Jets Interested In Odell Beckham Jr.; Giants Out Of Mix?
The Jets are now connected to every player on Aaron Rodgers‘ wish list. The highest-profile name on said list, Odell Beckham Jr., is on the team’s radar, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
Beckham surfaced as a possible Jets target earlier this week, when Russini listed him as part of Rodgers’ list of free agents he wanted the Jets to acquire. Rodgers said later this week he would love to play with OBJ, and Russini adds the Jets have stayed in touch with the veteran wide receiver’s camp.
Allen Lazard has officially signed with the Jets, checking off one of the names from the list, and the team has been connected to both Randall Cobb and Marcedes Lewis. Neither have joined Lazard in signing, and Beckham has been linked to a few other teams. One of those, the Giants, looks likely to move on. After hosting Beckham on the first visit of his December free agency tour and being expected to resume that free agency courtship this year, the Giants re-signed Darius Slayton and added Parris Campbell on Thursday. OBJ is believed to be out of Big Blue’s price range, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets.
The latest Rodgers trade saga finally looks to have the future Hall of Famer set to relocate, but the Packers and Jets do not agree on compensation. It does not sound like the teams are close, with Jets brass viewing the Packers’ reported ask — a first-round pick and then a conditional 2025 draft asset for a scenario in which Rodgers plays in 2024 — as unreasonable for a player they are not planning to use next season. But the Jets are proceeding with the expectation they will employ Rodgers in 2023. And they are considering an overhaul of their receiver room — much of it, at least.
Lazard joins Garrett Wilson as the team’s top two receivers. While Corey Davis would qualify for such status over Lazard, his place with the organization is tenuous due to his salary and the Lazard signing. A Beckham addition would almost certainly lead to Davis’ departure. Elijah Moore remains in the picture, with the Jets not honoring his in-season trade request last year. But the former second-round pick did not match his rookie-year production in 2022. Beckham being a legitimate candidate to join the Jets would call Moore’s role into question as well.
As of Friday morning, the Jets hold barely $15MM in cap space. Were Rodgers’ contract to land on New York’s cap this year, he would be tied to a cap number just north of $15MM. We are a long way away from that part of Gang Green’s offseason, it appears, and the team will make more moves to free up funds as well. Davis could be one of them. Cutting the former Titans top-five pick would save the Jets more than $10MM.
Beckham, 30, is also tied to an unreasonable price point and has been for months. Still connected to a $20MM-per-year ask, Beckham will need to move off that number — likely by a considerable margin — to land with a team and resume his career. The former Giants standout did make significant contributions to the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning effort in 2021, but his second ACL tear and full-season absence altered his career path. A $20MM-per-year deal would have been realistic had OBJ finished Super Bowl LVI unscathed, but that obviously did not happen.
The Giants’ receiver room resembles its 2022 composition, with both Slayton and Sterling Shepard re-signing despite initially arriving under previous GMs (Jerry Reese, Dave Gettleman). Campbell and ex-Brian Daboll Bills charge Isaiah Hodgins join them, as does 2022 second-rounder Wan’Dale Robinson. Darren Waller is the biggest name in the Giants’ pass-catching mix, but the Pro Bowl tight end has also struggled to stay healthy. The Giants are likely still on the hunt for a starter-caliber receiver — probably in the draft — but they look to be closing the door on a Beckham reunion.
Giants To Re-Sign WR Darius Slayton
The Giants have a few new members of their pass-catching corps, but a familiar face will remain as well moving forward. New York has agreed to terms on a new deal with wideout Darius Slayton, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link). ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets that it is a two-year contract. In an update, Garafolo notes that the base value of the pact is $12MM, while incentives could push it to $16.5MM (Twitter link).
The 26-year-old’s preference was to remain in the Big Apple, and now he will be able to do so. A fifth-rounder in 2019, Slayton had a consistent start to his career with yardage totals of 740 and 751. His eight touchdowns scored as a rookie has been a mark he has been unable to match since, however, and the 2021 season left his future in a very different place than many may have expected.
Slayton put up only 339 yards in 15 games that year, and he was required to take a considerable pay cut this past offseason to ensure his spot on the Giants’ roster. With only one year remaining on his rookie contract, his production in 2022 was thus critically important for both team and player in this situation. He responded with a bounce-back season which made him eligible for a noteworthy new deal with the Giants or another team.
The Auburn product posted a 46-724-2 statline this past season, giving him reception and yardage totals almost identical to his first two campaigns. His 15.7 yards per catch average was a new career-high, though, and confirmed his status as one of the top deep threats in this year’s free agent WR class.
The Giants have traded for tight end Darren Waller and agreed to terms on a deal with free agent wideout Parris Campbell. Those additions figure to give the team’s passing offense more upside for 2023, a year in which all eyes will be on the recently extended Daniel Jones and his ability to produce with an upgraded supporting cast around him. Slayton will remain a member of that group, having secured the opportunity to extend his stay in New York.
Giants To Re-Sign DE Jihad Ward
The Giants have made some notable outside additions so far in free agency, but a targeted incumbent player is staying in the fold. New York has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with defensive end Jihad Ward, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (Twitter link). 
The 28-year-old bounced around to four different teams before landing in the Big Apple last offseason. His decision to head to New York proved to be a wise one, as he earned a starting role for the second time in his career (and first since his rookie season) in 2022.
Ward saw a 58% snap share in his debut Giants season, one in which he reunited with defensive coordinator Don Martindale. The pair worked together with the Ravens in 2019 and ’20, and Ward’s familiarity with the latter’s scheme allowed him to enjoy a productive campaign. The former second-round pick matched his career high in sacks with three, and set new personal marks in tackles (43), QB hits (13) and pressures (15). Retaining him was thus one of the Giants’ top priorities this offseason.
New York has invested in their pass rush in recent years, a process which included the selection of Kayvon Thibodeaux in the first round of last year’s draft. Like the latter, Ward has the ability to play both on the edge and inside, a degree of versatility which has helped earn him earn numerous opportunities despite never putting up eye-popping statistics. He is now in line for an extended look in his latest home, one which has been the site for plenty of activity so far this offseason.
The Giants will have both quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley in place for next season, and their offense has been augmented with the trade acquisition of tight end Darren Waller. Defensively, the signing of linebacker Bobby Okereke will help the unit’s second level. By re-upping Ward, though, they will maintain continuity up front as they look to repeat the surprising success of 2022.
Giants To Sign WR Parris Campbell
Another former Colt is on his way to the Giants during this year’s free agent period. The Giants have agreed to terms on a deal with wideout Parris Campbell, as first reported (on Twitter) by The Score’s Jordan Schultz. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan tweets that it is a one-year contract, while Mike Garafolo of NFL Network adds that it is worth $3MM (Twitter link). The deal has a maximum value of $7MM, per Joel. A Erickson of the Indy Star (on Twitter). 
Campbell had a forgettable first three seasons in Indianapolis, as he struggled to stay healthy. Numerous injury problems limited him to just 15 games played from 2019-21, a highly disappointing development given his college production and status as a second-round pick. Things took a positive turn this past campaign, however.
The 25-year-old easily set career highs in a number of categories in 2022. He registered 63 catches for 623 yards and three touchdowns, as he was finally able to put together a full, healthy season. Campbell ranked second on the Colts in receiving yards, as the team struggled throughout the season to muster a capable passing attack. The Ohio State alum nevertheless helped his free agent stock with his production.
Campbell represented one of several depth receiver options in this year’s less-than-stellar class of available wideouts. Given his age, and proven ability (albeit in only one year) to remain on the field, he could represent valuable upside on this new deal. His departure will leave the Colts – a team which already boasted an underwhelming WR corps outside of Michael Pittman Jr. – even thinner at the position, one which is likely to once again be a priority for them in the latter stages of free agency and the draft.
By heading to New York, Campbell will join linebacker Bobby Okereke in signing with the Giants after a stint with the Colts. The 6-0, 208-pounder will provide the team with a new secondary wideout as they look to re-work their pass-catching corps. That effort has resulted in a trade which saw them acquire Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller, something which should boost the team’s passing efficiency in the middle of the field. Campbell can help in that regard, or on the perimeter as a starting-caliber option on a low-cost, potentially high-upside deal.
Seahawks To Host LB Devin Bush, S Julian Love, DB Lonnie Johnson
On Day 2 of the 2023 league year, the visit stage of free agency appears upon us. The Seahawks will act accordingly, being set to host two defenders coming off their respective rookie contracts.
Linebacker Devin Bush and safety Julian Love will head to Seattle for summits with Seahawks brass Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The Seahawks have been busy along their defensive front but have thus far waited out the markets at linebacker and in the secondary.
Love’s inclusion here is interesting, both given the Seahawks’ personnel at the position and the Giants’ in retaining their young safety starter. Although the Giants began negotiations with Love before free agency began, the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard notes (via Twitter) the sides are not close on terms.
Love is just 24 (25 this weekend) despite having been in the NFL four seasons, and after Jabrill Peppers and Logan Ryan relocated last year, the former Giants fourth-round pick played a vital role for Don Martindale’s defense. He logged 1,006 snaps during a season in which Xavier McKinney and Adoree’ Jackson missed extended stretches, helping Big Blue secure its first playoff berth in six years. Love made 124 tackles and intercepted two passes last season.
The Seahawks are already the most well-invested team at the safety position, having Jamal Adams still on a top-market contract and having re-signed Quandre Diggs last year. Even after the Falcons added Jessie Bates for $16MM on average, Diggs’ $13MM-per-year contract still ranks within the top 10 at the position. The Seahawks are coming off a season in which Adams played one game, but Love might prove too pricey for a role alongside this duo.
Following a productive rookie season, Bush could not become a Steelers anchor at linebacker. The team, which traded up for Bush in the 2019 first round, reduced his playing time last season. Bush logged a career-low 62% defensive snap rate with Pittsburgh in 2022, after the team passed on his fifth-year option.
Pro Football Focus slotted Bush just outside the top 50 at linebacker last season; that did mark a bump after the advanced metrics site rated him as one of the worst players at the position in 2021. The Michigan product did play 17 games, making a sufficient recovery from the ACL tear that sidetracked his career back in 2020, but he did not check in as one of this crowded off-ball linebacker market’s top options heading into free agency.
Seattle has Jordyn Brooks signed through 2023, with a fifth-year option decision looming, but lost 2022 starter Cody Barton to the Commanders. The team has been connected to a possible Bobby Wagner reunion; GM John Schneider intends to monitor the Seahawks legend’s market. Bush would be a much lower-profile addition, but the Seahawks will kick the tires on the younger linebacker today. Bush is going into his age-25 season.
Defensive back Lonnie Johnson will also be part of this visit, Schefter adds (on Twitter). The former Texans second-round pick spent 2022 with two teams — the Chiefs and Titans — following a trade and waiver claim. The Texans bailed on Johnson, whom they tried at cornerback and safety, by trading him to the Chiefs. Kansas City waived Johnson in August. He ended up playing in 12 games as a Tennessee backup last season. The fifth-year defender has 19 career starts on his resume.
Giants Sign Former Jets WR Jeff Smith
Wide receiver Jeff Smith will be staying in New York. He won’t be re-signing with the Jets in order to do so, though. The former Jet will be swapping Big Apple franchises and signing a new contract with the Giants, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
Smith originally signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He was cut during final roster cuts before the regular season and signed to the team’s practice squad. Smith was promoted to the active roster for one game and recorded a catch for 12 yards as a rookie before being placed on injured reserve five days later. He would start 2020 on IR, as well, but would still play 12 games that season. He’s missed games here and there with injury, but for the most part, he’s remained on the active roster since being activated as a rookie.
Smith’s sophomore season was probably his strongest in terms of playing time and production. He received the fourth-highest offensive snap count in the wide receivers room behind Breshad Perriman, Jamison Crowder, and Denzel Mims. In the following years, Smith received the eighth- and sixth-highest snap counts in 2021 and 2022, respectively. 2020 was his strongest season statistically, too, as it saw him record career-highs in targets (37), receptions (17), and yards (167). He has yet to record an NFL touchdown. Smith signed an exclusive-rights free agent tender to remain with the Jets in 2022.
He leaves one New York team for the other as the Jets continue to target assets in an effort to satisfy Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who intends to play for the Jets once trade compensation is worked out. He makes his way to the Giants, where Kenny Golladay, Richie James, Marcus Johnson, and Darius Slayton have all found their way to free agency.
Slayton and James were the team’s top two receivers in terms of playing time and statistics last year. The Giants return a group of receivers that collectively missed a large portion of games in 2022. Smith will be competing with Isaiah Hodgins, Sterling Shepard, and Wan’Dale Robinson for the bulk of the team’s playing time. The three combined to miss 31 games last season. Should they struggle to stay on the field again, Smith will be competing with David Sills, Collin Johnson, and others for playing time behind them.
The Giants added a huge safety blanket for newly extended quarterback Daniel Jones, acquiring tight end Darren Waller from Las Vegas in a trade this week. They’ll need to add more than just Waller, though, if they expect to have a potent passing attack to supplement running back Saquon Barkley‘s ground game. Smith is a minor step towards that goal, but the team will likely need to do much more to be competitive.
Giants To Release WR Kenny Golladay
MARCH 15: The move is official, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan (on Twitter).
MARCH 8: Although a post-June 1 cut would create more savings for the Giants, GM Joe Schoen said (via ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan) the team is unlikely to take this route. The Giants could up their savings to $11.6MM by designating Golladay as a post-June 1 release, but that would also push money onto New York’s 2024 cap. Not doing so would lead to a significant dead-money hit this year ($14.7MM) but also allow the team to be rid of this contract by 2024. Teams can designate two players per year as post-June 1 cuts.
FEBRUARY 28: The Giants are in the midst of navigating a complex financial situation with their top two offensive priorities. In a move which will save them a modest amount of cap space, though, they are making the expected decision to release wideout Kenny Golladay. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that New York will cut the veteran on March 15, the first day of the new league year. 
This news come as no surprise, given the struggles Golladay had during his two years as a Giant. By waiting until the official opening of free agency, New York will see $6.7MM in cap savings. That figure is countered by a dead cap charge of $14.7MM owing to the guaranteed money on his deal, but both parties will no doubt be satisfied with a parting of ways in this situation.
The 29-year-old enjoyed a productive four years to begin his career with the Lions. His time there included a 2019 campaign in which he led the NFL in receiving touchdowns and earned a Pro Bowl nod. That season marked his second in a row in which he eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark. When he hit the open market in 2021, then, he drew notable interest and headed to the Big Apple on a four-year, $72MM contract. That deal led to substantial expectations for himself and the team, but things have not at all gone according to plan.
Golladay put up 521 scoreless yards in his first Giants season, one in which he operated as a full-time starter. That changed early in the 2022 campaign under new head coach Brian Daboll, who dropped his playing time to just a pair of snaps in Week 2. That led the former third-rounder to lament his circumstances, and was followed by a continued drop in his usage. Golladay was named as a trade candidate in September, further suggesting that a separation would be coming at some point.
The Northern Illinois alum totaled just six catches and one touchdown during the regular season, despite the markedly improved play of Daniel Jones and the Giants’ underwhelming WR corps suffering multiple significant injuries. He will look to rebuild his value on a new team this offseason, through a deal which will surely be short-term in nature and carry a far lower financial commitment than the one the Giants gave him under previous GM Dave Gettleman. Golladay will still be owed the $4.5MM in guaranteed money he is due for 2023, however.
The Giants have made it clear they will be seeking additions at the receiver position. That could include a reunion with Odell Beckham Jr., who sat out the entire 2022 season despite significant interest from a number of teams. New York could also be seeking a wideout in the first round of this year’s draft, as they look to upgrade their pass-catching corps around Jones. In any event, Golladay will have no part in the team’s 2023 plans.
Raiders To Trade Darren Waller To Giants
In need of a few pass catchers, the Giants have struck a deal to land a former Pro Bowler. The Raiders are sending Waller to New York, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter).
The Giants are sending the No. 100 overall pick to the Raiders for the veteran tight end, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This is the third-round compensatory pick the Giants obtained in the Kadarius Toney trade with the Chiefs. The Giants had been eyeing tight ends, per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy, and they will make their move via trade.
This comes less than a year after Waller agreed to an extension with the Raiders. That $17MM-per-year contract will now be the Giants’ responsibility. Hours after their Jakobi Meyers acquisition, the AFC West team is shipping out one of its veteran playmakers. For a bit, the Raiders had five skill-position players tied to eight-figure-per-year contracts or a franchise tag (Waller, Meyers, Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, Josh Jacobs). That number will drop back to four.
The Packers made an offer for Waller at last year’s deadline, but the Raiders stood pat. And, as of two weeks ago, they were not viewed as eager to move on from Waller. That said, a report last season indicated some in the organization were frustrated with his slow-progressing return from a hamstring injury.
Although the Giants effectively opted not to replace Evan Engram last season, they are acting on that front now. Fewer than 10 tight ends in NFL history have strung together back-to-back 1,100-yard receiving seasons; Waller is among them. Even with Jeremy Shockey excelling in the 2000s, no Giants tight end has ever reached the 1,100-yard plateau in a season. That achievement occurred from 2019-20; Waller has battled some injuries in the seasons since.
The Raiders had given Waller three contracts, including two extensions, as he became their No. 1 option in the wake of the Antonio Brown deal combusting before he played a game in Oakland. A former Ravens wide receiver who nearly flamed out of the league due to substance-abuse issues, Waller launched a comeback with the Raiders. The Jon Gruden-era pickup led the team in receiving in 2019 and ’20, earning Pro Bowl acclaim for his work in the latter slate.
Engram also earned Pro Bowl honors during 2020, when the game not being played led to no alternates distorting the accomplishment, but Waller’s numbers dwarfed the ex-Giants first-rounder’s production. The Giants let Engram walk in free agency last year, tiring of the receiving tight end’s inconsistency. They will now make Waller a centerpiece player in their passing attack, one that still needs more pieces despite Sterling Shepard agreeing to come back. Waller and Saquon Barkley will represent the initial cornerstones of Daniel Jones‘ fifth Giants attack.
This year’s wide receiver market does not house many impact players, and while the Giants have been connected to receiver pursuits, they will take on Waller’s $11MM 2023 base salary. He is signed through 2026 at a reasonable rate — salaries of $10.5MM, $11.5MM and $13.5MM are also on the deal — despite the $17MM AAV breaking George Kittle‘s tight end record last year. The Giants will determine Waller’s fit in Brian Daboll’s offense; the $8.25MM guaranteed this year represent the last of Waller’s locked-in money.
Josh McDaniels has now shipped out the Raiders’ passing-game pillars from the Gruden period, cutting Derek Carr and now unloading Waller’s deal. The Raiders now have a need at tight end, with Foster Moreau also a free agent. The 2023 draft class is believed to be deep at the position, so the Raiders should be considered candidates to nab one of the top prospects. This trade also will not tag Las Vegas for dead money much. They will save $11.38MM as a result of the move.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/13/23
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: CB Cameron Lewis
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: S Michael Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Re-signed: CB A.J. Green
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Chris Manhertz
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: RB Craig Reynolds
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: CB Keisean Nixon
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: DE Tershawn Wharton
New York Giants
- Re-signed: OL Wyatt Davis, LS Casey Kreiter
New York Jets
- Released: G Dru Samia
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OL Brett Toth
Nixon was a first-team All-Pro returner for the Packers this year. He’s signed to a new one-year deal with a maximum value of $6MM, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Wharton’s new one-year deal is reportedly worth $2.03MM, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The contract has a guaranteed amount of $850,000 consisting of a $500,000 signing bonus and $350,000 of the base salary (worth $1.01MM total).
Giants To Re-Sign RB Matt Breida, Sign DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
The Giants have made moves on both sides of the ball. Jordan Schultz of The Score reports (via Twitter) that running back Matt Breida is re-signing with New York. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reports (via Twitter) that the Giants are signing defensive lineman Rakeem Nunez-Roches.
Breida is inking a new one-year contract that can peak at $2.3MM with incentives. The veteran RB spent the 2022 campaign as Saquon Barkley‘s backup, with Breida ultimately seeing time in all 17 games (one start). The 28-year-old finished the campaign with 338 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown.
The former UDFA spent the first three seasons of his career with the 49ers, collecting 2,463 yards from scrimmage. He’s since bounced around the NFL, also spending time with the Dolphins and Bills. He’ll continue to be a backup in 2023, with Gary Brightwell and Jashaun Corbin also around as depth at the position.
Nunez-Roches has spent eight seasons in the NFL, including the past five years in Tampa Bay. He started 10 of his 17 appearances for the Buccaneers in 2022, finishing with 33 tackles and two sacks. The veteran hasn’t missed a game since the 2018 season, and he’ll provide the Giants with some reliable depth on their defensive line.