Month: October 2024

Arthur Blank: Falcons Did Not Plan To Pick First-Round QB

The Falcons adding Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 became easily this draft’s most discussed decision. Giving Kirk Cousins a $100MM practical guarantee and then turning to Round 1 to add a successor represents a free agency-era zag, and Arthur Blank indicated this was not necessarily the team’s pre-draft plan.

Blank said Cousins was informed pre-draft the Falcons were planning to select a quarterback, but the longtime owner noted the plan was not to pick a passer eighth overall. Grades on Penix (and a lukewarm view of the 2025 and ’26 QB classes, as early as it is regarding those future crops) led to the team pulling the trigger, and Raheem Morris said in April the team informed Cousins of that pick minutes before it was made. The team’s decision left Cousins “stunned.”

I think (Cousins) was surprised as many people were and frankly we were,” Blank said of Penix being available at No. 8, via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall (subscription required). “Our plan was not to pick a quarterback at No. 8, but the grades our coaching staff had on Penix and him being available at No. 8 it turned out that that’s what happened.”

We made it clear to Kirk that we probably were going to draft a quarterback in this draft, and it turned out that Michael Penix, who our coaching staff and personnel department graded extraordinarily high, they viewed him as a tremendous player, (was available),”

This is an unusual account of the Falcons’ draft plan, as the uproar about Penix going to Atlanta stemmed from the Washington prospect going earlier than expected (and to a team that had just given a QB a four-year, $180MM deal). It would be odd if Cousins was surprised by Penix remaining on the board at No. 8, given that questions about the left-hander had him at least dropping into the teens. The Raiders, at No. 13, were a popular Penix spot in mock drafts. Several teams placed a second-round grade on Penix, though a number of coaches were high on him. After the Falcons surprisingly made a move for one of the six first-round-level QBs, the Broncos shut down any effort to trade down from No. 12 in fear the Raiders would then draft Bo Nix.

The Falcons’ move to nab Penix created a running storyline. Cousins declined to answer whether he would have signed with the Falcons had he known they would have chosen Penix. While the veteran may still have done so due to the $100MM guarantee Atlanta was willing to authorize, this will be a closely monitored situation for as long as the two passers are on the roster. Unsurprisingly, Blank’s view of recent Falcons QB situations prompted the aggressive offseason at the position.

We have seen that movie where we didn’t have a franchise quarterback, and we didn’t want to repeat that again,” Blank said. “I certainly didn’t.”

Blank and the Falcons have certainly shifted course. A year ago, the owner was eager to build around Desmond Ridder’s rookie contract. Blank had explained why the Falcons, who were close to acquiring Deshaun Watson in 2022, joined the rest of the NFL in not pursuing Lamar Jackson after the Ravens QB’s trade request surfaced. The Falcons built their 2023 offseason around Ridder, naming him the former third-rounder the starter months before training camp. After the team benched Ridder on multiple occasions last season, it moved him to Arizona for Rondale Moore.

The Falcons are back in the franchise-QB contract business, with Cousins — barring a trade — locked in for at least two seasons. The longtime Vikings starter, who recently received full clearance, is coming off an Achilles tear ahead of his age-36 season. Penix is already 24, separating this plan from the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers-to-Jordan Love succession; Love was 21 when Green Bay traded up for him.

This decision obviously cut into Atlanta’s ability to build a team around Cousins, as efforts to trade back into Round 1 for a pass rusher did not succeed. But the Falcons do now have a long-term plan in place at the game’s premier position. Rumors will undoubtedly persist about the team’s QB situation, but for now, no question exists as to which one is the starter.

Kirk Cousins is our franchise quarterback. He is our starting quarterback and he seems to be doing great from a medical standpoint,” Blank said. “… But I know age does kind of creep up. I can speak for myself personally on that. We also know that there will be a point where we will need a transition, and we want to do that smoothly.

I’m very sensitive on behalf of our fan base on not having a period of time post-Kirk Cousins to have a gap again between having that kind of franchise quarterback and being in the spin cycle and not being able to get out.”

Blank said he was closely involved in the Falcons’ pre-draft process but reminded (via Kendall) Terry Fontenot and the team’s personnel staff have the final say and made the ultimate call. That choice will likely determine the GM’s future in Atlanta, as the team is riding a three-season streak of 7-10 records.

They don’t have to clear (picks) with me,” Blank said. “They just have to make me aware of what is going on. I don’t like surprises. They know that, but it’s not up to me to make those decisions. It’s up to them and for me to understand the logic behind it.”

Offseason In Review: Denver Broncos

The quest to find a long-term quarterback has dominated Broncos discourse since Peyton Manning‘s 2016 retirement, and while the organization’s failures here were not particularly costly during the initial years following the all-time great’s exit, the most recent effort certainly was. As a result of the Russell Wilson tenure, the Broncos became a punching bag for a season before seeing some 2023 improvements drop their 2024 draft slot. Now, they are in Year 1 of a dead money abyss unlike anything any team has encountered.

Bailing on Wilson’s pricey extension set a record that will be difficult to break for the foreseeable future, and the Broncos are taking another swing at quarterback — this one handpicked by Sean Payton. Making other notable subtractions and contract adjustments after making strides under Payton, the Broncos will attempt to field a competitive team despite Wilson’s contract consuming a significant chunk of their salary cap.

Extensions and restructures:

The Broncos are still using the phonetically interesting Payton-Paton power duo. GM George Paton was the point man behind three of this decade’s worst decisions — the Nathaniel Hackett hire, the Wilson trade and then the QB’s extension — but the group he drafted in 2021 has developed nicely. Paton plucked starters Patrick Surtain, Javonte Williams, Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper in his first draft, but the biggest success story is probably a third-round guard from the Division III ranks. Meinerz has been a regular starter in Denver since midway through his rookie year, and he became the first Paton-era draftee to see his contract extended.

Meinerz, 25, impressed at the 2021 Senior Bowl — a vital component of his rise, as the COVID-19 pandemic nixed the non-Division I-FBS levels’ 2020 seasons — and replaced an injured Graham Glasgow in 2021. Meinerz beat out Glasgow for the Broncos’ right guard gig in 2022 and graded as a top-10 guard, per Pro Football Focus, over the past two seasons. Excelling in the run game, Meinerz was probably the Broncos’ top offensive player during the Wilson years. The team will bet on upside, as no Pro Bowls are yet on the Wisconsin-Whitewater alum’s resume.

Although Louis Vasquez rewarded the Broncos, the team has struggled with guard payments over the past several years. Neither Glasgow nor Ronald Leary justified their high price tags under John Elway, and the Payton-Paton pair has now doubled down at guard. The team gave Ben Powers a four-year, $52MM deal in 2023. The ex-Raven appears locked in for at least two more seasons, as the team restructured his contract to create 2024 cap space. Bo Nix‘s rookie contract stands to help the Broncos afford big payments elsewhere on the roster, though Wilson’s $83MM-plus in dead money from 2024-25 undercuts that advantage.

Denver paying Meinerz also clouds Garett Bolles‘ future. Meinerz’s terms match Denver’s left tackle for the most lucrative O-line contract in team history, and with right tackle Mike McGlinchey also on an upper-crust contract at his position, it is fair to wonder if Bolles is entering his final season with the team.

Bolles, 32, is in a contract year and has angled for a second extension. No known negotiations have transpired. The Meinerz payment points to the Broncos rolling with three pricey O-line contracts and looking for Bolles’ successor next year. For now, Denver is the rare team with four eight-figure O-line deals on its payroll. This is in step with Payton’s approach in New Orleans, where early-round O-line draft choices and extensions were commonplace.

Sutton, 28, reemerged as Denver’s top wide receiver last season, overtaking Jerry Jeudy as Wilson’s favorite target. Snaring some snazzy touchdown receptions, Sutton played a central role in the Broncos’ five-game midseason win streak. With Jeudy traded, Sutton stands as more important regarding Nix’s development. Days before the Broncos made their Nix pick, Sutton lobbied for a contract adjustment. The Broncos have their top target at a below-market rate thanks to an extension (four years, $60MM) authorized back in 2021 — shortly before the 2022 offseason changed the position’s landscape — and the team did not give in.

Denver waited out Sutton, who showed for minicamp after missing the offseason program, and incentives became the endgame here. The team gave the seventh-year vet a $1.7MM incentive package, reminding of the Chargers’ low-level resolution with Austin Ekeler last year. Sutton can increase his earnings to $15.2MM this year but remains tied to a contract with just $2MM guaranteed for 2024 and no guarantees in place for 2025.

As a vested veteran, the rest of Sutton’s $13MM base salary will become guaranteed just before Week 1. But the long-running trade candidate — teams called on the former second-rounder in April and figure to again soon — was unable to secure a notable contract update, putting the pre-Payton pickup’s long-term Denver future in doubt.

Patrick, 30, has managed to hang around despite two season-nullifying injuries. After serving as a key target for Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater, Patrick did not play a down with Wilson. After summer ACL and Achilles tears, the former UDFA — the second-longest-tenured Bronco, behind Bolles — accepted a pay cut down to the veteran minimum to stay. Patrick signed a three-year, $30MM extension days before the Broncos paid Sutton. The Broncos brought in Patrick under Elway, and despite his back-to-back 700-plus-yard seasons from 2020-21, the 6-4 wideout — healthy once again — is a wild card in this revamped position group.

Trades:

Rumblings of the Jeudy-Sutton tandem — after four years and incessant trade rumors together — separating emerged early this offseason. Jeudy trade rumors date back to the 2022 deadline, and they followed the former first-round pick into the 2023 offseason and up to last year’s deadline. The Broncos hoped the Elway-era draftee could help Wilson rebound in 2023, and they set a lofty asking price (a first-rounder) in trades last year. Before the deadline, Denver received an offer involving third- and fifth-round picks. Amid their midseason turnaround that included a win over the Chiefs just before the deadline, the Broncos declined and ultimately moved on for less months later.

The Browns are still betting on the 2020 first-rounder unlocking upside that did not materialize in Denver. Jeudy flashed crafty route-running chops and delivered a strong finish to the 2022 season but ended his Broncos tenure 0-for-4 in 1,000-yard seasons. In the Alabama alum’s defense, the Broncos featured five play-callers (three in 2022) and mostly below-average quarterback play during the inconsistent wideout’s career.

The Browns will pair Jeudy with Amari Cooper, and the AFC North club went as far as to extend Jeudy (three years, $52.5MM; $41MM guaranteed) and provide only incentives for Cooper, whose contract issue ended similarly to Sutton’s. Marvin Mims, who made some noise as a deep threat as a rookie but could not earn a steady role, will be given a good chance to replace Jeudy as a starter.

As the Jets attempted to clear salary to make room for Haason Reddick‘s contract, they dealt the Broncos a quality starter for next to nothing during the draft. Acquired in a salary-dump deal, Franklin-Myers became a more favorable Broncos asset after redoing his contract (now at two years and $15MM; $8MM guaranteed) post-trade. The Jets offered Franklin-Myers — a three-year starter for the team — a pay cut, but the seventh-year vet confirmed it was at a lower rate compared to his new Broncos salary.

The Jets had given Franklin-Myers a four-year, $55MM extension early during the 2021 season, and he started 52 games with the team. The former Rams draftee saw time both inside and outside in Robert Saleh‘s 4-3 scheme; in Vance Joseph‘s 3-4 setup, Franklin-Myers will line up as a D-end. Producing six- and five-sack seasons in 2021 and ’22, respectively, Franklin-Myers registered 48 QB hits over the past three years. He profiles as a low-risk upgrade up front and will form a veteran-laden D-line with Allen and D.J. Jones.

Paton had said the Broncos planned to acquire a veteran to join Jarrett Stidham, and weeks after the team looked into Sam Darnold, the trade for Wilson was finalized. Conflicting reports about a Broncos Darnold offer emerged, but the former Jets starter preferred the Vikings. After Minnesota gave Darnold a one-year, $10MM deal, Denver reached a salary-split trade agreement for Wilson.

Wilson fared worse than Darnold did in New York — to the point the Jets benched the former No. 2 overall pick three times from 2022-23 — and exited the offseason program as a long-shot candidate to land even the Broncos’ backup job. The Broncos would eat $2.73MM in dead money by cutting Wilson; they would take on $2MM by releasing Stidham. A Stidham cut would, however, save the team $5MM.

After a year and change in Payton’s system, Stidham looks to have a leg up on the erratic BYU product. A No. 2 overall pick being waived before his fourth season would represent an ignominious start to a career and place Wilson on the short list of biggest QB busts in NFL history.

Free agency additions:

A year after big-ticket deals for McGlinchey, Powers and Allen, Denver — navigating historic cap consequences — operated conservatively in free agency. Its most notable 2024 expense was a safety that will be expected to replace Justin Simmons (or try). The Dolphins took Jones in the 2020 second round and used him as a full-time starter in 2021 and ’22, but the Jevon Holland back-line tandem partner lost a competition to DeShon Elliott last summer.

Elliott started over Jones under Vic Fangio, though the former Broncos HC used Jones in three-safety looks. Elliott outsnapped Jones 967-542 last year, but the latter graded as a top-20 safety in PFF’s view. Also showing a blitz acumen under Brian Flores with five sacks in 2021, Jones will team with two ex-Texas Longhorn teammates — Caden Sterns and P.J. Locke — in Denver.

Spending nearly his entire career as an auxiliary Jared Goff target, Reynolds looks to be both insurance against Patrick not resembling his pre-injury version and Mims and fourth-rounder Troy Franklin not developing as the team hoped. Reynolds’ $4.5MM guarantee suggests a clear role. Not as explosive as Jeudy, Reynolds ranked 85th among wideouts in ESPN’s open score metric last season. The ex-Rams regular is known more for his long-range skills and run-blocking chops than being a pure separator, but he did tally 608 yards and a career-high five touchdowns last season. Though, Reynolds’ campaign ended with two drops during Detroit’s NFC championship game collapse.

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Patriots To Extend DT Davon Godchaux

The Patriots’ extension binge continues. One of the two disgruntled defenders who had not been participating fully at practice, Davon Godchaux has agreed to terms on a second Pats extension.

Godchaux, who had previously signed a New England re-up in 2022, will now be tied to a two-year, $16.5MM deal, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports. Joining Matt Judon in recently angling for a new contract, Godchaux can earn up to $21MM on his third Patriots agreement. This contract ties the veteran defensive tackle to the team through the 2026 season.

[RELATED: Patriots Submit Offers To Matt Judon]

Although Godchaux did not participate in Patriots minicamp, he was not a full-on hold-in at training camp. The former Dolphins starter had participated in some drills since camp opened, creating a far less contentious contract situation compared to Judon’s. The latter has gone from practicing to holding in to missing a practice due to contract frustration. It will be worth wondering how yet another Patriots payment will affect Judon, a free agent after this season.

For those keeping track, the Patriots have now either re-signed or extended Christian Barmore ($21MM per year), Michael Onwenu ($19MM AAV), Kyle Dugger ($14.5MM), Rhamondre Stevenson ($9MM), Hunter Henry ($9MM) and Jabrill Peppers ($8.3MM). They also re-upped Kendrick Bourne in free agency, giving the veteran wide receiver a $6.5MM-per-year accord. This is a remarkable turn of events — not only due to the Pats’ Bill Belichick-era past but after a 4-13 season.

While Judon is coming off a season-ending injury sustained early in Belichick’s finale, Godchaux has been a durable component of strong defenses. He has not missed a game as a Patriot, operating as a steady nose tackle in three years since relocating from Miami. Known for his work against the run, Godchaux now has security going into his age-30 season. He made 56 tackles (two for loss) last season.

Godchaux’s presence suddenly became more important after new about Barmore’s blood clot issue surfacing. The former has operated more as a run stuffer, with the latter leading the 2023 Pats in sacks (8.5). Jerod Mayo referred to Godchaux as one of the team’s best players. Although Pro Football Focus was not high on Godchaux’s 2023 work, rating him 102nd among interior D-linemen, the Patriots disagree and will pay him once again. This follows Godchaux’s two-year, $20.8MM agreement that came to pass two Julys ago.

It will be interesting to see how the Judon impasse ends, but the Pats have displayed tremendous commitment to the core Belichick formed. They are betting Mayo’s leadership — and improved quarterback play — will result in a turnaround.

Rams G Jonah Jackson Out For Preseason

The prospective start of offensive guard Jonah Jackson‘s new tenure with the Rams hit a bit of a bump in the road yesterday. After leaving practice Tuesday with a member of the team’s training staff, Jackson was absent at today’s walkthrough. Initially, the team called Jackson’s shoulder injury a day-to-day ailment, but ESPN’s Sarah Barshop reports the update that Jackson is set to miss the preseason with a bruised left scapula.

Jackson just played out his rookie contract with the Lions. When the two sides were unable to come together on an extension agreement in the offseason, the Rams swooped in and collected on Detroit’s loss. Los Angeles signed Jackson to a three-year, $51MM deal including $34MM in guarantees.

The guarantees came despite a recent trend of Jackson missing a handful of games in the last two seasons. He was unavailable for four games in 2022 and five games last year as he dealt with wrist, ankle, and knee injuries. Noting the history, Rams head coach Sean McVay insisted that, while Jackson was “in good shape,” the team was trying to be “smart” with how they were utilizing him at practices throughout the offseason. Their plan was for him to be full-go at training camp — a plan which has backfired as they can now add “shoulder” to the above list of body parts with recent injuries.

While Jackson’s sidelined for the rest of the preseason, the team will likely give players like Logan Bruss and Mike McAllister some run in his spot. Bruss is a former third-round pick who has yet to appear in an NFL contest. His rookie season was lost to a torn ACL and MCL in the Rams’ second preseason game that year, and he spent last season on the practice squad. McAllister was an undrafted rookie interior lineman a year ago who has also failed to see any NFL action. Joseph Noteboom could potentially backup Jackson at the position, but he’s already backing up an injured Alaric Jackson at left tackle, per Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic.

The lack of sufficient, experienced depth is a bit of a concern for the Rams, but they do think Jackson has a chance to return for the start of the regular season. The Rams open with the team that refused to meet Jackson’s contract demands as they head to Detroit for Week 1. They’ll hope Jackson is ready to face his former team, but if not, they may need to invest in a more secure backup situation.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/24

Wednesday’s minor transactions to close out the month:

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Snead is the latest veteran wideout to join the Dolphins receiving corps. He hasn’t really contributed much to the NFL since his 2020 campaign with the Ravens, but he’ll get another chance this summer in South Beach.

Carolina brings in Johnson just a day after watching veteran Rashaad Penny hang up his cleats. In order to make room for Johnson, the Panthers let good of Davis, the team’s recent signee from the UFL.

Butler was waived after a failed physical two days ago. After going unclaimed, he’ll get to stay in Vegas by taking a place on the reserve/PUP list.

Buccaneers G Sua Opeta Suffers Torn ACL

The Buccaneers saw injury at the left guard position lead to a change in starter last year as Aaron Stinnie stepped in for a hurt Matt Feiler midseason. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, the injuries didn’t wait for the season to start this year. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports today that guard Sua Opeta tore an ACL at practice this Tuesday, ruling him out for the 2024 NFL season.

Stinnie won’t come to the rescue this year, as the five-year veteran now plays in New York. To replace him and Feiler, who is currently unsigned on the free agent market, the Buccaneers signed Opeta and former Giants starter Ben Bredeson. Bredeson and Opeta were set to compete for the starting left guard job this summer, but with no Opeta, it should be Bredeson’s job to win.

An undrafted free agent out of Weber State in 2019, Opeta spent most of his rookie season on the Eagles’ practice squad, getting called up in December but not appearing in any games. In his sophomore campaign, he was called up from the practice squad and made his NFL debut in Week 3. He started two games in eight appearances that year before getting placed on injured reserve. Over the next two seasons, Opeta would make two starts in 17 more game appearances for Philadelphia.

Last year, Opeta found some starting snaps in six games as an injury replacement for Cam Jurgens. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) utilized Opeta’s starting sample to grade him out as the NFL’s 58th best guard, 17 spots over Bredeson, who graded out at 75th. Despite not having Bredeson’s starting experience, many believed Opeta stood a strong chance at beating out Bredeson for the job.

With Opeta lost for the year, though, Bredeson should have an open lane for the starting gig. Since being traded from the Ravens to the Giants after his rookie campaign, Bredeson has made 25 starts in 35 game appearances, including 16 last year. He has not graded out favorably in the eyes of PFF over the years, but without many other options, Tampa Bay will need Bredeson to deliver.

Vikings Wanted Kirk Cousins To Stay As Bridge; Veteran Viewed Minnesota First-Round QB Pick As Unlikely

After two long-term contracts came during Rick Spielman‘s final years as Vikings GM, Kirk Cousins received bridge treatment under Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. The new Falcons QB had sought a team more committed to him, though he has since said the Vikings were more likely than not to put off their long-term need for another year had he stayed.

Minnesota did not go near Atlanta’s four-year, $180MM offer ($100MM in practical guarantees), and Cousins said during an appearance on The Athletic’s Scoop City podcast with Dianna Russini and Chase Daniel had he agreed to stay it would have been through one-year contracts while the team aimed to determine his successor (subscription required).

[RELATED: Offseason In Review: Minnesota Vikings]

Cousins said Kevin O’Connell told him if he were to re-sign it would be unlikely the Vikings would draft his heir apparent this year. While Cousins stopped short of confirming O’Connell slammed the door on such a move, it is rather interesting he still ended up in a situation where a successor arrived in Round 1. The Falcons’ Michael Penix Jr. pick stands to put a clock on Cousins’ Atlanta stay, while the Vikings have Sam Darnold in place as the bridge to J.J. McCarthy, chosen two picks after Penix.

I don’t think they were ready to go there yet in March,” Cousins said on the Vikings’ interest in drafting a first-round QB. “I think the reality is just that they wanted to give themselves that flexibility. And I remember Kevin’s words, which I’m not going to hold them to, were, ‘Hey, if we sign you back, I would think it’s very unlikely that we would draft somebody.’ It was something to that effect. But I also know in the league things change.

Cousins’ comments contradict a recent report from ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert, who indicates O’Connell, Adofo-Mensah and ownership wanted the soon-to-be 36-year-old passer to stay — but as a bridge to a rookie who would be drafted in 2024. Neither Adofo-Mensah nor O’Connell wanted the to-be-determined rookie to play immediately, Seifert adds, though convincing Cousins — given the value he carried as a free agent — to stay on a short-term arrangement would have been quite difficult. The Falcons bringing big money to the table made it nearly impossible, as the sides battled over guarantees during the 2023 offseason.

The 13th-year veteran said he would have been more open to a bridge plan in Minnesota if that were his only option; the Falcons ensured that would not be the case. The Vikings did memorably join the Patriots in checking in on Justin Herbert, being quickly turned down by the Chargers’ new regime. The team zeroed in on a rookie soon after, obtaining a second first-round pick from the Texans; though, that became used to trade up for Dallas Turner at No. 17. O’Connell, per Seifert, informed Cousins the team would explore this deep QB class with an aim to use its highest draft slot in a decade (11th) to find its next starter.

Adofo-Mensah said before the draft the team would be comfortable with multiple options in this year’s class, but McCarthy — viewed as a Minnesota target pre-draft — impressed O’Connell at the Michigan product’s private workout. Although it seemed like the Vikings traded up from No. 11 to No. 10 to prevent the Broncos from doing the same, Seifert adds Minnesota was confident Denver would draft Bo Nix.

As for who will end up starting in Week 1, Seifert indicates the Vikings informed Darnold before the draft he would likely get the call. It should be expected McCarthy will take the reins at some point this season, but O’Connell was also in Washington when the team rushed Dwayne Haskins

Those things [O’Connell] talked about are the reason why I have so much faith in him,” Adofo-Mensah said, via Seifert. “To take a mold-and-play like [McCarthy] with talent and traits that are as high-end as anybody, and mold him into that player we want him to be. A lot of times when we go back over history and we say, ‘These quarterbacks have missed.’ There’s a lot of hands that are dirty in that regard, and we’re going to make sure that our hands are clean and give him the best opportunity he can to be the best player he can be in this offense.”

Darnold will receive the bulk of the first-team reps during training camp, O’Connell said, though McCarthy will also receive select reps with the starters. The seventh-year vet is still the more likely Week 1 QB, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling. As could be expected, O’Connell does not have a range for when McCarthy will replace Darnold — assuming the veteran is indeed the Week 1 starter. The Vikings do have a Week 6 bye, however, representing a potential transition point. Though, Darnold impressing with Minnesota’s talented skill-position corps could lead to a more extended McCarthy apprenticeship.

Commanders Claim K Riley Patterson

Following their short-lived partnership with Brandon McManus, the Commanders are turning to another recent Jaguars kicker. Washington submitted a successful waiver claim for Riley Patterson on Wednesday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets.

Patterson, who has enjoyed multiple stints with Jacksonville, will head to a Washington team that features kicker uncertainty after McManus’ release. Patterson has kicked in 39 career games; 15 of those came last season — with the Lions and Browns.

Entering Wednesday, Ramiz Ahmed resided as the only kicker on the Commanders’ 90-man roster. Ahmed has kicked in one career game — as a Packers Mason Crosby fill-in in 2022. Patterson, who turned 29 last week, landed with the Jags via reserve/futures contract but lost an early camp competition to sixth-round rookie Cam Little.

The Commanders released McManus after a lawsuit alleging sexual assault surfaced after the team signed him. The allegations stemmed from a flight during the 2023 Jaguars season. Washington had given the longtime Denver specialist a one-year, $3.6MM deal in March. Ahmed joined the team in June, shortly after the McManus cut. The inexperienced option now has competition.

Patterson has yo-yoed between Jacksonville and Detroit during his career, being both traded and waived. After seven games with the 2021 Lions, Patterson was the Jags’ 2022 kicker. The Jaguars claimed Patterson just before that season; he made 30 of 35 field goals during the regular season and kicked the game-winner that sealed a 27-point wild-card comeback over the Chargers. Last season, after the Jags traded Patterson back to the Lions, the Memphis alum made 88.2% of his tries but lost an ongoing practice competition to Michael Badgley. The Lions ended up going with Badgley and cutting Patterson in December, leading him to a short role filling in for Dustin Hopkins.

Joey Slye served as the Commanders’ kicker last season, but the ex-Ron Rivera Panthers charge made only 79.2% of his kicks. The team will see if Patterson or Ahmed can prove an adequate replacement.

The Commanders, who also signed Byron Pringle earlier today, released wideout Damiere Byrd and waived wideout Dax Milne. Byrd had played for Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona previously, while Milne has been in Washington since being drafted in the 2021 seventh round.

Patriots Submit Offers To Matt Judon?

1:47pm: Pushing back on these reports, Judon has denied (via his X account) the Patriots have extended him an offer. While this could boil down to the difference between a 2024-only adjustment and a true extension, Judon remains at odds with the team ahead of his fourth season in New England.

12:19pm: Matt Judon‘s Patriots situation has shifted considerably since training camp began. Not going through with a full-on hold-in at camp’s outset, the team’s top edge rusher moved in that direction and then missed Tuesday’s practice.

This process has included an on-field conversation with Eliot Wolf and fellow exec Matt Groh. Judon indeed missed Tuesday’s Patriots practice because he seeks a contract update, according to The Athletic’s Dianni Russini. The Patriots have since made an offer, potentially helping smooth things over with one of the few key players the team has not paid this offseason.

The Pats offered “a few” revised contracts before training camp, Russini adds. It would appear the team has not yet proposed a lucrative extension, making Judon an outlier this year. Russini notes the offers would have reworked Judon’s deal.

The former free agent signee has admitted to being envious as the Pats have swerved toward paying their own lucrative contracts under Wolf. The team has retained Christian Barmore, Michael Onwenu, Kyle Dugger, Rhamondre Stevenson and Hunter Henry on pricey contracts. They also paid Jabrill Peppers this week. This run of big-ticket deals veers from the Bill Belichick path, and the moves have prompted some who have not been paid — namely Judon and Davon Godchaux — to take action. Godchaux, who joins Judon in a contract year, is staging a partial hold-in.

Belichick resolved the Judon matter with a reworking last summer. The Pats gave the former Ravens OLB draftee a $3MM pay bump and an incentive package, though the biceps injury Judon sustained early last season prevented him from triggering any of those escalators. Set to turn 32 next month and coming off a major injury, Judon is not in a great place to negotiate a notable extension. While he has been productive for the Patriots when on the field, it would be understandable if a rearranged front office would have doubts about paying an older rusher market value coming off an abbreviated season.

Judon, who did not join Godchaux in sitting out minicamp, saw that $3MM transferred from his 2024 salary to 2023. The Pats guaranteed him $14MM as part of their two-year, $22.5MM revision. He has seen the market change a bit since his four-year, $54MM free agency accord was finalized. That 2021 offseason was not an optimal time to hit the market, as the salary cap plummeted due to COVID-19 restricting 2020 attendance. Judon was among the Patriots’ many signings, as Belichick zagged due to the unusual market. The $13.6MM AAV on that 2021 contract would now rank 21st among edge defenders.

The ninth-year vet’s options are, of course, limited and withholding services represents about the only leverage he holds. The Pats, who saw Judon rip off 12.5- and 15.5-sack seasons in 2021 and 2022, do not have a comparable edge solution without Judon. The team re-signed Josh Uche after a 2023 regression and have 2023 second-rounder Keion White (one rookie-year sack) in the fold. But Barmore (8.5 sacks last season) is the only Patriot who topped five sacks in 2023. And he is currently dealing with a blood clot issue.

Judon has done well for himself as a Division II product chosen in the 2016 fifth round. The Ravens franchise-tagged him in 2020, and he has earned plenty from the Patriots. But for the Grand Valley State alum’s production level — particularly his New England work — he is underpaid. After the Patriots paid numerous starters, how they resolve the Judon matter is suddenly a pressing issue.

Cowboys COO: Ball In Dak Prescott’s Court; Team Communicating With CeeDee Lamb

Friday further solidified the quarterback market. After Jared Goff and Trevor Lawrence signed $50MM-plus-per-year extensions this offseason, Jordan Love‘s hold-in and Tua Tagovailoa‘s partial hold-in wrapped after they followed suit. This leaves one major quarterback situation unresolved.

Dak Prescott remains in a contract year, and the ninth-year Cowboys QB is practicing. Prescott wields tremendous leverage over the Cowboys due to his current contract, and after a summer report indicated the team was planning to make a strong offer, COO Stephen Jones said during an appearance on KTFM San Antonio (h/t The Athletic’s Jon Machota) the ball is in Prescott’s court presently. Whether this means the Cowboys have made their offer or not, the team is waiting to hear from the QB’s camp.

[RELATED: The Cowboys’ Contract Dilemma]

The 30-year-old passer has not detailed his demands yet, but he is set up to do very well. If Prescott is to re-sign with the Cowboys, he will command a contract north of where Lawrence, Love and Joe Burrow have set the bar ($55MM). As we have detailed, Dak cannot be franchise-tagged and adds to his bargaining position via a 2024 cap number ($55.13MM) and the dead money that would hit the Cowboys’ 2025 payroll ($40.13MM) if he is unsigned by the start of the ’25 league year.

It’s definitely not the money,” Prescott said (via NFL.com’s Jane Slater and Daniel Jeremiah) of his Cowboys situation. “A little bit of it is respect. In the same sense, what motivates me is just coming out here each and every day and getting better and being able to control that, I’m at peace with. … When you focus on that, the money comes. As you said, these other guys, they’re the ones setting the bar in that, and as I said, it’s an obligation that I have to my team, my family, and to the rest of the quarterbacks in the NFL.”

The tag being out of the picture gives Prescott the ability to control this process. The Falcons’ Kirk Cousins contract, despite the veteran QB going into his age-36 season coming off an Achilles tear, illustrates the free agency offers that would likely be available if Prescott hit the market. Prescott has said he wants to finish his career in Dallas but added the obvious caveat that quarterbacks often change teams. Given the makeup of Dallas’ roster, suddenly needing to find a new starting quarterback next year would obviously threaten to unravel this nucleus’ contention prospects.

This all points to the Cowboys needing to make a monster offer — perhaps at or near $60MM per year with favorable guarantees — to prevent their QB from moving toward free agency.

Lamb can be tagged in 2025, but the Cowboys have made an offer. Jones said during his KTFM appearance the team heard back from the All-Pro wideout recently. Lamb is headed into his fifth-year option season. While the Oklahoma alum may not require a contract that makes him the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB, the Cowboys will at least need to approach the Justin Jefferson numbers ($35MM AAV, $110MM guaranteed, $88.7MM fully guaranteed) to complete a deal.

We keep having multiple exchanges with CeeDee,” Jones said. “He actually sent us something late (Sunday). We continue to grind away on it. I would characterize both negotiations as very cordial and upbeat. We’re optimistic we’ll continue to work toward getting something done.”

The Cowboys continue to practice without Lamb, who joins Haason Reddick and Trent Williams as holdouts. The team must fine Lamb $50K per day missed, but with the receiver on a rookie contract, the fines can later be waived. Given the positive tone Jones is trying to convey, it seems likely the Cowboys would waive the fines if Lamb is extended soon. Reports indicating both players are Dallas’ priorities have come out, but the team is clearly eyeing new deals for each offensive pillar.