2024 February - Pro Football Rumors

Month: December 2024

Buccaneers, QB Baker Mayfield Begin “Preliminary Talks”

February 24th, 2024 at 10:57pm CST by Ben Levine

Previous reports indicated that the Buccaneers would like to re-sign Baker Mayfield before the start of free agency, and the organization is apparently making progress on that goal. According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Buccaneers and Mayfield have had “preliminary talks” about a new deal.

While nothing is imminent, it’s a positive sign that the two sides are already engaging in negotiations. Per Stroud, Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht is expected to meet with Mayfield’s agent, Tom Mills, next week, and both camps have expressed interest in completing a new contract.

Following a standout season that saw Mayfield pass for a career-high 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns while guiding his squad to the postseason, the Buccaneers have already started preparing for the former top-overall pick to be under center in 2024. After offensive coordinator Dave Canales left to become the Panthers head coach, the Buccaneers brought on Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who previously worked with Mayfield when the two were in Los Angeles.

While the Buccaneers seem to be making it clear that they want Mayfield back, the feeling is apparently mutual. Per Stroud, Mayfield wants to stick in Tampa Bay because he believes it would give him the best opportunity to win. Mayfield’s 9-8 record in 2023 was only the second time in his career that he’s finished with a winning record, and the veteran is surely looking to carry that momentum into the 2024 campaign.

Of course, while both sides are interested in a new pact, it may be easier said than done. Mayfield will surely earn a significant raise on the $7MM he earned this past season (including incentives), and as Stroud notes, a deal worth $40MM-plus wouldn’t even necessarily put the QB into the upper echelon of his position.

Friday afternoon’s unveiling of the 2024 salary cap brought clarity to the QB franchise tag, which would come in at $38.3MM. That could be an option for the Buccaneers if they can’t agree to a long-term deal with Mayfield, although Stroud cautions that the organization isn’t “expected to use that designation.”

2024 NFL Cap Space, By Team

February 24th, 2024 at 9:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

The NFL provided clarity to its teams on Friday by setting the salary cap ceiling ($255.4MM). Franchise tag figures have been locked in as well, and clubs can now proceed with their offseason planning knowing exactly where they stand with respect to financial flexibility. Courtesy of Over the Cap, here is the current landscape in terms of salary cap space:

Washington Commanders: $79.61MM
Tennessee Titans: $78.66MM
Chicago Bears: $78.34MM
New England Patriots: $77.96MM
Indianapolis Colts: $72.34MM
Houston Texans: $67.58MM
Detroit Lions: $57.61MM
Arizona Cardinals: $51.1MM
Cincinnati Bengals: $50.67MM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $43.68MM
Los Angles Rams: $43.11MM
Las Vegas Raiders: $42.94MM
Minnesota Vikings: $35.81MM
Carolina Panthers: $34.57MM
Atlanta Falcons: $33MM
New York Giants: $30.8MM
Philadelphia Eagles: $27.35MM
Jacksonville Jaguars: $24.68MM
Kansas City Chiefs: $18.19MM
Baltimore Ravens: $16.63MM
Seattle Seahawks: $12.97MM
New York Jets: $12.76MM
Pittsburgh Steelers: $9MM
Green Bay Packers: $2.3MM
San Francisco 49ers: $5.07MM over the cap
Cleveland Browns: $7.76MM over
Dallas Cowboys: $9.86MM over
Denver Broncos: $16.81MM over
Los Angeles Chargers: $25.61MM over
Miami Dolphins: $27.92MM over
New Orleans Saints: $42.11MM over
Buffalo Bills: $43.82MM over

All teams must be cap compliant by the start of the new league year, but it will of course be more than just those currently over the limit which will make cost-shedding moves in the near future. Cuts, restructures and extensions are available as tools to carve out space in advance of free agency. Several have already taken place around the league.

That includes the Dolphins’ release of defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and the planned cut of Xavien Howard. The latter cannot be designated a post-June 1 release until free agency begins but once it happens, Miami will move much closer to cap compliance. The Saints have moved considerable commitments into the future via restructures (as usual), but more transactions on that front will be required even with the cap seeing an historic single-season jump.

The roughly $30MM spike from 2023 will provide unforeseen spending power for teams already set to lead the pack in cap space while also making the task of those at the bottom of the list easier. Spending more on backloaded contracts this offseason at the expense of future space obviously carries risk, however. Still, the news of a higher-than-expected ceiling will add further intrigue to each team’s financial planning.

With Dak Prescott and Deshaun Watson each set to carry record-breaking cap hits for 2024, the Cowboys and Browns will be among the teams most in need of working out a deal to lower those figures. In Dallas’ case in particular, an extension would provide immediate breathing room in addition to clarity on his future beyond the coming season. For Cleveland, Watson’s fully-guaranteed deal has already been restructured once and will need to be again to avoid consecutive years of a $64MM cap charge over its remaining term.

If the Commanders and Patriots add a quarterback with the second and third picks in this year’s draft, each team currently in the top six in space will enjoy the benefits of having a signal-caller on their rookie contracts. That would allow for an aggressive approach to free agency, although the Chiefs’ success after Patrick Mahomes signed (and re-worked) his monster extension has proven it is possible to win Super Bowl titles with a substantial QB investment on the books.

UCLA To Hire Eric Bieniemy As OC

February 24th, 2024 at 9:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

Several changes took place on the Commanders’ sidelines this offseason, including Ron Rivera being replaced as head coach by Dan Quinn. The latter elected not to retain incumbent offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, leaving him with an uncertain coaching future. He has found his next opportunity, however.

Bieniemy is set to join UCLA’s staff on a two-year deal under the title of associate head coach/offensive coordinator, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel report. That report includes excerpts from an email Bieniemy sent to ESPN, in which he noted that he was not fired by the Commanders, and that he simply elected not to stay (though it is unclear whether he was given the chance to stay on as Washington’s OC under Quinn, or if he was asked to take a different position on the offensive staff).

“I have no regrets with the Commanders,” Bieniemy wrote. “Contrary to what some think and what has been put out in the media, I was not fired. I actually just chose not to stay. Learned a lot and that is always a good thing.”

Bieniemy will now work alongside DeShaun Foster, who succeeded Chip Kelly as head coach of the Bruins this winter. The move represents Bieniemy’s first NCAA coaching gig since he worked as Colorado’s OC from 2011-12, and it also marks a return to UCLA, where Bieniemy served as the school’s running backs coach for three seasons. The 54-year-old had been in the NFL since 2013, enjoying a successful run as Kansas City’s RBs coach and later offensive coordinator until 2022. He joined Rivera’s Commanders staff in a move which included play-calling duties.

Washington’s 2023 campaign was driven in large part by the decision to hand the reins to Sam Howell as the team’s starting quarterback. The 2022 fifth-rounder showed promise at times, but by the end of the season he found himself being benched mid-game on more than one occasion. Quinn and the Commanders will move forward with new OC Kliff Kingsbury and, in all likelihood, a signal-caller selected with the No. 2 pick in April’s draft as their new starter.

Despite a less-than-impressive showing in the nation’s capital, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz notes Bieniemy drew interest from a number of NFL teams for a new OC opportunity. He joined the Commanders on a two-year contract, leading some to believe he would simply take the 2024 season off before planning his next move. Instead, he will now hold a pivotal role at UCLA as the program transitions out of the Pac-12 and into the Big Ten.

The 2024 offseason has seen a steady flow of coaches leaving the college ranks and taking lesser positions with NFL staffs. Bieniemy – who has seven years of experience at the NCAA level and 16 in the NFL – will head in the opposite direction with this deal. His reputation as an offensive play-designer was established during his decade on the Chiefs’ staff, a tenure which included a pair of Super Bowl titles. He will now aim to boost his stock with at least a brief period at the college level before a potential NFL return.

Cardinals Likely To Pursue TE Additions

February 24th, 2024 at 8:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

Arizona began the season with both veteran Zach Ertz and 2022 second-rounder Trey McBride on the tight end depth chart. The latter’s play allowed for the team to move on from the former midway through the season. Depth at the position will need to be acquired in the coming months, however.

Mike Jurecki of Arizona Football Daily reports the Cardinals are expected to use both free agency and the draft to add secondary options to complement McBride. The 24-year-old started every contest from Week 8 onward in 2023, and he was a major factor in the team’s offense. McBride drew at least seven targets on eight occasions as he saw his workload take a substantial jump compared to his rookie campaign.

The Colorado State alum totaled 825 yards and three touchdowns on 81 receptions, and he profiles as being a central figure in Arizona’s offense moving forward. The team’s only other current options at the position who are under contract (Blake Whiteheart, Travis Vokolek and Bernhard Seikovits), however, are former undrafted free agents. Veteran Geoff Swaim is a set to hit the open market when the new league year begins in March.

The 2024 free agent class could present the Cardinals with a number of short-term options. Dalton Schultz, Hunter Henry, Noah Fant, Gerald Everett and Irv Smith Jr. are among the tight ends who could be on the move in March. With more than $51MM in cap space, Arizona will have the ability to out-bid a number of suitors on the free agent market, although a big-money investment at the TE spot in particular would come as a surprise given McBride’s success as a starter.

This year’s draft features a clear-cut No. 1 prospect amongst tight ends in the form of Georgia’s Brock Bowers. The All-American and two-time John Mackey Award winner is all-but assured to be on the board when the Cardinals pick fourth overall, but the team could prioritize an offensive tackle or receiver prospect at that spot. Arizona also owns the No. 27 slot, but Bowers could very well be gone by that point. A Day 2 or 3 selection would still offer a useful addition to the depth chart, though, especially if paired with a veteran signing. The Cardinals will have the opportunity to take a number of paths to fill out their TE room this offseason.

Rams To Re-Sign WR Demarcus Robinson

February 24th, 2024 at 7:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

FEBRUARY 24: Providing further details on the pact, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes Robinson will receive $4MM in base compensation including a $1.5MM signing bonus. The other $1MM is comprised of incentives; Robinson can earn up to $500K with an offensive snap share of 50% or higher (after seeing a 36% usage rate in 2023), and another $500K is tied to the Rams’ ability to improve on their total offensive ranking or to repeat their playoff appearance. Regardless of how the incentives play out, the agreement will be a comfortable raise.

FEBRUARY 23: Becoming a key auxiliary pass catcher for the Rams, Demarcus Robinson will once again have the opportunity to stay with a club on a second contract. The former Chiefs supporting-caster reached a deal to stay with the Rams on Friday.

Robinson has agreed to terms to stay in Los Angeles on a one-year, $5MM deal, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Becoming a regular in a passing attack that featured the rapid rise of Puka Nacua, Robinson will be in line to work with the blossoming young talent and Cooper Kupp again in 2024. This marks a big raise for Robinson, who played for just $1.17MM in 2023.

Not a part of L.A.’s offense during the season’s first half, Robinson belatedly came through to help the team back to the playoffs. The former Chiefs draftee did not catch a pass as a Ram until Week 9. He did not top 40 yards in a game until Week 13. But Robinson delivered five straight such 40-plus-yard showings — including 82- and 92-yard outings against the Saints and Giants, respectively — from Weeks 13-17, helping the Rams clinch a playoff spot.

Overall, Robinson finished with 26 receptions for 371 yards and four touchdowns. He caught a touchdown pass in four straight games, developing a rapport with Matthew Stafford. Robinson effectively displaced Tutu Atwell, a former second-round pick who was given an extended look during the season’s first half. During Robinson’s five-game run as the Rams’ top tertiary target, Atwell (39-483-3) caught just one pass and played only a handful of offensive snaps.

Atwell’s rookie deal runs through 2024, and while the diminutive wideout has not made much of an impact with the Rams yet, the team now has its top four wideouts from 2023 locked in for the ’24 slate. This marks a nice development for Robinson, who did not catch on with the team until June of last year.

Robinson, 29, is best known for his work alongside Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill in Kansas City. The Florida alum topped 400 receiving yards in 2019 and ’20, helping the Chiefs to back-to-back Super Bowls. Robinson, who re-signed with the Chiefs on two one-year deals following the expiration of his rookie contract, caught 14 touchdown passes during Patrick Mahomes‘ first four years as the team’s starter. The Ravens signed the 6-foot-1 receiver in 2022; as part of an injury-battered receiving corps, Robinson caught a career-high 48 passes for 458 yards and two scores with Baltimore.

The former fourth-round pick will have a chance to play a ninth season. With Robinson back in the fold, it does not seem like the Rams — who traded Van Jefferson early last season — will be too active at receiver this offseason.

NFL Draft Rumors: Williams, DeJean, Newton

February 24th, 2024 at 5:35pm CST by Ely Allen

This week we got news that USC quarterback Caleb Williams, widely expected to be the No. 1 overall draft selection this April, will reportedly enter the NFL without representation, per Mike Florio of NBC Sports. This isn’t totally unheard of as we’ve seen quite a few NFL players of late accomplish new deals without an agent, but the situation is a little different for a potential top pick.

We’ve seen defenders like Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner, and, more recently, Roquan Smith sign new contracts while representing themselves. More in the realm of Williams, we recently saw Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson go through both the draft process and his first major extension without an agent.

Jackson was selected 32nd overall, while Williams is expected to be picked much earlier in the night. That means the deal that Williams will negotiate for himself will be worth quite a bit more money than Jackson’s rookie deal was worth. Still, rookie contracts are fairly restricted in how they can be built, so there shouldn’t be a ton of wiggle room in which Williams may mess something up.

Where Florio thinks the lack of representation could hinder Williams is in the leadup to the draft. He suggests that the agents of other quarterbacks or draft prospects hoping to supplant Williams’ top draft positioning will “spend the next two months trying to get teams to take their clients instead of Williams,” a process that can get dirty with negative framing being used to lessen the appeal of Williams. With a lack of representation, Williams would lack an advocate to appeal against the negative things being used against him.

Here are a few other recent rumors concerning the 2024 NFL Draft:

Scouts and draft pundits will be disappointed to learn that Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean will not be participating in the testing at next week’s NFL Scouting Combine, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic. DeJean is reportedly still working his way back from a leg injury he sustained late in the season. Widely expected to be selected on Day 1 of the draft, he is considered one of the more athletic prospects in the class and likely would have drawn lots of eyes in Indianapolis. Instead, DeJean plans to work out for teams much closer to the draft at the end of April.
Brugler reported that another likely first-round pick will not be working out at the Combine. Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton will sit out next week as he continues to recover from a January surgery that he underwent in order to repair a partial Jones fracture in his foot. He had been able to play through the injury through the second half of the 2023 season but, obviously, wished to repair the injury before heading to the league. Newton is expected to be cleared in time for an April pro day.

AFC North Coaching Updates: Sullivan, Ravens, Bengals

February 24th, 2024 at 4:38pm CST by Ely Allen

With the Patriots and Bill Belichick parting ways this offseason, the AFC North is now home to the NFL’s two longest-tenured head coaches, and though the Steelers haven’t had a change at head coach in 17 years, they were required to make some adjustments to the offensive coaching staff this offseason. We’ve reported on a number of staff changes on offense after the hiring of new coordinator Arthur Smith, but the team’s recent finalized staff announcement provided us with a few more updates.

We saw that Pittsburgh made the call to replace former quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan with Tom Arth two weeks ago, but we now see that Sullivan will be retained on staff in the role of senior offensive assistant. Additionally, Smith seems to have brought two coaches with him from Atlanta. Former Falcons specials teams assistant Matt Baker and Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellow Mateo Kambui, who worked with Atlanta’s offensive line, have both been brought on in the role of offensive assistant.

On defense and special teams, only two changes were noted. First, we already saw the departure of assistant defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander in the announcement that he would become the safeties coach in Las Vegas. Second, special teams quality control coach Matt Tomsho does not appear on the team’s new coaching roster and doesn’t seem to have been retained. Neither position was filled with a new staffer.

Here are a couple other staff updates coming out of the AFC North:

With former associate head coach and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver departing for the defensive coordinator job in Miami, the Ravens needed to find someone new to coach their talented defensive line. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Baltimore has found their man in former Baylor defensive line coach Dennis Johnson. A former defensive tackle at LSU, Johnson has coached defensive lines at the college level for both his alma mater and the Bears in Waco. His best defensive lines were at LSU in 2018 and Baylor in 2021, coaching players like Siaki Ika and K’Lavon Chaisson.
The Bengals have brought in a collegiate staffer, as well, per Pete Thamel of ESPN, hiring former Oregon offensive analyst Jordan Salkin to their staff as an offensive assistant. Salkin’s experience at the college level was focused on the quarterbacks position, and he fills the role in Cincinnati left vacant with Fredi Knighten being promoted to assistant quarterbacks coach.

Raiders Announce Finalized 2024 Coaching Staff

February 24th, 2024 at 2:40pm CST by Ely Allen

When the season ended, the Raiders stayed true to the wishes of many players, hiring interim head coach Antonio Pierce into the permanent role for the 2024 NFL season. Today, Las Vegas officially announced the entirety of the new staff under Pierce, cluing us into some developments that we hadn’t yet reported on. We were aware of the hires of offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, offensive line coach James Cregg, senior offensive assistant Joe Philbin, quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello, assistant quarterbacks coach Fred Walker, and running backs coach Carnell “Cadillac” Williams on offense as well as the hiring of assistant head coach Marvin Lewis. Here’s a rundown of the remaining staff updates.

On the offensive side of the ball, with quarterbacks, running backs, and offensive line covered, Getsy made the call to retain Edgar Bennett as wide receivers coach. Bennett has an extensive history with star wideout Davante Adams as the two have spent time together in both Green Bay and Vegas. Last year’s tight ends coach Jerry Schuplinski is now a senior offensive assistant with the Rams, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, so former Bears assistant offensive line coach Luke Steckel has been hired in his place. Steckel previously coached tight ends in Tennessee in 2021 and 2022, mentoring Chigoziem Okonkwo to an impressive rookie season. Steckel will be assisted by newly promoted assistant tight ends coach Mitch Singler, who served the past two years as offensive quality control for the Raiders.

Additionally, pass game coordinator Scott Turner has officially been retained after being considered a candidate for the Patriots offensive coordinator position, and former Bears assistant tight ends coach Tim Zetts has been added to the staff with the title of assistant offense. Lastly on offense, we were aware that the new head coach’s son, De’Andre Pierce, would be joining the staff, but whereas his initial position was reportedly going to be offensive quality control coach, we now know that he will be an offensive assistant.

On the defensive side of the ball, we had some idea of the fate of defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, who had been permitted to take interviews for head coaching jobs but was being blocked from lateral moves, and those ideas are now confirmed as he’ll be retained as coordinator. The team’s announcement shows that defensive line coach Rob Leonard and senior defensive assistant Rob Ryan have been retained, as well. Additionally, Matt Feeney, who has spent the past two seasons as a defensive quality control coach, has been promoted to assistant defensive backs coach.

Also on defense, we knew of the hiring of Mike Caldwell as linebackers coach, but today’s announcement informed us that he’ll hold the additional title of run game coordinator, as well. We also saw initial reports that Ricky Manning Jr. was being brought on as defensive backs coach, but he is officially listed now as cornerbacks coach with former Steelers assistant defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander being hired to coach safeties. Alexander assisted with a secondary in Pittsburgh that included Minkah Fitzpatrick, Terrell Edmunds, Damontae Kazee, and Keanu Neal. Together, the two will replace Chris Ash, who was not retained as defensive backs coach, and Jason Simmons, who was recently hired as defensive pass-game coordinator in Washington. Also, we had reported the addition of former Jets defensive line coach Andre Carter to the staff, and we now know his new title in Las Vegas to be pass rush specialist.

Lastly on defense, we were informed of the hiring of Marcus Lewis as assistant linebackers coach and Josh Phillips as assistant defense. Lewis has recent experience as a defensive analyst at Arizona State and NFL experience after spending five years with the Bengals as an assistant working with the defensive line and linebackers. Phillips most recently served as head coach at Sarasota HS (FL), leading the team to a 1-9 record in his only season at the helm.

On special teams, we officially received word that both special teams coordinator Tom McMahon and assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton II would both be retained under Pierce. It appears that former NFL wideout Danny Amendola, who had been brought on as a coaching assistant to work specifically with returners, has not been retained, and Kade Rannings has been added to the staff as a second assistant special teams coach.

Lastly, the team announced that former director of football research and strategy Matt Sheldon will be on the sideline in the role of game management coach. Also, Jon Gruden‘s son, Deuce Gruden, is a surprising holdover as an assistant strength and conditioning coach after being retained by McDaniel’s staff following his father’s resignation in 2021.

There you have it. Though, much will remain the same with Pierce taking over the full-time role as head coach, plenty of changes were necessary. After another short head coaching stint by Josh McDaniels, Pierce seemed to rejuvenate a deflated squad to close the season. With a new staff of his own and a full offseason to work together, it will be interesting to see what Pierce will be able to accomplish in Las Vegas in 2024.

Jets Notes: Adams, OL, Hogan

February 24th, 2024 at 12:19pm CST by Ben Levine

Even before the Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers, the team was busy adding many of the quarterback’s former teammates from Green Bay. With Rodgers expected to be fully healthy heading into the 2024 campaign, the organization is once again expected to pursue some of the veteran’s preferred targets.

However, one major name that may be unrealistic is Davante Adams. Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com writes that an Adams-to-Jets move isn’t “remotely possible.” For starters, the Raiders have no real desire to trade their star wideout. The organization values the player’s leadership, and new head coach Antonio Pierce expects the veteran to be a part of their desired “winning culture.”

Further, the Jets would never be willing to meet the asking price for the star wide receiver. If the Raiders would ever consider trading Adams, Pauline believes they’d request New York’s 2024 and 2025 first-round picks. It’s unlikely that the Raiders would accept an offer of a first-round pick and a third-round pick, even if that first was the No. 10 pick in the upcoming draft.

Adams’ stint with the Packers ended before Rodgers’ tenure in Green Bay, and he was sent to Las Vegas to play alongside his college QB, Derek Carr. The two showed their chemistry in 2022, with Adams finishing with 1,516 receiving yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns. However, the organization moved on from Carr last offseason, and inconsistency at the QB position led to Adams putting up some of his worst numbers in years. The wideout ultimately finished this past season with 103 catches for 1,144 and eight touchdowns, with each of those stats marking his lowest totals since his 12-game performance in 2019.

Because of those declining numbers and the organization’s uncertainty at quarterback, there were some rumblings that Rodgers could look to recruit Adams to New York. For the time being, it sounds like the receiver is staying put.

More notes out of New York…

The Jets have significant holes on their offensive line, and ESPN’s Rich Cimini estimates that the team will pursue two new offensive tackles and a guard. Considering that long shopping list, Cimini expects the team to pursue at least one OL via free agency. The organization could also look to fill one of those holes with their first-round pick, with Cimini pointing to Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu or Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga as options.
Following the Jets’ disappointing 2023 campaign, there were a handful of damning reports surrounding the organization’s inner turmoil. According to Pauline, some in the organization believe assistant general manager Rex Hogan was responsible for the leaks. These leaked reports ranged from Zach Wilson’s reluctance to be inserted back into the lineup to coach Robert Saleh‘s excuses for the team’s record. Hogan and the Jets mutually decided to part ways following the season.
Speaking of Wilson, we heard earlier this week that the former first-round pick has started to evaluate trade options. The Jets are all but guaranteed to move on from Wilson this offseason, and it sounds like the organization is giving the QB some say in his next destination.

WR A.J. Brown On Eagles: “I Want To Be Here”

February 24th, 2024 at 11:26am CST by Ben Levine

After starting the season 10-1, the Eagles stumbled to an 1-5 finish before ultimately losing in the first round of the playoffs. Following the late-season collapse, there have been some questions surrounding some players’ commitment to the organization, particularly wideout A.J. Brown.

However, the receiver was quick to dismiss the notion that he wants out of Philly. Brown called into 94WIP Afternoon Show in Philadelphia on Friday to clear the air regarding his feelings for the Eagles organization.

“I have no problem. I want to be here, it’s as simple as that,” Brown said (via NFL.com’s Christian Gonzales). “I love where I’m at, it’s as simple as that. Next question.

“…Honestly, like I said the other day, I could have plans but also know it’s a business. But I can tell you that I want to be here. That’s all I can say.”

As the Eagles took a nosedive, so did Brown’s numbers. The receiver compiled 125-plus receiving yards in six straight games towards the beginning of the year, earning him the NFC Offensive Player of the Month award in October. However, from Week 9 through the end of the regular season, Brown only hauled in 46 catches for 517 yards and two touchdowns, and he was ultimately sidelined for the team’s Wild Card loss to the Buccaneers.

Thanks to that significant decline in production, many have questioned if Brown was upset with the team’s offense and quarterback Jalen Hurts. The receiver cited the duo’s previous success as reasoning for why their relationship won’t fracture.

“You know, I think that’s sort of BS. I’m not going to get into me and his relationship on the air,” Brown said. “But it’s total BS, you know what I’m saying. It wasn’t a problem when I was on my six-game streak. They weren’t talking about that then, so they only started talking about that when we started losing. Of course, you see friction from everybody, from the coaches, the players and from everybody. So, there you go.”

After getting traded to the Eagles in 2022, Brown inked a four-year, $100MM deal with the organization that featured $57MM in guaranteed money. The receiver is likely locked in for several more years (the organization has an out after the 2024 campaign), so if Brown truly wants out of Philly, he’d need the organization to acquiesce.

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