Giants, Saquon Barkley Agree To Deal
In a surprise twist, the franchise tag-induced situation between Saquon Barkley and the Giants has been resolved. The two sides agreed on a one-year deal worth up to $11MM, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).
The guaranteed base value of the contract is $10.1MM – the same as the franchise tag Barkley was set to play on during the 2023 season. $900K in incentives are in place to give him the opportunity to slightly outpace the earnings he would have seen on the tender. Rushing yards, touchdowns and receptions will yield added compensation, but only if the Giants make the postseason (Twitter links via ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). Rapoport adds that the 26-year-old will receive a $2MM signing bonus, while his colleague Mike Garafolo notes that New York will still be able to use the tag next year if they so desire (Twitter link). 
Barkley was one of three running backs who were unable to reach agreement on a long-term deal ahead of last week’s deadline for franchise tag recipients. Negotiations on that front are not allowed to re-commence until January, but NFL rules allow for one-year deals to be signed in place of the tag, even if they are worked out after the deadline. Such instances are rare, but in this case the provision has allowed for a compromise which will see the Giants’ offensive catalyst work out his contractual status (for this season) in time for training camp.
Barkley and the Giants came within roughly $2MM on both annual value and guaranteed compensation during their eleventh-hour negotiations, marking notable progress but leading to questions about why a deal could not be worked out. The team’s last offer included an increase in AAV in exchange for a lesser guaranteed figure, and it was only right up against the deadline that New York was willing to reach the $22MM mark in the latter category. That represents the amount Barkley (along with Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard) would earn on consecutive tags, which are fully guaranteed. Offers including assurances above $22MM on a multi-year contract would therefore be needed for those backs to see them as an improvement on playing out two tags.
After the deadline passed, Barkley spoke publicly about his frustrations with leaked information regarding extension talks. He also expanded on the previously-reported possibility that he would not only hold out from training camp, but skip out regular season games as well. Doing so would have resulted in $560K in lost salary per week, and left the team without the focal point of their ground game. That scenario is now off the table, though, and both parties can move forward with preparations for the season.
Having not signed his tag, Barkley would not have been subject to fines for missing camp. Now that he will be under contract, his attendance will be mandatory. His return to the team will be a welcomed development, as he looks to build off his career-best 1,312 rushing yards from last season, which helped propel to Giants to a surprise run to the divisional round of the playoffs. The financial element of his 2023 performance will still be worth watching closely, however, since today’s news leaves him eligible to be tagged for a second time after the campaign.
With Barkley’s situation now resolved and Pollard having already signed his tag, attention will now turn to Jacobs. The latter began his hold out of Raiders training camp yesterday, and he has also acknowledged the threat of missing regular season games. Whether or not this Giants-Barkley compromise provides a blueprint for a solution between Jacobs and the Raiders will be worth watching closely.
Cardinals Sign Round 2 OLB BJ Ojulari, Conclude Rookie Signings
The Cardinals are the latest team to conclude the signing of their 2023 NFL Draft class with the signing of a second-round pick. Cardinals staff writer Darren Urban announced that the team had signed LSU defensive end BJ Ojulari today, wrapping up Arizona’s rookie signings. 
The second-round trend is notable after an early signing saw the Panthers deliver three years of guarantees to rookie wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. Since then, we’ve seen a number of second-round picks sign similarly impressive deals, pointing to a potential permanent shift in the value of second-round deals.
Ojulari and fifth-round pick Owen Pappoe should factor immediately into a relatively thin linebacking corps. With Zaven Collins shifting to defensive end and Isaiah Simmons officially making the move to defensive back, the talent at linebacker is suddenly lacking in a major way. Former safety Kyzir White is set to return to the full-time starting role he held when he was a Charger after a rotational year in Philadelphia. Around White, the outside linebacker jobs are open for competition between Ojulari, Pappoe, and veteran backup Dennis Gardeck.
At only 6-foot-2, Ojulari lacks the ideal length of an outside linebacker in the NFL. He can rush standing up or with his hand in the ground, and for him, finding the backfield is a regular occurrence. What he lacks in size and ability, he makes up for in spirit. Praised by many as a high-character guy, he’ll be a strong culture fit for a Cardinals team that may be struggling to find wins early. He also offers an unrelenting effort that commonly sees him making plays on the other side of the field or even downfield. In some schemes and on some teams, Ojulari might need to sit and develop a bit, but in Arizona, he should have every opportunity to earn his way onto the field early and often.
Without Kliff Kingsbury, DeAndre Hopkins, or, perhaps, Kyler Murray (to start the year), the 2023 Cardinals are set to look a bit different. Here’s the full draft class that will join Arizona in a new look:
Round 1, No. 6 (from Rams through Lions): Paris Johnson, OT (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 2, No. 41 (from Titans): BJ Ojulari, DE (LSU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 72 (from Titans): Garrett Williams, CB (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 94 (from Eagles): Michael Wilson, WR (Stanford) (signed)
Round 4, No. 122 (from Dolphins through Chiefs and Lions): Jon Gaines II, G (UCLA) (signed)
Round 5, No. 139 (from Broncos through Lions): Clayton Tune, QB (Houston) (signed)
Round 5, No. 168 (from Cardinals through Lions): Owen Pappoe, LB (Auburn) (signed)
Round 5, No. 180: Kei’Trel Clark, CB (Louisville) (signed)
Round 6, No. 213: Dante Stills, DT (West Virginia) (signed)
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/24/23
In a very busy day for the NFL in transactions, here are some of the minor moves that may have slipped through the cracks:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Davion Davis
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LS Tyler Ott
- Placed on PUP: WR Rashod Bateman
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: RB Darrynton Evans, TE Jace Sternberger
Chicago Bears
- Activated from PUP: WR Chase Claypool
- Signed: WR Isaiah Ford, LB Buddy Johnson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on PUP: TE Mitchell Wilcox (after being re-signed)
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE Eric Tomlinson
- Waived: LB Ian Swenson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DE Isaac Rochell
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Bobby Evans, G Jack Snyder, TE Colin Thompson
- Placed on NFI: G Chris Reed
- Placed on PUP: OLB Andre Carter II
- Waived from NFI: WR Malik Knowles
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Diego Fagot, WR Jalen Hurd
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Brandin Bryant
- Waived: WR Dre Miller, WR Makai Polk
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Jeremy Banks
The Ravens signed Ott after working out a trio of long snappers that also included Ryan Langan and Shane Griffin. The former Pro Bowler for the Seahawks won the tryout and is expected to be the replacement for Baltimore’s usual long snapper Nick Moore, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon during his offseason training, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Also, the breath of relief for Bateman is short-lived as, a day after being activated from the reserve/did not report list, Baltimore has placed the young receiver on the PUP list.
On a more positive note, a day after the Bears placed Claypool on the PUP list, he has been removed from it. He’ll now be eligible to participate in training camp starting this Wednesday. Tomlinson returns to Houston after being released back in May. He’ll get another chance to work in the tight ends room that includes Dalton Schultz, Teagan Quitoriano, and Brevin Jordan.
Buccaneers Ink Round 2 OL Cody Mauch, Wrap Up Rookie Deals
Tampa Bay has continued the recent trend of teams completing the signing of their 2023 draft classes. Buccaneers senior writer/editor Scott Smith released today that the team had inked their last remaining unsigned rookie, North Dakota State offensive lineman Cody Mauch.
The second-round signings have been sticky for most teams after the Panthers included some hefty guarantees in the rookie contract of 39th overall pick Jonathan Mingo. While the details of Mauch’s contract have yet to be revealed, it could continue a trend of strong rookie deals that we’ve been seeing for second-round picks since the Mingo-signing.
Tampa Bay traded up two spots in order to secure Mauch back in April. After losing Alex Cappa to free agency and Ali Marpet to retirement, the Buccaneers struggled to find consistency on the interior of the offensive line throughout the 2022 season. Injuries didn’t help the situation, but the team lost another asset after trading Shaq Mason to the Texans.
Enter Mauch, who originally arrived in Fargo as a lean tight end at 6-foot-5, 221 pounds. The Bison were able to bulk the young man up to 6-foot-6, 303, helping to mold him into an NFL-ready lineman. As a team captain in his final collegiate season, Mauch earned FCS offensive lineman of the year honors. He impressed scouts with his outstanding mobility, fierce handwork, and sheer competitiveness.
He excelled at the Division I-FCS level as an offensive tackle but lacks the ideal length to be a clearcut starter on the outside in the NFL. He absolutely deserves a look at tackle, with Donovan Smith‘s departure for Kansas City, but at the very least, Mauch could be an immediate contributor on the interior offensive line. He could push Robert Hainsey or Nick Leverett for a starting spot at guard and can give Luke Goedeke a run for the open starting tackle spot in 2023.
After the (second) retirement of Tom Brady, the Buccaneers are entering a bit of a rebuild, and this draft class is the start of that process. Here is Tampa Bay’s full 2023 draft class:
Round 1, No. 19: Calijah Kancey, DT (Pittsburgh) (signed)
Round 2, No. 48 (from Lions through Packers): Cody Mauch, G (North Dakota State) (signed)
Round 3, No. 82: Yaya Diaby, DE (Louisville) (signed)
Round 5, No. 153: SirVocea Dennis, LB (Pittsburgh) (signed)
Round 5, No. 171 (from Rams): Payne Durham, TE (Purdue) (signed)
Round 6, No. 181 (from Colts): Josh Hayes, CB (Kansas State) (signed)
Round 6, No. 191 (from Packers through Rams, Texans and Eagles): Trey Palmer, WR (Nebraska) (signed)
Round 6, No. 196: Jose Ramirez, OLB (Eastern Michigan) (signed)
K Michael Badgley To Sign With Commanders
The “Money Badger” is once again on the move. Shortly after being released by the Lions, journeyman kicker Michael Badgley has already found his next stop in Washington, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. After working out for the Commanders earlier today, Badgley left the building with new contract and an opportunity to compete for the team’s placekicker position. 
In his sixth NFL season, Badgley is set to join his sixth NFL team. Coming out of Miami (FL) as the Hurricanes’ all-time leader in points scored and field goals made, Badgley signed as an undrafted free agent with the Colts in 2018. After failing to make the initial 53-man roster, Badgley eventually signed with the Chargers. He struggled to stay on the field in his first two seasons but impressed as a rookie converting 15 of his 16 attempted field goals and 27 of 28 extra point attempts while earning his semi-borrowed moniker. His sophomore season was nearly as impressive as he only missed three field goals and made all of his extra points.
A rough 2020 season that would see him miss nine field goals and three extra points would lead to a position battle in camp. The Chargers waived the young kicker after he failed to beat out Tristan Vizcaino in a camp kicking competition. Vizcaino wouldn’t last long in Los Angeles after missing five extra points the next season. Badgley would rebound, signing to the Titans’ practice squad and appearing in one game for Tennessee.
After getting waived by Tennessee, Badgley would win a kicking competition in Indianapolis, beating out Brett Maher, Aldrick Rosas, and Riley Patterson for a backup position behind an injured Rodrigo Blankenship. He would finish the season for the Colts after Blankenship was placed on injured reserve, missing only three field goals and making all 39 of his extra point attempts.
Badgley started 2022 as a free agent and eventually signed with the Bears as Cairo Santos was away from the team for personal reasons. He would only play one game for Chicago, but he made all four field goals he attempted in the game. Badgley was released the following week but was quickly picked up by the Lions. With Austin Seibert battling a groin injury and backup kicker Dominik Eberle struggling, Badgley took hold of the kicking job. He finished the year for the Lions, converting 24 of 28 field goal attempts and making all 33 of his extra points.
As a reward for his stand-in performance, the Lions decided to re-sign Badgley, keeping him under contract for 2023. Unfortunately, they backed off of that commitment four days ago, allowing Riley Patterson and former XFL kicker Parker Romo to move on in a kicking battle that would surprisingly no longer include Badgley.
Instead, Badgley will compete with incumbent kicker Joey Slye for the kicking job in Washington. Slye had an impressive 2021 season, missing only two field goals attempts while kicking in games for the Texans, 49ers, and Washington. In a full season with the Commanders last year, though, Slye showed much of the same inconsistency that plagued his early years in Carolina. Slye has also consistently struggled with extra point attempts, missing 15 in his four years of play.
Slye and Badgley will now participate in a kicking battle throughout training camp. Badgley has plenty of experience in kicking battles, sporting both wins and losses as detailed above. Slye actually won out over Badgley for a job kicking in San Francisco in 2021 as a stand-in for Robbie Gould. Badgley’s strong 2022 outing could give him a leg up in this year’s battle, but he’ll need a really good camp to unseat Slye, who has familiarity with the program.
Broncos DL Eyioma Uwazurike Issued Indefinite Gambling Suspension
The identity of the latest NFL player to receive NFL discipline for violation of the league’s gambling policy has been learned. Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike has been banned indefinitely, as noted (on Twitter) by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Uwazurike was found to have wagered on NFL games in 2022, his rookie season. As a result, he will now miss the upcoming campaign and is ineligible to apply for reinstatement until July 24, 2024. The news marks a blow to the Broncos’ defensive front, and to the 25-year-old’s career future.
A fourth-round pick out of Iowa State, Uwazurike appeared in eight games last year, seeing playing time in the latter half of the season. He saw a 31% snap share on defense, recording 17 tackles and a pair of QB hits while also blocking a field goal. Uwazurike was in line to take on a larger workload this season, but that will no longer be the case. The Broncos saw Dre’Mont Jones depart in free agency, and replaced him with ex-Cardinal Zach Allen. The latter, along with the likes of Matt Henningsen, D.J. Jones and Mike Purcell, will log most of the snaps along Denver’s D-line.
“We were informed by the NFL today that Eyioma Uwazurike has been suspended by the league indefinitely for violating its gambling policy,” the Broncos said in a statement. “Our organization fully cooperated with this investigation and takes matters pertaining to the integrity of the game very seriously.
“The Denver Broncos will continue to provide all members of our organization with the necessary education, resources and support to ensure compliance with the NFL’s Gambling Policy.”
The 2023 offseason has been littered with players being issued either full-season bans for gambling on NFL games, or shorter punishments for placing wagers on non-NFL events while at team facilities. Uwazurike has joined that growing list, and he will now spend at least the next calendar year out of the Broncos’ plans and away from football.
Commanders Release G Andrew Norwell
As expected, the Commanders have moved on from Andrew Norwell. The team announced on Monday that the veteran guard has been released. 
Washington placed Norwell on the reserve/PUP list in May, a move which seemed to signal the end of his time in the nation’s capital once he passed a physical. After dealing with an elbow injury during the spring, the 31-year-old has presumably done so given his release is now official.
Norwell spent only one season in Washington after four years each in Carolina and Jacksonville. The Jaguars removed one year from his deal in 2021, allowing him to hit the open market last offseason. That paved the way for a two-year, $10MM Commanders contract. Parting ways with him halfway through that pact will yield $4.38MM in cap savings for Washington via a post-June 1 cut.
The Ohio State alum started at left guard for each of his 16 games played last year, drawing his worst PFF evaluation to date. That helped inform the team’s decision to look elsewhere at the position. Saahdiq Charles and Chris Paul are set to compete for the first-team LG role during camp, and the Commanders have a number of other, new, faces in place along their offensive front to evaluate.
Norwell, who has started all but one of his 128 career games, will now look to latch onto a roster as training camps open up around the league. Teams are always on the lookout for experienced contributors when filling out depth charts, and, if healthy, he should be able to generate a market on a short-term, low-cost deal in a bid to rebuild his free agent value. Washington, meanwhile, will move forward with added financial flexibility and a clearer picture of its interior O-line situation.
Raiders, CB Marcus Peters Agree To Deal
Monday’s second workout with veteran cornerback Marcus Peters has resulted in a Raiders deal. The sides agreed to terms on a one-year deal Monday, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). Pro Football Network’s Adam Caplan tweets that it is a $3MM contract worth up to $5MM. 
Peters has long been connected to Vegas this offseason, and it comes as no surprise that a deal has materialized at the onset of training camp. The 30-year-old met with the Raiders earlier today, and he will now look to add a playmaking element to the team’s secondary after a productive stint in Baltimore.
An ACL tear ended his 2021 season before it began, so Peters faced plenty of question marks upon his return last year. He suited up for 13 regular season games as well as the Ravens’ wild-card loss, but his performance fell short of the form he had previously shown with the team. The two-time All-Pro (who has 32 career picks) was limited to only one interception, the lowest single-season total of his career.
In addition, Peters struggled in coverage, surrendering seven touchdowns as the nearest defender and allowing a passer rating of 113.7. Those figures led to his lengthy stay on the open market, and a general lack of interest on Baltimore’s part to re-sign him. The Ravens went in a different direction, signing former Raider and Colt Rock Ya-Sin on a one-year, low-cost deal.
Peters will look to showcase a return to full mobility another year removed from the ACL tear in a new home, one which will allow him to see signficant playing time. The Raiders’ interest in him was a sign of their need for a starting-caliber addition at the CB spot. Before news of the Peters deal broke, Rapoport reported the team also hosted fellow veteran Troy Hill on a free agent workout (Twitter link).
It remains to be seen what awaits the latter now that Peters is on board, but the Raiders have a potential buy-low upgrade for their secondary. Vegas ranked 29th against the pass in 2022, and their six interceptions placed second-last. If Peters can return to form, he should help in both categories while the Raiders look to take a needed step forward in 2023.
Colts Wrap Up Draft Class Signings
The Colts entered Monday with three members of their rookie class unsigned, but that is no longer the case. The team announced the signings of second-round corner Julius Brents and fourth-round offensive lineman Blake Freeland, while NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that quarterback Anthony Richardson has also agreed to terms on his initial pro contract. 
The latter will earn a fully-guaranteed $33.99MM, including a $21.72MM signing bonus. As the Texans have done with No. 2 pick C.J. Stroud, Richardson will receive all of his bonus upfront. With the financial business taken care off, the Colts can look ahead to training camp, during which Richardson in particular will be at the center of attention.
The Florida product was long seen as the x-factor in this year’s quarterback class. Richardson spent three years with the Gators, but he only logged one full campaign as the team’s starter. During the 2022 season, he posted an underwhelming 17:9 touchdown-to-interception ratio while completing just under 54% of his passes. Those figures led to understandable questions about his abilities as a passer at the NFL level.
The 6-4, 232-pounder ran for 654 yards and nine touchdowns, however, and delivered a highly impressive Combine performance. That helped convince Indianapolis to select him fourth overall, making him the third signal-caller to hear his name called. Owner Jim Irsay recently spoke about the timeline along which Richardson could overtake veteran signing Gardner Minshew as the team’s starter under new head coach Shane Steichen (who was hired in no small part based on his success in developing young QBs).
Brents was likely in line for a notable rookie role even before Isaiah Rodgers was let go by the Colts in the wake of his gambling suspension. Especially now that the team’s corner depth has been weakened by that move, the Kansas State product will compete for a starting role on a Colts team which, after trading away Stephon Gilmore, is generally lacking in proven commodities at the position. Freeland, who spent three years at BYU, will look to provide depth to an offensive front which significantly underperformed in 2022.
Here is the complete Colts’ draft class:
Round 1, No. 4: Anthony Richardson, QB (Florida) (signed)
Round 2, No. 44 (from Falcons): Julius Brents, CB (Kansas State) (signed)
Round 3, No. 79 (from Commanders): Josh Downs, WR (North Carolina) (signed)
Round 4, No. 106: Blake Freeland, OT (BYU) (signed)
Round 4, No. 110 (from Falcons): Adetomiwa Adebawore, DE (Northwestern) (signed)
Round 5, No. 138: Darius Rush, CB (South Carolina) (signed)
Round 5, No. 158 (from Vikings): Daniel Scott, S (California) (signed)
Round 5, No. 162 (from Bills): Will Mallory, TE (Miami) (signed)
Round 5, No. 176 (from Cowboys): Evan Hull, RB (Northwestern) (signed)
Round 6, No. 211 (from Vikings): Titus Leo, DE (Wagner) (signed)
Round 7, No. 221: Jaylon Jones, CB (Texas A&M) (signed)
Round 7, No. 236 (from Buccaneers): Jake Witt, OT (Northern Michigan) (signed)
Titans Sign DeAndre Hopkins
JULY 24: The Hopkins deal is now official, per a team announcement. Attention will turn to his individual performances given the threshold for his incentives, and his role in elevating Tennessee’s passing attack in their bid to become more productive through the air.
JULY 16, 3:24pm: Details of Hopkins’ incentives have come in, via Rapoport (Twitter link). The veteran will earn the maximum $3MM available in each of the two seasons of the pact if he records at least 95 catches, 1,050 yards and 10 touchdowns. Six-figure incentives are available at lower thresholds in all three of those categories, giving Hopkins plenty of reasons to attempt a return to his All-Pro form.
1:04pm: The lengthy free agent process for DeAndre Hopkins is set to come to an end soon. The All-Pro wideout has agreed to a deal with the Titans, as first reported by Doug Kyed of A to Z Sports (Twitter link). Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets that it is a two-year, $26MM deal with a maximum value of $32MM. He will earn a base salary of $12MM this year, with the potential to see $3MM more via incentives.
Kyed adds that the deal is expected to be finalized in the coming days. Presuming that takes place without issue, the Titans will have completed a signficant addition to their receiving corps as they look to take a needed step forward in the passing game in 2023. Hopkins (who was thought to be seeking the $15MM per year Odell Beckham Jr. received from the Ravens this offseason) had been on the open market since his release from the Cardinals in late May, setting up a high-profile summer free agency. 
The 31-year-old floated the names of a number of young quarterbacks he would be interested in playing with even before his time in Arizona officially came to an end, and AFC powers Buffalo and Kansas City were frequently linked to him. Hopkins was reportedly waiting for the Chiefs to free up cap space via a Chris Jones extension, while the Bills remained on the radar. It was clear the latter team would not be willing to engage in a bidding war to land him, however. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes (via Twitter) that Kansas City remained in touch, but their limited cap space made them a non-player in this situation.
Hopkins ultimately visited only two teams – the Patriots and Titans – before patiently waiting to see how his market developed. Both New England and Tennessee represented somewhat surprising destinations given his public affinity for quarterbacks other than Mac Jones and Ryan Tannehill, but each team was sufficiently impressed after his visits to make an offer. As of earlier this month, the Titans remained confident in their ability to acquire the five-time Pro Bowler.
The news marks a return to the AFC South for Hopkins, who spent the first seven years of his career in Houston. He recorded five 1,000-yard seasons during that span, but managed to replicate that feat only once in his three Cardinals campaigns. Injuries and a PED suspension cost him time over the past two seasons, but his production (64 catches, 717 yards) in nine games last season demonstrated his continued ability to operate as a N0. 1 receiver. He will look to assume that role in Tennessee, a team which lacks proven contributors elsewhere in its pass-catching corps.
2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks had a lackluster rookie season as the Titans struggled to find production through the air at the start of the post A.J. Brown era. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Kyle Phillips and Chris Moore represent the other main options on the WR depth chart, one which now has far more pedigree with Hopkins in place. His presence should help Tannehill in a 2023 season filled with questions about his future with the team.
Hopkins will also be reunited with offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, after the pair spent time together with the Texans. Expectations will be high for the former given his decision to accept the most lucrative offer made, and for the Titans as they look to return to the postseason. New general manager Ran Carthon‘s first major move on the open market has certainly boosted the team’s chances of doing so.