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Contract Details: Ravens, 49ers, Sutton, Bates

September 4th, 2024 at 9:32pm CST by Ben Levine

The Ravens reworked a handful of contracts this week. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the team restructured linebacker Roquan Smith‘s contract. ESPN’s Field Yates adds that defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and kicker Justin Tucker also reworked their pacts.

Smith’s restructuring helped create $4.875MM in cap space, per Rapoport. Smith is playing on the second year of a five-year, $100MM extension he signed with the Ravens in 2023. In total, the three recent contract restructurings will total $9.3MM in savings, per Yates.

GM Eric DeCosta recently hinted that the team may be over the cap after adding a long list of practice squad players (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). The executive was confident the organization would quickly get cap compliant, and it sounds like the front office also managed to squeeze out some extra financial wiggle room heading into the regular season.

More cap restructurings from around the NFL…

  • Deebo Samuel provided the 49ers with some cap space the other day, with the wideout’s restructuring providing the team with a whopping $16.4MM in cap space (via Yates). Samuel is still playing on the three-year, $73.5MM extension he inked with San Francisco in 2022. Defensive tackle Maliek Collins also recently reworked his contract, saving the 49ers $5.43MM against the cap, per Yates. The team specifically converted $6.79MM of Collins’ upcoming salary into a signing bonus, adding three void years in the process (per Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac).
  • The Broncos continue to commit to wideout Courtland Sutton, at least for the entirety of the 2024 campaign. The team restructured the receiver’s contract, helping open $9.5MM in cap space, per Yates. Specifically, the team converted $11.875MM of Sutton’s $13MM salary into a bonus, per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver. The reduced financial flexibility reduces the chances of a Sutton trade during the upcoming season.
  • The Falcons opened up about $7.5MM in cap space by reworking Jessie Bates‘ contract, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. The team converted $11.25MM of his 2024 base salary into a signing bonus, increasing his 2025 ($22.25MM) and 2026 ($22.27MM) cap hits in the process.
  • The Panthers reworked a pair of contracts, according to Yates. Both offensive tackle Taylor Moton and defensive tackle Shy Tuttle helped provide the Panthers with some breathing room, as the duo’s restructurings created $10.7MM in cap room.
  • The Saints opened $3.5MM in cap space by reworking Juwan Johnson‘s deal, per Yates. The tight end inked a two-year extension with the team ahead of the 2023 campaign, with $11.5MM of his $12MM earnings guaranteed.

Saints RB Alvin Kamara Prepared To Pause Contract Talks Until 2025

September 3rd, 2024 at 2:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Alvin Kamara made it clear he was interested in an adjustment to his contract this offseason. No arrangement was made between the Pro Bowl back and the Saints, however, and both parties’ attention will now turn to the 2024 campaign.

Kamara has two years remaining on his contract, but the 2025 season currently calls for a non-guaranteed base salary of $22.4MM. New Orleans would have a cap charge of just over $29MM next season in the absence of a restructure, a release or a trade sending Kamara to a new team. Knowing how unrealistic that scenario is, the 29-year-old left the Saints’ minicamp early as part of an effort to work out a new arrangement.

2024 has Kamara set to collect $11.8MM in what will all-but certainly be the final year of his $75MM 2020 extension. The running back market has not taken off like those of many other positions since that time, and his age is a factor working against his ability to land a lucrative third contract. Kamara did not engage in a training camp holdout as talks on a new deal took place. With the regular season at hand, though, the time for negotiations has passed and he is prepared to pick up negotiations in the spring (video link via Fletcher Mackel of WDSU).

Kamara was short on leverage in contract talks – which are not believed to have yielded much progress toward an agreement – entering the 2024 season given the term left on his deal. He could help his position with a strong campaign this year after he set a career low in rushing (694) and scrimmage (1,160) yards in 2023. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year missed three games due to suspension and was limited to only 12 contests last year; a fully healthy slate could lead to a rebound in production. Comments made on his situation earlier in the summer suggested Kamara would take this stance.

New Orleans also has veteran Jamaal Williams, 2023 third-rounder Kendre Miller and undrafted rookie Jordan Mims on the active roster in the backfield. Kamara is positioned to once again handle lead back duties this year, and his showing in that role will inform how the Saints proceed with his contract next offseason.

Saints HC Dennis Allen On Hot Seat?

September 3rd, 2024 at 9:27am CST by Adam La Rose

Across his two seasons at the helm of the Saints, Dennis Allen has posted a sub-.500 record. 2024 offers an opportunity to rebound and help his job security, but New Orleans’ head coach likely faces pressure entering the campaign.

Allen is viewed around the league as being on the hot seat leading up to Week 1, Jeff Howe of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The 51-year-old took over from Sean Payton in 2022 after spending the previous seven years as the Saints’ defensive coordinator. That continuity helped the transition away from the Payton era, but the post-Drew Brees years have not yielded strong offensive showings for the team.

The Saints have ranked 19th and 14th in total offense during Allen’s time as head coach, and last year’s Derek Carr addition did not meet expectations. Improvement could take place in 2024, the first season since 2009 in which Pete Carmichael will not serve as offensive coordinator. New Orleans went outside the organization in adding Klint Kubiak as OC, a role he previously held in 2021. Increased efficiency on the ground and through the air will be key in the Saints’ efforts to return to the postseason.

Allen’s team improved from 7-10 to 9-8 last year, predictably remaining strong on defense. The Saints have ranked top-10 in points allowed during each of the past four seasons, and many of their top veterans on that side of the ball are still in place. The 2024 offseason consisted of a new round of restructures and extensions aimed at attaining cap compliance while keeping most of New Orleans’ core intact.

In December, a report named Allen as a candidate to be replaced at the end of the campaign. The Saints’ failure to win the NFC South certainly did not help his chances of retaining his title, but later signs pointed to attention mainly being focused on offensive changes rather than an Allen firing. The former Raiders head coach confirmed in January that he expected to remain in place, and that has proven to be the case.

Allen’s time with the Raiders included a record of 8-28 and resulted in his firing after an 0-4 start to the 2014 campaign. His tenure with the Saints has gone better to date, but plenty of room for improvement exists. If steps forward are not taken in 2024, he could be at or near the top of the list of coaches in danger of being let go in advance of the 2025 hiring cycle.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/24

September 2nd, 2024 at 6:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Labor Day’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

  • Removed from IR via injury settlement: CB Dee Delaney

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

  • Removed from IR via injury settlement: WR David Durden

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Removed from IR via injury settlement: TE Trey Knox

New Orleans Saints

  • Removed from IR via injury settlement: TE Kevin Rader

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

Stromberg sustained a knee injury that will require surgery. The 2023 third-round pick, one of five 2023 draftees that did not make Washington’s 53-man roster last week, will only need an arthroscopic procedure, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. Stromberg is aiming to catch on somewhere else around the midseason point. He only played 26 rookie-year snaps on offense. The Arkansas product would technically have a chance to land back with the Commanders, depending on the terms of the settlement, but the team moving on so early may well point to the Adam Peters regime deeming the Ron Rivera– and Martin Mayhew-overseen move a mistake.

Davis figures to land elsewhere and play this season. The 28-year-old linebacker sustained a foot sprain and will be out for a few weeks, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Davis played in 16 games, split evenly between the Saints and Panthers, last season.

Commanders Trade DT John Ridgeway To Saints

August 31st, 2024 at 12:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

TODAY, 12:05pm: The seventh-round pick that the Commanders attached to Ridgeway is a conditional selection, according to Howard Balzer of CardsWire. In a fun twist, the pick is technically New Orleans’ 2025 seventh-round pick. The selection was originally sent to Philly in the C. J. Gardner-Johnson trade, and it was recently sent to Washington in the Jahan Dotson deal.

WEDNESDAY, 2:45pm: The Commanders made an effort to trade John Ridgeway before roster-cutdown day. Unlike many of those pursuits, a deal will come to pass after the team had set its 53-man roster.

Ridgeway is heading to the Saints in a pick-swap deal, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo report. This marks another 2022 or 2023 draftee the new regime is jettisoning. A 2022 Cowboys fifth-round pick, Ridgeway worked as rotational defensive tackle in Washington.

Washington cut five of its 2023 draftees Tuesday and has now traded two 2022 picks in the past week, with this following the Jahan Dotson deal. Even though Ridgeway came from the Cowboys, Dan Quinn‘s team is moving on from a player the Ron Rivera regime initially added. Ridgeway arrived in Dallas during Quinn’s second year as Cowboys DC; the veteran coach has since signed off on moving on twice in three years.

This will be a classic pick-swap agreement, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter adding the Saints are sending the Commanders a 2025 sixth-round pick for Ridgeway and a ’25 seventh. Two years remain on Ridgeway’s rookie contract, which Washington initially claimed in September 2022.

Ridgeway, 25, played a career-high 356 defensive snaps last season. While the Commanders had extra work to go around at D-end during the second half of last season (after trading Chase Young and Montez Sweat), they had less playing time to give out at DT. Ridgeway nevertheless earned a spot operating behind Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. Pro Football Focus was still not impressed, ranking the Illinois State alum as a bottom-10 D-tackle (among regulars) last season.

The Saints return 2023 free agency additions Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd at D-tackle, with 2023 first-round pick Bryan Bresee and rookie sixth-rounder Khristian Boyd rounding out the group. New Orleans also rookie UDFA DT Sincere Haynesworth on IR last week.

Randy Mueller To Re-Join Saints’ Front Office

August 30th, 2024 at 8:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

Randy Mueller is set to return to the Saints more than two decades after his tenure in the organization came to an end. New Orleans’ former general manager is re-joining the team’s front office as a full-time advisor, NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan reports.

Mueller was with the team during the draft in an unofficial capacity, Duncan notes. He also attended training camp, so this move will formalize a working relationship which was already in place. Mueller – who is very close with current GM Mickey Loomis – will spend most of his time in his new role assisting the pro and college scouting departments.

The 63-year-old served as the Saints’ general manager for the 2000 and 2001 seasons. He was at the helm during New Orleans’ first postseason win, and his debut campaign in the GM role saw him earn Executive of the Year honors. His firing after a 7-9 campaign the following year led to Loomis (whom Mueller had hired) taking over as general manager. Loomis has remained in place ever since.

Mueller landed a second NFL GM gig in 2005 when he took charge of the Dolphins. He held that title for three seasons, during which time Miami posted a record of 16-32 (with 15 of those losses coming in 2007). The end of his stint with the Dolphins was immediately followed by a spot in the Chargers’ front office. Mueller worked as senior executive of football operations with the Bolts from 2008-18.

This move will allow Mueller to return to the NFL ranks for the first time since his Chargers stint. His most recent front office gig came in the XFL, when he served as the Seattle Sea Dragons’ director of player personnel. Now, Mueller will return to New Orleans as one of three ex-GMs assisting Loomis this season. The Saints hired Dave Ziegler (who guided the Raiders from 2022 to the midway point of last season) in June, adding him to a staff already including Jeff Ireland (who replaced Mueller as Dolphins GM and remained in that role through 2018).

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/29/24

August 29th, 2024 at 8:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

PFR’s practice squad rundown, signaling we are indeed close to games that count, begins Thursday. Here is how teams began to handle their 16-man P-squads.

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Slovis went to camp with the Colts, joining the team as a UDFA this year. Houston placed Case Keenum on IR and released Tim Boyle, who is now the Dolphins’ P-squad QB. Slovis, who played at USC, Pittsburgh and BYU in college, is now the Texans’ de facto third-stringer.

Shelley has 11 career starts — with the Bears and Vikings — on his resume. He joined the Raiders last year but ended up with the Rams, playing in 11 games as a backup. The Giants have spent time searching for a cornerback answer, having not been too satisfied with their Cor’Dale Flott–Nick McCloud CB2 competition. New York did not make any waiver claims at the position Wednesday.

Reagor, who played for the Patriots last season, is back after being released earlier this week. The former Minnesota first-rounder played in 11 New England games last season, returning a kick for a touchdown. Latu joins the Browns after being a 49ers cut. The 2023 third-round pick missed all of last season with an ACL tear. Jefferson is back with the Bolts hours after being released.

Saints Waive RB/KR Kene Nwangwu

August 29th, 2024 at 3:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

AUGUST 29: Nwangwu will not, in fact, be playing for the Saints in 2024. New Orleans waived him with a failed physical designation, as noted by ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. That surprising move leaves the team in need of a new returner option, and will likely limit the interest shown in Nwangwu until he returns to full health.

AUGUST 28: The Vikings attempted to find a trade taker for Kene Nwangwu‘s rookie contract. While no one stepped in, the Saints are bringing in the running back/return specialist a day later.

Nwangwu will now play his contract year with the Saints, per NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill. This will reunite Nwangwu with new Saints OC Klint Kubiak, who was Minnesota’s play-caller during the running back’s 2021 rookie season.

Kubiak was with the Vikings when they drafted Nwangwu in the 2021 fifth round and operated as the team’s play-caller that year. The Vikings moved on from Mike Zimmer (and Kubiak) following that season, but Nwangwu has mostly excelled as a return man. His inability to carve out a role on offense affected Minnesota’s decision to move on Tuesday.

The Vikes added Aaron Jones and saw Ty Chandler show promise late last season, putting a low ceiling on Nwangwu in Kevin O’Connell‘s offense. But the contract-year RB would be of interest in the kicking game — particularly this year. The Iowa State alum finished with two kick-return TDs as a rookie and added a third career KOR score in 2022.

New Orleans has Alvin Kamara entrenched as its starter, with the five-time Pro Bowler seemingly in his final season — barring a substantial pay-cut agreement — with the team. Jamaal Williams is also in Year 2 of a three-year, $12MM deal. Kendre Miller, however, has not practiced since the first day of training camp. Dealing with a hamstring malady for the second straight summer, the 2023 third-round pick moved to IR with a return designation. Nwangwu will take a roster spot in the meantime and will aim to carve out a permanent role.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC South

August 28th, 2024 at 4:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints moves are noted below.

Atlanta Falcons

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Carolina Panthers

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

  • WR Jalen Coker

Waived from IR:

Signed to practice squad:

New Orleans Saints

Signed:

Claimed:

Signed to practice squad:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

2024 NFL Waiver Order

August 28th, 2024 at 10:42am CST by Sam Robinson

Waiver claims can begin coming in at 11am CT. While the waiver order will depend on 2024 records in several weeks, teams’ 2023 finishes currently determine it. Here is how the waiver priority list stacks up heading into today’s round of claims:

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