Chargers, C Corey Linsley Agree To Restructure
Chargers center Corey Linsley has likely played his final NFL game. In a move further pointing in that direction, he has agreed to adjust his contract ahead of an expected retirement announcement. 
Linsley agreed to lower his base salary to the veteran’s minimum for 2024, per ESPN’s Field Yates. That figure was scheduled to be $11.5MM, but today’s move creates $10.29MM in cap space for Los Angeles. The former All-Pro will now be positioned to retire after June 1; doing so will allow the Chargers to spread out the dead cap hit remaining on his contract over a two-year span.
After being limited to just three games in the 2023 season, Linsley confirmed last month he is “99%” likely to retire. The longtime Packers starter was sidelined due to a heart-related issue, and it will cause him to hang up his cleats later this offseason. This arrangement will result in a $2.6MM dead cap charge for 2025, the final year of Linsley’s deal, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap notes.
The 32-year-old played out his rookie contract with Green Bay, then inked a three-year, $25.5MM deal to remain with the Packers. He maintained his status as one of the game’s top centers over that span, creating a lucrative market when he reached free agency in 2021. Los Angeles gave him a five-year pact averaging $12.5MM per year. That represented a record for centers at the time, and led to high expectations for his venture to the West Coast.
Linsley earned second-team All-Pro honors in his debut Chargers campaign, along with his lone Pro Bowl nod. He managed to suit for 14 games the following year, but his health issue resulted in the second year of his career which featured significant missed time. In his absence, the Chargers underperformed along the offensive line. The team ranked last in PFF’s run-blocking grades for 2023.
While today’s move provides further clarity on the need to replace Linsley, doing so could be a challenge in free agency. Even with the added spending power for this year, Los Angeles is one of several teams currently projected to be well over the salary cap when the new league year begins. The draft could offer an addition along the interior O-line, though no options in that department will be considered with the N0. 5 selection. The Chargers’ next pick is 37th overall, which could fall in range for a center prospect.
Ravens Extend WR Nelson Agholor
The Ravens saw contributions from a number of new faces in the receiving room in 2023, and at least one veteran member of that group will remain in place for another year. The team announced on Sunday that Nelson Agholor has signed a one-year extension. 
Agholor joined the Ravens on a one-year deal last offseason, but multiple void years were added to his pact for salary cap purposes. As The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec notes, his deal was set to void on Monday, which would have set him up for free agency. Instead, the veteran will remain in place as a complementary option in Baltimore’s passing game.
Four years removed from a career-year in Las Vegas, there were relatively low expectations coming into the 2024 for Agholor. While his production this season doesn’t jump off the stat sheet by any means, he proved a reliable target for MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. He finished third in the team’s receivers room in yards (381) and second in touchdowns (4), and despite a career-history of questionable hands, Agholor caught a career-high 77.8 percent of his targets, only dropping two passes.
With Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and return specialist Tylan Wallace all set to return on their rookie contracts, the Ravens were set to enter the offseason with Agholor, Odell Beckham Jr., and another return specialist in Devin Duvernay headed towards free agency. When asked in a recent interview whether he’ll need to rebuild the wide receivers room again this offseason, general manager Eric DeCosta said, “I think (Bateman) is going to have a great season. We got Zay. I feel really good about where we are.” He went on to mention that the team had already had conversations about re-signing some of the veterans set to leave the building, and Agholor appears to have been one of those considerations.
It remains to be seen whether or not Agholor is just the first domino to fall. Though Beckham once again fell short of achieving the highs of his days in New York, the 31-year-old still finished second on the team in receiving yards and displayed some decent chemistry with Jackson at times. Duvernay’s receiving contribution took a huge step back after taking a larger role in 2022, but the 26-year-old still has some of the talent in the return game that made him a first-team All-Pro in 2021.
Regardless, with Agholor back in the fold, alongside Flowers, Bateman, and Wallace, the Ravens have a functional receiving corps. The team may still pursue contracts with the departing vets or perhaps some new talent from the college ranks, but with today’s signing, any such move would be considered an upgrade, as opposed to a necessity.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Latest On Broncos S Justin Simmons
A number of position groups could see an exodus this offseason for the Broncos. Safety does not appear to be one of them, but Justin Simmons could still be a player to watch from a financial perspective. 
The two-time Pro Bowler is attached to a four-year, $61MM pact. One year remains on that contract, and Simmons is due $14.5MM. None of that total is guaranteed, however, and he is set to carry a cap hit of $18.25MM in 2024. A move aimed at lowering the latter figure could thus take place.
Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post notes that “some action is likely” on Simmons’ contract. That could take the form of a restructure or extension if the Broncos remain committed to the veteran ballhawk. A trade would also create added financial flexibility, but Simmons’ absence would create a sizable roster hole on Denver’s defense. Given his durability and production, it would come as a surprise if the Broncos actively looked to move on the former third-rounder.
Simmons totaled three interceptions, eight pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles in 2023. Those figures helped earn second-team All-Pro acclaim for the fourth time in his career, demonstrating his continued ability to provide high-end play. Now 30, another multi-year commitment would thus likely be a safer investment for the Broncos than a number of other aging options at the position.
As Gabriel notes, P.J. Locke is the only Broncos safety currently set to hit the open market in March. Making a move of some kind with Simmons would create more clarity from a financial standpoint, and potentially free up funds to retain Locke after he played well filling in for Kareem Jackson. Few proven commodities reside on Denver’s depth chart beyond Simmons at the safety position (Caden Sterns, JL Skinner, and Delarrin Turner-Yell).
The Broncos were the subject of numerous trade calls leading up to the deadline, with wideouts Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton again finding themselves on the market. Simmons also received interest, although buyers unsurprisingly elected not to take on the remainder of his contract. Denver is one of several teams currently set to be over the cap, so cost-shedding moves will be required in the coming days and weeks. Moving on from Simmons would likely be an avenue the Broncos wish to avoid, but it will be worth monitoring to see if a new agreement can be worked out between the parties to soften the blow of his pact.
5 Key Stories: 2/11/24 – 2/18/24
With the Super Bowl in the books, all 32 NFL teams have begun their respective offseasons. The franchise tag deadline and free agency are not far away, and they will provide a number of important developments. Some have taken place in the past week, though; here is a quick recap in case you missed any of them:
- Garoppolo Handed Two-Game Suspension: In another unwelcomed development during his Raiders tenure, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was issued a PED suspension which will sideline him for the start of the 2024 campaign. The ban – which he will not appeal – is likely to end his time in Vegas, a period which included only six starts in 2023. The 32-year-old has two years remaining on his contract, but the suspension will void the remaining guaranteed money in his deal. The Raiders were already likely to cut bait with Garoppolo this offseason after he was benched in the wake of Josh McDaniels’ firing, but this news will make that decision even easier. Vegas will be a team to watch on the QB market as competition for Aidan O’Connell is sought out.
- 49ers Fire Wilks: The 49ers’ Super Bowl rematch with the Chiefs produced the same result, and head coach Kyle Shanahan made a notable staffing change in the wake of the team’s loss. Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was fired after one campaign in that position, marking an end to a relationship which had been the source of speculation throughout the season. Shanahan cited a lack of fit with respect to scheme as the reason Wilks was let go. The 49ers posted top-10 finishes in total and scoring defense in the regular season, but Wilks’ unit underperformed in the wild-card and divisional playoff rounds. Scoring drives by the Chiefs late in regulation and then in overtime helped them secure the win and inform the decision to fire Wilks. The 54-year-old will now become a late entrant into the coaching cycle; every head coach and DC vacancy has been filled.
- Patriots Open To Trading Down, Moving Jones: The Mac Jones era has not produced the desired results in New England, and it would come as little surprise if he were to be traded this offseason. Many have pointed to the No. 3 pick in April’s draft as a logical avenue to adding his replacement, but the team could trade out of that slot. Moving down the board would give New England’s new regime (led by personnel director Eliot Wolf and head coach Jerod Mayo) additional assets, something which would help the effort to rebuild a roster featuring deficiencies at a number of spots. It could delay the team’s decision to draft a Jones replacement by one year, though, and steer them in direction of a short-term free agent move. Jones is all-but certain to have his fifth-year option declined this spring, putting him on track for free agency in 2025 following a final year in New England or a first with a new team.
- Smith Likely To Remain Seahawks’ Starter? Friday marked an important milestone for the Seahawks with respect to quarterback Geno Smith. The team kept Smith on the roster long enough to guarantee his $12.7MM base salary in full, a sign he will remain in place atop the depth chart for one more season. Seattle does still have a window to trade the 33-year-old before his $9.6MM roster bonus vests one month from now, though, so Smith’s job security is still uncertain. Neither general manager John Schneider – a strong advocate for backup Drew Lock – nor new head coach Mike Macdonald have endorsed a firm QB direction for the offseason. Smith (who saw a regression in his overall totals compared to his Comeback Player of the Year performance in 2022) has two years remaining on his contract, while Lock is a pending free agent. As things stand, the former is headed for a reprise of his QB1 duties.
- Eagles Allow Reddick To Seek Trade: One year remains on Haason Reddick’s contract, but the Eagles allowed the two-time Pro Bowler to seek out a trade partner. Reddick has racked up 27 sacks in his two Philadelphia campaigns, and he could command a raise on his next pact. The 29-year-old is due $15.5MM in 2024, but none of his $14.25MM base salary is guaranteed. Reddick is not angling to leave, however; he has made it clear he intends to remain in Philadelphia and is aiming for an extension. The Eagles have little clarity along the edge at the moment, and ensuring Reddick’s future for at least the 2024 season would be a welcomed development. Whether or not the parties can work out another contract also will be worth watching as the offseason unfolds, though.
Ravens Expected To Target Free Agent RB Addition?
The Ravens led the league in rushing during the 2023 season, but the running back position could see significant overhaul in the near future. A number of veteran options are set to hit the market, and Baltimore could be a team to watch with respect to a signing. 
A belief around the league exists that the Ravens plan to “target a running back with pedigree” next month, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes. Baltimore’s top two running backs entering the 2023 campaign – J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards – are pending free agents. The same is also true of veteran pickups Melvin Gordon and Dalvin Cook, so the team has a number of interesting decisions to make at the position ahead of the new league year.
Dobbins’ case in particular will be worth watching. The former second-rounder has shown considerable promise when on the field, scoring 13 total touchdowns in 24 regular season games while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. An ACL tear cost him the entire 2021 season, though, and Dobbins suffered an Achilles tear in Week 1 of this past campaign. That came after a summer in which the Ravens made clear their desire to retain him, but his stock has no doubt taken a hit given his missed time.
Baltimore discussed an extension with Dobbins, who profiles as having more upside than many of the other pending free agent backs given his performances and age (25). A fresh start via a deal sending him elsewhere would come as little surprise if he is aiming for the opportunity to operate as a clear-cut lead back. Red flags due to his injuries – along with the overall depressed market at the RB position – could limit his ability to do that, though.
Edwards was one of the backs who saw an increased workload in Dobbins’ absence. The former UDFA set a new career high in carries (198), scrimmage yards (990) and touchdowns (13) in 2023. His yards per carry average fell to 4.1, however, the lowest mark of his career. The 28-year-old’s decreased efficiency could limit his market to that of a goal line specialist (as opposed to the three-year, $12.38MM pact he signed in 2021), either on a new Ravens deal or one with an outside team.
Third-down back and special teams mainstay Justice Hill is on the books for 2024 at a cap hit of $2.97MM. A release could free up cap space, but Hill has proven to be a valuable depth contributor when given the opportunity. Keaton Mitchell, who joined Baltimore as an undrafted rookie and flashed plenty of potential before suffering an ACL tear, figures to have at least a complementary role once he has recovered. The Ravens should have room for at least one outside addition if they elect to go the free agent route.
Baltimore was connected to Derrick Henry at the trade deadline, but the Titans did not end up moving him. The two-time rushing champion is nevertheless in line to depart Tennessee for the first time in his career during free agency, and he has named joining a Super Bowl contender as a priority for this offseason. Coming off a 13-4 season and an appearance in the AFC title game, Baltimore qualifies in that regard.
Henry will likely be joined by a host of other accomplished backs, including Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard. Baltimore has a number of key financial decisions to make in the coming weeks, including a potential franchise tag application for defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and talks on a new deal for linebacker Patrick Queen. Those Pro Bowl defenders will use up considerable cap resources if either or both are retained. For now, though, the team is in a better financial situation than a number of others, so Baltimore could be active on the RB market.
Latest On Seahawks LBs Jordyn Brooks, Bobby Wagner
The linebacker spot could see plenty of upheaval this offseason in Seattle. Jordyn Brooks, Bobby Wagner and Devin Bush are each pending free agents, and their chances of being retained vary. 
[RELATED: Seahawks Moving Toward Retaining Geno Smith?]
Brooks, 26, is set to see his rookie contract expire since the Seahawks declined his fifth-year option last spring. That move fell in line with those made by other teams in the same position, but it set up the 2023 season as a platform campaign. Brooks delivered another impactful season (111 tackles, a pick-six and a career-high 4.5 sacks). He could soon parlay his production into a new deal.
Michael Shawn-Dugar of The Athletic notes that Brooks wants to re-sign with the Seahawks (subscription required). He adds that the Texas Tech product is a key free agent priority for Seattle and is the likeliest of the LB trio to be retained. Brooks has been a mainstay on defense since becoming a starter, and he led the NFL in solo tackles in 2021. An ACL tear ended his 2022 campaign, but he managed to recover in time for the start of this past season.
Brooks’ play saw an uptick with the return of Wagner following his one-and-done Rams campaign. The latter’s Seattle departure, Shawn-Dugar notes, was driven more by general manager John Schneider than head coach Pete Carroll. With Carroll having shifted to an advisory role, Schneider now has full roster control. Shawn-Dugar thus describes another deal with Wagner as “unlikely.”
The 33-year-old added to his considerable accolades in 2023, earning second-team All-Pro honors and receiving a Pro Bowl invite. He is committed to playing next season, but the Seahawks have a number of decisions to make at the LB position among others. A new deal for defensive lineman Leonard Williams could soon be on the table, and Seattle will be looking to improve its front seven after continuing to struggle against the run.
Wagner led the league in tackles last season, so he would likely be a productive contributor for the Seahawks or another interested team. Seattle is currently slated to be $5.2MM over the cap, though, and teams rarely make lucrative commitments to more than one inside linebacker at a time. If Brooks is indeed seen as a higher priority, then, Wagner could once again find himself on the move in free agency.
Vikings S Harrison Smith Likely Facing Pay Cut In 2024
Harrison Smith has played his entire 12-year career with the Vikings, and he remains under contract with the team. If he elects to continue his career, though, he will likely need to do so at a reduced rate. 
Smith was in a similar situation last offseason. He ultimately agreed to a restructure which resulted in a pay cut while guaranteeing much of his base salary. Two more years remain on the 35-year-old’s contract, and he is set to carry cap hits of $19.22MM and $22.02MM, respectively, if no further alterations are made.
As Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes, Smith declined to offer a firm stance with respect to his playing future once the Vikings’ season came to an end. The six-time Pro Bowler racked up 93 tackles, three sacks and a trio of forced fumbles in 2023. He did not allow a touchdown in coverage, and he is one year removed from a five-interception campaign. While he would remain a productive player if he elected to play in 2024, Goessling writes that Smith would likely be required to agree to another pay cut to remain in Minnesota.
The former All-Pro is due $15.3MM next year, but the Vikings would see considerable cap savings via a trade or release (particularly if they were to designate Smith a post-June 1 cut). A restructure, by contrast, would allow Minnesota to retain him while creating $6.67MM in cap space. Given the major financial decisions the team has to make in the near future, any added flexibility would be welcomed.
The Vikings need to work out a new deal with Kirk Cousins or find a replacement starting quarterback. The team is also set to resume negotiations on a mega-extension with wideout Justin Jefferson. The latter does not appear poised to offer a hometown discount, although he is already on the books for 2024 via his fifth-year option. Clarity on the Cousins and Jefferson fronts will inform moves with other key veterans, such as pending free agent edge rusher Danielle Hunter.
Goessling notes that both head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores want to have Smith back for next season. His desire to continue playing remains the key question in this situation; if he elects against hanging up his cleats, however, it will be interesting to see if he is willing to take a pay cut for the second year in a row.
NFL, NFLPA Discussing 2028 Olympic Flag Football Participation
In October, it was officially announced flag football would be one of the new events introduced at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Questions have since been raised regarding the participation of NFL players, but talks on that front are already underway. 
The NFL played a leading role in the effort to get flag football into the Olympics, so it comes as little surprise the league is interested in having a presence at the event. Numerous active players have publicly stated an intention to participate, but a number of logistical issues need to be worked out. A mutual interest exists between both the NFL and the player’s association with respect to taking part.
NFL EVP Peter O’Reilly confirmed (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post) that “conversations have started” when it comes to working out an agreement with all parties to allow for NFL participation. NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell cautioned that plenty of detailed discussions will be needed for one to be hammered out when speaking on the subject. He did, however, confirm the appetite on the union’s side for the NFL to have a prominent presence.
“The players want to do it,” Howell said (via Maske). “We’re supportive of the players wanting to do it. The league wants the players to do it. So we’re all for it. No impasse.”
The 2028 Games will take place from July 14-30, a window which falls outside of when NFL training camps usually begin. Matters such as travel costs and insurance in case of injury will need to be sorted out before NFL players are given the go-ahead to compete. As things currently stand, however, signs point to that taking place with plenty of time remaining for negotiations.
Chris Jones Wants To Remain With Chiefs
FEBRUARY 16: The Chiefs have officially “picked up the option on” Jones’ contract, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. As mentioned below, the move was expected, as it allows Kansas City the option to franchise tag Jones moving forward. The move also pays out $4.25MM of incentives that Jones earned over the 2023 NFL season.
Tagging Jones still doesn’t appear to be the preferred route after he was previously tagged in 2020, and should the team choose not to exercise that option, Jones will be set to test free agency.
FEBRUARY 15: Chris Jones is currently slated to be one of the top defenders in the 2024 free agent class. Kansas City is aiming to retain him, however, and the desire for a new deal appears to be mutual. 
When speaking at the team’s Super Bowl parade, Jones made it clear he intends to remain with the Chiefs for the foreseeable future (video link). His remarks carry less weight than tangible progress in contract talks, of course, but they point to a continued path existing for a new deal to be worked out. Finalizing an agreement is among the team’s top priorities, something head coach Andy Reid has confirmed.
“Yeah, listen, I think [general manager Brett] Veach has said it before — we’d love to have him back,” Reid said on Wednesday (video link). “They’ve just got to work all that out. But I think the effort will be there probably on both parts to try to get something done.”
Jones’ contract holdout left him out of the lineup for Week 1 of the 2023 season as he attempted to land a long-term deal at or near the level of Aaron Donald in terms of compensation. The Chiefs aimed for a lower AAV, and the parties ultimately reached a one-year agreement which left a franchise tag as an option for 2024. Such a move would come as a surprise, though, since it would cost more than $32MM due to Jones previously being tagged in 2020.
Talks with Jones on a deal which would provide multi-year clarity will, of course, be complicated by the fact L’Jarius Sneed is also set to reach the open market. The latter has proven himself to be a key member of one of the league’s best cornerback tandems while playing alongside 2022 first-rounder Trent McDuffie. Sneed could command a lucrative long-term pact with the Chiefs or another team if he were to reach free agency, but Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda notes the franchise tag could be in play in his case. The CB tag is slated to cost roughly $18.4MM in 2024, but Pauline writes there was chatter at the Senior Bowl Kansas City could use it to at least buy time to continue contract talks.
The Chiefs are currently mid-pack in terms of projected cap space, though new much of the team’s available resources will be needed to re-sign Jones and/or Sneed. Cost-shedding moves will take place in Kansas City in the near future, but the offseason will be defined in large part by the progress of talks with the two defensive stalwarts.
Seahawks Plan On Retaining Geno Smith?
The Seahawks’ QB situation faces plenty of uncertainty entering the 2024 league year. Geno Smith is set to pass an important checkpoint on the way to retaining his starter’s role, however. 
Smith was informed by the team on Thursday that he will remain on the roster through February 16, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. That is important because Smith’s $12.7MM base salary will shift from an injury guarantee to being guaranteed in full tomorrow. As a result, today’s news greatens the chances of the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year staying in Seattle.
However, Smith also has a $9.6MM roster bonus which will not vest until March 18. The decision to retain Smith for the time being could therefore open up a window to explore a trade with an interested team before the new league year begins. As Schefter’s colleague Brady Henderson notes, Smith’s deal includes offset language which could allow the team to release him before March 18 if no trade partner is found. The 33-year-old’s future is thus still far from certain.
Smith enjoyed a career year in 2022, proving to be a bargain for Seattle and helping the tam reach the postseason. He parlayed that success into a three-year, $75MM deal which includes incentives and performance escalators. With $27.3MM guaranteed at signing, 2023 was still seen as a ‘prove-it’ season for him. Smith’s totals regressed, leading to speculation Seattle could move on from him and transition to Drew Lock under center. The latter has drawn praise from general manager John Schneider, who following the end of Pete Carroll‘s coaching tenure now has full say in roster decisions.
As Henderson notes, part of Schneider’s desire to trade Russell Wilson to the Broncos was the fact the Seahawks could acquire Lock as part of the return package. Lock is a pending UFA, however, and his play while filling in for an injured Smith during the season could help his chances of landing a more lucrative deal than the one-year, $4MM pact he played on last year and a starting gig in the process.
Neither Schneider nor new head coach Mike Macdonald have offered a firm endorsement of Smith or Lock. Still, today’s news points toward the former being in Seattle’s plans for the time being as he potentially moves closer to a third straight campaign in the starter’s role. Given his age and Lock’s contract status, though, it would come as little surprise if the Seahawks invested in a rookie passer this spring. The team currently holds three of the draft’s first 81 selections, including No. 16.