HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Tyson Alualu Aiming For New Steelers Deal

June 12th, 2023 at 11:05am CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers have made a number of moves on the defensive line this offseason, which has left Tyson Alualu on the open market into June. The veteran aims to play in 2023, and his preference would be another campaign spent in Pittsburgh.

During an appearance on The Sick Podcast, the 36-year-old spoke about his plans for the upcoming season. He acknowledged that little is known with respect to his immediate future since he remains unsigned, but his approach to the offseason has not been different from those of years past. Another Steelers contract is his target, though a move elsewhere could still be in the cards.

“I’m preparing like I will play this season,” Alualu said. “I can’t tell where it’s gonna be. But in a perfect world, I would love to be back with the Steelers and finish here. But I’ve been training and it felt normal.”

The former top-10 pick spent the first seven years of his career in Jacksonville, starting 87 of 110 contests with the Jaguars. That was followed by a series of two-year deals with the Steelers, including one in 2021 which came after he appeared to have a return to Duval County in place. Alualu was limited to two games that year, but he returned to full health last season and suited up for all 17 contests.

The Cal alum saw his snap share fall to a career-low 27%, however, and he received a poor evaluation from PFF in run defense in particular, something which had traditionally been a strong suit. The Steelers have since made a number of decisions along their defensive front – including a new, three-year deal for Larry Ogunjobi – which do not include Alualu.

Pittsburgh has in-house option Montravius Adams as a familiar face at the defensive tackle spot. The team also signed Armon Watts and Breiden Fehoko in free agency, and added Keeanu Benton in the second round of this year’s draft. The Steelers currently have over $15.7MM in cap space, so they could easily afford a modest deal for Alualu if they reciprocated his desire to play at least one more year in Pittsburgh. If that is not the case, though, it will be worth monitoring if interest from other teams picks up in the summer.

Patriots To Host OL D.J. Fluker

June 12th, 2023 at 9:49am CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots already have one high-profile free agent visit scheduled for this week, but DeAndre Hopkins is not the only veteran the team will take a look at. New England is hosting offensive lineman D.J. Fluker on Monday, per Jordan Schultz of the Score (Twitter link).

The Patriots have a number of veteran options available at the tackle spot, with Trent Brown and free agent additions Riley Reiff and Calvin Anderson in place. Each of those three have experience at both the left and right tackle spots, so much is yet to be determined with respect to where they will line up this season and how the pecking order shakes out.

Fluker could factor into New England’s tackle competition if he were to land a roster spot in time for training camp. The 32-year-old last played in 2020, but has made a push to return to NFL action this offseason; Schultz notes that Fluker dropped 40 pounds recently, which has no doubt played a part in the interest he has received on the free agent market. The Eagles hosted him earlier this offseason.

The former first-rounder put up fairly consistent performances in terms of PFF evaluation throughout his career. Fluker bounced around after the conclusion of his rookie contract, though, spending time with the Giants, Seahawks, Ravens, Dolphins, Raiders and Jaguars. New England would represent another team on that list, but their uncertainty up front could yield competition for playing time.

The Patriots saw Isaiah Wynn depart in free agency, leaving either an opening on the blindside or at the RT spot if Brown remains on the left side, where he was in 2022. Fluker could look to play his way into at least a backup role in New England if today’s workout goes well, as he looks to find a footing in the NFL once again and the Patriots aim to sort out their best pairing at tackle for the season.

RB A.J. Dillon Hopes To Remain With Packers

June 12th, 2023 at 8:52am CST by Adam La Rose

Many thought the 2023 offseason would be one in which the Packers altered their running back depth chart, but the team will maintain the status quo in that regard heading into the season. That will leave A.J. Dillon in a backup role, but he is not looking to play his way out of Green Bay this year.

The 25-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie contract, one which has proven to be a highly valuable one for the Packers over the past two campaigns in particular. Dillon had a breakout season in 2021 with 1,116 scrimmage yards and seven total touchdowns, seemingly leaving the door open to his ascension to a starting role ahead of Aaron Jones in 2022 or ’23. However, the the pair split snaps and carries once again last season, with Dillon’s yardage and efficiency totals regressing.

Jones agreed to take a $5MM pay cut this offseason, ensuring that he will remain in Green Bay for at least one more year. That could complicate Dillon’s efforts to take a step forward in production ahead of his first foray into free agency, but he is not concerned with boosting his value as much as he is eyeing a deal allowing him to remain with the Packers for the long term.

“I love Green Bay,” the former second-rounder said, via Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. “Green Bay knows that. I love the Packers. The Packers know that. I’d play here until I can’t run anymore. I’ll pick up long snapper or whatever it is when I start slowing down. But there’s only so much I can control.”

Jones has two more years on his contract, but at age 28 (and with little in the way of experienced depth options at the RB spot) it would come as little surprise if the Packers were to shift their attention towards Dillon as their starter of the future. At a minimum, an extension for the latter would allow the team to maintain what has been an effective tandem in the backfield while transitioning to Jordan Love at quarterback. Dillon stated that he intends to “play free and have fun” after a disappointing 2022 campaign, something which could earn him a considerable raise from the Packers or another team.

“And how ever that happens – whether it’s 1,000 yards, 2,000 yards, 100 yards – so be it,” he added. “I’m going to have fun and enjoy all the time I have here. And hopefully, we’re back here next year.”

Saquon Barkley To Skip Giants’ Minicamp

June 11th, 2023 at 9:35pm CST by Ely Allen

At the conclusion of his Youth Football Camp in Jersey City today, Giants running back Saquon Barkley confirmed that he will not be attending the team’s mandatory minicamp this week, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Barkley’s time away from the Giants continues as he still hasn’t signed his franchise tender.

New York chose Barkley to franchise tag at the last second but claimed that it had full intentions of extending the veteran running back’s contract, with the tag serving as a backup plan in case negotiations failed. Barkley made it clear very early that he had no intention of signing his franchise tender before the team’s offseason program. This was news but nothing groundbreaking, considering he wouldn’t incur any fines for skipping the voluntary offseason workouts.

Waiting to sign franchise tenders is nothing new, as the tag is often viewed as a last-ditch option to retain a player if an extension can’t be reached. Waiting to sign also protects the tagged player from receiving fines for holding out from minicamp. A player like Tony Pollard, who signed his franchise tender back in March, would be subject to fines for missing minicamp, while Barkley can continue to hold out without penalty until the regular season begins, like Le’Veon Bell did years ago.

Speaking of Bell, Barkley hasn’t ruled out such a holdout. He seems intent on pushing the Giants at least until the last second. When asked about the potential of playing the season out on the franchise tag, he refused to acknowledge that he’s even considered it, telling the media he “would make those decisions or start thinking about that” when the deadline comes mid-July, according to Andrew Crane of the New York Post.

He didn’t nearly seem optimistic that things would be handled by July 17. According to another report by Crane, when asked if the deal would be handled by then, he took a long pause before replying, “I don’t know really. I don’t know.” In fact, he even said that sitting out the 2023 NFL season was an option he could use as “a card (he) could play,” according to Pat Leonard of New York Daily News. It has become clear that this situation has the potential to turn ugly in New York as the two sides continue to negotiate at an impasse.

Barkley’s statement today wasn’t necessarily an announcement of an incoming holdout, though. It seemed to be more of an attempt to state his side of the story. He made sure to inform that he had no intention of resetting the running back market. He has reportedly turned down deals with annual average values of $12.5MM and $13MM. Only Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey have contracts averaging more per year, but they are making $15MM and $16.02MM, respectively.

Barkley also used the media session as an opportunity to air some of his frustrations about the situation. He strongly implied that he felt disrespected by the organization throughout the contract standoff. He claimed that the team’s front office had been “misleading” with “untruthful” leaks that “make (him) look like (he’s) greedy.” He didn’t name general manager Joe Schoen, specifically, but Schoen was the one who publicly made known the above offers that were rejected.

Barkley has asserted that his feelings weren’t hurt by being tagged. He even understands that, in the harsh business world of the NFL, the Giants have all the leverage in negotiating. But the way the team’s front office has handled the situation seems to be rubbing him the wrong way. There doesn’t appear to be any irreparable damage, though. Much like the Lamar Jackson situation, it seems Barkley has been able to separate his business with the front office from the relationships with his teammates and coaches.

It’s unclear how much longer this will go on, but we now know it won’t be over by the opening of minicamp. Barkley is firmly standing his ground for what he feels he deserves. Whether or not that will preclude him from playing in the 2023 NFL season has yet to be determined.

Broncos Unlikely To Sign Dalvin Cook

June 11th, 2023 at 9:30pm CST by Rory Parks

The Broncos’ running back depth chart is presently topped by Javonte Williams, who tore his ACL in October, and career second fiddle Samaje Perine. Given that, and given GM George Paton‘s Vikings ties, Denver has been considered a logical landing spot for four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook, who was released by Minnesota several days ago.

Mike Klis of 9News.com has thrown some cold water on those rumors, reporting that the Broncos “do not appear to be in on” Cook. Before Cook’s release became official, Klis reported that Denver was highly unlikely to swing an eleventh-hour trade for him, and financial considerations certainly played a part in that decision. Had the Broncos acquired Cook via trade, they would have been on the hook for his $10.4MM salary in 2023, as Cook had no desire to work out a restructure as part of a trade. And the Vikings, who clearly cut Cook for cap reasons, may not have been inclined to eat much salary to facilitate a swap.

Even though Cook is now on the free agent market, money remains a key issue. Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (via Twitter), Cook still wants to make close to the $10.4MM salary he was due to earn with the Vikings, and multiple reporters (including Jackson) have suggested that he is willing to be patient in his efforts to secure that payout. At present, the Broncos only have about $6MM of cap space.

Of course, Denver could create the necessary salary cap room if it really wanted to, but on-field factors are also influencing the club’s decision to stay away from Cook. Williams participated in OTAs, and though he has yet to take part in 11-on-11 drills, Klis estimates that the third-year pro has a better than 50-50 chance to start the regular season opener. Williams clearly has RB1 ability, and even if he is not fully healthy for the start of the 2023 campaign, it does not make sense to sign Cook to a lucrative contract and not have a spot for Williams when he is ready to return to the field.

Klis does believe that the Broncos could seek to add another player with starting experience to its running back room, as the options behind Williams and Perine — Tony Jones, Jr., Tyler Badie, and UDFA rookie Jaleel McLaughlin — are either uninspiring or unproven. Such an addition, though, would be considerably less expensive than Cook.

If Cook’s market does not materialize in the way that he hopes, or if the current reports on Williams’ prognosis prove overly optimistic, it is possible that the Broncos could circle back to Cook (after all, they have reportedly monitored the Florida State product for some time). Until then, however, it appears that the Dolphins will remain the frontrunners for his services.

Cowboys Rumors: LG, Elliott, Turpin

June 11th, 2023 at 7:53pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys fielded a revolving door at left guard last year and, for now, it looks like it may continue revolving through the summer. According to Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News, Dallas is looking into multiple possibilities to replace Connor McGovern, who departed for Buffalo in free agency back in March.

The favorite to man the newly open starting spot is Tyler Smith, who manned the position at times last season when he wasn’t at left tackle. With Tyron Smith back to healthy, Tyler can shift inside for good this season. The younger Smith embraced the opportunity to work at guard recently, asserting that being elite at both positions will ultimately help the team the most.

The Cowboys haven’t limited the versatility training to Smith. Gehlken reports that multiple other linemen have received time at both guard and tackle this offseason. Matt Farniok, who has worked mostly at interior line positions so far in Dallas, has been working outside. Chuma Edoga has worked at right tackle and left guard, as well. Even second-year lineman Matt Waletzko was approached by offensive line coach Mike Solari to work at guard for the first time in his life.

As of right now, it looks to be a starting lineup of Tyron Smith at left tackle, Tyler Smith at left guard, Tyler Biadasz at center, Zack Martin at right guard, and Terence Steele at right tackle. With Steele still coming back from a late season-ending ACL and MCL tear, many in the building would like to see Tyler Smith continue to develop at tackle. In the meantime, it seems that Dallas is keeping its options open for both positions.

Here are a few other rumors coming out of Arlington:

  • Rookie second-round tight end out of Michigan Luke Schoonmaker has been dealing with a plantar fascia issue, reportedly wearing a walking boot on his right foot last week. According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, Schoonmaker was out of the boot this week but was still limited to just sideline work. The injury isn’t considered serious, as he’s expected to be ready for the start of training camp, according to head coach Mike McCarthy.
  • Owner, president, and general manager Jerry Jones continues to leave the door open for a reunion with veteran running back Ezekiel Elliott, according to Machota. His son, and team CEO, Stephen Jones says that the team is looking into adding a bigger back. They signed fullback Hunter Luepke undrafted out of North Dakota State and signed the stout Ronald Jones in free agency, but Elliott could always find his way back to Dallas despite both parties continuing to explore their options.
  • Lastly, another report from Machota claims confidence that wide receiver and return specialist KaVontae Turpin should find a spot on the Cowboys’ eventual 53-man roster. While rookie running back Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis got some opportunities to handle return duties in recent weeks, Turpin is a much more explosive and proven option. It also doesn’t hurt that Turpin has been getting some serious run with the second-team wide receiver group.

Packers CB Eric Stokes Not Likely To Start

June 11th, 2023 at 6:08pm CST by Ely Allen

When former Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes was drafted 29th overall in 2021 by the Packers, he was immediately thrust into action as a rookie starter. He performed well as an injury replacement for Jaire Alexander and, at times, Rasul Douglas, but with both returning to form and healthy, Stokes may be coming off the bench for the first time in his career, according to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic.

Stokes started 14 games during that rookie season when Alexander and Douglas missed a combined 18 games. He graded out well in coverage, recording an interception and 14 passes defensed and did well enough as a rookie to slot himself in as a starter over Douglas on the depth chart to begin his sophomore season. Unfortunately, after struggling through a bit of a sophomore slump, the decision was made for the coaches as an ankle injury forced Stokes to miss the final eight games of the season.

Now Alexander and Douglas are fully healthy and are both coming off strong seasons. Alexander continues to be one of the NFL’s top defensive backs, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), rebounding from his major injury in 2021 to grade out as the 8th best cornerback in the league. Douglas ran with the opportunity to start in place of Stokes on the outside and delivered a performance that graded him out as the 30th best cornerback in the league, according to PFF.

Schneidman also points out that cornerback and return specialist Keisean Nixon excelled down the stretch last season in the slot for Green Bay, likely solidifying his as the starting nickelback for 2023. He started four games for the Packers, with three coming consecutively late in the year.

So, after a down second season that saw him grade out as the 105th graded cornerback by PFF, it looks like Stokes will be coming off the bench to fill in for Alexander, Douglas, and Nixon in his return from last year’s season-ending injury. He may not be starting, but he’d be smart to stay ready. Although Alexander and Douglas both appeared in nearly every game last year (Alexander missed one), neither are far removed from injuries, and with Nixon’s heavy involvement on special teams, Stokes should earn ample time rotating in.

5 Key Stories: 6/4/23 – 6/11/23

June 11th, 2023 at 4:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

With June practices nearing an end, a few signficant developments have taken place around the league recently. In case you missed any of the top stories from the past week, here’s a quick recap:

  • Vikings Release Cook: After plenty of speculation about his future, the Vikings have officially parted ways with running back Dalvin Cook. The move came after no trade partner could be found, and resulted in $9MM in cap savings. Minnesota has moved on from a number of high-priced veterans this offseason, and the team previously hinted at their intensions of turning to Alexander Mattison as their new starter moving forward. Cook earned a fourth straight Pro Bowl nod in 2022, demonstrating his continued ability to serve as a productive lead back. He is now free to sign with a new team, and the Dolphins have frequently been named as a potential suitor. The free agent market at the RB spot has been modest, and a number of experienced options are still available, but the 27-year-old should be the subject of signficant interest in the coming days and weeks.
  • Broncos Sign Clark: Frank Clark’s tenure with the Chiefs came to an end as he took a one-year deal with the Broncos worth up to $7.5MM. The decorated edge rusher failed to earn a Pro Bowl nod in 2022, but he once again produced in the playoffs en route to winning another Super Bowl in Kansas City. He was a cap casualty at the start of the offseason, and Clark, 29, acknowledged that no new Chiefs offer representing a pay cut was made during his lengthy free agent period (one which included the team adding a first-round pass rusher for the second straight year). Now, he will turn his attention to a new AFC West team, one which has plenty of question marks along the edge entering the 2023 season. A strong showing in Denver could boost Clark’s value significantly ahead of another year on the open market.
  • Bills Add Floyd: Clark’s Broncos deal came not long after the Bills made their own notable addition on the edge. Leonard Floyd inked a one-year contract with a maximum value of $9MM. That will give Buffalo another veteran presence in the pass rush department alongside Von Miller, whose ACL recovery is in a good place at the moment. Floyd was a lone bright spot in the Rams’ edge contingent last season, but he was one of many expensive veterans the team moved on from this offseason. The 30-year-old has experience logging a heavy workload, but more of a rotational role may await him in Buffalo. A follow-up to his productive stint in Los Angeles would yield considerable benefits for the Bills, and likely boost Floyd’s market value ahead of next March.
  • Titans, Patriots To Host Hopkins: The first two teams prepared to host DeAndre Hopkins on a free agent visit have been revealed. The All-Pro wideout will meet with the Titans and Patriots in the coming days, as he searches for a new home. New England has been mentioned as a team to watch on the Hopkins front, but the same has not been the case to date for Tennessee. Either squad would be well-suited to add the 31-year-old given their struggles in the passing game last season, and they are each in better shape than the Chiefs and Bills with respect to cap space. The latter two teams would need Hopkins’ price to come down significantly to make a serious push to sign him, but the five-time Pro Bowler already has multiple suitors lined up. More could soon follow.
  • Harris Continues Making Progress On Commanders Purchase: The sales process of the Commanders has a number of hurdles left to clear, but positive steps have been taken in recent days. Josh Harris had a succesful meeting with the NFL’s finance committee, during which the outstanding issues related to the structure of his purchase agreement were discussed. The 76ers and Devils owner, who is slated to take over from Dan Snyder after the pair agreed to a $6.05 billion purchase price, pledged to make the requisite adjustments to satisfy the league. Once that has taken place, a special owners’ meeting aimed at ratifying the deal should be expected. With a deadline on the exclusivity of the Harris deal approaching, though, all parties have incentive to continue moving with urgency.

Von Miller: ACL “All Healed Up”

June 11th, 2023 at 3:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

Von Miller has provided multiple updates this offseason with respect to his progress in rehabbing from a torn ACL, stating that he intends to be available to begin the regular season. His most recent comments are the most encouraging yet on that front.

[RELATED: Miller’s Health Didn’t Affect Bills’ Floyd Pursuit]

“I have good information from my doctor and my knee is all healed up,” Miller said, via Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News. “It’s all about me and how confident I can be [over] the next three months.”

The 34-year-old originally said Week 6 was the latest point at which he would return to game action, providing a baseline for expectations in his recovery. Miller has dealt with an ACL tear previously, and is central to the Bills’ pass rush considering the six-year, $120MM deal they signed him to last offseason. A cautious approach – like the one taken with cornerback Tre’Davious White in 2022 – would thus come as little surprise.

However, Miller has since indicated an expectation that he will be ready to suit up in time for Week 1, presuming the team feels comfortable with an accelerated return timeline. Their evaluation in the coming weeks will be critical, since a decision will soon need to be made on whether to place the future Hall of Famer on the physically unable to perform list during next month’s training camp. Electing not to do so would take away that option at the start of the season; a PUP designation sidelines a player for at least six weeks.

Alternatively, the Bills could choose to place Miller on IR after final roster cuts, which would make him ineligible for the first four games of the season. If the future Hall of Famer is able to return to form in practice in the near future, though, that step may not be necessary. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining how confident player and team feel heading into the 2023 season, one in which both face considerable expectations.

“Now I have to start working on my conditioning and position-specific drills and need to start transitioning back into a football player and not just a guy who is rehabbing and getting my leg strong,” Miller added. “Hopefully I can do that for the next two months and I’ll be ready on the third month.”

Panthers RB Miles Sanders Addresses Eagles Exit

June 11th, 2023 at 1:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the few running backs able to land a relatively lucrative multi-year pact during this season’s free agency was Miles Sanders. The new Panthers lead back is in line for a signficant workload, which will mark a difference compared to his time with the Eagles.

Sanders logged a snap share of either 53% or 57% in three of his four seasons in Philadelphia, though he made the most of his opportunities in 2022. The 26-year-old set a new career high in carries (259), rushing yards (1,269) and touchdowns (11) while helping lead the Eagles to the top seed in the NFC. Those totals priced him out of Philadelphia in free agency, and landed him a four-year, $25MM deal with the Panthers.

The former second-rounder was not a major factor in the passing game in 2022, though, as had been the case since his rookie campaign. Sanders acknowledged the opportunity he will have in Carolina to play in a three-down role again, something which will be crucial as the team finds its way with rookie Bryce Young under center. The Penn State product also spoke recently about his usage in the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss, one in which he received only seven carries and took a backseat to Kenneth Gainwell.

“Last game of the season? For all of the marbles? Everybody can answer that question,” Sanders after being asked if he was upset over his playing time in the title game. “If they put themselves in my shoes, would they be happy? I don’t want to make headlines, [but] if it does, I don’t care.” When speaking about his decision to leave Philadelphia, he added, “I can get into that another day, maybe. Maybe you should ask them why I’m moving here” (h/t Steve Reed of the Associated Press).

With his attention squarely focused on his new team, Sanders will look to prove the Panthers’ investment in him a sound one. The Eagles, meanwhile, traded for D’Andre Swift during the draft to add another young, two-way back to their team. Philadelphia will move forward with Swift, free agent signing Rashaad Penny and returnees Gainwell and Boston Scott on their depth chart, as they look to continue their by-committee approach at the RB position.

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