Broncos RB Javonte Williams Avoids PUP To Start Camp
JULY 27: Williams confirmed (via 9News’ Mike Klis) Thursday he has been cleared for contact work. The North Carolina alum said he was told his recovery timetable could last around a year. Instead, he has been cleared before the 10-month mark. Sean Payton said the team will proceed cautiously with Williams, who has two years remaining on his rookie contract.
JULY 23: The Broncos delivered some good news as they announced some injury list placements today, leaving third-year running back Javonte Williams off of any lists as he continues to work his way back from last year’s season-ending injury. While there’s still work to be done, Williams’s continued participation in this offseason points to a Week 1 return for Denver’s lead back. 
Williams suffered a blow to his sophomore season when he suffered a torn ACL after only four weeks of play last year, ending his season. The initial diagnosis was dire enough, but further reports detailed that Williams had also torn his LCL and posterior lateral corner, making his road to recovery a bit longer.
As Denver entered into the offseason, the goal became clear: get Williams back in time for training camp. Things were looking positive as Williams was on the field for spring activities. He only worked out in a limited capacity, but getting Williams on the field at all that early was a big step. Earlier this month, Williams expressed much of the same optimism that his team had been expressing publicly, believing himself that he’d be able to make a return by training camp. His absence from any designated injury lists today is yet another good sign of where he’s at in his recovery.
Williams injury had originally occurred during a season in which he was expected to take on much more work after splitting carries with Melvin Gordon as a rookie. When he returns this season, though, there won’t be too big of an expectation to work as a bell-cow in the Broncos offense. New head coach Sean Payton is certainly familiar with two-headed rushing attacks dating back to the Pierre Thomas–Reggie Bush duo and the Alvin Kamara–Mark Ingram combinations in New Orleans. While Gordon is now in Baltimore and Mike Boone found his way to Houston, Denver plans to pair Williams with former Bengals rusher Samaje Perine, who signed with the team in March. Perine has a history of being a strong RB2 over his career, which should take a bit of the pressure off of Williams’s shoulders.
While Williams’s absence from any lists is the main news, the Broncos did move four players from the active roster, according to Broncos lead writer Aric DiLalla. Outside linebacker Baron Browning and wide receiver Kendall Hinton were placed on the physically unable to perform list, while wide receiver K.J. Hamler and nose tackle Mike Purcell were placed on the non-football injury list.
Browning underwent knee surgery in June, but he hasn’t yet been ruled out from returning in time for the regular season. Hinton also went through a knee procedure, so his placement on the list is no surprise. Hamler was expected to be ready in time for training camp as he works his way back from a pectoral tear, but Denver will have to wait a little longer.
Buccaneers Re-Sign DL William Gholston
JULY 25: The deal, which is now official, will see Gholston’s 2023 cap hit decrease from what it was already scheduled to be (Twitter link via Auman). The veteran was set to account for $2.4MM on the team’s cap as a result of the void year which existed on last season’s contract. While the Buccaneers are still dealing with more than $70MM in dead money from other contracts, Gholston will represent a lesser financial burden while continuing his Tampa career.
JULY 24: Three things are certain in life: death, taxes, and defensive lineman William Gholston being a Buccaneer. According to Greg Auman of FOX Sports, Tampa Bay has officially agreed to terms to bring Gholston back for his 11th season with the team. 
The veteran lineman, who turns 32 years old next week, is set to return to Tampa Bay on his fourth NFL contract. Ever since being drafted as a fourth-round pick back in 2013, Gholston has been a solid defensive stalwart for the Buccaneers. He started as a rotational player, earning starts here and there, before eventually earning a starting role for a solid year or two.
The always strong but never remarkable Gholston has since yo-yoed back and forth between a rotational starter and a sub off the bench. In his ten years with the team, Gholston has started 87 of 153 appearances out of 162 possible games. He doesn’t miss much time due to injury (his last missed game was in November 2017), and he contributes both on defense and on special teams.
Even in the latest, most recent years, Gholston has continually received a top-three snap share on the defensive line. With the departure of Rakeem Nunez-Roches to the Giants, Gholston would have been set up for another large share alongside Vita Vea and Logan Hall, with first-round pick Calijah Kancey likely factoring in, as well. The free agent addition of Greg Gaines might not be enough to replace the production of Nunez-Roches, but it should be enough for the team to not require too much of Gholston in his 11th season.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Buccaneers had every intention of re-signing Gholston earlier in the offseason, but the higher priority was to settle the team’s rookie contracts to see where the salary cap would be. With Tampa Bay concluding their rookie signings today, Gholston gets his new contract.
Seahawks Extend OLB Uchenna Nwosu
JULY 25: Financial details of the deal are in, courtesy of NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). Nwosu will see $45MM in base earnings across the three new years of his contract, with the potential to see as much as $59MM. That will represent a sizeable raise for the 26-year-0ld, allowing him to join the 15 other edge rushers around the league who average at least $15MM per season on their current deals. Continued progression from last season’s success will be beneficial for both team and player over the next several years.
JULY 24: After a slow start to his career in Los Angeles, edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu really found his footing during a breakout season in Seattle last year. As a result, the Seahawks have decided not to let the 26-year-old even sniff free agency, extending his contract for three years, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. 
Nwosu, a former second-round pick out of USC, stayed close to home for his first stop in the NFL. He played sparingly as a rotational pass rusher for the Chargers. Nwosu only made 10 starts in his first three years but contributed when given the opportunity, delivering 10.0 sacks, as well. Finally given a chance to start more regularly in a contract year, Nwosu gave his best performance to date, recording then-career-highs in total tackles (40), sacks (5.0), tackles for loss (8), quarterback hits (17), and forced fumbles (2).
The new highs were a good audition for free agency, but the numbers didn’t quite match what a full season of starting should produce. Regardless, the Seahawks took a chance on him, signing him to a “prove it” deal while still awarding him enough money to entice him to Seattle. Nwosu immediately rewarded the Seahawks for their investment. Starting every game of the season for the first time in his career, Nwosu delivered new career-highs of 66 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, 26 quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles.
After such a stellar season that finally saw a production that matched Nwosu’s level of play on the field, Seattle saw no use in allowing Nwosu to play out his contract year in 2023. Instead, they signed Nwosu to a three-year extension that can be worth up to $59MM. Schefter also reported that Nwosu will receive a guaranteed amount of $32MM in the new contract. The deal doesn’t pay him as much as the top pass rushers in the league, rightfully so as he has yet to see double-digit sack totals, but if he can realize the full value of the contract, he would be a top-eight earner at the position.
Nwosu will now comfortably return to what is continuing to look like one of the NFL’s best all-around linebacking corps. He’ll lineup opposite Darrell Taylor, who also totaled 9.5 sacks last season, with Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner between them. The Seahawks don’t lack depth at the position either as Devin Bush and Boye Mafe wait patiently in the wings. With contract worries now behind him, Nwosu can concentrate on continuing to progress in his NFL development for his team of the next several years.
Cardinals Sign Round 2 OLB BJ Ojulari, Conclude Rookie Signings
The Cardinals are the latest team to conclude the signing of their 2023 NFL Draft class with the signing of a second-round pick. Cardinals staff writer Darren Urban announced that the team had signed LSU defensive end BJ Ojulari today, wrapping up Arizona’s rookie signings. 
The second-round trend is notable after an early signing saw the Panthers deliver three years of guarantees to rookie wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. Since then, we’ve seen a number of second-round picks sign similarly impressive deals, pointing to a potential permanent shift in the value of second-round deals.
Ojulari and fifth-round pick Owen Pappoe should factor immediately into a relatively thin linebacking corps. With Zaven Collins shifting to defensive end and Isaiah Simmons officially making the move to defensive back, the talent at linebacker is suddenly lacking in a major way. Former safety Kyzir White is set to return to the full-time starting role he held when he was a Charger after a rotational year in Philadelphia. Around White, the outside linebacker jobs are open for competition between Ojulari, Pappoe, and veteran backup Dennis Gardeck.
At only 6-foot-2, Ojulari lacks the ideal length of an outside linebacker in the NFL. He can rush standing up or with his hand in the ground, and for him, finding the backfield is a regular occurrence. What he lacks in size and ability, he makes up for in spirit. Praised by many as a high-character guy, he’ll be a strong culture fit for a Cardinals team that may be struggling to find wins early. He also offers an unrelenting effort that commonly sees him making plays on the other side of the field or even downfield. In some schemes and on some teams, Ojulari might need to sit and develop a bit, but in Arizona, he should have every opportunity to earn his way onto the field early and often.
Without Kliff Kingsbury, DeAndre Hopkins, or, perhaps, Kyler Murray (to start the year), the 2023 Cardinals are set to look a bit different. Here’s the full draft class that will join Arizona in a new look:
Round 1, No. 6 (from Rams through Lions): Paris Johnson, OT (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 2, No. 41 (from Titans): BJ Ojulari, DE (LSU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 72 (from Titans): Garrett Williams, CB (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 94 (from Eagles): Michael Wilson, WR (Stanford) (signed)
Round 4, No. 122 (from Dolphins through Chiefs and Lions): Jon Gaines II, G (UCLA) (signed)
Round 5, No. 139 (from Broncos through Lions): Clayton Tune, QB (Houston) (signed)
Round 5, No. 168 (from Cardinals through Lions): Owen Pappoe, LB (Auburn) (signed)
Round 5, No. 180: Kei’Trel Clark, CB (Louisville) (signed)
Round 6, No. 213: Dante Stills, DT (West Virginia) (signed)
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/24/23
In a very busy day for the NFL in transactions, here are some of the minor moves that may have slipped through the cracks:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Davion Davis
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LS Tyler Ott
- Placed on PUP: WR Rashod Bateman
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: RB Darrynton Evans, TE Jace Sternberger
Chicago Bears
- Activated from PUP: WR Chase Claypool
- Signed: WR Isaiah Ford, LB Buddy Johnson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on PUP: TE Mitchell Wilcox (after being re-signed)
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE Eric Tomlinson
- Waived: LB Ian Swenson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DE Isaac Rochell
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Bobby Evans, G Jack Snyder, TE Colin Thompson
- Placed on NFI: G Chris Reed
- Placed on PUP: OLB Andre Carter II
- Waived from NFI: WR Malik Knowles
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Diego Fagot, WR Jalen Hurd
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Brandin Bryant
- Waived: WR Dre Miller, WR Makai Polk
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: LB Jeremy Banks
The Ravens signed Ott after working out a trio of long snappers that also included Ryan Langan and Shane Griffin. The former Pro Bowler for the Seahawks won the tryout and is expected to be the replacement for Baltimore’s usual long snapper Nick Moore, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon during his offseason training, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Also, the breath of relief for Bateman is short-lived as, a day after being activated from the reserve/did not report list, Baltimore has placed the young receiver on the PUP list.
On a more positive note, a day after the Bears placed Claypool on the PUP list, he has been removed from it. He’ll now be eligible to participate in training camp starting this Wednesday. Tomlinson returns to Houston after being released back in May. He’ll get another chance to work in the tight ends room that includes Dalton Schultz, Teagan Quitoriano, and Brevin Jordan.
Buccaneers Ink Round 2 OL Cody Mauch, Wrap Up Rookie Deals
Tampa Bay has continued the recent trend of teams completing the signing of their 2023 draft classes. Buccaneers senior writer/editor Scott Smith released today that the team had inked their last remaining unsigned rookie, North Dakota State offensive lineman Cody Mauch.
The second-round signings have been sticky for most teams after the Panthers included some hefty guarantees in the rookie contract of 39th overall pick Jonathan Mingo. While the details of Mauch’s contract have yet to be revealed, it could continue a trend of strong rookie deals that we’ve been seeing for second-round picks since the Mingo-signing.
Tampa Bay traded up two spots in order to secure Mauch back in April. After losing Alex Cappa to free agency and Ali Marpet to retirement, the Buccaneers struggled to find consistency on the interior of the offensive line throughout the 2022 season. Injuries didn’t help the situation, but the team lost another asset after trading Shaq Mason to the Texans.
Enter Mauch, who originally arrived in Fargo as a lean tight end at 6-foot-5, 221 pounds. The Bison were able to bulk the young man up to 6-foot-6, 303, helping to mold him into an NFL-ready lineman. As a team captain in his final collegiate season, Mauch earned FCS offensive lineman of the year honors. He impressed scouts with his outstanding mobility, fierce handwork, and sheer competitiveness.
He excelled at the Division I-FCS level as an offensive tackle but lacks the ideal length to be a clearcut starter on the outside in the NFL. He absolutely deserves a look at tackle, with Donovan Smith‘s departure for Kansas City, but at the very least, Mauch could be an immediate contributor on the interior offensive line. He could push Robert Hainsey or Nick Leverett for a starting spot at guard and can give Luke Goedeke a run for the open starting tackle spot in 2023.
After the (second) retirement of Tom Brady, the Buccaneers are entering a bit of a rebuild, and this draft class is the start of that process. Here is Tampa Bay’s full 2023 draft class:
Round 1, No. 19: Calijah Kancey, DT (Pittsburgh) (signed)
Round 2, No. 48 (from Lions through Packers): Cody Mauch, G (North Dakota State) (signed)
Round 3, No. 82: Yaya Diaby, DE (Louisville) (signed)
Round 5, No. 153: SirVocea Dennis, LB (Pittsburgh) (signed)
Round 5, No. 171 (from Rams): Payne Durham, TE (Purdue) (signed)
Round 6, No. 181 (from Colts): Josh Hayes, CB (Kansas State) (signed)
Round 6, No. 191 (from Packers through Rams, Texans and Eagles): Trey Palmer, WR (Nebraska) (signed)
Round 6, No. 196: Jose Ramirez, OLB (Eastern Michigan) (signed)
K Michael Badgley To Sign With Commanders
The “Money Badger” is once again on the move. Shortly after being released by the Lions, journeyman kicker Michael Badgley has already found his next stop in Washington, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. After working out for the Commanders earlier today, Badgley left the building with new contract and an opportunity to compete for the team’s placekicker position. 
In his sixth NFL season, Badgley is set to join his sixth NFL team. Coming out of Miami (FL) as the Hurricanes’ all-time leader in points scored and field goals made, Badgley signed as an undrafted free agent with the Colts in 2018. After failing to make the initial 53-man roster, Badgley eventually signed with the Chargers. He struggled to stay on the field in his first two seasons but impressed as a rookie converting 15 of his 16 attempted field goals and 27 of 28 extra point attempts while earning his semi-borrowed moniker. His sophomore season was nearly as impressive as he only missed three field goals and made all of his extra points.
A rough 2020 season that would see him miss nine field goals and three extra points would lead to a position battle in camp. The Chargers waived the young kicker after he failed to beat out Tristan Vizcaino in a camp kicking competition. Vizcaino wouldn’t last long in Los Angeles after missing five extra points the next season. Badgley would rebound, signing to the Titans’ practice squad and appearing in one game for Tennessee.
After getting waived by Tennessee, Badgley would win a kicking competition in Indianapolis, beating out Brett Maher, Aldrick Rosas, and Riley Patterson for a backup position behind an injured Rodrigo Blankenship. He would finish the season for the Colts after Blankenship was placed on injured reserve, missing only three field goals and making all 39 of his extra point attempts.
Badgley started 2022 as a free agent and eventually signed with the Bears as Cairo Santos was away from the team for personal reasons. He would only play one game for Chicago, but he made all four field goals he attempted in the game. Badgley was released the following week but was quickly picked up by the Lions. With Austin Seibert battling a groin injury and backup kicker Dominik Eberle struggling, Badgley took hold of the kicking job. He finished the year for the Lions, converting 24 of 28 field goal attempts and making all 33 of his extra points.
As a reward for his stand-in performance, the Lions decided to re-sign Badgley, keeping him under contract for 2023. Unfortunately, they backed off of that commitment four days ago, allowing Riley Patterson and former XFL kicker Parker Romo to move on in a kicking battle that would surprisingly no longer include Badgley.
Instead, Badgley will compete with incumbent kicker Joey Slye for the kicking job in Washington. Slye had an impressive 2021 season, missing only two field goals attempts while kicking in games for the Texans, 49ers, and Washington. In a full season with the Commanders last year, though, Slye showed much of the same inconsistency that plagued his early years in Carolina. Slye has also consistently struggled with extra point attempts, missing 15 in his four years of play.
Slye and Badgley will now participate in a kicking battle throughout training camp. Badgley has plenty of experience in kicking battles, sporting both wins and losses as detailed above. Slye actually won out over Badgley for a job kicking in San Francisco in 2021 as a stand-in for Robbie Gould. Badgley’s strong 2022 outing could give him a leg up in this year’s battle, but he’ll need a really good camp to unseat Slye, who has familiarity with the program.
Latest On RB Coalition
Last night, a group of the NFL’s veteran running backs got together on a Zoom call organized by Chargers rusher Austin Ekeler. There was a reportedly strong turnout of NFL-talent for a meeting that ultimately gained little ground. Mike Florio of NBC Sports was able to provide some details on what transpired during the meeting. 
According to Florio, despite some of the league’s best backs being in attendance, little progress was made towards a solution. The league’s current collective bargaining agreement is in place through 2030, and it doesn’t provide the running backs much leeway in their options. The NFL Players Association, which was not a part of the conversation last night, can’t necessarily contribute much to the conversation as, due to the nature of a league with a salary cap, giving money to running backs necessitates that money be taken from other positions.
That didn’t stop NFLPA president JC Tretter from suggesting in an interview that running backs could simply stage hold-ins by embellishing, exaggerating, or simply fabricating injuries. That suggestion was brought up on the call but quickly dismissed as it would feed “into the narrative that (running backs are) prone to injury.” It would also provide backs further down the depth chart an opportunity to prove they’re a better roster value than they’re more “injury-prone” counterparts.
Other ideas that could help the group include the use of the league’s Performance-Based Pay Pool to supplement running back income, shortening the position’s track to a second contract, or making adjustments to the franchise tag formula. Performance-Based Pay would reward the league’s top backs whose production exceeds their meager contracts. Shortening rookie contracts for running backs is a complicated solution that would likely require the NFLPA to negotiate on behalf of the running backs, which, again, can take away from other positions represented by the Association.
The franchise tag formula provides two possible solutions. The first would see the formula modified to simply increase the value of running back tags. The normal calculation would be increased to make tagging rushers a bit more costly of an option and force teams to explore second contracts with more dedication. The second solution is actually a bit of an extension on the first, suggesting a source for that increase. Currently, all offensive linemen’s franchise tag amounts are based on the contracts of tackles (the highest earning members of their position group). For this reason, interior linemen often don’t get tagged because they would be paid a tackle’s rate. If the league were to break up the offensive line into three categories (tackles, guards, centers), the interior linemen would no longer be receiving tackle-money, providing some wiggle room for running backs.
One of the players who attended the call was Browns running back Nick Chubb, who spoke to the media about the discussion, according to Jake Trotter of ESPN. Chubb confirmed that such elite athletes as Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, and Saquon Barkley all attended and contributed to the conversation.
Chubb also elaborated on the feeling of being handcuffed in terms of what action can be taken. He expanded on a common complaint that running back is the only position whose production hurts them. If they go out and rush for 2,000 yards, instead of being rewarded, they are assumed to be worn down. Chubb is a year away from a contract year himself, but he fully recognizes that he could find himself in this situation during the next offseason.
Regardless, right now, without the help of the NFLPA, there isn’t much for running backs to do. Some backs pointed out that their own agents have contributed to the problem (agents were not on the call). Often, agents will backload ridiculous numbers into a contract that inflate the annual average value (AAV) to amounts that a running back will never see.
Saints rusher Alvin Kamara‘s contract is a perfect example. With an AAV of $15MM, Kamara has only seen that much money in the first year of his deal, when he received a $15MM signing bonus. In 2021, he only received $2MM cash and, for the three subsequent years, he earned/will earn between $11MM and $11.80MM cash. These numbers are all so much lower than the AAV because, in the final year of the contract, Kamara is set to receive $25MM cash. The chances of Kamara reaching that final, big payout are extremely low, but that amount made what was really a $10MM per year contract much more palatable.
The running backs need to ensure that their agents are on the same page about whatever strategies they decide to implement. Florio wisely points out that, while teams are not allowed to collude in regard to negotiating strategies, players and their agents absolutely have the right to collaborate.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/23/23
Here are today’s minor moves heading into the week:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/did not report list: WR Rashod Bateman
Chicago Bears
- Placed on PUP: WR Chase Claypool
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on PUP: CB Chidobe Awuzie, T Devin Cochran, T La’el Collins
Detroit Lions
- Placed on NFI: WR Marvin Jones
Ravens fans can breathe a sigh of relief now that Bateman is set to return for camp. Bateman missed most of the team’s spring activities after receiving a cortisone shot in hopes it would help him get back in time for camp. It was slightly concerning that he didn’t initially report with the rest of the team, but general manager Eric DeCosta had reassured the media that Bateman was expected back soon. Two days later and Bateman should be in attendance for camp to start this week.
Claypool has been dealing with a soft tissue injury from earlier in the offseason. He was expected back in time for camp but clearly will have to wait a bit to rejoin the team.
With the departure of Eli Apple in free agency, Awuzie is expected to take a step up in the Bengals’ defense this year. Cincinnati will hope to get him back and working with the first-team secondary again soon. The absences of Cochran and Collins leave the team a little thin on tackle depth, but the starters remain available as Jonah Williams avoids any injury designations.
Detroit will have Jameson Williams available for training camp but not for the start of the season. The Lions will be hoping to get the opposite result for Jones, who will be unavailable to start camp.
Jaguars CB Chris Claybrooks Arrested For Domestic Battery
As a seventh-round pick during the COVID-19 season, Jaguars cornerback Chris Claybrooks faced long odds to remain on an NFL roster. After three years in the league, Claybrooks has made things substantially harder for himself. His most recent self-inflicted hurdle came yesterday as Claybrooks was arrested and booked in Duval County, according to Demetrius Harvey of the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union. 
This isn’t Claybrooks’s first run in with the law. It’s not even his first run in with the law this offseason. Back in late-April, Claybrooks faced misdemeanor charges of domestic assault with bodily injury and vandalism under $1,000 after an incident in which he allegedly grabbed his ex-girlfriend’s arm and threw her cellphone to the ground. The charges were eventually dropped after a settlement was reached in the case.
This time, Claybrooks faces a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery and a third-degree felony charge of false imprisonment. He was booked around 4:30pm yesterday and set to appear in court this morning. Claybrooks has a bond of $25,000 and is to have no contact with the alleged victim, no firearms, and no traveling outside the state of Florida.
The Jaguars released the following statement shortly after the arrest:
We are aware of the arrest of Chris Claybrooks and are currently in the process of gathering information. We will have no further comment at this time.
Claybrooks, if he were to remain with the team, would serve as a depth piece in the secondary and on special teams. He saw his most action as a rookie, when he played a third of the team’s defensive snaps, but he’s seen diminishing field time in each year since. His six starts on defense came in his first two years, and despite playing in every game in 2022, he primarily served as a special teamer last year.
Given Claybrooks’s slow demotion over the past two years and his recent legal troubles, it’s hard to imagine a future in which Claybrooks stays on the team. Jacksonville is being patient in their diagnosis of the situation, but repeat offenses so close together is going to be hard to overlook for a player who contributed to four percent of the Jaguars’ defensive snaps last season.