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Rams Claim CB Emmanuel Forbes

December 2nd, 2024 at 3:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite being tied to a mid-first-round contract, Emmanuel Forbes will not clear waivers. The Rams are ensuring the 2023 first-round cornerback will remain tied to that deal.

Forbes is heading to Los Angeles via waiver claim, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. The Commanders’ Adam Peters-run regime moved on despite the 2023 No. 16 overall pick being signed through 2026. The Rams are bringing that contract onto their payroll, illustrating considerable interest on the NFC West team’s part. The Rams waived rookie UDFA cornerback Charles Woods to make room on the roster.

As significant changes occurred in Washington this offseason, Forbes was unable to secure steady playing time. This reached the point of the Commanders attempting to gauge his trade value before the deadline last month. The team ended up cutting bait, resulting in dead money this year and next. The Commanders are on the hook for all of Forbes’ prorated signing bonus ($8.2MM); that will leave a $4.1MM dead money hit in 2025 as well.

As our Ely Allen pointed out, Forbes is the only cornerback to be drafted after weighing in under 170 pounds at the Combine since 2000. Elite ball production led to the Commanders preferring the 166-pound defender to Christian Gonzalez, who went off the board one spot later to the Patriots. Forbes intercepted six passes in 2022 at Mississippi State, returning three for touchdowns. For his career, the 6-foot cover man intercepted a staggering 14 passes and totaled six pick-sixes. That enticed the Commanders to dive in, but neither last year’s nor this year’s coaching staffs liked enough about his game to deploy him as a full-time starter regularly.

Forbes has started seven games as a pro; six came last season. After allowing a 60.7% completion rate as the closest defender last season, Forbes ceded a whopping 75% number in limited duty this year. The Rams will still give him a second chance, pulling the trigger on a waiver claim to do so. They will be on the hook for guaranteed base salaries ($2.15MM in 2025, $2.85MM in 2026), which the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala adds will save the Commanders $5.3MM, but the NFC East team is still responsible for the bulk of the contract. On the Rams’ 2025 payroll, Forbes will only carry a $2.15MM cap number.

The Forbes pick came during one of the many Sean McVay-era first rounds in which the Rams did not hold a selection. This transaction will give the team a look at a player it clearly liked coming into the 2023 draft. The Rams have seen some issues form at corner, having already benched and traded Tre’Davious White this season. Pro Football Focus has no Rams CBs ranked inside the top 65 at the position; the team has given its most CB snaps to Cobie Durant and Darious Williams. PFF slots Durant and Ahkello Witherspoon 70th among corners this season, tabbing Williams — re-signed after two years in Jacksonville — 73rd.

Forbes, 23, will join an L.A. secondary that acquired more experience this year via the Williams and Witherspoon re-signings. The team also has a rookie UDFA (Josh Wallace) joining Quentin Lake in rounding out its CB group. Forbes will attempt to mix in for the 6-6 team.

Giants Place Dexter Lawrence, Theo Johnson On IR; Cory Durden Signed Off Rams’ Practice Squad

December 2nd, 2024 at 3:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

Both Dexter Lawrence and Theo Johnson suffered notable injuries during the Giants’ Thanksgiving loss. Neither player is in line to suit up again this season.

Lawrence and Johnson are now on injured reserve, per a team announcement. An absence of at least four games is thus in store, but Lawrence in particular is not expected to come back for the regular season finale. The two-time Pro Bowler is dealing with a dislocated elbow, and his attention will turn to rehab in advance of the 2025 campaign.

In his absence, the Giants will look for short-term replacements along the defensive interior. That could prove to be challenging given the other D-line injuries the team dealt with on Thanksgiving. In a move aimed at providing depth at that spot, Cory Durden has been signed off the Rams’ practice squad. The 25-year-old made four appearances last season but has yet to see any game action in 2024.

Lawrence led the league in sacks (nine) through seven games this season, demonstrating his status as New York’s most important defensive player and one of the league’s top interior linemen. The 27-year-old inked a big-ticket extension last offseason, so it comes as no surprise the team will avoid attempting to rush him back into the fold during the closing stages of the campaign. Sitting at 2-10 on the year, the Giants are officially out of postseason contention.

Johnson’s absence will be notable as well. The fourth-round rookie has handled a notable role in the wake of Darren Waller‘s retirement, posting 334 yards and one touchdown on 29 receptions. A foot injury threatened to shut Johnson down for the rest of the campaign, and today’s news all-but guarantees he will indeed be sidelined until 2025. His presence will be missed on a low-output New York passing attack.

The Giants are among the teams which could wind up with the No. 1 pick in April’s draft. Given their lack of a franchise quarterback, securing the top spot in the order would be critical. Playing without Lawrence and Johnson will lessen New York’s chances of adding further wins over the closing weeks of the season.

Lions To Sign Jonah Williams Off Rams’ Practice Squad

November 29th, 2024 at 4:55pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After several injuries on Thanksgiving, the Lions are signing defensive lineman Jonah Williams off the Rams’ practice squad, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Four Lions defensive linemen – Mekhi Wingo, Josh Paschal, and Levi Onwuzirke – suffered injuries during Thursday’s win. Wingo (knee) was able to return to the game, but Paschal (knee) and Onwuzirke (hamstring) missed the entire second half. Za’Darius Smith, Al-Quadin Muhammad, and DJ Reader were able to pick up the slack with 22 combined quarterback pressures, per Next Gen Stats, but Detroit still needed additional depth to weather the injuries.

Williams has appeared in just seven games this year – one for the Vikings and seven for the Rams – but he played in 33 games with 22 starts across 2022 and 2023 in Los Angeles. The versatile defender can line up off the edge or on the interior, so he could play a similar role as Paschal and John Cominsky, according to Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers.

Williams began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Rams in 2020 when current Lions general manager Brad Holmes was the Rams’ director of college scouting, so Holmes “would have been heavily involved in scouting the lineman,” per Rogers.

The Lions currently have 53 players on their active roster, so they will need to make a move to accommodate Williams. That will likely be placing linebacker Malcom Rodriguez on injured reserve after his ACL tear on Thursday.

Rams WR Demarcus Robinson To Play In Week 13

November 28th, 2024 at 10:48am CST by Adam La Rose

Demarcus Robinson was arrested on suspicion of DUI earlier this week, putting him in danger of facing league discipline. While the legal process plays out in his case, the veteran wideout will remain in the Rams’ lineup.

Robinson will suit up for Week 13, per head coach Sean McVay. Team officials met with the ninth-year wideout to discuss the situation, and Robinson added no timeline is currently in place with respect to any league action taking place. For the time being, then, he will continue in his current role for Los Angeles.

“I think it was a bad decision he made,” McVay said (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop). “I don’t think that makes him a bad person. And I do believe this is something that with the words that he said, our guys will learn from it, and hopefully nobody’s ever going to repeat something like this.”

With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua both healthy, Robinson is currently positioned to occupy a complementary role in Los Angeles’ passing attack. The 30-year-old has been productive when given the opportunity so far this season, though, posting 384 yards and six touchdowns on 26 catches. Robinson was a rotational option in 2023, and his success in that capacity landed him a second Rams contract this offseason.

That one-year deal carries a base salary of $4MM but it includes an additional $1MM in incentives. Robinson will therefore continue having the chance to add to his 2024 earnings for now as the Rams prepare to play the Saints on Sunday.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/27/24

November 27th, 2024 at 6:50pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s minor transactions, including some standard gameday practice squad elevations for the Thanksgiving Day slate:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

  • Designated to return from IR: CB Myles Harden

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Vikings’ release of Murphy is disappointing one for the organization for sure. The rookie pass rusher out of UCLA was not healthy enough to be on the active roster to start the season, but Minnesota liked him enough to dedicate one of their eight IR activations on him in August. He was activated yesterday but hit waivers today. If he clears the waivers, he’ll be available to sign to the team’s practice squad.

Adams has seen his biggest NFL roles during his time in Pittsburgh. Though he hasn’t gotten the same number of starts as he had in 2022 and 2023, he’s continued the same level of production. After missing the last four games, he’ll be looking to return to the field soon.

2024 NFL Dead Money, By Team

November 27th, 2024 at 12:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants making the decision to waive Daniel Jones, rather than keep him around ahead of a potential 2025 post-June 1 cut designation, changed their dead money outlook for this year and next. Here is how their new total fits in with the rest of the teams’ numbers for dead money — cap space allocated to players no longer on the roster — entering the final third of the regular season. Numbers courtesy of OverTheCap.

  1. Denver Broncos: $85.21MM
  2. New York Giants: $79.57MM
  3. Minnesota Vikings: $69.83MM
  4. Buffalo Bills: $68.47MM
  5. Carolina Panthers: $68.28MM
  6. Green Bay Packers: $65.53MM
  7. Tennessee Titans: $62.89MM
  8. Philadelphia Eagles: $61.95MM
  9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $60.64MM
  10. New Orleans Saints: $59.44MM
  11. New York Jets: $59.24MM
  12. Los Angeles Chargers: $58.62MM
  13. New England Patriots: $53.37MM
  14. Miami Dolphins: $52.28MM
  15. Seattle Seahawks: $52MM
  16. Jacksonville Jaguars: $51.2MM
  17. Las Vegas Raiders: $49.37MM
  18. Washington Commanders: $42.81MM
  19. Houston Texans: $39.28MM
  20. Cleveland Browns: $38.79MM
  21. Los Angeles Rams: $34.63MM
  22. Detroit Lions: $33.71MM
  23. Pittsburgh Steelers: $30.18MM
  24. Chicago Bears: $29.65MM
  25. Arizona Cardinals: $29.35MM
  26. San Francisco 49ers: $26.91MM
  27. Dallas Cowboys: $26.79MM
  28. Baltimore Ravens: $21.35MM
  29. Kansas City Chiefs: $12.65MM
  30. Indianapolis Colts: $11.8MM
  31. Atlanta Falcons: $11.55MM
  32. Cincinnati Bengals: $9.11MM

The Jones release moved more than $13MM of dead cap onto the Giants’ 2024 payroll. More significantly, the Giants granting Jones an early exit — after a contract-driven benching — will prevent the team from designating him a post-June 1 cut next year. The Giants will take on $22.2MM in dead money in 2025, rather than being able to split that bill over two offseasons. The team also took on more than $10MM in dead money this year due to the 2023 Leonard Williams trade.

This year’s most egregious dead money offender has been known for months. The Broncos’ contract-driven Russell Wilson benching last year preceded a historic release, which saddled the team with more than $83MM in total dead money. A small cap credit is set to come in 2025 (via Wilson’s veteran-minimum Pittsburgh pact), but for this year, $53MM in dead cap hit Denver’s payroll as a result of the the quarterback’s release.

The Broncos more than doubled the previous single-player dead money record, which the Falcons held ($40.5MM) for trading Matt Ryan), and they will be on the hook for the final $30MM-plus in 2025. Beyond Wilson, no other ex-Bronco counts more than $7.5MM in dead money. In terms of total dead cap, however, the Broncos barely check in north of the Buccaneers and Rams’ 2023 totals. Denver is trying to follow those teams’ lead in rallying back to make the playoffs despite nearly a third of its 2024 payroll tied up in dead cap.

Twenty-two players represent dead money for the Saints, who have seen their total updated since the Marshon Lattimore trade. Rather than restructure-crazed GM Mickey Loomis using the Lattimore contract once again to create cap space next year, the Saints will take on the highest non-QB dead money hit in NFL history. Lattimore counts $14MM in that category this year before the contract shifts to a whopping $31.66MM in dead cap on New Orleans’ 2025 payroll. Considering the Saints are again in their own sector for cap trouble next year ($62MM-plus over), the Lattimore trade will create some issues as the team attempts to rebound post-Dennis Allen.

Two 2023 restructures ballooned the Vikings’ figure toward $70MM. Void years on Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter‘s deals combined for more than $43MM in dead money. Minnesota also ate nearly $7MM from the void years on Marcus Davenport‘s one-year contract, while the release of 2022 first-rounder Lewis Cine (currently on the Bills’ practice squad) accounted for more than $5MM.

Free from the Tom Brady dead money that comprised a chunk of their 2023 cap, the Bucs still have eight-figure hits from the Carlton Davis trade and Mike Evans‘ previous contract voiding not long before the sides agreed on a new deal. Elsewhere in the NFC South, three of the players given multiyear deals in 2023 — Vonn Bell, Hayden Hurst, Bradley Bozeman — being moved off the roster in GM Dan Morgan‘s first offseason represent nearly half of Carolina’s dead cap.

 

Rams TE Tyler Higbee To Return To Practice This Week

November 26th, 2024 at 6:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Tyler Higbee is set to practice for the first time since suffering a torn ACL and MCL last January. Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters that he’s expecting his tight end to return to practice this week (per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop). Higbee isn’t expected to play on Sunday, and the team could use most of his 21-day activation window before adding the veteran to the active roster.

Higbee tore his ACL during the Rams’ playoff loss to the Lions last January. The tight end landed on the reserve/PUP list to begin the season and has missed each of his team’s first 11 games of the 2024 campaign. Fortunately, the 31-year-old should have an opportunity to add to his resume before the season is through.

“He has made amazing progress, I think we want to get him out on the practice field,” McVay said (via Adam Grosbard of the Orange County Register). “He provides such a great leadership, such a great spark for us in a variety of ways. I don’t know that this week would be the week that he would return, but for him to even be back on the practice field and starting his clock, it’s a real credit to him, to our medical staff and just the overall resolve and resilience of that individual who I have a lot of love and respect for.”

The former fourth-round pick has spent his entire career in Los Angeles, with this ACL tear representing his first prolonged absence in nine seasons. He’s been especially productively over his last five healthy campaigns, averaging 59 receptions per season. Higbee has also come up big in the playoffs, hauling in 19 catches in 10 games.

Los Angeles added Colby Parkinson in free agency on a two-year, $22.5MM deal, and the former Seahawk has earned the bulk of the snaps at the position in 2024. With Higbee back, the Rams will have the opportunity to evaluate their TE grouping ahead of the 2025 season. Higbee is on the books for one more season, with $2MM of the tight end’s 2025 roster bonus already guaranteed.

The Rams are set to receive some additional reinforcement on the offensive line, as McVay said Rob Havenstein is “trending” towards returning to the field this week (via Stu Jackson of the team’s website). The veteran lineman has missed the past three games while nursing an ankle injury. The 32-year-old has started all seven of his appearances in 2024.

Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order

November 25th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Week 12 slate of games is in the books. For many teams, attention is increasingly turning toward the offseason with a playoff berth no longer in reach.

Plenty of time remains for the draft order to change over the coming months, and it will be interesting to see which teams wind up in position to add at the quarterback spot in particular. The crop of prospects for 2025 is not held in high regard after Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, meaning the demand for potential franchise passers is set to outweigh demand at the top of the board. Of course, players like Sanders’ Colorado teammate Travis Hunter will be among the ones worth watching closely as well.

The Jets have moved on from head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, inviting questions about a reset under center as well. Aaron Rodgers wants to play in 2025, but it remains to be seen how his relationship with the organization will take shape down the stretch and if a new regime will prefer to move on at the position. The Giants, meanwhile, confirmed they will be in the market for a new signal-caller with Daniel Jones no longer in the fold.

Teams such as the Raiders have long been mentioned as a team to watch regarding a rookie QB pursuit. Jayden Daniels was a target for head coach Antonio Pierce last spring, and it would come as no surprise if Vegas were to make a push for a long-term starting option this time around. Other franchises not on track to qualify for the playoffs figure to give the Raiders plenty of competition in that department, though.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is an updated look at the current draft order:

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9
  2. New York Giants: 2-9
  3. Las Vegas Raiders: 2-9
  4. New England Patriots: 3-9
  5. Carolina Panthers: 3-8
  6. Tennessee Titans: 3-8
  7. New York Jets: 3-8
  8. Cleveland Browns: 3-8
  9. New Orleans Saints: 4-7
  10. Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7
  11. Dallas Cowboys: 4-7
  12. Chicago Bears: 4-7
  13. Indianapolis Colts: 5-7
  14. Miami Dolphins: 5-6
  15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-6
  16. Los Angeles Rams: 5-6
  17. San Francisco 49ers: 5-6
  18. Arizona Cardinals: 6-5
  19. Atlanta Falcons: 6-5
  20. Seattle Seahawks: 6-5
  21. Washington Commanders: 7-5
  22. Houston Texans: 7-5
  23. Denver Broncos: 7-5
  24. Los Angeles Chargers: 7-4
  25. Baltimore Ravens: 8-4
  26. Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-3
  27. Green Bay Packers: 8-3
  28. Minnesota Vikings: 9-2
  29. Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2
  30. Buffalo Bills: 9-2
  31. Kansas City Chiefs: 10-1
  32. Detroit Lions: 10-1

Rams WR Demarcus Robinson Arrested

November 25th, 2024 at 10:07pm CST by Ben Levine

Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was arrested early Monday morning on suspicion of DUI, according to a California Highway Patrol press release obtained by NFL Media (via Grant Gordon of NFL.com). TMZ Sports was first with the news.

According to the report, officers observed a white sedan traveling at speeds of 100 miles per hour on US-101 northbound around 5 a.m. this morning. After stopping the vehicle, officers identified the driver as Robinson, with the report noting that there were “observed signs of alcohol impairment.”

Robinson refused to perform a sobriety check and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI. The 30-year-old was cited before being released to a “responsible party.”

The arrest came only hours after the Rams loss to the Eagles on SNF. The receiver finished the game with two catches, including a two-yard touchdown reception. In his second season with the Rams, Robinson has hauled in 26 catches for 384 yards and six touchdowns. Thanks to absences for both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, the veteran leads the WRs room in snaps this season. The long-time Chiefs wideout is attached to a one-year, $5MM deal he signed this past offseason.

Robinson could eventually face punishment from the league via the NFL’s personal conduct policy. There’s not a whole lot of time for the process to play out this season, but if Robinson does miss games, it’d provide more opportunities for the likes of Tutu Atwell and Tyler Johnson.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/23/24

November 23rd, 2024 at 7:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves, including gameday elevations for Week 12:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

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