2024 August - Pro Football Rumors

Month: November 2024

49ers Re-Sign TE Logan Thomas

August 22nd, 2024 at 5:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Teams typically welcome back discarded veterans after roster-cutdown day, upon completing necessary roster gymnastics. The 49ers, however, will reunite with Logan Thomas before that point.

The defending NFC champions brought back the veteran tight end on another one-year deal Thursday. San Francisco waived safety Tayler Hawkins from their 90-man roster to make room for the returning Thomas. A former UDFA, Hawkins has one NFL game under his belt — a Week 18 start for the 49ers last season.

The 49ers cut Thomas on August 9, so he will have ended up missing roughly two weeks of practice. Given the team’s decision to move on early in camp, it should not be considered a lock Thomas will end up on San Francisco’s 53-man roster. That said, the longtime Washington pass catcher could be a candidate for the practice squad, seeing as he was available for two weeks and is back with the 49ers. Teams are allotted six spots for vested veterans on their 16-man P-squads.

Thomas has been cut twice this year, with the Commanders jettisoning a more lucrative contract (three years, $24MM) compared to the 49ers, who had signed him to a one-year, $1.21MM deal ($300K guaranteed) contract in June. The converted quarterback started 49 games for the Commanders from 2020-23, posting 670 receiving yards in 2020 — to set up a Washington extension — and 496 last season. Thomas added four TDs in Eric Bieniemy‘s offense. The new Commanders regime bailed, however. Thomas, 33, is well removed from the November 2021 ACL tear that sidetracked his Washington stay.

San Francisco has George Kittle signed through the 2025 season, and while the team lost Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley (both to the Falcons), veteran Eric Saubert and 2023 draftees Cameron Latu and Brayden Willis are on the roster. Jake Tonges, a 2022 Bears UDFA, and rookie undrafted player Mason Pline round out the 49ers’ tight end room. Teams typically keep three or four TEs, outlining where San Francisco will be at this point next week.

Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers Making Progress On Deal; Ownership Involved

August 22nd, 2024 at 4:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 22: During a Thursday appearance on KNBR radio, Lynch noted the potential for CeeDee Lamb and Ja’Marr Chase to further alter the receiver market on Cowboys and Bengals extensions, respectively (h/t Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). Each of those pacts will likely check in at a rate above $30MM per season, although Cincinnati appears to be willing to wait until 2025 in Chase’s case.

Further upward movement in the market would likely boost Aiyuk’s asking price, but meeting the 49ers’ goal of finalizing a pact would eliminate that possibility. With other big-ticket deals on the books (and another on the way in the form of Brock Purdy), Lynch confirmed the team’s other commitments is another factor complicating an Aiyuk deal. Efforts to keep him – not to mention Trent Williams – in the fold continue.

AUGUST 20: Brandon Aiyuk continues to drift farther away from the Steelers’ grasp. The would-be trade candidate went through another meeting with 49ers brass. The sides are making progress toward an extension, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

This endless saga has produced multiple consequential meetings — a midsummer summit Aiyuk requested and an early-August powwow that seemed to come after a Steelers extension offer did not meet the receiver’s expectations — and this Monday effort can perhaps be added here. Aiyuk’s hold-in persists, but positive signs are emerging for the 49ers.

Although the 49ers have trade parameters in place with the Steelers, they are believed to have upped their offer from where it was around notable meeting No. 1 ($26-$27MM per year). The sides are believed to be in agreement on the major deal points, but Schultz adds the minor details are going up to the ownership level. The 49ers have managed to strike late-summer deals with George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Jimmy Garoppolo and Nick Bosa during the 2020s. While Bosa scored a defender-record contract, Aiyuk is driving a hard bargain in his own right. That led to the trade talks, though those have steadily dissipated.

It is worth wondering if the Bears’ recent D.J. Moore extension helped lock in a price point for the 49ers and Aiyuk. The Bears gave Moore a $27.5MM-per-year extension that included $82.6MM in total guarantees. While the former Panthers first-rounder has a longer track record of consistency, Aiyuk nearly topped Moore’s career-best receiving yardage total (1,364) on far fewer targets. Aiyuk, who is one year younger than Moore (at 26), reached 1,342 yards on just 105 targets. Moore is currently the NFL’s seventh-highest-paid receiver; it is difficult to envision this arduous Aiyuk process finalizing without the 49ers topping that.

Aiyuk’s efficient 2023 has prompted the 49ers wideout to seek terms near the top of the ballooning WR market. While Aiyuk has not been tied to an ask too close to Justin Jefferson‘s $35MM-per-year record number, he has sought an AAV around Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s $30.01MM mark and guarantees in A.J. Brown territory ($84MM).

The Steelers’ offer coming in below $28MM per year appears to have sent Aiyuk back to negotiating with the 49ers, who have reengaged in serious talks for several days now. Pittsburgh not including any veteran players in its proposal, thus not helping a 2024 49ers team aiming to complete its long-held championship pursuit under Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch, has hurt the AFC North team’s cause as well. But Aiyuk did not show much interest in joining the Patriots or Browns, leaving the Steelers as the alternative to a long-term 49ers future.

A league source recently expressed surprise (via veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson) that Aiyuk did not show interest in a Patriots offer believed to be worth up to $32MM per year and feature a strong Year 1 payout. The 49ers, however, feature a setup Aiyuk has proven he can thrive in, and the receiver appears to hold Mike Tomlin in high enough regard it is viewed as a drawing card for the fifth-year wideout. For now, an Aiyuk-to-Pittsburgh reality is losing steam fast — as the 49ers try to complete an extension they have been at work on for several months.

Randy Gregory Expected To Retire

August 22nd, 2024 at 3:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of his Buccaneers release officially taking place on Thursday, Randy Gregory‘s NFL career may well be over. The veteran edge rusher is expected to retire, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes.

Gregory joined the Bucs in April after his brief stint with the 49ers to close out the 2023 campaign. He was dealt to San Francisco following the end of his highly underwhelming Broncos tenure. A five-year, $69.5MM Denver contract signed in 2022 only resulted in three sacks across 10 games played. The Tampa Bay deal represented an opportunity for a fresh start, but it did not work out.

The former second-rounder signed for $3MM, and his Buccaneers pact included a $1.3MM roster bonus. Since Gregory never reported to the team, though, Tampa Bay was in position to collect that payment. The bonus has indeed been paid back, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports. Between never keeping that money and the $50K in daily fines he accumulated, the Nebraska product’s financial situation was notably worsened during his (essentially) non-existent Tampa Bay tenure.

In June, it was learned Gregory filed a lawsuit against the Broncos and the NFL after being fined more than $500K for the use of a prescription medication containing THC. No developments on that front have taken place in recent months, but today’s news points to Gregory’s ability to add to his career earnings coming to an end. The cause for his ongoing absence remains unknown.

Entering the NFL as a Cowboys second-rounder, Gregory’s most productive season came with Dallas in 2018 (six sacks). The early portion of his career was marred by suspensions, though, and four substance abuse bans left him sidelined for the 2017 and ’19 campaigns. A deal seemed to be in place to remain with the Cowboys in 2022, but that agreement was soon replaced the Broncos one which included the same terms.

If Gregory, 31, does indeed hang up his cleats he will depart the league with 78 combined regular and postseason games to his name. His career earnings check in at roughly $33MM. It would come as a surprise if teams showed interest in him as a free agent given the nature of his Buccaneers exit.

Bengals DE Myles Murphy Facing Multi-Week Absence

August 22nd, 2024 at 2:23pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bengals will be shorthanded on the edge to begin the season. Second-year defensive end Myles Murphy suffered a non-contact injury in practice, and he is now facing a multi-week absence due to a knee sprain.

Murphy avoided the worst-case scenario, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes. Nevertheless, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds that the Bengals are expecting a recovery timeline of four to six weeks. That should keep the 2023 first-rounder sidelined for at least the first game of the campaign as he looks to carve out a larger role than the one he had as a rookie.

The Clemson product logged a 28% defensive snap share last year, although his usage saw a notable uptick toward the latter half of the season. If Murphy continues that increase in workload once healthy, he could be in line to produce more than the three sacks and six pressures he totaled in 2023. As Fowler notes, though, the Bengals will proceed with caution regarding Murphy’s recovery process.

The 22-year-old had a strong sophomore campaign in college, but his production and consistency took a step back in his junior campaign. Murphy still entered the league with high expectations as the No. 28 pick in his draft class, and he is set to serve as a key member of Cincinnati’s defense when healthy. Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard will remain defensive end starters as Murphy recovers.

The Bengals also have Joseph Ossai in place as a young member of their edge contingent. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract, though, and a free agent departure could pave the way for increased reps in Murphy’s case starting in 2025. The latter should be back in the fold without missing too much regular season game time, but his absence will still be felt for the coming weeks.

Patriots Plan To Name Starting QB After Preseason Finale

August 22nd, 2024 at 1:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

Three rookie quarterbacks – Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix – will start for their respective teams in Week 1. Michael Penix Jr. has Kirk Cousins ahead of him on the depth chart, while J.J. McCarthy‘s debut campaign will consist of rehabbing from meniscus surgery.

It remains to be seen what the Patriots will do with Drake Maye. The No. 3 pick in April’s draft was seen as more of a project than some of his classmates given his age (21) and the fact he only served as a starter for the past two seasons. With veteran Jacoby Brissett in place as a bridge starter, it came as no surprise Maye entered training camp No. 2 on the depth chart.

After the North Carolina product saw limited usage in New England’s first preseason game, it seemed the team’s plan to employ a patient development plan with him would continue. Maye’s playing time increased last week, though, and Brissett has struggled during training camp and his exhibition game reps. Head coach Jerod Mayo said last week the competition was not over, leaving the door open to Maye landing the Week 1 gig. No final call will be made until after the Patriots’ preseason finale.

“It’s still a competition, and Jacoby is still QB1,” Mayo said (via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe). “It’s a competition amongst all the guys on the field, including the quarterback spot. I would say by Monday night, we should know who the quarterback is.”

New England’s preseason will wrap up on Sunday, and both Brissett and Maye will see game time. The former, as Mayo confirmed, is still in place as the top option as things stand, but the latter has impressed with respect to his development so far. As Volin notes, the team’s offensive line and skill-position corps both remain a work in progress, factors which would lend themselves to using Brissett at the start of the year. That could still wind up being the case, but Mayo echoed his satisfaction with how far Maye has come so far.

“We always have to be flexible in regard to the plan,” Mayo added. “Right now, it’s all going the right way, the right direction. I would say his teammates can see that confidence growing as well. Hopefully, it’s just an upward trajectory from here.”

Eagles RT Lane Johnson Addresses Playing Future

August 22nd, 2024 at 12:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

Following the 2023 season, Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox retired. Those decisions ended the careers for two of Philadelphia’s ‘Core Four’ players, but Brandon Graham and Lane Johnson remain in the fold.

The latter made it clear in the aftermath of the Eagles’ wild-card loss that he would not give consideration to retiring. Johnson’s latest comments on his future confirm that stance, although the five-time Pro Bowler is aware his decorated career is winding down. For the time being, at least, he can be penciled into the starting lineup up front.

“I think physically, I can do what [Andrew] Whitworth did and [Jason Peters], I can play until I’m 40,” Johnson said (via PHLY’s Zach Berman). “With my movement, you ask coaches, you ask players, I think physically I can do it… I’m thinking two to three more years, realistically. But we’ll see. It’s hard to step away from something you love, and something you’ve done for so long.”

At the age of 34, Johnson has a long way to go if he is to seriously contemplate matching what Whitworth and Peters were able to accomplish. Citing his family as a reason for stepping away from football relatively soon, though, his given timeline would set him up to retire well before reaching the age-40 mark. The two-time All-Pro is under contract through 2026.

Johnson’s deal calls for cap hits ranging between $15.87MM and $18.7MM during that span, and he is owed $20MM each pf the next three years. Option payments are due on September 1 for all three years before the contract voids, a setup which had his future retirement in mind when the pact was worked out last year. The Eagles are set to carry signficant dead money charges after Johnson hangs up his cleats through the addition of void years, but alterations could of course be made depending on his playing future.

The Super Bowl LII winner is among the highest earners for offensive linemen in NFL history, but his continued strong play deep into his career has him positioned to remain an unquestioned RT starter for the next few years. Johnson’s decision on his playing career will likely remain a talking point for him and the Eagles, although for at least the time being retirement may not be a front burner issue.

Seahawks Trade CB Michael Jackson To Panthers For LB Michael Barrett

August 22nd, 2024 at 11:53am CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday has seen its third NFL trade take place. The Seahawks have dealt cornerback Michael Jackson to the Panthers in return for rookie linebacker Michael Barrett. The move has been announced by both teams.

Jackson is a veteran of five seasons, having spent time with three different teams. The former fifth-rounder was selected by the Cowboys, but his regular season debut came during his rookie season with the Lions. After making a single appearance with Detroit, he played in only one game the following season with the Patriots. Jackson had found a regular role in Seattle over the past three years, though.

The 27-year-old played sparingly during his debut season in the Emerald City, but in 2022 he served as a full-time starter. Logging over 1,000 defensive snaps, Jackson collected 75 tackles, 12 pass deflections and the lone interception of his career. After the Seahawks drafted Devon Witherspoon with their top pick in last year’s draft, though, Jackson lost his first-team gig. Witherspoon and Riq Woolen will remain in place as starters this season, and Seattle’s latest rookie additions at the CB spot (Nehemiah Pritchett and DJ James) will join Artie Burns, who re-signed this offseason.

Jackson agreed to a restructured contract in May, providing him with a six-figure signing bonus. None of his $1.06MM base salary is guaranteed, though, which led to questions about his grip on a roster spot. The pending free agent will have a strong chance of finding a role in Carolina given the team’s need in the secondary. The Panthers have long been mentioned as a candidate to add a corner, and the team made an offer to Stephon Gilmore before he signed with the Vikings.

Carolina traded away Donte Jackson this offseason, leaving free agent pickup Dane Jackson as a key member of the CB room. The latter is dealing with a hamstring injury, and he could begin the season on injured reserve. That ailment drove the Panthers to pursue an addition, and today’s move will meet that goal while marking the rare move of trading a rookie before they have made their debut.

Barrett was selected in the seventh round of this year’s draft, and he will now turn his attention to landing a roster spot in Seattle. Jerome Baker – signed in free agency – is currently on the mend from a hamstring injury of his own, leaving the Seahawks on the lookout for depth. As a Michigan alum, Barrett is a familiar face to head coach Mike Macdonald, who served as the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator in 2021.

Pete Carroll Not Eyeing New Coaching Gig

August 22nd, 2024 at 10:02am CST by Adam La Rose

Pete Carroll intended to remain in his post as head coach of the Seahawks in 2024. Efforts to convince the organization to allow that to take place were unsuccessful, though.

Set to turn 73 in September, Carroll does not have a role of any kind in place with the Seahawks. Seattle’s power structure now has general manager John Schneider making final decisions on roster-building moves and rookie head coach Mike Macdonald positioned to take over on the sidelines. Carroll has not been in touch with Macdonald or other Seattle staffers, nor is he actively seeking out a new coaching opportunity.

“Well, you know, I get asked a lot, so I’m pretty familiar with answering that I could coach tomorrow,” the Super Bowl winner said during an interview on 93.3 KJR. “I’m physically in the best shape I’ve been in a long time. I’m ready to be ready to do all the activities that I’m doing and feeling really good about it. I could, but I’m not desiring it at this point.”

Carroll’s NFL tenure dates back to 1994, and he took over as head coach in Seattle in 2010. The tenure that followed included a pair of Super Bowl appearances and an overall winning percentage of .606. The past three seasons have not included double-digit wins, though, and the Seahawks made only one playoff appearance during that span. Macdonald will be tasked with overseeing efforts on the defensive side of the ball in particular as the team looks to return to its former successes in that capacity.

While a number of coaches who were left without a position in the 2024 coaching cycle intend to return to an NFL sideline – including, most notably, Bill Belichick – Carroll does not have his eyes on doing so in the short- or long-term future. While circumstances could change, of course, the NFL’s 15th-winnigest coaches’ comments on his situation point to the 2023 campaign being his final one in any coaching capacity.

“We’ll see what happens,” Carroll added. “I’m not waiting on [a new opportunity] at all. I’m going ahead and I got other things that I want to do that I’m excited about, and I’m going to see how all that goes… So, if it’s been 40-something years, 48 years or whatever coaching and that’s it, I feel OK about that.”

Commanders To Trade For Browns K Cade York, Waive K Riley Patterson

August 22nd, 2024 at 9:12am CST by Adam La Rose

Known to be on the lookout for a change at the kicker position, the Commanders have a pair of moves in place. Washington is trading for Cade York, sending the Browns a conditional seventh-round pick, SI’s Albert Breer reports.

In a corresponding move, the Commanders have released Riley Patterson. That leaves York as the only kicker on Washington’s roster with the start of the regular season looming. The 2022 Browns draftee connected on 75% of his field goal attempts during his rookie season, suggesting he could remain in place over the long term. Struggles last offseason led Cleveland to bring in Dustin Hopkins as competition, however, and the veteran handled kicking duties in 2023.

Hopkins exceled during his debut Browns campaign, and he landed a three-year, $15.3MM extension last month. Cleveland wanted to keep York in the fold last year, and the team’s decision to bring him back this offseason proved that was still the case. Instead of risking the former fourth-rounder on waivers again, though, the Browns have elected to take back minimal draft compensation while moving forward with only Hopkins in place for the time being.

The Commanders had Brandon McManus in the fold earlier this offseason, but allegations of sexual assault made in a civil suit dating back to his time with the Jaguars led to Washington releasing him. That move was followed by the signing of Ramiz Ahmed, who entered training camp as the lone kicker on the roster. Patterson was claimed off waivers at the end of July, though, which led to Ahmed’s release.

Patterson, 24, has seen game action with three teams in his brief NFL career despite going 53-for-59 on field goals to date. He struggled in the Commanders’ first two preseason contests, however, leading head coach Dan Quinn to state another move was being targeted. With one more exhibition contest on the slate, York will have a small window of opportunity to earn the Week 1 gig.

The LSU alum spent time on the Titans’ and Giants’ practice squads last year, but he was not used in the regular season. York’s return to Cleveland has proven to be short-lived, but this Commanders deal will allow him to find a full-time position for the 2024 campaign provided he does not disappoint in the build-up to the season. If he does, Washington’s willingness to move on from kickers quickly would make another change at the position a distinct possibility.

Justin Fields Gaining Ground To Start For Steelers

August 21st, 2024 at 10:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

In a quarterback battle for the first time since his rookie training camp, Russell Wilson has already run into limitations due to a calf injury. This gave Justin Fields a chance to receive steady first-string reps. While Pittsburgh’s latest preseason game did not go well on offense, practice work has narrowed this competition.

Neither Fields nor Wilson averaged more than 5.5 yards per attempt against the Bills, the latter’s preseason debut with his new team. Fields was 11-for-17 with 92 yards, while Wilson was 8-for-10 for 47 yards. The younger passer added 42 yards on the ground. The Steelers did not score a touchdown in that game, inviting early concerns for a franchise that has not exactly enjoyed reliable quarterback play since before Ben Roethlisberger‘s 2019 elbow injury.

After Wilson entered camp in pole position, Fields’ car appears to be closer to the veteran’s rearview mirror. The Steelers have naturally been impressed with Fields’ athleticism, to the point Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson indicates the team views his run-game dynamism as a facet that could help provide cover while he continues to develop as a passer. That produced uneven results for the Bears, though they likely would have retained the 2021 first-rounder had an opportunity to land Caleb Williams not come up. Nevertheless, Robinson adds Fields’ odds of overtaking Wilson have improved since the offseason program.

This follows an early-camp report suggesting Fields was making strides toward the starting job. The Steelers were clear in the offseason Wilson would be the starter, with this information coming out immediately after the Fields trade occurred. This early confidence represented an interesting vote of confidence given what transpired in Denver. Wilson, 35, indeed fared better under Sean Payton compared to Nathaniel Hackett. The ex-Seahawks star cited his multiple 2022 injuries as the lead reason for his stunning regression that year, but he now finds himself battling a much younger player for a job.

Rumors about Pittsburgh exploring another contract for Wilson and/or Fields came up during the offseason, and Robinson adds the Steelers believe their long-term quarterback is indeed on the current roster. Both players’ deals expire after the season, and the Steelers will not adjust their in-season negotiating policy for this unique situation. This season will double as a critical fact-finding mission, as the team just bailed on its would-be Roethlisberger successor by unloading Kenny Pickett in a rather messy breakup.

Team brass appears pleased with the decision to move on from its QBs from last season, with Robinson adding the club is relieved not to observe another Pickett-Mitch Trubisky QB room prepare for a season. Pittsburgh’s initial post-Big Ben plan did not work, and team brass was disappointed by the previous setup’s lack of production downfield and lack of ability as playmakers. Fields, 25, certainly provides important playmaking elements but is a work in progress as a passer. Both he and Wilson have also shown a propensity to take an alarming number of sacks. Wilson took 100 during his Broncos tenure. Fields absorbed 99 in that span, with each tying for the league high (55) in 2022.

Tomlin did not call Payton about Wilson, per ESPN’s Sal Palantonio (h/t Pro Football Talk). The reference probably would not have been glowing, given the end between Denver’s HC and former QB, but the Steelers are taking a chance the potential Hall of Famer still has starter-level ability.

“I did not,” Tomlin said of placing a call to Payton. “It’s my job and our job to determine that. And so I don’t run away from responsibilities. It’s just Steelers conducting Steelers business, man. We information gather. We do our appropriate research, and we make decisions and we don’t look back. We don’t seek comfort from the opinion of others that are non-Steelers, respectfully. That’s just how we go about our business.”

The team will soon make its determination, and the fallout from Fields winning would certainly be more interesting than what would happen if Wilson held off the fourth-year passer.

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