The AFC East is stocking up on talent, the Cowboys ended a stalemate and some quarterback competitions are heating up. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest news and notes from around the league so far this week.
Patriots land free agent Elliott
The New England Patriots just got a whole lot more exciting less boring.
As reported by multiple NFL insiders Monday night, former Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott is joining Bill Belichick’s squad on a one-year incentive-laden deal that might just be a perfect match. After all, Belichick loves a run-heavy game plan — just ask the Bills… and Mac Jones — and Elliott is a prime candidate for a rebound year after being cut by the Cowboys in a cap-clearing move.
Elliott, selected fourth overall in 2016, burst onto the NFL scene as a rookie and led all running backs in yards per game in each of his first three seasons while being crowned rushing leader twice — including his freshman campaign with the Cowboys. Soon after, though, he became a cautionary title for GMs and owners around the league hesitant to hand big money to running backs, as Dallas did.
Might we see some throwback performances from Zeke? His jersey number — the former No. 21 will wear No. 15, the digits he donned at Ohio State — suggests the answer is yes, and his career likely depends on it.
Elliott now has a huge opportunity to revive his career while the Patriots bring a little star power to an offence that could certainly use a boost if they want to keep pace in what is an AFC East quickly loading up on weapons…
Dalvin Cook signs with Jets
Monday was a big day for veteran running backs signing on the dotted line, and a major message-sender for those eying the AFC East and wondering just how dominant the division can be this year. Not long after the news of Elliott’s signing in New England came out, the New York Jets finally closed the deal with veteran running back Dalvin Cook — another one-year deal for another cap casualty. Cook was set to earn $14.1 million with the Minnesota Vikings before he was cut by the team and launched into free agency, where he’s been tied to the Jets from the start.
Cook spent the past six seasons with the Vikings, the last four of which saw him tally at least 1,000 rushing yards. He now joins the NFL’s most fascinating team and its revamped, star-studded offence led by another former NFC North star in Aaron Rodgers, and a running back room that’s looking pretty stacked.
Earlier this summer, with rumours swirling about the mutual admiration flowing between Cook and the Jets, the veteran was viewed as perhaps an insurance policy as second-year sensation Breece Hall continued his recovery from a knee injury that cut his rookie year short. But Tuesday brought even more good news for Gang Green’s offensive outlook…
Jets running back Breece Hall returns to practice
Breece Hall is back. Less than 24 hours after the Jets inked veteran Dalvin Cook to a one-year pact, the team announced the return of the young rusher. He’s been recovering from a season-ending ACL tear suffered against the Broncos in Week 7, cutting short what was looking like an incredible rookie campaign. Hall was placed active/PUP list July 19.
If this duo can stay healthy, the Jets have themselves an unstoppable one-two punch of a run game.
Colts officially hand reins to the rookie
No quarterback competition needed here. The Indianapolis Colts aren’t wasting any time — or reps — when it comes to preparing fourth-overall pick Anthony Richardson for his rookie season. The club named the 2023 draftee their starting QB for the season on Tuesday, eliminating any questions early on about whether they’d opt to have him learn from the sideline as the backup to Gardner Minshew.
The decision, which comes 10 practices into camp, isn’t exactly surprising — typically, when a team drafts a QB this high they’re going to start him from the beginning. Still, the new QB1 himself said he was shocked by the news:
“Honestly, I was shocked,” Richardson told reporters. “I’ve been grinding, putting in the work to try to get the title, but it’s not really all about the title. I’m just trying to make sure I’m ready for the team, despite being labeled as QB1, I’ve still got other guys in that room helping me to get to that standard. I’m forever thankful for them.”
Richardson was the third quarterback selected last spring, behind No. 1 pick Bryce Young (Carolina) and No. 2 C.J. Stroud (Houston).
Titans have competition for backup role
One rookie gunslinger who doesn’t appear close to being named a starter is Will Levis. The Tennessee Titans’ second-round pick wasn’t tabbed for the No. 1 spot just yet — that still belongs to Ryan Tannehill — but it sounds like even the No. 2 spot might be too tall an order for the rookie right now. Malik Willis, the Titans’ third-round pick one year ago, looks much improved and ready to take the backup role over Levis, making for an interesting QB competition in Tennessee.
Cowboys’ Martin ends holdout following reworked deal
The contract stalemate between the Dallas Cowboys and their All-Pro guard has come to an end as Zack Martin has signed a reworked deal that ends his camp holdout.
Martin was set to earn $14 million this season and next, but his revised deal will see him earn $18 million in 2023 and 2024. That’s the third-highest salary at the position.
Martin, 32, wasn’t the only major name holding out for a new deal. The contract saga between the Chiefs and defensive end Chris Jones continues. The defender is in the final year of his deal, and while the team wants to keep their defensive leader, all reports continue to indicate the two sides aren’t close to a resolution.