Front Office NFL Chat
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Sam Robinson
4:00
Hey everyone, we've had a rather busy start to June. Let's get going!
walterj23
4:07
How much will Joey Porter Jr cost the Steelers  in an extension?
Sam Robinson
4:07
Hey Walterj, Porter's camp will certainly be targeting a deal north of $30MM per year. I'm not totally sure that would be required to complete an extension, though.

The past two cap spikes helped CBs leapfrog Surtain despite his DPOY season. This included a much less-accomplished Jaycee Horn. There is now a gap between where Horn is (AAV-wise, at $25MM) and the top of the market, where Trent McDuffie, Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. are.

A Porter extension makes sense as one that could bridge this gap. I think we'll be looking at an upper-20s AAV. Porter has no Pro Bowls or All-Pro nods, so he doesn't have a good case to hit $30MM per annum, but I'd be surprised if a price south of $25MM gets this done. Expenses on this defense are rising fast
M’s Fan
4:16
Are we sure AJ Brown is still very good? Only went over 19mph 2 games last season, down from 13 (iirc) in 2023
Sam Robinson
4:16
Hey M's fan, they're on a bit of a run now, it appears. I will have to say that yes, A.J. Brown is still good. I know he became disruptive in Philly, but he's hardly the first receiver to present a high-maintenance profile. I think the Eagles may regret this move -- at least for 2026.

ESPN's Open Score has rated Brown tied for first in 2024 and ninth in 2025. I think being paired with Drake Maye will be better for Brown than where he was with Jalen Hurts by the end. No, he did not have a good wild-card performance. But with Sirianni firing longtime colleague Kevin Patullo after one season, it is safe to say the offense's direction (and the stats obviously support this) was off. Barkley's 2024 arrival also led to reduced WR usage rates.

If Brown stays healthy, I'd be pretty surprised if he doesn't push for at least a fourth second-team All-Pro nod. Long term, I'm a bit more skeptical because of his Philly issues. But in 2026, I think the Pats will have a difference-making No. 1.
12s Member
4:23
Is Russell Wilson a Hall of Famer, or did the end of his career take him out of Canton?
Sam Robinson
4:23
I think I'll lean ever so slightly toward yes. But I can see where an argument would go south. Wilson's career needs to be divided into three parts for his case to succeed.

The first chapter would cover the peak LOB/Lynch years, where the Super Bowls occurred. And he had quickly become one of the NFL's better QBs even by Super Bowl XLIX. In 2015, however, Russ took off as a passer -- in a strong era for the position -- and did not cool down for nearly six years. Part two -- where Seattle made five playoff appearances with Russ mostly carrying the operation as the defense regressed -- I think will be just enough to get him in.

Even his 2023 and '24 Denver and Pittsburgh seasons may bring positives, down the road, but that shockingly bad 2022 hurts. It was a line of demarcation for him. I wonder if Nathaniel Hackett's career nosedive eventually helps Wilson's case, because he proved in well over his head that year and with the Jets.
Nick
4:32
What would hold the bears back from a strong offer for the Cardinals Sweat?
Sam Robinson
4:32
Hey Nick, I would enjoy an all-Sweat DE corps. I'd guess some quality T-shirt ideas would spawn in Chicago. This is an interesting idea, and Josh Sweat's contract suddenly looks great. The EDGE market transformed since his $19.1MM-per-year deal, and with three years left on it, he's not in a position to renegotiate.

It does look like the Bears are taking a risk at their DE2 spot, and their Crosby effort illustrates internal concerns. Odeyingbo is on a $16MM-AAV contract, so that is somewhat of a deterrent here. Josh Sweat (that first name-last name issue would be a bit annoying for people like me) is better, of course, and Odeyingbo and Turner coming off injury makes this look like a need area.

The Cards will surely entertain offers by the deadline. With three years left on his deal, Sweat should fetch more than a third-rounder. But I doubt he nets a first. Right now, the Cards' asking price probably is holding the Bears back. And FA options (Miller, Bosa, Floyd, Cam) also make sense as short-term fixes
Jean
4:39
What would an Aaron Donald contract look like, do you think his return is realistic?
Sam Robinson
4:39
Jean, this is a really interesting storyline. Reminds of when J.J. Watt kept the door open to a Texans/Steelers comeback earlier this decade. The stakes are a bit higher here given Garrett's arrival.

The Rams hold Donald's rights for one more season, as he received that three-year, $95MM raise in 2022. The DT market's ceiling has also not moved far past that point; only Chris Jones -- who used Donald's terms as a negotiating point (man, Mahomes and Kelce taking less opened the door for Jones) -- makes more per year.

I can see the Rams keeping him on that contract and providing some early guarantees, though he'd be guaranteed his full salary by September as a vested vet. Would Donald be amenable to a slight pay cut due to circumstances? Something like 1 year, $20MM guaranteed or maybe slightly less even? Hard to tell right now, but certainly a good story to follow
VP of Common Sense
4:48
Why is Stefon Diggs still unsigned?  Who are the favorites?  KC? Vegas?
Sam Robinson
4:48
VP, teams are surely wondering if the NFL will levy a suspension under the personal conduct policy. Players don't have to be convicted of crimes to be hit with NFL bans, as several instances have shown in the past. But Diggs should have a few options for sure.

The Chiefs have certainly shown they are willing to tolerate off-field headaches in exchange for production, but them already having one major WR issue here with Rice brings some clouds re: Diggs. But they are believed to be interested.

Vegas needs help here for sure, but will Diggs be prepared to join a rebuilding team? The Falcons could be a candidate. The Ravens have been mentioned as a WR-curious team.

Would the Rams do this? They need a longer-term solution, but a short-term Diggs deal would complement a Nacua rookie salary or Year 1 of an extension. L.A. signed OBJ (albeit at a low rate) with Kupp and Woods healthy five years ago. After passing on Lemon, they probably would consider a vet as a Super Bowl favorite
Browns Rebuild
4:54
Can Andrew Berry be trusted to draft the right QB next year? His reset/rebuild from the Mayfield era hasn't exactly worked
Sam Robinson
4:54
I've marveled at Berry's staying power. It's remarkable how he was allowed to engineer the worst trade in NFL history and stick around for four-plus years after. I have liked some of what I've seen in building the roster (beyond QB), and he does have two playoff berths -- two of Browns 2.0's three since the 1999 rebirth -- while Haslam played a role (we may never know how big) in the Watson fiasco.

Berry's 2025 draft was encouraging; his decision to move off the Travis Hunter slot looks shrewd right now. If his 2026 draft impresses, the resilient GM indeed will hold the keys in 2027.

Overall, I am skeptical Berry is the right guy here. He has the Eagles stint but was also working under Sashi Brown and Paul DePodesta during the disastrous Browns mid-2010s rebuild experiment. He probably should have been fired, as he bears more responsibility for the Browns' state than Stefanski, but I'll reserve judgment, I suppose, to see if this post-Garrett plan works.
Roger
5:03
Sam, if Sorsby enters the supplemental draft, how high do you think he'll go? Who do you think will take the risk? Thanks.
Sam Robinson
5:03
Hey Roger, his gambling issues double as a solo effort to revive a long-dead midsummer event. Sorsby will not be for everybody, as Todd Monken highlighted this week, and we haven't seen a team fork over a first- or second-round pick for a QB in the supplemental draft since 1992 (Dave Brown, NYG). I'd be a bit surprised, based on the gambling past, if any team sacrifices that kind of capital. Round 3 would also surprise.

Unlike in the Tyreek Hill era, players can now be suspended entering the NFL. A team would need a clear plan for Sorsby, who has shown he cannot be counted on (at a rather important position). A pick now would be for 2027 and beyond.

I can see the Cardinals, who were in on Ty Simpson by most accounts, considering this. But having Beck and Sorsby might be a bit much if they intend to draft a 2027 QB too. Sorsby doesn't seem like a Steeler, but their timeline and likely non-top-10 2027 pick fits the profile. Most intriguing supplemental draft possibility since at least Josh Gordon (2012).
Unclemike1526
5:09
Sam, Although I'm not a proponent of doing things to Keep up with the Jones' so to speak But what would it take now for the Bears to swing a deal for Maxx knowing about his knee? First of all they have to figure out the Cap problem but if it can be managed what exactly would it take? Would they take a deal like Booker or Turner, A 2nd which would upgrade to a 1st depending on him not hitting the IR or some kind of injury provision and maybe some later picks? I'm pretty sure the Bears are going to be fine as is because I think they are better than everyone thinks especially with the improved secondary and LB's but how intent are the Raiders to move him? Thanks.
Sam Robinson
5:09
Hey Unclemike, I don't think the Raiders will entertain moving Crosby without a surefire first-rounder coming back. I can maybe see them accepting a Quinnen Williams-type package -- only due to the knee issue -- where a 2028 first-rounder and a 2027 second/third comes back.

I was a bit surprised the Ravens were willing (well, for a few days) to send two firsts for a soon-to-be 29-year-old EDGE. He is two years older than Parsons, so that would have been a coup for Vegas. No team will pay that for Crosby after the Baltimore physical mess, but I won't close the door on a trade.

The Raiders still need assets to build around Mendoza, and even though they didn't want to trade Crosby, I'd watch for a deadline trade. It'd give Crosby a chance to show sustained health. That might be enough to convince a team to send a first plus another Day 2 pick.

Vegas won't fetch what Cleveland did, but the Garrett trade will help Brady and Co. hold firm on a high price.
RoxTalks
5:15
Which trade would be viewed as a more generational type trade: Parsons or Garrett?
Sam Robinson
5:15
RoxTalks, I'd put them in different genres as trades. The Parsons swap is the more traditional contract-related move, and one we saw with Khalil Mack in 2018. If Parsons recovers from his ACL smoothy and gets back on track, he certainly has the better chance to have make a long-term impact with his new team than Garrett. Through that lens, the Packers made the more impactful deal.

But I'm more intrigued by the Garrett trade since it is more about two teams' timelines than a contract. Like the Crosby plan in March, it was a rebuilding team cashing out and a player seeking a better situation. As I outlined in our latest Trade Rumors Front Office post, that is far less common in pass rusher trades.

If Garrett can lift the Rams to another title, I think it will be viewed as the more generational trade. He already has a case as one of the best edge rushers ever. A spotlight change of this sort could elevate him further in NFL history.
Peach City Pete
5:20
Do you like the terms of the London extension? Can Atlanta afford to make Bijan the highest-paid RB with a big WR contract as well?
Sam Robinson
5:20
Pete, yes, I think that can get done. The Falcons' QB situation involves a first-round rookie deal and a vet-minimum Tua accord. That fits well with skill-position extensions.

I wonder if Pitts will be a true rental, as I can see a new regime being hesitant to extend an inconsistent player. Robinson will be extended, almost certainly at the top of the RB market and deservedly so.

Atlanta has a few directions it can go at QB in 2027, but based on what we've seen, it is hard to envision a Penix extension next year. That should give the Falcons considerable flexibility now in terms of a Bijan payday.

Plus, the glacial RB market gives teams advantages right now. An extension likely won't even cover 8% of the cap, so teams should jump at paying dual-threat RB talents at young ages right now.
Inquiring Mind
5:27
Hey, Sam. In legal situations like Brandon Aiyuk's outstanding warrant, what role(s) if any does his team have in cooperating with the police?  Does the team have to try to get Brandon to report to facilities and turn himself into authorities there or ask him to go to his local police station? Does the player's agent have to convince him to talk to the police to resolve the issues?  Thanksz
Sam Robinson
5:27
In this case, the 49ers are highly unlikely to have any role. Aiyuk has essentially ghosted the team for a year, creating one of the stranger situations ever involving a high-priced player.

An agent or those operating in the best interests of a player's long-term future are more likely to have the bigger say in an instance like this. We have to wonder at this point how much Aiyuk is listening to those with his best interests in mind.

We are approaching the Diontae Johnson level for value lost over a year in a player's supposed prime. From the injury to the voided guarantees to this, Aiyuk has done incredible damage to his earning power after being a $30MM-per-year player.
M’s Fan
5:34
how likely is it that the first 3-5+ teams in the draft next year are unwilling to trade out of their spot, even if they don’t need a QB? I know the Browns just got another first, but they might not be able to find a trade partner if Jets, Raiders, Cardinals, Titans, etc earn the tops spots?
Sam Robinson
5:34
This is an aspect that will probably be discussed more as we learn just how star-studded the long-hyped 2027 draft class is. There will be a reality where certain teams won't  want to budge if they are locked in on Jeremiah Smith or another non-QB prospect. But the expected presence of top-tier QB prospects, as we saw with the trades offered to the Patriots for the Drake Maye slot, will allow non-QB-needy teams to set sky-high prices to trade down. Pretty tempting.

I think we'll have a mix of teams here, depending on needs and reputation. But clubs with the '27 QB class in mind should be doing what the Browns are. Stockpiling assets will be the second-best way to ensure one of the top passers is within reach (the best way, until we get lottery conversations, is to have a very bad record).

The race to the bottom with some of the teams you mentioned will be a must-follow component this season. If there are truly 3 or 4 mega-prospects at QB, high-stakes intrigue will be afoot.
Sam Robinson
5:35
Thanks for all the questions today, everyone. It's been a significant June week across the league. Hope you all have a good weekend!
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