WR Deven Thompkins Will Not Face NFL Discipline
Deven Thompkins‘ situation has become clearer with respect to his legal status in the league’s view and his playing future. The former Buccaneers receiver and returner is no longer the subject of an NFL investigation stemming from domestic abuse allegations. 
“Following a review of the matter, the league did not discover sufficient evidence to support a finding of a violation of the personal conduct policy,” a statement from NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy reads (via Greg Auman of Fox Sports).
Thompkins was waived with an injury designation by the Buccaneers in June shortly before allegations of domestic abuse by his estranged wife, Maria Castillos. The latter made claims in social media posts about abuse dating back to February 14, 2023. Thompkins denied the allegations and responded by filing a defamation suit. As the parties continue through divorce proceedings, Auman notes Castillos has now taken down the videos which contain the allegations.
Thompkins sought out – and was granted – a meeting with a pair of personal conduct investigators as well as an NFLPA attorney earlier this month. Shortly thereafter, today’s news has emerged confirming he is in the clear with respect to facing any potential league discipline. The 24-year-old remains free to sign with an interested team at any time, and the latest update on his situation should help his chances of landing a deal.
A former UDFA, Thompkins made only 22 receptions during his Tampa Bay tenure. He contributed on kick and punt returns over the past two seasons, however, totaling 1,082 all-purpose yards. That production – coupled with the fact the hamstring injury which was noted during his Buccaneers release has had plenty of time to heal – could help him find a spot ahead of training camps opening around the league.
Eagles’ Saquon Barkley On Career Outlook, Injury History
Several running backs quickly landed free agent deals this offseason, including Saquon Barkley. The six-year Giant joined the Eagles on a deal featuring $26MM fully guaranteed. Lucrative investments at the position are rare in large part due to the risk of injury and the drop in performance seen as running backs age. 
Barkley is entering his age-27 season, a point where many backs struggle to land long-term commitments. The former Offensive Rookie of the Year’s resume also includes a number of injuries, adding to the risk incurred by the Eagles in signing him. Barkley is confident, however, that he will be able to remain productive well into the second chapter of his NFL tenure.
“Marcus Allen played until he was 36, 37 years old,” the former No. 2 pick said (via EJ Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer). “Barry [Sanders] left at 29, 30 and he left in his prime. It’s what you put in, what you put in is what you get out. That’s any position. There’s this weird thing with running backs right now. Is it a difficult position to play? Yes. Do you take wear and tear? Yes. But who are you or anyone else to tell me how long I can play the game? I call [BS].
“When it’s over for me, it’s over for me. But I feel like if I continue to put the right stuff in my body and do the right things, there will be a day when I’m 32 or 33 and I want to hang it up, and I’m going to do it just because.”
Barkley will be counted on to handle a large workload with the Eagles as their lead back, although the team’s skill position group should lower his usage relative to his Giants tenure. The Penn State product voiced a desire to finish his career in New York, but an offer similar in value to Philadelphia’s did not emerge this offseason. Barkley – who is under contract through 2026 – will need to remain healthy for his Eagles tenure to be productive. After an ACL tear and multiple ankle sprains, questions have been raised about his durability. Barkley does not attribute those to poor conditioning, though, so further injury issues are not a concern on his part.
“I’ve been trying to control everything,” he added. “Like, ‘I have to do this so I won’t get hurt.’ I can’t control that. My three or four injuries I’ve had in the NFL are flukes. There was nothing I could do to change them.”
Plenty of attention will be placed on Barkley’s Philadelphia tenure and his overall longevity. If he manages to produce as expected, his addition will prove to be an effective one from the team’s perspective while allowing him to enjoy a strong second phase in his career.
RB AJ Dillon On Packers’ Roster Bubble
The Packers moved on from Aaron Jones this offseason, and the top of the team’s backfield depth chart will look different in 2024. Josh Jacobs will serve as Green Bay’s lead back after he took a four-year deal including $12.5MM guaranteed. 
Jacobs will handle the bulk of early-down work on his new team, though the Packers are also interested in increasing his pass-catching responsibilities. The 2022 rushing champion figures to shoulder a heavy workload as a result, but the team added MarShawn Lloyd in the third round of this year’s draft. The USC alum could handle backup duties as a rookie, particularly if he impresses during training camp and the preseason A notable Lloyd usage rate is indeed a Packers goal, The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman confirms (subscription required).
Meanwhile, the coming weeks will play a key role in determining AJ Dillon‘s future in Green Bay. The former second-rounder faced questions about a potential free agent departure after his rookie contract expired, but he ended up re-signing in Green Bay. The Packers used the four-year qualifying offer to retain Dillion, who is due $2.74MM in 2024. That figure outpaces his cap charge ($1.29MM), but the 26-year-old does not figure to be a roster lock.
Dillon is aware he is entering camp on the roster bubble, Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal writes. The Boston College product is a candidate for the No. 3 spot, but the same is true of 2023 UDFA Emanuel Wilson. The latter recorded only 108 scrimmage yards as a rookie, though establishing himself as a special teams contributor could help his chances of surviving roster cutdowns. For Dillon, remaining in the fold would allow him to rebound from an underwhelming 2023 campaign.
Averaging a career-low 3.4 yards per carry last season, Dillon scored only two touchdowns. He 178 carries marked a similar workload to the two previous years, but a dip in usage should be expected if he locks down a roster spot for 2024. Dillon did not show much interest in finding a new team during free agency, a period in which several veteran backs managed to secure deals in short order. The Packers were active on that front with the Jacobs addition but it did not take long for Dillon to re-sign.
The latter produced 2,092 scrimmage yards and 14 total touchdowns between 2021-22, and returning to his previous form could help Dillon’s market value in 2025. For the time being, though, attention will be focused on his training camp and preseason performances.
Latest On Patriots, Matt Judon
Matt Judon‘s contract situation remains one worth watching closely. The Patriots edge rusher is set to enter the final year of his current deal, and mixed signals have been sent recently with respect to whether or not an extension will be worked out in the near future. 
Judon himself does not foresee a long-term deal coming to fruition, though time still remains to negotiate a resolution before the start of the year. The Patriots have made at least one offer to the four-time Pro Bowler, but the parties have ground to make up if an agreement is to be reached in the coming weeks. The latest reporting on the matter adds further uncertainty to Judon’s future in New England.
Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal stated on his Greg Bedard Patriots Podcast that Judon will not play for the Patriots in 2024 on his current deal (video link). He added that a trade sending him to a new team could be a possibility in the event New England could not resolve the matter with a contract extension or an incentive-laden adjustment. Judon engaged in a training camp holdout last summer prior to a resolution being reached, and he has said such a move will not be repeated in 2024.
The 31-year-old responded to Bedard’s report on social media by confirming he has not personally informed the team of any planned holdout or a refusal play on his current terms. Judon is set to receive $7.5MM in compensation this season while carrying a $14.68MM cap hit. With 32 sacks in 33 Patriots games, a case could certainly be made for a lucrative re-up, and a multi-year extension could lower his 2024 cap charge (although New England is not in need of added flexibility in that respect).
Judon’s value is, of course, clouded by the biceps injury he suffered early in the 2023 campaign. The ailment limited him to four games and hurt his bargaining power this offseason. A report from two weeks ago nevertheless indicated a deal could be reached soon, but the latest developments on the Judon front suggest considerable progress will need to be made for an agreement of any kind to be reached ahead of training camp.
On that note, ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes New England hopes to have all contract matters resolved by the team’s first camp practice (July 24). Judon – along with players such as defensive lineman Davon Godchaux – will therefore be among the ones to watch over the coming days. Eliot Wolf has authorized several deals keeping in-house players in the fold for the Patriots during his first offseason at the helm, and it will be interesting to see if the likes of Judon and Godchaux see their respective situations clarified in the near future.
Bengals, Tee Higgins Will Not Reach Extension Agreement
Every player but one who received a franchise or transition tag this offseason wound up agreeing to a multi-year deal. The lone exception was Bengals wideout Tee Higgins, who signed his one-year tender last month. 
That decision left team and player available to negotiate a long-term deal, but at the time it remained a longshot such an agreement would be reached. The deadline for tagged players to sign a new contract is July 15, but no last-minute development is expected in Higgins’ case. The 25-year-old will play on the tag in 2024 without a deal in hand, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Having already signed the tag, Higgins will be required to attend training camp – unlike players who have previously declined to sign the tender even past the deadline for long-term deals to be finalized. The former second-rounder’s Bengals future has long been in question with Ja’Marr Chase in need of a monster extension as early as this offseason. Keeping he and Higgins in the fold while quarterback Joe Burrow plays out his market-topping extension would be a steep salary cap challenge. Cincinnati’s last Higgins extension efforts came more than one year ago, and offers did not reach the $20MM AAV mark.
For that reason, many expect the Clemson alum to use the 2024 season as a springboard to a free agent departure next spring. Higgins requested a trade in March, but it soon became clear the Bengals would not explore moving him. Based on his comments earlier in the spring, it comes as no surprise team and player now find themselves in a situation which will likely amount to a one-year rental. Cincinnati will, of course, have the option of applying a second franchise tag in 2025.
Higgins will receive $21.82MM this year, and a second tag would cost just over $26MM in 2025. The receiver market experienced another surge this offseason with three players topping the $30MM-per-year mark. A Chase extension will be in that neighborhood, taking away flexibility for a Higgins deal. The latter produced at least 908 yards in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, proving to an effective complement to Chase. Higgins produced career lows across the board in an injury-shortened 2023 campaign, but a bounce-back this year would set him up well on the open market.
The Bengals will have a new third receiver in 2024 given the absence of Tyler Boyd. Regardless of who ends up filling that role, Higgins could see a slight uptick in usage as he attempts to showcase himself to outside suitors. Cincinnati’s offense is on track to have a healthy Burrow, something which will raise expectations for the unit. Higgins’ presence will help the team’s passing game, but signs continue to point to this campaign being his last with the Bengals.
5 Key Stories: 7/7/24 – 7/14/24
With training camps just around the corner, the NFL’s offseason period has nearly come to an end. Recent days have already seen a few notable developments, however. In case you missed anything from the past week, here is a quick recap:
- Steelers’ Sutton Receives Eight-Game Suspension: Cameron Sutton was released by the Lions after it was learned an arrest warrant had been issued for domestic battery. The veteran corner later reunited with the Steelers after he entered into a pretrial diversion program while an NFL investigation took place. That process has yielded an eight-game suspension for a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy. The 29-year-old served as a starter at the end of his first Steelers stint and handled first-team duties in Detroit last season, but his role once available will be interesting to monitor. Sutton – who signed for the league minimum upon returning to Pittsburgh – will not appeal the ban, confirming he will not be able to make his season debut until Week 10.
- Higgins To Play On Bengals Tag In 2024: Tee Higgins resided as the only player who received a franchise or transition tag this offseason who had yet to sign a long-term deal. The deadline for he and the Bengals to work out such an agreement is Monday, but it is set to pass without an extension in place. As a result, Higgins will (as expected) enter the 2024 campaign as a pending free agent. The former second-rounder will collect $21.82MM this season before receiving a second tag or testing the market. Higgins, 25, submitted a trade request this offseason before publicly admitting he expected to remain in Cincinnati for one more year. The Bengals (a team with a monster Ja’Marr Chase extension still to navigate) are not believed to have engaged in Higgins negotiations for more than one year, with a market-level offer yet to emerge. A 2025 departure remains a distinct possibility in this case.
- Adams Lands Titans Deal: A number of veteran safeties are still on the market, but Jamal Adams is not one of them. The former All-Pro (who was released this spring by the Seahawks) signed a one-year Titans deal. That pact carries a value of $1.13MM, a stark contrast to the $17.5MM annual value of his Seattle contract. Adams has been limited to 10 games over the past two seasons due to injuries, and his value moving forward will be determined in large part by his ability to remain healthy in 2024. He is confident that will be possible, and by signing with the Titans the three-time Pro Bowler will reunite with defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson after the pair worked together with the Jets. That familiarity could produce a bounce-back campaign.
- No Extension Imminent For Patriots, Judon: The Patriots have continued negotiating an extension with edge rusher Matt Judon, and an offer was recently submitted. No agreement is considered imminent, however, with the four-time Pro Bowler indicating he does not expect a deal to be worked out in the near future. One year remains on Judon’s contract, one which falls well short of the top of the edge market. He has proven to be a highly impactful player when healthy in New England, but in 2023 he was limited to four contests. The Patriots have retained a number of in-house players this offseason, but approaching his age-32 season Judon represents an interesting case study in that regard. Regardless of how extension talks go in the near future. Judon is not expected to hold out during training camp.
- Texans Re-Sign Hughes: The Texans added Jerry Hughes in 2022, and he has logged 18 starts since then. The 35-year-old saw a dip in playing time last season, but he nevertheless elected to sign a new Houston deal. Hughes is likely to shoulder a rotational workload along the edge in 2024 as the Texans signed Danielle Hunter in free agency to replace Jonathan Greenard. Hunter and Will Anderson should take on starter’s roles, but Hughes could chip in on a rotational basis. The latter had the second most productive season of his career in 2022 with nine sacks, and he has remained durable deep into his NFL tenure. As the Texans approach 2024 with high expectations, Hughes will collect as much as $2.6MM on his latest deal.
Steelers LB Cole Holcomb In Danger Of Missing 2024 Season?
Cole Holcomb proved to be an effective contributor following the Steelers’ efforts at reshaping their linebacking corps last offseason. The sixth-year veteran served as a full-time starter before his debut Pittsburgh campaign came to an abrupt end. 
Holcomb suffered a major knee injury in November, shutting him down for the rest of the season. An update last month provided by Mark Kaboly of The Athletic indicated the 27-year-old was a likely candidate to begin the season on the reserve/PUP list. That designation would require at least a four-week absence to begin the season, but the latest on his situation is not encouraging.
Kaboly writes that any contributions the Steelers receive from Holcomb in 2024 “would be a bonus” (subscription required). That leaves open the possibility of the former fifth-rounder missing most or all of the campaign, a development which would be acutely felt at the second level of Pittsburgh’s defense. Holcomb signed a three-year, $18MM deal last spring and as such faced considerable expectations upon arrival. The former Commander racked up 54 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles across eight games with his new team prior to the injury.
Of course, the linebacker spot has received further attention from the Steelers in recent months. Pittsburgh signed Patrick Queen in free agency to provide a new face in the starting lineup. The team also added Payton Wilson in the third round of the draft. The NC State alum enters the league with injury concerns but high upside given his college production.
In addition to those two, Pittsburgh has the likes of Elandon Roberts and Mark Robinson in place at the LB spot. The former was also a 2023 free agent signing, and he logged a heavy workload in his debut Steelers season. Roberts totaled 101 tackles and 2.5 sacks, and he could reprise a starting role alongside Queen if Holcomb were to miss considerable time. Robinson primarily played on special teams last year, and further injuries on the depth chart would likely be needed for him to take on notable defensive responsibilities.
Once training camp opens, the Steelers will make a decision with respect to placing Holcomb on the active/PUP list. Players can be activated from there at any time, but it appears availability of any kind close to the start of the 2024 campaign (and perhaps well beyond that point) should not be expected.
Bengals OL Jackson Carman On Roster Bubble
Throughout his career, Jackson Carman has taken part in offseason position battles. The fourth-year Bengals offensive lineman has not succeeded in that regard, and entering training camp he should not be considered a roster lock. 
Carman will need a strong performance this summer to avoid being cut, Jay Morrison of Pro Football Network writes. That comes as little surprise, considering how the 24-year-old’s Cincinnati tenure has gone to date. Carman lost out training camp battles for a starting guard role in each of his first two seasons in the league. He did step in as a temporary Jonah Williams left tackle replacement in 2022, but that was not followed up by a notable role the following season.
Carman was surpassed as Williams’ top competition for the starting right tackle gig last summer. The former second-rounder played just 12 offensive snaps in 2023, failing to secure the swing tackle role or a rotational spot along the interior. The team’s 2024 starting lineup along the O-line appears to be set (Orlando Brown Jr., Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa and either Trent Brown or Amarius Mims). Carman will compete for a backup interior role, Morrison notes.
The latter has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and he is set to carry a cap hit of $2.37MM in 2024. Cincinnati would save $1.68MM in cap space by cutting him, although doing so could of course result in Carman being brought back via the practice squad if he were to clear waivers. His performance over the coming weeks will be worth watching closely.
Elsewhere on the roster, Morrison notes punter Brad Robbins is in danger of losing his spot atop the depth chart. The 2023 sixth-rounder took on the role as Kevin Huber‘s successor last season, but he underwhelmed in gross (44.3) and net (40.6) average punts. Cincinnati signed Austin McNamara as a UDFA, and he finished 10th in NCAA history in average punt yardage (45.9). Robbins will therefore face a strong challenger as he and Carman look to retain their respective roster spots.
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Did Not Contemplate Sitting Out 2023 Season Following Hamstring Injury
This offseason’s Hard Knocks has generated a number of interesting details regarding the Giants. Similarly, Netflix’s Receiver series has offered a glimpse into Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson during his rehab from a 2023 hamstring injury. 
Jefferson suffered the injury in Week 5, leading to a notable absence for the first time in his record-setting career. Questions were raised about how willing he would be to return to the field given the fact extension talks from the previous offseason had not made it across the finish line. The 25-year-old could have shut himself down for the remainder of the campaign, but instead he suited up in Week 14 and played each subsequent contest.
Of course, Jefferson’s contract status was coupled with Kirk Cousins‘ Achilles tear as a reason why a cautious approach by team and player would have been logical. Minnesota relied on multiple replacements at quarterback and wound up outside of the playoff picture. Jefferson had a strong close to the campaign after he ensured he returned to the field rather than turning his attention to renewed extension talks.
“No one, no one, no one in this game can ever tell me to not play or to tank the season or to do any of that other stuff because I’m not that type of person,” the LSU alum said (h/t ESPN’s Kevin Seifert). “I want to play. I love the game of football. I want to be the best. In order for that to happen, I’ve got to be out there on that field… There’s no prolonging the injury, there’s no, ‘Oh he’s sitting out because of the contract. It’s not any of that. At all.”
Following the draft, the Vikings turned down trade interest and finalized an historic extension with Jefferson. The 2022 Offensive Player of the Year is now attached to a $35MM AAV, the highest ever given to a non-quarterback. Obviously, he and Minnesota will hope a repeat of last season’s hamstring injury – which the series notes was a high grade strain – will not be in store over the years to come. The same is true of the bruised lung he suffered in his first game upon return.
Cousins departed in free agency, and the Vikings will have a tandem of Sam Darnold and first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy at quarterback in 2024. Jefferson will be counted on to remain the focal point of the team’s passing game as he serves as the financial standard-bearer amongst wideouts. If his approach to his health remains the same now that his extension is in place as it was before, Minnesota’s top offensive weapon should be available as much as possible.
Latest On Titans S Jamal Adams
Jamal Adams was one of many veteran safeties who was released this offseason, with his Seahawks tenure ending amidst injury issues. The former All-Pro had a lengthy stay on the free agent market before signing a one-year Titans deal. 
That pact is worth the veteran minimum, a stark contrast to Adams’ Seattle contract. It comes as little surprise, however, considering the LSU alum was limited to a single contest in 2022 and then nine games last year. Adams will aim to put together a healthy campaign this season, something which will be required for him to generate a notable market in free agency next spring.
During an appearance on The Official Titans Podcast, the 28-year-old noted that he had not healed in full by the start of the 2023 campaign as he continued rehabbing his torn quad (video link). Last season saw Adams suffer a knee injury and spend considerable time on the sidelines, but it also hindered his effectiveness when on the field. Struggles in coverage in particular were present during the closing stages of his Seahawks tenure. Questions have been raised about Adams’ NFL future, but he remains confident regarding his ability to rebound – in part due to the fact his health is now in a better place.
“I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder for a long, long time,” Adams said. “For me, it’s more so I’m not trying to prove anyone wrong, I’m more so trying to prove myself right. I’m trying to get back out there to prove myself, that I’m still that guy and I still can play. Whether anyone believes in me or not, as long as I believe in myself that’s what matters.”
By joining the Titans, Adams reunited with Dennard Wilson. Tennessee’s new defensive coordinator served as the Jets’ defensive backs coach when Adams was in New York, and that familiarity could lead to a notable role in Nashville. Needless to say, plenty will be riding on Adams’ ability to remain healthy in 2024, and his performance with his new team will be interesting to monitor.