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Jets Sign Round 3 WR Malachi Corley, Complete Draft Class Deals

July 17th, 2024 at 9:22am CST by Sam Robinson

We are now down to four unsigned rookies. Entering Wednesday morning, two third-round draftees had not provided signatures on their rookie deals; that list is trimmed to one.

The Jets now have Malachi Corley under contract, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The team agreed to terms with the No. 65 overall pick on a four-year rookie deal. The terms of the wide receiver’s pact will likely precede a near-future Cardinals agreement with the final unsigned third-rounder, running back Trey Benson.

Corley will compete for the Jets’ slot receiver post, with Xavier Gipson representing the Western Kentucky alum’s main competition during training camp. The Jets have notable plans for Corley, however, as their Day 2 investment showed. The team began making calls on potentially trading up for the mid-major product at No. 45.

Ranked in Daniel Jeremiah’s final NFL.com top 50, Corley joins Garrett Wilson and Mike Williams as the top Jets receiver investments. Corley contributed to Bailey Zappe‘s record-setting 2021 season but became a bigger part of the Hilltoppers’ offense over the past two years. He totaled 101 receptions for 1,295 yards in 2022 and added 79 grabs for 984 yards last season. Snaring 11 touchdown passes in each of those seasons, Corley earned first-team All-Conference USA in 2022 and ’23.

At 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, Corley brings a big-bodied slot profile for the Jets, who will not be nearly as dependent on ex-Aaron Rodgers Packers targets as they were in 2023. The Jets have not re-signed Randall Cobb, and after underwhelming in his debut with the team, Allen Lazard is essentially only still around due to a $22MM guarantee the team authorized. A Wilson-Williams-Corley setup may be where the Jets end up at receiver before too long, though Gipson will have a say in that trio forming.

Here is how the Jets’ 2024 draft class looks ahead of training camp:

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/16/24

July 16th, 2024 at 6:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

The active versions of these injury lists only impact players’ availability for practices before the regular season. Players can be moved off the active/PUP or active/NFI lists at any point over the next month-plus. Should a player be left on a PUP or NFI list when a team finalizes a 53-man roster — as the Ravens are expected to with running back Keaton Mitchell — he must miss at least four games.

Pearsall’s undisclosed injury is not viewed as a malady that should keep the first-rounder out long term, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. The Florida alum is expected to join Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, the latter’s trade request notwithstanding, this season and profiles as a long-term replacement for one of the two players — depending on how San Francisco handles its receiver contract glut — come 2025. Pearsall participated in the 49ers’ offseason program; it would be a surprise if he became a candidate for the reserve/PUP list.

Texans To Sign G Chris Reed, WR Quintez Cephus

July 16th, 2024 at 5:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

Chris Reed has secured a chance at a 10th NFL season, while Quintez Cephus has landed another opportunity with a team following his 2023 gambling suspension. The Texans will greenlight these depth signings.

After Reed played two seasons with the Vikings, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson notes he will land in Houston. Cephus reached an agreement to join a crowded Texans receiving corps, according to his agency. Cephus spent last season out of football but was among the gambling policy violators reinstated earlier this offseason. The Bills initially added Cephus following his reinstatement but cut him soon after.

[RELATED: Texans Sign UFL DE Malik Fisher]

This will mark team No. 6 for Reed, who is now a Titans agreement away from the AFC South cycle. Reed primarily operated as a Vikings backup but has made 30 career starts. He figures to mix in as a competitor for a swing role in Houston, which is returning multiple interior O-linemen after season-ending injuries.

The Panthers used Reed as a 14-game starter in 2020, when he played exclusively at left guard. Reed started six games for the Colts in 2021. He lined up at both guard spots, replacing Quenton Nelson and Mark Glowinski, that year. Reed also made eight starts for the Jaguars from 2016-18; a nomadic path followed.

Reed, who will turn 32 next week, spent most of last season on Minnesota’s reserve/NFI list. He logged all of two offensive snaps in 2023. The Vikings had turned to Reed as an emergency center late in the 2022 season, as Garrett Bradbury rehabbed an injury. The sides reached an agreement on a pay cut to keep the Minnesota State alum in the Twin Cities, but last season brought a clear step back for the ex-UDFA.

The Texans lost Josh Jones (to the Ravens) in free agency but have Kenyon Green and Kendrick Green returning from season-ending maladies. The former, a 2022 first-rounder, may have the inside track to start at left guard opposite the durable Shaq Mason. Kendrick Green, a former Steelers center starter who has not played much since that 2021 season, is in a contract year. Jarrett Patterson, whom Juice Scruggs is expected to supplant at center, also factors into Houston’s LG competition. Reed, who could certainly loom as a potential practice squad insurance option, figures to vie for an interior swing role.

Cephus, 26, was part of 2023’s first wave of players suspended for violating the gambling policy. The ex-Lion was found to have made NFL bets, leading to a full-season suspension. The Bills cut the former Lions role player after a few weeks. Cephus did amass 553 receiving yards between the 2020 and ’21 seasons, but the backup/special-teamer’s career has skidded off track.

The Texans will not have spots for all their notable names at receiver, making this a somewhat interesting addition. In addition to projected starters Stefon Diggs, Nico Collins and Tank Dell, Houston rosters Robert Woods, Noah Brown, 2022 second-rounder John Metchie and trade acquisition Ben Skowronek. Cephus stands to have an uphill battle to make the team’s 53-man roster, and trade rumors figure to impact one or more of the Texans’ backup options.

Bears Sign Round 1 WR Rome Odunze

July 16th, 2024 at 1:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

As training camps approach, only six 2024 draftees remain unsigned. The Bears entered the week with their two first-round choices out of contract, but they narrowed that number to one Tuesday by signing Rome Odunze to his rookie deal.

Odunze, the Bears’ first Round 1 wideout pick since Kevin White in 2015, will be tied to a four-year pact that could be pushed to 2028 via the fifth-year option. Chicago did considerable work at wide receiver this offseason, adding Keenan Allen as well. But Odunze will be tied to Caleb Williams for the foreseeable future. The Bears will hope their Nos. 1 and 9 overall picks form a long-term partnership.

The team targeted the Washington prospect with the ninth pick to the point it explored trading up. GM Ryan Poles called Falcons counterpart Terry Fontenot about moving up one spot. The Falcons passed and chose Odunze’s college QB, Michael Penix Jr., but other teams eyed the multiyear Huskies standout. The Jets were in the mix, while the Colts made offers to move up for a pass catcher. Ultimately, Odunze ended up with a Bears team that may well be set to sport one of the most promising receiving cadres in its history.

Odunze’s contract will come fully guaranteed, as all first-round deals are now. Rookie deals are no longer especially complicated, and holdouts are exceedingly rare since the 2011 CBA introduced the slot system. The Williams matter may not be resolved for a bit, but the USC prospect is not expected to hold out. Williams is not using an NFLPA-certified agent, adding a complication to the former Heisman winner’s negotiations.

The Bears have clear intentions to make Odunze a Week 1 starter, teaming him with Allen and 2023 trade pickup D.J. Moore. Although Chicago rostered Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery together, this franchise does not have an extensive history with high-end receiving tandems or trios. Moore immediately became Chicago’s top target, displacing Darnell Mooney, and Allen comes over after accumulating the second-most receiving yards in Chargers history. WR3 expectations should give Odunze a smoother onramp to the NFL.

Odunze played a lead role in Washington zooming to the CFP national championship game, leading Division I-FBS in receiving (1,640 yards) and catching 13 touchdown passes. The Penix-Odunze combo produced 10 100-yard games for the 6-foot-3, 212-pound target, who amassed 125 yards in the Huskies’ CFP semifinal victory over Texas. Odunze starred at Washington for the past two seasons, posting two 1,100-yard campaigns while elevating his stock. He also clocked a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.

With Allen signed for just one more season and Moore still tied to his Panthers pact, Odunze has a route to becoming the Bears’ top wideout. Moore may well loom as an extension candidate, and Allen is open to a new deal. But the Bears will look to have the Williams-Odunze pair aligned for many years.

Texans Sign DE Malik Fisher

July 16th, 2024 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

One day before the start of their training camp, the Texans have added depth in the front seven. UFL defensive end Malik Fisher has signed with Houston, per an announcement from the spring league.

Fisher went undrafted in the NFL following the 2021 campaign. The Villanova product played with the D.C. Defenders in 2022 and remained with the team last year for the inaugural season of the UFL. Fisher’s rights remain with the Defenders in the event he is unable to land a roster spot with the Texans or another NFL team come the fall.

The 25-year-old was tied for second in the UFL in sacks last season with seven. Fisher added 33 tackles (including seven for loss), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery during the campaign. He will look to translate that success into a strong performance during training camp practices and Houston’s preseason schedule.

The Texans saw Jonathan Greenard depart in free agency when he took a deal with the Vikings. The team did bring in another first-team contributor, though, in the form of Danielle Hunter on a two-year contract including $48MM guaranteed. Last week, Houston retained Jerry Hughes on a one-year deal, providing depth along the edge. Hunter will be joined by Will Anderson as a starter for the Texans, with Hughes and fellow veteran Derek Barnett set to log a rotational role.

Houston also has 2023 fourth-rounder Dylan Horton and seventh-round rookie Solomon Byrd in the fold at the defensive end spot. Fisher will therefore have plenty of competition for reps and a roster spot this summer as he looks to become the latest player to use spring league success as a springboard to an NFL gig. The Texans entered Tuesday with over $20MM in cap space, so they will easily be able to afford what will no doubt be a league minimum flier on Fisher.

Commanders To Hire Scott Fitterer

July 15th, 2024 at 10:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

Scott Fitterer‘s tenure as general manager of the Panthers came to an end this winter, but the veteran executive has lined up a new gig for the 2024 campaign. Fitterer is being hired by the Commanders as a personnel executive, as first reported by Ben Standig of The Athletic.

Fitterer began his NFL front office career with the Giants before a lengthy tenure in Seattle’s organization. He joined the Seahawks in 2001 as an area scout and spent the next two decades working his way up the ladder while spending time in the personnel department. After a single season as the team’s VP of football operations, Fitterer was hired as general manager of the Panthers.

The 50-year-old held that position for three years, but Carolina was unable to put together a run of success during that time. The team went 5-12 in 2021, and the following season saw Christian McCaffrey traded away as a sign of a rebuild. Fitterer’s most impactful decision was of course the trade with the Bears which allowed for the acquisition of the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft. That selection was used on Bryce Young, whom the franchise is banking on becoming a true franchise quarterback.

Young’s rookie campaign did not go according to plan, and head coach Frank Reich did not make it through his debut Panthers season. The latter was fired after a 1-10 start to the campaign, and increasing pressure emerged with respect to Fitterer’s job security. After Carolina finished out the season 2-15 (a record which did not yield the first overall pick in 2024, per the terms of the Young blockbuster) and failed to work out a long-term extension with edge rusher Brian Burns, it came as little surprise that Fitterer was dismissed.

The Panthers promoted from within by tapping Dan Morgan as Fitterer’s successor, and Dave Canales is in place as a first-time head coach. That pair will be tasked with overseeing Young’s development moving forward as Carolina attempts to rebound from the 14-37 record posted during Fitterer’s time at the helm. The latter will now turn his attention to the Commanders’ rebuilding efforts.

As expected, new Washington owner Josh Harris used his first campaign in charge to evaluate the team’s front office and coaching staff. Ron Rivera was fired after the end of the regular season and Martin Mayhew was replaced by Adam Peters as general manager. Mayhew is still in the organization, one which has undergone considerable turnover at a number of positions since Peters’ hire. Fitterer will have a voice in Commanders decisions – including those affecting the scouting department, ESPN’s John Keim adds – moving forward as he aims to rebuild his GM stock.

Browns, Dustin Hopkins Agree To Extension

July 15th, 2024 at 10:01pm CST by Ben Levine

The Browns are committing to Dustin Hopkins long-term. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the organization has signed the kicker to a three-year, $15.9MM extension. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports that the deal contains $8.36MM in guaranteed money.

The deal keeps Hopkins in Cleveland through the 2027 campaign. The veteran was set to hit free agency following the 2024 season.

The Browns gave up on former fourth-round pick Cade York at the end of the 2023 preseason, acquiring Hopkins from the Chargers for a seventh-round pick. After dealing with injuries for much of the 2022 season, Hopkins rebounded nicely during his first season in Cleveland. He connected on a career-high 91.7 percent of his field goal attempts and made 24 of his 26 XP tries.

However, his season ended early after he suffered a hamstring injury in late December. After not missing a game between 2018 and 2021, Hopkins has dealt with injuries in each of the past two seasons. Zac Jackson of The Athletic opines that the team is taking a bit of a risk extending the veteran ahead of his age-34 campaign, although the team is clearly optimistic that Hopkins can continue his 2023 performance into the twilight years of his career.

Hopkins had a long stint as Washington’s starting kicker, converting 84 percent of his FGA and 94.2 percent of his XPA. He spent a year-plus with the Chargers, where he connected on nine of 10 field goal attempts and all 12 extra point tries.

With his new $5.3MM average annual value, Hopkins jumps into the top-five on the list of the league’s highest-paid kickers. Hopkins is tied with Ka’imi Fairbairn and trails Justin Tucker ($6M), Jake Elliott ($6M), Matt Gay ($5.62M), and Graham Gano ($5.5M).

Ravens Place RB Keaton Mitchell On PUP

July 15th, 2024 at 6:49pm CST by Ben Levine

As Keaton Mitchell continues to rehab from a torn ACL, the Ravens are playing it slow with their second-year running back. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, the Ravens have placed Mitchell on the active/physically unable to perform list.

As Ryan Mink of the team’s website notes, assuming Mitchell remains on PUP throughout training camp, he’ll automatically move straight to the reserve/PUP list. This would require him to miss the first four games of the 2024 season, but that always seemed to be a likely scenario. Mitchell will only be eight months removed from his injury by the team Week 1 comes around.

John Harbaugh hinted back in May that Mitchell would likely miss the start of the season, but the head coach expressed optimism in the player’s recovery.

“But I will say he’s on schedule, maybe ahead of schedule. He’s doing really well,” Harbaugh said (via Mink). “He’s always got a smile on his face. He’s going to start jogging on the Alter-G (treadmill) next week. So that’s a positive thing and we’ll see where it goes.”

Mitchell was a notable member of Baltimore’s RB carousel in 2024. The UDFA started his career on IR but finally made his debut in October. Between Week 9 and Week 14, the rookie collected 480 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Mitchell finished his first season with an eye-popping 8.4 yards per carry. A torn ACL ended his season in December.

When Mitchell returns to the field, the running backs room will look a bit different. Derrick Henry was brought in this offseason to replace the likes of Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. Justice Hill joins Mitchell as one of the team’s RB holdovers, and that duo could compete for RB2 reps when everyone is healthy.

Zrebiec reports that the Ravens also placed cornerback T.J. Tampa on PUP and linebacker Adisa Isaac on NFI. Per Mink, Isaac has been dealing with a hamstring injury that forced him to miss minicamp and OTAs. His placement on the non-football injury list certainly raises some eyebrows, but the details of the linebacker’s injury are unknown. Tampa’s injury hasn’t been reported.

NFC Front Office Updates: Biehl, 49ers, Powell

July 12th, 2024 at 6:47pm CST by Ely Allen

Another Biehl has entered the NFL ranks of scouting as Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com tells us that Nate Biehl has joined the staff in San Francisco. Biehl’s dad, Mike Biehl, is currently the director of player personnel for the Buccaneers.

Biehl had been working for his dad’s team in Tampa Bay as a video intern while finishing school at nearby South Florida. He joins the 49ers as the team’s new NFS scout, following in his father’s personnel footsteps.

Here are a few other personnel updates from around the NFC:

  • The 49ers made two other updates to their scouting department, per Stratton. Casey Filkins joins the staff as a new scouting assistant, making the short trek over from Stanford. As a running back for the Cardinal, Filkins struggled to stay on the field in his four years of play. Following the conclusion of his playing career, it appears Filkins will attempt to make the transition to scouting. In addition, San Francisco added Grant Bordelon as a new football systems personnel analyst. A former defensive lineman at MIT, Bordelon will look to continue utilizing his football IQ (and his regular IQ) on the gridiron.
  • Lastly, the Saints have promoted long-time staffer Ryan Powell, according to Stratton. Powell started in the NFL as a training camp assistant for the Seahawks in 1998. He’s now been with New Orleans for 19 years, spending 17 of those as a pro scout after two years as a combine scout. This newest promotion will make Powell a national scout.

Patriots, LB Jahlani Tavai Agree To Extension

July 12th, 2024 at 3:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

JULY 12: Further details on the Tavai deal are in, courtesy of KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The extension carries a base value of $17.88MM (a slightly higher figure than first reported) and includes $9MM guaranteed. The latter figure results from a $5.78MM signing bonus and fully guaranteed salaries for the 2024 and ’25 seasons.

Tavai’s cap figures range between $3.45MM and $5.44MM over the course of the deal, so keeping him in the fold for the foreseeable future should be feasible from the team’s perspective. He can earn per game roster bonuses topping out at $500K this season and $750K annually from 2025-27 to help reach the maximum value of $21MM.

JULY 2: Continuing an offseason trend of keeping in-house players on the books for years to come, the Patriots are set to retain Jahlani Tavai for the foreseeable future. The veteran linebacker has reached agreement on a three-year extension, ESPN’s Mike Reiss and Adam Schefter report.

This agreement contains a base value of $15MM, but the pair add it can reach a maximum of $21MM. Tavai was set to enter a walk year following the conclusion of his most recent Pats extension, but now he will be on the books through 2027. The 27-year-old has been in New England for the past three seasons, and he has emerged as a key figure on the team’s defense.

Tavai began his career with the Lions, spending a pair of seasons in the Motor City. The former second-rounder’s debut Patriots campaign saw him make 13 appearances without any starts following his Detroit release. In the two years since then, however, he has seen defensive snap shares of 50% and 76%. Tavai is set to continue as a first-team contributor for years to come at the second level of the team’s defense.

The Hawaii alum was due $1.88MM in 2024, but none of his base salary was guaranteed. This new deal represents a notable raise and a sign of confidence from Eliot Wolf and Co. that Tavai will continue to produce. He posted a career-high 69 tackles in 2022 before upping that figure to 110 last season. Over the past two years, Tavai has added a pair of interceptions, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Remaining a consistent performer over the life of this pact could prove to make this a solid investment from the team’s perspective.

New England has been busy in 2024 with respect to retaining and extending returning players, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. The likes of defensive tackle Christian Barmore and safety Kyle Dugger agreed to big-ticket pacts during the spring. In the linebacking core, Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings both worked out deals of their own. The Patriots – a team which ranked seventh in total defense last season – will thus have plenty of familiar faces in place for 2024.

Armed with over $44MM in cap space entering Tuesday, absorbing a deal such as this will not be a problem for New England from a financial standpoint. Tavai was due to count $3.16MM against the cap in 2024, and that figure could change once this pact is official. Regardless of if that is the case, though, he will be a central member of the Patriots’ defensive plan for several more years.

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