Patriots Rework TE Jonnu Smith’s Contract
The Patriots reworked Jonnu Smith‘s contract yesterday, opening a chunk of cap space. According to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the Patriots converted $7.96MM of the tight end’s base salary into a bonus, creating an extra $5.31MM in cap space. This move now gives the Patriots more than $8.8MM in cap space.
Thanks to the restructured deal, Smith’s cap hit will increase by $2.655MM in both 2023 and 2024, giving him a $17.4MM cap hit in 2023 and a $18.4MM cap hit in 2024 (h/t to Miguel Benzan on Twitter). If the Patriots were to cut Smith before June 2, 2023, they’d be left with more than $19MM in dead cap, and they’d be left with $12.8MM in dead cap following a trade.
In other words, the Patriots are indicating that Smith will likely be sticking around beyond the 2022 season. This is a bit surprising after the tight end disappointed during his first season in New England. After hauling in eight touchdowns for the Titans in 2020, Smith inked a four-year, $50MM deal last offseason. He struggled throughout the 2021 campaign, finishing with only 28 receptions for 294 yards and one score.
Reports out of Patriots camp have noted that Smith looks more comfortable during his second training camp and preseason. After the Patriots committed only 18 percent of their offensive snaps to two tight end sets in 2021, we could see Smith play a larger role alongside Hunter Henry in 2022.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/22
As we inch closer to Week 1, teams continue to try to put the final pieces together on their rosters. Here’s todays minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: TE Chris Pierce Jr.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: G Lamont Gaillard
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: RB Aaron Shampklin
Green Bay Packers
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: TE Alize Mack, TE Nate Becker
Houston Texans
- Released: WR Chris Conley
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LB Tae Davis, TE Jacob Hollister
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Jake Gervase
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: TE Jaeden Graham
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: CB Rashard Robinson
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/2/22
Teams are still constructing their initial 16-man practice squads. Here is the latest on how those are shaping up:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DL Andrew Brown
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Zachary Thomas
- Released: DL Micah Dew-Treadway
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Essang Bassey
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: Micah Abernathy
- Released: CB Rico Gafford
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DB Josh Thompson, WR Seth Williams
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: RB Larry Rountree
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Freddie Swain
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Jason Huntley, DL Renell Wren
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Josh Onujiogu, DE Jabari Zuniga
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LB De’Jon Harris
Titans OLB Harold Landry Tears ACL
SEPTEMBER 2: The Titans placed Landry on IR Friday and claimed Derrek Tuszka off waivers from the Steelers. A former Broncos seventh-round pick in 2020, Tuszka spent last season with the Steelers. He worked as a backup and notched two sacks in his Pittsburgh debut. The Steelers, who since traded for frequent Broncos fill-in starter Malik Reed this week, waived Tuszka on Thursday.
SEPTEMBER 1: Months after re-signing with the Titans, Harold Landry does not look like he will suit up for the team this season. The veteran edge rusher went down with a torn ACL in practice, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Landry sustained the injury Wednesday. This is obviously a crushing blow for the Titans, who have relied on Landry as their top outside linebacker for years.
Tennessee has gone through extensive efforts to fortify its edge-rushing corps under GM Jon Robinson, but several of the moves have not worked out. Landry, however, has helped the team get by. After putting together a strong contract year (12 sacks, 22 QB hits) — one that finished with the Boston College product recording 1.5 of the Titans’ nine sacks of Joe Burrow in their divisional-round loss — Landry signed a five-year, $87.5MM extension in March.
Both of the Titans’ top outside ‘backers have now sustained ACL tears as pros. Bud Dupree, who signed with Tennessee on a five-year deal worth $82.5MM in March 2021, was coming off a late-season ACL setback when he arrived in Nashville. Wednesday’s development hijacks the Titans’ plans to pair Landry with what could be a better Dupree version this season.
This 11th-hour injury certainly illustrates the importance of guaranteed money. The Titans passed on franchise-tagging Landry but managed to hammer out a deal with the former second-round pick to keep him off the market. Landry, 26, received $35.25MM guaranteed at signing.
Chosen 41st overall in 2018, Landry has 31 career sacks and is coming off his first Pro Bowl. He has helped the Titans withstand the likes of Jadeveon Clowney, Vic Beasley and Cameron Wake being free agency disappointments over the past three seasons. Dupree, 29, also has yet to deliver on the contract he signed, recording just three sacks and eight QB hits in his first season post-ACL tear. The Kentucky alum also missed six games, despite starting the season on time after his rehab effort. The team will need more from the former first-round Steelers draftee this season.
This has not been the smoothest Titans offseason. The team said goodbye to its top wide receiver — A.J. Brown — after early extension talks revealed a substantial gap between the parties, and first-round wideout Treylon Burks has not proven to be a plug-and-play replacement. Of course, it is still early for the Arkansas product. But, with Robert Woods coming off a November ACL tear, Burks’ readiness is fairly important for a Titans team that survived a spate of injuries to book the AFC’s No. 1 seed last season.
The Titans are also thin on edge defenders beyond their starters, rostering 2021 fourth-rounder Rashad Weaver (12 defensive snaps last season) and former UDFA Ola Adeniyi (2.5 sacks in 2021 as a rotational cog) as backups. Several veteran edges — from Melvin Ingram to Justin Houston to Carlos Dunlap to Trey Flowers — came off the free agency board over the past several weeks. Jason Pierre-Paul remains available, as does Everson Griffen. JPP is coming off a down season, however, and Griffen is 34. Ex-Beasley Falcons teammate Takk McKinley, 26, is available as well. The former first-rounder took multiple visits this summer, but he is coming off a late-season Achilles tear.
Cardinals, S Jalen Thompson Agree To Extension
The Cardinals are keeping a key member of their secondary in the fold for the foreseeable future. The team announced on Friday that safety Jalen Thompson has signed a three-year extension. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweets that the pact is worth nearly $40MM, and includes $24.5MM in guaranteed money. 
The Cardinals added Thompson via the 2019 supplemental draft. Since then, he has taken on an increasingly larger role with each passing season. The 24-year-old logged a snap share of 91% in 2021, making him a large part of the team’s plans now and in the future. He had one season remaining on his rookie contract, meaning that he will be on the books through the 2025 campaign.
Ankle issues limited Thompson to just five games in 2020, but he bounced back with a full campaign last year. Starting 12 of 17 games, he racked up 121 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups. His coverage stats – 67% completion percentage and 99.2 passer rating allowed, and five touchdowns surrendered as the nearest defender – weren’t as glowing, but the Washington State product was an integral part of the Cardinals’ backend.
With this deal finalized, Arizona now has two significant commitments at the position; the team signed Budda Baker to a four-year extension in 2020 which briefly made him the league’s highest-paid player safety. That contract has since been surpassed by five others, but its $14.75MM AAV will partner with Thompson’s (roughly $13.3MM) to form one of the league’s most expensive tandems at the third level of the defense.
This deal is also another on a long list of significant extensions worked out over the course of the summer by Arizona, including quarterback Kyler Murray and left tackle D.J. Humphries. With Thompson locked in for the next four seasons, the team has even more cost certainty amongst several of its most important players.
Jets Restructure LB C.J. Mosley’s Contract
Already in better shape than most teams in terms of 2022 cap space, the Jets manufactured significantly more breathing room today. New York restructured the contract of linebacker C.J. Mosley, per ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter link). 
As a result of the move, Mosley will see $14.88MM of his base salary converted into a signing bonus, helping to create $11.9MM in cap space for the 2022 season. Two void years have also been tacked on to his deal, which expires in 2024.
The 30-year-old signed a market-altering five-year, $85MM deal in free agency in 2019. The contract’s $17MM annual average value was a record for inside linebackers at the time, and has since been surpassed only by Shaquille Leonard and Fred Warner. In the two years following that contract being signed, however, the four-time Pro Bowler played in just a pair of games due to injury and opting out of the 2020 campaign.
That led to Mosley being frequently named as a trade candidate. Last March, the Jets fielded calls on him, but they elected to keep him in the fold. Finally healthy and available again in 2021, he ranked fourth in the NFL with 168 tackles, adding two sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. Encouraged by that performance, perhaps, this financial move likely ensures that Mosely will remain with the team for at least one more season.
Mosley’s 2023 and 2024 cap hits will now rise to $21.48MM. No guaranteed money remains out of the outstanding $50MM left to be paid out on the deal. Nevertheless, the team’s dead cap charge would outweigh their savings in the event of a release or trade prior to June 1 next year. Given the cumbersome cap hit, however, an extension could be in play, or perhaps more likely, an attempt to get Mosley to take a pay cut like Jamison Crowder did last year.
Bengals Make Three Waiver Claims
SEPTEMBER 2: To no surprise, the Bengals are indeed re-signing Allen, Thomas and Williams now that they have the open roster spots to do so, per a team announcement. Cincinnati is also placing safety Tycen Anderson and tackle Isaiah Prince on IR.
AUGUST 31: The Bengals have made some notable additions in the aftermath of yesterday’s roster cutdowns. Per the waiver wire, they have claimed tight end Devin Asiasi, guard Max Scharping and defensive tackle Jay Tufele.
[RELATED: Bengals Expected To Sign TE Howard]
Asiasi came to New England with significant expectations, given his draft status and the organization’s success at the position. The third-rounder made just 10 appearances in his first two seasons, though, recording only a pair of receptions. The Patriots made a substantial free agent investment in Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith last offseason, limiting his future with the team. In Cincinnati, he will face steep competition for playing time from Hayden Hurst and, in all likelihood, O.J. Howard.
Scharping is in a similar situation to Asiasi in terms of being an underwhelming high draft choice yet to finish their rookie contract. A 2019 second-rounder, the 26-year-old started 33 of the 48 contests he appeared in with the Texans, moving from the left to right guard spot this past season. Regardless of where he lined up, the Northern Illinois alum graded out in the mid-to-high 50s with respect to PFF rating, leaving him on the roster bubble. Scharping’s vacated spot is likely to be filled by A.J. Cann; he will challenge for a backup role behind top free agent addition Alex Cappa with the Bengals.
Tufele, meanwhile, has seen the least playing time of the new trio. As a rookie last season, he made just four appearances in Jacksonville, totaling two tackles. His PFF pass rush grade of 77 indicates some upside on third downs, which dates back to his time in college. Moving on from the USC alum so soon may have come as a surprise, though the additions of Folorunso Fatukasi and Adam Gotsis along the d-line were likely to significantly lessen his chance of seeing significant playing time with the Jaguars. The Bengals lost Larry Ogunjobi in free agency, but re-upped B.J. Hill, whom Tufele will look to provide depth behind his new home.
The defending AFC champions will return many of the members of last season’s team, but these additions could prove effective at areas of relative need. Among the cuts necessary to accommodate the new arrivals is veteran quarterback Brandon Allen. The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal for the third consecutive offseason to remain in Cincinnati.
For now, Allen’s departure leaves the Bengals with only Joe Burrow under center. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo tweets, however, that Allen “will be back.” Cincinnati is also parting ways with safety Michael Thomas and running back Trayveon Williams.
Broncos, Russell Wilson Agree On Extension
Connected to waiting until next year for a Russell Wilson extension, the Broncos instead are committing long-term to their new franchise quarterback now. The team reached an extension agreement with its recently acquired passer Thursday morning, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
Wilson is signing a five-year, $245MM deal that includes a whopping $165MM guaranteed. Despite his two Seahawks extensions coming ahead of his contract years, Wilson is committing with two years remaining on his previous deal. He is now signed through the 2028 season.
Earlier this summer, second-year Broncos GM George Paton did not indicate extension talks were taking place, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets the sides had been talking not too long after the blockbuster trade. The sides paused the talks as the Broncos’ sale became finalized this summer, 9News’ Mike Klis adds, noting Wilson agreed to this contract Wednesday night after attending a dinner with many of his new teammates. With the team’s ownership matter finally resolved, Wilson is now locked in through his age-40 season.
The deal will pay Wilson $124MM over the first three years, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. Wilson’s 2022 cashflow will spike from $24MM to $57MM, and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero adds (via Twitter) he will collect $85MM by 2023 — up from $51MM. This three-year payout looks to benefit the Broncos, who will have Wilson tied to nonguaranteed salaries from 2025-28. Of course, Wilson succeeding early on this contract could certainly prompt the sides to renegotiate down the line.
Although the guarantee figure is not believed to be what will be locked in at signing, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter), Wilson is now the league’s second-highest-paid QB. This $49MM-per-year deal places the 11th-year veteran behind only Aaron Rodgers for AAV ($50.3MM). It marks a slightly bigger jump from Wilson’s previous pact ($35MM per annum) compared to the raise he received in April 2019, illustrating where the QB market has gone and the Broncos’ desire to have this rather important position solidified.
The Broncos acquired Wilson via one of the top trade packages in NFL history in March, sending the Seahawks two first-rounders and change to land the 33-year-old star. In the time since, Deshaun Watson and Kyler Murray signed monster extensions with their respective teams — respectively worth $46MM and $46.1MM on average. The Broncos also came under new ownership in the time since acquiring Wilson, and Rob Walton being by far the NFL’s richest owner almost certainly came into play here. Wilson’s extension is miles beyond where the Broncos have gone for a player previously. Their previous top QB commitment was five years and $96MM — for Peyton Manning in 2012.
Manning played four years on that deal, but in the years since the all-time great’s retirement, the Broncos saw their inability to land a successor move them well off the competitive plane upon which they resided with Manning. Denver has missed the playoffs for six straight seasons and has not enjoyed a winning year since 2016. The team has started 11 quarterbacks since Super Bowl 50, including a different Week 1 passer from 2017-21 (Trevor Siemian, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Drew Lock, Teddy Bridgewater). The Broncos have not ranked in the top 16 in total offense since Manning’s penultimate season (2014), either. This pattern, the trade capital the team sacrificed, the new QB market and Walton’s arrival — after shattering the American sports record with a $4.65 billion bid — all worked in Wilson’s favor.
These factors could also have pushed Wilson to leverage the Broncos for a player-friendly deal that placed him atop the NFL salary hierarchy once again. His total guarantees do not approach Watson’s, but they do surpass Murray’s ($160MM). Murray and Wilson’s extensions are moving the NFL away from the fully guaranteed agreement Watson signed with the Browns. Wilson’s pact also ties him to the Broncos for longer than Watson’s Browns accord or Rodgers’ latest deal with Green Bay.
Unique circumstances surrounded Cleveland’s decision to give Watson $230MM guaranteed at signing — a last-ditch heave to leapfrog NFC South teams in a complex trade derby — and teams are doing their best to make that contract an outlier. The structures of Wilson and Murray’s contracts will play into the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson negotiations. The Bengals and Chargers, who have their respective standout QBs set to become extension-eligible in 2023, will undoubtedly take notice as well.
The Broncos’ commitment, of course, comes before Wilson has played in a game with his new team. The nine-time Pro Bowler sat out the preseason, joining most of the team’s starters under new HC Nathaniel Hackett, and is coming off his first season in which an injury forced him to miss time. Wilson ruptured a tendon in his right middle finger, sidelining him for three games, in October 2021. After not looking himself in the games immediately following his return, Wilson played better down the stretch. The Seahawks still opted to reboot at season’s end, concluding the most promising QB partnership in franchise history. Geno Smith is now in position to start against Wilson in Week 1, beating out Lock for the gig.
Part of the reason the Seahawks moved on after 10 seasons was a leeriness about going through more extension talks with Wilson. His 2015 ($21.9MM per year) and 2019 extensions came after weeks of back-and-forth. That contrasts from the low-key nature of Wilson’s Broncos talks, but Denver is now the franchise paying the new market price. Seattle, after passing on deals for Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo, will likely be linked to first-round passers come 2023.
Connected to a possible trade early during the 2021 offseason, Wilson did not include the Broncos on his initial destination list. The Bears, Cowboys, Saints and Raiders were on it. But Denver quietly surfaced as a potential landing spot late last year. And while other teams pursued Wilson this offseason — the Browns, Commanders, Eagles and Panthers, to name four — the two-time Super Bowl starter only ended up waiving his no-trade clause for the Broncos. Wilson has said he wants to play well into his 40s. He will now attempt to craft a memorable second act; the contract parameters are in place for him to do so.
Jets Place DL Vinny Curry On IR
Vinny Curry will miss at least the first four weeks of the upcoming season. The Jets announced that they have placed the defensive lineman on injured reserve. The team signed linebacker Marcell Harris to take his spot on the roster.
Curry has been dealing with a hamstring injury throughout the summer, and the injury will ultimately keep him off the field until at least Week 5. The veteran initially joined the Jets during the 2021 offseason, but he was later diagnosed with a rare blood disorder and ended up sitting out the entire 2021 campaign. He re-signed with the team this offseason and was expected to play a secondary role on the edge, especially following the additions of first-round rookie Jermaine Johnson and free agent acquisition Jacob Martin
The 34-year-old spent the first six years of his career with the Eagles, collecting 22 sacks in 84 games (16 starts). Following a brief stint with Tampa Bay in 2018, Curry returned to Philly for the 2019 and 2020 campaigns, adding another eight sacks in 27 games (five starts).
Harris joined the Jets this offseason, reuniting him with Robert Saleh. He was among the Jets’ final cuts, but now he’ll land back on the active roster. The safety/linebacker spent the first four seasons of his career with the 49ers, collecting 155 tackles and five forced fumbles. With the 28-year-old back in the picture, he’ll provide the team with some extra depth at weak side linebacker behind Quincy Williams and Kwon Alexander.
Texans Re-Sign WR Chris Conley, RB Royce Freeman
The Texans are welcoming back a pair of veterans. After getting cut earlier this week, running back Royce Freeman and wide receiver Chris Conley are re-signing with Houston, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
Conley was let go during final roster cuts on Tuesday. The veteran wideout joined the Texans last year, and he finished his first season in Houston with 22 receptions for 323 yards and two touchdowns. After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Chiefs, Conley spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons in Jacksonville. He had a career year with the Jaguars in 2019, hauling in 47 catches for 775 yards and five touchdowns.
With the 29-year-old back in the picture, he’ll likely slide into the sixth spot on the depth chart behind Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins, Chris Moore, Phillip Dorsett, and Tyler Johnson.
Freeman was let go yesterday, but it took him less than 24 hours to land back on the active roster. After spending the first few months of the 2021 season with the Panthers, the veteran RB was claimed on waivers by Houston in November. He got into seven games for the Texans, collecting 154 yards from scrimmage on 42 touches.
The 26-year-old will slot in fourth on the depth chart behind Dameon Pierce, Rex Burkhead, and Dare Ogunbowale. The Texans are also stashing veteran Marlon Mack on the practice squad.