HEADLINES

Month: April 2023

NFL Contract Details: Woods, Fenton, Gaines, Jones, Mills

April 2nd, 2023 at 5:56pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some details on more deals signed around the NFL recently:

  • Jalen Mills, CB (Patriots): One year, $3.75MM. The new contract, according to Doug Kyed of AtoZ Sports, has a guaranteed amount of $2.25MM consisting of a $1.25MM signing bonus and $1MM of Mills’s base salary (worth a total of $1.75MM). Mills had taken a $3.5MM pay cut in order to stay with the team, but New England provided him with $3.6MM of potential incentives based on playing time. Mills can earn $600,000 for each of these thresholds of defensive snap count percentages: 42, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90. The deal also includes a per game active roster bonus of $29,411 for a potential season total of $500,000.
  • Greg Gaines, DT (Buccaneers): One year, $3.5MM. We reported a bit about the defensive tackle’s guaranteed deal worth a potential maximum of $4MM. Greg Auman of FOX Sports has added the detail that the contract has four void years to help spread out Gaines’s cap hit.
  • Rashad Fenton, CB (Cardinals): One year, $1.23MM. The contract, according to Balzer, has a guaranteed amount of $76,250 composed solely of the signing bonus. Fenton’s base salary is worth $1.08MM. He can earn an additional $76,250 as a roster bonus if he’s active for the team’s Week 1 matchup.
  • Josh Woods, LB (Cardinals): One year, $1.23MM. The deal, according to Howard Balzer of PHNX, has a guaranteed amount of $777,500 consisting of a $152,500 signing bonus and $625,000 of Woods’s base salary (worth a total of $1.08MM).
  • Sidney Jones IV, CB (Bengals): One year, $1.13MM. The deal, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, is for the veteran league minimum. Jones can make an additional $50,000 in a roster bonus if he’s active in the team’s Week 1 matchup.

5 Key Stories: 3/26/23 – 4/2/23

April 2nd, 2023 at 4:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

The first few waves of free agency have come and gone, but plenty of key storylines remain in place around the NFL. Here’s a quick recap of some of the top headlines from this past week:

  • Packers, Jets Continuing Rodgers Negotiations: It is well known around the NFL that Aaron Rodgers wishes to continue his career with the Jets, and that the Packers are more than willing to move on from the four-time MVP. Trade talks between Green Bay and New York are now centered on the compensation (particularly in 2024 draft capital) which will be needed to finalize a swap. There is a growing sense that no first-round picks will be included in the package sent to the Packers, given the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers’ playing future beyond 2023. Most of the elements of this trade – including, quite possibly, the financial work which will be required for the Jets to absorb the 39-year-old’s contract – are said to be in place, though, so trade compensation likely represents the final hurdle to a deal being consummated.
  • Jackson Goes Public With Trade Request: The saga surrounding Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has taken a number of turns recently, including his Twitter posts stating that he asked for a trade one month ago. Negotiations have remained ongoing for years now, but not much traction has been gained between player and team. The former MVP’s market has not heated up, as no serious suitors for an offer sheet or tag-and-trade have emerged to date. The issue of draft compensation, along with the matter of guarantees (although Jackson is reportedly not seeking a fully-guaranteed pact), has left the 26-year-old’s future in the air well into the offseason.
  • Commanders Sale Approaching? Signs continue to point to the Dan Snyder era in Washington nearing an end. Two fully funded bids (from the groups led by Josh Harris and Steve Apostolopoulos) have been submitted, despite the fact that it is not known with certainty whether or not Snyder intends to sell. The latter’s recent actions, including reportedly moving himself and his family to England, however, have further fueled the belief that a sale will be finalized in the near future. In addition to Harris and Apostolopoulos, Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and an unnamed fourth bidder are in place as potential new Commanders owners.
  • Hopkins Trade Market Heating Up? The 2023 free agent class of wideouts has, as expected, produced little in the way of big-money deals. One of the top trade candidates at the position, DeAndre Hopkins, is drawing interest from a number of teams, as the Cardinals continue to shop him. To no surprise, the 30-year-old is eyeing a contending team as his next home, but his contract represents a significant obstacle. Hopkins would likely sign an extension upon arrival with a new team to lower his 2023 cap hit ($29.99MM), but Arizona has remained firm in seeking a trade package including at least one second-round pick in return for the three-time All-Pro. Interested teams (including the Bills, Chiefs, Ravens and, perhaps less feasibly, the Patriots) are intent on having the Cardinals eat a portion of Hopkins’ remaining compensation to make a trade more manageable. The degree to which Arizona is willing to do so will no doubt go a long way in determining his playing future.  
  • Campbell Heading To Atlanta: After three years in Baltimore, six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell was a cap casualty of the Ravens this offseason, allowing him to head elsewhere on the open market. He did just that, inking a one-year deal with the Falcons which includes $7MM guaranteed and has a maximum value of $9MM. The 36-year-old proved he can still be an effective producer in the run and pass game in 2022, and will look for career sack No. 100 with an Atlanta team which has made a number of noteworthy additions so far in free agency. A strong year with his fourth career franchise will help the 2010s All-Decade member add further to his legacy.

Packers HC Matt LaFleur Addresses Desire For WR Additions

April 2nd, 2023 at 2:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The most notable departure for the Packers this offseason is, of course, the Aaron Rodgers trade which is expected to take place at some point in the coming weeks. The team has also lost a key receiver for the second straight year, however, leaving a vacancy for a veteran addition or two.

[RELATED: Packers Eyeing Veteran QB]

Allen Lazard signed with the Jets last month, allowing him to (presumably) continue playing with Rodgers while also cashing in on his career-best production in 2022. Lazard’s ascension to the role of No. 1 wideout came after the trade sending Davante Adams to the Raiders and the free agent loss of Marquez Valdes-Scantling the previous offseason; fellow veteran Randall Cobb is a free agent with little to no prospect of remaining in Green Bay if Rodgers departs.

That leaves the Packers with only five receivers currently under contract, including the three members of the team’s draft class at the position (Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samori Toure). To no surprise, head coach Matt LaFleur recently spoke about the need for Green Bay to make a few moves at the position, including the signing of an experienced pass-catcher.

“I think some veteran leadership would be nice,” LaFleur said, via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “Although I think guys like Allen and Randall did such a great job last year kind of taking those guys under their wing and showing them the ropes and the expectations and the practice habits that you need to have to go out there and play at a high level. But there’s going to be a lot of growth with those two guys, certainly Romeo and Christian.”

Watson and Doubs each showed flashes of the potential which garnered them interest in the draft last year, but the pair were rarely available at the same time. Watson ranked second on the team behind only Lazard with 611 yards, while Doubs’ production (425 yards) ranked fourth on the team and third amongst receivers. The pair will therefore be counted on to take a significant step forward while handling sizeable workloads in Green Bay’s Jordan Love-led offense in 2023.

The Packers took a flier on Sammy Watkins last year, but the former first-rounder made only 13 catches in Green Bay before being waived and finishing the season in Baltimore. The team will obviously be aiming higher with their next signing, which could target a number of veterans who make up the secondary waves of a weak free agent class. While a major splash at the position is thus unlikely, an addition of some kind should be expected in the near future.

Chiefs Meet With CB Cam Smith

April 2nd, 2023 at 1:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chiefs are once again scheduled to have the last pick of the first round in the upcoming draft, but a number of high-end prospects will be available with the 31st selection. Kansas City could use it to add to their secondary, as they did last year.

The Chiefs hosted former South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith on a pre-draft visit recently, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). That marked the first of what will be several sit-downs with NFL teams, given Smith’s status as one of the top corners in this year’s deep class at the position.

The redshirt junior appeared in 32 contests during his college career, playing a key role in the Gamecocks’ success on the backend. Smith totaled six interceptions and 18 pass breakups, primarily operating as the team’s nickel corner. That allowed him to live up to his expectations as a former four-star recruit and solidify his status as a potential first-round pick. Competition from the likes of Devon Witherspoon, Christian Gonzalez, Joey Porter Jr. and Deonte Banks, among others, could push Smith to the second round, though.

Kanas City invested heavily in their defense last year at the draft, using their first-round picks on cornerback Trent McDuffie and edge rusher George Karlaftis. The former operated as a full-time starter immediately, logging a 95% snap share in his rookie campaign. McDuffie went without an interception during both the regular and postseason, but he was a key contributors in pass coverage on a generally young backend for the Super Bowl champions.

The team’s CB group also incudes fellow 2022 draftees Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson, who each played a role alongside McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed. The play of the younger members of the unit allowed Kansas City to trade away Rashad Fenton at the deadline, a move which leaves open a vacancy for another addition this offseason. The Chiefs have not brought in any free agent corners, but Smith will be one of many options to choose from if they wish to spend more premium draft capital at the cornerback spot later this month.

Texans To Play Jimmie Ward At Safety

April 2nd, 2023 at 12:56pm CST by Rory Parks

Texans free agent acquisition Jimmie Ward will line up at safety for his new club, as Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston.com reports. Wilson adds that Ward’s two-year contract with Houston is worth $13MM.

Ward, a first-round pick of the 49ers in 2014, has plenty of familiarity with new Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who joined San Francisco’s defensive staff in 2017 and who spent the last two seasons as the club’s defensive coordinator. Ryans, likewise, is familiar with Ward’s abilities and saw firsthand how well he performed when pressed into duty as a nickel corner in 2022.

However, prior reports had indicated that Ward would want to return to his natural safety position, and when the cap-conscious 49ers elected to re-sign Tashaun Gipson to a one-year, $2.9MM pact, it became even more clear that Ward’s days in the Bay Area were over. In speaking with reporters at last week’s owners meetings, Ryans praised Ward’s versatility but indicated that the Northern Illinois product would play safety.

“Jimmie has been very fun to work with because he’s jumped into that nickel role, and he thrived in the role, made probably more plays than he’s made playing safety, so Jimmie can play anywhere,” Ryans said. “But I’m going to play him at safety.”

Indeed, Ward set a career high with three interceptions in 2022, all of which he recorded over a six-game span beginning from Week 10 to Week 15. Even if he cannot replicate that same level of playmaking production with the Texans, though, Ryans values what the 10th-year pro brings to the table from a culture standpoint and what he will be able to impart to the team’s young defensive backs like Derek Stingley and Jalen Pitre (Ward’s presumptive running mate at safety).

Although the Texans largely struggled in 2022, the team did finish in the top-10 in passing defense and in takeaways, so there is a foundation for Ryans to work with as he seeks to return the club with which he once starred as a player to contention. Ward, meanwhile, was happy to join a rebuilding effort in exchange for a familiar scheme and the chance to play his preferred position.

Buccaneers Want To Re-Sign DT Akiem Hicks

April 2nd, 2023 at 11:01am CST by Rory Parks

Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles wants the team to re-sign defensive tackle Akiem Hicks, as Greg Auman of FOX Sports tweets. At present, there have been no public reports of outside interest in Hicks’ services.

Hicks, 33, signed a one-year contract with the Bucs last offseason following a lengthy stint with the Bears. Unfortunately, injuries marred the second half of Hicks’ Chicago tenure, as he missed 11 games due to an elbow injury in 2019 and was sidelined for eight contests in 2021. In his first season in Tampa, the health woes continued, as a torn plantar fascia forced Hicks to miss six games.

His age and recent injury history are likely what have kept Hicks on the open market. Still, in his 11 games (all starts) in 2022, Hicks made a clear impact on the Bucs’ defense. In those games, Tampa Bay yielded 106 rushing yards per game on a 4.2 yards-per-carry rate, and in six contests without Hicks, the Bucs allowed 148 rushing yards per game on a 4.9 YPC rate (via the team’s official website).

And, while Hicks has not posted more than 3.5 sacks in a single season since his Pro Bowl campaign in 2018 (he recorded just one sack last year), his ability to move the pocket from the interior has nonetheless been a key element of his game. It therefore makes sense that Bowles would want Hicks back, especially since it would likely not cost much to make that happen.

The Bucs did sign Greg Gaines last month and are also rostering 2022 second-rounder Logan Hall, and both of those players are presently penciled in as the starting bookends around nose tackle Vita Vea. However, the team lost Rakeem Nunez-Roches to the Giants and do not have much by way of proven depth behind its starting DL trio (longtime contributor William Gholston is also out of contract).

Tampa Bay, though, is in a much different competitive position now than it was when Hicks signed with the club last year. In 2022, the Bucs still had Tom Brady on the roster and were poised to make a deep playoff run. The team did ultimately qualify for the postseason thanks to a weak division, but after suffering a wildcard round loss to the Cowboys, Brady has retired for good. Because the Bucs have elected to absorb the full $35MM dead cap charge stemming from Brady’s contract on their 2023 ledger, it appears they are preparing for something of a retooling year, and Hicks — who has earned roughly $70MM in his career but who does not have a Super Bowl ring — may prefer to wait for a more obvious contender to come calling.

Colts To Retain C Ryan Kelly, CB Kenny Moore II

April 2nd, 2023 at 9:55am CST by Rory Parks

The Colts are planning to retain both center Ryan Kelly and cornerback Kenny Moore II, as Zak Keefer of The Athletic writes (subscription required). GM Chris Ballard recently fielded trade calls on both players, and a report last month indicated that he was actively shopping Kelly, but he clearly did not get an offer to his liking.

“They’re both great Colts, and we’re glad they’re here,” Ballard said. “When you’ve got a good football player that is a great person and a great fit, it makes it hard to move away from those guys.”

Kelly, who will turn 30 in May, was one of the primary culprits in the surprising regression that the Colts’ offensive line experienced in 2022. That group, widely considered one of the team’s greatest strengths, struggled last season, and Kelly himself earned middle-of-the-road grades from Pro Football Focus after surrendering five sacks, 25 total pressures, and failing to generate much push in the run game. Still, he earned Pro Bowl acclaim every year from 2019-21, and as Indianapolis could soon be deploying a rookie quarterback, having an accomplished player at the pivot makes sense.

Moore, who is entering his age-28 season, lobbied for a new contract last year. While the deal that he signed in 2019 set a record for slot corners, Moore argued that his pay should reflect the fact that slot defenders are really starting players in today’s pass-heavy league, and that his ability to line up outside the numbers, make tackles in space, and play behind the line of scrimmage should also be rewarded. Ultimately, the Colts did not make any adjustments to Moore’s contract, and Moore turned in perhaps the worst season of his career.

Although PFF continued to laud his work against the run, it assigned Moore a poor overall grade of 55.7. He failed to record an interception for the first time in his six professional seasons, and he yielded an unsightly quarterback rating of 117.7. In fairness, he was playing through a torn ligament in his left hand and also dealt with a right hand sprain before his season was cut short by an ankle injury, and he did not fit as well in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley‘s scheme as he had in the scheme utilized by former DC Matt Eberflus. Regardless of the reason, though, Moore’s performance took a lucrative new contract off the table for the time being, so his upcoming platform campaign will be especially critical for his future earning power.

Releasing Moore would create a cap savings of $7.6MM while leaving a minimal dead money charge of $500K, and a trade would remove the dead money hit completely. Still, after the Colts traded Stephon Gilmore and saw Brandon Facyson defect to the Raiders in free agency, the team’s cornerback depth is suspect. Per Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star, Ballard — who concedes the Gilmore deal was partially cap-driven — thinks highly of presumptive boundary starters Isaiah Rodgers and Dallis Flowers, but it makes sense that he would not want to thin the CB room even further by cutting ties with Moore (Twitter link).

Nonetheless, one would expect Ballard to attempt to shore up the position in the coming months, and the draft would be one way to do that. Likewise, new head coach Shane Steichen wants to add reinforcements to the offensive line, as Keefer tweets, and an heir apparent for Kelly could be in the cards. At present, 2022 UDFA Wesley French represents the Colts’ fallback option at center.

Commanders Likely To Be Sold In A Matter Of Weeks

April 2nd, 2023 at 8:20am CST by Rory Parks

Momentum towards a Commanders sale continues to build, with Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reporting that owner Dan Snyder is likely to sell the franchise in the next one to three weeks. Although no Commanders-related matter was officially on the agenda at last week’s league meetings, Falcons owner Arthur Blank appeared to confirm that a sale is imminent.

“The league is doing whatever it can to help support the Snyders in this transaction and transition,” Blank said. “I saw [Snyder’s wife] Tanya [Snyder] this morning and wished her well, Dan as well. I think their family has moved to London, I believe. We’ll see what will happen. He’s a young man, his children are young, his wife’s young and they have a whole life ahead of them. I certainly wish them well.”

Indeed, as Nicki Jhabvala, Liz Clarke, and Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported in January, the Snyders recently filed a certificate of incorporation of a private limited company for Snyder UK Investments Limited with the registrar of companies for England and Wales. On that certificate, the Snyders — both of whom are listed as company directors — name England as their usual place of residence.

Furthermore, the Synders’ son, Gerry Snyder, is no longer on the Appalachian State football roster, and Jones reports that Gerry is not enrolled at the school this semester. Dan Snyder has cleared out his ownership offices and has put one D.C.-area estate on the market.

In addition to Josh Harris, Steve Apostolopoulos, and Tilman Fertitta, there is a mystery fourth bidder in the mix, according to Jones, although the identity of that bidder is presently unknown. While the most recent reporting on the matter suggested that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos remains in play, Charles Gasparino of FOX Business Network says that Mark Cuban, the owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, has no interest in the Commanders (Twitter link). Interestingly, former Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III is interested in joining the Harris group, as the one-time face of the franchise said during a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show (via Madison Williams of SI.com).

Gasaprino also hears that reports of the Harris- and Apostolopoulos-led groups hitting the fully-funded $6 billion are a bit overstated. Instead, those bids come with contingencies, and the “real” number is actually closer to $5 billion (Twitter links). One way or another, Dan Snyder is going to realize quite a return on investment, as he purchased the club for $800MM back in 1999.

Another point to consider is that, regardless of the details of the final proposals, Dan Snyder does not have to sell the Commanders to the highest bidder, and can instead sell to the group he likes the most. For instance, Jones suggests that Snyder may not care for the fact that the Harris and Apostolopoulos groups have leaked reports of their ability to obtain the necessary cash for the purchase of his team when he himself has not even confirmed that the team is for sale. Similarly, the personal tension between Snyder and Bezos has been oft-cited as a reason why Bezos may not be able to acquire the franchise despite having the financial wherewithal to blow other candidates out of the water.

The pending sale also has some on-field ramifications. We had already heard about the delayed payouts of signing bonuses included in recent player contracts, and JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington says that the status of DE Chase Young‘s fifth-year option could be impacted by the ownership situation (Twitter link). After a tremendous rookie campaign, Young sustained a torn ACL and patellar tendon in Week 10 of the 2021 season, which limited him to nine games that year and just three contests in 2022. However, because Young does have a Pro Bowl nod on his resume, his fifth-year option would check in at a fully-guaranteed $17.5MM.

A decision on Young’s option must be made by May 2. And, while the team is reportedly committed to 2022 fifth-rounder Sam Howell as its starting quarterback, head coach Ron Rivera said that a new owner’s viewpoints on the matter could alter the Commanders’ QB direction.

Latest On Negotiations Between Ravens, Lamar Jackson

April 1st, 2023 at 9:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the top offseason storylines in the NFL remains the Lamar Jackson saga. Contract talks between the Ravens and the former MVP have not yielded progress, and the latter revealed recently that he has requested a trade to a team willing to sign him to the deal he is seeking.

Multiple offseasons of negotiations have stalled, primarily due to the issue of guaranteed money. The contract given to Deshaun Watson by the Browns last season – five years in length, totaling $230MM guaranteed in full – has long been seen as the sticking point between the two parties. That could represent a benchmark for Jackson (and other quarterbacks due for monster extensions in the near future), though the rest of the NFL has made it clear they consider the Watson pact an exception, rather than the beginning of a new trend.

Speaking on the subject during an appearance on the Bernie Kosar Show, longtime Ravens GM and current EVP Ozzie Newsome said, “every club has to do what they have to do with contracts. I don’t worry about what other people do, but our owner did say that contract did create some problems. We have to figure out if that’s going to be the norm or is that an outlier. We don’t know” (video link).

With the relationship between Jackson, 26, and the Ravens taking multiple noteworthy and public turns recently, many have speculated about the potential for his career to continue in Baltimore. On that point, ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes that a path towards fences being mended still exists in this situation. The Ravens have remained effusive in their praise of the former first-rounder, who is scheduled to play on the franchise tag ($32.4MM) in 2023 in the absence of a long-term deal.

Graziano adds that Jackson is asking for more than the $230MM Watson received in guaranteed money, but also that the Louisville product does not appear to be insistent on all of his deal being guaranteed. That may very well represent a moot point to many outside teams, considering the sizeable gap in guarantees which exists between the Watson pact and those signed last summer by the likes of Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray. It could, on the other hand, point further to Jackson and the Ravens being able to reach an agreement down the road.

However, Graziano’s colleague Jeremy Fowler reports that Baltimore is not currently moving with much urgency in terms of negotiations. Their decision to use the non-exclusive tag on Jackson left him free to test his market with potential suitors, but no serious ones have emerged at this point. Plenty of time remains until the draft, which could be an unofficial trade deadline, but also until the middle of July, the point by which Jackson will be required to sign the tag to be eligible to play this season. The ESPN pair note that the two-time Pro Bowler has become frustrated with Baltimore’s recent offers, and that he remains “principled” on the notion of setting a new precedent for future QB mega-deals.

While the Jackson saga is dominating the Ravens’ offseason, more news at the position could be forthcoming. Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed at the annual league meetings that the team is strongly considering adding a veteran backup quarterback. A number of options are off the market at this point in free agency, but The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec names Carson Wentz, Teddy Bridgewater and Mason Rudolph as potential targets who are still available (subscription required). In the event Jackson decides not to sign his tender by OTAs or training camp, the team will need to make an addition of some kind. By that point, more clarity may have emerged regarding their future under center.

Dolphins Willing To Trade WR Cedrick Wilson

April 1st, 2023 at 7:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Dolphins enjoyed considerable production from their top receiver duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle last season, but no other pass-catchers made nearly as large of a contribution as those two. Miami’s group of secondary receivers includes Cedrick Wilson, but that may not be the case for long.

The Dolphins are open to trading Wilson, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Such a move would yield a notable financial benefit, regardless of when it took place. Dealing the 27-year-old before June 1 would result in $7MM in cap savings, while doing so after that date would save $6MM. Wilson is set to count $8MM against the cap in 2023, the second year of the contract he signed last offseason to head to South Beach.

That $22.8MM pact came after the former sixth-rounder comfortably set new career-highs across the board in his final campaign with the Cowboys. Wilson recorded 602 yards and six touchdowns on 45 receptions in 2021, proving himself to be a valuable contributor in Dallas’ high-volume passing attack. That elevated expectations for him upon arrival in Miami, even with the team’s blockbuster trade to acquire Hill.

However, Wilson had his least productive season since 2019, totaling only 12 catches and 136 scoreless yards. His playing time took a significant step back compared to the year before, seeing the field for only 26% of offensive snaps. That made the Boise State alum one of several complimentary wideouts to put up underwhelming numbers behind the massive production (3,066 combined yards) of Hill and Waddle. The Dolphins’ next-leading receiver was Trent Sherfield, who posted 417 yards.

Despite the cap savings a trade would yield, Jackson adds that the Dolphins are also open to retaining Wilson. Miami currently has less than $2MM in cap space, putting them 31st in the league in that regard. A release in this case would result in considerable dead money, so that avenue is not an expected outcome. A rebound on Wilson’s part in 2023 could make it worthwhile to hold on to him, though the Dolphins have replacement options such as recent signing Braxton Berrios in place as well.

Load More Posts