Sam Robinson | Pro Football Rumors

Latest On Bills’ Offensive Line

By Sam Robinson | at August 25, 2023 5:07 pm

Dion Dawkins, Spencer Brown and Mitch Morse are locked into Week 1 starting roles for the Bills, but uncertainty clouds the guard spots. And recent developments have Buffalo’s swing tackle role in flux.

If healthy, Connor McGovern is in place as the Bills’ starting left guard. The Bills gave the former Cowboys starter a three-year, $22.35MM deal early in free agency. The fifth-year blocker, however, suffered a knee injury this week. No return timetable has emerged for the team’s top guard investment, ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg notes. Considering the team has already held a long-running right guard battle, McGovern’s availability adds to the confusion here. For what it’s worth, McGovern does not believe this is a serious injury, per the Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran.

Ryan Bates and second-round rookie O’Cyrus Torrence have competed for the RG role. Although the Bills matched a Bears RFA offer sheet (four years, $17MM) for Bates last year, Torrence may be close to overtaking him for the starting gig. The Bills have given Torrence two preseason starts and used him throughout Josh Allen‘s cameo in the second exhibition game. This usage points to a starting assignment coming soon, The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia writes (subscription required).

Pro Football Focus graded Bates as a mid-pack guard last season, ranking him 41st at the position. The team chose Torrence 59th overall — the earliest O-line investment for the Bills since the Cody Ford pick (39th) in 2019 — and ESPN’s Scouts Inc. graded the Florida product as the draft’s best pure guard prospect. Torrence made 34 straight starts to close his college career, and Buscaglia adds the Bills have been pleased with his development.

McGovern being unavailable for Week 1 would open the door to Bates (19 career starts) keeping a starting role, though the team also has UFA addition David Edwards as an option. A three-year Rams starter, Edwards signed a low-end Bills deal (one year, $1.77MM) this offseason. A concussion limited Edwards to four starts last season, but the former Super Bowl starter has made 45 first-string appearances. Edwards’ arrival also complicates matters for longtime Bills blocker Ike Boettger, who worked with the third-team O-line during the first two preseason tilts. Boettger (17 career starts) sticking around for a sixth Bills season may hinge on his performance against the Bears tonight, Buscaglia adds.

The Bills have run into hurdles to fill the swing post behind Dawkins and Brown. Brandon Shell retired midway through training camp, and Tommy Doyle suffered a season-ending injury. David Quessenberry, a former Titans starter who filled this role last year, has not impressed this summer, and Buscaglia notes rookie UDFA Ryan Van Demark is battling the veteran for the job. Quessenberry, who turned 33 this week, has 26 career starts.

It would be interesting to see if the Bills will look outside to address this swing issue. Jason Peters, who began his career with the team, said recently he is looking to play a 19th season. Peters, 41, may be a name to watch, per Buscaglia. Peters caught on late with the Cowboys last year, signing on Sept. 5, and played both tackle and guard as the team dealt with injuries.

Cowboys DE Sam Williams Arrested

By Sam Robinson | at August 25, 2023 8:55 am

AUGUST 25: Providing further details on Williams’ arrest via the police report, Hill notes (on Twitter) the second-year edge rusher was found to have a vape pen with a synthetic narcotic (which is a controlled substance) in his possession, as well as marijuana. Williams also had a Glock hand gun and 14 rounds of ammunition, and was caught driving 71 mph in a 45-mph zone. Those details will no doubt be central to any league investigation into the situation which takes place separate from the legal process unfolding.

AUGUST 23: Frisco (Texas) police arrested Cowboys defensive end Sam Williams on gun and drug charges Sunday night, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Unlawful carrying of a weapon and possession of a controlled substance represent the charges against the second-year edge rusher. While Williams, 24, was back at practice Tuesday, this arrest could certainly produce a suspension, as it comes months after another off-field incident.

A December 2022 car accident led to a police investigation, with Hill adding an arrest warrant was issued for Williams, who was cited for misdemeanor reckless driving. That wreck led to Williams’ hospitalization and a missed Week 16 game, due to a concussion and a neck strain, but further details revealed the Ole Miss alum was driving “up to” 98 mph — in a 55-mph zone — shortly before that crash, Hill adds.

Williams displayed pass-rushing talent as a rookie, registering four sacks as a backup in 15 games. He finished with 10 tackles for loss. While the Cowboys re-signed Dante Fowler and still have Dorance Armstrong under contract behind starters Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, Williams is expected to remain a key part of the team’s deep pass-rushing corps. But Williams’ off-field troubles can now be labeled frequent. A sexual battery charge while at Ole Miss led to a suspension in July 2020. This charge was later dropped, and the Rebels reinstated Williams during that season.

The two incidents involving Williams as a pro could lead to a suspension. Convictions do not need to arise for players to be banned under the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

27 comments Dallas Cowboys Sam Williams

Browns To Trade QB Josh Dobbs To Cardinals

By Sam Robinson | at August 24, 2023 10:52 pm

The Cardinals are still not done on the trade front. Arizona is on the acquiring end of a deal this time, however. The Browns are trading quarterback Josh Dobbs and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Cardinals for a 2024 fifth-rounder (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network). CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones was the first to report (via Twitter) that Dobbs was on his way to the desert.

Jones adds that that Kellen Mond has not, in fact, been placed on waivers. Such a move was announced by the team earlier today, but with Dobbs no longer in the fold, the Browns will retain Mond to keep three quarterbacks on the roster. Most significantly, this news confirms that rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson has done enough to win the backup job behind Deshaun Watson.

This move ends a second Dobbs tenure early. The Browns had rostered Dobbs as their Jacoby Brissett backup last year, but Watson’s return from suspension led to the team cutting him. Dobbs ended up in Detroit and then Tennessee, where he was immediately called upon to start (over Malik Willis) in the Titans’ final two games. Now, the veteran reserve, months after rejoining the Browns on a one-year deal worth $2MM, will join a Cardinals team that came into the day with five QBs rostered. The move points to Kyler Murray remaining on Arizona’s PUP list to start the season.

The trade also comes not long after Kevin Stefanski (via cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot) had named Dobbs as their backup. That was believed to be the plan all along, with the seventh-year vet operating as QB2 as Thompson-Robinson developed. This move will still allow for Thompson-Robinson to grow behind Watson, though an injury to the starter would throw the fifth-round rookie into the fire.

Although Colt McCoy, David Blough, Jeff Driskel and fifth-round rookie Clayton Tune are on Arizona’s roster, the Cardinals brought in Dobbs, who has a history with new OC Drew Petzing. The Browns’ QBs coach last year will bring in Dobbs as McCoy insurance, per ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss (on Twitter). McCoy’s season ended early because of a concussion last year, and he went on IR with another issue prior to that. An elbow problem sidelined McCoy to start this offseason program as well. The 14th-year veteran is going into his age-37 season. Under contract for one more year, McCoy considered retirement this offseason.

To start the year, the Cards’ depth chart will likely be McCoy-Dobbs-Tune at QB, Weinfuss adds. With Petzing on board as the play-caller, TheLandonDemand.com’s Tony Grossi notes the Cardinals tried to sign Dobbs as a free agent. Thompson-Robinson’s emergence changed the Browns’ thinking regarding their QB depth chart, per Grossi.

Despite Dobbs coming into the league as a 2017 fourth-round pick, he had only attempted 17 passes coming into December of last year. The Titans summoned the rocket scientist, and he completed 69% of his passes in a do-or-die game against a much healthier Jaguars squad. The injury-plagued Titans pushed the Jags in that Week 18 game, with Dobbs throwing for 232 yards and a touchdown. Mired in some QB uncertainty until Murray returns, the Cardinals now have the former Steelers draftee in a familiar system.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

12 comments Arizona Cardinals Cleveland Browns Transactions Clayton Tune Colt McCoy Dorian Thompson-Robinson Joshua Dobbs Kellen Mond

Offseason In Review: Las Vegas Raiders

By Sam Robinson | at August 24, 2023 10:35 pm

The Raiders were unable to follow up their 2021 playoff berth with a .500 season, going 6-11 in Josh McDaniels‘ first year. This generated some faint one-and-done buzz for the polarizing coach. Mark Davis squashed those rumors early, but the second-chance HC faces pressure to make progress in Year 2. The former Patriots staple will go into the season with more familiar faces around him, including one that will inject more risk into the Raiders’ equation.

Free agency additions:

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB: Three years, $72.75MM ($33.75MM guaranteed)
Jakobi Meyers, WR: Three years, $33MM ($16MM guaranteed)
Marcus Epps, S: Two years, $12MM ($7.76MM guaranteed)
Brian Hoyer, QB: Two years, $4.5MM ($4.21MM guaranteed)
Robert Spillane, LB: Two years, $7MM ($3MM guaranteed)
Brandon Facyson, CB: Two years, $6.5MM ($2.27MM guaranteed)
Austin Hooper, TE: One year, $2.75MM ($2.17MM guaranteed)
Marcus Peters, CB: One year, $3MM ($1.98MM guaranteed)
DeAndre Carter, WR: One year, $1.5MM ($1.23MM guaranteed)
Damien Williams, RB: One year, $1.17MM
Jacob Bobenmoyer, LS: One year, $1.27MM ($1MM guaranteed)
Greg Van Roten, G: One year, $1.6MM ($908K guaranteed)
Roderic Teamer, S: One year, $1.5MM ($729K guaranteed)
David Long, CB: One year, $1.5MM ($625K guaranteed)
Duke Shelley, CB: One year, $1.5MM ($500K guaranteed)
Jaquan Johnson, S: One year, $1.23MM ($432K guaranteed)
Cam Sims, WR: One year, $1.23MM ($301K guaranteed)
John Jenkins, DL: One year, $1.32MM ($200K guaranteed)
Jordan Willis, DL: One year, $1.23MM ($77K guaranteed)
Phillip Dorsett, WR: One year, $1.23MM

Not only did the Raiders zero in on Garoppolo, they did so after checking on Tom Brady. It is quite possible Garoppolo would have found himself as McDaniels’ second choice behind Brady once again, had the legendary passer not retired for a second time. Brady’s retirement left just one notable ex-Patriots passer on the market, and Garoppolo represents a multiyear stopgap option. Although the contract would allow for a 2024 separation with just $11.25MM in dead money, the Raiders did not use a high draft choice on a quarterback. For the time being, the team has a Garoppolo-centric QB plan in place.

The Patriots’ decision to ship Garoppolo to the 49ers for a second-round pick back in 2017 came with controversy, and the Bill Belichick–Robert Kraft matter affected another franchise’s QB foundation. Rather than sign Kirk Cousins in 2018, the 49ers committed to Garoppolo with a then-record extension. Garoppolo, 31, rewarded the team, which went 38-17 and won four playoff games with the former second-rounder at the controls.

Of course, the immobile passer’s San Francisco stay also brought injuries that have come to define his career. A torn ACL, high ankle sprain preceded 2021 calf, thumb and shoulder injuries. Then, December’s foot fracture ended Garoppolo’s 49ers tenure. All told, Garoppolo has undergone four surgeries and missed 30 games due to injury since that September 2018 ACL tear led to his status as the NFL’s most injury-prone quarterback. Garoppolo’s most recent surgery, to repair the Jones fracture, led to a mini-storyline. The Raiders added a waiver to the middling passer’s contract, and although his passing a physical and beginning training camp on time eliminated the prospect of a quick separation, the addendum illustrates the risk the Raiders are taking with their new QB.

Setting injuries aside (a difficult ask with this particular player), Garoppolo piloted the 49ers to two NFC championship games and Super Bowl LIV. He also rescued the 49ers from their Trey Lance dilemma in 2022, circling back after an offseason of trade rumors to take over once Lance went down in Week 2. Garoppolo began the 49ers’ 12-game win streak, though Brock Purdy‘s stunning form showcased how beneficial Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers’ weaponry can be. QBR placed Garoppolo 12th in 2019, 13th in 2021 and 16th last season, and he completed more than 67% of his passes in 2017, 2019, 2020, ’21 and ’22.

System familiarity aside, McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler have placed a sizable bet on Garoppolo remaining upright and providing an upgrade on Derek Carr, who, if nothing else, offered durability. The Raiders were also not seriously connected to Aaron Rodgers, giving the Jets free access for the future Hall of Famer.

The Raiders leaned into the Patriots West vibe with Hoyer, who missed most of last season with a concussion and considered retirement this offseason. Going into his age-37 season, Hoyer is the NFL’s second-oldest active quarterback (behind Rodgers). Hoyer had the 2014 Browns in playoff contention — before the Johnny Manziel debacle unveiled itself — and quarterbacked the 2015 Texans to the playoffs. He is well past that prime, and while fourth-rounder Aidan O’Connell may be the next man up if/when Garoppolo goes down, Hoyer — a McDaniels charge for four seasons in New England — took first-team reps during Las Vegas’ offseason program.

Keeping this Foxborough-to-Vegas theme going, Meyers is back at the scene of his best-known NFL sequence. The former UDFA’s lateral-gone-bad does not define his career, as he was the steadiest Patriots wide receiver post-Julian Edelman. He is one eight former Patriots offensive players on the Raiders’ roster. Meyers and Garoppolo required the biggest commitments, with the former one of the top options in a shaky free agent WR class.

Meyers, 26, collected the second-most guaranteed money in this year’s class; only Allen Lazard‘s $22MM to rejoin Rodgers eclipsed it. Meyers did not rank inside the top 55 in yards per reception in any of the past three seasons, and he famously set an NFL record for the most receiving yards before scoring a touchdown. But Meyers became Mac Jones‘ security blanket, notching back-to-back 800-plus-yard seasons — the second in the Pats’ disjointed post-McDaniels offense — and found the end zone six times last year. As defenses key on Davante Adams, Meyers will be an important part of McDaniels’ second Vegas attack.

The Raiders operated strangely at cornerback, letting Rock Ya-Sin walk and taking fliers on low-cost options during the spring. Shelley, Long and Facyson combined to secure barely $3MM guaranteed, and after training camp, it looks like none of them will start. The Raiders are likely to use Nate Hobbs and fourth-rounder Jakorian Bennett alongside Peters, who signed just before camp after being linked to the Raiders for months.

A Raiders fan growing up in Oakland, Peters will be counted on to reprise his takeaway-crazed form. Now two years removed from an ACL tear that nixed his 2021 season, the ex-Chiefs first-rounder should be a decent bet to bounce back in Vegas. Coming off the knee injury last year, Peters surrendered seven touchdowns as the nearest defender and allowing a passer rating of 113.7 — a mark far north of his previous two Ravens figures — and missed the final three games of the season with a calf strain.

Peters, 30, cannot be assessed without noting his elite turnover impact. Despite missing the 2021 season, the 6-foot corner leads the NFL in INTs (32) since his 2015 rookie season. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year has also forced 11 fumbles and scored seven TDs. This production offsets his coverage gambles to a degree.

Epps, 27, used a strong 2022 offseason to become an every-down player for the Eagles, who trotted out the former backup on 1,096 defensive snaps — more than double his previous high. PFF did not rate Epps highly (70th) among safeties in his breakout year, but the NFC champions relied on him as C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Avonte Maddox missed time. As the Silver and Black feature some questions at corner, Epps and Tre’von Moehrig will start at safety.

Re-signings:

Jerry Tillery, DL: Two years, $6.8MM ($3.85MM guaranteed)
Jermaine Eluemunor: One year, $3MM ($2.44MM guaranteed)
Alex Bars, G: One year, $1.5MM ($618K guaranteed)
Ameer Abdullah, RB: One year, $1.75MM ($500K guaranteed)
Brandon Parker, T: One year, $1.5MM ($475K guaranteed)
Jakob Johnson, FB: One year, $1.63MM ($275K guaranteed)
Keelan Cole, WR: One year, $1.23MM ($77K guaranteed)
Jacob Hollister, TE: One year, $1.1MM

The McDaniels regime did seem to coax quality play from an offensive line that came into last season with a number of questions. PFF ranked the Raiders’ front 10th, and it drove Josh Jacobs to the rushing title. That said, it was surprising to see the Raiders largely punt on outside acquisitions this year. Van Roten, a former Panthers and Jets regular with 54 career starts, is the only notable outside hire up front. As Van Roten attempts to unseat Bars, the Raiders will run it back elsewhere up front. The 49ers gave Garoppolo Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey over the past three seasons; will the Raiders regret not doing more as they attempt to protect their fragile investment?

PFF graded Bars as by far the worst Raiders O-line starter, placing him as a bottom-10 guard in 2022. But it is possible Las Vegas uses the same right side it did last season. Eluemunor, who played for McDaniels in New England in from 2019-20, has started at both guard and tackle in Vegas. The Raiders are considering Eluemunor at both spots, with 2022 seventh-rounder Thayer Munford in contention to unseat the veteran, 28, from the RT post he manned last year. Van Roten and Eluemunor give the Raiders some options and experience up front. The team also considered moving left guard Dylan Parham, a 2022 third-rounder, to center. But Gruden-era addition Andre James remains there.

A third-round pick in Gruden’s first draft back with the team, Parker represented another option for the Silver and Black. But his career is now at a crossroads, thanks to a second straight IR placement in August.

Notable losses:

Anthony Averett, CB
Derek Carr, QB (released)
Clelin Ferrell, DE
Duron Harmon, S
Mack Hollins, WR
Sidney Jones, CB
Foster Moreau, TE
Denzel Perryman, LB
Trent Sieg, LS (released)
Jarrett Stidham, QB
Rock Ya-Sin, CB

Certainly not the best quarterback in Raiders history, Carr stuck around the longest as a starter. Although Ken Stabler was with the Raiders for 13 seasons, AFL icon Daryle Lamonica delayed the Hall of Famer’s QB1 run. As such, Carr’s 142 starts are by far the most by a QB in franchise history. Carr, 32, signed a three-year, $121.5MM extension shortly after McDaniels and Ziegler took over. But the contract included a February escape hatch. The Raiders got out early, benching Carr before Week 17 and ending a nine-year partnership weeks later.

Mark Davis is believed to have played a role in Carr’s benching/dismissal, with McDaniels and Ziegler pegged as being less behind benching the franchise staple in January. But the Raiders protected their ability to cut Carr, ensuring he would exit the season healthy (as he usually has), ending the relationship on a sour note.

After regressing from his 2016 third-place MVP finish, Carr showed growth under Gruden, finishing in the top 11 in QBR in 2019 and ’20 — despite minimal wide receiver help following the Amari Cooper trade and Antonio Brown combustion — and piloting the Raiders to the 2021 playoffs. Even after the Raiders acquired ex-Carr Fresno State teammate Davante Adams, the QB’s numbers dipped under McDaniels. Carr’s completion percentage dropped from 68.4 in 2021 to 60.8 last season, and his yards per attempt (7.0) was his lowest since the Todd Downing OC season (2017).

The Saints were the only team to show genuine interest in trading for Carr, meeting with the passer in New Orleans and working out trade parameters with the Raiders. Carr decided not to do the Raiders a solid and agree to be traded, wielding the no-trade clause in his third Raiders contract and being released before the guarantee vesting date (Feb. 15). Rather than seeing $40.4MM in guaranteed Carr money vest, the Raiders cut him and saved $29.3MM in cap space, helping finance the Garoppolo deal. Adams had said he was not a Raider solely because of Carr, his longtime friend, but that surely helped streamline the 2022 trade. The All-Pro wideout did not provide a ringing Garoppolo endorsement this offseason.

The Carr era was not especially successful, record-wise, and frequent criticism (and Gruden-years trade rumors) followed the passer. But the Saints will bet on the 10th-year signal-caller, giving him $70MM guaranteed on a four-year, $150MM deal that includes an inflated Year 4 to prop up the AAV. Carr betting on a market forming proved correct, as he received more guaranteed at signing compared to his 2022 Raiders extension. The Raiders attempted to keep Stidham, who delivered a stunning performance (365 passing yards, three TDs) against the 49ers’ No. 1 defense in his first start. But the ex-Patriots draftee preferred the two-year, $10MM Broncos offer, leading to a reconfigured Raiders QB room.

Also interested keeping Perryman, the Raiders went in another direction at linebacker. While Divine Deablo remains at linebacker, Spillane comes in as an expected regular. Following an August 2021 trade, Perryman revitalized his career in Vegas, registering 154 tackles in 2021. In Patrick Graham‘s defense last season, Perryman totaled a career-high 14 tackles for loss.

Trades:

Dealt TE Darren Waller to Giants for 2023 third-round pick

The Brown trade brought a tornado of headlines, and fellow 2019 receiver pickup Tyrell Williams also stumbled as a Raider. Enter Waller, who used that ’19 season to complete a belated emergence. Nearly out of the league due to substance-abuse trouble, the former Ravens wide receiver became Gruden’s biggest success story on offense. Signed off Baltimore’s practice squad late in the 2018 season, Waller erupted for 1,145 yards in 2019. He totaled 1,196 yards in 2020, en route to the Pro Bowl. Only seven other tight ends in NFL history have strung together back-to-back 1,100-yard years. Just as they are starting over at quarterback, the Raiders will reboot at tight end.

Waller, 31 in September, secured a three-year, $51MM extension in September 2022. Hiring Drew Rosenhaus to complete the deal, Waller made a smart move to finalize a raise after he had outplayed his 2019 re-up (four years, $29.8MM). Waller’s second injury-plagued season also made his contract push prudent, but the Raiders grew frustrated with the talented tight end as he struggled to return from a hamstring injury. Hamstring and IT band issues kept Waller off the field for 14 games from 2021-22, halting his momentum and prompting the Raiders to move on.

Despite authorizing the extension in September of last year, the Raiders discussed Waller with the Packers before the deadline. After Green Bay passed on acquiring an injured player, Las Vegas talked a Waller trade with Miami this offseason. The Giants, however, ended up making the move. With the pick obtained in the October 2022 Kadarius Toney swap, Big Blue acquired Waller to be its pass-game centerpiece. This came after an early-March report that indicated the Raiders were not trying to move Waller.

While rumors about the Raiders trading Waller because of a conflict with McDaniels were largely debunked, both he and Moreau — the team’s four-year Waller backup — are gone. The Raiders had attempted to re-sign Moreau, but the New Orleans native — amid a cancer struggle — followed Carr to Louisiana.

Draft:

Round 1, No. 7: Tyree Wilson, LB (Texas Tech) (signed)
Round 2, No. 35 (from Colts): Michael Mayer, TE (Notre Dame) (signed)
Round 3, No. 70: Byron Young, DT (Tennessee) (signed)
Round 3, No. 100 (from Chiefs through Giants): Tre Tucker, WR (Cincinnati) (signed)
Round 4, No. 104 (from Texans): Jakorian Bennett, CB (Maryland) (signed)
Round 4, No. 135 (from Patriots): Aidan O’Connell, QB (Purdue) (signed)
Round 5, No. 170 (from Packers through Jets): Christopher Smith, S (Georgia) (signed)
Round 6, No. 203 (from Texans through Giants): Amari Burney, LB (Florida) (signed)
Round 7, No. 231 (from Patriots): Nesta Jade Silvera, DT (Arizona State) (signed)

To start an eventful pre-draft process, the Raiders were one of the teams to discuss the No. 1 overall pick with the Bears. Those talks did not take off, but the Raiders still met with each of the top five QBs in this draft, being the rare club to do so. That turned out to be a bit of a smokescreen, though it would not exactly have mattered, seeing as Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson were off the board in the top four. A look into the Raiders’ draft room, however, revealed the team was hoping that scenario would come to pass. As a result, defensive targets were available.

It did not appear Jalen Carter received serious consideration from the Silver and Black, who joined a few other teams in passing on the controversial Georgia prospect after meeting with him. Instead, the Raiders were high on two offensive tackles (Paris Johnson, Anton Harrison) and a handful of defenders. The Cardinals sent the Raiders an offer for No. 7 — one that would have given the Raiders No. 12 and No. 33 — but the Silver and Black stood pat and went with Wilson, who profiles as a likely Chandler Jones successor after this season. For now, the Texas Tech product will help keep Jones and Maxx Crosby fresh while contributing as a rotational rusher.

Wilson was on the radar to go as high as No. 2, with buzz about some viewing the Big 12 standout as having more upside than Will Anderson Jr. The Texans disagreed, sending the Cardinals a boatload of assets to move up for Anderson, leaving Wilson on the board. Some teams expressed hesitancy regarding Wilson’s Lisfranc fracture; the Raiders did not. Wilson recently received clearance, coming off the team’s active/NFI list.

Considering Jones’ three-year, $51MM deal does not include any guarantees beyond 2023, it would not surprise if the former All-Pro — after struggling last season — becomes a clear 2024 release candidate. The prospect of a Crosby-Jones-Wilson pass rush does intrigue for 2023, however, provided the ex-Cardinals star can bounce back.

The Raiders placed a first-round grade on Mayer, and the team was among those that attempted to move back into Round 1. After the Lions chose Iowa’s Sam LaPorta at No. 34, decided to make sure they landed him. The latest Notre Dame tight end prospect, Mayer received praise as an all-around tight end — rather than a Waller-type option — coming into the draft. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. graded Mayer as this class’ 19th-best prospect, just behind Dalton Kincaid, but he tumbled to Round 2. Mayer dropped back-to-back 800-plus-yard seasons with the Fighting Irish, combining for 16 touchdown grabs in that span. With only Hooper in place as a veteran option, Mayer should have a big role from the start.

Although the Raiders extended Hunter Renfrow (two years, $32MM) in 2022, they have not been shy about cutting bait on recently authorized payments given to Gruden-era mainstays. Faint Renfrow trade noise circulated, though it looks like the veteran slot receiver will be part of this season’s attack. Scouts Inc. was much lower on Tucker than the Raiders, slotting him 222nd, and the Cincinnati prospect’s 5-foot-8 frame limits him to a degree. The slot player only topped 500 receiving yards once in college (671 in 2022) but has flashed deep speed during the preseason. It will be interesting to see how the Raiders use him as a rookie.

The Raiders passing on Will Levis and Hendon Hooker may well point to multiple years with Garoppolo. Ziegler said in February the team was not dead set on landing a long-term QB this offseason, and it might not have one. The Raiders did trade up for O’Connell in Round 4, and the early returns have been promising. The Purdue product has played well in the preseason and appears to have a chance to leapfrog Brian Hoyer for the backup job, turning the veteran into a mentor type — which probably represents a better role for the 2023 version of Hoyer. Meanwhile, Bennett has moved into a starting role despite his Day 3 status. This could end up being an important fourth round for the Raiders. The team needs some draft hits, as five of the team’s six first-round picks from 2019-21 are gone.

Extensions and restructures:

Created $7.5MM in cap space by adjusting OLB Maxx Crosby‘s contract
Converted $6.33MM of OLB Chandler Jones‘ base salary into a signing bonus, creating $5.07MM in cap space

Other:

Placed $10.9MM franchise tag on RB Josh Jacobs
Tom Brady agrees to buy stake in team; QB not planning another unretirement
Hired Scott Turner as pass-game coordinator, added Matt Lombardi as assistant wide receivers coach
Team added former WR Danny Amendola to coaching staff
Assault charge against WR Davante Adams dropped

Although the Garoppolo and Wilson moves should matter more in the long term, Jacobs’ status has been the top Raiders offseason storyline. The team joined the Giants and Cowboys in not extending its franchise-tagged running back. This puts Jacobs in the worst spot of the three. Barkley had already earned more than $38MM on his rookie contract, while Pollard’s rookie-deal usage (631 touches) behind Ezekiel Elliott should give him a good chance to have the longest career out of this trio.

This tag, however, prevented Jacobs from hitting free agency after becoming the first Raider since Marcus Allen (1985) to win a rushing title. Jacobs’ rookie deal was worth barely $11MM, and after handling an NFL-most 393 touches last year, it is worth wondering what his value will be in 2024 after what promises to be another high-volume season.

Conflicting reports came out of Vegas regarding the Raiders’ interest in extending Jacobs. A pre-deadline report indicated a big-ticket RB contract is not how McDaniels and Ziegler is incongruous with how McDaniels and Ziegler want to build the roster. That would not differentiate them from most other teams presently, as RB value tanked this year. But a post-deadline examination indicated the team offered Jacobs a $12MM-per-year deal that apparently compared favorably to the final Giants proposal to Barkley. Of course, another report pointed to the Raiders not being close to a deal with Jacobs, who, in 2017 Le’Veon Bell fashion, skipped training camp.

The 2018 Bell nuclear option is not expected to take place here, with Jacobs still viewed as likely to rejoin the Raiders before Week 1. Skipping games would result in $561K lost each week. With RB value at a historically uncertain place, Jacobs cannot count on a team waiting for him in free agency next year. The Jets gave Bell a four-year, $52.5MM deal (with a whopping $27MM guaranteed at signing) in 2019. With Barkley, Pollard, Austin Ekeler, Derrick Henry, J.K. Dobbins, Dalvin Cook, D’Andre Swift, AJ Dillon and Antonio Gibson on track to hit the market, Jacobs might find himself trapped in a buyer’s market that features even more quality options compared to this year.

While this year’s round of RB tags highlights how punitive the franchise player designation can be for players, the Raiders were never expected to let Jacobs go. The RB-curious Dolphins called the Raiders on Jacobs, but they are not planning a tag-and-trade scenario. Barring the otherwise RB-deficient team making a surprise call to rescind the tag, Jacobs will begin his fifth season as a Raider.

Brady, 46, would make for an obviously fascinating emergency QB, though the future Hall of Famer has said he is “certain” to be done this time. But the 31 other teams would need to approve such a scenario, one rumored to be in play in Miami last year. Unanimous approval is highly unlikely. For now, the prospect of the 23-year veteran even being a part-owner is on hold. The next league meetings are set for October.

Top 10 cap hits for 2023:

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB: $23.8MM
Kolton Miller, LT: $17.65MM
Davante Adams, WR: $14.74MM
Chandler Jones, OLB: $14.24MM
Hunter Renfrow, WR: $13.13MM
Maxx Crosby, OLB: $12.98MM
Josh Jacobs, RB: $10.09MM
Andre James, C: $6.98MM
Bilal Nichols, DL: $6.69MM
Marcus Epps, S: $4.71MM

Putting much of their stack on Garoppolo, the Raiders reside in a precarious position. Placing this team in the NFC North or NFC South would create more optimism. But they share a division with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. Sean Payton‘s Denver arrival should help that franchise’s fortunes as well. As a result, the Raiders have by far the longest odds to win the division. With the Chiefs having won seven straight AFC West crowns, the Raiders showing progress after a concerning McDaniels-era start should be the goal.

Riding a 20-season streak of finishing in the bottom half of the NFL in scoring defense, the Raiders have questions on both sides of the ball. While they have formed a strong skill-position group and added Wilson to an accomplished pass-rushing duo, the Silver and Black’s season will still hinge on McDaniels generating better performance from Garoppolo than he could from Carr. Garoppolo’s health history makes that a dicey bet. McDaniels is wagering a QB with experience in his system will make a considerable difference as he attempts to spin his HC reputation in a positive direction.

13 comments Las Vegas Raiders Offseason In Review PFR Originals

NFC East Notes: Commanders, Kearse, Giants

By Sam Robinson | at August 24, 2023 10:22 pm

Battling a turf toe issue sustained Monday night, Terry McLaurin will not need surgery. But an extended rest period is underway. This hiatus has the top Commanders skill-position talent uncertain to be ready by Week 1, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler (Twitter links). McLaurin has not missed a game due to injury since 2020. The Commanders have made some big investments at wide receiver since starting McLaurin’s tenure off with little around him. Curtis Samuel is going into the final season of his three-year, $34.5MM contract, and the team has first-rounder Jahan Dotson going into his second season. But McLaurin has been one of the NFL’s best receivers, totaling his third straight 1,000-yard season months after signing a three-year, $69.6MM extension.

Here is the latest from the NFC East:

Washington’s offensive line is nearly set. Free agent Nick Gates will enter the season as the starting center, despite the team drafting Ricky Stromberg in Round 3, while SI.com’s Albert Breer notes Sam Cosmi — a converted tackle who was not a full-time starter last season — will line up at right guard. The left guard competition is not yet over, but Saahdiq Charles is believed to have the lead on Chris Paul. Stromberg could have a chance to step in at center or one of the guard spots, Breer adds, noting the rookie improved as camp progressed. Stromberg earned third- and first-team All-SEC acclaim during his final two seasons at Arkansas. If nothing else, Stromberg represents intriguing 2023 depth. Charles Leno and free agency addition Andrew Wylie are in place at tackle.
The Giants have not determined who their starting guards will be, having held a three-way competition between Mark Glowinski, Ben Bredeson and 2022 third-rounder Joshua Ezeudu. But they ended their center competition. Second-rounder John Michael Schmitz ran away with the competition and will start, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post notes. Just before the Giants picked Schmitz at No. 56, Brian Daboll said the All-Big Ten blocker could start in Week 1. Schmitz and two of the above-referenced trio will take their spots alongside Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal up front for the Giants.
Big Blue continues to consider a cornerback configuration where Adoree’ Jackson shifts to the slot, with Schwartz adding the current plan appears to be a setup with the veteran inside and rookies Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins on the perimeter. The Old Dominion-developed sixth-rounder moving into the lineup would keep slot options Darnay Holmes and Cor’Dale Flott on the bench, with Jackson — a career-long boundary corner — taking over there. This would be a bold move, but it has been on the team’s radar for a bit now.
Myles Jack announced his retirement shortly after joining the Eagles. The veteran linebacker had taken first-team reps with the defending NFC champions, but ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan notes Zach Cunningham — who signed with Philly on the same day Jack did — had moved ahead at the position. Amid a February salary purge, the Titans released Cunningham after an injury-plagued season. Cunningham, 28, has made 76 career starts and would be an interesting option alongside Nakobe Dean. While Cunningham is not a lock to start, The Athletic’s Bo Wulf notes the former Texans second-rounder and extension recipient is a roster lock (subscription required).
Finishing up an offseason in which the Cowboys took care of their safeties, the team guaranteed Jayron Kearse‘s $4MM 2023 base salary, per ESPN’s Field Yates and Todd Archer (on Twitter). As a vested veteran, Kearse’s salary would have become guaranteed just before Week 1. But the Cowboys offered some protection for the starter. At safety this offseason, Dallas re-signed Donovan Wilson to a three-year, $21MM deal and extended Malik Hooker for the same terms. Kearse, who has started 29 of the 30 games he has played with the Cowboys, is tied to a two-year, $10MM deal signed in 2022.

3 comments Dallas Cowboys New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Tennessee Titans Adoree' Jackson Chris Paul Jayron Kearse John Michael Schmitz Myles Jack Nick Gates Ricky Stromberg Saahdiq Charles Sam Cosmi Terry McLaurin Tre Hawkins Zach Cunningham

T.J. Hockenson Seeking Top-Market Deal

By Sam Robinson | at August 24, 2023 9:24 pm

Justin Jefferson will be expected to push the wide receiver market past $30MM per year. His Vikings teammate looks to be interested in elevating a stagnant tight end market.

T.J. Hockenson has missed time due to multiple issues during Vikings training camp, but he is also going into a contract year with a team that traded for him at the 2022 deadline. The former top-10 pick wants to reset the tight end market, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter).

A Hockenson extension has been on Minnesota’s radar for a bit, team and player are not close on terms. Considering Hockenson’s ask, that should be expected. But the Vikings want to extend Hockenson, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com notes. The former Lions draftee is going into his fifth-year option season, being set to count $9.24MM on the Vikings’ cap sheet.

Although Hockenson is certainly not considered the game’s top tight end, the market has resided in a strange place due in part to the player who is. Travis Kelce probably could have driven the TE market close to $20MM per year, but he signed a Chiefs-friendly extension during the 2020 offseason. Kelce is tied to a four-year, $57.25MM contract. While the future Hall of Famer addressed the topic this offseason, it does not sound like he will push for a new deal. The top two TE AAVs belong to Darren Waller ($17MM) and George Kittle ($15MM).

Minnesota traded a 2023 second-round pick and a 2024 third-rounder for Hockenson, taking back 2023 and 2024 fourths (the second becoming a fourth due to the Vikings not winning a 2022 playoff game) in the intra-NFC North swap. Hockenson is coming off his best season — an 86-catch, 914-yard, six-touchdown offering split with the two NFC North teams — but emerged as the Vikings’ No. 2 option behind Jefferson down the stretch. A Jefferson extension is on the Vikes’ radar — though, perhaps not this year — and that deal will most definitely top the receiver market. It would be interesting for the Vikings to authorize two market-topping deals at the pass-catching posts.

Then again, the below-market deals Kelce and, going farther back, Rob Gronkowski signed have led to this position falling well behind wideouts. In the not-too-distant future, a tight end will break the $20MM-AAV barrier. Kittle, Kelce, Mark Andrews and Dallas Goedert are all signed through at least 2025, putting Hockenson as the current candidate to raise the ceiling.

Hockenson missed weeks of camp with an ear infection he said affected his equilibrium, Seifert adds, and is now sidelined after complaining of back stiffness. The Iowa product certainly could be labeled a hold-in, though he denied his missed practices are contract-related. Kevin O’Connell echoed that, indicating Hockenson has not brought up the contract matter to him.

“No, that’s not my focus,” Hockenson said of his contract, via Seifert. “My focus is to be out here with these guys on Sept. [10] and be ready for September and be ready for game days on Sunday.”

If no extension commences this year, the Vikings would have the option of franchise-tagging Hockenson in 2024. Although no tight ends received the tag in March, three did in 2022. David Njoku signed an extension, while Dalton Schultz and Mike Gesicki played out their contracts and hit free agency (en route to modest deals).

14 comments Minnesota Vikings T.J. Hockenson

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/24/23

By Sam Robinson | at August 24, 2023 8:45 pm

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Detroit Lions

Waived from IR via injury settlement: WR Denzel Mims

Green Bay Packers

Waived from IR via injury settlement: OL Jake Hanson

Houston Texans

Signed: OL Keaton Sutherland
Placed on IR: OL Kilian Zierer

Las Vegas Raiders

Waived from IR via injury settlement: T Brandon Parker

New York Giants

Waived from IR via injury settlement: OL Devery Hamilton

Philadelphia Eagles

Re-signed: T Fred Johnson

Washington Commanders

Signed: DT Anthony Montalvo

The Lions made a minor trade for Mims earlier this month, ending the former second-round pick’s unremarkable Jets tenure. But Mims struggled to catch on in Detroit as well. The Baylor alum is now headed toward free agency, should no one claim him. The Lions waived Mims with an injury designation, due to the fourth-year wideout encountering multiple ailments.

Parker landed on IR earlier this month. The Raiders will cut their former third-round pick loose. Depending on the terms of the settlement, Parker could return to the Raiders later this year. The sixth-year veteran could also land elsewhere, as this transaction will move him off Las Vegas’ IR. But the 32-game Raiders starter missed all of last season due to injury and moved out of the right tackle competition via injury once again this year.

The Eagles have circled back to Johnson quickly. After cutting the fifth-year veteran Wednesday, the defending NFC champions have him back in the fold on a two-year contract. The 26-year-old lineman had recently been promoted to second-team left tackle. Johnson started eight games for the Bengals from 2019-21.

1 comment Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Las Vegas Raiders New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles Transactions Washington Commanders Anthony Montalvo Brandon Parker Denzel Mims Devery Hamilton Fred Johnson Jake Hanson Keaton Sutherland Kilian Zierer

Dolphins Sign LB Alexander Johnson

By Sam Robinson | at August 24, 2023 8:30 pm

Coaching ex-Bronco defenders Bradley Chubb and Malik Reed once again, Vic Fangio will reunite with another of his former Denver cogs. Alexander Johnson signed with the Dolphins on Thursday.

Like Chubb and Reed, Johnson, 31, was a regular throughout Fangio’s Denver stay. Fangio’s arrival soon led to a regular role for Johnson, who played alongside Josey Jewell for three seasons in Denver. A 2021 pectoral injury, however, stalled the off-ball linebacker’s momentum.

Coming into the NFL at 26 due to an off-field issue, Johnson played in just one game as a rookie in 2018. Early in the 2019 season, Fangio inserted the Tennessee alum into the starting lineup to spark the Broncos’ run defense. Pro Football Focus graded Johnson as that season’s third-best off-ball ‘backer. In 2020, Johnson totaled a career-high 124 tackles. Between those two years, Johnson forced four fumbles.

Prior to his October 2021 pectoral tear, Johnson received a second-round RFA tender to stay in Denver. However, this injury and having turned 30 just before his first free agency bid effectively scuttled Johnson’s market. The Seahawks signed the former UDFA late last year but only used him in one game. The Dolphins will provide a late-summer opportunity. Teams must finalize their 53-man rosters by 3pm CT on Tuesday; they can begin assembling their practice squads the following day. Clubs can keep up to six vested veterans on their 16-man taxi squad.

The Dolphins signed David Long to play alongside Jerome Baker at linebacker. Duke Riley and Andrew Van Ginkel are likely locked into backup jobs, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. Channing Tindall, a third-rounder last year, has not enjoyed a quality training camp, per Jackson, though it is unlikely the Dolphins give up on him after two offseasons. Though, Tindall only played nine defensive snaps last year.

In addition to the Johnson signing, the team waived linebacker Mike Rose and waived safety Myles Dorn with an injury designation Thursday.

2 comments Miami Dolphins Transactions Alexander Johnson Andrew Van Ginkel Channing Tindall Duke Riley Mike Rose Myles Dorn

Broncos’ Jerry Jeudy In Jeopardy Of Missing Regular-Season Time

By Sam Robinson | at August 24, 2023 7:37 pm

The Broncos continue to experience persistent trouble keeping their wide receivers healthy. Weeks after another Tim Patrick season-ending injury, Jerry Jeudy is now in jeopardy of beginning the regular season on the inactive list.

A hamstring injury required Jeudy to be transported off the Broncos’ practice field on a cart Thursday, and while 9News’ Mike Klis notes the cart was precautionary, an MRI confirmed Jeudy’s malady is significant. Denver’s top receiver is expected to miss several weeks, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).

This is on-brand for the 2020s Broncos, who used a few first- and second-round picks on wideouts but have been unable to either keep them on the field together. Patrick, who suffered a torn ACL during training camp last year and a torn Achilles earlier this month, will exit this season having missed 34 consecutive games. KJ Hamler, who has battled injuries throughout his career, is off the roster — perhaps temporarily — due to a heart condition. Courtland Sutton missed 14 games in 2020 due to an ACL tear.

Jeudy, 24, has been the healthiest of this receiving group. His only extended absence came early during the 2021 season, when he sustained a high ankle sprain. The 2020 first-round pick missed seven games that season and ended the campaign without a touchdown. Despite Denver’s widespread offensive struggles last season, Jeudy finished with a career-high 972 receiving yards and six TDs. The elusive Alabama product produced two 100-yard games in his final three last season and scored three TDs in a December loss to the Chiefs. The Broncos picked up Jeudy’s $12.99MM fifth-year option in May.

The regular season being 2 1/2 weeks away puts the Broncos in a time crunch with Jeudy. Sutton and second-round rookie Marvin Mims represent the team’s top two healthy wideouts. Mims missed time earlier in camp due to a hamstring malady as well. Denver has two of Sean Payton‘s former Saints charges — Marquez Callaway and Lil’Jordan Humphrey — along with regular backup Kendall Hinton. The team lost Jalen Virgil to a meniscus injury during its second preseason game, leading him to IR.

Denver dangled Jeudy in trades this offseason but held a high price, asking for a first-rounder. The team asked for a second-rounder to move Sutton, and the Ravens engaged in negotiations prior to signing Odell Beckham Jr. Payton soon said both players were in his 2023 plans. These two represent the Broncos’ top receivers, and with Patrick out, it is unlikely either is moved. Despite Jeudy’s injury being classified as significant, it would surprise if the Broncos used an in-season IR spot here. That would sideline Jeudy for the season’s first four games. Denver keeping its top pass catcher on the 53-man roster and going week to week would be the likelier scenario.

1 comment Denver Broncos Jerry Jeudy

Bears, Broncos In On Jonathan Taylor?

By Sam Robinson | at August 24, 2023 6:30 pm

Two non-Dolphins Jonathan Taylor suitors may have emerged. The Bears and Broncos are believed to have expressed interest Taylor, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes.

Having more teams enter the fray will help the Colts and Taylor’s camp drive a market, but Jackson adds no team has submitted an offer that meets the AFC South team’s demands. The Colts are said to want a first-round pick or a package similar in value. No team has traded a first-rounder for a running back since the Colts did so (for Trent Richardson) in September 2013.

It is not known if the Bears or the Broncos have made an offer. Two teams are believed to have done so, and given the Dolphins’ connections since the Colts let their disgruntled back seek a trade, it would surprise if Miami was not one of the teams to have submitted a proposal. The Colts and Dolphins have held ongoing discussions. The Broncos and Bears each made moves at running back this offseason, though Taylor would obviously surge to the top of either team’s depth chart.

Chicago signed D’Onta Foreman to a one-year, $2MM deal and used a fourth-round pick on Texas’ Roschon Johnson. But previous David Montgomery backup Khalil Herbert is positioned as the committee leader as we near the regular season. A Taylor addition would crowd this backfield, though the Bears do have a connection. Matt Eberflus was the Colts’ DC during Taylor’s first two seasons. This would be a fascinating partnership, Taylor teaming with Justin Fields, due to the Bears having led the NFL in rushing last season.

The Broncos were also in on Dalvin Cook, though they were not believed to have been a serious suitor. That makes it worth wondering if the team is seriously interested in Taylor. Unlike the Bears, the Broncos have a franchise-QB contract on their books. Russell Wilson‘s cap number spikes from $22MM this year to $35.4MM in 2024. Restructuring the deal would be an option for Denver, but the team has seen starter Javonte Williams make a quick recovery from ACL and LCL tears. Going down in Week 4 of last season, Williams returned for training camp and made his preseason debut last week. The Broncos also gave Samaje Perine a two-year, $7.5MM deal; the ex-Bengal backup is expected to see frequent work alongside Williams.

As for the Dolphins’ lingering interest, Jackson adds Taylor has a home in South Florida and would be fine with a deal that sends him to the AFC East club. The Dolphins are not the only team Taylor would be OK with joining, however. “Several” teams would appeal to Taylor, whose trade request became public nearly a month ago. After some Jim Irsay comments did not go over well, the fourth-year back is believed to be dug in as he attempts to leave Indianapolis.

It will be interesting to see if Taylor insists on having a new contract in place or whether he would be amenable to playing out his rookie deal elsewhere. Taylor, 24, is believed to be seeking an upper-echelon RB contract, doing so in a year that has not seen one handed out. Other teams have shown hesitancy to grant that wish, likely affecting the trade offers being sent. Taylor not insisting on a new deal would also give another team the option of placing a low-cost franchise tag on him in 2024. With that representing one of Taylor’s issues with the Colts — who are not planning to extend him this year — it would surprise if the 2021 rushing champion would be fine if his next team had no immediate extension plans.

The Colts have a seemingly good situation as far as a Taylor payment would go, holding Anthony Richardson on a rookie contract that runs through 2026. This situation has progressed to the point Indianapolis is giving the former second-rounder until Tuesday — when the team must set its final roster, which will include a decision regarding Taylor’s PUP status — to bring back an acceptable trade offer.

19 comments Chicago Bears Denver Broncos Indianapolis Colts Miami Dolphins Jonathan Taylor

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Author: Sam Robinson