Chiefs, OT Orlando Brown Jr. Not Close On Long-Term Deal
The Chiefs only have a few more days to extend offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr., but it sounds like a deal won’t materialize before Friday’s deadline. Brown’s camp told NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (Twitter link) that the sides are nowhere close to a new deal and the player won’t sign an extension “just to do a deal.” Garafolo warns that Brown could miss training camp and even the start of the regular season.
Ever since the Chiefs slapped the offensive lineman with a $16.7MM franchise tag, we’ve heard that the player was seeking a new deal that would make him the NFL’s highest-paid offensive lineman. According to Garafolo, the Chiefs are willing to pay Brown money that would top the right tackle market but not the top of the OL/LT market. Of course, Brown asked for a trade out of Baltimore because of his desire to play left tackle. The Chiefs ended up acquiring him and letting him play his preferred position, so it’s certainly notable that the front office is turning to RT values during negotiations.
The difference in the salaries is significant. Left tackles like Trent Williams, David Bakhtiari and Laremy Tunsil all top $22MM per season. The three highest-paid right tackles (Ryan Ramczyk, Brian O’Neill, Lane Johnson) average a bit more than $18.5MM per season.
Brown hasn’t inked his franchise tender, so he won’t be fined for missing any training camp time. That provides the lineman’s camp with some leverage assuming they truly plan to stage a holdout. As our own Sam Robinson recently pointed out, the Chiefs have just one O-lineman, Joe Thuney, signed to a notable veteran deal, so it would seem the franchise is prepared to give Brown a big-ticket extension. It’ll be interesting to see if the Chiefs front office plays hard ball or extends their budget as they look to focus in on the upcoming campaign.
The two sides have sounded optimistic about a long-term deal throughout the offseason, and the Chiefs have made it clear that they valued Brown as a long-term option during their 2021 OL overhaul. We may have received some hints about a potential holdout earlier this offseason; when asked about the AFC West arrivals of Chandler Jones, Khalil Mack and Randy Gregory, Brown said it is “not the year to go into the season with a backup left tackle.”
The former third-round pick quickly transformed into a starter for the Ravens, and he established himself as a Pro Bowl right tackle in both 2019 and 2020. Last offseason, he was traded (along with a second- and sixth-round pick) to the Chiefs for a first-round selection. During his first season in Kansas City, Brown earned another Pro Bowl selection while appearing in 100 percent of his team’s offensive snaps. Pro Football Focus ranked Brown 28th among 83 qualifying offensive tackles.
Latest On Giants WR Kadarius Toney
Despite whispers that the Giants could consider moving Kadarius Toney, it sounds like the receiver is set to start for the Giants next season. According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, Toney and Kenny Golladay are the “clear front-runners” to start at outside wide receiver next season.
[RELATED: Giants GM: Kadarius Toney Not Being Shopped]
Without context, this isn’t overly surprising news. Toney was a first-round pick in last year’s draft, and teams rarely bail on investments like that so quickly. Plus, the receiver actually showed flashes when he was on the field, finishing the campaign with 39 receptions for 420 yards (although a large portion of that production came in a standout 10-reception, 189-yard game against the Cowboys).
However, injuries have already turned into a concern for the young receiver. Toney was limited during his first training camp because of hamstring injuries, and ankle, oblique and quadriceps injuries limited him to only 10 games as a rookie. The wideout also had offseason arthroscopic knee surgery, although the operation isn’t expected to sideline him for training camp.
Further, Toney was continually in the news last season, stemming from on-the-field issues (like the time he wore the wrong cleats or time he was tossed from practice for throwing a punch) or off-the-field issues (like “a lack of playbook study” or “poor meeting behavior”). With a new regime leading the way, there were rumors that the Giants were looking to move on from the wideout, especially following the selection of second-round slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. GM Joe Schoen publicly said that he wasn’t shopping Toney, but reports indicated that the front office was at least listening to offers.
Since Toney has stuck around this long, it seems pretty clear that the receiver will be on the Giants for at least the 2022 campaign. Assuming all goes right, he should be able to hold off competition from the likes of Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton for reps.
Latest On Giants OT Andrew Thomas
Giants offensive lineman Andrew Thomas still hasn’t fully recovered from his offseason ankle injury. During an appearance on the Giants Huddle podcast, Thomas admitted that he’s still not 100 percent but intends to be on the field for the start of training camp.
[RELATED: Giants’ Andrew Thomas Had Offseason Ankle Surgery]
“Rehab is coming along pretty well. I’m doing everything the trainers ask me to do,” Thomas said (via Matt Citak of the team’s website). “Definitely moving a lot better and I’m prepared to be ready for training camp.
“It’s definitely frustrating, but it’s part of the business, learning how to navigate being injured because you’re never going to feel 100 percent. But I felt like last year I started to make some strides. It’s a little frustrating sometimes when you can’t be on the field with your teammates.”
While Thomas didn’t miss any time during his rookie year, he dealt with an ankle injury throughout the campaign. The nagging injury ended up carrying into the 2021 season and ultimately cost the lineman four games due to a stint on the injured reserve.
The fourth-overall pick in the 2020 draft, Thomas disappointed a bit during his rookie campaign, allowing 10 sacks in 16 games. He reduced that number to only two sacks allowed while starting each of his 13 appearances in 2021. Thomas ranked 19th on Pro Football Focus’ list of 83 qualifying offensive tackles last year, and he earned particularly high scores for his pass-blocking ability.
The Giants did some work on their offensive line this offseason. They brought in veterans Mark Glowinski and Jon Feliciano, and they later added tackle Evan Neal with the seventh-overall pick. That trio will likely start alongside Thomas, who is expected to slide in at left tackle.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/11/22
Today’s minor moves:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: CB Stanford Samuels III
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on reserve/retired list: DT Daniel Archibong
Samuels, a 2020 UDFA, spent much of his rookie campaign in the Packers organization. He ended up getting into a pair of games for Green Bay, seeing most of his time on special teams. He had a brief stint on the Bears practice squad in 2021 before joining the Raiders this offseason.
Archibong joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent last offseason. The Temple product eventually made his way to the Steelers organization, and he ended up collecting a pair of tackles in two games. He saw time on 13 defensive snaps and six special teams snaps during the 2021 campaign.
Vikings OL Oli Udoh On Roster Bubble?
Oli Udoh started 16 games for the Vikings last season, but the offensive lineman may be fighting for his job. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert mentions Udoh as a player who’s firmly on the Vikings roster bubble.
Udoh was a sixth-round pick by the Vikings in 2019. After appearing in only seven games through his first two seasons in the NFL, he started 16 of his 17 appearances in 2021 at guard. He also got in 94 percent of his team’s offensive snaps.
While he saw an increased role, the lineman didn’t necessarily do the most with his opportunity. He tied for the league lead in penalties, and Pro Football Focus ranked him 65th among 82 qualifying offensive guards. He was particularly bad in pass-blocking situations, so the Vikings were fortunate to limit Kirk Cousins to only 28 sacks.
With a new coaching staff, Udoh will have to once again prove his worth, but he’ll have an uphill battle. Free agent addition Jesse Davis was getting most of the reps at right guard during minicamp, per Seifert. The Vikings also used a second-round pick on guard Ed Ingram. Udoh does have the ability to play tackle, so his versatility could help him stick around as a backup lineman. However, if the organization decides to roster someone else, the Vikings could easily move off Udoh and his $1MM cap hit.
Latest On Ravens DL Michael Pierce
Michael Pierce is back in Baltimore. While he still hasn’t been seen on the practice field, it sounds like the veteran defensive lineman will be back for the start of training camp. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic writes that the Ravens expect Pierce to be at the first day of training camp.
Pierce was a no-show during Ravens minicamp. John Harbaugh was quick to dismiss the notion that the absence was injury-related, stating that Pierce wasn’t participating because of a personal issue.
“He’s healthy, he’s good; it’s just a personal matter with his family, and that’s what it is,” Harbaugh said last month (via the team’s website).
As Zrebiec writes, there was “obviously some concern” about the player’s lack of offseason participation “given Pierce’s past injury and weight issues.” However, having played for Harbaugh, the 29-year-old should be familiar with the team’s conditioning test, so it’s really on Pierce to just come into training camp in shape.
The former undrafted free agent spent the first four seasons of his career with the Ravens, starting 30 of his 60 games. He signed a three-year, $27MM deal with the Vikings in 2020, but Minnesota only got eight starts out of him. Pierce opted out of the 2020 campaign, and an elbow injury forced him to miss the middle chunk of the 2021 season. Still, he was productive during his brief time on the field with the Vikings, collecting 20 tackles and three sacks, and that performance helped him earn a new three-year, $16.5MM pact from Baltimore.
After moving on from the likes of Brandon Williams, Justin Ellis, and Derek Wolfe, the Ravens will be relying on Pierce to provide some much-needed depth on the defensive line. Third-round rookie Travis Jones could see some increased reps at camp if Pierce isn’t ready to go.
Latest On Bengals S Jessie Bates
The deadline for franchise players to sign multiyear contracts is less than a week away, and it doesn’t sound like a resolution is coming between the Bengals and safety Jessie Bates. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (and passed along by Grant Gordon of NFL.com), a positive outcome between the two sides “appears bleak at the moment.”
Garafolo can’t envision Bates attending Bengals training camp without a new deal. The safety was also absent during OTAs as the two sides tried to hammer out a deal, but back in May, we heard that negotiations had stalled. Bates was slapped with the franchise tag earlier this offseason, locking him in to a $12.9MM salary for the 2022 campaign. However, the safety made it clear that he has no intention of playing the upcoming season under the franchise tag as he pursues a long-term, top-of-market deal.
As Joel Corry of CBS Sports writes, there’s a good chance that the Bengals are citing Marcus Williams‘ $14MM AAV that he got from the Ravens via a five-year deal this offseason. However, Bates’ camp is likely pursuing a deal closer to Jamal Adams‘ contract with the Seahawks, which averages $17.5MM per year and could be worth up to $18MM per year. There’s also Minkah Fitzpatrick‘s deal with the Steelers that exceeded that $18MM AAV mark but is only half guaranteed. Garafolo opines that the Bengals will be unwilling to pay that much for their safety, meaning there’s at least a $4MM or $5MM annual difference in opinions.
The 25-year-old was the subject of contract talks last offseason, but negotiations stalled. Bates had established himself as an integral part of the Bengals’ defense to that point, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2020. The regular season this past year was his worst statistically, though he notched a pair of interceptions during the team’s run to the Super Bowl.
Jets Sign Fourth-Round OL Max Mitchell
The Jets moved one step closer to completing the signing of their draft class. The team announced that they’ve signed fourth-round offensive lineman Max Mitchell.
Mitchell was a four-year starter at Louisiana. He showed plenty of versatility during his time in college, playing both tackle positions and left guard. 29 of his 37 starts over the past three years came at right tackle, and his performance at that position earned him All-Sun Belt Conference honors in both 2020 (second team) and 2021 (first team). Thanks to his production, the Jets used the No. 111 pick to select the rookie.
George Fant and Mekhi Becton will be locked in at the two tackle spots, while Laken Tomlinson and Alijah Vera-Tucker are expected to serve as the Jets guards. As a result, Mitchell will likely find himself on the bench during his rookie season, but his versatility means he could himself with a somewhat consistent role as a backup.
“We feel like Max can be a versatile piece on our offensive line,” said general manager Joe Douglas (via Jack Bell of the team’s website). “The guy was at the Senior Bowl. He’s very competitive. He’s been practicing at tackle and guard and snapping the ball at center. We feel like he could be another versatile piece to put on the offensive line.”
With this signing, the Jets have now inked six of their seven rookies to contracts. The only draft pick who remains unsigned is second-round running back Breece Hall.
Bears WR David Moore Arrested
Bears wide receiver David Moore was arrested early Monday morning in Gainesville, Texas, according to ESPN’s David Newton. Moore was arrested on drug and weapon charges.
According to the Gainesville Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call about a “possible intoxicated person” asleep in a car that was parked in a Taco Bell drive-thru. When officers arrived, they found Moore at the wheel, with the report noting that the individual smelled of marijuana. Officers later found THC edible candies and three pistols inside the car, leading to Moore’s arrest for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carrying of weapons.
Moore had a productive stint in Seattle, collecting 1,254 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns between the 2018 and 2020 seasons. He split the 2021 season between Denver and Green Bay, seeing time in only three games. He joined the Bears on a one-year deal this offseason, and while he could compete for a role on offense, he’s likely heading toward a special teams gig.
As Newton points out, Moore is the third Bears player to get arrested this offseason. Back in April, wideout Byron Pringle was arrested for reckless driving without a license, and two weeks ago, linebacker Matt Adams was arrested and charged with misdemeanor gun possession. Like Moore, both Pringle and Adams joined the organization this offseason.
Panthers QB Transactions Since 2020
It’s been two years since the Panthers moved on from Cam Newton, and the organization’s QB room has seen plenty of change in that short amount of time. Besides the financial commitments 
to free agent additions like Teddy Bridgewater and Newton (for a second stint), the Panthers have also invested plenty of draft capital into the position. Over the past 15 months, the organization has effectively used a second-round pick, third-round pick, fourth-round pick, fifth-round pick, and sixth-round pick to construct their current depth chart of Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Matt Corral.
Of course, the Panthers have rostered plenty of additional signal-callers since settling on their current trio. Over the past two years, the Panthers have started four different QBs, and 13 different quarterbacks have made their way through the organization (either via the active roster or practice squad). These 13 different QBs have accounted for 18 different transactions over the past 28 months.
We went back to the 2020 offseason and listed all of the Panthers QB transactions below:
March 10, 2020
- Signed Kyle Allen to a one-year contract
Allen inked a one-year pact with the Panthers to avoid ERFA.
March 17, 2020
- Signed Teddy Bridgewater to a three-year contract
March 23, 2020
- Signed P.J. Walker to a two-year contract
- Traded Kyle Allen to Washington for a 2020 fifth-round pick
March 24, 2020
- Released Cam Newton
April 5, 2021
- Acquired Sam Darnold from Jets for 2022 second-round pick, 2022 fourth-round pick, 2021 sixth-round pick
April 28, 2021
- Traded Teddy Bridgewater to Broncos for 2021 sixth-round pick
April 30, 2021
- Picked up Sam Darnold‘s fifth-year option
August 31, 2021
- Waived Will Grier
Grier was a 2019 third-round pick by the Panthers.
September 2, 2021
- Signed James Morgan to practice squad
November 2, 2021
- Signed Josh Love to practice squad
November 9, 2021
- Signed Matt Barkley to active roster
Barkley was signed off the Titans practice squad.
November 11, 2021
- Signed Cam Newton to one-year contract
December 28, 2021
- Waived Matt Barkley
December 31, 2021
- Signed Jordan Ta’amu to practice squad
April 29, 2022
- Drafted Matt Corral in third round
May 1, 2022
- Signed Davis Cheek (UDFA)
July 6, 2022
- Acquired Baker Mayfield from Browns for 2024 fifth-round pick