Tag: 2024 NFL Free Agency

Rams bench ex-Lion Jonah Jackson

The Lions let Jackson walk and now pay Pro Bowler Kevin Zeitler 1/3 of what the Rams spent on the free-agent flop

The Detroit Lions made a nice offer to Jonah Jackson when the offensive lineman hit free agency earlier this year. Jackson opted to chase some extra dollars and fled for the Los Angeles Rams instead.

That decision is looking terrible for both Jackson and the Rams already. Jackson has played in just three games thanks to a shoulder injury, and he’s not playing well when he’s been on the field. In fact, the Rams have now benched Jackson in favor of rookie Beaux Limmer.

Rams coach Sean McVay pulled the plug on Jackson as the Rams starting center in Week 11, turning to the sixth-round rookie from Arkansas over the $51 million man in Jackson. To be fair to the former Lions’ third-rounder, Jackson is a natural guard and played that in Detroit. But he’s not beaten out Steve Avila or Kevin Dotson at the guard spots in Los Angeles despite the Rams scrambling to find healthy bodies at tackle.

The Rams are 5-5, tied with the 49ers and Seahawks in the NFC West behind the 6-4 Arizona Cardinals. Meanwhile, the Lions are 9-1 and replaced Jackson with Pro Bowl veteran Kevin Zeitler, who is earning $6 million in 2024. Their PFF scores through Week 11:

Zeitler: 87.8
Jackson: 53.4

Good call by Lions GM Brad Holmes on letting Jackson walk and chase the money. Detroit saved money and got a better player.

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Bengals claim player off Falcons’ practice squad after Week 5 loss

The Bengals made an addition to the roster by swiping a player from the Falcons.

Coming out of the Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals got started on what could be extensive roster moves by signing guard Andrew Stueber off the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.

The news comes from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and comes in the wake of Bengals tackle Amarius Mims suffering an injury during the loss to the Ravens.

Stueber spent the first two years of his career with New England after being selected in the seventh round, then went to Atlanta via a waiver claim over the summer.

Now, the Bengals add a little more depth to the interior of the offensive line, perhaps to give themselves wiggle room to have Cody Ford focus on tackle, should Mims need to miss time—and with Trent Brown already lost for the season.

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Veteran running back refused to sign with the Chiefs during free agency: ‘No way I was going there’

Josh Jacobs refused to sign with the Kansas City #Chiefs during free agency: ‘No way I was going there’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions seeking an unprecedented three-peat. Players would ideally want to join the team, but old rivalries are too much to ignore.

Former Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs told Dan Pompei of TheAthletic.com his strong reason for avoiding the Chiefs in free agency.

“They were trying to get me hard, but there was no way I was going there. I feel like once you are rivals with somebody, you have a genuine hate for them,” said Jacobs. “I couldn’t see myself in that color. And besides, I never wanted to be the guy that joined the dominant team. I want to be the guy that beats the dominant team.”

During his five seasons with the Raiders, the former Alabama standout accumulated 5,545 yards on the ground and 46 rushing touchdowns. The two-time Pro Bowler led the NFL in rushing in 2022, earning first-team All-Pro honors. Jacobs decided to sign with the Green Bay Packers because he couldn’t see past the many battles against Kansas City to join them potentially.

Top free agent safety Justin Simmons is now off the market

Many Lions fans (and media) coveted Simmons as a free agent, but the 4-time All-Pro is headed to Atlanta

The Justin Simmons-to-Detroit dreams are now officially over. Every Lions fan’s favorite free agent safety is off the market.

Simmons, who has spent his entire 8-year career playing safety in Denver, has signed with the Atlanta Falcons. It’s a one-year deal worth $8 million for Simmons, a second-team All-Pro in four of the last five seasons with the Broncos.

Simmons was the object of affection for nearly every NFL team that needed safety help–which is a lengthy list. The Lions were never credibly linked to Simmons beyond speculation of interest due to the team’s unproven depth at the position. That had led to clamoring for other free agent safeties, including longtime Lions starter Quandre Diggs, who went to the Titans recently.

However, with Brian Branch moving to a full-time safety role in his second season, the Lions effectively solved the problem from within. Detroit has Branch, Kerby Joseph, Brandon Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu at safety, as well as special teams standout CJ Moore.

It’s the second day in a row the Falcons made a move on a player who was a popular target for Lions fans. On Wednesday, Atlanta traded for Patriots pass rusher–and Detroit native–Matthew Judon.

Ex-Lions CB Jerry Jacobs finds a new NFL home

Jacobs started 29 games in three seasons in Detroit but was not tendered as a restricted free agent

Former Detroit Lions starting cornerback Jerry Jacobs has found a new NFL home. Jacobs is signing with the Los Angeles Rams after also taking visits with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers recently.

Jacobs was one of Detroit’s best undrafted free agent stories of the last few seasons. After going undrafted out of Arkansas in 2021, the feisty cornerback earned not only a roster spot but a starting role as a rookie. He played in 40 games over his three years in Detroit, with 29 starts. In 2023, Jacobs started 12 games and set career-highs with 55 tackles and three INTs.

However, the Lions opted to not offer Jacobs a restricted free agency tender, making him able to sign with any other team.

He joins a Rams unit that recently lost projected starting CB Derion Kendrick to a torn ACL.

Eagles updated 90-man roster arranged by uniform number ahead of training camp

We’re looking at the Philadelphia Eagles updated 90-man roster by uniform number ahead of Tuesday’s report date for training camp

The Eagles are just 12 away from being back on the field for the start of one of the most critical training camps in franchise history.

After signing seven undrafted free agents following the draft, Philadelphia has a full roster, including Laekin Vakalahi, who’ll be exempt from a roster spot as the team’s representative in the International Pathway Program.

After the team placed offensive tackle Le’Raven Clark on injured reserve, it released tight end Noah Togiai and signed cornerback Shon Stephens. Philadelphia now has a roster space for one player ahead of the July 23 report date for rookies and veterans.

With things about to ramp up, here’s an updated 90-player roster for the Eagles.

Top free agent safety suspended for performance enhancing drug violation

Tashaun Gipson started for the 49ers the last two seasons and has over 160 NFL starts, but his mistake is a major one for Lions consideration

One of the more common suggestions this offseason for the Detroit Lions is a desire to bring in a free agent safety to help bolster the back end of the secondary. With Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch both missing the spring activities with injuries, Detroit’s lack of proven depth at safety really stands out on the defense.

There are still several veterans out there on the free agent market who hold some name appeal. However, Lions fans can almost certainly cross Tashaun Gipson’s name off the list. Gipson has been suspended for six games by the NFL for a violation of the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

Gipson, who turns 34 in August, started at safety for the San Francisco 49ers in the last two seasons, including the NFC Championship game against the Lions in January. He forced a Jahmyr Gibbs fumble in that game. Gipson has over 160 career NFL starts across five different teams.

Gipson acknowledged he will serve the suspension, which he claims stems from a supplement and not any intentional attempt to cheat the rules. Gipson released this statement,

Despite his desire, the suspension almost certainly rules Gipson out of any consideration from the Lions, who have taken a hard line on players who earn league punishment. Gipson is a talented vet, but missing six games for violating a well-known NFL rule doesn’t pass the Dan Campbell “no turd” test–not as a player the Lions don’t have anything invested in already.

Should Bengals go after this familiar bargain-bin free agent?

A free-agent name for the Bengals to consider.

The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t liable to make any big splashes from outside the organization at this point in the summer.

Still, it’s worth pointing out that a familiar name like Carl Lawson might be available.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently pointed this out when outlining 10 bargain-bin free agents, even mentioning the Bengals as a possible suitor:

While Lawson didn’t show much last season, he recorded seven sacks and 24 quarterback pressures in 2022. He also just turned 29 at the end of June.

A fourth-round pick by the Bengals in 2017,  Lawson is still under 30 years old and has been efficient at getting after quarterbacks on a rotational basis.

The Bengals have big hopes that first-rounder Myles Murphy can join Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson in a strong rotation. Joseph Ossai could be poised for a big contract year, too.

Even so, if Lawson comes at an affordable price over the summer, deepening the pass-rushing rotation before a 17-game season (and potentially more) isn’t the worst idea.

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Projecting the Ravens offensive depth chart following the mandatory minicamp

Projecting the Baltimore Ravens offensive depth chart following the mandatory minicamp

The Ravens are still in the crux of a potential Super Bowl window.

Still, after changing the offensive line, running back, and wide receiver positions, the team will look drastically different on offense. Baltimore seemed to win the first wave of the free agency period after getting Derrick Henry for two years and $16 million. The talented running back could earn $20 million throughout the deal.

All wasn’t perfect, as the Ravens suffered significant free-agent losses. Patrick Queen (Steelers), Geno Stone (Bengals), and Gus Edwards (Chargers) were among eight free agents to sign elsewhere.

Baltimore also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets and released Tyus Bowser in a cost-cutting move.

We’re looking at an updated depth chart with the mandatory minicamp completed.

Starter — Lamar Jackson
2nd–Josh Johnson
3rd-Devin Leary

4th–Emory Jones

Tyler Huntley moved on in free agency, and Baltimore brought back Josh Johnson, while Malik Cunningham will continue to develop at the wide receiver position. Devin Leary was selected late in the draft and looks to be the backup for the future. Emory Jones offers potential as a developmental quarterback.

Starter-Derrick Henry
2nd-Justice Hill/Keaton Mitchell

3rd-Rasheen Ali
4th–Owen Wright

Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins are replaced by the legendary Derrick ‘King’ Henry. One of the biggest signings of the early free agency period, Henry gives Baltimore a star at the position.

Starter–Patrick Ricard

Starter–Nelson Agholor
2nd–Sean Ryan

Agholor re-signed with Baltimore on a 1-year deal prior to the start of free agency.

Starter–Rashod Bateman
2nd–DeVontez Walker/Tylan Wallace

Starter–Zay Flowers

2nd–Deonte Harty

Starter–Mark Andrews
2nd-Isaiah Likely
3rd–Charlie Kolar
4th–Scotty Washington

Starter–Ronnie Stanley

2nd–Patrick Mekari

Stanley will return at left tackle after restructuring his contract.

Starter–Sala Aumavae-Laulu/Josh Jones
2nd–Tykeem Doss
3rd–Tashawn Manning

With John Simpson signing with the Jets, Aumavae-Laulu could get the first shot at the starting left guard role.

Starter–Tyler Linderbaum

2nd–Nick Samac

Starter–Andrew Voorhees
2nd–Ben Cleveland

Voorhees missed the entire 2023 NFL season with a torn ACL but could start the season at right guard in place of a departed Kevin Zeitler.

Starter–Roger Rosengarten
2nd–Daniel Faalele

Morgan Moses was traded to the New York Jets. Baltimore could roll with second-round pick Roger Rosengarten or Faalele.

Bengals listed as best fit for top remaining free agent

Should the Bengals go after this free agent?

The Cincinnati Bengals exit mandatory minicamp with a strong-looking roster that doesn’t need much in the way of additions.

But that won’t stop suggestions

One comes from Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine, who listed the 10 best remaining free agents under the age of 30 and penned the Bengals as the fit for the No. 1 player — cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon:

Witherspoon has the height and length that so many teams around the league covet at 6’2″, 195 pounds. After putting together one of the best years of his career, he should find a home at some point before the season starts.

Witherspoon was productive last year with three picks and other impressive stats and his age is a bonus, too.

But the cornerback room for the Bengals is pretty stacked right now, with Dax Hill competing on the boundary with DJ Turner opposite Cam Taylor-Britt. Mike Hilton’s competing with rookie Josh Newton in the slot.

Then again, there’s no such thing as too many good cornerbacks either, so perhaps the Bengals take a look if the market stays the same into August.

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