HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Rams QB Jimmy Garoppolo Addresses Health, Free Agency

August 17th, 2024 at 8:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

After being benched in favor of Aidan O’Connell midway through the 2023 season, it was clear Jimmy Garoppolo would need to find a new team in free agency. The veteran passer wound up taking the Rams’ backup gig, a move he recently reflected on.

[RELATED: Garoppolo To Serve Two-Game PED Suspension]

Garoppolo noted the presence of starter Matthew Stafford and head coach Sean McVay as key factors in his decision to sign with Los Angeles during an interview with The Athletic’s Jeff Howe (subscription required). The 32-year-old took a one-year deal with a base value of $3.18MM to serve as Stafford’s No. 2 this season. He noted that other teams had interest in him, but a decision to join the Rams was made rather quickly with an agreement being reached on March 20.

“This place allows you to be yourself, too, which is different than other places I’ve been,” Garoppolo said about his new employer (while declining to go into further detail on his previous stops). “You’re getting pressed with a sense of urgency but in a good way… They do it in the right way here. They push you positively.”

The former second-rounder did fill the role of Tom Brady New England successor he was drafted to hold, but he made 55 starts across six seasons with the 49ers. Brock Purdy‘s emergence made Garoppolo expendable, though, and he signed with the Raiders last March. That move had him lined up for starting duties under Josh McDaniels, but Vegas’ decision to start over on the sidelines and in the front office (not to mention Garoppolo’s latest injury issues) left O’Connell atop the depth chart to close out the season.

Now, Garoppolo will spend at least one year attempting to remain healthy and in doing so provide the Rams with an experienced option if Stafford, 36, misses time. The latter had his contract restructured this summer, but the team views his future on a year-to-year basis. It is therefore uncertain who will be under center for Los Angeles in 2025, but in Garoppolo’s case a return to health ahead of the coming campaign carries signficant value on its own.

“It’s really nice having a healthy offseason,” he said. “I haven’t had one of those in awhile. The foot surgery was tough last year. For anyone who’s ever been through that, that wasn’t a fun recovery, but I feel like I’m back to myself. Being in this role, I get to experiment with some things, being with the 2s… I haven’t had that in a little while, so it feels nice to get back to that.”

Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. Will Not Play During Preseason Finale

August 17th, 2024 at 6:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Eyebrows were raised on Saturday when Michael Penix Jr. did not suit up for the Falcons’ preseason contest against the Ravens. The first-round rookie quarterback will also be on the sidelines for Atlanta’s final exhibition contest despite not being injured.

“Mike showed us last week enough that we don’t have to play him [further] in the preseason,” head coach Raheem Morris said after the game, via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall (subscription required). “Last week, we wanted to get him out there and get a feel for what he was in a live game, wanted to see him be able answer questions and talk about it on the sideline, he did a lot of those things. We saw enough last week with Michael Penix in live stuff.”

Indeed, the No. 8 pick took part in the Falcons’ first preseason contest against the Dolphins. He started that game, completing nine of 16 pass attempts for 104 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. That action – in addition to reps during training camp, of course – will wind up being the only time Penix sees the field before the regular season, however. Starter Kirk Cousins has taken all first-team reps upon returning to health from his 2023 Achilles tear, and to little surprise he has not played so far in the preseason and will not be used next week.

Of course, Atlanta’s decision to add Cousins on a four-year, $180MM contract and then select Penix is the dominant storyline of the team’s offseason. Cousins was taken aback by the Penix selection, and owner Arthur Blank‘s latest comments on the decision confirmed the team did not intially anticipate selecting a Day 1 signal-caller. Nevertheless, plenty of consideration was given to re-vamping the quarterback position during the offseason.

A lengthy piece from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Marc Raimondi details that Raheem Morris was aware of Atlanta’s situation under center being a key reason why there was a head coaching vacancy in the winter. Arthur Smith was fired after a third straight 7-10 season, and the search for his replacement ultimately landed in Morris being brought back into the organization. His performance upon return – coupled with the play of Cousins under center – will go a long way in determining if the Falcons return to the postseason in 2024.

As the ESPN report notes, staffers within the organization were split on whether to take Penix or edge rusher Laiatu Latu in the first round. The UCLA product was seen by some as the top prospect at his position (in competition with Dallas Turner), and pass rush represented a much larger need than quarterback after the Cousins signing. Atlanta attempted to move back into the first round after the Penix selection to acquire Latu, but the latter wound up going at No. 15 to the Colts. Turner came off the board two picks later, well before the Falcons’ next selection. Of course, Atlanta has since added Matt Judon via trade to help along the edge.

The team – like many others around the NFL – was not high on the quarterback classes of the immediate future, a factor which helped inform the commitment to Penix. As Fowler and Raimondi add, other elements such as the success of the Packers’ model in developing QBs on a lengthy timeline and the expectation a top passer will be out of reach in future drafts due to strong showings with Cousins helped sway the decision. Being on the books through 2028 (if his fifth-year option is picked up) will give Penix plenty of time to acclimate to the NFL level provided Cousins remains healthy.

The latter’s base salaries for 2024 and ’25 are guaranteed, and Morris made it clear after the draft there will be no competition despite Penix being added. Especially in the wake of that stance, it is surprising the Washington alum did not see any action today and will not be on the field next week. Penix’s absence opened up more time for Taylor Heinicke, who will likely also get the start for the preseason finale.

Heinicke is believed to be on the trade block, and it would come as no surprise if he were to be moved between now and roster cutdowns at the end of the month given the presence of Cousins and Penix for 2024 and beyond. In any event, Penix will not be in position to see the field again this season unless Cousins is forced to miss time through injury for the second straight year.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/24

August 17th, 2024 at 6:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): LB Jackson Mitchell

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Cowboys, WR CeeDee Lamb Not Close To Extension Agreement

August 17th, 2024 at 4:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

In recent days, the Cowboys have made renewed efforts to hammer out a CeeDee Lamb extension. The latest update on one of the team’s three key extension situations indicates plenty of work is still required.

[RELATED: Dak Prescott Open To In-Season Extension Talks]

Dallas has reportedly offered a deal worth more than A.J. Brown‘s Eagles pact ($32MM per season) but short of $33MM annually. The top of the receiver market reached $35MM when Justin Jefferson inked a record-breaking Vikings extension this offseason. Jefferson now resides as the league’s top earner for non-quarterbacks, although a Lamb deal may not need to surpass that mark.

Nevertheless, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes the AAV of the Cowboys’ best offer to date is one of several issues which need to be worked out (video link). Matters such as cashflow and guarantee structure – in addition to an elevated AAV – remain points of contention where further negotiation will be required for a deal to be in place. An agreement for Lamb may be closer than one for quarterback Dak Prescott, but Garafolo’s report confirms there is still a gap to be bridged between team and player.

One of several wideouts seeking a new or upgraded deal this offseason, Lamb skipped out on OTAs and mandatory minicamp. His decision to remain away from the team during training camp has resulted in mandatory fines accruing, but the 25-year-old is attached to his rookie contract by way of the fifth-year option. As a result, those penalties can be waived by the Cowboys if/when a deal is struck and Lamb reports to the team.

Jefferson’s monster accord features nearly $89MM guaranteed, far more than the second-highest in that regard (Tyreek Hill, $54MM). Lamb will likely fall in between those two figures on his pact, but the Cowboys’ best offer in terms of locked in compensation apparently needs to be upped for an agreement to be possible. Money in the first few years of the pact (especially the signing bonus) is also a critical component for team and player; the size of the signing bonus and the length of the contract are central in determining cap hits.

Managing to keep Lamb, Prescott and edge rusher Micah Parsons in the fold beyond 2024 will be a key challenge for the Cowboys. The terms of a pact for each member of that trio – which, in the latter’s case will likely not be known for another year, in spite of team’s public stance on that front – will dictate Dallas’ cap outlook for the foreseeable future. Getting Lamb in the fold in time for Week 1 remains the expectation, but an agreement may not be as imminent as it previously seemed.

Arden Key’s PED Suspension Overturned

August 17th, 2024 at 1:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

A year after signing a four-year Titans extension, Jeffery Simmons has added a piece of reporting to his resume. The sixth-year Titans defensive lineman alerted X followers that Arden Key‘s suspension will not come to pass.

In late July, reports came down that the Tennessee edge rusher received a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. In a rare development, the ban has been overturned on appeal. ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport confirms Simmons’ offering, and the Titans will be eligible to use Key for the season’s first six games.

[RELATED: Assessing Titans’ 2024 Offseason]

This will both keep a Titans starter in the mix and protect Key’s guarantees. While appeal processes can lead to reduced suspensions, PED bans are not commonly reversed. This represents a win for the Titans, who have Key on a three-year deal worth $21MM. The free agent pickup started nine games last season and is on track to be Tennessee’s top Harold Landry edge sidekick this year.

Signing early during the 2023 free agency period after playing for three teams from 2020-22, Key notched six sacks and 12 quarterback hits in his Titans debut. The former Raiders third-rounder and Jaguars and 49ers supplementary rusher has a 6.5-sack season — with the 2021 49ers — on his resume as well. Key, 28, struggled to find a role with the Raiders but has offered belated production elsewhere. The Titans need more of it soon.

The Titans have run into steady trouble finding edge help opposite Landry. From Jadeveon Clowney to Cameron Wake to Vic Beasley to Bud Dupree, Tennessee has been unable to staff this position since acquiring Landry in the 2018 second round. The team also lost versatile pass rusher Denico Autry in free agency, seeing him join off-ball linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair with the Texans. Tennessee needs Key, who was part of GM Ran Carthon‘s first FA crop, to provide stability.

Rashad Weaver (5.5 sacks in 2022, none last year) loomed as Key’s replacement. The former fourth-round pick can slide back into a rotational role on the heels of this news.

NFC East Notes: Belichick, Giants, CBs, Phillips, Cowboys, Commanders

August 17th, 2024 at 12:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bill Belichick‘s media blitz will cover the 2024 season; the legendary coach has deals in place with the Manningcast, Inside the NFL and Underdog Fantasy Sports. Come 2025, however, the goal remains to land a third HC gig. The Cowboys and Eagles continue to be mentioned as possible landing spots, due to their strong rosters being closer to Super Bowl-level status, but the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard believes the Giants — should they fire Brian Daboll — will make Belichick their first call. Leonard, during an appearance on The Carton Show, said GM Joe Schoen joins Daboll on the hot seat but added the GM having a past with Bill Parcells — Belichick’s boss with the Giants, Jets and Patriots (1996 only) — could leave the door open to working with Belichick. Schoen and Parcells debuted with the Dolphins, the former as a national scout, in 2008 and overlapped as coworkers for three years.

The Giants, who employed Belichick from 1979-90 and won their first two Super Bowls during his time as DC, came up as a team that would interest Belichick back in April. New York’s quarterback uncertainty may be an issue for a coach who will be 73 by the time he would land another opportunity, but it is not like the six-time Super Bowl-winning HC was in demand during this year’s cycle. A return to the Giants could be of interest if Belichick’s market is again limited.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

Panthers’ Jonathon Brooks Expected To Start Season On NFI List

August 17th, 2024 at 10:39am CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers made Jonathon Brooks this year’s first running back chosen, trading up (via the Colts) to No. 46 for the Texas product. No other team chose a back in the first two rounds, with Brooks going off the board 20 slots before the next RB (the Cardinals’ Trey Benson) was taken. While the Panthers have big plans for the rookie, an on-field role will need to wait.

Recovering from a torn ACL sustained in November 2023, Brooks has not practiced. He is also not particularly close to suiting up for a Panthers workout, according to The Athletic’s Joe Person, who indicates it is a “near certainty” the second-rounder will begin the season on the reserve/NFI list (subscription required).

Several weeks before Brooks was drafted, a report pegged his timetable as rather different than the one that actually took shape upon the talented ball-carrier joining the Panthers. Brooks was expected to be ready for training camp, but an early-August offering outlined an early-season window — potentially Week 3 or Week 4 — for the former Bijan Robinson backup to debut. The expected placement on the NFI list would mandate Brooks sits until at least Week 5.

Viewing the Giants as a threat to nab Brooks at No. 47, the Panthers traded up — using two fifth-rounders as ammo to climb six spots — to land their hopeful running back of the future. Brooks would certainly have been chosen earlier had he not suffered the serious knee injury, but the Panthers are early in a rebuild and are aiming to exercise caution with his recovery. As it stands, Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders are in place as Carolina’s top RBs.

Brooks’ rookie deal runs through the 2027 season, while Hubbard is in a contract year and Sanders’ contract features a fully guaranteed 2024 salary. A future in which neither veteran is on the 2025 team exists, clearing a path for Brooks. For now, however, a player who amassed 1,139 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in just 11 games last season will have approximately an 11-month recovery timetable (Brooks went down Nov. 11, 2023).

The Panthers also were undoubtedly intrigued by Brooks’ light carry workload in college, due to Robinson’s entrenchment atop the Longhorns’ depth chart. Brooks totaled just 51 carries between the 2021 and ’22 seasons, creating the possibility for a longer NFL career — once he completes his rehab effort. Once Brooks is activated, he will almost definitely be eased into action as Hubbard and Sanders remain in the picture.

Seahawks Sign OL Connor Williams

August 17th, 2024 at 9:55am CST by Ben Levine

AUGUST 17: In terms of base value, Williams’ deal checks in at $4MM, per OverTheCap. After signing a two-year, $14MM Dolphins contract (and expressing frustration a year into that deal), the veteran interior O-lineman will attempt to create a better market following his ACL tear.

AUGUST 6: At long last, Connor Williams has landed in Seattle. The veteran offensive lineman has reached an agreement with the Seahawks, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It’s a one-year deal that could be worth up to $6MM. The contract contains $3MM in guaranteed money.

The veteran has been connected to the Seahawks for several weeks. The two sides overcame their first hurdle when Williams passed a physical, a notable milestone considering the lineman is only about eight months removed from suffering a torn ACL. The signing stalled when the two sides started negotiating a contract, with Williams asking for more than the Seahawks could offer.

While agent Drew Rosenhaus indicated yesterday that a deal was imminent, Williams added a slight wrinkle to the saga by taking a visit with the Ravens. That may have been the final push the Seahawks needed, as the two sides agreed to a deal less than 24 hours after Williams’ reported trip to Baltimore.

There was recent uncertainty surrounding Seattle’s center depth, with the likes of Nick Harris and Olusegun Oluwatimi struggling to take hold of the opportunity. The Seahawks seemed to signal an impending move yesterday, when they moved on from Michael Novitsky.

Williams will now slide atop the depth chart…when he’s ready to take the field. The veteran tore his ACL in December, although Rosenhaus expressed optimism that Williams will be available for Week 1. The injury came at the worst possible time for the impending free agent, as he would have been among the top linemen on the market.

After spending his first four season as a starting guard in Dallas, Williams inked a two-year deal with Miami in 2022. He ended up starting all 17 games at center that season, with Pro Football Focus grading him as the fourth-best player at his position. Williams finished 2023 in the number-two spot, and the veteran previously graded as a top-15 guard during his time with the Cowboys.

With Seattle lacking depth in the middle of their offensive line and Williams hoping to reset his value, this pairing seemed like a perfect match. After a few weeks of uncertainty, the deal has finally come to fruition.

John Lynch Addresses 49ers’ Interest In Keeping Brandon Aiyuk

August 16th, 2024 at 10:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Going nearly two days without a Brandon Aiyuk update has been out of character for this space, based on the news volume this situation has produced this summer. John Lynch is offering another one, discussing the sides’ enduring extension talks rather than any trade possibility.

The 49ers are believed to have trade parameters set with the Steelers, but that clearly seems like the organization’s backup plan. After all, it would be difficult to replace Aiyuk given the timing here. And the 49ers are gunning for an elusive Lynch-Kyle Shanahan-era Super Bowl title. Aiyuk represents a central part of that equation, and the 49ers are still trying to hammer out a deal. They ramped up negotiations again late last week. Though, they have been at this for several months.

“We started this early and for whatever reason haven’t been able to get it across the finish line,” Lynch said during an appearance on KNBR’s Murph and Markus show (via NFL.com). “That’s been frustrating, but the communication still has been really good both with Brandon and his agent, and we’re trying to figure out solutions.

“You know I’m always hopeful. I’m an optimistic person in nature, and I’m always hopeful that we’ll get there and get there soon. I can tell you, we feel the urgency to have him, the season’s approaching, and we have ample time.”

As the Steelers wait as the fallback option, the 49ers have upped their extension offer to the second-team All-Pro wide receiver. After a hyper-efficient 2023 season, Aiyuk has seen the receiver market shift once again. The fifth-year player has placed his value considerably higher than the 49ers’ assessment, but it does seem the gap has narrowed. Would the 49ers really trade their best outside receiver at this juncture on their timeline because of the small value gap that remains?

Lynch did indicate he wished he knew what Aiyuk’s holdup is, as the wideout’s slow-moving talks have dominated 49ers coverage this year. The eighth-year San Francisco GM did discuss Aiyuk in trades during the draft, but this is not the first time since the negotiations began that Lynch expressed hope Aiyuk would remain a 49ers in the long term.

Although the team agreed to deals with George Kittle and Deebo Samuel early in camp (2020, 2022), they reached resolutions with Nick Bosa and Jimmy Garoppolo just before the season. The 49ers still have more than three weeks before Week 1, though Aiyuk would presumably need some practice reps in advance of the Jets matchup in order to begin the season as a full-time player. Shanahan said this week he trusts the receiver to be ready, however, and Aiyuk has attended meetings during his hold-in.

“We love BA as a player; I think you see it every time he goes out there representing the Niners,” Lynch said. “He’s a guy we traded up for in the first round back in the ’20 draft. I remember doing it from my guest house during the covid times, and we’re fortunate to have added him to our squad, and we’d really like to keep him around. So we’ll see how it goes.”

Aiyuk, 26, is believed to have wedged the Patriots and Browns out of the mix. Although the Steelers’ offensive situation is not on the 49ers’ level and does not feature a surefire long-term QB option, Aiyuk looks to have approved Pittsburgh as a destination. The Steelers might be waiting a bit, however, as Lynch sounds committed to taking the time necessary to complete an extension.

Colts Wanted To Re-Sign Gardner Minshew

August 16th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

When Gardner Minshew joined the Raiders in free agency, he landed an opportunity to win a starting role. That decision was made in spite of a desire on the part of his former team to keep him in place.

Minshew signed with the Colts last offseason, following Shane Steichen from Philadelphia to Indianapolis. The latter served as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator before taking the Colts’ head coaching gig. The pair continued to work together after Anthony Richardson‘s season-ending shoulder injury thrust Minshew into the starting lineup. After proving his value on a one-year contract, though, Minshew signed a two-year, $25MM Raiders pact.

Indianapolis wanted to re-sign the 2023 Pro Bowler, Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The Colts were not, however, prepared to match the $15MM in guarantees Minshew secured from the Raiders. With Richardson still in place on his rookie pact (and positioned to be at full health in time for the start of the year), the Colts elected to add Joe Flacco as a new veteran insurance option.

In Vegas, Minshew has spent the offseason competing with Aidan O’Connell for the QB1 gig. The latter had a spell atop the depth chart to close out last season, and he frequently received praise from head coach Antonio Pierce leading up to the draft. After being heavily linked with Jayden Daniels, the Raiders did not select a signal-caller in April, paving the way for a true Minshew-vs.-O’Connell competition in training camp. No decision on a winner has been made yet, but a commitment is expected after Vegas’ second preseason contest. Minshew does not plan to alter his preparation in the future regardless of if he gets the nod for 2024.

“If I knew a better way of doing things, I would have been doing it, you know?” the 28-year-old said. “So you just keep going, trust the process, continue learning and get better. And, you know, support whatever decision [Pierce] makes.”

Over $3MM of Minshew’s 2025 base salary is guaranteed, so he has a strong chance of remaining with the Raiders regardless of how the coming season plays out. If he handles a heavy workload as he did last year, attention will turn to the Colts’ plan under center and how well Flacco performs if he is called into action.

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