HEADLINES

Month: March 2025

Cowboys To Sign RB Javonte Williams

March 10th, 2025 at 6:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

6:58pm: As it turns out, this signing does look like it will send Dowdle elsewhere. The Williams move is expected to ensure the Cowboys move on from their primary 2024 starter, the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore tweets. Dowdle has spent the past five years with the Cowboys.

6:22pm: The Cowboys took plenty of heat for running back apathy last year. They will attempt to change course early this offseason, as a young starter is coming in on Day 1 of free agency.

Javonte Williams is relocating from Denver to Dallas, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reporting the former second-round pick will do so on a one-year deal worth $3MM. The contract can max out at $3.5MM.

Although Williams expressed interest in staying with the Broncos, they were not expected to bring him back. After a promising rookie season, Williams suffered ACL and LCL tears during an October 2022 game in Las Vegas. While the North Carolina alum made it back by Week 1 of the ’23 season, he did not quite resemble his previous version. With Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime signed, the Broncos will part ways with a player they traded up for in 2021.

Williams’ rookie season brought 1,219 scrimmage yards, even as he had to share time with Melvin Gordon. That season included Angry Runs recognition for a carry against the Cowboys, a game in which the Broncos upset the favored hosts. Williams’ 111-yard day in Dallas notwithstanding, he saw his role reduced in Denver during Sean Payton’s second season. The bruising runner averaged 3.6 and 3.7 yards per carry, respectively, over the past two seasons. He did reach 1,002 scrimmage yards in 2023 and 859 in ’24, but there is a reason the Cowboys have him locked into this modest rate.

Dallas received a decent season from Rico Dowdle, who quickly usurped the re-signed Ezekiel Elliott as the team’s primary rusher. Dowdle is unsigned, and this Williams deal would not seem to impede a reunion. The two would bring complementary skillsets. The Cowboys have shown interest in keeping Dowdle, but it will be interesting to see if a player who can blend a quality season with low mileage can fetch notable offers elsewhere.

Browns To Release DT Dalvin Tomlinson

March 10th, 2025 at 6:57pm CST by Ely Allen

After making Myles Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL earlier this week, the Browns are making some concessions elsewhere along the defensive line. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Browns have informed veteran defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson that they will be releasing him at the start of the new league year.

Schefter specifies that Tomlinson will be designated as a post-June 1 release by the team for cap purposes. If they didn’t choose to designate him that way, Tomlinson would account for $17.15MM in dead cap for Cleveland, who wouldn’t accumulate any cap savings from the transaction. Instead, as a post-June 1 designated release, Tomlinson will only take up $5.04MM in dead cap, and the Browns will save $6.41MM in cap space by clearing him from the payroll.

Tomlinson has been a full-time starter in the NFL ever since the Vikings drafted him in the second round out of Alabama in 2017. While he doesn’t stuff the stat sheet with sacks (only 19.0 in his career), he’s been plenty disruptive throughout his career, racking up tackles for loss (36) and quarterback hits (67) aplenty. Tomlinson really hangs his hat on being one of the more well-rounded defensive tackles in the league, often seeing his run defense grades as high as his pass rush grades on Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Tomlinson had a decent year in 2024, grading out as the 32nd-best interior defender of 118 players graded by PFF. While that was certainly a strong bounce back from 2023, when he graded 57th (the worst of his career), it still hasn’t been up to par with every other season he’s played with the Giants and Vikings, when he would routinely rank in the top 20. Still, Tomlinson enters free agency as one of the top defensive tackle options available, especially with Milton Williams, Osa Odighizuwa, D.J. Jones, Poona Ford, Jarran Reed, and Tershawn Wharton coming off the board already.

As for the Browns, they’ll likely be looking to fill out their interior defensive line this offseason. Tomlinson will join Maurice Hurst on the free agent market, leaving Shelby Harris as the only returning starter. The team could see last year’s second-round rookie, Michael Hall, step into a bigger role in 2025, but after he only played eight games last season, nothing is certain.

Chargers Pursuing RB Najee Harris

March 10th, 2025 at 6:46pm CST by Rory Parks

The Chargers are pursuing free agent running back Najee Harris, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Earlier today, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reported that Harris had been saying goodbye to some of his Steelers teammates, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler subsequently noted the Bolts could have interest.

Harris is more of a grinder than explosive talent, but he is about as consistent as it gets at the position. The 2021 first-rounder has played through injuries to start every game in his four-year career. After a 1,200-yard rookie season, Harris finished with 1,034, 1,035 and 1,043 over the next three. Next Gen Stats has not viewed him as an efficient ball-carrier, however, ranking him in the bottom third in rush yards over expected in 2024 and second-to-last in 2022. A finish in the top third of this metric did transpire in 2023, perhaps marking one of Harris’ few inconsistencies in a career that has also featured between six and eight rushing TDs each season.

Los Angeles is certainly in need at the running back position, as the club released Gus Edwards several days ago and could lose J.K. Dobbins to free agency. While Harris has established himself as a high-floor, low-ceiling type of player, Chargers offensive coordinator and run game guru Greg Roman — who is plenty familiar with Harris after having operated as the Ravens’ OC for the first two years of the RB’s career — may be able to help him find another level.

Even if that does not come to pass, there is plenty of value in having a steady, durable ball carrier near the top of the depth chart. Plus, regardless of whether the Chargers can push a Harris deal across the finish line, the team could certainly seek another addition in a draft lauded for its RB talent.

The Steelers will likewise be on the lookout for RB help. While Pittsburgh has retained Harris’ more dyamic running mate, Jaylen Warren, via the second-round RFA tender, the cupboard is largely bare beyond that (save for the change-of-pace looks that Cordarrelle Patterson can provide). The need for rushing talent will be heightened if the team fills its quarterback position with the 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, whose running ability will not make anyone forget Justin Fields.

Broncos, LB Dre Greenlaw Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 6:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Broncos are investing heavily in recent 49ers defensive standouts. Dre Greenlaw will be joining Talanoa Hufanga in Denver, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports.

This agreement ends a six-season Greenlaw stay in San Francisco. Like Hufanga, Greenlaw saw the back end of his Bay Area stay marred by injuries. The Broncos will take a chance on another standout starter (when healthy) and one whose setback played a central role in a Super Bowl outcome.

Greenlaw will join the Broncos on a three-year, $35MM accord, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Despite a seminal Achilles tear in Super Bowl LVIII and barely playing last season, Greenlaw will score a much better deal than he did when he signed a 49ers extension (two years, $16.4MM). In need at linebacker, the Broncos will bet on the form Greenlaw showed alongside Fred Warner.

A strong coverage player before suffering the Achilles injury — one sustained while trotting onto the field during the first half against the Chiefs — Greenlaw combined to make 147 tackles from 2022-23. He and Warner became a top-tier linebacking duo, but injuries have been an issue for Greenlaw beyond that Super Bowl. The former fifth-round find missed 14 games in 2021 due to a groin injury. Last season, Greenlaw did not debut until December; he logged just 30 snaps upon being activated.

While an argument exists Greenlaw’s injury cost the 49ers a championship, a player Pro Football Focus tabbed a top-25 linebacker (ninth in 2022) will attempt to help a Broncos team that lost Cody Barton (to the Titans) earlier today. Denver lost Alex Singleton to an ACL tear in Week 3 of last season, using Barton and special-teamer Justin Strnad as its primary LBs. Strnad is also a free agent, while Singleton is going into an age-31 season coming off a major injury. The Broncos probably are not done at ILB, but Greenlaw profiles as their new centerpiece there.

The Titans, Texans and Cowboys showed preliminary Greenlaw interest, per The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson, but the Broncos will come out of Day 1 with two ex-49ers bastions.

QB Jameis Winston In Conversation With 49ers, Chargers

March 10th, 2025 at 6:27pm CST by Ely Allen

It’s looks like West Coast could be the best coast for veteran quarterback Jameis Winston, as senior NFL insider Josina Anderson reports that the recent backup has been in conversation with the 49ers and Chargers for potential backup roles. While it doesn’t appear that he’s a priority in New York, Anderson notes that the Giants could get involved here, too, depending on the outcome of talks with other passing options.

The former No. 1 overall pick from the 2015 NFL Draft has slowly seen a demotion in his NFL career, going from a full-time starter in Tampa Bay to part-time starting roles in New Orleans and Cleveland. During a five-year stint to start his career with the Buccaneers, Winston had started most every game that he was available, aside from a short period in 2018 as he served a suspension for allegedly groping a female Uber driver and had to win his job back from Ryan Fitzpatrick.

In 2020, he signed with the Saints as a backup to Drew Brees but took over the starting job the next year, before suffering a season-ending ACL tear. The following two years saw him serve in New Orleans as a backup to Andy Dalton and Derek Carr. This past season, he signed on with the Browns to serve as a backup to Deshaun Watson, ultimately finding himself in the starting lineup once again when Watson was ruled out for the season with an Achilles tendon tear.

Both situations in San Francisco and Los Angeles are obvious backup situations behind young quarterbacks who have an extremely solid hold on their starting jobs. The Chargers recently gave Justin Herbert an extension that, at the time, made him the highest-paid player in the NFL, though he was quickly surpassed by Joe Burrow. Brock Purdy isn’t quite there yet, though he will finally make multi-millions in 2025, but the 49ers have been in conversations about extending him for some time now.

In San Francisco, the 49ers would be bringing in Winston as an improvement over Tanner Mordecai, as Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen head to free agency this week. The Chargers are simply looking to fill their depth chart at the position as they currently don’t have anyone under contract behind Herbert; Taylor Heinicke and Easton Stick are set to be free agents, as well.

The Giants have several options on the table as the explore options with veteran free agents like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson after watching other options like Sam Darnold and Justin Fields come off the market. Winston would actually be a smart signing for them as they’ve also been heavily linked to using their No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on a quarterback. If they do draft a passer in the first round, Winston has proved he can be an effective starter to bridge the gap until the rookie is ready to take over.

Patriots To Add WR Mack Hollins

March 10th, 2025 at 6:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Linked to Tee Higgins and Chris Godwin during this year’s free agency period, the Patriots have yet to make their impact wide receiver splash. But they are adding a depth piece to that mix.

Mack Hollins is coming aboard on a two-year deal, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. Hollins’ $8.4MM agreement will reunite him with three-time Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, who had signed him while in charge in Las Vegas.

Perhaps known as much for his shoe skepticism as his on-field work, Hollins has managed to remain a valuable role player for a few teams. The eight-year veteran is coming off a season as a tertiary target in Buffalo but one that managed a regular snap share despite the team giving Curtis Samuel an $8MM-per-year deal and trading for Amari Cooper midseason.

Hollins, 31, logged a 66% snap share with the Bills last season; that beat out Cooper’s (46%) with the team. Hollins also came through on the Bills’ biggest stage, catching three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in the AFC championship game loss to the Chiefs. During the regular season, the 6-foot-4 pass catcher totaled 378 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, forming a rapport with Josh Allen. The Bills agreed to terms with Josh Palmer today and still have Samuel under contract. That effectively pointed Hollins and Cooper out of Western New York.

Hollins’ only greater single-season snap share came in 2022, when he suited up for the Raiders in McDaniels’ Las Vegas debut. While McDaniels did not enjoy a successful tenure, the experienced play-caller found good use for Hollins, who finished the ’22 slate with career highs in catches (57) and yards (690). Hollins’ best game that season came against Mike Vrabel’s Titans, when he caught eight passes for 158 yards and a touchdown in a two-point Vegas loss.

The Patriots, who pursued a few big-name wideouts last year, still have a hole on their depth chart. A few high-profile receivers remain in free agency — from Cooper to Stefon Diggs to Keenan Allen. The Pats have more to figure out here, but Hollins will supply some depth with scheme familiarity.

Giants To Re-Sign WR Darius Slayton

March 10th, 2025 at 5:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

For a second time in three offseasons, Darius Slayton has agreed to stay with the Giants. Despite rumors pointing the veteran wide receiver out of New York, he will stay and receive a significant raise.

Slayton is sticking with the Giants on a three-year, $36MM deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This doubles Slayton’s previous base salary and ensures he will continue to operate in a new role of Malik Nabers sidekick.

The Giants had given Slayton a two-year, $12MM deal in 2023; that came after they took the rare step of slashing his rookie-deal salary in 2022. As was the case heading into that 2023 free agency period, the Giants were expected to lose Slayton. The wideout was aiming to join a contender this offseason, but FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes the Giants and their six-year wideout continued negotiations on an extension into the season. After Big Blue did not trade Slayton at the deadline, the longtime Daniel Jones weapon will again circle back to the team that drafted him.

Four times a 700-plus-yard receiver (and zero clearing 800), Slayton had established himself as a midlevel WR2. But the former fifth-round pick became a nominal No. 1 for Giants teams that had missed on some other WR investments. Slayton, 27, played a lead role in the Giants’ 2022 playoff berth, joining Saquon Barkley as the team’s top skill-position players during a surprise divisional-round season.

Overall, however, Slayton has been tied to below-average offenses. He is now committing to a team that does not have a starting quarterback yet. The Giants hold the No. 3 overall pick and have been linked to both Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. One of the two vets may well be targeting Nabers and Slayton in 2025, but Slayton’s deal will soon tie him to a longer-term prospect — perhaps one taken in this year’s first round.

Neither of Joe Schoen’s Day 2 receiver investments — Jalin Hyatt, Wan’Dale Robinson — have distinguished themselves as a reliable pass catcher, but Slayton has. The Giants will move forward with the Dave Gettleman draftee once again.

Vikings To Host Jonathan Allen

March 10th, 2025 at 5:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Having been released, Jonathan Allen is free to visit interested teams prior to the start of the new league year. The Pro Bowl defensive tackle will do just that on Monday.

Allen has a visit lined up with the Vikings, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Minnesota was recently floated as a potential landing spot, so this latest update comes as little surprise. The Vikings entered Monday with over $61MM in cap space.

Being tied to the 49ers as well, Allen should command a solid third contract. After Grady Jarrett spent only hours as a cap casualty before joining the Bears on a three-year, $43.5MM deal, Allen figures to set a high floor. Going into an age-30 season, Allen is nearly two years younger than Jarrett.

Although Allen is coming off a season-altering injury — a partial pectoral tear — he made it back in time to help the Commanders make one of the most surprising trips to the conference championship game in NFL history. Allen also has two Pro Bowls on his resume, helping Washington while Chase Young missed over a year due to a severe knee injury. Allen combined for 16.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss during his Pro Bowl 2021 and ’22 seasons, but the Commanders decided to cut bait on his $18MM-per-year deal before its final year.

Minnesota has not yet made a notable addition on its defensive line. The team, however, has regulars Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery in free agency. Harrison Phillips returns, but an Allen addition would certainly provide a boost to the Vikes’ interior pass rush. It will be interesting to see if suitors beyond Minnesota and San Francisco emerge, as Allen will enter Tuesday as one of the top players available.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Rams Close To Cutting WR Cooper Kupp

March 10th, 2025 at 5:43pm CST by Rory Parks

As the 2025 league year looms, the Rams are approaching a deadline with Cooper Kupp. Although a bit more time remains until the standout wide receiver’s $7.5MM roster bonus is due, Kupp is on the verge of free agency.

The Rams have tried to trade Kupp but are close to releasing him. Barring an 11th-hour trade, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Kupp will be cut after the new league year begins. The Rams could make Kupp a post-June 1 release beginning at 3pm CT on March 12.

A parting of the ways has been expected for some time. The 31-year-old acknowledged back in January that he may have already played his last snap for the Rams, and shortly thereafter, it was reported that Los Angeles was actively shopping the 2021 Triple Crown winner. When speaking about the matter last week, GM Les Snead indicated his club could retain Kupp, though he noted that was the least likely option.

Shortly after those comments were made, Snead pulled the trigger on a two-year, $46MM contract for Davante Adams, effectively confirming Kupp’s departure. As the team moves forward with Puka Nacua, Adams, and the recently-resigned Tutu Atwell at the top of its WR depth chart, Kupp will be seeking a change of scenery. By cutting him prior to March 17, the Rams will avoid paying the above-referenced roster bonus, and using the post-June 1 designation will allow LA to save $15MM in cap space (albeit with a corresponding dead cap charge of roughly the same amount, as $5MM of the bonus is guaranteed in full).

The fact that a release loomed as the probable outcome certainly put a damper on Kupp’s trade market, and his recent injury woes and general downturn in production did not help (he has seen his yards-per-game average drop from 90.2 to 61.4 to 59.2 since the start of the 2022 season while playing in 33 of a possible 51 regular season games over the past three years). Still, a healthy Kupp would be a valuable addition to any number of clubs in need of a pass-catcher, and he should not linger on the open market for too long.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Vikings, C Ryan Kelly Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 5:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ryan Kelly is leaving Indianapolis after nine seasons. The Pro Bowl center has agreed to terms with the Vikings, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler report.

The nine-year veteran will join the Vikings on a two-year, $18MM deal. Kelly will join a Minnesota O-line housing high-end tackle contracts for Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill. Kelly will reunite with the GM who drafted him, Ryan Grigson, who is in the Vikings’ front office.

After signing a Colts extension in 2020, Kelly lobbied for a new deal last year. Nothing emerged, as Kenny Moore and Grover Stewart secured third Indianapolis contracts. Kelly played out his four-year, $49.65MM extension and will depart. He was the last position player acquired under Grigson’s GM tenure.

A 2016 first-round pick Kelly was tied to a fifth-year option when he inked his Colts extension. Playing well enough to keep going in Indy — but perhaps not well enough to follow Moore and Stewart with a third contract — that timeline placed Kelly as first-time free agent ahead of an age-32 season. That naturally affected his market this week.

Kelly missed seven games last season — largely due to in-season knee surgery — but has four Pro Bowls and a second-team All-Pro honor on his resume. The longtime Indy Quenton Nelson running mate up front made his most recent Pro Bowl as recently as 2023. Even during an injury-marred 2024, Kelly ranked 10th in pass block win rate. Pro Football Focus slotted him eighth among center regulars in ’23, when the Alabama alum played 17 games.

This signing looks set to displace Garrett Bradbury from his center post. PFF rated Bradbury 23rd and 27th since he re-signed on a three-year deal. Minnesota is bringing in a more proven blocker, and this would stand to end Bradbury’s six-season run as the Vikings’ starting center. The Vikes are likely to cut former second-round pick Ed Ingram. If Minnesota were to release Bradbury, it would save $3.6MM in cap space.

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