Panthers To Sign WR John Metchie
After playing out his rookie contract with three different teams, John Metchie has lined up another new arrangement. The wideout has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Panthers, per his agent (h/t ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
The former second-round pick is coming off a 2025 campaign that he split between the Jets and Eagles. Now, he’ll be joining a Panthers offense that’s led by Bryce Young, who was Metchie’s QB when the two were at Alabama.
It was Metchie’s performance with the Crimson Tide that convinced the Texans to use the 44th-overall pick on the WR in the 2022 draft. Unfortunately, the receiver failed to click in Houston. He sat out his rookie campaign after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, but he returned in time for the 2023 season. In two healthy years with the organization, Metchie was limited to a combined 40 catches for 412 yards and one touchdown.
He was dealt to the Eagles last August for a late-round pick swap and got into seven games with his new squad, hauling in four catches for 18 yards. He was included in the Michael Carter swap in October and proceeded to appear in nine games (seven starts) for the Jets, where he finished with 29 catches for 256 yards and two scores.
Now, he’ll be reuniting with Young in Carolina. He’ll have an opportunity to carve out a minor role with his new team, although it’s worth noting that the Panthers are set to return all of their top-four WRs (in terms of snap count) from 2025: Tetairoa McMillan, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and Brycen Tremayne.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Lions Release DE Josh Paschal
After missing the 2025 season through injury, Josh Paschal will not return to the Lions. The fifth-year defensive end has been released, per a team announcement.
Paschal, 26, was a second-round pick in 2022. He missed at least three games in each of his first three season and did not play at all in 2025 due to offseason back surgery. He spent the year on the non-football injury list and his contract tolled as a result, which would have allowed the Lions to keep him in 2026 for the final year of his rookie deal.
Instead, they will let him hit the open market, where he will likely need to take a one-year, ‘prove-it’ deal to rebuild his stock after so many injuries. The 275-pound defensive end is a decent run-stopper but has not made a consistent contribution in the pass rush. He recorded five tackles for loss in 2023 and 2024 but just five sacks in his career. His pass rush win rate, which started at a solid 8.6% as a rookie, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), fell below 6.0% in each of the next two years.
The Lions will need to add some depth off the edge with Marcus Davenport and Al-Quadin Muhammad also hitting free agency. The team currently lacks a clear starter opposite Aidan Hutchinson, but the ranks of available defensive ends has thinned in the last two days.
Falcons Release QB Kirk Cousins
New Falcons GM Ian Cunningham recently confirmed Kirk Cousins would be released at the start of the new league year. With that checkpoint having been reached this afternoon, Cousins is indeed a free agent. 
The Pro Bowl quarterback has been cut, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirms. Cousins’ Atlanta run ends halfway through the four-year, $160MM pact he signed in free agency. A much less lucrative deal will await this time around. This is coming through a post-June 1 designation, per a team announcement. $2.1MM in cap savings will be generated with the Falcons taking on $22.5MM in dead money charges which can be spread out over the next two years.
Atlanta is set to move forward with Michael Penix Jr. at the quarterback spot. The team has also lined up a deal with Tua Tagovailoa, and the ex-Dolphin will operate as a highly inexpensive option under center. It has long been clear Cousins, 37, would be moving on from the Falcons this offseason. His attention will now turn to free agency, although a number of QB spots have already been filled at this point.
Cousins has been mentioned as a candidate to return to Minnesota. Over six years with the Vikings, he largely delivered strong play up to the Achilles tear which ended his 2023 campaign. Kyler Murray has also been released today, however, and Minnesota is widely regarded as the top landing spot in that case.
As a result, Cousins may soon be joining a fourth career team. The former fourth-round pick is likely to line up yet another short-term deal during the latter stages of his career. Pittsburgh was recently named as a potential suitor in this case. That would make sense in the event Aaron Rodgers – whose intentions are not yet known – decides not to play in 2026. The Steelers would be left as one of the few teams without a veteran starter in that instance.
Another team to watch in this case could be the Raiders. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports Vegas can be expected to pursue a Cousins agreement. Geno Smith has been traded to the Jets, leaving the Raiders without an experienced passer. Fernando Mendoza remains on track to be selected first overall in April’s draft. If Vegas prefers to have him sit at the start of his career, adding someone like Cousins could prove to be a prudent move.
Cousins struggled when atop the Falcons’ depth chart in 2024. He was benched in favor of Penix late that season. Cousins then won five of his eight starts during this past campaign, throwing 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He will likely be counted on as a bridge starter once more, depending on the QB situation he enters with his next deal.
Vikings Release S Harrison Smith
With the new league year beginning today, the Vikings are making a number of financial moves. One of them will be a post-June 1 release of safety Harrison Smith, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reports. 
Smith’s contract was set to void on Friday, so a decision on this front needed to be made in short order. As Seifert notes, this is not a guarantee Smith will be retiring. Minnesota remains open to retaining the franchise icon on a new deal provided he elects to continue playing.
The Smith release has now taken place, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He confirms, to little surprise, team and player remain in communication with one another at this point. Attention will now turn to the matter of Smith’s intentions. Retirement received consideration last offseason before a one-year pact was agreed to.
Minnesota will see $1.3MM in cap savings with this move. Meanwhile, a dead money charge of $3MM can be spread out across the next two years. That figure is separate from the cost of any potential Smith contract if he chooses to play a 15th season. If not, the Vikings will have a notable vacancy to fill in more respects than one.
Smith has collected six Pro Bowl nods during his decorated career. He is currently fifth in franchise history for games played. A move into third would be possible in the event a new deal is worked out. Losing Smith, 37, to retirement would mark a second straight notable departure for the Vikings (after Camryn Bynum departed in free agency in 2025). Smith handled a snap share of 85% this past season.
The Vikings have already confirmed their defensive line will look much different with the releases of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. New faces in the secondary can also be expected for 2026, especially if Smith does not return.
Ravens, S Jaylinn Hawkins Agree To Deal
The Ravens have lined up another piece of business in the secondary. Having already agreed to a re-signing with Chidobe Awuzie, a notable outside addition is coming. 
Safety Jaylinn Hawkins has agreed to terms with Baltimore, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. This is a two-year deal, he adds. Hawkins played his way into a relatively strong market with his Patriots performances over the past two years. Hawkins will earn $10MM on this new pact, Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler adds.
The 28-year-old was a key figure on defense and special teams during his first New England campaign. Hawkins then became a full-time starter in 2025, logging 838 defensive snaps (the second-highest total of his career). He recorded four interceptions, six pass deflections and 1.5 sacks while helping New England reach the Super Bowl. Mutual interest in a new Pats deal existed, but a departure will now take place.
Hawkins played on a series of one-year deals from 2023-25. The most lucrative of those was $1.8MM, so today’s news amounts to a considerable raise. A role as Baltimore’s No. 3 safety can be expected moving forward. The team has Kyle Hamilton attached to the position’s most lucrative contract, while Malaki Starks was selected in the first round of the 2025 draft.
During the opening period of free agency, however, Alohi Gilman (Chiefs) and Ar’Darius Washington (Giants) departed. That created the need for depth on the back end, and Baltimore has moved quickly in the new league year by adding Hawkins. If the former fourth-rounder can stabilize the Ravens’ secondary, this will prove to be an impactful addition. Baltimore struggled mightily against the pass during Zach Orr‘s tenure as defensive coordinator. He has been replaced by Anthony Weaver, while new head coach Jesse Minter will call plays on defense. The fit between his scheme and Hawkins will be interesting to see in 2026.
Ravens To Re-Sign CB Chidobe Awuzie
Chidobe Awuzie was key member of the Ravens’ secondary in 2025. The veteran corner will remain in place for Baltimore moving forward, with NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reporting a new deal has been agreed to. 
This is a one-year, $5MM pact, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic adds. Per Garafolo, that figure will be guaranteed in full. Awuzie, 30, played for $1.26MM in 2025, but his Baltimore showing has resulted in a considerable raise this spring.
The Ravens have Pro Bowler Marlon Humphrey and 2024 first-rounder Nate Wiggins atop their cornerback depth chart. Both players had rough patches in 2025, however, something which was compounded by the failure of the Jaire Alexander experiment. That resulted in a notable workload for Awuzie, who logged five starts and handled a 59% defensive snap share during his debut Baltimore campaign.
The former Cowboy, Bengal and Titan was held with an interception over that span. Awuzie did, however, notch seven pass deflections and he allowed a completion percentage of 55.6% in coverage (the best figure in that respect since 2022). Another good season would be welcomed on a Baltimore defense seeking needed improvements against the pass in 2026 under new head coach Jesse Minter.
The Ravens underwent a slew of coaching changes following the 2025 campaign, which ended without a playoff berth. John Harbaugh will not return, nor will Zach Orr after two seasons as the team’s defensive coordinator (and further time in the organization as both a player and a position coach). Anthony Weaver is back in Baltimore and he will handle DC responsibilities, although Minter – whose stock has risen sharply as one of the league’s top defensive minds – will call plays on that side of the ball.
Orr’s unit ranked 31st against the pass in 2024 and 30th last year. Shoring up the secondary will be a priority for Baltimore, a team which is set to lose safety Alohi Gilman in free agency. Awuzie remaining a steady presence for another year would be welcomed by the Ravens, whose cornerback room could of course benefit from improved play up front. Expectations will be high in that regard, and it will be interesting to see if a stronger edge rush will aid Baltimore’s level of play against the pass.
Jets To Sign K Cade York
Losing Nick Folk after a quality reunion season, the Jets are moving to a much younger option. They are adding Cade York on a one-year deal, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. 
York’s lone full NFL season was his rookie campaign. The 2022 Browns draftee played 17 games, but his eight missed field goals and two missed extra points left plenty to be desired. York was let go during roster cutdowns in 2023, and he has hardly seen any game time since then.
The 25-year-old made a single appearance in 2024 with the Commanders along with five as a member of the Bengals. York has seen plenty of time on and off various practice squads and active rosters over the course of his career. Most recently, he had a brief stint with the Saints but was not used in game action.
During his return to the Jets in 2025, Folk missed a total of only one kick. The 41-year-old led the NFL in field goal accuracy for the third season in a row, so replacing him will be no small feat for the team. York’s lack of experience stands in sharp contrast to Folk’s track record at the NFL level. It would certainly come as no surprise if another kicker were to be added later this offseason to set up a training camp competition.
This York agreement will no doubt check in at or near the league minimum. That will leave the Jets with plenty of financial flexibility as their roster overhaul continues.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Raiders Trade QB Geno Smith To Jets
Geno Smith is heading back to where his career began. The Raiders have worked out a trade which will send the veteran quarterback to the Jets, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal is now official.
Vegas will send Smith and a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft to New York for a sixth-round selection this year, Schefter adds. The Raiders, meanwhile, are retaining most of Smith’s base salary for 2026, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The Jets will pay him near the league minimum as a result, with Schefter adding a restructure was agreed to prior to the trade.
Per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, Vegas will be on the hook for $16.5MM with New York taking on $3.3MM. Smith will thus receive a $1MM raise compared to the guaranteed figure he was owed prior to this swap as a result.
Smith’s Raiders tenure was known to be ending after just one season with the team preparing to draft Fernando Mendoza first overall in April. Vegas was willing to release the 35-year-old in the event no trade suitors could be found. Instead of Smith becoming a free agent tomorrow, he will begin a second stint with the Jets.
The former second-rounder is at the Jets’ facility, Dianna Russini of The Athletic notes Smith has already conducted a physical, paving the way for this swap to be made official. One major move at the quarterback position has now been taken care of for New York, although more changes will be coming. One year remains on Justin Fields‘ contract, but he is not expected to be back with the team in 2026. Tyrod Taylor is a pending free agent.
Smith began his career as a Jets draftee, and he spent four seasons with the team. That included a two-year run (2013-14) as New York’s starter, a stint which did not go as planned to say the least. A lengthy spell without another QB1 opportunity came to an end when Smith took over starting duties for Seattle following the Russell Wilson trade.
Smith spent three years atop the Seahawks’ depth chart, earning Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2022. That season included a league-leading 69.8 completion percentage and a career-high 30 touchdown passes. Smith secured a second straight Pro Bowl nod the following year, but the arrival of new head coach Mike Macdonald in 2024 did not result in a long-term Seattle deal being worked out. Instead, the Seahawks targeted Sam Darnold last offseason and traded Smith to Vegas, allowing him to reunite with Pete Carroll.
After a disastrous season together, Carroll and Smith are now out of the fold. The latter will look to rebuild his value in a familiar setting, although he does not have experience playing under Jets head coach Aaron Glenn or offensive coordinator Frank Reich. A quick acclimation period would of course be welcomed by all involved, with Glenn no doubt under pressure to guide New York to more success in Year 2 than the team had during his debut on the sidelines. The Vikings were mentioned as a potential Smith suitor, and NFL insider Jordan Schultz confirms there was “real interest” on the part of Minnesota. The team’s list of free agent targets has now been thinned out, however.
Reich has a history with Carson Wentz, and a reunion between those two has been mentioned as something to watch for. In general, it will be interesting to see if the Jets add another veteran passer in free agency with Smith now in the fold. Meanwhile, the Raiders could be in the market for an experienced option as insurance for Mendoza’s rookie campaign.
Improved play on offense will be key in 2026 for the Jets, a team which made a number of defensive splashes yesterday. It will be interesting to see how Smith fares in his New York return and what kind of QB room he will be in by the time the season begins.
Titans Interested In Trey Hendrickson; DE Holding Firm On Asking Price
11:00pm: The gap between Hendrickson’s asking price and the offers of interested teams was roughly $10MM per year as of this morning, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. There will certainly need to be significant movement one way or the other for an agreement to be reached in this case.
11:09am: The Titans were among the busiest teams on Monday, working out several big-money deals at the outset of the negotiating window. There is still room for a pass rush signing, though, and one of the top options still available is of interest to Tennessee. 
Trey Hendrickson is among the players on the team’s radar, per Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com. Tennessee recently swung a trade for Jermaine Johnson, and the team’s defensive front will be aided once the John Franklin-Myers signing becomes official. Much of the Titans’ early spending came on offense or at the cornerback position, however, and it will be interesting to see if general manager Mike Borgonzi and Co. will be willing to make another splash for Hendrickson.
The likes of Jaelan Phillips, Odafe Oweh, Boye Mafe and Kwity Paye each agreed to lucrative deals on Monday. Hendrickson is by far the most accomplished pass rusher still on the market, and the timing of his next contract will make for a notable storyline. The four-time Pro Bowler did not receive the franchise tag, and Mafe’s deal came from the Bengals. With Cincinnati heading in a new pass rush direction, Hendrickson is slated to play elsewhere in 2026.
Shortly before the onset of the legal tampering period, Danielle Hunter secured $40MM on a guaranteed, one-year Texans deal. Phillips, meanwhile, landed a $30MM-per-year pact featuring major guarantees from the Panthers. During an appearance on Get Up this morning, ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted (video link) Hendrickson is remaining patient having seen the market for other top edge rushers. It goes without saying no suitor has been willing to meet his asking price yet, but Schefter adds the 2024 sack champion is unlikely to budge with respect to his price point.
The Titans ranked mid-pack in terms of sack production in 2025. Strong play up front can be expected this season under new head coach Robert Saleh given his background, and adding Hendrickson (who was limited to seven games last season due to core muscle surgery) would provide a boost. Tennessee entered this week as one of the teams to watch closely with respect to a spending spree; Over the Cap currently lists the Titans with $53MM in cap space, so more notable signings could be feasible.
Steelers Sign P Cameron Johnston
Cameron Johnston is back in Pittsburgh. The veteran punter has signed a one-year deal, the team announced on Tuesday. 
Johnston was with the Steelers in 2024, but he was limited to just one game that season due to injury. The 34-year-old Australian split his time between the Bills and Giants last season, making four total appearances. He will now look to reclaim the punting gig in Pittsburgh.
Corliss Waitman has served as the Steelers’ punter since Johnston went down. That could continue moving forward, although Waitman is a pending restricted free agent. It will be interesting to see if today’s move has any impact on Pittsburgh retaining Waitman on a new deal.
Johnston is a veteran of 105 combined regular and postseason games. He had a busy stretch with the Eagles and Texans spanning 2018-23, including one year (2021) in which he led the NFL in punts (88). The former UDFA has averaged 47.7 gross yards per punt with a net of 42.0 over the course of his career.
The Steelers lined up a pair of key moves on offense Monday, agreeing to a trade for wideout Michael Pittman Jr. and a signing of running back Rico Dowdle. The team’s quarterback position is still unsettled, and arriving at a final decision on that front will of course be a key priority in the near future. In any case, the punter spot has been addressed regardless of what happens with Waitman.