Saints To Meet With S Justin Simmons
1:38pm: When speaking to the media after Wednesday’s practice, head coach Dennis Allen said (via Underhill) New Orleans was in communication with Simmons this spring. While little traction was gained at that point, Allen noted team and player are closer now, making the Saints a contender to secure a deal.
8:19am: Justin Simmons has shown patience since his March Broncos release, but the perennial All-Pro safety remains unsigned two weeks into training camp. His closest post-Denver connection has emerged, however.
The Saints are planning to meet with Simmons today, according to NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill. New Orleans has multiple clear ties to Simmons, with Joe Woods having coached the former third-round pick in Denver. Saints secondary coach Marcus Robertson was also on staff during part of Simmons’ Broncos stay.
Woods’ Denver DC years (2017-18) overlapped with Simmons’ move into the team’s starting lineup. The Broncos parked the Boston College product behind Super Bowl starters T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart in 2016, when Woods was the team’s DBs coach, but jettisoned Ward ahead of the ’17 campaign. Simmons moved into the Broncos’ starting lineup alongside Stewart that season and remained there until Sean Payton’s first season with the club.
While Simmons has generated understandable interest, it is clear his market has not ventured to a satisfactory place. The 30-year-old defender — the NFL’s interceptions leader (30) since his 2016 rookie year — has seen the other big names on the safety market find homes in recent weeks. The Titans have added Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, while fellow cuts Eddie Jackson (Ravens) and Marcus Maye (Dolphins) also landed in the AFC.
Simmons has wanted to land with a contender, having never played in a playoff game. The Saints have missed the past three NFC playoff brackets, but they do have a veteran-laden defense — one that includes 2022 offseason addition Tyrann Mathieu at safety — and play in the lowly regarded NFC South. At this point, Simmons’ options may be limited. Although the eight-year veteran could continue to wait for an injury to affect his market, time is running out for him to catch on ahead of the season. Simmons has stood in place as the top free agent available for much of this offseason, and while he has landed a second-team All-Pro accolade in four of the past five seasons, some evaluators viewed his 2023 work (per the Denver Post’s Troy Renck) as inconsistent.
The Saints used 2023 fifth-rounder Jordan Howden during Maye’s injury- and suspension-driven absences last season, but Simmons would certainly be an upgrade. He started 108 games in Denver and resided as one of the NFL’s best safeties — a status that garnered him a four-year, $61MM extension in 2021 — for most of his Broncos tenure. The Saints hold just more than $11MM in cap space, and other established vets (Cameron Jordan, Marshon Lattimore, Demario Davis) join Mathieu on their defensive depth chart.
Nothing close to Simmons’ $15MM-plus-per-year Broncos salary is available at this point, but Simmons should be able to fetch a decent price — even at this juncture — ahead of another free agency run in 2025.
Texans Not Interested In S Justin Simmons
Justin Simmons remains one of the top free agents still on the market. For the time being, at least, the veteran safety is not a target of the Texans. 
Houston has not yet submitted a contract offer to Simmons, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. That could change in the future, but a lack of interest this deep into the summer suggests the Texans are satisfied with their incumbent options on the backend. Simmons was released earlier this offseason by the Broncos, and he has not appeared close to an agreement with a new team.
A reunion with Denver is not expected, although the latest update on that front came before the team’s decision to move on from Caden Sterns yesterday. The Broncos currently sit near the bottom of the league in cap space with $7.8MM in available funds. Simmons, for his part, has not named finances as his top priority during his ongoing free agent spell, however.
The 30-year-old is aiming to join a contending team on his next pact, one which will likely check in at a lower price than the $15.25MM AAV he was previously attached to. Simmons’ 30 interceptions since entering the league in 2016 lead the NFL during that span, and his production would make him a valued contributor on any number of teams. He has earned two Pro Bowl invitations and four second-team All-Pro nods in the past five seasons, so in at least the short term he would be counted on to remain an impact starter with his next employer.
Simmons has drawn interest in recent weeks with many teams considering him the best veteran still on the market. No known visits have taken place, though, so it remains to be seen when he will make notable progress toward signing a deal. Houston has veterans Jimmie Ward and Eric Murray in place at safety. Third-round rookie Calen Bullock is another option at that position. Jalen Pitre has seen time at safety before, but as Wilson notes the Texans are trying him at slot corner for now.
If that alignment draws success during the remainder of training camp and the preseason, Houston could continue with the status quo in the secondary. Injuries or poor play could change the team’s thinking, and with over $20MM in cap space an investment in Simmons would certainly be feasible. As things currently stand, however, the Texans should not be listed as a contender to acquire him.
S Justin Simmons Addresses Free Agency
The Jamal Adams deal may start a domino effect regarding contracts for veteran safeties who still find themselves on the market. In that event, Justin Simmons will be worth watching closely; the former Broncos Pro Bowler is the most decorated safety available, and he could generate a market amongst contending teams.
To little surprise, a report from Thursday night indicated many teams around the league consider Simmons to be the top free agent with training camps not far away. A number of suitors could put in competitive offers as a result, and the 30-year-old can afford to hold out for a relatively lucrative offer. As could be expected, though, Simmons also has his eyes on a 2024 Super Bowl run as he considers his options.
“We’re just playing the long game here. I think ultimately we’re going to end up where we’re wanted and where we’re valued,” he said, via Bradey King of Denver7. “I’ve always said from the jump that I want to play for a contender, and I feel like I can be the missing piece for a lot of teams to get them over the hump.”
Simmons has racked up 30 interceptions since entering the league in 2016, the most in the NFL during that span. He has earned second-team All-Pro acclaim in four of the past five seasons, but he was one of many aging safeties who were let go this spring in cost-cutting moves. A reunion with the Broncos should not be expected, though a number of other teams could show interest in the coming days and weeks.
The Boston College alum indicated that nothing is considered imminent regarding an agreement, but it would come as no surprise if he had a deal in place before training camp. 24 NFL teams currently have over $10MM in cap space, meaning they could feasibly absorb a deal for Simmons while maintaining needed flexibility ahead of the fall. Of those teams, however, many are already at the offseason roster limit, meaning they would need to cut a player to make room for him.
Simmons has amassed over $62MM in career earnings, most of which stems from the $15.25MM-per-year Broncos extension he inked in 2021. A deal of smaller value will no doubt await him when he joins a new team, but his free agency will remain one to monitor in the immediate future.
Considerable Interest In S Justin Simmons
Jamal Adams followed Marcus Maye in coming off the free agent board this summer, landing a deal with the Titans on Thursday. Safety talent still resides on the market, and Justin Simmons headlines that list.
The former Broncos standout, who received four second-team All-Pro nods over the past five seasons, has been available for four months now. A lack of interest is not keeping the eight-year veteran unsigned. As could be expected given Simmons’ age (30) and accomplishments, money is the lead driver here.
Several teams consider Simmons the top free agent remaining, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who adds the longtime Denver starter has drawn considerable interest during his time on the market. A recent report suggested low-money deals featuring incentives were likely for a safety glut that still includes Simmons, Quandre Diggs and Eddie Jackson. Simmons probably checks in a tier higher here, which has made his availability somewhat curious even as the safety market has fluctuated.
This offseason brought three big-ticket deals — for Antoine Winfield Jr., Xavier McKinney and Kyle Dugger — with the Buccaneers defender scoring a position-record extension. Winfield’s four-year, $84.1MM contract not only set a safety record, it came in with a higher AAV than any cornerback has secured to date.
Free agency, however, also brought a modest contract for Kamren Curl (two years, $9MM) and midlevel pacts for the likes of Geno Stone (2/14) and Rayshawn Jenkins (2/12). Kevin Byard joined Simmons as a cap casualty; the Bears gave him a two-year, $15MM pact. C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who has an extensive past in the slot, signed a nine-year, $27MM deal to return to the Eagles. But just $10MM is guaranteed at signing.
It would stand to reason Simmons is aiming fairly high, given his production. Since coming into the league in 2016, Simmons has snared more interceptions (30) than anyone else. This came after the former third-round pick waited a year to start behind former Super Bowl cogs T.J. Ward and Darian Stewart. Simmons also already cashed in, having played the 2020 season on the franchise tag before spending three seasons on a four-year, $61MM extension.
With considerable earnings banked, Simmons is also likely prioritizing a fit. The Broncos drafted Simmons two months after a Super Bowl parade but have not made the playoffs since. Landing with a contender makes sense for the Boston College alum; a Broncos reunion is viewed as highly unlikely, as the team has made lower-cost plans at the position.
Experienced players have been known to wait until training camp or occasionally into the preseason to sign. Camp gives teams a better view of where position groups stand, and injuries obviously can shake up depth charts. With camps starting in less than three weeks, Simmons’ 2024 destination should be known fairly soon. It will be interesting to see if he lands a one-year deal with hopes of a better market in 2025 or secures a notable multiyear commitment this summer.
Broncos Unlikely To Bring Back S Justin Simmons
A number of veteran safeties were let go in the lead-in to free agency, and many remain unsigned well after the draft. That includes Justin Simmons, who saw his eight-year Broncos tenure come to an end in March.
Denver’s decision to cut bait created $14.5MM in cap savings for 2024, the final year of Simmons’ deal. The 30-year-old’s future with the team was in question before his release, given the nature of his contract. Rather than pursuing an extension to lower his cap hit, though, the Broncos made Simmons one of the most high-profile players to be let go this offseason.
The two-time Pro Bowler has not been connected to any new teams during his ongoing free agent spell. It would come as a surprise if he were to reunite with the Broncos, however. Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post writes that it appears “very unlikely” a new deal keeping Simmons in the Mile High City will be worked out. As Gabriel notes, the Broncos have not acted in a way which suggests they are open to exploring a way to renew this relationship.
Not long after Simmons was let go, fellow safety P.J. Locke was retained on a two-year deal. The latter took on starting duties when Kareem Jackson missed time through suspension in 2023, and his play earned him a new investment from the team. Denver also has Caden Sterns as well as Delarrin Turner-Yell and JL Skinner in place as returnees on the backend.
In free agency, the Broncos moved quickly in adding Brandon Jones. The former Dolphin secured $20MM on a three-year pact, and he will be counted on to replace Simmons’ production moving forward. Jones, 26, has amassed three interceptions and nine pass deflections in his four-year career. Those figures fall well short of what Simmons has accomplished (30 interceptions, 64 pass breakups), but Jones will have significant opportunities to make an impact on his new team.
Denver did not select a safety during the draft, leaving Jones and Locke as starters for the 2024 campaign. While a Simmons reunion cannot be entirely ruled out until his next contract is in place, signs point toward him playing on a new team for the first time in his career in 2024. He could represent the first of many safety dominoes in the waning stages of free agency around the league.
Broncos Release S Justin Simmons
The list of veteran safeties who will be available in free agency continues to grow. The Broncos are moving on from Justin Simmons, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
One year remained on Simmons’ pact – one which had an AAV of $15.25MM, sixth-highest in the league at the position – and he was set to carry a cap hit of $18.25MM. By cutting bait with the 30-year-old, Denver will save $14.5MM while generating a dead money charge of $3.75MM. The move will bring an end to Simmons’ eight-year tenure in the Mile High City, one in which he has consistently been one of the team’s top producers. 
Given the nature of his cap hit, the former third-rounder’s future was called into question earlier this offseason. A report from last month noted the likelihood of a deal lowering Simmons’ cap charge, something which could have been accomplished via a restructure or extension. Instead of taking either route, though, the Broncos – met with a number of financial challenges given the enormous dead money charge the Russell Wilson release will trigger – will cut bait altogether.
Simmons has played each of his 118 career games with the Broncos, generating a well-earned reputation as one of the league’s top safeties along the way. He has recorded at least two interceptions every year, including a league-leading six in 2022. This past campaign saw continued production on the backend (three interceptions, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles), and Simmons received a second career Pro Bowl invitation as a result.
Dating back to 2019, the Boston College product has been earned second-team All-Pro honors four times while remaining healthy and productive. His 30 interceptions since his rookie campaign (2016) are the most in the NFL during that span. As a result, his absence will be sorely felt in Denver’s secondary moving forward, while a number of suitors will no doubt show interest in Simmons now that he is available.
The Broncos had a long-standing tandem at the safety spot with Simmons and Kareem Jackson serving as starters. After a campaign featuring multiple ejections, fines and suspensions, however, the latter was waived in December and claimed by the Texans. Jackson is a pending free agent, but a Broncos reunion would come as a major surprise. P.J. Locke – who took over as a starter due to Jackson’s absence – is also set to reach the open market next week, so plenty of additions could be required for the Broncos to re-build their safety depth chart.
Denver entered Thursday as one of the team’s sitting over the cap ceiling, meaning cost-cutting moves would be required. Releasing Simmons will bring the team to within roughly $1.85MM of compliance, so any subsequent maneuvering will likely not be as notable as today’s move. Still, the loss of Simmons will create a challenge for Denver as the team aims to build off the defensive rebound seen last season after a woeful start to the campaign on that side of the ball.
Simmons’ durability (seven missed games since 2018) and production should help him find a new home relatively soon. A number of teams have moved on from pricey safeties in the lead-in to free agency, however, and the likes of Jordan Poyer, Rayshawn Jenkins, Kevin Byard and Quandre Diggs are among those who have recently been released. Interested suitors will have a number of options to choose from at the safety spot, but Simmons could command the most lucrative deal among them.
Latest On Broncos S Justin Simmons
A number of position groups could see an exodus this offseason for the Broncos. Safety does not appear to be one of them, but Justin Simmons could still be a player to watch from a financial perspective.
The two-time Pro Bowler is attached to a four-year, $61MM pact. One year remains on that contract, and Simmons is due $14.5MM. None of that total is guaranteed, however, and he is set to carry a cap hit of $18.25MM in 2024. A move aimed at lowering the latter figure could thus take place.
Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post notes that “some action is likely” on Simmons’ contract. That could take the form of a restructure or extension if the Broncos remain committed to the veteran ballhawk. A trade would also create added financial flexibility, but Simmons’ absence would create a sizable roster hole on Denver’s defense. Given his durability and production, it would come as a surprise if the Broncos actively looked to move on the former third-rounder.
Simmons totaled three interceptions, eight pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles in 2023. Those figures helped earn second-team All-Pro acclaim for the fourth time in his career, demonstrating his continued ability to provide high-end play. Now 30, another multi-year commitment would thus likely be a safer investment for the Broncos than a number of other aging options at the position.
As Gabriel notes, P.J. Locke is the only Broncos safety currently set to hit the open market in March. Making a move of some kind with Simmons would create more clarity from a financial standpoint, and potentially free up funds to retain Locke after he played well filling in for Kareem Jackson. Few proven commodities reside on Denver’s depth chart beyond Simmons at the safety position (Caden Sterns, JL Skinner, and Delarrin Turner-Yell).
The Broncos were the subject of numerous trade calls leading up to the deadline, with wideouts Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton again finding themselves on the market. Simmons also received interest, although buyers unsurprisingly elected not to take on the remainder of his contract. Denver is one of several teams currently set to be over the cap, so cost-shedding moves will be required in the coming days and weeks. Moving on from Simmons would likely be an avenue the Broncos wish to avoid, but it will be worth monitoring to see if a new agreement can be worked out between the parties to soften the blow of his pact.
Broncos Set High Price On Patrick Surtain
During the leadup to the trade deadline, Patrick Surtain appeared untouchable. In the aftermath, it certainly looks like those reports depicting the Broncos’ belief in the All-Pro cornerback from a long-term perspective were accurate.
That said, the Broncos did set a price for the third-year standout. As teams called on a player deemed out of reach, Denver is believed to have asked for two first-round picks in exchange for Surtain, according to a GM who spoke with the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora. And that cost may not have even sealed a deal. The Broncos set a two-first-rounder baseline for their best player, making it unlikely he would become a true candidate to be moved.
Surtain rocketed to the top tier at his position via a first-team All-Pro showing in 2022, doing plenty to help the Broncos stay in games despite a broken offense. The 23-year-old cover man can be kept on a rookie contract through 2025, with the Alabama alum on a smooth track toward seeing his fifth-year option exercised by May.
The elite perimeter corner has also played a key role in the Broncos recovering from their historic 70-20 loss to the Dolphins. In particular, the team’s first win over the Chiefs since 2015 may have changed the Broncos’ thinking. The 3-5 team shifted a bit on seller’s trades after that win, according to the GM. The Broncos were believed to be “open for business;” that turned out not to be the case.
Justin Simmons also came up frequently in teams’ talks pre-Week 8 talks with the Broncos, and it would not have taken as much to pry away the eighth-year safety. But the standout DB did not emerge in many trade rumors, despite his status as one of the league’s top ballhawks. The Jerry Jeudy–Courtland Sutton pair came up frequently, but the Broncos will regroup with their starting receivers, perhaps with the intent of seeing each rebuild their trade value. Offers for Jeudy and Sutton did not come close to the team’s desired asking prices. Deadline-day proposals are believed to have come in, but Sean Payton‘s updated stance of not shopping anyone turned out to lead to a rare quiet deadline day in Denver.
While Denver’s defense has recovered after a woeful start, the team’s five first-half losses will create an uphill battle toward a potential wild-card berth. The team still has road matchups with the Bills and Lions on its docket. But the Broncos’ batch of trade chips, for the most part, are all under team control through at least 2024. Garett Bolles‘ deal expires after next season, as does Simmons’. Jeudy is due a $12.99MM fifth-year option salary next season, while Sutton’s $15MM-per-year pact runs through 2025.
Broncos To Release OLB Frank Clark
OCTOBER 13: Unlike the Gregory last call, no trade partner emerged here. The Broncos are officially releasing Clark on Friday, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. With the trade deadline still nearly three weeks away, Clark’s vested-veteran status will send him straight to free agency. Inactive for Thursday night’s game, the ninth-year veteran closes his Denver tenure with 36 defensive snaps.
OCTOBER 12: The Broncos opened the season with two 2015 second-rounders residing as their highest-profile edge rushers. By Week 7, both are likely to be out of the picture. After the Broncos dealt Randy Gregory to the 49ers, they are eyeing a separation from Frank Clark.
Rumored to be a trade candidate, Clark will not face the Chiefs tonight due to what the Broncos’ injury report classifies as an illness. The Broncos, however, are preparing to move on from Clark — via trade or release — in the near future, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports.
Clark, 30, restructured his one-year, $5MM contract recently, per Yates, giving up $1.69MM in guaranteed salary. The move trims Clark’s $3.5MM base salary to the prorated veteran minimum ($841K), NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds. This restructure will make Clark’s contract easier to move. Clark returned to action last week against the Jets, coming back after sustaining a groin injury in practice. Holding him out of tonight’s game will protect against a reinjury.
The former Seahawks and Chiefs edge rusher has generated some trade interest, and after the Gregory move, had been viewed as available. While Clark notched two double-digit sack seasons in Seattle and made memorable contributions during Kansas City’s playoff runs, he does not have a sack or a QB hit in his limited Denver run.
Although Clark will become an interesting hired gun of sorts moving forward, he spent several weeks in free agency waiting for other edge dominoes to fall. Leonard Floyd‘s one-year, $7MM Bills pact led to the Broncos giving Clark a one-year, $5MM deal shortly after they made Brandon McManus a post-June 1 cut. On that note, the Broncos should not expect too much in trade compensation here. Though, reducing Clark’s salary to the minimum will certainly help on that front. Denver collected a 2024 sixth-rounder from San Francisco for Gregory, whom the team was prepared to cut.
After calling out Gregory for poor effort in a 70-20 demolition at the Dolphins’ hands in Week 3, the Broncos benched him and moved 2022 second-round pick Nik Bonitto into the lineup. Bonitto is on a tear as a starter, combining for 4.5 sacks over the past two games. The Broncos have used 2021 seventh-round pick Jonathon Cooper (three sacks) as a starter since Week 1, with Clark coming off the bench in the team’s opener. Baron Browning, a 2021 third-rounder whom the team converted from inside linebacker last year, remains on the reserve/PUP list and will not play tonight. But Browning is likely on track to debut in Week 7, Denver7’s Troy Renck adds.
Deteriorating fits notwithstanding, a suddenly woeful Broncos defense could probably use Gregory and Clark — at least while Browning is out. These separations signal more moves are likely coming for a 1-4 team. While Sean Payton stopped short of saying the Broncos were shopping veterans, other clubs believe they are open for business ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline. Trade-rumor mainstays Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton are likely returning to the news cycle, with Renck adding Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson are two other names to monitor.
Clark sits behind only Willie McGinest and Bruce Smith in postseason sacks, with 13.5, but he did not live up to the five-year, $104MM deal the Chiefs gave him following a 2019 tag-and-trade transaction. Clark topped out at eight sacks in a season and has not tallied more than six in a single campaign since 2019. Two arrests on gun charges in 2021 led to a two-game suspension last year, and the Chiefs cut him this offseason. Still, Clark figures to land in a contending team’s pass-rushing rotation soon.
The Broncos picked up the pieces after John Elway‘s 1999 retirement far more quickly than they have post-Peyton Manning, and the years since the latter’s 2016 exit led to Denver becoming this period’s most prolific deadline seller. After dealing Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Von Miller and Bradley Chubb over the past five years, it appears the Broncos will keep going as Payton attempts to build for the future. Jeudy and Simmons are signed through 2024, with Jeudy’s fifth-year option ($12.99MM) fully guaranteed. Sutton’s four-year, $60MM deal runs through 2025; Jackson is on a one-year contract.
Largest 2023 Cap Hits: Defense
While the NFL’s top 2023 cap hits go to players on offense, a number of pass rushers are tied to lofty figures as well. None check in higher than Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams.
Williams and Chiefs D-tackle Chris Jones carry high contract-year cap hits, while the Steelers’ two front-seven cornerstones each are set to go into training camp with cap figures north of $20MM. As the salary cap climbed to $224.8MM this year, here are the top defensive cap figures as camps near:
- Leonard Williams, DL (Giants): $32.26MM
- T.J. Watt, OLB (Steelers): $29.37MM
- Myles Garrett, DE (Browns): $29.18MM
- Chris Jones, DT (Chiefs): $28.29MM
- Aaron Donald, DL (Rams): $26MM
- Arik Armstead, DT (49ers): $23.95MM
- Cameron Heyward, DL (Steelers): $22.26MM
- C.J. Mosley, LB (Jets): $21.48MM
- Jonathan Allen, DT (Commanders): $21.44MM
- Shaquil Barrett, OLB (Buccaneers): $21.25MM
- Grady Jarrett, DT (Falcons): $20.63MM
- Marlon Humphrey, CB (Ravens): $19.99MM
- Shaquille Leonard, LB (Colts): $19.79MM
- Kevin Byard, S (Titans): $19.62MM
- Adoree’ Jackson, CB (Giants): $19.08MM
- Harold Landry, OLB (Titans): $18.8MM
- Justin Simmons, S (Broncos): $18.15MM
- Jamal Adams, S (Seahawks): $18.11MM
- Matt Judon, DE (Patriots): $18.107MM
- Quandre Diggs, S (Seahawks): $18.1MM
- Nick Bosa, DE (49ers): $17.9MM
- DeForest Buckner, DT (Colts): $17.25MM
- Emmanuel Ogbah, DE (Dolphins): $17.19MM
- DeMarcus Lawrence, DE (Cowboys): $17.11MM
- Eddie Jackson, S (Bears): $17.1MM
The Chiefs are working toward a second extension agreement with Jones, who is in the final season of a four-year, $80MM contract. A new deal with the star inside pass rusher would free up cap space, and DeAndre Hopkins is believed to be monitoring this situation.
As for Williams, the Giants had wanted to adjust his deal to reduce his eye-opening cap number. As of mid-June, however, no extension appeared to be on the team’s radar. The previous Giants regime signed off on the 2021 Williams extension (three years, $63MM). The Giants are also uninterested — for the time being, at least — in extending Jackson, who was also a Dave Gettleman-era defensive addition.
Donald is in the second season of a three-year, $95MM deal. The Rams gave Donald a landmark raise last year, convincing the all-everything D-tackle to squash retirement talk. A no-trade clause exists in Donald’s contract, which pays out its guarantees this year. Mosley remains tied to the $17MM-per-year deal the Mike Maccagnan regime authorized with the Jets. That contract, which reset the off-ball linebacker market in 2019, still has two seasons remaining on it due to the deal tolling after Mosley’s 2020 COVID-19 opt-out call. The Jets restructured the deal last year.
Washington now has two D-tackles tied to deals of at least $18MM per year. While Daron Payne‘s pact is worth more ($22.5MM AAV), higher cap hits on that deal will come down the road. Three years remain on Allen’s 2021 agreement. At safety, no team is spending like the Seahawks. In addition to the big-ticket deals authorized for Adams and Diggs, Seattle gave ex-Giants starter Julian Love a two-year, $6MM accord in March.
New Titans GM Ran Carthon attempted to give Byard a pay cut. That request did not go over well, but the standout safety remains with the team and has not requested a trade. Tennessee re-signed Landry on a five-year, $87.5MM deal in 2022; the veteran edge rusher has yet to play on that deal due to the ACL tear he sustained just before last season.
The 49ers can bring Bosa’s number down via an extension, which has long been on the team’s docket. As San Francisco extended Deebo Samuel just after training camp began last year, Bosa received back-burner treatment due to the fifth-year option. The star defensive end’s price undoubtedly went up during the waiting period, with the former No. 2 overall pick earning Defensive Player of the Year acclaim in the fourth year of his rookie contract.