2024 March - Pro Football Rumors

Month: January 2025

Broncos To Re-Sign S P.J. Locke

March 9th, 2024 at 8:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Broncos moved on from a franchise mainstay earlier this week by releasing Justin Simmons. While he will not be in place for 2024, P.J. Locke will be. The latter has agreed to a new Denver deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rapoport notes Locke will receive $7MM in base compensation on a two-year deal. The maximum value sits at $9MM, which will mark a hefty raise from his previous deals. The former UDFA had amassed less than $4MM in career earnings across five seasons. He will now remain in Denver and avoid a trip to the open market.

Simmons’ release created the possibility that all three safeties which played signficant time in 2023 (he, Locke and Kareem Jackson, who was waived and finished the campaign with the Texans) could be gone by the 2024 campaign. However, a recent report noted interest from the team to work out a new deal in Locke’s case. The 27-year-old took on starting duties filling in for Jackson last year, and he will be counted on as a first-teamer moving forward.

Locke tallied 53 tackles, one interception, five pass deflections, two forced fumbles and three sacks last season. Each of those figures represented career highs, and he could have generated a notable market given his age and play down the stretch even with numerous veterans now available. After playing each of his 59 games with the Broncos, however, Locke has elected to take another new deal in lieu of gauging his outside value.

The Texas alum joins Caden Sterns and a pair of other recent draftees (Delarrin Turner-Yell, JL Skinner) in being on the books for Denver ahead of free agency. That group is severely lacking in experience compared to the Broncos’ longtime Simmons-Jackson tandem, so an addition at the position would come as no surprise. The team will have several options to choose from on the open market. Regardless of what happens on that front, though, Locke will face significant expectations ahead of 2024 and ’25.

The Broncos entered Saturday with roughly $30.5MM in cap space with free agency on the horizon. Locke’s new deal will lower that figure to a slight extent, but his continued presence will be welcomed on a Denver defense which will feature a number of new faces next year.

Jets’ Aaron Rodgers Aiming To Play Into Mid-40s?

March 9th, 2024 at 7:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Before his Jets tenure officially started, Aaron Rodgers made it clear he did not intend for his time in New York to comprise a one-and-done venture. Things obviously did not go according to plan in 2023, however, with a Week 1 Achilles tear ending his season despite a bid to rehab in time for the end of the campaign.

In the wake of that development, Rodgers said in December he would not retire and instead play at least one more season. Even if his second Jets campaign yields better luck on the injury front, though, the 40-year-old is not convinced 2024 will mark the end of his playing days. He addressed his projected timeline during an appearance on the Look Into It Podcast with Eddie Bravo.

“I got back on the practice field late in the season and couldn’t get to a top speed sprinting, but really been in a good place rehab-wise, from the start, and feeling really good,” Rodgers said (video link). “I’m hopeful I can play two or three or four more years, but you need to have some good fortune in there to.”

Rodgers viewed his waning time with the Packers from a year-to-year standpoint, and the Achilles tear obviously represents a reason for doubts about his health from a short- and long-term perspective. The fact he is hoping to match Tom Brady in playing well into his 40s his certainly notable, however. Across the Jets organization, 2023 is seen as a throwaway campaign, with head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas set to remain in place. Improvement on offense will be a massive priority, and a healthy Rodgers occupying the QB1 role could go a long way to accomplishing that feat.

The four-time MVP remained productive through most of his final Green Bay seasons, earning the top honor in 2020 and ’21. Rodgers led the league in passer rating (among other categories) both seasons in that span, but his age and mobility will of course be watched closely in 2024. Avoiding further setbacks on the injury front will no doubt be necessary if he is to continue playing several more years.

Rodgers is under contract through 2025, and he is due more than $75MM over that span. The pay cut he agreed to in the summer will leave New York with manageable cap hits over that stretch ($17.16MM and $23.5MM), although his cap figure will spike to $63MM in 2026 as things currently stand. An adjustment to the pact will likely be needed if Rodgers is in position to continue playing by that point, something which is still on the table given his remarks.

CB Malcolm Butler Retires

March 9th, 2024 at 7:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

After seven years in the NFL and attempts to extend his time in the league, Malcolm Butler has elected to end his career. The veteran cornerback confirmed Saturday that he has retired (video link via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson).

Butler most recently played in 2020, which marked the end of his three-year run with the Titans. He was released by Tennessee following that season, and his efforts to continue playing included a deal with the Cardinals. Before the start of the 2021 campaign, however, the former UDFA retired in a surprise decision, citing personal reasons.

He returned to NFL action the following summer, suiting up with the Patriots in the 2022 preseason. New England released Butler from injured reserve, paving the way for him to catch on with a new team. A Dolphins visit ensued, but the West Alabama product ultimately did not catch onto Miami’s roster or any other. Butler was healthy once again as of last February, but he will forego another attempt to find a role in favor of shifting his attention elsewhere.

Of course, Butler will best be remembered for his four-year tenure in New England to begin his career. That stretch was highlighted by the championship-clinching interception at the end of Super Bowl XLIX. Butler was a member of two title-winning Patriots squads (although his decorated playoff tenure with the team also includes the loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LII, in which he unexpectedly played only a single special teams snap).

Now 34, Butler noted he is “satisfied” with his career, which spanned 112 regular and postseason games. He added he has a book planned for the near future amongst a number of post-playing endeavors. In addition to his two Super Bowl rings, Butler will exit the NFL with roughly $45MM in career earnings.

Texans Finalizing Deal With CB Desmond King

March 9th, 2024 at 6:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

Taking care of a number of their own pending free agents on Saturday, the Texans are set to have a key member of their defense and special teams in the fold for 2024. Houston is finalizing a new deal with slot corner and returner Desmond King, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports.

The one-year King deal will have a base value of $1.8MM with the potential to max out at $2.2MM, Wilson adds. The 29-year-old spent the 2021 and ’22 campaigns in Houston before being part of the team’s final roster cuts ahead of this past season. That led to a brief stint in Pittsburgh, but his lack of usage drove the Steelers to shop him ahead of the trade deadline.

With no takers emerging, King was waived and ultimately re-joined the Texans in November. The Iowa alum started three of seven regular season games upon return, as well as both of the team’s postseason contests. He totaled 64 tackles, two sacks and a pair of pass deflections in that span, proving his continued value to Houston. King logged 15 starts during his first Texans stint, and he will likely remain a key defender in 2024.

The former fifth-rounder also returned eight kicks and one punt in his limited time with Houston in 2023. King earned All-Pro acclaim for his special teams work with the Chargers in 2018, and he has maintained his role as a returner through much of his career. He will aim to improve on his 12.6 yards per return average with respect to kickoffs next season if he maintains his role as Houston’s top returner in 2024.

Houston entered Saturday with nearly $63MM in cap space, leaving plenty of flexibility for when free agency opens next week. The new deals for Murray and King will eat into that total slightly, but they will ensure stability on the backend as the team looks to replicate 2023’s surprise run to the divisional round.

CB Nik Needham Re-Signs With Dolphins

March 9th, 2024 at 5:54pm CST by Ely Allen

The Dolphins are bringing back a key depth piece in their defensive backfield for another year, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Nik Needham, a five-year veteran in Miami, has been a crucial backup who can contribute at both cornerback and safety.

Needham joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent out of UTEP in 2019. After failing to make the initial 53-man roster as a rookie and signing to the practice squad, Needham was elevated, due to an injury to starter Xavien Howards, and proceeded to start 11 of his 12 appearances for the rest of the year. As a surprise undrafted rookie starter, Needham recorded two interceptions and 11 passes defensed.

Needham was a spot starter over the next two seasons, figuring generously into the defensive rotation at cornerback. He continued a tradition of two interceptions and one sack per year in each of those seasons, upping his career total for passes defensed to 23.

In 2022, Needham was forced back into a starting role after starting cornerback Byron Jones sat out the year with an Achilles injury. Unfortunately, Needham suffered an Achilles tear of his own and was only able to appear in six games before spending the rest of the season on injured reserve.

After playing out his initial entry level deal, Needham was given an exclusive-rights free agent tender for 2021 and a restricted free agent tender in 2022. He signed a one-year, $2MM deal a year ago but found his role severely reduced after coming back from injury. Howard and Kader Kohou, another undrafted addition to the team, started most every game last year, while Jalen Ramsey contributed as a full-time starter after coming back from injury in Week 8 and Eli Apple started games here and there, as well. Needham filled in as a fifth corner behind those four but was limited even more due to his prior injury.

Apple heads to free agency at the conclusion of his one-year deal, so perhaps Needham will slide back into the role Apple played in 2023. Regardless, a 2021 season that proved he could be a productive contributor all over the defense has made Needham a valuable asset to retain. He’ll get another chance to carve out his role in the defense in 2024.

Texans Re-Sign S Eric Murray

March 9th, 2024 at 4:37pm CST by Ely Allen

Veteran safety Eric Murray will return to Houston for a fifth year with the Texans in 2024, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The 29-year-old defensive back had previously signed a three-year contract and a two-year extension with the Texans and will now return on a one-year deal.

Murray started in the NFL as a fourth-round rookie out of Minnesota for the Chiefs. He was able to earn 11 starts in the first three seasons of his rookie contract but found himself getting traded to Cleveland (straight up for outside linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah) for the final year of his rookie deal. He started four of nine games played for the Browns before departing in free agency.

Houston was the team to sign Murray off the market, and he immediately stepped into the first full-time starting role of his career. Murray slowly lost his starting safety role until, in 2022, he didn’t start a single game as a fourth option at safety. When Jonathan Owens signed with the Packers, though, Murray earned a new opportunity to start in 2023. Unfortunately for Murray, that opportunity came to an end when a torn meniscus concluded his season.

After he finished the year on injured reserve, the Texans will give Murray another chance to carve out a role on the team. It will be difficult to carve out a starting role, as both Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward are set to return in 2024, but Murray can serve as a third safety or emergency starter in the case of injury.

Steelers May Trade WR Diontae Johnson?

March 9th, 2024 at 2:00pm CST by Ely Allen

It seems to be destined that Pittsburgh drafts and develops some incredible talent at wide receiver just to see them leave these days. Throughout their history, receivers like Mike Wallace, Plaxico Burress, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Santonio Holmes, Chase Claypool, and Emmanuel Sanders all play their way out of Pittsburgh some way or another after impressing over the course of their rookie deals. Even complementary receivers like Nate Washington, James Washington, Martavis Bryant, and Markus Wheaton show flashes during their time in Pittsburgh that earns them contracts elsewhere. It seems that Diontae Johnson may be next in line to join that list.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Steelers are reportedly “open to listening to trade offers” on their five-year veteran wideout. After playing out his rookie contract as a third-round pick out of Toledo, Johnson signed a two-year, $36.71MM extension. He played through the first year of that deal last season, meaning 2024 will be a contract year for the 27-year-old. Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline confirms Johnson could be available “if the price is right.”

In the final year of his contract, Johnson is due to receive $10MM of cash with a $7MM base salary and a $3MM roster bonus. With $5.83MM of his initial signing bonus being attributed to the 2024 season, he will represent a cap hit of $15.83MM. If the team were to find a trade partner, they would be able free up $10MM of that salary cap space, eating the $5.83MM they already paid him as dead money.

A down year in 2023 and only five touchdowns in the past two years may have soured the public on Johnson after a career year in 2021, but Johnson has still been consistent enough to place himself firmly in Pittsburgh’s history. His 4,363 receiving yards in black and yellow is good for ninth-most in the franchise’s storied history, surpassing all of the names listed above. Despite his recent scoring drought, his 25 career receiving touchdowns ranks 11th all-time for the Steelers.

There’s sure to be interest in Johnson around the league. His consistency has appeared in his availability over the years. Before missing four games this past season, Johnson had only missed two games in his career. His lowest receiving total of 680 yards came in his rookie season, and he’s shown that he can get into the endzone up to seven or eight times a year. Teams desperate for a WR1 or extremely interested in a strong WR2 will likely be reaching out to Pittsburgh for a price check.

As for the Steelers, if Johnson departs, it will be next man up, per usual. George Pickens seems to have taken the reins of the receiving corps with a stellar sophomore season. They’ve got some young, inexperienced depth in Calvin Austin and Dez Fitzpatrick, as well as some veteran reserve players like Marquez Callaway, Miles Boykin, and Denzel Mims. They will probably want to add to the room to support Pickens, though. While they may take a peek at free agency or trades, like they did last year with Allen Robinson, but they’re just as likely to stick to their usual modus operandi and find a new pass catcher in the draft.

S Johnathan Cyprien Retires

March 9th, 2024 at 12:40pm CST by Ben Levine

Johnathan Cyprien is calling it a career. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the veteran safety is signing a one-day deal with the Jaguars to retire with the organization. The team has made the move official, placing Cyprien on the reserve-retired list.

Despite only spending four seasons in Jacksonville, Cyprien made a big impact on the organization. The 2013 second-round immediately emerged as a starter for the Jaguars, and he proceeded to start all 60 of his appearances through his first four seasons in the NFL. He topped 100 tackles in each of those four campaigns, earning him a top-10 spot in the franchise’s all-time tackles leader board.

Following a 2016 campaign where Pro Football Focus ranked Cyprien as a top-10 safety, the Jaguars let him walk via free agency. The defensive back ended up earning a four-year, $25MM deal with the Titans, and he started all 10 of his appearances during his first season in Tennessee (plus both of the team’s playoff contests). However, he suffered a torn ACL during 2018 training camp, wiping out that season and ultimately leading to his release in 2019.

Cyprien spent the 2019 campaign bouncing around the NFL, spending time with the Eagles and Falcons. He caught on with the 49ers in 2020, appearing in four games. He hasn’t earned another gig since getting released from IR towards the end of that 2020 campaign.

The 33-year-old was honored by the Jaguars during a private event on Thursday.

Raiders To Release DE Jerry Tillery

March 9th, 2024 at 11:14am CST by Ben Levine

Jerry Tillery‘s stint with the Raiders has come to an end. The team informed the defensive end that they will release him following the start of the league year, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

After spending the second half of the 2022 campaign in Las Vegas, Tillery re-signed with the Raiders last offseason, inking a two-year, $6.8MM contract. Releasing the defensive lineman will free up around $3.8MM in cap space for the organization.

The former first-round pick disappointed during his three-plus seasons with the Chargers. Tillery steadily earned more snaps through his first three seasons in the league, but he wasn’t able to provide the Chargers with the top-end DL skills that they were seeking.

2021 marked a career year for Tillery from a counting stats perspective, with the defensive end compiling 51 tackles and 4.5 sacks while starting 15 of his 16 appearances. That extended look was apparently enough for the Chargers to determine he wasn’t a future piece, as the front office declined his fifth-year option the following offseason. Tillery found himself with a backup role in 2022 before ultimately getting waived midway through the season.

The Raiders ended up claiming the former first rounder, and he proceeded to start four of his eight appearances in Las Vegas. He started six of his 17 games this past year, finishing with 31 tackles and a pair of sacks. Pro Football Focus graded Tillery 40th among 130 qualifying interior defenders, although none of his skills graded out as anything more than above-average.

Considering his first-round pedigree, there’s a good chance Tillery can find a new home for 2024. However, following another underwhelming season, those changes may soon dry up for the 27-year-old.

Eagles Re-Sign DE Brandon Graham

March 9th, 2024 at 10:43am CST by Ben Levine

Brandon Graham is sticking around Philadelphia for a 15th season. The team announced that they’ve re-signed the veteran defensive end to a one-year extension.

There were rumblings earlier this week that the two sides were working towards a new deal, and Graham confirmed his plan to re-sign with the Eagles the other day.

There was some speculation that the veteran could call it a career following the Eagles’ disappointing end to the 2023 campaign. However, the defensive lineman was quick to dismiss that notion, stating that he still has a “little bit of juice” left in his tank. Graham also expressed interest in a farewell tour, an indication that 2024 will likely mark his final NFL season.

When he takes the field in 2024, Graham will set the record for the longest tenure with the Eagles organization. He tied Philly legend Chuck Bednarik by playing a 14th season with the team last year. Graham set another franchise mark last season, passing David Akers for the most games played in Eagles history.

Once one of the Eagles’ most dependable starters, Graham has transitioned to a backup role in recent seasons. He only started one of his 17 appearances in 2022, appearing in 43 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Still, the former first-round pick managed to compile 11 sacks, earning him a one-year, $5MM extension last offseason.

He continued to serve as a backup for Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat in 2023, appearing in all 17 games. However, he was limited to only 395 defensive snaps; ignoring his two-game stint in 2021, that was Graham’s lowest total since 2013. Despite the drop in playing time, Pro Football Focus still ranked Graham 17th among 118 qualifying edge defenders.

The future of the Eagles’ pass-rushing corps is in doubt, as both Reddick and Sweat are reportedly on the trade block. The organization could be eyeing a new and/or inexperienced edge grouping in 2024, highlighted by 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith. In that scenario, Graham’s veteran know-how will certainly come in handy as the team transitions to new defensive leaders.

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