| NFC EAST |
| DALLASThe Cowboys are acquiring CB KAIIR ELAM, once a first round pick of the Bills. They are also getting another off-the-radar first rounder in LB KENNETH MURRAY. Nick Shook of NFL.com: The Dallas Cowboys are adding some first-round talent to bolster their defense. Dallas is acquiring cornerback Kaiir Elam in a trade with the Buffalo Bills and linebacker Kenneth Murray in a trade with the Tennessee Titans, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday. The Cowboys are sending a 2025 fifth-round pick and 2026 seventh-round pick to the Bills in exchange for Elam and a 2025 sixth-round selection, per Pelissero. Buffalo confirmed the deal shortly after Pelissero’s report. Dallas and Tennessee are swapping late-round picks in the deal for Murray, Rapoport reported. Murray was selected 23rd overall by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020 and played four years with the Bolts before starting 14 games and tallying 95 tackles for the Titans last season. In his career, Murray has tallied 416 tackles, 8.5 sacks and 12 pass breakups. Elam arrived in Buffalo as a first-round pick in 2022 but never rose to true starter status, making 12 starts over three seasons. An injury shortened his sophomore campaign to three games, and while he found a fit in Buffalo’s secondary (and recorded an overall grade that landed him inside the top 50 of all corners in 2024, per PFF), the Bills decided to trade him in order to recoup some assets as Elam enters his fourth season. Given Elam’s lack of usage, it was highly unlikely the Bills were going to exercise his fifth-year option, making 2025 a prove-it season for the corner. He’ll attempt to do so in Dallas, where the Cowboys have dealt with injuries at the position over the last two seasons and were seeking to add depth to their secondary. |
| PHILADELPHIAThe Eagles lose another defender. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com: The ability of the Steelers to agree to terms with cornerback Darius Slay was complicated by the fact that he was under contract with the Eagles. Now that he’s not, the Steelers and Slay have done a deal. Agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey have announced the deal, indirectly, by leaking the news to multiple reporters. It’s been characterized, indirectly, as a one-year, $10 million deal that is fully guaranteed. Slay likely becomes an instant starter in Pittsburgh, operating across from Joey Porter, Jr. Slay, 34, was a second-round pick of the Lions in 2013. He spent seven years with the Lions and five with the Eagles. Philadelphia waited to release Slay until the start of the league year so that the dead money could be spread between 2025 and 2026. They’ll carry his 2025 salary and cap number on the books until June 1, at which time they’ll shed the salary and realize the savings. |
| NFC SOUTH |
| CAROLINAIf you have seen the Panthers play the last two years, WR ADAM THIELEN has indeed earned a pay raise. Joseph Person of The Athletic: @josephpersonCan confirm Panthers are reworking Adam Thielen’s contract, as @JFowlerESPN said. The Panthers plan to give him a pay bump. Thielen was set to make $6.75 million this year, including a $1.5M roster bonus that hits Saturday. My understanding is Thielen’s contract will still void after this season. Revised contract is a way to reward him. This actually will add to his cap number. Thielen turns 35 in August and talked about retirement after this past season. |
| NFC WEST |
| ARIZONAThe Cardinals did not score highly in the NFLPA survey of player satisfaction, but don’t tell DE BARON BROWNING that. Kevin Patra of NFL.com: Arizona Cardinals pass rusher Baron Browning passed up a chance at free agency, agreeing to a new two-year contract days before the negotiating window opened. From the 26-year-old’s perspective, he likes where he’s at and saw no reason to move. “If you got a girlfriend who is a 10, why play around?” Browning quipped to the “Cardinals Cover 2” podcast about his reason for returning. Browning agreed to a two-year contract worth $15 million, with a max value of $19 million. The deal represents a still-growing player with the talent to burst out but one who has dealt with injury and must improve his consistency. The former third-round pick by Denver in 2021 was traded midseason to Arizona after he missed the early part of the season with a foot injury and was squeezed out of the rotation. He found a home with Jonathan Gannon’s club. From Weeks 10-18, Browning generated a 15.9 percent quarterback pressure rate, per Next Gen Stats, the 14th-best mark among edges with at least 100 pass rushes over that span. “They kind of just let me go play so that’s also a good thing because as a player, you want to be able to go play fast,” Browning of the Cardinals. Pairing Browning with newly signed big-money addition Josh Sweat gives Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis more weapons after needing to generate pressure by bringing extra bodies last year. The moves won’t stop Arizona from continuing to beef up the defensive front in the draft. |
| SAN FRANCISCOAn interesting signing for the 49ers. QB MAC JONES would not have been a very good first round draft pick in 2021, but he would have been better than the one the 49ers actually made. Matt Barrows Jeff Howe and Jayna Bardahl of The Athletic: Quarterback Mac Jones and the San Francisco 49ers agreed to terms on a two-year deal worth up to $7 million, according to a league source. The deal includes $5 million guaranteed and is worth up to $11.5 million with incentives. Jones, the sixth-ranked QB and No. 101 overall free agent in The Athletic’s top 150 list, started seven games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024 as Trevor Lawrence’s backup. The Jaguars won just two of those games, both against the Tennessee Titans, as Jones finished the season with a 65.3 completion rate for 1,672 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions across 10 total appearances. Before his season in Jacksonville, Jones started 42 games across three seasons for the New England Patriots. His rookie campaign was promising, as the Patriots went 10-7 and clinched a playoff berth. But working under offensive coordinator Matt Patricia and QB coach Joe Judge in 2022, Jones’ production dipped and the Patriots’ skid began. He was benched for backup Bailey Zappe for his final six games in New England. Jones was selected 15th in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Alabama, where he won two College Football Playoff national championships. During the lead-up to that draft, he was heavily rumored to be a favorite of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan with San Francisco poised to draft a quarterback with the No. 3 pick. Instead, the 49ers drafted Trey Lance, who lasted only two seasons in San Francisco before being traded to the Dallas Cowboys. By the time of Lance’s trade, Brock Purdy — the last pick in the 2022 draft — had unseated Lance as the starting quarterback. Purdy remains the starter, set to sign a lucrative contract extension this offseason, with Jones now in line to be his backup. Jones hasn’t flourished in the NFL, but he has played in a lot of contests. He’s started 49 games with a 54-44 touchdown-interception ratio in that span. How he fitsJones will begin his tenure as the No. 2 quarterback behind Purdy. The two players who dueled for that position last season — Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen — are unlikely to be back. Dobbs agreed to a two-year deal with New England, while the 49ers haven’t shown much interest in re-signing Allen, who spent the last two years with the team. Allen was a favorite of quarterbacks coach Brian Griese, who stepped away from that role this offseason. The only other quarterback on the roster is rookie Tanner Mordecai, an undrafted rookie in 2024. Mordecai might have the best arm of the group. There was good reason to speculate that Shanahan and the 49ers liked Jones in the run-up to the draft four years ago. It was true. Shanahan has since said that Jones and Lance, the North Dakota State passer whom they ultimately chose at No. 3, were the two he liked the most early on. Jones’ strengths are his quick processing ability, his accuracy and his decision-making, which are paramount in Shanahan’s system and which Purdy also possesses. “What separates me is my preparation and my ability to take what I learn from the coaches’ meetings and my meetings and then apply it to the field,” Jones said after a pro day workout in the run-up to the draft. “I’m going to do exactly what the coach tells me to do. I’m going to play within the framework of the offense.” That’s what Shanahan likes about Purdy — he’s an extension of Shanahan on the field and runs it the way the head coach wants it run. What Jones lacks — and what swung the argument for Lance — are top-end physical gifts like a sturdy frame, big arm and ability to gobble up yards on the run. 2025 impactThe 49ers are hoping Jones doesn’t have much impact on the 2025 season because the opposite would mean that Purdy got injured or wasn’t playing well. It’s worth noting that while Purdy has missed just two starts due to injury since taking over late in the 2022 season, he’s dealt with an array of issues in that span, including a broken rib, concussion, shoulder injury and a torn elbow ligament that required surgery. At 6 feet 5/8 inches, Purdy doesn’t have a big frame and puts himself at risk by running the ball. It’s also worth noting that the 49ers are in the midst of negotiating Purdy’s contract and that he has one more year remaining on his modest rookie deal. The 49ers always were going to have to bring in a backup. But having someone Shanahan has admitted he considered for the No. 3 pick might put a bit more pressure on Purdy than, say, having Allen in the backup spot. Cap updateIt’s difficult to say exactly what the 49ers’ cap situation is because no one knows how their recent free-agent deals were constructed. None, however, have been big-money contracts, including Jones’. He’s likely to count around $3-4 million against the cap in 2025, leaving the 49ers with perhaps $30 million to still spend. OutlookNeither Lance nor Jones turned out to be worthy of a first-round pick. Like the 49ers with Lance, the Patriots ultimately traded Jones — to the Jaguars where he played behind another 2021 selection, Lawrence. As a backup, however, he seems like a smart acquisition. Shanahan has an affinity toward him. His strengths are similar to Purdy’s. And the 49ers have shown they are good with quarterback reclamation projects. They took on another former first-round pick in Sam Darnold in 2023 and, after Darnold signed a free-agent deal with the Minnesota Vikings a year ago, San Francisco will be compensated with an extra draft pick this year. Maybe a similar scenario happens with Jones. |
| LOS ANGELES RAMSThe Rams put a cap on WR COOPER KUPP’s time with the team. And to have an employer this season, he needs someone to offer him more than $5 million for it to be worth his while. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com explains: Three years after winning the Super Bowl LVI MVP award, receiver Cooper Kupp is no longer a member of the Rams. The release, which became official on Wednesday, is no surprise. From the moment Kupp himself announced that the Rams were trying to trade him, it seemed like an impossibility. No one would be taking on his $20 million compensation package, and Kupp had no reason to take less to facilitate a deal. Instead, he becomes a free agent. He can sign with any team, at any time. His contract value hinges primarily on the spot that he’ll be expected to occupy on a depth chart. The higher he lands, the more the next team will pay. The Rams, given the contract they recently gave to receiver Davante Adams, see Kupp as a No. 3 option. For other teams, Kupp could be No. 2. Things could move quickly, if multiple teams regard Kupp as a high-value addition. Still, one day after DeAndre Hopkins (who is only one year older than Kupp) got a one-year, $5 million deal from the Ravens, the market isn’t currently booming for aging receivers who have slipped past their prime. For Kupp, he has a full guarantee of $5 million from the Rams for 2025. The amount is subject to offset; for $5 million or less from a new team, Kupp won’t be enhancing his pre-existing bottom line. Kupp, in fairness, believes he can still get it done. If he can stay healthy, he could be right. But staying healthy is key ingredient in productivity. Since having an historic season in 2021, Kupp has missed 18 of 51 regular-season games — more than a full season out of three.– – -With James Gladstone now the GM of the Jaguars, the Rams have promoted someone with one of the greatest names in southern California and Southern California football history to be their assistant GM. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com: The Rams have announced new roles and titles for 12 members of their personnel department. John McKay has been bumped up to assistant General Manager after being the director of pro scouting for the last four seasons. McKay has been with the Rams since 2016. Nicole Blake has been elevated to director of scouting, strategy and analytics and Ray Farmer is now the senior advisor to G.M. Les Snead. Blake has been with the Rams since 2021 and Farmer, who was once the Browns G.M., joined the team in 2020. Senior personnel executive and deputy chief of college scouting Taylor Morton also has a new title while Billy Johnson is a senior scouting executive. Brian Hill and Michael Pierce are now national scouts with Vito Gonella and Cedric Jones rising to regional scouting positions. Matt Waugh has been promoted to director of pro personnel, Michael Young will serve as a pro scout, and former NFL quarterback Kellen Clemens will be a special assistant to Snead as well as an analyst. The 32-year-old John Crosby McKay is the grandson of former USC coach John Harvey McKay and the son of Falcons CEO Rich McKay. Like his uncle, John Kevin McKay, John Crosby McKay went to USC. |
| SEATTLEThe Seahawks have given some pretty big coin to 32-year-old DE DeMARCUS LAWRENCE. Zach Hereth of Seattle Sports: The Seattle Seahawks made their first splash on the defensive side of the ball in free agency Wednesday. The Seahawks are signing defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence, the four-time Pro Bowler’s agent David Canter announced on social media Wednesday afternoon. The deal is for three years and up to $42 million with $18 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo. The 32-year-old Lawrence played just four games with the Dallas Cowboys last season due to a Lisfranc (foot) injury. He totaled 14 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble in his limited action. Lawrence turns 33 next month. The 2014 second-round pick’s injury-shortened campaign followed a standout 2023. He was the seventh-ranked edge rusher in Pro Football Focus grading that season, including No. 2 against the run. Lawrence had 50 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, six passes defended, 4.0 sacks and a forced fumble in 2023. The news comes after the Seahawks reportedly signed wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a one-year deal earlier in the day. Seattle also agreed to deals with quarterback Sam Darnold and offensive lineman Josh Jones on Monday, according to reports. Lawrence has spent his entire 11-year career in Dallas and is set to reunite with his former defensive line coach, Aden Durde, in Seattle. Durde, who took over as the Seahawks defensive coordinator last season, was the D-line coach in Dallas from 2021-23. |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASAlbert Breer of SI.com with insight into the extension signed by DE MAXX CROSBY: • After the season, both Pierce and Telesco were fired, and Crosby told LaBoy, his lead negotiator, to allow him to see the direction and “feel the energy” of whoever was hired. To that end, Crosby was in the building, as he is every day, when Carroll interviewed, and made a point of going to meet him. That started a conversation that Carroll was sure to resume right after he was hired, as did Spytek. “They were both very cool, very open and transparent from the beginning,” Crosby says. When Spytek arrived in Vegas, Crosby asked him, What’s the one thing I can do better? The new GM responded that he should consider not playing 100% of the snaps, in order to keep his legs fresh deep into games, and the season. Crosby said he couldn’t stand not being on the field. That was an answer the new guys would remember, as they contemplated their next steps with Crosby—he had exactly the mindset they were looking for. • The Raiders then communicated to LaBoy and Hendrickson that the plan was to build around Crosby, and wanted to do a contract with him quickly, not just to establish to others their commitment to him, but also so they could have an idea of what they’d be working around from a cash-and-cap standpoint. Accordingly, they exchanged proposals prior to the combine that reflected the agreement that Crosby should be atop the edge market, past Bosa. The sides met in a conference room the Raiders had at the Indianapolis Conrad on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday of combine week, with Vegas’s SVP of football administration Tom Delaney, a 24-year vet of the organization, leading talks and bringing all the context of Crosby’s (and LaBoy’s) previous negotiations with the team to the table. Meanwhile, other teams, given the regime change, were inquiring. Seattle proposed a deal that would send Geno Smith and DK Metcalf to Vegas for Crosby. The Raiders rebuffed that interest, showing Crosby their resolve. • Last Monday, LaBoy and Hendrickson spent the day talking with Crosby—who wants to know every element of every deal he does—about where things stood, agreeing that the gaps had closed enough for the agents to make a trip to Vegas. So they flew from California on Tuesday morning, and went straight to the team facility to dive in with Delaney. The sides worked through the morning and, as soon as Crosby was finished with his workout, LaBoy and Hendrickson went back to the star’s house. There, they spent five or six hours with Crosby, his wife and daughter, drilling down on every detail, with the agents getting their directives from him on closing out the negotiation. And late in the day, LaBoy and Hendrickson returned to the Raiders’ facility to work out the final details, which was the guarantee structure of the deal—the average per year and cashflow was agreed upon. A little after 11 p.m., they got the negotiation to the 1-yard line, finding common ground on a full guarantee of $32 million in 2025, and $30 million in ‘26, and an injury guarantee of $29.5 million for ‘27 that would vest as a full guarantee next March. The team announced the deal on Wednesday, and it marked something pretty momentous. Over four offseasons he’s been eligible to do new deals, Crosby’s gotten two blockbuster extensions and another big raise. Which, to those around him, is simply a nod to who he is. “It’s not even the money,” says LaBoy, when I asked what he’s most proud of in the deal. “It’s that Maxx is being rewarded for being himself. It’s not just overcoming what he’s overcome, it’s really who he is. He exemplifies hard work, teamwork, and the kind of culture they’re trying to build. And to be rewarded in this way by three different regimes is just an acknowledgment of what he’s accomplished.” To Crosby, the hope now is that this is the start, not the end—a couple times he referenced to me what Spytek said at the press conference, about how the contract is not for what he’s done, but what he’s about to do. The money, of course, is mind-blowing. And he told me he has big plans to grow his wealth (he owns 20 Papa Johns in Vegas, and has money invested in a slew of multi-million-dollar companies). But his main focus remains football. As we talked, he recalled winning Scout Team Player of the Week every week the year he was redshirted at Eastern Michigan. He said he keeps one of the plaques “front-and-center” in his office, as a reminder of what’s important. “I really can’t say by 27, I would’ve imagined signing two $100 million deals,” he says. “I always had a delusional belief in what I could be. Before anybody else believed in me and before I got the hype and the love and the respect, I was doing it by myself, and I had to prove it every day. I knew deep down I was put on this planet to be in this position. I know my heart. I know my work ethic. I know my obsession with being the greatest at what I do. “I’ve never lost belief in that. That doesn’t mean that everything is rainbows and butterflies. But I’ve never quit. Every time it gets hard, I think of it as an opportunity to get better, even though that’s the hardest thing to do. … This money is not for what I’ve done; it’s for what they believe I’m going to do. I plan on being the best in the world at what I do. I’m very much looking forward to that.” |
| AFC NORTH |
| PITTSBURGHAs the Giants lurk, QB AARON RODGERS is thinking about an offer from the Steelers. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com on Rodgers replaying Hamlet: The ball is reportedly in Aaron Rodgers’s court. Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who reported on Tuesday that the Steelers could pivot back to Russell Wilson if talks with Aaron Rodgers bog down over money, now reports that Pittsburgh has made an offer to Rodgers — and that the Steelers are simply waiting for a decision from Rodgers. It seems like a matter of semantics, frankly. Unless the offer was conveyed on a take-it-or-leave-it basis, Rodgers could respond with a counteroffer that seeks a sweetened financial pot. Regardless, it’s tempting to think that Rodgers, who not long ago was potentially out of options, has found a way to make it all about himself. Again. Consider the candid (or staged to look candid) photos of Rodgers walking on a beach, possibly draped in velvet, while contemplating, well, something. In two weeks, Rodgers has gone from a guy who has had to reach out to the Giants to a guy who has options. Whether he’s doing it on purpose or just doing what he does, he’s become the center of the NFL’s attention, for maybe one last time. We’re focused on him. We’re talking about him. As long as the Steelers don’t move on to another veteran option, he can take his time. At some point, however, they’ll need an answer. And, when he gives one, he’ll likely complain about all of the attention that his handling of the situation naturally generated. |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOAlbert Breer of SI.com on the trust that led to the deal between the Bills and QB JOSH ALLEN: The Josh Allen contract is a study in how quarterback deals are getting done at the highest levels now, with this underlined—cash is king. The Buffalo Bills and Allen’s camp have been working on the blockbuster six-year, $330 million deal they reached Sunday since the team’s season ended in the AFC title game. And the focus, rather than being on how the deal would be headlined, was on how it would work for everyone. So the first thing you need to know is the only deal that was really negotiated like this one in recent memory was Deshaun Watson’s in Cleveland—and Allen didn’t have to switch teams to land the contract he just did. And that’s because of what the Bills are going to, rightfully, put in the reigning MVP’s pocket over the next four years. With that established, here are the keys … • He’ll get $220 million over the next four years. On his existing deal, he had four years left at $129.555 million, meaning he’s effectively getting a $90 million raise. That’s an average of $55 million per year, which is the six-year average of the deal too. Taking the new-money math out of it, that’s a record—beating Dak Prescott ($54.8 million), Patrick Mahomes ($52.02 million) and Lamar Jackson ($52 million). Remember, Prescott had to play out one deal, and get to end of another to get there. Jackson played out his deal to get to his number. And Mahomes, of course, had won multiple MVPs and multiple Super Bowls when he redid his deal last year. • The deal has $147 million fully guaranteed, which is only behind the $230 million fully guaranteed Watson got on his Browns deal. Allen’s $250 million injury guarantee is a record. And the full guarantee rises to $163.5 million after the 2025 season, $218 million after ’26, and $232 million after ’27, pushing the practical guarantee just past Watson’s number. But the reality, again, is if Allen keeps playing at the level he is, then this will all likely be revisited again after four years, with $220 million in the bank, and another raise coming. • The cashflow here is relatively flat year over year, which gives the team a little more flexibility to spend, and is also an acknowledgment of the trust between the sides. And, really, that’s where this began. The relationship between Allen’s camp and the Bills is such that there’s always a running conversation going on, and choosing to dive in and do this now was a result of that conversation. I don’t think there’s anyone on either side who doesn’t envision Allen retiring a Bill. And even if it’s hard to project those things out (see: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers), it’s healthy to operate as if that’ll be the case. Which, to me, is really the tone and tenor to the whole thing. The Bills are doing right by Allen, who is getting what he deserves, and it’s coming in a way that’s functional and logical for him and the team alike. Everyone’s better for it. |
| NEW YORK JETSRich Cimini of ESPN.com on the cutting of QB AARON RODGERS. For the first time in a career that will ultimately land him in the Hall of Fame, quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a free agent. It became official at 4 p.m. Wednesday, the start of the league year, when Rodgers was released by the New York Jets in a long-anticipated move. The Jets do not plan to announce the procedural move, according to a source, but it’s expected to appear on the NFL’s evening transaction wire. The team basically declared its intentions last month. Advertising Rodgers is now permitted to sign with any team, with the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers showing the most interest in the four-time MVP. Both teams are quarterback needy. The Steelers and Giants each have only one quarterback under contract — Skylar Thompson and Tommy DeVito, respectively. Rodgers has been in talks with both teams. The Minnesota Vikings also can’t be ruled out as an outside possibility. While the Steelers and Giants wait on Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback last season, is scheduled to fly Wednesday night to visit with the Cleveland Browns, before being scheduled to travel to New York on Thursday to visit with the Giants on Friday, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Rodgers’ release from the Jets was a mere formality. On Feb. 13, the team announced its intention to release Rodgers, which allowed him to start speaking with other teams. Rodgers, 41, hasn’t publicly commented since the Jets made their decision to move on after two seasons. By carrying him on the roster until the start of the league year, the Jets can now designate him a post-June 1 cut, which allows them to spread his $49 million cap hit over two seasons — $14 million this year, $35 million in 2026. For now, they must carry his full cap charge ($23.5 million) until June 1. After that, it drops to $14 million, providing $9.5 million in cap relief. They could’ve waited with the hope of trading him for a draft pick, but that would’ve been difficult because teams have known the Jets’ plans for several weeks. A trade would’ve resulted in the full cap hit ($49 million) this season. The Jets’ new regime — general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn — wasted little time in making its quarterback decision. The Jets informed Rodgers on Feb. 6 in a face-to-face meeting. Then, on the first day of free agent negotiating, they agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with Justin Fields, the Steelers’ backup for the final 11 games last season. (He started the first six, going 4-2.) |
| THIS AND THAT |
| FREE AGENT GRADESFrank Schwab of YahooSports.com with one stop shopping to tell how free agency has gone so far – and he’s not afraid to dish out some bad grades: When NFL teams got to free agency, they realized that an increase in the salary cap led to many of the top potential targets being retained by their old teams. The list of players who were available was underwhelming. Still, between a few big trades and a flurry of activity among the players who did reach free agency, there were opportunities for aggressive teams to improve. And some teams took some hits with players leaving. Amid the recent action in the league, here are the offseason grades for the free-agent moves and trades for each team: Arizona CardinalsGrade: B Why: Grabbing Josh Sweat was big. That move along with retaining Baron Browning will boost the Cardinals’ pass rush. But for a team that has missed the playoffs again, more additions would have been nice. Josh Sweat EDGE 4 years $76.4 million SignedBaron Browning OLB 2 years $15 million Re-signedEvan Brown OL 2 years $11.5 million Re-signedAkeem Davis-Gaither LB 2 years $11 million SignedJoey Blount S 2 years $4.75 million Re-signedAaron Brewer LS 1 year N/A Re-signedKelvin Beachum RT 1 year N/A Re-signedJacoby Brissett QB 2 years N/A SignedZay Jones WR 1 year $4.4 million Re-signed Atlanta FalconsGrade: D Why: Some day, the Falcons will invest in a pass rusher. The Falcons were surprisingly quiet, other than a decent addition in Divine Deablo. Jake Matthews LT 2 years $45 million Re-signedLiam McCullough LS 4 years N/A Re-signedDivine Deablo LB 2 years $14 million SignedMike Hughes CB 3 years $18 million Re-signedLeonard Floyd EDGE 1 year $10 million Signed Baltimore RavensGrade: C Why: Keeping Ronnie Stanley was huge. There wasn’t going to be much wiggle room for a big move after that. Ronnie Stanley LT 3 years $60 million Re-signedPatrick Ricard FB 1 year N/A Re-signedDeAndre Hopkins WR 1 year $6 million Signed Buffalo BillsGrade: C Why: The Bills needed a receiver, and Josh Palmer has never shown he can be an impact player. The Bills spent to retain Greg Rousseau, Khalil Shakir and Terrel Bernard and that was wise. Josh Allen QB 6 years $330 million Re-signedGreg Rousseau EDGE 4 years $80 million Re-signedKhalil Shakir WR 4 years $60.2 million Re-signedTerrel Bernard LB 4 years $50 million Re-signedJosh Palmer WR 3 years $36 million SignedReid Ferguson LS 4 years N/A Re-signedMichael Hoecht DT 3 years $24 million SignedTy Johnson RB 2 years $5 million Re-signedJoey Bosa EDGE 1 year $12.6 million SignedDarrick Forrest S 1 year N/A SignedDamar Hamlin S 1 year N/A Re-signedLarry Ogunjobi DT 1 year $8.3 million Signed Carolina PanthersGrade: B Why: The Panthers concentrated on defense and rightfully so. They might have overpaid a bit for players like DT Tershawn Wharton and S Tre’Von Moehrig, but they had to after barely missing out on Milton Williams. Jaycee Horn CB 4 years $100 million Re-signedTershawn Wharton DT 3 years $54 million SignedTre’Von Moehrig S 3 years $51 million SignedMichael Jackson CB 2 years $14.5 million Re-signedPatrick Jones II EDGE 2 years $20 million SignedTommy Tremble TE 2 years $10.5 million Re-signedAndy Dalton QB 2 years $8 million Re-signedAustin Corbett C 1 year $3 million Re-signedBrady Christensen OT 1 year $2.787 million Re-signedSam Martin P 1 year $3 million SignedRico Dowdle RB 1 year $6.25 million Signed Chicago BearsGrade: A Why: Including a couple trades, the Bears completely revamped their offensive line. They added some juice to the defensive line too. Dayo Odeyingbo EDGE 3 years $48 million SignedGrady Jarrett DT 3 years $43.5 million SignedDrew Dalman C 3 years $42 million SignedJonah Jackson OL N/A N/A Traded (Rams)Joe Thuney OG N/A N/A Traded (Chiefs)Amen Ogbongbemiga LB 2 years $5 million Re-signedJosh Blackwell CB 2 years N/A Re-signedChris Williams DT RFA tender N/A Re-signedDurham Smythe TE 1 year N/A SignedTarvarius Moore S 1 year N/A Signed Cincinnati BengalsGrade: Incomplete Why: Until we see what happens with Ja’Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson, who knows? The grade could be an A or an F. But franchise tagging Tee Higgins was the right call. Tee Higgins WR Franchise tag N/A Re-signedB.J. Hill DL 3 years $33 million Re-signedMike Gesicki TE 3 years $25.5 million Re-signedJoseph Ossai EDGE 1 year $7 million Re-signedCody Ford OL 2 years $6 million Re-signedOren Burks LB 2 years $5 million Re-signedMarco Wilson CB 1 year $1.52 million Re-signedTanner Hudson TE 1 year N/A Re-signedCal Adomitis LS 1 year N/A Re-signedTedarrell Slaton DT 2 years $15.1 million SignedSamaje Perine RB 2 years $3.8 million SignedRyan Rehkow P 2 years N/A Re-signed Cleveland BrownsGrade: C Why: Resolving the Myles Garrett issue was huge. But there wasn’t much else. Kenny Pickett won’t get anyone excited. Myles Garrett EDGE 4 years $160 million Re-signedCornelius Lucas OT 2 years $10 million SignedKenny Pickett QB 1 year remaining $2.6 million Traded (Eagles)Joe Tryon-Shoyinka EDGE 1 year $4.75 million SignedDevin Bush LB 1 year N/A Re-signedMaliek Collins DT 2 years $20 million Signed Dallas CowboysGrade: D- Why: Extending DT Osa Odighizuwa was big, but it was another offseason of low-level additions that won’t help Dallas catch Washington or Philadelphia. Osa Odighizuwa DT 4 years $80 million Re-signedMarkquese Bell S 3 years $12 million Re-signedTrent Sieg LS 3 years $4.45 million Re-signedC.J. Goodwin CB 1 year $1.42 million Re-signedSolomon Thomas DT 2 years $8 million SignedRob Jones OL 1 year $4.75 million SignedJavonte Williams RB 1 year $3 million SignedKaVonte Turpin KR/WR 3 years N/A Re-signedPayton Turner DE 1 year $3 million SignedBryan Anger P 2 years N/A Re-signedKenneth Murray Jr. LB 1 year $7.4 million Traded Denver BroncosGrade: B Why: The Broncos added a lot of toughness and playmaking to the defense with former 49ers Talanoa Hufanga and Dre Greenlaw. And the defense was pretty good already. D.J. Jones DT 3 years $39 million Re-signedJarrett Stidham QB 2 years $12 million Re-signedTalanoa Hufanga S 3 years $45 million SignedDre Greenlaw LB 3 years $35 million SignedMatt Peart OT 2 years $7 million SignedTrent Sherfield Sr. WR 2 years $6 million SignedEvan Engram TE 2 years $23 million Signed Detroit LionsGrade: C Why: Swapping out Carlton Davis for D.J. Reed is lateral. And the rest was fairly quiet. Derrick Barnes LB 3 years $25.5 million Re-signedMarcus Davenport EDGE 1 year $4.75 million Re-signedZeke Turner LB 1 year N/A Re-signedMorgan Cox LS 1 year N/A Re-signedAnthony Pittman LB 1 year N/A Re-signedD.J. Reed CB 3 years $48 million SignedRoy Lopez NT 1 year $4.65 million SignedDan Skipper OT 1 year N/A Re-signed Green Bay PackersGrade: C- Why: Aaron Banks and Nate Hobbs are solid players but both seem a bit overpaid. It was going to be hard to top last year’s home run in free agency. Brandon McManus K 3 years $15.3 million Re-signedIsaiah McDuffie LB 2 years $8 million Re-signedAaron Banks G 4 years $77 million SignedNate Hobbs CB 4 years $48 million Signed Houston TexansGrade: F Why: The Texans’ biggest need by far was offensive line, and they traded two starting linemen. The o-line issues overshadow everything else. Christian Kirk WR 1 year remaining $15.5 million Traded (Jaguars)C.J. Gardner-Johnson S 2 years remaining $19 million Traded (Eagles)Derek Barnett EDGE 1 year $5 million Re-signedDare Ogunbowale RB 1 year $2 million Re-signedJake Hansen LB 1 year $1.7 million Re-signedTremon Smith CB/KR 2 years $7 million SignedSheldon Rankins DT 1 year $7 million SignedDarrell Taylor EDGE 1 year $5.25 million SignedBraxton Berrios WR 1 year $2 million SignedJustin Watson WR 1 year N/A SignedMario Edwards Jr. DL 2 years $9.5 million Re-signedLaken Tomlinson G 1 year $4.25 million SignedM.J. Stewart S 1 year N/A Re-signedKurt Hinish DT 1 year N/A Re-signed Indianapolis ColtsGrade: D+ Why: The Colts lost key pieces on each line, added some help to the secondary, but the Daniel Jones addition pays off only if Anthony Richardson falls apart. Ashton Dulin WR 2 years $8.5 million Re-signedBraden Smith RT 1 year (reworked) $16.75 million Re-signedCamryn Bynum S 4 years $60 million SignedCharvarius Ward CB 3 years $60 million SignedDaniel Jones QB 1 year $14 million SignedKhalil Herbert RB 1 year N/A Signed Jacksonville JaguarsGrade: B Why: The Jaguars signed help at multiple spots without spending a lot. That is practically what the Commanders did in free agency last year. Patrick Mekari OL 3 years $37.5 million SignedJourdan Lewis CB 3 years $30 million SignedEric Murray S 3 years $22.5 million SignedRobert Hainsey C 3 years $21 million SignedDyami Brown WR 1 year $10 million SignedNick Mullens QB 2 years $6.5 million SignedJohnny Mundt TE 2 years $5.5 million Signed Hunter Long TE 2 years $5 million SignedChuma Edoga OT 2 years $7 million Signed Kansas City ChiefsGrade: A- Why: Figuring out a way to bring back Trey Smith, Nick Bolton and Hollywood Brown was important. They also grabbed OT Jaylon Moore to fix a problem. Trey Smith OG Franchise tag $23.4 million Re-signedPatrick Mahomes QB 7 years $450 million RestructuredChris Jones DT 5 years $158.7 million RestructuredNick Bolton LB 3 years $45 million Re-signedHollywood Brown WR 1 year $11 million Re-signedJames Winchester LS 1 year $1.65 million Re-signedJaylon Moore OT 2 years $30 million SignedElijah Mitchell RB 1 year $3.5 million SignedMatt Araiza P ERFA tender, 1 year $960,000 SignedKristian Fulton CB 2 years $20 million Signed Las Vegas RaidersGrade: B Why: The Raiders upgraded at quarterback, made Maxx Crosby happy and got Malcolm Koonce back on a discount. They did lose some good defensive players too. Maxx Crosby EDGE 3 years $106.5 million Re-signedAdam Butler DT 3 years $16.5 million Re-signedMalcolm Koonce EDGE 1 year $12 million Re-signed Isaiah Pola-Mao S 2 years $8.45 million Re-signedElandon Roberts LB 1 year $3 million Re-signedJeremy Chinn S 2 years $16 million Signed Alex Cappa OG 2 years $11 million SignedLonnie Johnson Jr. S N/A N/A SignedEric Stokes CB 1 year $4 million Signed Los Angeles ChargersGrade: D Why: The Chargers seemingly had the ability to add some impact players but mostly sat it out. That’s fine, but it would have been nice to see them get more aggressive. Elijah Molden CB 3 years $18.75 million Re-signedKhalil Mack EDGE 1 year $18 million Re-signedBradley Bozeman C Multi-year deal N/A Re-signedJK Scott P 2 years $6 million Re-signedTeair Tart DL 1 year $5.5 million Re-signedDonte Jackson CB 2 years $13 million SignedNajee Harris RB 1 year $9.25 million Signed Los Angeles RamsGrade: B Why: Matthew Stafford is back and Davante Adams is joining him, which is great. The grade gets knocked down a little because cornerback and linebacker remain issues. Matthew Stafford QB 2 years $58 million RestructureJimmy Garoppolo QB 1 year $11 million Re-signedDavante Adams WR 2 years $46 million SignedPoona Ford DT 3 years $29.6 million Signed Miami DolphinsGrade: C- Why: The Dolphins lost another high-priced free agent when Jevon Holland left, but they were able to add James Daniels to help the offensive line. Elijah Campbell DB 1 year $1.9 million Re-signedJames Daniels OL 3 years $24 million SignedZach Wilson QB 1 year $6 million SignedIfeatu Melifonwu S 1 year $4 million SignedLarry Borom OL N/A N/A SignedAshtyn Davis S 1 year $2.5 million SignedNick Westbrook-Ikhine WR 2 years $6.5 million SignedTyrel Dodson LB 2 years $8.25 million Re-signed Minnesota VikingsGrade: A Why: Once the Vikings moved on from Sam Darnold, they had plenty of salary cap space to retain Aaron Jones Sr. and Byron Murphy Jr. and then also make big additions on both lines. Byron Murphy Jr. CB 3 years $66 million Re-signedAaron Jones Sr. RB 2 years $20 million Re-signedTheo Jackson S 2 years $12.615 million Re-signedRyan Wright P 1 year $1.75 million Re-signedWill Fries OG 5 years $88 million SignedJonathan Allen DT 3 years $60 million SignedRyan Kelly C 2 years $18 million SignedIsaiah Rodgers CB 2 years $15 million SignedJavon Hargrave DT N/A N/A Signed New England PatriotsGrade: A- Why: If you dock them a bit for overpaying players that’s fine. But a team that needed an infusion of talent got plenty of it, especially on defense. Milton Williams DT 4 years $104 million SignedCarlton Davis CB 3 years $60 million SignedHarold Landry III EDGE 3 years $43.5 million SignedRobert Spillane LB 3 years $37 million SignedMorgan Moses OT 3 years $24 million Signed Mack Hollins WR 2 years $8.4 million SignedJosh Dobbs QB 2 years $8 million SignedKhyiris Tonga DT 1 year $2.7 million Signed New Orleans SaintsGrade: F Why: It’s hard to feel good about retaining Chase Young at that price. That’s not helping the Saints get their salary cap issues under control. Chase Young EDGE 3 years $51 million Re-signedNathan Shepherd DT 2 years N/A RestructureJustin Reid S 3 years $31.5 million SignedJuwan Johnson TE 3 years $30.75 million Re-signedTyrann Mathieu S 2 years N/A. RestructureDante Pettis WR 1 year N/A Re-signed New York GiantsGrade: D Why: The secondary got some help, but it’s a reminder that they let 2024 All-Pro Xavier McKinney walk. And there’s still the quarterback problem. Darius Slayton WR 3 years $36 million Re-signedJamie Gillan P 3 years $9 million Re-signedTommy DeVito QB 1 year $1.03 million Re-signedChris Manhertz TE 1 year N/A Re-signedPaulson Adebo CB 3 years $54 million SignedJevon Holland S 3 years $45 million SignedChauncey Golston DL 3 years $19.5 million SignedJames Hudson III OT 2 years $12 million SignedRoy Robertson-Harris DT 2 years $9 million SignedChris Board LB 2 years $6 million Signed New York JetsGrade: D Why: If you love Justin Fields then the grade is higher. Other than Fields, there weren’t any big additions and they lost players like Morgan Moses and D.J. Reed. Jamien Sherwood LB 3 years $45 million Re-signedTony Adams S RFA tender N/A Re-signedJustin Fields QB 2 years $40 million SignedBrandon Stephens CB 3 years $36 million Signed Andre Cisco S 1 year $10 million Signed Philadelphia EaglesGrade: D Why: The Eagles will be fine but they lost some of the best free agents to change teams this offseason. Retaining Zack Baun saves the grade. Zack Baun LB 3 years $51 million Re-signedSaquon Barkley RB 2 years $41.2 million Re-signedDorian Thompson-Robinson QB 2 years remaining $3.32 million Traded (Browns)Kenyon Green OG 1 year remaining $1.88 million Traded (Texans) Pittsburgh Steelers Grade: Incomplete Why: The DK Metcalf trade might look a lot better once the quarterback plan is revealed. Until then, it’s hard to say. DK Metcalf WR 5 years $150 million Traded (Seahawks), then extensionMalik Harrison LB 2 years $10 million Signed Donald Parham Jr. TE 1 year $1.17 million SignedRyan McCollum C 1 year $1.1 million SignedKenneth Gainewell RB 1 year N/A SignedDarius Slay Jr. CB 1 year $10 million Signed San Francisco 49ersGrade: F Why: It’s hard to come up with a positive. The 49ers lost a lot of talent including Deebo Samuel Sr. in a trade to Washington. San Francisco isn’t better than it was when last season ended. Patrick Taylor Jr. RB 1 year N/A Re-signedKevin Givens DT 1 year N/A Re-signedJordan Mason RB RFA tender, 1 year $5.35 million Re-signedLuke Farrell TE 3 years $20.25 million SignedRichie Grant S 1 year N/A SignedJason Pinnock S 1 year N/A SignedDemarcus Robinson WR 2 years $9.5 million Signed Luke Gifford LB 1 year N/A Signed Seattle SeahawksGrade: C Why: The success of the offseason depends on whether Sam Darnold is an upgrade over Geno Smith. The problem might be that Seattle didn’t have enough salary cap space to fix its offensive line too. Ernest Jones IV LB 3 years $33 million Re-signedJarran Reed DT 3 years $25 million Re-signedSam Darnold QB 3 years $100.5 million SignedJosh Jones OL 1 year $4.75 million SignedMarquez Valdes-Scantling WR 1 year $5.5 million SignedDeMarcus Lawrence DL 3 years $42 million Signed Tampa Bay BuccaneersGrade: B Why: While it came down to the wire, it’s not a surprise Tampa Bay figured out a way to retain Chris Godwin and Lavonte David. Adding Haason Reddick was a worthwhile gamble. Chris Godwin WR 3 years $66 million Re-signedBen Bredeson OG 3 years $22 million Re-signedLavonte David LB 1 year $10 million Re-signedHaason Reddick EDGE 1 year $14 million SignedAnthony Nelson EDGE 2 years $10 million Re-signedRiley Dixon P 2 years $6 million Signed Tennessee TitansGrade: D+ Why: If Dan Moore Jr. helps the offensive line then the grade goes up. That’s a lot of money to pay for him. It’s hard to see Moore or Cody Barton having a huge impact. Sebastian Joseph Day DT 1 year $7.5 million Re-signedAndrew Rupcich OL RFA tender N/A Re-signedDarrell Baker Jr. CB RFA tender N/A Re-signedDan Moore Jr. OT 4 years $82 million SignedCody Barton LB 3 years $21 million SignedXavier Woods S 2 years $10 million Signed Johnny Hekker P 1 year N/A SignedMorgan Cox LS 1 year N/A Re-signed Washington CommandersGrade: A- Why: The biggest names on this list are aging. And Javon Kinlaw was overpaid. But there was some talent added between Deebo Samuel Sr. and Laremy Tunsil. Deebo Samuel Sr. WR 1 year remaining $17.55 million Traded (49ers)Laremy Tunsil LT 2 years remaining $42.7 million Traded (Texans)Bobby Wagner LB 1 year $9.5 million Re-signedZach Ertz TE 1 year $6.25 million Re-signedTress Way P 1 year $2.8 million Re-signedJohn Bates TE 3 years N/A Re-signedZane Gonzalez K 1 year $1.17 million Re-signedJavon Kinlaw DT 3 years $45 million SignedJeremy McNichols RB 1 year N/A Re-signedWill Harris S 2 years $8 million SignedMarcus Mariota QB 1 year $8 million Re-signed |
