Patriots, Saints To Host DT Mason Graham
One of the top prospects in this year’s draft, Mason Graham will be a candidate to go off the board early. Naturally, Shedeur Sanders‘ landing spot will be of interest to teams eyeing Graham; the Colorado QB going in the top three would keep a higher-rated prospect on the board.
Excluding positional value, Graham is rated as a higher-caliber prospect than either Sanders or Cam Ward. And teams will begin to look closely into the Michigan product. The Patriots and Saints will meet with the high-level defensive tackle prospect this week, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets.
Despite the Patriots not needing a quarterback, Sanders’ landing spot is likely of particular interest to the team. If the Browns or Giants end up with this draft’s second-best QB prospect, Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter — in the likely event the Titans start the draft with a Ward investment — will be there for the Pats at No. 4. This would leave Graham available as perhaps the next-best player available.
Daniel Jeremiah’s latest NFL.com big board slots Graham fourth overall — behind Carter, Hunter and Ashton Jeanty. The 2024 Heisman runner-up is highly unlikely to be a top-four pick, due largely to positional value, pointing to Graham being the first non-QB off the board after Carter and Hunter. Declaring for the draft early, Graham combined to total 6.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. The 21-year-old interior D-lineman collected first-team All-Big Ten honors last season.
A Pats-Graham link emerged before free agency, but the team then authorized the top guarantee on this year’s market to land Milton Williams. With Christian Barmore extended, the Patriots considering Graham at 4 would represent a tremendous commitment up front. Then again, Mike Vrabel said early this offseason the lines would be a priority.
The Pats need a left tackle far more than they need D-line help, and Will Campbell‘s name will continue to circulate — arm-length concerns notwithstanding. A scenario in which Sanders remains on the board also could open the door to a trade-down move, in the event Carter and Hunter are gone by No. 4, but Graham would serve as a high-end option for a top-10 team making a best-player-available pick.
Holding the No. 9 overall pick, the Saints invested first- and second-round selections into their D-line in 2023, taking D-tackle Bryan Bresee and D-end Isaiah Foskey to start that draft. New England also dealt veteran DT Davon Godchaux to New Orleans last month. The Saints also still roster 2023 free agency additions Khalen Saunders and Nathan Shepherd at DT, though Graham would profile as a player expected to be an early-career starter if he ended up in Louisiana.
Brock Purdy Extension Aim Influenced 49ers’ Free Agency Approach; Team Upped Dre Greenlaw Offer
Many of the players that helped the 49ers push the Chiefs near double overtime in Super Bowl LVIII exited San Francisco this offseason. After the team traded Deebo Samuel, it let a host of talent walk.
The Broncos poached Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga, while Aaron Banks‘ Packers deal eclipsed both the Denver pacts in base value. The 49ers traded Jordan Mason after slapping a second-round RFA tender on the backup running back and stood down as the Chiefs gave Jaylon Moore a $15MM-per-year deal to jump from the backup level to, in all likelihood, a starting job. The team also cut Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd while letting 2023 All-Pro Charvarius Ward join the Colts on a big-ticket deal.
While cornerstone players remain, Brock Purdy‘s fourth season at the controls will involve some new personnel. And it should be expected to come with a roster-reshaping contract. The 49ers expecting to go from paying Purdy a seventh-round salary to a top-market contract influenced their free agency approach.
“I get it. Fans care. You want to win. And when you’re in a world where everybody is watching the NFL the first week of free agency or at least the first few days of free agency, it’s a frenzy,” owner Jed York said, via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner. “… When you’re not overly active in that space, it gets easy to say, ‘Oh, you don’t want to win.’ … I don’t know that, as we looked at the board, that there was somebody that we felt made that type of an impact more so than making the decision to try to go pay Brock.”
The 49ers used Purdy’s rookie deal to splurge on Hargrave in 2023, doing so after carving out cap room for Ward’s free agency deal in 2022 — a deal agreed to when the expectation remained Trey Lance would eventually succeed Jimmy Garoppolo. With Purdy on track to command more than $50MM per year, sacrifices will need to be made. Identifying more rookie-deal starters will become paramount as the draft approaches.
As for Purdy’s next contract, Wagoner floats a deal between $53MM and the $55MM number authorized for Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love last year as a potential sweet spot. That said, Purdy has accomplished more than both. Convincing the former Mr. Irrelevant to settle south of the Jaguars and Packers starters after the cap spiked by another $24MM — and after Dak Prescott reset the QB market at $60MM per year — may be difficult. The 49ers are confident they will sign Purdy, rather than allow him to play out his rookie contract, and negotiations have begun.
While the team is believed to be shying away from Prescott territory, a number north of $50MM per year — as should be expected — is firmly in play. The team has needed to go into training camp (or near Week 1) to extend George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Nick Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk in recent years. The 49ers appear to be aiming to avoid that timeline with Purdy, but nothing is imminent. Plans for a monster re-up are obviously in place, as the 49ers have not wavered from a stance in which the Iowa State alum remains in place for many years. That aim has already reshuffled the roster.
Kyle Shanahan confirmed (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows) the 49ers attempted to retain Greenlaw before the legal tampering period, but the team saw him sign a three-year, $31.5MM Broncos accord. Denver has an out after Year 1, in guaranteeing only $11.5MM at signing, protecting itself after Greenlaw’s recent injury trouble.
San Francisco also kept its Greenlaw effort going after his Denver commitment, and the Denver Post’s Parker Gabriel reports Lynch and Shanahan flew to Greenlaw’s home in Texas to continue recruitment. The 49ers upped their offer before seeing Greenlaw keep his pledge to join the Broncos. The 49ers power brokers flew out after Greenlaw had agree to Broncos terms, Gabriel adds, representing a more serious attempt to flip a commitment during the legal tampering period.
In addition to Greenlaw’s injury playing a central role in the 49ers’ Super Bowl LVIII loss, it may well have led him to the market. 49ers interest in retaining Greenlaw was known late last season, and the sides discussed terms in February. Had the longtime Fred Warner sidekick not suffered an Achilles tear, the team presumably would have made a stronger effort to retain him before he became free agency-eligible March 10. Sean Payton viewed (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) Greenlaw’s Achilles setback as a key reason he was available.
It is not like the 49ers stood down entirely in free agency. The team gave backup tight end Luke Farrell a three-year, $15.75MM deal and added safeties Jason Pinnock and Richie Grant. Returning Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha, the 49ers added the safety depth pieces at low rates. Pinnock could be more than depth, after starting 32 Giants games from 2023-24, but he signed with the 49ers for just $2.2MM over one year. The contract is fully guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. An ex-Falcons starter, Grant signed a one-year, $1.5MM deal, Wilson adds. Only $345K is guaranteed.
Ravens Discussing Lamar Jackson Extension, Eyeing Second Derrick Henry Contract
Lamar Jackson‘s 2023 Ravens extension helped set the market at the time, and as less accomplished quarterbacks have surpassed him in terms of average annual value, it has not been difficult to see the leverage even capable QB1s possess presently. Much more than merely a capable starter, Jackson has three seasons remaining on the deal he signed in April 2023. 
That contract took the Ravens and Jackson more than two years to finalize, but it helped a few inferior quarterbacks receive higher AAVs. Jackson exited the 2024 season as the NFL’s ninth-highest-paid QB, and the Ravens saw the Bills take care of Josh Allen despite the reigning MVP’s previous deal running well into the late 2020s. It appears Baltimore is fine following suit.
Teams rarely add years to a player’s deal when three are remaining on it, but Jackson is certainly one of the NFL’s top players. It appears the Ravens are ready to update his contract, as head coach John Harbaugh confirmed internal conversations about a new deal have taken place this offseason (video link). Jackson, 28, still has guaranteed money remaining on his extension. Those guarantees stretch into 2026, but being proactive would benefit the Ravens.
As things stand, Jackson is due to carry a cap charge of $43.5MM next season, keeping in line with the incremental jumps it has seen since his deal was signed. For the 2026 and ’27 campaigns, however, he is scheduled to count for $74.5MM on the Ravens’ cap sheet. Lowering those totals – while, in all likelihood, creating immediate breathing room as well – could be achieved via another extension. Harbaugh did not provide specifics on a timeline, but added a deal will likely get done at some point this offseason.
Extension candidates on Baltimore’s roster include former first-rounders Odafe Oweh, Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum. Oweh’s 2025 fifth-year option was picked up last year, and it would come as no surprise if the team took the same route with Hamilton and Linderbaum. Extensions with one or more members of that tandem could very well be in store, and ascending tight end Isaiah Likely is also entering the final year of his rookie contract. Working out a third Jackson accord would help create cost certainty over the short-term future as Ravens aim to keep as many members of their young core in place as possible.
Harbaugh also said on Monday (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) he would welcome a Derrick Henry extension. The All-Pro running back joined Baltimore on a two-year deal last offseason, and his debut campaign produced 2,114 scrimmage yards (the second-highest figure of his career) and 18 total touchdowns (which matched his personal high). An extension was raised as a possibility in the wake of the team’s divisional round loss, and Henry has since publicly stated his desire to finish his career in Baltimore.
The 31-year-old has already been paid out a $1MM roster bonus, and he is due a $6MM base salary for 2025. Henry’s scheduled cap charge of just under $12.9MM is more than double what it was last year, and it could be lowered by an extension. Baltimore entered Monday with nearly $12MM in cap space, but the team’s financial breathing space could increase in the relatively near future if new agreements on the Jackson and/or Henry fronts were to be reached.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Stanford To Hire Frank Reich As HC
Frank Reich‘s retirement will not last. The former Colts and Panthers head coach is joining Stanford as the program’s interim HC, ESPN.com’s Pete Thamel reports.
This will bring a reunion between Reich and Andrew Luck, whom the Cardinal hired as their football GM months ago. Reich coached Luck from 2018 until his August 2019 retirement. It will be a one-year union, though, as Stanford is confirming this is a short-term agreement to install Reich as interim HC while the program reboots after firing Troy Taylor.
Stanford canned Taylor after an investigation revealed the former HC bullied female staff members, among other findings. A well-respected coach during his time in the NFL, Reich will be brought in as a stopgap while the now-ACC-stationed program conducts a search for a long-term replacement, Thamel adds.
Reich, 63, will step in as a CEO HC, which will differ from his role in Indianapolis. The Cardinal are promoting tight ends coach Nate Byham to their offensive coordinator post, Thamel adds. A former Buccaneers tight ends coach, Byham is expected to call plays. Reich called plays throughout his Colts tenure and during most of his one-season Panthers stay. These are different circumstances, however, as Luck is calling on his former boss to steer the ship in the short term.
Following Luck, Bill Belichick and Ron Rivera (Cal’s new GM), Reich will step into the muddied waters of college football, a sport trudging through a period featuring significant impact from the transfer portal and NIL commitments. Luck is leading the way here, overseeing his alma mater’s budget in this new era of college football, but he will now work with Reich on this front.
Although Luck and Reich’s NFL partnership was brief, thanks to the former’s shocking retirement ahead of the latter’s second season in charge, the two have maintained a good relationship since. Reich coached Luck to a Comeback Player of the Year season in 2018, when the Colts made a surprising voyage to the NFL’s divisional round. The Colts have struggled to identify a Luck successor, a storyline that played the lead role in Reich’s firing during the 2022 season.
When the Panthers fired Reich in December 2023, he said another coaching gig was unlikely. Though, he is far from the first coach to return to the game after indicating retirement was on tap. Reich is coming off a 1-11 record with the 2023 Panthers, who hired him over retaining interim HC Steve Wilks. The Eagles’ OC during their Super Bowl LII-winning season, Reich guided the Colts to two playoff berths — the second with Philip Rivers at QB — during his time as Indianapolis’ HC. He will take the reins of a Cardinal team that has gone 3-9 in each of the past four seasons. A former NFL backup, Reich has never coached at the college level.
Luck rejoined the program last November, and while Taylor was initially retained after the school’s investigation, a change of heart keyed a change. The 2018 Colts partnership will provide a bridge to that new era for the program, as Luck will play a central role in identifying Reich’s replacement after the 2025 campaign.
Latest On Steelers, Aaron Rodgers
The Aaron Rodgers wait persists in Pittsburgh. Not viewed as being the clubhouse leaders for the future Hall of Fame quarterback, the Giants took themselves out of the running this week by signing Russell Wilson. Letting Wilson walk without showing much offseason interest, the Steelers have met with Rodgers and continue to hope he accepts their offer.
Pittsburgh is not believed to have raised its offer since submitting it near the beginning of free agency, and New York leaving this derby may not convince the AFC North club to update it. That said, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes the 41-year-old passer is viewed as being more focused on a potential fit than additional money he can add to his career earnings.
Considering Rodgers has made more than $380MM in his career, not making money the lead driver here makes sense. On that note, Bleacher Report’s James Palmer adds (h/t Steelers Depot’s Troy Montgomery) some in the Steelers’ building are wondering whether a Rodgers addition would mean overhauling Pittsburgh’s offense to suit the veteran or if the 20-year QB would assimilate into Arthur Smith‘s scheme.
This could bring be a bit of give and take, though it should be noted the Buccaneers and Broncos eventually tailored their schemes to suit Tom Brady and Peyton Manning‘s respective skillsets. However, Rodgers’ attempt to follow his more accomplished peers’ lead by thriving after a late-career relocation did not go well after the Jets imported the QB’s preferred scheme.
Smith and Wilson clashed during the latter’s lone Pittsburgh season, and Rodgers certainly has a reputation as a demanding presence. But Rodgers is also believed to be seeking a Packers-like environment, per Breer, after his Jets partnership went south. The Steelers use a similar contract blueprint to the Packers’ and carry an established culture, one currently fostered by the likes of Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Those defenders’ primes have hit a wall thanks largely to shaky quarterback play. Although Rodgers’ shtick may not be for everyone, the Steelers are willing to take a chance here due to the shortcomings they have seen at QB this decade.
As for where this stands, Rodgers has still not given any indication regarding when he will decide. He is believed to have told the Vikings they would be his preference. Minnesota GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did not completely rule out Rodgers, but the team is pausing a potential pursuit — despite some support in the building for one — to give J.J. McCarthy free rein during the offseason program. Unless Rodgers wants to take a Brett Favre-like approach and wait for a Vikings fit to emerge this summer, he will need to let the Steelers know on a decision soon. The team is doing homework on QBs in the draft, preparing to host Jaxson Dart on a “30” visit in April.
Confirming the team is doing plenty of homework on this QB draft class, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said during a SportsCenter appearance the Steelers are nevertheless optimistic on Rodgers. This reminds of a weekend report that viewed a Rodgers-Steelers union as likely.
More notably, Fowler indicates several around the league’s QB market assume the Steelers probably received a degree of assurance that Rodgers will commit to Pittsburgh at some point. With Wilson believed to have remained interested in a second Steelers contract, the team standing down and letting him walk could well point to confidence Rodgers will sign eventually.
The draft may not provide a true deadline, but the Steelers would obviously prefer to know if they have a surefire 2025 starter before potentially making a plan to acquire an heir apparent. If Rodgers opts to retire or informs the Steelers he will wait on the Vikings, the team would be in a tough spot. With Wilson gone, Joe Flacco, Carson Wentz and Ryan Tannehill — the latter having not played in 2024 — are the most notable bridge options available in free agency. Kirk Cousins would be an option after the draft, as the Falcons QB will wait to see how teams operate there before waiving his no-trade clause, but he would appeal to the Browns (and ex-boss Kevin Stefanski) as well.
AFC Contract Details: Becton, Bolts, Texans, Jenkins, Browns, Bills, Patriots, Dolphins
Here are the latest details from contracts agreed to around the AFC:
- Mekhi Becton, OL (Chargers). Two years, $20MM. Despite raising his value with the Eagles, Becton only fetched $6.94MM guaranteed at signing, Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer tweets. The deal includes $3.06MM of per-game roster bonuses in 2025 and $2.55MM in ’26, with these protecting the Bolts after Becton missed 33 games from 2021-22. Becton is due a $2.5MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2026 league year, per OverTheCap.
- Christian Elliss, LB (Patriots). Two years, $13.51MM. The Pats are guaranteeing Elliss $7.75MM at signing, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin tweets. This Raiders offer sheet includes guarantees into Year 2, with Volin adding $2.25MM of Elliss’ $7.38MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed at signing. Although Las Vegas designed this deal to give New England pause about matching, the team did so and has since released Ja’Whaun Bentley.
- Cam Robinson, T (Texans). One year, $12MM. The Texans are guaranteeing Robinson $10.75MM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. Up to $1.25MM is available via per-game roster bonuses. Houston also included four void years, which would create a $7MM 2026 dead money bill if Robinson is not re-signed before the 2026 league year.
- Garrett Bradbury, C (Patriots). Two years, $9.5MM. Bradbury will see $3.8MM guaranteed at signing; $2.4MM of that comes via a signing bonus, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss tweets. Bradbury’s $3.7MM 2026 base salary is nonguaranteed, giving the Pats an out if the fit proves poor this year.
- Mario Edwards, DL (Texans). Two years, $9.5MM. The team is guaranteeing the nomadic D-lineman, $4.5MM, Wilson tweets. Edwards’ $4MM 2026 base salary is nonguaranteed.
- Reid Ferguson, LS (Bills). Four years, $6.5MM. Ferguson’s latest Bills contract sits second (to the Chiefs’ James Winchester) at the NFL’s lowest-paid position. The deal includes $2.37MM guaranteed at signing, which Wilson notes is comprised of a 2025 salary guarantee and a $1.1MM signing bonus.
- Zach Wilson, QB (Dolphins). One year, $6MM. The ex-Jets starter still secured a fully guaranteed deal as he attempts to reset after spending the 2024 season as the Broncos’ third-stringer. The Dolphins guaranteed Wilson $6MM, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. Wilson only counts $2.2MM on Miami’s 2025 cap, per Jackson, as the team added four void years to keep that number low.
- Sheldon Rankins, DT (Texans). One year, $5.25MM. Coming after Rankins underwhelmed on a two-year, $24.5MM Bengals accord, the former first-round pick will see $4.5MM guaranteed, per Wilson. Playing-time incentives worth a total of $1.75MM are also included in Rankins’ second Texans contract.
- Teven Jenkins, G (Browns). One year, $3.1MM. The guard market dried up for Jenkins, whose free agency reminds of Dalton Risner‘s recent forays. The three-year Bears starter, who held a high asking price early on the market, settled for a deal including just $2.67MM guaranteed, Wilson adds. Cleveland included up to $340K in per-game roster bonuses.
- Ifeatu Melifonwu, S (Dolphins). One year, $3MM. The Dolphins are guaranteeing the ex-Lions defender $2.45MM, Wilson tweets. Another $1MM in incentives is present.
- Marcus Epps, S (Patriots). One year, $2.03MM. One of two 2024 Raiders starting defenders heading to New England (along with Robert Spillane), Epps received only $500K guaranteed, Reiss tweets. That includes $350K of Epps’ $1.17MM base salary, which does not make the former Super Bowl LVII starter a roster lock.
Texans To Add LB E.J. Speed; Cowboys, 49ers Expressed Interest
E.J. Speed will follow Azeez Al-Shaair in making an intra-AFC South free agency move. After six Colts seasons, Speed is moving south.
The Texans are bringing in the veteran linebacker on a one-year deal worth $5MM, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets. Although Speed is coming off his most productive season, the former Indianapolis starter remained in free agency for nearly three weeks. He ended up costing the Texans far less than bringing in Al-Shaair from the Titans did. Speed’s deal includes $3.25MM guaranteed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Negotiations began yesterday, per Wilson, who adds that the 49ers and Cowboys were also vying for Speed’s services (video link).
Dallas’ DeMarvion Overshown plans to suit up in 2025, but after suffering a brutal knee injury in December, it is unclear exactly when he will return to the field and if he will ever be able to realize his considerable potential. We recently named the Niners as a potential Speed suitor after the club was unable to re-sign Dre Greenlaw this offseason, but according to Wilson, Speed wanted to play for Houston HC DeMeco Ryans. He also saw the Texans as a more playoff-worthy outfit.
Previously re-signing with the Colts on a two-year, $8MM contract, Speed became important insurance for a Colts team that saw injuries sidetrack Shaquille Leonard. As the latter ended up an in-season 2023 release, Speed’s play factored into that decision. The Colts turned to Speed as an every-down player following the Leonard release, and that trend continued last season.
After a 102-tackle 2023 slate that included a career-high 12 TFLs, Speed posted a career-best 142 tackles last year. Helping to replace Bobby Okereke, Speed added seven TFLs and intercepted a pass last season. The Colts had already extended Zaire Franklin on a deal averaging more than $10MM per year, and the team’s much-rumored philosophical shift did include two big-ticket DB additions (Camryn Bynum, Charvarius Ward). The Colts will opt not to pay a second linebacker, letting Speed walk.
Pro Football Focus viewed Speed as a better linebacker in 2023, ranking him 48th among off-ball regulars in 2023. Last season, PFF slotted Speed 67th out of 84 qualified options. Despite making 26 starts on his $4MM-per-year contract, Speed did not walk into a strong market this offseason. His age (30 in June) undoubtedly contributed, but the Texans will see if the special-teamer-turned-starter can contribute in an Al-Shaair-fronted LB cadre.
Houston, which lost role player Devin White to Las Vegas on Friday, has Al-Shaair under contract through 2026. The defending AFC South champs have Christian Harris and Henry To’oTo’o rostered as well. Harris missed most of last season due to injury, and To’oTo’o led the team’s LBs with 936 defensive snaps. Speed played 1,011 — third-most among off-ball LBs in 2024. If nothing else, the Texans have high-end insurance against another LB injury and figure to give Speed a long look as an Al-Shaair three-down complement.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Broncos To Table Extension Talks Until After Draft; RB Quinshon Judkins On Team’s Radar
Playing central roles in the Broncos’ first playoff berth since their Super Bowl 50 victory, Courtland Sutton, Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen reside as the team’s top extension candidates this offseason. No deals should be expected for a bit, however.
As the draft nears, the team will prioritize its next wave of rookie-scale contracts rather than divert attention to veterans seeking new deals. The Broncos are tabling all extension talks until after the draft, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. While also naming John Franklin-Myers and Malcolm Roach as extension candidates, Tomasson points to the Allen-Bonitto-Sutton trio as key options here. Although extensions regularly take place in March and April, Denver completed four notable deals (with Quinn Meinerz, Patrick Surtain, Jonathon Cooper and Garett Bolles) last year, with none coming before July.
Out of the trade-rumor cycle for the first time in ages, Sutton posted his second 1,000-yard season and helped Bo Nix finish with the second-most touchdown passes (29) by a rookie in NFL history. The team has tabbed 2025 as the window for a Sutton payday, after merely agreeing to an incentive package after the veteran receiver pushed for a deal last year, and is planning talks. Still tied to a contract signed in 2021, Sutton resides as the NFL’s 27th-highest-paid wideout. The John Elway-era draftee is going into an age-30 season and will be prepared to force the extension issue as the season nears.
Allen and Bonitto each surged to the All-Pro tier last season, both landing second-team honors while powering the Broncos’ pass rush. A former J.J. Watt sidekick in Arizona, Allen has played in Vance Joseph‘s defense throughout his six-year career. He broke through with a career year in 2024, leading all interior D-linemen in pressures (47) and finishing second overall. Allen, 27, finished with a career-high 8.5 sacks and a staggering 40 QB hits from his 3-4 D-end position. Signed to a three-year, $45MM deal, the former third-round pick is interested in a second Broncos contract.
That production helped Bonitto’s breakout, and the Broncos saw their 2022 second-rounder raise his value considerably last season. The Oklahoma alum produced 13.5 sacks and two defensive touchdowns, helping swing late-season wins against the Browns and Colts. Denver already extended Jonathon Cooper in 2024, giving him a four-year, $54MM deal just before trading Baron Browning. Bonitto’s price, especially after this offseason has already brought monster EDGE deals to raise that market’s ceiling, will check in much higher on a second contract. The team is naturally interested in paying Bonitto.
As the Broncos’ focus shifts to rookies, the team used a “30” visit on one of this deep running back class’ top names. Former Ohio State and Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins is stopping through Denver for a meeting, 9News’ Mike Klis notes. A 2024 teammate of fellow high-end RB prospect TreVeyon Henderson, Judkins cut into the former five-star recruit’s workload with the national champion Buckeyes. The two formed a productive partnership, with Judkins using the transfer portal to finish a dominant college career.
Judkins finished 3-for-3 in 1,000-yard seasons in college. A 1,567-yard rusher as a freshman in 2022, Judkins formed a rare 1,000-1,000 pair with Henderson last season. The Columbus import led the Buckeyes with 1,060 yards (5.5 per tote) and 14 touchdowns last season. While Henderson brings a bit more to the table as a receiver, a trait Sean Payton prioritizes, Judkins produced better college rushing numbers. Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board ranks Henderson 33rd and Judkins 36th among a strong RB class.
With the Broncos losing Javonte Williams in free agency, they are expected to draft a running back. Denver could go with a back early, as the team may be lacking a starter-level runner even as it returns Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime. Holding the Nos. 20 and 51 overall picks to start the draft, Denver is unlikely to see the Ohio State duo available in Round 2 barring a trade-up move.
Micah Parsons Seeking $200MM Extension?
The Cowboys took plenty of heat for holding off on CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott extensions until late last summer. Micah Parsons‘ negotiations (or lack thereof) are reminding of Dallas’ 2024, though it is still early.
No substantive Parsons talks have commenced, and no offer is believed to be on the table from the Cowboys just yet. But Parsons has a big number in mind. The fifth-year edge rusher is believed to be pursuing a deal that would make him the NFL’s first $200MM defender, the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins reports. No non-quarterback has reached that number, though the Cowboys’ history would point to the team being interested — depending on term length.
[RELATED: Parsons Has ‘Plan In Place’ For Negotiations]
It is not known if the contract-year dynamo is targeting a four-year, $200MM pact — which would shatter the defender record Myles Garrett just set — or merely a five-year, $200MM deal that would match the Browns All-Pro for AAV. Parsons expressed interest last year in becoming the NFL’s highest-paid non-QB, even floating a $40MM-per-year number well before the EDGE market was close to that range.
It would stand to reason Parsons would set his sights on a $50MM-per-year extension to start negotiations, even if that proves unattainable. As of now, only quarterbacks are in the $50MM-AAV club. A three-time All-Pro, Parsons makes sense as the player who could take the defender market there. Even with the cap rising at a rapid rate during the 2020 CBA, the Cowboys are unlikely to be ready to raise the defender rate that high at this point.
Garrett secured $40MM per year despite being set to turn 30 in December. Parsons will be 26 in May. If the Cowboys can convince Parsons to accept a five-year deal, it would be in line with many of their big-ticket contract structures. Dallas has successfully managed to tie down stars to five- and even six-year deals, but the team could not do so with Lamb or Prescott, who each signed four-year extensions. As the cap keeps rising, it would make sense for Parsons to follow suit in an effort to be able to secure a top-market third contract when that time comes.
As for Parsons’ plans regarding voluntary offseason workouts without an extension, Watkins adds the 2021 first-rounder is undecided. Parsons has been an infrequent participant in the past, though he has always reported to minicamp. It would cost him barely $100K to skip the mandatory workout this year. If the Cowboys do not have him signed by June, a minicamp absence should probably be considered in play. Several players, including Lamb, have taken this step during extension talks in recent years. Zack Martin held out of training camp in 2023, and the Cowboys eventually caved by authorizing nearly $40MM guaranteed to close his contract. Those precedents are certainly relevant re: Parsons.
Prescott’s deal, thanks to historic leverage, came in $5MM (in terms of AAV) north of where the QB market had previously plateaued. Lamb is the NFL’s third-highest-paid wide receiver. The Cowboys have shot down Parsons trade rumors, though a December report suggested internal discussions about a potential trade occurred, and appear prepared to pay up — even if it will mean a historically top-heavy payroll. But their pattern of being late to the party regarding extensions could prove costly here.
Garrett already drove the market to $40MM per year — up from Maxx Crosby‘s $35.5MM number reached earlier this month — and T.J. Watt will naturally be interested in topping that. Aidan Hutchinson also should be considered likely to score a deal north of Garrett’s, seeing as he is going into an age-25 season. Those deals coming to pass would give Parsons more ammo. Though, Watt and Hutchinson not moving too far past $40MM per year would also provide the Cowboys with the ability to keep Parsons’ cost in a known neighborhood.
Latest On Giants, Russell Wilson; Team Still Eyeing Shedeur Sanders?
Although it was fairly clear the Giants preferred Aaron Rodgers, they signed Russell Wilson to be their expected Week 1 starter. Wilson may well have preferred to stay in Pittsburgh, but his 2024 team is still pursuing Rodgers, leading to this marriage of convenience.
Reeling after making the mistake of re-signing Daniel Jones, thus pushing a failed investment to six years, the Giants have Wilson and Jameis Winston as stopgaps while they determine if this is the year to draft a potential long-term option. Although both Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll are on hot seats, the franchise choosing the wrong year to draft a passer brought significant consequences last time.
[RELATED: Giants, Patriots To Meet With Abdul Carter]
Some around the league are indeed wondering if the Giants’ Wilson addition means they are skeptical on this year’s non-Cam Ward options, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes. The Wilson move does provide flexibility for a reeling team, as the Giants would have been less likely to pass on Shedeur Sanders had they not landed the aging QB. And others are not convinced the Giants are out on a QB at No. 3.
As of now, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller hears quarterback is likely to be Big Blue’s direction with the third overall pick. A scout informed Miller the Giants’ interest in Sanders is the “worst-kept secret in the league right now.” Linked to the two-year Colorado starter in the fall, the Giants have remained connected to a polarizing prospect — one they arranged a visit with in early February. The team had staffers in attendance at every Buffaloes home game last season, Miller adds. Of course, with Travis Hunter also spending two years in Boulder, it is not exactly surprising to learn of consistent Giants attendance.
Ward has separated himself in this QB class, but if the Giants pass on Sanders, they may be locked out of top second-tier options. Barring a trade-up, Jaxson Dart is unlikely to be available when the Giants go back on the clock (No. 34). Dart first-round buzz has persisted, with Miller and ESPN colleague Field Yates viewing the Ole Miss product as a near-certainty to be a first-round pick. Some teams have Dart ranked second among QBs on their respective big boards, ESPN’s Jordan Reid adds. That adds intrigue to the Sanders situation.
A recent report indicated a fall out of the top 10 is unlikely for Sanders, even as doubts creep in about a player not possessing his father’s generational athletic gifts. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah ranks Sanders as this year’s 18th-best prospect — with Ward 10th. The Titans would be passing on a top-tier prospect by selecting Ward, and with the Browns and Giants’ decision-makers in more desperate situations, positional need makes it somewhat difficult to imagine both teams will pass.
Sanders still led Division I-FBS with a 74% completion rate and earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors, finishing with a 37:10 TD-INT ratio and posing 4,134 passing yards. Despite Deion Sanders‘ historically elite speed, his son is not a running quarterback; Shedeur finished with negative rushing yards in both his FBS seasons.
Sanders’ perceived lower athletic ceiling has helped separate he and Ward, putting the Browns to a decision. The Browns have been closely linked to Abdul Carter. The draft going Ward-Carter would put the Giants to a seemingly Colorado-based decision, as Hunter would arrive as a splashy addition — at either WR or CB — while his longtime teammate would generate questions and begin behind Wilson.
A Giants depth chart with Wilson, Winston and Sanders would seem unrealistic, potentially leading Winston to the trade block in a situation that would remind of the Jets’ Teddy Bridgewater move in 2018. The Jets traded up for Sam Darnold and traded Bridgewater to the Saints for a third-round pick before that season, keeping Josh McCown as the rookie’s backup. Wilson rightfully expects to be the Giants’ starter, but it does appear likely he will mentor a rookie — even if the Giants pass on Sanders at 3.
After the Broncos cut Wilson and the Steelers did not show much interest in retaining him, the QB canvassed the league about a fit with Daboll, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. The Giants obviously did the same. Wilson’s one-year contract includes $10.5MM guaranteed and contains incentives that could vault the value to $21MM.
If Wilson plays 65% of the Giants’ offensive snaps, he will earn an additional $500K, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, who adds an additional $1MM would come his way for a 75% snap rate. A $2MM bump would be due if Wilson hits the 85% snap barrier. Performance-wise, Wilson can earn $500K with a passer rating above 96.0 and another $500K if he reaches a 64% completion rate. A 20-plus-TD pass season and carrying a passer rating north of 88 nets him another $500K as well. Wilson posted passer ratings of 98.0 and 95.6 over the past two seasons.
The Giants making the playoffs during a season in which Wilson plays 55% of the snaps would lead to a $750K payout. A 75% participation rate and a playoff berth nets Wilson $1.5MM. Another million in incentives comes with playoff wins. The Giants have also incentivized regular-season victories, as Breer adds Wilson playing 50% of the snaps in any regular-season win would bring a $176K bump.