HEADLINES

Month: September 2024

Dak Prescott Was Likely To Up Price If Cowboys Negotiated In-Season

September 12th, 2024 at 10:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Cowboys completed a rare instance of an extension being finalized the morning of Week 1 Sunday. While the other teams who completed pre-Week 1 extensions hammered them out in the days leading up to their respective openers, the Cowboys were still negotiating the morning of their Browns matchup.

A Saturday report suggested a small chance existed the Cowboys could come to terms with their ninth-year quarterback, but they ended up doing so just before noon CT — around four hours before their Browns tilt. As the Cowboys and Dak’s agent negotiated before COO Stephen Jones left for Cleveland, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano indicates the team was motivated by the soft deadline Week 1 brought.

Prescott, 30, had said he was OK continuing talks into the season; though, he seemed less thrilled about the prospect when he broached it again late last month. Had Prescott begun a contract year, he was likely to keep upping his price as free agency would have loomed closer and closer as the season progressed, per Graziano. Considering where the Cowboys ended up, it is understandable they were leery of where the numbers could go if their staredown with the QB dragged into the fall.

These negotiations ended with Prescott becoming the NFL’s first $60MM-per-year player, representing remarkable growth on a market that stood at $30MM (Matt Ryan‘s second Falcons extension) barely six years ago. Dak’s $60MM AAV checks in $5MM north of where the market’s ceiling previously resided, but the likes of Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love did not possess the leverage Prescott did.

The Cowboys again bent on term length (four years), as they did for Prescott in 2021 and CeeDee Lamb this year, and again gave their quarterback no-trade and no-tag clauses. Not that a no-tag clause would have mattered much, as no player has received a third tag in nearly 20 years — since the 2006 CBA made doing so punitive — but the Cowboys showed the results of negotiating without leverage.

Still, they were able to keep Prescott away from free agency. Guaranteed money brought the final stage of these talks, Graziano adds, and Dak indeed secured more in guarantees than Deshaun Watson did on a five-year deal. That said, Watson — for now, at least — is tied to $230MM fully guaranteed; Prescott’s $231MM number represents the total guarantee. Though, the Cowboys will have a difficult time escaping this contract due to the above-referenced clauses and the financial penalties that come via the guarantee structure.

Dallas gave Prescott $129MM guaranteed at signing. That is not a top-market number, as it checks in seventh among QBs. But Prescott, as should be expected, secured a player-friendly cash flow. His 2024 and 2025 base salaries are guaranteed at signing, and Graziano adds the $40MM 2026 base salary shifts from guaranteed for injury to a full guarantee in March 2025. That same structure applies for Prescott’s $45MM 2027 base, which locks in as of March 2026. Prescott is due $55MM in 2028 base salary; $17MM of that amount will become fully guaranteed in March 2027. Dak’s one-, two-, three- and four-year cash flows lead the NFL, SI.com’s Andrew Brandt tweets.

No-tag and no-trade clauses being present in Prescott’s 2021 extension (4/160), coupled with his previous 2024 cap number ($55.13MM) and potential 2025 dead money penalty if not extended by March ($40.13MM), made it a lock he would secure whopping terms from the Cowboys if he agreed to avoid testing free agency.

This extension includes four void years, with the Cowboys having the option of restructuring the deal down the road as well, but still includes a high 2024 cap number. Dak’s extension dropped his cap hit by less than $11MM, with the new ’24 number settling at $44.61MM. With the Browns restructuring Watson’s deal a second time, the Rams reworking Matthew Stafford‘s contract and the Cowboys paying Prescott, Kyler Murray‘s $49.12MM leads all players and represents the highest single-player cap hit in NFL history.

This nixes what would have been a historic free agency sweepstakes and ties Prescott to the Cowboys through 2028. This will put Dak in line to become the longest-tenured QB1 in team history, surpassing Troy Aikman‘s 12-season run.

Jets Still In Communication With Haason Reddick; Latest On Trade Prospect

September 12th, 2024 at 10:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets continue to wait on Haason Reddick, but no signs this holdout will end soon are present. Reddick’s grudge against his new team persists, even as his fines have surpassed $5MM.

Although Robert Saleh has said he has not spoken to Reddick since training camp began, SNY’s Connor Hughes does confirm the edge rusher’s agent remains in talks with GM Joe Douglas. Seemingly representing progress, Hughes does well to ensure that is not the case by confirming both sides are still entrenched in their summer stances on this matter. A weekend report indeed indicated Reddick is “willing to die on this sword.”, and Hughes reported late last month some believe the former Cardinals, Panthers and Eagles starter is geared up to skip the season.

[RELATED: Jets GM Addresses Reddick’s Holdout]

Not wanting to negotiate an extension for a player who has not reported, the Jets were also not believed to be overly interested in paying Reddick due to his age (30 this month). Contract sweeteners emerged as a potential solution in this messy situation, but Reddick is believed to essentially view the Jets as having reneged on their word by refusing to revisit extension talks after a low-ball offer emerged before the trade was finalized. Hence, the standoff.

Teams around the league are obviously monitoring this situation, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds some view a trade as the escape route the Jets will eventually take. When Reddick requested a trade during the preseason, the Jets shot down the notion they would comply. While some anonymous execs may predict this will be how the saga ends in New York, the Jets would take a loss here due to being unlikely to recoup whey they gave up — a 2026 conditional third-rounder — in the March deal with the Eagles.

A team interested in trading for Reddick would almost definitely need to have a deal ready. Holdouts preceding trades have produced delayed resolutions, as the cases of Trent Williams and Duane Brown remind. Washington traded Williams to San Francisco in 2020, after he sat out the 2019 season, and the decorated tackle played out his existing contract before cashing in as a 2021 free agent. Brown held out in 2017, and the Texans traded him to the Seahawks. The tackle did not sign a Seattle extension until the 2018 offseason.

This type of conclusion may work for Matt Judon and the Falcons, but Reddick appears intent on cashing in. He has yet to earn a top-market edge rusher salary, having seen the Panthers provide a prove-it deal in 2021 — after the Cardinals used him as an off-ball linebacker for multiple seasons — and the Eagles hand over a three-year, $45MM pact.

Reddick remains attached to that pact. The former first-rounder will be unlikely to fetch true top-market money due to age and perhaps this holdout, but with 51.5 sacks since 2020 (the fourth-most this decade), he would remain a coveted commodity in a second 2024 trade.

Residing on the Jets’ reserve/did not report list, Reddick has seen his 2024 salary ($14.25MM) become nonguaranteed due to not being on an active roster when vested veterans’ salaries locked in last weekend. Reddick will lose $791K for each game missed, but The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt notes the Jets will not gain cap space for Reddick missed games. They are also missing out on quality production, but with Reddick not practicing with the team, it is debatable how well he would fare if immediately inserted into Saleh’s system.

Justin Fields Expected To Start In Week 2; Russell Wilson Positioned As Steelers’ Starter When Healthy

September 12th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers played it safe with Russell Wilson‘s calf injury in Week 1, turning the offense over to Justin Fields at quarterback. The latter is in line to start once again, although he has ground to make up in terms of moving to the top of the depth chart.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports Fields is expected to get the start for Pittsburgh’s Week 2 matchup against the Broncos. That comes as no surprise given head coach Mike Tomlin‘s remarks from earlier in the week. Tomlin confirmed the team is proceeding with the expectation Fields will again get the nod as Wilson attempts to ramp up his participation in practice.

Fields – acquired via trade from the Bears in the offseason shortly after Wilson was signed – did not have an impactful statistical showing in Pittsburgh’s win over the Falcons to begin the campaign. The 25-year-old totaled only 156 passing yards, but he added 57 rushing yards and did not commit any turnovers. Six field goals were sufficient for the Steelers to win on Sunday, but team and player will be hoping for a better showing on Fields’ part if he plays again against the Broncos.

Wilson’s recovery after aggravating the calf injury which cost him training camp time will still be worth watching closely, however. The nine-time Pro Bowler was tapped as Pittsburgh’s starter after an offseason in which neither passer stood out against the other. As Graziano’s colleague Jeremy Fowler adds, Wilson is still likely to assume QB1 duties once he returns to full health. That also matches what Tomlin said earlier this week when addressing the quarterback situation.

As pending free agents, both Wilson and Fields are in a unique situation for 2024. The Steelers completely rebuilt their QB room during the spring while moving on from 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett. Wilson’s command of the offense, Fowler notes, is one of the factors which has given him an edge to date as the projected starter. Fields gained support during training camp and the preseason, however, so he could gain further momentum with a strong showing against Denver provided Wilson remains sidelined.

Practice over the coming days will no doubt offer more clarity on how Pittsburgh will proceed under center against the Broncos, and it would be surprising if the team attempted to rush Wilson back into action in short order. The 35-year-old should still be expected to take the field at some point relatively soon, though.

Raiders Notes: Meyers, Brady, Edge Rush

September 12th, 2024 at 8:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers wound up retaining Brandon Aiyuk on a four-year, $120MM extension after extensive talks with outside teams about a trade. Had they ended up dealing the second-team All-Pro to the Steelers, acquiring an experienced wideout to replace him would have become a priority.

One of San Francisco’s known targets in that respect was Courtland Sutton. The Broncos turned aside interest in a trade which would have sent Sutton to the Bay Area, but they were not the only team in the AFC West to receive an offer concerning a veteran wideout. The 49ers “approached” the Raiders about Jakobi Meyers, Michael Silver of the San Francisco Chronicle writes.

Talks on the Meyers front proved to be very short-lived, however, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur. In the end, Aiyuk deciding to remain in San Francisco ended the need for any further WR pursuit on the part of the 49ers. Meyers, 27, recorded 807 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns during his debut Raiders campaign last season. With two years remaining on his pact, expectations are high for another strong year in 2024. The former Patriot would have stepped into a starting role in an Aiyuk-less 49ers receiver room, but it comes as no surprise a trade was not seriously considered by Raiders GM Tom Telesco.

Here are some other notes out of Las Vegas:

  • Tom Brady‘s ownership stake in the team is still not official, but other NFL owners have kept it in mind during the start of his broadcasting career. Brady faces many restrictions in his gig as FOX’s lead color commentator owing to the fact he is set to be a part of Mark Davis‘ ownership group. As Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes, the seven-time Super Bowl winner was present for Vegas’ final practice during the 2023 season. That may have raised additional questions about how hands-on he will be once his stake is finalized, and it helps explain the steps taken to eliminate Brady’s access to other teams during his broadcasting tenure.
  • With Malcolm Koonce set to miss significant time (if not the entire season), it was particularly problematic when fellow defensive end Tyree Wilson suffered a knee sprain in Week 1. The latter avoided the worst-case scenario, but he could still miss time. The Raiders have since worked out K’Lavon Chaisson and added him on a practice squad deal; the former Jags first-rounder could provide depth, but more moves could be coming. Head coach Antonio Pierce confirmed (via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez) Telesco is still looking into defensive end additions. Vegas has over $28MM in cap space, so finances will not be an issue if a veteran like Yannick Ngakoue or Carl Lawson is pursued.
  • Defensive lineman Jonah Laulu was one of the players let go by the Colts during roster cutdowns, and the Raiders claimed him off waivers. The seventh-round rookie was a prospect the Raiders wanted to select in the draft, Pierce said (via Tafur’s colleague Tashan Reed). Laulu began his college career at Hawaii before transferring to Oklahoma. He flashed potential with the Sooners while catching Pierce’s attention in the process, and he will now look to carve out a role in Vegas.

Hall Of Fame LB Joe Schmidt Dies At 92

September 12th, 2024 at 7:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

Former Lions linebacker and head coach Joe Schmidt passed away yesterday, the team announced. The Hall of Famer was 92.

Schmidt was selected in the seventh round of the 1953 draft, and he immediately became a standout contributor. The following season saw him earn the first of 10 consecutive Pro Bowl invitations – tied for a franchise record – and Schmidt also began a string of All-Pro honors during that span. He collected a first- or second-team nod every campaign from 1954-62. A key figure in his team’s success, Schmidt helped lead the Lions to two NFL championships (1953 and ’57) and earned a place on the 1950s All-Decade team.

An inaugural member of the Lions’ ring of honor, Schmidt continued his decorated tenure in the Motor City by serving as the team’s head coach from 1967-72. During the final four years of that spell, Detroit posted a winning record before the Pitt alum ended his second football career.

In 1973, Schmidt was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Regarded as the greatest defender in Lions history, he is credited as one of the pioneers for middle linebackers operating as the quarterback of the defense with his style of play.

“Joe Schmidt had the heart of a Lion, which made it appropriate that he was also the heart of our team,” a statement from owner Martha Firestone Ford reads. “Joe was a key part of our championship seasons and continued to be an important part of our organization until his passing. Joe made his home in Detroit and carried his success from the field into our community. I am saddened to hear of his passing, but I have nothing but fond memories of the person he was. I share my deepest condolences with Marilyn and his children.”

Across 159 combined regular and postseason games, Schmidt collected 27 total interceptions and 17 fumble recoveries (including a league-leading eight in 1955) during his career. His No. 56 is retired by the Lions, and he is a member of the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time team.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/12/24

September 12th, 2024 at 6:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Cleveland Browns

Miami Dolphins

Harden, a seventh-round rookie, is dealing with a shin injury. Today’s move means he will be out for at least four weeks, further delaying his chance to make his regular season debut. Harden was inactive for the Browns’ Week 1 loss.

Broncos LT Garett Bolles Addresses Playing Future

September 12th, 2024 at 5:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

Garett Bolles is a pending free agent who has expressed interest in remaining with the Broncos beyond 2024. Regardless of if that happens or not, the eighth-year left tackle intends to continue playing for the foreseeable future.

Bolles inked a four-year, 68MM extension during John Elway‘s final season as general manager. Since then, the regime led by GM George Paton and head coach Sean Payton has made a number of lucrative investments up front. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey and left guard Ben Powers were added as outside free agents, while right guard Quinn Meinerz landed a big-ticket extension this offseason.

That has led to questions about Bolles’ future in Denver, although the team did not consider trading him ahead of the 2024 campaign. The 32-year-old has made it clear he hopes to continue his tenure in the Mile High City, but another lucrative contract will be challenging given the other commitments already on the books along O-line. Bolles will not consider retirement in the event a new Broncos accord is not worked out, though.

“I pride myself on that I feel like I’m in good health,” the former first-rounder said (via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette). “I feel like my mind and body feel great. I feel young for what everybody wants to say my age is. I feel like I can play for a lot more years.”

Bolles is the team’s longest-tenured player and he is set to remain the unquestioned starter along the blindside. A veteran of 100 games, he has yet to make a playoff appearance but his career has consisted of consistent play as a full-time left tackle contributor. Bolles finished 19th amongst all tackles in overall PFF grade last season, and another strong campaign in 2024 would help his free agent stock.

A number of high-end blockers have managed to continue their careers well into their 30s, especially if they manage to remain healthy along the way. Bolles has missed notable time only once (in 2022), so the former second-team All-Pro could draw attention on the open market if he were to avoid a major injury this year. It will be interesting to see if the Broncos pursue another extension over the coming months or if they allow Bolles to test free agency in 2025. Either way, he will be aiming for another multi-year pact given his comments.

C Connor McGovern Contemplated Retirement Before Jets Reunion

September 12th, 2024 at 4:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Connor McGovern returned to the Jets yesterday when he inked a practice squad deal. The veteran center thought his career had ended following the knee injury which ended his 2023 campaign, however.

“After I got hurt, I called my wife and was like, ‘Well, that’s it. We’re hanging ’em up,” McGovern said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “If or when this team goes to the playoffs and if I wasn’t helping in some capacity, I’d be pretty disappointed that I didn’t seize any opportunity. I had to come have another ride with this group and be a part of something special.”

McGovern held a starting role at center from his arrival with the Jets in 2020 through the dislocated kneecap which limited him to just seven contests last campaign. The 31-year-old’s agent encouraged him to remain in shape through the offseason, Cimini notes, and it ultimately allowed him to return to New York. 2023 second-rounder Joe Tippmann took over at center after McGovern’s injury, and he remains in place atop the depth chart.

With Wes Schweitzer on injured reserve due to a hand injury, though, McGovern is now in place as the Jets’ backup at the position. Schweitzer will be out for at least the next three weeks and the Missouri alum could take his place on the active roster via gameday elevations. Players can be brought onto the roster via an elevation up to three times, and it would come as no surprise if New York took that route with McGovern.

If Tippmann remains healthy, McGovern will be unlikely to see any playing time in 2024. He will be an experienced option if called upon, however, and any action would add to his 102 career appearances. It remains to be seen if McGovern explores another contract after the season, but for at least the time being he will extend his career over a short span.

Dolphins-Jevon Holland Extension Talks Have Not Picked Up

September 12th, 2024 at 10:36am CST by Sam Robinson

Jevon Holland‘s contract year started off well. The fourth-year safety’s goal-line punch-out denied Travis Etienne a potential back-breaking touchdown, keying a Dolphins comeback win over the Jaguars.

The Dolphins lost their other two safety regulars from last season — Brandon Jones, DeShon Elliott — but Holland remains, and the team identified him as an extension candidate in the spring. In the months since, this process does not appear to have gained steam. As several clubs moved to extend key players before the start of last season — one notable Texas-based deal coming hours before kickoff — Holland remains on his rookie contract.

[Offseason In Review: Miami Dolphins]

Miami has not intensified its extension talks with Holland, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler offers. The former second-round pick cannot speak with other teams until March’s legal tampering period, but the Dolphins went through a busy offseason on the extension front. They paid offensive cornerstones Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle and came to a rework agreement with Tyreek Hill, a transaction that reminded of Chris Grier‘s Xavien Howard payday in 2022 in that both players had three years left on their existing deals. The Dolphins then re-upped Jalen Ramsey, who had already seen the team greenlight more guarantees upon acquiring him via trade.

Starting 43 games for the Dolphins since being chosen 36th overall in 2021, Holland has now forced four fumbles over the past 18 games. The Oregon alum is in his age-24 season, and while this year featured some twists and turns in the safety market, teams showed — via the Xavier McKinney Packers signing and Antoine Winfield Jr. Buccaneers extension — they are still willing to pay top-market rates for difference-makers. Holland has displayed that talent.

Pro Football Focus rated Holland as a top-five safety in 2021 and again last year. The Dolphins have again changed their defensive scheme, making a coordinator change (from Vic Fangio to Anthony Weaver) for a third straight year. Perhaps the team wants to gauge Holland’s fit in Weaver’s system before accelerating talks, but the closer the Dolphins come to free agency, the more difficult it stands to be to retain the young defender.

Following an offseason that featured a cap situation that effectively prevented a Christian Wilkins franchise tag and led to he and Robert Hunt leaving in free agency, Miami is not expected to carry much in the way of 2025 funds. While it is still early here, the Dolphins sit with the NFL’s third-worst 2025 projection (per OverTheCap). That would make a franchise or transition tag more difficult, and while teams have a way of navigating troubled waters (see: New Orleans) to pay the players they want, Wilkins’ defection — after extensive Dolphins efforts to retain him — shows cap trouble brings consequences.

Two safeties — Winfield and Kyle Dugger — were tagged this offseason, with the Patriots transition-tagging the latter. Both signed lucrative extensions. This path could be a viable Dolphins path with Holland, but the team still has some time to avoid a lofty cap hold hitting its payroll via a March tag.

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