Ja’Marr Chase Participates In Bengals Practice; Week 1 Status Still Unclear
For the second straight day, Ja’Marr Chase has taken part in practice. The extension-seeking wideout was listed a limited participant once again, with rest – rather than an injury – being named as the cause (h/t ESPN’s Field Yates). 
Chase has been present with the Bengals throughout training camp, but he has rarely been on the practice field while negotiations on a monster extension take place. The three-time Pro Bowler is positioned to land a deal at or near the top of the receiver market, a commitment which (if finalized) will break with organizational tradition in terms of including guaranteed money beyond Year 1 of an extension. That was a requirement for Joe Burrow‘s pact, but it remains to be seen if one with a similar structure is worked out in Chase’s case.
The 24-year-old’s camp slow-played negotiations during the spring in the eyes of the team, but Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk have all agreed to extensions with their respective squads this offseason. Those pacts range between $30MM and $34MM in annual value, and the Lamb accord bridged the gap between Jefferson and the rest of the market in terms of guarantees. A commitment surpassing the one Minnesota made for Jefferson might be needed for Cincinnati to keep Chase in place beyond 2025.
With the Bengals seeming to prefer waiting until next offseason to get a deal done with the LSU product, questions have lingered regarding whether or not he will take the field for Week 1. Indeed, ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes some within the organization have brought up Le’Veon Bell‘s 2018 Steelers holdout when discussing Chase’s situation. During his final college campaign, Chase opted out of the pandemic-altered season knowing he would be one of the top prospects in his draft class. Selected with the No. 5 pick in 2021, his reunion with Burrow has paid considerable dividends.
Chase has raked up 29 touchdowns in his three regular seasons to date, surpassing 1,000 yards each time. Expectations will be high for continued production on that level moving forward, especially if franchise tag recipient Tee Higgins departs in free agency next March. The Bengals have made a push in recent days to finalize an extension, but neither Burrow nor head coach Zac Taylor has firmly stated Chase will be on the field for Week 1. A lack of practice reps is not a concern, however.
“Preparation is an important part of getting ready to play games, but I don’t have a ‘Hey, this threshold has to be met for this individual in this particular instance,,” offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said (via Graziano’s colleague Ben Baby). “We take it day-by-day and make the best decision we think we can make in the moment.”
Cincinnati’s 2024 campaign will begin against New England on Sunday. The Bengals will no doubt want to have clarity on Chase’s situation by that point, but it remains to be seen if he will be available.
Chiefs Extend TE Noah Gray
Just in time for the start of their season, the Chiefs have worked out an extension with Noah Gray. The tight end’s agency announced on Thursday a deal has been worked out. 
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes this pact is three years in length and has a value of $19.5MM. Gray will receive a $6MM signing bonus and $10MM in total compensation locked in at signing. He was set to enter the final season of his rookie contract, so today’s news means he will remain in Kansas City through 2027.
Gray logged a minor offensive role during his rookie season, but he was a core special teams contributor. He has remained a fixture in terms of third phase duties since then, but he has also chipped in on offense. The 25-year-old has posted back-to-back years with 28 receptions, totaling 604 yards and three touchdowns during that span. A similar workload should be expected for years to come.
The former fifth-rounder has shown to be an effective run blocker, and he even filled in as Kansas City’s long snapper for a spell last season. Gray has seen his special teams snap percentage drop with each passing season, but in 2023 that figure was 52% and he could continue to be a key presence in that respect moving forward. With Travis Kelce set to collect just over $34MM over the next two years, Kansas City has a pair of notable tight end investments on the books.
While Kelce is obviously set to continue handling a heavy workload in the Chiefs’ passing game, Gray could continue developing as a complementary option in that respect. The latter has averaged just under 11 yards per reception in both of the last two seasons. Of course, one of the defending champions’ key offseason priorities was adding at the receiver position, so Gray will have new competition for targets in 2024. His other offensive contributions have him set to remain on the field as a regular member of the unit, though.
Gray was set to carry a cap hit of $3.19MM this season; that figure could be altered by this extension. The Chiefs entered Thursday with just over $13MM in projected 2025 cap space, and keeping Gray in the fold will eat into that flexibility to an extent. Still, doing so has ensured a key auxiliary member of the team’s offense will not reach free agency next spring.
CB Xavien Howard Aims To Play In 2024
Xavien Howard has been on the market since he was released by the Dolphins in February. The veteran corner was linked to a new Miami deal for a time, but it has long been known a reunion is not in the cards. 
Howard – a Houston native – expressed interest in a Texans contract not long after free agency began. That did not produce a deal or even known negotiations taking place on that front, however. In early May, the 31-year-old received medical clearance but that has not led to a market developing (including, most recently, a lack of interest from the Colts).
Howard was named in a civil suit stemming from allegations he recorded and distributed photos and videos of sexual acts involving women without their consent, along with the claim he texted sexually explicit material to the son of a woman he impregnated after she refused to have an abortion. No criminal action has been taken in Howard’s case, and it remains to be seen if any league investigation (coupled with a potential personal conduct suspension) will emerge. That helps explain why the four-time Pro Bowler remains unsigned, but it is his intention to continue his career in 2024.
As Outkick’s Armando Salguero writes, Howard “will play” this season, suggesting a contract could be worked out at some point during the campaign. The salaries in veteran contracts become guaranteed in full just before Week 1, so it would come as a surprise if any team were to pursue a signing in the immediate future. Still, a number of suitors could show interest especially if faced with injuries in the secondary. Salguero names the Texans, Broncos and Vikings as teams which could be feasible destinations based on familiarity between Howard and those teams’ respective defensive coordinators.
The Baylor product has spent his entire eight-year career with the Dolphins to date, starting all but one of his combined 102 regular and postseason appearances. Howard led the league in interceptions in 2018 and again in 2020, but over each of the past two years he was limited to only a single pick. Concerns over limited production, along with his legal situation, could leave Howard in free agency well into the season. Any possibility of taking time away from the game has not received consideration, though.
Rams Place CB Darious Williams On IR
The Rams’ secondary will be shorthanded to start the 2024 season. Cornerback Darious Williams was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per a team announcement. 
Williams was limited in practice yesterday due to a hamstring injury he has been recovering from during the summer. The ailment will keep him sidelined for the season opener along with at least Los Angeles’ next three contests after that. The 31-year-old returned to the Rams this offseason on a three-year, $22.5MM pact.
That move was preceded by a two-year tenure in Jacksonville. Williams served as a starter during his time there, enjoying a productive campaign last season in particular. The former UDFA racked up four interceptions, 19 pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles in 2023. As the Jaguars re-shaped their secondary in the offseason, however, Williams was released.
In short order, a Los Angeles reunion was arranged. Williams made a single appearance with the team in 2018, and he was a key contributor for the following three campaigns. That stretch included 25 starts, and upon retuning to the team Williams was set to reprise his first-team workload. Being without him for at least the first month of the campaign will therefore deal a notable blow to Los Angeles’ defense, a unit which no longer includes Aaron Donald or Ernest Jones in the front seven.
Los Angeles’ CB depth also includes Cobie Durant, although as The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue notes he too has also been dealing with a hamstring injury. The Rams’ roster moves in advance of last week’s cutdown deadline included placing fellow corner Tre’Vius Tomlinson on IR, sidelining him for the season. The team also has former Bill All-Pro Tre’Davious White – whose career has been marred by injuries recently – in the fold, and he could be counted on to handle a heavy workload early.
Activating Williams once he is healthy will count toward the team’s limit of eight during the regular season. If Los Angeles deems a depth addition necessary while he is unavailable, the team has roughly $4.4MM available in cap space as things stand.
Bills Eyeing Extension For RT Spencer Brown
A number of teams have worked out extensions in recent days with Week 1 looming as an artificial deadline. In the case of Spencer Brown and Buffalo, a deal could be coming in the near future. 
The Bills could work out a last-minute extension with their right tackle, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes. Brown is currently set to play out the final year of his rookie contract before becoming one of the latest players to benefit from the upward movement in the tackle market (on both the left and right side of the ball). The former third-rounder has started all but three games in his Buffalo tenure.
Questions related to the offensive line have been a constant for much of the Josh Allen era, but that unit is in a strong place entering 2024. The midseason firing of Ken Dorsey led to Joe Brady taking over as offensive coordinator, and that resulted in a new emphasis being placed on the run game. The transition proved helpful for Brown, given his skillset, and the 26-year-old delivered a career-best 70.1 PFF grade in 2023. That figure ranked 32nd amongst qualifying tackles.
Brown’s first two seasons were not nearly as well-regarded in terms of PFF evaluation, although the five sacks he was charged with in 2023 matched the total from his 2021 and ’22 performances. Nevertheless, a second contract would represent a commitment on the Bills’ part in keeping Brown in place now and into the future. Buffalo lost some interior O-line depth by trading away Ryan Bates, but an offseason filled with cap-related departures has the team in line to experience considerable continuity up front.
Buffalo worked out an extension with left tackle Dion Dawkins, and he is on the books through 2029 as a result. David Edwards was retained on a two-year, $6MM pact which yield cost-effective starting play at the left guard spot. Right guard O’Cyrus Torrence remains under team control for years to come via his rookie contract, while center Connor McGovern is still attached to a $7.45MM-per-year pact. That mix of big-ticket investments and less expensive contracts will be kept in mind as the Bills consider a Brown extension.
The right tackle spot is led financially by Penei Sewell, who landed a Lions deal averaging $28MM per year this offseason. He is one of three players at that position with an AAV of $20MM or more, while Mike Onwenu‘s new Patriots contract falls just short at $19MM. Brown’s track record has him unlikely to reach that level on a second Bills pact, of course, but a notable raise could nevertheless be in store if contract talks over the next few days were to produce an agreement.
NFL Eyeing Further International Expansion
Friday will mark the NFL’s first game in South America when the Eagles and Packers play in Brazil. The 2024 campaign will also feature regular season contests in London and Munich later on, with the league showing interest in other markets down the road. Ongoing international expansion is set to remain an NFL priority. 
Up to eight games per season are permitted in international markets, but the potential for that figure to rise has long been a talking point. Increasing the NFL’s footprint in Europe, South America and potentially Australia is a target, and the league’s first game in Madrid will take place in 2025. Paris and Dublin are other cities being looked into as potential hosts.
“We want the world to know we’re coming, that we’re bringing football,” commissioner Roger Goodell said during an appearance on the Pat McAfee show (video link). “Our clubs have agreed to play up to eight regular-season games. We have expectations that will go well beyond that. We think we’ll be [at] seven next year, we’re already going to Spain next year, we’ll be back in Mexico I hope by next year, so we’re really excited where the future is for us on an international basis.”
Indeed, a return to Azteca Stadium in Mexico City will be feasible once its renovations are complete. London has remained a staple of the NFL’s international series (especially in the case of the Jaguars) dating back to its inception in 2007. With league expansion including a foreign-based team/division not viewed as being imminent, it would come as no surprise if attention continued to be focused on making inroads with international markets and fanbases. Reducing the years between mandated overseas games from eight years to four has come up, and no teams opposed the potential for nine international games taking place in 2025.
League executive Peter O’Reilly said (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post) the NFL is committed to Brazil “for the long haul.” Games being played there could therefore become a regular occurrence in addition to other overseas contests pending unforeseen issues with Friday’s game. Overall, the scale of the league’s international operation should be expected to continue in the years leading up to flag football making its Olympic debut in 2028.
Davante Adams Viewed As Trade Candidate; WR Reaffirms Commitment To Raiders
Since the Raiders’ decision to move on from Derek Carr, Davante Adams‘ future with the team has been a talking point. The All-Pro wideout is not seeking a trade, but connections continue to be made to a move sending him elsewhere. 
[Offseason In Review: Las Vegas Raiders]
Three years remain on Adams’ deal, although 2024 marks the final season with any guaranteed salary. Vegas’ front office – now led by Tom Telesco, not the regime which acquired Adams via trade – has made it clear the 31-year-old is firmly in the team’s plans moving forward. If the Raiders endure a slow start to the upcoming campaign, however, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe notes Adams is seen by some around the league as a future trade chip ahead of the deadline (subscription required).
After eight seasons in Green Bay (including five consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns), Adams has remained productive during his two years as a Raider. The 2022 campaign produced another Pro Bowl invite along with a third straight All-Pro nod, while last season saw him record 1,100-plus yards for the fifth time in six years. Vegas will have Gardner Minshew in place at quarterback to start the season after the team benched Jimmy Garoppolo last year (a move Adams endorsed and linked his ongoing tenure in the organization to). The Fresno State product has already publicly committed to the Raiders this summer, but he has also confirmed his preference that any hypothetical trade would reunite him with Aaron Rodgers.
As things stand now, however, Adams is set to remain the focal point of the Raiders’ passing attack as head coach Antonio Pierce seeks to oversee development on both sides of the ball. First-round rookie tight end Brock Bowers enters the league with high expectations, but Adams will be counted on to play a central role in any playoff push Vegas makes in 2024. It will be interesting to see if his outlook on his current team changes as the fall progresses, but no thought of a trade exists entering the campaign.
“At the end of the day, the facts are the facts and that is not a fact,” Adams said (via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez) about remarks made by DeSean Jackson pointing to him being unhappy with his situation in Vegas. “I’ve probably spoken to [Jackson] maybe three or four times in my life, and I never had a conversation with him [about this], ever. I’ve never spoken to him about anything.
“[I]n terms of me being upset or not being happy in this organization, it’s just a bunch of BS that’s just meant to throw everybody off and get clickbait,” Adams added. “Everybody wants to see what Davante Adams got to say, and, you know, he’s pissed off in Vegas. If I was pissed off, I mean, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
The Jets’ receiver room will be led by Garrett Wilson once again in 2024, and free agent pickup Mike Williams should play a starting role in New York. The team has nearly $19MM in cap space at the moment, although that figure will change between now and the trade deadline. Speculation surrounding Adams will likely continue depending on how the Raiders’ season starts, but he is on board with at least another campaign in Vegas.
Offseason In Review: Pittsburgh Steelers
For the first time since 1957, the Steelers have spent an offseason completely reshaping their quarterback depth chart. All three signal-callers who were in place for 2023 have departed, and the position’s new faces offer intrigue but also carry plenty of question marks. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are at different parts of their respective careers, though the coming season offers both of them the opportunity to rebuild their value and land an extended stay in Pittsburgh or interest from outside suitors.
The Mike Tomlin era is set to continue through Pittsburgh’s latest efforts to find a true Ben Roethlisberger successor. It remains to be seen if Wilson or Fields will prove capable of earning that title, but Tomlin’s ongoing presence on the sidelines points to the Steelers again having a high floor. Postseason success has proven to be elusive in recent years; whether or not a new arrangement under center ends that drought will be the defining storyline for a team which once again faces a long list of divisional and conference challengers.
Free agency additions:
- Patrick Queen, LB: Three years, $41MM ($13.84MM guaranteed)
- Cameron Johnston, P: Three years, $9MM ($2.88MM guaranteed)
- Cordarrelle Patterson, RB/KR: Two years, $6MM ($1.9MM guaranteed)
- DeShon Elliott, S: One year, $3MM ($1.5MM guaranteed)
- Dean Lowry, DL: Two years, $5MM ($1.25MM guaranteed)
- Russell Wilson, QB: One year: $1.2MM ($1.2MM guaranteed)
- Kyle Allen, QB: One year, $1.29MM ($168K guaranteed)
- Van Jefferson, WR: One year, $1.29MM ($168K guaranteed)
- Scotty Miller, WR: One year, $1.29MM
- MyCole Pruitt, TE: One year, $1.26MM
- Cameron Sutton, CB: One year, $1.21MM
- Tyler Matakevich, LB: One year, $1.21MM
- Boston Scott, RB (practice squad deal)
- Ben Skowronek, WR (practice squad deal)
- Jonathan Ward, RB (practice squad deal)
- Quez Watkins, WR (practice squad deal)
From the time of head coach Sean Payton’s arrival in Denver, questions were raised about how he and Wilson would mesh. The Saints Super Bowl winner helped Wilson bounce back to an extent from his calamitous debut in the Mile High City, but the team’s passing attack was still insufficient to qualify for the postseason. By the end of the campaign, Jarrett Stidham was atop the depth chart with Wilson seeming to be destined for a fresh start. 
Denver asked the nine-time Pro Bowler to waive the future guarantees in his contract; his refusal to do so eventually led to Stidham taking over. In spite of the way 2023 played out, Wilson made it clear on multiple occasions his preference was to remain in Denver. It ultimately came as no surprise when the Broncos formally decided to move on, though.
The team will take on a record-breaking $85MM in dead cap charges by cutting Wilson as a result of the guaranteed money left on his pact – a factor which led to the expectation he would join his next team on a veteran-minimum deal. That would up being the case once the 35-year-old’s Pittsburgh agreement was in place. Mutual interest quickly emerged between team and player, although Wilson also took a visit with the Giants during the period between Denver allowing him to negotiate with suitors and officially releasing him.
The Steelers had a number of other options to choose from this offseason, one of which was Ryan Tannehill. The longtime Titans starter would have been a familiar face for new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, but he remains on the market after receiving early consideration from Pittsburgh. Instead, Wilson will be counted on to provide a veteran presence in the team’s new-look quarterback room. The 10-year Seattle starter entered his first offseason with his new team in pole position for the starting gig, although a calf injury limited his training camp participation to an extent.
Once the preseason had concluded, though, Tomlin tapped Wilson as the passer who will top the depth chart to begin the campaign. A return to his form during the Seahawks’ back-to-back Super Bowl appearances should not be expected, but a consistent presence under center could still give the Steelers better production from the QB spot than the past two years. If Wilson can clear that bar, he will position himself for another Pittsburgh contract or a relatively healthy free agent market next spring.
The Steelers are traditionally not big spenders in free agency, and that generally remained true in 2024. Indeed, Queen was the only member of PFR’s top 50 list to take a deal with Pittsburgh. After the Ravens declined his fifth-year option last offseason (a move which followed Baltimore’s market-topping Roquan Smith extension), signs pointed to the second-team All-Pro finding a new team in free agency. Queen was not among Baltimore’s financial priorities for 2024, confirming he would depart after playing out his rookie contract.
The Pro Bowler’s pact raised eyebrows considering how limited it is in terms of guarantees. Queen, 25, only received one year of fully locked-in compensation, and the team has the option to proceed on a year-to-year basis beyond 2024. The LSU alum received more lucrative offers, but he chose to join the Steelers instead. Given his past as a Raven, that fact will add a new layer to the teams’ ongoing rivalry. Nonetheless, Queen will face high expectations in Pittsburgh.
Attached to the fifth-highest AAV for linebackers, Queen will step into a full-time starting role in Pittsburgh. Queen saw his production improve after Smith was acquired via trade, and in 2023 he set career highs in multiple categories (133 tackles, 3.5 sacks, six pass deflections). Having yet to miss a game so far, durability should not be a concern as well. The Steelers’ veteran-laden defense will receive a youthful infusion of production if Queen’s deal pays off.
Interest in Patterson quickly emerged once the NFL’s new kickoff rules were approved. The four-time All-Pro returner has eclipsed 1,000 scrimmage yards only once in his career, but he has led the league in kick return average three times. Patterson, 33, had his best offensive season while serving in a running back/receiver hybrid role with the Falcons under Smith, although a repeat of that production would be a surprise. He will provide depth in the backfield while handling return duties in his debut Pittsburgh campaign, at a minimum.
Sutton spent his first six years with the Steelers before taking a three-year Lions pact in free agency. His time in 
Detroit came to an end not long after it was learned a domestic violence arrest warrant had been issued for him. The 29-year-old had his case resolved by entering a pre-trial diversion program, paving the way for a Pittsburgh reunion. Sutton will begin the season by serving an eight-game suspension, but once available he could handle multiple roles in the secondary. A veteran of 56 starts, the former third-rounder represents an experienced option in both the slot and on the perimeter.
The Steelers were linked to a homecoming deal for Tyler Boyd, and at one point a deal seemed likely. The team was unwilling to make a commitment beyond one season, though, and with other suitors emerging, the chances of a Boyd-to-Pittsburgh agreement steadily dwindled. Notably, the longtime Bengal would up signing a one-year Titans deal featuring just $1.2MM in guarantees.
In the absence of a more proven commodity like Boyd, the Steelers’ receiver depth will be worth watching. George Pickens will serve as the team’s top pass catcher, while the likes of Jefferson and Miller (along with the Skowronek-Watkins duo) will vie for playing time. Any member of that group filling a complementary role would of course be a welcomed development on offense.
Trades:
- Dealt QB Kenny Pickett, 2024 fourth-round pick to Eagles for 2024 third-rounder, Philadelphia’s two highest 2025 seventh-round selections
- Acquired QB Justin Fields from Bears for conditional 2025 sixth-round pick
- Acquired CB Donte Jackson, 2024 sixth-round pick from Panthers for WR Diontae Johnson, 2024 seventh-rounder
In very short order, the Wilson signing kicked off a chain of events which saw Pickett traded away with Fields being brought in. Keeping in mind Pittsburgh’s aforementioned initial intention of simply adding competition for Pickett, his reaction to Wilson being added was understandable. The 2022 first-rounder asked to be moved once he learned Wilson was coming to Pittsburgh.
Touted as the most pro-ready prospect from his draft class, Pickett was unable to deliver on expectations during his Steelers stint. The 26-year-old threw as many touchdowns as he did interceptions (13) and did not progress as hoped in Year 2 after a rookie campaign which included concussion issues. After finishing the 2023 campaign on the bench despite being healthy, a change of scenery could be best for all parties involved.
Steelers GM Omar Khan offered public praise for Pickett’s NFL outlook when reflecting on the trade. A starting gig does not await the Pitt alum given the presence of Jalen Hurts, but he could do enough over the two years left on his rookie contract – one which will surely not have the fifth-year option picked up – to earn an extended stay in Philadelphia. Regardless of how the Steelers’ 2024 QB experiment shakes out, though, Pickett will be out of the picture altogether.
Like three of the other four non-Trevor Lawrence quarterbacks taken on Day 1 of the 2021 draft, Fields’ time with his original team represented a disappointment and ended in a trade including capital nowhere near as valuable as that which was used to select him. The Ohio State alum showed flashes during his Bears tenure, but his lack of development as a passer helped inform the team’s commitment to retaining the No. 1 pick in April’s draft and using it on Caleb Williams. General manager Ryan Poles repeatedly expressed a willingness to “do right by” Fields once it became increasingly clear a commitment to Williams was forthcoming. 
To that end, the Bears took a less valuable offer from the Steelers than ones made by other teams. Pittsburgh represented a more viable path to a starting role for Fields, even with Wilson in place as competition. The Steelers were a team Fields had interest in anyway, so the deal (which will see the pick become a fourth-rounder if he plays 51% or more of Pittsburgh’s offensive snaps) suits team and player alike. That will obviously become especially true if the 25-year-old overtakes Wilson atop the depth chart.
While Wilson earned the nod to start the campaign, Fields made progress during the summer amid his bid to win the QB1 job. The latter has increased his accuracy with each passing season (albeit to a height of only 61.4% in 2023) and his 2,220 rushing yards illustrate his ability with his legs. His age gap to Wilson could point to untapped upside, and Fields generated support within the organization in the days leading up to learning he would serve as the backup. From a contract status, though, both passers have plenty on the line this year.
Just as Wilson is a pending free agent, Fields is as well since the Steelers made the expected move of declining his $25.7MM 2025 fifth-year option. That figure would not have been feasible after a year spent on the sidelines, and an evaluation period will be needed if Fields is to earn himself a stay in Pittsburgh after the coming campaign. How each passer fares in the coming months will dictate the way in which Khan proceeds at the position.
49ers, Trent Williams Agree To Rework
Not long after ending Brandon Aiyuk‘s hold-in with an extension, the 49ers have a resolution in place with Trent Williams. The All-Pro left tackle returned to San Francisco on Tuesday to finalize a new agreement, his agency announced.
A few minor details are still to be ironed out, as noted by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, but once signed this new pact will finish the team’s last major piece of financial business for the offseason. Three years remained on Williams’ contract prior to today’s news, but no guaranteed compensation was in place. To no surprise, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that is now expected to change.
Indeed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds Williams will receive $48MM at signing. Overall, this is a three-year, $82.66MM agreement, with the $48MM serving as a signing bonus. The 49ers will be able to spread that amount into the future, though this deal does not add any years to Williams’ deal, which still runs through 2026.
Among non-quarterbacks beyond age 35, the $48MM guarantee is an NFL-record sum. As a massive talent gap exists between Williams and the rest of San Francisco’s O-line cogs, the team certainly needed him back to open the season. Talks intensified Sunday night, per Fowler, and Williams will have a week of practices with his team to prepare for the 49ers’ opener against the Jets. Williams effectively maximized his leverage, with Wilson adding he will collect $27.65MM in 2024.
Williams was absent from the start of training camp, adding another layer to the financial challenges the 49ers dealt with over the summer. Trade talk persisted in Aiyuk’s case, with a trade agreement being worked out with the Steelers. That wound up being a moot point after the parties agreed to a four-year, $120MM contract which will keep Aiyuk in the Bay Area for the foreseeable future, though. The same will now be true for Williams, whose deal ran through 2026 before the adjustments which will be finalized today.
The 11-time Pro Bowler was due $20.9MM in 2024 under the terms of the previous contract, one which carried an AAV of just over $23MM. Williams’ efforts to land an upgraded pact had come during an offseason in which the top of the tackle market has reached new heights with Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell and Christian Darrisaw landing big-ticket extensions. Each of those agreements are for second contracts, though, making them notably different than Williams’ case.
The 36-year-old has previously been linked to retirement, although one year ago he made public his intention of playing until age 40. Williams has landed first-team All-Pro nod in each of the past three years, serving as the anchor of the 49ers’ offensive line during that span. That longevity helped give him leverage to angle for a new arrangement, but it will certainly be interesting to see if the 49ers have added any new years to the pact given Williams’ age.
In 2019, Williams sat out the entire campaign while attempting to land a new deal at the end of his tenure in Washington. That was eventually ended by the trade which sent him to San Francisco the following offseason (and, later, the six-year accord he had been playing on), but it illustrated how willing the Oklahoma product was to extend a holdout into the regular season. A chance of that tactic being repeated loomed throughout the summer, though a recent update pointed to the parties making progress on contract talks. Regardless of what the new deal looks like, today’s news means San Francisco’s offense will be at full strength in time for Week 1.
As a vested veteran, the daily fines Williams accumulated for his training camp holdout cannot be waived. Due to missed camp time ($2.05MM) and three missed preseason games ($3.34MM), Williams incurred $5.39MM in fines to secure this rework, CBS Sports’ Joel Corry tweets. With over $171MM in career earnings, that fact did not dissuade him, but the threat of a regular season absence is no longer in place.
Steelers, DT Cameron Heyward Agree To Extension
The Steelers’ latest extension efforts with Cameron Heyward have produced a deal. The All-Pro defensive lineman has an agreement in place on a another lucrative extension, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. The move is now official, per an announcement from his agency. 
Heyward is now attached to a three-year, $45MM deal, Fowler adds. The pact includes $29MM in new money along with $16MM in guarantees (nearly $15MM of which is comprised of a signing bonus). These terms will allow Heyward to reach his stated goal of finishing his career as a Steeler.
One year remained on the 35-year-old’s pact, but he made it clear this offseason he was seeking a two-year extension. Today’s news means he will be in place through 2026 as he intended and put to rest the possibility of a free agent departure next spring. Heyward has spent his entire 13 years in the NFL with Pittsburgh, and his decorated tenure will all-but certainly conclude in the city.
Arriving with the Steelers as a first-round pick in 2011, Heyward did not see any starts during his first two seasons with the team. Since then, he has been a stalwart along the defensive line, regularly providing a high-end pass rush presence in the interior. He earned a Pro Bowl nod every year from 2017 to ’22, posting double-digit sacks three times during that span.
Heyward landed a five-year extension in 2015, and a four-year re-up in 2020. He has proven to be a sound investment both times from the Steelers’ perspective, but last year saw him miss time due to a groin injury. Heyward was limited to just two sacks in 2023, and while he is now healthy questions were raised in the offseason about his long-term outlook. As Fowler notes, this is believed to be the largest commitment ever made to a defender at age 35 or older. Suffice it to say, the Steelers are banking on Heyward regaining his previous form.
With four All-Pro nods on his resume (three first-team, one second-team), the Ohio State alum could remain a key member of Pittsburgh’s highly-compensated defense if he manages to put together a healthy campaign. He was due $16MM in 2024 under the terms of his old deal, one which will be replaced by this new accord. Heyward’s scheduled cap hit of $22.41MM will be lowered by this agreement Specifically, his 2024 salary has been converted into a signing bonus; that will save the Steelers over $9MM in cap space (h/t Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).
It was learned earlier this week that Heyward – who floated the idea of joining a new team in free agency without a deal in place – had recently re-engaged with the Steelers on contract talks. Pittsburgh has a strict policy against negotiating in-season, creating Week 1 as a deadline for both parties to hammer out an agreement. That has now proven to be the case, and general manager Omar Khan has one less piece of business to attend to over the coming days.
Pittsburgh is also eyeing a deal with tight end Pat Freiermuth. 2024 marks the final year of his rookie contract, so getting an extension worked out on that front would prevent the potential of a March 2025 departure on the open market. Regardless of how that process plays out, Heyward will remain in the fold for the foreseeable future.