Latest On Chase Young’s Recovery From Neck Surgery
Chase Young got a positive update on his recovery from neck surgery. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Saints defensive end “received a positive report” during a check-up with “renowned neck specialist” Dr. Robert Watkins.
[RELATED: Chase Young’s Neck Injury Affected 2023 Trade Market]
The plan is for Young to undergo more tests in about six weeks, which would bring us to the end of July/the beginning of August. Fowler notes that Young intends to participate in Saints training camp, which opens in California on July 24.
Young’s neck issues date back to last year’s preseason, when the former second-overall pick suffered a stinger that ultimately forced him to miss the regular-season opener. Young didn’t miss another game for the rest of the 2023 campaign, although the lingering injury reportedly affected his trade market. The impending free agent was eventually traded from the Commanders to the 49ers for a third-round pick, with Young getting into 12 games (including postseason) for his new squad. The player went under the knife after the season.
The Saints ended up snagging the edge rusher in free agency, giving him a one-year deal that could be worth up to $13MM if the free agent acquisition can stay healthy. Of course, that’s easier said than done. After earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, Young suffered a knee injury that derailed his 2021 and 2022 seasons. He rebounded nicely in 2023, finishing with 7.5 sacks, but it doesn’t sound like the veteran is completely past his injury struggles.
While the Saints were clearly banking on Young’s upside, the acquisition will surely test the team’s depth. Saints stalwart Cameron Jordan underwent surgery earlier this year to address a significant ankle injury, although the veteran was able to participate a bit in this week’s practices. The team does still have Carl Granderson on the edge, with the former UDFA coming off a career season. 2021 first-round pick Payton Turner and 2023 second-round pick Isaiah Foskey are also competing for depth spots.
Kenny Clark, Packers Have Discussed Extension
Kenny Clark is set to hit free agency following the 2024 campaign, and the Packers have naturally engaged in conversations with one of their defensive leader. The veteran defensive tackle told reporters today that there have been “ongoing” talks between the two sides (via Ashley Washburn of TMJ4 News in Milwaukee).
The former first-round pick inked a four-year, $70MM deal in 2020 that’s set to expire at the end of the season. Clark has earned two of his three career Pro Bowl appearances while playing on that extension, with the defensive tackle collecting 15.5 sacks while only missing one game over that three-year span.
Pro Football Focus was generally higher on the player earlier in his career, although they’ve still ranked him as an above-average interior defender in recent years. After finishing 2023 with career-highs in sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (nine), and QB hits (16), he was graded 32nd among 130 qualifying interior defenders.
Clark ranks top-10 in Packers history in TFLs and QB hits, and he’s top-20 in sacks and forced fumbles. Considering his track record with the organization, the 28-year-old is focused on finishing his career in Green Bay.
“Oh yeah, 100 percent,” Clark said (h/t CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell). “I love it here. I love my teammates. I love the organization. Hopefully everything will work out.”
When Clark inked his extension in 2020, he was the 12th-highest paid defensive player in the NFL. Now, his AAV is ranked only 17th at his own position. If Clark wants to be paid as a top-10 interior defender, he’ll be eyeing an average annual salary of $22.5MM. OverTheCap is currently projecting that the DT franchise tag will be valued at $22.1MM next offseason.
Clark will be 29 at the end of his contract, making him relatively young for a second-time free agent. That might help garner him the extra years and the extra money on his next pact. If Clark gets his way, that next contract will come from Green Bay.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/11/24
Today’s minor transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Harrison Hand
- Waived: DB Anthony Sao
Detroit Lions
- Waived/injured: DB Craig James
New England Patriots
- Claimed off waivers (from Lions): LB Steele Chambers
- Waived: LB Jay Person
Harrison Hand brings 27 games of experience to Atlanta. The former fifth-round pick spent the first two seasons of his career with the Vikings before spending the 2023 campaign in Chicago, where he collected 12 tackles and one forced fumble in four games (one start). Meanwhile, fellow cornerback Craig James has seen time in 23 games since entering the NFL in 2018. After going without a regular-season appearance in 2021 and 2022, James got into a pair of games with the Jets last season.
Randy Gregory No-Shows Start Of Buccaneers Minicamp
Randy Gregory‘s first year in Tampa Bay hasn’t gotten off to the best start. The veteran edge rusher was a no-show for the first day of mandatory minicamp, with coach Todd Bowles declaring it an unexcused absence.
[RELATED: Randy Gregory Files Lawsuit Against NFL, Broncos]
“It’s disappointing when anybody is not here but we’ll deal with it,” Bowles said (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “It’s minicamp and we’ll go accordingly.”
Gregory joined the Buccaneers earlier this offseason, signing a one-year pact that could be worth up to $5MM. The signing reunited the pass rusher with ex-Cowboys assistant George Edwards. The two worked together in Dallas from 2020-21, when Edwards served as a senior defensive assistant. Edwards is now in charge of an OLB grouping that’s supposed to include Gregory.
The beginning of the veteran’s career was define by suspensions. While Gregory has generally avoided trouble in recent years, the player recently filed a lawsuit against the NFL and the Broncos, where he played for one-plus seasons. Gregory claimed that he’s been fined more than $500K over the past year-plus for taking medications that include THC. The suit alleges discrimination, with Gregory claiming he was denied a therapeutic use exemption for this medication before being slapped with a $533K fine. Bowles declined to say whether the player’s absence was related to the lawsuit.
Of course, Gregory will also be subject to fines for missing practice, with Stroud noting that the player could face $100K in penalties. Fortunately for the Buccaneers, the team has a relatively deep group of outside linebackers that includes recent second-round pick Chris Braswell.
Commanders Sign Second-Round CB Mike Sainristil
The Commanders have signed one of their three second-round picks. The team announced that they’ve signed second-round cornerback Mike Sainristil.
Sainristil had a unique path to the the NFL, as the Michigan product spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career as a wide receiver. He peaked in 2021, when he hauled in 22 receptions for 312 yards and two touchdowns. He switched to cornerback in 2022 and immediately established himself as one of the team’s top defenders. Over the past two years, he collected 102 tackles, three sacks, and seven interceptions. Six of those picks came this past season, including the clinching interception during Michigan’s National Championship win.
Following a 2023 campaign where the cornerback earned first-team All-American honors, the Commanders used the 50th-overall pick on Sainristil. The cornerback was one of the team’s three second-round selections, with Sainristil coming in between defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton and tight end Ben Sinnott.
Sainristil played mostly in the slot at Michigan and will likely see a similar role with the Commanders. 2023 second-round pick Quan Martin is around to provide the rookie with some competition for that spot.
Sainristil is only the fifth member of the Commanders’ 10-man draft class to sign a rookie contract. The team’s entire draft class includes:
- Round 1, No. 2: Jayden Daniels (QB, LSU)
- Round 2, No. 36: Jer’Zhan Newton (DT, Illinois)
- Round 2, No. 50 (from Saints through Eagles): Mike Sainristil (CB, Michigan)
- Round 2, No. 53 (from Eagles): Ben Sinnott (TE, Kansas State)
- Round 3, No. 67: Brandon Coleman (OL, TCU)
- Round 3, No. 100 (from 49ers): Luke McCaffrey (WR, Rice) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 139: Jordan Magee (LB, Temple) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 152 (from Seahawks): Ainias Smith (WR, Texas A&M)
- Round 5, No. 161 (from Buccaneers through Eagles): Dominique Hampton (S, Washington) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 222: Javontae Jean-Baptiste (EDGE, Notre Dame) (signed)
Cowboys Sign DE Marshawn Kneeland, Complete Draft Class
The Cowboys have completed their draft class signings. The team announced that they’ve signed second-round defensive end Marshawn Kneeland.
The defensive lineman spent five years at Western Michigan, collecting 148 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks. He earned second-team All-MAC honors this past season after setting career-highs in tackles (57) and sacks (4.5). That performance helped make him the 56th-overall pick, with Kneeland representing the sixth defensive end off the board.
With Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence in place, the Cowboys won’t need to lean on the rookie in 2024. Kneeland will likely be competing with 2022 second-round pick Sam Williams for any leftover snaps.
Kneeland was the last of the Cowboys’ eight draft picks to sign. The rest of the team’s draft class includes:
- Round 1, No. 29 (from Lions): Tyler Guyton (T, Oklahoma) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 73 (from Vikings through Lions): Cooper Beebe (G, Kansas State) (signed)
- Round 3, No. 87: Marist Liufau (LB, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 174: Caelen Carson (CB, Wake Forest) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 216: Ryan Flournoy (WR, Southeast Missouri State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 233 (from Raiders): Nathan Thomas (T, Louisiana-Lafayette) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 244: Justin Rogers (DT, Auburn) (signed)
Latest On Ravens’ Depth At Receiver, Guard
The Ravens haven’t done much to address the receiver position this offseason, as the team is set to return much of the same depth chart in 2024. As the coaching staff navigates the last few receiver spots on the roster, they could ultimately decide to add some reinforcement. As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes, “it’s not impossible” that the Ravens add a wide receiver before the start of training camp.
Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor are all but locked in atop the depth chart, and fourth-round rookie Devontez Walker will surely account for another spot. With Odell Beckham Jr. and Devin Duvernay out the door, the Ravens will likely have two more holes to fill at the position. Zrebiec points to Tylan Wallace and Deonte Harty as the most likely candidates for the role, especially considering their ability to replace Duvernay as a returner.
The Ravens have a handful of other notable players who will be competing for one of the receiver spots. Malik Cunningham is a former QB-turned-WR who the Ravens snagged off the Patriots practice squad last season. The team is also rostering Sean Ryan, the team’s lone 2023 UDFA who stuck around at the position.
The current grouping of unsigned veteran receivers isn’t very inspiring, with the likes of Michael Thomas, Hunter Renfrow, and Corey Davis leading the list. While Zrebiec hinted that the Ravens could look to add to the position prior to training camp, the organization could also await the assorted wideouts who will shake loose during the preseason.
Elsewhere in Baltimore, Zrebiec notes that the team is having an open competition with their two starting guard spots. While Ben Cleveland would be the favorite for one of the starting nods, Zrebiec believes the lineman will have to prove he can stay healthy and consistent. Zrebiec also believes former seventh-round pick Andrew Vorhees will eventually work his way into the starting lineup, although the team could temporarily turn to a more experienced option like Josh Jones.
Dolphins To Sign S Marcus Maye
Marcus Maye has found his next squad. The veteran safety is signing with the Dolphins, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.
Maye was cut by the Saints earlier this offseason, ending his two-year stint in New Orleans. At the time, we heard the defensive back was drawing interest from a handful of teams, including the Titans. However, it’s been quiet on the Maye front for about three months before today’s news. Schultz notes that Maye did indeed attract interest from “multiple” suitors. Ultimately, Maye opted for the Dolphins because he wants to be part of a hopeful “Super Bowl contender” in Miami.
The Saints gave Maye a three-year, $22.5MM contract in March 2022, but he only got into 17 games across two seasons with the organization. Injuries and multiple arrests impacted his stint in New Orleans. Maye’s three-game ban — levied midway through last season — stemmed from a DUI arrest while the DB was with the Jets, but the player was also arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm in fall 2022.
New Orleans ultimately decided to move on following a 2023 campaign where Maye was limited to seven games. While his counting stats were serviceable (including a pair of interceptions), Pro Football Focus graded him only 80th among 95 qualifying safeties. The site was much kinder with their 2022 assessment, grading Maye as the 26th-best safety.
The former second-round pick had five up-and-down seasons with the Jets to begin his career. Maye was a top-20 safety between 2018 and 2020, including that latter season where PFF ranked him fifth at his position. However, before he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in 2021, Maye graded as one of the league’s worst safeties through six games.
Of course, the Dolphins won’t be nearly as dependent on Maye. The team brought in another former AFC East safety in Jordan Poyer, pairing the veteran with Jevon Holland in the starting lineup. The rest of the team’s depth at the position consists of Elijah Campbell, sixth-round rookie Patrick McMorris, and UDFAs Mark Perry and Jordan Colbert, meaning Maye should be in line for a role as a key backup.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/10/24
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB Steele Chambers
New York Giants
- Placed on reserve/retired list: TE Darren Waller (story)
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: RB Gary Brightwell
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived/injured: NT Buddha Jones
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: WR Deven Thompkins
Brightwell was waived/injured by the Giants in May but ultimately reverted to IR. The former sixth-round pick struggled to carve out a role behind Saquon Barkley in New York. Brightwell’s tenure with the Giants will officially end with the RB having collected 256 yards from scrimmage.
Thompkins suffered a hamstring injury in late May that ultimately led to him getting waived/injured. As ESPN’s Jenna Laine notes, it’s about a two-week recovery timeline for the Grade 1 strain, meaning the wideout should be on the brink of full health.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times passed along a troubling wrinkle to the situation last week, noting that Thompkins’ release quickly followed public accusations of spousal abuse from his estranged wife. The woman, Maria Castilhos, posted pictures of injuries that she claims were sustained in February of 2023.
“First and foremost, Deven categorically denies the allegations levied against him by his estranged wife, Maria Castilhos,” attorney Brett Gallaway said in the statement. “Unfortunately, Deven and Maria have been going through a contentious divorce proceeding and child custody battle, and it appears that she thought it would help her case to release these false and defamatory videos.
“… We expect he will be fully exonerated after a review of the facts, background, and clear ulterior motive behind the release of these videos and fabricated assault allegations.”
Thompkins served as Tampa Bay’s primary returner in 2023, finishing with 16 kickoff returns (for 327 yards) and 25 punts (for 234 yards). The former UDFA had a limited role on offense, hauling in 17 catches for 83 yards and one touchdown. As Stroud notes, coach Todd Bowles said the “door is open” to Thompkins returning to the Buccaneers once he’s healthy, although the team has already replaced him on the roster with Cody Thompson.
Chargers Sign OT Joe Alt To Rookie Deal
The Chargers have officially locked in the fifth-overall pick. The team announced that they’ve signed first-round offensive tackle Joe Alt to his rookie contract.
A two-time first-team All-American, the 6-foot-8 Alt was widely considered the draft’s top offensive line prospect. The Notre Dame product was ultimately the second non-QB off the board (behind Marvin Harrison Jr.) when the Chargers selected him with the fifth-overall pick.
After playing left tackle in college, Alt is expected to slide to the right side of the line opposite Rashawn Slater. While Alt’s main priority will be protecting franchise QB Justin Herbert, the Chargers are also expected to lean more on the running game in 2024. Besides the team subtracting a pair of elite wideouts in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, new head coach Jim Harbaugh added Greg Roman before reuniting the new OC with RBs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins.
With this signing, the Chargers’ only remaining unsigned draft pick is second-round wideout Ladd McConkey. Otherwise, the team has completed deals with:
- Round 3, No. 69: Junior Colson (LB, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 105: Justin Eboigbe (DL, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 137 (from Chargers): Tarheeb Still (CB, Maryland) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 140: Cam Hart (CB, Notre Dame) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 181: Kimani Vidal (RB, Troy) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 225: Brenden Rice (WR, USC) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 253: Cornelius Johnson (WR, Michigan) (signed)