Sam Robinson | Pro Football Rumors

Bears Claim LB Mykal Walker

By Sam Robinson | at August 14, 2023 7:33 pm

Not long after using their top waiver position to pick up Bravvion Roy, the Bears capitalized on their waiver priority to add another recently cut NFC South defender. Mykal Walker will head from Atlanta to Chicago.

The Falcons waived the contract-year linebacker Sunday, marking an interesting shift after Walker started 12 games for the team last season and 20 overall during his career. The Bears are now responsible for Walker’s contract year, though that checks in at just $895K.

Atlanta has made some changes on defense this offseason, hiring Ryan Nielsen to take over for the re-retired Dean Pees as defensive coordinator. The Falcons have overhauled their linebacking corps from the Thomas Dimitroff era. A Dimitroff-era draftee, Walker joins Foye Oluokun, De’Vondre Campbell, Deion Jones and Rashaan Evans as linebacker regulars to leave Atlanta in recent years. Walker, 26 later this month, will now attempt to crack a Bears 53-man roster, one that will feature major changes at the position.

The Bears authorized this year’s top free agent linebacker contract, giving Tremaine Edmunds $18MM per year (fourth among off-ball linebackers) and $43MM fully guaranteed (third at the position). They also added T.J. Edwards on a $6.5MM-per-year accord. The Bears let Nicholas Morrow walk in free agency but still have part-time 2022 starter Jack Sanborn under contract. Sanborn suffered a season-ending ankle injury in December. The team is ailing a bit at the position, with ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin noting (via Twitter) Edmunds and UFA pickup Dylan Cole were not available Monday.

A Fresno State alum, Walker finished with career-high 107 tackles (four for loss) and two interceptions last season. Pro Football Focus assigned a mid-pack grade to Walker’s 2022 campaign, placing him 55th overall among off-ball ‘backers. Walker also notched a 66-yard pick-six in 2021. The Bears waived linebacker Kuony Deng to clear a roster spot for Walker.

3 comments Chicago Bears Transactions Kuony Deng Mykal Walker

Jets Audition OTs Ty Nsekhe, Zach Banner

By Sam Robinson | at August 14, 2023 5:52 pm

On shaky ground at tackle for months, the Jets are looking into additional help at the position. Veterans Ty Nsekhe and Zach Banner worked out for the team Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets.

Nsekhe spent last season with the Rams, while Banner was once eyed as a Steelers starter. Banner spent last season out of football, seeing a September 2020 ACL tear sidetrack his career. The Jets are also dealing with injuries at tackle, though their situation has been murky for months.

Since the Steelers hopped in front of them to draft Broderick Jones at No. 14, the Jets have seen the injury issues affecting Duane Brown and Mekhi Becton qualify as bigger problems. Finishing off his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery, Brown remains on the team’s active/PUP list. Becton, who has missed 33 games since a September 2021 knee injury, took himself out of the Jets’ Hall of Fame Game matchup. But the former left tackle starter played 27 snaps in the Jets’ second preseason game Saturday, providing hope this comeback can lead to a regular-season role. Even considering this and Becton’s significant weight loss, the 2020 first-round pick has been one of the NFL’s least reliable players this decade.

In Brown, the Jets already roster the NFL’s oldest tackle. The former Pro Bowler will turn 38 this season. But so will Nsekhe, who will turn 38 in October. The longtime swing tackle/spot starter entered last season without a gig, but the Rams added him amid injury trouble on their O-line. Nsekhe started eight games for the battered defending champions last season. Despite the former UDFA not signing until mid-October, the eight starts marked a career-high total. Pro Football Focus viewed Nsekhe as a decent option there, ranking him 33rd among tackles in 2022.

Banner, 29, played seven Steelers games in 2021 but did so at less than 100%. The Steelers planned to use the 6-foot-9 blocker as their starting right tackle in 2020, but the knee injury removed him from that equation. The Steelers drafted Dan Moore in the 2021 third round. Moore and Chukwuma Okorafor have been Pittsburgh’s starting tackles since, though Jones is attempting to make his way into the lineup as a rookie.

The Jets signed Billy Turner this offseason and have Max Mitchell, a 2022 fourth-round pick, coming back from a blood clot issue that ended his rookie season. The team also circled back to its tackle need in the draft, selecting Carter Warren in Round 4. Still, the team has serious questions at tackle ahead of Aaron Rodgers‘ first season in New York.

7 comments New York Jets Mekhi Becton Ty Nsekhe Zach Banner

Patriots To Extend LB Raekwon McMillan

By Sam Robinson | at August 14, 2023 5:29 pm

Raekwon McMillan‘s history of contract extensions doubles as one of the more interesting run of transactions in recent NFL history. For the second time, he has agreed to a Patriots extension ahead of a season in which he will not participate.

The Patriots are signing McMillan to another extension, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal will be worth up to $2.25MM. It comes more than two months after McMillan suffered a season-ending injury during the Pats’ offseason workouts. McMillan went down with a partially torn Achilles in May.

This agreement emerges two years after a similar pact. McMillan suffered a torn ACL during the Pats’ 2021 training camp, but the team still extended him for the 2022 season — via a one-year, $1.27MM deal agreed to in late September of that year. The Patriots-McMillan partnership can be classified as strange, with the team giving the veteran linebacker two contracts after major injuries. But this ensures the Pats are not planning an injury settlement with the former Dolphins draftee. He will be in the picture to return for the 2024 Pats iteration.

McMillan, 27, bounced back from his 2021 ACL tear to play 16 games for the Patriots last season. He operated more as a special-teamer than defensive regular, playing 64% of New England’s ST snaps and 250 total defensive plays. The Ohio State product made 35 tackles (five for loss) and returned a fumble for a score.

McMillan previously worked as a Dolphins starter over the first two seasons of his career, but the Raiders acquired him via trade in 2020. After a season as a part-time Las Vegas starter, McMillan signed a one-year, $1.15MM accord with the Patriots in 2021. He has since agreed to two more Pats pacts.

It cannot exactly be considered a lock McMillan is with the team in 2024. He has now suffered two ACL tears and this partially torn Achilles as a pro. The first of those ACL setbacks occurred during McMillan’s rookie year. The former second-round pick will exit 2023 having missed three full seasons during his seven-year career. But Monday’s agreement ensures the team will give the veteran defender another opportunity.

2 comments New England Patriots Transactions Raekwon McMillan

Ravens To Extend DL Broderick Washington

By Sam Robinson | at August 12, 2023 7:00 pm

AUGUST 12: Further details on the Washington extension are in, courtesy of Wilson (Twitter link). The guarantee total includes a $3MM signing bonus, and the 26-year-old’s base salaries (1.01MM in 2023, $5.99MM in 2024) are guaranteed in full. The deal also features a $3.3MM option bonus and $250K Pro Bowl incentives each year, giving Washington the ability to boost his earnings if his full-time starting role results in a step up in production.

AUGUST 9: Broderick Washington will not play out a contract year with the Ravens. The fourth-year defensive lineman agreed to terms on a three-year extension with the team Wednesday morning, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports (on Twitter).

The former fifth-round pick will stay in Baltimore beyond 2023 on a deal that Wilson adds will max out at $17.5MM and contains $10MM in total guarantees. In terms of base value, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec notes the pact checks in at $15.75MM. Washington emerged as a part-time starter last season, with more being expected of him this year. The Ravens will illustrate their commitment via this through-2026 deal.

This represents a nice payday for a player who had two starts on his resume through two seasons. A Texas Tech alum, Washington stepped in as a nine-game starter in 2022. The Ravens released Calais Campbell this offseason, leading him to the Falcons. In the D-line stalwart’s place, Washington is expected to step in on a full-time basis alongside Justin Madubuike and Michael Pierce.

Baltimore frequently lets role players leave in free agency in exchange for compensatory picks, but Washington will become an exception — even as the Ravens begin building around Lamar Jackson‘s $52MM-per-year contract. With Pierce going into his age-31 season and coming off an injury-shortened 2022, Baltimore has identified one of its future D-line pillars. This could certainly become a team-friendly extension, with the AAV outside 40 among interior defensive linemen.

Madubuike, who has started 30 games in his three-year career, remains unsigned beyond this season. As our Ely Allen pointed out earlier this summer, Madubuike (5.5 sacks last year) may be slightly pricier to extend.

Washington and Madubuike (Round 3, 2020) have seen their roles grow during a period in which the Ravens had seen some veterans go down with injuries or leave in free agency. Pierce missed 14 games last season, while Derek Wolfe‘s Ravens career came to an abrupt halt after re-signing in 2021. The team did not give longtime D-tackle bastion Brandon Williams a third contract after his second expired last year.

As the Ravens’ defense has gotten younger up front, Washington, 26, has steadily grown as a contributor. After playing 283 defensive snaps in 2021, he was on the field for 483 last season. The 304-pound D-lineman totaled 49 tackles and deflected six passes. Pro Football Focus placed Washington’s 2022 season 31st among interior D-linemen.

Entering training camp, the Ravens had cogs at every other defensive position signed long term. Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Williams and Roquan Smith are tied to big-ticket veteran extensions, while Kyle Hamilton, Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo are signed beyond 2023 on rookie deals. Baltimore’s defensive line, conversely, had been fairly unsettled. Pierce joins Madubuike in being unsigned beyond this season. This Washington deal will provide the AFC North franchise some clarity along its front.

0 comments Baltimore Ravens Transactions Broderick Washington

Offseason In Review: Arizona Cardinals

By Sam Robinson | at August 11, 2023 9:59 pm

The Kyler Murray homework clause showed signs the team’s recommitment to its previous nucleus may not work out, but it was difficult to predict just how far the Cardinals would fall. Murray struggled through his worst season, one that ended with an ACL tear, and the Cardinals bailed on the Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim extensions less than a year after authorizing them. While the Titans joined the Cards in ditching a GM they had extended earlier in 2022, Arizona pulled the plug on its head coach as well. As a result, this franchise appears to be transitioning into a clear rebuild.

Coaching/Front Office:

Fired Kliff Kingsbury as HC, Steve Keim as GM
Named Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon head coach, hired Titans exec Monti Ossenfort as GM
Cardinals, Eagles exchanged draft picks due to tampering penalty for improper pursuit of Gannon
Hired Eagles LBs coach Nick Rallis as defensive coordinator, Browns QBs coach Drew Petzing as OC
Parted ways with DC Vance Joseph; defensive line coach Matt Burke became Texans’ DC
Named Lions director of college scouting Dave Sears as assistant GM
Added Colts’ Klayton Adams as offensive line coach, Browns’ Israel Woolfork as QBs coach
Interim GM Adrian Wilson left to become Panthers’ VP of player personnel
Former exec Terry McDonough files complaint against owner Michael Bidwill

Keim’s tenure produced high points, one of them including the only 13-win season in Cardinals history (2015). The team could not follow up that Carson Palmer-led effort, and the QB’s retirement preceded a 3-13 campaign. Bidwill still gave Keim the opportunity to hire a third head coach (Kingsbury). Draft misses plagued Keim in Arizona, but despite those and the extreme DUI arrest in 2018, the GM lasted 10 years and secured an extension following the Cards’ 2021 playoff berth. The organization is still on the hook for Keim money through 2027, with the longtime exec out of football, but it altered its blueprint by making an outside hire to replace him.

The Cardinals promoted Keim from within in 2013 and elevated his predecessor, Rod Graves, from in-house in 2003. Coming into this offseason, Bob Ferguson (hired in 1996) represented the franchise’s last outside addition for the GM role. With the Cardinals being unable to sustain success under Graves or Keim, the objective became an outside hire. Ossenfort beat out Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham for the position, but a report also indicated Cunningham turned down the job. Regardless of how Ossenfort reached this post, it will be on him to attempt to revive the Cardinals.

The latest ex-Bill Belichick staffer given a chance to lead a team, Ossenfort indeed spent the bulk of his professional career in New England. The Minnesota native worked his way up from the personnel assistant level to the Patriots’ director of college scouting by the time his 17-year Foxborough run ended in 2019. The Titans hired Ossenfort as their player personnel director, under fellow ex-Pats staffer Jon Robinson. Ossenfort, 45, interviewed for five GM jobs from 2020-23, receiving interest as the Titans continued to voyage to the playoffs while lacking a top-tier quarterback. After spending his career helping the Patriots extend their dynasty and keeping the Titans on the contender tier, Ossenfort has taken over a fixer-upper in Arizona.

Bidwill and Keim’s Kingsbury hire drew criticism in the moment, with the team firing a Black coach (Steve Wilks) to hire someone recently fired from a college HC job. Kingsbury drove the bus for Murray (over Nick Bosa), even with the Cardinals choosing Josh Rosen 10th overall in 2018. Murray turned out to be a good investment at the time, zooming to two Pro Bowls and giving the Cardinals their most exciting homegrown QB in team history. Kingsbury had the Cards at 10-2 in 2021, winning multiple games with Colt McCoy at the helm that year, but the team’s second-half downturn and wild-card blowout loss proved indicative of its direction. While Kingsbury expressed shock upon being fired months after signing a through-2027 extension, rumors about his shaky job security — amid reported clashes with Murray — lingered for months. Kingsbury, 44, is now back at USC.

Ossenfort conducted a lengthy search to replace Kingsbury. The process involved Sean Payton, but the Super Bowl-winning HC chose the Broncos. After Payton’s Denver pledge, Dan Quinn removing himself from HC searches and DeMeco Ryans canceling his Cardinals interview, Brian Flores — an Ossenfort Patriots coworker for over a decade — pulled out of the process. In late January, the Cardinals added more names to their search. Lou Anarumo, Brian Callahan and Mike Kafka interviewed, but the Cards waited even longer to speak officially with their preferred candidate.

Gannon’s Arizona path caused some issues for the Cardinals and Eagles. The two-year Philadelphia DC spoke with Ossenfort following the NFC championship game, which violated the NFL’s tampering rules. Bidwill then announced he wanted to postpone a hire until after Super Bowl LVII, suggesting one of the Eagles’ coordinators was on his radar. The Gannon interview did not officially take place until after the game, but a report during the Eagles’ 38-35 loss indicated Gannon was all but certain to land the job. The tampering violation led to the Cardinals’ third-round pick dropping 28 slots in the draft, but Gannon — hired nearly six weeks after the regular season’s conclusion — became the choice.

Reminding of Matt Patricia‘s final act in his first Patriots stint, Gannon’s defense was ineffective in the Super Bowl. Two Chiefs goal-line plays befuddled the Eagles, with no one within several feet of Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore on walk-in touchdowns that helped Kansas City prevail in a shootout. The Cards’ improper Gannon pursuit also affected Vic Fangio‘s Philly status.

But the Eagles did make considerable strides under Gannon, who coached enjoyed top-flight personnel last season. DVOA viewed Gannon’s first Eagles offering as a step down, with the unit going from 15th in 2020 to 25th in 2021. Last season, which featured the Eagles fall two sacks shy (70) of the 1984 Bears’ single-season record, brought a sixth-place ranking. As Shane Steichen parlayed Jalen Hurts‘ improvement into the Colts’ HC job, Gannon — who also interviewed for the Texans’ job — rode Philly’s defensive improvement into the Cardinals’ top sideline job.

Separating with Joseph, the Cardinals hired the league’s youngest defensive coordinator to replace him. Rallis turned 30 this offseason. While Gannon, 40, has a defensive background, he is giving Rallis the play-calling reins. Rallis spent two seasons with the Eagles, moving from the quality control level (on Mike Zimmer‘s Vikings staffs). The Joseph-to-Rallis play-calling transition will mark a steep experience downgrade. Although the Cardinals’ defense regressed last season, Joseph turned in two top-10 DVOA showings (2020 and ’21) during his tenure.

Gannon, who coached Vikings DBs for four years under Zimmer, did not overlap with Rallis in Minneapolis. But he did with Petzing, who spent six seasons on Zimmer’s staff. The Kingsbury-to-Petzing transition will be more important, with the ex-Browns assistant now the top offensive coach on the Cardinals’ staff. Petzing, 36, coached tight ends in Cleveland during Kevin Stefanski‘s first two seasons and shifted to the more appealing (for coordinator searches) QBs position last year. Jacoby Brissett‘s bounce-back effort undoubtedly helped Petzing, who withstood Deshaun Watson‘s shaky debut to land this job. Gannon will also entrust Woolfork, who spent the past two seasons on coaching fellowships in Cleveland, to be Murray’s position coach. The Cardinals will be light on staff experience this season.

Free agency additions:

Kyzir White, LB: Two years, $10MM ($6MM guaranteed)
Hjalte Froholdt, OL: Two years, $4.6MM ($2.11MM guaranteed)
Zach Pascal, WR: Two years, $4.5MM ($1.5MM guaranteed)
Elijah Wilkinson, OL: One year, $1.23MM ($1.1MM guaranteed)
Dennis Daley, OL: Two years, $3.2MM ($750K guaranteed)
Geoff Swaim, TE: One year, $1.7MM ($450K guaranteed)
Kris Boyd, CB: One year, $1.23MM ($428K guaranteed)
Carlos Watkins, DL: One year, $1.67MM ($250K guaranteed)
L.J. Collier, DE: One year, $1.23MM ($76K guaranteed)
Kevin Strong, DL: One year, $1.17MM ($76K guaranteed)
Rashad Fenton, CB: One year, $1.23MM ($76K guaranteed)
Pat Elflein, OL: One year, $1.15MM ($25K guaranteed)
Krys Barnes, LB: One year, $1.04MM ($25K guaranteed)
Corey Clement, RB: One year, $1.1MM
Jeff Driskel, QB: One year, $1.1MM
Matt Haack, P: One year, $1.1MM
Marlon Mack, RB: One year, $1.1MM

For the time being, the Cardinals have both Froholdt and Wilkinson in place as starters. A Week 1 starting assignment would be new territory for Froholdt, who boasts connections to Ossenfort (as a 2019 Patriots draftee) and Petzing (as a two-year Browns blocker). Froholdt made six starts with Cleveland last season. Wilkinson (36 career starts) has tackle and guard starter experience. The Broncos turned to Wilkinson after Ja’Wuan James‘ Week 1 injury in 2019; the former made 12 right tackle starts that year. Wilkinson also opened last season as the Falcons’ left guard, but a knee injury limited him to nine games. The Cardinals have Wilkinson stationed as their left guard starter.

The Panthers released Elflein two seasons into a three-year contract. Elflein, 29, started at center and guard in Carolina. A hip injury ended his 2022 season after six games. The Panthers did not have a first-unit opening for the ex-Vikings draftee this year, but the Cardinals could probably use his services. And Petzing and Gannon were in Minnesota when he was drafted. Even if Elflein (64 starts) usurps Wilkinson or Froholdt, the Cardinals will be rolling with low-cost veterans at three of their five starting O-line posts.

Gannon and Rallis brought White over from Philly, and his contract is in line with how the non-Tremaine Edmunds–Bobby Okereke linebacker market played out. After signing a one-year, $3MM Eagles deal, the converted safety operated as a full-time linebacker for the Eagles’ NFC champion outfit. Teaming with T.J. Edwards, White totaled 110 tackles and seven passes defensed. The Eagles used the ex-Chargers draftee on 75% of their defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus slotted White, 27, as a top-35 off-ball linebacker in 2021 and ’22.

Considering Isaiah Simmons is now a full-time DB and Zaven Collins has shifted to the edge, White figures to see even more playing time in Arizona. He and Barnes, a 23-game Packers starter from 2020-21, emerged as the first-string ILBs on Gannon’s first Cardinals defense. The Cardinals do not have much in the way of draft picks or dollars invested at the off-ball linebacker spots, making White the clear centerpiece. Barnes, 25, sustained an ankle injury in Week 1 of last season. That halted his run as a Packers starter, but it looks like the Cardinals are readying to give the former UDFA another first-string run.

Pascal, 28, was with Gannon in Philly and Indianapolis. While the frequent T.Y. Hilton sub could not beat out Quez Watkins for a regular Eagles role, he does have two 600-yard receiving seasons on his resume. The Cards are planning to use more two-tight end sets to capitalize on their Zach Ertz–Trey McBride duo, but beyond Marquise Brown, this is a thin receiving depth chart. Pascal should have a better chance to carve out a steady role than he did on an Eagles team rostering A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Re-signings:

Will Hernandez, G: Two years, $9MM ($4.5MM guaranteed)
Matt Prater, K: Two years, $7.5MM ($4MM guaranteed)
Kelvin Beachum, T: Two years, $5.1MM ($3.26MM guaranteed)
Antonio Hamilton, CB: One year, $1.5MM ($1.5MM guaranteed)
Zeke Turner, LB: One year, $2MM ($653K guaranteed)
Aaron Brewer, LS: One year, $1.17MM

Stationed at right guard, Hernandez has a clear role on the latest Cardinals O-line; Beachum does not. As Rodney Hudson, D.J. Humphries and Justin Pugh went down with major injuries last year, Beachum started all 17 games. The Ossenfort-Gannon regime brought Beachum back, but he is currently slotted as a swing tackle. Beachum’s contract does align with that role, and mentoring first-rounder Paris Johnson Jr. while representing veteran depth may suit the 34-year-old blocker well at this point in his career. That said, if a team like the Jets or Patriots called the Cardinals about the recently re-signed tackle, he would likely be available given the NFC West team’s present state. Beachum has started 147 games over the course of his 11-year career.

No market formed for Hernandez last year, but the former Giants second-rounder did a bit better in March. While the ex-New York starter did not fetch a big-ticket deal, he collected more guaranteed money compared to his first Cardinals contract. On a line that may feature two journeyman starters and a rookie, Hernandez (69 starts) stands to provide value. Although he joined Humphries, Pugh and Hudson in missing time last year, the UTEP alum returned from IR to finish a 13-start season. PFF rated Hernandez 30th among guards in 2022.

Marco Wilson is the only lock to start at corner; Rallis has labeled the competition for the other two jobs as wide open. Arizona’s first depth chart places Hamilton ahead of Boyd and Fenton. With Simmons’ move to DB set to make three-safety looks common, the non-Wilson CB contingent may be vying for one job. Hamilton suffered serious burns from a late-summer kitchen accident but re-emerged as a Cards cornerback regular. Hamilton logged a 61% snap share, which was easily the career backup’s highest usage rate as a pro. PFF slotted Hamilton as a top-40 player at the position as well, but a number of younger options will push the 30-year-old defender this year.

This will be Prater’s 17th season. The long-range specialist made 88% of his field goal tries last year — his best accuracy rate since 2015. Prater is 12-for-16 from 50-plus yards, a ledger that includes a 62-yard make, in two Cardinals campaigns. At 39, he is the league’s oldest active kicker.

Notable losses:

Zach Allen, DL
Chosen Anderson, WR (released)
Chris Banjo, S
Pharoh Cooper, WR
Rashaad Coward, OL
Michael Dogbe, DL
Cody Ford, G
Elliott Fry, K (released)
Max Garcia, G
Markus Golden, OLB (released)
A.J. Green, WR (retired)
Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB
Trysten Hill, DT
DeAndre Hopkins, WR (released)
Rodney Hudson, C (released)
Andy Lee, P
Trace McSorley, QB
Byron Murphy, CB
Ben Niemann, LB
Justin Pugh, G
Billy Price, C
Nick Vigil, LB
Charles Washington, DB
J.J. Watt, DL (retired)
Antoine Wesley, WR
Darrel Williams, RB
Maxx Williams, TE

The Cardinals already slipped from sixth in defensive DVOA in 2021 to 24th last year. Their defensive personnel then took a number of hits in the spring. Watt, Allen, Murphy and Golden are gone, and splashy moves did not deliver replacements. The Cardinals’ defensive teardown does little to hide this regime’s intentions for 2023.

Aaron Donald has delivered a better career than the contemporary he is most often compared to, but it is tough to argue against Watt’s peak. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year became one of the NFL’s biggest stars despite playing for perhaps the league’s lowest-profile franchise. Since sack counting became official in 1982, Watt is the only player with two 20-plus-sack seasons (2012, 2014). The 21st century’s top three tackle for loss seasons all belong to Watt, whose 39 TFLs in 2012 are 11 better than any non-Watt performance since 2000. While Watt’s body frequently betrayed him, he delivered one of the greatest stretches by any player in NFL history. Barring a comeback, the new CBS analyst will join Tom Brady in Canton (assuming no second Brady unretirement commences) in 2028.

The Cardinals received quality Watt work on his two-year, $28MM deal. After the legendary D-line presence missed half the 2021 season due to injury, he resurfaced with a 12.5-sack finale that included 25 QB hits and seven passes defensed. It would have been interesting to see Watt wind up with a Super Bowl contender, but an October heart scare keyed a retirement after 12 seasons.

Watt served as a mentor for Allen, who led all D-linemen with eight passes defensed last season. The late-blooming third-round pick finished with 20 QB hits. Allen followed Vance Joseph to Denver. Watt and Allen’s exits leave the Cardinals short on answers for QB pressure.

Relying heavily on Murphy in the two seasons since Patrick Peterson left, the Cardinals did not do much to replace their top corner. Murphy, who followed Peterson’s path to Minnesota, offered Arizona a quality option inside and outside. The Cardinals put a lot on the four-year veteran’s plate. Will Wilson be up to the task as the new de facto Cards CB1?

The Golden cut created $3MM in cap space but took away another pass rusher to effectively strip the team of all proven pressure artists. Golden racked up 11 sacks in 2021, playing opposite Chandler Jones, but only produced 2.5 in 17 games last season. He is now in place as the Steelers’ third edge rusher. Golden’s exit will open the door for 2022 Day 2 picks Myjai Sanders and Cam Thomas (three rookie-year sacks apiece).

Teams inquired about Hopkins’ availability before the 2022 deadline, and the former All-Pro ended up a trade-rumor fixture this year. Hopkins kept his Houston-era momentum going in 2020, after signing a two-year, $54.25MM extension that belatedly impacted the receiver market, but fell off due to injuries and a PED ban. The suspension voided Hopkins’ no-trade clause, and the Cards discussed him with the Bills and Chiefs. The long-rumored suitors wanted the Cardinals to eat some of Hopkins’ salary in a trade, but after the Ravens gave Odell Beckham Jr. $15MM guaranteed, Hopkins balked at any adjustment to facilitate a move. This led to the Cardinals cutting bait, after indicating he was in their 2023 plans, and eschewing the post-June 1 option.

Already making Hudson and Watt (for procedural purposes) post-June 1 releases, the Cardinals used up their allotment. They are eating all of Hopkins’ dead money ($21.1MM) this year, moving the contract off their books by 2024. New regimes often operate this way, caring little for cap penalties associated with past contracts. This Hopkins move, however, supports the stance the Cardinals will take their lumps in 2023.

Upon acquiring Hudson from the Raiders in 2021, the Cards gave the former Pro Bowler a three-year, $30MM extension. The veteran center did not exactly reward his third NFL team, considering retirement before last season and missing 18 games during his two-year Arizona run. Pugh fared better on his contract, playing out a five-year, $44.78MM deal and helping Murray reach two Pro Bowls and James Conner posting a surprise 18-touchdown season. An October ACL tear ended Pugh’s run. The veteran guard has not signed anywhere, while Hudson is expected to retire.

A.J. Green joined Watt in wrapping a 12-year career in Arizona. Injuries did more to limit Green’s form compared to Watt, and the former is not a lock to end up in Canton. But the six-time 1,000-yard receiver was one of the 2010s’ best pass catchers. Although he missed the 2019 season due to injury and did not look the same on a Bengals franchise tag in 2020, Green tallied 848 receiving yards in 2021. That performance helped the Cardinals reach the playoffs as Hopkins’ injury troubles began.

Draft:

Round 1, No. 6 (from Rams through Lions): Paris Johnson Jr., T (Ohio State) (signed)
Round 2, No. 41 (from Titans): BJ Ojulari, DE (LSU) (signed)
Round 3, No. 72 (from Titans): Garrett Williams, CB (Syracuse) (signed)
Round 3, No. 94 (from Eagles): Michael Wilson, WR (Stanford) (signed)
Round 4, No. 122 (from Dolphins through Chiefs and Lions): Jon Gaines II, G (UCLA) (signed)
Round 5, No. 139 (from Broncos through Lions): Clayton Tune, QB (Houston) (signed)
Round 5, No. 168 (from Cardinals through Lions): Owen Pappoe, LB (Auburn) (signed)
Round 5, No. 180: Kei’Trel Clark, CB (Louisville) (signed)
Round 6, No. 213: Dante Stills, DT (West Virginia) (signed)

The Cardinals filled some key needs with their top three picks, but the process of obtaining those selections proved more interesting. With Murray signed for six more years, teams with less solidified QB situations targeted the Cardinals’ No. 3 overall pick. The Titans were among those who discussed a deal with the Cards, but after the Texans chose C.J. Stroud at No. 2, Tennessee bowed out. This opened the door to the Cardinals collecting one of the better draft-week trade hauls for a non-QB in recent NFL history.

In moving down nine spots to give the Texans access to a player they were frequently connected to (Will Anderson Jr.), the Cardinals pried a 2024 first-round pick from the team with the worst 2020s record (11-38-1). The Texans’ past three seasons have each generated top-three draft real estate. Considering the Cardinals’ 2023 outlook, the prospect of Arizona becoming the first team since the 2018 Browns to enter a draft with two top-five picks appears realistic. The Cardinals also picked up a 2023 second-rounder and a 2024 third in the deal, which preceded a second swap with the AFC South.

A night later, the Cardinals circled back to their Titans talks and agreed to move down eight spots to give Tennessee Will Levis. This equipped Arizona with another 2024 third-rounder, arming Ossenfort’s staff with six picks (two 1s, one 2 and three 3s) across next year’s first three rounds.

Pre-draft buzz pointed to the Cardinals taking Johnson, with Murray helping drive that selection. And Ossenfort discussed deals with the Lions and Raiders (at Nos. 6 and 7). The Cardinals’ call stopped the Lions from making a stunning pick (Jahmyr Gibbs over Bijan Robinson at 6) and paved a path to Johnson, the team’s first Round 1 O-lineman pick since Humphries in 2015. Johnson played guard and tackle at Ohio State, but at 6-foot-6, the standout ex-Buckeye appears better suited for the edge. The Cardinals concur, stationing Johnson at right tackle in training camp.

The younger brother of Giants 2021 second-round pick Azeez Ojulari, BJ Ojulari wound up going in nearly the same draft slot (Azeez went 50th overall). The younger Ojulari totaled 12.5 sacks between his sophomore and junior years, leaving LSU early. He will join a Cardinals team that lacks proven pass rushers, though Gannon’s club will likely give Sanders, Thomas and Collins regular opportunities to lead the way during Ojulari’s rookie year.

Williams suffered a torn ACL in October, but as a third-round pick, he is the top investment in a Cardinals cornerback corps also devoid of proven performers. The Cardinals viewed the 5-10 corner as a much better prospect compared to ESPN’s Scouts Inc., which slotted him 145th. This Cardinals regime did not draft Marquise Brown, though the ex-Raven’s ties to Murray may matter when assessing an extension. The Keim trade acquisition will lead the way for the Cardinals this year, but Wilson has a path to early playing time due to Arizona’s receiver uncertainty beyond the fifth-year deep threat. Wilson played five Pac-12 seasons and never cleared 700 receiving yards in any of them. He only eclipsed 500 yards once, generating an atypical prospect profile.

Extensions and restructures:

Agreed on incentive package with S Budda Baker
Created $5.3MM in cap space by restructuring LT D.J. Humphries‘ deal

The Cardinals did not let the Baker trade request devolve into a hold-in or bring legitimate trade talks. At least, no reported trade conversations took place. It will be interesting to see if the Cardinals are amenable to making a deal at the deadline involving Baker, should the team be a clear seller by that point. Baker has been in a leadership position in Arizona for years, moving there amid a run of Pro Bowl invites. It was not hard to see why Gannon, despite the defense losing several veterans this offseason, prioritized retaining him.

Baker’s four-year, $59MM extension — agreed to in summer 2020 — has been since passed by six safeties, with the market ceiling now at $19MM per year. While Baker has sought a raise, the Cardinals new regime’s stance against doling one out with two seasons left on a contract is understandable. The Cards’ compromise guaranteed Baker’s $13.1MM base salary — a modest concession since that money would have become locked in just before Week 1 — with the incentive package reaching $2.4MM. None of Baker’s 2024 salary ($14.2MM) became guaranteed, however, making this a temporary resoluation.

Other:

QB Kyler Murray iffy to be ready for start of regular season
Declined $12.7MM fifth-year option on LB Isaiah Simmons; Cards move ex-first-rounder to DB
Signed 10 undrafted free agents

Rushing Murray back would obviously be ill-advised on the Cardinals’ part, and an early-offseason report pointed to an extended absence being in play. Murray is both the face of the franchise and a player who helped influence Gannon to take the job, and the two-time Pro Bowler — whose ACL tear occurred on Dec. 12 — also represents a potential impediment toward long-term goals. Cardinals-Caleb Williams talk should be considered premature at this juncture, but if the team starts poorly and Murray remains sidelined, will there be a consideration to keep the dual-threat passer shelved for a longer period due to the team’s status?

The Cardinals winding up with a Bears-like decision next year, should they obtain the No. 1 pick, would generate more intrigue since Murray has accomplished more than Justin Fields. For the time being, it would not surprise to see the ex-MLB top-10 pick begin the season on the reserve/PUP list, keeping him off the active roster for at least four games. That would provide the Cardinals time to reassess the situation in October. For now, Colt McCoy — a 14th-year veteran going into his age-37 season — is the frontrunner to start. Clayton Tune seeing time might not be outlandish, especially when McCoy considered retirement after a multi-injury 2022 — a season in which a concussion shut him down. But McCoy replacing Murray again looks to be how this season will start.

Keim, who had already drafted Deone Bucannon in Round 1 and seen 2017 first-rounder Haason Reddick moved to inside linebacker, used back-to-back first-round picks on LBs — in Simmons (2020) and Collins (2021). Neither is currently playing linebacker, with Collins trying his hand at the more valuable edge spot and Simmons officially a safety. The Cardinals used Simmons more at linebacker in 2021 but took advantage of his versatility last season, stationing him most often in the slot. Gannon gave Simmons a choice on his position this offseason, and the former top-10 pick preferred to move away from linebacker.

This sets up an interesting contract year for Simmons, who may play a regular deep safety role for the first time since high school. It would surprise if this Cardinals staff did not capitalize on the Clemson product’s hybrid skillset, as it would stand to help a depleted defense. But the team has shifted resources away from inside ‘backer and should be expected to deploy three-safety looks frequently. After this year’s ILB market produced only two deals north of $7MM AAV, it is unsurprising to see Simmons request to work as a DB.

Top 10 cap charges for 2023:

Budda Baker, S: $17.9MM
Kyler Murray, QB: $16MM
Marquise Brown, WR: $13.41MM
D.J. Humphries, LT: $12.54MM
Zach Ertz, TE: $11.61MM
James Conner, RB: $9.45MM
Isaiah Simmons, DB: $6.57MM
Jalen Thompson, S: $5.29MM
Paris Johnson Jr., OL: $5.1MM
Colt McCoy, QB: $5MM

The NFC does not look especially deep, so the idea of the Cardinals moving toward a Texans-like punt on a season cannot be considered a lock. But it is hard to find many rosters that look worse than this one. Murray’s timetable, the position changes for the first-round linebackers and how recent draftees look will obviously be worth monitoring in Arizona this year. As will the prospect of seller’s trades. It does, however, seem like the 2024 offseason will bring more relevant developments for the Ossenfort-Gannon partnership.

18 comments Arizona Cardinals Offseason In Review PFR Originals

Rams Considering Joe Noteboom At Guard, Shift Logan Bruss To Tackle

By Sam Robinson | at August 11, 2023 11:42 am

Rumored ahead of training camp to be holding four position battles along their offensive line, the Rams have made one notable change up front and are considering another. Their top 2022 draft choice is now at a new position, while the left tackle they re-signed for more than $13MM per year is not a lock to be Matthew Stafford‘s blindside protector to begin this season.

Logan Bruss is moving back to his college position of right tackle, per Sean McVay, who indicated this switch — which The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue notes (via Twitter) came about because of injury issues at the spot — will likely be for good. Bruss, who was transitioning to guard before ACL and MCL tears nixed his rookie year, is set to back up Rob Havenstein at right tackle — the Rams’ lone solidified starting O-line post coming into camp. The Rams chose Bruss in the 2022 third round.

While Bruss (25 right tackle starts at Wisconsin) is moving to a backup role, the Rams are also considering the prospect of Joe Noteboom not opening the season at left tackle. Introduced earlier this offseason, the notion of Noteboom at guard is now firmly in play, per McVay.

“We want to find the best five,” McVay said. “But I think every one of those positions is incredibly valuable and really whatever we deem is the best fit for the five players at the two tackles, two guard spots and center. But I think Joe is a guy that can start at guard or tackle and he’s played at a high level so players like him are very rare that have the ability to do that. … Whether or not he ends up doing that or playing tackle, we’re still kind of working through that.”

Returning from an October 2022 Achilles tear, Noteboom is attached to a three-year deal worth $40MM. The Rams paid up to keep Noteboom in the wake Andrew Whitworth‘s retirement. Whitworth’s fill-in at that high-profile blocking post to close his career, Noteboom attracted a free agent market that led to the $13.3MM-per-year accord. The Rams used a few left tackles following Noteboom’s injury — one of many maladies to affect Los Angeles’ O-line during a disastrous Super Bowl title defense — and one of those options (Alaric Jackson) is pushing the incumbent for the job.

Using the increasingly popular “or” distinction to denote a position battle, the Rams’ depth chart lists Jackson as a co-left tackle starter. A 2021 UDFA, Jackson made six starts for the team last season. But a blood clot issue ended the Iowa alum’s season.

Jackson joined Tristan Wirfs as Iowa’s starting tackles in 2018 and ’19. The lower-regarded prospect started as the Hawkeyes’ left tackle from 2018-20, earning first-team All-Big Ten acclaim in 2020. This did not lead to a high profile coming into the 2021 draft, but the Rams have seen enough from the 25-year-old blocker to give him a legitimate shot at unseating Noteboom.

A “best five” scenario may well involve Noteboom shifting to right guard, where the depth chart lists Tremayne Anchrum — a 2020 seventh-rounder who started one game for the team last season — as the present first-stringer. With second-round pick Steve Avila set to start at the Rams’ other guard spot, Noteboom — who previously played guard before settling into the role as Whitworth’s apprentice — could return to an inside spot to accommodate Jackson. Anchrum joins Noteboom, Bruss and Jackson in coming off a season-ending injury — a fractured fibula.

2 comments Los Angeles Rams Alaric Jackson Joseph Noteboom Logan Bruss Tremayne Anchrum

49ers To Sign DE Breeland Speaks

By Sam Robinson | at August 11, 2023 10:42 am

10:42am: To make room on their 90-man roster, the 49ers placed Anthony Averett on IR, per the San Jose Mercury News’ Cam Inman (on Twitter). A former Ravens and Raiders starter, Averett made two trips to IR during his season with Las Vegas. The 49ers have now placed two veteran cornerbacks — Averett and Terrance Mitchell — on IR over the past several days.

9:51am: The 49ers have taken a few fliers on ex-high draft choices at defensive end in recent years. Their latest such effort will involve a former second-round pick who generated interest as a USFL standout.

Breeland Speaks is signing with the team, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter). The former Chiefs draft choice worked out for the Broncos and Texans as well, but after a 49ers audition, he will attempt to become a depth piece in San Francisco.

While Speaks’ initial NFL run did not go as the Chiefs envisioned, he re-emerged on the radar with the Michigan Panthers. Speaks led the second-year league with nine sacks this year. He will join a 49ers roster that has seen more turnover among Nick Bosa‘s batch of D-end sidekicks. The 49ers lost Charles Omenihu and Samson Ebukam this offseason — to the Chiefs and Colts, respectively — and are currently without Bosa due to a holdout. Bosa is expected to land a monster extension soon, and the 49ers will have some new pieces in place alongside him.

The team added former No. 4 overall pick Clelin Ferrell and ex-Cowboys first-rounder Taco Charlton this offseason. This comes after well-regarded D-line coach Kris Kocurek helped the likes of Omenihu, Ebukam, Kerry Hyder and ex-Ferrell Raiders teammate Arden Key raise their values after recent free agency accords (Hyder remains with the 49ers). A Speaks reclamation project will seemingly be a longer-odds proposition, but the 49ers will kick the tires on the recent USFL success story.

Brett Veach‘s first draft choice as Chiefs GM, Speaks has not played in an NFL game since 2018. Speaks, 27, missed all of 2019 due to injury and could not make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster in 2020. The former No. 46 overall pick ended up with the Raiders, Cowboys, Giants and Bills — on practice squad agreements — through the end of the 2021 season. Speaks finished his rookie year with 1.5 sacks, starting four Chiefs games.

0 comments Denver Broncos Houston Texans San Francisco 49ers Transactions USFL Breeland Speaks

Raiders, RB Damien Williams Agree To Deal

By Sam Robinson | at August 11, 2023 10:12 am

Damien Williams‘ recent Raiders workout will lead to a mid-training camp agreement. The former Super Bowl starter agreed to terms with the team Friday, according to his agent (on Twitter).

Spending last year with the Falcons, Williams completed two auditions in the desert recently. The Cardinals went in another direction following Marlon Mack‘s injury, but Williams will end up with a Raiders team still without Josh Jacobs.

Staying away from the Raiders after the July franchise tag deadline came and went without an extension, Jacobs had left the Silver and Black without much at running back. The team has 2022 fourth-round pick Zamir White listed as its starter, and while Ameer Abdullah and Brandon Bolden are still on the roster, neither profiles as a Jacobs fill-in. Williams would, though he has not seen extensive run since he last played for the Chiefs — back in 2019.

Williams, 31, joined Rex Burkhead in a recent Raiders workout. The Cardinals signed Stevie Scott following Mack’s Achilles tear, and Williams will attempt to crack another 53-man roster. While he has done so in each of the past two summers, Williams’ Falcons and Bears tenures did not involve extensive workloads. A lack of mileage has helped Williams stay active at 31. The former Dolphins UDFA has only 490 career touches on his resume.

The Falcons reached an injury settlement with Williams, who played just one game with the team after a 2022 deal. A rib injury sidelined Williams, who totaled only 56 touches during the 2021 season in Chicago. The Chiefs used Williams as their primary post-Kareem Hunt back but cut him following his 2020 opt-out decision.

Williams delivered dazzling playoff work in Kansas City between the 2018 and ’19 postseasons, totaling 10 touchdowns in five games during that span. The Hunt replacement amassed 540 scrimmage yards over those two postseasons. This included a 104-yard rushing performance in a two-touchdown Super Bowl LIV. Although Patrick Mahomes predictably edged Williams for MVP acclaim that night, the veteran back made important contributions to the Chiefs’ cause.

Due to his absence not technically qualifying as a holdout, Jacobs can stay away from the Raiders free of charge. But the reigning rushing champion will begin to miss out on game checks of $561K by remaining away from the team once the regular season begins. The Raiders can also rescind Jacobs’ $10.1MM tender, though that would be an extreme step — particularly as Josh McDaniels resides on a somewhat warmer seat in Year 2 at the helm.

2 comments Las Vegas Raiders Transactions Damien Williams

Lions To Sign QB Teddy Bridgewater

By Sam Robinson | at August 11, 2023 8:40 am

AUGUST 11: Bridgewater agreed to terms with the Lions on a one-year deal that can max out at $5MM, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who adds the contract includes $2.5MM guaranteed (Twitter link). This marks a notable decrease from Bridgewater’s $6.5MM guaranteed with the Dolphins last year, but the 10th-year veteran is coming off an injury-plagued season.

AUGUST 7: After contract talks in the spring and the sides getting together for a recent meeting, the Lions and Teddy Bridgewater have a deal in place. The veteran quarterback is heading to Detroit, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo (on Twitter).

The Lions had kept in contact with the former Vikings first-round pick since making him an offer by early April, hosting him on a visit in July. Bridgewater, 30, is now in place to become Jared Goff‘s backup. This will be the Louisville alum’s seventh NFL team. Dan Campbell was on the Saints’ staff during Bridgewater’s two-year New Orleans tenure, and the former tight ends coach will bring him into the fold at a rather pivotal point on the Lions’ timeline.

Bridgewater is coming off a disappointing season with his hometown team. The Dolphins added him on a one-year deal, and with Tua Tagovailoa sustaining multiple concussions, a door opened for the backup to help an improved team. But Bridgewater could not stay on the field, either. The league’s enhanced concussion protocol led to Bridgewater leaving a game against the Jets in October, and he suffered a dislocated pinkie when replacing Tagovailoa in Week 17. Bridgewater was not available for the Dolphins’ Week 18 game or their wild-card contest in Buffalo.

While Bridgewater is attempting to bounce back, he will give the Lions more security behind Goff. Prior to this signing, Nate Sudfeld was positioned as Detroit’s top backup. Campbell had said in June the team was content at quarterback; midway through training camp, that no longer appeared the case.

Hendon Hooker should be expected to grow into the QB2 role, but there is a real possibility the Lions give the third-round pick a true redshirt year after a torn ACL ended his Tennessee career. With Bridgewater having lapped Sudfeld for experience, he will be in place as a stopgap while Hooker recovers and learns the NFL game. Hooker currently resides on the Lions’ active/NFI list.

Injuries have obviously played a big role in Bridgewater’s NFL career. A severe leg malady halted his run as the Vikings’ starter back in 2016; that setback sidelined him for nearly two seasons. But Bridgewater did enjoy the opportunity to return as a starter for multiple teams — the Panthers and Broncos — during the 2020s. Twenty-nine of Bridgewater’s 65 career starts came with Carolina and Denver. The conservative passer did not exactly provide remarkable work in those seasons, but he was plenty capable when available during the 2020 and ’21 campaigns.

The Broncos went 7-7 in Bridgewater’s starts, with the 14th start involving a Drew Lock cameo sinking Denver in a close matchup with eventual AFC champion Cincinnati. Bridgewater threw 18 touchdown passes compared to just seven interceptions during his Broncos season. His 15-TD pass showing in Carolina produced a 17th-place QBR finish. The Panthers still jettisoned Bridgewater’s three-year, $63MM deal after that season. His earning power has diminished significantly in the years since, but the former starter remains a sought-after backup.

As Drew Brees‘ backup in New Orleans, Bridgewater went 5-1 when replacing the future Hall of Famer. Granted, those Saints rosters were among the NFL’s best at the time. But Campbell having been there during the 2018 and ’19 seasons bodes well for Bridgewater’s Detroit fit. Goff did not miss any time due to injury last season, but the former No. 1 overall pick did miss three games in 2021. The Lions lost each contest.

23 comments Detroit Lions Newsstand Transactions Teddy Bridgewater

Offseason In Review: Los Angeles Chargers

By Sam Robinson | at August 10, 2023 8:00 pm

Only the 1992 Oilers and 2013 Chiefs surpass the Chargers’ 27-point collapse in Jacksonville. While Sean Payton loomed as a potential HC candidate, GM Tom Telesco elected to give Brandon Staley a third season. The Bolts did overcome more major injury trouble to return to the postseason.

The offseason buzz that annually follows the Chargers has been somewhat muted this year, but once again, the oft-hyped team promises to be a factor in a deep AFC. The Bolts have two new coordinators and made a splashy addition to their skill-position corps in the draft. They also completed a long-rumored extension for their latest star quarterback — this one moving into a new NFL salary bracket compared to the deals handed out to Philip Rivers.

Extensions and restructures:

Reached five-year, $262.5MM ($134MM guaranteed) extension agreement with QB Justin Herbert
Agreed on $1.6MM incentive package with RB Austin Ekeler
Restructured contracts of WRs Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, OLBs Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, creating $40.37MM in cap space

A longtime Colts exec, Telesco was on-hand to observe how Indianapolis built its rosters around Peyton Manning‘s 2004 extension. Whereas that deal checked in at seven years and $98MM and the Telesco-constructed Rivers extension at four years and $84MM (2015), Herbert’s reflected the cap spikes and the swiftly shifting QB market. Herbert followed Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson by agreeing to a deal with a record-setting AAV this offseason.

The Packers have received the most attention for forming a transition between two Hall of Fame-caliber passers, with the Brett Favre–Aaron Rodgers run lasting 31 seasons. But the Chargers have rostered three such QBs since 2001. Unlike Drew Brees, Rivers may not be a lock to enter Canton. But he gave the Bolts upper-echelon play during most of his 14 seasons as their starter. Without any gap years, the Chargers have gone from Brees to Rivers to Herbert. That has not resulted in MVPs like the Packers duo brought (seven) or Super Bowl berths (three), but Herbert still has plenty of time on these fronts. And the Bolts now have their latest set-it/forget-it QB signed through 2029.

Jackson’s long-running Ravens talks, which began back in 2021, produced a true five-year deal. With Hurts’ second-round rookie contract not including a fifth-year option, the Eagles’ latest QB extension gives them control for six seasons. Herbert signed off on the Chargers having seven, signing a five-year extension after the team made the automatic call to exercise his option. Only Patrick Mahomes (through 2031) has a contract that extends farther into the future. This structure will help the Chargers build around the $52.5MM AAV, minimizing cap hits along the way.

The Chargers could not accomplish much during Herbert’s three rookie-deal seasons, advancing to one playoff bracket and enduring a brutal loss when there. But the strong-armed passer presented immediate franchise-QB signs and, other than a dip following a September 2022 rib fracture, has charted a historic course. Only Dan Marino‘s 98 touchdown passes better Herbert’s through-three-years number (94), illustrating how prodigious the Dolphins legend was for his era; no one tops Herbert’s 14,089 passing yards through Year 3. Herbert followed his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign with a Pro Bowl starting nod. His numbers took a hit last season, as the rib issue and both his top receivers (and left tackle Rashawn Slater) missing extended time hurt the Bolts’ cause. But this extension was always on the team’s docket.

The Chargers did not attach any void years to this contract (yet), but running it through 2029 will keep Herbert’s cap numbers south of $38MM until 2026. As the Chiefs have done on multiple occasions with Mahomes’ deal, the Chargers can go to the restructure well once faced with a $46.35MM cap hit in 2026. The team managed to give Herbert that record-setting AAV while keeping the cap hits low enough that rostering two $20MM-per-year receivers (Keenan Allen, Mike Williams) along with two $23MM-plus edge rushers (Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack) is manageable.

Herbert’s $133.7MM guarantee number trails only Deshaun Watson‘s deal — a contract this year’s QB extension candidates helped cement as an outlier — and Jackson’s $135MM number. For total guarantees, Herbert’s $193.7MM figure leads the non-Watson field by more than $12MM.

Doubling as one of the many flashpoint moments at the running back position this offseason, the Chargers refused to give Ekeler a raise more in line with his contributions. The dual-threat back led the league in touchdowns in 2021 and ’22, totaling 38. Ekeler offers top-shelf receiving ability which helped compensate for the injuries elsewhere on offense last season. The Chargers let their UDFA find seek a trade, but as RB value decreased yet again, no serious talks commenced. Ekeler remains tied to the four-year, $24.5MM contract — one given in 2020, as the Bolts said goodbye to Melvin Gordon — he has outplayed.

Ekeler, 28, has not been shy about addressing the value of the modern running back. Unlike some of the other backs to voice frustration about where the market has gone, Ekeler provides a clear passing-game dimension that has made his $6.13MM-per-year deal age incredibly well for the Bolts. Los Angeles was able to ink Ekeler to that extension due in large part to finding him as a UDFA out of a Division II school. Even after this year’s market shakeup — which included high-profile releases, two notable pay-cut moves, no free agency deal topping $6.5MM AAV and three franchise-tagged backs not being extended — Ekeler’s AAV sits 11th at the position.

The Chargers threw Ekeler a bone in the form of the $1.6MM incentive package, which is based on his scrimmage yards, touchdowns and the elusive Pro Bowl berth. The yardage incentive begins at 1,125 and tops out at 1,639. The TD section ranges from 10-16. He can earn up to $600K in this area. While Ekeler stands to generate interest on next year’s market, he is set to join Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, Derrick Henry, D’Andre Swift, J.K. Dobbins and Antonio Gibson as free agents-to-be. Another crowded market will likely suppress backs’ value once again, and the Bolts will also have the franchise tag available.