HEADLINES

Month: April 2023

Titans, Jeffery Simmons Agree On Extension

April 7th, 2023 at 2:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

2:46pm: As expected, Simmons’ deal will move him between Donald and the field at defensive tackle. Simmons’ four-year contract is worth $94MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). The extension, per Davenport (on Twitter), comes with $66MM in guarantees, which include a $24MM signing bonus. In terms of total guarantees, Simmons now leads the clubhouse at D-tackle. Donald’s three-year Rams raise includes $65MM guaranteed in total.

2:13pm: Months into his GM tenure, Ran Carthon has locked down one of his new team’s top players. The Titans agreed to an extension with Jeffery Simmons on Friday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

The standout defensive lineman was going into his fifth-year option season. This is believed to be a four-year extension pact, Davenport adds. During an offseason in which Carthon has moved some Titans mainstays off the roster, Simmons sticking around on a second contract represents a big win for the rookie GM. This deal will tie Simmons to the Titans through the 2027 season.

Simmons and the Titans engaged in talks on a new deal ahead of free agency, and the young talent said in February he wanted to stay in Tennessee. The former first-round pick has earned Pro Bowl nods in back-to-back seasons and has become one of the NFL’s best defensive linemen. Given Simmons’ path, it should be expected this deal will check in behind only Aaron Donald‘s among interior D-linemen.

A second-team All-Pro in each of the past two seasons, Simmons has combined for 16 sacks and 30 QB hits during that span. For a Titans team that has seen numerous starters go down with injuries, Simmons has remained healthy and productive. This stretch will set up the Mississippi State alum financially, and the Titans should anticipate this contract to cover much of Simmons’ prime years. Simmons is heading into his age-26 season.

This represents the second domino to fall in what should be an interesting offseason for the defensive tackle position. The Commanders franchise-tagged Daron Payne but quickly agreed to terms on a $22.5MM-per-year re-up. That still trails Donald’s outlier deal (three years, $95MM) by more than $9MM in AAV, but it comes in ahead of the previous second tier at the position. Simmons resided among the contingent of young D-tackles entering contract years. Quinnen Williams and Dexter Lawrence joined him; each will be awaiting the terms of the Titan standout’s accord. As will Chris Jones, who has a strong case to earn near-Donald-level dough from the Chiefs on his third contract.

The Titans have taken some risks in the first round recently. While some of them have not panned out, ex-GM Jon Robinson‘s 2019 call — taking Simmons despite a pre-draft ACL tear — certainly has. Simmons rehabbed in time to debut during the 2019 season, helping the Titans to the AFC championship game as a rookie. Displaying durability since that delayed debut, Simmons has since been a central contributor to Tennessee’s rise. Although the Titans lost their 2021 playoff opener as the AFC’s No. 1 seed, they sacked Joe Burrow nine times in that divisional-round game. Simmons was responsible for three of those. That spree came two months after he sacked Super Bowl LVI’s other starting QB — Matthew Stafford — thrice during a Sunday-night game.

Simmons did not participate in Tennessee’s minicamp last year, staging a hold-in of sorts. The pass-rushing dynamo did not have much leverage at that point. Teams rarely extend first-round non-quarterbacks with more than two seasons of control remaining. Simmons resurfaced soon after and played 15 games for the Titans last season, representing a bright spot for a team that somehow ran into worse injury trouble than it did in 2021. Pro Football Focus graded Simmons as the NFL’s 10th-best interior D-lineman last season. Every front office would probably move him closer to the top five at the position overall, if not within the top five.

The Titans lost Harold Landry to an ACL tear just ahead of Week 1, and Bud Dupree missed more time. The disappointing free agent signing is now off the roster. But the Titans are set to have Landry and Simmons teaming up for the first time in two years come September. Both accomplished pass rushers are now on veteran contracts. Landry agreed to a five-year, $87.5MM extension just before free agency in 2022.

Tennessee lost DeMarcus Walker in free agency but still has Denico Autry under contract. Autry, whom the Titans signed in 2021, has combined for 17 sacks over the past two seasons. The team gave D-tackle Teair Tart a second-round RFA tender in March. Simmons will remain the anchor of this group, one that should be better-positioned going into the 2023 season.

Bears Also Targeted Brian Burns, Derrick Brown; Panthers Discussed Trades With Cardinals, Seahawks

April 7th, 2023 at 1:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams’ 2016 trade-up for Jared Goff involved only picks being exchanged with the Titans, whereas the Falcons’ 2001 move for Michael Vick featured a player and draft choices going to the Chargers. Standout return man Tim Dwight went to San Diego in that deal. Ryan Poles preferred the latter structure, leading to the pre-free agency swap that featured D.J. Moore and picks going to the Bears.

Chicago’s second-year GM zeroed in on a picks-and-players package when he began dangling the No. 1 overall pick, Joe Person, Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic report (subscription required). The Bears had other targets beyond Moore. Unsurprisingly, they were the two other top trade chips that came up at last year’s trade deadline. Chicago also targeted Brian Burns and Derrick Brown.

[RELATED: Panthers Leaning Toward Bryce Young At No. 1?]

Poles sought advice from Chicago Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson, per The Athletic, citing the NHL as relevant reference material regarding trades involving picks and players. The Bears first heard from the Panthers on a trade, after Carolina — even though team brass met with Derek Carr at the Combine — determined a rookie passer would be the plan after three seasons of veteran retreads post-Cam Newton. Chicago also discussed the pick with Houston and Las Vegas, but Poles’ relationship with Carolina GM Scott Fitterer helped move the intra-NFC trade past the goal line.

The Panthers’ first offer included only picks, per The Athletic, but Poles informed Fitterer picks alone would not be enough to allow the Panthers to move from No. 9 to No. 1. Carolina pulled that proposal, and Burns, Brown and Moore came up. All three players emerged as targets at last year’s deadline — none more so than Burns, who drew a two-first-rounder offer from the Rams. The picks included in that proposal were in 2024 and 2025, however, leading the Panthers to pass.

“There were certain players that we never really wanted to trade,” Fitterer said, via The Athletic. “It’s so hard to replace a Derrick Brown or Brian Burns, a pass rusher [and] an interior, dominant young player on a [first] contract. D.J., we didn’t want to move either. But it’s a little bit easier to replace a receiver than it is a pass rusher or a three-tech.”

Burns is entering his fifth-year option season, while Brown is going into Year 4. Both players arrived before Fitterer did, but the team has long planned to hammer out an extension with Burns. Fitterer’s comments on Burns’ value stand to strengthen the defensive end’s negotiating position. The Panthers are aiming to do a Burns extension after the draft. They will likely target receivers in the draft, though signings of Adam Thielen and DJ Chark lessen that need a bit.

Prior to pulling off the trade with the Bears, the Panthers discussed prospective deals with the Cardinals for the No. 3 pick and the Seahawks for the fifth choice. Neither negotiation gained much steam, per Person, even given Fitterer’s lengthy past in Seattle. The Colts also checked in with the Bears, according to Jahns and Fishbain. That certainly adds up, given Indianapolis’ post-Andrew Luck history and both Poles and Colts GM Chris Ballard having worked together in Kansas City.

The second-round picks exchanged here provided another interesting component in this seminal swap. The Bears wanted the Panthers’ No. 39 overall pick, according to The Athletic. Reluctant to part with it due to the gap that would exist between Carolina’s Nos. 1 and 61 overall picks, Fitterer counteroffered the 61st selection (obtained in the Christian McCaffrey trade) and a 2025 second. Instead of collecting one second-round pick, the Bears ended up with two in this trade — one that also will send Carolina’s 2024 first to Chicago. After David Tepper pushed for Deshaun Watson in 2021 and ’22, the Panthers determined this was the time to strike.

“I think when you’re at No. 9 — hopefully we’re not at No. 9 moving forward — this was an opportunity that we felt like, ‘Hey, this is the highest, hopefully, that we’re going to be in the future, so let’s take advantage of this, let’s be aggressive,” Panthers assistant GM Dan Morgan said, via the Charlotte Observer’s Mike Kaye. “Let’s trade up and let’s try to go get our quarterback.”

Considering the Panthers have held top-10 picks from 2020-22, it is not as though holding the No. 9 choice was rare draft real estate for the struggling team. Matt Rhule led the charge for the Panthers to stay at No. 7 and pass on a QB in 2020, rather than leapfrog both the Dolphins and Chargers for Justin Herbert, and the Panthers — after a failed Matthew Stafford pursuit — traded for Sam Darnold in 2021. The 2022 draft featured a poorly regarded QB crop, leading to Carolina taking Ikem Ekwonu at No. 6.

As the Panthers determined they wanted a first-round QB, the Bears viewed this year’s crop as impressive but not to the point it would bail on Justin Fields and make him their avenue toward stockpiling future picks. Instead, the Bears will be targeting non-quarterback options at 9. Pass rusher will be a consideration.

“Play the percentage game, it’s probably a chance one [quarterback] slides in, but … there’s different tiers in the first round,” Poles said (via Jahns and Fishbain) of the prospect of more QBs going from Nos. 2-8 will help keep high-end position players on the board at 9. “There’s always that cut-off of ‘elite’ and then it’s ‘very good starters.’ I know we’ll be in range for the players that are going to be in that first round that kind of hit that value bucket and for our team are going to make us better.”

Tim Patrick Receives Full Clearance

April 7th, 2023 at 11:52am CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos finished last season with seven offensive starters out of the lineup, seeing injuries play a big role in a woeful campaign. The first of those took place during the team’s training camp. Tim Patrick missed all of last season because of an August 2 ACL tear.

Eight months later, Patrick will be ready to go for Sean Payton‘s offseason program. The former UDFA wide receiver said during an appearance on Steve Smith‘s Cut To It podcast he has received full clearance post-knee surgery. Patrick, 29, said he has been rehabbing at the Broncos’ facility and has resumed sprinting and jumping. He will, however, wear a brace to start his on-field receiving work.

“At this point, I’m cleared to do everything. At this point, I’m just doing repetition to get myself ready to play in a game,” Patrick said during the podcast, via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. “I’m going to wear a knee brace just because of the way I play the game. I want to feel like I have that security and if it’s not restricting me and it’s allowing me to be me, I’m going to wear it because I know I play the game a little reckless. So just me knowing I have a knee brace on, I feel comfortable playing the way I’m going to play.”

Patrick’s absence was the first of many issues that hindered Denver’s offense, which sank to last in the league despite the March 2022 trade for Russell Wilson. The team fired Nathaniel Hackett, making the current Jets OC the third HC since the 1970 merger to be fired before his first season wrapped, and traded two draft choices for Payton. The ex-Saints leader’s recovery effort will involve Patrick, who is going into his seventh season with the Broncos. He is the team’s longest-tenured receiver, having joined Denver’s practice squad in 2017.

Arriving during John Elway‘s GM tenure, Patrick signed a three-year, $30MM extension during George Paton‘s first year in charge. That contract, finalized just before Courtland Sutton‘s four-year deal worth $60MM, runs through the 2024 season. Sutton is signed through 2025. Jerry Jeudy‘s rookie contract goes through 2023, though the Broncos — assuming Jeudy remains on their roster post-draft — have a fifth-year option decision due in May.

Jeudy and Sutton have come up in frequent trade rumors. The team is believed to want a first-round pick for Jeudy and a second-rounder for Sutton. As teams have not met those prices, Payton said the plan is to keep both for the 2023 season. Patrick’s knee injury effectively took him off the trade market.

The 6-foot-4 possession receiver started 31 games from 2020-21, combining for 1,476 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in that span. With KJ Hamler having suffered a partially torn pec earlier this offseason, Patrick should be positioned to be a Broncos regular again. That stands to help Payton’s Wilson effort to reignite Wilson, though it will be interesting to see if both Jeudy and Sutton flank Patrick once the team convenes for on-field work during the offseason program.

Raiders Yet To Begin Josh Jacobs Talks

April 7th, 2023 at 9:14am CST by Sam Robinson

One of three teams to use their franchise tag on a running back this year, the Raiders look to have planned from the start to go down this road with Josh Jacobs. Although Las Vegas’ Josh McDaniels–Dave Ziegler regime passed on Jacobs’ fifth-year option, the 2022 rushing champion did not appear a threat to hit free agency.

While the Giants spent weeks negotiating with Saquon Barkley ahead of the March deadline to apply franchise tags, Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes the Raiders have not yet begun pertinent extension talks with Jacobs (subscription required). The Raiders entered March as one of two teams to have not used the tag over the past 10 years, joining the Eagles, but it certainly appears they earmarked it for Jacobs from the start.

McDaniels offered extensive praise for Jacobs early this offseason, but Mark Davis‘ recent comments stand to carry weight regarding Jacobs’ future with the team. After the owner was linked to driving his new HC-GM duo to move on from Derek Carr, he offered nothing but praise for Jacobs, the team’s first rushing champion since Marcus Allen.

“Josh is phenomenal,” Davis said. “He was the heart of our team last year. There is no question about it in my mind. He came to play every day and is a tough, tough, tough guy. I am just really proud of him. He was a Raider. If we had 22 Josh Jacobses, with that mentality … that guy is just amazing.”

The Raiders have until July 17 to finalize a deal with Jacobs, who has said he wants to remain with the franchise. As should be expected, Jacobs alluded to compensation when addressing his future with the team. This year’s market did not do the franchise-tagged backs any favors. The expected buyer’s market unfolded. A few multiyear starters took one-year deals worth less than $3MM in base value, and no backs signed contracts that paid them in the top 10 at the position. Miles Sanders‘ $6.35MM-per-year Panthers accord topped the list, and that came below — in terms of AAV — James Conner and Leonard Fournette‘s 2022 pacts. The Bucs bailed on Fournette’s three-year, $21MM deal after one season.

With the Giants unlikely to give Barkley a top-market deal — especially after the 2023 market sputtered — the Raiders may hold the line below the Christian McCaffrey–Alvin Kamara tier (the $15MM-plus sector) as well. The Giants did make multiple offers to Barkley — one during the season, at least one more ahead of the March tag deadline — but the Raiders have not been linked to submitting one to Jacobs. It will be fairly new territory for the team and its head coach.

The Raiders let Latavius Murray walk after his rookie contract expired and gave Marshawn Lynch a two-year, $9MM deal soon after. The closest thing the Raiders have had to a top-level running back salary — in the modern era, at least — was Darren McFadden‘s six-year, $60MM rookie contract, which came before the 2011 CBA created the slot system. The Patriots — perhaps a more relevant team for comparisons, given the Raiders’ present makeup — have famously moved on from backs early. They did not re-sign Laurence Maroney, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Stevan Ridley or Damien Harris. LeGarrette Blount‘s second Pats deal did not eclipse $2MM. After extending Dion Lewis on a low-level accord, New England let the Titans pay him in 2018.

Jacobs is coming off a better season (2,053 scrimmage yards, 12 touchdowns) than any of these backs compiled, but recent precedent and his position’s current market are not working in his favor. It will be interesting to see how much Barkley’s talks shape the eventual Jacobs negotiations as well.

CB Joey Porter Jr. Visits Ravens, To Meet With Raiders

April 6th, 2023 at 9:31pm CST by Adam La Rose

Most of the headlines surrounding the Ravens and Raiders this offseason have been centered on the quarterback position, but both teams have other positions to address. Cornerback is one of them, and Baltimore and Vegas are checking in on one of the top available prospects ahead of this month’s draft.

The Ravens hosted Joey Porter Jr. on a top-30 visit today, and the Raiders will soon do the same (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). The Penn State alum is, to no surprise, the product of growing interest from teams in need of additions on the perimeter. Porter has already had a local visit with the Steelers, the team which housed his father for years as both a player and coach.

Given that connection, there would be a degree of irony if the rival Ravens were to add Porter with their top pick, No. 22. Rapoport’s colleague Daniel Jeremiah has them doing just that in his latest mock, which sees two other corners (Illinois product Devon Witherspoon and Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez) drafted in the top eight before Porter. That generally falls in line with rankings at the position, with the trait which sticks out for the 6-2 product most being his length and physicality.

That allowed him to total 20 pass breakups across his four seasons with the Nittany Lions, and in some cases draw comparisons to Ravens All-Pro Marlon Humphrey. The latter is under contract in Baltimore through 2026, but fellow starter Marcus Peters remains a free agent. Peters’ likely absence in the 2023 lineup has led to many expecting Baltimore to spend its first pick on a corner like Porter, especially if no notable signings are made before the draft.

Vegas likewise has at least one hole to fill in their CBs room. Anthony Averett and Rock Ya-Sin are both unsigned. The latter had a free agent visit (with the Ravens, no less) soon after the new league year started, but all potentially interested teams are standing pat this close to the draft. Depth additions like Brandon Facyson and Duke Shelly will not deter the Raiders from adding a high-end corner prospect, though taking Porter seventh overall would be seen by many as a reach. Vegas’ next pick is No. 38, a point by which he is likely to be off the board.

Minor NFL Transactions: 4/6/23

April 6th, 2023 at 8:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s minor moves:

Los Angeles Chargers

New York Giants

Both teams have added depth with starting experience on their offensive lines. Clapp spent the 2022 season with Los Angeles after a four-year stint with the Saints. The 27-year-old filled in at center when Corey Linsley was sidelined, logging three starts and appearing in every game in the regular season. He has experience at guard as well, giving the Chargers versatility along with familiarity.

Hassenauer, 27, began his career with the Falcons but has only ever seen game action with the Steelers. In three years in Pittsburgh, the Alabama product totaled seven starts and 45 games played. It comes as no surprise that he is headed to New York, since the Giants hosted him for a workout last month. Hassenauer will give the team much-needed depth in the middle after starter Jon Feliciano departed in free agency.

Teams View DeAndre Hopkins As Cut Candidate?

April 6th, 2023 at 7:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

The countdown to this year’s draft continues, but a number of veteran playmakers are still available via free agency or trade. The latter route is thought to be necessary for a team to acquire Cardinals wideout DeAndre Hopkins, though that may not be the case relatively soon.

Hopkins has a $19.45MM base salary and, more importantly, a $29.99MM cap hit for the 2023 season. One more year exists after that on his current pact, though it is widely expected that the five-time Pro Bowler will agree to an extension upon arrival with an acquiring team. He recently hired an agent, and is open to the idea of a financial adjustment if it helps pave the way for a deal sending him to a contender.

No suitors have emerged that are willing to meet the Cardinals’ asking price, however. Arizona – now led by general manager Monti Ossenfort – is seeking a second-round pick and some other draft capital to move Hopkins, 30. To no surprise, his contract is holding up trade talks, to the point where some teams looking to add him are becoming convinced he will be released, reports SI’s Albert Breer. Cutting Hopkins before June 1 would create over $21MM in dead money for the Cardinals, just as a trade would.

Dealing or releasing the three-time All-Pro after that date, though, would yield nearly $19.5MM in cap savings. This month’s draft represents a logical turning point with respect to a trade market taking shape, as teams eyeing WR additions could fail to land an impact rookie. In that case, teams linked to Hopkins like the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens could circle back to see if he could be had at a discounted trade price.

While the decision will ultimately fall to Ossenfort, his predecessor made his thoughts clear on the matter. During a recent appearance on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast, Steve Keim alluded to Hopkins’ contract as the obstacle holding up a deal, adding that he feels the Cardinals may end up being undersold on the former Texans first-rounder.

“They’re probably going to have to come to understand that they’re probably not going to get as much as they would if he was a younger player or his contract was considerably lower, where you could get him for a second-round [pick],” Keim said. “It could end up being a second- or third-day draft pick to really get it done. Probably [need to] get a new deal done” (h/t ArizonaSports.com).

Missed time in recent years represents another factor which could hinder Hopkins’ value. When on the field last year, though, he averaged just under 80 receiving yards per game, meaning he would likely remain productive on his new team. Other veterans (such as free agent Odell Beckham Jr. and trade targets Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy) are also in place as other options for receiver-needy teams. Once a contractual solution is in place, however, Hopkins could quickly find himself on the move.

Panthers Sign DB Eric Rowe

April 6th, 2023 at 5:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers have added veteran depth to the back end of their defense. The team announced on Thursday that they have signed defensive back Eric Rowe.

The 30-year-old began his career as a corner, upon entering the league with the Eagles in 2015. His time in Philadelphia lasted only one season, however, as he was traded to New England to begin a three-year stint with the Patriots. Rowe was a part of two Super Bowl winning squads during that time, though his playing time took off after his next career move.

The former second-rounder played on a one-year deal in Miami in 2019. It was during that campaign that he began spending significant time as a safety and nickel corner. That trend continued in subsequent seasons, something made possible by the three-year, $18MM extension he signed with the Dolphins. In 2020, Rowe put up career-highs in interceptions (two), pass deflections (11) and tackles (91).

Since then, however, his playing time has fallen off. Rowe logged snap shares of 57% and 60% over the past two seasons, as 2021 second-rounder Jevon Holland emerged as a highly productive Swiss Army knife-type player. Rowe still managed to rack up 127 stops, six pass breakups and a pair of sacks over that span, however. The Dolphins have added DeShon Elliott to their safety group so far in free agency, a move which followed the blockbuster acquisition of corner Jalen Ramsey.

In Carolina, Rowe will join a secondary which already added former Bengals starter Vonn Bell on a $22.5MM pact. The latter can be expected to take on a first-team role alongside Xavier Woods. Rowe’s experience in a number of positions will also help the Panthers use Jeremy Chinn in various formations and alignments. If Rowe is able to find significant playing time in 2023, he could earn himself a starting role next offseason or at least an extended stay in Charlotte.

Steelers Host CB Christian Gonzalez

April 6th, 2023 at 3:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cornerback has frequently been named as a position of need for the Steelers entering the draft, and the team is unsurprisingly doing its homework on some of the top options in the 2023 class. Among the invitees to Pittsburgh’s Thursday visit is Oregon product Christian Gonzalez (Twitter link via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic).

Gonzalez spent the first two seasons of his career at Colorado, but put himself on the first-round radar in 2022 in his lone campaign with the Ducks. He notched the only four interceptions of his college tenure at Oregon, adding a career-high seven pass breakups along the way. That helped put him in the conversation for the draft’s top corner this year, along with the likes of Devon Witherspoon, Joey Porter Jr., Deonte Banks and Emmanuel Forbes as probable first round-locks.

The Steelers met with Porter on a local visit last week, which came as no surprise given his connections to the team through his father along with his skillset. Gonzalez sports a similar length to Porter (6-2), but is generally viewed as a better athlete. That could give him a higher upside, and put him in contention to hear his name called in the first half of Day 1.

Pittsburgh owns the No. 17 pick, which should put them in range for at least most of the CB prospects available. An early addition at the position would come as no surprise, since the Steelers saw Cameron Sutton depart in free agency. His loss was only partially (and, in all likelihood, temporarily) filled by the signing of Patrick Peterson. The 32-year-old could see time at safety as he moves further into the latter stages of his career.

Peterson is the only outside addition the team has made so far in free agency, so at least one notable selection is likely to be used on bolstering the cornerbacks room. The Steelers hold pick No. 32 (a second-rounder this season), which will give them another opportunity to land an impact cover man, though Gonzalez is expected to be off the board by that point.

DL Corey Peters Retires

April 6th, 2023 at 2:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

Corey Peters amassed a lengthy career in the NFL with three franchises, but it will not be continuing in 2023. The veteran defensive linemen announced (via Instagram) that he is retiring.

“After much prayerful consideration I’ve decided to retire from the NFL,” the 34-year old wrote. “The last thirteen years have been incredible. I’m grateful I’ve had the chance to compete at the highest level of the game.”

A third-round pick of the Falcons in 2010, Peters spent five years in Atlanta. That tenure included his most productive campaign from a pass-rushing perspective, the 2013 season in which he notched five sacks. His success in his first NFL home led him to the Cardinals in 2015, though a torn Achilles cost him the entire season that year. His only other major injury was a torn patellar tendon suffered in 2020.

When on the field, the Kentucky alum was a solid, consistent contributor. He totaled 316 tackles and 19 sacks across his time with the Falcons and Cardinals. His largest contract came with the latter, a three-year, $12MM extension signed in 2017; he played out one more campaign in the desert after it expired.

That eventually led him to the Jaguars this season. Peters spent time on and off Jacksonville’s practice squad, ultimately making three starts and 12 appearances in the regular season. He also started both of the team’s postseason contests. While he likely could of caught on with Jacksonville or a new team this coming season, he will now turn his attention to the next chapter of his life.

“A special thank you to the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, and Jacksonville Jaguars for being a vital part of making my dreams come true,” Peters added. “Sincerely, I never imagined that I would continue playing football professionally for this long. I’ll always be appreciative of the time I’ve had, but now is the time to take on a fresh challenge. I’m not sure what’s coming up, but I’m excited to see where life takes me!”

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