HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/23

March 17th, 2023 at 10:28pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor moves from around the league:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Green Bay Packers

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Washington Commanders

 

Board is a strong special teamer, signing a two-year, $5MM deal with New England, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The contract reportedly includes incentives that can push the deal to a maximum value of $6.7MM.

Colon-Castillo reportedly visited the Falcons today, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Despite the visit, he decided to sign with the Jets.

K Josh Lambo Announces Retirement

March 17th, 2023 at 9:44pm CST by Ely Allen

After eight years in the NFL, kicker Josh Lambo announced on Twitter that he will be retiring from his second professional sport. In 2012, Lambo retired from professional soccer and went to college to kick for the Texas A&M football team. 11 years later, he’ll retire from football.

After a strong career with the Aggies, Lambo signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chargers. After losing the kicking job to Younghoe Koe in Los Angeles, Lambo signed with the Jaguars. Lambo would remain with the Jaguars for the bulk of his career.

After two rough years with the Chargers that saw him miss 12 kicks and eight extra points in the two-year span, Lambo completely turned things around in Jacksonville. In 43 games over his first four years with the Jaguars, Lambo miss only four kicks, making 76 of his 80 attempts. He still had some struggles with extra points but nothing nearly as bad as the four-miss seasons he had with the Chargers.

The 2021 season would be an eventful one for Lambo. After ending the 2020 season on injured reserve with a hip injury, Lambo was struggling to find his form. This led to a preseason interaction with then-head coach Urban Meyer that would then lead to legal action. According to the lawsuit filed by Lambo in 2022, Meyer allegedly kicked Lambo in the leg during warmups and cursed at him while demanding that he make his kicks. The lawsuit was eventually tossed out of court, with the judge giving Lambo an opportunity to re-file the suit.

Following the incident and three consecutive misses to start the season, Lambo was cut from the team. He spent a week that year on the Steelers’ practice squad and, in 2022, signed with the Titans as an injury replacement for Randy Bullock, getting waived five days later.

Now, after only appearing in nine games over the last three seasons, due mostly to injury, Lambo has decided to hang up his cleats for the second time. The 32-year-old kicker ends his career with a field goal percentage of 87.1, thanks in large part to a four-season stretch that was among the more impressive stretches in kicking history.

K Michael Badgley Re-Signing With Lions

March 17th, 2023 at 8:46pm CST by Ely Allen

The Lions have their placekicker going into next season, reportedly agreeing to terms with Michael Badgley, according to Badgley’s agent Brian McLaughlin (Twitter). Badgley made the Lions his fifth team in as many years last season and impressed the team enough down the stretch to earn a new contract for 2023.

Badgley initially signed with the Colts in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of Miami (FL), leaving Coral Gables as the Hurricanes’ all-time leader in points scored and field goals made. After failing to make the initial 53-man roster, Badgley eventually signed with the Chargers. He struggled to stay on the field in his first two seasons but impressed as a rookie converting 15 of his 16 attempted field goals and 27 of 28 extra point attempts while earning the nickname of Money Badger. His sophomore season was nearly as impressive as he only missed three field goals and made all of his extra points.

A rough 2020 season that would see him miss nine field goals and three extra points would lead to a position battle in camp. The Chargers waived the young kicker after he failed to beat out Tristan Vizcaino in a camp kicking competition. Vizcaino wouldn’t last long in Los Angeles after missing five extra points the next season. Badgley would rebound, signing to the Titans’ practice squad and appearing in one game for Tennessee.

After getting waived by Tennessee, Badgley would win a kicking competition in Indianapolis, beating out Brett Maher, Aldrick Rosas, and Riley Patterson for a backup position behind an injured Rodrigo Blankenship. He would finish the season for the Colts after Blankenship was placed on injured reserve, missing only three field goals and making all 39 of his extra point attempts.

Badgley started 2022 as a free agent and eventually signed with the Bears as Cairo Santos was away from the team for personal reasons. He would only play one game for Chicago but would make all four field goals he would attempt in the game. Badgley was released the following week but quickly picked up by the Lions.

With Austin Seibert battling a groin injury and backup kicker Dominik Eberle struggling, Badgley took hold of the kicking job. He finished the year for the Lions, converting 24 of 28 field goal attempts and making all 33 of his extra points.

Since the departure of long-time kicker Matt Prater, the Lions kicking position has been in flux. The team will hope that Badgley can add a touch of stability to a position that has lacked it in the last few years.

Jaguars Re-Sign CB Tre Herndon

March 17th, 2023 at 7:43pm CST by Ely Allen

In what has now become an annual post, the Jaguars have re-signed cornerback Tre Herndon to one-year contract, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The new deal is reportedly worth $2.6MM, guaranteed, his highest deal yet with the team.

A former undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt in 2018, Herndon has spent all of the first five years of his career in Jacksonville. His role with the team over the years has varied greatly. His status has diminished from a starting position in the 2019 and 2020 seasons to a backup role in the past two years.

In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Herdon started in three games, but that was outweighed a bit by the seven games in which he only appeared on special teams.

The position group that Herndon returns to will likely be led by Tyson Campbell and Darious Williams. Herndon will likely be competing with Montaric Brown for the next position on the depth chart after the release of former starter Shaquill Griffin.

Bengals Sign S Nick Scott

March 17th, 2023 at 7:05pm CST by Ben Levine

Mar 17: Cincinnati has officially reached an agreement with former Rams safety Nick Scott, according to Adam Schefter. The two parties reportedly agreed to a three-year, $12MM deal as Scott is set to join the team he helped defeat in Super Bowl LVI.

Mar 16: The Bengals are zeroing in on a deal with Nick Scott. Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus tweets that Cincinnati is “working towards” a deal with the free agency safety. While the deal isn’t finalized, Spielberger says “progress [is] being made.” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms (on Twitter) that the two sides are “working something up.”

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweeted earlier today that Scott was visiting with the Bengals. Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic tweets that “it was a great visit today for all involved,” and the two sides are now moving towards a contract.

The former seventh-round pick transformed from a special teamer into a starting-caliber defensive back during his time with the Rams. Scott only started one of his first 48 appearances for Los Angeles, although he took on a significantly larger role during the Rams’ run to a championship. Despite only starting one game during the 2021 campaign, Scott started all four playoff games for the Rams with Jordan Fuller out of the lineup. He compiled 14 tackles during that postseason run en route to a Super Bowl championship.

Scott mostly held on to his starting gig in 2022, starting 16 of his 17 appearances while setting career-highs in tackles (86), passes defended (five), forced fumbles (two), and interceptions (two). He only graded as Pro Football Focus’ 78th safety (among 88 qualifying players), although the site gave him one of the better grades at the position in rush defense. According to Rodrigue (on Twitter), the Rams had preliminary discussions with Scott about bringing him back for 2023.

With Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell out the door, the Bengals have been hunting for a safety to play opposite 2022 first-round pick Dax Hill. The Bengals will surely bring in more depth at the position, but Scott will likely get the first look in the starting lineup.

Latest On Bills S Damar Hamlin

March 17th, 2023 at 6:59pm CST by Ely Allen

It’s been a long road for Bills safety Damar Hamlin as he’s continued to recover from his on-field cardiac incident in early January. A long road remains in front of him, as well, but early indications were that Hamlin had a desire to return to the field and play professional football again. According to Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN, Hamlin’s intentions remain focused on playing in the NFL again as things continue to trend “in the right direction.”

The early indications came directly from Hamlin but came with several future medical evaluations to undergo and several expert opinions to be sought. The recent updated information comes from general manager Brandon Beane, who has been very involved in Hamlin’s recovery process, so far.

Beane visited the second-year safety this week, and Hamlin once again confirmed his intentions. Beane explained that there is at least one more doctor visit lined up for Hamlin but that things are “trending in the right direction.”

“We’ll get him through all (his medical consultations),” Beane said of the plans moving forward for Hamlin, “and then we’ll make sure all of our medical people are hearing all those opinions on each visit and make sure that we’re all on the same page of what it would like.”

As far as a timeline for a decision, Beane believes that Hamlin’s medical evaluations and consultations should be wrapping up in April, allowing the team and Hamlin to make a fully informed decision. He said that the date can always change if a doctor in April says they would like to see Hamlin back in their office in May, but so far, everything has checked out up to this point.

The Bills have no need to rush Hamlin back onto the field. The team returns starting safeties Jordan Poyer, who recently re-signed to a new deal to remain in Buffalo, and Micah Hyde, who missed most of last season with a foot injury. Hyde’s injury was what pushed Hamlin into a starting role last season, and with Hyde returning to the field, Hamlin will be allowed to work his way back to the field without the pressures of needing to perform as one of the team’s top two safeties.

However long it takes for Hamlin to return to 100-percent, a return to the field would be nothing short of a miraculous outcome after what we witnessed on that field in January. We at PFR truly wish Hamlin the best in his rehabilitation and health as things continue to trend is a positive direction for the 24-year-old.

Jets To Sign P Thomas Morstead; Team Shopping P Braden Mann

March 17th, 2023 at 5:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

5:55pm: What a punter day this is turning out to be. The Jets are now shopping Mann in trades, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Trade discussions have taken place. No punter trades occurred last year, but two — involving Corey Bojorquez and Ryan Santoso — took place in 2021. One involved a pick-swap with a sixth-round return; the other sent back a seventh-rounder. The Jets would save just more than $1MM by cutting Mann.

2:35pm: The Jets will give Thomas Morstead a chance to play a 15th NFL season. They have agreed to a deal with the veteran punter, per said veteran punter (on Twitter).

Best known for his lengthy Saints tenure, Morstead was with the Jets in 2021. The team added him in September of that year but cut him two months later. Robert Saleh‘s squad is circling back to the 37-year-old specialist, who spent last season with the Dolphins, punting in all 18 of Miami’s games.

Initially brought in as a Braden Mann injury fill-in two seasons ago, Morstead again joins a Jets team with Mann on the roster. The former sixth-round pick is going into a contract year. Mann averaged a career-high 46.9 yards per punt in 2022 and played a career-most 27 punts inside the 20-yard line, ranking 17th and 12th in these respective categories. Morstead dropped 28 punts inside the 20 and averaged 46.4 per boot.

If the Jets are keen on having a punting competition, Morstead will bring 14 years’ experience and one Pro Bowl (2012) to that matchup. Morstead spent 12 seasons with the Saints before moving from New York to Atlanta to Miami over the past two years. He also placed 46% of his punts inside the 20, while Mann finished his third season at 33% in that category. Mann is only tied to a $1.1MM cap number in 2023.

S Kevin Byard Balking At Titans’ Pay-Cut Request

March 17th, 2023 at 5:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kevin Byard has been one of the NFL’s better safeties over the past several seasons, but the Titans have approached the All-Pro about taking a pay cut. This has not gone over well with Byard, as could be expected.

A seven-year starter in Tennessee, Byard has declined the organization’s request, Cameron Wolfe of NFL.com tweets. He does not believe his play warrants a pay reduction, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter adds (via Twitter). The sides have reached a crossroads on this matter, even though Byard has said he wants to finish his career in Tennessee.

Although the Titans have cut several veterans to start Ran Carthon‘s GM tenure, Byard has never missed a game as a pro and was a first-team All-Pro as recently as 2021. Pro Football Focus graded Byard as a top-10 safety in 2022. Byard is going into his age-30 season and tied to a $13.6MM base salary. Byard’s resume includes five seasons with at least four interceptions — including an eight-INT 2017, which preceded an unusual exchange in which then-NFL Network analyst Deion Sanders appeared unaware of the emerging safety’s NFL employment — and he has notched nine thefts over the past two years.

The Titans gave Byard a five-year extension back in 2019, ahead of his fourth season. The safety market has changed a bit since the former third-round pick agreed to that $14.1MM-per-year deal. At the time (July 2019), the contract made Byard the league’s highest-paid safety. But eight safeties now sit in front of the Middle Tennessee State alum. Two years remain on Byard’s extension.

Jon Robinson selected Byard during his first draft as GM, choosing the talented safety — who was not invited to the 2016 Combine — a round after taking Derrick Henry. That turned out to be a rather good day for the since-fired front office boss. Byard has joined Henry in becoming a two-time All-Pro. Given Byard’s performance level and durability, it would not have been surprising to see him angle for a raise — now that Derwin James has pushed safety money past $19MM per year. Instead, the prospect of Byard playing football with a non-Tennessee-based team for the first time since high school appears on the table.

Free agency this year has not produced a windfall for non-Jessie Bates safeties. Vonn Bell‘s $7.5MM-per-year pact represents the second-most money given to a back-line defender this year. This gap likely helped convince Harrison Smith to accept the Vikings’ pay-cut request. Minnesota chopped Smith’s salary from $14.7MM to $8MM this year. More money would await Byard in free agency, but it would also be interesting to see what teams would be willing to give up in trades. The deal includes a $13.6MM 2024 base salary as well.

Because the Titans have twice restructured his contract, Byard is on Tennessee’s cap sheet at $19.6MM this year. The team has already tacked on two void years to help for cap purposes in the past. This will be an early test for Carthon, whom the Titans hired to replace Robinson in January.

Patriots To Sign TE Mike Gesicki

March 17th, 2023 at 5:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

5:17pm: The Patriots will land Gesicki for just $4.5MM in base value, AtoZsports.com’s Doug Kyed tweets. While the ex-Dolphin has another $4.5MM available via incentives, this base is less than half the money he made on the tag in 2022. The former second-round pick will see $3.5MM guaranteed.

8:52am: Two of this market’s top pass catchers available will end up in New England. After agreeing to terms with JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Patriots are adding Mike Gesicki to their 2023 equation.

The former Dolphins tight end agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $9MM, Adam Schefter and Field Yates of ESPN.com report. Gesicki will join a Patriots team that just traded one of its recent big-ticket tight end acquisitions — Jonnu Smith — to the Falcons.

Friday morning’s agreement will reunite Gesicki with new Pats offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, whom Yates notes recruited the talented tight end back when he was head coach at Penn State. Gesicki’s Nittany Lions career ended up landing him on the second-round radar, leading to a Dolphins 2018 investment. O’Brien, however, never ended up coaching Gesicki at the Big Ten school. He soon left for his Texans HC gig in 2014.

While Dalton Schultz has not joined a team yet, Gesicki’s deal does not match his 2022 salary on the franchise tag. Jessie Bates scored a monster payday from the Falcons, while Orlando Brown Jr. accepted a Bengals deal with a lower AAV compared to what the Chiefs offered before last summer’s tag deadline. But the talented tackle still received $31MM guaranteed. Gesicki will be tied to a “prove it” deal following his disappointing season on the tag.

Despite tagging Gesicki at the $10.9MM tight end price last year, the Dolphins diminished his role. After back-to-back 700-plus-yard receiving seasons, Gesicki managed just 32 catches for 362 yards. Gesicki’s targets plummeted from 112 in 2021 to 52 last season — 28th among tight ends. But Gesicki’s 1,483 yards from 2020-21 ranked fifth among tight ends in that span. The Patriots will pair Gesicki with Hunter Henry, and the former’s deal will not cost them what it did to add Smith two years ago.

Even before last season, it was easy to see Gesicki would not be an optimal fit in Mike McDaniel‘s offense. The former profiles as a big wide receiver, and his role minimization came as McDaniel sought a tight end with better blocking skills. Bill Belichick categorized Gesicki as a big wideout when asked about facing him in the past, and it will be safe to assume he and O’Brien are planning to capitalize on the 6-foot-6 tight end’s receiving skills more than McDaniel did in 2022.

Gesicki, 27, came into the 2022 offseason with more momentum; he likely would have scored a multiyear deal had the Dolphins not tagged him. The Patriots will gauge his fit, and Gesicki will need to fare better in 2023 in order to score a bigger guarantee on the 2024 market. Or, the Patriots, who are entering Year 3 with Henry, could end up working out an extension. They will have exclusive negotiating rights with the former trade candidate until March 2024.

Vikings To Add DL Dean Lowry

March 17th, 2023 at 4:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Flores‘ first Vikings defense will feature one of the Packers’ longtime contributors. Veteran defensive lineman Dean Lowry is leaving for a two-year Vikings deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

An 80-game Green Bay starter from 2016-22, Lowry will head to Minneapolis on a two-year deal worth $8.5MM, Pelissero adds (on Twitter). Lowry will join a Vikings defensive line that just lost two-year standout Dalvin Tomlinson.

Prior to suffering a Christmas Day calf injury that ended his season two games early, Lowry had played 101 straight games. The Packers had previously extended the Kenny Clark sidekick — on a three-year, $20.25MM deal — back in 2019, but the team used one of its two first-round picks on defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt last year. With Lowry going into a contract year, that draft investment pointed him out of Wisconsin.

While Lowry only contributed a half-sack to the Packers’ cause last season, he totaled five — to go with a career-high nine QB hits and four pass batdowns — in 2021. Pro Football Focus ranked Lowry outside the top 70 last season. Although Lowry is not on Tomlinson’s level, the former fourth-round pick is still just 28 and makes sense as a starter or a rotational piece alongside Harrison Phillips up front for the Vikings.

Minnesota is attempting to bounce back from a woeful defensive season in its first post-Mike Zimmer campaign. Flores will be tasked with leading the charge, but the Vikes passed on going to the place the Browns went — four years, $57MM — for Tomlinson. While the Vikings wanted to re-sign Tomlinson and will be hit with a few million in void-years charges after not extending him, they will instead regroup with Lowry. The Packers still have Clark and Wyatt signed, with the veteran’s deal running through 2024. Still, Lowry’s 111 games played are tied for 10th by a defensive lineman in Packers history.

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