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Month: January 2025

Austin Ekeler Addresses Chargers Contract, RB Market

June 16th, 2023 at 7:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the main storylines surrounding the Chargers came to a close when Austin Ekeler agreed to a new contract. The running back’s adjusted pact includes $1.75MM in new incentives, while keeping him on track for free agency next March.

Ekeler has been vocal recently about his desire for a raise putting him in line with the league’s higher-paid backs. His production on the ground and in the passing game point to his two-way ability and thus his value to any number of suitors on the open market. Given his age (28) and position, however, much remains to be seen regarding his earning power in 2024.

“I understand I have one more year that I’m obligated to be here. I wanted to go poke around to see if there was any other value,” Ekeler said, via USA Today’s Tyler Dragon. “If not, come back and have my last year and do what I can do here.”

The former UDFA requested a trade at the start of the league year as he searched for a raise from the $6.25MM he is due in base salary in 2023. With Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard having been franchise tagged, though, the free agent market at the RB spot was underwhelming. The position has been devalued over time, something which played a large part in little interest developing on the trade front for Ekeler before his new Chargers deal was put in place.

“What’s been happening with the atmosphere around the running back market has been pretty tough,” Ekeler admitted. “I am thankful for the way it played out. The Chargers did give me something in the middle, some type of incentive. I am appreciative of that because they didn’t have to do that. I understand there’s a business side to all of this. But I wouldn’t be doing myself service if I wasn’t going and trying to find more value while I can.”

Ekeler will once again be a focal point of the offense in Los Angeles this season, and he will aim to lead the league in touchdowns for a third straight season. His new incentives are directly tied to yardage and touchdown totals, and hitting them will boost his value on the open market. How much his financial stock changes in the near future will be worth watching over the course of the campaign.

T Tristan Wirfs, S Antoine Winfield Jr. Agree To Buccaneers Restructures

June 16th, 2023 at 6:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

As has been the case for much of the 2023 offseason, the Buccaneers finished minicamp near the bottom of the league in cap space. A pair of moves made this week will give them some financial breathing space, however.

Tampa Bay restructured the contracts of left tackle Tristan Wirfs and safety Antoine Winfield Jr., as noted by Greg Auman of FOX Sports (Twitter link). The team added three void years to the former’s contract, along with four for the latter. In all, the pair were scheduled to make $5.8MM in salary this season, but their cap hits will come down as a result of this move.

Both Wirfs and Winfield are still on their rookie contracts, making it something of a rarity that they have seen their deals re-worked. Both figure to be mainstays on the team for years to come, however, having started every game they have played in during their first three years in the league. Winfield will be eligible for free agency next March, but Wirfs is already on the books for 2024 since Tampa Bay made the expected decision of picking up his fifth-year option.

The latter will look to transition to left tackle this season, after spending his first three years on the right side. Expectations will be high for Wirfs, who has earned a Pro Bowl and All-Pro nod (one first-team, one second-team) in each of the past two campaigns. Veteran Donovan Smith was one of several departures this offseason, after he was released in a cost-cutting move. A successful year on the blindside for Wirfs would go a long way toward earning him a sizeable raise on his next deal.

Winfield, meanwhile, is again in line for a central role in the Buccaneers’ defensive play in 2023. The 24-year-old has a Pro Bowl invitation to his name, and has emerged as a highly productive player against the run and pass. Tampa Bay lost Keanu Neal in free agency while adding former Seahawk Ryan Neal; veteran Logan Ryan remains unsigned. The retention of cornerback Jamel Dean will give the team continuity in the secondary, though, and allow Winfield the opportunity to play his way into a multi-year extension.

Second contracts for both Wirfs and Winfield will present the Buccaneers with a new financial challenge, having already navigated the 2023 offseason with more than $75MM in dead cap charges to overcome. Long-term commitments to those two will no doubt be a priority down the road, but the team’s outlook for the immediate future has been improved.

Latest On Ravens, RB J.K. Dobbins

June 16th, 2023 at 3:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

J.K. Dobbins was not one of the players around the league who skipped mandatory minicamp this past week, but his situation is nevertheless a key talking point at the moment. The Ravens running back’s contract status appears to be an issue as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.

Dobbins has shown plenty of potential when on the field, but a major knee injury suffered in August 2021 has limited the occasions on which he has been available. The 24-year-old figures to find himself atop the depth chart this season, after the Ravens elected not to add to their backfield (one which also includes Gus Edwards and Justice Hill). The matter of working out a new contract is weighing on Dobbins, however.

“The business side is very hard. It’s very different,” he said during an interview with WJZ-TV. “You saw with [quarterback] Lamar [Jackson]… It’s never just roses and daisies. It can be hard at times and it’s business though” (h/t ESPN’s Jamison Hensley).

With an average of 5.9 yards per carry during his career (albeit one which has been limited to 26 combined regular and postseason games), Dobbins could be in line for a signficant raise in the near future. The Ravens are open to the idea of extending him, and their decision not to add to their backfield in free agency or the draft speaks to their confidence in his ability to remain highly efficient over the course of a full campaign. The Ohio State product was not a participant in practice during minicamp, however.

Head coach John Harbaugh indicated that he expected Dobbins to be available for team drills, but added that a recovery from a reported soft-tissue ailment should take place in time for training camp. New offensive coordinator Todd Monken added his desire to see him participate in minicamp, along optimism for when Dobbins is back on the field, though the latter declined to confirm or deny that he is currently injured during his interview.

Dobbins has publicly expressed frustration with his lack of usage as a true lead back in the past, something which no doubt serves as a potential obstacle to team and player reaching agreement on an extension. His value will also be affected by this year’s free agent market, one which has seen the RB position as a whole continue to be devalued. In any case, Dobbins is eyeing a pact allowing him to remain with the Ravens for the foreseeable future.

“So, the thing I can say is – I would love to be a Baltimore Raven for the rest of my career,” he said. “I would love to because I love the city, I love the people. It feels like family here. It feels like my second home. And I hope that happens.”

Raiders Sign CB Jakorian Bennett, Complete Draft Class Signings

June 16th, 2023 at 2:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the break between minicamp and training camp now upon them, the Raiders have become the latest team to finish the business of signing all members of their rookie class. Fourth-round cornerback Jakorian Bennett has agreed to terms on his first, four-year, NFL deal, per a team announcement.

Bennett had a three-year career at Maryland, where he teamed with fellow corner Deonte Banks to great effect. The latter drew signficant acclaim during his final season in particular, and was unsurprisingly a first-round selection in April. The former needed to wait much longer to hear his name called, but he will nevertheless enter the NFL with a track record of production as well.

Bennett led the Terrapins in interceptions with three in 2021, and he added 11 pass deflections along the way. That ball production continued into last season, when he notched a pair of picks and again complied 11 PBUs. The Mobile, Alabama native added a blocked field goal to his statline and his overall reviews for being a high-energy player capable of contributing both on defense and special teams.

At 5-11, Bennett does not possess the length many teams seek in a shutdown outside corner, but he should have a path to at least a rotational role early in his career. He joins a Raiders secondary which struggled mightily in 2022, ranking 29th in the NFL against the pass and registering only six interceptions. The team’s cornerback setup has changed as a result, with Brandon Facyson, Duke Shelly and David Long being added in free agency. Free agent Marcus Peters remains unsigned at this point, but a deal with Las Vegas appears to be on the horizon. The latter would add a starter at the CB spot for 2023, but Bennett should make an impact over the course of his Raiders tenure.

Here is the complete breakdown of Vegas’ 2023 draft class:

Round 1, No. 7: Tyree Wilson, LB (Texas Tech) (signed)
Round 2, No. 35 (from Colts): Michael Mayer, TE (Notre Dame) (signed)
Round 3, No. 70: Byron Young, DT (Tennessee) (signed)
Round 3, No. 100 (from Chiefs through Giants): Tre Tucker, WR (Cincinnati) (signed)
Round 4, No. 104 (from Texans): Jakorian Bennett, CB (Maryland) (signed)
Round 4, No. 135 (from Patriots): Aidan O’Connell, QB (Purdue) (signed)
Round 5, No. 170 (from Packers through Jets): Christopher Smith, S (Georgia) (signed)
Round 6, No. 203 (from Texans through Giants): Amari Burney, LB (Florida) (signed)
Round 7, No. 231 (from Patriots): Nesta Jade Silvera, DT (Arizona State) (signed)

Commanders’ Montez Sweat Extension Plans On Hold

June 16th, 2023 at 1:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both Montez Sweat and Chase Young are going into contract years, thanks to Washington declining the latter’s fifth-year option. While the the Commanders’ defensive line commitments might dictate an either/or situation regarding an extension, they might not need to see more from Sweat before beginning extension talks.

The team would like to extend Sweat, John Keim of ESPN.com notes, but the ownership situation is pausing the talks. We heard of the ownership-driven halt of big-picture decisions earlier this month, and while Ron Rivera said speaking to Dan Snyder remains an option, the fourth-year Washington HC now indicates the Commanders’ football ops heads will need to clear a move like this with new ownership expected to come in.

Josh Harris has agreed to purchase the Commanders for a record-setting $6.05 billion, but with the 76ers and Devils owner’s debt and number of minority partners in his ownership group has led to a longer vetting process from the NFL. That said, this is moving toward a ratification — either in July or August. By that point, it looks to be Harris needing to offer input on the Sweat front.

“We can’t go on until we get a chance to explain to them exactly what our thoughts and ideas are and whether they agree or disagree,” Rivera said, via Keim.

Drafted in the 2019 first round to play alongside Ryan Kerrigan, Sweat arrived in Washington based more on positional need. The 2020 No. 2 overall pick, Young was a value-based choice after a woeful 2019 season. While Young earned Defensive Rookie of the Year acclaim, he has not matched that level of play since. The ACL and patellar tendon tears Young suffered in November 2021 played the lead role in the Commanders passing on his fifth-year option. During this period, Sweat served as the team’s top edge rusher. A year before declining Young’s fifth-year option, the team picked up Sweat’s $11.6MM Year 5 guarantee.

Never a Pro Bowler, Sweat has still racked up 29 sacks and eight forced fumbles during his four-year career. Perhaps not soaring toward a top-market extension, Sweat is in the front office’s plans — despite having been a Bruce Allen-era draft choice. Sweat compiled a career-high 28 quarterback hits last season, though Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen have respectively led the team in sacks over the past two years. Each defensive tackle is also signed to a big-ticket extension, with Payne signing a $22.5MM-per-year deal shortly after being franchise-tagged. Jonathan Allen’s $18MM-AAV pact remains in the top 10 among D-tackles.

Washington, however, is hoping to build around Sam Howell‘s rookie contract. It cannot be assumed the 2022 fifth-round pick will be the answer, but the team does not currently have a franchise-QB salary on its books. That opens the door for more payments elsewhere, and the Commanders are projected — nine months out, at least — to carry more than $83MM in 2024 cap space. That could be used for a Sweat extension and potential Young franchise tag, depending on how the ex-Ohio State phenom looks this season.

Rivera and Co. opting for a Sweat extension over Young would be interesting, since Allen, Payne and Sweat were each draft picks by the previous regime. But the current Commanders regime is prepared to discuss terms with Sweat’s camp. It just looks like Harris will eventually need to greenlight those discussions.

Latest On Cowboys’ CB Situation

June 16th, 2023 at 1:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys finished last season without two veteran cornerbacks, losing Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown to major injuries. Brown’s contract expired, and the seven-year vet is a free agent. Lewis remains on the team but is not a lock to be ready for the season.

Lewis was told he suffered a severe Lisfranc fracture, per the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore, and he acknowledged the battle will be avoiding the reserve/PUP list. That designation would sideline him for four games to start the season. But Lewis is a near-certainty to begin training camp on the shelf. With Lewis ticketed for the active/PUP list next month, Cowboys executive VP Stephen Jones said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) a cornerback addition will probably be considered.

Jones noted that such a move might be for depth purposes, and the Cowboys already made their splashy corner addition in March. They sent a 2023 fifth-round pick to the Colts for Stephon Gilmore. The former Defensive Player of the Year will join Trevon Diggs as Dallas’ outside cornerbacks. Lewis may become a factor in the slot again, but for the time being, the former third-round pick is not in the picture.

Lewis’ primary replacement following his October injury, DaRon Bland, worked in the slot at minicamp. After beginning last season as a backup and special-teamer, Bland started eight games and graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 48 overall corner. Bland intercepted four passes in the Cowboys’ final six games and played every defensive snap for the team in the playoffs. That grade aside, the 6-foot-2 corner still allowed five touchdown passes as the closest defender in coverage.

The Cowboys are not planning to reduce Bland’s role, with Machota noting he is expected to be a top-three corner alongside Diggs and Gilmore to start his sophomore NFL slate (subscription required). This plan extending into the regular season stands to complicate matters for Lewis and Kelvin Joseph. The team tried the former second-rounder in the slot during its offseason program. Despite Joseph’s draft pedigree, he has not carved out much of a role in Dallas. He has played 330 defensive snaps in 26 career games. Bland looks to be firmly ahead of the former No. 44 overall pick exiting minicamp.

Lewis, who will turn 28 later this summer, is entering the final season of a three-year, $13.5MM deal. The 43-game starter is due a $4.5MM base salary and counts $5.9MM against the Cowboys’ cap. The Cowboys drafted a corner — Eric Scott Jr. — in the sixth round and still have 2021 third-rounder Nahshon Wright on the roster. Lewis, who was on crutches during part of the spring, has been running since May, per Moore. In order to position himself for a notable third contract, the Michigan product will need to show he has recovered from this injury this season.

NFC South Notes: White, Falcons, Saints

June 16th, 2023 at 11:58am CST by Sam Robinson

Weeks after making a trade request, Devin White showed for Buccaneers minicamp this week. This was the expected outcome, but the talented linebacker did not participate. Still, Todd Bowles did not refer to this as a hold-in measure. The second-year Tampa Bay HC said (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine) the team wanted to gauge White’s readiness, though it is unclear if the former top-five pick is dealing with a specific injury. Bowles said he expects White to be ready to go for training camp. Though, that could be when a hold-in effort takes place in earnest. White, who avoided nearly $100K in fines by reporting to minicamp, is tied to an $11.7MM fifth-year option salary. Although White wants top-five ILB money and has not yet seen the Bucs show interest in signing off on such an extension, team brass said multiple times this offseason no trade desire exists on the organization’s part.

Here is the latest from the NFC South:

  • It appears the Falcons‘ big-ticket Jessie Bates acquisition will displace Jaylinn Hawkins. After the former fourth-round pick started 16 games last season, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter notes it will likely be Bates teaming with Richie Grant — a 17-game starter in 2022 — this year. Pro Football Focus’ No. 66 safety last season, Hawkins may factor in when the team uses three-safety looks. But a contract-year demotion looks set to commence.
  • Falcons defensive tackle Ta’Quon Graham missed last season’s final seven games due a full MCL tear, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets. After not participating in OTAs, the third-year defender was back on the field at minicamp. Like Hawkins, Graham might see the Falcons’ free agency moves affect his role. The team signed David Onyemata and Calais Campbell, and Eddie Goldman is attempting to return after a 2022 retirement call. Goldman, however, did not work with the team during minicamp.
  • Trevor Penning already underwent surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury sustained in Week 18. While the Saints tackle is expected to be ready for training camp, NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan notes he is undergoing a second procedure Friday to remove hardware from the repaired foot. Penning started just one game as a rookie, seeing another injury — a torn foot ligament — delay his NFL debut by nearly three months. But the 2022 first-round pick is on track to be New Orleans’ Week 1 left tackle starter this year. James Hurst, the team’s primary blind-sider last season, shared first-team duties with third-year blocker Landon Young at minicamp.
  • After spending the past two seasons as a Saints staffer, Sterling Moore will not be with the team going forward. The Saints dismissed the former cornerback from their staff, NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill tweets. Moore worked as New Orleans’ assistant DBs coach last season. Moore, 33, started 12 games for the Saints in 2016 and played two seasons with the team. The Saints hired a new defensive coordinator this offseason — Joe Woods — but it is unclear if that move will directly lead to Moore’s summer exit.
  • The Saints made an addition to their scouting department recently, with InsidetheLeague.com’s Neil Stratton relaying (via Twitter) the team hired former Louisiana Tech staffer Ziad Qubti as their college scouting coordinator. This will be Qubti’s first NFL gig.

Commanders Looking Into RB Kareem Hunt

June 16th, 2023 at 9:34am CST by Sam Robinson

Despite coming up in steady trade rumors ahead of last year’s deadline, Kareem Hunt has not been closely tied to teams during a three-month free agency stay. That has since changed.

The Commanders are looking into the former rushing champion, per CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson. Washington has made preliminary inquiries into Hunt, who recently played out his second Browns contract (Twitter link).

[RELATED: Browns Not Looking To Bring Back Hunt]

A clear Commanders-Hunt connection exists, with new OC Eric Bieniemy having been the former third-rounder’s position coach when the Chiefs drafted him in 2017. Prior to spending five seasons as Kansas City’s OC, Bieniemy oversaw Hunt’s rookie-year surge as RBs coach, helping him to the ’17 rushing title. Hunt, who won that crown with 1,327 yards, soared to a stronger start in 2018; his career path changed after a video showed him assaulting a woman at a Cleveland hotel.

While Hunt did not match his Chiefs showing with the Browns, he formed one of the league’s top backfield duos of this era by playing alongside Nick Chubb. Following Hunt’s eight-game suspension to start the 2019 season, Hunt worked as a 1-B option behind Cleveland’s perennial Pro Bowl starter. The Browns used Hunt more in the passing game, though he only topped 500 rushing yards in one of his Cleveland seasons (2020, with 841).

Prior to that 2020 season, the Browns gave Hunt a two-year, $13MM deal. That deal checked in much lower than Chubb’s (three years, $36.6MM) and Hunt’s top peers from the 2017 draft class. With the likes of James Conner, Leonard Fournette and Chase Edmonds passing Hunt in running back AAV, the then-Browns back requested a trade last year. As they looked to retain talent around Deshaun Watson, the Browns held off on dealing Hunt. The Eagles and Jets checked on the veteran at the deadline, but the Browns again held onto their talented backup.

Washington returns its Brian Robinson–Antonio Gibson backfield tandem, with the latter going into a contract year. Ron Rivera and GM Martin Mayhew are believed to be prioritizing a power run game, with rumblings of disagreements on this front with since-ousted OC Scott Turner coming out in January. The Commanders already ranked fourth in carries last season (538), but with the team now preparing to give the untested Sam Howell a legitimate starter opportunity, providing backfield support would make sense. The team did, however, use a sixth-round pick on a back (Kentucky’s Chris Rodriguez).

At this juncture, Hunt will have a hard time even matching that $6.5MM-AAV accord he landed in Cleveland. The RB market did not produce a single $6.5MM-per-year deal this offseason, and teams’ free agency budgets are obviously depleted by June. Hunt also averaged just 3.8 yards per carry last season — by far a career-worst mark. Neither Robinson nor Gibson topped 4.0 per tote, either, but Hunt’s disappointing contract year undoubtedly led to teams looking elsewhere earlier this offseason.

Latest On DeAndre Hopkins, Patriots

June 15th, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Ben Levine

DeAndre Hopkins‘ visit with the Patriots has come to an end, and it sounds like there’s serious interest from both sides. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that there’s “definitely intrigue from player and team” following the meeting. Meanwhile, Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets that the Patriots are “making a push” for the free agent wideout. Hopkins posted about the visit on Instagram, posting a picture of himself and Matt Judon with the caption “La Familia” (per ESPN’s Mike Reiss).

It sounds like there’s some building optimism towards a deal. Howe notes that while Hopkins “has departed Gillette Stadium,” he’s still remaining local. There was a report earlier this week that Hopkins could consider additional visits following his scheduled stops in Tennessee and New England. However, no definitive additional suitors have emerged since that time, so Hopkins’ choice may come down to the Titans and Patriots.

Fowler previously reported that Hopkins has been in no rush to sign with a team and could wait until closer to training camp to ink a deal (via Reiss). The Patriots are also set to be off for a month after finishing their offseason program tomorrow.

Hopkins would be an intriguing addition to a receivers corps that lacks a clear number one WR. The Patriots let Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor walk this offseason, adding receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki to a grouping of targets that also includes DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton, and tight end Hunter Henry.

While Hopkins will be entering his age-31 season in 2023, he’d still provide more upside than any of the team’s current options. The veteran missed a chunk of games due to suspension in 2022, but he still managed to finish the year with 64 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns. His 79.7 yards per game was a massive improvement from his 2021 campaign (57.2 ypg), and his 2022 average would have led the Patriots by a significant margin.

While a Hopkins signing could come at the expense of one of the team’s current wideouts, it’d still be a massive addition in what will be a crucial year for Mac Jones. The quarterback flashed his first-round pedigree during his rookie campaign, but after the Patriots replaced Josh McDaniels with former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia (plus a sprinkle of former ST coordinator Joe Judge), Jones took a step back in 2022. The Patriots will have to make a decision on the QB’s fifth-year option following the 2023 season, so it’s crucial that the organization puts him in a position to succeed before making the commitment.

“I think DeAndre is a great player. You watch his film from college all the way through the NFL, he’s done a great job. So obviously we’d love to have him, but we do have a great group of guys,” Jones said earlier this week (via Reiss).

“I’ve been really pleased with the playmakers we have on the team; we’ve come out here and really bought into the system. We have a good group and I feel like we need to keep growing together and whoever is in that room, we’re going to try to dominate together.”

While considering the merits of adding Hopkins to their team, the Patriots will also have to consider that they haven’t gotten an extended look at their major FA acquisition. Per Mike Giardi (on Twitter), Smith-Schuster has been dealing with “physical ailments” throughout minicamp and has spoken to “how challenging this playbook is to learn.” The learning curve is one thing, but Giardi notes that the injuries are especially concerning since the Chiefs were forced to manage the veteran for the second half of last season. The Patriots will be counting on Smith-Schuster to replace some of the production lost when Meyers left for Las Vegas, and if there’s any doubt about his availability for all 17 games, there might be some added urgency to add to the depth chart.

Kirk Cousins Not Expecting Vikings Extension Talks Before 2024 Offseason

June 15th, 2023 at 9:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings did not acquire an obvious heir apparent at quarterback this offseason, drafting Jaren Hall in the fifth round. But they did not work out a third extension with Kirk Cousins, either, creating uncertainty at one of the league’s most consistent quarterback positions.

Cousins has not missed a game due to injury as a Viking and has been Minnesota’s starting QB for five seasons. The Vikings have not seen such stability here since before Daunte Culpepper‘s 2005 ACL tear, when the former first-round pick operated as Minnesota’s starter from 2000-04. But Cousins is going into a contract year and, thanks to how his Washington tenure ended, the Vikes have limited options ahead of the 2024 league year.

Because Washington franchise-tagged Cousins twice, he would be eligible for a 144% raise from his 2023 terms. No player as been franchise-tagged for a third time since the Jaguars cuffed safety Donovin Darius from 2003-05, with the league since making it disadvantageous to tag a player on three occasions. While Cousins’ cap number is just $20.25MM, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes the third-tag rule is believed to apply to his pre-restructuring cap number ($36.25MM). That would create a $52.2MM 2024 tag. Absent another extension before the ’24 legal tampering period, Cousins would be free to speak to other teams, putting the onus on the Vikings to hammer out a solution.

Cousins has said he wants to stay in Minnesota, and he has signed two extensions — the first in 2020, the second last year — since the market-accelerating $84MM fully guaranteed contract that brought him to the Twin Cities in 2018. The Vikings are not ruling out another Cousins contract, but the 12th-year passer is not expecting the Vikings to go through extension talks.

“I think we’ll probably talk about the contract next March,” Cousins said, via ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert. “Until then, [we’ll] just focus on this season and the job to do right now.”

Although Cousins is going into his age-35 season, he still could wield some leverage — a tool he has used effectively throughout his career. Washington tagged Cousins in 2016 and 2017, and his path has been mentioned when other QBs — like Dak Prescott and Lamar Jackson — take unorthodox routes toward extensions. Void years are present on Cousins’ deal, helping reduce his 2023 cap hit to that $20.25MM number, meaning the Vikings would be on the hook for a $28.5MM in dead money if they do not extend their QB1 before the start of the ’24 league year. This will increase Cousins’ leverage and, in the event the Vikings want to go in another direction, apply pressure on the team to find a successor in 2024.

The Vikings attempted to trade up for Justin Fields in 2021 but have not been proactive at quarterback during Kwesi Adofo-Mensah‘s GM tenure. Cousins remains in place as the team’s unquestioned starter, and the team gave him a second first-round wide receiver — Jordan Addison — to pair with superstar Justin Jefferson.

While the Buccaneers have Baker Mayfield tied to a one-year deal, Kyle Trask is also an option to start for Tampa Bay. Ryan Tannehill is entering the final year of his contract, but the Titans traded up for Will Levis in Round 2. Cousins is the only other starting quarterback entering a walk year, placing the Vikings in their own boat here.

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