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The Wolf Sports Newsletter: March 5, 2024


We are less than a week away from the 2024 NFL legal tampering period.

 

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Jason Kelce officially retires

 

This was reported to be the case in January, and the longtime starting center for the Eagles made it official with a very long and very emotional press conference yesterday afternoon. Kelce will land in Canton as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2029.

 

 

Top receivers staying put

 

✋ Ahead of free agency, the Buccaneers and wide receiver Mike Evans agreed to a two-year, $52 million contract. While it appeared that Evans was going to test free agency, he wants to play his entire career with one team. The ten-time 1,000-yard receiver (in all ten NFL seasons) has won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay and obviously has a strong legacy there.

 

 

If there was any question, it was put to rest during the Scouting Combine press conferences, with both the Vikings and the Raiders asserting that Justin Jefferson and Davante Adams will not be going anywhere despite unsubstantiated rumors to the contrary.

 

As you can see on the sidelines with how he communicates with head coach Kevin O’Connell, Jefferson has a quarterback-like relationship with his team as one of the top players in the league; next up for him is a contract extension. And, though a reunion with Aaron Rodgers on the Jets has been speculated, Adams has made it clear that he’s wanted to be a Raider.

 

Broncos officially releasing Russell Wilson

 

After two seasons with the Broncos, the team is parting ways with former Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson at the start of the NFL’s new league year on March 13. While Wilson played well in 2023, his fit with head coach Sean Payton was ultimately not a great one in the eyes of the head coach. Wilson is just a couple of years removed from the blockbuster trade from Seattle and a monster contract extension, and the 35-year-old is an intriguing potential starting quarterback option for teams. Wilson’s cap numbers the next two seasons assuming a post-June 1 designation:

 

  • 2024: $35.4 million dead cap hit
  • 2025: $49.6 million dead cap hit

 

 

2024 NFL Scouting Combine

 

We are not going to get into near-pointless “winners” and “losers” from the Scouting Combine, but the big highlight of the weekend was that Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy broke the 40-yard dash record with an official 4.21 time. John Ross (4.22) held the previous Combine record set in 2017.

 

 

Tyron Smith set to move on from Cowboys

 

❓ All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith is not expected to re-sign with the Cowboys during free agency, likely ending a tremendous 13 year-run in Dallas. Though 33 with an injury history, Smith will be one of the top free agents available this offseason—and the Cowboys have a hole to fill on the blindside of quarterback Dak Prescott, who might play out 2024 on the final year of his contract.

 

 

NFL news and rumors

 

The Chiefs are franchise-tagging star cornerback L’Jarius Snead with the intention of trading him. It is the non-exclusive tag. Snead was certainly a critical member of an elite championship defense, and there should be plenty of suitors for the All-Pro defender.

 

The Jets have officially given quarterback Zach Wilson permission to seek a trade. The former No. 2 pick in the draft struggled in an incredibly difficult spot in New York, but he showed major flashes that made him an enticing product coming out of BYU in 2021.

 

Multiple reports via buzz from the Scouting Combine indicate that the Falcons are expected to heavily pursue quarterback Kirk Cousins if he does not re-sign with the Vikings and hits free agency.

 

The 49ers hired passing game specialist Nick Sorensen as their new defensive coordinator. The team also brought in former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley for a prominent role on the staff.

 

Unless it’s a well-placed smokescreen, the Patriots (according to two reports) already plan to draft a quarterback at No. 3 overall, sign a veteran quarterback, and trade former first-round pick Mac Jones.

 

 

Longtime NFL kicker Robbie Gould has become a high school football coach in Illinois.

 

 

NFL transactions

 

Among the moves teams have made before the start of the new league year—in many cases to open cap space—next Wednesday include:

 

  • The Chiefs released wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling.
  • The Eagles released former All-Pro safety Kevin Byard after acquiring him from the Titans last season.
  • The Patriots released cornerback J.C. Jackson after a second stint with the team.
  • The Falcons released veteran tight end Jonnu Smith.
  • The Vikings released former starting running back Alexander Mattison.
  • The Saints released safety Marcus Maye.
  • The Commanders released tight end Logan Thomas, offensive tackle Charles Leno, and offensive lineman Nick Gates.
  • The Bills released running back Nyheim Hines, who was unfortunately injured in a jet ski accident last offseason.
  • The Bears acquired offensive lineman Ryan Bates from the Bills for a fifth-round pick.

 

Potential NFL changes

 

️ The NFL reportedly wants to push the NFLPA for an 18th regular season game.

 

The NFL has been testing optical tracking for ball spotting to potentially replace the chain gang.

 

The league is considering a new kickoff rule that would not allow onside kicks unless they declare it in advance—and only would allow it while trailing in the fourth quarter.

 

Other Sports Updates

 

Former ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen passed away at 72.

 

 

2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel says he is boycotting Heisman ceremonies and events until Reggie Bush gets his Heisman Trophy back.

 

 

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe appears to have tightened up his throwing motion.

 

 

Tom Brady ran a faster 40-yard dash now than he did coming out of Michigan.

 

 

⚾️ The Phillies signed star pitcher Zach Wheeler to a three-year contract extension through 2027. The Giants signed Platinum Glove third baseman Matt Chapman to a three-year deal.

 

The Canucks signed star forward Elias Pettersson to an eight-year extension.

 

❌ The Devils fired head coach Lindy Ruff.

 

The Flyers set a single-season record with their fifth penalty shot goal.

 

 

Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz hit a 470-foot bomb during a spring training game.

 

Iowa women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark broke Pete Maravich’s Division I NCAA scoring record with 3,668 career points.

 

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