Latest On Zack Martin’s Reworked Deal
AUGUST 16: This reworking will come out to $36.85MM guaranteed for Martin over the next two seasons, Archer tweets. The Cowboys already restructured Martin’s deal this offseason, and after authorizing this significant guarantee bump, the team may need to address the contract again in 2024. While Martin’s 2023 cap number checks in at $11.75MM — up $710K from where it was coming into this week — Archer adds the All-Pro guard’s 2024 cap hit is now $28.5MM (Twitter link). To secure this payout, Martin incurred $850K in fines for his holdout.
AUGUST 15: Zack Martin‘s holdout came to an end yesterday, with the Cowboys inking the lineman to a revised contract. The two sides finally broke their impasse this past weekend, with ESPN’s Todd Archer writing that Martin’s meeting with Jerry Jones this past weekend helped bridge the gap.
[RELATED: Cowboys, Zack Martin Agree To Revised Deal]
“He was great,” Martin told Archer. “We were able to have that one-on-one time, and I think that helped, just being able to talk face-to-face. I think ultimately that’s what made me feel more comfortable and how he felt more comfortable and then we started talking about this and numbers and where we eventually headed.”
Jones made it pretty clear that a Martin raise wasn’t atop the front office’s list of priorities, but the owner/GM was apparently instrumental in getting the new pact over the finish line. While Martin is still in the midst of a six-year, $84MM deal that once made him the NFL’s highest-paid guard, he’ll now get $36MM in guaranteed money over the next two years vs. the $27.5MM he was set to make.
“I just think I’ve been here a long time. I’ve accomplished some great things but just felt like where I was in the market that it’s something that had been deserved and felt strongly about it,” said Martin. “Obviously it took a little time, but I’m super grateful to the Joneses. Once we started talking and having that connection we were able to figure something out that worked for both of us.”
It sounds like guaranteed money was always the holdup. Martin told reporters today that he wasn’t looking to reset the market at his position (per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News on Twitter). The veteran still ranks eighth at his position for average annual value, but his guaranteed money now ranks third (behind Chris Lindstrom and Quenton Nelson).
While Martin’s three-week absence has come to an end, the lineman will still have to wait for punishment regarding his holdout. As David Moore of the Dallas Morning News writes, the Cowboys are seeking clarification from the league office on whether the lineman will be fined for three off-days that took place during his absence. The Cowboys couldn’t forgive his $50K fines, meaning Martin is either facing punishment of $1M or $850K.
With Martin solidifying right guard, focus will shift to the other side of the line. As Moore writes in the same piece, the Cowboys feel good about Tyler Smith at LG despite the lineman having never played the position. However, the 2022 first-round pick could easily go back to his more natural OT position if Tyron Smith or Terence Steele suffer injuries.
Giants Sign OL Julién Davenport
The Giants are adding some depth on the offensive line. According to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News (via Twitter), the Giants are signing offensive tackle Julién Davenport. The team also claimed linebacker Ray Wilborn off waivers from the Broncos (per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter) and waived/injured offensive lineman Devery Hamilton (via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan on Twitter).
Davenport worked out for the Giants alongside Lorenz Metz earlier today. The Giants ultimately opted for the more experienced of the two tryout players, and the free agent acquisition will provide more depth on New York’s offensive line. Tackle Evan Neal continues to work his way back from a concussion, and backups like Matt Peart (who has filled in as the starter opposite Andrew Thomas), Korey Cunningham, and Wyatt Davis have struggled in his stead.
Davenport brings plenty of experience, having started 32 of his 60 career games. The former fourth-round pick most recently spent time with the Bears and Cardinals but didn’t get into a game during the 2022 campaign. Davenport started four of his nine appearances with the Colts in 2021.
Wilborn has bounced around the NFL since going undrafted out of Ball State in 2020. The linebacker has had stints with the Falcons, Steelers, Packers, and Broncos, getting into two regular season games. After inking a reserve/futures deal with Denver during the offseason, he was waived by the team yesterday.
Hamilton has spent most of his career on the Giants practice squad, getting into nine games with the big-league squad. The lineman suffered an injury last week that Brian Daboll described as “not day-to-day” (Twitter link).
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: S Sean Chandler
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Demone Harris
- Released: OT LaColby Tucker
- Placed on IR: LB Adetokunbo Ogundeji
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from PUP: LB Tyler Matakevich
Houston Texans
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): OT Jacky Chen
- Released from IR: OT Greg Little
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: TE Jody Fortson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Matt Hankins, RB Aaron Shampklin
Miami Dolphins
- Waived from IR: WR Freddie Swain
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: LB William Kwenkeu
New England Patriots
- Waived: LS Tucker Addington, DE DaMarcus Mitchell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Nevelle Clarke, RB Xazavian Valladay
- Waived: RB John Lovett
Sean Chandler brings 64 games of experience to Arizona. Following a 2021 campaign that saw him collect a career-high 48 tackles in 15 games (seven starts) for the Panthers, the 27-year-old got into 17 games for the team in 2022, finishing with 19 tackles while primarily playing on special teams.
Adetokunbo Ogundeji is a tough loss for the Falcons, as the linebacker has turned into an important piece on Atlanta’s defense. The former fifth-round pick has started 27 of his 32 games since entering the NFL, collecting 75 tackles and three sacks. Ogundeji suffered a foot/ankle injury that will require surgery, and his placement on IR means the issue will ultimately knock him out for the entire 2023 campaign.
OL Justin Pugh Cleared For Drills, Expected To Take Visits
Justin Pugh is on the comeback trail. 10 months after tearing his ACL, the veteran offensive lineman has been cleared to do drills and is seeking his next opportunity, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter).
The free agent lineman is reportedly participating in positional drills with LeCharles Bentley, a former Pro Bowl OL and current NFL senior advisor of player performance and development. Pugh is expected to visit with suitors in the “near future.”
Pugh himself provided some more insight into his free agency. In a conversation with Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, the veteran admitted that he’s actually talked with six teams and is hoping to join a contender.
“It seems like after the preseason games happened, a few more teams reached out,” Pugh said (via Leonard on Twitter). “So we’ll see how the next few week go. Really looking to sign with one of those teams that’s in the top echelon. Playoff contention last year, has a chance to make a step this next year. And I can really come in and add value to that team.
“Not really looking for a rebuild where I have to come in and mentor a rookie quarterback. [I’m] looking for that team that’s missing a few pieces, needs some depth on the o-line. I know wherever I go, I’m going to end up starting. Offensive linemen don’t grow on trees.”
Pugh was limited to only five games last season before suffering his season-ending ACL tear. The lineman only got through one of his five seasons in Arizona unscathed, with Pugh ultimately starting 56 of his 57 games with the organization. It’s been a bit since Pugh ranked as an above-average guard by Pro Football Focus, although the site consistently graded him among the best tackles in the league during his time with the Giants.
Pugh was a first-round pick by New York in 2013 and spent five seasons with the organization, starting all 63 of his appearances. The 33-year-old told Leonard that the Giants are “one of those teams that [he’s] definitely eyeing” at the moment, with the lineman noting that he’d love to end his career where it started.
Saints Release WR James Washington
Darrel Williams‘ new roster spot on the Saints will cost another veteran their job. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter), the Saints have released wideout James Washington.
[RELATED: Saints To Sign RB Darrel Williams]
Washington joined the Saints on a one-year deal in May and was expected to compete for a roster spot. The 27-year-old is the latest veteran receiver to earn their walking papers, as receiver Keke Coutee was cut by the team this past weekend.
The veteran wideout spent most of the 2022 season on the Cowboys’ injured reserve, but he managed to get into two games for Dallas before getting cut. He spent the rest of the year on the Giants practice squad. It wasn’t that long ago that Washington was a mainstay on the Steelers offense. The Oklahoma State product never hit his second-round pedigree, but he did average 32 receptions for 470 yards per season between 2019 and 2021.
The top of the Saints WR depth chart is set with Michael Thomas, Chris Olave, and Rashid Shaheed, but the rest of the team’s depth is in question. That grouping includes five-year Saint Tre’Quan Smith and rookie sixth-round pick A.T. Perry, along with Lynn Bowden, Bryan Edwards, Keith Kirkwood, Kawaan Baker, Jontre Kirklin, and rookie Shaquan Davis.
Browns LB Jacob Phillips To Miss Regular Season
Jacob Phillips‘ season has ended before it even began. The Browns linebacker has suffered a torn pectoral muscle and will miss the regular season, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter).
This is a tough break for Phillips. The fourth-year linebacker was limited to only seven games last season thanks to another pectoral injury. ESPN’s Jake Trotter writes that Phillips will soon go under the knife once again.
Phillips was a third-round pick out of LSU in 2020. He missed seven games during his rookie campaign thanks in part to stints on the COVID list, and he missed two months during the 2021 campaign because of a biceps injury. The linebacker was inserted into the starting lineup in 2022 following an injury to Anthony Walker, and he proceeded to start four games for Cleveland before suffering his own injury.
The 24-year-old finished this past season with 46 tackles and a pair of sacks. Had Phillips earned enough snaps, Pro Football Focus would have graded him towards the bottom of his position, although the site did give him solid marks for pass rushing.
With Walker and Sione Takitaki atop the depth chart, Phillips was eyeing a backup ILB role in 2023. The team could be lacking some depth now at the position, with the team relying on a handful of current and former UDFAs like Matthew Adams, Jordan Kunaszyk, Mohamoud Diabate, and Cam Bright.
Latest On Bengals QB Joe Burrow
It’s been quiet on the Joe Burrow front, but the Bengals quarterback showed that he’s progressing from his calf sprain before last night’s game. As ESPN’s Ben Baby writes, Burrow had a throwing session before Friday’s preseason game against the Packers. This was the first time the quarterback has been seen throwing since suffering his injury in July.
[RELATED: Bengals Expect Joe Burrow To Miss Several Weeks]
Zac Taylor didn’t provide a whole lot of insight after the game, but he acknowledged that Burrow is “progressing as he should.” As Baby notes, Burrow returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since suffering the leg injury, although the quarterback was obviously just a spectator on the sideline.
The entire organization held their breath when Burrow went down with a non-contact injury during a late-July practice. The quarterback was later diagnosed with a calf strain, with the Bengals asserting that he wouldn’t see the practice field for “several weeks.” Burrow is still out indefinitely, and while that’s led some panicked pundits to wonder if he could miss regular season time, Ian Rapoport reported a few weeks ago that the star quarterback should be ready for Week 1.
“He’s been rehabbing quite a bit,” offensive coordinator Brian Callahan said this week. “He’s doing a good job and to have him out at practice is always beneficial. Guys like seeing him too. I think you saw everybody excited to have him out, standing around watching.”
With Brandon Allen gone, the Bengals will be eyeing a new backup in 2023. 2022 practice-squad player Jake Browning got the first shot at the QB2 role during last night’s preseason game, connecting on 10 of his 17 pass attempts for 95 yards and one interception. Offseason acquisition Trevor Siemian later took over, going 15-of-28 for 121 yards and a pick.
Packers TE Tyler Davis Suffers Serious Knee Injury
The Packers are down a key special teamer and tight end. Matt LaFleur told reporters that Tyler Davis suffered a significant knee injury last night and is expected to miss the regular season (per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky on Twitter). Indeed, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that Davis suffered a torn ACL.
Davis had a pair of catches on Friday against the Bengals, including a five-yard touchdown reception. On the second catch, he took a hard hit from defender DJ Ivey before limping off the field. After getting looked at by trainers, the tight end was carted to the locker room.
“TD, my heart hurts for him. He’s been a key contributor to our success the last couple of years,” LaFleur said after the game (h/t Packers Wire). “Whether it’s on teams or carving out a role on our offense, he’s the consummate professional. Great teammate, great human…We’re going to miss him.”
A 2020 sixth-round pick by the Jaguars, Davis has spent the past two seasons in Green Bay. He saw a significant role in 2022, leading the Packers in special teams snaps while contributing 10 tackles. The 26-year-old also added four catches for 26 yards.
Davis was expected to see an even larger role on offense in 2023. With Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis now playing in Chicago, Green Bay was going to need one of their tight ends to step up. Various reports indicated that Davis was looking like the best blocking tight end during training camp, and his role last night hinted that he was in line for some receiving work, as well.
The Packers did use some draft capital at the position, selecting Luke Musgrave in the second round and Tucker Kraft in the third. The team is also rostering Austin Allen, and they have Josiah Deguara and Henry Pearson listed as fullbacks on the depth chart.
Patriots Sign RB C.J. Marable
The Patriots are adding a running back, but probably not the one you’re thinking of. New England has signed running back C.J. Marable, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in Houston (via Twitter). Marable worked out for the team yesterday.
[Latest On Patriots’ Interest In RBs Ezekiel Elliott]
Marable is a success story out of the USFL, where the running back won a pair of championships with the Birmingham Stallions. In his two seasons with the team, the running back rushed for 925 yards and eight touchdowns, and he added another 396 yards and two touchdowns on 48 receptions.
The running back was previously a standout at Coastal Carolina, where he collecting 3,394 yards from scrimmage across three seasons at the school. Following a 2019 campaign where he compiled 1,380 yards and 14 touchdowns, Marable earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2020 after finishing with 1,115 yards and 19 touchdowns. He went undrafted during the 2021 draft and had a brief training camp stint with the Bears.
Rhamondre Stevenson is prime for a big season atop the Patriots RB depth chart, but with Damien Harris now out of the picture, the team lacks experienced depth. A pair of former draft picks, 2022 fourth-round pick Pierre Strong and 2022 sixth-round pick Kevin Harris, are the main candidates to serve as the RB2 along with former UDFA J.J. Taylor.
Due to that lack of depth, the Patriots have been connected to a number of free agent running backs. Most recently, the organization had Ezekiel Elliott in for a visit, and it sounds like the front office is still interested in adding the former Cowboys star. Considering Marable’s lack of NFL track record, today’s signing probably doesn’t impact the chances of an Elliott signing in New England.
Vikings Host RB Kareem Hunt
Kareem Hunt‘s free agency tour continues. After visiting with the Saints and Colts earlier this week, the running back is meeting with the Vikings today, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Kareem Hunt Leaves Colts Visit Without Deal]
It was relatively quiet on the Hunt front until earlier this week, when the veteran running back was in New Orleans and Indianapolis for visits. He left both of those workouts with contracts, but it’s now clear Hunt is weighing multiple opportunities before making a decision.
Hunt found a home in Cleveland over the past four seasons, including a 2020 campaign where he finished with 1,145 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns. His 2022 campaign started with a trade request and ended with him averaging a career-low 9.3 touches per game in 17 games for Cleveland, and he’s remain unsigned through this point of the offseason.
Similar to both the Saints and Colts, the Vikings could offer Hunt a somewhat significant role on offense. Alexander Mattison is expected to take over for Dalvin Cook in the backfield, but the team lacks experienced depth behind their new starter. Ty Chandler got into three games as a rookie, Kene Nwangwu has been injured during training camp, and rookie seventh-round pick DeWayne McBride is likely destined for a ST role.
Hunt’s pass-catching ability could make him a worthy third-down option, and he’s shown the ability to be productive in a starting role while filling in for Nick Chubb in Cleveland. The Vikings are currently armed with more than $10MM in cap space, providing them with some financial might over Hunt’s other two suitors. The Saints reportedly backloaded their offer to Hunt with incentives while keeping the total amount roughly on par with what the Colts are prepared to pay without bonuses.