Packers Release Mike Daniels
The Packers have released Mike Daniels, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Given his Pro Bowl resume, the move comes as a total surprise. 
Daniels was due $8.1MM this season in base salary and roster bonuses, which was apparently too rich for Green Bay’s blood. By cutting Daniels, the Packers will save $8.3MM versus $2.4MM in dead money.
The Packers explored a Daniels trade, but couldn’t find a suitable deal, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Garafolo suggests that the Browns, with all their former Packers connections, are likely to take a look at Daniels after trying, and failing, to sign Gerald McCoy earlier this year.
The Packers extended Daniels via four-year, $41MM contract during the 2015 season. For the most part, the deal has paid off. Daniels earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2017, though he was less productive in 2018 before ultimately landing on IR in December with a foot injury.
In his Pro Bowl campaign, Daniels notched five sacks and 49 tackles across 14 games. Last year, he had two sacks and 18 tackles in ten contests.
Daniels is now free to sign with any club. His preference is to sign with a Super Bowl contender, Schefter hears (on Twitter).
Jaguars’ Yannick Ngakoue Skips Camp
Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue did not report to training camp on Wednesday and won’t be with his teammates in Jacksonville, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Ngakoue continues to drive a hard bargain as he seeks a new extension. 
With 29.5 sacks, 70 QB hits, and no missed games over the last three years, Ngakoue has emerged as one of the best young pass-rushers in the league. He can stay away from the Jags for now, but he must report to camp by August 6 to earn an accrued season towards free agency.
Ngakoue is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and there’s no denying that he is criminally underpaid, given his performance. For now, he’s slated to earn just $2.025MM in 2019.
The Jaguars would, presumably, love to lock down the Maryland product for years to come. However, the continued explosion of the edge rushing market makes this an extremely costly proposition for Jacksonville. The Maryland product, who just turned 24 in March, is undoubtedly looking to meet or top the five-year, ~$105MM deals that fellow pass rushers Demarcus Lawrence and Frank Clark signed this year, both of which came with over $60MM in guarantees.
Panthers Sign Brian Burns
It’s a done deal. On Wednesday, the Panthers agreed to terms with No. 16 overall pick Brian Burns, a source tells NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). With that Burns, will report on time and partake in activities on Wednesday. 
Burns, a Florida State product, saved his best for last. In 2018, Burns registered ten sacks, 15.5 tackles for a loss, and 52 total stops. In the eyes of the Panthers and at least one other team, he was the best pass rusher left on the board in the middle of the first round.
Here’s the full recap of the Panthers’ 2019 draft class, via PFR’s tracker:
- 1-16: Brian Burns, DE (Florida State): Signed
- 2-37: Greg Little, T (Ole Miss): Signed
- 3-100: Will Grier, QB (West Virginia): Signed
- 4-115: Christian Miller, LB (Alabama): Signed
- 5-154: Jordan Scarlett, RB (Florida): Signed
- 6-212: Dennis Daley, T (South Carolina): Signed
- 7-237: Terry Godwin, WR (Georgia): Signed
With Burns under contract, there are only two first-round picks unsigned: No. 2 overall choice Nick Bosa (49ers) and No. 3 pick Quinnen Williams (Jets).
Seahawks’ Jarran Reed Suspended
Seahawks defensive lineman Jarran Reed has been suspended for the first six games of the 2019 season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The ban stems from a 2017 violation of the personal conduct policy.
As Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times writes, the Bellevue Police Department recommended that Reed be charged with fourth-degree assault in connection with a domestic violence incident that occurred in April 2017, but the city’s prosecuting office did not believe there was sufficient evidence to prove the crime occurred, so it declined to pursue the matter. As such, Reed was never arrested or charged
According to the police report, Reed and his girlfriend got into an argument at Reed’s home, and Reed allegedly grabbed the woman’s throat and pulled her into the bathroom. Shortly thereafter, the woman claimed that Reed grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her across a bedroom floor and then down several stairs before she broke free.
The NFL did its own investigation and opted to suspend Reed 27 months after the incident. The league also denied Reed an appeal.
Of course, this will lead to obvious questions as to why Reed was suspended — and why it took so long to do it — when the Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill escaped league discipline. The NFL did not respond to the Seattle Times’ request for further comment on the matter.
Reed underwent sports hernia surgery in April but was on track to participate in training camp. Now, he’ll have to wait until at least October to see live action.
The Seahawks were banking on a big season from Reed, who is coming off of a season with 10.5 sacks as a starter. He was also an extension candidate, but those plans may now be put on hold.
The Seahawks will have to generate pass pressure from elsewhere, and that won’t be an easy task after the trade of Frank Clark. Poona Ford and first-round pick L.J. Collier will have to carry much of the load, unless the team is able to find help elsewhere.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Vikings’ Holton Hill Suspended (Again)
Vikings cornerback Holton Hill has been suspended, once again. This time around, it’s a four-game ban for violating the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse, as ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. 
Hill, 22, made the Vikings as an undrafted free agent out of Texas and wound up appearing in all 16 games for the Vikings last year, including three starts. He finished out with 36 tackles in total and made his first career interception in the Vikings’ October romp over the Jets.
This year, he was slated for a significant role in the secondary, but a pair of four-game bans will keep him sidelined until the midway point of the season. In April, the Vikings learned that they would be without Hill for a quarter of the season thanks to a PED policy violation.
The team will not be releasing a statement, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter).
Seahawks’ Bobby Wagner To Report To Camp
Seahawks star linebacker Bobby Wagner is expected to show up for training camp on Wednesday, sources tell NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Wagner doesn’t have a new deal in hand yet, but Rapoport hears that he wants to continue to be a leader in the locker room and set an example. 
[RELATED: Extension Candidate – Bobby Wagner]
Wagner might take the cautious approach and avoid putting himself in harm’s way, Rapoport hears, but he’ll be there with his teammates. Ultimately, it’s believed that the two sides will come to an accord before the season gets underway in September.
Wagner is likely looking to top the $17MM payout that C.J. Mosley landed from the Jets in free agency, which is understandable. Mosley is a good player in his own right, but Wagner is a five-time Pro Bowler, four-time First Team All-Pro, and a bonafide tackling machine.
Interestingly, Wagner is representing himself as he guns for his next big payday.
Cowboys Rumors: Cooper, Hurns, Gregory
Here’s the latest on the Cowboys:
- Amari Cooper is in no rush to get his extension done and he’ll report to Cowboys camp on time, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter) hears. Cooper, in all likelihood, is waiting out new deals for Julio Jones, Michael Thomas, and Tyreek Hill before putting pen to paper.
- The Cowboys offered Allen Hurns a pay reduction and he declined, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News tweets. That’s what we suspected when the Cowboys released the veteran on Tuesday afternoon.
- As he works his way back from indefinite suspension for a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy, Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory has made an agent change (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Gregory is now repped by agent Peter Schaffer after parting ways with Steve Weinberg.
Broncos Waive K Taylor Bertolet
The Broncos have ended their kicking competition, while starting a new battle at punter. On Tuesday, the Broncos waived kicker Taylor Bertolet and signed punter Justin Vogel. 
This effectively means that Brandon McManus will be the Broncos’ starting kicker this year. A cursory look at McManus’ stats shows a so-so 80% field goal conversion rate last year, but all five of his misses came from 50 yards or more. Within reasonable range, McManus was a perfect 18-18 and nailed all of his extra point tries.
Vogel, meanwhile, will duke it out with Colby Wadman for the punting gig. Wadman, a rising NFL sophomore, averaged 44.7 yards per punt in 2018.
Cowboys’ Frederick To Be Ready For Camp
Cowboys All-Pro center Travis Frederick, who dealt with Guillain-Barré syndrome last year, is expected to be active for the start of training camp, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. With that, he’ll avoid the NFI list and will be ready to go for team activities. 
[RELATED: Cowboys Release WR Allen Hurns]
Frederick missed the entire 2018 season as he battled his condition, but all signs have been pointing to a full return in 2019. Before the illness, Frederick started 80 straight games for the Cowboys.
Frederick had another productive season in 2017, as Pro Football Focus ranked him third among eligible centers. With his limp gone and his overall condition vastly improved, he should be on track for a strong season in ’19.
Saints To Work Out DeShawn Shead
Veteran defensive back DeShawn Shead will work out for the Saints on Tuesday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). This marks Shead’s first known workout of the offseason. 
Shead spent the first six seasons of his career with the Seahawks, making 22 starts across 54 appearances. Unfortunately, a knee injury suffered in the 2016 playoffs altered the trajectory of his career. After appearing in just two games for Seattle in ’17, Shead hooked on with the Lions in March of last year. After missing the final cut, he was re-signed to a lower cost deal and appeared in 12 games before landing on IR once again.
The 30-year-old, who once played opposite of Richard Sherman, could serve as a valued backup behind Eli Apple and Marshon Lattimore.