Drake Maye, Jacoby Brissett To Compete For Patriots’ QB1 Job
Even before the Patriots pulled the trigger on Drake Maye with the third-overall pick, it was assumed that free agent acquisition Jacoby Brissett would keep the seat warm for most (if not all) of the 2024 campaign. However, it sounds like the organization is willing to give their rookie quarterback every chance to compete for the starting job.
[RELATED: Patriots Select QB Drake Maye At No. 3]
While speaking with reporters this week, head coach Jerod Mayo acknowledged that the team hasn’t made a decision on their Week 1 quarterback starter.
“Look, Jacoby understands, he’s a mentor,” Mayo said (via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe). “He’s very smart, has great leadership skills, and hopefully Drake can learn something from him, as well. I would say we’re going to compete all spring, we’re going to compete during training camp, and the best player will start.”
After moving on from three-year starter Mac Jones, the Patriots scooped up old friend Brissett via free agency. The veteran would never be confused with a top-end quarterback, leading many to rightfully assume that the organization was going to select a QB at No. 3.
However, Brissett has shown that he can be competent when given the opportunity to start; he went 7-8 as a full-time starter for the Colts in 2019, and he’s since gone 6-10 in stints with the Dolphins and Browns. Considering that performance as a fill-in, Brissett has earned a reputation as one of the league’s premier backup QBs.
As Wolfe notes, many scouts were critical of Maye’s “inconsistency in accuracy and overall NFL readiness,” leading many to believe that the veteran would be the QB1 until his younger teammate was ready to go. That could still end up being the case, especially considering Brissett’s former Cleveland OC Alex Van Pelt is now leading the Patriots offense. But following New England’s worst showing in decades, there’s a chance that Robert Kraft and co. want to generate some enthusiasm with their squad, resulting in Maye leading the depth chart.
The Patriots found themselves in a similar situation back in 2021. That season, Jones was expected to temporarily take a back seat to 2020 starter Cam Newton, but the rookie ended up winning the job in the preseason. While Brissett will surely be sticking around regardless of this current outcome (Newton was ultimately cut), there’s a chance the Patriots immediately start their first-round QB for the second time in a post-Tom Brady era.
Raiders Add 17 UDFAs
After adding eight rookies via the draft, the Raiders are continuing to add young players to their roster. The team announced that they’ve signed 17 undrafted free agents:
- Carter Bradley, QB (South Alabama)
- Clark Barrington, G (Baylor)
- Andrew Coker, OT (TCU)
- Jeff Foreman, WR (Arkansas State)
- Tomari Fox, DT (North Carolina)
- TJ Franklin, DE (Baylor)
- Amari Gainer, DE (North Carolina)
- Demarcus Governor, CB (Northern Iowa)
- Lideatrick Griffin, WR (Mississippi State)
- Jake Johanning, G (Furman)
- Ramel Keyton, WR (Tennessee)
- Will Putnam, C (Clemson)
- Phalen Sanford, S (Nebraska)
- Noah Shannon, DT (Iowa)
- Ja’Quan Sheppard, CB (Maryland)
- Ron Stone, DE (Washington State)
- Rayshad Williams, CB (Texas Tech)
Carter Bradley is one of the most notable names on the list, as the QB tossed 47 touchdowns for South Alabama between 2022 and 2023. The Raiders needed to pay up to add the rookie to their roster. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Bradley will earn a $25K signing bonus plus $100K in guaranteed base salary. The front office also gave significant chunks of cash to two undrafted offensive linemen. Furman guard Jake Johanning got a $25K signing bonus and $75K of his base salary guaranteed (via Wilson) while TCU tackle Andrew Coker got a $20K signing bonus and $75K of his salary guaranteed (via Wilson).
On defense, the Raiders gave Ron Stone a $20K signing bonus and $150K in guaranteed base salary (per Wilson). The Washington State product wrapped up his college career with a 2023 campaign where he compiled five sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, Maryland cornerback Ja’Quan Sheppard got a $25K signing bonus and a whopping $205K of his base salary guaranteed (via Wilson). Sheppard finished his lone season with the Terrapins with 31 tackles and eight passes defended.
Seahawks Sign 16 UDFAs
The Seahawks front office has had a busy week. In addition to signing first-round defensive tackle Byron Murphy to his rookie contract, the organization has added 16 undrafted rookies to the roster:
- Sunny Anderson, LB (Grambling State)
- Nelson Ceaser, DL (Houston)
- Chevan Cordeiro, QB (San Jose State)
- Easton Gibbs, LB (Wyoming)
- Garret Greenfield, OT (South Dakota State)
- Hayden Hatten, WR (Idaho)
- George Holani, RB (Boise State)
- Carlton Johnson, CB (Fresno State)
- DeVere Levelston, DE (SMU)
- Kobe Lewis, RB (Florida Atlantic)
- Mike Novitsky, C (Kansas)
- Ro Torrence, CB (Arizona State)
- Jack Westover, TE (Washington)
- Dee Williams, WR (Tennessee)
- Rason Williams II, LB (Louisiana Tech)
- TaMerik Williams, RB (North Dakota State)
A handful of Seattle’s UDFAs earned notable bonuses. After compiling 2,993 yards and 21 touchdowns at Boise State over the past three years, running back George Holani got a $15K signing bonus and $100K of his base salary guaranteed, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Elsewhere on offense, Jack Westover earned a $25K signing bonus and $50K guaranteed on his salary, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. The Washington tight end was a productive member of the offense over the past two years, hauling in 77 catches for 775 yards and five touchdowns. South Dakota State offensive lineman Garret Greenfield got the most guaranteed money of the bunch. Wilson notes that the rookie got $195K in guaranteed money, including a $20K signing bonus.
On the other side of the ball, the Seahawks paid of a pair of undrafted defensive linemen. After collecting 17 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss in three seasons at Houston, Nelson Ceaser got $110K guaranteed, including a $10K signing bonus, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson. Grambling State’s Sunny Anderson got the same guarantees to catch on with Seattle, per Wilson.
Chargers Sign WR DJ Chark
DJ Chark is catching on with his fourth team in four years. The free agent wideout has agreed to a deal with the Chargers, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Chark will be signing a one-year deal worth up to $5MM, per Rapoport. The veteran wide receiver visited the organization prior to the draft.
The former second-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jaguars, including a 2019 campaign where he compiled 1,008 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. He couldn’t put up the same volume in 2020, and he hit free agency following an injury-riddled 2021 campaign.
Still, Chark managed to garner a $10MM contract from the Lions that offseason, and he bounced back with 30 catches for 502 yards in 2022. He got a one-year, $5MM deal with the Panthers last offseason and put up similar numbers, finishing with 35 catches for 525 yards and five scores.
After moving on from both Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason, the Chargers have been connected to several of the remaining veteran WRs on the market. In addition to Chark, the team also expressed interest in Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Considering the team’s depth chart, this latest move shouldn’t take them out of the running for further reinforcement.
The team’s current receivers room is led by 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston, and the team is still rostering Josh Palmer. The organization recently used a second-round pick on Ladd McConkey, and they also added rookies Brenden Rice and Cornelius Johnson in the seventh round (along with three UDFAs at the position). That makes Los Angeles a solid landing spot for Chark, who could improve his market value receiving passes from Justin Herbert. The free agent acquisition should also have a bit of a head start with the offense, as he played under current Chargers WRs coach (and former Jaguars WRs coach) Sanjay Lal when the two were in Jacksonville.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/2/24
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Deemed international roster exemption: LB David Ojabo
Minnesota Vikings
- Invited to rookie minicamp: TE Sammis Reyes
The Ravens carved out an extra roster spot after having been granted an international roster exemption for linebacker David Ojabo. The NFL allows teams to carry an extra international player on their roster as long as the individual “is a person whose citizenship and principal place of residence are outside the United States and Canada” and has “a maximum of two years of United States high school experience.”
Normally, this is reserved for undrafted players, with many of those players entering the league via the NFL International Pathway Program. However, the Ravens got creative with Ojabo, who is a former second-round pick. The linebacker was born in Nigeria and grew up in the United Kingdom, and he only came to the United States when he was 17. The Michigan product’s NFL career has been highlighted by injuries, with Ojabo being limited to only five appearances through two seasons in Baltimore.
The move allows the Ravens to now carry 91 players on their offseason roster.
Rams Sign 16 UDFAs
The Rams had a number of late-round picks last weekend, with the organization adding six rookies on the final day of the draft. The team has added even more young depth to the roster, as the organization announced the signing of 16 undrafted free agents:
- Justin Dedich, OL (USC)
- Anthony Goodlow, DE (Oklahoma State)
- Neal Johnson, TE (Louisiana)
- JJ Laap, WR (Cortland)
- Cam Lampkin, DB (Washington State)
- Blake Larson, OL (Augustana)
- Tuli Letuligasenoa, DL (Washington)
- Kenny Logan Jr., DB (Kansas)
- Jaylen McCollough, DB (Tennessee)
- Elias Neal, LB (Marshall)
- David Olajiga, DL (Central Missouri)
- Omar Speights, LB (LSU)
- Drake Stoops, WR (Oklahoma)
- Josh Wallace, DB (Michigan)
- Sam Wiglusz, WR (Ohio)
- Charles Woods, DB (SMU)
After adding one wide receiver in the draft (Jordan Whittington in the sixth), the Rams have added three more rookies at the position. JJ Laap had a standout career at DIII Cortland, finishing with more than 3,000 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns. Drake Stoops didn’t truly break out until this past season at Oklahoma, when he basically doubled his career stats by finishing with 84 catches for 962 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sam Wiglusz put himself on the NFL radar after transferring from Ohio State to Ohio in 2022. In two seasons with the Bobcats, Wiglusz hauled in 129 catches for 1,537 yards and 14 touchdowns.
After drafting one defensive back in the draft (Kamren Kinchens in the third round), the team added five more rookies to the secondary via free agency. Jaylen McCollough had a strong five-year career at Tennessee, including a 2023 campaign where he 58 tackles and three interceptions. Kenny Logan Jr. also spent his entire college career at one school, collecting 383 tackles and six interceptions in 59 games at Kansas.
Saints Sign 16 UDFAs
After adding seven rookies in last weekend’s draft, the Saints have added a long list of undrafted free agents to their roster. The team announced the signing of 16 UDFAs:
- Kyler Baugh, DT (Minnesota)
- Millard Bradford, S (TCU)
- Matthew Hayball, P (Vanderbilt)
- Sincere Haynesworth, C (Tulane)
- Kyle Hergel, G (Boston College)
- Dallin Holker, TE (Colorado State)
- Jermaine Jackson, WR (Idaho)
- Trajan Jeffcoat, DE (Arkansas)
- Lawrence Johnson, DB (SE Missouri St.)
- Jacob Kibodi, RB (LA Lafayette)
- Nate Latu, DE (Oklahoma State)
- Nouri Nouili, G (Nebraska)
- Rico Payton, CB (Pittsburgh State)
- Kyle Sheets, WR (Slippery Rock)
- Isaiah Stalbird, LB (South Dakota State)
- Mason Tipton, WR (Yale)
Jermaine Jackson got $160K in guaranteed money to catch on with the Saints, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. After finishing the 2022 campaign with more than 1,000 receiving yards, the Idaho product was limited to only 593 yards in 2023. However, he took on a larger special teams role, returning 18 kickoffs and 18 punts (including two punt returns for touchdowns). He’ll join a rookie receiver class that also includes fifth-round pick Bub Means and UDFA Kyle Sheets.
Isaiah Stalbird also got a significant payment from the Saints. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reports that the linebacker got a $10K signing bonus plus $100K in guaranteed salary. The SDSU standout finished his college career with 80 tackles, three sacks, and five pass breakups in 2023, and he also drew the eye of scouts during his Pro Day (which likely explains the lofty guarantees). The Saints used a fifth-round pick on Texas LB Jaylan Ford.
Jakeem Grant Attending Eagles Rookie Minicamp
After sitting out the past two seasons due to injury, Jakeem Grant will be looking to resume his career in Philadelphia. The former All-Pro special teamer will be attending the Eagles rookie minicamp, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston.
It wasn’t too long ago that Grant was one of the league’s top returnmen. He earned his first All-Pro nod in 2020 after returning 29 punts for 330 yards and one touchdown for the Dolphins. That season also coincided with his best offensive showing, as the part-time wideout finished the year with career-highs in receptions (36) and receiving yards (373).
He earned another All-Pro spot in 2021 after splitting the season between Miami and Chicago. He finished the year with another 300-plus punt return yards and a touchdown, and he also set a career-high with 539 kick return yards. In total, Grant has scored six career special teams tackles (four on punts, two on kicks), and he’s returned 119 punts and 110 kickoffs.
Grant signed a three-year, $14MM deal with the Browns prior to the 2022 campaign, but he didn’t end up getting into a single game with his new squad. An Achilles tear ended his 2022 season before it began, and a ruptured patella tendon wiped out his 2023 campaign.
Now, he’ll be hoping to restart his career in Philly. Second-round cornerback Cooper DeJean and fifth-round wideout Ainias Smith are assumed contenders for return spots with the Eagles. The team is also rostering veteran Parris Campbell, who returned eight kickoffs for the Giants last season. Grant will hope to parlay his minicamp appearance into a real contract, and he would then compete with that trio in training camp.
Saints Decline Payton Turner’s Fifth-Year Option
As expected, the Saints won’t be committing to Payton Turner beyond the 2024 campaign. According to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, the Saints have declined the defensive lineman’s fifth-year option.
Today was the deadline to pick up the fifth-year option on 2021 first-round picks. That commitment would have locked Turner into a $13.39MM salary for the 2025 campaign. Instead, the defensive lineman will hit free agency following the 2024 season.
Things obviously haven’t gone as planned for Turner in New Orleans, with the Houston product being limited to only 15 games across three seasons. He was limited to only five games as a rookie thanks to a shoulder injury, but he managed to stay relatively healthy during his sophomore campaign. That season, Turner found himself in and out of the lineup, finishing the season with 16 tackles and a pair of sacks in eight games.
This past season, the defensive lineman landed on injured reserve after suffering a turf toe injury in Week 1. He didn’t return until January, and he ended his third NFL season with only two appearances.
With the Saints pairing free agent acquisition Chase Young with long-time Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan, Turner doesn’t have a clear path to playing time in 2024. There’s a chance the Saints look to save $2.3MM against the cap and let the former first-round pick pursue a fresh start elsewhere.
Bills To Sign LB Deion Jones
The Bills are adding a former Pro Bowler to their defense. The team is signing linebacker Deion Jones, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It will be a one-year deal for the 29-year-old defender.
Jones most recently got into 13 games (three starts) with the Panthers during the 2023 campaign. He finished the season with a career-low 35 tackles while appearing in less than half of his team’s defensive snaps. However, Pro Football Focus still believes he has something left in the tank, grading the veteran 42nd among 82 qualifying linebackers.
Jones struggled during his final few seasons in Atlanta and half-season showing in Cleveland, but he was once one of the Falcons’ most dependable defenders. The former second-round pick averaged more than 100 tackles per season between 2016 and 2021, and that includes a 2018 season where he was limited to only six games and 53 stops. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2017 after finishing with 138 tackles and three interceptions.
With former linebackers coach Bobby Babich earning a promotion to defensive coordinator, Al Holcomb will take over the LB role. He’ll be eyeing a depth chart led by Terrel Bernard and Matt Milano, who was limited to five games last season thanks to a fractured leg. Milano’s fill-in, Tyrel Dodson, is gone, but backup Dorian Williams will still be around in 2024, and the Bills added fifth-round linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio last weekend. Jones will likely be competing with Williams and Ulofoshio for those backup reps.