Jayon Brown

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/22

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Raiders Sign LB Jayon Brown

Jayon Brown is heading to Las Vegas. The Raiders announced that they have signed the free agent linebacker (via Twitter).

The 2017 fifth-round pick spent the first five seasons of his career in Tennessee. He saw time in 66 games for the Titans, including a 2019 campaign where he compiled 105 tackles, an interception, and a fumble return TD in 14 games (14 starts).

Brown re-signed with the Titans last offseason, and he ended up starting six of his 10 games, collecting 55 tackles and an interception. He appeared in 67 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Brown missed a month of the season while rehabbing a knee injury.

While the Raiders stole headlines for their moves on offense, the team has also been adding some notable players on defense. Just in the past few days, the team has added safety Duron Harmon, defensive tackle Kyle Peko, and defensive tackle Vernon Butler.

Inside Linebacker Market

There are many inside linebackers waiting patiently on the open market. A wild first week of free agency has come and gone with other positions seeing record deals and big names moving. The market for inside linebackers, however, has been quiet and less than lucrative.

In years past, we’ve seen monster deals to players like C.J. Mosley, whose contract has an average annual value of $17MM and guaranteed him $43MM at signing, and Darius Leonard, whose contract has an average annual value of $19.7MM and guaranteed him $33MM at signing. The largest payout we’ve seen this offseason to an inside linebacker was when the Packers kept De’Vondre Campbell from entering free agency with a five-year, $50MM deal, with a guaranteed $15MM. It’s certainly an impressive deal, and one the esteemed linebacker deserves, but no other deals have come close.

After being cut by the Jaguars, Myles Jack signed a two-year, $16MM deal to become a Steeler. Josey Jewell remained with the Broncos after signing a two-year, $11MM deal. Minnesota’s new inside linebacker, Jordan Hicks, joined the Vikings on a two-year, $10MM contract. Christian Kirksey signed a similar deal to remain with the Texans. We’ve seen a few other small deals like Zaire Franklin signing a three-year, $10MM deal to remain in Indianapolis and Alex Anzalone signing a one-year, $2.25MM contract to play another year with the Lions.

While that may sound pretty active, there are many big names who have yet to find deals. The biggest of these names is Bobby Wagner. Cut after ten outstanding years in Seattle, Wagner was expected to be a highly sought after free agent. While there have been many teams who’ve voiced interest in the eight-time All-Pro, there has been no word of negotiations. Any deal Wagner signs will likely top the numbers posed by Campbell and the Packers, but the fact that he has yet to find a home may hint at the fact that the money he’s looking for isn’t being offered.

There are many other impact names on the open market: Kwon Alexander, Jayon Brown, Jarrad Davis, Dont’a Hightower, Anthony Hitchens, Nick Kwiatkoski, Reggie Ragland, Joe Schobert, and Danny Trevathan.

Due to the low spending we’ve seen thus far and the plethora of names available, these players will likely have to search for the right fit and accept a decent deal if offered. They may end up having to wait until injuries provide an opportunity for them to fill in on a roster. The exception, of course, is Wagner, who can afford to be patient. Wagner will have the luxury of being able to wait and see how rosters form throughout the league, biding his time until he’s sure he’s joining a contender. Look for the others to give up on looking for a lucrative payday and settle for decent deals from teams with schemes they like.

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/3/22

Here are Monday’s activations from and placements on the reserve/COVID-19 lists:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Mike Remmers (remains on IR)

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Raymond Calais (remains on IR)

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 12/29/21

Several key players returned to practice Wednesday. Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Rico Bussey

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/6/21

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

Titans Designate LB Jayon Brown For Return

Following a big week for the Titans’ AFC standing, they are set to have a key defender back in uniform soon. Tennessee designated Jayon Brown to return from IR on Wednesday.

This starts Brown’s 21-day clock to come off IR. The Titans parked the fifth-year linebacker on their injury list because of a hamstring injury. The team also designated outside linebacker Derick Roberson and center Aaron Brewer to come off IR.

The Titans retained Brown this offseason, re-signing him on a one-year deal worth $5.25MM. The veteran second-level starter faces a key stretch run, having spent time on IR in each of the past two seasons. Brown’s 2020 season ended after 10 games. This and the pandemic-altered salary cap affected Brown’s free agency, putting some pressure on him to make an impact ahead of a 2022 free agency bid.

Tennessee has shown some improvement on defense this season and is coming off one of its best defensive outings in recent memory, having held the Chiefs without a touchdown. A 34-game starter since the 2018 season, Brown made 105 tackles in 2019 and profiles as a key helper for the Titans’ chances of repeating as AFC South champions. Tennessee faces its lone threat to doing so Sunday, in matching up with the Colts for the second time this season.

Titans Place LB Jayon Brown On IR

Jayon Brown has battled multiple injuries early this season, and the Titans will give the veteran linebacker at least three weeks off. Brown is now on Tennessee’s IR list.

After running into hamstring trouble earlier this season, Brown was on Tennessee’s injury report this week with a knee malady. The fifth-year veteran did not practice this week and had been ruled out of the Titans’ Week 5 game against the Jaguars.

Brown played 93% of Tennessee’s defensive snaps in Week 1 but has not cleared the 35% threshold since. He missed Week 2 with the hamstring problem. This will mark the second straight season in which Brown misses at least four games. An elbow injury sidelined him for six games to end last season.

The Titans re-signed Brown to a one-year deal worth $5.25MM, making this season critical for the former fifth-rounder’s long-term earning potential. Tennessee’s defense is coming off a brutally ineffective season, and Shane Bowen‘s unit enters Week 5 ranked 26th in points allowed. Brown’s absence will not help matters.

Additionally, the Titans placed wide receiver Racey McMath, offensive lineman Aaron Brewer and tight end Tommy Hudson on IR. The Titans promoted offensive lineman Corey Levin, defensive lineman Amani Bledsoe and linebacker Joe Jones to fill their respective roster spots.

Titans To Bring Back LB Jayon Brown

The Titans will retain a key defensive piece for the 2021 season. They are re-signing linebacker Jayon Brown on a one-year deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Brown turned down other offers to return to the Titans, per Pelissero, who notes the four-year Titan contributor will stay for $5.25MM. A three-year starter with Tennessee, Brown represents a key retention move for a team that is making a considerable effort to improve defensively.

Although Brown’s 2020 season did not end well, with the former fifth-round pick suffering a major elbow injury, he expressed a desire to stay in Nashville. The Titans pounced, and Brown will reprise his role as a starter alongside Rashaan Evans at inside linebacker. Evans is under contract through the 2021 season but can be retained through 2022 by the Titans picking up his fifth-year option. It would cost them a fully guaranteed $9.74MM to do so.

As for Brown, he has played well since being elevated into the Titans’ starting lineup in 2018. Brown broke out that year, delivering a versatile performance — 97 tackles, six sacks, 10 QB hits — and followed that up with a 105-tackle slate in 2019. Tennessee’s defense struggled across the board last season, but Pro Football Focus has rated Brown as a top-20 linebacker in each of the past three seasons. The UCLA alum has also excelled in coverage, a facet that makes it a bit surprising this midlevel contract was the best he could do in free agency.

But Brown is, as of now, in position to have another crack at cashing in next year. And an elbow specialist just cleared Brown to return to full football activities, Pelissero tweets. Brown figures to be joined by UFA additions Bud Dupree and Denico Autry in Tennessee’s starting lineup next season.

Jayon Brown Hopes To Stay With Titans

Jayon Brown is on track for free agency. But, if the Titans linebacker has his druthers, he’ll stay put, as ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport writes. 

It would be huge staying with the Titans for another however-many years. I’ve grown to love the city,” Brown said. “The team drafted me, I know the system, know what’s expected of me and love the fan base. There’s a lot of comfort.”

Brown has developed into one of the Titans’ defensive leaders since joining the team as a fifth-round pick in 2017. This past season was set to be a huge platform year for the UCLA product. Instead, a complicated elbow injury shut him down in November.

This past season, the 25-year-old finished with one sack, one interception, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and five tackles for loss in ten games. Previous to that, Brown logged a career-high 105 tackles in 2019. In 2018, his first year as a starter, he scored six sacks.

Up until his injury, Brown was on the field for every Titans snap in 2020. He’s an integral part of the defense, but he could find more lucrative offers elsewhere. As it stands, the Titans have less than $5MM in breathing room. Meanwhile, they’ll have to consider other internal free agents such as wide receiver Corey Davis, tight end Jonnu Smith, and cornerback Desmond King. There’s also the matter of defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who says he wouldn’t mind staying in Nashville.