HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Raiders, OL Andrus Peat Agree To Deal

May 6th, 2024 at 9:25pm CST by Ben Levine

Andrus Peat has found a new home in the post-draft wave of free agency. The longtime Saints offensive lineman has agreed to a deal with the Raiders, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

A 2015 first-round pick, Peat has spent his entire career in New Orleans, starting 102 of his 111 appearances (plus six playoff starts). That included a three-year stretch between 2018 and 2020 where he started all 36 of his games while earning Pro Bowl nods each season. Injuries were often a theme during Peat’s tenure with the Saints; the lineman missed 36 regular season games in nine seasons, including 17 between 2021 and 2022.

Peat bounced back from a health perspective in 2023, appearing in a career-high 16 games. The veteran initially lost his starting guard spot to James Hurst, but Peat eventually worked his way into the lineup at left tackle. Pro Football Focus only ranked him 56th among 81 qualifying offensive tackles, although he did improve on his performance from the previous two campaigns.

The veteran inked a five-year, $57.5MM deal with the Saints in 2020, but after a series of restructurings, the final year of that pact was voided. That made Peat a free agent following the 2023 campaign, and it’s been a relatively quiet offseason for the lineman. The 30-year-old has only been connected to the Titans, although it was assumed his market would pick up following the draft.

Considering Peat’s versatility, he should be in the mix for a starting role in Les Vegas. The Raiders added Cody Whitehair via free agency before selecting Jackson Powers-Johnson in the second round of the draft. Peat will join that duo and holdover Dylan Parham in a competition for the two starting guard spots, although the latest acquisition’s versatility means he could also see some opportunities at either tackle spot.

Steelers Considering Justin Fields As Kick Returner?

May 6th, 2024 at 9:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers moved quickly in the wake of the NFL’s new kick return rules being approved. Pittsburgh added Cordarrelle Patterson on a two-year deal, and his return skills played a central role in the team’s interest.

Under the new format, however, teams may line up a pair of returners on a play, so multiple options could be in play for the Steelers. An unlikely scenario – albeit one which appears to be under consideration – could see backup quarterback Justin Fields used as a return man. The idea has been brought up by Pittsburgh special teams coordinator Danny Smith.

“[Smith] was talking about Justin Fields being back there,” running back Jaylen Warren said during an appearance on teammate Cameron Heyward‘s Not Just Football podcast. “We’re like, ‘Hold up, hold up.’ We looked at him like, ‘Justin Fields is about to be back there?’ I don’t know. I think it’s cool” (h/t ESPN’s Brooke Pryor).

Fields is among the most athletic quarterbacks in the NFL, and his rushing ability was on full display during his time with the Bears. One of the goals of the new kickoff alignment was to make the play safer, meaning returners could face a lower injury risk than in years past. Still, using Fields – currently set to operate as Pittsburgh’s backup quarterback, albeit one who is believed to be in the team’s post-2024 plans – on special teams would constitute quite the surprise.

Both Pryor and Mark Kaboly of The Athletic (subscription required) note it is unlikely Fields sees any time as a returner. The 25-year-old will enter his first Pittsburgh training camp aiming to unseat Russell Wilson for the starter’s job, but it will be interesting to see if he is used in any unorthodox capacities as the offseason unfolds.

Tyreek Hill Wants To Finish Career With Dolphins

May 6th, 2024 at 8:53pm CST by Ben Levine

Tyreek Hill previously hinted that he could hang up his cleats at the conclusion of his current contract. During a recent appearance on the Around the Bar podcast, Hill implied that he’s aiming for one more mega-deal, and the receiver made it clear that he wants to sign that next contract with the Dolphins.

“I love Miami. I love every bit of it,” Hill said (h/t ProFootballTalk.com). “My wife loves it, the kids love it, my mom loves it, and it’s just a beautiful city to live in. There’s so much stuff to do. Obviously, I would like to retire in Miami, but we all know how the NFL is, how jobs go, and people getting promotions over here and we understand that. But Miami is a great city. I love the team I play on, love the guys in the locker room, love the head coach, love the GM. So that means sign me. I love all you guys so much, I want to stay in Miami forever, man. Keep me there.”

Hill’s “sign me” statement is especially telling considering the terms of his current pact. While the receiver is technically signed through the 2026 season, that $30MM-per-year deal only contains guarantees through the 2024 season. That means negotiations on a reworked deal and/or an extension are surely coming, and a divorce will remain a possibility if the Dolphins refuse to meet Hill’s inevitable demands.

Hill now ranks third at his position in average annual salary (behind A.J. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown), so it’s not like the Dolphins would be eyeing a significant pay raise. The front office could simply proceed with the current terms of the contract, but there’s a chance Hill will push for some security beyond this upcoming campaign. The Dolphins will also have to consider an extension for Jaylen Waddle, who will be finishing up his rookie contract in 2025.

The Dolphins have been signaling that they intend to move forward with their two-headed monster at wide receiver. Odell Beckham Jr.‘s new contract is for only one season, and the Dolphins only committed to a pair of late-round receivers in the draft (Malik Washington and Tahj Washington). Both Hill and the Dolphins seemingly want to finish out the contract (or even add to it), but the eventual negotiations will likely reveal if that’s a real possibility.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/6/24

May 6th, 2024 at 7:48pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

  • Signed: QB Emory Jones, DE C.J. Ravenell
  • Waived: WR Jelani Baker, DT Tre Colbert

Green Bay Packers

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: CB Shon Stephens

Latest On Joe Burrow’s Injury Recovery

May 6th, 2024 at 7:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Nearly six months after suffering a torn wrist ligament, Joe Burrow is throwing to his receivers. The Bengals franchise quarterback hit a significant milestone in his recovery from a wrist injury, as the team’s website passes along that Burrow was participating in the team’s offseason program today.

Monday marked the start of the second phase of the Bengals’ voluntary offseason program. When Burrow underwent surgery to repair a damaged ligament in the middle of his right wrist, it was uncertain when the quarterback would return to the practice field. There were rumblings that Burrow might not start throwing until training camp, but the veteran ended up beating that timeline by almost three months.

While today’s practice wasn’t open to the media, many members of the Bengals organization were excited about Burrow’s recovery, including new QB coach Brad Kragthorpe.

“I think he looked as quick and as athletic as I’ve seen him look,” Kragthorpe told the team’s website. “He looked like the Joe Burrow we’re used to seeing. I didn’t see any difference. I thought the ball came out of his hand well. Confidently. I’m happy where he’s at.”

The late-November surgery ended an injury-marred 2023 campaign for Burrow. Prior to his season-ending injury, the QB was slowed by a calf issue during training camp. That injury continued an ongoing theme where Burrow would miss extended time during training camp (following recovery from an ACL injury (2021) and an appendectomy (2022)).

Burrow previously admitted to ESPN’s Ben Baby that he normally “wouldn’t be throwing until OTAs really anyway,” so the QB sounds like he’s a bit ahead of his standard offseason regimen. Still, given the player’s list of offseason setbacks, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the organization eventually pumps the brakes and takes it slow with their franchise quarterback.

Titans Re-Sign DE Marlon Davidson

May 6th, 2024 at 4:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

Marlon Davidson will be back with the Titans in 2024. The former second-round defensive end has re-signed in Tennessee, per a team announcement.

Davidson entered the league with considerable expectations based on his college production. Things did not go according to plan in Atlanta, however, and he was released midway through his third season with the team. That move set up a deal with the 49ers last spring, but Davidson was among San Francisco’s final roster cuts.

The Auburn product was retained via the practice squad, but he did not see any regular season game action with the 49ers. He signed to the Titans’ taxi squad in October not long after being released. That led to a number of gameday elevations and time spent on Tennessee’s 53-man roster. As a result, Davidson appeared in five games last season, making three starts along the way.

Logging a career-high 48% snap share, the 25-year-old posted 10 tackles (including two for loss) and one sack during his time in Tennessee. That production has resulted in a post-draft agreement keeping him in the fold through at least training camp. Davidson will look to carve out a roster spot this summer amongst the Titans’ other options along the defensive front.

Tennessee has Jeffery Simmons, Sebastian Joseph-Day and rookie T’Vondre Sweat in place as D-linemen set to occupy the defensive interior. Along the edge, the team has Harold Landry and Arden Key in place as starters. Davidson will look to earn a rotational role alongside Rashad Weaver; doing so could set him up for a full-time campaign on the team’s 53-man roster.

Patriots Begin Top Executive Search

May 6th, 2024 at 3:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

Eliot Wolf has been at the helm of the Patriots’ front office this offseason, holding down de facto general manager duties through the draft. As expected, however, New England is prepared to bring in another important executive in the near future.

CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports the Patriots have begun their search for a “top football executive.” Questions have been raised about whether or not a new hire would work alongside or underneath Wolf, but Jones adds the role being interviewed for is believed to be one which will “outrank all other football positions in the building.”

Wolf – brought in following his time with the Packers – received positive reviews leading up to the draft, and as such many have pointed to him being the ultimate choice for the unnamed executive position. As of the most recent update on the matter, Wolf is certainly still in the running to have his duties at the head of the personnel department carry on through the remainder of the offseason and beyond. Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald confirms that is the case as New England sends out external interview requests.

As Jones notes, there is precedent for teams waiting until well into the offseason and beyond the draft to hire a new general manager. On the other hand, the Patriots have not used a typical organizational structure during this century, with Bill Belichick operating as head coach but also the top decision-maker regarding roster building. With Belichick no longer in the fold, Jerod Mayo is handling his responsibilities on the sidelines.

In the front office, however, there is room for either a new executive to lead the personnel department or an enhanced title to be given to Wolf. The son of Ron Wolf has ushered in a new structure with respect to player evaluation and scouting for the draft, and much of his future will of course depend on how his decisions to date have been viewed by owner Robert Kraft.

New England turned down interest shown by both the Giants and Vikings in the third overall pick. By retaining the selection, the Patriots added Drake Maye as a potential franchise quarterback. That move was followed in short order by the team finalizing a monster extension with defensive tackle Christian Barmore (the largest non-Tom Brady deal in club history).

To say the least, Wolf has already made a number of critical decisions in his brief time at the helm. Kraft will thus have plenty to evaluate as he also meets with potential options to supplant Wolf. To satisfy the Rooney Rule, the Patriots’ search process must include at least two external minority candidates, and it will be interesting to see who the team reaches out to.

Seahawks, CB Michael Jackson Agree To Revised Deal

May 6th, 2024 at 2:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Michael Jackson was among the players tendered as a restricted free agent by the Seahawks this offseason. The veteran corner recently signed his RFA tender, valued at just over $3MM.

Jackson and the team have worked out a new arrangement, however. Per ESPN’s Brady Henderson, Jackson will now receive a base salary of $1.06MM in 2024, a figure which is not guaranteed. The 27-year-old will collect a $168K signing bonus, however, increasing his up front compensation compared to what it previously was. This agreement will create $1.89MM in cap space – notable breathing space given the team’s lack of financial wiggle room entering Monday.

A fifth-round pick of the Cowboys in 2019, Jackson actually made his regular season debut with the Lions that year. He then spent a single season in New England before beginning his Seahawks tenure. The Miami alum has made 36 appearances with Seattle, and in 2022 he served as a full-time starter. That year, Jackson recorded 75 tackles, one interception and 12 pass deflections while allowing a completion percentage of just under 56%.

In 2023, however, the arrival of fifth overall pick Devon Witherspoon led to a sharp decrease in Jackson’s playing time. The latter saw his defensive snap share fall from 94% to 40%, and it yielded a fall-off in production. Jackson will nevertheless have the opportunity to play at least a rotational role in the Seahawks’ secondary in 2024.

Seattle re-signed Artie Burns this offseason, and the team used two draft picks (Nehemiah Pritchett in the fifth round, followed by DJ James in the sixth) on cornerbacks. Jackson will thus have plenty of competition for playing time this summer as he prepares for a fourth season in the Emerald City.

Chargers To Host Marquez Valdes-Scantling

May 6th, 2024 at 1:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chargers have already been active in the post-draft free agent market at the receiver position. Los Angeles added DJ Chark last week, providing the team with a vertical option in the passing game.

They may not be done on that front, however. The Chargers are set to host Marquez Valdes-Scantling on a visit Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The veteran has been on the market since his Chiefs release early in the offseason. The only team connected to him during his stay on the open market has been the Chargers.

Los Angeles created a pair of notable vacancies at the WR spot by releasing Mike Williams and trading Keenan Allen. The team turned down the opportunity to add Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze at the No. 5 pick in the draft, electing instead to select offensive tackle Joe Alt. The Bolts nevertheless brought in three rookie wideouts by drafting Ladd McConkey in the second round before following up with Brenden Rice and Cornelius Johnson in the seventh.

Those moves did not preclude further action on the part of Los Angeles’ new regime. General manager Joe Hortiz and head coach Jim Harbaugh have made it clear the team will lean heavily on the ground game based on their roster-building decisions to date, but room exists for more wideout additions. Los Angeles is among the teams which has shown interest in Tyler Boyd, though a Valdes-Scantling agreement could take the team out of the running on that front.

The latter averaged just under 16 yards per catch while helping win the Super Bowl in each of his two Kansas City campaigns. After letting him go, though, the Chiefs inked Marquise Brown in free agency and drafted fellow speedster Xavier Worthy in the first round of the draft. Valdes-Scantling is thus set up to play for a new team in 2024, though the Chargers’ ongoing interest means he could still find himself in the AFC West next season.

The 29-year-old’s best season came in 2020 (33-690-6 statline), and he has remained a deep threat since then. Drops have been a talking point during his career, however, and his skillet overlaps considerably with that of Chark. Still, Valdes-Scantling could compete for a notable role with the likes of Quentin Johnston and Josh Palmer if his Chargers visit were to yield a contract.

Panthers Plan To Sign RB Rashaad Penny

May 6th, 2024 at 12:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

Another addition to Carolina’s backfield appears to be on the way. The Panthers plan to sign Rashaad Penny, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

Fowler adds the move will likely be made after the team’s rookie minicamp is completed. Provided it does, Penny will join a running back depth chart which already features second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks along with veterans Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders. Despite his underwhelming performance last season, the latter is not on the trade block.

Carolina ranked 20th in the NFL in rushing yards last season, averaging 104 yards per game on the ground. That marked much better efficiency than the team’s passing attack, but it still left plenty of room for improvement. After making a pair of lucrative free agent investments along the interior offensive line (guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis), the Panthers made Brooks the first running back to hear his name called at the draft. Hubbard has one year remaining on his rookie contract while Sanders is on the books for three more years.

Penny will aim to carve out a roster spot while competing with those three (along with Tarik Cohen, Mike Boone and Raheem Blackshear) for playing time. The former first-rounder has dealt with considerable injury troubles during his career, with his best season coming in 2021 (749 yards, six touchdowns). Penny led the league with a 6.3 yards per carry average that year, but he has been limited to just eight games since then.

The 28-year-old played on a one-year deal with the Eagles last season, serving in a limited capacity. Penny received just 12 touches, and he will be aiming to secure a larger workload in Carolina. This move will represent a reunion between Penny and new Panthers head coach Dave Canales. The latter was a member of the Seahawks’ staff during all five of the former’s campaigns in Seattle.

The Panthers entered Monday with roughly $8MM in cap space, so a deal for Penny (which will no doubt be a short-term, low-cost endeavor) should be manageable. It will be interesting to see how Carolina’s backfield pecking order shakes out provided a deal is finalized in the near future.

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