HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Offseason In Review: New England Patriots

August 31st, 2024 at 9:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Four years into the post-Tom Brady era, the Patriots hit a new low. New England finished the 2023 campaign with only four wins, their lowest total since Bill Belichick’s five-win debut in 2000. That dismal performance ultimately led to the legendary coach’s ouster, meaning the organization has officially hit the reset button with two of their three franchise pillars out the door.

Owner Robert Kraft remains, and he’s hoping his two highest-profile offseason moves will help guide the franchise to another stretch of success. Jerod Mayo takes over along the sideline, with the unofficial co-defensive coordinator (and assumed Belichick successor) earning the promotion to HC. On the field, the team invested the No. 3 overall pick on North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye, a raw but talented prospect who possesses more upside than any of the other QBs who have taken the field since Brady’s departure.

That duo will be hard pressed to match even a fraction of Brady and Belichick’s accolades, but they’re obviously not being tasked with reaching those same heights. Instead, Kraft and Co. will be counting on his rebuilding squad to show same flashes of potential in 2024, perhaps convincing ownership to open up the checkbook next offseason.

Coaching/front office:

Bill Belichick’s resume is undeniable, and the organization wouldn’t have won six Super Bowl rings without him roaming the sideline. However, considering his full dominion over every facet of football operations, he was chiefly responsible for the team’s downfall in recent years.

Even ignoring his influence on Tom Brady’s departure, Belichick made questionable decisions as both a coach and GM over the past four years. From his mishandling of the coaching staff (which featured handing the offense to former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and former special teams coordinator Joe Judge) to his mishandling of the quarterback position (which never featured a full endorsement of former first-round pick Mac Jones), Belichick was as much to blame as anybody in the organization.

Following the team’s worst showing during Belichick’s tenure, the head coach and owner Robert Kraft ultimately decided to part ways. This officially ended one of the most successful runs in North American sports history, and with the two main contributors to New England’s dynasties no longer in the building, the Patriots have officially kicked off a new era.

While ownership went through a faux head coaching cycle, the team landed on the assumed successor: former linebacker and recent de facto defensive coordinator Jerod Mayo. The former first-round pick rejected previous head coaching inquiries to stick in New England, a major clue that he was likely going to succeed Belichick when the time came. While Mayo showed some coaching talent while guiding the defense alongside Stephen Belichick, it obviously remains to be seen if he has the ability to guide an entire organization. At the very least, he’ll provide a fresh voice to Belichick’s old-school (and, potentially, antiquated) approach.

Mayo was immediately tasked with filling out his coaching staff. On offense, he landed on Alex Van Pelt, who was a surprise scapegoat following Cleveland’s blowout playoff loss last year. Van Pelt got the most out of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt during his four-year stint with the Browns, but the passing offense often left much to be desired. The offensive coordinator certainly won’t be evaluated for his rebuilding unit’s performance in 2024, but the organization will be hoping the offense shows some progress before the season is through.

On defense, Mayo settled on a familiar face to guide the way. DeMarcus Covington has been with the Patriots staff since 2017, working his way up from an assistant to the team’s defensive line coach. Covington was credited with the development of former second-round pick Christian Barmore, and Matt Judon and Josh Uche have both had success on the edge under the coach’s tutelage.

Belichick’s departure also left a major hole in the front office, where the legendary coach had full control over the roster. For that gig, the organization also opted for the long-rumored favorite: director of scouting Eliot Wolf. The son of long-time Packers GM Ron Wolf, Eliot will be tasked with bringing some of that Green Bay mentality to New England. In that arrangement, the organization would value the personnel department’s input vs. the head coach’s final say (a tactic that was impossible with Belichick at the helm).

Belichick’s ouster obviously had rippling effects on every facet of the organization. The coach’s eventual departure was inevitable, and while his successors may take time to find their footing, the Patriots have overcome the first hurdle of ripping off the Belichick-sized band-aid.

Extensions and restructures:

Curiously, while many pundits critiqued Bill Belichick’s recent draft track record and attributed it partly to his New England demise, the team still put in efforts to retain many of his extension-eligible draft picks.

Two of the team’s three foundational extensions came on the defensive side of the ball. The Patriots first slapped safety Kyle Dugger with the rarely-used transition tag before handing him a lucrative four-year extension. The former second-round pick doesn’t have any Pro Bowl appearances on his resume, and Pro Football Focus has been inconsistent with their evaluation of the defensive back. Still, Duggar has proven himself to be one of New England’s most reliable defenders in recent years, with the safety compiling nine interceptions and 20 passes defended. Facing an uncertain future, some consistency and familiarity will be key.

The Patriots also made a sizable commitment to defensive tackle Christian Barmore, assuring the former second-round pick is in New England for the foreseeable future. The Alabama product’s production took a clear step forward this past season, with Barmore compiling 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 2023, the second season in which he was healthy for every game. Barmore added 19 pressures and 16 QB hits, and he ranked eighth among defensive tackles in terms of PFF grade (83.8).

On the offensive side of the ball, the Patriots strayed from Belichick’s former playbook by handing a running back a notable extension. Rhamondre Stevenson’s extension won’t break the bank, but the four-year commitment certainly shows a change in philosophies. The former fourth-round pick has been one of New England’s most consistent offensive contributors in recent years, including a 2022 campaign where he collected 1,461 yards from scrimmage.

David Andrews represents one of the lone holdovers from the team’s Super Bowl-winning days. The veteran center managed to start all 17 games for the second time in three years, and the Patriots are assuring he’ll continue to stick around as the team transitions to Drake Maye under center. Both Jabrill Peppers and Davon Godchaux were savvy former pickups by the Patriots in free agency, and the veterans were rewarded for their efforts with multi-year extensions.

Trades:

The Patriots didn’t seem entirely committed to Mac Jones during his sophomore season, and the quarterback clearly fell out of the team’s plans following his 2-9 showing as a starter in 2023. Even before the team committed to drafting Drake Maye with the third-overall pick, New England decided to move on from their former first-round pick.

Jones had an up-and-down showing during his time with the Patriots. His best season came as a rookie, when he tossed 22 touchdowns, earned a Pro Bowl nod, and helped guide the Patriots to a postseason appearance. The wheels fell off over the subsequent two years, although the organization certainly didn’t put the signal-caller in a position to succeed. With Jones showing signs of regression and possessing only one-plus season remaining on his rookie contract, the Patriots decided to revamp their QB situation by dealing the player to Jacksonville.

As the Patriots handed out extensions left and right, the team curiously didn’t give a long-term pact to one of their most deserving players. Matt Judon took his play to another level after joining the Patriots as a free agent in 2021, with the edge rusher collecting 28 sacks between the 2021 and 2022 campaigns. His 2023 season was limited to only four games, and with the defender set to enter his age-32 season, the Patriots were wary of tacking on additional term to his contract.

While the front office was willing to increase his $6.5MM base salary for the 2024 campaign, it sounded like Judon wasn’t all that interested in a lame-duck status with a rebuilding squad. So, the Patriots made a move that was probably inevitable anyway by the time the trade deadline came around, sending their top defender to Atlanta for a third-round pick.

Free agency additions:

Armed with a chunk of cap room, the Patriots entered the offseason with some high hopes. While the team pursued some of the top names on the market, the front office ended up settling for some depth moves in a clear effort to evaluate their holdovers and draft picks.

Offensively, the team’s most notable free agent addition was also a familiar face. Jacoby Brissett was a third-round pick by the Patriots back in 2016, but the QB only lasted one season in New England before he was dealt to the Colts, where he filled in (and eventually succeeded) Andrew Luck. He proved himself to be a capable starter but not a ceiling-raiser, and he’s since established a reputation as one of the league’s premier QB2s.

In New England, the veteran will keep the seat warm until Drake Maye is ready to roll. It’s uncertain if Brissett will run the offense for all or just part of the 2024 campaign, and the team’s sizable guaranteed commitment shows they’re paying up for the uncertain role.

The team added a handful of additional offensive players who could play fringe roles for the 2024 Patriots. Antonio Gibson proved himself to be a capable pass-catching back during his stint in Washington, and the veteran should provide the Patriots with a change-of-pace option at the RB position. K.J. Osborn topped 500 receiving yards in Minnesota in each of the past three seasons, but with an uncertain QB room and a relatively deep WR room, he probably won’t top those numbers in New England. Austin Hooper brings some experience to the tight end room, although the departed Mike Gesicki’s tepid New England production shows that we shouldn’t expect a whole lot from Hunter Henry’s backup.

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Bengals Have “Intensified” Efforts To Extend Ja’Marr Chase

August 31st, 2024 at 9:58pm CST by Ben Levine

After participating in some light practices earlier in the week, Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase observed practice from the sideline over the past few days. This tactic appeared to be a resumption of his training camp hold-in, with the wideout continuing to seek a lucrative contract extension. With Week 1 rapidly approaching, it sounds like Chase’s efforts may be working.

[RELATED: Latest On Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase]

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bengals have “intensified” their efforts to extend Chase in recent days. The organization’s goal is to get the wideout back on the practice field for the start of next week, and there’s some optimism within the building that the two sides can find common ground.

As has been noted throughout this saga, Chase’s two remaining years are a hurdle in negotiations. Fowler adds some more context, noting that the Bengals are wary of guaranteeing too much money when they still have the former first-round pick locked in through the 2025 campaign.

From a total-value perspective, it sounds like the Bengals are more than willing to meet Chase’s demands. Per Fowler, the organization is willing to pay Chase more than $30MM per season, although it was already assumed the front office would have to promise this AAV considering six wideouts are now at or above that threshold. We heard recently that multiple teams expect Chase to actually top Justin Jefferson‘s $35MM AAV, but it sounds like Chase’s guarantees would trail Jefferson’s $88MM-plus in guaranteed money.

Chase appeared to have abandoned his hold-in earlier this week, with the wideout attending practice. Zac Taylor was pretty definitive that his star wideout would be available for Week 1, but things took a turn as the week went on. Chase attended practices on Wednesday and Thursday but was spotted wearing street clothes, and Taylor was quick to walk back his previous comments.

Taylor’s declaration could end up being correct. However, it sounds like the two sides still have to overcome their contract staring contest before next Sunday.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/31/24

August 31st, 2024 at 9:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s lone minor move:

New York Giants

New York’s reunion with cornerback Adoree’ Jackson is official, so a roster spot needed to be opened up. Johnson will be free to sign with another team, but he is a candidate to remain with the Giants via a practice squad deal. Just like last season, teams are allowed to elevate two practice squad players each week to dress for games on the active roster. Johnson and many other veterans will no doubt spend time on and off the taxi squad as a result.

Bills Not Seeking K Addition

August 31st, 2024 at 6:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tyler Bass has served as the Bills’ kicker for the past four years. His missed field goal attempt late in the divisional round of the playoffs contributed to Buffalo’s elimination, and the subsequent months have not produced a rebound in terms of accuracy.

Bass has struggled with consistency during training camp and the preseason. A missed 51-yard field goal during Buffalo’s preseason finale drew public criticism from head coach Sean McDermott and led to increased questions about another kicker being added in advance of the season. The initial wave or roster cuts has come and gone, though, and no such move has been made.

“Not at this point,” general manager Brandon Beane said, via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia, when asked if the team is considering adding competition for Bass (subscription required). “I get the question, I do. I understand. If he had a short history here, [we] probably would have. I think we’ve just got to relax and give him a chance and remain confident in him.”

Bass connected on 28 of 34 field goal attempts during his rookie season. That accuracy rate jumped to over 87% during the next two seasons, cementing his status as a player the Bills were interested in keeping on a second contract. The 27-year-old inked a four-year, $20.4MM extension last spring. As a result, he is under contract through 2027.

The former sixth-rounder regressed to an extent in terms of accuracy last year, going 24-for-29 (82.8%) on field goals. During the postseason, Bass’ struggles were highlighted; he connected on only two of five field goals, and all three of his misses came from within 50 yards. A less-than-convincing showing during the summer will lead to expectations for a return to his previous form in 2024, the final year with guaranteed salary on his pact.

In addition to the financial commitment Buffalo has already made in Bass, the fact he has only missed eight extra points (regular and postseason combined) in his career is a factor working in his favor. Still, speculation about other kicking options being brought in will no doubt intensify if the start of the year does not go smoothly. Brandon McManus, Greg Joseph and Randy Bullock are among the veterans on the market at the moment.

LB Jonas Griffith Suffers ACL Tear

August 31st, 2024 at 6:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jonas Griffith missed all of last season due to an ACL tear, and he is now set to miss a second straight campaign for the same reason. The former Broncos linebacker announced he has surgery lined up for another ACL repair.

Griffith noted the most recent tear affects the same knee which was injured last August. He faces another lengthy rehab process as a result, and the news of his new injury helps explain why the Broncos cut him earlier this week. That move saw him waived without an injury designation, and ended his bid to land a starting gig.

The 27-year-old spent much of the offseason competing with Cody Barton for a first-team role next to Alex Singleton. Once Griffith was let go, it became clear Barton – added on a one-year free agent deal worth $2.5MM fully guaranteed – would win out. Griffith went unclaimed on Wednesday, making him a free agent. Given his latest injury setback, though, he is likely to remain on the open market until he returns to full health.

The former UDFA made 22 appearances, including 12 starts, between the 2021 and ’22 campaigns with the Broncos. He logged a part-time defensive role during that span while also seeing a notable workload on special teams. Despite missing all of last season (after being sidelined for the end of the 2022 slate), Griffith signed a one-year extension this winter. That $985K pact did not include any guaranteed money.

Singleton and Barton are joined by Drew Sanders and Justin Strnad at the linebacker spot as things currently stand for the Broncos. Denver could add further depth at the position in the wake of Griffith’s injury, but in any case he will once again turn his attention to recovery instead of preparation for the season.

Lions, DT Alim McNeill Begin Extension Talks

August 31st, 2024 at 5:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2024 offseason has been defined by the Lions’ willingness to extend several in-house players. Each of the team’s major new deals worked out over the past few months have come on the offensive side of the ball, and attention has now turned to one of Detroit’s ascending defenders.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes confirmed defensive tackle Alim McNeill is firmly on the team’s extension radar. That has been known throughout the summer, but Detroit has had other priorities to deal with. Now that the bulk of the roster is set in advance of Week 1, negotiations on a second contract with the 24-year-old are set to begin.

“We haven’t had anything intense going on from a dialogue standpoint, but his camp knows that we want to get something done,” Holmes said (via Jared Ramsey of the Detroit Free Press). “But, it’s very [much] in the infancy stage right now.”

McNeill has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and his play in 2023 set him up for a potential payday. The former third-rounder notched a career-high five sacks last season, adding 13 pressures and 10 quarterback hits. He again served as a full-time starter, and his production is particularly notable since he missed four games due to an MCL injury. Healthy in time for the postseason, McNeill was again a regular presence along interior for all three of Detroit’s playoffs games.

The Lions added to their D-line by signing Marcus Davenport as a veteran complement to edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit also added D.J. Reader on the open market. The former Bengals run-stuffer should take on a first-team role when healthy, and he could form an effective tandem with McNeill. Last month, it was confirmed extension talks with the NC State product would take place relatively soon.

Time still remains between now and the start of the regular season for the Lions and McNeill to work out a deal. Given the nature of Holmes’ latest comments on the subject, though, it would come as a surprise if an agreement were to be worked out in the coming days. Negotiations could carry over into the fall, or McNeill’s camp could choose to play out the coming season with the hopes of another productive season upping his trade value. It will be interesting to see how much progress is made now that formal talks are underway.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice Unlikely To Be Placed On Commissioner’s Exempt List

August 31st, 2024 at 3:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

A number of suspensions have been handed down by the NFL recently as the countdown to Week 1 continues. In the case of Chiefs wideout Rashee Rice, though, no league action is expected in the immediate future.

“We continue to closely monitor all developments in the matter which remains under review,” a league statement regarding Rice reads (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post). “We will let the legal process play out before making any decisions.”

The NFL often takes that approach with criminal cases. Rice faces eight felony charges stemming from the hit-and-run incident he was involved in at the end of March. The 24-year-old was later accused of punching a photographer at a Dallas nightclub, but that incident is not expected to lead to charges being filed. The NFL has the option of placing Rice on the commissioner’s exempt list, but that move is generally reserved for cases of domestic violence (as most recently shown in the example of Browns rookie Mike Hall).

“We don’t anticipate that [Rice] would be placed on [the] commissioner’s exempt unless there’s a material change in the case,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed when speaking to the media (via Maske). That remark further paves the way for Rice to at least begin the 2024 campaign without issue as it pertains to a potential suspension. The league has yet to interview the SMU product as part of its disciplinary process, one which does not required criminal convictions for personal conduct violations to result in suspensions.

Rice had a strong rookie season in 2023, a year in which the Chiefs struggled to find consistent production from the receiver spot. Adding at that position was a key offseason priority for Kansas City, leading to Marquise Brown‘s free agent signing and the decision to select Xavier Worthy in the first round of the draft. Brown is unlikely to be available for Week 1, so Rice could be positioned to handle a large workload in the passing game to kick off the 2024 campaign. How long he will stay eligible to suit up will remain unknown until further developments take place in his criminal case.

Cowboys DC Mike Zimmer Addresses Vikings Exit, Future HC Plans

August 31st, 2024 at 3:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Mike Zimmer was out of the NFL for the past two years after his tenure as head coach of the Vikings came to an end. He is now in place as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, a return to the role he held from 2000-06.

Head coach Mike McCarthy is believed to have preferred promoting Joe Whitt to take over from Dan Quinn, but Zimmer will assume those duties after agreeing to once again work under owner Jerry Jones. Zimmer’s time in Minnesota did not end on a high note, though he received interest from other suitors this offseason before taking the Dallas gig. Comments he recently made when reflecting on his head coaching tenure illustrate the circumstances surrounding his departure.

In an interview with Mark Craig of the Minnesota Star Tribune, Zimmer admitted to his coaching approach and personality clashing with players and staff members at times. After he was fired, a number of public criticisms were levied against the 68-year-old, who noted that he “holds a grudge.” That is not the case for linebacker Eric Kendricks, who lamented the culture Zimmer established in Minnesota but chose to sign with the Cowboys in free agency because doing so allowed him to reunite with his former head coach. Kendricks will play a key role in Dallas’ efforts to improve against the run under Zimmer.

The latter added that his relationship with Vikings ownership and ex-general manager Rick Spielman deteriorated during the end of his time in Minnesota. The 2021 draft in particular – during which Spielman attempted to move up in the first round to select Justin Fields and ultimately selected fellow quarterback Kellen Mond in the third – did not sit well with Zimmer, who wanted more emphasis to be placed on defensive additions. The longtime staffer said he and Spielman have not spoken since the 2021 campaign, their last working together.

Minnesota posted a record of 8-8 or better each year from 2015-19. That span included five total postseason contests across three years, but the Vikings were unable to proceed past the divisional round during Zimmer’s tenure. After going a combined 15-18 during their last two years in place, Zimmer and Spielman were fired once the 2021 season ended. A head coaching gig could await Zimmer depending on how he performs in Dallas, but he does not appear to be eyeing a return to that role.

“Guys with worse records than me have gotten second chances, but I don’t see it happening because of my age,” Zimmer – who sports a .562 winning percentage – said. “And now teams also want whoever can coach the quarterback. It is what it is.”

McCarthy’s inability to translate 12-win seasons into playoff success over the past three years has left him on the hot seat entering 2024. The coming campaign represents the final one of his contract, and last year’s underwhelming wild-card loss is the main reason Jones has not authorized a new deal for the former Super Bowl winner. McCarthy’s focus will remain on the Cowboys’ offense in 2024, but expectations will be high for Zimmer to help the team remain strong against the pass while overseeing improvement in the front seven. The future of bother staffers beyond this year is uncertain, but improving his stock may not lead to Zimmer pursuing a second head coaching gig.

Commanders Trade DT John Ridgeway To Saints

August 31st, 2024 at 12:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

TODAY, 12:05pm: The seventh-round pick that the Commanders attached to Ridgeway is a conditional selection, according to Howard Balzer of CardsWire. In a fun twist, the pick is technically New Orleans’ 2025 seventh-round pick. The selection was originally sent to Philly in the C. J. Gardner-Johnson trade, and it was recently sent to Washington in the Jahan Dotson deal.

WEDNESDAY, 2:45pm: The Commanders made an effort to trade John Ridgeway before roster-cutdown day. Unlike many of those pursuits, a deal will come to pass after the team had set its 53-man roster.

Ridgeway is heading to the Saints in a pick-swap deal, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo report. This marks another 2022 or 2023 draftee the new regime is jettisoning. A 2022 Cowboys fifth-round pick, Ridgeway worked as rotational defensive tackle in Washington.

Washington cut five of its 2023 draftees Tuesday and has now traded two 2022 picks in the past week, with this following the Jahan Dotson deal. Even though Ridgeway came from the Cowboys, Dan Quinn‘s team is moving on from a player the Ron Rivera regime initially added. Ridgeway arrived in Dallas during Quinn’s second year as Cowboys DC; the veteran coach has since signed off on moving on twice in three years.

This will be a classic pick-swap agreement, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter adding the Saints are sending the Commanders a 2025 sixth-round pick for Ridgeway and a ’25 seventh. Two years remain on Ridgeway’s rookie contract, which Washington initially claimed in September 2022.

Ridgeway, 25, played a career-high 356 defensive snaps last season. While the Commanders had extra work to go around at D-end during the second half of last season (after trading Chase Young and Montez Sweat), they had less playing time to give out at DT. Ridgeway nevertheless earned a spot operating behind Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Pro Football Focus was still not impressed, ranking the Illinois State alum as a bottom-10 D-tackle (among regulars) last season.

The Saints return 2023 free agency additions Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd at D-tackle, with 2023 first-round pick Bryan Bresee and rookie sixth-rounder Khristian Boyd rounding out the group. New Orleans also rookie UDFA DT Sincere Haynesworth on IR last week.

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