HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Panthers’ Austin Corbett To Miss Regular-Season Time; Brady Christensen On Track For Week 1

May 8th, 2023 at 8:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Big-picture changes have taken place in Carolina this offseason, but the team is planning to place Bryce Young behind the same offensive line that protected Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold in 2022. But that configuration will not be in place to start the year.

Austin Corbett suffered an ACL tear during the Panthers’ Week 18 game in New Orleans, and Frank Reich said the expectation is the 2022 free agency pickup will not be ready in time for the season opener. In better news for the Panthers, David Newton of ESPN.com notes Brady Christensen — the other guard who suffered a major injury (a broken ankle) in Week 18 — is on track to be ready for the 2023 opener.

The Panthers gave Corbett a three-year, $26.25MM deal last year; after making every start for the Rams from 2020-21, Corbett did the same for the Panthers last season. His inability to make it through Week 18 unscathed could lead to a stay on the reserve/PUP list come August. Such a placement would shelve Corbett for at least four games next season, though the team could also keep the former second-rounder on its active roster and go week-to-week regarding a return window.

The Panthers factored the likely Corbett early-season absence into their draft, with Newton adding fourth-rounder Chandler Zavala is the most likely first-string fill-in opposite Christensen. After four years at Division II Fairmont State, Zavala transferred to NC State in 2021. He earned first-team All-ACC acclaim at guard as a sixth-year senior.

Carolina’s Ikem Ekwonu first-round pick last year led to Christensen sliding to guard on a full-time basis, and he started all 17 games. The BYU product went down six plays into the Saints rematch, but his injury ended up being slightly less severe than Corbett’s. Pro Football Focus rated Corbett as a top-20 guard last season but slotted Christensen 55th at the position. He and Corbett are signed through 2024.

Just as the Panthers dropped Pat Elflein, they re-signed center Bradley Bozeman to round out their O-line quintet. Carolina may also be eyeing more continuity up front, per Newton, who notes Cameron Erving may well remain on the radar as a swing option behind Ekwonu and longtime right tackle Taylor Moton. Erving signed a two-year, $10MM deal in 2021 and started all nine games he played for the Panthers that year. Despite Erving not being the one to stop the Panthers’ longtime left tackle merry-go-round, he appears to be under consideration for a second Carolina contract.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/8/23

May 8th, 2023 at 6:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: WR Tyler Adams, WR Kody Case, T Matthew Vanderslice, DT Jamal Woods
  • Waived: WR Cody Chrest, CB Tyler Richardson, RB Titus Swen, WR Braxton Westfield

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Hatcher and Moultrie join cornerback William Hooper in landing Packers deals after the team’s rookie minicamp. Despite the Packers cutting Coco, Hatcher still has competition to become Green Bay’s long snapper. Matt Orzech, who spent the past two years as the Rams’ deep snapper, remains the favorite for the Packer gig after receiving a $300K signing bonus this offseason, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets. Orzech had been on Green Bay’s radar for years; the team tried to claim him off waivers in 2021.

Texans Sign LB Jermaine Carter

May 8th, 2023 at 6:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Texans have steadily signed numerous veterans to low-cost, short-term deals during Nick Caserio‘s GM tenure. This offseason, they have shown a considerable interest in the linebacker position.

After signing Denzel Perryman and Cory Littleton, Houston agreed to terms with Jermaine Carter on Monday. A former Panthers full-time starter, Carter spent last season with the Browns. His signing comes a few days after the Texans re-signed linebacker/special-teamer Neville Hewitt.

This focus on the off-ball linebacker spot will create considerable competition in training camp. The Texans still roster veterans Christian Kirksey and Blake Cashman, and the team selected Christian Harris in last year’s third round. This trio came in during Lovie Smith‘s season in charge; Hewitt joined the team under David Culley two years ago. Either way, the Texans now have five linebackers entering at least their fifth NFL season. Kirksey is in Year 10, Perryman and Hewitt in Year 9, Littleton in Year 8, Cashman in Year 5. The team also drafted Alabama’s Henry To’oTo’o in the fifth round.

Carter, 28, is attempting to play a sixth NFL season. The Panthers chose the Maryland alum in the 2018 fifth round. He started 31 games with Carolina, including all 17 during the 2021 season. Perryman and Carter were briefly teammates that year as well, but the former never played for the Panthers. After a training camp trade with the Raiders, Perryman’s quick Charlotte departure left a starting spot open that Carter ended up filling. Carter made 88 tackles (three for loss) and recovered a fumble in 2021.

Last year, the Chiefs signed Carter but did not carry him through to their 53-man roster. The Browns added him to their practice squad in September and, amid a season featuring extensive injury trouble at the linebacker spot, used the former Day 3 pick in seven games. Carter played just 93 defensive snaps last season, however.

Broncos To Re-Sign S Kareem Jackson

May 8th, 2023 at 6:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

6:04pm: Jackson is set to earn slightly more than his 2022 salary on this deal, with 9News’ Mike Klis indicating the experienced defender will collect $2.67MM on the one-year pact (Twitter link).

3:56pm: Less than two weeks after a reported offer came out, the Broncos have managed to retain Kareem Jackson. The veteran safety is re-signing in Denver on a one-year deal, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link).

This marks the third straight offseason in which Jackson has agreed to a one-year contract with the Broncos, though the cornerback-turned-safety is now set for his fifth season in Denver. After initially giving Jackson a three-year, $33MM deal in 2019, the Broncos have continued to use the veteran alongside Justin Simmons.

The Broncos and Jackson had been in talks for a bit now, and the team extended another offer to the 14th-year veteran recently. Jackson has played for less money in each of the past three seasons, coming back for $5MM in 2021 and $2MM last season. While the Broncos are moving to a third head coach in three years, Sean Payton is signing off on retaining the experienced defender. GM George Paton, who released Jackson from his above-referenced three-year deal in 2021, said in March the team still had the veteran on its radar. Paton has now authorized three Jackson one-year accords.

Although the Broncos first signed Jackson a few weeks after firing Vance Joseph from his HC post, the returning Denver DC has coached the former first-round pick previously. While working under then-Texans DC Wade Phillips from 2011-13, Joseph was the Houston defensive backs coach. Joseph joins Simmons, linebacker Josey Jewell and free agency import Zach Allen as those with experience under Joseph on Denver’s defense. Jackson, 35, and Simmons, 29, form one of the NFL’s longest-tenured safety duos in recent years.

Denver’s defense maintained top-10 form despite Vic Fangio‘s departure last year, and Jackson ended the season as one of its most consistent components. As injuries ransacked the unit throughout the slate, Jackson played 17 games, a team-most 1,139 snaps and finished with a career-high 94 tackles. Pro Football Focus ranked Jackson just outside the top 50 among safeties last season.

A physical presence at corner, Jackson moved to safety full-time when he joined Fangio’s defense in 2019. Among safeties, Simmons and Jackson each rank in the top 11 in solo tackles since joining forces four years ago. Jackson signing on for another year points to the Broncos keeping third-year safety Caden Sterns as their top backup. The primary Jackson or Simmons injury fill-in since arriving as a 2021 fifth-round pick, Sterns is coming off season-ending hip surgery and is not a lock to be ready for training camp.

The Broncos obviously have spent another offseason making sweeping changes, with Payton now in charge. But the team now has all five of its primary DB starters under contract and re-signed linebacker Alex Singleton to continue his partnership with Jewell. Denver’s starting defense has only lost Dre’Mont Jones this offseason, and Allen — who played four years under Joseph in Arizona — is ticketed to replace him, furthering the familiarity on the defensive side.

Chiefs Notes: Taylor, Smith, Pacheco, Anudike-Uzomah, Rice

May 8th, 2023 at 5:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs had planned to move career right tackle Jawaan Taylor to the left side. Instead, they are flipping their tackle salary structure. Donovan Smith is now in the fold, and Taylor is now the NFL’s second-highest-paid right tackle.

Andy Reid confirmed (via ESPN’s Adam Teicher) the Chiefs will begin their offseason work with Smith, signed to a one-year deal worth up to $9MM late last week, at left tackle and Taylor on the right side. Considering Smith has only played left tackle as a pro and Taylor spending his entire Jacksonville tenure as a right-sider, it is logical the Chiefs will not rock the boat here.

This is an about-face given the Chiefs’ initial Taylor plan, and while it is interesting the defending champions are abandoning it months before pads come on, Reid did leave the door open last month for Taylor to be kicked back to the right side. A right tackle at Florida and with the Jags, Taylor represents an upgrade for the Chiefs at that post.

Smith will replace Orlando Brown Jr. While the latter earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods with the Chiefs, Smith manned the Buccaneers’ blindside spot for eight seasons. During an offseason in which the team needed to shed almost $60MM in cap space, Tampa Bay made Smith a cap casualty in early March. The soon-to-be 30-year-old blocker resided as one of the few players left unsigned among PFR’s top 50 free agents.

Kansas City making right tackle its top O-line investment deviates from recent years, when the team used low-cost vet Andrew Wylie and third-round pick Lucas Niang as its primary options at the position. But the Chiefs’ initial Patrick Mahomes Super Bowl-winning team did have two tackles — Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz — signed to veteran deals. While the team prioritized Brown in 2021 via the trade with the Ravens, right tackle did not bring similar attention. The Smith signing changes that, as Taylor signed the top O-line deal — AAV-wise, at $20MM — in free agency. Smith’s $9MM deal checks in at $4MM in base value, Albert Breer of SI.com notes.

Elsewhere on the Chiefs’ roster, Reid confirmed running back Isiah Pacheco and first-round defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah are recovering from surgeries. Pacheco underwent procedures to repair a broken hand and a torn labrum, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets. He does not have a return timetable, though the Chiefs do not sound concerned the 2022 seventh-round pick will miss regular-season time. Anudike-Uzomah, this year’s No. 31 overall pick, underwent thumb surgery before the draft and could be ready by the time the Chiefs begin OTAs later this month.

At receiver, the Chiefs had Mahomes work out with a few rookie prospects. Zay Flowers and Quentin Johnston were among those to train with the reigning MVP in Texas. But Chiefs second-round pick Rashee Rice also linked up with Mahomes for a pre-draft training session. The SMU product, whom the Chiefs took in the second round, formed a connection with the superstar quarterback, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes.

The Chiefs have now taken a second-round receiver in each of the past two drafts, with Rice following Skyy Moore. These two join Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Kadarius Toney as the Chiefs’ top receivers. Kansas City has been connected to a DeAndre Hopkins pursuit, but the Cardinals may now be prepared to keep him. The Chiefs, who lost J.J. Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman to the AFC East in free agency, are also preparing to give Toney — his injury past notwithstanding — a bigger role heading into his first full K.C. season.

Cal McNair Denies Influencing Texans’ C.J. Stroud Pick

May 8th, 2023 at 4:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

For weeks leading up to the draft, reports both connected the Texans to a pivot toward a pass rusher at No. 2 overall and having placed a value gap between Bryce Young and the field. The team then taking C.J. Stroud second overall but still trading back up from No. 12 to land Will Anderson Jr. has led to speculation regarding ownership’s role in this year’s draft.

Ahead of Nick Caserio‘s third draft as Houston’s GM, Texans ownership was believed to be more involved compared to the team’s first two Caserio-era drafts. Cal McNair did his best to shoot down rumors of his fingerprints being on the Stroud pick.

“Hannah [McNair] and I don’t make the picks. We’ll make it clear there,” McNair said, via ESPN.com’s DJ Bien-Aime. “We have a great group of scouts led by Nick and [assistant player personnel director] James [Liipfert]. They did a lot of work on the draft board, and then they followed that on draft day, and they moved up when they saw the value was there and moved back.”

Value regarding the Anderson trade-up is not a consensus view, as the Texans gave up No. 33 and 2024 first- and third-round picks to climb up for a non-quarterback. Considering how valuable the Texans’ draft slot has been from 2021-23 (No. 3, No. 3, No. 2), the Cardinals obtaining that pick could be viewed as a coup by the rebuilding team. But the Texans — as they were linked to doing for weeks ahead of the draft — prioritized an edge rusher and now have their most significant investment at that position, should J.J. Watt be classified as an interior pass rusher, since selecting Mario Williams first overall in 2006.

Stroud always seemed like the conventional choice at No. 2. The Panthers were believed to have made their early trade-up maneuver with the thought of selecting either Young or Stroud at 1. Young emerged as the runaway leader to lead off the draft, but Stroud was also viewed as a safer pick compared to Anthony Richardson or Will Levis. The Texans punted on a major quarterback investment in 2021, when Deshaun Watson spent the year as a healthy scratch amid his off-field trouble, and 2022. The team chose Davis Mills in the 2021 third round and did not make a notable investment last year, pointing to a 2023 move.

McNair attempted to make clear he did not mandate a quarterback pick, and selecting a QB represented by Watson’s agent — David Mulugheta — lends more support to the owner’s claim. This comes a bit after Caserio denied rumors he would leave the Texans after the draft. But Caserio departure rumblings surfaced late last season as well. He remains in power despite making two HCs one-and-dones to start his GM tenure, and Stroud’s development will obviously be worth monitoring regarding the Texans’ big-picture status.

Bills Notes: Ertz, Hyde, Kincaid, Murray

May 8th, 2023 at 2:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills became the first team to add a tight end in this year’s draft by trading up to select Dalton Kincaid. Seen as one of two first-round talents at the position, the Utah product figures to have a prominent pass-catching role in Buffalo’s offense for years to come.

The Bills came close to making a veteran addition at the position in 2021, though, when Zach Ertz was on the trade block. The three-time Pro Bowler ended up being dealt to the Cardinals, but Buffalo was named as a suitor at the time. Their efforts nearly yielded a swap, as Ertz recently confirmed.

“I was getting traded out of Philadelphia,” the 32-year-old said, via Mark Gaughan of the Buffalo News. “There were a couple teams extremely interested, Buffalo being one of them. It was almost a done deal, but it just didn’t get over the finish line.”

Here are some other notes out of Buffalo:

  • Micah Hyde is entering the final year of his deal, and he appears set to play without a new contract in hand beyond 2023. General manager Brandon Beane indicated (via Gaughan’s colleague Jay Skurski, on Twitter) that no extension talks have taken place with the 32-year-old. Hyde has been a mainstay on the backend during his six-year tenure with the Bills, but a neck injury limited him to just two games in 2022. The Pro Bowler is due $7.2MM this season, and has a scheduled cap hit of $10.57MM. His replacement after going down – Damar Hamlin – has been cleared to return to football activities and has two years remaining on his rookie contract.
  • Part of the reason the Bills traded up to secure Kincaid was the run on receivers coming off the board in the middle of the first round, as Beane noted during an appearance on Sirius XM Radio (audio link). Buffalo moved up from No. 27 to 25 (ahead of the TE-needy Cowboys) to secure Kincaid, widely seen as the best pass-catcher in a loaded class at the position. The latter should represent a strong fit in the team’s offense given how his skillset compliments that of Dawson Knox, though the Bills went until the fifth round to secure a receiver prospect, something many expected them to add earlier given their need for secondary pass-catching options.
  • The latest addition to Buffalo’s backfield, veteran Latavius Murray, came as a surprise to some. However, he knew he would be headed to Orchard Park by the third day of the draft given his agreement with Beane. The latter revealed, via Ryan Talbot of NewYorkUpstate.com, that he elected not to draft a running back on Day 3 on the condition that Murray would agree to sign with Buffalo. The 33-year-old should have a rotational role in the Bills’ new-look backfield after inking a one-year, veteran minimum pact.

49ers Sign DL Marlon Davidson, Re-Sign TE Troy Fumagalli

May 8th, 2023 at 1:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers confirmed on Monday that they have inked veteran quarterback Brandon Allen to a one-year deal. Two other additions have been made to their roster.

San Francisco has added Marlon Davidson to their defensive line rotation. The 24-year-old visited the 49ers in December, so it comes as little surprise that a deal has now been struck. Davidson entered the league with high expectations after a productive career at Auburn, but he was unable to translate his success to the NFL level in his first home.

A second-round pick of the Falcons, Davidson started just one of 19 games in Atlanta during his first two seasons there. He recorded only one sack, leaving his short- and long-term future with the team in doubt entering 2022. Knee surgery left him sidelined to begin the year, and Atlanta moved on in October. Davidson did not find a landing spot for the remainder of the campaign, so question marks remain about his recovery and ability to live up to his potential in the Bay Area.

The 49ers have already taken a flier on ex-Raider Clelin Ferrell this offseason, as the former top-five pick looks to rebuild his value. The same will now be true of Davidson, as he looks to carve out a role along a defensive front which added Javon Hargrave on a big-money deal in free agency. A strong showing in 2023 could boost his efforts to land a longer-term pact next offseason, with the 49ers or another interested team.

San Francisco also announced the return of tight end Troy Fumagalli. The 28-year-old signed with the 49ers last May, but was among the team’s final roster cuts in August. He then spent time on their practice squad, making him a familiar face as he hopes to crack the 53-man roster this time around. Fumagalli’s only regular season experience to date has come with the Broncos, but he will look to carve establish a role for himself in a TE room headed by George Kittle and which saw the addition of third-rounder Cameron Latu as well as seventh-rounder Brayden Willis during the draft.

Falcons Sign CB Tre Flowers

May 8th, 2023 at 10:55am CST by Adam La Rose

The Falcons have made another veteran addition to their defense. The team announced on Monday that cornerback Tre Flowers has signed a one-year deal.

The 27-year-old received interest from the Panthers prior to the draft, but he will now head elsewhere in the NFC South. Flowers has logged 41 starts in his career, all but one of which came during his tenure in Seattle. A Seahawks fifth-rounder in 2018, he saw his workload change dramatically after his first two campaigns.

Flowers’ playing time dropped in 2020 and ’21 as Sidney Jones moved ahead of him on the depth chart. That led to the Seahawks’ decision to place the former on waivers in October 2021. The Bengals took advantage of that decision by claiming him and using him in a rotational capacity during their run to the Super Bowl. Cincinnati was sufficiently impressed with the Oklahoma State alum that they re-signed him last offseason.

Flowers played primarily on special teams during his first and only full Bengals campaign. He did add one interception and three pass deflections, though, and has considerable first-team experience dating back to his time in Seattle. It comes as little surprise that Flowers will not be returning to Cincinnati, though, as the Bengals have added Jones in free agency and fellow corner DJ Turner in the second round of the draft.

In Atlanta, Flowers will join a secondary which has seen a number of additions this offseason. The Falcons signed Mike Hughes and traded for Jeff Okudah prior to the draft, moves which came after the big-ticket deal given to safety Jessie Bates. Atlanta also selected corner Clark Phillips III in the fourth round of the draft, giving them a number of options to compliment AJ Terrell. Flowers will look to carve out a role in the team’s new-look CB room, one which should enter the 2023 season with heightened expectations.

Jets, WR Randall Cobb Agree To Terms

May 8th, 2023 at 9:58am CST by Sam Robinson

MAY 8: Details on the one-year Cobb deal are in, courtesy of ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter link). The veteran will earn a base salary of $2.25MM, with another $1MM available through incentives. Cobb’s cap hit for the year will be $2.89MM, meaning he will be a relatively inexpensive pass-catching option for the Jets’ Rodgers-led offense, especially if they can continue their shared success with one another dating back to their time in Green Bay.

MAY 3, 5:34pm: Checking another box on Rodgers’ wish list, the Jets made it official with Cobb Wednesday afternoon. While terms have not yet surfaced, Cobb is following Rodgers, Lazard and Hackett to the Big Apple.

8:11am: Unable to land Odell Beckham Jr., the Jets are circling back to Aaron Rodgers‘ free agency wish list. They are planning to reunite Rodgers with Randall Cobb, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Cobb has played 10 of his 12 NFL seasons with the Packers, enjoying two stints with the team. Upon ending a months-long standoff with Green Bay in 2021, Rodgers insisted on the team reacquiring Cobb via trade. The new Jets quarterback will once again move a team to bring the veteran wide receiver aboard. This will be a one-year deal.

[RELATED: Jets To Sign OL Billy Turner]

The Rodgers wish list already led to Allen Lazard coming to the Big Apple. Lazard joined the Jets weeks before Rodgers, but ex-Cobb teammate’s $11MM-per-year deal provided a strong indication the four-time MVP would eventually be en route. Unlike the past two offseasons, Rodgers has been present at OTAs for his team. Cobb, who is going into his age-33 season, may well join Rodgers and Lazard for voluntary Jets workouts soon.

Counting the playoffs, Davante Adams‘ 687 receptions are the most by a Rodgers target (per ESPN Stats and Info); Cobb’s 534 grabs sit second on that list. The former Packers second-round pick developed a quick chemistry with the future Hall of Fame quarterback, and while Cobb’s second Green Bay stay did not produce the numbers his first did, but he will accompany Lazard in bringing scheme familiarity to the Jets. Cobb spent the past two seasons in the offense OC Nathaniel Hackett is installing.

Despite missing four games last season, Cobb caught 34 passes for 417 yards and a touchdown. The proven slot receiver scored five TDs during his 2021 season back in Wisconsin. The Packers gave Cobb a four-year, $40MM contract back in 2015, which came after his lone 1,000-yard campaign. Cobb played out that deal before the team allowed him to sign with the Cowboys in free agency. Cobb spent the 2019 and ’20 seasons in Texas, signing with Houston on a three-year, $27MM deal in 2020. The Packers absorbed that deal in 2021 but reached a pay-cut agreement with Cobb last year.

Following the Packers’ Week 18 home loss to the Lions, Cobb and Rodgers walked off the field together. It quickly became expected Cobb — whose 532 catches as a Packer rank fifth in team history — was done in Green Bay, but his longtime quarterback pulled some strings to allow for this partnership to last another year. While this expected Jets accord comes after the deadline for signings to affect the 2024 compensatory formula, Cobb is unlikely to sign a needle-moving contract with the Jets.

This could complete the Jets’ wide receiver overhaul effort. Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson is back, but the team has added Lazard and Mecole Hardman already. Elijah Moore is now in Cleveland, via trade, while the team released slot player/return man Braxton Berrios, who is now in Miami. Although rumblings tied the Jets to a Corey Davis release, the former top-five pick remains with the team. Ditto Denzel Mims, who has stood as a longtime trade candidate.

Jets GM Joe Douglas reaffirmed Davis’ status with the team ahead of the draft, and the team did not select any wideouts. The seventh-year veteran certainly supplies potential firepower as a complementary option. The team’s three-year, $37.5MM Davis pact has not produced numbers on par with the former top prospect’s Titans work, but Davis and Cobb have nine combined 600-plus-yard receiving seasons on their respective resumes.

This Cobb agreement floods the Jets’ receiver room with experience, and it will be interesting to see if it affects Davis, who is tied to an $11.2MM cap hit in the final year of his contract. The Jets can release Davis and save $10.5MM. With Lazard and Cobb set to reunite, it should be expected the Jets are considering a Marcedes Lewis addition. The four-year Packer also appeared on Rodgers’ list of hopeful Jets acquisitions in March.

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