Browns Place OL Brian Allen On IR
The Browns’ interior offensive line depth has been dealt a blow well before the start of the season. Brian Allen was placed on injured reserve Monday, per a team announcement. 
Allen has been dealing with a calf injury since the third day of training camp, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com notes. The ailment is obviously a serious one, as today’s move means Allen will not play in 2024. The 28-year-old signed with the Browns after the draft in a bid to put together a healthy campaign on a new team.
Allen started each of his appearances with the Rams from 2019-22, but injuries hindered his Los Angeles tenure. The former fourth-rounder missed the 2020 campaign altogether, and he was limited to five games (and no starts) last season. To little surprise, he was released by the Rams in a move which set up his Browns arrival.
Cleveland’s offensive line was decimated by injuries in 2023, so added depth across the board was welcomed in the offseason. Allen has exclusively played at center during his career, but he did take practice reps at guard prior to suffering the injury. Now, the Browns’ plans along the interior will no longer include him for 2024. The team still has Ethan Pocic in place as a starter in the middle, along with the well-regarded tandem of Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio at guard.
Allen’s Cleveland contract was a one-year accord, as could be expected given his injury issues during his Rams tenure. His attention will now return to rehab in anticipation of free agency next spring. After another full season spent on the sidelines, though, it is safe to assume his market will not be strong once he returns to full health. In a corresponding move, the Browns signed guard Zach Johnson.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/28/24
Here are today’s minor moves to close out the weekend:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Demetric Felton
- Placed on exempt/international player list: P Tory Taylor
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from active/NFI list: TE Erick All
Dallas Cowboys
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): CB Kemon Hall
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from active/PUP list: G Joe Thuney
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from active/PUP list: LB David Long
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Josiah Bronson
- Activated from active/NFI list: RB Antonio Gibson
- Activated from active/PUP list: RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: G Tremayne Anchrum, T Jesse Davis
- Placed on IR: OL Justin Herron
- Waived: OL Mark Evans II
New York Giants
- Signing: CB Breon Borders
- Activated from active/PUP list: TE Theo Johnson
- Waived: QB Nathan Rourke
Thuney has been working his way back from a pectoral injury. After suffering the strain in a Divisional Round win over the Bills, the injury held Thuney out of the team’s final two wins over the Ravens and 49ers. Having passed his physical, Thuney will return to practice in order to take the next steps on his way back to the field.
The Giants weren’t the only team to submit a waiver claim for Rourke as he continues to try and turn his success in the Canadian Football League into an NFL opportunity. Now, after being buried on the depth chart behind Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, and Tommy DeVito, Rourke is able to look elsewhere for that chance at playing time in the NFL.
Rams, Matthew Stafford Reach Contract Resolution
JULY 28: Stafford’s deal is now officially in place, per Garafolo’s colleague Ian Rapoport. $5MM has been accelerated from a future year into 2024, meaning he will receive $36MM this season. In addition, a guaranteed $4MM roster bonus has been added for 2025. Stafford has thus met his goal of acquiring new locked in compensation while also receiving a raise up front.
JULY 23: Rams head coach Sean McVay announced on Tuesday that an agreement has been reached with Matthew Stafford on a new contract. The Super Bowl-winning quarterback will be in attendance at training camp. 
McVay did not go into specifics with respect to financial terms, but he noted (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo) today’s agreement is not an extension. As a result, Stafford remains under contract through the 2026 campaign. Only one more year remained on the pact with guaranteed salary, so this restructure presumably includes new locked in compensation.
It became known during the draft that Stafford was seeking guarantees beyond 2024. The 36-year-old delivered a healthy and productive season last year, putting to rest thoughts of a trade sending him out of Los Angeles or (for at least the time being) speculation about retirement. McVay confirmed Stafford would remain in place for the coming campaign atop the QB depth chart after the team’s postseason exit. That will be the case for 2024 and potentially beyond, depending on the structure of the new arrangement.
Stafford’s camp had been in communication with the Rams about a resolution, so today’s update comes as little surprise. The latest report on the matter indicated the longtime Lions signal-caller would not engage in a training camp holdout even if a deal had not been agreed to. That has now become a moot point, and team and player will turn their attention to the 2024 season.
The Rams’ youth movement at a number of positions led to lessened expectations last year, but Stafford helped guide the team to the wild-card round. Taking one or more steps further than that in 2024 would prove his $31MM salary to be worthwhile, and staying healthy would make today’s investment in his finances for 2025 and/or ’26 a reasonable decision as well. The details of today’s move will be worth watching for as the Rams prepare for life after Aaron Donald on the field and from a financial perspective.
Cowboys Release Gareon Conley; CB Plans To Retire
The Cowboys have released cornerback Gareon Conley, per a team announcement. The club just signed Conley in June in the hopes that the 2017 first-rounder — who last suited up for regular season action in 2019 — could make a comeback in Dallas, where he would be reunited with Paul Guenther (Guenther, currently a Cowboys assistant, was the Raiders’ defensive coordinator from 2018-19, when Conley was a starter for the then-Oakland outfit).
Rather than continue his journey back to an NFL roster, Conley has decided to retire, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. As Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports, Conley requested his release, and the Cowboys obliged.
Conley, now 29, played in just two games for the Raiders in his rookie season in 2017 due to injury, but he was elevated to the starting lineup the following season, the first year of Jon Gruden‘s second stint with the club. The Ohio State product played reasonably well in his first extensive professional action, earning an average 64.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus and accumulating three interceptions — including one pick-six — among 15 passes defensed.
He remained a starter in 2019 and performed at a similar level, which was enough for the Texans to send a third-round choice to the Raiders at that year’s deadline to acquire Conley’s services. However, it was not enough for Houston to exercise his fifth-year option, which turned 2020 into a platform year. Unfortunately, instead of making his case for a lucrative second NFL contract, Conley never got into another meaningful game.
He underwent arthroscopic ankle surgery in the 2020 offseason, and though he was medically cleared to return to practice that August, he landed on IR before the season started. As it turned out, the ordinarily minor procedure led to unexpected complications, and Conley eventually required another surgery.
Conley filed a grievance against the Texans stemming from his medical issues, a matter that was recently settled for $100K. He officially exits the game after having played in just 31 contests (26 starts), though he did earn $10.5MM over the life of his rookie deal.
We at PFR wish Conley the best in retirement.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/27/24
Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: G Zack Johnson
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Deontay Burnett, WR Kelvin Harmon
Denver Broncos
- Activated from active/PUP list: S Caden Sterns
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Malik Jefferson
- Placed on IR: Michael Badgley (story)
- Placed on active/NFI list: OL Christian Mahogany
- Waived with injury settlement: OL Matt Farniok
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Curtis Bolton
- Waived: QB Gavin Hardison
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Chandler Brewer
- Waived: G Nouri Nouili
New York Jets
- Signed: QB Adrian Martinez, CB Kendall Sheffield
- Waived: Ben Bryant, CB Nehemiah Shelton
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Frank Darby
- Waived: CB Kemon Hall
Martinez had a productive dual-threat career in college, scoring 96 total touchdowns during his time with Nebraska and Kansas State. He joined the Lions as a UDFA last spring, but he did not survive roster cutdowns. Martinez did not see any NFL game action, but he recently boosted his stock in the UFL. The 24-year-old earned league MVP honors while leading the Birmingham Stallions to the championship. Martinez compiled a combined 17:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio and led the league with 588 rushing yards.
The top of New York’s depth chart is set with Aaron Rodgers and Tyrod Taylor, but rookie Jordan Travis opened training camp on the NFI list as he continues to recover from the leg injury which ended his Florida State career. Martinez’s arrival (and the corresponding departure of Bryant) will allow him to see limited reps for at least a brief period. He could be a practice squad candidate if Travis returns to health in time for the fall, but a strong showing in training camp and/or the preseason could make him an attractive option for other teams.
Packers, QB Jordan Love Agree On Extension
The next domino has fallen in regard to quarterback contracts. According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Packers have reached an agreement extending quarterback Jordan Love on a four-year, $220MM deal. The contract makes Love tied for the highest annual average salary in NFL history.
The Packers quarterback is set to receive an NFL-record $75MM signing bonus. Jared Goff‘s signing bonus this year of $73MM is the next-closest such figure. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Love’s new contract includes $155MM in new guarantees. Love will collect $79MM in the deal’s first year, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who adds he will see $175MM over the contract’s first three years. That betters Goff’s three-year total by $10MM.
This wraps a pivotal day for NFL contracts, with Love’s extension coming hours after the Dolphins gave Tua Tagovailoa a four-year, $212.4MM deal. Unlike Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Trevor Lawrence over the past year, Tagovailoa and Love agreed to four-year contracts. This will put the 2020 draftees in position to potentially cash in on third NFL deals earlier than the Chargers, Bengals and Jaguars passers, who agreed to five-year deals. After a report Friday afternoon indicated contract structure was holding up this agreement, the parties hammered out a deal that will tie Love to Green Bay through the 2028 season.
Love’s path to his big payday is one not often seen in the NFL. After being the fourth quarterback taken in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Love was the only one of the four passers to not start at least half the season as a rookie. In fact, Love was the only first-round pick in that year to not even appear in a game his rookie season. He fell victim that year to the Packers’ notorious strategy of drafting and stashing a quarterback talent while their long-time veteran finishes out his time in Green Bay.
After redshirting his rookie year, Love made his first career start in 2021, replacing a COVID-19-positive Aaron Rodgers. He delivered a middling performance in a loss to the Chiefs and appeared in mostly garbage-time situations for nine other games in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, after Rodgers forced a trade to the Jets, Love finally was given an opportunity to prepare for the season as a starter. With ten game appearances and only one start under his belt, Love took over the offense, starting all 17 games last year. In his first season as the starter under center, Love went 9-8 in the regular season, completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 4,159 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
Green Bay’s 9-8 record under Love was good enough to earn them a playoff spot as the No. 7 seed, setting them up for a trip to the No. 2-seeded Cowboys in Super Wild Card weekend. Love played lights out, knocking out Dallas before going toe-to-toe and losing a three-point contest to the top-seeded 49ers.
That is the story of Love’s career: the lone season as a starter in the NFL. That was apparently enough for Green Bay to tie him with Burrow and Lawrence as the highest-paid players in NFL history. Burrow and Lawrence both are making $55MM per year on five-year contracts, so technically they are in line to receive more money than Love, but the Packers passer’s $220MM in four years matches them in annual value.
While this level of commitment may seem excessive for an 18-game starting sample (plus two postseason starts), with a contract year on the horizon, it would have been risky to allow Love to test free agency or potentially improve his bargaining position. The team is confident enough in Love’s potential and happy enough with Love’s production, that they deemed him worth what Lawrence was making, at least.
Both sides wanted this deal done by training camp, though it took a few extra days. As negotiations with the Packers had been failing, Love was staging a hold-in, attending training camp to avoid fines but participating minimally, if at all. After finally putting pen to paper, Love should be suited up for the team’s next training camp session.
The most important remaining ongoing contract negotiation is that of Cowboys passer Dak Prescott. Currently ranking 14th in average annual salary, Prescott’s regular-season success should set him up for a big payday, once he comes to terms with Dallas. The Tagovailoa and Love accords being completed will help set the table for Prescott, who possesses unique leverage in his latest Cowboys negotiations.
The Packers, though, have checked that item off the to-do list. Since trading for Brett Favre in 1992, watching him reign until 2007, letting 2005 first-round pick Rodgers take over in 2008 and reign until 2022, the Packers have enjoyed longevity at the quarterback position for 32 years. The question facing Love was whether or not he would allow Green Bay to continue that trend. Love will be 30 years old the next time he gets a chance to test free agency; that is, if the Packers don’t decide to push their longevity trend even further.
Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa Agree To Extension
Training camp participation will no longer be an issue for Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins quarterback has agreed to a four-year, $212.4MM extension, as first reported by Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. 
Many of the league’s QB mega-deals have been five years in length, making this extension slightly unique. It is the most expensive four-year investment in league history with an average annual value of $53.1MM, third highest amongst signal-callers. Rapoport adds Tagovailoa will receive $167.1MM guaranteed.
Given the 26-year-old’s injury history, questions have been raised this offseason regarding how much of a long-term commitment the Dolphins would be willing to make. Full details are not yet known, but Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reports this deal is a three-year accord in terms of practical guarantees. As a result, Tagovailoa will be in place atop Miami’s QB depth chart through at least the 2027 campaign.
Team and player in this case expressed a desire in February for a deal to be worked out in relatively short order. Miami dealt with a number of other priorities in the months since, then, however, and talks continued through to this week. Tagovailoa was largely a non-participant in spring workouts, a departure from his normal offseason routine. The Alabama product made it clear he was acutely aware of the surging market value of quarterbacks on their second contracts, something which applies to him. Tagovailoa was already on the books for 2024 via his $23.17MM fifth-year option.
Using one or two franchise tags after this season would have been an option had the Dolphins taken a hardline stance at the negotiating table, but they have instead made a long-term commitment. Tagovailoa put up career highs in a number of categories in 2023, a campaign in which he crucially managed to remain healthy. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,624) and earned his first career Pro Bowl nod while helping the team to an 11-6 record and a postseason berth. Needless to say, expectations for a repeat of that success (and beyond) will be in place moving forward.
Miami inked receiver Jaylen Waddle to a $28.25MM-per-year deal this spring, and teammate Tyreek Hill is angling for a raise as well. Keeping that tandem in place while also retaining Tagovailoa in the fold has been an overarching goal for the organization during the offseason, one in which the likes of Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt departed via free agency. It remains to be seen what happens with Hill, but now Waddle and Tagovailoa’s futures have received clarity.
The latter rejected at least one extension offer prior to today’s blockbuster accord being finalized (something which came as little surprise considering Miami’s initial unwillingness to offer a market-value pact). A report from earlier this week indicated Tagovailoa and the Dolphins were not as close to working out a deal as Jordan Love and the Packers were. Instead, Miami has managed to get negotiations across the finish line before Green Bay. This deal will serve as another blueprint for the Packers and Love to follow with seven quarterbacks now occupying the $50MM-per-year club.
Tagovailoa reported to training camp on time, but he barely participated during the first day of practice. That was followed by a total on-field absence yesterday, a sign that an extended period of uncertainty regarding his availability could extend for days or longer. The former No. 5 pick took every first-team rep in Friday’s practice, though, a development which certainly makes sense given the fact a monster deal has now been agreed to.
Head coach Mike McDaniel has been in place for the past two years, having been hired in large part to maximize Tagovailoa’s potential. The pair have worked well together so far, and 2023’s productive (albeit inconsistent) showings on offense offered a glimpse of what could be possible down the road. Now, the McDaniel-Tagovailoa partnership will remain in place for the foreseeable future.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/24
Today’s minor moves to wrap up the week:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Devin Carter, TE Feleipe Franks, CB Kiondre Thomas
- Placed on reserve/PUP list: WR Cam Sims
- Reverted to IR: DT Popo Aumavae
- Waived: T Christian Duffie, S Clayton Isbell, WR Sam Pinckney
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Nate Brooks, WR Hakeem Butler, P Ryan Rehkow
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from active/NFI list: CB Corey Ballentine, T Caleb Jones
- Activated from active/PUP list: OL Donovan Jennings
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: OLB Owen Carney
- Waived: LB Luquay Washington
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: CB Derion Kendrick (story)
- Placed on reserve/retired list: DT Aaron Donald (story)
New England Patriots
- Waived: CB Kaleb Ford-Dement
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from active/NFI list: WR Shaquan Davis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Marquise Blair
- Waived: S Jonathan Sutherland
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Salvatore Cannella
Blair reunites with the Seahawks after two years away. A former second-round pick for Seattle, Blair spent parts of 2022 with the Panthers and Eagles before spending last year out with an Achilles tear.
Cannella, who formerly went by Sal, played for the Arlington Renegades of the UFL earlier this year, leading the league with six receiving touchdowns and finishing first among tight ends with 53 catches and 497 yards. He’s been in an out of the NFL with stints in the USFL and XFL before; the Bucs are hoping this time will stick.
Rams To Sign CB Jerry Jacobs
Jerry Jacobs has found his next home early in training camp. The veteran cornerback is set to sign with the Rams, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
Jacobs took a number of visits this offseason, but that did not include any known ones with Los Angeles. Of course, the Rams’ secondary has recently been dealt a blow with Derion Kendrick suffering an ACL tear. Jacobs will now step in and attempt to carve out a defensive role in Kendrick’s absence.
After three seasons with the Lions, Jacobs did not receive an RFA tender. That left him free to explore other opportunities, and he took visits with the Falcons and Vikings in May. Neither of those produced a deal, nor did his meeting with the Panthers earlier this week. With Kendrick going down, though, a new opening emerged and Jacobs will have the chance to compete for a starting spot or at least part-time defensive duties alongside the likes of Darious Williams, Tre’Davious White and Cobie Durant.
The 26-year-old has made 29 starts, including 12 last season. Jacobs posted a career high in interceptions (three) and tackles (55) in 2023, although his coverage statistics were worse than in years past. Detroit made additions at the cornerback spot via free agency, trade and the draft this offseason, leaving Jacobs in need of a new home. The Arkansas alum could prove to be a cost-effective addition if he manages to remain healthy and earn playing time in Los Angeles, though.
The Rams entered Friday with roughly $8.3MM in cap space, allowing for an addition such as this one. The Jacobs deal will no doubt be a one-year investment, one which will allow him to boost his free agent stock ahead of next offseason. If he fits in with Los Angeles, his arrival could prove to be a notable summer pickup.
Panthers To Sign Kemoko Turay
Carolina’s efforts in auditioning several edge rush options will produce at least one deal. The Panthers are signing Kemoko Turay following his workout, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. 
Turay visited the team yesterday alongside Marquis Haynes. He will now spend training camp attempting to carve out a spot on the 53-man roster. Turay’s last regular season appearances came in 2022 with the 49ers, and he spent last offseason with the Falcons. Upon failing to survive roster cuts, though, he was unable to find a deal.
The 29-year-old played out his rookie contract from 2018-21 with the Colts. Turay operated in a rotational capacity during that time, with his only three career starts coming in his rookie season. The former second-rounder flashed potential with four sacks during his debut campaign, but he managed just 2.5 across the following two seasons. Turay only logged a 27% snap share in 2021, but he racked up 5.5 sacks and 12 pressures that year.
The Rutgers product was unable to match that production during his one-and-done San Francisco slate, so he will join the Panthers with limited expectations. Carolina is in need of depth along the edge, though, with plenty of uncertainty in place beyond projected starters Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum. Turay will look to earn a rotational edge rush role; he does not have special teams experience, so third phase duties do not represent a feasible path to a roster spot.
Carolina will audition Yannick Ngakoue and Carl Lawson today, and it will be interesting to see if either of them manage to secure a deal. Regardless of whether of not that happens, Turay will have an opportunity through the next several weeks as he aims to earn a regular season role.