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Cowboys To Re-Sign RB Rico Dowdle

There will be plenty of uncertainty in the Cowboys’ running backs room heading into 2024, but the team can at least count on some continuity at the position. SportsTrust Advisors announced that running back Rico Dowdle is sticking in Dallas.

Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports that Dowdle will be inking a new one-year deal with the Cowboys. The contract is worth $1.255MM and includes a $200K signing bonus.

The South Carolina product joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020. After appearing in only 19 offensive snaps through his first three seasons in the NFL, Dowdle saw a larger role in 2023. The fourth-year player served as Tony Pollard‘s primary backup and finished the season with 505 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 106 touches. The 25-year-old also returned six kickoffs this past season.

Pollard left for the Titans in free agency, and the Cowboys have yet to add a replacement. That would leave Dowdle and 2023 sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn atop the depth chart, with Malik Davis and Snoop Conner also around to soak up snaps.

Panthers To Sign OT Yosh Nijman

The Panthers have been seeking some offensive tackle depth, and they found an answer in a former Packers starter. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Panthers have signed free agent tackle Yosh Nijman.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Nijman is inking a two-year deal worth $8MM. The contract can hit a max value of $15MM and contains $5MM in guaranteed money.

Nijman joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech in 2019. After redshirting as a rookie and mostly playing special teams as a sophomore, Nijman got more offensive reps during his third season in the NFL.

After starting eight games in 2021, Nijman started a career-high 13 games blocking for Aaron Rodgers in 2022. Despite the uptick in playing time, the OT only ranked 54th on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings that season. Nijman reverted to a backup role in 2023, starting only one of his 17 appearances.

The Panthers have invested in guards this offseason, adding both Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis to their starting lineup. The team is now adding some experience to the tackle spot, where Nijman will likely compete with Brady Christensen to serve as the swing tackle behind Taylor Moton and Ikem Ekwonu.

Vikings To Sign DL Jonah Williams

After spending a single day with the Vikings in 2021, Jonah Williams will be eyeing a longer stay in Minnesota this time around. The defensive lineman will be signing with the Vikings, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Williams will be inking a one-year deal worth up to $1.5MM, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News in Minnesota. Fowler adds that the deal contains $350K in guaranteed money. Williams visited with the organization earlier today.

The former UDFA spent a year-plus with the Rams to begin his career before getting waived during the 2021 campaign. He caught on with the Vikings, but Minny cut bait following a failed physical. Williams landed back on the Rams practice squad and proceeded to win a Super Bowl ring that season.

He saw a bigger role over the past two years, culminating in a 2023 campaign where he started 16 of his 17 appearances. Williams finished the season having compiled 49 tackles and a pair of sacks, but Pro Football Focus only graded him 88th among 130 qualifying interior defenders.

In Minnesota, Williams will reunite with defensive line coach Marcus Dixon, who previously served as an assistant on the Rams staff. Williams also crossed paths with Vikings head coach (and former Rams OC) Kevin O’Connell in Los Angeles. The Vikings have been busy this season adding veteran reinforcement to the defensive line. In addition to re-signing Jonathan Bullard, the Vikings have also signed Jerry Tillery.

49ers Sign OT Brandon Parker

The 49ers are adding some depth to their offensive line. The team announced that they’ve signed offensive tackle Brandon Parker.

The former third-round pick had spent his entire career with the Raiders. He had an inconsistent role through his six years with the organization, alternating between starter and backup. Parker started a career-high 13 games for the Raiders in 2021, but his follow-up campaign was erased thanks to a triceps injury.

During his comeback season in 2023, Parker bounced on and off the Raiders active roster. He ultimately got into five games for the team, starting one. Pro Football Focus wasn’t especially fond of his performance this past season, ranking him as a middle-of-the-road lineman. However, they did hand him the highest grade of his career, so there was some positive.

Parker provides the 49ers with some veteran experience in the OTs room. The 28-year-old will likely compete with the likes of Jaylon Moore and Isaac Alarcon for snaps behind Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz.

Lions To Sign G Kevin Zeitler

The Lions have found their replacement for Jonah Jackson. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions are signing veteran guard Kevin Zeitler.

[RELATED: Rams, G Jonah Jackson Agree To Deal]

The lineman will be inking a one-year deal with Detroit. Zeitler is flying to Detroit tonight to take his physical before officially signing with the Lions tomorrow.

The 12-year veteran earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2023 after starting 15 games for Baltimore. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 15th-best offensive guard last season, with Zeitler earning the second-highest grade at his position for pass blocking.

The 34-year-old is coming off a three-year stint with the Ravens that saw him start all 47 of his appearances. The former first-round pick spent the first five seasons of his career with the Bengals before his two-year stints with the Browns and Giants.

The Lions re-signed right guard Graham Glasgow last week, but Justin Rogers of The Detroit News believes Glasgow will likely shift to the left side of the line following Zeitler’s addition. After losing Jackson to the Rams, the Lions have been seeking a fifth starting lineman to play besides Glasgow, center Frank Ragnow, and tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker.

As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley notes, Zeitler marks the 10th player the Ravens have lost via free agency. That grouping includes fellow OL John Simpson who signed with the Jets, and the Ravens also dealt Morgan Moses to New York, meaning Baltimore will be eyeing a new-look offensive line grouping in 2024.

Chargers Sign C Bradley Bozeman

The Chargers are adding an experienced lineman to their offense. The team announced that they’ve signed center Bradley Bozeman.

The former Ravens sixth-round pick emerged as a consistent starter in Baltimore during his sophomore season. Between 2019 and 2021, Bozeman started all 51 of his appearances for the Ravens (including postseason). After spending the early portion of his career as a left guard, he transitioned to center for the 2021 campaign.

He settled for a one-year deal with the Panthers in 2022. After starting 11 of his 17 appearances during his first season in Carolina, the OL signed a new three-year extension last offseason. Bozeman proceeded to start all 17 of his appearances in 2023, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 21st among 36 qualifying centers. He was released by the Panthers last week.

Bozeman can likely be penciled in as the Chargers starting center heading into 2024. A heart-related issue limited starting center Corey Linsley to only three games this past season, and there’s a chance the veteran ends up calling it a career. Career backup Will Clapp was forced into the lineup following Linsley’s absence, but the veteran is currently unsigned.

49ers To Sign QB Joshua Dobbs

Joshua Dobbs has found a new home. The free agent quarterback is signing with the 49ers, agent Mike McCartney announced.

According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Dobbs will be signing a one-year deal that includes $2.25MM in guaranteed money. The quarterback can also earn $750K via per-game roster bonuses.

It’s been a busy 12 months for the seven-year veteran. After re-joining the Browns last offseason, he was traded to the Cardinals during the preseason to serve as a fill-in for Kyler Murray. After going 1-7 in his eight starts, Dobbs was dealt to the Vikings to replace the injured Kirk Cousins.

The 29-year-old had some ups and downs during his brief stint in Minnesota. He started his stint with two-straight wins, including a debut where he tossed two touchdowns and scored another on the ground. The Vikings lost his next two starts, including a Week 12 loss to the Bears where Dobbs tossed four interceptions. He was benched for Nick Mullens during the team’s Week 13 win over the Raiders and didn’t see the field again in 2023.

Dobbs ultimately finished the campaign having completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,464 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He added another 421 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. The former fourth-round pick only had two career starts heading into the 2023 season.

With Sam Darnold now in Minnesota, the 49ers have been in the market for some QB depth behind Brock Purdy. Dobbs will likely compete with Brandon Allen to be San Francisco’s QB2 to begin the 2024 campaign.

Raiders To Sign RB Alexander Mattison

The running back carousel continues. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Raiders are signing free agent running back Alexander Mattison. Schultz reported earlier today that the two sides were meeting, with the reporter adding that “multiple teams” were in play for the running back.

[RELATED: Vikings To Release RB Alexander Mattison]

The former third-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career backing up Dalvin Cook in Minnesota. That still meant plenty of carries for Mattison, as he topped 500 yards from scrimmage in each of his first three campaigns.

Mattison’s counting stats took a step back in 2022 when Cook unexpectedly started all 17 games. The Vikings re-signed the backup last offseason before moving on from Cook, leading to Mattison getting a full workload for the first time in his career. Ultimately, the fifth-year player wasn’t able to elevate his play with a larger role. He finished the season with only 3.9 yards per carry, and his 4.2 yards per touch tied a career low.

After finishing the season with only 892 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, the Vikings moved on from Mattison last month. The organization has since signed Aaron Jones as a replacement.

With Josh Jacobs having left for the Packers, the Raiders had a hole atop their depth chart. Zamir White looked capable when he had a chance to start at the end of this past season, with the former fourth-round pick averaging more than 114 yards from scrimmage in his four games as the lead back. Mattison provides the Raiders with another capable running back, but neither of the players possess the same pedigree as the player they’ll be replacing.

Saints Expected To Sign DE Chase Young

Chase Young‘s free agent period is likely to come to an end. The former No. 2 pick is set to visit the Saints today with the intention of signing, as first reported by Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.

Young will receive $13MM fully guaranteed on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds. That represents quite the ‘prove-it’ commitment on the part of New Orleans, a team which has shown interest in the former Defensive Rookie of the Year. Young’s visit with New Orleans was rescheduled to today, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. Provided it goes according to plan, the sides will have a deal in place.

A trio of teams quickly emerged as Young suitors – New Orleans, Carolina and Tennessee. It thus comes as little surprise that the Saints appear to have won out the competition for his services as he profiled as one of the more intriguing free agents on the market. Young will be 25 at the start of the 2024 season, meaning he could have more upside and runway for high-end play than many other veterans who landed big-money deals last week.

The Ohio State product entered the league with massive expectations, but for the most part he did not deliver during his time in Washington. Injuries in 2021 and ’22, along with perception of freelancing during his time with the Commanders, hindered Young’s trade value leading up to this year’s deadline. Washington appeared committed to retaining one of he and fellow first-rounder Montez Sweat at that point. As such, Young’s contract year could have ended with him remaining in the nation’s capital.

However, he (like Sweat) was traded, finding himself in a deal which allowed him to reunite with former college teammate Nick Bosa in San Francisco. Young recorded five sacks in seven regular season games with the 49ers, adding one in the team’s postseason run. A deal keeping him on the Bay Area was in the cards, but Young made it clear upon arrival he would test the market. That suggested a departure could be coming, and he will now join a Saints team making another investment along the edge.

New Orleans has Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson in the fold, with both veterans having signed extensions last offseason. The team has also spent significant draft capital at the defensive end spot in recent years, including a first-round pick in 2021 (Payton Turner) and a second-rounder last April (Isaiah Foskey). Young will join that edge group for at least one season ahead of another potential trip to free agency.

The Saints – following yet another offseason filled with restructures and cuts needed to achieve cap compliance – entered Monday with $18.6MM in cap space. Young’s deal being fully guaranteed will eat into that figure considerably, although void years will no doubt be in place. It will be interesting to see how he fares in New Orleans and how his performance affects his value ahead of next offseason.

Buccaneers To Sign CB Tavierre Thomas

The Buccaneers created a vacancy at the cornerback spot by trading away Carlton Davis, but the team has made a few moves aimed at adding replacement options. That has included a deal with Tavierre Thomas.

The latter has agreed to terms on a deal with the Bucs, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports. This will be a one-year agreement, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Thomas was on the Buccaneers’ radar last offseason, and that remained in the case in 2024. The 28-year-old recently visited the team, as noted by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Thomas played sparingly on defense during his three-year run with the Browns to begin his career. He had been in Houston since 2021, though, and the Texans provided him with a much larger workload. The former UDFA started 19 games over the past three years logging snap shares between 56%-60% along the way. He will compete for playing time in the slot with Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers dealt Davis to the Lions, a team known to be in the CB market. Tampa Bay also brought in Bryce Hall last week, though, and he will provide another depth option in the secondary. The team used undrafted rookie Christian Izien in the slot last year, and he impressed in that role. Thomas (who posted posted 178 tackles and five forced fumbles with the Texans) could see time on the inside, or at a minimum he will be in line for special teams duty.

A Detroit native, Thomas visited the Lions prior to this Bucs agreement, per Wilson. Instead of joining his hometown team, he has elected to head to the NFC South champions for 2024. Tampa Bay has retained a long list of incumbents on both sides of the ball, and the secondary will also have a new but familiar face in the form of safety Jordan Whitehead. Thomas will join that unit and attempt to establish himself as a full-time starter along the way.