Colts, Daniel Jones Agree To Deal
Daniel Jones was known to be facing a Vikings-or-Colts decision and he has made his choice. The former Giants starter is heading to Indianapolis on a one-year deal, as first reported by Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
Earlier today, ESPN’s Stephen Holder confirmed Jones was down to either remaining in Minnesota or heading to Indianapolis. Both teams were waiting to see which direction he went, with the call deciding how each would operate under center for the rest of the offseason. After taking Monday to weigh his options, Jones has made a commitment.
This pact will be worth $14MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds. That figure represents the base value of the contract, as Pelissero notes Jones can earn up to $17.7MM. The Colts have their veteran Anthony Richardson competition in place for 2025. $13.15MM is fully guaranteed, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, with Pelissero adding that number is comprised of a $6.5MM signing bonus and $7MM in guaranteed salary. The maximum value of the deal can be unlocked via $850K in active roster bonuses ($50K per game) and playing time/wins/playoffs incentives.
The Vikings made a push to retain Jones, Rapoport reports. To little surprise, though, the chance to earn a starting gig represented a key factor for the former No. 6 pick. Richardson has not developed as planned early in his career, and Colts GM Chris Ballard made it clear his inconsistent play and injury troubles would lead to a veteran addition capable of handling QB1 duties. At a minimum, Jones will able to provide the team with an experienced backup, though Pelissero confirms an open competition is on tap. Indeed, Jones confirmed he was told he would have an opportunity to compete with Richardson (via James Boyd of The Athletic (subscription required)).
The 27-year-old raised eyebrows when he received a four-year, $160MM Giants deal in 2023. That pact – authorized by a Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll regime which did not draft him – did not pan out as planned, and midway through the past campaign his benching was followed up by his release. Minnesota added him on the practice squad with the potential to remain in place for 2025.
That especially remained true in the wake of Sam Darnold turning his Pro Bowl Vikings season into a lucrative Seahawks agreement. With Jones now out of the fold, though, Minnesota is set to rely on 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy as their starter moving forward. The 22-year-old missed his entire rookie campaign due to a meniscus tear, but he will be healthy in time for the 2025 season. A modest free agent signing can be expected to operate as his backup.
Richardson earned the starting gig right away as a rookie, but he was limited to only four games that year due to a shoulder injury. The 2023 No. 4 pick managed 11 appearances this past season, but he was temporarily benched in favor of Joe Flacco as the Colts offense underperformed. Richardson, 22, posted a completion percentage of just 47.7% and a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio last season. A notable step forward will be required in 2025, and the first step in his efforts in that regard will involve winning an offseason competition with Jones.
Eagles To Trade C.J. Gardner-Johnson To Texans For Kenyon Green
The Texans’ efforts to renovate their offensive line continue. The team has a trade agreement in place to send guard Kenyon Green to the Eagles, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. Houston is receiving defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson in return. In total, the swap consists of Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick in exchange for Gardner-Johnson and a sixth-rounder next year. 
Houston swung a trade with the Commanders yesterday which will see left tackle Laremy Tunsil head to Washington. That move – coupled with the previous release of guard Shaq Mason – leaves the team with several question marks up front. Improving their pass protection was seen as a major priority for the Texans, and general manager Nick Caserio is making a slew of changes to the unit in the hopes of taking a step forward in 2025.
Gardner-Johnson, meanwhile, is entering his seventh year in the league and the Texans will mark his fourth team. The former Saints draftee was traded to the Eagles in 2022, and he played a key role in Philadelphia’s run to the Super Bowl with a league-leading six interceptions. Instead of parlaying his production into a lucrative second contract, tough, Gardner-Johnson took only a one-year deal with the Lions.
A one-and-done stint in Detroit was followed by a return to the Eagles, this time on a three-year, $27MM pact. Gardner-Johnson is owed $8.5MM in 2025 and another $10.5MM the following year, although his scheduled cap hit for the coming campaign ($4.91MM) was certainly manageable for the defending champions. This move will generate a dead money charge of $4.7MM for Philadelphia while resulting in just $211K in savings. The Texans will pay $1.5MM of Green’s $2.88MM 2025 base salary, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. That helped make a trade more palatable for the Eagles.
Gardner-Johnson again served as a full-time starter during his second Eagles stint, racking up six interceptions and 12 pass deflections. His eight touchdowns allowed in coverage could be a cause for concern for the Texans, but the 27-year-old will be counted on to serve as a playmaker in a Texans secondary which proved to be effective last year with the cornerback tandem of Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. Houston ranked sixth against the pass in 2024, and continued success in that department can be expected.
This move marks further changes in the Eagles’ secondary, meanwhile. Philadelphia has decided to release Darius Slay and James Bradberry, and on Monday fellow corner Isaiah Rodgers agreed to a deal with the Vikings. With Gardner-Johnson set to be on the move (the trade cannot be finalized until the new league year begins tomorrow, of course), Philadelphia will need to make a number of moves during the secondary waves of free agency and the draft to restock the defensive backfield.
Green entered the NFL with high expectations as a first-round pick. The Texas A&M product served as a full-time starter during his rookie campaign, but he was sidelined for the entire 2023 season due to a shoulder injury. Green returned to action this past year, logging nine starts and 12 appearances at left guard. Much like his rookie slate, though, his PFF evaluation left plenty to be desired. Green’s overall grade of 38.6 ranked second-last amongst qualifying guards.
Presuming the Eagles decline his fifth-year option, one year will remain on Green’s rookie contract. The soon-to-be 24-year-old will provide the team with a cost-effective option along the interior. Mekhi Becton upped his free agent value considerably as a guard starter in 2024, and his departure could allow for Green to compete for a first-team gig. At a minimum, he will be able to fill in as a spot-starter as needed on an otherwise expensive O-line.
Saints, S Justin Reid Agree To Deal
Justin Reid enjoyed a successful three-year run with the Chiefs, but he will be on the move in 2025. The veteran safety has a deal in place with the Saints, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
This will be a three-year pact, Schefter adds. Reid is set to collect up to $31.5MM with $22.5MM in guarantees. He will now join former Chief Tyrann Mathieu in New Orleans’ secondary.
Mathieu spent time with the Texans before a run in Kansas City which included a Super Bowl win. Reid – who played out his rookie contract in Houston and then won a pair of Super Bowls as a Chief – has followed a remarkably similar career path. A Prairieville, Louisiana native, Reid will head to his hometown team just as Mathieu did in 2022.
New Orleans has emphasized retaining several veterans (especially on defense) in recent years while constantly executing restructures to attain cap compliance. In-house players have been a priority this offseason as well, with edge rusher Chase Young and tight end Juwan Johnson securing new contracts. Reid represents a lucrative outside addition worked out early in the offseason, however.
The 28-year-old served a full-time starter during each of his three Kansas City seasons, missing only two games during that span. Reid remained a key presence in the secondary for all three runs to the Super Bowl, making him one of the safeties in particular and players in general on the market. He checked in at No. 18 on PFR’s Top 50 Free Agent list.
Mathieu, 32, has faced question about his playing future but he made it clear late in the 2024 campaign that he planned on playing at least one more season. Now, he and Reid (signed by the Chiefs as a Mathieu replacement) will be paired together for 2025 and potentially beyond.
Falcons, Leonard Floyd Agree To Deal
Leonard Floyd has very quickly managed to find a new home. Shortly after his 49ers release, the veteran edge rusher has lined up a deal with Atlanta. 
Floyd is headed to the Falcons, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. This will be a one-year contract worth $10MM. The deal represents a homecoming for the Georgia native. Floyd’s pact is guaranteed in full, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
Floyd inked a two-year deal with the 49ers last offseason, and in his debut San Francisco campaign he finished second on the team with 8.5 sacks. In spite of that production, a release was known to be possible in advance of the offseason. The 49ers moved on earlier today, making Floyd one of the most attractive veteran edge rushers on the market.
The Falcons (recently listed as a Trey Hendrickson suitor) have long been in need of production along the edge. The Matt Judon trade was aimed at filling that void last offseason, and he managed 5.5 sacks in 2024. Judon is set to officially reach free agency starting tomorrow, though, and it would come as little surprise if he were to depart. With between 8.5 and 10.5 sacks in each of the past five years, Floyd will be counted on to provide notable production upon arrival.
The Georgia product will join an edge rush group featuring the likes of Lorenzo Carter, Arnold Ebiketie and 2024 third-rounder Bralen Trice. If Floyd manages another strong campaign, the Falcons will be able to take a needed step forward in terms of sack production. The team ranked 31st in the NFL with just 31 in 2024.
Atlanta has made several moves related to retaining and extending in-house players so far this offseason. The only other outside addition so far is the agreement with linebacker Divine Deablo. Floyd will join him in a new-look front seven in 2025 and aim to help his free agent stock for next spring in the process.
Falcons To Re-Sign CB Mike Hughes
After spending the past two years with the Falcons, Mike Hughes‘ time with the team is set to continue. The veteran corner has a new deal in place with Atlanta, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
This will be a three-year contract, Fowler adds. Hughes can collect up to $18MM over the course of the pact. He operated as a full-time starter in 2024, and that will remain the expectation moving forward with this new commitment.
Hughes split the first five years of his career between the Vikings, Chiefs and Lions. His playing time fluctuated over that span, as he never managed to establish himself as a full-time starter. The former first-rounder took a two-year deal to join the Falcons in 2023, though, and that decision has proven to be a fruitful one.
After handling a snap share of only 33% during his debut Atlanta season, Hughes started all 15 of his games in 2024. His 720 snaps were the highest of his career, and the 28-year-old set a new personal mark with 66 tackles while adding six pass breakups. Just before his $3.5MM-per-year pact was set to expire, Hughes has translated his first-team production into a multi-year pact and a notable raise.
Atlanta has A.J. Terrell attached to one of the largest cornerback contracts in the NFL, and he will remain an anchor in the secondary moving forward. Hughes has proven to be a trusted No. 2 option, although his 105.8 passer rating allowed is something the Falcons will hope to see improvement on over the course of this new deal. Nonetheless, the CB position is less of a priority with the onset of the new league year (and, next month, the draft) approaching.
The Falcons have worked out a deal for one outside addition so far (linebacker Divine Deablo) but have otherwise focused on internal matters. Hughes falls into the latter category, and it will be interesting to see if his new Atlanta pact pays off as well as the first one did.
Cardinals Re-Sign WR Zay Jones
Zay Jones joined the Cardinals on a one-year deal last offseason. That has proven the be the case again on his latest Arizona pact, but the veteran receiver has earned a raise for 2025. 
Jones has agreed to a one-year, $4.4MM deal, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. That marks a healthy bump in pay compared to the $2.25MM pact he played on in 2024. The 29-year-old will be counted on to remain a secondary member of the team’s passing attack. The deal is now official, per a team announcement.
Jones’ most productive season to date came during his first of two seasons with the Jaguars in 2022. He recorded 823 yards and five touchdowns on 82 catches. After a less impactful follow-up campaign, Jones was released, leading to his one-year run with the Cardinals in 2024. That did not get off to a welcomed start, of course, as he was hit with a five-game suspension to begin the campaign.
Upon returning to the lineup, Jones made 11 appearances but he only saw a snap share of 35%. That sparse usage resulted in just eight scoreless catches, but a raise will no doubt come with increased expectations in 2025 for the former second-rounder. Arizona ranked 18th in passing yards last season, and Jones will have a role in aiming to improve in that department.
The Cardinals have 2024 No. 4 pick Marvin Harrison Jr. along with Michael Wilson at the receiver spot. Tight end Trey McBride (who could soon have an extension near the top of the position’s market in place) is in line to remain a focal point of the team’s offense. Jones should occupy a secondary role in the passing game, and increasing his production from last year will help his free agent market in 2026.
Ravens Re-Sign FB Patrick Ricard
Patrick Ricard‘s Baltimore tenure will continue in 2025. The Pro Bowl fullback has a new deal in place with the Ravens, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. 
This will be a one-year pact, Russini notes. It is guaranteed in full, though. Ricard has been with the team his entire eight-year career, and he is set to remain a key figure on the team’s offense. The team has since confirmed the news.
After entering the league as an undrafted free agent, Ricard initially saw time as a defensive tackle in addition to his usage as a fullback. After splitting his reps between the two positions for a period, the Maine product turned his attention to full-time offensive duties. He has operated solely as a fullback since 2020, earning a total of five Pro Bowl nods for his work in that capacity during his career.
Ricard has added a pair of All-Pro honors to his resume, including a first-team nod in 2024. The 30-year-old has never topped 90 scrimmage yards in a season, and he has caught only seven total touchdown passes. Ricard has remained a central blocking figure in Baltimore’s run game, however, including the past two years (with offensive coordinator Todd Monken at the helm).
During Greg Roman‘s OC tenure, Ricard’s offensive snap share rose as high as 64%. That figure has fallen to 39% for each of the past two years as a reflection of the changes brought about by Monken’s arrival. The latter signed a new deal last month, so Ricard faced questions about his future not only as a pending free agent but as candidate to be phased out of the offense to an even larger extent. For at least one more season, though, he will remain in place.
Ricard landed a two-year deal in 2019, then inked a three-year pact in 2022. Between those two deals, he earned a total of $9.8MM in guarantees. It will be interesting to see how the finances of this one-year contract compare since it fully consists of locked-in compensation.
Cowboys Re-Sign KaVontae Turpin
KaVontae Turpin has managed to land a deal keeping him in place with the Cowboys. The pending restricted free agent will not need a tender after all. 
Turpin and the Cowboys have agreed to a three-year deal, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. The pact is worth $18MM, Tom Pelissero and Jane Slater of NFL Network add. As a result, Turpin will become the NFL’s highest-paid special teamer once the pact is finalized. That has now taken place, per a team announcement.
$18MM represents the maximum value of the pact, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News notes. He adds Turpin’s annual compensation has the potential to jump from $6MM to $8MM, meaning incentives are present in the deal. Clarence Hill Jr. of All DLLS reports this agreement includes a $3MM signing bonus. There are a total of $5.5MM in guarantees, ESPN’s Todd Archer adds.
Last week, it was reported the Cowboys were prepared to use the second-round RFA tender to prevent Turpin from reaching the market. That would have locked him into a $5.3MM payday for 2025. Instead, the 28-year-old will remain in the fold for the foreseeable future at a slightly higher rate.
Turpin earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie based on his production as a returner. That has remained his most important trait since, with the 2024 campaign consisting of a league-leading 33.5 yards per return average on kickoffs. Receiving a second Pro Bowl invite in addition to a first-team All-Pro nod this past year certainly helped the TCU product’s leverage in negotiations. With this pact in hand, he will be counted on to remain a dynamic playmaker on special teams.
With that said, Turpin’s offensive snap share has increased with each passing season; in 2024, it checked in at 27%. The Cowboys are in the market for a complementary receiver (particularly if Brandin Cooks departs in free agency), but Turpin could find himself occupying a larger role in the passing game as this deal plays out. In any case, Dallas has taken care of an important piece of in-house business.
49ers Release Leonard Floyd
Leonard Floyd was known to be a release candidate for the 49ers. The veteran edge rusher is indeed being let go, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move is now official, per a team announcement.
Floyd inked a two-year pact with the 49ers last offseason, matching the move made by fellow edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos. Both of them were floated as cut candidates this offseason, though, so today’s news comes as little surprise. Floyd was set to carry a cap hit of $10.11MM, and this move will create $1.48MM in savings while generating a dead money charge of $8.63MM.
While many pointed to a Floyd release being possible based on the economics of the situation, his production will be difficult to replace. The 32-year-old finished second on the 49ers with 8.5 sacks in 2024. That extended his streak of at least eight sacks to five years, a stretch was has included time with three different teams. The former Bear, Ram and Bill will now be free to join an interested team at any time.
Finding a long-term complementary edge rusher to pair with Nick Bosa has proven to be a challenge for the 49ers during his decorated run with the team. Of course, the potential to bring in Joey Bosa has been floated in the past and the latter’s Chargers release has made it possible. San Francisco has been in communication with Joey, meaning a deal could be stuck at any time (although the Dolphins loom as a suitor as well).
The 49ers have agreed to a trade which will send wideout Deebo Samuel to the Commanders while they are also set to cut defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. San Francisco informed longtime fullback Kyle Juszczyk he will be released yesterday, so moving on from Floyd will leave San Francisco without a number of veterans next year. The team saw linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga agree to Broncos deals, yesterday, meaning a number of defensive moves will be needed in addition to replacing Floyd’s edge production.
The Georgia product has has not missed a game since 2017, a factor which (along with his consistent output) should help him land a new deal in short order. Other veteran edge rushers are available, but Floyd is now among the top ones on the market.
Commanders, S Will Harris Agree To Deal
The Commanders saw Jeremy Chinn agree to a Raiders deal yesterday, but they have quickly worked out a safety addition. Will Harris has a Washington contract in place, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
This will be a two-year pact, Garafolo adds. Harris will collect a base value of $8MM with the potential for $10MM. A veteran of 53 starts, he will aim to provide a first-team presence to his newest team.
Although Harris spent the 2024 season in New Orleans, he spent five years with the Lions during current Commanders assistant GM Lance Newmark’s lengthy Detroit tenure. Harris has played both safety and cornerback as a pro, having signed one-year deals with the Lions and the Saints. This will be Harris’ first multiyear agreement since his Lions rookie contract.
Detroit moved Harris to corner before the 2022 season and kept him there upon re-signing him in 2023. Starting 27 games for the Lions from 2021-22, Harris took a backseat in 2023, as the Lions had added some DB talent. The team reloaded once again in 2024 and let Harris walk. With the Saints, the former third-round pick started 13 games, primarily lining up as a safety for a struggling New Orleans squad.
The Saints gave Harris plenty of roles in 2024, using him near the line of scrimmage, at free safety and in the slot on at least 100 snaps apiece. Despite Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo being out of the picture for much of the season, Harris did not factor into the Saints’ boundary CB mix. The Commanders have lost Chinn and Kamren Curl in consecutive offseasons; fellow safety Darrick Forrest is a free agent. Quan Martin remains on his rookie deal for the resurgent team, however. Harris figures to have a shot at the other starting job in 2025.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.