HEADLINES

Month: August 2023

Latest On Giants, Saquon Barkley

August 18th, 2023 at 4:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Giants-Saquon Barkley saga is on hold for the next several months. The Giants gave the sixth-year running back a small incentive package to report to camp on time, and Barkley is tied to the $10.1MM franchise tender this season.

Twists and turns emerged on the way here, of course, and this certainly could be the final year of this partially fruitful partnership. Barkley, 26, made comments regarding the Giants-side leaks that came out of these negotiations and, just before the tag deadline, discussed a number of topics — including his skillset and usage rate. His skillset, naturally, came up during negotiations.

Barkley’s receiving ability became a sticking point during the ultimately failed talks, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, who notes the team made a point to state that the former No. 2 overall pick’s receiving prowess was not on the level of Christian McCaffrey‘s. During his appearance on the Money Matters podcast just before the July 17 deadline, Barkley disputed the team’s contention about his aerial capabilities.

“If that’s what you are telling me and I know what they signed for, what are we really talking about?” Barkley said. “After hearing that, they tell you, ‘This is the type of player you are.’ I’m like, ‘Eh, no. I can catch the ball. I had 91 catches, the rookie record for a running back.”

In attempting to find common ground, the Giants compared Barkley to two run-oriented backs. That assessment can be deemed partially inaccurate, but the way Barkley has been used since that 91-catch 2018 season does not paint it as entirely misleading. The Giants have not involved Barkley nearly as much as a receiver since Pat Shurmur‘s firing. Eli Manning being benched early in the 2019 season became a tipping point for Barkley’s pass-game usage.

En route to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, the former No. 2 overall pick totaled 721 receiving yards in 2018. Only Hall of Famers Edgerrin James and Eric Dickerson have topped Barkley’s 2,028 scrimmage yards as rookies. While Barkley’s 2022 comeback season resulted in a career-high rushing total (1,312 yards), he did not approach the 2018 yards-from-scrimmage number due to less pass-game involvement. Barkley caught 57 passes for just 338 yards during his first season with Brian Daboll. That is his third-highest career total, with Shurmur’s second season — featuring Daniel Jones as the primary QB — ending with 52 Barkley receptions for 438 yards.

McCaffrey has averaged 8.5 yards per catch over his career; Barkley is at 7.4. If the Giants view Barkley as more of a runner, naturally his value will drop. Of course, Barkley’s camp almost definitely argued he remains a high-end receiving talent — just in an offense that has not properly utilized that skill. It will be interesting to see how the Giants use Barkley this year, but seeing as the team made a point to acquire Darren Waller and more receiving help, a spike in Barkley targets is harder to envision. Barkley’s receiving total this year will certainly make an impact in his 2024 market value — should the Giants pass on a second franchise tag.

Colts Sign WR James Washington

August 18th, 2023 at 3:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Genard Avery‘s season-ending knee injury will lead to him joining Ashton Dulin, who also suffered a season-ending knee injury this week, on IR. To fill Avery’s roster spot, the Colts signed James Washington.

Washington is running out of time to prove himself in the NFL. The Cowboys and Saints have released the former second-round pick over the past year, and the Giants did not use him in a game after adding him late last season.

The Colts will see how Washington looks in their system. Teams must trim their rosters from 90 to 53 by 3pm August 29. After two years of going back to a tiered cut system, the NFL reintroduced the 90-to-53 slash this year. That will lead to more players hitting waivers than at previous points in the 2020s. This does not affect Washington, who is a vested veteran. But the ex-Steelers draftee does not have much time to prove himself in Indianapolis.

The Steelers used Washington as a regular in 2019, when an elbow injury sidelined Ben Roethlisberger after two games. Teaming with ex-college teammate Mason Rudolph, Washington put together his best NFL stretch. He totaled 44 receptions for 735 yards and three touchdowns that year. Although Washington’s five touchdown receptions helped Pittsburgh bounce back and win the NFC North in 2020, Chase Claypool usurped him in the team’s receiver rotation. Washington only finished with 285 receiving yards in 2021. A foot fracture sustained early during Cowboys training camp last year derailed the 5-foot-11 deep threat in Dallas.

Washington, 27, will join a few wideouts to sign with the Colts this year. Amari Rodgers, Breshad Perriman and Isaiah McKenzie as veterans picked up during Shane Steichen‘s initial months as head coach. The team will determine how Washington and this trio fit alongside roster locks Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce and third-round pick Josh Downs.

With 16-man practice squads able to include up to six vested veterans, Washington would also have a chance to land here with the Colts, who waived wide receiver Malik Turner with an injury designation Friday. A former Seahawks, Cowboys and 49ers cog, Turner signed with the Colts in February.

Ravens Sign Jadeveon Clowney

August 18th, 2023 at 2:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

2:22pm: Clowney’s deal includes base compensation of $2.5MM and has a maximum value of $6MM via incentives, per Zrebiec and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter links). The latter figure matches the guaranteed value of Houston’s pact with the Panthers, so the Ravens’ new edge veteran will likely end up being a less costly replacement.

11:32am: Not long after visiting the team on a workout, Jadeveon Clowney has circled back to the Ravens. The veteran edge rusher has agreed to a deal with Baltimore, reports Josina Anderson of CBS Sports (Twitter link). The agreement has since been confirmed by a team announcement.

Clowney met with the Ravens last week, signaling the interest which existed between team and player. The former No. 1 pick had been on the market since his Browns release, and he had not seen much of a market until recently. Baltimore was interested in other veteran edge rushers as well, but it comes as little surprise that they have come to terms.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds, to no surprise, that this Clowney deal is one year in length. Jeff Zrebiec of the Athletic notes, meanwhile, that the contract was agreed to last night and it will be signed as early as today (Twitter links). The 30-year-old has made a career of short-term agreements, bouncing around the league while posting inconsistent numbers in the sack department. His 2021 total of nine in that regard showed promise for his long-term future in Cleveland, but things took a much different turn with the Browns last season.

Remarks related to playing time and usage led to the three-time Pro Bowler being sent home for the season finale. A public apology ensued, but it nevertheless came as no surprise when he was released in March, setting up yet another free agency period. A return to the AFC South seemed possible at one point, with Clowney noting a reunion with the Texans was on his radar. He also visited the Jaguars recently, but Jacksonville was not prepared to make a contract offer.

Instead, the South Carolina product will join a Ravens team which was in search of a veteran edge rusher. The departure of Justin Houston left the team with recent draftees Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo and Tavius Robinson, along with veteran Tyus Bowser in place as pass-rushers. The latter has succeeded while serving in a versatile role rather than one predicated solely on sack production, while the former three have combined to play 34 regular season NFL games. Clowney, a veteran of Houston, Seattle, Tennessee and Cleveland, has 109 games to his name and should serve as a rotational edge defender.

Baltimore addressed a lack of healthy corners with the signing of Ronald Darby yesterday. That contract has been followed up by one for Clowney, who will be counted on as a depth addition to a Ravens front which ranked sixth in the league with 48 sacks last season. While that has not proven to be a dependable skillset for the latter, he should play a notable role in his latest new home.

OL Jason Peters Aiming To Play In 2023

August 18th, 2023 at 1:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jason Peters continued his career last year by playing for the Cowboys. While a new Dallas deal should not be expected, the 41-year-old lineman is hoping to take the field in 2023.

Peters plans to play this year, as noted (on Twitter) by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. If he is able to find a roster spot, that would allow him to suit up for a 19th campaign and spend a 20th overall year in the NFL. The nine-time Pro Bowler missed the 2012 season in the midst of his high-end Eagles run, and he has spent one-year stints elsewhere in the NFC since it came to an end.

The former UDFA was a full-time starter for the Bears in 2021, then a depth addition for the Cowboys last season. The injury suffered by longtime Dallas left tackle Tyron Smith left the team in need of a veteran addition, and Peters was brought in to serve in a variety of roles. Peters wound up splitting his time in Dallas between left tackle, left guard and right tackle as the team dealt with the issue of where Smith was best used upon return given the surprisingly effective play of first-round rookie Tyler Smith. That pair, along with right tackle starter Terence Steele, should make Peters an unneeded luxury for Dallas moving forward.

A chest injury cost Peters some time, but the Arkansas alum still managed to suit up for 10 regular season contests and one of the Cowboys’ playoff games. He logged the lowest snap total (235) of his career, but still managed to earn a respectable 70.3 overall PFF grade. Peters has delivered far stronger performances in the past, of course, but the 2010s All-Decade member could still be an experienced depth option for a team seeking insurance up front.

With just under $119MM in career earnings and a slew of accolades (including a Super Bowl title), Peters certainly does not have anything to prove at this point in his career. He has some time remaining to try and find an interested party before roster cuts, though, or he could wait until September to secure a deal as he did in 2022. If his goal is not realized, his Cowboys stint will mark the end of a highly-decorated career.

Eagles CB Zech McPhearson Suffers Torn Achilles

August 18th, 2023 at 11:12am CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles suffered a slew of injuries in last night’s preseason game, and at least one of them will be season-ending. Cornerback Zech McPhearson suffered an Achilles tear, as first reported by CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin (Twitter link).

McPhearson was carted off the field during Philadelphia’s tie with Cleveland, and there were immediate concerns that he would miss considerable time. With an MRI having confirmed the worst-case scenario, he will be sidelined for the campaign and the Eagles will be without a key rotational member of their secondary.

The starting corner spots are accounted for regarding the NFC champions, with Darius Slay and James Bradberry on the perimeter and Avonte Maddox in the slot. McPhearson was slated to serve as the top backup to Maddox on the inside, though he had also been used on the boundary at times this offseason. The former fourth-rounder will now turn his attention to rehab ahead of the 2024 campaign, which will be the final one of his rookie contract.

McPhearson has appeared in 37 combined regular and postseason games over his first two seasons in the league, showing a mark of durability which will obviously be changed given this news. The 25-year-old had been used sparingly on defense, but he was a mainstay on special teams. His absence will thus be felt on an Eagles team which has a number of young options to choose from as a replacement.

Mario Goodrich is likely the corner to be tapped to fill in for McPhearson as the slot backup. The former spent 2022 on the Eagles’ practice squad, and signed a futures deal in February. He will have a clearer path to a roster spot with McPhearson destined for IR, though the possibility remains that Philadelphia will aim to use one of their boundary corners on the inside as opposed to leaning on Goodrich, who has yet to play a regular season NFL contest. In any event, the Eagles will be shorthanded in the secondary while they look to make a repeat Super Bowl appearance.

Colts DE Genard Avery Out For Season

August 18th, 2023 at 10:28am CST by Adam La Rose

For the second straight day, the Colts have lost a player for the 2023 season. Defensive end Genard Avery requires season-ending knee surgery, and will be headed to IR (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).

[RELATED: Colts WR Ashton Dulin Suffers ACL Tear]

Avery is dealing with an LCL/meniscus issue, Schefter adds. The news means he will once again end a campaign on injured reserve, having done so last year due to an abdominal injury. Avery joined the Colts in June in an attempt to catch on with another new team, but that veteran minimum agreement will need to be replaced by another next year for him to continue his career.

The 28-year-old has seen time both as a linebacker and defensive end. His most productive season came as a Browns rookie in 2018, where he recorded 4.5 sacks. 12 of his 17 career starts came with the Eagles in 2021, but that was followed up by a very short-lived Steelers deal. Pittsburgh released Avery ahead of roster cutdowns, leading him to the Buccaneers in 2022.

The former fifth-rounder was used sparingly on defense, but he was a regular on special teams. Third phase usage may very well have awaited him again in Indianapolis, a team which will depend in large part on the continued development of 2021 first-rounder Kwity Paye for edge rush production. Dayo Odeyingbo and free agent signing Samson Ebukam will also play a key role in the pass-rush department for the Colts moving forward.

After letting Yannick Ngakoue depart in free agency, though, the loss of Avery could open the door to a veteran depth addition. With the likes of Jadeveon Clowney, Robert Quinn and Melvin Ingram still on the market, the Colts will have several options to choose from if they elect to try and replace Avery on the edge. With over $19MM in cap space, Indianapolis certainly has the spending power needed to make a move at the position.

Lions Waive WR Denzel Mims

August 18th, 2023 at 9:39am CST by Adam La Rose

Denzel Mims‘ time in Detroit has come to an end rather quickly. The former Jets wideout has been dealing with multiple ailments and will be waived with an injury designation, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). The move is now official.

The former second-round pick was traded from the Jets to the Lions last month in a move aimed at giving him a fresh start and providing Detroit with low-cost receiver depth. The Day 3 picks swapped in that trade were conditional on Mims making the Lions’ 53-man roster. Since that will not be happening, both teams will retain their respective selections.

Mims entered the NFL with considerable expectations after posting two 1,000-yard seasons in college. He flashed potential as a deep threat during his rookie season, averaging 15.5 yards per catch on 23 receptions. The Baylor product saw his playing time cut dramatically after that, however, and his production over the past two seasons left him on the roster bubble.

New York’s preference was to find a trade partner for Mims rather than waiving him themselves, but he will now find himself on the open market nevertheless. Rapoport notes that the 25-year-old suffered a calf injury while rehabbing an ankle injury picked up earlier in training camp. Today’s news thus comes as little surprise, and the Lions will move forward with a receiving corps which will be without Jameson Williams for the rest of the summer after the latter encountered a hamstring issue.

To fill the roster spot opened up by Mims’ departure, the Lions are signing Jason Moore, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 (Twitter link). The former UDFA has made 20 career appearances in the NFL, all with the Chargers. Unlike Mims, Moore has a background on special teams, something which could help the latter in his bid to earn a 53-man roster spot. The former, meanwhile, will turn his attention to recovery and seek out another new opportunity when healthy.

Buccaneers GM: We Want Mike Evans Here Long Term

August 17th, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Buccaneers have been discussing an extension with their longest-tenured starter since early this summer. While the team is transitioning from the Tom Brady period, agreements with pillars acquired before the legendary quarterback’s arrival took place this offseason.

Tampa Bay re-signed Jamel Dean and Lavonte David, doing so despite sitting well above the salary cap entering the offseason. Brady’s $35.1MM dead-money charge, brought about from the void years the franchise tacked on for cap purposes, hamstrung the Bucs. But they have managed to retain key players. They want Mike Evans to join that list.

The contract Evans signed back in March 2018 has been passed over by many receivers over its duration. At the time, the $16.5MM AAV made Evans the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver. Illustrating this position’s importance in the modern game, that number now sits 17th among wideouts. Evans’ less accomplished teammate, Chris Godwin, passed him amid the 2022 receiver market boom. Godwin signed a three-year, $60MM extension after the Bucs franchise-tagged him for a second time.

Due to the increasingly void years-reliant Bucs tacking three such years onto Evans’ deal via restructures, the team would be hit with a $12.2MM dead-money charge if Evans is not re-signed by the start of the 2024 league year. Naturally, the Bucs want to avoid that scenario.

“I can’t see Mike playing anywhere else,” Licht said, via The Athletic’s Dan Pompei (subscription required). “I hope and think we can figure something out so he can retire a Buc. We want Mike to be here long term.”

Squarely on the Hall of Fame radar after becoming the first receiver to start his career with nine consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, Evans is going into his age-30 season. He should not be considered a candidate to eclipse Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM AAV — a number that will likely soon be surpassed, as Justin Jefferson aims for a Vikings extension — but the Bucs will likely need to authorize a raise for a player entering his 10th season.

Evans totaled 27 touchdown receptions from 2020-21, but as Brady and the offense regressed last year, he finished with just six scores — his fewest since 2017. But the 6-foot-5 target has remained durable, missing more than one game in a season on only two occasions (three absences in 2019, two last year). Suspensions have also brought on some of those misses for the Marshon Lattimore nemesis.

The Texas A&M alum will be a vital piece for the post-Brady Bucs, who are still deciding between Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask. With Antoine Winfield Jr. also a 2024 free agent (and an extension candidate), the Bucs will have some decisions to make soon. The Bucs have done well in letting players play out their contract years before re-signing them. Dean, David, Carlton Davis, Shaquil Barrett and Ryan Jensen are a number of recent examples of Licht and Co. retaining players despite those talents reaching the open market. The void-years component complicates the Bucs following suit with Evans, but a third contract for the greatest wideout in team history has been on the radar for a bit now.

Patriots Notes: Judon, Gesicki, Cunningham, Flowers

August 17th, 2023 at 9:41pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve got more details on Matthew Judon‘s reworked deal with the Patriots, per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). The pass rusher’s revamped contract includes “more 2023 guarantees and upside” for one of New England’s top defenders.

Specifically, Judon got a $7MM signing bonus while seeing his 2023 base salary drop from $11MM to $7MM. His 2023 incentives increased from $500K to $3MM while his $1MM in per-game bonuses stay the same. That all results in a cap hit of $16.44MM.

More simply, Judon got an effective $3MM raise in his 2023 base pay (which is reflected in the $7MM signing bonus, not the base salary) and a $2.5MM raise via incentives, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (on Twitter).

As we noted earlier this month, Judon had some of his 2024 money pushed up to 2023, setting the stage for more drama next offseason. In a telling sign, Volin points out that the last time the Patriots accommodated this type of cap machination was in 2020 with Stephon Gilmore. New England ended up trading the star cornerback the following year.

More notes out of New England…

  • One of the Patriots’ biggest offseason acquisitions suffered an injury during practice this week. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), Mike Gesicki suffered a “mild dislocated shoulder.” Despite the injury, Rapoport notes that there’s hope the tight end will be active for Week 1. Following a five-year stint with the Dolphins to begin his career, Gesicki inked a one-year deal worth up to $9MM with New England this offseason. The veteran is expected to often play alongside fellow TE Hunter Henry in the Patriots’ offense this season.
  • Veteran offensive lineman Riley Reiff signed with the Patriots this offseason, and while he’s destined for a role in the starting lineup, it remains to be seen exactly where he slots in. As Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald writes, Reiff has played both right guard and right tackle during camp. The 34-year-old’s role probably won’t be solidified until we get clarity on some of the Patriots’ other linemen, including Michael Onwenu (PUP), Calvin Anderson (NFI), Kody Russey (injured) and Cole Strange (injured).
  • Undrafted rookie QB Malik Cunningham impressed during training camp and the Patriots’ first preseason game, and Volin writes that the organization has no choice but to roster the Louisville product as a third QB behind Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. As Volin notes, the Patriots signed Cunningham with the hope that he could be “another Julian Edelman” and transform from college quarterback to NFL wideout. Cunningham mostly worked with receivers in the spring, but Volin observes that the rookie has taken more and more reps under center and has clearly supplanted Trace McSorley as the organization’s third QB.
  • Trey Flowers‘ second stint in New England will see him playing on a $1.165MM salary ($50K guaranteed), per Yates (on Twitter). The veteran defensive end can earn another $510K in per-game bonuses, plus a potential $825K in not-likely-to-be-earned incentives. This leads to a max value of $2.5MM, and Flowers will be attached to a $1.285MM cap hit.

Lions WR Jameson Williams To Miss Rest Of Preseason

August 17th, 2023 at 8:24pm CST by Ben Levine

It doesn’t sound like we’ll see Jameson Williams again until the middle of October. The Lions wideout suffered a hamstring injury this week that will keep him out of the team’s remaining preseason contests, according to Justin Rogers of The Detroit News.

[RELATED: NFL Suspends Lions WR Jameson Williams]

Williams placed a bet on a non-NFL game while at the Lions facility, resulting in a six-game ban to begin the season. That means we won’t see the second-year wideout again until October 22 at the earliest. As Rogers writes, the Lions were planning to “douse” Williams with preseason snaps in anticipation of his absence, but an injury this week will limit the wideout to only one preseason contest. Williams had a pair of catches during Detroit’s preseason opener against the Giants.

The receiver was spotted grabbing his hamstring after running a deep route at practice on Wednesday. As Rogers points out, it was Williams’ other hamstring that forced him to miss a handful of practices during the early part of training camp. The injury provides an interesting wrinkle when considering the player’s impending suspension. Rogers writes that NFL rules require Williams to be away from the team for the first three weeks of his six-game ban. This means the player wouldn’t be able to receive treatment for his hamstring, although the organization is reportedly “exploring an exemption.”

Williams will now be missing crucial developmental reps that he didn’t get in 2022. The first-round pick was still rehabbing from a torn ACL at this time last year, and that recovery ended up extending through the first 11 games. Williams managed to return for six games, with the rookie garnering only 78 offensive snaps.

While the injury is discouraging, Lions coach Dan Campbell doesn’t believe it will have a massive impact on Williams’ development.

“As long as he stays on top of the mental portion of it, you can get a lot out of the mental work,” Campbell said (via Rogers). “If he grinds on that, takes care of the hamstring, we’ll take it as it comes.”

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