HEADLINES

Month: March 2025

Contract Details: Allen, Bills, Bears, Giants, Adebo, Packers, Hobbs, Chiefs, Saints

March 13th, 2025 at 2:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

Starting with one monster Bills extension and another big-ticket deal, here are the latest contract details from around the NFL:

  • Josh Allen, QB (Bills): Six years, $330MM. Classified as a two-year add-on that provides the reigning MVP with a roughly $90MM raise, the deal includes some key dates. On fully guaranteed salaries in 2025 and ’26, Allen will see all of his 2027 pay become fully guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, per OverTheCap. On Day 5 of the 2027 league year, Allen’s 53.5MM salary locks in. $14MM of Allen’s 2029 roster bonus ($22.3MM) becomes guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2028 league year. Allen will be due a $35MM roster bonus on Day 5 of the 2029 league year. He is tied to a $41.3MM cap number in 2025, but restructures are likely coming; his cap hit spikes to $61.4MM in 2026.
  • Gregory Rousseau, DE (Bills). Four years, $80MM. Rousseau will see $49MM guaranteed at signing, OverTheCap notes, while his 2025 and ’26 base salaries are fully guaranteed. The Bills are providing guarantees into Year 3, as KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes that $5MM of Rousseau’s $16.41MM base is locked in already. The rest will shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the 2027 league year. A $3MM roster bonus is also in place on Day 5 of the 2029 league year.
  • Paulson Adebo, CB (Giants). Three years, $54MM. The young cornerback will see $34.75MM guaranteed at signing. Despite Adebo only signing a three-year deal, that full guarantee ranks 10th among corners. The Giants guaranteed $13.5MM of Adebo’s $17.25MM 2026 salary, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell tweets. The rest becomes guaranteed on Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
  • Dayo Odeyingbo, DE (Bears): Three years, $48MM. The ex-Colt will see $29.5MM guaranteed at signing, per OverTheCap. $13MM of Odeyingbo’s $15.5MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed at signing, with Wilson adding the rest locks in on Day 3 of the 2026 league year. A $1MM roster bonus is also due on Day 5 of the 2027 league year; Odeyingbo’s 2027 base is nonguaranteed.
  • Nate Hobbs, CB (Packers). Four years, $48MM. While Hobbs is guaranteed $16MM at signing, the general Packers contract structure resurfaces here. Reminding of Josh Jacobs‘ 2024 deal (also 4/48), his former Raiders teammate has no guarantees beyond that $16MM signing bonus, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes. A $6.25MM roster bonus is due on Day 3 of the 2026 league year, Wilson tweets. The Packers typically do not guarantee second-year salaries, but they would be out $12MM in dead money if they move in on 2026 — due to signing bonus prorations.
  • Darius Slayton, WR (Giants). Three years, $36MM. Now on a third Giants contract, Slayton will receive $22MM at signing, Wilson tweets. That is $10MM more than his second contract was worth in total. Slayton’s 2026 salary is mostly guaranteed, with Wilson adding $9.75MM of that $12.25MM is locked in. A $2.5MM roster bonus in place on Day 5 of the 2027 league year.
  • Juwan Johnson, TE (Saints). Three years, $30.75MM. Johnson will see $21.25MM at signing, with Wilson adding his 2025 and ’26 base salaries are guaranteed. Johnson’s 2027 paragraph 5 number ($7.5MM) is nonguaranteed, but a $2MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2027 league year.
  • Jaylon Moore, T (Chiefs). Two years, $30MM. The Chiefs are guaranteeing their new left tackle hopeful $21.24MM at signing. A career-long 49ers backup, Moore will see $7MM of his $14.24MM 2026 base salary guaranteed at signing, Wilson tweets.

Seahawks Sign DeMarcus Lawrence

March 13th, 2025 at 2:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

MARCH 13: The base value of Lawrence’s pact is $32.49MM, Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team reports. Incentives are present which could result in another $9.5MM being earned. Of the guarantee figure, $13MM will be paid out in 2025, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson. Lawrence’s decision to head to Seattle will therefore be a lucrative one right away with plenty of potential earnings down the road.

MARCH 12: DeMarcus Lawrence‘s time with the Cowboys has come to an end. The four-time Pro Bowler has agreed to a deal with the Seahawks, his agency announced on Wednesday.

This will be a three-year deal, Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. The pact is worth up to $42MM and includes $18MM guaranteed. The Cowboys were interested in re-signing Lawrence, but he made it clear recently he was open to departing as a free agent.

Selected in the second round of the 2014 draft, Lawrence proved to be one of the Cowboys’ best additions of the current generation. After failing to start any games during his rookie campaign, he solidified himself as a mainstay along the edge. Over the past four years, Lawrence operated as a highly effective partner for Micah Parsons.

Over the course of his decorated Dallas tenure, Lawrence collected double-digit sacks on two occasions; his career high came in 2017 with 14.5. That season, he secured a second-team All-Pro nod. Playing on the franchise tag in 2019 and then a pair of long-term accords afterwards, the Boise State product delivered consistent production when healthy. Lawrence’s 61.5 sacks rank fourth in franchise history.

Earlier this offseason, the Cowboys made it known they were waiting on Lawrence to see what his intentions were regarding his future. The 32-year-old said his preference would have been to sign another Dallas deal, but this Seahawks payday comes as the Cowboys prepare to make Parsons one of the highest-paid defenders (and non-quarterbacks in general) in the NFL. They will look to younger, less expensive options to replace Lawrence.

The Boise State product played seven games in 2021. After logging a full slate of games the following two years, Lawrence was limited to only four contests. That missed time has clearly not hindered his market, though, given the terms of this Seahawks commitment. This deal will allow for a reunion between Lawrence and Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde. The former Cowboys defensive line coach helped convince Lawrence to head to Seattle, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager notes.

The Seahawks still have Uchenna Nwosu on the books, along with Boye Mafe and Derick Hall attached to their rookie contracts. Lawrence (who has remained effective against the run during his career in addition to solid but unspectacular pass rush production) will join that group for the foreseeable future. If he can remain healthy, he will likely prove to be an effective addition.

Titans, QB Brandon Allen Agree To Deal

March 13th, 2025 at 1:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Titans saw quarterback Mason Rudolph agree to return to Pittsburgh earlier today, but they have not waited long to find his replacement. Brandon Allen has a one-year deal in place with Tennessee, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

This pact will allow for a reunion between Allen and Titans head coach Brian Callahan. The pair worked together in Cincinnati when Callahan served as the team’s offensive coordinator. Allen backed up Joe Burrow for three seasons with the Bengals before spending the past two years in San Francisco.

Allen did not see any playing time in 2023 while serving as the 49ers’ third-string option. Sam Darnold‘s departure created a QB2 vacancy, though, and Allen competed for it with Josh Dobbs during the offseason. Dobbs held a lead at one point, but Allen would up earning the gig.

As a result, the 32-year-old made a total of three appearances and one start last year. Allen has logged only 10 starts over the course of his career, but he represents an experienced backup option (especially given his ties to Callahan). He could find himself serving as the Titans’ QB2 in 2025, but that will of course depend on how the team approaches the starting position this offseason.

Will Levis has two more years on his rookie contract, but he found himself being benched late last season with his development not going according to plan. The Titans could add a replacement by using the No. 1 pick in April’s draft on a quarterback (likely Cam Ward), but as expected calls have come in regarding a trade. Several suitors could look to move up to board and acquire Ward in the process, something which would lead to the Titans selecting Shedeur Sanders or one of the other passers in the 2025 class.

Regardless of how things shake out atop the depth chart, Allen will be in place as a backup option. Teams still in need of a quarterback addition during free agency now have one fewer option to choose from.

Bucs To Sign Anthony Walker, Kindle Vildor

March 13th, 2025 at 1:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers are set to make a pair of defensive additions. A one-year deal is in place with linebacker Anthony Walker, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The same is also true of cornerback Kindle Vildor, per his agents (via Schefter).

Walker played out his rookie contract with the Colts, serving as a full-time starter from his second year onwards. The former fifth-rounder spent the next three seasons in Cleveland, operating as a key defender when healthy. Walker missed time during all three of his Browns campaigns, including the 2022 season in which he was limited to only three games.

That hindered the Northwestern product’s value in free agency last spring, and he took a one-year pact with the Dolphins. Walker made eight starts in Miami, collecting an interception and a sack. The Dolphins still have Jordyn Brooks in place at the linebacker spot, though, and the re-signing of Tyrel Dodson has been followed up by the addition of K.J. Britt. Walker will aim to replace the latter in Tampa Bay.

The Buccaneers worked out another one-year deal which will keep Lavonte David in place for a 14th season with the team. Walker will look to operate as a first-team defender alongside him, a role he has become familiar with over the course of his career. The 29-year-old has 83 starts to his name, and adding to that total would help his market value in 2026.

Vildor’s pact qualifies for the veteran salary benefit, Greg Auman of Fox Sports notes. As a result, the former Bear, Titan and Lion is set to earn $1.17MM in 2025 while carrying a cap hit of $1.03MM. Vildor, 27, is a veteran of 68 games and 26 starts in his career, and he will be able to provide the Bucs with a rotational presence in the secondary or at least veteran special teams contributions.

Commanders To Re-Sign WR Noah Brown

March 13th, 2025 at 12:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Authoring one play that will go down in franchise history, Noah Brown suffered a season-ending injury weeks after his Hail Mary touchdown. But the Commanders want to keep going with the former Cowboys and Texans wide receiver.

Brown is re-signing with Washington on a one-year deal worth up to $4.5MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Brown had overlapped with Dan Quinn in Dallas, before playing two seasons in Houston. Brown is coming off an injury that ended his season in early December. He had previously indicated hope a Commanders re-signing would commence.

Following K.J. Osborn in re-signing with Washington, Brown played a more notable role than the late-season slot addition. Coming over after a late-summer Texans release, Brown caught 35 passes for 453 yards in his Commanders debut. While the Jayden Daniels heave that began a Bears tailspin inflated Brown’s yardage total, the former Texas-stationed WR posted four other games with more than 50 receiving yards. He will be back and set to vie for a job as an auxiliary piece alongside Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel.

A clear-cut backup for his first five NFL seasons, Brown caught on as a reliable target in 2022 and has remained such since. Following the Cowboys’ Amari Cooper trade, Brown stepped into a bigger role and posted 555 receiving yards in 2022. The Texans added him on a one-year deal in 2023, and the 225-pound target helped a team depleted at receiver. Brown’s 567-yard, two-touchdown season aided C.J. Stroud during his Offensive Rookie of the Year season. Brown has since played supporting roles for back-to-back Offensive Rookies of the Year.

Brown’s skillset differs from Osborn’s, as the latter has been primarily a slot player during his career. Both will have a clear chance to supplement the recently formed McLaurin-Samuel duo. Brown is going into his age-29 season. Despite not surpassing 185 yards in a season, he is still going ahead of a ninth NFL campaign. Although Washington added Samuel, the team has otherwise been retention-heavy with its skill-position group. Zach Ertz, John Bates and Jeremy McNichols are back in the fold as well.

The re-signings of Osborn and Brown come after the Commanders met with Michael Gallup, a long-running Brown Cowboys teammate who recently unretired. Gallup visited the Commanders on Tuesday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. A 2024 Cowboys release, Gallup (29) retired after joining the Raiders. A 2021 ACL tear altered Gallup’s career, but he still had scored a Cowboys payday weeks later. Not clearing 500 receiving yards in a season since 2020, Gallup appears to be searching for a path back into the league.

Raiders To Sign RB Raheem Mostert

March 13th, 2025 at 12:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Despite going into an age-33 season, Raheem Mostert will secure another chance. The speedy running back is joining the Raiders, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. It is a one-year deal.

Although Mostert will turn 33 in April, his late start to RB1 duty has helped him extend his career. Despite making his NFL debut in 2015, Mostert only has 759 carries on his resume. Almost all of them have come in the past six seasons, as Mostert bounced around the league as a special-teamer before being given ball-carrying chances in 2019.

The Dolphins dropped Mostert after three seasons, doing so two years after he led the NFL in touchdowns (21). Miami has younger backs in De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright, but Las Vegas has some uncertainty here. After Zamir White and Alexander Mattison could not closely remind of Josh Jacobs, the team carried big questions into free agency. Mostert will attempt to be a key part of the Raiders’ backfield for at least one season.

The late-blooming RB did not enjoy an extended opportunity until the 49ers gave him work alongside Tevin Coleman in 2019, but new Raiders OC Chip Kelly was present during Mostert’s nomadic period. During his final year as Eagles HC, Kelly received personnel control in an effort that led to a Howie Roseman demotion. That regrettable Eagles decision produced a memorable 2015, but one of the lower-level moves does come into play 10 years later.

The Eagles’ 2015 UDFA class included Mostert, who was out of Philly by September (after a first Dolphins stint came during Joe Philbin‘s HC run) and off on a journey that included Ravens, Browns, Jets and Bears stops before the 49ers took a flier.

Mostert’s contract is worth $2.1MM, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe tweets. The Purdue alum had initially joined the Dolphins for $2.13MM in 2022, but he signed two more contracts to stay in Mike McDaniel‘s system. Mostert, whose 2019 NFC championship performance (220 yards, four touchdowns) still ranks among the best playoff rushing outings ever, totaled 891 rushing yards in 2022 and posted his first 1,000-yard season (1,012) in 2023. Both seasons featured at least 4.8 yards per carry. In 2024, Achane reduced Mostert to a backup; the latter gained only 278 rushing yards in 13 games.

White is going into a contract year, while Ameer Abdullah — who joined Mostert as a 2015 rookie — joins Mattison in free agency. It should be expected the Raiders add more pieces to their backfield, but it has yet to take shape under Pete Carroll. The draft will be a place to watch, but for now, Mostert has a path to regular playing time in Vegas.

OL Notes: Becton, Texans, Smith, Jags, Rams

March 13th, 2025 at 12:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles‘ Mekhi Becton signing proved to be a highly effective one. The former Jets tackle was able to have success upon moving inside, and he helped his market after playing on a $2.75MM ‘prove it’ contract in 2024.

Becton’s preference would be to remain in Philadelphia, but he is of course an attractive option to teams eyeing upgrades up front. PFR’s No. 22 free agent in 2025 could look to capitalize on the strength of the guard market, which saw the likes of Robert Hunt, Jonah Jackson, Kevin Dotson, Damien Lewis and Jon Runyan Jr sign deals averaging eight figures per year in free agency. Becton will likely not be able to match many of their earnings, but an Eagles departure could still be looming.

ESPN’s Tim McManus reports there has not been tangible progress between team and player to work out a re-signing in this case. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is among those who would like to see Becton, entering his age-26 season, brought back. As the Eagles move forward with a line already featuring four lucrative deals, though, keeping him in place may not be possible.

Here are some offensive line notes from around the league:

  • The Eagles, of course, have a deal in place to add a guard in the form of Kenyon Green. The former Texans first-rounder is one of three O-linemen the team is moving on from as part of its offseason plans. Veteran Shaq Mason was recently released, while left tackle Laremy Tunsil is on his way to the Commanders. The offensive line group increasingly became a problem in Houston last season, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes. Tunsil is respected in the organization, Breer adds, but making sweeping changes up front this offseason allowed the Texans to avoid a third lucrative commitment to the 30-year-old. Houston will look for a noticeably different combination and a new culture along the O-line in 2025.
  • Colts general manager Chris Ballard said at the Combine right tackle Braden Smith intended to continue playing in 2025. That will indeed be the case, with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reporting an agreement has been reached on a restructured contract. The pact will pay out a $2MM roster bonus next week in addition to a $3.96MM base salary, per Over the Cap. Smith, 29 later this month, has served as a full-time starter since his arrival in 2018 but he missed the last five games of the 2024 campaign due to an undisclosed personal matter. He will still be a free agent next spring as things stand, but Smith’s return (at a cap charge of $10.4MM) will be welcomed on a Colts O-line which is set to lose Ryan Kelly and Will Fries after they both agreed to Vikings deals this week.
  • The Ravens managed to take care of one of their most important offseason priorities with the re-signing of left tackle Ronnie Stanley. That three-year, $60MM deal features $44MM in guarantees. The latter figure includes a $20.25MM signing bonus, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 details. Stanley has dealt with several injuries in his career, but this latest pact guarantees $22MM in pay for 2025 and ’26, according to Over the Cap. The two-time Pro Bowler is also scheduled to collect a $4.04MM option bonus next March.
  • Prior to the Stanley deal, Alaric Jackson agreed to a three-year pact to remain with the Rams. The deal can reach a maximum value of $60.75MM and includes $35.43MM in guarantees, Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap writes. $30MM is fully guaranteed at signing, with most of Jackson’s compensation over the next two years locked in. $1.45MM in per-game roster bonuses are present in every year of the deal, and a $5.43MM injury guarantee will shift to a full one if he is on the roster on the fifth day of the 2026 league year.
  • Patrick Mekari parlayed his Ravens tenure into a three-year Jaguars contract at the outset of the negotiating period. That pact features $22.5MM in guarantees, including a $10MM signing bonus, per Wilson. The former UDFA has $10.5MM in 2026 salary locked in for injury, and remaining on the roster early in the 2026 league year will lead to further guarantees. Per-game roster bonuses totaling nearly $30K along with a $500K Pro Bowl incentive are present in every year of the deal.

Commanders To Re-Sign WR K.J. Osborn

March 13th, 2025 at 11:17am CST by Sam Robinson

Formerly a productive slot receiver in Minnesota, K.J. Osborn did not build on that work in New England. A Patriots team in need of steady receiving aid shopped Osborn before last year’s deadline and eventually cut him, leading Washington to take a flier.

The Commanders are set to see if Osborn can return to his pre-2024 form, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes the ex-Viking regular is re-signing on a one-year deal in Washington. Osborn is heading into his sixth NFL season.

Washington has lost four-year tertiary target Dyami Brown (to the Jaguars), but the team already made a splash to land an inside receiver by sending the 49ers a fifth-round pick for Deebo Samuel. The versatile All-Pro will become Terry McLaurin‘s top complementary option, but the team remains in need of players to operate around their top two. Noah Brown, Olamide Zaccheaus multi-stint Washington target Jamison Crowder are unsigned at this point.

An effective third option alongside Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen in Minnesota in 2021 and ’22, Osborn surpassed 600 receiving yards in each season and combined for 12 touchdown receptions. He added 540 yards and three scores during a 2023 season that brought a Kirk Cousins Achilles tear, but a modest market formed — ahead of a one-year, $4MM Patriots pact — and the former fifth-round pick managed only seven catches with New England. Even as the Patriots played a season in need at the position, Osborn did not provide much help.

Extensive shopping did not lead to a trade, even though the Chargers were believed to have interest. The Pats waived Osborn in December, and while he landed in Washington via waiver claim, he played in just one game and did not see any playoff action. Essentially, Osborn will look to forget 2024. Going into his age-28 campaign, the Michigan native will have a full offseason in Kliff Kingsbury‘s offense.

Saints, CB Isaac Yiadom Agree To Deal

March 13th, 2025 at 10:44am CST by Adam La Rose

Isaac Yiadom is set to return to the Saints. The veteran corner has a three-year deal in place with New Orleans, per an announcement from his agent.

The pact has a base value of $9MM and can top out at $10.5MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Yiadom will collect $4.86MM in guarantees. After spending last season with the 49ers, he will re-join the Saints (for whom he played in 2023).

Yiadom has bounced around the league, spending time with six teams in seven years. The 29-year-old has seen his playing time fluctuate over the years, but he handled a notable workload during his first New Orleans tenure (47% defensive snap share). With Paulson Adebo no longer in the fold, Yiadom could step into a starting gig in 2025 and beyond with this multi-year pact.

In 2023, the former third-rounder posted 14 pass deflections, the highest total of his career. Yiadom allowed a completion percentage of just 48.9% that year, and the Saints are counting on a repeat of that success with this latest pact. After playing on several one-year contracts (including one worth $3MM with the 49ers in 2024), he will no doubt welcome a longer-term commitment carrying the same annual average value as last year’s deal.

New Orleans traded away Marshon Lattimore midway through the 2024 campaign, and that move – along with Adebo’s departure – paved the way for a reset at the cornerback spot. 2024 second-rounder Kool-Aid McKinstry made nine starts as a rookie, and he will be counted on to be a mainstay in the lineup moving forward. Yiadom will face high expectations upon returning to the Saints’ secondary, a unit which will also feature safety Justin Reid next season.

For the 49ers, this news marks another loss in the defensive backfield. Corner Charvarius Ward and safety Talanoa Hufanga landed deals with new teams early this week, and Yiadom’s departure comes after he made five starts last season. San Francisco has added Tre Brown so far in free agency, but further investments will be needed to shore up the secondary.

Eagles, Josh Uche Agree To Deal

March 13th, 2025 at 9:35am CST by Adam La Rose

In need of new depth along the edge, the Eagles will look to Josh Uche. The former Patriot and Chief has a one-year deal in place with Philadelphia, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Uche flashed potential at times during his New England tenure. The former second-rounder recorded 11.5 sacks in 2022, but he was never able to carve out a anything more than a rotational role, instead operating as a third-down specialist. Uche regularly found himself attached to trade talk, and in 2024 a deal was made.

The Michigan product was dealt to Kansas City as a rental addition for the second half of the campaign. Uche wound up making six appearances with the Chiefs, but he saw a snap share of only 22%. After failing to record a sack and producing only one QB pressure, the team elected not to use him during the playoffs. Uche will now look to compete for a regular role with the Eagles.

To no surprise, Philadelphia was unable to retain Josh Sweat. The top edge rusher on the market landed a four-year deal with the Cardinals including $41MM in guarantees. His loss will be felt after a strong regular season in 2024 and a memorable performance in Super Bowl LIX. Brandon Graham, meanwhile, is dealing with another triceps tear as he contemplates retirement.

Presuming Graham hangs up his cleats, his absence (along with Sweat’s) will leave plenty of snaps available along the edge. Uche, 26, will provide upside as a potential sack artist, although his underwhelming Chiefs spell will temper expectations upon arrival in Philadelphia. To say the least, the Eagles will hope this deal pans out better than last offseason’s lucrative free agent deal for Bryce Huff.

In addition to Huff, the Super Bowl champions have 2023 first-rounder Nolan Smith and 2024 third-round selection Jalyx Hunt on the books. Uche’s ability to fit in with that group (one which, given general manager Howie Roseman‘s track record, will likely include at least one draft addition next month) will determine his success in Philadelphia and his earning power in 2026.

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