Month: November 2024

Bills’ Mitch Morse Takes Pay Cut

Bills center Mitch Morse has agreed to a salary reduction (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The veteran was originally set to earn $7.025MM with a cap hit of $10.3MM+. Now, he’ll make about $2MM less in salary, though he can get close to his original number via incentives. 

Morse parlayed four solid Chiefs seasons into a four-year, $44MM+ deal with the Bills in 2019. His Kansas City tenure was maligned by injuries and concussions, but the Bills still saw his potential. In his eleven starts for KC in his platform year, he graded out as the 13th-best center in the league, per Pro Football Focus.

In Buffalo, Morse has continued to be the main man in the middle, starting 30 games over the last two years, plus every playoff game. That’s where he’ll remain for 2021 after accepting a trim.

Giants To Tag Leonard Williams

The Giants are expected to assign the franchise tag to Leonard Williams (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). This marks the second straight tag for the defensive lineman, though the two sides intend to continue discussions on a multi-year deal. 

Per the collective bargaining agreement, Williams will earn a 20% raise on his 2020 tag. Last year, his tag was worth just over $16MM. This year, the tender would amount to $19.351MM.

The Giants’ decision to tag Williams was widely panned last year. Williams responded with a career-high 11.5 sacks, vindicating GM Dave Gettleman in the process. No one knew what to expect from Williams, but after setting a new watermark for sacks plus 14 total tackles for loss and 30 quarterback hits, he would have profiled as one of the most prized players in free agency.

Williams is said to be seeking a ~$20MM/year deal. That’s the figure he wanted last year and, this time around, it sounds like he’ll get what he wants. For his career, the Jets’ former No. 6 overall pick has 48 tackles for loss and 131 quarterback hits across six seasons. He also has 29 career sacks. Much to the Jets’ chagrin, he’s logged more than 30% of those for the Meadowlands’ other tenant.

Packers WR Devin Funchess Takes Pay Cut

Devin Funchess is staying put. On Tuesday, the wide receiver agreed to take a pay cut in order to remain with the Packers for 2021 (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 

Funchess inked a one-year, $1.2MM deal with the Packers last year but later decided to opt out in the midst of the pandemic. Per the league’s agreement with the NFLPA, Funchess’ contract tolled into 2021. The Packers were likely thinking about releasing the veteran in advance of free agency, so he agreed to a small salary reduction in order to make the numbers work.

Funchess has not played since his 2019 stint with the Colts, which was really more like a cup of coffee. That season ended early due a broken collarbone — he recorded three grabs for 32 yards in his lone game. For the year, he earned $10MM in salary.

The Panthers selected Funchess in the second round of the 2015 draft, but he has yet to put it all together in the pros. He enjoyed the best year of his career in 2017, compiling 63 receptions for 840 yards and eight touchdowns. Still, it’s worth noting that it took him 111 targets to get those 63 grabs.

Raiders Trade Trent Brown To Patriots

Trent Brown is going back to New England. On Tuesday morning, the Raiders agreed to trade the tackle and a 2022 seventh-round draft pick to the Patriots in exchange for a 2022 fifth-rounder (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).

Brown was due $14MM in salary, a sum that was too rich for the Raiders’ blood. It was set to be the third year of his massive four-year, $66MM deal, but last year’s setbacks gave them second thoughts. He started strong, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2019 as a right tackle. Then, two stints on the COVID-19 list limited him to just five games in 2020. When asked recently about Brown’s future with the team, Raiders GM Mike Mayock said the jury is “still out.” Now, Brown is out of town.

When he’s healthy, he’s dominant,” Mayock said after the season ended. “And you’ve got to juxtapose that with his inability to play, week to week, over a two-year period. We’ve got to get a more consistent player. We think he’s the best right tackle in the league when healthy.”

The 27-year-old (28 in April) agreed to re-work his contract as a part of the deal. Instead of two years at $29.5MM, Brown will play on a new one-year, $11MM pact.

Brown enjoyed a tremendous season with the Patriots in 2018. That year, he started in all 19 regular and postseason games en route to a Super Bowl championship. Pro Football Focus was bullish on his performance too, ranking him 32nd among 80 eligible linemen.

Cowboys, Dak Prescott Agree To Extension

The Cowboys’ two-year negotiation saga with Dak Prescott is over. The team announced it has an extension agreement in place with its five-year starting quarterback.

This will prevent Dallas from having to tag Prescott for a second time, at a $37.7MM price, and give the franchise long-sought-after quarterback security. This deal comes after a few reports indicating increased optimism appeared present in Round 3 of the parties’ negotiations. Such reports turned out to be prescient.

The numbers are in. This is a major win for Prescott. Dallas’ QB1 agreed to a four-year, $160MM contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Dak will receive an NFL-record $126MM guaranteed, with Schefter adding that the deal will also includes a $66MM signing bonus and $75MM in Year 1 (Twitter link). The latter figures are also NFL records. This monster accord will come with a no-trade clause and will prevent the Cowboys from tagging Prescott again in 2025, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Incentives could bump the deal to $164MM.

The NFL now has two $40MM-per-year players — Prescott and Patrick Mahomes. While Mahomes’ $45MM-per-year deal is a Chiefs-friendly accord, in that it is a 10-year pact, Prescott’s tops Deshaun Watson‘s contract ($39MM AAV) in terms of traditional quarterback pacts. Prescott’s 2021 cap number will be $22.2MM, Schefter tweets. The Cowboys will use two void years to help with signing bonus proration, Schefter notes (on Twitter).

After haggling with Team Dak for nearly two years, the Cowboys made an aggressive push to finalize this deal Monday, Schefter tweets. The team became more amenable to a shorter-term Prescott pact, per Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) this time around. The Cowboys had previously sought a five-year contract for their quarterback; that ended up prompting Prescott to play last season on the tag. The team’s newfound urgency surely stemmed from the March 9 franchise tag deadline.

Prescott, 27, became extension-eligible after the 2018 regular season ended. The former fourth-round pick and Offensive Rookie of the Year played the 2019 season on his rookie deal and played the 2020 slate on the tag. A day ahead of this year’s deadline to designate franchise players, the sides concluded this arduous process. By avoiding the $37MM-plus payment clogging up their cap, the Cowboys will have more free agency funds. It took an incredible financial commitment to do so.

When Prescott first became eligible for an extension, the NFL had not seen a player land a $35MM-AAV pact. Russell Wilson did so in April 2019. No $40MM-per-year player emerged until Mahomes’ summer 2020 extension. By moving into a third offseason of negotiations, Prescott was able to secure a tremendous agreement — compared to where these negotiations started. And he did so after suffering a brutal ankle injury last October. Prescott underwent a second surgery in December but is expected to be ready for training camp. The Cowboys’ inability to compete without Prescott last season may only have increased their QB’s leverage.

A two-time Pro Bowler, Prescott is not held in the same esteem as Mahomes or Watson. But Kirk Cousins was certainly not viewed as a top-tier quarterback when he secured a then-record $28MM-per-year contract in 2018. Cousins used the two-tag scenario to pave a path out of Washington; the Cowboys paid up to stop Prescott from following such a route.

The Cowboys must now build a competitive roster around this contract. They spent much of 2019 and ’20 authorizing extensions for core players; they now have Prescott locked down. The team will be banking on the next round of TV deals producing significant cap spikes in the near future — a matter on which Jerry Jones is well informed. That coming to pass would help the organization assemble a strong team around Prescott going forward.

New York Notes: Giants, Maye, Bills

Unless the NFL moves the franchise tag deadline back, the Giants have less than 24 hours to use their tag on Leonard Williams. Multiple issues could stand in the way of that taking place. While the Giants would be taking a risk if they do not tag the standout interior defender, they have less than $10MM in cap space. The Giants want to keep Williams around long-term, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post writes, but they will have a tough time tagging him at $19.4MM. A counterargument would be that the Giants should tag Williams as a precaution, rather than risk losing him next week, and worry about cap issues between Tuesday and the March 17 start of the new league year. The sides were not believed to be close to a long-term deal last year. If the Giants pass on a tag, they will be entering a crucial stretch ahead of the March 15 legal tampering period. They also have defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson as a UFA-to-be.

However, the other part of this equation could cause the Giants to pay even more for a Williams tag. His grievance to be tagged as a defensive end is unresolved, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Should Williams win that grievance, his 2020 salary will balloon from $16.1MM (last year’s defensive tackle tag rate) to $17.8MM. That would bump his 2021 tag price to $21.4MM. Williams played more snaps as an inside defender in 2019, which would point to “defensive tackle” being the correct label for tag purposes. With the Giants up against the cap, this is not an insignificant difference.

Here is the latest from the Big Apple and western New York:

  • The Giants did do a little work on their cap situation Monday. They restructured tight end Levine Toilolo‘s contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The blocking tight end was set to earn $2.95MM next season. He will be back at a lower rate, with Schwartz estimating the Giants will save more than $1MM by making this move.
  • Recently dismissed from his post as Lions VP of player personnel, Kyle O’Brien will join the Giants’ front office. The Giants are adding O’Brien as a senior personnel executive, the team announced. O’Brien spent the past few years in Detroit under Bob Quinn, but the bulk of his experience came in New England.
  • As expected, Marcus Maye received the franchise tag. The Jets cuffed their top free agent Monday night. They now have until July 15 to work out an extension. Last week, Maye’s agent questioned Jets management’s commitment to his client. Citing last year’s Jamal Adams saga, ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini wonders if GM Joe Douglas is not high on paying big money for safeties. The Jets also selected Ashtyn Davis in the 2020 third round. Maye, however, is by far Gang Green’s most proven defensive back and can push for a high-end safety contract.
  • Although the Bills have Dawson Knox under contract through 2022, they may be looking to upgrade at tight end. Buffalo is likely to add a veteran soon, via free agency or trade, Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic writes (subscription required). The Chargers could well tag Hunter Henry, and Jonnu Smith looms as a Titans tag candidate ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Other available tight ends include Kyle Rudolph, Gerald Everett and likely Zach Ertz. The Eagles tight end has drawn trade inquiries and will almost certainly not be back in Philly next season.

Washington Franchises G Brandon Scherff

For the second straight March, Brandon Scherff will be part of a franchise tag transaction. Washington is again moving to cuff its top offensive lineman via the tag, NBC Sports Washington’s J.P. Finlay tweets.

Because Scherff played last season on the tag, he will carry a hefty price. It will cost Washington $18.04MM to tag the six-year veteran guard. The sides hope to finalize a long-term deal; doing so would lower Scherff’s 2021 cap number. Washington is set to carry plenty of cap space, however. Even after the tag, the team holds more than $35MM.

Scherff, who joined Joe Thuney last year in being the first guards tagged since 2011, has traveled the Jadeveon Clowney route by playing out a fifth-year option season and playing a subsequent season on the tag. Unlike Clowney, however, Scherff has now received a second tag. The clock is ticking on his ability to maximize his value. Despite being a 2015 draftee, the four-time Pro Bowl blocker will turn 30 later this year.

Washington ended a messy divorce with Trent Williams last year, leaving Scherff as its cornerstone O-lineman. While Scherff has battled a few injuries in recent years, he returned to top form after his most recent malady. Returning from an early-season MCL injury, Scherff played a key role in elevating Washington back to the playoffs. He earned first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in doing so.

Washington has until July 15 to finalize an extension with Scherff. Considering his lofty tag price, the team will likely continue efforts to extend Scherff ahead of free agency’s March 17 outset. The Iowa product’s tag price is far and away the highest salary for a guard this year. As far as long-term deals go, no guard is making as much in average salary as Scherff earned last year on the tag ($15MM). He stands to fetch a high price on an extension.

Dolphins To Acquire Titans T Isaiah Wilson

The Titans are moving on from Isaiah Wilson after just one season. They will trade the 2020 first-round tackle to the Dolphins, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Titans GM Jon Robinson issued an ultimatum of sorts to Wilson recently, but word soon emerged that the Titans were shopping the disappointing blocker. The Dolphins, who already drafted a first-round tackle in 2020, will acquire another Round 1 edge blocker from that class.

The Dolphins will send a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Titans in exchange for Wilson and a 2022 seventh-rounder, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets.

Considering the price the Titans paid to land Wilson — the No. 29 overall pick last year — this marks a major discount for the Dolphins, who will be landing Wilson at a cheaper rate as well. The Titans will incur $9MM-plus in dead money by trading Wilson after his rookie year. Though, it remains to be seen if Wilson’s troublesome 2020 will void any guarantees in his rookie contract. The Dolphins were high on Wilson going into the 2020 draft, per Wolfe (on Twitter), and they are taking a flier on a player who is signed through 2023.

Wilson played just four snaps as a rookie, running into multifront trouble last year. He was issued a trespass warning for attending a party at Tennessee State University last summer. That preceded a September DUI arrest. The Titans suspended Wilson in December and ended his season by placing him on the reserve/NFI list days later. Wilson voiced a desire to leave the Titans, in a since-deleted tweet, earlier this year. The Dolphins, who selected Austin Jackson with the third of their three 2020 Round 1 picks, will give Wilson a second chance.

The former Georgia tackle’s stock has certainly nosedived from where it was at this point last year. The Titans selected him with the hope he would succeed Jack Conklin at right tackle. Former swing tackle Dennis Kelly ended up starting there instead. Kelly is under contract through 2022. The Dolphins drafted tackle Robert Hunt in the 2020 second round and still have guard/tackle Jesse Davis under contract.

Jets To Franchise Tag S Marcus Maye

The Jets will not let Marcus Maye hit the market. They are placing the franchise tag on their four-year safety starter, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Expected for a bit to be tagged, Maye will join Broncos standout Justin Simmons in being taken off the safety market. This comes a day ahead of this year’s spring deadline to designate franchise players.

Maye became the Jets’ secondary centerpiece last year, when the team traded Jamal Adams to the Seahawks. Maye broke through with the best season of his career; Pro Football Focus graded the former second-round pick as its No. 5 overall safety. The safety tag is expected to land in the $10-$11MM range.

Maye’s agent voiced concerns about the Jets’ negotiations with his client a few days ago, leading Joe Douglas to declare the team still has a plan to extend the Mike Maccagnan-era draft choice. The Jets will now have until July 15 to reach an extension agreement with Maye.

49ers Unlikely To Tender RFA Nick Mullens

The 49ers’ backup quarterback of the past three seasons appears likely to reach free agency. San Francisco is not expected to give Nick Mullens an RFA tender, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes.

Tendered as an ERFA last year, Mullens receiving a tender would mean he is not eligible for unrestricted free agency until 2022. However, it appears he will receive an early look at the true free agent market soon. Mullens will be free to sign with any team if not given a tender. Though, a return to the 49ers should not be ruled out. It just will not be for the tender price; an original-round tender is expected to cost $2.1MM.

Jimmy Garoppolo‘s three-year backup/frequent spot starter suffered an elbow injury late last season and is expected to spend several months in post-surgery rehab this year. Mullens is, however, expected to be ready for training camp.

As of early March, the 49ers’ plans at quarterback remain loosely Garoppolo-centric. John Lynch threw more support behind the team’s current QB1 recently. But the fifth-year 49ers GM indicated the team will likely add a veteran backup. That would leave Mullens in limbo. So does the presence of Josh Rosen. The 49ers poached the former No. 10 overall pick from the Buccaneers’ practice squad late last season. Under contract through 2021, Rosen would be a candidate to be San Francisco’s third-stringer as well.

A UDFA out of Southern Miss, Mullens has started 16 career games. He boasts a 25-22 TD-INT ratio but also has a 7.9 career yards-per-attempt figure. He journeyed through an interesting 2020. Mullens led a severely shorthanded 49ers team to a blowout win over the Giants in his first start last year — game in which he totaled 343 passing yards — but was benched the following week. Mullens later helped the 49ers to an upset win over the Rams but lost every other start he made.