2024 July - Pro Football Rumors

Month: September 2024

Jets Looking To Sweeten Haason Reddick’s Deal

July 9th, 2024 at 9:44pm CST by Ben Levine

We heard recently that the Jets are unlikely to cave to Haason Reddick‘s request for an extension. However, that doesn’t mean the front office isn’t willing to work with their new pass rusher on a contract resolution. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the Jets will try to placate Reddick “by sweetening his current deal.”

Reddick is entering the final season of a three-year, $45MM deal he signed with the Eagles back in 2022. As Cimini notes, the Jets assumed their offseason acquisition would be willing to play out his current contract before hitting free agency next offseason. That didn’t end up being the case, as the impending free agent stayed away from OTAs and mandatory minicamp while seeking a new deal.

Reddick is set to earn $15MM in 2024, a total that just sneaks him into the top-20 among pass-rusher AAVs. The Jets are currently operating with around $6MM in cap space (per OverTheCap.com), so the front office could easily find the cash to boost Reddick up the list of edge rusher earnings. While the Jets haven’t entirely closed the door on an extension for their new sack artist, it’s worth noting that the team decided to not pay Bryce Huff the ~$17MM average annual value he earned on his three-year pact with the Eagles. Of course, the Jets decision to opt for Reddick instead of Huff was more about term, but it’s clear the team still has an intended edge-rusher budget for the 2024 campaign.

Fortunately, it sounds like there’s some optimism that the two sides will come to a resolution sooner than later. Coach Robert Saleh recently hinted at a positive conversation with the veteran, and Brian Costello of the New York Post wrote that this situation differs from the bitter Jamal Adams contract stalemate that eventually led to a trade. While the Jets didn’t intend to make a trade for a contract dispute, there does appear to be some light at the end of the tunnel.

When Reddick does finally hit the field for the Jets, he’ll quickly lead the team’s pass-rush corps. The former first-round pick has compiled 50 sacks over the past four seasons, and he’ll guide a unit that also features recent first-rounders like Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald.

Poll: Who Will Win Raiders’ QB Competition?

July 9th, 2024 at 9:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

Training camp and the preseason in 2024 will decide plenty of position battles around the NFL. With respect to quarterbacks, though, few starting gigs are truly unaccounted for this offseason. The Raiders represent an exception.

Vegas’ 2023 Jimmy Garoppolo investment did not pay off as hoped, and he was released after one injury-shortened campaign with the team. Garoppolo’s injury opened the door for Aidan O’Connell to see game action over the second half of the campaign, one in which Josh McDaniels was replaced by Antonio Pierce. The latter was given the full-time gig this spring, and that decision left a fan of O’Connell’s in the building.

Pierce said in March the 2023 fourth-rounder would open any QB competition in pole position. The Raiders were subsequently linked to adding a passer in the first round of the draft, with Pierce appearing to be more on board with a move up the order than new general manager Tom Telesco. In the end, Vegas remained in place on Day 1 and as a result did not add further competition to O’Connell and free agent signing Gardner Minshew.

The latter inked a two-year, $25MM deal in March to join the Raiders. That agreement – a rather lucrative one for a backup – put to rest consideration of a potential Justin Fields acquisition but did not ensure Minshew a first-team role. The 28-year-old was instead viewed as an insurance policy for any rookie the team added as an eventual starter. With such a move not coming to fruition, O’Connell and Minshew will compete for the Week 1 nod this summer.

O’Connell, 25, struggled with turnovers early in his time at the helm before settling down in that regard. Over the course of his final six games, he posted a 9:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Vegas relied on a ground-heavy attack during that time, but the Purdue alum offered enough to suggest he could develop into a starting-caliber option. Increasing his 202 passing yards per game average to an extent would be necessary to achieve that, of course.

Minshew, by contrast, is much more of a known commodity. The former Jaguar and Eagle joined the Colts last offseason to reunite with Shane Steichen. That move proved to be an important one for team and player with much of Anthony Richardson‘s rookie campaign spent on the sidelines due to injury. Minshew logged 13 starts and threw for a career-high 3,305 yards last season, nearly leading Indianapolis to a postseason berth and earning a Pro Bowl invite.

The most recent update on the competition noted that O’Connell may have a slight edge on Minshew entering training camp as the team’s familiar QB option. The Raiders have a different offensive coordinator (Luke Getsy) in place for 2024, though, something which should level the playing field in that respect from Minshew’s perspective. The depth chart will be finalized based on each passer’s performances in the summer, which will consist of split training camp reps and could involve both getting significant preseason playing time.

In the end, who do you feel will win out and earn the starting gig? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and give your thoughts in the comments section below:

Latest On Dolphins’ Roster Battles

July 9th, 2024 at 9:04pm CST by Ben Levine

When the Dolphins kick off training camp later this month, there will be a handful of intriguing offensive roster battles to keep an eye on. In his recent Dolphins roster projection, Adam H. Beasley of ProFootballNetwork.com noted that there could be some intriguing cuts at both running back and wide receiver.

At RB, Beasley backs what we heard back in May; veteran RB Salvon Ahmed is on the roster bubble. In fact, Beasley writes that Ahmed probably wouldn’t have re-signed with the team had he known the Dolphins would add fourth-round RB Jaylen Wright. The rookie will surely stick to the roster, as will Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane.

That means the final RB spot will likely be between Ahmed, Jeff Wilson Jr., and Chris Brooks, and Beasley opines that Ahmed is currently trailing that entire grouping. Of course, a fresh start elsewhere could be in the player’s best interest. After collecting 646 yards from scrimmage through his first two years in the league, Ahmed has been limited to only 221 yards over the past two seasons.

Elsewhere on offense, the Dolphins are unlikely to keep both of their WR draft picks on the active roster. Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr., and Braxton Berrios are probably safe atop the depth chart, meaning sixth-round rookie Malik Washington or seventh-round rookie Tahj Washington could be squeezed off the roster. The team also has former UDFA River Cracraft and former fourth-round pick Erik Ezukanma pushing for roster spots, so the two rookies won’t be a shoo-in for Miami’s initial 53-man roster.

Beasley ultimately projects that Malik Washington will earn one of the final spots on the roster. The receiver broke out during his lone season at Virginia, finishing with 110 catches for 1,426 yards and nine touchdowns. Tahj Washington spent the past three seasons at USC, culminating in a 2023 campaign where he finished with career-highs in receptions (59), receiving yards (1,062), and touchdowns (eight).

Davante Adams Committed To Raiders, Discusses Aaron Rodgers Pairing

July 9th, 2024 at 8:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Things haven’t necessarily gone as planned for Davante Adams in Las Vegas. The wideout pushed his way out of Green Bay and landed with the Raiders and his college QB, Derek Carr. That QB/WR tandem only lasted one season, with the Josh McDaniels–Dave Ziegler regime shaking up the quarterback position ahead of the 2023 campaign.

Adams hinted at some frustration before the Raiders ditched that head coach/GM duo, but the receiver admitted that interim-turned-full-time head coach Antonio Pierce is a big reason why he’s content ahead of the 2024 season.

“I wouldn’t be feeling as good as I do now,” Adams said of Pierce’s promotion during an appearance on “Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams” (via NFL.com’s Nick Shook). “That’s for sure. He’s the type of guy that I really enjoy speaking to, working with, so I basically tried to do everything that I could to make it to where the front office didn’t have any other choice.”

Pierce guided the Raiders to a 5-4 record after McDaniels was canned, a performance that helped earn him a promotion to the full-time gig. While there’s still uncertainty at the quarterback position, Adams is committed to the Raiders…and he’s denying inquiries from some of his former teammates. Specifically, Adams admitted that Aaron Rodgers has been “in that ear” since the quarterback moved to the Jets.

“It’s not as easy as — obviously we can get together and talk about the old times and potential of doing this and that, but like I said I’m a Raider, and he knows that,” Adams said. “Maybe in the next lifetime.”

Adams also said he’s heard from former teammate Josh Jacobs, who joined the wideout’s former squad in Green Bay this offseason.

“I told him you go ahead and hold it down,” Adams said. “I’m gonna hold it down over here. I don’t think I’ll be coming back over there. Never know what’s gonna happen. If they ship me off, there’s not much I can do about it, but I’m a Raider. So nobody got to worry about that.”

Despite the management changes, the Raiders quickly quieted trade chatter this offseason, with both Pierce and new GM Tom Telesco (along with owner Mark Davis) expressing interest in keeping Adams around long-term. The wideout is attached to massive $44MM cap hits in both 2025 and 2026, but the Raiders could get out of the deal next offseason with only a temporary dead cap hit of $15.7MM. While both sides are currently saying all the right things, Adams’ future in Las Vegas will still be worth watching over the next year.

RB Leonard Fournette Eyeing Next NFL Gig

July 9th, 2024 at 5:23pm CST by Ben Levine

It took Leonard Fournette until October to find a job for the 2023 campaign. The veteran running back is hoping his current free agency stint doesn’t last nearly as long. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Fournette intends to continue his NFL career and is hoping to catch on with a team before the start of the regular season.

To help in his pursuit of a 2024 gig, Fournette has hired Ari Nissim and Pat Capra as representation. Nissam told Schefter that his newest client is in the “best shape of his career,” and the agent expects Fournette to find “a new home soon.”

Fournette didn’t see a major drop in counting stats during his final season in Tampa Bay. The former fourth-overall pick finished the 2022 season with 1,191 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns, a slight dip from his 1,266-yard, 10-touchdown campaign in 2021. After getting cut by the Buccaneers last February, Fournette garnered interest from the Patriots and Colts, but a deal didn’t end up materializing until midway through the season.

The veteran caught on with the Bills practice squad in late October, with Buffalo seeking a replacement for Damien Harris. Fournette was unable to knock James Cook nor Latavius Murray from their spots on the depth chart before he eventually earned a promotion late in the year. Fournette ended up getting into a pair of games with the Bills down the stretch, collecting 40 total yards on 12 touches. The running back was cut from Buffalo’s practice squad in January.

It’s been quiet for the 29-year-old this offseason, and teams will surely want to get a long look at their current RB options before pivoting to the free agency pool. Still, Fournette could be a solid option for a team seeking an experienced pass-catcher, with the veteran averaging more than 60 receptions per season between 2019 and 2022. Dalvin Cook is still awaiting a job, and Fournette is likely sitting in the second tier of free agent RBs alongside the likes of Murray, Cam Akers, and Kareem Hunt.

Dak Prescott Not Eyeing Camp Holdout

July 9th, 2024 at 3:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Attempting to again indicate his recent walking boot storyline was overblown, Dak Prescott also confirmed contract talks between he and the Cowboys have transpired this offseason. As it stands, the second-team All-Pro passer remains tied to the four-year, $160MM extension he signed in March 2021.

Prescott joins CeeDee Lamb in a contract year, but while the first-team All-Pro wide receiver has been connected to a holdout, the Cowboys are unlikely to see their first set of workouts commence without their starting quarterback. Prescott alluded (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer) to Day 1 attendance at training camp.

It would cost Prescott approximately $50K per day to hold out, though that would seem doable for a player who has banked more than $162MM despite playing four seasons on a fourth-round rookie contract. Zack Martin succeeded with a holdout last year, seeing the Cowboys agree to guarantee the final two years of his deal, while Lamb has only seen rookie-deal money to date. Prescott still holds tremendous leverage against the Cowboys, but talks may commence from camp.

The Cowboys are believed to want the Dak matter sorted out before revving up negotiations with Lamb. Considering Prescott’s first extension took three offseasons to finalize, that could be a dicey matter for a team that may well have three market-setting extensions to complete. Micah Parsons expects to become the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB, and while the star edge rusher appears OK with playing a fourth season on his rookie deal and then inking a monster extension in 2025, the Cowboys will obviously need to factor in that payday during their Prescott and Lamb talks.

Prescott, 30, holds a no trade clause and cannot be franchise-tagged in 2025. Prescott ($55.13MM), Deshaun Watson ($63.77MM) and Daniel Jones ($47.86MM) are on track to break the single-player cap number record this season. The Cowboys can lower Dak’s number significantly with an extension, which would also prevent a $40.14MM void years bill from becoming 2025 dead money. It is difficult for a player to secure more leverage than Prescott has, which would make it surprising if he did not become the NFL’s highest-paid player on his third contract.

As for Prescott’s walking boot, the QB said he wore the boot for precautionary purposes. Post-minicamp workouts produced ankle soreness, with the former Offensive Rookie of the Year again connecting his ankle pain to the surgery he underwent in 2020. Prescott suffered an ankle fracture and dislocation in October 2020 but still managed to secure a big-ticket extension months later.

“Honestly, I’m getting older. It’s the same ankle that I snapped, and I had a nasty surgery on four years ago so a couple of hard days of training and you know, you get a little sore and you’re going on a fishing trip, and you want to protect it and make sure things don’t get worse,” Prescott said.

Richard Seymour Joins Tom Brady In Agreeing To Buy Raiders Stake

July 9th, 2024 at 1:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Richard Seymour‘s Patriots years played the lead role in forging a Hall of Fame path, he has operated in a post-playing role for the Raiders. That continued this offseason, when the Silver and Black made the former defensive lineman part of their search process upon filling their HC and GM positions.

Seymour, who played for the Raiders from 2009-12, was part of the committee that met with HC and GM candidates this offseason. The 12-year NFL veteran is on track to continue playing a role in Las Vegas, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reporting he has agreed to buy an ownership stake.

Seymour is close to finalizing this agreement, which will make him a part-owner and limited partner of the AFC West franchise, and Florio adds the former Patriots first-rounder will team with Brady — along with their own respective partners — to own 10.4% of the club. NFL owners must approve this stake, and they have not yet signed off on Brady’s piece of the Raiders despite the QB legend-turned-broadcaster having agreed to become a Raiders minority owner in May 2023.

The Raiders will aim to present this arrangement for approval at the October owners’ meetings, per Florio. It is believed the issue of Brady’s stake price, which Mark Davis was initially believed to have sold at a steep discount, has been resolved. But Seymour being part of this process may further alleviate concerns among other owners. Though, Brady’s role with FOX now looks to be the primary issue holding up his route into the ownership ranks.

Roger Goodell said the NFL will need to adopt a policy regarding Brady operating in a dual ownership/announcer role, as owners have voiced concerns about the debuting FOX color analyst being a Raiders owner while having access to other teams’ facilities to prepare for game assignments. Seymour’s ownership stake would not seem to affect this component of Brady’s ownership snag, so it remains to be seen if 24 owners will approve the former Patriot teammates’ bid to join Davis as Raiders owners.

The Patriots traded Seymour to the Raiders just before the 2009 season. The four-year Oakland cog made two Pro Bowls during his Raiders stay, one that included the veteran defender providing some assistance to Mark Davis in his early period as the team’s owner. Al Davis had approached Seymour about a future front office role, and he joined Mark Davis, team president Sandra Douglass Morgan, director of football administration Tom Delaney, board member Larry Delsen and advisor Ken Herock on the interview panel that produced the Antonio Pierce-Tom Telesco partnership. Although Seymour’s ownership bid has hurdles to clear, it certainly looks like the Raiders have the 44-year-old in their plans moving forward.

Van Jefferson Leading Steelers’ WR2 Competition?

July 9th, 2024 at 10:32am CST by Adam La Rose

Much has been made this offseason about the Steelers’ receiving corps. Few (if any) known commodities are in place behind George Pickens on the depth chart, leading to the expectation Pittsburgh would pursue a high-profile trade.

Such a move has not yet taken place, though, and as a result the team’s internal options are on track to compete for playing time during training camp and the preseason. Pickens will handle the No. 1 role in 2024, his first season without Diontae Johnson in the fold. The latter was traded to the Panthers, creating a vacancy on the perimeter. Likewise, Allen Robinson‘s release opened up a starting spot in the slot.

Quez Watkins joined the Steelers this offseason in part due to the opportunity he would have to earn a first-team role, but a different free agent signing appears to have the inside track for the WR2 gig. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic writes Van Jefferson is currently “in pole position” for a starting spot (subscription required). The latter spent three-plus years with the Rams before being traded to the Falcons ahead of the 2023 deadline.

That move allowed Jefferson, 27, to spend time playing under Arthur Smith. The ex-Falcons head coach is now in place as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, and that familiarity could translate to a role in Pittsburgh. Jefferson had a strong second season in Los Angeles (50 catches, 802 yards, six touchdowns), but he has not managed to repeat that production since. The former second-rounder signed with the Steelers on a league minimum deal, an indication of his market value and his tenuous hold on a roster spot entering training camp.

Pittsburgh has the likes of third-round rookie Roman Wilson and 2022 fourth-rounder Calvin Austin in the mix for signficant playing time in the slot in particular. The latter is on track for an increased workload compared to last year, but the spot opposite Pickens will be one to monitor during the summer. Jefferson, Watkins and Scotty Miller are among the names to watch on that front. It will be interesting to see if Jefferson delivers a strong showing in camp and the preseason or if one of the other contenders surpasses him in the receiver pecking order.

Latest On Bills’ RB Situation

July 9th, 2024 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

The Bills’ midseason switch to Joe Brady as offensive coordinator brought about a new emphasis on the running game. Considering the changes which have taken place in the teams’ receiving corps, Buffalo’s backfield is a group carrying considerable importance ahead of 2024.

Just like the receiver position, though, the Bills’ running back spot has seen notable turnover in recent months. Nyheim Hines – who missed the entire 2023 campaign with a torn ACL – departed in free agency. Veteran Latavius Murray is unsigned, while Damien Harris elected to retire. Buffalo’s top two backfield options (James Cook, Ty Johnson) are still in place, however.

To little surprise, both members of that pair are in line for a notable workload in 2024. Cook logged 237 carries last year, good for 10th in the NFL and a dramatic uptick in usage from his rookie campaign. Johnson, meanwhile, spent time on Buffalo’s practice squad before emerging as a depth contributor late in the year and in the postseason. The former sixth-rounder enters training camp as the favorite for the backup role, Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News writes.

Johnson, 26, began his career with the Lions but most of his time prior to his Bills tenure came with the Jets. His most productive season came in 2021 with 610 scrimmage yards, though for the most part he has served in a complementary role. That will likely continue this season with Cook positioned to once again shoulder a heavy workload. Brady is aware, however, that the former second-rounder was not a workhorse back in college. As a result, consideration will be given to his usage rate in 2024.

“I think a lot of this is, ‘We’ll see,’” Brady said (via O’Halloran) when speaking about the Georgia product. “We feel confident in the room that we have and whoever is playing running back and carrying the football, they’re going to do a good job. With regard to a certain target number [for Cook], that is seeing how his body holds up and what he can do.”

The Bills’ other backfield options entering camp include fourth-round selection Ray Davis and undrafted rookie Frank Gore Jr. Their performances during the summer will be important in determining the running back pecking order behind Cook as well as – to an extent – the share of carries he will handle. Johnson will need a strong showing to lock down the RB2 role, but his experience and familiarity in Brady’s system should give him the edge to start the summer.

Steelers CB Cameron Sutton Issued Eight-Game Suspension

July 8th, 2024 at 9:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

The NFL’s investigation into Cameron Sutton has concluded, and it has resulted in a suspension. The Steelers cornerback has been issued an eight-game ban for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, as noted by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He will not appeal the suspension, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Sutton was the subject of an arrest warrant which was issued in March on the charge of domestic battery by strangulation. The 29-year-old was a member of the Lions at the time, having played in Detroit for 2023 on a $11MM-per-year deal. One day after news of the warrant broke, the Lions released him.

More than three weeks after the warrant was issued (which was well before it became public knowledge), Sutton surrendered to police. The Lions had advised him to do so, and since then he has seen misdemeanor battery charges resolved by entering a pretrial diversion program. As past disciplinary decisions have shown, however, players do not need to be convicted of crimes to face punishment under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Shortly before the draft, Sutton took part in a free agent visit with the Steelers, the team with which he spent the first six years of his career. No further developments on that front took place for several weeks until, in June, the parties agreed to a one-year deal. Sutton was set to earn the veteran minimum on his Pittsburgh accord, so being suspended without pay for the campaign’s opening eight weeks will lower his earnings considerably.

A third-round pick in 2017, Sutton logged just two starts across his first three seasons in the league. The Tennessee alum has been a mainstay on his teams’ defenses since then, though, logging over 1,000 snaps in 2021 and doing so again during his single Lions campaign last season. That experience will give Pittsburgh a starting-caliber option in the secondary during the second half of the year.

The Steelers have Joey Porter Jr. in place as a perimeter starter, and the same will likely be true of trade acquisition Donte Jackson. Sutton has primarily played on the boundary during his career, but he has experience in the slot and could find himself there upon returning to Pittsburgh’s lineup once his suspension has been served. A depth addition this summer could now be on the team’s radar knowing they will be shorthanded in the secondary, however.

The Steelers’ bye week falls on Week 9, meaning the earliest point at which Sutton could make his debut would be during the team’s Week 10 matchup against the Commanders.

Load More Posts