Jake Haener, Spencer Rattler To Compete For Saints’ Backup QB Role
Derek Carr will be expected to improve on his debut Saints campaign under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in 2024. New Orleans does not have Jameis Winston in place anymore, though, so the question of who will serve as his backup remains unanswered. 
Winston – who has spoken about his desire to regain a starting opportunity in the NFL – took a deal with the Browns this offseason which has him on track to back up Deshaun Watson. New Orleans still has Swiss Army knife Taysom Hill in the fold, but the team has used the past two drafts to add true signal-callers. Jake Haener (fourth round, 2023) and Spencer Rattler (fifth round, 2024) are set to to compete for the QB2 role this summer.
Both quarterbacks rotated between the second- and third-team offense this spring, as noted by ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. She adds, though, that Haener received the majority of backup reps, leaving Rattler in place for the third-string role as things stand. Head coach Dennis Allen confirmed (via Terrell) the pecking order will be decided during training camp.
Haener did not see the field during his rookie season, one which began with a six-game PED suspension. The Fresno State product remains under team control for three more years via his rookie contract, giving him plenty of time to develop into at least a consistent backup option. He noted the change to Kubiak and a new scheme has allowed him to take a step forward compared to 2023, although that progress will be tested during padded practices in the summer.
Rattler’s college career began with a stellar redshirt freshman season at Oklahoma, but his downturn in play (and the arrival of Caleb Williams) the following year led to a transfer. The 23-year-old’s South Carolina performances did not put him back on the Day 1 draft radar, and he witnessed a massive gap between the sixth quarterback (Bo Nix, No. 12 overall) being selected and his addition by the Saints at No. 150. Still, Rattler’s upside could help him ascend to the role of Carr’s understudy as early as his rookie campaign.
New Orleans also has veteran Nathan Peterman in the fold, although Terrell notes he is a practice squad candidate given the term on Haener and Rattler’s respective deals. The latter two do not have a path to a starting role in 2024, but Carr’s contract contains a potential out in March 2025. His performance will therefore be a key storyline come the fall; before that point, it will be interesting to see who claims the backup gig.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow Addresses 2024 Health Outlook
Joe Burrow threw without restrictions during spring practices for the Bengals, and he is expected to be full healthy by the start of the regular season. A key storyline for 2024 will be his ability to remain available for entire campaign, though. 
The former No. 1 pick entered last season with concerns stemming from the calf strain he suffered in the summer. A dislocated wrist ultimately shut him down for the year, adding further to his missed time in the NFL. Burrow has suffered two ACL tears in his career, and twice in his four Cincinnati campaigns he has been limited to 10 contests. Rather than focusing on a quick recovery process this offseason, attention shifted to a longer rehab aimed at putting him in a better position throughout the coming year.
“Number one, I want to be on the field for all the games,” Burrow said during an interview with Complex Sports. “I know I’m going to play well when I’m out there. I’m at that point in my career where I’ve seen enough ball and I know myself that I can go out there and play as well as anybody in the game.
“The biggest strides this year are going to be my body and learning how to get through the season, get through practices with my body feeling tip-top shape. And so that’s the main focus for the offseason.”
If healthy, the 27-year-old figures to give the Bengals a strong chance of contending in a highly competitive AFC. The team did manage a 9-8 record despite needing to lean on Jake Browning to close out the season in 2023, but its offense – featuring a number of new faces – will of course have a higher ceiling with Burrow back in place. Cincinnati’s receiving corps no longer includes Tyler Boyd, leaving the tandem of Ja’Marr Chase and franchise tag recipient Tee Higgins in place atop the depth chart; that pair has proven to be a strong pass-catching asset for Burrow.
Of course, expectations will remain high for the latter as he is tied with Trevor Lawrence for having the league’s highest AAV ($55MM) on his contract. Burrow is on the books through 2029, and his availability will be a central aspect of the Bengals’ success for the foreseeable future. It will be interesting to see if he makes progress this offseason with respect to improving his pain management and overall ability to stay on the field considering the importance of doing so for team and player in this case.
DB Patrick Peterson Aiming To Play 14th Season
Patrick Peterson spent time at corner and safety during his debut Steelers campaign. His performance in both roles was not at the level team or player expected, however, and it came as little surprise when he was released with one year remaining on his contract. 
The soon-to-be 34-year-old is unsigned, something which can be said of a number of veteran defensive backs at the moment. Many will likely find deals somewhat soon, and Peterson is among the options teams will be considering at the onset of training camp later this month. He is open to a Steelers reunion, but failing that he aims to be prepared for an agreement sending him to a new team.
Peterson noted during a recent appearance on his All Things Covered podcast that he will “definitely be ready” to join a suitor this summer (video link). The 2010s All-Decade member is now three years removed from the end of his decorated Cardinals tenure, having played in Minnesota for the 2021 and ’22 campaigns before his Pittsburgh one-and-done. While he drew a strong PFF coverage grade in 2022, Peterson’s evaluations in that regard have generally seen a drop off compared to his prime. As a result, his late-offseason free agent market will be interesting to monitor.
The safety position in particular has been adversely affected from a financial standpoint this offseason. Several established contributors at that spot were let go in the spring, and many have yet to land a new deal. At this point, the expectation is that players will need to settle for low-cost deals covering the 2024 campaign in a bid to rebuild their value. Peterson spoke about the devaluation of defensive backs experienced amongst many older but accomplished players this year.
“What do you think it is about the corners and the safety market at this day and age?” the eight-time Pro Bowler asked. “We know it’s a passing league, right? Why do you see so many high-caliber guys who’ve played at a high level – defensive backs – still free agents right now?”
Co-host Bryant McFadden noted that the salaries for veterans who sign before Week 1 are guaranteed for the full campaign, something which could provide an incentive for teams to wait on the DB market even further. The beginning of training camp will nevertheless likely prove to be an important checkpoint on the offseason calendar for Peterson and a host of other unsigned players.
S Damar Hamlin On Bills’ Roster Bubble
The 2023 season saw Damar Hamlin win the PFWA’s Comeback Player of the Year award as he succeeded in resuming his NFL career. The Bills safety did not see notable playing time, however, and as such his roster spot is uncertain entering training camp. 
Hamlin managed to return to full health from his cardiac arrest in time to be available for the entire 2023 campaign. Both Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde remained atop the depth chart, and as a result Hamlin only logged 17 defensive snaps during the season. That came as no surprise, although he did see a 65% snap share on special teams. Continuing to be a third phase producer would likely be Hamlin’s strongest path to a spot on Buffalo’s 53-man roster.
Poyer was released this offseason, and Hyde’s playing future remains in doubt. Several names are still ahead of Hamlin in the safety pecking order, however, including Taylor Rapp (who was re-signed), free agent addition Mike Edwards and second-round rookie Cole Bishop. For that reason, Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News writes Hamlin will need a strong training camp performance to avoid being cut.
The presence of Cameron Lewis – who has experience both at safety and slot corner – is another factor which could leave Hamlin on the outside looking in. The latter has made 38 combined regular season and playoff appearances, with all of his 13 starts coming in 2022 while filling in for an injured Hyde. One year remains on Hamlin’s rookie contract, and he is set to carry a cap hit of $1.1MM in 2024. Almost all of that figure would translate to cap savings with a release or trade during roster cutdowns.
Hamlin’s cap hit is certainly not prohibitive, but finances have been a central component of each of the Bills’ decisions this offseason. Buffalo currently sits 24th in the NFL in cap space with just over $10MM available. A portion of that would be needed if Hyde elected to play a 12th season in the league and he returned to the Bills. Such a scenario would push Hamlin further down the depth chart this summer, one in which his short-term future will be determined.
AFC South Notes: Zentner, Texans, Colts
Ryan Stonehouse‘s Week 1 availability for the Titans is in question. The record-setting punter is rehabbing ACL and MCL tears in addition to a broken bone, but he is hoping to recover in time for the start of the season.
If that does not turn out to be the case, the team’s other in-house option would by Ty Zentner. The former UDFA saw time with both Tennessee and Houston last season, and he made five appearances after Stonehouse’s injury. Zentner averaged 46.5 yards per punt with the Titans, and he remains in place as a developmental practice squad candidate.
The 26-year-old has improved this offseason, team reporter Jim Wyatt writes. He adds, to no surprise, that as a result Tennessee is not likely to add another punter this summer. Zentner is on track to handle punting duties until Stonehouse returns, and his performance in training camp and the preseason will be worth monitoring with respect to if the team changes course and pursues a veteran.
Here are some other notes out of the AFC South:
- The Texans have made a few changes in the front office, including the hiring of Steve Cargile. The former Patriots exec will hold the titles of senior personnel executive and assistant director of pro scouting, as detailed by KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Cargile bounced around the league during his playing career (2004-09) before joining the Patriots’ front office in 2021. It was learned this spring Eliot Wolf would not retain him, but the 42-year-old has not needed to wait long to find a new gig.
- The aforementioned Wilson piece also notes that DJ Debick will replace Ronnie McGill as Houston’s pro scouting director moving forward. The latter’s contract was not renewed this offseason, paving the way for Debick to take on the role. From 2016-21 the Patriots employed Debick in their scouting department. That time overlapped with Texans GM Nick Caserio‘s New England tenure, and in 2022 Debick was hired as Houston’s assistant pro scouting director. Now, he will lead that department shortly after reuniting with Caserio.
- The Colts recently announced that Joey Elliott has received a promotion from area scout to assistant pro scouting director. As Neil Stratton of Inside the League notes, Elliott’s tenure in Indianapolis (which began in 2017 and was preceded by a stint with the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks) saw him receive recognition on the 2023 BART list as one of the conference’s top scouts. His performance to date with the Colts has earned him a move up the executive ladder along with added responsibilities in 2024.
Raiders Could Be In Market For CB, RB Additions
One of the central storylines for the Raiders during training camp will be the competition for the starting quarterback position. This summer will serve as a key evaluation period at several other spots, though, and additions could be made depending on how Vegas’ in-house options perform. 
The cornerback spot has frequently been mentioned as a potential weak spot on the Raiders’ defense. Nate Hobbs is on track to handle first-team duties in the slot, while Jack Jones is believed to be set to handle one of the starting perimeter roles. The other is available to Jakorian Bennett and Brandon Facyson for at least the time being, but Vegas bringing in an outside contender would not come as a surprise.
The Raiders were interested in veteran cover man Steven Nelson prior to his retirement, Vic Tafur of The Athletic writes (subscription required). Nelson played 140 regular and postseason games, but last month he elected to hang up his cleats. That decision thinned the cornerback market to a degree, but the likes of Stephon Gilmore, Xavien Howard, Adoree’ Jackson and Patrick Peterson are still on the market.
Like many veterans at this time of year, any of the available corners could likely be added by the Raiders or any other interested team at a relatively low cost. Vegas has over $34MM in cap space, but the team is unlikely to make a lucrative addition in the absence of a major injury. Nevertheless, Tafur predicts Vegas will pursue a signing (not unlike that of Marcus Peters last year) at or around the beginning of training camp.
Likewise, the team’s backfield could see a new face this summer. Josh Jacobs‘ departure has the paved the way for Zamir White to ascend to a starter’s workload, a role he held late last year. The 2022 fourth-rounder impressed when Jacobs was injured, and he could cement his RB1 status over free agent signing Alexander Mattison with a strong showing in camp. As Tafur adds, though, an underwhelming performance by either early in the summer could drive new general manager Tom Telesco to seek out a signing.
Dalvin Cook, Kareem Hunt, Jerick McKinnon and Latavius Murray are some of the backfield options still available. That group also includes Brandon Bolden, who spent the past two years with the Raiders in a special teams capacity. A reunion on the latter front or an outside addition is feasible given Vegas’ cap situation, and it will be interesting to see if Telesco pursues one this summer.
Latest On LB Blake Cashman’s Free Agency
The Texans’ success on defense in 2023 led to a few members of that unit securing lucrative deals on the open market this spring. In the case of linebacker Blake Cashman, several interested parties emerged before he chose his next destination. 
The 28-year-old inked a three-year, $22.5MM contract with his hometown Vikings in March. Considering Cashman primarily on special teams for three of his five seasons to date, the pact represents a notable windfall. Houston was interested in keeping him in the fold for 2024 and beyond, but the team expected a strong market to exist once Cashman was known to be available.
Going further on that note, the former fifth-rounder indicated (via Andrew Krammer of Minneapolis Star Tribune) that the Broncos, Packers, Falcons and Steelers showed interest in addition to the Texans prior to his Vikings agreement. Cashman is a veteran of 21 starts, 13 of which came last season. During DeMeco Ryans‘ debut campaign as Houston’s head coach, he shattered his career high in tackles (106) while adding a pair of sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery.
That production – along with the terms of his contract, which includes $15MM in total guarantees – will lead to high expectations for Cashman. Minnesota made a notable investment in another ex-Texan (edge rusher Jonathan Greenard) this offseason, and both players will be counted on to handle a starter’s workload on defense. For Cashman, that would have been the case on any new team considering the contract he landed.
Denver lost Josey Jewell in free agency, creating a linebacker vacancy which was filled (at least in part) by the addition of Cody Barton. Green Bay released De’Vondre Campbell in a cost-shedding move, but no outside move was made to replace him before Edgerrin Cooper‘s selection in the second round of the draft. Atlanta was quiet on the linebacker front this offseason, waiting until Day 3 of the draft to make a move (JD Bertrand). Pittsburgh made by far the most lucrative LB investment of the group by inking Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41MM deal.
The decisions made by the other teams interested in Cashman is a simple ‘what if’ matter at this point, of course. Still, it is notable he managed to generate enough of a market to draw interest from several teams after his strong showing in 2023. Repeating that performance moving forward will prove Minnesota’s investment in him to be worthwhile.
Latest On Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa Talks
A number of quarterback dominoes have yet to fall this offseason, and the situation regarding Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins remains unsettled. A lucrative investment in the Pro Bowl passer could still very well be worked out relatively soon, however. 
Contract talks have been ongoing throughout the spring, and developments on the QB front have helped Tagovailoa’s bargaining position. The Lions gave Jared Goff a third contract carrying an annual average value of $53MM before Trevor Lawrence secured a Jaguars extension worth $55MM per year. Tagovailoa is younger than Goff while he has generally outproduced Lawrence when healthy.
Keeping that in mind, the 26-year-old has publicly stated how he is well aware of where the market currently is, suggesting a hometown discount should not be expected in his case. Tagovailoa is already thought to have turned down at least one extension offer, and while he has cited progress there is ground still to be made up. A report from last week indicated Miami has yet to submit a market-value offer.
Still, efforts from team and player continue on the negotiating front. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes both parties “seem determined” to work out an extension agreement, adding a “decent chance” remains that one will be in place before the start of the 2024 season. Plenty of blockbuster extensions are not finalized until training camp, and this summer is likely to be no different with a number of potential holdouts looming and the likes of Dak Prescott and Jordan Love also positioned for big-money QB deals.
As things stand, Tagovailoa is set to play out his $23.17MM fifth-year option this season. The Alabama product put together a healthy campaign in 2023, leading the league in passing yards (4,624) while adding a career-high 29 touchdowns. Questions about his durability and ceiling as a passer could limit the team’s willingness to make a long-term investment, on the other hand, which could lead to a patient approach and a potential 2025 franchise tag coming into play.
Of course, the Dolphins also have the Tyreek Hill contract situation as a summer priority. The former receiver leader (in terms of annual average compensation) is seeking a raise, and accommodating that wish will alter Miami’s cap structure for 2024 and beyond. With respect to Tagovailoa, meanwhile, traction at the negotiating table will be worth watching closely for.
Nick Cross In Lead For Colts Starting S Role
Julian Blackmon spent a notable amount of time on the free agent market, but he ultimately re-signed with the Colts. Indianapolis has one starting safety spot locked up as a result, but the other is up for grabs. 
Similar to slot corner Kenny Moore, Blackmon is a rare known commodity in the Colts’ secondary at the moment. The team has a number of options at both the cornerback and safety positions, many of whom are lacking in experience. At the latter spot, Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas II are the primary contenders for a starting position.
It was Cross who took the majority of first-team reps during OTAs and minicamp, James Boyd of The Athletic writes (subscription required). The 2022 third-rounder entered the league with high expectations, and he earned a start in each of his first two games during his rookie season. Between that point and the final two weeks of the 2023 campaign, however, Cross was relegated to backup duties.
The 22-year-old has primarily played on special teams to date, but he has contributed 56 tackles, one interception and two pass deflections on defense. Cross was replaced as a starter by veteran Rodney McLeod Jr. in 2022, but no such presence is on the Colts’ safety depth chart at the moment. Ronnie Harrison Jr. has spent considerable time on the backend in his career, but Boyd notes he is likely to remain in the linebacking role he took on with Indianapolis last season.
Thomas (a seventh-rounder in Cross’ draft class) has 34 appearances and 25 starts to his name. He has produced six interceptions and 10 pass deflections, but struggles in coverage have been a factor in his career as well. The 26-year-old has two years remaining on his rookie deal, and he could essentially swap roles with Cross with respect to third phase duties if the spring pecking order carries over into the season.
Indianapolis selected Jaylon Carlies and Jaylin Simpson in the fifth round of this year’s draft, giving the team developmental backup safety options. Several veterans at the position remain unsigned, however, and members of that group are not expected to cost much for interested teams. To little surprise, then, Boyd echoes previously-expressed sentiments that the Colts could be suitors for an addition capable of pushing Cross and Thomas for starting duties. Indianapolis currently has nearly $26MM in cap space.
Cowboys LB DeMarvion Overshown In Line For Starting Role?
The Cowboys were among the quietest teams in free agency this offseason, but the team did add Eric Kendricks as a veteran linebacking presence. The former All-Pro is on track for a starting role, but he could be joined in that respect by a player yet to see regular season action in the NFL. 
DeMarvion Overshown is expected to handle first-team duties if he can remain healthy this season, Jon Machota of The Athletic notes (subscription required). The 2023 third-rounder was sidelined for his entire rookie season due to an ACL tear. He did not take part in offseason workouts this spring while continuing to rehab, but returning to full health in time for Week 1 could lead to a notable role.
Overshown entered the NFL with high expectations given his college production. The Texas alum posted 96 stops, 10 tackles for loss and four sacks in his final collegiate season, showcasing his value against the run and the pass. Remaining on the field for third downs in particular would constitute a sign of confidence in Overshown on the team’s part if such a workload were to emerge come the fall.
Of course, using the 23-year-old as a full-time defender would limit Damone Clark‘s usage. The latter logged a heavy workload as a rookie in 2022 before becoming a central member of the Cowboys’ defense last season. Clark handled a 73% defensive snap share, racking up 109 tackles. Dallas’ run defense was a sore spot in 2023, however, so it comes as little surprise there will be new faces competing for roster spots and playing time during training camp and the preseason.
Kendricks – who backed out of a 49ers deal before signing with Dallas – is a highly familiar face for new Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. The pair spent considerable time together in Minnesota, and Kendricks noted Zimmer’s presence as a factor in deciding to join the Cowboys this offseason. The 32-year-old has 127 starts to his name, and he will look to stabilize the second level of Dallas’ defense this season.
In addition to Overshown and Clark likely battling for a starting role this summer, the Cowboys have third-round rookie Marist Liufau and UFL addition Willie Harvey Jr. amongst their depth options at the linebacker spot. The latter two will likely handle heavy special teams workloads if they survive roster cuts, but Overshown’s role will be worth watching closely once the campaign begins.