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Offseason In Review: Denver Broncos

July 31st, 2024 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

The quest to find a long-term quarterback has dominated Broncos discourse since Peyton Manning‘s 2016 retirement, and while the organization’s failures here were not particularly costly during the initial years following the all-time great’s exit, the most recent effort certainly was. As a result of the Russell Wilson tenure, the Broncos became a punching bag for a season before seeing some 2023 improvements drop their 2024 draft slot. Now, they are in Year 1 of a dead money abyss unlike anything any team has encountered.

Bailing on Wilson’s pricey extension set a record that will be difficult to break for the foreseeable future, and the Broncos are taking another swing at quarterback — this one handpicked by Sean Payton. Making other notable subtractions and contract adjustments after making strides under Payton, the Broncos will attempt to field a competitive team despite Wilson’s contract consuming a significant chunk of their salary cap.

Extensions and restructures:

The Broncos are still using the phonetically interesting Payton-Paton power duo. GM George Paton was the point man behind three of this decade’s worst decisions — the Nathaniel Hackett hire, the Wilson trade and then the QB’s extension — but the group he drafted in 2021 has developed nicely. Paton plucked starters Patrick Surtain, Javonte Williams, Baron Browning and Jonathon Cooper in his first draft, but the biggest success story is probably a third-round guard from the Division III ranks. Meinerz has been a regular starter in Denver since midway through his rookie year, and he became the first Paton-era draftee to see his contract extended.

Meinerz, 25, impressed at the 2021 Senior Bowl — a vital component of his rise, as the COVID-19 pandemic nixed the non-Division I-FBS levels’ 2020 seasons — and replaced an injured Graham Glasgow in 2021. Meinerz beat out Glasgow for the Broncos’ right guard gig in 2022 and graded as a top-10 guard, per Pro Football Focus, over the past two seasons. Excelling in the run game, Meinerz was probably the Broncos’ top offensive player during the Wilson years. The team will bet on upside, as no Pro Bowls are yet on the Wisconsin-Whitewater alum’s resume.

Although Louis Vasquez rewarded the Broncos, the team has struggled with guard payments over the past several years. Neither Glasgow nor Ronald Leary justified their high price tags under John Elway, and the Payton-Paton pair has now doubled down at guard. The team gave Ben Powers a four-year, $52MM deal in 2023. The ex-Raven appears locked in for at least two more seasons, as the team restructured his contract to create 2024 cap space. Bo Nix‘s rookie contract stands to help the Broncos afford big payments elsewhere on the roster, though Wilson’s $83MM-plus in dead money from 2024-25 undercuts that advantage.

Denver paying Meinerz also clouds Garett Bolles‘ future. Meinerz’s terms match Denver’s left tackle for the most lucrative O-line contract in team history, and with right tackle Mike McGlinchey also on an upper-crust contract at his position, it is fair to wonder if Bolles is entering his final season with the team.

Bolles, 32, is in a contract year and has angled for a second extension. No known negotiations have transpired. The Meinerz payment points to the Broncos rolling with three pricey O-line contracts and looking for Bolles’ successor next year. For now, Denver is the rare team with four eight-figure O-line deals on its payroll. This is in step with Payton’s approach in New Orleans, where early-round O-line draft choices and extensions were commonplace.

Sutton, 28, reemerged as Denver’s top wide receiver last season, overtaking Jerry Jeudy as Wilson’s favorite target. Snaring some snazzy touchdown receptions, Sutton played a central role in the Broncos’ five-game midseason win streak. With Jeudy traded, Sutton stands as more important regarding Nix’s development. Days before the Broncos made their Nix pick, Sutton lobbied for a contract adjustment. The Broncos have their top target at a below-market rate thanks to an extension (four years, $60MM) authorized back in 2021 — shortly before the 2022 offseason changed the position’s landscape — and the team did not give in.

Denver waited out Sutton, who showed for minicamp after missing the offseason program, and incentives became the endgame here. The team gave the seventh-year vet a $1.7MM incentive package, reminding of the Chargers’ low-level resolution with Austin Ekeler last year. Sutton can increase his earnings to $15.2MM this year but remains tied to a contract with just $2MM guaranteed for 2024 and no guarantees in place for 2025.

As a vested veteran, the rest of Sutton’s $13MM base salary will become guaranteed just before Week 1. But the long-running trade candidate — teams called on the former second-rounder in April and figure to again soon — was unable to secure a notable contract update, putting the pre-Payton pickup’s long-term Denver future in doubt.

Patrick, 30, has managed to hang around despite two season-nullifying injuries. After serving as a key target for Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater, Patrick did not play a down with Wilson. After summer ACL and Achilles tears, the former UDFA — the second-longest-tenured Bronco, behind Bolles — accepted a pay cut down to the veteran minimum to stay. Patrick signed a three-year, $30MM extension days before the Broncos paid Sutton. The Broncos brought in Patrick under Elway, and despite his back-to-back 700-plus-yard seasons from 2020-21, the 6-4 wideout — healthy once again — is a wild card in this revamped position group.

Trades:

Rumblings of the Jeudy-Sutton tandem — after four years and incessant trade rumors together — separating emerged early this offseason. Jeudy trade rumors date back to the 2022 deadline, and they followed the former first-round pick into the 2023 offseason and up to last year’s deadline. The Broncos hoped the Elway-era draftee could help Wilson rebound in 2023, and they set a lofty asking price (a first-rounder) in trades last year. Before the deadline, Denver received an offer involving third- and fifth-round picks. Amid their midseason turnaround that included a win over the Chiefs just before the deadline, the Broncos declined and ultimately moved on for less months later.

The Browns are still betting on the 2020 first-rounder unlocking upside that did not materialize in Denver. Jeudy flashed crafty route-running chops and delivered a strong finish to the 2022 season but ended his Broncos tenure 0-for-4 in 1,000-yard seasons. In the Alabama alum’s defense, the Broncos featured five play-callers (three in 2022) and mostly below-average quarterback play during the inconsistent wideout’s career.

The Browns will pair Jeudy with Amari Cooper, and the AFC North club went as far as to extend Jeudy (three years, $52.5MM; $41MM guaranteed) and provide only incentives for Cooper, whose contract issue ended similarly to Sutton’s. Marvin Mims, who made some noise as a deep threat as a rookie but could not earn a steady role, will be given a good chance to replace Jeudy as a starter.

As the Jets attempted to clear salary to make room for Haason Reddick‘s contract, they dealt the Broncos a quality starter for next to nothing during the draft. Acquired in a salary-dump deal, Franklin-Myers became a more favorable Broncos asset after redoing his contract (now at two years and $15MM; $8MM guaranteed) post-trade. The Jets offered Franklin-Myers — a three-year starter for the team — a pay cut, but the seventh-year vet confirmed it was at a lower rate compared to his new Broncos salary.

The Jets had given Franklin-Myers a four-year, $55MM extension early during the 2021 season, and he started 52 games with the team. The former Rams draftee saw time both inside and outside in Robert Saleh‘s 4-3 scheme; in Vance Joseph‘s 3-4 setup, Franklin-Myers will line up as a D-end. Producing six- and five-sack seasons in 2021 and ’22, respectively, Franklin-Myers registered 48 QB hits over the past three years. He profiles as a low-risk upgrade up front and will form a veteran-laden D-line with Allen and D.J. Jones.

Paton had said the Broncos planned to acquire a veteran to join Jarrett Stidham, and weeks after the team looked into Sam Darnold, the trade for Wilson was finalized. Conflicting reports about a Broncos Darnold offer emerged, but the former Jets starter preferred the Vikings. After Minnesota gave Darnold a one-year, $10MM deal, Denver reached a salary-split trade agreement for Wilson.

Wilson fared worse than Darnold did in New York — to the point the Jets benched the former No. 2 overall pick three times from 2022-23 — and exited the offseason program as a long-shot candidate to land even the Broncos’ backup job. The Broncos would eat $2.73MM in dead money by cutting Wilson; they would take on $2MM by releasing Stidham. A Stidham cut would, however, save the team $5MM.

After a year and change in Payton’s system, Stidham looks to have a leg up on the erratic BYU product. A No. 2 overall pick being waived before his fourth season would represent an ignominious start to a career and place Wilson on the short list of biggest QB busts in NFL history.

Free agency additions:

A year after big-ticket deals for McGlinchey, Powers and Allen, Denver — navigating historic cap consequences — operated conservatively in free agency. Its most notable 2024 expense was a safety that will be expected to replace Justin Simmons (or try). The Dolphins took Jones in the 2020 second round and used him as a full-time starter in 2021 and ’22, but the Jevon Holland back-line tandem partner lost a competition to DeShon Elliott last summer.

Elliott started over Jones under Vic Fangio, though the former Broncos HC used Jones in three-safety looks. Elliott outsnapped Jones 967-542 last year, but the latter graded as a top-20 safety in PFF’s view. Also showing a blitz acumen under Brian Flores with five sacks in 2021, Jones will team with two ex-Texas Longhorn teammates — Caden Sterns and P.J. Locke — in Denver.

Spending nearly his entire career as an auxiliary Jared Goff target, Reynolds looks to be both insurance against Patrick not resembling his pre-injury version and Mims and fourth-rounder Troy Franklin not developing as the team hoped. Reynolds’ $4.5MM guarantee suggests a clear role. Not as explosive as Jeudy, Reynolds ranked 85th among wideouts in ESPN’s open score metric last season. The ex-Rams regular is known more for his long-range skills and run-blocking chops than being a pure separator, but he did tally 608 yards and a career-high five touchdowns last season. Though, Reynolds’ campaign ended with two drops during Detroit’s NFC championship game collapse.

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Offseason In Review: Houston Texans

July 28th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although more stunning turnarounds have occurred, the Texans’ 2023 ascent was particularly notable because of their roster-building approach under Nick Caserio. Outside of some 2023 payments along the offensive line, the GM had spent little during his tenure — one that featured numerous short-term deals for middling veterans. C.J. Stroud‘s emergence shifted the Texans’ car out of neutral last year, and their 2024 offseason reflected the opportunity the Offensive Rookie of the Year provides.

Gifted with a rookie-scale QB contract for at least the next two seasons, Caserio put forth by far his most active offseason by making multiple trades for skill-position starters and signing a host of defenders in free agency. Tabbed as a potential Super Bowl threat despite Caserio having made multiple HCs one-and-dones and having traded the team’s previous franchise quarterback during a rocky tenure, the Texans gave Stroud a much better roster to lead in 2024.

Trades:

Diggs wore out his welcome in Buffalo, and the second half of his 2023 season no longer justified the payment or the occasional headache. The Bills, however, took on a non-quarterback record dead money hit ($31.1MM) to move on; the Texans dangling a future second-rounder changed the AFC East champs’ mind. Buffalo has shifted to a receiving corps featuring considerable uncertainty; Houston suddenly has a locked-and-loaded top three with Diggs set to join Nico Collins and Tank Dell.

For much of last season, Stroud did not have many places to turn outside of Collins and Dalton Schultz. The Texans still made this work, inviting intrigue about how their Bobby Slowik-run offense will look now that Stroud has Dell back and set to join one of this period’s best route runners. The Texans having looked into Keenan Allen weeks before acquiring Diggs highlights a type of wideout the team identified, as the longtime Charger-turned-Bears addition joins Diggs in being among this era’s best separators. Diggs, 30, being more than a year younger than Allen helped create a higher price tag.

Diggs played a central role in Josh Allen morphing from raw talent to megastar. Diggs and DeAndre Hopkins were moved on the same day in March 2020. Buffalo needed to included a first-round pick to pry Diggs from Minnesota, while the Bill O’Brien-as-GM Texans did not collect a first from the Cardinals for Hopkins. The Bills ended up with the better asset, as Diggs ripped off four 1,100-yard seasons — two surpassing 1,400 — and missed only one game while with Buffalo. It is worth wondering how Allen will look without his No. 1 target, and with Diggs likely having multiple quality seasons left, how this trade affects Stroud’s trajectory will be a lead 2024 storyline.

The Texans agreeing to remove the final three seasons from a team-friendly contract is, at least, worth questioning. Only $3.5MM in guaranteed money remained on Diggs’ Bills-built extension beyond 2024, and the Texans shifted that figure to the ’24 season and turned the trade pickup into a 2025 free agent-to-be. The Bills made Diggs play two seasons on his Vikings-constructed contract before giving him a four-year, $96MM extension in 2022. This profiled as a flexible contract the Texans could have moved had Diggs not proved to be a fit in Slowik’s offense, but they now face the prospect of the asset leaving in 2025 without any compensation coming back.

A franchise tag will be prohibitive, checking in north of $27MM, and because Houston adjusted the contract, no compensatory pick would come back if Diggs leaves in free agency. While Houston created some cap space with the move, the team added void years to do so. If Diggs leaves in free agency next year, the Texans would be hit with $16.6MM in dead money. This represented an odd step, and while it was framed as a motivational tool for Diggs due to the 2025 payday that would await, it does not seem that outweighed the advantage the Texans would have by leaving his contract untouched.

Houston also took the step of preventing a Mixon release. Not only did the Texans send the Bengals a late-round pick, they gave an eighth-year back $13MM guaranteed at signing. Aaron Jones, who has been a more complete back than Mixon since going off the board three rounds later in 2017, only fetched a one-year, $7MM Vikings pact. Dalvin Cook, whose 1,585 career touches trail his 2017 draft classmate’s count by nearly 300, is out of the league presently. After the Bengals gave Mixon a substantial pay cut last summer, the former second-round pick did very well for himself this offseason.

Mixon’s 1,854 career touches are the third-most among active RBs — behind Ezekiel Elliott (2,421) and Derrick Henry (2,185). At 28, Mixon is two years younger than Henry and nearly two years Jones’ junior. But the Texans are making a notable bet here, as only Saquon Barkley ($26MM) and D’Andre Swift ($14MM) secured more at signing than Mixon did this offseason.

The Mixon trade came to pass after the Texans offered Barkley more than $11MM per year, illustrating Caserio’s commitment to upgrading in the backfield after the 2023 team ranked 22nd in rushing (29th in yards per carry). Barkley said the Texans piqued his interest early, but it appears likely Houston did not match Philadelphia’s $26MM guarantee at signing. The Texans also pursued Swift and Tony Pollard. Both Barkley alternatives are better in the passing game compared to Mixon, though they offer less between-the-tackles muscle.

A four-time 1,000-yard rusher, Mixon did accumulate 376 receiving yards last season and 441 in 14 games in 2022. He has not averaged more than 4.1 yards per carry since 2018. The Texans, who saw Dameon Pierce take a notable step back last season, will bet on the Oklahoma product having some gas left in the tank. The Bengals appear to be betting against that, deeming Mixon not worth a $3MM bonus due on the back end of his reworked two-year, $11.5MM deal.

The rare constant on all three Caserio-era Texans defenses, Collins signed three contracts in three years. The most recent — a two-year, $23MM extension — preceded a five-sack season complete with a career-high 18 QB hits. A former Cowboys second-round pick, Collins became one of Caserio’s biggest hits during a period featuring many dart throws on midlevel vets. The Texans ended up overhauling their DT crew, and Collins will play his age-29 season in San Francisco.

Extensions and restructures:

Unlike a few other teams with high-end receiver extensions to complete, the Texans did well to beat the Vikings to the punch. Houston extending Collins days before Minnesota reset the market with its Justin Jefferson windfall helped keep this contract more in line with those Deebo Samuel and D.K. Metcalf signed in 2022. Had the Texans waited for Jefferson’s guarantee avalanche to shake the lower tiers of the market, they probably would have needed to go beyond $32.12MM fully guaranteed and $52.12MM guaranteed in total.

A former third-round pick, Collins delivered one of this decade’s stronger WR breakthroughs by ripping off a 1,297-yard, eight-touchdown showing in Year 3. This came after the Michigan product failed to eclipse 500 yards in a season during the two Davis Mills-led campaigns. Tied to Texans teams largely playing out the string in the wake of the Deshaun Watson mess, Collins became a pivotal part of a Slowik attack that depended on him once Dell went down. Collins’ 191- and 195-yard games sans Dell helped Houston to the AFC South crown, and the team did well to finish this accord when it did.

Collins, 25, came in above Metcalf and Samuel in terms of AAV but still sits as the league’s ninth-highest-paid receiver. That number will continue to drop, as players like CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk are rewarded, and the Texans undoubtedly benefited from Collins not being a steady producer during Tim Kelly and Pep Hamilton‘s OC seasons.

Joining Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard by landing a three-year extension will give Collins another payday opportunity in his late 20s. For now, the Texans can comfortably fit this contract — and Diggs’ since-adjusted deal — due to the bargain Stroud brings while tied to rookie terms.

Free agency additions:

Showing interest in retaining Jonathan Greenard, the Texans effectively completed a swap with the Vikings during the legal tampering period. Greenard was one of free agency’s first commitments, joining the Vikings hours into the tampering period. Hunter-to-Houston rumors did not emerge for nearly a day, and the Texans needed to fend off the Colts for the productive edge rusher. Indianapolis is believed to have offered more money in total, but Hunter — who played high school football in the Houston area — chose a return to Texas on a contract that comes nearly fully guaranteed.

The guarantee percentage Hunter secured is rare for contracts this pricey, but after angling to reach free agency for a bit, the former Mike Zimmer-era Minnesota staple both collected a high guarantee and the chance to hit the market again at just 31. Still 29 despite going into Year 10, Hunter’s deal will overlap with the two additional seasons Stroud must be kept on a rookie pact. This qualifies as a splurge for Caserio, who did almost nothing of the sort during his early years as Texans GM.

After neck and pec injuries sidetracked Hunter from 2020-21, he rebounded to elevate the 2022 Vikings to a surprising 13-4 record and then built on that to create a big market. Still pursuing a playoff spot, the Vikings opted against trading Hunter at the 2023 deadline. He ripped off an NFL-most 23 tackles for loss last season to go with a career-high 16.5 sacks. After Greenard delivered his best season under DeMeco Ryans, Hunter brings both an extensive production history — after becoming the NFL’s youngest player to reach 50 sacks and earning four Pro Bowl nods in Minneapolis — and age-related stability opposite Will Anderson Jr. Hunter’s history should help the Defensive Rookie of the Year see better matchups.

An injury-shortened 2022 season limited Al-Shaair’s market, but the former Fred Warner/Dre Greenlaw sidekick created more interest after a prolific Titans season. Al-Shaair, who found another 49ers outpost under Ryans after following GM Ran Carthon to Tennessee, racked up 163 tackles — the most by a Titan this century — and two sacks in 2023. Al-Shaair was in San Francisco for both of Ryans’ DC seasons but played under the current Texans HC during his two years spent as 49ers ILBs coach. This helped explain why the former UDFA sought the Texans in free agency, and after not putting much money into the linebacker spot from 2021-23, Houston upped its investment to fortify its defensive second level.

Despite ranking sixth against the run last season, the Texans rebooted at defensive tackle. They pursued Arik Armstead, but the nine-year 49er opted to rejoin the GM that drafted him — Trent Baalke — and sign with the Jaguars. Houston also showed interest in Christian Wilkins but may well have exited that race once the Raiders offered a staggering guarantee ($82.75MM). Lower-cost cogs signed up instead, with Autry’s deal more of a one-year contract with an option. The Jags had released Fatukasi, while Settle was a rotational presence in Buffalo.

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5 Key Stories: 7/21/24 – 7/28/24

July 28th, 2024 at 4:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

With training camps opening around the league, a number of big-ticket extensions were finalized in recent days. Not every player eligible for a new deal has one in hand at this point, though, leading to a few high-profile holdouts. In case you missed any of the top developments from the past week, here is a quick recap:

  • Packers Extend Love, Clark: Green Bay’s first few training camp practices did not involve quarterback Jordan Love taking part as he and the team continued to negotiate an extension. Shortly after reports indicated progress was being made, the parties agreed to a four-year, $220MM deal. Love, 25, parlayed his strong second half showing from last year into an accord including a practical guarantee of just over $140MM which will keep him in place through 2028. The 2020 first-rounder now sits in a tie for the lead in terms of annual average compensation ($55MM). Prior the Love deal, the Packers finalized a three-year, $64MM extension with Kenny Clark. The latter is positioned to remain the focal point of Green Bay’s defensive interior, as he has been for much of his eight-year career. Clark earned his third Pro Bowl nod in 2023 after recording a personal best seven sacks, and continued production will be expected of him for years to come.
  • Dolphins Finalize Tagovailoa Extension: Hours before the Love deal was in place, Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins reached agreement on another QB mega-deal. Miami’s starter is set to collect just over $212MM in new money on his extension, one which is believed to consist of a three-year commitment in terms of guaranteed compensation. Tagovailoa is therefore set to remain in place through 2027 at a minimum as he aims to duplicate his 2023 success. While staying healthy for a full campaign, the 26-year-old led the league in passing and received his first Pro Bowl invitation last season. Miami will be counting on continued health and production under center while attempting to achieve more consistency on offense and take a step forward from last year’s wild-card exit. Tagovailoa will be a central aspect of those efforts for the foreseeable future.
  • Darrisaw Agrees To Market-Topping Vikings Deal: Two years remain on Christian Darrisaw’s rookie contract with the Vikings opting to pick up his fifth-year option this spring. Team and player worked out a long-term arrangement well before free agency, though, agreeing to a four-year extension worth $104MM. The $26MM AAV of the pact moves Darrisaw (who will collect at least $43.73MM in guarantees) to the top of the pecking order amongst blindside protectors. Penei Sewell’s Lions deal is the most lucrative tackle contract in the league, but Darrisaw will be counted on to remain a foundational member of Minnesota’s offensive core for the long-term future. The 25-year-old is on the books through 2029.
  • Jaguars Extend Campbell: Jacksonville worked out extensions for quarterback Trevor Lawrence and edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen earlier this offseason, and cornerback Tyson Campbell became the latest to secure a long-term investment. The latter signed a four-year, $76.5MM extension, making him the highest-paid corner amongst those without a Pro Bowl appearance. Campbell has been a full-time starter during his three years as a Jaguar, and his ball production from 2021-22 helped his value considerably. The 24-year-old struggled in coverage last year in particular, but the team has nevertheless ensured he will remain a key member of the secondary for the long-term future. The Jags are aiming to bounce back from last season’s second half collapse, and Campbell’s performance in 2024 will go a long way in determining their success in that regard.
  • 49ers’ Williams, Cowboys’ Lamb Staging Training Camp Holdouts: A few veterans have elected to skip the beginning of their respective teams’ training camps and incur daily fines along the way. Haason Reddick (Jets) is one of them, as is 49ers left tackle Trent Williams. Three years remain on the latter’s contract, but he is now seeking a raise. Williams, 36, has performed as expected during his four San Francisco campaigns, earning first-team All-Pro honors each of the past three years. The future Hall of Famer is due over $77MM over the next three years, but none of his remaining salaries are guaranteed. CeeDee Lamb, meanwhile, has followed through on his expected approach of skipping camp until he secures a monster extension. Dallas has other financial priories, but getting Lamb on the books at or near the top of the WR market is a key one. The Cowboys have a new offer in place, so a resolution could be reached soon.

Community Tailgate: Where Will Ryan Tannehill Sign?

July 21st, 2024 at 10:20pm CST by Rory Parks

Ryan Tannehill is easily the most accomplished quarterback remaining on the free agent market, though only the Steelers have been connected to him in any meaningful way this offseason. After Pittsburgh added Russell Wilson and Justin Fields as part of their QB overhaul, the only other report concerning Tannehill was one indicating the Broncos were not interested in him. The 2019 Pro Bowler has not suggested he has any plans to retire, and as training camps open up around the league, it is worth taking a look at some of his likeliest landing spots.

Tannehill, who will turn 36 in less than a week, revived his career in Tennessee after injuries torpedoed the final three years of his Miami tenure. The Dolphins traded him to the Titans in March 2019, and he took over for a struggling Marcus Mariota in Week 6 of the 2019 campaign. From that point through the end of the 2022 season, Tannehill compiled a 30-13 regular season record and led Tennessee to three consecutive playoff berths.

Unfortunately, that is when injuries once again began to take their toll. Tannehill was limited to 12 games in 2022, and after suffering an ankle sprain in Week 6 of the 2023 season, he lost his starting job to Will Levis. With Tennessee now looking to give Levis a chance to prove he can be the team’s franchise passer, Tannehill is looking for a new employer.

In Tannehill’s case, everything old could be new again, as the Dolphins profile as a logical fit for their former first-round pick. While the ‘Fins obviously have Tua Tagovailoa entrenched as their QB1, the southpaw comes with his own share of health concerns, and his current backups are Mike White and Skylar Thompson, who have nine career regular season starts between them. Tannehill would give an otherwise talented roster a legitimate chance to win in the event Tagovailoa is forced to miss time with injury, and he would be a natural fit in Mike McDaniel’s offense. Plus, he would not need to carry the team on his back; he would merely need to competently deliver the ball to the club’s bevy of skill position talent. 

Like the Dolphins, the Chargers might have a playoff-worthy roster with starting quarterback Justin Herbert under center, but all of that talent would be wasted if Herbert is lost for a significant period of time. With all due apologies to Easton Stick and Max Duggan, Tannehill would represent a clear and obvious upgrade to the Bolts’ quarterback room, and the team’s presumptive run-heavy approach under new offensive coordinator Greg Roman would mimic the Derrick Henry-centered attack that allowed Tannehill to thrive in Nashville.

The Buccaneers, meanwhile, were in something of a rebuilding/retooling phase at this time last year, and they were content to have Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask go into training camp in a battle for starting QB duties. But now that Mayfield has reestablished himself as a viable QB1 and is coming off a divisional round playoff appearance, Tampa Bay is eyeing another postseason run. Although the Bucs have always spoken highly of Trask since they selected him in the second round of the 2021 draft, they may prefer a more experienced option in the event Mayfield should get hurt or should experience the type of regression that ultimately ended his Cleveland tenure.

The Rams, a surprise entrant in the 2023 playoff field who were narrowly defeated by the Lions in the wildcard round, did sign a veteran passer this offseason to serve as a backup to starter Matthew Stafford. Free agent acquisition Jimmy Garoppolo, however, has an extensive injury history and will miss the first two games of the 2024 season due to a PED suspension. Behind him on the depth chart is Stetson Bennett, a 2023 fourth-rounder who saw no action in his rookie season. While Garoppolo’s presence likely precludes a Tannehill signing for now, that could change if Garoppolo should struggle in camp or if he sustains another injury.

Again, Tannehill has not been formally connected to any of the above-named teams, so it is difficult to guess where he might land. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

PFR Originals: Colts, Bengals, Toney, Cap

July 21st, 2024 at 9:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Here is a rundown of PFR’s latest original content:

  • On Wednesday, Sam Robinson continued our Offseason in Review series with a deep dive on the offseason activities of the Colts. With last year’s rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor both expected to be back and healthy in 2024, the losses of Gardner Minshew and Zack Moss should be minimized, especially with the addition of last year’s Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco, who will now serve as Richardson’s QB2.
  • Last night, Adam La Rose produced the next edition of the series with an Offseason in Review focusing on the Bengals. The new home of Moss, Cincinnati became a haven for backups craving a bit of the limelight. Moss is expected to be the starter after backing up Taylor in Indianapolis, and safety Geno Stone will finally get an opportunity to be a full-time starter after nabbing seven interceptions as the third safety in Baltimore last year. The Bengals did have a bit of trouble with contract negotiations in the receivers rooms as Tee Higgins is set to play on the franchise tag, and Ja’Marr Chase remains without a new contract despite several new deals for wideouts this offseason.
  • Ben Levine took some time to examine the roster situation in Kansas City and just how wide receiver Kadarius Toney fits into it. While Toney does have a pair of Super Bowl rings thanks to his time with the Chiefs, it’s hard to say that he’s made enough contributions to justify a roster spot in 2024.
  • For the fans of NFL finances, Sam put out two originals focused on notable salary cap situations this week. First, he took a look at the 25 defensive players with the largest cap hits in 2024, highlighted by a number of elite pass rushers who may be looking into extensions in the near future to lessen their cap impact in the final years of their current deals. The next day, Sam shifted focus to dead money, showing the 24 players who represent dead money hits of $10MM or more. New Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson led the way by leaps and bounds with a $53MM dead money hit being attributed to his former team in Denver for next season.
  • Lastly, Rory Parks hosted a Community Tailgate this morning, inviting discussion in the comments about where veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill could end up in free agency. One intriguing possibility saw Tannehill returning to South Beach, his home for the first seven years of his NFL career, as a backup to Tua Tagovailoa. It seems likely that his time as a starter in the NFL has come to an end as most of the options discussed entail a position battle for a backup position.

5 Key Stories: 7/14/24 – 7/21/24

July 21st, 2024 at 2:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

The NFL’s brief downtime is set to come to an end with training camps about to open around the league. The past few days have already seen a number of key developments take place, however. In case you missed any of the top stories from the past seven days, here is a quick recap:

  • Aiyuk Requests Trade Amidst Stalled 49ers Talks: Throughout the offseason, Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers have been unable to gain traction on extension talks. The pending free agent receiver has now submitted a trade request, although to no surprise San Francisco does not intend to deal him. Speculation has swirled during recent months regarding the 26-year-old’s future given the gap between his asking price and the team’s valuation of him. At least five teams were prepared to pay Aiyuk roughly $28MM per season upon trading for him at the draft, and the Patriots have remained interested since the window for a swap appeared to close. The start of training camp is a soft deadline for the 49ers to hammer out a contract, but they have experience with lengthy summer holdouts in recent history; team and player will hope this latest episode also results in a deal.
  • Broncos, Meinerz Agree To Extension: Three years into an unexpectedly successful NFL career, Quinn Meinerz has landed a sizable second contract. The 25-year-old guard agreed to a four-year, $80MM extension with the Broncos featuring $45MM guaranteed. A Division III product, Meinerz became a starter midway through his rookie campaign and has established himself as one of the league’s top guards since then. Denver has responded with the most lucrative O-line investment in team history, one made more notable by the expensive pacts already on the books up front. Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers each signed big-ticket deals in free agency last offseason, and Garett Bolles is attached to a $17MM-per-year deal. The latter is a pending free agent, though, and the Meinerz commitment will add to further doubts about his future in the Mile High City beyond 2024.
  • Barrett Retires Prior To Dolphins Debut: The Dolphins appeared to have a high-end insurance option along the edge in the form of Shaquil Barrett, but he will not play in Miami in 2024. The two-time Super Bowl winner announced his retirement from the NFL after nine seasons in the league. Barrett, 31, served as a complementary player with the Broncos before seeing his production take off in Tampa Bay. Across five Buccaneers campaigns, he racked up 45 sacks and a pair of Pro Bowl nods. Barrett inked a one-year Dolphins deal with Miami seeking edge depth behind the rehabbing Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips. Given his retirement decision, the team will lean more on veteran Calais Campbell and first-round rookie Chop Robinson this year. Barrett departs the NFL with over $83MM in career earnings.
  • Fitterer Joins Commanders; Wright To Depart: A pair of notable changes are set to take place in the Commanders’ front office in 2024. Scott Fitterer – who spent the past three seasons as general manager of the Panthers – will join Washington’s staff as a personnel executive. His tenure in Carolina did not go as planned, and the blockbuster trade for the 2023 No. 1 pick and the handling of the Brian Burns situation will hurt his chances of landing a future GM gig. He will nevertheless be an experienced voice this year, one which will be Jason Wright’s last in the nation’s capital. The latter has resigned as president (the title he held since 2020) and he will depart the team no later than the end of this season. Wright’s absence after guiding a transition away from the Dan Snyder era will be felt as new owner Josh Harris moves forward.
  • Cowboys Prioritizing Lamb Over Prescott? The Cowboys have several big-money decisions to make in the near future. Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb are both set to enter the final year of their respective deals, and the former had been thought to be the higher priority ahead of training camp. The most recent report on the matter points to a Lamb extension actually being the top item on the to-do list, however. The receiver market has surged past $30MM per season this year, with Justin Jefferson’s $35MM AAV leading the way. Coming off a franchise record-setting campaign, Lamb could look to match that deal or at least come close to its value and guaranteed money. The 25-year-old skipped all spring workouts, and staying away from training camp is a distinct possibility. The progress of extension talks will thus be worth watching closely over the coming days.

Offseason In Review: Cincinnati Bengals

July 20th, 2024 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

Joe Burrow’s health was a talking point leading into the 2023 campaign as he dealt with a calf strain. That ailment gave way to a season-ending elbow injury midway through the year, one which added to his missed time and hindered the Bengals’ playoff push.

Cincinnati still managed a 9-8 record, but it was insufficient for a wild-card berth. The team identified improvements in the secondary as a priority, although changes on the other side of the ball have proven to be a key factor in the past few months as well. Alterations along the offensive line and at the skill positions (more of which are likely on hand next offseason) have left the Bengals with several new faces to integrate as Burrow and Co. prepare to navigate another long list of AFC contenders.

Trades:

Mixon’s Bengals future was in question last offseason, with his cap figure being weighed against the prospect of a transition to a younger setup in the backfield. Team and player reached agreement on a restructure during which the 27-year-old took a notable pay cut. Before a 2024 roster bonus was due, Cincinnati elected to move forward with a Mixon release.

The team ended up reversing course, though, with Houston taking on the veteran as a new lead back. The Texans showed heavy interest in making a backfield addition representing an upgrade over Devin Singletary, including a lucrative Saquon Barkley offer. Tony Pollard and D’Andre Swift were also on the team’s radar, but Mixon will carry the load for at least the short-term future.

Mixon, who became the third-leading rusher in Bengals history last season, agreed to a two-year, $19.75MM extension upon arrival in Houston. As a result of that agreement (which includes $13MM in guarantees), the Oklahoma product is under contract through 2026 to begin the second phase of his career. The Texans’ offense features plenty of pass-catching options, but Mixon should be a factor in his new team’s bid to repeat the success of 2023.

For the Bengals, life after the former second-rounder will mark a notable change in the backfield. In each of his healthy seasons since 2018, Mixon logged no fewer than 210 carries, topping 1,200 scrimmage yards during each of those campaigns. Cincinnati will have a much more cost-efficient running back setup moving forward, but the team’s production in the ground game will face question marks.

Free agency additions:

With respect to PFR’s top 50 free agent list, the Bengals withstood many more losses than additions this spring. Rankins is nevertheless a notable new face along the defensive interior. The 30-year-old delivered a strong showing during his one-and-done Texans campaign, racking up six sacks. That figure represented his highest total since 2018 and included a three-sack performance against Cincinnati. He will be counted on to deliver an impact in the pass-rush department as a central member on the team’s new-look defensive line.

Rankins received an offer averaging $12MM per year from the Texans before deciding to join the Bengals. The former Saints first-rounder logged a consistent workload during his Jets stint (2021-22), and his uptick in production in Houston will lead to high expectations on his fourth career team. Pairing Trey Hendrickson with a dependable interior rush contributor could help a defense which ranked 17th in sacks last season. Cincinnati struggled against the run in 2023, though, and the team’s new faces up front will play a key role in determining if improvement takes place.

The Bengals finished mid-pack through the air in 2023 despite Burrow’s missed time. Their largest issue on offense was the ground game (90 rushing yards per contest, 31st in the league). With Mixon no longer in the picture, increased attention will be paid to Chase Brown in addition to Moss moving forward. The latter operated in a rotational capacity during the start of his career, but the midseason 2022 trade which moved him from the Bills to the Colts resulted in an uptick in playing time.

For two different stretches last season, Moss operated as Indianapolis’ lead back. The 26-year-old received double-digit carries eight times in 2023, and his 183 total attempts were comfortably the most of his career. Undersized at 5-9, the 205-pounder will be tasked with operating between the tackles for Cincinnati to complement Chase’s speed. Moss did not receive as lucrative of a deal as many other free agent backs this offseason, but his addition could prove to be a highly cost-effective one if he translates his Colts success to his new home.

Entering the offseason, Cincinnati planned to make a short-term addition at right tackle while also seeking out a more permanent solution at the position via the draft. That approach led to a Mekhi Becton visit prior to the Brown signing. Like he did during his first Patriots stint, Brown manned the blindside over the past two seasons upon returning to New England. The 31-year-old blocker struggled in 2022 but when healthy last season, he rebounded in terms of PFF evaluation (80.2 overall grade). He also has experience at the right tackle spot he will play with the Bengals.

Brown’s deal contains incentives (just as his Patriots pacts did), so his play in Cincinnati will carry financial implications. With Burrow’s health remaining a top organizational priority, pass protection at both tackle spots will continue to be an area of scrutiny for the Bengals. Brown’s long-term replacement may very well be in the organization, but the 10th-year veteran could provide an experienced option during at least the start of the campaign.

After breakdowns in the secondary became a consistent problem for the 2023 Bengals, it came as no surprise that additions at the safety spot were deemed a priority. Stone, 25, established himself as a strong special-teamer early in his Baltimore career, but he took on a much larger defensive workload this past season. The former seventh-rounder logged an 82% snap share and translated that into an AFC-leading seven interceptions and nine pass deflections. A repeat of that ball production would certainly be welcomed in a Jessie Bates-less defensive backfield.

Bell landed a three-year Panthers deal last offseason, but after a single campaign with the team he was released in a cost-shedding move. That paved the way for an inexpensive return to Cincinnati, one which could see him reprise his former starting role. With recent first-rounder Dax Hill transitioning from safety to corner, the play of Stone and Bell on the backend will go a long way in determining how much the Bengals rebound from 2023’s struggles against the pass.

Re-signings:

Taking a flier on Gesicki will give the Bengals a new look at tight end from a pass-catching standpoint, but the team will continue to depend on familiar faces at the position. Sample has not come close to matching his playing time or production from 2020, but he has remained a staple in Cincinnati’s offense in the years since. The 28-year-old also contributes on special teams, and third-phase responsibilities will no doubt continue moving forward as Hudson looks to once again serve as a complementary receiving target.

The same holds true for Irwin, who has spent his entire five-year career in Cincinnati. The former UDFA scored four touchdowns on only 15 receptions in 2022, and he followed that up with personal bests in receptions (25) and yards (316) last season. He could take another step forward in 2024 and in doing so provide the Bengals with cost-effective production in the passing game. Considering the team’s current (and future) financial situation at the receiver spot, effective depth will be critical.

Notable losses:

Once the Bengals added Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency last offseason, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Williams. The former first-rounder rescinded a trade request and accepted a right tackle assignment for 2023, once again serving as a full-time starter. Williams underwhelmed in terms of PFF evaluation (for the second year in a row), which no doubt hurt his market value and hindered his chances of finding a left tackle gig with a new team.

The 26-year-old nevertheless secured $30MM on a two-year Cardinals deal. Arizona will move Paris Johnson Jr. to the blind side in 2024, a transition which comes as little surprise considering his pedigree and college experience. That will leave Williams to continue handling right tackle responsibilities in his new home while the Bengals move in a different direction

Reader’s torn quad – the second of his career – ended his Bengals tenure and threatened to reduce his market value. Cincinnati hoped to keep its four-year DT starter in the fold, but it soon became clear he would at least explore other opportunities. The 30-year-old enjoyed a consistent spell in Cincinnati (when healthy), proving his $53MM Bengals pact to be a solid investment on the team’s part.

To little surprise, Reader was unable to match that figure on his third career contract. His Lions visit ultimately yielded a two-year deal, but its maximum value ($27.25MM) only includes $7.4MM guaranteed at signing. The former fifth-rounder’s health and performance in Detroit will determine whether or not he remains with the Lions for 2025. Likewise, uncertainty surrounds the veteran and rookie additions the Bengals brought in to replace him.

With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both in need of new deals, it became clear entering the 2023 season that Boyd’s next contract would likely come from a new team. Upon hitting the market, several teams were listed as suitors. One of those was his hometown Steelers, with which a mutual interest existed for working out an agreement. The Steelers were not willing to increase the value of the initial offer made to the Pittsburgh native, though, steering Boyd in a new direction.

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Release Candidate: Kadarius Toney

July 20th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Ben Levine

As the Chiefs navigated their post-Tyreek Hill offense, the front office was seeking reinforcement at the receiver position. One of the team’s most notable WR acquisitions was Kadarius Toney, who the Chiefs acquired from the Giants midway through the 2022 campaign. While Toney has won a pair of Super Bowl rings during his year-plus in Kansas City, the wideout hasn’t lived up to the billing. Now with only a year remaining on his rookie contract, it’s uncertain if he’ll even reach the 2024 campaign with the Chiefs.

A 2021 first-round pick by the Giants, Toney showed flashes during his rookie campaign, finishing with 39 catches for 420 yards. However, injuries quickly proved to be an issue in both 2021 and 2022, leading to the Giants deciding to cut bait. The Chiefs swooped in and acquired the intriguing wideout, sending New York a future third- and sixth-round pick.

Toney struggled to carve out a significant role during his first season in Kansas City, finishing with 14 receptions in seven games. He showed out a bit in that year’s playoffs, finishing with 50 yards in Kansas City’s divisional-round victory before setting the Super Bowl record with a 65-yard punt return (while also hauling in a touchdown). With JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman out the door, Toney had a chance to step into a major role with Patrick Mahomes heading into 2023.

Unfortunately, it was more of the same for the third-year pro. Toney was unable to emerge ahead of Rashee Rice, Justin Watson, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (and, of course, TE Travis Kelce). The Chiefs even went out and re-acquired Hardman, leading to Toney being inactive for four of the team’s final seven games, plus each of the Chiefs’ four playoff contests.

Heading into the 2024 campaign, Toney faces even more competition than he did last year. The Chiefs were quick to add Marquise Brown on a one-year agreement, and they moved up in the first round to select Xavier Worthy. That leaves Toney to compete with many of the same WRs who he was unable to supplant during the 2023 season, but there are fewer roster spots this time around.

Rice’s future is in question following some troubling off-the-field incidents, but the 2023 second-round pick notably finished his rookie season with 935 yards from scrimmage. Hardman and Watson were ahead of Toney at the end of the 2023 season, and the team is also still rostering 2022 second-round pick Skyy Moore. Even when accounting for Rice’s uncertain roster status, Toney would have to leap at least one player if he hopes to make the roster.

The Chiefs unsurprisingly declined Toney’s fifth-year option back in May, making the wide receiver a free agent after this season. While moving on from his $2.5MM salary in 2024 wouldn’t provide any cap relief, the dead cap charge isn’t enough to make his cut untenable. With only three seasons under his belt, Toney would be subject to waivers, and his draft pedigree could be enough for a team to bite. More likely, Toney will hit free agency before having to settle for a lower salary (and/or even a practice squad gig).

The NFL’s Eight-Figure Dead Money Hits For 2024

July 18th, 2024 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL moved into new territory this offseason, with one Broncos decision creating a staggering gap between the most costly dead money hits and No. 2 on the all-time list. Beyond Denver’s Russell Wilson release, other teams are taking on notable dead cap hits in 2024. Here are the players who will account for more than $10MM in dead money on teams’ payrolls this year.

  1. Russell Wilson, QB (Broncos): $53MM
  2. Stefon Diggs, WR (Bills): $31.1MM
  3. Kirk Cousins, QB (Vikings): $28.5MM
  4. Haason Reddick, EDGE (Eagles) $21.52MM
  5. Jamal Adams, S (Seahawks) $20.83MM
  6. J.C. Jackson, CB (Chargers): $20.83MM
  7. David Bakhtiari, T (Packers): $18.15MM
  8. Danielle Hunter, EDGE (Vikings): $14.91MM
  9. Carlton Davis, CB (Buccaneers) $14.1MM
  10. Andrus Peat, OL (Saints): $13.64MM
  11. Kevin Byard, S (Titans): $13.36MM
  12. Mike Williams, WR (Chargers): $12.46MM
  13. Aaron Jones, RB (Packers): $12.36MM
  14. Chandler Jones, EDGE (Raiders): $12.27MM
  15. Mike Evans, WR (Buccaneers): $12.19MM
  16. Keenan Allen, WR (Chargers): $11.62MM
  17. Xavien Howard, CB (Dolphins): $11.41MM
  18. Michael Thomas, WR (Saints): $11.19MM
  19. Laken Tomlinson, G (Jets): $10.74MM
  20. Leonard Williams, DL (Giants): $10.64MM
  21. Arik Armstead, DL (49ers) $10.31MM
  22. Quandre Diggs, S (Seahawks): $10.26MM
  23. Byron Jones, CB (Dolphins): $10.1MM
  24. Maliek Collins, DT (Texans): $10MM

Months after trading for Wilson, the Broncos gave the decorated quarterback a five-year, $245MM extension. While Wilson offered something of a bounce-back effort from a shockingly mediocre 2022, Sean Payton‘s team still opted to designate him as a post-June 1 cut. Wilson’s $37MM injury guarantee, which the Broncos attempted to move in an effort that led to NFLPA involvement but no grievance, would have resulted in comparable dead money in 2025 had he remained on Denver’s roster on Day 5 of the 2024 league year and then been released next year.

The Broncos will receive a small cap credit — due to Wilson’s veteran minimum Steelers deal — in 2025, but the team will take on more than $83MM in total dead money from the release. This shatters the NFL record for dead money, which the Falcons previously held by trading Matt Ryan ($40.5MM), and the contract will remain on Denver’s books through the 2025 season. The Broncos opted to take on more dead money this year than next, separating this post-June 1 cut from most teams’ strategies.

The Bills’ decision to trade Diggs less than two years after giving him a four-year extension broke the non-QB dead money record. Unlike the Wilson matter, Buffalo will take on the Pro Bowl wide receiver’s full dead cap hit this year. Ditto Green Bay, which passed on a Bakhtiari post-June 1 designation. The Chargers will also be rid of the Allen and Williams responsibilities after 2024. The Seahawks also passed on post-June 1 designations with Adams and Diggs.

New Orleans has Thomas set to count more than $9MM in dead money in 2025 as well due to using the June 1 strategy. The Dolphins are still paying out the Jones contract from a 2023 post-June 1 designation, while Howard’s post-June 1 status will create a $15.7MM dead money penalty in 2025.

Void years created the Vikings’ Cousins cap hit. After attempting to negotiate a fourth contract with the veteran quarterback last year, the parties failing to come to terms resulted in void years being added in a restructure. The Falcons came in much higher than the Vikings were willing to go, guarantee-wise, leading Minnesota to a new QB path and significant Cousins dead money.

The Eagles also included three void years on Reddick’s contract, and the Buccaneers will eat some Evans dead money — despite re-signing the 11th-year wide receiver just before free agency — due to a void year-driven trigger before the latest contract was signed.

Offseason In Review: Indianapolis Colts

July 17th, 2024 at 9:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Colts nearly turned a seemingly lost season into a playoff berth, falling just short of an AFC South title despite Gardner Minshew needing to replace Anthony Richardson early. Indianapolis responded to its 9-8 showing by displaying tremendous confidence in Chris Ballard‘s homegrown core, one that has largely been around as the team has cycled through post-Andrew Luck quarterback options. A spree of extensions and re-signings defined Indy’s offseason; well, that and Richardson’s rehab effort.

While last season marked a surprise surge, it also still brought few answers on the gamble the team took at No. 4 overall. Richardson entered the NFL as a raw prospect with tantalizing tools; his run of injuries last year brought obvious concerns. More importantly, the Florida product threw 84 passes after a 393-pass Gators career. The Colts need the dual-threat QB to show signs he will be the long-awaited post-Luck long-term QB. Some of Luck’s teammates are still in the picture in Indy, illustrating how far back Ballard’s core goes. The team continued its build-from-within strategy this offseason.

Extensions and restructures:

As injuries caught up with T.Y. Hilton, Pittman quickly became the Colts’ lead wideout. The 2020 second-rounder had operated as such for most of his career, and while the Colts resolved the Jonathan Taylor matter before taking care of Pittman, the franchise tag made a rare appearance in Indianapolis to ensure the two-time 1,000-yard receiver could not test the market. Using the tag for the first time since cuffing Pat McAfee in 2013, the Colts slapped a $21.8MM tender on Pittman. Unlike the Bengals, who are renting Tee Higgins for at least one more season, Pittman — chosen one spot after Higgins in the 2020 second round — signed an extension just before the legal tampering period opened.

Pittman’s extension moved the $21.8MM number off the Colts’ books, freeing them up to execute a retention-heavy free agency strategy. The Colts also did well, as it turned out, by not letting negotiations drag near the July 15 deadline.

Indy extending Pittman on March 11 came just before Calvin Ridley scored a four-year, $92MM deal ($46.98MM fully guaranteed) and weeks before Amon-Ra St. Brown‘s extension confirmed another market boom was coming. Pittman, 26, was not a candidate to rival A.J. Brown and Justin Jefferson‘s $32MM- and $35MM-per-year extensions, but the fifth-year Colt would have benefited by the WR ceiling rising had those transactions occurred before his.

The Colts convincing Pittman, shortly after news of the cap’s $30.6MM spike emerged, to do a deal south of where 2022 extension recipients Deebo Samuel and D.K. Metcalf reside proved a win for the team. Following the St. Brown and Jefferson pacts, along with Nico Collins‘ $24MM-per-year deal, Pittman sits as the NFL’s 14th-highest-paid wideout. CeeDee Lamb and Brandon Aiyuk figure to affect that placement soon, but via the short-term extension, Pittman should have a chance at another big payday in his late 20s.

Richardson’s injury probably helped Pittman contractually. The raw rookie likely would not have been able to set up Pittman for the season he had — 109 catches, 1,152 yards — but Minshew peppered the 6-foot-4 weapon with targets to help the Colts’ surprising run to the postseason precipice. The Colts strengthened their receiving corps in the draft, but Richardson will be looking Pittman’s way first as the team enters its second season under Shane Steichen.

After Indianapolis’ binge of agreements with homegrown talent, Ballard extended the D-line centerpiece he acquired via trade four years ago. Obtained for a 2020 first-round pick, Buckner has remained one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles. While the 49ers cut Arik Armstead four years after choosing his slightly cheaper extension over a Buckner re-up back in 2020, the latter is still going strong in Indiana.

Buckner, 30, scored a deal that comes nearly fully guaranteed. He moved from $21MM per year to $23MM on average, and while his current AAV sits seventh among DTs, the former top-10 pick traded a push for a top-market salary for security. Buckner’s 2024 and ’25 base salaries are fully guaranteed, and the Colts have the Oregon alum on the books through his age-32 season.

A two-time Pro Bowler as a Colt — in addition to receiving a 2020 first-team All-Pro nod — Buckner has missed one game since being traded. The Colts will hope to continue to rely on a player who has anchored their D-line during a period of edge rusher uncertainty. Buckner’s presence boosted the development of Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo, both of whom making progress en route to career-high sack totals last season. Buckner’s four-year Colts sack count (32.5) betters his four-season 49ers work (28.5), and his 87 QB hits with the AFC team outflank his San Francisco total as well.

Totaling between seven and 9.5 sacks during his Colts tenure, Buckner gives the team a high floor that will certainly be important as the team attempts to load up around Richardson. Pro Football Focus has slotted Buckner as a top-12 DT in three of his four Indy seasons, and ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric tabbed him fifth among interior D-linemen last season. This near-fully guaranteed contract shows one of the luxuries a rookie-scale QB provides for a franchise.

As Shaquille Leonard‘s injuries mounted to the point the perennial All-Pro became a late-season release last year, the Colts leaned on Franklin. The latter’s latest agreement came two years after the Colts had re-signed the former seventh-rounder to a three-year, $10MM deal. A Syracuse product, Franklin adds to Ballard’s breakthrough 2018 draft haul. The ’18 group played a key role in the Colts reigniting after a miserable Andrew Luck-less 2017, with Leonard, Quenton Nelson, Braden Smith, Nyheim Hines and Tyquan Lewis going off the board before Franklin.

Amid Leonard’s run of 2022 misfortune, Franklin moved into a full-time role and racked up 167 tackles alongside Bobby Okereke. The Colts depended on Franklin more last season, with Okereke defecting to the Giants. Franklin compiled 179 tackles in a three-down role. He has forced four fumbles over the past two seasons. Although PFF slotted Franklin 58th among off-ball LBs in each of those years, the Colts authorized a significant raise to continue as a regular in Gus Bradley‘s defense.

Re-signings:

Of the Colts’ 22 projected offensive and defensive starters, 19 are homegrown. Moore practically pushes that number to 20, having been a Colts waiver claim (from the Patriots) ahead of his 2017 rookie season. That doubled as Ballard’s first offseason. Despite the Colts having one playoff berth since Luck’s surprise 2019 retirement, the Moore and Stewart efforts quickly showed how Ballard planned to supplement Richardson’s contract.

The money largely went to in-house additions, with Moore being the most significant of the re-signed contingent. For the second time, a Moore agreement raised the ceiling for slot defenders. The Colts took care of Moore when he was first extension-eligible, back in 2019. Although the former UDFA played out the deal, he has remained in form good enough to prompt another investment. Considering the uncertainty surrounding the Colts’ boundary cornerback spots, Moore locking down the slot is paramount to the team’s defensive effectiveness.

Moore, who will turn 29 next month, made an effort to secure a new contract during the 2022 offseason. With two years remaining on the four-year, $33.3MM contract, Ballard and Co. did not hand out a new one following Moore’s 2021 Pro Bowl slate. Like Chris Harris before him, Moore has operated as a high-end slot stopper who wanted to be paid closer to perimeter standouts. After a down 2022, Moore bounced back with a three-INT season that included two pick-sixes. Indianapolis ranked third in defensive DVOA in the slot compared to 25th in outside coverage. Moore’s 13 INTs from the slot position are five more than any other player since 2017; PFF ranked the 5-9 cover man 18th among all corners last season.

Also included in the top 40 on PFR’s free agent list, Stewart joined Moore in securing better terms compared to his second Colts contract. The team gave the 2017 fourth-rounder a notable raise after his 2023 season brought a PED suspension. Stewart’s six-game absence showed against the run. The Colts allowed 107.9 rushing yards per game with Stewart suited up; during his six-game ban, Indianapolis yielded 153 on the ground. Stewart, 30, also registered a career-high four sacks in 2022. Other than the PED penalty, he has not missed a game since 2019.

This offseason brought the first test for Ballard regarding third-contract investments; the Moore and Stewart accords showed no hesitancy existed on this front. Ballard has long prioritized homegrown talent, and these contracts show the longtime GM is willing to reward pillars approaching the end of their primes. The Colts will deploy two 30-year-old DT starters, though their DE core is much younger.

It took some time for Blackmon to come back, and the former second-round pick was not too pleased with his market. The four-year Colts starter visited the Bills and 49ers before agreeing to re-sign — likely to bolster his value for a 2025 free agency redux. Blackmon, 26 in August, was part of a safety market that rewarded high-level young talent (Antoine Winfield Jr., Xavier McKinney, Kyle Dugger) but cast other proven players (Justin Simmons, Quandre Diggs, Eddie Jackson, Jamal Adams, Kevin Byard) aside. Kamren Curl also settled for a low-level Rams deal, and it is far from certain a solid Blackmon season will lead to a value spike as macro safety assessments fluctuate.

A middle tier did form in free agency, with C.J. Gardner-Johnson (three years, $27MM), Brandon Jones (3/20) and Geno Stone (2/12) cashing in this year. Blackmon could aim for this tier in 2025, though he was already coming off a decent contract year. The Utah alum intercepted four passes, deflected eight more and recovered two fumbles in 2023, as Bradley used the versatile safety across the formation. More of the same should be expected, as Blackmon has helped cover for 2022 third-rounder Nick Cross being unable — through two years, at least — to establish himself as a reliable starter.

During Blackmon’s time in free agency, the Colts hosted Kareem Jackson and showed interest in former Buccaneers and Chiefs option Mike Edwards. The duo having not previously played with the Colts clearly hurt his chances during one of the NFL’s most inward-focused offseasons in recent memory. Lewis also benefited from this approach, inking a fourth Indianapolis contract, with Sanchez also now tied to a third Colts accord. Sanchez, 29, recovered from a season-nullifying injury sustained just before the 2022 campaign. After a 17-game 2023, the former UDFA is back for an eighth season in Indianapolis.

Settling in as a rotational backup capable of playing inside and outside, Lewis matched his career-high with four sacks in 2023 and established a new mark for QB hits with 13. The Colts racked up 51 sacks last season, good enough for fifth in the NFL. While Buckner, Paye, Odeyingbo and Samson Ebukam led the effort by each collecting at least seven, Lewis managed to recover from a second patellar tendon tear in two years. The former second-round pick suited up for all 17 games and scored some guaranteed money as a result, keeping Indy’s D-line core together for 2024.

Free agency additions:

This is quite the run for Flacco, who has gone from receiving next to no interest as a 2023 free agent to the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year to securing the most guaranteed money he has received since his final Ravens deal ended with a Broncos release. Flacco, who has banked $177MM over his career to make him a top-10 earner in NFL history, has not signed for more than $3.5MM since inking his second and final Ravens extension in 2016. Five regular-season Browns starts and a forgettable playoff outing generated interest, as the Colts needed a new backup after Minshew joined Flacco in boosting his market last season.

Joining the Browns after Deshaun Watson needed season-ending surgery, Flacco fared far better than he had as a Jet. The former Super Bowl MVP, who initially caught on with Cleveland via a practice squad deal, averaged 7.9 yards per attempt and threw 13 TD passes (and eight INTs) in five games — a stretch that included wins over the Texans, Jaguars and Jets. This came despite the Browns missing their starting tackles and Nick Chubb. Flacco posted four straight 300-yard showings in the Cleveland wins, driving the team to an 11-6 record and a postseason berth. Although Flacco topped 300 yards again in the wild-card round, his two pick-sixes ended the unexpected surge.

At 39, Flacco is the NFL’s second-oldest quarterback (behind Aaron Rodgers). He also expected the Browns to show interest, but Cleveland — as it shifts to a more Watson-friendly offense — preferred ex-Indianapolis FA target Jameis Winston. The Eagles also made Flacco an offer for what would have been a Philly return trip. This Colts move comes with clear risk, given Flacco’s struggles in the four seasons between his Baltimore stay and the Cleveland rebound, as Richardson came out of multiple games due to injury last season.

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