NFL Draft Rumors: Falcons, Jaguars, Browns
The Falcons top two sack-getters last year (Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree) are currently free agents. And while free safety Jessie Bates‘ first season in Atlanta went swimmingly with career highs in tackles (132), forced fumbles (3), and interceptions (6), as well as Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors, he seemed to be the only player showing up each Sunday for the Falcons.
With all this in mind, it’s no surprise to hear that adding draft prospects on the defensive side of the ball is expected to be a major focus for Atlanta come this week’s draft, according to Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network. In Caplan’s most recent mock draft, he slotted Alabama pass rusher Dallas Turner as the team’s first-round pick. Previous iterations of his mock draft saw Atlanta taking Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins and Florida State pass rusher Jared Verse.
Going pass rusher seems to make more sense after losing Campbell and Dupree to free agency, but expect multiple picks throughout the three-day event to address both positions. Turner is likely the preferred option as most see him as the top pass rusher on the board, but Verse or even UCLA’s Laiatu Latu could be the selection if Turner is drafted before they have the chance to claim him.
Here are a few other draft rumors from around the NFL:
- The Jaguars are another team who are expected to favor defensive prospects later this week, per Caplan. Their situation isn’t nearly as dire after bringing in Arik Armstead, Darnell Savage, and Ronald Darby, but they still lost Darious Williams, Rayshawn Jenkins, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Dawuane Smoot in free agency. Caplan has Jacksonville selecting Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry as the fourth cornerback off the board. The Jaguars definitely are going to want to add to their cornerbacks group, but unless they decide to trade up, they’ll have to see what’s left of McKinstry, Wiggins, Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell, and Alabama’s Terrion Arnold.
- The Browns expect to have Nick Chubb back at some point in the coming season and will rely on Jerome Ford, Pierre Strong, and D’Onta Foreman in the meantime. Seeing how fragile the room is without Chubb, though, Cleveland has done plenty of homework on the 2024 NFL Draft’s running backs class. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the team has hosted Florida State’s Trey Benson, TCU’s Emani Bailey, and BYU’s Aidan Robbins for “top 30” visits. They may be looking to add some quality depth to the position later this week.
Jaguars GM Trent Baalke Addresses Trevor Lawrence Extension Talks
Earlier this week, it was learned extension talks are ongoing between the Jaguars and quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The parties have plenty of time to work out a deal with the fifth-year option in place a means to keep Lawrence in place through 2025. 
That option will check in at a price of $25.66MM, a figure far below the going rate for franchise quarterbacks. The former first overall pick has not lived up to expectations to date, but he is squarely in Jacksonville’s long-term plans. Young passers are often extended after three years in the league – the first point of eligibility for a second contract – and it would come as no surprise if a Lawrence deal were to be worked out in 2024.
Talks on that front will be lengthy, however, something general manager Trent Baalke confirmed when speaking on the subject. A monster deal was recently hammered out with Pro Bowl edge rusher Josh Allen, removing one major task from the Jaguars’ to-do list. A Lawrence agreement will be much more expensive, though, and Baalke acknowledged patience will be required while adding he aims to find a resolution relatively soon.
“We’ve had some great talks and great conversations,” Baalke said (via NFL.com). “We’re working, but you can’t force this stuff. I said the same thing with Josh’s situation, I said it would take some time and it did. But we’re glad it got completed when it did so we could go into this offseason program knowing that’s behind us and we can move forward. We’re working at it, we’ll continue to work at it. Ownership is involved, obviously. Coach [Doug Pederson] is involved; we’re going to put our best foot forward and hope to get something accomplished here.”
Pederson’s arrival in 2022 led to expectations Lawrence would be able to rebound from a forgettable rookie campaign under Urban Meyer. That season, Jacksonville managed to reach the divisional round of the postseason amidst a strong showing on offense. A regression this past campaign – one in which Lawrence battle multiple injuries – left the team out of the postseason, however. The 24-year-old could thus be hard-pressed to command a deal similar in value to those signed by the likes of Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts last offseason.
Those four pacts brought the top of the QB market past $50MM per year, and healthy salary cap increases will no doubt keep moving the position’s financial landscape further. Lawrence is among the signal-callers set to benefit from that trend as early as this offseason, and it will be interesting to see how much traction is gained on contract talks over the coming weeks.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/19/24
Today’s minor transactions from around the league:
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: OL Tyler Shatley
Seattle Seahawks
- Invited to rookie minicamp: QB Kory Curtis
Shatley will continue his run as the Jaguars’ longest-tenured player with a new contract. The long-time Jacksonville sixth man on the offensive line has continued to play a big role into his 30’s. In the first seven seasons of his career, Shatley started 25 games as an injury fill-in or replacement starter. In the three seasons since he’s turned 30 years old, Shatley has 26 starts. He isn’t projected to be a starter in 2024, but he should continue to be the first man off the bench in situations of injury or ineffectiveness.
Curtis is a name that’s been around college football for a while. After spending two years backing up J.T. Barrett and Dwayne Haskins at Ohio State, Curtis transferred to Bryant University, where he started for two more seasons. Utilizing his redshirt season and his extra year of eligibility as a student during the COVID-19 pandemic, Curtis played two more seasons at Gannon University. Playing his final season with the Golden Knights in 2022, Curtis returns to the football world via a rookie minicamp invitation to Seattle.
Extension Talks Underway Between Jaguars, QB Trevor Lawrence
We mentioned back in February that extension talks between the Jaguars and former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence were expected to begin. Yesterday, thanks to Grant Gordon of NFL.com, we learned that those conversations have been taking place lately, according to Lawrence. 
Lawrence’s road to NFL stardom got off to a rough start after he led the league in interceptions as a rookie. He rebounded in his sophomore campaign, leading the Jaguars to the playoffs and captaining an incredible comeback win over the Chargers in the Wild Card round. 2023 saw a bit of a fall back down to reality, but Lawrence is unconcerned about last season or what it could mean for his new potential contract. According to Lawrence, the extension is not at the forefront of his mind.
“There’s definitely been some conversations as far as where that’s at now,” Lawrence told the media earlier this week. “It’s not really my focus. I’d love to obviously be a Jag for as long as possible…But…going into my fourth year, it’s not like this is necessarily going to be my last season.”
Lawrence is referring to the fifth-year option included in the rookie contracts of all first-round picks. Jacksonville has yet to make a determination, something it will be required to do this offseason, but it’s a near guarantee that the team will pick up his option, giving them this year and potentially next year, as well, to work out a long-term contract.
Regardless of when it occurs, Lawrence appears focused on the work at hand. “It’s not really my focus right now. At the end of the day, my job isn’t going to change whether I get extended or not before this season. My job is to go win games and to be the best I can be for this team so we can have a chance to win the Super Bowl. Even if I get the contract extension, that’s still my job. Even more so. There’s even more expectation and pressure on that. For me, I have the same focus and the same mindset.”
While Lawrence is excited about the potential of earning his first big NFL contract, the 24-year-old is being realistic about what it will take to get the money he desires. “I can’t lie. Obviously, it would be nice to have that done and feel good about it, but no, it’s not really the focus right now,” he said. “I know where we’re at, I know where we’re heading, and I know what I have to do. I know there’s some improvements that I have to make going forward.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/15/24
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: LB Joe Bachie
- Signed ERFA tender: LS Cal Adomitis
Cleveland Browns
- Re-signed: LB Sam Kamara
- Waived/failed physical: G Drew Forbes
Detroit Lions
- Signed ERFA tender: OL Kayode Awosika, LB James Houston, RB Craig Reynolds
Green Bay Packers
- Signed ERFA tender: P Daniel Whalen, RB Emanuel Wilson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Patrick Murtaugh
- Waived: S Ayo Oyelola
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed ERFA tender: RB Ronnie Rivers
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: CB Shemar Jean-Charles
New York Giants
- Signed RFA tender: CB Nick McCloud
New York Jets
- Signed ERFA tender: T Austin Deculus
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Lorenz Metz
Washington Commanders
- Waived: LS Tucker Addington
Today marks the first day for teams with holdover HCs to begin offseason programs. That date frequently coincides with restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents officially coming back into the fold. McCloud’s signing and Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson inking his second-round tender leaves 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings, also given a Round 2 tender, as the lone unsigned RFA. McCloud will be tied to a nonguaranteed $2.99MM salary.
A former UDFA out of Michigan State, Bachie has been with the Bengals for the past three seasons. The young linebacker has been a regular special-teamer in that time; over the past two seasons, Bachie has been on the field for more than 60% of Cincinnati’s ST plays.
The Commanders signed Tyler Ott in free agency. The longtime Seahawks snapper spent 2023 with the Ravens; the veteran staying in the Mid-Atlantic region will lead to Addington — a three-game Washington long snapper in 2023 — being moved off the roster.
Murtaugh and Metz are coming to the NFL via the league’s International Pathway Program. Murtaugh hails from Australia and has a background in Australian Rules Football. He spent a bit of time with the Lions in 2023. A German, Metz spent time with the Bears last year but did not make their roster. He was not with a team during the season. If Murtaugh and Metz fail to make their respective team’s 53-man roster, they can be carried as a 17th practice squad player via the IPP program.
Jaguars Bring Back Tom Gamble
Although Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh famously butted heads in San Francisco, Tom Gamble has spent extensive time with both power brokers. The former 49ers assistant GM will move back to Baalke’s side after residing as a Michigan staffer in recent years.
Gamble became part of the Michigan program after a stint with the Jaguars; he is now reversing course. The veteran personnel man is rejoining Baalke in Jacksonville, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. He had served as the Wolverines’ director of player personnel during Harbaugh’s final years leading the program. The decision to come back to Jacksonville is interesting due to Gamble being rumored to be coming with Harbaugh back to the NFL, had the latter landed the Denver job in 2023.
This will be a third stint with Gamble working alongside Baalke. They were together from 2005-12 in San Francisco and again from 2015-16, the latter stretch coming after the Baalke-Harbaugh feud produced an exit to the college ranks from the fiery HC. Gamble finished his second 49ers tenure as assistant GM, moving into that role months before Baalke’s dismissal. Gamble left San Francisco shortly after the John Lynch GM hire in 2017.
This will be Gamble’s 31st NFL season, and he has hit the ground running. Gamble has been working with Baalke in Jacksonville for the past several weeks, according to SI.com’s John Shipley. Gamble’s title is unknown, but he served as a Jags senior personnel exec back in 2021, when the brief Baalke-Urban Meyer partnership came apart quickly.
During the first two years of the Baalke-Harbaugh alliance in San Francisco, Gamble served as the reignited team’s director of player personnel. That concluded Gamble’s first stint with the team; the Eagles brought him in as their VP of player personnel from 2013-14. Baalke and Gamble both worked under Scot McCloughan in San Francisco, rising up the ranks before Baalke’s eventual ascent to the GM post.
Draft Notes: Titans, Alt, Chargers, Jags, Hawks, Cardinals, Bucs, Pats, Latu, Rams
Cutting Andre Dillard and not replacing him to this point, the Titans have a clear left tackle need going into a draft loaded with high-end prospects at the position. The Titans are “definitely” interested in Joe Alt, ESPN.com’s Matt Miller writes, noting the team’s recent visit and Combine meeting with the two-time All-American. But the Chargers should be considered a team to watch for the Notre Dame alum. The Bolts, whose first-round slot (No. 5) is two in front of the Titans’, have a clear wide receiver need but have hired a coach (Jim Harbaugh) who has not emphasized that position.
Alt continues to come up in connection to the Chargers at 5, ESPN’s Jordan Reid adds, and SI.com’s Albert Breer is not sure the Titans will have a chance at the decorated blocker due to the Bolts staying drafting Alt at 5. Alt would replace Trey Pipkins at right tackle in this scenario. Alt was a left tackle for the Fighting Irish and would step in there immediately if he lasted until the Titans at 7. One avenue for Tennessee to have a shot here would be if the Bolts trade down — a move they have made it known they are willing to make. Other quality tackles like Alabama’s JC Latham and Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga could be options for the Bolts if they move down, Reid adds.
Here is the latest from the draft:
- Personnel around the NFL are tying the Jaguars to a cornerback investment at No. 17, Reid adds in the above-referenced ESPN piece. Jacksonville has hosted both Alabama CBs — Terrion Arnold, Kool-Aid McKinstry — and has a need at the position due to the Darious Williams cut. The Jags signed Ronald Darby, but the 30-year-old CB is signed to a two-year deal that can be shed easily in 2025. A young corner to pair with Tyson Campbell would make sense. With Josh Allen signed long term and Trevor Lawrence perhaps on deck this year, the Jags finding quality starters on rookie contracts will be paramount.
- The Cardinals and Seahawks have hosted Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson on visits this week, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. The ex-Nittany Lions sack artist has been busy during the draft run-up, having already met with the Eagles, Ravens, Saints, Giants and Jets. Robinson would come into play for the Cardinals if they moved down from No. 4, but Arizona — which certainly needs help on the edge — also holds the No. 27 choice courtesy of its Texans trade early in last year’s draft. The Seahawks hold the No. 16 selection. Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com mock draft sends Robinson to the Buccaneers at 26.
- Speaking of the Bucs, they recently brought in Western Kentucky wide receiver Malachi Corley for a pre-draft meeting, Pelissero tweets. The Bucs have plenty of money allocated to the receiver position, with both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on deals north of the $20MM-AAV mark. Corley profiles as a second-round option in a deep receiver draft, with teams who pass on filling a WR need in Round 1 likely paying attention to the ex-Hilltoppers standout’s status entering Day 2. The Browns, Ravens, Seahawks and 49ers have also scheduled Corley visits.
- Moving to another Day 2-level wideout, Troy Franklin is believed to have scheduled a Patriots meeting, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan tweets. The Patriots not landing Calvin Ridley places them on the radar for a wideout in Round 2, assuming they fill their QB need at No. 3 overall. The Pats did sign K.J. Osborn and kept Kendrick Bourne off the market, but the team’s rookie QB will need more help.
- Most teams to meet with UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu have cleared him medically, per Sportskeeda.com’s Tony Pauline, who indicates the Rams are one of them. A neck issue forced a Latu medical retirement in 2020, and the ex-Washington recruit missed the 2021 season. He re-emerged to post back-to-back double-digit sack seasons in L.A., and ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop notes edge rusher is a priority for the Rams. With Aaron Donald gone and the team not making any additions here in free agency, that adds up. The reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year has already met with the Eagles, Bears, Broncos, Vikings and Cardinals.
Traded NFL Draft Picks For 2024
As the 2024 draft nears, numerous picks have already changed hands. A handful of picks have already been moved twice, with a few being traded three times. Multiple deals from 2021 impact this draft. Here are the 2024 picks to have been traded thus far:
Round 1
- Bears hold Panthers‘ pick (No. 1 overall) sending over 2023 No. 1 overall selection (QB Bryce Young)
- Texans acquired Browns‘ first-rounder in March 2022’s QB Deshaun Watson trade
- Vikings obtained No. 23 from Texans via March 2024 exchange
- Cardinals acquired Texans‘ pick (No. 27) in Houston’s climb up for DE Will Anderson Jr. at No. 3
Round 2
- Giants received second-round pick from Seahawks for DL Leonard Williams
- Panthers obtained No. 39 from Giants for OLB Brian Burns
- Commanders collected second-rounder from Bears (No. 40) for DE Montez Sweat
- Packers landed Jets‘ second-rounder (No. 41) in April 2023 blockbuster centered around QB Aaron Rodgers
- Green Bay would have collected New York’s 2024 first had Rodgers played 65% of the Jets’ 2023 offensive snaps, but his Week 1 Achilles tear scuttled that prospect
- Texans acquired Vikings‘ second-rounder (No. 42) in March 2024
- Saints nabbed Broncos‘ second (No. 45) in January 2023 deal for Sean Payton‘s rights
- Eagles collected Saints‘ second-rounder (No. 50) in April 2022 trade
Round 3
- Cardinals picked up Titans‘ 2024 third (No. 71) in deal that allowed Tennessee to draft QB Will Levis at No. 33
- Lions obtained Vikings‘ pick (No. 73) in 2022 deadline deal that sent TE T.J. Hockenson to Minnesota
- Commanders acquired No. 78 from Seahawks in deal for QB Sam Howell
- Falcons hold Jaguars‘ third (No. 79) by virtue of Calvin Ridley meeting playing-time thresholds but not signing an extension with Jacksonville before March 13, 2024
- Had Ridley re-signed before the 2024 league year, the Falcons would have acquired Jags’ second-rounder
- As part of Sean Payton trade, Broncos collected Saints‘ third
- Seahawks acquired No. 81 from Broncos for 2023 No. 83 choice (CB Riley Moss)
- Texans landed third from Eagles (No. 86) in trade for 2023 No. 105 choice (CB Kelee Ringo)
- As part of Anderson trade, Cardinals acquired Texans’ 2024 third (No. 90)
- Packers obtained No. 91 from Bills for CB Rasul Douglas
- Buccaneers acquired No. 92 from Lions for CB Carlton Davis
- Steelers nabbed No. 98 from Eagles in deal for QB Kenny Pickett
- Commanders added No. 100 from 49ers in deadline deal for DE Chase Young
Round 4
- Seahawks received No. 102 from Commanders in Sam Howell swap
- Chargers collected No. 110 from Bears in exchange for WR Keenan Allen
- In pick-swap trade involving OLB Jacob Martin at 2022 deadline, Jets picked up Broncos‘ fourth
- Ravens acquired No. 113 from Jets in exchange for T Morgan Moses
- Jaguars obtained Saints‘ 2024 fourth (No. 116) in exchange for 2023 No. 127 selection (QB Jake Haener)
- Steelers obtained fourth from Rams in exchange for G Kevin Dotson
- Eagles acquired No. 120 from Steelers in Kenny Pickett deal
- Broncos acquired No. 121 from Dolphins in 2022 Bradley Chubb trade
- Bears acquired Eagles‘ fourth (No. 122) in deal for No. 9 overall (DT Jalen Carter)
- Deshaun Watson trade also involved Texans obtaining Browns‘ 2024 fourth (No. 123)
- 49ers acquired fourth-round pick from Cowboys (No. 124) for QB Trey Lance
- T.J. Hockenson trade gave Vikings fourth (No. 129) from Lions
- Jets acquired No. 135 from Ravens in Morgan Moses trade
Round 5
- Browns landed Panthers‘ 2024 fifth-rounder in trade for QB Baker Mayfield
- Mayfield failing to play 70% of Carolina’s 2022 offensive snaps converted pick from fourth to fifth
- Browns traded No. 136 to Broncos for WR Jerry Jeudy
- Mayfield failing to play 70% of Carolina’s 2022 offensive snaps converted pick from fourth to fifth
- Panthers obtained No. 141 from Giants in Brian Burns trade
- Panthers hold Titans‘ 2024 fifth (No. 142) through deal for OL Dennis Daley
- Bills acquired No. 144 from Bears in exchange for OL Ryan Bates
- Pick swap in 2022 Jacob Martin trade gave Broncos fifth (No. 145) from Jets
- Eagles collected Vikings‘ 2024 fifth in 2022 trade for WR Jalen Reagor
- WR failing to meet catch 40 passes or hit 500-yard receiving mark converted pick from fourth to fifth
- Titans obtained No. 146 from Eagles in exchange for S Kevin Byard
- WR failing to meet catch 40 passes or hit 500-yard receiving mark converted pick from fourth to fifth
- Commanders acquired No. 152 from Seahawks in Sam Howell swap
- Kevin Dotson pick-swap deal sent Rams fifth (No. 155) from Steelers
- Jonathan Gannon tampering resolution gave Cardinals fifth-rounder from Eagles
- Browns acquired No. 156 from Cardinals in exchange for QB Josh Dobbs
- Vikings acquired Browns fifth (No. 157) in pick-swap trade for DE Za’Darius Smith
- Chiefs hold Cowboys’ 2024 fifth (No. 159) after trade for 2023 No. 178 pick (CB Eric Scott Jr.)
- Rasul Douglas trade sent Bills No. 160 from Packers
- In exchange for 2023 No. 191 pick (WR Trey Palmer), Eagles hold Buccaneers‘ fifth (No. 161)
- Cardinals received Texans‘ fifth-rounder (No. 162) exchange for OL Josh Jones
- Panthers‘ four-pick haul for RB Christian McCaffrey included 49ers‘ 2024 fifth
- Giants obtained No. 166 from Panthers in Brian Burns swap
- For 2023 No. 119 choice (CB Chamarri Conner), Vikings acquired Chiefs‘ 2024 fifth (No. 167)
Round 6
- Jaguars picked up Panthers‘ 2024 sixth in exchange for WR Laviska Shenault
- Vikings added No. 177 from Jaguars for G Ezra Cleveland
- Panthers received Cardinals‘ 2024 sixth for WR Robbie Chosen
- Steelers added No. 178 from Panthers in Diontae Johnson–Donte Jackson deal
- Seahawks added Commanders‘ sixth (No. 179) in Sam Howell trade
- Eagles obtained Titans‘ 2024 sixth in pick swap for DB Ugo Amadi
- Titans reacquired pick (No. 182) from Eagles in Kevin Byard deal
- Dolphins landed sixth-round choice (No. 184) from Bears for G Dan Feeney
- Cardinals acquired No. 186 from Vikings for QB Josh Dobbs
- Patriots acquired Raiders‘ 2024 sixth-rounder for OL Justin Herron
- Vikings received Patriots’ sixth for T Vederian Lowe
- Texans obtained No. 188 from Vikings in deal for 2024 first-round pick
- Vikings received Patriots’ sixth for T Vederian Lowe
- Rams acquired 2024 sixth from Broncos in October 2021 exchange for LB Kenny Young
- Bills collected sixth from Rams in exchange for 2023 No. 215 choice (RB Zach Evans)
- Texans picked up No. 189 from Bills in Stefon Diggs trade
- Bills collected sixth from Rams in exchange for 2023 No. 215 choice (RB Zach Evans)
- Patriots acquired No. 193 from Jaguars for QB Mac Jones
- Falcons obtained Browns’ 2024 sixth (No. 197) for LB Deion Jones
- Saints received Eagles’ sixth (No. 199) in exchange for S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
- Texans acquired sixth-rounder from Cowboys for WR Brandin Cooks
- Bills acquired No. 200 from Texans for 2023 No. 205 choice (WR Xavier Hutchinson)
- Buccaneers picked up No. 201 from Lions for CB Carlton Davis
- Deshaun Watson trade included Browns picking up Texans‘ 2024 sixth
- Broncos acquired seventh from Browns in Jerry Jeudy deal
- Jets land No. 203 from Broncos in pick-swap deal for QB Zach Wilson
- Broncos acquired seventh from Browns in Jerry Jeudy deal
- In trade for 2023 No. 229 pick (OL Andrew Vorhees), Browns picked up No. 206 from Ravens
- In pick-swap deal involving DE Randy Gregory, Broncos collected No. 207 from 49ers
- Intra-AFC West trade sent Raiders No. 208 from Chiefs for DL Neil Farrell
- Ravens picked up No. 218 from Jets in Morgan Moses trade
Round 7
- Dennis Daley pick swap sent Titans seventh from Panthers
- Chiefs acquired No. 221 from Titans for CB L’Jarius Sneed
- Raiders obtained No. 223 from Patriots in Justin Herron deal
- In Josh Jones pick-swap trade, Texans obtained Cardinals’ seventh-round choice
- Cardinals acquired Giants‘ seventh-rounder (No. 226) for LB Isaiah Simmons
- Browns obtain No. 227 from Titans in exchange for T Leroy Watson
- Ravens picked up No. 228 from Jets for S Chuck Clark
- Raiders added No. 229 from Vikings for QB Nick Mullens
- Patriots added seventh in July 2022 trade that sent WR N’Keal Harry to Bears
- Browns picked up seventh from Falcons in pick-swap deal involving LB Deion Jones
- Cardinals acquired pick from Browns in Joshua Dobbs deal
- Vikings landed No. 230 from Cardinals in second 2023 trade involving Dobbs
- Cardinals acquired pick from Browns in Joshua Dobbs deal
- Patriots picked up No. 231 from Bears in exchange for WR N’Keal Harry
- 49ers acquired seventh from Broncos in Randy Gregory deal
- Texans obtained pick from 49ers in exchange for DT Maliek Collins
- Vikings hold No. 232 after pick-swap deal with Texans
- Texans obtained pick from 49ers in exchange for DT Maliek Collins
- In pick-swap trade for DT Johnathan Hankins, Cowboys acquired Raiders‘ 2024 seventh (No. 233)
- Texans added No. 238 from Saints in 2021 trade for RB Mark Ingram
- Kenny Young trade sent Broncos seventh-rounder from Rams
- In Diontae Johnson-for-Donte Jackson deal, Panthers acquired No. 240 from Steelers
- As part of Ugo Amadi swap, Eagles obtained seventh (No. 242) from Titans
- L’Jarius Sneed trade sent Titans No. 252 from Chiefs
- Zach Wilson swap gives Broncos No. 256 from Jets
Jaguars, Josh Allen Agree To Extension
12:37pm: The Burns contract’s influence on the Allen deal extends to the fully guaranteed number as well. Allen secured $76.5MM locked in at signing, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes. That is $500K north of Burns’ number, slotting in at third among edge defenders. Like Burns’ deal, Allen’s also falls short of the $30MM-per-year-mark. In terms of base value, the Jaguars pass rusher is tied to a $28.25MM-AAV accord. Yes, that narrowly eclipses Burns’ true number ($28.2MM).
After fully guaranteeing Allen’s 2024 and ’25 base salaries, the Jags guaranteed $10.5MM of his 2026 base ($22MM) at signing. The remainder becomes fully guaranteed in March 2026. Allen’s 2027 and ’28 base salaries ($23.75MM, $24.5MM) are nonguaranteed.
8:04am: This year’s July franchise tag extension deadline may not produce much in the way of fireworks. Teams are making deals early. The Jaguars are the latest, reaching an extension agreement with Josh Allen, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
After a big contract year, the 2019 first-round pick will cash in on a five-year extension worth $150MM, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. The veteran edge defender will receive $88MM guaranteed. This will move Allen’s $24MM franchise tag off Jacksonville’s books, replacing it with a through-2028 contract.
Allen, who had gone through a three-year dry spell without a 10-plus-sack season, surged for a Jaguars-record 17.5 sacks in 2023. That was not enough to lift Jacksonville back to the playoffs. But it is enough to make him the NFL’s second $30MM-per-year edge rusher. Allen’s $30MM-AAV contract checks in behind only Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-per-year pact at the position. This contract doubles as a Jaguars franchise record.
The Giants’ Brian Burns extension looks to have played a key role in the Allen negotiations moving across the goal line. Upon trading for the five-year Panthers pass rusher, the Giants gave him a five-year, $141MM deal with $87.5MM guaranteed. (While Burns’ deal was initially reported to be worth $150MM, incentives cover $9MM in the accord.) Allen, who went off the board nine picks earlier than Burns in 2019, will come in just north of those marks to split the difference between Bosa and the field.
In terms of total guarantees — the full guarantees, always the more important number, are not yet known — Allen’s deal comes in behind only Bosa and Myles Garrett among edge players.
Allen’s extension marks the sixth given to a franchise-tagged player this year, and it comes three days after the Patriots became the first team in over a decade to extend a transition-tagged player (Kyle Dugger). Of the nine players who received a tag in March, seven are now extended. Only Tee Higgins and Antoine Winfield Jr. remain tagged.
Teams had inquired about Allen at the 2022 trade deadline, but the Jaguars held onto the Kentucky alum despite unremarkable numbers. Allen produced 7.5 sacks on just 14 QB hits in 2021, and while his number of QB hits ballooned to 22 in 2022, the sack count closed at seven. Last season, Allen erupted for 33 hits. His 17.5 sacks broke Calais Campbell‘s single-season Jags record (14.5) set in 2017. Allen’s 46 QB pressured ranked fourth in 2023. This was not enough to save DC Mike Caldwell‘s job, but as the Jags make changes up front, they prioritized Allen — so much so it meant losing Calvin Ridley to the Titans.
GM Trent Baalke said after the season the Jags viewed Allen as their top priority, and the tag ensured he would not reach the market. This is standard practice with high-end young edge rushers, and it made sense on multiple fronts for the Jags to tag Allen (27 in July) over the 29-year-old Ridley. The trade terms with the Falcons — mandating the Jags lose their second-round 2024 pick if they extended Ridley — made it difficult for the Jags to reach a contract agreement with Ridley before the new league year started. The Jags still tried to re-sign the 2022 trade acquisition, but the Titans ended up blowing both their AFC South rivals and the Patriots out of the water. While Ridley is gone, Allen is now locked in long term.
The Jags have used the tag in each year in the 2020s; Allen marks the third player extended, following Cam Robinson and Evan Engram. Jacksonville used the tag on Yannick Ngakoue in 2020, but the situation simmered to the point a late-summer trade (with the Vikings) came about. No real drama surfaced here, with Allen agreeing to terms more than three months before the July 15 deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign extensions. Baalke has now hammered out three deals for franchise tag recipients as GM, despite not being with the Jags when any of those players were drafted.
Allen’s deal aligns with Travon Walker‘s rookie contract, to a degree, with the 2022 No. 1 overall pick signed through 2025. He can be kept through 2026 via the fifth-year option, though the Georgia alum — chosen over Aidan Hutchinson — has not shown just yet that will be an easy decision for the Jags. This Allen contract, however, will most likely be paired with a monster Trevor Lawrence extension. The Jags have begun negotiations with their quarterback on what promises to be the top contract in franchise history, and although the former No. 1 pick could be kept on his rookie contract until 2025 via the option, teams generally extend QBs after Year 3.
Big deals for Allen and Lawrence on the payroll will bring mark a new roster-building phase for the Jaguars. With Allen agreeing to a landmark extension, part one of that blueprint is complete.
Washington OT Troy Fautanu Generating Interest
Troy Fautanu is turning into a popular name on the workout circuit. The Washington offensive tackle will travel to Jacksonville tomorrow to take a top-30 visit with the Jaguars, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.
[RELATED: Bengals Host Washington OT Troy Fautanu]
In addition to his previously reported visit with the Bengals, the projected first-round pick has also met with the Ravens. Fautanu is expected to take future top-30 visits with the Steelers and Eagles.
Fautanu spent the past two seasons as a full-time starter at Washington, including a 2023 campaign where he earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors while blocking for Michael Penix Jr.. That performance helped put the lineman in the first-round conversation for the 2024 draft. Fautanu has generally been lauded for his speed and athleticism, and the six-foot-four, 317-pound lineman certainly has the physical attributes to compete as an NFL offensive tackle.
Notre Dame’s Joe Alt is still expected to be the first lineman off the board. Fautanu will likely be competing with the likes of Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu, and Alabama’s JC Latham to be the second OT selected.
Considering the league-wide need for offensive tackle depth, it’s not a surprise that the Washington product is generating plenty of interest from NFL teams. Besides the Ravens, all of the teams connected to Fautanu are currently picking in the teens or earlier 20s. While the prospect may be hard pressed to crack the top-10, he’ll likely hear his name called during the first night of the draft.