HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

QB Jarrett Stidham To Start Broncos Preseason Opener

August 10th, 2024 at 9:01am CST by Ben Levine

When the Broncos take the field for their preseason opener tomorrow, it won’t be first-round pick Bo Nix under center. Instead, journeyman Jarrett Stidham will be starting the contest, as head coach Sean Payton told reporters on Friday (via Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post).

[RELATED: Bo Nix Moving Ahead Of Jarrett Stidham In Broncos’ QB Competition?]

While recent reports indicated that the Broncos rookie may have leaped the veteran for the QB1 spot, Payton will be sticking with the same hierarchy that he’s rolled with for much of the offseason. As Gabriel notes, Stidham got first-team reps at minicamp, OTAs, and training camp, and the coaching staff isn’t planning to deviate from that plan on Sunday. However, the team will eventually give Nix an opportunity to play with the other Broncos starters, as Payton revealed that the Oregon product will start Denver’s second preseason game.

“I just think right now, certainly he’s been here, his experience,” Payton said of Stidham (via Gabriel). “Next week it’ll be Nix, but we’re focused on this game and I would say that it’s just where we’re at.”

Of course, all of the team’s quarterbacks will end up seeing the field on Sunday. Payton said Stidham will play “Phase 1” of the contest before giving way to Nix. The rookie will get his chunk of reps before Zach Wilson gets a look.

Considering Nix’s draft stock and Stidham’s underwhelming career stats, it seems like only a matter of time before the rookie takes the top spot on the depth chart. We heard recently that the 12th-overall pick appeared “to have edged past” Stidham for the starting gig, and at the very least, we learned Nix wouldn’t start the year occupying the No. 3 spot on the depth chart. With 61 college starts on his resume, Nix is better positioned than other rookie QBs to immediately take the reins, but it sounds like the Broncos are still going to take it (relatively) slow with their first-round investment.

Browns Offered Amari Cooper For Brandon Aiyuk; 49ers WR Nixed Deal

August 9th, 2024 at 9:56pm CST by Ely Allen

In the latest online chatter, yet another rumor concerning the future of 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has come to the surface. This rumor has nothing to do with his future in San Francisco or Pittsburgh, but Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that the wide receiver convinced the 49ers to turn down a trade offer from the Browns that would have included Amari Cooper, a second-round pick, and a fifth-round pick.

In a moment where Cleveland doesn’t seem to be a part of the conversation, it is interesting that this information would leak, especially when it didn’t amount to anything. Cooper just posted a career high in receiving yards despite missing two games and playing nearly two thirds of the season with backup quarterbacks. Yes, he’s four years older than Aiyuk, but there’s no reason the Browns would choose to make it known that they were willing to move on from their top receiver.

Still, it’s interesting to note Cleveland was prepared to meet San Francisco’s asking price (which, according to Maiocco, includes second- and third-round selections absent any players being included) to finalize a deal. Pittsburgh has not yet been willing to go to those lengths in terms of draft capital on top of not having a comparable receiver to Cooper to offer.

NBC Sports’ Mike Florio points the finger at the 49ers, positing that San Francisco is attempting to make it seem as though Aiyuk is unreasonable and unhelpful when trying to find a solution to the situation.

There’s been speculation that the team has been fielding trade offers with possible extension opportunities in an attempt to gauge Aiyuk’s contract value for their own negotiating purposes. This way, they get a look at what other teams are willing to pay to extend Aiyuk. It also forces Aiyuk to the negotiating table with the promise of talk of what he wants — a trade in which he has input — while allowing the team to continue working towards their own interests — an extension under market value — while he’s at the table.

This is just the latest of lots of speculation and rumors surrounding this situation. It’s hard to see much relevance in the update, but the information does shine some interesting light on one of the league’s more chaotic preseason storylines.

Patriots To Release WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

August 9th, 2024 at 9:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

After an unproductive first season in New England, JuJu Smith-Schuster was believed to be on the Patriots’ roster bubble. The team has already reached the endpoint with the 2023 free agency pickup.

The Pats are releasing Smith-Schuster on Friday, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. This will give the former Steelers and Chiefs pass catcher a chance to land with a team early, though the seven-year vet did not establish any momentum during an injury-marred 2023 slate.

While the rearranged Patriots front office has acknowledged quality work on Bill Belichick‘s part by extending or re-signing many of the players acquired during the legendary HC’s tenure, the Smith-Schuster acquisition will go down as a big miss. The Pats gave the former 1,400-yard receiver a three-year, $25.5MM deal that came with $16MM fully guaranteed. Smith-Schuster’s full 2024 base salary ($7MM) was guaranteed, putting the Pats on the hook for a notable dead money hit.

New England will be tagged with more than $9.6MM in dead money this year, with an additional $2.6MM set to count on the team’s 2025 cap sheet. Offset language would cut into these penalties, but after a dismal showing in 2023, Smith-Schuster is unlikely to fetch too much on the open market.

Mentioned this offseason as a potential release candidate, Smith-Schuster is coming off a season involving knee trouble. The former Steelers second-rounder underwent knee surgery following Super Bowl LVII and said he was around 60% going into last season. It showed, as the USC alum produced 29-catch, 260-yard stat line in 11 games. Smith-Schuster commanded the same full guarantee as four-year Pats contributor Jakobi Meyers, but the Raiders have made out better with their 2023 signing.

Smith-Schuster said this offseason he is fully healthy, putting a bounce-back season on the radar. Though, this early-August release pours some cold water on that prospect. That said, Smith-Schuster is still just 27. A team surely will take a flier on the eighth-year performer, as he has submitted quality work in the not-so-distant past.

The Chiefs missed Smith-Schuster — well, his 2022 version — last season, seeing its receiver group submit an uneven season that ultimately did not derail a second straight Super Bowl title. Smith-Schuster led the 2022 Kansas City championship team’s WR corps in yardage by a wide margin, accumulating 933 during his one-and-done season in Missouri. The Chiefs pursued Smith-Schuster for two offseasons, convincing him to leave Pittsburgh in 2022, but Andy Reid said the team’s 2023 offer was not particularly close to where the Patriots went.

The Steelers coaxed the best version of Smith-Schuster back in 2018, a season that doubled as the AFC North club’s final effort with Antonio Brown. The 215-pound wideout totaled 1,426 yards; two years later, he helped Pittsburgh to a surprising AFC North title with a nine-touchdown showing. Smith-Schuster resisted a Chiefs pursuit in 2021, re-signing with the Steelers on a one-year deal. Given his original team’s receiver situation following the Diontae Johnson trade, it would not surprise to see a reunion emerge as a possibility.

This is a rather interesting conclusion on the Pats’ part, seeing as Belichick would regularly bring back former players whose higher-priced deals did not work out elsewhere. The Eliot Wolf-led regime is now the team cutting the cord on a bad investment, and this transaction will almost definitely lead to Smith-Schuster landing elsewhere on a lower-cost agreement.

As for the Patriots, they have made efforts to acquire Calvin Ridley and Brandon Aiyuk. Ridley joined the Titans, who offered more money, and it is not believed an Aiyuk deal — despite a Pats extension number north of $28MM AAV — will happen. The team is counting on Kendrick Bourne returning from an ACL tear and used a second-round pick on Ja’Lynn Polk. The team also has intriguing second-year target Demario Douglas as a regular. Though, this receiving corps does not inspire too much confidence going into the season.

Dak Prescott’s Price Point Beyond $55MM Per Year; Cowboys Closer With CeeDee Lamb?

August 9th, 2024 at 9:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys remain in talks with both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb, but the standout duo remains a contract-year combination. Months into these proceedings, Lamb is holding out and Prescott continues to wield enormous leverage.

While Prescott has said the right things about another deal with Dallas, his asking price is justifiably high. The ninth-year quarterback is seeking a contract that breaks the NFL AAV record, with The Athletic’s Jeff Howe indicating the Cowboys are negotiating with a player aiming for more than $55MM on average (subscription required).

Given Prescott’s position, it is understandable his price point has reached this place. The parties are not believed to be close on terms, per Howe, though the Cowboys made an offer recently. COO Stephen Jones has also said the ball is in the QB’s court.

As mentioned regularly here (though, perhaps not quite as often as Brandon Aiyuk particulars), Prescott holds a no-trade and cannot be franchise-tagged in 2025. His 2024 cap number ($55.13MM) will break a league record — as Deshaun Watson and other QBs are poised to as well — and the Cowboys would take on $40.13MM in 2025 dead money if they let their QB’s contract expire by the start of the 2025 league year. Rarely in this position with players, the Cowboys are here because they could not come to an agreement on a second contract with the former Offensive Rookie of the Year until a third offseason of negotiations (2021).

The Cowboys “badly” want Dak back on a third contract, Howe adds, and have been trying to finalize a deal before free agency becomes a real possibility. But they are negotiating with a player who has outperformed a few of the QBs who recently joined the $50MM-per-year club. That said, all eight passers presently among that contingent have not yet turned 30. Prescott will turn 31 this season. Though, the 2023 second-team All-Pro remains squarely in his prime and just saw Kirk Cousins collect $100MM in practical guarantees coming off an Achilles tear at 35.

If Prescott pushes this toward free agency, suitors will be there. The Cowboys not playing ball now would run the risk of a historically rare development. On the other side, Dallas will need to again agree to player-friendly terms if it wants to keep Prescott. A deal that hits $60MM per year with a strong guarantee structure will likely be required if Dak is to sign before the season starts. Otherwise, this saga figures to linger to the point other teams will start becoming connected to the former fourth-round find.

Starting over is not exactly a sought-after reality for a Cowboys team that is riding three straight 12-win seasons, but the team does have two other top-market extensions — those for Lamb and Micah Parsons — on its radar. Describing Parsons’ pact as a backburner issue — which runs counter to a recent assessment of the All-Pro pass rusher’s situation — Howe indicates the Cowboys appear closer on terms with Lamb than they do Prescott.

After Jerry Jones said the team does not have urgency to extend the holdout wide receiver, Lamb offered an “lol” X response. Prescott, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota, indeed said he urgently wants the team to pay his top weapon.

The sides have exchanged offers, however, and Howe notes progress has emerged. This deal is viewed as being closer to completion. The Cowboys can waive the daily fines Lamb is accruing due to the fifth-year target being on a rookie contract.

A late-July report pegged Lamb as not being insistent on becoming the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB — a title Justin Jefferson holds at $35MM per year — and Howe indeed offers the Cowboys are hesitant about reaching the AAV the Vikings WR secured in June. Lamb would then stand to command a number between Jefferson and No. 2 on the current list (A.J. Brown‘s $32MM average).

While guarantees could then be a Cowboys concession if they are truly unwilling to go where the Vikings went regarding AAV, the team prefers longer-term deals compared to those receivers have landed this offseason. Dallas has not fully guaranteed a receiver more than $40MM — the Amari Cooper figure from 2020 — but surely realizes it will take more to wrap the Lamb talks. D.J. Moore securing $82MM in total guarantees from the Bears certainly should set a Lamb floor; only Brown ($84MM) is between Moore and Jefferson in this category.

The Cowboys still have some time, but the team has undoubtedly seen prices rise by waiting this long. Although Jones brushed off the notion urgency is needed here, it would surprise if at least one of the two stars was not extended before Week 1.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/9/24

August 9th, 2024 at 8:35pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor transactions to close out the week:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Green Bay Packers

  • Waived (with injury settlement): WR Rory Starkey

Jacksonville Jaguars

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Waived (with injury designation): NT Matthew Gotel

Haynes quick exit after a short stint in Arizona comes after he signed a contract including an injury waiver. He spent time on injured reserve with the Panthers last season, precipitating the presence of the injury waiver in his latest deal. The team utilized the waiver to terminate his contract today.

Latest Brandon Aiyuk Rumors

August 9th, 2024 at 7:38pm CST by Ely Allen

For a while, the hold in-trade demand situation with the 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk looked a lot like those of his teammates Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa is prior years. With Samuel and Bosa, there seemed to be a lot of bluffs and posturing before a deal ultimately got done to keep the stars in place. Aiyuk’s situation has clearly become a different monster, especially within the media, requiring an update mere hours after our latest post.

Disappointingly, the latest updates do not seem to indicate any more imminence in this situation coming to a close but, instead, provide a bit of additional information to previous reports.

For instance, we have seen the rumors connecting Aiyuk to the Patriots come and go already. Initial reports told us that the contract offer that would accompany a trade for Aiyuk would eclipse $28MM per year, a respectable amount but not one that challenges the top five contracts at the position. According to a combined report from Dianna Russini, Matt Barrows, and David Lombardi of The Athletic, the Patriots’ offer was actually potentially worth up to $32MM per year, matching Eagles wideout A.J. Brown as the second-highest paid receiver behind Justin Jefferson in Minnesota. Still, it’s become clear that a deal to New England is unlikely.

The Steelers, on the other hand, seem to have disappointed both the 49ers and Aiyuk with their offer, though Aiyuk doesn’t seem too turned off. The offer was reportedly less than what San Francisco was offering long-term, but Aiyuk still seems to prefer them as a destination. Pittsburgh doesn’t seem to feel pressed to improve their offer, though. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Steelers have made their offer and intentions clear and are willing to let the pieces fall as they may. It’s been reported that the Niners prefer to receive a wide receiver back in any trade separating them from Aiyuk, and Pittsburgh certainly isn’t able to meet that request. Still, Aiyuk has reportedly made it clear that Pittsburgh is his preferred trade destination.

The Steelers aren’t the only preference, though. Garafolo also reported today that the 49ers asked Aiyuk to make a list of teams he would like to play for, and San Francisco was reportedly on that list. Developments like that could point to why negotiations to extend Aiyuk have reupped in San Francisco. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that the 49ers have been working to raise their offer, after initially starting low.

For what it’s worth, Aiyuk himself weighed in on the situation, replying to a post on Instagram quoting Pelissero and saying, “It’s two options out there, pick one and stop dropping reports. Simple.” It’s hard to say what those two options are, exactly, but it can be ventured that the two options in play are an extension with the 49ers and a trade to and extension in Pittsburgh.

CB Rumors: Bennett, Steelers, Ravens, Jags

August 9th, 2024 at 5:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

After a part-time role as a rookie, Jakorian Bennett appears close to securing a starting job. The Raiders have pitted the second-year player against veteran Brandon Facyson, but a gap appears between the two as preseason play begins. While more evaluation time remains, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur classifies Bennett as well ahead of Facyson to start on the outside opposite Jack Jones (subscription required). The Raiders have made some changes to their CB group from last year, giving up on Marcus Peters before the 2023 season ended and letting four-year contributor Amik Robertson join the Lions in free agency.

Although Las Vegas drafted CBs in the fourth and seventh rounds, Bennett and Facyson are the primary players competing for the perimeter job to join Jones and slot man Nate Hobbs. Bennett logged 360 defensive snaps, starting four games, as a rookie but impressed during training camp. Not viewed as likely to pursue a veteran addition here, the Raiders appear set to count on the 2023 fourth-rounder.

Here is the latest from the cornerback ranks:

  • The Steelers brought back Cameron Sutton but saw him hit with an eight-game suspension for an offseason domestic violence arrest, leaving Donte Jackson as the obvious Joey Porter Jr. sidekick for at least the season’s first half. The team could soon be in the corner market, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano, who notes the lack of a solidified slot presence as another reason for such an effort. Releasing Patrick Peterson this offseason, the Steelers did not re-sign veteran slot Chandon Sullivan. Rookie UDFA Beanie Bishop has, however, shown promise with first-team slot reps, according to The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo. The 5-foot-9 product, who attended three colleges (Western Kentucky, Minnesota, West Virginia), led Division I-FBS in pass breakups (20) last season. Barring an addition, Bishop looks to have a decent chance to line up alongside Porter and Jackson. He has worked with the first-string defense extensively during camp.
  • Former Steelers CB regular Arthur Maulet is set to miss regular-season time due to a knee injury. While John Harbaugh does not expect this issue to threaten too much of the veteran’s season, the Ravens will need another answer. As of now, fourth-year UDFA Ar’Darius Washington appears to be the pack leader. After a chest injury cost Washington most of last season, he returned late in the campaign via IR activation. Despite playing all of eight regular-season games in three seasons, Washington has earned the confidence of Ravens coaches and looks to be the answer at nickel while Maulet recovers, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec notes.
  • No cornerback who signed an extension this offseason received a higher AAV than Tyson Campbell, whose base-value number checks in at $19.13MM, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. That comes in ahead of Jaylon Johnson and L’Jarius Sneed, though the did better on guarantees at signing than the Jaguars CB, who scored $31.4MM up front. Though, an $11.5MM Campbell 2026 option bonus will become fully guaranteed in 2025, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes. Campbell’s 2026 base salary ($16.16MM) also shifts from an injury guarantee at signing to a full guarantee in 2025. The fourth-year defender also will see $8.84MM of his $15MM 2027 base salary shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee in 2026. The increasingly popular rolling guarantee structure represents a player-friendly arrangement for Campbell, making his 11th-place ranking in terms of full guarantees deceiving. If on Jacksonville’s roster in March 2026, Campbell will see $53.4MM guaranteed.

49ers Resume Effort To Complete Brandon Aiyuk Extension

August 9th, 2024 at 3:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors have come in steadily during the week, as the wide receiver’s hold-in continues. But the 49ers still employ the veteran; and they are not giving up on their original 2024 goal here.

San Francisco has resumed efforts in recent days to hammer out a long-term deal with Aiyuk, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo report. This renewed pursuit of an extension — one the 49ers have been trying to complete for months — has not nixed the possibility of a trade entirely, as the NFL.com duo indicates the Steelers join other teams in still being in the mix. A July report pegged at least five teams as interested in a trade; a few have since revealed themselves.

But Aiyuk-49ers buzz gaining steam represents rare progress in a situation that has produced a trade request and a hold-in that has lasted for two-plus weeks. The 49ers are pushing for a deal, Pelissero adds, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones indicating some optimism has emerged Aiyuk and the 49ers will reach an agreement. While it is clear movement is taking place, Jones couches this by noting this is still a fluid situation.

This latest chapter stems from a recent sitdown between Aiyuk, Kyle Shanahan and others in the organization, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. This marks the second notable meeting during this extended negotiating chapter for the 49ers, as Aiyuk requested a meeting to clear the air in June. The previous summit did not lead to this long-formed value gap closing, producing the July trade request.

It is certainly possible the increased trade rumors, which have involved Aiyuk’s camp talking to teams, have moved the 49ers’ price point. The Patriots were believed to be willing to go higher than the 49ers in terms of AAV, proposing an extension that would have come in beyond $28.5MM. Reports out of San Francisco have produced a $26-$27MM 49ers value on their 2023 receiving leader. Aiyuk has targeted a figure beyond Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s $30.01MM-per-year deal and a guarantee in A.J. Brown territory. With D.J. Moore‘s Bears deal nearly matching the Eagles’ Brown guarantee ($84MM-$82.6MM), Aiyuk stands to have more ammo in this battle.

As discussed in our most recent Trade Rumors Front Office piece, the 49ers playing hardball with Aiyuk could undercut them at a crucial point. The team not only has Brock Purdy in what is likely the final year of a seventh-round contract, but four defensive starters — Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Talanoa Hufanga — are in walk years. Trent Williams, who is holding out, is also going into his age-36 season. Pieces are in place for another 49ers Super Bowl run, but Aiyuk’s drama could throw a wrench into this operation.

Trade framework with the Patriots and Browns emerged, but Aiyuk was not believed to be interested in being dealt to New England. Not much has come out of the Cleveland component in these layered negotiations, but Pittsburgh is believed to be waiting on San Francisco. That said, the 49ers and Aiyuk have expressed some degree of disappointment in the Steelers’ extension and trade offers, respectively. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds the Steelers have not engaged with the 49ers in the past 24 hours regarding Aiyuk.

The 49ers are believed to want a veteran wide receiver — something the Steelers, absent a George Pickens sweetener, do not appear to possess — or vets at other spots as part of a trade package. Draft capital would obviously not help this San Francisco team, potentially leading to the holdup. Though, the 49ers drove a hard bargain during Aiyuk talks on draft weekend by asking for a mid-first-round pick.

While these proceedings could again careen off the rails, this flood of reports about progress certainly pries the door back open to a long-term Aiyuk Bay Area future. This would stand to affect Deebo Samuel‘s post-2024 future, but as the 49ers attempt to capture an elusive Shanahan-era championship, a window remains open to their skill-position armada staying together for another year.

49ers Release TE Logan Thomas, Place DL Austin Bryant On IR

August 9th, 2024 at 2:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Logan Thomas arrived in San Francisco as an intriguing George Kittle backup option, but the veteran pass catcher is already out of the picture. The 49ers released the recent free agency addition Friday.

San Francisco, which agreed to terms with punter Pressley Harvin earlier today, also placed defensive lineman Austin Bryant on IR. Bryant was going into his second season with the 49ers. Bryant sustained an injury this week, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner tweets.

This news comes after Thomas has missed time due to a hamstring injury. The former quarterback went down early during training camp. The 49ers lost former Kittle backups Ross Dwelley and Charlie Woerner this offseason and saw the Lions match their Brock Wright RFA offer sheet. Thomas may end up finding a gig elsewhere, but he is now going into his age-33 season.

Thomas signed a vet-minimum deal in June but will see a second team drop him this year. The Commanders, who had extended their TE starter in 2021, released the 6-foot-6 weapon early this offseason. Thomas’ past production, inconsistent as it was, could generate another chance once he heals up. The former sixth-round Cardinals QB pick converted to tight end midway through his career and earned a three-year, $24.1MM extension from Washington for his effort.

An ACL tear sidetracked Thomas following his 2020 breakthrough (72 receptions, 672 yards, six touchdowns), and he did not eclipse 350 yards in either of the following two seasons. In Eric Bieniemy‘s offense last year, the Terry McLaurin complementary target bounced back with a 496-yard, four-touchdown showing. Certainly not overly impressive numbers for a team’s top receiving tight end, but Pro Football Focus did rank the QB convert 17th among TEs in run blocking. That would have appealed to the 49ers, but they are giving up early.

Losing Woerner and Dwelley to the Falcons and seeing the Lions retain Wright, the 49ers do still have a variable behind Kittle. Third-round pick Cameron Latu missed his entire rookie season with an ACL tear. While the 49ers viewed the Alabama product as more of a developmental player — hence the Wright and Thomas moves — he has returned to work this offseason. Veteran Eric Saubert and 2023 seventh-rounder Brayden Willis (48 snaps in 2023) are also still on the team’s roster behind Kittle.

Vikings, Cowboys Agree To Swap CBs Andrew Booth, Nahshon Wright

August 9th, 2024 at 2:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys and Vikings are making a trade involving two former Day 2 cornerback draftees. Minnesota is sending Andrew Booth to Dallas in exchange for Nahshon Wright, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo.

Two years remain on Booth’s rookie contract; Wright is going into a walk year. The Vikings drafted Booth in the 2022 second round, while the Cowboys used a 2021 third on Wright. While Booth comes from Minnesota, he was not on the roster during Mike Zimmer‘s HC stay.

Although the Vikings drafted Booth months after firing Zimmer, it is quite possible — as scouting staffs regularly remain in place through the following draft — the veteran defensive coach was high on the Clemson product ahead of the ’22 draft. Booth has been unable to establish himself as a Vikings regular under Ed Donatell or Brian Flores; he will now be given a second opportunity to prove himself.

Chosen 42nd overall, Booth has made just two starts and logged a total of 256 defensive snaps as a pro. He had not factored into Minnesota’s CB plans prominently during camp, per ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert. The pick goes down as a miss by GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, whose first two picks — DBs Booth and first-rounder Lewis Cine — have not helped the Vikes much. But Minnesota will attempt to see if Wright can make a difference. Cine is already on Minnesota’s roster bubble.

Wright, 25, has also played sparingly during his early NFL career. Though, the 6-foot-4 cover man evidently did enough to warrant a straight-up swap for a player chosen more than 50 spots before him (albeit in a different draft). The Vikings taking a flier on a player with one less year of control is interesting as well.

Only seeing 50 defensive snaps last season — for a Cowboys team that lost Trevon Diggs to a torn ACL last September — Wright has three career starts on his resume. The Cowboys changing DCs this offseason, losing Dan Quinn to Washington and hiring Zimmer, undoubtedly affected the fourth-year CB’s standing. Wright, however, maxed out at 128 defensive snaps in a season in Dallas (2022).

Booth, 23, exited Clemson as a first-round-level prospect; the Vikings traded up for him. Booth underwent sports hernia surgery before the draft, and while the former ACC standout returned in time for Week 1, he then suited up for just six Vikings games as a rookie. A season-ending knee injury altered his developmental arc, and he will join a Cowboys team with a cemented top three.

Diggs, DaRon Bland and Jourdan Lewis are in place as Dallas’ primary CBs, though The Athletic’s Jon Machota and Saad Yousef note Wright did mix in with Dallas’ first-team defense on the boundary opposite Bland during a Thursday joint practice with the Rams. Diggs is still working his way back from the knee injury. The team, which also completed a CB-for-CB trade last year (Kelvin Joseph for Noah Igbinoghene), also roster 2023 draftee Eric Scott Jr. and 2024 fifth-rounder Caelen Carson.

Wright heads to a Vikings team less solidified at corner. Minnesota has Byron Murphy going into the second season of a two-year contract, and Josh Metellus remains in the slot. But the team has seen its CB situation change dramatically this summer. Fourth-round rookie Khyree Jackson died tragically in a car accident in July, and second-year contributor Mekhi Blackmon suffered a torn ACL early in training camp. The Vikes signed Shaquill Griffin earlier this year and added Fabian Moreau last week; they also used 2022 fourth-rounder Akayleb Evans over Booth last year.

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