void left by Derwin James‘ injury. There’s mutual interest between the Bolts and old friend Jahleel Addae, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link). 

[RELATED: Chargers’ Derwin James Out For Year]

Addae, 30, began his career with the Chargers as a UDFA out of Central Michigan in 2013. In 2017, he got his payday – a four-year, $22.5MM deal – but he was released midway through. At one point in time, Addae was something of an advanced metrics darling. By 2018, he started slipping – Pro Football Focus ranked him just 76th out of 93 eligible safeties in 2018.

Last year, Addae suited up for all 16 of the Texans’ regular season games, notching 44 tackles, two interceptions, and three passes defensed. For his work, PFF slotted him No. 64 out of 86 qualified safeties.

Lions, Kenny Golladay Nearing Deal?

September 2nd, 2020 at 10:22am CST by Zachary Links

Now that Taylor Decker‘s contract is squared away, the Lions are turning their attention to Kenny Golladay. The Lions are nearing agreement with the wide receiver on a brand new extension, according to a league source who spoke with PFT’s Mike Florio. However, there’s conflicting word from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link) who hears that nothing is imminent. 

[RELATED: Lions, LT Taylor Decker Agree On Extension]

Earlier this year, it was believed that Golladay would actually be prioritized ahead of Decker, so it stands to reason that there’s some momentum on that front as the season draws near. Currently set to make $2.133MM in 2020, Golladay is clearly due for a pay bump. Mega extensions have been rare in the current climate, but Golladay could see an average annual value of at least $17MM. On the higher end, he could command something similar to what the Cowboys gave to Amari Cooper – a five-year, $100MM contract with $60MM guaranteed.

When Matthew Stafford was on the field, things were clicking for Golladay. He finished out with eleven touchdown and 1,190 yards, numbers that would have been stronger had Stafford been healthy throughout the year. Golladay also averaged 18.3 yards per catch, a new career best that ranked fourth in the NFL.

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