HEADLINES

Year: 2023

Three Teams Made Trade Offers For Broncos CB Patrick Surtain

November 14th, 2023 at 1:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following their walk-off win over the Bills, the Broncos may have made the right decision in standing pat at the trade deadline. The team has gone from 1-5 to 4-5 in Sean Payton‘s first season, now residing in a glut of AFC teams vying for wild-card spots. While offers came in for Jerry Jeudy, teams also explored Patrick Surtain.

Leading up to the deadline, the Broncos had made it fairly clear they were not looking to move Surtain. They are believed to have set the price of two first-rounders to even begin discussions, but ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter notes seven teams still contacted the Broncos regarding the All-Pro cornerback’s availability. Three of those made offers.

None of the proposals moved the needle, with Schefter adding the Broncos did not consider trading their top player. Surtain is off to a strong start, joining Dallas’ Micah Parsons and San Francisco safety Talanoa Hufanga as the only first-team All-Pros from the 2021 draft class. Surtain, 23, staying on his current course will call for an easy fifth-year option decision by May and put him on track for a record-setting extension.

It took two first-rounders for the Jaguars to trade Jalen Ramsey in 2019, his fourth season. But Ramsey had aimed to be moved; no speedbumps have occurred during Surtain’s time in Denver. The second-generation corner can be kept on his rookie contract, once the fifth-year option becomes official, until 2025. Payton’s team kept Marshon Lattimore on his rookie deal through his 2021 option year; Surtain on this contract represents one of the most valuable commodities in the game.

Surtain also has some pre-Denver ties to both the Broncos’ current power brokers. Broncos GM George Paton was a Dolphins exec during part of Patrick Surtain Sr.‘s tenure in Miami, and the Saints attempted to trade up for the Alabama prospect in 2021. The younger Surtain went to the Broncos at No. 9 overall that year.

Some around the Broncos’ organization view Surtain as the most talented corner they have come across, Schefter adds. The 2022 All-Pro most recently displayed his coverage prowess against Stefon Diggs on Monday night. The Broncos have enjoyed talented corners for most of this century. Chris Harris collected three All-Pro nods and is on the short list for top slot corners in NFL history, while Aqib Talib was 4-for-4 in Pro Bowls as a Bronco. Although it is early, Surtain’s career arc is closer to Hall of Famer Champ Bailey‘s. The Broncos rostered the first-ballot Hall of Famer for 10 seasons, but they did not acquire the perennial Pro Bowler until his sixth year — via the 2004 Bailey-Clinton Portis swap.

While contract talks or a potential franchise tag situation down the line could change this relationship, it should be expected Surtain’s rookie deal will turn into a mega-extension at some point in the mid-2020s.

Additionally, Schefter said Monday night the Broncos received an offer of third- and fifth-round picks for Jeudy. The team had held out for a first-rounder this offseason, and although Darius Slay went for this picks package years ago, the Broncos have Jeudy signed through 2024. Interest cooled in the Alabama alum, who has been inconsistent this season. But the Broncos still received a reasonable offer for a player without a 1,000-yard season on his resume. They could certainly revisit trade talks next year, considering how frequently Jeudy’s name has come up in trade rumors. For now, they will move forward with the former first-round pick.

Ravens Sign OL Josh Wells To Practice Squad

November 14th, 2023 at 1:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

It initially appeared Josh Wells‘ gateway to a 10th NFL season would be in Jacksonville. The veteran offensive lineman signed with his initial NFL team back in April, but that partnership did not last too far beyond training camp.

The Jaguars placed Wells on IR in August, preventing him from suiting up for them this season. But a September injury settlement led Wells off Jacksonville’s IR list and back into free agency. On Tuesday, he agreed to terms with the Ravens on a practice squad deal. This came after a workout, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.

The Ravens have dealt with some injury trouble on the offensive line as of late. Right tackle Morgan Moses has missed the past two games with a shoulder injury, though he logged a full practice Monday. Ronnie Stanley left the Ravens-Browns matchup with a knee injury and did not return. The longtime left tackle did not practice Monday. Considering Stanley’s history with knee trouble and the Ravens readying for a Thursday-night Bengals tilt, they are bringing in a veteran reinforcement.

Wells, 32, has primarily worked as a swing tackle throughout his career. The James Madison alum spent the past four seasons backing up Donovan Smith and Tristan Wirfs in Tampa. Wells made 15 starts with the Buccaneers, including seven last season. He started in the Bucs’ 2021 divisional-round matchup against the Rams, filling in for an injured Wirfs at right tackle. A 2014 Jags UDFA, Wells made nine starts with his first NFL employer before moving on and joining the Bucs in Bruce Arians’ first offseason in Tampa.

To make room on the practice squad, the Ravens released veteran tight end Eric Tomlinson. Spending parts of the 2020 and ’21 seasons in Baltimore, Tomlinson rejoined the team this offseason. After playing regularly in Denver last season, the seven-year vet has not seen action this season.

Cowboys LB Leighton Vander Esch Out For Season

November 14th, 2023 at 9:44am CST by Adam La Rose

Leighton Vander Esch‘s latest neck injury has put an end to his season, and it could leave the remainder of his career in jeopardy. The Cowboys linebacker will remain on injured reserve for the rest of 2023, as first reported by David Moore of the Dallas Morning News.

Vander Esch was placed on IR one month ago after suffering what was diagnosed as a neck strain. Moore notes that the 27-year-old is dealing with a cervical spinal stenosis, an ailment which could require surgery. Vander Esch is currently considering his options, per Moore, but undergoing the operation would – given the fusion surgery he had in 2020 – threaten to end his career.

“I would say that’s accurate,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones confirmed in his weekly appearance on 105.7 The Fan when asked if Vander Esch is out for the year. “We had just completely left it up to how he was evolving. But of course, it’s a very significant loss for us… We just wish him well. The nature of his potential injury here causes me to really think longer term and beyond what it means for next week or beyond what it means for next month relative to the team. It has everything to do with what’s in his best interest” (h/t Moore’s colleague Michael Gehlken).

Vander Esch managed to remain relatively healthy after his 2020 procedure, serving as a key starter on Dallas’ defense. The former first-rounder posted 90 tackles last season, the second-highest total of his career. He was in line to remain a focal point at the second level in 2023, and he started each of his five games while posting 30 tackles and a fumble return touchdown before suffering the injury.

The Boise State alum’s current deal runs through 2024. Vander Esch is scheduled to make $3.5MM next season with a cap hit of $4.75MM. Only $1MM of his compensation is guaranteed, though, so moving on would not be difficult for Dallas if such a move were to be necessary. Much will depend on Vander Esch’s decision with respect to surgery and how he is able to able to recover if he does undergo another neck procedure.

In the meantime, the Cowboys will move forward with Damone Clark as a starter, having filled in for Vander Esch after his injury. Dallas also has veteran Rashaan Evans in the fold; the latter has been designated a gameday call-up from the practice squad three times, meaning a move would be needed to bring him onto the active roster. That pair will be counted on heavily down the stretch (and perhaps beyond 2023) with Vander Esch not in the picture for the foreseeable future.

Giants Unlikely To Make HC, GM Changes; Joe Schoen Scouting Top QB Prospects

November 13th, 2023 at 10:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

Week 10 added to the list of lopsided defeats the Giants have suffered in 2023, and the team’s prospects for the rest of the campaign appear bleak. As attention increasingly turns to April’s draft, questions have been raised about the job security of head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen.

Both members of the team’s second-year regime are “widely considered to be safe” by those both inside and outside the organization, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports. Unexpected success last season – which culminated in a run to the divisional round of the playoffs – came with the understanding that a multi-year effort to clean up the team’s cap situation would be required, but the commitment made to quarterback Daniel Jones in the offseason has not gone according to plan.

Jones is out for the year with an ACL tear, though his 2023 performances when healthy fell well short of expectations as part of a highly underwhelming Giants offense. Attached to four-year, $160MM deal, the former top-10 pick is on the books at a rate of $36MM in guaranteed salary in 2024. In spite of that, a report from last week indicated the Giants were willing to add an eventual Jones successor during the upcoming draft if they found themselves in position to land one of the highly-touted passers in this year’s class.

Schoen is known to be among several NFL executives who watched the recent USC-Washington game in person, a showcase of Caleb Williams and Michael Penix. He has been on the QB circuit to see other prospects as well, however; NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes that Schoen has regularly watched games featuring high-end signal-callers during the fall when doing so lines up with the Giants’ travel schedule. New York – a team down to undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito at quarterback with Tyrod Taylor currently on IR – could very well end up with an intriguing decision to make come the spring with respect to a potential Jones replacement.

The Giants are currently slated to pick second overall, a slot which would likely line them up to draft UNC’s Drake Maye. Doing so would create the need to move on from Jones after the 2024 season, however, and in the process admit a mistake in making a lucrative investment in the latter. Plenty remains to be determined with respect to where the Giants wind up selecting in April, but it appears Daboll and Schoen will be allowed to make such a call when the time comes.

Rams Designate NT Bobby Brown III For Return

November 13th, 2023 at 9:00pm CST by Ben Levine

While much of the injury focus in Los Angeles is surrounding Matthew Stafford‘s return, the Rams will also be getting some reinforcement on defense. The team announced that nose tackle Bobby Brown III has returned to practice and has been designated for return from injured reserve.

Brown suffered a knee injury in early October that ultimately required a stint on IR. The defensive lineman was expected to be sidelined for five to seven weeks, so Brown is currently in the middle of that recovery timeline.

The Rams will now have 21 days to activate Brown to the active roster. There’s no guarantee that the player will be in the lineup for Week 11, but Sean McVay didn’t completely dismiss the DL’s availability for Sunday.

“He looked good,” the coach said (via the team’s website). “It was good to get him back. He was another guy who we’ve missed.”

After starting only one of his 19 appearances through his first two seasons in the NFL, the former fourth-round pick had a more significant role to start the 2023 campaign. Brown started each of his five appearances this season, compiling 13 tackles while getting into about 40 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

Kobie Turner will continue to soak up a lot of the snaps at nose tackle next to DT Aaron Donald. Brown will be able to fill in for both of those starters, a role that practice-squad defensive lineman Cory Durden has held since Week 6.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/23

November 13th, 2023 at 8:38pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Carolina Panthers

Minnesota Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles

Myles Gaskin is back in Minnesota following a brief stint in Los Angeles. The running back spent the beginning of the season with the Vikings, seeing time in a single game. He was snagged by the Rams in October and got into one game with his new squad before getting waived. Now, the RB is back with the Vikings, and he’ll provide some depth at the position while Alexander Mattison deals with a concussion.

Jaguars WR Zay Jones Arrested

November 13th, 2023 at 8:19pm CST by Ben Levine

Jaguars wideout Zay Jones was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge on Monday, according to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco.

Jones was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Duval County Jail earlier this evening. The 28-year-old was charged with domestic battery causing bodily harm, which DiRocco notes is a first-degree misdemeanor. Jones’ first court appearance is scheduled for tomorrow morning.

“We are aware of the situation and are in the midst of gathering information,” the Jaguars said in a statement (via DiRocco). “We will have no further comment at this time.”

Jones has been limited to only three games this season, hauling in five catches for 55 yards and one touchdown. He’s sat out the last six games, including the past four thanks to a knee injury.

The receiver signed a three-year, $24MM deal with the Jaguars during the 2022 offseason. He finished his first season in Jacksonville with 841 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. The former second-round pick spent the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Bills before playing for the Raiders between 2019 and 2021.

Saints Sign DE Jason Pierre-Paul

November 13th, 2023 at 7:20pm CST by Ben Levine

JPP is back in the NFL. Veteran pass rusher Jason Pierre-Paul told Josina Anderson that he plans to sign with the Saints. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported earlier today that Pierre-Paul was working out for New Orleans. It is a practice squad agreement, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell notes.

[RELATED: Jason Pierre-Paul Eyeing Free Agent Deal]

“I killed the workout,” the veteran told Anderson. “You can tell I’ve been active and not just sitting around.”

Pierre-Paul was one of many veteran edge rushers who found themselves on the open market for an extended period, and we heard recently that the former Giants star was actively seeking his next opportunity. It had been a quiet offseason and start to the regular season for Pierre-Paul, with his Saints workout marking his first official visit.

The last time we saw JPP, he was getting into 14 games (13 starts) with the Ravens in 2022. While the 34-year-old obviously wasn’t nearly as productive as he was 10 years ago, he still managed to chip in three sacks and three QB hits while getting into about 60 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

That cameo in Baltimore was preceded by a four-year stint with the Buccaneers, where Pierre-Paul won a Super Bowl ring and compiled 33 sacks. The former first-round pick spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Giants, earning a Pro Bowl nod while also collecting the 10th-most sacks (58.5) in franchise history.

The Saints have needed some pass-rushing help. The team’s 18 sacks is tied for the fifth-fewest in the NFL. Plus, as Matthew Paras of NOLA.com writes, the defensive line has had a tough time containing mobile quarterbacks. Most recently, the Saints allowed QB Joshua Dobbs to run for 44 yards on eight attempts during Sunday’s loss to the Vikings.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/23

November 13th, 2023 at 7:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

JaMycal Hasty was waived by the Jaguars this past weekend following a year-plus with the organization. The running back had 320 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns during his first season in Jacksonville but was limited to only three games and zero touches this year. He’ll be hard pressed to carve out a role in New England with Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott leading the depth chart.

Vikings, LB Anthony Barr Agree To Deal

November 13th, 2023 at 4:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

In need of a replacement for the injured Jordan Hicks, the Vikings are turning to a familiar face at the linebacker spot. Anthony Barr has agreed to a deal with Minnesota, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Barr will initially be joining the Vikings’ practice squad, per ESPN’s Ben Goessling.

Hicks was injured during yesterday’s win over the Saints, and he was taken to hospital due to compartment syndrome, head coach Kevin O’Connell said on Monday. The veteran remained in the hospital overnight and will be sidelined for at least one game, he added, via Schefter’s colleague Kevin Seifert.

With a hole at the LB position, Minnesota will bring back Barr after he spent his first eight years in the league as a Viking. The former first-round pick earned four Pro Bowl nods during his stay in Minnesota, and he sits 15th on the franchise’s all-time tackles leaderboard.

Barr was limited to two games in 2020 thanks to a torn pectoral muscle, and knee surgery the following offseason played a role in him appearing in only 11 games in 2021. That led to the end of his tenure with the Vikings, and he ended up signing with the Cowboys prior to the 2022 campaign. He was productive during his lone season in Dallas, finishing with 58 tackles in 14 games (10 starts).

Barr was connected to the Giants and Saints during the offseason but didn’t end up signing with either team. His market was apparently heating back up, as NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported earlier today that the linebacker worked out for the Eagles.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

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