Tag: 2023 free agency

Cowboys’ Prescott ready for contract extension ‘when that time comes’

If Aaron Rodgers leaves Green Bay, Prescott will be the QB who’s been with his team the longest. He hopes to extend his stay even further. | From @ToddBrock24f7

As free agency is set to send plenty of veteran players to new clubs for 2023, one Cowboys star is perfectly happy to be remaining right where he is.

He’s even ready to extend his stay.

Quarterback Dak Prescott was on hand Tuesday at a luncheon in downtown Dallas, serving as a guest speaker on the subject of mental health and suicide prevention. But he also took a few moments to chat with reporters, and with so many notable passers on the move right now around the NFL, the topic of Prescott’s time with the Cowboys was a natural.

The 29-year-old is bound to the team through 2024, so he’s not going anywhere in the short-term. But with the team needing to do some work to get under the salary cap, there’s been talk of a restructuring or even an extension of his deal to create extra financial wiggle room for the front office.

Of course, any extension would only tack on years for Prescott to be wearing the silver and blue.

And that’s just fine with No. 4.

“A hundred percent, I’m excited to be a Dallas Cowboy,” Prescott said, via Calvin Watkins on Twitter. “Always dreamed to be here, and now that I’m here, I don’t expect to play for any other team. Now, it’s just about winning.”

That’s the name of the game for every NFL signal-caller, but many of them will find themselves doing it in unfamiliar locations as the offseason QB carousel gets cranked up.

Assuming Aaron Rodgers leaves the Packers, as is widely expected, Prescott- entering just his eighth pro season- will suddenly become the starting quarterback who’s been at the helm with his team the longest.

But as Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said from Indianapolis last week, “We’ve got to have a plan to ultimately extend Dak.”

Jones hinted, though, that an extension might come without a lot of fanfare or publicity, just a necessary bit of bookkeeping that happens behind closed doors one night and is announced the next morning.

That, too, is okay with Prescott, who endured more than his fair share of contract speculation in 2020 and 2021 before finally inking a $160 million four-year pact that’s now halfway up.

“Looking forward to an extension. When that time comes, it will happen,” Prescott explained. “I’m with Stephen; it may just happen overnight. But when it happens, it happens. It’ll be great.”

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Bears 2023 free agency profile: DT Dre’Mont Jones

Dre’Mont Jones could be the explosive three-technique the Bears are looking for.

NFL free agency will be here before we know it, and the Chicago Bears have plenty of work to do. Luckily, general manager Ryan Poles has $100 million to work with to bring in some impact players as he looks to retool the roster.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re highlighting some potential free agent targets and breaking down their 2022 performance and whether or not they’re a fit in Chicago.

Next up is defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones, who has all of the makings of a dominant three-technique in Matt Eberflus’ defense. But will Chicago break the bank on one of the top defensive linemen set to hit the open market?

Available free agent offensive guards for Bears in 2023

The Bears are in need of offensive line help. Here’s a look at all of the offensive guards hitting free agency:

The Chicago Bears have some pressing needs heading into free agency, and offensive line ranks near the top of the list, and they’re expected to be active in pursuing offensive linemen. There are needs both at tackle and within the interior at guard and center.

The Bears have some questions at the guard position, where Cody Whitehair is slated to have a $14.1 million salary cap hit in 2023, which makes him a prime candidate to be a cap casualty. While Teven Jenkins has found a new home at right guard, he’s dealt with injuries in his first two years.

With free agency just around the corner, here’s a look at every available offensive guard (at time of publication) set to hit the free agent market:

Available free agent centers for Bears in 2023

The Bears are in need of offensive line help. Here’s a look at all of the centers hitting free agency:

The Chicago Bears have some pressing needs heading into free agency, and offensive line ranks near the top of the list, and they’re expected to be active in pursuing offensive linemen. There are needs both at tackle and within the interior at guard and center.

The Bears need to find a new center this offseason as Sam Mustipher hasn’t proven to be the guy and with Lucas Patrick’s injury struggles. There are options for Chicago both in free agency and the NFL draft.

With free agency just around the corner, here’s a look at every available center (at time of publication) set to hit the free agent market:

Derek Carr contract details: QB gets no-trade clause, Saints get exit ramp in 2025

Derek Carr contract details: QB gets no-trade clause, Saints get exit ramp after just two years into new deal

Both sides have to feel happy about this one. We’ve got the details on Derek Carr’s contract with the New Orleans Saints thanks to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, and it’s enlightening. While the new deal is being advertised as a four-year, $150 million commitment (and it does max out at those values), in reality Carr’s per-year earnings will fall to about half of that. Thanks to some creative accounting, the Saints structured this so that Carr’s 2023 salary cap hit is only about $7.2 million, taking up roughly 3.2% of the league spending limit. Carr got a no-trade clause out of the arrangement, which gives him some control in the second half of his career.

Florio reports that Carr received a $28.5 million signing bonus from New Orleans, which will toll over the course of five years (with a void year likely written into 2027 for accounting purposes). Most interesting is the non-guaranteed $50 million base salary written in for 2026. That raises the overall average per-year income from $33.3 million to $37.5 million per year, boosting Carr from ranking 12th among quarterbacks to 9th. That $50 million is funny money, though, and it’ll either be wiped out in an eventual release or else be restructured into a signing bonus on a new deal.

Here’s what you need to know about Carr’s new contract with the Saints, based off Florio’s reporting:

  • 2023: $7,200,000 salary cap hit ($1,500,000 base salary, $5,700,000 signing bonus proration)
  • 2024: $35,700,000 salary cap hit ($30,000,000 base salary, $5,700,000 signing bonus proration)
  • 2025: $45,700,000 salary cap hit ($30,000,000 base salary, $5,700,000 signing bonus proration, $10,000,000 roster bonus)
  • 2026: $55,700,000 salary cap hit ($50,000,000 base salary, $5,700,000 signing bonus proration)
  • 2027: $5,700,000 salary cap hit (Contract voids, leaving $5,700,000 behind in dead money from signing bonus proration)

The Saints can kick the can down the road in each of those future years with more restructures, converting base salary and roster bonuses into new signing bonuses, but that won’t happen if Carr hasn’t earned it. Only his base salaries in 2023 and 2024 are guaranteed at signing, and his 2025 base salary is only guaranteed for injury. A $10 million portion of his 2025 base salary will become guaranteed if he’s still on the roster in 2024 (that’s the roster bonus mentioned earlier).

So the Saints gave themselves an exit ramp here in 2025. If Carr declines and doesn’t perform as hoped, they can release him after two years and be left a dead money salary cap charge of about $27,100,000 between the guaranteed roster bonus and leftover signing bonus prorations (which accelerate to the year he’s released). There are more factors we don’t know about yet, and they could spread out those dead money costs by designating him a post-June 1 cut, but that’s the gist of it. Hopefully Carr continues to play at a Pro Bowl level so he can get this team where they want to go.

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Pollard’s tag gives Cowboys unenviable record as next decisions loom

The Cowboys have the most expensive RB room in NFL history, at least for now. But some kind of change is coming for Ezekiel Elliott. | From @ToddBrock24f7

With Monday’s franchise tag placement on running back Tony Pollard, the Cowboys nudged the first of what will be several dominoes regarding their 2023 roster.

The short-term fates of Ezekiel Elliott and Dalton Schultz are likely tied to the $10.1 million Pollard decision; the outcomes of those conversations within the front office will be revealed in the coming days, weeks, and months.

But for now, at this moment in time anyway, the team holds a unique record in the annals of NFL history.

The Cowboys currently have the most expensive running back corps the league has ever seen.

That, of course, is practically guaranteed to change soon as the club shifts its focus to Elliott’s contract.

Owner Jerry Jones has plainly stated he’d like to have the two-time rushing champ back in Dallas next season, but it won’t be at the aforementioned $16.7 million cap hit. Or even the $10.9 base salary he’s owed under his exiting pact.

Elliott has said he’d like to return, too, and even be willing to take a pay cut to do so. It will, therefore, be a matter of finding a number that’s palatable for all parties.

The list of veteran running backs who could be had this offseason is a long one, populated with names like Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, David Montgomery, Miles Sanders, Kareem Hunt, Jamaal Williams, Devin Singletary, and Rashaad Penny. Joe Mixon, Leonard Fournette, and even Derrick Henry could be on the move, too.

And every one of them who actually hits the open market only waters down the chances of Elliott landing a big-fish deal anywhere else.

The ripple effects of restructuring or even cutting Elliott will have a trickle-down cap effect that possibly impacts a player like Tyron Smith or a free agent at another position, like Odell Beckham Jr.

Then there’s always the draft to consider. After a lot of apparent interest on both sides, the Cowboys elected not to use one of their 45 formal combine meetings with Texas rusher Bijan Robinson.

Now with Pollard locked up via the tag, the odds of Dallas using this year’s first-round pick on Robinson would seem to have dropped significantly, although it’s wise to never say never when it comes to forecasting what the Joneses will do.

It’s clear, though, that they’ll need to do something, with Monday’s tagging of Pollard just the first step.

The Cowboys ownership love to sit atop leaguewide lists, but being the biggest overspenders on running backs probably isn’t a record they want to hang onto for long.

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Bears 2023 free agency preview: Will Chicago bring back Joe Thomas?

Joe Thomas served as key depth at linebacker and was a valuable special teams contributor for the Bears.

NFL free agency will be here before we know it, and the Chicago Bears have plenty of players set to hit the market. From key starters to valuable reserves, general manager Ryan Poles will have important decisions to make about who to bring back.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going through each individual player and breaking down their 2022 performance and whether or not they fit in the Bears’ long-term plans.

Next up is Joe Thomas, who served as key depth at linebacker and was a valuable special teams contributor. Thomas would be an affordable depth piece. But should Chicago look elsewhere?

Cowboys place franchise tag on Tony Pollard

As expected, Dallas placed the tag on the club’s top running back from 2022. | From @KDDrummondNFL

The Dallas Cowboys have placed the franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard, more than 24 hours before the deadline. The Monday tag indicates the two sides are not extremely close on any level of contract agreement, and was widely assumed to be the action if that were the case.

Pollard is now scheduled to make at least $10.09 million in 2023, a far cry from his rookie deal that paid him under $4 million total for his first four years in the league. 2022 was the Memphis alum’s best season, surpassing 1,000 yards on the ground and scoring 12 total touchdowns.

The Cowboys can theoretically pull the tag from Pollard. This is the case until he signs the tender or a longer agreement is reached. The two sides can still negotiate a longer deal until July 15.

Pollard is rehabilitating a serious leg injury suffered in Dallas’ playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers in January, but is expected to be fully recovered by the team’s training camp in late summer.

 

 

Derek Carr signing 4-year free agent contract with New Orleans Saints

Derek Carr is signing a 4-year free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints, per multiple reports:

There it is: the New Orleans Saints have reached an agreement with free agent quarterback Derek Carr on a multiyear contract to bring him to the black and gold. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that it is a four-year deal though the per-year average remains unclear, and ESPN’s Dianna Russini was the first to report that Carr is signing on the dotted line. We’ll get a better idea of the overall contract value and structure in the hours ahead.

Either way, it’s going to be expensive. Even mediocre starting quarterbacks are getting more than $30 million per year. At the end of the day, the Saints have a plan to fit Carr under the salary cap and remain competitive. We’ll just have to wait and see whether they can fulfill their vision.

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Available free agent offensive tackles for Bears in 2023

The Bears are in need of offensive line help. Here’s a look at all of the offensive tackles hitting free agency:

The Chicago Bears have some pressing needs heading into free agency, and offensive line ranks near the top of the list, and they’re expected to be active in pursuing offensive linemen. There are needs both at tackle and within the interior at guard and center.

There are questions about what the Bears will do at offensive tackle, especially with how Braxton Jones factors into the equation. Does Chicago choose to let him develop at left tackle or potentially move him to the right side? Or do they choose to find two new starting tackles altogether?

With free agency just around the corner, here’s a look at every available offensive tackle (at time of publication) set to hit the free agent market: