HEADLINES

Month: March 2025

Patriots To Match Raiders’ Christian Elliss Offer Sheet

March 25th, 2025 at 1:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

MARCH 25: The Raiders designed a two-year, $13.5MM offer sheet, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. With the Patriots matching it, the proposal now doubles as a significant New England raise for the young linebacker.

MARCH 24: Christian Elliss signed an offer sheet with the Raiders last week, leaving the Patriots in position to either match it or allow him to depart without any compensation coming back. New England has taken the former route.

The Patriots will match the Elliss offer sheet, as first reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss. The move locks in the two-year deal which would have otherwise sent him to Vegas. Elliss will carry a cap charge of $4.84MM this season, one in which he was originally slated to earn $3.26MM on his RFA tender.

Elliss began his career with the Eagles, operating as a key special teams presence during his time with them. He was waived late in the 2023 campaign, though, and the Patriots’ decision to claim him set him up for a New England stint. The 26-year-old made five starts across his 16 appearances last season, and while he remained a core special teams contributor he took on a defensive workload as well. Elliss logged 513 defensive snaps in 2024, by far the most of his career.

The Idaho product received the original-round tender to prevent him from reaching unrestricted free agency. That move set Elliss up for a cost-effective 2025 deal, but it opened the door to an offer sheet since no compensation would have been included for the former undrafted free agent (which would have been the case had New England applied the more expensive second-round tender). The Raiders lost Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo in free agency, and Elliss would have been able to handle a notable defensive role aimed at helping to replace them at the second level of the team’s defense.

Instead, Vegas will look elsewhere on the free agent market and the draft to address the linebacker position. Elliss, meanwhile, will remain in place on a Patriots team which added Spillane on a three-year deal and reunited head coach Mike Vrabel with former Titan Jack Gibbens. Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai are in place as holdovers from last season, and Elliss will look to carve out a role among the mix of new additions and returnees.

He will do so with financial security for the next two years, though, and it will be interesting to see how he is used moving forward. The Patriots entered Monday with more than $80MM in remaining cap space, so they will easily be able to afford the added cost of keeping Elliss in place.

Ravens Sign CB Chidobe Awuzie

March 25th, 2025 at 12:18pm CST by Sam Robinson

Chidobe Awuzie‘s Titans stay lasted one season, as the team took on some dead money to move on from a player given a healthy guarantee in 2024. Awuzie has found a new home.

Set to return to the AFC North, the former Bengals cornerback signed with the Ravens on Tuesday. The team announced Awuzie, an eight-year veteran, is Baltimore-bound. It is a one-year deal.

Although the market for third CB contracts reset thanks to the deals handed out to Charvarius Ward, Carlton Davis, D.J. Reed and Byron Murphy earlier this month, that group had seen three previous vets — Awuzie, Darius Slay, James Bradberry — jettisoned. Awuzie’s came after he had signed a three-year, $36MM deal that came with $19MM guaranteed at signing. The Titans (again) changed GMs this offseason and shed that contract from their payroll, incurring a $12.51MM dead money hit in the process.

The Ravens let 2024 starter Brandon Stephens walk in free agency, where he received a somewhat surprising three-year, $36MM Jets contract — one that came with $22.98MM guaranteed at signing. Never viewed as likely to pay Stephens in that range, the Ravens are adding a proven veteran on the cheap. As the Titans will be paying most of Awuzie’s salary, minus what will likely be a veteran-minimum Ravens pact that will subtract from Tennessee’s dead money total (via offset language), Baltimore will bet on Awuzie bouncing back from another season-altering injury.

A groin injury sustained in Week 3 kept Awuzie out nine games. The Titans had paired the former second-round pick with high-end trade acquisition L’Jarius Sneed, but the duo barely played together. Sneed also missed most of his first Titans season. While Tennessee will hope Sneed bounces back, Awuzie will aim to do so in Baltimore. Awuzie, who also has an ACL tear on his medical sheet, will turn 30 in May.

Awuzie will enter the 2025 season having made 81 career starts. The Cowboys let the 6-foot boundary corner walk in 2021, leading to a Bengals commitment (three years, $21.75MM). The Colorado alum suffered an ACL tear on Halloween 2022, after having started for Cincinnati’s Super Bowl LVI-bound team, and did not solidify his job upon returning in 2023. Awuzie, however, recaptured a Bengals starting post down the stretch in 2023; that led to the Titans’ lucrative investment in a player PFR ranked as the No. 39 free agent last year.

Pro Football Focus ranked Awuzie as a top-15 corner in 2021 and had him near that level before his 2022 injury. After an inconsistent 2023 season, PFF slotted Awuzie 61st during his injury-interrupted Titans campaign. As far as coverage numbers, Awuzie was viewed (via Pro-Football-Reference) as improving on his 2023 numbers. He allowed a 57.7% completion rate as the closest defender and 7.2 yards per target, working out to an 89.7 passer rating in coverage. The Ravens will give Awuzie a shot to start alongside Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, with 2024 draftee T.J. Tampa looming in a potential competition.

Eliot Wolf Addresses Patriots’ Draft Strategy; Team High On Will Campbell, Armand Membou?

March 25th, 2025 at 11:57am CST by Adam La Rose

Set to select fourth overall in April’s draft, the Patriots are a team to watch closely. New England is not in need of a Day 1 quarterback, something which could lead to favorable circumstances with respect to how the top of the board shakes out in the first round.

Still, the team faces a number of roster-building questions in the wake of free agency. The Patriots were busy on the open market, with lucrative deals for the likes of Milton Williams, Carlton Davis and Harold Landry aimed at upgrading their defense. The left tackle and receiver positions are still in need of attention, though, leading many to point to those as targets for the No. 4 pick. When speaking on the subject, EVP Eliot Wolf said need will not lead to the team reaching on a prospect.

[RELATED: No Deal Imminent Between Patriots, Stefon Diggs]

“No, we don’t [feel compelled]. The best player available is going to be the way it is,” Wolf said (via Karen Guregian of MassLive). “Maybe we went for need a little bit too much last year… But, just moving forward, it’s taking the best player, and understanding that we’ve filled a lot of needs already in free agency.”

New England’s offensive line was a major sore spot in 2024, and improving the unit was seen as a central priority for the offseason. The team’s only moves to date have consisted of adding veteran right tackle Morgan Moses and center Garrett Bradbury along with tendering Demontrey Jacobs, however. Providing quarterback Drake Maye with blindside protection will be critical for his first full season as a starter, but at this point nothing has taken place at the left tackle position. As a result, it remains one to watch closely regarding the draft.

On that note, Guregian reports the Patriots remain fond of Will Campbell at this point in the evaluation process. The LSU product is seen as the top O-lineman in the 2025 class, but questions linger about his ability to play tackle at the NFL level. A move to guard could be in store based on his arm length, but a selection at No. 4 on the part of the Patriots would represent confidence he can handle left tackle duties.

Other lineman are on the team’s first-round radar as well. Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline writes the Patriots have shown “an incredible amount of interest” in Armand Membou since the Combine took place earlier this month. The Missouri product has seen his draft stock rise in recent weeks, although he too is seen as a candidate to play guard in the NFL. Like with Campbell, Membou would be expected to operate as a tackle in the event New England drafted him in (or near) the top five or 10 selections.

Of course, any public statements made at this time of year cannot fully be taken at face value. Still, Wolf’s remarks indicate the Patriots are open to several different possibilities in the first round, including those which could steer them toward an offensive lineman with their top pick (although as Guregian notes, New England sees Heisman winner Travis Hunter as the best player in the draft). Barring a left tackle signing in particular over the coming weeks, Campbell and Membou will be worth monitoring from New England’s perspective as the draft approaches.

Rams WR Puka Nacua Hopes To Retire At 30

March 25th, 2025 at 10:31am CST by Adam La Rose

Puka Nacua enjoyed a stellar rookie season, and he followed it up with a strong campaign in 2024. The Rams wideout is positioned to operate as a foundational member of the team’s offense for the foreseeable future, but he recently provided insight on how long he intends to play in the NFL.

“I know I want to retire at the age of 30,” Nacua said during an appearance on the Join the Lobby podcast (video link). “I’m 23 right now, I’m going into Year 3 — it wouldn’t even be 10 years. It’d be maybe seven or eight. I think of Aaron Donald, to go out at the top, I think it would be super cool.”

Donald retired last spring at the age of 32. The future Hall of Famer had already won a Super Bowl along with three Defensive Player of the Year awards by that point, leaving him with little more to accomplish in the NFL. Donald’s success also made him one of the league’s all-time leaders in terms of career earnings, a list Nacua is obviously a long way from joining. The latter has two years remaining on his rookie contract.

Selected in the fifth round in 2023, Nacua set new NFL records for receptions (105) and yards (1,486) by a rookie receiver. He was limited to 11 games this past season, but he averaged 90 yards per contest, a slight increase in his output compared to his rookie campaign. The BYU product has seen Cooper Kupp released this offseason with the Rams bringing in Davante Adams as a replacement.

That will give Los Angeles a different look in the passing game, but Nacua will still be counted on to play a major role in the team’s offense. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is in the fold for at least one more season, so expectations will remain high for the unit. Nacua could play his way into a lucrative extension as early as next offseason, but his second contract could prove to be his sole lucrative deal if he holds firm on his career plans.

“The injuries are something you can’t control [as] part of the game, so you never know,” Nacua added. “Hopefully, the rest of the career can go healthy, but you have shoulder surgery, you have knee surgery, you have ankle. By the time my kids could be 18, I could be barely walking if you play the game and sustain all the injuries and stuff like that, but I want to retire early.”

For the time being, Nacua should be able to enjoy a highly productive career as long as he remains healthy moving forward. Even if that takes place, though, his tenure with the Rams could prove to be relatively short-lived.

Chargers To Re-Sign S Tony Jefferson

March 24th, 2025 at 10:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Tony Jefferson is sticking in Los Angeles. The veteran safety is re-signing with the Chargers, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. It’s a one-year deal for Jefferson.

Jefferson announced his retirement following the 2022 season and quickly caught on with the Ravens scouting department. He spent a year in that role before reversing course and attempting a comeback. This signing will reunite Jefferson with Chargers GM Joe Hortiz, a former Ravens exec. Jefferson both played for the Ravens and spent a year on their scouting staff.

He ended up catching on with the Chargers, although he was stashed on the practice squad after not making the initial 53-man roster. He got into eight games (four starts), compiling 27 tackles. He also came up big in the playoffs, collecting three tackles, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in the Wild Card Round. For his efforts, Jefferson garnered a pair of Comeback Player of the Year votes.

After cutting his teeth in Arizona, Jefferson made a name for himself in Baltimore, where he started all 30 of his appearances between 2017 and 2018. A torn ACL ended his 2019 campaign early, and since sitting out the 2020 season, Jefferson has settled into more of a backup role with the 49ers, Ravens (second stint), and Giants.

Jefferson saw most of his work last season when Alohi Gilman was on IR, and the veteran stuck in the lineup when Elijah Molden went down with a season-ending injury. That duo (along with top safety Derwin James Jr.) will be back in 2025, so Jefferson will likely be competing for a back-of-the-depth-chart job come training camp.

Raiders To Sign DL Leki Fotu

March 24th, 2025 at 9:30pm CST by Ben Levine

The Raiders have added some veteran depth to their defensive line. According to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Raiders have signed defensive tackle Leki Fotu.

2024 was mostly a lost campaign for Fotu. After signing with the Jets last offseason, the defensive lineman started the season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. He was activated in October and got into two games (one start) for his new squad, but he quickly landed back on injured reserve with a knee injury.

Prior to his one-year stop in New York, Fotu was a reliable option on the Cardinals defensive line. A former fourth-round pick, the defensive lineman spent four seasons in Arizona, starting 21 of his 56 appearances. He started 18 of those games between 2022 and 2023, and he finished that latter campaign with career highs in sacks (2.5) and tackles for loss (five).

Fotu will be joining a relatively deep DL in Las Vegas. After inking a $110MM deal with the Raiders last offseason, Christian Wilkins was limited to only five games in 2024. He’ll be penciled in atop the depth chart, joining Jonah Laulu, who earned the majority of the snaps at the position down the stretch. The Raiders will also return Adam Butler, who led the position grouping in snaps in 2024.

John Jenkins remains unsigned, so there could be a spot for Fotu towards the back of the depth chart. Most likely, the 26-year-old will compete with the likes of Matthew Butler, Zach Carter, and Tyler Manoa for playing time.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/24/25

March 24th, 2025 at 8:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

A pair of former Patriots were claimed off waivers today. Lecitus Smith started one of his eight appearances for New England in 2024, although his offensive showing was limited to only five offensive snaps. He spent the 2023 season in Arizona, where he started two of his 10 appearances.

Curtis Jacobs got into nine games (two starts) as a UDFA with the Patriots in 2024, compiling four tackles while spending the majority of his time on special teams. A Penn State product, Jacobs spent last preseason with the Chiefs.

Seahawks To Sign TE Eric Saubert

March 24th, 2025 at 6:18pm CST by Ben Levine

Eric Saubert is sticking in the NFC West. After spending the 2024 season with the 49ers, the veteran tight end is joining the Seahawks, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Saubert is firmly at journeyman status at this point of his career, as the Seahawks will represent his 11th NFL team. Still, the former fifth-round pick has managed to get consistent work, appearing in 101 games across his eight NFL seasons.

Traditionally deployed as a blocking tight end or special teamer, Saubert has seen some work in the receiving game throughout his career. His best offensive showing came with the Broncos in 2022, when he finished with 15 catches for 148 yards.

The 30-year-old got into all 17 games (three starts) for the 49ers last season, hauling in 11 catches while splitting his nearly 700 total snaps between offense and special teams. Saubert was entrenched as the team’s TE2 in 2024, and he earned his handful of starts when George Kittle was out of the lineup.

Saubert could have a tougher path to playing time in Seattle. The Seahawks return their top-two tight ends from 2024 in Noah Fant and AJ Barner, and the team is also still rostering recent UDFA Brady Russell. Saubert’s best path to a roster spot will likely come via special teams, but he’ll need to show some offensive value if he doesn’t want to land on the practice squad.

Eagles To Sign OL Kendall Lamm

March 24th, 2025 at 5:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Kendall Lamm is continuing his career with the defending champs. Fox Sports’ Peter Schrager reports that the veteran lineman is signing with the Eagles. It will be a one-year deal for Lamm.

[RELATED: Dolphins T Kendall Lamm May Continue Playing]

The long-time backup spent the past three seasons with the Dolphins. After starting only five total games between 2019 and 2022, Lamm started 15 of his 32 appearances over the past two years. This includes a 2024 campaign where he got into 51 percent of his team’s offensive snaps while ranking 32nd among 81 qualifying OTs, per Pro Football Focus. His season ended in December due to a back injury that ultimately required surgery.

After contemplating retirement during the 2023 campaign, Lamm stated his intention to hang up his cleats following the 2024 season. The lineman later walked back this remarks, noting that if he feels good, “we’ll keep it going.”

The 32-year-old will apparently keep it going in Philly. The Eagles are set atop the depth chart with Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, but Lamm could be in line for snaps as a swing OT. The team’s current backup options include Laekin Vakalahi and Darian Kinnard, who have a combined three games of experience (all via Kinnard). Lamm brings 119 games of experience across 10 NFL seasons and will likely be the favorite for the role heading into the preseason.

Saints Sign OL Dillon Radunz

March 24th, 2025 at 4:11pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Saints have signed offensive lineman Dillon Radunz, per a team announcement.

The 2021 second-round pick is a four-year veteran who started 26 games for the Titans over the last two years. All 15 of his starts in 2024 came at right guard, but he saw snaps at every position except center in 2023. He will compete for a starting role along the interior of the Saints’ offensive line in 2025, likely at left guard after the departure of Lucas Patrick to the Bengals.

Radunz primarily played left tackle at North Dakota State, but he quickly developed more versatility in the NFL with snaps at both guard positions (and one start at left tackle) as a rookie. All four of his 2022 starts came at guard before a torn ACL ended his season in December. He continued to move around in 2023, starting six games at left guard, right tackle, and left tackle across the first 11 weeks of the season. Radunz settled in at right tackle, where he closed out the season with seven straight starts.

Radunz won a starting job as the Titans’ right guard entering the 2024 season. He missed two games due to minor injuries and allowed six sacks and 23 pressures, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Radunz’s primary competition for a starting job in New Orleans will be Nick Saldivieri, who started six games at left guard before landing on injured reserve for the rest of the season.

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