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Jared Goff

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:

  1. Patrick Mahomes, QB (Chiefs): $39.69MM
  2. Ryan Tannehill, QB (Titans): $36.6MM
  3. Jared Goff, QB (Lions): $30.98MM
  4. Jake Matthews, T (Falcons): $28.36MM
  5. Trent Williams, T (49ers): $27.18MM
  6. Dak Prescott, QB (Cowboys): $26.83MM
  7. Laremy Tunsil, T (Texans): $26.61MM
  8. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (49ers): $23.8MM
  9. Amari Cooper, WR (Browns): $23.78MM
  10. Mike Evans, WR (Buccaneers): $23.69MM
  11. Ronnie Stanley, T (Ravens): $23.67MM
  12. Joe Thuney, G (Chiefs): $22.12MM
  13. Russell Wilson, QB (Broncos): $22MM
  14. Lamar Jackson, QB (Ravens): $22MM
  15. Daniel Jones, QB (Giants): $21.75MM
  16. David Bakhtiari, T (Packers): $21.29MM
  17. Kirk Cousins, QB (Vikings): $20.25MM
  18. D.J. Moore, WR (Bears): $20.17MM
  19. Matthew Stafford, QB (Rams): $20MM
  20. Brian O’Neill, T (Vikings): $19.66MM
  21. Taylor Decker, T (Lions): $19.35MM
  22. Deshaun Watson, QB (Browns): $19.1MM
  23. Braden Smith, T (Colts): $19MM
  24. Josh Allen, QB (Bills): $18.64MM
  25. 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.

Lions OC Ben Johnson Addresses Decision To Withdraw From HC Searches

June 30th, 2023 at 8:55am CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions’ offensive output in 2022 came as a surprise to many, but it put offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in position to interview for multiple head coaching positions. He quickly backed out of other teams’ searches for a HC, though, electing to remain in Detroit for the coming campaign.

That decision earned him a sizeable raise, and it will give him the opportunity to continue working with head coach Dan Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff. The latter’s performance – especially in the back half of the season – helped Detroit rank fourth in total offense and fifth in scoring en route to a 9-8 finish. Johnson was viewed as an instrumental part of the team’s success, and he drew considerable interest on the head coaching market as a result.

The 37-year-old took virtual interviews with the Colts and Texans, but the job he was most closely connected to was that of the Panthers. Johnson (who had not served as a coordinator before 2022) was considered a favorite for the Carolina gig before he decided to stay in place. The allure of carrying on with Campbell and Goff in particular convinced Johnson to avoid taking a new position for at least one more year.

“He’s one of the biggest reasons why I didn’t want to leave,” Johnson said of Goff, via The Athletic’s Dan Pompei (subscription required). “I feel we are tied together to a degree. He’s an extension of me, and I’m an extension of him. I’ve told him multiple times his success is my success and vice versa.”

Goff’s success under Campbell and Johnson (as opposed to the latter’s predecessor, Anthony Lynn) came as a surprise, and it could earn him an extended look in the Motor City. The Lions have explored the idea of a new deal for the 28-year-old, despite their decision to select Hendon Hooker in this year’s draft. Two years remain on Goff’s current deal, which includes no guranteed money in 2024.

That will no doubt lead to questions about his long-term future in Detroit as the coming season plays out. Optimism for a repeat of 2022’s success would be well-founded in the fact that Johnson will still be at the helm of the team’s offense, something which may be the case for years to come beyond 2023.

Lions Contemplating Jared Goff Extension

May 2nd, 2023 at 12:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

After the Lions drafted one of the more high-profile quarterbacks in this year’s class, questions were raised regarding the long-term future of Jared Goff in Detroit. A new deal keeping him in place could be on the horizon, though.

During an appearance on 97.1 WXYT-FM, general manager Brad Holmes confirmed that extension talks have begun between the team and Goff’s representatives. “Yeah, we’ve had internal dialogue there,” Holmes said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “We’ve had dialogue with his agent and we’re in a good place right now.”

Goff, 28, earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022 for his impressive performance in guiding the Lions to a late-season push for a playoff spot. The former first overall pick posted his highest passer rating since 2018, and went nine straight games to close out the campaign without throwing an interception. However, he is only under contract for two more seasons (at cap hits of $30.975MM and $31.975MM), and the absence of guarantees in 2024 would make it easy for the team to move on that year.

For that reason, many have pointed to this season as being Goff’s last in the Motor City. Prior to the draft, no talks had taken place regarding an extension, which seemed to leave the door open to an eventual successor being drafted. The Lions did indeed add a signal-caller, selecting Hendon Hooker in the third round after a somewhat surprising fall down the board. The Tennessee product generated first-round buzz but was expected to hear his name called no later than the second round.

Hooker is coming off a torn ACL which will limit his availability as a rookie. That will hinder his acclimation to the pro game, something which is of particular concern considering his age (25) upon arrival in the NFL. Holmes confirmed that the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Year will essentially have a redshirt campaign as the No. 3 quarterback in 2023.

“Obviously he’ll be a rookie and he’s going to have to transition into playing in a different type of scheme, but we’re really excited about his upside, so how NFL ready are a lot of quarterbacks that you acquire?” Holmes added. “And that’s just part of the normal development process and again, just a testament of I think we have the right situation for him, just to come and sit back, see how Jared and [backup] Nate [Sudfeld] do things and just develop.”

Expectations will be raised for the Lions’ offense, which added running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round – later than they were willing to draft him – this season. Another strong campaign from Goff could make his financial situation even more interesting (and the team’s decision with him more difficult), especially with his potential replacement now in the fold.

Lions, QB Jared Goff Haven’t Talked Extension

April 18th, 2023 at 7:53pm CST by Ben Levine

With Jalen Hurts on the brink of officially inking a record-breaking contract, the focus has turned to other extension-eligible quarterbacks. One signal caller who has flown under the radar in that discussion is Lions QB Jared Goff. Speaking to reporters today, the veteran acknowledged that he hasn’t had extension talks with Detroit’s front office.

“I mean, of course you’d be open,” Goff said of signing an extension (via Justin Rogers of The Detroit News). “It hasn’t been brought to my attention, but yeah, of course open to anything. Not up to me. I’m a player, I don’t have to make those decisions. And if I did, I would have made that decision a long time ago: Give me and all my friends all the money in the world. But I just get to play, and if that comes about, that’d be great. But we’ll see.”

As Rogers notes, there’s no rush to sign Goff to an extension; the quarterback still has two years remaining on the four-year, $134MM deal he signed with the Rams back in 2019. However, the writer also notes that there are plenty of reasons why the two sides should explore a new deal.

For starters, QB contracts continue to jump, and Goff’s asking price will likely increase as each quarterback signs an extension. Goff already finds himself 12th at the position in average annual value, and he’ll continue to fall down that list as younger QBs continue to reset the market. Fortunately for the Lions, Goff understands the business and acknowledged that his ranking at the position was always going to fall.

“That’s how the league goes,” Goff told Rogers. “Guy gets paid, and then 10 more guys get paid, you’re toward the bottom. Hopefully (you sign again), and things go like this. Yeah, hopefully I can play for a long time, play in this league, win games, win championships, and the money and the contract all comes with that. But just enjoying your time in the present, enjoying the people around you and your teammates, is the most important thing. All that will come.”

After being ousted in Los Angeles and winning only three games during his Lions debut, Goff rebounded in 2022. He finished the season with 29 touchdowns (his highest total since 2018) and a career-low seven interceptions while guiding the Lions to an inspiring 9-8 record. Goff earned his third career Pro Bowl nod at the end of the season.

Jared Goff Targeting Lions Extension?

February 10th, 2023 at 3:17pm CST by Sam Robinson

Viewed by most as a placeholder passer during his first two offseasons in Detroit, Jared Goff is coming off a strong 2022 slate and will enter the 2023 season in position to build on it.

The Lions will have Jameson Williams healthy to complement Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the team is interested in re-signing DJ Chark. Detroit also stands to return most of its offensive line. And OC Ben Johnson, who went from rookie play-caller to sought-after HC candidate, decided early in this year’s interview cycle to stay with the Lions. Goff has also received a run of endorsements about his status as the Lions’ starter.

The former No. 1 overall pick remains tied to his Rams-constructed contract — a four-year, $134MM extension agreed to during the 2019 offseason — but might this momentum entice Goff’s camp to pursue a new deal? They may already have done so. Rumblings pointed to Goff’s camp seeking a Lions extension during the 2022 offseason, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, who expects the QB’s reps to broach the subject with the team again this year. Goff’s current deal runs through the 2024 season.

Coming back from being the throw-in piece in 2021’s Matthew Stafford trade, Goff moved to Detroit because the Rams added a second first-round pick to convince the Lions to take on the then-trending-down passer’s contract. But the Lions did not pursue an upgrade in 2022, a rather busy offseason for the quarterback market. GM Brad Holmes offered another endorsement of Goff as the team’s starter last month. That came after a December report indicated the Lions were looking at Goff not as a bridge but as a long-term option. Following a season in which Goff ranked fifth in QBR — at 61.2, the second-highest mark of his career — the Cal product is back on the upswing.

Detroit held the No. 2 overall pick last year — a draft that brought a shaky quarterback class — and, thanks to the Rams’ 2022 struggles, holds this year’s No. 6 choice. Detroit also has its own first-rounder (No. 18 overall) to dangle for a potential trade-up, in the event the team takes a liking to one of this year’s top prospects. The Lions may not want to do a Goff deal before the draft, but Birkett adds the more logical window would be in the summer. Both the Lions’ Stafford extensions were finalized in the summer (July 2013, August 2017).

When Goff signed his Rams accord, it ranked as a top-five contract. Nearly four years later, the QB market’s usual movement has dropped Goff’s AAV outside the top 10. Goff’s $33.5MM-per-year number now checks in at No. 11 at the position, and the $30MM-AAV neighborhood is sliding toward the QB middle class. Nine passers are currently tied to deals north of $40MM per annum, with no contracts residing in the $35-40MM gap. Goff’s deal also contains no more guaranteed money. Of course, the obvious question would be whether the Lions would want to give their current starter a big raise.

Goff doing an extension would reduce his 2023 cap number (currently at $30.9MM), but the Lions considering an upper-crust extension for a quarterback who has been inconsistent over the past four seasons would cut into their ability to build a team around the eighth-year veteran. Goff, 28, has not solidified himself as a surefire franchise quarterback; paying him as such would inject risk into the Lions’ equation. But the market could soon change. A number of QBs could join Aaron Rodgers as $50MM-per-year passers, with Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert all extension-eligible. Daniel Jones‘ next deal may be more pertinent to Goff, given the aforementioned passers’ higher standing in the league.

This batch of extensions coming to pass and Goff playing well again in 2023 — ahead of his 2024 contract year — would boost his value. Another Goff contract does not appear to be a front-burner matter for the Lions, who rallied from 1-6 to the playoff precipice. But it might enter that territory in the not-too-distant future.

Lions GM Brad Holmes Backs Jared Goff As Starting QB

January 15th, 2023 at 4:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions engineered a remarkable turnaround late in the season, and nearly managed to clinch the NFC’s final playoff spot on the back of their offensive efficiency in particular. Detroit’s play under center is now likely to lead to continuity at the position into 2023.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes endorsed Jared Goff as the team’s top signal-caller when speaking to the media in his season-ending news conference. That would have come as a surprise not long ago, as their acquisition of the 28-year-old was widely thought to simply make him a ‘bridge’ starter likely resulting in a younger option being drafted not long after.

That sentiment remained true well into the start of the 2022 season, when the Lions sat at 1-5 and they appeared to be destined for one of the top spots (if not the No. 1 slot) in this spring’s draft. However, Goff helped guide the team to a 5-1 record to close out the season as they continued to showcase their surprising production both in the passing game and on the ground.

Goff himself was efficient in the process, going nine straight games without throwing an interception to finish the season. The former Ram added 15 touchdowns and averaged over 266 yards per game during that span, adding to his chances of his new team committing to him for the long haul. He is under contract for two more years with cap hits of $30.9MM and $31.9MM, but there is no guaranteed money remaining on his deal.

“I think it’s a lot easier to get worse at quarterback than to get better at quarterback, in this league,” Holmes said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (subscription required). “And so, I think what Jared has done this year, he captained the ship of a top-three offense, and I want to say he was top-10 statistically in most of the passing categories. And again, you know how we approach the draft like we’re never going to turn down a good football player, so if there’s a football player we really love, we’re going to make sure every stone is unturned. But I do think that Jared has proven everybody that he is the starting quarterback for us.”

Indeed, the Rams’ collapse this season leaves Detroit with the No. 6 pick in this year’s draft owing to the Goff-Matthew Stafford swap from last year. The Lions’ own pick sits at 18, so they will have multiple opportunities to draft someone to compete with Goff in the near term or succeed him down the road. Regardless of what this offseason brings, though, the matter of the Lions’ 2023 QB situation appears to be far more certain now than it was in the fall.

Lions View Jared Goff As Long-Term Option?

December 11th, 2022 at 10:30pm CST by Rory Parks

At the end of October, it was reported that no one within the Lions organization truly believed that Jared Goff was the team’s quarterback of the future. Could four wins in the last five games have changed that?

Sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com that the Lions are not looking to move on from Goff and that he is expected to remain in the Motor City for the foreseeable future. The obvious caveat is that much will depend on how he finishes the 2022 season, but his performance through Week 13 of the current campaign — which includes his best quarterback rating (95.7) and yards per pass attempt average (7.5) since 2018 — has GM Brad Holmes thinking that Goff is more than just a bridge option.

Holmes has consistently maintained that he took Goff as part of the return in the 2021 Matthew Stafford trade not only because assuming his contract allowed Holmes to improve the draft capital he received from the Rams, but also because he saw Goff as a quality passer that had the ability to get back to the Pro Bowl form he displayed over the 2017-18 seasons. Regardless of Holmes’ evaluation of Goff, however, he really had no choice but to retain the former No. 1 overall pick for at least two years once the decision was made to acquire him; getting out from under Goff’s contract before then would have been nearly impossible.

That will no longer be the case in 2023. If Holmes were so inclined, he could cut Goff and save upwards of $20MM in cap space, and he might also find a reasonably robust trade market. On the other hand, the same factors that make Goff appealing to would-be trade partners — his manageable base salaries of $20.7MM and $21.7MM over the next two years, along with his solid play — make him equally appealing to the Lions, who have two first-round choices in the 2023 draft and who could use those selections to improve other areas of the roster.

The 2023 first-rounder that Detroit acquired from the Rams is presently slotted at No. 4 overall. The Lions could certainly use that pick to acquire a top collegiate passer and retain Goff for at least one more season, though today’s report suggests that the team may not be as apt to draft a QB as it was just a few weeks ago. If Goff maintains his level of performance down the stretch — and he now has a full complement of skill-position players at his disposal, including 2022 first-rounder Jameson Williams — he may not have to worry about a rookie taking his job next season.

Lions Notes: Williams, Goff, Smith, Vaitai

October 29th, 2022 at 9:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions have dealt with a number of injuries on offense, including a notable one suffered even before the draft. Rookie wideout Jameson Williams has yet to play this year, as he continues to recover from the torn ACL he suffered in the CFP title game.

A midseason return was once the team’s target, but plans have changed with respect to his timeframe. Head coach Dan Campbell echoed confidence that the Alabama product will see the field in 2022, but that will not come any time soon.

“There’s still hope,” Campbell said, via Justin Rodgers of the Detroit News. “There again, he’s put together a pretty good month, a real good month. So we feel like we’re going to have him before this season’s out. It’s hard to say when that’s going to be. I would say at least probably another month. But I do feel like we’re going to get him before this is said and done.”

The Lions currently have DJ Chark on IR, but Campbell insisted that a lack of depth at the position will not play a role in the team’s handling of the highly-touted Williams with respect to his return. Here are some other notes from the Motor City:

  • 2022 was widely considered the year in which the Lions decided whether or not Jared Goff could be a long-term solution at the quarterback position. To date, the 28-year-old has committed nine turnovers (six interceptions and three fumbles) this season, giving him a total of 23 in 20 games in Detroit. Not surprisingly, then, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes that no one in the organization “truly believes Goff is the quarterback of the future” (subscription required). The Lions are one of only two teams in the league with a one-win record (1-5), so they are on track to have a top choice in next April’s draft. That will give them a prime opportunity to find a franchise signal-caller amongst this year’s celebrated class of prospects; in doing so, they could move on from Goff, who has no guaranteed money remaining on his deal after this year.
  • Saivion Smith suffered a neck injury during the team’s lopsided loss to the Patriots in Week 5. As a result, the former UDFA will undergo neck fusion surgery next month, Birkett tweets. Smith, 24, confirmed that he did not suffer a concussion on the play, but is still facing a lengthy recovery after the procedure. His absence will be felt in Detroit’s much-maligned secondary.
  • Halapoulivaati Vaitai is, of course, dealing with injury troubles of his own. The starting o-lineman continues to recover from back surgery, and is unlikely to see the field in 2022. The degree to which he is able to return to previous health and form could go a long way in determining his financial future, since, like Goff, no guaranteed compensation remains on the final two years of his contract. The 29-year-old agreed to a move affecting the books in 2022, though; ESPN’s Field Yates reports that the Lions have restructured Vaitai’s deal, creating roughly $2.4MM in cap space (Twitter link). In advance of Tuesday’s trade deadline, Detroit has just over $3MM in available funds, though their placement at the bottom of the NFC certainly points to the team being sellers, rather than buyers, on the market.

Largest 2022 Cap Hits: Offense

July 4th, 2022 at 11:58am CST by Sam Robinson

After the COVID-19 pandemic led to the second reduction in NFL salary cap history last year, the 2022 cap made a record jump. This year’s salary ceiling ($208.2MM) checks in $25.7MM north of the 2021 figure.

While quarterbacks’ salaries will continue to lead the way, a handful of blockers and skill-position players carry sizable cap numbers for 2022. A few of the quarterbacks that lead the way this year may not be tied to those numbers once the regular season begins. The 49ers, Browns and Ravens have made efforts to alter these figures via trades or extensions.

Here are the top 2022 salary cap hits on the offensive side of the ball:

  1. Ryan Tannehill, QB (Titans): $38.6MM
  2. Patrick Mahomes, QB (Chiefs): $35.79MM
  3. Kirk Cousins, QB (Vikings): $31.42MM
  4. Jared Goff, QB (Lions): $31.15MM
  5. Aaron Rodgers, QB (Packers): $28.53MM
  6. Carson Wentz, QB (Commanders): $28.29MM
  7. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB (49ers): $26.95MM
  8. Russell Wilson, QB (Broncos): $24MM
  9. Lamar Jackson, QB (Ravens): $23.02MM
  10. Kenny Golladay, WR (Giants): $21.2MM
  11. Garett Bolles, T (Broncos): $21MM
  12. Dak Prescott, QB (Cowboys): $19.73MM
  13. Derek Carr, QB (Raiders): $19.38MM
  14. D.J. Humphries, T (Cardinals): $19.33MM
  15. Keenan Allen, WR (Chargers): $19.2MM
  16. Taylor Decker, T (Lions): $18.9MM
  17. Sam Darnold, QB (Panthers): 18.89MM
  18. Baker Mayfield, QB (Browns): $18.89MM
  19. Matt Ryan, QB (Colts): $18.7MM
  20. Ronnie Stanley, T (Ravens): $18.55MM
  21. Donovan Smith, T (Buccaneers): $18.4MM
  22. Ezekiel Elliott, RB (Cowboys): $18.22MM
  23. DeAndre Hopkins, WR (Cardinals): $17.95MM
  24. Cooper Kupp, WR (Rams): $17.8MM
  25. Laremy Tunsil, T (Texans): $17.71MM
  • The Chiefs’ cap sheet looks a bit different this year, with Tyreek Hill and Tyrann Mathieu off the roster. But Mahomes’ cap number rockets from $7.4MM in 2021 to the league’s second-largest figure in 2022. This marks the first time Mahomes’ 10-year contract is set to count more than $10MM toward Kansas City’s cap, with the AFC West champs not yet restructuring the deal this year.
  • Tied to a few lucrative extensions since relocating to Minnesota, Cousins’ third Vikings deal dropped his cap number from $45MM. The fifth-year Vikings QB’s cap number is set to climb past $36MM in 2023.
  • Prior to negotiating his landmark extension in March, Rodgers was set to count more than $46MM on the Packers’ payroll.
  • The 49ers are aiming to move Garoppolo’s nonguaranteed money off their payroll. That figure becomes guaranteed in Week 1, providing a key date for the franchise. San Francisco is prepared to let Garoppolo negotiate contract adjustments with other teams to facilitate a trade.
  • Wilson counts $26MM on the Seahawks’ 2022 payroll, due to the dead money the NFC West franchise incurred by trading its 10-year starter in March.
  • Jackson, Darnold and Mayfield are attached to fifth-year option salaries. Jackson’s is higher due to the former MVP having made two Pro Bowls compared to his 2018 first-round peers’ zero. The 2020 CBA separated fifth-year option values by playing time and accomplishments. The Browns and Panthers have engaged in off-and-on negotiations on divvying up Mayfield’s salary for months, while a Jackson extension remains on the radar.
  • Golladay’s cap number jumped from $4.47MM last year to the highest non-quarterback figure among offensive players. The Giants wideout’s four-year deal calls for $21MM-plus cap hits from 2023-24.
  • Prior to being traded to the Colts, who adjusted their new starter’s contract, Ryan was set to carry an NFL-record $48MM cap hit this year. The Falcons are carrying a league-record $40.5MM dead-money charge after dealing their 14-year starter.
  • The Texans restructured Tunsil’s deal in March, dropping his 2022 cap hit from $26.6MM to its present figure. Because of the adjustment, Tunsil’s 2023 cap number resides at $35.2MM

Contract information courtesy of Over The Cap 

Rams HC Sean McVay Has Regrets Over Handling Of Jared Goff Trade

June 30th, 2022 at 7:28pm CST by Ben Levine

It’s been a bit more than a year since Jared Goff was sent packing to Detroit. Things worked out well for the Rams; trade acquisition Matthew Stafford helped guide the organization to a Super Bowl championship. The front office obviously has no regrets with how things turned out, but Sean McVay recently admitted that he’d like a re-do when it comes to how he handled the trade with his former starting QB.

During an appearance on Mike Silver’s Open Mike podcast, McVay said he could have done a better job of communicating the team’s intentions at quarterback to Goff.

“That was a hard thing for me because the thing that’s more important than anything is being a good communicator — clear, open, and honest. Making sure people aren’t caught off guard and really having respect for the players and the coaches for what they have to do. And I wish that there had been better in-person communication,” McVay said (h/t to Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com). “The one thing that hurt me is that I would never want anything to be misunderstood about my appreciation, my respect for Jared. Was it a tough decision? Yes. Were there some things that I could’ve handled better in terms of the clarity provided for him? No doubt.

“If I had it over again, what I would do is, before I had even gone to Cabo, when there was a possibility of, alright, if Matthew Stafford’s available, if there’s other quarterbacks available, that would be something that we would explore — you sit down with him, you look him in the eye, you tell him that instead of calling him and setting up a meeting where that was my intention when I got back from Cabo.”

At one time, it would have been crazy to suggest that the Rams would move on from Goff. The 2016 first-overall pick earned Pro Bowl nods in both 2017 and 2018, and he made it to the Super Bowl during that latter season. Following that Super Bowl loss, the Rams signed Goff to a four-year, $134MM extension, with the $100MM in guaranteed money setting a then-record. Indeed, it seemed like the Rams and McVay were fully committed to their starting QB.

However, after averaging 12 wins between the 2017 and 2018 campaigns, the Rams averaged only 9.5 victories in 2019 and 2020. The Rams started considering changes, and with Stafford available in Detroit, the organization decided to make a move. According to McVay, the trade negotiations came together quicker than anticipated; what the Rams “thought was going to be a week’s worth of time ended up happening in about 24 to 36 hours.” As a result, the organization didn’t have an opportunity to truly prep Goff for the impending move.

“So all in all, biggest thing I regret, [not] being able to sit down, look him in the eye and be able to communicate kind of where we are, what we were going to try to do moving forward,” McVay said. “And for that, I regret it, I’ll not make those same mistakes again.

“But, I care about Jared. He sure as hell did a lot of good things. And I think the thing that shows what a stud, what a class act he really is, is one of the best text messages I got after the Super Bowl was from Jared Goff. And so, I think the further we get away, the more appreciation that we’ll have for the great four years that we did have together — because there were a lot of really good times. … But all in all, just the better communication, better clarity is what I would’ve wanted. And I didn’t like the outside narrative, but I think he knows where my heart was. And I was glad we were able to connect, sit down, be honest with each other, and I think we both have a lot of respect for each other. And I wish I’d handled it better as a leader for him.”

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