HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Broncos Re-Sign WR Phillip Dorsett

May 13th, 2024 at 9:17pm CST by Ben Levine

Phillip Dorsett is returning to Denver. After spending the majority of the 2023 campaign on the Broncos practice squad, the veteran wide receiver is re-signing with the team, per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver.

[RELATED: Latest On Broncos, WR Courtland Sutton]

The former first-round pick earned bust status during his time with the Colts, but he’s still managed to hang around the NFL for almost a decade. His best season came back in 2016 when he topped 500 receiving yards in Indy. He also didn’t look helpless during his three-year run in New England, including a 2019 season where he finished with 397 receiving yards and five touchdowns (he also had a pair of touchdowns during the Patriots’ 2018 Super Bowl run).

Since hitting free agency in 2020, the receiver has bounced around the NFL, spending time with the Seahawks (two stints), Jaguars, Texans, Raiders, and Broncos. He got into 15 games with Houston as recently as 2022, although he only got into a pair of contesets for Denver last season.

Of course, the team’s receiver depth will look different in 2024. Jerry Jeudy has already been shipped out, and Courtland Sutton is away from the team as he seeks a new deal (although the receiver has not requested a trade). The team did bring in free agent Josh Reynolds and selected Troy Franklin in the fourth round, adding the duo to a group of holdovers that also includes Marvin Mims Jr. and Tim Patrick. Dorsett will likely be competing for one of the final spots on the depth chart, although there’s a chance he goes back to his familiar practice squad role.

The Broncos have also signed undrafted cornerback Quinton Newsome and waived undrafted receiver Lincoln Victor and undrafted punter Nik Constantinou. Newsome emerged as one of Nebraska’s best defenders over the past few years. The defensive back finished his college career with 147 tackles, 17 passes defended, and one interception. He also was a standout special teams player, perhaps hinting at his potential role in Denver.

Bills Hosting WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

May 13th, 2024 at 8:03pm CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like Marquez Valdes-Scantling‘s market is heating up. After meeting with the Chargers last week, the veteran wide receiver is meeting with the Bills tonight, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

[RELATED: Chargers To Host Marquez Valdes-Scantling]

The former Packers draft pick has spent the past two seasons in Kansas City, earning Super Bowl rings in each campaign. Following a 2022 season where he compiled 687 receiving yards, Valdes-Scantling finished 2023 with a career-low 315 receiving yards. The wideout has also come up big in the playoffs, hauling in 24 receptions and three touchdowns, including one score in this past year’s Super Bowl.

The Chiefs moved on from the veteran earlier this offseason, saving the team $12MM against the cap. The veteran was set to enter the final season of a three-year, $30MM deal he signed with the Chiefs in 2022. Valdes-Scantling has been connected to the Chargers multiple times this offseason, but it’s been a relatively quiet free agency for the 29-year-old.

The WR-needy Bills would be a natural landing spot for any of the available free agent wideouts, so it’s not a surprise that they’re considering Valdes-Scantling. Both Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis will be playing elsewhere in 2024, leaving the team with a questionable depth chart at the position. The team still has holdover Khalil Shakir, and they added a list of veterans (including Curtis Samuel, Chase Claypool, and Mack Hollins) before selecting Keon Coleman in the second round of the draft.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/24

May 13th, 2024 at 6:40pm CST by Ben Levine

Front offices around the NFL continue to chip away at their draft pick signings. That was no exception today, as a number of teams inked players to rookie contracts:

Cincinnati Bengals

Indianapolis Colts

  • OT Matt Goncalves (third round, Pittsburgh)
  • C Tanor Bortolini (fourth round, Wisconsin)

Jacksonville Jaguars

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

  • EDGE Jalyx Hunt (third round, Houston Christian)
  • RB Will Shipley (fourth round, Clemson)
  • WR Ainias Smith (fourth round, Texas A&M)

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/24

May 13th, 2024 at 6:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

  • Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): DL Spencer Waege
  • Placed on reserve/retired list: OL Trente Jones

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Signed: DL Chris Collins

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: OL Ireland Brown, CB Jason Maitre

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

  • Signed: RB Terrell Jennings, G Ryan Johnson, LB Jay Person, DE Jotham Russell
  • Waived: RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Signed: DL Elijah Chatman
  • Waived: OLB Jeremiah Martin

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Waived: OL Kellen Diesch

San Francisco 49ers

  • Signed: DL Shakel Brown

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: DE Nathan Pickering, LB Devin Richardson

Tennessee Titans

Ravens Wrap Up Draft Class Signings

May 13th, 2024 at 5:33pm CST by Ben Levine

The Ravens have officially signed their entire draft class. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, the team has signed third-round linebacker Adisa Isaac, fourth-round wide receiver Devontez Walker, fifth-round running back Rasheen Ali, and sixth-round quarterback Devin Leary to their rookie contracts.

Isaac followed up a breakout 2022 campaign with an even better performance in 2023. The Penn State product finished this past season with 16 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks, earning him a first-team All-Big Ten nod. The rookie could be in line for a significant role in Baltimore, as the team currently has Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy penciled atop the depth chart at outside linebacker.

Leary was the second-to-last QB selected in the draft (ahead of Packers seventh-round pick Michael Pratt), and with Josh Johnson back for another stint as Lamar Jackson‘s backup, the rookie can spend some much-needed time as Baltimore’s QB3. Leary tossed 35 touchdowns for North Carolina State in 2021 before being limited to only six appearances in 2022. He transferred to Kentucky for the 2023 campaign and put himself back on the NFL radar, tossing 25 touchdowns vs. 12 interceptions.

The Ravens finished the draft having added nine rookies to their roster. The draft class includes:

Falcons Sign Round 2 DT Ruke Orhorhoro

May 13th, 2024 at 5:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Falcons continue to add to the number of 2024 draftees on the books. Second-round defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro signed his rookie deal on Monday, per a team announcement.

Atlanta provided the NFL world with the biggest surprise of the draft’s first night by selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall. The team added an eventual Kirk Cousins successor in the process, but they also tried to move back into the first-round order. The latter move would have seen the Falcons acquire No. 10 overall, thus allowing them to add a defensive player.

Edge rush was seen as a glaring need for Atlanta ahead of the draft, and the team has been linked to Dallas Turner with respect to its trade-up efforts. The same is also true for defensive tackle Byron Murphy, however. The latter was ultimately selected 16th overall (with Turner going one spot later), and he certainly would have been a logical target for Atlanta given the team’s later draft moves.

Upon trading up the second-round order, Orhorhoro was selected with the No. 35 pick. That surprisingly meant he heard his name called one slot before Jer’Zhan Newton, whom many viewed as a strong Day 1 candidates. Nevertheless, Orhorhoro and fourth-rounder Brandon Dorlus will have a notable role in the short- and long-term future on the defensive line.

The former spent five seasons at Clemson, developing as a pass rusher along the way. Orhorhoro posted eight tackles for loss in each of the past three years, totaling 11.5 sacks during that span. The 6-4, 295-pounder will earn just over $9.9MM across the next four campaigns, as noted by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Orhorhoro will split reps with Dorlus as well as veterans Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata along the Falcons’ defensive interior.

Here is an updated look at the Falcons’ rookie class:

Latest On Broncos, WR Courtland Sutton

May 13th, 2024 at 3:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

The next phase of the Broncos’ offseason program is beginning on Monday, but Courtland Sutton remains absent from the team. The veteran wideout is seeking a new deal, though nothing is imminent on that front.

Sutton is due $13.5MM total in 2024 ($2MM of which has already been paid out). One year remains on his current pact beyond that, but none of his scheduled compensation for 2025 ($14MM) is guaranteed. The 28-year-old is angling for adjustments to the contract providing more assurances but with all practice time being voluntary at this point in the offseason, there is little incentive for team or player to budge from their current stance.

Mike Klis of 9News notes that communication between Sutton’s camp and the Broncos has been “respectful” up to this point. That is a positive sign, especially when coupled with the fact that a trade sending the former second-rounder out of the Mile High City is increasingly unlikely. Denver received interest in the lead-in to the draft, but no deal took place during the event. That comes as little surprise considering the team’s desire to retain Sutton moving forward.

As Klis confirms, the SMU product has not requested a trade despite the ongoing dispute with the Broncos. Sutton has been in Denver throughout his six-year career, and he has been the focal point of the team’s passing game when healthy. In three seasons since his ACL tear in 2020, he has received 297 targets while the Broncos have dealt with injuries amongst other pass-catchers. Last year, he posted career highs in touchdowns (10) and catch percentage (65.6%).

The decision to trade Jerry Jeudy to the Browns was followed up by the signing of Josh Reynolds. The latter will be joined by rookies Troy Franklin and Devaughn Vele as newcomers in Denver’s 2024 receiver room. Even with those arrivals and the return of Tim Patrick, though, Sutton will be counted on as the top receiving option for the Broncos’ starting quarterback.

That role will likely be held by first-rounder Bo Nix, who is now missing out on time to develop chemistry with Sutton during spring workouts. That situation would of course become more dire if it were to continue into training camp (when mandatory fines for missed practices or a hold-in could come into play in Sutton’s case). This situation is not currently positioned to result in a parting of ways, but it nevertheless remains worth monitoring as the offseason unfolds.

Raiders Sign OL Jackson Powers-Johnson, Finalize Draft Class

May 13th, 2024 at 2:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders announced on Monday that second-round pick Jackson Powers-Johnson has inked his rookie contract. As a result, all eight members of the team’s draft class are now attached to their initial NFL deals.

The offensive tackle class was a headliner in 2024, but Powers-Johnson was one of the top interior blockers available. The Oregon product served as a full-time starter over the past two seasons, establishing himself as one of the most well-regarded interior linemen in college football during that span.

Powers-Johnson spent much of his time at right guard in 2022, but last season he was used exclusively a center. That produced a stellar campaign for the 6-3, 328-pounder; Powers-Johnson won the Rimington Trophy as the country’s top center (becoming the first Pac-12 player to do so). He was also named a unanimous first-team All-American, helping cement his draft stock.

Graham Barton was the only center to hear his name called on Day 1 of the draft, but Powers-Johnson (just like Zach Frazier) was selected in the second round. Starting roles likely await all three players in their rookie seasons, but Powers-Johnson is positioned to start his NFL tenure at right guard. The Raiders used Greg Van Roten at that spot last season, but he is unsigned.

Vegas has added Cody Whitehair to the fold as an interior blocker with starting experience. The same is also true of Andrus Peat, who has seen time at both tackle and guard and signed a deal last week. Those veterans will give head coach Antonio Pierce a number of potential combinations (alongside Powers-Johnson) to consider as training camp takes place.

Here is the full breakdown of the Raiders’ 2024 draft class:

Jets Sign First-Round T Olu Fashanu

May 13th, 2024 at 12:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets entered Monday without any of their 2024 draft picks having been signed. That has now changed, however, with first-round offensive tackle Olu Fashanu inking his rookie deal.

As ESPN’s Field Yates notes, this four-year pact will carry a value of $20.51MM. Like with all other Day 1 draftees, New York will have the ability to extend the contract by one more season via the fifth-year option. If the team does so, Fashanu will remain in place through the 2028 campaign.

Offensive line was a concern for the Jets entering the 2023 season, one in which Aaron Rodgers‘ debut New York campaign was cut short four plays into the season opener. After struggling with poor performance and injuries up front, adding at the tackle and guard spots was a priority this offseason. As a result, Morgan Moses was re-acquired via trade to regain his old right tackle spot.

That move was followed in short order by the signing of Tyron Smith. The former Cowboys All-Pro joined on a one-year deal, and he is in place as New York’s starter on the blindside. Both Moses and Smith are 33, however, and the former is also a pending free agent. A long-term investment at the tackle spot was thus a main concern entering the draft. While New York was high on wideout Rome Odunze, it came as little surprise when the team used the No. 11 pick (acquired in a swap with the Vikings) on Fashanu.

The Penn State product was seen as one of the top tackle prospects in the 2023 class, and it came as a surprise to many when he elected to remain in school for one more year. Nevertheless, Fashanu was squarely on the first-round radar this year despite being part of an extremely deep O-line class. The Jets also had interest in fellow tackle Troy Fautanu, but like other teams they had injury concerns which steered them elsewhere.

Fashanu does not have an immediate path to playing time as a rookie, but injuries have been a constant in Smith’s career and the usually-durable Moses missed three games last season. The 6-6, 313-pounder could therefore find himself on the field in relatively short order this year. Even if not, though, Fashanu should be a fixture up front for the team in 2025 and beyond.

Panthers Interested In Veteran QB Addition

May 13th, 2024 at 11:19am CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers currently have three quarterbacks on the roster, including undrafted rookie Jack Plummer. He took part in Carolina’s rookie minicamp over the weekend and remains with the team, but further moves under center could be taking place.

Carolina has 2023 first overall pick Bryce Young atop the depth chart. The 22-year-old did not meet expectations during his rookie season, but the team’s offseason moves in free agency and the draft were aimed in large part at providing him better protection up front and an enhanced skill-position group. Veteran Andy Dalton – who made three appearances and one start last season – is under contract for one more year as Young’s backup.

First-year head coach Dave Canales said in March the Panthers could be suitors for an experienced third quarterback. No addition on that front has been made through the post-draft wave of free agency, but Canales (who praised Plummer’s performance) noted the team is still keeping their “ears to the ground” on the subject of veteran signal-callers.

“What we always like to do is to add people, especially guys that have some kind of exposure to our system,” Canales said, via The Athletic’s Joe Person (subscription required). “I’m looking for value for the quarterback room. What do they bring for that room, for Bryce in particular?”

Ryan Tannehill, Blaine Gabbert, Brian Hoyer and Trevor Siemian are among the top options still available for the Panthers or other teams eyeing veteran insurance. Carolina has roughly $6MM in cap space entering Monday, a smaller figure than several others teams at this point in the offseason (although the Panthers have already inked their entire draft class). Given the depth of experienced passers on the market, any addition would likely not be an expensive one.

Part of the Canales hire was based the ex-Seahawks and Buccaneers staffers’ work developing quarterbacks. His ability to oversee a rebound performance from Young will be a defining storyline for the Panthers in 2024, but it will be interesting to see if the team adds depth behind him in the near future.

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