PFR Originals News & Rumors

Some notable developments concerning both on- and off-the-field matters took place over the past week. In case you missed anything, here’s a quick breakdown of the top headlines:

• Cardinals Release Hopkins: DeAndre Hopkins was the subject of plenty of speculation this offseason, with many expecting a trade sending him out of Arizona. Instead, the Cardinals have cut the All-Pro wideout, leaving him free to join a new team on the open market. No trade could be worked out for the 30-year-old, whose contract was a sticking point in negotiations. By deciding not to designate Hopkins a post-June 1 release, the Cardinals will absorb just over $21MM in dead money next season, one in which the rebuilding team’s expectations will be very low. By doing so, however, Hopkins’ contract will come off the books entirely in 2024. The five-time Pro Bowler has been open about disclosing which teams he would prefer to join, but a number of suitors should be involved in his pursuit as contenders look to boost their passing attack late in free agency.
• Chargers, Ekeler Agree To Reworked Deal: For much of the offseason, the future of Chargers running back Austin Ekeler in 2023 and beyond was in doubt. He will remain in Los Angeles for at least one more year, though, after adjusting his contract to include new performance incentives. The 28-year-old has been seeking a new deal placing him higher in the league’s RB pecking order; the inability of he and the Chargers to agree to an extension resulted in a trade request at the start of free agency. No market emerged, though, making it little surprise that he will play out the final year of his pact with the Chargers. Another highly productive two-way campaign could earn Ekeler over $1MM in new money, and help boost his stock ahead of free agency.
• Goodell Nearing Another Extension: Much of the attention with respect to contracts is paid to players, coaches and front office personnel during this time of year, of course, but the NFL itself will have stability at the top for years to come. Commissioner Roger Goodell is in line to sign another extension, which will continue his tenure at the helm of the league through 2027. Goodell will have been in his position for more than 20 years by the end of that deal, making him the league’s second-longest tenured commissioner. Controversies of many kinds have littered his time in charge, but the league’s financial growth on his watch has been substantial and appears poised to continue during the current CBA. The extension will likely not be officially approved until later this offseason, but it considered a done deal at this point by the owners, who are content to maintain the status quo once again.
• Brady To Become Minority Raiders Owner: The post-playing future for Tom Brady is set to begin in the broadcast booth in 2024, but he could have a new title by that point. The now twice-retired quarterback has an agreement in place buy a stake in the Raiders. The 45-year-old has been linked to joining Vegas as a player at various times, but now he is set to occupy a front office role alongside owner Mark Davis. The pair already have a working relationship given their shared ownership of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, and now Brady will join an organization filled with connections to his Patriots past. Questions will be raised about a return to the playing field, along with concerns over a potential conflict of interest once his FOX broadcasting endeavor begins, but league approval of Brady’s latest move appears set to take place in the near future.
• Steelers Begin Highsmith Extension Talks: The Steelers already have one star pass rusher in T.J. Watt, but his running mate, Alex Highsmith, is due for a lucrative deal of his own. The latter is now in talks for a Pittsburgh extension ahead of the final year of his rookie contract, one which has provided the team with tremendous value given his production. The 25-year-old has set a new personal mark in sacks with each passing season, recording 14.5 last season (many of which came with Watt sidelined). Highsmith should be in line for a considerable raise, though it could become challenging for the Steelers to afford him given the league-leading $28MM AAV of Watt’s contract. Pittsburgh has remained adamant that Highsmith is part of their long-term plans, and the team has a history of working out big-money deals with impact players ahead of their walk years. A continuation of that trend would give them one of the league’s top edge rushing duos for years to come.

As the offseason roles along, teams continue to make important decisions shaping their rosters, while other storylines take shape as well. Here’s a quick recap of the top headlines from the past week:

• Brown Dies At 87: The NFL said goodbye to one of its greatest players when it was learned that Jim Brown passed away peacefully at the age of 87. The former Browns running back was one of the league’s first superstars, and his immense success remains well-known to this day. A three-time MVP, Brown led the league in rushing yards during eight of his nine seasons, and is still the only back to average over 100 rushing yards per game over the course of his career. Aside from his on-field brilliance at both the pro and college levels, his legacy includes acting and social activism during his post-playing days. It also, on the other hand, involves multiple arrests for violence against women. Overall, Brown will be remembered as an iconic figure regarding his impact on the NFL as it moved toward the Super Bowl era, along with a number of other positive and negative developments following his sudden retirement at the age of 30.
• Ryan To Step Into Broadcast Booth: While he is leaving the door open to a new deal as a player, quarterback Matt Ryan appears set to begin the next phase of his football career. The 37-year-old will work as an analyst for CBS in 2023, absent an offer from a team to suit up for one more campaign. Ryan’s 14-year tenure with the Falcons ended last offseason, and expectations were relatively high for him upon his arrival in Indianapolis. His time with the Colts was forgettable to say the least, however, and his new team made the expected decision to release him in March. Ryan, the NFL’s MVP in 2016, will earn $12MM from the Colts this season while transitioning to the broadcast booth.
• Saints Negotiating Final Jordan Deal? Cam Jordan has one year remaining on his current contract, but another extension keeping him in New Orleans could be hammered out in the near future. The 33-year-old has established himself as one of the top players in franchise history, but he indicated his next contract will likely be his last with the team. Jordan is the all-time Saints sack leader, and remains in line for a pivotal role on their defense for at least the short-term future. The eight-time Pro Bowler’s ability to add further to his individual accolades will be dictated by the outcome of contract talks, and attention could increasingly turn to his pursuit of a Super Bowl ring if his upcoming extension does indeed mark the beginning of the end of his career.
• Steelers Maintain QB Depth Chart: Kenny Pickett is in place as the Steelers’ starting quarterback for the foreseeable future, but many expected at least one change to be made to the team’s depth chart at the position this offseason. Instead, Pittsburgh will once again have Mitch Trubisky as its backup, after agreeing to a new extension which will keep him under contract through 2025. Trubisky will earn $8MM in guranteed money this season, but incentives could push the contract’s total value to $33MM. Meanwhile, third-stringer Mason Rudolph declined the opportunity to seek out a new environment (and with it, a better chance at playing time) by inking to a new deal of his own. For at least one more season, the Steelers’ QBs room will look identical to its 2022 iteration.
• Harris Continues To Wait For Ratification Of Commanders Bid: Given the timing of Josh Harris‘ signed deal with Dan Snyder to purchase the Commanders, few expected the agreement to be formally ratified during the upcoming league meetings. Indeed, no timeline currently exists for a vote to take place regarding the sale, which carries a record-shattering price of $6.05 billion. Issues have arisen regarding the structure of Harris’ proposed agreement, but the widespread belief remains that it will be approved by the summer largely due to the desire on the part of other owners to put an end to Snyder’s tenure at the helm of the franchise. The vetting process of investors supporting Harris will go a long way in bringing the sale across the finish line.

A number of intriguing developments have taken place around the league in recent days. In case you missed any of the top headlines from the past week, here’s a quick recap:

• Snyder, Harris Sign Commanders Sale Agreement: The sale of the Washington Commanders took another step forward with Dan Snyder and incoming owner Josh Harris announcing that they have signed an exclusive sale agreement. Harris has long been expected to take over the embattled franchise this offseason, but this latest development leaves only ratification by the league’s other owners as the final hurdle yet to be cleared. That process may not take place at the next owners’ meetings later this month, but it is nevertheless expected to occur rather smoothly. The $6.05 billion price for the team is another North American sports record, and Harris will join the league after finishing as a runner-up for the Broncos last offseason. Attention will increasingly turn, meanwhile, to the outcome of the latest investigations into Snyder and the Commanders, and the degree to which his alleged misconduct becomes public as he transitions away from his 24-year ownership tenure.
• Vikings Deal Smith To Browns: Cleveland has made it a priority to add to their front seven this offseason, and that endeavor has now resulted in the trade acquisition of veteran edge rusher Za’Darius Smith from the Vikings. A swap of Day 3 picks helped send the three-time Pro Bowler back to the AFC North, after his stint in Minnesota lasted only one season. Smith, 30, requested earlier this year to be released by the Vikings despite the presence of two more years on his contract and having recorded double-digit sacks for the third time in the past four seasons. The former Raven and Packer will give Cleveland a proven pass-rushing presence opposite Myles Garrett, and compliment the free agent signing of Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. Minnesota will now lean increasingly on their own March addition, Marcus Davenport, as both teams look to take a step forward on defense in 2023.
• Texans To Extend Mason: The Texans continue to invest in their offensive line, and their right guard spot will be secure for years to come. Shaq Mason agreed to a three-year, $36MM extension, which will keep him on the books through the 2026 campaign. That accord is another notable one for the longtime Patriot, who had a one-year stint in Tampa Bay last season. One of the few healthy members of the Buccaneers’ offensive front in 2022, the 29-year-old confirmed his status as one of the better guards in the league. He was traded to Houston earlier this offseason in a cost-shedding move, though, allowing him to join a young interior o-line with the Texans. Mason, along with 2022 first-rounder Kenyon Green and second-round rookie Juice Scruggs, figure to be in the team’s plans at guard and center, respectively, for the foreseeable future.
• Saints Sign Moreau: Not long after his decision to step away from football following a cancer diagnosis, tight end Foster Moreau signed with the Saints. The 26-year-old got a three-year, $12MM deal, which demonstrates how confident he and the team are that a full recovery from Hodgkin’s lymphoma will take place. Moreau will be reunited with quarterback Derek Carr after the pair played together with the Raiders, and the former has a path to signficant playing time on his new team. It was during a Saints free agent visit that Moreau was originally diagnosed, but talks between the parties on a potential contract picked up again after New Orleans traded away Adam Trautman. Moreau could be on the field as early as OTAs later this month, but even if not, his presence will be welcomed on a number of fronts.
• Chargers Remain Intent On Retaining Ekeler: One of the ongoing storylines around the league has been the standing trade request from Chargers running back Austin Ekeler. The 27-year-old is seeking a new contract, one which will likely come from another organization on the free agent (rather than trade) market. Ekeler is thus expected to remain in Los Angeles for the 2023 campaign, as confirmed by general manager Tom Telesco. The latter made clear that the team has no intention of seeking out a trade partner, despite having granted the two-time touchdown leader permission to do so. Ekeler – who has amassed over 1,500 scrimmage yards in three of the past four seasons – is due $6.25MM this season, but could play his way into a larger figure (relative to the depressed RB market) with another strong campaign with the Bolts.

Even with the draft now in the rearview, teams around the NFL continue to make a number of key roster-building decisions. Here is a quick recap of the top headlines from the past week:

• Giants Extend Lawrence: The Giants have already finished negotiations with quarterback Daniel Jones on a big-money deal this offseason, and they have now done the same with standout defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. The 25-year-old parlayed a career-year in 2022 into a four-year, $90MM contract with $60MM guaranteed. That makes his pact the latest lucrative one seen in the DT market this offseason, and its $22.5MM annual average value puts Lawrence in a tie for third at the position for yearly compensation. The Clemson product has cemented himself as one of the pillars of New York’s defense, and he will be on the books through 2027 as he and the team look to replicate their shared success from last season for years to come.  
• Packers, Love Agree To Extension: The Packers faced an interesting decision entering the deadline for fifth-year option decisions, with Jordan Love entering the final year of his rookie contract. In lieu of picking up his option, Green Bay worked out a one-year extension with their new starter with a maximum value ($22.5MM) slightly higher than what the option would have paid out. The 24-year-old has only one regular season start to his name, but he is in place as the undisrupted starter for at least the 2023 campaign, with personal and team achievements available as incentives for his 2024 compensation. Love can approach his all-important fourth season in the league with clarity on his short-term financial future.
• Commanders Sale Nearing? An official end to the Dan Snyder era in Washington could be coming later this month, with the Josh Harris-led bid for the Commanders being reviewed by the NFL ahead of the league’s next owners’ meetings. Talks with Snyder’s legal representatives are ongoing, and the matter of indemnification both for himself and the league’s other owners with respect to the various ongoing probes into the organization will be an important hurdle to clear. At least 24 owners will need to formally ratify the Harris bid when it is put to a general vote, but few obstacles are thought to remain before that takes place. Presuming it does, Harris will be in position to secure an NFL franchise one offseason after he was a runner-up to purchase the Broncos.
• Vikings, Cousins Open To Continuing Relationship: Much was made about the Vikings’ quarterback situation entering the draft, with veteran starter Kirk Cousins set to hit free agency after the 2023 season, during which he will play on a restructured deal. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah‘s public remarks on the matter keep the door open to another Minnesota deal, however, which would likely result in a continuation of his penchant for short-term deals. The 34-year-old has been with the Vikings since 2018 and earned a second straight Pro Bowl nod in 2022 while leading the team to a strong regular season (along with, on the other hand, another first-round exit). Cousins, for his part, has indicated his openness to continue his stay with the Vikings in 2024 and beyond, so his performance this campaign – and how the team responds to it – will be a key storyline to follow.
• Record Low Fifth-Year Options Picked Up: Love’s situation aside, the 2023 offseason turned out to be an interesting one with respect to team’s decisions on 2020 first-round picks. A record low 12 players had their options exercised, which will lead to a number of high-profile free agent situations next offseason. Some of those whose options were declined could still end up re-signing with their current teams, of course, but notable players on both sides of the ball now face uncertain futures. Decisions on short- and long-term deals with the players across the 2020 first round order will no doubt inform teams’ other moves with more recent draftees, but several could be looking for replacements at key positions earlier than they envisioned.