2024 April - Pro Football Rumors

Month: April 2024

Chiefs, TE Travis Kelce Agree To Extension

April 29th, 2024 at 1:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chiefs have kept their decision-making nucleus in place for years to come, and the same is also true of All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce. The latter has agreed to a two-year extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

This deal will make Kelce the league’s highest-paid tight end, Rapoport adds. That comes as little surprise considering the success Kelce has had in recent years and the pivotal role he has played in Kansas City’s three Super Bowl title across the past four seasons. The future Hall of Famer is now on the books through 2027.

In terms of annual compensation, Darren Waller entered this offseason atop the tight end pecking order ($17MM). This new Kelce deal will surpass that mark, meaning he will receive a raise compared to the remainder of his existing pact. That deal carried an AAV of just over $14.3MM, which ranked fourth at the position. The 34-year-old was due $13MM in 2024 and $17.25MM the following year, but his remaining base salaries those seasons were not guaranteed.

Kelce was inactive for the Chiefs’ regular season finale in 2023, and that left him just short of the 1,000-yard mark for the campaign. That ended a streak of reaching 1,000 or more yards in seven straight seasons, but it still yielded a ninth consecutive Pro Bowl nod. The Cincinnati product has added four first-team All-Pro nods and a place on the 2010s All-Decade team list to his decorated resume.

Of course, Kelce’s significance to the Chiefs’ title-winning teams will be a major aspect of his legacy. The former third-rounder is one of only three players in NFL history to lead a Super Bowl champion in receiving yards three times (the other two being Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin). Kelce will be counted on as Patrick Mahomes‘ top target for years to come.

Kansas City dealt with inconsistencies in the receiving corps during the 2023 season, and many of the team’s top WR options are still in the fold. Rashee Rice faces a potential suspension, and the likes of Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore and Justin Watson have not lived up to expectations so far. The Chiefs signed Marquise Brown in free agency and selected Xavier Worthy in the first round of the draft, but Kelce is by far the most known commodity in the team’s skill position room.

More to come…

Bills Unlikely To Make WR Trade; Team Turned Down Patriots’ First Round Trade Offer

April 29th, 2024 at 1:23pm CST by Adam La Rose

Wide receiver was frequently named as a draft target of the Bills, but the team was also connected to a potential trade involving Deebo Samuel. No agreement on the latter front came to pass, and a notable swap at the position should not be expected moving forward.

Buffalo originally owned pick No. 28 in the first round of the draft, but the team traded down on two occasions. The Bills saw three receivers (Xavier Worthy, Ricky Pearsall and Xavier Legette) come off the board late in the opening round, limiting their options when they kicked off Day 2. The team received interest in another trade, but instead they selected Florida State wideout Keon Coleman.

That move should provide another starting option to a receiving corps which also added Curtis Samuel (along with Quintez Cephus) in free agency. Still, the Bills have plenty of production to replace with Stefon Diggs no longer in the fold, and as such a move producing another veteran would come as little surprise. The team’s cap situation will prevent any sizable acquisitions at this time, however.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane confirmed after the draft (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg) he does not see a receiver trade as being “realistic.” Buffalo entered Monday with just under $2.9MM in cap space, much of which will be required to sign the team’s draft class. Further cost-shedding moves – already a key storyline in Buffalo’s offseason – would therefore be required to free up the space for an established wideout.

In other Bills news, Getzenberg’s colleague Mike Reiss reports the Patriots presented Buffalo with an offer for the No. 32 pick. That was rejected before a 32-for-33 swap with the Panthers took place. Carolina selected Legette with the final pick of Day 1, and Reiss notes the Patriots’ trade-up efforts likely would have been aimed at acquiring Legette or Coleman. New England did end up drafting a pair of receivers, but it comes as little surprise the team’s efforts to trade with a division rival were unsuccessful.

Eagles GM Howie Roseman Addresses 2024 Draft Strategy

April 29th, 2024 at 12:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles were busy on the trade front during this year’s draft, executing eight pick swaps over three days. That figure ties the record for the most in a single year since the event took on its current seven-round format.

Philadelphia’s efforts with respect to trades were notably aimed at acquiring extra draft capital in 2025. When speaking about that strategy, general manager Howie Roseman noted that the relatively shallow pool of prospects in this year’s class was a key factor. Added eligibility due to the pandemic as well as NIL deals led to just 58 underclassmen declaring for the 2024 draft.

That figure could change next year, though, something the Eagles are anticipating given their actions over the weekend. Philadelphia added three 2025 selections – a third-rounder from the Dolphins, a fourth-rounder from the Lions and a fifth-rounder from the Texans – through pick swaps. The team will also receive a second- or third-round selection next year through the Haason Reddick trade. As Roseman noted, the Eagles will also have a smaller UDFA class than usual in 2024.

“I think a big part of that is because we made a conscious decision after the season to try to get guys from team’s practice squads where we had some tape to watch,” Roseman said (via PHLY’s Zach Berman). “We felt like that was just for us kind of a unique opportunity that we wanted to try and take advantage of based on this class and knowing that this was a different class, and so it wouldn’t have a ton of the same opportunities in the undrafted market that maybe you’ll get next year…. I think it will be back to normal next year.”

The Eagles have yet to unveil their class of undrafted free agents, but Over the Cap lists the team has already having 88 players on their roster. The offseason limit in that regard is 90, so Roseman’s remarks will hold true in terms of signing free agents with the draft now in the books. Given the team’s added capital for next year, however, Philadelphia will certainly be worth watching closely in the spring of 2025.

Bills Exercise Greg Rousseau’s Fifth-Year Option

April 29th, 2024 at 11:38am CST by Adam La Rose

With the deadline for fifth-year options approaching, teams around the league are required to make firm decisions on 2021 first-round picks. In the Bills’ case, they will retain edge rusher Greg Rousseau for at least the next two years.

Buffalo will pick up Rousseau’s option, Peter Schrager of NFL Network reports. This comes as little surprise, as a report from earlier this month indicated that would be the Bills’ preference. Rousseau will collect $13.39MM in 2025 as he remains a full-time starter moving forward. The option decision is now official, per a team announcement.

The 24-year-old was one of his draft class’ more intriguing prospects after he opted out of the 2020 college season. As a result of that decision, he played only 14 games at Miami, one of which came in his freshman campaign. The following year, though, he racked up 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss with the Hurricanes, showcasing his upside at the pro level.

Rousseau went 30th overall to the Bills, a team which has incrementally increased his usage year over year. The 6-6, 266-pounder has logged snap shares of 49%, 56% and 60% during his three years in Buffalo. Despite being limited to 13 games in 2022, that season represents his most productive one to date (eight sacks). Rousseau notched five sacks last year, though he reached a new career high with 25 QB pressures.

The Bills saw Leonard Floyd depart in free agency this offseason, and Von Miller was held without a sack in his second campaign with the team. As a result, Rousseau will be counted on as a key member of Buffalo’s front seven for at least the next two years. Fellow defensive end A.J. Epenesa recently signed a two-year deal which prevented him from heading elsewhere on the open market, and he will also take on a notable role.

The latter’s pact carries a base value of $12MM, though, and Rousseau will outpace him in earnings during the 2025 season given the decision to pick up his option. An extension could also be in play down the road, especially if he enjoys a career year in 2024. It will be interesting to see if Rousseau joins Miller in landing a lucrative long-term deal tying him to Buffalo for the foreseeable future. For now, though, he is positioned to continue in a first-team role as the Bills transition at a number of spots on defense.

Patriots, DT Christian Barmore Agree To Extension

April 29th, 2024 at 9:33am CST by Adam La Rose

Continuing with a trend from earlier this offseason, the Patriots have retained another in-house player for years to come. New England has reached agreement on an extension with defensive tackle Christian Barmore, as first reported by Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds this pact is four years in length, and it carries a maximum value of $92MM. As a result, Barmore has become the latest ascending defensive lineman to secure a lucrative new pact. The 24-year-old is now on the books through 2028. The pact (which Kyed notes has a base value of $84MM) includes $41.8MM in guaranteed money, per Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler. In all, this marks the franchise’s largest contract ever given to a player not named Tom Brady.

New England was active in free agency last month with respect to re-signing or extending starters on both sides of the ball. The Patriots’ defense retained safety Kyle Dugger via the transition tag before a long-term extension was worked out. Edge rushers Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings also have new deals in place, and Barmore will remain a key member of the team’s front seven alongside them for years to come.

The latter began extension talks in March, and a major raise has been hammered out in the immediate aftermath of the draft. Team and player certainly had an established framework in place with respect to second contracts along the defensive interior. Over the past two years, a number of up-and-coming producers at the position have landed lucrative extensions. Barmore’s $23MM per year average (provided he reaches his maximum earning potential) places him in a tie for seventh amongst active defensive tackles.

The Alabama product saw a notable 55% defensive snap share as a rookie, and he produced 46 tackles that year. His playing time dipped the following season and his impact as a pass-rusher improved only incrementally (1.5 to 2.5 sacks). This past campaign, however, Barmore took on a larger workload (66% snap share) and he parlayed that into a notable uptick in statistical output.

The former second-rounder racked up 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in 2023, the second season in which he was healthy for every game. Barmore added 19 pressures and 16 QB hits, and he ranked eighth amongst defensive tackles in terms of PFF grade (83.8). New England will count on a repeat of that production this season and beyond.

The Patriots have plenty of room for improvement on offense in 2024, but the team’s defense fared well in a number of categories last year. The team ranked fourth against the run, and Barmore played a central role in that success. He will be expected to continue his career ascent in the ground game while building off his impact against the pass for the foreseeable future as one of several D-lineman cashing in around the NFL.

WR Jarvis Landry Eyeing NFL Return

April 29th, 2024 at 9:16am CST by Adam La Rose

Jarvis Landry was sidelined for the 2023 season, but he is aiming to return in advance of the coming campaign. The veteran wideout is expected to participate in the Jaguars’ rookie minicamp, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Landry established himself as one of the league’s top slot receivers during the first six years of his career. During that span, he drew between 101 and 166 targets each season, eclipsing 1,100 yards three times. That production helped earn the former second-rounder five consecutive Pro Bowl nods straddling his tenure with the Dolphins and Browns.

In his final two seasons in Cleveland, though, Landry saw his involvement in the team’s offense and statistical output drop off. The LSU alum was released following the 2022 campaign, and the possibility of remaining with the Browns on a less lucrative pact soon went away. Landry ultimately joined the Saints on a one-year pact in an attempt to provide New Orleans with a complementary receiving option.

Injuries limited him to just nine contests, however, and Landry missed consecutive games at multiple points in the campaign. While his Saints debut (seven catches, 114 yards) was impressive, his subsequent performances never topped 37 yards. After a full campaign spent away from the game, though, it will be interesting to see if Landy is able to contribute as a secondary pass-catcher on a new team.

The 31-year-old will participate in a Jaguars camp featuring Brian Thomas Jr., the team’s first-round selection. Jacksonville lost Calvin Ridley in free agency, and Thomas will join veterans Gabe Davis and Devin Duvernay as new faces in the team’s receiving corps. Landry’s inclusion in the camp may not yield interest from the Jags specifically, but if he lands on the radar of other teams he will join the list of veteran wideouts available in the post-draft wave of free agency.

Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott Agree To Deal

April 29th, 2024 at 8:05am CST by Adam La Rose

In a move which comes as no surprise at this point, Ezekiel Elliott is set to return to the Cowboys. The former rushing champion has a deal in place with Dallas pending a physical, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.

This is a one-year agreement worth $3MM, per Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Elliott will collect $2MM guaranteed, he adds. The 28-year-old is therefore in line to once again take on a notable role in the Cowboys’ backfield.

One month ago, Elliott was named (alongside Dalvin Cook) as a veteran back interested in a Cowboys contract. Signs pointed to the team matching that desire in Elliott’s case shortly thereafter, and while Cook is still unsigned the former No. 4 pick is back where his career began. Elliott spent seven years in Dallas, earning three Pro Bowl invitations and one first-team All-Pro nod in his opening four campaigns.

The Ohio State product’s efficiency began to wane afterwards, however, and in 2022 he ceded some of his workload to Tony Pollard. During the subsequent offseason, Dallas retained Pollard via the franchise tag and released Elliott. That move led to a $6MM dead cap charge for 2024, but Cowboys owner Jerry Jones publicly indicated that figure would not dissuade him from pursuing a reunion. Taking the dead money charge into account, Elliott will represent a rather lucrative commitment on offense for the Cowboys this year.

Pollard was not retained this offseason, and he became one of several veteran running backs who quickly found a new home in free agency. That created a vacancy atop Dallas’ backfield depth chart and led many to expect a notable investment in the position. After Royce Freeman was added on a low-cost deal, the team appeared to be set up for a rookie addition during last weekend’s draft. The Cowboys did not add at the position, however, having spoken with Elliott on the eve of the opening round.

With a deal now in place, Elliott will re-join a Cowboys team which also includes the likes of Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis in the backfield. Following his Dallas release, Elliott joined the Patriots on a one-year deal similar to this one. The 2023 campaign produced career-lows in carries (184), yards (642) and efficiency (3.5 yards per attempt), but Jones still views him as being capable of handling a starter’s workload. It will be interesting to see how Elliott’s role shakes out in 2024 upon return to a familiar team.

Texans WR Tank Dell Suffers Minor Injuries In Shooting

April 28th, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Ely Allen

Texans third-round rookie sensation Tank Dell found himself the victim in a public mass shooting Saturday night at a Sanford, Florida, nightclub, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The 24-year-old has reportedly already been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries.

Dell, a Daytona Beach native, was back in his hometown this weekend visiting his mother. Dell was apparently uninvolved in the shooting incident at Cabana Live but was caught in the resulting crossfire. Ten civilians, including Dell, suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the altercation, and Florida police took a 16-year-old suspect into custody after the shooting.

Dell had already been in the process of making a comeback from football-related injuries. The rookie standout missed the Texans’ final seven contests, including two postseason matchups, after suffering a fractured fibula. He underwent surgery to repair the fibula and has since made strides in his recovery.

Recently, Dell took part in Houston’s offseason conditioning program. He even participated in extra throwing sessions with fellow rookie standout quarterback C.J. Stroud, as well as extra training sessions with NFL trainer Justin Allen and private coach Delfonte Diamond.

Dell had previously told the media that he would be ready to participate in organized team activities when they start up in May. It’s unclear if this weekend’s incident will do anything to alter that timeline, but regardless, Dell is expected to make a full recovery and shouldn’t be affected by his injuries in the long term.

Eagles To Sign T Mekhi Becton

April 28th, 2024 at 9:04pm CST by Ely Allen

The Eagles are set to add to their depth at offensive tackle with Adam Schefter of ESPN reporting that the team will sign former Jets offensive tackle Mekhi Becton. Pending a physical, Becton is in line to sign a one-year deal to head to Philadelphia.

Becton has had a rough go over the course of his rookie contract. The 11th overall draft pick for the Jets in 2020, Becton was a starter in his rookie season and graded out relatively well, with Pro Football Focus (subscription required) marking him as the 31st best offensive tackle out of 79 graded players at the position.

In the season opener of his sophomore campaign, though, a teammate rolled up on his right leg. Becton was forced to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his knee, and though New York never ruled him out of the remainder of the season, he failed to return for the rest of the year. His comeback the following year fell short when he reinjured the same knee in the first week at training camp, requiring major surgery that would cause him to miss the entire 2022 season.

Therefore, it felt like an accomplishment in its own right when Becton was able to start in 16 games last season. He didn’t grade out very well (66th of 81 per PFF), but being able to return and stay healthy for most of the season was a giant step in the right direction for the former first-round pick.

In Philadelphia, Becton won’t be asked to do too much too soon. The Eagles return both longtime starting tackle Lane Johnson and veteran left tackle Jordan Mailata. Some suspected that Philadelphia may be aiming to draft a tackle in the first round of the NFL Draft in an attempt to find Johnson’s eventual successor, with Johnson heading into his age-34 season, but the team opted to prioritize defense early and often this weekend, instead.

Becton won’t be asked for much with his new team. Johnson and Mailata are still expected to start, and Becton will likely act as the primary swing tackle coming off the bench. He’ll compete for that role with veterans Le’Raven Clark and Fred Johnson, but both Clark and Johnson have established careers as backups over their years in the league. Becton’s experience as a full-time starter should win out. Perhaps, if Becton shows promise, he will fulfill the team’s need at tackle when Johnson eventually retires.

Falcons HC Raheem Morris Addresses QB Situation

April 28th, 2024 at 9:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the draft’s biggest surprises came on Friday night when the Falcons used their top selection on quarterback Michael Penix Jr. That move came about despite Kirk Cousins being on the books for the next four years (including fully guaranteed salaries in 2024 and ’25).

Cousins will, of course, enter the coming season atop Atlanta’s depth chart. The presence of a successor in the form of Penix could nevertheless invite questions about a change in the pecking order in the event of poor performance on the part of the former. Cousins – who was stunned by the Penix selection – was the top free agent passer in this year’s class despite his age (35) and the fact his 2023 season was cut short by an Achilles tear.

A slow start in 2024 or further missed time brought about by a new injury could lead to calls for Penix to see the field. The Washington product dealt with plenty of health-related issues of his own in college, but his stock rose during the pre-draft process to the point where he was expected to hear his name called in the first round. Still, Atlanta was not thought by many to be a serious suitor for Penix, and owner Arthur Blank reportedly played a central role in the decision to select him.

Raheem Morris is back in place as the Falcons’ head coach after an interim stint with the team in 2020, and he will be tasked with overseeing the transition to Cousins under center. When speaking to the media following the arrival of Penix, Morris made it clear there is not a QB controversy entering the 2024 season.

“We came up with a decision, this is what we plan to do,” Morris said (via ESPN’s Marc Raimondi). “And Kirk does not have to look over his shoulder every time he throws a bad pass. Like, that is not the case. So I know I’m going to have to tell you guys once or twice that that is not the case. Like, we are here to go win, and we are here to go win it all. We are here to win as much as we can win.”

Indeed, expectations will be high for Atlanta’s offense after the team struggled to find a suitable Matt Ryan replacement. Cousins will provide a high floor for the unit, but plenty of attention will be on Penix as the Falcons’ intended starter down the road. If Morris’ stance holds true through the campaign (and likely the 2025 season as well), however, Cousins can be assured of his spot in the QB1 role.

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