HEADLINES

Steelers WR Calvin Austin To Take On Increased Role

June 28th, 2024 at 10:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers’ receiver room is short on know commodities aside from George Pickens, but a number of in-house options will get the opportunity to serve in a more prominent capacity this season. That applies to Calvin Austin.

The 25-year-old is in line to see the largest workload of his young career to date, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic writes (subscription required). That come as little surprise considering Pittsburgh’s decision to trade away Diontae Johnson and release Allen Robinson. Those moves have created a pair of starting vacancies, and no veteran presence on the roster is a lock to secure one of them.

Austin was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, but a foot injury cost him his entire rookie campaign. The 5-9, 162-pound speedster was healthy for the entire 2023 season, but the presence of Pickens, Johnson and Robinson limited his offensive role. Austin logged a 35% offensive snap share and made just 17 catches. The Memphis product did chip in on special teams as a punt returner, although free agent addition Cordarrelle Patterson could take on those responsibilities in 2024.

The slot is likely Austin’s primary location for offensive usage, but the same could be true (at least early in his career) of third-round rookie Roman Wilson. The Michigan product was part of a stellar receiver class in this year’s draft, and he should be able to compete for a rotational role amongst Pittsburgh’s other options – a list which includes the likes of Quez Watkins, Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller. Watkins saw his new team as an opportunity to earn a first-team role, but training camp will go a long way in determining the receiver pecking order.

Keeping in line with his previous stance on the matter, Kaboly adds in a separate piece that the Steelers could still be in the market for a wideout addition. Such a move may not happen until the start of training camp, the point at which unsigned veterans often commit to a team. Pittsburgh has nearly $16MM in cap space, so the team certainly has the flexibility to bring in another experienced pass-catcher.

Regardless of whether or not that happens, though, Austin could be primed to take on a starter’s workload in 2024. Doing so would be key for him given he will be eligible for an extension after the coming season. A strong performance would help his leverage in potential contract talks in addition to providing the Steelers with needed production from the WR spot.

NFC North Front Office Updates: Vikings, Lions, Packers

June 28th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Ely Allen

The Vikings announced a number of hires to their scouting staff in recent weeks. As general manager continues to find the path to draft success in the NFL, he is enlisting the help of these new additions to achieve the best possible results.

Before getting to the new hires, Minnesota promoted Sam DeLuca to director of pro personnel, according to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com. DeLuca joined the Vikings about a year ago as a senior assistant director of pro personnel before getting the full director title. His NFL start came as a scouting intern with the Eagles in 2012 before he spent ten years in the Browns scouting department.

The biggest new hire comes in DeLuca’s department as Shane Normandeau joins the team as a pro scout. Normandeau worked alongside DeLuca in Cleveland, joining the Browns two years ago as football operations coordinator after interning for three months with the Colts.

The team also hired on Brian Schnorr as a scouting associate. Schnorr is making his NFL staff debut after three and a half years working in college recruiting with UCF, Florida State, and Nebraska. Schorr also has three years of experience as a data analyst with Pro Football Focus. Lastly, Minnesota added Dabness Atkins as a scouting assistant. After playing college ball at Holy Cross, Dabness spent the 2023 season as a recruiting assistant at UMass.

Here are a few other front office updates out of the NFC North:

  • The Lions made a big move, adding Charlie Adkins to the staff as senior director of football administration, per ESPN’s Seth Walder. Adkins comes from Arizona, where he spent the last seven years in the Cardinals’ football analytics and research department, eventually working his way up to manager of football analytics and research. He reunites with chief operating officer Mike Disner, who joined the Lions in 2019 after six years with the Cardinals as director of football administration.
  • Stratton informs us of one more NFC North scouting hire, noting the addition of Sam Fleming as a scouting assistant for the Packers. Fleming first worked in the NFL as an intern with the Saints before serving two years at Samford, where he played wide receiver in college, in personnel and operations. He has spent the last three years working with National Football Scouting.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/28/24

June 28th, 2024 at 6:52pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s only minor move comes out of Charm City:

Baltimore Ravens

Since going undrafted out of Temple in 2018, Kirkwood has been a frequent flyer on our minor moves, often signing with practice squads and getting promoted for gamedays. His rookie season saw him start one of eight game appearances and catch 13 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns. While he has yet to reach that success in his career again, he has started five games in the past two years during his second stint in New Orleans, including four last year. In 13 game appearances in 2023, Kirkwood caught his first touchdown since his rookie campaign. He’ll look to win a depth role in a crowded Ravens receiving room.

Latest On Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick

June 28th, 2024 at 6:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

As the Steelers dealt with injuries in the linebacking corps and the secondary last season, Minkah Fitzpatrick was forced to handle a number of different responsibilities. The All-Pro safety is in line to handle a more familiar workload in 2024, however.

Fitzpatrick – known to be at his best when used as a free safety based on his ballhawking skills – saw a decrease in his usage rate with respect to centerfield-type deployment last season. Instead, his varied workload included an uptick in time spent in the box as well as at slot corner. That played a key role in the four-time Pro Bowler being held without an interception for the first time in his career last year.

“The biggest thing is as coaches, our job is to try to get all of our guys in the best position as possible so they can play as well as they can and play up to their abilities,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said about Fitzpatrick’s usage (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “And so last year I probably failed in that regard. We tried to have him do too much stuff, and I think I’m going to get back to really what makes him special.”

Pittsburgh has Damontae Kazee set to return to from the suspension which ended his regular season, and the team added a veteran safety in the form of DeShon Elliott in free agency. The Steelers’ linebacking corps (which includes holdovers Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts) was also strengthened this offseason with the signing of Patrick Queen and the selection of Payton Wilson in the draft. Better health and increased depth at both positions in 2024 should allow Fitzpatrick to return to an all-but exclusive role as a free safety.

The 27-year-old has proven to be a productive acquisition for the Steelers, amassing 17 interceptions and 41 pass deflections since being traded by the Dolphins. Fitzpatrick is under contract through 2026 on his $18.25MM-per-year deal, and expectations will be high for him in 2024 especially if he manages to return to his preferred alignment.

Pittsburgh ranked 11th in the league in interceptions last year despite Fitzpatrick being kept off the board in that regard, but the team finished just 17th in passing yards allowed. Improvement in both areas could take place with him returning to his most effective spot.

Cowboys WR Jalen Tolbert On Track For Starting Role

June 28th, 2024 at 4:24pm CST by Adam La Rose

CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks are safely set top the receiver depth chart for the Cowboys, but the absence of Michael Gallup has created a vacancy for the No. 3 role in 2024. A clear candidate is in place to occupy it.

Jon Machota of The Athletic confirms Jalen Tolbert is the “front-runner” to serve as Dallas’ other starting wideout (subscription required). The 2022 third-rounder had a sparse offensive role as a rookie, logging just 89 snaps. Last year, though, his offensive snap share rose to 40%. Tolbert scored a pair of touchdowns while averaging 12.2 yards per catch in his rotational role.

Of course, this update comes as little surprise. Dallas’ decision to move on from Gallup in a cost-shedding move was not followed up by a veteran addition. As a result, Tolbert was firmly among the team’s younger pass-catchers in line to see an uptick in usage. The 25-year-old’s performance in training camp will be worth monitoring as he looks to cement a first-team role.

Lamb’s uncertain contract status has been a central storyline for the Cowboys this offseason, and little progress has been made in negotiations. The All-Pro could very well hold out during training camp if no extension agreement is reached in the coming weeks, a move which would fall in line with his OTA and minicamp absences. Missing regular season time – something which would obviously not be guaranteed by a training camp holdout – would be critical for the Cowboys given Lamb’s franchise record-breaking performance in 2023.

Regardless of if Lamb is present during camp, Cooks will operate in another starting spot. The latter had a strong debut season in Dallas (657 yards, eight touchdowns) as a complementary option, a role which he will maintain in 2024. Expectations will be high for Tolbert presuming he does get the nod for first-team duties this year, and his ability to handle an increase in targets could be an important factor in determining Dallas’ offensive success. Failing that, other options for a larger role include the likes of KaVontae Turpin, Racey McMath, Ryan Flournoy and Jalen Brooks.

K Nick Folk Addresses Decision To Re-Sign With Titans

June 28th, 2024 at 2:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

After four years with the Patriots, Nick Folk was dealt to the Titans last summer. That move left the 39-year-old kicker on the move once again, but he enjoyed a strong debut campaign in Nashville.

Folk converted all but one of his 30 field goal attempts in 2023, and his 96.7% success rate led the NFL. He converted 28 of 30 extra point attempts as well, proving he is still capable of delivering consistent performances despite his age. That led to Tennessee’s decision to retain him via a one-year deal featuring $3.5MM guaranteed in March.

“For me, it’s always been a patient game,” the former sixth-rounder said when reflecting on his decision to re-sign (via team reporter Jim Wyatt). “I kind of understand the game, and I understand the business side of it. I was patient with it, and I knew I wanted to play. I told that to [general manager] Ran [Carthon] at the end of the season, that I wanted to keep playing, that I loved it here. I wanted to come back, and I’m excited to be back.”

Considering his strong play in 2023, Folk likely could have found a number of outside suitors if he preferred to test the market. Instead, his decision to remain in Tennessee should give the team another campaign of stable production at the position – something the Patriots did not enjoy in the field goal department from Chad Ryland, who was drafted to replace Folk.

The latter had struggled with kickoffs during much of his New England tenure, although his touchback percentage (50.8%) and average depth (62.3 yards) on kickoffs from 2023 outpaced his career averages. Entering his 17th NFL campaign, Folk faces understandable questions about his playing future. Another productive season with the Titans – a team which included kicker Brayden Narveson in its UDFA class – would certainly help his chances of landing another opportunity in 2025 if he pursued one, though.

Folk’s range on kicks beyond 50 yards could be a cause for concern, but his accuracy aside from that has remained steady. He has connected on 78 consecutive field goals within 40 yards, the longest such streak in NFL history. Provided he remains consistent from close range, the Titans should once again have a reliable kicking game in 2024.

PFR Originals: Giants, Extensions, Zappe

June 28th, 2024 at 2:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

Here is a rundown of PFR’s recent originals:

  • In the first edition of the 2024 Offseason in Review series, Sam Robinson recapped the Giants’ moves this spring. The departure of running back Saquon Barkley, the trade acquisition of edge rusher Brian Burns and the selection of wideout Malik Nabers were among the defining developments of the past few months in New York. Uncertainty remains over the future of head coach Brian Daboll, though, and the team’s interest in finding a Daniel Jones replacement has led to a new round of questions concerning his tenure beyond 2024.
  • The summer is a common time for many players around the league to receive extensions, including those entering the final year of their rookie pacts. That is the case for Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who made a case for a new deal with his play in 2023. Ben Levine profiled the former second-rounder’s candidacy for an extension, one which would keep him in place for years to come as part of Cleveland’s highly-regarded defense. A repeat of last year’s Pro Bowl invitation would help Owusu-Koramoah’s leverage in talks on a new Browns deal or one sending him elsewhere.
  • Plenty of veteran players with term remaining on their pacts find themselves negotiating new deals during the offseason as well, of course. One example could be Bears wideout D.J. Moore, who has two years (but little guaranteed salary) left on his deal. I broke down the ex-Panther’s deal and the presence of new wideouts (Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze) which could give Chicago pause before committing to a long-term deal. Moore, 27, has proven to be an effective producer in many systems during his career and waiting could cost the Bears based on the surging receiver market.
  • The Bengals have had one of the league’s most consistent kicking games over the past three years with Evan McPherson serving in that role. As Ely Allen detailed, the 24-year-old has put himself squarely on the extension radar with his play to date, and he could soon find himself near the top of the financial pecking order amongst kickers. That position’s market currently has eight players averaging at least $5MM per year, and McPherson could join that list on a multi-year agreement.
  • Roster cutdowns entail releases for all 32 teams, but players believed to be on the cut list often draw attention from interested suitors. In those case, players are traded to avoid being placed on waivers; Ben profiled Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe as someone who could find himself in that situation this summer. Zappe, 25, does not have a path to a starting job in New England, and the team’s post-Mac Jones depth chart features a number of backup options. A fresh start could allow him to rebuild his value while providing an acquiring team with a cost-controlled passer for two seasons.

Colts’ Alec Pierce, Adonai Mitchell To Compete For Starting WR Spot

June 28th, 2024 at 1:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Colts have Michael Pittman Jr. on the books for three more years, and he is set to reprise his role as the team’s top receiver. Indianapolis has consistently made draft investments aimed at providing strong complementary options in the passing game, though, and a competition for a starting spot is on hand this summer.

Pittman inked a three-year deal including $41MM fully guaranteed after receiving the franchise tag. That pact is one of several major commitments made at the position around the league, but the Colts have a number of other pass-catching options attached to rookie contracts. That includes 2023 third-rounder Josh Downs, who had a strong rookie season and figures to log a heavy workload in the slot moving forward.

The other perimeter starting spot is up for grabs. Over the past two years, it has belonged to Alec Pierce, but the 24-year-old has struggled to make an impact early in his career. Drafted in the second round in 2022, Pierce’s abilities as a deep threat have resulted in a yards-per-catch average of 15.2, but he has managed only 73 receptions so far. A more diverse workload could see him receive more targets, but the team’s latest rookie class includes new competition for a first-team role.

Adonai Mitchell is set to compete with Pierce for the WR3 role this summer, as detailed by ESPN’s Stephen Holder. The Texas alum enjoyed a strong season in 2023, making him one of two intriguing Longhorns wideouts in the 2024 class. Mitchell emerging as a key contributor during his rookie season could cut into Pierce’s impact in the offense, something which in turn would of course not bode well for his future in Indianapolis. Two years remain on the latter’s contract.

The Colts ranked 10th in the league in rushing last season, one in which quarterback Anthony Richardson was severely limited through injury. To no surprise, that resulted in a ranking of only 20th in terms of production through the air, something the team will look to rebound from with a healthy Richardson. Better output from the receiver spot will also help in that regard, and the competition between Mitchell and Pierce for first-team duties will be a key summer storyline.

Latest On 49ers’ RB Situation

June 28th, 2024 at 12:23pm CST by Adam La Rose

Christian McCaffrey is set to continue as the focal point of the 49ers’ attack (as well as the standard-bearer for running back contracts) for the foreseeable future. Dialing down his workload is a team goal for 2024, though, and a number of other options exist to meet it.

McCaffrey’s 81% offensive snap share the led the league amongst running backs in 2023, and on three occasions last season he took the field for every offensive snap. The 28-year-old’s success both on the ground and in the passing game helped him earn Offensive Player of the Year honors along with a lucrative extension, but reducing his wear and tear is a reasonable concern from the 49ers’ perspective. Head coach Kyle Shanahan recently spoke about San Francisco’s backfield approach moving forward.

“We have guys that can run the ball,” Shanahan said, via The Athletic’s David Lombardi (subscription required). “We have to protect Christian from himself. He doesn’t like to ever come out no matter what the situation is and I do think that’s something we could protect him with more… [I]f he’s just taking the wear and tear with 20 carries and stuff every game – and he’s definitely good enough to do that and he has proved he can stay healthy – but you’d like to take some of that off of him and give it to other guys also.”

The 49ers have both Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason in place as experienced backup options, although injuries have been an issue for the former. Mitchell has been limited to 16 games and only 120 carries across the past two seasons, and like Mason he is a pending free agent. The fact both backs could depart in 2025 played a role in San Francisco’s decision to add rookies to the mix this spring.

That process included the selection of Isaac Guerendo in the fourth round of the draft. The Louisville product showcased high-end speed during his college career, one in which saw sparse usage between 2018-22 at Wisconsin. That lack of mileage could prove to be a benefit if he manages to carve out an offensive role early on with the 49ers. For now, though, Lombardi’s colleague Matt Barrows notes Guerendo’s likeliest path to playing time during his rookie season is as a kick returner.

San Francisco has benefited from McCaffrey remaining healthy during his time with the team so far, and with a contract tying him to the Bay Area through 2027 team and player will aim to avoid a recurrence of his Panthers-era injuries. It will be interesting to see how much the 49ers’ other backs are used this season with the aim of lessening McCaffrey’s burden in mind.

CeeDee Lamb Expected To Hold Out; Cowboys Not Looking To Set Market On Extensions

June 27th, 2024 at 10:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Talks between the Cowboys and CeeDee Lamb are expected to pick up this summer. The All-Pro wide receiver is in a contract year, but so is Dak Prescott. Although Micah Parsons seems fine with his extension talks coming next year, a recent rumor pointed to the Cowboys placing Prescott above Lamb in their extension queue.

Prescott certainly took his time maximizing his leverage during his first round of negotiations, which spanned three offseasons, and the standout quarterback carries considerable leverage this time around. Dak’s situation holding up Lamb’s could be tricky for the Cowboys, who are facing the likelihood of three players pushing for position-record extensions. If no extension comes, Lamb should be expected to test the team in the way Zack Martin did last year.

[RELATED: Micah Parsons Expects To Become Highest-Paid Non-QB]

Lamb is not expected to show for training camp unless he has an extension in place, according to the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins. This would not be a stunning move, as the fifth-year wideout skipped minicamp.

Of course, that drew barely a $100K fine. Players who skip training camp are subject to $50K fines for each day missed. Nick Bosa, however, provided a blueprint to such a road not costing a player in the hold-in era. Bosa held out, but the 49ers waived his fines. Teams are no longer allowed to waive fines for players, per the 2020 CBA, but an exception exists for players on rookie contracts. Lamb qualifies, as he is tied to a fifth-year option.

The Cowboys were unable to waive Martin’s fines during his 2023 holdout, but the team buckled and turned the final two years of his contract into a fully guaranteed agreement. Martin received $36.85MM guaranteed last summer. Lamb is likely angling for a contract at or very close to the Justin Jefferson level. Considering the Vikings gave Jefferson $26MM more in guaranteed money than any other wide receiver and $36MM more fully guaranteed than any wideout secured, the Cowboys have a complicated negotiation coming.

Cowboys officials have said they do not want to set markets with their extensions, Watkins adds. That may be an issue due to the leverage and/or caliber of players with whom they will negotiate. Progress remains elusive in talks with Prescott and Lamb.

Prescott cannot be franchise-tagged or traded, and after another restructure, the Cowboys would face a $40.1MM dead money bill if they do not extend him by the start of the 2025 league year. The Cowboys are preparing to make a strong offer, but Prescott played hardball during his first round of negotiations. It would surprise if the eighth-year vet did not bring forth a similar plan, especially as the QB market has hit $55MM per year ($15MM north of Dak’s AAV), this time around.

A contract that bridges the gap between the guarantees Jefferson and A.J. Brown secured would be sensible for the Cowboys, though they undoubtedly could have signed Lamb for cheaper had they done a deal in 2023. Dallas has received criticism for delays with Lamb and Prescott, and if Parsons negotiations do commence in 2025, he will be in a contract year as well. While the Cowboys have acted early on extensions (Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick, Ezekiel Elliott), they have not done so for a first-rounder in five years.

Jefferson secured $110MM guaranteed, topping Brown’s previous WR standard of $84MM. Tyreek Hill‘s $52.5MM guarantee at signing held the WR lead until Jefferson’s whopping $88.7MM number surfaced. The Cowboys have never guaranteed a receiver more than $40MM at signing, and they escaped the other $20MM guaranteed in Amari Cooper‘s deal by trading him to the Browns.

A Lamb payday factored into that trade, with Jerry Jones citing the elder WR’s contract as the reason for the trade. Lamb, 25, has taken off since Cooper’s exit, though the Cowboys have run into some trouble finding consistent receiving help over the past two seasons.

Lamb said in January he wanted to become the NFL’s highest-paid receiver. Three receivers — Jefferson, Brown, Amon-Ra St. Brown — have since raised the bar, bringing good news for the Oklahoma alum. The Cowboys have one of the trickier contract gluts in recent memory. If they stick to extending Prescott first, Lamb’s resolve will be tested if/once a holdout commences.

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