NFC West Notes: Austin, Gannon, Cards, Conner, Hawks, Curl, Rams, 49ers
While Arthur Smith is heading to the college ranks (as Ohio State’s OC) after Mike Tomlin‘s resignation, longtime Steelers DC Teryl Austin landed another NFL gig. Austin is taking over as a senior assistant with the Cardinals, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. This is a return Arizona trip for Austin, who was on Ken Whisenhunt‘s staff with the Cardinals previously. The three-time NFL DC served as Cardinals DBs coach from 2007-10, being part of the franchise’s Super Bowl XLIII team. Now 61, Austin — who interviewed for the Commanders’ DC job — will join Mike LaFleur‘s staff to provide experience under 32-year-old DC Nick Rallis.
Here is the latest from around the NFC West:
- Shortly before Week 18, a report indicated Jonathan Gannon was likelier to return for a fourth season than be fired. But the Cardinals axed their HC after a 3-14 season. Considering the step back from an 8-9 2024, it didn’t seem off base to fire Gannon. But those in the organization were surprised Michael Bidwill cut the cord, per ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss, who adds others around the league were caught off-guard by that ouster. Gannon landed HC and DC interviews following his firing and ended up as the Packers’ defensive boss. Arizona retained Rallis, though multiple candidates dropped out of their hiring process, under new HC Mike LaFleur.
- The Cardinals’ James Conner pay cut comes out to a one-year, $3MM deal that KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes contains $2.1MM guaranteed. Conner signed a two-year, $19MM extension in 2024 but missed most of last season due to injury. The $2.1MM guarantee number does not exactly lock in the 10th-year veteran for 2026, especially with the Cards changing staffs, but the longtime Arizona starter will have a shot.
- The Seahawks lost several Super Bowl starters but retained two by re-signing Rashid Shaheed and Josh Jobe. Shaheed’s three-year, $51MM contract includes $34.7MM guaranteed; of the latter total, $23MM is guaranteed at signing (per OverTheCap). None of that guarantee covers 2027, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano tweets. Shaheed’s $11.74MM 2027 base salary is guaranteed for injury; it shifts to a full guarantee five days after Super Bowl LXI. That gives Seattle a potential early out, as this contract is structured like Sam Darnold‘s and Cooper Kupp‘s. As for Jobe, his three-year, $24MM pact, $9.25MM is fully guaranteed. Wilson adds $14.25MM is guaranteed in total, with $5MM of his $6.49MM 2027 base salary also becoming guaranteed five days after Super Bowl LXI.
- Jaylen Watson joins ex-Chiefs teammate Trent McDuffie with the Rams, who gave the multiyear Kansas City CB2 a three-year, $51MM contract. Of Watson’s $34MM guaranteed, $26.5MM is locked in at signing (per OverTheCap). The Rams are giving Watson an $11MM guarantee on his 2027 base salary ($13.99MM), according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The remaining $2.99MM shifts to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2027 league year. Elsewhere in the L.A. secondary, Kamren Curl‘s three-year, $36MM deal includes $18.75MM guaranteed at signing (per OverTheCap). Of Curl’s $11.6MM 2027 base salary, Wilson notes $7MM is fully guaranteed. The rest shifts from an injury guarantee on Day 3 of the ’27 league year. Curl will be due a $3.43MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2028 league year, Wilson adds.
- Shifting back to the Cardinals, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin notes their Kendrick Bourne contract includes $6.5MM fully guaranteed. Initially reported as an $11.47MM deal, Bourne’s base value is $10MM (via OverTheCap). As for D-tackle Roy Lopez‘s Arizona return (for two years and $10.5MM), Wilson adds the veteran received $1MM of his $3.47MM 2027 base salary guaranteed for injury. That shifts to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2027 league year.
- The 49ers identified their replacement for tight ends coach Brian Fleury, who left to take the Seahawks’ OC job. Cameron Clemmons will slide from assistant O-line coach to that spot, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco notes. Previously the Raiders’ assistant O-line coach, Clemmons has been on the 49ers’ staff since 2024. San Francisco is also adding Kent State O-line coach Angel Matute to their staff, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz tweets.
Commanders To Add RB Rachaad White
With the Buccaneers adding Kenneth Gainwell, Rachaad White is on the move. He is heading to Washington, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo.
The Arizona State alum will rejoin college teammate Jayden Daniels with the Commanders. The fifth-year running back is joining the Commanders on a one-year agreement, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
White and Daniels overlapped with the Sun Devils from 2020-21. White did not play with likely Commanders target Brandon Aiyuk, who was Daniels’ teammate in 2019, as the running back spent time at two other schools — Division II Nebraska-Kearney and Mt. San Antonio Junior College — before arriving in Arizona.
Although Gainwell’s Tampa arrival to team with Bucky Irving ensured White would need to look elsewhere for his second contract, he expected as much well before the Bucs’ free agency decision. White pointed to a Tampa exit immediately after the team’s 2025 season ended. Supplanted by Irving as the Bucs’ starter in 2024, White was needed to return to his starting post last year due to the second-year back battling multiple injuries. But Tampa Bay did not with to continue with the Irving-White partnership in 2026.
White put together a promising 2023 season, amassing 1,539 scrimmage yards. Among RBs that year, White’s yardage total ranked fourth. Despite that impressive showing, White lost his job to Irving midway through the 2024 slate. The Bucs drafted the Oregon product in Round 4 in 2024, and the move changed their plans at RB. White maintained a role alongside the swiftly developing runner, but it became clear Irving was the team’s future at the position.
Washington lost Austin Ekeler to an Achilles tear in Week 2 of last season; that certainly hurt the team’s ability to involve its backs in the passing game. White has 11 career receiving touchdowns, and his strong 2023 season included 593 receiving yards. The 27-year-old RB presents an option to complement Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who totaled 805 rushing yards as a rookie but only 68 through the air. With Washington losing Chris Rodriguez to Jacksonville, Croskey-Merritt and White look like the team’s new top backfield tandem.
In Daniels’ final season with the Sun Devils (2021), White totaled 1,462 scrimmage yards (462 receiving) and 16 touchdowns. The elusive back parlayed that season into a third-round selection. It will be worth wondering if White’s ceiling in Washington is an RB2/pass-down option; he has a career 3.9-yard average per carry (as Irving outshined him when healthy). But Dan Quinn wanted to lean on the run more, with that being part of the reason behind Kliff Kingsbury‘s ouster. A 1-2 punch involving Croskey-Merritt and White would likely feature extensive work for both.
Eagles To Re-Sign P Braden Mann
Despite the NFL still being in the first week of free agency, several teams are making punter moves. The Eagles are among them, reaching an agreement to re-sign Braden Mann.
Mann agreed to a four-year, $14MM accord, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. The Eagles’ punter over the past three seasons, Mann is now signed through 2029. Mann will see $7MM guaranteed on this deal.
Rebounding after losing his job midway through a Jets rookie contract, Mann is now tied for fifth in per-year punter salaries. The Giants just moved the bar to $4.1MM by reuniting John Harbaugh with Jordan Stout, and the Eagles are spending bigger than they normally do at this spot. As The Athletic’s Zach Berman points out, the Eagles have not paid a punter top-10 money during Howie Roseman‘s GM tenure. Mann is going into his fourth season as Philly’s punter; the Eagles have not seen a punter stick around that long since Donnie Jones (2013-17).
Mann averaged a career-best 49.9 yards per punt last season. After not faring as well in the less friendly MetLife Stadium confines, Mann has averaged at least 48.8 yards per boot in each of his Eagles seasons. Mann’s 49.9 number ranked sixth last season.
The Jets drafted Mann in the 2020 sixth round out of Texas A&M, but veteran Thomas Morstead replaced him in 2023. The Steelers claimed Mann in April 2023 but waived him months later. The Eagles scooped up the struggling specialist via a September 2023 practice squad deal. Mann, 28, then replaced Arryn Siposs and has punted in every Eagles game since.
Bengals To Sign DT Jonathan Allen
The Vikings’ two high-profile street free agent defensive linemen — Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave — lasted one season in Minnesota, each being released Wednesday. Both have already found new homes.
After Hargrave landed with the Packers, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Allen is joining the Bengals on a two-year deal worth $28MM. The $28MM is the deal’s max value, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who notes the base value checks in at $26MM. This still represents a soft landing for Allen, who has been cut in each of the past two years.
[RELATED: Bengals Extend LT Orlando Brown Jr.]
Allen joins Boye Mafe as new arrivals on Cincinnati’s D-line. The Bengals have devoted some early-free agency funds to upgrading one of the NFL’s worst defenses. They have added Mafe, Allen and safety Bryan Cook to Al Golden‘s unit. Cincy now has three veteran options at defensive tackle, with Allen joining B.J. Hill and T.J. Slaton. The team also has former second-round pick Kris Jenkins Jr. in the fold at DT.
A former Washington first-round pick, Allen will be on his third team in three years. The Commanders cut bait in 2025, and the Vikings designated Allen a post-June 1 release Wednesday. Allen started 17 games with Minnesota last season and was a Pro Bowler in Washington. The 2017 draftee is going into an age-31 season, joining Hill in that regard. Slaton is 28. Slaton and McKinnley Jackson are in place as the NT options for the Bengals, with Allen being added as a three-technique rusher.
Although Cincinnati’s defense became less abysmal late in the season, the unit still ranked 30th. The unit was missing Trey Hendrickson for most of the season, but it struggled in 2024 with the standout defensive end submitting a Defensive Player of the Year runner-up finish. The Bengals have seen their defense (and Joe Burrow injuries) limit them over the past three seasons. Burrow’s first NFL setback — his 2020 ACL tear — actually came on a tackle by Allen and Montez Sweat (as SI.com’s Jay Morrison reminds).
Washington disbanded its four-first-rounder D-line at the 2023 trade deadline, dealing away Sweat and Chase Young. Allen and Daron Payne played together in 2024, but Allen missed much of that resurgent Commanders season with a pectoral injury. With Young’s career sidetracked by a 2021 knee injury, Allen stepped up; his Pro Bowls came during this period, with the Alabama alum combining for 16.5 sacks from 2021-22. Allen combined for 66 QB hits from 2021-23 but has not been as productive since.
This will move Allen back to a 4-3 scheme, after he transitioned to Brian Flores‘ 3-4 look in 2025. Those distinctions mean less and less, but they do still matter to a degree. Allen posted 3.5 sacks and 11 QB hits in 17 Vikings games. This $13MM-per-year contract is a bit south of where he was with Minnesota and Washington ($17MM and $18MM per year, respectively), but it shows teams still view the longtime interior presence highly.
Chiefs To Sign CB Kader Kohou
The Chiefs are signing former Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Kohou, 27, missed all of the 2025 season due to a torn ACL suffered in training camp. He served as Miami’s primary nickel for the previous three seasons with 47 appearances, 38 starts, and more than 2,500 defensive snaps. He only played sparingly on special teams with no involvement in 2024.
Kohou arrived in Miami in 2022 as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M-Commerce. He was targeted more than any other defender in the league as a rookie, but allowed only 6.1 yards per target and three touchdowns. He regressed in 2023 with 7.7 yards per target and eight touchdowns but returned to his 2023 numbers the following year. That earned him a $3.26MM restricted free agent tag last offseason, though he will likely earn significantly less with the Chiefs.
In Kansas City, Kohou will look to prove his health and compete for a role in the Chiefs’ secondary, which has already lost three cornerbacks this week, including Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, two of their starters in 2025. Joshua Williams, who played key snaps in the previous three seasons but not 2025, is also gone, so the Chiefs will need to find new options on the boundary in 2026.
Kohou has played a majority of his career snaps in the slot, but 2023 fourth-rounder Chamarri Conner will likely keep that role next season. But his 743 snaps of experience on the boundary could help him compete for a job in a Kansas City pass defense that will look very different relative to last year’s unit.
Ravens Release QB Cooper Rush, Sign OL Jovaughn Gwyn
The Ravens signed Cooper Rush to a two-year deal last year to serve as Lamar Jackson‘s backup, but that experiment ended during his second start after the MVP’s early-season knee injury.
Baltimore went back to Tyler Huntley – who won both of his starts in 2025 – and Rush rode the bench for the rest of the season. The Ravens were expected to part ways with the former Cowboys in the offseason, and re-signing Huntley to a two-year deal over the weekend supported that projection.
Indeed, the Ravens have released Rush, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The move comes without a post-June 1 designation, so it will be processed right away, clearing $453k and leaving $2.2MM in dead money. The eight-year veteran will now hit the open market in search of a new backup opportunity, though his struggles in Baltimore will likely force him to compete for a job during training camp.
The Ravens’ other Thursday move is the signing of Jovaughn Gwyn (also via Pelissero), who is coming to Baltimore to reunite with offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford. Gwyn, 26, was a seventh-round pick out of South Carolina in 2023. He has only played 11 regular-season offensive snaps – all in 2025 – with nine at right guard plus one as an inline tight end and another as a fullback, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
In the preseason, though, Gwyn has played center as well, a key still for a Ravens offensive line that just lost Tyler Linderbaum in free agency. Gwyn does not project as a starting-caliber replacement, though he is clearly valued by Ledford. But with the potential for 2025 backup center Corey Bullock to step into a bigger role this year, Baltimore needed to add more depth at the position and now has Gwyn to back up multiple spots along their line.
Broncos To Re-Sign Lil’Jordan Humphrey
The Broncos let Lil’Jordan Humphrey walk in free agency last year, and the Sean Payton favorite joined the Giants in free agency. But he made his way back to Denver via an in-season return. The veteran Payton charge will be the latest Bronco to re-sign this offseason.
Denver is retaining Humphrey, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. With the Broncos losing Troy Franklin and Pat Bryant in the playoffs, Humphrey was needed as a regular on offense. He came through against the Bills, hauling in a long touchdown pass at the end of the first half. This will be Humphrey’s fourth season in Denver.
Humphrey, 28 in April, played for Payton in New Orleans before joining him in Denver in 2023. The three-year Saint worked mostly as a backup in New Orleans and has contributed more in Denver as a blocking wideout. He did play an auxiliary role in Bo Nix‘s rookie-year success, totaling career highs in catches (31) and yards (293).
The Giants stashed Humphrey on their practice squad after cutting him last August, and the Broncos ended up signing him off the New York P-squad in November. Playing in only three games for the 4-13 Giants, Humphrey saw action in seven for the 14-3 Broncos. He caught a regular-season touchdown pass against the Packers, and after dropping a would-be touchdown early in the Bills divisional-round matchup, the 6-foot-4 pass catcher came through with a 29-yard TD pass in the final minute of the first half during the No. 1 seed’s overtime win.
The Broncos have not yet signed an outside free agent, but they have been busy retaining their own. Although John Franklin-Myers and P.J. Locke have departed, Denver has brought back Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad, J.K. Dobbins, Adam Trautman and Sam Ehlinger over the past few days. The team also retained Ben Powers after the veteran guard was mentioned as a trade candidate. It would seem the Broncos will add outside UFAs soon, but last year’s AFC West champs are submitting a continuity-focused approach thus far.
Added to that list of re-signings: tight end Lucas Krull. The team announced the reserve tight end, nontendered as an RFA last week, is staying. As the RFA tender numbers keep rising, teams have increasingly opted to nontender these players and bring them back at reduced rates. After a 152-yard 2024 season, Krull played in just four games last year and caught only two passes.
Krull joins Trautman, Nate Adkins and Evan Engram in the Broncos’ tight end room. Engram did not impress regularly last season and is a logical cut candidate, but the 31-year-old pass catcher has nearly half his 2026 base salary guaranteed. Denver already used one of his early post-June 1 designations on Dre Greenlaw.
Eagles Remove Year From G Landon Dickerson’s Contract
After considering an early retirement, Landon Dickerson joined Lane Johnson in agreeing to return to the Eagles. But the Pro Bowl guard will no longer be tied to the same contract.
Philadelphia is removing a year from Dickerson’s deal, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The sides’ revised contract — a two-year deal worth around $36MM — removes the 2028 season. Dickerson had been tied to a four-year, $84MM pact and was previously due $39MM from 2026-27. A slight pay cut appears in the works, with Fowler adding incentives would help Dickerson reach his original amount.
Dickerson, 27, is one of the NFL’s best guards. The three-time Pro Bowler carried a $10MM guarantee for 2026 and is due $15.7MM this year, per Fowler. But the Eagles stand to save a bit of cap space; Dickerson was tied to a $10.28MM number. That is fairly low, but the Eagles regularly backload their deals through option bonuses and void years. Dickerson’s pact already included four void years.
Coming into the day with just more than $11MM in cap space, the Eagles have been negotiating with the Vikings on a Jonathan Greenard trade. They also moved Dallas Goedert‘s void date to Friday, buying more time to re-sign the soon-to-be UFA tight end. Philly dropped in late in the Trey Hendrickson pursuit after being in the Maxx Crosby derby. It seems like the team will add an edge rusher soon, and a chunk of cap space will be necessary for such a move.
Missing much of training camp due to meniscus surgery, Dickerson returned in time for Week 1 (he had already undergone offseason knee surgery). But he played hurt often in 2025. The five-year veteran missed time because of an ankle injury as well, though he did suit up for 15 games and Philly’s wild-card contest. The injury-plagued season led to the former second-round pick considering retirement. That would have dealt a blow to the Eagles’ O-line, but for one more year at least, they will have Dickerson and Johnson together. The latter will play an age-36 season in 2026.
The Eagles have Dickerson, Johnson, Cam Jurgens and Jordan Mailata signed beyond 2026. Only RG Tyler Steen is in a contract year. But Johnson’s age and Dickerson’s retirement flirtation create some instability for one of the NFL’s best position groups, one that lost longtime leader Jeff Stoutland this offseason.
Lions To Sign DB Christian Izien
The Lions are adding some more insurance to their secondary after an injury-riddled 2025 season. Former Buccaneers safety Christian Izien is headed to Detroit on a one-year deal, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Izien, 25, signed in Tampa Bay as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and carved out a role as the team’s primary nickel defender. He appeared in every game with four starts and a 64% snap share, allowing 6.9 yards per target and bringing in two interceptions.
The Buccaneers increased and diversified Izien’s role in 2024 with rookie safety Tykee Smith taking over as the full-time nickel. Izien started 10 out of his 14 appearances with a 75% snap share and moved all around the defense with 308 snaps at free safety, 205 snaps in the slot, and 135 in the box, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His coverage stats improved and he also ranked fourth on the team with 75 tackles.
Izien was pushed out of the secondary rotation in 2025. Rookie cornerback Jacob Parrish took over in the slot, which pushed Smith into Izien’s 2024 role. Izien did not play more than two defensive snaps in a game until December and finished the year with just 166 total, though he did the most special teams work of his career.
The Buccaneers declined to place a restricted free agent tag on Izien, clearing his path to Detroit. The Lions did not have a dedicated nickel in 2025, but Izien could fill that role in 2026. He may even step into bigger duties early on with star safety duo Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph both recovering from significant leg injuries.
Bucs To Meet With Al-Quadin Muhammad
Coming off a career-best season, Al-Quadin Muhammad is generating free agency interest. The veteran edge rusher is set to meet with the Buccaneers, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.
Muhammad tallied 11 sacks and 20 QB hits for the Lions last season, mashing his best marks as a pro. The journeyman pass rusher played two seasons in Detroit. Tampa Bay was believed to be targeting pass rush help, but thus far in free agency, Jason Licht‘s team has stood down.
[RELATED: Bucs Submitted Offer To WR Mike Evans]
Counting a stopover with the Cowboys that did not result in any playing time, Muhammad has played for five NFL teams. He was part of an impact 2017 Saints draft class, joining Trey Hendrickson as edge rushers among that transformative New Orleans group. But the Saints gave up on Muhammad after one season, leading him to the Colts via waivers. The Bucs were in this week’s Hendrickson market, but the Ravens — after they called off the Maxx Crosby trade — added him on a $28MM-per-year deal.
The Bucs were believed to have preferred a short-term deal with Hendrickson, who ended up committing to the Ravens on a four-year pact worth $112MM. As it stands, Tampa Bay is still in search of — after its 2025 Haason Reddick signing did not work out — a bookend for YaYa Diaby. Tampa Bay has missed on a couple edge rushers in recent years, not seeing much from first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka or 2024 second-rounder Chris Braswell. As outlined in our Buccaneers Offseason Outlook, the team has not seen an eight-sack season since Shaquil Barrett‘s 2021 campaign, though Diaby has been a consistent backfield presence (38 tackles for loss in three seasons).
The Lions received remarkable value on Muhammad’s $1.42MM deal last year. Seeing an anemic pass rush (following Aidan Hutchinson‘s broken leg) limit a Super Bowl-caliber roster in 2024, Detroit did not do much to augment the group in 2025. Muhammad overdelivered and gave the Lions a double-digit sack duo (Hutchinson’s bounce-back season produced 14.5). He will likely be looking for a substantial raise, but with an inconsistent track record, teams figure to be leery here.
Muhammad, 31 later this month, missed the 2023 season and combined for four sacks between the 2022 and ’24 slates. Prior to that, he produced just one season with more than three sacks — a six-sack 2021 season in Indianapolis. The Bears gave him a two-year, $8MM deal off that performance but released him after one season. Al-Quadin’s age-30 breakout points to a “prove it” deal being necessary, but he is running out of time to cash in.