HEADLINES

Year: 2023

Free Agent CB Casey Hayward Medically Cleared

September 10th, 2023 at 12:27pm CST by Rory Parks

Veteran cornerback Casey Hayward signed a two-year contract with the Falcons during the 2022 offseason but played just six games for the club before suffering a shoulder injury that ended his first season in Atlanta prematurely. Shortly after the Falcons swung a trade for former No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah in April, the club released Hayward with a failed physical designation.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Hayward has received full medical clearance and is ready to take part in his 12th NFL season. As of the time of this writing, there has been no reported interest in his services, but once Week 1 is in the books, that could change.

As a vested veteran, Hayward’s full 2023 salary would have been guaranteed if he were on an active roster for Week 1. Since that will not be the case, an interested club could sign him for what would likely be a modest sum and, if necessary, release him with minimal financial ramifications.

Given Hayward’s track record and the league-wide need for cornerback help, it would be fair to expect Hayward to find a new employer soon. In his last full season in 2021, Hayward started all 17 of the Raiders’ regular season contests, recording 46 tackles and nine passes defensed. Pro Football Focus considered him a top-15 corner that year, and he parlayed that performance into the above-referenced deal with Atlanta.

The Packers draftee, who just turned 34 yesterday, is unlikely to return to the elite form he exhibited during his peak years with the Chargers. During his five-year tenure with the Bolts from 2016-2020, Hayward earned two Pro Bowl nods, and he led the league with seven interceptions in 2016.

Still, Hayward yielded a meager 80.7 QB rating on passes thrown in his direction during his brief time with the Falcons last year, making it clear that he has something left in the tank. Even if he were to be deployed on more of a rotational basis, he could certainly be an asset to any number of CB depth charts.

Jaguars OC Press Taylor To Serve As Primary Play-Caller

September 10th, 2023 at 11:10am CST by Rory Parks

Jaguars OC Press Taylor will serve as the team’s primary offensive play-caller in 2023, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Taylor, who joined the team in 2022 as part of head coach Doug Pederson‘s first Jacksonville staff, called plays in the second halves of games last year and will now get the chance to run the show on a full-time basis.

“I totally trust Press,” Pederson said. “We think alike. We’ve been together for a long time, and he’s around [quarterback] Trevor [Lawrence] all the time and knows what Trevor likes.”

Taylor worked under Pederson on the latter’s Eagles staffs from 2016-20, operating as a quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. Pederson reportedly wanted to promote Taylor to offensive coordinator in Philadelphia following the 2020 season, and his disagreements with the organization in that regard led to a mutual parting of the ways. Pederson spent the 2021 season away from the NFL while Taylor worked as a senior offensive assistant with the Colts. The two men reunited in Duval last year, with Taylor landing the OC post.

After a disappointing rookie season in 2021 under then-HC Urban Meyer, Lawrence thrived in the Pederson-Taylor offense in 2022, throwing 25 TDs against just eight inteceptions and leading the Jags to a stirring victory in the wildcard round of the playoffs. The Jags finished 10th in the league in both total offense and points per game, and there is reason to believe that they will perform even better this season.

While it would be fair to question whether this move is an attempt to fix a problem that doesn’t exist — as former Jaguars beat writer and current Bills reporter Ryan O’Halloran suggested — Pederson will obviously continue to have a significant role in the offensive design and gameday preparation. Plus, as Pederson himself noted, his own career trajectory unfolded in a similar fashion.

“It’s kind of like coach [Andy] Reid did with me in 2015 in Kansas City,” Pederson said. “Coach Reid would call the first half and he would let me call the second half with a very watchful eye.”

“Press is a smart coach who has been in the league a long time. He’s going to be a head coach one day,” Pederson added. “What better time than right now with the team we have to get that experience?”

The Jaguars’ new arrangement will get its first test against the division-rival Colts in the regular season opener today.

Jets Notes: Rodgers, Stafford, Hall, Cook

September 10th, 2023 at 10:16am CST by Rory Parks

The Jets debut of quarterback Aaron Rodgers is one of the most-anticipated aspects of the Week 1 slate. As we wait for the future Hall-of-Famer to take the field for the first Monday Night Football game of the season, here are a few Gang Green-related items:

  • Speaking of Rodgers, his voluntary $35MM pay cut has allowed the Jets to enter the 2023 season with over $20MM in cap space, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. GM Joe Douglas confirmed to reporters, including Cimini, that Rodgers agreed to the reduction in pay with the tacit understanding that the funds will be used to supplement the roster. “It’s almost like an unspoken thing,” Douglas said. “You know if you’re doing this, there’s a reason why he’s doing this. So it’s going to give us great flexibility moving forward.” 
  • Before it became clear that Rodgers would continue his playing career, the Jets inquired on Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. Los Angeles, however, insisted that it was not trading Stafford, so the conversations did not gain much traction. We recently heard that the Rams made a concerted effort to deal Stafford before they were required to pick up his 2023 option bonus and 2024 salary this offseason, but team brass subsquently said that while other clubs asked about the veteran passer, the Rams were not actively shopping him.
  • Both of the Jets’ top RBs, Breece Hall and Dalvin Cook, will play against the Bills on Monday night, though the team will be “prudent with their usage” (Twitter link via Cimini). Hall, of course, saw his promising rookie campaign cut short by an ACL tear last October, and Cook was just acquired less than a month ago. As the season goes on, the club will rely heavily on both players to support its Rodgers-led passing attack.
  • Some of the money freed up by Rodgers’ aforementioned largesse could go towards more receiving talent for the QB; Bucs’ WR Mike Evans has been floated as a possible trade target, and the Jets recently worked out free agent receiver Kenny Golladay.

Cardinals HC: As Long As I’m Here, Kyler Murray Can Be Here

September 10th, 2023 at 9:21am CST by Rory Parks

Back in February, newly-hired Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said he would not have taken the job if not for the presence of quarterback Kyler Murray, and he discussed his plans to maximize Murray’s talents. Murray, who was one of the players consulted in Arizona’s HC search, has likewise spoken highly of Gannon.

Of course, the diminutive signal-caller will begin the season on the PUP list as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL and meniscus that he suffered towards the end of the 2022 season. And the Cardinals, who have one of the league’s weakest rosters and who are clearly in a rebuild, could end up with two top-10 (or even top-five) picks in the 2024 draft, putting them in prime position to land an elite collegiate quarterback like USC’s Caleb Williams.

That reality has led to considerable speculation that Arizona could seek to move on from Murray — who is slated to carry a $51.86MM cap figure in 2024 — next offseason. Indeed, as Zak Keefer of The Athletic (subscription required) notes, the club would be saddled with a relatively modest $13MM dead money charge if it were to trade Murray with a post-June 1 designation next year.

However, Gannon is, as expected, shooting down any such chatter. “I’m completely convicted,” the rookie HC said. “As long as I’m here, [Murray] can be here.”

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports hears that the Cardinals are pleased with Murray’s work ethic and study habits, as well as the strides he has made in his injury rehab. The two-time Pro Bowler could return to the field by the end of October, which would afford him roughly a half-season in new OC Drew Petzing‘s scheme.

“He loves ball, he loves ball,” Gannon said of Murray. “That was the other thing, the narrative on him — completely wrong. Completely wrong. Everything I’ve asked him to do, he’s done, more so. Have I challenged some of his actions that I didn’t love? Yes, and I’ve talked to him about it.”

It would obviously be ideal for Arizona if Murray can return to his pre-2022 form. A rebuilding team needs a franchise passer, and no matter how good of a propsect Williams or UNC’s Drake Maye might be, the Cards would much rather eschew spending a top-10 selection on a QB for the third time in seven years and to instead use their high-end draft capital — in addition to their own first-round pick, they also own the 2024 first-round choice of the Texans, another rebuilding outfit — to add premium talent to other areas of the roster.

Plus, rival executives tell Jeff Howe of The Athletic (subscription required) that Murray’s contract might not actually be tradeable. Even if Arizona’s own dead money burden would be manageable, an acquiring team would still be on the hook for the QB’s $37MM base salary in 2024 absent any pay-down on the part of the Cardinals.

Much can change between Week 1 and Week 18. But for now, the plan is to keep Murray in the desert for the forseeable future.

2023 Offseason In Review Series

September 9th, 2023 at 10:59pm CST by Sam Robinson

Quarterback acquisitions generated top headlines this offseason, while the slew of developments affecting the running back market moved that position’s value to a precarious point. On that note, our latest Offseason In Review series is in the books. Here are the PFR staff’s looks at how teams assembled their 2023 rosters:

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

Extension Talks Between Vikings, Justin Jefferson To Be Tabled To 2024

September 9th, 2023 at 10:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

A push was made by the Vikings to work out an extension with Justin Jefferson, but they have come up short. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year will play the 2023 season without a new deal in place, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Schefter adds that both the Vikings and the All-Pro wideout made an effort to reach agreement on a mega-contract in time for tomorrow’s season opener, but nothing is expected to be signed in the next few hours. As a result, the parties will press pause on negotiations until after the campaign is over. Jefferson will thus earn $2.39MM in salary this season in anticipation of a dramatic raise in the spring.

The 24-year-old was the subject of a late-summer push on Minnesota’s part to get a deal worked out in time for Week 1. That news followed a lengthy stretch without updates on the status of negotiations, and it confirmed the team’s willingness to make Jefferson a central part of their long-term plans. His personal preference was to have an agreement in place by Sunday, but he will now shift his attention to another hugely productive season in line with the three has had authored so far.

Jefferson comfortably holds the record for most receiving yards in the first three seasons of a player’s career (4,825), meaning his second contract will be enormous. The matter of injury guarantees (and their scheduling within the pact) were mentioned earlier this offseason as a potential issue, but it is unclear at this point what caused the failure for a deal to be reached.

Minnesota’s financial outlook looks much different moving forward after an offseason filled with a number of veteran departures. Jefferson is part of a young core the team will look to invest in – as it did recently with the extension for tight end T.J. Hockenson. Plenty of questions regarding the Vikings’ spending power in 2024 and beyond will be answered when clarity emerges regarding quarterback Kirk Cousins‘ future. The latter is set to hit free agency after the season, and Minnesota does not have a long-term successor in place at the moment.

Waiting until the conclusion of Year 4 to sign a new pact can be a risky proposition for players, but those at the top of their positional markets can ensure a major payday while remaining successful from an individual and team perspective. Nick Bosa‘s record-breaking deal for defensive players was signed just before his fifth season began, providing an example of patience (and in Bosa’s case, a training camp holdout) paying off. The lengths Jefferson will go to next spring if negotiations hit a snag upon resumption will make his situation worth watching closely.

NFL Injury Updates: Armstead, Andrews, Waller, Okudah, Moss

September 9th, 2023 at 9:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Dolphins are expected to be productive on offense with a healthy Tua Tagovailoa under center, but protection for him up front will be critical to his success. Miami will be shorthanded up front to begin the campaign.

Left tackle Terron Armstead is out for the Dolphins’ opener against the Chargers, as noted by NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. The four-time Pro Bowler is dealing with back, knee and ankle injuries and has not practiced since August 16. He was carted off the field that day, which represented a setback from his ongoing recovery from offseason knee surgery.

Armstead, 32, expressed optimism that he would be healthy in time for Week 1 before suffering the new injuries last month. His absence will be sorely missed given his importance to the team as a high-end blocker when available, and the five-year, $75MM pact he signed with the Dolphins last offseason. Wolfe notes that veteran Kendall Lamm is expected to get the nod in place of Armstead.

Here are some other injury updates in advance of Sunday’s action:

  • The focal point of the Ravens‘ new-look passing game will likely not be in action tomorrow. Tight end Mark Andrews was listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report, but he is not expected to play against the Texans, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The three-time Pro Bowler has been dealing with a quad injury recently, but he practiced on a limited basis each day this week. If he does indeed miss the contest, Baltimore will turn to 2022 draftees Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar at the TE spot, while leaning on a revamped receiver room which added Odell Beckham Jr. and first-round rookie Zay Flowers in the offseason.
  • Darren Waller‘s Giants debut may be delayed. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the 30-year-old is dealing with a hamstring injury, and his availability for Monday night against the Cowboys is in question. Waller is no stranger to hamstring issues, and they caused signficant missed time during his Raiders tenure. Upon being traded to New York, he received an opportunity to serve as the team’s top pass-catcher, so any absence would deal a blow to the Giants’ offense. 2022 fourth-rounder Daniel Bellinger would take on an increased role at the TE spot if Waller were unable to play.
  • Cornerback Jeff Okudah has been ruled out by the Falcons, Wolfe notes. The former No. 3 pick had a disappointing run in Detroit which included a number of significant injuries, one of which was a 2021 Achilles tear. Plenty is at stake for him in Atlanta, as he is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Okudah, 24, suffered a leg injury last month and his recovery was not expected to last deep into the start of the regular season. Free agent signing Tre Flowers could step into a starting role opposite A.J. Terrell against the Panthers on Sunday.
  • Colts running back Zack Moss was downgraded to doubtful by a team announcement on Saturday. He is recovering from a broken arm, and it was always in the air whether or not he would recover in time to play Week 1. Of course, the absence of the former Bills draftee will compound the fact that Jonathan Taylor is on the PUP list to begin the season, meaning he will be sidelined for at least four weeks. Plenty of rushing responsibility will likely fall to former UDFA Deon Jackson and 2021 Rams seventh-rounder Jake Funk in quarterback Anthony Richardson‘s NFL debut.

No Brian Burns Extension Imminent; Panthers OLB Expected To Play In Week 1

September 9th, 2023 at 8:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

Brian Burns‘ hold-in efforts have not yielded an extension agreement in time for the start of the season. The Panthers edge rusher is not expected to sign a deal before Week 1, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

A Burns extension has been on Carolina’s radar for quite some time now, and it has become clear they intend to keep him in the fold for years to come on a few occasions. The Panthers turned down a Rams trade package for the 25-year-old which included a pair of first-round picks at the deadline, and they insisted he would not be involved in the swap with the Bears which allowed them to acquire the top selection in April’s draft.

That gave the Florida State alum plenty of leverage in extension talks, but little progress has been made with the team seeking to work out a new pact ahead of tomorrow’s season opener. Burns – who attended training camp – recently indicated he would not miss regular season time, a move which would have subjected him to $890K in weekly fines. Those comments contrasted notably with his decision to not participate in certain practices, however, and it remained in doubt whether or not he would suit up without a contract in hand.

On that point, Fowler adds that Burns resumed practicing in recent days, and he is expected to play against the Falcons on Sunday. It is unclear if extension talks will continue once the season kicks off, or if player and team will choose to wait until the spring to resume negotiations. In any case, Burns is now set to earn $16MM this season as a result of Carolina’s decision to pick up his fifth-year option. He is not signed beyond 2023.

Many expected the Burns camp to use Nick Bosa‘s extension with the 49ers as a measuring stick for his own value. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year secured the largest commitment ever made to a player on that side of the ball (five years, $170MM with $88MM guaranteed), likely boosting the edge market as a whole. Burns was reported to be seeking an AAV similar to Bosa’s, though that was before the latter’s $34MM figure in that regard was revealed through his deal being finalized. Carolina is aiming for a pact averaging closer to Maxx Crosby‘s annual compensation ($23.5MM).

The Panthers would be well suited to have Burns in place for Week 1 and throughout the early portion of the campaign since Marquis Haynes is on IR, ensuring a four-week absence. That will add to the former’s responsibilities as Carolina’s top edge rusher as he looks to secure a major payday in the future with contract talks now (at least seemingly) in the rearview.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/9/23

September 9th, 2023 at 6:47pm CST by Ely Allen

We have our first flood of pregame transactions of the season today as teams across the league with games tomorrow utilize their two permitted practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Promoted from practice squad: LB Brevin Allen

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Promoted from practice squad: RB Myles Gaskin, OLB Benton Whitley

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Offseason In Review: Miami Dolphins

September 9th, 2023 at 6:00pm CST by Ben Levine

Following a busy offseason in 2022, the Dolphins didn’t take nearly as many swings in 2023.

It’s hard to blame them. The front office didn’t have to make up for any mistakes from last spring, as the team’s major acquisitions (receiver Tyreek Hill and offensive tackle Terron Armstead) both proved to be worth the investment. The organization also seemed to make the right decision in Mike McDaniel, as the head coach helped guide the Dolphins to their first playoff appearance since the 2016 season.

The Dolphins are clearly hoping that they can take another step forward during McDaniel’s second season at the helm. Of course, much of the team’s success will depend on the health of Tua Tagovailoa, but the team made enough offseason moves to remain in the playoff conversation heading into the 2023 campaign.

Trades:

For the second-straight offseason, the Dolphins made their biggest splash via trade, as they acquired one of the league’s top cornerbacks. Jalen Ramsey was more than productive during his three-plus seasons with the Rams, earning Pro Bowl nods each season while also being named to a pair of first-team All-Pro squads.

He didn’t earn the same accolades in 2022, but it was still a standout season for the veteran. Ramsey didn’t miss a game for the first time since 2018 while establishing career highs in tackles (88), passes defended (18), and interceptions (four). The 28-year-old ended up grading out as Pro Football Focus’ third-overall cornerback (among 118 qualifiers), and he paced the position with his run defense score.

The Dolphins clearly identified cornerback as a need heading into the offseason. Miami’s defense struggled in 2022, particularly against the pass. Miami ranked 27th in passing yards allowed per game and 29th in interceptions. The Dolphins’ need was only magnified when it was revealed that Byron Jones was unlikely to play again, leading to his release.

Unfortunately for the Dolphins, the team won’t immediately get to see their new acquisition on the field. Ramsey suffered a torn meniscus during training camp, keeping him on the sideline for the first few months of the season. There was initial hope that Ramsey could be ready for the season opener, but his placement on injured reserve assures that he won’t see the field until Week 5 at the earliest.

Elsewhere on the trade front, the Dolphins swapped cornerbacks with the Cowboys before the roster deadline. The team gave up on former first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene, who appeared in 32 games for the Dolphins across three seasons. In exchange, they received Kelvin Joseph, a former second-rounder who played the majority of his snaps on special teams over the past two seasons in Dallas.

The Dolphins added Dan Feeney to their offensive line mix during the offseason, guaranteeing $3.13MM of his salary in the process. The veteran was ultimately squeezed off the roster, but the front office managed to find a taker in the Bears vs. cutting him for nothing.

Free agency additions:

Miami used free agency to fill some key backup spots on their roster. The team’s biggest acquisition was linebacker David Long, who was added to the linebackers room following four seasons with the Titans. The former sixth-round pick saw a larger role during each of his four seasons in Tennessee, culminating in a 2022 campaign where he compiled a career-high 86 tackles. Long has missed time in each of his four NFL seasons, but as long as he’s healthy, he’s expected to start at inside linebacker next to Jerome Baker.

Eli Apple was added as a depth piece while the Dolphins looked to rework their cornerback corps, but he’ll likely see a significant role with Jalen Ramsey sidelined to start the season. Fortunately, Apple brings plenty of starting experience, as the veteran has started 78 of his 88 appearances. The 28-year-old spent the past two seasons in Cincinnati, collecting 98 tackles and two interceptions in 31 games.

DeShon Elliott also brings some starting experience to Miami’s secondary, with the former sixth-round pick having 35 starts on his resume. After spending the first three seasons of his career with the Ravens, Elliott spent the 2022 season in Detroit, where the safety chipped in 96 tackles and one interception. He’ll likely be the top backup to safeties Brandon Jones and Jevon Holland.

On the offensive side of the ball, the team made their biggest addition on the offensive line. Isaiah Wynn was once a first-round pick by the Patriots, but he fell out of favor in New England. Following a 2022 season where he was limited to only nine games (seven starts), the lineman hit free agency with little fanfare. He eventually got a one-year contract from Miami, where he’ll provide an upside option on the offensive line. While Wynn only ranked 72nd among 81 qualifying OTs in 2022 (per Pro Football Focus), he graded as an above-average option in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, including a 2020 campaign where he ranked 11th at his position.

The rest of the team’s offensive additions are destined for backup roles. Mike White showed a little something while serving as the Jets backup/occasional starter over the past two seasons, and he’ll now be the team’s top insurance if (or when) Tua Tagovailoa is sidelined. Tyler Kroft projects as more of a backup/blocking tight end, but he’ll help soak up some of the snaps that were lost when Mike Gesicki left for the Patriots. Braxton Berrios only missed one game for the Jets over the past four seasons, and he’ll likely see a role as a key returner and as a WR option behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

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