Dolphins, S Jevon Holland Have Not Discussed Extension
Tua Tagovailoa is in line for an extension, but a number of other Dolphins are also eligible for deals keeping them in the fold beyond 2024. That group includes safety Jevon Holland, who has one year remaining on his rookie pact. 
An April report indicated Miami was interested in a Holland extension, and general manager Chris Grier confirmed that is the case. Both Tagovailoa and receiver Jaylen Waddle (who is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2025) represent more notable financial priorities, however. That has left Holland waiting for negotiations to begin in his case.
“I’m on the back burner,” the latter said when speaking about the lack of contract talks (via Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald). “I don’t know much. “I just work here. I just work here.”
Holland, 24, has started all but three of his 46 combined regular and postseason appearances for the Dolphins. The former second-rounder had a strong season in 2022, racking up 96 tackles and a pair of interceptions. He was limited to 12 games last year, however, due to a pair of MCL sprains. In 2023, Holland totaled 74 stops, three forced fumbles and a 99-yard pick-six.
The Oregon product also showed improvement in coverage, allowing a passer rating of 99.3 and a pair of touchdowns as the nearest defender. Still, his level of play after returning to the field likely hindered his asking price on a new contract. The overall landscape of the safety position is also a factor working against him with respect to commanding a lucrative extension.
The 2024 offseason has seen a number of high-profile safeties let go, and a number of them remain unsigned well after the draft. While Antoine Winfield Jr. represents a notable exception, the position as a whole has been undervalued recently. That will most acutely affect veterans seeking third or fourth contracts, but it will no doubt be a factor in Holland’s attempts to secure a raise on his second deal.
The Dolphins lost Brandon Jones and DeShon Elliott in free agency, while the team retained Elijah Campbell and added Jordan Poyer. The latter (who came over from the Bills on a one-year, $2MM deal) is set to handle a starting role in 2024. The same will be true of Holland, and his play will particularly be worth watching in the event no new deal gets worked out over the remainder of the offseason.
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Seeking To Become NFL’s Highest-Paid Non-QB?
Justin Jefferson is one of several high-profile players currently absent from OTAs in the NFL. Missing out on voluntary workouts, the 2023 Offensive Player of the Year is in talks with the Vikings on a monster extension. 
Jefferson is a strong candidate to become the league’s top earner at the receiver position. Given his age (24) and the historic start to his career, however, that may not be the bar he is aiming for. Outkick’s Armando Salguero reports Jefferson is “expecting” to surpass Nick Bosa as the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
Bosa’s 49ers deal, signed last offseason, carries an AAV of $34MM. That figure comfortably moved him to the top of the pecking order amongst defenders (although Chris Jones is now not far behind) and it surpassed the top of the receiver market at the time. Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM-per-season Dolphins contract has been eclipsed recently by new deals for Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions) and A.J. Brown (Eagles).
The latter pact is worth an average of $32MM per season, and it therefore represents the new target for Jefferson and other extension-eligible wideouts. Salguero notes Jefferson has already turned down one offer which would have allowed him to top the receiver market, but that was before Brown’s deal was signed. Talks with the Vikings nearly produced an agreement last offseason, but instead the LSU alum remains on track for free agency next year as things stand. Jefferson is set to earn $19.74MM in 2024 on his fifth-year option.
A multi-year pact will check in at a much larger rate, although particular figures regarding AAV are not known at this point in negotiations. Salguero adds the three-time Pro Bowler was previously seeking $40MM annually, but that may no longer be the case. That figure matches the AAV of the contracts quarterbacks Daniel Jones, Matthew Stafford and Dak Prescott are presently attached to.
With respect to guaranteed compensation, Salguero reports Jefferson is aiming for roughly $100MM on his next deal. Only eight contracts in the league are at that mark in terms of total guarantees; all of them, unsurprisingly, belong to quarterbacks. It will be interesting to see if Jefferson manages to reach (or at least approach) his asking price in terms of total and guaranteed money.
Minnesota has a cost-effective quarterback room with Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy positioned to replace Kirk Cousins in the short and long term. The team’s skill position group features one expensive pact (tight end T.J. Hockenson), but wideout Jordan Addison will be attached to his rookie contract for at least the next three years. An expensive new deal for left tackle Christian Darrisaw will likely be on the Vikings’ books down the road, but it will pale in comparison to the one Jefferson will have if talks can produce a market-topping agreement.
Patriots G Cole Strange Could Miss Start Of 2024 Season
Cole Strange saw his second season with the Patriots come to an abrupt end in December. The knee injury which forced him to end the campaign on injured reserve is threatening to keep him sidelined into the fall. 
New England’s starting left guard is expected to miss the beginning of the 2024 campaign, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. He adds Strange could be unavailable until the middle of the coming season, something which would deal a considerable blow to the team’s offensive front. The 2022 first-rounder has started all 27 of his appearances to date.
“He’s more of a, let’s say, week-by-week or you can go month-by-month if you want to,” head coach Jerod Mayo said when speaking about Strange’s health status (via Rapoport). “But he is working hard, he is doing his rehab. Here every day. He is in the meeting room, so I am happy where he is.”
Eyebrows were raised when the Patriots selected Strange on Day 1, as many expected him to be a mid-round prospect. His rookie season produced a PFF grade of only 54.6, which ranked 61st amongst qualifying guards. The UT-Chattanooga product took a step forward in his 10-game follow-up season, though. Strange earned a 64.6 mark, slotting him 26th at his position.
The Patriots – a team which is set to use free agent addition Chukwuma Okorafor on the blindside after he previously worked at right tackle during his Steelers tenure – will have a notably different left side of the line if Strange is unable to start the season. As Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald notes, 2023 fourth-rounder Sidy Sow took first-team left guard reps when the team’s OTAs began yesterday. The 25-year-old Canadian logged 13 starts as a rookie, all of which came at right guard. He would thus represent one of the top options to replace Strange this fall if he is unable to suit up.
T Tristan Wirfs, Bucs Not Close On Extension
With the Antoine Winfield Jr. extension taken care of, one crucial financial priority remains for the Buccaneers this offseason. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs is in line for a new deal of his own, and that has driven his decision to remain away from the team at this point.
The latter is absent from OTAs, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. A number of players seeking new deals have followed suit to begin the week, and Wirfs certainly has a case to command a lucrative new deal. The three-time Pro Bowler has been present for other offseason workouts, head coach Todd Bowles confirmed (via Greg Auman of Fox Sports). It would come as no surprise, though, if Wirfs were to remain absent until a deal is struck.
On that note, Fowler adds team and player are not close to an agreement. Wirfs began his career at right tackle, but the decision to move on from Donovan Smith last offseason paved the way for a move to the blindside. The Iowa product excelled at his new position in 2023, upping his market value. Wirfs is set to collect $18.24MM this year on his fifth-year option, but the top of the tackle market is far more valuable.
Bucs GM Jason Licht said in March the team and Wirfs’ camp had engaged in discussions. At the time, the standout tackle did not loom as the team’s top priority. Those comments came as the Bucs were attempting to re-sign Winfield, Baker Mayfield and Lavonte David. Each of those deals coming to fruition vaulted Wirfs in the Bucs’ extension queue.
Three years after an offseason in which the Bucs brought their entire starting lineup from Super Bowl LV back for a title defense, the team has rivaled that retention effort by re-signing Winfield, Mayfield, David and Mike Evans. Wirfs being under contract for 2024 gives the team time, but the 2020 first-rounder stands to loom as a high priority given his performance through four seasons.
Tampa Bay moving Wirfs to the left side stands to help his market, but the Lions making right tackle Penei Sewell the NFL’s highest-paid O-lineman will impact Wirfs’ market as well. Wirfs, 25, has three Pro Bowls on his resume — including one at LT — along with first- and second-team All-Pro nods. Sewell is now tied to a $28MM-per-year contract, while Laremy Tunsil‘s $25MM-AAV pact leads all LTs. Sewell also received $85MM guaranteed in total, topping all tackles in that category as well.
Holding exclusive negotiating rights with Wirfs until March 2025, the Bucs would have the franchise tag to deploy if talks stalled ahead of free agency. Past and present Bucs retention efforts, however, would present pretty good odds this situation will lead to an extension at some point.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Ravens To Host Jamal Adams
Jamal Adams is one of several veteran safeties still on the market. A reunion with the Seahawks has been discussed, but he is also drawing interest from at least one other team. 
Adams is set to visit the Ravens today, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Baltimore has seen a number of free agent departures this offseason, including at the safety and linebacker positions. The latter role could await Adams on his next NFL contract after he struggled in coverage last season.
Baltimore saw Geno Stone join the Bengals in free agency. The former seventh-rounder emerged as a key member of the team’s secondary during the 2024 campaign in particular, as he recorded seven interceptions. That helped him earn a two-year, $15MM deal in Cincinnati. The Ravens still have Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton in place as safety starters, though the former has dealt with injuries during his two-year tenure with the team.
Hamilton enjoyed a breakout season in 2023, showcasing his versatility. He is expected to continue lining in up in a variety of roles this season, and as such the Ravens could stand to add a third safety in free agency. Adams could take on a rotational role, particularly if it kept him close to the line of scrimmage. An April report indicated any new Seattle deal for the former All-Pro would be aimed at playing him as a linebacker rather than a safety.
Baltimore lost Patrick Queen to the Steelers this March. He earned Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro nods last season, his first full one with Roquan Smith in place as a second level starter. The latter is attached to a market-topping contract, so it came as little surprise when Queen departed on the open market. As things stand, 2023 third-rounder Trenton Simpson is in line to take on a starting role. He logged just 46 defensive snaps last year, though, so Baltimore could be in the market for an experienced insurance option.
Adams, 28, is a veteran of 80 starts. His Seattle tenure was marred by injuries, however, and he played just 10 games across the 2022 and ’23 campaigns. In the wake of his missed time and coverage struggles, it came as little surprise when the Seahawks released him (alongside fellow starter Quandre Diggs). The latter, like a number of other established names at the safety spot, remains unsigned.
It will be interesting to see if the Ravens offer Adams a deal following his visit. The team has roughly $5.6MM in cap space, so only a low-cost investment would be feasible on the Adams front. The three-time Pro Bowler is unlikely to land a lucrative pact this offseason from any suitor, and Baltimore could offer him at least a rotational role on defense should this summit yield mutual interest in a pact.
Steelers, RB Jonathan Ward Agree To Deal
Jonathan Ward took part in the Steelers’ rookie minicamp, and his performance there has produced an agreement. The veteran running back is signing with Pittsburgh, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. The deal is now official.
Ward started his career with the Cardinals in 2020, and across the next three years he bounced on and off the team’s practice squad. The former UDFA saw just nine carries in Arizona during his time with the team before being waived. Following a brief stint on the Jets’ taxi squad, he joined the Titans.
The 26-year-old again saw sparse usage on offense upon heading to Nashville. In 10 Titans contests, Ward logged only 20 offensive snaps. He did, however, remain a mainstay on special teams. The Central Michigan alum has more than 550 third phase snaps to his name, and continuing in that capacity will no doubt represent his path to a roster spot in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in place atop the running back depth chart. The team’s decision not to exercise the former’s fifth-year option has made him a pending free agent and invited questions about his future with the team. The latter is on course for restricted free agency after the 2024 campaign, so his production relative to that of Harris will be a key storyline for the team.
Ward joins fellow former UDFAs Aaron Shampklin (2022) and Daijun Edwards (2024) as running backs aiming to carve out a spot on the end of the roster. The Steelers ranked sixth in special teams DVOA last year, so a strong showing this summer will be needed for any of them to survive roster cutdowns at the end of the preseason.
Tua Tagovailoa In Attendance For Dolphins’ OTAs; QB Rejected Extension Offer
Tua Tagovailoa was among the players who sat out some or all offseason workouts prior to the opening of organized team activities. That marked a departure from his previous attendance decisions, and it led to speculation he could remain absent from the remainder of voluntary offseason activities. 
The extension-eligible Dolphins quarterback is indeed present for the opening of OTAs, however, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Tagovailoa had previously stated an intention of taking part in the final phase of Miami’s offseason program, so today’s news comes as little surprise. It also makes it likely the 26-year-old will take part in mandatory minicamp next month.
Tagovailoa skipped most of the Dolphins’ previous offseason workouts, and it was reported last week that decision was tied to the fact he has not landed an extension. All activities prior to minicamp and training camp in July are voluntary, and an absence from the latter in particular would be more noteworthy. Tagovailoa’s attendance at OTAs is a positive sign on the contract front as talks continue. A second NFL pact will be among the most lucrative in the league, something evidenced by the team’s efforts to secure Tagovailoa for the long term.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported during a Sunday SportsCenter appearance (via Tyler Conway of Bleacher Report) that the Dolphins have made at least one offer so far. The fact the former No. 5 pick skipped out on most voluntary workouts is a sign that offer was rejected. Especially with respect to QB mega-deals, negotiations are a back and forth process and plenty of time remains for an agreement to be reached. Tagovailoa is under contract for 2024 on his fifth-year option, valued at $23.17MM.
A long-term accord could very well reach the $50MM-per-year mark, something which is currently true of five deals. Jared Goff inked a Lions extension averaging $53MM per season last week, and that places him in second in the pecking order as things stand. 2021 first overall pick Trevor Lawrence is expected to at least approach the top of the market with his Jaguars extension.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus – who represents a number of Dolphins players but not Tagovailoa himself – notes there is a sentiment inside the organization and around the league an extension will be worked out no later than training camp (video link via Josh Moser). Tagovailoa’s attendance is an encouraging sign on that front, and the progress of contract talks will remain a storyline to follow closely.
Justin Jefferson Absent From Vikings’ OTAs
CeeDee Lamb has elected to stay away from the Cowboys in the absence of a long-term extension being worked out. The same remains true in the case of Justin Jefferson, another wideout looking to approach or reach the top of his position’s market. 
Jefferson is absent from the Vikings as their organized team activities begin, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The 2022 Offensive Player of the Year also skipped out on the beginning of Minnesota’s offseason program last month, so today’s update does not represent a surprise. Jefferson’s decision comes as extension talks are ongoing.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said earlier this offseason that the sides came close to an agreement last year. Negotiations were ultimately put on hold, though, and they briefly resumed resumed after the close of the 2023 campaign. With attention turning to the draft, the team temporarily pressed pause for a time, but the focus is once again on hammering out a lucrative pact.
Jefferson had the most productive three-year start to a career in NFL history, giving him a strong case to sign the league’s most valuable receiver pact. The 24-year-old was limited to 10 games in 2024 due to a hamstring injury, though he still managed to post a 68-1,074-5 statline. Kirk Cousins is no longer Minnesota’s quarterback, with Sam Darnold in place as a bridge option and first-rounder J.J. McCarthy positioned to take over as a starter down the road.
Both of those signal-callers carry plenty of question marks relative to Cousins, but Jefferson will still be counted on to produce among the league’s top playmakers moving forward. The three-time Pro Bowler is due $19.74MM in 2024 as he is set to play out his fifth-year option. A franchise tag could be an option for the following year, but a multi-year investment at a much larger rate remains a matter of mutual interest.
Tyreek Hill‘s $30MM-per-year Dolphins pact has been surpassed as the top receiver deal in terms of annual compensation. Both Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions) and A.J. Brown (Eagles) have eclipsed that figure on mega-pacts of their own, with the latter’s checking in at $32MM per season with $51MM fully guaranteed at signing. Jefferson, along with Lamb and Bengals standout Ja’Marr Chase, is in line to parlay his production into a similar contract. It will be interesting to see if traction is gained between he and the Vikings in the near future.
Panthers K Eddy Pineiro Absent From OTAs
Absences around the NFL with respect to offseason workouts receives attention at a number of positions, but kicker is generally not one of them. In the case of Eddy Pineiro, though, the start of Panthers OTAs marked the next step in his decision to remain away from the team. 
Pineiro has been absent throughout all of Carolina’s offseason, program, per Joe Person of The Athletic (subscription required). One year remains on his contract, and he is due to make $2MM in 2024. That falls well short of the top of the kicker market, and Pineiro will aim to land a raise on a new deal.
The 28-year-old began his NFL career with the Raiders, but his debut came as a member of the Bears. His Chicago campaign in 2019 was strong in terms of both field goals (23-of-28) and extra point attempts (27-of-29), but he did not see the field the following year. In 2021, Pineiro kicked for the Jets following an unsuccessful attempt to land the gig in Washington.
That was followed by a one-year Panthers deal signed in August 2022. Pineiro followed special teams coordinator Chris Tabor to Carolina after working alongside him in Chicago. The move allowed him to fill in for the injured Zane Gonzlez, and it proved to be an effective one for team and player. Pineiro connected on all but two of his field goal attempts and two of his extra point kicks in 2022.
As a result, the Panthers made the unsurprising decision to retain the Florida product on a two-year accord. Last year, Pineiro saw his field goal (86.2%) and extra point (85%) accuracy dip, although overall his Panthers tenure has seen him remain one of the league’s most accurate kickers. Eight of Pineiro’s counterparts average at least $5MM per season on their respective deals, and he could be attempting to reach that level of compensation or at least another extension which moves him closer to the top 10.
Of course, the Panthers do have another kicker on their offseason roster. The team signed Harrison Mevis as a UDFA last month, and he is now in place to handle all kicking duties given Pineiro’s ongoing absence. The position will be one to monitor as the offseason progresses.
Commanders To Hire David Blackburn As Player Personnel Director
As the Commanders continue to make changes in the front office, the team is set to bring in another high-ranking executive. David Blackburn has an agreement in place to become Washington’s new director of player personnel, per Neil Stratton of Inside The League.
[RELATED: Commanders Add Brandon Sosna To Front Office]
Ben Standig and Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic were the first to report the Commanders’ interest in Blackburn (subscription required). The latter spent the past 17 years as part of the Ravens’ front office in a number of capacities. Most recently, Blackburn held the title of college scouting director.
This hire will therefore represent another move up the latter for Blackburn. Commanders owner Josh Harris has overseen a slew of changes recently after his first campaign in control of the organization. That process has included the hiring of Adam Peters to handle general manager duties. Blackburn will be one of his top lieutenants for a Commanders front office which has a number of new faces in place.
From a Ravens’ perspective, this move marks a continuation of the team’s offseason brain drain. Much like Blackburn, longtime front office member Joe Hortiz departed recently, taking on the Chargers’ general manager position. He brought a number of staffers with him, to no surprise, and the loss of Blackburn will leave Baltimore without another veteran executive. One of the Ravens’ 2024 storylines will be tied to the team’s ability to replace the lost personnel in the front office and along the sidelines.
In addition to Blackburn, Stratton reports the Commanders are hiring Dwaune Jones as a national scout. Jones has spent time with the Saints and Ravens, but his most recent tenure came as assistant director of college scouting with the Falcons. Jones will join Blackburn in being a new arrival with a scouting background as Harris, Peters and Co. aim to generate long-term success in the nation’s capital.