Jaguars CB Chris Claybrooks Arrested For Domestic Battery
As a seventh-round pick during the COVID-19 season, Jaguars cornerback Chris Claybrooks faced long odds to remain on an NFL roster. After three years in the league, Claybrooks has made things substantially harder for himself. His most recent self-inflicted hurdle came yesterday as Claybrooks was arrested and booked in Duval County, according to Demetrius Harvey of the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union. 
This isn’t Claybrooks’s first run in with the law. It’s not even his first run in with the law this offseason. Back in late-April, Claybrooks faced misdemeanor charges of domestic assault with bodily injury and vandalism under $1,000 after an incident in which he allegedly grabbed his ex-girlfriend’s arm and threw her cellphone to the ground. The charges were eventually dropped after a settlement was reached in the case.
This time, Claybrooks faces a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery and a third-degree felony charge of false imprisonment. He was booked around 4:30pm yesterday and set to appear in court this morning. Claybrooks has a bond of $25,000 and is to have no contact with the alleged victim, no firearms, and no traveling outside the state of Florida.
The Jaguars released the following statement shortly after the arrest:
We are aware of the arrest of Chris Claybrooks and are currently in the process of gathering information. We will have no further comment at this time.
Claybrooks, if he were to remain with the team, would serve as a depth piece in the secondary and on special teams. He saw his most action as a rookie, when he played a third of the team’s defensive snaps, but he’s seen diminishing field time in each year since. His six starts on defense came in his first two years, and despite playing in every game in 2022, he primarily served as a special teamer last year.
Given Claybrooks’s slow demotion over the past two years and his recent legal troubles, it’s hard to imagine a future in which Claybrooks stays on the team. Jacksonville is being patient in their diagnosis of the situation, but repeat offenses so close together is going to be hard to overlook for a player who contributed to four percent of the Jaguars’ defensive snaps last season.
Chiefs DT Chris Jones Begins Camp Hold-Out
Following a season in which he ranked as the league’s top interior defensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Chris Jones has been seeking a new, top contract from the Chiefs. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Jones “did not report with the rest of the team to training camp” today as “the two sides remain ‘far apart’ on a new deal.” 
A former second-round pick out of Mississippi State, Jones set himself up beautifully coming out of his rookie deal by delivering two strong seasons in 2018 and 2019. Kansas City resorted to a franchise tag before eventually agreeing to extend Jones on a four-year, $80MM contract. Once again, the Chiefs began exploring the option of an extension early in the offseason this year. Jones hasn’t made it any easier for the team as, once again, he’s delivered one of the best performances of his career the season before a contract year.
In the years since Jones’s second contract, the defensive tackle market has markedly improved. In anticipation of an eventual negotiation, Jones skipped the team’s mandatory minicamp, costing himself approximately $100K in fines. At that point, it became clear that Jones was willing to pay to make his point, but a hold-out of training camp still seemed a long way away, considering the options limited by the 2020 CBA. The most drastic measure expected at the time was a potential hold-in, wherein Jones would attend training camp but not participate to his full ability.
Jones’s expectations weren’t unrealistic. Despite being ranked as the best, he wasn’t necessarily seeking to out-earn Rams star defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Donald’s contract is leaps and bounds ahead of the next-closest competition, so Jones sought to, at least, become the league’s second highest-paid defensive tackle. An interview with general manager Brett Veach made it sound like conversations were going well, indicating that things would likely get done “right before (or) right during the first start of camp,” a sentiment echoed by ESPN’s Jeff Darlington who thought it “likely” that the two sides would reach an agreement before camp.
Apparently, Jones agrees with the “start of camp” as a time to get things done. Holding out of training camp shows just how serious Jones is about not playing out the last year of his contract. According to Field Yates of ESPN, each day that Jones misses will leave him subject to almost $50K of fines.
Perhaps, if the Chiefs and Jones were closer in their negotiations, Jones wouldn’t be taking such drastic measures, but a camp hold-out truly emphasizes how far apart the two sides are. If Jones is going to incur daily fines, he’s going to expect a deal that makes those fines inconsequential.
Veteran RBs Planning To Address Depressed Market Together
Chargers running back Austin Ekeler saw the writing on the wall. As he watched some of the best at his position contemplate their options under a franchise tag, he knew he could be dealing with the same issues next offseason. He made an attempt to remedy the situation but ended up finding out just how dire his prospects were. Now, with none of the league’s rushers finding an effective solution in their own negotiations, it appears they’ve decided to put their heads together in an attempt to get the contracts they deserve. 
It started on Monday, when, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, some of the league’s veteran rushers organized a group text in which they would brainstorm strategies for improving their grim outlooks. One of the first initial strategies has been the utilization of social media.
While, on its surface, that sounds superficial and unproductive, it’s really hard to fix a problem if no one acknowledges it. When players go on social media to talk about their issues with the system, especially during a relatively down news cycle, media pundits will pick up their calls and magnify them. Not only that, but it also sparks debate between the analysts of the sport, who tend to present and argue both sides, helping to delineate the most useful points of contention and possible solutions.
To grow their efforts past a group text, the running backs have also planned a Zoom meeting, set for tonight, in order to further discussions, according to Florio. The meeting has been organized by Ekeler and will reportedly involve the NFL Players Association in some capacity. It’s a little difficult for the NFLPA to advise too much, considering that, in a league where value is determined within a salary cap that all positions share, the money to pay running backs has to be taken away from other positions that are also being represented by the Players Association. That being said, they can still likely offer some sound negotiating techniques and potential solutions. They can also potentially serve as a sounding board to offer opinions on the viability of different options.
Ultimately, the group will likely have to continue to take the situation into their own hands, as they’re negotiating only for themselves. They may suggest a shortening of the path to free agency to keep running backs from spending their premier years on a measly rookie deal. Former NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth suggested a more concentrated utilization of the league’s Performance-Based Pay Pool, an approximately $336MM fund used to reward players whose high-levels of play are not reflected in their paychecks. Foxworth suggested that, essentially, running backs could pad their depressed contracts by meeting certain performance and playing time benchmarks.
Regardless, the group and the league have at most a year before the situation rears its ugly head again. The three backs that are playing on franchise tags this year, Saquon Barkley on the Giants, Josh Jacobs on the Raiders, and Tony Pollard on the Cowboys, will all head back to free agency after this season. So, too, will the Titans’ Derrick Henry, the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor, the Ravens’ J.K. Dobbins, the Commanders’ Antonio Gibson, Ekeler, and many others. With so many major contributors set to hit the market, a determination will soon have to be made on how to compensate these rushers for what they bring to their respective teams.
Lions Re-Sign RB Justin Jackson
Jun 22: The Lions have made good on their intentions, announcing the signing of Jackson this afternoon. In order to make room on the roster, Detroit cut loose another running back, waiving an undrafted signing from last year, Greg Bell.
Jun 21: After an offseason of turnover throughout the running backs room, it looks like the Lions intend to secure some consistency. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Detroit holds the intention of re-signing free agent running back Justin Jackson. 
Originally a seventh-round pick in 2018, Jackson came out of Northwestern as the school’s all-time leading rusher and as only the ninth player in college football history to have four years with 1,000 yards rushing. He served as a reliable backup throughout his rookie deal for Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler in Los Angeles before eventually getting to test free agency last offseason.
He was a late addition, signing with Detroit a little less than a year ago. The Lions were already set atop the depth chart with D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams, but Jackson came in and assumed a RB3-role after getting promoted off of the practice squad early in the season. He ended up slipping ahead of Craig Reynolds, who had impressed in two starts the previous season, for the backup role behind Swift and Williams.
With Swift and Williams now departed, due to trade and free agency, respectively, Jackson would become the team’s leading returning rusher, despite 2022 seeing a career-low 170 rushing yards. The departures of Swift and Williams don’t necessarily point to a promotion for Jackson. With Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs joining the team as a first-round pick and David Montgomery coming across the division in free agency, Jackson should find himself back at RB3. Signing Jackson would also answer the question of who is returning kickoffs in Detroit, after he served as the team’s primary kick returner in 2022.
It’s an interesting room right now as none of the team’s rushers have seen necessarily high-end production. While Montgomery consistently delivers seasons of at least 800 rushing yards, his highest output has only ever been 1,070. Similarly, Gibbs never saw elite production during time in Atlanta or Tuscaloosa in college, topping out at 926 rushing yards in a season. Regardless of who takes over a lead-role or whether the two backs split time, if Jackson does indeed sign, Detroit would know it has reliable depth behind Gibbs and Montgomery in Jackson, Reynolds, and Jermar Jefferson.
S Budda Baker Expected To Report To Cardinals Training Camp
Despite apparent dissatisfaction with his contract and the state of his team, Budda Baker will be in attendance when Cardinals training camp kicks off next week. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the veteran safety is expected to report to training camp on Tuesday.
[RELATED: Cardinals S Budda Baker Requests Trade]
Just because Baker is planning on attending training camp, it doesn’t mean he’s content with his current situation. Per Schefter, the safety “still is seeking to be paid near the top of the safety market.” Baker would presumably welcome a fresh start elsewhere, but it’s uncertain if he’s still pushing for a trade.
Baker was present for Cardinals minicamp back in June, but he didn’t take part in on-field practices. There was an expectation that he’d ultimately show up to training camp regardless of his contract status, but the safety could roll with a similar hold-in if he doesn’t get a raise. As Howard Balzer notes on Twitter, the safety would be subject to daily fines worth $50K for not reporting to training camp.
The former second-round pick is still playing out a four-year, $59MM extension he signed with the Cardinals back in 2019. There are two years remaining on that pact, and while the contract reset the positional market at the time of the signing, Baker now ranks seventh among safeties with an average annual value of $14.75MM. Derwin James tops the safety list with a $19MM AAV, but Baker’s camp has made it clear that they’re not trying to reset the safety market.
Baker earned his fourth-consecutive Pro Bowl nod last season (fifth overall) after finishing with 111 tackles, a pair of interceptions, and seven pass breakups. The Cardinals lack experienced depth behind their defensive leader, with Juju Hughes, Andre Chachere, Jovante Moffatt, and UDFA Kendell Brooks rounding out the safeties room behind Baker and Jalen Thompson.
Raiders Haven’t Shopped WR Hunter Renfrow
The Raiders added a number of wideouts this offseason who are capable of playing slot receiver, leaving Hunter Renfrow‘s spot on the roster in doubt. However, it sounds like the wide receiver will be staying put, at least temporarily. According to Tashan Reed of The Athletic, the Raiders haven’t been shopping Renfrow.
[RELATED: Raiders Have Not Received Calls On WR Hunter Renfrow]
This news helps twist the narrative a bit, as previous reports indicated that the Raiders hadn’t garnered any interest in their veteran wideout. Indeed, Reed notes that’s still the case, as the front office still hasn’t “received any trade offers for him.”
The Raiders’ big move at the position was signing Jakobi Meyers away from the Patriots, but the team also added slot-capable receivers in DeAndre Carter, Phillip Dorsett, and rookie third-round pick Tre Tucker. With Davante Adams also prime to bounce around the offense, Renfrow has seemed like a natural candidate to be the odd man out.
Following a breakout, Pro Bowl season in 2021, Renfrow took a bit of a step back in 2022. Limited to only 10 games thanks in part to a concussion, the receiver finished with 36 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Renfrow inked a two-year, $32MM deal with the Raiders last offseason, and he’s set to earn more than $13MM in 2023. The team could save around $7MM in cap space by trading the wideout before the regular season begins.
As Reed notes, Renfrow is well regarded in the locker room, and at only 27 years old, he still has plenty of good football in front of him. As a result, the Raiders may simply roll into the season with a deep WRs room and bite the bullet from a financial perspective.
Raiders Hosted CB Marcus Peters
The Raiders are giving another look at Marcus Peters. After auditioning the veteran cornerback earlier this offseason, the Raiders hosted Peters on another visit earlier this week, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Latest On Raiders’ CB Depth]
The 30-year-old visited Vegas back in May, and there was an expectation that the two sides would eventually agree on a contract. Months later, a deal still hasn’t materialized, although we heard recently that the Raiders would circle back to potential cornerback acquisitions before training camp.
Part of the delay could be attributed to Peters’ health, as we previously heard the Raiders were in no particular rush to sign the veteran as they evaluated his readiness for the 2023 campaign. Peters suffered a torn ACL in 2021 that wiped out that entire season, and his comeback in 2022 led some to wonder if the cornerback may still be dealing with some knee issues.
The cornerback got into 13 games for the Ravens this past season, finishing with a career-low one interception to go along with 47 tackles and six passes defended. Peters was also responsible for seven touchdowns as the nearest defender and surrendered a passer rating of 113.7. Each of those totals were career-worst marks, and it ultimately led to the Ravens’ decision to look elsewhere on the veteran corner market by signing Rock Ya-Sin.
While Peters’ performance left plenty to be desired in Baltimore, the Raiders would simply be eyeing the veteran for his experience…not his former All-Pro pedigree. As of right now, Duke Shelley, who started five games for the Vikings last season, and Nate Hobbs, who has started 20 games over the past two seasons for the Raiders, are the projected starters on the outside for the Raiders, leaving journeyman Tyler Hall as the favorite for the main slot role. The Raiders are also rostering the likes of Brandon Facyson, who is signed to a two-year contract, and fourth-round rookie Jakorian Bennett, so the team could want to evaluate their depth during the preseason before jumping into an addition at the position.
Titans Sign QB Will Levis, Complete Draft Class Signings
Titans rookies are set to report to training camp today, and the front office has made sure they have their entire draft class under contract. According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe (via Twitter), the Titans have signed second-round quarterback Will Levis to his rookie pact. Jordan Schultz was first with news of the signing (via Twitter).
Levis’ four-year rookie contract is worth $9.54MM and features a $3.94MM signing bonus. The quarterback was the last of Tennessee’s six rookies to sign his deal, and there were rumors that his camp could have been pushing for a fully guaranteed deal (vs. the standard three-year guarantees that are now standard atop the second round). It will be interesting to see what side ultimately got their way from a contract perspective.
The Kentucky signal-caller was expected to be selected at some point during the first round of the draft. Levis ended up spending the entire first night of the draft in the green room, but it didn’t take long for him to hear his name during the second day of the draft. The Titans ended up acquiring the No. 33 pick and ended the quarterback’s fall down the draft board.
Levis put himself on the NFL map after winning 10 games for the Wildcats in 2021, completing 66.01% of his passes for 2,826 yards and 24 touchdowns. Levis also displayed an ability to run the ball that year, compiling 376 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. However, thanks in part to a toe injury and the loss of some key personnel (including Wan’Dale Robinson and OC Liam Coen), Levis took a step back in 2022. When all was said and done, Levis completed 65.37% of his passes for 2,406 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, all without displaying the rushing ability of prior years.
Thanks in part to that underwhelming performance, the Titans were able to slide in and select the quarterback atop the second round. The Titans have made it clear that the rookie quarterback won’t immediately earn the starting gig, with veteran Ryan Tannehill expected to keep his spot atop the depth chart for at least the 2023 season. The team used a third-round pick on Malik Willis just last year, but it remains to be seen if the now-third-string QB will stick around Tennessee.
As noted, today’s signing means the Titans have officially inked their entire draft class to their initial NFL contracts:
- Round 1, No. 11: Peter Skoronski, OL (Northwestern) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 33 (from Cardinals): Will Levis, QB (Kentucky)
- Round 3, No. 81 (from Lions through Cardinals): Tyjae Spears, RB (Tulane) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 147: Josh Whyle, TE (Cincinnati) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 186 (from Falcons): Jaelyn Duncan, OT (Maryland) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 228: Colton Dowell, WR (Tennessee-Martin) (signed)
Patriots Ink Top Two Draft Picks To Conclude Rookie Signings
The Patriots followed the league’s recent trend, wrapping up their rookie contract signings today, inking their last two remaining unsigned players. The team announced today that Oregon first-round cornerback Christian Gonzalez and Georgia Tech second-round edge Keion White have both signed their rookie contracts. 
Gonzalez transferred to Oregon after two years of college at Colorado. After stepping in as a one-year starter for the Ducks, Gonzalez is set to step in as a starter for a new team once again this year. During his one year in Eugene, Gonzalez was a no-doubt first-team All-Pac 12 cornerback with four interceptions, 11 passes defensed, and a blocked field goal. That single-season performance alone was enough for many teams to place him atop their draft boards as the top cornerback prospect.
In New England, Gonzalez is likely to start across from Jonathan Jones at cornerback. Marcus Jones and Jack Jones are both expected to step up in expanded roles in their sophomore seasons, but with Jalen Mills making a likely transition to safety, Gonzalez could make an earlier impact on the first-team defense.
Gonzalez will be playing on a fully-guaranteed four-year, $15.10MM rookie contract with a $7.98MM signing bonus, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. He’ll also receive roster bonuses of $521.494 in 2024, $675,000 in 2025, and $550,000 in 2026.
White was also a transfer in college, joining the Yellow Jackets after three years at Old Dominion. He only had two years of dominance over his five college seasons, but in those two seasons, he combined for 11.0 sacks and 22.0 tackles for loss. Injuries and a position change from tight end kept White from fully developing as a pass rusher at the collegiate level, but a high motor and natural abilities allowed White to lead Georgia Tech in both sacks and tackles for loss last year.
At 6-foot-5, 290 pounds, White is a perfect fit for the Patriots’ defensive line, where he can move along the line as a rotational substitute. With Lawrence Guy and Deatrich Wise returning as long-time starters, White will almost certainly rotate in as a rookie but could develop into an eventual replacement for one of the two veterans. It shouldn’t take long for White to become a regular contributor as a rotational disruptor for the Patriots’ defense.
White’s deal is a four-year, $7.79MM contract, according to Kyed. He’ll receive a $2.67MM signing bonus, and the first two years of his rookie contact (worth $750,000 and $1.10MM, respectively) will be fully guaranteed. $802,008 of his 2025 salary (worth a total of $1.46MM) will also be guaranteed. This doesn’t quite match the three guaranteed years we saw with 39th-overall pick Jonathan Mingo‘s deal, but over two and a half years’ worth of guarantees continues the recent growth of contracts for second-round picks.
With an early concentration on defense and two special teams selections, the Patriots certainly came into the 2023 draft with a plan. Here is New England’s completed draft class:
Round 1, No. 17 (from Steelers): Christian Gonzalez, CB (Oregon) (signed)
Round 2, No. 46: Keion White, DE (Georgia Tech) (signed)
Round 3, No. 76 (from Panthers): Marte Mapu, LB (Sacramento State) (signed)
Round 4, No. 107 (from Rams): Jake Andrews, C (Troy) (signed)
Round 4, No. 112 (from Jets): Chad Ryland, K (Maryland) (signed)
Round 4, No. 117: Sidy Sow, G (Eastern Michigan) (signed)
Round 5, No. 144 (from Falcons from Raiders): Atonio Mafi, G (UCLA) (signed)
Round 6, No. 187 (from Panthers): Kayshon Boutte, WR (LSU) (signed)
Round 6, No. 192: Bryce Baringer, P (Michigan State) (signed)
Round 6, No. 210: Demario Douglas, WR (Liberty) (signed)
Round 6, No. 214 (from Raiders): Ameer Speed, DB (Michigan State) (signed)
Round 7, No. 245 (from Falcons through Bills): Isaiah Bolden, CB (Jackson State) (signed)
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/21/23
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the league as teams prepare their rosters for training camp:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on NFI: OLB Tyus Bowser
- Placed on PUP: RB J.K. Dobbins, FB Patrick Ricard, CB Damarion Williams, DT Rayshad Nichols, WR Mike Thomas
- Placed on reserve/did not report list: WR Rashod Bateman
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Austin Watkins
- Placed on NFI: WR Marquise Goodwin, G Colby Gossett, WR Anthony Schwartz, WR Mike Woods
Denver Broncos
- Signed: K Brett Maher
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on NFI: WR Grant Dubose, TE Camren McDonald
- Placed on PUP: WR Jeff Cotton, OLB Rashan Gary, C Jake Hanson, CB Eric Stokes
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: DT Nick Thurman
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on NFI: DE Tyree Wilson
- Placed on PUP: DT Byron Young
New England Patriots
- Placed on PUP: S Cody Davis, G Michael Onwenu, DT Justus Tavai
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Damarea Crockett, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- Waived: WR Izaiah Gathings
Washington Commanders
- Placed on PUP: S Xavier Henderson
There are some big names in Baltimore that won’t be healthy to open camp. Two offensive youngsters who can’t seem to stay on the field, Dobbins and Bateman, continue to struggle to get healthy. Bateman sat out most of the spring after receiving a cortisone shot in hopes it would help get him back in time for camp. While he didn’t report, general manager Eric DeCosta expects him back soon, according to the team’s editorial director Ryan Mink. Dobbins has started thinking about his second contract this summer, and getting healthy will be key to gaining any leverage in negotiations. Ricard is no surprise, as head coach John Harbaugh predicted this placement a month ago. Bowser, though, experienced an unexpected flare up in his knee this spring after missing eight games last season.
In Cleveland, Goodwin experienced a medical scare recently when discomfort in his legs and shortness of breath turned out to be blood clots in his legs and lungs, according to James Palmer of NFL Network. He will miss the start of training camp as the clots are addressed.
In Denver, a kicking competition appears to be in the cards. The team held a workout for Maher, Elliott Fry, and Parker White back in May and ended up signing Fry. Now, with Maher joining the team, and the exit of Brandon McManus, the position battle between Maher and Fry will continue.
In Wisconsin, Gary and Stokes each ended their season after Week 9 of last year due to long-term injuries. Both will continue slowly working their way back in order to play big roles on defense.
In Vegas, Wilson, this year’s seventh overall pick, will have to be patient in finding his way to the field for his rookie year. He was expected to be cleared for training camp after ending his college career with a Lisfranc injury, but he’ll have to wait just a bit longer. The Raiders are counting on him to relieve some of the defensive responsibilities of Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby.