HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Lions To Sign DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson

March 19th, 2023 at 11:05pm CST by Ely Allen

The Lions have added a huge piece to their secondary tonight, agreeing to a new deal to bring in former Saints and Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The contract is reportedly a one-year, $8MM deal with $6.5MM fully guaranteed at signing.

Gardner-Johnson was a versatile defensive back out of Florida, playing at both nickel and safety for the Gators. The Saints selected him in the fourth round, and despite his status as a later round pick, it didn’t take long for Gardner-Johnson to make an impact. He was starting and performing a crucial role on the Saints’ defense by Week 7 of his rookie year. He became a full-time starter in New Orleans after that.

Gardner-Johnson’s ball skills seemed to improve every year. After a rookie season that saw him intercept one pass and break up eight, he improved that in 2020 with one interception and 13 passes defensed. In his final year as a Saint, Gardner-Johnson converted some of those pass breakups into picks, recording three interceptions and seven passes defensed. After being traded to the Eagles days before the season started, Gardner-Johnson became an immediate starter and led the NFL with six interceptions while adding eight passes defensed.

The Lions have made some strong moves to improve a defense that ranked fourth in points allowed while allowing the most yards in the NFL last year. This included allowing the third-most passing yards and the fourth-most rushing yards in the league. While allowing cornerback Mike Hughes and safety DeShon Elliott to walk in free agency, Detroit has reloaded, bringing in former Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton, former 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, and Gardner-Johnson.

How Gardner-Johnson ended up in Detroit is a common example of gambling in free agency. According to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Eagles offered Gardner-Johnson a multi-year contract early in the free agency period. Gardner-Johnson and his agent turned the offer down as they were seeking a higher value. Philadelphia moved past the rejection and signed James Bradberry while extending Darius Slay. This also seems to explain why Gardner-Johnson ended up with only a one-year deal. Apparently unhappy with any of the long-term deals he was presented, Gardner-Johnson opted for a one-year “prove it” deal that would allow him to increase his value for next year’s free agency.

Gardner-Johnson’s arrival in Detroit will be a reunion with head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Both were in New Orleans at the same time, with Glenn coaching his position group with the Saints. So not only did the Lions get one of the top-remaining free agents available, they also signed one they were very familiar with.

WR Mack Hollins Signing With Falcons

March 19th, 2023 at 9:47pm CST by Ely Allen

The Falcons have brought in some much-needed help at wide receiver, signing former Raiders wide receiver Mack Hollins, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The new deal is reportedly a one-year, $2.5MM contract including a signing bonus of $910,000 and a base salary of $1.08MM. The deal will reportedly also include a per game active roster bonus of $30,000 for a potential season total of $510,000.

Hollins had a breakout season with the Raiders last year after four years in the league between Philadelphia and Miami. Hollins recorded career-highs in starts (16), targets (94), receptions (57), and receiving yards (690), while tying a career-high with four touchdowns last season. In his first opportunity to be a starting weapon in an NFL offense, Hollins was second on the team in receiving yards, behind only star wideout DeAndre Hopkins. He used his health and dependability to outperform last year’s leaders Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller.

Hollins immediately becomes a big piece on the Falcons offense due to an extreme lack of depth at the position. Not including young starters Drake London and Kyle Pitts, three of Atlanta’s top-five targeted receivers from last season (Olamide Zaccheaus, Damiere Byrd, and KhaDarel Hodge) are all currently free agents. The top returning wideout behind London is Frank Darby who had one catch for 15 yards last year.

Whether he’s receiving passes from second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder or recently acquired Taylor Heinicke, Hollins provides the Falcons with a breakout wide receiver who can contribute on special teams if needed. In return, Hollins receives the biggest contract of his career so far.

Chiefs To Sign DE Charles Omenihu

March 19th, 2023 at 8:21pm CST by Ben Levine

MARCH 19: Thanks to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, we now have some details on Omenihu’s new contract. The contract is a two-year, $16MM deal now confirmed to have that maximum value of $20MM. The deal has a guaranteed amount of $10.6MM partially consisting of a $7.5MM signing bonus and the first year’s base salary of $1.08MM. Omenihu’s deal includes annual incentives worth up to $2MM per year based on playing time and playoffs. Lastly, the deal includes a per-game active roster bonus of $30K that could add a season total of $510K in 2023.

MARCH 14: The Chiefs are adding a pass rusher. The team is signing defensive end Charles Omenihu, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). It’s a two-year deal worth up to $20MM.

Omenihu spent the first three-plus seasons of his career with the Texans, collecting seven sacks through his first two seasons with the organization. He was traded to the 49ers during the 2021 for a sixth-round pick and played sparingly down the stretch.

He took on a larger role in 2022 and had a career season. Omenihu appeared in a career-high 54 percent of his team’s defensive snaps while finishing with career-highs in sacks (4.5) and QB hits (16). Pro Football Focus ultimately ranked him 44th among 119 qualifying edge defenders, including a top-20 grade in pass rushing. He’ll provide the Chiefs with some extra depth on the edge (plus some insurance in case Carlos Dunlap signs elsewhere).

The 49ers, meanwhile, will watch as yet another key defender walks out the door. So far in free agency, the team has lost Samson Ebukam, Emmanuel Moseley, Azeez Al-Shaair, Jimmie Ward, and now Omenihu.

Panthers Still Seeking WR Help In Free Agency

March 19th, 2023 at 6:41pm CST by Ely Allen

The Panthers have been working extremely hard this offseason to become unrecognizable from last year. After major changes all over the coaching staff, the team made moves to acquire the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2023, following that up with a litany of free agent moves aimed at improving the roster for new head coach Frank Reich and company.

There’s no doubt that Carolina has been swinging big in their attempts to bring in talent. Apart from retaining center Bradley Bozeman, who joined a much-improved offensive line last year, and extending their defensive leader Shaq Thompson, the team has acquired some major talent on both sides of the ball. Former Bengals safety Vonn Bell and former Saints defensive tackle Shy Tuttle will come in to bolster a defense that ranked in the bottom half of the league in point allowed, total yards allowed, passing yards allowed, and rushing yards allowed.

While the Panthers’ defensive unit wasn’t great, it wasn’t one of the league’s very worst. The team’s offense, on the other hand, ranked 29th in the NFL in total yards and passing yards, leaving Carolina’s passing attack in need of some major upgrades. The Panthers were a top-10 rushing team, and despite trading away Christian McCaffrey and losing D’Onta Foreman to free agency, they are set up extremely well at running back after signing former Eagle Miles Sanders.

In the passing game, the Panthers biggest move was perhaps the trade that gave them the first pick of the draft, but they’ve made other complimentary moves, as well. While it’s widely expected that Carolina will use the pick to draft a franchise quarterback, the team made an extremely savvy move by signing former Saints and Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton became superfluous in New Orleans after the arrival of Derek Carr and the announcement that Jameis Winston would remain with the team. In Carolina, though, Dalton serves a new, major role. He will either serve as a transitionary starting quarterback bridging the gap from last year’s starters to whomever the Panthers select in the draft, allowing that player to sit, learn, and develop, or he will remain one of the league’s more experienced backups, capable of starting in case of injury to or inconsistency from the team’s rookie starter.

The team also addressed the tight end position, bringing in a strong receiving tight end in Hayden Hurst, who has joined his fourth team after stints with the Ravens, Falcons, and Bengals. This addition surely helps, but after trading away D.J. Moore in the deal that gave them the top overall draft pick, more help at wide receiver is clearly needed. The team currently rosters some decent options in Terrace Marshall, Shi Smith, and Laviska Shenault, but without Moore, there is an obvious absence of a No. 1 receiver.

The Panthers aren’t content with finding only one new contributor at wideout, according to Dov Kleiman of BroBible. The team has wanted two major free agent wide receivers: long-time Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen and former Jaguars and Lions receiver DJ Chark. Carolina hosted Thielen on Wednesday and, as of minutes ago, are finalizing a deal to bring in the 32-year-old veteran. Chark visited two days ago and would be a strong option across from Thielen. Chark also provides the benefit of long-term potential at only 26 years old.

The Panthers’ locker room will be looking extremely different in 2023. Already on offense, Dalton, Sanders, Hurst, and now Thielen form an impressive collection of experience and talent. If the team can bring in the right quarterback in the draft and lure Chark in to join his former NFC North rival in Carolina, the Panthers’ offense could become a new strength for the team next season.

Panthers Finalizing Deal With WR Adam Thielen

March 19th, 2023 at 6:26pm CST by Ely Allen

The Panthers continue a busy offseason hellbent on improving their roster, coming to a three-year agreement with long-time Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen, according to Ian Rapoport. Thielen becomes the fourth major addition to the Panthers’ offense this offseason and will be a major factor as they attempt to better a unit that finished 29th in passing yards last season.

Thielen is an incredible story of outperforming his resume. An undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State in 2013, Thielen attended a rookie tryout with the Vikings. He was signed to an entry level contract before getting cut in final roster cuts and signed to the practice squad as a rookie. A strong preseason performance in 2014 earned him a spot on the 53-man roster, but he mostly played on special teams for the next two years, getting negligible snaps on offense.

Thielen broke out in 2016 with a 69-catch, 967-yard performance. It solidified him as a full-time starter in the years to come. He gained new highs in each of the next two seasons with career-high 91- and 113-reception seasons of 1,276 and 1,373 receiving yards, respectively. The only thing he ever improved on from those seasons was his touchdown catch totals. In those seasons, he caught four and nine touchdowns. Two years later, Thielen would catch 14 touchdowns in 2020 and 10 in 2021.

After the impressive 2017 and 2018 seasons, Thielen signed a four-year, $64MM extension with Minnesota to keep him under contract through 2024. Hamstring issues would limit him to only ten games that year. He rebounded with the 14-touchdown 2020 season and likely would have, at the very least, matched that output in 2021 if not for ankle surgery that kept him out of four games.

Thielen stayed productive in 2022, but with star wideout Justin Jefferson firmly taking the reins on offense and the emergence of K.J. Osborn, Thielen’s contract became untenable, leading to his release. His new deal is reportedly worth $25MM over the three years with $14MM guaranteed and $10MM in the first year of the contract, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News in Minneapolis. He’ll now head to Carolina as part of a completely retrofitted offense.

The new Panthers offense will feature either a rookie, No. 1 overall pick or Andy Dalton at quarterback, Miles Sanders at running back, and Hayden Hurst at tight end. With the re-signing of center Bradley Bozeman, a largely improved offensive line completely returns. Now Thielen should figure as the top option at wide receiver.

After trading away D.J. Moore in the deal that brought in the top draft pick, the team could still use some help at wide receiver. The Panthers currently roster Terrace Marshall, Shi Smith, and Laviska Shenault as their top receiving options behind Thielen. All are serviceable, especially with Thielen now in the group, but Carolina is still interested in adding another name. They recently hosted DJ Chark and would very much like to reunite him with Shenault, his former Jaguars teammate.

Regardless of whether or not they can pair Chark with Thielen, the Panthers have a new No. 1 receiver in Thielen. After years behind Stefon Diggs and Jefferson in Minnesota, Thielen will finally get a chance to be a top receiving option in Carolina.

Rams HC Sean McVay Committed To Remaining In Current Post Long-Term

March 19th, 2023 at 4:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2023 offseason has seen a number of changes so far for the Rams, but one constant will be head coach Sean McVay remaining on the sidelines in his current post. After consecutive years of his future being in doubt, the 37-year-old spoke on staying committed to Los Angeles for the foreseeable future.

McVay drew considerable interest from TV networks in each of the past two offseasons, with the decorated coach having dealt with a wide range of different issues recently. The Rams won Super Bowl LVI, but their title defense included a myriad of injuries and a 5-12 season. He took time away to contemplate his future this winter, but ultimately decided to extend his tenure to a seventh season at the helm. A repeat of the recent uncertainty surrounding his intentions is something he is now looking to avoid.

“What I didn’t want to do was make a decision that it comes up every year,” McVay said, via USA Today’s Tyler Dragon. “You want to make sure you’re making a decision that’s in alignment for years to come and not an every year type of deal… There are a lot of people you feel a great deal of responsibility to do right by them and to do a great job within the framework of your responsibilities. I’m really committed to not having this become a story every single year.”

McVay owns a .612 regular season winning percentage and has a pair of Super Bowl appearances on his resume. That success is expected to be replaced by a transition period for the franchise, though, following their aggressive moves in recent years. General manager Les Snead recently spoke about the “remodeling” the team is undergoing, with quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald named as the only veterans deemed to be untouchable for potential trades.

Those three players, along with Snead and McVay, each signed new deals last offseason. The latter faces the tall order of helping the team return to its past success under his guidance, but he has now publicly confirmed that his place will remain the sidelines for years to come.

“There was never a doubt whether you wanted to coach again,” he added. “It’s really just are you gonna be able to have the appropriate perspective to be the best version of yourself for the players and coaches. “I feel confident that can exist moving forward.”

Latest On Potential Commanders Sale

March 19th, 2023 at 3:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the March league owners’ meetings draw closer, the sense around the NFL continues to build that Dan Snyder‘s time as owner of the Commanders is coming to an end. His departure – either through a sale or an unprecedented vote forcing him out of his position – could be hinted at by the team’s recent financial decisions.

The Commanders have delayed the payouts of signing bonuses on their recent player contracts, as detailed by Ben Standig of The Athletic (subscription required). Typically, teams arrange contracts so that the first installment of sizeable payouts are scheduled to be doled out within a few weeks of the contracts becoming official. As Standig notes, Washington has followed this standard practice with deals signed in previous offseasons, including left tackle Trent Williams, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen and wideout Terry McLaurin.

However, the team’s monster extension with Daron Payne, which was signed not long after they applied the franchise tag on him, calls for his first signing bonus payment to be delayed until May 12, per Standig. That date marks exactly two months after the deal was agreed to, and, more notably, is likely to come after a new ownership group is in place to take on the Commanders’ financial responsibilities, including payroll. The same holds true for Washington’s deals with right tackle Andrew Wylie and quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

“Relative to their prior contract precedents, it would seem that they have intentionally delayed the first installment of their signing bonuses,” one former team employee said in an observation of the situation. “[It’s] very plausible that it’s related to the expected timeline of a sale… I think the payout dates are fairly telling.”

The possibility of a vote forcing Snyder out was a talking point during the 2022 season, with Colts owner Jim Irsay noting in October how such a move was on the table. Bidding on the embattled franchise has since taken place, with a shortlist of fellow pro sports owners Josh Harris and Tilman Fertitta being named as potential finalists. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos remains connected to a potential purchase, though reports have pointed to him not being allowed to participate in any hypothetical sales process.

Adding to the recent report that a Commander sale is imminent, NBC Sports’ JP Finlay tweets that the situation now metaphorically sits at ‘first and goal.’ The league’s owners are set to meet next week, so further developments on this front could be coming very soon. As the team’s contract arrangements this offseason suggest, an ownership change remains the likeliest end to the situation in Washington.

DeAndre Hopkins Hires Agent, Open To Adjusting Contract

March 19th, 2023 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 19: In an update on Hopkins’ situation, veteran reporter Mike Jurecki notes that the five-time Pro Bowler’s willingness to adjust his contract does not necessarily guarantee that he would be open to taking a pay cut (Twitter link). Doing so would likely be needed to make an acquiring team more amenable to a trade, and could be hinted at by his reported lack of desire to reset the WR market on his next deal. With many members of this year’s free agent class having agreed to new deals, it will be interesting to monitor how much attention Hopkins and the Cardinals get on the matter of a potential trade, something which will be affected by his contract status.

MARCH 8: The Amari Cooper, Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill trades occurred within two weeks of each other last March. With teams staring at a mediocre free agent wide receiver class this year, it should be expected some movement will take place as clubs prepare to make upgrades.

DeAndre Hopkins remains the top name believed to be available. Mentioned in trade rumors for several weeks, Hopkins is obviously hearing the rumblings about his Arizona departure. Jonathan Gannon stopped short of guaranteeing Hopkins would be a Cardinal in 2023, and the former All-Pro pass catcher offered a similar status update Wednesday.

“I’ve been hearing a lot of trade talks, but I take things day for day,” Hopkins said during a Pat McAfee Show appearance (video link). “I don’t look forward for the future, I live in the present moment. Right now, the Arizona Cardinals is the team and roster that I’m on. I’m preparing myself for whatever the future holds.”

Some changes have occurred with Hopkins since he was last traded, and more may be coming. Shortly after being traded from the Texans to the Cardinals, Hopkins went through an agent-less negotiation. The 30-year-old standout confirmed Wednesday (via AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban, on Twitter) he has since hired an agent. Hopkins’ $27MM-per-year extension has two years remaining, and it might take a contract adjustment for the Cardinals to move his deal. Hopkins is set to make $19.45MM in base salary this year.

Although a trade opens the door to what would be Hopkins’ fourth NFL contract, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (via Twitter) he is not believed to be seeking a top-market price. Hopkins plans to be flexible regarding his deal’s final two years, which could open the door to more possibilities on the trade front. Hopkins’ trade value has taken a hit, given the injuries and PED suspension that took a previously durable player out of action for much of the past two seasons. Even ahead of an age-31 season, he should still generate considerable attention. A trade might not be far off.

With the thrice-traded Brandin Cooks the only other name steadily mentioned in trade rumors at receiver, Hopkins is expected to fetch the Cardinals a decent price. The team is believed to have worked out trade parameters that involve a second-round pick and change going back to Arizona. A number of teams are interested in Cooks, so it would stand to reason Hopkins is garnering similar interest. Hopkins’ 2022 PED suspension voided the no-trade clause in his contract, providing the Cardinals more flexibility as well.

Cowboys Unlikely To Pursue Odell Beckham Jr.?

March 19th, 2023 at 1:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys are one of a few teams which have frequently been mentioned as serious suitors for free agent wideout Odell Beckham Jr. Given their acquisition of Brandin Cooks earlier today, however, they might not be a landing spot for Beckham any longer.

ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that with Cooks now in the fold, the Cowboys are “likely out of the competition” for Beckham (Twitter link). The latter was mentioned throughout the 2022 season as a candidate to head to Dallas, with owner Jerry Jones repeatedly singing his praises. Beckham ultimately sat out the entire campaign, though, returning his focus to his ongoing ACL recovery in advance of finding his next NFL home.

Even with the Texans agreeing to pay one third of Cooks’ 2023 salary, adding Beckham to the Cowboys’ receiver room would be difficult. The 30-year-old has been attached to an asking price of $20MM per season on his next deal, something which would take him out of consideration for the Cowboys and, presumably, many other teams facing tight cap situations. Beckham has pushed back on the reported AAV he is seeking, though.

The three-time Pro Bowler recently tweeted a denial that he has formally asked for $20MM on his next contract. He added, however, that a $4MM-per-season pact is below what he is willing to sign for. An annual salary ranging somewhere between those figures could prove to be a worthwhile investment for a team interested in adding Beckham provided they are satisfied with his knee’s health following his recent workout.

Dallas being out of the running could point Beckham towards a reunion with the Giants, something which has been reported to be on New York’s radar for quite some time. GM Joe Schoen has been busy in the pass-catching department this offseason, though, including multiple re-signings at the WR position, the addition of Parris Campbell and the trade acquisition of tight end Darren Waller. Beckham tweeted a response to Giants running back Saquon Barkley hinting that he would still be interested in a new Giants deal if it were to be possible.

Recently, however, the New York team mentioned as most likely to acquire Beckham has been the Jets. Especially if an Aaron Rodgers trade were to be finalized, Beckham’s presence on the quarterback’s reported wish list could see him be a Jets target as they look to re-tool their offense for 2023. In any event, the chances of a Beckham-to-Dallas deal now appear to be at their lowest yet.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/19/23

March 19th, 2023 at 12:59pm CST by Rory Parks

We will keep track of today’s minor moves right here:

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

Washington Commanders

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