Top six potential landing spots for Mac Jones

The Steelers receiver is heading into the final year of his two-year, $36.1 million extension and has a cap hit of $15.8 million for the 2024-25 season.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (18) in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson is reportedly at the center of trade interest ahead of free agency. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Johnson is coming off a year in which he played the fewest games (14) of his five-year career and hauled in 51 receptions for 717 yards and five touchdowns on 87 targets.

Pittsburgh drafted him 66th overall in the 2019 draft. He’s recording 391 yards for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns in 78 games played.

The Denver Broncos have reportedly traded receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth- and sixth-round pick, according to NFL Network.

Ahead of last season’s trade deadline, the Browns reportedly attempted to acquire Jeudy to no avail. But with free agency and the new league year looming, the Broncos and Browns were able to work out a trade.

The deal won’t become official until Wednesday, when free agency officially begins.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (10) walks on the field during warm ups before taking on the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/Justin Edmonds)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (10) walks on the field during warm ups before taking on the Tennessee Titans in an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, in Denver. (AP Photo/Justin Edmonds)More
Denver is in the process of a furious housecleaning to help clear up cap space. This move clears up $13 million, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

Jeudy, a first-round pick in the 2020 draft, enjoyed his best season in 2022, when he finished with 67 receptions, 972 yards and six touchdowns — all career highs.

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The Browns receiver room now includes Amari Cooper, who was acquired for a fifth-rounder from the Dallas Cowboys; Elijah Moore, who the Browns traded a second-round pick to acquire; and Jeudy.

The Pittsburgh Steelers cut loose two of their higher-priced veterans Friday, which also happened to be the day pending free agent quarterback Russell Wilson was in town.

The team released wide receiver Allen Robinson and cornerback Patrick Peterson, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Field Yates, moves that will free up about $17 million in salary cap space.

Peterson had been playing on a two-year, $14 million contract he signed last offseason, which will save the Steelers $6.85 million and leave them with $2.925 million in dead money, via OverTheCap. Robinson was on a heavily backloaded two-year, $15 million deal; Pittsburgh will save $10 million in cap space against $1.92 million in dead money.

Both players are former former Pro Bowlers, but are well-removed from their primes at this point.

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The Steelers now have around $28 million cap space for the 2024 season, which might be enough money to help address the sport’s most expensive position.

CLEVELAND, OHIO – NOVEMBER 19: Patrick Peterson #20 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Patrick Peterson (pictured) and Allen Robinson are out in Pittsburgh. Now who is coming in? (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
Pittsburgh hasn’t outright said it wants a new quarterback, but its current options don’t inspire confidence if the goal is to mount a playoff run. Kenny Pickett was the former heir apparent, but has struggled with both health and effectiveness. Mason Rudolph has had four years to show he’s more than a backup and hasn’t done so. Mitch Trubisky has already signed with the Bills.

So that’s why the Steelers brought Wilson in for a visit Friday amid reports the team was interested in him. The former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion is set to become a free agent when the new league year begins later this month and has permission to speak with potential suitors.

The move will leave the Broncos with a record $85 million in dead cap money, but that wouldn’t be the Steelers’ problem. Wilson’s Denver tenure didn’t work out well, but players have bounced back from worse situations. The bigger question is if Pittsburgh represents a significant improvement after seven years without a playoff win.

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Josh Jacobs’ agent says the running back, Bears have ‘mutual interest’: report originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The Bears are on the cusp of a possible spending spree this offseason.

They have the fifth-most cap space in the NFL with $57.4 million to spend this summer. They saved themselves plenty of cap by signing Jaylon Johnson to a team-friendly contract that only puts the Bears on the hook for a $13 million cap hit in the first season.

So, where will the Bears decide to put their money? A former Bears player, who shares the same agent as Josh Jacobs, said both parties have a mutual interest.

“I know from his standpoint, Josh would love to be in a Bears uniform,” Jason McKie said on ESPN 1000. “My agent, he has Josh Jacobs, as well. I texted him [his agent] ‘Hey, he’d look great in a Bears uniform.’ And he’s like, ‘Hey, there’s mutual interest.’ And that’s what he told me. There’s mutual interest.”

Coinciding with the report about Jacobs, the Bears are also rumored to have an interest in Saquon Barkley. That doesn’t mean either one is on their way to Chicago. The Bears may be simply exploring the market.

In the Ryan Poles/Matt Eberflus era, the Bears have been the second and first most prolific rushing team in the league over the last two seasons, respectively. In 2022, they broke their franchise record for team rushing yards, posting 3,014 yards — the franchise’s first time over 3,000 yards as a collective.

Poles originates from the Kansas City Chiefs. They are proponents of using multiple running backs to get the job done and working through the draft to bring in cheap, athletic running backs. Last season, the Bears rostered Khalil Herbert, D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson to work the backfield, all of whom had outstanding seasons advancing the ball.

It’s possible the potential loss of Justin Fields, who has rushed for 657 and 1,143 yards over the past two seasons, respectively, is forcing the Bears to reconsider their rushing options. To have a more successful attack without Fields, the Bears might feel like they need a blue-chip running back in the backfield.

Still, Poles had a chance at that in David Montgomery, the Bears’ mainstay running back who had recorded over 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of the four seasons he played in Chicago. Poles passed on Montgomery, who signed in free agency with the Lions on a three-year deal worth $18 million. Montgomery rushed for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

Jacobs, 26, rushed for 805 yards and six touchdowns last season. In 2022, Jacobs earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after rushing for a league-leading 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns. Spotrac believes Jacobs will command $10.5 million annually on his next contract.

Would the Bears be willing to pony up on that money for a running back? Remember, they still need wide receiver and offensive line help.

Top six potential landing spots for Mac Jones originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Unsurprisingly, Mac Jones’ time in New England appears all but over.

The 25-year-old quarterback is expected to be traded this offseason after three tumultuous years in Foxboro. Teams reportedly have called the Patriots recently inquiring about Jones’ availability, and some league executives believe New England could get a fifth- or sixth-round pick in return for the 2021 first-rounder.

A change of scenery seems like the best-case scenario for Jones, who struggled mightily the last two years after a promising rookie campaign. But which potential landing spots make the most sense for Jones as he looks ahead to the next chapter of his NFL career?

Here are the six most sensible trade destinations for Jones, ranked.

6. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks parted ways with longtime head coach Pete Carroll but are still set to roll with 33-year-old signal-caller Geno Smith in 2024. Smith is under contract with the team through the 2025 season.

Trading for Jones would give the Seahawks an insurance policy in case Smith’s productivity continues to decline. While Smith’s 2023 season wasn’t terrible by any means, he regressed in nearly every category after his surprisingly stellar 2022 campaign. His passing yards dropped from 4,282 to 3,624 and his touchdown passes fell from 30 to 20. Seattle had an 8-7 record with Smith as a starter last year.

Jones would be a cost-effective option for a Seahawks team that’s likely plotting a succession plan at the QB position. With Smith presumably starting under center in 2024, Jones would have the opportunity to learn the system for at least a year before being thrust into action. It’s a solid fit.

5. Denver Broncos
Russell Wilson is gone, leaving the Broncos with a glaring void at the QB position. Perhaps Jones could fill that slot and compete with former Pats QB Jarrett Stidham next summer.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton was high on Jones in 2021. When he was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints, Payton reportedly tried to trade ahead of New England in the draft to select Jones. Before a Pats-Saints matchup that September, he confirmed his affinity for the Alabama product.

“He was someone that we were really high on,” Payton told reporters. “I think he processes information fast. At Alabama if you watch closely his tape, the ball comes out, decisions are made fast. I think he sees the field horizontally as well as vertically well. He has the arm to make the throws that you want.

“His decision-making and processing are where I felt were really strong suits with him and I think he’s handling it well. It’s not easy to all of a sudden come in and start week one as a rookie, but he’s a smart player.”

In Denver, Jones would likely have the opportunity to compete for the starting job in camp. He would have some intriguing weapons including running back Javonte WIlliams and wideouts Courtland Sutton and ex-Alabama teammate Jerry Jeudy.

4. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons might be a quarterback away from making some noise in the NFC. They’ll likely look to address the position in the upcoming draft, but taking a flier on Jones wouldn’t be the worst idea.

Unlike his time in New England, Jones would be surrounded by talent in Atlanta. With Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier at running back, Drake London and Kyle Pitts as pass-catchers, and a strong offensive line, Jones would be set up for success. Perhaps that would be enough to help him revert to his rookie form.

3. Minnesota Vikings
Assuming Kirk Cousins doesn’t return in free agency, Jones in Minnesota would make perfect sense. He’s more affordable than other free-agent options like Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. The Vikings will eye a QB in the 2024 draft, during which they pick 11th overall, but Jones can compete with whoever they select in training camp. As for existing talent on the roster, you can’t do any better than superstar wideout Justin Jefferson.

Minnesota has two fifth-round picks and two sixth-rounders to make a deal happen.

2. San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Shanahan’s system may be the best fit for Jones as he looks to revive his career. In fact, a simulation we ran in October strongly suggested Jones would find success in San Francisco.

Shanahan reportedly mulled selecting Jones with the No. 3 pick in 2021 before ultimately choosing Trey Lance. That selection turned out to be a bust, but it’s fair to say the 49ers head coach is thrilled with how “Mr. Irrelevant” Brock Purdy — the final pick of the 2022 draft — has panned out. Purdy helped the Niners to a Super Bowl berth last season after breaking out as a rookie.

With backup QB Sam Darnold hitting free agency, Jones would make sense to fill the void. If Purdy regresses or gets hurt, maybe Shanahan can work his magic and make Jones live up to his first-round status.

1. Los Angeles Rams
Although Jones probably prefers to start in 2024, he may be best served sitting and observing for a year or two. That being the case, L.A. is an obvious match.

Jones could benefit greatly from learning under veteran Super Bowl-winning quarterback Matthew Stafford in Sean McVay’s scheme. By the time Stafford is out of the picture, Jones will have had time to regain his confidence and revitalize his pro career.