RB Tarik Cohen Retires
Tarik Cohen‘s 2024 comeback bid has fallen short. The veteran running back informed the Jets on Thursday that he is retiring, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Cohen had a successful stint with the Bears to begin his career. The former fourth-rounder made an immediate impact in the return game during his rookie season, totaling 1,578 return yards. The following year, he earned a Pro Bowl nod and first-team All-Pro acclaim for his abilities as a punt returner. Injuries have derailed his ability to remain a strong third phase contributor and to return to action, however.
An ACL tear suffered in 2020 limited Cohen to just three game that year, and he has not managed to make a regular season appearance since then. The 29-year-old appeared set for a return to action in 2022, but a torn Achilles set him back in that regard once again. Cohen saw time on the Panthers’ practice squad last year before he took a deal with the Jets in May.
That pact was aimed at allowing him to thrive once more as a returner. The NFL’s new kickoff rules are expected to increase the rate of runbacks, and a number of teams have made free agent additions with that in mind. Instead of continuing to vie for the return job in New York, Cohen will hang up his cleats. The Jets primarily used Xavier Gipson as their returner last season, and today’s news means he could remain in that role for the 2024 season.
Cohen’s NFL career will come to an end after 52 combined regular and postseason appearances. Thanks in large part to the Bears extension he signed in 2020, his career earnings stand at roughly $14.7MM. The 2024 campaign could have offered the opportunity to land a roster spot with the Jets or, later, another team. In the wake of his injuries, however, Cohen will now turn his attention to his post-playing days.
Cowboys Line Up DE Workouts
In need of depth along the edge, the Cowboys have scheduled four workouts for veterans who remain on the market. Carl Lawson, Shaka Toney, Al-Quadin Muhammad and Justin Hollins are set to visit Dallas today, per Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 
Sam Williams suffered an ACL tear which will keep him sidelined for the 2024 campaign. Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence remain on track to handle a heavy workload, but Williams’ absence leaves the team short on valuable depth. In the wake of his injury, the Cowboys started evaluating the available options still in free agency.
Lawson faced high expectations upon signing with the Jets in 2021, but an Achilles tear delayed his debut New York campaign by one year. He managed seven sacks upon returning to health, but last year he logged only 101 defensive snaps and did not make a statistical impact. The 29-year-old has taken visits with the Dolphins and Panthers this offseason, and he will aim to turn his Dallas visit into an agreement.
Toney entered the league as a Commanders seventh-rounder, and he played primarily on special teams during his two seasons in Washington. A gambling suspension kept the 26-year-old out of the NFL last season, but he was reinstated in April. That was quickly followed by his Commanders release, leaving him free to sign with an interested team. This is Toney’s second known visit and his first since May.
Muhammad is a veteran of 84 games and 34 starts, but he did not see any regular season game action last season. He received a six-game PED suspension late in the 2023 campaign; since the Colts did not make the playoffs, that ban will include the first week of the coming season. Muhammad did not make a strong impact during his one-year Bears stint in 2022, but he served as a full-time Indianapolis starter the previous year and collected six sacks.
Hollins, 28, has spent time with five different teams in his career. His most productive campaign came in 2022 (3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss) while playing for the Packers and Rams. Hollins made at least one appearance with three teams in 2023, playing primarily on special teams. A third phase role would likely await him in Dallas.
The Cowboys entered Thursday with just over $12MM in cap space, enough flexibility to make a low-cost addition along the edge. Each of those four players will no doubt be available on team-friendly deals, and their performances today will impact Dallas’ decision at the position.
Bills Sign S Kareem Jackson
The Bills have added further experience at the safety position. Kareem Jackson has signed a deal with Buffalo, per a team announcement. 
Jackson began his career with the Texans, spending nine seasons with the organization. That was followed by a four-plus-year tenure in Denver, one during which he remained a full-time starter. Jackson, 36, formed an effective tandem with Justin Simmons for much of his time in the Mile High City.
Last season, however, things took an unwanted turn for Jackson. The former first-rounder was suspended for repeated instances of unnecessary roughness. That ban was reduced to two games on appeal, but in his first game back on the field Jackson committed another helmet-to-helmet hit and was suspended for four games. He was waived by the Broncos in December before being claimed by the Texans in a reunion with head coach (and former teammate) DeMeco Ryans.
Jackson played sparingly in his return to Houston, and to little surprise he had to wait until after the start of training camp to find a new deal. The Colts hosted him on a visit, but instead the Alabama product will spend the coming weeks in Buffalo trying to carve out a roster spot. The Bills released Jordan Poyer in one of many decisions to move on from veteran players this offseason, and fellow longtime starter Micah Hyde remains unsigned amidst an uncertain future.
The team added Mike Edwards in free agency while re-signing Taylor Rapp. Those two, along with special teamer Damar Hamlin and second-round rookie Cole Bishop, are set to compete for 53-man places and playing time. Hamlin was already thought to be on the roster bubble given the additions made this offseason, and Jackson now being in the fold could narrow his path to a roster spot.
Jackson has 203 regular season games to his name, but his age and discipline issues from last season will no doubt lower expectations for him in Buffalo. If he manages to impress over the coming weeks – and particularly if Hyde elects to officially hang up his cleats – though, he could survive roster cutdowns and continue his career with a third NFL team.
Giants Sign OL Greg Van Roten
6:10pm: Van Roten inked a one-year deal worth up to $3MM, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The veteran will earn the entirety of that total if he appears in at least 50 percent of his team’s offensive snaps.
10:15am: Greg Van Roten‘s recent Giants visit has produced a deal. The veteran lineman signed on Tuesday, as first reported by Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com. Head coach Brian Daboll has since confirmed the move. 
Van Roten met with the team last week, and his visit clearly went well. The 34-year-old will now compete for playing time at guard as the Giants continue to sort out a number of starting spots up front. Left tackle Andrew Thomas and center John Michael Schmitz are set to remain in their respective places in 2024, but both guard positions and the right tackle gig are yet to be determined.
Jon Runyan Jr. came to the Giants after his new team outbid the Jets in free agency. The former Packers starter is set to handle first-team duties, although Daboll said that with Van Roten now in the fold, Runyan could be used at left (rather than right) guard. Much will depend on the performance of free agent signing Jermaine Eluemunor and the health of Evan Neal with respect to the right side of the line being worked out, but Van Roten will now be in the mix. The latter is a veteran of 71 starts, including 17 last year with the Raiders.
To make room for Van Roten, the Giants waived cornerback Aaron Robinson. One of several recent third-round cornerback additions, Robinson made 11 appearances and four starts during his first two years in the league. He missed the 2023 campaign in its entirety while recovering from ACL and MCL tears. The 25-year-old joined Neal in beginning training camp on the reserve/PUP list, and today’s move suggests he has a long way to go in recovery. Daboll’s most recent comments on Robinson pointed in that direction, and it would thus come as a surprise if a team were to make a waiver claim.
The Giants entered Tuesday with roughly $11.5MM in cap space. Today’s moves will lower that figure to an extent, but Van Roten settled for a low-cost deal last offseason. Doing so again could pave the way to a starting gig in New York, a team in need of improvement at multiple positions up front in 2024. They will have a number of options to choose from once the unit is fully healthy.
Broncos Add Incentives To Courtland Sutton’s Contract
JULY 30: This is actually a $1.7MM incentive package. A three-tiered setup is now in place for the seventh-year receiver. Sutton can collect $500K if he totals 500 receiving yards and the Broncos improve on their 2023 point total or average yards per pass attempt, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. These two conditions are in place for the next two $500K escalators — at 750 and 1,065 yards, respectively. The final $500K bump can also be achieved if Sutton hits 900 receiving yards and the Broncos rank in the top 10 in yards per pass play.
The Broncos scored 357 points last season — well up from their 287-point debacle in 2022 — and saw Russell Wilson average 6.9 yards per attempt (21st). The final $200K would be available if the Broncos snap their playoff drought and Sutton either hits 1,500 receiving yards (his career high is 1,112, which came in 2019) or scores 10 touchdowns. Sutton did finish with 10 TD grabs last season.
JULY 25: Courtland Sutton attended Broncos’ training camp in anticipation of a new financial arrangement being worked out. That has now taken place, with the Pro Bowl wideout agreeing to new money being added to his pact. 
Sutton has received $1.5MM in additional incentives, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. He can now earn up to $15.2MM over the course of the 2024 campaign. The 28-year-old remains under contract through 2025, but this agreement will not change his scheduled earnings for next year. Sutton was originally due $2MM guaranteed over the remainder of his pact, which drove his efforts to land a new deal.
The former second-rounder skipped voluntary OTAs while seeking added compensation for the immediate future. Sutton was due a $13MM base salary in 2024 prior to today’s agreement, one which 9News’ Mike Klis confirms does not lock in a larger portion of his earnings in addition to the incentives being added on. He took part in mandatory minicamp, a move which avoided fines being accumulated. The same held true of training camp attendance.
Sutton signed a four-year, $60MM extension in 2021, a period before the numerous shifts which have taken place in the receiver market. The top of the positions’ pecking order has surged to $35MM per season, a mark Sutton did not realistically have a chance of approaching. Still, the SMU product will be able to increase his earning potential in 2024 as he looks to duplicate his strong campaign from last year. Sutton recorded a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2023, and he is positioned to remain Denver’s top receiver moving forward.
The Broncos traded away Jerry Jeudy this offseason, dealing the former first-rounder the Browns. Denver also still has Tim Patrick in the fold, and he will contribute starting production if he can remain healthy. Sutton represents the most experienced (six-year veteran) and productive (298 career receptions, 4,259 yards) option at the WR spot as the team spends the coming weeks determining its starting quarterback.
Sutton’s deal does not contain any guaranteed salary for the 2025 season, so today’s move could need to be repeated next offseason. Much of his bargaining power will, of course, depend on his production during Year 2 of head coach Sean Payton‘s tenure guiding the offense. With an upgraded deal in place, Sutton can now turn his attention to training camp and preparations for his seventh campaign in the Mile High City.
Falcons CB A.J. Terrell Addresses Extension Talks
A.J. Terrell is currently set to play on his fifth-year option in 2024, but it would not come as a surprise if he had a long-term deal in place before the start of the campaign. The Falcons cornerback recently addressed where things stand on the negotiation front. 
“I’m just focused on being with the team and being involved and let my agent do what he does,” the 25-year said, via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall (subscription required). “It’s easy for me to come to work and not think about it and know that it’s in good hands. I’m just playing football and controlling what I can.”
While nothing appears to be imminent with respect to an extension, those remarks point to Terrell being satisfied with where things currently stand. The Clemson alum has been a full-time starter in each of his four Falcons campaigns, and his 2021 performance (three interceptions, 16 pass deflections) earned him a second-team All-Pro nod. Terrell has not matched that production since, but he remains an integral member of Atlanta’s secondary.
Earlier this month, it was predicted team and player would manage to hammer out an extension relatively smoothly. That has yet to take place, but Terrell’s participation in training camp is a positive sign with respect to a deal being feasible in the near future. Atlanta’s cornerback room beyond Terrell faces questions, and the team’s other starting boundary corner spot is up for grabs this summer.
The Falcons made a big-money investment at the safety spot last offseason by adding safety Jessie Bates on a four-year, $64MM pact. Terrell is set to join him as a highly-compensated member of the team’s secondary. The latter is due $12.34MM on his option, but a long-term pact should bring him closer to the top of the market. It would likely come as a surprise if Terrell joined the trio of corners averaging $20MM or more per season, but he could move up the position’s pecking order on a multi-year accord. With no other major financial priorities facing the team at the moment, the situation between Atlanta and Terrell will remain worth watching closely.
RB Rashaad Penny Retires
Rashaad Penny‘s latest bid to put together a healthy campaign has come to an abrupt end. The Panthers announced on Tuesday that they have placed the veteran running back on the reserve/retired list, ending his career. 
Penny entered the league with high expectations as a first-round pick. His Seattle tenure began with 24 appearances across the 2018 and ’19 seasons. He did not log a heavy workload during that time, but he scored six total touchdowns while displaying impressive efficiency on the ground. The years since then have been marred by injuries, however.
The 28-year-old was limited to just three games in 2020, and his Seahawks future was in doubt entering the following campaign. Penny’s best season came in 2021, when he scored six touchdowns while leading the NFL with a 6.3 yards per carry average. That performance earned him a one-year, $5.75MM deal with Seattle, but that pact did not produce the desired outcome. Penny had a strong start to the year in 2022, but a major injury (including a fractured fibula) limited him to just five contests.
Penny had a brief stint in Philadelphia last season, logging only 11 carries. His free agent market was understandably limited this spring, although the Seahawks showed interest in a reunion. Seattle has made recent draft investments in the backfield with Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet, and that tandem will remain intact for 2024. Penny inked a deal with the Panthers in May, but his time in Charlotte has already come to an end.
Carolina signed Miles Sanders in free agency last offseason, but he struggled mightily during his debut Panthers season. Sanders still has a future with the team, but he will continue to have competition for playing time during training camp. Chuba Hubbard and second-round rookie Jonathon Brooks are set to handle the bulk of the load for Carolina this season. Rather than attempting to catch on with a new team, meanwhile, Penny will hang up his cleats.
The San Diego State product will end his career with 46 combined regular and postseason appearances to his name. Penny accumulated just over $17MM in career earnings, and he will now turn his attention to his post-playing endeavors.
Patriots, S Jabrill Peppers Finalize Extension
JULY 30: Peppers’ deal has a maximum value of $29MM, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe clarifies. His 2024 compensation will increase to $10MM, while next year already includes locked in money. Peppers has $4.32MM in guaranteed money for 2025, so he will remain in New England for at least the immediate future on his new pact.
JULY 26: Questions linger for some Patriots defenders at the start of training camp with respect to their futures. In the case of Jabrill Peppers, though, that will not be a concern. 
The veteran safety is finalizing a three-year New England extension, per ESPN’s Field Yates. The pact has a base value of $24MM and can max out at $30MM, he adds. Peppers had one year remaining on his deal, so he will now be on the books through 2027.
This agreement – which head coach Jerod Mayo has since confirmed – will ensure Peppers remains a key member of the Patriots’ secondary for the foreseeable future. The former Browns first-rounder spent his first two seasons in Cleveland before being included in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade. Peppers then played three years with the Giants before seeing his rookie contract expire. During that time, he demonstrated his ability to be an impactful player when healthy.
Peppers was limited to six games in 2021, and he originally joined the Patriots on a one-year, $2MM deal. The 28-year-old played more on special teams than defense during his debut New England campaign, but his performance earned him another contract. Peppers inked a two-year deal last offseason, one which set him up for a full-time starting role. He responded with a career-high two interceptions, along with eight pass deflections and 78 tackles.
Rather than waiting to see if Peppers repeats that level of production in 2024, Eliot Wolf and the front office have authorized a significant raise. The Michigan alum was attached to a $4.5MM AAV on his previous deal, but he will collect much more on this contract even if he is unable to maximize its value. With Peppers in the fold, he will reprise his starting spot in a tandem with Kyle Dugger moving forward. The latter signed a four-year, $58MM deal earlier this offseason.
Wolf’s first year at the helm has consisted of a long list of re-signings and extensions being worked out. The likes of Peppers, Dugger, Christian Barmore, Anfernee Jennings and Jahlani Tavai have all secured new pacts on the defensive side of the ball. Michael Onwenu, Rhamondre Stevenson, Kendrick Bourne and Hunter Henry, meanwhile, each signed long-term contracts allowing them to remain key players on offense.
Uncertainty remains as it pertains to edge rusher Matt Judon and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, and attention will no doubt continue to be focused on how their respective contracts are handled by the front office. With Peppers now on the books well beyond 2024, though, he is among the Patriots whose future is not in question.
Lions Extend LT Taylor Decker
Lions general manager Brad Holmes announced during a Monday appearance on 97.1FM radio that left tackle Taylor Decker has signed an extension. His agent confirmed the news, noting this is a three-year, $60MM agreement. 
Decker will receive $31.83MM guaranteed on his latest Lions pact. He was entering the final year of his deal, one which was set to pay him $13.7MM. The 29-year-old has now landed a raise, though, along with added long-term security. Decker will be on the books through 2027.
The former first-rounder has spent his entire eight-year career in Detroit, and he has started each of his 116 combined regular and postseason contests. Decker has remained a consistent performer with respect to pass protection in particular, and his PFF evaluations have been steady over the years. He received the ninth-highest overall grade amongst tackles in 2023 (81.1), his best showing in that regard to date.
Extension talks between Decker and the Lions began this spring, ahead of an offseason in which several big-money deals were worked out. The likes of quarterback Jared Goff, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and right tackle Penei Sewell each inked contracts at or near the top of their respective markets in recent months. Decker’s $20MM AAV will move him into seventh amongst blindside blockers, a notable move up the pecking order from where he previously was.
Decker recently expressed a positive outlook on where contract talks stood, so today’s news comes as little surprise. With his deal now official, both members of Detroit’s tackle tandem are in place for the foreseeable future. Any question of whether or not Sewell would transition to the left side (at least any time soon) will be put to rest. The Lions selected Canadian college product Giovanni Manu in the fourth round of the draft, but he projects as a long-term developmental option. With Decker on the books, Manu will not need to be rushed into action.
The Lions’ success in a number of categories last year stemmed in large part from the play of their offensive line. That unit will return Decker, Sewell, left guard Graham Glasgow and center Frank Ragnow. Former right guard starter Jonah Jackson departed in free agency, but Detroit added a capable replacement in the form of Kevin Zeitler. Expectations will therefore once again be high up front for the team in 2024 and beyond with Decker remaining on the blindside.
Broncos, Cardinals, Giants, Texans Pursued RB Josh Jacobs
As the 2023 offseason foreshadowed, Josh Jacobs departed the Raiders in free agency. The former rushing champion inked a four-year, $48MM deal with the Packers this spring, a move he long contemplated. 
[RELATED: Raiders Did Not Discuss New Deal With Jacobs Prior To Departure]
When addressing his decision to sign in Green Bay, Jacobs noted (via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette) he turned down more lucrative offers from other interested parties. He added that roughly one dozen teams showed different levels of interest in the lead-in to free agency. Joining a contending team helped make Jacobs’ decision easier, though.
“I didn’t want to go to a team where I felt like I wanted to be in a rebuilding situation,” the 26-year-old said. “I didn’t want to go to a team where I felt like I couldn’t come in and immediately make an impact and be able to be one of the factors to get over the hump.”
Jacobs said his suitors included the Texans, Giants, Broncos and Cardinals. Those teams offered varying potential in terms of Super Bowl contention in the immediate future, and the former first-rounder noted he spent much of the 2023 campaign observing the Packers’ development on offense. Green Bay’s offer was $3-$4MM lower than ones made by other teams, he said, but familiarity was another factor working in the Packers’ favor in this situation.
Jacobs contacted Rich Bisaccia while exploring the possibility of a Green Bay deal. The latter served as special teams coordinator (and, briefly, interim head coach) of the Raiders before taking charge of the Packers’ special teams in 2022. Bisaccia, along with former Raiders teammate Keisean Nixon and ex-college teammate Xavier McKinney represent familiar faces Jacobs will be reuniting with on his new team. Given the Packers’ decision to move on from Aaron Jones, he will also face heavy expectations as the their undisputed lead back.
“I wanted to be a Raider,” Jacobs added. “Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to be with one team, finish my career with one team… So coming into that [2023] season, everything felt weird. I felt like I’m going to have this crazy year, and you don’t even want me here. So the writing was already on the wall. Obviously, I still tried to come in and put my best foot forward, but I knew it was coming toward that time.”
Jacobs was limited to 13 games last season, and he had career lows across the board. As expected, Vegas moved on with Zamir White as their lead back while adding veteran Alexander Mattison as a backup. That tandem will be much more cost-effective than a RB room led by Jacobs would have been, but Green Bay’s run to the NFC divisional round will lead to expectations of a strong 2024 performance. It will be interesting to see how he fares with his new team and whether or not his free agent decision proves to be a sound one.