HEADLINES

Month: July 2024

Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Chargers

June 30th, 2024 at 10:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

The AFC’s underachievement kingpins for much of this century, the Chargers saw their most recent mission hit a wall last season. After GM Tom Telesco gave Brandon Staley another year in the wake of the 2022 team’s historic collapse, both ended up gone less than a year later. In terms of pure GMs, no AFC front office boss had been in place longer than Telesco. The Bolts responded by changing their managerial structure; their decision-making hierarchy now runs through a head coach.

Jim Harbaugh will be tasked with maximizing Justin Herbert in a way Staley and Anthony Lynn could not, and the Chargers stripped away their quarterback’s long-running receiving corps. Harbaugh’s pedigree aside, many questions come out of this Bolts offseason. But the team, after years of adding first-time HCs on lower-cost contracts, veered in a different direction as the Telesco era failed to turn steady offseason hype into much of consequence.

Coaching/Front Office:

Weeks before the Chargers fired Staley, Harbaugh connections began. While the team was also tied to Lions OC Ben Johnson early in the process and later linked loosely to Bill Belichick, Harbaugh buzz persisted. Chargers ownership contacted Harbaugh’s camp upon firing Staley, laying the groundwork for a bolder Bolts hire.

The embattled yet successful Michigan leader, whom the Wolverines sought to extend following a two-suspension season that ended with the program’s first national championship in 26 years, maximized his leverage by negotiating with the Big Ten school and scheduling a second Falcons interview. Harbaugh never made it to Atlanta for that meeting, viewing the Los Angeles gig as enticing enough to make his long-rumored jump back to the NFL.

On paper, Harbaugh’s NFL exit qualified as odd. The former quarterback immediately turned around the 49ers upon arrival in 2011, guiding them to three straight NFC championship games. The 2011 and ’13 San Francisco squads fell just short of NFC championships while the ’12 team saw a still-debated non-whistle in the final seconds of Super Bowl XLVII cement a victory for Harbaugh’s older brother. Even after an 8-8 2014 season, Harbaugh enters the 2024 campaign in fifth place in all-time win percentage. For coaches who began their careers after the 1970 merger, no one outflanks Harbaugh’s .695 mark.

A power struggle with then-49ers GM Trent Baalke played the lead role in Harbaugh returning to his alma mater in 2015, but the early 2020s brought steady Harbaugh-to-NFL rumors. The fiery HC had said unfinished business remained in the pros, but interviews with the Vikings (2022) and Broncos (’23) did not provide a gateway back. Rumblings in front office circles pegged Harbaugh as difficult to work with, and while that may be accurate, the veteran leader has won everywhere he has camped.

Harbaugh, 60, guided Michigan to three straight CFP fields to continue a trend of turnarounds. The former Chargers starting QB rebuilt the Stanford program and then the 49ers. Nearly 15 years after his Andrew Luck partnership ended, Harbaugh made the jump to work with a comparable QB talent.

While the Chargers have not taken heat on a Bengals level for frugality, the perception they were not willing to go big for a high-profile head coach prompted an ownership message of reimagining the football operation upon canning Telesco and Staley. The Chargers had not hired anyone with prior HC experience since replacing Marty Schottenheimer with Norv Turner in 2007. In the years since, the Bolts paid first-timers Mike McCoy, Lynn and Staley lower salaries. Harbaugh will command a $16MM-per-year salary. While that fell short of his $18MM ask, it is believed — as HC salaries do not have to be disclosed — it places him near the top of the league.

Considering Harbaugh’s past with Baalke, it certainly made sense for the Chargers to pair him with a pre-approved GM. Interviewing Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown twice, the Chargers used a John Harbaugh connection to find their Telesco successor. Hortiz will not hold final say like Telesco did, but the longtime Ravens exec has worked with the elder Harbaugh throughout the HC’s time in Baltimore.

Hortiz, 48, served under Ozzie Newsome for 20 years and moved from the scouting level to college scouting director to director of player personnel with the Ravens. The team bumped Hortiz to the latter post in 2019, upon promoting Eric DeCosta to succeed Newsome. Hortiz has interviewed for GM jobs in the past, meeting about the Cardinals position last year and discussing the Giants and Steelers’ vacancies in 2022. Hortiz’s past with John Harbaugh, however, should give this partnership a better shot at succeeding in the long term compared to the Baalke-Jim Harbaugh pairing.

Although Alexander comes from the Jets, the former Joe Douglas lieutenant spent extensive time in Baltimore — alongside Douglas — leading up to his New York move. Hortiz hired a former coworker to be his second-in-command; Harbaugh did as well. Roman was Jim’s OC in all four years in San Francisco. The run-oriented OC — though, Roman has not spent much time with pass-first QBs — becomes a rare fourth-time NFL coordinator, having made stops in Buffalo and Baltimore since Harbaugh’s San Francisco exit.

The Ravens fired Roman after four seasons; he spent 2023 out of football. His Chargers fit will be fascinating, and it certainly appears — through the team’s actions in March and April — the Bolts will make the ground game a bigger part of their plan. It will be interesting to see how Roman tailors his style to Herbert, whose skills differ from the likes of Lamar Jackson, Tyrod Taylor and Colin Kaepernick. Roman last worked with a true pass-based signal-caller in 2012, when the 49ers made the midseason switch from Alex Smith to Kaepernick.

Harbaugh and Roman resurrected Smith’s career, and the future Chiefs starter carried a 70.2% completion rate at 8.0 yards per attempt when a concussion led to his 2012 benching. Roman was at the controls for Jackson’s dominant 2019 season, which brought a unanimous MVP, though his run-centric style wore thin as his Maryland stay progressed. Although Herbert is capable on the ground, Roman’s past will certainly make fantasy drafters uneasy about how he will proceed with one of the NFL’s most talented passers — especially given the team’s actions at wide receiver this offseason.

Minter, 41, checks both boxes when it comes to the Harbaughs. Like Mike Macdonald, the new Chargers DC worked under John Harbaugh (2017-20) and then Jim; Minter succeeded Macdonald as the Wolverines’ defensive play-caller in 2022. Minter made a significant jump, moving from Vanderbilt safeties coach to Michigan DC. The Big Ten power led Division I-FBS in scoring defense last season (10.4 points per game), and the Wolverines’ 268 yards allowed per game from 2022-23 ranked second.

Previously serving as Ravens DBs coach in the NFL, Minter will see his rise continue with this L.A. gig.

Trades:

Shortly after Harbaugh’s hire, Allen said he expected to remain with the Chargers. The team released Mike Williams to reach cap compliance by the March 13 deadline, but a day later, it bid farewell to one of the best players in franchise history. Given where WR prices have gone this offseason, Chicago having Allen tied to a mid-second-tier contract — he is due $18.1MM in 2024, the final season of a $20MM-AAV deal. The 11-year Charger’s departure may be difficult for the Bolts in the short term, as they depended on the high-end route runner for years.

A 2013 third-round pick, Allen had been the team’s longest-tenured player for years. While unlikely to join Lance Alworth in the Hall of Fame and landing a bit south of where John Jefferson was at his early-career peak, Allen is probably the best Bolts receiver of the past 35 years. His 904 receptions and 10,530 yards rank second — by a wide margin — in Bolts history.

As Antonio Gates declined, the Chargers centered their aerial attacks around Allen. The Cal alum delivered six 1,000-yard seasons, including a 1,243-yard showing in just 13 games last season. With Allen poised to help Caleb Williams‘ NFL transition, no comparable option remains on the Chargers’ roster.

The Chargers restructured Allen’s contract to create cap space last year, leading to an $11.6MM dead money charge for 2024. The team offered Allen an extension, but it appeared — per Allen’s camp — it came at a reduced rate, with the 32-year-old receiver’s agent indicating the Bolts’ one proposal included pay cuts in 2025 and 2026. As could be expected given his 2023 season and the exploding wideout market, Allen emphatically refused a pay cut.

Extensions and restructures:

The restructures from Telesco’s final offseason in charge left Bosa, Mack, Allen and Williams all with cap hits of at least $32MM. The Chargers cut ties with their longtime receiving tandem but held onto their standout edge rushers, who accepted pay cuts to stay in Harbaugh’s first season. Assembled in 2022 upon the Chargers acquiring Mack from the Bears, this pair may well be going into its final season together. Mack’s Bears-built contract expires after the 2024 season.

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Jacksonville Approves $775MM Renovation To EverBank Stadium, 30-Year Lease With Jaguars

June 30th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Rory Parks

The Jacksonville City Council recently approved $775MM in improvements to EverBank Stadium, the home of the Jaguars, as relayed by Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Along with the funding comes a new lease tethering the Jags to Jacksonville for the next 30 years.

For those who are interested, more details on the agreement, including renderings of what the finished product will look like, can be found here. As Volin notes, one of the most notable components of the renovation will be the addition of a canopy over the field, which offers shade for fans and which can cool the stadium by as much as 15 degrees while still allowing for wind and other elements. SoFi Stadium, where the Rams and Chargers play their home games, has a similar feature.

For our purposes at PFR, the most important part of this development is the lease. Although the chatter had died down in recent years, Jaguars fans in particular will recall the persistent rumors connecting their team to a London relocation, and this lease will officially put that speculation to rest (for the next few decades, at least).

The NFL’s London games have generally been a tremendous success, and just last April, we heard that the creation of a four-team, all-European division was gaining steam among league ownership. The Jags are the only team to have their own international agreement, and they have played at least one game in London’s Wembley Stadium since 2013 (aside from the pandemic-altered year of 2020). As such, they were long considered to be the top candidate for relocation if the NFL’s goal of installing a permanent London-based outfit included relocation of a current club rather than expansion.

Plus, owner Shad Khan was at one time in talks to buy Wembley Stadium, and among his NFL owner peers, he had secured a right of first refusal with respect to a London relocation. So while Khan has consistently maintained that his goal is to keep the Jaguars in Jacksonville, it was always fair to wonder if the call of a move across the pond would prove to be too tempting.

Construction on EverBank will begin after the 2025 campaign, and the hope is that it will be completed before the 2028 seasons begins. The Jags will play at EverBank with reduced capacity (43,500) in 2026 but will need to play their U.S. home games elsewhere — Volin names Orlando and Gainesville as possibilities — in 2027.

In announcing the agreement, Jacksonville mayor Donna Deegan said it is “a historic day for our city,” and when the framework of the agreement was first announced last month, Khan said, “the belief and determination of Delores and Wayne Weaver to make the Jacksonville Jaguars a reality more than 30 years ago was reaffirmed today by the leadership of Mayor Donna Deegan, her team and the Jacksonville City Council. The message then, and now, should be clear. Never doubt Jacksonville!”

Patriots, Matt Judon Close To Extension?

June 30th, 2024 at 10:08pm CST by Rory Parks

Patriots edge rusher Matt Judon has one year remaining on his current contract. He is due to earn $7.5MM in 2024 and is angling for a new deal, although he has stated that he will not stage a hold-in during this summer’s training camp as he did last year.

The most recent reporting on this matter indicated that, despite extension talks between player and team having taken place this offseason, no agreement was imminent. Mike Jurecki of Arizona Football Daily, however, suggests that the two sides could be closer than expected, reporting that the league’s “next big contract” will not be for one of the quarterbacks known to be negotiating an extension — namely, Jordan Love, Tua Tagovailoa, and Dak Prescott — but for Judon.

That would certainly make for an interesting development, especially since Judon’s 2023 campaign was marred by injury. He was limited to just four games last season due to a biceps injury, and he tallied four sacks, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2016. And, without the threat of a hold-in or similar negotiating tactic, the Pats could simply allow him to play out the upcoming season before making a decision about his future in Foxborough.

On the other hand, the new Patriots regime, fronted by Eliot Wolf, has made it a point to lock down some of the club’s top talent this offseason. Judon, who is entering his age-32 season, does not necessarily profile as a long-term building block, but skilled pass rushers are a precious commodity regardless of their age, and Wolf does have plenty of future salary cap space to work with. Plus, if rookie QB Drake Maye should live up to his potential, an extension for Judon would keep him under club control for at least the first season or two of New England’s next competitive window.

Since he is coming off a down year, Judon does not have a ton of leverage at this point. Still, he has already made over $67MM during his playing career, and he could be amenable to a somewhat team-friendly accord that nonetheless guarantees him a notable sum of cash and gives him a little more security in the process. Even assuming Jurecki’s sources are correct, it is unclear what they mean by “big contract.”

NFC Front Office Updates: White, 49ers, Seahawks

June 30th, 2024 at 9:56pm CST by Ely Allen

The Commanders recently announced all the updates to their personnel and football support staff that the team has made this offseason. We’ve already covered nearly all of the updates as they occurred throughout the past few months, but we finally got confirmation of a rumor we’d seen back in May. We saw the writing on the wall before, but Chris White has officially been announced as a member of the Commanders scouting staff, according to the team announcement.

White comes from Chicago, where he recently served as assistant director of pro scouting before being removed from the team’s website a month ago. He had served in the role for two years, getting promoted after five seasons as a pro scout for the Bears.

As predicted, White will be serving in Washington as director of pro scouting. He’s essentially filling the role left vacant by former director of pro personnel Chris Polian, who made his way to Cleveland to work as an advisor under Browns general manager Andrew Berry.

Here are a couple other updates from around the NFC:

  • The 49ers are bringing on Jordan Fox to work as a player personnel analyst in 2024, according to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com. Fox debuted in the NFL as a seasonal personnel operations intern for the Jets in 2022. After two years with New York, Fox earns his first full-time NFL position in San Francisco.
  • Up the coast, the division-rival Seahawks are granting a first full-time NFL position, as well. Per Stratton, the team’s player personnel intern, Azzaam Kapadia, has officially been promoted to the full-time player personnel assistant role. Kapadia interned with the Colts at one point in time and worked part-time as a film analyst for the Browns during the 2022 season.

Vikings Targeting DL, CB This Summer

June 30th, 2024 at 9:02pm CST by Ely Allen

In a recent mailbag Q&A, Alec Lewis of The Athletic noted two positions that are likely to be subject to additions this summer and in free agency next year for the Vikings: defensive tackle and cornerback. While there were some attempts to address each position already this offseason, there is likely much more work to be done in Minnesota.

On the defensive line, Minnesota is running it back with Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard as two of their starters in a three-man front. Unfortunately, neither really stood out as strong players at their position with Lewis noting specifically that Phillips and Bullard ranked as two of the worst interior pass rushers in the NFL last year. Last year’s fifth-round rookie Jaquelin Roy could potentially take the next step after playing in an extremely minor role last season.

The team did make two free agent additions, signing Jerry Tillery and Jonah Williams back in March. Tillery had a bit of a resurgent season last year in Las Vegas after falling out of favor with the Chargers. Williams saw his first full-time starting role for the Rams last year, starting all but one game in 2023. This provides a bevy of options as the Vikings plan their rotation on the defensive line. It’s hard to say just how much of an improvement this will be; it will really depend on who steps up this summer to grab starting positions.

That being said, all four of Phillips, Bullard, Tillery, and Williams have expiring contracts after this season. Lewis notes that this will make the position just as much of a position-of-focus next year in free agency, as well. While one or a few of the above names may prove to be worth re-signing, Lewis already pegs veteran division-rival Kenny Clark as a target free agent next spring. He tabs Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and Eagles pass rusher Josh Sweat as potential targets, as well.

At cornerback, Byron Murphy and Akayleb Evans return as two starters while veteran Shaquill Griffin comes in as a new starter on the outside, allowing Murphy to play a bit more in the slot, if necessary. Evans has overperformed as a recent fourth-round pick, while his draft classmate Andrew Booth, a former second-rounder, has failed to establish himself in the rotation. There are no real stars in this position group, though Griffin has displayed the ability to be one of the better players at the position in past years.

Like on the defensive line, though, Murphy and Griffin will both be free agents next year, making cornerback a position of focus in 2025, as well. As for future targets at cornerback, Lewis likes Jets corner D.J. Reed and San Francisco’s Charvarius Ward.

None of the free agents Lewis suggests are necessarily stars at their position, and most are in their older years, but all would provide an improvement to what the Vikings currently have on the roster. There are still several months for Minnesota to continue addressing those positions, and there’s still every possibility that the current Vikings will step up and prove that they belong and are good enough to keep around beyond this year.

Seahawks’ RG Anthony Bradford Still In Mix To Start

June 30th, 2024 at 7:24pm CST by Ely Allen

The Seahawks are seeing a bit of change on the interior of their offensive line this offseason. Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas return at tackle and Anthony Bradford returns after starting 10 games in 2023, but the departures of Evan Brown and Damien Lewis required updates to the depth chart. Throw in the fact that Seattle drafted UConn guard Christian Haynes in the third round of this year’s draft and not even Bradford is a sure thing to return to a starting role this year.

We talked about this a bit in a recent breakdown of the team’s offensive line, but a more recent update from the end of minicamp may inform things a bit differently.

As a fourth-round rookie out of LSU last year, Bradford was one of the larger linemen in last year’s rookie class, weighing in at 332 pounds. His strength and size were worth the investment, but a lack of natural athleticism and quickness were thought to limit Bradford to a developmental role to start his career.

Multiple injuries to players like Phil Haynes, Lucas, and others forced Bradford into a starting role much earlier than expected. Bradford performed respectably as a starter but certainly left loads of room for improvement. As expected, the area he was predicted to need developing in, pass protection, was a huge handicap to the offensive line. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded his pass blocking as the 70th-best in the league out of 77 graded guards.

In our breakdown we entertained the possibility of Haynes beating out Bradford for the starting job as a rookie. All 49 of Haynes’ starts for the Huskies came at right guard, so it’s a position with which he’s very familiar. A second-team All-American in 2022, Haynes excels in the areas Bradford struggles in. During his college career, Haynes was noted for his plus athleticism and great short-area quickness. With scouts noting his strength, football IQ, and finishing mentality, as well, a lot of signs seem to be pointing to Haynes being the favorite to take over the job in 2024.

ESPN’s Brady Henderson set the record straight earlier this month after interviewing new head coach Mike Macdonald following the final day of minicamp. Per Henderson, Macdonald claimed that Bradford is “right in the mix” to start. Bradford hadn’t been participating in the offseason program as he worked his way back from an ankle injury but was finally working with the team in the final days of camp. With the starting experience, it sounds like he’ll continue to be given every opportunity to retain his starting job.

One player to keep an eye on was also mentioned in our previous breakdown. McClendon Curtis, an undrafted rookie last year, has been an under-the-radar option for Seattle. As Bradford missed time in recovery, it was Curtis taking the majority of first-team snaps on the offensive line, while Haynes spent most of his time on the second-team unit. McClendon isn’t boasting a ton of experience, only playing four special teams snaps in his rookie year, but coaches seem to appreciate what he’s done so far in the offseason.

This is a battle that’s sure to rage into training camp. Haynes will continue learning and growing in the new system, attempting to usurp his predecessor; Bradford will continue working his way back from injury, attempting to show his development from a rocky rookie season; and Curtis will hang around as an unlikely but potential option to take the job.

5 Key Stories: 6/23/24 – 6/30/24

June 30th, 2024 at 4:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

With the NFL’s offseason in full swing, contract matters in a number of cases are front and center for the time being. Teams and players have plenty of time to work out extensions, but attention will remain aimed on situations where uncertainty exists. In case you missed any of this week’s top developments, here is a quick recap:

  • Negotiations Ongoing Between Aiyuk, 49ers: The future of Brandon Aiyuk has been a central storyline throughout the offseason. Per his request, the pending free agent wideout met with the team to further discuss an extension; reports pointed to a positive outcome with a mutual desire to avoid a trade existing. Nevertheless, the 26-year-old later acknowledged the sides have been far apart on contract terms at times during negotiations. San Francisco was in a similar situation with Deebo Samuel before a trade request was ultimately rescinded and a multi-year deal was worked out. A similar resolution in the case of Aiyuk – who floated the Steelers and Commanders as alternative destinations – would allow the team to keep a critical member of its offensive core in place beyond 2024.
  • Dolphins Yet To Submit Market-Value Tagovailoa Offer: Two quarterbacks (Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff) have joined the NFL’s $50MM-per-year club this offseason, and Tua Tagovailoa is among the passers who could land a similar deal in the near future. To date, the Dolphins have not been willing to make an offer in that neighborhood, however. The Pro Bowler has turned down at least one Miami contract so far, and his remarks on his situation have suggested a hometown discount will not be forthcoming. Tagovailoa, 26, has faced questions related to his health and upside, although a full campaign in 2023 and notable statistical output when on the field will increase his leverage. Extension talks continue, but for now he is on track to play out his fifth-year option ($23.17MM) this season.
  • Lamb On Track For Cowboys Holdout? One of the other receivers angling for a lucrative second contract is CeeDee Lamb, who has missed spring workouts with the Cowboys this offseason. Now that Justin Jefferson has reset the receiver market – signing a $35MM-per-season Vikings accord, the largest for a non-QB – traction could be gained between Lamb’s representatives and Dallas’ front office. With nothing imminent, however, a training camp holdout could be coming this summer. The All-Pro delivered the most productive season in franchise history last season, giving him plenty of leverage in contract talks. Known to be waiting for the top of the WR pecking order to be established, the Cowboys are not looking to move the bar to new heights on a monster Lamb accord. The 25-year-old would incur fines with a training camp absence, but the team could elect to waive them in his case.
  • Policy Named Packers’ Next President: Mark Murphy will reach mandatory retirement age next summer, but his successor is now officially in place. The team’s board of directors unanimously tapped Ed Policy for the role of president and CEO starting next year. The 53-year-old has been with Green Bay since 2012, serving as the team’s COO for the past six years. He will continue in that regard until taking over as de facto owner after Murphy steps aside. Policy represented an expected choice for the role, but the Packers vetted 90 candidates (and 10 finalists) before choosing him to lead the team’s front office.
  • Daboll To Take Over As Giants’ Play-Caller: Brian Daboll had a successful run as a play-calling offensive coordinator with the Bills before landing the Giants’ head coaching gig. To the surprise of many, his choice for OC (Mike Kafka) called plays for most of the past two seasons. Kafka survived the staff turnover seen this offseason, but Daboll is on track to take over play-calling responsibilities in 2024. The latter guided the offense this spring, and carrying on through training camp and into the regular season will create a notable storyline tied to his future. Tension in 2023 between Daboll and his assistant has been well documented, and his job security will be a talking point if the coming season does not go according to plan. A strong start to the year on offense, by contrast, could quell concerns about his Giants tenure.

Latest On Isaiah Simmons, Giants’ Safety Competition

June 30th, 2024 at 3:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants took a flier on Isaiah Simmons last year, trading a seventh-round pick to the Cardinals to acquire him in August. The former first-rounder has struggled to find a permanent role in the NFL, but his debut season in New York was sufficient to land him a new deal.

Simmons re-signed on a one-year deal featuring $1.4MM guaranteed in April after logging a part-time defensive role with the Giants. Seeing a 33% snap share under Don Martindale, the 25-year-old recorded 50 tackles, three pass deflections and one each in the sack, interception and forced fumble departments. The Giants have since moved on from Martindale, though, bringing in Shane Bowen as his replacement.

When speaking about how Simmons will be used in 2024, Bowen indicated he will be used as a nickel back on first and second downs. On third downs, by contrast, the Clemson alum will shift to what Bowen termed a ‘money’ position (h/t ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). Simmons began his career as a linebacker before Arizona shifted him to safety. If Bowen’s plan unfolds as currently set up, he will continue to be used in a fluid manner while trying to find a long-term home in the NFL.

Elsewhere on the Giants’ defense, the safety position is one to watch. Xavier McKinney‘s free agent departure created a vacancy in the starting lineup, one which Dane Belton could fill in 2024. The latter has made 32 appearances and seven starts to date, posting two interceptions in each of his first two years in the league. New York selected Tyler Nubin in the second round of the draft, however, providing the team with another option for first-team responsibilities.

Nubin was considered by many to be the top safety in this year’s class, but Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post writes Belton was ahead of him on the depth chart during spring practices. Plenty of clarity will emerge for many position battles during padded practices in training camp, of course. For the time being, though, Belton has a leg up in the competition. Maintaining that advantage would be key for the 23-year-old considering he will be eligible for an extension after the 2024 season.

New York struggled in a number of defensive categories last season, although the team’s pass defense (19th in yards allowed through the air) fared better. Still, Bowen and Co. will aim for improvement in 2024, and Simmons along with the winner of the Belton-Nubin competition will have notable roles in that effort. They will be among the players to watch closely as training camp unfolds.

Eagles CB Zech McPhearson Expected To Take Part In Training Camp

June 30th, 2024 at 1:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

An Achilles tear kept Zech McPhearson off the field for the entire 2023 season. The fourth-year Eagles corner has successfully rehabbed the injury, though, and he should be available when training camp starts in July.

McPhearson indicated in April that he was on track to suit up for the start of the regular season, so this latest update comes as little surprise. Still, a return to full health would be a welcomed development to an Eagles secondary which struggled last season and has seen a number of new arrivals. Philadelphia’s special teams will also be bolstered by McPhearson’s return.

“I’m 100 percent, man,” the 26-year-old said (via Inside the Birds’ Andrew DiCecco). “I’m just glad to be back. My body’s feeling good, I’m feeling good. I just wanna go out there and compete. I got so much built up inside me. I got a chip on my shoulder. It’s a lot going on outside, but I block out all that noise.”

McPhearson missed OTAs and minicamp due to his rehab, but taking part in training camp will set him up for a return to action this fall. The former fourth-rounder made 33 regular season appearances across his first two Eagles campaigns, taking part in four playoff contests during that time. He logged only a rotational defensive role in that stretch, but he could serve as a familiar slot corner option behind returnee Avonte Maddox in 2024. McPhearson has also worked as a backup on the perimeter, though the Eagles have a pair of rookies (Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean) capable of handling that role.

One year remains on McPhearson’s rookie contract, and a healthy season would certainly help his free agent stock. The Texas Tech product’s health will be worth watching once training camp begins, but if all goes according to plan he should be able to take part in a full season after a year spent on the sidelines.

P Marquette King Seeking NFL Opportunity

June 30th, 2024 at 12:40pm CST by Rory Parks

Marquette King has not punted for an NFL team since 2018. However, he still wants to get back in the league, and he is hopeful that a recent addition to his resume will assist him in that endeavor.

Now 35, King was named to the All-UFL team for his work with the Arlington Renegades this year, and in a post on X, he referenced that accomplishment and included a video of one of his recent punts (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk).

He wrote, “you can’t tell me that there are 32 punters better than me. All UFL Punter in a league where punting isn’t easy at all! I’m manifesting a call from an NFL team again soon… by the way what was the hang on this?”

King signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and ultimately spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve. The following summer, he beat out veteran Chris Kluwe for the club’s punter job, and he ended up leading the league with 48.9 yards per boot. His big leg and on-field celebrations made him one of the most recognizable figures in one of the least glamorous positions in sports, and he remained with the Raiders through the end of the 2017 campaign.

In January 2018, the Raiders hired Jon Gruden as their new head coach, and the club released King several months later due to a “personality clash.” King had racked up four personal foul penalties over the prior two seasons, and he was also assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct foul when dancing with a penalty flag that had been thrown against the Bills for roughing the punter.

In an effort to exact some revenge against his former employer, King quickly signed with the division-rival Broncos, whose high-altitude home venue also seemed to be a good fit for his abilities. Unfortunately, he suffered a thigh injury in a loss to the Chiefs in Week 4 of the 2018 season, and then-HC Vance Joseph called him out for what he perceived to be a lackluster performance in that contest, a performance that Joseph did not attribute to the injury. It was reported at the time that King would be placed on IR but would be released when healthy, and that is indeed what came to pass.

That Kansas City game is the last NFL contest in which King appeared. Over his four-game 2018 sample, his 44.1 yards-per-punt average was 22nd in the league, though he had already placed seven kicks inside the 20, which put him just outside the top-10 in that regard. While he did generate some free agent interest over the next couple of years, none of that interest produced a contract. It appears his last workout for an NFL team came in November 2020, when he visited the Cowboys.

In light of that, it is difficult to say whether he will land an opportunity with an NFL club, but he’s making his case just the same.

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