Vikings, Harrison Phillips Agree To Extension
SEPTEMBER 12: In terms of base value, the Vikings are giving Phillips a three-year, $15MM accord. The deal includes $10.3MM guaranteed at signing, according to OverTheCap. Receiving a $5MM signing bonus, Phillips will see his base salary climb from $1.4MM to $7MM from 2024-25, per the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling. Of that ’25 base, $4.7MM is guaranteed.
SEPTEMBER 10: Harrison Phillips had a strong start to the campaign on Sunday, and he has landed a new Vikings deal in time for Week 2. Team and player have reached agreement on a two-year extension, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The deal is now official, per a team announcement.
The pact has a maximum value of $19MM, Pelissero adds. Phillips – who has remained a full-time starter along the defensive line for Minnesota since 2022 – will collect more than $13MM in guaranteed money. This deal means Phillips will remain in place through 2026.
The 28-year-old played out his rookie contract with the Bills. Over that span, he logged 11 starts and served as a run-stopping presence. Phillips recorded only 1.5 sacks in 45 Buffalo contests, but he still managed to secure a three-year pact from the Vikings in free agency. That deal was worth $19.5MM, so his play since joining the team has done enough to command a notable raise in the Vikings’ view. Phillips is set to collect $6.5MM in 2024 while carrying an $8.33MM cap hit. His base salary already locked in just before the start of the regular season, but today’s news will increase his up front earnings while potentially lowering his cap charge for the year.
Phillips logged a career-high snap share of 60% during his debut Vikings season. That produced a consistent performance against the run along with minimal pass rush production. The former third-rounder saw him playing time jump once more to 74% in 2023, the first year after Dalvin Tomlinson departed in free agency. Phillips easily posted a career high in tackles (92) while also setting a new personal best with three sacks. Not long after beginning the final year of his deal, he has now received a new commitment.
Minnesota does not have another big-money deal in place along the defensive interior. The likes of Jerry Tillery, Jonathan Bullard and Levi Drake Rodriguez are in line as complementary players to handle rotational roles alongside Phillips, who should be expected to remain a starter for the foreseeable future. The latter recorded a sack on Sunday, and further development against the pass could prove this new investment to be worthwhile.
Additions along the D-line are a potential goal for Minnesota during the 2025 offseason. The team is currently projected to be among the league leaders in cap space, so a lucrative move from outside the organization could be in play. Regardless of whether of not that takes place, however, Phillips will remain a key member of the unit for years to come.
Cowboys, Micah Parsons Will Discuss Extension After 2024 Season
With mere hours to spare, the Cowboys managed to take care of their top two extensions in time for the start of the regular season. Both Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb have four-year extensions in hand, and they will not face questions about potential free agent departures during the 2024 campaign. 
[Offseason In Review: Dallas Cowboys]
Throughout the offseason, the Cowboys’ negotiations on the Prescott and Lamb fronts were made against the backdrop of Micah Parsons also being eligible for a new deal this year. With two years remaining on his rookie contract, it came as no surprise the All-Pro edge rusher was third on the priority list regarding an extension. With the current season underway, talks on a monster second pact between Parsons and the team will be delayed until the spring.
“Right now, it’s certainly not anything that’s on the table,” Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan regarding Parsons extension talks (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “Micah made a conscientious decision that he thinks he can put together an even better year. I think he got off to a great start against the Browns. I think his play speaks louder than words.
“I think he expects to have a great year under [defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer]. And then probably feel comfortable to talk about it then. Each individual is different. Opportunities come and when they are and the player feels good about something then we’ll certainly will move to do something. At the same time, sometimes players just aren’t ready yet. They don’t feel like their situation is in the right situation to start the process.”
Parsons will collect just under $3MM this season, and Dallas’ decision to pick up his fifth-year option has him on track to earn $21.32MM in 2025. A long-term extension will of course check in at a much higher rate given the nature of the edge market and the three-time Pro Bowler’s production to date. Parsons amassed 40.5 sacks in his first three years, and he added another during the Cowboys’ Week 1 win on Sunday. Remaining healthy and delivering another double-digit sack campaign would position him well for a major payday next offseason.
Nick Bosa‘s 2023 49ers extension carries an annual average value of $34MM. That figure briefly allowed him to hold the title of the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback before being surpassed by Justin Jefferson. Bosa is still the top earner for defensive players, though, and his contract could be a target for Parsons once negotiations take place. The 25-year-old said in June he was onboard with waiting out the 2024 offseason and allowing the Prescott and Lamb deals to be worked out (while also letting the salary cap jump once more before working on an extension).
Parsons has been connected to an asking price which would move him to the top of the pecking order for edge rushers, although the same was true of Lamb at one point and his Cowboys deal falls short of Jefferson’s in terms of value and guarantees. Prescott, on the other hand, secured an AAV of $60MM, moving the bar in terms of quarterback compensation by $5MM. It will be interesting to see how the Cowboys handle negotiations knowing Prescott and Lamb are set to carry major cap hits for the foreseeable future while also trying to afford a massive Parsons commitment.
On his Off the Edge podcast, the Penn State product confirmed his desire to remain a Cowboy well after the 2024 and ’25 seasons (video link). Whether or not Parsons and the team can meet that goal via a long-term deal will not be known until the current campaign comes to an end, however.
Panthers DL Derrick Brown To Undergo Meniscus Surgery, Lands On IR
SEPTEMBER 10: Brown sought a second opinion, per Dave Canales, but it also revealed surgery will be necessary. As a result, Brown is now on IR. This move could still result in Brown returning this season, via an IR activation, but the recently extended D-lineman faces the prospect of his season being over after 60 snaps. A full meniscus repair, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, almost definitely ends Brown’s season.
SEPTEMBER 9: Week 1 saw the Panthers suffer a lopsided defeat, but the more significant takeaway from the game was the injury incurred by Derrick Brown. The Pro Bowl defensive lineman is dealing with a meniscus injury and he is in danger of missing considerable time as a result. 
Brown is set to undergo surgery, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. As the case of Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy recently showed, the recovery timeline will be determined by the procedure. Brown could miss the remainder of the campaign, something which would represent a massive blow to Carolina’s defense.
The 26-year-old inked a four-year, $96MM extension this offseason. That pact cemented his status as a cornerstone of the franchise and made him one of the league’s highest-paid interior defenders. Brown recorded a record-breaking 103 tackles last season, and he was positioned to once again serve as the most productive member of Carolina’s defensive front. Expectations for a step forward in terms of pass rush production were also high as the team no longer has Brian Burns along the edge.
Even if Brown is able to avoid the worst-case scenario, a multi-week absence is likely. That makes him a strong candidate for injured reserve, which would ensure at least four weeks on the sidelines. Missing considerably more time than that could cripple a defense which already gave up 47 points on Sunday. Brown played all but six defensive snaps against the Saints, but it will be quite some time until he next sees the field.
The Panthers electing for a cautious approach with the former top-10 pick would come as no surprise if a meniscus trim were to take place given his importance to the team. If a full repair is required, though, Brown will be hard-pressed to return in 2024. A’Shawn Robinson and Shy Tuttle represent Carolina’s other veteran D-linemen, and the team has a number of inexperienced options further down the depth chart.
More clarity on Brown’s status will emerge once his surgery takes place. In any event, however, he is facing a long-term absence and the Panthers are set to continue the 2024 season without their top defender.
Bills Extend RT Spencer Brown
SEPTEMBER 10: This extension checks in at four years and $72MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. It will provide the fourth-year RT $45MM guaranteed. Despite the recent record-setting cap spike, this only makes Brown the NFL’s seventh-highest-paid player at his position. In terms of guarantees, Brown’s deal ranks sixth among RTs. Still, Brown did quite well by scoring a deal that betters — AAV-wise, at least — high-end 2023 RT signees Mike McGlinchey and Terence Steele.
SEPTEMBER 6: Another extension has been worked out in time for the start of the season. Right tackle Spencer Brown has agreed to a four-year deal Bills deal, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The news is now official, per a team announcement. 
[RELATED: Offseason In Review: Buffalo Bills]
Brown was set to enter 2024 as a pending free agent. Instead, he will complete his rookie contract knowing he will remain a staple of Buffalo’s offensive line for years to come. As a result of this news, the 26-year-old is under team control through the 2028 campaign.
Given the recent report indicating the Bills hoped to get a deal done with Brown before the season, today’s news comes as no surprise. Buffalo has also taken care of an important piece of financial business well before next spring, by which point Brown may have upped his value with another strong season. He and left tackle Dion Dawkins are both on the books for the foreseeable future and they will be counted on as impactful contributors up front.
Brown’s first two seasons included signficant playing time, but they did not draw strong PFF reviews. The Northern Iowa product took a step forward in that regard last season, with his run blocking standing out in particular. The midseason change from Ken Dorsey to Joe Brady as offensive coordinator led to a ground-based approach to close out the year. If that remains the case, Brown could be in position to continue developing (although improvement in pass protection will be a priority as his career continues).
Buffalo has Dawkins, Brown, along with the interior trio of David Edwards, Connor McGovern and O’Cyrus Torrence still intact from last season. That continuity along the O-line will be welcomed to start the 2024 season, one in which the team’s receiver room will look much different. How well the Bills’ passing attack fares with the new skill position pieces in place will be worth watching closely, but an effective unit up front will aid in that regard.
The right tackle market has seen upward movement in recent years, and for a time this offseason Penei Sewell had an extension which dwarfed all those for blindside blockers. That $28MM-per-season Lions accord will no doubt remain well ahead of Brown’s compensation on his second Bills pact, but the latter has nonetheless set himself up for a notable raise moving forward.
David Njoku Facing Potential Absence; Browns Line Up TE Workouts
David Njoku exited the Browns’ Week 1 loss due to an ankle injury, and he could be sidelined for a stretch as a result. The Pro Bowl tight end is believed to be have suffered a high ankle sprain, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. 
Njoku was in a walking boot after the team’s season opener, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com adds. No firm timeline for his recovery is in place, but head coach Kevin Stefanski called him week-to-week. Losing Njoku for any period of time would deal a blow to a Browns passing attack which struggled on Sunday.
The 28-year-old set career highs in receptions (81), yards (882) and touchdowns (six) last season. Njoku faces expectations to remain a key member of Cleveland’s offense moving forward, and before being injured he recorded four catches for 44 yards. The former first-rounder is on the books for two more seasons as he continues to play out his $54.75MM deal.
With Njoku in line to miss time, Cleveland signed wideout Kadarius Toney to the practice squad. The former first-rounder recently visited the Browns, and he will aim to carve out a role amongst the likes of Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman. At the tight end position, though, the team is in the process of seeking out an addition.
Cleveland hosted Geoff Swaim on a workout today, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. In addition, the team has visits lined up with Irv Smith and Tommy Sweeney, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds. Swain has the most experience in the group as a veteran of 102 combined regular and postseason games. The 30-year-old played out his rookie contract with the Cowboys before spending time in Jacksonville, Tennessee and Arizona. Swaim’s best campaign (in terms of catches and touchdowns) came with the Titans in 2021 when he posted a 31-210-3 statline.
Smith flashed potential during his Vikings tenure, but the 26-year-old has struggled with injuries in his career. Smith did not have an impactful one-year stint with the Bengals last season, and he failed to survive roster cuts with the Chiefs last month. Sweeney, 29, missed all of last season while spending the campaign on the Giants’ NFI list. He landed a deal with the Bears in free agency, but he too was released ahead of the cutdown deadline. Sweeney is a veteran of 24 games played with the Bills from 2019-22 in a depth and special teams capacity.
After restructuring Deshaun Watson‘s contract once again, the Browns have over $48MM in cap space. A short-term addition to replace Njoku will therefore be feasible, and it will be interesting to see if any of these visits produce an agreement.
Panthers To Sign OLB Charles Harris
Known to be in the market for an edge rush addition, the Panthers are set to make a move ahead of Week 2. Carolina plans to sign Charles Harris, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. 
[RELATED: Derrick Brown Suffers Meniscus Injury]
Harris entered the league with high expectations as a first-round pick. His three-year Dolphins stint did not see him develop into an every-down starter, however. While handling a rotational role, he totaled 3.5 sacks in Miami before flashing more potential during a three-sack 2020 campaign with the Falcons. Harris signed a one-year deal with the Lions in the subsequent offseason, setting himself up for his most productive year.
The Missouri alum started 14 of 17 games during his debut Detroit campaign, totaling 7.5 sacks and 19 pressures. Harris worked under Todd Wash that year; Wash is now the Panthers’ defensive line coach. Harris will hope to deliver another strong year of production upon reuniting with him. The 29-year-old played out a two-year Lions pact in 2022 and ’23, a stretch in which he was limited to 19 games and 2.5 sacks.
The missed time and drop-off in production helped explain how Harris remained a free agent throughout the offseason and into September. By taking a deal in Week 2, his base salary will not be guaranteed. Still, this Panthers pact – which will no doubt be a low-cost, one-year commitment – will give him the opportunity to rebuild his stock while providing Carolina with a veteran contributor in the pass rush department. ESPN’s David Newton notes Harris visited the team last week, so today’s news comes as no surprise.
The Panthers placed both D.J. Wonnum and Amare Barno on the reserve/PUP list ahead of roster cutdowns, meaning those edge rushers will not be available until at least Week 5. Carolina moved on from K’Lavon Chaisson before the season opener, leaving the team particularly thin at the outside linebacker spot. During their blowout loss on Sunday, the Panthers registered only one sack. If he can regain his previous form, Harris may be able to help in that regard for the remainder of the campaign.
Packers Will Not Place Jordan Love On IR; Team Has Not Contacted Free Agent QBs
The Packers are set to rely on Malik Willis in the event Jordan Love misses time over the coming weeks. That remains a distinct possibility in the latter’s case, but he will not be placed on injured reserve. 
Love is dealing with an MCL sprain, and he is facing a recovery timeline of three to six weeks. Placing him on IR would guarantee an absence of at least four weeks, but head coach Matt LaFleur said on Monday that route will not be taken. Love is therefore a candidate to return on the short end of that timeframe, and for that reason Green Bay is not interested in adding a signal-caller.
“No. Despite reports,” LaFleur said of the Packers having interest in a free agent quarterback (via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette). “It’s crazy to me how people come up with some of these things. I think you explore every possibility, but at no point in time did we ever have any discussions with anybody.”
A report from Sunday stated the Packers reached out to Ryan Tannehill, the most experienced quarterback currently on the market. It was unclear at the time if Green Bay represented a destination Tannehill was interested in as he weighs his options, but LaFleur’s comments confirm no contract talks took place anyway. With Love set to only miss a brief period, the team will rely on Willis and Sean Clifford under center.
Green Bay had Clifford and seventh-round rookie Michael Pratt in place during the summer as they competed for the backup gig. Neither passer impressed, and they were both waived during roster cutdowns. Clifford cleared waivers and was retained on the practice squad whereas Pratt departed and joined the Buccaneers’ taxi squad.
Willis was acquired via trade shortly before the roster cut deadline, giving him a short window of time to learn the Packers’ offense. The former Titans draftee did not anticipate being dealt despite the fact free agent signing Mason Rudolph outperformed him during training camp and the preseason. Willis, 25, made three starts as a rookie but he made only three appearances last season as Tennessee transitioned from Tannehill to Will Levis. The Packers will offer him a new opportunity on a short-term basis until Love is back to full health.
Steelers To Sign P Corliss Waitman, S Terrell Edmunds
Cameron Johnston is out for the year, and as a result the Steelers are in need of a new punter. The team is set to turn to a familiar face at the position. Pittsburgh plans to sign Corliss Waitman, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. This will mark his third stint with the organization.
Besides brief offseason stints with the Raiders and Patriots, Waitman spent the majority of his first two NFL seasons in Pittsburgh, getting into a pair of games during the 2021 campaign. He got a full-time gig with the Broncos in 2022, appearing in all 17 games while pacing the NFL with 96 punts. He earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors in Week 3 of that season after placing six of his 10 punts inside the 20.
Since leaving Denver, he’s had a second stint with the Patriots and a short gig with the Bears. Now, he’ll be joining a Steelers squad that needs some reinforcement after losing their starter for the entire season. Per veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer, Waitman was one of six punters who auditioned for Pittsburgh today, with the Steelers also taking a look at Jack Browning, Trenton Gill, Matt Haack, Austin McNamara, and Porter Wilson.
The Steelers weren’t done with reunions today, as the team also signed safety Terrell Edmunds off the Jaguars practice squad, per Pelissero. The former first-round pick started 75 of his 79 appearances in Pittsburgh to begin his career, but the 2023 campaign proved to be a tumultuous campaign for the veteran.
After joining the Eagles last offseason, Edmunds started three of his seven appearances for his new squad before getting shipped to Tennessee. He started one of his nine appearances for the Titans down the stretch. He caught on with the Jaguars this past offseason and was among the team’s final cuts, but he landed on the practice squad to start the season. He was promoted to the active roster for Week 1, getting into six defensive snaps.
Rookie Ryan Watts is out for the entire season with a neck injury, so the team is likely adding Edmunds after getting a look at some of their in-house replacements. Minkah Fitzpatrick and DeShon Elliott will still soak up the majority of the snaps at the position, but Edmunds will now provide the team will additional backup options beyond Damontae Kazee and Miles Killebrew.
Buccaneers S Antoine Winfield Jr. Facing Multi-Week Absence
Tampa Bay’s secondary will without its highest-paid member for the time being. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is dealing with an ankle and foot sprain suffered on Sunday, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. 
Winfield is set to miss a “couple weeks” as a result of the ailment, Schultz adds. Tampa’s cornerback depth was tested in Week 1, and Bryce Hall is likely out for the season. Missing Winfield for any period of time would deal a more notable blow to the Buccaneers’ defense, of course. Fox Sports’ Greg Auman notes Winfield’s timeline may actually be in the three-to-four week range.
The 26-year-old was a full-time starter throughout his first four seasons with Tampa. In 2023, he set career highs in tackles (122), sacks (six), interceptions (three) and pass breakups (12) while leading the league with six forced fumbles. Filling that statsheet to that extent earned him a first-team All-Pro nod and cemented his status as a prime extension candidate.
Winfield was one of many Buccaneers who received a long-term deal in the offseason keeping him in place for the foreseeable future. The Minnesota product landed $84.1MM on a four-year extension, making him the league’s highest-paid defensive back at the time. The lead in terms of AAV briefly went to Patrick Surtain before returning to fellow corner Jalen Ramsey, but the lucrative nature of Tampa’s Winfield commitment underscores his importance to the team’s defense.
The Buccaneers brought back Jordan Whitehead in free agency after he spent two years with the Jets. The 27-year-old played every snap in the team’s win over the Commanders, and he will be counted on to remain a full-time starter with Winfield temporarily out of the fold. Christian Izien worked as a safety in training camp this year after he played as a slot corner during his rookie campaign; the former UDFA ended Sunday as a boundary corner due to injuries, but he could return to the backend as early as Week 2.
Tampa Bay also has veteran Tavierre Thomas and third-round rookie Tykee Smith in place. Both players have experience at multiple spots in the secondary, and the team’s healthy defensive backs may need to wear multiple hats depending on the health situation at corner. No one player will be expected to duplicate Winfield’s versatility while he is away, but the Bucs will need to find a means of replacing his production for the coming weeks.
Commanders Release K Cade York; Team Signs K Austin Seibert
Cade York was acquired via trade by the Commanders in advance of Week 1 to serve as their kicker, but his audition in the nation’s capital has proved to be short-lived. The team announced on Monday he has been released. A replacement appears to be in place, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Washington plans to sign Austin Seibert. 
York was drafted by the Browns in 2022, and he connected on 75% of his field goal attempts as a rookie. That year was followed by considerable struggles during the subsequent offseason, leading Cleveland to waive him and bring in Dustin Hopkins. The veteran had a strong debut Browns season last year, and he was rewarded with an extension in the offseason.
York spent time with the Titans and Giants in 2023, although he did not see any regular season action. The LSU product returned to Cleveland until he was traded to the Commanders in late August. That deal offered Washington yet another option in the kicking game after an offseason filled with changes at the position, and it included a conditional seventh-round pick heading the Browns’ way. Since York was let go after less than two weeks with Washington, though, that pick will not go to Cleveland, Pelissero’s colleague Mike Garafolo notes.
During Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers, York made both of his extra point attempts but he went 0-for-2 on field goal kicks. That has led to the Commanders moving on in short order, and it will likely leave him on the open market for an extended period. Washington will attempt to move forward with Seibert, whom Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post reports has indeed been signed.
The 27-year-old also began his career with the Browns, and he has additionally spent time with the Lions and Jets. Seibert made one appearance for New York last year, and he remained with the team through the preseason. Considering the presence of Greg Zuerlein, however, Seibert was released during roster cuts. The Oklahoma product has connected on 80.4% of his field goal tries and 90.3% of his extra point attempts. A consistent showing in Washington will allow him to at least find a permanent gig for one year.