Lions Sign DL Payton Turner
The Lions announced the signing of defensive lineman Payton Turner on Friday. The former first-round pick is joining his third NFL team.
After the Saints drafted Turner 28th overall in 2021, then-head coach Sean Payton said of the former Houston Cougar: “He’s got a lot of traits that we value. He was a high-energy player, he’s prototype, his size. We really had this player as someone that you couldn’t help but notice. The makeup was good.”
The pick did not work out for the Saints, who got 31 games (zero starts) and five sacks from Turner over a four-year span. Various injuries, including to his shoulder and toe, held Turner to just 15 of a possible 51 games in his first three seasons. The Saints declined Turner’s fifth-year option heading into 2024, though he went on to play a career-high 16 games and notch two sacks that season.
The Cowboys liked Turner enough to guarantee him $2MM in free agency a year ago, but a rib injury prevented him from suiting up in 2025. Even though the 27-year-old has amassed 54 absences in his half-decade in the league, the Lions will take an inexpensive flyer on him as they search for edge rushers to join Aidan Hutchinson. Detroit lost Al-Quadin Muhammad, who ranked second on the team with 11 sacks last year, to the Buccaneers in free agency. The Lions have since added six-year veteran D.J. Wonnum, while Marcus Davenport is still a free agent in the wake of back-to-back injury-plagued seasons in the Motor City.
Eagles To Sign Marcus Epps, J.T. Gray
Shortly after trading Sydney Brown to the Falcons on Friday, the Eagles are replenishing their safety depth. The team has agreed to one-year deals with Marcus Epps and J.T. Gray, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Philadelphia has plenty of familiarity with Epps, an Eagle from 2019-22 and again last season. Epps was a full-time starter in 2022, an NFC-winning campaign that ended with a loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII. He then left for the Raiders’ two-year, $12MM offer in free agency. While Epps put together his second straight 17-start season to begin the contract, a torn ACL limited him to four games in 2024.
Just a week before the Eagles’ season opener last year, they brought back Epps in free agency. The 30-year-old went on to play 12 games and start in four. Epps finished with 369 snaps (250 on defense, 119 on special teams) and 21 tackles.
Having played in 103 games over eight seasons, Gray has seen a good amount of action, though he has never picked up a start. Gray signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent from Mississippi State in 2018, and he stayed in New Orleans for his first seven seasons. Although Gray totaled a meager 153 defensive snaps during that span, he was an integral special teamer throughout his Saints tenure. Gray earned a first-team All-Pro selection and a Pro Bowl nod in 2021. He was also a second-team All-Pro in 2019 and ’24.
The Saints released Gray last September, leading him to short stints with the Ravens, Broncos and Buccaneers. The 30-year-old got into five games between Denver and Tampa Bay. Gray did not play any defensive snaps last season. If he cracks the Eagles’ roster in 2026, Gray could help make up for Brown’s departure on special teams.
Having lost Brown and Reed Blankenship, Philadelphia now has Epps, Gray, Andrew Mukuba, Andre Sam and Brandon Johnson as safety options. Slot corners Cooper DeJean and Michael Carter could also see time there, though Zach Berman of The Athletic expects further safety additions.
Christian Wilkins Planning 2026 Return
Although defensive lineman Christian Wilkins was just one season into a four-year, $110MM contract, the Raiders released him last July. They designated Wilkins a terminated vested veteran, voiding $35.2MM in guaranteed money, after he declined their request to undergo a follow-up procedure on his foot. Wilkins first had foot surgery in October 2024, keeping him out of 12 games that year, and suffered another injury to his foot during the rehab process.
The 30-year-old Wilkins has not signed anywhere since the Raiders released him, and though he is still rehabbing his foot, he intends to play in 2026, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. There is widespread interest in Wilkins, per Schefter, who reports 26 of the league’s 32 teams have reached out to his camp. Wilkins should not have difficulty finding his next team when he is ready to sign.
After an excellent run at Clemson, Wilkins entered the NFL as the 13th overall pick of the Dolphins in 2019. The 6-foot-4, 310-pounder started 77 of 81 games over five years with the Dolphins. The run-stuffing Wilkins was especially effective during his last three seasons in Miami, where he combined for 252 tackles and 17 sacks. He also played in all 51 of the Dolphins’ regular-season games in that span, but his career went off the rails during his only year with the Raiders.
With 17 tackles, six QB hits and two sacks in five games, Williams remained productive in Las Vegas. However, along with his foot troubles, Wilkins was the subject of an HR complaint after he kissed a teammate on the head. That played into the Raiders’ decision to release Wilkins. The NFLPA filed a grievance on Wilkins’ behalf to recoup the guaranteed money the Raiders voided, but a ruling has not come down yet.
Jaguars To Sign Seahawks WR Jake Bobo To Offer Sheet
The Jaguars are signing Seahawks restricted free agent wide receiver/special teamer Jake Bobo to an offer sheet, Field Yates of ESPN reports. It’s a two-year, $5.5MM deal that includes $4.5MM in fully guaranteed money, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. The Seahawks will have five days to match.
Seattle tendered Bobo, who went undrafted in 2023, at the original-round level ($3.52MM). That means the Seahawks will not receive any compensation if they allow Bobo to leave for Jacksonville.
Bobo, a UCLA product, posted back-to-back 17-game seasons to begin his career. He logged a 29% offensive snap share in each of those years and combined for 32 catches, 303 yards and three touchdowns. Jaguars pass-game coordinator Shane Waldron was the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator in Bobo’s rookie year. A reunion could be in store in 2026.
Bobo missed six games with various injuries and caught just two passes during the regular season in 2025, but he hauled in a 17-yard touchdown in a 31-27 win over the Rams in the NFC championship game. While Bobo did not have a catch in the Seahawks’ Super Bowl LX victory over the Patriots, he was on the field for 35 snaps (19 on special teams, 16 on offense). The 27-year-old has amassed 587 special teams snaps in his career. He recorded a personal-high 67% ST snap share in 2024.
If Bobo goes to the Jaguars, he will likely continue as a depth receiver and special teamer. With Brian Thomas Jr, Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington and two-way player Travis Hunter (primarily a cornerback), the Jaguars have a talented group of receivers. However, after combining for 712 offensive snaps last year, Tim Patrick and Dyami Brown are no longer on the roster. Bobo could help fill the void at the back end of the Jags’ receiving corps.
Bills Decline To Match Vikings’ Ryan Van Demark Offer Sheet
After signing an offer sheet with the Vikings on Wednesday, offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark will officially leave Buffalo for Minnesota. The Bills have declined to match the Vikings’ one-year offer worth a fully guaranteed $4.2MM, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The deal includes a $2.5MM signing bonus, per Pelissero.
Van Demark, who will turn 28 on Sunday, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Because the Bills gave Van Demark an original-round tender worth $3.52MM, they will not receive compensation for losing him.
The Bills were in a similar position in 2022 when they tendered former undrafted lineman Ryan Bates at the original-round level. The Bears signed Bates to an offer sheet, but the Bills matched in his case. Now, with just $9.85MM in cap space, the Bills will let Van Demark depart.
A 43-game starter at UConn, Van Demark began his career with the Colts, though he did not survive final roster cuts as a rookie. The 6-foot-6, 307-pounder wound up spending his first year on the Bills’ practice squad. He made his pro debut the next season and has since registered 43 appearances and six starts. In 2025, his first 17-game season, Van Demark racked up a career-high 312 offensive snaps and added another 75 on special teams. Pro Football Focus gave Van Demark, who primarily played right tackle last year, a strong 74.4 grade.
The Bills will continue with Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown locked in at tackle, but their depth will take a hit with the loss of Van Demark. They are down to the inexperienced Tylan Grable–Chase Lundt–Travis Clayton trio behind Dawkins and Brown. Grable, Lundt and Clayton have combined to play in just seven NFL games.
As is the case with the Bills, the Vikings have starting tackles in place. Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill are effective players, but neither has been the picture of health in recent years. Darrisaw has missed at least two games in all five of his seasons, including 10 in 2024 and seven last year. O’Neill logged a 17-game season as recently as 2024, but he missed three games the year before and another three last season.
With Darrisaw and O’Neill struggling to stay healthy in 2025, swing tackle Justin Skule stepped in for 578 snaps and nine starts. Skule is now a free agent, paving the way for Van Demark to replace him in Minnesota.
Cowboys Pursued LB Devin Lloyd
The Cowboys entered the offseason with a need at middle linebacker, but they have done nothing to address it so far. It hasn’t been for lack of effort. Along with the previously reported pursuits of Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker, the Cowboys “made a push” to sign Devin Lloyd at the outset of free agency, per Todd Archer of ESPN.
The Cowboys lost out on Dean and Walker to the Raiders, who pulled in the duo as part of their big-money shopping spree in the first wave of free agency. Meanwhile, Lloyd left the Jaguars for the Panthers. All three players secured three-year deals worth between $36MM and $42MM.
With Dean, Walker, Lloyd and several other free agent possibilities off the board, inside linebacker options have dwindled. But the open market still features at least a few notable veterans. To name two prominent examples, Commanders free agent Bobby Wagner and career-long Buccaneer Lavonte David remain unsigned. However, the Cowboys have not gone after either member of the grizzled duo, according to Archer. Bobby Okereke, Germaine Pratt and Shaq Thompson are a few others without teams, but it is unclear if the Cowboys have interest.
In 2025, a year in which the Cowboys’ defense allowed the most points and third-most yards in the NFL, Kenneth Murray recorded the highest snap share (78.86%) among their linebackers. Murray is also among current free agents, but the Cowboys are not expected to re-sign him, Archer reports. He and in-season trade pickup Logan Wilson will go down as one-and-done additions for Dallas.
The Cowboys acquired Murray from the Titans in a late-round pick swap last March, but Pro Football Focus wound up ranking him a ghastly 86th among 88 off-ball LBs in 2025. While Wilson only cost the Cowboys a seventh-rounder, they were so unimpressed with the former Bengal’s work that they waived him last month. Although Wilson is just 29, he retired earlier this week.
As things stand, DeMarvion Overshown, Shemar James and Justin Barron are new defensive coordinator Christian Parker‘s in-house choices as he transitions the Cowboys to a 3-4 base. Overshown is a shoo-in to start if healthy, but injuries have undermined him throughout his three-year career. He has played in just 19 of a possible 51 games. James posted a 49.14% snap share and made a team-high 91 tackles as a fifth-round rookie, though PFF placed him just two spots higher than Murray in its rankings. Meanwhile, as an undrafted rookie last year, Barron did not play a defensive snap in either of his two appearances.
Considering what they have on hand, Dallas seems likely to pick up another starting-caliber off-ball linebacker in either free agency, a trade or the draft. With the Cowboys owning two first-round picks (No. 12 and 20), they could be waiting until late April to land an impact player at the position.
Bengals Eyeing Extensions For CBs DJ Turner, Dax Hill
The Bengals recently took care of one notable extension priority by finalizing a new deal with left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. Attention is expected to now turn to the secondary. 
Cornerbacks DJ Turner and Dax Hill are approaching the final year of their respective contracts. Hill is due to collect $12.68MM in 2026 on his fifth-year option. Turner, meanwhile, will see his rookie deal expire next spring. Keeping both in the fold beyond the coming campaign is viewed as a priority, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes.
Nothing is imminent on either front, and that could remain the case well into the spring. Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer also notes an extension in both cases may need to wait until after the draft and closer to the start of training camp. She adds, however, that the organization “has made it clear” already that Turner and Hill are high on the priority list with respect to new deals being worked out. The former Michigan teammates share the same agent.
That could prove to be a complicating factor once negotiations begin. On the other hand, joint new pacts could be worked out, as was the case last spring with wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. In any event, raises for bother Turner and Hill will be in store. The latter was used in a number of ways early in his NFL career before taking on perimeter corner duties. Hill, 25, rebounded well from an injury-shortened 2024 campaign and played all 17 games this past season. He recorded 11 pass deflections and enjoyed his best year to date in terms of completion percentage (63.6%) and passer rating (86.9) allowed in coverage.
Turner was a regular defensive presence during his first two years, but he handled a career-high snap share of 89% in 2025. The former second-rounder secured a pair of interceptions and comfortably set a new personal mark with 18 pass deflections. Turner also made strides in terms of his performance in coverage. His stock will be high entering contract talks this spring.
Nine cornerback deals are currently valued at $20.1MM or more per year. That figure will grow once the likes of Devon Witherspoon and Christian Gonzalez ink their own extensions, something which could happen as early as this offseason. Neither Turner nor Hill will likely find themselves in position to approach the top of the position’s market ($31MM annually, thanks to Trent McDuffie‘s recent Rams contract), but they will receive a notable payday if/when they have new Bengals deals in hand.
As both Dehner and Conway add, however, Cincinnati could stand to make further CB moves this offseason. Cam Taylor-Britt and Marco Wilson have departed in free agency with no outside additions taking place so far. Adding depth to replace those two, as well as a starting-caliber slot corner, will be needed before the 2026 season begins. As such, at least one notable draft investment can be expected on the part of the Bengals. Regardless of how things play out on that front, though, it will be interesting to see how extension talks with Turner and Hill play out during the time leading up to the start of the campaign.
Kirk Cousins Weighing All Options In Free Agency
MARCH 20: SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora echoes the sentiment that Cousins is in position to wait until deep into the spring to decide on his next move. A few more QB dominoes may need to fall before his latest NFL contract is in place.
MARCH 17: After attempting to force his way into free agency last offseason, Kirk Cousins finally got his wish last week. However, the veteran remains available after the first wave of signings and is still considering all of his options, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
One of the best landing spots would have been Kansas City. The Chiefs needed a starter until Patrick Mahomes completes his recovery from last December’s ACL tear, so Cousins could have had guaranteed playing time on a contending team to start the year. A successful season under Andy Reid certainly would have boosted his stock into 2027.
The Chiefs, however, traded for Justin Fields to bridge the gap until Mahomes’ return. The Falcons similarly signed Tua Tagovailoa to battle Michael Penix Jr. for a starting job, and the Colts have Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard behind Daniel Jones in the event he cannot recover from his Achilles tear by Week 1. No other team has an injured starter, though Cousins’ history with Sean McVay in Washington could make him a natural fit as Matt Stafford‘s backup in Los Angeles, especially with Gardner Minshew following Mike LaFleur to Arizona.
There are two starting jobs available, Breer notes, in Pittsburgh and Las Vegas. Both teams, though, are expected to go with different quarterbacks. The Steelers are poised to reunite Aaron Rodgers with new head coach Mike McCarthy, and Fernando Mendoza has been projected for the Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick since the regular season ended.
Cousins ending up in Pittsburgh would likely only happen if Rodgers retires, and he would probably have to win the job against Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, and potentially a rookie taken in April’s draft.
The Raiders may consider sitting Mendoza in his first year to continue his development, but quarterbacks drafted in the top-five picks typically start right away. The reigning Heisman winner will also turn 23 years old as a rookie and seems ready for the NFL after leading Indiana to a national championship. However, new head coach Klint Kubiak was the Vikings’ quarterbacks coach (2019-2020) and offensive coordinator (2021) for one of the best stretches of Cousins’ career and could see him as a valuable mentor and placeholder for Mendoza as he gets his pro footing.
Cousins could also wait, Breer adds. Other teams could have interest in Cousins if their quarterback situations were to suddenly change with an injury. This would remind of last year, when Cousins preferred to see how every team’s QB depth chart looked post-draft. But no trade commenced then. With the Falcons having cut the cord following an organizational overhaul, Cousins should have a lower-stakes free agency decision to make at some point this offseason.
WR Denzel Boston To Visit Browns
Denzel Boston is set to be among the busier prospects for the 2026 draft leading up to the event. One of his many scheduled pre-draft visits is set to take place today.
Boston will meet with the Browns, ESPN’s Field Yates notes. That comes as little surprise given the wideout’s draft stock and Cleveland’s positional needs as April approaches. Boston is viewed as a strong candidate to come off the board in the opening round of the draft.
Over the course of his final two seasons at Washington, the big-bodied wideout served as a focal point on offense. Boston totaled 125 catches, 1,715 yards and 20 touchdowns across the 2024 and ’25 seasons. Expectations will be high upon arrival in the NFL. Regular usage in the red zone in particular could allow for Boston to carve out a role during his rookie season, wherever he winds up.
Rebuilding the offensive line has been a clear point of emphasis for the Browns early in free agency. Even with multiple moves taking place on that front, Cleveland could still stand make an early draft investment at the left tackle spot. The same also applies to the receiver position. The Browns own picks No. 6 and 24, so adding at both spots could be a viable path to take.
In that event, Boston could very well be a feasible target. He is currently ranked 25th overall by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah. Other wideouts like Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, Jordyn Tyson and Omar Cooper Jr. are also viewed as strong candidates to come off the board during Day 1. Some will likely hear their names called before Boston’s, but the Browns are among the teams which could find themselves in position to select him next month.
Titans To Host TE Jody Fortson
A major knee injury left Jody Fortson sidelined through the entire 2025 season. He has now recovered, though, and the free agent tight end is drawing interest from at least one suitor. 
Fortson is set to visit the Titans today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Each of his 24 combined regular and postseason appearances have come as a member of the Chiefs, so this news comes as little surprise. Prior to his arrival in Tennessee as the team’s general manager, Mike Borgonzi worked in Kansas City’s front office.
Fortson registered four touchdowns on 14 receptions across the 2021 and ’22 seasons with the Chiefs. The following year was spent on injured reserve, however. The former undrafted free agent attempted a comeback by joining the Dolphins, but he did not survive roster cuts. Fortson wound up returning to Kansas City for 2024 and made three appearances in a depth role.
He remained on track to compete for a roster spot this past preseason before an ACL and meniscus tear led to a lengthy recovery. Per Rapoport, Fortson has now fully recovered. As a result, he could soon manage to line up a new deal. A Titans signing would allow him to offer depth to the tight end spot after the team lost Chig Okonkwo in free agency but added Daniel Bellinger and Kylen Granson.
Tennessee leads the league in cap space right now, so affording a Fortson pact will not be difficult. The 30-year-old’s next contract, regardless of where it comes from, will no doubt check in at or near the league minimum.