Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bob Brown, labeled the “most aggressive lineman that ever played” by John Madden, died Friday night at the age of 81.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced his death Saturday. Brown was inducted into the HOF in 2004.

“On the field, he was as fierce an opponent as any defensive linemen or linebacker ever faced,” Hall of Fame president Jim Porter said in a statement Saturday. “He used every tactic and technique — and sometimes brute force — to crush the will of the person across the line from him. And took great pride in doing so.”

Brown suffered a stroke in April.

Brown was a five-time All-Pro who was drafted No. 2 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1964. He started 124 of 126 games for the Eagles (1964-68), Los Angeles Rams (1969-70) and the Raiders in Oakland (1971-73), where he played for Madden.

TAMPA BAY

Are the Buccaneers going to extend WR MIKE EVANS?  Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times on that, a consideration of Evans as a Hall of Fame candidate and how the team’s new offense is going to work:

Every player drafted by the Bucs in the Pro Football Hall Fame came from the defensive side of the ball: Lee Roy Selmon, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Ronde Barber, who will be inducted in August.

The player most likely to break that streak is receiver Mike Evans.

Evans will turn 30 in August and is in the final year of his contract. He has not only been a model of consistency with an NFL record nine straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start his career, he’s an unselfish player at a position not known for that quality.

He’s simply the best offensive player in franchise history.

Todd Bowles was asked last week what stands out about Evans.

“His unselfishness,” the coach said. “He’s willing to go in there and block, he’s willing to run the short routes, the deep routes, he’s willing to pick for people when he gets a chance. His unselfishness and his competitiveness.”

Evans counts $23,698,500 against the 2023 salary cap. Part of that is the result of his willingness to restructure in order to give the Bucs more salary-cap space.

But now it’s time for Evans to receive his third contract from the Bucs.

Those talks have already begun, and there is a willingness on both sides to get something done this summer.

“Mike loves Tampa,” said Evans’ agent, Deryk Gilmore. “I know the feeling is mutual. His production is the best of all the guys out there. … The Bucs’ ownership has to love that Mike isn’t even an off-the-field conversation but an on-the-field terror. I’ve got to think they would like to lock him up to a third deal.”

A year ago, the Bucs signed receiver Chris Godwin to a three-year, $60 million contract with $40 million guaranteed. That was with Godwin coming off two torn knee ligaments.

What would a new contract for Evans look like? The best comparison may be Davante Adams. He signed a five-year, $140 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders with $65.67 million guaranteed.

Adams has 9,637 career receiving yards and 87 touchdowns. Evans has 10,425 career receiving yards and 81 TDs.

But it’s important to note that Adams played eight seasons with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, and one with Derek Carr and the Raiders. Evans’ roll call of quarterbacks wasn’t nearly as prolific until the final three seasons with Tom Brady. But he’s been willing to share the wealth with players such as Godwin, Antonio Brown and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

“Obviously, he’s talented,” Bowles said. “He’s a heck of a pro and competitor. When you stay with one team and you put up those type of numbers, that says a lot about you from a character standpoint and a talent standpoint. He continues to do it.”

The Mike Evans Family Foundation gala raised $550,000 a year ago to help local youth and their families while taking a stand against domestic violence.

There’s much work to do, but a new contract should be coming this summer that should allow Evans to retire as a Buccaneer.

It’s not Brady’s offense anymore

Continuity wins in the NFL, but change can be a good thing.

A year ago, with Brady going through a very public and personally draining divorce, the Bucs’ offense was pretty stagnant and not very explosive. Overall, the team also lacked energy.

Of course, execution of plays is what wins, but there can be some positive things added by new offensive coordinator Dave Canales.

A disciple of Pete Carroll, his energy has been welcomed by Bucs players.

“Energy. Energy and excitement — that’s the formula we had where we came from (in Seattle), and that’s what he brings,” said safety Ryan Neal, a former Seahawk signed by the Bucs as a free agent. “That’s something that is going to be real prevalent in this offense.

“You’re going to see them celebrating a lot more when they make plays. You’re going to see them having fun. You’re going to see them being enthusiastic. You’re going to see some downfield plays. You’re going to see it all, because that’s the kind of system he runs. It’s real balanced.”

The Seahawks’ offense was very productive a year ago. They had two 1,000-yard receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, and a 1,000-yard rusher in rookie Kenneth Walker.

So, what will the Bucs’ offense look like? A lot of zone runs, plenty of movement in the pocket by the quarterback with rhythm throws, mostly to the perimeter.

“The different looks that we give the defense (and) just the different opportunities … the energy has been great,” said running back Rachaad White. “Obviously, we’re all happy about it. Pocket movement and just getting the defense running side to side — it’s just a well-balanced offense to me.

“Then the shots and the plays you see guys like Chris (Godwin) and Mike (Evans make) and how they are open. Mike comes to the sideline and says, ‘Man, I haven’t really been this open in a minute. It feels good.’ Just seeing things like that. It’s been happiness. It’s been fun.”

DENVER

Nick Kosmider of The Athletic tries to figure out if QB RUSSELL WILSON is going to bounce back in his first season with Sean Payton as his coach:

If you’re looking for reasons to believe Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson will rebound from a disastrous 2022 season, a recurring scene during the six offseason practices open to the media during the past month would be a good place to start.

It began with the group Wilson followed to the ball after breaking the huddle during full-team drills. The presumed starting offensive line of left tackle Garett Bolles, left guard Ben Powers, center Lloyd Cushenberry, right guard Quinn Meinerz and right tackle Mike McGlinchey were together for virtually every play for the top unit. With the important caveat of health hovering over everything, it could be the most productive group the Broncos have thrown in front of a quarterback since they won the Super Bowl in 2015.

“I’m going to be honest, this is the closest group I’ve been around,” said Bolles, the 2017 first-round pick whose bonding with new members of the line began during a prolonged strength-and-conditioning phase of the offseason program. “Just because everyone is a dog and everyone’s hungry. Everyone wants to win. … The O-line sets the tone, and when we set the tone the rest of the team will follow.”

The Broncos handed out massive multiyear deals in free agency to Powers and McGlinchey, and they should be instant upgrades at the positions they occupy over Dalton Risner (left guard) and the combination Cameron Fleming and Billy Turner (right tackle). Bolles, a second-team All-Pro selection in 2020, and Cushenberry are both healthy after recovering from injuries that cost them more than half of last season. Meinerz is heading into his second year as a full-time starter and was arguably Denver’s best lineman when healthy in 2022. There were no pads put on in the spring, so it’s hard to say just how strong this group will look while playing together for the first time, but it clearly has a chance to be much better than the version that allowed a franchise-record 63 sacks last season, 55 of which were absorbed by Wilson. It’s a group coached by new line coach Zach Strief, who played right tackle for Sean Payton and the Saints during much of his 12-year NFL career and whose knowledge of the coach’s system has helped expedite the installation process for his players.

The second reason for optimism came after the snap from Cushenberry. Team guidelines limit the reporting of practice specifics, but it’s clear Wilson will more frequently be granted opportunities to spray the ball around the field and give his receivers room to run — so long as he is afforded an initial pushback from his offensive line, particularly the interior. From 2017 through 2021, the Saints teams coached by Payton were collectively sixth in yards after catch per reception, according to TruMedia. That included a No. 5 ranking in 2021 (5.76 yards), the year after future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees retired.

Much of that figure is produced on plays where the quarterback finds a receiver over the middle after he emerges free off a rub route or a natural cross — or when the play quickly gets a running back into a mismatch in the flat. Wilson sharply hit these throws during practices open to the media, a fact that should taken with a block of salt considering the lack of contact involved. But it’s clear this offense has a chance to provide more open windows for Wilson that can turn into big plays without him having to force the ball down the field, which became a consistent habit last season. Wilson’s 80 pass attempts of 20 or more air yards were the second-most of his career, but his efficiency on those throws (36.3 percent) was his second-lowest. His EPA (expected points added) per dropback on those attempts was also the second-worst mark of his 11 NFL seasons. Payton will want deep shots to be taken, but a more effective passing game between the numbers — the Saints were fifth in completion rate in that part of the field during his final three seasons in New Orleans, according to Pro Football Focus — should open up those deep passes more organically.

That doesn’t necessarily mean Wilson and the offense will be shining beacons of efficiency from the very start in 2023. This is a complicated offense, and that’s even before you get to additions Payton and his staff can make to the scheme in Year 2 or Year 3 as players get more comfortable with its foundational principles.

“For June 14, we’re really happy with where he’s at,” offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said of Wilson on Wednesday. “There’s some muscle memory that we have to overcome. He’s used to doing things a certain way and we’re presenting a new way of doing things. He shows up every day ready to work. He’s the same guy every day — same attitude, and he’s really fun to work with. I think the answer for him is what the answer is for everyone. Work hard every day, get your fundamentals down and understand what you’re trying to accomplish. So far, it’s been really good.”

Lombardi hit on another key point as it relates to Wilson. The 34-year-old quarterback is healthy after suffering injuries to his hamstring, shoulder, groin, head and knee last season. The shoulder issue required a plasma-rich platelet injection in October to relieve pain in the area. He exited a late-season game against the Chiefs due to a concussion and missed the following week’s start against the Cardinals. After the season, Wilson also had arthroscopic surgery to correct an issue in his right knee that had bothered him for the last couple of seasons.

Wilson is also noticeably slimmer now than he was at the end of last season, saying in his lone news conference during the offseason program that he feels “lean and mean.” One reason the Broncos finally found some success offensively during their final two games in 2022 is that Wilson became a more willing scrambler. He rushed for two touchdowns in a narrow 27-24 loss to the Chiefs. In the season-ending victory against the Chargers, he threw for 283 yards on just 13 completions, and a number of the big pass plays he authored came at the end of impressive scrambles outside the pocket. There should be far more that goes right within the framework of the offense with Payton at the controls, but chaos will always be introduced inside the pocket, and being able to work around that has to be an element of Wilson’s game in 2023.

The offseason program also illustrated the improved weapons Wilson has at his disposal. He and Tim Patrick built quick chemistry last offseason. One of the enduring images that accompanied Wilson’s arrival following the blockbuster trade last spring was Patrick running into the quarterback for the first time in the hallway and pulling him into a hug, his face showing almost disbelief that he was about to play with such an accomplished passer. Then came Patrick’s ACL tear, one of the many factors that contributed to Wilson not looking like the perennial Pro Bowl talent he was in Seattle. Patrick was already participating in full-team drills during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, leaving him on pace to be ready for the season opener against the Raiders on Sept. 10. It is hard to overstate his presence. He is the team’s best blocker at the position, a player who can help Payton and the offensive staff dial up mismatches when they use him in the slot.

And Patrick, whose ACL recovery paled in comparison to his journey back from a gruesome broken leg he suffered during his college career at Utah, doesn’t expect to be worked back slowly into the offense.

“I’ve always got something to prove,” he said. “I think my whole mindset is just being a better version of myself. I see some of the stuff you guys say and handicap your first year (after injury) and then second year is the best year. I throw all that s— out the window. My best year’s going to be right after (the injury).”

Wilson seemingly has better options at every position as things stand now. It is easy to see tight end Greg Dulcich being more effective in his second season, and Payton has said the 2022 third-round pick could play a “joker” role in Denver’s offense that would seek to create mismatches for him against various defensive alignments. The Broncos have another field-stretching threat at the position in Albert Okwuegbunam, who had an impressive practice Tuesday as the Broncos opened minicamp. Samaje Perine is a more impactful threat out of the backfield than anything Denver had following the Week 4 knee injury to Javonte Williams, who continues to be on track for a Week 1 return. Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy finished 2022 with the best six-game stretch of his career, had his fifth-year option picked up by the team this spring and should be a major beneficiary of the catch-and-run opportunities this offense can create.

“The alignments (in Payton’s offense) really help us with different varieties of route-running,” Jeudy said. “It helps the defense not get a jump on us, just by our alignments. That’s really big.”

Payton has said often this offseason that “confidence comes from demonstrated ability.” Training camp and the preseason — in which he’ll be a participant — will be critical periods for Wilson. Though he would not say so publicly, his confidence looked deeply shaken at times last season. It showed up in the way he prematurely danced in the pocket as the pass rush began creeping toward the backfield. It was illustrated in the way he missed reads that led to a pair of egregious interceptions during the Christmas Day embarrassment against the Rams, which expedited the firing of Nathaniel Hackett and led the team’s ownership group on the path that ended in the hiring of Payton.

Wilson needs to see the offense work as the season approaches, as the stakes ramp up. But the offseason program clearly illustrated that the pieces are in place for him to rebound.

BALTIMORE

More on the death of Ray Lewis III.

Ray Lewis III, the son of two-time Super Bowl champion Ray Lewis, died of a suspected overdose, according to a police report obtained Saturday.

Lewis’ younger brother, Rahsaan Lewis, first posted about his sibling’s death Thursday in an Instagram story.

Lewis died Wednesday after officers were called to a Central Florida home and found him unconscious in a bedroom, according to the Casselberry Police Department.

Lewis was reported to be 28 years old. He played cornerback at his father’s alma mater, Miami, for two seasons before transferring to Coastal Carolina in 2015. He finished his career at Virginia Union.

“The evidence and witness accounts show this incident to be a tragic accident,” police said in a statement.

A person in the home was attempting CPR on Lewis when an officer arrived Wednesday evening. The officer was advised by a second person that Lewis needed the opioid-overdose antidote naloxone, which the officer administered using Narcan, according to the police report.

The antidote and further life-saving attempts were unsuccessful. Police said Lewis was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead of a suspected overdose, pending an official autopsy report.

CINCINNATI

It’s not a paycut, it’s a “realignment”.  Paul Dehner, Jr. of The Athletic on the contract situation of RB JOE MIXON and other post-mini camp thoughts:

The Bengals wrapped their version of the offseason program on Thursday, concluding a three-day mandatory minicamp that rarely featured anything beyond light seven-on-seven work.

The philosophy to back off and ease through the spring was well received by the players but did limit any true on-field evaluations traditionally part of this time of year.

That doesn’t mean there were no important takeaways from these last two months. Here are the five most important developments from observations and conversations I had over the time span — and even a few predictions.

1. Jonah Williams’ situation amplifies the impact of culture

It’s hard not to see the face of Jessie Bates when discussing the plight of Jonah Williams this offseason. Clear differences exist, obviously. Different positions for Williams, being asked to change his role, coming off an injury.

Yet, the correlation seen in putting aside frustration with management and the business side of football to give full effort for his teammates (and a franchise tag pile of cash) stands out.

The Bengals sidestepped the landmine again.

Williams expressed his frustration on Tuesday upon arriving for mandatory minicamp. The front office never reached out to him following the signing of Orlando Brown Jr. They still have not, he said. His trade request text was left unanswered, not so much as three dots or a read receipt to offer clarity. Instead, he talked to head coach Zac Taylor. He talked to offensive line coach Frank Pollack. He talked to his teammates. They kept arms open. They kept him in the loop. They made him know he’s wanted.

The result? The frustration expressed in a monologue of what led to his trade request and lack of participation in the voluntary workouts was followed with this:

“The plan is to play me at right tackle,” he said. “I’m fired up to do it. Let’s go, I’m working my knee. I think I’m going to be cleared soon. I feel great moving around and so that was never the issue. I know, that’s kind of how it was made out to be and it was never like a personal thing. I love all my teammates, love all my coaches. Love the team, city, fans. The last couple years have just been amazing, for me personally and for the city, and we really felt that … I’m going to be back Day 1 of training camp, before Day 1 of training camp, 100 percent, ready to grind, ready to roll. And ready to play where the team needs me.”

He admitted his thoughts about the long-term future with the franchise were altered by the handling of this matter. Understandably so. He wasn’t exactly exuding kindness for those who sign his paycheck. For the first time, he said, the former first-round pick faced the reality he might not spend his entire career with the Bengals. The business side of this game tests skin thickness, even for 312-pound “glass eaters.”

Williams’ situation could have featured growing animosity or threats. Instead, he’s “ready to roll” and embrace the right tackle challenge. Bates didn’t show up last year until midway through camp. He even watched a preseason game from his suite inside Paycor Stadium.

Days after his arrival, you never would have guessed he was gone. The vibes in the locker room were immaculate, as the kids say. He produced a quality season and banked $64 million from the Falcons in March. Both Bates and the Bengals won.

The Bengals’ work environment emphasized and nurtured by Taylor and his staff polices itself. His ability to maneuver through challenging conversations with frustrated players shows. It allows potentially ugly, divisive situations to be trumped by refusal to fail teammates.

“That’s I think why we’ve had a lot of success here, because guys love each other in that locker room,” Joe Burrow said. “That’s real love, true love that you have for your teammates.”

Williams arrives positioned to repeat the Bates template. If the Bengals can get a 2022 Bates season out of Williams in 2023, well, they just might end up bringing another of Williams’ comments from Tuesday to the forefront.

“I would love to win the Super Bowl with (Burrow),” Williams said. “So I’ll do that at left, I’ll do it at right, I’ll do it wherever.”

2. Battle at RT gains focus

How will right tackle play out when the battle begins in camp? Williams represents the clear leader at the starting gate. His reliability and track record at left tackle provide an obvious edge over the competition.

Will moving to the opposite side be a challenge? Sure. However, Williams isn’t being asked to learn how to play receiver. He’s switching sides. It happens often. His attitude and background suggest he can handle it. The Bengals certainly believe he can without major issue.

You never know what will happen in a camp battle, but if handicapping today, here’s my view:

• Williams: 75 percent

• Jackson Carman: 20 percent

• La’el Collins: 5 percent

Carman’s grown over the past two years, but there’s a long way to go to build full trust for a guy who has never played right tackle in the NFL. He was thought to be a clear frontrunner to win the left guard job this time last year against fourth-rounder Cordell Volson in camp and was instead blown out. He’ll need to pull off the opposite August to find a starting role.

As for Collins, he looked better than expected and relatively impressive coming off his ACL injury on Christmas Eve, but there’s no thought he will be a part of the tackle conversation anytime soon. His role this year would more than likely project to start the season on PUP and serve as a viable, experienced backup option should injuries or poor play unfold. The Bengals plan to give him every chance to work ahead of schedule and see where he stands until the moment comes when they have to make a decision at the final cutdown.

Beyond all this discussion, the offensive line is in as good of shape as it has ever been under Taylor and is probably the best group in Cincinnati since 2015.

3. Burrow’s dragging contract timeline as much about others

We are contractually obligated to speculate on Burrow’s contract at every speculative interval. The conclusion of the offseason program is as good as any. This time period didn’t lend much insight into how those discussions are going other than Burrow didn’t want to comment during his availability this week.

Do I expect an agreement tomorrow? I don’t. In fact, I’d imagine Justin Herbert will get done first just by the simple nature of the fact Burrow’s resume demands he is paid more than the Chargers’ star. The next date to watch would be the start of training camp. Most major Bengals extensions have been done in this time period leading up to the first practices. Players want to leave the offseason in the past, they don’t want money hanging over their season preparation and deadlines make deals.

There’s not much precedent about making Burrow, presumably, the highest-paid player in history, so looking back might be a fool’s errand. But if asking me today when it could get done, mid-to-late July would be my pick.

The bigger point we learned this spring centered on the lack of action on all the other business hanging in the balance: Tee Higgins’ extension, Logan Wilson’s extension, a potential pay cut for Joe Mixon and maybe even talks with veteran stars in contract years.

The silence there solidifies the concept the club would prefer the Burrow contract done before signing on the dotted line with any other major moves. Like trying to put together a 2,000-piece puzzle without a picture of the final product. No sense in doing anything other than background work until you know the specific parameters.

My bold prediction: Once Burrow signs his contract, Higgins’ extension, Wilson’s extension and a Mixon restructure will all pop off within a week.

4. Joe Mixon’s status

As for Mixon, he was involved, saying the right things, doing the right things and looked every bit a core part of the offense for 2023 during the offseason program. That’s great news for the Bengals, who still really like what he brings to the table.

The endgame will be about whether or not he’s willing to realign his $12.8 million cap hit and $10 million in cash to the current state of the running back market. If he’s not, the Bengals will probably tap into the veteran backwaters that are currently overflowing with victims of the philosophical shift away from paying the position.

The largest average salary signed by a running back this offseason was $6.4 million by Miles Sanders in Carolina. Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook and Kareem Hunt are all still unsigned. Aaron Jones took a $5 million pay cut admitting the market moved. Saquon Barkley can’t agree on an extension with the Giants and hasn’t signed his franchise tag of $10.1 million.

Tough days continue for running backs.

All that before we even broach Mixon’s legal issues, which include a case still unsettled against him for the aggravated menacing incident in January. The NFL could potentially have its own punishment on that matter, as well.

For as much as Mixon has been the primary topic of conversation these last few months, his situation hasn’t even come to a head yet.

5. Defensive developments

Two of the most important developments for the Bengals’ defense in the last two months had nothing to do with a moment on the field.

The first, Chidobe Awuzie (ACL, 10/31/2022) looks incredible working on the side considering his injury. The 28-year-old corner exploded in and out of cuts, looked fluid reacting on the fly and chopping his feet through drills with director of rehab Nick Cosgray.

Maybe the move that told the most happened inside the locker room Wednesday. Awuzie, still wearing cleats, was playing ping pong and nearly fell over when reacting to a play during the match. He caught himself, adjusted and kept right on going. More than a few players reacted with a gasp. Awuzie barely flinched. If that doesn’t show somebody comfortable in their body even away from the structure of rehab, I don’t know what does.

Awuzie’s mind is still in the right place, he doesn’t plan on rushing anything even if he’s ready early in camp. What we learned is he looks like a near lock to be full go 100 percent for the opener in Cleveland. A huge development considering Awuzie is in a contract year and played at an undeniable CB1 level when healthy ever since stepping foot in Cincinnati in 2021.

The other development comes in the body reshaping of 2022 third-round pick Zach Carter. He’s put on 20 pounds of muscle to grow to 310 pounds with dedication and tenacity now understanding his role playing inside at 3-technique, backing up B.J. Hill.

He admitted mentally the game was a struggle for him at times as a rookie, not knowing where he would play, undersized to move inside at 290 and needing to learn the nuances of a position he didn’t play all that much at Florida.

More than any player, Carter talked and looked like a man ready to create a breakout year this spring. He sounded, well, notably hungry, in more ways than one. The Bengals need it after not addressing the 3-technique position in the draft. Carter’s poised to reward the decision.

Prediction: Carter winds up the most dominant player on the field in the first two preseason games before sitting out the last one.

Cincinnati heads off for six weeks away then reconvenes for the start of training camp on July 26. News will slow dramatically, but as has been the case, eyes will remain on when a potential Burrow extension comes down the line. Otherwise, this team as legitimate as any to win the Super Bowl this year will see everyone later this summer.

CLEVELAND

The Browns plan on adding someone to the running backs room, but not a big name.  Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer answers a reader’s question:

Hey, Mary Kay: Do you see any changes coming to the running back room before the season starts? I know Browns fans on social media have speculated on the various offensive positional rooms all off-season, except for the running back position. We know Nick Chubb will start and that Jerome Ford will have his role carved out for him. But do you see them making any kind of moves before Week 1? If so, what names do you think are the best fits? — Eric Urbanowicz, Milford, Ct.

Hey, Eric: I do think the Browns will add another running back before the season, but it won’t be a big-name back such as a Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliott, and they won’t re-sign Kareem Hunt. I think it will be a potential No. 3 back behind Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford who can serve as a solid No. 2 in the event of injury, and churn out 100 yards if both Chubb and Ford are hurt. I don’t think it will be hard to find a back to fill the role, especially behind this offensive line.

NEW ENGLAND

Patriots CB JACK JONES tried to fly out of Logan Airport with a pair of guns in his luggage.  Mike Reiss of ESPN.com:

New England Patriots second-year cornerback Jack Jones was arrested Friday after two firearms were found in his travel luggage at Boston’s Logan Airport, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Jones will be arraigned next week in East Boston District Court. His bail was set at $50,000.

“We have been notified that Jack Jones was arrested at Logan Airport earlier today. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not be commenting further at this time,” a Patriots spokesperson said.

Jones, 25, was charged with two counts of the following offenses, according to state police: possession of a concealed weapon in a secure area of the airport, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm and possession of a large-capacity feeding device.

Jones, a 2022 fourth-round draft choice out of Arizona State, had his rookie season end in late December because of a team suspension for an unspecified violation of club rules. In all, Jones played in 13 games (two starts) and totaled 30 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick had said in March that the suspension was in the past, and Jones was lining up with the top unit at times in spring practices.

THIS AND THAT

BIG CONTRACTS ON THE WAY

ESPN’s reporters identify 19 impending big contracts:

As we move through NFL mandatory minicamps this month and gear up for the start of 2023 training camps at the end of July, a handful of big-name players are amid negotiations for new contracts. So we checked in around the league on where things stand for 19 stars who could get paid this summer.

Could Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow reset the quarterback market after Jalen Hurts signed a $255 million extension in April and Lamar Jackson re-upped with Baltimore for $260 million over five years? Will running backs Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs play out the 2023 season on the franchise tag or land multiyear deals to stay with their current teams? Is Nick Bosa set to become the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL? And how might potential extensions for CeeDee Lamb, Justin Jefferson, Chris Jones and Brian Burns stack up?

Our NFL Nation reporters have the latest on the extension landscape, with intel on 19 ongoing negotiations. Let’s begin with two tagged players trying to get a deal done before their July 17 deadline before moving on to players set to become free agents in 2024 and 2025.

PLAYERS ON THE FRANCHISE TAG

Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

Latest on negotiations: Barkley wants a long-term deal from the Giants. He has made that clear. The Giants, however, are completely fine with him playing on the franchise tag in 2023. The belief is the two sides will try to get something done before the July 17 deadline to negotiate contracts with franchise-tagged players.

“I think they’re open to talking,” Barkley said recently at his AMPT youth football camp. “I’m open to talking. I think at the end of the day, if you really break it down and look at it as a whole, there is no rush.”

The Giants know what Barkley means to their offense. He played a league-high 79.2% of his team’s snaps at running back last season and led New York in rushing yards (1,312) and touchdowns (10) while also tying for the team lead with 57 receptions. The Giants’ offseason plans have always included Barkley — that has not changed. It’s just a matter of how much general manager Joe Schoen wants to prioritize keeping the team captain happy.

For Barkley, it’s about the guaranteed money. The floor is this year’s franchise tag ($10.1 million) plus the possibility of another next year ($12.1 million). That’s $22.2 million guaranteed. — Jordan Raanan

Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders

Latest on negotiations: Because Jacobs, the Raiders’ first NFL rushing champ since Marcus Allen in 1985, has yet to sign his franchise tag, he was not contractually obligated to attend mandatory minicamp. He also wasn’t at voluntary OTAs. And yet — perhaps as an olive branch — Las Vegas changed his uniform number, from No. 28 to the No. 8 he wore in college at Alabama. Jacobs, who rushed for 1,653 yards and had a league-leading 2,053 yards from scrimmage, would be in line to earn $10.1 million under the tag this year.

He has been cryptic on Twitter of late, posting, “Sometimes it’s not about you. We gotta do it for the ones after us,” with a shoulder shrug emoji. The Raiders, who have more than $4.4 million in salary cap space, have been cautiously optimistic, even as Jacobs was the lone Las Vegas player not in attendance for minicamp.

“I respect the process,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said. “I stand by what I said before — love the kid, love the player, love the person and look forward to when I see him.” — Paul Gutierrez

Before we get back to the ESPN reports, here is Ted Ngyuen of The Athletic with a closer look at what Barkley and Jacobs might get:

No other position — maybe in all of sports — is as difficult to be rewarded for elite production in as running back in the NFL.

Last season, Saquon Barkley had his most productive season in nearly every metric. He was a vital part of the Giants’ resurgence. Yet, as of this week, he’s still being asked to be compensated fairly and said he’s not looking for a market-resetting deal, talking to reporters after his youth football camp in New Jersey last Sunday.

Josh Jacobs led the league in rushing and was arguably the best running back in the league last season not named Nick Chubb. He’s still only 25, yet as of today, he only has the franchise tag on the table with no long-term deal in sight.

The main reasons teams are hesitant to give running backs long-term contracts after their rookie deals expire are longevity and saturation. Running backs take a beating, their careers aren’t long and often, even great running backs can fall off a cliff athletically earlier than expected. Also, there are a lot of good running backs on the market who can produce at close to elite levels in the right situation. This phenomenon doesn’t happen often with other positions.

Pro Football Network’s Arif Hasan looked at every running back contract signed since 2016 with an average annual value that consumed at least 4 percent of the cap and compared those players’ production two years before signing to their production three years after signing. He found that only four out of 17 made good on their contracts. Dalvin Cook, who signed a five-year extension, was cut last week after only two years into his contract.

If Jacobs and Barkley get long-term extensions, to live up to them, they’ll have to buck the trend and stay healthy while producing at a much higher level than potentially cheaper replacements — two feats that rarely have been accomplished. To begin to try to answer whether Jacobs and Barkley will be worth the extensions they seek, I watched film and looked at data from Telemetry Sports, which is derived from microchip data from Next Gen Sports.

Rushing explosiveness — Next Gen Stats defines expected yards as the rushing yards a ball carrier is expected to gain on a given carry based on the relative location, speed and direction of blockers and defenders. These factors are measured by microchip data. Telemetry defines an explosive run as a run in which the actual yards gained are at least 10 yards more than the expected yards gained.

Rushing elusiveness — A percentile score that measures a player’s elusiveness based on facts such as yards after contact and tackles avoided.

Play speed — A percentile score that factors in linear speed, acceleration and change of direction.

Last season, Jacobs ranked 35th out of 69 players in rushing explosiveness. To add context, Jacobs led the league in rush attempts against two-deep safety defenses. Out of respect for Davante Adams, teams kept their safeties deep, which benefited Jacobs, who simply lacked the long speed to create a lot of explosive plays according to Telemetry’s definition. His play speed ranked 44th out of 69 and has been on the lower end throughout his career. Though the Raiders offense created space for him to run, when he did deal with penetration and unblocked players, he was exceptional at making multiple tacklers miss in tight spaces. He was a tackle-breaking machine, ranking 7th out of 69 in rushing elusiveness.

Because of the dead money on his contract, Adams will likely be a Raider for the long haul, but will teams continue to respect his ability to beat them deep with Jimmy Garoppolo, who is one of the least frequent deep ball throwers in the league, at the helm? Can Jacobs produce at a high level with more loaded boxes? Those are legitimate concerns. Jacobs makes players miss with nifty footwork and power and that doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere soon. Because he doesn’t rely on pure speed to win and he’s never had a major injury in the league, Jacobs looks like he can still play at a high level for at least a few more seasons if not longer.

Barkley is almost the foil to Jacobs. He doesn’t break a lot of tackles, but he’s explosive in the open field. Barkley ranked 19th out of 69 in rushing explosiveness and 16th out of 64 in play speed. Barkley looked like he was breaking tackles at a higher rate in the beginning of the season, but as it wore along, he struggled to do so. He ranked 54th out of 70 in rushing elusiveness.

His carries were also cut down as the season progressed. From weeks 1-10, Barkley averaged 19.8 carries per game. From weeks 11-17, he averaged 13.8 carries per game. But the downtrend in carries could have been attributed to how defenses played the Giants and the development of their passing game.

“When you come to my situation, coming to me personally, I feel like that I helped our team a lot,” Barkley said. “I feel like not only on the field but off the field as a leader. I feel like obviously there’s a conversation of my numbers going down. I think there’s a whole lot of other stuff that happened to play. It’s the NFL. We were a one-dimensional team in the beginning of the season. We were running the ball.”

Injuries are a bigger concern with Barkley than they are with Jacobs. In 2020, Barkley tore his ACL in Week 2, and in 2021, he missed four games because of a low ankle injury. With a back that relies on explosion and speed, it’s right to question how effective Barkley will be when injuries start to take away from his athleticism.

Despite the risk, the Giants and Raiders likely will get long-term deals done with their star running backs. To understand how those deals look in this modern, sluggish running backs market, I talked to Brad Spielberger, who is a salary-cap analyst for Pro Football Focus, and Jason Fitzgerald, founder of Over the Cap.

“I think they’ll be similar, if they get done, with Jacobs more productive last season obviously, but Barkley carries the draft status cache (drafted second overall),” Spielberger said. “I’d say first guy to get signed gets around $13 million per year and then the second will get just above that, between $13 (million)-$14 million, on a three- or four-year term. If four years, total guarantee right in the $30 million range.”

Fitzgerald believes that Barkley’s getting a similar deal to Derrick Henry makes sense. Henry signed a four-year, $50 million deal with $13.5 million guaranteed.

“Basically, guarantee him what would be the equivalent of two tags plus maybe a few dollars more — $12 (million)-$13 million-a-year range,” Fitzgerald said. “Jacobs is a bit harder since I don’t think the Raiders are as invested in him. Maybe a deal like Aaron Jones did that pays around $10 million a year on the front end but had funny money on the back end to get the average per year up to $12 million.”

Spielberger believes it’ll be a few years before we see a deal as big as Ezekiel Elliot’s ($15 million APY) or Christian McCaffrey’s ($16 million APY), while Fitzgerald believes it’s highly unlikely we see a market-resetting deal for a running back in the foreseeable future unless it involved funny money that pumps up the APY. As unfair as it is for a position with such a short lifespan, teams have been burned too many times in the past.

If the Giants and Raiders could, they probably would have Barkley and Jacobs play on the franchise tag year after year until they see signs of decline coming. But there’s a human side to football. Both players are leaders in their locker rooms, they’ve earned new contracts with their play, and having disgruntled players in the locker room isn’t ideal. How these contracts look likely will be the framework for how elite running back contracts look.

And now back to the ESPN reports:

2024 FREE AGENTS

Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers

Latest on negotiations: The operative word for the Niners and Bosa is patience. San Francisco wants to keep him on a deal that will likely make him the highest-paid defender in the league — besting Aaron Donald’s $31.6 million three-year average — and Bosa wants to stay in the Bay Area for the long haul.

He showed up to mandatory minicamp in June and expressed confidence he would get a deal done just before (or right after) training camp starts in late July. Such mega-contracts can take some time to come together, which is why Bosa probably will follow in the footsteps of teammates George Kittle, Fred Warner and Deebo Samuel, all of whom got their deals on a similar timeline to what Bosa is expecting. — Nick Wagoner

Brian Burns, DE, Carolina Panthers

Latest on negotiations: Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said in April that Burns “is going to be here” long-term. And Fitterer has to make it happen after he turned down an offer of two first-round picks in a trade for the edge rusher this past fall.

Getting a deal done, however, might take some time. The two sides are talking, but Burns wants to be among the league’s highest paid at his position. The four highest-paid edge rushers average $23.75 million per year, led by T.J. Watt at more than $28 million.

Burns has made the case with 38 sacks over his first four seasons, and his production should only go up in Ejiro Evero’s new 3-4 defensive scheme. Getting something done by training camp, or at least the start of the season, seems likely. — David Newton

Trevon Diggs, CB, Dallas Cowboys

Latest on negotiations: This would seem more likely to get done during training camp, similar to Dallas’ talks with wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. And also like Lamb, Diggs said he wants to remain with the Cowboys and is looking for a deal at the top of the market. But unlike Lamb, Diggs becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season, so there might be some more urgency, though the franchise tag always looms.

Green Bay’s Jaire Alexander is the highest-paid corner at $21 million per year, and he has 10 interceptions in five seasons. Diggs has 17 in his first three seasons, the fourth most in a player’s first three seasons since 2000. He can make a case to be the highest paid at his position, but this is a tricky negotiation when factoring in the potential deals for Lamb and Dak Prescott this offseason and Micah Parsons in 2024. — Todd Archer

Rashan Gary, OLB, Green Bay Packers

Latest on negotiations: Gary was looking at a massive payday before he tore the ACL in his right knee Nov. 9 at Detroit. That’s now on hold until the Packers are sure Gary can come back as the same player who ranked among the top 10 linebackers in sacks, quarterback hits and pressures through the first nine games last season.

The Packers wouldn’t mind lowering his $10.892 million cap number based on his fifth-year option, and a contract extension would do that. Don’t be surprised if that gets done as soon as the Packers know he has recovered from his knee injury, possibly by the start of the regular season. — Rob Demovsky

Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Latest on negotiations: Any notion that Higgins could be moved in the final year of his team-friendly contract was nixed earlier in the offseason. At the combine in February, Cincinnati’s de facto general manager Duke Tobin told other teams to go find their own wide receiver with Higgins not on the market. But there’s still the matter of his contract. Higgins has stayed out of the negotiations between the front office and his agent, David Mulugheta.

“I’m just here doing my thing,” Higgins said at the beginning of offseason workouts in May. “I let them do what they need to do.”

The timing of the deal could hinge on contracts for other wide receivers in the 2020 draft class, including as Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson. That will give Mulugheta and the Bengals working parameters as the market for elite pass-catchers remains hot. — Ben Baby

Alex Highsmith, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Latest on negotiations: With megadeals negotiated in the past two offseasons for T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Steelers’ extension to-do list is a little less daunting this summer. The team has engaged with Highsmith’s representation, but Highsmith has been coy on the exact progress between the two sides. A year ago, the Steelers inked Fitzpatrick to his four-year, $73.6 million deal just after mandatory minicamp, a departure from their usual pattern of completing contracts up against their self-imposed Week 1 deadline. With general manager Omar Khan again in charge of negotiations as a second-year general manager, Highsmith could also see a deal sooner rather than later.

Highsmith displayed his value in 2022 with a career-best 14.5 sacks, and the Steelers are optimistic about reviving a solid three-man outside linebacker rotation with the addition of Markus Golden. Still, Pittsburgh doesn’t seem likely to shell out a huge contract for Highsmith. A four-year deal in the neighborhood of $14 million per year would give him the fourth-largest cap hit on this year’s Steelers roster. — Brooke Pryor

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings

Latest on negotiations: The free agent signing of tight end Josh Oliver, who was fully guaranteed $8.2 million, raised eyebrows about the Vikings’ long-term commitment to Hockenson. Since then, however, it has become clear that coach Kevin O’Connell wants two viable tight ends to maximize his scheme. O’Connell said that pairing Oliver and Hockenson “actually gets you really excited about how versatile we can be … [and how] we can reinvent ourselves in staying true to our football philosophy.”

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said acquiring Hockenson from the Lions at the 2022 trade deadline “was a today move” as well as one that gives them “the ability to keep him around for a long time.”

While the Vikings’ financial attention has been occupied elsewhere this offseason, most notably in a complicated contract negotiation with All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, it’s clear they plan to address Hockenson’s deal as well. Progress is more likely to take place later this summer. — Kevin Seifert

Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago Bears

Latest on negotiations: Johnson said his absence from the first two weeks of OTAs in May stemmed from wanting to spend time with his 3-year-old daughter and fundraise for his nonprofit foundation, not because the 24-year-old does not have a new contract. Bears general manager Ryan Poles has yet to re-sign any player drafted by Chicago before his arrival in 2022, but he did say in April that Johnson, a second-round pick in 2020, is a player he hopes he’ll get “to keep here for a while.”

When he returned for the final week of OTAs, Johnson also expressed his desire to stay with the Bears long-term and said he is planning to find a new agent. Johnson’s one interception over three seasons may affect how much the Bears, with an estimated $32.5 million in cap space, are willing to spend. — Courtney Cronin

Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs

Latest on negotiations: The Chiefs consider Jones to be indispensable. In recent years, they have declined to meet the asking price of several of their own free agents (Orlando Brown Jr., Tyreek Hill and Tyrann Mathieu) and signed others to deals widely considered to be team-friendly (Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce). Not so on their 2020 extension with Jones, with Kansas City giving him an average of $20 million over four seasons.

Jones is looking for a deal that puts him second among the league’s defensive tackles, behind Aaron Donald in terms of average annual value. Can he top the $23.5 million per year that Jeffery Simmons is making? He has a compelling case to get that much or more. Jones, who didn’t attend the Chiefs’ three-day mandatory minicamp this week, was a key player on each of their two Super Bowl championship teams. Last season, he had 15.5 sacks, fourth in the league and highest among interior defenders by 3.5.

“I think that’s on the list of things to do,” general manager Brett Veach said of a potential extension for Jones. “We’ll get to work and see what we can do. Those things usually take a little bit of time here, so we have a little bit of a runway now until the start of training camp to hopefully get something done.” — Adam Teicher

Montez Sweat, OLB, Washington Commanders

Latest on negotiations: Washington would like to extend Sweat, but those talks were long ago put on hold because of the ownership situation. Until Josh Harris’ group are approved as the new owners, Washington and Sweat will have to wait.

“We can’t go on until we get a chance to explain to them exactly what our thoughts and ideas are and whether they agree or disagree,” Washington coach Ron Rivera said. Washington has more than $84 million in 2024 cap space, but its top four defensive ends are all on expiring contracts. To get a deal that averages more than $20 million, Sweat will have to produce more than his career-best nine sacks this season.

Plus, Chase Young also will be a free agent. After declining his fifth-year option, the team has been honest with him. “Guys that produce for us, we want them to be around,” Rivera said. “That’s been the message.” — John Keim

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Latest on negotiations: Extensions for productive running backs can be tricky, as the Saquon Barkley talks have demonstrated. The same applies here, but the situation is further complicated by the reality that Taylor is coming off a tough, injury-marred season in 2022. He recently changed agents and said this week he and the team have had some recent contract talks. Still, the Colts have time. Taylor, who has rushed for 3,841 yards in his three seasons, has one year remaining on his rookie contract and is scheduled to hit free agency in spring 2024.

But is Taylor willing to be patient? He offered some stirring comments about the financial state of running backs around the league as the Colts’ minicamp ended, saying, “You see why guys request trades. They just want to feel valued by not only their coaches, their teammates, but the organization as well.” — Stephen Holder

Christian Wilkins, DT, Miami Dolphins

Latest on negotiations: A contract extension between the Dolphins and Wilkins is a matter of when, not if; both sides want to get a deal done, and it would appear Wilkins has the upper hand following an offseason full of extensions for defensive tackles across the league.

Whenever a deal is reached, Wilkins will become the first first-round pick under Dolphins GM Chris Grier to receive an extension. The only other first-rounder to have his fifth-year option picked up, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, will be eligible for an extension of his own next offseason. But the Dolphins are focused on Wilkins for now. — Marcel Louis-Jacques

Quinnen Williams, DT, New York Jets

Latest on negotiations: It would be a surprise if Williams doesn’t have a new deal by the start of the season, and it could happen by the start of training camp. The defensive tackle market is clearly defined, and Williams wants to be the highest-paid tackle not named Aaron Donald. Look for him to accomplish that, landing just north of Jeffery Simmons’ $23.5 million per year. Progress has been slow, but there don’t appear to be any major hurdles.

My prediction is a four-year, $98 million extension, keeping him with the Jets through 2027. The 25-year-old first-team All-Pro had a career-high 12 sacks in 2022 and is vital to the Jets’ attacking 4-3 front. Teammate Solomon Thomas called him “one of the best, most dominant players in the league last year.”

Coach Robert Saleh suggested the two sides will get a deal done by the start of training camp. That certainly would alleviate a potential distraction. — Rich Cimini

2025 FREE AGENTS

Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

Latest on negotiations: The two sides involved in these negotiations have committed to divulging very little, but talks between Burrow’s agent, Brian Ayrault, and Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn have been ongoing. In a recent interview with “The Pat McAfee Show,” Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin indicated Burrow will be paid handsomely for transforming the franchise and his current status as a top-tier quarterback.

On his side of things, Burrow has not indicated exactly what he wants in his new deal publicly, but it seems he has told the organization. “I’m pretty clear on what I want in the contract and what I think is best for myself and the team,” he said in mid-May. “We’re on the road to making that happen.” — Ben Baby

Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

Latest on negotiations: No player is valued inside the Chargers franchise like Herbert, and the organization is prepared to compensate him accordingly. The Bolts, after entering negotiations following the season, would like to reach an agreement this offseason. However, it’s unclear how much progress has been made toward a deal.

“We all know how we feel about him,” coach Brandon Staley said. “I’m confident that Justin Herbert is going to be our quarterback for a long time and that we’ll make sure that we get a great deal done.”

Herbert has not shared a desired timeline for an agreement, but he has expressed faith in the organization during the process. “They’ve done such a great job of taking care of us as players,” Herbert said. “I’ve loved being a part of this team, being a part of this organization.”

Following new deals for quarterback Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson, the Chargers are expected to award Herbert with the next-best deal. Herbert did recently acknowledge, however, that if an agreement is not struck this offseason, playing a fourth year without a new deal would be something he must “address” and “think about.” — Lindsey Thiry

Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Latest on negotiations: The parameters of a completely harmonious negotiation are in place, even though an agreement has been elusive thus far. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah said in February, “I don’t want to be the Vikings’ GM without that guy on our team,” while Jefferson has said, “It’s not really something that I’m really worried about or I have my mind set on.” Jefferson also added: “The money stuff, that comes with the job.”

There isn’t much disagreement on the scale of a pending deal. Jefferson, who earned All-Pro and NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2022 at the age of 23, is likely to be the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league when he signs. The only potential room for debate is the number of years. The Vikings naturally would like to lock him up for as long as possible, but a three-year deal, for example, would give Jefferson a chance to do another deal before he turns 27 years old. — Kevin Seifert

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Latest on negotiations: Training camp seems to be the ideal place to work out a long-term extension. It’s what the Cowboys have done in the past. While they have put the 2024 fifth-year option on Lamb at a cost of $17.99 million, they want to secure their No. 1 receiver long-term as quickly as they can, with Trevon Diggs, Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons approaching the chance for new deals.

Cap space and cash will not be the issue, but the length of the deal could. Players want shorter deals to hit the market again, while teams want longer deals to help their cap. The Cowboys went through it with Prescott. There are 14 receivers making more than $20 million per season, and Lamb — who became the second receiver in team history to record a 100-catch, 1,300-yard season, joining Michael Irvin — figures to land between that mark and the $30 million Tyreek Hill earns as the highest-paid receiver.

“I’m going to be 100 percent honest, I’m not even distracted,” Lamb said. “Like the money, definitely worried about it but is not nothing that’s really on my mind every day that I wake up when I come to the building. I don’t really think about how much money I’m going to make if I do this, you know what I’m saying? It’s really all about coming in, showing my worth and then let everything else handle itself.” — Todd Archer