Steelers Have Brandon Aiyuk Trade Agreement Worked Out; 49ers Extension Offer Also In Play
10:00pm: While an Aiyuk-to-Pittsburgh remains in play, it sounds like a trade hasn’t been completed because the 49ers believe they can convince the wideout to stick in San Francisco. Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the 49ers and Aiyuk’s camp aren’t “that far apart on a deal.” The reporter notes that the 49ers have improved their offer in recent days, and it “has always” been the player’s preference to stick with San Francisco.
12:50pm: Brandon Aiyuk may still find his way to Pittsburgh, but the possibility of a long-term San Francisco deal also exists. A trade agreement has been worked out between the teams, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Rapoport adds that the Steelers are “in a good place” with respect to an extension for the All-Pro wideout. The 49ers also have a standing offer to Aiyuk which would allow him to stay in the Bay Area for 2024 and beyond, however. That offer has not yet been accepted.
As the waiting game continues, Aiyuk will have the option of choosing to take a multi-year 49ers deal or, failing that, the 49ers will be in position to authorize the trade. Terms on an extension will be critical, of course. The Steelers have not yet been willing to reach $30MM per season on a deal; that has also been the case for San Francisco. Whereas trade terms had not yet been sufficient from the 49ers’ perspective, though, today’s update points to a Steelers acquisition once again being a distinct possibility.
Rapoport’s report does not specify what Pittsburgh has offered, but the package set to head to the Bay Area will no doubt be noteworthy. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette repeats his previous reporting, though, that no Steelers players are involved. Both the Patriots and Browns had deals worked out, and those agreements would have sent Aiyuk to a new team. The 26-year-old nixed a reported deal which would have yielded Amari Cooper and a pair of draft picks for the Niners, given his preference not to play in Cleveland or New England. Pittsburgh has long been known to be a destination Aiyuk is interested in.
As the Athletic’s Dianna Russini confirms, the Steelers have been waiting on the trade front for days. Pittsburgh does not have a veteran receiver to offer in a trade (at least, not one of Cooper’s caliber). George Pickens is the centerpiece of the team’s passing attack as it currently stands, with Diontae Johnson having been traded away this spring. That move – coupled with the release of Allen Robinson – has led to speculation the Steelers could add a receiver, and an Aiyuk acquisition would certainly mark a major move for their offense.
Late last month, general manager Omar Khan said no deals at the receiver position were being explored. Interest in Aiyuk has erupted since then, with the former first-rounder’s trade request not sparking progress on a 49ers extension agreement. Aiyuk has long been tied to an asking price around $30MM per year, a mark four receivers are currently attached to. It will be interesting to see if San Francisco’s most recent offer reaches that point, or if the Steelers are prepared to up their latest one to get a trade over the finish line.
As the Jets’ situation with Haason Reddick proves, working out a trade without a firm extension in place can be highly problematic for the acquiring team. One year remains on Aiyuk’s rookie deal, and he is due $14.12MM in 2024 on the fifth-year option. A long-term deal will no doubt be worth roughly double that figure, perhaps more. Which team he plays on during his next pact remains to be seen, however.
Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy To Undergo Knee Surgery
J.J. McCarthy has been dealing with knee soreness over the past few days, and he is now set to miss time. The Vikings rookie passer will undergo surgery, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
This procedure will be aimed at dealing with a meniscus issue, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network add. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has since confirmed a torn meniscus in the right knee. The outcome of the surgery will determine how long McCarthy is sidelined for. Today’s update confirms that free agent signing Sam Darnold is atop the quarterback depth chart for the time being.
Of course, Darnold was on track to operate as Minnesota’s starter to open the campaign. The former No. 3 pick entered training camp as QB1, and he is a veteran of 56 starts capable of serving as a bridge option while McCarthy develops. The latter has impressed so far in his acclimation to the NFL level, but going under the knife will halt his development at an important juncture.
McCarthy was one of six quarterbacks selected in the first round of this year’s draft, but questions have been raised regarding his ceiling as a pro passer. The Michigan product helped the team to an undefeated season and a national title in 2023, though his arm was not always a central element in the team’s success. Spending time on the sidelines in Minnesota to begin his career represented a logical plan, but that will now take place as a matter of necessity.
The Vikings saw Kirk Cousins depart in free agency, ushering in a new era under center for the team. Minnesota reportedly preferred to keep Cousins in the fold to help develop his eventual replacement, although re-signing the 35-year-old may have changed the team’s draft approach on Day 1. In the end, the Vikings wound up moving up to No. 10 overall and selecting McCarthy after failing to trade up to the third overall spot to secure Drake Maye.
A decision on which type of surgery will be undertaken will be made at the start of the procedure, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes. McCarthy’s recovery timeline is therefore uncertain at this point, but his focus will now turn to rehab while Darnold likely receives a multi-week run at the helm of the offense to start the campaign. Attached to a one-year, $10MM deal, Darnold’s free agent stock will depend on his performance in Minnesota. Today’s development paves the way for any questions about McCarthy surpassing him on the depth chart to be delayed.
Jets’ Haason Reddick Requests Trade
As his training camp holdout continues, Haason Reddick has clearly not made progress on contract talks with the Jets. The Pro Bowl edge rusher has requested a trade, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. 
Reddick was acquired via trade from the Eagles earlier this offseason with the expectation an extension would be worked out. That has not come to fruition, though, and the 29-year-old has remained absent from his new team while seeing a resolution. Progress on a short-term fix – via incentives being added to the one year remaining on Reddick’s existing pact – was reportedly being made in late July, but today’s news certainly suggests otherwise.
[RELATED: Reddick Expected Jets To Revisit Extension Talks]
As Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports confirms, no contract talks have taken place between the Jets and the former first-rounder to date. New York is not prepared to negotiate with a player who has – contrary to the team’s expectations – not attended any workouts since being acquired. As a veteran, Reddick has accumulated mandatory daily fines by holding out. That endeavor has cost him over $1.8MM so far, and the Jets could also go after a portion of his signing bonus. In the event a trade were to be worked out, though, those financial matters would become a moot point from the team’s perspective.
Of course, the Jets would be hard-pressed to find a suitor for Reddick given his status as a pending free agent. New York sent Philadelphia a conditional third-round pick to acquire him after it became clear the Eagles would not make the long-term commitment Reddick was seeking on a new deal. The Jets reportedly made an extension offer before the trade was finalized, but a short-term arrangement (via a restructure) represented the more logical approach from New York’s perspective. Both avenues have failed to bring Reddick into the team’s facility, leading to a new phase in this saga.
The Temple product is due $15MM this season (not taking into account the fines he has racked up) as a pending free agent. Reddick has posted at least 11 sacks in each of the past four seasons, so he could command a lucrative deal on the open market next spring. Concerns over his age would be a factor in free agency, though, not to mention the drama which has ensued over his Eagles exit and delayed Jets arrival (if one does end up taking place).
Given the draft capital included in the trade and the assurances received that Reddick would be in attendance for mandatory minicamp and/or training camp, it would come as a surprise if the Jets sought out a trade partner. If they did, however, a market could exist – at least on a rental basis – given his production with the Cardinals, Panthers and Eagles. Reddick would presumably handle a starting role on any new team, as he is expected to with New York (a team which lost Bryce Huff in free agency). It will be interesting to see how the Jets proceed knowing he now wants another move. As expected, general manager Joe Douglas has confirmed in a statement Reddick’s request will not be met.
With the regular season approaching, a resolution of some kind will need to be made relatively soon in this case. Reddick would forfeit game checks on a weekly basis if he continued to sit out while a member of the Jets. His holdout lasting the entire season would lead to his contract tolling, making it an extremely unlikely outcome. As progress on contract talks remains a factor to watch closely, though, the prospect of a trade is now an element to be taken into consideration. How this plays out will be a key storyline for the Jets in the build-up to a highly anticipated 2024 campaign.
Patriots To Release WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
After an unproductive first season in New England, JuJu Smith-Schuster was believed to be on the Patriots’ roster bubble. The team has already reached the endpoint with the 2023 free agency pickup.
The Pats are releasing Smith-Schuster on Friday, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. This will give the former Steelers and Chiefs pass catcher a chance to land with a team early, though the seven-year vet did not establish any momentum during an injury-marred 2023 slate.
While the rearranged Patriots front office has acknowledged quality work on Bill Belichick‘s part by extending or re-signing many of the players acquired during the legendary HC’s tenure, the Smith-Schuster acquisition will go down as a big miss. The Pats gave the former 1,400-yard receiver a three-year, $25.5MM deal that came with $16MM fully guaranteed. Smith-Schuster’s full 2024 base salary ($7MM) was guaranteed, putting the Pats on the hook for a notable dead money hit.
New England will be tagged with more than $9.6MM in dead money this year, with an additional $2.6MM set to count on the team’s 2025 cap sheet. Offset language would cut into these penalties, but after a dismal showing in 2023, Smith-Schuster is unlikely to fetch too much on the open market.
Mentioned this offseason as a potential release candidate, Smith-Schuster is coming off a season involving knee trouble. The former Steelers second-rounder underwent knee surgery following Super Bowl LVII and said he was around 60% going into last season. It showed, as the USC alum produced 29-catch, 260-yard stat line in 11 games. Smith-Schuster commanded the same full guarantee as four-year Pats contributor Jakobi Meyers, but the Raiders have made out better with their 2023 signing.
Smith-Schuster said this offseason he is fully healthy, putting a bounce-back season on the radar. Though, this early-August release pours some cold water on that prospect. That said, Smith-Schuster is still just 27. A team surely will take a flier on the eighth-year performer, as he has submitted quality work in the not-so-distant past.
The Chiefs missed Smith-Schuster — well, his 2022 version — last season, seeing its receiver group submit an uneven season that ultimately did not derail a second straight Super Bowl title. Smith-Schuster led the 2022 Kansas City championship team’s WR corps in yardage by a wide margin, accumulating 933 during his one-and-done season in Missouri. The Chiefs pursued Smith-Schuster for two offseasons, convincing him to leave Pittsburgh in 2022, but Andy Reid said the team’s 2023 offer was not particularly close to where the Patriots went.
The Steelers coaxed the best version of Smith-Schuster back in 2018, a season that doubled as the AFC North club’s final effort with Antonio Brown. The 215-pound wideout totaled 1,426 yards; two years later, he helped Pittsburgh to a surprising AFC North title with a nine-touchdown showing. Smith-Schuster resisted a Chiefs pursuit in 2021, re-signing with the Steelers on a one-year deal. Given his original team’s receiver situation following the Diontae Johnson trade, it would not surprise to see a reunion emerge as a possibility.
This is a rather interesting conclusion on the Pats’ part, seeing as Belichick would regularly bring back former players whose higher-priced deals did not work out elsewhere. The Eliot Wolf-led regime is now the team cutting the cord on a bad investment, and this transaction will almost definitely lead to Smith-Schuster landing elsewhere on a lower-cost agreement.
As for the Patriots, they have made efforts to acquire Calvin Ridley and Brandon Aiyuk. Ridley joined the Titans, who offered more money, and it is not believed an Aiyuk deal — despite a Pats extension number north of $28MM AAV — will happen. The team is counting on Kendrick Bourne returning from an ACL tear and used a second-round pick on Ja’Lynn Polk. The team also has intriguing second-year target Demario Douglas as a regular. Though, this receiving corps does not inspire too much confidence going into the season.
49ers Resume Effort To Complete Brandon Aiyuk Extension
Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors have come in steadily during the week, as the wide receiver’s hold-in continues. But the 49ers still employ the veteran; and they are not giving up on their original 2024 goal here.
San Francisco has resumed efforts in recent days to hammer out a long-term deal with Aiyuk, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo report. This renewed pursuit of an extension — one the 49ers have been trying to complete for months — has not nixed the possibility of a trade entirely, as the NFL.com duo indicates the Steelers join other teams in still being in the mix. A July report pegged at least five teams as interested in a trade; a few have since revealed themselves.
But Aiyuk-49ers buzz gaining steam represents rare progress in a situation that has produced a trade request and a hold-in that has lasted for two-plus weeks. The 49ers are pushing for a deal, Pelissero adds, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones indicating some optimism has emerged Aiyuk and the 49ers will reach an agreement. While it is clear movement is taking place, Jones couches this by noting this is still a fluid situation.
This latest chapter stems from a recent sitdown between Aiyuk, Kyle Shanahan and others in the organization, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. This marks the second notable meeting during this extended negotiating chapter for the 49ers, as Aiyuk requested a meeting to clear the air in June. The previous summit did not lead to this long-formed value gap closing, producing the July trade request.
It is certainly possible the increased trade rumors, which have involved Aiyuk’s camp talking to teams, have moved the 49ers’ price point. The Patriots were believed to be willing to go higher than the 49ers in terms of AAV, proposing an extension that would have come in beyond $28.5MM. Reports out of San Francisco have produced a $26-$27MM 49ers value on their 2023 receiving leader. Aiyuk has targeted a figure beyond Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s $30.01MM-per-year deal and a guarantee in A.J. Brown territory. With D.J. Moore‘s Bears deal nearly matching the Eagles’ Brown guarantee ($84MM-$82.6MM), Aiyuk stands to have more ammo in this battle.
As discussed in our most recent Trade Rumors Front Office piece, the 49ers playing hardball with Aiyuk could undercut them at a crucial point. The team not only has Brock Purdy in what is likely the final year of a seventh-round contract, but four defensive starters — Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Talanoa Hufanga — are in walk years. Trent Williams, who is holding out, is also going into his age-36 season. Pieces are in place for another 49ers Super Bowl run, but Aiyuk’s drama could throw a wrench into this operation.
Trade framework with the Patriots and Browns emerged, but Aiyuk was not believed to be interested in being dealt to New England. Not much has come out of the Cleveland component in these layered negotiations, but Pittsburgh is believed to be waiting on San Francisco. That said, the 49ers and Aiyuk have expressed some degree of disappointment in the Steelers’ extension and trade offers, respectively. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds the Steelers have not engaged with the 49ers in the past 24 hours regarding Aiyuk.
The 49ers are believed to want a veteran wide receiver — something the Steelers, absent a George Pickens sweetener, do not appear to possess — or vets at other spots as part of a trade package. Draft capital would obviously not help this San Francisco team, potentially leading to the holdup. Though, the 49ers drove a hard bargain during Aiyuk talks on draft weekend by asking for a mid-first-round pick.
While these proceedings could again careen off the rails, this flood of reports about progress certainly pries the door back open to a long-term Aiyuk Bay Area future. This would stand to affect Deebo Samuel‘s post-2024 future, but as the 49ers attempt to capture an elusive Shanahan-era championship, a window remains open to their skill-position armada staying together for another year.
Saints, LB Pete Werner Agree On Extension
5:55pm: Further details on the pact are in, courtesy of Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. Werner will receive a $5.5MM signing bonus, and his base salaries for this season ($1.44MM) and next ($4.25MM) are locked in at signing. This contract is worth $22.5MM in base value, per OverTheCap.
The 2026 season calls for $6.25MM in salary, and it will shift from an injury to a full guarantee one year early. No guarantees are in place for the final year of the pact. Werner can earn up to $400K annually from 2025-27 with a snap share of 95% or higher, a mark he has yet to reach. Cashing in on those escalators would allow him to reach the extension’s maximum value of $24.6MM.
10:21am: A Saints defense packed with experienced performers has seen a rookie-contract cog become a regular in recent years. As a result, Pete Werner is no longer attached to that rookie deal.
The fourth-year linebacker agreed to terms on an extension Thursday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who indicates this is a three-year commitment. Werner signed a deal worth more than $25MM, per Schefter, with $17.5MM coming guaranteed. The former second-round pick will be tied to the Saints through the 2027 season.
Although we do not yet know the precise value, this extension appears to fall in line with the the off-ball linebacker market’s upper middle class. While market reassessments at running back and safety have been discussed more often, ILB paydays have dipped a bit in recent years. The past two free agency periods have produced a glut of second-level defenders whose contracts have come in between $6MM and $10MM per year. If the Werner deal’s base value is indeed beyond $25MM, the AAV would fall in line with the contracts Logan Wilson, Jordyn Brooks and Dre Greenlaw signed in the recent past.
Only five ILBs are currently tied to deals worth more than $12MM per annum, and Patrick Queen‘s Steelers pact contains no guarantees beyond Year 1. C.J. Mosley and Foyesade Oluokun also agreed to pay cuts (revisions that provided increased guarantees) this year. While this is not the best era to be an off-ball ‘backer, teams rely on their anchors at these positions. The Saints have one of the best, in Demario Davis, but Werner — at 25 — is 10 years younger.
Werner emerged as a full-time player last season, logging an 88% snap rate for a workload (920 defensive plays) that came in well above his previous two seasons. The Davis sidekick opted for security rather than head into a contract year. The Saints have now agreed to deals with Davis, Werner and Willie Gay this offseason. The Gay deal, however, checked in as a one-year, $3MM accord.
Pro Football Focus was much lower on Werner as a full-timer compared to his part-time work. After rating the former No. 60 overall pick as its No. 5 off-ball ‘backer in 2021, PFF slotted him 40th in 2022 and 67th in ’23. As far as traditional stats go, Werner racked up 93 tackles (four for loss) and intercepted a pass last year — his first with more than 11 starts. The Ohio State product started 16 games.
The Saints continue to rely on Davis’ top-shelf versatility carrying into his mid-30s; PFF rated the ageless dynamo third at the position in 2023. While betting against Davis has been a risky proposition, Werner’s contract may well place him on track to be the team’s long-term LB option once the team’s 35-year-old pillar is out of the picture.
New Orleans now has veteran contracts for Davis, Werner, Cameron Jordan, Chase Young, Marshon Lattimore and Tyrann Mathieu on defense. The team also brought in Justin Simmons for a visit Wednesday. Going into his fourth season, Werner profiles as an important young talent on a defense that features some aging cogs. The Saints will count on him for the foreseeable future.
Bucs, LT Tristan Wirfs Agree To Extension
AUGUST 6: Wirfs will receive $52.24MM of his new guarantees locked in at signing, as detailed by OvertheCap. His $25MM roster bonus and $26MM 2025 base salary will provide significant cash flow early in the pact, which includes another $26MM in salary locked in for 2026 on the fifth day of the 2025 league year. The extension lowers Wirfs’ cap hit for this season to $6.61MM, though that figure will check in at more than $31MM every year from 2025-28.
AUGUST 1: Tristan Wirfs‘ financial future has been settled. The All-Pro tackle reached agreement on a five-year, $140.6MM Buccaneers extension on Thursday, as first reported by veteran insider Jordan Schultz. The move is now official, per a team announcement. 
This monster pact includes $88.24MM in guarantees, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds. Wirfs is still on the books for the coming season via his fifth-year option, so today’s deal means he is under contract through 2029. This agreement checks the final major piece of business off Tampa Bay’s offseason to-do list.
The likes of Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. each secured big-money deals this year to keep them with the Buccaneers. The latter – as expected – became the league’s highest-paid safety with his extension. Wirfs’ deal checks in at an AAV of $28.12MM, which moves him to the top of the pecking order for left tackles. Bucs general manager Jason Licht made it clear this past weekend the 25-year-old would likely take the top spot financially for at least blindside protectors, and that has now taken place. Wirfs has also moved ahead of Penei Sewell, who earlier this offseason became the top earner for right tackles.
Wirfs attended training camp in anticipation of an agreement being worked out, but he did not take part in team drills prior to the deal being finalized. The Iowa alum said progress was being made, though, so the expectation remained that he would soon have a long-term accord in hand. That is now the case, so Tampa Bay’s subsequent practices can now have the team’s full offense on hand.
For the first three seasons of his career, Wirfs manned the right tackle spot and delivered strong results. The former No. 13 pick earned Pro Bowl invitations in 2021 and ’22, adding a first- and second-team All-Pro nod during that time. Tampa Bay moved on from veteran left tackle Donovan Smith last offseason, paving the way for Wirfs to switch to the blindside. That transition went well, as the latter added another Pro Bowl to his resume and cemented himself as the anchor of the Buccaneers’ offensive line.
When taking into account the $18.24MM Wirfs was already guaranteed to earn in 2024, his total scheduled compensation is just under $159MM. This is the most lucrative contract in franchise history, one which ensures Wirfs will be in place for the foreseeable future. Tampa Bay will aim for a fourth straight NFC South title in 2024, and he will no doubt play a major role in determining whether or not a return to the postseason ensues.
The Buccaneers entered Thursday with roughly $25MM in 2025 cap space. That figure will change drastically once Wirfs’ deal is officially on the books, but absorbing his scheduled cap hits should be feasible for the time being. After a trip to the divisional round of the playoffs, several members of the team’s nucleus are now set to remain in place as the Bucs attempt to improve on their 2023 performance. Wirfs’ accord will now, in turn, serve as the new standard for future tackle mega-deals.
Brandon Aiyuk Trade Framework In Place With Browns, Patriots?
9:45pm: Following reports from earlier this evening that trade talks for Brandon Aiyuk were heating up, it sounds like the 49ers have found a pair of worthy offers. Per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area, the 49ers have established “the framework” of an Aiyuk trade with both the Browns and Patriots. Maiocco also notes that the Commanders have removed themselves from the sweepstakes.
Now, the ball is in the player’s court to decide if he’ll accept the extension offers from either squad. We heard last month that the player’s agent was granted permission to sniff around on potential long-term deals.
While the Patriots would presumably look to entice the 49ers with draft compensation, the Browns are offering an immediate replacement for Aiyuk. Per May Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns would dangle Amari Cooper in a potential deal with San Francisco.
6:45pm: Nearly three weeks after Brandon Aiyuk requested a trade and nearly two weeks after the wideout started staging a hold-in, there’s been no progress in contract talks between the star receiver and the 49ers. While an extension seems to be the unlikeliest outcome in this saga, it sounds like the organization is making progress on potential trades.
According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, “multiple teams” have contacted the 49ers about an Aiyuk trade. Barrows adds that talks “heated up again recently,” although no deal is imminent. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported today that it’s more likely Aiyuk will be traded vs. signing a new contract with San Francisco.
We heard last month that at least five teams had shown a willingness to pay Aiyuk what he’s seeking, so it’s not a major development that these teams subsequently made a phone call to the 49ers. The organization hasn’t been willing to budge on their $26-$27MM-per-year price range, and Aiyuk has been tied to wanting a deal at or around $30MM and guarantees that come in around A.J. Brown‘s $84MM.
A third scenario will continue to remain in play: the two sides decide to play out the 2024 campaign before dealing with the franchise tag next offseason. This is probably the organization’s preferred route unless they’re able to acquire a useful player in their trade haul. On the flip side, we heard that Aiyuk is still pushing his “pay-me-or-trade-me” stance, so unless this ordeal ends in a trade, one of the two sides is going to have to blink.
Aiyuk attended training camp but has watched from the sideline for the past two weeks. Barrows notes that the player has attended meetings but hasn’t actually taken the field for any practices. In the meantime, it sounds like the two sides are struggling to bridge the gap, and if the 49ers are actively listening to offers for the wideout, it should only be a matter of time before a trade is completed.
Dolphins, Tyreek Hill Agree To Reworked Contract
AUGUST 5: Detailing the structure of the new deal, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talks notes Hill will receive a raise of $11.4MM over 2024 and ’25 compared to the previous arrangement. His up front compensation includes a $7MM signing bonus and guaranteed salaries and roster bonuses for the next two seasons. Hill can receive up $2.8MM in per-game roster bonuses during that span along with annual playing time and team postseason win incentives up to $500K.
2026 calls for $36MM in compensation, though none of it is locked in at signing. $11MM of that total will become guaranteed in 2026, but until then team and player will move forward with a revised short-term pact.
AUGUST 3: After a number of top wideouts earned lucrative extensions this offseason, Tyreek Hill was secured his pay day. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Dolphins have reached an agreement with their star wide receiver on a restructured contract worth $90MM over the next three years. 
The deal includes $65MM in guaranteed money, and the restructuring will only cover the three years that were already remaining on Hill’s contract (so no new years were added). When combined with his 2023 guarantees, Hill’s $106.5MM in guaranteed money is the most by a wideout over a four-year stretch, per Schefter. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes that Hill also made NFL history with the “most guaranteed money added to a contract without adding new years,” and that record is likely a reflection of Hill’s unique contract situation.
The Dolphins once established Hill as the league’s highest-paid WR when they signed him to a four-year, $120MM extension. The last few years of that pact signaled that revisions were eventually coming. Hill was already attached to a significant $31MM cap hit in 2024, with that number jumping to $34MM in 2025 and an untenable $56MM in 2026. The front office also had outs in both 2025 and 2026 (via the player’s nonguaranteed $43.9MM salary), so it always seemed likely that the sides would head back to the drawing board.
Since inking his initial Miami extension, Hill has since been passed by the likes of Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown and Justin Jefferson on the AAV list. Even Hill’s teammate, Jaylen Waddle found himself with a new deal that encroached on the numbers Hill was making. The Dolphins star won’t make any progress on St. Brown, Brown, and Jefferson with this latest deal in AAV, but he will approach Jefferson in terms of guaranteed money. Jefferson’s record-setting deal set the guaranteed money mark at $88.74MM.
It seemed strange that Hill trailed the above names in salary despite leading the league in receiving yards and touchdowns last year and only trailing Cowboys wideout CeeDee Lamb in receptions. Due to the nature of how quickly position salaries have seemed to escalate in recent years, it was no surprise to see Hill’s once record-setting deal pale in comparison to the younger generation.
The Dolphins’ new deal with Hill at least partially rights that wrong. Though Hill didn’t have any years added to his contract, Miami still has him, Waddle, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa under contract through the 2026 season, with both Waddle and Tagovailoa having one more year than Hill. The team’s offensive corps remains intact and well-paid for the next three years, at least.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Bears Sign WR D.J. Moore To Extension
D.J. Moore is sticking with the Bears long-term. The wideout has agreed to a four-year, $110MM extension with the organization, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal includes $82.6MM in guaranteed money.
Moore still has two years remaining on the extension he inked with the Panthers back in 2022, although his guaranteed money was about to dry up. Moore’s extension locks in a lot more guaranteed cash, and it also keeps the veteran tied to Chicago through the 2029 campaign.
Moore’s first season with the Bears couldn’t have gone much better. After the wide receiver was dealt from Carolina in the trade involving the top-overall pick, the three-time 1,000-yard receiver put together the most productive season of his career. Despite inconsistent play from Justin Fields (plus four starts of Tyson Bagent), Moore finished the year with career-highs in receptions (96), receiving yards (1,364), and total touchdowns (nine).
With top-overall pick Caleb Williams now under center, the Bears will continue to lean on Moore. Of course, that didn’t stop the organization from adding more talent around their franchise quarterback, with the team bringing in both Keenan Allen and ninth-overall pick Rome Odunze this offseason. Still, Moore is entrenched as the WR1, and Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times passes along that the organization was making sure Moore was satisfied with his contract even before they added Allen’s significant cap hit. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin adds that the front office wasn’t “necessarily going to go in order of who’s up next for contract,” and they decided to push Moore ahead of other extension-eligible players.
The Bears also managed to avoid the $30MM average annual value mark that was exceeded by the likes of Justin Jefferson, A.J. Brown, and Amon-Ra St. Brown this offseason. Moore’s $27.5MM AAV will only come in seventh at his position, although that chunk of guaranteed cash will only trail Jefferson and Brown. Moore himself noted that he was not overly interested in putting himself near the top of the heap in terms of AAV but was (wisely) more interested in guaranteed money.
“You’ve got to follow it,” Moore said of the dizzying heights the WR market has reached with respect to annual averages (via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). “They’ve all been breaking new heights, going to 35 (million per year), but I wasn’t really in that mindset to go to the top-top. I was just like, What’s a good number? Let’s go from there.”
“Security,” Moore added. “The guaranteed money was awesome. That was the main part I loved out of the whole thing.”
Despite Moore’s focus on the guaranteed cash, his deal does represent the richest contract in franchise history in terms of AAV, as Schefter notes. Montez Sweat and his $24.5MM previously held that honor. Moore was unable to crack Khalil Mack‘s $90MM in guaranteed money, although that was part of a six-year extension.
With Moore’s contract now added to the market, the likes of CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk will only have more examples to cite in their pursuit of new contracts.