NFL - NEWS & NOTES

Bengals WR Tee Higgins to sign franchise tag, report for training camp



Higgins, who had been absent throughout Cincinnati's offseason program amid a trade request, is set to sign his franchise tag tender on Saturday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per a source.

Higgins is due to make roughly $21.8 million under the one-year deal in 2024. He was given the franchise tag following his fourth season and subsequently requested a trade from the Bengals after long-term contract negotiations seemingly stalled.

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49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk to his ex-quarterback: ‘They don’t want me back’

Is Brandon Aiyuk’s estrangement from the 49ers growing a month before training camp deadline to get deal done?

SANTA CLARA – Brandon Aiyuk has issued another cryptic signal in his contract tug-of-war with the 49ers, five weeks before training camp begins, with or without him.

Aiyuk, who did not attend the team’s mandatory minicamp two weeks ago, posted a TikTok video Monday of his FaceTime chat with Jayden Daniels, a former Arizona State teammate and now the Washington Commanders’ rookie quarterback.

“They said they don’t want me back,” Aiyuk said while sitting on a couch inside a house.

“That’s it?” Daniels responded.

“I swear,” Aiyuk said.

Daniels then let out a shriek of glee (“My boy!”), Aiyuk smiled, and the 49ers’ biggest contract issue this offseason bounced further down an unknown path. More clarity should come in a month, when contract talks historically heat up and when $50,000 daily fines accrue for training camp absences.

Aiyuk captioned the TikTok video: “I’m laughing but I’m crying fr (for real).”

When the 49ers cleaned out their lockers four months ago after their Super Bowl loss, Aiyuk wore sunglasses to help mask his emotions about his unknown future and imminent contract showdown.

Coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have been steadfast all offseason in their desire to keep Aiyuk, the 49ers’ leading receiver the past two seasons. He is under contract for a $14.1 million salary under the fifth-year option of his expiring rookie deal.

When Lynch spoke at the NFL meetings in Florida three months ago, he noted how the 49ers “appreciate the heck out of Brandon and who he is as a player. We want him to be a part of the Niners, so we’re going to work towards making that a reality.” Aiyuk responded with an emoji-filled Instagram story that essentially translated to: “Money talks, B.S. walks.”

Aiyuk’s agent, Ryan Williams, has not commented publicly on the contract talks, other than to dispute a report that Aiyuk requested a trade before April’s NFL Draft. Aiyuk hasn’t shied away, however, from using social media as a loud tool in his contract hunt.

Several other wide receivers around the NFL signed contract extensions this offseason, raising the market rate for top-flight receivers between $25 million annually (see: DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles) and $35 million annually (see: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings).

Aiyuk is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season for the 49ers, who’ve annually rewarded a homegrown talent with a market-setting contract each of the past four summers. They’re already investing heavily in the receiving corps beyond Aiyuk.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is set to make a team-high $21 million salary this season while carrying the team’s second-biggest salary cap number ($28.6 million). Jauan Jennings signed a two-year, $15 million extension a month ago. Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ first-round draft pick, is slotted to earn $12.5 million over four years on a rookie contract he’s yet to sign.

Aiyuk is subject to a $100,000 fine for skipping minicamp over what Shanahan termed “contract stuff,” adding: “We know what the process is, we know what the business part is, and that’s just how they decide how they want to handle this week.”

While the 49ers held their second minicamp practice two weeks ago, Aiyuk posted a social-media video of him catching a long pass on a public park’s youth baseball field. He also recently posted an Instagram story of him in Atlanta, Georgia.

Daniels’ freshman season at Arizona State in 2019 overlapped there with Aiyuk (and Pearsall). Daniels went on to transfer to LSU in 2022, he won the Heisman Trophy last year, and he was drafted No. 2 overall by the Commanders, whose first-year general manager is Adam Peters, formerly the 49ers’ assistant GM. Washington’s receiving corps is led by veteran Terry McLaurin, 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson, and rookie Luke McCaffrey, youngest brother of 49ers’ star Christian McCaffrey.

THE MERCURY NEWS

 

Last season kind of was great timing for Ayuck. He earned all-pro and has a good season. He could just be a product of Shanahans system. He really runs an offense that keeps defenders on a hesitation which causes WRs to get open easier. If he was on the Steelers he would always be blanketed because they never use their imagination to create plays to sucker defenders.

 

I might catch hell for this opinion, but this is how I see it...

In my opinion, Aiyuk is watching all the other top WR's get more money than him, so he wants more also. Higgins, for example, had 2 1000-yard seasons till last year when he was out 6 games and he is going to make twice as much as Aiyuk in 2024, plus other WR's on his team might make more cash monies than him. I just think its all just a greedy attempted money grab by these guys based on envy of what others are getting. I understand there must and should be a fair deal for all or a set standard, but its a game being played that eventually has to have a limit.

 

Ayuck was offered 29 million a season, he’s not JJ or Hill. St moron from Detroit didn’t deserve it either

 

St. Brown earned his extension... was really good and a huge part of that offense. If Aiyuk was offered $29M, he should have took it. Pittsburgh or Jacksonville ought to make a run at Aiyuk. Jax could afford him too.

 

I know this is not a football question I'm watching the NBA Finals is Steven A Smith high he acts like he's on something and why doesn't he just shut the fu*k up

 

Some kicker recognition...

 

The Bears on Tuesday signed veteran receiver/return specialist DeAndre Carter to a one-year contract.

Carter, 31, appeared in four games with the Bears in 2020. He has played a total of 94 NFL contests with 21 starts over six seasons, also suiting up for the Eagles (2018), Texans (2018-20), Commanders (2021), Chargers (2022) and Raiders (2023). He has caught 108 passes for 1,259 yards and six touchdowns, averaged 22.4 yards with one TD on 118 kickoff returns and averaged 9.8 yards on 132 punt returns.

His most productive season on offense came in 2022 with the Chargers. Carter established career highs with 46 receptions and 538 yards and matched a career high with three touchdown catches.

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Earlier this week, the Steelers cut Denzel Mims, today he's signing with the Jaguars.

 

Rhamondre Stevenson was correct. A new contract was, indeed, close.

The New England Patriots and the running back reached an agreement on a four-year extension worth $36 million, with $17 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday, per sources informed of the contract.

Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Stevenson said during mandatory minicamp that sides were “pretty close” on a contract. Ten days later, the pact came to fruition. The extension keeps the Pats' top back under contract through 2028.

The $9 million new-money average puts Stevenson seventh among running backs, sandwiched between Joe Mixon ($9.875 million) and Derrick Henry/D'Andre Swift ($8 million).

The deal includes an $8 million signing bonus with $12 million available in incentives starting in 2025, based on reaching at least 1,400 yards and becoming a Pro Bowler or All-Pro, Rapoport added. Running 2025-28, Stevenson can earn $600,000 for reaching each 1,400, 1,500 and 1,600 scrimmage yards and an additional $600,000 for a Pro Bowl plus first- or second-team All-Pro honors. If he hits those figures, the pact would max out at $48 million.

Stevenson burst out in 2022, generating 1,040 rushing yards and 421 receiving yards. The 1,461 scrimmage yards is notable, given the incentives in his new deal. The Pats are betting their leading rusher gets back on track after an injury-riddled 2023 relegated him to 12 games and 857 scrimmage yards.

The 26-year-old profiles as a workhorse out of the Patriots backfield, with Antonio Gibson as a pass-catching threat. Kevin Harris, JaMycal Hasty, and undrafted rookies DeShaun Fenwick and Terrell Jennings will battle for additional depth jobs.

Stevenson's ability as both a runner and receiver allows him to be a three-down weapon. Given the talent level in the Patriots offense in 2024, the running back figures to see the ball a ton if he can stay healthy.

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Not bad for todays RB market.

 

I'm a big fan of Rhamondre.

Feel like he is never utilized to his best ability in that offense...

 

I told @nybites it raises Najee’s value (i believe he’s more talented), as well as, Etienne and Javonte assuming the latter can stay healthy and produce as he’s been expected to.

 

Unless Najee has a monster season the Steelers will roll with Warren and someone else next year

 

I personally think the Steelers are making or have made a huge mistake on not extending Harris. Now with the Stevenson extension, Harris ought to be valued at about the same amount... his price/worth just went up by the Stevenson deal, in my opinion.

Another truly important factor in Harris's resume is that he has never missed a game... you cant beat that with a stick in todays era.

Warren may have more YPC than Harris, but stats dont always depict the whole picture. The stats do favor Warren in the YPC category, but Harris has had double the workload and leads by far in all scoring stats because he's out there on the field which may tilt things a bit as percentages can change do to workload.

Its a good thing to have a 2-back system for a 2-headed pounding and in case there's injury. And yes, I do understand the Steelers need a WR also, but hey, its only money, cap be damned.

 

What is Shane Steichens record in the AFC North?

 

If they want him they can always franchise him.

 

Nice view of the newly named 'Crosby Field' at EMU, named for Max and his wife. They donated $1M to the school's athletic department (their alma Mater) and they installed a new field naming after them.

 

$1M wouldn’t have paid for half of the field turf.

Edit: I went and read an article about this and now I realize, the donations were for athletic renovations, some of which literally went for the field turf. I misunderstood the original post. I thought they built a new stadium, even though it said plainly, “field”. Regardless, it was a great gesture for former athletes to make such a donation!