Jets, Packers Agree On Aaron Rodgers Trade
After several weeks of negotiations, the Jets and Packers agreed to a deal Monday. Aaron Rodgers is heading to the Big Apple for a picks package that includes first-rounders changing hands, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports (on Twitter).
Fifteen years after it took only a conditional third-rounder for the Jets to land Brett Favre, the latest future Hall of Fame Packers QB fetched the NFC North franchise a much bigger haul. Here are the trade terms:
Packers receive:
- 2023 first-round pick (No. 13 overall)
- 2023 second-round pick (No. 42)
- 2023 sixth-rounder (No. 207)
- 2024 conditional second-round pick, which can become a first if Rodgers plays 65% of the Jets’ offensive plays this season
Jets receive:
- Rodgers
- 2023 first-round pick (No. 15)
- 2023 fifth-round pick (No. 170)
As part of this trade agreement, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) Rodgers is expected to sign a revised contract to help the Packers’ cap. As it stands now, a trade would tag the Pack with $40.3MM in dead money. The adjusted contract is expected to keep the trade from becoming official for a bit, and Brian Gutekunst said (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman) the deal is not yet final and that he has not yet spoken with Rodgers. But with the terms agreed to, this weeks-long process is near the goal line. The sixth-year Packers GM said the expectation is this will be official before the draft, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
As it stands now, the Jets will owe Rodgers a $58.3MM bonus this year. It is not known how a restructure would affect the Jets’ cap, but as of now, Rodgers would be set to count barely $15MM on the AFC East team’s 2023 payroll.
This represents an interesting trade package for the Packers, as the deal does not contain any protection for the Jets if Rodgers retires after this season. At the very least, Green Bay will receive two additional second-rounders for Rodgers. The Canton-bound QB has played at least 65% of the Packers’ offensive snaps in all but two of his 15 seasons as a starter (excepting 2013 and 2017). That points to the Packers receiving the Jets’ 2024 first-rounder. Although Gutekunst said recently it would not require a first-round pick for the Packers to unload Rodgers, it looks more likely than not this deal will lead to a future first coming back to the Pack.
Rodgers met with the Jets in early March and expressed interest in joining the team soon after. The Jets also met with Derek Carr, but the Saints came in with a big offer to ramp up the pressure on Gang Green to come away with the four-time MVP. Rodgers’ current contract — a $50.3MM-per-year deal agreed to in March 2022 — runs through 2025.
While Rodgers said years ago he would love to play into his 40s, the legendary passer has flirted with retirement for a bit now. It should not be considered a lock Rodgers plays more than one season with the Jets; he said he was 90% retired going into his much-discussed darkness retreat. Favre retirement No. 2 occurred after one Jets season; an even brighter spotlight figures to be on the 2023 Jets as a result of the trade for Favre’s successor.
Shortly after signing Mecole Hardman, the Jets dealt Elijah Moore to the Browns. Armed with two second-rounders, the Jets used the first of those in this trade. They will enter this draft with a pick two spots down in Round 1, but ahead of this pivotal Rodgers-led season, Gang Green still has first- and second-round picks with which to bolster their roster.
Although rumors about this latest Jets-Packers QB blockbuster not being done by the draft circulated, this will cut the cord ahead of the team’s first offseason with Jordan Love in the starter’s spot. Talks intensified late last week, per Schefter and ESPN’s Rich Cimini, and continued into the weekend. It is safe to say the Jets will top their 2022 total of primetime games (one) this season. While the Packers’ number figures to dip, Love’s effort to follow one of the game’s all-time greats will certainly generate considerable attention as well.
In January, Gutekunst deferred to Rodgers’ four MVPs when asked if the longtime starter or Love gave the 2023 team a better chance to win. Rodgers expected to be welcomed back to Green Bay, but as the offseason progressed, this relationship — which produced a 2021 fracture that included a Rodgers trade request — encountered more turbulence. After the Packers traded up for Love in 2020, Rodgers said the prospect of him finishing his career with the Packers no longer appeared certain. The Love pick did precede back-to-back MVPs — both seasons featuring new Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett in a non-play-calling OC role — and Rodgers deciding he wanted to play the 2022 season in Green Bay. But after a disappointing season, trade winds blew again.
Rodgers, 39, is coming off a down year. He finished 26th in QBR and saw his counting stats dip across the board. But the veteran passer was playing through injuries. A broken thumb and a rib malady affected Rodgers, who was also playing without Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. While second-round pick Christian Watson showed late-season promise, a Watson-Romeo Doubs–Allen Lazard troika represented a considerable step down from Rodgers’ previous receiving corps. This led to the Packers falling from back-to-back No. 1 seeds to 8-9 and out of the playoffs, inviting more questions about Rodgers’ Wisconsin future.
The Packers have Love tied to only one more year of low-wage salaries, with their latest extended QB transition mostly preventing them from building around the valuable rookie-QB contract, but the team will finally gauge the Utah State alum’s viability as a long-term starter. The Packers must decide on Love’s fifth-year option — worth $20.27MM — by May 2. Love has thrown 83 career passes. His lone start of consequence — a November 2021 Arrowhead Stadium tilt — did not go well, but the Packers are believed to have seen substantial growth in 2022. That said, the team going from Rodgers to Love invites tremendous risk. After a 6-10 starter debut in 2008, Rodgers — one of the greatest players in franchise history — proved the Packers right. Will Love do the same?
While Love is still an unknown commodity, the Jets had seen enough from Zach Wilson. The former No. 2 overall pick entered his rookie and sophomore NFL seasons unchallenged for the starting role, but after failing to make strides in his second season, Wilson landed on the bench after holding a much-improved Jets defense back. Mike White‘s injury issues moved Wilson back into the starting lineup late last season, but the BYU product’s future as a Jets contributor is very much in doubt. After White left for Miami, Wilson remains in place as a backup, but his future as a Jets starter — this early-career redshirt effort notwithstanding — is probably over. Two years remain on Wilson’s rookie contract.
The Wilson-to-Rodgers upgrade will be massive, regardless of the latter’s 2023 form. Rodgers is a 10-time Pro Bowler who piloted the Packers to five NFC championship games and a Super Bowl XLV win. The Packers generated steady criticism for not achieving enough with Rodgers under center, but the team largely eschewed free agency during the bulk of Ted Thompson‘s GM tenure. Gutekunst proved more active, but his 2022 receiver plan constrained the superstar QB.
The Jets have operated aggressively, adding Lazard and Hardman at receiver (and pursuing Odell Beckham Jr.), and trading for safety Chuck Clark. Rodgers has begun recruiting for his new team, making a pitch to Calais Campbell, who ultimately signed with the Falcons. But it should not be expected the Jets are done adding veterans around their biggest QB name in at least 15 years. Like the Buccaneers were with Tom Brady and the Broncos with Peyton Manning, the Jets can safely be classified as “all in” around their QB prize.
They were not on the radar when Rodgers initially asked to be traded. The Broncos loomed as the most likely destination, but while the Packers could have obtained more in a 2021 or 2022 trade with Denver, a Hackett reunion will instead transpire in New York. Denver being unable to land Rodgers led the team to Russell Wilson and Hackett — after a disastrous partnership — becoming the third HC since the 1970 merger to be fired before his first season ended. Hackett will have a fascinating bounce-back opportunity.
After whiffing on Wilson and not hitting on other first-round QBs (Mark Sanchez, Sam Darnold), the Jets committed to finding a veteran and acquired the biggest name available. But this introduces high stakes. The jobs of Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas, after the team ended last season on a six-game losing streak, may well be tied to Rodgers’ 2023 success. The Jets, however, stand to be a factor in a loaded AFC. This Rodgers-in-New York period promises to be one of the most interesting partnerships in NFL history.
NFL Suspends Lions WR Jameson Williams For Gambling; Four Others Banned
A year after Calvin Ridley drew an indefinite suspension for gambling, the NFL will ban another prominent wide receiver. Jameson Williams received a suspension for violating the NFL’s betting policy, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirms (Twitter link).
The NFL also suspended Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus for gambling. Williams will be sidelined six games, according to the Lions. The Lions have since waived Cephus and released safety C.J. Moore, whom the league also hit with a suspension. The NFL also suspended Lions wideout Stanley Berryhill and Commanders edge rusher Shaka Toney, Rapoport reports.
Cephus and Moore received indefinite suspensions, which will cover at least the 2023 season. A former fifth-round Lions pick, Cephus had been with the team since 2020. Moore resided as a core Lions special-teamer over the past four seasons.
Williams and Berryhill remain with the Lions. Berryhill joined the 2022 first-round pick in drawing a six-game ban. Toney, a 2021 seventh-round Washington draftee, received an indefinite suspension. Toney remains with the Commanders.
“As a result of an NFL investigation, it came to our attention that a few of our players had violated the league’s gambling policy,” Lions GM Brad Holmes said. “These players exhibited decision-making that is not consistent with our organizational values and violates league rules. We have made the decision to part ways with Quintez and C.J. immediately. We are disappointed by the decision-making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward.”
This obviously represents a bad look for the two franchises and the NFL, coming not long after the league reinstated Ridley from his year-long suspension. The league’s policy permits players to bet on sports — just not NFL games — but prevents player bets while in team facilities. The NFL did not find the four Lions or Toney used inside information, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter), but Friday’s news still stands to alter the Lions’ plans at wide receiver. Williams and Berryhill made mobile bets on non-NFL sporting events while in the Lions’ facility, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com adds.
The Lions traded up 20 spots to draft Williams 12th overall last year, doing so despite the Alabama-developed speedster suffering a torn ACL in the previous national championship game. Williams missed 11 games last season and caught just one pass — a 41-yard touchdown — upon returning; the Lions used their rehabbing receiver sparingly. But Williams was set to be a key component of the Lions’ 2023 offense. Those plans are on hold. Williams and Berryhill will be permitted to participate in offseason workouts, training camp and preseason games, per NFL rules, but the receivers will then be shut down until Week 7.
Additionally, the Lions fired several staffers last month for violating the gambling policy, Woodyard reports. The Lions first learned of the NFL’s investigation in March. The staffers’ dismissals coupled with the four player suspensions point to a widespread problem — regarding rule awareness at the very least — among the Lions here. Williams’ agency indicates (via Rapoport) the second-year wideout accepts responsibility for his infraction but notes the penalty stems from an otherwise-legal bet — just one that took place on team property. Players are also prohibited from making bets on team planes or in hotels on the road.
For decades, the NFL featured a short list of players banned for gambling policy violations. That number has grown substantially over the past four years. Friday’s news runs the number of NFL players suspended for gambling to seven since 2019, following Ridley and defensive back Josh Shaw. Ridley is on track to return to action as a Jaguar; Shaw never played again after his ban.
A former UDFA, Berryhill played four games for the Lions last season. Toney served as a backup pass rusher in 16 with the Commanders in 2022. He did not record a sack last season but registered 1.5 as a rookie in 2021. Toney’s future with the NFC East team should certainly be considered in doubt. Should Toney be back with the Commanders in 2024, two years will still remain on his rookie contract. This suspension will lead to the deal tolling.
As for the Lions, their receiver situation suddenly looks quite different. Williams was set to join Amon-Ra St. Brown and the recently reacquired Marvin Jones as the team’s top receivers. Josh Reynolds also remains under contract. The Lions signed Jones on March 29; it is fair to wonder if the NFL’s investigation into Williams and Cephus played a part in that move. Of course, the Lions re-signed Moore on March 18; the organization clearly learned of this investigation after that date. Cephus joined Berryhill in only playing in four games last season, but the three-year veteran represented depth for a position group that lost DJ Chark this offseason.
Rams To Trade Allen Robinson To Steelers
APRIL 19: This trade will go through. Robinson passed his Steelers physical Wednesday, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). Pittsburgh will take on the final two years of Robinson’s contract, though the AFC North team is only responsible for a third of the veteran pass catcher’s 2023 money.
APRIL 18, 1:58pm: Should Robinson’s physical greenlight this trade, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes the Steelers are expected to pay $5MM of Robinson’s 2023 salary (Twitter link). Overall, the Rams still will end up paying Robinson $10.25MM in 2023.
As far as the trade compensation goes, Schefter adds the Steelers are sending the Rams a 2023 seventh-round pick (No. 234 overall) in exchange for Robinson and another 2023 seventh (No. 251). In exchange for the Steelers taking Robinson and eating $5MM of his deal, the Rams will move up 17 spots in this draft (Twitter link). Robinson’s physical is set for Wednesday.
12:16pm: The Rams have found a potential taker for Allen Robinson. The Steelers are near an agreement to acquire the veteran wide receiver, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
Robinson is headed to Pittsburgh to take a physical with the Steelers; should the 10th-year pass catcher pass, the AFC North team is expected to pull the trigger on a trade. Two years remain on Robinson’s contract. The Rams have already paid Robinson $5.25MM of the $15MM guaranteed he is owed in 2023, via a March 19 roster bonus. While the Steelers are expected to pay some of the remaining $10MM owed, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), it sounds like the Rams will pick up part of the tab as well.
After a rough Rams debut, Robinson received permission to speak with teams about a trade. The Steelers, who have enjoyed extensive modern-era success in developing wide receivers, are in position to add the former Jaguars and Bears No. 1 wideout. Robinson is going into his age-30 season. Considering Robinson’s contract (three years, $46.5MM) and 2022 performance, it is unlikely the Steelers will give up much in trade compensation.
Not only did Robinson struggle last season, the 220-pound wideout finished the year as one of the many Rams starters on the shelf. He underwent surgery to repair a foot fracture late last year. In 10 games, Robinson caught 33 passes for 339 yards and three touchdowns. That performance actually topped his 2021 work on a Bears franchise tag; Robinson managed just 38 grabs for 410 yards and one score in 12 games that year. The Rams made a bet on Robinson bouncing back, guaranteeing him $30MM via last year’s free agency accord. The move did not pay off.
The Steelers moved on from Chase Claypool at the deadline last year, acquiring what became the No. 32 overall pick from the Bears. Robinson is in position to join Diontae Johnson and George Pickens as Pittsburgh’s top wideouts. This move is a bit out of character for the Steelers, who have continually developed wideouts after Day 2 draft investments. Robinson is a former second-round pick, but the Jaguars made that selection in 2014.
Robinson’s last strong season came in 2020, when he helped the Bears to the playoffs as the top target on a team without much pass-catching depth. The 6-foot-2 receiver snagged a career-high 100 passes — from QBs Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles — and totaled 1,250 yards. Robinson, who is close to reuniting with Trubisky (under contract as Kenny Pickett‘s backup), topped that yardage total just once — a 1,400-yard year with the 2015 Jags. That season led the Bears to tag Robinson, after contentious extension talks, but he has not closely resembled his 2020 version since.
Both Von Miller‘s Bills defection and Odell Beckham Jr.‘s ACL tear led the Rams to Robinson last year — after the Eagles were in pursuit — but he is close to joining OBJ in the AFC North. The Rams still roster Van Jefferson as a Cooper Kupp sidekick, but former second-round pick Tutu Atwell has not done much to distinguish himself as a pro. Ben Skowronek also remains on Los Angeles’ roster. The Rams, who have prioritized cost-cutting moves this offseason, have not made a notable addition at the position this year.
No guarantees are present in Robinson’s deal for the 2024 season, making 2023 — should the Michigan alum pass the upcoming physical — a Pittsburgh audition of sorts. The Steelers have been rumored, per usual, as interested in a mid-round receiver investment. They have made eight second- or third-round picks at the receiver position over the past 10 years. Robinson may impact those plans, as the team also used a fourth-round selection on slot player Calvin Austin III last year. Austin spent all of last season on IR.
Bills’ Damar Hamlin Receives Full Clearance
Damar Hamlin can now begin his comeback journey in earnest. The Bills safety, whose on-field cardiac arrest brought the NFL to a standstill in January, received full clearance to return to football activities, GM Brandon Beane said Tuesday.
The third-year defender had said he planned to resume his career; he reaffirmed that today. Hamlin said (via the Buffalo News’ Jay Skurski) he has wanted to return to action since the Saturday following his horrifying injury. Considering the position he was in on that Monday night in Cincinnati, a return would double as one of the most inspirational stories in NFL history.
Beane said doctors are in agreement Hamlin can resume his career. Despite being barely three months removed from a hospitalization that brought a historic cancellation of a regular-season game, Hamlin is participating in the Bills’ offseason program. The team began its offseason work this week.
“When he left Cincinnati, he came here, it was Buffalo General [Hospital],” Beane said, via ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg. “He saw a couple of specialists here in Buffalo, and then since then, he’s seen three additional specialists, most recently on Friday, and they’re all in agreement. It’s not 2-1 or 3-1 or anything like that. They’re all in lockstep of what this was and that he’s cleared, resumed full activities just like anyone else who was coming back from an injury or whatever.”
Hamlin said his collision with Bengals wideout Tee Higgins induced commotio cordis, which is an extremely rare condition that emerges after chest trauma produces waves of electricity that can alter heart rhythm. Hamlin, who said (via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe) he “died on national TV in front of the whole world,” needed to be resuscitated on the field at Paycor Stadium. After being transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Hamlin was on a ventilator for days. But the Pittsburgh-area native has made steady improvement since being released from the hospital January 11.
This offseason will represent a good opportunity for Hamlin to build up his fitness ahead of training camp. Teams cannot don shoulder pads until days into their respective training camps, so nearly four months remain until Hamlin will begin any contact work. After working exclusively as a backup during his 2021 rookie season, the former sixth-round pick made 13 starts in 2022.
The Bills deployed Hamlin as a starter after Micah Hyde suffered what became a season-ending injury in September. The team also re-signed Jordan Poyer in March, opening the door to the prospect of he, Hyde and Hamlin playing together again in 2023. With Poyer back for a seventh season in Buffalo, it is likely Hamlin will return as a backup. But given the circumstances, the third-year defender suiting up again will be one of the most-monitored stories during the leadup to the 2023 season.
“My heart is still in the game; I love the game,” Hamlin said, via the Associated Press’ John Wawrow. “It’s something I want to prove to myself, not nobody else. I just want to show people that fear is a choice, that, you know, you can keep going in something without having the answers. You might feel anxious, you might feel any type of way, but you just keep putting that right foot in front of the left one and you keep going.”
Eagles, QB Jalen Hurts Agree To Extension
The first major domino in terms of 2023 quarterback deals has fallen, and in historic fashion. The Eagles announced on Monday that they have agreed to terms on an extension with Jalen Hurts. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tweets that the contract is five years in length and has a base value of $255MM. 
That figure makes Hurts the highest-paid player in NFL history with respect to annual compensation, and brings his new-money average to $51MM per season. Pelissero adds that the extension includes $179.3MM in guarantees, as well as a no-trade clause, something which is a first in Eagles history. Another $15MM in incentives exists, which could push Hurts’ earnings to $54MM per season, per Pelissero (Twitter link).
The 24-year-old had one season remaining on his rookie contract, meaning he will be on the books in Philadelphia through 2028. This offseason marked the first in which Hurts was eligible for an extension, something which was quickly named as a priority for the NFC champions. The Eagles have, as expected, seen a number of notable defensive departures recently, but the foundation of their offense will be in place for the foreseeable future with this deal.
Hurts will earn the second-highest in total guarantees in league history, behind only the $230MM given to Deshaun Watson by the Browns last offseason. Pelissero and colleague Ian Rapoport detail that Hurts will receive $110MM fully guaranteed at signing, the third-highest such total in the NFL behind only Watson and Russell Wilson. The Eagles will pay out a signing bonus of $23.3MM in 2023, and give Hurts $64MM over the course of the first year of the pact. Needless to say, this news marks a massive development for all parties involved.
Hurts entered the 2022 season with questions about his ability to develop into a legitimate franchise quarterback. He put those to rest with his performance during the year, which helped Philadelphia earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC and put the former second-rounder in the MVP conversation. Hurts was named a Pro Bowler and earned second-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his career, guiding one of the league’s best rushing and passing offenses. His development in the latter category convinced the team that such a massive investment would be a safe one.
The Alabama product took a massive step forward as a passer in 2022, totaling 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns through the air. He added 760 yards and 13 yards on the ground, remaining the focal point of the team’s ground attack. Aside from one hugely costly fumble, his Super Bowl performance garnered widespread praise and put an extension at the top of the Eagles’ to-do list this spring. With that now taken care of, the effect the deal will have on the rest of the QB market will be worth monitoring closely.
Hurts’ deal comes at the same time that Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert are all eligible for massive second contracts of their own. The Ravens, Bengals and Chargers remain in negotiations with their respective passers, though Baltimore’s talks with Jackson have been the most public and tenuous. This Hurts pact represents the latest non-Watson one to feature less than 100% in guarantees, though its AAV will no doubt help young QBs up for their own extensions establish a floor for negotiations.
The Eagles enjoyed one of the best seasons in franchise history in 2022, given the success of general manager Howie Roseman had in acquiring short- and long-term additions on the trade, free agent and draft fronts. With Hurts in place for the long-term, the team’s most important piece is on the books during what could be a lengthy Super Bowl window. Whether this sets off a chain reaction of other mega-deals at the QB position in the coming weeks, meanwhile, will have significant effects on several other teams around the league.
NFL To Review Dan Snyder-Josh Harris Commanders Sale Agreement
7:49pm: Harris and Snyder’s agreement includes language that would partially indemnify Snyder for future litigation, Daniel Kaplan and Ben Standig of The Athletic report (subscription required). It is unclear how far this language extends, but the NFL has not yet approved the clause.
Embroiled in a few investigations since the House Oversight Committee wrapped its probe late last year, Snyder has sought indemnity from both the buyer and the league, per The Athletic. This could explain why there have not been any Snyder-driven complications since reports of talks with Harris surfaced last week. The league has been against an agreement that provided Snyder this sort of protection, but seeing as it has been widely reported the NFL wants the 24-year Commanders owner gone, this could be an interesting test on that road.
5:09pm: Although some uncertainty about who exactly will buy the Commanders surfaced this weekend, Josh Harris still looks to be the favorite. The Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner’s bid has been sent to the NFL for review, Sportico reports (on Twitter).
Harris is believed to have submitted a $6.05 billion bid for Dan Snyder‘s franchise. Former Duke basketball player (and Washington D.C. native) Brian Davis is believed to have come in with an unexpected offer of $7 billion and reported preparations to satisfy Snyder’s request for indemnification, but Harris, who is also a D.C.-area native, is by far the safer choice here.
The NFL vetted Harris during his pursuit of the Broncos last year, and while Rob Walton‘s $4.65 billion bid won out, Harris finished second in that race and is well-regarded by NFL owners. Monday’s development moves this process closer to completion, as Harris is not expected to run into any hurdles in clearing the 24-vote barrier to be approved as the next Commanders owner. Harris’ group also includes NBA legend Magic Johnson and billionaire Mitchell Rales.
Following the review, the next step will be for the league to send the papers back to Snyder and Harris for signatures or ask the parties to amend the agreement. Signatures would put this sale in position for a league vote, potentially as soon as the next round of owners’ meetings — set for May 22-24 in Minneapolis.
Until signatures emerge, however, the door remains open for other bidders to step in. Canadian real estate billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos remained in the running as of late last week, but Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta said he would not raise his bid from the $5.6 billion place. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos‘ refusal to submit a bid looks to have accelerated this process, with a Harris acquisition appearing imminent hours later.
Not previously known to be involved in this pursuit, Davis either came in at the 11th hour or led the aforementioned mystery fourth ownership group. WUSA9 reported Davis is willing to indemnify Snyder — meaning he would assume any legal liability stemming from the investigations currently surrounding Snyder — and would pay the first billion within 24 hours. The remaining $6 billion, per WUSA9, would be paid out within a week. For now, at least, Harris still looks like the clubhouse leader.
Neither the Broncos nor the Panthers went to the highest bidder, with Albert Breer of SI.com noting the Pat Bowlen Trust passed on Harris’ $5 billion offer because the proposal could not be shopped. Walton had long been expected to top any bid that came in; shopping that offer would have likely put Harris to a decision on raising his price. Even though Ben Navarro‘s Panthers bid came in higher than David Tepper‘s, Jerry Richardson sold to Tepper, a former Steelers minority owner who sailed through the vote process.
Owners have shot down Snyder’s aim at indemnification, but that may well remain a wild card here. Snyder is still the subject of multiple investigations, including the NFL’s second probe into Commanders workplace misconduct and financial impropriety and an inquiry by D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb’s office. The latter investigation is ongoing, with the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala indicating (on Twitter) a Commanders sale will have no bearing on the AG’s investigation into Snyder, Roger Goodell and the NFL. The NFL reversed course on releasing a public report in its first Snyder investigation, generating widespread scrutiny, but NBC Sports’ Peter King adds a sale will not change plans for the current Mary Jo White probe to include a summary of findings.
A desire for Snyder to be out of the league has led to the NFL’s silence regarding a potential sale thus far, King adds. Snyder has owned this franchise since 1999, buying it for $800MM. The embattled owner’s return on investment aside, his tenure has sunk the reputation of a three-time Super Bowl-winning franchise. The investigations of recent years — and the report of Snyder gathering dirt on Goodell and select owners — led to the prospect of a sale, a path Snyder had insisted he would not take. That journey now nears the end zone, though it is not yet final.
Josh Harris Raises Bid For Commanders; Brian Davis Still In Play
APRIL 16: The fact that Snyder’s agreement with Harris is a non-exclusive one could be a factor as the sale of the Commanders nears its conclusion. Per Darren Haynes, Laura Wainman, and Erin Spaht of WUSA9, Washington, D.C. native Brian Davis has made a $7 billion cash bid to purchase the club. Davis would become the NFL’s first Black owner if his bid were to accepted.
The WUSA9 trio add that Davis is willing to indemnify Snyder — meaning he would assume any legal liability stemming from the investigations currently surrounding Snyder — and would pay the first $1 billion within 24 hours. The remaining $6 billion would be paid out within a week.
It is easy to see the appeal of such a proposal, and as of Thursday evening, Bank of America — which is handling the the sale offers — was still in communication with Davis.
APRIL 13, 7:15pm: The finish line appears in sight as Snyder has reportedly reached an agreement with Harris’ group to sell the team for $6.05 billion, according to Rapoport of NFL Network. Rapoport tempers the excitement a bit by pointing out that the agreement is not exclusive, meaning another bidder could theoretically still come in and bid higher for the franchise. The deal has been agreed to but is not yet official. Barring any snags in the process, however, Harris is expected to become the next owner of the Washington Commanders.
2:58pm: Harris looks to have increased his offer. The NBA and NHL owner submitted a $6.05 billion bid for the Commanders, Rapoport reports (on Twitter). This is expected to be the winning bid for the franchise. No papers have been signed just yet, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter) Apostopoloulos is not completely out of the running. But Harris appears on the cusp of buying the team from Snyder.
This can be classified as a preliminary agreement, according to the Washington Post, and the Commanders are close to becoming the first American sports franchise to sell for more than $5 billion. This approximately $6 billion price will smash the record the Broncos set last year. Walton’s Denver offer obliterated the previous NFL record; Harris’ bid will be worth nearly triple what Tepper paid to acquire the Panthers in 2018.
12:48pm: Apostolopoulos has not bowed out of the pursuit yet. The Canadian billionaire real estate developer is believed to be in a “head-to-head race” with Harris, according to ESPN.com’s John Keim. Apostolopoulos joined Harris, Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta and an anonymous group in bidding on the team.
Citing a recent Forbes valuation, Fertitta bid $5.6 billion as well, Jhabvala adds (Twitter link). Harris is not planning to increase his bid, and Fertitta does not sound like he will move much higher. No NFL vote on either Harris or Apostolopoulos will likely be held, per Keim, until the next round of owners’ meetings, which are set for May 22-24 in Minneapolis. But it does not appear the Commanders’ next owner is known just yet.
12:15pm: Less than 24 hours after reports indicated Jeff Bezos did not plan to bid on the Commanders, a sale is near the finish line. Josh Harris and Dan Snyder are nearing an agreement, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
Harris, who owns the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils, bid $5.6 billion for the franchise, Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post report. No terms have been submitted to the league, and Harris’ prospective purchase will still need to be approved by at least 24 NFL owners. Snyder has not informed the NFL he is selling just yet, but Maske adds (via Twitter) the hope is an agreement will be reached in the coming weeks. The approval part of a deal is expected to be a formality, with Harris having been vetted during his run at buying the Broncos last year.
This process, which began late last year when Snyder hired a firm to explore selling the team after 23 years as owner, looks to be close to the goal line. Sportico reports Snyder and Harris have agreed in principle (Twitter link). Harris’ ownership group includes NBA legend Magic Johnson and billionaire Mitchell Rales.
Snyder, 58, bought the franchise in 1999 for $800MM. Snyder’s ownership tenure has been roundly criticized, and scandals have engulfed him for years. The repeated investigations into workplace misconduct and financial impropriety moved a possible vote to remove Snyder from his post onto the radar. A sale, however, has always been the NFL’s preferred outcome. No owner has ever been voted out. Instead, Snyder looks to be stepping away on his own. Further pointing to an NFL exit, Dan and Tanya Snyder have since named England as their usual place of residence.
The embattled owner had insisted for years he would never sell the team. But investigations — including two by the NFL and one by the House Oversight Committee — overshadowed the final years of his tenure. A 2022 ESPN report that indicated Snyder had hired firms to collect dirt on some of his fellow owners, along with Roger Goodell, emerged just before sale rumors began. Snyder denied having done so, but sale rumors surfaced shortly after that denial.
Mary Jo White’s investigation is ongoing, but that probe — one that will lead to a written report of the findings, as opposed to the 2021 investigation which did not produce a report — is believed to be nearing a conclusion. Snyder, whom the NFL fined and handed a de facto suspension at the end of its initial probe, had previously demanded indemnification to protect him against further repercussions. Owners have shot down that demand.
From 1972-91, Washington appeared in five Super Bowls and won three. During Snyder’s ownership, the team has never advanced to the playoffs in consecutive years and has won 10 games in a season only three times. Snyder’s ownership tenure has never produced more than 10 wins in a season. Front office, coaching and quarterback instability have plagued the team. Should Harris indeed take over, his restoration task will dwarf the ones David Tepper or Rob Walton needed to complete.
Walton outbid Harris for the Broncos, but the latter remained on the ownership radar. He joined Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos in submitting record-setting bids late last month. Harris, 58, will end up paying over a billion more for the Commanders than Walton paid for the Broncos (an American sports-record $4.65 billion), but the NBA and NHL owner has moved close to entering the country’s most popular sports league.
Harris is a Chevy Chase, Maryland, native who bought the Sixers in 2011. His ownership group acquired the Devils two years later. Harris also owns English Premier League franchise Crystal Palace. In June 2020, Harris purchased a stake ($140MM, approximately 5%) of the Steelers. Tepper also bought an NFL team after having been a Steelers minority owner. Like Tepper, Harris will need to sell that stake before taking over in Washington.
The Oversight Committee’s investigation into Snyder and the Commanders wrapped late last year. Its report accused Snyder of permitting and participating in a longtime toxic workplace culture. Snyder is believed to have leaked the emails that led to Jon Gruden‘s Raiders exit, and the Committee accused the NFL in assisting the Washington owner in preventing the 2021 Beth Wilkinson probe from producing a written report. The forthcoming White report likely represents the next shoe to drop for Snyder, who is also being investigated by the office of Virginia’s attorney general. A lawsuit from the D.C. attorney general, one that also included the NFL, has accused Snyder of “colluding to deceive and mislead customers.”
Cardinals S Budda Baker Requests Trade
Budda Baker has been with the Cardinals for six years, becoming a perennial Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro. But the standout safety has become dissatisfied with his situation.
The Cardinals have received a Baker trade request, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). Baker recently removed Cardinals mentions from his Twitter profile. His most recent post/GIF effectively set the table for this request, with veteran Cardinals reporter Kyle Odegard indicating (via Twitter) it was likely aimed at dissatisfaction with the Cardinals.
Baker, 27, is one of the Cards’ team leaders and is the longest-tenured player on Arizona’s defense. This is not a recent development, per ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss and Jeremy Fowler, who indicate (via Twitter) Baker has been unhappy with the team for much of the offseason. This is a contract-related trade request, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who reports Baker told the Cardinals in February to either trade him or make him the league’s highest-paid safety (Twitter link).
Two seasons remain on Baker’s contract, a $14.75MM-per-year deal he signed in 2020. This coming season represents the first without any guaranteed money on Baker’s second contract. he is tied to base salaries of $13.1MM (2023) and $14.2MM (’24). The former second-round pick has made the Pro Bowl four years running.
In addition to his place as a Cardinals leader, Baker is one of the NFL’s best safeties. He earned first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2020 and collected second-team honors in 2021, helping the Cards to the playoffs largely without the services of J.J. Watt and DeAndre Hopkins. Baker has four 100-plus-tackle seasons on his resume and has intercepted eight passes in the 2020s. Baker secured his extension in August 2020 without having made a single NFL INT. Last season, Baker suffered a high ankle sprain but played through it. His two missed games came in the season’s final two weeks.
The safety market has shifted since Baker signed his four-year, $59MM deal, though most positional markets feature new ceilings compared to the 2020 offseason. Jessie Bates‘ recent Falcons contract bumped Baker down to seventh among safeties this offseason. At the time, however, Baker’s contract made him the NFL’s highest-paid safety. Justin Simmons, Harrison Smith, Jamal Adams, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Derwin James preceded Bates in passing him. James raised the AAV bar to nearly $20MM last summer.
Baker’s request comes during another eventful Cardinals offseason. The Cards have hired a new GM and HC (Monti Ossenfort, Jonathan Gannon), moving on from Steve Keim — who drafted Baker six years ago — and Kliff Kingsbury. Former Cardinals safety and veteran exec Adrian Wilson is no longer with the club, either, having left for a Panthers position. The defense has also undergone some changes, losing Watt, Byron Murphy and Zach Allen. Baker contributed to the process that produced the Gannon hire, but his status with the new HC is tenuous.
The Cardinals, who snapped a playoff drought in 2021, are not expected to contend this season. Kyler Murray is not on track to be ready for the start of the season, and the team has made it known Hopkins is available via trade. While the Cardinals are unlikely to seek out a Baker trade, they are exploring ways to add assets — via the Hopkins process or a trade-down maneuver from No. 3 overall — as Ossenfort begins his GM tenure.
Jeff Bezos Not Planning Commanders Bid
Lurking as the potential top bidder for the Commanders, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is no longer expected to pursue this purchase. Bezos has no plans to submit a bid for the NFC East franchise, Mark Maske and Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post report.
Dan Snyder‘s animosity toward Bezos notwithstanding, the bid the latter could have come in with would have certainly put him in strong position to buy the team. Many around the NFL expected a bid. Instead, this could pave the way for one of the ownership groups that have already entered the fray. Puck News’ Theodore Schleifer was first to report Bezos, 59, will not move forward in this process.
Groups headlined by Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris and Canadian billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos have submitted bids. Harris, whose ownership group includes Magic Johnson, is viewed as the leader here, according to Schleifer. Harris’ bid checked in at approximately $6 billion, per the Washington Post. That does not hit Snyder’s $7 billion target, though SI.com’s Albert Breer notes the goal now may be closer to $6.5 billion.
It is not known if an agreement between Snyder and Harris is imminent, per Maske and Jhabvala, but Breer adds Harris is unlikely to raise his bid. Harris has already been vetted — due to his pursuit of the Broncos last year — and is believed to be well-regarded in ownership circles, per Breer. The NFL has shown little desire to hold a vote to remove Snyder as Commanders owner, despite steady rumblings of ownership’s dissatisfaction with Snyder’s behavior and the brigade of scandals engulfing him. But it would seem Harris, who also owns the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, would not have trouble being voted in by NFL owners. Twenty-four votes are required for an ownership transfer to commence.
A $6 billion sale would still shatter the record — set last year when Rob Walton bought the Broncos — for an American sports franchise, but Snyder has not fully committed to selling the team yet. A sale is expected, but it is not a lock. Removing a monster Bezos bid from the equation could provide a speedbump. Most around the league believe Snyder will sell, but Breer adds some nervousness exists the defiant leader will back out at the last minute. That could force owners’ hands, as Snyder remains ensnared in multiple investigations — including a second league-launched probe, which Mary Jo White has been leading for over a year — since the House Oversight Committee released its report.
No. 3 on the most recent Forbes list, Bezos has also been connected to a future Seahawks purchase. Not submitting a Commanders bid keeps that door open, though with the Seahawks not being for sale, Bezos not intending to submit a Commanders bid will keep him out of the NFL for the foreseeable future. Bezos has used a New York firm to evaluate a Commanders purchase, Maske and Jhabvala add. Snyder had previously blocked a Bezos path to Commanders ownership; his ownership of the Washington Post has rankled Snyder. As of March, however, Snyder was no longer believed to be dead-set against selling to Bezos. That appears a moot point now, and Harris negotiations may be on tap soon.
Buccaneers LB Devin White Requests Trade
Devin White is set to play on his fifth-year option in 2023, but he may not do so in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers linebacker has requested a trade, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine (Twitter link).
Laine’s colleague Adam Schefter tweets, to no surprise, that Tampa has no intention of moving the former fifth overall pick. White has operated as a full-time starter throughout his four-year tenure with the Bucs, and has a Pro Bowl nod and second-team All-Pro nomination to his name. White’s option checks in at $11.7MM.
As is often the case, this trade request stems from frustration with contract talks. Negotiations have not gained traction, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter). White, 25, is not eligible for free agency until 2024, due to the Bucs exercising his fifth-year option in May 2023. And the off-ball linebacker market has seen some notable developments this year.
Two teams — the Ravens and Bears — authorized top-five contracts at the position in 2023. Following a fall trade, Roquan Smith secured a $20MM-per-year deal with Baltimore to set the market at the position. In the early hours of this year’s legal tampering period, Tremaine Edmunds agreed to an $18MM-AAV pact with the Bears. That deal sits fourth among ILBs. Considering C.J. Mosley‘s Jets contract — a $17MM-per-year accord that changed the positional market — was finalized in 2019, it will likely take top-five money here for White to sign a second Bucs deal.
A noticeable gap between White’s production and Pro Football Focus grades has been in place for years. While White has generally been regarded as an upper-echelon off-ball ‘backer, PFF has consistently disagreed with that perception. The advanced metrics site, while steadily rating Lavonte David as one of the game’s best, has viewed White far off that tier. White has never carried a PFF grade north of 60th among linebackers. Over the past two seasons, the former No. 5 overall pick has rated outside the top 70. The site has annually viewed the LSU product’s coverage and run-defense abilities as lacking, with pass-rushing production (20.5 career sacks) propping up his grades.
Traditional numbers suggest the sideline-to-sideline playmaker resides among the game’s better linebackers. During Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV-winning season, White totaled a career-high 140 tackles and added a staggering nine sacks and 16 quarterback hits. White has surpassed the 120-tackle plateau in each of the past two years, not missing a game. White added two forced fumbles last season and finished with eight tackles for loss for the second straight year. This included an emotional performance that came shortly after White’s father died just before the Bucs’ Germany game.
The Bucs made White the highest non-rush linebacker draftee since 2009, drafting him to play in Todd Bowles‘ defense. The fit has not always been perfect, as accusations of loafing on plays emerged during the Bucs’ underwhelming 2022. Bowles defended White and did not demote him; White has played at least 95% of the Bucs’ defensive plays in each of the past three seasons. But it is worth wondering how the organization views the young defender through a long-term lens.
Tampa Bay re-signed David to a fourth contract and, despite being more than $50MM over the cap weeks ahead of free agency, found room to bring back Jamel Dean, who was drafted two rounds after White in 2019. Several vets from the Bucs’ Super Bowl defense remain on the team, and the organization wanting White back will limit his options. The 2020 CBA’s holdout restrictions further limit contracted players’ options, as even medium-length camp holdouts threaten to delay a player’s free agency. We are months away from camp, however, and this trade request obviously will make for a more interesting offseason for the Bucs.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.