DL Eddie Goldman Attempting Comeback With Falcons
Eddie Goldman is attempting another comeback with the Falcons. The veteran defensive tackle is signing with the Falcons, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 raised some eyebrows earlier today when he passed along that Goldman had been cut from Atlanta’s reserve/left squad list. The Falcons have since announced Goldman is back on their offseason roster.
The former Bears standout joined the Falcons during the 2022 offseason. After spending two weeks with the organization, Goldman suddenly announced his retirement.
The defensive lineman considered a comeback last offseason. The Falcons reinstated him from the reserve/retired list last March, and he reportedly looked “phenomenal” after reporting to camp in July. However, his comeback attempt was short lived, as he once again retired before being placed on the reserve/left squad list.
We’ll see if this second comeback attempt sticks, although the odds will be stacked against him. Goldman has only been active for one season over the past four years. That came during the 2021 campaign, when the defensive lineman started 10 of his 14 appearances for the Bears. He finished that season with 22 stops and half a sack, with Pro Football Focus grading him among the lowest interior defenders in the league.
Goldman was once one of Chicago’s most dependable defenders. The former second-round pick started all 46 of his appearances for the Bears between 2017 and 2019, with PFF grading him among the best at his position following his three-sack season in 2018. Goldman ended up opting out of the 2020 season before struggling in 2021.
The Falcons should return much of their interior DL depth in 2024, although Grady Jarrett‘s early-season availability is in doubt as he recovers from a torn ACL. David Onyemata and Ta’Quon Graham will both be back up the middle, but Goldman could soak up some of the snaps left by Albert Huggins, who remains unsigned.
To clear up some of their depth, the Falcons released defensive lineman Ikenna Enechukwu earlier today (per the team). The 2023 UDFA out of Rice spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve.
Latest On 49ers Ownership
Jed York is now the principal owner of the 49ers. As David Lombardi of The Athletic writes, the now-former CEO officially bought out the shares of his mother, Denise DeBartolo York. This move means Jed York now owns a majority stake of the organization.
Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal reported the move last week, pending approval by the league. The move has apparently been given the go-ahead, and York is now assuring the 49ers remain with his family for the foreseeable future.
“It’s a move from a family standpoint to keep this team in our family for generations to come,” York said (via Lombardi). “I think that’s reflective of how we’ve operated. My parents are going to stay as co-chairmen. I don’t think you’re going to see any change. It’s more of a long-term family planning thing and making sure this team stays in our family for generations to come.”
Edward J. DeBartolo took over ownership of the 49ers in the late 1970s, purchasing the organization from the franchise’s founder, the Morabito family. Edward’s son, Eddie DeBartolo, eventually took over ownership of the team, and the franchise won five Super Bowls during his more than two decades as primary owner. Eddie’s sister, Denise DeBartolo York (along with her husband, Dr. John York), took over control of the 49ers in 2000, with Denise becoming one of the league’s first female owners.
Jed, the son of Denise and John, has worked for the 49ers for nearly 20 years, eventually earning the role of CEO in 2010. Since becoming the main “face” of the ownership group, the organization has made three more trips to the Super Bowl.
Latest On Connor Williams, Dolphins Offensive Line
Connor Williams‘ availability for the 2024 campaign is in doubt after he suffered a torn ACL in December. Whenever he’s ready to take the field, it sounds like a return to the Dolphins will be in play.
[RELATED: Drew Rosenhaus On Dolphins C Connor Williams’ Free Agency Timeline]
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Williams’ potential return to Miami has “not been ruled out as a possibility.” The two sides will “remain in occasional communication” while the center rehabs.
Williams joined the Dolphins on a two-year contract in 2022 and proceeded to start all 17 games for Miami. With the lineman set to earn a $6.5MM base salary on an expiring contract in 2023, Williams was absent from minicamp. The two sides didn’t resolve his contract situation, and Williams was ultimately in the lineup for Week 1.
A nagging groin injury forced him to miss four games during the first half of the 2023 season, but he started each of his five games following his return. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn ACL in Week 14 that ended his season and put his 2024 campaign in doubt. Williams was setting himself up nicely for free agency prior to the injury, earning a stellar 86.5 grade from Pro Football Focus that positioned him behind only the Lions’ Frank Ragnow among qualified centers.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus previously said that Williams will be “methodical” and take his time as he considers his next landing spot, but it sounds like Miami will remain a possibility. The team brought in Aaron Brewer as a replacement at center, and the organization could also look towards the draft for more depth at the position.
Elsewhere on the OL, the team’s uncertainty at the two guard positions has led the front office to explore options via free agency. As Jackson writes, the Dolphins “have had at least some level of communication” with two “veteran free agent starting” offensive guards, and they’ve also talked with a player who profiles as a part-timer. However, the Dolphins are prepared to see how things unfold in the draft before they make an addition at the position.
As Jackson writes, Isaiah Wynn is in the driver’s seat to start at left guard. On the other side, the team could be eyeing some competition for the likes of Liam Eichenberg, Robert Jones, Lester Cotton, and Jack Driscoll.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/1/24
One minor move to pass along today:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Re-signed: G Jordan Meredith
After spending his rookie season with the Rams, Meredith caught on with the Raiders in 2022. He spent most of that season on the practice squad but earned a larger role in 2023. The lineman finished this past season having appeared in all 17 games, including one start. A major portion of his snaps came on special teams, but he still got looks on offensive beyond his one start.
Commanders Sign RB Jeremy McNichols
The Commanders are continuing to add to their running backs room. The team announced that they’ve signed running back Jeremy McNichols.
The 2017 fifth-round pick will now be joining his 10th NFL team. The running back got his longest look in Tennessee in 2020 and 2021, getting into 30 total games. He served as Derrick Henry‘s primary backup/third-down back during his first season with the Titans, finishing with 259 yards from scrimmage.
When Henry missed half of the 2021 campaign, McNichols still only served as a change-of-pace back, although he did garner a career-high 69 touches for 396 yards. The 28-year-old spent the 2023 season bouncing between the 49ers’ active roster and practice squad.
Austin Ekeler is now atop the depth chart in Washington, and the Commanders are still rostering Brian Robinson, who is coming off a season where he topped 1,100 yards from scrimmage and scored nine touchdowns. McNichols will likely compete for the RB3 spot with 2023 sixth-round pick Chris Rodriguez, who got 53 touches as a rookie playing behind Robinson and Antonio Gibson.
AFC East Notes: Tua, Jets, Patriots, Miller
We previously heard that both the Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa were hoping for speedy negotiations on an extension. However, it sounds like the two sides are temporarily pumping the brakes on a potential deal.
Daniel Oyefusi of The Miami Herald writes that while Tagovailoa’s next contract is the most “consequential matter” in Miami, it isn’t the most pressing. A source also made it clear that an agreement isn’t imminent and there’s “no rush” to finalize a deal.
When we last heard about the impending negotiations, there was a general sentiment that neither the Dolphins nor Tagovailoa wanted the extension talks to hang over training camp, much less the regular season. The two sides could simply be delaying talks until after free agency and the draft, which would still provide an ample amount of time to negotiate before practices start.
The former first-round pick is currently slated to play the 2024 season on a $23.17MM salary via the fifth-year option. Tua is coming off a career year where he set career highs in passing yards (4,624), touchdowns (29), and completion percentage (69.3). He also managed to get into all 17 games, a significant accomplishment after he missed 14 contests through his first three years in the NFL due to injuries and concussions.
More notes out of the AFC East…
- The Jets recently added Mike Williams to their receivers room, but with the former Charger coming off a torn ACL, he won’t immediately be seen on the practice field. GM Joe Douglas told reporters that Williams will not be ready for the start of training camp, but there’s optimism that he’ll be good to go for Week 1 (per SNY’s Connor Hughes). Williams himself echoed that sentiment, telling ESPN’s Adam Schefter that it’s his goal to be ready for the regular season opener.
- Two more Jets injury updates, both coming on the offensive line. After being limited to five games last season thanks to an Achilles injury, guard Alijah Vera-Tucker is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, coach Robert Saleh told reporters (via team reporter Caroline Hendershot). Meanwhile, new addition (and old friend) Morgan Moses revealed that he played through most of last season with a torn pec, telling the team’s website that he’s looking forward “to having two arms this year.”
- While the Patriots have been busy re-signing their own free agents, the new regime is making it clear that they’re not following the same formula as Bill Belichick. ESPN’s Mike Reiss points to the recent release of special teams ace Chris Board, “who was a Belichick favorite.” While the former head coach/chief decision maker used to invest in top-of-the-market deals for key ST players, Reiss notes that new head coach Jerod Mayo and de facto GM Eliot Wolf “appear less willing.” Reiss also points to defensive back Myles Bryant, who “lost a top advocate in Belichick.” After spending the past four seasons in New England, Bryant remains unsigned, and the Patriots are only willing to bring him back if his salary is reflective of a “depth player” vs. a “key cog.”
- After Von Miller was arrested on a domestic violence charge, the NFL considered suspending the Bills linebacker. However, commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters (including ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler) that a suspension “was not appropriate based on the facts,” although the case remains under review by the NFL. Miller told reporters in December that the allegations were “100% false.”
Latest On DB Patrick Peterson
It’s been quiet on the Patrick Peterson front since the cornerback was released by the Steelers earlier this month. However, the veteran is expecting that talks will heat up once teams have more post-draft roster clarity.
[RELATED: Steelers To Release CB Patrick Peterson]
During an appearance this week on the NFL on Fox podcast, Peterson acknowledged that he’s had preliminary talks with a handful of teams but isn’t expecting to join a new squad before the draft.
“From the cornerback position, I think a lot more signings are going to happen toward after the draft, once teams really understand what they have on their roster and what they may need to continue to improve their rosters,” Peterson said (via NFL.com’s Bobby Kownack). “That’s when I believe you’ll start to see more guys get picked up. Me and my agent have had conversations with a couple teams. Nothing really serious thus far, but there has been conversations. Like I said, we’ll see what happens in the next couple months.”
Peterson had an uneven one season in Pittsburgh. After signing a two-year, $14MM deal with the organization last offseason, the former All-Pro proceeded to start 16 of his 17 appearances for the Steelers, collecting 42 tackles and a pair of interceptions. Pro Football Focus wasn’t particularly fond of his performance in 2023, ranking him 86th among 127 qualifying cornerbacks. The Steelers cut him at the beginning of the month, with the organization getting $6.85MM in cap savings.
Thanks in part to his struggles, the Steelers experimented with Peterson at safety last season, playing him in more than 300 snaps at the position. While the 33-year-old didn’t seem to entirely reject the position change, he said he wants suitors to be completely transparent if they intend for him to be a full-time safety.
“I don’t want to start at safety because that’s a different animal back there,” Peterson said. “That’s a different view back there. If that is the case, I would need to be warned going into the season to get my body, my mental prepared. It’s different being at the safety from the cornerback position, having those open-field tackles. As corners, we’re used to knifing in and slicing guys down. When you’re in the open field as a safety, especially if you’re in the middle of the field, that guy’s got 24 yards right and 24 yards left of you. There ain’t no way to cut him off by any means. You’re the last line of defense. So if that is something, I would need notice and probably, you know, get one of these old-time safeties like an Ed Reed or (Troy) Polamalu to coach me up.”
Packers HC Matt LaFleur Surprised By RB Moves
The Packers were one of the major players in the free agent RB carousel. The team couldn’t convince Aaron Jones to take a pay cut, leading to the veteran’s release. The Packers quickly scooped up former Raiders star Josh Jacobs as Jones’ replacement, completely revamping the top of their depth chart.
[RELATED: Packers Sign RB Josh Jacobs]
While it seemed likely that the Packers would approach Jones about a reduced salary, there weren’t many people who anticipated the Packers pivoting to a different star running back. That includes head coach Matt LaFleur, who admitted to reporters this week that he was caught “off guard” by the sudden moves.
“There were some other things in play, obviously with Aaron Jones, and I didn’t quite know how everything was going to go,” LaFleur said (via Jason Wilde of Madison.com). “It just happened really fast on that Monday. … It happened really fast, so I don’t know all the details of that. I’m not involved in those types of conversations. But we were super excited (to get Jacobs).”
Jacobs shouldn’t have any issues replacing Jones’ production. Following a 2022 campaign where he led the NFL with 2,053 yards from scrimmage in 17 games, Jacobs was limited to only 13 contests in 2024. Still, the 26-year-old managed to top 1,100 yards from scrimmage, although that was partly due to him garnering more than 20 touches per game. Jones followed up four-straight seasons of 1,000-yard production with 889 yards from scrimmage in 13 games this past season.
The team will also be counting on Jacobs to fill the leadership void left by Jones, although LaFleur told reporters that he’s challenged Jordan Love to step into a larger vocal role. Jones left the franchise with the third-most rushing yards in team history, and the head coach acknowledged that moving on from the veteran was “really tough.”
“[Jones has] always been team first,” LaFleur said (via Wilde). “He walks the walk, and he does everything. He’s just such a pro, [and] that’s always tough to replace.”
The Packers will have some continuity on their depth chart in AJ Dillon. The organization hit the former second-round running back with the rarely used four-year qualifying offer, locking the player into a one-year deal.
LSU WR Malik Nabers Meets With Six Teams
Malik Nabers has established himself as a definitive top-10 pick, and it sounds like a number of teams could be battling for the wideout’s services. According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Nabers met with the Patriots, Titans, Jets, and Jaguars on Tuesday afternoon before having dinner with the Giants that night. The receiver also met with the Cardinals yesterday.
While Marvin Harrison Jr. is still expected to be the first wideout off the draft board, Nabers has certainly given the Ohio State WR a run for his money in mock drafts. Known for his top-end speed and versatility, Nabers would be an easy fit in any offense, and the right offensive coordinator could get creative with how they utilize the nation’s leader in receiving yards per game (120.7).
Among the teams mentioned, the Patriots (No. 3) and Cardinals (No. 4) would be in the driver’s seat to draft the LSU product, although it’d be ambitious to select the receiver with their respective picks. If either New England or Arizona lands the prospect, it’d mostly likely come after moving back in the first round.
That would then make the Giants (No. 6) the potential favorites for Nabers. The receiver visited with the organization earlier this month, and the incoming rookie acknowledged that his most recent dinner with the team went “great.”
“Those are some funny guys to be around,” Nabers told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. “I opened up my personality to those guys. It’s not hard to talk to them. They know me personally as a player. … I heard Brian, the head coach, loves the way I play. It’s just great to be around the atmosphere with those guys again.”
If the Giants pivot to another position, the Titans could scoop the WR at No. 7, although the team has already invested heavily in the position this offseason. Despite adding Mike Williams, the Jets are also seeking more offensive firepower, and there’s little chance Nabers sneaks past them at No. 10.
The Jaguars are an intriguing inclusion. The team currently sits at No. 17, meaning they’d need to swing a trade into the top-10 in order to select the wide receiver. The team replaced Calvin Ridley with Gabe Davis, adding the former Bill to a grouping that also includes Christian Kirk and Zay Jones.
Latest On Steelers’ QB Situation
The Steelers entered the offseason with some expectation of shaking up their quarterbacks room. However, Steelers general manager Omar Khan admitted this week that he never would have imagined the team adding both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields.
“I’m excited about both of those players,” Khan said earlier this week (via Dale Lolley of the team’s website). “They’re both really good quarterbacks. If you would have told me a month ago in Indy that we’d be here and Russell Wilson and Justin Fields would be our quarterbacks, I’d say, I’d be a little bit surprised.”
When the season ended with yet another one-and-done playoff appearance, Khan gave Kenny Pickett a vote of confidence. At the same time, the GM acknowledged that the Steelers would likely add some competition at the position. That mentality didn’t last too long, as both Russell (via free agency) and Fields (via trade) were acquired thanks to massive discounts. The Steelers were also able to find a trade partner for Pickett in the Eagles, allowing them to completely reset their QB depth chart. Despite the sudden pivot, Khan made it clear that it had nothing to do with Pickett’s ability.
“Nothing has changed. I still have a lot of faith in Kenny Pickett,” Khan said. “Kenny’s a good football player, a good quarterback. I think he’s got a big future in the NFL. Things just kind of evolved. I couldn’t really have foreseen that things would go the way they did.”
Now, the Steelers will shift their focus to their two new signal callers. Mike Tomlin made it clear this week that Wilson is in “pole position” to be Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback, although Fields will eventually have the “opportunity to compete” when the time comes. Tomlin noted the advantage of having clarity at the position, which is why he’s been straightforward when discussing his team’s QB plan.
“We’ve been very transparent about the pecking order, at least to start,” Tomlin said earlier this week (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “I just think that provides clarity for all parties involved. Russell is a veteran, man. He’s got a proven process of readiness. He’s been in this league a long time. He’s capable of rallying troops, receivers, tight ends, running backs, et cetera. He’s just got a lot of experience in terms of what it takes to be the guy over the course of a 12-month calendar and I just think that that’s something that a younger guy like Justin could learn from.”
While the Steelers were clearly active in the QB market, the team didn’t pursue the biggest available name. Tomlin told reporters (including Pryor) that the Steelers didn’t make a run at Kirk Cousins, who ended up getting $180MM from the Falcons.