HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Jared Goff Targeting Lions Extension?

February 10th, 2023 at 3:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

Viewed by most as a placeholder passer during his first two offseasons in Detroit, Jared Goff is coming off a strong 2022 slate and will enter the 2023 season in position to build on it.

The Lions will have Jameson Williams healthy to complement Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the team is interested in re-signing DJ Chark. Detroit also stands to return most of its offensive line. And OC Ben Johnson, who went from rookie play-caller to sought-after HC candidate, decided early in this year’s interview cycle to stay with the Lions. Goff has also received a run of endorsements about his status as the Lions’ starter.

The former No. 1 overall pick remains tied to his Rams-constructed contract — a four-year, $134MM extension agreed to during the 2019 offseason — but might this momentum entice Goff’s camp to pursue a new deal? They may already have done so. Rumblings pointed to Goff’s camp seeking a Lions extension during the 2022 offseason, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who expects the QB’s reps to broach the subject with the team again this year. Goff’s current deal runs through the 2024 season.

Coming back from being the throw-in piece in 2021’s Matthew Stafford trade, Goff moved to Detroit because the Rams added a second first-round pick to convince the Lions to take on the then-trending-down passer’s contract. But the Lions did not pursue an upgrade in 2022, a rather busy offseason for the quarterback market. GM Brad Holmes offered another endorsement of Goff as the team’s starter last month. That came after a December report indicated the Lions were looking at Goff not as a bridge but as a long-term option. Following a season in which Goff ranked fifth in QBR — at 61.2, the second-highest mark of his career — the Cal product is back on the upswing.

Detroit held the No. 2 overall pick last year — a draft that brought a shaky quarterback class — and, thanks to the Rams’ 2022 struggles, holds this year’s No. 6 choice. Detroit also has its own first-rounder (No. 18 overall) to dangle for a potential trade-up, in the event the team takes a liking to one of this year’s top prospects. The Lions may not want to do a Goff deal before the draft, but Birkett adds the more logical window would be in the summer. Both the Lions’ Stafford extensions were finalized in the summer (July 2013, August 2017).

When Goff signed his Rams accord, it ranked as a top-five contract. Nearly four years later, the QB market’s usual movement has dropped Goff’s AAV outside the top 10. Goff’s $33.5MM-per-year number now checks in at No. 11 at the position, and the $30MM-AAV neighborhood is sliding toward the QB middle class. Nine passers are currently tied to deals north of $40MM per annum, with no contracts residing in the $35-40MM gap. Goff’s deal also contains no more guaranteed money. Of course, the obvious question would be whether the Lions would want to give their current starter a big raise.

Goff doing an extension would reduce his 2023 cap number (currently at $30.9MM), but the Lions considering an upper-crust extension for a quarterback who has been inconsistent over the past four seasons would cut into their ability to build a team around the eighth-year veteran. Goff, 28, has not solidified himself as a surefire franchise quarterback; paying him as such would inject risk into the Lions’ equation. But the market could soon change. A number of QBs could join Aaron Rodgers as $50MM-per-year passers, with Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert all extension-eligible. Daniel Jones‘ next deal may be more pertinent to Goff, given the aforementioned passers’ higher standing in the league.

This batch of extensions coming to pass and Goff playing well again in 2023 — ahead of his 2024 contract year — would boost his value. Another Goff contract does not appear to be a front-burner matter for the Lions, who rallied from 1-6 to the playoff precipice. But it might enter that territory in the not-too-distant future.

Titans’ Taylor Lewan Expects To Be Released; LT Open To Returning At Reduced Rate

February 10th, 2023 at 1:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ending the season with a backup-laden offensive line, the Titans are not expected to bring back their most accomplished blocker. At least, not at his current salary. Taylor Lewan said this week the Titans are prepared to release him.

The three-time Pro Bowl left tackle, who suffered ACL tears in 2020 and 2022, also said he is contemplating retirement. Even if the nine-year veteran opts to play in 2023, he will no longer be attached to the five-year, $80MM extension he signed back in July 2018.

“In the next couple of weeks, I will be cut by the Tennessee Titans – that will happen,” Lewan said, via Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. “I truly believe that in my heart of hearts. Then I have to go into a situation that I’ve never been in in my entire life: I have to weigh the pros and cons of playing football, or not playing football.”

Lewan’s contract has fallen to 11th among left tackles, but the $50MM in guarantees still rank as a top-five figure at the position. Although Lewan could collect a small sum (by NFL standards) via injury protection in the event of a release, his guarantees have run out. The Titans can save $14.8MM by cutting Lewan at any point this year. The team is $21MM-plus over the 2023 cap.

Tennessee has been unable to rely on its blindside bastion for a bit. Even as he finished the 2019 and ’21 seasons, the former first-round pick missed a combined eight games in those slates. Lewan, 31, said last year a knee issue from 2021 also never fully healed. The Michigan product was one of the game’s top left tackles during the latter part of the 2010s, however, and played an intermittent role in the Titans venturing to three straight playoff brackets from 2019-21.

The Titans also finished last season with center Ben Jones and guard Nate Davis on IR. Davis is set for free agency and projects as one of the top O-linemen available; a Davis defection could give Tennessee needs at both guard spots. Lewan, who said he has spoken with new GM Ran Carthon, did not rule out returning to the Titans after taking a pay cut. Though, his health will play a major role in determining if that path is viable.

“Obviously my contract is $14MM next year,” Lewan said. “If they come back and are like, ‘If you want to come back, this is the number we’ll bring you back at,’ I’m sure there will be somewhat of a conversation of, ‘How does your knee look? Are you interested in playing?‘

“Mike [Vrabel] and I have a fantastic relationship. Mike and I talk; we text; he makes fun of me and Will [Compton, Lewan’s podcast cohost] on a group chat on a consistent basis. It’s a great relationship. So, there will be a lot of transparency and he’ll tell me how he feels and what he thinks and if he thinks that’s a good thing for them, then there is absolutely a conversation to be had. If I was going to play another year, my preferred spot would be where I’ve been for the last nine years. I’m a loyal guy, and it would feel very uncomfortable for me to wear a different uniform.”

Texans To Interview Kliff Kingsbury For OC

February 10th, 2023 at 12:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kliff Kingsbury appears through with his vacation. The recently fired Cardinals coach is interviewing for a job on DeMeco Ryans‘ Texans staff, Dan Graziano of ESPN.com tweets.

This is an offensive coordinator interview, Aaron Wilson of KPRC reports. The team has interviewed multiple OC candidates already; Kingsbury would check in with a higher profile. The Texans are meeting with Kingsbury today.

[RELATED: Texans To Hire Matt Burke As DC]

A mid-January report indicated Kingsbury had rejected OC interviews, instead telling teams he bought a one-way ticket to Thailand. Kingsbury’s only coaching job in the NFL came as a head coach, though he has extensive experience coaching in Texas. Prior to spending six seasons as Texas Tech’s head coach, Kingsbury was an offensive coordinator at Houston and Texas A&M. The former Texas Tech quarterback is a San Antonio-area native. Though a more relevant work sample can be studied from Kingsbury’s Cardinals tenure, he coached Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech and ran the offense during Johnny Manziel‘s 2012 Heisman-winning season.

Kingsbury’s Cardinals tenure unraveled quickly. The Cards gave he and then-GM Steve Keim through-2027 extensions in March 2022. That came after Kingsbury led the Cards to their first playoff berth since 2015. Arizona then finished 4-13, leading to the team canning its recently reupped HC. Despite steady rumblings of the Cards considering a dismissal, Kingsbury was believed to be taken aback by the firing.

The Texans have interviewed 49ers passing-game coordinator Bobby Slowik for their OC position and requested a meeting with Bengals wide receivers coach Troy Walters. Jerrod Johnson, the Vikings’ assistant quarterbacks coach, also interviewed for the job, Wilson tweets. None of these staffers has called plays in the NFL previously. A previous report suggested Kingsbury could take a break in 2023, but he is now entertaining the possibility of taking another job immediately.

Although Kingsbury’s Cardinals offenses drew criticism for a lack of downfield production, the team ranked as a top-eight unit in 2020 and ’21. Both those years produced Kyler Murray Pro Bowl invites, though Murray injuries affected each of those squads. Kingsbury’s team also lost DeAndre Hopkins for the 2021 stretch run, leading to a downturn ahead of a playoff blowout against the Rams. Last season brought an avalanche of issues for the Cards, who are still in the process of selecting their Kingsbury replacement.

Evidenced partially by Murray cursing out Kingsbury during a nationally televised Cardinals win over the Saints, the quarterback and the coach who pushed to bring him to Arizona were not seeing eye-to-eye last season. Hopkins’ PED ban and trade acquisition Marquise Brown‘s ensuing foot injury kept Kingsbury from being able to deploy his top two wideouts together for most of the season. More injury trouble slowed Hopkins, and Arizona’s aging offensive line sustained a few hits as well. The Cardinals lost Murray to an ACL tear during a December Monday-night tilt and ended up starting four QBs before season’s end.

The Texans are looking for their third OC in three years. Bill O’Brien staffer Tim Kelly stayed on under David Culley, and the team promoted QBs coach Pep Hamilton to be Lovie Smith‘s OC. Ryans will not be promoting from within, and the next Houston OC may well have a rookie quarterback to mentor.

AFC West Notes: Brown, Chargers, Raiders

February 10th, 2023 at 12:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Orlando Brown Jr. will command either a second franchise tag, another lucrative Chiefs extension offer or a massive free agency accord. The four-time Pro Bowler wants to stay in Kansas City, but it certainly does not sound like any hometown discount will be considered.

“Yeah, absolutely, I want to stay here, but the business is the business,” Brown said, via Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams. “Things happen. Whatever happens, man, I’ll be prepared to go.”

This stance is unsurprising, given how the franchise-tagged tackle played his 2022 negotiations. Despite acquiring Brown via trade in 2021, the Chiefs tabled extension talks until last year. Brown changed agents, hiring a representative without a football background, and said Kansas City’s offer was too light on guarantees for him to sign. The Chiefs offered Brown a six-year, $139MM deal that contained the second-most guarantees among tackles, and although a bloated final-year salary existed to increase the AAV to top Trent Williams‘ $23MM mark, Brown passed. This rankled some in the organization. Pro Football Focus viewed the mammoth left tackle as making slight improvements in 2022, slotting him as a top-20 player at the position. Barring a major injury in Super Bowl LVII, Brown will be in strong negotiating position again soon.

Here is the latest from the AFC West:

  • Justin Herbert will be taking some time off ahead of the Chargers‘ offseason program. The star quarterback underwent surgery to address a shoulder labrum injury, according to the team. Herbert underwent the procedure on his nonthrowing shoulder, which became an issue late in the season. The Chargers expect their QB to be ready in time for their offseason program, which will be a bit more important for Herbert and Co. due to the team having changed offensive coordinators.
  • On the OC topic, the Chargers will entrust Herbert’s fourth season to Kellen Moore. The 33-year-old play-caller made a quick move from Dallas to L.A., being informed he was not returning for a fifth season as the Cowboys’ OC to landing the Bolts job within a day. Prior to the Chargers moving quickly on Moore, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes they were leaning toward hiring Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson (Twitter link). Multiple coordinator-seeking teams believed Robinson, a former Brandon Staley coworker, would land the gig. Robinson has interviewed for the Ravens’ OC position, but as of now, the young assistant is set to return to the Rams.
  • Kyzir White departed the Chargers after a productive contract year, one that led the linebacker to the Eagles. Set to start in Super Bowl LVII, White is still auditioning for a long-term payday. The Eagles gave the converted safety a one-year, $3MM deal. Despite White tallying a career-high 144 tackles and starting 17 games for the 2021 Chargers, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper notes Staley’s system not placing a high value on off-ball ‘backers led the Bolts to let him walk (subscription required). This could be relevant intel for the Bolts’ Kenneth Murray plan. The team chose Murray in the first round before Staley’s arrival; his fifth-year option will cost $12.72MM.
  • The Bolts should be expected to consider re-signing right tackle Trey Pipkins, per Popper. Winning the right-side job in training camp after making offseason improvements, Pipkins suffered an MCL sprain and aggravated the injury twice upon returning. The free agent-to-be still started 14 games. Pro Football Focus ranked Pipkins 67th among tackles, though Popper notes the Chargers will likely hold the former third-round pick in higher regard compared to the rest of the league. It will be interesting to see what Pipkins’ market produces, as starter-caliber tackles generally do well in free agency.
  • Adam Butler secured a pretty nice reserve/futures deal with the Raiders. The veteran defensive tackle’s one-year pact includes $485.8K guaranteed, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets, adding the contract can spike to $2MM. A former Patriots regular, Butler did not play in 2022 after being cut by the Dolphins during training camp.

Don Martindale, Brian Callahan Out Of Colts HC Pursuit

February 10th, 2023 at 10:33am CST by Sam Robinson

10:40am: Callahan has also been informed he is no longer in the mix for the Indy job, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. Although the Cardinals interviewed Callahan as well, he is not believed to have advanced to the finals of that race. These developments will keep Callahan in Cincinnati for a fifth year as the AFC contender’s offensive coordinator.

Only one of the 10 HC-seeking teams last year (Denver) interviewed Callahan, and he was a late entry into both the Arizona and Indianapolis searches this year. Keeping Callahan for another season will continue to ensure continuity for a rising Bengals team, which has seen its Joe Burrow-led offense ignite over the past two seasons.

10:33am: As the Colts move closer to ending their long-running search for a head coach, Don Martindale is no longer believed to be in the running. The Giants’ defensive coordinator is out of the mix, Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets.

The 2022 Giants DC hire is staying in New York, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News notes (via Twitter). Martindale remains attached to a three-year Giants contract. This represents a positive development for Brian Daboll‘s staff, which still risks losing offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. The young play-caller remains in the race for the Cardinals’ head coaching job. Kafka did not receive a second Colts interview.

One of eight Colts candidates to have gone through a second interview, Martindale joins Ejiro Evero among that lot in no longer being in contention for the position. Evero was one of the first names to be connected to a second Indianapolis meeting, but he accepted Carolina’s DC offer. The Colts are also now unlikely to bump Jeff Saturday up to their full-time HC.

Martindale took over a Giants defense that featured gaping holes at linebacker and cornerback, and while DVOA viewed the Giants as a bottom-tier defense (29th), the group fared well in spots the help Daboll’s team to key wins during one of the more surprising runs to the divisional round in recent memory. Dexter Lawrence‘s breakthrough under Martindale certainly looks like a seminal development, with the former first-round pick now squarely on the radar for a monster extension.

Should Saturday and Martindale indeed be out of the running, it would leave Rich Bisaccia, Brian Callahan, Aaron Glenn, Raheem Morris and Shane Steichen left in the race. With the Colts likely waiting until after Super Bowl LVII, Steichen — finishing up his second season as Eagles OC — remains a name to watch here. Many around the NFL believe Jim Irsay is targeting Steichen, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports tweets.

Texans To Hire Matt Burke As DC

February 10th, 2023 at 9:04am CST by Sam Robinson

The Texans will give Matt Burke a second chance on the coordinator level. Shortly after interviewing the Cardinals’ defensive line coach, the AFC South team plans to hire him as its next defensive coordinator, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.

While DeMeco Ryans will head up Houston’s defense, Burke will step in as the young HC’s right-hand man here. Burke previously oversaw the Dolphins’ defense from 2017-18 but has been with three teams since. Burke, 46, spent the 2022 season with the Cardinals, worked with the Eagles from 2019-20 and was with the Jets in 2021.

Ryans obviously earned the Houston HC job on the strength of his defensive acumen, but it is not a certainty he will call plays. He and Burke have not determined that key component of the Texans’ 2023 blueprint, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, who suggests Burke has a legitimate chance to step into this role (Twitter link).

This process did not double as a wide-ranging search. Beyond Burke, it is believed only Jets safeties coach Marquand Manuel interviewed for the position. Manuel interviewed for the gig twice, per KPRC’s Aaron Wilson, but the Texans were unable to secure meetings with Chris Harris or 49ers D-line coach Kris Kocurek. Harris interviewed for San Francisco’s DC position and received a Texans interview request; he ended up sticking with his initial offseason pledge — a Titans staff gig. Harris is now Tennessee’s cornerbacks coach.

Kocurek is expected to stay with the 49ers, with Wilson noting a title bump may be on tap. Manuel interviewed for both the Texans and Panthers’ DC posts. Unable to bring Kocurek to Houston, Ryans is also interested in former San Francisco coworker Cory Undlin. Undlin’s 49ers contract has expired, per Wilson; that could well lead the team’s passing-game coordinator/DBs coach to the Texans. Undlin, 51, spent the 2020 season as the Lions’ DC but was one of Ryans’ top assistants over the past two years.

An NFL staffer since 2004, Burke has spent much of his career coaching linebackers. He served in that role with the Lions, Bengals and Dolphins. Miami promoted Burke to DC in 2017, and he worked as Adam Gase‘s DC during the latter’s final two seasons running the Dolphins. Success proved elusive. The Dolphins ranked 28th and 25th in defensive DVOA, respectively, during Burke’s two years in charge. The Dolphins ousted both Gase and Burke in 2019, pivoting to an aggressive rebuild.

Burke just finished overseeing J.J. Watt‘s final season. The former Texans superstar rebounded from an injury-plagued 2021 to exit the NFL on a high note, producing 12.5 sacks — including two in his final game, against Ryans’ 49ers — and seven pass deflections. Perhaps more indicative of Burke’s Arizona work: Zach Allen‘s contract-year ascent. Working alongside Watt, Allen produced eight pass batdowns — a total that tied for the league lead among D-linemen last season — and registered a career-best 5.5 sacks and 20 QB hits.

The Cardinals stayed with Vance Joseph‘s 3-4 scheme in 2022, but Ryans and Burke used 4-3 looks during their seasons running defenses. It should be expected the Texans will pivot to that alignment in 2023. Houston does not have much in the way of cornerstone defensive pieces; it will be on Burke to spearhead a young group. The Texans ranked 27th in scoring defense and allowed the third-most yards last season.

2023 NFL Hall Of Fame Class Unveiled

February 9th, 2023 at 10:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

As part of tonight’s NFL Honors program, the 2023 Hall of Fame class has been revealed. Here is the full breakdown of this year’s honorees:

Ronde Barber, cornerback (1997-2012)

After a long wait, the Buccaneers’ all-time interceptions leader is headed to Canton. Barber played all 16 of his NFL seasons in Tampa Bay, helping the team win Super Bowl XXXVII. The former third-rounder is the only player in league history to record more than 45 interceptions and 25 sacks, figures which helped him earn five Pro Bowl and three first-team All-Pro selections. A 2000s All-Decade member, Barber spent much of his career in a class of his own with respect to slot corners in particular and enjoyed historic longevity.

Darrelle Revis, cornerback (2007-2017)*

A first-round pick of the Jets, “Revis Island” was located in New York for six years to start the first-round pick’s career. That stretch saw Revis record an all time single-season record in pass deflections in 2009 (31). Revis earned five of his seven career Pro Bowl nods and three of his four first-team All-Pro honors during his time with the Jets, which included a two-year return to the Empire State in 2015 and 2016. The Super Bowl XLIX winner also spent time with the Buccaneers, Patriots and Chiefs, totaling 29 interceptions and being named a 2010s All-Decade member.

Joe Thomas, left tackle (2007-2017)*

Not much went right for the Browns during Thomas’ career, but the former No. 3 overall pick was a sterling model of consistent and elite offensive line play. Thomas was an immediate starter as a rookie and did not miss a snap until suffering an injury in the final campaign of his career. The Wisconsin alum maintained his status as arguably the NFL’s premier pass protector throughout his tenure, and will go down as one of the top blindside blockers not only of his generation (as evidenced by his inclusion on the 2010s All-Decade team) but all time.

Zach Thomas, linebacker (1996-2008)

Another defender who endured a lengthy stay as a HOF finalist, Thomas spent all but his final season in Miami. The former fifth-rounder became entrenched as the leader of the Dolphins’ defense during his hugely productive tenure with the team. A five-time first-team All-Pro, Thomas racked up seven Pro Bowls while collecting 1,734 tackles (the fifth-highest mark in league history). He was thus an easy selection for the 2000s All-Decade team.

DeMarcus Ware, linebacker (2005-2016)

A first-round pick of the Cowboys, Ware quickly established himself as a dominant pass rusher. He led the NFL in sacks twice during his time in Dallas. A nine-time Pro Bowler, four-time first-team All-Pro and 2000s All-Decade member, Ware spent the final three years of his NFL tenure in Denver. It was with the Broncos that he won Super Bowl 50, capping off a pro career which saw him record 138.5 sacks, a figure which ranks third amongst 21st-century players and ninth all time.

* – denotes first year of eligibility

As well as the above members, Canton will also be welcoming former Bears and Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley, former Jets and Colts defensive lineman Joe Klecko and former Bengals cornerback Ken Riley as senior finalists. The senior head coaching finalist is Don Coryell, an alum of the Chargers and Cardinals.

The only member of a losing team to be named Super Bowl MVP, Howley (who won such acclaim in Super Bowl V) earned five straight All-Pro honors from 1966-70. He helped the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl win a year later. One of the most versatile D-linemen of his era, Klecko shined at both defensive end and D-tackle as part of the Jets’ “New York Sack Exchange” pass rush. He ripped off an unofficial — since sacks did not become a full-fledged stat until 1982 — 20.5-sack season in 1981 while helping the Jets to the playoffs. Riley’s 65 interceptions are tied for fifth all time. Although Riley never earned Pro Bowl recognition, the Bengals ballhawk landed first- or second-team All-Pro acclaim three times during his 15-year career.

Among the NFL’s signature passing-game innovators, Coryell made the most of his HC opportunities in St. Louis and San Diego. Coryell (111-83-1) led the Cardinals to back-to-back playoff berths in 1974 and ’75 — the franchise’s lone non-strike-year postseason advancement between 1948 and 1998 — and ignited the Chargers’ offense upon taking the reins in 1978. The Bolts ranked first in passing offense in each of Coryell’s first five seasons. Featuring three Hall of Famers (Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner), the “Air Coryell” attack helped the Bolts to four consecutive playoff berths from 1979-82.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

WR Adam Thielen Facing Contract Restructure, Wants To Remain With Vikings

February 9th, 2023 at 8:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Vikings are not in an enviable position with respect to cap space as the new league year approaches, meaning the team will need to make a number of financial moves in the near future. One of those is likely to involve one of their longest-tenured contributors.

Wideout Adam Thielen once again faces the probability of having to restructure his contract. The 32-year-old has two years remaining on his current pact, and is scheduled to have a cap hit of just under $20MM in 2023. Thielen re-worked his deal last March, in a move which saw Minnesota gain much-needed cap space but has his $11.8MM salary for this season set to become fully guaranteed just after the new league year. Barring further maneuvering, then, he could be considered a cut candidate.

When speaking about his financial situation on the Pat McAfee Show, Thielen acknowledged that talks have begun with the Vikings regarding a new restructure (video link). The two-time Pro Bowler is due more than $30MM over the course of the next two seasons, though Minnesota will once again have the option of converting a significant portion of his base salary into bonuses. A post-June 1 release in particular, on the other hand, would give the NFC North champions eight-figure cap savings in both 2023 and 2024.

When speaking about his uncertain future, Thielen made it clear, however, that he intends to re-work his deal as a result of his desire to remain with the Vikings. The former UDFA has played each of his 135 career games with Minnesota, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark twice. His yardage totals have dipped in recent years, as fellow receiver (and 2022 Offensive Player of the Year) Justin Jefferson has enjoyed an historic start to his career. Thielen has still proven himself to be a reliable redzone contributor, though, totaling 30 touchdowns in the past three campaigns.

“I want to be able to help a team and show… I can play at a high level to help them win,” Thielen added, via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter). “Will that be in Minnesota? I don’t know. I hope so. I hope to retire a Minnesota Viking… Will that happen? I don’t know. This is also a business.”

Thielen and the Vikings have a few weeks to work out an agreement which lowers his cap hit while ensuring he remains in Minnesota for at least the short-term future. Failing that, he would no doubt generate a considerable market for himself as a free agent.

Chiefs GM On Designing Patrick Mahomes’ Extension, Building Around Contract

February 9th, 2023 at 6:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Signing a 10-year Chiefs extension back in 2020, Patrick Mahomes is finishing up the first year of that pact. After playing the final two seasons of his rookie deal, the soon-to-be two-time MVP has seen the market surpass that landmark agreement already. No reports of Mahomes unrest while tied to a through-2031 contract have come out yet, and the Chiefs made some notable payroll adjustments this year.

The AFC champions traded Tyreek Hill, not long after beginning talks about a second extension, and let Tyrann Mathieu‘s $14MM-per-year contract expire without offering him another deal. Kansas City also reached a pay-cut agreement with Frank Clark. The team did not restructure Mahomes’ deal this offseason, letting the superstar passer’s cap number spike from $7.4MM in 2021 to $35.8MM in 2022.

In place of Hill, the Chiefs signed JuJu Smith-Schuster and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. They later traded for Kadarius Toney, doing so after second-round pick Skyy Moore struggled to acclimate. Missing Hill’s unparalleled deep-threat capabilities, the Chiefs’ receiving corps has battled inconsistency this season. Mahomes and Travis Kelce have still kept the ship on course; the Chiefs ended the regular season first in offensive DVOA.

“There’s a pressure of not wanting to let him down, or fail him,” Chiefs GM Brett Veach said of Mahomes (via SI.com’s Albert Breer). “He can play any type of football, so you feel like you have a little bit more of a window to work with, in regards to what you can bring in here. But at the same time, the expectations are so high, there’s the pressure of you can’t miss anything and you gotta do whatever you can.

“And maybe you don’t have $30 million to throw at a wideout, but you better get good wideouts because you can’t provide him with nothing. So it’s a double-edged sword.”

The Chiefs raised the quarterback AAV ceiling by a staggering $10MM back in the summer of 2020, via Mahomes’ 10-year, $450MM extension. That $45MM-per-year figure has already dropped to fifth — behind Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray and Deshaun Watson — and potential extensions for Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts all stand to come in ahead of Mahomes’ AAV. Mahomes’ deal also came with just $63MM fully guaranteed — well off the previous pace and now several levels down from Watson’s record-shattering $230MM sum — but innovative guarantee mechanisms exist that trigger annual bonuses two years out as long as he is on Kansas City’s roster.

Chiefs director of football administration Brandt Tilis researched baseball contracts due to their longevity, per Breer, and the Chiefs conveyed their unorthodox plan to their centerpiece player. Mahomes’ agents sought a fully guaranteed deal, a la MLB pacts. The sides compromised via the guarantee mechanisms. Mahomes’ 2024 money became locked in on Day 3 of this past league year. His 2025 roster bonus ($38.9MM) becomes guaranteed on March 17, 2023, offering intriguing security. Mahomes has also begun to cash in on incentives — via the Chiefs’ latest AFC championship incentive — and is almost certain to collect an MVP incentive tonight. Those figures add up to $2.5MM.

“We couldn’t do that,” Tilis said, via Breer, of a guaranteed contract. “What we could do was what we ended up with, which is we’ll just guarantee everything a year out. And they followed the math and the cap numbers and the cash numbers and all that, and it was like, How are we ever going to be able to cut this guy? So, I mean, it’s practically over $400MM guaranteed.”

Josh Allen‘s six-year accord came closest to Mahomes’. Otherwise, QBs have stayed on course with four- or five-year contracts. It will be interesting to see how early the Chiefs would be willing to renegotiate with Mahomes. A nine-figure payment awaits in 2027, when his 2027 and 2028 salaries and 2028 bonus lock in on Day 3 of the ’27 league year. With that date four years away and the cap back on its regular climb, the quarterback market will look much different by that point.

In trading Hill, the Chiefs initially turned down the Jets’ offer of their No. 10 overall pick, Breer adds. The team preferred a package of picks, leading to the previously reported Jets offer that centered around their two second-round choices. The Dolphins’ offer of last year’s No. 29 overall pick, 2022 second and three other choices won out. With Mahomes’ cap hits rising, the Chiefs look to continue a more draft-centric approach compared to their late-2010s blueprint. Rookie-deal players comprise 11 spots in Kansas City’s lineup, with low-cost vets like Smith-Schuster and right tackle Andrew Wylie also in this updated equation.

“When Pat had that unbelievable ’18 season and he’s on his rookie deal, you’re trading for Frank Clark and signing Tyrann Mathieu,” Veach said. “You’re hyper-aggressive because you know how talented this quarterback is, and you know he’s in a rookie window, and you know that, within these couple years, you have a chance to really take a big swing at the fences.

“You’re still gonna have to have an aggressive plan [post-extension]. But that aggressive plan ain’t gonna be dropping a ton of money and trading a bunch of picks. That aggressive plan is gonna be the flip side. It’s gonna be not being afraid to move on from players and trying to aggressively acquire picks as opposed to aggressively trading them away and spending money.”

Saints Viewed As Derek Carr Frontrunners

February 9th, 2023 at 6:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

6:03pm: Carr concluded his visit, Sean Fazende of FOX 8 tweets. The ball remains in the 31-year-old quarterback’s court. If Carr is willing to waive his no-trade clause, the Raiders and Saints will have the green light to finalize trade terms. If not, free agency looks like the next step here.

5:33pm: Derek Carr remains in New Orleans for a second day of this Raiders-approved visit. After the Carr-Saints meeting wrapped at around 10:30pm Wednesday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football notes (via Twitter) the meeting has continued today.

Dennis Allen and Saints brass went to dinner with Carr on Wednesday night, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who adds New Orleans is viewed as the frontrunner to land the nine-year veteran (video link). The Raiders and Saints have not agreed completely on terms, but Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets the framework of an agreement is in place.

Initially, the Raiders were not prepared to allow Carr to speak with any team that had not agreed on trade terms. By broadening that baseline to suitors who are in the ballpark of Las Vegas’ preferred compensation, a visit came to pass. Carr wields a no-trade clause, giving him the ability to nix a Raiders-Saints agreement and move closer to free agency. No deal is expected to be finalized Thursday, Rapoport adds.

Six days remain until Carr’s $40.4MM guarantee vests. The Raiders will not pay their longtime quarterback that money, which will lead to a trade or release. The Saints, whose Carr interest generated buzz at the Senior Bowl, are almost the de facto frontrunners here. No other team having been granted permission to speak with Carr. Raiders potential concerns about Carr’s agent using talks to gauge free agency interest helped lead to the narrow parameters on a visit. Even though Carr has only spoken with the Saints, other teams have looked into this early free agency sweepstakes.

The Commanders and Jets were mentioned as suitors late last month, and the Jets are examining Carr. The Commanders are taking a somewhat unexpected offseason course, at least compared to how they have proceeded in recent offseasons. Expected to shed $26MM-plus by releasing Carson Wentz, Washington is planning to give Sam Howell a long look as a potential starter. The team is still monitoring veterans, but not to the degree it did in 2022. Commanders connections to just about every potentially available vet sprang up last year, leading to the Wentz swap. Despite Howell being a fifth-round pick and making on appearance as a rookie, he appears to have a decent chance to be Washington’s 2023 starter.

Expected to dive far deeper into the veteran QB pool, the Jets will need to determine if they want to pursue Carr now or wait for the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garoppolo or another potentially available arm after this February Carr chase wraps up. The Raiders have also been connected to Garoppolo and Rodgers, raising the stakes for a Jets team that has been tied to vet QBs for weeks.

New Orleans has Jameis Winston under contract through 2023, but after benching Drew Brees‘ initial successor, the Saints should not be expected to retain him. Not when they are $60MM over the cap. As of mid-January, no Andy Dalton talks had occurred either. While the Saints did obtain a first-round pick from the Broncos in the Sean Payton trade, that pick sits at No. 29 overall. This draft’s top four QBs will likely be gone by that point, and a veteran would seem to complement the Saints’ experienced roster better anyway.

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