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.

WR Odell Beckham Jr. Confirms Ravens Departure

Indications from earlier this month pointed to Odell Beckham Jr. departing the Ravens in free agency after his one-year stint with the team. The former Pro Bowl wideout confirmed that will be the case via an Instagram post.

“Swea on everything, I appreciate the Flock more than all could EVER imagine,” his message reads in part. “Did everything I could with the opportunities I had. Wish I got to do it big for yall.”

The Ravens restructured Beckham’s contract – a one-year deal including $15MM guaranteed – before ultimately releasing him with a post-June 1 designation, as detailed by ESPN’s Dan Graziano. That move added further to the expectation his tenure in Baltimore would be a one-and-done endeavor. Now, the 31-year-old will turn his attention to free agency once again.

Beckham missed the entire 2022 season while rehabbing an ACL tear, and his time on the open market was a prolonged storyline around the NFL last spring. He ultimately joined the Ravens on a more lucrative pact than many expected he would receive, given the relative lack of suitors Baltimore was bidding against. The Jets showed interest last year, though, and they could once again be a team to watch with respect to Beckham’s next move.

The Super Bowl winner flashed the potential to remain a high-end producer during his brief time with the Rams prior to suffering the ACL tear. Beckham remained mostly healthy in 2023, suiting up for 14 games and posting a 35-565-3 statline. His 16.1 yards per catch average was the highest of his career, and he could prove to be a secondary receiving option on a new team with a short-term agreement in particular.

Many of the top WR options in the 2024 free agent class are already off the market, and the depth of highly-regarded draft prospects at the position could lead to many veterans remaining unsigned for the time being. Baltimore will be a team to watch regarding an addition next month to provide depth in the pass-catching department, as Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and the recently re-signed Nelson Agholor are on the books. Beckham will not be a part of that group in 2024, however.

Cowboys Restructure Dak Prescott’s Contract

Talks on a Dak Prescott extension are ongoing, and the Cowboys would likely see significant cap savings in 2024 by working out a new deal. The team’s alternative, of course, has remained a restructure to lower Prescott’s cap charge in case a long-term arrangement cannot be worked out.

Dallas has indeed taken the latter route, as detailed by ESPN’s Field Yates. The Cowboys converted a $5MM roster bonus Prescott was owed on Sunday into a signing bonus, creating $4MM in cap space. As a result, the 2023 MVP runner-up’s cap charge now sits at $55.46MM, a figure which more than doubles the amount from last season.

Two void years were tacked onto Prescott’s deal, Yates adds. As a result, void years now extend into 2028 on the contract as currently structured. Yates’ colleague Dan Graziano notes Prescott’s permission was required to add void years, so this short-term agreement is a sign the parties remain willing to work out more permanent solution. The parties are discussing a deal, although owner Jerry Jones has publicly stated he is prepared to carry out the season with Prescott carrying a massive cap hit. The latter has considerable leverage given his no-tag and no-trade clauses coupled with the 2024 cap relief an extension would yield.

The $4MM in immediate savings will become dead money next year in the event Prescott were to depart in free agency. If that were to be the case, the Cowboys would be hit with roughly $40MM in cap charges, another factor which will no doubt influence extension efforts on the team’s part. Dallas also has monster second contracts to work out with wideout CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons, both of whom are now eligible for a deal keeping them in place beyond their respective rookie pacts.

2023 trade acquisition Trey Lance will remain in place for the coming season, and he is set to occupy the backup quarterback role as a result. Prescott’s play as Dallas’ starter in 2024 will be a key determinant in the value of his next contract if he and the Cowboys are not able to agree to a new deal this spring. Even with this small move aimed at providing short-term flexibility, though, an extension remains firmly on the table.

Falcons Re-Sign DL Kentavius Street

The Falcons have made their first defensive transaction of the offseason. The team announced that they’ve re-signed defensive lineman Kentavius Street.

The former journeyman seemed to settle in with the Falcons down the stretch of the 2023 campaign. After getting traded to Atlanta in October, Street proceeded to start all five of his appearances for his new squad. He compiled 14 tackles, four tackles for loss, and one sack before getting shut down early with a pectoral injury. Pro Football Focus only ranked Street 82nd among 130 qualifying interior defenders, although his grade was partly brought down by a dreadful coverage grade.

The former fourth-round pick played out his rookie contract in San Francisco but only got into 35 games across those four seasons. He had a career year off the bench for the Saints in 2022, finishing with 29 tackles and 3.5 sacks. That performance earned him a contract with the Eagles last offseason, but Philly shipped him to Atlanta in a swap for late-round picks.

The Falcons have made headlines this offseason with their offensive moves, but the front office has been quiet on the defensive side of the ball, with Street representing their first signing. The 27-year-old probably won’t step back into the starting lineup in 2024 since Grady Jarrett should be back to full health, but he could still see an important role as a rotational piece for the Falcons.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/18/24

Today’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Seattle Seahawks

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.

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