Vikings CB Khyree Jackson Dies In Auto Accident
Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson has tragically passed away, according to James Crepea of the Oregonian. Jackson’s agent and former high school coach confirmed that the athlete died in an auto accident last night. Oregon head coach Dan Lanning has also confirmed the news. Jackson was 24.
The Vikings have announced Jackson’s passing.
“We are devastated by the news of Khyree Jackson’s death following an overnight car accident,” the team said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with Khyree’s family, friends, teammates and coaches, as well as all the victims of this tragic accident.”
“We are deeply saddened by the news of Khyree’s passing,” owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said in their own statement. “Khyree had an extremely bright future ahead of him as a player, and it was clear he was dedicated to being a tremendous person who made a positive difference in people’s lives. We are thinking about Khyree’s family and friends and all members of the Minnesota Vikings following this devastating loss.”
The auto accident happened at 3:14am this morning in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, which is Jackson’s hometown. According to a Maryland State Police news release (h/t Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post), Jackson was the front passenger in a Dodge Charger involved in the crash. The investigation indicated that another car was attempting to change lanes before striking the car that Jackson was traveling in, forcing the Dodge Charger off the road where it struck multiple tree stumps. All three passengers riding in the Dodge Charger have died. Investigators believes “alcohol may have been a contributing circumstance in the crash.”
After spending time with Fort Scott Community College and Alabama to begin his collegiate career, Jackson found his footing after transferring to Oregon for the 2023 campaign. The cornerback earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors this past season after finishing with 34 tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions, a performance that helped make him a fourth-round pick by the Vikings during April’s draft.
“[He has a] really aggressive mindset, [is a] play press man,” Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said following the draft (via the team’s website). “You know, really good insight we got from one of our former coaches … about the person and different things like that and how he would fit in. So just really excited to add him in with the mentality he can bring to that room.”
We here at PFR would like to extend our condolences to Jackson’s family, friends, and colleagues.
This Date In Transactions History: Patriots WR N’Keal Harry Requests Trade
On this date in 2021, one of the more egregious public trade requests crossed the Twitter/X timeline. Former Patriots first-round wideout N’Keal Harry asked out of New England on July 6, 2021.
“For the past several months, I have been working in cooperation with the Patriots behind the scenes to put a plan in place to allow N’Keal to thrive in New England,” Harry’s agent, Jamal Tooson, wrote in a statement. “Through two seasons, he has 86 targets, which obviously hasn’t met the expectations the Patriots and N’Keal had when they drafted a dominant downfield threat who was virtually unstoppable at the point of attack in college. Following numerous conversations with the Patriots, I believe it’s time for a fresh start and best for both parties if N’Keal moves on before the start of training camp. That is why I have informed the Patriots today I am formally requesting a trade on behalf of my client.”
While the agent’s statement was filled with hyperbole, he wasn’t entirely wrong about Harry’s collegiate production. The Arizona State product earned a pair of first-team All-Pac-12 honors after compiling 175 catches, 2,305 yards from scrimmage, and 18 touchdowns between the 2017 and 2018 seasons. That two-year performance helped put him firmly on the NFL map, and he was ultimately the second wideout off the board during the 2019 draft (behind Marquise Brown and ahead of the likes of Deebo Samuel and A.J. Brown, who were the next two receivers taken).
The Patriots broke their tradition by selecting Harry with the No. 32 pick. Bill Belichick had never selected a first-round WR during his time in New England, and Harry was the organization’s first Round 1 receiver since Terry Glenn in 1996. So, it goes without saying that expectations were high for Harry.
Unfortunately for both the player and the organization, those expectations were never met. Tom Brady often looked off rookie wideouts during his illustrious career, and Harry wasn’t an exception. Despite the Patriots offense being without Rob Gronkowski (retirement) and Josh Gordon (injury), Harry only finished the 2019 campaign with 12 catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Things got a bit better with Cam Newton under center for the 2020 season, but Harry still struggled to match his first-round pedigree. The wideout finished his sophomore season with 33 catches for 309 yards, with both marks still representing career-highs.
With two underwhelming seasons under his belt, Harry and his camp decided he’d be best served to rehabilitate his career elsewhere. Unsurprisingly, there weren’t any teams willing to give up significant draft capital to acquire the wideout, leading to rumors that the Patriots could just outright cut the impending third-year player. Instead, Harry ended up sticking on the roster, although a shoulder injury kept him off the field for the first month of the season. When he returned, he once again struggled to make a connection with his quarterback, a position that was now manned by rookie Mac Jones. Harry finished the 2021 season with 12 catches for 184 yards.
Naturally, the Patriots declined Harry’s fifth-year option during the 2022 offseason, and the team eventually honored the player’s trade request. Harry was ultimately traded to the Bears for a seventh-round pick (a selection they eventually used on tight end Jaheim Bell). Harry didn’t do a whole lot during his cameo in Chicago, finishing with only seven catches. He spent most of the 2023 campaign in Minnesota, going catchless in 23 offensive snaps. After inking a reserve/futures contract with the Vikings this offseason, it was revealed that the six-foot-four, 225-pound athlete will be attempting to make Minnesota’s roster as a tight end in 2024.
When Harry’s camp made the trade request on this date three years ago, it was hinted that the player’s landing spot was to blame for the lack of production. Really, everyone involved deserves some responsibility for the disappointing results. The Patriots should have done a better job assuring that Harry would be a fit with Brady and the technical New England offense, especially after the organization had struck out on so many young WRs over the years. On the flip side, Harry was hoping to simply capitalize on his physical talents, a factor that his college coach, Herm Edwards, confirmed when he noted that rookies need “to have work ethic” and have “to focus in on football.”
As the Patriots undergo another significant offensive change in 2024, it’s hard not to imagine how things would look if Harry actually worked out in New England.
WR Martavis Bryant Still Eyeing NFL Gig
Martavis Bryant isn’t planning to hang up his cleats. The wide receiver is still hoping to catch on with a team for the 2024 campaign, and the veteran believes he can still be productive if given the chance.
“I got a lot of football left,” Bryant told Queen City News (via Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com). “Still love the game, never stopped loving the game. I had to take some time to reflect on myself and get my situation straight off the field. I did that. I put in a lot of work. There’s still so much left I can do. I know I can contribute to somebody that wants to give me the opportunity.”
Bryant’s five-year banishment from the NFL came to an end last November when he was reinstated by the league. He subsequently caught on with the Cowboys practice squad, but he didn’t earn a promotion to the 53-man roster during the 2023 campaign. Despite signing a reserve/futures contract with Dallas at the beginning of the offseason, Bryant was squeezed off the offseason roster in May following the Cowboys’ acquisition of several rookie wideouts.
The receiver had a workout with the Commanders back in May, but no deal materialized. Bryant also told the Queen City News that he met with Panthers senior assistant Jim Caldwell at a recent event, but it’s uncertain if the two sides had significant talks about a deal.
The wideout quickly made a name for himself with the Steelers after being selected in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. He hauled in 14 touchdowns through his first two seasons in the NFL (plus another two playoff scores) before being sidelined for the entire 2016 campaign thanks to his second career suspension. He topped 600 yards following his return in 2017, but the Steelers quickly traded him off to the Raiders for a third-round pick.
He got into eight games with Oakland before being hit with his most-recent suspension in 2018. Between that initial suspension and his 2023 comeback attempt with the Cowboys, Bryant spent time in a handful of alternative leagues, including stints in the CFL and XFL. While Bryant has been staying active in recent years, there’s no hiding the fact that he hasn’t gotten into an NFL game since the 2018 campaign. With 2024 representing his age-33 season, Bryant’s hopes of an NFL return will soon run dry.
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill Seeking New Deal
Tyreek Hill reset the WR market a few years ago with a $30MM average annual value on his four-year pact. He’s recently been leaped by Justin Jefferson ($35MM), A.J. Brown ($32MM), and Amon-Ra St. Brown ($30.02MM), and teammate Jaylen Waddle earned more guaranteed money in his lucrative extension than Hill got in his Miami deal. With only a year’s worth of guaranteed money remaining on the veteran’s contract, Hill is naturally pushing for a revised contract.
[RELATED: Tyreek Hill Addresses Contract Situation]
In a conversation with Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Hill acknowledged that he’s looking for a new deal.
“I’m very excited to like just be a part of the old wave, which was $30 million, and Justin Jefferson came and surpassed that, man,” Hill said. “So, very proud of those guys, happy for obviously my teammate Waddle getting his new deal. For guys like me, that’s great. I’m 30 years old, also looking for a new deal. So, very, very excited to see where I fit into that category. It’s amazing.”
Hill is still playing on the four-year, $120MM contract he inked with the Dolphins in 2022. However, the 2024 campaign will mark the final year where Hill is connected to any guaranteed money. With a lofty $50MM-plus cap hit coming during the 2026 season (plus a potential out in the contract following the 2024 campaign), it would make sense for both sides to return to the negotiating table.
While Hill has put up incredible numbers since joining the Dolphins, he’ll be entering his age-30 season in 2024. That would probably make him hard pressed to approach Jefferson’s record AAV, although Hill once admitted that he’s never necessarily aspired to be the league’s highest-paid WR. That could lead to some common ground between the two sides, allowing Hill to lock in more guaranteed money and/or a higher AAV while the Dolphins can clean their books for 2025 and 2026.
Fortunately for the organization, it doesn’t sound like Hill is distracted by a potential pay raise. He told Wilson that his lone focus is to help the Dolphins get over the hump.
“Oh yeah, for sure, so very excited for it, man, but the real goal is to win the Super Bowl,” Hill said. “It’s cool to get paid and all that, but you know being able to win a Super Bowl and bring something special to the city of Miami, that’s something that can live with us forever. I believe that’s very monumental for all of us. Create greatness, man.”
Eyioma Uwazurike’s Potential Reinstatement Hits Snag
Broncos defensive lineman Eyioma Uwazurike is eligible to apply for reinstatement from his indefinite gambling suspension on July 24. However, Mike Klis of 9News in Denver passes along a wrinkle that may delay Uwazurike’s return.
The Colorado Department of Revenue is looking into whether Uwazurike violated any state gambling laws. While Klis notes that no charges have been filed, he does report that the state has teamed with Arapahoe County for a criminal investigation against Uwazurike. The Story County (Iowa) Attorney’s Office filed a criminal complaint against the athlete last year.
The Iowa State product made approximately 801 wagers in the years prior to his suspension, including bets that featured the Cyclones and the Broncos. Klis passes along that the initial gambling allegations from Iowa were “suppressed and dismissed,” with attorneys successfully arguing that the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation violated constitutional rights when using geolocation software to collect incriminating information.
That factor bodes well for Uwazurike’s chances of overcoming this latest investigation in Colorado. Attorney Harvey Steinberg told Klis that the state will have difficulties prosecuting the player following the Iowa dismissal.
“Iowa court suppressed all evidence seized, finding it was taken illegally,’’ Steinberg said. “That ruling is binding on the Colorado courts and the Colorado prosecutors. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to attempt to prosecute a case here when all the charges were dismissed in Iowa as result of that ruling.”
While Uwazurike may avoid legal consequences, it won’t necessarily speed up his return to the NFL. Per Klis, the NFL is “waiting until state and local authorities conclude their review” before considering reinstatement. So, while Uwazurike can apply for reinstatement in a few weeks, he may not be immediately granted his return. Players are set to attend Denver’s training camp on July 23, right before Uwazurike’s first potential day of reinstatement.
The Broncos used Uwazurike as a backup D-lineman in eight games in 2022; he got into 165 defensive snaps. Even with the lack of production, the organization (including coach Sean Payton, who didn’t even get to coach Uwazurike during the 2023 campaign) has continued to support the former fourth-round pick. A source told Klis that the 26-year-old “has shown contrition and a willingness to change” by attending therapy and gambler’s anonymous meetings. It sounds like Denver is at least willing to give him a chance to rehabilitate his career, even if it ends up with the defensive lineman temporarily landing on the practice squad.
Latest On Dolphins’ OT Depth
The Dolphins are hoping second-round pick Patrick Paul can eventually replace Pro Bowl offensive tackle Terron Armstead, but the rookie wasn’t expected to play a significant role in 2024. However, Adam H. Beasley of ProFootballNetwork.com believes Paul could quickly climb the depth chart and displace incumbent swing OT Kendall Lamm.
Lamm is entering his third year in Miami and is coming off a 2024 season where he got into 613 offensive snaps, the second-highest total of his career. With Armstead having missed 11 regular season games through his first two years in Miami, the team’s OT3 will surely be counted on at several points during the upcoming campaign.
At the moment, that would be Lamm, who is penciled in behind Armstead and Austin Jackson on the depth chart. But Beasley believes Paul “has a real chance” at jumping into that role for the 2024 campaign. On some teams, Paul might be in line for a starting role after establishing himself as one of the draft’s top OT prospects. The Houston product was first-team All-Big-12 in 2023 before being selected by the Dolphins with the No. 55 pick. The six-foot-seven, 331-pound lineman was obviously lauded for his size, but Dolphins OL coach Butch Barry recently noted that the rookie has displayed other elite skills.
“You can see that he’s got great length and great athleticism,” Barry told Beasley. “A guy that wants to learn, a guy that wants to be the best that he can be. I think that we have quality veterans that can really help in that…But he’s got so much upside for us to work with, and we just have to keep honing in.”
As the coach noted, Paul will lean on his veteran teammates throughout training camp. He’s already found a mentor in Armstead, who has been more than happy to help his newest teammate.
“I’ve had a short time with Patrick so far. I’ve seen some great things on the field, impressive for sure,” Armstead said. “Got a lot to learn, a lot of areas to improve in, but you see it — for sure, you see the potential. You see why he’s here. Smart young man, but any and everything that I can possibly give, show, say, see is going to be offered to him.”
Lamm doesn’t bring the same upside as his newest teammate, but he obviously provides more experience. The former UDFA has managed to stick around the NFL for nearly a decade, getting into 104 career games. The veteran inked a new one-year, $2.5MM deal with Miami this offseason, and the team could clear $900K if they decide to move on from the 32-year-old during training camp.
Extension Candidate: A.J. Terrell
A.J. Terrell has established himself as one of the league’s top young cornerbacks. The former first-round pick is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2024, meaning he’s eyeing a lucrative pay day within the next 12 months. There’s no question that the Falcons want to re-sign their star cornerback to a long-term pact, with Josh Kendall of The Athletic expecting the organization to sign their star defensive back to an extension “before the negotiations get tense.”
There is a question of how much an impending extension will cost. Terrell has undeniably set himself up for a sizable contract. The former 16th-overall pick has started all 61 of his appearances through four NFL seasons, including a sophomore campaign where he earned All-Pro honors. He finished that season ranked as Pro Football Focus’ second-best cornerback, with the Clemson product compiling 81 tackles, 16 passes defended, and three interceptions.
Since that 2021 campaign, Terrell has failed to pull in an interception, and he finished the 2022 season ranked only 62nd at his position. He rebounded this past year (24th among 127 qualifiers), but he still finished the season without a pick while collecting a career-low 45 tackles.
In other words, Terrell can justify being one of the league’s highest-paid cornerbacks, but probably not the highest-paid cornerback. From an average-annual-salary perspective, that honor currently belongs to Jaire Alexander, who is making $21MM per year. Kendall suggests the Falcons should push for a $17MM AAV, which would put Terrell ninth at his position (but well above No. 10, Carlton Davis, at $14.8MM).
Even a sub-$20MM AAV would be a win for the organization. Fellow 2020 draft picks Trevon Diggs, L’Jarius Sneed, and Jaylon Johnson have all come in between $19MM and $20MM with their respective extensions, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if Terrell is pushing for that range. The 2025 cornerback franchise tag is currently projected at $19.4MM (per OverTheCap.com), so that number could be a fair compromise between the two sides.
Terrell would headline the CB class if he somehow got to 2025 free agency. The non-first-round 2021 cornerbacks will also be hitting the market, a grouping that includes Tyson Campbell, Asante Samuel Jr., and Paulson Adebo. In the unlikely event that Terrell banks on a standout 2024 campaign (and succeeds), he could push for the Alexander/Denzel Ward/Jalen Ramsey tier at the position.
More likely, Terrell misses that mark but still signs a pricey extension with the Falcons. It sounds like the front office isn’t intending to drag out negotiations, which probably bodes well for Terrell’s chances of cracking the top-10 at his position. At the moment, the cornerback is attached to his $12.3MM fifth-year option, but he’ll likely add to that total before the 2024 campaign begins.
Latest On Future Of Chiefs’ Offensive Line
The Chiefs have gotten remarkable consistency from their interior OL over the past three seasons, but 2024 might mark the trio’s final season together in Kansas City. As Nate Taylor of The Athletic writes, there’s a chance that offensive guard Trey Smith may be entering his final season with the Chiefs.
This prediction says nothing of Smith’s production nor importance to the organization. Smith has graded out as one of Pro Football Focus’ top-15 offensive guards in each of his three NFL seasons, including a 2023 campaign where he ranked 10th among 79 qualifying players. The former sixth-round pick has also avoided injuries, appearing in 60 of 61 possible games between 2021 and 2023 (including playoffs).
So, Smith’s chances of sticking in Kansas City is more a reflection of his upcoming market value. If Smith has another healthy and productive season in 2024, he’ll be setting himself up to be one of the top free agents at his position. He’ll be joining the likes of Sam Cosmi, Quinn Meinerz, and Zack Martin. Robert Hunt joined Chris Lindstrom in the $20MM AAV club among guards this offseason, and there’s a chance Smith could join that grouping in 2025.
The Chiefs could try to squeeze Smith into their future budgets, but as Taylor notes, the team will have other pressing free agency issues. Center Creed Humphrey and linebacker Nick Bolton are also impending free agents, and Taylor suggests the organization may prioritize re-signing that duo over Smith.
Considering the impending free agencies of Smith and Humphrey, there’s a good chance the 2024 season marks the end of the team’s guard and center grouping. Smith, Humphrey, and guard Joe Thuney have been protecting Patrick Mahomes in the majority of his appearances since the 2021 campaign. Thuney is the only one who’s run into any injury issues, and even then, he’s only missed four total games (regular season and playoffs) over that span.
Browns Eyeing TE Depth?
The Browns could be on the lookout for tight end depth before the regular season. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com believes the Browns will keep an eye on tight ends who shake loose during the preseason, including both young options and veterans.
David Njoku will continue to lead the depth chart in 2024. Despite having to deal with Cleveland’s QB carousel last season, Njoku still finished the campaign with one of his strongest statistical seasons, collecting career-highs in receptions (81), receiving yards (882), and touchdowns (six). Njoku also led the position with seven drops, although Cabot attributes that stat to the team’s underwhelming QB play.
The team is also set to return backup Jordan Akins, who will be entering the final season of the two-year pact he inked in 2023. The former Texans third-round pick got into all 17 games during his first season in Cleveland, although he finished the campaign with career-low marks in receptions (15) and receiving yards (132). His familiarity with Deshaun Watson is a plus, but his 2023 performance means he isn’t entirely guaranteed to make the roster.
The team lacks experienced depth behind that duo. As Cabot notes, Kevin Stefanski and Ken Dorsey will still rely a bit on multiple tight-end sets, meaning the team could be eyeing an upgrade over the likes of Giovanni Ricci, Zaire Mitchell-Paden, Treyton Welch, and even Akins. Jimmy Graham and Geoff Swaim lead the remaining crop of free agents, but a number of tight ends will surely join that duo before the end of the summer.
2025 Salary Cap Projections For All 32 Teams
While a number of big-name veterans remain unsigned, 2024 free agency is effectively over. In addition to settling on 53-man rosters ahead of the 2024 campaign, NFL front offices will also use the next few months to sign their extension-eligible players to long-term pacts.
These extensions are obviously intended to keep players locked to their respective teams for the foreseeable future. However, these extensions can also help front offices clean their books as they prepare for future offseasons. With that in mind, here’s a look at where teams currently stand in regards to 2025 cap space (h/t to OverTheCap.com):
- New England Patriots $91.93MM
- Arizona Cardinals $77.42MM
- Washington Commanders $69.51MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers $67.98MM
- Dallas Cowboys $64.82MM
- Chicago Bears $58.81MM
- New York Jets $58.28MM
- Minnesota Vikings $54.52MM
- Green Bay Packers $47.45MM
- Detroit Lions $43.68MM
- Los Angeles Chargers $42.92MM
- Cincinnati Bengals $37.87MM
- Denver Broncos $34.35MM
- Los Angeles Rams $34.22MM
- Tennessee Titans $27.51MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars $27.36MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers $25.74MM
- Las Vegas Raiders $22.53MM
- New York Giants $17.15MM
- Carolina Panthers $16.42MM
- Indianapolis Colts $14.23MM
- Kansas City Chiefs $11.67MM
- Philadelphia Eagles $6.40MM
- Atlanta Falcons $130K
- Baltimore Ravens -$3.58MM
- Buffalo Bills -$3.71MM
- Houston Texans -$5.68MM
- Miami Dolphins -$9.36MM
- Seattle Seahawks -$20.48MM
- San Francisco 49ers -$38.91MM
- Cleveland Browns -$42.85MM
- New Orleans Saints -$88.15MM
The numbers above reflect “effective cap space,” meaning they account for the top-51 players and projected rookie classes. This list is based on a projected salary cap of $260MM.
It’s not a huge surprise to see the Patriots atop the list, as the organization is currently sitting with the most amount of cap room heading into the 2024 campaign. With hopeful franchise QB Drake Maye locked into an affordable rookie contract, the organization will surely be looking to capitalize on their cap flexibility. The Patriots were traditionally fiscally responsible under Bill Belichick‘s leadership, so it will be interesting to see how the organization proceeds with Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf now running the show. The Patriots aren’t far removed from a 2021 offseason where they spent a then-record $160MM in guaranteed money on free agents, so owner Robert Kraft certainly isn’t shy about opening the checkbook when the opportunity arises.
Some of these teams will surely see their totals dry up as they sign players to extensions. This is especially relevant for the Cowboys, who are eyeing lucrative extensions for Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Most of the team’s upcoming moves will likely be made with the Dak/CeeDee extensions in mind, and once those deals come to fruition, there’s a good chance the Cowboys end up falling towards the bottom of this list.
On the other side of the list, the Saints will be eyeing some significant cost-cutting moves heading into the 2025 offseason. The team could free up some significant space via extensions with Alvin Kamara and Taysom Hill, as the duo is currently slated to count for a combined $44.7MM against the cap in 2025. Marshon Lattimore‘s $31.4MM cap hit is another notable roadblock that will need to be resolved, although the organization has less flexibility when it comes to Derek Carr‘s impending 2025 cap hit of $51.4MM.