Tag: deal

Packers sign rookie TE Luke Musgrave, leaving only WR Jayden Reed unsigned

TE Luke Musgrave became the 12th of the Packers’ 13 draft picks to sign a rookie deal. Only WR Jayden Reed remains unsigned.

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The Green Bay Packers moved one step closer to signing the entire 2023 class on Wednesday by agreeing to a rookie deal with tight end Luke Musgrave.

A second-round pick out of Oregon State, Musgrave is the 12th of the team’s 13 draft picks to sign. Only receiver Jayden Reed, another second-round pick, is unsigned.

Musgrave was the 42nd overall pick; Reed was No. 50.

According to Over the Cap, Musgrave, as the 42nd overall pick, will sign a deal worth roughly $8.47 million over four years, including a $3.16 million signing bonus. His cap number in 2023 will be roughly $1.54 million.

Musgrave and the rest of the rookies for the Packers will report to training camp on Friday, July 21. Veterans are due back on Tuesday, July 25, and the first practice is set for Wednesday, July 26.

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New Orleans Saints sign Isaiah Foskey to his 4-year rookie contract

The New Orleans Saints signed Isaiah Foskey to his four-year rookie deal, meaning their entire rookie draft class is now under contract:

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There we go: the New Orleans Saints signed Isaiah Foskey to his four-year rookie deal, meaning their entire rookie draft class is now under contract. The former Notre Dame defensive end was picked by the Saints in the second round at No. 40 overall in the 2023 draft, and now he’s signed his name on the dotted line.

Expectations are high for Foskey in his first year with the Saints. The team has swung and missed on a couple of first-round defensive ends like Marcus Davenport and Payton Turner, so they’re hoping Foskey can turn the tide. He certainly has an encouraging resume as Notre Dame’s all-time leader in sacks (26.5, having broken Justin Tuck’s record) and forced fumbles (7).

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Saints’ first-round draft pick Bryan Bresee signs his rookie contract

The New Orleans Saints’ first-round draft pick Bryan Bresee formally signed his rookie contract on Tuesday:

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The New Orleans Saints’ first-round draft pick Bryan Bresee (from Clemson) formally signed his rookie contract on Tuesday, per multiple reports. NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill reports that it’s a four-year deal with a maximum value of $12,263,552 and is fully guaranteed for skill, injury, and salary cap purposes. KPRC 2 Houston’s Aaron Wilson adds that Bresee received a $5.918 million signing bonus.

As is the case for all first-round picks these days, Bresee’s deal also contains a fifth-year team option that would tie him to New Orleans through the 2027 season — but the Saints will have to make a decision on whether to exercise that option before the 2026 season, so Bresee will have three years to prove his worth.

Many of the Saints’ first-round picks to come before him had their options picked up without hesitation: Brandin Cooks, Andrus Peat, Sheldon Rankins, Marshon Lattimore, and Ryan Ramczyk. Marcus Davenport’s option was exercised to give him another shot, but he didn’t make much of the opportunity. The Saints could have picked up Eli Apple’s option after acquiring him in a trade with the New York Giants but wisely chose not to. They also declined the option for Cesar Ruiz, making him a free agent in 2024. It’s not looking good for Payton Turner whose option will be discussed next offseason.

This also means that just two of the Saints’ 2023 draft picks are not yet officially under contract: second-round defensive end Isaiah Foskey (Notre Dame) and fourth-round quarterback Jake Haener (Fresno State). Bresee joins their other rookie selections in putting pen to paper, so those last two signings should be quick to follow.

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Seahawks QB Geno Smith hopes his story is an ‘inspiration to everyone’

Seahawks QB Geno Smith was rewarded with a three-year deal to stay in Seattle and hopes his NFL story and journey are inspirational.

Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith finally got what he deserved on Thursday when he officially signed his new three-year deal keeping him in Seattle.

“I wanted to stay here,” Smith said as he sat smiling between coach Pete Carroll and John Schneider at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. “I was hoping we could get something done quickly. I didn’t want to have to test the free agent market. Obviously, if I had to then I had to, but I think everyone did a great job at making this work, and now it’s about having it pay off in the future.”

Smith did everything in his power to get to where he is now – back in a starting position. He trusted himself and the organization to do the right thing, rewarding him with a new deal that recognized how far he’s come.

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“I had no doubts, honestly,” Smith said. “I mean, I just kept working, man. And I would always tell myself, ‘Hey, man, if I never got the opportunity, at least I worked for it. At least I put everything I had, and I can leave this game with no regrets.’ I think God kind of shined down on me. He saw me working and gave me (the) opportunity.”

Now it’s Smith’s turn to return the favor.

“Hopefully it’s an inspiration to everyone just to continue to believe in yourself, to work hard, to never waver in your confidence, and then to be opportunistic,” he said. “When you get an opportunity, you’ve got to run with it.

“So hopefully everyone can see that when they see me.”

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These 49 Saints players are under contract for 2023 with these terms

These 49 players are under contract for 2023 with the New Orleans Saints on these terms, leading off with Cameron Jordan and Marshon Lattimore:

The New Orleans Saints aren’t lacking for talent. They didn’t meet expectations in 2022, but there’s still plenty to like about their fortunes in 2023 — they have quality players under contract on each side of the ball. If they can solve the biggest problem facing them and find a quality quarterback to start in the fall, they could run away with the NFC South thanks to playing in the weakest division in the league.

But that’s easier said than done, largely because of the contracts paid out to players at so many other positions. Here’s a quick reference for all 49 players signed through 2023; thanks to Over The Cap for providing contract details on salary cap hits, potential dead money if released, and end dates.

Details on Saints’ landmark contract with Erik McCoy

The Saints reached agreement with Erik McCoy on a landmark contract extension, which brings in the second-highest guarantees for a center in NFL history:

Whew: Erik McCoy just became a very wealthy man. The New Orleans Saints’ starting center reached an agreement with the team on a long-term contract extension, which NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports will run five years. Garafolo adds that the deal is valued at up to $63.75 million, carrying more than $40 million in guarantees. It’s a big deal for a top-five center in the league.

That total amount includes incentives, which means that the actual annual payout may clock in lower than the $12.75 million it averages out to. But if that’s an accurate number, it clocks in as the fourth-best return for centers around the league — only Eagles veteran Jason Kelce ($14 million per year),  Lions Pro Bowler Frank Ragnow ($13.5 million), and Buccaneers cheap-shot artist Ryan Jensen ($13 million) are getting more. And of that group, only Ragnow is receiving higher guarantees at signing ($42 million).

How does this impact the salary cap? We’re still waiting on exact details and the structure of the deal, but it’s likely going to open up a little room for New Orleans in 2022. McCoy’s salary cap hit was north of $3.4 million prior to agreeing on this extension, most of which came from his $2.79 million base salary. The Saints can now kick a lot of that into future years and create some more room for 2022 by lowering his base salary to the veteran minimum ($965,000) and paying him back the difference in his signing bonus. That would free up as much as $1.8 million in cap space and help facilitate minor moves throughout the season. New Orleans was under the cap by just $2.89 million on Thursday prior to the new deal.

So good for McCoy, and for the Saints in reupping a homegrown talent. McCoy just turned 25 in August and will be well positioned to cash in again by the time he turns 30. Jensen signed his new contract earlier this year just months before his 31st birthday. Kelce will be 35 in November. If McCoy sustains his impressive level of play, he’ll have another opportunity to secure a big payday.

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Packers want LB De’Vondre Campbell back, but two sides not nearing new deal

Bill Huber of SI reports the Packers want De’Vondre Campbell, but a new deal isn’t close to being done.

The Green Bay Packers are interested in re-signing All-Pro linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, but a new deal isn’t close to being done as of Monday.

Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated spoke with Campbell’s agent, Joe Panos, who confirmed the two sides have been in contact regarding the team’s “desire to do a new deal” but negotiations are still in the infant stages.

Campbell’s contract will void on Monday. An Instagram post from Campbell on Sunday night sparked speculation that he could be in Green Bay signing a new deal with the Packers before his contract voided, but the deadline either passed or will pass without a new contract.

Because his contract is expected to void, a dead money cap hit of $808,000 will be applied to the Packers salary cap to cover the prorated part of Campbell’s signing bonus. The team added four void years onto Campbell’s deal last June to help lower his cap hit in 2021, but the rest of his signing bonus will now be applied to the cap in 2022.

The $808,000 dead money hit isn’t significant, but every penny is important to a team that is $50 million over the salary cap in 2022, and now Campbell will be on the books in Green Bay this season whether he’s playing for the Pakcers or not.

Campbell was a revelation during his first season in Green Bay. He made big play after big play, graded out as the best full-time off-ball linebacker in the NFL at Pro Football Focus and earned first-team All-Pro recognition from the AP.

Campbell played in 16 of 17 regular-season games, tallying 146 tackles, two interceptions, two sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, six tackles for losses and five quarterback hits.

Campbell was playing on his third team in three seasons while with the Packers in 2021. His excellent play as a sixth-year player dramatically increased his value, both in Green Bay and elsewhere around the NFL.

Expect Panos and Campbell to gauge interest from other teams over the next month. It’s still possible Campbell will return to Green Bay on a new deal, but the Packers won’t be the only team interested in signing a big, athletic linebacker who is 28 and coming off an All-Pro season.

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Seahawks safety Jamal Adams is ‘ready to go win some championships’

Now that he’s signed his new, four-year contract extension, Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams is “ready to go win some championships.”

Seattle Seahawks fans aren’t the only ones who are relieved now that safety Jamal Adams has finally signed his contract extension. The veteran can also utter a huge sigh of relief.

“Man, it’s a block off my shoulders,” Adams told reporters on Tuesday after the deal was done. “I’m just so excited to be a part of such a unique organization. I’ve always been a fan, still a fan, but it just makes it that much greater that I’m a part of the family now.

“I’m ready to go win some championships.”

Seattle inked the star safety to a four-year extension, keeping him in the Emerald City for the foreseeable future and making him the highest-paid in the NFL at his position. Adams knows he needs to prove he’s worth every penny and part of that is avoiding injuries that could make him miss significant time like last year.

“I never went through anything like that, never missed football games since I’ve been playing the game of football,” Adams said. So I had to learn a lot as far as how to take care of my body even more, because I was taking care of my body, but I can go to the next level, and that’s what I did.

“So far it’s been going great, and that’s the plan is staying healthy.”

Adams is now back on the practice field and hoping to get reps in the Seahawks’ third and final preseason game.

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Report: 49ers finalizing deal with former Seahawk Ziggy Ansah

After suffering two brutal injuries to key defensive linemen on Sunday, the 49ers are working to sign former Seattle Seahawk Ziggy Ansah.

Once again, the Seattle Seahawks will be facing one of their former players dressed in the red and gold of their biggest rival, the San Francisco 49ers.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported early Monday morning that defensive end Ziggy Ansah, who was a free agent entering the 2020 season, would be meeting with the 49ers after the team suffered likely season-ending injuries to defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas on Sunday.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN confirmed the news, reporting that the 49ers are finalizing a one-year deal with Ansah that is expected to be completed this week.

Ansah previously met with the 49ers just one week ago, but the two sides could not agree on a deal. Now, however, the team’s pass-rushing depth is suddenly much thinner.

As a member of the Seahawks in 2019, Ansah defended two passes, forced (and recovered) two fumbles, and had eight quarterback hits with two and a half sacks.

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Saints still in on Jadeveon Clowney, but Titans’ Mike Vrabel speaks up

The New Orleans Saints are going hard after free agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, but Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel is in the hunt

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We’re onto the next hour of Jadeveon Clowney Watch, with the New Orleans Saints vying against the Tennessee Titans and maybe another team or two for the free agent. And Titans coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Friday that his team has put their offer on the table.

“We have an offer out, we’ve been in contact with Jadeveon, with J.D. and his agent,” Vrabel said in a media conference call after Titans practice. “That’s all I can report, and that’s all I really know.”

It’s confirmation of what was expected: that the Titans, who have been reported to be in negotiations with Clowney’s representatives for months, have put their best foot forward and taken a shot at signing the 2014 first-overall draft pick. Whether or not it’ll be enough to convince Clowney is anyone’s guess.

For their part, the Saints aren’t content to just exchange phone calls. They’ve reportedly sent a coach to Houston to track down Clowney and personally sell him on what New Orleans has to offer. The Saints have also done their homework on how to fit a possible Clowney contract on their books by calling veterans about contract restructures. Those are some great lengths to go to, but it’s always wise to be prepared.

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