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NFL Front Office Updates: Titans, Browns, Eagles, Cardinals, Bears

May 5th, 2024 at 9:03pm CST by Ely Allen

We mentioned yesterday how a number of teams who have seen changes in the leadership of their front office may be making changes following the NFL Draft. These teams needed their staff at the time, with only weeks leading up to the draft, but with that process now over, the new leadership has started making changes.

The Titans are one such team making changes in recent days. One change is the apparent departure of college scout Tom Roth, who no longer appears on the team’s website, according to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com. Roth had spent the last six years in Tennessee after serving 14 years as a college scout for the Bills.

It’s not all departures, like yesterday. Stratton noticed two promotions in Tennessee’s front office, as well. Previously the team’s pro scouting coordinator, Rob Riederer now appears on the team’s website as assistant director of football strategy. Likewise, Bryce Wasserman has been promoted from manager of football strategy to chief of staff of football strategy.

Here are a few other updates in player personnel offices around the league:

  • The Browns also see a departure, per Stratton, with Joe Dever reportedly not returning to the team for 2024. Joining the team as a scouting intern in 2019, Dever had spent five years with Cleveland. He had risen to the position of mid-Atlantic scout before his departure.
  • The Eagles are also losing a longtime staffer, according to Stratton. A 15-year veteran of the NFL, Brad Obee will use the expiration of his contract with Philadelphia as a reason to pursue new opportunities in the NFL. Obee began his scouting career on the personnel staff of the Eagles in 2009, working his way up the ladder for six years. He left to serve as a pro scout for the Bears for the next six years before ultimately returning to Philadelphia as a college/pro scout for the past three.
  • The Cardinals, who we noted lost a personnel staffer in yesterday’s post, will also part ways with area scout Darius Vinnett, per Stratton. Vinnett’s contract was expiring, as well, and though Arizona offered him an extension to return in 2024, Vinnett has declined and will seek other opportunities.
  • Lastly, the Bears are moving forward without area scouts Drew Raucina and Sam Summerville, according to Stratton. Raucina is a holdover from the Ryan Pace-era, serving the last six years with the team. He had previously been a combine scout for the NFL. Summerville’s departure is a bit more surprising. He had been with Chicago since 2012 and was voted the BART List as one of the NFC’s best scouts in 2022, per Stratton. He was also named NFC Scout of the Year in 2019. Regardless, general manager Ryan Poles is making changes for the 2024 NFL season.

RB Duke Johnson Announces Retirement

May 5th, 2024 at 7:26pm CST by Ely Allen

Boasting an eight-year career spanning time with five NFL franchises, running back Duke Johnson is now known as one of the league’s best receiving backs in recent history. Having not appeared on an NFL roster since the end of the 2022 season, the now 30-year-old Johnson has made the decision to officially hang up his cleats, announcing this retirement decision on Instagram.

Johnson came to the league after a storied career at the University of Miami. A five-star recruit, Johnson became an immediate factor as a true freshman, rushing for 947 yards for 10 touchdowns and adding one score through the air and two more on kickoff returns. After a junior season that saw him rush for 1,652 yards and 10 touchdowns and receive for 421 yards and three touchdowns, Johnson announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and declare for the draft.

Johnson left Coral Gables as the Hurricanes’ all-time leader in career rushing yards, despite only playing for three seasons. The school has produced such NFL rushers as Chuck Foreman, Ottis Anderson, Cleveland Gary, Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis, Najeh Davenport, Willis McGahee, Frank Gore, and Lamar Miller. Johnson outgained them all at the collegiate level and holds that record to this day.

Johnson was selected by the Browns in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He was the sixth rusher taken off the board behind Todd Gurley, Melvin Gordon, T.J. Yeldon, Ameer Abdullah, and Tevin Coleman and was taken just nine picks before David Johnson.

As a rookie, Duke split starting duties with second-year back Isaiah Crowell while also serving as the team’s primary receiving back. The two would continue in those roles for the next two years. Johnson made the most with the carries he was granted, averaging 4.3 yards per carry over his years in Cleveland, but he truly shined as a receiver for the Browns.

During that 2015 season, Johnson finished third on the team in receiving yards behind only tight end Gary Barnidge and wide receiver (and fellow Hurricane) Travis Benjamin. He was third on the team in 2016, as well. In 2017, though, Johnson was actually the Browns’ leading receiver with 74 catches for 693 yards. His 348 rushing yards that year helped him to lead the team in scrimmage yards, and his seven total touchdowns were the most on Cleveland’s roster that year. His efforts earned him a three-year, $15.61MM contract extension.

In 2018, the arrival of a rookie Nick Chubb and a veteran Carlos Hyde saw a huge cut to Johnson’s carries, though he still averaged 5.0 yards per rush. He still proved a major asset as a receiver, as well, with 62 catches for 429 yards, but with the emergence of Chubb, Johnson became an unnecessary cost. Cleveland traded Johnson to the Texans in exchange for a conditional fourth-rounder that ended up turning into the third-round pick the Browns would use to draft Jacob Phillips.

Hyde would follow Johnson to Houston and would take RB1 duties, though Johnson would still contribute with 410 rushing yards and 410 receiving yards. The Texans would trade for David Johnson in 2020. A talented receiving back in his own right, David’s acquisition led to diminished usage of Duke. Houston would cut Johnson at the end of the season.

Over the final two years of his career, Johnson saw minimal usage as he spent time on the Jaguars’ practice squad, started four of five game appearances for the Dolphins in 2021, and was a practice squad elevation for one game for the Bills in 2022. Those final two years were the first of his career in which the running back had more rushing than receiving yards.

That fact perhaps underlines the feats of Johnson’s career. Despite his rushing pedigree at Miami, Johnson came into the NFL and provided his talents as a bailout option for the league’s worst team at the time, getting utilized early and often. Since his arrival in Cleveland in 2015, only Jarvis Landry, David Njoku, and Amari Cooper have more receiving yards for the Browns over that period.

Circumstances prevented Johnson from ever taking a leading back role in his career, but the 30-year-old made the most of every opportunity he was granted, regardless of the role he was assigned. Though other backs tended to earn carries over him, Johnson was hard to keep off the field thanks to his impressive receiving abilities. He ends his NFL career with 2,265 rushing yards for 11 touchdowns and 2,870 receiving yards for 12 touchdowns.

Browns Sign C Brian Allen

April 30th, 2024 at 12:33pm CST by Sam Robinson

Brian Allen‘s six-year Rams run ended this offseason, as the Rams released him following a season as a second-stringer. Allen will have a chance to rebuild elsewhere.

The former Super Bowl starter secured a chance with the Browns on Tuesday, according to his agency. Cleveland will see if Allen, who has battled injuries for much of his career, can contribute to an O-line that otherwise features a host of expensive pieces.

Although the Browns limped to the finish line last season up front, their line still houses high-priced guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller — along with Jack Conklin‘s upper-crust right tackle salary and Jedrick Wills‘ fifth-year option. The team also paid Ethan Pocic after a productive 2022 season; the veteran center is tied to a three-year, $18MM deal. Pocic received $10MM guaranteed at signing last year.

Pocic’s 2023 terms matched what the Rams authorized for Allen in 2022, but the Super Bowl LVI first-stringer again ran into injury trouble. Allen, who missed seven games in 2019 and all of 2020 due to injury, did not play in 10 of the Rams’ 17 games during an injury-plagued 2022 campaign for the defending champions’ O-line. Allen was unable to retain his starting spot last season, as the Rams went with former UDFA Coleman Shelton. Even as Shelton departed (for the Bears) in free agency, the Rams made Allen a cap casualty.

Pro Football Focus graded Allen as the league’s 10th-best center in 2021, offering some potential upside for the Browns. But while the former fourth-round pick made 20 starts for the Super Bowl-winning team, he played part of the season with a UCL tear in his elbow and missed a game due to an MCL sprain. ACL and MCL tears midway through the 2019 season ended up costing Allen all of his 2020 season, and he sustained another knee setback in Week 1 of the ’22 season. Allen, 28, suited up for only five games last season, as Shelton started all 18 Rams contests.

PFF graded Pocic as last season’s 13th-best center, and the Browns also drafted Michigan guard Zak Zinter in Round 3. The latter is coming off a season-ending broken leg sustained during Michigan’s win over Ohio State. As Zinter is assured of at least a swing role this coming season, the Browns will see if Allen can also become part of their equation up front.

Browns To Exercise CB Greg Newsome’s Fifth-Year Option

April 30th, 2024 at 8:34am CST by Adam La Rose

As fifth-year option decisions continue to be made around the league, the Browns will take the expected route in the case of cornerback Greg Newsome. Cleveland will keep Newsome in the fold for at least the next two years, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

A report from earlier this month indicated the Browns were in position to pick up the option, so today’s confirmation comes as no surprise. Newsome will now be attached to a 2025 salary of $13.38MM, since he checks in at the third tier of option values. Trade rumors have surrounded the 23-year-old, but he remains firmly in at least Cleveland’s intermediate-term plans.

Browns general manager Andrew Berry made it clear prior to the draft that he had no intention of moving Newsome despite his presence in a deep CB room. Cleveland already has Denzel Ward attached to a $20.1MM-per-year agreement, and 2022 third-rounder Martin Emerson will be eligible for an extension as early as next offseason. The latter had a strong second NFL campaign, delivering four interceptions and 13 pass deflections. A new Emerson deal will therefore likely require another large financial commitment, something which would be complicated by a Newsome agreement.

Still, the Northwestern product has provided starting-caliber play throughout his three years in Cleveland. Spending considerable time in the slot over the past two seasons in particular, Newsome has totaled 29 pass breakups to date. His only two interceptions came last season, one which doubled as his best with respect to coverage statistics (56.7% completion percentage, 74.8 passer rating allowed as the nearest defender). Continuing to progress in both respects could line him up for a long-term accord, one which can be worked out at any time.

Ward is on the books through 2027, whereas Emerson’s rookie pact is in place for the next two seasons. As a result, the Browns’ lauded cornerback trio should remain intact during the 2024 and ’25 campaigns, although the team has added depth via the draft over the past two springs. Cleveland selected Cameron Mitchell in the fifth round of last year’s draft, and he logged three starts as a rookie. The Browns also added Myles Harden in the seventh round this past weekend, but the depth ahead of him will make it hard to see playing time.

Newsome will enter the 2024 season assured of a key defensive role, and Berry’s comments related to shooting down a trade – coupled with today’s decision (which matches those made with the 2021 class’ other Day 1 corners so far), of course – point to him staying in place through the expiration of his rookie contract. How willing the team is regarding a multi-year commitment will be an interesting storyline to follow.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/29/24

April 29th, 2024 at 9:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Monday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Waived: LS Matt Hembrough

Cleveland Browns

  • Signed: T Roy Mbaeteka

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Waived: S Tyreque Jones

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Waived: DT Noah Elliss, WR Griffin Hebert, CB Tiawan Mullen, OL Lecitus Smith

The Eagles gave reserve/futures contracts to each of these players in January. Of this lot, only Smith — a 2022 Cardinals sixth-round pick — has played in a game. The young blocker started two games with Arizona as a rookie.

Mbaeteka will receive a second crack at developing with an NFL team through the league’s International Pathway Program. A Nigerian who did not play in high school or college, Mbaeteka spent last year on the Bears’ practice squad. Chicago cut the aspiring offensive lineman in March. Mbaeteka will not count against the Browns’ 90-man roster limit.

2024 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team

April 27th, 2024 at 10:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is every team’s haul from the 2024 NFL Draft:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Read more

2024 NFL Draft Results: Round By Round

April 27th, 2024 at 10:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

From the No. 1 overall pick to Mr. Irrelevant (No. 257), here are the results from the 2024 NFL Draft:

Round 1

1. Chicago Bears (via Panthers): Caleb Williams (QB, USC)
2. Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)
3. New England Patriots: Drake Maye (QB, UNC)
4. Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR, Ohio State)
5. Los Angeles Chargers: Joe Alt (T, Notre Dame)
6. New York Giants: Malik Nabers (WR, LSU)
7. Tennessee Titans: JC Latham (T, Alabama)
8. Atlanta Falcons: Michael Penix Jr (QB, Washington)
9. Chicago Bears: Rome Odunze (WR, Washington)
10. Minnesota Vikings (via Jets): J.J. McCarthy (QB, Michigan)
11. New York Jets (via Vikings): Olu Fashanu (T, Penn State)
12. Denver Broncos: Bo Nix (QB, Oregon)
13. Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers (TE, Georgia)
14. New Orleans Saints: Taliese Fuaga (T, Oregon State)
15. Indianapolis Colts: Laiatu Latu (EDGE, UCLA)
16. Seattle Seahawks: Byron Murphy (DT, Texas)
17. Minnesota Vikings (via Jaguars): Dallas Turner (EDGE, Alabama)
18. Cincinnati Bengals: Amarius Mims (T, Georgia)
19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse (EDGE, Florida State)
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Fautanu (OL, Washington)
21. Miami Dolphins: Chop Robinson (EDGE, Penn State)
22. Philadelphia Eagles: Quinyon Mitchell (CB, Toledo)
23 Jacksonville Jaguars (from Browns through Texans and Vikings): Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, LSU)
24. Detroit Lions (from Cowboys): Terrion Arnold (CB, Alabama)
25. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Morgan (T, Arizona)
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Graham Barton (OL, Duke)
27. Arizona Cardinals (from Texans): Darius Robinson (DL, Missouri)
28. Kansas City Chiefs (from Bills): Xavier Worthy (WR, Texas)
29. Dallas Cowboys (from Lions): Tyler Guyton (T, Oklahoma)
30. Baltimore Ravens: Nate Wiggins (CB, Clemson)
31. San Francisco 49ers: Ricky Pearsall (WR, Florida)
32. Carolina Panthers (from Chiefs through Bills): Xavier Legette (WR, South Carolina)

Round 2

33. Buffalo Bills (from Panthers): Keon Coleman (WR, Florida State)
34. Los Angeles Chargers (via Patriots): Ladd McConkey (WR, Georgia)
35. Atlanta Falcons (from Cardinals): Ruke Orhorhoro (DT, Clemson)
36. Washington Commanders: Jer’Zhan Newton (DT, Illinois)
37. New England Patriots (via Chargers): Ja’Lynn Polk (WR, Washington)
38. Tennessee Titans: T’Vondre Sweat (DT, Texas)
39. Los Angeles Rams (from Giants through Panthers): Braden Fiske (DT, Florida State)
40. Philadelphia Eagles (from Bears through Commanders): Cooper DeJean (CB, Iowa)
41. New Orleans Saints (from Jets through Packers): Kool-Aid McKinstry (CB, Alabama)
42. Houston Texans (from Vikings): Kamari Lassiter (CB, Georgia)
43. Arizona Cardinals (from Falcons): Max Melton (CB, Rutgers)
44. Las Vegas Raiders: Jackson Powers-Johnson (OL, Oregon)
45. Green Bay Packers (from Broncos through Saints): Edgerrin Cooper, LB (Texas A&M)
46. Carolina Panthers (from Colts): Jonathon Brooks (RB, Texas)
47. New York Giants (from Seahawks): Tyler Nubin (S, Minnesota)
48. Jacksonville Jaguars: Maason Smith (DT, LSU)
49. Cincinnati Bengals: Kris Jenkins Jr. (DT, Michigan)
50. Washington Commanders (from Saints through Eagles): Mike Sainristil (CB, Michigan)
51. Pittsburgh Steelers: Zach Frazier (C, West Virginia)
52. Indianapolis Colts (from Rams through Panthers): Adonai Mitchell (WR, Texas)
53. Washington Commanders (from Eagles): Ben Sinnott (TE
54. Cleveland Browns: Michael Hall (DT, Ohio State)
55. Miami Dolphins: Patrick Paul (T, Houston)
56. Dallas Cowboys: Marshawn Kneeland (EDGE, Western Michigan)
57. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Chris Braswell (EDGE, Alabama)
58. Green Bay Packers: Javon Bullard (S, Georgia)
59. Houston Texans: Blake Fisher (T, Notre Dame)
60. Buffalo Bills: Cole Bishop (S, Utah)
61. Detroit Lions: Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (CB, Missouri)
62. Baltimore Ravens: Roger Rosengarten (T, Washington)
63. Kansas City Chiefs (from 49ers): Kingsley Suamataia (T, BYU)
64. San Francisco 49ers (from Chiefs): Renardo Green (CB, Florida State)

Round 3

65. New York Jets (from Panthers): Malachi Corley (WR, Western Kentucky)
66. Arizona Cardinals: Trey Benson, RB (Florida State)
67. Washington Commanders: Brandon Coleman (OL, TCU)
68. New England Patriots: Caeden Wallace (T, Penn State)
69. Los Angeles Chargers: Junior Colson (LB, Michigan)
70. New York Giants: Andru Phillips (CB, Kentucky)
71. Arizona Cardinals (from Titans): Isaiah Adams (G, Illinois)
72. Carolina Panthers (from Jets): Trevin Wallace (LB, Kentucky)
73. Dallas Cowboys (from Vikings through Lions): Cooper Beebe (G, Kansas State)
74. Atlanta Falcons: Bralen Trice (EDGE, Washington)
75. Chicago Bears: Kiran Amegadjie (T, Yale)
76. Denver Broncos: Jonah Elliss (EDGE, Utah)
77. Las Vegas Raiders: Delmar Glaze (T, Maryland)
78. Houston Texans (from Seahawks though Commanders and Eagles): Calen Bullock (S, USC)
79. Indianapolis Colts (from Jaguars through Falcons and Cardinals): Matt Goncalves (T, Pittsburgh)
80. Cincinnati Bengals: Jermaine Burton, WR (Alabama)
81. Seattle Seahawks (from Saints through Broncos): Christian Haynes (G, UConn)
82. Arizona Cardinals (from Colts): Tip Reiman (TE, Illinois)
83. Los Angeles Rams: Blake Corum (RB, Michigan)
84. Pittsburgh Steelers: Roman Wilson (WR, Michigan)
85. Cleveland Browns: Zak Zinter (G, Michigan)
86. San Francisco 49ers (from Eagles through Texans and Eagles): Dominick Puni (OL, Kansas)
87. Dallas Cowboys: Marist Liufau (LB, Notre Dame)
88. Green Bay Packers: MarShawn Lloyd (RB, USC)
89. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tykee Smith (S, Georgia)
90. Arizona Cardinals (from Texans): Elijah Jones (CB, Boston College)
91. Green Bay Packers (from Bills): Ty’Ron Hopper (LB, Missouri)
92. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Lions): Jalen McMillan (WR, Washington)
93. Baltimore Ravens: Adisa Isaac (EDGE, Penn State)
94. Philadelphia Eagles (from 49ers): Jalyx Hunt (EDGE, Houston Christian)
95. Buffalo Bills (from Chiefs): DeWayne Carter (DT, Duke)
96. Jacksonville Jaguars*: Jarrian Jones (CB, Florida State)
97. Cincinnati Bengals*: McKinnley Jackson (DT, Texas A&M)
98. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Eagles)*: Payton Wilson (LB, NC State)
99. Los Angeles Rams*: Kamren Kinchens (S, Miami)
100. Washington Commanders*: Luke McCaffrey (WR, Rice)

Round 4

101. Carolina Panthers: Ja’Tavion Sanders (TE, Texas)
102. Denver Broncos (from Commanders through Seahawks): Troy Franklin (WR, Oregon)
103. New England Patriots: Layden Robinson (G, Texas A&M)
104. Arizona Cardinals: Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (S, Texas Tech)
105. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Eboigbe (DL, Alabama)
106. Tennessee Titans: Cedric Gray (LB, North Carolina)
107. New York Giants: Theo Johnson (TE, Penn State)
108. Minnesota Vikings: Khyree Jackson (CB, Oregon)
109. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Dorlus (DT, Oregon)
110. New England Patriots (from Bears through Chargers): Javon Baker (WR, Central Florida)
111. Green Bay Packers (from Jets): Evan Williams (S, Oregon)
112. Las Vegas Raiders: Decamerion Richardson (CB, Mississippi State)
113. Baltimore Ravens (from Broncos through Jets): Devontez Walker (WR, North Carolina)
114. Jacksonville Jaguars: Javon Foster (T, Missouri)
115. Cincinnati Bengals: Erick All (TE, Iowa)
116. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Saints): Jordan Jefferson (DT, LSU)
117. Indianapolis Colts: Tanor Bortolini (C, Wisconsin)
118. Seattle Seahawks: Tyrice Knight (LB, UTEP)
119. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mason McCormick (G, South Dakota State)
120. Miami Dolphins (from Rams through Steelers and Eagles): Jaylen Wright (RB, Tennessee)
121. Seattle Seahawks (from Dolphins through Broncos): AJ Barner (TE, Michigan)
122. Chicago Bears (from Eagles): Tory Taylor (P, Iowa)
123. Houston Texans (from Browns through Texans and Eagles): Cade Stover (TE, Ohio State)
124. San Francisco 49ers (from Cowboys): Malik Mustapha (S, Wake Forest)
125. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucky Irving (RB, Oregon)
126. Detroit Lions (from Packers through Jets): Giovanni Manu (T, British Columbia)
127. Philadelphia Eagles (from Texans): Will Shipley (RB, Clemson)
128. Buffalo Bills: Ray Davis (RB, Kentucky)
129. San Francisco 49ers (from Lions through Vikings and Jets): Isaac Guerendo (RB, Louisville)
130. Baltimore Ravens: T.J. Tampa (CB, Iowa State)
131. Kansas City Chiefs: Jared Wiley (TE, TCU)
132. Detroit Lions (from 49ers through Eagles)*: Sione Vaki RB/S, Utah)
133. Kansas City Chiefs (from Bills)*: Jaden Hicks (S, Washington State)
134. New York Jets*: Braelon Allen (RB, Wisconsin)
135. San Francisco 49ers*: Jacob Cowing (WR, Arizona)

Round 5

136. Seattle Seahawks (from Panthers through Browns and Broncos): Nehemiah Pritchett (CB, Auburn)
137. Los Angeles Chargers (through Patriots): Tarheeb Still (CB, Maryland)
138. Arizona Cardinals: Xavier Thomas (EDGE, Clemson)
139. Washington Commanders: Jordan Magee (LB, Temple)
140. Los Angeles Chargers: Cam Hart (CB, Notre Dame)
141. Buffalo Bills (from Giants through Panthers): Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (C, Georgia)
142. Indianapolis Colts (from Titans through Panthers): Anthony Gould (WR, Oregon State)
143. Atlanta Falcons: JD Bertrand (LB, Notre Dame)
144. Chicago Bears (reacquired from Bills): Austin Booker (EDGE, Kansas)
145. Denver Broncos (from Jets): Kris Abrams-Draine (CB, Missouri)
146. Tennessee Titans (from Vikings through Eagles): Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (CB, Louisville)
147. Denver Broncos: Audric Estime (RB, Notre Dame)
148. Las Vegas Raiders: Tommy Eichenberg (LB, Ohio State)
149. Cincinnati Bengals: Josh Newton (CB, TCU)
150. New Orleans Saints: Spencer Rattler (QB, South Carolina)
151. Indianapolis Colts: Jaylon Carlies (S, Missouri)
152. Philadelphia Eagles (from Seahawks through Commanders): Ainias Smith (WR, Texas A&M)
153. Jacksonville Jaguars: Deantre Prince (CB, Ole Miss)
154. Los Angeles Rams: Brennan Jackson (WR, Washington State)
155. Philadelphia Eagles (from Steelers through Rams, Panthers and Colts): Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (LB, Clemson)
156. Cleveland Browns (from Eagles through Cardinals): Jamari Thrash (WR, Louisville)
157. Carolina Panthers (from Browns through Vikings and Jets): Chau Smith-Wade (CB, Washington State)
158. Miami Dolphins: Mohamed Kamara (EDGE, Colorado State)
159. Kansas City Chiefs (from Cowboys): Hunter Nourzad (C, Penn State)
160. Buffalo Bills (from Packers): Edefuan Ulofoshio (LB, Washington)
161. Washington Commanders (from Buccaneers through Eagles): Dominique Hampton (S, Washington)
162. Arizona Cardinals (from Texans): Christian Jones (T, Texas)
163. Green Bay Packers (from Bills) Jacob Monk (C, Duke)
164. Indianapolis Colts (from Lions through Eagles): Jaylin Simpson (S, Auburn)
165. Baltimore Ravens: Rasheen Ali (RB, Marshall)
166. New York Giants (from 49ers through Panthers): Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB, Purdue)
167. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Chiefs through Vikings): Keilan Robinson (RB, Texas)
168. Buffalo Bills (from Saints through Packers)*: Javon Solomon (EDGE, Troy)
169. Green Bay Packers*: Kitan Oladapo (S, Oregon State)
170. New Orleans Saints*: Bub Means (WR, Pittsburgh)
171. New York Jets (from Eagles)*: Jordan Travis (QB, Florida State)
172. Philadelphia Eagles*: Trevor Keegan (G, Michigan)
173. New York Jets (from Chiefs through 49ers)*: Isaiah Davis (RB, South Dakota State)
174. Dallas Cowboys*: Caelen Carson (CB, Wake Forest)
175. New Orleans Saints*: Jaylan Ford (LB, Texas)
176. New York Jets (from 49ers)*: Qwan’Tez Stiggers (CB, Toronto Argonauts)

Round 6

177. Minnesota Vikings (from Panthers through Jaguars): Walter Rouse (T, Oklahoma)
178. Pittsburgh Steelers (from Cardinals through Panthers): Logan Lee (DT, Iowa)
179. Seattle Seahawks (from Commanders): Sataoa Laumea (G, Utah)
180. New England Patriots: Marcellas Dial (CB, South Carolina)
181. Los Angeles Chargers: Kimani Vidal (RB, Troy)
182. Tennessee Titans (reacquired from Eagles): Jha’Quan Jackson (WR, Tulane)
183. New York Giants: Darius Muasau (LB, UCLA)
184. Miami Dolphins (from Bears): Malik Washington (WR, Virginia)
185. Philadelphia Eagles (from Jets): Johnny Wilson (WR, Florida State)
186. Atlanta Falcons (from Vikings through Cardinals): Jase McClellan (RB, Alabama)
187. Atlanta Falcons: Casey Washington (WR, Illinois)
188. Houston Texans (from Raiders through Patriots and Vikings): Jamal Hill (LB, Oregon)
189. Detroit Lions (from Broncos through Rams, Bills and Texans): Mekhi Wingo (DT, LSU)
190. Philadelphia Eagles (from Saints through Packers and Jets): Dylan McMahon (C, NC State)
191. Arizona Cardinals (from Colts): Tejhaun Palmer (WR, UAB)
192. Seattle Seahawks: DJ James (CB, Auburn)
193. New England Patriots (from Jaguars): Joe Milton III (QB, Tennessee)
194. Cincinnati Bengals: Tanner McLachlan (TE, Arizona)
195. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ryan Watts (CB, Texas)
196. Los Angeles Rams: Tyler Davis (DT, Clemson)
197. Atlanta Falcons (from Browns): Zion Logue (DT, Georgia)
198. Miami Dolphins: Patrick McMorris (S, Cal)
199. New Orleans Saints (from Eagles): Khristian Boyd (DT, Northern Iowa)
200. Carolina Panthers (from Cowboys through Texans and Bills): Jaden Crumedy (DT, Mississippi State)
201. Indianapolis Colts (from Buccaneers through Lions and Eagles): Micah Abraham (CB, Marshall)
202. Green Bay Packers: Travis Glover (T, Georgia State)
203. Minnesota Vikings (from Texans through Browns, Broncos and Jets): Will Reichard (K, Alabama)
204. Buffalo Bills: Tylan Grable (T, Central Florida)
205. Houston Texans (from Lions): Jawhar Jordan (RB, Louisville)
206. Cleveland Browns (from Ravens): Nathaniel Watson (LB, Mississippi State)
207. Seattle Seahawks (from 49ers and Broncos): Michael Jerrell (T, Findlay)
208. Las Vegas Raiders (from Chiefs): Dylan Laube (RB, New Hampshire)
209. Los Angeles Rams*: Joshua Karty (K, Stanford)
210. Detroit Lions (from Eagles)*: Christian Mahogany (G, Boston College)
211. Kansas City Chiefs (from 49ers)*: Kamal Hadden (CB, Tennessee)
212. Jacksonville Jaguars*: Cam Little (K, Arkansas)
213. Los Angeles Rams*: Jordan Whittington (WR, Texas)
214. Cincinnati Bengals*: Cedric Johnson (DE, Ole Miss)
215. San Francisco 49ers*: Jarrett Kingston (G, USC)
216. Dallas Cowboys*: Ryan Flournoy (WR, Southeast Missouri State)
217. Los Angeles Rams*: Beaux Limmer (C, Arkansas)
218. Baltimore Ravens* Devin Leary (QB, Kentucky)
219. Buffalo Bills (from Packers)*: Daequan Hardy (CB, Penn State)
220. Tampa Bay Buccaneers*: Elijah Klein (G, UTEP)

Round 7

221. Buffalo Bills (from Panthers through Titans and Chiefs): Travis Clayton (T, England)
222. Washington Commanders: Javontae Jean-Baptiste (EDGE, Notre Dame)
223. Las Vegas Raiders (from Patriots): Trey Taylor (S, Air Force)
224. Cincinnati Bengals (from Cardinals through Texans): Daijahn Anthony (DB, Mississippi State)
225. Los Angeles Chargers: Brenden Rice (WR, USC)
226. Arizona Cardinals (from Giants): Jaden Davis (CB, Miami)
227. Cleveland Browns (from Titans): Myles Harden (CB, South Dakota)
228. Baltimore Ravens (from Jets): Nick Samac (C, Michigan State)
229. Las Vegas Raiders (from Vikings): MJ Devonshire (CB, Pitt)
230. Minnesota Vikings (from Falcons through Browns and Cardinals): Michael Jurgens (C, Wake Forest)
231. New England Patriots (from Bears): Jaheim Bell (TE, Florida State)
232. Minnesota Vikings (from Broncos through 49ers and Texans): Levi Drake Rodriguez (DT, Texas A&M Commerce)
233. Dallas Cowboys (from Raiders): Nathan Thomas (T, Louisiana-Lafayette)
234. Indianapolis Colts: Jonah Laulu (DT, Oklahoma)
235. Denver Broncos (from Seahawks): Devaughn Vele (WR, Utah)
236. Jacksonville Jaguars: Myles Cole (DE, Texas Tech)
237. Cincinnati Bengals: Matt Lee (C, Miami)
238. Houston Texans (from Saints): Solomon Byrd (EDGE, USC)
239. New Orleans Saints (from Rams through Broncos): Josiah Ezirim (T, Eastern Kentucky)
240. Carolina Panthers (from Steelers): Michael Barrett (LB, Michigan)
241. Miami Dolphins: Tahj Washington (WR, USC)
242. Tennessee Titans (from Eagles): James Williams (S, Miami)
243. Cleveland Browns: Jowon Briggs (DT, Cincinnati)
244. Dallas Cowboys: Justin Rogers (DT, Auburn)
245. Green Bay Packers: Michael Pratt (QB, Tulane)
246. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Devin Culp (TE, Washington)
247. Houston Texans: Marcus Harris (DT, Auburn)
248. Kansas City Chiefs (from Bills): C.J. Hanson (G, Holy Cross)
249. Houston Texans (from Lions): LaDarius Henderson (G, Michigan)
250. Baltimore Ravens: Sanoussi Kane (S, Purdue)
251. San Francisco 49ers: Tatum Bethune (LB, Florida State)
252. Tennessee Titans (from Chiefs): Jaylen Harrell (EDGE, Michigan)
253. Los Angeles Chargers*: Cornelius Johnson (WR, Michigan)
254. Los Angeles Rams*: KT Leveston (G, Kansas State)
255. Green Bay Packers*: Kalen King (CB, Penn State)
256. Denver Broncos (from New York Jets*: Nick Gargiulo (C, South Carolina)
257. New York Jets*: Jaylen Key (DB, Alabama)

* = compensatory selection

2025 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker

April 24th, 2024 at 10:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

NFL teams have until May 2 to officially pick up fifth-year options on 2021 first-rounders. The 2020 CBA revamped the option structure and made them fully guaranteed, rather than guaranteed for injury only. Meanwhile, fifth-year option salaries are now determined by a blend of the player’s position, initial draft placement and performance- and usage-based benchmarks:

  • Two-time Pro Bowlers (excluding alternates) will earn the same as their position’s franchise tag
  • One-time Pro Bowlers will earn the equivalent of the transition tag
  • Players who achieve any of the following will receive the average of the third-20th-highest salaries at their position:
    • At least a 75% snap rate in two of their first three seasons
    • A 75% snap average across all three seasons
    • At least 50% in each of first three seasons
  • Players who do not hit any of those benchmarks will receive the average of the third-25th top salaries at their position

With the deadline looming, we will use the space below to track all the option decisions from around the league:

  1. QB Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars ($25.66MM): Exercised
  2. QB Zach Wilson, Broncos* ($22.41MM): Declined
  3. QB Trey Lance, Cowboys** ($22.41MM): Declined
  4. TE Kyle Pitts, Falcons ($10.88MM): Exercised
  5. WR Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals ($21.82MM): Exercised
  6. WR Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins ($15.59MM): Exercised
  7. T Penei Sewell, Lions ($19MM): Extended through 2029
  8. CB Jaycee Horn, Panthers ($12.47MM): Exercised
  9. CB Patrick Surtain, Broncos ($19.82MM): Exercised
  10. WR DeVonta Smith, Eagles ($15.59MM): Extended through 2028
  11. QB Justin Fields, Steelers*** ($25.66MM): Declined
  12. DE Micah Parsons, Cowboys ($21.32MM): Exercised
  13. T Rashawn Slater, Chargers ($19MM): Exercised
  14. OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jets ($13.31MM): Exercised
  15. QB Mac Jones, Jaguars**** ($25.66MM): Declined
  16. LB Zaven Collins, Cardinals ($13.25MM): Declined
  17. T Alex Leatherwood, Raiders: N/A
  18. LB Jaelan Phillips, Dolphins ($13.3MM): Exercised
  19. LB Jamin Davis, Commanders ($14.48MM): Declined
  20. WR Kadarius Toney, Chiefs***** ($14.35MM): Declined
  21. DE Kwity Paye, Colts ($13.4MM): Exercised
  22. CB Caleb Farley, Titans ($12.47MM): Declined
  23. T Christian Darrisaw, Vikings ($16MM): Exercised
  24. RB Najee Harris, Steelers ($6.79MM): Declined
  25. RB Travis Etienne, Jaguars ($6.14MM): Exercised
  26. CB Greg Newsome, Browns ($13.38MM): To be exercised
  27. WR Rashod Bateman, Ravens ($14.35MM): N/A; extended through 2026
  28. DE Payton Turner, Saints ($13.39MM): Declined
  29. CB Eric Stokes, Packers ($12.47MM): Declined
  30. DE Greg Rousseau, Bills ($13.39MM): Exercised
  31. LB Odafe Oweh, Ravens ($13.25MM): Exercised
  32. LB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Buccaneers ($13.25MM): Declined

* = Jets traded Wilson on April 22, 2024
** = 49ers traded Lance on August 25, 2023
*** = Bears traded Fields on March 16, 2024
**** = Patriots traded Jones on March 10, 2024
***** = Giants traded Toney on October 27, 2022

NFL Draft Rumors: Falcons, Jaguars, Browns

April 21st, 2024 at 6:30pm CST by Ely Allen

The Falcons top two sack-getters last year (Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree) are currently free agents. And while free safety Jessie Bates‘ first season in Atlanta went swimmingly with career highs in tackles (132), forced fumbles (3), and interceptions (6), as well as Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors, he seemed to be the only player showing up each Sunday for the Falcons.

With all this in mind, it’s no surprise to hear that adding draft prospects on the defensive side of the ball is expected to be a major focus for Atlanta come this week’s draft, according to Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network. In Caplan’s most recent mock draft, he slotted Alabama pass rusher Dallas Turner as the team’s first-round pick. Previous iterations of his mock draft saw Atlanta taking Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins and Florida State pass rusher Jared Verse.

Going pass rusher seems to make more sense after losing Campbell and Dupree to free agency, but expect multiple picks throughout the three-day event to address both positions. Turner is likely the preferred option as most see him as the top pass rusher on the board, but Verse or even UCLA’s Laiatu Latu could be the selection if Turner is drafted before they have the chance to claim him.

Here are a few other draft rumors from around the NFL:

Browns Not Looking To Trade CB Greg Newsome

April 20th, 2024 at 6:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Browns will soon have a decision to make on Greg Newsome‘s fifth-year option. A recent report indicated Cleveland is expected to pick up the 23-year-old cornerback’s option, and general manager Andrew Berry‘s public comments on his future point further in that direction.

During a pre-draft press conference, Berry said (via 850 ESPN’s Tony Grossi) he does not wish to trade Newsome. Given the latter’s age and status as a starting member of the Browns’ secondary, that comes as little surprise. Still, The Browns already have one lucrative commitment at the cornerback spot in Denzel Ward, who is attached to a $20.1MM-per-year deal. Exercising Newsome’s $13.38MM 2025 option would add considerably to the cap charges in Cleveland’s secondary.

The team also has 2022 third-rounder Martin Emerson in the fold at CB, and he has proven to be an impactful producer in the defensive backfield. Emerson has amassed 29 pass deflections over his first two seasons in the NFL, and in 2023 he led the team with four interceptions. The Mississippi State product will be eligible for an extension next offseason, and he could be in line for a lucrative new deal. That, in turn, would further complicate the matter of retaining Newsome for years to come.

The latter has not been able to match Emerson’s ball production to date, and his only two career interceptions came last season. Newsome did record a new personal best in tackles (49) in 2023, though, and he improved in coverage. The Northwestern product allowed a 56.7% completion percentage and a 74.8 passer rating as the nearest defender, leading to an overall PFF grade (69.6) in line with that of his previous campaigns.

The Browns will have the Ward-Emerson-Newsome trio in place for at least one more season, but its up-and-coming members will become expensive shortly if their strong play continues. Cleveland drafted Cameron Mitchell in the fifth round last year, and he saw a rotational defensive role as a rookie. If the Browns – a team which does not own a Day 1 selection but is positioned to retain its second-round selection – add further in the secondary, options could be in place to take over following a Newsome departure via trade or free agency. As things currently stand, though, he is firmly in the team’s plans.

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