Dates Emerge For Ratification Vote On Commanders Sale
The next round of NFL owners’ meetings are not on tap until October, but the league is making preparations for a special session regarding the Commanders sale.
Owners have been informed to be available on July 20 or August 8 for a meeting that would include a ratification vote, according to the SportsBusiness Journal’s Ben Fischer (Twitter link). Vetting of Josh Harris‘ Commanders purchase is ongoing, but dates emerging certainly points to confidence the sale will be ratified by one of these two dates. Roger Goodell said recently he expects the sale to be ratified, providing a rather clear indication the item will meet the required 24 votes to pass.
Harris, who agreed to terms with Dan Snyder to buy the Commanders for a record-shattering $6.05 billion, has said he is willing to work with the league on a more amenable deal structure. Issues concerning the amount of debt held by the potential new owner, as well as some tax and incentive matters, have arisen. But the NFL owners have long been eager to finalize Snyder’s exit, opening the door for the large Harris-headed ownership group.
Harris is not believed to need to make many adjustments to his bid structure, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones (on Twitter). He and group member Mitchell Rales met with the NFL’s eight-man finance committee last week, and the meeting is believed to have gone well. Signs continue to point to the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner adding an NFL team to his portfolio before the start of the season.
The NFL most recently held a special session last August — for the ratification of Rob Walton‘s summer 2022 Broncos purchase. That did not encounter any speedbumps, and owners approved the Walton group’s acquisition just less than two months after the $4.65 billion bid arrived. Harris’ more complex bid structure has brought a slower-moving vet. He reached a nonexclusive agreement with Snyder in mid-April, and the parties came to terms on the exclusive deal — one the NFL is still vetting — May 12. If the NFL calls the meeting for July 20, the time between the Harris purchase and ratification will not end up being much longer than Walton’s.
Walton’s $70 billion-plus in net worth provided no liquidity-driven complications, whereas Harris’ net worth (estimated at just more than $6 billion) has required a number of investors. A prospective primary owner must be able to furnish 30% of the total sales price in cash at the time of the purchase, and while this component has added to the finance committee’s task, it would still be a shock if Harris was not ratified as the new Washington owner. While this bid structure might not be approved under normal circumstances, the owners’ chance to end Snyder’s increasingly scandal-ridden tenure running a franchise has long superseded concerns pertaining to the bid.
Panthers, Brian Burns Begin Extension Talks
Expected to begin post-draft, the extension talks between the Panthers and Brian Burns look to be underway. The fifth-year edge rusher confirmed (via ESPN.com’s David Newton) conversations have started.
Burns has become one of the NFL’s better outside rushers. He set a new career high with 12.5 sacks last season and has been named an original-ballot Pro Bowler in each of the past two years. The Panthers will need to pay Burns near the top of the D-end/rush-linebacker market, something the Florida State alum confirmed Tuesday. The organization has been on this path for a bit now, and a run of rebuffed trade overtures suggests Burns will do very well on his second contract.
Panthers GM Scott Fitterer said earlier this offseason Burns is squarely in line for an extension, joining Derrick Brown in that regard. The Bears asked about both D-linemen during the teams’ trade talks in March, a process that ended with D.J. Moore dealt to Chicago. While Burns and Brown’s rookie deals factored into Moore being the one traded, the standout edge will likely soon be attached to a lucrative second contract.
Maxx Crosby became the most recent player to infiltrate the top five on the edge market. T.J. Watt‘s $28MM-per-year deal tops that salary hierarchy presently, and although the Steelers inked the former Defensive Player of the Year to that deal in September 2021, Burns will have a difficult time exceeding that accord. That said, Nick Bosa is poised to secure an extension north of $30MM on average. That could change the market. Even if Bosa’s deal does not ultimately impact the Panthers’ Burns talks, the team’s top pass rusher is surely targeting a number north of the deals given to Crosby ($23.5MM AAV) and Bradley Chubb ($22MM) last year. Burns’ next deal will likely make him a top-five or top-six edge, Joe Person of The Athletic notes (subscription required).
Burns’ 38 sacks rank 11th since 2019. While Pro Football Focus has not rated Burns’ run defense as particularly sound, he has generated immense trade interest. Prior to the Bears’ inquiry, the Rams made an aggressive pursuit. It is widely known the Panthers turned down a two-first-rounder Rams offer for Burns before last year’s deadline. The picks were to come in 2024 and ’25, but Burns’ camp can use that declined offer as clear evidence of the fifth-year defender’s value to the team.
The former Ron Rivera-era investment stands to be the anchor pass rusher in Ejiro Evero‘s defensive scheme. Chubb served in that capacity for part of last season, but the Broncos dealt him to the Dolphins at the deadline. The Panthers do not have another notable front-seven contract on their books, having convinced Shaq Thompson to accept a pay cut in exchange for a bit more in 2023 guarantees. Brown, who is now extension-eligible but can be kept on his rookie deal through 2024, figures to follow Burns on the extension radar next year.
The Panthers can string these negotiations out, with the franchise tag at their disposal, but another significant salary cap bump is expected in 2024. Locking down Burns now would be the prudent move for Carolina, which is transitioning to a new coaching staff for the second time in Burns’ career. Doing a deal now also stands to reduce Burns’ cap number — presently at $16MM, due to the Panthers exercising his fifth-year option in May 2022 — for the ’23 season.
DE Yannick Ngakoue Changes Agents
Movement finally took place in the edge rusher market this week, with the Bills and Broncos respectively bolstering their defenses by adding Leonard Floyd and Frank Clark. Younger than each while riding an unmatched active sack streak, Yannick Ngakoue remains a free agent.
The NFL’s only player with at least eight sacks in each of the past seven seasons, Ngakoue entered the offseason as one of the top free agent defenders. He resided behind only Marcus Davenport among edge players on PFR’s top 50 free agents list, and although DeAndre Hopkins and Dalvin Cook have hit the market, the well-traveled defensive end still has a case as the top player left unsigned.
Ngakoue is making an effort to accelerate his market. The seven-year veteran signed with agent Drew Rosenhaus, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The famed power broker will now attempt to land Ngakoue a quality deal — likely with a sixth NFL team. Adisa Bakari had previously represented Ngakoue.
After a four-year Jaguars run, Ngakoue has since bounced to the Vikings, Ravens, Raiders and Colts. He has not played for the same team in consecutive years since his Jacksonville stay ended via a tag-and-trade transaction. Known as a pass rusher with suboptimal run defense skills, Ngakoue profiles as a quality complementary edge but certainly could make a case to be the top presence on certain teams.
Going into his age-28 season, Ngakoue is coming off a 9.5-sack slate for the Colts. He served as Indianapolis’ lead sack artist last season and teamed with Maxx Crosby in Vegas, registering 10 QB drops in 2021. While Ngakoue has spent three seasons with Gus Bradley (in three cities), he has also produced with other defensive coordinators. He set a career high with 33 QB hits for the 2018 Jaguars and forced an NFL-leading six fumbles for the ’17 Jags, helping that team to the AFC championship game.
This year’s top UFA edge defenders have not enticed teams to commit multiyear deals. Prior to the ice thawing on the veteran wing last week — via the $7MM and $5.5MM guarantees given to Floyd and Clark — Davenport agreed to a one-year, $13MM deal ($10MM guaranteed) with the Vikings. That said, Arden Key and Samson Ebukam, the latter of whom replacing Ngakoue in Indianapolis, did well for themselves in March. Ebukam fetched a three-year, $24MM deal ($10.8MM guaranteed), while Key signed a three-year, $21MM accord that came with $13MM locked in.
Given Ngakoue’s career path and three-month free agency stay, he might need to settle for another short-term deal and follow the Jadeveon Clowney route. But ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicates the former third-round pick is still looking for a multiyear commitment (Twitter link). Ngakoue’s pass-rushing production warrants such a commitment, and unlike Clowney, injuries have not been an issue (four missed games in seven years). Clark and Floyd’s deals also did well to set a veteran edge market, and while Ngakoue will likely look to eclipse Floyd’s guarantee, it will be worth monitoring to see if he holds out for multiyear agreement.
Broncos Work Out K Randy Bullock, RB Benny Snell
After the Broncos signed Elliott Fry, Sean Payton said the team would continue to search for kicker aid. The team is holding an early competition, bringing in Randy Bullock for a minicamp workout.
Former Steelers running back Benny Snell is also at the Broncos’ minicamp, Mike Klis of 9News tweets. Ditto running back Ryan Nall. Bullock spent the past two seasons as the Titans’ kicker, but the team released him during a February purge.
Bullock, 33, has Fry lapped many times over for NFL experience. While Fry has kicked in just three regular-season games — for three teams — Bullock is a 10-year veteran. Prior to his two-year Tennessee stay, Bullock spent the previous four seasons in Cincinnati. He struggled to find a steady gig in his early seasons, but the former Texans fifth-round pick has played 138 career games.
Last season, Bullock made 17 of 20 field goal attempts and went 28-for-28 on extra points. Since posting a 90% field goal accuracy rate with the 2017 Bengals, Bullock has hovered between 80% and 88%. He has not been asked to try many 50-plus-yard field goals and has made more than two in a season just once (three, in 2020) in that span.
Denver parted ways with longtime kicker Brandon McManus and used the funds created from the post-June 1 cut to bring in Frank Clark. The team likely is not settled on Fry, who looks to be facing a minicamp challenge for the job. Fry signed a one-year, $750K deal that did not include any guarantees.
Snell played out his rookie contract with the Steelers, finishing his Pittsburgh run as a Najee Harris backup. While James Conner health issues allowed for five Snell starts from 2019-20, he fell behind UDFA Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh’s pecking order last season. Snell has proven durable, not missing a game since his rookie season, though he did not make a big impression during his rookie deal. Although the former fourth-round pick did not clear four yards per carry over his first three seasons, he managed 4.5 per tote last year. Though, that came on just 20 handoffs.
The Broncos have Javonte Williams making strides in his recovery from ACL and LCL tears; the former second-rounder participated in OTAs on a limited basis. The team also signed ex-Bengal Samaje Perine to a two-year deal this offseason. Those two profile as Denver’s top two backs, but the team appears in the market for a depth piece. Tyler Badie, ex-Saint Tony Jones Jr. and rookie UDFA Jaleel McLaughlin represent the other backs vying for a job this summer.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/13/23
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: WR Brian Walker
Denver Broncos
- Waived: WR Nick Williams
The Broncos added Williams last week, doing so to take running back Damarea Crockett‘s roster spot. But the rookie, a Denver-area native and Division II product, will be moved off Denver’s 90-man roster during minicamp to make room for the Frank Clark acquisition. Reported late last week, the Clark signing is now official.
Steelers Auditioning LB Nick Kwiatkoski
The Steelers have made major changes to their off-ball linebacking corps this offseason, overhauling the group by signing Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts. Gone are Myles Jack, Devin Bush and Robert Spillane.
Another veteran addition is on Pittsburgh’s radar. Nick Kwiatkoski, a Pittsburgh-area native, is at the Steelers’ minicamp for a workout, Mark Kaboly of The Athletic tweets. A seven-year veteran, Kwiatkoski spent last season with the Falcons.
Operating as a backup and a starter during a career spent in Chicago, Las Vegas and Atlanta, Kwiatkoski has played 89 career games and made 34 starts. He played in 12 games with the Falcons last season but did not start any. The former fourth-round Bears pick last started during the 2020 season, his first on a three-year, $21MM Raiders deal. Kwiatkoski started eight games for the Bears in 2019 and was a first-stringer in 12 Raiders contests a year later. The Raiders released the West Virginia alum in 2022.
The 30-year-old linebacker already auditioned for the Titans this offseason, but Tennessee ended up signing Ben Niemann from that workout. The Steelers released Jack after one year and let Bush walk in free agency, wrapping the former first-rounder’s four-year tenure. Jack remains unsigned, while the Seahawks took a flier on Bush. Despite a lower pedigree by comparison, Spillane made out better by signing a two-year, $7MM Raiders deal that included just more than $3MM guaranteed.
Pittsburgh gave Holcomb a three-year, $18MM deal, though that pact includes just less than $5MM locked in. Roberts’ contract resembles Spillane’s, with Pittsburgh adding the ex-New England and Miami linebacker for two years and $7MM ($2.3MM guaranteed). Behind those two ‘backers are Tanner Muse and 2022 seventh-round pick Mark Robinson. With the Steelers not drafting an off-ball ‘backer, an opening could exist for Kwiatkoski to join his hometown team.
Broncos OLB Baron Browning Undergoes Knee Surgery
JUNE 13: Browning’s offseason injury did affect the Broncos’ decision to add Clark, Sean Payton said Tuesday. Browning will begin training camp on the active/PUP list, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. This is a camp-only distinction; the Broncos can move Browning off this PUP list prior to setting their 53-man roster.
JUNE 8: Although the Broncos are adding Frank Clark to their pass-rushing group, they might be without another member of that contingent for part of training camp. Baron Browning is recovering from arthroscopic surgery to address a meniscus injury, Mike Klis of 9News reports.
Browning suffered a partially torn meniscus, per Klis, who adds the third-year defender is expected to be back at some point during camp. Browning has not practiced during the media-attended portion of Broncos OTAs.
Moved from inside to outside linebacker ahead of his second season, the former third-round pick flashed at points upon replacing an injured Randy Gregory last season. Browning totaled 1.5 sacks, six QB hits and a fumble recovery during an October loss to the Colts — Denver’s first game without Gregory — and finished his season with five sacks. Browning’s injury is not related to anything from last season, with Klis noting it is believed to have come from training independently this offseason.
This knee issue comes after Gregory missed much of last season because of knee trouble. Gregory sustained his knee injury in early October, returned for two December games and did not play in Denver’s final two contests. Browning only missed three games due to hip and back maladies; two of those absences came after the team dealt Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins at the trade deadline. The player brought in to help the depleted unit at the deadline — Jacob Martin — finished last season on IR. The Broncos released Martin last month.
Browning is expected to be a key piece in Vance Joseph‘s defense this season. The Ohio State alum became the rare inside linebacker to become a quick starter on the edge, doing so after starting nine games inside in 2021. As they turned to Alex Singleton alongside Josey Jewell at that position last year, the Broncos shifted Browning to the outside in their 3-4 scheme. While Browning’s move to outside ‘backer occurred over a year ago, he will not be able to begin onsite training in Joseph’s system for a bit.
It will be interesting to what role Joseph and Sean Payton have in mind for the former five-star recruit now that Clark is in the fold. The Broncos also have 2022 second-rounder Nik Bonitto and ex-Browning Buckeyes teammate Jonathon Cooper in their OLB mix.
Chiefs’ Chris Jones Not Attending Minicamp
Chris Jones is joining a select group of players to avoid his team’s mandatory minicamp. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle is not at the defending Super Bowl champions’ workout Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
The defensive tackle market has moved significantly since Jones signed his four-year, $80MM deal during the 2020 offseason. The former franchise tag recipient remains on the extension radar for the Chiefs, per Schefter, but he is staying away from the team for the time being. No guaranteed money remains on Jones’ contract. Skipping minicamp will cost Jones just less than $100K.
Aaron Donald leads all non-quarterbacks with a $31.7MM-per-year average, while D-tackles younger and less accomplished than Jones — Daron Payne, Dexter Lawrence and Jeffery Simmons — have agreed to terms on accords north of the eighth-year Chief’s $20MM-AAV pact. Serving as the Chiefs’ top pass rusher for most of his career, Jones has been linked to a third Chiefs contract this offseason. Ahead of his age-29 season, Kansas City’s D-line anchor will likely aim for a deal in the Donald range.
Three years ago, the Chiefs agreed to team-friendly deals with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce and fit a top-market Jones extension into their offseason. The above-referenced accords, along with the Giants’ 2021 deal for Leonard Williams and recent 49ers agreement with Javon Hargrave, now eclipse Jones’ pact. Considering Jones’ current form and importance to the Chiefs, he certainly has a case to approach Donald’s terms or land a more traditional contract well north of the Simmons-Payne-Lawrence range.
The Chiefs’ single-season sack record holder, Jones earned his initial first-team All-Pro honor last season by matching his career high (15.5 sacks). He added two more in the playoffs to help the Chiefs to another title. Twice a second-team All-Pro as well, Jones has spearheaded a Chiefs defense that could not rely on Frank Clark for consistency. The Chiefs have since moved on from Clark, leaving 2022 first-rounders George Karlaftis and Felix Anudike-Uzomah and UFA addition Charles Omenihu in charge of edge production. Jones has masked the Chiefs’ issues on the edge for years, becoming one of this era’s best interior pass rushers.
The 2020 CBA has effectively curbed training camp holdouts, limiting contract-seeking players’ options. This has made the hold-in tactic increasingly popular. Absent a deal by the time the Chiefs report to training camp, Jones taking this route would not surprise. Withholding his services would damage a Chiefs team that has depended on him for most of his career.
A Jones extension would also help the Chiefs, who have him tied to a $28.3MM cap number in 2023. Kansas City is also potentially looking at a tricky Mahomes restructure, though the quarterback has been careful not to make a public demand for his unique deal to be redone. With Mahomes signed through 2031, the Jones matter looks to be the Chiefs’ most pressing contract issue.
Jets To Sign S Adrian Amos
Months after acquiring Chuck Clark via trade, the Jets are adding another safety to the mix. Adrian Amos intends to sign with the team, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.
Linked to the Ravens after visiting earlier this offseason, the Baltimore native will instead follow Clark to New York. The Jets are set to add the ex-Bears and Packers safety on a one-year deal worth up to $4MM.
Amos continues the chain of ex-Packers to join the Jets, following Aaron Rodgers, Allen Lazard, Billy Turner and Randall Cobb. Amos, 30, spent the past four seasons in Green Bay and has worked exclusively as a starter throughout his eight-year career. Following the draft, the Packers had not closed the door on re-signing Amos. But they will let another free agent join Rodgers in the Big Apple.
Prior to this Jets agreement, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec notes the Ravens brought in Amos for a second visit (Twitter link) Monday. Amos met with the Ravens in March as well. Despite steady interest from the Ravens, the Baltimore native received a better offer from the Jets during his New York visit.
While a Packers team with a more glaring need at safety did not show urgency to re-sign Amos this offseason, the veteran defender’s only major connections were to teams with two safety starters in place. The Ravens discussed a deal with Amos, but they already have Marcus Williams and 2022 first-round pick Kyle Hamilton on the back line. The Jets added Clark to a safety corps including Jordan Whitehead. The former Buccaneer, a 2022 free agency addition, started 17 Jets games last season.
Pro Football Focus graded Amos as one of the NFL’s worst safety regulars last season, but he drew a top-30 mark at the position in every other year of his career. Amos also made a career-high 102 tackles in 2022, registering a career-most seven tackles for loss as well. This signing gives the Jets interesting depth, at the very least. It will be interesting to see how the Jets use Amos and if he can recapture the form he showed prior to a 2022 step back.
Amos landed a four-year, $36MM Packers deal during the 2019 offseason. This came just after he started for a No. 1-ranked Bears defense, which powered the team to an NFC North title in Vic Fangio‘s final year at the controls. The former Bears fifth-rounder then helped the Packers to three straight division crowns. Green Bay still rosters ex-first-rounder Darnell Savage, but the team reduced his playing time last season. With Amos now gone, the Packers have a host of less proven players — Rudy Ford, Jonathan Owens and Tarvarius Moore among them — vying for the spot alongside Savage.
As for the Ravens, they remain in strong shape at safety even after dealing Clark and missing out on Amos. They moved Brandon Stephens back to safety, after he played cornerback in 2022, and retained Geno Stone via RFA tender this offseason. While Williams missed a chunk of last season due to injury, he and Hamilton are positioned as entrenched starters going forward. Williams is signed through 2026; Hamilton can be kept on his rookie deal through then via the fifth-year option.
Jonah Williams Addresses Bengals Future, Recovery Timeline
With the Bengals having added Orlando Brown Jr. this offseason to operate on the blindside, plenty of questions have been raised regarding the future of Jonah Williams. The team’s now-former left tackle is in attendance at mandatory minicamp, and he spoke about his approach to the 2023 season and his recovery from knee surgery. 
Williams requested a trade upon Brown’s arrival, something which will relegate the former first-rounder to competing for the starting right tackle spot. He is due $12.6MM this season on the fifth-year option, making the 2023 campaign a crucial one as he approaches free agency for the first time in his career. Williams was not present for Cincinnati’s voluntary OTAs, but he has arrived for the three-day mandatory minicamp.
“I’ll be happy to be a contributor on a team where I have so many great teammates,” the Alabama product said, via Geoff Hobson of the team’s website. “l love everyone in the room, love the coaches, love the fans. I’m stoked.”
Those remarks could represent a withdrawal of Williams’ trade request, something which failed to yield much in the way of tangible conversations for the Bengals on the subject of a potential swap. The Jaguars are the only known team which discussed a potential trade for the 25-year-old. With his future set to remain in Cincinnati, Williams is turning his attention to his health ahead of the 2023 season.
A dislocated kneecap cost him much of the team’s playoff run last season, prompting surgery and leading to questions about his ability to return to full health and at least match his performances of years past. Williams is confident that he will be back on the field in time for training camp next month, though, which will give him the opportunity to challenge for the RT spot with the likes of La’el Collins (when healthy), Jackson Carman, Cody Ford and Hakeem Adeniji. That endeavor is something he is approaching with confidence.
“I’m incorporating my rehab into football drills working out of the right tackle stance,” Williams added. “[The biggest adjustment] is re-learning everything for the other side of your body. Opposite stance… It’s nothing that reps and practice won’t get me used to… There’s a lot of technique to kind of unlearn and switch to the other side. It’s my job. I love it… I’m going to crush it.”