Tag: trade request

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a touchdown pass as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Akayleb Evans (21) defends in the fourth quarter of a Week 15 NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bengals won 27-24 in overtime.

Reports: Bengals WR Tee Higgins requests trade

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins requested a trade from the team after being hit with the franchise tag, according to multiple reports.

Higgins was set to hit free agency when the Bengals used the tag to retain him, guaranteeing a $21.816 million salary for the 2024 season.

Per reports, Higgins grew frustrated by the lack of effort to sign him to a contract extension.

Higgins, 25, completed a four-year, $8.68 million rookie deal he signed as a 2020 second-round pick.

“Tee has done an outstanding job for us since we drafted him,” coach Zac Taylor said in a statement when Higgins was tagged. “I’m glad that he’ll continue to be a big part of our offense and our team.”

The sides have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal.

Higgins caught 42 passes for 656 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games (11 starts) in 2023 after posting back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns in 2021-22. He has 257 receptions for 3,684 yards and 24 TDs in 58 games (53 starts).

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick (7) looks on during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles’ Haason Reddick says he never requested trade

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Linebacker Haason Reddick said Tuesday he never asked for a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles, who reportedly have granted him permission to seek one.

“Never asked for a trade,” he posted on X. “However, I do understand it’s a business. Preparing for whatever is next!”

Reddick, 29, also told Bleacher Report that he wants to stay with his hometown Eagles.

“I would like to get an extension done here at home,” Reddick said. “At no point did I ever tell the organization I want to be traded.”

Multiple outlets, including ESPN and NFL Network, reported Sunday that Philadelphia gave him permission to seek a trade.

Reddick has one season remaining on a three-year, $45 million contract he signed in March 2022. He is due to earn $14.25 million in base salary in 2024.

Reddick recorded a career-high 16 sacks to go along with an NFL-best five forced fumbles in 17 starts during his first season with the Eagles in 2022. He followed that up with 11 sacks in 17 starts in 2023 en route to being named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl.

He has registered 410 tackles, 58 sacks and 16 forced fumbles in 114 games (81 starts) with the Arizona Cardinals (2017-20), Carolina Panthers (2021) and Eagles. The Cardinals selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Nov 21, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett (96) in action against the New Orleans Saints at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Agent for DE Derek Barnett seeking trade options

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The agent for Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett is seeking trade partners, ESPN reported Monday.

Barnett, who tore his ACL in Week 1 of the 2022 season, now finds himself behind a slew of young and talented defensive linemen in Philly and is looking for an opportunity for more playing time, per the report.

The Eagles, however, are planning to keep Barnett, per ESPN.

Barnett has been a full participant in training camp.

Barnett, 27, has 21.5 sacks in 65 games (45 starts) in six seasons with the Eagles, who selected him No. 14 overall in the 2017 draft.

The Eagles restructured Barnett’s contract earlier this summer, and he’s set to make $3.5 million this season.

Barnett is listed behind starter Josh Sweat at right defensive end. Brandon Graham is the Eagles’ starting DE on the other side. The Eagles also have Haason Reddick and rookie Nolan Smith.

–Field Level Media

Nov 27, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Cardinals 5-time Pro Bowler Budda Baker requests trade

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Amid the Arizona Cardinals reportedly exploring the future of star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, as well as mulling potential trades of their No. 3 overall pick in this month’s draft, add another high-priority item to the front office’s to-do list.

Decide what to do about Pro Bowl safety Budda Baker, who requested a trade from the team, per multiple reports Friday.

The star defensive back, still in the prime of his career at 27, has two years remaining on a contract extension he signed in 2020. Though the final two seasons are not guaranteed, he is due $13.1 million in 2023 and $14.2 million the following season.

Baker had posted a mysterious video tweet Thursday showing NBA icon Michael Jordan alluding to taking things personally. The Cardinals defender also deleted references to the team from his Twitter profile.

On Friday after reports of his trade demand surfaced, Baker addressed his home fan base by tweeting, “Love you cardinal fans!!!”

Since being drafted by Arizona in the second round (No. 36 overall) out of Washington in 2017, Baker has been the heart and soul of the defense. He has posted over 100 tackles in four of his six seasons and made the Pro Bowl five times, while being named first-team All-Pro twice (2017 and 2020).

No defensive back in the league has more tackles than Baker since he entered the league.

Despite missing Arizona’s final two games last season because of a fractured shoulder he suffered in Week 16 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baker sported a team-high 111 tackles while adding two interceptions and seven passes defended.

In his six seasons, Baker has produced 650 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, seven interceptions and 7 1/2 sacks in 93 games (83 starts).

–Field Level Media

Jan 1, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) celebrates after a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Chargers give RB Austin Ekeler permission to seek trade

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Chargers granted running back Austin Ekeler’s request to seek a trade, his agent said Tuesday.

Agent Cameron Weiss confirmed the information to ESPN, which reported the two sides failed to make progress on a new contract.

Ekeler, 27, is scheduled to make $6.25 million this season, the final year of a four-year contract he signed in 2020.

The former undrafted free agent led the NFL in touchdowns from scrimmage in each of the past two seasons.

Ekeler rushed for 915 yards and 13 touchdowns and caught 107 passes for 722 yards and five scores in 17 starts last season.

He has gained 7,175 yards from scrimmage and scored 63 touchdowns in 89 games (54 starts) over six seasons.

–Field Level Media

Jan 14, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (30) against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a wild card playoff game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Chargers RB Austin Ekeler requests to seek trade

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler asked for the team’s blessing to seek a trade, his agent told multiple media outlets on Monday.

Ekeler and the Chargers discussed a contract extension but talks didn’t progress, ESPN reported, resulting in the 2017 undrafted free agent asking for another avenue to a payday.

Ekeler, 27, caught 107 passes for 722 yards and rushed for 915 yards on 204 carries with a total of 18 touchdowns in 2022. He scored 20 combined touchdowns in 2021 and has four consecutive seasons with 50-plus receptions.

General manager Tom Telesco wasn’t keen on the idea of parting with Ekeler. Grouping him with Keenan Allen and other “good players,” Telesco said he would prefer to keep the RB when discussing the team’s salary cap standing at the NFL Scouting Combine last month.

Ekeler is scheduled to make $6.5 million this season, the final year of a four-year contract he signed in 2020.

Running back is a deep position in the draft, but Ekeler figures to be a coveted option if he’s made available.

The Chargers are tight against the 2023 salary cap and the looming prospect of a long-term deal with quarterback Justin Herbert clouds Telesco’s options.

Herbert is a lock to have his fifth-year option picked up for 2024, but most high-profile quarterbacks have been locked up before reaching that stage. He will make only $4,234,376 in 2023 before making five times that salary on the option.

–Field Level Media

Nov 21, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith (58) tackles Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Devin Duvernay (13) in the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

Bears LB Roquan Smith requests trade: ‘No choice’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Chicago Bears linebacker Roquan Smith is requesting a trade after efforts to reach a long-term contract stalled.

NFL Network published a written statement from Smith on Tuesday. ESPN verified the validity of the statement.

Smith, 25, has been seeking an extension since April. He said the “new front office regime doesn’t value me here.”

“They’ve refused to negotiate in good faith,” Smith wrote. “Every step of this journey has been ‘take it or leave it.’ The deal sent to me is one that would be bad for myself, and for the entire LB market if I signed it.”

Smith said the Bears are “trying to take advantage of me” and “left me no choice than to request a trade that allows me to play for an organization that truly values what I bring to the table.”

He had at least 100 tackles in each of the past four seasons since being drafted with the eighth overall pick in 2018. He logged a career-high 163 tackles with three sacks and one interception in 17 starts in 2021.

Smith is set to earn $9.7 million this season on the final year of his rookie contract. He was placed on the physically unable to perform list when he reported to training camp last month.

In his statement, Smith apologized to Bears fans and expressed his doubts that the situation in Chicago can be remedied.

“I haven’t had the chance to talk to the McCaskey family, and maybe they can salvage this, but as of right now I don’t see a path back to the organization I truly love,” he said. “I hope and pray you all can understand, I’m deeply sorry it’s come to this.”

The Bears open the preseason at home Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs. Chicago opens the regular season on Sept. 11 at Soldier Field against the San Francisco 49ers.

–Field Level Media

Dec 8, 2019; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Jordan Evans (50) defends against a pass to Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium. The pass fell incomplete. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Njoku rescinds trade request, stays with Browns

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Tight end David Njoku wants to remain with the Cleveland Browns after all.

Nearly one month after his agent Drew Rosenhaus asked for his client to be traded, Njoku took to social media to declare that he wants to stay with the Browns.

“I’m all in Cleveland. Time to work,” Njoku posted Saturday on Twitter.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday that Rosenhaus said that his client has had “some good meetings with the new Browns’ organization including GM Andrew Berry and he has decided to give the team his full commitment right now and go from there.”

Rosenhaus’ recent comment is much different than the one from July 3, when he declared that his client wanted out of Cleveland.

“It is in David’s best interest to find a new team at this time,” Rosenhaus told Schefter at the time.

Njoku, 24, is entering his fourth season since the Browns selected him with the 29th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. He had 88 catches for 1,025 yards and eight touchdowns in 32 games (19 starts) through his first two seasons.

He managed just five catches for 41 yards and a touchdown in four games (one start) in a disappointing 2019 campaign, in which he missed time with a broken wrist and was a healthy scratch late in the season.

Njoku said after the season he wasn’t sure if he would be back, but the team picked up his fifth-year option for 2021. The option, worth $6 million, is guaranteed only for injury until next spring. Njoku has a base salary of $1.8 million for 2020.

The Browns also made significant investments elsewhere at tight end this offseason, catering to new head coach Kevin Stefanski’s preference to use multiple tight ends. They signed Austin Hooper to a four-year, $44 million contract and took Harrison Bryant out of Florida Atlantic in the fourth round in April.

–Field Level Media