HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/11/24

September 11th, 2024 at 7:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Detroit Lions

Tennessee Titans

A former third-round pick by the Lions, Julian Okwara ultimately spent four seasons in Detroit. The linebacker saw time in 38 games (four starts) during his Lions tenure, compiling 54 tackles and nine sacks. This included a five-sack performance in 2021, although he struggled to match those counting stats over the past two years. The 26-year-old spent the preseason with the Eagles before joining Arizona’s practice squad prior to the regular season.

49ers, CB Deommodore Lenoir Have Talked Extension

September 11th, 2024 at 6:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Mentioned previously as an extension candidate, it sounds like Deommodore Lenoir has indeed talked about a long-term pact with the 49ers. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the organization has “discussed an extension” with their young defensive back.

[RELATED: Deommodore Lenoir On 49ers’ Extension Radar]

We heard this summer that the 49ers front office was potentially looking to extend the former fifth-round pick, but this latest update sounds a bit more definitive. Ee haven’t heard any recent updates on a long-term pact for Charvarius Ward, who was also mentioned as an extension candidate around the same time. Lenoir is set to hit free agency following the 2024 campaign.

Lenoir was selected by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. It didn’t take long for the Oregon product to establish himself as a foundational piece on San Francisco’s defense. The defensive back started 13 of his 17 appearances as a sophomore, and he started all 17 games in 2023. The 49ers have been creative with their usage of the defensive back over the past few years, using him as an outside CB and in the slot.

Lenoir ultimately got into 90 percent of his team’s defensive snaps in 2023, finishing with 84 tackles, three interceptions, and 10 passes defended. Pro Football Focus ended up grading him 23rd among 127 qualifying cornerbacks.

The 49ers have been connected to cornerback reinforcement in recent years, including Patrick Surtain and Nate Hobbs at last year’s trade deadline. They added Isaac Yiadom this offseason as a replacement for Isaiah Oliver, but the team is still plenty reliant on Lenoir. The cornerback’s extension probably won’t break the bank, but the team will still have to commit a chunk of change to maintain some continuity on their depth chart.

Jets Sign C Connor McGovern To Practice Squad

September 11th, 2024 at 5:32pm CST by Ben Levine

Connor McGovern is back in New York. The Jets have added their former starting center to the practice squad, according to Brian Costello of the New York Post. To make room, the team released running back Xazavian Valladay from the p-squad.

The former Broncos fifth-round pick caught on with the Jets in 2020 and proceeded to spend four years with the organization. He started all 55 of his appearances with the Jets, including 2021 and 2022 campaigns where Pro Football Focus graded him as one of the better players at his position.

The veteran re-signed with the Jets last offseason and started the team’s first seven games. However, he suffered a dislocated kneecap in October that ended his season prematurely.

With 2023 second-round pick Joe Tippmann establishing himself as the team’s long-term answer at center, McGovern wasn’t re-signed this offseason. The team has already reversed course, as Wes Schweitzer‘s hand injury opened a spot on the depth chart. The team is currently rolling without a backup center, so it shouldn’t take long for McGovern to earn a promotion to the active roster.

Valladay went undrafted during last year’s draft and had stints with the Texans and Steelers before landing in New York. He spent the majority of his rookie season on New York’s practice squad, and he was destined for a similar role in 2024. Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Valladay could eventually find himself back on the Jets taxi squad, but the team needed the temporary spot for their veteran lineman acquisition.

Chiefs Still Interested In Extending RG Trey Smith

September 11th, 2024 at 4:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

An early-August report indicated the Chiefs had Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith on their extension radar. The two-time defending champions have since given the Pro Bowl center a record-smashing contract, casting some doubt about their ability to keep Smith as well.

Despite Humphrey’s contract, the Chiefs are still interested in paying Smith, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Smith joined Humphrey in becoming extension-eligible this year; the former sixth-round pick would stand to be one of 2025’s top free agents, should he reach the market. It will be interesting to see, given the Chiefs’ expenses on offense, if they can prevent that from happening.

Kansas City’s O-line overhaul after Tampa Bay’s pass-rushing rampage in Super Bowl LV featured sweeping success inside and some speedbumps at tackle. Orlando Brown Jr. did not accept a Chiefs extension offer at the 2022 franchise tag deadline, and 2023 RT free agent signing Jawaan Taylor led the NFL in penalties last season. But the Chiefs’ interior O-line makeover has made a considerable difference in the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl wins. GM Brett Veach signed left guard Joe Thuney, drafted Humphrey in Round 2 and then found a gem in Smith a day later.

Smith dropped to Round 6 because of a blood clot issue, but he has missed just one game as a pro. Last season marked a tour de force from the Chiefs’ interior O-line — which was just about their only reliable facet on that side of the ball in 2023 — as ESPN’s pass block win rate metric ranked Thuney, Humphrey and Smith in the top four among interior O-linemen. Smith, 25, ranked fourth in the metric and has seen Pro Football Focus slot him as a top-15 guard in each of his three seasons.

This consistency may make Smith hard to extend. This year’s guard market showed the value in hitting free agency. Robert Hunt broke into the $20MM-per-year club — a four-man contingent currently — among guards, and both Kevin Dotson and Jonah Jackson signed Rams deals worth at least $16MM per year. Smith’s consistency, along with his importance to the Chiefs, should put him in that range. It may well take more than what the Chiefs authorized for Humphrey — four years, $72MM ($50MM guaranteed) — to retain their right guard.

Taylor’s contract includes a fully guaranteed 2025 salary ($20MM); he is not an easy move candidate. Thuney, however, does not have any 2025 guarantees in place. Thuney, 31, is tied to the five-year, $80MM deal he signed in March 2021. That contract calls for a $15.5MM 2025 base salary. A future in which the Chiefs swap out Thuney for Smith as their high-end guard payment would make sense, though the team can still keep going to the Patrick Mahomes restructure well thanks to the western Missouri icon’s outlier 10-year contract. The Chiefs have already restructured Mahomes’ deal three times.

However they choose to manage this situation, the Chiefs are not giving up on keeping both Humphrey and Smith on second contracts. They hold exclusive negotiating rights with the UFA-to-be until the 2025 legal tampering period. Guards are rarely franchise-tagged, due to the tag formula grouping all O-linemen together, but the Chiefs would have that as a last-ditch option if they were dead-set against Smith hitting the market.

Broncos To Place RB Audric Estime On IR

September 11th, 2024 at 4:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos kept four running backs on their active roster and gave carries to three during their Week 1 loss to the Seahawks. One of those options will not be available against the Steelers and beyond.

Audric Estime is heading to IR due to an ankle injury, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. This will sideline the rookie until at least Week 6. The Broncos used one of their cutdown-day IR-return spots — on cornerback Damarri Mathis — to leave them seven activations. Estime would stand to count toward one of those slots if he is activated from IR.

Fullback Michael Burton is coming up from Denver’s practice squad to its 53-man roster to fill Estime’s spot, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. The veteran had played Week 1 as a P-squad elevation, joining Lil’Jordan Humphrey in that regard. This is Burton’s second Broncos season, and while he is technically a running back, Denver employs the veteran for his blocking.

This leaves Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin as Denver’s primary ball-carriers, with rookie UDFA Blake Watson still on the active roster as well. Watson was a healthy scratch in Week 1. The pass-catching back may well need to make his debut against Pittsburgh on Sunday.

A fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, Estime already ran into injury trouble during the offseason; he underwent a minor knee procedure that limited his time at OTAs and shelved him for minicamp. While this slowed Estime’s development, the Broncos have plans for the former Fighting Irish standout. With Williams in a contract year and having not yet looked himself since October 2022 ACL and LCL tears — though, the fourth-year back impressed in training camp — Estime profiles as a successor. He is signed through 2027.

Estime fell to Round 5 due in part to a 4.71-second 40-yard dash time at the Combine. He clocked a sub-4.6-second time at Notre Dame’s pro day, which came after he had combined for 30 touchdowns from 2022-23. Estime rambled for 18 rushing TDs last season, totaling 1,341 yards on 10 carries. Estime logged two carries for 14 yards and fumbled, though a Broncos teammate recovered, in the team’s 26-20 loss. The Broncos will aim to have their rookie power runner right come October, though Estime’s timetable is not yet known.

Jets’ Jeff Ulbrich Confirms 49ers’ DC Inquiry

September 11th, 2024 at 3:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

In making Steve Wilks a one-and-done as 49ers defensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan conducted a search that ended with a Nick Sorensen promotion. The eighth-year San Francisco HC’s unofficial search proved more interesting.

Shanahan reached out to Bill Belichick and attempted to gauge Steve Spagnuolo‘s interest in switching sides in this period’s premier AFC-NFC rivalry. Neither effort proved successful. Belichick is holding out hope for a 2025 HC job, as he conducts a media blitz this season, and the Chiefs extended Spagnuolo days after Super Bowl LVIII. The 49ers also reached out to one of Shanahan’s former Falcons coworkers, showing interest in Jets DC Jeff Ulbrich.

[Offseason In Review: San Francisco 49ers]

A 49ers linebacker from 2000-09, Ulbrich is from the Bay Area and worked with Shanahan from 2015-16 in Atlanta. However, Ulbrich needed permission to conduct an interview with the 49ers. Robert Saleh confirmed (via the San Francisco Chronicle’s Michael Silver) that would not happen.

“I don’t blame him,” Saleh said of Shanahan’s Ulbrich pursuit. “He should ask. The answer was no. But I’d ask, too.”

Ulbrich stayed in Atlanta throughout Dan Quinn‘s tenure, as Shanahan left after the Falcons’ 2016 Super Bowl season. He serves as the Jets’ defensive play-caller, though Saleh certainly operates as the lead defensive voice for the team. The Jets turned a corner on defense in Saleh’s second season, but as QB play played the lead role in dropping the 2022 and ’23 Jet teams under .500, no HC interviews have come. The Jets could not have denied Ulbrich permission to meet about a head coaching job, but since he was under contract for 2024, they could block the request.

“Absolutely honored,” Ulbrich said (via Silver) of Shanahan’s interest. “I have unbelievable, tremendous respect for Kyle, and that organization, and the team they’ve built, and the coaching staff that they have. So, what an honor it was. But at the same time, I am so connected [to the Jets].”

The Jets were not the only team to block a coordinator interview this offseason. The Panthers kept Ejiro Evero from meeting about other DC positions, while the Giants blocked a Seahawks Mike Kafka OC summit. Although Saleh would not let Ulbrich out of his contract, Silver adds the fourth-year Jets DC received an offseason raise.

Shanahan considered promoting Sorensen to replace DeMeco Ryans in 2023, but like Ryans back in his early days on San Francisco’s staff, the veteran HC viewed Sorensen as needing more developmental time. After two seasons with the team, Shanahan deemed Sorensen ready. The 49ers ranked third in scoring defense and fourth in DVOA, but Wilks’ unit struggled in the NFC playoffs. Despite holding the Chiefs without a touchdown — excluding a drive that began at the 49ers’ 16-yard line — that defense could not prevent a game-tying field goal to force overtime and could not hold serve with Kansas City defense in the extra period.

Sorensen, who spent eight seasons on Pete Carroll‘s Seahawks staff, will take a crack at maximizing the talent on the 49ers’ defense. The Jets will hope their offense does enough to complement their Saleh-Ulbrich defensive setup this season.

Week 7 In Play For T.J. Hockenson’s Return

September 11th, 2024 at 1:29pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Vikings are hoping to have Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson back before the midseason point. While not too much in the way of a timetable has emerged regarding the high-priced pass catcher ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler points to Week 7 as a potential activation point.

Hockenson started the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list after tearing his ACL and MCL in December 2023. The 2022 trade acquisition is eligible to be activated from the PUP list after four weeks, but his ongoing rehab may keep him sidelined for a few extra weeks. Considering Minnesota’s bye comes in Week 6, it makes for a natural onramp ahead of a potential debut.

Despite missing the last two games of the 2023 season, Hockenson recorded career-high marks in receptions (95) and receiving yards (960) in his first full season with the Vikings. The former top-10 pick arrived in Minnesota from Detroit in a 2022 deadline deal and smoothly assimilated into Kevin O’Connell‘s offense. Hockenson impressed the Vikings’ front office enough to earn a four-year, $63.5MM extension ahead of last season, making him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL before the Chiefs gave Travis Kelce a raise this offseason.

Hockenson’s absence has left the Vikings thin at tight end. Josh Oliver, a former third-round pick who mainly profiles as a blocker, has taken over as the starter. Behind Oliver are veteran Johnny Mundt, who has just 48 catches across an eight-year career, and 2022 seventh-round pick Nick Muse, who has just one career reception.

That lack of tight end depth did not hamper the Vikings in their Week 1 win over the Giants. A stellar defensive showing and efficient games from quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Aaron Jones carried Minnesota to a 28-6 victory.

Darnold, however, signed with the Vikings due in large part to their offensive weaponry. The former Jets and Panthers starter worked with All-Pro Justin Jefferson, former Pro Bowler Aaron Jones and 2023 first-rounder Jordan Addison. Hockenson will round out a stellar Vikings skill-position corps, giving the free agent QB addition a better chance to succeed in what now profiles — after J.J. McCarthy‘s season-ending injury — as an interesting audition year.

Rams Place Steve Avila, Joe Noteboom On IR

September 11th, 2024 at 1:16pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Rams have placed starting left guard Steve Avila and starting left tackle Joe Noteboom on injured reserve, sidelining both offensive linemen for at least four weeks.

Avila sprained his MCL in the Rams’ Week 1 matchup with the Lions. Noteboom had to be carted to the locker room during the same game with an ankle injury. The Rams also signed veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon to their practice squad for some added secondary depth.

[RELATED: Rams Place Puka Nacua On IR]

After Avila’s injury on Sunday night, the Rams moved Jonah Jackson to left guard and put in rookie Beaux Limmer at center. The Rams seem poised to stick with those changes moving forward after signing rookie center Dylan McMahon from the Eagles’ practice squad, likely to back up Limmer.

2022 seventh-round pick AJ Arcuri stepped in at left tackle after Noteboom went down, but he may not take over the starting job. The Rams also signed Geron Christian to their active roster and Ty Nsekhe to the practice squad, two tackles that could be ready to debut by Week 2. Additionally, if Rob Havenstein recovers from an ankle injury that sidelined him for Week 1, he could take over at his long-held right tackle post and allow Warren McClendon to flip to the left side. Alaric Jackson is also set to return from suspension in Week 3.

Avila spent most of his college career at center before starting 17 games (and playing every offensive snap) for the Rams at left guard as a rookie. His success at his new position caused the Rams to move 2024 free agent signing Jonah Jackson to center over the summer, though Jackson will likely switch back to guard after Avila’s injury.

Noteboom’s injury is yet another hiccup for a player that the Rams were hoping would be a long-term successor to Andrew Whitworth, who retired after the Rams won the 2022 Super Bowl. Los Angeles gave Noteboom a three-year, $40MM contract, but he only started six games before an Achilles tear ended his season. He struggled with injuries again in 2023, making just 14 appearances and six starts. The team then benched him for Jackson.

Witherspoon is a seven-year veteran with 77 appearances and 57 starts in his career, mostly at cornerback. He started all 17 games for the Rams in 2023 but did not re-sign in the offseason. Los Angeles signed ex-Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White instead. Witherspoon’s experience and familiarity with the Rams’ defense could quickly lead to activations from the practice squad in upcoming games.

Cardinals Place RT Jonah Williams On IR

September 11th, 2024 at 12:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

12:06pm: The Cardinals are transferring Williams to IR, Gannon announced. This is not too surprising given the initial report. The sixth-year blocker will be sidelined until at least Week 6. Gannon is not sure if Williams will require surgery on his unspecified knee injury.

10:29am: Jonah Williams‘ Cardinals debut involved only 22 snaps, as an injury took the free agency addition off the field. The Cardinals will need to make an early-season adjustment as a result.

The former first-round pick will miss time due to the knee injury he sustained in Buffalo, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. While the team is still evaluating how long it will need to play without its highest-paid blocker, it does appear a multi-week absence is on the table.

Although Williams missed his entire rookie season due to a shoulder injury, he has played at least 16 games in each of the past three seasons. However, the 2019 first-round pick’s Bengals tenure also included a 2020 IR placement due to a knee malady. Williams missed six missed games that season. It is premature to suggest Williams’ next injury hiatus will rival that, but if he is placed on IR, no activation can commence until at least Week 6.

Williams agreed to a two-year, $30MM deal with the Cardinals in free agency. While Williams protested a switch to right tackle by requesting a trade out of Cincinnati last year, he ended up doing as the team asked and switching positions (to accommodate the Bengals’ Orlando Brown Jr. signing). Williams’ initial hesitancy about an RT move made it interesting he would sign with a team planning to use him on the right side. Arizona soon switched Paris Johnson Jr. from right to left tackle.

The five-year Bengal is the only Cards O-lineman tied to a contract north of $6MM per year. Pairing with Johnson’s rookie contract, Williams was to step in as veteran help in Jonathan Gannon‘s second season. That plan is on hold, but a Steve Keim-era pickup is plenty qualified to man the fort in the meantime.

Kelvin Beachum came in to relieve Williams against the Bills. Despite the Cardinals demoting the veteran last year by drafting Johnson sixth overall, he has remained as an experienced swingman under Gannon and OC Drew Petzing. Beachum, 35, has been with the Cardinals since 2020. He worked as the team’s full-time right tackle from 2020-22, making this a rather easy transition compared to the transitions teams often have to make when a starting O-lineman goes down. Granted, Beachum did struggle against Von Miller, but he still provides the Cardinals with a proven option rather than a career backup or spot starter being asked to come in.

With D.J. Humphries off the roster, Beachum is Arizona’s longest-tenured O-lineman. He has 149 NFL starts on his resume. The former Steelers and Jets left tackle starter is tied to a two-year, $5.15MM contract.

Texans Place CB Jeff Okudah On IR, Sign DE Rashad Weaver

September 11th, 2024 at 9:55am CST by Sam Robinson

One of Houston’s defensive free agency additions, Jeff Okudah will not be part of the team’s game plans for the foreseeable future. The former No. 3 overall pick is now on IR.

The Texans shifted the former Lions and Falcons cornerback to their IR list due to a hip injury. Okudah worked as a backup in the team’s season opener, playing behind Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter.

Filling Okudah’s roster spot, Rashad Weaver will come up from the practice squad. The Texans signed the former Titans edge rusher to their 53-man roster. This will mark a quick rebound opportunity for Weaver, a three-season Tennessee contributor who did not make the Titans’ 53-man unit last month.

Houston signed two former top-10 cornerback picks this offseason. While ex-Jaguars and Panthers CB C.J. Henderson did not make the team, Okudah did. The one-year, $4.75MM contract made it a good bet the Texans would hold a roster spot for the former Ohio State standout. Kris Boyd resides as an active-roster backup on the perimeter. The Texans also have slot corner Myles Bryant on their active roster. The team added Desmond King and Troy Pride to its practice squad Tuesday.

This certainly qualifies as disappointing for both parties, as Okudah has battled injuries throughout his career. The ex-Detroit draftee, who had started 24 games from 2022-23, lasted just five snaps before going down against Indianapolis. Okudah missed 29 games during his first four NFL seasons; this transaction will add at least four more absences. The Texans have six injury activations remaining, having used their allotted two upon cutting their roster to 53 last month.

Weaver initially caught on with DeMeco Ryans‘ team shortly after the Titans waived him. Weaver cleared waivers and landed on Houston’s P-squad earlier this month. The Titans had used Weaver as one of their top Harold Landry replacements in 2022, when the former fourth-round pick registered 5.5 sacks. Weaver, however, did not tally a sack during the 2021 or 2023 seasons. With a new regime running the show in Tennessee, Weaver did not make the team. Arden Key skirting a rumored six-game suspension helped lead Weaver off the roster.

The 26-year-old edge rusher joins Jerry Hughes and Derek Barnett as the Texans’ reserve options behind starters Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.. King represents insurance at corner for the defending AFC South champions, playing with the team for the past three seasons.

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