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Packers, QB Jordan Love Agree On Extension

July 26th, 2024 at 10:18pm CST by Ely Allen

The next domino has fallen in regard to quarterback contracts. According to Ian Rapoport of 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.

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 that Love, but Love’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 pay day, 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 had longevity at the quarterback position for 30 years. The question facing Love was whether or not he would allow Green Bay to continue that trend. With this extension, Love is under contract through 2028. He 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

July 26th, 2024 at 10:11pm CST by Adam La Rose

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.

Vikings, LT Christian Darrisaw Agree To Extension

July 25th, 2024 at 4:34pm CST by Ben Levine

JULY 25: Joining Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith and Penei Sewell as 2021 first-rounders already extended, Darrisaw’s base value will fall short of Sewell’s $28MM-per-year Lions deal. The Vikings gave their left tackle a four-year, $104MM contract, according to OverTheCap. The contract includes $43.73MM guaranteed at signing, but Darrisaw is all but certain to add $13.29MM (his 2026 base salary) to that total. If Darrisaw is on Minnesota’s roster as of Day 3 of the 2025 league year, his 2026 base locks in.

This rolling guarantee structure, increasingly popular in recent years, also includes $8.38MM of Darrisaw’s 2027 compensation ($16.5MM) becoming guaranteed in March 2026, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The Vikings also guaranteed $2MM of Darrisaw’s 2028 base salary for injury, with the rest of that money becoming guaranteed in 2028. This contract makes Darrisaw the NFL’s highest-paid left tackle.

JULY 23: Christian Darrisaw has landed a big-ticket deal with the Vikings. The left tackle agreed to an extension on Tuesday, as first reported by Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

This will be a four-year pact worth up to $113MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds. Darrisaw will collect $77MM in guaranteed money, including $43.7MM locked in at signing. The offensive lineman still had two years remaining on his contract after having his fifth-year option picked up earlier this offseason.

This four-year extension will be added to the end of Darrisaw’s rookie deal, meaning the 25-year-old is locked in through the 2029 campaign. Considering general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wasn’t in place when the Virginia Tech alum was drafted, there was some uncertainty regarding the timeliness of a potential Darrisaw extension. Ultimately, the two sides completed a deal with time to spare.

The 2021 first-round pick has established himself as one of the league’s top OTs while blocking for Kirk Cousins in Minnesota. Pro Football Focus graded Darrisaw as the second-best offensive tackle in 2022, and he followed that up with an eighth-place finish (among 81 qualifiers) in 2023. The lineman has missed 10 regular season games in three years, but he managed to get into a career-high 15 games this past season.

While Darrisaw still has a few years before the extension kicks in, the new deal will vault him up the list of the league’s highest-paid left tackles. The $77MM in guaranteed money is now the highest commitment at his position, and the extension’s $28.25MM average annual value would top Laremy Tunsil‘s $25MM AAV. Darrisaw still has about $20MM coming his way in the final two seasons of his current deal.

As the Vikings transition from the veteran Cousins to a rookie in J.J. McCarthy, the front office is assuring some continuity elsewhere on offense. McCarthy’s rookie contract has also allowed the organization to allocate finances elsewhere. In addition to Darrisaw’s new contract, the Vikings also handed wideout Justin Jefferson a lucrative extension this offseason.

While there’s a bit of uncertainty surrounding the offense moving forward, the Vikings can rest easy knowing their core is locked in. In addition to Darrisaw, Jefferson, and McCarthy, the team has Jordan Addison on his rookie contract and tight end T.J. Hockenson signed long-term.

49ers LT Trent Williams Staging Holdout

July 25th, 2024 at 1:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

JULY 25: Making Williams’ no-show official, the 49ers placed their starting left tackle on the reserve/did not report list. For a second straight year, the 49ers have a confirmed holdout.

JULY 24: Trent Williams remains on a six-year contract that runs through 2026, but the acclaimed left tackle is no longer satisfied with the terms of that deal. Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport) the veteran blocker is holding out.

This news follows Brandon Aiyuk‘s hold-in decision. The 49ers could waive Aiyuk’s fines — as they did for Nick Bosa last year — because he is on a rookie contract, but Williams must be fined daily for skipping camp. The 15th-year tackle has done well for himself since entering the league — on a CBA that was friendlier to first-round picks — in 2010, so accruing camp fines does not figure to derail Williams here.

Williams signed a six-year, $138.1MM deal to stay in San Francisco during the 2021 free agency period, maximizing his leverage by hitting the market. The contract has slid to fourth among tackles, and the Vikings’ Tuesday deal with Christian Darrisaw — when the details emerge — may drop the All-Pro 49ers tackle to fifth at his position. Penei Sewell, Laremy Tunsil and Andrew Thomas are each tied to higher AAVs than Williams, who does not have any guarantees remaining on his deal.

Williams provides tremendous value for the 49ers, having almost definitely secured a Hall of Fame route during his time in the Bay Area. He will attempt to exert more leverage to secure some better terms.

This is, however, a rather interesting holdout due to Williams’ age. He turned 36 last week and has been linked to retirement. The former Washington draftee said late last season he would play at least one more year, but he is not a candidate for a massive extension — especially with three years left on his current deal. The Oklahoma product did say a bit earlier last year he wanted to play until age 40, however. That longevity aim may well have come up during offseason talks.

A straight raise would stand to appeal to Williams due to his age, as the 49ers giving him another extension that runs beyond 2026 may not be especially relevant here. The four-time All-Pro is due $20.1MM in base salary this season. While that money is not guaranteed, Williams is in no danger of being released or traded before Week 1. As a vested veteran, his salary will lock in just before the start of the season.

Re-emerging after a dispute with Washington preceded a full-season absence in 2019, Williams established a new career peak in San Francisco. He has been the first-team left tackle on the past three All-Pro squads; that came after his Washington tenure did not include any first-team All-Pro nods. The 49ers lost both the games Williams missed last season, with he and Deebo Samuel‘s absences serving as central reasons for the eventual NFC champions’ midseason swoon.

A panel of anonymous NFL evaluators ranked Williams as the NFL’s top tackle recently, via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, and Pro Football Focus slotted Williams as the game’s best left tackle last season. PFF ranked Williams first among all tackles in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Williams’ leverage also comes from the 49ers featuring an O-line with no one else remotely near Williams’ talent level, with the team keeping costs low around its LT anchor.

The Chiefs pursued Williams in free agency three years ago, helping to drive up the 49ers’ price. Still, Williams signing a six-year contract — one that drove the AAV to a then-OL-record $23.01MM — gave the team considerable control here. Three- and four-year deals have become the NFL norm for non-quarterbacks, allowing opportunities to cash in not long after. As one of the top wage earners in NFL history ($171MM — eighth all time), Williams did well to secure a homestretch contract. But his performance has exceeded expectations since.

The Raiders rewarded Maxx Crosby by moving money from future years to 2024; the 49ers would stand to have that option with Williams. He will incur fines north of $40K per day by skipping camp. Of course, Williams’ past earnings would give him some solid ground on which to stand — depending on how far he plans to go to prove his point.

Seahawks, S Julian Love Reach Agreement On Extension

July 24th, 2024 at 10:07pm CST by Ely Allen

After making his first Pro Bowl with the Seahawks last year, safety Julian Love was set to enter the 2024 season on the final year of his contract. It appears that Seattle valued his contribution in 2023 enough to sign Love to a new three-year extension worth up to $36MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Love left Notre Dame after his junior season as a consensus All-American, getting drafted in the fourth round by the Giants in 2019. Over his first three seasons, Love wasn’t viewed as a starter in New York, often sitting behind the likes of Antoine Bethea, Jabrill Peppers, Logan Ryan, and Xavier McKinney. Still, he got a decent amount of playing time with at least five starts in each of those first three years and nabbing one interception in each of those years, as well.

In the final year of his rookie contract, Love finally earned a role as a full-time starter on the Giants defense. Love led the team with a career-high 124 tackles, earning other career highs in interceptions (two), tackles for loss (six), and sacks (one). His efforts earned him a spot in Seattle with a two-year, $12MM contract, despite beliefs in New York that Love would re-sign with the Giants.

Despite seeming to be a superfluous addition to a secondary that already rostered Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams, Love found new life in Seattle. In his first season with the Seahawks, Love started 12 games, filling in as an injury replacement for Adams at first, before becoming too crucial to the defense to keep off the field. Love was all over the field on defense, finishing second on the team with 123 tackles, while tallying career highs in interceptions (4) and passes defensed (10). With the releases of both Adams and Diggs, Love will take over alongside newly signed Rayshawn Jenkins as the top safety duo in Seattle this coming season.

Before his new deal, Love was expected to head into the final year of his two-year contract with a cap hit of $8.09MM. Love’s extension will likely lower that figure while rewarding the safety with a new signing bonus. Instead of dealing with free agency next offseason, the two parties will now be tied together through the 2027 NFL season.

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb Not Reporting To Training Camp

July 23rd, 2024 at 10:14pm CST by Ben Levine

After learning earlier today that the Cowboys had yet to engage in “substantial” extension talks with CeeDee Lamb, the inactive negotiations have led to a holdout. “A person with knowledge” of Lamb’s thinking told Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News that the player will not be reporting to training camp tomorrow. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has since confirmed the news. ESPN’s Todd Archer was first to report that the organization was “bracing” for a Lamb no-show when practices start on Thursday.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport clarifies that the two sides have indeed worked on a new deal, although it’s uncertain if that runs contrary to the aforementioned report of minimal “substantial” talks. The wideout will continue to face daily fines of $50K until he attends camp.

While Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, and Amon-Ra St. Brown all earned offseason extensions that will pay at least $30MM per year, Lamb is still attached to his $17.99MM fifth-year option. The Oklahoma alum did initially state an interest in becoming the NFL’s highest-paid wideout. It’s uncertain if he’s now pushing for Jefferson’s record-breaking $35MM AAV, but at the very least, he can point to the Vikings WR’s $110MM in guaranteed money.

Both sides always intended to see how the market played out, and recent reports indicated that the Cowboys were prioritizing a Lamb extension over deals for Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons. Perhaps that report was a signal of things to come and the Cowboys read the tea leafs regarding Lamb’s impending holdout. Of course, this news also doesn’t come as a huge shock. Lamb had been a candidate to engage in a holdout for quite some time, considering he skipped voluntary OTAs as well as mandatory minicamp.

Now, the Cowboys will be engaged in a holdout for the second-straight training camp. Last year, Zack Martin held out as he pursued a new contract. The Cowboys ended up being the side to blink, as the organization turned the final two years of Martin’s contract into a fully guaranteed agreement. Lamb will obviously be seeking both guarantees and term on his next pact, and with Dallas having not guaranteed a receiver more than $40MM at signing (while also holding the line on contracts spanning at least five years), it’s uncertain which side will relent. For what it’s worth, Ezekiel Elliott won his staring contest with the Cowboys back in 2019, with the running back earning a new contract that made him the highest-paid player at his position.

Lamb has been the centerpiece of the Cowboys’ passing attack since the team moved on from Amari Cooper in 2022. The 25-year-old is coming off a first-team All-Pro season (the first by a Dallas wideout since Dez Bryant), setting franchise records in receptions (135) and yards (1,749) along the way.

Jaguars, CB Tyson Campbell Agree To Extension

July 23rd, 2024 at 10:12am CST by Adam La Rose

In an offseason featuring a number of high-profile extensions being worked out, the Jaguars have taken care of another important piece of business. Cornerback Tyson Campbell has reached agreement on an extension, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.

Rapoport notes this is a four-year deal carrying a value of $76.5MM. The pact includes an effective guarantee of $53.4MM, making this a notable commitment on the team’s part. Campbell now becomes the top earner at the cornerback position amongst players who have yet to receive a Pro Bowl nod.

Three corners are attached to deals with an annual average value of $20MM or higher. Campbell, 24, will move into seventh in the pecking order with an AAV of $19.13MM with this deal. Across his three seasons in Jacksonville, he has started all but one of his 43 games. After establishing himself as a key member of Jacksonville’s secondary, Campbell will now be on the books through the 2028 campaign.

The former second-rounder displayed considerable ball skills during his first two campaigns. Between 2021 and ’22, Campbell totaled five interceptions and 25 pass deflections. The 2023 season saw a regression in that regard (one interception, five breakups) and Campbell also took a step back in the coverage department. The Georgia alum allowed eight touchdowns and a passer rating of 128.5 as the nearest defender, both the worst figures of his career.

In spite of that, Jacksonville has made another big-money commitment to a homegrown player. Edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen signed an extension averaging $28.25MM per year this offseason, setting the stage for a Trevor Lawrence deal. The latter inked a monster pact of his own, tying Joe Burrow for the top spot at the quarterback position ($55MM per year). Today’s Campbell deal is not on the same level of those commitments, but it further underscores the organization’s intention of retaining in-house players rather than making outside additions.

Jacksonville did take the latter route by adding Ronald Darby in free agency, but his pact (two years, $8.5MM) is the only other cornerback deal featuring notable guaranteed money. Campbell will face increased expectations moving forward given his big-ticket extension and Jacksonville’s general hopes of rebounding from the underwhelming end to the 2023 campaign.

Darnell Savage was added at the safety spot this spring, and Andre Cisco profiles as a logical extension candidate as early as this offseason. For now, though, Campbell finds himself in a tier of his own with respect to Jaguars compensation in the secondary. If he returns to his pre-2023 form, today’s investment could prove to be worthwhile.

Packers, DT Kenny Clark Agree On Extension

July 21st, 2024 at 10:27pm CST by Ely Allen

It’s been discussed as a possibility this offseason as both the Packers and defensive tackle Kenny Clark have been involved in “ongoing” talks towards a new agreement. Well, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the agreement was reached today with Clark signing a three-year, $64MM extension to remain in Green Bay.

Clark has been a longtime Packer, a staple on the team’s defensive front since being drafted out of UCLA in the first round in 2016. After a rotational role in his rookie season, Clark became a full-time starter in Year 2 and has held down the role for the remainder of his eight years in the NFL. With those eight seasons, Clark ranks in the top-10 in Packers history for tackles for loss (47) and quarterback hits (71) and top-20 for the franchise in sacks (34.0) and forced fumbles (7).

Back in 2020, Clark inked a four-year, $70MM extension, making 2024 a contract year for the 28-year-old. The contract made Clark the 12th-highest paid defensive player in the NFL at the time. This new deal puts Clark just outside the top-20 for highest paid defensive players but makes him the 10th-highest paid interior defender in average annual contract value.

Despite his advancing age, Clark more than deserves his new payday. While Pro Football Focus tends to be higher on the earlier years of Clark’s career, his play has aged like a fine wine. His most recent 2023 season saw him gain career highs in sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (9), and quarterback hits (16). Those peaks and three Pro Bowls in the last five years show that Clark isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, especially with his consistent health. Clark’s no ironman, but he’s only missed eight of 131 games in his career.

While not all the details are available on the new contract, Schefter tells us that Clark is set to receive $29MM, while Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that the signing bonus on the new deal will be $17.5MM. With OvertheCap.com currently projecting the DT franchise tag value next offseason to be $22.1MM, the Packers avoid having to absorb that cap hit in 2025.

49ers’ Brandon Aiyuk Requests Trade

July 16th, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

With talks between Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers still failing to generate progress, a formal trade request has now emerged. The contract-year wideout is seeking a move to a new team, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Aiyuk’s future has been one of the central storylines of the 2024 NFL offseason. The 26-year-old has long been seeking an extension at a price point San Francisco has not yet been willing to meet. Team and player recently met, and those in-person talks staved off a trade request for a brief time. The opposite is now true, however.

While the recent Aiyuk summit generated optimism, it was reported earlier this month that no tangible progress on the negotiation front had emerged. Indeed, Garafolo confirms the 49ers have not engaged in a fresh round of contract talks since May. Given today’s news, it is apparent Aiyuk has not shifted his stance with respect to his value on a long-term deal, something which has already been adjusted in the wake of other blockbuster receiver contracts.

Amon-Ra St. Brown (Lions), A.J. Brown (Eagles), and Justin Jefferson (Vikings) have each inked deals this offseason with an annual average value above $30MM. Aiyuk has been connected to an asking price matching the $88.7MM in full guarantees Jefferson secured on his historic extension. For now, the Arizona State product is due to collect $14.12MM in 2024 as he plays out his fifth-year option.

Aiyuk did not have a smooth acclimation period as he began his career under Kyle Shanahan, but he has emerged as one of the league’s top young receivers over the past two seasons. The former first-rounder has totaled 153 catches, 2,357 yards and 15 touchdowns during that span, helping the 49ers go on deep postseason runs each year since 2021. San Francisco already has fellow skill-position players Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel on the books, though, and quarterback Brock Purdy will be eligible for a second contract next offseason.

Samuel (under contract through 2025) and Aiyuk were trade targets during the draft, but no deals were finalized. General manager John Lynch has remained steadfast that no consideration will be given to a trade in either case at this point, a stance which was logical in the absence of a formal request from Aiyuk. The latter has been outspoken on social media in recent weeks, and he named the Steelers and Commanders as hypothetical destinations if his 49ers tenure were to come to an end. ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms a trade is still not on the table from San Francisco’s perspective.

Of course, Lynch is no stranger to dealing with situations such as this one. Samuel asked for a trade two years ago before ultimately agreeing to a multi-year San Francisco deal. Last offseason, Nick Bosa held out from training camp while attempting to exert leverage on a monster deal of his own. He ended up signing an eleventh-hour extension just before the start of the regular season, with the team agreeing to a record-breaking commitment on the defensive side of the ball.

Whether or not San Francisco is again willing to make a lucrative investment will be interesting to monitor over the coming days as it pertains to Aiyuk. Veterans report to the 49ers’ training camp in one week, and whether or not today’s move yields progress on the negotiating front will be a key storyline to follow.

Titans, S Jamal Adams Agree To Deal

July 12th, 2024 at 11:10am CST by Adam La Rose

JULY 12: Per Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team, Adams’ deal is one year in length and it qualifies for the veteran salary benefit. After being attached to a Seahawks deal worth $17.5MM per year prior to his release, Adams will therefore earn $1.13MM in 2024.

JULY 11: One of the many veteran safeties still on the market has found a new home. Jamal Adams has an agreement in place with the Titans, ESPN’s Turron Davenport notes. The move is now official, per a team announcement. Adams’ agent confirmed (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) that this is a one-year accord.

Tennessee was known to be interested in making an addition at the safety spot earlier this offseason. The team had not been publicly connected to any of the available options at the position recently, however. Nevertheless, Adams will provide the Titans with an experienced secondary option as he aims to deliver a healthy campaign and restore his free agent value in the process.

Adams recently visited the Titans, the team announced Thursday. That summit quickly produced this agreement, one which will thin the safety market to a degree once training camps open around the league later this month. The 28-year-old was (alongside Quandre Diggs) let go by the Seahawks in a cost-shedding move earlier this offseason. Adams remained in contact with Seattle after the draft, but instead of re-joining the team on a less expensive pact he will return to the AFC in 2024.

Interestingly, a potential Seattle reunion was contemplated (on the team’s side) with the understanding Adams would play at linebacker rather than safety. The former Jets first-rounder has played exclusively on the backend during his career, one which has been marred by injuries during recent times in particular. Adams’ mobility will be a question mark in Tennessee entering 2024 after he was limited to just 10 games over the past two seasons.

The Ravens hosted Adams on a free agent visit in May, but no updates on his market had emerged since then. The 2024 offseason saw a number of accomplished safeties let go in cost-shedding moves this spring, and the depth of available contributors has hindered the position’s overall market. It will be interesting to see if Adams’ signing will spur further action amidst the veterans looking to land with a new team ahead of training camp or at least the beginning of the season.

The three-time Pro Bowler has started all 80 games in his career, but he has failed to replicate his pass-rushing success (9.5 sacks) demonstrated in his debut Seahawks campaign of 2020. Tennessee – a team which traded away mainstay Kevin Byard midway through the 2023 season – had yet to make a free agent signing prior to today’s Adams agreement. With seventh-rounder James Williams being the Titans’ only safety draft addition, Adams could carve out a notable role in Nashville.

As Davenport notes, this agreement will allow Adams to reunite with Dennard Wilson. The latter served as New York’s defensive backs coach in 2018 and ’19, two of Adams’ best seasons. Wilson spent last season working with the Ravens, but he took Tennessee’s defensive coordinator gig in the winter. As he embarks on a new point in his career, Wilson will have a familiar face to work with in the secondary.

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