Bears Have Communicated With DE Yannick Ngakoue
Throughout the offseason, Yannick Ngakoue‘s name has frequently come up with respect to the Chicago. The Bears have indeed kept the journeyman edge rusher on their radar. 
The Bears “have been talking with” Ngakoue, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes (video link). That comes as little surprise given the team’s lack of proven commodities along the edge who are currently projected to log playing time opposite Montez Sweat. The midseason trade acquisition is attached to a four-year, $98MM pact but the Bears could stand to add a veteran to pair with him.
Ngakoue signed a one-year, $10.5MM deal with Chicago last offseason, and he was a full-time starter during his debut campaign in the Windy City. A broken ankle ended the 29-year-old’s season, though, and limited him to a career-low four sacks. It comes as little surprise Ngakoue (never known for his run defense) remains on the market, although he is healthy and has been floated as a potential Bears target.
General manager Ryan Poles expressed confidence in Chicago’s in-house options at the defensive end spot last month. Earlier this week, however, a push was made to acquire Matt Judon from the Patriots. Chicago offered New England a third-round pick, the same price the Falcons were prepared to pay. When given the choice of destinations, Judon elected to head to Atlanta. It will be interesting to see if the Bears continue to show interest in the veteran edge market with roster cuts looming.
Ngakoue recorded at least eight sacks in each of his first seven seasons in the NFL. The former Jaguar, Viking, Raven, Raider and Colt drew interest at the start of training camps. He took visits with both the Dolphins and Panthers last month, but neither workout produced a deal. With time running out in the build-up to the regular season, Ngakoue is one of several veterans seeking a contract ahead of Week 1. The Bears have more than $21MM in cap space, so another short-term investment would be feasible from an economic standpoint.
Buccaneers To Release OLB Randy Gregory
AUGUST 18: As Greg Auman of Fox Sports observes, the Bucs still need to reach a resolution on the fines that Gregory has accrued as a result of his absence. Auman notes that Gregory has racked up at least $902K in non-waivable fines — $50K per day for each day of missed training camp plus $102K for missing minicamp — and another ~$150K for missing Tampa Bay’s two preseason contests.
AUGUST 17: Randy Gregory remained absent from the Buccaneers during training camp, and his time with the team will now come to an end. The veteran defensive end has reached an agreement with the Bucs and will be released, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports. 
Gregory’s absence has been shrouded in mystery, but Stroud’s report suggests an injury settlement has been reached. Such arrangements are commonplace during this time of year, as they allow for players to be let go while rehabbing ailments before being positioned to sign with a new team. Gregory will be a free agent once his release is official, though he will no doubt have a tepid market.
The 31-year-old had been on the reserve/did not report list since late July after also missing mandatory minicamp. The reason for doing to was unclear, but Gregory filed a suit against the Broncos and the NFL for being prevented from using a prescription medication containing THC earlier this offseason. Updates on his situation since then have been sparse.
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said in the lead-in to training camp he had not been in communication with Gregory, who signed in April. The former Cowboy turned down a Dallas offer in 2022 and took one with identical terms to join the Broncos. His tenure in the Mile High City did not go according to plan, however, and after only 10 Broncos games he was traded to the 49ers in October.
Gregory posted 2.5 sacks in San Francisco, but his overall production while playing on a five-year, $69.5MM pact was underwhelming to say the least. He took a $3MM deal to head to Tampa Bay and serve a depth role in the team’s pass rush. Shaquil Barrett departed in free agency (and has since retired), creating a vacancy along the edge for the Bucs. After Gregory was absent from minicamp and training camp – accruing fines along the way – however, it seemed as though he would be released before the start of the season.
With that decision now having been made, the former second-rounder will (presumably) attempt to land with a team ahead of Week 1. Clarity on his situation over the past several months will no doubt be needed for any suitor to add him, though, so Gregory may spend an extended stretch on the free agent market for the second time in 2024.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/24
Sunday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: WR James Washington
Chicago Bears
- Activated from active/NFI list: T Kiran Amegadjie
Cleveland Browns
- Released from IR: CB Vincent Gray
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Jaylen Twyman
- Placed on IR: WR Malik Taylor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Reverted to IR: DB Mekhi Garner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from active/NFI list: Tanner Taula
- Waived (injury designation): DL Eric Banks
Washington signed in late July, but his Falcons tenure has proven to be brief. The 28-year-old was let go to clear a roster spot for Justin Simmons‘ arrival. Washington last played a regular season game in 2022, and he will now look to find another opportunity ahead of roster cutdowns.
Steelers OL Nate Herbig Suffers Torn Rotator Cuff
AUGUST 18: A follow-up from Dulac notes that Herbig is dealing with a torn rotator cuff. He is now in danger of missing the 2024 campaign as a result. At a minimum, a lengthy rehab awaits him. Frazier will ascend to the top spot on the depth chart for the foreseeable future with Herbig not in the picture any time soon. Herbig has since been placed on IR, clearing the way for Frazier.
AUGUST 17: Nate Herbig spent training camp atop the Steelers’ center depth chart, but he will be unavailable for a stretch. The sixth-year blocker is dealing with a “signficant” shoulder injury, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. 
Herbig will miss regular season time, Dulac adds. As a result, the 26-year-old is no longer in contention to be tapped as the starter in the middle for Week 1. Second-round rookie Zach Frazier will instead handle those duties, as may have at some point during the 2024 campaign anyway. The West Virginia product was one of three draft investments up front made by Pittsburgh in April.
The first of those was Troy Fautanu, selected 20th overall. The Washington alum is set to handle right tackle duties right away, thus allowing 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones to move to the blindside. Frazier will have a limited period to log first-team reps in practice and the preseason before taking on starting responsibilities in the fall. For Herbig, the injury news leaves him sidelined for the start of his second season with the team.
The former Eagle and Jet signed a two-year, $8MM deal last offseason. That pact allowed him to play in every regular and postseason game during his debut Steelers season, making a pair of starts. Herbig played at left and right guard (his most familiar positions) but not at center during that time. With Isaac Seumalo and James Daniels in place at both guard spots, though, he spent this summer preparing to log a starter’s workload at the pivot.
Now, Herbig’s attention will turn to recovery as he enters a contract year. If Frazier performs well right away, he will cement his status as the Steelers’ center of the present and future. That would help the chances of Herbig departing in free agency next March (as Mason Cole did this past offseason), although he could still be counted on in a depth capacity once healthy.
Chargers To Sign LB Frank Ginda
Frank Ginda first entered the NFL in 2018, but he has yet to see regular season game action. The former UDFA linebacker has another opportunity in place, though.
Ginda is set to sign with the Chargers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The 27-year-old had a strong showing in the USFL in 2022 and ’23 while playing for the Michigan Panthers. That tenure included Defensive Player of the Year honors last spring and continued in 2024 following the USFL-XFL merger. After another campaign of spring league action, Ginda will get his latest chance to land an NFL roster spot.
The San Jose State alum caught on with the Falcons almost exactly one year ago in his bid to survive roster cutdowns. That did not wind up being the case, and Ginda bounced on and off Atlanta’s practice squad during the season. After not generating a market until deep into summer once again, he will now attempt to carve out a role in Los Angeles.
The Chargers saw considerable turnover at the linebacker spot this offseason. Eric Kendricks was released, while Kenneth Murray and Tanner Muse departed in free agency. That created multiple vacancies at the second level, and veteran signing Denzel Perryman will be counted on to provide starting-caliber play. The same may true of third-round rookie Junior Colson, who of course is a familiar face for head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as a Michigan product. The Bolts also have Troy Dye and the newly-signed Shaquille Quarterman in their linebacking corps ahead of their final preseason contest.
Ginda – also a veteran of the AAF and XFL – will spend the coming weeks looking to find a place on the LB depth chart. If he is unable to lock down a 53-man roster spot, he could be a practice squad candidate once again. With nearly $21MM in cap space as of Sunday, this addition will not alter Los Angeles’ financial outlook.
5 Key Stories: 8/11/24 – 8/18/24
As the preseason rolls on, teams around the league continue to evaluate their rosters as well as their contract situations. A number of finanal decisions were made in recent days, while several other cases are unresolved. In case you missed any of the top stories from the past week, here is a quick recap:
- Falcons Trade For Judon, Sign Simmons: The Falcons made a pair of high-profile additions, both of which will help on defense. Atlanta sent a third-round pick to New England for edge rusher Matt Judon. The four-time Pro Bowler expressed frustration with a lack of a Patriots extension, leading to interest on the trade front from outside teams. Notably, though, no multi-year commitment has been made on the Falcons’ part, leaving Judon on track for free agency in March. After hosting Justin Simmons, meanwhile, Atlanta added the Pro Bowl safety on a one-year deal including $7.5MM guaranteed. Simmons, 30, had a lengthy spell in free agency after his Broncos release but still managed to land a lucrative deal. With four second-team All-Pro nods on his resume, he will form an intriguing safety tandem alongside Jessie Bates for the 2024 campaign. Judon and Simmons figure to raise Atlanta’s expectations on defense by a considerable margin as the team eyes a playoff berth.
- Steelers, 49ers Have Aiyuk Trade In Place: No final decision has been made with respect to Brandon Aiyuk, but the Steelers and 49ers now have a trade agreement worked out. Pittsburgh remains a destination the 26-year-old is highly interested in, but San Francisco still has an offer on the table. The latter team may have a small edge in terms of receiving an Aiyuk commitment with the former representing a fallback option. Both the Patriots and Browns had serious trade talks, but the second-team All-Pro did not want to play in New England or Cleveland. His decision rests on remaining in the Bay Area with a team facing serious cap challenges in the near future or joining the Steelers and a new-look offense which features quarterback questions. With the regular season nearing, an end to this saga should be expected in short order.
- Jets’ Reddick Submits Trade Request: The Jets acquired Haason Reddick via trade this offseason, but no extension agreement was in place once the swap was final. The Pro Bowl edge rusher has since skipped minicamp and training camp, and the lack of a deal prompted a trade request. To little surprise, New York general manager Joe Douglas quickly confirmed no consideration will be given to moving on from Reddick, who has one year remaining on his pact. The Jets reportedly made at least one offer around the time of the trade, but the team is not willing to negotiate further until the 29-year-old ends his holdout. That effort has resulted in daily fines being accumulated, and Reddick could lose part of his signing bonus as well. With both sides dug in, it will be interesting to see if a resolution of some kind (most likely incentives being added to the contract) is worked out in time for Week 1.
- McCarthy To Miss Vikings Rookie Season: J.J. McCarthy suffered a meniscus injury which required surgery. It was clear right away an absence of some kind would be in store, but the procedure wound up being a full repair; as such, the first-round rookie will miss the 2024 campaign. McCarthy entered training camp as Minnesota’s backup to Sam Darnold, but he will now not be able to compete for the No. 1 gig or at least continue his development through the fall. The Vikings let Kirk Cousins depart in free agency and signed Darnold to only a one-year deal. McCarthy – one of the 2024 class’ youngest passers and a national champion with Michigan this past season – is firmly in the team’s plans for the long-term future. He will enter 2025 with merely one preseason game of experience, however.
- Owusu-Koramoah Lands Browns Extension: Known to be on the Browns’ radar for a long-term deal, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah worked out a extension which will keep him in place through 2027. The Pro Bowl linebacker secured $25MM in total guarantees and an AAV of $12.5MM. The latter figure ranks sixth amongst middle linebackers and demonstrates the confidence Cleveland has in his ability to remain a key producer on defense. The 24-year-old totaled 101 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a pair of interceptions last season; replicating that production in the future will prove this investment to be worthwhile. The Browns underwent many changes at the second level this offseason, but Owusu-Koramoah will be a constant for the LB unit now and moving forward.
Latest On Browns’ T Situation
The Browns entered yesterday’s preseason game with starting tackles Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin still on the mend from the injuries which shortened their 2023 campaigns. Several other O-linemen were banged up during the loss to the Vikings, but Cleveland is not seeking out additional depth at this point. 
Germain Ifedi suffered a hand injury on Saturday, but head coach Kevin Stefanski indicated he should not miss practice time. That will be the case, however, for James Hudson and Hakeem Adeniji. Ankle and knee injuries, respectively, will keep those blockers sidelined for a stretch; Stefanski said Adeniji will be on the shelf for “a little bit of time.” As he continues to rehab an MCL sprain, meanwhile, Wills will not practice this week as he remains on the active/PUP list.
“We feel really good about the people we have in this building,” Stefanski said when speaking about the offensive tackle situation (via the team’s website). “We got guys that are working hard to get back and we’ll just deal with it day to day.”
Wills is on the books for 2024 via his fifth-year option, and a Browns restructure lowered his cap hit for this season. That move set Cleveland up for a dead cap charge of $11.81MM in 2025 if he were to depart in free agency, though, so returning to full health and serving in a first-team role will be critical for team and player. Conklin has three years left on his pact, but no guaranteed salary is in place beyond the coming season. His level of play when back on the field will also be key in determining his financial future.
Stefanski also confirmed that quarterback Deshaun Watson is still on track to suit up for the Browns’ preseason finale. That will mark Watson’s first game action since Week 10 of the 2023 season as he continues to rehab from a season-ending shoulder injury. It will be interesting to see how healthy Cleveland’s offensive line is for that contest and, more importantly, when the regular season begins. For now, an addition should not be expected despite the numerous injury situations the Browns are dealing with.
Bears, Dolphins, Texans Showed Interest In Matt Judon; No Falcons Extension Imminent
AUGUST 18: With third-round picks on the table from both the Falcons and Bears, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes Judon was given the choice of which suitor he would prefer to join. His decision to head to Atlanta has not been followed up by an extension, but it adds an interesting layer to his Patriots departure given Chicago’s perceived need for a starting edge rusher to pair with Montez Sweat.
AUGUST 15: Matt Judon‘s contact issue with the Patriots was resolved last night when a trade with the Falcons was worked out. That swap is now official, and New England received a third-round pick as compensation for the pending free agent edge rusher. 
Atlanta had competition for Judon before the trade was agreed to. The Bears were “heavily involved” in negotiations, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Just as the Falcons did, Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston notes Chicago offered a third-round selection. The Patriots opted to take Atalanta’s pick instead, marking an end to a saga which included missed practice time and frustration over the lack of progress on extension talks.
Perry confirms, to little surprise, that a “sizable gap” existed between Judon’s asking price and where the Patriots were willing to go on a new contract. The four-time Pro Bowler was highly productive during his New England tenure, but a 2023 biceps injury along with his age (32 today) represented reasons for hesitancy on the team’s part. After no resolution was found, the former fifth-rounder will now join a Falcons team which explored an edge rush addition on Day 1 of the draft even after selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
In addition to the Bears, Fowler and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson report the Dolphins and Texans showed varying levels of interest in a Judon acquisition. Wilson adds that Houston’s efforts consisted of a “brief inquiry,” and New England no doubt would have preferred to avoid making a trade within the division in the form of a Miami swap. The Pats’ ability to acquire a round three selection came as a surprise to some executives around the league, per Perry, and sending Judon to the NFC also carries value.
The Grand Valley State alum is due a base salary of $6.5MM in 2024 in addition to a maximum of $1MM in per-game roster bonuses. A new contract will be much more valuable, but it does not appear one will necessarily be hammered out between now and the start of the regular season. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports Judon is set to report to Atlanta without an extension in place or an agreement on one being imminent. Indeed, head coach Raheem Morris said (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic) the team is not committed to an extension at this time.
Players acquired via trade often have the parameters of a new contract in place by the time the swap is official. Exceptions exist, of course, and one ongoing example of the issues which can stem from not finalizing a new (or restructured) deal is the situation between the Jets and Haason Reddick. New York’s recently-acquired edge rusher has one year remaining on a below-market contract, and he has not reported to the team while angling for an adjustment or a multi-year commitment.
Judon did not conduct a holdout as he did last summer, but he made it clear he felt his market value was closer to the top of the position’s pecking order than his 2024 compensation. 12 edge rushers are currently attached to an AAV of $20MM or more; Judon may be hard-pressed to reach that mark given the fact he was limited to just four games last season. Still, a raise could be in order upon arrival in Atlanta. If the Falcons remain willing to let him play out his contract as constructed, though, Judon would be set up to hit the open market next March.
Patriots’ Eliot Wolf Addresses Brandon Aiyuk Pursuit, Team’s WR Depth
The Patriots were one of the teams which worked out the framework of a trade for Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers wideout is not interested in playing for New England, however, a stance which he appears to also hold with the Browns. 
As a result, the Patriots are reported to be out of the running to land Aiyuk. New England made a concerted effort to sign Calvin Ridley in free agency, and the team likewise had a major financial commitment ready in Aiyuk’s case. The latter could have signed for as much as $32MM per season on a long-term deal, but his choice is now down to the 49ers or the Steelers. With New England’s attention once again on in-house receiving options, de facto general manager Eliot Wolf confirmed a renewed Aiyuk push will not take place.
“Yeah, just kind of a feel,’ Wolf said when speaking to the media about the 26-year-old’s situation (via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). “It was sort of a situation where he’s still in San Francisco, and that hasn’t been worked out from their standpoint yet. But we just felt, organizationally, our young receivers have had a really good week, and they’re continuing to progress, so we’re excited about those guys.”
Indeed, the Patriots have made a number of receiver investments via the draft in recent years. The likes of Demario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker have all been added via that route since 2023. Those players, along with returnee Kendrick Bourne and free agent addition K.J. Osborn will compete for targets in a receiver room which no longer includes JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Like Ridley, Aiyuk would have provided New England with a considerable boost in the passing game. The Arizona State product has increased his production each season, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2023 after he posted 75 receptions and a 17.9 yards per catch average. Neither the 49ers nor the Steelers have been willing to match New England’s offer from a financial standpoint, but signs continue to point to San Francisco retaining Aiyuk being the likeliest outcome in his saga.
In the meantime, the Patriots’ attention will turn to the quarterback situation. Third overall pick Drake Maye has made progress during training camp and the preseason, and the door is still open to him supplanting veteran Jacoby Brissett as the starter before Week 1. Whichever passer is in place to start the season, though, Aiyuk will not be part of the team’s receiving corps.
Rams QB Jimmy Garoppolo Addresses Health, Free Agency
After being benched in favor of Aidan O’Connell midway through the 2023 season, it was clear Jimmy Garoppolo would need to find a new team in free agency. The veteran passer wound up taking the Rams’ backup gig, a move he recently reflected on. 
[RELATED: Garoppolo To Serve Two-Game PED Suspension]
Garoppolo noted the presence of starter Matthew Stafford and head coach Sean McVay as key factors in his decision to sign with Los Angeles during an interview with The Athletic’s Jeff Howe (subscription required). The 32-year-old took a one-year deal with a base value of $3.18MM to serve as Stafford’s No. 2 this season. He noted that other teams had interest in him, but a decision to join the Rams was made rather quickly with an agreement being reached on March 20.
“This place allows you to be yourself, too, which is different than other places I’ve been,” Garoppolo said about his new employer (while declining to go into further detail on his previous stops). “You’re getting pressed with a sense of urgency but in a good way… They do it in the right way here. They push you positively.”
The former second-rounder did fill the role of Tom Brady New England successor he was drafted to hold, but he made 55 starts across six seasons with the 49ers. Brock Purdy‘s emergence made Garoppolo expendable, though, and he signed with the Raiders last March. That move had him lined up for starting duties under Josh McDaniels, but Vegas’ decision to start over on the sidelines and in the front office (not to mention Garoppolo’s latest injury issues) left O’Connell atop the depth chart to close out the season.
Now, Garoppolo will spend at least one year attempting to remain healthy and in doing so provide the Rams with an experienced option if Stafford, 36, misses time. The latter had his contract restructured this summer, but the team views his future on a year-to-year basis. It is therefore uncertain who will be under center for Los Angeles in 2025, but in Garoppolo’s case a return to health ahead of the coming campaign carries signficant value on its own.
“It’s really nice having a healthy offseason,” he said. “I haven’t had one of those in awhile. The foot surgery was tough last year. For anyone who’s ever been through that, that wasn’t a fun recovery, but I feel like I’m back to myself. Being in this role, I get to experiment with some things, being with the 2s… I haven’t had that in a little while, so it feels nice to get back to that.”