Packers Begin Jordan Love Extension Talks
Last offseason, the Packers replaced Jordan Love‘s fifth-year option with a one-year extension. No new pact can be agreed upon until at least May 4, but talks on that front have begun. 
With Aaron Rodgers out of the picture, Green Bay made a short-term commitment to Love as the team’s 2024 starter. The $22.5MM pact the latter inked included escalators and bonuses as he helped guide the Packers to the second round of the postseason. Love is due $11MM in 2024 on his current contract, which is set to carry a cap hit of $12.76MM. A long-term accord will check in at a much higher rate.
A January report stated the Packers would explore an extension in the offseason, with general manager Brian Gutekunst having seen enough of the former first-rounder to commit to him as Green Bay’s long-term answer under center. When speaking at the league meetings, Gutekunst confirmed negotiations on a Love pact have indeed started. Nothing is imminent at this time, though.
“There’s been some, obviously, preliminary discussions,” Gutekunst said on Monday (video link via Ryan Woods of Packers News). “But we want to do it the right way. And certainly the sooner the better, but at the same time, we want to make sure we do it the right way. So, it’s started. But it’s not something that’s going to go quickly, I don’t think.”
NFL contracts cannot be extended twice within a 12-month span, so any new Love deal will not become official for at least six weeks. Still, it is of course noteworthy the sides have begun talks on a new agreement. The sides are in a unique situation with Love having made only one start in his first three NFL seasons. The 25-year-old had a less-than-stellar beginning to his first campaign as a starter, but down the stretch and into the postseason his play improved.
As a result, he is in line for a steep raise compared to his current deal. 12 quarterbacks currently average at least $40MM per season, and with the salary cap expected to continue rising at a notable rate that number will no doubt increase in the coming years. Love has much less experience in a No. 1 role than the veterans at the top of the market, but a number of relatively young passers have secured monster second contracts in recent years. If Love is to become the next in line, an agreement could be within reach relatively soon depending on the progress of negotiations.
Dolphins Submit Offer To Odell Beckham Jr.
A report from last week indicated Odell Beckham Jr.‘s Dolphins visit went well, and that both player and team were interested in working out a deal. Head coach Mike McDaniel spoke on the matter at the annual league meetings, and he confirmed an offer has been made. 
“Things went great with him,” McDaniel said, via the Miami Herald’s Daniel Oyefusi. “We did make him an offer and business takes time, especially with players such as Odell, who’s had a phenomenal career, still has really good football in front of him and has options. So, I think those conversations will be ongoing. We’ll see where they go.”
Beckham will not return to the Ravens, with whom he spent the 2023 campaign after a full season out of the league. Upon return from an ACL tear, the 31-year-old posted 565 yards and three touchdowns, production which could line him up as a third receiver option in the Dolphins’ offense. Miami already has Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle atop the depth chart, one which also includes Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft. The team has been connected to the pursuit of a more experienced WR3, though, and Beckham would certainly fit the bill.
The latter drew interest from the Jets last offseason before his Ravens agreement (one year, $15MM guaranteed). New York has added Mike Williams this year, however, likely removing a potential Dolphins competitor from the equation. Miami led the league in passing last season, and the return of Hill, Waddle and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will give the team’s offense the chance to replicate its success in 2024.
Beckham could serve in a complementary role with the Dolphins, something which would be expected if any eventual Miami agreement was worth less than his previous Ravens one. With $10.3MM in cap space, the Dolphins have less spending power than most other teams at the moment, and the upcoming draft will provide the team with opportunities to add a younger receiving option. Beckham could very well already be in the fold by the time the draft begins, however.
Broncos Host QB J.J. McCarthy; Sean Payton Open To Trading Up
Jarrett Stidham is currently in place to serve as the Broncos’ 2024 starting quarterback, but the team is one of many worth monitoring with respect to a move up the board. When speaking at the annual league meetings, head coach Sean Payton confirmed Denver is open to trading up from the No. 12 spot. 
“It’s realistic,” Payton said of a trade-up move on the part of the Broncos (via Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post). “What’s hard to predict, though, is what’s on the receiving end. It’s good to be [general manager] Monti Ossenfort today at Arizona. It’s hard to predict what that cost is and yet I certainly wouldn’t say it’s unrealistic. We’ll pay close attention to it.”
Ossenfort made it clear last week the Cardinals are open to trading out of the fourth slot; Chargers GM Joe Hortiz has likewise said the No. 5 pick could also be available for the right price. The Broncos will therefore have potential trade partners if they are willing to pay a steep price to move into range for one of the top passers in this year’s class. With only one other pick inside the top 120, however, Denver does not have as much capital available as teams like the Vikings (who now own two first-rounders).
Payton (who was not in attendance for Michigan’s Pro Day) also said on Monday the Broncos hosted quarterback J.J. McCarthy for a private workout one day later. That allowed Denver’s decision-makers to get a close look at the 2023 national champion, who has of course received interest from other teams recently (and has previously been on Denver’s radar). McCarthy has long been seen as a member of the second tier of QB prospects (behind Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye), but he has increasingly been linked to a top-10 selection, likely by a team moving up the board to draft him.
Set to carry $85MM in dead cap charges owing to the Russell Wilson release, the Broncos need a cost-effective quarterback depth chart in the near future. Stidham is on the books for one year at a $7MM cap figure, but a long-term investment at the position would come as no surprise. Considering Payton’s remarks, Denver will remain one of the more intriguing teams to watch over the coming weeks as more clarity emerges on the price of the fourth and fifth selections and the market which develops amongst teams prepared to move up the order.
Steelers To Sign WR Quez Watkins
The Steelers entered the second phase of free agency in need of a wide receiver addition, and the team is now set to make one. Quez Watkins has agreed to a deal with Pittsburgh, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
Watkins played out his rookie contract with the Eagles, and his tenure with the team included flashes of potential as a vertical threat. He recorded 43 catches for 647 yards in 2021, but since then his role has diminished. With both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in place atop the WR depth chart, it comes as little surprise Philadelphia allowed Watkins to depart in free agency.
The 25-year-old was on the Dolphins’ radar as part of Miami’s efforts to add a No. 3 option in the passing game. Instead of heading to South Beach, Watkins will join a Steelers’ offense which has undergone plenty of changes recently. Diontae Johnson was traded to the Panthers not long after Allen Robinson was released, creating a pair of notable vacancies at the receiver spot in advance of the draft.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said at the annual league meetings (via Mark Kaboly of The Athletic) wide receiver and center were high on the team’s list of remaining priorities. That comment has now been quickly followed up by an agreement with Watkins, who has averaged 12.7 yards per catch in his career but only drew 72 targets across the past two seasons. He will aim to carve out a larger role in Pittsburgh than he had in recent years in Philadelphia.
The former sixth-rounder will join a WR room led by George Pickens and Calvin Austin, both of whom are on their rookie contracts. The former led the league with an average of 18.1 yards per catch last season, one in which he totaled 1,140 yards and five touchdowns. He will aim to duplicate that success in an offense which now features Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback and which saw the arrival of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator.
Watkins has 25 starts to his name, 12 of which came in his career-best 2021 season. He could hold down first-team duties with the Steelers in 2024, although the draft will provide Pittsburgh (a team with a well-earned reputation for developing talent at the position) with plenty of opportunities to add a rookie receiver. Even if the team is active on that front next month, Watkins will be able to provide experienced depth on his new Pennsylvania-based team.
Patriots Investigating WR Trade Market
The Patriots have made upgrading at the receiver position a priority this offseason, as evidenced by their pursuit of Calvin Ridley. New England finished as one of the runners-up in that case, but the team has still brought in a veteran in the form of K.J. Osborn. 
In spite of that, more moves could be coming soon. Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network reports the Patriots have “looked into the trade market” at the receiver position. New England entered Monday with $50MM in cap space, the highest figure in the league. As a result, an expensive addition would be feasible if the right target and trade partner were to be found.
A few WR swaps have taken place already this offseason, with Jerry Jeudy and Keenan Allen finding new homes via that route. Tee Higgins could be on the market, as the franchise-tagged Bengal has requested a trade. Cincinnati remains intent on keeping Higgins in the fold for at least one more season, however, even though turning down a trade could open the door to a free agent departure next offseason.
Demario Douglas led the Patriots in receiving during his rookie season in 2023, and adding at least one starter at the WR spot was a reasonable goal for the team. Osborn will fit the bill, and he will join returnee Kendrick Bourne (who re-signed on a three-year deal) as a key piece of the team’s passing attack next year. The latter’s best season came in 2021 when he posted 800 receiving yards; Osborn, meanwhile, has never topped 655 yards in his career. Plenty of room therefore exists for the addition of a true No. 1 which someone like Higgins (with two 1,000-yard campaigns to his name in four years) could serve as.
Presuming the 25-year-old remains off the market, though, New England’s trade interest would likely yield another rotational or depth pass-catcher. In that event, the team’s attention would increasingly turn to a draft class which has a number of highly-touted receiving prospects. By virtue of owning the No. 3 selection, the Patriots could have the chance to draft Marvin Harrison Jr. or Malik Nabers if they decline to use their pick on a quarterback. Of course, the team’s decision-making process on the that front will depend in large part on which moves are made with respect to trades or free agent signings over the coming weeks.
Patriots Likely To Retain No. 3 Pick; Latest On Team’s QB Situation
6:57PM: It was certainly accurate to call this situation murky. After reports earlier today seemed to indicate that New England would stick with their No. 3 overall pick and perhaps explore options other than quarterback, newer reports from the first day of the NFL annual owners meetings see Mayo muddying the waters, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.
“Obviously, quarterback is definitely a priority,” Mayo told the media. “With that being said, we’re still open to any type of deals that come our way. We’re very far (into) the process, but we still have a long way to go. Definitely feel like we have time to really nail down our prospects in who we are going to go after.”
Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf echoed those sentiments, claiming that their decision will factor in how they have the available players ranked and what potential trade offers come in. The popular opinion is that New England will still aim to pursue a passer at No. 3, but if some insane trade offer comes in, the team is willing to listen.
2:11PM: It is widely assumed around the league the Bears and Commanders will use the top two selections in April’s draft on quarterbacks. The latest developments in both cases reinforce that notion, but the situation could be murkier with respect to the Patriots. 
New England owns the No. 3 pick, and with Mac Jones no longer in the fold the team is need of a quarterback addition. Veteran Jacoby Brissett was brought back to potentially serve as a bridge starter, but a long-term investment under center would come as no surprise. When asked about the team’s position, though, rookie head coach Jerod Mayo cautioned the Patriots are not fully committed to using their top selection on a passer.
“It’s the priority right now,” Mayo said in an interview with NFL Network’s Steve Wyche. “But with that being said, you have to really be in love with the guy to take him at No. 3. So really all the options are still open for us.”
New England will likely be left with one member of the Caleb Williams–Jayden Daniels–Drake Maye trio if the team stays put at the third slot. The Patriots may not be sold on the latter, something which could become increasingly relevant if he finds himself as the top passer on the board with New England on the clock and interested suitors willing to move up the order. A trade out of the No. 3 position would nevertheless come as a surprise, however.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes confidence grew during the Combine that New England would turn down the opportunity to move back and instead use the third overall pick on a signal-caller. As detailed by Graziano’s colleague Mike Reiss, the Patriots have been among the teams heavily interested in the Pro Days of the 2024 class’ top quarterbacks, something which will continue this coming week. Signs therefore continue to point to a rookie being added, although the presence of Brissett means even a first-round selection may not start right away.
“To get him back in the building is definitely helpful for us,” Mayo said of the latter. “And honestly, look, he could absolutely be our starter this year. We’ll have to see. Like I said, we’re not dead set at taking a quarterback at No. 3, but we do feel good having a guy like Jacoby ready to go.”
New England currently owns seven picks other than No. 3, including the 34th overall selection. The team could have the chance to add a second-tier QB as a result, and with the fourth and fifth picks known to be available a bidding war could develop amongst trade-up candidates. The Patriots’ actions will be worth watching closely as the draft draws nearer.
5 Key Stories: 3/17/23 – 3/24/23
With free agency having slowed down considerably compared to the opening days of the league year, attention will increasingly turn toward the draft. The first week between the two major offseason checkpoints saw a number of notable developments, though. Here is a quick recap of the league’s top stories from the past seven days:
- Chiefs Deal Sneed To Titans: Even before L’Jarius Sneed received the franchise tag, it was expected he would be traded away by the Chiefs at some point. The defending champions made Chris Jones a higher financial priority, and he has a new long-term deal in place. Shortly after reports emerged detailing the hurdles a Sneed contract represented to a Titans acquisition, the veteran corner was indeed dealt to Tennessee. Kansas City received a 2025 third-round pick as compensation, while the teams swapped 2024 seventh-rounders. Upon arrival, Sneed inked a $19MM-per-year extension including $55MM guaranteed to take the place of his tag. The 27-year-old will thus find himself near the top of the cornerback market for the foreseeable future in his new home, while the Chiefs will move forward with their incumbent secondary starters and avoid a Sneed free agent departure in 2025.
- Sutton’s Arrest Warrant Prompts Lions Release: On March 7, an arrest warrant was issued for cornerback Cameron Sutton. One day after that went public, the Lions elected to release Sutton with a post-June 1 designation. The 29-year-old is wanted on a charge of domestic battery by strangulation stemming from an incident in Lutz, Florida. Police are still unable to locate Sutton, who signed a three-year deal with Detroit last offseason. He remained a full-time starter during his debut campaign, but the team (which has already made multiple CB additions this offseason) has a vacancy to fill in the secondary. The guaranteed money on Sutton’s pact will be voided, and Detroit will see $1.5MM in cap savings for this season as a result of the move.
- Browns Extend Jeudy: Jerry Jeudy has yet to play a game for the Browns, but the former first-round receiver already has a three-year extension in place worth up to $58MM. Jeudy is now on the books through 2027, and he will receive $41MM guaranteed at signing. The 24-year-old’s play to date has not matched expectations given his draft stock, but the Browns will attempt to maximize his potential with Deshaun Watson at quarterback. Amari Cooper has proven to be an effective lead receiver in Cleveland, but he is under contract for only one more year at the moment. Jeudy will be in place as the team’s No. 2 wideout now and into the future regardless of what happens with Cooper.
- Cardinals, Chargers Open To Trading Down: In consecutive days, both Monti Ossenfort (Cardinals) and Joe Hortiz (Chargers) publicly stated they are willing to trade the fourth and fifth selections in next month’s draft, respectively. Quarterbacks are widely expected to come off the board with the top three picks, and Chicago, Washington and New England are set to retain their places in the order. As such, Arizona and Los Angeles are the top targets for teams looking to maneuver up the order, likely to add the next-best quarterback available. The Cardinals and Chargers each have a need at receiver, and Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers project as the best non-QBs in the 2024 class. It would come as no surprise if either team stayed put to select their preferred wideout, but interest in a swap will no doubt pick up over the coming weeks.
- Williams Chooses Jets: Mike Williams found himself on the market after being cut by the Chargers in a cost-shedding move. The veteran deep threat quickly drew interest from a number of teams, but his Jets visit yielded agreement on a one-year deal. Williams will earn a base value of $10MM, but another $5MM is available via incentives; the prove-it nature of the pact comes as little surprise since the 29-year-old will be coming off a torn ACL in 2024. The Jets will aim to have a healthy Aaron Rodgers under center next season, but upgrades at the receiver spot were a top offseason priority. If Williams can return to his previous 1,000-yard form, his addition will prove to be effective and his 2025 free agent value will see a notable spike.
Jaguars Plan To Reduce RB Travis Etienne’s Workload
Travis Etienne missed his entire rookie season due to injury, but his play when healthy in 2022 led the Jaguars to trade away James Robinson. The former took on lead back duties as a result, but last offseason the team attempted to add depth in the backfield and reduce his workload. 
In spite of those efforts, Etienne wound up logging a 73% offensive snap share in 2023. His 325 touches (267 carries, 58 receptions) ranked third in the NFL, marking a major uptick compared to his usage rate the year before. The former first-rounder is still atop a running back depth chart which features Tank Bigsby and D’Ernest Johnson. Head coach Doug Pederson is hoping to lighten Etienne’s load in 2024, though.
“I think it’s a little bit of everything,” Pederson said in an interview with NBC Sports’ Matthew Berry about Etienne’s usage last season (via PFT’s Josh Alper). “Johnson got hurt a little bit in there, and then Tank was a rookie and learning and coming on. We really like Tank and he’ll have a bigger impact for us this year for us. It’s not the recipe, necessarily, to put Travis in that situation. So I would consider knocking a few of those reps down to keep him healthy throughout the course of the year.”
Johnson and Bigsby saw a combined total of 91 carries with each playing 17 games in 2023, and Pederson’s comments suggest the latter could be the top beneficiary of a re-distribution of touches. That, in turn, would likely help Etienne return to his efficiency from 2022. The Clemson alum averaged 5.1 yards per carry in his first healthy campaign, but that figure fell to 3.8 last season. Improved play in general on offense would of course help his individual performance, but a more balanced RB workload would be a factor as well.
Etienne has one year remaining on his rookie contract as things stand, but the Jags could keep him in place through 2025 by picking up his fifth-year option. A decision on that option (which would cost $6.14MM) will need to be made this spring, and his projected workload moving forward will no doubt be a factor under consideration. In any event, it will be interesting to see how Etienne will be used in 2024 after a second straight offseason pointing to a reduction in touches.
Commanders HC Dan Quinn Addresses QB Plans
The top three selections in April’s draft belong to QB-needy teams, leading many to expect the Bears, Commanders and Patriots to turn down trade offers and add a signal-caller at the top of the board. When speaking about the team’s plans, Washington head coach Dan Quinn confirmed a rookie quarterback will likely be in place by the start of the 2024 season. 
“I would say it’d be fair to envision we’d be taking a quarterback,” Quinn said during an interview with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. “To say where it’ll be happening, I think that’s a better question for [general manager] Adam [Peters]. As the next weeks unfold there’ll be a lot of discussion, and that’s why we’ve had a great trip out seeing some guys, we’ll do that some more in the weeks ahead, but I’ve enjoyed that process with Adam, and going through it.”
With nine selections (including six of the first 100) in the draft, the Commanders will have plenty of opportunities to make a long-term investment under center. The likeliest point at which that will happen, though, is of course the No. 2 slot. The now Justin Fields-less Bears are on track to take Caleb Williams off the board first overall, leaving Peters, Quinn and Co. to choose between LSU’s Jayden Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye.
The former won the Heisman in 2023 after posting by far a career-high 40 touchdown passes (along with only four interceptions). Daniels added 1,134 yards and 10 scores on the ground, but the former Arizona State transfer has drawn criticism for only having one season of stellar production. Due to his longstanding relationship with Antonio Pierce and the Raiders’ potential desire to add a first-round passer, Las Vegas could be a team willing to make a bold move up the order if the Commanders pass on him.
In that event, Washington would likely add Maye, who entered the 2023 season relatively close to Williams in many evaluations. After his second full season as the Tar Heels’ starter did not go as well as the first, though, Maye’s stock may have experienced a drop. The Patriots reportedly have concerns with him, something which would of course be relevant if Williams and Daniels came off the board first and second overall. After neither Daniels nor Maye threw at the Combine, individual meetings with both will be crucial for the Commanders and teams within their range.
Trading out of the second slot would be another possibility for the Commanders – a team which traded away Sam Howell not long after signing veteran backup Marcus Mariota. As Quinn noted, though, while inquiries have started, it would take a massive offer from an interested team to convince Washington to give up the opportunity to select one of the top signal-callers available. Plenty is yet to be determined in the coming weeks, but as things stand a QB selection should still be expected on the part of the Commanders.
Seahawks HC Mike Macdonald Names Geno Smith Starting QB
Throughout the 2024 offseason, signs have pointed to Geno Smith remaining atop the Seahawks’ quarterback depth chart for at least one more year. New head coach Mike Macdonald offered a firm endorsement of the veteran on Saturday. 
Seattle lost backup Drew Lock to the Giants in a move which – unlike what Seahawks general manager GM John Schneider indicated – sets him up for another QB2 role. To fill the vacancy, the team traded for 2022 Commanders draftee Sam Howell. The latter served as Washington’s starter last season, but the team’s new front office and coaching staff is prepared to draft a replacement next month. Howell’s upside led some to believe he could challenge for the No. 1 role, but Macdonald said that will not be the case for now.
When asked if he anticipates a competition during an interview with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Macdonald said, “l don’t. I’ve talked to Geno about it. Very confident in Geno. Geno’s going to be our starter. Sam knows he’s going to be our backup, but Sam is a great young player, and he’s got a really bright future that we believe in.”
Seattle had a window of opportunity to trade Smith given the timing of bonuses in his contract. The team allowed his base salary to become fully guaranteed, however, and converted a roster bonus into a signing bonus in moves which suggested the 33-year-old would carry on as the starter. Smith has held that role for the past two seasons, and he earned Comeback Player of the Year honors after delivering a Pro Bowl performance in 2022.
Smith experienced a statistical downturn last year, (although his league-leading five game-winning drives produced another Pro Bowl invite), and after falling short of the postseason the Seahawks have undergone a massive change with Pete Carroll no longer on the sidelines. Macdonald will be tasked with overseeing a step forward on defense, but the Seahawks’ passing attack in particular will be worth watching on the other side of the ball. Smith will work with the first-team offense during the offseason as Macdonald begins his head coaching career.
Two years remain on Smith’s contract – the $75MM pact he secured after his successful run in 2022. Howell’s rookie contract also runs through 2025, so the Seahawks will have time to sort out their QB arrangement moving forward. While the latter projects as having higher upside given his age and play during parts of last season, it will be the former at the helm when the offseason program and, later, training camp begins.