HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Cardinals Rework D.J. Humphries’ Contract

September 2nd, 2020 at 9:20am CST by Zachary Links

The Cardinals converted $10.59MM of D.J. Humphries’ base salary into a signing bonus, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. The move will free up more than $7MM in cap room, giving Arizona some much-needed flexibility in advance of Saturday’s roster deadline. When valuable vets become cap casualties, the Cardinals will have enough space to get involved.

Humphries, 26, agreed to a three-year, $45MM extension in February, making him the NFL’s fifth-highest-paid tackle at the time of signing. The deal gave Humphries some long-term security instead of playing on a one-year franchise tender at a similar ~$15MM rate. There isn’t much that changes for the former first-round pick – he’ll still receive $30MM over the first two years of the deal, a pact that contains more than 50% guaranteed cash.

Humphries has been battered, but the Cardinals are sold on him as Kyler Murray‘s blind-side protector for years to come. The Cardinals had not seen Humphries play 16 games until this past season. From 2017-18, he played five and nine, respectively. Knee issues sidelined Humphries during those slates, which came after a 2015 rookie season in which he was inactive throughout. Still, he stands as one of the most talented young tackles in the game, and one of Steve Keim‘s rare quality first-round picks.

Latest On Saints, Alvin Kamara

September 2nd, 2020 at 8:59am CST by Sam Robinson

Alvin Kamara and the Saints remain in negotiations on an extension that would keep him in New Orleans long-term. While a trade rumor surfaced Tuesday, this situation does not appear to be contentious.

The three-time Pro Bowl back has not asked the Saints to pay him more than Christian McCaffrey, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (video link). McCaffrey signed a four-year, $64MM deal earlier this year.

However, the Kamara-Saints talks may have run into some hurdles. The Saints and Kamara were believed to be making progress, but Pelissero adds the talks “went a little bit sideways” recently. The Saints have proposed Kamara a four-year, $50MM deal, Jeff Duncan of The Athletic reports (subscription required). Those were the numbers that convinced Derrick Henry to sign a Titans extension in July. Kamara is set to make $2.1MM in base salary this season.

The team would prefer to keep its three-down weapon long-term but has broached the subject of a trade. New Orleans is not shopping Kamara, but if the team were to get serious on a trade, a first-round pick is the price. The Saints received a first-rounder for Brandin Cooks three years ago and collected a first-rounder and Max Unger for Jimmy Graham in 2015. The Saints have also traded both high-profile players who previously played Kamara’s role in Sean Payton‘s offense — Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles — though Kamara has outperformed both as a running back. New Orleans received little in compensation in the Bush or Sproles swaps.

Contract matters have not been entirely at the root of Kamara’s practice absences. A back injury has sidelined him, per Pelissero, who adds Kamara intends to return to practice Wednesday. He received an epidural injection recently. Kamara missed time due to ankle and knee problems last season.

McCaffrey, Henry and Joe Mixon agreed to new deals this year, helping stabilize a running back market reeling from the disappointments the Todd Gurley, David Johnson and Le’Veon Bell deals brought. Any Kamara talks will surely involve a contract north of Mixon’s $12MM-per-year deal. With Kamara averaging more yards per touch than McCaffrey over the course of his career, and making three Pro Bowls to McCaffrey’s one, the Saints back has a case to land a contract near the Panthers star’s territory. Such demands would put the Saints to a decision, but Kamara’s importance to this season’s Super Bowl-contending roster would seemingly increase his leverage in these talks.

NFC East Notes: Eagles, Giants, Smith

September 1st, 2020 at 6:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jalen Reagor will miss the Eagles‘ season opener, and possibly the first two games of the year, with a labrum tear, Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram hears. The silver lining is that Reagor’s shoulder injury is not major and he will not require surgery. Reagor, the No. 21 overall pick in the draft, racked up 2,248 yards and 22 touchdowns over the course of three seasons at TCU. The speedster figures to play a significant role in the Eagles’ offense when he returns.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

  • Carson Wentz has missed multiple Eagles practices due to an unspecified soft tissue injury, per Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer, but Doug Pederson indicated the fifth-year quarterback is not dealing with anything major. While any Wentz injury is notable given his history, he will be expected to be under center in Week 1.
  • Logan Ryan‘s Giants deal is a one-year pact worth $5MM in base value, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. The extra $2.5MM in Ryan’s contract comes through incentives. A playing-time structure covers $1.5MM of the incentives, with Florio adding that Ryan can earn up to $1.5MM through these escalators. Ryan would earn that sum if he plays 90% of the Giants’ snaps, however, and it would take an 80% snap rate for him to collect $1MM. The other $1MM in this deal involves accolades, with Ryan receiving $500K for a Pro Bowl honor and another $500K for an All-Pro nod. The seven-year veteran has never made a Pro Bowl.
  • For the first time since his gruesome November 2018 injury, Alex Smith participated in team drills. The Washington quarterback took snaps in 11-on-11 sessions, John Keim of ESPN.com notes. Washington was not in full pads during this session, but the 36-year-old passer continues to work his way back after what looked like a career-ending injury. Ron Rivera would like to see Smith participate in a fully padded team session this week. Smith’s 2020 base salary ($16MM) is guaranteed. He is set to count $21.4MM against Washington’s cap this season.
  • Jason Peters has requested a raise to move back to left tackle, and it is not clear the Eagles will oblige. Peters is still working at guard with Philly, which has used Matt Pryor in place of injured left tackle Andre Dillard, per Bowen. A sixth-round pick in 2018, Pryor did not play as a rookie and has seen only 79 snaps of NFL action. Pryor primarily worked as a guard at TCU, though he made six starts at right tackle as a senior. This would be an interesting route for the Eagles to take, however, given their usual commitment to their offensive line.
  • DeAndre Baker‘s arraignment date has been moved back four months, with the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard reporting the Giants cornerback is now set to appear in court Jan. 20, 2021. This could potentially close the book on Baker’s 2020 season. A 2019 first-round pick, Baker faces four charges of armed robbery with a firearm. He resides on the commissioner’s exempt list.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/20

September 1st, 2020 at 5:22pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Waived: K Elliott Fry

Raiders Release Rod Smith, Jordan Devey

September 1st, 2020 at 5:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders removed a player from their suddenly crowded backfield Tuesday, releasing Rod Smith. They also released veteran guard Jordan Devey.

Smith signed with the Raiders in December 2019 and played in three games. But the team since added Devontae Booker, Lynn Bowden Jr. and Theo Riddick to a backfield already housing Josh Jacobs and Jalen Richard.

Smith, 28, is a vested veteran and will return to free agency. He is best known for his years backing up Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas but has been on three teams — the Giants, Titans and Raiders — since 2019.

Las Vegas also re-signed Devey this offseason, bringing back the former 49ers and Chiefs lineman in April. However, the Raiders drafted guard John Simpson in the draft a few weeks later. They still have starters Gabe Jackson and Richie Incognito, with Simpson and Denzelle Good supplying depth. A six-year veteran, Devey played in four Raiders games last season before heading to IR with a torn pectoral muscle.

In additional roster-clearing moves, the Raiders waived linebacker Sharif Finch and guard Jordan Roos.

Leonard Fournette Clears Waivers, Files Grievance Against Jaguars

September 1st, 2020 at 4:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

No team submitted a waiver claim for Leonard Fournette. The former No. 4 overall pick is now a free agent, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

While the two-time 1,000-yard rusher profiles as one of the top players available, he has set his sights on the Jaguars for a payment. Fournette has filed a grievance against the Jags for the $4.167MM base salary that would have been due to him this season, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

This grievance stems from the one-game suspension Fournette incurred in 2018 for fighting with then-Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson. In December 2018, the Jaguars voided the remaining guarantees in Fournette’s contract. Fournette challenged this, and the void decision is now relevant since money remains on the table from the running back’s previously fully guaranteed rookie deal.

But the team that signs Fournette is no longer bound by the terms of his rookie deal. Fournette will be an interesting addition to a team’s backfield, in what will be an attempt for the formerly coveted prospect to revive his career.

Raiders To Place Tyrell Williams On IR

September 1st, 2020 at 3:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tyrell Williams‘ second Raiders season will end before it starts. The team is placing the veteran wide receiver on IR, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

This comes a bit after news of Williams sustaining another torn shoulder labrum. Williams was planning to attempt to play through such an injury, as he did in college and with the Chargers on prior occasions, but this IR development may well indicate he will undergo surgery. That will indeed be Williams’ course of action, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Because the Raiders are not carrying Williams onto their regular-season roster, he will not be eligible to return from IR. That would not matter anyway. This surgery is expected to sideline Williams for around six months. Considering the team’s actions at receiver this offseason, it is certainly possible Williams will be elsewhere in 2021.

The Raiders opted to guarantee Williams’ $11MM base salary this season, but the team proceeded to draft Henry Ruggs in Round 1 and Bryan Edwards in Round 3. The latter has worked as a starter in camp, impressing the team ahead of his rookie season. With a Williams 2021 release set to provide $11.6MM in cap room, it is likely the team will opt for such savings in what could well be the biggest salary cap reduction in NFL history.

Last year, the Raiders brought in Williams to play as the No. 2 wideout alongside Antonio Brown. With Brown’s antics driving him out of Oakland before playing a game, more became expected of Williams. However, he recorded only 42 catches for 651 yards while battling injuries to both feet. With the rookies joining Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow in Las Vegas’ passing attack this year, Williams’ role may have been reduced. Instead, he will rehab ahead of his age-29 season in 2021.

Saints Open To Trading Alvin Kamara, Would Want First-Round Pick

September 1st, 2020 at 3:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints and Alvin Kamara began negotiations last month, but the perennial Pro Bowl running back began to force the issue recently. Kamara has been sitting out Saints practices in hopes of a new deal.

New Orleans has relied on Kamara over the past three seasons, but the team may not be committed to paying him top-tier running back money. The Saints are open to trading Kamara, veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson tweets. One season remains on Kamara’s third-round rookie deal.

However, neither Kamara nor his agent are requesting a trade, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Both thought they were progressing on an extension, Rapoport adds, noting that while Kamara has missed practices, he has been in the building each day.

The Saints would prefer to sign Kamara to an extension, per The Athletic’s Jeff Duncan, but if they cannot do so at the right price, a trade is on the table (Twitter link). If this process gets to that point, Duncan adds the Saints want a first-round pick for Kamara.

Multiple members of the 2017 running back class have now secured extensions, with Joe Mixon‘s $12MM-per-year pact following Christian McCaffrey‘s record-setting $16MM-AAV deal. Kamara’s deal would likely come in between those two values, though the three-down Saints back is surely pushing for a contract at or near the rate McCaffrey received. Given the risk extending running backs at high-end rates comes with, the Saints are keeping their options open.

While Kamara joins draft classmates Aaron Jones and Dalvin Cook in uncertain territory regarding his financial future, he is a vital piece of the Saints’ offense. 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. The Saints again have Super Bowl aspirations, with the team loading up its roster this offseason — ahead of Drew Brees‘ age-41 season. Kamara serves as a seemingly essential piece of this championship-contending puzzle.

The Saints have not been too shy about landing value for key offensive starters, having dealt Kenny Stills and, more notably, Brandin Cooks in recent years. Tuesday’s report certainly injects more intrigue into the Kamara situation, one that will bear monitoring through Saints and running back lenses.

Lions, LT Taylor Decker Agree On Extension

September 1st, 2020 at 3:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

A mostly quiet offseason between the Lions and their cornerstone left tackle ended up still producing the endgame the parties wanted. The Lions and Taylor Decker agreed on an extension Tuesday.

The sides agreed on a four-year, $60MM pact (Twitter links). The final season is voidable, per Rapoport. More details will shake out here, but the Lions have their top tackle signed long-term.

This will not put Decker in the Laremy Tunsil neighborhood, ensuring that the Texans’ $22MM-per-year tackle remains in his own financial sector, and the per-year value is somewhat interesting. While the former first-round pick has never made a Pro Bowl, he has still given the Lions somewhat of a discount. At $15MM per year in new money, Decker’s deal comes in fifth overall at his position and behind multiple left tackle contracts agreed to more than two years ago. It does, however, come in ahead of recent pacts given to Dion Dawkins and D.J. Humphries.

Decker, 27, has started 55 games for the Lions since they took him 16th overall in 2016. The team now has two tackles signed to lucrative deals, with this agreement coming after Detroit inked Halapoulivaati Vaitai in March. Decker graded as last season’s No. 20 overall tackle, per Pro Football Focus.

Bengals, Joe Mixon Agree To $48MM Deal

September 1st, 2020 at 2:57pm CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals and Joe Mixon have agreed to a four-year deal worth $48MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). With that, the Bengals now have their primary running back under contract through 2025. 

Mixon, 24, has been pushing for a new deal throughout the summer. The Bengals remained adamant about wanting to extend him, but talks were slow to progress. Last week, Mixon said that he was unable to practice due to migraines, and that may have helped to speed things up. Now, Mixon will earn an average of $12MM/year starting in 2021, after he finishes out his rookie deal, which pays $1.2MM.

“He’s in a year that he can be extended, and he is a guy that we visited with,” Bengals player personnel director Duke Tobin said earlier this summer. “We’ll go through those discussions and see if there is a fit or a match for a long-term contract with him, obviously a guy we value quite a bit. The great thing about Joe is he goes about it the right way… He’s the type of guy you want to lock up to a long-term deal.”

Mixon managed a respectable 4.1 yards per carry average last year, despite the Bengals’ sagging offense. This year, he’ll look to reprise his 2018 performance which included a 4.9 YPC mark.

Mixon’s deal, as expected, falls short of Christian McCaffrey‘s $16MM/year mega-deal, but also exceeds some of the projections we heard earlier this year. At one point, it was reported that Mixon was gunning to be one of the eight highest-paid RBs in the league, which would have required just $8MM/year. His actual figure, $12MM per annum, seems more in line with Mixon’s talent level.

The complete details of the deal will give us a better picture of how Mixon stacks up against the league’s other top-earning rushers. That info will also inform ongoing talks for other standouts like Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook.

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