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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Could J.K. Dobbins be Sean Payton's next move? Broncos set to meet free agent running back on Thursday
Broncos to meet J.K. Dobbins Thursday (Getty Images) The Denver Broncos are signaling a serious move in reshaping their backfield by hosting veteran running back J.K. Dobbins for a dinner and facility visit this week. As reported by NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the former Chargers star is set to meet with the Broncos' coaching staff Thursday night — a move that could mark a significant addition to Denver's evolving offensive unit. "Former Chargers starting RB J.K. Dobbins is headed to Denver tonight to have dinner with coaches and visit the facility Thursday, per source," Pelissero wrote on X. "The dynamic Dobbins, who had 1,084 yards from scrimmage and 9 TDs in 2024, now could land with an AFC West contender." Dobbins, who showed flashes of brilliance last season with 905 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, is being viewed as a potential veteran counterpart to rookie RJ Harvey. Denver drafted the explosive UCF running back with the 60th overall pick in April, but there's a growing sense that the Broncos want to balance youthful energy with proven experience. Denver Broncos might land J.K. Dobbins as veteran back explores fit with Sean Payton's offense The backfield situation in Denver has been in flux ever since Javonte Williams left for Dallas in free agency. After a lackluster 2024 season from its ground game, the Broncos knew something had to change. While Harvey brings upside, the NFL grind often demands a reliable veteran presence — someone who's seen the trenches and can produce under pressure. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo That's where Dobbins fits in. Broncos' Biggest Catalysts in 2025 | Broncos For Breakfast What makes the potential signing even more interesting is Dobbins' track record when healthy. Through four seasons, he's averaged a remarkable 5.2 yards per carry — a stat that instantly puts him among the league's more efficient runners. While not a significant threat in the passing game, his 153 receiving yards on 32 catches last year suggest he's more than just a ground-pounder. Still, there's a caveat. Injuries have dogged Dobbins' career since tearing his ACL in 2021, followed by more time on the sideline in 2022 and a full season missed in 2023. A mid-season MCL sprain last year also limited his availability. But despite the setbacks, his return to form in 2024 impressed observers, and Denver seems ready to bet on his upside. Another layer to this potential deal involves the NFL's compensatory draft formula. According to ESPN, if Dobbins signs with another team before July 22, the Chargers would qualify for a compensatory pick in the 2026 draft. However, if he waits, Los Angeles would regain exclusive negotiation rights. That gives Denver a clear window to act — but also a reason to weigh the long-term cost. Per Over The Cap's Nick Korte, "JK Dobbins currently has a qualifying offer that affects the compensatory formula." So, Denver's pursuit must also factor in potential impacts on future draft capital. For a franchise that just broke a decade-long playoff drought, this offseason marks a chance to build on that momentum. Adding a player like Dobbins — if his health holds — could solidify a backfield that desperately needs consistency and leadership. If dinner goes well, Broncos fans might soon see a familiar AFC face donning orange and blue this fall. Also Read: Dillon Gabriel signs rookie deal with Browns as Shedeur Sanders buzz continues to heat up in Cleveland
New York Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
How the offseason competition Broncos coach Sean Payton covets has changed form
The task of overhauling a roster to fit a winning mold is rarely pretty. About 18 months ago, as the Denver Broncos wrapped up a dismal 8-9 season, the work ahead felt like, in the words of head coach Sean Payton, misery, sorrow and drudgery. 'Give me some other adjectives there,' Payton added, wanting to jackhammer the point home. 'That was brutal. Let's say that.' Advertisement By training camp, though, the cloud had lifted. Payton had found his new quarterback, Bo Nix, in the NFL Draft. He and the Broncos had set up an offseason, after moving on from several veteran players, that was refreshingly competitive across the roster. Numerous starting and depth spots were up for grabs. There was an infusion of youth into the group. Drudgery soon gave way to optimism. 'There's a new energy to it,' Payton said as camp began last year. 'There's a lot of competition for jobs. That's encouraging. Those who watched (the 2023 offseason), maybe you see something that's different. Certainly, I feel like it's been different.' That competition served as the foundation of what became Denver's first playoff season in nine years. But it has taken on a new form as the Broncos prepare for a 2025 season that comes with heightened expectations. They are returning 86 percent of the players from last year's roster, according to Over The Cap, which is the highest rate in the league. Payton has a far clearer picture of his group and its capabilities. Still, creating competition this offseason is paramount to the culture Payton and the Broncos have been building. That's particularly true on offense, where the Broncos still have ample room to grow despite last season's promising strides behind Nix. 'There are a number of young players competing not so much for spots, but competing for touches,' Payton said last week as the Broncos began OTA practices. Before diving into how that competition could unfold throughout the rest of the offseason and even into the regular season, let's take a look at how touches were distributed in Denver's offense last season. Players no longer with the Broncos are denoted with an asterisk: The chart above makes it easy to see why running back could be the most competitive room on Denver's roster this offseason. Javonte Williams, who joined the Dallas Cowboys in free agency, led the Broncos in touches per game last season. He also ranked first on the team in carries (139) and second in receptions (52). He was second among skill players in snaps played (574), behind only wide receiver Courtland Sutton. That snap count was the highest for a running back since Melvin Gordon had 627 snaps in 2020. Despite his struggles running the ball (3.7 yards per game), the trust the Broncos placed in Williams as a receiver and pass protector kept him on the field. Advertisement Rookie running back RJ Harvey figures to take a sizable chunk of the Williams pie this season. The Broncos believe their second-round pick out of Central Florida has the ability as a lead ball-carrier to immediately inject new life into Denver's running game, which sagged at inopportune times last season. That will be his primary job. In two practices open to the media this offseason, Harvey has been given ample work in the passing game as he prepares for the kind of multifaceted responsibilities required of running backs in Payton's offense. The early returns have been promising, with the obvious caveat that he hasn't yet put on pads and been asked to stonewall a blitzing linebacker. 'You know he can run the ball,' Nix said, 'but I think it's the other things that he's (already) showing. Just the routes, (his) suddenness and quickness in his hands. I think all that's really good to see, but he's a great guy, first and foremost. I think it's going to translate for him being a successful player.' This offseason will be critical not only in determining how much of the Williams workload can be transferred to Harvey, but also who else will earn touches at the position alongside him. In some ways, second-year running back Audric Estimé and Harvey are on similar footing. Estimé, a fifth-round draft pick of the Broncos last season, didn't have a seamless rookie season. He suffered an injury on his first carry that landed him on IR. He also fumbled on that Week 1 carry, and early ball-security issues stalled his progress. Estimé had the look of an impactful downhill runner at times. He notably showcased 'the physicality that got him drafted,' as Payton described it, during Denver's narrow loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10 and in other snapshots during the second half of the season, but he never cemented himself inside an oft-fluctuating rotation. '(It was) a little bit harder for him last year, for a handful of these guys,' Payton said. 'I don't want to say the grade was incomplete, but they just didn't have enough (touches). He's a back that requires enough touches. He's going to get those opportunities.' Advertisement Estimé will have to take advantage of those chances in the offseason because the three other running backs in the room — Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie and Blake Watson — are also trying to fight their way into the mix. McLaughlin, entering his third season, was third on the team last season with 572 yards from scrimmage and second in overall touches. The drafting of Harvey and the curiosity about Estimé's development have made McLaughlin something of the forgotten man in Denver's backfield this offseason, but he could have something to say about where some of the running back chances go in critical situations this season because of his experience. In the passing game, the Broncos return three of their top four receivers from last season in terms of receptions: Sutton (81), Devaughn Vele (41) and Marvin Mims (39), who were also Denver's three leaders in receiving yards. Veteran tight end Evan Engram, who had 114 receptions for the Jacksonville Jaguars just two seasons ago, was added in free agency and wide receiver Pat Bryant was drafted in the third round. Add in what is expected to be a sizable role in the passing game for Harvey, and Nix has three new targets he is trying to work into the group he grew comfortable with as last season progressed. 'My job is to just make them a part of the team and help them with the transition,' Nix said of Denver's new skill-player additions. 'I feel like all the new guys have really bought in. They've been around, they've been getting to know everybody and we got really good pickups this offseason. I'm excited to see them play.' The tight end spot will transform the most. That position for the Broncos last season produced 51 total touches. Engram had 47 touches by himself in 2024, in only nine games. If Engram is healthy this season, he could conceivably lead Denver in targets, and that would change the complexion of shares elsewhere. Mims, Vele and Troy Franklin, who scored Denver's lone touchdown in the wild-card loss to the Buffalo Bills, could rightly envision themselves having 'ascensions,' as Payton put it, in the Broncos' offense this season. But the math suggests the Broncos can't ramp up production for all three targets while building more of the passing game around Engram, incorporating Bryant and continuing to feed Sutton at a high level. So how will the distribution shake out? Time will tell how the one football Nix has on each play gets spread around. Most importantly for now, Payton has the competitive environment he craves — even if this one has taken on a different form. (Top photo of RJ Harvey: Ron Chenoy / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Patriots Predicted to Make Christian Gonzalez Highest-Paid CB in NFL History
Patriots Predicted to Make Christian Gonzalez Highest-Paid CB in NFL History originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New England Patriots have the pedal to the floor on a rebuild under the leadership of new head coach Mike Vrabel and second-year signal caller Drake Maye, which includes legitimate playoff hopes in 2025 due to an exceedingly easy schedule -- or, at least, what appears to be one on paper during the preseason. Advertisement Drafting left tackle Will Campbell out of LSU with the No. 4 overall pick in April and inking four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a $63.5 million deal earlier in the offseason were both major pieces of that initiative. However, locking up the high-end talent already on the roster is also part of the equation. Enter defensive back Christian Gonzalez. New England Patriots cornerback Christian J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Gonzalez, a former first-round pick in 2023 (No. 17 overall) is entering the third year of his $15.1 million rookie contract. The Patriots will have the right next summer to exercise a team option on a fifth season for Gonzalez in 2027 at an as of yet undetermined price, which is all but a lock to happen considering the cornerback's production in the 20 games he's started through two seasons. Advertisement However, Gonzalez will also be extension eligible next summer. History suggests that it would behoove New England to ink him to a new contract as soon as possible, as annual average salaries at all premier positions tend to increase with each passing year, coinciding with spikes in the league-wide salary cap and new contracts on other teams consistently resetting the high financial watermarks for elite players. NFL analysts and salary cap gurus are already projecting that Gonzalez will become the next highest-paid defensive back in league history next summer, though general terms are now starting to take the form of actual numbers -- and those numbers are substantial. "PREDICT: What #Patriots star cornerback Christian Gonzalez' contract extension will be next offseason...?" MLFootball posted to its X account on Monday, June 2. "[Four] years, $130 million dollar deal ... $32.5 per year. ✍️ ✍️ ✍️" Advertisement That specific contract would render Gonzalez the richest cornerback ever in the NFL based on both total value and annual average salary. Derek Stingley Jr. of the Houston Texans is currently the leader in AAV at $30 million annually over three years, per Over The Cap, while Jaycee Horn of the Carolina Panthers owns the highest total contract value at $100 million across a four-year deal. Gonzalez earned Second-Team All-Pro honors last season with 11 passes defensed, two interceptions and a fumble return for a touchdown across 16 starts following a rookie season cut short by injury to just four games played. Related: Patriots' Stefon Diggs sends five-word message upon arrival to OTAs amid latest drama. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Eagles' salary cap: Breaking down Philadelphia's $55 million in dead money for 2025
Eagles' salary cap: Breaking down Philadelphia's $55 million in dead money for 2025 The Eagles have $27 million in available cap space right now, but could have a ton more if not for a $55M dead salary cap hit that puts Philadelphia among the top seven in the NFL, per Over The Cap The Eagles have $27 million in available cap space right now, but could have a ton more if not for a $55 million dead salary cap hit that places Philadelphia among the top seven in the NFL, per Over The Cap. It wasn't the official start of summer in the NFL, but June 1 was a massive date around the league, and that date played a crucial role in several players moving on or teams taking a risk on a considerable trade. In NFL terminology, June 1 is the final day that teams see all future prorated money accelerate as 'dead money' if a player has been released. Teams like the Eagles and others around the NFL gained salary cap space, as any player designated for a post-June one release earlier this year moves from the active roster to the dead money side of the books. What, exactly, is a dead money charge? A dead money charge is a charge on an NFL team's salary cap for a player no longer on the roster. It represents any remaining signing bonus proration that was not accounted for before the player's release or trade. It is not a cash payment but rather a cap charge resulting from the rule that allows teams to prorate a signing bonus evenly over as many as five years. If a player is released before the end of those five years, all remaining signing bonus proration accelerates onto the team's salary cap for the current year. With the second week of OTAs underway, we're examining the hefty dead money hits. Jason Kelce Dead money: $16,438,000 Year two of retirement sees the future Hall of Famer carrying a hefty bulk of the Eagles' cap. Josh Sweat Dead money: $16.4M Sweat took his talents to Arizona, but a reworked contract from 2024 adds to the cap hit. Fletcher Cox Dead money: $10.1 million Year two of retirement for the dominant defensive tackle sees his final dead-money cap hit. Cox returned to the Eagles last spring on a one-year, $10 million contract. The contract was fully guaranteed, with four void years structured for a post-June one release in 2024. Cox's retirement will save Philadelphia $1.5 million while adding $4.2 million in dead salary cap space. The Eagles will also have $4.2 million in dead money from Cox's contract in 2025 and 2026. C.J. Gardner-Johnson Dead money: $4,620,000 Mekhi Becton Dead money: $3,484,706 Zack Baun Dead money: $1.9 million Devin White Dead money: $1.9 million Dylan McMahon Dead money: $139K
USA Today
4 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Ravens gain $6.3M of cap space thanks to June 1 designations
Ravens gain $6.3M of cap space thanks to June 1 designations The Baltimore Ravens gain $6.3 million in salary cap space with the release of Justin Tucker and Marcus Williams under June 1 designations. It's not the official start of summer in the NFL, but June 1 is a massive date around the league and will likely play a factor in several players moving on or teams taking a risk on a considerable trade. In NFL terminology, June 1 is the final day that teams see all future prorated money accelerate as 'dead money' if a player is released. Teams like the Ravens and others around the NFL will also gain salary cap space, as any player designated for a post-June one release earlier this year will move from the active roster to the dead money side of the books. Baltimore released Marcus Williams and Justin Tucker for performance issues. That salary cap relief will kick in today. June 1 impact June 1 marks the final day of the NFL calendar when a player is cut or traded; any future bonus money accelerates into the 2025 league year. Starting tomorrow, the rules allow the team to defer all that acceleration to 2025 if they release a player. June 2nd also marks when the NFL will officially process the post-June 1 designations. Starting Thursday, June 2, any released player will only have his current season's prorated money count against the salary cap, and the rest will be deferred to 2026. Marcus Williams The Ravens released Marcus Williams before the start of free agency. According to Over The Cap, Williams' cap numbers drop from $8.13 million to $6.03 million in 2025. He will also count for $6.03 million in 2026. Justin Tucker By releasing Justin Tucker after the NFL draft with a post-June 1 designation, his cap number drops from $7.0725 to $2.8725 million. The team will have $4.645 million in dead money in 2026. Michael Pierce Pierce is retiring, but leaves the Ravens with $667,000 in dead money and $1,255,000 cap savings. What is dead cap money in the NFL? Dead money, which is also known as "dead cap space" or simply "dead cap." Dead money is a salary cap charge for a player no longer on a team's roster. Typically, it stems from guaranteed money already given to a player in the form of signing bonuses, who is either released, traded, or retires. In the event that the team and player part ways before the end of the contract, whether it's via a release, trade, or retirement, the remaining prorated bonus accelerates onto the team's current salary cap. That creates the dead money charge, which ensures the total value of the contract paid by the team matches the overall cap charges the player accrued while with the organization. According to Over The Cap, Baltimore will carry $20,392,396 in dead money. Odell Beckham Jr.$8,301,000 Ronnie Stanley$8,168,250 Nelson Agholor$3,283,000 Arthur Maulet$250,000 Damarion Williams$126,084 Devin Leary$103,791 TOTAL $20,392,396
