With minicamps having concluded, the NFL calendar is set to slow down before training camps open in July. There are still a number of storylines to keep track of around the league, though. In case you missed anything from the past week, here’s a quick recap:
- Jets Fear ACL Tear For Clark: The Jets’ secondary took a blow when safety Chuck Clark suffered a knee injury which is feared to be an ACL tear. New York paid a modest price to trade for the 28-year-old this offseason since his starting days with the Ravens appeared to be numbered. A first-team spot awaited him with the Jets, however, and Clark was thus expected to be a key figure on the team’s defense, a unit facing signficant expectations this season. Given what should be a lengthy absence, the Jets reacted by signing Adrian Amos, another veteran who will provide them with an experienced contributor on the backend. For Clark, attention will turn to his return timeline and the beginning of the rehab process from the first major injury of his career.
- Supplemental Draft To Return: For the first time since 2019, the NFL will conduct a supplemental draft. The event will take place July 11, and provide players deemed ineligible for the regular entry draft with an avenue to joining the league. In recent years in particular, few notable names have been selected in the summer draft, but several high-end players have taken this route over the course of its history. Only one player has been deemed eligible for the 2023 supplemental draft so far, but it will be interesting to watch how many others become available and how much interest they generate amongst NFL teams still eyeing additions to their rosters.
- Chiefs, Jones In Extension Talks: One of the most signficant developments of the 2023 offseason has been the eruption in value for high-end defensive tackles. Several big-ticket extensions have been signed already, and another could be coming soon for Chris Jones. The four-time Pro Bowler is aiming for a new deal which will move him into second in the pecking order at the position (behind only Aaron Donald), something he can make a legitimate claim for given his continued production. The 28-year-old earned an All-Pro nod in 2022 and was a central part in Kansas City’s latest Super Bowl win. General manager Brett Veach indicated no timeline is in place for an extension, but he expressed optimism that a deal will get done allowing Jones to remain in Kansas City as one of the league’s highest-paid defenders.
- Mutual Interest Between Hopkins, Patriots? DeAndre Hopkins concluded his two-day visit with the Patriots without signing a contract, but one appears to remain very much in play. New England hosted the 31-year-old wideout not long after Tennessee did the same, and mutual interest reportedly exists between player and team in the Patriots’ case. Hopkins would reunite with offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien in the event he inked a deal with the AFC East outfit, something which would lead to questions about their relationship after the latter dealt him away from the Texans in 2020. Doubts have been quelled on that front, though, and Hopkins would represent a signficant addition to New England’s WR room. He is in no hurry to sign, so it may take several days or weeks to learn if the recruiting pitch on the part of current Patriots pays off.
- Texans Extend Collins: Houston has once again made a multi-year commitment to Maliek Collins, having inked the veteran defensive tackle to another two-year extension. This latest pact contains an impressive $20MM in guranteed money, along with a notable raise in terms of annual compensation compared to his previous pact. The 28-year-old has been a full-time starter during his two seasons in Houston, racking up six sacks and 18 tackles for loss during that span. He will once again be depended upon as a central figure in a Texans defensive front which is expected to take a step forward in 2023 under new head coach DeMeco Ryans. Continued strong play against the pass in particular could also put Collins in line for another sizeable contract down the road.