Giants, DT A’Shawn Robinson Agree To Deal
APRIL 26: In terms of base value, Robinson’s deal checks in at $5MM, Dan Duggan of The Athletic tweets. The Giants are guaranteeing the veteran defensive lineman $4MM. Robinson can earn $1MM in per-game roster bonuses; $3MM in incentives are available. Absent an extension before the 2024 league year, $2.1MM in dead money will be attached to this one-year agreement. The Giants used void years to minimize Robinson’s 2023 cap hit, Duggan tweets.
APRIL 24: The Giants have added one of the top remaining free agent defensive linemen in advance of this week’s draft. New York has agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth up to $8MM with A’Shawn Robinson, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). 
This news comes more than one month after Robinson visited the Giants, his only known sit-down with an outside team during his time as a free agent (though SNY’s Connor Hughes tweets that the Jets were interested as well). That meeting has eventually led to a deal, one which will allow him to join a talented defensive front and attempt to earn a longer-term pact on the open market next offseason.
The 28-year-old is coming off a three-year, $18MM contract with the Rams. Robinson started 24 of 35 games in Los Angeles, seeing his playing time increase with each passing season. He was productive during the team’s Super Bowl run in 2021, and remained a consistent run-stopper during his time on the West Coast. That led to a desire on the Rams’ part to work out a new contract, but they have spent much of this offseason shedding costs.
That left the door open to Robinson heading elsewhere on the open market as one of several veteran free agents in this year’s class. New York’s decision to host him signaled their interest in signing the former Lions second-rounder, but also their commitment to having notable depth along the defensive interior. Dexter Lawrence had a breakout season in 2022, and has likely played his way into a sizeable extension sometime this offseason. New York also has Leonard Williams in the fold; he is set to count for over $32MM on the team’s cap sheet this year.
Robinson will look to occupy at least a rotational role alongside those two in 2023, a campaign in which the Giants will aim to repeat the success of their defensive front from one year ago. A strong season could pay significant dividends for both team and player. The Rams, meanwhile, have now lost Robinson and Greg Gaines from their DT room, meaning the position could be one of interest in this week’s draft.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/25/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: S Sam Franklin
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: P Tommy Townsend
Both Franklin and Townsend signed their restricted free agent tenders.
Townsend has been the Chiefs’ starting punter since joining the organization as an UDFA out of Florida in 2020. He finished this past season with a career-high 50.4 yards per punt and 22 punts landed inside the 20 en route to a Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro nod.
Franklin, a 2020 undrafted free agent out of Temple, has seen time in 47 games for the Panthers over the past three seasons, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams. He finished this past season with 20 tackles in 17 games (one start).
Bengals Pick Up Joe Burrow’s Fifth-Year Option
Minutes after the Vikings made the easy call to push Justin Jefferson‘s rookie contract through 2024, the Bengals will do the same with Jefferson’s former college quarterback. Cincinnati exercised Joe Burrow‘s fifth-year option Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
This will tie Burrow to a $29.5MM salary in 2024; that number is fully guaranteed. It is safe to expect Burrow to have fetched a bit more in guaranteed money by the time the 2024 season starts. The Bengals have started work on their franchise centerpiece’s extension, one expected to break NFL records. The Bengals subsequently announced the option decision, calling it a “mechanical step” toward a long-term Burrow partnership.
[RELATED: 2024 NFL Fifth-Year Option Tracker]
The Bengals timed their 2-14 season perfectly, bottoming out in Zac Taylor‘s first year at the helm. This gave them access to Burrow, who was coming off a Heisman season that included a then-record 60 touchdown passes during LSU’s unbeaten national championship campaign. Burrow leapfrogged Tua Tagovailoa as the favorite to go No. 1 overall during that season and became the top pick during 2020’s virtual draft. He is chiefly responsible for radically changing the Bengals’ trajectory.
Although Cincinnati went 4-11-1 in 2020, Burrow showed promise before an ACL tear ended his season. The Bengals, who shifted their strategy on free agency to complement Burrow’s rookie contract beginning in 2020, then armed their ascending quarterback with ex-LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase in 2021. That combination led Cincinnati to its third Super Bowl, completing a stunning run — based on preseason odds — that nearly ended with the Bengals hoisting their first Lombardi trophy. Burrow led the Bengals back to the AFC championship game in 2022, and although he fell to 3-1 against the Chiefs in that latest matchup with Patrick Mahomes, the 26-year-old passer should be expected to sign a historic contract this offseason.
Jalen Hurts‘ $51MM-per-year re-up will undoubtedly be Burrow’s starting point, and it would be a surprise if he or Justin Herbert did not enter next season as the NFL’s highest-paid player. Both are one-time Pro Bowlers, though Burrow leading the Bengals to five playoff wins — matching the franchise’s total in its previous 53 years of existence — does stand out.
Teams have preferred to extend franchise-level first-round QBs before their fourth seasons, with most non-QB first-round standouts needing to wait until their fifth-year option offseasons to land a second contract. Hurts, Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Deshaun Watson and Josh Allen have each signed lucrative extensions before their fourth seasons. Mike Brown has mentioned the Mahomes model as a contract structure he supports, but no quarterback has opted for the extreme team-friendly structure — a 10-year pact — the Chiefs megastar has. It will be interesting to see how the Bengals-Burrow talks go, but updates should be coming fairly soon regarding the numbers and structure the Burrow camp seeks.
Vikings Exercise Justin Jefferson’s Fifth-Year Option
Justin Jefferson has submitted one of the greatest three-year runs to start a wide receiver career in NFL history. Statistically speaking, it is the best start to a wideout’s career.
This has led the Vikings to discuss an extension this offseason, rather than waiting until 2024 — ahead of Jefferson’s fifth-year option season. Minnesota officially extended Jefferson’s rookie contract through 2024 on Tuesday, making the automatic call to pick up the LSU product’s fifth-year option, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
This will tie the three-time Pro Bowler to a fully guaranteed $19.74MM salary next year. The Vikings will look to make sure the former No. 22 overall pick does not play on that option. It will require a record-setting deal to prevent that. The only question regarding Jefferson’s extension will be how much of a gap forms between the Vikings’ superstar pass catcher and the field.
Jefferson’s 4,825 receiving yards through three seasons shattered Randy Moss‘ NFL record (4,163). While Jefferson plays in a slightly friendlier passing era, the gulf between the 2020 first-rounder and the field is eye-popping at this juncture in his career. Only three wideouts in NFL history (Jefferson, Moss, Odell Beckham Jr.) have topped 3,900 receiving yards through three seasons. A.J. Green is the only other player who reached 3,800, illustrating the rarefied air Jefferson reached in 2022. Jefferson made a push at Calvin Johnson‘s single-season record last year but fell short; still, his 1,809 receiving yards are the sixth-most in NFL history.
Tyreek Hill set the bar for receiver extensions last year, pushing it to $30MM per annum. A.J. Brown‘s $56MM fully guaranteed represents the high-water mark on that front. Jefferson, who is going into his age-24 season, should be expected to surpass both. Teams typically do not prefer to extend non-quarterbacks with more than a year of rookie-contract control remaining. But Jefferson could become an exception, given the impact he has made for the Vikings.
The 2020 CBA has also done well to limit holdouts, as the ramifications — fines and the prospect of delaying a player’s free agency by a year — have proven too severe for players to risk that leverage play. We are months away from any sort of Jefferson-Vikes standoff, and nothing thus far has indicated the sides are out of sync on a potential 2023 extension. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stopped short of saying extending Jefferson this year will be a team mandate, and seeing as this option decision locks in Jefferson for 2024, it will be interesting to see if the fourth-year wide receiver makes a legitimate push to secure a windfall this year over taking his chances and waiting for next offseason.
Previous Vikings GM Rick Spielman made Jefferson the fifth receiver drafted in 2020, following Henry Ruggs (Raiders), Jerry Jeudy (Broncos), CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys) and Jalen Reagor (Eagles). Jefferson’s numbers dwarf his peers’, and his eventual payday stands to as well. For now, Jefferson is tied to a $2.4MM base salary in 2023.
Jets, Packers Agree On Aaron Rodgers Trade
After several weeks of negotiations, the Jets and Packers agreed to a deal Monday. Aaron Rodgers is heading to the Big Apple for a picks package that includes first-rounders changing hands, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports (on Twitter).
Fifteen years after it took only a conditional third-rounder for the Jets to land Brett Favre, the latest future Hall of Fame Packers QB fetched the NFC North franchise a much bigger haul. Here are the trade terms:
Packers receive:
- 2023 first-round pick (No. 13 overall)
- 2023 second-round pick (No. 42)
- 2023 sixth-rounder (No. 207)
- 2024 conditional second-round pick, which can become a first if Rodgers plays 65% of the Jets’ offensive plays this season
Jets receive:
- Rodgers
- 2023 first-round pick (No. 15)
- 2023 fifth-round pick (No. 170)
As part of this trade agreement, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) Rodgers is expected to sign a revised contract to help the Packers’ cap. As it stands now, a trade would tag the Pack with $40.3MM in dead money. The adjusted contract is expected to keep the trade from becoming official for a bit, and Brian Gutekunst said (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman) the deal is not yet final and that he has not yet spoken with Rodgers. But with the terms agreed to, this weeks-long process is near the goal line. The sixth-year Packers GM said the expectation is this will be official before the draft, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
As it stands now, the Jets will owe Rodgers a $58.3MM bonus this year. It is not known how a restructure would affect the Jets’ cap, but as of now, Rodgers would be set to count barely $15MM on the AFC East team’s 2023 payroll.
This represents an interesting trade package for the Packers, as the deal does not contain any protection for the Jets if Rodgers retires after this season. At the very least, Green Bay will receive two additional second-rounders for Rodgers. The Canton-bound QB has played at least 65% of the Packers’ offensive snaps in all but two of his 15 seasons as a starter (excepting 2013 and 2017). That points to the Packers receiving the Jets’ 2024 first-rounder. Although Gutekunst said recently it would not require a first-round pick for the Packers to unload Rodgers, it looks more likely than not this deal will lead to a future first coming back to the Pack.
Rodgers met with the Jets in early March and expressed interest in joining the team soon after. The Jets also met with Derek Carr, but the Saints came in with a big offer to ramp up the pressure on Gang Green to come away with the four-time MVP. Rodgers’ current contract — a $50.3MM-per-year deal agreed to in March 2022 — runs through 2025.
While Rodgers said years ago he would love to play into his 40s, the legendary passer has flirted with retirement for a bit now. It should not be considered a lock Rodgers plays more than one season with the Jets; he said he was 90% retired going into his much-discussed darkness retreat. Favre retirement No. 2 occurred after one Jets season; an even brighter spotlight figures to be on the 2023 Jets as a result of the trade for Favre’s successor.
Shortly after signing Mecole Hardman, the Jets dealt Elijah Moore to the Browns. Armed with two second-rounders, the Jets used the first of those in this trade. They will enter this draft with a pick two spots down in Round 1, but ahead of this pivotal Rodgers-led season, Gang Green still has first- and second-round picks with which to bolster their roster.
Although rumors about this latest Jets-Packers QB blockbuster not being done by the draft circulated, this will cut the cord ahead of the team’s first offseason with Jordan Love in the starter’s spot. Talks intensified late last week, per Schefter and ESPN’s Rich Cimini, and continued into the weekend. It is safe to say the Jets will top their 2022 total of primetime games (one) this season. While the Packers’ number figures to dip, Love’s effort to follow one of the game’s all-time greats will certainly generate considerable attention as well.
In January, Gutekunst deferred to Rodgers’ four MVPs when asked if the longtime starter or Love gave the 2023 team a better chance to win. Rodgers expected to be welcomed back to Green Bay, but as the offseason progressed, this relationship — which produced a 2021 fracture that included a Rodgers trade request — encountered more turbulence. After the Packers traded up for Love in 2020, Rodgers said the prospect of him finishing his career with the Packers no longer appeared certain. The Love pick did precede back-to-back MVPs — both seasons featuring new Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett in a non-play-calling OC role — and Rodgers deciding he wanted to play the 2022 season in Green Bay. But after a disappointing season, trade winds blew again.
Rodgers, 39, is coming off a down year. He finished 26th in QBR and saw his counting stats dip across the board. But the veteran passer was playing through injuries. A broken thumb and a rib malady affected Rodgers, who was also playing without Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. While second-round pick Christian Watson showed late-season promise, a Watson-Romeo Doubs–Allen Lazard troika represented a considerable step down from Rodgers’ previous receiving corps. This led to the Packers falling from back-to-back No. 1 seeds to 8-9 and out of the playoffs, inviting more questions about Rodgers’ Wisconsin future.
The Packers have Love tied to only one more year of low-wage salaries, with their latest extended QB transition mostly preventing them from building around the valuable rookie-QB contract, but the team will finally gauge the Utah State alum’s viability as a long-term starter. The Packers must decide on Love’s fifth-year option — worth $20.27MM — by May 2. Love has thrown 83 career passes. His lone start of consequence — a November 2021 Arrowhead Stadium tilt — did not go well, but the Packers are believed to have seen substantial growth in 2022. That said, the team going from Rodgers to Love invites tremendous risk. After a 6-10 starter debut in 2008, Rodgers — one of the greatest players in franchise history — proved the Packers right. Will Love do the same?
While Love is still an unknown commodity, the Jets had seen enough from Zach Wilson. The former No. 2 overall pick entered his rookie and sophomore NFL seasons unchallenged for the starting role, but after failing to make strides in his second season, Wilson landed on the bench after holding a much-improved Jets defense back. Mike White‘s injury issues moved Wilson back into the starting lineup late last season, but the BYU product’s future as a Jets contributor is very much in doubt. After White left for Miami, Wilson remains in place as a backup, but his future as a Jets starter — this early-career redshirt effort notwithstanding — is probably over. Two years remain on Wilson’s rookie contract.
The Wilson-to-Rodgers upgrade will be massive, regardless of the latter’s 2023 form. Rodgers is a 10-time Pro Bowler who piloted the Packers to five NFC championship games and a Super Bowl XLV win. The Packers generated steady criticism for not achieving enough with Rodgers under center, but the team largely eschewed free agency during the bulk of Ted Thompson‘s GM tenure. Gutekunst proved more active, but his 2022 receiver plan constrained the superstar QB.
The Jets have operated aggressively, adding Lazard and Hardman at receiver (and pursuing Odell Beckham Jr.), and trading for safety Chuck Clark. Rodgers has begun recruiting for his new team, making a pitch to Calais Campbell, who ultimately signed with the Falcons. But it should not be expected the Jets are done adding veterans around their biggest QB name in at least 15 years. Like the Buccaneers were with Tom Brady and the Broncos with Peyton Manning, the Jets can safely be classified as “all in” around their QB prize.
They were not on the radar when Rodgers initially asked to be traded. The Broncos loomed as the most likely destination, but while the Packers could have obtained more in a 2021 or 2022 trade with Denver, a Hackett reunion will instead transpire in New York. Denver being unable to land Rodgers led the team to Russell Wilson and Hackett — after a disastrous partnership — becoming the third HC since the 1970 merger to be fired before his first season ended. Hackett will have a fascinating bounce-back opportunity.
After whiffing on Wilson and not hitting on other first-round QBs (Mark Sanchez, Sam Darnold), the Jets committed to finding a veteran and acquired the biggest name available. But this introduces high stakes. The jobs of Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas, after the team ended last season on a six-game losing streak, may well be tied to Rodgers’ 2023 success. The Jets, however, stand to be a factor in a loaded AFC. This Rodgers-in-New York period promises to be one of the most interesting partnerships in NFL history.
Ravens QB Tyler Huntley Signs RFA Tender
Despite the questions that still remain with starting quarterback Lamar Jackson, the Ravens secured their backup role today when Tyler Huntley signed his restricted free agent tender, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN. Huntley will return Baltimore after three years with the team. 
Despite signing with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Utah, Huntley has outlasted veterans and draft picks as the team’s preferred option to backup Jackson. He only appeared in minimal time in two games as a rookie but has since started four games in each of the last two seasons. In total, Huntley has found time in 15 games, leading the Ravens to a 3-5 record in his eight starts.
Huntley is an attractive athlete for Baltimore because he has a skillset that allows the Ravens to keep the same offensive game plan on the field when Jackson is absent. Huntley has throwing ability to go along with a talent rushing the ball.
The difference is that he doesn’t quite do it as effectively as Jackson. Huntley matches Jackson with a good completion percentage (65.6% to Jackson’s 63.7%), but averages nearly 60 fewer passing yards per game and over 30 fewer rushing yards per game. He is also less efficient, throwing five touchdowns to seven interceptions, compared to Jackson’s 101 passing touchdowns to 38 interceptions.
While Huntley isn’t quite ready to permanently take over under center, the Ravens value him as their primary backup. While they explored the free agent market, they placed the original round restricted tender on Huntley. They’ll stick with Huntley now on the $2.63MM that his tender pays out in 2023.
Huntley is joined in the quarterbacks room by a fellow Pac-12 undrafted passer in Anthony Brown. They’re obviously expected to enter the season as backup quarterbacks, but with Jackson still not having signed his franchise tag, Huntley will want to be ready in case of a holdout.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/24/23
Minor moves from around the league today:
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: CB Kevon Seymour
Chicago Bears
- Signed ERFA tender: CB Josh Blackwell
- Waived: CB Harrison Hand
Dallas Cowboys
- Released with failed physical designation: LB Devante Bond
- Waived with failed physical designation: TE Ian Bunting, CB Isaac Taylor-Stuart
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed ERFA tender: TE Tyree Jackson
- Released with NFI designation: S Marquise Blair
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: WR Miles Boykin
Buccaneers Pick Up Fifth-Year Option On OT Tristan Wirfs
While Tristan Wirfs‘ future position is in question, the Buccaneers are assuring the offensive lineman is on the roster through at least the 2024 campaign. According to Greg Auman of Fox Sports (on Twitter), the Buccaneers are picking up the OL’s fifth-year option. Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com was first with the news.
[RELATED: Buccaneers Discussing Tristan Wirfs Move To LT]
The 2020 first-round pick has established himself as one of the top right tackles in the NFL, earning a pair of Pro Bowl nods and two All-Pro selections. Wirfs has finished in the top-10 of Pro Football Focus’ guard rankings in each of his first three seasons, including a seventh-place finish in 2022. After not missing a game through his first two seasons in the NFL, Wirfs missed three games last year with an ankle injury (he was also inactive for the regular season finale).
Interestingly, the Buccaneers are considering changing Wirfs’ position and moving him to the left side of the line. Unlike some of the league’s other top RTs, Wirfs didn’t actually play much left tackle in college and ended up sticking on the right side in the NFL. While the move hasn’t been finalized, the Buccaneers seemingly started to prepare for the transition by moving on from long-time left tackle Donovan Smith. Wirfs is also reportedly open to moving to left tackle.
While today’s move locks Wirfs into an $18.2MM salary for the 2024 campaign, a potential change to the left side of the offensive line could have a significant impact on his future earnings. Lane Johnson and Jawaan Taylor are the only two right tackles in the NFL who top the $20MM AAV mark, while the league’s three top-paid left tackles (Laremy Tunsil, Trent Williams, David Bakhtiari) earn at least $23MM per year. Ryan Ramczyk has the highest total contract among RTs at $96MM, and his contract contains language that would bump his pay if he moved to left tackle and excelled.
NFL Suspends Lions WR Jameson Williams For Gambling; Four Others Banned
A year after Calvin Ridley drew an indefinite suspension for gambling, the NFL will ban another prominent wide receiver. Jameson Williams received a suspension for violating the NFL’s betting policy, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirms (Twitter link).
The NFL also suspended Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus for gambling. Williams will be sidelined six games, according to the Lions. The Lions have since waived Cephus and released safety C.J. Moore, whom the league also hit with a suspension. The NFL also suspended Lions wideout Stanley Berryhill and Commanders edge rusher Shaka Toney, Rapoport reports.
Cephus and Moore received indefinite suspensions, which will cover at least the 2023 season. A former fifth-round Lions pick, Cephus had been with the team since 2020. Moore resided as a core Lions special-teamer over the past four seasons.
Williams and Berryhill remain with the Lions. Berryhill joined the 2022 first-round pick in drawing a six-game ban. Toney, a 2021 seventh-round Washington draftee, received an indefinite suspension. Toney remains with the Commanders.
“As a result of an NFL investigation, it came to our attention that a few of our players had violated the league’s gambling policy,” Lions GM Brad Holmes said. “These players exhibited decision-making that is not consistent with our organizational values and violates league rules. We have made the decision to part ways with Quintez and C.J. immediately. We are disappointed by the decision-making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward.”
This obviously represents a bad look for the two franchises and the NFL, coming not long after the league reinstated Ridley from his year-long suspension. The league’s policy permits players to bet on sports — just not NFL games — but prevents player bets while in team facilities. The NFL did not find the four Lions or Toney used inside information, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter), but Friday’s news still stands to alter the Lions’ plans at wide receiver. Williams and Berryhill made mobile bets on non-NFL sporting events while in the Lions’ facility, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com adds.
The Lions traded up 20 spots to draft Williams 12th overall last year, doing so despite the Alabama-developed speedster suffering a torn ACL in the previous national championship game. Williams missed 11 games last season and caught just one pass — a 41-yard touchdown — upon returning; the Lions used their rehabbing receiver sparingly. But Williams was set to be a key component of the Lions’ 2023 offense. Those plans are on hold. Williams and Berryhill will be permitted to participate in offseason workouts, training camp and preseason games, per NFL rules, but the receivers will then be shut down until Week 7.
Additionally, the Lions fired several staffers last month for violating the gambling policy, Woodyard reports. The Lions first learned of the NFL’s investigation in March. The staffers’ dismissals coupled with the four player suspensions point to a widespread problem — regarding rule awareness at the very least — among the Lions here. Williams’ agency indicates (via Rapoport) the second-year wideout accepts responsibility for his infraction but notes the penalty stems from an otherwise-legal bet — just one that took place on team property. Players are also prohibited from making bets on team planes or in hotels on the road.
For decades, the NFL featured a short list of players banned for gambling policy violations. That number has grown substantially over the past four years. Friday’s news runs the number of NFL players suspended for gambling to seven since 2019, following Ridley and defensive back Josh Shaw. Ridley is on track to return to action as a Jaguar; Shaw never played again after his ban.
A former UDFA, Berryhill played four games for the Lions last season. Toney served as a backup pass rusher in 16 with the Commanders in 2022. He did not record a sack last season but registered 1.5 as a rookie in 2021. Toney’s future with the NFC East team should certainly be considered in doubt. Should Toney be back with the Commanders in 2024, two years will still remain on his rookie contract. This suspension will lead to the deal tolling.
As for the Lions, their receiver situation suddenly looks quite different. Williams was set to join Amon-Ra St. Brown and the recently reacquired Marvin Jones as the team’s top receivers. Josh Reynolds also remains under contract. The Lions signed Jones on March 29; it is fair to wonder if the NFL’s investigation into Williams and Cephus played a part in that move. Of course, the Lions re-signed Moore on March 18; the organization clearly learned of this investigation after that date. Cephus joined Berryhill in only playing in four games last season, but the three-year veteran represented depth for a position group that lost DJ Chark this offseason.
Falcons Release CB Casey Hayward
Casey Hayward saw an injury stop his first Falcons season after six games. The team will cut ties with the veteran cornerback, announcing the release Friday afternoon. The release comes with a failed physical designation, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.
Atlanta will pick up $5MM in cap space by releasing Hayward, who has 11 NFL seasons on his resume. This cut comes days after the Falcons agreed on a trade for former Lions No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah. The team also signed Mike Hughes in free agency. As the Falcons transition to DC Ryan Nielsen, their secondary will re-emerge a bit younger.
As the Falcons struggled to pressure quarterbacks, their secondary did not fare well last season. Hayward’s injury left a host of lower-end investments stationed alongside AJ Terrell at corner, and the Falcons ranked 25th in pass defense. Terrell remains Atlanta’s secondary anchor, but he will be joined by a host of new cover men — including safety Jessie Bates — next season. Darren Hall, a 2021 fourth-round pick who started nine games last season, also remains under contract.
Hayward, 33, suffered a shoulder injury and underwent in-season surgery that ended up shutting him down. The Falcons gave the accomplished corner a two-year, $11MM deal to come over from the Raiders, but they are now the second team in three offseasons to cut the former Packers draftee. The Chargers ended Hayward’s successful tenure after five seasons in 2021.
The Raiders received solid production from Hayward in 2021; Pro Football Focus graded the former Pro Bowler as a top-15 corner. Gus Bradley‘s Raiders hire helped lead Hayward to Vegas, after he had spent four seasons under Bradley in Los Angeles. The Chargers made Hayward one of their better free agent signings in team history back in 2016, prying him from Green Bay on a midlevel accord. Hayward made the next two Pro Bowls, the first after intercepting an NFL-most seven passes, and earned a three-year, $33.25MM Bolts extension. Hayward started 75 games for the Chargers from 2016-20.
While the Colts traded a soon-to-be 33-year-old Stephon Gilmore to the Cowboys, opening a secondary job under Bradley, teams do not show much eagerness to add mid-30-something corners. Only Hayward, ex-Chargers teammate Chris Harris, Jackrabbit Jenkins and Josh Norman played at age 33 or older last season. Of that quartet, Hayward was the only one on a roster in Week 1. As of Friday, every corner on an NFL roster was born in either the 1990s or 2000s.