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This Date In Transactions History: Broncos Extend LT Ryan Clady

July 14th, 2023 at 2:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mid-July annually features extension talks ramping up, particularly for a small group of players. With the deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign extensions looming July 15 in most years (or around that date if July 15 falls on a weekend, as it does this year), dozens of extensions in the tag era (1993-present) have been completed around this point.

One of them came 10 years ago today. On July 14, 2013, the Broncos and cornerstone left tackle Ryan Clady agreed to terms on a five-year deal worth $52.5MM. The Broncos had tagged Clady earlier that year, keeping Peyton Manning‘s blindside protector off the market for $9.83MM. Illustrating where the salary cap has taken tag values, it would have cost a team $18.24MM to tag an offensive lineman this year.

Clady’s peak reached as high as just about any offensive lineman in Broncos history. Only he and stalwart center Tom Nalen earned two first-team All-Pro nods as Broncos. Denver used its 2008 first-round pick on Clady, who excelled at Boise State, and immediately plugged him in as Jay Cutler‘s blindside protector. (Clady earned second-team All-Pro honors as a rookie and finished third in that year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.)

The franchise abruptly changed course at quarterback upon hiring Josh McDaniels as head coach a year later, leading to the team trading Cutler to the Bears. But Clady earned first-team All-Pro acclaim for his work as Kyle Orton‘s left tackle. Clady suffered a patellar tendon tear suffered while playing basketball during the 2010 offseason, moving him off the Pro Bowl level in 2010, but he rebounded to help the Broncos make a surprise playoff run after changing their offense to suit Tim Tebow‘s skillset the following year.

After returning to the Pro Bowl level in 2011, Clady notched his second All-Pro honor during Manning’s first season in Colorado. With Manning signed to a five-year, $96MM deal, the Broncos made sure to keep his top O-lineman off the market via the tag. Negotiations ramped up just before the tag deadline, and the sides reached an agreement on a deal that made Clady the third-highest-paid tackle — behind Jason Peters and Joe Thomas — at the time.

Denver’s deal came with $33MM guaranteed, and two more All-Pro selections would have bumped the value to $57.5MM. While the contract gave the talented blocker security, injuries soon caught up with Clady. After Clady suffered a shoulder malady late in the 2012 season, he sustained a season-ending Lisfranc injury in Week 2 of the 2013 season. Although Clady came back in 2014 and collected his fourth Pro Bowl honor, he suffered an ACL tear in May 2015. Clady collected a Super Bowl ring as a member of that Broncos team, but he did not play a down that season.

The Broncos, who had plugged in Chris Clark as their LT replacement during their Super Bowl XLVIII-qualifying season, primarily used Ryan Harris as their left tackle during their Super Bowl-winning year two seasons later. The team traded Clady to the Jets in April 2016. After Clady — the Jets’ D’Brickashaw Ferguson successor — wound up on IR in November 2016, he opted to retire during the 2017 offseason. The Broncos used Russell Okung as a one-year stopgap in 2016 before drafting Garett Bolles in the 2017 first round. Bolles is currently tied to a four-year, $68MM extension.

Offseason In Review: Houston Texans

July 13th, 2023 at 9:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Texans’ rebuild continues, and it now involves a third head coach in three years. Following in the footsteps of the 1970s and 2010s 49ers in seeing back-to-back one-and-done coaching tenures transpire, the Texans have been the league’s most anonymous on-field operation during the 2020s. GM Nick Caserio generated scrutiny as the losses piled up, but he convinced one of this year’s hottest head coaching candidates to sign up.

DeMeco Ryans is now in charge of this lengthy ascent attempt. The Texans turned to their former linebacker — who presumably will receive more than the one season David Culley and Lovie Smith did in the HC chair — and this offseason at least brought some big swings from an organization that kept the car in neutral in 2021 and ’22. The C.J. Stroud–Will Anderson Jr. pairing will go a long way toward determining if Caserio’s rebuild will work.

Trades:

Dealt WR Brandin Cooks to Cowboys for 2023 fifth-round pick, 2024 sixth-rounder
Sent Buccaneers 2023 No. 179 overall pick for G Shaq Mason, No. 230

Even though Cooks’ production fell off in 2022, the NFL’s active trade kingpin had long been destined to get off the Texans’ long rebuild runway. It did look strange to see Cooks sign a two-year, $39.5MM Texans extension in April and then want out by midseason. Cooks’ NBA-esque about-face did not result in a midseason trade. Instead, the veteran deep threat languished on a 3-13-1 Houston team, finishing the season with a career-low 699 receiving yards.

Cooks effectively boycotted the Texans’ first post-trade deadline game but returned to action soon after. Interest came from nearly a fourth of the league, and the Texans listened to offers before the 2022 trading cessation. The team is believed to have sought a second-round pick, which was an unrealistic ask for a ninth-year player with an $18MM guarantee for 2023.

The actual trade price came in far below the 2017, ’18 and ’20 Cooks deals (which collectively involved two first-rounders and a second). After the Cowboys renegotiated Cooks’ deal, the former Saints, Rams and Patriots pass catcher is now part of an exclusive NFL club, being traded four times. Two of Cooks’ six 1,000-yard seasons — for four different clubs — came in Houston, which looks to be without an upper-echelon receiver after this deal.

Extensions and restructures:

Gave LT Laremy Tunsil three-year extension worth $75MM ($50MM guaranteed)
Rewarded G Shaq Mason with three-year, $36MM extension ($22MM guaranteed)
Handed DT Maliek Collins two-year, $23MM extension ($18.5MM guaranteed)
Reached pay-cut agreement with S Eric Murray, whose salary drops to $2.5MM

Seemingly incongruent with the Texans’ timeline, Tunsil’s presence has offered high-end left tackle play and affected his position’s market. Few would label Tunsil (zero first- or second-team All-Pro nods) as the game’s best tackle, but he has managed his career well. This offseason marked the second time the Texans have made Tunsil the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman. The three-time Pro Bowler played a full season for the first time in his career last year, and while a Texans team that has shown no interest in contending (since at least 2020, that is) carrying a high-priced tackle has been a bit strange, checking off this key box has not been a problem thanks to a Bill O’Brien trade.

Months after trading two first-rounders and change to the Dolphins for Tunsil, O’Brien — during a short but eventful run wearing both HC and GM hats — signed off on a three-year, $66MM extension. That made Tunsil by far the NFL’s highest-paid O-lineman. Three years after Tunsil became the NFL’s first $20MM-per-year O-lineman, he is the only $25MM-AAV blocker.

The short-term contracts Tunsil has preferred have proven tremendously beneficial, as they have given him leverage of two contract years coming in his 20s. Tunsil also did not make any real guarantee concessions despite the medium-term deal; his $50MM guarantee figure trails only Ronnie Stanley‘s among tackles. After two seasons without a franchise quarterback to protect, Tunsil will be assigned to Stroud’s blind side. This extension also dropped Tunsil’s 2023 cap hit from $35MM to $26.6MM. Pro Football Focus has graded Tunsil as a top-30 tackle in each of his three non-injury-marred Texans seasons, with last year bringing a career-high placement (11th).

The Texans did authorize a $39MM-per-year Deshaun Watson extension in 2020, but beyond that and the disastrous Brock Osweiler deal they paid the Browns to take on, the franchise has kept QB costs low over the past 10 years. Building around Stroud’s will give the organization flexibility. With no big-ticket wideout, tight end or running back deal on the payroll, Caserio has invested up front. Mason is now signed through 2026 at $12MM per, and right tackle Tytus Howard — who may or may not be on the team’s extension radar — holds the team’s second-largest cap number ($13.98MM).

Mason, 29, joins Tunsil in signing a third contract. The Patriots gave the steady guard a five-year, $45MM deal in 2018, when Caserio remained Bill Belichick‘s right-hand man. Houston’s payroll now includes two eight-figure-AAV O-line deals. This brings a change from recent years, when the Texans opted to add bottom-tier or low-middle-class contracts around Tunsil’s.

In Mason, the Texans have one of the league’s most consistent players. PFF graded the former fourth-round find as a top-10 guard for six straight years (2016-21). After a Bucs one-off, which did feature 17 starts and a top-30 PFF grade, how long will Mason’s prime extend into his Texans years? He will be a key part of the team’s Stroud-years plan.

Caserio has inked numerous veterans to two-year deals during his time as Houston GM. Collins has now signed two of those. The former Cowboys draftee has signed a Texans contract in each of the past three years, coming over in 2021 (one year, $5MM), re-signing in 2022 (two years, $17MM) and now inking a player-friendly extension. Collins, 28, will shift back to a 4-3 scheme under Ryans, after playing two years in Smith’s system. Collins, who was a 4-3 D-tackle in Dallas and Las Vegas, totaled 18 tackles for loss over the past two seasons, representing one of the few Texans bright spots during this bleak period.

Free agency additions:

Robert Woods, WR: Two years, $14MM ($10MM guaranteed)
Jimmie Ward, S: Two years, $13MM ($8.5MM guaranteed)
Sheldon Rankins, DT: One year, $9.75MM ($8.5MM guaranteed)
Dalton Schultz, TE: One year, $9MM ($6MM guaranteed)
Andrew Beck, FB/TE: Two years, $6.25MM ($4MM guaranteed)
Case Keenum, QB: Two years, $6.25MM ($4MM guaranteed)
Shaquill Griffin, CB: One year, $3.5MM ($3MM guaranteed)
Hassan Ridgeway, DL: One year, $3.25MM ($3MM guaranteed)
Devin Singletary, RB: One year, $2.75MM ($2.5MM guaranteed)
Noah Brown, WR: One year, $2.6MM ($2.25MM guaranteed)
Chase Winovich, DE: One year, $2MM ($1.75MM guaranteed)
Jacob Martin, DE: One year, $2.5MM ($1MM guaranteed)
Cory Littleton, ILB: One year, $2.4MM ($600K guaranteed)
Denzel Perryman, ILB: One year, $2.6MM ($500K guaranteed)
Steven Sims, WR: One year, $1.5MM ($500K guaranteed)
Mike Boone, RB: Two years, $3.1MM ($300K guaranteed)
Michael Deiter, OL: One year, $1.23MM ($125K guaranteed)

Caserio’s preferred genre of veteran contract appeared often on the transaction wire this year. Middling talent floods this section, though the team did cut down on its volume of two-year deals compared to 2022. Still, the Texans added a host of veteran role players, stocking Ryans’ defense with potential starters alongside cornerstones Anderson and Derek Stingley and giving new OC Bobby Slowik some skill-position talent.

This contract is not what Schultz envisioned during his year on the franchise tag. The Cowboys are believed to have made their former tight end starter a long-term offer, but the preference for a shorter-term agreement — not a Cowboys specialty — helped lead to Schultz playing on the tag. After missing early-season time due to injury, Schultz still resided as one of Dak Prescott‘s top targets. But his overall and per-game yardage totals were down compared to 2021.

Schultz, 27, will join fellow 2022 tight end tag recipient Mike Gesicki in attempting to boost his value on a one-year deal. The Texans have struggled for nearly a decade to find a reliable pass-catching tight end. No Texan tight end has surpassed 600 receiving yards in a season since Owen Daniels in 2012. Schultz has done that in two of the past three seasons and should be a go-to player on a team likely to be without a No. 1-caliber wide receiver.

Was Woods’ down 2022 a sign of a decline, or was the 527-yard year due to a woeful Titans pass offense and being a year out from an ACL tear? The Texans paid a fairly surprising amount — adding the Titans cap casualty before the market opened — to find out. Woods, 31, did play in all 17 Titans games last season, and he resided as a consistent player (three 900-yard seasons) in Sean McVay‘s attack. With Cooks gone, Houston needs a reliable veteran to foster Stroud’s development. With Nico Collins the team’s top returning receiver, Woods looks to be that player.

As the contracts for Mark Ingram, Rex Burkhead, Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman showed, Caserio has not shied away from veteran backs during his tenure. Singletary will be tasked with supplementing Dameon Pierce this season. The former Florida Atlantic star worked as the most prominent Bills back during Josh Allen‘s career, eclipsing 150 carries in each of his four Buffalo seasons and surpassing 750 rushing yards in three of his four rookie-contract years. The Texans did not possess much behind Pierce last season. Singletary, 25, has not offered much in the passing game, but he is a proven ball-carrier who should have some use as a 1-B option.

Undoubtedly placing a premium on Ward’s leadership and system intel, Ryans had spoken to the nine-year 49ers safety about following him to his next destination before last season ended. Ward, 32 next week, toggled between safety and cornerback during his San Francisco stay. The former first-rounder expressed disappointment in being moved back to the nickel role last season, but while Ryans was leading the 49ers’ defense at that point, the Texans are planning to move Ward back to the safety spot at which he is more comfortable. Ward has battled injuries throughout his career but has made 79 starts. He profiles as a mentor to emerging safety Jalen Pitre.

The Texans also beefed up their defense using one-year contracts, most notably the Rankins agreement. The Jets pushed to keep the former first-round pick, with it turning into a free agency battle between the 49ers’ past two DCs. Rankins’ fit in Robert Saleh‘s Jets defense certainly points to a useful cog for Ryans. The inside pass rusher has not replicated his eight-sack 2018, but at worst, the 29-year-old defender can assist as a rotational option. Ridgeway, 28, has been a 4-3 D-tackle for most of his career, including a 2022 stopover in San Francisco.

With Jerry Hughes still here and the likes of Littleton and Perryman coming in, most of the Texans’ defense consists of second- or third-contract players, which is atypical for a team in Houston’s position. Most of Houston’s defensive two-deep stands to consist of veteran-contract performers, which partially highlights the void that came from the lack of first- and second-round picks in 2020 and ’21.

Draft investment dictates Stroud will be the Texans’ starter early in the season — perhaps in Week 1 — but the team brought back Keenum as insurance against the Ohio State product needing more developmental time. Keenum, 35, never disproved 2017 — when he ranked first in QB DVOA while leading the Vikings to the NFC championship game — was an outlier. Keenum’s Denver and Washington seasons returned him to the QB2 level. But the former Texans UDFA, who made 10 of his 64 starts with the franchise, has remained one of the better backup options.

Keenum’s arrival and $4MM guarantee leaves Davis Mills without an obvious role. The 2021 third-round pick has started the bulk of Houston’s games over the past two seasons and took first-team reps during the team’s offseason program. A May report indicated the Texans were not shopping Mills, and Keenum could conceivably serve as an expensive mentor-only option — rather than a true bridge QB — should Mills outplay him in training camp. Still, two years remaining on Mills’ rookie contract would make him an intriguing commodity for a team eyeing a better backup or a spot starter.

Re-signings:

M.J. Stewart, S: Two years, $6MM ($3MM guaranteed)
Tavierre Thomas, DB: One year, $2.25MM ($2MM guaranteed)
Scott Quessenberry, OL: One year, $2.1MM ($550K guaranteed)
Neville Hewitt, LB: One year, $1.7MM ($300K guaranteed)
Jon Weeks, LS: One year, $1.17MM ($153K guaranteed)
Greg Little, T: One year, $1.18MM ($100K guaranteed)

Houston’s DBs room is crowded compared to 2022, with Ward and Griffin in place. Still, the team restructured Eric Murray‘s deal and reached agreements to retain Stewart and Thomas. Between these two and Murray, the Texans have three ex-Browns positioned as second-string secondary options. Stewart and Thomas served as two of the Texans’ special teams regulars last season. With the Texans retaining ST coordinator Frank Ross — an ex-Patriots scout during Caserio’s time in Foxborough — despite changing HCs once again, it is unsurprising continuity will be prioritized on these units. Ditto Hewitt, who has been an ST mainstay during his two Texans years.

On the subject of Texans mainstays, Weeks is the only player in team history to play 13 seasons with the franchise. The long snapper is now in position for Year 14. This niche position can offer extreme longevity, and teams almost never stray far from the league minimum to staff it. Weeks, 37, has never missed a game, having played 210. The only player active in each Texans playoff contest, Weeks will look to bury the franchise’s games-played record.

Notable losses:

Mario Addison, OLB (released)
Jordan Akins, TE
Kyle Allen, QB
Justin Britt, C (released)
Rex Burkhead, RB
A.J. Cann, G (released)
Phillip Dorsett, WR
Jeff Driskel, QB
Royce Freeman, RB
Rasheem Green, DL
O.J. Howard, TE
Justin McCray, G
Chris Moore, WR
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB
Jonathan Owens, S
Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB (released)
Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB
Tremon Smith, CB

In place of Britt and Cann (16 starts last season), the Texans made bigger investments on their interior O-line this offseason. They also said goodbye to two more of their veteran running backs. After 122 carries in 2021, Burkhead saw his usage rate plummet last year. The departures of Okoronkwo (five sacks in the team’s final six games) and Green do leave some depth questions on the edge around Anderson, but Jonathan Greenard remains in the mix in a contract year. Addison, 35, recorded just one sack last season. While Hughes will turn 35 next month, he remains rostered after racking up nine sacks in 2022.

Draft:

Round 1, No. 2: C.J. Stroud, QB (Ohio State)
Round 1, No. 3 (from Cardinals): Will Anderson Jr., LB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 2, No. 62: (from Eagles): Juice Scruggs, C (Penn State) (signed)
Round 3, No. 69 (from Rams): Nathaniel Dell, WR (Houston) (signed)
Round 4, No. 109 (from Raiders): Dylan Horton, DE (TCU) (signed)
Round 5, No. 167 (from Rams): Henry To’oTo’o, LB (Alabama) (signed)
Round 6, No. 201 (from Vikings): Jarrett Patterson, C (Notre Dame) (signed)
Round 6, No. 205 (from Bills): Xavier Hutchinson, WR (Iowa State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 248 (from Eagles): Brandon Hill, S (Pittsburgh) (signed)

For a few weeks, it seemed like the Texans were giving legitimate consideration to overlooking their quarterback need once again. Seeing as last year brought a down QB rookie class and the team trudged through a strange first year under Caserio — due to the Watson scandal/full-season deactivation — the Texans carried some cover for their previous delay. This year, they would not have been shielded from investment-based criticism.

The Texans were deep in talks with the Bears (and Panthers) about a deal that would have seen them move up a spot to No. 1, where Bryce Young awaited. Rumored to be iffy on this year’s non-Young QB crop, the Texans then became tied to taking Anderson or Tyree Wilson at No. 2 and then finding a way to add a passer through other avenues. It turned out to be the other way around, with Houston drafting Stroud and then moving up nine spots to acquire Anderson. Houston became the first team since Washington in 2000 to make two top-three selections in a draft.

It cost the Texans considerable capital to pry No. 3 from the Cardinals, however. The nine-spot vault required near-QB-level trade terms. The Texans sent No. 33 and 2024 first- and third-rounders to climb up for Anderson. It is surprising Caserio signed off on trading a 2024 first to make this leap. The past three Texans seasons have secured the team a top-three draft choice. Seeing as the AFC South team remains in rebuild mode in a stacked conference, the now-rebuilding Cardinals have a good chance of carrying two top-five choices into next year’s draft. This raises the stakes on the Anderson bet, and it could turn up the heat on Caserio, whose job security has come up on multiple occasions over the past several months. Caserio was loosely linked to leaving his current post after this draft, but he squashed that rumor quickly.

After backing out of talks with the Bears, the Texans will be tied to the Young-Stroud debate for a while. And considering how much buzz surfaced regarding Texans apathy toward Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Levis, it is worth wondering if ownership pushed for a quarterback. Cal McNair and Co. were believed to have more involvement in this year’s draft, though the second-generation owner denied having input in how the team proceeded at No. 2. A fairly decent Texans-Stroud smokescreen also may have occurred. Regardless of how the Texans ended up here, they now have a franchise-QB hopeful two years after their previous such investment both asked for a trade and disgraced his reputation as the subject of dozens of sexual assault/misconduct accusations.

The latest Ohio State-produced QB talent, Stroud graded as Scouts Inc.’s No. 5 overall prospect and shined in two seasons after Justin Fields‘ NFL exit. The Titans were viewed as Stroud suitors, via trade-up, and the Texans taking the 6-foot-3 signal-caller at 2 — rather than choosing Anderson there — prevented them from having to compete with Tennessee in terms of an offer for No. 3.

Stroud earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year acclaim in 2021 and 2022, totaling 8,123 yards and 85 touchdown passes in that span. His 348-yard, four-TD passing performance against Georgia in the semifinal round aged quite well, considering how a dominant Bulldogs defense fared in the championship game. Mills’ experience aside, it would be shocking if Stroud were not at the controls early in the season.

Texans-Anderson connections emerged in early April, and the team had not made a splashy move at edge rusher since Caserio’s arrival. Set to slide to defensive end in Ryans’ 4-3 scheme, Anderson will anchor Houston’s pass rush and serve as Ryans’ new Nick Bosa-like presence. A two-time recipient of the Nagurski award (given to the top Division I-FBS defender), the Alabama product hardly could have accomplished more in college. The Crimson Tide outside linebacker totaled 27.5 sacks and a whopping 48 tackles for loss from 2021-22. The Texans have more work to do in future offseasons to address their pass rush, but they made a big bet Anderson will be their cornerstone cog.

Considering the makeup of the Texans’ center position, it would surprise if Scruggs were not an early-season starter. A 2019 car accident nearly ended Scruggs’ career, but he recovered and grew into one of the top O-line prospects in this year’s draft. Scruggs has experience at both guard and center, finishing his career at the latter post. The Texans now have an O-line housing four first- or second-round picks and Mason, who has long outplayed his fourth-round slot.

A Texan for all of a day, Stroud lobbied for Dell, leading to a four-spot trade-up maneuver. Stroud worked with Dell at the Combine, and the ultra-productive Houston Cougars wideout will stay in town. Dell’s 5-8, 165-pound frame provides limitations, but he put together back-to-back 1,300-yard seasons in college and totaled 29 TD receptions from 2021-22. Dell should be expected to see most of his time in the slot; he also could offer his new Houston squad vertical and return-game capabilities.

Other:

Fired HC Lovie Smith; gave DeMeco Ryans six-year contract
Hired Cardinals D-line coach Matt Burke as defensive coordinator
Brought in 49ers pass-game coordinator Bobby Slowik as offensive coordinator
Hired Cory Undlin as secondary coach/pass-game coordinator, Shane Day, Bill Lazor as senior offensive assistants
Team fined, docked fifth-round pick for salary cap violation
WR John Metchie returns to team after recovery from leukemia
Agreed to terms with nine UDFAs

Smith delivered a knockdown body shot on his way out, going for a final-minute two-point conversion — after a Hail Mary touchdown set it up — to beat the Colts and deny the Texans the No. 1 pick. Neither Smith nor Culley were part of other teams’ HC searches when hired. While neither 60-something HC was given much to work with, it always seemed as if they were placeholders until Caserio — who admittedly oversaw two strange coaching searches — found his long-term leader. As his six-year contract shows, Ryans will be expected to be that coach.

This doubles as a nice homecoming effort for Ryans, a 2006 second-round linebacker who made 86 starts in six seasons with the Texans. Ryans, 39 this month, finished his career with the Eagles and later sued the Texans because of NRG Stadium’s playing surface (a 2014 injury led to Ryans’ career ending). The sides moved past that, and despite widespread interest, Ryans limited his interviews to the Texans and Broncos. While Denver looked close to offering Ryans the job, he preferred the Texans. With Houston, Ryans will have the opportunity to lead a rebuild.

Succeeding Saleh as San Francisco’s DC, Ryans landed on the HC radar early during his second season in that job. The 49ers’ defense led the NFL in points, yards and DVOA. The Bosa-powered unit gave Kyle Shanahan‘s offense, which had gone through three starting QBs by season’s end, a sturdy safety net that produced another NFC championship game berth. Long viewed as a fast-rising assistant, Ryans went 2-for-2 in NFC title game appearances as a coordinator.

Slowik, 36, worked with Ryans for six years on Shanahan’s staff. The new Texans OC is a second-generation coach, as the son of veteran DC Bob Slowik. While the younger Slowik did not rise up the 49ers chain as swiftly as Ryans did, he had worked under longtime Shanahan assistants Mike McDaniel and Mike LaFleur. Once they departed, Shanahan made Slowik his right-hand man on offense. The 49ers staying afloat despite Jimmy Garoppolo‘s injury clearly helped Slowik, who will be a first-time play-caller in Houston.

The team does have some experience behind Slowik on offense. Lazor is a two-time NFL OC, with the Bengals and Bears, while Day is a two-time QBs coach with 15 years’ experience in the NFL. On defense, both Burke and Undlin are previous coordinators.

Burke, 47, served in that role for the Dolphins under Adam Gase from 2017-18 but has bounced around since. Last season, he served as the Cardinals’ defensive line coach, overseeing a J.J. Watt bounce-back effort and Zach Allen‘s breakout. Undlin has been in the NFL since 2004, serving as DBs coach on Super Bowl-bound Broncos (2013) and Eagles (2017) teams and being Matt Patricia‘s final Lions DC. Undlin spent the past two years as a Ryans lieutenant in San Francisco, leading the 49ers’ DBs. That will make for a seamless transition.

Metchie participated in the Texans’ offseason program and is on track to make his NFL debut. The multiyear Alabama starter suffered an ACL tear late in his junior season and was then diagnosed with leukemia. Viewed as a strong route runner for the Crimson Tide, Metchie totaled 1,142 receiving yards during an abbreviated 2021, helping the SEC power compensate for the losses of DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. Metchie, who missed offseason time with a hamstring injury, looms as a Texans wild card. But with Cooks gone, the team needs all the help it can get as Stroud begins his development.

Top 10 cap charges for 2023:

Laremy Tunsil, LT: $26.57MM
Tytus Howard, RT: $13.98MM
Derek Stingley Jr., CB: $7.88MM
Maliek Collins, DT: $7.44MM
Will Anderson Jr., DE: $6.4MM
Jerry Hughes, DE: $6.25MM
Christian Kirksey, LB: $6.25MM
Ka’imi Fairbairn, K: $5.66MM
Steven Nelson, CB: $5.63MM
Robert Woods, WR: $5.5MM

With the AFC incredibly deep — though, the AFC South does not appear especially imposing — the Texans could make strides without their record improving by much. The team also added more building-block players, in Stroud and Anderson. Observing the first-rounders’ progress will be important for a team that made a stronger commitment to a head coach this offseason. It will probably take multiple successful offseasons before the playoffs are a realistic goal, but this should mark the team’s return to relevant on-field action. It has been a bit since Texans fans could enjoy that.

Largest 2023 Cap Hits: Defense

July 12th, 2023 at 9:52am CST by Sam Robinson

While the NFL’s top 2023 cap hits go to players on offense, a number of pass rushers are tied to lofty figures as well. None check in higher than Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams.

Williams and Chiefs D-tackle Chris Jones carry high contract-year cap hits, while the Steelers’ two front-seven cornerstones each are set to go into training camp with cap figures north of $20MM. As the salary cap climbed to $224.8MM this year, here are the top defensive cap figures as camps near:

Leonard Williams, DL (Giants): $32.26MM
T.J. Watt, OLB (Steelers): $29.37MM
Myles Garrett, DE (Browns): $29.18MM
Chris Jones, DT (Chiefs): $28.29MM
Aaron Donald, DL (Rams): $26MM
Arik Armstead, DT (49ers): $23.95MM
Cameron Heyward, DL (Steelers): $22.26MM
C.J. Mosley, LB (Jets): $21.48MM
Jonathan Allen, DT (Commanders): $21.44MM
Shaquil Barrett, OLB (Buccaneers): $21.25MM
Grady Jarrett, DT (Falcons): $20.63MM
Marlon Humphrey, CB (Ravens): $19.99MM
Shaquille Leonard, LB (Colts): $19.79MM
Kevin Byard, S (Titans): $19.62MM
Adoree’ Jackson, CB (Giants): $19.08MM
Harold Landry, OLB (Titans): $18.8MM
Justin Simmons, S (Broncos): $18.15MM
Jamal Adams, S (Seahawks): $18.11MM
Matt Judon, DE (Patriots): $18.107MM
Quandre Diggs, S (Seahawks): $18.1MM
Nick Bosa, DE (49ers): $17.9MM
DeForest Buckner, DT (Colts): $17.25MM
Emmanuel Ogbah, DE (Dolphins): $17.19MM
DeMarcus Lawrence, DE (Cowboys): $17.11MM
Eddie Jackson, S (Bears): $17.1MM

The Chiefs are working toward a second extension agreement with Jones, who is in the final season of a four-year, $80MM contract. A new deal with the star inside pass rusher would free up cap space, and DeAndre Hopkins is believed to be monitoring this situation.

As for Williams, the Giants had wanted to adjust his deal to reduce his eye-opening cap number. As of mid-June, however, no extension appeared to be on the team’s radar. The previous Giants regime signed off on the 2021 Williams extension (three years, $63MM). The Giants are also uninterested — for the time being, at least — in extending Jackson, who was also a Dave Gettleman-era defensive addition.

Donald is in the second season of a three-year, $95MM deal. The Rams gave Donald a landmark raise last year, convincing the all-everything D-tackle to squash retirement talk. A no-trade clause exists in Donald’s contract, which pays out its guarantees this year. Mosley remains tied to the $17MM-per-year deal the Mike Maccagnan regime authorized with the Jets. That contract, which reset the off-ball linebacker market in 2019, still has two seasons remaining on it due to the deal tolling after Mosley’s 2020 COVID-19 opt-out call. The Jets restructured the deal last year.

Washington now has two D-tackles tied to deals of at least $18MM per year. While Daron Payne‘s pact is worth more ($22.5MM AAV), higher cap hits on that deal will come down the road. Three years remain on Allen’s 2021 agreement. At safety, no team is spending like the Seahawks. In addition to the big-ticket deals authorized for Adams and Diggs, Seattle gave ex-Giants starter Julian Love a two-year, $6MM accord in March.

New Titans GM Ran Carthon attempted to give Byard a pay cut. That request did not go over well, but the standout safety remains with the team and has not requested a trade. Tennessee re-signed Landry on a five-year, $87.5MM deal in 2022; the veteran edge rusher has yet to play on that deal due to the ACL tear he sustained just before last season.

The 49ers can bring Bosa’s number down via an extension, which has long been on the team’s docket. As San Francisco extended Deebo Samuel just after training camp began last year, Bosa received back-burner treatment due to the fifth-year option. The star defensive end’s price undoubtedly went up during the waiting period, with the former No. 2 overall pick earning Defensive Player of the Year acclaim in the fourth year of his rookie contract.

This Date In Transactions History: Michael Irvin Retires

July 11th, 2023 at 9:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following a scary sight in Philadelphia during the 1999 season, Michael Irvin opted not to risk his health by attempting to return from a severe injury. The superstar Cowboys wide receiver instead called it quits during the 2000 offseason.

A central component in the Cowboys’ 1990s dynasty, Irvin was in his 12th NFL season when he suffered a spine injury at Veterans Stadium in October 1999. Cervical spinal stenosis became Irvin’s official diagnosis. Irvin, 34 at the time of his retirement, was temporarily paralyzed after hauling in a short pass from Troy Aikman. During the 2000 offseason, doctors had advised Irvin to walk away due to the risk a return posed.

“I like to think of myself as a warrior. I wanted to be dragged off the field, and I was,” Irvin said at the time. “… If I said there wasn’t serious thought [of coming back], I’d be lying to you. I tried to rationalize it: ‘Any hit can be your last hit. You’ve been doing that all you’re life.’ But I’ve accomplished a great deal of things that I wanted to accomplish and at this juncture there’s no need to risk it and go on.”

The decision brought an end to one of the best careers in Cowboys history. The first of Dallas’ famed “Triplets” to debut in the pros — a year before Aikman and two years before Emmitt Smith — Irvin joined the Cowboys after a much-discussed career at the University of Miami. In Tom Landry‘s final year as Cowboys head coach (1988), the team used its No. 11 overall pick on Irvin, who was reunited with his college HC — Jimmy Johnson — a year later. Irvin went on to become one of his era’s best wide receivers.

When Irvin was stretchered off the turf in Philly 24 years ago, his reception and receiving yardage totals (750 and 11,904) each ranked ninth in NFL history. Illustrating the pass-crazed nature of today’s game, those numbers have dropped to 44th and 29th, respectively. But Irvin earned a spot on the 1990s’ All-Decade team. His retirement also came five years after another of Jerry Rice‘s top contemporaries, Sterling Sharpe, left the game early due to a neck injury.

After leading the NFL in receiving during a breakout 1991 season — the Cowboys’ first playoff berth of the Johnson era — Irvin staged a holdout with the goal of becoming the league’s second-highest-paid receiver (behind Rice). A three-year, $3.75MM contract kept Irvin in uniform ahead of the 1992 season, a rather important year in Cowboys history. Dallas won the first of its three Super Bowls that season; the 6-foot-2 wideout caught two touchdown passes in the team’s 52-17 win over the Bills. Irvin made the Pro Bowl each year from 1991-95, with the final two seasons coming after the infamous Johnson-Jerry Jones split. The Cowboys gave their top aerial threat a raise (five years, $15MM) during the ’95 offseason. At the time, that contract was the richest in wide receiver history.

A drug arrest led to Irvin being suspended for the first five games of the 1996 season; the rangy receiver still led the NFL with 87.5 yards per game upon return. “The Playmaker” tacked on two more 1,000-yard years in his final two full seasons, en route to Hall of Fame induction in 2007.

Largest 2023 Cap Hits: Offense

July 11th, 2023 at 3:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL’s salary cap once again ballooned by more than $10MM, rising from its $208.2MM perch to $224.8MM. Factoring in the pandemic-induced 2021 regression, the NFL’s salary risen has climbed by more than $42MM since 2021.

This has allowed teams more opportunities for roster additions and opened the door for more lucrative player deals — at most positions, at least. However, it does not look like this season will include a $40MM player cap number. The Browns avoided a record-shattering Deshaun Watson $54.9MM hit by restructuring the quarterback’s fully guaranteed contract, calling for monster figures from 2024-26.

Here are the largest cap hits for teams on the offensive side going into training camp:

Patrick Mahomes, QB (Chiefs): $39.69MM
Ryan Tannehill, QB (Titans): $36.6MM
Jared Goff, QB (Lions): $30.98MM
Jake Matthews, T (Falcons): $28.36MM
Trent Williams, T (49ers): $27.18MM
Dak Prescott, QB (Cowboys): $26.83MM
Laremy Tunsil, T (Texans): $26.61MM
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (49ers): $23.8MM
Amari Cooper, WR (Browns): $23.78MM
Mike Evans, WR (Buccaneers): $23.69MM
Ronnie Stanley, T (Ravens): $23.67MM
Joe Thuney, G (Chiefs): $22.12MM
Russell Wilson, QB (Broncos): $22MM
Lamar Jackson, QB (Ravens): $22MM
Daniel Jones, QB (Giants): $21.75MM
David Bakhtiari, T (Packers): $21.29MM
Kirk Cousins, QB (Vikings): $20.25MM
D.J. Moore, WR (Bears): $20.17MM
Matthew Stafford, QB (Rams): $20MM
Brian O’Neill, T (Vikings): $19.66MM
Taylor Decker, T (Lions): $19.35MM
Deshaun Watson, QB (Browns): $19.1MM
Braden Smith, T (Colts): $19MM
Josh Allen, QB (Bills): $18.64MM
Courtland Sutton, WR (Broncos): $18.27MM

As should be expected, quarterbacks dominate this list. Mahomes’ number checks in here despite the Chiefs restructuring his 10-year, $450MM contract in March; the two-time MVP’s cap hit would have set an NFL record had Kansas City not reduced it. The Chiefs did not restructure Mahomes’ deal last year, but if they do not address it — perhaps via a complex reworking — before next season, Mahomes’ $46.93MM number would break an NFL record.

The Titans have not touched Tannehill’s contract this offseason, one that included some trade rumors months ago. This is the final year of Tannehill’s Tennessee extension. Mahomes and Tannehill sat atop this ranking in 2022.

Cousins is also heading into a contract year, after the Vikings opted for a restructure and not an extension this offseason. Cousins does not expect to discuss another Minnesota deal until 2024, when he is due for free agency. Two relatively low cap numbers have started Wilson’s $49MM-per-year extension. The Denver QB’s cap number rises to $35.4MM in 2024 and reaches historic heights ($55.4MM) by ’25. The subject of a Goff extension has come up, and it would bring down the Lions passer’s figure. But Goff remains tied to his Rams-constructed $33.5MM-per-year deal through 2024.

Jackson and Jones’ numbers will rise in the near future, with the latter’s contract calling for a quick spike in 2024. Next year, the Giants QB’s cap hit will be $45MM. Watson’s 2024 hit, as of now, would top that. The Browns signal-caller is on the team’s ’24 payroll at $63.98MM. Long-term consequences aside, the Browns can be expected to once again go to the restructure well with Watson’s outlier contract.

The Raiders did not backload Garoppolo’s three-year contract; it only climbs to $24.25MM on Las Vegas’ 2024 cap sheet. The Bills did backload Allen’s pact. Its team-friendly years are done after 2023; the six-year accord spikes to $47.1MM on Buffalo’s cap next year. The Cowboys have gone to the restructure well with Prescott. Like Watson, the Cowboys quarterback is tied to a seemingly untenable 2024 cap number. The March restructure resulted in Prescott’s 2024 number rising to $59.46MM. Two seasons remain on that $40MM-AAV extension.

Another notable cap hold that should be mentioned is Tom Brady‘s. When the Buccaneers did not sign the again-retired QB to another contract before the 2023 league year, his $35.1MM dead-money figure went onto Tampa Bay’s 2023 cap sheet. The Bucs will absorb that entire amount this year. Brady’s 2022 restructure, after retirement No. 1, led to the $35.1MM figure forming.

Were it not for another O-line-record extension, the Tunsil number would have come in at $35MM this year. Matthews signed an extension last year. Moore would have come in higher on this list were he still on the Panthers, who took on $14.6MM in dead money to move their top wideout for the No. 1 overall pick. Sutton came up regularly in trade rumors, with the Broncos wanting a second-round pick for the sixth-year veteran. The former second-rounder’s high base salary ($14MM) hinders his trade value.

Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Rams

July 10th, 2023 at 9:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

Nothing gold can stay. From Sean McVay‘s 2017 arrival through the 2022 offseason, the Rams treated the football world to a win-now mantra. As draft pick-collecting crusades transpired elsewhere, the Rams’ recovery from a 12-year playoff drought produced two Super Bowl berths and a championship. Evading critics with a George Allen-esque, “eff them picks” M.O. that still leaves Jared Goff as the most recent first-rounder the franchise has drafted, the Rams should be lauded for the effort and ability to craft a championship-caliber roster largely without the cost shortcuts other teams lacking a top-shelf quarterback have relied upon in this era.

Los Angeles’ 5-12 offering last season — unequivocally the worst Super Bowl title defense in NFL history — paused the music, and the McVay-Les Snead duo operated with newfound restraint this offseason. The team that has traded its past seven first-round picks stripped its defense of a few linchpins and stopped its spree of big-ticket contracts after a busy 2022 on that front. The presence of cornerstone holdovers blended with a sudden cost-conscious approach makes the Rams’ 2023 outlook difficult to pin down.

Trades:

Sent CB Jalen Ramsey to Dolphins for TE Hunter Long, No. 77 overall pick
Dealt WR Allen Robinson, No. 251 overall pick to Steelers for No. 234

Rumors about a Ramsey Los Angeles exit started in January, and as an updated Rams blueprint became clearer, the trade winds blew in March. Less than four years after sending the Jaguars two first-round picks for Ramsey, the Rams accepted considerably less to move him. The cornerback’s desire for an updated contract, despite being tied to a top-five accord at his position, affected the compensation the Rams were able to fetch. The Dolphins have since adjusted Ramsey’s deal, giving the 28-year-old defender fully guaranteed salaries in 2023 and ’24.

Ramsey did reward the Rams, earning back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods from 2020-21 and anchoring a Super Bowl-winning team’s secondary. One of Snead’s “eff them picks” victories, Ramsey succeeded as a boundary corner and a matchup-based slot stopper. Pro Football Focus rated Ramsey as a top-10 corner in each of his three full Rams seasons, placing him first in 2021 and third overall during last season’s mess. Ramsey, who sought Miami (NBA-style) as a destination, played three seasons on his five-year, $100MM deal; the former top-five pick will tag the Rams with $19.6MM in dead money this year.

The Rams received good health and elite performance from Ramsey, making this a sobering return package. L.A. saw Aaron Donald‘s run of health cease with a high ankle sprain late last season, but Ramsey played all 17 games. The Florida State product delivered for a team that needed to place late-round picks or UDFAs across from him, though slot cog Troy Hill provided some veteran stability. Ramsey, Hill, Darious Williams and David Long are all out of the picture, leaving L.A. with a gaggle of Day 3 picks and Steelers castoff Ahkello Witherspoon at corner.

The Rams were able to recover from disbanding their Super Bowl LIII Aqib Talib–Marcus Peters pair, but Ramsey played the lead role there. Even with Donald, DC Raheem Morris will have a much tougher time assembling a high-end pass defense this season. Two years remain on Hunter Long’s rookie contract; the former third-round pick has one reception in 16 career games.

A 2022 effort to re-sign Von Miller last year failing led to a pivot to Robinson. That contingency plan burned the Rams, whose aggressiveness has involved a few bad contracts during the Snead-McVay years. Robinson was unable to shake off a down 2021, when he underwhelmed on a Bears franchise tag. His 2022 line: 33 receptions, 339 yards, three touchdowns before a season-ending surgery.

After giving Robinson permission to seek a trade, the Rams needed to pay $5MM of the 10th-year veteran’s 2023 guarantee to convince the Steelers to drop 17 spots in this year’s seventh round. This process continued a late-20s decline for the former Pro Bowler.

Cooper Kupp remains the Rams’ receiving anchor, and Robinson’s exit should not affect the team much. He was unable to create much separation and left defenses keying on the 2021 receiving triple-crown winner. But Kupp’s 2023 batch of wingmen either lack experience or present low ceilings. Kupp missed seven games last season; his 812 receiving yards led the Rams by more than 100 and paced all their wide receivers by over 400. Van Jefferson, an 802-yard receiver in 2021, will attempt to shake off a forgettable 2022. Utilityman Ben Skowronek (376 receiving yards last year), underwhelming and undersized second-round pick Tutu Atwell, UFA addition Demarcus Robinson and fifth-rounder Puka Nacua round out L.A.’s top-heavy receiving cadre.

Free agency additions:

Demarcus Robinson, WR: One year, $1.17MM
Brett Rypien, QB: One year, $1.1MM
Sony Michel, RB: One year, $1.1MM
Ahkello Witherspoon, CB: One year, $1.1MM

All four of the Rams’ notable UFA acquisitions came after the draft. Michel, 28, looms as the most interesting, as the 2021 trade get has led two Super Bowl-winning teams in rushing. Cam Akers‘ July 2021 Achilles tear initially brought the ex-Patriots first-rounder to L.A. Michel proceeded to lead the Rams’ championship edition in rushing (845 yards — the most by a non-Todd Gurley Ram under McVay) and shed the injury concerns that plagued him with the Patriots by playing in all 21 Rams games that year. Michel spent last season with the Chargers but did not make much of an impact, rushing for only 106 yards and being cut before season’s end.

Despite McVay and Akers not being on the same page for much of last season, leading to a trade request and a genuine Rams effort to move him, the former second-rounder will be given another chance. With only 2022 fifth-rounder Kyren Williams and sixth-round rookie (and one-time five-star recruit) Zach Evans residing behind Akers, it would not surprise if Michel emerged as the Rams’ top backup. Akers, 24, is going into a contract year. With the once-promising Florida State talent not looking like himself much since that Achilles injury, this profiles as a crucial year for his NFL future.

Witherspoon started his career in San Francisco, starting 33 games in four Bay Area seasons. The 6-foot-2 defender signed with the Seahawks, but they traded him to the Steelers before the 2021 season began. Injuries impacted Witherspoon in Pittsburgh; he missed 21 games over the past two seasons. This league-minimum deal qualifies as a flier, but Pro Football Focus rated Witherspoon as a top-20 corner in 2020 and ’21.

Going into his age-29 season, Robinson has served as an auxiliary target for Alex Smith, Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson in a seven-year career. A backup role might be in the cards for the former fourth-round pick. Robinson, however, has tallied three 400-plus-yard receiving seasons in the past four years. The last of those happened for a Baltimore team forced to trot out Tyler Huntley to close its season; Robinson also scored a touchdown in the Ravens’ playoff loss in Cincinnati.

Re-signings:

Coleman Shelton, OL: Two years, $4.75MM ($2.38MM guaranteed)
Michael Hoecht, DL: One year, $940K

Shelton won the Rams’ starting right guard job out of training camp last year. From 2019-21, Shelton had made two starts. Illustrating the Rams’ injury plight last season, he was needed for 13. Having experience at center and guard, Shelton gives the team options. With the injury-prone Brian Allen not a lock to keep his snapping gig, Shelton looms as a backstop. PFF did rank Shelton 30th among centers last season. His profile points to a swing gig, but with Allen struggling to stay healthy, Shelton seeing several starts would not surprise.

With Logan Bruss back from his ACL and MCL tears and second-rounder Steve Avila penciled in as a starter, the Rams are in better shape compared to the blocker infirmary that formed last season.

Notable losses:

Oday Aboushi, G
Chandler Brewer, OL
Malcolm Brown, RB
Riley Dixon, P
David Edwards, G
Leonard Floyd, OLB (released)
Greg Gaines, DL
Matt Gay, K
Jacob Harris, WR/TE
Troy Hill, CB
David Long, CB
Baker Mayfield, QB
Ty Nsekhe, T
Matthew Orzech, LS
Bryce Perkins, QB (nontendered as RFA)
Brandon Powell, WR
Taylor Rapp, S
A’Shawn Robinson, DL
Nick Scott, S
Matt Skura, C
Bobby Wagner, ILB (released)
John Wolford, QB

Nine regular starters, the team’s season-ending QB1 and both its specialists are no longer in the picture. In their place: mostly rookies. Edwards, Gaines, Scott, Rapp, Wolford and Long played out their rookie contracts. The Rams have let role players walk following the expiration of their rookie deals in the past. But this offseason brought a different goal compared to when the likes of Cory Littleton, Austin Corbett, Gerald Everett or Darious Williams were made expendable to afford higher-priced talent. Stafford, Donald and Kupp keep the stars-and-scrubs blueprint alive, but the Rams said goodbye to more core performers than usual.

Floyd rejuvenated his career in Los Angeles, capitalizing on being a Donald sidekick. The Bills have collected a few starters from Super Bowl LVI, reuniting Floyd, Rapp and Edwards with Miller this offseason. Floyd racked up 29 sacks during his three-year Rams run, going from bargain buy — after the Bears backtracked on his fifth-year option (when the 2011 CBA had the options guaranteed for injury only) — to reliable edge rusher. The former top-10 pick registered sacks of Tom Brady and Joe Burrow during the Rams’ Super Bowl charge.

L.A. has now lost Miller and Floyd in consecutive offseasons. With the Rams bailing on Floyd’s four-year, $64MM contract after two seasons, a team perpetually on the hunt for edge rushers — as October’s two-first-rounder offer for Brian Burns most recently illustrated — is perilously thin at OLB.

As the Rams’ bills came due, Wagner completed an unexpected about-face. Joining Ramsey as an impact performer for a deteriorating team, Wagner finished his ninth straight season as a first- or second-team All-Pro. The Canton-bound inside linebacker transitioned well to a 3-4 scheme, rating as PFF’s No. 1 overall off-ball ‘backer despite playing an age-32 season. In Morris’ scheme, Wagner collected a career-high six sacks as well.

The Rams added the Los Angeles native as part of another reload effort, but when it became clear the team was heading in a different direction, the sides agreed to mutually part ways. A year after the seemingly rebuilding Seahawks ditched Wagner, the all-time Seattle great is back — for a team that will be expected to return to the playoffs — on a one-year, $5.5MM deal.

Two new support staffers will join Donald up front. Gaines and Robinson flanked the D-tackle legend for the past two seasons, but the Super Bowl starters respectively joined the Buccaneers and Giants this offseason. Both played key roles in the Rams ranking sixth against the run in 2021. Rapp started 48 games in four Rams seasons, collecting a ring despite missing Super Bowl LVI, while Scott became a starter this past season. PFF rated Rapp as a top-15 safety in 2022, though his market did not reflect that. Buffalo landed Rapp for just $1.77MM. Even with a fraction of Rapp’s experience, Scott commanded a three-year, $12MM Bengals pact. He will play a role in helping Cincinnati replace Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell.

Fourth-year starter Jordan Fuller remains, though he is now in his platform year, while 2022 seventh-rounder Russ Yeast (113 defensive snaps last season) may be the favorite to become L.A.’s other safety starter. Fuller failed to surmount a hamstring injury last season, being limited to three games. The starter’s return will be a welcome sight for a Rams team that will throw an otherwise-inexperienced DB crew at teams.

In another example of a Rams starter being questioned, Edwards also scored only $1.77MM in free agency. One of several successful Day 3 picks that supplemented the Rams’ expensive stars, the ex-fifth-rounder started 45 games from 2019-22. Although the Panthers gave the Rams’ other Super Bowl LVI guard starter — Corbett — a three-year, $26.25MM deal in 2022, a concussion-marred season likely hurt Edwards’ market. PFF graded Edwards as a top-30 guard in 2020 and ’21, but the head injury limited him to four games last year.

Speaking highly of his Rams stay recently, Mayfield engineered one of the more unusual comeback drives in NFL history in December. Cast aside by the Browns and Panthers, the former No. 1 overall pick led a 98-yard, game-winning drive to beat the Raiders despite being a Ram for all of two days. The waiver claim, who also sliced up a top-10 Broncos defense on Christmas Day, was inconsistent with the Rams. But the stay gave the ex-Progressive pitchman some momentum; he will attempt to parlay it into a Bucs starting role. After hoping to use the 2022 season as a springboard to a lucrative market, the former Browns playoff starter only received a $4MM guarantee from Tampa Bay.

Draft:

Round 2, No. 36: Steve Avila, G (TCU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 77 (from Dolphins through Patriots): Byron Young, OLB (Tennessee)
Round 3, No. 89 (from Giants): Kobie Turner, DT (Wake Forest)
Round 4, No. 128 (from Rams): Stetson Bennett, QB (Georgia) (signed)
Round 5, No. 161 (from Cowboys through Texans): Nick Hampton, LB (Appalachian State) (signed)
Round 5, No. 174 (from Raiders through Texans): Warren McClendon, OT (Georgia) (signed)
Round 5, No. 175 (from Buccaneers): Davis Allen, TE (Clemson) (signed)
Round 5, No. 177: Puka Nacua, WR (BYU) (signed)
Round 6, No. 182: Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB (TCU) (signed)
Round 6, No. 189 (from Titans): Ochaun Mathis, OLB (Nebraska) (signed)
Round 6, No. 215 (from Commanders through Bills): Zach Evans, RB (Ole Miss) (signed)
Round 7, No. 223: Ethan Evans, P (Wingate) (signed)
Round 7, No. 234 (from Steelers): Jason Taylor II, S (Oklahoma State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 259 (from Texans): Desjuan Johnson, DL (Toledo) (signed)

The highest pick of McVay’s tenure, Avila represents a reinforcement for a team that has said goodbye to Corbett and Edwards in consecutive offseasons. Avila earned consensus All-American honors at TCU, helping the Horned Frogs to a stunning journey to last season’s national championship game. The Rams are expected to plug Avila into their starting lineup from the jump, though the team’s O-line features questions at three other posts.

Post-surgery, Bruss will factor into the guard competition; the college right tackle also could serve as a Rob Havenstein backup. Despite a $13MM-per-year contract, left tackle Joseph Noteboom is coming back from an Achilles tear and not a lock to keep his blindside job. Sub Alaric Jackson is believed to be in the mix to usurp Noteboom or perhaps kick him inside to guard, where he played in 2019. Andrew Whitworth‘s fill-in, Noteboom being moved would bring an interesting plotline seeing that he is the highest-paid Rams O-lineman — including Havenstein, who is going into his ninth season.

Miller, Floyd, Dante Fowler and Samson Ebukam have manned the OLB positions during McVay’s tenure; the Rams have made a habit of neglecting the all-important spot before circling back to it via trade. This year, it does not seem like reinforcements are coming. As such, Young will join Michael Hoecht (4.5 sacks last season) and other inexperienced youngsters to form one of the thinnest position groups of the McVay era (most of the competition for that obscure title comes from 2023 Rams units).

Two Byron Youngs went in Round 3 this year; the Rams version tallied 23.5 tackles and 12.5 sacks in two years at Tennessee. If the Rams really are standing pat on the edge, it is certainly possible they will make Young a rookie-year starter. They are expected to move Turner into their Week 1 lineup. Picking up more draft capital by trading down twice in the third round, the Rams chose Turner after moving down to give the Giants No. 73 (and wideout Jalin Hyatt). Turner earned first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association acclaim twice (while at Richmond) before transferring to Wake Forest in 2022.

Bennett’s Tommy Callahan-ian academic pace aside, the Rams’ top Day 3 priority appeared to be landing the two-time national champion quarterback. While the Rams did show interest in trading into the first round, Will Levis was not believed to be their target. Instead, Snead fixated on Bennett, whom ex-Rams backup QB Kellen Clemens met with (as a team consultant) before the draft.

A Georgia recruit who transferred away during Justin Fields‘ year in Athens (2018), the 5-foot-11 QB returned in 2019 and waited behind Jake Fromm. Despite Bennett’s role as triggerman on two championship teams, scant interest came his way during the pre-draft process. Scouts Inc. placed Bennett as this draft’s No. 237 overall prospect. Seeing as the Rams took him 109 spots higher, the 26-year-old passer will be expected to become Stafford’s backup soon.

Extensions and restructures:

Converted $13.92MM of Cooper Kupp‘s base salary into signing bonus, saving $10.44MM
Saved $3.2MM in cap space via restructure with C Brian Allen

Other:

Sean McVay committed to return for a seventh season as head coach
Hired Mike LaFleur to replace Liam Coen as offensive coordinator
Tight ends coach Thomas Brown hired as Panthers offensive coordinator
Team picked up QB Matthew Stafford‘s options, locking in $62MM from 2023-24
Hired Chase Blackburn as special teams coordinator, Ryan Wendell as offensive line coach
Hired Patriots tight ends coach Nick Caley to same position, brought back Aubrey Pleasant as DBs coach
Offensive assistant Greg Olson joined Seahawks’ staff as quarterbacks coach
Signed 26 undrafted free agents

The topic of McVay leaving his Rams role for a TV gig has come up in multiple offseasons. Although Al Michaels made an effort to bring McVay to Amazon in 2022, this offseason looked to be the closest the play-calling prodigy has come to leaving the sideline for the booth/studio. Rumors after the season pointed to a better-than-average chance of McVay stepping down to complete what would have been a stunning early exit, based on the Rams HC’s age and status in the game. The Rams had let their assistants test the waters, indicating they would not block lateral moves as McVay determined his future. But McVay, 37, opted to stick with coaching.

Since Tony Romo’s $17.5MM-per-year CBS deal came about, the money being handed to high-profile TV analysts has led to NFL-or-broadcasting decisions each offseason. John Lynch turned down an Amazon offer believed to be worth at least double his 49ers GM salary last year. The Rams had missed the playoffs for 12 straight seasons prior to the McVay hire; they voyaged to four NFC brackets and two Super Bowls in his first five seasons. The L.A. market losing McVay would have doubled as a major loss for the NFL, which has relied on veteran-fueled Rams teams anchoring its second-largest market.

McVay expressed interest in trying TV at some point, but upon recommitting to the Rams, the seventh-year HC does not plan to go anywhere in the near future. This season will bring a new challenge. The 26 UDFAs created a 40-rookie offseason roster, and The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue (subscription required) predicts 15 first-year players will make the team. Star power still exists here, but it is notable McVay has signed up to lead what also looks like a bit of a rebuild effort.

After Coen agreed to leave his one-year Rams post to return to Kentucky, LaFleur arrived as McVay’s latest non-play-calling OC. This will be a step back for LaFleur, who called plays with the Jets, but previous McVay assistants have used the role as a springboard to HC offers. Prior to Coen, the past two Rams OCs — Kevin O’Connell and Mike LaFleur’s brother Matt — jumped for HC opportunities. The Jets dismissed LaFleur after two seasons, with Zach Wilson‘s performance doing the most to sink the younger LaFleur. McVay’s offense will be a natural fit for LaFleur, 36, seeing as he spent seven seasons working under Kyle Shanahan — from Cleveland to Atlanta to San Francisco. Both McVay and Shanahan run versions of the Mike Shanahan/Gary Kubiak offense.

Even after last year’s steep decline, the Rams saw the McVay coaching tree plucked yet again. Brown had been with the Rams since 2020; he is now in place as the Panthers’ non-play-calling OC. Brown, 36, had coached running backs and tight ends in L.A. He drew interest from the Texans as well; Houston interviewed the rising assistant for its HC job in January. Olson, another multi-stint Rams staffer who had come back to help Coen, is now with Seattle. He will join another ex-Rams assistant, Shane Waldron, in mentoring Geno Smith.

While Stafford looks out of place on the current Rams, the team’s four-year, $160MM extension — authorized in 2022 — has the ex-Lions QB under contract through 2026. Stafford’s trade value cratered last year, after elbow trouble and a spinal contusion spoiled his Super Bowl follow-up. (Though, the Rams are believed to have tried to find a market before that $62MM hit their 2023 and ’24 books.) After being shut down as the season nosedived, Stafford participated in the Rams’ offseason program.

Snead called Stafford, Donald and Kupp organizational pillars, but if this season shows the team is truly rebuilding, it cannot be assumed all three 30-somethings — Stafford is 35, Donald 32 and Kupp 30 — will be part of the 2024 Rams. Donald’s contract, which includes a no-trade clause, pays out its guarantees this year.

Top 10 cap charges for 2023:

Aaron Donald, DT: $26MM
Matthew Stafford, QB: $20MM
Cooper Kupp, WR: $17.36MM
Rob Havenstein, RT: $9.7MM
Tyler Higbee, TE: $9.13MM
Joseph Noteboom, LT: $6.5MM
Brian Allen, C: $3.1MM
Jordan Fuller, S: $2.79MM
Cam Akers, RB: $1.96MM
Van Jefferson, WR: $1.79MM

This section rarely reaches the sub-$2MM level, highlighting the Rams’ thinning number of big contracts. The top three certainly stick out, considering they were signed barely a year ago. While clear roster holes exist on defense, the Rams have a proven quarterback, an ace wide receiver and one of the league’s all-time defensive greats. It does not seem enough depth surrounds the Stafford-Kupp-Donald trio, but in an NFC flooded with questions, the thought of McVay piecing together a competitive squad does not seem delusional. If we hit mid-October and that is not happening, how serious will the trade rumors that inevitably involve the team’s remaining All-Pros be?

As the Rams try to avoid wasting early-30s years from their best two players, this season will simultaneously present a largescale developmental assignment. The Rams have made several mid- and late-round picks productive starters under the McVay-Snead partnership. As rookies could comprise more than a fourth of the roster, this season will put the regime to a new test.

5 Key Stories: 7/2/23 – 7/9/23

July 9th, 2023 at 4:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

The NFL offseason continues to roll along, and a few notable developments regarding the top storylines around the league have taken place. Here’s a quick recap from the past week:

Dolphins, Others Eyeing Cook: The Dolphins still appear to be in pole position to sign free agent running back Dalvin Cook, and mutual interest exists for a deal to be finalized. However, the four-time Pro Bowler is not prepared to sign the Miami offer which is currently on the table. That could open the door to other suitors making a push for the former Viking, something the Jets and Patriots have explored. Cook is in no hurry to make a decision on his next destination, one which he has said will ideally involve a continuation of his role as a full-time starter. Training camp will likely be the point during which his intentions become clearer, but Miami has work to do to help a homecoming take shape for Cook while fighting off their division rivals in the process.
Barkley Extension Still Possible For Giants? Three franchise-tagged running backs are approaching the deadline to sign a long-term deal. One of those – Saquon Barkley – could find himself inking a multi-year contract with the Giants soon, though. There is optimism that this situation will avoid seeing the 26-year-old play on the $10.1MM tag in 2023. Barkley was a top priority for New York at one point, but their lucrative extension for quarterback Daniel Jones has left him short on leverage throughout the offseason. The former No. 2 pick earned another Pro Bowl nod while helping lead the team to the second round of the postseason last year, but his injury concerns and the positional value of RBs as a whole have led to frustrating moments during negotiations from Barkley’s perspective. He and the Giants have until July 17 to work out an extension.
Commanders Sale Vote Remains On Track: A number of concerns have been raised regarding the Josh Harris bid to purchase the Commanders, but they appear to have been resolved. Harris’ agreement with outgoing owner Dan Snyder is scheduled to be voted on by the league on July 20, and that process is expected to produce unanimous ratification of the sale. Issues related to financing and the number of investors in Harris’ bid have been worked on since the $6.05 billion exclusive agreement was finalized, but the scheduling of a July vote illustrates the degree to which the NFL is satisfied with the deal as it stands. For the second straight offseason, then, the summer should see a special league meeting take place to approve a record-breaking franchise purchase.
Willis On Titans’ Roster Bubble? The Titans drafted a quarterback for the second consecutive year in 2023, adding Will Levis as their signal-caller of the future. That decision, in part, has left Malik Willis in danger of failing to make Tennessee’s roster out of training camp. The 2022 third-rounder was seen as a long-term project coming out of college, but his athletic upside was seen as a factor which could at least earn him a long look as a backup. The presence of Levis gives the team a succession plan to veteran Ryan Tannehill, however, and they could elect to only carry those two passers on the 53-man roster during the season. Needless to say, training camp and the preseason will go a long way in determining Willis’ future with the Titans.
Ingram Headlines Veteran Retirements: A number of accomplished NFLers announced that they are handing up their cleats in recent days, including running back Mark Ingram. The 33-year-old will try his hand at broadcasting with Fox Sports, putting an end to a 12-year playing career spent with the Saints, Ravens and Texans. Ingram leaves as New Orleans’ all-time rushing leader and a three-time Pro Bowler, and he will begin the next chapter of his football career rather than searching for a depth role as a player this summer. In addition, punter Kevin Huber (the all-time games played leader for the Bengals) as well as ex-Commanders center Chase Roullier have announced their respective retirements.

Extension Candidate: Justin Herbert

July 8th, 2023 at 10:53pm CST by Ely Allen

Now that the league’s most controversial quarterback extension discussion has come to an end, it’s time to move on to what may be the second-most controversial. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has shown some impressive regular season success in Los Angeles, but without results in the postseason, does he deserve to earn what some of his colleagues are making?

The 2020 quarterback class recently became eligible to sign their second NFL contracts. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, in a slightly different situation with no fifth-year option due to being drafted in the second round, broke the mold before heading into the final year of his rookie contract, signing an extension that gave him the highest annual average contract value in the NFL, a record that would be broken weeks later by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

The Packers decided to get ahead of the pack, as well, signing inexperienced quarterback Jordan Love to an extension of his four-year rookie deal that will keep him under contract through this season and the next. Aside from that, the remaining first-round quarterbacks from the 2020 NFL Draft are playing it patient. The Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow seem to be in a bit of a holding pattern, watching Herbert and the Chargers. The Dolphins also seem to be sitting pat on a new deal for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Injury issues, namely frequent concussions, have Miami playing it slow, as Tagovailoa’s future appears uncertain to say the least.

That brings us to Herbert. The 2020 class’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, Herbert has been a statistical phenom in Los Angeles. Through his first three seasons, Herbert has passed for 14,089 yards, more than any other player in NFL history through their first three years. He followed up his ORoY campaign with a Pro Bowl sophomore season. He averages just over 31 passing touchdowns per year to just over 11 interceptions. Despite throwing for the fewest touchdowns of his career last season, he finally saw his team’s success result in a postseason appearance. That paradox serves as a microcosm of the biggest issue currently surrounding his legacy: what good are statistics if they don’t lead to team success?

With Herbert behind center, the Chargers are 25-24. They have floated just above .500 since he took his place atop the depth chart. In his lone postseason contest, the Chargers’ defense consistently put Herbert and the offense in positions to succeed, leading to a 27-0 lead over Jacksonville to begin the game. As the Jaguars mounted their comeback, though, Herbert and the offense struggled generate much scoring as the team only managed three second-half points. That loss ultimately puts his record as a starter at 25-25, including the postseason.

The blame doesn’t fall solely on Herbert’s shoulders, of course. A middling-to-subpar defense in the past three years has made Herbert’s job that much harder. Injuries to leading offensive players like running back Austin Ekeler and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have put him in tough situations from time to time, as well. Still, quarterbacks like Jackson and Hurts have made winning without stats look easy, while Hurts and Burrow have found enough postseason success to each have a Super Bowl loss on their records. Herbert’s statistical success should well reward him and set him on track for a top contract, but his lack of winning success could lessen his price tag a bit.

Veteran general manager Tom Telesco has been here before with Philip Rivers. As a student of Bill Polian with the 2000’s Colts, Telesco had a front row seat to how Indianapolis paid Peyton Manning while still fielding a strong team around him. Seeing the success that that resulted in, Telesco will likely be aiming for a more team-friendly deal when trying to extend Herbert.

“At least in our situation, I don’t think I need to have that talk with our quarterback. I think he’s fully aware, has really good self-awareness on how much money he is going to make, how it affects the team,” Telesco said. “But like most agents will tell you, like, it’s my job to figure out how to make sure that the player gets the value that he deserves and we build a team around him.”

With that in mind, what might a deal for Herbert look like? This is a tough one. As the price tag for quarterbacks continues to climb, Herbert is expected to make over $50MM per year. The statistical success backs that assertion, and the development of the deals of Hurts and Jackson make that harder to deny. Yes, Mahomes and Allen aimed for longer deals (slightly for Allen, extremely for Mahomes), that take a bit of burden off the team, but those deals came in 2020 for Mahomes and 2021 for Allen. It’s hard to imagine that both of those deals would still be under $50MM per year in 2023.

If Herbert and Telesco are on the same page about a team-friendly deal, it’s going to be based off of length. Herbert may end up looking at a six- to eight-year deal. With the added years to the contract, he may agree to take a bit less than the five-year deals Hurts and Jackson signed. I could see an eight-year, $400MM deal with a $50MM AAV or maybe a six-year, $306MM deal with a $51MM AAV. If the team waits longer to make the deal, they not only risk further inflation to contract prices, they also risk Herbert driving up the price tag with some postseason success.

Telesco has his work cut out for him. The team clearly wants to commit to Herbert long-term. With seven players all set to make over $10MM next year, the team’s payroll is getting top-heavy. He’ll have to work some Colts-Manning magic in order to give Herbert the long-term deal he deserves while not totally handicapping the team’s ability to stack top-end talent around him.

PFR Originals: Pack, Herbert, Tags, Dugger

July 8th, 2023 at 9:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Here’s a look at back at PFR’s most recent originals:

The Offseason In Review series continued with a look at the Packers. Sam Robinson broke down the player movement which took place in Green Bay, highlighted by the franchise’s second consecutive decision to trade a future Hall of Fame quarterback to the Jets. How the Packers are able to transition from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love under center will play a crucial role in their ability to return to the postseason now and into the future.
A few quarterback mega-deals have already been worked out this offseason, and another could soon be coming to Justin Herbert. Ely Allen broke down the Chargers pivot’s candidacy for a monster extension after three seasons in Los Angeles. That stretch has included an Offensive Rookie of the Year award, a Pro Bowl nod and a postseason appearance in successive years, though Herbert is generally viewed as being a notch below the likes of Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. As is the case with the latter, talks for a new deal will continue through the summer.
Four players are currently set to play on the franchise tag, and they have until July 17 to work out a new contract. Sam detailed the situations of running backs Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard, along with tight end Evan Engram. The RB market has not been a fruitful one in 2023, so the Giants and Raiders have plenty of leverage during negotiations, which, should they not yield an agreement, will see their backs and Pollard earn $10.1MM. The latter has signed his one-year tender, but will any of the others do the same?
The Patriots have a few interesting financial decisions to make with recent draftees, including Kyle Dugger. The safety may have played his way into a signficant raise, as detailed by Ben Levine. New England used a second-round pick on the Lenoir-Rhyne product in 2020, and it has yielded notable production over the past two years in particular. Dugger could become the first Patriot selected in the first or second round to land an extension in quite some time, though the team is not renowned for spending big on internal or external players when the time comes for large contract commitments.
Five new head coaches are in place for the 2023 campaign, half the total from last year. Breaking down where the league’s skippers sit with respect to tenure, Sam looked back at the searches conducted by teams who moved in a new direction and some of the other top storylines which have circulated in recent months. Bill Belichick still tops the list of longest-running coaches in their current position, but the Patriots’ post-Tom Brady performances and his seemingly strained relationship with owner Robert Kraft have led to questions about how much longer he will remain in New England.
Plenty of attention will be on the Raiders and Jacobs in advance of the franchise tag deadline, but contract disputes aren’t new for the two parties. In Ben’s latest contribution to the This Day In Transactions History Series, he recalled the tension which surrounded the issue of Jacobs’ signing bonus being paid out early. The first-rounder seemed a threat to hold out during training camp, but he ultimately inked his rookie deal. His play since doing so has put him in line for a step up in compensation, but plenty of progress will need to be made soon on current talks for that to take place.
Following up on his breakdown of the league’s longest-tenured head coaches, Sam did the same with general managers. Only two new GMs – Ran Carthon and Monti Ossenfort – have been installed by the Titans and Cardinals, respectively, this offseason. The latter in particular has embarked on a rebuilding effort, while many others are in position to continue their Super Bowl pursuits. The recent extension given to Brandon Beane by the Bills will allow him to carry on with his work in that regard. Changes made at other levels of NFL front offices will no doubt lead to another intriguing hiring cycle in 2024.
Most teams know roughly where they stand with respect to cap space heading into this season, but next year offers an interesting peak at the decisions which will need to be made. Ben examined how things currently shape up regarding 2024 cap space, a list which features the Texans and Bears in first and third, respectively. Both teams have plenty of young, cost-controlled assets in place and will be able to be major players on the open market when free agency begins. By that point, 11 teams will have needed to carve out space simply to be cap compliant, let along set themselves up for notable additions. A number of key moves will no doubt be informed by the financial circumstances teams know are around the corner.

2024 Salary Cap Projections For All 32 Teams

July 8th, 2023 at 10:40am CST by Ben Levine

With most of the NFL’s cap space having dried up and most of the league’s top free agents having inked new contracts, many front offices will begin focusing on extensions for impending free agent veterans and players who are about to conclude their rookie contracts.

Naturally, part of these extension efforts will be focused on simply retaining players. However, front offices will also use these extension opportunities to help clean their books for future offseasons. With that said, we’ve compiled the current 2024 cap space outlooks for all 32 NFL teams (h/t to Spotrac.com):

Houston Texans: $87.77MM
New England Patriots: $85.43MM
Chicago Bears: $78.01MM
Washington Commanders: $67.65MM
Tennessee Titans: $64.85MM
Indianapolis Colts: $62.93MM
Detroit Lions: $49.21MM
Arizona Cardinals: $45.80MM
Cincinnati Bengals: $44.43MM
New York Giants: $44.36MM
Carolina Panthers: $35.95MM
Kansas City Chiefs: $35.66MM
Minnesota Vikings: $32.45MM
Las Vegas Raiders: $28.64MM
Atlanta Falcons: $23.04MM
Los Angeles Rams: $21.85MM
Jacksonville Jaguars: $5.14MM
Philadelphia Eagles: $5.10MM
Seattle Seahawks: $5.01MM
New York Jets: $346K
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $216K
Green Bay Packers: $-2.25MM
Baltimore Ravens: $-5.56MM
Pittsburgh Steelers: $-6.66M
Dallas Cowboys: $-6.67MM
San Francisco 49ers: $-31.20MM
Denver Broncos: $-37.89MM
Buffalo Bills: $-46.20MM
Miami Dolphins: $-51.46MM
New Orleans Saints: $-80.98MM
Los Angeles Chargers: $-83.60MM
Cleveland Browns: $-85.08MM

The Texans are in the midst of a rebuild, so it’s not a huge surprise that they sit atop the list of projected 2024 cap space. The organization currently has only three players projected to have cap hits north of $10MM in 2024 (Laremy Tunsil, Shaq Mason, and Maliek Collins). The Texans could use the 2024 offseason as an opportunity to make the team more competitive, but the team’s hopes of eventually becoming a contender will depend on their draft picks, including a pair of first-round picks in next year’s draft.

After the Patriots went on an uncharacteristic spending spree during the 2021 offseason, things have mostly been quiet over the past two years. Many of those big-money deals from 2021 are set to come off the books in 2024, providing the Patriots with an opportunity to load up during the fourth year of Mac Jones‘ rookie contract. Some of that cap space will surely go to extensions, including safety Kyle Dugger (as we explored the other day).

There are 11 teams that, as currently slated, wouldn’t be cap compliant heading into the 2024 regular season. Those teams will eventually clear up the necessary amount of breathing room, but that will be easier said than done for some organizations. The Browns have six players who are projected to have cap hits north of $18MM in 2024 (Deshaun Watson, Myles Garrett, Amari Cooper, Denzel Ward, Joel Bitonio, and David Njoku), and while reworking some of those pacts will clear up some space, it won’t completely solve Cleveland’s cap predicament.

The Chargers are another interesting team to watch, especially with Justin Herbert likely commanding a lucrative new contract. Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams are projected to count for 59 percent of the team’s 2024 cap, meaning the front office will surely have to make some tough decisions as they look to navigate the 2024 offseason.

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