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NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/9/24

October 9th, 2024 at 6:48pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Jets

Tennessee Titans

Wilson is a former collegiate basketball player who played for two years apiece at Idaho and Oregon State. He transitioned to football, transferring to Washington State for three years, appearing in 12 games in 2022 at right and left tackle. He then played in 13 basketball games for the Cougars before transferring to Minnesota and transitioning back to basketball for his final year of collegiate eligibility.

Robert Saleh Not Planning To Join Another Coaching Staff In 2024

October 9th, 2024 at 11:07am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Despite calls from 49ers fans who want Robert Saleh to return to San Francisco, the now-fired Jets coach has no intention of taking another coaching job during the 2024 season, per Michael Silver of The San Francisco Chronicle.

Instead, Saleh is going on vacation with his family before preparing for the 2025 NFL hiring cycle, when he should be a popular candidate for teams in need of a new defensive coordinator. The Jets’ defense has consistently been one of the best in the league since Saleh’s arrival in 2021, ranking in the top three of points per drive, EPA per play, and success rate allowed, according to ESPN’s Benjamin Solak. That followed a strong stretch as defensive coordinator of the 49ers from 2017 to 2020, which earned Saleh the gig in New York.

Saleh’s firing was so sudden that he did not get a chance to meet with his players before he left the building, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. However, Saleh’s departure from the building has, to a degree, been blown out of proportion by rampant speculation. He was not physically ejected from the Jets’ facility, merely escorted out by security in a common corporate practice, according to Peter Schrager of NFL Network.

Saleh’s defensive pedigree could likely land him a position with another NFL team this season if he wanted it, with the Texans (who employ ex-Saleh staffer DeMeco Ryans as HC) also looming as a natural fit. But the three-plus-year Jets HC seems content to collect the remainder of his 2024 salary from the Jets as he contemplates his future. One year remains on Saleh’s Jets contract, a five-year deal that ended up producing a 20-36 record.

Jets Fire HC Robert Saleh

October 8th, 2024 at 10:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Coming into the season coaching for his job, Robert Saleh could not do enough to impress Jets ownership. Five games in, the team will go through with an abrupt course change.

The Jets are firing their fourth-year HC, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This will end an underwhelming tenure for the veteran defensive coach and invite more questions about the franchise’s direction. Saleh will finish his Jets tenure with a 20-36 record. This news comes on the heels of back-to-back losses — to the Broncos and Vikings, dropping the team to 2-3 — and three straight sub-.500 seasons.

[RELATED: Saleh Sought To Reduce Nathaniel Hackett’s Role]

Woody Johnson fired Saleh this morning, blindsiding the HC, according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. This is Johnson’s first in-season firing. The Jets had seen every HC finish a season since 1977; Lou Holtz quit to take an Arkansas HC offer in 1976. The Jets had not fired a coach in-season since Charley Winner in 1975.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will be named interim HC, according to NFL Network’s Peter Schrager. Ulbrich has been the Jets’ DC throughout Saleh’s tenure, calling the signals on that side of the ball. Given the scrutiny surrounding OC Nathaniel Hackett, he never stood much of a chance to be named the interim option. Ulbrich has a long runway here, given that 12 games remain.

One season remained on Saleh’s contract, Schefter adds. The Jets largely handcuffed Saleh to megabust Zach Wilson, with that partnership extending beyond Year 2 thanks to Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear four plays into the 2023 season. Ownership gave both Saleh and GM Joe Douglas mulligans for 2023, given the franchise’s Rodgers-dependent plan combusting so early. Saleh, 47, has not inspired much confidence this year, as Rodgers has been viewed as the nerve center for the Jets essentially since his April 2023 arrival. That will continue, and Douglas remains in his GM chair. But the latter remains on the hot seat as well.

Hired after four seasons as 49ers DC, Saleh quickly entered an uphill battle thanks to the Wilson pick. The Jets did not add a veteran backup quarterback in 2021, installing Wilson — a BYU product who broke out during a Cougars season that featured an atypical schedule thanks to COVID-19 — as the unquestioned starter from Day 1. Wilson proved quickly he was not up to the job, and Saleh ended up benching the highly touted prospect three times from 2022-23. Ownership not springing for a better backup option in 2023 — inaction largely traced to Johnson’s refusal to spend due to what the franchise already authorized for Rodgers in terms of trade compensation and cash — left Saleh with Wilson for much of last season, leading to a 7-10 record.

Saleh, however, repaired the Jets’ defense early during his run. After a 4-13 2021 squad finished last in both points and yards allowed, the Jets rocketed to fourth place in both categories in 2022. Last season, the Jets finished 12th in scoring and third in yardage defensively. Wilson held this operation back, but Saleh did not do much to confirm he was right to lead the team.

From making comments about Wilson being the best QB option for the Jets (despite having benched him for Tim Boyle) last season to being put on the podium to answer questions about Rodgers and Haason Reddick‘s minicamp absences (for which both were fined, with Reddick never reporting following a March trade), Saleh did not exactly convey strong leadership. Reports of veteran unrest surrounding the HC’s defenses of Wilson emerged at multiple points during Saleh’s tenure as well.

The Jets shipped Wilson to Denver this offseason, signing Tyrod Taylor. But Rodgers has largely not looked his MVP self upon return from his injury, either. This has put Hackett under fire, as the former Broncos HC has gone through a disastrous stretch since his Green Bay run ended. Despite this, Hackett remains in place as the Jets’ play-caller; New York’s offense ranks 23rd in DVOA, 25th in points and 27th in yardage.

The Rodgers trade cranked up the heat on Saleh and Douglas, as the Jets hoped to pair a well-built defense with a four-time MVP. New York’s defense exited Week 5 ranked fifth in scoring and second in yardage, hence Ulbrich’s opportunity over Rodgers’ preferred OC, but friction also appeared to be developing between Saleh and the QB.

Rodgers memorably shoved Saleh away as the HC attempted to embrace the QB on the sideline during a Jets Week 3 win over the Patriots. A loss to the Broncos a week later led Saleh to suggest Rodgers change his cadence, as the team committed five false start penalties. Rodgers bristled at that suggestion, saying the team instead needed to hold players accountable.

Rodgers’ 11th-hour endorsement of Saleh, downplaying the friction, did not do much good. The quarterback, whom a January report pegged as having an outsized influence in the Jets organization, will now work with Ulbrich while continuing to plug away in Hackett’s offense. The Jets had made a backchannel effort to install a veteran assistant to help Hackett after a rough 2023 (which followed the embattled coordinator’s woeful one-and-done as Broncos HC). Saleh had expressed reservations about Hackett last season but kept the Rodgers-backed OC as his offensive play-caller.

It is also worth noting that Woody Johnson did not hire Saleh. Christopher Johnson, who served as acting owner during his brother’s ambassadorial stint, hired him. When Saleh was hired in January 2021, Woody was finishing up a tenure as the country’s UK ambassador under then-president Donald Trump. Christopher also hired Douglas in 2019, and the GM will likely need a quick turnaround to avoid an ouster of his own.

Ulbrich, 47, coached at the Senior Bowl this year and received interest from the 49ers. The NFC West team sought to interview Ulbrich for its DC vacancy; Ulbrich played his entire NFL career with the 49ers. Saleh blocked the interview, as teams are permitted for contracted assistants regarding lateral moves. Now, Ulbrich will take a crack at filling Saleh’s post, as this Jets regime attempts to prevent full-scale change.

Ulbrich worked as Falcons linebackers coach from 2015-18, overlapping with former Saleh boss Kyle Shanahan during part of that tenure. The ex-Dan Quinn staffer moved into Atlanta’s DC role in 2020, when Raheem Morris took over as Falcons interim boss. Saleh, as ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington points out, is the third HC over the past 10 years to be fired in the wake of a London loss; he joins ex-Dolphins and Raiders leaders Joe Philbin and Dennis Allen in that regard.

By being retained for Year 4, Saleh joined a select few modern HCs in surviving after three consecutive sub-.500 seasons. Only six HCs have managed to last into Year 4 without a .500 season in their first three years this century. Dom Capers (Texans), Mike Nolan (49ers), Jeff Fisher (Rams), Gus Bradley (Jaguars) and Jon Gruden (Raiders 2.0) are the other club members.

Despite the Jets having a chance to claim the AFC East lead Monday night against the Bills, Saleh will not have a chance to see a turnaround through. It will not be hard to see Saleh, after the Jets’ defensive performance since 2022 and based on the 49ers defense’s ascent on his watch, earning a DC opportunity in 2025. But he is out of a job in New York. Now, the Douglas watch begins.

Jets’ Robert Saleh Planned To Strip Nathaniel Hackett Of Play-Calling Duties

October 8th, 2024 at 9:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Robert Saleh was fired on Tuesday, but the Jets’ head coaching change was not the only major shake-up which was discussed. The status of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was set to change not long before Saleh’s dismissal.

The fourth-year head coach was “seriously contemplating” the idea of firing Hackett, per a report from CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. That decision may have come as early as Tuesday, but given the events which have since taken place that is of course no longer possible. Hackett’s job is safe, although his role could still be altered soon.

[RELATED: Woody Johnson Denies Rodgers Had Role In Saleh Firing]

Refuting Jones’ report, SNY’s Connor Hughes states firing Hackett was never actually on the table. He and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk add that Saleh was, however, planning on stripping the much-maligned OC of his play-calling duties ahead of Week 6. Had Saleh followed through with that plan, passing game coordinator Todd Downing would have called plays with Hackett remaining on New York’s staff. The latter has faced questions throughout his New York tenure, with the team having sought out an offensive staffer to oversee him this offseason.

It was later learned former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith was one of the coaches who was contacted by the Jets about such a role. He declined the team’s interest before ultimately taking the Steelers’ OC gig. That left Hackett – a close friend of quarterback Aaron Rodgers who enjoyed a successful run with him in Green Bay – in charge of an offense which struggled mightily in 2023. Rodgers’ Week 1 Achilles tear gave the coaching staff (along with general manager Joe Douglas) a mulligan for the current season, but things have not gone according to plan so far on offense.

A healthy Rodgers (at least, aside from the low ankle sprain he suffered on Sunday and the knee injury he dealt with from the week prior) led to renewed expectations for Hackett’s unit. The Jets rank 23rd in offensive DVOA so far, though, compared to a 12th-place ranking on defense by the same metric. Optimism for improvement did not exist amongst players or coaches if Hackett remained in charge of the offense, and owner Woody Johnson has been critical of the ex-Broncos head coach’s recent performances. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich did not immediately say who will handle play-calling duties as he takes over the 2-3 team.

If Downing were to be tapped for that role, he would be in position to lead an offense for the first time since his Titans tenure ended in 2022. The 44-year-old was retained by the organization following a November DUI arrest in that year, but he was fired at the end of the campaign. Tennessee ranked mid-pack in scoring and total offense in 2021, but the following year the team dropped to 30th and 28th, respectively, in those departments. Downing was nevertheless able to quickly land his current gig with the Jets, and he could be in line for added responsibilities.

With Saleh being fired minutes after his play-calling plan had been made known, per Hughes’ report, it will certainly be interesting to see if Ulbrich carries it out. If Hackett does retain control of the offense, though, he will no doubt face increased scrutiny as the Jets attempt to pivot from the Saleh era to the playoffs.

Jets Fallout: Johnson, Douglas, Saleh, Hackett, Rodgers, Ulbrich

October 8th, 2024 at 9:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets’ decision to fire Robert Saleh five games into his fourth season “blindsided” the well-liked but embattled HC, and the call did not involve Saleh’s football ops partner.

Jets ownership went around GM Joe Douglas when making this call, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Zack Rosenblatt report. The sixth-year New York GM was not involved in the decision to fire Saleh, and Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager reports Douglas was not in the meeting in which the coach was informed the team was ending his tenure. This certainly casts some doubt about Douglas’ long-term future with the Jets.

Woody Johnson is contradicting this part of the Saleh fallout, indicating Tuesday he did consult with Douglas on the firing. The owner, however, said (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo) the decision to let Saleh go — the first in-season Jets HC firing since 1975 — was his alone. Johnson has now fired Saleh, Rex Ryan and Eric Mangini. Buying the Jets in 2000, Johnson saw Al Groh resign; he then traded Herm Edwards‘ rights to the Chiefs in 2006 and was serving as the United States’ ambassador to the United Kingdom when Todd Bowles was fired (under brother and acting owner Christopher Johnson). Christopher joined Woody in the firing meeting with Saleh on Tuesday.

Russisi and Rosenblatt add a lack of accountability on the offensive side of the ball did not sit well with the Jets’ defensive players. New York ranks second in total defense this season and fifth in points allowed per game; that contrasts greatly with the team’s offensive output (18.6 points per game, 25th in the NFL). Struggles of a similar nature were of course present throughout last season, and continued issues with offense led to questions regarding offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett‘s job security.

The former Packers OC (who spent time in Green Bay during part of Aaron Rodgers‘ tenure there) endured a disastrous stint as head coach of the Broncos in 2022, being fired before his debut Denver campaign had even ended. That was followed by Hackett’s Jets hire, a move which ultimately allowed him to reunite with Rodgers. Things have not gone according to plan in New York, however, with the 44-year-old play-caller taking repeated criticism.

Indeed, the Athletic report notes Hackett does not have much support amongst players or coaches at this point. SNY’s Connor Hughes adds Woody Johnson has been critical over the past few weeks in particular. During a rain-soaked home game against the Broncos, the Jets managed only nine points in a low-scoring loss. That was followed by Sunday’s London contest, during which New York trailed 17-0 at one point. As of now, Hackett’s job is safe, although interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich noted on Tuesday all elements of the offense will be under evaluation (h/t ESPN’s Rich Cimini).

Given the fact the Jets only trail the Bills by one game in the division, along with their continued success on defense, today’s firing was not expected by any party outside of ownership. Hughes reports members of management along with coaches and players were “stunned” by Saleh’s dismissal (video link). That sentiment will no doubt linger if the team continues to struggle on offense over the coming weeks. The unit’s recent struggles were not solely responsible for today’s move, though.

When speaking to the media, Johnson noted (via Cimini’s colleague Kimberley A. Martin) the past two losses were not the only driving factor in his decision to move on from Saleh. He expressed confidence in Ulbrich’s ability to guide the team toward the postseason in 2024, something which would end the franchise’s 13-year playoff drought. Given the talent level on the roster, that remains the expectation.

Johnson said he views the 2024 Jets as the best of his ownership tenure, adding the current iteration is “one of the most talented teams ever assembled” in the organization’s history (h/t Brian Costello of the New York Post and Garafolo’s colleague Ian Rapoport). Slight improvement in terms of offensive efficiency would give New York at least a strong chance at a wild-card berth, particularly if the defense were to remain healthy. On that note, Rodgers’ status given his knee injury suffered in Week 5 and his low ankle sprain from Sunday will of course be worth monitoring closely.

The relationship between Rodgers and Saleh had remained a talking point throughout the 2024 campaign, although the four-time MVP recently offered public assurances things were not strained between the two. Veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports the partnership was indeed in a good place at the time of today’s decision. Given Rodgers’ major influence on organizational decisions, though, many have speculated he had a hand in Saleh (rather than Hackett) being the one dismissed. Johnson said (via Martin) he and Rodgers spoke last night, but not about any potential coaching changes. He repeated the move was his alone, stating Rodgers had no say in the matter (h/t Cimini).

As could be expected, Schultz adds that Ulbrich will have the opportunity to earn the head coaching gig on a full-time basis. How the next 12 games play out will determine his candidacy, but he takes on the current role with a strong reputation inside the organization. As players, staffers and management alike seek to move forward from the surprise of Saleh’s firing, Ulbrich will face high expectations over the remainder of the campaign.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post. 

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/8/24

October 8th, 2024 at 9:21pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tuesday’s taxi squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: OL Matthew Cindric

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Indianapolis Colts

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Fleming saw time with Denver across each of the past three seasons. The 32-year-old alternated between right and left tackle during that span, and he remained on the team’s radar given his workout in September. Now Fleming, a veteran of 117 games and 62 starts, will be an option to handle a depth role along the O-line once he is elevated to the Broncos’ active roster.

Jets Not Planning To Fire Nathaniel Hackett

October 8th, 2024 at 10:42am CST by Sam Robinson

Under intense scrutiny essentially since he took over as Jets offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett remains in place after Robert Saleh‘s Tuesday-morning ouster. The Jets are not planning to can the embattled OC, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Considering Hackett’s ties to Aaron Rodgers, this is unsurprising. The Jets have gone through interesting efforts to curb Hackett’s power, however, having made an effort to hire an assistant that would limit the ex-Packers OC’s reach in the building. That plan, which looked to have Saleh’s fingerprints on it based on his view of Hackett coming out of last season, did not come to fruition.

Hackett surviving may have caught some in the organization by surprise. Rather than Saleh being in jeopardy of losing his job post-London, SNY’s Connor Hughes notes some suspected Hackett to be closer to the chopping block. Jets front office figures have been scrutinizing Hackett’s work recently, Hughes adds. Rodgers, though, has endorsed Hackett on numerous occasions — including this offseason.

Hackett, 44, is no stranger to in-season firings. The Jaguars removed him from his OC post during the 2018 season. More memorably, the Broncos made him one of the few first-year HCs in NFL history to be fired before his first season ended. Hackett’s disastrous Denver stint lasted all of 15 games. The Jets, however, hired him to call plays soon after. The move certainly had an impact on the team acquiring Rodgers, who was near retirement at the time Hackett signed on to call Jets plays.

Scrutiny aside, Hackett has the backing of Rodgers, effectively an organizational power broker given his importance to this Jets regime’s chances of sticking around beyond 2024. Seemingly, the only chance that happens is if interim HC Jeff Ulbrich leads a turnaround. Hackett’s tie to Rodgers, stemming from three seasons as a non-play-calling Green Bay OC, has proven strong enough to stabilize — to a degree, at least — the second-generation NFL coach’s career.

The Jets’ Zach Wilson offense fared worse under Hackett than it did with Mike LaFleur calling the plays. The Jets’ 10 touchdowns through 12 games last season represented the fewest in that timespan to start a season since 2000. New York ranked 29th in scoring and 31st in total offense last season. Even with Rodgers back this year, Hackett’s West Coast Offense-based attack sits 25th in points and 27th in yards. They sit 23rd in offensive DVOA.

Sean Payton memorably called Hackett’s 2022 performance one of the worst coaching jobs in NFL history. The latter’s short tenure points to the organization agreeing, as Russell Wilson bottomed out to display a shocking decline that, for the first time, injected real doubt about the former Super Bowl winner’s Hall of Fame case. Wilson rebounded, to a degree, under Payton last season. The Broncos appeared disjointed in 2022, and Hackett ceded play-calling duties to QBs coach Klint Kubiak late in his abbreviated tenure. Denver featured three play-callers that year, with OC Justin Outten succeeding the dismissed Hackett in that role.

The Jets have a former OC on their staff, in Todd Downing, who serves as QBs coach and the team’s pass-game coordinator. Downing has received two chances at being an OC, having served in the role for the 2017 Raiders and then for the Titans from 2021-22. Tennessee fired Downing after the ’22 season, weeks after he was arrested on a DUI charge.

Raiders Aiming To Trade WR Davante Adams Soon

October 7th, 2024 at 12:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

By the time teams convene for Wednesday practices, Davante Adams may well have a new uniform assigned to him. The Raiders are aiming to be done with this process this week.

More specifically, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini indicates Las Vegas wants Adams to have a new home within the next 48 hours. Requesting a trade days ago, Adams is onboard with this timeline. While also offering that the Raiders want this deal done soon, veteran NFL reporter Jordan Schultz adds the team is still not prepared to settle for a below-market deal for its top offensive player.

The Jets and Saints remain the favorites, according to Russini, though the Steelers may be the top lurking team here. The most smoke has come out of New York, however, even if Adams is believed to have some concerns about Aaron Rodgers‘ post-2024 future there. The longtime Rodgers weapon had similar reservations about signing a Packers extension, with Rodgers in year-to-year mode at that point, and eventually made it known he preferred a Derek Carr reunion with the Raiders. That experiment fizzled quickly, and it is not hard to see why the Saints are involved.

Rodgers threw three interceptions Sunday, dropping the Jets to 2-3. New York’s two wins have come over downtrodden teams, and time is running out for the Joe Douglas-Robert Saleh-Nathaniel Hackett trio. The pressure on this Jets power structure makes it logical it would gamble on Adams by parting with a valuable future asset, rather than let their potential successors use it as Adams ends up elsewhere. The Jets have not been shy about catering to its quarterback’s wishes, so they should be expected to stay in this mix until the end.

The Raiders want at least a second-round pick for Adams, who is under contract through 2026. Mark Davis is believed to be resolute on that price for a player he was hesitant to give up this offseason. With Las Vegas in limbo, having again benched its starting quarterback (months after a trade-up effort failed), acquiring an asset for its top skill player has always made more sense than hanging onto a weapon that has seemed out of place for over a year.

A Saints arrival would require more Mickey Loomis cap gymnastics, but some of the odysseys the longtime GM has completed to reach offseason cap compliance certainly would not make such a journey unrealistic. The Saints, however, have barely $2.5MM in cap space. The Jets sit at $17.3MM. This would make New York a more appealing partner for Las Vegas, which would understandably prefer to avoid paying some of Adams’ salary to help the acquiring team. (A team obtaining Adams this week would be on the hook for $11.92MM in base salary, should the Raiders pay nothing.)

Though, this route can boost trade compensation, as the Broncos found out when they pried second- and third-rounders from the Rams for agreeing to pay most of Von Miller‘s 2021 salary. How much the Raiders would be willing to eat may well determine if the Saints are a viable option. The Steelers hold $10.5MM in cap room. If the Raiders move on now and not agree to pay any of Adams’ remaining base salary, they would save more than $19MM in cap space, much of which would stand to be rolled over into 2025.

Several other teams — from the Bills to the Browns to the Chiefs to the Commanders to the Ravens — have been tied to Adams. The Chiefs should be considered extremely unlikely for obvious reasons, and the Ravens have not discussed Adams with the Raiders in days. A Washington landing would be interesting, given Jayden Daniels‘ status as the runaway Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite, while Buffalo — after opting to trade Stefon Diggs — may be more amenable to meeting Vegas’ terms after Josh Allen struggled without Khalil Shakir available Sunday. The Bills have two 2025 second-round picks, via the Diggs trade.

Other wideouts are undoubtedly set to become available, but Adams being on the block early presents help nearly a month before the trade deadline. The 31-year-old WR’s hamstring injury is not expected to be an issue much longer. While a trade now would mean a higher base salary for a player who may end up a rental — as two nonguaranteed years at high prices ($35.6MM, $36.6MM) remain on Adams’ contract — but this is a rare talent who should have some productive years left. We appear close to learning Adams’ third NFL destination.

Raiders’ Davante Adams Likely To Recover In Time For Week 6; Latest On Trade Market

October 6th, 2024 at 6:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 6: Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Press-Gazette confirms the Steelers are among the teams which have called about Adams’ availability. As he notes, though, it remains to be seen how much interest Adams would have in heading to Pittsburgh and committing to the necessary contract adjustments for a deal to become feasible. Adams does not have a no-trade clause or other official leverage in determining his destination, meaning the Steelers remain in play as a suitor; whether they become a serious contender to swing a trade remains to be seen, though.

OCTOBER 5: Davante Adams will not play on Sunday as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. That process has doubled as the intensification of his trade market, with several suitors being linked to an agreement with the Raiders.

Vegas is insisting on a trade price of a second-round pick and more to move on from the All-Pro wideout. Retaining some of his salary could take place to make that possible, but Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson writes multiple league executives view that price as “exorbitant.” Even with a lesser financial acquisition cost, teams could be hard-pressed to part with signficant draft capital for player whose non-guaranteed salaries in 2025 and ’26 would essentially make him a rental, something a number of suitors view him as.

A long-term commitment in Adams would, on the other hand, especially make sense if it were to come from the Jets or Saints. Those teams have long been at the top of the list of teams mentioned as landing spots for the 31-year-old, whose preference would be to reunite with Aaron Rodgers. A deal sending him to New Orleans and thus reconnecting him with Derek Carr and receivers coach Keith Williams is also on the radar, though, and Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports Adams has “concerns” about Rodgers’ willingness to remain with New York beyond 2024 (subscription required).

While several reports still tap the Jets as the frontrunner in this case, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds the Saints have been the most aggressive suitor to date. New Orleans does not have the necessary cap space to swing an Adams acquisition, and the team is (as per usual) on track to require several cuts and restructures to attain compliance next offseason. Taking on Adams’ contract now and in the future would be a challenge, though bringing him into the fold could prove to be highly impactful in the NFC South race.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, to little surprise, the Raiders’ preference would be to avoid retaining any portion of Adams’ outstanding base salary (roughly $13.5MM at this point). That could limit the number of suitors unless the asking price in terms of draft compensation were to come down, but many are still in contention as things stand. The Commanders may be among them, but even if not the Steelers, Ravens and Bills have made inquiries as well. Russini adds Pittsburgh – connected to non-Adams trade targets as well – is making an “aggressive” offer, although no deal with any team is considered imminent.

As for Baltimore and Buffalo, Robinson notes a second-rounder is too high of an asking price for a deal to receive serious consideration. The Ravens, per Schefter, have not been in contact with the Raiders for several days. The Cowboys will be without Brandin Cooks for at least four games, but the team has made it clear fitting Adams into its financial planning would be a tall order. 49ers general manager John Lynch‘s latest comments on a potential pursuit of the six-time Pro Bowler, meanwhile, suggested San Francisco is an unlikely destination. The same may well be true of the Chiefs, but they are positioned to test the Raiders’ stance on taking the best offer given their need for a receiver.

Rapoport’s piece notes Adams is likely to be healed in time for Week 6. Trade talks should heat up in the coming days, he and Schefter add, so further developments on this ever-evolving front can be expected. November 5 looms as the trade deadline, and as such the Raiders can still afford to be patient while attempting to cultivate the best market possible over the near future.

Chiefs WR Rashee Rice To Undergo Arthroscopic Procedure; Outcome Will Impact Team’s Trade Outlook

October 6th, 2024 at 8:28am CST by Rory Parks

Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice, who is presently on injured reserve with a possible but unconfirmed ACL tear, will undergo an arthroscopic procedure this week to determine the extent of the damage, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Dan Cooper, the Cowboys’ team doctor.

At this point, there are still a number of possible outcomes: damage to just the supporting ligaments in the knee, which would not require a surgery (a best-scenario in which Rice would miss four to six weeks); a torn PCL and LCL but no ACL damage (which would nonetheless force him to miss four to six months); or damage to the ACL that is significant enough to warrant an operation (which comes with a nine-month recovery timeframe). Per Rapoport, the chances that the testing will show that Rice’s knee is strong enough to return to the field in 2024 are slim, but Kansas City is obviously still hopeful.

In keeping with a different Rapoport story from last week and his report on the above-referenced knee scope, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com expects the Chiefs to explore a trade for a receiver in advance of the November 5 deadline if Rice is indeed forced to miss the remainder of the season. We heard several days ago that Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins is drawing trade interest, and both Rapoport and Schefter name the three-time First Team All-Pro as a target if Tennessee decides to sell.

The Raiders’ Davante Adams is presently the big fish in the pool of WR trade candidates, although neither Rapoport nor Schefter see Las Vegas and Kansas City pulling off an intra-division deal of this magnitude. However, the Jets are one of the frontrunners for Adams, and if they pull off a deal for his services, Schefter believes they may be amenable to moving one of their other wideouts in a separate trade. Speculatively, Mike Williams is a player the Chiefs might target in such a scenario.

The Chiefs have a Week 6 bye and will use it to assess their WR situation, as Rapoport details. He and Schefter disagree about how much available cap space Kansas City has at the moment – Rapoport says $15MM, while Schefter says $5MM – but in any event, Rapoport notes that the club wants to roll over as many cap dollars as possible into 2025 to facilitate second contracts for players like Trent McDuffie, Trey Smith, and George Karlaftis. While that will likely not dissuade the Chiefs from swinging a trade that would help secure another championship, it will at least factor into their decision-making.

In addition to the impact it will have on the trade deadline landscape, the upcoming arthroscopic procedure could play a role in the suspension that Rice is expected to receive for his offseason legal trouble. A recent report suggested that Rice is aiming to serve his suspension this season, because if he is going to be unavailable anyway due to injury, then it certainly makes sense for him and the team to get it over with. Of course, such an outcome would not sit well with the rest of the league.

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