Jaguars To Cut S Rayshawn Jenkins
After going into last season with largely the same defense they trotted out in 2022, the Jaguars are making changes. Rayshawn Jenkins will be the latest Jacksonville cut on that side of the ball.
The Jags are releasing the veteran safety, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, with this move following the cuts of Folorunso Fatukasi and Darious Williams. Not part of the Jags’ 2022 free agency splurge like Fatukasi or Williams, Jenkins has been with the team since 2021, working as a starter throughout his tenure.
Jenkins, who turned 30 earlier this year, was due to make $8MM in base salary next season and carry a $12.3MM cap number. Unless this is a post-June 1 cut, the Jags will eat a bit of dead money due to void years existing on the veteran DB’s contract. Jacksonville will save more than $5MM while taking on just more than $7MM in dead cap.
Signed to a four-year, $35MM deal during Urban Meyer‘s offseason in charge, Jenkins came over from the Chargers and started every game he played as a Jaguar. That included 17-game seasons in each of the past two years. Jenkins intercepted five passes in that span, including a walk-off pick-six of Dak Prescott in a 40-34 Jags win in 2022. Pro Football Focus, however, rated the former fourth-round pick as one of the worst regular safeties over the past three seasons. The advanced metrics website slotted Jenkins outside the top 70 in each of his three Jacksonville seasons.
With the Jags firing most of their defensive staff shortly after a disappointing season, it is unsurprising they will look to add new starters ahead of Ryan Nielsen‘s first DC campaign. The team allowed at least 28 points five times after its Week 9 bye, leading to it going from contending for the AFC’s No. 1 seed to being bounced out of the playoffs. If this is a post-June 1 cut, Jenkins must remain on the Jags’ payroll until the start of the 2024 league year (March 13). If the team is moving on immediately, it will hold more than $34MM in cap space.
Jaguars To Release CB Darious Williams
In need of funds to retain two key pending free agents, the Jaguars are set to move on from Darious Williams. Jacksonville plans to release the veteran cornerback, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. 
[RELATED: Jaguars Release Folorunso Fatukasi]
Williams has indeed been let go, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes. He adds that teams have already begun showing interest, something which comes as little surprise given his level of play last season. The 30-year-old was set to count $12MM against the cap in 2024, but this move will yield major financial savings. Jacksonville will free up $11.5MM via his release.
A former Ravens UDFA, Williams established himself as a starter during his tenure with the Rams. That span – from 2018-21 – helped his free agent value and landed him a three-year Jags pact. That agreement included $18MM in guaranteed money, but only $500K of that total remained for 2024. Now, Williams will be on the move once again while Jacksonville will have extra cap room to keep edge rusher Josh Allen and wideout Calvin Ridley.
The team has made it clear the former will not reach the open market, meaning a franchise tag will be used later today if necessary. The latter, by contrast, is in the Jags’ plans for 2024 and beyond, but allowing him to test free agency will lower the trade compensation sent to the Falcons in the event a re-up emerges. Jacksonville will have roughly $45MM in cap space when taking the Williams release into account.
The Alabama-Birmingham product posted four interceptions, 19 pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles in 2023. That ball production will make him an enticing add for any number of teams, especially on a short-term deal. Williams remained strong in coverage last year, allowing a 55% completion percentage and an opposing passer rating of 63.9 as the nearest defender. While his age could turn away some suitors, he could be in line to land a new pact rather quickly.
Tyson Campbell has one year remaining on his rookie contract, and he will again be counted on as a full-time starter next season. Veterans Tre Herndon and Tevaughn Campbell are pending free agents, however, so the Jaguars could see considerable turnover at the cornerback position. The team recently took a flier on Amani Oruwariye via a futures deal, but further investment will be needed to replace Williams’ production.
Panthers Place Franchise Tag On Brian Burns
With no long-term deal in sight, the Panthers will move forward with the expected decision on Brian Burns. The Pro Bowl edge rusher has been told he will receive the franchise tag, per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The team has since announced the move. 
Burns has long been an obvious candidate for the tag, which will pay out $24MM guaranteed. That figure will eat into much of Carolina’s available cap space if he plays out the 2024 season on the tender, but questions about his future with the organization have persisted for some time now.
Contract talks have been on and off between the Panthers and the 25-year-old. Burns played on his $16MM fifth-year option in 2023, and the lack of a long-term pact kept him in trade talks. Carolina once again elected to keep him in the fold, but the passing of the deadline did not spur a new round of negotiations. With the parties still not on the verge of an agreement, talks were put on hold during last week’s Combine.
For that reason, many have pointed to a tag-and-trade being on the table as the Panthers look to avoid Burns departing in free agency in 2025. The Rams made an offer including two first-round picks in 2022, and teams have remained highly interested in the Florida State alum. Washington was among the suitors in the build-up to this year’s trade deadline, and those still in a favorable cap situation will no doubt show at least a degree of interest. With Burns requiring a lucrative pact upon arrival, however, it would come as a surprise if Carolina was able to secure a better draft haul than the previous Rams offer.
Seeing as the non-exclusive tag has been used, Burns will be eligible to negotiate a contract with outside suitors. An agreement which goes unmatched from the Panthers will result in two first-round picks as compensation, though a trade would allow an acquiring team to pay out a different price to Carolina. Burns and the Panthers will be able to negotiate a long-term deal as late as July 15 if no trade takes place.
Given where things stand on that front, though, considerable progress would need to be made for an agreement keeping him in Charlotte beyond 2024 to be hammered out. Burns has been connected to a higher asking price (roughly $30MM per season) than the team is willing to reach. Nick Bosa‘s historic 49ers extension carries an AAV of $34MM, which comfortably leads the pack. Carolina would likely add Burns to the list of eight edge rushers earning between $22MM and $28MM on their respective pacts if a multi-year deal were to come to fruition.
Burns posted double-digit sacks for the first time in his career in 2022, totaling 12.5. He followed that up with eight last season, bringing his career total to 46 in five years. Not known for his run defense, he will nevertheless be an attractive option for teams looking to make a pricey investment along the edge. The Panthers will need to weigh their options on the Burns front while also sorting out the futures of other key defenders such as Frankie Luvu and Derrick Brown.
Jets To Release TE C.J. Uzomah
C.J. Uzomah will not play out the final year of his Jets contract. The veteran tight end is expected to be released, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
Uzomah was set to carry a cap hit of $11.22MM in 2024. By releasing him now, the Jets will see $5.3MM in savings while creating $5.92MM in dead cap charges. Given the financial benefits, as well as the knee injury which ended his 2023 campaign prematurely, Uzomah’s release comes as little surprise.
The 31-year-old finished the season on IR due to MCL and meniscus damage. Even when on the field, though, Uzomah was not able to match the production he delivered in his best Bengals campaigns. Across 27 games with New York, he totaled 290 yards and three touchdowns. Expectations were higher after he joined the team on a three-year, $24MM deal in 2022.
The former fifth-rounder saw fluctuating usage in the passing game during his seven-year Cincinnati run. He remained a key member of the offense with respect to playing time for much of that span, though, and he twice recorded 40-plus catches and over 400 yards as a Bengal. Those past showings could help his market as a complementary target for his new team, although his health and underwhelming Jets showing could give potential suitors pause.
Today’s move will leave the Jets with roughly $26MM in cap space as free agency draws nearer. New York will move forward with Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert atop the tight end depth chart; those two are under contract for one and two more years, respectively. The team could be in the market for an addition at the position either in free agency or the draft to replace Uzomah, who will now turn his attention to the search for a new opportunity.
Bills Trade OL Ryan Bates To Bears
After signing Ryan Bates to an offer sheet back in 2022, the Bears have finally got their guy. The team announced that they’ve acquired the offensive lineman in a trade with the Bills. Chicago will be sending Buffalo a 2024 fifth-round pick. Pending a physical, the deal will become official on March 13. Buffalo will designate this a standard – rather than post-June 1 – move, per The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia.
The 2019 undrafted free agent out of Penn State has spent the majority of his professional career in Buffalo, appearing in 73 games across five seasons. Bates served primarily as a backup/special teamer through his first two seasons in the NFL, but following a 2021 campaign where he got into about 25 percent of his team’s offensive snaps, the guard/center became a popular name in restricted free agency.
After being slapped with the restricted free agent tender, Bates found a suitor in the Bears, who inked the lineman to an offer sheet. The Bills ultimately matched the offer, signing Bates to a new four-year, $17MM deal.
Bates quickly helped validate Buffalo’s decision. He started all 15 of his appearances for the Bills in 2022, with Pro Football Focus ultimately grading him as a middle-of-the-road lineman. However, he found himself back on the bench this past season. With center Mitch Morse, right guard O’Cyrus Torrence, and left guard Connor McGovern not missing a start, Bates was limited to a career-low 35 offensive snaps.
The 27-year-old was destined for a backup role once again in 2024, and with a $5.5MM cap hit, it seemed unlikely the Bills would keep him around. Jay Skurski of The Buffalo News points out that Bates also wanted to start, and he’ll likely have that opportunity in Chicago.
Bates’ ability to play all over the offensive line should afford him a role in Chicago. For the time being, he’ll likely be the assumed starter at center with Lucas Patrick hitting unrestricted free agency.
Lions Re-Sign Shane Zylstra
After missing all of last season with a knee injury, Shane Zylstra will likely be sticking in Detroit for the 2024 campaign. The Lions announced that they re-signed the tight end today. Zylstra was set to become an exclusive rights free agent.
The former undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State had a brief stint with the Vikings before catching on with the Lions in 2021. After getting into four games as a rookie, Zylstra appeared in 13 games in 2022, finishing with 11 catches while playing in about 25 percent of his team’s offensive snaps.
He was set to take on an even bigger role in 2023 but suffered a knee injury following a hit from teammate Khalil Dorsey during training camp. He was waived/injured by the organization in early August but ultimately reverted to their injured reserve. At the time of the injury, coach Dan Campbell reflected on Zylstra’s value to the Lions.
“He was a pivotal part of our success last year once we started turning the corner,” Campbell said (h/t Pride of Detroit). “And he just does everything right, man. He works, he’s a grinder.”
Sam LaPorta should lead the Lions’ depth chart for the foreseeable future, and the organization is also set to return James Mitchell, who has seen time in 29 games across the past two seasons. Zylstra could slide in as a primary backup with Brock Wright hitting restricted free agency and veteran Anthony Firkser reaching unrestricted free agency.
Chiefs Place Franchise Tag On CB L’Jarius Sneed
One day out from the franchise tag deadline, the Chiefs have followed through with the expected move of placing the one-year tender on cornerback L’Jarius Sneed. The non-exclusive tag was applied on Monday, per a team announcement. 
The move will keep Sneed off the open market, but his future with the defending champions is of course still uncertain. Kansas City was reported last week to be prepared to use the tag, but the team gave Sneed permission to seek out a trade sending him elsewhere. Now (at least temporarily) locked into a 2024 salary of $19.8MM, the standout cover man can continue that process.
To no surprise, Sneed is on the radar of interested teams looking to make a notable cornerback addition. Any suitor willing to send trade capital the Chiefs’ way would no doubt do so with a long-term arrangement worked out with the 27-year-old. Sneed has been an integral part of Kansas City’s secondary over the course of his four-year tenure, playing a major role in the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl runs the past two seasons.
The former fourth-rounder totaled five interceptions and 30 pass deflections across regular and postseason play between 2022-23. Given his age and production, Sneed would be counted on as a defensive anchor on any acquiring team, and the Chiefs could solicit several offers if a tag-and-trade is determined as the preferred direction. Any and all developments on the Sneed front will take place against the backdrop of defensive tackle Chris Jones‘ pending free agency.
The latter appears to be the Chiefs’ higher priority with respect to working out a deal for 2024 and beyond, and the sides may manage to accomplish that goal before free agency. Jones’ asking price – after a hold-out which lasted into the regular season and preceded another stellar campaign – will be a major factor in negotiations, one which both team and player hope will result in a new contract. A pact coming anywhere near the $30MM range in AAV (or even eclipsing Aaron Donald‘s market-setting $31.67MM figure) will leave fewer resources for other offseason moves, like a long-term Sneed extension.
Kansas City already has Trent McDuffie on his rookie contract, and he will remain a foundational member of the team’s defense moving forward regardless of if Sneed remains with the Chiefs or not. The latter can negotiate a multi-year deal as late as July 15 before signing the tag and playing out the season with the full $19.8MM figure landing on his team’s cap sheet in the absence of an agreement. The question of whether that team will be Kansas City will be a key one in the 2024 offseason.
Jaguars To Release DT Folorunso Fatukasi
Folorunso Fatukasi was a key part of the Jaguars’ defensive rebuilding efforts in 2022. His time with the team has come to an end, however. 
The veteran defensive tackle is being released, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. One year remained on Fatukasi’s pact, and this move will create $3.52MM in cap space; Jacksonville will incur a dead money charge of $9.27MM. He was set to count $12.79MM against the cap in 2024.
Fatukasi began his career with the Jets, and he took on a larger workload with each passing season. After establishing himself as a stout run defender, the former sixth-rounder landed a three-year, $30MM deal with the Jaguars. That pact was restructured last offseason, though, and none of his $7MM base salary for 2024 was guaranteed. Now, the team will move on with other offseason priorities to attend to.
Chief among those is a new deal for edge rusher Josh Allen. The two-time Pro Bowler will not reach the open market, and an agreement keeping wideout Calvin Ridley in place is also in the team’s plans. New contracts in both players’ cases will be costly, especially since the latter will likely be allowed to test free agency given the conditions of his trade acquisition from the Falcons. Creating funds for those efforts and others has included moving on from Fatukasi after a pair of seasons.
The 29-year-old started 29 of his 30 regular season games with Jacksonville, but he was unable to develop into a difference-maker with respect to interior pass-rush production. Fatukasi totaled 1.5 sacks and nine QB pressures during his time with the Jaguars, recording 48 tackles along the way. For the second time in his career, he will reach the open market, although he will be able to sign a deal with an interested team before the start of free agency next week. Given the nature of his time in Duval County, however, it would be a surprise if he were targeted as a priority by interested teams.
Chiefs Expected To Tag CB L’Jarius Sneed
We’ve been hearing all week about the potential future of two of the Chiefs’ top defensive free agents. Defensive tackle Chris Jones and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed have received most of the offseason attention for the reigning Super Bowl champs. If Dianna Russini of The Athletic is right, the solution for Sneed could be here soon as Kansas City reportedly plans to tag him tomorrow. 
This is not the first we’re hearing on this, but it is the first deadline we’ve gotten. First, after winning their second consecutive rings, both Jones and Sneed made it known that they wished to remain in Kansas City. This week, general manager Brett Veach informed the media that he anticipates utilizing the franchise tag this year. Later that day, reports rolled in that Sneed was the likely target of the tag but that both sides were open to a potential tag-and-trade situation if an extension was unable to be reached. Last we heard, Sneed was generating trade interest while optimism was growing around a new deal for Jones.
In today’s update, Russini informs that, while the team continues to work towards a new extension for Jones, Kansas City will officially place the franchise tag on Sneed tomorrow. If that’s the case, the Chiefs will then have until July 15 to work out an extension to keep Sneed in Missouri. Tag-and-trade maneuvers can still take place past that date, though, and the Chiefs are extremely familiar with that process, previously sending away Dee Ford and bringing in Frank Clark with that exact method.
As for the Jones part of the update, no new information here. Optimism has been growing throughout the week, and with the tag being applied to Sneed, the Chiefs will have no choice but to sign Jones to a new deal in order to keep him in red and yellow.
Falcons Extend C Ryan Neuzil
The Falcons were able to avoid tendering exclusive rights free agent Ryan Neuzil today, signing the backup center to a one-year extension, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The third-year lineman will remain in Atlanta for the 2024 season.
Neuzil signed with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent out of Appalachian State in 2021. After spending his rookie year on the practice squad, Neuzil made his NFL debut in Week 9 of his sophomore season, getting called up as a practice squad elevation. He would appear in every game for the rest of the 2022 season, appearing only on special teams, except for five offensive snaps in the team’s regular season finale.
At the opening of this most recent season, injuries to starting guard and primary backup center Matt Hennessy opened the door for Neuzil to climb the depth chart as the new top option to back up starter Drew Dalman. Neuzil entered the year playing the same special teams role in which he ended 2022. He earned his first career start in Week 6, though only as a technicality as he was an extra lineman on the first play of the game and only played five offensive snaps.
Later in the season, though, Dalman would be forced to miss three games late in the season. Neuzil finally got the opportunity to start a full game at center and even earned snaps on the line during games in which he didn’t start. Ending the season with four starts under his belt left a strong impression for Neuzil heading into the offseason as an exclusive rights free agent.
After establishing himself as a dependable backup on the interior of the offensive line, Neuzil earned this new deal. He’ll likely come into the 2024 season as the primary backup for Dalman and a depth piece on the interior of the offensive line.