NFC East

After being released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox reportedly might not be going anywhere.

According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo (via NFL.com's Grant Gordon), the Eagles have made progress on a deal to bring back Cox on a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $14 million.

Cox was set to make $18 million in 2022, which would've become fully guaranteed if he was on the roster at 4 p.m. ET Thursday.

A 10-year veteran, Cox has spent his entire career with Philadelphia. The 31-year-old had 35 tackles, 3.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and two forced fumbles last season, but his run of six straight Pro Bowl selections came to an end.

Cox was drafted 12th overall in 2012. He's recorded 443 tackles, 58 sacks, 14 forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries in his career. He was named a first-team All-Pro in 2018 and a second-teamer in 2014, 2015 and 2017.

The Eagles are in great position to improve their roster this offseason with three first-round draft picks: Nos. 15, 16 and 19.

Even if Cox returns, Philadelphia could get younger at his position, as this class is deep with prospects. B/R's most recent big board included four defensive linemen among the top 30 players.

Veteran defensive end Randy Gregory's return to the Dallas Cowboys has reportedly fallen apart.

Per Vic Lombardi of Altitude TV, Gregory is signing with the Denver Broncos. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo noted it's the same deal he was set to sign with Dallas for five years and $70 million. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported those terms earlier and said Dallas was giving him $28 million guaranteed.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport first reported Gregory was set to return to the Cowboys and receive around $13 million per season.

Per Patrik Walker of CBS Sports HQ, Gregory and the Cowboys agreed to terms, but then Dallas "doubled back to make change that wasn't palatable to Gregory's camp."

Clarence Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram provided insight into the matter:

The 29-year-old underwent offseason knee surgery after being hampered by a knee issue throughout the 2021 season. He still appeared in 12 games, recording a career-high six sacks, in addition to one interception, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 19 tackles, four tackles for a loss and 17 quarterback hits. 

The Cowboys selected Gregory in the second round of the 2015 draft, and the team has been committed to him despite several suspensions. 

The Nebraska product was suspended for 14 games in 2016 for violations of the NFL's substance-abuse policy. He was also banned the entire 2017 season, two games in 2018, the entire 2019 campaign and six games in 2020 for several violations.

He spoke about his struggles with addiction and mental health in an interview with ESPN's Elizabeth Merrill in 2018. 

Losing Gregory hurts the Cowboys' pass-rushing depth, but they are still well set up in that area with DeMarcus Lawrence alongside Micah Parsons.

The Broncos are pushing all their chips to the center of the table. After reportedly agreeing to acquire quarterback Russell Wilson from the Seattle Seahawks last week, general manager George Paton has focused on the defensive front in free agency. 

Denver's agreement with Gregory comes after the team agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal with defensive tackle D.J. Jones on Monday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

Playing in the AFC West against quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Derek Carr, rushing the passer is vital to success.

Gregory has been an excellent pass-rusher when he's been on the field. The Broncos are betting big on him to be a key piece for their defense in 2022 and beyond. 

Malik Hooker will be back with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 after the two sides agreed to a new contract. 

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Hooker's deal is worth $8 million over two years. 

The Cowboys gave Hooker a one-year contract last offseason after he spent the first four seasons of his career with the Indianapolis Colts. 

The Colts selected Hooker with the 15th overall pick in the 2017 draft. He was regarded as one of the best defensive backs in that class following a dominant sophomore season at Ohio State. The Pennsylvania native was a consensus All-American and tied for third in the nation with seven interceptions. 

He was hoping for a big year to secure a long-term contract from the Indianapolis Colts, who declined the fifth-year option in his rookie contract in May 2020.  

In Week 2 of the 2020 campaign against the Minnesota Vikings, Hooker tore his Achilles and had to undergo surgery. 

A torn ACL limited Hooker to seven games in his rookie season, but he showed impact potential with four pass breakups and three interceptions. 

The Cowboys took a chance on Hooker as a free agent in 2021. He was a late signing and did not join the team until July. 

Hooker appeared in 15 games for Dallas last season. The 25-year-old recorded 44 combined tackles, two pass breakups and one tackle for loss. 

With Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee also hitting free agency this offseason, Hooker's return gives the Cowboys at least one potential starting safety as they look to reload for another run at the NFC East in 2022. 

Calvin Ridley was reportedly close to joining the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The Falcons nearly traded the wide receiver to the Eagles this offseason before talks halted when Atlanta realized he would be suspended for the 2022 season for gambling on NFL games, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports said on the Takeoff with John Clark podcast (h/t Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia):

It was actually funny because they were one of the teams, they were close to a deal with Atlanta for Calvin Ridley and Atlanta backed out at the last second. And Philly was like, 'What's going on?' They couldn't really tell them. So Philly wasn't too happy and then after, looked at it like, 'Alright, Atlanta, thanks.' Atlanta did business the right way. They weren't allowed to say anything, again, the legalities of it, couldn't say a word. They just had to pull out. 

But, man, if Philly could have gotten a talent like Calvin Ridley when he didn't have these issues, that would have been good for them. Again, they're aggressive. Howie (Roseman) is always really aggressive. That would have been big, especially with a lot of Alabama guys. That would have been a good one had he not had the issues, but he did. So Atlanta just had to pull out and couldn't tell them for a couple weeks why.”

The Eagles thought the Falcons had received a better offer for Ridley, per Glazer, though it's unclear what Philadelphia would've given up to land the 2018 first-round pick. However, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said on 92.9 The Game's Dukes and Bell that Atlanta's asking price included a first-round pick.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that a few teams reached out to Atlanta about trading for Ridley, but the Falcons declined discussions because they knew he was under investigation.

The NFL announced Monday that Ridley would be suspended for the 2022 season after it concluded he bet on games during a five-day period in November while he was away from the team to focus on his mental health.

The 27-year-old can appeal the suspension, but it's unclear if he plans to do so. If he appeals and the decision is upheld, he can't apply for reinstatement until Feb. 15, 2023.

In addition to the Eagles, Ridley was drawing interest from the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns, according to Boardroom's Jordan Schultz. If not for his suspension, Ridley likely would have been on a new team in 2022.

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported in January that the Falcons and Ridley "could be looking for a fresh start" ahead of the 2022 campaign. His prediction was that the Alabama product had played his final game for Atlanta.

Ridley has been one of Matt Ryan's go-to receivers since his arrival in Atlanta in 2018. In 49 games, he has caught 248 passes for 3,342 yards and 28 touchdowns. 

Now that he'll be off the field for a year, it's unclear what the future holds for Ridley, who might've landed a significant contract extension entering the final season of his rookie deal in 2022.

The fantasy landscape has shifted with another quarterback on the move, though just how much depends on how much you like Carson Wentz. 

The Washington Commanders found their 2022 starter by agreeing to acquire Wentz from the Indianapolis Colts. 

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Colts will receive a 2022 third-round draft pick and a conditional 2023 third-round draft pick that can bump up to a second with incentives. 

Even though Wentz isn't particularly thrilling in real life, especially based on how he ended last season, he has been a reliable fantasy performer throughout his career.

The 29-year-old finished 14th among all quarterbacks in points in PPR leagues in 2021 (265.02). He was in the same area as Ryan Tannehill (282.36) and Derek Carr (270.96). 

By comparison, Taylor Heinicke, who started 15 games for Washington last season, was 19th in fantasy points by a quarterback (236.86). 

The biggest beneficiary of Wentz taking over at quarterback is Terry McLaurin. The Ohio State alum has proved to be quarterback-proof through his first three seasons. He has averaged 119 targets, 74 receptions, 1,030 yards and five touchdowns from 2019 to '21. 

As flawed as Wentz is, he's an upgrade over Heinicke, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Garrett Gilbert, Alex Smith, Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, Case Keenum and Colt McCoy. Those are the eight quarterbacks who have started at least one game for Washington since McLaurin's rookie season. 

McLaurin had 77 catches, 1,053 yards and five touchdowns last season. He has finished in the top 25 among wide receivers in fantasy points in each of the past three years. 

Wentz threw for 3,563 yards and 27 touchdowns for the Colts last season. No Washington quarterback has hit those marks since Kirk Cousins in 2017 (4,093 passing yards, 27 touchdowns). 

Antonio Gibson's value doesn't figure to change much. He has scored 21 touchdowns combined in the past two seasons and set a career high with 1,331 yards on 300 touches in 2021. 

There doesn't figure to be much of a difference in passing attempts between Washington's quarterbacks and Wentz. The Commanders attempted 550 passes in 2021; Wentz threw the ball 516 times in 17 starts for the Colts. 

Gibson ranked in the top five for Washington in targets (52), receptions (42) and receiving yards (294). Those numbers are in line with what Jonathan Taylor did as a receiver for the Colts (51 targets, 40 receptions, 360 yards). 

Unless the Commanders find a reliable No. 2 pass-catching option on the outside with McLaurin, Gibson is going to see a healthy number of targets.

Curtis Samuel might become that guy, but he has a lot to prove in 2022 after being limited to five games due to groin and hamstring injuries. 

With Ricky Seals-Jones set to become a free agent, Logan Thomas is poised to become the Commanders' No. 1 tight end. He appeared in only six games in 2021 due to knee and hamstring issues. 

Thomas showed promise two years ago with 110 targets, 72 receptions, 670 yards and six touchdowns. He was the No. 7 tight end in fantasy during the 2020 season. 

It's hard to bet on Thomas coming close to those numbers again. He's going to turn 31 on July 1 and has never eclipsed 200 receiving yards in any other season. 

Carson Wentz's time with the Indianapolis Colts lasted one season.

Indianapolis is reportedly trading the quarterback to the Washington Commanders in exchange for multiple draft picks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

Schefter reported Thursday that Washington will also receive a 2022 7th-round pick.

The Commanders are also "paying the full $28 million" due to Wentz this year, "which includes a $5 million roster bonus due next week," per Schefter.

The Colts gave up a 2021 third-round pick and what ended up being a 2022 first-round selection to acquire Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles prior to the 2021 campaign. However, rumors about his uncertain future with the team started shortly after he was unable to lead them to the playoffs in his first year in the AFC.

In February, ESPN's Chris Mortensen (h/t Ari Meirov of Pro Football Focus) reported the 29-year-old's future with the Colts was "bleak," with some believing he will "probably" be either traded or released prior to March 19.

That date was significant because it is when his $15 million in base salary would be guaranteed.

However, Mike Sando of The Athletic reported around the same time that the Colts were "more likely to leverage Wentz's poor performance in 2021 to renegotiate his contract rather than cut him outright" in part because those around the league were unsure of his trade value.

There was a time when anyone trading Wentz would have been a surprise. The No. 2 overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft was an MVP candidate during his second season. That campaign ended when he tore his ACL, but the Eagles still won the Super Bowl with Nick Foles under center the rest of the way.

While Wentz has played well at times since then—especially in 2019—he has struggled to fully regain the form he showed prior to the injury.

He took a step back in 2020 when he threw for 16 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 12 games in his final year in Philadelphia, but it was fair for Colts fans to be optimistic about pairing Wentz with head coach Frank Reich, who was the his offensive coordinator when he was at his best on the Eagles.

Wentz's final numbers in 2021 were far from terrible. He completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 3,563 yards, 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions. However, he and the team struggled down the stretch.

In fact, the North Dakota State product threw for more than 225 yards only once in the final eight games. He also had 10 touchdown throws during that stretch, three of which came in one game.

It capped off a roller-coaster season for the Colts, who started 1-4, got to 9-6 and appeared primed for a playoff run, and then lost the final two games to miss the postseason. The final loss was against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars, as Wentz threw a pick and lost a fumble while leading the offense to score only 11 points.

His mediocre play at the end of the year undercut a solid defense and dominant running back Jonathan Taylor, and the Colts ultimately elected to move in a different direction.

Washington can only hope Wentz rediscovers the form that once had him in MVP discussions.

One day after using the franchise tag to keep Dalton Schultz, the Dallas Cowboys don't appear to be in a rush to sign him to a long-term contract. 

Per NFL Network's Jane Slater, the team hasn't had active negotiations with Schultz's camp yet. 

Slater noted the "intent is there" to sign Schultz long term, but the Cowboys want to see how things plays out in a thin market for tight ends this offseason.

If the Cowboys try to slow-play things by waiting a year, they could end up paying top dollar to keep Schultz. Their history suggests they don't feel compelled to act quickly in negotiations with players who get tagged. 

DeMarcus Lawrence played on the tag in 2018 and was tagged again in 2019, but he wound up signing a five-year, $105 million extension in April 2019. Dak Prescott was tagged in back-to-back years in 2020 and 2021 before he signed his long-term deal in May 2021.

If the Cowboys don't sign Schultz to an extension before July 15, he will earn $10.9 million in 2022 on the one-year franchise tender. 

There are certainly viable reasons for Dallas to try to get Schultz to commit to a long-term deal. He's a player on the rise and could come at an affordable price relative to his production. 

Dallas is in a difficult spot with the salary cap. The team did free up $22 million after restructuring the contracts of Prescott and Zack Martin, but it is still $22.5 million over the cap. 

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last week the Cowboys were "likely" to release Amari Cooper before his deal becomes fully guaranteed March 20, which would save them $16 million, per Over the Cap. 

Slater reported Wednesday that teams are calling about Cooper. She added a club could try to rework his deal to spread out his money over multiple years via signing bonus if a trade agreement is worked out. 

Schultz is coming off the best season of his career. The 25-year-old finished second on the team in targets (104) and receptions (78), tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns (eight) and ranked third in receiving yards (808).    

Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz reportedly "voiced his displeasure" with the team's success after he suffered a torn ACL late in the 2017 NFL season.

Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday an unnamed teammate "immediately confronted" Wentz, who's now with the Indianapolis Colts, about his comments after he lamented the Eagles' playoff run to other injured players before their victory in Super Bowl LII behind backup quarterback Nick Foles.

Wentz was enjoying a terrific season before the knee injury. He'd thrown 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions across 13 appearances while guiding Philly to an 11-2 record.

The offense continued to thrive under Foles, who posted a 6-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio while throwing for 971 yards in three postseason wins, which resulted in the franchise's first Super Bowl title. The fact that the offense didn't miss a beat without him put a damper on Wentz's breakout season, though.

His response to the Eagles' success "revealed character defects and affected him in certain corners of the locker room," while also raising questions within the team's front office about whether it "didn't place enough emphasis on questionable character traits" before selecting him with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft, per McLane.

The previously unreported concerns from Philadelphia come amid questions about whether the Colts are set to move on from the 29-year-old North Dakota State product despite strong numbers on the surface.

Wentz completed 62.4 percent of his throws for 3,563 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven picks while playing all 17 games in 2021, his first season with Indy.

The Colts missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record, however, and head coach Frank Reich wouldn't commit to the 2017 Pro Bowl selection as the team's starter for 2022.

"We've got to be better in the passing game," Reich told reporters in January. "It was definitely below our standards, and there's multiple reasons for that. We have to take ownership of that as coaches and players."

Reich previously served as Wentz's quarterbacks coach with the Eagles in 2016 and 2017.

The Colts don't have another proven signal-caller on their roster—Sam Ehlinger and James Morgan are the others under contract for 2022—so any separation likely won't occur until the team can find a replacement via free agency, trade or the draft.

Meanwhile, the Eagles moved forward with 2020 second-round pick Jalen Hurts as their starting quarterback last year, which led to Wentz's departure.

The Dallas Cowboys are reportedly "fielding some calls" about potential trades for wide receiver Amari Cooper.

Jane Slater of NFL Network reported Wednesday interested teams are aiming to acquire Cooper and restructure his five-year, $100 million contract before his $20 million salary for 2022 becomes fully guaranteed March 20, the fifth day of the new league year.

The update comes after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Friday the Cowboys were "likely" to release the four-time Pro Bowl wideout to save $16 million against the salary cap.

Cooper's numbers dipped a bit in 2021 as he hauled in 68 catches for 865 yards one year after posting a career-high 92 receptions for 1,114 yards. That can be attributed more to the emergence of fellow receiver CeeDee Lamb and tight end Dalton Schultz, who combined for 224 targets, than a drop-off in ability.

The 27-year-old University of Alabama product would assuredly stay in Dallas if not for the financial flexibility his departure, either via trade or release, would bring for a team that Spotrac projects at $9 million over the salary cap.

On the flip side, that's an opportunity for a receiver-needy team to get a major weapon for its passing game at a reduced price.

Cooper has been a consistent force since the then-Oakland Raiders selected him with the fourth pick in the 2015 draft. He's tallied 517 catches for 7,076 yards and 46 touchdowns in 108 career games, including an average of 6.75 scores per year in three-and-a-half seasons with the Cowboys.

Trading for him would also give the acquiring team the benefit of avoiding what could become a bidding war if he hits the free-agent market.

Boardroom's Jordan Schultz reported Monday the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots would have "great interest" in Cooper if he enters free agency.

A trade also shouldn't come at a significant price, perhaps a couple of middle-round draft picks, considering the Cowboys' plan to release him before his salary becomes guaranteed has been leaked.

The fact that Dallas' front office is taking calls doesn't come as a surprise, and there's a good chance a deal is found before March 20.