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NFL Contract Details: Singletary, Jones, Peat

May 27th, 2024 at 6:48pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some details on recent new contracts around the NFL:

  • Devin Singletary, RB (Giants): Three years, $16.5MM. We had a number of details on Singletary’s contract in our original report, especially noting that the veteran rusher would have the ability to earn up to $3MM in incentives. Thanks to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, we now know how he can earn around $1MM of those incentives. $625K will be available based on his performance; Singletary can earn $125K for reaching 1,100 combined rushing and receiving yards, an additional $250K for 1,200 yards, and another $250K for 1,300 yards. The remaining $325K of the amount previously mentioned would come from playing time. Singletary can earn $125K for playing 56 to 65 percent of New York’s offensive snaps and an additional $250K for playing 66 percent or more.
  • Zay Jones, WR (Cardinals): One year, $2.25MM. In our original post, we noted that Jones’ deal will be worth up to $4.25MM. OvertheCap.com lists his contract value at the $2.25MM amount listed about. The deal has a guaranteed amount of $1.15MM consisting of $650K of his 2024 base salary (worth a total of $1.41MM) and a $500K signing bonus. Jones can also earn a per game active roster bonus of $340K for the season.
  • Andrus Peat, OL (Raiders): One year, $2MM. We didn’t see much in initial reports on Peat’s deal with Las Vegas on salary, but thanks to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, now we know that his contract will be for the $2MM-figure noted above. Underhill also tells us that Peat’s deal will include a guaranteed amount consisting entirely of a $450K signing bonus.

Cards Sign Round 1 WR Marvin Harrison Jr.

May 23rd, 2024 at 2:21pm CST by Sam Robinson

Marvin Harrison Jr. will enter Cardinals training camp as the team’s highest-ceiling wide receiver prospect in 20 years. This year’s No. 4 overall pick will not carry any contract drama into Arizona’s minicamp; the team signed its top draft choice Thursday.

The Ohio State prospect, who is following his father as a first-round NFL draft choice, will be tied to a fully guaranteed rookie deal that runs through 2027. Viewed as one of the highest-floor WR prospects to ever enter the draft, Harrison can be kept through 2028 on this contract via the fifth-year option. It is a $35.37MM deal.

With none of the quarterbacks chosen in the top three signed yet, Harrison is the first of this year’s top-five draftees to ink his rookie contract. The fifth-year option was not in place when Larry Fitzgerald signed his rookie deal in 2004, though the future Hall of Famer lasted quite a bit longer with the team, playing 17 seasons. Marvin Harrison Sr. played 13 in the NFL — all with the Colts. High expectations will be placed on the Hall of Famer’s son.

With Kyler Murray locked in as the team’s starting quarterback, the Cardinals were closely tied to trading down from No. 4. Arizona’s draft slot was viewed as a place QB-seeking teams could jump to for one of the non-Caleb Williams/Jayden Daniels prospects. Drake Maye generated extensive trade interest, as it turned out, with the Giants and Vikings offering the Patriots future first-rounders for their No. 3 draft slot. Interest in the other QBs did not lead to similar aggression, and the Cardinals — after trading down from No. 3 overall last year — stayed at 4 and selected their new WR1. Close Cards connections to Harrison emerged well before Round 1.

The Cardinals received at least two trade offers to move off No. 4, but GM Monti Ossenfort said no proposal was strong enough to convince the team to move out of Harrison range. Had the Cardinals traded down to No. 6 (via the Giants), they would have risked losing Harrison. Moving to 11 (the Vikings’ slot) would have all but certainly sent the second-generation WR prospect elsewhere. Carrying major questions at receiver going into the draft, the Cards will plug Harrison into their lineup. The 6-foot-4 talent will be expected to become Arizona’s top receiver as a rookie.

Arizona released DeAndre Hopkins last May and, despite talks about re-signing Marquise Brown, let the 2022 trade acquisition (and ex-Murray Oklahoma teammate) walk in free agency. The team has since added veteran starter Zay Jones to team with 2023 third-rounder Michael Wilson, but Harrison is the clear centerpiece of the rebuilding club’s receiving corps.

While some teams viewed Malik Nabers as a higher-ceiling prospect and a more explosive player, Harrison checks just about every box. Harrison carried a high enough pedigree as a prospect he was able to pass on Combine participation and pro day work. The Harrison camp’s plan featured training for an NFL offseason program, not pre-draft workouts. Few prospects can pull off this itinerary; Harrison being able to — and seeing it not dock his draft stock — illustrates the league’s view of his potential.

A crisp route runner who brings a desired size-speed combination, Harrison averaged north of 16 yards per reception in 2022 and ’23. With a hamstring injury shutting down Jaxon Smith-Njigba for longer than expected in 2022, Harrison broke through and became the Buckeyes’ go-to weapon. He totaled 14 touchdown catches in both 2022 and ’23, topping 1,200 receiving yards in both seasons. Viewed as this draft’s top wideout prospect for months ahead of the event, Harrison will get to work on establishing a rapport with Murray ahead of Drew Petzing‘s second season as Cards OC.

The Biggest Wide Receiver Contract In Each Team’s History

May 22nd, 2024 at 9:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

This offseason has brought changes to the wide receiver market, but a host of wideouts chosen early in the 2020 draft have taken center stage. Most NFL teams have authorized a big-ticket (by today’s standards) deal for a wide receiver. Ranked by guaranteed money and excluding rookie contracts and accords acquired via trade, here is the most lucrative WR deal in each franchise’s history.

Arizona Cardinals

Larry Fitzgerald‘s seven-year, $113MM extension (August 2011) holds the Cardinals standard for total value, but Hopkins’ pact checks in higher in terms of guarantees and AAV.

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

In total, Michael Crabtree‘s 2018 deal (worth $21MM) and Derrick Mason‘s 2005 agreement ($20MM) surpass Beckham’s. But the 2023 Baltimore rental’s guarantee came in higher.

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

The Browns have featured three higher-paid receivers on their roster since Landry’s contract, but both Odell Beckham Jr. and Amari Cooper arrived via trade and played on contracts designed by other teams. Jerry Jeudy‘s AAV ($17.5MM) on his 2024 extension also outpaces Landry’s, though the recent trade pickup’s total guarantee falls short here.

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Courtland Sutton‘s 2021 extension carries a higher AAV ($15MM) but included $18.85MM guaranteed.

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

DeAndre Hopkins‘ 2017 re-up included more in total value but a lower AAV and guarantee

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Tyreek Hill‘s 2022 extension tops his teammate for AAV ($30MM) but came in just south for guarantees ($72.2MM)

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s 2023 deal trails Agholor’s in AAV but carried the same full guarantee. Danny Amendola‘s full payout ($28.5MM) in 2013 tops both deals.

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Allen Lazard‘s 2023 deal and Santonio Holmes‘ contract back in 2011 brought more in total value ($44MM and $45MM, respectively) but did not match Davis’ for guarantees.

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chris Godwin‘s 2025 deal beats Evans’ for at-signing guarantees ($44MM); his 2022 deal did as well. Godwin’s 2025 deal also tops Evans’ in AAV ($22MM). The all-time Bucs receiving leader’s 2024 agreement, however, leads the way in total guarantees.

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Cardinals Move Paris Johnson Jr. To LT

May 21st, 2024 at 5:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

Seven years ago, the Cardinals flipped their starting tackles by moving Jared Veldheer to the right side and first-round pick D.J. Humphries to the left edge in their then-Carson Palmer-centered offense. Chosen in the first round eight years after Humphries, Paris Johnson Jr. will be at the center of a Cardinals position revamp up front.

Arizona used Johnson as its right tackle in 2023, but the former No. 6 overall pick is ticketed for the blindside post this season. Jonathan Gannon confirmed the Ohio State product will play on the left side during the offseason program, as a development effort — one that will see free agency addition Jonah Williams continue at right tackle — ensues ahead of Johnson’s second season. Johnson has been working at his new spot since the Cardinals began on-field work this offseason.

“Paris obviously playing both, Jonah playing both, but we’ll start there and see how it goes,” Gannon said, via AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban. “That’s what they both feel comfortable with right now.”

While noting he holds veto power regarding this effort, Gannon is pointing to another Cardinals tackle switch-up. The above-referenced change occurred after Humphries played right tackle in his de facto rookie year (the 2015 first-rounder missed all of his actual first season). Humphries remained in that post through last season. The Cardinals said they would be open to re-signing Humphries — a March cap casualty — but their recent Johnson-focused announcement makes a reunion highly unlikely.

At this time last year, the prospect of Johnson beginning at guard was in play. The Cardinals employed Humphries and Josh Jones and had just re-signed Kelvin Beachum. But the team slotted its top draftee on the right side. Johnson started all 17 games at RT as a rookie. A move to the left side always seemed in play, with Johnson finishing his college career there and earning first-team All-American acclaim. Johnson played right guard for the Buckeyes in 2022.

This move is perhaps more interesting for Williams, who made a trade request — a Bengals regularity over the past two springs — after the team kicked him to the right side. Cincinnati’s Orlando Brown Jr. signing “blindsided” Williams, though the three-year Bengals LT retracted his trade ask and went to work on the right side. Williams started opposite Brown throughout last season and signed a two-year, $30MM Cardinals deal.

Williams agreeing to terms with a team to play right tackle is notable given the events in his final Bengals offseason. It would also seem easier for the Cardinals to keep Johnson on the right side and install Williams at the position with which he is most comfortable. But Johnson certainly brings higher upside; the team will begin an earnest developmental effort for him to take over as Kyler Murray‘s blindside protector. Pro Football Focus ranked Johnson and Williams 57th and 59th among tackles last season.

Beachum, 35 next month, remains on Arizona’s roster as a swing tackle. The team returns right guard Will Hernandez and center Hjalte Froholdt. Williams’ deal contains $19MM fully guaranteed, covering part of his 2025 salary. The team added Evan Brown in free agency, still rosters Elijah Wilkinson and used a third-round pick on Isaiah Adams. Brown, Wilkinson and Adams are set to compete for the left guard gig, Urban adds. Gannon confirmed the Brown signing will not move the Cardinals to try Froholdt at guard.

RB David Johnson Retires

May 19th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

David Johnson was out of the NFL in 2023, and he will not attempt a return this coming season. The veteran running back announced his retirement on Sunday.

Johnson spent his first five seasons with the Cardinals, enjoying his most productive campaigns in the desert. His career was highlighted by the 2016 season in which he led the league in offensive touches (373), scrimmage yards (2,118) and total touchdowns (20). Those figures helped him earn Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors for the first and only time during his NFL tenure.

The Northern Iowa product suffered a wrist injury the following season, and it limited him to just one contest. Johnson bounced back in 2018, though, producing 1,386 total yards and again scoring double-digit total touchdowns. After seeing a dip in playing time during his final Cardinals campaign, the former third-rounder was included in the DeAndre Hopkins trade. That set up a two-year Texans stint.

Johnson served as a full-time starter in 2020, but he took on a rotational role the following year. Upon the expiration of his Houston pact, he had a lengthy stay on the open market which ultimately ended in a Saints practice squad agreement. Johnson played five games with New Orleans in 2022, but he has not found a deal since. Rather than pursuing a tryout with teams eyeing veteran backfield depth this summer, he will hang up his cleats.

The 32-year-old will end his career with 92 regular season games to his name. Having spent much of his career on rebuilding teams, his only two playoff contests came during his rookie season. Thanks in large part to his 2018 Cardinals extension, Johnson amassed roughly $38.6MM in career earnings.

“I’m looking forward to my next career path in life,” his announcement reads in part. “I don’t know exactly what that will be, but I hope it will bring me the same passion, excitement, and love as football did!” 

NFC Rumors: Cowboys, Tepper, Greenlaw

May 19th, 2024 at 10:07pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys hit on quite a few of their picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, with first-rounder Tyler Smith reaching second-team All-Pro status last year, fourth-rounder Jake Ferguson earning the starting tight job halfway through his rookie season, and fifth-rounder DaRon Bland leading the NFL in interceptions, interception return yards, and pick sixes last season. Their second- and third-round picks from that draft, though, are still struggling to make a similar impact two years in. That may be changing soon.

Former second-round edge rusher Sam Williams found his name getting called fourth on the depth chart last year, behind Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Dorance Armstrong. It’s hard to imagine being disappointed with a fourth-place finish in that situation, considering Parsons has become a perennial DPOY candidate, Lawrence is a four-time Pro Bowler, and Armstrong is a veteran with 21.0 sacks in the last three years. Still, per Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, Williams wants to play more, and director of player personnel Stephen Jones claims that, thanks to Armstrong’s departure in free agency to Washington, those opportunities will come this year, though he will be competing now with this year’s second-round pick Marshawn Kneeland.

Likewise, third-round wide receiver Jalen Tolbert has seen limited production behind CeeDee Lamb, Brandin Cooks, Noah Brown, and Michael Gallup. With Brown gone last year, Tolbert stepped his role up a little bit. After the team released Gallup, Tolbert is, once again, expected to step his game up in 2024. With Lamb and Cooks returning, Tolbert will now be given a larger opportunity to step in as WR3, per David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.

Here are a few other rumors from around the NFC:

  • Many have looked at the Panthers‘ decision to draft Bryce Young over C.J. Stroud in the 2023 NFL Draft as a gigantic misstep, given the vast difference in success each team saw last year. According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, some in the Panthers organization point to the S2 cognitive test as the main reasoning for the decision. Per Person, team owner David Tepper, a hedge-fund billionaire and a proponent of analytics, took the S2 test results very heavily into consideration when helping the team to make their decision. The test of processing speed and reaction time has been looked at as a potential indicator of future success at the quarterback position. Young scored extremely well (in the 98th percentile), while Stroud did not (18th percentile).
  • 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw notoriously missed a good mount of the team’s Super Bowl loss after tearing his Achilles tendon in the big game. According to a report from Matt Barrows of The Athletic, Greenlaw told the media that he had been experiencing some soreness in his Achilles for about a month or so before the game. He recently was able to shed his walking boot as he continues in recovery.
  • It’s been over a year since Steve Keim stepped down as general manager of the Cardinals following an indefinite leave of absence due to “an undisclosed health-related matter.” According to a recent interview Keim did with Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, the Cardinals administration advised Keim to check into a rehab while he was still general manager of the team. Of course, the situation eventually resulted in the two sides parting ways, but Keim continues to work on himself following the conclusion of his NFL career.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/15/24

May 15th, 2024 at 8:45pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the NFL’s midweek draft pick signings:

Arizona Cardinals

Kansas City Chiefs

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Cardinals Sign Round 2 CB Max Melton

May 14th, 2024 at 3:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

The current CBA has largely removed holdout-driven drama from the NFL offseason, but the wiggle room regarding second-round picks does add some intrigue to the rookie signing process. The Cardinals’ Tuesday signing will help influence this year’s guarantee structures.

Arizona agreed to terms with its second-round pick — Rutgers cornerback Max Melton — Tuesday, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who adds the deal includes three fully guaranteed years and part of the DB’s 2027 salary being locked in at signing. The Cardinals are guaranteeing $50K of the No. 43 overall pick’s 2027 salary.

This follows the Rams’ Braden Fiske deal, which Wilson reported guarantees 15% of the Florida State defensive lineman’s 2027 base salary. Fiske went No. 39. The Rams and Cardinals’ deals show more progress being made by second-rounders. Last year’s class did not see its No. 39 overall pick (Jonathan Mingo) secure any Year 4 guarantees. The Cards giving Melton three fully guaranteed years and some 2027 guarantees will mandate this year’s Nos. 40-42 picks (cornerbacks Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry and Kamari Lassiter) receive some contract-year security.

Last year’s guarantee arc did not require the Jets to guarantee all of No. 43 overall pick Joe Tippmann‘s Year 3 salary, and No. 42 overall choice Luke Musgrave also did not receive three full years guaranteed. The Cardinals’ Melton agreement will continue to move the baseline for second-round guarantees, and the former Big Ten corner will get to work in attempting to carve out a significant role as a rookie in Arizona.

Checking in 50th on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Melton is viewed as a player who could be a fit outside or in the slot. He intercepted eight passes over the past three seasons at Rutgers, returning one for a score. Melton also notched 10 passes defensed as a junior in 2022. The 5-foot-11 cover man added to his draft profile by running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.

Arizona has been in need at corner for years, with Byron Murphy‘s 2023 exit for Minnesota amplifying the issue. The team’s group at the position will look different in 2024, as three CBs — Melton, third-rounder Elijah Jones and seventh-rounder Jaden Davis — join free agency addition Sean Murphy-Bunting as new faces here. The Cardinals did improve in pass defense last season, ranking 13th in Jonathan Gannon‘s debut; they will aim to make more gains with their new pieces this year.

The Cardinals also agreed to terms with third-rounder Isaiah Adams, a guard out of Illinois. Adams was part of a four-third-rounder haul for Arizona this year.

Cardinals To Sign WR Zay Jones

May 10th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

A four-visit week did well to show Zay Jones commanded extensive interest following his Jaguars release. The veteran wide receiver will end up in Arizona, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reporting the Cardinals have a deal in place.

Jones also met with the Titans, Cowboys and Chiefs this week, setting up an interesting mid-offseason derby for a player who worked as a two-season starter in Jacksonville. Jones will now team with Marvin Harrison Jr. in Arizona. Jones’ deal will be worth up to $4.25MM, Rapoport adds.

The Cardinals received the second visit on a Jones tour that effectively showcased both his value and the state of the WR free agent market. The Titans appeared to take themselves out of the running early, reaching a deal with Tyler Boyd. Of the remaining three teams, the Cardinals appeared to feature the biggest need. Although Harrison is set to anchor Arizona’s receiving corps in Kyler Murray‘s sixth season, Jones will bring considerable experience to an equation that features questions behind the No. 4 overall pick.

A few veteran wide receivers have departed Arizona in recent years. A.J. Green retired after the 2022 season; soon after, the Cardinals released DeAndre Hopkins. This offseason, the Cards let Marquise Brown walk (to the Chiefs) in free agency and traded slot target Rondale Moore to the Falcons. The Brown and Moore exits left the likes of Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch as the top Cards holdover receivers. The past few weeks have changed that outlook.

The Jaguars released Jones shortly after their WR plan came to fruition during the draft’s first night. Nineteen picks after Harrison became this year’s first wideout drafted, Brian Thomas Jr. was the fourth. The LSU product being ticketed for Jacksonville led to the team removing Jones’ $8MM-per-year deal from its payroll. Jones, 29, will soon begin work for a fourth NFL team. The Bills drafted Jones in the 2017 second round but traded him to the Raiders during the 2019 season. The Jags signed both Jones and Christian Kirk during the 2022 offseason.

Jones’ Jags tenure featured a good start and an underwhelming second chapter. The 6-foot- 2 target proved some skeptics wrong by amassing a career-high 823 receiving yards to go with five touchdowns in 2022, helping the Jags to the playoffs. He became Trevor Lawrence‘s leading target in the postseason, totaling 13 receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown. This included a 39-yard score in the Jaguars’ 27-point comeback win over the Chargers and 83 yards in a narrow divisional-round loss to the Chiefs. Last season, however, Jones battled PCL and femur injuries, missing eight games and totaling 321 yards.

Working as an outside receiver in Jacksonville’s offense, Jones did boost Calvin Ridley, whose three 100-yard receiving efforts came with the 200-pound starter on the field. The East Carolina alum’s down 2023 also included a misdemeanor domestic battery charge in November. That will put Jones at risk of a suspension under the NFL’s personal conduct policy. The Cardinals clearly feel comfortable with Jones’ status to complete this signing.

Rebuffing trade interest for the No. 4 slot, the Cardinals were intent on upgrading Murray’s receiving corps. They will see if Jones can become a reliable supporting-caster to start Harrison’s career.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/10/24

May 10th, 2024 at 9:13pm CST by Ely Allen

Yesterday’s rush of rookie signings continued today. Here are Friday’s draft pick signings:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

  • K Will Reichard (sixth round, Alabama)
  • C Michael Jurgens (seventh round, Wake Forest)
  • DT Levi Drake Rodriguez (seventh round, Texas A&M-Commerce)

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • G Mason McCormick (fourth round, South Dakota State)
  • DT Logan Lee (sixth round, Iowa)

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

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