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Saints’ Alvin Kamara, Colts’ Chris Lammons Issued Three-Game Suspensions

August 4th, 2023 at 1:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

Not long after Alvin Kamara‘s sit-down with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, his disciplinary situation has been clarified. Kamara has been suspended three games for his role in a violent altercation dating back to February 2022 (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).

Kamara and Colts cornerback Chris Lammons were involved in an incident which initially resulted in criminal charges being filed. The latter will also be banned for the opening three games of the season, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). Kamara and Lammons are not planning to appeal, Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets, concluding this matter 18 months after the incident occurred.

Both players were indicted by a grand jury on felony charges in March, but they reached a settlement with the victim last month. Part of that process included pleading no contest to a misdemeanor, something which brought clarity to his legal status and thus paved the way for the league’s decision on the matter to be made. Kamara was initially feared to be facing a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy last season, but delays in court proceedings pushed his case into 2023.

Earlier this week, the 28-year-old met with Goodell to discuss potential punishments. It comes as little surprise that news of the suspension has quickly followed that summit. Kamara will miss games against the Titans, Panthers and Packers as a result of this action. He will be eligible to return to the lineup in Week 4, when the Saints play the Buccaneers.

When speaking to the media earlier today, Kamara repeated his remorse regarding the situation while indicating he was unsure how the league would proceed with respect to supplemental discipline. Now, his fate has been determined and New Orleans can move forward with the other members of its backfield, one which illustrates the team’s awareness a Kamara absence was likely.

The Saints signed veteran Jamaal Williams to a three-year deal in free agency, giving them an experienced backfield presence even without Kamara being available to start the season. New Orleans also selected Kendre Miller in the third round of this year’s draft to give them further insurance. Williams and Miller will carry the load during the first three weeks of the campaign, but Kamara will still be a focal point of the team’s offense upon return.

The former first-rounder failed to earn a Pro Bowl nod for the first time in his six-year career in 2022. Still, he managed to eclipse 1,300 scrimmage yards, something he has done every year in the NFL. Kamara will be hard-pressed to replicate that success with the missed time, but the Saints appear to be well-equipped to handle his short-term absence.

Lammons, meanwhile, signed in Indianapolis recently amidst the uncertainty surrounding his status. His ban will delay his Colts debut, but the team has a limited number of experienced corners especially in the wake of Isaiah Rodgers being suspended for the season and subsequently let go. A veteran of 42 games with the Chiefs, Lammons could see signficant playing time upon reinstatement.

Vikings, Danielle Hunter Agree To One-Year Deal

July 30th, 2023 at 10:11pm CST by Rory Parks

The Vikings and pass rusher Danielle Hunter are in agreement on a new one-year contract, as Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com report (via Twitter). The deal will pay Hunter $17MM in guaranteed money, and he can push that number as high as $20MM (an ESPN report notes that Hunter can earn the extra $3MM via sack incentives). Minnesota has also agreed that it will not put the franchise or transition tag on him next offseason.

We heard just yesterday that Hunter was on the trade block, which was the second time this offseason that his name had cropped up in trade rumors. Still, the Vikings are hoping to make another playoff run in 2023, and after trading Za’Darius Smith in May, trading or releasing Hunter would have left the club rather thin in the edge rush department.

In 2022, Hunter — who skipped OTAs and mandatory minicamp and who may have been “holding in” for the first several days of training camp as he pursued a new deal — recorded 65 tackles and 10.5 sacks while finishing as Pro Football Focus’ seventh-best edge defender out of 119 qualifiers. That performance led to the third Pro Bowl nod of his career.

The LSU product, who was still playing on the five-year, $72MM contract he signed in 2018 (before he earned his first Pro Bowl bid), had watched the pass rusher market explode in subsequent years. So, after posting 14.5 sacks in 2018 and 2019, and after his similarly strong 2022 campaign, it makes sense that the $5.5MM that Hunter was due to earn in 2023 was not particularly appealing to him.

On the other hand, the Vikings’ retience to reward Hunter with a long-term accord that would have placed him near the top of the edge market is also justifiable, as Hunter missed the entire 2020 season with a neck injury and was limited to only seven games in 2021 due to a torn pectoral muscle. The compromise that player and team have struck will give Hunter a handsome raise this year and will give him a chance to hit the open market in 2024 while also allowing Minnesota to secure the talents of an elite pass rusher without jeopardizing its future financial flexibility.

Hunter and free agent acquisition Marcus Davenport will operate as the Vikings’ primary outside linebackers. Davenport, who has dealt with his fair share of recent injury troubles, will also be eligible for free agency next offseason. After recording just a half-sack in his final year with the Saints in 2022, Davenport opted for a one-year pact with Minnesota to rebuild his value (although he will still earn at least $10MM this season).

Patriots Host RB Ezekiel Elliott

July 29th, 2023 at 6:25pm CST by Ben Levine

6:25: Elliott departed the Patriots’ facility without a deal in place, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). He adds that interest exists on both sides, however, which is corroborated by The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. The latter tweets that Elliott discussed contract terms with New England today, adding that the two-time rushing champion is likely close to deciding on his next destination. Since they also have interest in Elliott, the Jets could be a player in this situation, Howe notes, depending on how they fare in the Cook sweepstakes. Both veteran backs could find new homes in the very near future.

9:22am: The Patriots have been connected to a number of free agent running backs, and now the team is set to host one of the biggest remaining names on the market. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter), Ezekiel Elliott will visit New England today. Jordan Schultz was first with the news (via Twitter).

Elliott hasn’t generated a whole lot of reported interest since getting cut by the Cowboys earlier this offseason. He was briefly connected to the Eagles, Bengals, and Jets, but obviously no deal materialized. There were also rumors that he could simply land back in Dallas, but it sounds like the Cowboys want to evaluate their in-house options before making any additional moves at the position.

Despite starting 14 of his 15 games in 2022, Elliott struggled running the ball. His 3.8 yards-per-rushing-attempt marked a career-low, and despite generating 231 carries, he also finished with a career-low 876 rushing yards. On the flip side, the veteran RB proved that he’s still got a nose for the end zone, scoring 12 touchdowns.

The 28-year-old is only a year removed from his last 1,000-yard rushing season, and while he’ll probably never come close to replicating his 77-catch season in 2018, he still averaged 51 catches per season between 2019 and 2021. Plus, Elliott proved that he can still be effective in other parts of the game, with the running back earning the second-best positional grade for run blocking, per Pro Football Focus. In other words, while Elliott certainly started to show signs of decline last season, it might be a bit too early to write him off entirely.

Rhamondre Stevenson topped 1,400 yards from scrimmage for the Patriots in 2022, and with Damien Harris having left for Buffalo, the third-year back should see an even bigger role in 2023. However, behind Stevenson, the Patriots lack experienced depth. The team does have pass-catching veteran Ty Montgomery (who suffered an injury during practice this week, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss on Twitter), but the team is otherwise eyeing backup options like 2022 fourth-round pick Pierre Strong, 2022 sixth-round pick Kevin Harris, and former UDFA J.J. Taylor.

That lack of depth could explain why the organization has been connected to a number of free agent running backs. Most notably, the Patriots have been mentioned as a potential suitor for Dalvin Cook, although it remains to be seen if they’d pay the Pro Bowler his desired salary. The Patriots also recently hosted veteran free agents Leonard Fournette and Darrell Henderson.

Jets To Meet With Dalvin Cook; Patriots Remain In Talks With RB

July 28th, 2023 at 9:43am CST by Sam Robinson

JULY 28: Cook appeared on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football on Friday, and discussed his upcoming Jets visit. He said the odds of a deal being worked out with New York in the near future are “pretty high,” providing an additional sign of where this situation appears to be headed (video link). Cook would give the Jets high-end insurance against Hall not being available to start the season (or at least not immediately returning to his pre-injury form), along with another contributor to their all-in approach.

Cook did add, however, that a deal with his hometown Dolphins remains a consideration and that he is still “weighing [his] options.” Only his Jets visit is currently on the books, and it would certainly come as little surprise at this point if it yielded an agreement. Others could follow, though, meaning this three-way AFC East competition remains ongoing.

JULY 27: Aaron Rodgers‘ long-rumored restructure coming to pass will lead to an immediate meeting with the highest-profile free agent remaining. Dalvin Cook intends to visit the Jets, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).

The six-year veteran running back will visit with the team this weekend, per Pelissero. Per ESPN’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter), the meeting with take place Sunday. The AFC East has seen by far the most Cook connections, with the Dolphins and Patriots in this mix as well. But the Jets have loomed for a while. Rodgers’ restructure doubled as a pay cut, and the Jets will see if they can put the funds freed up from this agreement and the Quinnen Williams extension to immediate use. Cook’s visit adds to the momentum the Jets had established here.

Cook has said he wants to land with a contending team that carries a clear backfield need. The Jets have starter Breece Hall returning from an October ACL tear. While the 2022 second-round pick has long been expected to be back by Week 1, he began training camp on the team’s active/PUP list. The door remains open for Hall to be ready to go to start the regular season, but the Jets have not been shy about pursuing ex-Rodgers teammates or big names on offense this offseason.

In addition to the Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Mecole Hardman and Billy Turner additions, the Jets looked like the lead candidate for Odell Beckham Jr. this spring. Beckham scheduled a Jets visit but did not end up taking it, with the Ravens submitting a big offer that redirected the talented wide receiver to Baltimore. The Dolphins were long viewed as the lead Cook suitor, and Cook has discussed a deal with his hometown team. Miami’s first offer clearly did not impress Cook, who will give the Jets an opportunity to make a pitch soon.

While a Dolphins meeting could commence, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com adds the Patriots are the other Cook suitor attempting to set up a visit (Twitter link). They are in talks with Cook about bringing him to Foxborough for a meeting. The Pats already worked out Leonard Fournette and Darrell Henderson. Cook would be a splashier (and costlier) addition. New England hosted the other big-ticket summer free agent — DeAndre Hopkins — but did not come too close to matching Tennessee’s offer.

Despite the Patriots’ interest, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline notes the purveying view around the league is the Jets will win this race and could wrap it up by week’s end. The team not wanting to rush Hall back represents the key reason for the Cook pursuit.

News of Cook setting up visits comes at an interesting time for the running back position. In addition to the Vikings bailing on Cook’s $12.6MM-per-year contract, the market led to multiple pay cuts, a free agency period that did not produce one $7MM-AAV accord and the franchise tag deadline passing with all three tagged backs attached to the $10.1MM number. Running backs have since discussed their status as a coalition, gathering for a recent Zoom call, as their value has taken more hits this offseason. Cook has not been expected to come too close to his Vikings AAV, and it will be interesting to see what terms it will take for him to sign.

The Jets and Rodgers coming to an agreement provided long-awaited clarity for the team, and its $15.98MM in available funds sits 11th. Gang Green has also been connected to a Corey Davis pay-cut request. Carl Lawson accepted a pay reduction, and the veteran defensive end stands as a more valuable piece for the sudden AFC contender. Davis is tied to an $11.18MM cap hit this year, and the Jets signed three wideouts in free agency. The seventh-year vet accepting a trim would free up more space, though the RB market crashing makes it unlikely Cook will be able to command an especially lucrative deal.

New England sits 12th in cap space, holding just more than $12.5MM. The Pats let Damien Harris leave for a low-level Bills contract but have seen Rhamondre Stevenson become one of the NFL’s best young backs. Two years remain on Stevenson’s rookie contract. The Pats have continued to explore an addition to their backfield, with second-year man Pierre Strong sitting as their top backup.

Cook would impact Stevenson’s role but give the Pats a clear RB2 upgrade. The Dolphins lack a starter on the level of Stevenson or Hall, though Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson have played for Mike McDaniel with two teams. It would seem Cook will attempt to use this Jets and Pats interest to push the Dolphins, who have been in on the accomplished vet since March and may or may not have explored a Saquon Barkley trade, to increase their offer.

Opting to save money by going with longtime Cook sidekick Alexander Mattison (at two years and $7MM), the Vikings joined the Cowboys in shedding a top-five RB contract this year. Cook, however, delivered better returns on his second contract compared to Ezekiel Elliott. Cook is the only back who has surpassed 1,100 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons. Going into his age-28 slate, the Florida State alum remains an intriguing piece. He may finish the summer having a significant say in a loaded AFC East.

Jets, Aaron Rodgers Agree To Revised Deal

July 26th, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

A resolution to Aaron Rodgers‘ financial future has arrived. The Jets signed their new franchise quarterback to a two-year contract worth $75MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network).

Rodgers was already under contract through 2024, but his decision to push a fully-guaranteed roster bonus to next season as part of his blockbuster move to New York left the team with an enormous bill of $107.55MM for next year. The four-time MVP was due nearly $110MM guaranteed prior to today’s news, meaning he took a pay cut which will benefit the Jets.

Pelissero adds that the new contract is technically five years in length, with option years being added to help spread out the bonus payments included. Rodgers’ cap hit will sit just under $9MM this season, and he will receive a $35MM roster bonus next week, while drawing a base salary of over $38MM in 2024. The deal includes no-tag and no-trade clauses (Twitter links). ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that the pact also includes a non-guaranteed $37.5MM in 2025, while adding that Rodgers’ 2024 cap hit will check in at $17.1MM.

Not long after the trade which ended his Packers career, it was confirmed a new Rodgers deal was being worked on by the Jets. Progress on that front came slowly, but it was learned recently that the revised pact had been worked out. Mike Florio of Pro Footbal Talk was the first to report that terms had been agreed to, and both sides can now move forward with more clarity regarding the immediate future.

Given the unique contract situation he was in upon arrival in New York, the 39-year-old Rodgers faced questions about how willing he would be to play more than one season as a Jet. He stated last month that, while the team’s success and his health status will be key determining factors in his decisions, he intends to play at least the next two campaigns in New York. That should give the win-now franchise multiple attempts to find success in a crowded division and conference at the twilight of the future Hall of Famer’s career.

Eight quarterback deals (including last night’s Justin Herbert mega-extension with the Chargers) include more than $75MM in total guarantees, but prior to this agreement, only Deshaun Watson‘s was guaranteed in full. Rodgers will thus add considerably to his career earnings while providing the Jets with cap flexibility to help manage a roster which faces substantial expectations for the next two seasons.

Giants Extend LT Andrew Thomas

July 26th, 2023 at 9:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Giants had the opportunity to keep Andrew Thomas on his rookie contract through the 2024 season, they will add the ascending left tackle to their list of newly extended talents. Thomas agreed to terms on a five-year extension Wednesday morning.

After giving Daniel Jones and Dexter Lawrence big-ticket deals earlier this year, Big Blue is coming in with a deal that will make Thomas the NFL’s second-highest-paid offensive lineman. Thomas signed a five-year, $117.5MM extension, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports. While Thomas’ deal falls short of Laremy Tunsil‘s $25MM-AAV mark that emerged earlier this year, Schefter adds the fourth-year blocker secured an O-line-record $67MM guaranteed. The Giants have announced the extension.

The Giants selected Thomas fourth overall in 2020 and picked up his fifth-year option in the spring. During an offseason in which the team was unable to come to terms with Saquon Barkley on a long-term agreement, the Giants have reached extension pacts with three more Dave Gettleman-era cornerstones. Joe Schoen has authorized a $40MM-per-year Jones deal and a $22.5MM-AAV Lawrence re-up. Two months after Lawrence’s agreement, Thomas is now the Giants’ second-highest-paid player.

These terms come after Thomas built on his 2021 rebound season last year, earning his first All-Pro nod. The Georgia alum earned second-team All-Pro acclaim for his work in the Giants’ surprise playoff season. After struggling as a rookie, Thomas has become the Giants’ cornerstone left tackle. This agreement solidifies that status.

The prospect of an early Thomas extension surfaced in April, but teams as a rule wait until first-rounders’ contract years before reaching long-term agreements. Several players have bucked that trend, though the Giants had never previously made such an investment. But Thomas, 24, joined that group Wednesday. In the fifth-year option era, Thomas is only the fifth tackle to sign an extension with two rookie-contract years remaining.

Instead of being tied to a $1MM base salary and a $4MM roster bonus for 2023, Thomas beat Ronnie Stanley‘s guarantee mark by nearly $3MM. That is an impressive feat, considering the Ravens left tackle’s guaranteed-at-signing term paced the field by nearly $15MM. Thomas’ AAV comes in just ahead of Trent Williams‘ $23MM number, which the 49ers signed off on in March 2021. With the salary cap on the rise, Thomas will be one of the players to benefit.

It took Thomas giving up considerable control over his career to make this windfall possible, however. This extension locks down the Giants’ cornerstone left tackle through the 2029 season. Tunsil has twice managed to secure market-resetting extensions on three-year accords, and while Thomas could have increased his leverage by entering a contract year in 2024, the Giants put together an early proposal he could not refuse. Thomas’ 2023 cap hit will drop from $10.3MM to around $5MM, Dan Duggan of The Athletic tweets.

Struggling to fill their left tackle post since their Super Bowl XLVI group splintered in the early 2010s, the Giants have seen their Thomas bet pay off. The team had used a top-10 pick on Ereck Flowers and given Nate Solder a position-record deal in March 2018. Neither move worked. When Solder opted out of the 2020 season, that opened the door for Thomas, who initially was set to begin his career at right tackle. When Solder returned in 2021, Thomas did not move off his blindside spot.

After Thomas’ rough rookie season, Pro Football Focus graded him as a top-20 tackle in 2021. Last season, PFF ranked Thomas third among all tackles; ESPN’s pass block win rate metric slotted him 10th at the position. The Giants will bet on many more productive years, and Thomas will take the early cash rather than try the Tunsil approach. Due to this agreement, it will be a while before Thomas becomes an extension candidate again. He, Lawrence and Jones are each signed through at least 2026.

Chargers Sign Justin Herbert To Five-Year Extension

July 26th, 2023 at 10:59am CST by Ben Levine

JULY 26: The extension, which ties Herbert to the Chargers through the 2029 season, is now official. Herbert’s 2023 and ’24 cap hits will be under $20MM, with the ’24 number ($19.3MM) representing a $10MM decrease from his $29.5MM fifth-year option salary. The 2025 number checks in at $37.3MM, per OverTheCap, with the ’26 cap hit sitting at $46.3MM. The Bolts will undoubtedly go to the restructure well during this contract, as $58.3MM (2027) and $71.1MM (’28) cap figures appear on this deal down the road.

JULY 25: The latest quarterback domino has fallen. The Chargers have signed quarterback Justin Herbert to a massive five-year extension worth up to $262.5MM, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The new deal will keep Herbert in Los Angeles through at least the 2029 season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), the new deal contains a no-trade clause.

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS (via Twitter), the deal can actually reach $265MM with incentives. The five-year extension includes $218MM in guaranteed money, according to Daniel Popper of The Athletic (via Twitter). Schefter clarifies (on Twitter) that the extension contains $133.7MM in fully guaranteed money, $193.7MM with the injury guarantee, and a potential $218.7MM in total guarantees.

Rapoport notes on Twitter that Herbert will earn a whopping $100MM in year one of the extension, topping the previous one-year high of $80MM in earnings. This will be a significant raise for Herbert, who was set to earn $4.2MM in the fourth year of his rookie deal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).

In terms of new money, Herbert’s deal will rank fourth at the position in full guarantees and injury guarantees, per Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com (via Twitter). Herbert’s overall guarantees will slide him in third among QBs, and his overall injury guarantees will rank second at the position.

It was only a matter of time until the two sides ultimately agreed to a new deal. We heard back in March that the Chargers and Herbert had started extension talks, and with several quarterbacks having already reset the positional market this offseason, Herbert appeared to be the next in line.

Jalen Hurts (five years, $255MM) briefly held the title of highest-paid QB before Lamar Jackson‘s extension (five years, $260MM) a week later. Now, a few months after Jackson signed his record-breaking deal, Herbert is once again resetting the market, settling in at a contract that will pay him $52.5MM. The Chargers QB is now one of four players at his position to top $50MM (along with Hurts, Jackson, and Aaron Rodgers), and it will only be a matter of time before Joe Burrow and the Bengals agree to an extension that once again reshapes the market.

A mega-deal is certainly warranted for Herbert. Through three seasons in the league, Herbert has quickly established himself as one of the NFL’s top signal-callers. His 14,089 passing yards are the most through a player’s first three seasons in NFL history, and his 94 touchdowns through three seasons trails only Dan Marino (98) on the all-time list.

The sixth-overall pick in the 2020 draft, Herbert earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors after tossing 31 touchdowns vs. 10 interceptions. He got a Pro Bowl nod in 2021 after compiling 38 touchdowns, but Herbert found the end zone only 25 times in 2022. However, he had a career-high 68.2 completion percentage this past season while guiding the Chargers to 10 wins and his first career playoff appearance.

2023 will be a crucial year for the Chargers. With Herbert’s extension set to kick in, the cash-strapped organization will look to capitalize on an offense led by Herbert, running back Austin Ekeler, and wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. As ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry points out on Twitter, the Chargers’ ability to sign Herbert on the eve of training camp also ensures that there will be zero distractions as the Chargers look to install coordinator Kellen Moore‘s new offense.

Texans, RT Tytus Howard Agree On Extension

July 26th, 2023 at 8:34am CST by Sam Robinson

The Texans’ batch of 2023 offensive line extensions now includes right tackle Tytus Howard. Following Laremy Tunsil and Shaq Mason, Houston’s right tackle is cashing in.

Howard agreed to a three-year, $56MM extension Wednesday morning, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). This $18.67MM-per-year agreement will give the 2019 first-round pick $36.5MM guaranteed. An $18MM signing bonus comprises part of that guarantee, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds.

It is unclear if Howard that guarantee total represents Thomas’ locked-in number at signing, but after an inconsistent start to his career, the Division I-FCS product will be part of a suddenly expensive Houston offensive line. As the Texans prepare to give C.J. Stroud the reins, they are fortifying his protection corps.

Tunsil agreed to a three-year, $75MM extension, while Mason landed a three-year, $36MM contract shortly thereafter. Texans GM Nick Caserio has shown a willingness to offer short-term extensions, as he also did for defensive tackle Maliek Collins this offseason. Expensive medium-term contacts now flood his O-line. But the Texans’ front previously featured a big-ticket Tunsil contract and a host of lower-cost agreements. No more. In terms of average annual value, Tunsil and Howard double as the NFL’s highest-paid tackle tandem.

Howard, 27, had been going into his fifth-year option season. This extension will allow the Texans to reduce that $13.2MM cap hit for 2023, and they now have their right tackle signed through 2026.

Neither Tunsil nor Howard were Caserio-era pickups. Howard arrived first, joining the team as a first-round pick during a Brian Gaine-run draft. The Texans fired Gaine shortly after that 2019 draft, leading to the eventful Bill O’Brien period in charge. O’Brien signed off on the monster Tunsil trade package months later and greenlit a record-setting extension for the left tackle in 2020. Tunsil scored big again under Caserio this offseason. The Texans acquired Mason, a Patriots draftee during Caserio’s lengthy New England run, from the Buccaneers in March.

Wednesday’s deal makes Howard the league’s fourth-highest-paid right tackle, checking in just ahead of Brian O’Neill but behind the new accords given to Lane Johnson and Jawaan Taylor. The Saints’ Ryan Ramczyk deal also checks in above Howard’s. Considering Ramczyk and Johnson are All-Pros, Howard being in this neighborhood represents a substantial win. While Howard has not achieved what those two right-siders have, the Texans had begun to view him as a long-term piece recently.

Howard had spent time at guard and replaced Tunsil at left tackle down the stretch in 2021. With Tunsil healthy last year, Howard returned to his right tackle post and started all 17 games. While 2022 brought another dismal Texans performance as a whole, Howard excelled. ESPN’s pass block win rate metric placed the Alabama State alum sixth among tackles. Pro Football Focus was less bullish, slotting Howard 41st. But the Texans are rolling with the Tunsil-Howard tandem for the foreseeable future.

With Stroud’s rookie contract on the books, the Texans will be able to make big investments at other positions. The team has not acquired much talent worthy of said re-ups at other spots just yet, having gone multiple years — due to the Tunsil trade — without first- or second-round picks. But plenty will be expected of Houston’s O-line in Stroud’s first season.

Cowboys, Trevon Diggs Agree To Extension

July 25th, 2023 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

5:10pm: Providing an update to the max value of the pact, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News tweets that is it actually $100MM, rather than $104MM. While that lowers Diggs’ ceiling slightly, he is still assured of a signficant windfall through this deal. ESPN’s Todd Archer notes that the extension includes $43.2MM in guaranteed money (Twitter link).

2:28pm: The Cowboys have taken care of an important piece of business with one of their top young players. Cornerback Trevon Diggs has agreed to terms on a five-year, $97MM extension (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero).

Pelissero adds that the contract has a maximum value of $104MM, and that Diggs will receive a signing bonus of $21.25MM. The 24-year-old is set to enter the final year of his rookie contract, so today’s deal means he will now be on the books through 2028 as one of the league’s highest-paid corners.

The $19.4MM annual base value of the pact matches that of the Saints’ Marshon Lattimore. By reaching incentives, Diggs will be able to join the three-member CB group which averages over $20MM in annual compensation. His three-year tenure in Dallas has established himself as one of the league’s top ballhawks, and the team has recognized that with this deal.

Diggs has racked up 17 interceptions in his career, including a league-leading 11 in 2021. His ball production has resulted in 49 pass deflections as well, making him an obvious candidate for a lucrative pact. The Alabama product earned a second straight Pro Bowl nod last season, despite his coverage statistics taking a step back from what they were in his first two years.

The former second-rounder was named as one of the up-and-coming producers the Cowboys intended to extend ahead of training camp. To no surprise, they have worked out a deal just in time for camp to open up, and Diggs can be penciled in for a continued starting role opposite trade acquisition Stephon Gilmore in the short-term, and as an anchor of Dallas’ secondary for years beyond that.

Wideout CeeDee Lamb and right tackle Terence Steele are also names to watch with respect to new deals being worked out in the near future. The former is on the books through next season via the fifth-year option, which likely helps explain why Diggs’ deal has been worked out first. The team’s corner room has its leader in place for the long-term future as a result. While the Cowboys have a more complicated situation on their hands with one of their veteran leaders, a member of the team’s young core has been rewarded with multi-year stability.

Giants, Saquon Barkley Agree To Deal

July 25th, 2023 at 8:03am CST by Adam La Rose

In a surprise twist, the franchise tag-induced situation between Saquon Barkley and the Giants has been resolved. The two sides agreed on a one-year deal worth up to $11MM, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).

The guaranteed base value of the contract is $10.1MM – the same as the franchise tag Barkley was set to play on during the 2023 season. $900K in incentives are in place to give him the opportunity to slightly outpace the earnings he would have seen on the tender. Rushing yards, touchdowns and receptions will yield added compensation, but only if the Giants make the postseason (Twitter links via ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). Rapoport adds that the 26-year-old will receive a $2MM signing bonus, while his colleague Mike Garafolo notes that New York will still be able to use the tag next year if they so desire (Twitter link).

Barkley was one of three running backs who were unable to reach agreement on a long-term deal ahead of last week’s deadline for franchise tag recipients. Negotiations on that front are not allowed to re-commence until January, but NFL rules allow for one-year deals to be signed in place of the tag, even if they are worked out after the deadline. Such instances are rare, but in this case the provision has allowed for a compromise which will see the Giants’ offensive catalyst work out his contractual status (for this season) in time for training camp.

Barkley and the Giants came within roughly $2MM on both annual value and guaranteed compensation during their eleventh-hour negotiations, marking notable progress but leading to questions about why a deal could not be worked out. The team’s last offer included an increase in AAV in exchange for a lesser guaranteed figure, and it was only right up against the deadline that New York was willing to reach the $22MM mark in the latter category. That represents the amount Barkley (along with Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard) would earn on consecutive tags, which are fully guaranteed. Offers including assurances above $22MM on a multi-year contract would therefore be needed for those backs to see them as an improvement on playing out two tags.

After the deadline passed, Barkley spoke publicly about his frustrations with leaked information regarding extension talks. He also expanded on the previously-reported possibility that he would not only hold out from training camp, but skip out regular season games as well. Doing so would have resulted in $560K in lost salary per week, and left the team without the focal point of their ground game. That scenario is now off the table, though, and both parties can move forward with preparations for the season.

Having not signed his tag, Barkley would not have been subject to fines for missing camp. Now that he will be under contract, his attendance will be mandatory. His return to the team will be a welcomed development, as he looks to build off his career-best 1,312 rushing yards from last season, which helped propel to Giants to a surprise run to the divisional round of the playoffs. The financial element of his 2023 performance will still be worth watching closely, however, since today’s news leaves him eligible to be tagged for a second time after the campaign.

With Barkley’s situation now resolved and Pollard having already signed his tag, attention will now turn to Jacobs. The latter began his hold out of Raiders training camp yesterday, and he has also acknowledged the threat of missing regular season games. Whether or not this Giants-Barkley compromise provides a blueprint for a solution between Jacobs and the Raiders will be worth watching closely.

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