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Checking In On Unresolved WR Situations

July 4th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Wide receiver rumors continue to dominate the NFL’s post-minicamp quiet period. The shift atop the receiver market this offseason has complicated matters for other teams, while multiple clubs are also dealing with players attached to upper-middle-class accords.

With training camps less than a month away, here is a look at where the unresolved wideout situations stand:

Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers

This situation that has generated the most offseason rumors at the position; the 49ers-Aiyuk negotiations have dragged on for months. Progress has been scarce here, to the point Aiyuk requested a meeting to address his value and issues with the 49ers’ tactics during these talks. The Vikings’ Justin Jefferson extension has affected these conversations, with Aiyuk’s camp now seeking a full guarantee near the number ($88.7MM) the Minnesota superstar scored. AAV-wise, Aiyuk’s camp has been connected to pursuing a deal that matches or surpasses the $30.01MM number the Lions reached for Amon-Ra St. Brown. Aiyuk did not show for OTAs or minicamp.

Aiyuk, 26, is due a $14.12MM fifth-year option salary. His next step would be to hold out, risking $50K in per-day fines. The 49ers could waive them, as they did for Nick Bosa, since Aiyuk is on a rookie contract. That separates this situation from a few others here, and it is certainly possible the sides do not come together on a deal. Aiyuk not bringing down his guarantee request would run the risk of that happening.

While Aiyuk expects to be a 49er for a fifth season, the value gulf here — one partially created by the big-ticket deals other WRs have agreed to this offseason — threatens to prevent this situation from concluding smoothly like Deebo Samuel‘s did in 2022. The 49ers guaranteed Samuel $41MM at signing, illustrating how far the team and Aiyuk may be apart. Conversely, an agreement here — with the 49ers preparing for a Brock Purdy payday and having drafted Ricky Pearsall in Round 1 — would point to a 2025 Samuel trade. The 49ers discussed trades involving both their top wideouts, but John Lynch shut down those rumors post-draft.

Amari Cooper, Browns

The two-year Browns contributor joined Aiyuk in skipping minicamp, having seen his Cowboys-constructed contract fall in the pecking order (from second to 20th) due to the market booms of 2022 and 2024. Cooper signed a five-year deal, as the Cowboys prefer longer-term accords, in 2020 and missed out on cashing in as the market soared during the contract’s lifespan. Having played the lead role for a depleted Browns offense during an 11-6 2023 season, Cooper is aiming to score another payday ahead of his age-30 season.

Browns GM Andrew Berry identified Cooper as an extension candidate earlier this offseason, and Kevin Stefanski acknowledged talks have taken place. The Browns certainly had to assume they would be dealing with Cooper on the contract front once they gave trade pickup Jerry Jeudy a $41MM guarantee at signing (sixth among WRs). The ex-Bronco has yet to post a 1,000-yard season. Cooper has seven, though last season marked the older Alabama alum’s first 1,200-yard year.

With Deshaun Watson in Year 3 of a $230MM guaranteed extension, the Browns feature an unusual roster component. If Cooper were to hold out, the Browns would be unable to waive his $50K-per-day fines due to the 2015 first-rounder not being on a rookie contract.

As it stands, Cooper is tied to a $23.78MM cap number. Cleveland could reduce that with an extension, but Cooper’s age offers a slight complication. This does not appear an acrimonious dispute, and the sides are hoping for a pre-training camp resolution.

Tee Higgins, Bengals

This matter appears simpler, as Higgins has signed his $21.82MM franchise tender. Unlike Jessie Bates two years ago, Higgins is obligated to attend camp. The other eight players to receive a franchise or transition tag have signed extensions, each doing so several weeks ago. The Bengals have shown no indications they plan to extend their No. 2 wide receiver before the July 15 deadline, and while Higgins requested a trade, he has acknowledged he expects to remain in Cincinnati for the 2024 season. A trade could occur after the tag deadline, but the Bengals are highly unlikely — after resisting trade interest at the 2023 trade deadline — to move Higgins this year.

The Bengals and Higgins have discussed an extension for more than a year, and a modest offer — well south of $20MM per year — prompted the 6-foot-4 receiver to play out his fourth season. Gunning to dethrone the Chiefs and finish a mission they nearly accomplished in Super Bowl LVI, the Bengals tagged Higgins and are preparing to run back their standout receiver pair for a fourth year. If/once Higgins is tied to the tag this season, the sides cannot restart talks until January 2025. It is unclear if the Bengals would consider re-tagging Higgins next year, but the early word leans against this reality.

Joe Burrow‘s cap number spikes by $17MM between 2024 and 2025, moving past $46MM next year, and the Bengals have a receiver extension earmarked for Ja’Marr Chase. Though, Chase talks will be interesting after Jefferson’s guarantee figures surfaced.

Tyreek Hill, Dolphins

This is a rather unusual situation, but one that reminds of another Dolphins matter from recent years. Hill is tied to a four-year, $120MM extension; that deal runs through 2026. But the future Hall of Famer is already seeking a new contract. Teams rarely accommodate players with three years of team control remaining, due to the precedent it sets, but Hill has shown himself to be one of the top receivers of this era. He has delivered back-to-back first-team All-Pro offerings and has made a significant difference in Tua Tagovailoa‘s development. The Dolphins have not shut Hill down on this matter.

Hill, 30, is believed to have approached the Dolphins about an update before the St. Brown, Jefferson and A.J. Brown deals came to pass, but those contracts intensified the ninth-year veteran’s pursuit. Rather than a push for more guarantees on his current contract, Hill confirmed he is seeking a new deal. Teams are not big on giving back years to players, the Texans’ unusual move to lop three years off Stefon Diggs‘ contract notwithstanding, and agreeing on another extension — with customary guarantees — so soon would make for one of the more interesting decisions in this key chapter in WR history.

Dolphins GM Chris Grier has set a precedent on this front, giving in to Xavien Howard‘s demands for a new contract in 2022 despite being tied to a deal that covered three more seasons. The Dolphins have given Jaylen Waddle a big-ticket extension, one that is structured in a more player-friendly way than Hill’s backloaded $30MM-AAV pact. Signing deals that at the time broke the receiver AAV record, Hill and Davante Adams allowed their respective teams to insert phony final-year salaries — which almost definitely will not be paid out — to inflate the overall value.

No trade rumors have emerged here, as Hill wants to stay in Miami for his career’s remainder. Though, it will be interesting to see what comes out of these talks if the Dolphins decline Hill’s request this year. Hill is attached to a $31.23MM cap number.

CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys

The Vikings’ decision to authorize outlier guarantees for Jefferson probably affects the Cowboys most, as Lamb is also a 2020 first-round draftee who has shown himself to be one of the NFL’s best receivers. Lamb, 25, has been the centerpiece of the Cowboys’ passing attack since the team traded Amari Cooper — for salary purposes — in 2022. He is coming off a first-team All-Pro season — the first by a Dallas wideout since Dez Bryant in 2014 — and is tied to a $17.99MM fifth-year option figure. If Lamb does not land a new deal by training camp, he is prepared to follow Zack Martin‘s lead and hold out.

Dormant during the spring, Lamb extension talks are expected to pick up this summer. The Oklahoma alum’s interest in becoming the NFL’s highest-paid wideout veered toward shakier ground for the Cowboys following this offseason’s run of deals. The Cowboys not going through with a Lamb extension last year has certainly cost them, as Lamb’s camp has Jefferson’s guarantees to cite now. Dallas has not guaranteed a receiver more than $40MM at signing and typically holds the line on contracts spanning at least five years. Based on where the WR market has gone in terms of contract length, Lamb’s camp will likely make this a central issue in the sides’ negotiations.

Dallas not pushing this process past the goal line in 2023 has also created a situation in which Lamb and Dak Prescott are in contract years, a window that has opened just as Micah Parsons has become extension-eligible. The Cowboys are expected to first address their quarterback’s deal, which could be a tricky proposition due to Prescott’s tactics during his long-running extension talks earlier this decade, but a Lamb pact coming together by training camp is still in play. The Cowboys’ glut of extension candidates has created one of the more complicated contract situations in recent NFL history.

Courtland Sutton, Broncos

Checking in on a lower tier compared to the above-referenced receiver situations, Sutton continues to push for an update to his Denver deal. The Broncos have their top wide receiver attached to a four-year, $60MM extension that runs through 2025. Although just about every Broncos contract matter is overshadowed by the team’s Russell Wilson mistake, the team did well to lock down Sutton at what became a club-friendly rate during the 2021 season. After Sutton scored 10 touchdowns to help Wilson bounce back — to a degree, at least — in 2023, he has made an effort to secure better terms.

Sutton, 28, is believed to be angling for a raise from his $13MM 2024 base salary. The seventh-year target has been connected to seeking a bump to around $16MM. The Broncos did resolve a Chris Harris impasse by authorizing a raise, but the All-Decade CB was a better player who was in a contract year. Sutton reported to Denver’s minicamp but has not committed to showing up for training camp. Last month, the sides were at a stalemate. Tied to a $17.39MM cap number, Sutton would not be able to recoup any fines for a holdout due to being on a veteran contract.

Trade interest emerged during the draft, and the former second-round pick has regularly resided in departure rumors over the past two years. The Broncos cut the cord on fellow trade-rumor mainstay Jerry Jeudy, which stands to make Sutton more important as the team develops Bo Nix. Though, the Broncos have added a few wideouts on Sean Payton‘s watch. If younger players like Marvin Mims and fourth-round rookie Troy Franklin show promise, it is possible the Broncos revisit Sutton trade talks. Up until Week 1, only $2MM of Sutton’s base salary is guaranteed.

Extension Candidate: A.J. Terrell

July 1st, 2024 at 8:56pm CST by Ben Levine

A.J. Terrell has established himself as one of the league’s top young cornerbacks. The former first-round pick is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2024, meaning he’s eyeing a lucrative pay day within the next 12 months. There’s no question that the Falcons want to re-sign their star cornerback to a long-term pact, with Josh Kendall of The Athletic expecting the organization to sign their star defensive back to an extension “before the negotiations get tense.”

There is a question of how much an impending extension will cost. Terrell has undeniably set himself up for a sizable contract. The former 16th-overall pick has started all 61 of his appearances through four NFL seasons, including a sophomore campaign where he earned All-Pro honors. He finished that season ranked as Pro Football Focus’ second-best cornerback, with the Clemson product compiling 81 tackles, 16 passes defended, and three interceptions.

Since that 2021 campaign, Terrell has failed to pull in an interception, and he finished the 2022 season ranked only 62nd at his position. He rebounded this past year (24th among 127 qualifiers), but he still finished the season without a pick while collecting a career-low 45 tackles.

In other words, Terrell can justify being one of the league’s highest-paid cornerbacks, but probably not the highest-paid cornerback. From an average-annual-salary perspective, that honor currently belongs to Jaire Alexander, who is making $21MM per year. Kendall suggests the Falcons should push for a $17MM AAV, which would put Terrell ninth at his position (but well above No. 10, Carlton Davis, at $14.8MM).

Even a sub-$20MM AAV would be a win for the organization. Fellow 2020 draft picks Trevon Diggs, L’Jarius Sneed, and Jaylon Johnson have all come in between $19MM and $20MM with their respective extensions, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Terrell is pushing for that range. The 2025 cornerback franchise tag is currently projected at $19.4MM (per OverTheCap.com), so that number could be a fair compromise between the two sides.

Terrell would headline the CB class if he somehow got to 2025 free agency. The non-first-round 2021 cornerbacks will also be hitting the market, a grouping that includes Tyson Campbell, Asante Samuel Jr., and Paulson Adebo. In the unlikely event that Terrell banks on a standout 2024 campaign (and succeeds), he could push for the Alexander/Denzel Ward/Jalen Ramsey tier at the position.

More likely, Terrell misses that mark but still signs a pricey extension with the Falcons. It sounds like the front office isn’t intending to drag out negotiations, which probably bodes well for Terrell’s chances of cracking the top-10 at his position. At the moment, the cornerback is attached to his $12.3MM fifth-year option, but he’ll likely add to that total before the 2024 campaign begins.

Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Chargers

June 30th, 2024 at 10:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

The AFC’s underachievement kingpins for much of this century, the Chargers saw their most recent mission hit a wall last season. After GM Tom Telesco gave Brandon Staley another year in the wake of the 2022 team’s historic collapse, both ended up gone less than a year later. In terms of pure GMs, no AFC front office boss had been in place longer than Telesco. The Bolts responded by changing their managerial structure; their decision-making hierarchy now runs through a head coach.

Jim Harbaugh will be tasked with maximizing Justin Herbert in a way Staley and Anthony Lynn could not, and the Chargers stripped away their quarterback’s long-running receiving corps. Harbaugh’s pedigree aside, many questions come out of this Bolts offseason. But the team, after years of adding first-time HCs on lower-cost contracts, veered in a different direction as the Telesco era failed to turn steady offseason hype into much of consequence.

Coaching/Front Office:

Weeks before the Chargers fired Staley, Harbaugh connections began. While the team was also tied to Lions OC Ben Johnson early in the process and later linked loosely to Bill Belichick, Harbaugh buzz persisted. Chargers ownership contacted Harbaugh’s camp upon firing Staley, laying the groundwork for a bolder Bolts hire.

The embattled yet successful Michigan leader, whom the Wolverines sought to extend following a two-suspension season that ended with the program’s first national championship in 26 years, maximized his leverage by negotiating with the Big Ten school and scheduling a second Falcons interview. Harbaugh never made it to Atlanta for that meeting, viewing the Los Angeles gig as enticing enough to make his long-rumored jump back to the NFL.

On paper, Harbaugh’s NFL exit qualified as odd. The former quarterback immediately turned around the 49ers upon arrival in 2011, guiding them to three straight NFC championship games. The 2011 and ’13 San Francisco squads fell just short of NFC championships while the ’12 team saw a still-debated non-whistle in the final seconds of Super Bowl XLVII cement a victory for Harbaugh’s older brother. Even after an 8-8 2014 season, Harbaugh enters the 2024 campaign in fifth place in all-time win percentage. For coaches who began their careers after the 1970 merger, no one outflanks Harbaugh’s .695 mark.

A power struggle with then-49ers GM Trent Baalke played the lead role in Harbaugh returning to his alma mater in 2015, but the early 2020s brought steady Harbaugh-to-NFL rumors. The fiery HC had said unfinished business remained in the pros, but interviews with the Vikings (2022) and Broncos (’23) did not provide a gateway back. Rumblings in front office circles pegged Harbaugh as difficult to work with, and while that may be accurate, the veteran leader has won everywhere he has camped.

Harbaugh, 60, guided Michigan to three straight CFP fields to continue a trend of turnarounds. The former Chargers starting QB rebuilt the Stanford program and then the 49ers. Nearly 15 years after his Andrew Luck partnership ended, Harbaugh made the jump to work with a comparable QB talent.

While the Chargers have not taken heat on a Bengals level for frugality, the perception they were not willing to go big for a high-profile head coach prompted an ownership message of reimagining the football operation upon canning Telesco and Staley. The Chargers had not hired anyone with prior HC experience since replacing Marty Schottenheimer with Norv Turner in 2007. In the years since, the Bolts paid first-timers Mike McCoy, Lynn and Staley lower salaries. Harbaugh will command a $16MM-per-year salary. While that fell short of his $18MM ask, it is believed — as HC salaries do not have to be disclosed — it places him near the top of the league.

Considering Harbaugh’s past with Baalke, it certainly made sense for the Chargers to pair him with a pre-approved GM. Interviewing Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown twice, the Chargers used a John Harbaugh connection to find their Telesco successor. Hortiz will not hold final say like Telesco did, but the longtime Ravens exec has worked with the elder Harbaugh throughout the HC’s time in Baltimore.

Hortiz, 48, served under Ozzie Newsome for 20 years and moved from the scouting level to college scouting director to director of player personnel with the Ravens. The team bumped Hortiz to the latter post in 2019, upon promoting Eric DeCosta to succeed Newsome. Hortiz has interviewed for GM jobs in the past, meeting about the Cardinals position last year and discussing the Giants and Steelers’ vacancies in 2022. Hortiz’s past with John Harbaugh, however, should give this partnership a better shot at succeeding in the long term compared to the Baalke-Jim Harbaugh pairing.

Although Alexander comes from the Jets, the former Joe Douglas lieutenant spent extensive time in Baltimore — alongside Douglas — leading up to his New York move. Hortiz hired a former coworker to be his second-in-command; Harbaugh did as well. Roman was Jim’s OC in all four years in San Francisco. The run-oriented OC — though, Roman has not spent much time with pass-first QBs — becomes a rare fourth-time NFL coordinator, having made stops in Buffalo and Baltimore since Harbaugh’s San Francisco exit.

The Ravens fired Roman after four seasons; he spent 2023 out of football. His Chargers fit will be fascinating, and it certainly appears — through the team’s actions in March and April — the Bolts will make the ground game a bigger part of their plan. It will be interesting to see how Roman tailors his style to Herbert, whose skills differ from the likes of Lamar Jackson, Tyrod Taylor and Colin Kaepernick. Roman last worked with a true pass-based signal-caller in 2012, when the 49ers made the midseason switch from Alex Smith to Kaepernick.

Harbaugh and Roman resurrected Smith’s career, and the future Chiefs starter carried a 70.2% completion rate at 8.0 yards per attempt when a concussion led to his 2012 benching. Roman was at the controls for Jackson’s dominant 2019 season, which brought a unanimous MVP, though his run-centric style wore thin as his Maryland stay progressed. Although Herbert is capable on the ground, Roman’s past will certainly make fantasy drafters uneasy about how he will proceed with one of the NFL’s most talented passers — especially given the team’s actions at wide receiver this offseason.

Minter, 41, checks both boxes when it comes to the Harbaughs. Like Mike Macdonald, the new Chargers DC worked under John Harbaugh (2017-20) and then Jim; Minter succeeded Macdonald as the Wolverines’ defensive play-caller in 2022. Minter made a significant jump, moving from Vanderbilt safeties coach to Michigan DC. The Big Ten power led Division I-FBS in scoring defense last season (10.4 points per game), and the Wolverines’ 268 yards allowed per game from 2022-23 ranked second.

Previously serving as Ravens DBs coach in the NFL, Minter will see his rise continue with this L.A. gig.

Trades:

Shortly after Harbaugh’s hire, Allen said he expected to remain with the Chargers. The team released Mike Williams to reach cap compliance by the March 13 deadline, but a day later, it bid farewell to one of the best players in franchise history. Given where WR prices have gone this offseason, Chicago having Allen tied to a mid-second-tier contract — he is due $18.1MM in 2024, the final season of a $20MM-AAV deal. The 11-year Charger’s departure may be difficult for the Bolts in the short term, as they depended on the high-end route runner for years.

A 2013 third-round pick, Allen had been the team’s longest-tenured player for years. While unlikely to join Lance Alworth in the Hall of Fame and landing a bit south of where John Jefferson was at his early-career peak, Allen is probably the best Bolts receiver of the past 35 years. His 904 receptions and 10,530 yards rank second — by a wide margin — in Bolts history.

As Antonio Gates declined, the Chargers centered their aerial attacks around Allen. The Cal alum delivered six 1,000-yard seasons, including a 1,243-yard showing in just 13 games last season. With Allen poised to help Caleb Williams‘ NFL transition, no comparable option remains on the Chargers’ roster.

The Chargers restructured Allen’s contract to create cap space last year, leading to an $11.6MM dead money charge for 2024. The team offered Allen an extension, but it appeared — per Allen’s camp — it came at a reduced rate, with the 32-year-old receiver’s agent indicating the Bolts’ one proposal included pay cuts in 2025 and 2026. As could be expected given his 2023 season and the exploding wideout market, Allen emphatically refused a pay cut.

Extensions and restructures:

The restructures from Telesco’s final offseason in charge left Bosa, Mack, Allen and Williams all with cap hits of at least $32MM. The Chargers cut ties with their longtime receiving tandem but held onto their standout edge rushers, who accepted pay cuts to stay in Harbaugh’s first season. Assembled in 2022 upon the Chargers acquiring Mack from the Bears, this pair may well be going into its final season together. Mack’s Bears-built contract expires after the 2024 season.

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5 Key Stories: 6/23/24 – 6/30/24

June 30th, 2024 at 4:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the NFL’s offseason in full swing, contract matters in a number of cases are front and center for the time being. Teams and players have plenty of time to work out extensions, but attention will remain aimed on situations where uncertainty exists. In case you missed any of this week’s top developments, here is a quick recap:

  • Negotiations Ongoing Between Aiyuk, 49ers: The future of Brandon Aiyuk has been a central storyline throughout the offseason. Per his request, the pending free agent wideout met with the team to further discuss an extension; reports pointed to a positive outcome with a mutual desire to avoid a trade existing. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old later acknowledged the sides have been far apart on contract terms at times during negotiations. San Francisco was in a similar situation with Deebo Samuel before a trade request was ultimately rescinded and a multi-year deal was worked out. A similar resolution in the case of Aiyuk – who floated the Steelers and Commanders as alternative destinations – would allow the team to keep a critical member of its offensive core in place beyond 2024.
  • Dolphins Yet To Submit Market-Value Tagovailoa Offer: Two quarterbacks (Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff) have joined the NFL’s $50MM-per-year club this offseason, and Tua Tagovailoa is among the passers who could land a similar deal in the near future. To date, the Dolphins have not been willing to make an offer in that neighborhood, however. The Pro Bowler has turned down at least one Miami contract so far, and his remarks on his situation have suggested a hometown discount will not be forthcoming. Tagovailoa, 26, has faced questions related to his health and upside, although a full campaign in 2023 and notable statistical output when on the field will increase his leverage. Extension talks continue, but for now he is on track to play out his fifth-year option ($23.17MM) this season.
  • Lamb On Track For Cowboys Holdout? One of the other receivers angling for a lucrative second contract is CeeDee Lamb, who has missed spring workouts with the Cowboys this offseason. Now that Justin Jefferson has reset the receiver market – signing a $35MM-per-season Vikings accord, the largest for a non-QB – traction could be gained between Lamb’s representatives and Dallas’ front office. With nothing imminent, however, a training camp holdout could be coming this summer. The All-Pro delivered the most productive season in franchise history last season, giving him plenty of leverage in contract talks. Known to be waiting for the top of the WR pecking order to be established, the Cowboys are not looking to move the bar to new heights on a monster Lamb accord. The 25-year-old would incur fines with a training camp absence, but the team could elect to waive them in his case.
  • Policy Named Packers’ Next President: Mark Murphy will reach mandatory retirement age next summer, but his successor is now officially in place. The team’s board of directors unanimously tapped Ed Policy for the role of president and CEO starting next year. The 53-year-old has been with Green Bay since 2012, serving as the team’s COO for the past six years. He will continue in that regard until taking over as de facto owner after Murphy steps aside. Policy represented an expected choice for the role, but the Packers vetted 90 candidates (and 10 finalists) before choosing him to lead the team’s front office.
  • Daboll To Take Over As Giants’ Play-Caller: Brian Daboll had a successful run as a play-calling offensive coordinator with the Bills before landing the Giants’ head coaching gig. To the surprise of many, his choice for OC (Mike Kafka) called plays for most of the past two seasons. Kafka survived the staff turnover seen this offseason, but Daboll is on track to take over play-calling responsibilities in 2024. The latter guided the offense this spring, and carrying on through training camp and into the regular season will create a notable storyline tied to his future. Tension in 2023 between Daboll and his assistant has been well documented, and his job security will be a talking point if the coming season does not go according to plan. A strong start to the year on offense, by contrast, could quell concerns about his Giants tenure.

2025 Salary Cap Projections For All 32 Teams

June 29th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Ben Levine

While a number of big-name veterans remain unsigned, 2024 free agency is effectively over. In addition to settling on 53-man rosters ahead of the 2024 campaign, NFL front offices will also use the next few months to sign their extension-eligible players to long-term pacts.

These extensions are obviously intended to keep players locked to their respective teams for the foreseeable future. However, these extensions can also help front offices clean their books as they prepare for future offseasons. With that in mind, here’s a look at where teams currently stand in regards to 2025 cap space (h/t to OverTheCap.com):

  1. New England Patriots $91.93MM
  2. Arizona Cardinals $77.42MM
  3. Washington Commanders $69.51MM
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers $67.98MM
  5. Dallas Cowboys $64.82MM
  6. Chicago Bears $58.81MM
  7. New York Jets $58.28MM
  8. Minnesota Vikings $54.52MM
  9. Green Bay Packers $47.45MM
  10. Detroit Lions $43.68MM
  11. Los Angeles Chargers $42.92MM
  12. Cincinnati Bengals $37.87MM
  13. Denver Broncos $34.35MM
  14. Los Angeles Rams $34.22MM
  15. Tennessee Titans $27.51MM
  16. Jacksonville Jaguars $27.36MM
  17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers $25.74MM
  18. Las Vegas Raiders $22.53MM
  19. New York Giants $17.15MM
  20. Carolina Panthers $16.42MM
  21. Indianapolis Colts $14.23MM
  22. Kansas City Chiefs $11.67MM
  23. Philadelphia Eagles $6.40MM
  24. Atlanta Falcons $130K
  25. Baltimore Ravens -$3.58MM
  26. Buffalo Bills -$3.71MM
  27. Houston Texans -$5.68MM
  28. Miami Dolphins -$9.36MM
  29. Seattle Seahawks -$20.48MM
  30. San Francisco 49ers -$38.91MM
  31. Cleveland Browns -$42.85MM
  32. New Orleans Saints -$88.15MM

The numbers above reflect “effective cap space,” meaning they account for the top-51 players and projected rookie classes. This list is based on a projected salary cap of $260MM.

It’s not a huge surprise to see the Patriots atop the list, as the organization is currently sitting with the most amount of cap room heading into the 2024 campaign. With hopeful franchise QB Drake Maye locked into an affordable rookie contract, the organization will surely be looking to capitalize on their cap flexibility. The Patriots were traditionally fiscally responsible under Bill Belichick‘s leadership, so it will be interesting to see how the organization proceeds with Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf now running the show. The Patriots aren’t far removed from a 2021 offseason where they spent a then-record $160MM in guaranteed money on free agents, so owner Robert Kraft certainly isn’t shy about opening the checkbook when the opportunity arises.

Some of these teams will surely see their totals dry up as they sign players to extensions. This is especially relevant for the Cowboys, who are eyeing lucrative extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Most of the team’s upcoming moves will likely be made with the Dak/CeeDee extensions in mind, and once those deals come to fruition, there’s a good chance the Cowboys end up falling towards the bottom of this list.

On the other side of the list, the Saints will be eyeing some significant cost-cutting moves heading into the 2025 offseason. The team could free up some significant space via extensions with Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, as the duo is currently slated to count for a combined $44.7MM against the cap in 2025. Marshon Lattimore‘s $31.4MM cap hit is another notable roadblock that will need to be resolved, although the organization has less flexibility when it comes to Derek Carr‘s impending 2025 cap hit of $51.4MM.

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.

Extension Candidate: D.J. Moore

June 27th, 2024 at 9:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

D.J. Moore was a key part of the package the Panthers sent the Bears to acquire the No. 1 pick in 2023. He is attached to a contract which came before the position’s market surged, though, which could put him in line to command a raise in the relatively near future.

Moore, 27, topped 1,100 yards three times during his five-year tenure in Carolina. The Panthers were not looking to move on from him shortly after he inked his current contract, but the fact he was no longer on his rookie deal factored into the Bears’ insistence he was part of the blockbuster swap. Arriving in Chicago as the team’s No. 1 wideout, Moore enjoyed a career year last season.

The former first-rounder set a new personal best in catches (96), yards (1,364) and touchdowns (eight) in 2023 despite the Bears’ QB situation being less than ideal. That has been the case for much of Moore’s career, although Caleb Williams could change that. This year’s top pick enters the league with major expectations, but the presence of a well-regarded skill group may limit what he needs to do as a rookie for the Bears to be successful.

Chicago traded for Keenan Allen before following up the Williams pick with the selection of Rome Odunze. The former has one year on his current deal while the latter will be cost-controlled through at least 2027. Moore, meanwhile, has two years remaining on his $61.88MM extension. While there is no need for urgency this summer, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic notes the Maryland product is a strong candidate for an extension based on his play along with his high standing in the organization (subscription required).

Moore is due just over $16MM in 2024 and ’25, but only $1.11MM of his base salaries in that span are guaranteed. In terms of annual average value, he now sits 17th in the league with respect to receiver compensation (a ranking which will drop further once the likes of CeeDee Lamb, Ja’Marr Chase and Brandon Aiyuk sign their own second contracts). A deal keeping him place through the remainder of his prime and tying him to Chicago while Williams is on his rookie pact would be sensible for team and player based on Moore’s first year in the Windy City.

On the other hand, the presence of Allen (who is interested in a market-level Bears deal) and Odunze could lessen Moore’s role on offense. General manager Ryan Poles may prefer to wait out the 2024 season and see how the team’s new offensive playmakers fit before committing to a Moore deal. In the event that were to take place, though, another productive year could up his asking price in the wake of continued increases in the receiver market.

Two agents Fishbain spoke with (but who do not represent Moore) used Calvin Ridley‘s Titans deal (four years, $92MM) as a comparable deal. Moore – who is two years younger and has a nearly identical yards per game average for his career – could certainly command a raise if a short-term deal were to be worked out by tacking on a few years to the remainder of his current pact. The agents suggested a two-year, $60MM top-up could be an appropriate figure in this case.

With considerable cap space now and in the near future, the Bears can certainly afford a big-ticket Moore investment. It will be interesting to see if Poles and the Bears pursue an agreement over the course of the summer or take a more patient approach with him.

Offseason In Review: New York Giants

June 26th, 2024 at 10:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 2023 Giants offseason brought significant investments from the Joe Schoen regime in Dave Gettleman-era acquisitions. One of those moves has come to define Schoen’s regime. The team’s decision to give Daniel Jones a four-year, $160MM deal with two fully guaranteed seasons, while franchise-tagging Saquon Barkley, ended one long-running partnership and has another on shaky ground. Months after Jones’ ACL tear wrapped a woeful season from the now-well-paid quarterback, Barkley signed with the Eagles.

Following a surprise playoff showing in the Schoen-Brian Daboll partnership’s first season, the Giants tumbled off that tier in 2023. Jones is back in “prove it” territory, while Daboll — his 2022 Coach of the Year accolade notwithstanding — may join his QB in a make-or-break year. This Giants offseason involved key decisions, though it largely boiled down to one call in late April.

Trades:

The Giants look to have benefited from both the Panthers’ regime change and the fallout from the now-infamous rejected Rams trade proposal at the 2022 deadline. It took only a package headlined by a second-round pick for the Giants to pry Burns from the Panthers, who had franchise-tagged the disgruntled edge rusher. Burns, 26, will now team with Kayvon Thibodeaux to give the Giants their best-looking OLB duo since at least Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon.

A complex route formed to deliver Burns to New York; a fork in that road emerged in October 2022. As the Panthers regrouped following Matt Rhule‘s firing, they dealt Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers for four picks. None of those was a first-rounder. Other Carolina cogs drew extensive interest, with Burns at the front of that pack. Shortly after the Rams missed out on McCaffrey, the team — at the end of its “eff them picks” period — attempted to add a reinforcement to a sinking Super Bowl title defense by offering two first-rounders and a third for Burns.

Still owing the Lions their 2023 first-rounder from the Matthew Stafford trade, the Rams could not offer their 2023 first. That turned out to matter, as then-GM Scott Fitterer — whose job security was unstable after David Tepper axed Rhule — viewed the opportunity to discuss an extension with Burns as more valuable than 2024 and ’25 firsts. Denying Burns a chance to land in Los Angeles with a likely extension awaiting reframed the Panthers’ re-up talks with their top pass rusher.

Irked at Carolina turning down a big trade offer that doubled as a path for an L.A. extension, Burns did not come to terms with the team that drafted him. As Burns’ asking price soared, Fitterer balked at extending him in 2023. After Fitterer’s firing, the Panthers took what they could get — after pausing extension talks in early March — and finally cut bait.

Burns and the Panthers were not believed to be close on terms, as the five-year veteran pushed for a deal in the $30MM-per-year range before Nick Bosa became the NFL’s first $30MM-AAV edge rusher. Burns asking for terms bettering T.J. Watt‘s Steelers extension understandably spooked the Panthers, who did receive trade offers for the Ron Rivera-era draftee at last year’s deadline. Of course, those proposals are not believed to have come in near where the Rams went.

The Giants gave Burns a five-year, $141MM extension upon completing the trade. Not seeing Azeez Ojulari deliver consistency alongside Thibodeaux, the Giants greenlit a big-ticket deal that should pair well — for the time being, at least — with their top-10 pick’s rookie contract. Although the Jaguars’ Josh Allen passed Burns this spring, the new Giants OLB still ranks third among edges in AAV ($28.2MM) and fourth in total guarantees ($87.5MM) and fully guaranteed money ($76MM). Much will be expected from a player who has proven reliable while settling in outside the top tier, production-wise, at his position.

While Jones’ AAV checks in beyond Burns’, the latter received the most guaranteed money in Giants history. Burns is 1-for-5 in 10-plus-sack seasons, totaling 12.5 in 2022, and he ranks just 12th in sacks since 2019 (46). In terms of QB hits since Burns entered the league, he ranks 14th (95). The Florida State alum has certainly done well for himself despite solid but unspectacular work in Charlotte, though he was asked to deliver high-end production despite his team playing from behind more often than not.

Thibodeaux registered 11.5 sacks on a bad team last season. He certainly stands to benefit from Burns’ presence, and it will be interesting to see how the Giants proceed when their younger OLB becomes extension-eligible. That point comes in January, though with a fifth-year option in place to extend Thibodeaux’s rookie deal through 2025, the Giants have some time with their current arrangement. Burns’ 2024 and ’25 salaries are guaranteed at signing. If he is on the Giants’ roster on Day 5 of the 2025 league year, his full 2026 salary is guaranteed.

This is a big commitment for the Giants, who also looked into Bryce Huff. The team presumably inquired about Huff before Burns talks accelerated, though the trade negotiations with Carolina — which featured extensive familiarity considering Schoen worked with the Panthers for nearly 20 years and worked with Morgan in Buffalo — began well before the trade came to pass.

 Free agency additions:

Daboll brought in multiple former Bills pieces this offseason, the Singletary move being the most notable. After producing on a near-veteran-minimum contract with the Texans, the sixth-year RB will be tasked with replacing Saquon Barkley in New York. Barkley and Singletary are on different talent planes, as their respective contracts illustrated in March; the Giants believe they will be able to get by with the latter, who still quadrupled his guarantee figure from 2023.

Singletary, 26, operated in Daboll’s offense over his first three seasons. During that span, the Bills used the 5-foot-7 back as their primary option behind Josh Allen. Despite drafting Zack Moss in the 2020 second round, Buffalo kept Singletary in the lead role. The ex-Florida Atlantic standout — a 2019 third-round pick — missed just one game over his final three Bills seasons and has offered reliable production. From 2021-23, Singletary totaled between 1,091 and 1,099 scrimmage yards. He has not offered too much as a receiver, never eclipsing 280 yards in a season. Receiving production from backs — a Barkley strong suit at points — will be an area to monitor within the Giants’ offense this season.

Next Gen Stats gave Singletary a mid-pack ranking in rush yards over expected, but he outplayed the one-year, $1.77MM Houston contract. The Texans turned to Singletary over Dameon Pierce to help their C.J. Stroud-piloted operation to the playoffs. Singletary also ran behind a makeshift offensive line for much of the season, as the Texans dealt with injuries basically everywhere Shaq Mason was not playing up front. Singletary notched a career-high 898 rushing yards, though the Texans did not offer him as much as they ended up paying Joe Mixon (three years, $19.75MM; $13MM guaranteed at signing).

Big Blue did not offer Barkley much blocking aid, and last year involved a spate of injuries. The team tried a low-cost approach at guard last season; the effort failing prompted more spending in 2024. Enter Runyan and Eluemunor, who are in place at left and right guard.

Having given Elgton Jenkins a top-market contract, the Packers predictably let Runyan walk. The latter will play his home games in the stadium where his father, a longtime Eagles right tackle, frequently tussled with Michael Strahan. One of five UFA guards to draw an eight-figure-per-year contract this offseason, Runyan brings three years of starter experience to New York. PFR’s No. 32 overall free agent, Runyan should be a big upgrade from recent Giants guard offerings.

The $10MM-per-year blocker logged full seasons at both guard positions, shifting to RG to accommodate Jenkins’ move back inside during the 2022 season. A 50-game starter, the former sixth-round pick ranked 17th among interior O-linemen in pass block win rate last season. Pro Football Focus slotted Runyan 47th among guards.

This year marks a new position and foreign contractual territory for Eluemunor, who had played on three straight one-year deals (none eclipsing $3MM) with the Raiders. The low-cost starter parlayed his work at right tackle and right guard into a midlevel contract. Eluemunor, 29, started 31 games — mostly at RT — for the Raiders over the past two seasons. PFF rated the former Ravens fifth-rounder 36th among tackles in 2023.

The Giants’ decision to give Evan Neal another shot at right tackle will kick Eluemunor inside, where has not played regularly since 2021. Even in his 2021 Raiders debut, Eluemunor only logged 266 snaps at guard. He did not see any time there last season. PFF has rated Neal as a bottom-two tackle regular in each of the past two seasons, and he is coming off a midseason foot fracture — an injury initially misdiagnosed as a sprained ankle — that sidelined him throughout the Giants’ offseason program.

Eluemunor looms as an emergency fix for the Giants, who have some interior insurance in Stinnie — who started in Super Bowl LV and made 11 starts last season — and Schlottmann (14 career starts in Denver and Minnesota). The Giants have converted guard Joshua Ezeudu tentatively in place as their swing tackle, but the 2022 third-rounder allowed five sacks despite playing just 266 snaps in place of Andrew Thomas last season.

The offseason additions aside, Neal’s development remains paramount in New York, as the Schoen regime drafted him seventh overall. Neal continuing down this road would remind of Ereck Flowers‘ underwhelming (in New York, that is) career path.

Before the Giants came to terms with Lock, they were on the Jameis Winston radar. The latter ended up in Cleveland, helping lead Lock to the Big Apple. A run of rumors has emerged regarding Lock’s role, and while the ex-Broncos and Seahawks QB has not been a team’s preferred starter since Teddy Bridgewater‘s second 2021 concussion forced Vic Fangio to move Lock back into his lineup, the former second-round pick has been mentioned as a possible Jones competitor at multiple points this offseason.

Seahawks GM John Schneider said the prospect of a competition with Jones helped lure Lock away from Seattle, and NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah noted shortly after the draft the Missouri alum carries a legitimate shot at wresting the job from Jones. Lock has said he expects his role to be a Jones backup, and Daboll pushed back on the notion this will be a competition. Lock seeing starts may not remind of the ignominious Mike Glennon stretch, but if the Giants are starting the inconsistent ex-Broncos option without Jones having suffered an injury, the team’s big-picture plan will have veered well off course.

Lock’s only full season as a starter (2020) featured him leading the NFL in INTs (15) despite only finishing 12 games. The Broncos traded for Bridgewater to demote the John Elway-era draftee and then included him in 2022’s blockbuster Russell Wilson trade. Despite Lock initially being viewed as more likely to succeed Wilson in Seattle, he lost a battle with Geno Smith and never threatened the eventual Comeback Player of the Year’s job security again.

Lock, 27, is a career 59.7% passer who holds a 6.7 yards-per-attempt figure. The Giants could look to park Jones late in the season — similar to the Raiders and Broncos’ actions with their starters over the past two years — in a bubble-wrap scenario that prevents $12MM in injury guarantees from entering the equation, but that would seemingly only come up if the team is well out of the playoff mix. Still, Lock represents an interesting wild card whose usage could be telling about the franchise’s immediate future.

Wilson’s short free agency tour stopped through New York, though this “what if” involving a Giants QB investment did not rival the one that came in April. Wilson, who ended up with the Steelers on a vet-minimum deal, would have likely held the upper hand on Jones in a competition. As of now, Lock is intriguing insurance.

Re-signings:

Notable losses:

In terms of accomplishments, Frank Gifford is the best running back in Giants history. Production-wise, it is Tiki Barber, who still sits in the top 30 on the NFL’s rushing yardage list. For sheer talent, it is difficult to beat Barkley, whom the Giants hoped would make a Canton case someday. If Barkley is to launch a Hall of Fame case, he will need to make significant contributions in Philadelphia.

The Giants closed a six-year Barkley partnership by determining they did not want to pay what it required — or even close to it — to employ the two-time Pro Bowler in 2024. That will mean, barring injury, two games against Barkley this season.

The team made it clear in 2023 Jones would be its priority and Barkley the secondary concern. Positional value supported this stance, despite Barkley being a far superior player. Barkley played the season on a $10.1MM franchise tag. Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain early in the season, but he exited 2023 a safer bet following Jones’ ACL tear. As the Giants launched a serious research effort to consider adding a Jones replacement, Barkley said they were not among the four teams to make an offer (though, Barkley and Schoen’s accounts may differ here, as a recent Hard Knocks trailer dangled). This led to a three-year, $37.75MM Eagles agreement.

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Extension Candidate: Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

June 24th, 2024 at 8:43pm CST by Ben Levine

Thanks in part to injuries, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah didn’t necessarily live up to his second-round billing through his first two seasons in the NFL. However, the linebacker stepped up in a big way during the 2023 campaign, and that performance could earn him an extension with the Browns in the coming months.

As Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com notes, “JOK” has emerged as an extension candidate for the organization. The reporter believes the Browns front office would prefer to lock up Owusu-Koramoah as soon as possible, either before the regular season or part way through the campaign. That way, the organization can assure the impending free agent is clear of any distractions in the follow-up to his breakout season.

After being selected with the 52nd pick in the 2021 draft, Owusu-Koramoah proceeded to earn All-Rookie team honors after finishing with 76 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a pair of forced fumbles. He missed a chunk of that season with an ankle injury, but Pro Football Focus still graded him as a top-10 player at his position. The linebacker took a slight step back during his sophomore campaign. He missed six more games thanks to a foot injury, and he finished the year ranked only 38th at his position.

Fortunately for the player and the organization, Owusu-Koramoah took a significant leap this past season. The 24-year-old finished the campaign with 101 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions, earning him his first career Pro Bowl nod. Pro Football Focus ranked him 18th among 82 qualifying linebackers, including the second-best pass-rushing score at his position.

There’s a chance Owusu-Koramoah could solidify himself as a definitive top-10 linebacker with a strong performance in 2024. That would come at the perfect time for the fourth-year player, as he’s set to hit free agency following the season. JOK doesn’t have the track record to match the $18MM average annual value mark that’s been surpassed by Roquan Smith, Fred Warner, and Tremaine Edmunds, but he could still be in line for a lucrative pay day.

Patrick Queen leaped into the top-five AAV at the position this offseason following a strong year in Baltimore. The former first-round pick got a three-year, $41MM deal from the Steelers, good for a $13.6MM AAV. The LB franchise tag for 2025 is projected to be north of $25MM, so Owusu-Koramoah does have some leverage if the Browns truly intend to keep him long-term. The linebacker is set to earn around $2MM on the final year of his rookie contract in 2024.

The Browns also haven’t done a whole lot to add depth at the weakside linebacker spot, with former UDFAs Mohamoud Diabate and Charlie Thomas serving as JOK’s primary backups. Anthony Walker and Sione Takitaki both departed this offseason, meaning the Browns will be even more reliant on Owusu-Koramoah’s experience in the linebackers room next year.

For what it’s worth, Owusu-Koramoah said he’s not overly focused on his contract status, noting that “there’s a time and place for everything” (per Zac Jackson of The Athletic). More notably, the linebacker declared that he’s “all about ball,” which is surely the type of mentality the front office is seeking from the hopeful defensive stalwart.

5 Key Stories: 6/16/24 – 6/23/24

June 23rd, 2024 at 4:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

The period between offseason programs ending and training camps beginning is in full swing. A number of notable developments and updates to ongoing contract situations have taken place around the NFL in recent days, though. In case you missed any of the top headlines from the past week, here is a quick recap:

  • Patriots Extend Stevenson: Signs pointed to an agreement being close between the Patriots and running back Rhamondre Stevenson shortly before an extension was indeed finalized. The 26-year-old is now attached to a four-year deal which will keep him in place through 2028. The pact has a base value of $36MM ($17MM of which is guaranteed), but incentives could push Stevenson’s earnings to $48MM. New England does not have a track record of making lucrative backfield commitments, but the new regime led by Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo authorized a deal carrying a $9MM annual average, the seventh-highest figure for running backs. Stevenson – who has amassed 3,047 scrimmage yards in his three-year career – will be counted on as a focal point of the Patriots’ offense for years to come.
  • 49ers, Aiyuk Not Close To Deal: Progress remains elusive with respect to efforts between the 49ers and wideout Brandon Aiyuk on extension talks. Team and player are at an impasse as things currently stand, with San Francisco not prepared to meet Aiyuk’s asking price. This offseason has seen the receiver market reach new heights, and to little surprise the 26-year-old has adjusted his financial target based on the new going rate for top pass-catchers. San Francisco has both Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel under contract for one more year, but keeping both in the fold in 2025 will be challenging. The team also has a Brock Purdy extension to budget for, leading to continued speculation about a receiver being dealt. Aiyuk skipped OTAs and minicamp, and his training camp participation will no doubt depend on his contract status.
  • Jets, Reddick Unlikely To Work Out Extension? Running counter to what the Jets expected, Haason Reddick was absent from the team’s mandatory minicamp earlier this month. The offseason trade acquisition is angling for a new contract putting him closer to the top of the edge rush pecking order, but New York is not interested in making such a commitment. Approaching his age-30 season, Reddick wanted to remain in Philadelphia but an inability to work out an extension led to him being dealt to New York. He could elect to incur fines by avoiding training camp in July, or he could stage a ‘hold in’ and avoid participating. Optimism does exist, however, that an arrangement can be agreed upon by Reddick and his new employer before camp opens. Whether that consists of a new deal or incentives being added to his existing one will be interesting to see.
  • Broncos Hire David Shaw: After a successful run at Stanford, David Shaw was frequently connected to an opportunity to return to the sidelines in the NFL. He will indeed be back in the pro game in 2024, but his role with the Broncos will be in the front office. Shaw will handle player evaluation at both the NFL and college levels in Denver, a team which interviewed him for their head coaching position in 2022. That gig went to Sean Payton, but he and Shaw have remained close since their shared time as assistants on the 1997 Eagles. The latter neither confirmed nor denied having future NFL coaching aspirations, and he will focus his attention on his transition to new responsibilities with the Broncos.
  • Browns Aiming For Cooper Resolution: Another of the league’s ongoing receiver situations is that between the Browns and Amari Cooper. The five-time Pro Bowler is eyeing a new deal, and Cleveland hopes to work out an agreement ahead of training camp. Cooper has proven to be an integral member of the team’s passing attack, although the trade acquisition of Jerry Jeudy could cut into his target share moving forward. One year remains on the $20MM-per-year contract Cooper signed during his time with the Cowboys, a figure which now falls well short of the receiver market’s ceiling. At age 30, the former top-five pick will not reach the top of the pecking order on an extension but he could land a raise if the Browns agree to either a new deal or an incentive package covering 2024.
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