HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Ravens Bench S Marcus Williams

October 27th, 2024 at 6:24pm CST by Adam La Rose

Not for the first time this season, the Ravens’ secondary struggled during Sunday’s loss to the Browns. The unit was without corners Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins due to injury, but another starter was out of the lineup as the result of a coach’s decision.

Safety Marcus Williams was a healthy scratch in Week 8. The 28-year-old has been in Baltimore since 2022, serving as a starter every game until today. Williams posted consistent PFF grades over his first two Ravens campaigns, but this year that figure sits at 48.9, by far the lowest of his career. Like a number of other Baltimore defensive backs, the early portion of 2024 has not gone according to plan.

When speaking after the game, Eddie Jackson – who took over Williams’ first-team role – told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic he was informed midweek of the decision to sit Williams. The former Saint signed a five-year, $70MM pact in free agency as Baltimore’s latest big-money safety investment. Expectations were high given the size of that deal, and early on Williams delivered with four interceptions during his debut season. That year was cut short by a dislocated wrist, however.

Last year, the former second-rounder missed time due to a pectoral injury. Surgery was not needed, but Williams was limited to 11 games and he played much of the year well under full strength. Injuries have not been an issue in 2024, but rather underwhelming performances. A return to action could be in store relatively soon, though.

“It was a personnel decision,” head coach John Harbaugh confirmed (via Zrebiec). “We’re kind of working through some things there. I feel very confident Marcus is going to be out there playing great football for the rest of the season.”

Jackson was among the Ravens who dropped potential interceptions on Sunday, and he was involved in the breakdowns which played a key role in Cleveland’s second-half success on offense. Former UDFA Ar’Darius Washington also saw time at safety, and Baltimore has All-Pro Kyle Hamilton in place as a versatile defender whose responsibilities include playing at safety. If an outside addition is sought out via trade, Baltimore could afford a modest move since the team has $4.36MM in cap space.

The Ravens have been connected to a trade for additional pass rush help, and improving in that department could of course assist the secondary. Regardless of how the team proceeds before the November 5 deadline, the Williams situation will be a storyline worth following.

Jets’ Brandin Echols Drawing Trade Interest

October 27th, 2024 at 4:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cornerback has not been a position commonly mentioned in terms of trade candidates, but Brandin Echols appears to be on the radar of potential buyers. The fourth-year defender has drawn interest in the build-up to the deadline, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report.

Echols entered the league in 2021, and he served as a starter during his rookie season. The former sixth-rounder managed a pair of interceptions, nine pass deflections and 63 tackles during that campaign, but he has found himself lower on the CB depth chart since then. Echols is a pending free agent as he plays out the remainder of his rookie contract, and joining a new team could allow him to see a larger defensive role before hitting the market.

Realistically, though, buyers would see the 27-year-old as a depth defender with the potential to serve as a key contributor on special teams. Echols’ defensive snap shares have ranged from 8-39% over the past three years; throughout that time he has remained a regular member of New York’s third phase units. Overall, he has five interceptions and 15 pass breakups on his resume, along with a consistent showing in terms of coverage during his limited action in that regard.

Echols’ 2024 base salary is just $1.01MM, and an acquiring team would only be responsible for a prorated portion of that figure. That could boost his market as the November 5 trade deadline approaches, although it would be a surprise if substantial trade compensation was offered. Still, the Jets’ loss on Sunday has worsened their chances of a postseason berth even further.

New York now sits at 2-6, and the team is on a five-game losing streak (including each of the three contests since head coach Robert Saleh was fired). A seller’s stance would nevertheless come as a surprise given the Davante Adams acquisition and the resolution reached with Haason Reddick. The Jets have Sauce Gardner (eligible for an extension this offseason) and D.J. Reed (a pending free agent who will test the market) atop the cornerback depth chart, along with the recently-extended Michael Carter II. It will be interesting to see if Echols remains a member of that group beyond the deadline.

Trade Candidate: Brandon Scherff

October 27th, 2024 at 3:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Since leaving his long-time Washington home, career right guard Brandon Scherff has not been the perennial Pro Bowl player he once was. Still, Scherff is a reliable veteran starter that would improve many teams’ offensive lines. That’s perhaps why many organizations are now reaching out about trading for the 33-year-old, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Scherff was a dominant guard during his time in Washington. After an impressive rookie season, there was a stretch during which Scherff made five Pro Bowls in six seasons, only missing out during a season that saw him miss half the season on injured reserve. Two years after his only first-team All-Pro season, Scherff signed as a free agent in Jacksonville. While his three years with the Jaguars certainly haven’t seen him excel in a new city, his availability and experience are well worth taking a flyer on for teams making a push late this season.

Notably, the Jaguars have already shown a willingness to sell off contributing pieces, shipping out defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris two weeks ago to Seattle. This willingness to participate in trades has multiple teams working on other veterans like Scherff and left tackle Cam Robinson.

Coming into today, the Jaguars were third in the AFC South with a 2-5 record, with only the lowly Titans (1-5) behind them. If Jacksonville is unable to start turning things around, it’s going to be difficult to turn down decent offers for some veteran players. With Scherff on the final year of his three-year contract, it makes sense to take what they can get before losing him for nothing in free agency.

NFL Injury Updates: Jets, Hufanga, Dennis

October 27th, 2024 at 2:16pm CST by Ely Allen

The Jets provided an unfortunate update on Friday, with Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York reporting that starting guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, starting safety Ashtyn Davis, and defensive tackle Leki Fotu would all be out for today’s matchup with the Patriots. To make matters worse, interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich has claimed that all three players are candidates for injured reserve.

All three players were unable to participate in practice this week. The claim makes sense for Vera-Tucker and Fotu, who are dealing with ankle and knee injuries, respectively. The claim is a little more concerning for Davis, who has been on the injury report with a designated concussion. We’ve seen players come back from the NFL’s concussion protocol within a week, so the idea that Davis could miss four weeks because of a head injury could be alarming.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL:

  • It’s been a rough go lately for 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga. A year after earning first-team All-Pro honors, Hufanga suffered a season-ending ACL tear that cost him the final seven games of the year, not to mention San Francisco’s three playoff games en route to a close Super Bowl loss. He worked hard to be ready for the start of the 2024 season but was unable to make an appearance until Week 3. He was inactive in Week 4 before making his second start in Week 5 against the Cardinals, getting knocked out after only 11 defensive snaps with a wrist injury. According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, head coach Kyle Shanahan reported that it’s not guaranteed that Hufanga returns this year. Shanahan was quoted saying “it’s something (they’re) hoping happens” and that they’re “kind of expecting it to” happen, but “it’s not a sure thing.”
  • Buccaneers linebacker SirVocea Dennis has been on IR for the last three weeks with a shoulder injury, meaning that he’ll be eligible to return from IR after one more game. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like that’s going to be the case for the second-year defender. According to Greg Auman of FOX Sports, Dennis is unlikely to return this season. Per head coach Todd Bowles, if Dennis were to appear on the field again in Tampa Bay’s 2024 campaign, it would require a deep playoff run.

Bryce Young Has Opportunity To Show Growth

October 27th, 2024 at 12:46pm CST by Ely Allen

The Panthers are starting Bryce Young at quarterback for the first time since Week 2 of this still young season. While the opportunity comes as a result of an injury to his replacement, Andy Dalton, this is still an important opportunity for the former No. 1 overall pick to show that he’s been making the most of his time on the sideline.

Dalton finds himself doubtful to play this Sunday after spraining his thumb in a car accident this week. The veteran, who will turn 37 in two days, hasn’t entered a season as a team’s starting quarterback since his final year in Cincinnati in 2019. Since then, he’s played extensive backup duty in Dallas, Chicago, New Orleans, and Carolina, starting at least one game each season.

In five starts since taking over as the starter for Young, Dalton has shown both good and bad. In his first start of the year, the Red Rifle delivered a 300-yard, three touchdown performance to earn Carolina’s only win of the season. Since then, Dalton has failed to pass 221 passing yards while throwing four touchdowns to six interceptions.

Young has seen game action twice since getting benched, getting garbage time minutes at the end of blowout losses. The rest of his time has been spent watching, learning, and playing quarterback on the scout team at practices. In a league that has normalized playing first-round quarterbacks immediately as rookies, this should be a valuable opportunity for Young to sit and develop in a way that used to be the norm in the NFL.

This Sunday, Young will be able to show whether or not his time on the bench has been beneficial. Not only that, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that, should Young show significant improvement this weekend, “there is a real chance for him to continue starting.” Since getting benched, Young has reportedly been “engaged and involved,” which is exactly the reaction you want from a young top draft pick. Today’s performance in Denver could lay the ground for the remainder of Young’s sophomore campaign and, perhaps, for the rest of his career.

WR Notes: Kirk, Thielen, Rams, Chiefs, Pats

October 27th, 2024 at 11:07am CST by Sam Robinson

Diontae Johnson is viewed as the most likely receiver domino to fall between now and the November 5 trade deadline, but Christian Kirk continues to be a name to monitor. The Jaguars wideout was mentioned as a player drawing interest earlier this month, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that has continued, naming the seventh-year veteran alongside Johnson in terms of the receivers who have generated the most trade buzz following the Davante Adams, Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins swaps.

Kirk brings an element Johnson does not, as he is signed through 2025. Playing on the four-year, $72MM pact that received scrutiny at the time, the Jags slot receiver now merely sits 25th in receiver AAV. Kirk’s 2022 free agency deal helped ignite the WR market that year, and another boom took place this offseason to render the Jacksonville deal an upper-middle-class pact. Kirk is 27 and attached to a $14.5MM base salary, which will be an issue for teams, as more than $7.5MM will remain for an acquiring team post-Week 8.

Although Kirk’s per-year number has dropped considerably on an exploding market, the Jags do have both Evan Engram and Gabe Davis signed to eight-figure AAVs. They also used a first-round pick on Brian Thomas Jr. this year. Kirk served as Trevor Lawrence‘s most trusted target in 2022 and ’23; as Thomas has shown considerable promise, Kirk has caught 25 passes for 320 yards and a touchdown this season.

Here is the latest from the WR ranks:

  • Add Adam Thielen to the list of Panthers potential trade chips at receiver. While Johnson is likely to go and Jonathan Mingo is viewed as a player who may not be a long-term fit, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport mentions Thielen as a candidate to be on the move as well. This would add up, as Thielen is 34 and tied to a through-2025 contract that does not have any guarantees remaining for next season. Thielen topped 1,000 yards for a woeful Panthers team last season, residing as Bryce Young‘s clear-cut top target. The ex-Viking’s follow-up effort, however, included an IR stay for a hamstring injury. Carolina has not yet activated the 12th-year veteran from IR. Injuries and age will limit Carolina’s return, but the three-time 1,000-yard pass catcher would only be owed barely $2MM if acquired before the deadline.
  • Tutu Atwell‘s role will diminish with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back. The diminutive Rams receiver indeed saw his snap share on offense plummet from 78% in Week 7 to 12% Thursday night. Atwell has shown flashes for the Rams, but he has not delivered extended stretches of reliability. Los Angeles did not have the former second-round pick among its top three receivers during last season’s stretch run, and ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop notes he is unlikely to be extended before his contract expires in March. This could make Atwell a trade candidate, though given the Rams’ back-to-back wins and their WR health issues, it would make more sense for the team to hang onto the contract-year player.
  • It could be a while before Skyy Moore returns to the Chiefs. Andy Reid said (via The Athletic’s Nate Taylor) this week the former second-round pick will need to have his core muscle injury “fixed”; the defending Super Bowl champions placed Moore on IR this week. Viewed as a starter to open last season, Moore could not hold up in that role and did not factor into Kansas City’s six-game win streak to close the year. While playing more due to the injuries to Marquise Brown and Rashee Rice early this season, Moore does not have a catch in 2024.
  • The Patriots made Javon Baker a healthy scratch last week, marking the third straight game that has happened for the rookie. Baker appeared to miss or show up late for a team function in London, as ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss mentions an itinerary “hiccup” took place to help lead the fourth-round pick to the sideline once again. Baker could have a path up New England’s depth chart if Kendrick Bourne and/or K.J. Osborn are moved, but he has played in just two games as a rookie. Baker is active for Week 8.

Bills, Steelers Discussed WR Cooper Kupp With Rams

October 27th, 2024 at 9:15am CST by Sam Robinson

Before agreeing to acquire Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Chiefs entered discussions with the Rams on Cooper Kupp. Los Angeles was believed to be discussing the former All-Pro with teams, something Sean McVay confirmed after the team’s upset win over the Vikings on Thursday.

McVay, however, all but slammed the door on a Kupp trade before the Nov. 5 deadline. Other AFC teams joined the Chiefs, however, in discussing Kupp. The Bills and Steelers engaged in talks with the Rams, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

For Buffalo, this effort most likely came before the team agreed to acquire Amari Cooper from Cleveland. While it would be interesting if the Bills pursued both players, especially as the Cooper trade only resulted in an $806K cap number hitting the perennial AFC East champions’ books, it seems logical the team explored Kupp and then centered its trade effort on Cooper. The Browns were preparing to hold onto Cooper for a bit longer, but the Bills’ interest — as their post-Stefon Diggs receiver plan showed early cracks — proved aggressive enough the struggling AFC North club moved on from the contract-year player ahead of Week 7.

The Steelers’ receiver need has been well chronicled, dating back to the draft. Pittsburgh joined Buffalo in showing interest in Deebo Samuel, as the 49ers discussed both he and Brandon Aiyuk in trades. Aiyuk then became Pittsburgh’s target — to the point trade framework was in place by August. The Steelers then saw Aiyuk remove them from consideration by recommitting to the 49ers via a four-year, $120MM deal. The now-Russell Wilson-quarterbacked team was also in on Davante Adams, only to see the ex-Packers star prefer to rejoin Aaron Rodgers with the Jets, who took on the recent Raider’s entire 2024 prorated salary — something other teams have been hesitant to do.

The Rams were seen as willing to pick up part of Kupp’s tab. It would cost just less than $9MM for a team to acquire Kupp this week, but with the Rams winning two straight the Kupp-Puka Nacua tandem making a significant impact in the team’s upset victory over the Vikings, the Rams standing down checks out. Kupp, 31, is signed for two more seasons — on the three-year, $80.1MM deal he inked months after his Super Bowl MVP showing — and could be an offseason trade candidate. Kupp would stand to built trade value by staying healthy — something he has failed to do since that stratospheric 2021 season — down the stretch.

With Kupp off the market and Adams, Cooper and Hopkins also dealt, the Steelers reside in an interesting position. The receiver most likely to be moved played five seasons in Pittsburgh. The Panthers are expected to deal Diontae Johnson, who had angled for a trade out of Pittsburgh. It should be considered unlikely the Steelers pay a mid-round pick to acquire one of their former wideouts. Beyond Johnson, the likes of Mike Williams, Christian Kirk, Adam Thielen and Patriots vets Kendrick Bourne and K.J. Osborn are seen as trade candidates.

It seems probable Steelers finally pull the trigger on a trade. Although slot player Calvin Austin has contributed 203 receiving yards to the cause, none of the Steelers’ other George Pickens sidekicks have cleared 80 yards through seven games. With the team at 5-2 and sporting a high-end defensive unit, a buyer trade to help Wilson should be on the way. But options have dwindled since the team began this quest.

Commanders Expected To Start Jayden Daniels In Week 8

October 27th, 2024 at 8:26am CST by Sam Robinson

Jayden Daniels did not make it too far into the Commanders’ Week 7 game. Although the team routed the Panthers in that matchup behind backup Marcus Mariota, as Daniels’ effort to reenter the game proved unsuccessful, the resurgent NFC East team does not look ready to give its newfound franchise QB more time off.

While it is not yet certain Daniels suits up in Week 8 against the Bears despite his rib injury, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter notes all signs point to that taking place. Daniels missed two practices this week and only logged a limited session Friday.

It would be understandable for a Washington team — one that has certainly struggled to find a long-term quarterback over the past few decades — to be cautious with its dual-threat dynamo, but Daniels is trending toward returning. The Commanders initially viewed their prized prospect as suffering a minor injury, so it would not come as a shock if he returned without missing a start. Still, with Daniels’ skillset featuring extensive run-game work, it will be interesting to see if the Commanders show caution with their play-calling should he return today.

Daniels, who left the Carolina matchup in the first quarter, will be tested in pregame warmups. The odds appear on the side of him returning Mariota to the bench, which would be an interesting turn of events due to the 2023 Heisman winner’s play style and his status as the Commanders’ long-sought-after franchise quarterback.

The former LSU and Arizona State starter has made tremendous progress early in his NFL career. He enters Week 8 ranked behind only Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson in QBR. Daniels leads the NFL in completion percentage (75.6), buoyed by his 21-for-23 showing in Cincinnati, and has managed this connect rate while averaging 8.4 yards per attempt. Washington has seen a few first-round QB investments (Jason Campbell, Robert Griffin III, Dwayne Haskins) fail to pan out over the past 20 years, but Daniels has the look of a player who could become the team’s longest-tenured QB1 since at least Joe Theismann.

Mariota resides as decent Daniels insurance, however, having completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns against Carolina on Sunday. Washington’s other Heisman-winning passer has not made a start since the 2022 season with the Falcons, one that ended with a Mariota knee surgery and a strange departure from the team upon being benched for Desmond Ridder. The Commanders gave Mariota, the Eagles’ 2023 backup, a one-year deal worth $6MM in March.

Daniels, 24, returning would mean a faceoff against No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. This development would certainly please CBS execs, as the NFL moved the game to the late-afternoon window recently. The Commanders lead the NFC East at 5-2 and are seeking their first division title since 2020.

Jets Activate Haason Reddick; Latest On DE’s 2024 Earning Potential

October 26th, 2024 at 11:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Haason Reddick remained on the Jets’ reserve/did not report list until his contract holdout came to an end. Now that he is officially back in the fold, he has been brought onto the active roster in time for Week 8.

In a corresponding move, fellow edge rusher Takk McKinley was released. McKinley appeared in all seven games for the Jets this season, handling a 28% snap share. Reddick will be counted on to be on the field much more than that, just as he will be expected to outproduce McKinley’s 0.5 sacks for the year. Reddick’s playing time and production will be key in determining his overall 2024 earnings.

In a detailed breakdown of Reddick’s revised Jets accord, CBS Sports’ Joel Corry notes the two-time Pro Bowler now has $5.34MM available in incentives in the form of an option bonus escalator. Void years remain on the pact (now running from 2025-28), and they will spread out the cap hits generated by the bonus. If Reddick remains healthy and productive for the remainder of the season, he will begin earning back a portion of the money he lost through fines and forfeited salary.

The 29-year-old will see just over $791K if he reaches the 40% snap threshold for the campaign, something which will be much more plausible than the 67.5% mark which would be needed for the conditional third-round pick the Jets sent the Eagles to become a second-round selection. In terms of pass-rush production, Reddick will collect $500K for eight sacks along with another $500K for a ninth and 10th in that department. As well, $500K is available for a Pro Bowl nod, something which should also not be expected given the fact he was absent for the first seven weeks of the campaign.

Should the Jets reach the Super Bowl, Reddick will earn an additional $2MM (provided he plays in the game). New York currently sits at 2-5 on the year, so a postseason berth – let along a deep playoff run – is far from a certainty. In all, as Corry notes, an earnings total of just over $14MM is possible – a figure not much lower than than $14.5MM Reddick was originally due in base salary. However, he adds that a realistic scenario (given the unlikely nature of several of his incentive thresholds) is only $9.99MM in compensation, an illustration of how costly this holdout saga could prove to be.

Reddick’s total financial penalties have yet to be fully determined due an NFLPA grievance filed over the preseason fines he accumulated this summer. Remaining away from the Jets resulted in $2.38MM in fines; the team may be willing to waive those, but it remains to be seen if that will be possible as the league and union discuss the matter. Reddick accrued $2.05MM in training camp fines (which, since he is not on a rookie pact, cannot be rescinded) in addition to, most notably, $5.54MM in lost game checks during the regular season.

Reddick remains on course for free agency, although a strong showing over the coming weeks could open the door to new agent Drew Rosenhaus and the Jets agreeing to a deal which would keep him in place for 2025. In any event, his value (along with overall earning potential) will be dictated by his playing time and production during the rest of the season.

Titans DL Jeffery Simmons “Off Limits” In Trade Talks

October 26th, 2024 at 10:55pm CST by Ben Levine

The Titans have already started pivoting to 2025, with the organization having dealt wideout DeAndre Hopkins and linebacker Ernest Jones over the past week. While the front office will likely continue to sell off players with an eye towards the future, one piece that is likely staying put is defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Simmons is considered “off-limits” in trade talks. The Titans believe the defensive lineman is a “big part of their future,” and the rebuilding squad presumably has Simmons penciled in to their future cap sheets.

The former first-round pick has spent his entire career in Tennessee, earning a pair of All-Pro nods while collecting 26.5 sacks. The lineman inked a four-year, $94MM extension with the organization prior to the 2023 campaign, but he was limited to only 12 games that season before landing on IR.

The 27-year-old has appeared in five of the Titans’ six games this year, collecting 17 stops and one sack. Pro Football Focus has ranked Simmons 18th among 119 qualifying interior defenders this season, including the third-best positional grade for run defense.

Naturally, a number of teams would love to add the six-foot-four, 305-pound lineman to their defense, with Russini specifically pointing to the Lions, Ravens, and Vikings. Those squads would also likely be eyeing Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby and Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett, although Russini echoes previous reports that those two players won’t be moved. Instead, the reporter suggests DL-needy teams could look to the likes of Jadeveon Clowney (Panthers), Preston Smith (Packers), and Za’Darius Smith (Browns).

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