Tag: 2023 offseason

What attendance looked like for Tampa Bay on Day 1 of OTAs

Here are a few players who did and did not show up to the first day of OTAs on Tuesday.

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The “O” in OTAs doesn’t stand for optional (“organized,” if you were curious), but that aspect of it is often well known when its time to hold them every offseason. As such, there were some Tampa Bay Buccaneers players that didn’t show up when Day 1 of OTAs came around on Tuesday.

Here are some notable players that did not attend:

  • EDGE Shaq Barrett
  • WR Mike Evans
  • WR Russell Gage
  • CB Carlton Davis
  • CB Jamel Dean
  • LB Devin White
  • NT Vita Vea
  • C Ryan Jensen

There are a few reasons why some players skip OTAs. Some are injured, like Barrett and Gage, and others have their own workout routines that they like to do on their own time at this point during the offseason. Some veterans have been known to take it off, and others hold out of all team activities due to contract disputes — it’s too early to say whether or not this is the case for White, but that will become clearer when mandatory minicamp comes around.

Players that were there include S Antoine Winfield Jr., WR Chris Godwin, TE Cade Otton, QB Baker Mayfield, QB Kyle Trask and RB Rachaad White, among others. It is possible that some of the players on the list that did not attend could show up on different days as OTAs continue throughout the next few weeks, so it will be interesting to see if that happens further down the line.

What free agents might Commanders like to sign?

Will the Commanders add any veteran free agents before training camp?

The free agency signing surge that occurs annually in March has passed, and now the annual April draft as well. So, whom will the Commanders sign now?

The value of free agents has flattened out, there will be players released as well, a result of draft choices having been made, making many veterans more expendable.

Take the 2021 offseason for example. Washington had finished atop the NFC East at 7-9 in the 2020 season, bowing out to the Tampa Bay Bucs in the playoffs.

Following the free agency wave and the draft, the “Football Team” in mid-May signed offensive tackle Charles Leno, who had been waived by the Bears.

Two days later, Washington signed defensive back Bobby McCain who had been released by the Miami Dolphins. The following week the team announced the signing of tight end Ricky Seals-Jones.

The moves were designed to build roster depth, and strengthen the team at spots needing to be addressed.

Following the 2021 season, the free agency signing period, and the 2022 draft, Washington in May signed veterans Trai Turner and Alex Erickson.

Consequently, this 2023 offseason, the Commanders will again be looking for a few roster spots they can bolster by signing a few inexpensive veterans.

Will they pursue and sign an offensive tackle?

Remember Eric Fisher who played for the Chiefs in Eric Bieniemy’s offense? The Dolphins released Fisher in March, and he has yet to sign with a team. Would they sign George Fant or Brandon Shell?

With J.D. McKissic gone, would the Commanders sign Kenyan Drake, Myles Gaskin, or Kareem Hunt?

Perhaps they would like to add one more edge rusher? Would they sign Kyle Van Noy, Al-Quadin Muhammad, or Trey Flowers?

The Commanders most likely want to see their rookies and undrafted players at next week’s rookie minicamp before making any veteran signings.

4 Cowboys who are next in line for contract extensions

The Cowboys have had a good offseason acquiring new talent, but they still have work to do to re-sign some of their own players. | From @BenGrimaldi

With the 2023 NFL draft arriving in less than a week, the focus for many teams has been preparing for the biggest offseason event the league holds. Yet that hasn’t stopped the Dallas Cowboys from handling a little bit of other business for their future.

The team made some financial moves recently when they picked up the fifth-year option for wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and announced right tackle Terence Steele had signed his second-round tender as a restricted free agent. Lamb’s option will guarantee him over $17.9 million in 2024, while Steele’s tender pays him $4.3 million for the upcoming season. Both moves were expected, and both are players the Cowboys will continue to attempt to sign to long-term deals.

Dallas shouldn’t be done working extensions this offseason as there are a few candidates who the team would be wise to lock up now rather than waiting.

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OLB Danielle Hunter not expected to attend voluntary workouts

In seeking a new contract, Minnesota Vikings OLB Danielle Hunter is not expected to attend voluntary workouts.

The Minnesota Vikings offseason program starts on Monday, April 17th and the first domino has fallen. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, star edge Danielle Hunter is not expected to attend voluntary workouts.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Hunter wants a new contract and his cash coming in this year is only $4.9 million, massively under market value for a player of his caliber. According to Over The Cap, his salary cap hit is $13.12 million and the Vikings don’t have a lot of cap space to maneuver.

There has been some speculation that Hunter could be used as a piece in a trade. While anything is possible, look for the Vikings to try and work something out with Hunter on the contract front.

Cowboys announce OTA, minicamp dates for 2023

The Cowboys’ offseason workout program is set; one schedule quirk suggests a lighter-than-normal load for veteran players. | From @ToddBrock24f7

The Cowboys’ offseason calendar is set, as the NFL released minicamp and OTA workout dates for all 32 teams on Friday.

Dallas players may begin voluntary participation on April 17, with activities for the two weeks following limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehab work.

Phase Two of the offseason program, as laid out by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, makes up the next three weeks. On-field workouts may include individual or group instruction and drills, but the drills may only be conducted at a walk-through pace, with no live contact or team offense-vs.-team defense work allowed.

Rookie minicamp will also be held during Phase Two, either May 5-8 or May 12-15, but the Cowboys’ exact dates are not yet known.

Organized team practices are scheduled for May 22-23, May 25, May 30, June 1-2, and June 13-15. Live contact is still not permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are allowed.

The Cowboys’ mandatory minicamp takes place June 6-8. As noted by Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News, the timing of that is unusual in that OTAs are rarely held after minicamp. This scheduling quirk suggests that the final mid-June OTA session may end up being just for the rookies.

That would leave just six total-team OTA practices for the Cowboys.

Start date April 17
Rookie minicamp May 5-8 or May 12-15
OTA workouts May 22-23

May 25

May 30

June 1-2

June 13-15
Mandatory minicamp June 6-8

The Lions, Raiders, Seahawks, Titans, and Commanders are also scheduled to hold at least one OTA after their minicamp dates. The Bengals and Eagles will hold just six total-team OTA practices and scrap their minicamps altogether.

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Robert Saleh gives some insight into how the Jets are approaching the offseason

Robert Saleh gives some insight into how the Jets are approaching the offseason

Jets head coach Robert Saleh spoke to the media (via Zoom) for the first time since talking about the hiring of offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett in January. One of the things he touched on quick was some of the ways the Jets are handling the offseason and going through the process of finding a quarterback.

“It’s like everything else. Right now, we’re studying our guys, we’re going through free agency, we’re looking at the draft, so there’s a lot of overlap with regards to what we’re doing in our day-to-day process.”

“This morning, we’re going over some offensive scheme. In the afternoon, it’ll be defensive scheme. While we’re doing offense, defense is working on free agency and the draft and vice versa. It’s just trying to divvy up the time and make sure that we’re going through our normal process day-in and day-out. I guess you get used to it after all this time.”

Part of that process has been doing their due diligence and then some on quarterback Derek Carr, whom the Jets have now met with twice, including during the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Due to tampering rules, Saleh can’t talk about Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Saleh did say the team’s meeting with Carr went great. Unfortunately, Saleh could not be a part of the meeting. He was supposed to fly to Indianapolis but caught the stomach bug.

The next step in the process, presumably, is waiting for a decision from Rodgers and if he’ll play next season at all and whether the Packers are going to keep him or trade him.

Free agency starts March 15 though the Jets do still have some decisions they could make before then regarding their in-house free agents such as linebacker Quincy Williams and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, to name a few, as well as the salary cap decision to defensive end Carl Lawson, who is owed a non-guaranteed $15 million base salary next season. It’s going to quite an interesting offseason in Florham Park.

Where does Connor McGovern fit in Cowboys’ offseason plans?

One of the decisions the Cowboys will have to make is with the free agent guard, and the case for him to return is more compelling than one might think. | From @BenGrimaldi

Who to bring back and who to allow to test free-agent waters is never an easy decision. The Dallas Cowboys have 21 free agents to sort through this offseason, and they currently sit over the projected salary cap making for an even more difficult task.

One of the players the team must decide on is offensive lineman Connor McGovern. The Cowboys selected McGovern out of Penn State in the third round of the 2019 draft and since entering the league he’s played in 45 games, starting 29.

Although he’s never been mentioned as one of the better players on the  offensive line, McGovern has been solid. The versatility from the four-year veteran is something that cannot be overlooked. In college, McGovern played both guard spots, and center, while in Dallas he has been used on both sides at guard. McGovern has filled in for right guard Zack Martin when he’s missed time and started 15 games at left guard last year.

The offense also has lined McGovern up as a fullback and tight end with success.

Another positive with McGovern is his ability to play clean football, garnering just two penalties in his three playing seasons (he missed his rookie year with a torn pectoral muscle). McGovern wasn’t flagged for a single infraction in 2022 and has played 2,015 career snaps and been flagged just twice.

The Cowboys have been one of the most penalized teams in the league in recent years, so having someone they can count on to be disciplined enough not to hurt the team is huge plus. Playing clean is tough enough but doing it while playing multiple places on the offensive line is an impressive feat.

McGovern is also just 25-years old, and his best football could still be ahead of him. If the Cowboys want to retain a young versatile piece of their offensive line at a good age, they’ll try to re-sign him.

It helps that McGovern won’t cost near what the top free agents at guard will command since he isn’t as accomplished as some of the other options. However, because of his age and with teams desperate to upgrade their offensive lines, McGovern could be seen as a bargain for a franchise looking for interior help. There simply aren’t enough good offensive linemen around the league.

The Cowboys are in a place where they need to consider all options on the offensive line and what they do elsewhere could determine McGovern’s fate with the team. There isn’t much depth on the interior of the team’s offensive line, with Matt Farniok currently as the only other guard with much experience on the roster.

There are options and the team does have some versatility with the offensive line, but that means making more decisions throughout the unit.

Dallas drafted Tyler Smith to be their left tackle of the future, but the team began him at left guard. Smith was supposed to gain experience in his first year before moving to LT, but those plans didn’t work out. When veteran LT Tyron Smith was hurt in preseason, the rookie was shifted outside and McGovern was inserted into the starting lineup.

This offseason, the Cowboys need to make a decision on Tyron Smith. Do they keep the mammoth tackle and move Tyler Smith back to guard for another year of acclimating, or do they release the veteran, save over $13 million on the cap and accelerate the younger Smith’s learning curve yet again?

And what if Dallas isn’t comfortable with right tackle Terence Steele’s health after his torn ACL suffered late in the year? The team moved Tyron Smith over to RT tackle while using Tyler Smith and Jason Peters at LT when Steele got hurt. Steele is also a free agent, albeit a restricted one, and the team needs a contingency for him as well.

Those decisions on the Smiths and Steele could be a factor in what the Cowboys do with McGovern.

He’s not the biggest piece of the free agent puzzle in Dallas, but the team should strongly consider re-signing McGovern if the price is right. McGovern isn’t one of the best guards in the league, but he’s a solid player, and is a good fit with the team because of his versatility, toughness, and ability to avoid penalties.

McGovern doesn’t feel like a priority free agent for the Cowboys, but he does feel like a valuable player to retain.

You can chat with or follow Ben on twitter @BenGrimaldi

Budget free agents the Bucs should sign this offseason

These cost-effective veterans should be on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ radar heading into free agency

A Super Bowl window always has its costs, and for the Bucs, the bill comes due. $55 million over the cap, Tampa will have few resources to replenish its roster in free agency so they will be on the hunt for any bargains they can find.

While the Bucs can retain most of their offense, they are missing a key piece: a quarterback. Kyle Trask is the the only passer under contract, but he has yet to attempt more than 10 passes in the NFL, let alone start a game.

On defense, the Bucs are set to lose numerous starters and depth players. The secondary in particular could be devastated by free agency with Jamel Dean, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Mike Edwards, Logan Ryan and Keanu Neal all on expiring contracts.

The Bucs will have to be very judicious with how they address these roster holes. Primary targets will include aging veterans, reclamation projects and borderline starters—anyone willing to take a smaller paycheck.

While most players in these categories are inexpensive for a reason, there are some hidden gems that could provide good value at a low cost.

Here are a few budget free agents the Bucs should sign:

Denver Broncos’ top positions of need in 2023

Do you agree with our list of needs for the Broncos this offseason?

After hiring head coach Sean Payton, the Denver Broncos are now turning their attention to the offseason. As soon as the clock hit triple zeros after Super Bowl LVII, preparation for the 2023 season began in earnest.

The Broncos have several positions they need to address before the beginning of training camp, either through free agency or the draft in April. Broncos Wire writers Jon Heath, Brandon Walker and Brad Washington take an in-depth look at 10 positions of need in 2023. Check out the latest Broncos Wire podcast for more insight on these positions of need.

Key 2023 offseason dates

Key 2023 offseason dates

With Super Bowl LVII in the books and the Kansas City Chiefs having their championship parade, every team is now officially 0-0 as the offseason is fully underway. Things move quickly in the NFL as we are less than two weeks away from the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. There are a lot of things happening soon so here’s a quick rundown of some key offseason dates in the NFL.

February 21 – March 7

This is the timeframe in which teams can use the franchise or transition tags on a player that is set to become a free agent. The Jets likely won’t use either tag but one key player that teams will be watching for is Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

February 25

The HBCU Legacy Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana. A college all-star game featuring the top draft prospects from HBCU schools that will be broadcast live on NFL Network.

February 28 – March 6

The NFL Scouting Combine takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is one of the last big events before the NFL Draft in April. The Combine is set to be in Indianapolis in 2024 but after that, it’s anyone’s guess where it goes, or even if the Combine will even continue in its current format.

March 7

Along with the end of the franchise tag window, this is the day when College Pro Days begin, typically the last chance for a prospect to impress teams other than the visits a team may set up with a player.

March 13 – March 15

The “legal tampering” period, if you will. These are the three days before the league year and free agency officially begin where teams can talk to agents of soon-to-be free agents.

March 15

At 4:00 p.m. eastern time, the 2023 league year and free agency officially begin.

March 26 – March 29

The Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

April 17

The day the Jets and other teams with returning head coaches can begin offseason workout programs. Teams with new head coaches — Broncos, Cardinals, Colts, Panthers and Texans — can begin workouts two weeks prior on April 3.

April 19

The last day teams can bring draft prospects into their facility. The last day to do so at any location is April 27.

April 27 – April 29

The 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, Missouri.

May 1

The deadline for teams to exercise their Fifth-Year Options on their 2020 first-round selections. For the Jets, that would be Mekhi Becton.

May 5 – May 8 or May 12 – May 15

Teams can hold their rookie minicamps on either of these two time periods, the two weekends following the draft.

May 22 – May 24

The NFL’s Spring League Meeting