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Browns Extend HC Kevin Stefanski, GM Andrew Berry

June 5th, 2024 at 9:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Rumored to be on tap for this offseason, the Browns’ extension agreements with Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry are now official. The team announced its fifth-year HC-GM combo is signed long term.

This represents rare territory for the Browns, who shuffled through numerous coaches and GMs during the Haslams’ first several years as owners. After two playoff berths in four seasons, Stefanski and Berry did enough to show ownership they should be at the wheel for the foreseeable future.

Rumblings of the Browns readying extensions for their power brokers emerged in March, and a recent offering from cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot pointed to the deals being close. The Browns have posted their best four-year win percentage under Berry and Stefanski since the 1986-89 run. Although this regime has not matched the Marty Schottenheimer-Bernie Kosar teams in terms of consistency or postseason accomplishments, it has elevated one of the NFL’s perennial doormats to a contender position.

“Despite facing multiple player injuries and using five different starting quarterbacks, Andrew and his staff built a roster that adapted well, while Kevin and his staff led the team to its second playoff appearance in four years, earning Coach of the Year honors for the second time in that period,” Jimmy and Dee Haslam said, referencing the 2023 season, in a statement. “They are two of the brightest people we know, and selfless people who only care about what is best for the Cleveland Browns.”

Since the Haslams acquired the Browns in October 2012, they have employed six full-time head coaches (Pat Shurmur, Rob Chudzinski, Mike Pettine, Hue Jackson, Freddie Kitchens, Stefanski) and six front office bosses (Tom Heckert, Michael Lombardi, Ray Farmer, Sashi Brown, John Dorsey, Berry). Prior to the Stefanski-Berry 2020 debut season, the team had gone 1-for-21 in playoff berths since rebooting in 1999. While the Browns have seen some stumbles (particularly at quarterback) during this duo’s tenure, their 2023 showing presented cause for optimism. With two 11-win seasons since 2020, the Browns are now 37-30 since Stefanski and Berry took over.

Stefanski, 42, joins Bill Belichick, Bruce Arians and Ron Rivera as HCs to win two Coach of the Year honors since 2000. The second one certainly solidified the play-caller’s case for an extension. The Browns gave Stefanski a five-year contract in 2020. Teams almost never make HCs lame ducks, the Dallas situation notwithstanding, and Stefanski is the longest-tenured Browns HC since Belichick (1991-95). None of the current Browns franchise’s coaches match Stefanski’s longevity or success, and the ex-Vikings OC managing to steer last year’s team to the playoffs marked quite the accomplishment given the circumstances.

The Browns withstood season-ending injuries to Deshaun Watson, Nick Chubb and their top three tackles yet managed to win 11 games. Stefanski coaxed a stunning resurgence from late-season free agent signee Joe Flacco, who claimed Comeback Player of the Year honors despite only starting five games. Winning a playoff game proved too daunting a task for this ragtag cast, but Stefanski’s 2020 Coach of the Year offering produced a playoff upset (over the Steelers). That win came with Stefanski at home with COVID-19, though the Browns nearly toppled the No. 1-seeded Chiefs a week later.

Due to the 2022 Watson trade, Berry’s path has been a bit rockier. The Browns became the first team since the 1976 49ers to give up three first-round picks for a veteran quarterback, and Jimmy Haslam pinned the idea for guaranteeing Watson’s entire five-year, $230MM contract on his GM.

Watson has struggled, with his 2023 health issues coming as replaced starter Baker Mayfield — who succeeded under Stefanski in 2020 before struggling amid injuries in 2021 — found his footing again in Tampa. As the Browns have no choice but to make it work with Watson, the roster Berry has assembled has proven successful despite its QB.

Draft choices under Berry’s predecessors still represent some of the top Browns pieces. Berry, however, reached extensions with Chubb, Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward and Wyatt Teller. The GM also extended Joel Bitonio while acquiring Amari Cooper for only Day 3 draft choices. Berry acquisitions, along with the team’s Jim Schwartz hire, put pieces in place for a No. 1-ranked pass defense to help the battered offense last season. While Berry’s draft acumen remains to be fully seen due to the team not having a first-round pick for the past three years, the 36-year-old exec has made some pivotal contributions during his second Cleveland stint.

Berry, who rejoined the Browns two weeks after Stefanski’s hire in January 2020, initially served as a staffer under John Dorsey and de facto GM Sashi Brown during the 2010s. The Browns are still waiting for their Watson bet to pay off, but the team will give its decision-makers more time to operate around that monster contract.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/5/24

June 5th, 2024 at 8:08pm CST by Ben Levine

One draft pick signing to pass along:

New England Patriots

Robinson was a four-year starting lineman at Texas A&M, with the guard earning a pair of second-team All-SEC nods during his tenure. The 6-foot-3, 311-pound rookie could find himself in the starting lineup to begin the season, as Cole Strange could miss the start of the 2024 campaign.

With the signing, second-round wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk is now New England’s only unsigned draft pick.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/5/24

June 5th, 2024 at 4:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Ilm Manning

Cleveland Browns

Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Waived/injured: WR David White

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

White suffered a torn ACL during one of the Jaguars’ practices last week, Doug Pederson said recently. The Jags signed White as a UDFA following a career at Western Carolina. White will revert to the Jags’ IR list if unclaimed, with this process generally leading to an injury settlement that moves the player off the team’s roster. White was among five UDFAs receivers the Jags signed this year.

A sixth-round Titans draftee back in 2021, Breeze was most recently with the Texans. He spent the second half of last season on Houston’s practice squad, staying on the AFC South champions’ 16-man unit until season’s end. No reserve/futures contract emerged for the Oregon alum, however. Breeze has played in 11 career games, splitting his career in Tennessee and Detroit.

Chiefs Sign First-Round WR Xavier Worthy, Wrap Draft Class Deals

June 5th, 2024 at 3:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Opting to downgrade in wide receiver talent upon trading Tyreek Hill in 2022, the Chiefs managed fine without the All-Pro weapon. The team is riding back-to-back Super Bowl wins. Though, the wideout issues from last season clearly played a lead role in Kansas City’s 2024 offseason plan.

The team signed Marquise Brown to a one-year deal and further bolstered its receiving corps with a first-round trade-up for Texas’ Xavier Worthy. He of a Combine-record 4.21-second 40-yard dash, Worthy will be expected to infuse Kansas City’s passing game with a long-range upgrade. The Chiefs and Worthy moved past one offseason hurdle Wednesday, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reporting the sides have agreed to terms on the receiver’s rookie contract.

[RELATED: Prospect Profile: Xavier Worthy]

Worthy is now signed through the 2027 season, and the Chiefs have a fifth-year option on the player chosen 28th overall. The deal is fully guaranteed. Worthy is the first Round 1 wideout the Chiefs have chosen during Andy Reid‘s tenure and the franchise’s first since Jonathan Baldwin in 2011. Worthy will enter the NFL in a considerably better situation, having Reid calling the shots and Patrick Mahomes targeting him.

The former Longhorns standout generated interest from multiple teams. The Patriots made an effort to move up for Worthy; they are believed to have presented the Bills an offer for No. 28. The Chiefs’ offer to climb up from No. 32 clearly impressed the Bills more, as they were willing to move down to accommodate the team that has knocked them out of the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. Kansas City’s trade allowed Buffalo to jump up 38 spots (to No. 95) and move up in Round 7 as well. While many have questioned the Bills for allowing this, the perennial AFC East champs clearly did not have Worthy too high on their board. Though, Worthy’s progress in Missouri will spotlight the Bills’ choice.

Worthy’s size likely presented an issue for some teams; he checked in at 5-foot-11 and 165 pounds. The 4.21 talent did not operate purely as a downfield producer with the Longhorns, though it will be interesting to see how his frame translates to the NFL. The Chiefs are banking on the coach that drafted DeSean Jackson 16 years ago boosting Worthy, as both the team’s top WR acquisitions are diminutive targets; Brown goes 5-9, 180.

Worthy brings both a strong body of work and an explosive final college season. Last year, the Texas speedster caught 75 passes for 1,014 yards and five touchdowns. That was Worthy’s only 1,000-yard season, but he topped 750 in both his other college campaigns and combined for 21 TDs from 2021-22. Texas saw its top two receivers drafted in the first two rounds, with Adonai Mitchell going off the board in Round 2 (Colts). Worthy led the CFP semifinalist in yardage, while Mitchell paced the Big 12 in receiving TDs.

Although the Chiefs prevailed in Super Bowl LVIII, they dealt with inconsistency at WR throughout 2023. Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (playoff contributions aside) proved largely unreliable. Toney remains in the team’s plans, though it is unclear for how much longer, while Rashee Rice — the team’s lead WR last season — is headed for a likely suspension. A Rice ban would put more pressure on the Chiefs’ new wideouts to pick up the slack during the upcoming threepeat effort.

Here is how the Chiefs’ 2024 draft class wrapped up:

Chargers Release C Corey Linsley

June 5th, 2024 at 12:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Transactions with retired players for cap purposes have transpired this week. The Eagles moved Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox to their reserve/retired list, while the Buccaneers did the same with Ryan Jensen, who retired earlier this offseason. The Chargers are making a different move with Corey Linsley.

While Linsley is expected to retire, the Bolts are moving on via release. Chargers president John Spanos said Linsley “has taken his last snap in the NFL,” and this release will conclude the veteran center’s run with the Bolts. The Chargers will create a bit of cap space by making this move.

Linsley, the Chargers’ center from 2021-23, being cut after June 1 will create $1.2MM in cap savings for the team. Had the Bolts made this cut prior to June 1, they would have been hit with more than $5MM in dead money. Doing so now keeps the dead cap figure at $2.6MM, with the remainder of the money being pushed to 2025.

The Bolts and Linsley agreed on a restructure in February; that transaction dropped the veteran blocker’s 2024 base salary to the veteran minimum. That laid the groundwork for Wednesday’s release.

Linsley, 32, played in just three games last season. The Chargers placed the former Pro Bowler on IR after Week 3 due to a “non-emergent heart-related medical issue.” This abruptly halted a standout career for Linsley, who emerged from fifth-round pick to a player who once commanded a record-setting center deal. He was still playing at a high level when the medical issue transpired, having — per Pro Football Focus — not allowed a sack over his final 1,572 pass-blocking snaps. That covered his entire Chargers career.

The team, which changed coaches and GMs since Linsley last played, began its transition away from the talented center last season. The Bolts have since signed Bradley Bozeman, who is expected to transition from Carolina’s first-string snapper to the same role in Los Angeles.

After playing out his second Packers contract, Linsley signed a then-position-record five-year, $62.5MM deal to help the Bolts during Justin Herbert‘s rookie contract. Linsley joined Rashawn Slater and Matt Feiler as starter additions on the Chargers’ O-line that offseason. Slater remains in place as the Bolts’ left tackle to start the Jim Harbaugh era, while Linsley will transition away from the NFL after 10 seasons.

A Chargers team that needed to release Mike Williams to move under the 2024 salary ceiling will bump its cap-space figure beyond $27MM via the Linsley release. The team still needs to sign its first- and second-round picks (Joe Alt, Ladd McConkey), however.

49ers Extend RB Christian McCaffrey

June 4th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers’ acquisition of Christian McCaffrey brought in a high-priced running back with three-plus years remaining on his contract. McCaffrey has proven tremendously valuable for his second NFL team, and he entered the 2024 offseason with two seasons left on his Panthers-constructed deal.

McCaffrey and the 49ers have reached an agreement on a new contract that will tie the reigning rushing champion to the team beyond 2025. The 49ers are giving McCaffrey a two-year, $38MM extension, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports. This will now tether the dual-threat dynamo to San Francisco through 2027.

This represents a bump for the running back market, which McCaffrey had paced since his Carolina extension came to pass in April 2020. In addition to the eighth-year veteran moving beyond his $16MM-per-year number, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter adds he will see $24MM guaranteed on this 49ers agreement. McCaffrey will earn an additional $8MM over the deal’s first two years as well. No guarantees remained on McCaffrey’s previous contract.

McCaffrey, who will turn 28 later this week, had made it known internally he wanted a new deal, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. The former top-10 pick had stayed away from San Francisco OTAs. While that was not exactly cause for alarm regarding this relationship ahead of this week’s minicamp, the 49ers will act early on a player who has rewarded them the October 2022 pickup that required second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-round draft choices to complete.

Tuesday’s agreement also stands to drop CMC’s 2024 cap number, which stood at $14.1MM. Via a restructure, the 49ers had already included two void years in McCaffrey’s previous contract. This extension will help out on that front as well. Given the instability on the running back market over the past two offseasons, it is somewhat surprising to see a back reach $19MM-AAV territory. No other RB is tied to a deal worth more than $15MM per season.

The 2023 offseason removed a few high-priced RB contracts from the equation. The Cowboys and Vikings respectively cut Ezekiel Elliott and Dalvin Cook, and the Bengals and Packers respectively gave Joe Mixon and Aaron Jones pay cuts. The 2023 franchise tag deadline featured the three tagged RBs (Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard) not receiving extensions. McCaffrey was among those who voiced concerns about teams’ valuations of the position, and a Jonathan Taylor-Colts impasse took place. Since Taylor’s battle with his team, the market has shifted a bit. McCaffrey’s new deal follows Taylor’s $14MM-per-year extension and Barkley’s three-year, $37.5MM Eagles agreement.

San Francisco will use a $14.29MM signing bonus to spread out McCaffrey’s cap hits, and Florio adds a 2025 option bonus is in place. The team will guarantee $8.5MM of McCaffrey’s $14.25MM option bonus at signing. Beyond this $24MM guaranteed, the 49ers should still have some flexibility beyond 2025. McCaffrey’s deal includes a nonguaranteed 2026 option bonus ($10.55MM), per Florio, with a nonguaranteed $1.3MM 2026 base salary. CMC’s 2027 base ($16.85MM) is also nonguaranteed.

McCaffrey’s deal reminds of the Cardinals’ 2020 DeAndre Hopkins accord, as it raises a positional AAV ceiling for a player already signed for at least two more seasons. Hopkins received a $27.25MM-per-year extension, which tied him to the Cardinals for five total seasons. The former Arizona wideout collected the guaranteed money on that deal but was not with the Cardinals for the extension years, as the team cut him in 2023. Although signing bonus prorations will create some dead money if the 49ers opt to move on, this contract provides McCaffrey security for 2025 at the very least.

Following the 49ers’ whiff on the Jerick McKinnon signing in 2018, the team used low-cost RBs — Tevin Coleman, Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson among them — until presented with the opportunity to acquire McCaffrey at the 2022 deadline. Outbidding the Rams for CMC, the 49ers took a risk on a player who had missed much of the 2020 and ’21 seasons due to injury. McCaffrey has rewarded the 49ers’ faith, making two Pro Bowls and — after a season with 2,023 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns — winning the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year award.

Missing 23 games due to quad, hamstring, shoulder and ankle maladies from 2020-21, McCaffrey has managed to play all but one game since being traded; he missed only an inconsequential Week 18 contest last season. He has been a vital part of the 49ers’ success over the past two seasons, providing Brock Purdy unmatched versatility from the RB position. The 49ers will have a Purdy payment to consider, but a 2025 Purdy extension would still stand to align with this latest CMC payday. McCaffrey may be out of the picture by the time the QB’s lofty cap numbers (assuming a Purdy extension indeed comes to pass) surface. For now, the 49ers have rewarded their top offensive player during the final stages of Purdy’s rookie deal.

This agreement leaves the 49ers with one fewer offensive pillar with a contract year in 2025. Purdy, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel are scheduled for walk years in ’25, with Brandon Aiyuk unsigned beyond his fifth-year option season. The Aiyuk situation lingers, but the 49ers checked off one box Tuesday, rewarding the top player at a marginalized position.

Dolphins Sign Five Rookies

June 4th, 2024 at 8:12pm CST by Ben Levine

The Dolphins finally inked some of their rookies to contracts. The team announced that they’ve signed five of their 2024 draft picks:

These five rookies kick off the organization’s draft-class signings. First-round edge defender Chop Robinson and second-round offensive tackle Patrick Paul remain unsigned.

Considering how much the Dolphins have gotten out of their running backs in recent years, Jaylen Wright is certainly an intriguing addition. The Tennessee prospect took it to another level this past season, finishing with 1,154 yards from scrimmage. The rookie has an uphill battle for playing time behind the likes of Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, and Jeff Wilson, but he could easily slide up the depth chart if/when the team faces injuries.

Patrick McMorris is another prospect who could see a role in 2024. After two standout seasons at SDSU, the safety continued his production after transferring to California, finishing with 90 tackles and eight passes defended. The rookie will compete with Elijah Campbell for any leftover snaps at the safety position.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/4/24

June 4th, 2024 at 8:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Claimed off waivers (from Patriots): OL Andrew Stueber
  • Waived: WR JaQuae Jackson

Buffalo Bills

  • Signed: LB Shayne Simon
  • Waived/injured: OL Tommy Doyle

Cleveland Browns

Houston Texans

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

After missing most of the past two seasons due to a knee injury, Ryan Jensen announced back in February that he was going to retire. The Buccaneers made the move official today, although that won’t be the end of their cap commitment to the offensive lineman. As Greg Auman of FOX Sports notes, since Jensen’s contract was pro-rated, the Buccaneers will be hit with a combined $16.6MM in dead cap over the next two seasons.

The Browns cleared up their depth chart a bit by cutting kicker Lucas Havrisik, leaving the organization with Dustin Hopkins and Cade York to compete for the starting job. Havrisik got into nine games with the Rams last season, connecting on 15 of his 20 field goal tries and 19 of his 22 extra points. In other kicker moves, the Commanders have added Ramiz Ahmed in the wake of the Brandon McManus release.

Bills Sign Cole Bishop, Seven Other Draft Picks

June 4th, 2024 at 7:32pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bills signed a significant portion of their draft class today. The team announced that they’ve signed the following players to rookie contracts:

  • Round 2, No. 60: Cole Bishop (S, Utah)
  • Round 3, No. 95 (from Chiefs): DeWayne Carter, DT (Duke)
  • Round 4, No. 128: Ray Davis (RB, Kentucky)
  • Round 5, No. 141 (from Giants through Panthers): Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (C, Georgia)
  • Round 5, No. 160 (from Packers): Edefuan Ulofoshio (LB, Washington)
  • Round 5, No. 168 (from Saints): Javon Solomon (EDGE, Troy)
  • Round 6, No. 204: Tylan Grable (T, Central Florida)
  • Round 6, No. 219 (from Packers): Daequan Hardy (CB, Penn State)

The team previously signed seventh-round offensive tackle Travis Clayton. Second-round wide receiver (and the Bills’ top-overall pick) Keon Coleman is the only remaining unsigned rookie.

Cole Bishop had a standout career at Utah that saw him collect 197 tackles and 7.5 sacks. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors this past season, finishing with 60 stops, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two interceptions. That performance helped establish Bishop as one of the draft’s top safety prospects, and he was ultimately selected by the Bills with the 60th-overall pick.

After releasing Jordan Poyer and with Micah Hyde remaining unsigned, the Bills should have an opening for Bishop in the starting lineup. Last year’s third safety, Taylor Rapp, is temporarily penciled in as the other starting safety, so even if the Bills add some reinforcement, there’s a good chance Bishop will still see significant playing time.

Titans Sign DT T’Vondre Sweat, Complete Rookie Signings

June 4th, 2024 at 5:44pm CST by Ben Levine

The Titans have officially signed their entire draft class. The team announced today that they’ve inked second-round defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat to his four-year rookie contract.

Sweat gradually took on a larger role during his time at Texas, culminating in a 2023 campaign where he earned the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year award, a unanimous All-American nod, and the Outland Trophy, awarded to the best college interior defensive lineman. That performance (which included eight tackles for loss and two sacks) played a role in him being the fourth defensive tackle off the board during the 2024 draft.

Chosen 38th overall, Sweat will see his rookie deal almost entirely guaranteed. Sweat’s first three seasons are locked in at signing, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who indicates the Texas DT also received $472K of his 2027 base salary guaranteed. This is well north of the 2023 No. 38 pick’s Year 4 guarantee; Falcons O-lineman Matthew Bergeron received $10K of his final-year salary locked in. Sweat’s deal continues the run of success this year’s second-rounders are having with guarantees.

The Titans lost some defensive line depth this offseason in Denico Autry and Teair Tart, so the rookie should have plenty of opportunities for a significant role. He’s currently penciled in as the team’s starting nose tackle ahead of the likes of Keondre Coburn, Marlon Davidson, and Quinton Bohanna.

Sweat was the final member of Tennessee’s 2024 draft class to ink a rookie pact. The rest of the team’s draft class includes:

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