Eagles Reach Extension With K Jake Elliott
Two days after giving Landon Dickerson a guard-record extension, the Eagles are locking up their kicker. The team announced a four-year agreement with Jake Elliott on Wednesday. 
Elliott signed a four-year, $24MM deal, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets, tying the veteran to the Eagles through the 2028 season. Elliott’s $6MM average ties Justin Tucker for the highest among kickers. Both punter Braden Mann and long snapper Rick Lovato re-signed yesterday, so each member of the Eagles’ kicking battery will remain in place moving forward.
Drafted by the Bengals in 2017, Elliott spent his rookie season in Philadelphia and has not looked back since then. The 29-year-old has remained a consistent producer in the kicking game during his run with the Eagles, recording a field goal accuracy percentage of at least 83.9% in all but one season. Elliott earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2021, and he received second-team All-Pro honors this past season.
In 2023, the former fifth-rounder connected on 30 of 32 field goal attempts; that total included seven makes on eight kicks beyond 50 yards. He also went 45-for-46 on extra points, missing three or fewer attempts in that regard for the seventh straight season. In the wake of another strong campaign, Elliott has landed a second long-term investment. The Memphis product had been playing on a five-year, $20.15MM pact.
Elliott will outpace the value of that contract moving forward, although his 2024 cap hit ($5.95MM) will likely be reduced with this extension. That would provide the Eagles with added spending power for the offseason while ensuring Elliott remains in place for the foreseeable future. Expectations will thus remain high for Philadelphia’s special teams in 2024 and beyond.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Vikings To Sign RB Aaron Jones
MARCH 13: The pay cut the Packers offered checked in south of what Jones will make with the Vikings. Green Bay proposed slashing Jones’ $11MM 2024 base salary to less than $4MM, per The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, with $2MM in incentives dangled. The Vikings are giving Jones a $6MM base salary on a deal that includes $1MM in incentives.
After Jones agreed to a $5MM pay cut in 2023 — in exchange for 2023 guarantees — Schneidman adds the seven-year veteran did not want to take another reduction in this range. Although Jones will end up taking a cut from his original 2024 salary number, he lessened the damage by leaving for the Vikings, who will give him an opportunity to remain a starter.
MARCH 12: Aaron Jones‘ time with the Packers is up, but he will remain in the NFC North in 2024. The Pro Bowl running back has agreed to a one-year, $7MM deal with the Vikings, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. 
Green Bay attempted to work out a pay cut with Jones to ensure his time with the team continued. No agreement could be reached, however, and the team pivoted by releasing him and agreeing to terms with Josh Jacobs on a four-year, $48MM deal. The latter will carry the load moving forward with his new team, but plenty of touches will be available for Jones in Minnesota.
Jones was due to earn $12MM in 2024 on his Packers contract, but the team wanted him to take a 50% pay cut. It will be interesting to see how this Vikings deal is arranged with respect to guaranteed money as a result. In any case, today’s agreement comes as no surprise, given a Monday report indicating Minnesota was eyeing Jones on a deal which can be finalized at any time since he was released.
The 29-year-old topped 1,000 rushing yards three times during his seven-year stint in Green Bay. Jones has also been a notable contributor in the passing game during his career, recording between 395 and 474 yards through the air each season from 2019-22. He was limited to 11 games last season, however, and as a result his production fell considerably (889 scrimmage yards, three total touchdowns). His 4.6 regular season yards per carry average was also the lowest of his career.
In much better shape from a health perspective down the stretch, however, Jones showed flashes of his old self in the postseason. The former fifth-rounder racked up 226 yards and three touchdowns across the wild-card and divisional rounds, suggesting he could remain a productive lead back in the future. He will certainly have the opportunity to do so with Minnesota, given the team’s decision to move on from Dalvin Cook last offseason as well as his RB1 replacement (Alexander Mattison) last month.
The Vikings’ offense will of course look much different under center with Sam Darnold (or a passer added in the first round of April’s draft) in place as a Kirk Cousins replacement. Minnesota ranked fifth in the league with respect to passing yards per game in 2023 – despite the time Cousins missed with an Achilles injury – but only 29th on the ground. Jones and the team will look to improve in the latter regard during what will be a transition year in Minnesota.
Ravens To Release OLB Tyus Bowser
After missing all of last season, Tyus Bowser will become a free agent. The Ravens are releasing the veteran outside linebacker, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec. 
A knee injury kept Bowser off the field throughout the 2023 slate, and his release will save the Ravens a notable chunk of cap space. Baltimore will pick up $5.5MM in cap room by moving on from the seven-year veteran; Bowser was due that amount in base salary next season.
The 28-year-old served primarily on special teams for much of his Ravens tenure. Bowser saw incremental increases in defensive playing time, though, ultimately taking on a full-time role in 2021. He recorded a career-high seven sacks that season, indicating the $22MM extension he had inked the prior offseason would prove to be a solid investment. Things did not go according to plan starting at the midway point of the 2022 season, though.
Bowser was limited to nine contests that year due to a knee injury, one which proved to be especially troublesome through the offseason. A flare-up led to the former second-rounder being placed on the NFI list, and he remained there for the entire campaign. Baltimore was hopeful, for a time, that Bowser could suit up in 2023 but by late November signs pointed to him remaining sidelined. Given that, it comes as no surprise the team has elected to cut bait.
The Ravens endured further injury issues along the edge with 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo – who missed most of his rookie campaign – being limited to three contests this season. While veteran pickups Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy provided high-end production, they are each pending free agents. A departure from either member of the latter pair would leave a major vacancy at the OLB spot in Baltimore. Especially if both leave, the decision to move on from Bowser will leave the team in need of multiple free agent and draft additions.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Patriots Re-Sign LB Anfernee Jennings
Despite the Patriots finishing below .500 in each of the past two seasons and changing head coaches for the first time in 24 years, they are making a concerted effort to retain their free agents. 
New England has re-signed Michael Onwenu, Josh Uche and Kendrick Bourne, doing so after transition-tagging Kyle Dugger. The team will continue down this path, giving Anfernee Jennings a three-year contract to stick around. The four-year veteran linebacker agreed to a three-year, $12MM deal, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who adds the contract can max out at $24MM.
The former third-rounder entered the league with questions about his fit with respect to playing as an inside or outside linebacker. Jennings was primarily used on the inside as a rookie before being forced to miss the 2021 season due to injury. Since then, he has grown into a notable role on the Pats’ defense.
Jennings was moved to his more familiar edge rush role in 2022, a season in which he remained a rotational contributor. He logged a defensive snap share of 32% and chipped in with 1.5 sacks and 27 tackles. The 26-year-old then became a starter this past campaign, seeing a major increase in playing time partially due to the absence of Matt Judon.
The latter’s injury did not yield an uptick in the way of pass-rush production – Jennings still only recorded 1.5 sacks – but he proved to be a stout player against the run. The Alabama product recorded 66 stops (including 14 tackles for loss) and drew a stellar PFF grade of 85.9 against the run. New England will be counting on more of the same moving forward, especially given the short-term investment made in Uche (known as a sack artist who struggles against the run).
New England ranked 27th in the league in sacks last season. Improvement in that regard could come about with Judon returning to health and an impactful addition being made in free agency and/or the draft. As things stand, though, the team’s edge contingent will look familiar in 2024.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Steelers, LB Patrick Queen Agree To Deal
One of the top defenders still on the market has found a new home. Linebacker Patrick Queen has agreed to a three-year, $41MM contract with the Steelers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Providing a breakdown of the deal, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes Queen will receive an $11.59MM signing bonus in addition to his guaranteed salary ($2.25MM) in 2024. The other years include respective roster bonuses of $6.67MM and $2.5M due in March of 2025 and ’26, making this essentially a year-to-year agreement.
The Ravens declined Queen’s fifth-round option last spring, setting up 2023 as his walk year. The former first-rounder continued his career progression last season, his first full one playing alongside All-Pro Roquan Smith. The latter received a record-breaking deal not long after Baltimore traded for him, something which signaled a Queen departure in free agency.
The 24-year-old profiled as the top inside linebacker available this offseason, and to no surprise he has managed an eight-figure-per-year accord on the open market. The $13.67MM annual average value of this pact checks in lower than what many figured a Queen deal would look like, however. The LSU alum will rank seventh in the NFL amongst inside linebackers in terms of AAV with this pact.
Pittsburgh is not traditionally known as a team willing to make big splashes in free agency, although in recent history that reputation has changed to a degree. GM Omar Khan was likely to authorize a large LB commitment this offseason given the state of the Steelers’ depth chart. Toward the end of the 2023 campaign in particular, the position was decimated by injuries.
A few additions were made at the LB spot last offseason, one in which failed first-rounder Devin Bush unsurprisingly departed in free agency. Cole Holcomb inked a three-year deal, but his debut Steelers campaign was cut short in November by a season-ending knee injury. His absence was compounded later that month when fellow newcomer Kwon Alexander suffered a torn Achilles. As those two veterans rehab, Queen will take on a central role in the Steelers’ defense.
Pittsburgh would welcome better health at the LB spot in 2024, something which should be expected given Queen’s versatility. The LSU alum has not missed a game in his career, one which has seen him develop with each passing year. Queen earned second-team All-Pro honors as well as a Pro Bowl nod last season after he recorded a career-high 133 tackles. Known as a strong blitzer, he has racked up 13.5 sacks in four seasons and he will look to continue that production in his new AFC North home.
Houston and Carolina emerged as potential Queen suitors once the negotiating window opened. The question of whether those teams would be willing to meet his asking price was raised, although that is now of course a moot point. Queen will face high expectations moving forward with his new team, while the Ravens will be tasked with finding an impact starter to pair with Smith.
Rams Place Second-Round RFA Tender On LT Alaric Jackson
Alaric Jackson served as the Rams’ starting left tackle in 2023, upping his value considerably. He was a pending restricted free agent, but Los Angeles has ensured he will not reach the market. 
The Rams announced on Tuesday that Jackson has received the second-round RFA tender. As a result, he will be tied to a one-year deal worth $4.89MM unless he signs an unmatched offer sheet from an outside team. That figure represents a considerable raise compared to his career earnings across his first three seasons with the team.
Jackson had made only 12 appearances and six starts heading into the 2023 campaign. Having been used primarily at guard, the 25-year-old Canadian was not initially slated to take on blindside duties. Los Angeles had re-signed Joseph Noteboom on a $40MM to serve as the successor to Andrew Whitworth in 2022. That did not go according to plan, however, with Noteboom being limited to six games that season. That opened the door to Jackson winning the LT gig.
The latter was charged with one sack and 39 pressures allowed in 2023 by PFF. That resulted in an overall grade of 66.2, which ranked 43rd amongst qualifying tackles. Improved play would help the Rams repeat their success from last season while also upping Jackson’s market value ahead of 2025. If an offer comes in this offseason, L.A. would have the right to match it or, if not, receive a second-round pick as compensation.
The Rams were one of the teams which made a major splash on the O-line market yesterday, agreeing to a three-year, $51MM deal with guard Jonah Jackson. That, in turn, came not long after the team retained Kevin Dotson on a lucrative deal of his own. With those pacts worked out and Jackson in place, the Rams figure to have a continuity and a strong offensive front next season.
D.J. Wonnum To Visit Panthers, Bears
The Vikings appear poised to lose one starting edge rusher in Danielle Hunter, having made a lucrative commitment to Jonathan Greenard. Hunter’s edge partner could also soon be leaving Minnesota. 
D.J. Wonnum has a free agent visit lined up with the Panthers for tomorrow, Sheena Quick of 1340AM reports. That will be followed one day later by a visit with the Bears, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Hunter has far more in the way of pedigree than Wonnum, but the latter could be set to cash in on a new deal soon.
A fourth-round pick in 2020, Wonnum has alternated between notable and complementary production. In the 2021 season, he took on a starting role for the first time and recorded eight sacks. His playing time dropped considerably the following year, though, and he saw his production fall off. A return to first-team duties ensued for 2023, and Wonnum responded by again posting eight sacks with 21 QB pressures.
The 26-year-old could thus generate a notable market for his services on a second contract. Carolina has a massive need along the edge with Brian Burns having been traded to the Giants. The Panthers have a visit lined up with Chase Young, although they are not alone in that regard.
Carolina ranked last in the league in sacks in 2023, and Chicago finished 31st. The Bears made a major move aimed at addressing their pass-rushing problems at the trade deadline, though acquiring Montez Sweat from the Commanders. He was quickly handed a monster extension, giving Chicago one foundational player on the edge. More additions could be coming, and with just over $57.5MM in cap space the Bears could outbid the Panthers or most other teams in any potential Wonnum pursuit. It will be interesting to see how many other suitors show interest in this situation.
Bills To Sign LB Nicholas Morrow
Nicholas Morrow‘s Eagles stock bounced up and down last year, but the veteran linebacker ended up playing a bigger-than-expected role. The Bills took interest and will bring in the longtime starter. 
Buffalo will sign the former Raiders, Bears and Eagles ILB, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, who notes the sides agreed on a one-year pact Tuesday. Morrow started 12 games for the Eagles last season. He did so while operating as Philadelphia’s defensive signal-caller, so his absence will be missed in 2024.
Taking on a major role with the Eagles’ defense, Morrow made 95 tackles; that represents the second-highest total of his career. The former UDFA had topped 100 stops in 2022 with the Bears, but that production only landed him a one-year accord last offseason. After having a hand in a defense which struggled mightily down the stretch in the Eagles’ NFC title defense, Morrow will again find himself on the move via a short-term agreement.
Buffalo lost Tremaine Edmunds in free agency last year, creating a major vacancy at the linebacker spot. 2022 third-rounder Terrel Bernard took on a starting role as a result, racking up 143 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Tyrel Dodson also logged a notable defensive workload, although he was also used heavily on special teams (as has been the case in previous years for him). The latter is a pending free agent, and his departure could be foreshadowed by Morrow’s addition.
In any case, the 28-year-old will offer considerable experience alongside Bernard and veteran Matt Milano. Morrow has 94 games (58 starts) to his name, and he recorded three sacks, five pass deflections and a forced fumble with the Eagles last season. He will look to replicate (or better) those figures in Buffalo while aiming to avoid the late-season letdown experienced in Philadelphia.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Panthers To Sign DT A’Shawn Robinson
The Panthers made a pair of major investments on the offensive line yesterday, and the team is now committing a long-term deal to the other side of the ball. Veteran defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson has agreed to a three-year, $22.5MM contract with Carolina, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. 
[RELATED: Panthers To Trade Brian Burns To Giants]
Garafolo notes Robinson received an endorsement from Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. The pair were together when Robinson played with the Rams. That three-year stint saw him start 24 of 35 games between 2020 and ’22, although it was not sufficient to land him a multi-year deal in free agency last offseason.
Robinson joined the Giants on a one-year deal in 2023. That pact was worth up to $8MM in incentives, although the 28-year-old ultimately wound up earning its base value ($5MM). He has secured a much more lucrative investment this time around, and he will likely have a significant role to play in Carolina moving forward.
The Panthers have Derrick Brown in place as a foundational member of their D-line. The former top-1o pick enjoyed a career year in 2023, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. Brown is eligible for an extension, and talks on that front have begun. A new deal for the 25-year-old will be costly, and the overlap (starting in 2025) with Robinson’s accord will make the DT position one using up considerable cap resources.
Robinson started 13 of 17 games in New York last year, racking up 62 tackles (the second-highest mark of his career). The Alabama product was a non-factor in the passing game with no sacks and only one QB pressure, but his ability on early downs will be welcomed by Evero and Co. Carolina struggled in a number of capacities last season, including against the run. Improvement in that regard will be a key offseason goal, and the Robinson accord is one aimed at achieving it.
Patriots, Josh Uche Agree To Terms
Transition-tagging Kyle Dugger and re-signing Kendrick Bourne and Michael Onwenu, the Patriots are doing well to retain their own. Another player mentioned in 2023 trade talks is sticking around under Jerod Mayo. 
Josh Uche will stay with the Patriots on a one-year deal, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report. After breaking through for a productive 2022 season, Uche took a step back last year. But the Pats will be the team that authorizes the Michigan alum’s ‘prove it’ pact. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated adds the contract is worth $3MM but has a maximum value of $8MM via incentives.
As the NFL Network report notes, Uche had “much more on the table elsewhere” with respect to interest from outside suitors. Tom Pelissero passes along that one of those offers was worth $15MM over two years, including $11MM guaranteed. Instead, Uche decided to stick in New England on a lesser contract.
The former second-rounder showed considerable potential as a sack artist in 2022, posting 11.5 sacks. He has not developed into a regular on defense due to deficiencies against the run, but teams are regularly willing to spend for sack production.
Instead of trying to carve out a larger role with a new team, Uche will prepare for a fifth New England campaign. The 25-year-old saw his sack total drop to three in 2023, with his QB pressures also falling from 25 to 15. He was limited to 15 games last year (as was the case in 2022), and injuries were a factor taken into consideration on the trade front. In spite of that, New England came very close to working out a trade. In the end, no swap martialized, and Uche later confirmed his desire for a Patriots re-up.
The 240-pounder is undersized compared to most edge rushers, something which has been a factor in determining his playing time. Uche has seen snap shares between 30% and 38% throughout his career, and the potential classification as a part-time contributor no doubt worked against him. Nevertheless, Uche has elected to turn down more money to play under Mayo in 2024. Team and player could reap the rewards if a productive campaign ensues.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.