Bengals Re-Sign OL Cody Ford
The Bengals are holding on to one of their top depth offensive linemen. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Bengals have re-signed guard Cody Ford. It’s a one-year deal for the lineman. The Bengals have since announced the move.
The former second-round pick had stops in Buffalo and Arizona before landing with the Bengals last offseason on a one-year, $1MM deal. Ford ended up emerging as the team’s “sixth offensive lineman,” although thanks to the team’s relative health on the OL, that didn’t result in many offensive snaps.
The veteran ended up starting one of his 17 appearances last season, and he lined up at both left tackle and right guard for his new squad. He was limited to only 79 offensive snaps during his first season in Cincinnati after averaging close to 490 offensive snaps per season through his first four years in the NFL.
Ford will likely be eyeing a similar role in 2024, although he should see more playing time assuming the team doesn’t have the same health luck. Jonah Williams‘ impending free agency opens a temporary spot on the depth chart, although it sounds like the Bengals value Ford’s versatility off the bench vs. handing him a starting gig.
Eagles Taking Trade Calls On Josh Sweat
We heard last month that the Eagles were allowing Haason Reddick to seek a trade, and the team is reportedly taking calls on another top pass rusher. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Eagles are “having trade calls on” defensive end Josh Sweat. Dianna Russini of The Athletic adds that the Eagles have been shopping both Sweat and Reddick for “the last few weeks.”
[RELATED: Teams Inquiring On Eagles’ Haason Reddick]
A former fourth-round pick, Sweat has emerged into one of the Eagles’ top edge rushers, compiling 31 sacks over the past four seasons. Following an 11-sack campaign in 2022, Sweat’s numbers took a bit of a step back in 2023, as the 26-year-old finished with 6.5 sacks. Pro Football Focus also seemed to recognize the drop in production; after ranking Sweat ninth among edge rushers in 2022, the site listed him 33rd for his 2023 performance.
Sweat is heading into the final season of a three-year, $40MM extension he signed with the Eagles back in 2021. While his $9MM cap number won’t break the bank in 2024, the team may be looking to prepare for his exit now. As Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer points out, it’s not an “either/or” when it comes to moving on from Sweat and Reddick, as the team would consider dealing both players in the right moves. Further, McLane notes that the organization hasn’t been happy with the duo’s recent production, especially in the second half of last season.
As NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah points out, moving on from Sweat (and, potentially, Reddick) would surely put the Eagles in the market for a pass rusher. Russini points to one potential free agent target: Bryce Huff. The former UDFA had a breakout season for the Jets in 2023, finishing with 10 sacks despite appearing in fewer than 50 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Thanks to that performance, Pro Football Focus gave Huff a top-10 grade for his pass-rushing ability.
Clearing up the depth chart would also open a spot for Nolan Smith, the team’s first-round pick in 2023. Smith struggled to carve out a role as a rookie. While he got into all 17 games, he was limited to 18 tackles and one sack while playing the majority of his snaps on special teams. As James Palmer of NFL Network points out, Smith underwent “a maintenance procedure on his shoulder” this offseason that should prepare him for a larger workload in 2024. Further, Palmer notes that the Eagles “feel good about the trajectory” of the first-round pick’s development, an indication that Smith could be eyeing more responsibility in his sophomore season.
Bears Hosted S Kevin Byard On Visit
After getting cut by the Eagles last week, Kevin Byard is considering sticking in the NFC. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears hosted the safety on a visit yesterday.
[RELATED: Eagles To Release S Kevin Byard]
The former Titans star was traded to the Eagles back in October, with Philly sending safety Terrell Edmunds plus a fifth- and sixth-round pick to Tennessee. Byard started all 10 of his appearances for his new squad, compiling 75 tackles and one interception. He also started the Eagles’ lone playoff game, compiling five stops. Pro Football Focus ended up grading Byard 23rd among 95 qualifying safeties last season, including one of the top positional grades for his run defense.
Despite the production, Byard was cut by the Eagles earlier this month. The safety was set to earn $14.1MM in 2024, and his release ended up saving the Eagles $13MM against the cap.
The Middle Tennessee product made a name for himself with the Titans, evolving from a third-round pick into an All-Pro safety. Byard earned a number of accolades during his time with the organization, and he even led the NFL with eight interceptions in 2017. When his Titans career came to an end last season, the 30-year-old ranked top-five on the franchise’s tackles and interceptions leader board.
The Bears are looking for a replacement for their star safety Eddie Jackson, who was released by the organization in February. The team started adding some depth at the position this week, adding Tarvarius Moore to the mix in the secondary.
Giants To Host CB Darious Williams
After getting cut by the Jaguars earlier this week, veteran cornerback Darious Williams has lined up his first visit. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Williams is set to visit with the Giants tomorrow.
[RELATED: Jaguars To Release CB Darious Williams]
Williams wasn’t cut for his on-field production. With the Jaguars scrounging funds in order to retain their top free agents, the team was forced to move on from their cornerback. Williams’ release freed up a sizable $11.5MM of his $12MM cap hit for 2024, making the move a no-brainer for the Jaguars.
Considering his production, Williams is expected to be a popular name in free agency. The Alabama-Birmingham product finished last season with four interceptions, 19 pass deflections, and a pair of forced fumbles while limiting QBs to a passer rating of 63.9 when he was the closest defender. Pro Football Focus was also fond of his production, ranking him 13th among 127 qualifying cornerbacks.
The former UDFA started his career with the Ravens before catching on with the Rams. He eventually turned into a starter during his time in Los Angeles, and he parlayed that experience into a three-year, $30MM contract with the Jaguars in 2022. 2024 will mark Williams’ age-31 season, so he may be hard pressed to earn a similar number of years on his next contract. However, when considering his performance from this past season, he could match (or surpass) his AAV.
As Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News points out, cornerback was one of the Giants’ top needs heading into the offseason. With Adoree’ Jackson likely on his way out of New York, the team will need a starter opposite Deonte Banks. That’s led some to speculate that the Giants could look to fill that hole via the draft, although it sounds like they will first look towards free agency.
Of course, cornerback isn’t necessarily the team’s first (or even second) priority. As ESPN’s Jordan Raanan writes, the Giants are willing to pay top-of-the-market value for a free agent guard, and they’re also eyeing reinforcement on the edge opposite Kayvon Thibodeaux.
Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield Engaged In “Positive” Negotiations
MARCH 7: Laine reports the sides have made slight progress in contract talks, meaning an agreement could still be reached before free agency. The legal tampering window opens on March 11, meaning that is the earliest point at which Mayfield could begin speaking with other teams and testing his market. This situation will thus remain worth watching closely over the coming days.
MARCH 4: The Buccaneers accomplished one of their major offseason goals today, as the team agreed to a new contract with star wideout Mike Evans. Now, the front office will shift focus to the quarterback position, and it sounds like negotiations are going well with their 2023 starter.
[RELATED: Buccaneers, Mike Evans Agree To Deal]
According to ESPN’s Jenna Laine, the Buccaneers and Baker Mayfield‘s camp started discussing a new deal at the combine, with negotiations described as “positive.” In fact, both sides are so motivated to sign a new deal that Mayfield might not even hit free agency.
General manager Jason Licht recently made it clear that Mayfield was the team’s top option at the position. When asked about the quarterback draft class, the GM admitted that the team’s “focus is on signing Baker.” Mayfield has also stated a desire to continue his career in Tampa Bay. After all, it was the Buccaneers who took a chance on him last offseason and allowed him to revive his career.
Further, Mayfield values the “high degree of organizational stability,” even with offensive coordinator Dave Canales having left to become the Panthers head coach. As Laine points out, Mayfield has also been looking to settle down with one organization after having spent time with four different teams between 2021 and 2023.
To top it all off, Mayfield made it clear that Evans’ impending free agency would play a role in his decision. The quarterback previously stated that “[i]f I’m back, I want Mike back” (via Laine), and with the wideout having agreed to a new deal, it appears that Mayfield’s demands have been met.
Of course, as is the case with many free agents, money will also be a factor. While the former first-overall pick is motivated to stick with the Buccaneers, he isn’t willing to give the organization a “hometown discount,” per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. That would leave the door open for potential suitors like the Falcons to swoop in with an offer that Mayfield can’t refuse, and it only reinforces why the Buccaneers may look to get a deal done before the start of free agency.
After signing a one-year deal with the Buccaneers last offseason, Mayfield proceeded to guide his squad to a 9-8 record and a playoff victory. Mayfield finished the regular season having set new career highs in completion percentage (64.3), passing yards (4,044), and touchdowns (28).
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.