49ers To Sign P Pressley Harvin III
After spending the past three seasons as the Steelers’ punter, Pressley Harvin III hit the waiver wire this offseason. The fourth-year specialist found another gig Friday morning.
The 49ers are adding Harvin to their 90-man roster, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Sixth-year 49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky is dealing with an injury, creating an immediate — though, perhaps not pressing due to the regular season being a month away — need at this specialty spot.
Pittsburgh parted ways with Harvin in mid-February and signed recent Texans punter Cameron Johnston a month later. A 2021 seventh-round pick, Harvin punted in 47 games for the Steelers from 2021-23. He beat out Braden Mann to keep the Pittsburgh punting gig last summer but averaged just 43.8 yards per punt in 2023. This was a step down from 2022, when the netted 44.5 yards per boot. Among regulars, Harvin’s 2023 average ranked as the NFL’s second-worst mark last season.
San Francisco’s punter of the past five seasons, Wishnowsky is dealing with a knee injury that has forced him out of practice in recent days. Kyle Shanahan said recently the team would need to address this situation before the preseason opener. A 2019 fourth-round pick, Wishnowsky is signed through the 2026 season.
While Wishnowsky’s job does not appear at risk, the 49ers will need to execute punts (presumably) in their August debut. With no other punter on the roster coming into today, Harvin now appears set to handle that workload against the Titans on Saturday.
Steelers’ Trade, Extension Offers Underwhelming 49ers, Brandon Aiyuk?
8:15pm: The Steelers are now waiting on the 49ers to see if an agreement can still be reached, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette. A main reason for the hold up, he adds, is the fact San Francisco wants a receiver as part of the package in return. Pittsburgh is not able to meet that request, but The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds the 49ers are “open” to taking back players at another position. It will be interesting to see if that flexibility will keep the door open to an Aiyuk swap being worked out.
8:41am: One of the most discussed receiver offseasons this side of Antonio Brown‘s 2019, the Brandon Aiyuk saga remains in a holding pattern. The second-team All-Pro is still a 49er, holding in as he angles for a contract that — for now, at least — San Francisco has deemed unreasonable.
While the Patriots are believed to have prepared a big extension offer as they and the Browns discussed the disgruntled wideout with the 49ers, the Steelers have re-emerged. Although the Steelers have traded the likes of Brown, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and Santonio Holmes, they are not known for splashy trades that bring in pass catchers. But they are still in the Aiyuk mix.
A Wednesday report indicated Aiyuk is interested in joining the Steelers, but they may not be offering what would be necessary on either front here. As far as Pittsburgh’s offers (in terms of trade compensation and extension-wise), Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes neither are overly high. The trade offer appealing to the 49ers would not stand to make the latter number matter much to the NFC West club, as the John Lynch-led front office has negotiated with Aiyuk for months. No real progress is believed to have emerged, pointing to San Francisco establishing a clear value on its 2023 receiving leader.
The Steelers are not believed to be interested in sending the 49ers any players for Aiyuk, though they do have a recent history of parting with a first-round pick in a trade. Pittsburgh sent Miami its 2020 first-round pick for Minkah Fitzpatrick — in a trade that also sent picks back to the Steelers — early during the 2019 season. That came under GM Kevin Colbert, who was a bit more hesitant about outside acquisitions compared to successor Omar Khan. The latter was in Pittsburgh’s front office when Fitzpatrick was acquired.
An extension represents the key difference between the Fitzpatrick move and what an Aiyuk swap would require. The Steelers would need to not only part with high-end draft capital to obtain Aiyuk and would also need to work out a monster extension — almost definitely one that would make the fifth-year player a top-five receiver in terms of AAV and guarantees — as part of the deal or soon after. The 49ers’ known offer(s) have come in around the $26-$27MM-per-year mark, prompting this hold-in. It is unclear what San Francisco has proposed in terms of guaranteed money, though Aiyuk is believed to be angling for an A.J. Brown-level commitment. The Eagles gave Brown $84MM guaranteed in April; only Justin Jefferson ($110MM) has topped that.
Pittsburgh’s Johnson trade has cleared the decks on offense; no Steeler offensive talent is tied to an eight-figure-per-year contract. Pat Freiermuth is on the team’s extension radar, however, and George Pickens will become extension-eligible in 2025. Although the Steelers do not have a notable quarterback number on their payroll, Pickens is moving close to becoming quite expensive. That would stand to complicate a monster Aiyuk extension offer.
The 49ers would likely need to see an eye-opening trade proposal to part with a player who can help them win an elusive Super Bowl. Amari Cooper being mentioned in a Browns swap would intrigue on that front, but the Steelers have dominated Aiyuk trade talk since the Cleveland connection surfaced. Absent difference-making trade terms, the 49ers may well play this out and keep Aiyuk on his fifth-year option — with a tag-and-trade move in 2025 conceivably on the table as well. We continue to wait on anything happening here.
Saints, LB Pete Werner Agree On Extension
5:55pm: Further details on the pact are in, courtesy of Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Werner will receive a $5.5MM signing bonus, and his base salaries for this season ($1.44MM) and next ($4.25MM) are locked in at signing. This contract is worth $22.5MM in base value, per OverTheCap.
The 2026 season calls for $6.25MM in salary, and it will shift from an injury to a full guarantee one year early. No guarantees are in place for the final year of the pact. Werner can earn up to $400K annually from 2025-27 with a snap share of 95% or higher, a mark he has yet to reach. Cashing in on those escalators would allow him to reach the extension’s maximum value of $24.6MM.
10:21am: A Saints defense packed with experienced performers has seen a rookie-contract cog become a regular in recent years. As a result, Pete Werner is no longer attached to that rookie deal.
The fourth-year linebacker agreed to terms on an extension Thursday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who indicates this is a three-year commitment. Werner signed a deal worth more than $25MM, per Schefter, with $17.5MM coming guaranteed. The former second-round pick will be tied to the Saints through the 2027 season.
Although we do not yet know the precise value, this extension appears to fall in line with the the off-ball linebacker market’s upper middle class. While market reassessments at running back and safety have been discussed more often, ILB paydays have dipped a bit in recent years. The past two free agency periods have produced a glut of second-level defenders whose contracts have come in between $6MM and $10MM per year. If the Werner deal’s base value is indeed beyond $25MM, the AAV would fall in line with the contracts Logan Wilson, Jordyn Brooks and Dre Greenlaw signed in the recent past.
Only five ILBs are currently tied to deals worth more than $12MM per annum, and Patrick Queen‘s Steelers pact contains no guarantees beyond Year 1. C.J. Mosley and Foyesade Oluokun also agreed to pay cuts (revisions that provided increased guarantees) this year. While this is not the best era to be an off-ball ‘backer, teams rely on their anchors at these positions. The Saints have one of the best, in Demario Davis, but Werner — at 25 — is 10 years younger.
Werner emerged as a full-time player last season, logging an 88% snap rate for a workload (920 defensive plays) that came in well above his previous two seasons. The Davis sidekick opted for security rather than head into a contract year. The Saints have now agreed to deals with Davis, Werner and Willie Gay this offseason. The Gay deal, however, checked in as a one-year, $3MM accord.
Pro Football Focus was much lower on Werner as a full-timer compared to his part-time work. After rating the former No. 60 overall pick as its No. 5 off-ball ‘backer in 2021, PFF slotted him 40th in 2022 and 67th in ’23. As far as traditional stats go, Werner racked up 93 tackles (four for loss) and intercepted a pass last year — his first with more than 11 starts. The Ohio State product started 16 games.
The Saints continue to rely on Davis’ top-shelf versatility carrying into his mid-30s; PFF rated the ageless dynamo third at the position in 2023. While betting against Davis has been a risky proposition, Werner’s contract may well place him on track to be the team’s long-term LB option once the team’s 35-year-old pillar is out of the picture.
New Orleans now has veteran contracts for Davis, Werner, Cameron Jordan, Chase Young, Marshon Lattimore and Tyrann Mathieu on defense. The team also brought in Justin Simmons for a visit Wednesday. Going into his fourth season, Werner profiles as an important young talent on a defense that features some aging cogs. The Saints will count on him for the foreseeable future.
49ers To Add WR Robbie Chosen
Brandon Aiyuk remains a 49er, but he is not practicing. Frustrated by his contract situation for months, Aiyuk remains a hold-in. As a result, the 49ers are bringing in a veteran.
San Francisco is adding Robbie Chosen, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Known more in recent years for his name changes, Chosen has starter experience and, per Pelissero, received interest elsewhere. After working out for the 49ers, the former Jets and Panthers starter will receive another opportunity.
[RELATED: 49ers, Aiyuk Underwhelmed By Steelers’ Offers?]
The Seahawks hosted Chosen earlier this offseason, but ESPN.com’s Field Yates notes the 49ers brought him in for an audition Wednesday. Chosen follows Tracy Walker as recent 49ers tryout invitees to receive a contract offer. Walker signed with the team late Wednesday night. The other player invited for a workout, safety Rudy Ford, has not signed.
The former Robby Anderson, Robbie Anderson and Chosen Anderson is now 31 and is coming off an unremarkable Dolphins stint. Though, a 68-yard touchdown grab in Miami’s 70-20 demolition of Denver led to an interesting four-catch, 126-yard stat line from last season. The Panthers rostered Chosen from 2020-22 but traded him shortly after Matt Rhule, Chosen’s college HC while at Temple, was fired. The deep threat produced a 1,000-yard season in 2020, leading to a two-year, $29.5MM Carolina extension, and flashed as a deep threat during his Jets tenure. At this point, however, Chosen would qualify as a depth option.
Beginning camp without Ricky Pearsall healthy, the 49ers have since seen the first-rounder return to practice. The defending NFC champions still have Deebo Samuel and the recently extended Jauan Jennings in uniform, and Ronnie Bell and fourth-round rookie Jacob Cowing are rostered as well. The team also signed Chris Conley and brought back Trent Taylor this offseason, but Chosen will be asked to contribute as well. With 16-man practice squads in place, Chosen could compete for a spot there if he is unable to land a 53-man spot.
OL Notes: Bears, Commanders, Coleman, Fashanu, Jets, Lamm, Dolphins, Paul, Titans
In Ryan Bates and Coleman Shelton, the Bears added two starter-caliber veterans along their interior O-line this offseason. They still may not be satisfied up front. Nate Davis did not live up to his three-year, $30MM contract last season, and the ex-Titans starter has missed time due to a groin injury in practice. Bates has guard experience, starting for most of the 2022 season in Buffalo (on a Bears-constructed contract to which he remains attached), and could be an option at RG as well. But the Bears should be expected to look into the trade market and closely monitor the waiver wire — as cuts come in later this month — for interior help, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano. Chicago is set at left guard (Teven Jenkins) and seemingly would be prepared to make the loser of the Shelton-Bates center battle an interior swingman, but Davis’ health and shaky 2023 showing looks to have generated a bit of concern — for depth purposes at the very least.
Here is the latest from O-line situations around the league:
- Brandon Coleman is moving closer to becoming a rookie tackle starter in Washington. The Commanders are giving the third-rounder first-team left tackle reps, per NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay, and The Athletic’s Ben Standig adds Coleman may be the safest bet to start at tackle to open Dan Quinn‘s tenure. Quinn said both Washington tackle jobs are open, and Standig adds 2023 free agency pickup Andrew Wylie and veteran Cornelius Lucas may be vying for the RT job (subscription required). Some evaluators viewed Coleman as a better guard in the pros, but the Commanders do not share that assessment. More of a spot starter than a full-timer, Lucas has still made 31 starts during his four-year Washington run. Wylie is attached to a three-year, $24MM deal.
- The Jets devoted their top offseason resource to insurance on their O-line, but the Olu Fashanu pick will obviously matter more in the long term. Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses are in place at tackle in New York, but Fashanu looms as a post-2024 starter at one of the positions. The Penn State product has repped exclusively at left tackle during training camp, but the New York Post’s Brian Costello notes team will give him RT reps as well. Smith’s extensive injury history points to Fashanu needing to make LT starts as a rookie; both Smith and Morgan are on expiring contracts.
- Although the Dolphins used a second-round pick on Patrick Paul, the former Houston tackle may be more of a project than a player the team would count on to fill in for Terron Armstead if/when the talented veteran misses time. Veteran swingman Kendall Lamm remains on track to hold that role this season, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. Armstead has missed 11 games since joining the Dolphins in 2022 and has missed more than two games in seven of the past nine seasons. Miami having chosen Paul 55th overall points to the prospect being given a chance early, and a June report suggested the rookie had a good chance to unseat Lamm. Though, Lamm — re-signed before the draft at one year and $2.5MM ($1.6MM guaranteed — represents quality insurance that would have the Dolphins carrying four tackles.
- Elsewhere on Miami’s O-line, the team still has Isaiah Wynn on its active/PUP list. While Wynn is expected to eventually regain his starting LG job, Jackson notes Liam Eichenberg, Robert Jones and Jack Driscoll are vying for the two starting guard positions. The Dolphins lost Robert Hunt in free agency but re-signed Jones and added Driscoll. A former second-round pick who has played across Miami’s O-line, Eichenberg is in a contract year.
- Prior to Saahdiq Charles‘ surprising retirement, Brian Callahan said (via ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport) the Titans free agency pickup and Dillon Radunz had been given near-equal time at right guard. No starter had been named, but Charles’ mid-camp exit certainly gives Radunz — a converted tackle in a contract year — a good chance to be the team’s guard opposite Peter Skoronski.
QB Nick Foles Announces Retirement
Nick Foles did not play last season, and the former Super Bowl MVP will not attempt to return to the league in 2024. The veteran quarterback announced his retirement after 11 seasons Thursday.
Turning 35 this offseason, Foles spent his most recent NFL campaign with the Colts. That 2022 season was far from his best work, and Indianapolis released him along with Matt Ryan in 2023. Foles will certainly be better remembered for his other stints, most notably his work in Philadelphia.
The virtuoso display the then-Carson Wentz backup offered in the 2017 NFC championship game and then Super Bowl LII led to the Eagles winning their only Super Bowl title and claiming an NFL crown for the first time since 1960. Foles did not have as much luck as a team’s preferred starter, but he also submitted a quality late-season relief effort to extend Philly’s title-defense season into the divisional round. Foles walks away having played for the Eagles, Rams, Chiefs, Jaguars, Bears and Colts.
Foles’ Eagles run began when the then-Andy Reid-run team used a third-round pick on the Arizona alum. The Eagles had traded would-be Donovan McNabb heir apparent Kevin Kolb to the Cardinals in 2011, and as injuries continued to hound free agency pickup/extension recipient Michael Vick, Foles stepped in. Foles’ first Philly stint included 24 starts, including a 2013 outing in Oakland that featured the 6-foot-6 passer tie the NFL record with seven touchdown passes, and a playoff berth. Foles was at the controls during Chip Kelly‘s 2013 debut, which produced an NFC East title and a narrow wild-card loss. Kelly’s one year in charge of personnel, however, resulted in Foles’ exit.
Kelly shipped Foles to St. Louis for Sam Bradford, whom the Eagles — after Howie Roseman regained the GM reins once Kelly was fired — traded after one season. Foles said he considered retirement following a rough Rams stint, which involved a benching and then a release. He resurfaced in Kansas City, backing up Alex Smith, and fetched a two-year, $11MM deal to back up Wentz. That turned out to be one of the most important QB2 acquisitions in NFL history.
Wentz’s ACL and MCL tears sidetracked what looked like an MVP season, and Foles struggled early in replacing the ascending starter. This led to the Eagles memorably being an underdog No. 1 seed in the divisional round. Foles silenced doubters by dominating to close out the Eagles’ banner postseason. Submitting 352- and 373-yard showings against the Vikings and Patriots, Foles threw six TD passes — and memorably caught another — to seal the Eagles’ championship. A statue now exists in Philadelphia because of Foles’ “Philly Special” offering.
Following another successful finish replacing Wentz, Foles saw his starter run end quickly. The Jaguars regretted the four-year, $88MM deal they authorized in 2019, benching him for Gardner Minshew before a 2020 trade with the Bears. Foles replaced Mitchell Trubisky early that season but was back on the bench during the stretch run. The Bears, who reworked Foles’ contract upon acquiring him, released the QB — who had become the team’s third-stringer following the Justin Fields draft choice — in 2022.
Thanks largely to the Jaguars contract, Foles earned more than $87MM in his career — a journey that included 58 starts, two trades and three releases. Although consistency eluded Foles, his Eagles accomplishments will certainly be remembered fondly.
Chukwuma Okorafor Likely To Start For Pats; Latest On Team’s Tackle Competitions
As the Patriots continue to hand big-money deals to Bill Belichick-era acquisitions, they remain thin at tackle. Plans to keep Michael Onwenu at right tackle have been scrapped — for the time being, at least — and a host of uncertain options are vying for gigs in New England.
Neither Pats tackle post is settled yet, and the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed writes four primary candidates are in the mix. The only one who appears destined to start, Chukwuma Okorafor, is not currently practicing. Okorafor has missed the past three Pats practices, but Kyed adds the longtime Steelers right tackle starter is likely to start at either left or right tackle to open the season.
After Trent Brown‘s second New England exit opened a starting job, this is quite the fluid process. The Pats, who had designs on flipping Okorafor — the Steelers’ RT starter from 2020 until his midseason benching last year — to the left side, but Kyed adds he has been since relocated back to right tackle. This would make sense, as the 27-year-old blocker has played all of two LT snaps during the 2020s.
Third-round pick Caedan Wallace practiced primarily at left tackle last week, with the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin indicating he began camp on the right side. Vederian Lowe, a 2023 trade pickup, has also operated as the Pats’ starting LT extensively. He spent five straight practices in that role recently, per Kyed, who adds a Patriots evaluator mentioned the former Vikings draftee and Okorafor being the two most consistent options at camp thus far. Continuing the confusion here, Lowe split his snaps almost evenly (236-239) at LT and RT last season.
Former Broncos swingman Calvin Anderson, who is coming off a strange 2023 that featured a malaria diagnosis, is also involved in the competition. Anderson has primarily worked at right tackle during camp, also missing time due to injury last week. A 12-game starter in Denver from 2020-22, Anderson made it back last season to play in five games and start two. All of Anderson’s 2023 snaps came at right tackle.
When the Pats re-signed Onwenu on a three-year, $57MM deal, the plan appeared to be the fifth-year blocker — who has played extensively at guard and tackle — remaining the team’s right tackle starter. Those plans changed rather quickly, and Volin adds the high-priced blocker is now locked in at right guard. Both Volin and Kyed note an Onwenu-at-tackle scenario may well be one the Patriots revisit, with the Herald reporter indicating Cole Strange‘s eventual return — from a torn left patellar tendon — could kick Onwenu back to RT and slide current left guard Sidy Sow to RG.
Strange, who has yet to live up to his first-round draft status, returning would help stabilize New England’s O-line. For now, this is quite the unsettled situation. None of the team’s options appear especially appealing, either, creating some questions about Drake Maye‘s development.
The No. 3 overall pick, whom the Pats chose rather than accept big offers from the Giants or Vikings, is currently behind Jacoby Brissett for the QB1 gig. But the Pats are giving Maye first-team work. While Brissett may well begin the season as the team’s starter, Maye will almost definitely make 2024 starts. This muddled tackle situation could threaten to hinder the North Carolina product’s progress.
Browns Work Out T Cameron Fleming
Two weeks into training camp, the Browns still have their starting tackles on the active/PUP list. Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin continue to close out their respective rehab efforts, keeping Cleveland shorthanded at the position.
The team is looking into help here, with ESPN.com’s Field Yates noting Cameron Fleming stopped through northeast Ohio for a workout. Fleming has been a free agent since his latest Broncos contract expired last season. The longtime swing tackle is one of the top O-line options available at this late-summer juncture.
Fleming, 31, spent the past three seasons in Denver. His 2022 proved more notable than 2023, as the Broncos needed extensive help at tackle during Nathaniel Hackett‘s season in charge compared to Sean Payton‘s debut. Fleming made one start last season but 15 in 2022. Pro Football Focus graded Fleming’s 2022 favorably, particularly in terms of pass protection, and he made four starts for the ’21 Broncos — as their decade-long right tackle search was in full swing — as well.
The Browns finished last season without Conklin, Wills or rookie swingman Dawand Jones. Conklin’s injuries (ACL and MCL tears) happened earlier (Week 1) and were more severe compared to Wills’ MCL issue, which occurred several weeks later. Wills did require surgery, however. Jones did not begin camp on the PUP list, presenting a positive sign for an injury-riddled offense.
Cleveland continues to have plans for a fifth season with a Wills-Conklin tackle tandem in place, though long-term questions exist. Having sustained two ACL tears and a patella tendon tear as a pro, Conklin plans for camp participation have not come to fruition. The former first-rounder’s injury history is certainly concerning at this point, though the Browns gave the veteran an extension late in the 2022 season.
No Fleming agreement would pertain to long-term plans at this point; the veteran has played for four teams during his 10-year career. But the Browns have barely a month to prepare Conklin and Wills for the season. This timeframe would naturally make the team interested in some depth aid.
Nick Sirianni-Jalen Hurts Relationship ‘Fractured’ In 2023
Nick Sirianni will enter his fourth Eagles season in an interesting place. The Philadelphia HC narrowly missed winning a Super Bowl in his second season, doing so after the team made a surprise playoff appearance in 2021. Last season’s undoing, however, pushed the former OC into firing rumors. Though, those appear to have been slightly overblown.
Rumors connecting the Eagles and Bill Belichick have circulated for months, with the legendary HC — currently preparing for a few media gigs for the 2024 season — believed to be interested should the job open in 2025. As of now, Sirianni is not exactly on the NFL’s hottest seat. But the temperature of the former Colts coordinator’s chair is nevertheless interesting.
Sirianni’s relationship with Jalen Hurts will play a key part of his post-2024 future in Philly, and the sides look to have work to do to. During the 2023 season, the relationship fractured, a source informed ESPN.com’s Tim McManus. While both sides have attempted to mend fences this offseason, this cornerstone relationship’s status may be the top Eagles storyline following an ugly late-season collapse that involved a defensive coordinator demotion and eventually led Sirianni to clean house and hire a new OC-DC tandem. Vic Fangio will be in charge of repairing a broken Eagles defense, but Sirianni — as the team went through with an onslaught of paydays on offense — will obviously remain pivotal as a non-play-calling HC.
Giving up play-calling duties midway through his first Eagles season, Sirianni nevertheless prompted some of his players to wonder who exactly was calling the shots on offense last season. A disconnect surrounding Hurts wanting more authority on offense, in an attempt made by the quarterback and OC Brian Johnson to evolve the scheme Sirianni brought with him from Indianapolis, was one of the main reasons behind the disconnect between HC and QB, McManus reports. Sirianni overruled Johnson at points, and a coach Hurts knew since childhood became a one-and-done. Ownership, along with GM Howie Roseman, is believed to have played perhaps the lead role in Johnson’s firing.
After showing significant improvement in his second starter season and dueling with Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LVII, Hurts took a step backward during a season that involved a leg injury. While the recently extended QB did not miss any time, he saw his interception count balloon from six to 15 and his yards per attempt drop from 8.0 to 7.2. Accusations of Hurts tuning out Sirianni and the former second-round pick playing “hero ball” surfaced, per McManus, as the Eagles’ tailspin featured them tumbling from 10-1 to being on the wrong end of a wild-card blowout.
We heard before the Eagles’ loss in Tampa that Hurts was dissatisfied with the offense’s direction. This reached a strange point in which he reached out to Don Martindale before the wild-card matchup. Hurts confirmed (via PHLY’s Zach Berman) McManus’ account of a Martindale conversation, which occurred after the two-year Giants DC bolted from his New York gig. The effort did not exactly help, and the Eagles soon hired Kellen Moore — prior to signing Saquon Barkley — to fix the offense.
In an effort to keep his scheme in line with what had worked in the past, Sirianni became more hands-on compared to his role during Steichen’s time calling plays and went through with one-on-one meetings with his quarterback. Those appear to have been counterproductive, given the reported state of his relationship with Hurts by season’s end.
Hurts declined to answer a question about Sirianni’s openness to change the offense this offseason. Although it is early, McManus adds Moore is receiving more autonomy by comparison to Johnson, whom the Eagles promoted after two seasons as QBs coach. Moore has considerably more experience, having called plays in Dallas during Jason Garrett‘s tenure and from 2020-22 under Mike McCarthy. Moore’s one-and-done Chargers OC stay was less memorable. Johnson has since caught on with the Commanders, being hired as Dan Quinn‘s pass-game coordinator.
Considering Sirianni’s tenuous grip on the Philly HC job, his Hurts dealings will be a running talking point this year. Hurts’ performance in Moore’s offense will go a long way toward determining Sirianni’s 2025 status. The Eagles are highly unlikely to bail on Hurts the way they punted on the Carson Wentz setup less than two years after authorizing his extension, but the team — given its investments on offense — will certainly need to see a bounce-back effort from its high-priced passer. Otherwise, another firing involving an Eagles Super Bowl leader is likely on tap.
Saints To Meet With S Justin Simmons
1:38pm: When speaking to the media after Wednesday’s practice, head coach Dennis Allen said (via Underhill) New Orleans was in communication with Simmons this spring. While little traction was gained at that point, Allen noted team and player are closer now, making the Saints a contender to secure a deal.
8:19am: Justin Simmons has shown patience since his March Broncos release, but the perennial All-Pro safety remains unsigned two weeks into training camp. His closest post-Denver connection has emerged, however.
The Saints are planning to meet with Simmons today, according to NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill. New Orleans has multiple clear ties to Simmons, with Joe Woods having coached the former third-round pick in Denver. Saints secondary coach Marcus Robertson was also on staff during part of Simmons’ Broncos stay.
Woods’ Denver DC years (2017-18) overlapped with Simmons’ move into the team’s starting lineup. The Broncos parked the Boston College product behind Super Bowl starters T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart in 2016, when Woods was the team’s DBs coach, but jettisoned Ward ahead of the ’17 campaign. Simmons moved into the Broncos’ starting lineup alongside Stewart that season and remained there until Sean Payton’s first season with the club.
While Simmons has generated understandable interest, it is clear his market has not ventured to a satisfactory place. The 30-year-old defender — the NFL’s interceptions leader (30) since his 2016 rookie year — has seen the other big names on the safety market find homes in recent weeks. The Titans have added Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, while fellow cuts Eddie Jackson (Ravens) and Marcus Maye (Dolphins) also landed in the AFC.
Simmons has wanted to land with a contender, having never played in a playoff game. The Saints have missed the past three NFC playoff brackets, but they do have a veteran-laden defense — one that includes 2022 offseason addition Tyrann Mathieu at safety — and play in the lowly regarded NFC South. At this point, Simmons’ options may be limited. Although the eight-year veteran could continue to wait for an injury to affect his market, time is running out for him to catch on ahead of the season. Simmons has stood in place as the top free agent available for much of this offseason, and while he has landed a second-team All-Pro accolade in four of the past five seasons, some evaluators viewed his 2023 work (per the Denver Post’s Troy Renck) as inconsistent.
The Saints used 2023 fifth-rounder Jordan Howden during Maye’s injury- and suspension-driven absences last season, but Simmons would certainly be an upgrade. He started 108 games in Denver and resided as one of the NFL’s best safeties — a status that garnered him a four-year, $61MM extension in 2021 — for most of his Broncos tenure. The Saints hold just more than $11MM in cap space, and other established vets (Cameron Jordan, Marshon Lattimore, Demario Davis) join Mathieu on their defensive depth chart.
Nothing close to Simmons’ $15MM-plus-per-year Broncos salary is available at this point, but Simmons should be able to fetch a decent price — even at this juncture — ahead of another free agency run in 2025.