Panthers G Robert Hunt Felt Dolphins’ Extension Offer Was “Disrespectful”
In order to convince Robert Hunt to come to Charlotte this offseason, the Panthers made him just the fourth guard in league history to enjoy a $20MM/year contract, authorizing a five-year, $100MM accord that features $44MM in fully-guaranteed money. While Hunt’s original team, the Dolphins, were interested in retaining their 2020 second-rounder, it sounds as if Miami stopped well short of where Carolina was willing to go.
Although Hunt did not talk details, he acknowledged that the ‘Fins made an extension offer near the tail end of the 2023 campaign.
“Late in December they made an offer,” Hunt said (via Joseph Person of The Athletic (subscription required)). “I just thought it was a little disrespectful. It screamed that we’re not gonna pay.”
Hunt, 28, played in just 11 games last year due to injury, but he established himself as one of the game’s better guards after the Dolphins moved him from right tackle to the interior of the line in 2021. Pro Football Focus considered him a top-12 guard in both 2022 and 2023, and with the Panthers anxious to give second-year quarterback Bryce Young adequate protection and to improve their rushing attack, they were prepared to pay top dollar for Hunt’s services.
At 3-9, Carolina is suffering through another difficult season, but as Person notes, the club is pleased with the return on its Hunt investment. His pass-blocking metrics have regressed to a degree, so he is presently ranked as PFF’s 21st-best guard out of 73 qualified players. Those struggles in the passing game were on display during the Panthers’ recent loss to the Chiefs and defensive lineman Chris Jones, who is one of the game’s most fearsome interior rushers.
Of course, Jones gets the best of many opposing blockers, and the Panthers’ staff is not concerned about Hunt moving forward.
Said run game coordinator Harold Goodwin, “Rob had some good battles with [Jones]. Rob won some. [Jones] won some. So it was good ebb and flow to the competition. We’ve just gotta get Rob’s hands and feet more coordinated. I think … Rob was pressing because he knew who it was.”
Even with the downturn in the pass-blocking component of his game, it appears that Hunt’s efforts this season — to say nothing of his contract status — have entrenched him as one of the foundational pieces of the roster for the foreseeable future.
Chiefs To Start D.J. Humphries At LT In Week 14
D.J. Humphries is about to become the Chiefs’ third starting left tackle of 2024. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter was first to report, Kansas City will deploy the recent acquisition as Patrick Mahomes’ blindside protector for tonight’s Week 14 matchup with the Chargers.
Humphries, who will turn 31 this month, was released by the Cardinals in March. He sustained a torn ACL at the end of the 2023 season and was therefore not even certain to be medically cleared to return to the field in 2024. As such, it was an easy call (from a purely financial standpoint, at least), for Arizona GM Monti Ossenfort to cut ties with the longtime Cardinal and his $22MM cap charge.
Fortunately, the 2021 Pro Bowler did receive medical clearance last month. After drawing interest from the Giants and Patriots, he elected to join the defending champs, who considered a reunion with Donovan Smith — their primary LT in 2023 – before agreeing to terms with Humphries.
Although the Chiefs are 11-1 and therefore in excellent position to make another deep playoff run, the left tackle position has been a notable sore spot. 2024 second-rounder Kingsley Suamataia won the job in training camp, but he was benched in Week 2 in favor of 2023 third-rounder Wanya Morris, who has started every game since. Through just 12 games, Mahomes has already been sacked a career-high 32 times (h/t Ian Rapoport of NFL.com), and he has been taken down five times in consecutive games for the first time in his career (h/t veteran NFL reporter Ed Werder).
The situation became so dire that the Chiefs shifted left guard Joe Thuney to left tackle for the last couple of drives of their Week 13 win over the Raiders. While Humphries is certainly not a lock to return to his Pro Bowl peak, it would be hard for him to perform worse than the Suamataia/Morris tandem.
It was expected at the time of the Humphries signing that he would be inserted into the starting lineup either this week or next, and clearly the Chiefs felt they could not afford to wait. They gave Humphries, who has started 98 games in his career, a fairly notable salary – $5MM, prorated to $2MM for the remainder of the year, with a maximum value of $4.5MM – and if he plays well and stays healthy, he could position himself nicely for a longer stay in KC.
Though he has battled numerous ailments throughout his nine-year stint in the pros, Humphries was durable enough and solid enough to secure multiple lucrative extensions with the Cardinals and has earned over $84MM in his career.
Micah Parsons, Stephen Jones On Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy; Parsons Addresses Contract Talks With Team
Add Micah Parsons to the list of notable Cowboys employees who would be happy to have head coach Mike McCarthy back in 2025. Just as quarterback Dak Prescott recently endorsed the embattled, lame duck HC, Parsons offered his own support for the only skipper he has played for in the professional ranks.
“I would like a fair shot with everyone back — players, coaches — because the injuries kind of struck of what this season could really be,” Parsons said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “The injuries have been terrible. And, you know, it really sucks. Seeing Zack [Martin], D-Law [DeMarcus Lawrence] not having the year I know he planned to have. He had such a great start. It really sucks.”
On McCarthy specifically, Parsons added, “in terms of coaching, man, Coach Mike, me and his relationship has always been really good. He always took real good care of me.”
Parsons acknowledged that the final call on McCarthy’s fate will be made by owner Jerry Jones, but Jones himself suggested at the end of November that he is amenable to a new contract for McCarthy. Likewise, Jones’ son, team EVP Stephen Jones, offered public support for his HC during a recent radio interview on 105.3 The Fan.
“I think our whole team endorses Mike McCarthy,” Stephen Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “He’s got skins on the wall. He’s won a Super Bowl. He’s been in multiple championship games. He knows what it takes to win in this league.”
Interestingly, Stephen Jones added that a decision on McCarthy would not be predicated solely on win-loss record. Thanks in large part to Dallas’ injury struggles – including a season-ending hamstring ailment that Prescott suffered in Week 9 – the Cowboys have limped to a 5-7 mark through the first 12 games of 2024. McCarthy did oversee three straight 12-5 finishes from 2021-23, thus bolstering his case for a new deal, but the fact that those regular season performances resulted in just one playoff victory is what dissuaded team brass from authorizing a re-up this offseason.
Despite the highly complimentary nature of the Joneses’ public statements about McCarthy, it would register as something of a surprise if he were given a new contract at season’s end. Injuries or not, Dallas has failed to advance beyond the divisional round in any of his first four seasons at the helm, and the club has just a 4% chance of even qualifying for the playoff field this year. Indeed, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network indicates that McCarthy’s future in Dallas remains up in the air, and it could depend on how the team closes out the campaign (video link).
Unlike McCarthy, Parsons is guaranteed to be back with the Cowboys in 2025, and he could land a massive new deal in the coming months. Selected in the first round of the 2021 draft, the Penn State product was eligible for an extension this past offseason, though since he is still on his rookie contract and controllable through 2025 by virtue of the fifth-year option, Dallas prioritized extensions for Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Still, the expectation is that Parsons will get his due in 2025. Prior reports have noted that the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year and two-time First Team All-Pro will top the 49ers’ Nick Bosa ($34MM AAV) as the highest-paid defensive player in the league, and he could elect to wait to see if the Steelers’ T.J. Watt and the Browns’ Myles Garrett – both of whom profile as 2025 extension candidates – land top-of-the-market accords of their own in order to increase his bargaining power.
Publicly, at least, Parsons is downplaying the importance of breaking a contractual record, citing the need for the team to have enough financial flexibility to properly fill out the rest of the roster.
“It really just depends on the circumstances of who are we trying to get, who’s trying to return,” he said. “I look at it from a business side also, you know? If we’re going to be aggressive and bringing in players to play next to me because right now, you look at it, I don’t know who I’m playing [with] …”
“So, to me it’s all about the foundation of the team, like, ‘How can I create the best foundation and play with the guys who have helped me create a lot of success?’ Those guys helped me get to where I am, where I can become the highest-paid player. So, I would like for as many of us to be here as possible so we can continue having success, winning seasons.”
The 25-year-old edge, who has continued to perform at an elite level in 2024 despite a four-game absence stemming from a high ankle sprain, emphasized that, at a certain point, squeezing as much juice as possible out of his own contract may not be worth the squeeze.
“I feel like you see a lot of times ‘highest-paid,’ then we say they don’t have weapons, or they don’t have this. So, I would rather just be in the best situation, you know? At that point, I don’t think there’s a big difference between $30 million and $40 million in my eyes, you know? And that’s just me talking.”
Parsons conceded that his agent may not be too fond of those comments, and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk believes the Cowboys’ top defender has indeed hurt his leverage in impending negotiations. That, of course, remains to be seen, though it does create an interesting backdrop for one of Dallas’ top offseason agenda items.
Vikings QB Sam Darnold Expected To Have Competitive Market, Unlikely To Return To Minnesota
DEC 8: In keeping with the reports that Darnold is unlikely to return to Minnesota in 2025, ESPN’s Adam Schefter observes that the Vikings have not had any extension discussions with the resurgent passer.
DEC 1: Sam Darnold signed a one-year, $10MM contract with the Vikings this offseason with the understanding that he would operate as a bridge to a rookie quarterback should Minnesota select one early in the draft. After the Vikes drafted J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick, it was believed that Darnold’s time atop the depth chart would be limited. However, the season-ending knee injury that McCarthy suffered in August, coupled with Darnold’s strong performance, have the veteran passer positioned to be one of the hottest commodities on the 2025 free agent market.
Thanks to Darnold’s surprisingly hot start to the current season, our Adam La Rose examined his rising free agent stock in detail on October 5. Not unlike the infamous Madden curse, the Pro Football Rumors curse bit Darnold just one day later, as the USC alum produced a poor 50.3 quarterback rating in a Week 5 victory over the Jets. Luckily for the Vikings, Darnold bounced back in a big way, posting QB ratings of at least 107.0 in five of the club’s next six contests.
Minnesota sits at 9-2 on the season and is only in second place in its division because of the Lions’ stunning 11-1 record. Although Darnold’s 21:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio is not ideal, three of those picks came in one game, and his 101.7 quarterback rating is the eighth-best mark in the league. As of the time of this writing, his 21 passing TDs are the fifth-highest total, and he is 10th in passing yards (2,717). In general, it looks as if he is finally living up to his billing at the No. 3 overall pick of the 2018 draft.
Now 27, Darnold’s resurgent effort and the Vikings’ success with him at the controls have made him perhaps the most desirable quarterback slated for free agency in March. ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler believe that Darnold is pricing himself out of Minnesota, and the team is comfortable with that reality (subscription required). Although a scenario in which McCarthy’s recovery takes longer than expected could tempt the Vikes to bring Darnold back, McCarthy is obviously expected to take the reins at some point, and Darnold’s price tag is likely to far exceed what the club is willing to pay given its investment and belief in McCarthy.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic also hears that Darnold’s market is going to be a competitive one (subscription required), and the relative weakness of the 2025 draft class of QBs will presumably boost his earning power even more. Of course, all of this presupposes that Darnold does not regress and that he finishes the year healthy, but Fowler anticipates the former Jet, Panther, and 49er will be in line for a middle class contract like those authorized for Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith in recent history.
In other words, a multiyear pact worth between $25MM – $35MM per year featuring $40MM – $50MM in guarantees could be a starting point in negotiations between Darnold’s camp and QB-needy clubs. Assuming that the Vikings don’t want to play in those waters, the team could look to re-sign the newly-acquired Daniel Jones to accompany McCarthy on the depth chart (though Russini is clear that the Jones addition does not impact Darnold’s future in Minnesota).
Lions OC Ben Johnson Won’t “Chase” HC Interviews
Ben Johnson will once again be one of the most popular names on the coaching market this offseason. However, unlike past hiring cycles, the Lions offensive coordinator will be a bit more methodical with the process.
According to Albert Breer of TheMMQB, Johnson is taking a “different approach” this offseason. Specifically, the OC doesn’t intend to “chase interviews,” and he’ll only talk with teams that he’s genuinely interested in joining. We heard a similar sentiment last month, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter noting that Johnson intends to be “highly selective” with his next gig.
Further, Johnson is seeking “organizational alignment” between the head coach and general manager. Considering HC-needy teams will mostly be seated towards the bottom of the standings, the coach is also seeking “recognition” from organizations about their shortcomings. This would require interested teams to explain where things have gone wrong and how they intend to fix the issues.
As the Lions have climbed into a Super Bowl-contending position, Johnson has become a hot name on the coaching market for each of the past two offseasons. He was viewed as the leader for the Panthers’ HC job in 2023, and he was in pole position to replace Ron Rivera in Washington this past offseason. Both times, Johnson decided to stick in Detroit, and after receiving a raise several years ago, his current Lions deal runs through 2025. The Lions would surely pony up if Johnson wants to stay with the organization, but it seems like the coach is finally set to lead his own staff. The Bears have already been mentioned as a potential suitor, and other teams will surely emerge as the season comes to an end.
On the other side of the ball, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is also expected to be a popular name as the coaching market heats up. Breer points to two squads that already have a connection to the coach: the Jets (where Glenn spent the first eight seasons of his playing career) and the Saints (where Glenn coached for five years prior to his stint in Detroit).
Panthers DC Ejiro Evero Expected To Receive HC Interest
The Panthers defense has struggled to take a step forward during defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero‘s second season at the helm. The team has allowed a league-leading 2,002 rushing yards, and while the passing defense has generally been up and down, they’ve still allowed the fourth-most passing touchdowns in the league (22).
Considering the underwhelming performance, some pundits have questioned if Evero will still be a popular candidate on the head coaching market this offseason. Dave Canales believes his defensive leader will once again be in contention for a head job, with the first-year Panthers HC citing his coordinator’s consistent messaging and next-man-up mentality.
“It’s echoing all through the building,” Canales said (via ESPN’s David Newton). “It’s just the fundamentals and not backing off of those things. If we can keep the principles the same and our messaging simple, then the guys have something that they can really grasp onto.”
There’s a few reasons to believe that Evero will remain a hot name on the coaching carousel. For starters, the Panthers defense wasn’t a whole lot better in 2023, and he still garnered interest for Carolina’s top job (along with head coaching gigs with the Falcons and Seahawks). Further, rival teams aren’t necessarily looking at the stat sheet when determining their next franchise leader. As Newton notes, former Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown guided an underwhelming 2023 squad before earning a promotion to pass-game coordinator in Chicago. When Bears coach Matt Eberflus was fired last week, the organization felt comfortable enough to promote Brown to interim HC despite the lack of track record.
In other words, even if the Panthers defense finishes towards the bottom of the league in 2024, Evero’s reputation should still be intact. Plus, there are recent signs of improvement in Carolina. As Newton notes, the Panthers have allowed 24.3 points per game over their last three contests, down 8.2 points from their previous league-worst standing. This stretch coincided with improved health from the defense, so Evero may be able to end the campaign on a high note before once again entering the coaching cycle.
Saints Activate Kendre Miller, Place Nick Saldiveri On IR
The Saints’ offense will once again have another option in the backfield starting tomorrow. Running back Kendre Miller has been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement. 
Miller made a pair of appearances in October upon returning to action the first time this season. He was given the IR/designated for return designation many other players received during roster cuts this summer, ensuring missed time at the start of the campaign. Miller healed in full from his offseason hamstring injury, but he was again sidelined not long after making his season debut.
Now, the 2023 third-rounder will again have the opportunity to see playing time upon being activated from IR. Miller only received nine carries when he was in the lineup, but veteran Jamaal Williams has seen between zero and three carries per contest each game since Week 3. At least a somewhat notable workload could be in place for Miller moving forward while serving as a complement to Alvin Kamara.
In a corresponding move, guard Nick Saldiveri has been moved to IR. The 2023 fourth-rounder made only four appearances (and no starts) during his rookie campaign, but he has been a much more prominent O-line figure this year. Saldiveri has made six starts amongst his 11 total games in 2024, all of which have come at left guard. He currently ranks 60th out of 73 guards in terms of PFF grade, but his absence will add further to the injuries which have been felt at multiple spots up front this year in New Orleans.
The Saints have only two IR activations remaining for the season, and with five games left in the campaign Saldiveri (who will miss at least the next four contests) will likely not return in 2024. New Orleans’ latest changes on offense come as the 4-8 team prepares to play the Giants on Sunday.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/7/24
Saturday’s minor transactions, including gameday practice squad elevations:
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: DT DeWayne Carter
- Elevated: S Lewis Cine, TE Zach Davidson
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: WR Dan Chisena, LB Jacoby Windmon
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: S Adrian Colbert, RB Darrynton Evans
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: WR Joshua Cephus
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Kristian Wilkerson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from IR: LB Junior Colson
- Elevated: RB Jaret Patterson, S Kendall Williamson
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: CB Charles Woods
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LS Zach Triner
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from IR: LS Andrew DePaola, K Will Reichard (story)
- Elevated: OLB Gabriel Murphy
- Waived: K John Parker Romo
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: WR Kevin Austin, Dante Pettis
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: DT Elijah Garcia, DE Casey Rogers
- Elevated: T Tyre Phillips, CB Greg Stroman
- Placed on IR: DT D.J. Davidson
- Waived: QB Tim Boyle
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: WR Allen Lazard, G Wes Schweitzer (story)
- Elevated: CB Kendall Sheffield
- Placed on IR: LB C.J. Mosley (story)
- Waived: C Connor McGovern
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed to active roster: TE E.J. Jenkins
- Elevated: FB Khari Blasingame, S Andre’ Sam
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: LB Antonio Grier
- Elevated: P Jack Browning, CB Dallis Flowers
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: WR Mason Kinsey, DB Kendall Brooks
- Elevated: G Arlington Hambright, TE Thomas Odukoya
Eagles starting tight end Dallas Goedert has been placed on injured reserve, so Jenkins will come up from the practice squad for a little added depth.
Egon Durban, Michael Meldman Have Deals In Place To Purchase Raiders Stakes
DECEMBER 7: Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes the Raiders deals will indeed be on the agenda at the upcoming league meeting. Full ratification could therefore take place soon.
NOVEMBER 21: Earlier in 2024, the deals allowing Tom Brady, Tom Wagner and Richard Seymour to purchase a total of 10.5% of the Raiders was approved. Agreements are now in place for two more minority owners to join the organization. 
Silver Lake co-CEO and Endeavor board chairman Egon Durban has a deal with Raiders controlling Mark Davis, as first reported by Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal. Durban will be joined by Discovery Land Company founder and chairman Michael Meldman provided their purchases are formally approved. Each will acquire a 7.5% stake should the deals go through.
Davis will still maintain control of the organization in the event the Durban and Meldman purchases receive approval. At least 24 of the league’s 32 owners will need to give the deals the green light, something which could happen during the NFL’s special league meeting next month. The finance committee has already reviewed the terms of the agreements, Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes (subscription required). A recommendation for approval could pave the way to the ownership group at large finalizing the deals.
One potential issue on that front is the fact that Endeavor has a sports agency arm called WME Sports. Durban owns a stake in the company, which has (among other athletes) NFL players as its clientele. By rule, NFL owners cannot also represent players or coaches; as a result, Durban will need to divest from WME as a condition of his Raiders purchase being approved. Fischer reports Durban has given assurances to the NFL that such a move will take place within four months of the deal being going through.
“WME Sports’ football group continues to operate business as usual, and we are prepared for various scenarios as it relates to our football representation business, which is thriving,” a company statement reads. “Our priority remains creating growth and opportunity for our clients and partners.”
Durban and Meldman’s purchases will come in part from Davis’ equity in the Raiders, as well as from the Boscacci and Lovingfoss families, descendants of some of the franchise’s original investors. Full financial terms are not known, but Fischer reports the deals will check in at a “much higher price” than the ones Brady, Wagner and Seymour paid for their shares (which valued the franchise at $3.5 billion).
Mark Davis has been in place as the Raiders’ controlling owner since his father Al passed away in 2011. The 69-year-old is set to remain in his current capacity for the foreseeable future, but further additions to his ownership group could be coming soon.
Titans Activate Chidobe Awuzie, Place Logan Bruss On IR
Chidobe Awuzie is set to see his first game action since September. The veteran corner was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, per a Titans announcement. 
Awuzie went down with a groin injury in Week 3, and he was quickly moved to IR. He has remained out of the picture since then, but by returning to practice last week it was clear he would soon be an option to be activated. Plenty of time still remained on Awuzie’s 21-day window to be brought back into the fold, but today’s news means he will be available for Tennessee’s Week 14 matchup.
The 29-year-old had a three-year run with the Bengals which included 32 starts and 37 appearances. Fully recovered from his 2022 ACL tear, Awuzie took a free agent deal with the Titans this offseason which allowed him to continue working under former Cincinnati OC Brian Callahan. Given the nature of that three-year, $36MM pact, expectations were high for the former second-rounder but his injury interrupted his debut Tennessee season. Awuzie should return to the starting role he held at the start of the campaign now that he is healthy.
The Titans are out of playoff contention, but they rank No. 1 in the NFL against the pass and No. 2 in total defense this season. Getting Awuzie back will provide a boost to the team’s secondary (which is without L’Jarius Sneed) down the stretch and allow him to see game action ahead of 2025. Tennessee has six IR activations remaining on the year.
In a corresponding move, offensive lineman Logan Bruss has been moved to injured reserve. The former third-rounder was claimed off waivers from the Rams last month, and he has made three appearances with Tennessee to date. This move guarantees at least a four-game absence, however, meaning Bruss will not be eligible to return until the final week of the regular season.