Bears, Jaguars Interested in CB Arthur Maulet
After being released by the Steelers in May, cornerback Arthur Maulet is beginning to garner some interest on the free agent market. Per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Jaguars and Bears have inquired on the 30-year-old defender (Twitter link).
Fowler notes that Maulet actually requested his release from Pittsburgh, a request that was presumably made after the club signed another corner, Chandon Sullivan. Like Maulet, Sullivan primarily works in the slot.
As with most players who find themselves unattached at this time of year, Maulet has his share of flaws. Pro Football Focus assigned him a subpar 56.5 overall grade in 2022, which made him the 90th-best corner out of 118 qualifiers. He has never fared partiularly well in the eyes of PFF’s metrics, and last season, he allowed a 61.5% completion rate and a 105.5 QB rating as the closest defender (though both of those marks were actually improvements over his 2021 work).
Nonetheless, cornerbacks are always in demand. The Bears currently have 2022 second-rounder Kyler Gordon penciled into their primary slot role, but Gordon fared even worse than Maulet in PFF’s grading system, ranking as a bottom-10 corner and earning an abysmal 46.4 coverage mark. Plus, there is very little depth behind Gordon, so Chicago’s interest in Maulet is understandable.
Tre Herndon may be the Jaguars’ top slot option at the moment, but like Maulet and Gordon, he was also a liability in coverage last season. Jacksonville has designs on another playoff run, and the club may want to add some nickel depth beyond sixth-round rookies Christian Braswell and Erick Hallett.
At the very least, Maulet can offer that depth, along with special teams acumen (he led the Steelers in ST tackles in 2022). The former UDFA out of Memphis may have multiple offers on the table, as he is reportedly weighing his options and plans to sign soon.
In 2022, Maulet recorded 59 total tackles and two interceptions, both career bests.
Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo Passes Physical
Although a report last month indicated that Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was expected to be medically cleared in time for training camp, there are no sure things when it comes to Garoppolo and his health concerns. Fortunately for Las Vegas and its new signal-caller, Garoppolo has passed his physical and will be on the field when camp opens this week (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
Garoppolo, who was in the midst of a strong 2022 season for the 49ers, suffered a foot fracture in a Week 13 victory over the Dolphins in December. He had attempted non-surgical rehab so that he could be ready in the event that San Francisco made a deep playoff run (which it did), but that attempt was unsuccessful. Ultimately, Garoppolo went under the knife shortly after he signed a three-year, $72.75MM contract with Vegas in March.
In order to protect themselves financially, the Raiders later amended Garoppolo’s deal by converting a roster bonus of $11.25MM, which would have become due on Day 3 of the 2024 league year, into base salary. The other $22.5MM of Garoppolo’s $33.75MM in guarantees came in the form of 2023 salary, and under the amended contract, that money would only be payable if Garoppolo passed a physical. Now that he has, Garoppolo will secure the $22.5MM payout.
Counting the 49ers’ three playoff contests in January, the 31-year-old passer has missed 33 games due to injury since suffering an ACL tear in September 2018. Garoppolo played every game for the Super Bowl LIV-bound Niners a year later but suffered an ankle injury that shortened his 2020 season to six games. San Francisco’s starter battled calf, thumb, and shoulder maladies in 2021, and he ultimately required two surgeries after that season.
When he is healthy, though, Garoppolo is a quality player, and the Raiders clearly believe that he will be an upgrade over longtime starter Derek Carr, who was released in February. Garoppolo will take the reins of an offense that has a fair amount of skill-position talent in wideouts Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and Hunter Renfrow, running back Josh Jacobs (assuming he ultimately signs his franchise tender), and tight ends Austin Hooper and Michael Mayer.
The Raiders did finish as a top-12 offense in 2022 in terms of both yards-per-game and points-per-game. However, Carr’s completion percentage and yards-per-attempt rate dropped considerably in his first (and only) year in Josh McDaniels‘ offense, and Garoppolo — who began his career in New England as a McDaniels protege — is viewed as a better fit.
Las Vegas did host the top five QB prospects in this year’s draft and even had trade talks with the Bears regarding the No. 1 overall pick. Ultimately, the club did not select a collegiate signal-caller until the fourth round (Aidan O’Connell), and the only other quarterbacks on the roster are Brian Hoyer, who is entering his age-38 season, and former UDFA Chase Garbers. As such, if he can stay healthy and productive, Garoppolo stands a good chance of remaining with the Silver-and-Black in 2024, and perhaps beyond.
Garoppolo led the 49ers to a 7-3 record as a starter in 2022, completing 67.2% of his passes for 16 TDs against just four interceptions. That amounted to a quarterback rating of 103.0.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler first reported that Garoppolo was expected to pass his physical (Twitter link).
Latest On Jets’ Center, Tackle Competitions
Despite serving as a capable starting center for the last four years, Connor McGovern — who just completed a three-year, $27MM deal that he signed with the Jets in 2020 — did not find much of a market for his services this offseason. In April, McGovern signed a modest one-year, $1.92MM contract to remain with New York, and he watched the team draft Wisconsin snapper Joe Tippmann several days later.
While Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic (subscription required) recently reported that McGovern will get every chance to retain his starting job, he ultimately believes the club will hand the reins over to Tippmann for the start of the regular season. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com likewise believes McGovern is merely an “insurance policy” for the rookie.
In the eyes of Pro Football Focus, McGovern finished as the 10th-best center out of 36 qualifiers in 2022, with solid scores for both his pass-blocking and run-blocking. PFF was similarly high on the Missouri product in 2021, but Gang Green clearly believed an upgrade was in order. As Cimini notes, McGovern ranked near the bottom of the league in ESPN’s pass- and run-block win rate metrics, and as the Jets are eyeing a deep playoff push, they are obviously trying to field the best lineup possible and will not give McGovern a boost because of his tenure with the team or the locker room respect that he enjoys.
Whichever player wins the right to snap the ball to Aaron Rodgers will be sandwiched by Laken Tomlinson and Alijah Vera-Tucker at the guard positions. As Jets fans know all too well, however, there is plenty of intrigue surrounding the OT slots.
Mekhi Becton, a former first-rounder who was initially drafted to be the team’s franchise left tackle, has been plagued by knee injuries and conditioning problems, and after playing in Week 1 of the 2021 season, he has missed the last 33 games. Becton has lost a signficiant amount of weight in an effort to get his career back on track, and he has made it clear that he wants to return to the blindside. But recent reporting suggests that veteran Duane Brown — who has five Pro Bowls on his resume and who signed with New York last August when it becamse clear that Becton would miss the entire 2022 campaign — has the inside track to remain in that role.
The problem is that Brown is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and is presently unable to practice. That would seem to open the door for Becton to at least narrow the gap between himself and Brown on the left tackle depth chart, but as Brian Costello of the New York Post recently tweeted, Becton is currently taking LT reps with the second team, while free agent addition Billy Turner is working with the first-stringers. Connor Hughes of SNY.tv, meanwhile, says Becton is not a full participant just yet (Twitter link).
The fact that the Jets are taking it easy with Becton does not necessarily mean that he has suffered some sort of setback; at this point, any sort of participation on his part is encouraging. Still, it appears that the only way in which Becton will open the season as the starting left tackle is if Brown is unable to play, so Becton’s quickest path to a starting gig may be at right tackle (much to his chagrin). Turner, who worked under new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett in Green Bay and Denver, will also be in the mix for that job, and Rosenblatt believes Turner will be the team’s Week 1 RT, with Becton or 2022 fourth-rounder Max Mitchell getting the nod later on.
Ravens To Sign RB Melvin Gordon
JULY 23: CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reports that the Gordon acquisition does not mean that the Ravens are concerned about Dobbins’ or Edwards’ prognoses (Twitter link). Rather, Anderson says the team simply wanted to add another talented player to the roster and that both Dobbins and Edwards are expected to be at full-speed (though it is worth noting that Dobbins was placed on the PUP list on the same day Gordon was signed). Gordon will at least serve as an experienced insurance policy, and he can handle the bulk of the carries in the preseason should Baltimore wish to continue slow-playing its top two RBs.
JULY 21: The Ravens return all three members of their backfield from last season, but they will be making a veteran addition ahead of training camp. Baltimore has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Melvin Gordon worth up to $3.1MM, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). 
Gordon began the 2022 season in Denver, despite many feeling the presence of Javonte Williams would make the veteran expendable. The latter’s ACL tear helped allow Gordon to appear in 10 contests with the Broncos (including six starts), but he was ultimately waived midseason. That led him to make another intra-AFC West move, joining the Chiefs as a free agent.
The 30-year-old did not feature for Kansas City, however, leading to a lengthy stay on the open market and questions about his playing future. He made it clear last month that he intended to continue his career, though, and this Ravens accord will allow him to once again serve in a rotational capacity. Gordon averaged only 3.5 yards per carry and fumbled five times last season, but he eclipsed 1,100 scrimmage yards during each of his two full campaigns in Denver.
Gordon is unlikely to reach those totals in 2023 in his new home, but he will provide experienced depth to a new-look Ravens offense. Baltimore has former second-round pick J.K. Dobbins atop the RB depth chart, and he will aim to stay healthy and productive during the final year of his rookie contract. Dobbins remained efficient upon his return from a second knee operation late in 2022, but his uncertain future has been a talking point this offseason. Former UDFA Gus Edwards – who, like Dobbins, missed the entire 2021 campaign and part of the past season with a knee injury – remains in place as Baltimore’s backup.
Despite the presence of that pair – along with third-stringer Justice Hill, who inked a two-year deal this offseason – the Ravens have been mentioned as a team to watch on the depth running back market. Baltimore has a number of low-cost options to choose from, as this offseason has continued the trend of veteran backs struggling to find lucrative offers as free agents. Gordon is one of several member of his position who will likely find a training camp gig in the coming days.
Baltimore’s passing attack is expected to take a needed step forward in 2023 with a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken and a number of new receivers in place, including Odell Beckham Jr. and first-round rookie Zay Flowers. The team’s RB unit will still have a number of contributors, though, a group which now includes Gordon.
Assault Charge Against Titans OLB Rashad Weaver Dropped
Over two years ago, Titans outside linebacker Rashad Weaver was charged with assault. As Paul Kuharsky of PaulKukarsky.com reports, the charge against Weaver has been dropped, as the prosecution is unwilling to move forward. Although the NFL can impose discipline even in the absence of criminal charges, Kuharsky notes that Weaver is likely to avoid league sanctions.
Shortly before Tennessee selected Weaver in the fourth round of the 2021 draft, the Pittsburgh alum was accused of grabbing a woman by the throat and pushing her to the ground, causing her to hit her head. Original reporting suggested that Weaver had actually punched the woman in the head, and while there were no injuries consistent with that allegation, the player reportedly told an officer on the scene that he had no problem hitting a female if she needed it. The Titans were unaware of the incident when they drafted Weaver 13 days later.
Weaver, 25, sustained a broken fibula in the club’s third game of the 2021 campaign, which ended his rookie year prematurely. He bounced back with a solid showing in his second professional season, playing in 58% of the Titans’ defensive snaps and recording 5.5 sacks, six passes defensed, and two forced fumbles. With 2021 Pro Bowler Harold Landry missing all of last year with a torn ACL, Weaver’s performance was especially critical.
The Titans will welcome Landry back this year and also signed Arden Key away from the division-rival Jaguars in free agency. Weaver is expected to opeate behind those two as Tennessee’s third edge rusher, so he will still get plenty of action. As 2023 will be his third year in the league, he will be extension-eligible for the first time next offseason.
In a piece detailing the Titans’ overall outlook at outside linebacker, Jim Wyatt of the team’s official website says Weaver has helped himself in his pursuit of a second NFL contract, as he “has gotten noticeably stronger this offseason.” Wyatt also expresses his belief that Sam Okuayinonu, a 2022 undrafted free agent who appeared in six games with Tennessee last season, is currently in the lead for the fourth OLB spot on the depth chart.
Okuayinonu will be pushed by fellow 2022 UDFA Zach McCloud — who was originally signed by the Vikings after last year’s draft — and 2023 UDFAs Caleb Murphy and Thomas Rush.
Details On Joe Mixon’s Reworked Deal With Bengals
JULY 23: OverTheCap.com offers more clarity on Mixon’s pay cut. Essentially, the reworked deal can be viewed as a two-year, $11.5MM contract with $4.13MM guaranteed. Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic (subscription required) classifies the guaranteed money as a signing bonus, while OTC says it’s a roster bonus.
In either case, Mixon — who will also earn a veteran minimum $1.08MM base salary in 2023 — secured his place on the roster for the upcoming season. Dehner also confirms the original report that the former Pro Bowler can earn up to $2MM in incentives this year. However, while Dehner acknowledges that the restructure techincally allows the Bengals to retain Mixon in 2024, he does not believe that will happen unless Mixon turns in a “monster 2023.”
If Cincinnati were to cut Mixon next offseason, it would incur just $2.8MM in dead money.
JULY 15: Joe Mixon is staying in Cincinnati, but he had to take a significant pay cut to do so. We heard yesterday that the running back had restructured his contract to stick in Cincinnati, and we’re now getting details on what Mixon actually gave up.
[RELATED: Bengals, Joe Mixon Finalizing Restructure]
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter), Mixon took a $4.39MM pay cut for the 2023 campaign and a $4.67M pay cut for the 2024 campaign. The running back’s base salary is now down to $5.51MM, and he can earn another $2MM via incentives in 2023. As Rapoport notes, this restructuring will also increase the chances of Mixon sticking around for the 2024 season.
Mixon was still playing on a four-year, $48MM deal he signed with the Bengals in 2020. The Bengals were fine carrying Mixon and his $11.42MM cap hit during the 2022 season, especially coming off a 2021 campaign where he had career-highs in rushes (292), rushing yards (1,205), and rushing touchdowns (13). However, with the organization facing pricey extensions for foundational pieces like Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, the front office had to get creative.
As a result, Mixon was already a common candidate to earn a pay cut this offseason. The veteran running back was set to earn $10.1MM in 2023 and was attached to a $12.79MM cap hit. The Bengals stood to save over $7MM by releasing him, and that number would have been bumped to $10MM if they did so as a post-June 1 cut. Instead, both sides decided to stick together and agree to a reworked deal.
Considering the plight of the current crop of free agent RBs (including Dalvin Cook and Ezekiel Elliott) and extension-seeking RBs (including Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs), it made sense for Mixon to secure his roster spot for (likely) the next two seasons. The 26-year-old didn’t have his strongest campaign in 2022, finishing with only 814 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.
It also made sense for the Bengals to renegotiate a restructured deal vs. outright releasing the veteran. The team lost Samaje Perine this offseason, leaving little experienced depth behind Mixon. Behind the starter, the Bengals are eyeing depth pieces like fifth-round rookie Chase Brown, special teamer Trayveon Williams, and former sixth-round pick Chris Evans.
Roger Goodell Addresses Potential Sovereign Investment In NFL Teams
The NFL witnessed its most recent franchise sale earlier this week, and the league remains in a position where (with the exception of the Packers) only private individuals are allowed to hold a stake in its teams. Commissioner Roger Goodell was recently asked about the possibility of that model changing. 
Sovereign investment in North American and European sports franchises has become in increasingly common in recent years, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) representing one of many examples of the power of foreign money. The proposed merger involving the rival PGA and LIV golf tours is one instance of the PIF’s expanding reach, something which prompted a question to Goodell about the NFL’s stance on the matter.
“We haven’t made the move as other leagues have to any kind of public investment,” Goodell said during an appearance on CNBC (via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post, on Twitter). “It’s something we’ll contemplate at some point in time, but we really like our basic model now where we have private ownership. Those owners are in the meeting room, they’re part of the league and they’re part of our success.”
The level of interest shown in football by the PIF or similar entities remains unclear at this point, so the NFL has little urgency to explore foreign investment for the time being. Developments in that regard could be worth watching closely in other North American pro leagues, however, given the fact that many NFL owners also have a controlling stake in other franchises.
The exploding value of NFL teams has been a notable trend recently, and finances were a potential issue raised with the $6.05 billion purchase of the Commanders from the group led by Josh Harris. He assembled 20 minority partners to help fund the deal, but all majority owners are required to provide 30% of the sales price up front upon purchase. With the cost of doing so set to continue increasing considerably, the idea of foreign investors joining the league could remain a talking point for the foreseeable future, though Goodell’s remarks point to an acceptance of that being unlikely to take place soon.
TE Kyle Rudolph Likely To Retire
Kyle Rudolph is one of several free agents who has yet to latch onto a roster ahead of training camp, and it appears unlikely he will do so any time soon. The veteran tight end has a new phase of his football career lined up, suggesting he will hang up his cleats. 
Rudolph, a Notre Dame alum, recently indicated that he will spend time as a broadcaster with NBC calling Big Ten games on the network. The opportunity to do so, he added, was made possible in very large part by the unique broadcast relationship the Fighting Irish have with NBC. He will look to use it to find success in the booth as opposed to on the field.
“One-hundred percent. It was without question the reason why,” the 34-year-old said about his choice to attempt a broadcasting gig, via The Athletic’s Pete Sampson (subscription required). “I’m an anomaly, played 12 years in the NFL before starting my next chapter, but Notre Dame was still there opening doors and giving me opportunities.”
Rudolph was drafted by the Vikings in 2011 and he remained there for a decade. By the end of his rookie season, he had established himself as a full-time starter, and he saw snap shares of at least 83% in seven consecutive campaigns. His most productive season came in 2016, when he posted an 83-840-7 statline. Rudolph then earned his second and final Pro Bowl nod the following year.
The former second-rounder was released in 2021 with the Vikings moving on from their then-longest tenured player. Rudolph drew interest from a number of suitors during his first free agent period, and he ultimately landed a two-year pact with the Giants. That contract was terminated after only one campaign in the Big Apple, however, one in which he played a reduced role compared to many of his Vikings campaigns.
The Buccaneers added Rudolph last offseason, with Tom Brady playing a central role in recruiting him to Tampa Bay. A lackluster season followed that decision, though, and the former was limited to nine games played and only three receptions. With his playing future very much in doubt, he will now turn his attention to a new football-related challenge this fall.
Rudolph ranks 11th in Vikings history in terms of career receiving yards, and he sits second in that regard amongst tight ends (behind only Steve Jordan). His Giants and Bucs contracts helped bring his career earnings to just under $60MM. Rather than attempting to extend his NFL tenure to 13 years, he appears set to close the book on his playing days.
Titans Audition OTs George Fant, Chris Hubbard
JULY 22: Tennessee hosted Fant as scheduled, while also taking a look at Chris Hubbard (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). The latter has spent his entire career in the AFC North, seeing time at both guard and tackle with the Steelers and Brown. Hubbard (who also visited the Colts this offseason) has 49 starts to his name, and like Fant would represent a far more experienced Petit-Frere replacement than Tennessee’s internal options. 2021 second-rounder Dillon Radunz – who continues to recover from the ACL tear which ended his second career season in December – has been placed on the active/PUP list to begin training camp. That news could give the Titans added incentive to sign Fant, Hubbard or another veteran in the near future.
JULY 19: Nicholas Petit-Frere‘s six-game gambling suspension will have the Titans starting four new offensive linemen, but the team is likely aiming for a higher-end bridge option at right tackle.
Sitting as one of the top free agents available, George Fant is set for a Nashville trek. The veteran tackle will work out for the Titans on Saturday, Jordan Schultz of The Score tweets. Fant spent the past three seasons with the Jets, but he has been a free agent since his contract expired earlier this year.
This would be an interesting landing spot for Fant, seeing as Tennessee does not appear to have an opening for a full-time tackle starter. Petit-Frere started throughout last season, winning the RT job out of training camp. The 2022 third-round pick will seemingly be ready to reclaim his job after his suspension ends. That said, Schultz adds there is a good chance Fant will sign with the Titans assuming his workout goes well.
Fant-Jets extension rumors swirled last year, but nothing transpired. The Jets have an even more uncertain tackle situation than the Titans, with both Duane Brown and Mekhi Becton coming off injuries. The team signed longtime Nathaniel Hackett charge Billy Turner, however, and have 2022 draftee Max Mitchell in place as a backup option. Fant was also in play for the Dolphins earlier this year. Miami has since added Isaiah Wynn and Cedric Ogbuehi.
Fant, who turns 31 today, has made 60 career starts across a seven-year career. The ex-college basketball player played out a three-year, $30MM Jets deal, starting at both the left and right tackle spots. While Fant could bring valuable depth to a Titans team that struggled to keep its O-linemen healthy last season, he also could mix in for a starting role.
Fant, however, also missed much of last season with a knee injury. He played in just eight games, and Pro Football Focus ranked his injury-affected work as among the worst at the position last year. PFF did give Fant a top-40 tackle grade in 2021, when he replaced Becton at left tackle. Should Fant sign, it would be interesting to see if he ends up changing the Titans’ plans for their tackle posts. As of now, Andre Dillard is expected to play left tackle and team with a stopgap right-sider and then Petit-Frere after Week 6.
Considering a host of options to man the RT post during Petit-Frere’s time away, the Titans signing Fant would clear up their plans for first-rounder Peter Skoronski. Pegged as a guard by many NFL evaluators during the pre-draft process, Skoronski only played tackle at Northwestern. But the Titans gave him more guard work during the offseason program.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/22/23
Saturday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on active/PUP list: G Austin Corbett, DT John Penisini, DE Jalen Redmond, G Chandler Zavala
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from active/PUP list: C Jake Hanson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on active/PUP list: G Ben Bartch
New York Jets
- Placed on active/PUP list: T Duane Brown
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on active/PUP list: CB Caleb Farley, T Dillon Radunz
- Placed on NFI list: CB Josh Thompson
The Corbett news comes as no surprise, given the expectation from the spring that he would miss time in the regular season. The Panthers’ starting right guard suffered an ACL tear during the 2022 season finale, making him a candidate for a reserve/PUP designation. That would sideline him for at least four contests, so it is encouraging Carolina has elected instead to use the active designation, from which players can be activated at any time during camp.
Signed to provide last-minute offensive line help for the Jets last season, Brown played 12 games on the blindside last season while battling a shoulder ailment. Despite Mekhi Becton being healthy this offseason, the 37-year-old is the favorite to hold down the LT role for New York as the team looks to improve its pass protection at the start of the Aaron Rodgers era. If healthy in time for the spring, Brown will play a large role in determining their success on that front.
Farley’s brief NFL career has seen a continuation of his injury concerns dating back to college. The 2021 first-rounder saw a herniated disk end his season in December. He underwent surgery to address the issue, and the team may feel the need to proceed with caution given his potentially sizeable role with the Titans’ secondary. Radunz continues to recover from the ACL tear which likewise ended his second campaign in Nashville late in the regular season.