Panthers To Sign Kemoko Turay
Carolina’s efforts in auditioning several edge rush options will produce at least one deal. The Panthers are signing Kemoko Turay following his workout, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. 
Turay visited the team yesterday alongside Marquis Haynes. He will now spend training camp attempting to carve out a spot on the 53-man roster. Turay’s last regular season appearances came in 2022 with the 49ers, and he spent last offseason with the Falcons. Upon failing to survive roster cuts, though, he was unable to find a deal.
The 29-year-old played out his rookie contract from 2018-21 with the Colts. Turay operated in a rotational capacity during that time, with his only three career starts coming in his rookie season. The former second-rounder flashed potential with four sacks during his debut campaign, but he managed just 2.5 across the following two seasons. Turay only logged a 27% snap share in 2021, but he racked up 5.5 sacks and 12 pressures that year.
The Rutgers product was unable to match that production during his one-and-done San Francisco slate, so he will join the Panthers with limited expectations. Carolina is in need of depth along the edge, though, with plenty of uncertainty in place beyond projected starters Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum. Turay will look to earn a rotational edge rush role; he does not have special teams experience, so third phase duties do not represent a feasible path to a roster spot.
Carolina will audition Yannick Ngakoue and Carl Lawson today, and it will be interesting to see if either of them manage to secure a deal. Regardless of whether of not that happens, Turay will have an opportunity through the next several weeks as he aims to earn a regular season role.
Lions K Michael Badgley Suffers Season-Ending Hamstring Injury
Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced on Friday that kicker Michael Badgley injured himself while getting ready for practice. He confirmed (via team reporter Tim Twentyman) Badgley will undergo surgery and miss the entire 2024 season. 
“I feel awful for Badgley, man,” Campbell said. “He worked his tail off to get ready for this season and he was having a good spring and was ready for camp. It’s tough.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes Badgley suffered a torn hamstring. The 28-year-old was set to compete for the full-time kicking gig in Detroit during training camp, something he had yet to enjoy despite having made 16 total appearances for the team. Badgley took over from Riley Patterson midway through the 2023 season, and he was retained in February on a one-year deal.
Now, the journeyman will hit free agency next March with his market value having taken a hit. Badgley has played 64 games in the NFL split across five teams, and he could be forced to find another new employer when he returns to full health. The Lions, meanwhile, will now turn their attention to finding a suitable replacement over the coming weeks.
Detroit has UFL product Jake Bates as the only healthy kicker on the roster at the moment. The Michigan Panthers alum played his home games at Ford Field, and he connected on 17 of 22 field goal attempts (including three from beyond 60 yards). Campbell said the Lions have already lined up workouts with some of the free agent kickers available, though he added a signing is not necessarily an immediate priority.
Detroit topped the NFC North in 2023 and advanced to the conference title game. Expectations are high for the franchise this year, and maintaining their strong production on offense will be a important task for the Lions moving forward. Badgley was set to play a role in that regard, but those responsibilities will now fall to Bates or a kicker not currently on the roster. Detroit has $34.5MM in cap space, so affording competition for Bates in the near future will not be a problem.
Rams CB Derion Kendrick Suffers ACL Tear
JULY 26: Testing confirmed Kendrick did indeed tear his ACL, Schefter notes. Rams head coach Sean McVay said he will undergo surgery “in a couple weeks” before turning his attention to rehab. Kendrick should next take the field in 2025, the final year of his rookie contract.
JULY 25: One of the Rams’ first training camp practices may have resulted in a major blow to the team’s secondary. Third-year cornerback Derion Kendrick is feared to have suffered a torn ACL, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Further testing will take place, but the worst-case scenario being confirmed would represent a major hit to Los Angeles’ defense. Kendrick, a sixth-rounder in 2022, logged six starts as a rookie and another 12 last year. He was projected to remain a key member of the team’s secondary in 2024, but his availability for any portion of the coming season would be all-but eliminated if tests for a tear came back positive.
Kendrick recorded his first career interception in 2023, and to date he has racked up 14 pass deflections. He made notable improvements in coverage last year compared to his rookie slate, allowing a completion percentage of 57.1% and a passer rating of 89.7 as the nearest defender. Improving further in his third year would have given the Rams a cost-effective first-team cover man.
Instead, Los Angeles will be forced to look elsewhere on the CB depth chart if Kendrick is indeed sidelined for the campaign. The team reunited with a familiar face in Darious Williams this offseason, bringing him back into the fold on a three-year deal. The Rams also took a flier on former Bills All-Pro Tre’Davious White, adding him on a one-year pact carrying a base value of $4.5MM. White’s health will be a question mark, but if he can remain on the field this year he will provide his new team with a starting-caliber option.
Los Angeles also has the likes of Cobie Durant and Tre’Vius Tomlinson in place as options to fill the vacancy an ACL tear on the part of Kendrick would create. The team has just over $8MM in cap space, so a modest veteran addition could be feasible if one is deemed necessary.
Packers, Jordan Love Making Progress In Extension Talks
Jordan Love is present at training camp but not taking part in practices as he and the Packers continue to negotiate a new deal. Nothing is in place at this point, but things appear to be headed in the right direction. 
Progress is being made toward a deal being finalized, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Both team and player in this situation expressed a willingness to have an agreement in place before the start of training camp. Likewise, general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed earlier this week his confidence that talks will get over the finish line in the near future. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio also notes a deal is “pretty close” as of Thursday morning.
The one-year starter has long been expected to join the $50MM-per-year club on his next contract, one which will take the place of the band-aid deal signed last offseason. That pact replaced his fifth-year option, a move which allowed Green Bay to evaluate Love’s candidacy for a lucrative commitment as Aaron Rodgers‘ successor. After an inconsistent start to the campaign, the 2020 first-rounder delivered strong statistical showings through the divisional round of the playoffs.
Expectations are therefore high moving forward for Love as he prepares to guide a Packers offense featuring a young pass-catching corps and multiple offensive line starters attached to their rookie contracts. As things stand, running back Josh Jacobs is the only skill-position player signed to a big-money deal, but that will change once Love’s deal is in place.
The value of the latter’s pact is thought to be the largest sticking point in negotiations. Issues such as length and guarantees are important as well in any QB mega-deal, but the ones signed over the past two years will provide Green Bay with a number of blueprints to follow. Getting Love back on the field as soon as possible is, of course, another motivating factor for team and player to come to an agreement. The wait on that front may end in the near future.
Matthew Stafford Addresses Rams Deal
A number of players around the NFL are currently absent from training camps as they seek new deals. Matthew Stafford and the Rams avoided the threat of such a scenario by working out a new financial arrangement. 
The Super Bowl-winning quarterback attended the start of training camp with upgrades to his existing deal in place. Stafford remains under contract through 2026, but the new pact is believed to provide him with added security. His $31MM 2024 base salary was already guaranteed, but the lack of locked in money beyond that point led to negotiations during the spring.
Full financial details are not yet known, but Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic writes this week’s agreement will increase “some” of Stafford’s guarantees (subscription required). She adds the deal appears to be a compromise, though it was obviously sufficient to avoid a potential holdout. Stafford was not expected to skip the start of camp, but Rodrigue reports there was uncertainty in the organization whether or not he would report in the absence of a deal. In the end, Stafford is satisfied with his new situation.
“It was a good agreement, listen, I’m happy to be where I am,” the two-time Pro Bowler said (via Rodrigue). “I’m happy to be here, I’m happy to be playing. I’m excited about playing football this year, and that’s what matters to me the most, to be honest with you.”
Head coach Sean McVay made it clear this offseason Stafford will remain atop Los Angeles’ depth chart for as long as he intends to keep playing. The former No. 1 pick – who has been linked to retirement in the past and has dealt with a number of injuries in his career – enjoyed a strong campaign in 2023, helping lead the team to the postseason. Stafford and Co. will look to duplicate that success this year, his fourth with the Rams.
Los Angeles signed Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency to serve as a veteran backup, and 2023 fourth-rounder Stetson Bennett does not profile as a long-term Stafford successor. The latter will thus be at the helm of the Rams’ offense for the foreseeable future with a new financial setup in place.
Falcons’ Kirk Cousins, Grady Jarrett Medically Cleared
As the Falcons begin training camp, two of their most important players have received a clean bill of health. Head coach Raheem Morris announced on Thursday that quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett have been cleared to take part in training camp (h/t ESPN’s Marc Raimondi). 
The news comes as little surprise given the team’s recovery expectations for both players. Jarrett hoped to be back to 100% in time for the start of camp, and that has proven to be the case. The two-time Pro Bowler was limited to eight games last season due to an ACL tear suffered on the same day Cousins’ campaign was cut short by a torn Achilles.
The latter’s rehab has been a key storyline throughout the offseason as he prepares for his debut Atlanta campaign. Cousins said earlier this month he intended to be back at full strength no later than August 1, so today’s update is an encouraging sign. It has long been expected the Falcons would take a cautious approach with the 35-year-old’s practice workload as he continues to rehab, but he will have not share time with the starting offense this summer.
Morris said (via Josh Kendall of The Athletic) Cousins will receive all of Atlanta’s first-team reps during training camp. That will leave first-round rookie Michael Penix Jr. and incumbent Taylor Heinicke to split time with the team’s backups. Cousins has already been assured of the starting gig in spite of Penix’s draft status, leaving him free to focus on his transition to Atlanta at the start of his four-year, $160MM pact. Penix, meanwhile, will aim to lock down the QB2 role over the coming weeks.
The Falcons made a pair of draft investments along the defensive interior this spring, but Jarrett will remain a focal point upon his return to health in 2024. The 31-year-old has recorded multiple sacks seven times in his career, and two years remain on his current contract. He and Cousins will have a full training camp under their belts by the time the campaign starts.
Eagles’ Brandon Graham To Retire After 2024 Season
The Eagles saw two members of their ‘Core Four’ retire following the 2023 season. Center Jason Kelce and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox have elected to hang up their cleats, but defensive end Brandon Graham will play out one more year in Philadelphia. 
The latter confirmed at the start of training camp that 2024 will be the final year of his decorated career. Graham, 36, worked out a one-year, $4MM deal in March. That pact came as no surprise given the mutual interest which existed on a final campaign being spent with the only organization he has played for.
“Last first day as a player. I don’t know what the future holds with the organization,” Graham said when speaking to the media (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). “It’s my last year, so just trying to soak it all in, trying to enjoy every day.”
The former first-rounder made it clear in the aftermath of the Eagles’ wild-card loss in January he (along with right tackle Lane Johnson) intended to continue playing in 2024. Graham already holds the franchise record for games played (195), and suiting up for the coming campaign will make him the first Eagle to play 15 seasons with the organization. He will look to add to his personal accolades this year in addition to winning a second Super Bowl.
Graham served as a starter along the edge from 2015-21, but over the past two seasons he has seen his playing time drop. The Michigan product logged a snap share of 43% in 2022, and that figure fell to 34% last year. The Eagles have Josh Sweat and free agent addition Bryce Huff in place as projected starters at the defensive end spot, along with 2023 first-rounder Nolan Smith positioned to take on an increased workload.
While plenty will be expected of that trio, Graham will continue to contribute in a rotational capacity this season. He posted only three sacks last year, but the 2022 campaign saw him set a career high in that department with 11. Regardless of what happens on the field in 2024, Graham will look to find a role in the organization once he officially hangs up his cleats.
Seahawks, C Connor Williams In Talks
JULY 24: Less than eight months after Williams’ ACL tear, Schefter notes the veteran O-lineman has passed a Seahawks physical and is in talks with the team. No deal is imminent, however, as Williams appears set to gauge his value now that he has cleared a bar on his recovery. The former Cowboys draftee is still talking to other teams.
JULY 22: Connor Williams‘ availability for at least the start of the 2024 season is in doubt, but he is a notable free agent option for teams in need of interior offensive line additions. The former Cowboys and Dolphins starter remains unsigned as teams begin training camps, but that may change soon. 
Williams has a Tuesday visit lined up with the Seahawks, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The 27-year-old has been expected to draw interest around the league, although the ACL tear which cut his 2023 campaign short has hurt his value. A deal allowing him to return to Miami had been floated as a possibility, but a reunion is now considered unlikely.
The Dolphins are set to move forward with Aaron Brewer at center, the position Williams exceled at during his Miami tenure. The latter’s injury has led to a slow-moving free agent process, and it would come as no surprise if Williams elected to take a one-year deal in 2024 aimed at allowing him to return to full health and set his sights on a multi-year accord next offseason. This Seattle visit will be his first known one.
The Seahawks actively sought out a number of guard options during free agency before ultimately making an addition. Seattle signed Laken Tomlinson as a veteran capable of earning a first-team guard spot. The opposite guard role will be contested by the likes of Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes, but uncertainty exists entering camp at the center position.
Nick Harris, Olusegun Oluwatimi and Mike Novitsky reside as Seattle’s top options in the middle as things stand, Williams – a veteran of 83 games and 77 starts – is considerably more experienced, and his play in Miami when healthy demonstrated his ability when used in the middle. He would represent an intriguing addition for the Seahawks if tomorrow’s visit were to go well. The team currently has roughly $8.5MM in cap space.
Giants’ Daniel Jones Cleared Ahead Of Training Camp
JULY 24: Daboll confirmed Wednesday that Jones has received full clearance for camp. Daboll said (via ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan) the sixth-year quarterback will participate in 11-on-11 drills for the first time this year. Continuing to put to rest any notion of a QB competition, Daboll added Jones will take every snap with the first-team offense during camp.
JULY 21: Daniel Jones has long been expected to be healthy in time for training camp. When providing an update on his health, the sixth-year Giants quarterback confirmed he will be 100% once summer practices commence. 
Jones told Peter Botte of the New York Post he “should be” ready in time for Wednesday, the Giants’ first training camp session. The 27-year-old has been rehabbing the ACL tear which ended his 2023 campaign, and he has not endured any setbacks to date. Jones participated in minicamp during the spring, though he did not take part in 11-on-11 drills.
That will of course change once training camp opens. Jones – whose future in New York has been a topic of considerable speculation during the offseason – will work with the first-team offense. Free agent signee Drew Lock is in place as a relatively experienced backup, but head coach Brian Daboll previously made it clear there will be no competition in the summer. Of course, that commitment to Jones will not put to rest concerns over his long-term Giants outlook.
New York was among the teams which made a concerted effort to trade up to the No. 3 slot and select a quarterback in April. To little surprise, Jones was not thrilled with that approach but he enters 2024 with the opportunity to stake his claim to a long-term stay in the Big Apple. Three years remain on the former first-rounder’s deal, though a potential out exists after the coming season.
For that reason, plenty is at stake as Jones prepares for his first campaign without running back Saquon Barkley in the fold. The latter departed in free agency after general manager Joe Schoen and Co. prioritized upgrades along the offensive line and at the skill positions during the offseason. Jones’ health is an area of concern as well given his injury history, but 2024 will at least begin on the right foot in that respect.
Brandon Aiyuk Reports To 49ers’ Training Camp
Brandon Aiyuk has not landed the long-term deal he is seeking, nor has his recent trade request resulted in a change of scenery. The 49ers wideout will nevertheless be in attendance for the start of training camp. 
Aiyuk reported to camp on Tuesday, as noted by Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Many players seeking a new deal (or a trade) often remain absent as a means of exerting leverage and forcing a resolution. Instead, Aiyuk will be present for summer practices; it would come as no surprise, though, if he staged a hold-in by attending but not taking part in any on-field work.
Questions have been in place throughout the offseason regarding whether or not Aiyuk would remain in San Francisco for the 2024 season and beyond. The 26-year-old drew considerable interest at the draft, with at least five teams being prepared to meet his asking price on a long-term contract. No trade was worked out, and the 49ers are not interested in exploring a deal at this point in the offseason. A distinct lack of progress on the negotiating front led to this situation’s latest escalation.
Aiyuk – who on a number of occasions has voiced his displeasure over the absence of an extension via social media – requested a trade one week ago. A recent meeting with team officials did not produce traction toward an agreement, though as expected San Francisco still views him as a key part of the 2024 roster. General manager John Lynch confirmed (via Garafolo) the 49ers “fully intend” to keep the Arizona State product in the fold for at least the coming season.
The team is believed to be eyeing an agreement between $26 and $27MM per season, a figure which would move Aiyuk into the top 10 in receiver compensation. His asking price has shifted over the course of the offseason, however, one in which three wideouts (Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown and Amon-Ra St. Brown) surpassed $30MM in annual compensation. The former first-rounder is currently slated to play out his $14.12MM fifth-year option in 2024.
San Francisco has a number of big-money offensive skill position contracts on the books already, and the team will have a Brock Purdy extension to attend to as early as next offseason. The 49ers added Ricky Pearsall in the first round of this year’s draft, but for now signs continue to point to Aiyuk (who could be franchise tagged in 2025) playing a fifth campaign in the Bay Area.