2023 May - Pro Football Rumors

Month: November 2024

5 Key Stories: 5/21/23 – 5/28/23

May 28th, 2023 at 3:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

Some notable developments concerning both on- and off-the-field matters took place over the past week. In case you missed anything, here’s a quick breakdown of the top headlines:

Cardinals Release Hopkins: DeAndre Hopkins was the subject of plenty of speculation this offseason, with many expecting a trade sending him out of Arizona. Instead, the Cardinals have cut the All-Pro wideout, leaving him free to join a new team on the open market. No trade could be worked out for the 30-year-old, whose contract was a sticking point in negotiations. By deciding not to designate Hopkins a post-June 1 release, the Cardinals will absorb just over $21MM in dead money next season, one in which the rebuilding team’s expectations will be very low. By doing so, however, Hopkins’ contract will come off the books entirely in 2024. The five-time Pro Bowler has been open about disclosing which teams he would prefer to join, but a number of suitors should be involved in his pursuit as contenders look to boost their passing attack late in free agency.
Chargers, Ekeler Agree To Reworked Deal: For much of the offseason, the future of Chargers running back Austin Ekeler in 2023 and beyond was in doubt. He will remain in Los Angeles for at least one more year, though, after adjusting his contract to include new performance incentives. The 28-year-old has been seeking a new deal placing him higher in the league’s RB pecking order; the inability of he and the Chargers to agree to an extension resulted in a trade request at the start of free agency. No market emerged, though, making it little surprise that he will play out the final year of his pact with the Chargers. Another highly productive two-way campaign could earn Ekeler over $1MM in new money, and help boost his stock ahead of free agency.
Goodell Nearing Another Extension: Much of the attention with respect to contracts is paid to players, coaches and front office personnel during this time of year, of course, but the NFL itself will have stability at the top for years to come. Commissioner Roger Goodell is in line to sign another extension, which will continue his tenure at the helm of the league through 2027. Goodell will have been in his position for more than 20 years by the end of that deal, making him the league’s second-longest tenured commissioner. Controversies of many kinds have littered his time in charge, but the league’s financial growth on his watch has been substantial and appears poised to continue during the current CBA. The extension will likely not be officially approved until later this offseason, but it considered a done deal at this point by the owners, who are content to maintain the status quo once again.
Brady To Become Minority Raiders Owner: The post-playing future for Tom Brady is set to begin in the broadcast booth in 2024, but he could have a new title by that point. The now twice-retired quarterback has an agreement in place buy a stake in the Raiders. The 45-year-old has been linked to joining Vegas as a player at various times, but now he is set to occupy a front office role alongside owner Mark Davis. The pair already have a working relationship given their shared ownership of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, and now Brady will join an organization filled with connections to his Patriots past. Questions will be raised about a return to the playing field, along with concerns over a potential conflict of interest once his FOX broadcasting endeavor begins, but league approval of Brady’s latest move appears set to take place in the near future.
Steelers Begin Highsmith Extension Talks: The Steelers already have one star pass rusher in T.J. Watt, but his running mate, Alex Highsmith, is due for a lucrative deal of his own. The latter is now in talks for a Pittsburgh extension ahead of the final year of his rookie contract, one which has provided the team with tremendous value given his production. The 25-year-old has set a new personal mark in sacks with each passing season, recording 14.5 last season (many of which came with Watt sidelined). Highsmith should be in line for a considerable raise, though it could become challenging for the Steelers to afford him given the league-leading $28MM AAV of Watt’s contract. Pittsburgh has remained adamant that Highsmith is part of their long-term plans, and the team has a history of working out big-money deals with impact players ahead of their walk years. A continuation of that trend would give them one of the league’s top edge rushing duos for years to come.

Ravens Were Willing To Extend S Chuck Clark In 2022

May 27th, 2023 at 9:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Things changed significantly for the Ravens at the safety position during the 2022 offseason. One of the results of their moves made on the backend was veteran Chuck Clark being traded at the start of the 2023 league year.

Clark, a 2017 sixth-round pick, established himself as a full-time starter midway through the 2019 season, and held onto a first-team role from that point on. His consistent production had him in line for a new Ravens extension heading into the 2022 offseason, but circumstances turned against him quickly. Baltimore signed Marcus Williams in free agency on a five-year, $70MM contract, marking their latest big-money investment at the free safety spot.

More significantly with respect to Clark’s status, the Ravens followed up the Williams deal by selecting Kyle Hamilton in the first round of the draft. That move seemed to leave Clark on the outside looking in beyond the 2022 season, and he requested a trade shortly thereafter. Baltimore, as expected, ultimately moved on this March by dealing him to the Jets in a swap which yielded $3.64MM in cap savings.

When speaking about the trade earlier this week, the 28-year-old indicated that he felt “disrespected” by the Ravens given the way his time with the team came to an end. Clark has one year remaining on his current contract, but he was under the impression that a Ravens extension was a distinct possibility in 2022, as noted by Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic (subscription required). Zrebiec adds, notably, that the team was “open to the idea” as well, before their safety additions made Clark expendable.

The latter – who eclipsed the 100-tackle mark for the first time in his career last year – could have a much clearer path to a starting spot in his new home than he would have had in Baltimore in 2023. The Ravens have Williams and Hamilton in place for the foreseeable future, while Clark could partner with Jordan Whitehead in New York ahead of hitting the open market in 2024. With a cap hit of $4.14MM, Clark could prove to be a cost-effective contributor for the Jets as he and the Ravens go their separate ways.

Baltimore did utilize three-safety packages to a notable extent in 2022, as they looked to integrate Hamilton slowly before what should be a dramatic uptick in usage this year. Continuing those alignments may have left the door open to retaining – or even extending – Clark beyond his current deal, but both parties appear to be well-positioned moving forward. How Clark fares in New York, and the degree to which he is replaced in Baltimore, will be worth monitoring in 2023.

Latest On CB Damon Arnette

May 27th, 2023 at 7:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Former Raiders cornerback Damon Arnette is in the midst of a new legal development. Arnette has been indicted by a Clark County (NV) grand jury on assault with a deadly weapon and firearm-related charges, as detailed by David Charns of 8 News Now.

The charges stem from the January 2022 incident which led to Arnette’s arrest. In response to that news, not the first such development in the 26-year-old’s case, the Chiefs cut him shortly after signing him to a futures contract. The case against Arnette was initially dropped in July 2022, but the charges he now faces could result in a maximum of 10 years in state prison if he were to be convicted.

The former first-rounder is alleged to have displayed a handgun during an argument with valets at a Las Vegas Strip casino during the night in question. Arnette had previously been seen on video brandishing a gun while threatening a person; that led to his release from the Raiders in 2021. In this latest case, though, the details of his actions are in dispute.

“The district attorney’s office made a non-prosecution decision presumably after reviewing the video corroborating what Damon told the police that he never carried or pointed a gun at anyone,” a statement from Arnette’s attorney, Ross Goodman, read in July. Later that month, the Ohio State product was arrested in a separate matter on drug-related charges after being pulled over for driving with a suspended licence.

Arnette has pled not guilty to the felony charges stemming from the casino incident, per an Associated Press report (via ESPN.com). Goodman contends that Arnette never “brandished” nor “pointed” a gun, keeping in line with his previous remarks on the matter. Nevertheless, the re-introduction of charges has put his legal (and, if one exists at this point, NFL) future in question. The case’s next hearing is scheduled for June 7.

Lions OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai Contemplated Retirement

May 27th, 2023 at 6:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions’ offensive line figures to receive a considerable boost in 2023 with Halapoulivaati Vaitai back in the fold. The veteran guard was initially unsure of whether he wished to continue playing after missing the entire 2022 campaign, but this offseason convinced him to return to the field.

Vaitai underwent back surgery in September, and he was unable to recover in time to occupy his starting right guard role for the Lions. Detroit was pegged to have one of the league’s top offensive fronts heading into the season, but his absence weakened the unit and left his playing future in doubt. The 29-year-old remains unsure of the exact details of the procedure he had, but the recovery process has been encouraging from a short- and long-term view.

“After surgery, I was like, ‘Let me just rest. Let me just enjoy this time,” Vaitai said, via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News. “And then when I started training again, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m not ready to retire yet.”

The former Eagles fifth-rounder started all 25 appearances he made in Detroit across the 2020 and ’21 campaigns. A resumption of his first-team duties would come as little surprise if he showcases his health during the offseason. However, the Lions have made a few depth additions to their line to guard against Vaitai’s uncertain status moving forward. That includes a reunion with Graham Glasgow; the latter could compete for playing time at the RG spot on what is an otherwise intact unit.

Vaitai initially had two years remaining on his contract, but he agreed to remove 2024 from his pact in addition to taking a signficant pay cut. That move could give the Lions a cost-effective contributor up front if the TCU alum can return to his previous form. Especially if that turns out to be the case, Vaitai could use his rebound campaign to earn himself a notable deal on the open market next offseason to continue his career further, either from the Lions or another team.

Four In Running For Ravens’ LG Job?

May 27th, 2023 at 5:59pm CST by Ely Allen

The Ravens will return four starters from last year’s offensive line in right tackle Morgan Moses, right guard Kevin Zeitler, center Tyler Linderbaum, and left tackle Ronnie Stanley. After allowing last season’s starting left guard, Ben Powers, to depart for Denver in free agency, Baltimore has an open spot available on the starting offensive line.

The Ravens are fairly confident in their options to replace Powers. The favorites for the job are utility lineman Patrick Mekari, guards Ben Cleveland and John Simpson, and tackle Daniel Faalele. The team did draft two linemen in Oregon’s Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and USC’s Andrew Vorhees, but Aumavae-Laulu is considered a developmental prospect who can play all over the line, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, while Vorhees’s recent injuries will require him to miss most, if not all, of his rookie season. They also recently added former Bears center Sam Mustipher, but Mustipher is expected to act as an experienced backup center behind Linderbaum.

Mekari and Faalele may be too valuable in their current roles to force into a starting guard spot, even if they would be strong contributors at the position. Mekari has excelled in recent years as a sort of sixth-man for the Ravens’ offensive line. The former undrafted free agent out of Cal has started games at every position on the line for Baltimore usually as an injury replacement. He has the talent to start for many teams, but Baltimore paid him in 2021 to stay and be one of the league’s most talented backups. Faalele on the other hand has the perfect frame to develop into a top tackle. At 6-foot-8, 380 pounds, Faalele could surely be a force on the interior offensive line, but the Ravens want to keep that length on the outside and will likely continue developing him as a tackle.

The battle likely boils down to Cleveland and Simpson. Cleveland was drafted in the third round two years ago with the expectation that he would develop into a starting guard. He lost the battle last year to Powers, but at 6-foot-6, 357 pounds, Cleveland could be an imposing physical presence on the left side of the line. He’s had five starts over his first two years in the league and dealt with a knee injury his rookie year.

Simpson was a late-season addition to the Ravens’ practice squad last year who was signed to a futures contract at the end of the season. He found his way to Baltimore after being waived by the Raiders but is only a year removed from his role as a full-time starting left guard for Las Vegas.

No battles will be won in May, but the Ravens are well set up to use this summer to determine who will be starting in between Linderbaum and Stanley in Week 1 vs. Houston.

NFL Staff Notes: McDonough, NFLPA, Chiefs, Packers, Gruden, Philbin

May 27th, 2023 at 4:53pm CST by Ely Allen

It’s been nearly two months since former Cardinals executive Terry McDonough first filed an arbitration claim against team owner Michael Bidwill accusing Bidwill of cheating and gross misconduct. The claim specifically levied accusations of breach of contract, retaliation after engaging in protected activity, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation, and civil conspiracy. The Cardinals’ public relations consultant, Jim McCarthy, released a statement in return containing several personal attacks on McDonough.

The original complaint stemmed from a situation in which McDonough claims Bidwill had devised a plan for McDonough and then-head coach Steve Wilks to communicate with then-suspended general manager Steve Keim through burner phones. McDonough asserts that after voicing his concerns about the plan, he was written up for insubordination and, eventually, demoted.

McDonough has reportedly added more accusations in an amended arbitration complaint this week, accusing Bidwill and the Cardinals of defamation and invasion of privacy in response to McCarthy’s statement, according to ESPN’s Tisha Thompson. He called the statement “untrue and reprehensible,” and his wife, Lynette, called the statement “the most bizarre and dishonest thing that I have ever heard.” The new complaint also states that McDonough will prepare to pursue a civil complaint against McCarthy and his group, CounterPoint Strategies, for “grossly defamatory statements.”

The NFL recently selected Jeffrey Mishkin to arbitrate the employment dispute, according to another report from Thompson. Mishkin is the former chief legal officer for the NBA, leading the Association’s in-house legal department for seven years. He will determine the schedule of events, which are expected to last for several months.

Here are a few other rumors concerning staff positions in the NFL:

Earlier this month, Mike Florio of NBC Sports reported that the league’s Players Association was moving closer to selecting a new executive director. The final candidates are not yet known, but we’re not completely in the dark. Previously this year, The Athletic’s Daniel Kaplan identified candidates Matt Schaub, the former quarterback, Kellen Winslow Sr., the former tight end, Teri Patterson Smith, the NFLPA chief operating officer, Don Davis, the NFLPA senior director of player affairs, George Atallah, the NFLPA assistant director of external affairs, and Dominique Foxworth, the former NFLPA president. A couple weeks ago, Jim Trotter, also of The Athletic, reported that no internal candidates made the cut, eliminating Smith, Davis, and Atallah. Foxworth is also expected to no longer be in consideration. Former wide receiver and former member of Congress Anthony Gonzalez has been mentioned but not confirmed as a candidate. The NFLPA is proceeding with the process with the utmost confidentiality and plan to bring it to a close sooner rather than later.
After previously participating in the Chiefs‘ Norma Hunt Training Camp Fellowship Program last year, Madison Aponte was hired on as a player personnel assistant. According to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com, while Aponte’s title hasn’t changed, she will continue acting as the team’s college scouting coordinator, a role she’s held since the start of the 2022 season.
Stratton reports another addition, this time by the Packers. According to Stratton, Green Bay has hired Joey Laine in the role of salary cap analyst. Laine was a longtime presence in the Saints’ building after working with the team for more than ten years. He eventually left, following Ryan Pace to Chicago and working as the Bears’ director of football administration for eight seasons.
Finally, two former NFL head coaches have taken minor roles with new teams this season. According to Jeff Duncan of nola.com, the Saints have brought in former Raiders head coach Jon Gruden to assist in the integration of new quarterback Derek Carr in the Saints’ offense. Carr played his best statistical seasons under Gruden during their time together and Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael welcomed Gruden’s assistance with open arms. The second former head coach is former Dolphins’ skipper Joe Philbin who, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN, has been hired as an offensive analyst at Ohio State.

Latest On QB Bryce Young, Panthers’ Offense

May 27th, 2023 at 3:02pm CST by Ely Allen

The Panthers traded up and drafted Alabama’s Bryce Young No. 1 overall with the intention that he would be the team’s new starter at quarterback. Yet during organized team activities, head coach Frank Reich had presumed backup Andy Dalton running with the starters. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, this isn’t necessarily indicative of the true depth chart but more a practice in efficiency.

Of course, as a coach, you prefer not to hand Young the starting job on a silver platter. You’d rather he “earn” the job by performing better than the other quarterbacks on the depth chart. But expecting a rookie to be better prepared for an entirely new system, when veterans have mostly been at the facilities for five weeks now, is unrealistic.

As a head coach new to his team, Reich is intent on establishing his operation at an optimal, functional level. This early into Young’s tenure, he’s just not prepared enough to run the Panthers’ system to the level that Dalton can. Does this mean that Dalton would forever run with the first string? Likely, not. But until Young is up to speed and ready to efficiently run with the ones, having Dalton behind center has been the best way to implement Reich’s operation. In fact, a week after Breer’s report, David Newton of ESPN reported that, while Dalton is still taking the first snaps with the first team, Young is getting more overall snaps with the first string, indicating the progress that we expect from the top overall draft pick.

The system that’s being implemented is designed for Young, anyway. According to a different report from Newton, Reich is allowing new, first-time NFL offensive coordinator Thomas Brown to design a spread-formation system that meshes some of what Brown learned under Sean McVay in Los Angeles and what Reich ran with the Colts. Brown is building the offense with Young in mind, claiming that he doesn’t want to take away Young’s “superpower.”

Lastly, with Dalton and Young likely cemented in the first two slots of the depth chart, there were rumblings that last year’s third-round pick, Matt Corral, was on the trading block, and perhaps that he wanted to go. The most recent reports from this week, according to Panthers staff writer Darin Gantt, indicate that Corral no longer desires an exit. Corral “made it clear (to the media that) he doesn’t want to be traded,” listing playing for Reich as a major reason for staying.

Latest On WR DeAndre Hopkins

May 27th, 2023 at 12:29pm CST by Ben Levine

DeAndre Hopkins‘ tenure in Arizona came to a sudden end yesterday when the Cardinals released the veteran wideout. Throughout the offseason, Hopkins was one of the most popular names on the trade market, and there were whispers that a number of teams had engaged the Cardinals in trade talks. However, Albert Breer of TheMMQB tweets that only the Bills and the Chiefs had “substantive” discussions with the Cardinals.

Breer adds that both cash-strapped teams had issues fitting in Hopkins’ cap hit. While the Chiefs believed they were making progress towards a trade and a resolution on Hopkins’ 2023 earnings, Odell Beckham‘s contract with the Ravens “more or less blew that progress up.”

While the Chiefs and Bills would still be worthy suitors for Hopkins, that aforementioned OBJ deal may have already priced some teams out of the ensuing bidding war. Mike Giardi tweets that Hopkins “wants money,” and OBJ’s ability to earn more than $15MM with Baltimore hasn’t done anything to change his mind. Breer tweets that the Chiefs and Bills are probably unlikely to sign the veteran unless he drops his asking price, and even then Hopkins would have to settle of an incentive-laden deal.

Of course, money won’t be the only deciding factor when it comes to Hopkins’ landing spot. Cardinals reporter Mike Jurecki tweets that the wideout also values stable management, a good defense, and a quarterback who can galvanize the squad. Yesterday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released a list of best fits for Hopkins, with the Bills, Chiefs, Jets, Cowboys, and Saints all earning spots. The Browns, Giants, Falcons, and Patriots were listed as wild-card teams in the sweepstakes.

Either way, Hopkins won’t be able to officially sign a deal this weekend. Howard Balzer tweets that while the wideout is allowed to speak with teams, he can’t sign a contract until his name officially appears on the NFL’s personnel notice on Tuesday. Interestingly, Balzer also notes that when Hopkins hired new representation earlier this offseason, the NFLPA listed the agent as Eddie Edwards. Now, there’s no agent of record for the wideout. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, the confusion is attributed to the fact that Saint Omni is “running the show” for Hopkins. Last year, the NFL warned teams not to discuss contracts with non-certified agents like Omni during the Roquan Smith negotiations.

As for the Cardinals, there were some pundits who wondered why Hopkins wasn’t designated as a post-June 1 cut, which would have spread his $22MM cap hit over the next two seasons. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe assumes (on Twitter) that the Cardinals just want to “take their lumps now,” and the reporter notes that while Arizona technically used their two allocated post-June 1 cuts, the team could have still cut Hopkins after June 2 and realized the same financial incentives.

This Date In Transactions History: Browns Extend TE David Njoku

May 27th, 2023 at 9:58am CST by Ben Levine

It can always be a bit risky paying big money on tight ends, especially when the player hasn’t even shown Pro Bowl-worthy production. So, when the Browns signed David Njoku to an extension on this day in 2022, it certainly raised a few eyebrows. Fortunately for the Browns, they shouldn’t have any regrets with exactly one year to reflect on the move.

On May 27, 2022, the Browns announced that they inked their former first-round tight end to an extension. Njoku had already been slapped with the franchise tag, ensuring at least a hefty payday for the 2022 campaign. Instead, the organization ripped up that tender and signed Njoku to a four-year, $56.75MM deal with $28MM in guaranteed money. The extension put the player fifth at the position in terms of average annual value, and while he’s since been passed by Darren Waller‘s record-breaking deal, Njoku still represents one of the largest tight end contracts in the NFL.

Njoku had an inconsistent role during his rookie season but showed his potential during the 2018 campaign, finishing with 56 receptions for 639 yards and four touchdowns. The next two years didn’t go all that great for the tight end; his 2019 season was limited to only four games while he recovered from a broken wrist, and he started only five of his 13 appearances in 2020 while dealing with a knee injury.

He rebounded a bit in 2021, finishing with 36 catches for 475 yards and four touchdowns. While that production probably doesn’t warrant a $50MM+ contract, a pair of moves made it appear that Njoku was on the brink of a breakout season, perhaps justifying the organization’s investment. For starters, the Browns moved on from Austin Hooper, a transaction that finally made Njoku the undisputed starter. Second, the front office made the franchise-altering trade for Deshaun Watson, and considering Cleveland’s lack of experienced receiving options, Njoku would surely become one of the QB’s preferred targets.

Watson, of course, was limited to only six games while serving a suspension, but Njoku still managed to put together one of his most productive seasons since that aforementioned sophomore campaign. The 26-year-old ultimately finished his 2022 season having hauled in 58 catches for 628 yards and four touchdowns. Sure, those numbers are still a far cry from the numbers put up by the other highest-paid tight ends (a grouping that includes Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, Dallas Goedert, George Kittle, and Waller). However, considering Njoku’s age and modest production, it makes sense that he’d be right below that grouping and above the likes of Dawson Knox, Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Evan Engram, and Zach Ertz.

The Browns will surely be hoping for even more for Njoku in 2023. If the tight end is able to put together a career year during his seventh season in the NFL, his extension may end up looking like a bargain.

Antonio Brown Generating “Genuine” Interest From NFL Teams?

May 27th, 2023 at 9:35am CST by Ben Levine

Antonio Brown is planning to make his debut today for an arena football league, but if his agent is to be believed, it won’t be long until the wideout is taking the field for an NFL squad. Agent JR Rickert told Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports that Brown is generating interest around the league.

“He is exploring the right fit,” his agent said earlier this week. Rickert also described the interest as “genuine.”

Brown, of course, hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since Week 17 of the 2021 season, when he famously stormed off the field following an argument with Buccaneers coaches. The receiver later claimed that the Buccaneers were trying to cover up an ankle injury that would ultimately require surgery. Since then, Brown has had a number of troubling incidents, including a pair of arrest warrants. He remained unsigned through the 2022 season.

Those off-field issues would likely result in an NFL suspension, and considering his tumultuous tenure in Tampa Bay, it wouldn’t be surprising if NFL teams figure Brown isn’t worth the trouble. The former All-Pro receiver hasn’t put together top-end production since the 2018 campaign, although when he last saw the field in 2021, his 77.9 yards per game marked his highest average in years. Brown ultimately finished that campaign with 42 catches for 545 yards and four touchdowns in seven games (three starts).

Earlier this offseason, Brown became the majority owner of the Albany Empire of the National Arena League team. Following that purchase, Brown made it clear that he was retiring from the NFL, but he later reversed course and teased a potential return. Brown also surprisingly reported to an Albany Empire practice this week and indicated that he’ll be playing this weekend.

That NAL appearance isn’t only intended to bump interest in the team and league, per Rickert. It’s also going to give scouts an opportunity to see what Brown has in the tank.

“I think that he is a multi-talented individual who does everything at a high level,” Rickert said, “and whatever he commits to, he goes all in.”

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