HEADLINES

Buccaneers Sign Round 1 C Graham Barton, Conclude Rookie Deals

June 13th, 2024 at 8:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

While Graham Barton technically qualified as part of this draft’s run on first-round tackles, the Duke blocker is shifting to center in Tampa. The Buccaneers have first-string plans for Barton in 2024, and the sides have checked one item off their Year 1 to-do list.

Barton signed his rookie contract Thursday, the Bucs announced. The No. 26 overall pick will be tied to a four-year, fully guaranteed contract that includes a 2028 fifth-year option. The Bucs now have all their 2024 draftees signed.

Tampa Bay fared remarkably well with its last first-round O-line swing, as Tristan Wirfs is now firmly in play to sign an extension that establishes the new benchmark for tackles. The team had not, however, used a first-round pick on an interior blocker since guard Davin Joseph back in 2006. That makes Barton a Jason Licht-era first. Unsurprisingly, the team is likely to plug the Duke prospect into its starting lineup in Week 1.

The Bucs saw their center plan drift off course during training camp in 2022. Re-signed to pair again with an unretired Tom Brady, Ryan Jensen suffered a severe knee injury that kept him off the field for nearly the season’s entirety. While Jensen returned in time for the Bucs’ wild-card game against the Cowboys, he missed all of last season and has since retired.

Tampa Bay used Robert Hainsey as its center for the past two seasons. The former third-round pick displayed durability by going 34-for-34 in starts, but Pro Football Focus graded him 32nd at the position last season. Now in contract year, Hainsey will still have a shot to win the Bucs’ left guard role. But Barton is on track to work as Tampa Bay’s pivot.

Although Barton spent the past three seasons as Duke’s starting left tackle, he played center as a freshman. Teams were eyeing the experienced Blue Devils blocker for an interior role. The Steelers were believed to have shown interest, but they went with tackle Troy Fautanu in Round 1. This left Barton, a first-team All-ACC tackle in 2022 and ’23, for the Bucs. Barton, who also drew All-American acclaim last season, only made five college starts at center. But the Bucs will bank on the first-rounder providing a big upgrade inside.

Jensen started 65 games for the Bucs, operating as the team’s center starter for six years. The Bucs will hope Barton can become a true long-term answer. Here is how Tampa Bay’s draft class breaks down:

Dolphins Sign First-Round DE Chop Robinson, Finish Draft Class Deals

June 13th, 2024 at 4:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

By the time the Dolphins donned their cold-weather gear for the wild-card game in Kansas City, their edge-rushing contingent included multiple emergency free agent pickups. As both Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips continued their rehab efforts months later, Miami used its first-round pick to bolster this position.

The Dolphins, who lost Andrew Van Ginkel in free agency, chose Chop Robinson 21st overall. With Phillips going down with an Achilles tear in late November and Chubb sustaining an ACL tear (the second of his pro career) on New Year’s Eve, the Dolphins have both their top edges rehabbing this offseason. Robinson, who will join Shaq Barrett as an offseason Dolphins reinforcement, will be tasked with providing immediate aid while developing as a pro.

Robinson signed his first-round rookie deal Thursday, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson noting it will be a $14.98MM deal. That contract, which will run through 2027 and feature a fifth-year option, comes fully guaranteed.

Impressing at the Combine, Robinson would be positioned to play behind Chubb and Phillips once the duo returns to full strength. With Chubb a candidate for the reserve/PUP list — especially considering the former top-five pick has now sustained two ACL tears since the 2019 season — Robinson stands to be an important part of Miami’s defense early this season.

Robinson followed up his Penn State career by blazing to a 4.49-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. The edge rusher put himself on the NFL map following a solid 2022 campaign where he finished with 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss. His numbers were not as strong in 2023 (four sacks, 7.5 TFLs). Still, Robinson managed to stick in the first round.

The Dolphins are set to have three first-rounders and a former single-season sack leader manning its edge positions. Once Chubb and Phillips recover, Anthony Weaver’s defense will have some interesting options to pressure quarterbacks. The Dolphins have Phillips signed for two more seasons, via the fifth-year option, and have Chubb — via the five-year deal he agreed to following the 2022 trade with the Broncos — signed through 2027.

Here is how Miami’s 2024 draft class wrapped up:

Packers Sign Round 1 OL Jordan Morgan, Finalize Draft Class

June 13th, 2024 at 3:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

After David Bakhtiari‘s knee trouble led to another near-full-season absence, the Packers moved on via release and soon deviated from a defense-based strategy atop the draft. Jordan Morgan is now in place as an heir apparent.

The Packers, who had chosen one offensive player in the first round from 2012-23 (Jordan Love), went with Morgan at No. 25 this year. The team now has a deal in place with the former Arizona tackle, who will be tied to fully guaranteed money through 2027. Assuming Morgan remains on Green Bay’s roster come 2027, Green Bay will eventually have a fifth-year option decision to make.

Bakhtiari’s ACL tear during a New Year’s Eve 2020 practice created considerable trouble for the Packers, who spent most of the next three seasons without their All-Pro left tackle. Morgan also has an ACL tear in his recent past, suffering the injury in November 2022. The Pac-12 standout bounced back this past season, solidifying his value as a first-round-caliber prospect. The Commanders had attempted to trade back into Round 1 for Morgan, but the Packers pounced with their top pick.

Morgan shook off the major injury to become a first-round pick despite this draft oozing tackle options for teams. A three-year starter at Arizona, Morgan started 37 games at left tackle. His post-ACL journey included a first-team All-Pac-12 nod last season. Morgan played in parts of five seasons with the Wildcats, working almost exclusively at left tackle.

Former seventh-round pick Rasheed Walker replaced Bakhtiari at left tackle last season, while Zach Tom worked at RT. Tom is currently rehabbing a torn pectoral muscle, but the young blocker is expected to return before training camp or at some point before the regular season. The Pack view Morgan as a left tackle, which would point Walker to an eventual swing role once the rookie is ready to take over. Walker and Tom are each signed for two more seasons. The Packers, who played 42 regular-season games without Bakhtiari since 2020, also added Andre Dillard as potential depth this offseason.

As the Packers head toward training camp, here is how their draft class breaks down:

Bills Sign Round 2 WR Keon Coleman, Wrap Draft Class Deals

June 13th, 2024 at 2:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

JUNE 13: Providing details on the Coleman accord, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes his salaries are fully guaranteed for the first three years. $1.74MM is guaranteed for injury in 2027; that year also has a $75K workout bonus. Coleman will receive a $4.15MM signing bonus.

JUNE 12: The makeup of the Bills’ rebuilt wide receiver room suggests Keon Coleman will need to hit the ground running. Buffalo passed on multiple wideouts late in the first round before identifying Coleman as their centerpiece fix post-Stefon Diggs.

This year’s first player chosen in the second round, Coleman is now under contract. The Bills inked the Florida State wideout to his four-year rookie contract Wednesday; this agreement concludes the draft signing portion of Buffalo’s offseason.

Last year’s first player off the Round 2 board, Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr., did not receive a fully guaranteed contract. Neither did Titans QB Will Levis (No. 33). Coleman’s Bills pact could set a precedent, and with second-rounders making notable guarantee gains during this signing period, Coleman’s Year 4 salary guarantee will be a number to watch. The Steelers guaranteed $1.4MM of Porter’s $2MM final-year salary; the Bills will be expected to move beyond that point for Coleman.

Buffalo traded Diggs to Houston, with the Texans’ offer of a 2025 second-rounder changing the perennial AFC East champions’ plans with their previous WR1. The team also let Gabe Davis walk in free agency. While the Bills signed slot/gadget performer Curtis Samuel and signed some midlevel veterans — including ex-Chief Marquez Valdes-Scantling — Coleman seems likely to contribute regularly this season.

The Bills seem likely to be counting on a player who did not eclipse 800 receiving yards in a season with Michigan State or Florida State. After a 798-yard showing with the Spartans in 2022, he totaled 658 in 12 Seminoles contests last year. Coleman, 21, also lumbered to a 4.61-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. The 6-foot-3 weapon’s top speed of 20.36 mph in the Combine gauntlet drill was the fastest measured over the past two years, however.

With the Bills giving Josh Allen some input on this year’s receiver class, the superstar QB endorsed Coleman. The Bills passed on the likes of Xavier Worthy, Ricky Pearsall and Xavier Legette at the end of the first round, picking up additional draft capital by trading down twice. The team faced criticism for allowing the Chiefs to climb up to No. 28 for Worthy, with the Patriots believed to have made an offer for the pick as well. After Buffalo traded out of Round 1 (via Carolina), it will not have a fifth-year option on Coleman.

Moving toward training camp, here are the Bills draftees set to vie for jobs:

Bengals Sign Second-Round DT Kris Jenkins Jr.

June 13th, 2024 at 2:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Bengals announced on Thursday that defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. has signed his four-year rookie contract. All but one member of the team’s draft class is now on the books.

Jenkins was selected with the 49th pick, making him one of several interior defenders who heard their names called during the beginning of Day 2. He spent four seasons at Michigan, serving as an impactful member of the team’s defense from 2021-23. Jenkins drew attention based on his production but also his athletic profile over the course of his college career.

The 6-3, 300-pounder’s most productive season as a run defender came in 2022, when he posted 54 total stops. That figure fell last year, but Jenkins managed to up his tackle for loss and sack totals to 4.5 and 2.5, respectively. That made him a key starter on the Wolverines’ defense, a unit which played a central role in the team’s unbeaten campaign and national title.

In Cincinnati, Jenkins will look to earn at least a rotational role during his rookie campaign. The Bengals’ defensive front was dealt a blow when D.J. Reader departed in free agency. The four-year starter inked a deal with the Lions, creating a notable vacancy along the interior. By the time that took place, Cincinnati had worked out a two-year deal with Sheldon Rankins.

The latter will provide the Bengals with first-team reps at the DT spot. Cincinnati also has veteran B.J. Hill and 2022 third-rounder Zachary Carter in the fold at that position. Of course, the team followed up the Jenkins pick by taking McKinnley Jackson in the third round. Both rookies will spend training camp looking to carve out a role ahead of the regular season.

With the Jenkins deal now in place, only first-round offensive tackle Amarius Mims has yet to sign his rookie deal. An agreement on that front could take place before the end of the week, but if not both sides will likely wait until training camp opens next month to finalize it.

Seahawks Sign QB P.J. Walker

June 13th, 2024 at 1:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

JUNE 13: Walker received a $20K roster bonus as part of his Seahawks agreement, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes. The deal (which calls for $1.15MM in total compensation) qualifies for the veteran salary benefit, and it carries a cap charge of $985K.

JUNE 6: Seattle is set to add depth in the quarterback room. The Seahawks have a deal in place with P.J. Walker, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Geno Smith is atop the depth chart for at least one more season, but the team will have a new backup in 2024. Seattle traded for Sam Howell to serve as Drew Lock‘s replacement at the QB2 spot. Entering Thursday, Smith and Howell were the only signal-callers on the Seahawks’ offseason roster, so Walker will at least provide depth for the immediate future.

The latter has seen NFL action for each of the past four seasons, including a three-year run in Carolina. Walker made seven starts with the Panthers (including five in 2022), but the ex-XFLer was not retained last offseason. He briefly spent time with the Bears before signing with the Browns. Walker did not survive initial roster cuts, but he was retained on Cleveland’s practice squad.

The 29-year-old was eventually moved to the active roster and he started a pair of games in place of the injured Deshaun Watson. Walker only completed 48.6% of his attempts across six Cleveland appearances, though, throwing five interceptions and just one touchdown pass. Cleveland moved on to Dorian Thompson-Robinson and later Joe Flacco to close out the campaign, with other passers being brought in this spring.

With the bulk of the league’s QB movement well in the rearview, Walker remained on the market deep into the offseason. He will now get an opportunity in Seattle, though, to carve out a roster spot. NFL teams will be able to elevate practice squad passers for the emergency third QB role an unlimited amount of times in 2024, something which could help players like Walker stay on at least a taxi squad for extended periods. It will be interesting to see if today’s deal allows him to find a spot on Seattle’s roster through the coming campaign.

LB Lavonte David Contemplated Retirement Before Re-Signing With Buccaneers

June 13th, 2024 at 1:14pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of many in-house moves the Buccaneers have made this offseason was another re-up with Lavonte David. The All-Pro linebacker inked a one-year deal in March to set himself up for a 13th season in Tampa Bay.

That pact is worth $8.5MM, marking a raise from the previous campaign. David had a strong season individually in 2023 (134 tackles, 4.5 sacks), and that continued production helped the Buccaneers reach the postseason for a fourth straight year. That ability to qualify for the playoffs was one of the reasons he elected to continue his Bucs tenure.

As Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times notes, David also gave at least some consideration to joining a new team in the offseason. The 34-year-old acknowledged the possibility of signing with a contender ahead of 2024 “crossed my mind.” Rather than starting over in a new environment or hanging up his cleats, though, he will remain in place as Tampa Bay looks to earn David’s second career Super Bowl.

“Honestly, that didn’t take long,” he added when discussing his decision to re-sign. “I definitely still love the game of football. I still want to play and I still feel like I’m playing at a high level. I still feel like I can compete with the best and obviously the organization felt the same way. It was a no-brainer for me to come back. Us being competitive also played a main part in it.”

The Buccaneers have been busy retaining players this spring. The likes of David, Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. have each signed multi-year deals to keep them in place. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs is in need of a lucrative extension of his own, but he will at least be in the fold for 2024 via his fifth-year option. That core should give Tampa Bay a strong chance of topping the NFC South again.

David said earlier in the offseason his choice would come down to either a new Bucs agreement or retirement. The fact he gave thought to joining a new team is a notable departure from that stance, although it comes as little surprise the Super Bowl LV winner did indeed consider ending his career. For at least one more year, however, David will add further to his Buccaneers accolades as the team pursues a deep postseason run.

Lions Sign Round 1 CB Terrion Arnold, Complete Draft Class

June 13th, 2024 at 12:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

Terrion Arnold signed his rookie deal with the Lions on Thursday, per a team announcement. As a result, each member of the team’s draft class is now on the books.

Detroit entered the offseason with cornerback seen as a pressing need, and the team addressed it with the trade acquisition of Carlton Davis and the signing of Amik Robertson. The Lions moved on from Cameron Sutton following his domestic violence arrest, though, leaving room for draft investments.

The 2024 draft’s hosts pulled off a trade with the Cowboys on Day 1, moving up five spots to No. 24. That allowed them to select Arnold and prevent a division rival the opportunity to do so. The Packers were reportedly high on the Alabama product, making them a threat to draft him at No. 25. Instead, Arnold will begin his career in the Motor City with high expectations.

The Freshman All-American took on a large role for the Crimson Tide in 2022. He posted one interception and eight pass breakups that season, but entering this past campaign it was teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry who was regarded as a better prospect. That changed over the course of 2023, with Arnold excelling with respect to coverage and ball production.

The latter led the SEC in interceptions (five) and finished second in the conference in pass deflections (12). Arnold – who was connected to a rumor about the Raiders deciding not to draft him via a coin flip – earned first-team All-SEC and All-American honors as a result and cemented his status as one of the top corners in this year’s class. He was the second prospect at the position to hear his name called, going two spots after the Eagles added Quinyon Mitchell.

Just like Philadelphia, Detroit doubled down on corners by adding Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the second round. He and Arnold will compete for a starting role in a secondary which features Davis, Robertson and versatile 2023 second-rounder Brian Branch. Regardless of how the unit shakes out, Arnold’s addition should help Detroit take a notable step forward in pass defense this year.

Here is the final breakdown of the Lions’ draft class:

Bengals Extend C Ted Karras

June 13th, 2024 at 11:52am CST by Adam La Rose

11:52am: Karras will receive an average of $6.6MM per year across 2024 and ’25, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. That represents a raise to go along with an added year of security in his current home. When speaking about the deal, Karras confirmed (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer) he hopes to finish out his career as a Bengal. He will at least play out a fourth campaign with the team by finishing this new pact.

8:46am: Ted Karras landed the most lucrative deal of his career in 2022 when he joined the Bengals, and he will be remaining in Cincinnati for at least the next two years. The veteran center signed a one-year extension on Thursday, per a team announcement.

As a result of the deal, Karras is now under contract through 2025. The 31-year-old has served as Cincinnati’s full-time center starter since his arrival, something which was a key part of the team’s re-tooling along the offensive line. Karras signed a three-year, $18MM deal following his second Patriots stint. The $6MM AAV of the pact was double that of his next largest contract, leading to high expectations.

In both of his Bengals campaigns to date, the former sixth-rounder has graded out as PFF’s 15th-best center. That falls squarely in line with his evaluations in past seasons, making it little surprise Cincinnati has elected to add a new year to his contract. None of Karras’ $5.8MM base salary for 2024 was guaranteed as things stood, and he was set to count $7.4MM against the cap. It will be interesting to see how much those figures change as a result of this extension.

Cincinnati has taken the free agent route to address the O-line in recent years, with Karras being joined by the likes of right guard Alex Cappa (signed in 2022) and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (2023) as big-money additions. Cappa has two more years on his deal, and Brown has three. That veteran trio will thus remain intact for the foreseeable future as the team – at least potentially – relies on a pair of players attached to rookie pacts to round out the starting alignment up front.

Cordell Volson has served as a full-time left guard starter during his two years in the NFL, and 2024 first-rounder Amarius Mims could take on a first-team role right away at the right tackle spot vacated in free agency by Jonah Williams. The Georgia product played sparingly in college, though, so another experienced signing (Trent Brown) could wind up logging RT starts in 2024.

Regardless of how that situation shakes out, Karras will be in place for another two years. Consistent play in the middle of the line should therefore be expected as the Bengals aim to continue improving up front.

Jets Sign DE Takk McKinley

June 13th, 2024 at 11:18am CST by Adam La Rose

Several veterans around the NFL have used ongoing minicamps as a means of trying out with a team in the hopes of landing a new deal. In the case of edge rusher Takkarist McKinley, that has produced a Jets agreement.

McKinley took part in the Jets’ minincamp, as noted by Brian Costello of the New York Post. The former first-rounder did enough to secure a roster spot for at least the summer. He and the team have a deal in place, as first reported by Connor Hughes of SNY. The deal is now official, per a team announcement.

The 28-year-old began his career with the Falcons, logging 25 starts across 49 games. Expectations were high after McKinley racked up 13 sacks in his first two campaigns, but he has failed to match that production since. Following the end of his Atlanta tenure, he bounced around to the Bengals, 49ers and Raiders.

That led to a one-year Browns contract in 2021. McKinley recorded 2.5 sacks that year, and they remain the most recent of his career. The UCLA product played sparingly for the Rams in 2022, collecting just one tackle. A Cowboys re-signing last March did not yield a roster spot. He was out of the league last season, so this agreement represents an opportunity to revive his career and compete for a depth role along the Jets’ defensive front.

New York saw Bryce Huff depart in free agency. While Haason Reddick was acquired as a replacement, the team later moved on from John Franklin-Myers in a cost-shedding trade during the draft. Reddick is under contract for one more year, although his ongoing absence from the team has cast doubt on his long-term future in the Big Apple.

The Jets have recent first-rounders Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald in place along the edge. The latter in particular is expected to see a notable uptick in workload despite the former and Reddick being set to handle first-team responsibilities. McKinley will nevertheless spend training camp looking to carve out a rotational and/or special teams role in his bid to return to NFL game action.

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