2025 March - Pro Football Rumors

Month: March 2025

Dolphins To Re-Sign OL Liam Eichenberg

March 13th, 2025 at 5:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Roaming around the Dolphins’ offensive line during his rookie contract, Liam Eichenberg settled into a starting guard role last season. After some guard shuffling on Miami’s roster during free agency’s opening week, Eichenberg will be prioritized.

The former second-round pick is staying in Miami on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Eichenberg will be a starter option for a Dolphins team that replaced its other 2024 first-string guard — Robert Jones — with James Daniels, who agreed to a three-year, $24MM deal.

Eichenberg, 27, completed an O-line cycle during his rookie contract, playing at least 100 snaps at all five positions. The Notre Dame alum worked as Miami’s primary left tackle in 2021, while also seeing time at RT. He slid to left guard in 2022 and was the team’s center fill-in — after Connor Williams‘ ACL tear — in 2023. Eichenberg won the Dolphins’ RG job last year, however, and only played that position for Mike McDaniel’s team from that point on. After 1,036 snaps at RG last season, Eichenberg will be an option for Miami once again in 2025.

The Dolphins needed a right guard replacement for Robert Hunt, who landed a monster Panthers contract last March, and it will be interesting if Eichenberg has the chance to play the same position two years in a row for a change. Eichenberg entered the NFL after a three-year run as Notre Dame’s left tackle. A move to the blind side is highly unlikely, as another second-round pick — Patrick Paul — is in line to succeed Terron Armstead, who is expected to retire.

Miami has Daniels, Austin Jackson and Aaron Brewer‘s midlevel contracts in place up front. Eichenberg may not be the most exciting choice to start opposite Daniels — Pro Football Focus has graded him as a bottom-10 option everywhere he has been — but the 6-foot-6 blocker has made 52 career starts and will be a low-cost option on an offense housing high-end deals for Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Patriots To Sign LB K’Lavon Chaisson

March 13th, 2025 at 5:22pm CST by Ben Levine

The Patriots are once again adding to their defense. The team has agreed to a contract with edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It’s a one-year deal worth $5MM.

Chaisson struggled to live up to his first-round billing during his time with the Jaguars, collecting five total sacks through his first four NFL seasons. After having his fifth-year option declined, the pass rusher hit free agency last offseason, when he caught on with the Panthers. He didn’t make it to the regular season with his new squad, but he was quickly scooped up by the Raiders.

The 25-year-old ended up having the most productive season of his career in Las Vegas. Chaisson started four of his 15 appearances in 2024, finishing with 32 tackles, five sacks, and eight QB hits. Pro Football Focus graded him 64th among 119 qualifying edge defenders, although the site did give him the 27th-best positional grade for his pass-rushing ability.

Mike Vrabel and the Patriots have been busy using their league-leading cap space to help improve the defense. The team’s already invested in the likes of Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, Harold Landry, and Robert Spillane, who was teammates with Chaisson in Las Vegas.

The newest addition won’t be as counted on as those other signings. Still, he’ll join an increasingly impressive pass-rushing corps that also includes the likes of Christian Barmore and Keion White.

Cardinals Meet With Asante Samuel Jr.

March 13th, 2025 at 5:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the top defenders still available, Asante Samuel Jr. will take the visit route to enhance his market. The four-year Chargers regular met with the Cardinals on Thursday, ESPN.com’s Field Yates reports.

Samuel is coming off a season in which a stinger-like injury limited him to four games. But the second-generation NFL corner is going into an age-26 season and worked as a primary Chargers starter during his rookie contract. The Bolts have signed Donte Jackson and Benjamin St-Juste this week, signaling Samuel might need to find a second contract elsewhere.

Operating primarily as a boundary corner, Samuel delivered a splashy wild-card performance by intercepting Trevor Lawrence three times as the Chargers built a 27-point lead. While that margin famously unraveled, Samuel maintained a regular Chargers role until going down last season. Samuel helped save the Chargers – to a degree, as their HC and GM were still fired – after their major J.C. Jackson miscalculation in 2023 and was a 2024 starter early in Jesse Minter‘s first DC season.

After winning the slot job during the Bolts’ 2023 training camp, Samuel shifted back outside – where he played almost exclusively from 2021-22 – after the team ended the Jackson experiment. Pro Football Focus graded the 5-10 cover man as a top-30 corner in 2022 and ’23, though he gave up seven touchdowns as the closest defender during the ’22 season. Also showing some ball-hawking ability, Samuel intercepted six passes from 2021-23 (nine if the Lawrence thefts are included) and posted 35 passes defensed in that span.

While we ranked Samuel 32nd among free agents this year, the cornerback rush did not include he or Rasul Douglas (No. 42). The more experienced batch of CBs — D.J. Reed, Byron Murphy, Carlton Davis, Charvarius Ward — each scored deals averaging at least $16MM per year, while Paulson Adebo and Nate Hobbs did well on the market. Samuel needing to take a visit does not signal he generated immense interest at free agency’s outset.

Letting Murphy and Patrick Peterson walk in free agency earlier this decade, the Cardinals are still in search of cornerstones here. They saw promise from slot defender Garrett Williams last season and used a second-round pick on Max Melton as well. Weeks prior to that, Arizona signed Sean Murphy-Bunting. Starling Thomas maintained a regular role for Arizona last season as well. While the Cardinals have more options than usual at this point, the Samuel visit confirms the team is still on the hunt for starter-level help at the position.

Giants Host QB Joe Flacco

March 13th, 2025 at 5:05pm CST by Ben Levine

The Giants have been linked to a handful of veteran signal callers during the early days of free agency. The team is once again giving serious consideration to an experienced quarterback. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Giants hosted Joe Flacco on a visit today.

Entering his age-40 season, Flacco represents more of a bridge and/or backup option than the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. Still, considering Flacco’s recent play, the veteran would be a welcome addition to a barren Giants QBs room.

Flacco’s post-Ravens tenure didn’t get off to the best start. He went 2-6 with the Broncos in 2019, and he won only one of his nine starts with the Jets between 2020 and 2022. Flacco proved that he still had something left in the tank while playing with the Browns in 2023. The quarterback earned Comeback Player of the Year honors after guiding the Browns to a surprise playoff appearance, with Flacco going 4-1 while completing 60.3 percent of his passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

That performance earned him another NFL contract, with the Colts adding him as a contingency to Anthony Richardson last offseason. Indy’s investment proved to be somewhat worthwhile, as Flacco was called on to start six games for his new squad. The 39-year-old only went 2-4, but he still managed to toss 12 touchdowns while finishing with his highest completion percentage since 2019.

In New York, Flacco wouldn’t be the definitive QB1, but he would buy the Giants some extra time as they navigate their uncertain depth chart. Tommy DeVito is the only signal caller under contract in New York, leading many pundits to believe the front office will use their third-overall pick to secure a player at the position. Flacco could keep the seat warm while the rookie gains experience.

Flacco may also be a backup plan for the organization. The Giants remain in play for Rodgers, and they’re set to meet with Wilson tomorrow (Wilson left his Browns meeting today without a contract). If the organization strikes out on those two targets, they may be ready to pivot to another Super Bowl-winning QB in Flacco.

Chiefs To Sign QB Gardner Minshew

March 13th, 2025 at 4:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Carson Wentz appears to be a Chiefs one-and-done. Kansas City will bring in a recent AFC West rival to replace him, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Gardner Minshew is Missouri-bound.

Designated a post-June 1 cut by the Raiders on Wednesday, Minshew will back up Patrick Mahomes next season. It is a bit interesting Minshew will take a deal so soon, as a few bridge opportunities may still exist. But the Chiefs have convinced the veteran to accept a QB2 role in his seventh year. It is a one-year agreement.

Minshew’s Raiders year did not go well, as he follows Jimmy Garoppolo in receiving a post-June 1 release designation to leave Las Vegas. Antonio Pierce benched Minshew on multiple occasions, and he suffered a broken collarbone during a November game against the Broncos. The Raiders used a failed physical designation to release Minshew, making this quick Chiefs agreement interesting from another angle.

Like Wentz, Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne before him, Minshew will step into the Mahomes QB2 role as an experienced starter. The former sixth-round pick has 46 starts on his resume. This includes a solid season with the Colts, as the Anthony Richardson injury fill-in piloted the team to the playoff precipice in 2023. Last season, Minshew was tied to a Raiders team that let Josh Jacobs walk and traded Davante Adams after he played just two 2024 games. Pierce named Minshew the starter but was certainly not satisfied with his work, expressing frustration about the Raiders’ QB situation behind the scenes and pulling the veteran for Aidan O’Connell in multiple games.

Minshew, 29 in May, went 2-7 as a starter last season and posted a 9-10 TD-INT ratio. Minshew did up his completion percentage to 66.3 but averaged only 6.6 yards per attempt. With the Colts in 2023, the ex-Jaguars draftee went 7-6 in place of Richardson and posted a 15-9 TD-INT ratio. Minshew still averaged only 6.7 yards per pass as a Colt, but Indianapolis wanted him back in a veteran role. The Raiders’ two-year, $25MM offer proved well out of Indy’s price range, and Minshew will not collect anything close to that with the Chiefs.

Mahomes, 30 in September, has proven durable since a scare during the 2019 season. Although he has suffered multiple ankle injuries over the past three seasons, the three-time Super Bowl MVP has been able to largely play through them. With no need to develop a quarterback, the Chiefs have continued to take the veteran route. Minshew will be the latest to stop through Kansas City behind the QB icon.

Commanders To Re-Sign Noah Igbinoghene

March 13th, 2025 at 4:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders used Noah Igbinoghene as a starter for much of the 2024 season, and he will remain in place for 2025. The former first-round corner is re-signing with Washington, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Igbinoghene struggled to carve out a role during his time with the Dolphins. The 30th-overall pick in the 2020 draft, the cornerback was limited to only 32 games across three seasons in Miami. He was traded to the Cowboys as part of the Kelvin Joseph trade ahead of the 2023 campaign, but he only got into five games with his new squad.

Despite his lack of action in Dallas, he was recruited by former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to join him in Washington for the 2023 season. Igbinoghene proceeded to have a career year with the Commanders, starting 10 of his 17 appearances while finishing with 55 tackles and seven passes defended. Pro Football Focus wasn’t all that impressed by his efforts, grading him as the second-worst CB among 116 qualifying players.

Still, the Commanders seem to value the continuity in their secondary, as Igbinoghene will at least be temporarily penciled in towards the top of the depth chart. Mike Sainristil and Marshon Lattimore are still slated to earn the bulk of the snaps at the position, but Igbinoghene should still get reps at nickelback. He will have some additional competition, though, as the team brought in former Patriots mainstay Jonathan Jones yesterday.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Steelers To Host FB Kyle Juszczyk

March 13th, 2025 at 4:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kyle Juszczyk‘s time with the 49ers came to an end on Monday. The veteran could have a limited market based on the number of teams which use a fullback on a permanent basis, but he has quickly managed to line up a visit.

Juszczyk will meet with the Steelers today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The nine-time Pro Bowler began his career in the AFC North, playing out his rookie contract with the Ravens. A return to Baltimore will not be in order for 2025, though, considering the team recently re-signed Patrick Ricard.

At times during his eight-year run in San Francisco, Juszczyk’s future was a talking point. A pay cut was worked out last offseason to allow him to remain with the 49ers, and the 33-year-old hoped for his tenure to continue into 2025. Juszczyk instead found himself as one of many veterans who have been released or traded by San Francisco, a team which has also seen several key players depart in free agency this week.

The Steelers used Derek Watt as a fullback up to 2022. Since that time, they have turned to Connor Heyward to operate in a hybrid role including fullback duties. One year remains on his rookie contract, but adding an established veteran like Juszczyk would allow for Heyward to focus on operating as a backup tight end. Pittsburgh entered Thursday with over $46MM in cap space, so room exists for what would be a modest fullback commitment.

The Broncos have used Michael Burton as a fullback for the past two years, and he is a pending free agent. Denver could theoretically be among the teams interested in Juszczyk as a result, but Luca Evans of the Denver Post reports no contact has been made yet. If today’s Steelers visits does not produce an agreement for the Harvard product, his list of suitors could be rather short.

Juszczyk has received a Pro Bow nod every year since 2016, and in addition to his run blocking prowess he has averaged 240 receiving yards per year in his career (which has included first-team All-Pro honors in 2023 and a second-team nod last year). If he does not land with the Steelers, he will turn his attention elsewhere as the opening stages of free agency wind down.

Eagles To Sign CB Adoree’ Jackson

March 13th, 2025 at 4:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Adoree’ Jackson remained in free agency until days before the Giants’ opener last year; he will land a deal much earlier in 2025. Jackson will follow the Saquon Barkley path out of New York.

The Eagles will sign the former first-round cornerback, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. The former Titans and Giants starter will join an Eagles team that cut Darius Slay and lost Isaiah Rodgers to the Vikings.

After making the plan to designate Slay a post-June 1 cut, the Eagles had hoped to retain Rodgers. The Vikings intervened, giving the one-year Eagle contributor a two-year, $11MM deal. Jackson likely will step in at a lower rate while bringing more experience. Jackson, who is going into his age-30 season, has made 82 starts — 41 apiece in Tennessee and New York.

The CB market unfolded without a Jackson accord last spring, and he ended up on a one-year, $1.75MM deal to stay with the Giants. After four Titans seasons, Jackson had initially played out a three-year, $39MM Giants contract. As New York aimed to go young in the secondary last year, Jackson still arrived as 11th-hour insurance. He ended up starting five games for the 3-14 team.

Playing 47% of the Giants’ defensive snaps last year, Jackson fared well considering his late arrival. Pro Football Focus graded him 38th among CB regulars, and Pro-Football-Reference’s coverage metrics charged Jackson with a 48.8 completion percentage allowed — far better than his 2023 showing (65.9). Jackson struggled in 2023, after having been reassigned to the slot in training camp before being shifted back to his usual perimeter role once Don Martindale benched Tre Hawkins, but was a key part of the Giants’ playoff trip in 2022. Allowing just 51.7% of passes his way to be completed, Jackson graded as PFF’s No. 31 corner. He missed time due to an MCL sprain but returned for the playoffs and led the effort to limit Justin Jefferson in a Giants wild-card upset.

Jackson figures to be a Rodgers replacement as a depth piece, but the Eagles have a need on the boundary (to accompany locked-in starters Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean) after Slay’s Steelers signing. Jackson could compete for that role, but it would surprise if Philly did not add a starter-caliber option in the draft or perhaps via trade. While Jackson may not be the Slay replacement, the Super Bowl champs at least secured some insurance.

Dolphins, Alexander Mattison Agree To Deal

March 13th, 2025 at 2:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders added a former Dolphins running back in the form of Raheem Mostert on Thursday. Miami is set to pull off the reverse.

Alexander Mattison has a deal in place to join the Dolphins, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports. After a single season with the Raiders, the former Viking will look to carve out a role in Miami’s backfield. He played on a one-year, $2MM deal in 2024, and this will likely be a similar pact.

Vegas saw Josh Jacobs depart in free agency last offseason, and signing Mattison was part of the team’s effort to replace him. The latter split time with Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah, seeing a total of eight starts during his 14 appearances. Mattson, 26, has only operated as a full-time starter once during his career (2022, the first year after Dalvin Cook‘s Vikings release). He will only be counted on to serve as a rotational back in Miami, though.

The Dolphins cut Mostert shortly after the end of the regular season, a move which confirmed De’Von Achane is set to remain the focal point of the team’s rushing attack. Achane is attached to his rookie contract, as is Jaylen Wright. The latter saw sparse usage on offense last season, but he could work his way into a larger role in Year 2. Even if that does not take place, Mattison will offer Miami a veteran backup option.

The Boise State product flashed potential during his time as Cook’s backup in Minnesota. His one year atop the depth chart produced career highs in rushing (700) and scrimmage (892) yards, but it included a yards per carry average of only 3.9. Mattison saw his efficiency drop to 3.2 yards per attempt in 2024 – a year in which, to be fair, the Raiders’ overall ground game struggled mightily – but his 294 receiving yards were the most of his career.

The Dolphins are positioned to have Achane and Wright in place as part of a cost-effective backfield for 2025 and beyond. Mattison could find success as a short-yardage option with Miami, though, and doing so could help his free agent prospects for next year.

Dolphins Sign T Larry Borom

March 13th, 2025 at 2:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

After playing out his rookie contract with the Bears, Larry Borom is headed to Miami. The former fifth-round offensive lineman has signed with the Dolphins, per a team announcement.

This is a one-year deal worth $2.5MM, according to Over the Cap. That figure is guaranteed in full. Borom has seen sparse usage at guard during his career, but for the most part he has operated as a tackle.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old made at least four starts every year during his time in Chicago. Borom primarily operated at right tackle during his first two years, and his 67.4 PFF grade from 2022 was the highest of his Bears tenure. He played exclusively on the blindside the following season and again saw most of his time at left tackle in 2024.

Despite only playing eight games after returning from a preseason ankle injury, Borom was charged by PFF with seven sacks and 22 pressures allowed. That yielded an overall grade of just 53.8, a figure the Dolphins will hope he is able to improve upon. Chicago has traded for a pair of new guards (Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney) while signing a new center (Drew Dalman), but it remains to be seen if a left tackle will be sought out this offseason. Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie remain on the books.

The Dolphins are operating under the impression Terron Armstead will not be available in 2025, making the left tackle spot one to watch closely. Borom could compete for the starting gig at that position with 2024 second-rounder Patrick Paul or offer Miami a swing tackle option behind Paul and right tackle starter Austin Jackson. As the Dolphins look to put together a more effective O-line in 2025 than they had last year, Borom will likely have a role to play.

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