HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Giants, Dexter Lawrence Agree To Extension

May 9th, 2023 at 3:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

MAY 9: The Giants are giving Lawrence $46.5MM guaranteed at signing, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports the fifth-year defensive tackle will see that number climb to $55.8MM in 2025. Among D-tackles, Lawrence’s contract matches Aaron Donald‘s for the second-most fully guaranteed money. (Though, Donald got there on only a three-year deal.) Only Simmons’ $47.8MM guaranteed at signing tops the highly paid Giant’s number at the position. In addition to $6.2MM of Lawrence’s 2025 base salary being fully guaranteed, Florio adds the deal includes a $3.2MM injury guarantee for 2026.

MAY 4: Another high-profile extension amongst the league’s top young defensive tackles has come to fruition. The Giants are signing Dexter Lawrence to a four-year deal, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the pact is worth $90MM and includes $60MM in guarantees.

It comes as no surprise that Lawrence has landed a massive deal, given his emergence as one of the anchors of New York’s defense. The 25-year-old was already on the books for 2023 on the fifth-year option ($12.41MM), so he will now be tied to the team through the 2027 campaign.

Lawrence’s average of $22.5MM per season in new money places him in a tie for third in the league amongst defensive tackles with Daron Payne, whom the Commanders inked to a mega-deal of his own in March. The terms of that pact are identical to the ones Lawrence will receive to remain in the Big Apple for the foreseeable future. The latter took a sizeable step forward in 2022, notching career-highs across the board.

That performance yielded a statline of 68 tackles (including seven for loss), 7.5 sacks, 28 QB hits. three pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles. Lawrence earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors this season, making him an obvious extension candidate. Signs started pointing to a deal getting done in March, and general manager Joe Schoen recently confirmed talks were ongoing with the Clemson product.

Selected with the No. 17 pick in the 2019 draft (part of the package sent by the Browns to the Giants in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade), Lawrence has proven to be an effective addition for New York and can be expected to remain one of the league’s top performers at his position. The DT market has seen a number of sizeable contracts, including the ones signed by Javon Hargrave and Jeffery Simmons earlier this offseason. Lawrence will slot in at the spot many projected him to land in.

It will be interesting to monitor how much of an effect this Lawrence extension will have on the Giants’ spending along the defensive interior. Veteran Leonard Williams is set to carry a cap hit of $32.3MM in 2023, and the team understandably wishes to re-work his pact to lower that figure. With cost certainty now in place with respect to Lawrence, New York could now be better positioned to determine Williams’ future.

On a broader level, this marks another major DT extension signed by a 2019 draftee. Simmons, and now Lawrence, have their second contracts in place, but the same is not yet true of Jets star Quinnen Williams. Attention will turn to his talks with the other New York franchise, and also to Chris Jones‘ efforts to leverage the position’s new market into a renegotiated Chiefs accord. Regardless of what develops on that front, the Giants have a foundational piece of their defense in place for years to come.

Latest On Bengals, Jonah Williams

May 9th, 2023 at 2:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals did not draft an offensive lineman, but the two-time reigning AFC North champions still have a potential three-man race for their right tackle position brewing.

Jonah Williams remains part of that equation, albeit reluctantly. The three-year Cincinnati left tackle starter — forced into a position change after the team’s Orlando Brown Jr. signing — remains with the team, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes no substantive trade talks around the fifth-year blocker transpired during the draft. As a result, Williams is expected to remain with the Bengals in his contract year.

Williams’ trade request surfaced shortly after the Brown signing, and the former first-round pick is believed to have been blindsided (no pun intended) by the Brown addition. The former Alabama blocker did not show for the start of Bengals voluntary workouts and cannot be fined for his absence until the team’s minicamp. With the 2020 CBA making training camp fines steep enough it has largely curtailed holdouts, Williams — assuming he is still on the Bengals’ roster by that point — should be expected to rejoin his teammates.

La’el Collins remains rostered as well, but the longtime Cowboys starter-turned-Bengals signing is coming off December ACL and MCL tears. No firm return timetable is known. Zac Taylor also said (via The Athletic’s Jay Morrison) former second-round pick Jackson Carman, who replaced Williams at left tackle when the latter suffered a dislocated kneecap during the playoffs, will be part of the right tackle competition. Carman struggled at guard, seeing Cordell Volson usurp him quickly, but Taylor including him in the tackle competition points to either Collins or Williams not being in the picture.

Collins’ three-year, $21MM contract runs through 2024, though his injury trouble and issues in pass protection last season led to the Bengals pursuing tackles in free agency. They had not expected to land Brown, but after the two-year Chiefs blindsider’s reps contacted the Bengals, talks progressed quickly. Williams, who has not played right tackle since his freshman year at Alabama, has one season — a fifth-year option, at $12.6MM — remaining on his deal. The Bengals viewed a post-Round 1 tackle addition as one that would only further cloud their already-complicated right tackle mix, Morrison adds (subscription required).

Five teams took first-round tackles, further limiting Williams’ market. The Jets still come to mind as a possible suitor, seeing as they were widely rumored to be eyeing Broderick Jones — before the Steelers moved ahead of them for the Georgia tackle — and have an unsteady setup at left tackle. New York rosters the league’s oldest tackle — in Duane Brown, who is coming off surgery — and has seen knee injuries sideline Mekhi Becton for all but one game since his rookie year. The Buccaneers, who cut Donovan Smith in March, could also be interested. They are not yet certain to move All-Pro right tackle Tristan Wirfs to the left side.

Right tackle-needy teams will likely be monitoring Collins as well. For now, however, Williams and Collins remain on Cincy’s roster ahead of what would be one of this year’s most interesting position battles.

Colts Meet With OL Chris Hubbard

May 9th, 2023 at 2:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Browns’ plan of making Chris Hubbard their right tackle starter fizzled in the late 2010s, the veteran blocker remained in Cleveland for five years — the final three as a backup. He may soon have another option to continue his career.

The Colts met with the nine-year veteran recently, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Hubbard, 32, mostly worked as a right tackle during his time with the Steelers and Browns but has guard experience as well. The Colts saw their long-reliable offensive line struggle last season, largely because of issues with their two non-highly paid blockers in the starting lineup.

Indianapolis did not re-sign Eric Fisher or bring in a veteran to replace him. The Colts instead moved swingman Matt Pryor into their starting lineup. Pryor was eventually benched, giving way to third-round pick Bernhard Raimann. Despite allowing seven sacks, Raimann ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 25 overall tackle last season. He is on track to keep his starting position opposite Braden Smith. The Colts also used multiple right guards last season, demoting Danny Pinter for Will Fries, a 2021 seventh-round pick. That position appears a bit more fluid compared to left tackle. Pryor is no longer on Indianapolis’ roster, but Fries and Pinter remain under contract.

A former UDFA, Hubbard saw early-career time as a Steelers guard but saw his most relevant Pittsburgh action at tackle, filling in for an injured Marcus Gilbert in 2017. The Browns gave Hubbard a five-year, $36.5MM deal in 2018. Upon changing GMs in 2020, the Browns reworked Hubbard’s contract and moved him to a swing role — behind offseason additions Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills. Despite the demotion, Hubbard re-signed with Cleveland last year. But he has only played four games over the past two seasons, missing almost the entire 2021 slate because of a triceps injury.

The Colts also drafted two tackles, including BYU’s Blake Freeland in Round 4, but given the way last season played out, it is understandable the team is looking for a veteran backup as well. As free agency’s third wave has formed, due largely to last week’s deadline for signings to affect the 2024 compensatory formula, Hubbard is on Indy’s radar.

Dolphins Sign TE Tyler Kroft

May 9th, 2023 at 12:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Dolphins have added another name to the mix in their new-look tight end group. Tyler Kroft is signing a one-year deal in Miami, as noted (on Twitter) by his agent.

Kroft has played for four teams in his career, including a one-and-done campaign with the 49ers last season. He logged four starts in 2022, establishing himself as a dependable backup option to George Kittle when the latter was available and as a fill-in when he was injured. Kroft made only four catches in San Francisco, but he was used in the postseason in no small part due to his strength as a run blocker.

Miami has been in the market for tight end additions after Mike Gesicki‘s tenure with the team came to an underwhelming end. The latter was a poor scheme fit under new head coach Mike McDaniel, and ultimately signed with the Patriots. That left the Dolphins in need of a new starter, especially one with a more balanced skillet than Gesicki, though they have not committed considerable resources to the position.

The Dolphins included Hunter Long in the Jalen Ramsey trade, and retained Durham Smythe on a two-year deal, putting the latter in position for an uptick in usage. The team’s lone outside addition before today was former Bronco Eric Saubert. Kroft will give them another veteran option as they look to sort out a new depth chart amongst several options.

That includes sixth-round rookie Elijah Higgins, who is attempting a position change from receiver to tight end. Tanner Conner, who joined the team as a UDFA last season and played primarily on special teams, is also in the fold. Kroft (who has started 52 of 92 career games) figures to hold at least a rotational role in Miami, one which will likely involve sparse usage in the passing game.

Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald recently noted that the Dolphins were continuing their search for an established tight end following the draft. That process will see Kroft join a fifth team in the hopes of providing a more favorable scheme fit than the team’s 2022 contributors, while aiming to boost his value for next offseason in the process.

Ravens Remain Open To Re-Signing CB Marcus Peters

May 9th, 2023 at 11:45am CST by Adam La Rose

Baltimore entered (and exited) the draft with a roster hole at the cornerback position. They appeared to fill it with the signing of Rock Ya-Sin, but further moves could be coming, including a reunion with a notable veteran still on the market.

Head coach John Harbaugh indicated, via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, that the Ravens could still be in search of an addition to their CB room (subscription required). He specifically named Marcus Peters, who has spent three-plus years in Baltimore, as a potential target. “You don’t close the door on good players and good people,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll see how it goes.”

Peters, 30, was acquired in a trade with the Rams in 2019, a move which proved to be fruitful for Baltimore in their attempt to add a productive compliment to Marlon Humphrey. Peters notched three interceptions in 10 games that year, and signed a three-year, $42MM deal in the offseason. His performance the following season pointed to that investment being a sound one.

The former Chiefs first-rounder racked up four interceptions in 2020, adding further to his status as the league’s premier ball hawk at the position. An ACL tear cost him the entire 2021 campaign, however, and he appeared to be less than fully recovered from the injury this past season. Peters had just one interception in 2022 (the lowest total of his career), while allowing seven touchdowns in coverage and encountering penalty trouble.

The two-time All-Pro did still log a 92% snap share, however, making him a key figure in the Ravens’ secondary. Baltimore was reportedly looking to work out a deal with Peters before free agency, one which would surely come in at a lower figure than the $14MM AAV of his previous one. The Washington product has not received much interest from the Ravens or another team since then, however.

Fifth-rounder Kyu Blu Kelly was the lone addition made at the CB spot by the Ravens in the draft, which led to the expectation that a veteran move would soon follow. To no surprise, Ya-Sin followed up a second visit with the team by inking a one-year, $6MM contract to give them team a new starting option. Peters remains unsigned into the third wave of free agency, along with the likes of Shaquill Griffin, Eli Apple, Troy Hill and Ronald Darby. He may need to find a new home for 2023 depending on where the other top options land, but the possibility remains for Peters to continue his tenure in Baltimore.

Packers Content With WR Room?

May 9th, 2023 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

As they prepared to transition to Jordan Love at quarterback, the Packers were often named as a team interested in adding one or more veteran receivers this year. With another draft filled with pass-catching additions having come and gone, however, that no longer appears to be the case.

With Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb both having signed with the Jets to continue their time with Aaron Rodgers, the Packers have once again seen signficant experience depart their receiving corps. Last offseason, Davante Adams was traded to the Raiders and Marquez Valdes-Scantling joined the Chiefs, leading Green Bay to select three WRs in the draft (Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure).

Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that more additions would be made in 2023, with preference seemingly being given to veterans – an understandable approach, given the question marks surrounding Love’s readiness for an NFL starting gig. No signings were made during the initial waves of free agency, though, and the Packers again leaned heavily on the draft to add depth at the position. The team ended up selecting another three receivers (headlined by second-rounder Jayden Reed), along with a pair of tight ends. As a result, they may be willing to press pause on their search for veterans.

“I think time will tell,” LaFleur said, via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, “but it’s certainly a very talented room. It’s going to be a hell of a competition in terms of who’s getting the snaps, because just at first glimpse at some of these young guys who were in here, there are some talented guys… if need be, I know [GM Brian Gutekunst] is going to do whatever we can to help us field the best possible team. If need be, I think we would turn [towards a veteran signing], but right now I think we’re just going to let those guys compete.”

Plenty of attention will be on Love and the new offense, given his extension which secures his future for the next two years. The passer whom the Packers are tapping as Rodgers’ successor will have a number of options available to him in the pass-catching corps for his first season as the starter, and it appears at least each of the key ones for 2023 in that regard are already on the roster despite the question marks surrounding their readiness.

Panthers To Re-Sign OL Cameron Erving

May 8th, 2023 at 9:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Shortly after a report indicated the Panthers still had Cameron Erving on their radar, the veteran offensive lineman is indeed returning to Charlotte. Erving agreed to terms on another Panthers deal Monday night, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

This is a one-year contract, and it comes after Erving played out his previous Panthers pact. The former first-round pick will be back as a depth piece for the Panthers, who initially inked the veteran blocker to a two-year contract back in 2021.

Although the Panthers are no longer looking for Erving to be their left tackle starter — as was the case in 2021 — he represents a veteran swingman to play behind Ikem Ekwonu and Taylor Moton. Erving, 30, played in 11 games as a backup last season. The Panthers are Erving’s fourth NFL team; the Florida State product has played for the Browns, Chiefs and Cowboys since being taken 19th overall in 2015.

During Matt Rhule‘s second offseason in charge, the Panthers gave Erving a two-year deal worth $10MM. Despite Erving being viewed as more of a backup than starter in recent years, the Panthers gave him the blindside gig to start Sam Darnold‘s first season at the controls. Erving made nine starts for a Panthers team that had struggled annually to staff its left tackle post at that point. A calf injury sidelined Erving for a stretch that year, and he finished his first Carolina season with two IR stints.

Rhule and GM Scott Fitterer decided against taking a quarterback at No. 6 overall last year, choosing Ekwonu over ex-Rhule Temple recruit Kenny Pickett, and the high draftee took over for Erving. The Panthers still value Erving as a reserve option, however, and he will have a chance to play a ninth NFL season.

After the Browns bailed on Erving two years into his career, he did become a regular Chiefs starter from 2018-19. In addition to being Eric Fisher‘s primary blindside fill-in during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV-winning season, Erving made 13 starts for the first Patrick Mahomes-led K.C. operation a year prior. Erving saw time at guard during the 2018 season and has also played center. The Panthers are not expected to have Austin Corbett to start the season; the 2022 free agency pickup will likely need more time to recover from a Week 18 ACL tear. Carolina’s other guard starter, Brady Christensen, is recovering from a Week 18 broken ankle. While the Panthers drafted Chandler Zavala in the fourth round, Erving also represents a potential emergency option inside.

Packers Sought Russell Wilson-Type Haul For Aaron Rodgers; Jets Debated Stronger Derek Carr Push

May 8th, 2023 at 9:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Rodgers has begun attending Jets offseason workouts, but it took an extensive process for the Packers to move him off their roster. The teams had different goals when they begun negotiations.

The Packers initially sought a trade package comparable to the haul the Seahawks received for Russell Wilson or the Lions picked up for Matthew Stafford, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports. But with Rodgers moving out of the picture in Green Bay, the Jets were never expected to pay what it would have likely cost the Broncos (or another suitor) to pry Rodgers from the Packers in 2021 or ’22. Still, the lag time between the first Rodgers-related discussion between Packers GM Brian Gutekunst and Jets counterpart Joe Douglas — in January, when the latter represented the only interested party among those Gutekunst contacted — led to some uncertainty.

Just before Derek Carr committed to the Saints, Jets brass debated if they should make a stronger push for the longtime Raiders quarterback, Costello adds. The Jets hosted Carr in February and met with him again at the Combine. Though, Gang Green viewed the 10th-year veteran as its Rodgers backup plan throughout the process. With the Jets not knowing until March 12 Rodgers was even planning to play in 2023, they saw their top backup plan vanish when Carr signed with the Saints on March 6.

Shortly after the Jets hired Nathaniel Hackett as OC — a move widely rumored to be a Rodgers-related decision — Robert Saleh instructed his staff to study Jimmy Garoppolo and Ryan Tannehill, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. The former 49ers starter surfaced as a Jets option, while the longtime Titans first-stringer has been involved in trade rumors this year. But the Jets waited out Rodgers and received confirmation, via the four-time MVP’s agent contacting Douglas, his client was onboard with the Jets.

The Packers could have obtained more in a trade for Rodgers had they unloaded him in 2021 or ’22, but Jordan Love had not progressed to the point the team was ready to roll with the former No. 26 overall pick. Gutekunst sought to tell Rodgers the Packers planned to field a younger roster this season and make moves to help their salary cap, per Breer, with this meaning Rodgers favorites Randall Cobb, Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis would not be back. (Cobb is now a Jet, with Lewis potentially on the team’s radar.) Of course, Gutekunst and Rodgers never got around to a meeting regarding his future. The parties had multiple January meetings in California scheduled, Breer adds; neither came to fruition. Gutekunst dealt with Rodgers’ agent during the trade talks.

As for the trade price, one of the Jets’ counterproposals — during the sides’ off-and-on talks — involved a 2025 Packers second-round pick coming back in the event Rodgers did not return in 2024. The March Rodgers-Jets summit did not involve discussion about how much longer Rodgers would play, though that later became an understandable component of the Jets’ trade push. Instead of the Jets receiving a 2025 second from the Packers — in the event Rodgers retires after this season — the teams agreed on the deal that included the 2024 first-rounder being a conditional pick and not a locked-in 1, Breer adds. That said, Rodgers has only failed to play 65% of his team’s offensive snaps twice in his 15-year starter run. It represents a fairly safe bet the Jets will send the Packers their 2024 first-rounder in this swap.

Rather than the 65% figure, the Jets wanted to tie the 2024 draft choice to team placement, per Breer. But the Packers did this in the Brett Favre trade 15 years ago; the Green Bay icon’s biceps injury ended up leading the Jets out of the playoff race and reducing the Pack’s compensation to a 2009 third-rounder. With Packers president Mark Murphy involved in both negotiations, the Packers did not relent on a refusal to tie the pick to the Jets’ 2023 record.

Douglas was a bit leery about a potential post-draft suitor emerging as an alternative for Rodgers, Breer adds. The Jets had lost Tyreek Hill to the Dolphins in a two-team race last year. The All-Pro wideout was nearly a Jet, but when the Dolphins entered the fray, Miami became Hill’s preferred destination. This helped provide the impetus for the Jets to complete the deal by the draft, even as no other teams were closely connected to Rodgers this offseason.

The 2023 pick-swap component also did not enter the negotiations until late. That turned out to matter, with many believing the Jets were prepared to draft tackle Broderick Jones in Round 1. The Steelers moved up three spots, from No. 17 to No. 14, to prevent that from happening. New York selected edge rusher Will McDonald with its Green Bay-obtained No. 15 pick. The Packers chose Iowa pass rusher Lukas Van Ness at 13.

Colts Investigating Potential Tampering Over Commanders’ Andrew Luck Inquiry

May 8th, 2023 at 9:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

9:47pm: Washington is not believed to have contacted Luck, his father (former NFL quarterback Oliver Luck) or his uncle, who has served an agent figure, according to Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. The Colts are seeking to confirm if an inquiry emerged through an intermediary. Despite the report of the Commanders contacting Luck emerging a year ago, Irsay appears to be pursuing this in earnest now.

12:46pm: The Commanders are firmly committed to Sam Howell as their starting quarterback in 2023, but they faced a pressing need at the position last offseason. That ultimately led the team to make an interesting – and perhaps controversial – inquiry.

Washington made a wide-ranging effort to secure a veteran signal-caller in 2022, and that included talks with the Colts over two quarterbacks. One was Carson Wentz – whom the Commanders ultimately acquired via trade – and the other was Andrew Luck. Conversations concerning the latter were very brief and didn’t make a difference with respect to his lack of a playing future, but they re-surfaced recently and caught the attention of the Colts.

ESPN’s John Keim – who detailed the Luck-centered discussions last March – referenced those talks this past weekend in a piece detailing the Commanders’ confidence in Howell, their 2022 fifth-rounder. The specifics regarding Luck inquiries could reveal whether or not tampering occurred, something Colts owner Jim Irsay acknowledged in response to the Washington news coming up again.

“If any NFL Team attempted to contact Andrew Luck [or any associate of him]… to play for their Franchise,” Irsay wrote, ” it would be a clear Violation of the League’s Tampering Policy” (Twitter link).

Luck has been retired since 2019, but three years remained on his contract when he made the surprising decision to walk away from the game. The 33-year-old’s pact tolled, and as a result the Colts still hold his rights, as detailed by Keim’s colleague Stephen Holder. Indianapolis would thus need to be made aware of any attempts made by other teams to lure him out of retirement, though that remains all but certain not to happen. Luck is focused on his post-football life and is not eyeing a return to playing.

Holder adds that the Colts are currently “unclear about the nature of the conversations” Washington had regarding Luck, and are “seeking to learn more about what exactly transpired and whether any tampering occurred.” While that takes place, Washington will continue to move forward with Howell in place as Wentz’s successor, after the team made the expected move of releasing the latter following a disappointing one-and-done campaign in the nation’s capital.

Interestingly, Keim notes that Washington would have considered selecting Hendon Hooker in this year’s draft had he still been available by their third-round pick. That wasn’t the case, so the Commanders remain set with Howell and veteran backup Jacoby Brissett as their top two signal-callers. It will be interesting to monitor what developments, if any, take place after the Colts’ investigation into their Luck inquiries is completed.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/8/23

May 8th, 2023 at 9:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Teams are moving quickly on inking their Day 3 draftees to their four-year rookie deals, with this process involving a slot system that does not feature many complications for late-round players. Here are the latest such agreements to commence:

Carolina Panthers

Minnesota Vikings

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