Chargers, Mike Williams Agree On New Deal
One of the top remaining franchise tag candidates has signed an big-money contract. The Chargers have inked Mike Williams to a three-year, $60MM deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). $40MM of the total is fully guaranteed. 
The Chargers had made it clear they were willing to tag Williams, though a long-term deal was always the preference. The 27-year-old played out last season on the fifth-year option, which earned him $15.7MM. Given his play during the campaign, it became clear a significant raise would be coming.
Williams posted 76 catches and 1,147 yards – both career highs. He also registered nine touchdowns, the second-highest total of his NFL tenure. Alongside Keenan Allen, he played a major role in the Chargers ranking second in the league in passing yards, while finishing top-five in scoring. This deal means that both Williams and Allen will next become free agents in 2025.
The $20MM per-year average is almost exactly what the franchise tag ($19.1MM) would’ve cost the Chargers in 2022 anyway, though Schefter notes that the first year of the deal includes $28MM. Unlike so many other teams, cap space was hardly an issue for Los Angeles; they entered the day with more than $56MM to work with for the upcoming season. This deal obviously takes a large bite out of that, but the medium-term pact should provide solid value for the team.
The main pieces to the Chargers’ passing attack will remain in place, something which is likely a necessity to compete in the AFC West. In a division already featuring Patrick Mahomes – and that just saw the arrival of Russell Wilson – points will need to be scored early and often to keep up.
Lions Sign WR Josh Reynolds To Extension
More news continues to come out of the NFC North. The Lions are signing Josh Reynolds to a two-year contract, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Garafolo adds that the deal is worth up to $12MM. That’s quite the pay raise from the one-year, $1.75MM he signed for last offseason with the Titans. There was plenty optimism surrounding the former fourth rounder at that point, as he was coming off a career year (52 catches, 618 yards, two touchdowns) during his final season with the Rams.
Instead, Reynolds only played five games in Nashville, recording just 10 catches. Stuck behind not only A.J. Brown but also fellow offseason acquisition Julio Jones on the depth chart, he asked to be released to find a new home for the rest of the campaign. That request was granted, and he was claimed off waivers by the Lions.
Reunited with quarterback Jared Goff, his play took off. In seven contests, he averaged 16 yards per catch, totalling 306 yards and two touchdowns. On a team lacking pass-catching options besides T.J. Hockenson and breakout rookie WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, the 27-year-old could fill in comfortably as at least least a reliable secondary option.
Garafolo also notes that the Lions were eager to get this deal done before the start of free agency next week. With Reynolds in place, another notable piece of business has been taken care of.
Cowboys Re-Sign Noah Brown
Noah Brown is still in the building. On Tuesday, the Cowboys re-signed the wide receiver to a fresh one-year deal, per a club announcement.
[RELATED: Latest On Cowboys, Cooper]
Brown, a 2017 seventh-round draft pick, has been a special teams regular for Dallas. Last year, however, he reeled in 16 catches for 184 yards while playing on 302 snaps. That accounts for roughly half of his career production — 39 catches and 425 yards.
It’s possible that Brown will see more offensive action going forward, especially since Amari Cooper is on his way out. The Cowboys are set to either trade or release their one-time star, though the trade market is looking fairly soft at the moment. Cutting Cooper would save the Cowboys $16MM in cap room while adding a four-time Pro Bowler to this year’s free agent class. Despite this year’s hiccups, he’s not far removed from his strong 2019 (79 catches for 1,189 receiving yards and eight touchdowns) or his still solid follow-up in 2020 (92 grabs, 1,114 yards, and five scores).
Meanwhile, the Cowboys are keeping tight end via the tag and working to re-up wide receiver Michael Gallup in advance of free agency.
Bills To Pick Up Ed Oliver’s Fifth-Year Option
Another key defensive linemen will be staying put on his team in the AFC East. Bills general manager Brandon Beane confirmed that the team will pick up Ed Oliver‘s fifth-year option (Twitter link via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). 
[RELATED: NFL Announces Fifth-Year Option Values]
Slotting in at the third of four tiers with respect to value, Oliver’s option will come with a value of $10.753MM. The Bills had until May 2 to make the call, but they didn’t need the extra time to deliberate. Oliver is coming off of a strong year with perfect attendance, 41 tackles, 14 quarterback hits, ten tackles for loss, and four sacks. That brings his Buffalo career totals to 12 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and 28 QB hits.
Now, it’s just a matter of bringing Oliver and his reps to the table for a long-term extension. He remains under contract for 2022 per his original rookie deal while this fifth-year option locks him in through 2023. Thanks to performance incentives, that ’23 season will pay him the average of the No. 3 — No. 20 highest paid DTs in the league today.
For 2024 and beyond, Oliver will likely be looking at a $10MM+ annual salary. That’s a good chunk of change for a not-quite-elite player, but there’s always a premium on young, disruptive defensive linemen.
Patriots Release Kyle Van Noy
The Patriots have made a notable cost-cutting move. Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the team is releasing veteran linebacker Kyle Van Noy (Twitter link). 
Van Noy, who will be 31 by the start of the 2022 season, signed in New England last year following a single campaign in Miami. As a result of the way the deal was structured, he accounted for a reasonable $4.37MM against the cap in 2021. However, that figure was set to jump to $7.4MM for next year. New England will save nearly $5MM by letting him go.
Originally a draft pick of the Lions, Van Noy is most well-known for his solid play with the Patriots. 2021 was no exception, as he posted 66 tackles, five sacks and a pick-six. In coverage, he earned a PFF grade of 84.3, proving his value in all aspects of the game. Like in every full season in New England, he played over 80% of the team’s defensive snaps.
On the other hand, Van Noy was a member of the linebacking corps which struggled to handle faster offensive opponents. With Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower and Ja’Whaun Bentley all pending free agents, this move creates the possibility that nearly the entire position group could be different come next season. Outside of Matt Judon, the team has little in the way of known commodities at the second level of their defense.
The release means Van Noy is free to sign at any time, rather than having to wait until the official beginning of free agency. For the second straight year, he finds himself in the position of needing to find a new home after a productive season; the Patriots, meanwhile, now have just under $13.5MM in cap space to work with.
Browns Place Franchise Tag On David Njoku
The Browns are staying true to their stated goal of keeping David Njoku in the fold. Per a team announcement, they have placed the franchise tag on the tight end. 
[Related: Browns Want To Keep David Njoku]
One week ago, it was reported that Cleveland was intent on making a sizeable commitment to the 25-year-old. Specifically, a deal paying him eight figures per season on average was said to be what the team is willing to offer. That came as a surprise to many, mainly because of the presence of Austin Hooper and his contract. The former Falcon signed a then record-breaking deal for tight ends, which keeps him on the books in Cleveland until 2024.
For each of the next two seasons, Hooper will carry a cap hit of $13.25MM. If he plays on the tag, Njoku will make $10.8MM, giving the Browns an expensive tandem at the position, especially considering their combined production. In 2021, the pair totalled 820 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Nevertheless, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirms that the team is treating the tag as simply a means of buying time for a long-term extension (Twitter link).
A first round pick in 2017, Njoku’s best season came one year later, when he posted 56 catches for 639 yards and four majors. Despite not putting up eye-popping numbers during his five seasons with the team, he has ultimately shown a willingness to stick around, in spite of the investment made in Hooper. For at least one more campaign, he will be able to do just that.
The team also announced they have tendered three exclusive rights free agents: wide receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley, as well as offensive linemen Michael Dunn and Blake Hance.
Chiefs Place Franchise Tag On Orlando Brown Jr.
On the eve of the franchise tag deadline, the first confirmed usage of the tag has been announced. Not surprisingly, it’s Kansas City, using it to ensure left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. remains with the Chiefs for at least one more season (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 
[Related: Chiefs Expected To Tag Orlando Brown Jr.]
The move was expected, given the draft capital the team traded to Baltimore to acquire the Oklahoma product, as well as general manager Brett Veach‘s recent comments on the situation with Brown. 2021 marked not only his first year in Kansas City, but also the first time he spent a full NFL campaign as a left tackle – one of the key factors in driving the trade out of Baltimore.
As the new blindside blocker on a completely re-vamped offensive line, Brown (who will still be just 26 by the start of next season) provided mostly solid play. He suited up for 16 games, playing a career-high 1,128 snaps. PFF credited him with four sacks allowed, leading to a overall grade of 75.2. He was named a Pro Bowler for the third straight season, demonstrating his worth not only now but well into the future.
Schefter’s colleague Field Yates tweets that the unofficial cost of the tag for offensive linemen will be $16.5MM. That will likely be the minimum he earns this year, as Veach has made it clear the team is aiming for a long-term deal. If a new pact can be signed before mid-July, Brown would presumably rank amongst the top-paid left tackles in the league.
As Yates also notes, this news further points to safety Tyrann Mathieu hitting free agency. Again, that doesn’t come as a surprise given the team’s messaging in recent weeks, but his departure would leave a massive void in the Chiefs’ defense. Nevertheless, today’s move marks one significant piece of business taken care of – at least for now – in Kansas City.
Panthers Restructure Taylor Moton’s Contract
The Panthers continue to make key decisions on their own roster in the lead-up to free agency. Today, that consisted not of an extension for one of their players, but another move which nevertheless frees up cap space. Per a team announcement, they have re-worked the contract of right tackle Taylor Moton. 
As a simple restructure, Moton’s compensation ($16MM) will stay the same for 2022. However, by prorating part of the deal over the remainder of its length, the team has pushed some of his cap hit down the road. Joe Person of The Athletic tweets that the move has created $11MM in cap space for this season.
Less than one year ago, Moton signed a four-year, $72MM contract after Carolina placed the franchise tag on him. At just under $18MM per year on average, it placed him amongst the highest-paid right tackles in the league, and one of the best compensated offensive linemen in general. The commitment came after Moton, 27, established himself as one of not only the NFL’s most talented, but also most durable linemen. That trend continued in 2021, where he appeared in all 17 games, playing over 1,000 snaps for the fourth straight campaign. PFF credits him with just one sack allowed, and five penalties committed.
Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network adds that, as a result of the move, $3.7MM in cap charges will be added to each of the remaining years on the contract, beginning in 2023. Moton’s base salaries are scheduled to be under that original $18MM average, with sizeable roster bonuses due on the third day of each new league year until 2026.
This grants the Panthers more flexibility for the coming weeks. They have already gotten new deals done with some of their pending free agents, most notably tight end Ian Thomas and linebacker Frankie Luvu. They still have 19 UFAs though, and, with mounting pressure on head coach Matt Rhule to start winning, could be at least targeted spenders on the open market.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/3/22
Here are today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: WR Davion Davis
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: TE Juwan Johnson
Giants Cut Devontae Booker
The Giants have made their second cost-cutting move of the day. Running back Devontae Booker has been cut, as reported by Dan Duggan of The Athletic (Twitter link).
[Related: Giants To Release Kyle Rudolph]
The move will leave $1MM in dead money, while creating $2.125MM in cap space. In addition to the earlier release of Kyle Rudolph, that brings the total savings general manager Joe Schoen has now manufactured to $7.125MM. Neither of these cuts are seen as much of a surprise, and more are expected to be made, given the Giants’ cap situation.
Booker, 29, signed a two-year deal with New York last March. Thought to simply be veteran depth behind Saquon Barkley, the two put up identical rushing yards (593), and Booker actually outperformed the latter in terms of yards per carry (4.1 to 3.7). He added 268 receiving yards, scoring three combined touchdowns. Still, that level of production could likely be replaced either by a bounce-back season from Barkley, or another, cheaper addition in free agency or the draft.
A six year veteran with previous stops in Denver and Las Vegas, Booker will now look for a new home. Just like last year, he would represent a proven, experienced presence at tailback for any number of teams in need of depth at the position. As for the Giants, meanwhile, they have a long way to go to get cap compliant, so stay tuned for further moves.