With the deadline having passed for signings to count against the compensatory pick formula, free agent movement has picked up around the league. Developments on those and other fronts have taken place recently; in case you missed any of the NFL’s top stories from the past week, here is a quick recap:
- Patriots Retain Wolf To Lead Front Office: As expected, the Patriots began the post-draft portion of the offseason by searching out external candidates for their de facto general manager position. Several potential hires turned down the opportunity to interview for the gig, however, amidst the widespread expectation Eliot Wolf would remain in place as New England’s lead executive. Indeed, the team gave Wolf the title of EVP of player personnel, putting an end to the search. In his first offseason at the helm, the 42-year-old has overseen a number of critical decisions – including, most notably, the selection of Drake Maye at No. 3 in the draft. Wolf will lead the front office as the Patriots begin to transition to Maye as their starting quarterback (in the near future) and move forward from the Bill Belichick era.
- Raiders To Hold QB Competition: In the build-up to the draft, the Raiders were named as a candidate to move up the board to add a quarterback (in particular, Jayden Daniels). The team did not do so, leaving Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew in place under center. New GM Tom Telesco confirmed Vegas will hold a training camp competition between the two. O’Connell has drawn praise from head coach Antonio Pierce, and he finished his rookie season by throwing nine touchdowns and one interception over his final six games. Minshew, meanwhile, inked a two-year, $25MM deal in free agency. The 27-year-old has much more NFL action under his belt, and Vegas’ new offensive scheme could counterbalance O’Connell’s potential advantage from spending time in the previous system to a degree. As the Raiders aim to take a step forward in 2024, the battle for the QB1 spot will be a key story to follow.
- Chargers Add Dupree: The Chargers kept both Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in place this offseason via restructured contracts. That pair will have Bud Dupree as a notable third edge rushing option, with the latter having inked a two-year contract. Dupree will earn at least $6MM with the potential for $10MM during his Bolts pact. The 31-year-old had a disappointing run with the Titans, leading to his release last year. Serving as a starter with the Falcons, though, he regained his Steelers form to an extent and tied for the team lead with 6.5 sacks in 2023. Instead of returning to Pittsburgh or Atlanta (teams which had interest in a reunion), Dupree has elected to join a Chargers outfit which was among the league leaders in sacks last season. With Bosa struggling on the injury front recently, he could see notable playing time in Los Angeles.
- Boyd Joins Titans: Tyler Boyd courted a number of teams prior to arriving at a decision on the open market. The longtime Bengals wideout elected to sign with the Titans on a one-year deal. This agreement (worth up to $4.5MM) will allow Boyd to continue working with ex-Cincinnati OC Brian Callahan, Tennessee’s new head coach. The 29-year-old was linked to a deal with his hometown Steelers, but the sides could not agree to terms. Instead, he will depart a receiving corps headlined by Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to join one including DeAndre Hopkins and free agent addition Calvin Ridley. Boyd has twice topped 1,000 yards in his career, but he will look to rebound from declining production in recent seasons. Doing so would help a Titans’ offense led by Will Levis and help his 2025 free agent stock.
- Hill Aiming For New Dolphins Deal? The $30MM-per-year deal the Dolphins gave Tyreek Hill in 2022 stood as the benchmark amongst receivers until recently. That pact is artificially inflated with non-guaranteed money after 2024, however, and Hill’s comments on his future indicate he is seeking a Miami extension. The five-time All-Pro stated his desire to finish his career as a Dolphin, although last year he said he planned to retire following the conclusion of his Miami pact. With Hill’s contract set to carry massive cap hits in 2025 ($34.24MM) and ’26 ($56.31MM) the Dolphins would be well-served to work out an extension lowering those figures while providing him with new guarantees if a mutual desire exists on the team’s part