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Month: November 2024

Chiefs Agree To Deal With Round 1 DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah

May 19th, 2023 at 5:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

Felix Anudike-Uzomah was the last player to hear his name called on Day 1 of the draft, and his NFL career is now set to officially begin. The defensive end has signed his rookie deal with the Chiefs, per ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter link).

Anudike-Uzomah will be on the books for at least four years, but his time in Kansas City could be extended by one season via the fifth-year option. By the time they have to make that decision (during the 2026 offseason), the Kansas State product will likely have played a notable role in the team’s edge rushing group. His rookie campaign could see rotational usage at first, but his potential could lead to more down the line.

The 6-3, 252-pounder put up considerable numbers in each of final two seasons with the Wildcats. He recorded 11 sacks in 2021, following that up with 8.5 last year. Anudike-Uzomah added 25.5 tackles for loss during that span, along with eight forced fumbles. That production earned him Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors in each campaign, and put him on the first-round radar as one of the top members of a deep class of pass rushers amongst this year’s prospects.

The Chiefs represented a logical trade-down candidate since the N0. 31 pick was the final one in the first round for this year, in the event teams looked to secure the fifth-year option on a quarterback in particular. Kansas City ultimately stayed put at that spot, though, and used their first pick on an edge rusher for the second consecutive draft.

Anudike-Uzomah joins George Karlaftis as a first-rounder tasked with leading the team’s outside pass rush, and in doing so taking responsibility away from star defensive tackle Chris Jones. A thumb surgery may cost Anudike-Uzomah time during OTAs, but he should still have plenty of opportunities to carve out a role behind Karlaftis and free agent addition Charles Omenihu. Pass rush production will be a key area of interest for the Chiefs after the release of Frank Clark, but Anudike-Uzomah figures to be a signficant contributor in that department in the short- and medium-term future.

Raiders Sign G Greg Van Roten

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

The Raiders have made their first addition of the offseason along the interior of their offensive line. The team announced on Friday that they have signed veteran guard Greg Van Roten.

Las Vegas will represent Van Roten’s fifth career team, after he spent time with the Packers, Panthers, Jets and Bills. Overall, his 93 appearances in the NFL have included 54 career starts, and he has seen at least some first-team work in every season since 2017. He saw time at center in 2022 with Buffalo, but the majority of his time has been spent at either left or right guard.

The 33-year-old had a run of 23 starts in two seasons with the Jets, but was released last offseason. That led him to sign with the Bills in June, where he served in a backup capacity aside from four starts at center. His time there resulted in a career-worst PFF grade of 57.6, a notable drop from his consistent (if unspectacular) ratings for much of the rest of his career. Usage at guard could help lead to a return to form with the Raiders.

Van Roten represents an expected addition for the Raiders, a team which had only re-signed in-house linemen to date. They also elected not to use any draft capital at the position, despite the unit’s inconsistent play last season. Prior to today, right guard Alex Bars was set to face competition from Jermaine Eluemunor and Netane Muti for playing time at the RG spot; all three signed new deals with Vegas this offseason.

Now, however, Van Roten could compete for a starting role, given Bars’ struggles in 2022. Having that pair atop the depth chart in one order or another could also give the team more depth at right tackle, particularly if Eluemunor were to primarily play on the outside. If Van Roten were to be able to earn the starting job, he could line himself up for another, more lucrative deal next offseason on the open market.

Latest On Extension Talks Between Bengals, Joe Burrow

May 19th, 2023 at 3:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

The top priority remaining for the Bengals this offseason is getting a deal done with quarterback Joe Burrow. The team’s franchise signal-caller is taking a hands-on approach during negotiations, which remain ongoing.

Contract talks began in March, to no surprise. The 26-year-old has put himself in line for one of several mega-deals at the position which have been signed in recent years, including Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson eclipsing the $50MM-per-year mark on their new contracts signed in 2023. Those pacts represent further benchmarks for Burrow’s second contract, which will likewise come with a hefty pricetag given his level of play and importance to the franchise’s string of success.

“I’m involved. That’s in the works,” Burrow said of extension talks, via Eric Edholm of NFL.com. “That’s not really something that I like to play out in the media. Just the way I think they want to do business, I want to do business, we prefer to keep that between us.”

The former No. 1 pick has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and he will be tied to a 2024 salary of $29.5MM given the Bengals’ decision to pick up his fifth-year option. While that leaves both parties plenty of time to work out a deal, Cincinnati has a number of other young contributors due signficant raises in the near future, something which could provide added urgency to establish clarity on how much Burrow will cost through the foreseeable future. When speaking on that point, the latter acknowledged that contracts for other financial priorities are still a “focal point” for him during his negotiations.

Wideout Tee Higgins was mentioned in trade rumors this offseason given the team’s need to extend not only Burrow, but also fellow pass-catcher Ja’Marr Chase as early as 2024. Higgins will remain with the Bengals for this season, but he and linebacker Logan Wilson headline the players seeking new contracts this summer. Sorting out how (if at all) they can keep their entire young core intact will go a long way in determining the Bengals’ success for years to come, but finalizing a new Burrow pact represents an obvious first step.

“I’m pretty clear on what I want in the contract and what I think is best for myself and the team,” Burrow added when asked about specifics during extension talks. “So we’re on the road to making that happen.”

Raiders Rumors: Adams, Renfrow, OL

May 19th, 2023 at 1:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after the Raiders’ plan to separate from Derek Carr surfaced, Davante Adams indicated he was not planning to make an effort to follow his ex-college teammate out the door. Adams is signed through 2026 on what is still the NFL’s second-most lucrative receiver deal. The Raiders have made some changes this offseason, most notably replacing Carr with Jimmy Garoppolo. Adams made some cryptic comments about the franchise’s direction this week.

“[The front office] thinks this is the best bet for us right now to put us in a position to be urgent,” Adams said regarding the team’s offensive vision, via The Ringer’s Mirin Fader. “We don’t see eye-to-eye on what we think is best for us right now. … I’m going to have to buy into this and try to be as optimistic as possible. It’s not what I expected to happen, but it’s something that’s the reality now.”

Rumored to be potentially kept in the loop regarding the Raiders’ big-picture decisions, Adams expressed hesitancy regarding his fit with Garoppolo. The veteran quarterback is tied to the Raiders through at least 2023, due to his $33.75MM guarantee, and may well be a multiyear Las Vegas starter, seeing as the team did not draft a quarterback.

“It all depends on the style of ball that we play,” Adams said. “If we play a certain brand of ball, I can get [Garoppolo] to conform to whatever. But if we use him a certain type of way, then it’s going to make it tough for us to maximize who we should be this year.”

For what it’s worth, Adams shared a photo with GM Dave Ziegler after that interview surfaced. Adams, who will turn 31 later this year, earned his third straight first-team All-Pro honor last season. He will team with Josh Jacobs, Hunter Renfrow and UFA addition Jakobi Meyers as Garoppolo’s lead supporting cast. Here is the latest out of Vegas:

  • While Ziegler and Josh McDaniels signed off on Renfrow’s two-year, $32MM extension during the 2022 offseason, the veteran slot player delivered underwhelming early returns in McDaniels’ system. After Renfrow’s 1,038-yard 2021 showing helped drive the Raiders into the playoffs, he managed just 330 in 10 games last year. Since giving Renfrow that extension, the Raiders have signed Meyers to an $11MM-per-year deal and drafted slot target Tre Tucker in Round 3. Pegging the odds of Renfrow being elsewhere by 2024 as “90%,” The Athletic’s Vic Tafur notes he joined Darren Waller in being a poor fit for McDaniels’ offense (subscription required). McDaniels also cut down on Renfrow’s route improvisations, which were encouraged under Jon Gruden. Trading Renfrow in 2024 (when his base salary spikes to $11.2MM) would save the Raiders $8MM.
  • The Raiders have surprisingly made it to mid-May without adding a starter-caliber outside free agent on their offensive line. That might not be the case by training camp. Citing the team’s potential to add a veteran guard or tackle, Tafur adds he would be “shocked” if Alex Bars remained the team’s right guard starter. Pro Football Focus rated Bars, a former Bears UDFA, as the Raiders’ worst starting O-lineman by a wide margin last season. Guard Dalton Risner remains unsigned, as do Rodger Saffold, Pat Elflein, A.J. Cann and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. Longtime Raider Gabe Jackson, whom Gruden traded to the Seahawks in 2021, is also available. The Raiders also showed interest in Paris Johnson, per Tafur. Although the Cardinals discussed a deal with the Raiders for the No. 7 pick, Arizona moving ahead of Vegas for No. 6 (to take Johnson) makes sense.
  • The team re-signed right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor but also brought back 2021 right tackle starter Brandon Parker, who missed last year with an injury. Eluemunor will also be a candidate to slide to guard, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore, after having played there in the past. That would be an internal way to upgrade from Bars. Second-year tackle Thayer Munford and Justin Herron, one of many ex-Patriots in Vegas, stand to factor in for the RT gig.

D.J. Moore’s Contract Factored Into Bears’ Trade Effort

May 19th, 2023 at 11:53am CST by Sam Robinson

While the Panthers stood down regarding a D.J. Moore trade after firing Matt Rhule last October, they ended up unloading their top wide receiver to secure what turned out to be Bryce Young draft real estate. Moore will move to a Bears franchise that has not had much luck forging long-term partnerships with impact wide receivers.

Moore came up during the Bears and Panthers’ trade talks when other suitors drove up the bidding during the early-March sweepstakes for the No. 1 overall pick. The Texans initially were part of these proceedings, with the Bears plotting a move down from No. 1 to No. 2 to No. 9. After Houston withdrew, Chicago dealt directly with Carolina. Bears GM Ryan Poles also inquired about defensive linemen Brian Burns and Derrick Brown, but both being on rookie contracts impeded either being included in the trade.

“In the very beginning I was laughed at because I had [one of] three guys that I wanted in the trade,” Poles said, via The Athletic’s Jim Trotter (subscription required). “I did know and felt like there was more of an opportunity to get D.J. because he had a bigger contract and there would be a bigger benefit in cap space to kick back to Carolina. But it was not easy because they absolutely loved that kid. It was painful to pull him out of their arms. I really think it would have been even harder if he had been on a rookie contract.”

Carolina extended Moore in nearly a year before trading him, agreeing to terms on a three-year deal worth $61.9MM. That pact came just before the avalanche of receiver extensions drove up the market. Moore, Mike Williams and Chris Godwin settled onto the same tier, hours before Davante Adams‘ Raiders extension ($28MM per year) and days before Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM-AAV extension came to pass. The 2019 receiver class soon upped the cost for up-and-coming star pass catchers as well.

The Bears will benefit from the Panthers’ timing with Moore. They now have him tied to the 10th-most lucrative receiver deal, with the likes of A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel and D.K. Metcalf passing him later during the 2022 offseason. Chicago does not have another big-ticket skill-position deal on its books, with Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool and Cole Kmet attached to rookie contracts. Justin Fields‘ rookie pact runs through 2024 but can be pushed to 2025 via the fifth-year option. The team let David Montgomery walk — for a three-year, $18MM Lions deal — and landed a replacement (D’Onta Foreman) for just $2MM.

The Bears might still be in the market for defensive end help, having finished last in sacks in 2022 and addressing their D-tackle spots early in the draft. But Burns remains on track to sign a Panthers extension. Brown became extension-eligible in January, but the Panthers picked up his fifth-year option earlier this month.

Moore, 26, posted 1,100-plus-yard years from 2019-21, doing so despite a shuffling Panthers QB situation. The Bears have experienced fairly good fortune with veteran acquisitions at receiver over the past several years. Brandon Marshall still holds the team’s single-season receiving yardage record; Allen Robinson produced two 1,100-plus-yard seasons. Neither lasted more than four years for the Bears, who did not get much from Robinson’s fourth slate (a 410-yard showing on the franchise tag).

Moore’s Chicago fit will be a work in progress, but he should have a chance to land another extension in the not-too-distant future, a contract that could keep him in Illinois for the long haul.

Latest On Cowboys’ Left Guard Situation

May 19th, 2023 at 10:50am CST by Sam Robinson

After another free agency period featured the Cowboys’ starting left guard leaving in free agency, the team will be faced with a decision. How Dallas goes about that will determine if the team rolls out an O-line featuring its best five blockers or a group that features more positional familiarity.

Connor McGovern followed Connor Williams to the AFC East, signing with the Bills on a three-year deal worth $22.35MM. The Cowboys have Dak Prescott tied to a big-ticket deal, and Zack Martin‘s 2018 extension remains in the upper tier at guard. They are also preparing for CeeDee Lamb and Trevon Diggs payments, making the departures of McGovern and Williams the cost of doing business.

As for how the team replaces McGovern, multiple avenues look to exist. Both involve in-house solutions, per executive VP Stephen Jones. Door A would involve a backup rising into the starting role. The Cowboys are planning to move backup tackle Josh Ball to the interior this year, and the team drafted Asim Richards in the fifth round. Former Jets third-round pick Chuma Edoga also signed with the team, after having played for the Falcons last year.

“I think we’ve got a talented group of linemen,’’ Jones said, via the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore. “I mean Josh Ball is here today. He’s certainly going to get an opportunity to compete for that spot. As we’ve said, we’re big fans of Chuma. [VP of player personnel] Will [McClay] and his pro staff did a lot of work on him. Probably the only thing holding him back in his career has been some medical challenges that he’s had. We really feel like he can come in there and help.”

A 2021 fourth-round pick, Ball has 41 career offensive snaps on his resume. Edoga 13 career starts but ahs primarily worked as a tackle. Jones also brought up Richards, North Carolina’s left tackle last season, as a potential entrant in this competition. However, he also mentioned the “best five” scenario that would bring a more intriguing configuration.

“Our top five linemen are our top five linemen. Tyron Smith, Tyler Smith, Tyler Biadasz, Terence Steele, Zack Martin,” Jones said, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “Really felt like if you’re gonna get your best five who have played in this league, those are our best five. We’ll see what happens from there.”

The issue with that quintet would be Steele’s lack of guard experience. The former UDFA has been a tackle with the Cowboys and at Texas Tech. But with Tyron Smith back (and expected to slide to the right tackle spot he played last season), the Cowboys do not look to have a tackle job available. The team placed a second-round RFA tender on Steele, who has made 40 starts during a three-year career, earlier this offseason. Last year’s Week 1 right tackle is also rehabbing ACL and MCL tears. That stands to delay a Cowboys decision on where to use the contract-year blocker.

A third option would be moving Tyler Smith back to left guard, where he began his career before Tyron Smith’s avulsion fracture changed the team’s plans last summer. The younger Smith played left tackle for most of last season but started two games (Week 18 and Dallas’ wild-card win) at left guard. The second-year lineman said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer) he would be fine playing anywhere on the offensive front. With Jerry Jones labeling Smith a tackle, however, the prospect of the former first-rounder playing guard at Steele staying at right tackle might be a last resort.

McGovern’s experience gave the Cowboys an easier answer to replace Williams. The team may not know its McGovern replacement for a while.

No NFL Vote Imminent On Josh Harris’ Commanders Purchase

May 19th, 2023 at 9:53am CST by Sam Robinson

The prospect of next week’s owners meetings being the venue for a ratification vote on Josh Harris‘ Commanders purchase looked like a long-shot proposition. The NFL has since confirmed no vote will take place at the May 22-23 set of spring meetings in Minneapolis, according to the Associated Press.

Harris’ $6.05 billion exclusive sale agreement with Dan Snyder remains under standard review, and the deal’s complications will almost definitely drag this process out well into the summer. While Harris (and an expansive number of investors) are prepared to put up a record-shattering price for the Commanders, speedbumps have emerged.

Last year’s Broncos sale — a sweepstakes that featured Harris’ group finishing second — brought a two-month gap between Rob Walton‘s then-record-setting bid ($4.65 billion) to his August 9 ratification. As expected, the Walmart heir’s group encountered no turbulence. The league vetted Harris — who owns the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Devils and Premier League club Crystal Palace — during the run-up to Walton’s Broncos acquisition, but issues with the structure of his Commanders bid have caused concern among other owners, ESPN.com’s John Keim adds.

The sale must go through the NFL finance committee and then receive 24 votes from the other owners to be ratified. The number of partners in Harris’ group (north of 12) will lengthen the vetting timetable, especially with some of the investors based outside the country. Magic Johnson, billionaire Mitchell Rales and David Blitzer, who is part of Harris’ Devils and 76ers ownership groups, are among the investors.

Matters pertaining to the NFL’s debt limit, with league rules stipulating buyers of teams being able to borrow up to $1.1 billion secured against the franchise, also serve as barriers en route to Harris’ purchase. The finance committee considers the Harris deal well above the debt limit, per Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. No red tape regarding financial construction would have likely emerged had Amazon founder Jeff Bezos submitted a bid, but the longtime Snyder nemesis did not do so. Bezos bowing out immediately preceded Harris moving into pole position.

These hurdles have led to rumors that this Harris bid would not be approved were it not for owners’ desire to see Snyder’s scandal-ridden ownership tenure end. That said, Harris’ group contends, per Keim, the NFL has not voiced concerns about the sale agreement to this point. That chapter may be in store, but for now, the league continues its examination stage regarding Snyder’s exit.

Steelers To Extend QB Mitch Trubisky

May 19th, 2023 at 8:41am CST by Sam Robinson

MAY 19: Trubisky’s new deal will guarantee him $8MM this year, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. From 2023-25, Pittsburgh’s backup quarterback will be tied to a $19.4MM base package, Rapoport notes (via Twitter). More incentives are present in this deal, with Rapoport adding Trubisky can earn up to $33MM on it. The Steelers have since confirmed the through-2025 extension.

MAY 18: The Steelers are arranging the seats in their quarterback room this week. Shortly after agreeing to terms on a third Mason Rudolph contract, the team is moving toward a Mitch Trubisky extension.

Second-year GM Omar Khan said during an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show the team is working on an extension with its backup quarterback (video link). Indicating the deal will be done shortly, Khan is prepared to continue the Steelers’ relationship with a quarterback initially signed during Kevin Colbert‘s final months as GM.

The deal is done, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. The move will push Trubisky’s contract beyond 2023 and reduce the quarterback’s cap number from its present $10.6MM place. It is a two-year extension, which will keep Trubisky tied to the Steelers through 2025.

Trubisky initially agreed to a two-year, $14.3MM deal with incentives that could take it beyond that point. But Kenny Pickett replaced Trubisky as the team’s starter early last season, removing the incentives from the equation. But the former No. 2 overall pick has hovered on the extension radar for a bit. Despite being yanked as the Steelers’ starter, Trubisky is set to remain Pickett’s backup beyond this season.

Multiple teams pursued Trubisky last year, which came after he spent a season as Josh Allen‘s backup in Buffalo. Trubisky is obviously best known for his tenure in Chicago and likely will be unable to change that for the foreseeable future. The Bears traded up to draft the one-year North Carolina starter in 2017, and that move is now remembered for the team passing on Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. Trubisky fell far short of expectations in the Windy City, and the Bears passed on his fifth-year option — even as that decision did not include a full guarantee at that point — and let him walk in free agency in 2021.

The Steelers’ first Trubisky agreement came a few weeks before the Pickett draft investment, reminding of the Bears’ 2017 plan. Chicago had signed Mike Glennon to a multiyear deal before drafting Trubisky. The ex-Tar Heel replaced Glennon as Chicago’s starter in Week 5 of the 2017 season; Pickett made his first Steelers start in Week 5 of last season.

Trubisky, 28, became needed at points after being supplanted. Pickett sustained two concussions during his rookie season, bringing Trubisky back for a Week 6 relief effort — a win over the Buccaneers — and two December appearances. Trubisky also helped the Steelers to a win over the Panthers, as the team rallied from 2-6 to keep Mike Tomlin‘s .500-or-better streak intact. As a regular starter, Trubisky did not do much to hold off Pickett. But the Steelers clearly value the veteran as their top reserve.

Once Pickett stepped in last October, Pittsburgh’s QB outlook appeared foggy behind its starter. Rudolph played out his second contract and Trubisky could have pursued another free agency route in an attempt to at least earn another crack as a bridge QB. Not unlike Charlie Batch‘s conversion from Lions starter to Steelers backup once upon a time, Trubisky will opt to stick around in Pittsburgh rather than pursuing a quick path that would allow for a starter competition elsewhere.

Browns TE Harrison Bryant On Trade Block?

May 18th, 2023 at 9:39pm CST by Ben Levine

With the Browns continuing to invest in the tight end position, Harrison Bryant may be on the way out. Albert Breer of SI.com writes that the Browns “would at least look to other teams” for interest in their tight end.

The 2020 fourth-round pick has flashed potential through his three seasons in the NFL. He earned All-Rookie Team honors after hauling in 24 receptions, and he’s added another 52 catches over the past two years. The six-foot-five, 230-pound tight end finished this past season with a career-high 31 catches for 239 yards.

However, Bryant’s future with the organization hasn’t looked all that secure since the Browns made David Njoku the NFL’s highest-paid tight end last offseason. Then, this offseason, the team added former Deshaun Watson teammate Jordan Akins, pushing Bryant even further down the depth chart.

With the 25-year-old set to hit free agency following the season, it’d make sense for the front office to consider trading him vs. likely losing him for nothing next year. If a deal did come to fruition, the Browns would likely turn to 2022 UDFA Zaire Mitchell-Paden or 2023 UDFA Thomas Greaney as the third tight end on the depth chart.

Thanks in part to that expiring contract, the Browns can’t expect a whole lot in return for Bryant. Still, there should be a number of TE-needy teams who would take a chance on the player, especially once injuries start hitting in training camp and the preseason. Bryant only ranked as Pro Football Focus 43rd tight end (among 73 qualifiers) this past season, but he did earn a top-10 mark at the position for his pass blocking. Considering his modest offensive production, Bryant would be a fine TE2 for another team.

Chargers To Sign DT Nick Williams

May 18th, 2023 at 8:37pm CST by Ben Levine

Nick Williams will be sticking around the NFL for an 11th season. The defensive tackle is signing a one-year deal with the Chargers, per Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com. Free agent QB Chase Daniel, who spent the past two seasons in Los Angeles, was first with the news (on Twitter).

Williams, a 2015 seventh-round pick, took a bit to find his footing the NFL. He had his breakout season in 2019, when he compiled six sacks in 16 games (five starts) for the Bears. That performance earned him a two-year, $10MM deal from the Lions, and he proceeded to start 30 of his 31 appearances during his time in Detroit.

He caught on with the Giants for the 2022 campaign and ended up getting into eight games (seven starts) before landing on injured reserve with a biceps injury. He finished the season with 15 tackles and a pair of QB hits, and had he earned enough snaps to qualify for Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings, he would have been listed as a middle-of-the-road interior defender.

In Los Angeles, the 33-year-old will be joining a DT/NT grouping that includes Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Otito Ogbonnia, and Chris Hinton. It shouldn’t take too long for Williams to get acclimated; he played under Chargers head coach Brandon Staley in Chicago.

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