Newsstand News & Rumors

Colts To Tag Michael Pittman Jr.; Sides Discussing Extension

2:03pm: Although the Colts have Pittman on their extension radar, they will use the placeholder option. Indianapolis will tag Pittman, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. It does not appear the sides are too close on a long-term deal, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, but a tag gives them some time. The Colts have until July 15 to complete an extension with their top receiver.

1:45pm: Chris Ballard‘s comments at the Combine did not make it sound likely Michael Pittman Jr. would reach free agency. Indeed, it appears the Colts are preparing to use their franchise tag for the first time since 2013.

The Colts are planning to tag Pittman if they cannot reach an extension, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. The sides are still talking, per The Athletic’s James Boyd. The Colts last used their tag to keep Pat McAfee off the market 11 years ago, but with the Ballard regime doing well to re-sign its own homegrown talent, it is not surprising this tag drought may soon end.

If the Colts can reach an agreement by 3pm CT, they will avoid a $21.8MM cap hold going on their books. This deadline has spurred action in the recent past, but no extension for a tag candidate has surfaced today. Pittman would be the eighth player franchise-tagged during this year’s two-week window.

Ballard has done well to keep his cornerstone players on extensions. Since taking over, the eighth-year GM has extended Ryan Kelly, Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, Shaquille Leonard, Kenny Moore, Grover Stewart and Jonathan Taylor. The former rushing champion’s messy extension process overshadowed Pittman’s contract year, which proved vital to a Colts team frequently playing without its top back. Pittman produced career-high numbers in receptions (109) and yards (1,152) last season, helping a Colts team down Anthony Richardson for most of the season.

It is certainly possible Richardson’s injury helped Pittman compile solid stats last year, with Gardner Minshew a readier passer compared to the raw but promising rookie. Minshew indeed looked Pittman’s way often, giving the former second-round pick his second 1,000-yard season. The Colts chose Pittman before Taylor four years ago, selecting him 34th — one spot after Tee Higgins. Showing the value wideouts bring, neither player will be headed to free agency. The Bengals were the first team to use a tag this year, cuffing Higgins in February.

Without a veteran quarterback on the roster, the Colts can better afford expenditures like a Taylor extension and Pittman tag. Ballard’s team generally avoids big-ticket free agency moves, however, and came into Tuesday with more than $70MM in cap space. That number would shrink if Pittman is tagged, but the sides still have more than an hour to reach an extension.

Patriots To Place Transition Tag On S Kyle Dugger

Amid a flurry of franchise tag decisions, the transition tag will make a rare appearance. The Patriots will take this route to keep Kyle Dugger off the market, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

A rumored franchise tag candidate, Dugger will become just the fifth player transition-tagged over the past 10 years. It will cost the Patriots $13.8MM to use this tag; a franchise tag would have cost them $17.1MM. Considering New England has extended at least one offer on a multi-year pact so far, the team will no doubt continue negotiating on that front moving forward.

Previous extension talks have not gained much traction, but Dugger would have courted numerous suitors had he reached the open market. The Patriots have prevented that from taking place, although today’s move confirms highly-regarded offensive lineman Michael Onwenu will not receive a tag. That comes as little surprise in the latter’s case, but it still sets him up for free agency.

Onwenu is on New England’s radar for a new contract, but his ability to play both tackle and guard will no doubt help his market. Regardless of if he departs in the near future, however, Dugger is set to remain in place as the Patriots aim to repeat their strong showings in a number of defensive categories from 2023. The 27-year-old has been a full-time starter for most of his four-year career, racking up nine interceptions and 20 pass deflections along the way. Better used near the box than as a traditional safety, Dugger eclipsed 100 tackles for the first time in 2023.

Issues in coverage have hurt the Lenoir-Rhyne alum’s PFF evaluations – particularly last year – but he has cemented his status as a key figure in New England’s secondary. Attention will now turn to the latest round of extension talks. $13MM was the reported AAV of the Patriots’ last offer, a figure which falls short of what Dugger will receive in 2024 if he plays on the tag. It will be interesting to see how far the team is willing to go with respect to length and guarantees on a multi-year pact, and the degree to which outside suitors monitor the situation.

Players hit with the non-exclusive franchise tag are allowed the negotiate and sign offer sheets with outside teams. In that event, parent clubs receive two first-round picks as compensation if it is not matched, something which serves as an effective deterrent. New England would not be compensated if Dugger were to sign an unmatched offer sheet due to the transition tag, though. For the time being, he is in place with the Patriots at a reasonable second contract rate.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post. 

Bears To Tag CB Jaylon Johnson

Procrastination reigns in the NFL. Coming into Tuesday, only two teams — the Bengals and Chiefs — had used their franchise tags. A host of subsequent tag calls are coming in hours before the 3pm deadline.

The Bears will follow through with their long-rumored Jaylon Johnson tag, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Although the Bears let Johnson seek a trade before last year’s deadline, they held onto the breakout corner. After an All-Pro season, the former second-round pick will be tied to a $19.8MM tag.

Given the interest from the Bears and Johnson about a long-term Chicago partnership, this was not a difficult tag to predict. As a result, the Bears will have until July 15 to work on an extension with the former second-round pick. Ryan Poles‘ team came into Tuesday with considerable cap space. The Bears will still have more than $55MM after tagging Johnson.

No cornerback had been tagged since the Rams kept Trumaine Johnson off the 2017 free agent market; this year, two corners have been cuffed. While the Chiefs have opened the window to a tag-and-trade move involving L’Jarius Sneed, the Bears look more likely to hang onto Johnson and work on an extension. The sides resumed talks recently.

Johnson, 25, did not look like a possible tag recipient coming into last season; like many have in modern NFL history, Johnson timed his breakout well. Pro Football Focus rated Johnson as the league’s best cornerback in 2023, and the former second-round pick intercepted four passes and allowed just a 50.9 passer rating as the closest defender. Johnson’s previous-best rating allowed: 94.6 in 2022. It would make some sense if the Bears made the Utah alum prove his second-team All-Pro slate was not a fluke, but the sides were talking an extension midway through last season. With Johnson floating out the prospect he wants to become the NFL’s highest-paid corner, these negotiations might be tricky.

Although Johnson has not proven to be a difference-maker over multiple seasons, the tag gives him some leverage in talks. Due to the recent cap spike, the 2024 CB tag number nearly matches Jaire Alexander‘s position-record AAV ($21MM). That said, the Bears also hold leverage by using the tag. Johnson can realistically only negotiate with one team, though the Bears would be entitled to a two-first-rounder haul if they failed to match another club’s offer sheet. That is a rare occurrence in franchise tag history.

Contract talks not progressing last fall led the Bears to let Johnson seek a trade hours before the deadline. The Bills and 49ers were among the teams to show interest, but the Bears sought a first- or second-round pick for the four-year starter. It is safe to assume no such offer emerged, and the sides regrouped. The Bears subsequently traded for Montez Sweat and extended him. With most of the Ryan Pace-era pieces off the roster on defense, Poles has some room to maneuver on defense. Although he did authorize a top-five ILB contract for Tremaine Edmunds, Poles does not have a big-ticket contract in place in the secondary at present. That could clear some runway space for a Johnson accord by July.

For now, teams in need of cornerbacks may look to the trade market. Conversely, the second-tier corners on this year’s market stand to see their price tags rise as a result of the Sneed and Johnson tags.

Texans, TE Dalton Schultz Agree To Deal

A mutual interest was known to exist between the Texans and tight end Dalton SchultzAn agreement has been worked out between the sides; Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports a three-year, $36MM contract is now in place.

The pact includes $23.5MM fully guaranteed at signing, making the negotiating process a highly successful one for Schultz and his representation. After joining Houston on a one-year agreement last offseason, the former Cowboys starter has secured a long-term investment with an up-and-coming AFC contender.

Schultz made it clear last month that he intended to remain with the Texans if possible. Likewise, Houston remained interested in working out an agreement after the success of his debut season with the team. With wideout Nico Collins and Tank Dell in place for at least one more season, Schultz will comprise an effective third element in the Texans’ passing game.

The latter developed into a solid producer with the Cowboys beginning in 2020 in particular. He upped his value considerably during his Dallas tenure, peaking with a statline of 78-808-8 the following year. No agreement could be worked out on a long-term deal, though, and Schultz played on the franchise tag in 2022. His play that season set him up for free agency, where he only landed a $6.25MM Texans contract. Today’s accord will essentially double his AAV compared to last year’s.

Entering his age-28 season, Schultz will be counted on to remain a consistent contributor over the life of the contract. He recorded 635 yards and five touchdowns on 59 receptions in 2023, helping Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud lead the team to the divisional round. Their relationship will now continue for the foreseeable future, as Houston looks to keep as many core pieces in place as possible.

A splashy addition at the running back spot has been circulated in the Texans’ case, and it will be interesting to see if that plays out. In any event, though, Schultz is locked in as an integral component of the team’s efforts to build off last year’s success.

Buccaneers To Use Franchise Tag On S Antoine Winfield Jr.

Franchise tag decisions are coming in hours before the application deadline. As expected, the Buccaneers will prioritize their young All-Pro safety.

Antoine Winfield Jr. will not be given the chance to hit free agency, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reporting the second-generation NFL DB will be tagged. This has been the expected scenario for a bit, but with less than three hours until the deadline, the Bucs will make it official.

[RELATED: Buccaneers, Mike Evans Agree To Deal]

This moves Baker Mayfield closer to free agency, but with the quarterback tag costing over $20MM more than the safety tag, Tampa Bay had been expected to make the cheaper move here. The Bucs have until March 11 to keep Mayfield off the market, but they now have until July 15 to hammer out an extension with Winfield.

As should be expected given Winfield’s importance to the Bucs over the past four years, this is not setting up a “prove it” season from the All-Pro safety. The Bucs intend to discuss an extension, ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine tweets. Tampa Bay was interested in a Winfield extension before last season, but little of substance emerged following that report. Winfield proceeded to put together a dominant contract year, setting himself up for a potential top-market safety contract.

It is sensible for the Bucs to use the tag on Winfield due to its $17.12MM price. If would have cost the team more than $38MM to tag Mayfield. That number being roughly $6MM north of what it cost the Ravens to cuff Lamar Jackson last year, it was a long shot the Bucs would take this route. But with Mayfield talks looming as the team’s top near-term priority, using this tool to keep Winfield on the back burner checks out. Mayfield and the Bucs remain engaged in talks about a second contract.

Winfield, 25, finished with six sacks and an NFL-leading six forced fumbles last season, including a goal-line strip of DJ Chark that allowed the Bucs to hold off the Panthers in Week 18 — a win vital to the team’s eventual journey to the divisional round. The Minnesota alum also established new career-high marks in tackles (122) and interceptions (three) in 2023. He has put himself on the radar to top Derwin James‘ safety-record AAV, which sits at $19MM. James has held that top spot since summer 2022. After Jessie Bates collected $16MM on the open market last year, the Bucs will not take that chance with Winfield, who started in Super Bowl LV as a rookie and has been an important defender during the Bucs’ run of playoff berths.

Ravens Place Franchise Tag On DT Justin Madubuike

Justin Madubuike profiled as the Ravens’ top pending free agent and to no surprise, he will not reach the open market. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle received the franchise tag on Tuesday, per a team announcement.

A statement from general manager Eric DeCosta confirms Baltimore will continue negotiating a long-term agreement. Talks on that front took place during last week’s Combine, but no agreement was reached. Now, Madubuike will be tied – at least temporarily – to a 2024 salary and cap hit of $22.1MM.

The 26-year-old put up modest but improving numbers across his first three seasons in the league. A jump in production (particularly in the pass-rush department) was expected to an extent entering 2024, but the degree to which it took place was surprising. Madubuike posted 13 sacks and 33 QB pressures, shattering his previous marks in those and other categories while earning second-team All-Pro acclaim.

As a result, the expectation grew throughout the season that the Texas A&M product would be the next in line to secure a major DT pact. Reports recently made it clear the tag would be used the ensure such an offer would not come from an outside suitor, and now Baltimore will be tasked with hammering out a long-term agreement. Talks on that front can continue through to July 15.

The 2022 offseason saw several young producers along the defensive interior land new deals. A clear second tier behind Aaron Donald in terms of annual compensation emerged; Quinnen Williams, Jeffery Simmons, Dexter Lawrence and Daron Payne each agreed to multi-year contracts averaging between $22.5MM and $24MM per year and including almost identical guarantee figures. Maduibuike will no doubt be seeking an accord along the same lines after his breakout campaign.

The former third-rounder is one of several key pending free agents the Ravens have to deal with, however. Linebacker Patrick Queen, right guard Kevin Zeitler and edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney are among the starters at risk of departing once the new league year opens, and the same is true of multiple other starters on both sides of the ball. Locking in Madubuike on a multi-year pact will be necessary to avoid carrying his $22.1MM cap hit in full during the 2024 season. The ability of both team and player to come to an agreement will therefore remain a storyline worth following.

Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic noted early today that the Ravens still believed a long-term Madubuike deal was possible with the understanding the tag would otherwise come into play as a placeholder. That will be the case for now, but Baltimore will continue to seek a deal beyond 2024 while juggling other pressing free agent matters.

Buccaneers, Mike Evans Agree To Deal

MARCH 5, 11:24am: The upfront payout will be critical for Evans, because this contract will carry a base value of $41MM, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio indicates. Of that $41MM, $29MM is fully guaranteed. The contract guarantees Evans $6MM of his 2025 salary at signing and an additional $6MM comes in the form of an injury guarantee. The other $6MM of Evans’ 2025 money is nonguaranteed.

This still represents a nice third contract for Evans, though it is interesting, given the drama that came when Evans set a hard negotiating deadline late last summer, it was enough to keep him off the market.

MARCH 4, 9:35pm: We’ve got some more details on Evans’ new deal with the Buccaneers. Greg Auman of FOX Sports says the $52MM total represents the maximum value, meaning the receiver will likely have to earn a chunk of that money via incentives. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jenna Laine passes along that Evans will earn $29MM of his $35MM guarantee in the first year of the two-year pact.

8:15am: Instead of testing the market next week, Mike Evans will remain in Tampa Bay on a new pact. The veteran wideout has agreed to a two-year Buccaneers contract, per his agents (via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network).

ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that the contract is worth $52MM and includes $35MM guaranteed. Evans had been linked to an asking price of $25MM per season, and he has managed to land it without needing to reach free agency. Projected to be one of the top available wideouts on the market, he will now be able to continue his decorated Bucs tenure for an 11th and 12th season.

As Garafolo notes, Tampa Bay’s urgency to get a deal hammered out picked up in recent days, with the franchise tag deadline and the start of free agency not far away (video link). The team still has agreements with quarterback Baker Mayfield and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. to work out, but one major piece of business has now been taken care of.

Evans was expected to at least gauge his market next week once the new league year began. That update came as little surprise given the gap which continued to exist between team and player during negotiations, something which dated back to last summer. Talks were shut down once the 2023 campaign started, and signs pointed to the five-time Pro Bowler facing the possibility of heading elsewhere. Now, though, he has secured one of the most lucrative WR pacts in the league in terms of annual average value while remaining in place.

This $26MM-per-year agreement will slot Evans behind only Tyreek Hill, Davante Adams and Cooper Kupp in terms of AAV. The short-term nature of the pact will help Tampa Bay aim to keep its offensive core in place for the time being while preventing a lucrative investment deep into Evans’ 30s. The uber-consistent producer is entering his age-31 season, but his ability to continue delivering 1,000-yard seasons (as well as his chemistry with Mayfield) should make this a relatively safe proposition for the Bucs.

The Texas A&M product recorded 1,255 yards in 2023, Mayfield’s first in Tampa Bay. That figure was his highest since 2018, and – coupled with a league-leading 13 touchdown receptions – it no doubt helped boost his value on a third contract. Evans landed a five-year, $82.5MM pact in 2018, and he has to no surprise secured a much larger AAV on his latest deal given the receiver market’s jump in value and the length of this new contract. The 2018 deal included only $3MM more in guaranteed money at the time of signing, so today’s news is certainly a success from his perspective.

Schefter notes the Chiefs were expected to be among the suitors for Evans if he had reached the open market. A number of other teams would have been interested as well, though few serious suitors likely would have had the means of reaching his asking price if he had landed a similar or more valuable contract than this latest Bucs one. The list of high-end wideouts set to reach free agency next week has now been notably shortened.

Tampa Bay’s offense lost coordinator Dave Canales this offseason when he took the Panthers’ head coaching gig. While the unit will face questions related to its ability to replicate Canales’ success, having Evans in the fold will give the Buccaneers a familiar and consistent option in the passing game. The team can now turn its attention to getting a Mayfield deal on the books before the new league year begins in a bid to keep his partnership with Evans intact moving forward.

Panthers Place Franchise Tag On Brian Burns

With no long-term deal in sight, the Panthers will move forward with the expected decision on Brian Burns. The Pro Bowl edge rusher has been told he will receive the franchise tag, per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The team has since announced the move.

Burns has long been an obvious candidate for the tag, which will pay out $24MM guaranteed. That figure will eat into much of Carolina’s available cap space if he plays out the 2024 season on the tender, but questions about his future with the organization have persisted for some time now.

Contract talks have been on and off between the Panthers and the 25-year-old. Burns played on his $16MM fifth-year option in 2023, and the lack of a long-term pact kept him in trade talks. Carolina once again elected to keep him in the fold, but the passing of the deadline did not spur a new round of negotiations. With the parties still not on the verge of an agreement, talks were put on hold during last week’s Combine.

For that reason, many have pointed to a tag-and-trade being on the table as the Panthers look to avoid Burns departing in free agency in 2025. The Rams made an offer including two first-round picks in 2022, and teams have remained highly interested in the Florida State alum. Washington was among the suitors in the build-up to this year’s trade deadline, and those still in a favorable cap situation will no doubt show at least a degree of interest. With Burns requiring a lucrative pact upon arrival, however, it would come as a surprise if Carolina was able to secure a better draft haul than the previous Rams offer.

Seeing as the non-exclusive tag has been used, Burns will be eligible to negotiate a contract with outside suitors. An agreement which goes unmatched from the Panthers will result in two first-round picks as compensation, though a trade would allow an acquiring team to pay out a different price to Carolina. Burns and the Panthers will be able to negotiate a long-term deal as late as July 15 if no trade takes place.

Given where things stand on that front, though, considerable progress would need to be made for an agreement keeping him in Charlotte beyond 2024 to be hammered out. Burns has been connected to a higher asking price (roughly $30MM per season) than the team is willing to reach. Nick Bosa‘s historic 49ers extension carries an AAV of $34MM, which comfortably leads the pack. Carolina would likely add Burns to the list of eight edge rushers earning between $22MM and $28MM on their respective pacts if a multi-year deal were to come to fruition.

Burns posted double-digit sacks for the first time in his career in 2022, totaling 12.5. He followed that up with eight last season, bringing his career total to 46 in five years. Not known for his run defense, he will nevertheless be an attractive option for teams looking to make a pricey investment along the edge. The Panthers will need to weigh their options on the Burns front while also sorting out the futures of other key defenders such as Frankie Luvu and Derrick Brown.

Eagles’ Jason Kelce Confirms Retirement

In the wake of the Eagles’ wild-card loss, it was reported center Jason Kelce informed his teammates of his intention to retire. The future Hall of Famer confirmed that decision in a press conference on Monday.

Kelce’s future remained uncertain until Monday, as he declined to make a formal announcement. He spoke about a desire to remain with the Eagles in some capacity, while also looking into a potential transition to the broadcast booth. The 36-year-old has done extensive homework with multiple networks, and there will no doubt be a considerable market for his services in his post-playing days.

A sixth-round pick in 2011, Kelce was a full-time starter in his rookie season and he maintained his place atop the depth chart throughout his storied career. He was forced to miss considerable time only once in his 13-year tenure, and he was able to suit up for every game from 2015 onwards. Across that span, Kelce cemented his status as one of the best O-lineman (at any position) of his generation.

The Cincinnati alum earned at least a Pro Bowl invitation or a first-team All-Pro nod every year from 2016 through his final campaign. The waning years of his career proved Kelce was still capable of playing at an elite level while remaining an integral part of the Eagles’ offensive front. Instead of pursuing a 14th campaign and the chance at a third Super Bowl appearance (and second championship), though, he will hang up his cleats and turn his attention elsewhere.

Kelce ranks second on the franchise’s all-time games played list with 193, just behind fellow ‘Core Four’ member Brandon Graham. The latter’s future is in question, although he and right tackle Lane Johnson have stated a desire to play in 2024. The final member of the illustrious quartet – defensive tackle Fletcher Cox – is believed to be leaning toward hanging up his cleats at some point this offseason. Regardless of what happens with the other Philadelphia mainstays, Kelce’s absence will be acutely felt.

Over each of the past three years, he and the Eagles have worked out one-year contracts knowing a retirement decision would looming in relatively short order. Kelce’s latest pact is set up so he can remain on the team’s roster beyond June 1 before being placed on the retirement list. Once that procedural move takes place, Philadelphia will begin a new era under center. Cam Jurgens – who was drafted in 2022 as Kelce’s successor and played at right guard in 2023 – could move to center with the sizable challenge of replacing a franchise icon.

“It has always been a goal of mine to play my whole career in one city,” Kelce said during his press conference, via ESPN’s Tim McManus“I couldn’t have dreamt a better one if I tried.”

Kelce will walk away from the game with more than $85MM in career earnings. His next endeavor will be worth following closely, especially if he elects to try his hand at broadcasting in 2024 or down the road. In any event, a spot in Canton no doubt awaits him with his playing career now in the books.

49ers Promote Nick Sorensen To DC, Add Brandon Staley To Staff

After eyeing five candidates for their open defensive coordinator job, the 49ers have landed on an in-house option. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the 49ers are promoting defensive passing game specialist Nick Sorensen to defensive coordinator. The 49ers are also hiring another DC candidate, Brandon Staley, for a “prominent staff role,” according to Schefter. That could include the role of assistant head coach.

Following a 10-year playing career, Sorensen transitioned to coaching in 2013. He spent close to a decade on the Seahawks staff, initially working as an assistant special teams coach before moving to the defensive side of the ball, where he served as the team’s secondary coach for four years.

The Jaguars hired him as their special teams coordinator in 2021, but he only lasted a season in Jacksonville before joining the 49ers as a defensive assistant in 2022. It took him one year to earn a promotion to defensive pass game coordinator/nickels coach.

While the 49ers cast a relatively wide net to replace Steve Wilks, the organization hinted that they were valuing continuity in their search. The 49ers also interviewed defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks for the role, and Schefter notes that the organization didn’t want to “stray far from what it has done defensively for the past seven years.” In fact, Schefter adds that part of the reason why Wilks was fired was because of his inability to “adapt to the defensive scheme” of former 49ers squads led by Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans.

While Sorensen has only been on the staff for two seasons, he does possess familiarity with the team’s scheme. Pete Carroll ran a similar defense in Seattle, and Schefter notes that Sorensen’s experience was “perhaps most valuable” in his promotion.

Staley was fired by the Chargers back in December following two-plus seasons with the organization. He finished his head coaching stint with a 24-24 record, including a single one-and-done playoff appearance. Prior to his stint with the Chargers, Staley served as the defensive coordinator with the Rams in 2020. He also previously served as linebackers coach for the Broncos and Bears.

While Staley’s defensive scheme differs from the 49ers’ scheme, GM John Lynch said that wouldn’t prevent the coach from joining the staff.

“He’s a really bright dude,” Lynch said (via Schefter). “We have an open mind, but we do know there’s certain core principles that we’re going to always be on the defensive side. … I wouldn’t rule him out because of that.”

Staley is expected to be the team’s new assistant head coach, a role previously held by Anthony Lynn (who, ironically, was also a former Chargers HC). After spending the past two seasons in San Francisco, Lynn joined Dan Quinn‘s new Commanders staff as their run game coordinator/running backs coach.