Cowboys’ Jerry Jones Addresses HC Mike McCarthy’s Status

July 26th, 2024 at 12:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys’ Thursday media availability allowed team officials to provide updates on the contract statuses of players like Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons. Head coach Mike McCarthy also faces an uncertain future beyond 2024, however.

McCarthy was retained following Dallas’ wild-card loss to the Packers, but it soon became clear he would not receive an extension. 2024 is thus the final year of his contract, and to little surprise owner Jerry Jones was asked about the decision to set McCarthy up for a lame-duck campaign. When giving a reason why no new deal was offered, Jones simply replied “Green Bay” (h/t Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News).

The Cowboys’ latest postseason exit came about via an underwhelming home loss to McCarthy’s former team. It was not sufficient for the 60-year-old to be let go, but Jones’ remark confirms a rebound will be needed to ensure he remains in place for 2025 and beyond. Dallas has gone 12-5 in each of the past three seasons, all of which have come during McCarthy’s tenure. The former Super Bowl winner will be counted on to deliver a playoff breakthrough in 2024, but Jones praised him when addressing his situation.

“Mike has shown me that I want to have him and he’s qualified and he’s excellent and the players are excellent and he’s shown me that he could be our coach for years to come, Jones said (via Watkins). “He sits next to me in the draft. I really call on him a lot. If you can’t get along with Mike McCarthy, you can’t get along.”

McCarthy admitted earlier this week that his contract status is “a challenge,” and the Cowboys have plenty of work still to do on the contract front over the coming weeks. The team will nevertheless be expected (at least, internally) to replicate the regular season success of the past three years and in doing so set up a potential postseason run. Coming up short will no doubt lead to increased speculation regarding McCarthy’s job status and the potential of Jones allowing his contract to expire similar to Jason Garrett in 2019.

Bill Belichick has been connected to joining the Cowboys or Eagles next offseason if one or both NFC East teams move on from their coaches. Jones repeated his praise of the six-time Super Bowl winner during the press conference, but for the time being attention will be paid to McCarthy’s performance during what could be his final campaign in Dallas.

Latest On Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa’s Training Camp Participation

July 26th, 2024 at 11:32am CST by Sam Robinson

JULY 26: Continuing to vary his participation on a daily basis, Tagovailoa took every first-team rep during Friday’s practice (h/t Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network). McDaniel confirmed earlier on Friday the team will use a day-by-day approach at all positions (video link via Beasley). Until Tagovailoa’s extension situation is resolved, therefore, he can be expected to continue spending time both on and off the field during team sessions.

JULY 25: Last year, Brian Burns made the unusual move to pivot to a hold-in effort days before Week 1. That did not last, but Tua Tagovailoa may be shifting the relatively new negotiating tactic to a new place as well.

After taking just two snaps during 11-on-11 drills Wednesday, Tagovailoa did not participate at all during Miami’s Thursday practice. Labeling this a hold-in measure, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Beasley indicated the Dolphins’ team drills — as could be expected — did not feature too much offensive success.

Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that Tua’s camp participation would be fluid during negotiations, so it is certainly possible the lefty passer suits up Friday. This would be a rather unusual effort on the QB’s part, as hold-ins typically do not feature yo-yoing with regards to participation. T.J. Watt participated partially in Steelers practices throughout his 2021 hold-in, but he passed on team drills during a negotiation that did not end until just before Week 1. Given his position, Tagovailoa not participating stands to disrupt his team’s process more so by comparison.

While it would be more interesting if Tua indeed practiced Friday, an in-and-out routine would be quite odd amid negotiations. Jordan Love is not participating in Packers practice without an extension. Tagovailoa and the Dolphins have been in talks for much of the offseason, though the Packers believed to be closer on terms with their starter compared to Miami’s talks.

Tagovailoa has turned down at least one Miami offer, and reports earlier this summer suggested hesitancy regarding AAV and guarantees with respect to the skyrocketing QB market. Trevor Lawrence secured $142MM guaranteed at signing on a $55MM-per-year deal, one that matched Joe Burrow atop the league’s salary hierarchy. It would surprise if Tagovailoa was not angling to top Lawrence’s guarantee, seeing as he has been more consistent — at least, under McDaniel — than the Jaguars starter.

For the time being, the Dolphins have Mike White and Skylar Thompson taking snaps in team drills. Tagovailoa, who is tied to a fully guaranteed $23.17MM fifth-year option this year, appears set to shift to a full-on hold-in effort or introduce a new strategy for mid-camp negotiations.

Panthers To Sign Kemoko Turay

July 26th, 2024 at 10:41am CST by Adam La Rose

Carolina’s efforts in auditioning several edge rush options will produce at least one deal. The Panthers are signing Kemoko Turay following his workout, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets.

Turay visited the team yesterday alongside Marquis Haynes. He will now spend training camp attempting to carve out a spot on the 53-man roster. Turay’s last regular season appearances came in 2022 with the 49ers, and he spent last offseason with the Falcons. Upon failing to survive roster cuts, though, he was unable to find a deal.

The 29-year-old played out his rookie contract from 2018-21 with the Colts. Turay operated in a rotational capacity during that time, with his only three career starts coming in his rookie season. The former second-rounder flashed potential with four sacks during his debut campaign, but he managed just 2.5 across the following two seasons. Turay only logged a 27% snap share in 2021, but he racked up 5.5 sacks and 12 pressures that year.

The Rutgers product was unable to match that production during his one-and-done San Francisco slate, so he will join the Panthers with limited expectations. Carolina is in need of depth along the edge, though, with plenty of uncertainty in place beyond projected starters Jadeveon Clowney and D.J. Wonnum. Turay will look to earn a rotational edge rush role; he does not have special teams experience, so third phase duties do not represent a feasible path to a roster spot.

Carolina will audition Yannick Ngakoue and Carl Lawson today, and it will be interesting to see if either of them manage to secure a deal. Regardless of whether of not that happens, Turay will have an opportunity through the next several weeks as he aims to earn a regular season role.

Patriots, S Jabrill Peppers Finalize Extension

July 26th, 2024 at 9:35am CST by Adam La Rose

Questions linger for some Patriots defenders at the start of training camp with respect to their futures. In the case of Jabrill Peppers, though, that will not be a concern.

The veteran safety is finalizing a three-year New England extension, per ESPN’s Field Yates. The pact has a base value of $24MM and can max out at $30MM, he adds. Peppers had one year remaining on his deal, so he will now be on the books through 2027.

This agreement – which head coach Jerod Mayo has since confirmed – will ensure Peppers remains a key member of the Patriots’ secondary for the foreseeable future. The former Browns first-rounder spent his first two seasons in Cleveland before being included in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade. Peppers then played three years with the Giants before seeing his rookie contract expire. During that time, he demonstrated his ability to be an impactful player when healthy.

Peppers was limited to six games in 2021, and he originally joined the Patriots on a one-year, $2MM deal. The 28-year-old played more on special teams than defense during his debut New England campaign, but his performance earned him another contract. Peppers inked a two-year deal last offseason, one which set him up for a full-time starting role. He responded with a career-high two interceptions, along with eight pass deflections and 78 tackles.

Rather than waiting to see if Peppers repeats that level of production in 2024, Eliot Wolf and the front office have authorized a significant raise. The Michigan alum was attached to a $4.5MM AAV on his previous deal, but he will collect much more on this contract even if he is unable to maximize its value. With Peppers in the fold, he will reprise his starting spot in a tandem with Kyle Dugger moving forward. The latter signed a four-year, $58MM deal earlier this offseason.

Wolf’s first year at the helm has consisted of a long list of re-signings and extensions being worked out. The likes of Peppers, Dugger, Christian Barmore, Anfernee Jennings and Jahlani Tavai have all secured new pacts on the defensive side of the ball. Michael Onwenu, Rhamondre Stevenson, Kendrick Bourne and Hunter Henry, meanwhile, each signed long-term contracts allowing them to remain key players on offense.

Uncertainty remains as it pertains to edge rusher Matt Judon and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, and attention will no doubt continue to be focused on how their respective contracts are handled by the front office. With Peppers now on the books well beyond 2024, though, he is among the Patriots whose future is not in question.

Lions K Michael Badgley Suffers Season-Ending Hamstring Injury

July 26th, 2024 at 8:53am CST by Adam La Rose

Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced on Friday that kicker Michael Badgley injured himself while getting ready for practice. He confirmed (via team reporter Tim Twentyman) Badgley will undergo surgery and miss the entire 2024 season.

“I feel awful for Badgley, man,” Campbell said. “He worked his tail off to get ready for this season and he was having a good spring and was ready for camp. It’s tough.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes Badgley suffered a torn hamstring. The 28-year-old was set to compete for the full-time kicking gig in Detroit during training camp, something he had yet to enjoy despite having made 16 total appearances for the team. Badgley took over from Riley Patterson midway through the 2023 season, and he was retained in February on a one-year deal.

Now, the journeyman will hit free agency next March with his market value having taken a hit. Badgley has played 64 games in the NFL split across five teams, and he could be forced to find another new employer when he returns to full health. The Lions, meanwhile, will now turn their attention to finding a suitable replacement over the coming weeks.

Detroit has UFL product Jake Bates as the only healthy kicker on the roster at the moment. The Michigan Panthers alum played his home games at Ford Field, and he connected on 17 of 22 field goal attempts (including three from beyond 60 yards). Campbell said the Lions have already lined up workouts with some of the free agent kickers available, though he added a signing is not necessarily an immediate priority.

Detroit topped the NFC North in 2023 and advanced to the conference title game. Expectations are high for the franchise this year, and maintaining their strong production on offense will be a important task for the Lions moving forward. Badgley was set to play a role in that regard, but those responsibilities will now fall to Bates or a kicker not currently on the roster. Detroit has $34.5MM in cap space, so affording competition for Bates in the near future will not be a problem.

Rams CB Derion Kendrick Suffers ACL Tear

July 26th, 2024 at 8:10am CST by Adam La Rose

JULY 26: Testing confirmed Kendrick did indeed tear his ACL, Schefter notes. Rams head coach Sean McVay said he will undergo surgery “in a couple weeks” before turning his attention to rehab. Kendrick should next take the field in 2025, the final year of his rookie contract.

JULY 25: One of the Rams’ first training camp practices may have resulted in a major blow to the team’s secondary. Third-year cornerback Derion Kendrick is feared to have suffered a torn ACL, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Further testing will take place, but the worst-case scenario being confirmed would represent a major hit to Los Angeles’ defense. Kendrick, a sixth-rounder in 2022, logged six starts as a rookie and another 12 last year. He was projected to remain a key member of the team’s secondary in 2024, but his availability for any portion of the coming season would be all-but eliminated if tests for a tear came back positive.

Kendrick recorded his first career interception in 2023, and to date he has racked up 14 pass deflections. He made notable improvements in coverage last year compared to his rookie slate, allowing a completion percentage of 57.1% and a passer rating of 89.7 as the nearest defender. Improving further in his third year would have given the Rams a cost-effective first-team cover man.

Instead, Los Angeles will be forced to look elsewhere on the CB depth chart if Kendrick is indeed sidelined for the campaign. The team reunited with a familiar face in Darious Williams this offseason, bringing him back into the fold on a three-year deal. The Rams also took a flier on former Bills All-Pro Tre’Davious White, adding him on a one-year pact carrying a base value of $4.5MM. White’s health will be a question mark, but if he can remain on the field this year he will provide his new team with a starting-caliber option.

Los Angeles also has the likes of Cobie Durant and Tre’Vius Tomlinson in place as options to fill the vacancy an ACL tear on the part of Kendrick would create. The team has just over $8MM in cap space, so a modest veteran addition could be feasible if one is deemed necessary.

Packers, Jordan Love Making Progress In Extension Talks

July 25th, 2024 at 9:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jordan Love is present at training camp but not taking part in practices as he and the Packers continue to negotiate a new deal. Nothing is in place at this point, but things appear to be headed in the right direction.

Progress is being made toward a deal being finalized, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Both team and player in this situation expressed a willingness to have an agreement in place before the start of training camp. Likewise, general manager Brian Gutekunst confirmed earlier this week his confidence that talks will get over the finish line in the near future. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio also notes a deal is “pretty close” as of Thursday morning.

The one-year starter has long been expected to join the $50MM-per-year club on his next contract, one which will take the place of the band-aid deal signed last offseason. That pact replaced his fifth-year option, a move which allowed Green Bay to evaluate Love’s candidacy for a lucrative commitment as Aaron Rodgers‘ successor. After an inconsistent start to the campaign, the 2020 first-rounder delivered strong statistical showings through the divisional round of the playoffs.

Expectations are therefore high moving forward for Love as he prepares to guide a Packers offense featuring a young pass-catching corps and multiple offensive line starters attached to their rookie contracts. As things stand, running back Josh Jacobs is the only skill-position player signed to a big-money deal, but that will change once Love’s deal is in place.

The value of the latter’s pact is thought to be the largest sticking point in negotiations. Issues such as length and guarantees are important as well in any QB mega-deal, but the ones signed over the past two years will provide Green Bay with a number of blueprints to follow. Getting Love back on the field as soon as possible is, of course, another motivating factor for team and player to come to an agreement. The wait on that front may end in the near future.

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase Seeking Extension, Not Participating In Practice

July 25th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

By virtue of picking up Ja’Marr Chase‘s fifth-year option, the Bengals have their top wide receiver tied to his rookie contract for two more seasons. Coming into this offseason, no team in the option era had extended a first-round wideout with two years of rookie-deal control remaining. But clubs have changed course recently.

The Eagles and Dolphins, respectively, paid 2021 first-rounders DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle. The Bengals are viewed as unlikely to follow this offseason trend, eyeing a 2025 Chase payday. The fourth-year receiver appears to be attempting to force the issue. Chase is not practicing for a second straight day, and the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway indicating the Pro Bowler wants a new contract.

This process is veering toward a hold-in. This tactic has become a common practice during the 2020s, after the 2020 CBA made holdouts more difficult to wage. With the Bengals not known to cave in to player demands often, this will be an interesting storyline to follow.

Chase said during minicamp he was fully healthy, via ESPN.com’s Ben Baby, and the Bengals have not placed him on their active/NFI list. This further points to a hold-in measure being waged. The Bengals have shut down Jonah Williams, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson‘s trade requests over the past two offseasons, but Chase will attempt another way to bring management to the table.

Chase did not show for Cincy’s OTAs but did report to minicamp. At the mandatory offseason event, however, Chase only participated in Bengals walkthroughs. The Bengals have effectively earmarked a Chase extension, as they have Higgins tied to the franchise tag for the 2024 season. Higgins’ Cincinnati future is blurry, while the team has identified Chase as its No. 2 overall priority (behind Joe Burrow, who is already extended).

Mike Brown said (via Conway) the Bengals have started negotiations with Chase. The Vikings had begun talks with Justin Jefferson last year, but the sides were unable to come to terms by Week 1. This led to negotiations being tabled to 2024, when the Vikings hammered out a record-setting deal. The guarantees in Jefferson’s four-year, $140MM extension ($110MM in total, $88.7MM in full) proved eye-popping around the league and are certain to have changed Chase’s target. Chase had indicated he wanted to wait for his former college teammate’s contract before finalizing a push for his own extension. A year younger than Jefferson and vital for a Super Bowl contender’s mission, Chase has some leverage he can try to exert.

That said, the Bengals have the LSU product tied to a $1.1MM 2024 base salary and a fully guaranteed $21.82MM fifth-year option f0r 2025. While the team hold the cards here, Chase will eventually require a contract the Bengals typically have not been comfortable authorizing.

Joining the Packers in being against guarantees beyond Year 1 for non-quarterbacks, and Baby adds the Bengals have bristled at the notion they will need to change their contract preferences for non-QBs. The Vikings guaranteed Jefferson’s 2024 and 2025 base salaries and most of his 2026 money.

Structure figures to become a sticking point for an old-school organization, complicating its Chase talks. The Bengals may well have a clearer path to a deal in 2025, when Higgins — barring a second tag not used to be traded — comes off the books. For now, no deal is imminent.

Steelers Eyeing Pat Freiermuth Extension

July 25th, 2024 at 9:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

In trading Diontae Johnson, the Steelers moved their only remotely expensive offensive player off the payroll. A defense-heavy roster that features big-ticket deals for T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Cameron Heyward, Alex Highsmith and Patrick Queen also houses an offense without any eight-figure-per-year players.

While George Pickens resides as a potential extension candidate, his rookie deal runs through 2025. The Steelers are not planning any preseason adjustments to Russell Wilson or Justin Fields‘ contracts, and James Daniels said the team is not planning to give him an extension before its long-held Week 1 deadline. This leaves an interesting imbalance ahead of the 2024 season, but one of Pittsburgh’s skill-position players does appear on the radar for a new deal.

Pat Freiermuth is coming off a down season, but The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly notes the Steelers have the fourth-year tight end firmly in their long-term plans (subscription required). A deal should be done before Week 1, per Kaboly. Otherwise, the Steelers — who have not negotiated contracts in-season in more than three decades — would need to wait until Freiermuth is on the cusp of free agency to complete a deal.

Arthur Smith‘s Falcons offense enjoyed production from its Kyle Pitts–Jonnu Smith tandem last season; the duo combined for 1,249 yards. Johnson’s departure leaves the Steelers thin at receiver, with the likes of Quez Watkins and Van Jefferson in the mix for the WR2 role — barring an addition before the season — as third-rounder Roman Wilson develops. Pittsburgh’s track record for developing wideouts notwithstanding, it is certainly possible Freiermuth is needed to be the 2024 team’s top Pickens sidekick.

A 2021 second-round pick, Freiermuth caught seven touchdowns in Ben Roethlisberger‘s final season and then totaled a career-high 732 yards (with two TDs) in 2022. A hamstring injury cost Freiermuth five games last season, and he finished with just 308 yards. Freiermuth has also sustained three concussions as a pro. Pro Football Focus viewed the Penn State alum as a top-10 tight end in each of his first two years, however, and the Steelers will again depend on him as a run blocker in another offense set to rely on Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.

While David Njoku and Evan Engram topped $13MM per year as franchise players, Freiermuth’s inconsistent production would seemingly move him to a slightly lower tier. The Steelers could potentially shoot for a deal between Cole Kmet‘s $12.5MM-AAV accord and Hunter Henry‘s three-year, $27MM pact authorized in March.

The Steelers added Freiermuth in hopes he could become a long-sought-after long-term option post-Heath Miller. The Steelers had cycled through tight ends — from Eric Ebron to Vance McDonald to Jesse James — since Miller’s 2016 retirement. It would appear the team is convinced Freiermuth can be that player. A commitment over the next six weeks would reflect that belief.

Chiefs Rumors: CBs, Toney, Front Office

July 25th, 2024 at 8:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs have established a clear philosophy regarding cornerbacks, with the L’Jarius Sneed development the latest example of Kansas City’s view at this position. During the Patrick Mahomes era, at least, the Chiefs have been able to get by without a notable cornerback contract on the payroll.

Sneed followed Marcus Peters (2018), Steven Nelson (2019), Kendall Fuller (2020) and Charvarius Ward (2022) as one-contract players. As Steve Spagnuolo has completed a rebound from a disastrous St. Louis HC tenure and re-established himself as one of the NFL’s premier defensive minds, Kansas City has continued to plug in rookie-deal players into these positions. The two-time reigning champions will need to do so again, as Sneed is a Titan after a borderline-dominant contract year led to a tag-and-trade transaction.

With Trent McDuffie‘s rookie contract running through 2025, the Chiefs still figure to have their CB anchor around for a bit. They also acquired Joshua Williams and Jaylen Watson in 2022, giving them some time with another low-cost nucleus. But Sneed was an every-down player for both of the past two Super Bowl-winning Chiefs squads, giving Spagnuolo and Co. some work to do. Early in training camp, both Williams and Watson are in a wide-open competition that also features 2022 seventh-rounder Nazeeh Johnson, via The Athletic’s Nate Taylor.

While the Chiefs have 2023 fourth-rounder Chamarri Conner on track for versatile role post-Sneed, the team having four 2022 draftees/UDFAs (in Watson’s case) vying for roles at corner does well to illustrate the organization’s commitment to developing young talent at this position. Watson outsnapped Williams last season, 440-321, but the latter started four games as a rookie. Pro Football Focus rated Williams 25th at corner in 2023, with Watson settling in at a respectable 46th. Johnson has never logged a defensive snap and probably should be considered a long shot to beat out more established corners to start opposite McDuffie.

Shifting to the other side of the ball, the Chiefs are still trying to find a role for Kadarius Toney. Early in camp, the shifty but unreliable receiver has been working at running back at points, Taylor adds (subscription required). Making his most notable Chiefs contribution on a Super Bowl punt return, Toney has shown remarkable elusiveness. But the ex-Giants first-rounder, who is still working at receiver as well this summer, has made many mistakes and frequently run into injury trouble.

Our Ben Levine recently profiled Toney as a release candidate, as he has gone from a player the Chiefs had hoped could grow into their No. 1 wide receiver last season to a healthy scratch for Super Bowl LVIII. The Chiefs’ offense functioned smoother with Toney and Skyy Moore sidelined during the playoffs, and the latter accused the team of lying about his injury. The Chiefs welcomed Toney back this offseason, but his status has certainly changed over the past year. Kansas City would be hit with a $2.5MM dead money charge by releasing Toney.

The Chiefs added Marquise Brown and Xavier Worthy at receiver this offseason, and even though a Rashee Rice suspension is expected at some point, the Chiefs have a fairly clear top three at receiver. Toney and Moore do not stand to be part of that group, and with Mecole Hardman and Justin Watson also still with the club, a Toney roster spot should not be considered a lock. Andy Reid does reside as one of the most creative coaches in NFL, as his bevy of goal-line plays showcases annually, so the 12th-year Chiefs HC trying to find a gadget-type role for Toney is not too surprising.

Kansas City also added to its front office recently. A year after the Saints moved on from Ryan Herman, the Chiefs added the veteran exec as their senior football strategy and compliance advisor. Herman worked with Jeff Ireland in Miami and New Orleans, specializing in analytics.

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