HEADLINES

Chargers Sign Round 2 WR Ladd McConkey, Wrap Draft Class

June 17th, 2024 at 7:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Make that nine unsigned draft picks as of June 17. A year after 14 second-rounders entered July unsigned, the 2024 draft class has now seen every Round 2 choice agree to terms by mid-June.

The Chargers are the last team to cross the finish line here, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets they now have second-round wide receiver Ladd McConkey signed to his four-year rookie deal. As the No. 34 overall pick, McConkey will see most of his rookie contract guaranteed.

A near-$1MM gap between the Year 4 salary guarantees for the Nos. 33 and 35 overall picks (Bills WR Keon Coleman, Falcons DL Ruke Orhorhoro) undoubtedly created a natural drag in Chargers-McConkey talks. But the Georgia alum is locked in and landed more guarantees than Will Levis did after he became the second choice in last year’s second round. The Titans guaranteed Levis $8.7MM of Levis’ $9.5MM rookie deal; Rapoport adds McConkey will better that.

Even factoring in the QB premium Levis received, this year’s batch of second-rounders making notable guarantee strides pointed to McConkey bettering Levis’ contract. The salary cap’s $30.6MM jump is raising all boats, though second-rounders have continued to make progress here. In addition to three guaranteed years, Coleman’s Bills contract includes $1.74MM of his $2.1MM 2027 base salary. Coleman’s guarantee percentage betters that of Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, whom the Buccaneers chose to close out the 2021 first round. McConkey probably will not be far behind here.

While McConkey’s contract will provide him key security and help the players chosen near the top of the 2025 second round, he steps in at an interesting point on the Chargers’ timeline. The team’s Jim Harbaugh hire preceded a Mike Williams release and a Keenan Allen trade to the Bears. McConkey will join Josh Palmer, DJ Chark and 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston as the top Justin Herbert targets — in what is expected to be a run-heavier offense compared to recent years.

The Chargers traded up (via the Patriots) for McConkey, moving up three spots for the national championship-winning WR. A shifty slot player, McConkey showed notable improvement from 2021 to ’22. In the latter campaign, he posted 762 yards and seven touchdowns on 58 receptions. Back and ankle injuries limited McConkey in 2023 — a season that also saw Georgia lose Brock Bowers for a stretch — but he still averaged a career-best 15.9 yards per catch. Checking in at 6-foot, 186 pounds at the Combine, McConkey improved his draft stock by blazing to a 4.39-second 40-yard dash.

Allen’s crafty route running aided Herbert’s quick NFL ascent, with Williams providing contributions — particularly in 2021 — as a downfield option. The Bolts, who now employ run-oriented OC Greg Roman, now have McConkey signed through 2027. After Johnston struggled as a rookie, the team will hope McConkey can make a quicker assimilation to help Herbert in Harbaugh’s first season back in the pros.

Finishing off this year’s second-round signings, the Chargers have completed their draft class deals. Here is how Harbaugh’s first Los Angeles class looks:

Isaiah Rodgers In Mix To Start For Eagles; Team Considering James Bradberry Move To Safety

June 17th, 2024 at 6:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Eagles decided to let both their Super Bowl LVII safety starters walk in free agency last year. That decision created issues for a defense that cratered down the stretch. A year later, Philadelphia’s secondary appears much deeper.

Part of the reason the Eagles can feel more comfortable about their DB contingent comes from a roster-stash move they made last summer. As teams were considering which players they would cut as the deadline to move down to 53 loomed in late August, the Eagles quietly added Isaiah Rodgers, a young kick returner who worked as a Colts CB starter in 2022. Of course, Rodgers was sidelined throughout last season due to a gambling ban that stemmed from extensive violations of the NFL’s policy. A year later, Rodgers may come out in better position.

Although the former sixth-round pick missed his age-25 season, he has a clear path to a rebound window ahead of what may well be a more notable free agency stay in 2025. Rodgers has been “a revelation” this offseason, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, and The Athletic’s Brooks Kubena notes the Eagles gave the three-year Colt a significant number of first-team reps during minicamp (subscription required). Despite the Eagles still rostering Darius Slay and James Bradberry and the team having re-signed Avonte Maddox not long after making him a cap casualty, it has bolstered its CB group with a host of younger talents.

Rodgers started nine games with the Colts in 2022, playing opposite Stephon Gilmore, and made an impression in part-time duty. Pro Football Focus ranked Rodgers as the NFL’s fifth-best cornerback that year. This assessment came on just 283 defensive snaps, but the 170-pound defender recovered four fumbles that year and also intercepted three passes in 2021. Training camp figures to be pivotal for Rodgers, who saw the Eagles devote the most important part of their draft to the cornerback position.

Philly drafted Quinyon Mitchell in Round 1 and Cooper DeJean in Round 2. DeJean is viewed as a corner/safety hybrid at this juncture, Breer adds, but Mitchell certainly will be treated as a hopeful long-term starter at corner. The Eagles also gave plenty of first-team reps to 2023 fourth-round pick Kelee Ringo during minicamp, Kubena adds. Ringo logged 199 defensive snaps last season, which still featured the Slay-Bradberry tandem as the CB group’s leaders.

Slay is going into his age-33 season, and his three-year, $39MM deal does not feature any 2025 guarantees. Bradberry re-signed on a three-year, $38MM pact in 2023 but could not follow up his strong ’22 campaign with impressive work last season. PFF rated Bradberry 100th at the position in 2023. The Eagles have made an effort to begin cross-training Bradberry at safety, and Breer adds the team is toying with moving the ninth-year vet to a back-line spot on a full-time basis. No guarantees remain on Bradberry’s deal post-2024.

As a few Hall of Famers have shown, corner-to-safety moves are not too uncommon. This one would come ahead of Bradberry’s age-31 season. The Eagles brought back C.J. Gardner-Johnson after his year in Detroit and still roster 2023 starter Reed Blankenship. Sydney Brown, a 2023 third-rounder, is rehabbing an ACL tear sustained in Week 18. He is a candidate to begin the season on the reserve/PUP list.

Even with Brown potentially out of the mix to start the season, the Eagles’ secondary should have more options compared to 2023. Rodgers and/or Ringo entering Week 1 as viable starter candidates would likely prompt the Eagles to strongly consider Bradberry at safety, depending on how the career-long boundary corner looks in training camp, with DeJean an interesting wild card here. A depth-based trade could conceivably come into play as well.

The Eagles submitted one of the more notable collapses in recent NFL history last season, with the defense playing the lead role in the unraveling. This figures to be an interesting season for three-time reigning playoff qualifiers, as the Slay-Bradberry-Maddox-CJGJ group intersects with a host of younger options that will be expected to take over down the line.

It is not certain if Rodgers will be part of that long-term collection, as he will be a free agent next year. But the UMass alum has a path to re-emerging after seeing the gambling scandal quickly overshadow his rookie-contract Colts contributions.

Ten Unsigned 2024 Draft Picks Remain

June 17th, 2024 at 5:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL collectively is ahead of where it was last year with regards to draft signings. Teams have navigated the guarantee issue second-round contracts presented in recent years. Unlike 2023, when 30 players were unsigned in late June and nearly half the second round was without contracts entering July, we are down to 10 unsigned rookies from the 2024 class. Here is the lot still without NFL contracts:

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

The clearest difference between this year and last comes from the second round. On June 17, 2023, half the second-rounders were unsigned. The 2011 CBA introducing the slot system has removed most of the drama from rookie-deal negotiations, but second-rounders continue to make guarantee gains. This contractual component has complicated matters for teams in the past, but that has not been the case — for the most part — this year.

A number of 2021 second-round picks remain attached to their rookie deals. Those terms illustrate the improvements Round 2 draftees have made on that front since. The Jaguars did guarantee 2021 No. 33 pick Tyson Campbell‘s first three seasons; his fourth brought $50K guaranteed. This year, the Bills needed to guarantee nearly Keon Coleman‘s entire rookie contract. Coleman has three years locked in and $1.74MM of his $2.1MM 2027 base salary is guaranteed at signing. This year’s No. 59 overall pick (Texans tackle Blake Fisher) secured more in Year 4 guarantees than Campbell’s deal contains.

A sizable gap does exist between Coleman’s final-year guarantees and those of Falcons DT Ruke Orhorhoro (No. 35 overall). The Clemson product has $966K of his $2.1MM 2024 base guaranteed. This gulf has likely caused the holdup for the Chargers and McConkey, a player who — after the exits of longtime starters Keenan Allen and Mike Williams — stands to be a central figure in the Bolts’ first Jim Harbaugh-era offense. With the top players in Round 2 on the cusp of seeing fully guaranteed deals, McConkey can set another notable precedent while gaining some additional security for himself.

First-round contracts have only been fully guaranteed en masse since 2022, when Vikings safety Lewis Cine — chosen 32nd overall — secured those terms. Though, matters like offset language still have been known to slow negotiations. Extended holdouts into training camp no longer occur among rookies, with players risking the loss of an accrued season toward free agency — a product of the 2020 CBA — by doing so. Corley and Benson were this year’s top third-round picks. The 49ers gave No. 64 overall pick Renardo Green two fully guaranteed years. That has likely caused a holdup for the Jets and Cardinals, considering the progress made via contracts agreed to by earlier draftees.

Steelers Will Not Extend G James Daniels In 2024

June 17th, 2024 at 4:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

As Cameron Heyward extension uncertainty looms, it does not appear the Steelers have ruled out a fourth contract with their stalwart defensive lineman. It does, however, look like they are passing on another agreement with one of their interior O-line starters — for 2024, at least.

The topic of a James Daniels extension surfaced earlier this offseason, but the two-year Pittsburgh starter effectively shut this issue down by confirming (via The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly) the team does not plan to extend him before the season. Considering the Steelers do not do in-season extensions, Daniels is set to play out his contract year.

Daniels should have an opportunity to cash in once again as a free agent in 2025; despite this being the former Bears second-rounder’s seventh NFL season, he will only be 27 by the time the market opens next year. The Steelers confirming they want to have him play out the three-year, $26.5MM deal to which he is attached raises the stakes for the Iowa product.

The Steelers moved on from the two other veteran O-linemen they signed in 2022 by cutting both Chukwuma Okorafor and Mason Cole in February. Those moves came months after the team traded Kevin Dotson to the Rams. Dotson has since fetched a three-year, $48MM deal to stay in Los Angeles. This bodes well for Daniels, whose 2025 departure could leave the Steelers vulnerable at guard.

Pittsburgh, which went 27 years between first-round tackle investments before drafting Broderick Jones in 2023, has used Round 1 choices on tackles in back-to-back years. The team is set at those spots, and second-rounder Zach Frazier will be viewed as likely to take over at center. The team signed Isaac Seumalo to a three-year, $24MM deal in 2023. The former Eagles blocker is going into his age-31 season. With Daniels four years younger, he profiles as a pricier option on his third contract.

Pro Football Focus rated the Iowa alum 33rd among guards last season and 24th in his Steelers debut. ESPN’s pass block win rate metric slotted Daniels ninth among guards in 2022. The six-year NFL starter has missed just two games as a Steeler. Given the number of eight-figure-per-year guard paydays that came to pass in March, Daniels has a big opportunity ahead. Counting Landon Dickerson‘s extension, six guards — Dickerson, Dotson, Robert Hunt, Jonah Jackson, Damien Lewis, Jon Runyan Jr. — all signed deals at or north of $10MM per year this offseason. The salary cap will rise once again next year.

The Steelers used a fourth-round pick on Mason McCormick this year. Although the team found a gem in Dotson out of Round 4 back in 2020, it would be interesting if it was already earmarking a spot for McCormick in 2025. The Steelers hold exclusive negotiating rights with Daniels until March 2025, and while the Rams did use those well by coming to terms with Dotson before free agency started, Daniels playing out his contract year would put him in a position to raise his value and hit free agency.

As it stands, the Steelers appear prepared to let that happen. While the team has a low-cost quarterback situation for 2024, it has been tied to interest in extensions for Russell Wilson and/or Justin Fields. One of the QBs almost definitely will not be back, but the Steelers may need to factor in a bigger quarterback contract to its calculous next year. With several big-ticket deals on the books for defenders, that complicates matters for players like Daniels.

Latest On Jets, QB Aaron Rodgers

June 17th, 2024 at 2:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

JUNE 17: Rodgers and the Jets were in agreement with the decision to classify his minicamp absence as unexcused, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes. New York elected not to move the date of minicamp up one week, he adds, given the effects such a decision would have had on several other players. After a brief spell with Taylor guiding the first-team offense, Rodgers will be back in place for training camp.

JUNE 12: Haason Reddick‘s pursuit of a new contract qualifies as the top issue coming out of the Jets’ minicamp, but the team conspicuously does not have its future Hall of Fame quarterback on-hand for its mandatory June workouts.

Aaron Rodgers did not show for Tuesday’s minicamp opener, and The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes the second-year Jets QB will not take part in any of the team’s workouts this week. While Tyrod Taylor seeing more reps with his new team stands to be important given how last season went for the Jets, Rodgers making a point to urge the Jets to avoid distractions and then ending his offseason this way has naturally generated questions.

[RELATED: Jets Not Closing Door On Haason Reddick Extension]

It is not known where Rodgers is this week. The 20th-year passer reported for the Jets’ media day Monday and took a mandatory physical, per ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini, before leaving town. Rodgers had planned this trip during his rehab work, according to SNY’s Connor Hughes, who adds the Jets are not concerned about their QB’s absence.

Rodgers, 40, participated in the Jets’ voluntary workouts this offseason. He has also been in the team’s Nathaniel Hackett-guided offense for two years now. Rodgers also has a recent history of not showing for his team’s minicamp.

Most recently, he did so in 2021 during a months-long standoff with the Packers themed around a trade request. The parties agreed to a truce of sorts ahead of training camp. The 18-year Packer, however, did not show for his former team’s voluntary workouts in 2022. This became an issue for Green Bay, which was breaking in a few rookie wide receivers that offseason. Though, Rodgers reported for Green Bay’s mandatory minicamp that year. He was at Jets minicamp in 2023. It should be noted Rodgers won his fourth MVP award after the 2021 standoff, though his performance dipped — as the Packers moved on from Davante Adams — in 2022.

Coming off an Achilles tear sustained four plays into last season, Rodgers has acknowledged the pressure the Jets face this year. Ownership signed off on mulligans for Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas, but it is widely believed the HC-GM combo is on the hot seat. The QB’s whereabouts should become known at some point, and while the Jets are downplaying the matter, this certainly represents an unusual ending to an offseason program. Rodgers has been full-go during the team’s offseason program and will continue building toward a full-fledged comeback when training camp begins.

Giants Likely To Make RB Addition?

June 17th, 2024 at 2:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

For the first time since 2017, the Giants’ backfield will not include Saquon Barkley. A veteran lead back (Devin Singletary) has been added to replace him, but further moves at the position could be coming.

New York has 2023 fifth-rounder Eric Gray in place as a returnee. He saw a minor role on both offense and special teams as a rookie, and Singletary’s presence makes it unlikely he will see a notable uptick in carries or receptions in 2024. The Giants again took the draft route to add depth this year, selecting Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the fifth round.

Given the lack of experience at the position amongst those and other options, Dan Duggan of The Athletic writes a veteran backfield signing is “likely” between now and the opening of training camp (subscription required). Several options fit the bill in that respect, and Matt Breida is among them. Duggan notes a reunion with the 29-year-old could meet the need for depth in the summer.

Breida has played each of the past two seasons with the Giants. He averaged just 3.2 carries per game during that span while serving as Barkley’s backup, and the Singletary-Gray-Tracey trio could limit his offensive role if he were to come back. If that does not come to fruition, the likes of Dalvin Cook, Kareem Hunt, Cam Akers and Brandon Bolden could be on New York’s radar as unsigned backs who will likely be affordable.

The Giants added Dante Miller in April as an interesting flier in the backfield. It remains to be seen if he will be able to earn a roster spot, though, and the same is true of former UDFA Jashaun Corbin, who is once again set to compete for a role during training camp. Veterans still on the market would represent far more experienced options to complement Singletary, although special teams contributions will of course be highly valuable as well.

New York – a team which is set to host Jacob Saylors, the UFL’s top rusher amongst running backs – currently have $11.7MM in cap space. That should leave room for a modest addition in the backfield, and the Giants will certainly have a number of options to consider if one is pursued.

RB Alvin Kamara Open To Restructured Saints Deal

June 17th, 2024 at 1:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

Alvin Kamara departed the Saints’ final day of minicamp early as a result of the unsettled nature of his contract. Two years remain on his current deal, but he is in essence a pending free agent.

Kamara’s scheduled 2025 compensation is $25MM, and it consists of a non-guaranteed base salary of $22.4MM. That final year has long been viewed as one which will not be played out along those lines, and an extension or restructure will all-but assuredly be needed to keep him in the fold beyond this season. The latter route is something Kamara appears to be amenable to.

Reported to be angling for an extension, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted during a recent SportsCenter appearance that the 28-year-old is also open to a restructure (video link). Such an agreement could increase his 2024 earnings (currently slated at $11.8MM) while providing assurances for next year. Unlike many other pacts, though, Kamara’s deal has not been adjusted this offseason by the Saints.

Talks on a resolution have taken place this offseason, but as Fowler confirms the sides are not close to an agreement. The nature of negotiations during the coming weeks will therefore be worth watching closely, as a training camp holdout would leave Kamara subject to $50K in daily fines were he to hold out. The five-time Pro Bowler recorded 1,160 scrimmage yards in 13 games last season, the lowest figure of his career but still a sign of his two-way skillset when on the field.

Lucrative contracts for veteran running backs have generally been a rare occurrence in recent years, although teams acted quickly during the 2024 offseason to make notable backfield additions. Christian McCaffrey also landed a raise on his new 49ers pact, and Kamara could be among those who benefits from a potential domino effect. It will be interesting to see if New Orleans pursues a new round of negotiations on either an extension or a restructure in the near future and how Kamara responds either way.

Panthers’ D.J. Wonnum Likely To Miss Time In Training Camp

June 17th, 2024 at 11:15am CST by Adam La Rose

Having moved on from Brian Burns, the Panthers will rely heavily on free agent additions Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum along the edge in 2024. The latter’s availability for training camp is in question, though.

Wonnum dealt with complications from the quadriceps surgery he underwent this offseason throughout spring workouts, as noted by The Athletic’s Joe Person (subscription required). As a result, the ex-Viking did not take part in OTAs or minicamp. Person adds Wonnum is therefore a strong candidate to open training camp on the active/PUP list.

Players who open camp with that designation can be activated at any time, and the Panthers will no doubt look to bring Wonnum into the fold as quickly as possible. The 26-year-old signed a two-year, $12.5MM deal in March, and he is in line to handle starting duties on his new team. Wonnum alternated between a starting and rotational role in Minnesota, but he has flashed potential when given a notable workload (eight sacks in each of the 2021 and ’23 seasons).

Wonnum and Clowney are joined on the depth chart by the likes of K’Lavon Chaisson, Amare Barno, DJ Johnson and Eku Leota. As Person notes, Chaisson – who struggled to make an impact across four years with the Jaguars – was away from OTAs, while the others are each dealing with injury situations of their own. The group could be short on healthy bodies when training camp opens next month.

Carolina ranked last in the NFL with 27 sacks last season. With Burns and Yetur Gross-Matos (who signed with the 49ers in free agency) out of the picture, Clowney and Wonnum – if he manages to recover in time for the regular season – will lead the Panthers’ newcomers along the edge. Person does add, though, that the team could be in the market for a pass rush addition via free agency or trade, along with the waiver wire later in the offseason given the current uncertainty at that position. Carolina currently has just over $6MM in cap space, so a small move in that regard could be feasible.

Patrick Surtain Open To Broncos Extension; CB Did Not Expect To Be Traded

June 17th, 2024 at 9:46am CST by Adam La Rose

With Justin Simmons no longer in the fold, Patrick Surtain is in place as the centerpiece of the Broncos’ secondary. The latter also profiles as one of the team’s top financial priorities as he is now eligible for an extension.

To little surprise, Denver picked up Surtain’s 2025 fifth-year option. That has him on track to earn $19.8MM next year, although a long-term accord will check in at a much higher price. The Broncos are interested in an extension, one which could approach or reach the top of the cornerback market. Surtain’s latest remarks on the matter demonstrate the feeling is mutual.

“Yeah, definitely,” the 24-year-old said of interest in a long-term Broncos accord (via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette). “When you see those [Ring of Fame] players on the wall and see what they’ve done, it just gives you great inspiration and you look forward to those things to fulfill. Obviously, I want to be a Bronco, so I definitely want to see my name up in the rafters.”

Surtain’s name has been floated in trade rumors, but the Broncos have understandably driven a hard bargain to date. A pair of first-round picks was the starting point in negotiations, and while three teams submitted an offer ahead of the trade deadline, no deal came close to being worked out. Leading up to the draft, the Alabama alum was thought to be a potential chip in a Denver trade-up endeavor. The Broncos stayed put, though, and selected Bo Nix at No. 12.

When asked about the possibility of being dealt before Day 1 of the draft, Surtain said he did not expect to be moved. With he and the Broncos in line to remain together for at least two more years, attention can now turn to the progress of extension talks. The former first-rounder posted four interceptions as a rookie and followed that up by earning first-team All-Pro honors one year later. 2023 did not result in the same accolades, but Surtain did manage to receive a second straight Pro Bowl nod.

The cornerback market includes three producers (Jaire Alexander, Denzel Ward and Jalen Ramsey) who are attached to deals averaging $20MM or more. Surtain will no doubt look to reach that plateau, although cap increases could lead to him aiming for the top of the pecking order at the position. With Nix on his rookie deal and few big-money investments on defense, the Broncos could be positioned to make a lucrative Surtain investment. Whether or not one is agreed to this summer will be a key storyline to follow.

Latest On Steelers’ T.J. Watt

June 17th, 2024 at 8:56am CST by Adam La Rose

Cameron Heyward has received plenty of attention this offseason with his Steelers future in doubt. A fellow mainstay along the team’s defensive front is T.J. Watt, who is under contract for two more years.

[RELATED: J.J. Watt Open To 2024 Steelers Deal]

The latter is playing out the four-year, $112MM extension he inked in 2021. That pact has proven to be a sound investment for Pittsburgh to date; Watt earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in his first season after inking the deal by matching Michael Strahan‘s single-season sack record. He has earned a pair of Pro Bowl invites and another first-team All-Pro nod since then. Entering his age-30 campaign, though, Watt is unsure of how much longer his career will last.

“I don’t know if I want to play forever, but who knows? It is too hard to say,” the former first-rounder said, via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic (subscription required). “J.J. [Watt] always said he didn’t want to play super long, then things happened and he ended up playing longer. I won’t know until that moment comes. I feel great right now, so I am kind of just living in the moment.”

The younger Watt brother was limited to 10 games in 2022 due to a torn pectoral muscle. He rebounded well last year, though, leading the league with 19 sacks. His career total in that regard sits at 96.5, and it will be expected to continue climbing as long as Watt remains healthy. The Wisconsin alum’s base salaries over the next two years are not guaranteed, and another year of strong production would help his leverage for a second monster extension depending on his long-term outlook.

As Kaboly notes, the Steelers will limit Watt’s reps in training camp with the goal of keeping him in peak health for the start of the regular season. Managing his offseason workload could become commonplace as the years go by with Pittsburgh (similar to many other teams) aiming to reduce wear and tear prior to the regular and postseason. Watt noted he has yet to win a postseason contest in his decorated career, and for at least the time being that will be his main focus.

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