Jaguars, Robert Hainsey Agree To Deal
The Jaguars continue to use the opening day of the negotiating period to along the offensive line. Patrick Mekari has already worked out a deal, and the same is now true of Robert Hainsey.
The latter has a three-year agreement in place, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The deal is worth $21MM and includes $13MM guaranteed, he adds. Hainsey played out his rookie contract with the Buccaneers, including the 2024 campaign with new Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen.
Although Coen only stopped through Tampa for one season, he is bringing Hainsey — who did not work as a regular starter last year — with him. Hainsey’s starter run came from 2022-23, as Ryan Jensen‘s training camp knee injury sidetracked his career and forced the Bucs into replacing him. Hainsey started all 34 Bucs games at center from 2022-23.
Initially placed as a guard in Tampa, Hainsey ended up giving way to 2024 first-round pick Graham Barton at center. Coen, however, did coach the former Tampa Bay starter last season. Despite Hainsey’s 2024 stay as a backup, the former third-round pick did not come especially cheap. He will collect $7MM per year and a nice guarantee, accompanying Mekari as unorthodox starter solutions. Mekari is heading south after a playing at least 200 snaps at all five O-line positions in Baltimore.
Brandon Scherff played out his big-ticket Jaguars deal — one agreed to during the 2022 free agency period — and the team saw Mitch Morse retire this month. Ezra Cleveland remains in place at Jacksonville’s other interior O-line spot; Hainsey and Mekari and on track to join him.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Panthers To Add Patrick Jones
The Panthers did not wind up landing Milton Williams, but they are nevertheless adding along the defensive front. Edge rusher Patrick Jones is heading to Carolina, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
This will be a two-year deal, Garafolo adds. The pact has a maximum value of $20MM. Jones flashed potential in 2024, the final year of his rookie pact, and it has now earned him a payday.
Garafolo previously mentioned Jones as a player who might do better than expected in free agency, and his contract year is almost definitely at the root of it. Jones stepped in as a rotational rusher and registered seven sacks for the Vikings, who gave him only four starts throughout his rookie contract. Jones also racked up career-best numbers in tackles for loss (nine) and QB hits (12) last season.
Although Jones did tally four sacks in 2022, the Panthers are betting on the former third-round pick’s upside over his past production. That can be a good route to take in free agency, which regularly sees overpays. Jones, though, played 635 defensive snaps in 2023 and posted one sack. The Panthers also have major questions at edge rusher, with Jadeveon Clowney going into his age-32 season and ex-Jones Viking teammate D.J. Wonnum not seeing much time after a late activation off the PUP list.
No Panther topped six sacks after Brian Burns‘ departure, and the team plummeted to 32nd in both points and yards allowed — despite the team increasing its win total to five. The Panthers probably will still be on the lookout for EDGE help, but they have a hopeful hidden gem in Jones.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Giants To Sign DL Roy Robertson-Harris
Roy Robertson-Harris visited with the Cardinals shortly after his release. The veteran defensive lineman has found a deal in short order, but it is not with Arizona.
Robertson-Harris has instead worked out an agreement with the Giants, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. This will be a two-year, $10MM deal, he adds. A veteran of 62 starts, he should be able to provide at least a rotational presence along the interior for New York. The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson clarifies the max value of the deal is $9MM.
A former Bears UDFA, Robertson-Harris had signed a Jaguars extension — a contract the team traded to the Seahawks midway through. After using Robertson-Harris sparingly post-trade, Seattle made the veteran interior D-lineman one of its bevy of cap casualties. Robertson-Harris drew interest from the Cardinals, but he will land in New York.
Robertson-Harris (62 career starts) signed two Jags contracts, the second a three-year deal worth $23.4MM. Pro Football Focus graded him 81st among interior D-linemen in 2024. For his career, the career-long 3-4 defensive end has 19 to go with 27 tackles for loss and 67 QB hits. Robertson-Harris, 31, started 17 games for the Jaguars in 2022 and ’23 and posted 6.5 sacks and 10 TFLs during that span.
The Giants will have Robertson-Harris as an option to use in their 3-4 scheme — an alignment the vet has played in throughout his career — alongside All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence. The team still has Rakeem Nunez-Roches and D.J. Davidson on its roster as well.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Packers Expected To Sign Aaron Banks
The Packers are in line to make a notable addition up front. Green Bay is expected to sign guard Aaron Banks, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Providing terms on the arrangement, Rapoport notes the deal will be four years in length, adding it will be worth $77MM. After playing out his rookie pact with the 49ers, Banks was in position to be one of the top OL earners in 2025. He has certainly cashed in with a pact which will see the Packers make another major commitment along the interior.
Banks will earn $63MM over the first three years of the pact, Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero adds. That confirms the 27-year-old’s status as one of the top blockers on the market this spring. Banks checked in at No. 21 on PFR’s Top 50 Free Agent list. Although Banks is going into his age-28 season, he is a former second-round pick who started for three seasons in San Francisco.
Starting 43 games since taking over at the 49ers’ left guard in 2022, Banks was a pivotal part of the O-line the powered Christian McCaffrey to a strong 2022 second half and elevated him to the 2023 rushing title. The Notre Dame alum also was present for Brock Purdy’s stunning rise from Mr. Irrelevant to late-season replacement to the first QB to average at least 9.6 yards per attempt over a full season since 1998.
One of several young guard starters in free agency, Banks’ three-year starter run presented fewer questions compared to some of his 2025 UFA peers. More effective as a run blocker, the 325-pound player did not grade out favorably (per Pro Football Focus) until last season. As just about everything else within the 49ers imploded, Banks ranked as PFF’s No. 33 overall guard. The Packers likely believe he submitted quality work before that point, but this contract illustrates the robust market the four-year vet garnered.
Banks will be set to start opposite Elgton Jenkins in 2025. The high-priced duo complements two rookie-contract tackles, in Rasheed Walker and Zach Tom, so it will be interesting to see how a Packers team with Jordan Love on a $55MM-AAV deal proceeds with its tackle money soon. Both Walker and Tom are due for free agency in 2026.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Jaguars, OL Patrick Mekari Agree To Deal
The Jaguars continue to renovate on offense today. The team’s latest move will see a notable addition up front. Patrick Mekari has agreed to a deal in Jacksonville, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. This will be a three-year pact with a base value of $37.5MM and a max of $39MM. Mekari will collect more than $20MM guaranteed. 
The Ravens will miss Mekari, who had spent five of the last six years as an indispensable sixth-man on the offensive line. An undrafted free agent out of Cal, Mekari made himself an impressive asset in Baltimore thanks to his versatile ability to play every position along the offensive front. Despite not becoming a full-time starter for the Ravens until this past year, Mekari tallied 36 starts in his first five seasons. Not only that, but Mekari also started games at every position on the offensive line, an unheard-of accomplishment in today’s NFL.
This past season, Mekari started every game of the season for the first time in his career, though he still did so for two different positions. Mekari started the first three games of the season at right tackle as the Ravens attempted to ease second-round pick Roger Rosengarten into his rookie year. When it became apparent that Andrew Vorhees was struggling at left guard early, Mekari shifted inside and to the other side of the line and started there for the remainder of the season. While Pro Football Focus (subscription required) only graded him out as the 51st-best guard in the league, out of 77 players graded at the position, his ability to step in and start at any position — center, guard, tackle on the right or left side — was what made him so valuable as a free agent.
The Jaguars had some holes to fill on the interior of their offensive line with the retirement of center Mitch Morse and the expiration of right guard Brandon Scherff‘s contract. They likely won’t need Mekari to fill in at center, a position he started frequently during his early years in the league, as they’ve reached an agreement today with former Bucs center Robert Hainsey. Likely Mekari will fill Scherff’s old spot at right guard, though his noted versatility will give Jacksonville plenty of options in utilizing him.
As for the Ravens, Mekari’s departure will likely give Vorhees another chance at the starting job. Free agency has depleted Baltimore of its other backup linemen as both backup guard Ben Cleveland and backup tackle Josh Jones are set to join Mekari in free agency. The offensive line could be a focus of the team in the 2025 NFL Draft, though they could decide to address the position through free agency, as well.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Jaguars To Sign TE Hunter Long
The Jaguars remain busy on the opening day of the negotiating window. Tight end Hunter Long is the latest free agent to agree to head to Jacksonville.
Long has a two-year deal in place, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The pact has a base value of $5MM and can max out at $6MM. The veteran will represent a familiar face to Jags GM James Gladstone given Long’s time with the Rams.
Gladstone was in Les Snead‘s front office when the team acquired Long in the Jalen Ramsey trade. While Liam Coen was back at Kentucky (OC stint No. 2) at this point, Gladstone will bring the former Dolphins draftee back to Florida. Long, whom the Dolphins included along with a third-round pick to acquire Ramsey in March 2023, missed most of 2023 but was part of the Rams’ run game last season.
Catching seven passes with the Rams last year, Long only has eight grabs for his career. He provided more value as a blocker, ranking in the top 10 (per Pro Football Focus) among tight ends in the run game.
The Jaguars have moved on from a three-year Evan Engram partnership, creating a need for receiving production at the position, and lost Luke Farrell to the 49ers today. But they will bring in Long as a supporting-caster on an offense that will need some retooling after several skill-position players were shown the door over the past week.
Bills To Sign WR Josh Palmer
One of the youngest receivers on the market has quickly managed to find a new home. Josh Palmer has a three-year, $36MM deal in place with the Bills, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
The Bills will pair the former Chargers supporting-caster with the recently extended Khalil Shakir and 2024 second-round pick Keon Coleman. This looks to be Buffalo’s top trio for 2025, but the team still has Curtis Samuel under contract and gave Mack Hollins plenty of snaps last season. Still, it appears Amari Cooper‘s Bills tenure will be limited to barely a half-season.
While a Giants-Palmer connection (via ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan) emerged just before the legal tampering period, the Bills are spending notable cash to bring in a player who had fallen out of favor with the Bolts. Palmer’s name came up in trade rumors before the 2024 deadline, as the Bolts had reduced his workload. Then again, Jim Harbaugh’s arrival cut down on Charger pass volume as a whole. Only Ladd McConkey stood out among the Chargers’ pass catchers in the accomplished HC’s first season back in the NFL.
Palmer is only 25, however, and he flashed as a replacement during Keenan Allen and Mike Williams injury spells. Williams’ September 2023 ACL tear brought Palmer into the role of WR2. He totaled 581 receiving yards that year and averaged 15.8 per catch, finishing off that season with the overmatched Easton Stick in as the Bolts’ starter (after Justin Herbert‘s thumb surgery). Palmer managed this in just 10 games, having needed an IR stint that year. In 2022, a season Allen missed nearly half of due to a nagging hamstring ailment, Palmer posted a career-high 769 receiving yards on 72 receptions.
Also supplying extensive experience out wide and in the slot, Palmer brings a versatile skillset to Buffalo. The Bills’ offense already runs through a slot receiver, as the team just gave Shakir a deal eclipsing $13MM per year. Buffalo used an egalitarian setup at WR last season, with Josh Allen spreading the ball around during a stretch that undoubtedly hurt Cooper’s free agency value. While Cooper was still viewed as in play to stay in Buffalo, Palmer — who snuck into our top 50 free agents list this year — will play with the reigning MVP in his prime.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Steelers In Talks With CB Darius Slay
Darius Slay may not be moving very far as he prepares for the 2025 season. The All-Pro corner is on the Steelers’ radar, with Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reporting a one-year agreement is in place.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network cautions that Slay has still not yet been released by the Eagles and that no Pittsburgh arrangement has been worked out yet. The sides are in communication, however. The Eagles had been prepared to give Slay a post-June 1 release designation.
If the Eagles are unable to pry a low-level asset from the Steelers, the veteran corner looks to have a landing spot. Slay turned 34 in January, but he is coming off playing a starting role during the Eagles’ dominant Super Bowl LIX victory. Slay spent five seasons as an Eagles starter, coming over after a trade with the Lions.
Philadelphia used first- and second-round picks on corners (Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean), and both players impressed as rookies. Slay, however, maintained a regular role for a No. 1-ranked defense. Slay played 81% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps last season and was on the field for 88% of the team’s defensive plays in Super Bowl LIX. The 12-year veteran has 28 career interceptions.
The Steelers, who have a recent history with older corners thanks to their Patrick Peterson addition, lost Donte Jackson to the Chargers today and have Cameron Sutton unsigned. The team still has Joey Porter Jr. under contract for two more seasons but now needs a boundary starter alongside Porter and slot Beanie Bishop.
Slay could fit the bill as a temporary fix, and he has a past with Steelers DC Teryl Austin. Formerly the Lions’ DC, Austin was in place in that role for four seasons. That stay overlapped with Slay’s Motor City tenure, and it it would stand to reason if Austin has provided a strong recommendation here. Slay’s eventual exit will make for three impact Eagles defenders to leave in free agency; Milton Williams and Josh Sweat found new homes today.
Rams To Sign DL Poona Ford
Poona Ford will remain in Los Angeles next season, but he will not be a member of the Chargers. The veteran defensive lineman has a deal in place with the Rams.
This will be a three-year pact, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. The deal is worth just under $30MM and includes $17MM in guarantees. That marks a notable raise compared to Ford’s one-year Chargers contract from last year.
Not seeing too much time with the Bills in 2023, Ford played a much bigger role with the Bolts. Logging a 32% snap share in 2023 with Buffalo (in eight games), Ford stepped in as a starter on Jim Harbaugh’s low-cost defensive line. The former Seahawk stood out, ranking as Pro Football Focus’ No. 5 overall interior defender.
Ford, 29, matched his career high with eight tackles for loss and contributed three sacks to help Jesse Minter’s defense climb to No. 1 in points allowed. The Bolts relied on other low-cost cogs to make this ascent — after underachieving during Brandon Staley’s time in charge — but Ford was quite important, starting every game the team played during a rebound season. The seven-year vet also batted down five passes and intercepted another.
Quietly running his career start total to 81 (after a four-season run as a Seattle first-stringer), Ford did well to reestablish his value before it was too late to fetch a quality contract. This deal also dwarfs his two-year, $12.4MM Seattle pact from earlier this decade. Ford will join a Rams team that lost two-year nose tackle Bobby Brown to the Panthers. Ford will be in position to play alongside Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske up front with the Rams.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Panthers Pursuing Milton Williams Deal
The Panthers have, as expected, made a strong push with respect to an outside defensive addition. Milton Williams is on Carolina’s radar.
Team and player are finalizing a deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Nothing is in place for now, and free agent deals cannot of course be signed until the new league year begins on Wednesday. Terms can be agreed to at any time, though, and Williams would represent a major addition for the Panthers.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports other teams are still making their own efforts to secure Williams. A Panthers arrangement is considered close, but a last-minute change could still take place. The Eagles standout entered the week as PFR’s No. 3 free agent and second-best defender. It comes as no surprise interest has quickly been shown early in the negotiating period.
Once Osa Odighizuwa agreed to a new Cowboys deal (with a franchise tag looming anyway), it was clear Williams would be the top DL free agent in 2025. His rookie pact consisted of a part-time role in Philadelphia, but it allowed him to showcase his upside. Williams set a new career high in sacks (five) and QB hits (10) in 2024 during the regular season, then delivered highly impactful performances during the team’s Super Bowl run.