QB Carson Wentz Addresses Chiefs Deal
After spending much of the 2023 season without a deal, Carson Wentz secured his next pact much earlier with respect to the 2024 campaign. The former No. 2 pick joined the Chiefs on a one-year deal, one which came about after discussions with a former teammate familiar with coaches Andy Reid and Matt Nagy. 
Wentz decided to sign with Kansas City in part due to the strong reference Reid and Nagy received from Nick Foles. Wentz explained in the wake of his deal becoming official that Foles spoke well of the coaching pair due to his time spent with them as an Eagles and Chiefs signal-caller.
“I remember all the good things [Foles] had to say about his time here,” Wentz said, via ESPN’s Adam Teicher. “He absolutely loved it. He loved working with those guys, and those things he said to me back then definitely still rang true in my head as I was making this decision… Those things were definitely a factor and gave me a little more peace and comfort in knowing what I was getting into.”
The 31-year-old held a number of starting positions as he bounced around the league in recent years. After putting up underwhelming totals with the Colts and Commanders in 2021 and ’22, though, Wentz did not land a deal this past season until joining the Rams in November. Los Angeles elected to bring in Jimmy Garoppolo to serve as Matthew Stafford‘s backup, leaving Wentz in need of a new team.
By heading to Kansas City, he will earn $2.2MM guaranteed while backing up Patrick Mahomes. Wentz could earn another $1.1MM via incentives, and his success (should he see the field during the 2024 season) will of course depend in large part on his ability to mesh well within Reid and Nagy’s scheme. In the event that were to take place, Foles’ recommendation would prove to be an effective one and Wentz could play his way into an extended stay in Kansas City.
Chargers Interested In WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling?
Having released Mike Williams and traded away Keenan Allen, the Chargers have multiple starting spots open at the receiver position. The upcoming draft will provide opportunities (as early as the fifth overall pick) to add a notable prospect, but a free agent addition before then could also be an option. 
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Chargers have interest in Marquez Valdes-Scantling (h/t Alex Insdorf of Chargers Wire). The 29-year-old finds himself on the open market after he was released by the Chiefs in February. That move brought an end to his two-year tenure in Kansas City, but because of the financial benefits it yielded it was not a surprise.
Valdes-Scantling averaged just under 16 yards per catch during his time with the two-time defending champions. He thus remained a deep threat in the team’s receiving corps, and Fowler notes the Chargers are targeting a speed addition at the receiver spot. The former Packer posted a catch percentage of just 51.2% with Kansas City, though, and criticisms related to drops have continued throughout his career.
Still, Valdes-Scantling could offer an experienced complementary option in the short term as Los Angeles transitions to a less expensive WR room. 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston is in position to take on a larger workload this season, but he struggled with inconsistency as a rookie. Josh Palmer is also capable of taking on a starting workload, but he is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract.
As a result, many have labeled the Chargers as a team to watch with respect to a first-round receiver addition. Retaining the No. 5 selection would likely allow new general manager Joe Hortiz to choose from at least two of Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze. Hortiz has publicly stated, though, that he is willing to entertain trade offers for the team’s top pick.
Los Angeles has already been linked to Tyler Boyd, who like Valdes-Scantling finds himself on the market well into free agency. The former may not find a deal until after the draft, by which point his addition would not count toward the compensatory pick formula. That does not apply in the latter’s case since he was released, but he may also need to wait several more weeks to find a new home. Whether or not a deal is struck with the Chargers will remain an interesting storyline to follow.
Latest On First-Round WR Prospects
The top of the 2024 draft board features an intriguing trio of wideouts (Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze). While the order in which they will hear their names called is in question, there will be other prospects at the position who are selected on Day 1. 
In the case of many of the top options in that regard, the pre-draft process has resulted in positive developments. LSU’s Brian Thomas Jr., for instance, has long been ranked as a first-round prospect. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman notes Thomas has impressed evaluators both on and off the field, something which will help his already high draft stock. The 6-3 junior posted 1,177 yards and an FBS-leading 17 touchdowns in 2023, flashing the potential to serve as a high-end secondary WR option (as he did playing alongside Nabers) at a minimum in the NFL.
Aside from the top four receiver prospects, several others have a strong chance of landing near the back end of the first round. Two candidates on that front are Texas’ Xavier Worthy and Georgia alum Ladd McConkey. Both of those wideouts have received first-round grades from a number of NFL teams, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reports.
Worthy broke the all-time 40-yard dash record during the 2024 Combine, posting a time of 4.21 seconds. Already known to be one of the top vertical threats in this year’s strong class, Pauline notes his Pro Day helped ease concerns about his all-around game translating to the pro level. In the case of McConkey, a faster-than-expected 40 time (4.39) has also helped his stock. Regarded as an elite route runner, the 5-11, 186-pounder will likely be destined to hold a slot role in the NFL but his floor is believed to be higher than most other prospects in the class.
Around the same time that Worthy and/or McConkey are selected, Adonai Mitchell could also very well come off the board. The latter spent his first two seasons at Georgia, making just 38 catches during that span. At transfer to Texas paved the way for a larger offensive role and a sharp increase in production, though; Mitchell posted 854 yards and 11 touchdowns on 55 receptions in 2023. Depending on how teams view him relative to other WR prospects in the same range, Mitchell could be the fifth wideout taken on Day 1.
Of course, a number of highly-regarded pass-catchers will still be available on Day 2. Pauline adds that Ricky Pearsall has seen his stock rise considerably in the lead-in to the draft. The Florida alum has received an early second-round grade from “several teams,” per Pauline and he could be one of many receivers added in the top 50 selections. As teams continue to evaluate the top options at every position over the coming days, receiver remains on track to be a very popular target throughout the top of this year’s draft.
5 Key Stories: 3/31/24 – 4/7/24
With the calendar having flipped to April, the countdown to the draft continues. As teams further evaluate the top prospects in this year’s class, a number of key decisions involving established players have taken place recently. Here is a recap of the league’s top headlines from the past week:
- Bills Deal Diggs To Texans: Stefon Diggs saw his four-year Bills run come to an end with a deal sending him to the Texans being worked out in short order. Buffalo will receive a 2025 second-round pick in return for the four-time Pro Bowler and two Day 3 selections. Diggs, 30, has been the subject of controversy and speculation over time, although Bills GM Brandon Beane planned on retaining him for the 2024 campaign prior to talks with Houston picking up. The Texans now boast a six-time 1,000-yard receiver on an offense which already had high expectations ahead of the coming season, although the team has notably removed the post-2024 years on Diggs’ deal. Carrying a dead cap charge of over $31MM and now dealing with another receiver departure, meanwhile, the Bills will be a team to watch with respect to a pass-catching addition in the draft.
- Panthers Extend Brown: The Panthers’ negotiations with Derrick Brown on a lucrative new deal produced a four-year, $96MM agreement. The former top-10 pick thus became the latest young defensive tackle to earn a monster second contract, securing $41MM fully guaranteed in the process. Brown earned his first career Pro Bowl nod last season, and the departures of several key defenders – including Brian Burns – will add even further to his importance on Carolina’s defense. Days away from his 26th birthday, Brown continued ascending as a run defender in 2023 (103 tackles), although his career has included marginal sack production compared to his positional peers. New general manager Dan Morgan is nevertheless confident the Auburn product can remain an anchor along the Panthers’ defensive interior for the foreseeable future.
- Mailata Lands New Eagles Deal: The Eagles have already given guard Landon Dickerson a record-setting extension but the 2024 offseason has also seen another major financial investment up front. Left tackle Jordan Mailata landed a three-year, $66MM extension despite being on the books through 2025. The converted rugby player will now earn an average of $22MM per season, a figure which ranks fourth amongst all left tackles. Mailata, 27, has been a foundational member of the Eagles’ O-line for the past four seasons and he will remain in place for years to come as a result of this agreement. Philadelphia’s offensive front will look different in the middle after center Jason Kelce’s retirement; the blindside will have a familiar face in 2024 and beyond, though.
- Dugger Replaces Transition Tag With Patriots Contract: The Patriots kept Kyle Dugger from reaching the market by placing the rarely-used transition tag on him last month. The sides remained free to negotiate a long-term deal, though, and efforts on that front produced a four-year agreement. The versatile defensive back will receive up to $66MM on his new contract, including $32.5MM guaranteed. New England has managed to retain a number of pending free agents this offseason, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Dugger, 28, has proven to be a high-end producer in the run game throughout his four-year career, although his work in coverage has led to less-than stellar evaluations. As the team transitions to new head coach Jerod Mayo, he will remain a focal point of the New England’s secondary in 2024 and beyond.
- Chiefs’ Rice Set To Face Charges? Rashee Rice was involved in a hit-and-run incident, during which six vehicles crashed. Two cars were believed to be street racing, and the Chiefs wideout was driving one of them before fleeing the scene. As a result, Rice’s lawyer expects charges to be filed in the near future, though the 23-year-old has cooperated with police’s investigation and he plans on covering the victims’ expenses generated by the accident. NFL discipline does not require legal action being taken, but the league may very well wait until after any charges are laid before proceeding with a punishment. Rice is currently on track to play a large role in Kansas City’s receiving corps for 2024 after enjoying a strong rookie campaign.
Browns Open To Extending WR Amari Cooper?
Deshaun Watson‘s two-year tenure with the Browns has not gone as planned, but Amari Cooper has proven to be an effective addition to the team’s offense over that same span. The latter has one year remaining on his contract, setting himself up for a potential free agent period in 2025. 
However, he may have a new Browns deal in place by that point. Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry recently spoke about Cooper, who is set to carry a cap hit of $23.78MM in 2024 and an additional $7.55MM the following season due to the void years present on his deal.
“Coop’s a Pro Bowl caliber receiver,” Berry said (via Keith Britton of 92.3 The Fan). “He’s played really well for us the past two years. He’s a strong presence in the locker room. We love him. Players like that, you want to make sure that you can retain as long as possible.”
No reports have indicated player or team are eyeing a round of contract talks in Cooper’s case. Given Berry’s stance, though, it would certainly come as little surprise if negotiations took place aimed at keeping the 29-year-old in the fold for years to come. Cooper has produced a 150-2,410-14 statline between his two Browns campaigns, operating as the team’s clear-cut top receiving option. That is noteworthy considering Cleveland’s efforts to trade for Calvin Ridley before ultimately sending the Cowboys a fifth-round pick (along with a swap of sixth-rounders) to acquire Cooper.
The five-time Pro Bowler will still face major expectations in 2024 considering his pedigree, but Cleveland has made a major addition at the WR spot. The Browns brought in Jerry Jeudy this offseason, acquiring the former Broncos first-rounder for a pair of Day 3 picks. That move was followed in short order by a restructure along with a three-year extension being worked out, the value of which could reach $58MM.
As a result of the investment made in Jeudy (along with Watson and tight end David Njoku, who is on the books for two more seasons), a new Cooper deal would further complicate the Browns’ financial picture on offense. The latter is due $20MM this season, and an extension would no doubt keep him near the top of the receiver market. Plenty of time remains for negotiations to take place, and it will be interesting to see if either party proceeds in that direction during the offseason or as the 2024 campaign unfolds.
Seahawks Host QB Bo Nix
The Seahawks’ quarterback depth chart already features incumbent starter Geno Smith and trade acquisition Sam Howell. As the draft approaches, though, the team is showing at least passing interest in some of the top options at the position. 
Seattle hosted Bo Nix on a pre-draft visit over the weekend, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Nix is within the second tier of QB prospects in the 2024 class, often viewed closer to Washington alum Michael Penix Jr. than the established top four signal-callers (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy). The Seahawks have previously been linked to Penix.
Nix put up less-than-impressive numbers during his time at Auburn, but a transfer to Oregon ahead of the 2022 campaign paved the way for his draft stock rising considerably. He totaled 94 touchdowns (74 passing, 20 rushing) in his two seasons with the Ducks, remaining efficient as a passer. Nix completed 74.9% of his attempts at Oregon, throwing only 10 interceptions along the way.
After finishing third in Heisman voting during the 2023 season, Nix found himself on the radar of teams not positioned at the top of the draft order but nevertheless in need of a quarterback addition. The Seahawks currently own the 16th overall pick, slotting them behind the likes of the Vikings, Broncos and Raiders (known trade-up candidates). The team could stand to fill other needs with their top pick, especially with Smith and Howell each on the books for the next two seasons.
However, Seattle’s next selection is No. 81, and Nix will quite likely be off the board by that point. Smith’s future faced a number of questions this offseason, one in which GM John Schneider (who now has full say on roster decisions) and new head coach Mike Macdonald have eventually named him the team’s starter. Howell – acquired to replace Drew Lock in the QB2 role – spent the 2023 season as Washington’s starter and he could be viewed as a developmental option to take over from Smith in relatively short order.
Nix – who also has a Raiders visit lined up – could provide the Seahawks with another long-term project under center (although it should be noted he is 24, making him one of the older QB prospects in this year’s class). It will be interesting to see how the team proceeds in the coming weeks with respect to other visits amongst quarterbacks.
Bears Unlikely To Trade No. 9 Pick
Plenty of intrigue related to the upcoming NFL draft remains centered on the top of the order, and which teams (if any) of the Patriots, Cardinals and Chargers will be willing to move down the board. The Bears own the first overall selection, but they are also positioned to add another top-10 prospect. 
Chicago’s own selection is No. 9 overall. Once the team uses Carolina’s pick (acquired in last year’s blockbuster trade) on a franchise quarterback – widely expected to be Caleb Williams – the team will have an intriguing decision to make. High-profile options at receiver, edge rush and offensive tackle will be on the board, and general manager Ryan Poles recently confirmed Chicago will focus its attention on those positions.
Notably, however, Chicago only owns two other picks in the 2024 draft (Nos. 75 and 122). That could entice Poles to trade away the ninth selection and add extra Day 2 capital while moving down the first-round order slightly. Based on his recent comments, though, such a deal should not be expected at this time.
“The way this is set up and [with] some of the draft capital we’ve been able to create in the first two years, I feel pretty comfortable about it,” Poles said of the Bears’ position regarding limited draft picks. “It’ll be boring if we don’t do any trades, but I feel pretty good about where we’re at” (h/t ESPN’s Courtney Cronin).
The Bears made three trades during last year’s draft, so Poles is certainly accustomed to maneuvering around the board. The team already spent a fourth-round selection in the Keenan Allen acquisition, however, demonstrating a willingness to part ways with draft capital and add to the team’s immediate prospects on offense. If Poles sees the 2024 season as one in which the Bears can take a notable step forward compared to his first two at the helm, it would be reasonable to retain the ninth pick and avoid trade-down scenarios.
Of course, the way the rest of the top 10 plays out after Chicago starts the draft will dictate much of the Bears’ decision-making process. The top of the board is set to be dominated by quarterback additions, and the No. 4 and 5 selections are known to be available to teams eyeing a move up the order to add a passer. In any event, a number of highly-regarded players stand to be available for Chicago when the team is on the clock for the second time.
To that end, the Bears have hosted several prospects who could be in range at the No. 9 spot, including wideout Rome Odunze and pass rusher Dallas Turner. Nothing can be ruled out with plenty of key decisions still to be made before draft night, but for now one of those players – or another one similarly ranked on Chicago’s board – is likely to join the team in lieu of trading down.
Eagles S Sydney Brown Addresses ACL Recovery
As the Eagles dealt with several injuries in the secondary during the 2023 season, safety Sydney Brown saw starting duties down the stretch. His rookie campaign came to an abrupt end thanks to a torn ACL, an injury which threatens to keep him sidelined for the start of the 2024 slate. 
As things currently stand, however, Brown may be able to avoid missing time in the regular season. The 24-year-old Canadian recently provided an encouraging update on his recovery process. Plenty is yet to be determined, of course, but he could be available as early as Week 1.
“I feel amazing. I can start working out for you right now if you want to,” Brown said, via Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I feel like I’m miles ahead of where I should really be. I will be ready for when the season comes around.”
The Illinois product suffered the ACL tear in early January, so he is a strong candidate to begin training camp on the reserve/PUP list. If he manages to return to full health in time for the start of the campaign, however, his presence will be welcomed on the Eagles’ defense. Philadelphia used Brown as a starter for six games in 2023; among his statistical output, one figure which sticks out is the 99-yard interception he recorded in Week 17. He added 45 tackles and three pass deflections while also playing a regular role on special teams.
The Eagles have reunited with C.J. Gardner-Johnson along with extending Reed Blankenship, moves which will give the team veteran starters at both safety spots. Brown could be a valued backup contributor in his second season, though, provided his recovery continues to proceed along an encouraging path. Fellow defensive back Zech McPhearson could likewise be available at the start of the coming season.
The latter missed all of 2023 due to an Achilles tear, but he also said (via Zangaro) he expects to be healthy in time for Week 1. McPhearson will bring special teams production while also serving as a backup contributor at the slot corner position behind the recently re-signed Avonte Maddox.
Latest On Chargers TE Hayden Hurst
Hayden Hurst was sidelined for the second half of the season in 2023 due to lingering issues stemming from a concussion. The veteran tight end – now with the Chargers – has recovered, though, and he recently revealed he could have returned to the Panthers’ lineup had the team been fighting for a postseason berth. 
Hurst was diagnosed with post-traumatic amnesia after seeing his one and only Carolina campaign come to an end just nine games into the year. He stated that would not be a season-ending ailment, and his most recent comments on the matter confirm a return to the Panthers could have taken place as the campaign wound down. By that point, though, Carolina was well out of contention for a playoff spot.
“I had the concussion and for a week after it was a little touch-and-go, but I went to the Mayo Clinic down in Jacksonville, got a second opinion, got [a] full clear bill of health,” the 30-year-old said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.
“The only reason I sat out as long as I did was just, from the [Panthers’] front office, there was really no point. They were 2-15, or 2-13 at the time, so there was really no point in rushing back.”
At the time that decision was made, Hurst had two years remaining on his contract – a $21.75MM pact signed last offseason. As such, caution in advance of the 2025 campaign would have been reasonable given the team’s situation to close out a campaign in which head coach Frank Reich (and, on Black Monday, general manager Scott Fitterer) were dismissed. However, new general manager Dan Morgan released Hurst at the beginning of March, leaving him on the open market once again.
That set up the former first-rounder’s one-year Chargers agreement, one which will see him re-unite with offensive coordinator Greg Roman (after the pair worked together with the Ravens) and play alongside fellow tight end Will Dissly in Los Angeles’ new-look offense. Putting together a healthy campaign will help Hurst rebound from last year’s concussion while also boosting his 2025 free agent prospects.
Panthers, Derrick Brown Agree To Extension
Ascending defensive tackles around the league continue to receive monster second contracts. The Panthers have worked out a four-year, $96MM extension with Derrick Brown, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The team has announced the move. 
Schefter adds this deal includes just over $63MM in guaranteed money, which is in line with many other DT mega-deals worked out over the past two offseasons. Brown was set to play out the final season of his rookie contract in 2024 via the fifth-year option (valued at $11.66MM). He will secure a major raise up front while being on the books through 2028 as a result of this pact.
The contract includes $41.2MM fully guaranteed, SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets. While the total guarantee number ranks sixth among D-tackles, the full guarantee sits ninth. However, Breer adds $49MM comes Brown’s way over the extension’s first two years, with more than $13MM of his 2026 salary shifting to a full guarantee by 2025.
Talks on a Brown extension have been underway for some time now, so it comes as little surprise an agreement has been reached. Carolina had the option of waiting several months to hammer out a deal with the former No. 7 pick under contract for 2024, but the DT market has continued to surge. Especially with edge rusher Brian Burns no longer in place, the team had the funds available to make a steep investment such as this one.
Brown will now match Quinnen Williams in terms of AAV ($24MM) on this pact. That figure ranks fourth in the league amongst active players, and each of the three ahead of them on the list – Chris Jones, Christian Wilkins, Justin Madubuike – inked new deals this offseason. Brown will remain a central figure in the Panthers’ defense for years to come while joining the league’s highest-paid producers at the position.
The soon-to-be 26-year-old earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2024. Brown broke the NFL’s all-time record for tackles by a defensive lineman (103), bringing his career total in that respect to 245. He has added eight sacks in that span while serving as a full-time starter and remaining durable (one missed game, in 2021). Carolina made it clear Brown was untouchable during negotiations with the Bears over the blockbuster trade involving last year’s No. 1 pick. The Panthers ultimately agreed to move on from wideout D.J. Moore to help finalize that deal.
Since then, general manager Scott Fitterer has been fired. His internal replacement, Dan Morgan, has nevertheless carried on with making Brown a top priority. Keeping the Auburn product in the fold beyond his rookie pact would have become a challenge if the team had met Burns’ asking price, something which appeared to be increasingly unlikely to happen through the 2023 season. After turning down major trade interest in recent years, Carolina shipped Burns to the Giants and cleared the way for Brown to become the financial core of the Panthers’ defense.
Without the likes of Burns, Frankie Luvu or Jeremy Chinn in place anymore, questions have been raised about Carolina’s prospects on that side of the ball in 2024 and beyond. Brown will nonetheless be counted on to continue his production from the past two seasons in particular as a foundational member of the team’s core. His ability to do so will play a vital role in Carolina’s development over the coming years.