Tyron Smith Wants To Remain With Cowboys
Tyron Smith has been a mainstay on the Cowboys’ offensive line since 2011. His time with the franchise is in danger of coming to an end this spring, but that will not be the case if he has his way. 
Smith is aiming to play one more season as a Cowboy, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports. The 33-year-old is a pending free agent (although the restructured pact he agreed to last March will leave the team with a $6MM dead cap charge in 2024 even if he departs). Smith’s desire to remain in place will lead to an interesting decision on the team’s part given his injury history.
The 2010s All-Decade member has not played a full season since 2015. A number of ailments have led to missed time since then, including those which limited him to a combined total of six games in 2020 and ’22. Smith rebounded this past year by seeing the field for 13 games, all of which came at his familiar left tackle spot. That came after offseason indications pointed to the eight-time Pro Bowler remaining at right tackle, where he played upon his return to the lineup in 2022.
Dallas used a first-round pick on Tyler Smith in 2022 with the intention of using him at guard before succeeding Tyron Smith on the blindside. The latter’s torn hamstring accelerated that plan, but his return to pre-injury form in 2023 allowed Tyler Smith to slide back inside. Tyron Smith graded out as PFF’s fourth-best offensive tackle last season, in large part due to a league-best mark of 89.3 in pass protection.
Given his performance, the two-time All-Pro could be a logical candidate for a much shorter pact that the eight-year one he inked in 2014. On the other hand, the Cowboys need to prepare a plan to transition to younger options with respect to Smith and right guard Zack Martin. The latter is under contract for one more year with a guaranteed salary of $18MM and a $28.5MM cap hit. Dallas also has starting center Tyler Biadasz set to hit free agency, so retaining him would use up resources which could otherwise be given to Smith. With the Cowboys or another team, the latter nevertheless intends to play in 2024.
Patriots’ Matthew Slater Retires
Matthew Slater‘s NFL tenure has come to an end. The Patriots’ special teams ace announced on Tuesday that he has retired after 16 years with the franchise. 
“In 2008, I came here as a young man with hopes and dreams,” his announcement reads in part. “In 2024, I can retire knowing this experience has exceeded any hope or dream I ever had.”
Slater played on one-year contracts in both 2022 and ’23, as the end of his career drew nearer. His final New England pact allowed him to carry on his familiar special teams capacity throughout the season. For the first time in his career, the former fifth-rounder did not see a single offensive snap. Slater was, however, on the field for a personal high 89% of the Patriots’ special teams snaps.
Throughout his run in New England, the UCLA product was one of the league’s best third phase players, something reflected in his accolades. With the exception of the 2018 campaign, Slater was named a Pro Bowler each year from 2011 to 2021. In that span, he also earned a pair of first-team All-Pro nods as well as three second-team honors.
Slater was a key member of New England’s coverage units throughout his career, although he also totaled 35 kick returns. He made 191 tackles across his Patriots tenure, adding another 22 stops in postseason play. The 38-year-old was a member of three Super Bowl-winning squads, another factor which will help his candidacy to join his father Jackie in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In all, Slater will hang up his cleats with 239 games under his belt; that figure ranks second in franchise history to Tom Brady. The former complied just over $30MM in career earnings while garnering a reputation as one of the league’s most highly-respected players. His attention will now turn to his post-playing days.
“I have given all that I possibly can to respect and honor the game,” Slater added. “Though it is time for my relationship with the game to evolve, the love I have for it will last a lifetime.”
Bucs’ Mike Evans On Track For Free Agency
A number of contracts around the NFL are set to void today, the eve of the franchise tag window. In the case of the Buccaneers, that is the true of key pending free agents Baker Mayfield, Antoine Winfield Jr. and wideout Mike Evans. 
Tampa Bay is eyeing an agreement with Mayfield before free agency opens one month from now. The tag looms as a logical course of action in Winfield’s case, meanwhile. For Evans, though, today’s contract change marked an unofficial deadline to work out a new deal. No movement on that front has taken place, leaving him on track to reach the open market in March.
No Evans signing will take place today, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. The parties have been in talks on a new deal, which would be his third with the franchise. As Russini adds, Evans and the Bucs are expected to continue negotiating “in good faith” through the franchise tag window and into the build-up for free agency.
However, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz notes the sides remain “far apart” with respect to terms on an agreement. As a result, significant progress will need to be made in the near future to avoid Evans hitting the market and thus opening the door to a departure. The 30-year-old helped his value in 2023 by delivering another strong season. Evans topped the 1,000-yard mark again, extending his career-opening streak to 10 years in that regard. He also tied for the league lead with 13 receiving touchdowns, developing chemistry with Mayfield through the season and Tampa Bay’s run to the divisional round.
Evans and the Bucs talked extension this past offseason, leading up to the former first-rounder’s self-imposed Week 1 deadline. The sides did not come close to an agreement, putting them in a similar situation to where they are now. Tampa Bay remained interested in a new deal during the season, but Evans upped his market value with his play. The Texas A&M alum will be hard-pressed to land a five-year contract like he did in 2018, but he could secure an AAV similar to the $16.5MM mark of his expiring pact,
Tampa Bay already has Chris Godwin on the books for the coming season at a cap hit of $27.53MM. He is set to cost $18.85MM in 2025, the first of three void years on his pact. Managing to retain Evans while also keeping Godwin in place will prove challenging if the Buccaneers are to also authorize Mayfield and Winfield to raises on either new multi-year deals or the franchise tag.
Winfield, Mayfield and Evans will now take up roughly $16MM in dead cap charges for 2024 with no new contracts being worked out today, Greg Auman of Fox Sports details. That has no effect on their pending free agency, but it could provide added incentive to the team to work out an agreement before the new league year. In Evans’ case, it appears that will not transpire.
49ers GM John Lynch Addresses Potential Brandon Aiyuk Extension
The 49ers are set to have much of their salary cap commitments tied into a small group of high-priced veterans in 2024 and beyond. Brandon Aiyuk is on track to become one of them, provided he plays out his fifth-year option next year and/or agrees to an extension. 
Aiyuk has been the subject of considerable speculation given San Francisco’s existing commitments at the offensive skill positions. That includes fellow receiver Deebo Samuel‘s through-2025 deal, which carries cap hits of $28.63MM and $24.2MM over the next two years. Aiyuk will make $14.12MM on his fifth-year option, but a new pact will cost far more. When speaking about the latter, general manager John Lynch notably declined to offer a firm promise an agreement will be worked out.
In past years, Lynch made it clear ascending players like Samuel and defensive end Nick Bosa would be retained with long-term roster planning taking major raises into account. The longtime San Francisco executive recently repeated that his preference would be an agreement with Aiyuk. He was less committal than he has been in cases like that of Samuel and Bosa, however.
“Yeah, there are some challenges,” Lynch said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle) when speaking about Aiyuk’s financial situation. “I hope so. I think we’re set up to do [an extension]. It takes putting the whole thing together. And there’s also things we have to plan for going forward. You can’t just be reckless. We never will be.”
As Branch notes, right tackle Mike McGlinchey represents a recent example of a young starter who was floated as a trade candidate by the organization before ultimately departing in free agency (something which, in turn, came after DT DeForest Buckner was dealt ahead of the final year of his rookie contract in 2020). Aiyuk’s performances have have out-paced those of McGlinchey during his final 49ers years, and he would generate a highly competitive market if he were to reach free agency next spring. The Arizona State product has indicated he would prefer to remain in the Bay Area beyond 2024, but talks on a new deal will be worth following closely this offseason.
Plenty of time remains for the parties to come to an agreement, but the fact Lynch has not offered the same public assurances of an Aiyuk deal as he has in other cases is notable. Coming off a Super Bowl defeat, San Francisco’s short- and long-term roster-building efforts will hinge in large part on the team’s ultimate decision with respect to his future.
OL James Ferentz Retires
James Ferentz saw action in one game with the Patriots during the 2023 campaigns. Rather than attempting to continue his playing career, he will turn his attention to his post-playing days. The veteran offensive lineman announced his retirement on Monday. 
Ferentz joined the league as a Texans UDFA in 2014. He did not make his debut until one year later after joining the Broncos, and he made 14 appearances that season. He was an auxiliary member of Denver’s O-line as the team won the Super Bowl, marking an eventful start to Ferentz’s playing days at the NFL level.
The Iowa alum remained in the Mile High City for another campaign, though he again did not see any starts. That changed after he joined the Patriots, as he started a pair of games in 2019. Ferentz logged between 134 and 269 offensive snaps each season from 2019-22, seeing time at center as well as both guard positions.
The 34-year-old served as a de facto coach this past campaign (the final one of his contract) as a veteran member of New England’s offensive front. He has family ties to the coaching ranks since his father Kirk has been Iowa’s head coach since 1999. His brother Brian, meanwhile, has served on the Hawkeyes’ staff for over a decade after a stint on the Patriots’ sidelines. It will be interesting to see if James follows in their footsteps in his post-playing days.
“To the Houston Texans, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots organizations, thank you for the combined ten years of my career,” Ferentz’s announcement reads in part. “Thank you Bill O’Brien, Gary Kubiak and Bill Belichick for giving me the opportunity to play pro football when no one else would… A special thank you to the towns of Foxboro and Norfolk, Massachusetts, where my family has luckily called home for the past seven years.”
Ferentz did not play in the regular season in 2019, but he did dress for one game in the Patriots’ Super Bowl run that year. He will thus exit the game as a two-time champion and a veteran of 63 total games between regular and postseason play. He amassed $5.76MM in career earnings.
Latest On Vikings’ Edge Rush Situation
With a Kirk Cousins free agency spell looming, the Vikings are among the teams to watch over the coming days and weeks. Minnesota’s defense faces a number of question marks as well, though, particularly in the edge rush department. 
Danielle Hunter is also on track for free agency, and he could command a lucrative market. After agreeing to a fully-guaranteed one-year Vikings pact last offseason, Hunter enjoyed a healthy and productive campaign. He set a new career high in sacks with 16.5, earning him a fourth Pro Bowl invite. Minnesota’s direction with respect to retaining Hunter will of course depend in large part on what happens with Cousins, but Minnesota has another pass rusher to consider re-signing.
D.J. Wonnum is set to see his rookie contract expire, but his performances when given a starting role could help his market value. Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network reports Wonnum could be an under-the-radar free agent, and he could be worth watching as an element of Minnesota’s offseason plans. Caplan notes the Vikings should be expected to pursue a new deal with at least one of Hunter or Wonnum.
The latter matched his career high with eight sacks in 2023, having posted the same total when he handled first-team duties in 2021. Wonnum, 26, recorded 62 tackles, 15 QB hits and 21 pressures. The former fourth-rounder is thus in line for a notable raise on his second contract, whether that comes from the Vikings or a team better positioned to make a lucrative long-term commitment.
Fellow edge rusher Marcus Davenport was set to have his contract void today, falling in line with a number of other players around the NFL in that regard. However, the void date on Davenport’s pact has now been moved to March 13 (lining it up with Cousins and Hunter), per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. Instead of creating a dead money charge for 2024 today, Davenport and the Vikings will now have more time to negotiate a deal.
The former Saints first-rounder came to Minnesota last offseason on a one-year deal worth $10MM guaranteed. Four void years were included in the deal, though, and Davenport is set to carry a $6.8MM cap hit in 2024 even if he departs. An ankle injury limited him to just four games in his debut Vikings season. Whether he is retained alongside one or both of Hunter and Wonnum or replaced with a new group of edge rushers will be an intriguing storyline for the team.
Patriots To Release DL Lawrence Guy, S Adrian Phillips
Cost-cutting season is in full swing around the NFL. New England is letting go of defensive lineman Lawrence Guy and safety Adrian Phillips, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. 
Guy had one year remaining on his contract, and none of his $2MM base salary was guaranteed. As a result, today’s move will produce $3MM in cap savings and a dead cap charge of just $500K. Phillips was likewise on an expiring deal with none of the $3MM he was owed in the form of guaranteed money. His release will also save $3MM against the cap in 2024 while incurring $1.18MM in dead money.
Amidst an exodus of other longtime members of the organization in recent years, Guy found himself the longest-tenured member of the franchise heading into the 2023 season. Talks on an extension took place during the summer, but no agreement was reached. The 33-year-old had been a full-time starter in his first six seasons in New England, but his playing time dipped to a Patriots tenure-low of 46% in 2023. Now, he will begin searching for a new opportunity.
Guy remained a steady contributor along the defensive front for the Patriots across his 110 games played with the franchise, recording between one and three sacks and between 46 and 61 tackles from 2017-22. His production took a step back this past season, but the Super Bowl LIII winner could generate a decent market in free agency on a short-term deal.
Phillips inked a $12.75MM extension in 2022, and he played every game over the past two seasons. After receiving eight starts in 2022, however, that figure fell to one this past campaign. The 31-year-old’s 12% defensive snap was the lowest of his career and a far cry from his previous workloads in his three Patriots campaigns. He shifted to a special teams mainstay, something which should help his financial floor on a new contract.
The safety spot could see further turnover in this offseason. Kyle Dugger is a pending free agent, as is versatile defensive back Jalen Mills (who logged over 100 snaps at each safety spot last season). Jabrill Peppers has one year remaining on his contract, so a long-term investment at the position should be expected either through free agency or the draft this offseason.
The Patriots entered today with $66MM in cap space, the fourth-highest figure in the league. These cost-shedding moves will add to that total as the team begins a critical offseason with new personnel in place in the front office and on the sidelines. Both Guy and Phillips, meanwhile, will join the list of veteran defenders available on the free agent market.
RB Mike Davis Retires
Mike Davis enjoyed an eight-year stint in the NFL, but the veteran running back will not make another run at finding an opportunity ahead of the 2024 season. Davis announced on Monday that he has retired. 
The news comes on Davis’ 31st birthday, and it confirms he will hang up his cleats after a full season out of the league. His most recent game action came with the Ravens, who signed him in May 2022. Baltimore moved on in December of that year, and no teams provided an opportunity during the 2023 campaign.
Davis entered the league in 2015 with the 49ers, though he only spent two years with the team. Another two-year run ensued during his tenure in Seattle. It was with the Seahawks in 2018 that Davis first received over 100 carries and put up notable production (514 yards, four touchdowns). Those totals did not prevent the former fourth-rounder from bouncing around the league, however; Davis went on to play for the Bears, Panthers, Falcons and Ravens over the course of his career.
The 2020 season was comfortably the most productive of Davis’ career. He topped 1,000 scrimmage yards and scored eight total touchdowns, helping maintain his free agent value. The end of his two-year, $6MM Panthers contract lined up an intra-divisional move to Atlanta on a $5.5MM pact of the same length. A stint as the Falcons’ lead back did not produce the desired results, though, and Davis was let go after only one season.
The South Carolina alum played a total of 87 NFL games, as well as a single postseason appearance with Seattle. In all, Davis totaled roughly $13.3MM in career earnings. His attention will now turn to his post-playing days, but he used his retirement announcement to reflect positively on his career.
“As I turn 31 today, I sit back and look on my NFL career and how thankful I am to be a part of a brotherhood,” Davis said on social media. “This game has allowed me to make a lot of friends and memories. I’m grateful for every organization in [the] NFL.”
Browns QB Deshaun Watson To Resume Throwing In March
Deshaun Watson‘s second Browns campaign (and first one with full-season availability) did not go according to plan. Recurring injuries left the Pro Bowl quarterback in and out of the lineup before he was ultimately shut down for the year. A key step in his rehab is not far away, though. 
Watson is set to resume throwing in March, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. He continues to recover from surgery which took place in November and marked an end to his campaign. A number of issues emerged in his throwing shoulder over the course of the campaign, though Cabot notes that only the fractured glenoid bone – rather than Watson’s strained rotator cuff – was surgically repaired.
When speaking about Cleveland’s QB situation last month, head coach Kevin Stefanski said Watson was on track to take part in the team’s offseason program in April. Today’s update points further in that direction, and Cabot adds that Watson may be ahead of schedule in his recovery. Managing to put together a full campaign next year will be an obvious goal for team and player in this situation.
Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of the season in 2022, and his level of play upon activation left plenty to be desired. He took a step forward this year, but his season-ending ailment left the Browns in need of multiple replacement options under center. Midseason signing Joe Flacco helped provide stability and guide the team to the postseason, boosting his free agent value in the process. Watson will, to no surprise, serve as Cleveland’s starter in 2024.
Before the season kicks off, though, adjustments to the 28-year-old’s contract will need to be made. Watson is due to carry a cap hit of just under $64MM in each of the final three years of his fully-guaranteed deal. That figure would easily set a new NFL record in terms of single-season cap hits, but a restructure or extension would lower it for the time being. Financial moves will be worth watching in the near future in Watson’s case, but a positive development on the health front is also forthcoming.
Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo Remains Interested In HC Opportunity
Steve Spagnuolo is a four-time Super Bowl winner as a defensive coordinator, with three of his titles coming during his run with the Chiefs. He will remain in Kansas City moving forward, but he still has head coaching aspirations. 
Spagnuolo spent the 2023 campaign in a contract year, but his unit delivered the best performance of his tenure en route to a second straight title. Kansas City allowed under 25 points in 20 of the team’s 21 games this year, marking a new all-time record in that regard. To no surprise, Spagnuolo was rewarded with an extension shortly after the Super Bowl. When asked about a hypothetical return to a head coaching position, though, he confirmed it is still on his radar.
“I’ve been asked this question a lot, I’ll answer it the same way,” Spagnuolo said during an appearance on Mad Dog Sports Radio. “Absolutely would want to. We’re prideful guys in this business. It wasn’t a success when I was in St. Louis, although I think what gets lost in this is… in that second year in 2010, had we won the last game of the season we’re in the playoffs and hosting a playoff game against the New Orleans Saints. It didn’t happen, then we hit the lockout and things didn’t go well and we were gone.
“The answer to the question is yes, but I always follow up with this. If it never happens and it’s God’s will that I continue to do what I’m doing, I’m a blessed man.”
Spagnuolo went 10-38 with the Rams, and his only other NFL head coaching position came on an interim basis with the Giants after Ben McAdoo was fired in 2017. The 64-year-old has said in the past that he would welcome another HC opportunity, but his latest Chiefs contract will delay his chance to take charge of a roster at a minimum. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid‘s future has been a matter of speculation for multiple years, but he will remain in place for at least one more season.
Being promoted as Reid’s replacement could provide Spagnuolo with a path to another head coaching gig, but no firm timeline exists on when that could take place. For now, he and the Chiefs will set out on an offseason aimed at keeping the franchise poised for another title run.