Vikings Sign CB Duke Shelley
Duke Shelley is back with a familiar team in time for training camp. The veteran corner re-joined the Vikings on Tuesday, per a team announcement. 
Shelley spent his first three seasons in the league with Chicago, logging six starts and 30 appearances during that span. He did not survive roster cuts in 2022, though, and upon clearing waivers he found himself on the Vikings’ practice squad. The former sixth-rounder made five starts upon signing to Minnesota’s active roster that year, and he recorded his lone career interception during his first Vikings stint (one which predated the arrival of defensive coordinator Brian Flores).
In free agency last offseason, Shelley signed with the Raiders but again he did not manage to secure a roster spot during training camp. The 27-year-old did not need to wait long to find a new home, though, inking a deal with the Rams in September. During his lone Los Angeles campaign, Shelley played 11 games while primarily logging a special teams role.
His third phase experience could help him carve out a roster spot upon his return to Minnesota. Shelley did, however, log a 52% defensive snap share during his first Vikings stint, so he has experience handling at least a rotational role in the secondary. Minnesota has Byron Murphy and free agent addition Shaquill Griffin atop the depth chart as things stand, but Shelley will be able to compete for a backup gig.
The tragic death of rookie Khyree Jackson left the Vikings short on depth at the cornerback spot, and Shelley will aim to land a full-time gig during his return to Minnesota. The team entered Tuesday with over $21MM in cap space, so further roster moves in the coming days and weeks could still take place.
DE Randy Gregory Absent From Buccaneers’ Training Camp
Uncertainty continues to loom over the status of Randy Gregory. The veteran defensive end was not in attendance for the start of Buccaneers training camp, and the team placed him on the reserve/did not report list Tuesday. 
Gregory was absent from mandatory minicamp last month, a move which resulted in fines being accumulated. His absence came in the wake of the discrimination lawsuit he filed against the NFL and the Broncos over usage of a prescription medication which involved THC. Considering the latest development in his situation, Gregory’ absence does not come as a surprise.
Head coach Todd Bowles said last week he had not spoken with the 31-year-old in any capacity. Meanwhile, Greg Auman of Fox Sports notes there has been no update provided by Gregory’s camp with respect to why he has not attended camp. Needless to say, his future in Tampa Bay is very much in question at this point.
Gregory did not pan out in Denver, logging just 10 games during his time with the Broncos across the 2022 and ’23 seasons. He finished out the year in San Francisco, making 12 appearances and recording 2.5 sacks. The former Cowboys second-rounder signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers worth up to $5MM. His earnings for the year have already been affected by the fines (totaling more than $100K) he accumulated by missing minicamp, however.
Tampa Bay guaranteed $1.37MM of Gregory’s base salary, but the team would save just over $1.6MM in cap space with a release. It will be interesting to see if an update takes place in this case over the coming days or if the Buccaneers elect to cut bait if Gregory remains away from the team.
Saints RB Alvin Kamara In Attendance For Training Camp
Alvin Kamara is not satisfied with his contract status, but he will not engage in a hold out during training camp. The Saints running back has reported with the rest of the team’s veterans, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football. 
Players not on rookie contracts are subject to $50K in mandatory daily fines if they hold out. As a result, it comes as no surprise Kamara has elected to attend training camp as he continues to seek an a new or reworked deal. He could nevertheless engage in a hold in by declining to participate in on-field work.
The soon-to-be 29-year-old walked out of the final practice during minicamp, a move known to be tied to his financial situation. Kamara has two years remaining on his pact, but his scheduled 2025 compensation includes a non-guaranteed $22.5MM base salary. The coming campaign is therefore – for all intents and purposes – his walk year.
Team and player are not believed to be close to working out an agreement, and if that remains the case through the start of training camp Kamara may very well elect to stay off the field. The five-time Pro Bowler maintained his record of topping 1,100 scrimmage yards each year of his career in 2023 despite missing the first three games of the campaign through suspension. He is positioned to once again handle lead back duties in 2024.
Given the nature of the veteran running back market, though, even a strong season could make it difficult for Kamara to land another lucrative pact. The former third-rounder is open to incentives being added to his current deal – rather than an extension keeping him place beyond 2025. It will be interesting to see if progress is made in the coming days with respect to a resolution being found.
Browns, WR Amari Cooper Agree To Restructure
Amari Cooper‘s contract situation has been resolved. The Browns wideout will receive a raise of up to $5MM in 2024 as part of a restructured contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The additional money exists in the form of incentives, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini clarifies. 
This new agreement will guarantee the $20MM in salary Cooper was already due to make in 2024. Half of that figure will be paid out as a signing bonus, Schefter adds. Cooper will still enter the coming season as a pending free agent, but today’s move adds to his immediate earning potential while also providing considerable locked in compensation.
Cooper skipped mandatory minicamp and incurred fines in the process as part of his attempts at landing a new (or, as it turns out, upgraded) deal. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said at the time team and player discussed the situation, paving the way for a resolution to be found. A report from last month confirmed a mutual interest existed for an agreement to be worked out in time for training camp.
With that having now taken place, attention can turn to Cooper’s role in a new-look Browns receiving corps. The 30-year-old has produced as expected during his Cleveland tenure, racking up 2,410 yards and 14 touchdowns since 2022. The team acquired Jerry Jeudy via trade this offseason, extending the former Broncos first-rounder on a three-year, $52.5MM deal. In spite of that move, Cooper will be counted on to remain the Browns’ No. 1 wideout.
The latter earned four Pro Bowl nods split between his time with the Raiders and Cowboys, and he received his fifth in 2023. Another strong campaign will help Cooper’s bargaining power on a new Browns deal or one sending him to a new team as a free agent. Despite his age, the Alabama product could benefit from the continued surges in the receiver market.
The $20MM AAV of Cooper’s 2020 deal has been dwarfed several times over in recent years. The top of the position’s pecking order has now surpassed $30MM in a select number of cases. Cooper is unlikely to reach those heights on his next pact, but he could help his case for a higher rate of annual compensation if he manages to produce another strong Browns season this year. In the meantime, he has significant guarantees in place along with a path to new money ahead of his walk year.
Cowboys Yet To Conduct ‘Substantial’ Negotiations With WR CeeDee Lamb
The Cowboys are preparing to head to Oxnard, California today for the start of training camp. Whether or not CeeDee Lamb attends will no doubt depend on the state of negotiations regarding an extension. 
The All-Pro wideout is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2024, valued at $17.99MM. A long-term deal will cost much more, but Dallas has yet to work out an agreement with Lamb, quarterback (and fellow pending free agent) Dak Prescott or extension-eligible edge rusher Micah Parsons. The most recent update on the matter noted that Lamb is now team’s top financial priority, but nothing appears to be imminent.
Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports the Cowboys have yet to have “substantial” extension talks with Lamb to date. That comes as a notable surprise considering the importance of the 25-year-old in the Cowboys’ short- and long-term financial planning. If working out a deal with Lamb is indeed viewed as more pressing (or at least more feasible) that doing the same with Prescott, Dallas will have plenty of work to do on the negotiating front over the coming weeks.
Owner and general manager Jerry Jones expressed a desire to wait for the quarterback and receiver markets to take shape before moving forward with new deals for Prescott and/or Lamb. The latter has seen three WR deals surpass $30MM per season recently, including Justin Jefferson‘s historic $35-per-year accord. His asking price will no doubt affected by the continued upward trajectory of the position’s market, though the Cowboys are not believed to be interested in moving the bar higher on a Lamb extension.
The Oklahoma product did not take part in voluntary OTAs or mandatory minicamp. A training camp holdout is a distinct possibility, and the chances of Lamb skipping out on the start of camp would likely increase if team and player are not close to hammering out an agreement. Players who hold out from camp are subject to daily fines, but those attached to rookie contracts (like in Lamb’s case) can have those fines waived by their respective teams.
Lamb’s decision on skipping the start of camp (or attending but not taking part in drills) will be worth watching in the immediate future. With Prescott and Parsons in need of extensions as well, Dallas’ efforts in pursuing a Lamb resolution will be a central storyline for the team over the coming days and weeks.
Jacoby Brissett Enters Training Camp As Patriots’ Starting QB
The Patriots were one of six teams which invested a first-round pick in a quarterback this spring. As expected, however, rookie Drake Maye will not enter training camp atop the depth chart. 
“I don’t think there’s any doubt, Jacoby [Brissett] is the starting quarterback at this point in time,” head coach Jerod Mayo said on Tuesday (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald).
Pulling the plug on Mac Jones, the Patriots elected to start over at the quarterback spot this offseason. Jones – selected 15th overall in 2021 – was dealt to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick. Brissett was added in free agency as a bridge starter in anticipation of a rookie being added via the draft. New England turned aside considerable interest for the No. 3 pick and ultimately selected Maye.
The North Carolina product projects as the Patriots’ starter down the road, but the team was known to be in no hurry to move him to the top of pecking order. Maye’s performances during OTAs and minicamp were sufficient to elevate him to the backup spot over Bailey Zappe, though, and he will have the opportunity to continue impressing Mayo and the coaching staff as a result.
Mayo added (via Kyed) that Maye will be able to overtake Brissett as the team’s starter if he “lights it up” during training camp. For the time being, attention will of course be paid to the 21-year-old’s ongoing acclimation to the NFL in general and OC Alex Van Pelt‘s scheme in particular. Brissett is a veteran of 48 starts, and he will offer the Patriots with a known commodity if he gets the nod for Week 1. That scenario is the one which New England remains on course for, but things could change over the coming weeks.
Jaguars, CB Tyson Campbell Agree To Extension
In an offseason featuring a number of high-profile extensions being worked out, the Jaguars have taken care of another important piece of business. Cornerback Tyson Campbell has reached agreement on an extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
Rapoport notes this is a four-year deal carrying a value of $76.5MM. The pact includes an effective guarantee of $53.4MM, making this a notable commitment on the team’s part. Campbell now becomes the top earner at the cornerback position amongst players who have yet to receive a Pro Bowl nod.
Three corners are attached to deals with an annual average value of $20MM or higher. Campbell, 24, will move into seventh in the pecking order with an AAV of $19.13MM with this deal. Across his three seasons in Jacksonville, he has started all but one of his 43 games. After establishing himself as a key member of Jacksonville’s secondary, Campbell will now be on the books through the 2028 campaign.
The former second-rounder displayed considerable ball skills during his first two campaigns. Between 2021 and ’22, Campbell totaled five interceptions and 25 pass deflections. The 2023 season saw a regression in that regard (one interception, five breakups) and Campbell also took a step back in the coverage department. The Georgia alum allowed eight touchdowns and a passer rating of 128.5 as the nearest defender, both the worst figures of his career.
In spite of that, Jacksonville has made another big-money commitment to a homegrown player. Edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen signed an extension averaging $28.25MM per year this offseason, setting the stage for a Trevor Lawrence deal. The latter inked a monster pact of his own, tying Joe Burrow for the top spot at the quarterback position ($55MM per year). Today’s Campbell deal is not on the same level of those commitments, but it further underscores the organization’s intention of retaining in-house players rather than making outside additions.
Jacksonville did take the latter route by adding Ronald Darby in free agency, but his pact (two years, $8.5MM) is the only other cornerback deal featuring notable guaranteed money. Campbell will face increased expectations moving forward given his big-ticket extension and Jacksonville’s general hopes of rebounding from the underwhelming end to the 2023 campaign.
Darnell Savage was added at the safety spot this spring, and Andre Cisco profiles as a logical extension candidate as early as this offseason. For now, though, Campbell finds himself in a tier of his own with respect to Jaguars compensation in the secondary. If he returns to his pre-2023 form, today’s investment could prove to be worthwhile.
NFL, NFLPA Discussing 18-Game Season
Earlier this offseason, commissioner Roger Goodell made clear his vision for a revamped NFL calendar including 18 regular season games and the Super Bowl landing on Presidents’ Day weekend. With players understanding the support in place amongst most owners, talks between the league and union have begun. 
NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell said in a Monday press availability that discussions have taken place on an informal level regarding the expansion of the regular season schedule. That update comes as little surprise, given the expectation amongst players that negotiations could begin relatively soon. The current CBA runs through 2030, but amendments (including potential expansion of the season) could be worked out well before that point.
“We have talked at a very, very, very high level superficially, with a recognition… about, ‘Yeah, this is something that we should be talking about. And we should really kick the tires and understand what else goes into that decision-making process,’” Howell said (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post). “Where does the 18th game come from?
“I think the foregone conclusion is well, you just grab it, like, in what would otherwise be [preseason games] in August. You play it forward. But these are details that really need to be fleshed out. But, again, there are other economic, health and safety matters that also need to be clear to our members before there’s ever an agreement about an 18th game.”
Howell recently spoke about the issues which the NFLPA would attempt to land concessions on in exchange for expanding the season from 17 games to 18. Matters such as bye weeks, playing surfaces, travel (particularly with respect to international games) and overall compensation will be talking points once formal negotiations take place. Howell added upcoming meetings with players will provide further opportunity to discuss the core issues which will need to be addressed for an 18-game slate to be agreed to.
A number of owners have voiced support for such a move, including Jerry Jones. Many have considered CBA amendments allowing for an expanded schedule to be an inevitability after the 2020 agreement paved the way for a move from 16 games to 17. Stephen Jones, COO of the Cowboys, recently spoke on that point.
“I’m on the competition committee. We’ve talked about this knowing that it’s probably inevitable,” Jones said during an appearance on The Athletic’s Scoop City podcast. “I do know, at the end of the day, the players enjoy the compensation that’s coming their way, and they get, for the most part, half of every revenue dollar that comes through the door. So certainly getting paid well. We all know when we go to 18 games, our revenue’s going to jump, and certainly [that] should only help in terms of money available to pay players and get players the compensation.”
Plenty of time remains under the current terms of the CBA for negotiations to take place and a formal agreement to be reached. Given the eagerness shown on the part of the owners and Howell’s willingness to engage in early dialogue, though, it would not come as a surprise if traction were to be gained in the relatively near future.
Haason Reddick Absent From Jets’ Training Camp
After skipping spring workouts in search of a new deal, Haason Reddick faced the prospect of holding out from training camp. The Jets edge rusher has indeed elected not to attend the first day of camp, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
Reddick had a highly productive Eagles tenure, collecting 27 sacks in 34 games. That drove his desire for an extension, something Philadelphia was not willing to authorize. The two-time Pro Bowler was ultimately traded to the Jets, a team which lost Bryce Huff in free agency. The latter inked multi-year deal in Philadelphia, but Reddick projects as a starting-caliber replacement for at least the 2024 season.
The pending free agent continues to seek an extension, though the Jets are not particularly interested in working out such an agreement. As things stand, Reddick is due to collect $15MM this year while carrying a cap hit of equal value. While he seeks a raise, New York’s front office intends to add incentives to his 2024 compensation in lieu of tacking on additional years to his pact.
Reddick was absent from voluntary OTAs, but the team expected him to attend mandatory minicamp. That did not end up being the case, however, leading to speculation about his intentions at the start of training camp. Despite optimism being expressed by the Jets that a resolution would have been worked out by now, today’s developments demonstrate further progress at the negotiating table will be required.
Players on non-rookie deals who elect to hold out are subject to $50K in mandatory daily fines. For that reason, it has become increasingly common for players to ‘hold-in’ by attending camp but not participating in practices. Reddick has chosen to incur financial penalties as he continues to push for an extension or at least a top-up to cover the 2024 campaign.
In the meantime, New York will move forward with an edge contingent led by the likes of Jermaine Johnson, Will McDonald and Solomon Thomas. Especially considering the Huff departure and the draft-day trade of John Franklin-Myers to the Broncos, Reddick is positioned to handle a substantial workload during his debut Jets campaign. When he will first take part in team practices with his new squad remains to be seen.
Dolphins, Emmanuel Ogbah Agree To Deal
With the Dolphins in need of depth along the defensive front, Emmanuel Ogbah will remain in the fold for 2024. The veteran agreed to a new Miami deal on Tuesday, as first reported by NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. 
Ogbah – who worked out recently, with the Dolphins searching for a Shaquil Barrett replacement – will receive up to $5MM on a one-year deal, Wolfe adds, with Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reporting that $2.75MM of that figure is guaranteed ($2MM in the form of base salary and $750K in the form of a signing bonus). Ogbah can also earn up to $500K in per-game active roster bonuses and can unlock the remainder of the $5MM ceiling via incentives.
The 30-year-old has spent the past four seasons in South Beach, logging 27 starts in 57 games. He was attached to a four-year, $65.4MM deal before being among the veterans let go by Miami in a cost-shedding move earlier this offseason.
Barrett surprised the Dolphins by hanging up his cleats just before the start of training camp. The former Bronco and Buccaneer was set to play an important role along the edge, particularly early in the campaign. The Dolphins have Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb atop the depth chart, but both are questions marks with respect to being available in time for Week 1. Barrett’s retirement led to renewed interest on Miami’s part in pursuing an Ogbah reunion.
The former second-rounder spent three seasons in Cleveland and one in Kansas City before the start of his Dolphins tenure. Ogbah posted back-to-back campaigns with nine sacks in 2020-21, proving his value as a full-time starter. He was limited to nine games through injury in 2023, though, and this past season his production took a step back (5.5 sacks, nine quarterback hits). The Oklahoma State alum should nevertheless be able to carve out a rotational role in a familiar setting over the course of training camp.
Miami also hosted Yannick Ngakoue yesterday as part of the team’s search for edge depth. Given today’s news, it is safe to assume the journeyman sack artist will need to look elsewhere to find his next deal. The Dolphins entered Tuesday with just over $12MM in cap space, so this Ogbah addition could prove to be the most impactful one made for the foreseeable future.