HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Giants WR Darius Slayton Changes Agents

August 2nd, 2024 at 1:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

Darius Slayton‘s 2024 future is not believed to be in doubt, but he recently made a move with his upcoming free agency in mind. The Giants wideout is now represented by Athletes First, per an announcement from his new representatives.

[RELATED: Giants Owner John Mara Still Supports Daniel Jones Contract]

Slayton signed a two-year deal in 2022 to remain in New York. The 27-year-old has played with the Giants for each of his five seasons, leading the team in receiving four times. He remained absent from spring practices while aiming for a contract adjustment, and he received it in the form of incentives being added for 2024.

In spite of that, Slayton would have been on board with a trade out of New York. The Giants drafted Malik Nabers at No. 6 overall, adding further to their recent investments in rookies at the receiver position. Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt are also set to take on notable roles in the team’s passing game. If Slayton’s spot in the WR pecking order was under serious threat, he would have welcomed a change of scenery.

However, New York has not given thought to a trade at any point. Slayton has received at least 71 targets four times in his career, and he set a new personal mark in receiving yards (770) last season. The presence of Nabers and any development from the Giants’ recent draftees could limit his playing time to a degree, but Slayton should remain a key member of the team’s offense for at least one more campaign

The receiver market witnessed another major jump this offseason, with the top of the market reaching $35MM per season. Slayton will not approach that figure on his next contract, regardless of how well he performs in 2024. Still, his value will be determined in large part by his showing this year as quarterback Daniel Jones and Co. look to deliver a much-needed step forward on offense. When Slayton next hits free agency, he will have a spent a full campaign with new representation.

49ers Sign OL Pat Elflein

August 2nd, 2024 at 12:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers have added experienced depth along the interior of their offensive line. Pat Elflein was signed on Friday, per a team announcement. He was among the players who visited San Francisco for a recent workout, as noted by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.

Elflein has started all but one of his 65 career games, and players with his level of experience in a first-team role rarely last deep into the summer on the free agent market. In his case, though, it comes as little surprise he has needed to wait until August to find a new deal. The 30-year-old missed all of last season with his latest injury troubles, something which has marred much of his career.

Beginning his NFL tenure in Minnesota, Elflein avoided any significant missed time from 2017-19. In the years since then, however, he has struggled to remain on the field. The former third-rounder played six games with the Jets in 2020 before landing a three-year, $13.5MM deal with the Panthers in free agency. Elflein saw time as a starter at both center and left guard in Carolina, but he was only available for 15 games across his two seasons there.

The Ohio State product was released by the Panthers with one year remaining on his pact, setting up a one-year Cardinals deal last offseason. By August, Elfien found himself on injured reserve, however, sidelining him for the campaign. Considering his missed time, today’s deal will contain little (if any) guaranteed money.

San Francisco has Jake Brendel in place at the center spot. He has served as the team’s full-time starter in the middle for each of the past two years, and that should continue in 2024. At guard, Aaron Banks remains in place on the left while a competition between Spencer Burford, Jon Feliciano and Dominick Puni continues for the right guard spot. Elfien will aim to carve out a depth role with the 49ers at either the center or guard positions. In a corresponding move, fellow O-lineman Briason Mays was waived.

Cowboys Seeking DT Addition

August 2nd, 2024 at 10:09am CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys hosted several veteran edge rushers yesterday, and in two cases that effort produced an agreement. Both Al-Quadin Muhammad and Shaka Toney landed Dallas deals following a succesful workout.

Those additions will provide the team with depth at the defensive end spot in the wake of Sam Williams‘ ACL tear. The Cowboys are still interested in making moves in the front seven during the summer, however. COO Stephen Jones informed Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Dallas is seeking help at the defensive tackle spot.

2023 first-rounder Mazi Smith did not have a strong rookie season, and plenty of attention will be aimed at his ability to develop this season. The Michigan product logged a snap share of just 28% last year, but he could take on a larger workload moving forward. The Cowboys do not have a big-ticket contract on the books at the moment after watching Johnathan Hankins and Neville Gallimore depart in free agency.

Dallas still rosters 2021 third-rounder Osa Odighizuwa, veteran Carl Davis as well as rookies Justin Rogers and Denzel Daxon along the defensive interior. Odighizuwa has started all but four of his 50 career games, and he enters 2024 as a pending free agent with the potential to help his market value with another consistent season. The team will be aiming to improve against the run in 2024, and Smith taking a step forward would be critical in that effort.

The Cowboys entered Friday with just over $12MM in cap space. That figure will change once the Muhammad and Toney deals are official and if/when any extensions for Dak Prescott or CeeDee Lamb are worked out. A modest addition could still be made at the DT spot, though, and it will be interesting to see if Dallas lines up any visits with the remaining free agents at the position.

John Mara Expects Giants To Take ‘Big Step Forward’; Owner Remains Onboard With Daniel Jones Plan

August 1st, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Hard Knocks‘ initial offseason project captured the third Joe Schoen–Brian Daboll Giants roster-building effort, with John Mara making some important cameos. After cameras documented the Giants’ free agency period, the Brian Burns trade and the pre-draft buildup, it is safe to say a bigger spotlight will be on the team’s 2024 season.

Mara, who advocated for keeping Saquon Barkley (though, without mandating Schoen make a strong effort to do so) and certainly wanted him to end up outside of Philadelphia, stopped short of requiring his third-year decision-makers steer the team back to the playoffs. But the owner does expect a significant improvement, even after the Barkley and Xavier McKinney defections, this season.

[RELATED: Offseason In Review: New York Giants]

“I expect us to take a big step forward,” Mara said, via the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. “… I obviously want to show significant improvement over last year, but I’m not going to make any specific guarantees or demands or anything like that. They know what I want to see. I have a lot of confidence in this particular team. I think we’ve added some good pieces. Now it’s time to show everybody.”

The Giants finished 6-11 last year, but five of those wins came without Daniel Jones. The starter, who received $81MM guaranteed during an eventful 2023 offseason that involved a Barkley franchise tag, struggled amid a tough early-season schedule. Jones battled a neck injury before his November ACL tear. Fully healthy once again, Jones looks to be going into another “prove it” season. The Giants can escape the contract by taking on only modest dead money by releasing the longtime starter as a post-June 1 cut next year, though Mara remains onboard with the team’s embattled starter.

“I’m still happy we gave him that contract because I thought he played really well for us in 2022,” Mara said (via Dunleavy) of the four-year, $160MM extension authorized in March 2023. “Last year, he got hurt. And let’s be honest: When he was playing, we weren’t blocking anybody. Let’s give him a chance with a better offensive line and some weapons around him to see what he can do.”

Hard Knocks followed the Giants’ rumored plan to trade up for a Jones heir apparent. The Giants attempted to trade Nos. 6 and 47, along with their 2025 first-round pick, to the Patriots for the No. 3 overall draft slot. The Pats passed, rejecting a substantial Vikings offer as well, and chose Drake Maye — whom both NFC teams coveted — to be their hopeful franchise QB. With that off the table, Schoen pivoted to a wide receiver-based strategy in Round 1 by choosing Malik Nabers.

Not impeding Schoen in free agency, Mara was not thrilled about the Barkley conclusion. But the owner’s Jones support — which was a key part of the first Schoen-Daboll offseason back in 2022 — did not prompt him to stand in the way of an attempt to trade up for a passer in the draft. The team’s Plan B unfolding, with Nabers profiling as the highest-ceiling WR option the Giants have rostered during the Jones era, will apply increased pressure on the sixth-year passer.

“I was nervous about giving up too much to go get a quarterback,” Mara said, “but I was prepared to let them do that if that’s what they wanted to do. We made a decision to stay with Daniel and add a weapon for him, and I think that’s going to work out.”

The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes the owner and his nephew — player personnel director Tim McDonnell — stood as the biggest skeptics of Schoen’s plan to let the two-time Pro Bowl running back walk in free agency (subscription required). Pro scouting director Chris Rossetti also made a minor pitch to apply a second franchise tag, but the Giants passed on the $12MM payment. The Eagles gave Barkley a three-year, $37.5MM payday with $26MM fully guaranteed; the latter figure leads all active RBs.

Mara also confirmed (via Duggan) he sought this offseason Hard Knocks version to avoid cameras following his team at a near-future training camp; after the access the Giants provided, it will be unlikely other teams make a point of doing that. The longtime owner seen his club produce one winning season over the past seven — a surprise 9-7-1 slate that ended in the 2022 divisional round — and no Giants head coach has reached Year 4 since Tom Coughlin. Jones disappointing and Barkley thriving as an Eagle will probably affect Mara’s support for his current decision-makers.

Although the Giants’ roster has some well-paid Dave Gettleman-era draftees as cornerstones, Year 3 features more Schoen imports. It will obviously be a critical year for the regime. The lack of an improvement on last season runs the risk of Schoen and Daboll’s jobs being on the line without the duo having acquired their own quarterback.

NFC South Notes: Panthers, Diaby, Saints

August 1st, 2024 at 8:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Panthers will be shorthanded at the quarterback position for a bit. Andy Dalton sustained a quad injury, per Dave Canales, that is expected to sideline the 14th-year veteran for the next couple of weeks. As a result, Canales said (via The Athletic’s Joe Person) the Panthers are looking to add a quarterback. Carolina gave Dalton a two-year, $10MM deal with $8MM fully guaranteed to back up its to-be-determined rookie arm last year. Dalton backed up Bryce Young throughout last season and is in place to do so for a second coaching staff.

Rookie UDFA Jack Plummer is the only other passer on the Panthers’ 90-man roster. Ryan Tannehill headlines the list of available arms, one that also includes Blaine Gabbert and Trevor Siemian, but it would surprise if the recent Titans starter — who said recently he is not actively seeking a deal — accepted what looks to be a short-term opportunity. Though, it does appear the Panthers want a more experienced option running with their second team during practice and into the preseason.

Here is the latest from the NFC South:

  • Also on the injury front, the Buccaneers will be without YaYa Diaby for several weeks. A 2023 third-round pick who may well be Tampa Bay’s top edge-rushing option, Diaby sustained a high ankle sprain in practice, per the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud. Diaby was carted way from Bucs practice Thursday but looks to have avoided a major injury. The team has Week 1 as a realistic goal, according to ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine, who adds the second-year pass rusher is optimistic about not missing any regular-season time. He will not play during the Bucs’ preseason slate. Diaby, who replaced Joe Tryon-Shoyinka opposite the since-retired Shaq Barrett during the season, registered a Bucs-most 7.5 sacks in 2023.
  • The Saints‘ tackle situation has generated considerable attention this year, but they also need to make a change at guard. After James Hurst‘s retirement and Andrus Peat‘s Raiders defection, the team has a vacancy on the left side next to first-rounder Taliese Fuaga. Early during camp, the Saints have 2023 fourth-rounder Nick Saldiveri in place as their LG starter opposite Cesar Ruiz, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. It sounds like the Saints want the Old Dominion alum to start, as WWL Radio’s Jeff Nowak indicates the team has not planned on rotating its first-team O-line reps. Saldiveri, a trade-up target last year, played in four games as a rookie. This would also mean the team’s Trevor Penning-at-RT rumors are close to producing a starting role, though preseason play will help determine New Orleans’ final five.
  • New Orleans’ recent Rashid Shaheed extension will give him a $4.2MM base salary for 2025 and a $1MM signing bonus, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell tweets. Heavy void years proponents, the Saints will spread the bonus from 2024-27; the ’26 and ’27 seasons are voids. This will prevent the Saints from having to use a first- or second-round tender on their UDFA find next year, though it is far from a true extension. Given an ERFA tender months before this deal, Shaheed remains on track for unrestricted free agency in 2026.
  • Circling back to the Panthers, their agreement with Kemoko Turay is for one year and $1.13MM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. No guaranteed money is included in the deal. Carolina’s contract for return man/receiver Deven Thompkins is worth $985K, Wilson adds.
  • As the Panthers transition to GM Dan Morgan‘s leadership, a scouting change will occur. Carolina is losing Midwest area scout Joel Patten, Person indicates. Patten, whom Dave Gettleman hired to his Midwest scout post in 2016, is retiring. A former NFL O-lineman who started for the Chargers and Colts in the late 1980s, Patten has worked in scouting roles in Washington, San Francisco, Houston and St. Louis. The 49ers employed Patten, 66, as director of player personnel from 2013-15. Former Eagles staffer Brad Obee is now in place as the Panthers’ Midwest scout.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/24

August 1st, 2024 at 7:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves from around the league:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

New Orleans Saints

Rourke joins a third team this year. The Patriots waived the former CFL quarterback in May, and the Giants — after claiming him — moved him off their 90-man roster shortly after Daniel Jones received full clearance. Rourke spent most of last season with the Jaguars, catching on with the Pats late in the year. He will try to stick on a Falcons team with three QBs — Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr. and Taylor Heinicke — already rostered. Heinicke expects to be jettisoned before Week 1, with the Falcons planning to keep two QBs on their active roster. Though, the veteran could have a place on Atlanta’s practice squad.

This will mark a third Callaway Saints stint. Utilized frequently during a 2021 season that featured zero Michael Thomas participation and brought back in 2023 after the Broncos and Raiders cut him, Callaway returns days after a Steelers departure. The former UDFA, who has a 698-yard 2021 season on his resume, played in three Saints games last season but did not make a catch. This comes at an interesting point, at least, with the Saints having moved on from OC Pete Carmichael en route to a Klint Kubiak hire.

Sullivan suffered a quadriceps injury, per the Panthers. The 2020 Seahawks seventh-round pick, who reunited with ex-Seattle assistant Dave Canales this offseason, has been with the Panthers for the past three seasons.

Zach Wilson Losing Ground In Broncos’ QB Competition

August 1st, 2024 at 6:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

This week of Broncos practices has revealed a separation in the team’s quarterback competition. One member of the three-man battle is losing ground to the point his place in it is now in question.

The team’s recent workouts included Jarrett Stidham and Bo Nix receiving their turns with the first-string offense, but Zach Wilson saw his turn with the 1s skipped. For the time being, per ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold, this appears a two-man competition. Sean Payton said recently the Broncos would eliminate a member from the competition during the first two weeks of padded practices. It looks like Wilson will be the one dropped, putting his roster spot in question.

[RELATED: Offseason In Review: Denver Broncos]

Payton indicated today the current makeup of Denver’s QB competition is not “etched in stone,” and SI.com’s Albert Breer adds it has been communicated to the former Jets No. 2 overall pick he is not yet out of this race. But Wilson entered training camp with ground to cover to win even the backup job. Early camp work is continuing this storyline.

No plans to stash Nix as a developmental third-stringer are in place, and Breer adds the No. 12 overall pick is swiftly picking up Payton’s offense. That said, Legwold indicates Stidham has spent most of this week with Denver’s first-stringers. Stidham, who has moved into a starting role after two teams have sat their starters (Russell Wilson, Derek Carr) due to injury guarantees, has the most experience of the trio in Payton’s offense, as he signed a two-year, $10MM deal with the Broncos last March.

Stidham, 28 next week, would appear a placeholder at best. Nix being 24 and having set the record for most starts by a Division I-FBS quarterback (61) points to him making his starter debut early in the season — if not in Week 1. The preseason will be telling regarding the Oregon- and Auburn-developed prospect’s chances of winning this job — though, a midsummer report indicated it is likely his to lose — but Stidham should not be expected to hold him off for too long.

The Broncos would take on $2.73MM in dead money by releasing Zach Wilson and $2MM by cutting Stidham. Payton typically keeps two QBs on his active roster. Wilson would need to clear waivers to factor into any Broncos practice squad/emergency QB3 plans.

Elsewhere in Broncos camp, Breer notes the team’s No. 2 cornerback competition looks to be down to Riley Moss and Damarri Mathis. The team signed Levi Wallace and used a fifth-round pick on Kris Abrams-Draine, but this competition appeared Moss’ to lose entering camp.

The 2023 third-rounder, for whom the Broncos sent the Seahawks a 2024 third-rounder to acquire, played a special teams role after a core muscle injury set his development back last summer. Mathis, a 2022 fourth-rounder who replaced Ronald Darby as Denver’s outside CB starter opposite Patrick Surtain in 2022, struggled to start last season and was benched for Fabian Moreau. Wallace is the veteran of this group, with Moreau signing with the Vikings this week, but he was unable to hold a Steelers starting gig last season. The Broncos, who have Mathis signed through 2025 and Moss through 2026, only guaranteed Wallace $668K.

Bolts’ Justin Herbert Sustains Foot Injury

August 1st, 2024 at 5:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Justin Herbert‘s development in Jim Harbaugh‘s system will not include on-field work for a bit. The Chargers quarterback has sustained a foot injury that will keep him off the field, though the team announced this is not expected to threaten his regular-season availability.

The fifth-year passer sustained a plantar fascia injury in his right foot, per the Chargers, and at least a two-week period in a walking boot will follow. While this might not place Herbert’s Week 1 status in doubt, the Bolts are certain to be cautious with their centerpiece player in an effort to ensure no reinjury occurs.

[RELATED: Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Chargers]

This will halt Herbert’s work in Harbaugh’s offense and move Easton Stick — Herbert’s injury replacement once he sustained a season-ending finger injury late last year — back to first-team duties. Despite Herbert not missing a rep during the Chargers’ Wednesday practice, he will be parked for a stretch.

Herbert is now in a fourth offense during his five-year career. The Bolts have transitioned from Shane Steichen to Joe Lombardi to Kellen Moore to Greg Roman as play-callers. While he has enjoyed several months to prepare, it is notable the upcoming period will not include much on-field work. It is now likely Herbert will not play in the preseason.

The Pro Bowl passer memorably played through a significant rib injury in 2022, a malady that certainly affected his performance that season. The Chargers still made the playoffs. Expectations are lower ahead of Harbaugh’s first season, as the Bolts stumbled badly in Brandon Staley‘s finale. This included an 0-4 mark in Stick starts.

The Harbaugh-Joe Hortiz regime re-signed Stick this offseason, giving the former North Dakota State standout a one-year deal worth $2.67MM. It was a bit surprising the new Los Angeles power duo did not make a move to improve the team’s backup situation, as Stick was a Tom Telesco-era pickup who spent his first three seasons as a third-stringer.

Stick is indeed in front of Max Duggan on the depth chart and will move into the QB1 spot, The Athletic’s Daniel Popper notes (subscription required). For now, Herbert remains on track to debut on time. But this injury’s potential to linger will be a central Chargers storyline to monitor ahead of the regular season.

Cowboys To Sign DE Shaka Toney

August 1st, 2024 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

It looks like the Cowboys will be taking two defensive ends from their Thursday workout. In addition to adding Al-Quadin Muhammad, they are signing Shaka Toney, per veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson.

Toney joined Muhammad, Carl Lawson and Justin Hollins at the Dallas workout. While Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler followed Dan Quinn to Washington, the Cowboys will check on a former Commanders DE contributor.

This represents a second chance for Toney, who missed all of last season due to a gambling suspension. Washington did not immediately waive Toney, separating him from some of the other gambling offenders last year, but the new regime cut ties this offseason. The Cowboys look set to see how Muhammad and Toney fare, potentially giving two rushers a chance to vie for one roster spot following Sam Williams‘ ACL tear.

A 2021 Washington seventh-round pick, Toney mostly operated as a reserve in Montez Sweat-fronted DE groups during his two-year on-field run. The Penn State product combined for just 1.5 sacks in that span but played in 26 games. He was then part of the initial wave of gambling suspensions, joining a host of Lions. The Commanders kept Toney, who was found to have bet on NFL games while on team grounds, last year. Once Toney was reinstated, however, the Adam Peters regime dropped him. Toney’s Washington exit came shortly after the Armstrong and Fowler arrivals.

Toney, who also worked out for the Giants in May, did register 21.5 sacks in four seasons with the Nittany Lions. He and Muhammad join a Cowboys DE corps including starters Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, along with second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland. A prospective Toney-Muhammad competition may also produce a practice squad spot for the loser (or both); Muhammad is also set to miss Week 1 due to a PED suspension.

Patriots Sign DT Mike Purcell

August 1st, 2024 at 3:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

In need of depth along the defensive interior following Christian Barmore‘s blood clots diagnosis, the Patriots have brought in Mike Purcell. The veteran agreed to a deal on Thursday, per an announcement from his agency.

Purcell is a veteran of eight seasons, with his past five campaigns coming in Denver. The 33-year-old did not survive roster cuts last year, but he was immediately retained and wound up remaining a key member of the Broncos’ D-line. Purcell started 10 of his 16 appearances in 2023, logging a defensive snap share of 44% and recording 25 tackles.

[RELATED: Patriots, Davon Godchaux Reach Another Extension Agreement]

The Broncos, who are now down to just five John Elway-era cogs remaining, took a flier on a player who had bounced out of the league — and into the short-lived Alliance of American Football — back in 2019. The veteran nose tackle provided a steady presence in Denver and started for the team’s three coaching staffs in that span.

Overall, Purcell started 37 games with the Broncos, a period that saw the team authorize a three-year, $14.8MM extension, and made an impact as a run defender. Pro Football Focus viewed Purcell’s 2021 and ’22 seasons favorably, respectively slotting him 39th and 42nd among interior D-linemen, but ranked him 106th at the position last season. While rumors about another Broncos-Purcell pact emerged earlier this offseason, he will relocate to New England after the concerning Barmore development.

Originally a 2013 49ers UDFA, Purcell stopped through six NFL cities before sticking around in Denver. This is actually a reunion for Purcell, who was with the Patriots in October and November of 2017. The 328-pound defender did not see any game action with that season’s AFC champion and finished the season with the Chiefs. The former Wyoming standout has also enjoyed short stints with the Bears, Rams and Panthers (and the AAF’s Salt Lake Stallions).

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

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