HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Cowboys Submit New Extension Offer To WR CeeDee Lamb

July 27th, 2024 at 10:29pm CST by Ely Allen

Still dealing with a rare contract situation in which three players are in the mix for market-setting extensions, the Cowboys have Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb positioned ahead of Micah Parsons in their queue. Differing reports have come out regarding whether Dallas’ quarterback or top wide receiver is the first priority, but the most recent update would point to the latter being in that slot.

COO Stephen Jones told NFL.com’s Jane Slater on Saturday the team has submitted another proposal to Lamb. Jones views the conversations with Lamb’s camp as positive, as the team attempts to hammer out an agreement that will likely be similar to the Vikings’ megadeal for Justin Jefferson.

After indicating both Lamb and Parsons wanted to become the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB, Jones backtracked by saying the fifth-year wide receiver is not demanding that. At $35MM — with guarantees at $110MM (total) and $88.7MM (full) — Jefferson set a high bar this offseason, one that eclipsed Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-AAV deal as the league’s top non-QB contract.

A report earlier this week, coming out just before Lamb made his long-rumored holdout official, indicated the Cowboys had not yet entered substantial talks with the 2020 first-rounder. It appears that has changed, with this offer — which emerged Friday — not being the first during this negotiation. The Cowboys had Lamb on their extension radar last year but did not appear to enter serious talks. That has driven up the price now that Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and A.J. Brown have upped the market this offseason.

On the quarterback front, Jones told the reporters that, apart from Lamb’s deal yesterday, the team also made a contract offer to Prescott’s agents “a few days ago,” per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. With yesterday’s extensions of Tua Tagovailoa and Jordan Love, it’s likely that the offer will get tossed aside in order to process the newest information. With Tagovailoa’s deal falling just short in annual average value of the league leaders and Love’s extension tying him with Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence as the highest annual earners of all time, it’s easy to envision a situation in the near future wherein Prescott becomes the NFL’s highest-paid player of all time.

A reason that the Cowboys seem to be a step behind the rest of the league on getting these new deals done could be Jones’ father, Jerry Jones. The elder Jones acts as the team’s owner, president, and general manager. This is of note due to what seems to be Dallas’ view on the salary cap affecting negotiations.

Watkins reports that Jones fears that the league’s monopoly case with DirecTV could affect the NFL’s revenue in the future, ultimately pushing for a reduction, or at least a slower inflation, in the salary cap. Subjectively, this feels like a bit of an empty threat. Aside from the COVID-19-affected 2020 season, NFL revenue has increased at the rate of $1BB per year each year since 2017. Regardless of the result of the DirecTV lawsuit, the NFL has secured broadcasting deals with CBS, FOX, NBC, ESPN/ABC, YouTube TV, Amazon, and most recently, Netflix. According to Matt Johnson of sportsnaut.com, the league’s estimated revenue for the 2023-24 season approached $20BB.

Jones claims to know where the NFL salary cap is headed better than anyone else, according to The Athletic’s Jon Machota. Perhaps he does have information other general managers aren’t privy to, but for now, it projects as a bit of grandstanding in order to excuse a slow resolution to multiple big contract negotiations. With recent offers out to Lamb and Prescott, it seems progress is being made, but there is a lot more work to be done in Dallas.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Matt LaFleur, Brian Gutekunst Address Packers’ Jordan Love Extension

July 27th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Contractually speaking, it is difficult to find a direct comp to Jordan Love‘s climb. The Packers did extend Aaron Rodgers midway through his first season as a starter, but the team did not need to give its Brett Favre successor a contract that checked in first or even second in terms of average annual value in 2008. They did reach the NFL’s AAV ceiling for Love, and the Rodgers replacement’s four-year, $220MM extension — which the parties finalized Friday night — is now official.

While Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence are tied to $55MM-per-year deals like Love now is, the Bengals and Jaguars QBs are on five-year contracts. Negotiating in a contract year — whereas Burrow, Lawrence and Justin Herbert had two years left on their rookie deals — Love managed the $55MM AAV over a four-year contract, topping where the Dolphins went for Tua Tagovailoa earlier Friday. After contract structure was believed to loom as this negotiation’s final hurdle, Love secured favorable terms and will return to practice after a brief hold-in.

The Packers guaranteed Love $100.8MM at signing, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio noting the practical guarantee in this contract is $140.3MM. Against guarantees beyond Year 1 for non-quarterbacks, the Packers guaranteed Love’s 2025 base salary ($11.9MM) and part of his 2026 base ($49.9MM). The team guaranteed $10.9MM of that 2026 figure at signing, with the rest of that money shifting from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee in March 2025. Love will be a Packer by that March date, raising the practical guarantee to that $140.3MM point.

This contract does include a record-setting signing bonus of $75MM. Love will see that money in three 2024 installments, collecting the bonus — which will be used to spread out the QB’s cap hits — by December, Florio adds. The Packers are also using a rolling guarantee structure for Love’s 2027 payout. Of Love’s $41.9MM 2027 base salary, $20MM is guaranteed for injury at signing and becomes fully guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2026 league year.

Further spreading out Love’s cap hits, Florio indicates $39.5MM of Love’s 2026 base salary and $31.5MM of his 2027 base will convert to option bonuses in those years. After just two seasons, Love’s full guarantee balloons to $160.3MM. If the Packers cut Love in 2027, Florio adds the $20MM injury guarantee includes offset language.

Addressing the contract Saturday morning, Matt LaFleur said (via the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Ryan Wood) it is difficult to argue anyone outplayed Love during last season’s second half. Love indeed led the NFL in QBR from Weeks 11-18, throwing 18 touchdown passes and one interception in that span. This continued with a dominant outing in a wild-card upset win in Dallas. For the full season, Love ranked ninth in QBR.

Taking considerable heat upon trading up for Love in 2020 — a decision that indeed deprived the last wave of Rodgers-era teams of a first-rounder who would help Super Bowl-contending squads — the Packers are making a seismic bet last season’s second half will lead to another run of stability at the QB position. They have enjoyed an unparalleled run, of course, at this position, as Favre lasted 16 seasons and Rodgers 15 as the team’s starter.

LaFleur said (via SI.com’s Bill Huber) he became comfortable with Love replacing Rodgers after the 2022 season due to how the 2020 draftee played during the preseason and on Green Bay’s scout team during the regular season. This led to a separation that involved two second-round picks coming back to Green Bay in last year’s Rodgers trade.

The outlier organization when it comes to quarterback development, the Packers are again betting on a season’s worth of starts will be indicative of long-term success. The Ted Thompson regime was certainly right on Rodgers, who was considered a higher-level prospect compared to Love. By parking Love for three seasons, the team missed out on the chance to build around Love’s rookie-scale contract and now will go from carrying a $40.3MM Rodgers dead money hit in 2023 to rostering a record-setting Love deal in 2024. Gutekunst acknowledged this contract will create cap challenges, via Huber, but noted he would rather be in that boat than lacking a good quarterback.

Both Love and Tagovailoa benefited from their teams waiting until Year 5 to complete extensions, as each secured four-year terms to move them into position for lucrative third contracts earlier. This NFL period has generally featured franchise-level first-round QBs being extended in Year 4, giving teams an extra year of control. Because of Tagovailoa’s injury issues and uneven career start, the Dolphins waited. The Packers reached a half-measure extension (two years, $13.5MM) with Love last year, rather than exercise a fifth-year option on a QB who had barely played. Less than 18 months later, the Utah State product required a record-setting contract, illustrating the leverage quality quarterbacks — even those without extensive sample sizes — possess in today’s game.

Jason Licht: Buccaneers ‘Optimistic’ Tristan Wirfs Extension Will Be Finalized Soon

July 27th, 2024 at 9:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers’ offseason has included a number of big-money deals being worked out to keep several members of the team’s core intact. The final main piece of business left to take care of is a monster extension for left tackle Tristan Wirfs.

The All-Pro is set to collect $18.24MM in 2024 on his fifth-year option. A long-term deal will cost far more, and Wirfs has a strong chance of resetting the market at his position. Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht confirmed as much in his latest comments on the matter. He also repeated his desire to have a deal in place as soon as possible.

“I’m optimistic that it hopefully will be soon,” Licht said of a Wirfs extension during an appearance on WDAE radio (audio link). “I was on with WDAE talking about Antoine [Winfield Jr.] saying, ‘Hey, the guy deserves to be highest-paid [safety].’ And I would say the same thing for Tristan.

“So we’re working very diligently to see how we can do that, you know, so it can help both sides, as well. So it doesn’t hurt our future so we can still continue to win, but we can reward him.”

Winfield did indeed move to the top of the safety pecking order when he inked a four-year, $84.1MM extension in May. Licht expressed confidence a deal would get done on that front while acknowledging Winfield’s value on a long-term pact, something which was firmly in the team’s plans. He has similarly maintained a stance that Wirfs, 25, will have a new pact in place by the start of the 2024 campaign.

A report came out shortly after the Winfield deal indicating Tampa Bay and Wirfs’ camp were not close to a deal being worked out. Licht’s remarks suggest progress has been made, however, and Wirfs could soon be atop the list of compensation in terms of at least blindside blockers. Left tackle contracts are now led by the Vikings’ Christian Darrisaw at $26MM per season. The most lucrative tackle pact of any kind is that of Penei Sewell, who is attached to an AAV of $28MM after signing a Lions extension.

Wirfs began his career on the right, but the departure of Donovan Smith last offseason led to him switching to the blindside. The Iowa product earned his third career Pro Bowl nod in 2023, showcasing his effectiveness on either side of the line. Wirfs reported to training camp and has participated despite not having an extension in hand, but that may change in the relatively near future.

Giants Have Not Considered Trading WR Darius Slayton

July 27th, 2024 at 8:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Darius Slayton is in position to play a sixth season with the Giants in 2024, but this offseason has included questions about his future. The veteran receiver stayed away from New York during the spring as part of an effort to land a new deal.

No extension talks took place, but in the end the sides reached a compromise. Slayton agreed to return to practice with new incentives being added to his pact, one which expires after this campaign. The 27-year-old has led the team in receiving during four of his five seasons, but recent draft additions – particularly Malik Nabers – threaten to cut into his role on the Giants’ offense moving forward.

Against the backdrop of a reduced target share, Slayton recently made it clear he would have welcomed a trade sending him elsewhere ahead of his walk year. No such move will be taking place, however, as general manager Joe Schoen confirmed. The pair had a discussion on the matter, and both sides are prepared for at least one more year together.

“When he came in, we had a conversation, and [a trade] was never an option,” Schoen said (via Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News). “He was a free agent two years ago, and 32 teams had a chance to get his services, and he came back here. And I believe we gave him the best deal at the time, and it was a two-year deal. And we had a good conversation, and he understood where we were, and I understood where he was coming from. And we put it to bed when he showed up in the spring.”

Nabers, along with 2022 second-rounder Wan’Dale Robinson and 2023 third-round selection Jalin Hyatt, represents competition for Slaton in terms of playing time and targets in the Giants’ offense. The latter has been a consistent option in the passing game for years, but his 50 receptions and 770 yards from 2023 represented career highs. As New York looks to take a needed step forward during a make-or-break campaign for quarterback Daniel Jones, Slayton will be joined by other intriguing pass-catchers.

The former fifth-rounder’s free agent stock will be dictated in large part by his performance in 2024. Slayton could seek a new team for the first time in his career if he does see himself surpassed on the depth chart by one or more of the Giants’ recent additions, but for now his future is not in doubt.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/27/24

July 27th, 2024 at 8:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL:

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins 

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Martinez had a productive dual-threat career in college, scoring 96 total touchdowns during his time with Nebraska and Kansas State. He joined the Lions as a UDFA last spring, but he did not survive roster cutdowns. Martinez did not see any NFL game action, but he recently boosted his stock in the UFL. The 24-year-old earned league MVP honors while leading the Birmingham Stallions to the championship. Martinez compiled a combined 17:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio and led the league with 588 rushing yards.

The top of New York’s depth chart is set with Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor, but rookie Jordan Travis opened training camp on the NFI list as he continues to recover from the leg injury which ended his Florida State career. Martinez’s arrival (and the corresponding departure of Bryant) will allow him to see limited reps for at least a brief period. He could be a practice squad candidate if Travis returns to health in time for the fall, but a strong showing in training camp and/or the preseason could make him an attractive option for other teams.

Bills’ Von Miller Healthy Ahead Of 2024 Season

July 27th, 2024 at 6:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2023 campaign began with expectations for continued production in the case of Von Miller. The future Hall of Famer’s Bills career got off to a strong with eight sacks in 11 contests during the 2022 campaign, but it was abruptly ended by an ACL tear.

Miller spent last offseason rehabbing, and on multiple occasions he expressed confidence in his knee’s status. The two-time Super Bowl winner had already rebounded from an ACL tear earlier in his career, and managing to do so again would have provided Buffalo with a key contributor along the edge. In the end, though, Miller suited up for 12 contests and had by far the least impactful season of his career. When reflecting on the year, he admitted playing was not the best decision.

“I wanted to be out there and play,” Miller said (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). “If I was 50%, like, nobody was going to stop me from going out there… But the truth, just being honest with you guys, my knee wasn’t at a place where I could go, and I could move, and I could do the things that I wanted to do. I mean, I could play, but that was just about it.”

Miller was held without a sack and recorded only three tackles in 2023, a major step back from his 2022 totals and a highly underwhelming return on investment from the Bills’ perspective. The 35-year-old remains attached to the six-year, $120MM deal he signed in 2022. He did accept a pay cut this spring as part of Buffalo’s financial maneuvering, but delivering better production would be critical for the team’s pass rush (and allow him to recoup money via incentives).

Repeating the positive sentiment he shared earlier this offseason, Miller added that he is now “feeling normal,” an encouraging sign for his health outlook. The former Bronco and Ram’s best 2023 showings came at the end of the regular season and Buffalo’s two playoff games, and remaining healthy through training camp could set him up for a rotational role to kick off the coming campaign. The Bills still have projected starters Gregory Rousseau and A.J. Epenesa in place at the defensive end spot; the former had his 2025 fifth-year option picked up, while the latter was retained on a two-year deal in March.

Buffalo did lose Leonard Floyd in free agency, though, and Miller returning to his previous form could help offset that departure. Another All-Pro season on Miller’s part should not be expected, of course, but he is at least optimistic 2024 will include a notable step forward in terms of effectiveness compared to last year.

49ers Rumors: RG, Hufanga, Pearsall

July 27th, 2024 at 5:24pm CST by Ely Allen

For much of the offseason, we have broadcast the 49ers’ right guard position battle as a challenge between Spencer Burford, who watched the job slip through his fingers last season, and Jon Feliciano, the man who took his job. In the meantime, we’ve logged third-round rookie Dominick Puni as a promising name to watch if he breaks out in training camp.

According to Cam Inman of The Mercury News, Puni’s time may be coming up sooner than expected. This revelation comes as Puni’s competition, Burford and Feliciano, both deal with injuries so far in training camp. Burford has suffered a fractured right hand, an ailment that could require surgery. If Burford undergoes surgery, that could keep him out for a bit of training camp, if not longer.

Feliciano has been dealing with a knee issue in recent days. The nine-year veteran has been preparing for what he has announced to be his final NFL season. As an experienced starter, Feliciano could just be playing it safe, getting the benefit of the doubt from coaches while making sure he’ll be ready for the regular season. The more time Feliciano sits out, though, the more first-team reps he’ll be allowing for his competition. Regardless of the position battle, Feliciano’s status last year as the sixth-man of the offensive line makes his health paramount at the moment.

With both Burford and Feliciano out, it’s been Puni taking those first-team reps. The team has praised Puni’s versatility after the Kansas-product made a strong first impression this spring. Offensive line coach Chris Foerster has lauded Puni’s strong frame and intelligence as he makes the adjustment to the NFL game.

Here are a couple of other injury updates from the Bay Area:

Seahawks Asked S Jamal Adams To Play LB

July 27th, 2024 at 3:23pm CST by Ely Allen

Jamal Adams has been one of the leaders of the safety/linebacker-hybrid movement since being drafted No. 6 overall back in 2017. Still, Adams has been adamant throughout his career that he is a safety. Thanks to an interview clip from ESPN’s Turron Davenport, we received a clue that a request to move to linebacker may have been a factor in Adams’ departure from Seattle.

Early in his career with the Jets, Adams’ numbers reflected those of a strong safety. While consistently being atop the team’s leaders in tackles, he still was very active in coverage, recording two interceptions and 25 passes defensed in his three years with New York. His efforts with the Jets earned him first- and second-team All-Pro honors and two Pro Bowl appearances.

After being traded to Seattle, Adams’ situation changed a bit. While the biggest change saw Adams struggle to stay on the field as he began dealing with annual injury issues, he also saw his role on the defense be tested in different ways. While in New York, Adams did see his time split between the box as a linebacker and as a safety or slot defensive back. In his first season with the Seahawks, though, Adams’ time at safety significantly decreased as he spent most of his time closer to the line in the slot or, mostly, in the box.

The following season, Adams pushed for more time at safety, and for the first time in his career, he played more snaps at safety than in the box or the slot. Unfortunately, that season also returned his worst defensive grade, per Pro Football Focus, up to that point of his career as well as the worst coverage grade of his career. 2022 saw his season lost to a torn quad tendon, then last year, with the arrival of Julian Love, Adams played the lowest snap share at safety in his career, playing almost exclusively close to the line at linebacker or nickel.

Davenport asked the new Titans defender about his departure from Seattle, inquiring whether they officially asked him to change positions. In response, Adams told the media, “Yeah, they did. They definitely did. Obviously, it wasn’t, you know, what I wanted to do, but I wish those guys nothing but the best.”

In Tennessee, Adams projects to serve as the third safety behind Elijah Molden and Amani Hooker, meaning he will likely continue to be used across the defense in a variety of ways. Agreeing to sign with the Titans, though, likely means that the team agreed to keep using him in some capacity at safety. Time will tell if the decision allows him to keep playing the role in which he wishes to play.

Jets, DE Haason Reddick Making Progress On Resolution

July 27th, 2024 at 12:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Haason Reddick situation has not reflected well on the Jets, who sent the Eagles a conditional third-rounder for a player angling for a new contract. With no new deal in sight, Reddick has stayed away from his new team since being acquired nearly four months ago.

Reddick skipped Jets minicamp and is one of the few NFLers holding out of training camp. The Jets placed the veteran sack artist on their reserve/did not report list this week. A recent report did indicate the Jets offered Reddick an extension while he was still with the Eagles — as Philly had let the disgruntled pass rusher speak with other teams — most of the rumors coming out of New York this offseason pointed to the team wanting to see its trade pickup in action before making any commitment.

Understandably, the latter aim is not sitting well with Reddick, who is going into his age-30 season. The Jets, however, may be making some progress here. Talks between Reddick and the team have seen some positive development this week, per veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson, who points to a near-future appearance from the former first-round pick. Addressing this report, Robert Saleh noted (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini), “That’s good to hear.”

It would make sense if Reddick showed up soon, as he is racking up $50K-per-day fines for not being at Jets camp. The Jets have been linked to adding sweeteners to Reddick’s current contract, a $15MM-per-year deal that expires after the 2024 season, but it is logical the nomadic edge defender is targeting something bigger. Reddick, whose career arc included multiple seasons miscast as a Cardinals off-ball linebacker, has registered 50.5 sacks since 2020 — fourth-most this decade — and has seen less productive pass rushers lap him on the market.

Reddick’s AAV now ranks 19th among edge rushers, and he is running out of time to score a market-value contract. Of the 18 players ahead of him on that list, only one — Von Miller — secured his deal after age 30. Reddick will turn 30 in September.

While the Jets’ hope of Reddick playing a bigger role than Bryce Huff did last year gives the former some ammo, the team still holds the cards here. The Jets have not ruled out an extension, but for now, the former Cardinals, Panthers and Eagles rusher may be ready to report to camp and settle for an incentive-based agreement in hopes of a better deal coming down the line.

Latest On Patriots’ Plans With Matt Judon, Davon Godchaux

July 27th, 2024 at 10:14am CST by Sam Robinson

Deviating from their Bill Belichick-era ways with a spree of lucrative extensions this offseason, the Patriots have created a new problem of sorts. By rewarding a host of talent since Eliot Wolf took over as the new front office boss, the contract-year players who have not been paid are making some noise.

Both Matt Judon and Davon Godchaux are on track for free agency in 2025. As payments have gone to Christian Barmore, Michael Onwenu, Kyle Dugger, Rhamondre Stevenson, Hunter Henry and now Jabrill Peppers, the Pats’ front-seven pieces are not exactly happy campers upon reporting. Rarely known for big spending under Belichick, the Pats are among this year’s top-10 spenders in terms of cash.

[RELATED: Peppers Becomes Latest Pats Extension Recipient]

Judon, who did not participate fully during last year’s training camp before seeing his contract adjusted, said (via the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed) he would play on his current contract but would prefer not to. Understandably, the accomplished edge rusher said (via NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran) the Pats’ slew of contracts handed out has made him a bit envious. Though, Judon noted he wants to stay in New England.

A report earlier this month indicated the Patriots and Judon were not close on a new deal. Going into his fourth season with the team, Judon is attached to a $6.5MM base salary — as part of 2023’s two-year, $22.5MM reworking — and a $14.7MM cap number. For his part, Jerod Mayo said both he and Wolf want Judon and DT Davon Godchaux in place beyond 2024. Though, the new Pats HC stopped short of guaranteeing deals are coming.

“Look, the relationship is still good, at least from my perspective,” Mayo said, via MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian. “Those are valuable pieces of this organization, and they’ve done a lot for us. Hopefully, we can get something done, and those guys are here. I want them here. Eliot wants them here. The team wants them here. There is a business aspect to everything, though.”

Given the change atop the front office and the 2023 team having gone 4-13, the Patriots’ roster-retention effort has been a bit strange. And New England will eventually put a stop to the dollars going out to in-house players, leaving some without a chair when the music stops. It is certainly possible Judon, who will turn 32 next month after missing most of last season due to injury, will be one of the players not paid this year. Godchaux, 29, has been a reliable defender for the Pats; the veteran D-tackle has never missed a game in three seasons with the team, operating as a starter throughout that span.

The Pats already gave Godchaux a pay bump in 2022, reaching an extension with the ex-Dolphins DT. He is currently on a two-year, $20.8MM deal. Godchaux, 29, did not participate at Patriots minicamp. That said, the run-stuffing D-lineman wants to stay with the Pats. No guarantees remain on Godchaux’s deal, and while he labeled that “frustrating” (via Curran), his $7.15MM salary will lock in just before Week 1 as a vested veteran.

Godchaux pointed to multiple recent contracts as comps for his own value, referencing the Colts’ latest Grover Stewart accord (three years, $39MM) and the Browns’ 2023 Dalvin Tomlinson terms (four years, $57MM) when discussing his situation. Pro Football Focus has not been as bullish on Godchaux, ranking him outside the top 90 among interior D-linemen over the past two seasons.

“The run-player market has gone up too, not just the pass-rush market,” Godchaux said, via ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss. “I have no doubt the Patriots and Drew [Rosenhaus] will get a deal done. If not, it’s a business. I’m not going to be sad and angry. Still love them but I just have to do what’s best for me.”

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