Texans To Re-Sign K Ka’imi Fairbairn
The Texans are keeping their kicker on another contract. Recent negotiations have produced an agreement with Ka’imi Fairbairn, with ESPN.com’s DJ Bien-Aime reporting the team has a deal in place with its longtime kicker.
Fairbairn’s contract is a three-year agreement, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. It is a three-year, $15.9MM deal, Wilson tweets. On average, this makes Fairbairn the NFL’s fifth-highest-paid kicker — behind Justin Tucker, Matt Gay, Graham Gano and Jason Myers. Fairbairn, 30, has been the Texans’ kicker since 2017.
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A Hawaii native, Fairbairn led the NFL in field goal percentage last season. That came in just 12 games, with an injury keeping the veteran kicker out for a midseason stretch, but a 27-for-28 season is nonetheless impressive. Fairbairn completed that accuracy showing after making 93.5% of his field goal tries in 2022. Over the past two years, Fairbairn has made 11 of 12 attempts from beyond 50 yards, giving the Texans more reliability than most teams receive on long-range efforts.
Fairbairn began his game run in Houston in 2017, but the UCLA alum initially signed with the team as a 2016 UDFA. This marks his second long-term extension with the team, which rewarded its second-longest-tenured player with a four-year, $17.65MM deal in 2020.
While Fairbairn has proven to be a solid option when available, he has gone through two IR stints over the past three years. Little attention went to Fairbairn’s 2021 injury, given the state of the Texans at the time, but his five-game 2023 absence — due to a quad strain — generated more with the team on the rise. The Texans brought in Matt Ammendola to be their fill-in leg but saved an IR-return slot for Fairbairn despite being low on activations as they made their successful playoff push. Wednesday’s agreement does well to show the organization’s faith in the veteran specialist.
Bills To Re-Sign G David Edwards
David Edwards went from Rams starter to Bills backup, heading east after a market did not materialize last year. Shortly after the Bills traded Ryan Bates, they are prioritizing Edwards.
Buffalo will re-sign the five-year veteran to a two-year deal, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The contract is worth $6MM, with Wilson adding it includes $2.95MM guaranteed. This will keep a top backup in the fold for the four-time reigning AFC East champions.
While it may be a bit surprising Edwards is not opting to try his luck in finding another starting job in free agency, this year’s guard class is crowded. Still, Edwards would appear slightly overqualified for a backup role. He has made 45 regular-season starts, including all 17 during the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI-winning season, and five more in the playoffs.
The Bills enjoyed good health on their offensive front last season; Edwards did not start any games, as first-stringers Connor McGovern and O’Cyrus Torrence remained in the lineup. Edwards, 26, did play 148 offensive snaps in 2023, working as a sixth O-lineman at times for the Bills. He also played under Bills O-line coach Aaron Kromer with the Rams.
The Bills nabbed Edwards on a one-year, $1.77MM deal after the first wave of free agency died down in 2023. Despite working as a steady starter in Los Angeles, Edwards will only receive barely $1MM in additional guarantees on his second Bills deal. With the team sending Bates to Chicago in exchange for a fifth-round pick, it makes sense to keep its other top interior backup in the fold. Based on Edwards’ resume, the Bills look to be getting good value here.
Pro Football Focus graded Edwards as a top-30 guard in 2020 and 2021, slotting him 17th overall in 2020. The Wisconsin alum suffered a concussion early during the 2022 campaign, amid a spree of Rams O-line injuries that year, and missed 13 games. Edwards had returned to action after the early-season concussion but reentered the protocol soon after. He did not play again that season and, despite this Bills re-up, has not completely re-established his value.
This will be the Bills’ gain, as the perennial contenders have their five O-line starters — McGovern, Torrence, Dion Dawkins, Mitch Morse and Spencer Brown — signed for 2024 and now Edwards back in the mix.
Patriots Looking To Hire High-Ranking Front Office Staffer
Eliot Wolf is now running the show in New England, working as the de facto GM in the wake of Bill Belichick‘s exit. Officially, however, Wolf said his title is unchanged. He remains the Patriots’ director of scouting, and the team is looking to add another high-level piece to its front office equation.
Combine buzz pointed to the Patriots being set to interview candidates for a prominent front office role, according to MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian, Mark Daniels and Chris Mason. Wolf’s increased responsibilities have been well documented this offseason, though MassLive indicates the upcoming round of interviews — set to be conducted after the draft — could be for a GM role.
With Belichick in place as the team’s top decision-maker, the Patriots have not employed a regular GM this century. This led to the greatest 20-year run in NFL history, though Belichick’s recent performance ultimately paved a path out of Foxborough. Wolf has been running the Patriots’ pre-draft process and sat in on coaching interviews with Jerod Mayo.
It would certainly be interesting if the Patriots were prepared to make another major change after the draft, but MassLive points to Wolf eventually being named general manager. Were the Patriots to conduct an actual GM search, they would need to comply with the Rooney Rule, which mandates two external minority candidates be interviewed. Several experienced GM candidates have expressed interest in the role already, according to MassLive.
Teams in transition regularly change personnel after the draft, preferring to keep scouting staffers in their roles to preserve continuity. GM changes can take place following the draft. Teams like the Jets, Texans and Bills fired GMs after the draft in the late 2010s, with the Chiefs canning theirs (John Dorsey) in summer 2017. Wolf has been a GM candidate in the past, and given his role thus far this offseason, it would be a bit surprising to see him return to a lieutenant-type role under an outside hire.
Wolf is already making one key change before the draft. The Patriots are scrapping Belichick’s prospect evaluation system and shifting to the one the Packers used during Wolf and recent hire Alonzo Highsmith‘s Green Bay tenure, according to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin.
“I think it makes it a lot easier for scouts to rate guys and put them in a stack of, like, ‘This guy’s the best, this guy’s the worst,’ and everything in between falls into place,” Wolf said. “It’s actually been really encouraging. The scouts have been really open to it; some guys have been here 20 years with the old system.”
Wolf said his system will account for value better than the one the Patriots had been using under Belichick, who had launched his system back when he was in place as the Browns’ HC in the early 1990s. Scouts should also expected to have more input than they did under Belichick, per the Boston Sports Journal’s Mike Giardi.
It would surprise to see Wolf given the power to overhaul the Patriots’ grading system only to then hire a different decision-maker to head up matters, so the upcoming hire may well be to work under Wolf than vice versa. But a new voice could soon be joining Wolf and director of player personnel Matt Groh in the Pats’ front office.
Lions Will Not Tender RFA Jerry Jacobs
Jerry Jacobs has gone from UDFA to a 29-start player through three seasons in Detroit. Despite the Lions moving their rebuild to the Super Bowl precipice, last year brought a downturn for the undrafted find.
The Lions benched Jacobs late in the season, and the young cornerback ended the year on IR. The team are not planning to tender Jacobs as a restricted free agent, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. This will send Jacobs to unrestricted free agency. This move comes several months after Jacobs was believed to be on the extension radar, but he struggled in his third NFL season.
It is not uncommon for teams to pass on an RFA tender only to circle back and re-sign the player, but given the way Jacobs’ season ended, it is notable the Lions are proceeding this way. It would cost the Lions only $2.99MM to use the low-end RFA tender on the Arkansas alum. They are instead prepared to send him to the UFA market.
Jacobs, 26, started 12 games for the Lions last season. Although he intercepted three passes, the team eventually parked the third-year defender and shifted him to a special teams role. Jacobs played one defensive snap after Dec. 10 and finished the season on IR, giving way to a Kindle Vildor–Khalil Dorsey rotation.
The Lions made a concerted effort to revamp their secondary last season, but the unit struggled frequently. Vildor and C.J. Gardner-Johnson are due for free agency as well, though the team did re-sign Emmanuel Moseley despite the former 49ers starter suffering his second ACL tear. It should still be expected Detroit will look for CB help in free agency.
With Moseley not ready to play in Week 1 of last season, the Lions turned back to Jacobs opposite free agency pickup Cameron Sutton. This was a familiar role for Jacobs, who had started 17 games between the 2021 and ’22 seasons. Pro Football Focus graded the 5-foot-11 cover man 91st among corners in 2023. Jacobs gave up six touchdowns as the closest defender in coverage last year; he was charged with just two TDs ceded in coverage from 2021-22.
NFL Franchise Tag Recipients Since 2010
The franchise tag is now past the 30-year mark. Implemented in 1993 to protect teams against losing top free agents, the tag brings key chapters each offseason.
Some teams have used the tag as a bridge to an extension by the July deadline; others have cuffed players to effectively rent them for a year. Tag-and-trade sequences have become more prevalent as of late; the 2019 Chiefs were on both ends of tag-and-trade maneuvers. And a handful of teams have tagged the same player twice in recent years. The Steelers tagged Le’Veon Bell twice; in the second year (2018), the All-Pro running back became the first player in 21 years to sit out a season after being tagged.
Early in the tag’s fourth decade, here is how teams have proceeded with it since 2010:
2010
- Aubrayo Franklin, DT (49ers): No extension; signed with Saints in 2011
- Olindo Mare, K (Seahawks): No extension; signed with Panthers in 2011
- Ryan Pickett, DT (Packers): Signed four-year, $25MM extension
- Jeff Reed, K (Steelers): No extension
- Richard Seymour, DT (Raiders): No extension; re-signed with Raiders in 2011
- Vince Wilfork, DT (Patriots): Signed four-year, $40MM extension
2011
- Phil Dawson, K (Browns): No extension
- Chad Greenway, LB (Vikings): Agreed to five-year, $40.6MM extension
- Tamba Hali, LB (Chiefs): Signed five-year, $57.5MM extension
- David Harris, LB (Jets): Signed four-year, $36MM extension
- Vincent Jackson, WR (Chargers): No extension; signed with Buccaneers in 2012
- Ryan Kalil, C (Panthers): Signed six-year, $49.12MM extension
- Marcedes Lewis, TE (Jaguars): Signed five-year, $34MM extension
- Logan Mankins, G (Patriots): Signed six-year, $51MM extension
- Peyton Manning, QB (Colts): Agreed to five-year, $90MM extension
- Haloti Ngata, DT (Ravens): Agreed to five-year, $61MM extension
- Paul Soliai, DT (Dolphins): No extension; re-signed with Dolphins in 2012
- Michael Vick, QB (Eagles): Signed five-year, $80MM extension
- Kamerion Wimbley, LB (Raiders): Signed five-year, $48.5MM extension
- LaMarr Woodley, LB (Steelers): Signed six-year, $61.5MM extension
Given transition tag: K David Akers (Eagles); tag rescinded, leading to three-year, $9MM 49ers deal
2012
- Cliff Avril, DE (Lions): No extension; signed with Seahawks in 2013
- Connor Barth, K (Buccaneers): Signed four-year, $13.2MM extension
- Dwayne Bowe, WR (Chiefs): No extension; re-signed with Chiefs in 2013
- Tyvon Branch, S (Raiders): Signed four-year, $26.6MM extension
- Drew Brees, QB (Saints): Signed five-year, $100MM extension
- Calais Campbell, DL (Cardinals): Signed five-year, $55MM extension
- Fred Davis, TE (Washington): No extension; re-signed with Washington in 2013
- Phil Dawson, K (Browns): No extension; after two tags, signed with 49ers in 2013
- Matt Forte, RB (Bears): Signed four-year, $30.4MM extension
- Dashon Goldson, S (49ers): No extension; signed with Buccaneers in 2013
- Michael Griffin, S (Titans): Signed five-year, $35MM extension
- Brent Grimes, CB (Falcons): No extension; signed with Dolphins in 2013
- DeSean Jackson, WR (Eagles): Signed five-year, $48.5MM extension
- Robert Mathis, DE (Colts): Signed two-year, $36MM extension
- Mike Nugent, K (Bengals): No extension; re-signed with Bengals in 2013
- Matt Prater, K (Broncos): Signed four-year, $13MM extension
- Ray Rice, RB (Ravens): Signed five-year, $35MM extension
- Josh Scobee, K (Jaguars): Signed four-year, $13.8MM extension
- Anthony Spencer, DE (Cowboys): No extension
- Steve Weatherford, P (Giants): Signed five-year, $12.5MM extension
- Wes Welker, WR (Patriots): No extension; signed with Broncos in 2013
2013
- Branden Albert, T (Chiefs): No extension reached; signed with Dolphins in 2014
- Jairus Byrd, S (Bills): No extension; signed with Saints in 2014
- Ryan Clady, T (Broncos): Signed five-year, $52.5MM extension
- Michael Johnson, DE (Bengals): No extension; signed with Buccaneers in 2014 (re-signed with Bengals in 2015)
- Pat McAfee, P (Colts): No extension; re-signed with Colts in 2014
- Henry Melton, DT (Bears): No extension; signed with Cowboys in 2014
- Anthony Spencer, DE (Cowboys): No extension; after two tags, Cowboys re-signed Spencer in 2014
- Randy Starks, DT (Dolphins): No extension; re-signed with Dolphins in 2014
2014
- Nick Folk, K (Jets): Signed four-year, $12MM extension
- Jimmy Graham, TE (Saints): Signed four-year, $40MM extension
- Greg Hardy, DE (Panthers): No extension; signed with Cowboys in 2015
2015
- Dez Bryant, WR (Cowboys): Signed five-year, $70MM extension
- Stephen Gostkowski, K (Patriots): Signed four-year, $17.2MM extension
- Justin Houston, OLB (Chiefs): Signed six-year, $101MM extension
- Jason Pierre-Paul, DE (Giants): Tag rescinded; re-signed with Giants in 2016
- Demaryius Thomas, WR (Broncos): Signed five-year, $70MM extension
Given transition tag: TE Charles Clay; Dolphins did not match Bills‘ five-year, $38MM offer sheet
2016
- Eric Berry, S (Chiefs): No extension; re-signed with Chiefs in 2017
- Kirk Cousins, QB (Washington): No extension reached
- Cordy Glenn, T (Bills): Signed five-year, $60MM extension
- Alshon Jeffery, WR (Bears): No extension; signed with Eagles in 2017
- Trumaine Johnson, CB (Rams): No extension reached
- Von Miller, LB (Broncos): Signed six-year, $114.1MM extension
- Josh Norman, CB (Panthers): Tag rescinded; signed five-year, $75MM deal with Washington
- Justin Tucker, K (Ravens): Signed four-year, $16.8MM extension
- Muhammad Wilkerson, DL (Jets): Signed five-year, $86MM extension
Given transition tag: DE Olivier Vernon; Dolphins rescinded tag, leading to five-year, $85MM Giants deal
2017
- Le’Veon Bell, RB (Steelers): No extension
- Kirk Cousins, QB (Washington): No extension; signed with Vikings in 2018
- Melvin Ingram, DE (Chargers): Signed four-year, $64MM extension
- Trumaine Johnson, CB (Rams): No extension; signed with Jets in 2018
- Chandler Jones, OLB (Cardinals): Signed five-year, $82.5MM extension
- Kawann Short, DT (Panthers): Signed five-year, $80.5MM extension
2018
- Ezekiel Ansah, DE (Lions): No extension; signed with Seahawks in 2019
- Le’Veon Bell, RB (Steelers): No extension; sat out season. Signed with Jets in 2019
- Lamarcus Joyner, S (Rams): No extension; signed with Raiders in 2019
- Jarvis Landry, WR (Dolphins): Traded to Browns; signed five-year, $75.5MM extension
- DeMarcus Lawrence, DE (Cowboys): No extension reached
Given transition tag: CB Kyle Fuller (Bears); Chicago matched four-year, $56MM Packers offer sheet
2019
- Frank Clark, DE (Seahawks): Traded to Chiefs; signed five-year, $105.5MM extension
- Jadeveon Clowney, DE (Texans): Traded to Seahawks; signed with Titans in 2020
- Dee Ford, DE (Chiefs): Traded to 49ers; signed five-year, $85.5MM extension
- Robbie Gould, K (49ers): Signed four-year, $19MM extension
- Grady Jarrett, DT (Falcons): Signed four-year, $68MM extension
- DeMarcus Lawrence, DE (Cowboys): Signed five-year, $105MM extension
2020
- Shaquil Barrett, OLB (Buccaneers): No extension; re-signed with Bucs in 2021
- Bud Dupree, OLB (Steelers): No extension; signed with Titans in 2021
- A.J. Green, WR (Bengals): No extension; signed with Cardinals in 2021
- Anthony Harris, S (Vikings): No extension; signed with Eagles in 2021
- Derrick Henry, RB (Titans): Signed four-year, $50MM extension
- Hunter Henry, TE (Chargers): No extension; signed with Patriots in 2021
- Chris Jones, DT (Chiefs): Signed four-year, $80MM extension
- Matt Judon, OLB (Ravens): No extension; signed with Patriots in 2021
- Yannick Ngakoue, DE (Jaguars): Traded to Vikings, who later traded him to Ravens
- Dak Prescott, QB (Cowboys): No extension
- Brandon Scherff, G (Washington): No extension
- Justin Simmons, S (Broncos): No extension
- Joe Thuney, G (Patriots): No extension; signed with Chiefs in 2021
- Leonard Williams, DL (Giants): No extension
Given transition tag: RB Kenyan Drake (Cardinals); signed with Raiders in 2021
2021
- Chris Godwin, WR (Buccaneers): No extension reached
- Marcus Maye, S (Jets): No extension reached; signed with Saints in 2022
- Taylor Moton, T (Panthers): Signed four-year, $71.2MM extension
- Dak Prescott, QB (Cowboys): Tagged for procedural purposes; signed four-year, $160MM extension
- Allen Robinson, WR (Bears): No extension reached; signed with Rams in 2022
- Cam Robinson, T (Jaguars): No extension reached
- Brandon Scherff, G (Washington): No extension; signed with Jaguars in 2022
- Justin Simmons, S (Broncos): Signed four-year, $61MM extension
- Leonard Williams, DL (Giants): Signed three-year, $63MM extension
- Marcus Williams, S (Saints): No extension agreement; signed with Ravens in 2022
2022
- Davante Adams, WR (Packers): Traded to Raiders; signed five-year, $140MM deal
- Jessie Bates, S (Bengals): No extension reached; signed with Falcons in 2023
- Orlando Brown Jr., T (Chiefs): No extension reached; signed with Bengals in 2023
- Mike Gesicki, TE (Dolphins): No extension reached; signed with Patriots in 2023
- Chris Godwin, WR (Buccaneers): Signed three-year, $60MM extension
- David Njoku, TE (Browns): Signed to four-year, $54.75MM extension
- Cam Robinson, T (Jaguars): Signed to three-year, $52.75MM extension
- Dalton Schultz, TE (Cowboys): No extension reached; signed with Texans in 2023
2023
- Saquon Barkley, RB (Giants): No extension reached; signed with Eagles in 2024
- Evan Engram, TE (Jaguars): Signed to three-year, $41.25MM extension
- Lamar Jackson, QB (Ravens): Signed to five-year, $260MM extension
- Josh Jacobs, RB (Raiders): No extension reached; signed with Packers in 2024
- Daron Payne, DT (Commanders): Signed to four-year, $90MM extension
- Tony Pollard, RB (Cowboys): No extension reached; signed with Titans in 2024
2024
- Josh Hines-Allen, OLB (Jaguars): Signed five-year, $150MM extension
- Brian Burns, OLB (Panthers): Traded to Giants; signed five-year, $141MM extension
- Tee Higgins, WR (Bengals): No extension
- Jaylon Johnson, CB (Bears): Signed to four-year, $76MM extension
- Justin Madubuike, DT (Ravens): Signed to four-year, $98MM extension
- Michael Pittman Jr., WR (Colts): Signed to three-year, $70MM extension
- L’Jarius Sneed, CB (Chiefs): Traded to Titans; agreed to four-year, $76.4MM extension
- Antoine Winfield Jr., S (Buccaneers): Agreed to four-year, $84.1MM extension
Given transition tag: S Kyle Dugger (Patriots); agreed to four-year, $58MM extension
2025
- Tee Higgins, WR (Bengals): Signed four-year, $115MM extension
- Trey Smith, G (Chiefs): Signed four-year, $94MM extension
Jaguars Use Franchise Tag On Josh Allen
6:15pm: The Jaguars have officially announced that they’ve applied the franchise tag to Allen.
“We were not able to reach agreement on a contract extension with Josh before today’s deadline, and thus, we have tagged him,” general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement. “We certainly value Josh’s leadership on the field, in the locker room and in the community. Our objective to keep Josh in Jacksonville in the coming years remains unchanged and negotiations will continue.”
12:49pm: Shortly after the season ended, Trent Baalke confirmed Josh Allen would be a Jaguar in 2024. The third-year GM will make the expected move to ensure that happens.
The Jags are franchise-tagging their top pass rusher, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Making some changes on defense to create cap space, the Jags will not let Allen get away. The freed-up funds, however, will be necessary due to the $24MM coming on a linebacker tag this year.
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One of this year’s easiest tags to predict, Allen is coming off a monster contract campaign. The former top-10 pick broke through at a good time for his earning power, setting a Jaguars single-season record with 17.5 sacks last year. With Travon Walker tied to a rookie contract, the Jags will cuff Allen with presumptive hopes of working out an extension with him by the July 15 deadline.
The Jags have used their tag in each 2020s offseason. They cuffed Yannick Ngakoue in 2020, kept Cam Robinson off the 2021 and ’22 markets and then slapped the tag on Evan Engram last year. The team reached extension agreements with Robinson and Engram but traded Ngakoue soon after tagging him. Allen and Ngakoue only played together for one season. Since, the Jags have looked to the Kentucky alum as their premier edge rusher.
Allen’s career arc could point the Jags to making him prove his 2023 was not a fluke, but the team has some other priorities. Trevor Lawrence extension talks have begun, and Baalke has said on multiple occasions this offseason a Calvin Ridley re-up is a goal. Ridley’s situation is more complicated due to the terms of the 2022 trade with the Falcons, but the Jags extending Allen would help on all fronts due to the $24MM cap hold on their payroll as long as he is tagged. The Jags cut Folorunso Fatukasi, Rayshawn Jenkins and Darious Williams over the past two days, creating necessary cap room for their Allen move.
The Jags would owe the Falcons a second-round pick if they reached an agreement with the free agent-to-be before the 2024 league year. If they wait until Ridley hits the market to re-sign him, they would send Atlanta their 2024 third-rounder. The Jags already sent a 2023 fifth as part the exchange, and while Baalke said the pick is not a major factor here, it would surprise if the Jags re-upped Ridley early. That said, Mike Evans and Tee Higgins being off the market and the Colts likely to tag Michael Pittman Jr. before the 3pm CT deadline would stand to drive up Ridley’s price. WR-needy teams will view Ridley, despite his inconsistent past, as a prime option.
As for Allen, he has said he wants to stay in Jacksonville — but not on a hometown discount. Trade interest came in for the veteran pass rusher at the 2022 deadline, but the team stood pat. After not recording more than eight sacks in a season from 2020-22, Allen erupted in 2023 — a season that also included 33 QB hits. Allen, 26, is in line for a big-ticket extension. The Jags passed on giving one to Ngakoue, but they sound far more eager to reward Allen.
Dolphins Offered Christian Wilkins Top-10 DT AAV, Still Trying To Strike Deal
Christian Wilkins‘ bet on himself is close to producing a big payoff. The Ravens taking Justin Madubuike off the free agency board will benefit the Dolphins defensive tackle, who already saw a host of his 2019 DT draft classmates steer clear of the market via 2023 extensions.
The Dolphins’ exclusive negotiating rights with Wilkins expire in less than a week, and while it will be hard for the team to keep the five-year veteran off the market at this juncture, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson indicates it is still trying. Though, the parties have been negotiating off and on for more than eight months. Sorting through cap issues, the Dolphins declined to use their franchise tag on Wilkins before today’s deadline.
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During the talks last year, the Dolphins offered Wilkins a deal that would have paid him a top-10 D-tackle salary, Jackson adds. The team’s proposal included more than $40MM guaranteed. It is likely that $40MM sum represents the money guaranteed in total, rather than at signing, as only six DTs are tied to deals with that much locked in at signing. Jackson adds the Dolphins’ Wilkins offer came in significantly higher than Zach Sieler‘s $10MM-AAV extension. If the AAV came in within the top 10 at the position, Miami’s offer would have been north of Kenny Clark‘s $17.5MM-per-year accord.
Considering the deals that set the non-Aaron Donald market last year, it is understandable why Wilkins balked at an offer that may not have been in line with those 2019 draft classmates Quinnen Williams, Dexter Lawrence and Jeffery Simmons received. The issue of Wilkins’ sack production hovered during these negotiations.
Although the Clemson alum had been regarded as one of the NFL’s best run-defending DTs in prior years, he had totaled just 11.5 sacks through four seasons. He posted nine last season. The Dolphins may well have used the Bills’ extension for fellow 2019 first-rounder Ed Oliver — $17MM per year, $45MM guaranteed in total, $24.5MM fully guaranteed — as a closer comp than the Williams-Lawrence-Simmons-Daron Payne group. That foursome each received between $22.5MM and $24MM per year and between $46MM and $47.8MM fully guaranteed. Wilkins may soon strike a similar deal.
Miami has been creating cap space in recent days, cutting Baker and Emmanuel Ogbah. The team also is set to designate Xavien Howard as a post-June 1 release. Prior to the Howard cut, the Dolphins are more than $18MM over the cap. That will make affording Wilkins’ second contract difficult. If the Chiefs can pull off a Chris Jones re-signing before the legal tampering period begins March 11, the runway will be clear for Wilkins as DT-needy teams prepare their offers.
Chargers Release LB Eric Kendricks
A year after receiving the opportunity to return to Los Angeles, Eric Kendricks is out of a job. The Chargers released the veteran linebacker Tuesday.
In Tom Telesco‘s final offseason as Bolts GM, the team gave Kendricks a two-year, $13.25MM deal. The longtime Vikings starter was set to make $5MM in base salary next season. The Chargers will save $6.5MM by making this cut.
Jim Harbaugh‘s team still has work to do to reach cap compliance; the Kendricks release only moves the Bolts to $19MM over the 2024 cap. The Chargers are also in need of linebacker starters. Kendricks and Kenneth Murray operated as L.A.’s primary ILBs in 2023. Murray is days away from free agency.
A UCLA alum and a Fresno native, Kendricks received a quick opportunity to return to California last year. This marks his second straight offseason as a cap casualty, with the Vikings releasing the former All-Pro in 2023. Considering where the Chargers are cap-wise, it is unsurprising to see them follow suit.
Kendricks, who turned 32 last week, continued his run of solid production by registering 117 tackles (seven for loss) and 3.5 sacks. The former second-round pick added a forced fumble and six passes defensed, also finishing his season as Pro Football Focus’ No. 25 overall linebacker; PFF ranked Murray as one of the NFL’s worst full-time ILBs. The Chargers declined Murray’s fifth-year option in 2023.
It will take more maneuvering for the Chargers to create actual breathing room. Thanks to big contracts and 2023 restructures, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack combine to comprise $142MM on the Chargers’ 2024 cap sheet. Even with the cap spiking to $255.4MM, four players — two of whom over 30 — take up more than half the team’s payroll. Decisions will need to be made involving these cornerstones, with Kendricks more of a role player last season.
Kendricks may be able to generate interest elsewhere as he did in 2023, though his age will begin to work against him. The 2015 draftee has started 127 games during his nine-year career, earning an eight-figure-per-year Vikings extension in 2018. Kendricks started for four playoff-bound Minnesota teams, earning his lone Pro Bowl nod in 2019.
49ers Interested In Re-Signing Chase Young
The 49ers have passed on re-signing some Nick Bosa wingmen in the recent past, letting the likes of Arden Key, Samson Ebukam and Charles Omenihu walk over the past two free agency periods. It would seem Chase Young will follow suit, but the NFC champions are not resigned to collecting a compensatory pick just yet.
Young is less than a week from testing the market, and while the 49ers have a considerable amount of money tied up in D-line payments, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano notes the team is interested in re-signing the recent trade acquisition. It probably will depend on how teams view Young, which will be one of this free agency period’s most interesting storylines.
A brutal knee injury sidelined Young for more than a year, but the former No. 2 overall pick showed some positive signs to start this past season. Young totaled five sacks in eight games with the Commanders last year, drawing trade interest from the Ravens, Jaguars and 49ers. After the Commanders reduced their asking price for Young — on a memorable deadline day in Washington — the 49ers obtained him for a third-round comp pick. The partnership did not produce fireworks, with Young finishing with 2.5 sacks during his Bay Area regular-season run. He did add a sack of Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LVIII, however.
If Young’s market escalates well past the “prove it” point, it would seem the 49ers may have a hard time bringing him back. Some teams, per Graziano, remain intrigued with Young’s potential; the former Heisman finalist entered the league as one of the 21st century’s top defensive prospects.
With Brian Burns and Josh Allen off the market via the franchise tag, interest in Young would stand to increase. Though, other edges — most notably Jonathan Greenard, Bryce Huff and Danielle Hunter — are poised to be available as well. Young’s place on this market is somewhat difficult to peg as of now, but a team viewing this as a buy-low opportunity for a player in the process of re-establishing his value following an ACL tear and a ruptured patellar tendon could conceivably land a steal.
The former Defensive Rookie of the Year probably fits best as a sidekick pass rusher at this point in his career. The 49ers could use such a presence, having seen 2022 second-round pick Drake Jackson fail to return from injury last season. Bosa’s starting bookend partner, Clelin Ferrell, is also on track for free agency. So is Randy Gregory, thanks to a contract reworking.
Although Brock Purdy is on a rookie deal, the 49ers have Bosa tied to a defender-record contract ($34MM per year). They struck that deal after having extended Arik Armstead in 2020 and giving Javon Hargrave a $21MM-AAV pact during free agency last year. San Francisco Young a notable second contract would be a fascinating roster-building move.
Giants Will Not Use Transition Tag On S Xavier McKinney
The safety market lost two key pieces today, with the Buccaneers franchise-tagging Antoine Winfield Jr. and the Patriots transition-tagging Kyle Dugger. The Giants will pass on cuffing their high-priority DB.
Rumored to be a transition tag candidate, Xavier McKinney is now close to reaching free agency. The Giants will not place the lesser-used tag on McKinney, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. This points to the Giants needing to compete with other teams on the open market next week.
It would have cost the Giants $13.8MM to use the transition tag on McKinney. As of now, the team holds just more than $38MM in cap space. The Giants are not giving up hope of reaching an agreement with the safety starter, per the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz. But time is running out.
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This decision opens the door to the Giants losing both McKinney and Barkley in free agency. Barkley is viewed as the top running back available, and although that status does not mean nearly as much as it once did, several teams will undoubtedly be in on the two-time Pro Bowler. McKinney will be in line to sign for more money, especially with Winfield off the market and the Patriots having the chance to match any Dugger offer sheet.
As of late last week, McKinney talks were not believed to have started. The sides had tabled negotiations to 2024, but we are now less than a week from the legal tampering period. Beginning 11am CT on March 11, unsigned players can begin talking to other teams and reaching agreements. Since the tampering period’s debut, most top free agents agree to terms in that 48-hour window. Planning to pass on using tags this year, the Giants are in crunch time with their top free agents.
McKinney talks may be a bit complicated. The former second-round pick, despite missing chunks of two seasons due to injury, said in January he views himself as the NFL’s most complete safety. He does not have a Pro Bowl on his resume. It would seem unlikely, then, the Alabama product agrees to terms with the Giants before seeing what the market looks like.
McKinney set a new career high in tackles last season with 116, also reaching a personal best in pass deflections (11) and recording his second-best completion percentage allowed when in coverage (63.1%). McKinney, 25, missed 10 games as a rookie and then eight in 2022. But he will certainly be one of the top defensive free agents available.
The Giants have seen a few safeties leave in recent years. After the Landon Collins, Jabrill Peppers and Logan Ryan exits (the latter being cut), the team lost Julian Love despite making multiple offers. The Giants factored in an eventual McKinney payment into their Love calculus, but it is entirely possible both will be gone soon.