Patriots Expected To Retain No. 3 Pick
APRIL 22: Reiss’ colleague Adam Schefter notes New England could be a team which contemplates moving down but then back up the first-round order (as the Cardinals did in 2023 and may be prepared to do again this year). Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer and Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal concur that the asking price for the third pick and the complications of a second trade make it likely the Patriots will remain in place and select Maye (video link).
APRIL 21: The Patriots are among the teams which have received calls related to a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft. No offers strong enough to convince New England to move back from third overall have come in yet, though, leaving the team positioned to hold onto its premium capital. 
[RELATED: Patriots Host QB Michael Penix Jr.]
In the event the Patriots stay put at No. 3, they will be in place to add a potential franchise quarterback. That has been in play throughout the offseason, and ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports it remains “the most likely scenario” at this time. With Caleb Williams expected to hear his name called first overall, New England will have a choice between two of Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy when on the clock.
Daniels is in pole position to be selected second by the Commanders, and in that case Eliot Wolf would face a Maye vs. McCarthy decision. Both passers have met with the team on ‘top 30’ visits, and a recent report stated there is not a consensus within the organization with respect to which signal-caller should be selected. Aside from the potential a blockbuster trade offer emerges in the coming days, the team therefore remains one to watch closely.
Putting an end to the Mac Jones era this offseason, the Patriots brought back Jacoby Brissett as a familiar option under center. The latter began his career in New England – albeit under a different regime than the one now in place – and he has proven capable of serving as a bridge starter. For that reason, many have pointed to a rookie passer beginning the 2024 campaign as a backup. The Patriots’ other roster holes have also been mentioned as a reason to sit a developmental QB, although Wolf recently pushed back on that notion.
“I read a lot of that storyline,” the Patriots’ de facto general manager said during his pre-draft news conference (via Reiss). “I’m not really sure what that means. “I definitely feel like we can support [a rookie quarterback].”
Wolf’s post-draft status in his current position is unclear, but much of how he and the rest of the Patriots’ front office and coaching staff are evaluated over the long term will no doubt be tied to the decision at No. 3. An addition to the QB depth chart should be expected, something which will have a notable impact on the rest of the draft early on Day 1.
WR Xavier Legette Panthers’ Top Target At No. 33?
The Panthers’ blockbuster acquisition of the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft left their 2024 first-rounder in the hands of the Bears. That means Carolina will not be on the clock until the opening selection of the second round this year, but a primary target for that pick appears to be in place. 
Among other roster holes, the Panthers could stand to add at the receiver position. To little surprise, Georgia’s Ladd McConkey is among the prospects which have been connected to Carolina at the No. 33 slot. Another, local prospect at the WR spot could be in play to begin Day 2, though. South Carolina’s Xavier Legette spoke about a potential Panthers selection, making it clear there is a strong interest from the team.
“I’ve met with the Panthers about four or five times,” Legette told John Crumpler of Texans Wire (video link). “The relationship, it just keeps continuing to grow. They’re really hoping I can make it the second round. They keep on telling me if I’m sitting at 33, they’re gonna take me.”
Legette spent his entire five-year college career with the Gamecocks, but it was only in 2023 that he served as a full-time starter. He became the team’s focal point in the passing game, recording 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven touchdowns. Known to be a strong presence after the catch, the 6-1, 221-pounder averaged 17.7 yards per reception last year.
Those totals earned Legette second-team All-SEC honors and confirmed his status as one of the more intriguing options in a 2024 class loaded in receiver talent. He also has return value, and his special teams experience could help him earn a role right away on the Panthers or any other team he joins. Carolina saw Laviska Shenault depart in free agency, and DJ Chark remains unsigned.
The Panthers have not made a veteran signing at the receiver spot so far, but the team did add a starter by trading for Diontae Johnson. The former Steeler will be joined by the likes of Adam Thielen and Jonathan Mingo in the receiving corps, a unit which has plenty of room for improvement working with quarterback Bryce Young in 2024.
Carolina has, of course, hosted several non-WR prospects on ‘top 30’ visits recently. That includes offensive lineman Jordan Morgan and defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, both of whom could still be on the board when the first round concludes. The Panthers’ first draft action under new general manager Dan Morgan is set to take place at the opening of Day 2, and despite the team’s pre-draft evaluations Legette’s comments certainly put him in pole position to be Carolina’s selection.
Commanders Release DE Shaka Toney
Shaka Toney was one of five players recently reinstated from a year-long gambling suspension. The defensive end and special teamer will not be with the Commanders in 2024, though; the team announced his release on Monday. 
Toney had two years remaining on his rookie contract, something which distinguished him from the other players who were reinstated (C.J. Moore, Quintez Cephus, Rashod Berry and Demetrius Taylor) but are currently free agents. A fresh start under new Washington head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters could have been in play for Toney, but instead he will join the others on the open market.
The 2021 seventh-round pick recorded 1.5 sacks during his rookie season. Toney added eight QB pressures in 10 games that year, but his defensive playing time took a step back in 2022. Playing primarily on special teams, the 26-year-old was held to just eight tackles. Last April, he received an indefinite ban stemming from one of several violations of the NFL’s gambling policies which was noted during the offseason.
Toney’s rookie pact tolled as a result of the suspension, and he was due base salaries of $1.06MM and $1.1MM over the next two years. Washington will not save any cap space with the decision to release him, but the team will incur a dead cap charge of only $23K in 2024, since that was the value of his signing bonus for this year. The Commanders will move forward with a new-look edge group which no longer features Montez Sweat or Chase Young but has seen a number of free agent signings and could include a rookie drafted this week.
A new agreement for Toney will no doubt come about only during the post-draft wave of free agency. His age could lead to interest from teams as an upside addition, but a lack of production along with the suspension will likely leave him taking a one-year flier this spring or summer.
QB Jayden Daniels Addresses Raiders Interest
As the countdown to the draft enters its final days, Jayden Daniels remains the subject of considerable speculation at the top of the board. The Heisman-winning quarterback is in position to be selected as early as second overall by the Commanders, but links to the Raiders have been made throughout the offseason. 
Daniels began his college career at Arizona State, where he played under Antonio Pierce. The latter is now in place as the Raiders’ head coach, and Las Vegas has frequently been named as a team to watch regarding a move up the order in general and one targeting Daniels in particular. Recent reports indicated the LSU product is interested in a reunion with Pierce, something he spoke publicly about.
“I don’t know how they’re gonna pull it off,” Daniels said during an appearance on the Nightcap Show with Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson when asked about landing with the Raiders. “But I mean that’s above my pay grade… A.P. just as a human being, he’s the right coach for that team. You know, just him and the intensity that he brings. He challenges people. He was challenging me at 18.
“So I know if I was to go to the Raiders — I’m not saying I’m gonna go there or I wanna go there, I wanna go wherever my name is called — if I was to go to the Raiders, I know as soon as I step foot, he’s gonna challenge me.”
Multiple signs have pointed to Daniels remaining the favorite to be Washington’s choice, and the QB-needy Commanders are not expected to trade out of the No. 2 slot. Even if the Raiders (currently positioned to pick 13th) pull off a costly move up the board, the team could be consigned to drafting another passer capable of competing for the starting role. If a swap making Daniels available was deemed to not be a feasible option, Vegas could look at other Day 1 prospects and rely on Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew under center.
Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco may not be in lockstep with respect to the team’s quarterback strategy entering their first year working together. The latter could favor a Minshew-O’Connell pairing for 2024, something which would eliminate the possibility of a reunion with Daniels from Pierce’s perspective. It will be interesting to see how aggressive Vegas gets in the coming days regarding trade negotiations for an aggressive QB pursuit.
The Raiders’ draft plans are a key talking point, as is the case for teams like the Giants, Vikings and Broncos. Daniels will remain connected to Vegas in particular over the coming days, especially given his praise of Pierce before learning his fate. A different destination remains likely, and how the Raiders react in the event Daniels is drafted by the Commanders will be a key factor in shaping the first-round landscape.
LB Jordan Evans Retires
Jordan Evans last played in the NFL during the 2021 season, but he had seen spring league time more recently. Instead of another campaign in either capacity, the veteran linebacker has brought his career to an end. 
Evans announced he has retired from football after playing five seasons in the NFL, all with the Bengals. The 29-year-old had his 2021 campaign cut short by an ACL tear, and he was out of football altogether the following season. In total, Evans made 65 appearances in Cincinnati, starting nine games across his first two years with the team.
The Oklahoma product’s most impactful campaign came in 2018, when he totaled 61 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Evans added three pass breakups and one of his two career interceptions that year, but from that point on he was primarily used on special teams. Following the end of his NFL tenure, the former sixth-rounder played with the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons before the league’s merger with the USFL.
The newly-created UFL held a dispersal draft this winter, and Evans was selected by the DC Defenders. He was waived shortly thereafter, however, which led to this decision to hang up his cleats. Evans was one of several linebackers who worked out for the Cowboys last October before their Rashaan Evans signing. He will not pursue a repeat of that attempted NFL comeback.
“Over the many years of my football career, I have dedicated so much time, hard work, dedication and sacrifice to hit the goals I have set for myself,” Evans’ announcement reads in part. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed what this journey has been. I’ve enjoyed every game, practice, workout, wins, and losses, ups and downs.”
Evans played out his rookie contract with Cincinnati before re-signing on a one-year deal. That brought his career NFL earnings to $3.77MM. He will now turn his attention to his post-playing days rather than attempting to find a new spring league opportunity.
Latest On Jets’ First-Round Draft Targets
With at least four quarterbacks expected to be drafted early in the first round of this week’s draft, the Jets are among the teams well-positioned to land a valuable prospect at another position. Set to select 10th overall, New York appears to have a shortlist of options. 
[RELATED: Jets Aiming For Day 2 Or 3 QB Selection]
The Jets could stand to add a pass-catcher in the first round, and the team’s offensive tackle acquisitions (Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses) are likely short-term solutions. As a result, tight end Brock Bowers and some of the top offensive linemen slated to be available at No. 10 will be of interest to New York. Should one of the three highest-rated receivers fall to New York, however, a selection (or even small trade up the order) could be in play.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports the Jets could select one of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers or Rome Odunze in the event one of them were to still be available when the team is on the clock. That would represent a surprise, especially if the Bears (set to select first overall but also ninth) eschewed the opportunity to add a receiver. To that point, Cimini adds New York could attempt to trade with Atlanta for the eighth selection and in doing so maneuver ahead of Chicago.
Aside from the receiver spot, though, Bowers could very well be a realistic Jets target. New York hosted the first-team All-American, and during a pre-draft press conference last week general manager Joe Douglas stated a willingness to spend Day 1 capital on a tight end. The Jets are currently considered Bowers’ floor as a result, but his selection earlier in the top 10 would lead the team in another direction.
Cimini notes Douglas and Co. are “interested” in the top offensive tackles available, which comes as no surprise. He names Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga and Washington’s Troy Fautanu as the top options on New York’s board. Alt – who for quite some time has been a very popular selection mocked to the Titans (No. 7) and is believed to be on the Chargers’ (No. 5) radar – is unlikely to be available when the Jets pick. As such, Fuaga and Fautanu will be names to watch closely as the team contemplates a potential selection between them and Bowers.
New York has frequently been linked to a tackle addition, and that position is seen as a strength of the 2024 class. A move down the board (which could help compensate for the team’s lack of a second-round pick) could also be in play, but having Bowers or a high-profile tackle on the board would likely make it difficult for Douglas to turn down the option of staying put. Regardless of which position the team lands on, the Jets’ offense is in position to receive a notable boost on Day 1.
5 Key Stories: 4/14/24 – 4/21/24
The 2024 NFL draft has nearly arrived, and rumors continue to swirl regarding teams’ intentions near the top of the board. Plenty of updates on that front continue to emerge, although a pair of major extensions were also worked out in recent days. In case you missed any of the top developments from around the league this past week, here is a quick recap:
- Eagles Retain Smith Through 2028: In the era of fifth-year options for first-round picks, no receiver had received an extension after three seasons in the league. The Eagles made an exception to that rule by handing DeVonta Smith a three-year, $75MM deal which will kick in following his rookie contract. To no surprise, Philadelphia also picked up Smith’s fifth-year option (valued at $15.59MM) and as a result the former Heisman winner will be on the books through 2028. Smith, 25, will collect $51MM guaranteed and the average annual value of his extension puts him in a tie (with teammate A.J. Brown) for fourth at the WR position. That marks a lucrative long-term commitment on the Eagles’ part, one which will no doubt continue to push the top of the receiver market forward when other ascending producers negotiate their own extensions.
- Colts Extend Buckner: Indianapolis became the latest team to hand a sizable new contract to a defensive tackle by inking DeForest Buckner to a two-year, $46MM pact. The 30-year-old was set to enter 2024 as a contract year, but he has secured $43.55MM guaranteed at signing, a sign that he will remain in place for at least three more years. Buckner has received two of his three Pro Bowl invitations along with his lone first-team All-Pro nod during his four-year tenure with the Colts, and he will be counted on to remain a foundational figure on the team’s defense for years to come. Having kept a number of key players in the fold this offseason, Indianapolis will have Buckner at a reduced cap charge ($8.35MM) in 2024 before seeing that figure spike in later years.
- Commanders Still Positioned To Select Daniels? Caleb Williams is universally seen as the Bears’ selection with the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. The Commanders’ choice at No. 2 is murkier, but indications continue to suggest Jayden Daniels will be headed to the nation’s capital. The 2023 Heisman winner was the subject of a recent report stating Washington is expected to draft him, but links to Antonio Pierce and the Raiders persist. Daniels’ preference is believed to be Las Vegas, an arrangement which would reunite him with Pierce. The Commanders are much better positioned to draft one of the class’ top quarterbacks (unlike the Raiders) as things stand, though, and Daniels is considered a fit within OC Kliff Kingsbury’s scheme. With Washington’s unorthodox QB visit process in the books, all eyes will remain on the team’s draft plans.
- Top-Six Teams Discussing Pick Trades: Teams in need of a quarterback outnumber the selections available near the top of the order, which could lead to trade-up maneuvers on Day 1. While the Bears, Commanders and Patriots are in position to retain the first three selections, the next three picks could be in flux. The Cardinals are known to be open to moving on from No. 4, although their conditions for trading down may not be met in the coming days. Meanwhile, the Chargers (set to select fifth) and Giants (sixth) have each received calls from teams looking to move up. New York’s extensive homework on QB prospects could lead to a small trade-up, but the team remains a wild card with a move down the board believed to be in play. Overall, the potential exists for a substantial shake-up of the top-six order once the first round begins.
- Prescott Open To 2025 Free Agency? No agreement is expected between the Cowboys and quarterback Dak Prescott this offseason. As a result, the three-time Pro Bowler is on track for free agency in 2025, something his comments on the matter suggest he is open to exploring. Prescott has no-trade and no-tag clauses in his current deal, a $40MM-per-year accord which will be dwarfed in value by his next one. Coming off a season in which he finished second in MVP voting, Prescott holds considerable leverage in talks with the Cowboys (although his and the team’s latest underwhelming postseason exit could lead to trepidation in pursuing a second multi-year commitment). Still, Dallas has another deal for the 30-year-old – as well as CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons – on the radar, something which could lead to a complicated financial outlook.
Jaguars GM Trent Baalke Addresses Trevor Lawrence Extension Talks
Earlier this week, it was learned extension talks are ongoing between the Jaguars and quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The parties have plenty of time to work out a deal with the fifth-year option in place a means to keep Lawrence in place through 2025. 
That option will check in at a price of $25.66MM, a figure far below the going rate for franchise quarterbacks. The former first overall pick has not lived up to expectations to date, but he is squarely in Jacksonville’s long-term plans. Young passers are often extended after three years in the league – the first point of eligibility for a second contract – and it would come as no surprise if a Lawrence deal were to be worked out in 2024.
Talks on that front will be lengthy, however, something general manager Trent Baalke confirmed when speaking on the subject. A monster deal was recently hammered out with Pro Bowl edge rusher Josh Allen, removing one major task from the Jaguars’ to-do list. A Lawrence agreement will be much more expensive, though, and Baalke acknowledged patience will be required while adding he aims to find a resolution relatively soon.
“We’ve had some great talks and great conversations,” Baalke said (via NFL.com). “We’re working, but you can’t force this stuff. I said the same thing with Josh’s situation, I said it would take some time and it did. But we’re glad it got completed when it did so we could go into this offseason program knowing that’s behind us and we can move forward. We’re working at it, we’ll continue to work at it. Ownership is involved, obviously. Coach [Doug Pederson] is involved; we’re going to put our best foot forward and hope to get something accomplished here.”
Pederson’s arrival in 2022 led to expectations Lawrence would be able to rebound from a forgettable rookie campaign under Urban Meyer. That season, Jacksonville managed to reach the divisional round of the postseason amidst a strong showing on offense. A regression this past campaign – one in which Lawrence battle multiple injuries – left the team out of the postseason, however. The 24-year-old could thus be hard-pressed to command a deal similar in value to those signed by the likes of Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts last offseason.
Those four pacts brought the top of the QB market past $50MM per year, and healthy salary cap increases will no doubt keep moving the position’s financial landscape further. Lawrence is among the signal-callers set to benefit from that trend as early as this offseason, and it will be interesting to see how much traction is gained on contract talks over the coming weeks.
Latest On Ravens’ T Situation
Three of the five starting members of Baltimore’s offensive line from 2023 are no longer in place. One of the offseason departures was Morgan Moses, who manned the right tackle spot for the past two years. 
Moses was traded to the Jets, allowing him to return to his former team. That decision, along with the free agent departures of guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, has led many to expect the Ravens to focus on an offensive line addition early in the upcoming draft. Doing so would come as no surprise, but the team does have a few in-house options to choose from at the right tackle spot in particular.
Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reports part of Baltimore’s decision to move on from Moses (who has one year remaining on his contract) was the team’s confidence in the other O-linemen in place. That list includes swing tackle Patrick Mekari and 2022 fourth-rounder Daniel Faalele. The former is a veteran of 71 appearances and 36 starts, having seen time at all five offensive line positions over the course of his career.
The latter, meanwhile, was drafted as a developmental project based on his size (6-8, 380 pounds) and athleticism. The 24-year-old Australian has played sparingly on offense and special teams to date, logging a total of 510 snaps. Taking on a full-time starting role would thus represent a sizable jump in responsibility, but he is a familiar option within the Ravens’ system.
Pauline also names 2023 seventh-round selection Andrew Vorhees as a potential right tackle starter based on how he is viewed by the organization. Vorhees missed his rookie campaign while rehabbing an ACL tear suffered at the Combine, but the absences of Simpson and Zeitler could steer him toward playing time on the inside. In any case, the former first-team All-American blocker could be positioned to take on a notable role up front in 2024.
In free agency, the Ravens helped fill the open spots along the offensive line in part by signing Josh Jones to a one-year deal. The former Cardinals and Texans swingman has experience at both tackle spots, as well as right guard. A decision has yet to be made on where Jones will play in Baltimore, but for now he represents another option to take over from Moses. Still, O-line could remain a draft priority for the Ravens when taking into account left tackle Ronnie Stanley‘s contract situation.
The 30-year-old has battled injuries over the past four years, and he agreed to a pay cut to remain in place for 2024. Stanley’s deal is now set to void next offseason as a result, and the Ravens could use the draft to select a successor. If a familiar face is in place at the opposite spot to begin the coming season, though, it would not come as a surprise.
Browns Not Looking To Trade CB Greg Newsome
The Browns will soon have a decision to make on Greg Newsome‘s fifth-year option. A recent report indicated Cleveland is expected to pick up the 23-year-old cornerback’s option, and general manager Andrew Berry‘s public comments on his future point further in that direction. 
During a pre-draft press conference, Berry said (via 850 ESPN’s Tony Grossi) he does not wish to trade Newsome. Given the latter’s age and status as a starting member of the Browns’ secondary, that comes as little surprise. Still, The Browns already have one lucrative commitment at the cornerback spot in Denzel Ward, who is attached to a $20.1MM-per-year deal. Exercising Newsome’s $13.38MM 2025 option would add considerably to the cap charges in Cleveland’s secondary.
The team also has 2022 third-rounder Martin Emerson in the fold at CB, and he has proven to be an impactful producer in the defensive backfield. Emerson has amassed 29 pass deflections over his first two seasons in the NFL, and in 2023 he led the team with four interceptions. The Mississippi State product will be eligible for an extension next offseason, and he could be in line for a lucrative new deal. That, in turn, would further complicate the matter of retaining Newsome for years to come.
The latter has not been able to match Emerson’s ball production to date, and his only two career interceptions came last season. Newsome did record a new personal best in tackles (49) in 2023, though, and he improved in coverage. The Northwestern product allowed a 56.7% completion percentage and a 74.8 passer rating as the nearest defender, leading to an overall PFF grade (69.6) in line with that of his previous campaigns.
The Browns will have the Ward-Emerson-Newsome trio in place for at least one more season, but its up-and-coming members will become expensive shortly if their strong play continues. Cleveland drafted Cameron Mitchell in the fifth round last year, and he saw a rotational defensive role as a rookie. If the Browns – a team which does not own a Day 1 selection but is positioned to retain its second-round selection – add further in the secondary, options could be in place to take over following a Newsome departure via trade or free agency. As things currently stand, though, he is firmly in the team’s plans.