Giants, Saquon Barkley Resume Contract Talks
For the time being, Saquon Barkley remains on track for free agency. He would be be one of several veterans available on the open market, but a Giants agreement is still a possibility. 
Player and team resumed contract talks earlier this week during the Combine, Josina Anderson of CBS Sports reports. That falls in line with the previously-established plan for both sides in particular and common practice in general around the NFL when it comes to negotiations with pending free agents. Anderson adds that the meeting is believed to have gone well.
Upon the opening of the franchise tag window, the expectation was New York would steer clear of placing the one-year tender on Barkley for a second straight season. When speaking on the subject at the Combine, however, Giants general manager Joe Schoen confirmed that all options – including a second tag – were still on the table. As a result, Barkley may not join a slew of other veteran backs (a list which also features 2023 tag recipients Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard) in reaching the open market later this month.
The Giants have until March 5 to apply a second tag, which would cost $12.1MM. With the 2024 salary cap checking in at a higher figure than teams anticipated, absorbing an eight-figure commitment at the RB position would be less cumbersome that New York first thought. The team has a number of other offseason matters to sort out, though, including an agreement with safety Xavier McKinney. A transition tag has been floated as a possibility in the latter’s case, but using it would prevent the Giants from being able to tag Barkley.
The Texans have emerged as a team to watch on the running back market this offseason, and Barkley reportedly has his eyes on a deal sending him to Houston. Such a move will not be possible if a Giants agreement is reached or the franchise tag winds up being used once again, though. New York’s efforts to retain the two-time Pro Bowler will remain a key storyline in the coming days, and the tag would create an extended window to continue negotiating well into the summer. That wound up being the case last offseason with no accord being struck; it will be interesting to see if 2024 produces a different outcome.
Cowboys To Retain Trey Lance In 2024; Team Will Not Pick Up QB’s Fifth-Year Option
Most of the attention concerning the Cowboys’ quarterback situation is of course focused on starter Dak Prescott. His contract status will be worth watching this offseason, but clarity has emerged regarding Trey Lance. 
[RELATED: Latest On Prescott Extension Timeline]
The latter will remain with the team through the 2024 campaign, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports. The Cowboys will therefore pay out a $4.25MM roster bonus which is due five days after the start of training camp. In all, Dallas will owe the former No. 3 pick $5.31MM, a figure which notably dwarfs the compensation backup Cooper Rush is set to receive ($2.25MM).
Lance entered the league with considerable expectations given the trade haul spent by the 49ers to move up and select him in 2021. He entered his second campaign atop the depth chart, but a season-ending injury limited him to just a pair of games. Brock Purdy‘s performance after that point made Lance expendable, and he was dealt to the Cowboys in August. Acquired for only a fourth-round pick, the 23-year-old received a fresh start in the process, although he did not see any regular season action.
Today’s news means Lance will be in place for the coming campaign, but Watkins unsurprisingly adds the Cowboys will not exercise his 2025 fifth-year option. Doing so would have locked the team into a $22.41MM salary that season, far more than he will be worth presuming he remains on the sidelines for the foreseeable future. Lance can nevertheless turn his attention to an offseason competition with Rush for the QB2 spot while Dallas continues to work out a deal keeping Prescott in place for years to come.
Rush is on track for free agency in 2025. The former UDFA has made 26 appearances and six starts during his Cowboys tenure, which dates back to 2017. Lance will join him in a similar capacity from a financial standpoint after spending a season as a developmental third option on the QB depth chart. It will be interesting to see if Dallas will again keep three passers on the active roster and if so, which one will earn the backup job during training camp and the preseason. Especially if he wins the No. 2 gig, Lance will have the opportunity to continue the Cowboys chapter of his career through 2024.
Texans Saquon Barkley’s Preferred Destination?
The Texans are among the teams to watch on the running back front, and a they will have no shortage of options to choose from in free agency. Several accomplished producers at the position are on track to be available, and Houston could be well-positioned for a splashy addition. 
After ranking 22nd in the league in rushing (97 yards per game), improvement in that area is an obvious need. The Texans are flush with cap space, so they could benefit from the crop of available rushers set to reach the open market. Houston has been linked to a RB pursuit in general, but one notable name has emerged which would certainly represent a buzz-worthy move.
Saquon Barkley has “targeted the Texans as his top potential destination,” KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports. Barkley has also been in communication with reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud, Wilson adds. The Giants made the unsurprising move of franchise-tagging Barkley last offseason, and doing so again is still on the table. Talks on a New York extension are ongoing as well, meaning the former No. 2 pick might not reach free agency.
In the event he did, however, Houston would represent an attractive destination. Stroud’s rookie campaign helped guide the team to the divisional round of the playoffs, and he is surrounded by a relatively young skill-position corps which would allow for a big-money investment on the market. With three 1,000-yard seasons to his name, Barkley would provide a dynamic element to the Texans’ ground game.
Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post confirms the expectation around the league is that general manager Nick Caserio will be a central player in the RB market this offseason. Caserio has a background with the Patriots, a team which has traditionally avoided making sizable investments in veteran backs. A shift in philosophy would thus come as a surprise, although an upgrade at the position would likely go a long way in ensuring the team can repeat its success on offense from 2023.
“What do I think is going to happen?” Caserio said (via Wilson) when speaking about a potential running back addition. “We’re all going to find out. Free agency, it’s what does the market tell you? And then any player, what are you willing to pay that player commensurate with their role?”
Barkley would be far from the only high-profile back the Texans could show interest in. Fellow 2023 franchise tag recipients Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard on set to reach free agency; the same is also true of Derrick Henry and Austin Ekeler. Among the pending free agents at the position is Devin Singletary, who joined the Texans last offseason on a one-year, $2.75MM deal.
Wilson reports there is a mutual interest between team and player for a new Singletary pact to be worked out. Such a development (coupled with the continued presence of 2022 fourth-rounder Dameon Pierce) would likely lessen the chances of a Barkley pursuit. Still, it is notable the latter has his eyes on a Houston arrangement while his Giants future remains in flux.
Seahawks GM Addresses QB Geno Smith’s Future
9:26pm: The Seahawks may be ready to end the trade speculation. Schneider is believed to have informed Smith he will be on the roster on his current contract next season, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets. Similar assurances in the recent past have led to some course changes; this does come two years after Pete Carroll said at the Combine the intention was not to trade Wilson. That said, the Seahawks appear to be planning for a third season with Smith at the controls.
10:36am: Entering the offseason, questions were raised about the Seahawks’ commitment to quarterback Geno Smith. Despite the veteran’s multi-year extension signed in the wake of his impressive 2022 showing, the team had a path to releasing or trading him with minimal cap penalties. 
However, the recent moves made by Seattle point in the direction of Smith being retained for at least one more campaign. His $12.7MM base salary has already become fully guaranteed, and the team agreed to a restructure last week. As a result of that move, Smith’s roster bonus was converted to a signing bonus, saving 2024 cap space and accelerating a payment which was due next month.
Many had pointed to March 18 (the time at which Smith’s roster bonus was due to vest) as a deadline for Seattle to work out a trade sending Smith elsewhere. With that option now off the table, the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year is on track to remain the Seahawks’ starter. New head coach Mike Macdonald declined to offer a firm commitment in that respect before the restructure, but general manager John Schneider‘s remarks downplayed the significance of the financial maneuvering.
“Other people made a bigger deal out of that than we did in the building,” the latter said, via Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic (subscription required). “Is he gonna be here? Is he not gonna be here?’ He was going to be here. It’s a matter of when are we going to tell him we’re doing this with his roster bonus?”
Schneider added that Smith, 33, is atop Seattle’s depth chart “until he’s not.” Backup Drew Lock is a pending free agent, but he is expected to seek out a starting gig on the open market. Part of the Russell Wilson trade package, Lock made only a pair of starts during his Seattle tenure, something which could hinder his market. Schneider is believed to have played a central role in having the former second-rounder included in the Wilson deal, so a re-up could still be in the cards. On the other hand, Seattle taking the draft route is something Schneider also touched on.
The 14-year GM noted that the team’s track record of selecting only two passers in his tenure is “not something that we’re necessarily proud of,” leaving open the door to a draft addition this April. Seattle did homework on the top passers in last year’s class before ultimately selecting cornerback Devon Witherspoon fifth overall. The team still has first-round needs on defense which outweigh the urgency to draft a Smith successor, especially given his current financial situation. While Schneider declined to give the two-time Pro Bowler a full endorsement, his remarks point further toward stability under center for 2024.
Lions, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown To Discuss Extension
The Lions have a number of key members of this year’s run to the NFC title game eligible for an extension. That list includes wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is on the team’s radar for a new deal. 
The Lions plan on working out an extension with St. Brown this offseason, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. The sides will meet at this week’s Combine, he adds. No agreement is imminent at this time, but a second contract will no doubt be an expensive endeavor.
St. Brown entered the league with considerably lower expectations than a number of his 2021 draft classmates at the receiver position. In three seasons with Detroit, however, he has posted the most receptions amongst wideouts taken in that year. He ranks second in yards and touchdowns behind only Ja’Marr Chase, and has established himself as an instrumental member of Detroit’s offense.
The former fourth-rounder has improved his production with each passing season, and in 2023 he posted a stellar 119-1,1515-10 statline. Those totals earned him a second Pro Bowl invite and first-team All-Pro honors. With a fifth-year option unavailable due to his being selected outside the first round, St. Brown is on track to reach free agency next offseason. Avoiding that represents an obvious priority for the Lions as they aim to build off this year’s success. St. Brown could join Chase and 2020 draftee Justin Jefferson in securing a monster extension in the near future.
Tyreek Hill currently tops the receiver market at an AAV of $30MM, and three other wideouts currently average at least $25MM per season. Pacts signed this year could send the top of the market to new heights, something St. Brown would be in line to benefit from. The 24-year-old should be expected to remain a major factor in Detroit’s offense even with Jameson Williams in place and tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs each having delivered impressive rookie seasons in the pass-catching department.
The Lions have a Jared Goff extension to attend to, something which could be hammered out this offseason. That will be a costly re-up, given the success the former No. 1 pick has had in the Motor City. Detroit could also use the coming months to work out second pacts for offensive tackle Penei Sewell and D-lineman Alim McNeill, both of whom are now extension-eligible. St. Brown’s case for a massive raise is strong, though, and it would come as little surprise if the team moved quickly in finalizing one.
Ravens To Prioritize Offensive Line Additions
The Ravens’ defense was a major factor in the team’s run to the AFC title game in 2023. The unit has already seen a number of departures on the sidelines, and several key players are set to reach free agency. Baltimore is prepared to pay considerable attention to the other side of the ball, however.
Both starting guards from this past season – Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson – are on track to reach free agency. Right tackle Morgan Moses is a potential cut candidate, and the same could also be true of left tackle Ronnie Stanley. As The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec details, therefore, additions along the offensive line will be a top priority for the Ravens (subscription required). 
Zeitler was in talks with the team earlier this month on a new contract, and an agreement could still be reached at any time. However, the 33-year-old’s contract was among those which voided recently, creating a 2024 dead cap charge of $4.27MM regardless of if a new pact is worked out or he departs in free agency. Zeitler earned a Pro Bowl nod for the first time in 2023, and he has proven to be a dependable RG contributor over his three years in Baltimore.
Moses is under contract for 2024 at a cap hit of just under $7MM. Releasing him would create $5.5MM in cap space, though, financial resources which could be applied to retaining the team’s group of pending free agents.
Moving on from Stanley, a former first-team All-Pro, would be a more notable move but one which would likewise produce cap savings. A post-June 1 release would provide $15MM in savings against $11.17MM in dead cap charges. Stanley, who is entering his age-30 campaign and has not played more than 13 games in a season since 2019, is set to carry cap hits of more than $26MM in 2024 and ’25. The former first-rounder does not have any guaranteed salary remaining on his pact, but he is due a $4MM roster bonus on March 18. More clarity on his future could arrive by that deadline, but in any event there will likely be new faces up front for Baltimore.
As Zrebiec notes, swing tackle Patrick Mekari and reserve guard Ben Cleveland could be in line for full-time starting gigs. 2022 fourth-rounder Daniel Faalele, along with 2023 draftees Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Andrew Vorhees could also see playing time moving forward. Of that trio, only Faalele has seen regular season action to date, however. Moves in both free agency and the draft should be expected as Baltimore aims to protect Lamar Jackson and maintain its league-leading run game from last year.
“Obviously, this year, we’re going to have, probably, some change on the offensive line in different ways,” general manager Eric DeCosta said at the Combine. “It remains to be seen exactly what that looks like. We will have a plan. Fortunately, this is a deep draft class, as well, so we’ll have a lot of different options in different rounds, players that we like at the offensive line position.”
The Ravens currently have $16.6MM in cap space, a figure which will change dramatically once D-tackle Justin Madubuike signs a new deal or receives the franchise tag. Resources will also be diverted to the offensive line, though, and the plan the team implements on that front will be worth watching as the offseason takes shape.
Chiefs DE Charles Omenihu Eyeing New Deal
Charles Omenihu enjoyed a successful first season in Kansas City when on the field. His availability was hindered at the start of the year due to a six-game suspension and in the Super Bowl due to an ACL tear, but his level of play in between likely helped his market value. 
As a result, the fifth-year defensive end is eyeing an extension. One year remains on his current deal, though, and he is due $7.4MM in 2024 with a scheduled cap hit of $10.97MM. A key factor in any negotiations will be his recovery from his ACL tear, which occurred in the AFC title game. Omenihu recently acknowledged on social media that he might need to repeat his 2023 production to land a new pact.
The former Texan and 49er posted seven sacks in 11 regular season contests during his debut Chiefs campaign. He added a strip-sack in the AFC Championship Game before suffering the injury which sidelined for the Super Bowl, demonstrating his value as pass-rush option to complement the interior pressure generated by Chris Jones. When asked about the possibility of an extension, Omenihu confirmed he feels he earned a new agreement.
“I think I did, to be honest,” the 26-year-old said during an appearance on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football (video link). “Like you said, seven sacks in 11 games and then the sack in the championship game to kind of spark off the wave of defensive plays. Finished second on the team in sacks and didn’t have the first six games to catch up with George [Karlaftis] and Chris [Jones]. I think I did, I think the tape speaks for itself.”
Of course, the defending champions have more pressing matters to attend to on the defensive side of the ball. Jones is once again a pending free agent, and his play after the end of his 2023 hold-out further cemented his value to the Chiefs. Meanwhile, standout corner L’Jarius Sneed is set to receive the franchise tag and he could be traded if talks on a long-term pact do not pan out. Sorting out both Jones and Sneed’s futures will be critical in advance of free agency.
On the edge, Kansas City has both Omenihu and Karlaftis under contract for next season. The latter is joined by 2023 first-rounder Felix Anudike-Uzomah in terms of being on his rookie contract and therefore under team control for several years. Omenihu, by contrast, could set himself up nicely for free agency next spring if he manages to recover in full and deliver another strong outing. It would likely come as a surprise if the Chiefs were willing to negotiate an extension (something which, in fairness, could prove beneficial by reducing his 2024 cap hit) before he returns to the field, but Omenihu is clearly open to doing so at any time.
Bucs Unlikely To Retain LB Devin White
With free agency approaching, the Buccaneers have key decisions to make with several pending free agents. Linebacker Devin White is set to see his contract expire, but a new Tampa Bay agreement should not be expected. 
The former fifth overall pick sought out a massive extension last offseason, and he requested a trade when talks on that front did not yield an agreement. Little interest was shown around the league, and White ultimately played out the 2023 campaign. He found himself splitting time with K.J. Britt down the stretch, however, and he did not start either of the Bucs’ postseason contests. A departure in free agency would come as no surprise at this point.
“No, we’re still trying to make some decisions on some of those other players,” general manager Jason Licht said at the Combine. “But, you know, Devin did some really good things for us throughout his career, but we’re still sorting out some things” (h/t Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times).
Indeed, the cases of quarterback Baker Mayfield, receiver Mike Evans and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. are more pressing for Licht and Co. at the moment. The latter is likely to receive the franchise tag, while talks with Mayfield are underway. Evans is the likeliest member of the trio to reach the open market, but a new Tampa deal is still very much on the team’s radar. The same is also true of linebacker Lavonte David, who plans to either continue his storied Tampa Bay career or hang up his cleats.
Especially if David were to agree to another one-year deal, the Bucs could move forward with he, Britt and 2023 fifth-rounder SirVocea Dennis at the linebacker spot. Britt racked up 15 tackles in the playoffs while holding a first-team role, something which initially took place after White was cleared to return to the lineup in December but did not immediately suit up. A lingering foot injury was at the heart of the issue, but reports indicated the former Pro Bowler declined to play upon learning he would be relegated to backup duties. Head coach Todd Bowles pushed back on that notion, and a rotation ensued the rest of the way.
White, 26, would still be one of the more intriguing linebackers on the market given his age and production. He has totaled 566 tackles, 23 sacks and six forced fumbles in five years with Tampa Bay, although his play has not reflected well with respect to PFF grades. Looking to earn back a full-time starting gig, White is on track to find himself with a new team in 2024, and the interest he commands as a free agent will be worth monitoring.
49ers Eyeing Extensions For WRs Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings
Brandon Aiyuk is the latest foundational homegrown 49ers player in line for a second contract with the team, and the possibility of one has long been a talking point. General manager John Lynch has offered a range of responses when asked about the subject previously, but he offered a notably firm response at the Combine. 
Aiyuk has proven himself to be one of the league’s top young receivers over the past two seasons in particular. He enjoyed a career year in 2023, continuing to serve as a major factor in San Francisco’s passing attack while helping lead the team to the Super Bowl. The 25-year-old is on the books for $14.1MM in 2024 due to the 49ers’ decision to pick up his fifth-year option, but a multi-year deal is an obvious priority for the organization.
“He’s served us very well as a franchise, and I think we’ve got a nice track record of extending the players that are important to us,” Lynch said of Aiyuk when speaking at the Combine (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “Brandon is someone we want to keep around for a long time.”
Those remarks contrast to a degree with Lynch’s previous stance on the subject. The veteran executive noted the 49ers “can’t just be reckless” with their cap situation and the complications a new Aiyuk deal would create. San Francisco has fellow offensive stalwarts Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel under contract for multiple years, and Nick Bosa‘s historic extension will lead to major spikes in his cap hits down the road. A new deal for quarterback Brock Purdy (as early as next offseason) will of course include a major raise compared to his rookie pact.
Entering his age-26 season, Aiyuk will be able to command a new contract near the top of the receiver market; as such, he could join the list of 14 wideouts currently averaging at least $20MM per year. While retaining the Arizona State alum will therefore be a pricey endeavor, the 49ers are also interested in retaining fellow receiver Jauan Jennings. The latter is a pending restricted free agent, but Lynch noted it is his intention to keep him in place for at least 2024.
Jennings could be in line for the second-round RFA tender, which would cost $4.89MM and yield second-round compensation if he departed via an offer sheet. San Francisco could tender him at the original-round level ($3.12MM), but in that case an unmatched offer sheet would lead to only a seventh-rounder as compensation. Lynch noted a multi-year deal could be on the table, though, which would avoid the possibility of Jennings departing and ensure his place as a complimentary member of the offense for years to come.
Like all teams, the 49ers find themselves with added flexibility in 2024 thanks to the salary cap increase. The cap ceiling is set at $255.4MM, a much higher figure than teams were originally anticipating. That could make new deals for Aiyuk and Jennings more manageable in the short term, although they will still be expensive propositions in the former’s case in particular. It will be interesting to see how much urgency the 49ers proceed with on the extension front in the near future.
Buccaneers To Release OLB Shaquil Barrett
In need of retaining several key members of their 2023 team, the Buccaneers have a few likely salary cap casualties. One of those has long been believed to be outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett, and he is indeed set to see his time in Tampa Bay come to an end. 
The Buccaneers will release Barrett, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The two-time Super Bowl winner was owed an option bonus of $15.04MM on the fifth day of the new league year. Rather than absorbing that cap charge, Tampa Bay will cut bait after Barrett’s five-year run with the team.
This move will come in the form of a post-June 1 release, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times confirms. Taking that route will allow the team to spread out Barrett’s $26.67MM dead cap figure across two seasons. The Bucs will be hit with $9.27MM in dead money in 2024 and $17.4MM next year. They will save $4.9MM in cap space for this season, but only after June 1.
Barrett recently admitted he was likely to be released this offseason given his burdensome cap hit. The 31-year-old was owed $17MM in 2024 and he was due to carry a cap hit of $14.19MM, along with a charge of $29.43MM in a void year in 2025. One of many Bucs veterans to have their contracts restructured in recent years, Barrett’s release will be part of the process of Tampa Bay clearing out financial wiggle room in the post-Tom Brady era. The modest cap savings will not be available during the opening wave of free agency, but it will still help as the team aims to retain important members of the squad which went to the divisional round of the postseason.
Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. are each pending free agents (although the latter is likely to receive the franchise tag). A new contract for Mayfield in particular will be an expensive priority, given his success in his debut Tampa season. Barrett, by contrast, delivered underwhelming totals in 2023 despite managing to play in 18 combined regular season and playoff games coming off an Achilles tear the previous season. The two-time Pro Bowler posted 4.5 sacks in 2023, after recording three in eight contests the year prior.
Those totals mark a stark contrast to Barrett’s 19.5 sacks in 2019. That figure led the league and set a single-season franchise record. The Colorado State product also delivered four sacks in the 2020 postseason to help Tampa Bay win the Super Bowl that year; after a 10-sack campaign the following season, though, things have not gone according to plan. Barrett will now turn his attention to free agency in the hopes of regaining his previous form in a new environment.
The Buccaneers, meanwhile, will move forward with an inexpensive edge contingent including the likes of Anthony Nelson, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and YaYa Diaby. The latter finished tied for fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting after he delivered 7.5 sacks in 2023. Another investment along the edge via the draft could be in play for Tampa Bay, or the team could dip into the secondary free agent market if sufficient funds for a Barrett replacement exist. Entering today, the Buccaneers had $43.68MM in cap space with a slew of major financial decisions still to make.