Minor NFL Transactions: 6/20/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: DB Scott Nelson
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived/injured: LB Mariano Sori-Marin
Nelson had a pair of stints on Pittsburgh’s practice squad last season, and he was retained via a futures contract after the season. The former UDFA had a productive career at Wisconsin, compiling 125 tackles and four interceptions.
Sori-Marin has been released with an injury designation, but it’s uncertain what injury the linebacker suffered. The undrafted rookie joined the 49ers back in May following a five-year stint at Minnesota. During his time with the Golden Gophers, Sori-Marin collected 274 tackles, 14.5 tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks.
Patriots CB Jack Jones Arrested
JUNE 20: Jones posted bail, valued at $30K during his arraignment, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss (Twitter link). The 25-year-old pleaded not guilty on all counts, and attorney Rosemary C. Scapicchio said (via the Globe’s John Ellement and Sean Cotter) he had “no intention of bringing any guns onto an airport.” Jones’ next court date is set for August 18. In the time leading up to that point, it will be worth monitoring what developments, if any, take place with respect to his tenure in New England.
JUNE 19: Jones will be arraigned Tuesday, according to the Boston Globe’s Travis Andersen and Nicole Yang. If convicted and sentenced consecutively on each of the counts, Jones could face more than 30 years in prison, James Borghesani, a spokesperson for Suffolk (Mass.) District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden’s office, told the Globe. This outcome is unlikely, Andersen and Yang add, but the second-year cornerback’s NFL future might be in doubt.
JUNE 17: Patriots cornerback Jack Jones was arrested last night at Boston Logan International Airport after trying to bring two loaded firearms on a plane, according to Lindsey Thorpe of Boston 25 News.
Per Thorpe, Jones is facing charges of “possession of a concealed weapon in a secure area of an airport, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, and possession of a large-capacity feeding device.” Jones was released from jail on $50K bail, and he’s set to be arraigned next week.
“We have been notified that Jack Jones was arrested at Logan Airport earlier today. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not be commenting further at this time,” the Patriots said in a statement (via Thorpe).
Jones had a tumultuous college career. He was booted off the USC squad for academic reasons, leading to him playing at Moorpark College, a California junior college, for the 2018 campaign. That season, Jones was arrested following an incident at a Panda Express, and he served 45 days of house arrest after pleading guilty to commercial burglary, which is a second-degree misdemeanor.
He spent the following three years at Arizona State and managed to rehabilitate his NFL stock. He ended up being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft by the Patriots, and he quickly showed that he was capable of being more than a depth piece in the secondary. Jones got into 13 games last season (two starts), finishing with 30 tackles and two interceptions (including a pick-six on Aaron Rodgers). Pro Football Focus ultimately graded him 17th among 118 qualifying cornerbacks.
However, things weren’t all positive in New England. Jones was hit with a two-game suspension to end the 2022 campaign after a violation of unspecified team rules. This spring, Bill Belichick noted that the suspension was in the past, and Jones has emerged as one of the top cornerbacks on New England’s depth chart.
Considering the lack of patience Belichick and co. have for off-the-field issues (coupled with Jones’ prior suspension), there’s a chance that the player may simply be done in New England following yesterday’s arrest. Jones isn’t owed a whole lot of money on his fourth-round rookie contract, although the Patriots would be left with more dead cap than cap savings for the 2023 campaign if they decided to cut the cornerback.
If Jones is cut or faces a suspension, the Patriots may need to lean on some inexperienced depth at cornerback. First-round rookie Christian Gonzalez should lead the depth chart, and the team also has veteran Jonathan Jones at nickelback. 2022 third-round pick Marcus Jones showed out as a special teamer during his rookie campaign, but it remains to be seen if he can contribute as a full-time starter on defense. He would likely compete with Shaun Wade for the leftover snaps at CB2, with rookies Ameer Speed (sixth round) and Isaiah Bolden (seventh round) also potentially getting looks.
Mike Evans, Bucs Discussing Extension
The Buccaneers offense will look a whole lot different moving forward, but the front office is looking to maintain some continuity at receiver. According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Buccaneers and wide receiver Mike Evans have already started discussions on an extension.
Stroud adds that there’s “a willingness on both sides to get something done this summer.” Evans inked a five-year, $82.5MM extension with the Buccaneers back in 2018, and he’s set to earn more than $23.6MM in the final year of the pact in 2023.
With Tom Brady out of the picture and the Buccaneers facing an uncertain future at quarterback, it’s not a surprise that the organization wants to transition to the next offensive era with their all-time receiving leader. Evans has hauled in at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his nine NFL seasons, and through the first four years of his current contract, he’s averaged 72 catches for 1,080 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns per season.
The Buccaneers signed Chris Godwin to a three-year, $60MM extension ($40MM guaranteed) last offseason. Considering the money that’s being thrown around at the position, Evans would surely top a $20MM average annual value. As CBS Sports’ Joel Corry points out on Twitter, that type of contract would mean the Buccaneers would join the Chargers as the only teams to be paying two wide receivers more than $20MM/yr.
Stroud points to the five-year, $140MM deal that Davante Adams signed with the Raiders as a potential landing spot for Evans’ next deal. It sounds like Evans is motivated to stick around Tampa, and that could lead to a slight hometown discount when all is said and done (although that’s just speculation on my part).
“Mike loves Tampa,” Evans’ agent, Deryk Gilmore, told Stroud. “I know the feeling is mutual. His production is the best of all the guys out there. … The Bucs’ ownership has to love that Mike isn’t even an off-the-field conversation but an on-the-field terror. I’ve got to think they would like to lock him up to a third deal.”
Chiefs GM Discusses Chris Jones Negotiations
Chiefs star defensive tackle Chris Jones has sat out mandatory minicamp as he pursues a new contract. Fortunately, it doesn’t sound like negotiations are acrimonious in any way. Speaking to reporters during the team’s Super Bowl ring ceremony, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach indicated that negotiations are going well and that everyone involved wants a deal to be completed.
[RELATED: Chris Jones Seeking To Become Second-Highest-Paid DT]
“We have great communication and there’s a lot of time before camp,” Veach said (h/t to Jordan Foote of SI.com). “[I] feel good about where we’re going to be with Chris. We’ll get to celebrate tonight and have a good time, break tomorrow, and I’m sure we’ll have great dialogue from now to the start of training camp and look forward to Chris being here not just for next year, but for a long time.”
The GM wouldn’t commit to a specific deadline for the two sides to agree to an extension. Rather, Veach expressed optimism that negotiations will follow the same path as some of the front office’s previous extension talks.
“Not really,” Veach said when asked if there was a specific timeframe. “Listen, we have a long history together and we have a great relationship with his agent. I mean, these things usually get worked out right before [or] right during the first start of camp so we anticipate the same, and we’ll see how it goes.”
Jones finished third for Defensive Player of the Year honors this past season after compiling 15.5 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, and 29 QB hits. At $20MM per year, Jones is currently the NFL’s eighth-highest-paid defensive tackle, and he’s set to hit free agency following the season. The Chiefs could ultimately just decide to hit him with the franchise tag, but that guaranteed top-five salary at the position still might not be enough for the veteran.
We heard earlier this week that Jones was seeking a contract that would make him the league’s second-highest-paid defensive tackle. Aaron Donald leads the way with a $31.7MM-per-year number, but there’s an $8MM gap in AAV before we get to Jeffery Simmons. Jones could still slide in second on the list without completely breaking the bank. While the organization has recently moved off players like Tyreek Hill before committing big money, it doesn’t sound like they’ll proceed with the same mentality when it comes to their defensive leader.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson Not Planning Training Camp Holdout
Justin Jefferson is eyeing an extension that will make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. While his camp continues to work with the Vikings on a lucrative extension, the wideout hasn’t shown any interest in holding out. Speaking to reporters this week, Jefferson said he would be at training camp with or without a new contract.
[RELATED: Vikings’ Contractual Preferences To Hinder Justin Jefferson Negotiations?]
Jefferson skipped all of the Vikings voluntary OTAs, but he was in attendance this week for mandatory minicamp. Per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Jefferson attributed his previous absences to marketing and endorsement opportunities, and the WR said that the contract talks were “not too much a part of” him skipping the voluntary portion of camp.
“[Negotiations] happen every single year,” Jefferson said (via Seifert). “It’s not something that’s new towards the game. Eventually, we knew we were going to have to talk contract.
“I had a lot of stuff going on. They didn’t really force me to come back too, too much. It didn’t seem like I was missing too, too much. They definitely wanted me back here, and I wanted to be back here, but had a lot going on.”
As Albert Breer of SI.com writes, there’s no good reason for Jefferson to sacrifice money via fines while staging a hold out. After all, both sides seem focused on finalizing a deal, and the team acknowledges that Jefferson’s extension will reset the market. Really, the monetary aspect of the deal should be easy, and Breer believes it’s just a question of how the extension is structured. We previously heard that the Vikings prefer injury guarantees that do not become fully guaranteed until the year the money is due, a potential holdup for Jefferson’s camp.
Jefferson is still playing out his rookie contract and will earn $2.4MM in 2023 and $19.7MM in 2024 (via the fifth-year option). The receiver has topped 1,400 yards in each of his three seasons, and he earned Offensive Player of the Year honors this past season after finishing with 128 receptions for 1,809 yards and eight touchdowns.
The Dolphins made Tyreek Hill the first (and currently only) $30MM/year wideout, although that AAV is partially inflated by an untenable $43.9MM salary in 2026. Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, and A.J. Brown also top the $25MM/year mark, so Jefferson’s next contract will probably come in around at least $30MM.
Latest On DeAndre Hopkins, Patriots
DeAndre Hopkins‘ visit with the Patriots has come to an end, and it sounds like there’s serious interest from both sides. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that there’s “definitely intrigue from player and team” following the meeting. Meanwhile, Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets that the Patriots are “making a push” for the free agent wideout. Hopkins posted about the visit on Instagram, posting a picture of himself and Matt Judon with the caption “La Familia” (per ESPN’s Mike Reiss).
It sounds like there’s some building optimism towards a deal. Howe notes that while Hopkins “has departed Gillette Stadium,” he’s still remaining local. There was a report earlier this week that Hopkins could consider additional visits following his scheduled stops in Tennessee and New England. However, no definitive additional suitors have emerged since that time, so Hopkins’ choice may come down to the Titans and Patriots.
Fowler previously reported that Hopkins has been in no rush to sign with a team and could wait until closer to training camp to ink a deal (via Reiss). The Patriots are also set to be off for a month after finishing their offseason program tomorrow.
Hopkins would be an intriguing addition to a receivers corps that lacks a clear number one WR. The Patriots let Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor walk this offseason, adding receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki to a grouping of targets that also includes DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, Tyquan Thornton, and tight end Hunter Henry.
While Hopkins will be entering his age-31 season in 2023, he’d still provide more upside than any of the team’s current options. The veteran missed a chunk of games due to suspension in 2022, but he still managed to finish the year with 64 catches for 717 yards and three touchdowns. His 79.7 yards per game was a massive improvement from his 2021 campaign (57.2 ypg), and his 2022 average would have led the Patriots by a significant margin.
While a Hopkins signing could come at the expense of one of the team’s current wideouts, it’d still be a massive addition in what will be a crucial year for Mac Jones. The quarterback flashed his first-round pedigree during his rookie campaign, but after the Patriots replaced Josh McDaniels with former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia (plus a sprinkle of former ST coordinator Joe Judge), Jones took a step back in 2022. The Patriots will have to make a decision on the QB’s fifth-year option following the 2023 season, so it’s crucial that the organization puts him in a position to succeed before making the commitment.
“I think DeAndre is a great player. You watch his film from college all the way through the NFL, he’s done a great job. So obviously we’d love to have him, but we do have a great group of guys,” Jones said earlier this week (via Reiss).
“I’ve been really pleased with the playmakers we have on the team; we’ve come out here and really bought into the system. We have a good group and I feel like we need to keep growing together and whoever is in that room, we’re going to try to dominate together.”
While considering the merits of adding Hopkins to their team, the Patriots will also have to consider that they haven’t gotten an extended look at their major FA acquisition. Per Mike Giardi (on Twitter), Smith-Schuster has been dealing with “physical ailments” throughout minicamp and has spoken to “how challenging this playbook is to learn.” The learning curve is one thing, but Giardi notes that the injuries are especially concerning since the Chiefs were forced to manage the veteran for the second half of last season. The Patriots will be counting on Smith-Schuster to replace some of the production lost when Meyers left for Las Vegas, and if there’s any doubt about his availability for all 17 games, there might be some added urgency to add to the depth chart.
QB Carson Wentz Intends To Play In 2023
Carson Wentz has been staying active with the hope of playing in 2023. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter), Wentz “wants and intends” to play in the NFL this upcoming season and is “awaiting the right situation.”
The free agent quarterback has been throwing and studying film with former NFL head coach Jon Gruden, per Schefter. There was a report earlier this offseason that Wentz was determined to continuing playing, and it appears the player’s camp may be making another public push to get the QB on a team.
We heard last month that the QB was generating interest around the NFL, but it’s otherwise been quiet on the Wentz front. It’s not a huge surprise that it’s been slow going for the veteran; he’ll now be seeking his fourth team in four seasons, and the shine has surely worn off after he was unceremoniously dumped by Washington.
The former first-round pick’s tenure with the Eagles came to an end following a 3-8-1 record and league-leading 15 interceptions in 2020. Philly dealt the quarterback to the Colts for a first-round pick, and the oft-injured Wentz managed to start all 17 games for Indy. He went 9-8 that season, tossing 27 touchdowns vs. seven interceptions.
Still, the Colts were quick to move off of him, dealing him to the Commanders last offseason. Wentz started his first seven appearances for Washington, but a finger injury resulted in an IR stint. By the time he returned, Taylor Heinicke had taken the starting gig, and Wentz earned his walking papers when the season ended. The 30-year-old finished this past season having completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 1,755 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
Wentz’s best shot at joining an NFL roster would be in a backup role, but it remains to be seen if the former Pro Bowler is willing to accept that kind of gig. If he isn’t, he’ll surely have to wait for injuries to hit, and even then, teams may be more interested in younger, cheaper options at the position.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/15/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: WR Javon Wims
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Nick Guggemos
- Placed on IR: TE Zach Davidson
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Greg Mabin
- Claimed off waivers (from Cardinals): S Josh Thomas
- Waived: S Vernon Scott
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Kekoa Crawford
- Signed ERFA tenders: QB Shane Buechele, TE Joe Fortson
- Waived: DB Anthony Witherstone
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: DB Collin Duncan, K Christopher Dunn
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Kobe Smith
- Waived/injured: WR/TE Dre Miller
Greg Mabin is the biggest name on the list, with the cornerback having appeared in 45 career games. The former UDFA has spent the past two seasons with the Titans, collecting 23 tackles in 11 total games. The Panthers have gotten an extended look at their cornerback depth during minicamp with Jaycee Horn (ankle) and Donte Jackson (Achilles) sidelined, so the team has probably decided they needed some veteran reinforcement at the position.
Javon Wims will now be looking for another opportunity after getting cut by the Cardinals. The former seventh-round pick showed a bit of a potential with the Bears, including a 2019 campaign where he had 18 catches for 186 yards and one touchdown. After getting into 13 games with the Bears in 2020, the wideout has only seen time in one game over the past two seasons. He spent most of the 2022 campaign on Arizona’s practice squad.
Saints Sign C Billy Price
The Saints aren’t done making moves on offense. After adding a pair of pass-catchers earlier today, the team has now added an offensive lineman. The team announced that they’ve signed veteran offensive lineman Billy Price.
[RELATED: Saints Sign WRs Keke Coutee, Lynn Bowden]
Price was a first-round pick by the Bengals back in 2018. The lineman missed a chunk of his rookie season due to a foot injury, but he otherwise started all 10 of his appearances. After that, he found himself in and out of Cincy’s lineup. Price started 10 of his 16 appearances during the 2019 campaign, and he started only one of his 16 games in 2020 (while appearing in a career-low 207 offensive snaps).
The lineman had his fifth-year option declined before getting dealt to the Giants for the 2021 season. He started 15 of his 16 appearances in New York, but he still had to settle for a practice squad gig with the Raiders to begin the 2022 campaign. He eventually caught on with the Cardinals and proceeded to start all 11 of his appearances for his new squad. Pro Football Focus didn’t love his performance in Arizona, grading him as the 35th center among 36 qualified players.
Price didn’t grade much better at his previous stops, but he’ll still provide New Orleans with some experience at the position. Per Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com (via Twitter), the Saints have been hunting around for some reinforcement at center. Erik McCoy has a firm hold of the starting center gig, but the lineman has missed nine games over the past two seasons. If McCoy goes down again (and if the team hopes to keep Cesar Ruiz permanently at guard), then they’d be looking at UDFA Alex Pihlstrom as their only option at center.
Earlier today, the team added Keke Coutee and Lynn Bowden to their squad. The team also cut wideout Malik Flowers, running backSaRodorick Thompson, and offensive lineman Yasir Durant.
Bears Sign Gervon Dexter, Tyrique Stevenson, Complete Rookie Signings
The Bears have signed both of their second-round picks. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports (via Twitter) that Chicago has signed defensive tackle Gervon Dexter and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson. With these two signings, the Bears have officially inked their entire draft class to rookie contracts.
The Bears selected Dexter with the No. 53 pick, acquired in the team’s haul for Roquan Smith. After playing sparingly in 2020, the defensive tackle took on a bigger role at Florida during the 2021 and 2022 campaigns. In 26 games between those two seasons, Dexter compiled 105 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. Scouts were wary of his so-so pass-rushing ability and lack of speed, but Chicago was still plenty intrigued in the prospect’s six-foot-six, 310-pound makeup.
Justin Jones will be back in 2023 after starting all 17 games for Chicago last season, and the team added nose tackles Andrew Billings and third-round rookie Zacch Pickens. Dexter will surely be used as a rotational piece at both DT and NT, but the Bears will have the luxury of bringing him along slowly considering their depth in the middle of the defensive line.
Chicago ended up trading up with their other second-round pick to select Stevenson. The defensive back earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2022 after defending seven passes and picking off a pair of passes in 11 games for Miami (FL). The prospect has the size to be a top cornerback in the NFL, and he’ll probably get the first shot at the starting gig opposite Jaylon Johnson.
The Bears were one of the most active teams during and leading up to the NFL Draft, highlighted by their trade of the first-overall pick. When all was said and done, the team ended up selecting 10 rookies:
- Round 1, No. 10 (from Saints through Eagles): Darnell Wright, OT (Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 53 (from Ravens): Gervon Dexter, DT (Florida)
- Round 2, No. 56 (from Jaguars): Tyrique Stevenson, CB (Miami)
- Round 3, No. 64: Zacch Pickens, DT (South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 115 (from Saints): Roschon Johnson, RB (Texas) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 133 (from Eagles): Tyler Scott, WR (Cincinnati) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 148 (from Patriots through Ravens): Noah Sewell, LB (Oregon) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 165 (from Saints through Eagles): Terell Smith, CB (Minnesota) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 218: Travis Bell, DT (Kennesaw State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 258: Kendall Williamson, S (Stanford) (signed)