MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Omar Khan: We want Mason Rudolph back, and I believe he wants to come back

The Steelers have only one quarterback under contract for 2024. Kenny Pickett may or may not be the starter, but either way, the team has work to do to fill out the depth chart at the position.

“We’re looking at everything,” Khan said Thursday, via Dale Lolley of the team website. “I have an obligation to this organization, to the players, to the front office, to every member of the Steeler nation, to look at every option and every way of trying to improve this team, and we’re going to do so.”

One of the spots likely is filled by Mason Rudolph, who started three games last season.

Rudolph is a free agent, who Khan said he believes wants to return after testing free agency.

“We have been in communication with his representative, and he knows we want him back,” Khan said. “It’s just the process, and I understand it, but we you know, we’d like to have him back, and they indicated a desire to see what’s out there beyond. I think every player kind of owes it to himself. At the end of the day, it’s a few weeks until the start of the league year. But I know we’d like to have him back, and I believe he wants to come back and compete. He likes it here, and we’ve had a good experience with Mason.”

PFT

 

When I think about opening the 2024 season with Pickett and Rudolph...

 

What about Pickett, Rudolph and Justin Fields?

 

Jerry Jones doesn’t rule out letting Dak Prescott play out his current deal

It has been anticipated the Cowboys will extend Dak Prescott’s contract this offseason to lower his $59.4 million salary cap hit for 2024. Owner Jerry Jones, though, left open the possibility the quarterback will play out his contract.

“We don’t need to [extend Prescott’s deal], but we can if everybody wants to solve it,” Jones told beat reporters Friday, via Nick Harris of the team website. “You can get in and get on the same page and see if you can come to an agreement. If you can’t, what we have in place works. And so obviously, if you do it one way, you’ll be working through some of the other areas on the team in a different way, but you can’t really plan on that until you see when you’re there.”

The Cowboys could do a simple restructuring that would give them $18.52 million in cap relief for this season, but it would push money to 2025 and 2026 with Prescott counting nearly $55 million against the cap in 2025 even if he played elsewhere.

Without an extension, the Cowboys risk losing Prescott after this season.

He has a no-tag clause as well as a no-trade clause.

“No, I don’t fear that,” Jones said. “Every player you got has some time when his contract is up. You would walk around with the shakes if you feared it. You can’t because they all come up. They all can get hurt. They all can lose some talent, so all of that is not fear.”

Jones said the Cowboys can create enough cap room without extending Prescott’s deal, allowing them to do what they need to do to go “all-in.” Or Jones’ version of “all-in” anyway.

“Absolutely,” Jones said when asked directly if the Cowboys can be “all-in” without an extension. “You just have to adjust where you’re going and how you’re going all-in.”

The Cowboys will begin working on Prescott’s contract in the near future, but Jones said the team has no timeline on the decision for an extension.

“What we do there or don’t do [with Prescott’s contract], I couldn’t say at this time,” Jones said, “but the main thing is he’s going to be our quarterback [in 2024].”

Prescott led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes and finished second in MVP voting behind Lamar Jackson and was second-team All-Pro.

Jones said he’s convinced Prescott can play even better than he did in 2023.

“He had one of the best years as you all know,” Jones said. “But the thing that I would point out is we all think that had a lot to do with the fact that Mike McCarthy is right there involved in Dak’s play, more directly involved in the offense, that we think that there’s a lot more to come.”

PFT

 

Report: Vikings 'have their limits' to a Kirk Cousins extension


The Minnesota Vikings continue to negotiate with pending free agent Kirk Cousins but according to reports from ESPN's Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler there may be a gap between what Cousins wants and what the Vikings are offering.

"The sense I'm getting is Minnesota still wants Cousins to return, but Cousins has a very specific idea in mind for what he wants in a new contract and the Vikings so far have not made an offer that matches it," Graziano reported Sunday. "The ball might be in the team's court at this point. Cousins and his family like Minnesota and would be happy to stay and finish his career there, but it doesn't sound like he's willing to offer the team a hometown discount."

Fowler echoed Graziano's report during a Sunday appearance on SportsCenter, saying the Vikings have their limits in a new deal.

"The feeling around the league is that Minnesota is hopeful, they want to do a deal with Cousins but they're not going to live and die by it," Fowler said. "They're going to have limits here. Those limits are probably pertaining to the guaranteed money in the contract."

This is a similar situation to when the Vikings sat down to discuss a contract extension with Cousins after the 2022 season. While Cousins was willing to take less money overall, the Star Tribune's Andrew Krammer and Ben Goessling reported that Cousins wanted a three-year, fully guaranteed deal while the Vikings didn't want to commit to him through the 2025 season.

"The sense I've gotten is that they didn't want to commit as long as what he was looking for," Goessling said. "It seemed like they were almost moving in different directions. They wanted something shorter, he wanted something longer. My understanding is that 2025 was the issue."

It could be why Adofo-Mensah stated that both sides needed to "meet in the middle" when discussing Cousins's pending free agency this week.

"Had a great conversation with him a few days ago," Adofo-Mensah explained. "At the end of the day, we have our interests, he has his and we get to the table and see if we can figure out a creative solution and how to meet in the middle. That's what every contract negotiation is."

If the Vikings are unwilling to get to Cousins' alleged desired price point, it appears the Falcons could go the extra mile as Graziano believes that Cousins is Atlanta's top priority over trading for Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Fowler also pointed out that one NFL executive believes Cousins and the Falcons are "probably one of the best overall free agent fits out there."

Cousins is set to become a free agent on Mar. 11 and the Vikings will incur $28.5 million in dead money in 2024 if he does not agree to a contract by then. With the days ticking down, it's unclear whether both sides will meet in the middle and whether Cousins' days in Minnesota are numbered.

SI/FANNATION

 

Broncos to release Russell Wilson

The Broncos are officially moving on from Russell Wilson.

Denver announced on Monday that the team has informed Wilson that he will be released after the start of the new league year on March 13.

“We spoke with Russell Wilson today to inform him of his release after the start of the league year,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton and G.M. George Paton said in a joint statement released by the team. “On behalf of the Broncos, we thank Russell for his contributions and dedication to our team and community while wishing him the best as he continues his career.

“As we move forward, we are focused on building the strongest team possible for the 2024 season and beyond. We are excited to improve this offseason and will have the flexibility to get better through the draft and free agency.”

The Broncos acquired Wilson from the Seahawks in March 2022 in exchange for a package that included two first-round picks and two second-round picks. Denver then signed Wilson to a five-year, $245 million extension just before the start of the regular season.

But things went poorly for Wilson and the Broncos from there. The team finished No. 32 in scoring in 2022, with the team’s first 15 games coached by Nathaniel Hackett. In 2023, Wilson was benched late in the season — which made it clear that Denver was looking to move on from the quarterback after the year.

By releasing Wilson, the Broncos will avoid paying $37 million guaranteed in 2025. Wilson is still entitled to $39 million guaranteed in 2024, however.

Denver can spread out the cap hit from Wilson’s contract over multiple seasons by waiting to cut him at the start of the new league year and designating him as a post-June 1 release.

In 2022, Wilson completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 3,070 yards with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Wilson turns 36 in late November.

NBC
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Makes me curious if he's bound for Tampa Bay or if Mayfield is getting re-signed?

 

I like Mayfield in Tampa. Unless another team makes him a $30M+ / year offer, I will be surprised if the Buccs don't re-sign him. I think the Mike Evans signing is a good indicator. Evans likes Baker and stated he wanted to play for a veteran(and has endorsed Mayfield), not a rookie, then re-signed with the Buccs.

 

Bye Bye enough of bs do you want to be in Minnesota ? yes or no sick and tired of you trying grab the Vikings by the short hairs your a proven chocker all the time you been in Minny what do you have to show for it

 

When it comes to contract time no one grabs and twists a teams short hairs like Cousins. Happens every time. The amount of money he's rinsed this league for, kinda have to be impressed.

 

So, what's the answer? Who would you be pounding the table for?

 

Joe Flacco, Browns have been talking about a reunion


Last year, quarterback Joe Flacco signed with the Browns on November 20. This year, he’s hoping it happens a lot sooner than that.

The 2023 NFL comeback player of the year wants to go back to Cleveland, for another year.

Per a league source, a reunion with the Browns is Flacco’s first choice. He loves playing there — the team, the city, the fans, everything. The two sides met regarding the possibility last week, at the Scouting Combine.

Flacco will be an unrestricted free agent on March 13. He can sign with any team, at any time.

In Cleveland, he’d undoubtedly be the backup to Deshaun Watson. Will Flacco get a chance to compete to be a starter elsewhere?

Much of that depends on what happens in free agency, and also the draft. However, Flacco proved last year that he still can play. It would be stupid for teams to treat him like an emergency option, again.

PFT

 

They moved up to 10 to take a shitty LB a few years ago. Go up and get a QB.

 

Which one?

You are killing me with vagueness

They stayed at 20 and took a shitty QB a couple years back also, isn't that good enough for you?

 

If you're looking for specifics I would rather roll with any of these QBs than Kenny Pickett...

Russell Wilson
Ryan Tannehill
Baker Mayfield
Kirk Cousins
Gardner Minshew
Caleb Williams
Drake Maye
Jayden Daniels
Bo Nix
Michael Penix Jr

Here's my answer...

 

Well, you don't have the ammo to get 3 of those names, so we might as well cross them off. The top 5 are probably your best bets, but do you think the organization will bring one of them in? That's my worst nightmare to see Baker Mayfield's name up there. Not sure what I would do if I saw him in a black and yellow uniform. It would be the ultimate middle finger to the Browns organization though. It would sell tickets for sure.

 

Report: Steelers plan to meet with Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson has permission from the Broncos to speak to teams ahead of his official release and a report on Thursday indicates that one team would like to speak to the quarterback in the coming days.

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Steelers are planning to meet with Wilson before free agency gets underway next week. Wilson will be released when the new league year opens on March 13.

Dulac reported in mid-February that the Steelers were not expected to be interested in Wilson or other outside additions like Justin Fields, Kirk Cousins, or Ryan Tannehill, but it appears that’s changed as he now reports that there’s mutual interest between team and quarterback. He also reports that Wilson has had conversations with at least one other team this week, so that may explain why the Steelers are trying to move quickly.

Kenny Pickett remains on the roster in Pittsburgh and G.M. Omar Khan said that there’s interest in re-signing Mason Rudolph, but a Wilson pursuit could signal a change in direction on that front.

PFT

 

I'd be ok with this. He's an upgrade, putting it mildly. Once they do this, they're done with Pickett because he'll cash out emotionally.

 

Are Russell Wilson, Steelers a fit?

Last month, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that the Steelers aren’t interested in a veteran quarterback with starting aspirations. Yesterday, Dulac reported that the Steelers and veteran quarterback Russell Wilson will meet.

What happened?

Something changed, obviously. As recently as last week, the Steelers seemed to be committed to creating a competition between Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph. Now, they’re talking to Wilson?

From Wilson’s perspective, there’s no harm in hearing what the Steelers have to say. It keeps his name in the news at a time when other teams are finalizing their plans. It’s still hard to imagine Wilson taking a job in Pittsburgh, or Pittsburgh offering him the job, if he truly wants to start.

On one hand, he arguably should embrace the competition. On the other hand, the competition could be rigged — a bit — by the fact that a tie or anything close to one will go to the 2022 first-round pick whom the Steelers surely hope to see flourish.

If Wilson is going to take only $1.21 million for 2024 and stick the Broncos with the balance of his $39 million compensation package, he’ll want to play. He’ll want to go to a place where it’s clear that he’ll play. In Pittsburgh, that won’t be clear.

Then again, where will it be? Only Minnesota, if Kirk Cousins leaves, could give Wilson a reliable commitment that he’d be the guy from Week 1 through Week 18.

For now, there’s no harm in talking to the Steelers. Also, don’t overlook the possibility that the Steelers are talking to Wilson in order to get Rudolph (who is due to be a free agent next week) to accept whatever the Steelers have offered.

Wilson took a potentially massive blow to his image in Denver. He won’t rebuild his reputation by not playing. His motivation for 2024 will be to pick a team that lets him play and gives him a chance to play well.

Whether such a spot will be available for him remains to be seen.

PFT/Florio
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At $1.2M youd think the Raiders would be calling also, but maybe O'Connell is going to be the #1. As for Minnesota IF Cousins bails in FA, Id have to get used to that idea, because I havnt seen anything from Wilson that excites me since he left Seattle.

 

Yeah, the Steelers wouldn't name Rudolph the starter, or pay him TOP backup, to low starter money... So he said he would test the free agency market.

Now, they need a backup plan, with free agency starting next week.

In the meantime, last month Wilson was a trade candidate, this month his yearly salary is paid for by the Broncos and he has already publicly stated he will play on the league minimum for the right situation based on the fact that money goes against the Broncos pay anyway. So, unless he gets more than what the Broncos are paying, he isn't getting a raise no matter what. Russell is going to be playing 2024 in pursuit of a 2025 contract. If the Steelers can offer him an opportunity for a prove it year, they are as good as any to go to.

I will be very surprised if Wilson gets a contract in this first week of free agency... if Rudolph finds what he is looking for, that could prompt the Steelers to get Wilson signed and see what he can do for the 2024 season. The Steelers are opportunists. Their only goal is to make it to a Super Bowl. They don't believe in down years to train a player(s). If Wilson gets them to the 2024 playoffs, he would have done his job...short term.