Eagles Extend G Landon Dickerson
Well known for long-term O-line planning during Howie Roseman‘s second run as the team’s top decision-maker, the Eagles will make another such reinvestment. They are extending Landon Dickerson.
The Eagles are giving their Pro Bowl left guard a four-year deal, according to a team announcement. Dickerson’s rookie contract runs through 2024, with this extension running through 2028. Showing the Eagles’ commitment here, Dickerson has only been extension-eligible since January.
This is new guard-record money. Dickerson signed an $84MM deal, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who adds the contract can max out at $87MM. The former Alabama and Florida State blocker will receive $50MM guaranteed. At $21MM per year, Dickerson is now tied to the top AAV in guard history. This surpasses Chris Lindstrom‘s $20.5MM-per-year pact, which the Falcons authorized just before last year’s legal tampering period began.
Jason Kelce‘s retirement will test the Eagles, who once had Dickerson in line as a potential center heir apparent. The team liked what it saw of Dickerson at guard as rookie, however, and he has remained there since. The Eagles drafted Jurgens in the 2022 second round and installed him as the Kelce successor. That will give the Eagles a decision to make at right guard; with Dickerson locked in, it appears LG is shored up for a while.
Dickerson, 25, has started 46 of the 47 games he has played since the Eagles drafted him 37th overall in 2021. The team had seen Isaac Seumalo struggle with injuries in 2020 and 2021, and Dickerson brought some stability as Nick Sirianni shifted to a run-heavy attack around Jalen Hurts three years ago. Dickerson has been central to the team’s run game since, with Miles Sanders and D’Andre Swift posting 1,000-yard Pro Bowl seasons in back-to-back years. Various Brotherly Shove efforts have featured pivotal Dickerson work as well.
Dickerson has proven deserving of a big-ticket contract, booking two straight Pro Bowl nods. ESPN graded Dickerson as a dominant blocker in 2022, slotting him first in run block win rate and second in pass block success. He repeated as that metric’s run-blocking leader last year. Pro Football Focus has graded Dickerson as a top-20 guard in each of the past two seasons.
The Eagles now have three O-line starters signed to veteran deals, with Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata locked in beyond 2024. Jurgens’ rookie deal also runs through 2025.
Buccaneers, Baker Mayfield Agree To Deal
Baker Mayfield will not reach free agency. The Buccaneers’ efforts to retain their starting quarterback have produced a lucrative new pact. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the sides are finalizing a three-year, $100MM contract featuring $50MM guaranteed. 
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds this pact -which the team has since confirmed – could reach a maximum value of $115MM. Even if that does not take place, this new deal marks a massive raise for the former No. 1 pick in his bid to cash in following his successful debut Bucs campaign and find stability in the process. After playing in Tampa on a one-year, $4MM deal last year, Mayfield has certainly accomplished that goal.
Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero notes Mayfield’s $30MM salary in 2024 is guaranteed in full. $10MM in 2025 is guaranteed at signing, meanwhile, and a further $10MM comes in the form of an injury guarantee which is set to vest next year. The 28-year-old will see $40MM in 2026, and he can earn $5MM in incentives every year of the pact, per Schefter.
Mayfield easily surpassed expectations after winning out a training camp competition with Kyle Trask in the summer. Mayfield posted career highs in passing yards (4,044) and touchdowns (28) last season. His play helped lead the team to another NFC South title and a run to the divisional round of the postseason. Aiming to retain several main elements of their core, the Buccaneers faced the challenge of keeping Mayfield, Mike Evans and Antoine Winfield Jr. in the fold.
Evans landed a two-year accord after being linked to a free agency endeavor. Winfield, meanwhile, has received the franchise tag and as such will either play out the 2024 season on the tag or agree to his own long-term deal. Mayfield will join that tandem for next year and beyond as he looks to prove his first performance in Tampa Bay was not a fluke.
The Browns’ Deshaun Watson acquisition facilitated Mayfield being traded to the Panthers in 2022. His time in Carolina was short-lived, however, and his struggles led to a release and a late-season cameo with the Rams. The Oklahoma product parlayed that into a flier from Tampa Bay under new offensive coordinator Dave Canales. The latter has since departed (to take over the Panthers as head coach), but Mayfield was involved in the search for Canales’ replacement. That pointed to the player-team relationship being extended, and sustained talks in recent days has brought an deal together.
General manager Jason Licht confirmed the Bucs’ intention of keeping Mayfield in the fold, which has at all times been the expected outcome of this situation. Mayfield’s asking price was pegged as approaching (or perhaps surpassing) $40MM per year, and the base value of the pact falls short at $33.3MM. Maximizing its value would create an AAV of $38.3MM, though, a figure which represents legitimate franchise passer compensation and by far the most lucrative deal of Mayfield’s career.
Of course, the ripple effect of today’s news will be felt around the league. Mayfield was projected to be the second-best quarterback on the market, behind only Kirk Cousins. Many teams which could be suitors for the latter were connected to the former as a backup plan, but attention will now shift even further to Cousins and Minnesota. A new Vikings deal could come to bear in the immediate future; failing that, however, teams such as the Falcons will be able to negotiate a Cousins pact knowing Mayfield is not an option.
Tampa Bay entered Sunday with less than $15MM in cap space, a figure which will be affected by the particulars of the Mayfield deal. The Bucs are not expected to be big players on the open market with respect to outside additions considering their financial situation. Retaining each member of the Mayfield-Evans-Winfield trio was atop the offseason priority list, though, and it has now been achieved. Mayfield’s ability to replicate his 2023 success will be a major talking point for the Buccaneers next season and beyond given the investment made in him by the team.
Jaguars To Acquire Mac Jones From Patriots
The Patriots have agreed to trade quarterback Mac Jones to the Jaguars, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Although the deal cannot be finalized until the new league year opens on Wednesday and until Jones passes a physical, it appears that Jones — a Jacksonville native — will try to resurrect his career in his hometown.
Schefter reported that New England and Jacksonville were discussing a sixth-round pick as trade compensation, and Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network confirms that a sixth-round choice (No. 192 overall) is the official return for Jones. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says four teams were in the mix for the Alabama product, though Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports says that, as of yesterday, the Jags were the only club to make an offer. Albert Breer of SI.com adds that New England was seeking a fifth-rounder before ultimately settling for the sixth.
A report from late last month suggested that the Patriots had a three-step plan in place for addressing their quarterback situation this offseason, and trading Mac Jones was one of those three steps. While there was some pushback on the notion that New England had developed some sort of QB flowchart that had been distributed throughout the organization, it has seemed clear for some time that the club would seek a Jones trade, which would represent a beneficial change of scenery for both player and team. Now, the Pats can focus on adding a veteran to their roster and/or acquiring a top collegiate prospect in the draft. The most recent rumors on the draft front have indicated that if Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels are off the board by the time New England is on the clock with the No. 3 pick, the club will trade back.
While Jones is obviously not a threat to unseat Trevor Lawrence as the Jaguars’ starting quarterback, he will have an opportunity to regain his footing while working with Lawrence — whom he has known for years, as the two frequently competed against each other in high school recruiting camps — and head coach Doug Pederson, a celebrated quarterback whisperer. Jones, the Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2021, clearly has potential that may have been stunted by the Patriots’ coaching and schematic maneuvers in 2022, and as he enters the final year of his rookie contract, Pederson & Co. will try to unlock some of that potential and at least turn Jones into a viable backup.
Another factor in the trade is the health of current backup C.J. Beathard, as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler details. Per Fowler, Beathard has been “banged up,” so the Jones acquisition gives the Jags a healthy QB2 option. The nature and extent of Beathard’s injury is unclear, and so is his future with the club at this point, though ESPN’s Mike Reiss says Jones and Beathard are expected to compete for the backup job.
The Jaguars will still have a sixth-round compensatory choice (No. 212 overall) in the 2024 draft.
Eagles DT Fletcher Cox To Retire
We heard last week that longtime Eagles DT Fletcher Cox was widely expected to retire. Cox is following through on that decision, announcing on his Instagram page that he is hanging up the cleats (via Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network). 
Cox, 33, joins center Jason Kelce as a member of Philadelphia’s storied ‘Core Four’ who will not be in place moving forward. Cox will end his Eagles tenure ranked third in franchise history in games played behind only Kelce and defensive end Brandon Graham. The latter is working on a new deal, but Cox’s absence will still leave a major vacancy along the defensive line.
The former first-rounder spent his entire 12-year career in Philadelphia, although in recent seasons he faced a relatively uncertain future. Cox was released in 2022 before re-joining the team on a less expensive contract. The following year, he fielded outside offers before electing to sign another one-year pact with the Eagles. Cox turned down more money in doing so, and over the course of the 2023 campaign he remained a full-time starter along the interior.
The Mississippi State alum notched five sacks last season, adding to his consistent production in that regard throughout his decorated career. Cox reached the double-digit sack mark only once (in 2018), but he was a Pro Bowler six consecutive times in a stretch from 2015-20. He earned second-team All-Pro honors three times, along with a first-team inclusion in 2018. Cox’s decorated resume includes a spot on the 2010s All-Decade team.
A major contributor to the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2017 as well as the one which reached the title game in 2022, Cox will leave the game with a championship ring and a reputation as one of the top defensive linemen of his generation. Replacing him will be a tall order, though the Eagles have prepared for this news in recent offseasons by selecting Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter in the first round of the past two drafts. That duo will face increased expectations in 2024 and beyond.
“I gave everything I had to this team and to this city,” Cox’s announcement reads in part. “I don’t know what’s next for me, but I do know that I’m forever grateful for my time here in Philadelphia and with the Eagles organization.”
Cox continued to land eight-figure deals after the conclusion of his rookie pact, highlighted by his 2016 extension. That six-year, $102.6MM deal allowed him to build much of his illustrious Philadelphia tenure while adding considerably to his financial success in the NFL. In all, Cox will depart with more than $128MM in career earnings.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
Chiefs, Chris Jones Agree To Extension
Chris Jones will not be reaching the market. The three-time Chiefs Super Bowl winning defensive tackle has been retained on a monster extension, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The deal is five years in length and includes a staggering $95MM in guaranteed money, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. 
Jones’ agency has since confirmed the move, which will ensure his Kansas City tenure continues and add considerably to his career earnings. The five-time Pro Bowler was on track to be the top prize amongst defenders in free agency, but the Chiefs made consistent efforts recently to retain him. That has now taken place, with the agreement shattering the record for guaranteed compensation at the D-tackle spot.
Schefter clarifies Jones will receive the $95MM figure – which is guaranteed – over the first three years of the pact. That $31.67MM average matches the AAV mark set by Aaron Donald on his historic Rams extension, but it far outpaces the $46.5MM guaranteed which Donald’s deal includes. The deal is still being ironed out, per Schefter, but once finalized it will move Jones to the top of the DT pecking order.
The 29-year-old had been seeking a deal in the $30MM-per-year range, and he has indeed landed it. Jones was always Kansas City’s top free agent priority, despite a younger defensive stalwart (cornerback L’Jarius Sneed) also being in need of a new deal. The latter has been franchise-tagged, but it remains to be seen if he will be retained or traded to avoid a 2025 free agent departure. Regardless of what happens in the team’s secondary, Kansas City’s defensive front will remain strong given Jones’ continued presence.
Earning first-team All-Pro honors in each of the past two seasons, Jones has not slowed. The Mississippi State product has totaled 26 sacks over the that span in the regular season, adding 2.5 in the postseason. Game-changing plays in the playoffs have remained a fixture for Jones, as he as contributed immensely to the Chiefs’ dynasty construction. Given his durability (multiple missed games in only two seasons), a long-term investment could be less risky from the team’s perspective than most others with players his age.
Kansas City has seen head coach Andy Reid commit to playing at least one more season (and likely more) in an offseason after Patrick Mahomes had his own mega-deal restructured. Jones agreeing to a re-up means all three pillars of the Chiefs’ core will be intact moving forward. In the latter’s case, it comes with the added benefit of avoiding a repeat of the holdout which began the 2023 regular season.
Jones remained out of the lineup through Week 1 this past campaign, missing out on a game check in addition to fines incurred from missed training camp time. He and the team worked out a one-year deal laden with incentives, but hammering out another multi-year pact was an obvious priority for team and player. Working one out before free agency was the expectation of many around the league, and to no surprise Jones has landed a raise from the four-year, $80MM pact he inked in 2020.
As of Saturday, the two-time defending champions sat at just $1.2MM in cap space, a figure which of course did not include Jones given his pending free agency (although he will account for $3.4MM in dead money with his previous deal already having voided). The structure of the guaranteed payouts – along with whatever compensation is included in Years 4 and 5 – will be interesting given the importance of Kansas City maintaining cap flexibility in the immediate future.
The team is expected to devote finances to the offensive side of the ball (aside from this historic Jones agreement, of course) this offseason. That comes as no surprise given Kansas City’s inconsistency relative to its defense in 2023. Jones will remain an anchor of DC Steve Spagnuolo‘s unit for the foreseeable future, though, something which will have a ripple effect around the league next week.
Jones coming off the board leaves a major vacancy at the top of the DT market. Christian Wilkins is now positioned as the best player at the position on track to land a deal with an outside suitor. In the short term in Wilkins’ case, as well as the long term given the upward financial trajectory along the defensive interior, this Jones deal will keep moving the bar higher in terms of both annual and guaranteed compensation.
Broncos Trading WR Jerry Jeudy To Browns
Jerry Jeudy is heading to Cleveland. The Browns and Broncos have agreed to a deal for the wide receiver, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Denver will receive 2024 fifth- and sixth-round picks from Cleveland, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The deal will become official on Wednesday.
Jeudy has seemingly been involved in trade talks for more than a year, and we heard that the Broncos were actively fielding offers for the receiver prior to the trade deadline. Schefter notes that the Browns were among the teams that made a run at Jeudy last season, with NFL Network’s James Palmer noting that Cleveland’s front office previously thought the price was too high. The Broncos apparently reduced their demands, leading to today’s agreement.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the front office recently indicated that they were “warming up” to trading Jeudy (and, at the same time, presumably dropping their asking price). According to Fowler, the Jets and Patriots were among the teams that also expressed interest in the receiver before he was dealt to the Browns.
The former first-round pick never developed into a top-end receiver during his time in Denver, although that was partly due to inconsistent play from the quarterback position. Jeudy followed up a solid rookie season with a disappointing sophomore campaign, but he seemed to bounce back in 2022. Jeudy finished that season with 67 catches for 972 yards and six touchdowns, leading to the Broncos picking up his fifth-year option.
However, after emerging as a trade candidate in 2022, the talks picked up steam in 2023. Jeudy was constantly mentioned alongside teammate Courtland Sutton in trade rumors, but the Broncos ultimately decided to hang on to both of their top receivers. Jeudy wasn’t able to follow up on his promising 2022 campaign, as the wideout finished 2023 with 54 catches for 758 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games (11 starts). He finished the season ranked 62nd on Pro Football Focus’ ranking of 128 qualifying wideouts.
With the Broncos moving on from Russell Wilson, the organization will be featuring a new-look offense in 2024. That divorce probably contributed to the organization’s decision to finally rip off the Jeudy band aid, but there were also financial reasons to move on from the former first-round wideout. The cash-strapped Broncos will clear around $13MM with the trade, as Jeudy’s fifth-year option was fully guaranteed.
Focus will now shift to Sutton, who will likely continue to be on the trade block. Marvin Mims will also be eyeing a larger role heading into 2024. As Palmer notes, Sean Payton has made it clear that he wants the 2023 second-round pick on the field, but the coach believed the wideout was being blocked on the depth chart by Jeudy. This trade should clear Mims up for a significant role next season.
Jeudy will now look to rehabilitate his value in Cleveland before hitting free agency next offseason. With the Browns having made a massive commitment to Deshaun Watson, Cleveland’s front office has done everything in their power to surround the QB with intriguing targets.
The team first traded a fifth-round pick to have Amari Cooper lead their depth chart, and they later swapped a second-round pick for a third-round pick in order to acquire Elijah Moore. The organization has once again looked to add a target without giving up significant draft capital, although their offensive hopes will still depend on Watson’s ability to return to his previous form.
Eagles Re-Sign DE Brandon Graham
Brandon Graham is sticking around Philadelphia for a 15th season. The team announced that they’ve re-signed the veteran defensive end to a one-year extension.
[RELATED: Eagles, DE Brandon Graham Moving Toward Deal?]
There were rumblings earlier this week that the two sides were working towards a new deal, and Graham confirmed his plan to re-sign with the Eagles the other day.
There was some speculation that the veteran could call it a career following the Eagles’ disappointing end to the 2023 campaign. However, the defensive lineman was quick to dismiss that notion, stating that he still has a “little bit of juice” left in his tank. Graham also expressed interest in a farewell tour, an indication that 2024 will likely mark his final NFL season.
When he takes the field in 2024, Graham will set the record for the longest tenure with the Eagles organization. He tied Philly legend Chuck Bednarik by playing a 14th season with the team last year. Graham set another franchise mark last season, passing David Akers for the most games played in Eagles history.
Once one of the Eagles’ most dependable starters, Graham has transitioned to a backup role in recent seasons. He only started one of his 17 appearances in 2022, appearing in 43 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Still, the former first-round pick managed to compile 11 sacks, earning him a one-year, $5MM extension last offseason.
He continued to serve as a backup for Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat in 2023, appearing in all 17 games. However, he was limited to only 395 defensive snaps; ignoring his two-game stint in 2021, that was Graham’s lowest total since 2013. Despite the drop in playing time, Pro Football Focus still ranked Graham 17th among 118 qualifying edge defenders.
The future of the Eagles’ pass-rushing corps is in doubt, as both Reddick and Sweat are reportedly on the trade block. The organization could be eyeing a new and/or inexperienced edge grouping in 2024, highlighted by 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith. In that scenario, Graham’s veteran know-how will certainly come in handy as the team transitions to new defensive leaders.
Ravens Extend DL Justin Madubuike
Two franchise-tagged players have signed extensions this week. Justin Madubuike will follow Jaylon Johnson. The Ravens now have their breakthrough defensive tackle locked down.
After a monster contract year, Madubuike agreed to terms on a four-year, $98MM deal, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. The contract includes $53.5MM guaranteed at signing and $75.5MM in total guarantees. Both the guarantee numbers represent highwater marks for NFL interior D-linemen, which almost definitely will affect the free agent market soon.
Like Johnson, this represents a staggering value spike for a player who was not on the radar to score a contract in this neighborhood a year ago. But Madubuike stepped up in his platform year, registering a Ravens-high 13 sacks — the most by a Raven since Elvis Dumervil in 2014 — to power a No. 1-ranked defense. The Ravens viewed Madubuike and Broderick Washington as extension candidates last summer; both are now signed, with Madubuike breaking new ground for a Baltimore D-line contract.
Madubuike, 26, eclipsed Quinnen Williams‘ marks for full guarantees and total guaranteed cash. The Jets standout received $47.8MM at signing when he agreed to his $24MM-per-year deal last July, with Gang Green guaranteeing the former top-five pick $66MM in total. Those represented incremental gains from the previous position standards; Madubuike’s numbers create a clear gap between Nos. 1 and 2 on these lists.
The Ravens did not go near Aaron Donald‘s $31.7MM-per-year salary, which remains the runaway leader for AAV at the position. But they navigated this gap by showing a willingness to guarantee a greater portion of Madubuike’s contract. That undoubtedly pushed this process past the finish line. This agreement will reduce the $22.1MM cap figure on Baltimore’s payroll as a result of Tuesday’s tag and bring some good news for Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins as they prepare to — barring 11th-hour agreements — head into free agency.
Like Chicago, Baltimore now has high-end extensions allocated to players on all three defensive levels. Madubuike joins Roquan Smith and Marlon Humphrey in that regard. The Ravens have signed off on the Smith payment — still an ILB AAV record — and Madubuike pact within a 14-month span. While Smith was always a candidate to land big money — as he had leverage via a trade and Lamar Jackson being primed for last year’s franchise tag — Madubuike represents more of an underdog story.
The No. 71 pick in the 2020 draft, the Texas A&M alum had never totaled more than 5.5 sacks or nine QB hits in a season prior to his contract year. His walk-year numbers of 13 and 33 in those categories could have given the Ravens pause, potentially calling for a “prove it” year on the tag. But after they carried a $32MM-plus Jackson tag number into late April last year, the AFC North champions will have their payroll more organized going into free agency this year.
After the Ravens released Calais Campbell last year, Madubuike stormed ahead as the team’s top sack artist. Helping late-arriving free agents Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy produce surprising sack numbers, Madubuike also tied an NFL record by recording at least a half-sack in 11 consecutive games. That secured the ex-Day 2 pick his first Pro Bowl nod. By Thanksgiving, Madubuike had shown enough to the point he would not be permitted to reach free agency. The Ravens unholstered their tag but will not come close to the July deadline. As Zach Orr takes over as DC, the Ravens will make sure he has an impact D-line presence locked down.
Bears, Jaylon Johnson Agree On Extension
MARCH 8: The Bears’ successful effort to convince Johnson to accept an AAV below the franchise tag number came because of the frontloaded offer they presented. The contract will pay Johnson $28MM in 2024, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, with another $16MM in 2025. That two-year total is just north of where two tags would have gotten the four-year veteran ($43.56MM) and helps explain how the Bears locked him down days after applying the tag.
MARCH 7: After resuming extension talks with Jaylon Johnson recently, the Bears are set to remove that $19.8MM cap hold from their 2024 payroll. They have agreed to terms on an extension with the franchise-tagged cornerback, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets.
The sides are believed to have agreed to a four-year, $76MM extension that comes with $54.4MM guaranteed. This will give the Bears more cap space as they prepare to begin, in all likelihood, the Caleb Williams era. It also provides Johnson with a landmark raise considering his status going into last season.
This brings a choppy process to a conclusion; it also represents the culmination of a breakthrough year for the former second-round pick. After initial negotiations did not lead to the parties being on the same page, the Bears let Johnson seek a trade just before the deadline. The 49ers and Bills showed interest, but the Bears held out for a first- or second-round pick. After the deadline, both the Bears and Johnson expressed interest in regrouping and working on a deal. They have done so, and Johnson is now one of the NFL’s highest-paid corners.
Thursday’s extension gives the Bears a big-ticket contract on all three defensive levels; each has been agreed to over the past year. The Bears signed Tremaine Edmunds in free agency and acquired Montez Sweat via trade, extending him soon after that deal came to pass. Johnson gives Chicago a high-end DB payment. After Ryan Poles moved the last of Ryan Pace‘s high-end defender contracts (Eddie Jackson‘s) off the books this offseason, the third-year GM has reshaped Chicago’s defense.
Oftentimes, the franchise tag number serves as the floor for players regarding extensions. The Bears, despite the salary cap’s recent surge, have managed to lock down Johnson at an AAV slightly under his tag price. The $19MM-per-year salary only makes Johnson the NFL’s seventh-highest-paid CB, but it doubles as a windfall for a player who was not viewed as worthy of this type of contract going into last season. It also may set the market for L’Jarius Sneed, whom the Chiefs tagged and are believed to be OK with trading.
As far as guarantees go, Johnson’s $54.4MM figure will check in fifth at the position. ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds $43.8MM is believed to be fully guaranteed, and $28MM will come Johnson’s way in Year 1. That more important number ranks third among corners. Although Johnson came into the offseason expressing hope he could become the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, a frontloaded Bears offer likely swayed him from coming especially close to betting on himself again. Johnson, 25, will receive $60MM over the deal’s first three years, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports.
Johnson said last summer he wanted to sign a second contract with the Bears; the negotiations changed course after the season the former Pace draftee put together. Pro Football Focus graded Johnson first overall among corners, and Pro-Football-Reference’s coverage metrics backed that up. After allowing passer ratings (as the closest defender) north of 94.0 from 2020-22, Johnson checked in with a 50.9 number this season — a four-INT slate that produced a second-team All-Pro honor.
Also voted a Pro Bowler, Johnson had not received recognition coming into last season. This well-timed breakout reminds of Josh Norman‘s in 2015, but the ex-Panther needed to find his payday elsewhere after the team rescinded the contract-year wonder’s franchise tag, leading to a Washington landing. The Bears are instead investing in their late bloomer.
With Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson still on rookie contracts, Johnson will be the expensive piece at the position for the foreseeable future. The Bears may well be planning more moves to bolster their roster, with Williams’ rookie deal on track to reset the team’s contract clock at the position after three Justin Fields seasons.
Steelers To Meet With QB Russell Wilson
MARCH 8: It is looking like Wilson’s Steelers visit will take place soon. The decorated quarterback was spotted Friday morning catching a flight to Pittsburgh from a Newark airport, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Thus far, the Steelers have been the only team connected to meeting with the soon-to-be released QB. The meeting will, in fact, occur within the next 24 hours, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Wilson will meet with Mike Tomlin and other Steelers brass soon.
MARCH 7: As expected, Russell Wilson will not be in Denver for the 2024 season. His next destination is unknown, but an early potential suitor has emerged.
The Steelers are interested in the former Super Bowl winner, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. He adds that a visit which would take place before the start of free agency next week is being tentatively planned. Wilson will not be released until the new league year officially opens (on March 13), but he has been granted permission to find a new home in the meantime.
Wilson’s market will be an interesting one given his financial situation. $39MM in 2024 compensation is already guaranteed from the Broncos – less the presumed league minimum salary paid by his new team – so he can be added at a fraction of the cost of other available quarterbacks. The 35-year-old showed signs of improvement during his one-and-done campaign under Sean Payton, but he still fell well short of expectations given his five-year, $245MM extension signed upon arrival in Denver.
The Steelers have been floated as a potential Wilson landing spot given their uncertainty under center. 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett is atop the depth chart for the time being, but it is well known the team will add competition in the offseason. Mason Rudolph – who occupied the starting role even after Picket was healthy toward the end of the 2023 campaign – is in discussion on another Pittsburgh re-up, but the release of Mitch Trubisky opened up room for an additional experienced option.
Wilson could fill that vacancy and in doing so provide stability at the QB spot relative to Pickett’s injury-marred and inconsistent tenure. However, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes the Steelers are expected to provide the Pitt alum with another opportunity as a starter under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The ex-Falcons head coach enjoyed success at the coordinator level overseeing a ground-heavy approach with the Titans, and a similar setup could be used in Pittsburgh in 2024.
Dulac notes Wilson is interested in the Steelers, but he adds the longtime Seahawks starter is also in conversation with “at least one other team” at this point. An agreement could be in place at any time before or after free agency, but Pittsburgh and any other suitors will no doubt weigh other options on the QB market before circling back to Wilson. In any event, he could have at least a few opportunities to choose from once his Broncos release is finalized and he can officially join a third career franchise.