Seahawks Sign QB P.J. Walker
JUNE 13: Walker received a $20K roster bonus as part of his Seahawks agreement, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes. The deal (which calls for $1.15MM in total compensation) qualifies for the veteran salary benefit, and it carries a cap charge of $985K.
JUNE 6: Seattle is set to add depth in the quarterback room. The Seahawks have a deal in place with P.J. Walker, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Geno Smith is atop the depth chart for at least one more season, but the team will have a new backup in 2024. Seattle traded for Sam Howell to serve as Drew Lock‘s replacement at the QB2 spot. Entering Thursday, Smith and Howell were the only signal-callers on the Seahawks’ offseason roster, so Walker will at least provide depth for the immediate future.
The latter has seen NFL action for each of the past four seasons, including a three-year run in Carolina. Walker made seven starts with the Panthers (including five in 2022), but the ex-XFLer was not retained last offseason. He briefly spent time with the Bears before signing with the Browns. Walker did not survive initial roster cuts, but he was retained on Cleveland’s practice squad.
The 29-year-old was eventually moved to the active roster and he started a pair of games in place of the injured Deshaun Watson. Walker only completed 48.6% of his attempts across six Cleveland appearances, though, throwing five interceptions and just one touchdown pass. Cleveland moved on to Dorian Thompson-Robinson and later Joe Flacco to close out the campaign, with other passers being brought in this spring.
With the bulk of the league’s QB movement well in the rearview, Walker remained on the market deep into the offseason. He will now get an opportunity in Seattle, though, to carve out a roster spot. NFL teams will be able to elevate practice squad passers for the emergency third QB role an unlimited amount of times in 2024, something which could help players like Walker stay on at least a taxi squad for extended periods. It will be interesting to see if today’s deal allows him to find a spot on Seattle’s roster through the coming campaign.
LB Lavonte David Contemplated Retirement Before Re-Signing With Buccaneers
One of many in-house moves the Buccaneers have made this offseason was another re-up with Lavonte David. The All-Pro linebacker inked a one-year deal in March to set himself up for a 13th season in Tampa Bay. 
That pact is worth $8.5MM, marking a raise from the previous campaign. David had a strong season individually in 2023 (134 tackles, 4.5 sacks), and that continued production helped the Buccaneers reach the postseason for a fourth straight year. That ability to qualify for the playoffs was one of the reasons he elected to continue his Bucs tenure.
As Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times notes, David also gave at least some consideration to joining a new team in the offseason. The 34-year-old acknowledged the possibility of signing with a contender ahead of 2024 “crossed my mind.” Rather than starting over in a new environment or hanging up his cleats, though, he will remain in place as Tampa Bay looks to earn David’s second career Super Bowl.
“Honestly, that didn’t take long,” he added when discussing his decision to re-sign. “I definitely still love the game of football. I still want to play and I still feel like I’m playing at a high level. I still feel like I can compete with the best and obviously the organization felt the same way. It was a no-brainer for me to come back. Us being competitive also played a main part in it.”
The Buccaneers have been busy retaining players this spring. The likes of David, Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. have each signed multi-year deals to keep them in place. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs is in need of a lucrative extension of his own, but he will at least be in the fold for 2024 via his fifth-year option. That core should give Tampa Bay a strong chance of topping the NFC South again.
David said earlier in the offseason his choice would come down to either a new Bucs agreement or retirement. The fact he gave thought to joining a new team is a notable departure from that stance, although it comes as little surprise the Super Bowl LV winner did indeed consider ending his career. For at least one more year, however, David will add further to his Buccaneers accolades as the team pursues a deep postseason run.
Lions Sign Round 1 CB Terrion Arnold, Complete Draft Class
Terrion Arnold signed his rookie deal with the Lions on Thursday, per a team announcement. As a result, each member of the team’s draft class is now on the books. 
Detroit entered the offseason with cornerback seen as a pressing need, and the team addressed it with the trade acquisition of Carlton Davis and the signing of Amik Robertson. The Lions moved on from Cameron Sutton following his domestic violence arrest, though, leaving room for draft investments.
The 2024 draft’s hosts pulled off a trade with the Cowboys on Day 1, moving up five spots to No. 24. That allowed them to select Arnold and prevent a division rival the opportunity to do so. The Packers were reportedly high on the Alabama product, making them a threat to draft him at No. 25. Instead, Arnold will begin his career in the Motor City with high expectations.
The Freshman All-American took on a large role for the Crimson Tide in 2022. He posted one interception and eight pass breakups that season, but entering this past campaign it was teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry who was regarded as a better prospect. That changed over the course of 2023, with Arnold excelling with respect to coverage and ball production.
The latter led the SEC in interceptions (five) and finished second in the conference in pass deflections (12). Arnold – who was connected to a rumor about the Raiders deciding not to draft him via a coin flip – earned first-team All-SEC and All-American honors as a result and cemented his status as one of the top corners in this year’s class. He was the second prospect at the position to hear his name called, going two spots after the Eagles added Quinyon Mitchell.
Just like Philadelphia, Detroit doubled down on corners by adding Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the second round. He and Arnold will compete for a starting role in a secondary which features Davis, Robertson and versatile 2023 second-rounder Brian Branch. Regardless of how the unit shakes out, Arnold’s addition should help Detroit take a notable step forward in pass defense this year.
Here is the final breakdown of the Lions’ draft class:
- Round 1, No. 24 (from Cowboys): Terrion Arnold (CB, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 61: Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (CB, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 126 (from Packers through Jets): Giovanni Manu (T, British Columbia) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 132 (from 49ers through Eagles): Sione Vaki (S, Utah) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 189 (from Broncos through Rams, Bills and Texans): Mekhi Wingo (DT, LSU) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 201 (from Buccaneers): Christian Mahogany (G, Boston College) (signed)
Bengals Extend C Ted Karras
11:52am: Karras will receive an average of $6.6MM per year across 2024 and ’25, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. That represents a raise to go along with an added year of security in his current home. When speaking about the deal, Karras confirmed (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer) he hopes to finish out his career as a Bengal. He will at least play out a fourth campaign with the team by finishing this new pact.
8:46am: Ted Karras landed the most lucrative deal of his career in 2022 when he joined the Bengals, and he will be remaining in Cincinnati for at least the next two years. The veteran center signed a one-year extension on Thursday, per a team announcement. 
As a result of the deal, Karras is now under contract through 2025. The 31-year-old has served as Cincinnati’s full-time center starter since his arrival, something which was a key part of the team’s re-tooling along the offensive line. Karras signed a three-year, $18MM deal following his second Patriots stint. The $6MM AAV of the pact was double that of his next largest contract, leading to high expectations.
In both of his Bengals campaigns to date, the former sixth-rounder has graded out as PFF’s 15th-best center. That falls squarely in line with his evaluations in past seasons, making it little surprise Cincinnati has elected to add a new year to his contract. None of Karras’ $5.8MM base salary for 2024 was guaranteed as things stood, and he was set to count $7.4MM against the cap. It will be interesting to see how much those figures change as a result of this extension.
Cincinnati has taken the free agent route to address the O-line in recent years, with Karras being joined by the likes of right guard Alex Cappa (signed in 2022) and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (2023) as big-money additions. Cappa has two more years on his deal, and Brown has three. That veteran trio will thus remain intact for the foreseeable future as the team – at least potentially – relies on a pair of players attached to rookie pacts to round out the starting alignment up front.
Cordell Volson has served as a full-time left guard starter during his two years in the NFL, and 2024 first-rounder Amarius Mims could take on a first-team role right away at the right tackle spot vacated in free agency by Jonah Williams. The Georgia product played sparingly in college, though, so another experienced signing (Trent Brown) could wind up logging RT starts in 2024.
Regardless of how that situation shakes out, Karras will be in place for another two years. Consistent play in the middle of the line should therefore be expected as the Bengals aim to continue improving up front.
Jets Sign DE Takk McKinley
Several veterans around the NFL have used ongoing minicamps as a means of trying out with a team in the hopes of landing a new deal. In the case of edge rusher Takkarist McKinley, that has produced a Jets agreement. 
McKinley took part in the Jets’ minincamp, as noted by Brian Costello of the New York Post. The former first-rounder did enough to secure a roster spot for at least the summer. He and the team have a deal in place, as first reported by Connor Hughes of SNY. The deal is now official, per a team announcement.
The 28-year-old began his career with the Falcons, logging 25 starts across 49 games. Expectations were high after McKinley racked up 13 sacks in his first two campaigns, but he has failed to match that production since. Following the end of his Atlanta tenure, he bounced around to the Bengals, 49ers and Raiders.
That led to a one-year Browns contract in 2021. McKinley recorded 2.5 sacks that year, and they remain the most recent of his career. The UCLA product played sparingly for the Rams in 2022, collecting just one tackle. A Cowboys re-signing last March did not yield a roster spot. He was out of the league last season, so this agreement represents an opportunity to revive his career and compete for a depth role along the Jets’ defensive front.
New York saw Bryce Huff depart in free agency. While Haason Reddick was acquired as a replacement, the team later moved on from John Franklin-Myers in a cost-shedding trade during the draft. Reddick is under contract for one more year, although his ongoing absence from the team has cast doubt on his long-term future in the Big Apple.
The Jets have recent first-rounders Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald in place along the edge. The latter in particular is expected to see a notable uptick in workload despite the former and Reddick being set to handle first-team responsibilities. McKinley will nevertheless spend training camp looking to carve out a rotational and/or special teams role in his bid to return to NFL game action.
Eagles Will Not Face Tampering Charges
The NFL has been investigating tampering violations against the Falcons for their addition of Kirk Cousins and the Eagles for their Saquon Barkley signing. In the case of the latter, no discipline will be forthcoming. 
“After a thorough review of the Philadelphia Eagles signing of Saquon Barkley, the NFL today informed the club that the investigation did not discover sufficient evidence to support a finding that the Anti-Tampering Policy was violated,” a statement from the league reads (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero).
“In coming to this conclusion, the league reviewed phone logs, text messages and other documents related to Philadelphia’s free agency strategy and decision to sign Barkley. The NFL also interviewed several members of the organization, including [general manager] Howie Roseman and [head coach] Nick Sirianni, as well as Barkley and Penn State head coach James Franklin.”
Remarks made by Franklin indicated Roseman and Barkley directly spoke with one another before the opening of the new league year. For players who do not represent themselves – which is the case for Barkley – that is prohibited by league policy. Throughout the investigation, the Eagles have maintained no violation occurred.
That is the same for the Falcons, although Atlanta has been expected to receive a stiffer penalty than Philadelphia as a result of the Cousins inquiry. A recent report indicated both investigations would likely reach a conclusion soon, and that has proven to be the case.
The NFL’s statement notes that new evidence could prompt the Eagles investigation to be re-opened. As things stand now, however, no fines or loss of draft picks will be forthcoming for the team. Barkley is tied to Philadelphia through 2026 after he inked a $37.75MM pact in free agency.
Saints TE Juwan Johnson To Undergo Foot Surgery
Juwan Johnson suffered an injury during the Saints’ minicamp, as first reported by Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. The veteran tight end is facing notable absence as a result. 
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the ailment – a foot injury – will require surgery. Both Schefter and Underhill add the team is hopeful Johnson will be available by the start of the regular season, but at a minimum he will be sidelined for the bulk of training camp. His procedure will take place next week.
New Orleans’ tight end depth chart would be dealt a blow if Johnson were forced to miss time in September. The 27-year-old has received 124 targets in the two seasons following his transition from receiver to tight end. He has totaled 876 yards and 11 touchdowns during that span, and a notable offensive role should await him when he is healthy.
Johnson signed a two-year extension worth just over $12MM last offseason. That move took away the need for an RFA tender and included $8.5MM in guarantees. Another $2MM is available via incentives, but missed time would obviously hurt the former UDFA’s chances of earning them. As a pending free agent, Johnson’s value could also be affected depending on the length of his recovery and his production when back on the field.
The Saints have Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau as other options the tight end spot. The former is in line to once again serve in a unique offensive role in 2024, whereas the latter could see an increased workload if Johnson is unavailable for Week 1. ESPN’s Katherine Terrell notes Moreau (who played in 15 games last year following a successful bout with cancer) was used heavily during minicamp practice yesterday with Johnson sidelined.
New Orleans has other, less experienced options in the fold. That group includes rookie Dallin Holker, who received one of the league’s largest guarantees ($235K) amongst this year’s UDFAs. As New Orleans proceeds with a shorthanded tight end group through the summer, Johnson’s recovery will be worth monitoring.
Pats’ Matt Judon Addresses Contract Status
Last month, Matt Judon made it clear his absence from the voluntary portion of offseason workouts would not continue into mandatory minicamp. The Patriots’ top edge rusher is indeed present for the final aspect of the team’s offseason program. 
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Judon staged a hold-in during training camp last summer before a contract resolution was found. That has left him as a pending free agent due $7.5MM in 2024. Talks on an extension – one which would no doubt come with a raise – have taken place this offseason, though nothing appears to be imminent. In spite of that, Judon’s stance on his financial status suggests a repeat of 2023 should not be expected.
“I’m just gonna get ready to play,” the four-time Pro Bowler said during an appearance on The Rich Shertenlieb Show. “And you know, you kind of don’t – you kind of keep throwing tantrums, tantrums, tantrums, and then you don’t come out there and do what you’re supposed to do? It kind of gets old real fast, you know. I ain’t really trying to do that… Because that, last year, that stuff was trash. I ain’t really like that.”
Of course, Judon’s potential leverage with respect to any further contract-related absences is limited compared to last season. The 31-year-old was held to just four games due to a biceps injury, and as a result his four sacks were his lowest single-season total since his rookie campaign. In his previous two New England seasons, though, Judon racked up 28 sacks. That production makes his accord a rather team-friendly one, something he is aware of but not looking to change.
“Maybe they didn’t know what I was gonna be in four years,” Judon added when referring to his original four-year, $54.5MM Patriots deal. “Maybe they knew exactly what I was gonna be, and it’s at a discount. That’s just how it happens. The money will come. It’ll come if I’m good enough, right? If they value what I do… I think my kids and stuff are gonna be set up for the rest of their life, [with] how much I have already been paid. So I’m gonna be all right whatever I get paid.”
The former fifth-rounder is set to carry a $14.68MM cap hit this season, and an extension could lower it while providing Judon with added security. Even if that does not take place, though, a smoother training camp process should be in store for team and player this summer.
Haason Reddick, Aaron Rodgers Absent From Jets’ Minicamp
Haason Reddick remained away from the Jets during the voluntary portion of offseason workouts. The Pro Bowl edge rusher was expected to be present during his new team’s minicamp, but that has not turned out to be the case.
Reddick is not in attendance for the opening of New York’s minicamp, SNY’s Connor Hughes reports. Head coach Robert Saleh has since confirmed the news, adding (via Brian Costello of the New York Post) that he and Reddick spoke this weekend. Saleh had publicly expressed his expectation that the offseason trade acquisition would attend minicamp, making today’s news a surprise.
By virtue of missing out on OTAs, Reddick lost out on a $250K workout bonus. He will now be subject to fines as a result of his decision not to attend minicamp, a strategy often employed by players seeking new deals. The 29-year-old falls squarely into that category, with one year remaining on his current pact. Reddick is due $14.5MM in 2024, a figure much lower than the top of the edge rush market.
Reddick thrived during his two-year run with the Eagles, racking up 27 sacks and a pair of Pro Bowl nods. He expressed a desire to remain in Philadelphia on a new deal, but with no agreement in place the team elected to move on. Reddick was dealt to the Jets after the Eagles signed Bryce Huff to serve as a replacement. That set up the coming season as a potential walk year, unless New York pursues a long-term extension.
The Jets are prepared to use Reddick as a three-down starter along the edge, something which was not the case with Huff. The former’s attendance at training camp will be worth watching if no resolution is reached on the contract front. After an offseason in which a number of edge rushers landed lucrative new deals, there are now 12 players at the position attached to an annual average value above $20MM, and Reddick could attempt to join that group.
Saleh also said on Tuesday that quarterback Aaron Rodgers is away from the team for minicamp. Rodgers took part in voluntary workouts, but an engagement taking place this week will lead to an absence which Saleh indicated (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini) is unexcused. Both Rodgers and Reddick will therefore be subject to roughly $100K in fines which the team has the option of waiving.
Latest On Chiefs’ BJ Thompson
BJ Thompson‘s situation continues to point in the right direction. The second-year Chiefs defensive end has been released from the hospital, his agent confirmed (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero). 
Thompson suffered a seizure last week which caused him to go into cardiac arrest. The 27-year-old was in the team’s facility at the time during a special teams meeting. He received immediate medical attention before being taken to a local hospital. One day after the incident, he was alert and responsive.
Providing further details on the matter, PJ Green of FOX4 Kansas City notes Thompson was in cardiac arrest for less than one minute before one defibrillator shock was administered. After spending last Thursday night on a ventilator, his situation was reported to be on a positive trajectory. Indeed, Chiefs trainer Rick Burkholder confirmed (via ESPN’s Adam Teicher) Thompson’s recovery is “headed into the absolute right direction.”
As a rookie, Thompson made just one appearance for Kansas City. The former fifth-rounder took part in the team’s regular season finale, logging a rotational defensive role along with a 59% special teams snap share. A similar workload will likely await him in 2024, presuming he is able to recover in time for the start of the campaign.
Kansas City’s mandatory minicamp takes place from Tuesday to Thursday. That will be followed by a break until training camp begins next month. By that point, all parties involved will be hoping for further good news as it pertains to Thompson’s health.