Four Day 2 picks are now part of the Colts’ wide receiver depth chart — to the point the most recent of those selections might not start early. But Adonai Mitchellwill almost definitely see a key role for Indianapolis before season’s end.
The Colts used the No. 52 overall pick on Mitchell, and the team now has the former Texas pass catcher signed to his four-year rookie contract. Mitchell’s contract continues the second-round contingent’s gains this year. The Colts are guaranteeing 65% of Mitchell’s rookie deal, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who notes $700K of the wideout’s 2026 base salary is locked in.
Last year’s No. 52 overall pick, Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet, did not receive any Year 3 guarantees. Neither did No. 50 overall choice Jayden Reed. After the Texans guaranteed 4% of Blake Fisher‘s Year 3 base salary, Mitchell’s contract will further move the needle for players chosen just beyond No. 50 overall. These terms will certainly benefit the rest of the players in this draft sector. Mitchell can now focus on earning an early role with a Colts team that has been active on Day 2 with wideouts in the 2020s.
Although Indy’s Parris Campbell investment did not pan out, the team has shown a Steelers-like commitment to adding wideouts this way. After a few seasons as the team’s No. 1 target, Michael Pittman Jr.signed a three-year, $70MM extension. Alec Pierce (Round 2, 2022), Josh Downs (Round 3, 2023) and Mitchell flank the 2020 second-rounder. Mitchell comes to Indiana after a belated college breakout.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound wideout caught 55 passes for 845 yards and Big 12-most 11 touchdowns last season. A 2023 transfer to Texas undoubtedly boosted Mitchell’s draft stock, as he was not especially productive as a Georgia underclassman from 2021-22. The relocation helped Texas as well, lifting the program to the CFP semifinals. Although Mitchell did not top 450 receiving yards during either of his Bulldogs seasons, the Colts will bet on the 2023 Longhorn’s size-speed combination. Mitchell blazed to a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the Combine.
Indianapolis has been a Pittman-dependent aerial operation for years, though Downs (771 yards) showed immediate promise from the slot during Gardner Minshew‘s season at the controls. The Colts have seen Pierce eclipse 500 yards in each of his two seasons, though the team drafted the Cincinnati alum during Frank Reich‘s tenure. Downs and Mitchell came in under Shane Steichen. Regardless of coach affiliation, the Colts have all four of their Day 2 wideouts signed beyond 2024. That creates an interesting setup for a team that will hope to keep Anthony Richardson healthy as the high-end talent aims to improve as a passer.
This signing wraps the Colts’ 2024 draft class. Ahead of Indianapolis’ minicamp, here is how Chris Ballard‘s latest haul breaks down:
Despite coming off a breakout 2023 campaign, Kwity Paye probably won’t see an extension offer this offseason. According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, the Colts are “not believed” to have engaged Paye’s camp in extension talks. Further, Holder believes the Colts will use the 2024 campaign to evaluate whether the defensive lineman is an extension-worthy piece.
Even though Paye is eligible for an extension, there isn’t any urgency on the Colts’ part. The team already committed to the pass rusher’s fifth-year option, meaning Paye will be locked in through at least the 2025 campaign. As of right now, the 25-year-old is set to hit free agency during the 2026 offseason.
The 21st pick in the 2021 draft, Paye has had a relatively consistent role on Indy’s defense in recent years. He earned All-Rookie team honors after finishing with four sacks in 2021, and despite only appearing in 12 games as a sophomore, Paye managed to add another six sacks to his resume.
The third-year player took it to another level in 2023, finishing with career-highs in tackles (52), sacks (8.5), and forced fumbles (two). For his efforts, Paye was ranked 36th among 112 qualifying edge defenders in Pro Football Focus’ rankings, including one of the best positional grades for his run defense.
After appearing in around 66 percent of his team’s defensive snaps through his first three NFL seasons, the Colts will surely be hoping that the defensive lineman can take on an even larger role before they hand him a lucrative extension. If Paye can’t put up the same numbers next season, the Colts have already prepared for the future by selecting UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu with the 15th-overall pick in this year’s draft.
Representation in Super Bowls has not stretched wide in the AFC over the past decade. Since 2013, all of four franchises — the Broncos, Patriots, Chiefs and Bengals — have represented the conference in Super Bowls. The NFC in that span has produced seven Super Bowl entrants.
Since 2001, QB-driven graphics regarding Super Bowl participation primarily feature four faces — those of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Patrick Mahomes. An AFC team employing a QB outside that quartet has only reached the Super Bowl three times (2002 Raiders, 2012 Ravens, 2021 Bengals) in 24 seasons. As the NFC has rolled out 21 Super Bowl QB starters since Brady’s first appearance, it has been quite difficult for outsiders to forge a path in the AFC.
This space used to ask which team was best positioned to KO the Patriots in the AFC. The Chiefs ended up getting there, first loading up around Mahomes’ rookie contract before assembling a low-cost (but highly effective) defense to help a team suddenly limited — beyond the Mahomes-Travis Kelce connection’s enduring brilliance — following the Tyreek Hill trade. As the Chiefs aim to become the first team since the mid-1960s Packers to threepeat (part one of Green Bay’s offering occurred before the Super Bowl era), which conference challenger is best built to disrupt their path back?
The AFC North appears a good place to start. The Ravens open the season with an Arrowhead Stadium trek and held the AFC’s No. 1 seed last season. Lamar Jackson skated to MVP honors, and Mike Macdonald‘s defense led the league in scoring. But familiar issues resurfaced for the team in the AFC championship game. An oddly pass-focused Baltimore effort ground to a halt, as Jackson committed two turnovers. Macdonald has since departed — the first Ravens coordinator to leave for a head coaching job since Gary Kubiak in 2015 — and ex-Baltimore linebacker Zach Orrmoved into the DC post. The team also lost three starters up front. Although quiet in free agency (in terms of outside hires) beyond the splashy Derrick Henryaddition, the Ravens added likely cornerback starter Nate Wiggins in Round 1 and kept Justin Madubuike off the market via the franchise tag and a quick extension.
Cincinnati has shown superior mettle against Kansas City since Joe Burrow‘s arrival, beating the Chiefs thrice in 2022 before falling as both teams battled key injuries in the January 2023 AFC title game. The Bengals losing Burrow in November removed a key obstacle in the Chiefs’ path, but the NFL’s highest-paid player is back. The team also retained Tee Higgins, being the only team left to have a player on the tag, and added new tackles inTrent Brown and Amarius Mimsto join Orlando Brown Jr. The team revamped its safety corps by bringing back Vonn Bell and adding ex-RavenGeno Stone. Not many glaring issues are present in Cincinnati’s lineup, with longer-term matters — the receiver situation chief among them — the top roster storylines here.
Creeping into the playoffs despite a host of high-profile injuries on offense, the Browns showed their roster strength by shrugging off the injuries to Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb and their tackles. Cleveland acquired Jerry Jeudy via trade and then extended him, and other than adding some Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah supporting pieces at linebacker, returns the starters from a No. 1-ranked pass defense. Watson’s struggles, for the most part, since arriving via trade will continue to define where the Browns can venture.
Although the Bills parted with Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, looking past Buffalo — a four-time reigning AFC East champion that defeated the Chiefs in three straight seasons in Kansas City — would probably be a mistake. The Bills made some cost-cutting moves, most notably disbanding its seven-year safety duo of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer (though Hyde remains in play to return), and saw concerning form from Von Miller following his second ACL tear. The Bills also lost Leonard Floyd in free agency. Focus will understandably be aimed at Buffalo’s WR crew, which now housesCurtis Samuel, second-rounder Keon Colemanand ex-Chief Marquez Valdes-Scantling(who certainly places a premium on QB talent). The Chiefs’ issues staffing their wideout spots last year provided a lingering problem; will the Bills make a higher-profile addition down the line?
With their backs to the wall, the Joe Douglas–Robert Saleh regime will count on Aaron Rodgers belatedly delivering. The duo may or may not have attempted to strip power from OC Nathaniel Hackett, who is coming off a brutal two-year stretch. The Jets effectively replaced Bryce Huff with a more proven rusher inHaason Reddick and added Mike Williamsas a supporting-caster on offense. The team will hope its pair of 33-year-old tackles — Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses — holds up, while Olu Fashanu looms as a long term tackle piece and potential short-term guard. Can the Jets do enough offensively to capitalize on their defensive nucleus of the past two seasons?
The Texans sit as a fascinating piece of this puzzle, given their outlook going into the first three seasons of Nick Caserio‘s GM tenure. After low-key offseasons from 2021-23, Houston added Diggs and a few notable defenders to the DeMeco Ryans-led roster. Danielle Hunter and Denico Autry join ex-Ryans 49ers pupil Azeez Al-Shaairas key defensive additions. Although Diggs struggled down the stretch in his final Bills season, he certainly played a lead role in elevating Josh Allen‘s stature. The Texans, who have C.J. Stroud on a rookie deal through at least 2025, will hope the Pro Bowler pairs well with Nico Collins and the returning Tank Dell.
Miami and Jacksonville’s roster equations figure to change soon, as respective extension talks withTua Tagovailoa and Trevor Lawrenceare ongoing. The Dolphins have faded badly under Mike McDaniel and did not seriously threaten the Chiefs in a frigid wild-card game, though they have obviously shown elite offensive capabilities in the right environment. Handing the play-calling reins to OC Press Taylor in 2023, the Jaguars did not build on a strong 2022 finish. The Steelers also present one of the highest floors in NFL history, and they have upgraded at quarterback by adding two options — in Justin Fields and likely starterRussell Wilson. But they also have not won a playoff game since the six-field goal offering against the Chiefs — a game that represented the final shove for Kansas City to trade up for Mahoemes — seven years ago.
The Texans emerged from the NFL’s basement last season. Is there a stealth contender lurking? The Chiefs’ division does not look particularly imposing, once again, though Jim Harbaugh now overseeing Justin Herbert is certainly an interesting development. The national championship-winning HC has authored turnarounds everywhere he has gone.
No team has qualified for five Super Bowls in a six-year period, and none of the Super Bowl era’s threepeat efforts have reached the final stage; the 1990 49ers came closest, losing on a last-second field goal in the NFC title game. Who is poised to be the best Chiefs deterrent on their path to a threepeat? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your AFC thoughts in the comments section.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Mike Evans; March 9, 2018: Five years, $82.5MM ($55MM guaranteed; $38.26MM guaranteed at signing)
Chris Godwin‘s 2022 deal beats Evans’ for at-signing guarantees ($40MM), while the all-time Bucs receiving leader’s 2024 agreement leads the way in AAV ($20.5MM).
The Commanders announced three updates to their front office staff this week. With new leadership in general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn, the team sees two staffers depart and one scout join his former boss.
Firstly, senior director of player development Malcolm Blackenwill not be retained in 2024, per Ben Standig of The Athletic. Serving multiple stints with the team since 1999, Blacken had risen to his role from years as a strength and conditioning coach.
Joining Blacken in departure will be college scout Harrison Ritcher. According to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com, Ritcher is headed to Atlanta to serve as a national scout for the Falcons, reuniting with former Washington staffer, and current assistant general manager in Atlanta, Kyle Smith. Ritcher had been with the team since 2017.
Lastly, the Commanders will be addingJack Quagliarello to the scouting staff as a pro scout, per Stratton. Quagliarello follows Peters from San Francisco after spending last season as a scouting assistant with the 49ers.
Here are a few other staff updates from around the NFL:
The 49ers also made some announcements, all to their scouting staff. San Francisco has promotedJosh Williams from national scout to director of scouting & football operations, per Stratton. Williams started with the team in 2011 as a scouting assistant and has quickly risen through the ranks. As a part of the NFL’s accelerator program, Williams is widely considered a future general manager candidate. He’ll work closely with general manager John Lynch and executive vice president of football operations Paraag Marathe in 2024. In addition, Stratton notes that Ryan Schutta has been hired as a scouting assistant, filling the role vacated by Quagliarello’s departure mentioned above.
Following his retirement, we learned that former Patriots special teams ace Matthew Slater would join the Patriots staff in a full-time role. Now, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald tells us a bit more about Slater’s new role. Kyed says that, while Slater “hasn’t advanced into a coaching role” just yet, he will serve an advisory role on the staff in 2024.
The Colts had reportedly finalized their 2024 coaching staff back in March, but we did note that they planned to announce two Tony Dungy Diversity Fellowship hires at the time. The team has officially made such announcements, per team writer JJ Stankevitz, naming Kalon Humphries and Diego Ortiz as the two fellows. Indianapolis also announced a title change for Joe Hastings, who will now serve as senior assistant special teams coach, and the hiring of Brent Stockstill as a defensive assistant. Stockstill makes his NFL coaching debut after five years coaching at the collegiate level with a focus on offense.
Lastly, the Panthershave addedBrad Obee as their new Midwest scout, according to Stratton. Over 21 years with the Bears and Eagles, Obee has spent time in numerous scouting roles, often focusing on pro scouting. He most recently spent the last three seasons as an area scout for Philadelphia, departing after the expiration of his contract.
The Colts‘ wide receiver room includes two starters acquired before Shane Steichen‘s arrival — Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce — and the team made a three-year, $70MM commitment to its No. 1 target in March. Steichen is starting to put his stamp on the WR room, however, with the Colts having drafted Josh Downs in last year’s third round and Adonai Mitchell in this year’s second. As Chris Ballard continues to run Indianapolis’ draft, ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder notes Steichen “strongly advocated” for Mitchell in the second round.
Mitchell is unlikely to stroll into a starting spot early, as Holder adds the Texas product will be expected to begin training camp as the top backup behind Pittman, Pierce and Downs. But the ex-Longhorns standout’s draft slot (No. 52) suggests he will be heard from early in his career. The Colts have seen mixed results from their second-round WRs under Ballard, with Pittman shining and Parris Campbell struggling to stay on the field. Pierce (No. 53 overall in 2022) has eclipsed 500 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons. A Georgia transfer, Mitchell blazed to a 4.34-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. Although he only topped 450 receiving yards in one college season (2023, with 845 and 11 touchdowns), plenty will be expected from a Colts team that has struggled with receiver depth for most of Ballard’s GM tenure.
Here is the latest from the AFC South:
Staying on the WR topic, the Titans had a contingency plan in the event one of the teams above them at No. 7 zagged. The Giants were seemingly down to QB or WR at No. 6 throughout the pre-draft process, but a post-draft report suggested they were also eyeing Joe Alt. The Chargers were both connected to Alt and JC Lathamat No. 5. In a scenario in which targets Latham and Alt were off the board, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notesMalik Nabers would have been the Tennessee pick at 7. A Nabers choice would have left the OL-needy Titans less equipped up front, and Latham filled a bigger need. The team has since signed Tyler Boyd to team with outside targets DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley.
The Colts are changing some of their rookies’ positions ahead of their first NFL offseason programs. Ballard said fifth-round pick Jaylon Carlieswill move from safety to linebacker, with the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson indicating fifth-round safety JaylinSimpson is sliding from safety to cornerback. Simpson has CB experience but moved to safety while at Auburn. Before Day 3 investments, the Colts did not address the cornerback position beyond Kenny Moore‘s re-signing. This leaves some uncertainty here — particularly on the outside.
The Texans will make an adjustment at a key front office post. The team did not renew director of pro personnel Ronnie McGill‘s contract, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. McGill followed GM Nick Caseriofrom New England in 2021; the Texans had promoted him to the director post in 2022. Teams regularly make scouting adjustments post-draft, and a notable Texans hire will be on tap.
A scouting veteran of more than 30 years, Tom McConnaughey is retiring from his Jaguars post. The veteran staffer, who has been with the Jags since 2021, will leave after three years as a national scout with the team, InsidetheLeague.com’s Neil Stratton tweets. McConnaughey spent 26 years with the Chargers prior to moving to Jacksonville.
In addition to hiringA.J. Highsmith and Keenan Agnew, the Titans are adding Sam Summerville to their scouting staff. Summerville is expected to join the team as a national scout, per Stratton. The Bears recently parted ways with Summerville, a former Fritz Pollard Alliance scout of the year honoree, after 12 years.
Front offices around the NFL continue to chip away at their draft pick signings. That was no exception today, as a number of teams inked players to rookie contracts:
After adding nine rookies via the draft, the Colts are continuing to add first-year players to their roster. The team announced that they’ve signed seven undrafted free agents, including a pair of quarterbacks:
Interestingly, the Colts listed former Kansas signal caller Jason Bean as both a quarterback and wide receiver. That’s not a complete surprise considering the rookie’s running ability. In three seasons at Kansas, Bean rushed for 901 yards and nine touchdowns on 178 carries. With Anthony Richardson atop the depth chart and Joe Flacco in place as the backup, Bean’s best shot at a roster spot will surely come at a different position. Kedon Slovis will have a similar uphill battle to make Indy’s roster. The quarterback had an up-and-down college career, with his 30-touchdown campaign as a freshman in 2019 representing his career-high. He most recently got into eight games at BYU, tossing 12 touchdowns vs. six interceptions.
Among all the UDFAs, Spencer Shrader probably has the most realistic shot at a roster spot, as the rookie will compete with veteran Matt Gay for the Colts’ primary kicker spot. Shrader finished his college career having connected on only 68.3 percent of his field goal attempts, although he was 156-for-158 on his extra point tries.
Deemed international roster exemption: T Bayron Matos
New York Giants
Waived (with injured designation): RB Deon Jackson
Cohen hasn’t appeared in an NFL game since his time in Chicago, where he earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors as a punt returner, ended in 2020. The North Carolina A&T product had been part of an effective 1-2 punch with Jordan Howard but saw his role diminish with the arrival of David Montgomery in 2019. Since then, injuries have limited the explosive rusher’s ability to make an impact.
The Colts used the No. 52 overall pick on Mitchell, and the team now has the former Texas pass catcher signed to his four-year rookie contract. Mitchell’s contract continues the second-round contingent’s gains this year. The Colts are guaranteeing 65% of Mitchell’s rookie deal, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who notes $700K of the wideout’s 2026 base salary is locked in.
