CHICAGO

The Bears plans for an escape to Arlington Park are fading as they aspire to work out a deal with the City of Chicago for a new stadium.  Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com:

The Bears are shifting their focus to remain in the City of Chicago with plans to build a new stadium south of Soldier Field, a source familiar with the team’s plan told ESPN.

The news comes nearly 13 months after the Bears closed on the 326-acre property that formerly housed Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The team signed an agreement in 2021 to purchase the property for $197.2 million but has not begun developing the site that was expected to feature a multibillion-dollar stadium project and include restaurants, retail space and real estate.

The Bears are planning to invest more than $2 billion in private money into a publicly owned domed stadium and park space that would feature year-round community amenities, a source said. Though the team has not released renderings of its proposed lakefront stadium, a source confirmed the location would be immediately south of the current site of Soldier Field and maintain parking in the south lot.

“The Chicago Bears are proud to contribute over $2 billion to build a stadium and improve open spaces for all families, fans and the general public to enjoy in the City of Chicago,” Bears team president and CEO Kevin Warren said in a statement to ESPN. “The future stadium of the Chicago Bears will bring a transformative opportunity to our region — boosting the economy, creating jobs, facilitating mega events and generating millions in tax revenue. We look forward to sharing more information when our plans are finalized.”

Soldier Field is currently the smallest stadium in the NFL, with a capacity of 61,500. The Bears’ plan is to remain there until a new stadium is built, a source said, at which time the current site would be torn down aside from the building’s colonnades. The plan, then, would be to construct parks and athletic fields for public use on the site.

The Bears’ current lease at Soldier Field is set to expire in 2033.

A source said the stadium project will create 20% more space on the museum campus (which encompasses Soldier Field as well as three notable museums) for the public to use year-round, as opposed to solely during Bears home games.

A recent independent poll conducted by McGuire Research surveyed 500 registered voters living in the City of Chicago on several topics related to the construction of a new Bears stadium.

According to results obtained by ESPN, 80% of those polled supported a domed stadium that would host major events throughout the year on the museum campus, while 77% supported the proposed location due to the efforts to keep the Bears in the City of Chicago. The results concluded that more than six in 10 Chicagoans support using public money for a publicly owned stadium.

During a community meeting in September 2022 when the team revealed its plan for the Arlington Park site, chairman George McCaskey said the Bears would “seek no public funding for direct stadium structure construction” but would need assistance to complete the rest of the multibillion-dollar project.

The public component for the proposed lakefront stadium is not yet known.

The Bears began exploring options for a new stadium beyond Arlington Heights last summer when they announced that those plans were “at risk” as negotiations over property taxes reached a $100 million impasse.

“The property’s original assessment at five times the 2021 tax value, and the recent settlement with Churchill Downs [the property’s former owner] for 2022 being three times higher, fails to reflect the property is not operational and not commercially viable in its current state,” the Bears said in a statement in June 2023.

The Bears met with mayors from Naperville and Chicago to explore alternative stadium sites, while Waukegan, a northern Illinois suburb, also pitched the team on building a stadium there.

Warren and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a joint statement after meeting last June about their commitment to working on a plan to keep the Bears in Chicago. The two have met several times since.

“Today we met and discussed our shared values and commitment to the city of Chicago, the importance of deep roots and the need for equitable community investment throughout the city,” the June 2023 statement read. “We are both committed to the idea that the city and its major civic institutions must grow and evolve together to meet the needs of the future. We look forward to continuing the dialogue around these shared values.”

Should the Bears succeed in their plan to build a new lakefront stadium, a source indicated the team likely will put the Arlington Park property up for sale.

CAROLINA

The Texans know they got it right with QB C.J. STROUD in last year’s draft.  After a year, the Panthers and their fans still wonder about QB BRYCE YOUNG.  David Newton of ESPN.com gets some opinions:

The buzz at last year’s NFL combine was that the Houston Texans wanted to trade with the Chicago Bears to move from second to first overall in the draft to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. The Carolina Panthers were looking to move from ninth to second or third and take one of the top three quarterbacks, believing Young was the best of the lot.

The Panthers also met with free agent quarterback Derek Carr in Indianapolis. And they spoke with the Baltimore Ravens about free agent Lamar Jackson with a dollar figure in mind they wouldn’t exceed if a sign-and-trade deal could be reached, according to a source with knowledge of the talks.

But ultimately their target was Young, who was considered the top choice over Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud by most teams despite his 5-foot-10, 204-pound frame that fell well below the NFL standards.

It was during that annual pilgrimage to Indianapolis for player evaluations that then-Carolina general manager Scott Fitterer quietly initiated a meeting with Bears GM Ryan Poles that ultimately led to a trade for the No. 1 overall pick on March 10.

Young then had one of the worst years in NFL history for a quarterback taken No. 1, and Carolina had an NFL-worst 2-15 record.

Stroud, taken No. 2 by the Texans, had a historic rookie campaign — 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns, 5 interceptions — was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the Texans to the playoffs with a 10-7 record.

Does that mean the Panthers made a huge mistake in trading two first-round picks (2023, 2024) and top wide receiver DJ Moore for the right to draft Young? Not according to NFL executives, coaches and scouts at last week’s combine.

“It’s too early,” said Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht. “You can’t take anything away from Stroud. He had a great year. Unbelievable.

“But it’s still too early to tell. It wouldn’t surprise me, as good as Bryce was in college, if he rebounds and has a helluva year this year.”

MOST WHO WERE interviewed believe if Stroud had ended up in Carolina, he would have struggled, and if Young had gone to Houston, he would have succeeded because the Texans were set up better for success.

“Houston had an absolutely phenomenal offense that would have fit Bryce perfectly,” said one NFL executive, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “It fit CJ perfectly. There wasn’t as much to manage at the line of scrimmage. There were a lot of guys running wide open, and not because they are great separators.

“It’s a lot of scheme.”

Most agreed that Carolina’s spread offense — orchestrated by coach Frank Reich, who was fired after a 1-10 start — lacked the personnel, from offensive line to tight end to wide receiver, to be successful.

Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the situation also said there was dysfunction in Carolina because of a difference in philosophy between Reich, offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and offensive line coach James Campen. Several with knowledge of the situation noted the pistol formation used prominently in the season opener wasn’t implemented until the week before, an example of not having Young properly prepared.

“That’s how little of a plan there was,” said one source with knowledge of the situation.

“Bryce really didn’t stand a chance,” said another source with direct knowledge of what was going on.

“They put way too much on him,” another source said.

Those factors, combined with the history of No. 1 overall quarterbacks struggling as rookies because they often land on bad teams, are why those in Indianapolis weren’t quick to rule Young a failure.

“There’s guys that have lit it on fire that have fizzled, and there’s guys that started slow and came back and played great,” Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard said. “Everybody wants to make a prediction without just waiting patiently for the outcome.”

NEW CAROLINA COACH Dave Canales said Young doesn’t need “a big fix” as much as the offense needs fixing in general to play to Young’s strengths.

Those who witnessed Canales help former Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield to a career-best season in 2023 as offensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Geno Smith to his best season in 2022 as quarterbacks coach with the Seattle Seahawks believe he can do the same as Young’s head coach.

Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles said Young is a “tremendous talent and he’s [going to be] great for this league.”

“Obviously, the schemes [in Houston] fit CJ better,” he said. “Bryce got off to a rough start. … That doesn’t mean he’s not a good quarterback. That just means the jury is still out. I have a lot of belief in him.”

Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton said because of all the unknown variables, he couldn’t evaluate whether Young or Stroud will be a long-term success, though he acknowledged after facing Stroud that he had a “great season.”

Payton knows a thing or two about getting the most out of shorter quarterbacks like Young and the specific plan it takes to do that. When he was coach of the New Orleans Saints, they signed the 6-foot Drew Brees as a free agent. The former Purdue quarterback went 40-28 during five seasons with the San Diego Chargers, who took him in Round 2 of the 2001 draft.

In 15 seasons with the Saints, the future Hall of Famer went 151-94, won Super Bowl XLIV and was named Super Bowl MVP.

Payton reminded how during the 2006 draft’s fourth round, the Saints selected guard Jahri Evans, who became a six-time Pro Bowl selection and a key in developing an interior line that would allow Brees to showcase his talents.

In 2023, Carolina had seven different players start at left guard and eight at right guard due to injuries and poor play. Young was sacked 62 times, second only to the Washington Commanders’ Sam Howell (65).

“I do think part of our jobs is to build around the strength of your players,” Payton said. “Oftentimes, these guys are seeing through lanes, not necessarily throwing over them. For some quarterbacks, that can be a little more challenging.”

Canales plans to simplify the Carolina offense and build around the running game to help Young regain the confidence that allowed him to throw 80 touchdown passes to 12 interceptions at Alabama. That begins with shoring up the interior line.

Seattle general manager John Schneider said that was key in what Canales did with Smith, and before him, the 5-foot-11 Russell Wilson, who put up career-best numbers in 2020 with Canales as the passing game coordinator.

POLES WOULDN’T PREDICT what the future holds for Young or Stroud, but he liked the way the trade turned out for the Bears, since they got the Panthers’ 2024 first-round pick, which is No. 1 overall.

“I would say that’s successful,” he said.

Most agreed it’s generally tough to predict success for first-year quarterbacks, as Poles and others in Indianapolis were assessing the consensus top quarterbacks in the 2024 draft: USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels.

History shows Stroud’s rookie success isn’t a guarantee of long-term success any more than Young’s struggles are a guarantee of failure.

Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane reminded of what he went through in 2018 when Josh Allen went 5-6 as a rookie after Beane gave Tampa Bay the No. 12 overall pick and a pair of second-round picks to move up five spots to draft the Wyoming quarterback at No. 7.

Allen had 10 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and completed 52.8% of his passes as a rookie — similar to Young’s 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 59.8 completion percentage.

Allen has gone 58-24 since and is regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in the league.

“It’s one of those things, if you can get a franchise quarterback and he turns out to be a franchise quarterback, it’ll be a good move,” Beane said. “We got criticized a little bit for how much we gave up for Josh, and I’m like, ‘Well, if he doesn’t work out, I’m not going to be here anyway. And if he does work out, nobody’s gonna give a s—.'”

TAMPA BAY

And QB BAKER MAYFIELD and the Buccaneers have a deal – it’s a lot of money, but on the other hand it seems kind of reasonable.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quarterback Baker Mayfield agreed to a three-year deal for $100 million in total and $50 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN on Sunday.

Mayfield is set to make $30 million guaranteed in 2024, $30 million (with $20 million guaranteed) in 2025 and $40 million in 2026, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. There’s $5 million per year in incentives, bringing up the maximum value of the contract to $115 million.

Mayfield confirmed the deal in a statement to Schefter.

“I wanted a chance to come back,” Mayfield said. “I love coach [Todd] Bowles and the staff. I’m happy to be here and I want to win more in the postseason.”

Mayfield signed with the Buccaneers on a one-year deal worth $4 million in March 2023, charging him with the monumental task of replacing seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady.

– – –

The first overall draft pick in 2018, Mayfield led the Cleveland Browns to their first playoff win in 26 years after the 2020 season. But he was traded to the Carolina Panthers in July 2022, after the Browns acquired Deshaun Watson. The Panthers waived Mayfield after he went 1-5 as a starter in 2022, and he spent five games with the Los Angeles Rams.

Mayfield’s agent, Tom Mills, said in a statement to ESPN’s Jenna Laine that after his client was waived by the Panthers, “he never complained and always believed in himself. This contract is a result of that attitude, as well as his ability. He, [his wife] Emily and I are grateful to the Buccaneers for giving him the opportunity to continue his career.”

In addition to his on-field efforts this season, Mayfield and his wife established the Baker and Emily Mayfield Foundation in Tampa to “level the playing field” for disadvantaged children and families, with events supporting Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County and the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay.

Mayfield, 28, has passed for 20,322 yards with 130 touchdowns and 74 interceptions in his career.

A review on the deal from Mike Florio:

As is the case with many veteran contracts, the value is in the eye of the beholder — and in the question of whether the team will exercise its prerogative to tear up the deal early.

For Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, PFT has confirmed that it pays out $30 million fully guaranteed in 2024, with another $20 million fully guaranteed at signing in 2025. His base salary in the second year is $30 million.

The 2026 salary of $40 million, non-guaranteed, pushes the base package to $100 million, and the APY to $33.3 million.

But the Bucs are basically on the hook for two years, at $30 million per year. They could cut him after one year, but they would owe him $20 million, minus whatever he earns elsewhere.

The deal also has $5 million per year in incentives. The triggers are not yet known.

So the base value is $33.3 million per year over three. Unless the Bucs move on after two years, at which time it would be $30 million per year over two. Plus whatever he earns in incentives.

It’s a solid deal for Mayfield, given that most quarterback-needy teams are (we’re told) looking to go younger. The Vikings seemed to be the most viable alternative, if they lose Kirk Cousins.

And it’s a far cry from the one-year, $4 million deal (with incentives) that Mayfield got from the Bucs a year ago. He bet on himself, and he won.

SAN FRANCISCO

QB BROCK PURDY was married over the weekend in Des Moines to Jenna Brandt whom he met at Iowa State.  Michael Nowels in the San Jose Mercury News:

Jenna Brandt is now Mrs. Irrelevant.

She married her college beau, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, on Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa, less than a month after Purdy capped his second NFL season with a Super Bowl appearance.

More than 350 people were in attendance, according to TMZ.

Purdy, a Phoenix-area native, and Brandt, born and raised in Iowa, both attended Iowa State, where Purdy led the Cyclones to four consecutive winning seasons before the 49ers selected him with the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

While Purdy led the Cyclones on the football field, Brandt was a multi-sport athlete, playing volleyball and competing in track and field before transferring to Northern Iowa.

The couple announced their engagement last July, just weeks before the Niners began training camp for last season. Purdy credited Brandt with planning the wedding while he was focused primarily on game plans over the intervening months.

“Jenna’s done a great job with the wedding plans. Obviously, we got engaged in the summer and then boom, the season hit, so for me it’s been obviously football and trying to win every week,” he said at last month’s Super Bowl Opening Night.

“She’s done such a tremendous job. When I come home and we just talk about the little things of the wedding, and honestly it’s helped me with football to sort of get my mind off football and we have our time to talk about the wedding and what our future looks like, so it’s something that we’ve loved the whole process of.”

Purdy also said in a recent interview with Brad Cesmat of Sports360AZ that he had more nerves — or at least different ones — about getting married to Brandt, his “best friend,” than he did in the days leading up to the 49ers’ eventual Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs last month.

“I get to marry my best friend, and so does she, and we get to go do life together. So a little bit more nerve-wracking, I’d say, than playing in a game, like the Super Bowl,” he said. “… The Super Bowl — for me, I tried to keep it simple. It’s been a football game I’ve played my whole life. Yes, it’s probably the biggest game I’ve ever played in, but I feel like just the nerves are slightly different compared to getting married.”

KANSAS CITY

The Chiefs reward DT CHRIS JONES with a huge deal.  ESPN.com:

The Kansas City Chiefs and five-time All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones have reached an agreement on a five-year deal that includes $95 million guaranteed, his agents told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday night.

The specific details are still being finalized, but Jones will sign a five-year contract in which all the money in the first three years — $95 million — is guaranteed. Once the contract is signed, Jones will have the highest-ever average annual salary for a defensive tackle, surpassing those of Nick Bosa ($34 million), Aaron Donald ($31.6M), T.J. Watt ($28M) and Joey Bosa ($27M).

Jones’ guaranteed $95 million would be the fourth-most guaranteed money for a defensive player on a current contract, according to Roster Management System. The top three are Nick Bosa ($119.9M), Joey Bosa ($102M) and Myles Garrett ($102M).

Jones took to social media to celebrate the deal, writing on X: “KC….5 more years of greatness! 3x”

The move allows Kansas City to keep its best defender before free agency begins.

Jones, 29, had months of negotiations with the Chiefs, to the point where he held out of training camp last year and missed the first game of the regular season against the Detroit Lions.

He came back on a revised one-year deal, totaled 10.5 sacks on the season, was named first-team All-Pro, won his third Super Bowl and now becomes the highest-paid defensive tackle based on average annual salary in NFL history.

Despite speculation surrounding all three, coach Andy Reid, tight end Travis Kelce and Jones are now all back in Kansas City as the Chiefs aim to become the first NFL team in history to win three Super Bowls in a row.

CLEVELAND

The Browns take WR JERRY JEUDY off the Broncos hands.  Jake Trotter of ESPN.com:

The Cleveland Browns have bolstered their receiving rotation, landing wideout Jerry Jeudy in a trade with the Denver Broncos, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday.

The Browns will send Denver a 2024 fifth- and sixth-round pick to complete the trade, sources said. The deal cannot officially be completed until the new league year begins Wednesday.

Cleveland has been interested in Jeudy since last offseason, sources said. With the Broncos moving on from quarterback Russell Wilson while revamping their roster, Jeudy became more readily available.

Jeudy, who turns 25 next month, had 54 receptions for 758 yards and two touchdowns last season. He will give Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson another option, slotting in behind Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper and Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku.

A 2020 first-round pick, Jeudy is entering the final year of his rookie contract after the Broncos exercised his fifth-year option last year. He is set to make almost $13 million in 2024. Jeudy, Cooper and wide receiver Elijah Moore, whom the Browns traded for instead of Jeudy last offseason, are all entering their final season under contract.

Jeudy had his best season in 2022, setting career highs for touchdowns (six), catches (67) and yards (972).

Moving Jeudy, along with completing other transactions, contract restructures and trades, has helped the Broncos clear nearly $50 million in salary cap space over the past five days, while also adding two draft picks ahead of the start of the new league year.

Jeudy’s Denver departure could lead to a bigger role in the offense for wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr.

PITTSBURGH

QB RUSSELL WILSON will sign a one-year deal with the Steelers.  He can afford to play for the minimum.  Adam Schefter of ESPN.com:

Nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback and one-time Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson plans to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, league sources told ESPN.

Wilson will sign a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum, which is $1.2 million. The Denver Broncos, who told him last week he would be released, will pay the rest of Wilson’s $37.8 million salary while he wears the black and yellow.

In a social media post Sunday night, Wilson wrote: “Year 13. Grateful.” With it was an accompanying video of the Steelers and their fans.

With permission from the Broncos because he is still under contract until the start of the new league year on Wednesday, Wilson visited with Steelers officials in Pittsburgh for over six hours on Friday. He met with, among others, coach Mike Tomlin and new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. The two sides had a mutual interest that led to the deal.

Wilson now heads to Pittsburgh with Kenny Pickett, the Steelers’ 2022 first-round pick, being the only quarterback currently under contract to the team. Mason Rudolph is entering free agency after starting three games for Pittsburgh last season.

Wilson, 35, was told last week he would be released Wednesday, ending a tumultuous two-season run in which Denver went 11-19 in his starts and failed to make the playoffs. He was benched with two games remaining in the 2023 season, ending the campaign with 3,070 passing yards to go with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The Broncos signed Wilson to a five-year, $242.6 million deal after his arrival in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. Denver will take on an $85 million hit in dead money on its salary cap over the next two seasons because of the release.

Wilson spent 10 seasons in Seattle, making nine Pro Bowls and winning a Super Bowl in 2014. A third-round pick of the Seahawks in 2012, he has thrown for 43,653 yards and 334 touchdowns with 106 interceptions.

Wilson was asked about his future during an appearance on the “I Am Athlete” podcast with former Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall last month and said winning is his highest priority.

“Over the next two years, I want to win two [Super Bowls], I want to feel the chill of that trophy again,” he told Marshall. “I love the city [of Denver] and everything else, but you also want to be [in] a place that wants you too. The thing I want to do is to win; that’s all I care about.”

Wilson has won against the Steelers during his career. In two starts against Tomlin and Pittsburgh, Wilson is 2-0 with eight touchdown passes, no interceptions and a 147.1 passer rating.

The Steelers’ 2024 schedule includes a game in Denver against the Broncos that now could feature Wilson’s return.

Matt Miller of ESPN.com likes the deal:

Steelers bring in QB Russell Wilson

The deal: One year, $1.2 million

Grade: A

Yes, you read that right. One year, $1.2 million. That’s the veteran minimum, and Wilson will play on that for the Steelers while collecting $38 million from the Broncos to not play for them next season. That’s an immediate win for Pittsburgh, and a little revenge from Wilson on Denver for the way his exit went down.

Now let’s evaluate this on the football field. Wilson is 35 years old. He’s a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, a nine-time Pro Bowler and the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year. But he has also struggled since leaving Seattle before the 2022 season with 42 touchdown passes to 19 interceptions and a record of 11-19. It’s why he’s available just two years after signing a five-year deal for over $242 million in Denver. The Steelers needed an upgrade at quarterback after watching 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett struggle in his first two seasons. They brought in a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith, and Wilson is expected to take over as the starting QB, with Pickett moving to a developmental/backup role. At this time, they are the only two quarterbacks under contract (Mason Rudolph is hitting free agency).

Getting Wilson for $1.2 million is a steal. Even if he’s not the quarterback he was during his prime in Seattle, consider that the Steelers won 10 games and made the playoffs last season with the NFL’s sixth-lowest passing yardage (3,163) and second-fewest passing touchdowns (tied at 13). If Wilson can do better than a 13-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio — which is what the Steelers had in 2023 — you have to feel good about Pittsburgh’s chances.

This is a chance at redemption for Wilson, a player who looked like a first ballot Hall of Famer two seasons ago. And it’s a chance for Pittsburgh to have above-par quarterback play once again. This is a win-win for both Wilson and the Steelers. — Matt Miller

JACKSONVILLE

In addition to acquiring QB MAC JONES (see NEW ENGLAND), the Jaguars have done some re-structuring with G BRANDON SCHERF.  Adam Stiles of USA TODAY:

Jacksonville Jaguars guard Brandon Scherff restructured his contract with the team for the second time in as many offseasons, clearing about $5 million in salary cap space, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The exact terms of the restructure haven’t been revealed yet, but the new deal will fully guarantee Scherff’s salary for the 2024 season and add three voidable years on the end of the deal. Scherff already had three voidable years added to the contract last year, so the salary cap hits for the offensive line are now expected to stay on the Jaguars’ books through the 2030 season.

Scherff, 32, was due to count just under $24 million against the Jaguars’ salary cap in 2024 prior to the latest restructure. The new deal will push that number closer to $19 million.

With Ezra Cleveland also brought back by the Jaguars, the reworked deal for Scherff means the team will likely keep four of its five starters along the offensive line heading into next year. It appears only the center position, which has been manned by Luke Fortner in the last two seasons, is set to be replaced.

Scherff was a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro in seven seasons with Washington before joining the Jaguars in 2022 on a three-year, $49.5 million deal. He earned a grade of 72 or higher on PFF in all of his time in Washington, but received 60.6 and 67.3 grades in the last two years.

NEW ENGLAND

WR KENDRICK BOURNE gets a sizeable chunk of change to re-up with the Patriots.  Mike Reiss of ESPN.com:

– Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne has agreed on a three-year deal to return to the New England Patriots that could be worth up to $33 million, his agent, Henry Organ of Disruptive Sports, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday.

Bourne, who turns 29 on Aug. 4, is recovering from a torn right ACL sustained in a loss to the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 29.

He was on his way to a career year before the injury, having totaled 37 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Bourne enters his eighth NFL season, having spent the first four years of his career with the San Francisco 49ers and the past three in New England.

After entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Washington in 2017, Bourne has played in 99 regular-season games and totaled 264 receptions for 3,409 yards with 21 touchdowns.

In February, Bourne told ESPN: “I want to come back home. That is a goal of mine. I love being a Patriot — it’s a great environment for a person like me. Being a Patriot helped me grow into the player I am today, I’m thankful for the organization.

“These last two years were rebuilding, so I don’t want to miss the time when you may be coming back, the good wave. It was rough but you never know where it could go. I feel like something good is coming in that building and I want to be part of it.”

The Patriots entered free agency with nearly $100 million in salary-cap space and a goal of re-signing some of their key players, Bourne being one of them. They previously re-signed tight end Hunter Henry to a three-year deal worth up to $30 million.

He will not have QB MAC JONES throwing to him anymore – as Jones is heading home to JAX.  This also from Reiss:

The New England Patriots are finalizing a deal to trade quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday.

The Patriots will receive a 2024 sixth-round pick as compensation, sources told Schefter. The trade cannot be processed until the new league year begins Wednesday and Jones passes a physical.

New England owns the No. 3 pick in the NFL draft, where many around the league expect them to select one of the top-rated quarterbacks — likely a decision between LSU’s Jayden Daniels and North Carolina’s Drake Maye.

Jones, who grew up in Jacksonville, joins his hometown team as a backup to Trevor Lawrence — the first pick in the 2021 draft. Jones was selected 15th in the 2021 draft.

Jones is expected to compete with C.J. Beathard to be Lawrence’s primary backup. Beathard is in the final year of a two-year, $4.5 million contract he signed before the 2023 season.

Beathard has started just one game in his three seasons in Jacksonville, completing 17 of 24 passes for 178 yards to lead the Jaguars to a 26-0 victory over the Carolina Panthers in Week 17 last season. That was the only win for the Jaguars in their final six games, as they finished 9-8 and failed to make the playoffs.

Lawrence had started every game of his NFL career until he missed Week 17 because of a right, throwing shoulder injury he suffered the week before in a loss at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Lawrence battled multiple injuries last season: a left knee sprain, an ankle sprain, a concussion and the shoulder injury. He wasn’t a full participant in any practice over the last three weeks of the season.

Jones’ three-year tenure with the Patriots began with promise, as he was selected to the Pro Bowl as an alternate in his rookie season. Jones started all 17 regular-season games as the Patriots went 10-7 and clinched a playoff berth (losing to the Buffalo Bills 47-17 in the wild-card round).

Jones was 352-of-521 for 3,801 yards with 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions as a rookie, but his production dipped over the next two seasons. The departure of offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to become the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach was the first of several changes — both coaching- and personnel-wise — that affected Jones’ development.

Bryan DeArdo of CBSSports.com offers this assessment of the deal.

Here’s our grades from Sunday’s trade. As you’ll read below, there were not real losers in this trade.

Patriots receive: Sixth-round pick

Based off of Sunday’s reports, the Patriots didn’t have too many options when it came to trading Jones, so a sixth-round pick isn’t too shabby given the circumstance. New England got something in exchange for a player who was on his way out the door. The Patriots got a late-round pick for Jones instead of simply releasing him, which obviously wouldn’t have been ideal.

Trading Jones further confirms the Patriots’ plans to select a quarterback with the No. 3 overall pick in April’s draft. New England has been linked to LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, CBS Sports’ No. 2 quarterback prospect behind USC’s Caleb Williams.

Why didn’t the Patriots grade higher? Because, even though Jones ultimately didn’t work out, it’s never a good thing to trade a player who three years ago was the 15th overall pick for a sixth-round pick. The Patriots will now start over with a new quarterback, the second one of the post-Brady era.

Trade grade: B

Jaguars receive: Mac Jones

If starting quarterback is the NFL’s most important position, backup quarterback might be a close second. Given how many injuries annually occur at that position, it’s critical to have a capable backup. The Jaguars certainly know this after Lawrence girded himself through an injury-plagued second half of the 2023 season.

By acquiring Jones, the Jaguars have upgraded their backup quarterback position. And they did so without having to give up too much. It helps that Jones is a Jacksonville native who wants to be there. And while he would prefer to be a starter, it appears that Jones will embrace his new role with the Jaguars. He can also aid Lawrence on the sideline and in the quarterback room.

The Jaguars didn’t ace the trade because they could have tried waiting to see if the Patriots released Jones at some point down the road. But that would have been a risky, given that there were apparently several other teams interested in acquiring Jones.

Trade grade: A-

Jones is Jacksonville born and raised, having attended the prestigious Bolles School there. It will be interesting if the home cooking settles him into a better pro.

THIS AND THAT

THE DECLINE OF THE SAFETY

Jeff Howe of The Athletic looks at the glut of safeties now on the market:

The Denver Broncos’ decision to release star safety Justin Simmons could easily be written off as collateral damage and a regrettable but necessary step toward recalibrating their salary cap.

But digging deeper, a trend seems to be forming at Simmons’ position, as a group of safeties have flooded the free-agent market with teams seemingly prioritizing other areas of the roster. Kevin Byard, Jordan Poyer, Jamal Adams, Eddie Jackson, Quandre Diggs, Rayshawn Jenkins and Marcus Maye were all cut (or designated a post-June 1 cut in Maye’s case) while Antoine Winfield Jr. was franchise tagged by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kyle Dugger was transition tagged by the New England Patriots and Xavier McKinney wasn’t tagged in any capacity by the New York Giants.

There was a brief moment Tuesday when McKinney seemed to be in a prime position to monopolize the top tier of the safety market in free agency. But within 48 hours, he was shoulder to shoulder with more peers than he likely expected.

The supply is in line to outweigh the demand, which could drive down the value of the position. It’s unlikely to be as dramatic as the running backs’ sinking market, but seven personnel executives and coaches around the NFL told The Athletic something has been developing, even if it only becomes a short-term trend.

“(It’s part of a) larger financial trend,” an executive said. “The market got too high for the position’s impact overall.”

To be fair, it’s impossible to separate Simmons’ release from quarterback Russell Wilson, whose release will result in $85 million in dead cap space against the Broncos. Simmons, 30, may not be at the top of his game any longer, but rival teams still viewed him as one of the game’s best safeties, and his leadership is beyond reproach. But the $14.5 million in cap savings is significant for a team in severe financial disarray in the wake of Wilson’s release. The Broncos will have a series of difficult contractual decisions to make until Wilson’s money comes off the cap.

“(Simmons) is too expensive considering everything else they need to do,” a coach said. “Russell Wilson is an expensive divorce.”

In that respect, Simmons’ release is unique.

But that’s not the whole story. For all of Simmons’ positive attributes, a few of the executives recognized why he wasn’t necessarily worth the cap hit, and the argument was geared more toward the position as a whole.

As the league has become more pass-happy, teams are far more inclined to overspend at quarterback, wide receiver, offensive tackle, edge rusher, cornerback and defensive tackle.

They’ve had to cut back on other positions as a result, whether it’s running back, inside linebacker or safety. Of course, there are always exceptions, but that’s become the general model. As of Thursday morning, more than $100 million in 2024 cash salary had been shed at the safety position, according to Over The Cap’s Nick Korte. That was the most of any position by nearly $40 million.

As one executive pointed out, there was a thin group of safeties in free agency in 2023, and Jessie Bates (four years, $64 million with Atlanta) was the only player who earned a massive contract. Carolina’s Vonn Bell, Cleveland’s Juan Thornhill and Dallas’ Donovan Wilson were the only others who signed deals worth at least $20 million in total money. Those four were among nine safeties who signed for at least $6 million annually.

“While the market wasn’t nearly as strong (in 2023), you saw teams weren’t willing to pay,” an executive said. “I think we’re going to see a trend of teams not willing to overpay for this position.”

Philosophically, what’s happening may be more similar to what’s happened to linebackers than to running backs. Within a certain extent, smart defensive coordinators have schemed up ways to make safeties and linebackers interchangeable commodities in specific packages. And some of the better slot cornerbacks have taken on safety responsibilities, either in a game-plan role or on a full-time basis.

Meanwhile, running backs have become easier to find in the draft, and younger players with less mileage become valuable commodities at a position where injuries take their toll, especially when there’s typically just one on the field at a time.

This actually yielded a counterpoint. It’s relatively rare for a rookie safety to make an impact, so the veteran market should be more appealing in that sense. It may not feel tangible, but it’s usually not hard to figure out which cornerbacks are impacted by the safety play around them, for better or worse.

“You’re often looking for defensive coordinators who can convert (players) to safety because there aren’t enough,” an executive said. “Which you would think would make the NFL (veteran) have more value, but that’s not what’s happening.”

Some of what’s happened this week may be largely a coincidence — or at least not indicative of a larger trend about the position. Of the eight aforementioned safeties who were recently released, seven are on the wrong side of 30. Adams, the exception, has an extensive injury history and has played only 10 games over the last two seasons.

Meanwhile, of the 10 safeties on multiyear deals worth at least $10 million annually, Minnesota’s Harrison Smith is the only player older than 30. Like any other position, teams are more willing to dish out market-setting contracts for their younger players. Winfield and Dugger are near certainties to further skew those numbers in the youth’s favor when they turn their tags into extensions. McKinney is a candidate to join the $10 million club as well.

So while there definitely seems to be a trend developing, there are various reasons to explain why so many safeties have flooded the market lately. Teams are prioritizing more impactful positions, but age and cap casualties don’t discriminate anywhere on the depth chart.

“Because so many (safeties) will be released, teams don’t feel the need to overpay,” a coach said. “But I don’t see any safety trend long term to pay less like what’s happened to the running back market.”

2024 DRAFT

Rob Rang of FoxSports.com loves the depth and quality of receivers in the 2024 draft.

It isn’t lost on NFL scouts that seemingly every year brings a fresh bumper crop of talent at wide receiver.

An increasing number of today’s most dynamic athletes are choosing to catch touchdowns rather than alley-oops or fly balls. Furthermore, the sophisticated offenses being taught at the prep and college levels are producing much more polished pass-catchers than in the past.

A year ago, the first receiver selected — Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba — became a Seattle Seahawk with the 20th overall selection. The next three picks were also wide receivers, with eight of them being selected by the end of the second round. This total was actually less than typical.

Including last year’s class, an average of 10.3 wide receivers have been selected in the first two rounds over the past five NFL drafts. Expect this year’s class to also yield double digits. The top four candidates are all potential top-10 selections, led by another Buckeye legend.

1. Marvin Harrison Jr. Ohio State: 6-3, 205, Junior

Overview: As the son of an NFL Hall of Famer, it isn’t hyperbolic to suggest that Harrison was quite literally born to play professional football. The Philadelphia native was understandably a high-profile recruit, signing with an Ohio State squad that already boasted three future first-round picks in Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave and the aforementioned Smith-Njigba.

After turning three of his 11 grabs as a freshman into scores, Harrison emerged as one of the elite players in college football as a true sophomore, hauling in 77 passes for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2022. Despite turnover at quarterback and defenses understandably focusing their attention on him, Harrison caught another 67 throws for 1,211 yards and 14 more scores this past season. He was honored with the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver.

Grade: Top 5

2. Malik Nabers, LSU: 6-0, 200, Junior

Overview: Consider this – after just three years at LSU, Nabers leaves as the school’s all-time leader in receptions (189) and receiving yards (3,003), vaulting past recent superstars Justin Jefferson and Ja’Marr Chase, among many others. He led the mighty SEC in receptions each of the past two seasons and finished second in the nation only to his teammate, Brian Thomas Jr. with 14 touchdown receptions this past season. His success in Baton Rouge is no surprise. The Lafayette, La. native was ranked as a four-star recruit despite being ruled ineligible for his senior season following a late transfer from Southside to Youngsville High School.

Summary: This former LSU Tiger is ready to pounce on the NFL in much the same way that his LSU predecessors Jefferson and Chase have, showing not only the physical traits to excel but the mental attributes as well. It isn’t out of the question that some teams will rank Nabers ahead of the aforementioned Harrison, with a top-five selection quite possible and a spot in the top 10 all but guaranteed.

Grade: Top 10

3. Rome Odunze, Washington: 6-3, 215, Redshirt Junior

Overview: While his quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. may have generated most of the attention throughout UW’s run to the national title game, Odunze was the most consistent playmaker, registering at least 100 receiving yards in 10 different games. Odunze led the PAC-12 in receiving yards each of the past two seasons, including the entire country with 1,640 yards in 2023. The Las Vegas native is no gamble in the eyes of NFL scouts, who see him as being as pro-ready as any of the talented receivers in this class.

Summary: Most years, Odunze would rank as the top receiver in his draft class. It isn’t out of the question that he’ll earn the top spot for some clubs this year. From both a physical skills and grit standpoint, he ranks as one of the safer prospects at any position in this class and a future headlining starter.

Grade: Top 20

4. Brian Thomas Jr., LSU: 6-4, 205, Junior

Overview: Thomas spent much of his prep career excelling on the basketball court, guiding Walker High School to a 5A Louisiana state championship as a freshman. College basketball recruiters loved him but Thomas ultimately elected to sign with LSU to play football, where he immediately excelled, starting nine games as a freshman, catching five touchdowns as a sophomore and exploding as a junior to lead the entire country with a staggering 17 touchdowns receptions in just 13 games as a third-year junior, among 68 grabs for 1,177 yards.

Summary: It isn’t often that a receiver leads the nation in touchdown receptions and is still nationally underrated, but that might be the case with Thomas, who was often overshadowed by his Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and fellow future first-round wideout, Nabers (listed earlier). Thomas’ relative inexperience means that he’s currently a little less polished than the previous three receivers listed, but he offers remarkable upside that could see him picked very high come draft day.

Grade: Top 20

5. Keon Coleman, Florida State: 6-3, 215, Junior

Overview: Coleman was considered the crown jewel of Michigan State’s 2021 recruiting class when then-head coach Mel Tucket and his staff lured him out of the talent-rich state of Louisiana. Coleman lived up to his hype almost immediately, earning third-team all-conference honors by hauling in 58 passes for 798 yards and seven touchdowns in his second season in East Lansing. Despite the success, Coleman opted to enter the transfer portal and join Florida State for 2023. As the featured weapon for the eventual ACC champion Seminoles, Coleman earned first-team all-conference honors as a wide receiver (50 catches for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns), all-around player and punt returner (conference-leading 12.0 average), becoming the first player in FSU history to earn three All-ACC honors in the same season.

Summary: Teams looking for a traditional split-end “possession” receiver will love his polished game. He offers an ideal blend of size, physicality, ball skills and competitiveness and should make an immediate impact. Ideally, he’d be drafted by a club with a speedier option flanking him, allowing Coleman to eat in the intermediate zones.

Grade: First-to-second round

6. Troy Franklin, Oregon: 6-2, 187, Junior

Overview: With 25 touchdown receptions over just three seasons, Franklin can make a strong argument as the best big-play receiver in this class. He averaged an eye-popping 17.1 yards per reception for the Ducks this past season, taking flight despite many of his catches coming just a few yards from the line of scrimmage. His numbers steadily rose over his time in Eugene, topping out this past season with 81 receptions for 1,383 yards and 14 touchdowns in just 13 games

Summary: Teams in need of a big-play threat will be intrigued by Franklin’s speed. While his game-breaking potential is undeniable, Franklin has some finesse to his game and might struggle to acclimate to the greater physicality he’ll see in the NFL.

Grade: First-to-second round

7. Adonai Mitchell, Texas: 6-4, 196, Junior

Overview: Mitchell surprised many with his decision to transfer from Georgia to Texas prior to the 2023 campaign. After all, he seemed poised to become a household name after hauling in some of the most memorable touchdowns in Georgia’s long and storied history, helping the Bulldogs become back-to-back national champions with game-winning grabs in the playoffs to defeat Alabama and Ohio State the previous two seasons. Instead, the Texas native chose to come home to be closer to his young daughter and put up the best numbers of his college career, more than duplicating his previous two years of production at Georgia and becoming the Big 12’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year with 55 grabs for 845 yards and 11 scores for the conference champs.

Summary: Boasting similar skills to his former Georgia teammate George Pickens (now a star for the Pittsburgh Steelers), Mitchell is a springy and explosive athlete whose best football appears ahead of him. Considering his well-established track record of playing at his best in the biggest games — he caught a TD in all five of his playoff game appearances at Georgia and Texas — that’s quite the statement.

Grade: Second round

8. Roman Wilson, Michigan: 6-0, 192, Redshirt Senior

Overview: With all due respect to the defending national-champion Wolverines, it isn’t often that they pull recruits from the state of Hawaii, but that was the case with Wilson, a four-star recruit who flashed early and dominated late for Michigan. Wilson didn’t emerge as a full-time starter for Michigan until this past season, but he led the Wolverines in every conceivable category during their title run, recording career-highs in catches (48), receiving yards (789) and touchdowns (12).

Summary: Like his quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, Wilson shows all the traits the NFL is looking for but requires significant projection because Michigan’s offense was so run-heavy. Frankly, Wilson’s career numbers pale in comparison to the single-year numbers some other receivers on this list posted. The NFL loves speed, however, and Wilson has plenty of that, as well as a more well-rounded game than his critics suggest.

Grade: Second round

9. Brenden Rice, Southern Cal: 6-2, 212, Redshirt Senior

Overview: Even though his father is NFL legend Jerry Rice, Brendan wound up signing with Colorado as “just” a three-star recruit out of Arizona. His greatest success with the Buffs came as a returner (both punt and kickoff) but he quickly emerged as one of Caleb Williams’ favorite targets after transferring to USC in 2022, leaping to 12 touchdown receptions this past season, more than he had caught over the entirety of his previous college career.

Summary: It is worth wondering how highly Rice would be rated had his father not shattered every conceivable receiving record in NFL history. Like his famous father, Rice is a better football player than he is an athlete, lacking the perceived upside of some of the others on this list. His polished game, however, should translate quickly into NFL success.

Grade: Second round

10. Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky: 6-0, 210, Redshirt Junior

Overview: Despite growing up in the talent-rich state of Florida, Corley slipped through the recruiting ranks to sign with Western Kentucky, where he set records in 2022 with 101 receptions for 1,295 yards and 11 scores. Defenses focused more on him this past season but he matched the 11 scores on fewer grabs (79) and receiving yards before enjoying a strong week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl.

Summary: With all due respect, Corley is currently more of a “gimmick” weapon than a traditional receiver, lacking the route running and hands of the others on this list. When he has the ball in his hands, however, Corley can be a real matchup problem, justifying Day Two consideration.

Grade: Second-to-third round