Patriots To Add T James Hudson
A strange penalty-filled Week 2 outing sidetracked James Hudson‘s Giants season, leading to a release. The veteran tackle, however, will have another chance.
The Patriots are adding Hudson on a one-year deal, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. This will check in as a veteran-minimum accord (per ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss), the signing comes after Vederian Lowe joined the 49ers shortly after the legal tampering period began. This will reunite Hudson with Mike Vrabel, a 2024 Browns consultant who helped out with Cleveland’s O-line during his return trip to Ohio.
The Giants gave Hudson a two-year, $12MM deal to become their swing tackle, a position that became more important once it was determined All-Pro Andrew Thomas was not ready to go by Week 1. After making a Week 1 start, Hudson imploded in Dallas. He committed four penalties on one drive; this included two unnecessary roughness infractions. Brian Daboll yanked him midgame, and no notable playing time commenced for the team’s expected third tackle henceforth. John Harbaugh, as expected, signed off on a release earlier this month.
Hudson, 27 in May, had operated as the Giants’ starting left tackle during the preseason and in Week 1. The team benched him for rookie Marcus Mbow in Dallas, and the latter operated as Big Blue’s swingman the rest of the way. Hudson was essentially banished despite a $6MM-per-year contract. He played one offensive snap the rest of the season, completing one of the more unusual campaigns by an offensive lineman in recent NFL history.
Prior to his Giants deal, Hudson played four seasons with the Browns. The former fourth-round pick started 17 games with Cleveland from 2021-24. Most of Hudson’s Browns work came at right tackle, where Jack Conklin battled injuries during most of his time with the team. He played 1,033 snaps at RT from 2021-23 before a 207-snap cameo at LT in 2024. The Patriots will seemingly give the sixth-year vet a mulligan for his Giants misstep, with a swing role — behind starters Will Campbell and Morgan Moses — appearing to be in play.
Lowe worked as the Pats’ primary LT starter in 2024 after having made eight starts on the blind side in 2023. The former trade pickup filled in for Campbell during the first-rounder’s four-game IR stay. The 49ers gave Lowe a two-year, $9.25MM deal two weeks ago. The Pats have tackle-turned-guard Caedan Wallace as a potential swing option, and the team used a seventh-round pick on tackle Marcus Bryant last year. Lorenz Metz and Sebastian Gutierrez are also on New England’s roster at the position, but Hudson brings far more experience.
Bucs To Sign LB Christian Rozeboom
Lavonte David has not re-signed with the Buccaneers, though were the standout linebacker to return in 2026, it would be with Tampa Bay. But the Bucs are adding another starter-caliber linebacker following their Alex Anzalone addition.
The team is expected to sign former Panthers and Rams LB Christian Rozeboom, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz tweets. This is a one-year contract, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman adds.
Playing on a one-year, $2.5MM deal in Carolina last season, Rozeboom kept his Los Angeles momentum going by starting 15 games and making 122 tackles; this line included a career-high seven TFLs. The former UDFA added two sacks, three passes defensed and an interception. Given a starting role in his Rams contract year, Rozeboom could have a shot — depending on what David decides — to be a regular starter for a third team in three years.
A 2020 Rams UDFA out of South Dakota State, Rozeboom stopped through Kansas City in 2021 before returning to play a backup role on the Super Bowl LVI-winning Rams team that year. Backing up Bobby Wagner and Ernest Jones in 2022, Rozeboom made five starts in 2023 before making a career-high 135 tackles during an 11-start 2024 slate.
Pro Football Focus ranked Rozeboom outside the top 70 among qualified LBs each year from 2023-25, and no big offers came in free agency during the 2025 offseason. It is unlikely this Bucs pact is worth too much. But it should secure the 29-year-old defender a good shot to at least be Tampa Bay’s third linebacker — should David return. If the 14-year stalwart retires, Rozeboom would be ticketed to start alongside Anzalone.
Ending the Devin White period after four years, the Bucs lost replacement K.J. Britt in free agency last year. They did not see SirVocea Dennis excel alongside David in 2025, and with the potential Hall of Famer playing out another one-year contract, the team needed to act at the position in free agency. Anzalone is on a two-year, $17MM deal ($12MM guaranteed). That virtually ensures the 10th-year veteran will be a 2026 starter. It would seem David or Rozeboom — barring an early-round addition at the position — will primarily play alongside Anzalone in Todd Bowles‘ 3-4 scheme.
Seahawks Match Jaguars’ Offer Sheet For WR Jake Bobo
Last week, Seahawks receiver Jake Bobo signed an offer sheet with the Jaguars. He will not be on the move this offseason, however.
Seattle has matched the Bobo offer sheet, ESPN’s Field Yates reports. The restricted free agent inked a two-year deal with the Jags as part of their efforts to acquire him. The contract included $4.5MM guaranteed, a figure Bobo will now collect without changing teams. This agreement also includes a $1.75MM signing bonus and a maximum value of $7MM, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds.
Bobo has been a regular presence with Seattle over his three years in the NFL. The former undrafted free agent played 17 games in 2023 and ’24 before adding another 11 appearances this past campaign. Bobo has only registered three starts to date while operating as a depth presence on offense; that will be expected to continue moving forward. He will instead remain focused on making special teams contributions.
This new deal will represent a raise in Bobo’s case while ensuring stability beyond 2026 along the way. The UCLA product was tendered at a rate of $3.52MM in a move which allowed Seattle to match an outside offer sheets. With a two-year contract in place, though, team and player can move forward without uncertainty regarding his Seattle future for next spring.
Brian Thomas Jr, Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington remain atop the Jags’ receiver depth chart at this point. They also have Travis Hunter in line to handle a part-time workload on offense in 2026. Bobo was set to occupy a depth role in Jacksonville after the team lost Dyami Brown in free agency. Tim Patrick and Josh Cephus remain unsigned at this time, so a different WR may now be targeted.
Bobo will remain in place on a Seattle team which has Jaxon Smith-Njigba attached to a massive extension worked out earlier today. The Super Bowl champions also managed to retain Rashid Shaheed, and expectations will be high in his case after he made a strong impact upon arrival at the trade deadline. Those two, coupled with Cooper Kupp, will lead the way regarding the Seahawks’ passing game. Bobo will look to chip in while handling third phase duties.
WR Odell Beckham Jr. Interested In Resuming NFL Career
Odell Beckham Jr. was among the participants in this weekend’s Fanatics Flag Football Classic. He hopes that will not be the last event of his playing career. 
“Looking forward to hopefully getting an opportunity to play this year, and hopefully, this is kinda just a starting point,” the three-time Pro Bowl receiver said (video link via Kay Adams) when asked about his desire to return to the NFL in 2026.
Beckham made nine appearances in 2024 as a member of the Dolphins. Upon being waived, he did not catch on with another team to close out the campaign. This past season included a six-game PED suspension; upon serving it, Beckham once again did not sign with any team. The Super Bowl winner remains unsigned at this point, and he has not been linked to any suitors so far in free agency.
During his last full campaign, Beckham made 14 appearances with the Ravens in the regular season and another two in the playoffs in 2023. The former Giants star averaged a career-high 16.1 yards per catch during his lone Baltimore campaign, one in which he operated as a secondary option in the passing game. Regardless of where the 33-year-old lands in 2026 – if he works out a deal – he will be viewed as a depth member of his latest team’s passing attack.
The initial wave of free agency has come and gone, and as such many of the top players on the market have their new contracts in hand. The receiver position in particular still has a number of unanswered questions, however, with the likes of Jauan Jennings and Deebo Samuel still unsigned at this point. Trade rumors continue to swirl in the case of A.J. Brown as well, something which may remain the case well into the spring. Teams which come up short adding one of the veterans still available could see Beckham as a contingency option.
Beckham’s Ravens deal contained $15MM guaranteed; that figure fell to $3MM when he joined the Dolphins. Another low-cost investment is no doubt the only way he will set up an NFL comeback for 2026.
Steelers To Sign RB Travis Homer
The Steelers have lined up another addition in their backfield. An agreement has been reached with Travis Homer, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. 
Homer is a veteran of seven NFL seasons. He played out his rookie contract in Seattle before heading to Chicago. Homer inked a two-year Bears deal at first before re-signing on a one-year contract last spring. This Steelers pact will presumably be a short-term one attached to a low cost as well.
Pittsburgh lost Kenneth Gainwell in free agency when he joined the Buccaneers. A replacement was found in the form of Rico Dowdle, who posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with the Cowboys and Panthers. Dowdle will be expected to operate as the Steelers’ lead back upon arrival on a two-year contract. He will be joined by incumbent Jaylen Warren in 2026.
Homer is now in position to join the Pittsburgh backfield, although he will not be expected to handle a notable offensive workload. The 27-year-old has received no more than 25 carries in a season during his career. Homer will instead be counted on to remain a core special teams presence with the Steelers. He has logged a third phase snap share of 61% or higher in each of the past three years, and that could remain the case in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers entered Monday with over $27MM in cap space. Homer secured an AAV of $2MM on his initial Bears contract and $1.75MM on his second one. This Pittsburgh deal will presumably check in at a similar rate, leaving the team with plenty of financial flexibility to make other roster-building moves.
Patriots To Release QB Josh Dobbs
Josh Dobbs‘ time with the Patriots is coming to an end. The veteran quarterback is set to be released, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
New England attempted to find a trade partner in this case, Rapoport notes. With no takers being found, the team will move forward with a release. Dobbs had one year remaining on his contract and was owed a base salary of $3.2MM with a cap figure of $4.75MM for 2026.
A cut will generate $3.7MM in savings for the Patriots. They will incur a dead money charge of $1.05MM by releasing Dobbs. New England was still near the top of the NFL in terms of spending power entering Monday, but additional flexibility will be created without Dobbs in the picture.
Earlier this offseason, the Pats re-signed Tommy DeVito. That move appeared to set him up for continued third-string duties next season, but Dobbs’ release will instead elevate him to the QB2 role. DeVito, claimed off waivers from the Giants during 2025 roster cutdowns, will now be tasked with backing up Drake Maye unless the Patriots elect to add another passer through free agency or next month’s draft.
Dobbs has bounced around the NFL throughout his career, seeing time in the regular season with the Steelers, Titans, Cardinals, Vikings and 49ers prior to his one-year New England stint. The 31-year-old has totaled 15 starts and 27 appearances at the pro level. With many of the league’s QB dominoes having already fallen this deep into free agency, he will aim to catch on with a new team to compete for the backup gig.
It will be interesting to see if Dobbs lines up a new deal prior to the draft or if suitors circle back after the event in case they do not wind up adding a rookie passer. Either way, another short-term deal can be expected.
Seahawks, WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba Agree To Extension
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has not needed to wait long to secure his Seahawks extension. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year agreed to terms with Seattle on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Team and player are finalizing a four-year, $168.6MM pact, Schefter reports. With Smith-Njigba’s fifth-year option having recently been picked up, today’s news means he will be on the books through 2031. This agreement contains record-breaking receiver figures for average annual value ($42.15MM) and guarantees ($120MM), per Schefter.
An extension resetting the receiver market had been something to watch for in this case, although nothing appeared to be imminent with respect to negotiations leading up to today’s news. Seattle was seen as a candidate to finalize this deal sometime around the draft or perhaps closer to training camp, but both sides have acted early. The fact that Smith-Njigba has secured such lucrative terms on his second NFL contract is certainly no surprise.
As a rookie, the former first-rounder averaged fewer than 37 receiving yards per game. Over time, though, Seattle’s setup at the receiver spot has made Smith-Njigba more of a focal point. His production saw a notable jump in 2024 (100 receptions, 1,130 yards, six touchdowns) before spiking once more this past season. With the Seahawks having traded away D.K. Metcalf, Smith-Njigba saw his yards per reception figure increase to a career-best 15.1. He also set a new personal mark with 10 touchdowns while leading the NFL in receiving yards.
That production resulted in a first-team All-Pro nod along with a Pro Bowl invitation in addition to OPOY honors. Smith-Njigba remained an important contributor on offense through Seattle’s playoff run and helped the team win Super Bowl LX. Along with left tackle Charles Cross – who inked a four-year extension of his own in January – he will serve as a foundational presence for years to come.
Prior to today’s news, Ja’Marr Chase led the way in terms of AAV at the receiver spot. His 2025 Bengals extension averages $40.25MM per season, while Justin Jefferson‘s Vikings deal contained $88.74MM guaranteed at signing. Exact details on this Smith-Njigba contract are not yet known, but it certainly seems as though he has managed to comfortably surpass Jefferson in terms of locked-compensation. 2027 was already due to include $23.85MM for the Ohio State product; it will now pay out much more than that.
Seahawks general manager John Schneider once again faces the task of maintaining a Super Bowl core in the wake of his team’s championship. Smith-Njigba and Cross are among the offensive stalwarts who will be counted on to remain in the fold for the foreseeable future. The same will presumably be true of cornerback Devon Witherspoon. Seattle’s other 2023 first-rounder is under team control for the next two seasons thanks to his option being exercised, but he is eligible to sign a monster extension of his own at any time.
Attention will now turn to Witherspoon in the Seahawks’ case with respect to remaining financial priorities. Around the league, meanwhile, this Smith-Njigba accord will no doubt be used as a measuring stick for other high-end receiver deals. Puka Nacua is among the top players at the position in line for an extension, and he could look to challenge these contract terms during negotiations with the Rams. The likes of George Pickens (Cowboys) and Zay Flowers (Ravens) could stand to benefit from the continued upward movement of the WR market as well.
The Seahawks lost offensive Klint Kubiak when he took the Raiders’ head coaching job immediately after the Super Bowl. As such, Smith-Njigba will be working with his fourth OC (Brian Fleury) in as many years during the 2026 campaign. Given his durability and continued increases in production, however, he will be expected to thrive under a new play-caller for next season and well beyond.
Jets To Pursue Post-Draft Extension For RB Breece Hall
After four years of up-and-down play, the Jets came into the final year of running back Breece Hall‘s rookie contract unsure of whether or not they wanted to extend him to a long-term contract. When, after the season, they tried and failed to reach an extension agreement in time for free agency, New York opted for the franchise tag. According to Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York, the team is expected to restart its extension efforts after the draft. 
As a second-round rookie out of Iowa State, Hall looked electric in his limited first year. He started the season coming off the bench for secondary carries behind Michael Carter but took over a dominant share of the workload by Week 4 and was named a starter by Week 6. Unfortunately, Hall tore his ACL and meniscus early into his second career start, ending his rookie campaign.
Recovering in time to return to a starting role in Year 2, Hall had a strong bounce back season. While he had a tendency to disappear in some contests, he had a few stellar games en route to 994 yards and five touchdowns rushing and 591 yards and four touchdowns receiving. His third season with the team saw fewer disappearances for the young back but also featured fewer big performances with Hall logging just one 100-yard game all season. He also struggled with fumbles more than in prior years, losing the rock six times.
In the following offseason the Jets had no plans of extending him before his final year, but they also weren’t eager to try and trade their leading rusher, either, despite the interest he seemed to draw around the midseason trade deadline. Both Hall and his coaches made clear their desires to avoid a trade, and the front office seemed to follow suit by setting a high asking price for the fourth-year back, indicating that a long-term deal may have entered their plans. Once the team traded away two defensive cornerstones, Hall’s tune reportedly changed a bit, but he never requested a trade.
Realizing that Hall would garner a strong free agent market, based on the trade interest he received and his first 1,000-yard rushing season, the Jets set their sights on retaining the 24-year-old rusher. As the offseason came and progressed, though, the team and player found themselves far apart on contract terms, so the franchise tag came into play. The tag allowed New York to put Hall’s extension on the backburner, while free agency became the priority, and now the draft will be a main focus of the front office for weeks to come.
Per Hughes, though, there was a period just before the Jets moved to place the franchise tag during which they were “pretty confident” that a deal was going to get done. With the possibility of an agreement within their reach, New York intends to shift its focus back to Hall once the draft is in the rearview. Hughes adds that the front office has taken not of the three-year, $43.05MM deal Kenneth Walker just signed in Kansas City, and believing that Hall is a better back, they intend to extend him a bigger offer.
It’s unclear where their offer started and where Hall’s asking price was, but perhaps a bump to Walker’s numbers will get the two sides closer together. We won’t know that, though, likely until after the draft, when time allows for negotiations to continue.
Georgia LT Monroe Freeling Generating Considerable Buzz; Browns A Possible Landing Spot, Could Trade Down
Since left tackle is a premium position, the top collegiate LTs in a given class frequently hear their names called in the first hour of the NFL draft. This year should be no different, and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa and Utah’s Spencer Fano have long been viewed as possible top-10 selections in April’s event.
But as the aptly-named Austin Mock of The Athletic (subscription required) details, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling has forced his way into the conversation. Per Mock, Freeling was a standout in February’s scouting combine, whereas Fano’s measurements were somewhat disappointing. Plus, Mauigoa and Fano have been unable to separate from each other, giving Freeling a legitimate chance to be the first offensive tackle off the board.
Freeling worked as a backup during his first season in Athens in 2023, and he was only inserted into the starting lineup as an injury replacement towards the end of the 2024 slate. However, he was anointed the starting left tackle heading into 2025, and he made the most of his opportunity, securing Second Team All-SEC honors and helping the Bulldogs to an SEC championship and a place in the CFP quarterfinals.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein believes Freeling has ideal length and athleticism for a right tackle, though it presently appears as if teams think he will be able to stick on the left side at the professional level. His limited action as a full-time starter suggests he will have some technical issues to address, but his quickness, athletic upside, and the fact that he showed considerable improvement as the 2025 season went on are all reasons to believe he can reach his high ceiling.
The Browns profile as an obvious landing spot. In a recent mock draft published by The Athletic (subscription required), Browns beat Zac Jackson acknowledged the buzz growing around Freeling and opined that Cleveland will select the 6-7, 315-lb blocker with the No. 6 overall pick (Mauigoa was mocked to the Cardinals at No. 3, and Fano was mocked to the Dolphins at No. 11).
Since they employ both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, the Browns’ quarterback situation consistently generates a great deal of attention. Regardless of whom Cleveland taps as its QB in 2026 and beyond, the team will need to improve that player’s protection, particularly on the blind side. A true franchise left tackle is not a guarantee for future success (see: Joe Thomas), but it is nonetheless a critical part of a quality roster.
In Jackson’s view, Freeling’s athletic traits are similar to those that GM Andrew Berry has sought out in prior drafts. That said, Jackson indicates Berry – who also holds the No. 24 overall pick from last year’s draft-day trade with the Jaguars – is open to trading down from No. 6.
Although the Browns boasted a strong defense in 2025, they were unable to get their offense on track and posted a disappointing 5-12 record. Berry has a lot of work to do to return Cleveland to playoff contention, and while his quarterback plan will of course be instrumental in achieving that goal, it also makes sense for him to add as much cost-controlled talent to the club as possible.
The Browns also have been heavily linked to this year’s best WR prospects. In a trade-down scenario, the team could acquire additional draft capital while still landing a tackle like Freeling or Fano as well as a receiver like Jordyn Tyson or Denzel Boston.
Seahawks Likely To Extend Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon This Offseason
To no surprise, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon each had their fifth-year options exercised by the Seahawks recently. That ensures both stalwarts will remain in place through 2027. 
Seattle is able to work out an extension in each case this offseason, however. Working out an agreement for Smith-Njigba and Witherspoon at some point before the start of the 2026 campaign would fall in line with previous Seahawks timelines. Per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, an agreement on both fronts can be expected this spring or summer.
Smith-Njigba will collect $23.85MM in 2027, while Witherspoon is due $21.16MM for that year. Both multi-time Pro Bowlers are no doubt in line to secure more lucrative paydays when their second contracts are finalized. As Dugar notes, extensions at or near the top of the receiver and cornerback markets are likely forthcoming. Smith-Njigba secured Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro honors for 2025, a season in which he led the NFL in receiving yards and set new career highs in several categories.
The 24-year-old has seen his receiving totals, yards per catch average and touchdown figures increase with each passing year in the NFL. That, coupled with Smith-Njigba’s durability – no missed games to date – makes him a strong candidate to challenge the top of the WR market. Ja’Marr Chase is attached to a deal averaging $40.24MM per year. His 2025 Bengals extension contained $73.9MM in full guarantees, a figure surpassed only by Justin Jefferson ($88.74MM) at the position. With the salary cap surpassing $300MM, Smith-Njigba will aim to match or outpace Chase and Jefferson’s pacts during negotiations.
Witherspoon, 25, already has three Pro Bowl invites on his resume. The Illinois product was a second-team All-Pro in 2025, and he was a key part of Seattle’s elite defense which carried the team to a Super Bowl title. Expectations will remain high in his case for years to come, and after seeing multiple free agent departures in the secondary the Seahawks could ensure stability with a long-term agreement. Witherspoon is likely to join the nine cornerbacks whose contracts average $20.1MM or more per year. Draft classmate Christian Gonzalez is eligible for a Patriots extension, and he could be a comparable figure in Witherspoon’s case.
Dugar writes nothing is imminent at this point with respect to a Smith-Njigba or Witherspoon extension. That could very well remain the case until after the draft at a minimum. As training camp and the 2026 season approach, though, it will be interesting to see if contract talks pick up.