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Rams QB Jimmy Garoppolo Discusses Two-Game Suspension

March 19th, 2024 at 8:26pm CST by Ben Levine

Jimmy Garoppolo is set to be the backup to Matthew Stafford next season, but the recent Rams acquisition won’t immediately start the season as the QB2. Garoppolo drew a two-game ban from the NFL for violating the league’s PED policy, keeping him off the active roster until Week 3.

[RELATED: Rams To Sign QB Jimmy Garoppolo]

The veteran officially inked his deal with the Rams today and met with reporters, where he admitted that he “messed up” the NFL’s Therapeutic Use Exemption policy. As Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic writes, the NFL allows players to get an exemption for banned substances, something Garoppolo apparently failed to do.

“That was … I hate to joke about it, but I just messed up the T.U.E. when I first got to Las Vegas,” the quarterback said (via Rodrigue). “… Bad timing, I guess.”

Garoppolo was released by the Raiders last week following a disappointing 2023 campaign. The veteran inked a three-year deal with the organization last offseason but was benched after tossing nine interceptions in six starts. While the 32-year-old won’t be in a position to start, he’s surely counting on better results in Los Angeles if he is pushed into the starting lineup.

Garoppolo had plenty of success playing under Kyle Shanahan, and the 49ers head coach joins Rams head coach Sean McVay in using offensive schemes derived from the Mike Shanahan-Gary Kubiak system. As Rodrigue points out, Garoppolo also has experience playing under Rams tight ends coach/pass game coordinator Nick Caley and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur during his stints in New England and San Francisco.

The free agent acquisition understands the QB hierarchy in Los Angeles and isn’t expecting to be anything more than injury insurance, even when considering his familiarity with the offense. Instead, Garoppolo is looking forward to playing his role and returning to the field as soon as possible.

“I’m excited to start this new journey,” he said (via Rodrigue). “I don’t exactly know what is in store for me, ‘re-set,’ ‘re-invent,’ whatever you want to call it. I’m just excited to get back on the football field and start slinging it around with some new guys. I love football.”

CB Tre’Davious White Visiting Rams, Raiders

March 17th, 2024 at 10:41pm CST by Ely Allen

Long-time Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White is experiencing free agency for the first time in his career after being released two years into his four-year extension. Now free to choose his next destination, White has scheduled visits with the Rams and Raiders for this coming week, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.

White, once the picture of elite cornerback play, has been a shell of his former self in the last three years as he’s struggled with injury. Before his first major injury, White was playing his best football. He made two consecutive Pro Bowls and earned first- and second-team All-Pro honors in those years, as well. Over his first four seasons in the NFL, White tallied 15 interceptions (including a league-leading six in 2019) and 54 passes defensed.

In 2021, he suffered a torn ACL after 11 games, cutting his season short. A three-sport athlete since middle school, White’s mental health suffered as a result of his forced inactivity during recovery. Slow-playing his recovery meant spending the first seven weeks of 2022 on injured reserve and missing three more games before finally making his return. Things went from bad to worse four games into 2023, when White suffered a torn Achilles tendon, another season-ending ailment. He’ll be working his way back from that second long-term injury with whatever team signs him.

The Rams replaced free agent cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon last week with a bit of an upgrade by bringing back Darious Williams from Jacksonville. Plus, the Rams are listing Quentin Lake as a safety on their roster after using him as a nickelback for most of 2023. White would be a nice fit to work in a three-man group with Williams and Derion Kendrick if Lake starts spending more time at safety.

In Las Vegas, the Raiders’ cornerbacks group is looking pretty different. Nickelback Nate Hobbs returns, but starting cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Amik Robertson both hit free agency this week, with Robertson immediately agreeing to a new deal with the Lions. Jakorian Bennett and Jack Jones are the top returning cornerbacks without them, so Las Vegas could certainly use the addition of a veteran defender like White.

Both teams will be hoping to land the talents of White, despite his recent injury. If neither can sign him to a contract, they’re likely to not be the only teams interested. If no news of a deal comes out of these two visits, look for more scheduled stops in the future.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/24

March 15th, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

  • Released: OL Roy Mbaeteka

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Irwin gets a crack at a WR3 role in Cincinnati as Tyler Boyd heads to free agency. Irwin also holds experience as the team’s backup return man, filling in last year when Charlie Jones was injured.

Heck rejoins the Texans on a one-year deal worth up to $3.3MM. He’ll add some key depth at an important position.

Rozeboom was a restricted free agent who wasn’t tendered. Regardless, the two sides work out a fully guaranteed deal for 2024.

Feeney joins the Vikings on a one-year deal. Though far removed from a consistent starting role with the Chargers, Feeney has continued to find starts throughout his career as a valuable body off the bench.

The Giants bring in two tight ends without much receiving experience. Manhertz, a veteran whose played for the Panthers from 2016-20, has extensive starting experience as a blocking tight end with 53 starts in his career.

Joe Noteboom Accepts Rams Pay Cut; Team Restructures Aaron Donald’s Deal

March 15th, 2024 at 10:15am CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams’ plan of installing Joe Noteboom as their Andrew Whitworth heir apparent did not work, making the younger blocker’s $13MM-per-year contract untenable as he shifted into a swing role. But the Rams still have Noteboom in their plans.

A pay cut will extend this partnership. The team adjusted Noteboom’s contract Friday, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, dropping his 2024 cap hit from its $20MM place. This will go down as a cut in exchange for 2024 guarantees. Now tied to a $5MM base salary, Noteboom will carry an $11.6MM cap hit. Two void years were added to the contract; the deal will void in 2025.

[RELATED: Rams To Sign S Kamren Curl]

Noteboom agreed to an $8.25MM cut in exchange for nearly $7MM in guarantees, per OverTheCap. As is often the case regarding pay cuts, the team was prepared to go through with a release if no salary reduction took place, The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue notes. Alaric Jackson beat out Noteboom for the Rams’ starting left tackle gig last season; the Rams have kept their blindside starter via second-round RFA tender.

A former third-round pick, Noteboom opened the season as the Rams’ right guard. But trade acquisition Kevin Dotson overtook him for this role early in the season. Dotson has since re-signed on a three-year, $48MM deal. The Rams then added Jonah Jackson to be their other guard starter — on a three-year, $51MM pact — in a move that should shift 2023 second-rounder Steve Avila to center. Noteboom, who has made 31 career starts at tackle and guard, is set to reprise his role as a swingman.

Additionally, the Rams reached a restructure agreement with Aaron Donald. The move drops the all-time great’s cap number by nearly $10MM, reducing it to $24.97MM, according to OverTheCap. Donald remains tied to the three-year, $95MM deal he agreed to in 2022.

The Rams have gone to the void years well with Donald, dropping his 2024 base salary to $1.1MM. While this created cap space, a $38.5MM dead money bill could await the team in 2025. If Donald is not extended before the 2025 league year, the Rams will see that dead cap figure move onto their ’25 payroll. That number would top Tom Brady‘s void years-driven Buccaneers bill ($35.1MM).

After threatening to retire in order to secure his landmark raise in 2022, Donald has not been tied to retiring. The soon-to-be 33-year-old defensive tackle has, however, seen Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins‘ contracts far surpass his on the guarantee front. Considering Donald’s resume dwarfs even Jones’, as the former landed an eighth first-team All-Pro honor last season to match Reggie White and Bruce Smith for most by a D-lineman in NFL history. It will be interesting to see if Donald pushes for more guaranteed money this year or if the no-doubt Hall of Famer opts to play out his contract ahead of a free agency bid.

Rams To Sign S Kamren Curl

March 14th, 2024 at 11:32pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kamren Curl‘s market will not end with a deal in the Xavier McKinney ballpark, and the Rams will land an ascending safety on a midlevel deal. The Rams are signing the four-year Washington starter, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero report.

The former seventh-round pick is signing a two-year deal worth up to $13MM. Curl will join a Rams team that has top safety Jordan Fuller unsigned. Fuller, a four-year Rams starter, visited the Panthers this week.

[RELATED: Rams Bring Back CB Darious Williams]

Turning 25 earlier this month, Curl came into the market as one of its youngest UFAs. Beyond McKinney, however, the safety contingent has seen teams come in with lower offers. Although Curl’s base value is not yet known, his deal may land in the Darnell Savage–Geno Stone–Brandon Jones neighborhood. As Jessie Bates‘ was on last year’s market, McKinney’s Packers contract (four years, $68MM) may become an outlier this year.

Curl does not bring a proven record of turnover production, which undoubtedly affected his market. The Arkansas alum has not intercepted a pass since his three-INT rookie season, but he should still be coming into his prime. Pro Football Focus ranked Curl second among all safeties in 2022, which was a much better year for the Commanders’ defense compared to last season. After Washington ranked last defensively in 2023, two higher-end free agents coming out of its secondary — Curl, Kendall Fuller — are accepting midrange pacts over two years. While the Miami accord (two years, $16.5MM) is Fuller’s third NFL deal, Curl should have a chance to play himself into better terms on this Rams agreement.

Several teams cutting ties with safeties recently did not help the UFAs’ cause. While McKinney sailed to a top-five contract, the likes of Justin Simmons, Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs Jordan Poyer and Kevin Byard becoming street free agents hurt some of the younger players’ causes. McKinney is the only safety thus far in free agency to land a contract north of $7.5MM per year.

The Rams have typically not paid safeties much under their current regime. During the Sean McVay years, they have let starters John Johnson, Taylor Rapp and Nick Scott walk in free agency. The 2018 Lamarcus Joyner franchise tag proved an exception here, and while this Curl deal technically does as well, the team appears to be getting good value on a player who started 53 games and resided as one of Washington’s defensive cornerstones over the past four seasons.

This certainly marks an overhaul for the retooling Commanders, who have lost 2023 starters Curl, Fuller, Montez Sweat and Chase Young over the past five months. The team has brought in a host of free agents on defense, a few of whom having played under Dan Quinn. Curl will now go to work attempting to help Russ Yeast and Co. in Los Angeles’ secondary. Curl and Williams stand to infuse experience into a young DB corps.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/13/24

March 13th, 2024 at 9:25pm CST by Ben Levine

Here are today’s free agent tender decisions:

RFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

Rams Place Second-Round RFA Tender On LT Alaric Jackson

March 12th, 2024 at 4:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

Alaric Jackson served as the Rams’ starting left tackle in 2023, upping his value considerably. He was a pending restricted free agent, but Los Angeles has ensured he will not reach the market.

The Rams announced on Tuesday that Jackson has received the second-round RFA tender. As a result, he will be tied to a one-year deal worth $4.89MM unless he signs an unmatched offer sheet from an outside team. That figure represents a considerable raise compared to his career earnings across his first three seasons with the team.

Jackson had made only 12 appearances and six starts heading into the 2023 campaign. Having been used primarily at guard, the 25-year-old Canadian was not initially slated to take on blindside duties. Los Angeles had re-signed Joseph Noteboom on a $40MM to serve as the successor to Andrew Whitworth in 2022. That did not go according to plan, however, with Noteboom being limited to six games that season. That opened the door to Jackson winning the LT gig.

The latter was charged with one sack and 39 pressures allowed in 2023 by PFF. That resulted in an overall grade of 66.2, which ranked 43rd amongst qualifying tackles. Improved play would help the Rams repeat their success from last season while also upping Jackson’s market value ahead of 2025. If an offer comes in this offseason, L.A. would have the right to match it or, if not, receive a second-round pick as compensation.

The Rams were one of the teams which made a major splash on the O-line market yesterday, agreeing to a three-year, $51MM deal with guard Jonah Jackson. That, in turn, came not long after the team retained Kevin Dotson on a lucrative deal of his own. With those pacts worked out and Jackson in place, the Rams figure to have a continuity and a strong offensive front next season.

Broncos To Add DT Malcolm Roach

March 12th, 2024 at 12:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints-Broncos pipeline remains active, as Sean Payton prepares for his second season in Denver. The longtime New Orleans HC will bring in one of his former defensive linemen.

Malcolm Roach is heading to Denver on a two-year deal worth up to $8MM, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Broncos have two eight-figure-per-year contracts on their defensive line, but the team has some depth questions behind the Zach Allen–D.J. Jones duo. Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette notes Roach drew interest from the Rams, Cardinals, Bills and Bengals. Instead, he will continue playing under Payton.

Roach’s Saints role did not change much during his four-season Louisiana run. Starting five games in that time, Roach worked primarily as a rotational defensive lineman. Payton was in place when the Saints signed Roach as a UDFA; the Texas alum has only played for the Saints. Roach will join ex-college teammates Caden Sterns, P.J. Locke and Brandon Jones on Denver’s defense, with Payton also obviously being a familiar face.

Pro Football Focus viewed Roach as a lower-end D-tackle from 2020-22 but viewed him as an improved product last year, slotting the four-year veteran just outside the top 25 among interior D-linemen. Roach, 25, totaled a career-high 38 tackles (three for loss) last season while batting down three passes. Roach stands to help the Broncos in run defense, having logged those numbers last season despite missing five games. While skewed by a brutal start, the Broncos’ defense ranked 30th against the run last year.

Roach will join a Broncos team that saw 2022 starter Jonathan Harris hit free agency. Denver has Matt Henningsen still under contract, though 2022 fourth-rounder Eyioma Uwazurike‘s NFL future is in doubt after the gambling suspension he received last summer.

Rams To Bring Back CB Darious Williams

March 12th, 2024 at 8:08am CST by Adam La Rose

Following the end of his Jaguars tenure, Darious Williams is set to head back to Los Angeles. The Super Bowl-winning corner is finalizing a three-year deal to return to the Rams, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Williams had a very brief tenure with the Ravens during his rookie season in 2018, but midway through that campaign he joined the Rams. The former UDFA remained with the team through the 2021 campaign, by that point having established himself as a full-time starter. Williams landed a three-year, $30MM pact with the Jaguars in 2022, but Jacksonville elected to take $11.5MM in cap savings by releasing him last week.

The Alabama-Birmingham alum had four interceptions in 2023, and during his two-year Jags stint he racked up 35 pass deflections. That ball production understandably led to outside interest once Williams was let go, including a visit with the Giants. Rather than joining a fourth career team, he has elected to return to a familiar environment. Raheem Morris was in charge of Los Angeles’ defense when Williams was last with the Rams, but Morris’ replacement (Chris Shula) was with the team at that time as well.

Williams, 30, will join a Rams defense which ranked 20th against the pass in 2023, faring better than many expected in the absence of Jalen Ramsey. Los Angeles only posted 10 interceptions, however, and better production in that regard would go a long way in ensuring a repeat of last year’s postseason appearance. Williams will look to pick up where he left off with the Rams in 2024 and beyond.

Los Angeles made a pair of major investments on offense yesterday, agreeing to deals with guard Jonah Jackson as well as tight end Colby Parkinson. Those additions will eat into the team’s spending power once they become official (as early as tomorrow afternoon), as will this Williams accord. The latter will nevertheless be a welcomed addition is he can remain an impactful starter for years to come.

Rams To Sign TE Colby Parkinson

March 11th, 2024 at 1:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

As part of a spending spree on offense, the Rams will add to their pass-catching corps. Los Angeles is set to sign tight end Colby Parkinson on a three-year, $22.5MM deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The pact includes $15.5MM in guaranteed money.

This gives the Rams a tight end to pair with Tyler Higbee, who has been in Los Angeles for eight seasons now. Should Parkinson reach certain performance thresholds, he can void the deal after two years, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

[RELATED: Rams Agree To Terms With Jonah Jackson]

The Seahawks opted to re-sign Noah Fant, but the team will move on from both Parkinson and Will Dissly. Seattle cut Dissly last week, seeing him land in Los Angeles under Jim Harbaugh. Parkinson will join Dissly in L.A., and this contract suggests the Rams have bigger pass-game plans for the Stanford alum than the Seahawks did.

The Rams also could have some decisions to make at tight end, where 2023 trade pickup Hunter Long joins Dissly and now Parkinson. A former fourth-round pick, Parkinson served as an auxiliary Geno Smith weapon over the past two years. After playing little on offense from 2020-21, the 6-foot-7 pass catcher caught 25 passes in each of the past two seasons, catching two TDs in each campaign. Parkinson’s market certainly points to other teams believing there is more meat on the bone here. A 6-7 receiving option with Matthew Stafford does provide intrigue, though Parkinson’s next 350-yard season will be his first.

Parkinson rounds out a Rams receiving corps returning its top receivers, thanks to the Demarcus Robinson re-signing, and regular tight ends. One season remains on Long’s rookie contract, which the Rams obtained in the Jalen Ramsey trade.

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