Bears, TE Cole Kmet Agree On Extension
Months after acquiring D.J. Moore, the Bears will soon have another high-end skill-position contract on their books. The team is set to extend Cole Kmet.
The fourth-year tight end agreed to a four-year deal worth $50MM, per ESPN’s Field Yates and Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The former second-round pick will receive $32.8MM guaranteed and $20MM in the first year of the contract, an agreement that will tie the promising pass catcher to Chicago through the 2027 season.
This is a reasonable re-up for the Bears, who will have Kmet tethered to the NFL’s ninth-most lucrative tight end accord. Kmet and Hunter Henry will share this distinction. Considering the Patriots inked Henry to his deal nearly 2 1/2 years ago, this could certainly represent good value for the Bears. The contract comes after David Njoku, Dawson Knox and Evan Engram agreed to deals between $13-$14MM per year. Kmet not reaching that territory is interesting, as the cap is back on the rise, but this still brings a nice payment to a player who took a step forward despite a run-heavy offense last season. Kmet also received the fifth-most guaranteed money at his position.
Part of a 2020 Chicago draft class that has included a few long-term starters, Kmet totaled seven touchdown receptions last season. While his yardage total (544) dipped from 2021 (612), he did not find the end zone during Justin Fields‘ rookie year. The Bears will expect the Notre Dame product to be a key Fields option going forward.
An Illinois native, Kmet arrived in Chicago as the No. 42 overall pick in 2020. Kmet was the team’s top pick that year, with the Khalil Mack trade costing first-round picks in 2019 and ’20. The Bears concluded their Jimmy Graham partnership after that season and gave the keys to Kmet, who has been a steady player since becoming the team’s top tight end. Kmet, 24, has not missed a game over the past two seasons. Fields has some questions to answer regarding his viability as an NFL passer, and the organization — one that passed on taking a quarterback this year, trading out of the No. 1 spot to add Moore and future assets — is counting on Kmet being a big part of of the talented QB doing so.
This marks the first big extension of Ryan Poles‘ Bears GM tenure. Two other members of the 2020 class — Darnell Mooney, Jaylon Johnson — loom as extension candidates for the Bears, who will have Fields eligible for a re-up in January.
Chargers Sign Justin Herbert To Five-Year Extension
JULY 26: The extension, which ties Herbert to the Chargers through the 2029 season, is now official. Herbert’s 2023 and ’24 cap hits will be under $20MM, with the ’24 number ($19.3MM) representing a $10MM decrease from his $29.5MM fifth-year option salary. The 2025 number checks in at $37.3MM, per OverTheCap, with the ’26 cap hit sitting at $46.3MM. The Bolts will undoubtedly go to the restructure well during this contract, as $58.3MM (2027) and $71.1MM (’28) cap figures appear on this deal down the road.
JULY 25: The latest quarterback domino has fallen. The Chargers have signed quarterback Justin Herbert to a massive five-year extension worth up to $262.5MM, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The new deal will keep Herbert in Los Angeles through at least the 2029 season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), the new deal contains a no-trade clause.
According to Jonathan Jones of CBS (via Twitter), the deal can actually reach $265MM with incentives. The five-year extension includes $218MM in guaranteed money, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic (via Twitter). Schefter clarifies (on Twitter) that the extension contains $133.7MM in fully guaranteed money, $193.7MM with the injury guarantee, and a potential $218.7MM in total guarantees.
Rapoport notes on Twitter that Herbert will earn a whopping $100MM in year one of the extension, topping the previous one-year high of $80MM in earnings. This will be a significant raise for Herbert, who was set to earn $4.2MM in the fourth year of his rookie deal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
In terms of new money, Herbert’s deal will rank fourth at the position in full guarantees and injury guarantees, per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com (via Twitter). Herbert’s overall guarantees will slide him in third among QBs, and his overall injury guarantees will rank second at the position.
It was only a matter of time until the two sides ultimately agreed to a new deal. We heard back in March that the Chargers and Herbert had started extension talks, and with several quarterbacks having already reset the positional market this offseason, Herbert appeared to be the next in line.
Jalen Hurts (five years, $255MM) briefly held the title of highest-paid QB before Lamar Jackson‘s extension (five years, $260MM) a week later. Now, a few months after Jackson signed his record-breaking deal, Herbert is once again resetting the market, settling in at a contract that will pay him $52.5MM. The Chargers QB is now one of four players at his position to top $50MM (along with Hurts, Jackson, and Aaron Rodgers), and it will only be a matter of time before Joe Burrow and the Bengals agree to an extension that once again reshapes the market.
A mega-deal is certainly warranted for Herbert. Through three seasons in the league, Herbert has quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s top signal-callers. His 14,089 passing yards are the most through a player’s first three seasons in NFL history, and his 94 touchdowns through three seasons trails only Dan Marino (98) on the all-time list.
The sixth-overall pick in the 2020 draft, Herbert earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after tossing 31 touchdowns vs. 10 interceptions. He got a Pro Bowl nod in 2021 after compiling 38 touchdowns, but Herbert found the end zone only 25 times in 2022. However, he had a career-high 68.2 completion percentage this past season while guiding the Chargers to 10 wins and his first career playoff appearance.
2023 will be a crucial year for the Chargers. With Herbert’s extension set to kick in, the cash-strapped organization will look to capitalize on an offense led by Herbert, running back Austin Ekeler, and wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. As ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry points out on Twitter, the Chargers’ ability to sign Herbert on the eve of training camp also ensures that there will be zero distractions as the Chargers look to install coordinator Kellen Moore‘s new offense.
Damar Hamlin Full Go For Training Camp
Damar Hamlin is close to completing his long-anticipated recovery from the chest injury that induced cardiac arrest. Nearly seven months after that scary scene, the Bills announced the inspirational safety will be 100% as the team starts training camp.
This has been the expectation for a while now. Hamlin did not begin OTAs on time but participated in Buffalo’s minicamp. Sean McDermott said the team will “go at his cadence” regarding the final steps on this journey back to full health. Hamlin began camp work with his teammates Wednesday.
Hamlin, 25, initially received full clearance back in April, making a major stride in his recovery from a hospitalization and breathing through a ventilator in Cincinnati to being back with his teammates in uniform. The collision with Tee Higgins induced commotio cordis, an extremely rare condition that emerges after chest trauma produces waves of electricity that can alter heart rhythm. He has made remarkable strides in the months since.
Training camp will mark another key hurdle for the third-year safety, with the Bills not ticketed to don shoulder pads until August. How Hamlin fares in contact work will be a storyline to follow during Bills camp, but considering how the Pittsburgh alum has responded thus far on his comeback trail, the expectation will be a spot on the team’s 53-man roster and a role in Week 1.
The Bills needed Hamlin to replace Micah Hyde for much of last season, but with Hyde back and Jordan Poyer re-signing in March, Hamlin returning to a backup role appears likely. The Bills also re-signed Dean Marlowe and added ex-Rams starter Taylor Rapp, giving the team one of the better safety depth charts any NFL team has featured in recent memory.
Hamlin practicing in training camp will prevent the Bills from stashing him on the reserve/PUP list to start the season. Two years remain on Hamlin’s rookie contract.
Additionally, the injury Nyheim Hines suffered this week is an ACL tear, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. The Bills placed Hines on their non-football injury list Tuesday. The 2022 trade acquisition was sitting stationary on a jet ski when another rider crashed into him. The NFI placement puts Hines’ $4.1MM base salary up in the air, since the Bills are not obligated to pay the veteran back due to the injury being sustained away from team grounds. Hines’ agent sent out a message calling for the Bills to pay his client (Twitter link).
Jaguars Re-Sign DE Dawuane Smoot
JULY 26: Smoot’s full guarantee will check in south of that $3.25MM mark. The edge rusher’s third Jaguars contract includes $2.25MM fully guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. This will come in the form of a league-minimum base salary and a $1.12MM signing bonus.
JULY 21: Days after news of an outside visit surfaced, Dawuane Smoot has landed a deal to remain in Jacksonville. The veteran edge rusher has re-signed with the Jaguars, as noted by agent David Canter. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the one-year pact is worth up to $6.25MM and includes $3.25MM guaranteed (Twitter links). 
Smoot was scheduled to visit the Ravens, but that will no longer be necessary. The 28-year-old will instead continue his stay in Duval County, which has spanned all six years of his NFL career to date. His free agent market was limited due to the Achilles tear he suffered in December, but he will nevertheless earn an opportunity to rebuild his value in a familiar environment.
The former third-rounder had established himself as a starting-caliber pass rusher while playing on a two-year, $10MM deal between 2020 and ’21. During that span, he logged over 1,300 defensive snaps and recorded 11.5 sacks and 61 pressures. Smoot found himself relegated back into rotational duties last season, but he remained an effective contributor up until his season-ending injury.
Smoot posted five sacks and 12 QB hits through 15 games last season. He will look to at least replicate those figures this season upon completion of his rehab. The Jaguars have a number of other options along their defensive front, including 2022 first overall pick Travon Walker, who will likely cap Smoot’s playing time once again. A strong season from the latter could set himself up for a more lucrative free agent period next year, though.
Once healthy, the Illinois alum will face the task of helping Jacksonville improve on their pass rush production from last season. The AFC South winners compiled only 35 sacks in 2022, which ranked 25th in the NFL. While Smoot will not have an every-down role to play as the Jaguars aim to take a step forward in that department, he will have the opportunity to continue operating as an effective rotational rusher.
Lions Audition QB Teddy Bridgewater
With Hendon Hooker looking at a potential injury redshirt of sorts, the Lions are considering a short-term upgrade behind Jared Goff. One of Dan Campbell‘s former Saints coworkers remains on the team’s radar.
The third-year Lions HC confirmed the team’s interest in Teddy Bridgewater, indicating the staff has kept tabs on the veteran quarterback this offseason. The Lions brought in Bridgewater for a workout recently, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
This comes after the Lions previously expressed confidence in their QB room as a whole. Nate Sudfeld is currently positioned as Goff’s top backup. But the Lions made Bridgewater a “strong offer” in April. Even after the recent praise of the signal-caller group, the Lions are still eyeing help here as they grapple with rising expectations.
“We’ve kept in touch with Teddy and we’ve kept Nate abreast of that, too,” Campbell said, via the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers. “We haven’t hidden anything (from him). So it went good. Gave us a chance to sit down with him face-to-face, particularly Ben (Johnson), Bru (QBs coach Mark Brunell) and Brad (Holmes). It gets me face-to-face with him again. Then just the medical (evaluation). So it was good. It was a good visit. We’ll see where it goes.”
Campbell was with the Saints during Bridgewater’s two-season tenure, which ran from 2018-19. The 30-year-old quarterback has since moved to Charlotte, Denver and Miami. He and Carson Wentz have long hovered as the top two QB2 options available, with each having extensive starting experience. Bridgewater has made 65 career starts and would certainly provide the Lions with a 2023 upgrade behind Goff.
“It doesn’t mean that Nate is out of anything if we go this route and it works out,” Campbell said of the Bridgewater visit. “You’ll feel good about whoever comes out of the fire will be the right guy to help you along the way. But yeah, you don’t want the wheels to fall off.”
This marks Bridgewater’s first known visit this year. He is coming off a forgettable season with the Dolphins. Bridgewater made two starts but suffered injuries in each game. He was unavailable to close Miami’s season, with a dislocated pinkie sidelining him for the Dolphins’ regular-season finale and their wild-card game against the Bills. Bridgewater, however, had the Broncos at 7-7 as their primary starter in 2021. One of those games involved a one-sided win over Campbell’s Lions. Bridgewater’s second concussion that season ended up sidelining him for the rest of the year, leading to three Drew Lock-led starts and the Broncos firing Vic Fangio. In 2020 with the Panthers, Bridgewater completed 69% of his passes and started 15 games.
Goff did not miss any games last season but missed three during the 2021 campaign. A seventh-year veteran, Sudfeld has never started an NFL game and has only appeared in six.
Texans, RT Tytus Howard Agree On Extension
The Texans’ batch of 2023 offensive line extensions now includes right tackle Tytus Howard. Following Laremy Tunsil and Shaq Mason, Houston’s right tackle is cashing in.
Howard agreed to a three-year, $56MM extension Wednesday morning, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). This $18.67MM-per-year agreement will give the 2019 first-round pick $36.5MM guaranteed. An $18MM signing bonus comprises part of that guarantee, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds.
It is unclear if Howard that guarantee total represents Thomas’ locked-in number at signing, but after an inconsistent start to his career, the Division I-FCS product will be part of a suddenly expensive Houston offensive line. As the Texans prepare to give C.J. Stroud the reins, they are fortifying his protection corps.
Tunsil agreed to a three-year, $75MM extension, while Mason landed a three-year, $36MM contract shortly thereafter. Texans GM Nick Caserio has shown a willingness to offer short-term extensions, as he also did for defensive tackle Maliek Collins this offseason. Expensive medium-term contacts now flood his O-line. But the Texans’ front previously featured a big-ticket Tunsil contract and a host of lower-cost agreements. No more. In terms of average annual value, Tunsil and Howard double as the NFL’s highest-paid tackle tandem.
Howard, 27, had been going into his fifth-year option season. This extension will allow the Texans to reduce that $13.2MM cap hit for 2023, and they now have their right tackle signed through 2026.
Neither Tunsil nor Howard were Caserio-era pickups. Howard arrived first, joining the team as a first-round pick during a Brian Gaine-run draft. The Texans fired Gaine shortly after that 2019 draft, leading to the eventful Bill O’Brien period in charge. O’Brien signed off on the monster Tunsil trade package months later and greenlit a record-setting extension for the left tackle in 2020. Tunsil scored big again under Caserio this offseason. The Texans acquired Mason, a Patriots draftee during Caserio’s lengthy New England run, from the Buccaneers in March.
Wednesday’s deal makes Howard the league’s fourth-highest-paid right tackle, checking in just ahead of Brian O’Neill but behind the new accords given to Lane Johnson and Jawaan Taylor. The Saints’ Ryan Ramczyk deal also checks in above Howard’s. Considering Ramczyk and Johnson are All-Pros, Howard being in this neighborhood represents a substantial win. While Howard has not achieved what those two right-siders have, the Texans had begun to view him as a long-term piece recently.
Howard had spent time at guard and replaced Tunsil at left tackle down the stretch in 2021. With Tunsil healthy last year, Howard returned to his right tackle post and started all 17 games. While 2022 brought another dismal Texans performance as a whole, Howard excelled. ESPN’s pass block win rate metric placed the Alabama State alum sixth among tackles. Pro Football Focus was less bullish, slotting Howard 41st. But the Texans are rolling with the Tunsil-Howard tandem for the foreseeable future.
With Stroud’s rookie contract on the books, the Texans will be able to make big investments at other positions. The team has not acquired much talent worthy of said re-ups at other spots just yet, having gone multiple years — due to the Tunsil trade — without first- or second-round picks. But plenty will be expected of Houston’s O-line in Stroud’s first season.
Ravens Sign CB Arthur Maulet
JULY 26: Maulet’s deal is worth up to $2MM, per Wolfe, who notes the contract will contain a $220K guarantee (Twitter link). The deal is now official.
JULY 24: Not long after the news of one of their former starting corners departing, the Ravens are set to make an addition at the position. Arthur Maulet is nearing an agreement with Baltimore, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe (Twitter link). 
The Ravens showed little interest in bringing back Marcus Peters this offseason, and the veteran ballhawk has joined the Raiders. Baltimore replaced Peters on the boundary by signing Rock Ya-Sin to a one-year deal, and he is expected to start opposite All-Pro Marlon Humphrey. The team’s corner depth has faced questions beyond that pair, however.
The starting slot role and depth positions on the boundary were poised to be filled by relatively unexperienced players prior to today’s news. The Ravens used Day 3 picks on Jalyn Armour-Davis and Damarion Williams last year, doing so again in 2023 with fifth-rounder Kyu Blu Kelly. That trio will be joined in training camp by former waiver claim Trayvon Mullen, veterans Daryl Worley and Kevon Seymour, as well as versatile backs Brandon Stephens and Ar’Darius Washington.
Maulet, 30, will provide much more experience than many of the aforementioned names. He logged eight starts across the past two seasons, both spent with the Steelers. Pittsburgh elected to move on from him in May, however, making him one of several veterans on the lookout for a new opportunity deep into July. It was recently learned that he was drawing interest from a number teams on the eve of training camps starting.
It was not the Ravens, but rather the Bears and Jaguars who were named as suitors for Maulet, who has spent notable time in the slot during his career. Presuming this Baltimore agreement goes through without issue, though, he will remain in the AFC North and fill a notable gap in the team’s secondary. He will have the chance to earn signficant playing on a defense which, like the team as a whole, faces considerable expectations in 2023.
Cowboys, Trevon Diggs Agree To Extension
5:10pm: Providing an update to the max value of the pact, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News tweets that is it actually $100MM, rather than $104MM. While that lowers Diggs’ ceiling slightly, he is still assured of a signficant windfall through this deal. ESPN’s Todd Archer notes that the extension includes $43.2MM in guaranteed money (Twitter link).
2:28pm: The Cowboys have taken care of an important piece of business with one of their top young players. Cornerback Trevon Diggs has agreed to terms on a five-year, $97MM extension (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero). 
Pelissero adds that the contract has a maximum value of $104MM, and that Diggs will receive a signing bonus of $21.25MM. The 24-year-old is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, so today’s deal means he will now be on the books through 2028 as one of the league’s highest-paid corners.
The $19.4MM annual base value of the pact matches that of the Saints’ Marshon Lattimore. By reaching incentives, Diggs will be able to join the three-member CB group which averages over $20MM in annual compensation. His three-year tenure in Dallas has established himself as one of the league’s top ballhawks, and the team has recognized that with this deal.
Diggs has racked up 17 interceptions in his career, including a league-leading 11 in 2021. His ball production has resulted in 49 pass deflections as well, making him an obvious candidate for a lucrative pact. The Alabama product earned a second straight Pro Bowl nod last season, despite his coverage statistics taking a step back from what they were in his first two years.
The former second-rounder was named as one of the up-and-coming producers the Cowboys intended to extend ahead of training camp. To no surprise, they have worked out a deal just in time for camp to open up, and Diggs can be penciled in for a continued starting role opposite trade acquisition Stephon Gilmore in the short-term, and as an anchor of Dallas’ secondary for years beyond that.
Wideout CeeDee Lamb and right tackle Terence Steele are also names to watch with respect to new deals being worked out in the near future. The former is on the books through next season via the fifth-year option, which likely helps explain why Diggs’ deal has been worked out first. The team’s corner room has its leader in place for the long-term future as a result. While the Cowboys have a more complicated situation on their hands with one of their veteran leaders, a member of the team’s young core has been rewarded with multi-year stability.
49ers QB Brock Purdy Cleared To Practice
After suffering an arm injury during the NFC Championship Game and subsequently undergoing offseason surgery, Brock Purdy is ready to return to the practice field. General manager John Lynch announced today that the quarterback has been cleared to practice without any restrictions (per Tyler Dragon of USA Today). However, Lynch did caution that Purdy will be on a pitch count during training camp.
“Brock is cleared and ready to go. He’s been cleared and gonna be without restrictions,” Lynch said. “Now having said that, we’re sticking and adhering to a plan that’s been put in place for some time. He got after it the last couple days. We upped his pitch count.
“He’ll take off Day 1 but we believe in that plan. He’s cleared without restrictions, but there will be some time off due to pitch count. But the great news is Brock has worked his tail off and he’s ready to go.”
Purdy suffered a complete tear of his UCL, and while he managed to avoid Tommy John surgery, he still faced a lengthy rehab. While the 49ers added some extra insurance at the position in Sam Darnold, the team has also provided optimistic updates about Purdy throughout the offseason.
Last we heard, the quarterback had resumed throwing and was still on track to start in Week 1. Considering he’s set to be a participant for the start of 49ers training camp, we can probably still count on Purdy’s availability heading into the regular season.
The Mr. Irrelevant of the 2022 draft had a rookie season for the ages. He went 5-0 as a starter, completing 67.1 percent of his passes for 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He continued his strong play in the postseason, helping the 49ers win a pair of playoff games while tossing three touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Considering his injury and lack of NCAA pedigree, it was uncertain if Purdy would retain his starting role heading into 2023. However, the 49ers have been adamant that the second-year QB is set to lead their depth chart, with Darnold serving as the primary backup. This means former third-overall pick Trey Lance is set to be the third-string quarterback heading into the 2023 campaign. The 23-year-old was limited to only two games last season before suffering a season-ending ankle injury, and with Purdy emerging late in the season, several teams reach out to the organization to check on Lance’s availability.
Seahawks Sign Second-Round RB Zach Charbonnet
The Seahawks are one step closer to signing their entire draft class. The team announced today that they’ve inked second-round running back Zach Charbonnet to his four-year rookie pact.
Following two up-and-down years at Michigan, Charbonnet put himself on the NFL map at UCLA. Over the past two years, the six-foot-one, 220-pound running back compiled 3,014 yards from scrimmage and 27 touchdowns. After earning FWAA first-team All-American honors in 2022, Charbonnet declared for the NFL Draft.
Charbonnet ended up being the third running back off the board when the Seahawks selected him with the 52nd-overall pick. With Bijan Robinson going No. 8 and Jahmyr Gibbs being selected at No. 12, Charbonnet was the only RB selected in the span of about 60 picks.
The Seahawks organization seems to be high on the rookie running back, with Pete Carroll indicating that Charbonnet should have a role right away. Kenneth Walker is still expected to be the starter in Seattle, but the rookie should be more than second fiddle. DeeJay Dallas, seventh-round rookie Kenny McIntosh, and Bryant Koback round out the current RB depth chart.
With Charbonnet signing, that leaves first-round cornerback Devon Witherspoon as the team’s only unsigned draft pick. The rest of the team’s draft class includes:
- Round 1, No. 5 (from Broncos): Devon Witherspoon, CB (Illinois)
- Round 1, No. 20: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR (Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 37 (from Broncos): Derick Hall, DE (Auburn) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 52: Zach Charbonnet, RB (UCLA)
- Round 4, No. 108 (from Broncos): Anthony Bradford, G (LSU) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 123: Cameron Young, DT (Mississippi State) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 151 (from Steelers): Mike Morris, DE (Michigan) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 154: Olusegun Oluwatimi, C (Michigan) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 198: Jerrick Reed II, S (New Mexico) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 237: Kenny McIntosh, RB (Georgia) (signed)