Latest news with #IsaiahRodgers
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Isaiah Rodgers Pays Tribute to Eagles After Career Revival and Big Payday
Isaiah Rodgers Pays Tribute to Eagles After Career Revival and Big Payday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Former Eagles cornerback Isaiah Rodgers didn't hold back his appreciation for Philadelphia during his return to the city this weekend. The defender, who recently signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings, made it clear that his gratitude to the Eagles organization runs deep. Advertisement Speaking to Jason Dumas of 6ABC at the Roots Picnic Celebrity Basketball Game, Rodgers expressed how much the Eagles meant to him during a difficult period in his career. "I love Philly. They gave me a second chance at life. To take care of my family. I'll never turn my back on Philly," the cornerback said. Rodgers' appreciation stems from Philadelphia's willingness to take a chance on him when his NFL future looked uncertain. After being suspended for gambling violations in June 2023, the Indianapolis Colts quickly released him. The Eagles, however, saw potential and signed him in late August 2023, even though he would miss the entire season due to his suspension. When Rodgers was reinstated in April 2024, he quickly proved Philadelphia's faith was justified. The UMass product became a reliable depth player and special teams contributor, appearing in 15 regular season games. He recorded 26 tackles, deflected four passes, and forced one fumble while also handling kick return duties. His most memorable moment came during the postseason run. In a crucial divisional playoff game against the Rams, Rodgers made a game-changing play by recovering a fumble and returning it 40 yards deep into Los Angeles territory. The turnover led to a field goal that helped secure Philadelphia's path to another Super Bowl championship, where they defeated Kansas City 40-22. Advertisement The investment paid off for both sides. Rodgers earned just over $1 million on a minimum salary deal with Philadelphia but parlayed his strong performance into a significant payday with Minnesota. His new Vikings contract includes $8 million in guaranteed money, representing a major financial upgrade. Eagles fans will get their first look at their former defender when Philadelphia visits Minnesota in Week 7. It should be interesting to see how Rodgers handles covering stars like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, receivers he once practiced against daily. Regardless of how that matchup unfolds, Rodgers has made it clear that his time in Philadelphia left a lasting impact both professionally and personally. Related: Chip Kelly vs. Ashton Jeanty Gives Eagles Fans Bad News Flashback Related: Saquon Barkley Joins Madden Elite But History Says Beware This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
4 days ago
- General
- USA Today
Free agents at one position continue to make plays at OTAs for the Vikings
Free agents at one position continue to make plays at OTAs for the Vikings The Minnesota Vikings have questions and doubt swirling around their cornerback room heading into the 2025 season. When the team brought back Byron Murphy Jr. they had a good base built for their cornerback group. They had to build off of that though and that is where they added the pieces like Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers, the latter of which is making news in OTAs early in the week. Rob Kleifield of wrote about some observations from Vikings OTAs on Monday, and the Super Bowl-winning cornerback made the cut. When discussing Rodgers, he writes, "Super Bowl champion Isaiah Rodgers was absent the opening week of OTAs, but introduced himself accordingly Monday, coming up with the defense's lone takeaway early in a half-field 7-on-7 period. Extra noticeable in popping gold cleats and color-coordinated gloves, Rodgers, signed this offseason on the heels of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy with Philadelphia, flashed his pedigree and ability by reading and jumping a mid-level pass from McCarthy to Jordan Addison on the left sideline." Rodgers being able to hold his own against Jordan Addison is a good sign of things if you are Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Brian Flores getting your first eyes on him in a Vikings uniform. Rodgers is expected to play outside opposite Murphy Jr. in a rotation with Okudah. If he can keep making plays against Addison, though, he may find himself with the bulk of meaningful reps in September.
Fox Sports
12-03-2025
- Business
- Fox Sports
Eagles, Chiefs' opposing strategies among 6 takeaways from early NFL free agency
The 2025 NFL free agency period is officially open, which means that most of the free agents have already signed. Because of the tampering window, which opened on Monday, we've seen a frenzy of deals. And we're starting to see some trends emerging. Keep in mind that it's early. There are many waves of free agency — some that take place as late as May after the NFL Draft (or even July before training camp). But we can see some patterns in the early days of the new league year. And now is a good time to spotlight the teams making big moves. Let's take a look. The Eagles disassembled their defense There's no other general manager like Howie Roseman. Think about the Saquon Barkley signing. Think about his moves swapping out Haason Reddick and Bryce Huff (which was a headline-maker in the offseason that ultimately didn't even move the needle in-season). Think about the Mekhi Becton and Zack Baun signings (which few discussed at the time but, ultimately, ending up changing the 2024 season). Roseman tries new things every year. And that mostly seems to be how he keeps his team atop the league. But this year, it's not the additions that are making news. It's the subtractions. The Eagles have lost the following defensive players (from star to contributor): EDGE Josh Sweat DT Milton Williams S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson CB Darius Slay CB Isaiah Rodgers CB James Bradberry LB Oren Burks You can argue about each player's importance. But the Eagles will have to figure out how to replace every single one of these players — because each one had a quality role on the defense. How will Roseman do it? All eight of the Eagles' picks are in the first five rounds (with a 1, 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5 & 5). Philly has no shortage of young talent waiting for its turn. And they did bring back Baun, a linebacker who cashed in big ($51 million, three years) on a low-budget, prove-it deal. Roseman will be seeking more Baun-and-Becton types in the coming days and weeks. Vikings are using their rookie QB deal to get even better Goodbye Sam Darnold. Barring a surprise, it's J.J. McCarthy's time. Like the Eagles, the Vikings are embracing turnover — but by acquiring talent. Yes, they let Darnold go. But by choosing not to re-sign him, it has freed up their wallets to spend elsewhere. First, the Vikings took care of their own, retaining their top free agent, cornerback Byron Murphy. But they didn't stop there. Their free-agent class features quality starters: DT Jonathan Allen DT Javon Hargrave C Ryan Kelly G Will Fries CB Isaiah Rodgers The Vikings are getting tougher in the interior offensive line, which makes sense because of the nine sacks Darnold took in Minnesota's one-and-done postseason appearance. And the team is getting tougher in the front seven, snagging two massive defensive linemen who can sack the quarterback. The 49ers are taking a new direction, even if we don't know where they're headed San Francisco is sort of doing what the Eagles are doing. It's a teardown. But because Roseman is fresh off a Super Bowl — and has an impeccable track record — we all trust his vision. It's hard to track what's next for the 49ers except for: a rebuilding year. Before free agency opened, San Francisco parted ways with receiver Deebo Samuel, whose play has declined in recent years. The 49ers released or waived defensive lineman Maliek Collins, Leonard Floyd and Hargrave. Seven of their top-end free agents have signed elsewhere, including tackle Moore, guard Aaron Banks, running back Elijah Mitchell, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Charvarius Ward. They even parted ways with Kyle Juszczyk, a fullback whose versatility had come to define this offense. Samuel and Juszczyk were at the core of this offense's identity. Now, they're gone. We've yet to see the team add anyone who isn't, at best, a depth piece. So it's clear the 49ers wanted to get their cap situation right and move on from their old identity. But what will the new 2025 team look like? So far: a shell of its former self. The Chiefs and the Bills are following the same playbook: Use the QB (with restructures and recruiting) to sustain success Both of these teams have addressed needs in meaningful ways. And that's in part because of the ways their quarterbacks have adjusted their contracts to allow their teams to spend. For the Bills, Josh Allen did something generous when he inked a brand-new contract at $55 million per year. He left at least $5 million per year on the table — and maybe even $10 million to $15 million if he really wanted to push. "What's $5 more [million] going to do for my life that I can't already do right now?" Allen said Wednesday about taking less. "It's not that crazy to me. I live a pretty good life. … I wasn't looking to kill them in every chance I could. I told my agent that." That should give the Bills a lot of freedom to add players. They brought in wideout Josh Palmer, not the most productive receiver but a good fit at attacking the intermediate-middle of the field where the Bills needed a threat. And they brought in Joey Bosa, a rotational but dangerous edge player. And, for that matter, a household name (even if he's on the tail-end of his career). It's a similar-but-different situation in Kansas City. Patrick Mahomes just restructured his contract — along with defensive tackle Chris Jones — to create additional cap space. The Chiefs used that money to shore up their weakest position last season: left tackle. Jaylon Moore , signed to a two-year, $30 million deal, should (hopefully) fix that problem. They also added cornerback Kristian Fulton to join their deep platoon of CB2s. Patriots are paying to get back into the mix New England jumped out of the gate with around $162 million in spending on the first day — of the tampering window … which started at noon ET. That's not just a big cash drop but a quick one. We're now in the official free agency period, and New England's class already looks robust. DT Milton Williams CB Carlton Davis LB Robert Spillane LB Harold Landry RT Morgan Moses WR Mack Hollins DT Khyiris Tonga QB Joshua Dobbs TE Austin Hooper The only surprise — from my vantage point — is that they've yet to make a splash at left tackle or receiver. Moses is an outstanding right tackle, but the Patriots need two additions at that position. And Hollins shouldn't be anything more than a WR3 (but, out of desperation, he's probably currently NE's WR1 on the depth chart). There's plenty of time to keep adding. Coach Mike Vrabel clearly sent the message about what he wanted this free agency to be about: tough, violent, durable, dependable players. You can see that pattern in every one of the guys on the list above. Who's next? I don't think they're done spending big. Call me crazy, but I think they'll go after tackle Cam Robinson and receiver Cooper Kupp. The Cowboys and Bengals look like they put their phones on "do not disturb" We've discussed the teams that have undergone major changes. Now, let's talk about the teams that haven't. There's not a lot of urgency in Dallas or Cincinnati. And maybe there should be. The Bengals front office issues are coming to a head, with contract disputes with three of their four biggest stars: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson. It's unclear if that's holding up their free agency process, but they've done nothing of note to bring in talent. It's a similar story for the Cowboys, who have retained a pair of good players in defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and receiver Kavontae Turpin. But aside from that? A nice deal for running back Javonte Williams. A decent signing of guard Robert Jones. And otherwise? Ho hum. These early days of free agency are tough, where teams are prone to overspending. They're paying free agents like they're the best players at their position, when — in reality — the best players at their position never hit the open market. So I get why some teams sit on the sidelines. But look at how the Chiefs and Bills pulled the trigger on key role players they identified as crucial. I can't help but wonder why Dallas and Cincy haven't done the same yet. Prior to joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on X at @henrycmckenna . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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CBS News
10-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Vikings start free agent negotiation window by agreeing to deal with CB Isaiah Rodgers
The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms with free agent cornerback Isaiah Rodgers on Monday, adding a backup from the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to help shore up a critical position as the NFL's negotiation window opened. Rodgers will get a two-year, $15 million contract with $8 million fully guaranteed, according to a person with knowledge of the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it can't be finalized until the signing period begins on Wednesday. Drafted by Indianapolis in the sixth round out of Massachusetts in 2020, Rodgers played three seasons for the Colts before receiving a yearlong suspension in 2023 for violating the league's gambling policy. He was cut after the punishment was handed down and signed with the Eagles two months later. Reinstated before last season, Rodgers was a depth player in a standout group of cornerbacks and had 26 tackles and four passes defensed in 15 games. He made three starts. The 27-year-old Rodgers gives the Vikings a building block at cornerback, where all three of their top players last season were set to become free agents. The youngest one, Byron Murphy, is coming off his first Pro Bowl selection and is a priority for the team to try to re-sign, but with veterans Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin coming off the books, there are more gaps to fill. Mekhi Blackmon, who was Minnesota's second-round pick in the 2023 draft, will be back in the mix after sitting out last year while recovering from a torn ACL suffered on the first day of training camp. Last season, the Vikings behind the direction of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had a remarkably fruitful shopping spree in free agency with players they viewed as undervalued on the market. The group of newcomers led by linebackers Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman helped spark a 14-3 record that was one of the surprises of the league. Another signing last year who far outperformed his contract was quarterback Sam Darnold, whose bridge status was shed when first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy was sidelined by a knee injury. Darnold agreed to a deal with Seattle on Monday, and backup Nick Mullens moved to Jacksonville along with third tight end Johnny Mundt, putting another veteran quarterback on the to-do list this week for the Vikings. They also are in the market for guards and defensive tackles. Running back Aaron Jones agreed to return on a new deal after a solid debut, and punter Ryan Wright agreed to terms to avoid restricted free agency.
Reuters
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Report: Vikings reach two-year deal with CB Isaiah Rodgers
March 10 - Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers is leaving the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, agreeing to a two-year, $15 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings, ESPN reported on Monday. Per the report, Rodgers' deal includes a guaranteed $8 million. Rodgers, 27, finished his lone season in Philadelphia with 26 tackles, four passes defended and a forced fumble in 15 games (three starts). Vikings No. 1 cornerback Byron Murphy is expected to explore free agency. In four postseason games, he notched six tackles, four passes defended and a fumble recovery, which came in the NFC divisional-round win over the Los Angeles Rams. A sixth-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2020 draft, Rodgers played three seasons with the Colts before sitting out the 2023 season for a violation of the NFL's gambling policy. In 60 games (13) over four seasons, Rodgers has 116 tackles, three interceptions, 14 passes defended, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. --Field Level Media
