NFL - NEWS & NOTES

As it turns out, Hunter Henry isn't heading to free agency after all.

The tight end has agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $30 million to remain with the Patriots, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported on Friday. Henry's contract includes a base value of $27 million, making for an average annual value of at least $9 million per season.

 

A couple of years ago, he led the league in catches or yards. He was a weapon then. The following year, he broke his ankle. And then waited until June to get surgery. Sean Payton must have been shitting bricks. I thought he'd be gone then. But Payton kept him. They we found out that the surgery went bad. Now do it again. And he just hasn't been the same since. I don't think it's that big a deal. The Saints gotta get rid of these older guys and start over anyway. And get us out of salary cap hell.

 

Steelers release Allen Robinson

Cornerback Patrick Peterson isn’t the only veteran being let go by the Steelers on Friday.

Field Yates of ESPN reports that the team has also released wide receiver Allen Robinson. Robinson joined the Steelers last year in a trade with the Rams and was signed through the 2024 season.

Robinson’s departure will clear $10 million off the salary cap while leaving behind just under $2 million in dead money.

Robinson started every game for the Steelers last year, but had just 34 catches for 280 yards. It was the third year of underwhelming results with three different teams for Robinson and that makes it hard to see too much clamoring for his services for the 2024 season.

PFT

 

By the way...

DT, Justin Madubuike, a burgeoning defensive star, and the Baltimore Ravens have agreed to terms on a four-year, $98 million extension, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday. Included in the deal, per Rapoport, is $75.5 million guaranteed with $53.5 million guaranteed at signing.

 

They are late round picks.

 

love it!

 

Now all attention turns to Deshaun Watson after this deal for Jeudy Jeudy Jeudy. He must make things happen offensively with $46M on the line. If he doesnt, well I think there's trouble on the south shores of Lake Erie.

 

Good to see Brandon Graham, "The longest-tenured Eagle", get a 1 year deal. Headed into his 15th season.

 

Chiefs, Chris Jones agree to five-year deal with practically $95 million guaranteed

Chris Jones is staying put with the Super Bowl champs.

Jones and the Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to terms on a five-year deal that practically includes $95 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per Jones' agents Katz Brothers Sports. The final numbers are still being worked out, Rapoport added.

Jones, who in the eyes of some has surpassed Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald as the league's top interior defensive lineman, was just a few days away from hitting the open market, but the Chiefs are bringing back their game-changing defender for a run at a three-peat.

It's perhaps no accident that Jones' extension comes after the Baltimore Ravens and defensive lineman Justin Madubuike agreed to a massive deal.

Jones' deal should make him the NFL's highest-paid defensive tackle at around $32 million per year, Rapoport reported. That is higher than Donald, who is currently making $31.6 million a year, per Over the Cap.

Jones, Gregg Rosenthal's No. 1 free agent, has never shied away from stating that he wanted to stick with the Chiefs and general manager Brett Veach said as recently as the NFL Scouting Combine that re-signing his dynamic DL was "at the top" of his priority list.

Now, it's come to fruition.

Jones, 29, is a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion. He's recorded back-to-back double-digit-sack seasons and has a penchant for coming up clutch in big games -- which are commonplace for KC.

An offseason ago, Jones was also looking for a long-term re-up with the Chiefs but instead held out until a new one-year deal was worked out. Hence, while Jones and the Chiefs experienced Super Bowl success once again, another impending contract situation always loomed.

Jones held out through a Week 1 loss to the Detroit Lions this season, but in 2024, he's poised to be on the field for the Chiefs' season opener, smiling wide with a lucrative new contract.

NFL.com

 

Kevin Byard agrees to terms with the Bears

Three days after signing franchise-tagged cornerback Jaylon Johnson to a four-year deal, they’ve agreed to terms with former Titans and Eagles safety Kevin Byard, via multiple reports.

It’s reportedly, per NFL Media, a two-year deal with $15 million in base pay. There are currently no further details.

Byard was traded to the Eagles in October 2023 for safety Terrell Edmunds and 2024 fifth- and sixth-round draft picks. The Eagles recently released Byard.

The 30-year-old is a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro, in 2017 and in 2021. He has 28 career interceptions in his eight-year career.

The news of the deal comes as Byard reportedly was preparing to visit another team. That apparently was enough to get the Bears to close it out.

PFT

 

FA officially opens at 12 PM ET Monday.

 

Remember when it looked like we were going to get an epic FA season and then all these mf’ers just decided to re-sign with their current teams right before it starts?

 

It's a business. BOTH WAYS!! A player that likes where he's at. The contract is up. And he wants a raise. Tell your team "YOU'RE OUT". And then watch the team open up the checkbook. Everyones happy!!!!

 

Kendrick Bourne agrees to three-year deal to remain with Patriots

Receiver Kendrick Bourne said in an interview with NFL Media last week the he hoped to re-sign with the Patriots rather than hitting free agency. Bourne got his wish.

He is re-signing with the team on a three-year deal, his agent, Henry Organ of Disruptive, announced.

Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald reports that the deal is worth a base of $19.5 million with a maximum value of $33 million and it includes a $4.2 million signing bonus.

Bourne, 28, tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Week 8 but said he will complete his rehab before training camp.

He made 37 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns before his season-ending injury.

 

Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin has agreed to a contract extension.

Franklin, who had one year left on his old deal, has signed a new deal today. Franklin’s agents told reporters it’s a three-year, $31.26 million extension.

The Colts originally drafted Franklin in the seventh round in 2018. He signed a three-year extension in 2022 and now another three-year extension.

PFT

 

Man that's a really reasonable deal for a guy that makes as many tackles as that guy does.

 

Higgins wants out...

The Bengals placed the franchise tag on Tee Higgins to keep him in the fold for 2024.

But Higgins is apparently intent on playing elsewhere in the coming season.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Higgins has requested a trade.

Higgins, 25, has grown disappointed that Cincinnati has not discussed a long-term contract with him since March 2023. So even as Higgins had hoped to be around the Bengals for years to come, he is ready to move on.

Just because Higgins has requested a trade doesn’t mean the Bengals will grant that request. But Cincinnati director of player personnel Duke Tobin did not rule out a trade when speaking to reporters at the scouting combine a couple of weeks ago.

Higgins was limited to 12 games with 11 starts in 2023 due to injury. He caught 42 passes for 656 yards with five touchdowns.

In 58 games over his first four seasons, Higgins has 257 receptions for 3,684 yards with 24 TDs.

PFT

 

LMAO... it's funny how offers are already starting to roll in and the legal tampering has only been open for 24 minutes...

They should just rework the wording in the CBA and state that teams can talk to outgoing free agents post Super Bowl. That actually would give the current teams a better time frame to meet the contract offers and not have to guess at the market value on a player. Deals still wouldn't become official until the new year begins, but it would give them the needed leeway, without fear of ramifications.

HOW could the league justify not fining the Bears, when a structured deal has been announced for D'Andre Swift? There is no way to get that all done in 18 minutes, which is the time it was first reported.

 

The big agreements so far:

Cousins to Atlanta
C. Wilkins to Vegas
Jacobs to Green Bay
Pollard to Tennessee
G. Davis to Jacksonville
J. Greenard to Minnesota
Swift to Chicago