HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Latest On Travis Kelce’s Chiefs Contract

April 29th, 2024 at 9:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

The AAV gap between wide receivers and tight ends can partially be traced to the below-market contract Travis Kelce was tied to — and Rob Gronkowski‘s long-running, Patriots-friendly deal before that — but the gulf narrowed ever so slightly thanks to the new deal the Patrick Mahomes right-hand man inked Monday.

While initially labeled an extension, Kelce’s new contract does not contain any additional years. The all-time great remains under contract for two more seasons, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer, with $34.25MM in compensation coming his way. This new agreement does bump Kelce past Darren Waller as the NFL’s highest-paid tight end but checks in just north of the current Giant’s AAV ($17MM).

[RELATED: Details On Chiefs’ Landmark Chris Jones Deal]

Kelce, 34, will see $17MM guaranteed at signing and most of his remaining money vest on day 3 of the 2025 league year, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Overall, this will amount to a $4MM pay bump from the Chiefs, who had Kelce on their books at two years and $30.25MM through 2025 previously. This will provide Kelce with a much better guarantee structure, as none of his remaining money — on a four-year, $57.25MM contract in 2020 — was locked in.

Obviously proving worthy of this modest raise, Kelce has been invaluable to the Chiefs’ Mahomes-years surge. One of the three pillars of this Kansas City dynasty — along with Mahomes and Chris Jones — Kelce has now agreed to four contracts with the team. The Chiefs extended the future Hall of Famer early, inking him to a five-year, $46.8MM extension in 2016 — his first year of eligibility — and gave him the new deal around the same time the 49ers paid George Kittle four summers ago.

Wide receiver contracts have soared in the years since, and teams have been reluctant to reward tight ends on deals too far north of Kelce and Kittle’s pacts. T.J. Hockenson‘s Vikings extension came in at $16.5MM just before last season. Despite the salary cap having ballooned by more than $50MM since the Kelce and Kittle extensions came to pass, the Chiefs icon’s AAV checks in nearly $15MM south of A.J. Brown‘s new receiver-market-topping Eagles accord. The WR AAV number is expected to rise again — perhaps by a significant margin — this offseason, with Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb on the extension radar. No tight end appears likely to provide much distance from this Kelce number in the near future.

Kelce is in uncharted territory as far as post-30 production at tight end goes. While former Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez played 17 seasons, he did not eclipse 1,000 yards past age 32 (his final Kansas City season). Kelce surpassed 1,000 at ages 32 and 33. Yes, teams are passing more now — as rule changes regularly help aerial attacks — and the NFL added a game to its schedule, but Kelce holds the top post-merger yardage marks for a tight end’s age-31, age-32, age-33 and age-34 seasons. While some signs of decline showed during a clunky — by Mahomes-era Chiefs standards — offensive season, Kelce produced once again in the playoffs.

Kelce has certainly been vital to the Chiefs’ post-Tyreek Hill plan, as his Q rating — thanks to his podcast and Taylor Swift relationship — has skyrocketed. These guarantees ensure the Chiefs, as they attempt to become the first team to win three straight Super Bowls, will keep counting on their top pass catcher into his mid-30s.

Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott Agree To Deal

April 29th, 2024 at 9:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

In a move which comes as no surprise at this point, Ezekiel Elliott is set to return to the Cowboys. The former rushing champion has a deal in place with Dallas pending a physical, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.

This is a one-year agreement worth $3MM, per Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Elliott will collect $2MM guaranteed, he adds. The 28-year-old is therefore in line to once again take on a notable role in the Cowboys’ backfield.

One month ago, Elliott was named (alongside Dalvin Cook) as a veteran back interested in a Cowboys contract. Signs pointed to the team matching that desire in Elliott’s case shortly thereafter, and while Cook is still unsigned the former No. 4 pick is back where his career began. Elliott spent seven years in Dallas, earning three Pro Bowl invitations and one first-team All-Pro nod in his opening four campaigns.

The Ohio State product’s efficiency began to wane afterwards, however, and in 2022 he ceded some of his workload to Tony Pollard. During the subsequent offseason, Dallas retained Pollard via the franchise tag and released Elliott. That move led to a $6MM dead cap charge for 2024, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones publicly indicated that figure would not dissuade him from pursuing a reunion. Taking the dead money charge into account, Elliott will represent a rather lucrative commitment on offense for the Cowboys this year.

Pollard was not retained this offseason, and he became one of several veteran running backs who quickly found a new home in free agency. That created a vacancy atop Dallas’ backfield depth chart and led many to expect a notable investment in the position. After Royce Freeman was added on a low-cost deal, the team appeared to be set up for a rookie addition during last weekend’s draft. The Cowboys did not add at the position, however, having spoken with Elliott on the eve of the opening round.

With a deal now in place, Elliott will re-join a Cowboys team which also includes the likes of Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis in the backfield. Following his Dallas release, Elliott joined the Patriots on a one-year deal similar to this one. The 2023 campaign produced career-lows in carries (184), yards (642) and efficiency (3.5 yards per attempt), but Jones still views him as being capable of handling a starter’s workload. It will be interesting to see how Elliott’s role shakes out in 2024 upon return to a familiar team.

Ravens Extend WR Rashod Bateman

April 29th, 2024 at 9:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

APRIL 29: Unlike the rest of the 2021 first-round picks who entered this offseason on their rookie contracts, Bateman was ineligible for the fifth-year option due to his stay on the reserve/did not report list last summer, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec notes. The short stay before reporting to camp last year would have made Bateman a restricted free agent in 2025 and a UFA in ’26, helping shape his recent extension.

Bateman’s through-2026 deal is worth $15.25MM, ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. The deal can max out at $16.75MM. Bateman will be 27 when this contract expires, giving the Ravens potential upside in exchange for some security after a bumpy first three seasons.

APRIL 24: Rashod Bateman delivered a healthy season last year, and although the former first-round pick operated as more of an auxiliary target in 2023, the Ravens view him as a key part of their future.

The defending AFC North champions showed this by agreeing to an extension with Bateman on Wednesday. The parties agreed on a deal that runs through 2026. This would effectively be a two-year extension for Bateman, whose rookie contract was set to expire after the 2024 season.

After two injury-plagued seasons and a 16-game 2023 campaign that only produced 367 yards, Bateman was not a reasonable candidate to see his fifth-year option picked up by the May 2 deadline. But the Ravens have reached a compromise with the Minnesota alum. While Bateman has not lived up to his No. 27 overall draft slot, he will gain a bit of security with this deal. Though, the terms will be telling here.

Bateman’s career high in receiving yardage (515) came as a rookie, and the 2021 draftee has only totaled four career receiving touchdowns. The Ravens were counting on the 6-foot-1 receiver in 2022, but a foot injury ended his season after six games. The team brought in more help last year, adding Odell Beckham Jr., Nelson Agholor and Zay Flowers. Beckham, who played ahead of Bateman last year, is out of the picture for 2024. Flowers is in place as the Ravens’ WR centerpiece, with Agholor still on the roster.

The Ravens have been pursuing more help, hosting Michael Gallup and Josh Reynolds (who later joined the Broncos) on free agency visits in March. They ended up signing receiver/return man Deonte Harty earlier this month. With Agholor in a contract year and Beckham having been the team’s second-leading receiver last season, the Ravens looking for more help in the draft would make sense. But this agreement probably buys Bateman more time. He figures to be in Baltimore’s 2025 plans as well.

Mark Andrews remains the Ravens’ aerial centerpiece; he has displayed by far the best rapport with Lamar Jackson. It will be interesting to see how the Ravens use Bateman going forward, after separating with Beckham. The well-traveled standout remains unsigned but is not expected back in Baltimore.

Patriots Release OL Conor McDermott

April 29th, 2024 at 9:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite changing coaches for the first time in 24 years, the Patriots have made retention a key component of their offseason. This continued Monday, with the now-Eliot Wolf-run team extending defensive tackle Christian Barmore.

But the team will bid farewell to one of its recent offensive linemen, releasing Conor McDermott on Monday. McDermott, 31, started 11 games for the Patriots over the past two seasons. Barring another reunion, this wraps McDermott’s second stint with the team that drafted him in the 2017 sixth round.

The Pats began their McDermott partnership via waiver claim midway through the 2022 season. Despite McDermott not being one of the Jets’ initial solutions at tackle, the Pats — as they lost Isaiah Wynn to injury — plugged him in for six starts that year. Although he spent time on New England’s practice squad last season, the UCLA alum started five games in 2023.

A Dolphins signing away from completing the AFC East cycle, McDermott spent the 2017 and ’18 seasons in Buffalo after being cut by New England. The Jets used McDermott as a backup tackle from 2019 until his return to the Pats in 2022. He played 589 snaps for the Patriots over the past two seasons, working at left tackle last season and right tackle in 2022.

Of the Pats’ Wolf- and Jerod Mayo-overseen re-signings, Michael Onwenu profiles as the most expensive. The tackle/guard is back on a three-year, $57MM deal; the plan is for Onwenu to stay at right tackle. The team signed Chukwuma Okorafor and is set to give the veteran Steelers RT a chance to start at LT; third-round pick Caedan Wallace should have a shot there as well.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/29/24

April 29th, 2024 at 9:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Waived: LS Matt Hembrough

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: T Roy Mbaeteka

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Waived: S Tyreque Jones

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Waived: DT Noah Elliss, WR Griffin Hebert, CB Tiawan Mullen, OL Lecitus Smith

The Eagles gave reserve/futures contracts to each of these players in January. Of this lot, only Smith — a 2022 Cardinals sixth-round pick — has played in a game. The young blocker started two games with Arizona as a rookie.

Mbaeteka will receive a second crack at developing with an NFL team through the league’s International Pathway Program. A Nigerian who did not play in high school or college, Mbaeteka spent last year on the Bears’ practice squad. Chicago cut the aspiring offensive lineman in March. Mbaeteka will not count against the Browns’ 90-man roster limit.

Vikings Sign 17 UDFAs

April 29th, 2024 at 8:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the draft in the rearview mirror, teams are bringing in undrafted free agents. The Vikings added 17 players to their offseason roster via the UDFA route; here is Minnesota’s class:

Not exactly a hotbed for NFL talent, Mercer will send two wide receivers to the same team. These two pass catchers are the second and third Mercer products to land an NFL opportunity in the past decade. James is the Division I-FCS program’s all-time receiving leader; he earned first-team All-American honors in 2023. The former Georgia recruit surpassed 1,100 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons, adding 20 receiving TDs. Operating as an all-purpose player, Harper combined for four return scores for the Bears. Harper set a school record with 78 grabs alongside James last season.

ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranked Knox as this draft class’ No. 205 overall prospect; he is heading to Minneapolis after five college seasons (the recent norm for UDFAs due to the COVID-19 waiver). After four seasons at Arkansas, Knox transferred to South Carolina. He caught 37 passes for 312 yards and two TDs last season. Murphy was part of UCLA’s Laiatu Latu-led edge-rushing contingent. After a 7.5-sack 2021 season, he registered eight — along with 16 tackles for loss — last year. Murphy will attempt to make a Vikings team that is revamping on the edge, bringing in Jonathan Greenard and first-rounder Dallas Turner after losing Danielle Hunter, D.J. Wonnum and Marcus Davenport.

Gant is a former four-star recruit who transferred from Ohio State, earning first-team All-MAC honors after heading north to Toledo. Rolland — a Harvard transfer — started as one of Drake Maye‘s pass protectors for the past two seasons, while Cindric started 17 games at center and 17 more at guard at Cal.

Bengals Did Not Approach $20MM AAV During Previous Tee Higgins Talks

April 29th, 2024 at 7:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

No news about Tee Higgins-Bengals extension talks has surfaced this year, leading to a trade request — as seven of the other nine 2024 tag recipients agreed to deals. But the Bengals did discuss terms with Higgins last year; those talks did not go well.

With Ja’Marr Chase on track for an expected record-setting receiver extension, it is not certain if the Bengals have a Higgins extension — at least, not one at the rate the Cincinnati WR2 would seek — in their plans. Just before last season, a report surfaced the Bengals and Higgins were not close on terms. This prompted the two-time 1,000-yard pass catcher to play out his rookie contract without further extension talks transpiring.

[RELATED: Bengals Exercise Ja’Marr Chase’s Fifth-Year Option]

No reports of another round of Bengals-Higgins talks have surfaced, and the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway provides more details on the latest round of discussions. The Bengals did not come close to the $20MM-per-year number for Higgins when the sides last talked, and Conway adds the gap that formed — in terms of AAV — cut off extension talks fairly early. The sides did not discuss guarantees.

Guarantees were rumored to be an issue between the parties last summer, but it is unclear if guaranteed money — beyond the $21.82MM franchise tag the Bengals applied in February — has entered the equation yet. In terms of comps, Conway adds Higgins was seeking a deal in line with the numbers Michael Pittman Jr. agreed to (three years, $70MM). This would have placed Higgins in the range Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel and D.K. Metcalf established in 2022.

Higgins’ receiving numbers are comparable to these players, and had he hit the open market like Calvin Ridley did, a deal north of where the Titans went (four years, $96MM) would have been likely. Not counting Higgins’ tag, 17 wideouts are now attached to deals worth $20MM or more per year.

Eyeing another run at a Super Bowl, the Bengals predictably used the tag on Higgins, who joins Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. as the only tag recipients this year unsigned. While Tampa Bay has extension plans for its All-Pro DB, Cincy might be content letting Higgins play a season on the tag. The team has no plans to trade Higgins, who expects to be with the Bengals in 2024.

Keeping Higgins on a rental agreement would stand to align with the Bengals’ Chase and Joe Burrow contracts. Chase remains on his rookie contract, and only one wide receiver — DeVonta Smith — has signed an extension with two years of rookie-deal control remaining in the fifth-year option era. The Bengals waited until Year 5 to extend A.J. Green in 2015, pointing to a 2025 Chase agreement. Burrow’s five-year, $275MM extension also will spike from $29.7MM to $46.3MM from 2024-25. These two situations open a window for the Bengals to retain Higgins on the tag, though the long-term outlooks for Burrow and Chase complicate matters regarding an extension for the 2020 second-round pick.

It will be interesting if the Bengals make another offer. They did make Jessie Bates an offer before the 2022 tag deadline, but the proposal was believed to be low on guarantees, calling into question how interested Cincinnati was in a long-term Bates deal. Unless an extension is reached or Higgins is re-tagged in 2025, will be in position, the 6-foot-4 target will be positioned as one of the top players on next year’s market.

Raiders To Sign WR Michael Gallup

April 29th, 2024 at 6:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders will give Michael Gallup a second chance. After the Cowboys cut the veteran wide receiver earlier this year, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports the former 1,000-yard performer has a deal in place with the Raiders.

Gallup is heading to Las Vegas on a one-year deal worth up to $3MM. This certainly represents a steep drop from Gallup’s five-year Cowboys agreement, but the former third-round pick is coming off three straight underwhelming seasons. The Cowboys had given Gallup permission to seek a trade, but the team cut him — as a post-June 1 release — before a $4MM salary guarantee was due.

Las Vegas did not draft a wide receiver, and new GM Tom Telesco signed off on cutting Hunter Renfrow last month. Gallup, 28, will join Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers as veteran Raider wide receivers. This profiles as a bounce-back opportunity for Gallup, who has not displayed the form he once showed before a December 2021 ACL tear.

Although Gallup’s ACL tear did not occur until late in the ’21 season, he battled a calf injury earlier that year. Gallup has not surpassed 500 receiving yards since the 2020 season, going 445-424-418 over the past three years. The Cowboys then bailed on his five-year, $57.5MM deal. Dallas had opted for a cheaper Gallup contract alongside CeeDee Lamb, trading ex-Raider Amari Cooper to the Browns. That move created a void for the Cowboys, who spent 2022 searching for more receiving help. The team has 2023 trade pickup Brandin Cooks installed in that role for the time being.

In Gallup’s last full season before the tear, he totaled 59 receptions for 843 yards and five touchdowns. He bettered that work in 2019, teaming with Cooper — before Lamb’s arrival — in an 1,100-1,100 tandem. Gallup produced 1,107 yards on 66 catches, delivering a career-high six touchdown grabs in his second season. The 6-foot-1 target is now running out of time to return to these heights, and the Raiders’ receiving corps does not point to this deal providing the opportunities necessary to get there.

A regular in trade rumors over the past several months, Adams remains with the team. Telesco confirmed the 31-year-old star was not available at the Combine, and a report earlier this month indicated Mark Davis wants to pair the All-Pro with the team’s next long-term QB. With the Raiders left without a chair during a six-QB first round last week, it is unclear if Adams will be around by the time the Raiders do add that passer. But he remains in place with Gardner Minshew. Despite Meyers having close ties to the Josh McDaniels-Dave Ziegler regime, he remains on a three-year, $33MM deal — one that includes a fully guaranteed base salary in 2024.

Gallup has a path to becoming a third option, as the team is a bit light on depth at this position. Though, the Raiders have slot presence Tre Tucker — another acquisition from the brief McDaniels-Ziegler period — on the roster as well. The team hosted ex-Telesco Chargers wideout Jalen Guyton earlier today. Gallup met with the Ravens and Panthers this offseason but will end up working with OC Luke Getsy in Vegas.

Saints To Sign G Shane Lemieux, OL Justin Herron

April 29th, 2024 at 4:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Facing some uncertainty on the offensive line, the Saints reinvested — via their second first-round tackle pick in three years — over the weekend and are continuing to add to the group. They are bringing in two veteran pieces Monday.

Shane Lemieux and Justin Herron are signing with the team, NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill tweets. Lemieux came to town on a visit today, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates. Lemieux played out his rookie contract with the Giants last season, while Herron split his with the Patriots and Raiders.

The Saints added Oregon State tackle Taliese Fuaga at No. 14 overall but did not draft any more O-linemen over the weekend. Lemieux and Herron will now represent potential depth pieces for an offensive front that is going into OTAs with significant questions. Trevor Penning, a 2022 first-rounder, has not panned out. Three-year starter James Hurst, who filled in at both guard and left tackle, retired just before the draft. All-Pro right tackle Ryan Ramczyk is not certain to play this season, putting his career at a crossroads.

Injuries on their rookie deals left Lemieux and Herron at crossroad points early in their careers — Lemieux more so than Herron. The Giants used Lemieux as a regular guard starter in 2020, but a severe foot injury sidelined him for almost all of the 2021 and ’22 seasons. Lemieux returned in 2022 but played in only one game. This represents an interesting flier by the Saints, as Lemieux has only suited up for five contests since that 2021 foot injury. A biceps injury in practice last October ended Lemieux’s contract year on a familiar note.

Chosen a round after Lemieux in 2020, Herron — a sixth-round selection by the Patriots — started 10 games for New England from 2020-21. Herron saw most of his work at left tackle, filling in for Isaiah Wynn, in 2020 before splitting time between left and right tackle the following year. Traded to the Raiders in a pick-swap deal in September 2022, Herron played in only seven games (one start) with Las Vegas. He suffered a torn ACL in October 2023.

While Herron and Lemieux could represent swing options for the Saints up front, both qualify as reclamation projects. The team has not re-signed longtime starter Andrus Peat and has added Vikings spot starter Oli Udoh. Penning could continue as an overdrafted swing tackle — though, the Saints may well need the Northern Iowa alum to start, given Ramczyk’s status — while the Saints also traded up for O-lineman Nick Saldiveri in last year’s fourth round.

Falcons To Exercise TE Kyle Pitts’ Fifth-Year Option

April 29th, 2024 at 4:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Kyle Pitts has not delivered the consistency the Falcons hoped for when they selected him fourth overall, the team has the young tight end talent now paired with a high-priced free agent quarterback (and a No. 8 overall pick at the position). They are extending Pitts’ contract through 2025 as well.

The team is picking up Pitts’ fifth-year option, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates. This will lock in the 2021 draftee to a $10.88MM salary in 2025; that number is fully guaranteed. As Pitts prepares to develop with Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. throwing him passes, the Falcons are fine locking him down for a fifth season.

Pitts’ season with Matt Ryan targeting him produced a 1,026-yard showing and ended with the Florida alum receiving an original-ballot Pro Bowl invite; that qualifies the 23-year-old weapon for the second tier on the option hierarchy. This will give Pitts a nice 2025 guarantee. The 6-foot-6 tight end remains attached to a $1.1MM base salary this season, but the option will barely increase his cap number from 2024-25. Pitts checks in at $10.47MM on Atlanta’s 2024 cap sheet.

The last time Pitts paired with a proven passer, he became just the second tight end in NFL history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards as a rookie. This had not happened since the Bears unleashed Mike Ditka (1,076 yards) in 1961. It is certainly within reason, despite less impressive statistical showings over the next two years, to believe Pitts remains capable of top-flight production. Even saddled with Desmond Ridder for most of last season, Pitts caught 53 passes for 667 yards.

Terry Fontenot‘s first draft choice has not proven a strong red zone threat yet, totaling just one touchdown during his impact rookie season and six over the course of his career. The Falcons teamed Pitts with ex-Arthur Smith pupil Jonnu Smith last season; each tight end scored three touchdowns. The Falcons cut Smith this offseason. As the Falcons transition to Zac Robinson‘s Sean McVay-derived offense, Pitts will be expected to play a lead role. The Cousins acquisition, while now hotly debated thanks to the Penix pick, still presents a great opportunity for Pitts and Drake London.

Pitts is also more than a year removed from the grade 2 MCL tear he suffered midway through the 2022 season. This injury affected Pitts last season as well, as it was confirmed the top Falcons tight end was not yet fully recovered. Nearly 18 months after that injury, it should be expected Pitts will be ready to go once Cousins is cleared.

Even after Sam LaPorta‘s 889-yard showing last year, no 21st-century rookie tight end has come within 100 yards of Pitts’ 2021 performance. It makes sense for the Falcons to keep betting on Pitts’ upside, as the TE option numbers are not particularly costly. It will be interesting to see how Pitts fares alongside Cousins, as the Falcons will be monitoring — as Pitts is now extension-eligible — as they plan for a future in which Penix takes over for Cousins at some point. The team will be hoping Penix-Pitts becomes a connection down the line.

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