Raiders Expected To Aggressively Pursue Top-Three Pick
The Raiders have been mentioned as a suitor for one of the draft’s top-three quarterbacks, and the buzz is only getting louder. The Raiders are “expected to be aggressive” in trading up from pick No. 13 in pursuit of a quarterback, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Albert Breer of SI.com passes along a similar sentiment, writing that the Raiders are among the teams inquiring “on a trade-up for a quarterback.”
[RELATED: Raiders Interested In Acquiring No. 1 Overall Pick]
The organization left no stone unturned at last week’s combine, meeting with the majority of the draft’s quarterback prospects. As Bonsignore passes along, the team interviewed a range of QBs, including top prospects like USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, and North Carolina’s Drake Maye. The team is especially enamored with Daniels, who was at Arizona State when Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce was on the staff.
A trade for any of those three quarterbacks would likely require a massive haul; the Bears are reportedly seeking a historic bounty for the No. 1 selection. As a result, the Raiders may need to pivot to one of the second-tier prospects like Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy or Washington’s Michael Penix Jr..
Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic believe one of those non-top-three QBs may be a more reasonable expectation, with the duo writing that a trade into the top-three “may be unrealistic.” Tafur and Reed also pass along that the organization has explored trades into the No. 5 to No. 7 range.
“You have to weigh how bad you want the player and how much you’re giving up,” general manager Tom Telesco said last week. “It’s just a judgment decision. Part of that is we may think we know the player is going to hit, but we really don’t. You never 100 percent know.”
While the quarterback prospects won’t have much (if any) say in their destination, it sounds like the incoming rookies were all impressed by Pierce and the organization.
“What a great job he did this past year,” Maye told Bonsignore. “So much respect for him for earning the respect of the guys.”
Latest On 49ers Coaching Staff
The 49ers found their replacement for Steve Wilks this past weekend when they promoted defensive passing game specialist Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator. While Sorensen has had a rapid rise through the organization in recent years, his ascent to DC could have happened even sooner.
[RELATED: 49ers Promote Nick Sorensen To DC, Add Brandon Staley To Staff]
According to Albert Breer of SI.com, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan was so impressed by Sorensen’s first season in San Francisco that he considered promoting the coach to DC last offseason. Shanahan ultimately believed that Sorensen needed a bit more time to develop, leading the 49ers to hire Wilks as their replacement for DeMeco Ryans.
The 49ers have also brought in Brandon Staley for some experience on their defensive coaching staff. Breer passes along that the former Chargers head coach will serve as the 49ers new assistant head coach, confirming earlier reports.
One name that wasn’t a reported candidate for the job was Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. However, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports that “there was mutual interest in exploring a marriage,” with Ulbrich presumably being recruited to be the team’s new DC. Ultimately, the Jets made it clear that they weren’t going to let their coordinator take a lateral job elsewhere, and the 49ers never requested a formal request for an interview.
Ulbrich would have been a natural candidate for the job considering his connects to San Francisco. He grew up in the Bay Area and played 10 seasons for the 49ers organization. Further, as Rosenblatt notes, Ulbrich aspires to be a head coach one day, and two of San Francisco’s last three DCs ultimately earned head coaching jobs.
With Sorensen now in place as defensive coordinator, he’s starting to add to his staff. The team did add one notable name this week, with K.J. Wright announcing that he’s joining the 49ers as an assistant linebackers coach (via Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times). Wright, of course, spent a decade with the 49ers’ division rivals in Seattle, with the linebacker ranking third in Seahawks history in tackles.
Wright and Sorensen previously worked alongside each other with the Seahawks, as the coach spent close to a decade on Pete Carroll‘s staff. According to Michael-Shawn Dugar and David Lombardi of The Athletic, Wright also interviewed for a position on Mike Macdonald’s new Seahawks staff, but the organization ultimately decided to go in a different direction.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/5/24
Today’s minor moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Extended: C Jack Anderson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Isaiah Mack
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-signed: TE Nick Muse
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Deven Thompkins, OL Brandon Walton
The Colts are keeping Jack Anderson around, with Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston passing along that the lineman has inked a one-year extension with the organization. Anderson was waived by the Giants at the end of the 2023 preseason and caught on with Indy. He spent the majority of the season on the practice squad, getting into a single game for the Colts. In total, the 25-year-old has appeared in 15 career games (three starts).
Dolphins Host TE Jonnu Smith
The Dolphins finished last season as the only team in the NFL to not have a tight end catch a touchdown. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that they’re eyeing one of the more intriguing names on the market. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dolphins hosted free agent tight end Jonnu Smith today. The two sides are “said to be in contract negotiations,” per Schefter.
Smith made a name for himself in Tennessee, where he was a third-round pick by the Titans in 2017. He had a standout 2020 campaign, hauling in 41 receptions for 448 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He parlayed that performance into a four-year, $50MM deal with the Patriots in 2021, but he disappointed during his stint in New England.
With the Patriots having added Hunter Henry that same offseason and the team opting for rookie Mac Jones under center, Smith struggled to carve out a role. Through his two seasons in New England, Smith was limited to only 55 catches for 539 yards and one touchdown.
The Patriots managed to find a trade for the veteran last offseason, sending Smith to the Falcons for a seventh-round pick. The tight end had one of the most productive seasons of his career while in Atlanta, finishing the 2023 campaign with career highs in receptions (50) and receiving yards (582). Pro Football Focus ended up grading him 38th among 72 qualifying tight ends, with the site giving him a particularly high grade for his pass-blocking ability. Smith was cut by the Falcons last month, allowing him to start negotiating with teams immediately.
Smith would be an intriguing option for the Dolphins. The organization failed to replace Mike Gesicki‘s production after the tight end left for New England last offseason. Durham Smythe ended up seeing the majority of the snaps at tight end in 2023, finishing with 35 catches for 366 yards. The team also gave Julian Hill a significant look, although the tight end only finished the season with six receptions. Smythe, Hill, and Tanner Conner are under contract for the 2024 campaign.
Mike McDaniel hasn’t leaned much on tight ends through his first two seasons as head coach in Miami, although that was partly due to personnel. Still, Smith could provide Tua Tagovailoa with a big target in the end zone.
Patriots Interested In QB Jacoby Brissett
With the Patriots facing an uncertain future at quarterback, the team may turn to a familiar face. According to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe, the Patriots have “real” interest in veteran QB Jacoby Brissett.
Brissett entered the NFL as a third-round pick by the Patriots back in 2016. Thanks to a suspension for Tom Brady and an injury to Jimmy Garoppolo, Brissett ended up getting into three games for New England, keeping the ship afloat with a 1-1 record as a starter. That encouraging performance ended up making Brissett a trade candidate, and he was dealt to the Colts before his sophomore season to fill in for Andrew Luck.
The now-veteran QB’s connections to the Patriots go beyond his first stint with the organization. Brissett also worked with current Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt when the two were in Cleveland together. Per Volin, the former Browns OC “loved” Brissett, and the quarterback had one of the most productive seasons of his career while starting 11 games for Cleveland in 2022.
With Mac Jones likely out of the picture and the Patriots armed with the third-overall pick, it’s been hinted that the organization will look to address the quarterback position via the draft. In fact, there were whispers that the Patriots were considering drafting one of the top prospects at No. 3 and pairing him with a bridge QB who could start for a year.
Brissett would certainly fit that bill. The 31-year-old has widely been considered one of the top backup QBs in the NFL, mostly thanks to his performance while filling in for injured QB1s. After going 4-11 during his first stint in Indy, Brissett has gone 13-18 as a starter, including a 2019 campaign where he went 7-8.
Brissett didn’t have an opportunity to start in Washington in 2023, but he tossed 12 touchdowns in 11 starts with the Browns in 2022 (he added another two scores on the ground). The Patriots surely wouldn’t be expecting to compete for a playoff spot with Brissett under center, but they could rest easy knowing the offense is in good hands while their top prospect develops behind the scenes.
Latest On Eagles DE Brandon Graham
Brandon Graham and the Eagles are interested in a new deal, and it sounds like there’s confidence that a deal could soon be finalized. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, there’s “mutual interest” in Graham re-signing with Philly, and a new contract “could come prior to free agency.”
[RELATED: Eagles’ Brandon Graham Intend To Play In 2024]
There were some whispers earlier today that the Eagles and Graham had indeed agreed to a new deal. Rapoport said that isn’t true, but the reporter did provide some optimism that a deal could be completed sooner than later.
After spending the past 14 seasons with the Eagles, it would be a major surprise if the two sides couldn’t find common ground. After finishing up his three-year, $40MM extension with the Eagles in 2022, Graham re-signed with the Eagles on a one-year, $5MM deal last offseason. He was coming off an 11-sack campaign the last time around, but after failing to come close to those numbers in 2023, Graham may have to accept an even lower total in 2024.
Following the Eagles’ disappointing finish to the 2023 campaign, there was some speculation that the 35-year-old could look to hang up his cleats. However, Graham was quick to dismiss that notion, stating that he still has a “little bit of juice” and intends to have a “farewell tour” in 2024. The former first-round pick also hinted that he’d be interested in sticking with the organization when his playing career comes to an end.
While Graham’s counting stats dropped in 2023 (16 tackles, three sacks), Pro Football Focus still ranked him 17th among 118 qualifying edge defenders. He got into about a third of his team’s defensive snaps, and assuming Graham re-signs with the organization, he’ll likely be eyeing a similar role in 2024. Graham will also have an opportunity to build on some of his franchise marks next season. The veteran only needs 3.5 sacks to pass Clyde Simmons for third place on the franchise leader board, and he needs one forced fumble to break away from Seth Joyner for sole possession of second place on the team’s all-time list.
Bills Trade OL Ryan Bates To Bears
After signing Ryan Bates to an offer sheet back in 2022, the Bears have finally got their guy. The team announced that they’ve acquired the offensive lineman in a trade with the Bills. Chicago will be sending Buffalo a 2024 fifth-round pick. Pending a physical, the deal will become official on March 13. Buffalo will designate this a standard – rather than post-June 1 – move, per The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia.
The 2019 undrafted free agent out of Penn State has spent the majority of his professional career in Buffalo, appearing in 73 games across five seasons. Bates served primarily as a backup/special teamer through his first two seasons in the NFL, but following a 2021 campaign where he got into about 25 percent of his team’s offensive snaps, the guard/center became a popular name in restricted free agency.
After being slapped with the restricted free agent tender, Bates found a suitor in the Bears, who inked the lineman to an offer sheet. The Bills ultimately matched the offer, signing Bates to a new four-year, $17MM deal.
Bates quickly helped validate Buffalo’s decision. He started all 15 of his appearances for the Bills in 2022, with Pro Football Focus ultimately grading him as a middle-of-the-road lineman. However, he found himself back on the bench this past season. With center Mitch Morse, right guard O’Cyrus Torrence, and left guard Connor McGovern not missing a start, Bates was limited to a career-low 35 offensive snaps.
The 27-year-old was destined for a backup role once again in 2024, and with a $5.5MM cap hit, it seemed unlikely the Bills would keep him around. Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News points out that Bates also wanted to start, and he’ll likely have that opportunity in Chicago.
Bates’ ability to play all over the offensive line should afford him a role in Chicago. For the time being, he’ll likely be the assumed starter at center with Lucas Patrick hitting unrestricted free agency.
Lions Re-Sign Shane Zylstra
After missing all of last season with a knee injury, Shane Zylstra will likely be sticking in Detroit for the 2024 campaign. The Lions announced that they re-signed the tight end today. Zylstra was set to become an exclusive rights free agent.
The former undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State had a brief stint with the Vikings before catching on with the Lions in 2021. After getting into four games as a rookie, Zylstra appeared in 13 games in 2022, finishing with 11 catches while playing in about 25 percent of his team’s offensive snaps.
He was set to take on an even bigger role in 2023 but suffered a knee injury following a hit from teammate Khalil Dorsey during training camp. He was waived/injured by the organization in early August but ultimately reverted to their injured reserve. At the time of the injury, coach Dan Campbell reflected on Zylstra’s value to the Lions.
“He was a pivotal part of our success last year once we started turning the corner,” Campbell said (h/t Pride of Detroit). “And he just does everything right, man. He works, he’s a grinder.”
Sam LaPorta should lead the Lions’ depth chart for the foreseeable future, and the organization is also set to return James Mitchell, who has seen time in 29 games across the past two seasons. Zylstra could slide in as a primary backup with Brock Wright hitting restricted free agency and veteran Anthony Firkser reaching unrestricted free agency.
Ravens “Likely Won’t Re-Sign” Odell Beckham Jr.
It sounds like Odell Beckham Jr.‘s stop in Baltimore may only last one season. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes that the Ravens “likely won’t re-sign” the veteran wide receiver. ESPN’s Jamison Hensley also hints that the Ravens may move on from OBJ, although the writer merely states that “it’s unknown” if the two sides will agree to another pact.
General manager Eric DeCosta told Hensley that he’s been in contact with Beckham since the season ended. While the executive wouldn’t completely close the door on another season, he made it clear that the organization will first consider other options.
“I love Odell,” DeCosta said (via Hensley). “He’s become a great friend of mine and a friend to the Ravens, and I think we’ll just kind of assess and see what happens over the next couple of weeks.”
After missing the entire 2022 campaign with a knee injury, Beckham inked a one-year, $15MM deal with the Ravens last offseason. He got into 14 games with his new squad, hauling in 35 catches for 565 yards, the second-highest total on the team. While his counting stats were down, OBJ still set a career-high with 16.1 yards per catch, an indication that the 31-year-old still has something left in the tank.
While John Harbaugh wouldn’t definitively say if the wideout would be back next season, he did sound pleased with the veteran’s performance.
“I know that’s probably a question that people are asking,” Harbaugh said (via Hensley). “I’ve got my fingers crossed. We’ll see. That’s kind of out there. Those are those things that kind of answer themselves in time.”
While Beckham had a clear role in 2023, he may simply be squeezed out of the picture in 2024. As Hensley details, the team has high hopes for former first-round pick Rashod Bateman, and the team already brought back Nelson Agholor on a new deal. With Zay Flowers atop the depth chart and the team potentially eyeing wideouts in the draft, there might just not be a spot for Beckham on next year’s team.
Falcons To Pursue Kirk Cousins?
The Falcons have already been connected to a couple of available QBs, including Justin Fields and (most recently) Baker Mayfield. There could now be another big-name quarterback to add to the list. Dianna Russini of The Athletic expects the Falcons to “compete” for Kirk Cousins‘ services.
[RELATED: Falcons Interested In Baker Mayfield?]
According to Russini, the Falcons believe Cousins is the type of quarterback who can elevate the organization from “fringe playoff team to a contender.” Further, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is familiar with Cousins based on their time together in Washington.
Quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson has never worked alongside Cousins, but he does come from the same Sean McVay tree as Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell. Russini cites that “seamless transition” as a reason why Cousins would make sense for Atlanta.
Despite coming off a torn Achilles, Cousins is expected to be the first QB domino to fall this offseason. A number of teams have been loosely connected to the veteran, but the majority of reports have focused on a return to Minnesota. Cousins has spent the past six seasons with the Vikings, guiding the team to winning records in three of those campaigns. However, the veteran only has a single playoff win to show for his efforts, and his playoff deficiencies will likely be reflected in his next contract.
Cousins has already earned $231MM in his career, including an initial contract with the Vikings (three years, $84MM) that was fully guaranteed. Cousins didn’t get the same kind of guarantees on his subsequent contracts in 2020 (two years, $66MM) and 2022 (one year, $35MM), but his camp has shown an ability to garner significant contracts throughout his career.
Those guarantees could end up being relevant during this year’s free agency. We previously heard that the Vikings were uncomfortable with some of the guarantee specifics during extension talks with the quarterback, resulting in talks ultimately breaking down. The Vikings have some incentive to re-sign Cousins as soon as possible, as the organization will be left with a $28.5MM dead-money charge if he isn’t re-signed by the start of the 2024 league year (3pm CT March 13). Considering the suitors that are starting to line up, Cousins may prefer to test the waters instead of immediately re-upping.
The Falcons will reportedly be active in looking for an upgrade on Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. The organization is currently armed with more than $25MM in cap space, and general manager Terry Fontenot has made it clear that he’ll consider every option as he looks to improve the position.
“That’s a top priority for us this offseason,” Fontenot recently said. “We are not going to close any doors. Be it trades, free agency [or] the draft. We’ll make sure we keep an open mind there. We’ll attack it and make sure that we get it right.”