Lawrence Guy, Patriots Discussing New Deal
Lawrence Guy continues to seek a new contract, and it sounds like the defensive lineman’s camp has started negotiations with the Patriots. After arriving to training camp on time, Guy told reporters that he’s been in contact with the organization about a new contract but wants to “keep that private between us.”
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“I’m here. A big smile on my face,” Guy said (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald). “I’m going to do whatever I can for the organization. I’ll work as hard as I can. That’s why we play this game — to be out on this field. To be a brotherhood.”
The Patriots’ longest-tenured player still has two years and $6MM remaining on the four-year, $11.5MM pact ($24MM max value) he signed with the organization during the 2021 offseason. Guy is set to earn $2MM in 2023 and could earn another $3.5MM via incentives, and there’s no remaining guaranteed money on his contract. Per Kyed, the Patriots could free around $3MM in cap space by releasing or trading the veteran (and they’d be left with a $500K dead cap hit).
As a result of his contract situation, Guy skipped mandatory minicamp earlier this summer. A source previously described the contract situation as “a challenging negotiation,” so there were some pundits who wondered if the defensive lineman could end up holding out during training camp. Guy would have faced daily fines of $50K if he skipped out on practices.
Guy is one of the team’s few remaining Super Bowl champs. The 33-year-old spent the previous six seasons in New England, earning a spot on the organization’s All-2010s Team after starting 60 of his 62 regular-season games between 2017 and 2020. In 2022, Guy started all 14 of his appearances, compiling 46 tackles, two sacks, and five QB hits. Pro Football Focus wasn’t all that fond of his performance, ranking him 89th among 127 qualifying interior defenders while also handing him the lowest grade of his career.
“It’s football season. Most players play football in football season,” coach Bill Belichick said when asked about negotiations. “We’ll see how it goes.”
The Patriots aren’t cash strapped at the moment, so they do have some flexibility to give Guy a raise. However, New England has traditionally been stubborn when it comes to handing out revised deals, so it will be interesting to see what side prevails during negotiations.
Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey To Undergo Knee Surgery, Likely To Miss Start Of Season
Jalen Ramsey‘s debut with the Dolphins likely won’t come in Week 1 after the cornerback suffered a knee injury during practice today. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), Ramsey will undergo knee surgery and is expected to miss the start of the regular season.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reveals on Twitter that the All-Pro cornerback suffered a meniscus injury that could force him to miss six to eight weeks. Pelissero clarifies (on Twitter) that the best-case scenario would see Ramsey back on the field “right around the season opener.” The worst-case scenario would see the veteran sidelined for much longer, and the player’s timeline will be determined following surgery. Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network tweets that a meniscus trim would result in a speedier recovery, while a “full repair” would sideline Ramsey for much longer.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that doctors will determine during surgery what the best course of action is for the player. While a source cautioned that no decision has been made, RapSheet notes that the “likely outcome” would be a full meniscus repair. While this route would be the “best and healthiest option,” it would also keep Ramsey off the field until around December. For what it’s worth, Ramsey tweeted that the “end of the season push” will be “legendary,” perhaps an indication that he’ll miss more than the season opener.
Fortunately, we should have some clarity soon, as Wolfe tweets that Ramsey will have surgery on the meniscus in his left knee tomorrow. The cornerback suffered the injury during practice today after colliding with receiver Tyreek Hill. Ramsey was seen grabbing the back of his knee before he left the field. As Wolfe notes on Twitter, Ramsey previously suffered a meniscus injury in 2016 when he was a rookie with the Jaguars.
The Dolphins sent the Rams a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long for Ramsey back in March. The 28-year-old earned his sixth-straight Pro Bowl nod in 2022, finishing with a career-high 88 tackles to go along with four interceptions and 18 pass breakups. Pro Football Focus graded Ramsey as the third-best cornerback among 118 qualifiers in 2022, with the site giving him top-10 positional marks during each of his three-plus seasons in Los Angeles (including a 2021 campaign where he finished first).
Besides his top-end production, Miami added the high-priced cornerback because of his playoff success and his versatility. The acquisition was expected to play opposite Xavien Howard on the outside with Kader Kohou manning the slot, but there were recent reports that Ramsey could see plenty of time in the slot for Miami in 2023. With Ramsey sidelined, the Dolphins could lean even more on Kohou during his second season in the NFL, and second-round rookie Cam Smith should also have an opportunity to step into a role right away. Miami will also eventually welcome back Nik Needham, who continues to recover from an Achilles injury that ended his 2022 season early.
Joe Burrow Leaves Bengals Practice With Leg Injury
There was a scare today during Bengals practice, as Joe Burrow went down with a leg injury before getting carted off the field. Fortunately, it sounds like the franchise quarterback avoided a serious injury. Head coach Zac Taylor told reporters that Burrow suffered a strained calf (per ESPN’s Dianna Russini on Twitter).
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Per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Inquirer, Burrow was scrambling during an 11-on-11 drill before he “hobbled to the ground” with an apparent non-contact injury. Bengals medical staff checked on the quarterback before deciding to cart him off the field.
Interestingly, Burrow was spotted wearing a black sleeve on the same leg that got injured. When asked about the sleeve, Taylor indicated that it was normal for players to relieve soreness following the first day of training camp (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo on Twitter). In other words, it appears to just be a coincidence that Burrow injured the same knee with the sleeve (vs. the sleeve being some kind of hint that Burrow was dealing with a serious issue before going down).
It’s an unfortunate start to training camp for the quarterback. Burrow has dealt with some kind of ailment during each of the last three training camps, with the QB recovering from his ACL tear in 2021 and dealing with appendicitis (and the ensuing surgery) in 2022. Just yesterday, Burrow noted how excited he was to be fully healthy to start camp.
“Knock on wood … I feel great,” Burrow said following yesterday’s practice (via Conway). “This time last year I was sitting in a hospital bed. It’s good to be out there with the guys. Excited about where we’re at.”
Burrow’s latest injury comes in the midst of contract negotiations with the Bengals. With Justin Herbert inking a megadeal the other day, Burrow would appear to be the next in line for a record-breaking extension. Most pundits predict that Burrow will reset the QB market with his next contract, but a serious leg injury certainly would have complicated those negotiations.
If Burrow is forced to miss any time, the Bengals do have some experienced depth at quarterback. Trevor Siemian joined the team earlier this offseason, although the veteran has only started six games since 2018. Cincy is also rostering former UDFA Jake Browning.
Colts Add CB Chris Lammons
The Colts have added some depth to their secondary. The team has signed cornerback Chris Lammons, according to Nate Atkins of the Indy Star (via Twitter).
Lammons spent the past three seasons in Kansas City, getting into 33 games (including playoffs). He was a key special teamer in Kansas City, appearing in 75 percent of his team’s ST snaps in 16 games this past season. The 27-year-old has also had stints with the Falcons, Saints, Dolphins, and Bengals.
Last February, a warrant was issued for Lammons’ arrest following an alleged assault that included Saints running back Alvin Kamara. Lammons was facing a felony battery charge before reaching a plea agreement earlier this month, with the player pleading no contest to a misdemeanor count of breaching the peace. Lammons also agreed to serve 30 hours of community service and will pay $100K towards the victim’s medical bills. He could still face punishment from the NFL for the incident.
Other than Kenny Moore, the Colts have an inexperienced grouping of cornerbacks. Second-round rookie Julius Brents and fifth-round rookie Darius Rush could push for significant roles in the secondary, while former UDFAs like Dallis Flowers and Darrell Baker are also vying for roster spots.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/27/23
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on PUP: WR Marquez Stevenson
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from PUP: WR Anthony Schwartz
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from PUP: LB Tariq Carpenter, OT Caleb Jones, S Tarvarius Moore
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Ty Scott
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: CB Isiah Brown
- Waived/injured: CB Jordan Perryman
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Blake Lynch
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Kevin Atkins
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Kyahva Tezino
- Activated from PUP: P Mitch Wishnowsky
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Ben Burr-Kirven
Washington Commanders
- Released: S Xavier Henderson
Ben Burr-Kirven was a fifth-round pick by the Seahawks back in 2019, and he transformed into a key special teamer through his first two seasons in the NFL. However, he suffered a knee injury during the 2021 preseason that ended up wiping out that entire season. The issues persisted in 2022, and after spending that year on PUP, he was ultimately released in March. Coach Pete Carroll apparently reversed course and ended up bringing back the linebacker.
“He’s in a little bit of an experimental mode,” Carroll said earlier this year (via the team’s website). “The surgeries that he has had and the process he is going through, he is making progress. He’s always in the weight room with us. He’s always here working with a tremendous mentality. The nerve issues, really intricate stuff going on, so he’s had to have a really good attitude about it to stay in the fight and he is. He’s planning on getting back out there. So, we are going to give him every chance. If he can do it, this is going to be the place that he does it.”
Xavier Henderson was released today with an injury settlement, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post (via Twitter). The undrafted free agent landed on the physically unable to perform list earlier this week.
Sean McVay: Rams Had “Unanimous” Commitment To QB Matthew Stafford
The Rams did little to defend their crown in 2022, and Matthew Stafford received plenty of blame for the team’s struggles. The veteran quarterback was only 3-6 in his nine starts, and his season ended in early December after he suffered a spinal cord contusion.
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The Rams had a crucial decision to make on the QB this offseason, with the front office having to decide to pick up Stafford’s 2023 option bonus and 2024 salary by the third day of the league year. The Rams ultimately went through with the $60MM commitment, but only after they couldn’t find a taker for the veteran; former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi revealed earlier this month that the Rams tried trading Stafford before the 2023 league year.
The Rams are slightly shifting the narrative with Stafford firmly atop the depth chart for at least the 2023 campaign. As ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk writes, the Rams were “approached by other teams” about Stafford’s availability, but it was ultimately a “unanimous agreement” to keep the veteran under center for at least one more year.
“There was a consistent and unanimous dialogue and understanding,” coach Sean McVay said. “When that March deadline came in terms of him being due the bonus that he’s deserved and that he’s earned, we were all in unanimous agreement that we wanted him to be the quarterback.
“I know I can certainly speak for all of us and say we’re excited as hell about Matthew Stafford. It’s been great to see him feeling good, and I’m certainly really glad he’s our quarterback, and that’s where we’re at.”
Stafford inked a four-year, $160MM deal a bit more than a year ago, and the QB is attached to a $20MM cap hit this season before clocking in at a massive $49.5MM cap hit in 2024. The quarterback indicated that the Rams did approach him about restructuring his contract.
“I don’t know what the technical term of it is,” Stafford said (via Youngmisuk). “But we had conversations on that kind of stuff and I’ll leave it at that.”
It remains to be seen if Stafford will ultimately play for the Rams under that 2024 cap hit, but the team is solely focused on returning to competitive football in 2023. With wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald also back from injuries, the Rams are hoping to drastically improve on their 5-12 record from 2022. Much of their success next season will indeed by tied to Stafford and his health, and the quarterback acknowledged that he’s already feeling much better now than he did coming off the team’s Super Bowl win last year.
“I feel a lot better,” Stafford said. “Physically, I feel really healthy compared to where I was at this point last year, so that’s fun for me. I was able to get the work in that I want to get in coming into this. And that makes it a whole lot more fun for me and just excited to be out here.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on PUP: TE Zach Ertz, QB Kyler Murray, LB BJ Ojulari
- Placed on NFI: CB Garrett Williams
- Waived: TE Chris Pierce
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on NFI: DB Trayvon Mullen
- Waived: OT Brandon Kipper
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Javon Wims
- Waived: WR Marquez Stevenson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Aviante Collins
- Waived: OL Lorenz Metz
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Cody Chrest
- Placed on NFI: OT Caleb Jones
- Waived/injured: WR Jeff Cotton
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on PUP: LB Dawuane Smoot
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on NFI: DT Neil Farrell
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from PUP: WR Pokey Wilson
- Placed on PUP: WR Jalen Guyton, DL Austin Johnson, DT Otito Ogbonnia
Los Angeles Rams
- Claimed off waivers (from Bears): LB Sterling Weatherford
- Placed on PUP: TE Hunter Long, OT Warren McClendon
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Kevin Atkins
- Reverted to IR: LB Elerson Smith
New York Jets
- Activated from PUP: TE C.J. Uzomah
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Deon Cain
- Placed on NFI: WR Devon Allen
- Released: TE Dalton Keene
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Kyahva Tezino
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DB Chris Steele
- Placed on PUP: S Jamal Adams, LB Jordyn Brooks, TE Noah Fant, NT Austin Faoliu, NT Bryan Mone, CB Tariq Woolen
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB A.J. Moore
- Waived: DT Curtis Brooks
Among the additions on today’s list, defensive back A.J. Moore is the most notable. The defensive back spent four years with the Texans to begin his career, compiling 69 tackles in 55 games while primarily playing on special teams. The 27-year-old spent a chunk of last season on the Titans practice squad, and he ultimately got into one game with the big-league club.
Danielle Hunter Reports To Vikings Training Camp
After finishing the 2022 campaign with 10.5 sacks, Danielle Hunter is looking for a raise on the $5.5MM he’s set to earn in 2023. After the pass rusher decided to skip the Vikings’ mandatory minicamp, there were rumbling that he could extend his holdout into training camp.
That won’t be the case, as ESPN’s Kevin Seifert writes that Hunter reported to training camp today. However, since the player skipped all of the team’s offseason practices, he isn’t expected to be a full participant right away. Seifert tweets that he didn’t see the veteran on the field during today’s practice, not even as an observer.
Hunter could also be engaging in a “hold in,” where he avoids fines by attending training camp but refuses to participate in any drills. As a result of his apparent dissatisfaction with his contract, we heard in June that teams reached out to the Vikings about a trade for Hunter (although there were reportedly never any “serious trade talks”).
So, for the time being, the two sides appear to be in a staring contest. Neither coach Kevin O’Connell nor general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would say whether Hunter’s practice status is tied to his contract situation.
“There’s a lot of things that we’re trying to work through with Danielle,” Adofo-Mensah said. “Obviously we haven’t seen him since last season. So that among many other issues that we’re trying to work through with his representatives, those conversations are ongoing.”
The 2015 third-round pick has spent his entire career in Minnesota, transforming into one of the league’s top pass rushers. Hunter earned All Pro nods in 2018 and 2019 after finishing both seasons with 14.5 sacks. However, a herniated disk in his neck ended his 2020 season before it even began, and a torn pectoral muscle limited him to only seven games in 2021.
Hunter returned to his All-Pro production in 2022. The 28-year-old finished the season with 65 tackles and 10.5 sacks while finishing as Pro Football Focus’ seventh-best edge defender (among 119 qualifying players). Hunter is still playing out a five-year, $72MM extension he signed with the Vikings back in 2018.
“It’s going to be a day-to-day thing,” O’Connell said of Hunter’s absence. “Danielle and I have had such good dialogue over these last few days, and really trying to build a plan that allows him to feel good about coming to work with as a Minnesota Viking every single day.”
The Vikings have some pass-rushing insurance in Marcus Davenport, but the free agent acquisition was intended to replace Za’Darius Smith. D.J. Wonnum was the primary fill-in for Hunter during OTAs, per Seifert.
Chargers Sign WR Milton Wright
After going undrafted in the NFL Supplemental Draft earlier this month, Milton Wright has found his way on to an NFL roster. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), the wide receiver has signed with the Chargers.
After hauling in 42 receptions through his first two collegiate seasons, Wright had a breakout campaign in 2021. The Purdue wideout finished the season with 57 receptions for 732 yards and seven touchdowns, and he appeared ready to take it to another lever in 2022.
However, persistent academic issues resulted in him being deemed ineligible for the 2022 season. Wright first tried to transfer before deciding to pivot to the supplemental draft. The receiver ended up going undrafted, allowing him to sign with any team.
Despite an NFL-ready body (six-foot-three, 195 pounds), Wright’s 4.69-second 40-yard dash time led some scouts to sour on the prospect. Still, the Chargers decided to take the low-risk move following a successful tryout earlier today.
The organization is plenty deep at the receiver position, with Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and first-round rookie Quentin Johnston leading the way. With Josh Palmer and rookie fourth-round pick Derius Davis also appearing to be roster locks, Wright will have to compete with the likes of Jalen Guyton, Keelan Doss, and John Hightower for one of the final spots on the depth chart.
Chargers Sign Justin Herbert To Five-Year Extension
JULY 26: The extension, which ties Herbert to the Chargers through the 2029 season, is now official. Herbert’s 2023 and ’24 cap hits will be under $20MM, with the ’24 number ($19.3MM) representing a $10MM decrease from his $29.5MM fifth-year option salary. The 2025 number checks in at $37.3MM, per OverTheCap, with the ’26 cap hit sitting at $46.3MM. The Bolts will undoubtedly go to the restructure well during this contract, as $58.3MM (2027) and $71.1MM (’28) cap figures appear on this deal down the road.
JULY 25: The latest quarterback domino has fallen. The Chargers have signed quarterback Justin Herbert to a massive five-year extension worth up to $262.5MM, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The new deal will keep Herbert in Los Angeles through at least the 2029 season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), the new deal contains a no-trade clause.
According to Jonathan Jones of CBS (via Twitter), the deal can actually reach $265MM with incentives. The five-year extension includes $218MM in guaranteed money, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic (via Twitter). Schefter clarifies (on Twitter) that the extension contains $133.7MM in fully guaranteed money, $193.7MM with the injury guarantee, and a potential $218.7MM in total guarantees.
Rapoport notes on Twitter that Herbert will earn a whopping $100MM in year one of the extension, topping the previous one-year high of $80MM in earnings. This will be a significant raise for Herbert, who was set to earn $4.2MM in the fourth year of his rookie deal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
In terms of new money, Herbert’s deal will rank fourth at the position in full guarantees and injury guarantees, per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com (via Twitter). Herbert’s overall guarantees will slide him in third among QBs, and his overall injury guarantees will rank second at the position.
It was only a matter of time until the two sides ultimately agreed to a new deal. We heard back in March that the Chargers and Herbert had started extension talks, and with several quarterbacks having already reset the positional market this offseason, Herbert appeared to be the next in line.
Jalen Hurts (five years, $255MM) briefly held the title of highest-paid QB before Lamar Jackson‘s extension (five years, $260MM) a week later. Now, a few months after Jackson signed his record-breaking deal, Herbert is once again resetting the market, settling in at a contract that will pay him $52.5MM. The Chargers QB is now one of four players at his position to top $50MM (along with Hurts, Jackson, and Aaron Rodgers), and it will only be a matter of time before Joe Burrow and the Bengals agree to an extension that once again reshapes the market.
A mega-deal is certainly warranted for Herbert. Through three seasons in the league, Herbert has quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s top signal-callers. His 14,089 passing yards are the most through a player’s first three seasons in NFL history, and his 94 touchdowns through three seasons trails only Dan Marino (98) on the all-time list.
The sixth-overall pick in the 2020 draft, Herbert earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after tossing 31 touchdowns vs. 10 interceptions. He got a Pro Bowl nod in 2021 after compiling 38 touchdowns, but Herbert found the end zone only 25 times in 2022. However, he had a career-high 68.2 completion percentage this past season while guiding the Chargers to 10 wins and his first career playoff appearance.
2023 will be a crucial year for the Chargers. With Herbert’s extension set to kick in, the cash-strapped organization will look to capitalize on an offense led by Herbert, running back Austin Ekeler, and wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. As ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry points out on Twitter, the Chargers’ ability to sign Herbert on the eve of training camp also ensures that there will be zero distractions as the Chargers look to install coordinator Kellen Moore‘s new offense.