Commanders Re-Sign K Zane Gonzalez
Zane Gonzalez closed out the campaign with the Commanders, and his performance during that period has earned him an extended stay in the nation’s capital. The veteran kicker was re-signed on Thursday, per a team announcement.
Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post reports this will be a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum. As a result, Gonzalez will collect $1.17MM in 2025 to remain Washington’s kicker. The 29-year-old was added in November, and he made a combined nine regular and postseason appearances with his latest team.
An injury to Austin Seibert left the Commanders in need of a midseason addition, and Gonzalez filled in well enough to land a new deal. The latter connected on five of his seven field goal tries in the regular season, and went seven-for-eight during the playoffs. Gonzalez also made all of his extra point kicks. His FG accuracy has seen numerous swings over the course of his career, but overall it stands at 80%.
The Arizona state product was drafted by the Browns in 2017, but he made only 18 appearances with the team. Gonzalez then had a run of two-plus years with the Cardinals before enjoying his most accurate season in 2021 with Carolina. He did not see any regular season game action in 2022 or ’23, but his return to the fold in Washington will allow him to continue his career.
Seibert is a pending free agent, and today’s news is obviously a strong sign he will be heading elsewhere on the open market. Given the low-cost nature of this pact, though, the Commanders could certainly look to add training camp competition at the kicker spot sometime this offseason.
Bears To Re-Sign LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
Amen Ogbongbemiga will not reach free agency. The linebacker and special teams ace has a new deal in place with the Bears, as first reported by Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. 
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo adds this is a two-year, $5MM deal. That marks a slight raise from the value of his 2023 Chicago pact and ensures he will remain in place in lieu of a free agent departure. Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports the contract can max out at $7MM. Ogbongbemiga did not start on defense in any of his 17 Bears games in 2023, but he logged a career-high 366 snaps on special teams.
The 26-year-old spent his first three seasons with the Chargers, totaling 47 appearances. He only started two of those, cementing his role as a core special teamer along the way. Ogbongbemiga signed with the Bears last March, and in 2024 he recorded 13 tackles and one sack. He will be counted on to remain a valued third phase contributor capable of handling rotational defensive duties moving forward.
Chicago has Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards atop the LB depth chart for 2025 and beyond. The team recently decided not to tender restricted free agent Jack Sanborn, a move which leaves the door open to a departure next week. Especially if Sanborn were to head elsewhere, Ogbongbemiga could be in line as a top backup option to see defensive snaps if necessary.
The Bears have been active in terms of outside additions this offseason. The team has trade agreements in place to acquire guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, and earlier today a deal was reached to add veteran tight end Durham Smythe. Those new additions will be counted on to improve Chicago’s offense, while Ogbongbemiga will be a familiar face for the team on defense and special teams.
Vikings Extend S Theo Jackson
The safety position has been a talking point for the Vikings this offseason. As free agency approaches, the long-term future of one contributor at the position has been assured. 
Theo Jackson has agreed to a two-year extension, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The pact – which has since been announced by his agency – is worth $12.62MM and ensures Jackson will be under contract through 2027. His next two years of compensation are guaranteed in full.
Jackson was waved by the Titans during roster cutdowns in 2022. He quickly joined the Vikings on their practice squad and has remained in the organization ever since. The 26-year-old has not had a notable role on defense to date, totaling only 222 snaps in that capacity. Jackson has, on the other hand, been a mainstay on special teams for Minnesota.
The former sixth-rounder has racked up 875 third phase snaps in three years, and he will no doubt be expected to handle a workload of some kind in that regard moving forward. Given the financial element of this Vikings commitment, though, a starting gig on defense may now be in store. Jackson has notched one interception in each of the past two seasons, adding four pass breakups over that span.
Harrison Smith is giving thought to retirement, and his absence would create a major safety void on and off the field. Camryn Bynum – who has been a full-time starter for each of the past three years – is on track for free agency, meanwhile, meaning significant changes could be coming at the safety spot this offseason. Keeping Jackson in the fold will allow for some continuity at the position regardless of what other moves are made.
Minnesota’s secondary could see further movement if cornerback Byron Murphy (also set to hit the market) departs in the near future, although the Vikings are near the top of the league in terms of cap space. While a number of new faces could be in place by the start of next season, Jackson will remain in the fold for 2025 and beyond.
Rams, WR Tutu Atwell Agree To Deal
It remains to be seen how the Rams will handle the Cooper Kupp situation. As one wideout remains on course to depart Los Angeles, though, another is staying put. 
Tutu Atwell has agreed to a one-year deal which will allow him to remain with the Rams, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This will be a $10MM pact, and Schefter adds it is guaranteed in full. The former trade candidate will now face high expectations for 2025.
Providing further details on the agreement, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Atwell will collect a $5MM signing bonus. His $5MM in base salary is locked in at signing. The 25-year-old was on course for free agency with his rookie contract set to expire, but now he will log at least one more campaign in Los Angeles in the hopes of continuing to develop.
Atwell played in eight games during his rookie season, but he was not targeted. His role grew in Year 2, and his 16.6 yards per catch average (albeit with limited volume) offered a glimpse into his potential. Playing behind both Kupp and Puka Nacua in 2023, the Louisville product took another step forward in terms of production (39 catches, 483 yards, three touchdowns). Still, his output did not match expectations, and questions loomed over Atwell’s future. Last summer, it became clear the Rams did not intend to trade him, however.
Missed time at the top of the WR depth chart created an increase in opportunities for Atwell to begin the 2024 campaign. As a result, the former second-rounder’s reception (42) and yardage (562) totals again reached a new personal high. Toward the end of the season (when both Nacua and Kupp were available), though, Atwell saw his workload drop considerably. With a complementary role likely on tap for 2025, this commitment therefore comes as something of a surprise.
Nacua has two years remaining on his rookie contract, and he will be the focal point of Los Angeles’ passing attack moving forward. Kupp is on the trade block, however, and the team is willing to eat some of his salary to work out a deal. Moving on from the former ‘Triple Crown’ winner will create a starting vacancy for the Rams, but Atwell – who has handled a snap share above 40% only once to date – will face questions if he steps into one. Given the short-term nature of this arrangement, the Rams are clearly still unsure of his ability to produce on a regular basis.
Demarcus Robinson is a pending free agent, and his departure would increasingly leave Atwell in position to serve as a familiar option to quarterback Matthew Stafford, who will remain with the team for 2025. Left tackle Alaric Jackson also has a new deal in place, so the Rams will have a high degree of continuity on offense moving forward even with Kupp on his way out.
C Mitch Morse Retires
Mitch Morse‘s career has come to an end after 10 seasons in the NFL. The veteran center announced his retirement on Thursday. 
“The things I’ll cherish most about my career are the relationships and bonds I created with my teammates, both on and off of the field,” Morse wrote. “Nothing can replace that, and I will miss it dearly.”
A Chiefs second-round pick in 2015, Morse took on immediate starting duties upon arrival in Kansas City. That remained the case throughout his four-year tenure with the team, one which was marked in 2017 and ’18 by missed time due to injury. During his first trip to free agency, Morse inked a four-year deal with the Bills.
That pact allowed the Missouri product to continue operating as a key figure up front. Morse was a mainstay along the Bills’ O-line during his time with the team, and he earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2022. A two-year deal was worked out in the wake of that success, but Morse only played one more year in Buffalo. Last offseason, he was one of several veterans the team released as part of its efforts to reset from a financial perspective.
Morse drew interest on the market, and he did not need to wait long to find a new home. The Jaguars signed him to a two-year pact, and in his debut campaign in Jacksonville Morse started all 17 games. $1.5MM in guarantees remained on his pact for the 2025 season, but he will walk away from that money to begin his post-playing days. Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald notes this decision will save the Jags $2.2MM (presuming it is processed immediately).
Morse made a combined 156 appearances between the regular and postseason during his career; he started all of them. Thanks in large part to his Bills contracts, his career earnings stand at just over $65MM.
Browns Restructure Deshaun Watson’s Deal
As expected, the Browns have again adjusted Deshaun Watson‘s pact to create immediate cap room. ESPN’s Field Yates notes another restructure has taken place, freeing up nearly $36MM in cap space. 
Given the fully guaranteed nature of Watson’s pact, a trade or release was never feasible for the Browns even in the wake of Watson’s struggles when healthy during his Cleveland tenure. The blockbuster trade acquisition saw his 2024 campaign end with an Achilles tear, and he has subsequently suffered a second tear which will sideline him for most (potentially all) of next year.
In December, team and player agreed to a reworked deal which added a pair of void years to the pact. None of Watson’s compensation was affected by the move, whereas today’s restructure will convert salary into a signing bonus to lower his 2025 cap charge. Watson was previously on track to count for $73MM against the cap this season, meaning such a maneuver was expected prior to the start of the new league year. Cleveland was among the teams over the cap entering Thursday, but once this move is processed the Browns will be in compliance.
Nevertheless, a cost-effective QB solution will be sought out this offseason with Watson still under contract for the next two years. Cleveland will only be able to afford a modest investment in free agency, and as a result Kirk Cousins has been mentioned as a logical target (provided he is released by the Falcons). The draft also looms as an avenue to finding a long-term Watson replacement, and the Browns could use the No. 2 pick to fill that need. Cam Ward is among the prospects who will conduct a top-30 visit, and he will be in Cleveland today.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson is attached to his rookie contract, but Jameis Winston is a pending free agent. In the event the latter were to depart, and if pending restricted free agent Bailey Zappe were to be non-tendered, the Browns could be in the market for multiple additions under center. The team now has financial clarity as it pertains to Watson as preparations at the position continue.
Bears To Sign TE Durham Smythe
The Bears continue to make moves on offense before the start of the new league year. Tight end Durham Smythe is headed to Chicago. 
Smythe was among the Dolphins’ recent salary cap cuts, and as a result he was allowed to join an interested team before the start of free agency. The Bears are doing just that, inking him to a one-year contract, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. This move will allow the 29-year-old to reunite with new Chicago head coach Ben Johnson, whose Dolphins tenure overlapped for one year with Smythe’s. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday night the Bears were interested in making this move.
The latter joined Miami as a fourth-round pick in 2018; his rookie campaign doubled as Johnson’s last with the team (as a receivers coach). Smythe did not work directly with Johnson, but the two are nevertheless familiar with each other. This pact will mark Smythe’s first with a new team after he enjoyed a seven-year run with the Dolphins.
The Notre Dame product is a veteran of 112 games and 74 starts. Smythe has been a mainstay on offense at times in his career, logging a snap share as high as 76% (in 2023). That figure plummeted to 32% this past campaign, though, with Jonnu Smith becoming an effective contributor atop the tight end depth chart. Despite the fact Smythe inked a two-year extension in 2023, his release thus came as little surprise.
Known much more for his run blocking than his receiving skills, Smythe’s most productive season came in 2023 (35 catches, 366 yards). He will not be counted on to occupy a major pass-catching role with Chicago, of course, with Cole Kmet attached to a $12.5MM-per-year deal. Smythe will instead look to operate as the team’s TE2 after veteran Gerald Everett was released.
Chicago has worked out a pair of notable trades for starting guards in the lead-up to free agency, swinging a deal with the Rams for Jonah Jackson and another with the Chiefs for Joe Thuney. With those additions along with this Smythe signing, the Bears will hope to see an upgrade in run blocking as part of their offensive renovations.
Rams, Bears Agree To Jonah Jackson Trade
Jonah Jackson played only one season with the Rams, and his time in Los Angeles is set to come to an end. A trade agreement is in place which will see the veteran offensive lineman join the Bears. 
Chicago is set to send Los Angeles a 2025 sixth-round pick in exchange for Jackson, ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reports. This deal will allow for a reunion between Jackson and Bears head coach Ben Johnson. The pair previously worked together in Detroit.
Expectations were high upon arrival for Jackson when he inked a three-year, $51MM free agent deal last spring. The former Pro Bowler was a key figure in the team’s efforts to shore up the interior of its offensive line. After seeing time at guard and center (while also dealing with a shoulder injury), though, Jackson was benched midway through the campaign. To no surprise, he was recently granted permission to seek a trade.
Jackson has a 2025 cap hit of $17.5MM for 2025, a figure which hindered his market and helps explain the limited return in the trade (which can become official as early as next week when the new league year begins). The Bears will take on the remainder of his compensation, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports. With no financial adjustments taking place, Jackson will be owed a $9MM base salary next season; he is also due an $8.5MM roster bonus next week.
The Bears’ offensive line has faced question marks at every spot other than right tackle this offseason. The interior of the unit in particular has often been named as the subject of interest from Chicago. Prior to the news of this deal, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote the Bears were expected to make at least one addition along the interior of the O-line during free agency. It will be interesting to see if that will still be the case in the wake of this Jackson addition.
Chicago entered Tuesday with roughly $79MM in cap space, so there will still be resources to make a notable splash on the open market. The Bears could, of course, also look to retain one or more of pending free agents Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton and Matt Pryor as part of their plans up front. In any case, Jackson will be tasked with occupying a first-team role on his new team. The 28-year-old has experience at center, but for much of his career he has operated at left guard.
Jackson has started all 57 of his career games, and on two occasions he has surpassed 1,000 snaps in a season. If the Ohio State product can remain available during the year and provide consistent play wherever he winds up playing, he will prove to be an effective addition for the Bears.
Jets Release WR Davante Adams
As expected, no suitors emerged for Davante Adams on the trade front. As a result, the Jets will move on from the All-Pro receiver. 
Adams is being released, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. He will now become one of the most intriguing options at the receiver position in free agency. Presuming this move is processed immediately, it will save $29.9MM in cap space while generating $8.36MM in dead money. The release is now official.
No guaranteed salary remained on Adams’ pact, something which essentially made him a rental in the eyes of interested teams ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. The Jets sent a conditional third-round pick to the Raiders for the six-time Pro Bowler, a move which allowed him to reunite with Aaron Rodgers. The latter will be released with a post-June 1 designation, though, so to no surprise Adams will also seek out a fresh start for 2025.
Rodgers and Adams had the potential to remain in place with New York, but their time with the Jets did not yield a playoff berth. On the other hand, the latter racked up 854 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games upon arrival, a sign he can still be counted on to provide high-end production at this stage of his career. Adams, 32, could draw attention in a free agent class light on impact players at many positions (including receiver).
A release was seen as likely one month ago, but the door was still open to a team avoiding free agency and agreeing to a trade (and subsequent restructure or extension to lower Adams’ cap charges for 2025 and ’26). Interest was shown on that front, but to no surprise a deal never appeared to be imminent. A report from yesterday confirmed a release would take place before the start of the new league year next week.
The Jets are allowing fellow ex-Packers wideout Allen Lazard to seek out a trade, but he too is unlikely to generate a market. A release could also be expected in that case, something which would leave the team short on experienced options behind Garrett Wilson on the depth chart. Taking into account the Adams release, New York has roughly $52MM in cap space.
With a change of scenery on tap, several updates have recently emerged regarding where Adams could play next. A return to the Packers could be in store, but a deal sending him to the West Coast is also something to watch for. Rapoport notes the opportunity for the Fresno State product to head west remains a key factor in his free agency. Rodgers, for his part, is still interested in playing with Adams (provided he decides to suit up in 2025), so a partnership between those two on a third team could come into play.
In any case, it will be interesting to see how things play out for Adams given his track record (six 1,000-yard seasons in the past seven years). The Jets, meanwhile, will need to be active in the receiver market in one form or another as they move past the Rodgers investment and the additions which accompanied it.
Darius Slayton Aims To Join Contender, Expects Notable Free Agent Market
Darius Slayton‘s Giants tenure has included the threat of a departure on multiple occasions. The veteran receiver remained in place through the 2024 season, but he is now a pending free agent.
Slayton agreed to a new Giants pact in 2023, but last summer he made it known he would have been OK with being dealt in the event the team aimed to reduce his role in the offense. Despite the fact New York fell well short of expectations during the campaign – and interest from suitors like the Steelers – the team elected to keep Slayton (and fellow pending free agent) Azeez Ojulari in the fold.
That decision has left the door open to Slayton departing on the open market next week. As could be expected, the 28-year-old is seeking to join a contender in free agency. Each of his six seasons to date have been with the Giants, but only once in that span has the team reached the postseason. New York also, of course, faces uncertainty at the quarterback position after the team’s efforts to trade for Matthew Stafford fell short.
“Definitely, winning and being in an advantageous situation are probably two things that are really important for me right now,” Slayton said when speaking about his goals during an appearance on the Talkin’ Ball With Pat Leonard podcast. “Obviously, five out of my six years with the Giants we weren’t competitive. We didn’t make the playoffs. We weren’t really close to making the playoffs.”
The regime led by general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll authorized Slayton’s most recent contract (a two-year, $12MM pact) but to little surprise Leonard’s piece in the New York Daily News about the situation notes a departure can be expected. The Giants’ receiving corps includes Malik Nabers, Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt on their rookie contracts, but losing Slayton will leave the team short on experience at the position.
Slayton will be an interesting part of this year’s receiver market, which features a host of 30-something standouts (Amari Cooper, Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins and now Davante Adams) but not as many prominent pass catchers south of 30. Slayton joins Chris Godwin, who is also a third-contract-seeking wideout, as top options in their 20s. Diontae Johnson, 28, would have joined them had he not torpedoed his value during a year in which four teams moved on from him.
Slayton should do better than the $6MM-per-year deal he was attached to, as ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler lists him as an under-the-radar player who should fare well on the market. Slayton could certainly help a contender after being a regular Giants target for six seasons. No Giants re-signing is expected, as the Auburn alum appears set to explore the market. The salary cap is now $55MM north of where it was when he last did so.
“When you look at that, my ability to stretch the field becomes more valuable because that leads to shorter drives, one-play touchdowns. You need chunk plays to score in this league,” Slayton told the Daily News reporter. “We know we have a lot of interest out there. And when free agency opens up, we’ll have a lot of different conversations to have with a lot of different people.”
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.