HEADLINES

Month: April 2024

Packers HC Matt LaFleur Surprised By RB Moves

March 30th, 2024 at 9:19am CST by Ben Levine

The Packers were one of the major players in the free agent RB carousel. The team couldn’t convince Aaron Jones to take a pay cut, leading to the veteran’s release. The Packers quickly scooped up former Raiders star Josh Jacobs as Jones’ replacement, completely revamping the top of their depth chart.

[RELATED: Packers Sign RB Josh Jacobs]

While it seemed likely that the Packers would approach Jones about a reduced salary, there weren’t many people who anticipated the Packers pivoting to a different star running back. That includes head coach Matt LaFleur, who admitted to reporters this week that he was caught “off guard” by the sudden moves.

“There were some other things in play, obviously with Aaron Jones, and I didn’t quite know how everything was going to go,” LaFleur said (via Jason Wilde of Madison.com). “It just happened really fast on that Monday. … It happened really fast, so I don’t know all the details of that. I’m not involved in those types of conversations. But we were super excited (to get Jacobs).”

Jacobs shouldn’t have any issues replacing Jones’ production. Following a 2022 campaign where he led the NFL with 2,053 yards from scrimmage in 17 games, Jacobs was limited to only 13 contests in 2024. Still, the 26-year-old managed to top 1,100 yards from scrimmage, although that was partly due to him garnering more than 20 touches per game. Jones followed up four-straight seasons of 1,000-yard production with 889 yards from scrimmage in 13 games this past season.

The team will also be counting on Jacobs to fill the leadership void left by Jones, although LaFleur told reporters that he’s challenged Jordan Love to step into a larger vocal role. Jones left the franchise with the third-most rushing yards in team history, and the head coach acknowledged that moving on from the veteran was “really tough.”

“[Jones has] always been team first,” LaFleur said (via Wilde). “He walks the walk, and he does everything. He’s just such a pro, [and] that’s always tough to replace.”

The Packers will have some continuity on their depth chart in AJ Dillon. The organization hit the former second-round running back with the rarely used four-year qualifying offer, locking the player into a one-year deal.

Dolphins, RB Raheem Mostert Agree To Extension

March 30th, 2024 at 8:40am CST by Adam La Rose

MARCH 30: The deal is official, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Mostert inked a new two-year deal worth $9.075MM.

MARCH 29: Coming off by far the most productive season of his career, Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert has been rewarded with a revised contract. Team and player have agreed to a new deal which includes one year being added onto the existing pact, as announced by agent Brett Tessler.

Mostert will now be on the books through the 2025 season. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the pact has a maximum value of just over $9MM. That represents a significant raise compared to his previously scheduled compensation for 2024, while ensuring the Pro Bowler remains in Miami for at least two more years.

The 31-year-old was due to earn $2.75MM this season, which would have represented a bargain for the Dolphins considering his play last year. His $3.36MM cap charge will be lowered, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. Mostert topped 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career in 2023, and he led the NFL with 18 touchdowns on the ground. He added another three scores in the passing game, proving to be a key weapon in Miami’s No. 1 ranked offense.

Mostert was among the league’s journeymen at the running back spot prior to his lengthy 49ers tenure. In San Francisco, he operated in a rotational role while showing efficiency in Kyle Shanahan‘s scheme. During his time in the Bay Area, the former UDFA also worked with Mike McDaniel, and the pair continued their relationship with Miami in 2022. That year, Mostert ran for 891 yards, earning him a new deal as a result.

The Dolphins continued a committee approach heading into 2023, though rookie De’Von Achane proved to be worthy of a large role when healthy. He averaged 7.8 yards per carry, showing his high-end speed in the process; Mostert, by contrast, checked in with an average of 4.8 yards per attempt. That essentially matches his mark from the previous season, so despite his age a renewed commitment should not be considered a particularly risky move on the team’s part.

In addition to Mostert and Achane, Miami has Jeff Wilson and Salvon Ahmed under contract in the backfield. Each of the latter two backs are only on the books for 2024, though, and neither would incur a notable dead cap charge if traded or released this offseason. While they face an uncertain future, the top of the Dolphins’ RB depth chart will be secure for two more seasons.

Eagles Trade Haason Reddick To Jets

March 29th, 2024 at 11:19pm CST by Adam La Rose

The uncertainty surrounding Haason Reddick‘s future has come to an end. The Pro Bowl edge rusher is being traded from the Eagles to the Jets, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal is now official.

With respect to compensation, Schefter notes New York will send Philadelphia a conditional 2026 third-round pick. The selection will become a second-rounder if Reddick plays at least 67.5% of defensive snaps this season and records at least 10 sacks.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes New York will take on $14.5MM of Reddick’s compensation. The Eagles, meanwhile, could also be off the hook for a $1MM roster bonus which was due to be paid out earlier this month but was delayed to April 1. 2024 marks the final year of the 29-year-old’s deal, but Garafolo’s colleague Ian Rapoport reports he is expected to land a new contract in the wake of this trade.

Reddick has drawn attention this offseason with it being known the Eagles were willing to move on from him. While he made it clear he did not request a trade, signs pointed to another lucrative Philadelphia agreement not being in the cards. That seemed to be confirmed when the Eagles landed ex-Jet Bryce Huff early in free agency, a move which added a noted sack artist to the mix. The team has also has Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham on the books for 2024, while New York was left in need of an edge addition prior to today.

Huff seemed destined to depart the latter team after a strong contract season. The Jets were one of the interested suitors in Jadeveon Clowney, but no deal materialized. Not long after seeing Clowney sign a deal with the Panthers, New York has pivoted to Reddick. Expectations will be high for the team’s edge contingent heading into the 2024 campaign as a result.

Reddick has posted at least 11 sacks in each of the past four seasons, a stretch split between his time in Carolina and Philadelphia. The former Cardinals first-rounder was a Pro Bowler in each of his two Eagles seasons, proving to be a valuable free agent addition. He is attached to a deal worth $15MM per year, but a new agreement will no doubt check in at a figure closer to the top of the market. Reddick’s 27 sacks and 76 pressures during the past two years will help his bargaining position with his new team.

New York’s two most frequently used edge rushers from last year – Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers – are each on the books for another two years on their respective contracts. The latter enjoyed a breakout season last year with 7.5 sacks, while the latter remained a consistent secondary producer in that regard. Adding Reddick to the fold will help offset the loss of Huff and give the team another sack artist to work with.

It will be interesting to see how urgently the Jets pursue a Reddick extension to keep him in the fold for the intermediate term and avoid a potential free agent departure next offseason. 12 edge rushers currently average over $20MM per year, and Reddick could aim to join that group in New York. At a minimum, the Jets’ front seven will still have a strong rotation next season even with Huff no longer in the picture.

Jags, LB Foye Oluokun Agree On Extension

March 29th, 2024 at 10:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the NFL’s top tacklers has a new deal in place. Foye Oluokun, a Jaguars free agency pickup in 2022, has agreed to terms on a new four-year extension, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports.

Oluokun’s second Jaguars contract will lock him down through the 2028 season; the deal is worth $45MM and includes $22.5MM fully guaranteed. The ex-Falcons linebacker has led the NFL in solo tackles in each of the past two seasons. The contract can max out at $48MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. The team has since announced the extension.

AAV-wise, this agreement checks in a bit south of Oluokun’s first Jags contract. The Yale alum had signed a three-year, $45MM deal to join the Jags; that average salary ranked fourth at the position entering Friday. Oluokun received $28MM guaranteed at signing two years ago, but the contract did not feature any guarantees for the upcoming season. Oluokun now has additional security.

Oluokun, 28, has rewarded the Jags on their initial investment, starting 17 games in each of the past two seasons. He reached 128 solo stops in 2022 and 111 last season. The former sixth-round pick has made at least 173 tackles in each of the past three seasons, leading the league in total tackles twice in that span.

Oluokun’s 192 stops in his final Falcons slate are the most any NFLer has accumulated in the 21st century. That created a big market for him in 2022, and although the Jags have jettisoned multiple free agents they signed to help on defense that year (Foley Fatukasi, Darious Williams), they are doubling down on their prolific tackler.

This agreement will drop Oluokun’s cap number from its present $21.75MM place, providing cap relief for a Jags team that has made multiple big investments in free agency. The team signed Gabe Davis and Arik Armstead to eight-figure-per-year deals this month. The Jags have also begun negotiations with Trevor Lawrence. Although the team will have Lawrence locked up through 2025 due to the soon-to-be-exercised fifth-year option, many first-round quarterbacks since the 2011 CBA changed the rookie salary landscape have agreed to new deals before Year 4.

No one else this century has even eclipsed Oluokun’s second-best tackle season (184); Pro Football Focus has viewed the former Falcons De’Vondre Campbell successor as a top-30 linebacker in each of his two Jaguars seasons. After letting Campbell walk in 2020, the Falcons received tremendous production from Oluokun. The Jaguars have certainly benefited as well; the ex-Ivy Leaguer has tallied 20 tackles for loss over his two Jaguars slates.

With Deion Jones‘ extension still on the payroll in March 2022, Atlanta let Oluokun walk. But the team soon traded Jones, starting over at linebacker. Oluokun has topped both Jones and Campbell on his third contract, with his guarantees almost definitely set to run through at least the 2025 season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/29/24

March 29th, 2024 at 8:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

Friday’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: K Charlie Smyth

Davis began the 2023 season in Atlanta, but he made the intra-divisional move to Carolina in November. The 27-year-old made eight appearances with the Panthers, playing exclusively on special teams. He will look to earn a roster spot based on his third phase abilities during training camp.

Smyth will join the Saints on a three-year contract as part of the International Player Pathway. The Newry, Ireland native played goalkeeper in Gaelic football before being selected as a candidate for the IPP program, and he will now look to transition to the NFL. Smyth, 22, joins 2023 UDFA Blake Grupe as the only kickers on New Orleans’ roster.

Latest On TE Jimmy Graham

March 29th, 2024 at 7:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jimmy Graham returned to the Saints on a one-year deal last summer. That came amongst speculation his career was over since he sat out the previous campaign, and once again his playing future is in question.

Graham posted a lengthy message on Instragram Friday. While it stops short of declaring his retirement, the decorated tight end used it to reflect on his time in the NFL, particularly his two separate stints in New Orleans. Graham, 37, is a free agent but it remains to be seen if he will suit up for the 2024 campaign.

“To the city of New Orleans, there are no words to fully express my appreciation for your unwavering support,” Graham’s statement reads in part. “Playing for this city was an honor that transcended the game of football. It was never just about the sport or a paycheck. It was about being part of a community that breathes and lives for football, a community that finds joy, solace and unity in the game.”

After entering the league in 2010, the former third-rounder quickly established himself as one of the league’s top tight ends. Graham earned three Pro Bowl invitations during his five-year stretch in New Orleans from 2010-14, along with a first-team All-Pro nod. The latter honor came in 2013, a season in which he totaled 1,215 yards and a league-leading 16 touchdown receptions.

Graham toured the NFC following the Saints’ decision to trade him. He spent three seasons with the Seahawks, followed by a pair of campaigns with the Packers and Bears. The Miami alum remained a starter and strong red zone threat through much of that time, but he sat out the 2022 season amidst interest from the Saints in a reunion. His low-cost New Orleans deal came after he decided to return to where his career began and put off retirement by at least one year in the process.

“As I look back, I am filled with pride for what we’ve accomplished together,” Graham added. “The city of New Orleans and the Saints organization have given me more than I could ever ask for. I hope I’ve been able to contribute to that legacy in some way.”

While the message notes Graham is “unsure of what the future holds,” his comments certainly suggest a retirement decision will be coming at some point this offseason. He played a small rotational role with the Saints last season, making just six catches (although four of them were touchdowns). The same would likely be true next campaign if he and the team were to reach agreement on another one-year pact.

Presuming Graham hangs up his cleats, his NFL career will end with a number of impressive statistical totals. He currently sits seventh on the all-time tight ends list for receptions (719), eighth in yards (8,545) and fourth in touchdowns (89). Graham has amassed over $82MM in career earnings.

QB Michael Penix Jr. Schedules Five Visits

March 29th, 2024 at 6:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

With pre-draft visits in full swing, Michael Penix Jr. is one of several quarterbacks set to take a number of ‘top 30’ visits with interested teams. Details on his immediate future have emerged in the wake of his Pro Day.

Penix is set to meet with the Giants, Falcons, Raiders, Broncos and Steelers, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson. New York, Las Vegas and Denver have been among the teams most closely connected with selecting a passer during next month’s draft. The inclusion of Atlanta and Pittsburgh on that list is certainly noteworthy, however.

The Falcons made perhaps the most impactful move of free agency by signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180MM deal. That move sets the team up with a proven quarterback relative to its other post-Matt Ryan options (albeit one which is aging and coming off an Achilles tear). A long-term investment in a developmental passer would be reasonable, but such a move would likely come after the Falcons’ top pick.

Atlanta is set to select eighth overall, and edge rush remains a notable roster hole at the moment. For that reason, many mocks have linked the team to Alabama’s Dallas Turner, largely regarded as the top member of the 2024 pass rush class. The Falcons’ next selection is No. 43; Penix could very well be off the board by that point, leaving them in search of another Day 2 or 3 QB option.

The Steelers have completely re-built their quarterback room, signing Russell Wilson and trading for Justin Fields. The former is set to operate as the starter for 2024, but the latter profiles as the passer with a higher upside over the long term given his age. Both Wilson and Fields are only on the books for one season (provided Fields’ fifth-year option is declined this spring), though the team is believed to have interest in retaining each of them beyond 2024.

Pittsburgh owns the No. 20 pick, which could fall within the early portion of Penix’s range (depending in large part, of course, on where the QBs rated above him are selected). Adding the 2023 Heisman runner-up would give the Steelers an intriguing third option on the depth chart but it would likely prove to be redundant in at least the short term with Wilson and Fields in the fold.

Penix profiles as a wild card in the 2024 quarterback class, having enjoyed a successful stint with Washington which was punctuated by a trip to the national title game. Concerns over his age and lengthy injury history – including two ACL tears – will hurt his draft stock compared to the passers slated to be selected in the top five, but the strong athletic performance he delivered at his Pro Day could certainly help in that regard. Ultimately, Penix’s visits will be a strong determining factor in his eventual landing spots, and several teams will remain worth monitoring as potential destinations.

K’Waun Williams Medically Cleared; CB Drawing Interest

March 29th, 2024 at 4:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

K’Waun Williams missed the entire 2023 season after undergoing multiple ankle surgeries. The veteran corner has therefore not played since his Broncos campaign the year prior, but he is on the radar of NFL teams once again.

Williams first underwent surgery on August 28, and there was initial optimism he would be able to return at some point during the year. By October, however, it became clear that would not be the case, with a follow-up procedure proving to be necessary. Good news has emerged on the medical front in his case.

The 32-year-old received clearance earlier this month, Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette reports. That will help his free agent prospects, although Tomasson adds a new Broncos deal will not be taking place. In spite of that, he adds Williams has generated interest from five teams.

Serving as a rotational slot defender in Cleveland to begin his career, Williams took on a larger role during his five-year tenure with the 49ers. The former UDFA logged a career-high defensive snap share of 72% in 2021, and he landed a two-year, $5.2MM Denver deal as a result. The Broncos only had Williams on the field for one season of that pact, though, one in which he recorded 44 tackles, one interception and seven pass deflections.

Williams also posted strong coverage statistics (59.6% completion percentage, 69.3 passer rating allowed) in 2022, underscoring the impact of his absence last season. As a result, it comes as little surprise the Pitt product is on the radar of potential suitors now that he is healthy once again. Still, his age and injury history will no doubt limit him to a short-term deal for the 2024 campaign. It will be interesting to see if he lands an agreement prior to next month’s draft or is forced to wait until teams re-evaluate their secondary setups following the addition of rookies.

Latest On Steelers, WR Tyler Boyd

March 29th, 2024 at 2:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tyler Boyd is one of several veteran wideouts still on the market, and Steelers connections persist in his case. The chance of a Pittsburgh deal remains, but the team appears to have set a firm price point.

A mutual interest was reported to exist between Boyd and his hometown team early in free agency. The 29-year-old has faced an uncertain future with the Bengals for some time now, owing to his contract status and that of fellow receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. Both represent higher priorities on lucrative new deals, leaving Boyd on track to join a new team this offseason for the first time in his career.

The Diontae Johnson-less Steelers are a logical landing spot for the former second-rounder. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic notes, though, that Pittsburgh has made an offer to Boyd and is not prepared to increase it. The latter would take on a starter’s role in a receiver room which saw Johnson get traded to the Panthers after Allen Robinson‘s release. Numerous complementary players (including Quez Watkins and return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson) have been added, but Boyd would provide an experienced slot producer.

The latter recorded at least 828 yards every year from 2018-21, but he has seen his role in the offense diminish with the emergence of Chase and Higgins. Boyd notched 667 yards and two touchdowns in 2023, a notable step back from his production of years past. Given his age, though, the Pitt alum could still be an effective contributor in a Steelers offense which figures to be run-heavy under new OC Arthur Smith.

The Chiefs and Jets were also named as potential landing spots for Boyd. However, Kansas City has since signed Marquise Brown, while New York has brought in Mike Williams. Any further WR moves from those teams would likely come during the upcoming draft as a result. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin recently noted the depth of highly-acclaimed wideouts in the 2024 class, and Pittsburgh will have a number of opportunities to add a rookie at the position.

Boyd’s market has not seen much movement in recent weeks, so it will be interesting to see how he proceeds. His now-expired Bengals contract carried an average of $10.75MM over four years. An AAV or term matching that pact would come as a surprise this offseason, but he could still manage to land a notable short-term contract if a team other that the Steelers were to emerge as a serious suitor.

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Bills, Fangio

March 29th, 2024 at 12:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Even though the Patriots re-signed Kendrick Bourne, their failed pursuit of Calvin Ridley leaves a void at receiver. Robert Kraft certainly believes the team made a viable offer but cited an interesting reason for the former first-round pick choosing the Titans.

“It was not because of finance. Clearly, his girlfriend wanted to be in the South,” Kraft said (via the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed) of Ridley, referring to the wide receiver’s wife. “We had a situation where the taxes were, like, almost 10% higher. We offered — we were willing to keep going at that premium. But he didn’t want to be in the Northeast. And part of it might be the quarterback situation as well.”

The Pats and Jaguars were believed to be battling for Ridley, but the Titans came in with a monster offer. Tennessee gave Ridley a whopping $46.98MM guaranteed at signing — third among all wide receivers. That number will jump to $50MM if he is on Tennessee’s roster on Day 5 of the 2025 league year. The Patriots have faced criticism for their free agency route, after Jerod Mayo said the team was planning to be more aggressive. Much of the Pats’ moves have involved re-signings. The Pats have a big decision to make at No. 3 overall, and trade-down rumors are emerging. If they do draft a passer third, the WR need will be glaring — unless a rumored Pats trade effort produces a deal — on Day 2 of the draft.

Here is the latest from the AFC East:

  • Michael Onwenu joined the host of guards who received big paydays this month, but the Patriots are not planning to return him to his primary rookie-contract position. New England is planning to station Onwenu where he played much of last season. After re-signing the former sixth-round pick on a three-year, $57MM deal, the Pats are keeping him at right tackle, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Onwenu appears comfortable with this plan, per the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi. The Pats used Onwenu at guard during the 2021 and ’22 seasons, but after injury issues at right tackle last season, Bill Belichick moved him back to that position — where he spent time during his rookie campaign. While left tackle remains an issue post-Trent Brown, the Onwenu deal solidifies the team’s RT job.
  • Bills GM Brandon Beane does not expect Micah Hyde to retire, and despite the team having re-signed Taylor Rapp and brought Mike Edwards over from the Chiefs, Hyde could remain in the picture. Beane is not ruling out a re-signing, ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg notes. Hyde played out a third Bills contract and joins a few other accomplished safeties on the market — Justin Simmons, Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs among them. While GMs often indicate interest in re-signing a player at a lower rate exists, the Bills did follow through on this by bringing back Jordan Poyer at a lower cost (two years, $12.5MM) in 2023. Buffalo disbanded the Hyde-Poyer tandem by cutting the latter this month.
  • Oregon wide receiver Troy Franklin has a workout scheduled with the Bills, per Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline. The No. 43 overall prospect on Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board, Franklin has four “30” visits scheduled as well. Working with first-round QB prospect Bo Nix, Franklin posted 1,383 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Franklin was sick during Combine week, Pauline adds, noting he weighed in seven pounds heavier (183) at his pro day.
  • Mike McDaniel confirmed the Dolphins did not have the intention of moving on from Vic Fangio after one season, but the third-year HC indicated (via ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Beasley) a few one-on-one conversations led to an understanding it would be best for the sides to part ways. Fangio quickly agreed to terms with the Eagles, which came after players heard rumblings the accomplished DC was eyeing a move back to Philadelphia during last season.
  • Bourne’s three-year, $19.5MM Patriots contract includes $5.5MM guaranteed, and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets the veteran wide receiver can guarantee $2.5MM of his $5.5MM 2025 base salary by eclipsing 800 receiving yards this season. Bourne, who is coming off a torn ACL, has one 800-yard season in six years; he posted exacted 800 in 2021.
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