HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/7/24

March 7th, 2024 at 6:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Thursday’s tender decisions from around the NFL:

RFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

It will cost the Lions $2.99MM to retain Wright, who will receive the right-of-first-refusal tender. That doubles as the lowest number within the three-tiered RFA tender formula. A 2021 UDFA, Wright has been a regular in Detroit; the Notre Dame alum has started 19 games with the team. He played 423 offensive snaps last season, which marked a step back from 2022 (591). The Lions’ tight end plans changed when they chose Sam LaPorta in the 2023 second round, but Wright (13 receptions, 91 yards last year) remains in the team’s 2024 blueprint.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/7/24

March 7th, 2024 at 6:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Campbell was set to be a restricted free agent; this deal will bypass the tender process and keep the young defender on the team. The former UDFA has primarily been a Dolphins special-teamer, though he started one game apiece over the past two seasons. Campbell has logged at least a 69% snap share on special teams in each of the past three seasons.

Texans, Bills Host DT Foley Fatukasi

March 7th, 2024 at 5:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

After the Jaguars ditched three defensive starters to create cap space earlier this week, one of them is already generating interest on the market. Foley Fatukasi has made two visits since his Jacksonville exit.

The Texans met with the veteran defensive tackle, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, who adds that meeting took place Wednesday. The Bills brought the ex-Jets draftee to town today, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Other teams have expressed interest, per Garafolo, and it appears a deal could come together before the market opens.

Because the Jags released Fatukasi, he is a street free agent and does not need to wait until next week — as unrestricted free agents do — to speak with teams. Fatukasi, whom the Jags cut on his 29th birthday, has been a regular run-stopping presence in New York and Jacksonville. Pro Football Focus did not view the UConn alum as being worth the deal the Jags authorized (three years, $30MM), grading him as one of the league’s worst DTs in 2022 and 60th at the position last year. But teams appear to disagree with this assessment.

A strong run in New York created a good Fatukasi market in 2022. PFF graded the former sixth-round pick as a top-15 interior D-lineman in 2019 and ’20, making him one of the brightest spots during the grim Adam Gase Jets tenure. Viewed as an elite run defender at that point, Fatukasi is now trying to bounce back after the Jags stripped away some of their 2022 free agency pickups.

The Texans have an interesting opportunity, with not much in the way of funds tied up anywhere but along the offensive line and now at tight end — via Dalton Schultz‘s $12MM-per-year deal. DeMeco Ryans‘ defense ranked sixth against the run last season, and while the team has Maliek Collins signed for 2024, it lost pass-rushing DT Sheldon Rankins. The Bills have a bigger need here, with their Ed Oliver supporting cast almost entirely bound for free agency. DTs DaQuan Jones, Tim Settle, Jordan Phillips and Poona Ford are out of contract. The Bills, who were without Jones for much of the season, ranked 15th against the run last year.

Rams To Re-Sign G Kevin Dotson

March 7th, 2024 at 4:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

After engaging in talks with Kevin Dotson, the Rams have reached an agreement to keep the 2023 trade acquisition away from free agency. Dotson is staying in L.A.

The sides have agreed to a three-year deal, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, who reports the contract is worth $48MM. Convincing Dotson to steer clear of the open market, the Rams are giving the young guard $32MM guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

This marks a big payday for Dotson, whom the Rams acquired in a swap of Day 3 picks from the Steelers just before last season. Dotson proceeded to commandeer Los Angeles’ right guard job, giving the team stability there after Super Bowl LVI starters Austin Corbett and David Edwards had departed. The Rams chose Steve Avila with their top draft choice last year; he and Dotson are now both signed through 2026.

The Rams had expected both Dotson and starting center Coleman Shelton to hit the market, but the team came in with a nice offer — one that will make Dotson among the top 10 highest-paid guards — to prevent him from speaking with other teams during the legal tampering period. Dotson’s deal comes hours after the Jaguars agreed to terms with Ezra Cleveland.

A former fourth-round pick, Dotson is now tied at sixth among guard average annual value; the four-year veteran’s per-year number matches All-Pros Joe Thuney and Joel Bitonio. Dotson’s guarantee number resides south of those AFC blockers, but he also got there on a three-year deal; Thuney is on a five-year pact, Bitonio a four-year accord.

Dotson, who will turn 28 early next season, played a lead role in Kyren Williams showcasing Pro Bowl-caliber ability. Pro Football Focus slotted Dotson as the NFL’s second-best run-blocking guard. As the Rams shifted away from a wide-zone scheme, Dotson dominated at points to help Williams run wild. Dotson had started 30 games for the Steelers from 2020-22, including all 17 of Pittsburgh’s 2022 contests. Inconsistency led the Steelers to bail for a low-end return following the team’s Isaac Seumalo signing last year. Seeing the Steelers give Seumalo and James Daniels midlevel deals, Dotson has agreed to a second contract well north of his former teammates’.

This bodes well for what will still be a crowded guard market. Robert Hunt, Jonah Jackson, Jon Runyan Jr. and Michael Onwenu — if he lands as a guard and not a tackle — headline this year’s crop. Dotson’s payout will help the set the market for this batch of second-contract-seeking interior blockers.

PFF had rated Dotson as a top-30 guard twice during his Pittsburgh tenure (2020, 2022), but he took a big step forward in his contract year. The Rams will bet on the ex-Steelers castoff fortifying their interior O-line as the team aims to build on last year’s wild-card berth.

Eagles, DE Brandon Graham Moving Toward Deal?

March 7th, 2024 at 4:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the Eagles’ “Core Four” linemen has committed to retiring. With Jason Kelce out of the picture, Fletcher Cox has now been tied to walking away. The second-oldest member of this quartet still wants to play, however.

Brandon Graham may well be moving close to another Eagles agreement. The veteran defensive end said during an appearance on WIP SportsRadio the plan is for him to re-sign with the Eagles; the 35-year-old pass rusher added (via PHLY Sports) he is confident a deal will be completed.

[RELATED: Graham Contract May Come Prior To Free Agency]

Graham tied Eagles legend Chuck Bednarik by playing a 14th season with the team last year; a 15th would make the former first-round pick the longest-tenured player in Eagles history. Expressing interest of reaching the 15-season plateau back in 2022, Graham surpassed David Akers‘ franchise record for games played last season. He has played in 195 regular-season games.

Graham no longer serves as the Eagles’ top pass rusher or even a regular starter, with Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat in place as the team’s top edge performers. Both are going into contract years, and Roseman has already given Reddick permission to seek a trade. Tied to a $15MM contract he has outplayed, Reddick has led the Eagles in sacks in each of the past two seasons. Graham, however, has served as an important role player.

Responsible for one of the greatest plays in Eagles history — the fourth-quarter strip of Tom Brady that led to a Super Bowl LII triumph — Graham has reached eight sacks in a season three times since. In 2022, Graham’s career-high 11 sacks helped the Eagles threaten the 1984 Bears’ single-season NFL record. Graham re-signed on a one-year, $5MM accord to stay on in 2023, though he notched only three sacks last season. Even though the salary cap has climbed to $255.4MM, Graham will have a tough time securing more than that $5MM payment to stay with the team.

On a related note, Graham does expect Cox to walk away after 12 seasons. The 2012 first-round pick has been vital to the Eagles’ modern success. Cox retiring would lead to the Eagles losing DT starters in consecutive offseasons, with Javon Hargrave joining the 49ers last year. Of course, the line-obsessed franchise has prepared for this, with Jalen Carter joining ex-college teammate Jordan Davis in last year’s first round.

Saints To Extend S Tyrann Mathieu

March 7th, 2024 at 2:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tyrann Mathieu was already on the books for 2024, but he will now have a new deal in place. The All-Pro safety has agreed to a two-year pact with the Saints, as first reported by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

This agreement has a value of $13MM, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson adds. Mathieu was owed $9MM in 2024 on his previous pact, with a scheduled cap hit of just over $12MM. New Orleans could have moved on via his release, but that route would have produced negligible cap savings. Instead, the 31-year-old will remain in place for a third and fourth Saints campaign. Underhill notes the new deal will lower the 2024 cap number to roughly $5.5MM. On this extension, Underhill adds $10MM is guaranteed.

Mathieu originally joined the Saints on a three-year, $33MM deal following the end of his Chiefs tenure. Kansas City did not offer a new contract at the time, leaving the LSU alum free to join his hometown team. He has remained a full-time starter over the past two seasons, racking up seven interceptions and 17 pass deflections during that span.

The Saints have again been active in restructuring contracts to move toward cap compliance this offseason. Earlier this afternoon, the team was more than $17MM over the cap. Teams have until 3pm CT on March 13, when the 2024 league year begins, to move under the $255.4MM salary ceiling. The Saints have faced greater challenges than this year’s on the cap front, moving down from more than $100MM over back in 2021. Mickey Loomis‘ team continues to grind away, and this Mathieu accord represents another step.

With Marcus Maye in and out of the lineup due to injuries and a suspension, Mathieu’s presence has been more important for a Saints team still trying to find its footing post-Drew Brees. Even in Year 11, Mathieu remains one of the league’s better back-line presences. Pro Football Focus ranked the safety and experienced slot stopper 10th at his position last season. The Honey Badger intercepted four passes, notching 122 return yards and a touchdown, and broke up nine more in his second Saints slate. Mathieu notched a pick-six in the Saints’ 34-0 win over the Patriots.

Maye could not stay healthy in New Orleans, which will lead to his exit as a post-June 1 cut, but Mathieu — a two-time Super Bowl starter — has not missed a game since signing with the team in May 2022. He joins Cameron Jordan, Demario Davis and Marshon Lattimore as Saints defensive pillars. Lattimore, however, has been the subject of trade rumors. Thursday’s agreement at least provides some secondary stability for the NFC South team, ensuring Mathieu will stay put.

Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield Engaged In “Positive” Negotiations

March 7th, 2024 at 2:49pm CST by Ben Levine

MARCH 7: Laine reports the sides have made slight progress in contract talks, meaning an agreement could still be reached before free agency. The legal tampering window opens on March 11, meaning that is the earliest point at which Mayfield could begin speaking with other teams and testing his market. This situation will thus remain worth watching closely over the coming days.

MARCH 4: The Buccaneers accomplished one of their major offseason goals today, as the team agreed to a new contract with star wideout Mike Evans. Now, the front office will shift focus to the quarterback position, and it sounds like negotiations are going well with their 2023 starter.

[RELATED: Buccaneers, Mike Evans Agree To Deal]

According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, the Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield‘s camp started discussing a new deal at the combine, with negotiations described as “positive.” In fact, both sides are so motivated to sign a new deal that Mayfield might not even hit free agency.

General manager Jason Licht recently made it clear that Mayfield was the team’s top option at the position. When asked about the quarterback draft class, the GM admitted that the team’s “focus is on signing Baker.” Mayfield has also stated a desire to continue his career in Tampa Bay. After all, it was the Buccaneers who took a chance on him last offseason and allowed him to revive his career.

Further, Mayfield values the “high degree of organizational stability,” even with offensive coordinator Dave Canales having left to become the Panthers head coach. As Laine points out, Mayfield has also been looking to settle down with one organization after having spent time with four different teams between 2021 and 2023.

To top it all off, Mayfield made it clear that Evans’ impending free agency would play a role in his decision. The quarterback previously stated that “[i]f I’m back, I want Mike back” (via Laine), and with the wideout having agreed to a new deal, it appears that Mayfield’s demands have been met.

Of course, as is the case with many free agents, money will also be a factor. While the former first-overall pick is motivated to stick with the Buccaneers, he isn’t willing to give the organization a “hometown discount,” per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. That would leave the door open for potential suitors like the Falcons to swoop in with an offer that Mayfield can’t refuse, and it only reinforces why the Buccaneers may look to get a deal done before the start of free agency.

After signing a one-year deal with the Buccaneers last offseason, Mayfield proceeded to guide his squad to a 9-8 record and a playoff victory. Mayfield finished the regular season having set new career highs in completion percentage (64.3), passing yards (4,044), and touchdowns (28).

Jaguars To Re-Sign S Daniel Thomas

March 7th, 2024 at 2:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jacksonville’s secondary has seen a number of departures recently, but a depth contributor will remain in the fold. Safety Daniel Thomas has agreed to a new deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

[RELATED: Jaguars To Re-Sign Ezra Cleveland]

The pact is two years in length and has a base value of $4MM, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz adds. Thomas could earn up to $6MM, though, making this agreement a much more lucrative one than his rookie contract. The former fifth-rounder has spent the past four seasons in Jacksonville, primarily serving on special teams.

Thomas has played 56 games with the Jags, logging a pair of starts in each of his first two years. He logged defensive snap shares of 23% and 20% during that time, but since then he has been used all-but exclusively in the third phase. The 25-year-old has played 902 special teams snaps in his career, and that figure will continue to grow with this new deal in place.

The Jaguars released veteran safety Rayshawn Jenkins earlier this week as part of their cap purge on defense. That cost-cutting move left the team without a starter and it could open the door to more defensive playing time for Thomas. The latter would still have a number of other in-house options to compete with, however, and the team could elect to add during free agency in particular (given the long list of available safeties).

Jacksonville had roughly $24.5MM in cap space entering Thursday, a figure which does not take into account the Cleveland or Thomas deals. While the Jags’ spending power will be lowered by those pacts, both players are now in line for newfound compensation on their second contracts.

Giants TE Darren Waller Addresses Potential Retirement

March 7th, 2024 at 1:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

A report from earlier this month stated Darren Waller was committed to playing in 2024. The Giants tight end has not made a firm decision one way or the other, however. He confirmed that when speaking publicly about his situation.

Waller had his debut Giants campaign cut short due to the latest occurrence of his hamstring issues. He is still under contract for three years, although none of his salary is guaranteed over that span. Even if he were to hang up his cleats, though, the 31-year-old’s career would prove to have been a lucrative one as he has more than $42MM in total earnings.

“I’m undecided at the moment,” Waller told Dan Duggan of The Athletic (subscription required). “It’s really the idea of signing up for another journey. It’s tough, it’s long, it requires a lot. And if you’re not fully bought into every single thing of the process, it’s going to be tough. I feel like at the end of the day, you’re doing guys a disservice if you’re not all the way in.”

The former sixth-rounder topped 1,100 yards in consecutive seasons with the Raiders, demonstrating his ability as one of the league’s most dynamic tight ends when healthy. Waller has been limited to 32 games in three years since then, however, something which factored heavily into his trade from Vegas to New York. In 12 games with the Giants, he posted 552 yards and one touchdown on 52 catches.

Waller noted he has no firm timeline on his decision, adding the Giants have not imposed one. Still, the team would no doubt prefer to have clarity with free agency and the draft on the horizon. Replacing the Georgia Tech product would become a key priority for a team already in need of pass-catching additions if necessary. Health and finances are factors going into Waller’s thought process, but he noted his ultimate decision will come down to “deeper” reasons.

“I’m not just coming back to collect an extra check, because that’s not what I’m trying to do or who I’m trying to be,” he added. “At this point in my life, I’m blessed to be able to be more than OK financially. Plus, if the only reason I’m doing something is because of an amount of money, I know that’s not a decision I need to be making.”

Dolphins, TE Jonnu Smith Agree To Deal

March 7th, 2024 at 12:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

After making a number of cost-shedding moves recently, the Dolphins are set to make an addition on offense. Miami has reached agreement on a deal with tight end Jonnu Smith, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

The contract – which Schefter notes is for two years and has a maximum value of $10MM – comes as little surprise. Smith visited Miami earlier this week, pointing to an agreement being in the cards. Now, the parties have worked out an arrangement which will see the 28-year-old join a fourth career team.

The Falcons released Smith last month, a move which freed up cap space and gave him a head start on free agency. Atlanta traded for the former third-rounder in part to reunite him with then-head coach Arthur Smith. With the latter out of the picture, Jonnu Smith was allowed to find a new home before the start of free agency. Expectations for him will be relatively high in South Beach.

Smith posted a career high in catches (50) and yards (582) in 2023, adding three touchdowns along the way. Considering the presence of fellow tight end Kyle Pitts and the struggles the team endured under center, those figures will have impressed the Dolphins and any other suitors Smith may have had in the event he remained unsigned through to next week. Miami had a need at the TE spot, and his ability both in the passing game and as a run blocker will be welcomed in Mike McDaniel‘s scheme.

Durham Smythe led the way in terms of production at the position last season (35 catches, 366 yards) on an offense dominated by wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in the passing game. That duo will no doubt remain a focal point moving forward, but Smith’s skillset could provide a better replacement for former starter Mike Gesicki after he struggled under McDaniel in 2022.

Miami entered Thursday roughly $20MM over the cap ceiling not long before the start of free agency. All teams must be cap compliant by March 13, and further moves will be needed to reach that point in the coming days (although savings will later come into play given the pending release of cornerback Xavien Howard). Smith will add to the Dolphins’ cap sheet in 2024 and ’25, but his addition could be an effective one as the team looks to replicate its offensive success from last season.

Load More Posts