Teams Calling Vikings On Danielle Hunter
OCTOBER 29: Rapoport and colleague Tom Pelissero report teams continue to inquire about Hunter as the trade deadline draws nearer. As they note, though, it would require a “huge offer” for a trade to be given serious consideration despite his status as a pending free agent. Minnesota won on Sunday to reach 4-4 on the season, meaning the team’s stance as presumed sellers could still hang in the balance depending on how aggressive suitors become in their efforts to add Hunter.
OCTOBER 23: Danielle Hunter interest is gaining steam. After a Friday report indicated teams were monitoring the veteran Vikings edge rusher in potential trades, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports calls are coming in.
The Vikings have indeed taken calls from interested teams, with Rapoport indicating the NFC North club is prepared to listen as the trade deadline (3pm CT, Oct. 31) nears. Hunter is in the final year of his contract, one the Vikings again adjusted this offseason. No substantial offer has come in just yet, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini (subscription required), but that might change over the next week.
Despite Myles Garrett‘s dominant performance in Indianapolis, Hunter still entered Monday night leading the NFL in sacks (eight) and tackles for loss (11). The youngest player in NFL history to reach 50 sacks, Hunter is only in his age-29 season; the 2015 third-round pick will turn 29 this week. The combination of production and age should give the Vikings a prime trade chip, should they choose to cash it in.
Minnesota almost definitely will not be trading Kirk Cousins. While the sixth-year Vikings passer is in a contract year and cannot realistically be franchise-tagged in 2024, high-profile QB trades rarely happen in-season. Cousins, 35, can block any trade due to the no-trade clause included in his 2022 extension agreement. The prospect of relocating and learning a new offense on the fly would stand to be counterproductive for the savvy veteran, who has done extraordinarily well in maximizing his leverage and scoring monster contracts over the course of his career.
The Vikings are also not ready to close up shop on this season, which would put Hunter’s status as a trade chip in question. Minnesota moving Hunter now would gut its pass rush, as Marcus Davenport is on IR and has not ruled out surgery to address his high ankle sprain. The Vikings dealt Za’Darius Smith, after weeks of trade/release rumors, to the Browns in May and did engage in conversations about Hunter while dealing with his contract. The $14MM-per-year deal Hunter agreed to in 2018 was viewed as a team-friendly pact at the time, and it has frequently come up over the past five years. The Vikings reached a resolution with Hunter, guaranteeing him $17MM. With that reworking leaving a $10MM base salary, an acquiring team would only be on the hook for barely $5MM — if the Vikings trade him after their Week 8 game.
Hunter, who has four double-digit sack seasons on his resume, stopped short of confirming he was interested in another long-term Vikes pact when addressing his adjustment this offseason. But the Pro Bowl edge has called the Vikings “a great organization.” The Vikes, however, have big-picture questions to address on the edge. Hunter, Davenport and rotational backup D.J. Wonnum are free agents after this season. The summer contract adjustment also prevents the Vikings from franchise-tagging Hunter, making Minnesota the rare team that cannot use its tag on its top two free agents-to-be. The Vikings not re-signing Hunter before the 2024 league year would also result in a lofty void years-driven cap hit ($14.9MM). Minnesota took a dead-money hit this year after not re-signing Dalvin Tomlinson.
With Hunter likely planning to test the open market for the first time come March, the Vikings will be put to a fascinating decision over the next week. Holding a lead on the 49ers early in Monday night’s game, the team could find itself in the thick of the NFC playoff mix soon. Then again, Minnesota has Justin Jefferson on IR, which will make matters more difficult for Cousins and Co. Hunter might be the biggest defensive trade chip ahead of this year’s deadline, and it will be on GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to determine if an offer is viable enough to wound this year’s team in exchange for quality draft capital.
Latest On Browns’ Deshaun Watson
OCTOBER 29: Watson is still expected to avoid an IR stint, per Schefter and Dianna Russini of The Athletic. A source tells Schefter that Watson is unlikely to be sidelined for more than two weeks, while Russini hears that Watson is “day-to-day.”
OCTOBER 25: The Browns will push back Watson’s second comeback attempt, with Kevin Stefanski ruling him out for Sunday’s Seahawks matchup. Walker, whom the Browns signed to their active roster today, will make another start. Stefanski confirmed (via NFL.com’s Andrew Siciliano) Watson has residual swelling after leaving Week 7 early but reiterated the latest MRI showed no additional structural damage.
Also, in addition to the practice squad acquisition of Jordan Wilkins yesterday, Cleveland enlisted further reinforcements at running back today, signing Nate McCrary to the practice squad, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. With Chubb on IR and Ford doubtful for Sunday, McCrary will compete with Wilkins for a potential opportunity to be elevated and play behind Hunt and Strong in Seattle this weekend.
OCTOBER 24: Deshaun Watson‘s return to action did not last long. The high-priced quarterback left the Browns’ Week 7 game after 12 snaps. While Watson is cleared to play, he continues to experience shoulder pain.
A Tuesday MRI did not reveal any additional injuries coming out of Cleveland’s high-scoring win in Indianapolis, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Watson confirmed he is dealing with a strained rotator cuff last week, and cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot adds the seventh-year QB battling is an injury in the subscapularis muscle, the largest in the rotator cuff.
Watson continues to deal with movement limitations, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds this particular injury can shelve pitchers for between four and six weeks. Doctors have informed Watson this is typically a four- to six-week injury. Watson sustained the injury against the Titans in Week 3 and missed Week 4 after a Saturday MRI revealed the extent of the malady. After Cleveland’s bye week, Watson rested again. Despite returning to practice last week, Watson remains far from 100%.
Sunday’s Seahawks matchup will mark five weeks from the initial injury, though it is unclear how much Watson set his recovery back by returning to face the Colts. The Browns have not decided on a course of action with their $230MM quarterback.
Watson, of course, enjoys unrivaled security due to his fully guaranteed contract. Rushing back would make little sense through that lens. A collision with Colts defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo led Watson out of the Browns’ Week 7 matchup, with Cabot adding the QB’s velocity was down due to this injury affecting his shoulder rotation. The 2022 trade acquisition entering concussion protocol came about because of the independent neurologist; he was cleared of a head injury soon after. But this shoulder problem persists.
If Watson cannot go, the Browns would again turn to P.J. Walker, whom they bumped ahead of Week 1 backup Dorian Thompson-Robinson earlier this month. It is fairly clear this issue will linger for the foreseeable future, which could lead to more Watson absences for the 4-2 team. For Walker to play in Week 8, the Browns must sign him to the 53-man roster. The ex-Panthers backup has made the rare transition from gameday elevation to to QB1, but the team has used up his three allotted elevations this season.
Additionally, the Browns are expected to be without running back Jerome Ford for a bit. The initial Nick Chubb replacement suffered a high ankle sprain Sunday, per Schefter, who classifies this as a “low grade” sprain that is likely to sideline the second-year back a week or two. The Browns signed Kareem Hunt in the wake of Chubb’s knee injury, and they acquired Pierre Strong from the Patriots before the season. Hunt logged 10 carries (for 31 yards) last week; Strong totaled eight (for 25).
Jags Activate DT DaVon Hamilton
OCTOBER 28: Hamilton was activated from IR on Saturday, per a team announcement. The move comes in time for him to make his season debut in Week 8, and with less than one week remaining in his activation window. Even if the 26-year-old is unable to suit up on Sunday, his return will be welcomed by a Jacksonville defensive front which has remained stout against the run in his absence. This move will use up the Jaguars’ first IR activation of the season.
OCTOBER 12: Prior to placing DaVon Hamilton on IR, the Jaguars labeled his back injury a non-football-related medical issue. Doug Pederson revealed no return timetable existed. But the recently extended defensive lineman is now on his way back.
Hamilton returned to Jaguars practice Thursday, starting his 21-day activation clock. Players generally receive return designations earlier in the week. While Hamilton returning on a Thursday does not bode too well for his Week 6 availability, the Jags have until Nov. 2 to pull the trigger on his activation. The Jaguars have not used an IR activation this season.
Jacksonville handed Hamilton a three-year, $34.5MM extension this offseason, displaying confidence in the former third-round pick as a central defensive line cog. The fourth-year D-tackle has been out of action since late in the Jags’ training camp, but he looks to be close to putting this back issue behind him.
Hamilton’s return would strengthen a Jags run defense that already ranks fifth. The team is coming off holding the Bills to 29 yards on the ground. Pro Football Focus graded Hamilton as a top-30 interior D-lineman last season, touting his inside pass-rushing ability while still tabbing him as above average against the run. After working as a spot starter during his first two campaigns, Hamilton moved into the lineup on a full-time basis in 2022, starting 14 contests.
The Ohio State product established new career-high marks in tackles (56) and TFLs (five) in 2022, and he passed on playing out a contract year en route to free agency. To entice him to do so, the Jaguars presented a $20MM guarantee at signing.
The Jags extended both Hamilton and Roy Robertson-Harris up front this offseason, and they have D-tackle Folorunso Fatukasi signed long term as well. The team has made major investments in its front seven, having three cogs signed to veteran deals and three first-rounders (Josh Allen, Travon Walker, Devin Lloyd) in the fold as well. The Jags are on a two-game win streak, having rebounded in London. They are gunning for their first repeat division title since winning the AFC Central from 1998-99.
49ers’ Brock Purdy Clears Concussion Protocol
OCTOBER 28: Shanahan announced on Saturday that Purdy has cleared the protocol, meaning he is off San Francisco’s injury report altogether. He will therefore be able to play in Week 8 as the 49ers look to avoid their losing streak extending to three games.
OCTOBER 27: Purdy has made tangible progress over the past several days, and it remains possible he will be able to play in Week 8. Shanahan confirmed on Friday (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) that Purdy has cleared four of the five steps required to be eligible to return from concussion protocol. If he passes the fifth stage – clearance for full contact – on Saturday, he will be an option to start for San Francisco, something which would delay Darnold’s 49ers debut.
OCTOBER 25: All four of the 49ers’ quarterbacks suffered injuries that took them out of games last season, but Brock Purdy had paused that run of misfortune this year. Not long after completing his recovery from UCL surgery, Purdy looks likely to miss at least one game due to a concussion.
San Francisco’s starting quarterback entered concussion protocol following the team’s Monday trip to Minneapolis, Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday. This points Sam Darnold toward a start against the Bengals in Week 8.
The 49ers signed Darnold to a one-year, $4.5MM deal in free agency, seeking to add a veteran while Purdy rehabbed and Trey Lance returned from a fractured ankle that required two surgeries. Darnold ended up beating out Lance in training camp, and the 2018 No. 3 overall pick has been Purdy’s backup all season.
Purdy began showing concussion-like symptoms on the plane ride back from Minnesota, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows tweets. The 49ers are holding out hope the Mr. Irrelevant investment-turned-starter can clear the protocol in time for Week 8, but since the NFL elongated the process after the Tua Tagovailoa investigation last year, players have more steps to navigate before doing so.
A fourth-quarter quarterback-sneak attempt resulted in Purdy taking a blow to the head from Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks, though the second-year passer stayed in the game. After ramping up in exercise, Purdy must be cleared by both a 49ers physician and an independent neurological consultant before returning to action. The beefed-up protocols have effectively put a stop to players making instant re-emergences after head injuries, and the 49ers will likely be dealt another setback at the game’s premier position. The team saw Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo, Purdy and Josh Johnson go down last season; Johnson’s concussion in the NFC championship game led to the NFL reimplementing the emergency third QB rule this offseason.
In a short week, the 49ers will face a Bengals team coming off its bye. Darnold, however, is one of the NFL’s most experienced backups. He started 55 games with the Jets and Panthers from 2018-22. The 26-year-old passer finished last season as Carolina’s starter, taking over after the team’s Baker Mayfield experiment fizzled. Darnold has struggled with accuracy for much of his career, not completing more than 60% of his passes in a season since 2019. He was at the controls when the Panthers surprisingly rebounded last season, going 4-2 as a starter.
While the former USC star has yet to establish himself as a dependable option, he has shown flashes and chose the 49ers due largely to Shanahan and the offensive talent in place. That nucleus dwarfs the setups Darnold had in New York and Charlotte, though San Francisco was without All-Pros Trent Williams and Deebo Samuel on Monday. Should Darnold be called upon, he will be the seventh 49ers starting quarterback in Shanahan’s tenure. Brandon Allen, who signed with the team in May, would be in place as his backup.
Panthers Unlikely To Trade Brian Burns; Eagles Looked Into Jeremy Chinn
In a strange position of being 0-6 and looking to add a wide receiver, the Panthers possess one of this year’s top trade pieces. Brian Burns continues to be mentioned in trades, with the parties’ failed summer negotiations playing a role in the edge rusher’s cloudy Carolina future.
The Panthers, however, are open to revisiting extension talks with Burns in-season. That may be leading to the chatter the fifth-year defender is more likely to stay. After a report earlier this week indicated the Panthers were informing teams they are not putting Burns on the table, The Athletic’s Joe Person indicates (subscription required) the expectation is Carolina’s top sack artist is not expected to be dealt.
Given what the Panthers rejected for Burns at multiple points over the past year, committing to hammering out an extension would make sense. The team turned down a Rams offer of two first-rounders last year. Los Angeles not having a 2023 first-round pick played into Carolina’s decision to pass there, but Burns — who is now in a contract year, being tied to a $16MM fifth-year option salary — will almost definitely not generate that kind of offer before this year’s Tuesday deadline. Carolina also refused to include Burns in its March trade with Chicago, which led to the Bears insisting D.J. Moore be part of the package that netted the Panthers the No. 1 overall pick.
Those organizational decisions have likely emboldened Burns on the extension front, and Nick Bosa raising the defensive salary ceiling to $34MM per year undoubtedly impacted the Panthers’ negotiations as well. While Burns was previously believed to be in line for a deal that placed him in the top five among edge rushers — more likely at the bottom of that list, around Maxx Crosby‘s $23.5MM-per-year extension — Bosa’s agreement and the salary cap’s rise have likely led Burns’ camp to push for more.
If Carolina commits to revisiting the extension talks, the team will have a 2024 franchise tag in its back pocket. Using a base 3-4 defense, the Panthers would be in line to attempt to save some money on a Burns tag. Even though he functions primarily as an edge rusher, teams have successfully classified 3-4 OLBs as linebackers — rather than defensive ends — under a tag formula that still groups all linebackers together while separating defensive ends. Recent precedent favored the teams here.
In 2020, 3-4 OLBs Shaquil Barrett, Bud Dupree and Matt Judon were each tagged as linebackers. Though, the Ravens and Judon agreed to a compromise that upped the edge defender’s tender number that year. OverTheCap projects the 2024 linebacker tag to check in at $17.42MM and the D-end tag to be $21.64MM. This could be a negotiating tool for the Panthers, should they decide to continue down the road with Burns rather than trade him by Tuesday.
Additionally, the Panthers are still open to trading Jeremy Chinn, Donte Jackson and Terrace Marshall. This has been the case for a bit now, and Marshall requested to be moved. The Eagles made a splashy safety trade this week, landing All-Pro Kevin Byard from the Titans. Prior to the Byard deal being completed, Person adds Philadelphia pursued Chinn.
However, the contract-year DB suffered a quad injury that led him to IR. The Eagles were close to drafting Chinn in the 2020 second round, ultimately deciding to take Jalen Hurts instead despite rostering Carson Wentz at the time. That decision changed the direction of the franchise. While Chinn has excelled at points for the Panthers, he had seen his snaps reduced in Ejiro Evero‘s system prior to the injury. The Panthers should still be expected to be thrown into trade rumors before the 3pm Tuesday deadline, but Chinn is now likely to close out his contract year in Charlotte.
QB Notes: Purdy, Murray, Colts, Love, Howell
Brock Purdy‘s sensational start to his career doubles as a win for the 49ers‘ scouting department. Had the team not used the 2022 draft’s final selection on the Iowa State quarterback, it would have needed to fend off multiple other clubs in the UDFA chase. The Vikings were prepared to make an aggressive pursuit of Purdy in the post-draft signing period, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com notes. Purdy said he was considering the Vikings, 49ers or Texans if he went undrafted.
Minnesota does not have a Kirk Cousins heir apparent lined up, though it did draft Jaren Hall this year, and has its longtime starter in a contract year. The Vikings also use a somewhat similar scheme compared to the 49ers, with the Sean McVay–Kyle Shanahan offenses derived from the Mike Shanahan–Gary Kubiak system. Purdy landing with Houston probably would not have been optimal, given the state of the organization at that point. Though, the Texans — who used Davis Mills and Kyle Allen as starters last year — would have presented by far the best chance for early playing time. Purdy’s seventh-round 49ers deal runs through 2025.
Here is the latest from the QB scene:
- Kyler Murray is not yet on the Cardinals‘ active roster, being designated for return off the PUP list last week. But the Cardinals took Murray off their injury report Thursday. While that opened the door to a possible Saturday activation for Week 8, the team lists the two-time Pro Bowler as doubtful for the Ravens matchup. Jonathan Gannon has said the Cards have a ramp-up period in mind for Murray, who is 10 1/2 months removed from his ACL tear. Week 9 or Week 10 have surfaced as windows for Murray’s re-emergence. Though Murray must be activated by Nov. 8 in order to play this season, it will be interesting to see if the Cardinals start him immediately once he is activated or extend the final stretch of his recovery via more Joshua Dobbs starts.
- Anthony Richardson is not expected to require a second surgery to repair his AC joint injury. The Colts quarterback underwent surgery this week, and Jim Irsay said no new issues emerged during the procedure. Dr. Neil ElAttrache performed the surgery in Los Angeles, per ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder. No timetable exists for Richardson’s return, per Irsay, but given the October operation, he should be ready for offseason work.
- Aaron Rodgers‘ first Packers season resulted in a 6-10 record, marking a significant step back after Brett Favre guided them to the 2007 NFC championship game. Rodgers finished 11th in QBR in 2008, which preceded an eight-year streak of Packer playoff berths. Through six games, Jordan Love sits 17th in QBR but ranks last among qualified starters in completion percentage (57.5). Green Bay has been outscored 63-6 over its past four first halves. After the Packers saw considerable strides from Love in 2022, leading to the Rodgers divorce, Matt LaFleur indicated (via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky) the team’s confidence in the fourth-year QB is “not wavering one bit.” Love, who signed a half-measure extension this offseason to take the place of a fifth-year option, will almost definitely have this full season to prove himself. Barring a lackluster second half, should go into the offseason as the Packers’ 2024 starter.
- Ron Rivera was a bit less emphatic when assessing Sam Howell‘s status. The fourth-year Washington HC said (via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala) he is committed to the 2022 fifth-round pick, but he “can’t predict the future.” Howell has shown flashes; he is also on pace to break the single-season record for sacks taken. David Carr‘s rookie year, with the expansion Texans, currently resides atop that list (76). Howell’s 40 through seven games lead the NFL by 12. Howell sits 25th in QBR. With Rivera’s job far less secure than LaFleur’s, it would not surprise if Jacoby Brissett saw time at some point. Though, the Commanders passed on pursuing upgrades this offseason out of a commitment to Howell, creating the perception of a long leash.
Saquon Barkley Wants To Stay With Giants Beyond 2023
Long-running extension talks led to Saquon Barkley entering this season on the franchise tag, and the back-and-forth spanning from November 2022 to July 2023 put the New Jersey native’s future with the Giants in question.
While the Giants have said they are not planning to trade Barkley, the subject of another contract lingers. As do the proposals each side made during the lengthy negotiations that began during the Giants’ 2022 bye week. Barkley is attached to a $10.1MM tag, and while he could be kept for barely $12MM on a second tag, it is unclear if the Giants will want to devote that much to a running back who will be going into his seventh season by then.
The Giants’ initial offer was believed to be in the $12.5MM-per-year range, but ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes New York’s first proposal was heavy on gameday roster bonuses. The Giants offered Barkley an extension with per-game bonuses around $1MM, effectively tying a notable portion of the deal to playing time. Understandably, Barkley balked and the sides revisited the talks in the offseason. Months of back-and-forth commenced during the sides’ offseason talks, but the two-time Pro Bowler was also minutes from free agency, creating a seminal “what if?” for the former Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Barkley joined Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard in being tagged, thinning the running back market. While a high number of starter-caliber backs still reached free agency, no marquee talents were available. That led to modest offers, with Miles Sanders‘ $6.13MM-per-year deal leading the way. But at least one team was prepared to make Barkley a market-value offer had he been available, according to Raanan. While it is unknown who that team was, the Panthers and Lions devoted the most money to free agent backs this offseason. It is logical either Carolina or Detroit — which respectively ended up with Sanders and David Montgomery — would have pursued Barkley. Though, Detroit had initially wanted to retain Jamaal Williams. When he rejected the offer, the Lions pivoted to Montgomery.
Tied to a Giants tag, Barkley turned down a proposal believed to include at least $22MM guaranteed, which would have covered the cost of two tags. But Raanan adds the Giants did not reach that number until the deadline neared. When New York did come up to the $22MM guarantee neighborhood, the final offer included an AAV drop from where the sides previously were. (The team had offered Barkley $13MM per year at the March deadline to apply tags, though the guarantee number was lower than the July proposal.) The team’s 11th-hour call led to Barkley opting to play on the tag.
Barkley stayed away from the Giants during negotiations and was on track to extend his absence up until Week 1, even threatening a Le’Veon Bell-esque path in which he skipped regular-season games. Barkley’s camp, in turn, was not in lockstep on his decision to report to Giants camp on time in exchange for a modest incentive package (one that will not end up being earned), per the 26-year-old back.
“[I] said, ‘You know what? I’m going to keep quiet — hopefully, you know, just show up, put a smile on my face, work hard, do the things the right way,'” Barkley said, via Raanan. “‘Things going to get taken care of.’ And sadly, it didn’t. But you also could learn from the way Jonathan Taylor did it. At the end of the day, all you want is to be able to say you set yourself up, and get a long-term deal, and get money that you deserve — to help for security of your family.”
Although injuries during the 2019, ’20 and ’21 seasons kept Barkley from high touch totals in three seasons, he will still exit 2023 as a six-year veteran. The Penn State product has recovered from the high ankle sprain sustained in Week 2, but another notable injury on Barkley’s resume will not help his 2024 cause. Neither will a heavy workload down the stretch of this season. Even though Taylor secured a $14MM-per-year deal, that contract may become an outlier as another buyer’s market — which could feature Barkley, Jacobs, Pollard, Ekeler and Derrick Henry — is shaping up for March.
Barkley added that he wants to play into his 30s, but as an every-down back throughout his career, doing so will not be automatic. Even after the tag sequence this offseason, the dual-threat talent remains bullish on staying with the Giants beyond this year. While it will be interesting to see if the sides negotiate again or if a second tag comes to pass, Barkley wants to remain in New York. Though Barkley may not end up collecting a lucrative long-term deal in his career, this tag season will put him over $48MM in career earnings.
“I want to create a legacy, and the way you do that is by continuing to stay with a team through your whole career,” Barkley said. “As I see the NFL and realize the business, you know, it’s less likely for that to happen for players. But if you’re able to accomplish that, it’s special.”
Commanders DE Chase Young Planning To Delay Contract Talks Until Offseason
Chase Young‘s rookie season put him on track to become a clear Washington priority, but a 2021 campaign that involved an ACL tear and patellar tendon rupture changed his NFL path. The former No. 2 overall pick is now in a contract year and has landed in trade rumors.
A team that agrees to acquire the fourth-year defensive end, however, could be obtaining a rental piece. The Commanders did not pick up Young’s fifth-year option, putting him on track for free agency or a franchise tag in 2024. Although Washington could open the door to keeping both Young and Montez Sweat by extending one of them early (and saving the tag for the other), the former does not seem too interested in that path — at least, not right now.
Young would prefer to play out his contract year and address his status with the Commanders (or another team, in the event of a trade) in the offseason, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. This obviously brings some degree of risk, considering the time Young missed over the previous two seasons. But a bet on himself could re-route the former Defensive Rookie of the Year toward a lucrative second deal.
Teaming with Sweat once again, Young is off to a nice start following the injury-plagued stretch. The Ohio State alum has registered five sacks (to Sweat’s 5.5), despite missing the Commanders’ opener due to a non-knee-related injury. In addition to being on pace for his most sacks as a pro, Young has already topped his lackluster 2021 performance. In nine games before the knee injury, Young only tallied 1.5 sacks and four QB hits. He has nine QB knockdowns thus far, making for an interesting contract year. While Young will need to keep showing good form in the season’s final 11 games, he is on pace to command a big contract in 2024.
A year after picking up Sweat’s option, the Commanders passed on Young’s $17.45MM guarantee for 2024. Young having shown little since that impact rookie season put Washington in a bind, when factoring in his draft status, injury history and a new owner coming in. The Young and Sweat decisions will be Josh Harris‘ first set of major personnel calls. At this juncture, it is also premature to suggest either Ron Rivera or GM Martin Mayhew will be in place to make them. That brings another significant complication, pointing to the organization perhaps wanting to wait on a Young contract as well.
Washington appeared close to breaking up its Jonathan Allen–Daron Payne defensive tackle tandem, letting Payne play out a contract year. But the club circled back to Payne via a tag-extension sequence in March. Those two high-end D-tackle deals on the books, though, introduced a complex call for the Commanders at defensive end. A Sweat-or-Young decision has loomed, though an extension for one of them — bringing a lower 2024 cap number — could open the door to both staying. That will depend on how much money Harris and Co. want to allocate to one position group and hinge on the team’s decision at the deadline.
The Commanders are believed to have taken calls on both players, and while they are aiming to keep each, the team potentially staring at a 3-5 record — barring an upset over the Eagles — with two coveted D-ends in contract years would run the risk of a value loss if one of them leaves in free agency. Rivera residing on the hot seat would also point to the Commanders keeping both pass rushers, but at least one team has made an offer for Sweat. It should be expected others will join in, with perhaps Young proposals coming in as well, before the 3pm Tuesday deadline.
After the Commanders spent years assembling this all-first-rounder D-line core, time may be running out on the quartet’s run together. While Young appears fine letting the season play out, Washington has a big-picture decision to make either by the Halloween deadline or at the March deadline to apply franchise tags.
Titans Planning To Start Will Levis In Week 8; Malik Willis Expected To See Time
OCTOBER 27: As expected, the Titans ruled out Tannehill for Week 8. After not missing a start during his first three seasons with Tennessee, the former injury-prone Miami starter has seen ankle trouble sideline him again. This will be Tannehill’s sixth ankle-driven absence in the past two seasons.
OCTOBER 25: Exiting their bye at 2-4, the Titans made a notable trade Monday in sending All-Pro safety Kevin Byard to the Eagles. On the heels of that decision, Tennessee is expected to roll with an unorthodox plan at quarterback in Week 8.
Mike Vrabel said both Malik Willis and Will Levis are likely to play against the Falcons, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds the rookie is expected to make the start in the event Ryan Tannehill cannot go. Dealing with an ankle injury, Tannehill is unlikely to play against Atlanta. The Titans may go as far to alternate Levis and Willis by series, Vrabel added (via ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport), though the sixth-year Tennessee HC did not confirm Tannehill would miss the game.
When Tannehill went down during the Titans’ loss to the Ravens in London, Willis received the first call. The 2022 third-round pick worked as Tannehill’s backup for much of last season, though he experienced initial struggles acclimating to the NFL. Willis still beat out Levis for Tennessee’s QB2 job coming into this season, but the Titans will take a longer look at the second-round rookie. The No. 33 overall pick is on track to see more time than Willis, per Rapoport.
The Titans are in the unusual position of attempting to develop two quarterbacks behind Tannehill. While Willis qualifies as a developmental option, he did not threaten Tannehill’s job security last season. Willis’ first-year woes (50.8% completion rate, 4.5 yards per attempt) led the Titans to sign Josh Dobbs off the Lions’ practice squad late last year and use the latter as their starter in Weeks 17 and 18. Willis also arrived under since-fired GM Jon Robinson, whereas new GM Ran Carthon selected Levis in April.
Closely linked to a quarterback trade-up in Round 1, the Titans engaged in talks with the Cardinals about moving up to No. 3. C.J. Stroud was believed to be the team’s target, but when the Texans chose Stroud at No. 2 overall, the Titans are believed to have backed out of trade talks and regrouped. Tennessee chose guard Peter Skoronski at No. 11 but made its QB strike early the following night, reengaging with the Cards by moving up eight spots for Levis, who was heavily rumored to be a first-round pick.
Mentioned as a Colts target at No. 4 overall, Levis indeed had fans in Indianapolis’ building. But the Colts look to have run a bit of a smokescreen aimed at drafting Anthony Richardson. A two-year starter at Kentucky, Levis tumbled out of Round 1 and hit the developmental track as the other top QBs in this class received calls to start in Week 1.
The Titans entered their bye week bracing for another Tannehill absence. The 12th-year quarterback missed two sections of last season because of ankle trouble, the first of which coming around midseason and leading Willis into the lineup. Vrabel likened Tannehill’s current injury to the one he sustained midway through last year, as opposed to the malady that required a season-ending surgery last December. Tannehill, 35, is in the final season of a four-year Titans contract. Levis seeing extended time this season makes sense, and signs of a long Levis look open the door to more seller’s trades from a Titans team that made several cost-cutting moves this offseason.
Chiefs WR Justyn Ross Lands On Commissioner Exempt List
Justyn Ross will not be available for the Chiefs going forward. After an arrest on misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor property damage charges this week, Ross landed on the Commissioner Exempt list Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
Placement on the list will prevent the second-year wide receiver from practicing or playing in games for the Chiefs. Kansas City signed Ross as a UDFA in 2022, marking an opportunity for a player who was once on track to be a highly drafted receiver. A neck injury at Clemson scuttled those hopes, and a foot injury nixed Ross’ rookie season. His career is now at an early crossroads.
Used when unusual circumstances cloud a player’s status, the exempt list is essentially paid leave. While players frequently play after arrests — as recent Chiefs defensive end pickup Charles Omenihu did after a domestic violence charge before the 2022 NFC championship game — and face suspensions at later dates, the seldom-utilized exempt list will prevent Ross from suiting up. Ross had been active for the Chiefs’ first seven games.
Ross was arrested Monday following an incident involving his ex-girlfriend. The alleged victim said in a 911 call Ross was “dragging her through the house and has torn up the house.” TMZ also reported Ross broke his ex-girlfriend’s phone, as she called police from a neighbor’s house. Ross, 23, pleaded not guilty to both charges. Ross, who could also face a suspension once this matter is adjudicated, must appear in court Dec. 4.
The above-referenced neck injury halted Ross’ promising run at Clemson. Joining Tee Higgins as a key Trevor Lawrence target for a 2018 Tigers team that won a national championship, Ross totaled 1,000 yards and nine touchdown receptions as a freshman. He remained in a prominent role as a sophomore, but the injury kept him off the field as a junior and altered his draft trajectory. Ross returned in 2021 but only tallied 514 yards (11.2 per catch) and went undrafted. Thus far with the Chiefs, Ross has three catches for 34 yards.
While Ross flashed during Kansas City’s preseason slate, the 6-foot-4 pass catcher has not carved out a steady role in an inconsistent receiving corps. Issues separating in practice have plagued the young receiver. Although Ross remains a developmental player, this arrest could certainly affect his chances of remaining with the Chiefs going forward.