Lions Sign RB Benny Snell; Justin Jackson Retires
The Lions have made a move affecting their backfield, spurred in part by a surprise retirement decision. The team announced on Thursday that Benny Snell has been signed, and that Justin Jackson has ended his career. 
Snell worked out with the Broncos and Colts this offseason, but he will ultimately head to Detroit to fill the vacancy left by Jackson’s retirement. The 25-year-old spent his first four seasons with the Steelers, but he was primarily used on special teams. Especially with Najee Harris in the fold for the past two years, Snell has seen limited touches on offense.
A depth role will again await him in Detroit, with free agent addition David Montgomery and first-round rookie Jahmyr Gibbs set to carry the load out of the backfield. A division of rushing and pass-catching duties is in the team’s plans, and Snell should operate as a fill-in option on offense while maintaining a steady presence on special teams.
Jackson was unable to establish anything more than a complimentary role with the Chargers over the course of his four years with the team. He joined the Lions last offseason, but his playing situation remained the same. Buried behind D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams on the depth chart, he logged only 54 touches. The 27-year-old was a key special teamer, though, and he missed only one game in his debut Lions campaign.
That led to a new deal being worked out less than three weeks ago, making today’s news rather surprising. Jackson battled injuries in 2019 and ’20 in particular, but a healthy season last year made the decision to retain him an easy one from the Lions’ perspective. Now, the team will move forward with an significantly different RB contingent than last season.
Jackson signed for the veteran minimum on his second Lions pact, one which did not include any guaranteed money. The Northwestern alum will hang up his cleats with $3.7MM in career earnings after five seasons played.
Latest On Patriots’ Interest In RBs Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette
Much of the attention on the free agent market is aimed at Dalvin Cook, but a number of other veteran running backs remain unsigned. Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette are among them, despite the fact they each visited the Patriots last month. 
Elliott has received little interest since his Cowboys release, and a return to Dallas (while still possible) continues to appear unlikely. The Patriots could use the former rushing champion as a high-end backup to Rhamondre Stevenson, and Elliott is believed to be New England’s target rather than Cook in that regard. Finances are a barrier which has yet to be overcome on the Elliott front, however.
Outkick’s Armando Salguero notes that New England has a price point which it is not prepared to surpass to sign Elliott. The Patriots currently have just over $17MM in cap space, so they could afford to outbid a competing team if that becomes necessary. For now, though, they will wait for Elliott to make a decision on his future in the aftermath of an encouraging visit to Foxborough.
The same is not true of Fournette’s trek to New England. Selguero adds that the former Jaguar and Buccaneer’s conditioning was not impressive when he worked out with the Patriots. Fournette dealt with weight issues ahead of last season, one in which he averaged just 3.5 yards per carry and ceded playing time to Rachaad White. In the aftermath of Tom Brady‘s retirement, Fournette asked for and was granted his release from Tampa Bay.
That move has left him on the open market into August, with little interest shown outside of New England. The Patriots have kept their options open regarding a veteran RB addition, having also worked out Darrell Henderson. At the moment, Elliott seems the likeliest move at the position, but the plethora of backs still available certainly makes this a buyer’s market with preseason set to begin around the league.
Jets Still Eyeing Dalvin Cook; Team Has Little Interest In Other RB Additions
AUGUST 10: Outkick’s Armando Salguero notes that Cook and the Jets remain at an impasse financially. The gap between the parties could be as much as $3MM per year, he adds, which would explain the lack of traction on a deal sending him to New York. If Cook holds firm on his asking price, it will be interesting to monitor how willing the Jets will be to match it as time goes by, and if other suitors are prepared to step in if they are not.
AUGUST 9: Throughout the more recent stages of his free agent process, the Jets have been the team most closely connected to Dalvin Cook. A deal sending the veteran back to New York is still possible, but no other veterans at the position are on the team’s radar at the moment. 
[RELATED: Patriots Leaning Toward Elliott, Away From Cook]
Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline notes that the Jets still “want to sign” the four-time Pro Bowler. Teams around the AFC East – with the exception of the Bills – have been linked to Cook, who has understandably remained patient while weighing his options. His only visit to date has been with the Jets, though, and he deemed the odds of his high-profile summit producing a deal as being “pretty high.”
The degree to which Cook touted his sit-down with the Jets publicly did not sit well with the team, although interest from other potential suitors has been relatively lackluster. The Miami native is seen by the Dolphins as a luxury add, despite the fact he would likely have an easier path to a starter’s role with his hometown team than with the Patriots or Jets, provided Breece Hall is indeed available in time for Week 1.
Cook is believed to be seeking guaranteed money over two years, which could complicate a Jets deal aimed at making him a high-end insurance policy in case Hall is activated later than expected or struggles to return to his pre-ACL tear form. Notably, however, Pauline adds that New York is not particularly interested in adding a veteran (other than Cook) to its backfield given the options already in place.
Aside from Hall, the Jets also have Michael Carter and former UDFA Zonovan Knight on the RB depth chart. The latter has impressed in training camp, per Pauline, after totaling 400 scrimmage yards on 98 touches last season. Fifth-round rookie Israel Abanikanda has also drawn praise, meaning the Jets can afford to remain patient with respect to negotiations with Cook. Interest still exists for a deal to be worked out on this front, however, and with more than $16MM in cap space, the Jets have the spending power to make a signficant commitment if one is required.
Lions Eyeing Move To S For C.J. Gardner-Johnson; Brian Branch Receiving First-Team Reps
Expectations are high for the Lions’ defense in 2023 in large part due to the additions made in their secondary. Free agent signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson and rookie Brian Branch are among the new faces on the backend, and they could each find themselves in the starting lineup come Week 1. 
Gardner-Johnson’s status as a first-teamer has not been in question, of course, after he posted six interceptions with the Eagles last year despite missing five games. The 25-year-old surprisingly only parlayed that into a one-year deal with $6.5MM guaranteed in free agency. His move to Detroit was expected to result in a return to his more familiar slot corner role (as opposed to the safety spot, where he spent most of his time in Philadelphia).
However, a knee injury Gardner-Johnson suffered early in training camp left him sidelined for a stretch. That opened the door to Branch filling in at the nickel spot, and his performances since then have him firmly in the mix for a starting role. The second-rounder has likely played his way into a first-team position, or at least notable rotational duties, as detailed by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Branch was lauded as one of the most versatile players in the 2023 class, but playing him at corner would open up the possibility of moving Gardner-Johnson back to safety.
Doing so would represent a change in approach compared to earlier in the offseason, but it could allow the Lions to deploy their ideal combination of defensive backs. Gardner-Johnson shifting back to safety would relegate Tracy Walker to backup duties while he rehabs the Achilles tear which ended his 2022 season. The latter had paired with 2022 third-rounder Kerby Joseph last year.
Head coach Dan Campbell recently noted that Walker is still in consideration for a starting position, however, so plenty is yet to be determined (aside from Joseph’s first-team certainty) as the preseason approaches. Branch will be a key player to watch during exhibition season as he looks to win a starting gig right away, something which would put the versatility of Detroit’s new and highly regarded secondary to the test early in the campaign.
Browns, DT Shelby Harris Agree To Deal
A free agent visit between Shelby Harris and the Browns has yielded an agreement. The veteran defensive tackle is headed to Cleveland on a deal worth up to $5.25MM, reports Jordan Schultz of the Score (Twitter links). 
Harris had been on the open market since being released by the Seahawks in March, but it took plenty of time for him to receive tangible interest. He explored the possibility of returning to the Broncos by visiting Denver, but that did not produce a deal. The 31-year-old then met with the Browns, though at that point he was not believed to be acting with much urgency to make a firm commitment.
Now, Harris has a new home for the fourth time in his career. The former seventh-rounder was included in the package Denver sent to Seattle in the Russell Wilson trade last offseason. He remained a full-time starter in the Emerald City, though his production dropped compared to his days with the Broncos. Harris recorded two sacks and eight QB pressures in 2022, after posting six and 18, respectively, the year prior.
Harris should still be able to carve out at least a rotational role in Cleveland, a team which has set about re-tooling its defensive front this offseason. Their most signficant endeavor in that regard was the deal given to Dalvin Tomlinson (four-years, $57MM). The latter will be an anchor of the Browns’ defensive interior for the foreseeable future, and 2020 third-rounder Jordan Elliott graduated to a starting role in 2022. Perrion Winfrey was waived last month, though, leaving a vacancy at the DT spot.
Cleveland invested a third-round pick in this year’s draft to add further depth on the D-line by selecting Siaki Ika. Harris, who has 98 appearances and 64 starts to his name, will no doubt be counted on more than the Baylor product in 2023. As is the case with the Seahawks, the Browns are aiming to take a needed step forward with their defensive front compared to last year. Harris should aid in their ability to progress under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
A return to the Seahawks was thought to be on the table for much of the offseason in Harris’ case. As Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets, however, the signing of Mario Edwards (which in turn came after the addition of Dre’Mont Jones) likely took a Harris deal off the table. Seattle will move forward with its new DT contingent, while Harris will look to put together a strong season in Cleveland ahead of another trip to free agency.
No Saints Deals In Place For RB Kareem Hunt, LB Anthony Barr
2:59pm: Not so fast. Both players departed their New Orleans visits without deals in place. The Saints remain interested in the nine-year vet, but Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets other teams have emerged as potential options as well. It is unclear which teams are in on Barr, who could still end up with the Saints. For now, however, no agreement has been reached. Ditto Hunt, who is set for a Colts visit Wednesday.
11:17am: One day after news of their workouts was learned, both Kareem Hunt and Anthony Barr are set to head to New Orleans. The Saints are expected to sign both veterans pending a physical, reports ESPN’s Dianna Russini (Twitter link).
Barr met with the Saints yesterday, while Hunt’s visit was scheduled for today. To little surprise, the interest shown by the team has quickly resulted in agreements being reached. Neither player had generated much of a market for their services during the offseason, but they will now have plenty of time to acclimate to their new team. 
Especially to begin the year, New Orleans will be shorthanded in the backfield. Alvin Kamara was issued a three-game suspension for his involvement in a violent altercation in February 2022, which will leave the Saints without the five-time Pro Bowler. Eno Benjamin, meanwhile, will not be available at any point this campaign after he suffered an Achilles tear.
Hunt will look to serve in a similar capacity to his Browns tenure during his Saints stint. The 28-year-old operated as a consistent pass-catching back while Nick Chubb handled much of the team’s carries. Hunt still logged 442 carries in his 49 games in Cleveland, though, averaging 4.2 yards per rush in the process. If needed, he could handle a notable workload in his new home.
The Browns looked likely to move Hunt at the trade deadline, but he instead needed to wait until August to join a new team. In addition to Kamara, though, New Orleans boasts free agent signing Jamaal Williams and third-round rookie Kendre Miller in its new-look backfield. It will be interesting to watch how Hunt fits in during Kamara’s absence and how much of a role he is able to carve out upon the latter’s return.
Barr, meanwhile, is set to be on the move for the second time in as many years. His eight-year Vikings tenure ended last offseason, and the former first-rounder played in Dallas in 2022. Barr saw his playing time cut significantly compared to most of his Minnesota campaigns, and his lowered production helped keep him on the market deep into the summer.
The Saints have a number of options at the linebacker spot as is, with Demario Davis in place as an anchor of the team’s defense. 2021 second-rounder Pete Werner saw a sizeable jump in playing time last season, and he can be expected to remain a full-time starter moving forward. Recent draftees Zack Baun and D’Marco Jackson (the latter of whom missed his entire rookie season due to injury) are also in the mix for significant snaps. Barr will look to prove himself to be at least a quality rotational member of the unit.
The Saints entered today with just under $13MM in cap space, which should be enough to comfortably afford Hunt and Barr on what will no doubt be short-term, low-cost deals. Both players will add considerable experience to what is already one of the most veteran-laden teams in the league as the they aim to rebuild their free agent stock in a new setting.
Raiders DE Tyree Wilson Expected To Be Available For Week 1
Well into August, the Raiders have not had their top rookie on the field at any point this offseason. Defensive end Tyree Wilson remains on the non-football injury list while recovering from surgery which addressed a Lisfranc injury. 
The Raiders expected him to be activated in time for the start of training camp, but that has still yet to take place. Wilson was one of the more intriguing prospects in this year’s edge class due to his injury history. Vegas remained high on him, however, and stayed put at the No. 7 slot to select him. Despite his continued absence, head coach Josh McDaniels is confident Wilson will be cleared for the start of the season.
“I’m going to hope so,” McDaniels said, via Tashan Reed of The Athletic, when asked about Wilson’s projected Week 1 readiness (subscription required). “As soon as he’s ready, he’s going to be out there. There’s been nothing that has told us that that’s not going to happen.”
Wilson put up underwhelming numbers at Texas A&M but his production jumped considerably after transferring to Texas Tech. He posted 14 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss across his two years with the Red Raiders, putting him firmly on the first-round radar. Wilson should be expected to serve in a rotational role behind Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones to start his pro career. The Raiders eyed Wilson in part to ease the workload of the latter two, but missed reps in training camp will surely hinder his early development.
In another development on the D-line, Jerry Tillery has seen time at defensive end during camp (Twitter link via Reed). The former Chargers first-rounder has primarily been used on the inside during his career, but his skillset has always lent itself more to pass-rush production than run defense. Especially with Wilson sidelined, there have been snaps available for Tillery – whom the Raiders claimed off waivers and subsequently re-signed on a two-year deal – to try his hand at practicing as a base end.
It will be interesting to see if the Tillery experiment continues once Wilson is cleared to return. The team is confident that will happen soon, and his presence will be welcomed as the Raiders look to turn the corner defensively compared to last season.
Latest On Extension Talks Between Buccaneers, WR Mike Evans
An extension for Mike Evans has been under consideration for much of the offseason in Tampa Bay, and finalizing one would prolong his tenure with the team and generate immediate salary cap benefits. Talks could produce an agreement in the near future. 
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that an extension for the Pro Bowl wideout could be worked out by the end of training camp. Doing so would be beneficial for team and player given the $23.69MM cap hit he is set to carry for the 2023 season. Mutual interest is believed to exist to strike a deal in this case, something Evans recently confirmed.
“Finishing my career with one team, that would be awesome to do that,” he said. “I’m sure they want that, and I want it as well. Hopefully we can get an extension. Would be good for both parties.”
Evans is entering his age-30 season, but his remarkable consistency makes him a logical candidate for another new deal. The former first-rounder’s five-year, $82.5MM pact proved to be a worthwhile investment as Evans continued his career-long streak of recording 1,000 or more yards in each campaign. Flattening out his 2023 cap hit while ensuring he will remain with the Buccaneers as they begin the post-Tom Brady era at quarterback would provide stability for the transitioning team.
Still, Tampa already has one $20MM-per-year commitment at the WR spot with Chris Godwin; no team has two such deals at the position. Any Evans extension would also eat into the more than $27MM in cap space Tampa is currently scheduled to have next year, spending power which will be welcomed after dealing with a league-leading $75MM in dead money this season.
For the time being, at least, Evans will be counted on as a focal point of the Buccaneers’ offense as the team sorts out its situation under center. It remains unclear whether Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask will earn the Week 1 starting job, but either passer will no doubt lean heavily on Evans during the season. Whether the latter has a new deal in place by the start of the campaign will be a key storyline to follow in the coming days and weeks.
Texans To Sign OL Rashaad Coward
Continuing to deal with injury problems along the offensive line, the Texans are adding further depth. Rashaad Coward is headed to Houston after working out with the team and signing a deal, reports Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. 
Tytus Howard is dealing with a broken hand and faces the possibility of missing regular season time as a result. The team’s tackle depth was worsened further when Greg Little was placed on IR due to a back injury, and Charlie Heck is currently sidelined as well. Aside from veteran George Fant, who was signed as a high-end insurance policy and will start in place of Howard if needed, the Texans were short on bodies at the tackle spot.
Coward has seen time at right tackle dating back to when he was with the Bears. He could thus be used as an emergency option behind Fant on the depth chart, but he has more experience on the interior. Coward was used at right guard during the 2019 season, where he saw 10 of his 18 career starts.
The 28-year-old split his time between right tackle and left guard the following year, then signed with the Steelers. Coward was on the field for only two snaps on offense, however, and he joined the Cardinals last offseason. He did not survive the team’s final roster cuts, but was immediately signed to their practice squad. The former UDFA did wind up making four appearances in Arizona, though, including three starts at left guard.
Coward has earned poor PFF evaluations in each of his seasons with notable playing time, so Houston will be eyeing him strictly as a versatile backup. Given the injuries the team is dealing with at tackle (and along the interior with veteran center Scott Quessenberry having suffered ACL and MCL tears), though, he could find himself in the lineup at some point. Spot-start duties would be nothing new to Coward, and operating in that role could help his free agent market come next offseason.
Texans’ Tytus Howard Undergoes Hand Surgery
2:50pm: ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that Howard is facing a recovery timeline of four to six weeks. The NFL’s regular season opener will take place exactly one month from today, so he will have a chance to be available for Houston’s Week 1 matchup. Especially with Fant in place as a fill-in, though, it would come as no surprise if the Texans were to proceed with caution with their newly-extended blocker.
1:21pm: Tytus Howard has a new Texans contract in place, but he will be absent from the team for an extended stretch. Houston’s starting right tackle underwent surgery on a broken hand today, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). 
While declining to give a firm timeline on the topic of recovery, head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed that Howard will be out for “a while.” That is obviously an unwelcomed development for both team and player, after the sides agreed to a three-year, $56MM extension less than two weeks ago. Howard is expected to be a mainstay on the Texans’ offensive line for the foreseeable future.
The 27-year-old is on the books along with blindside protector Laremy Tunsil to form the league’s most expensive tackle tandem. As part of Houston’s numerous investments up front this offseason, though, they do have experienced insurance in place. Veteran George Fant – who inked a one-year contract recently – will fill in for Howard while he is out. Fant has 83 games and 60 starts to his name.
With Charlie Heck currently on the PUP list and Howard now sidelined, plenty of attention will be on Fant to hold down the RT role. If Howard is able to return in time for the start of the regular season, the former Seahawk and Jet will return to backup duties. If not, though, Fant will be able to add considerably to his 2023 earnings. His deal with a base value of $2MM includes another $1MM in playtime incentives, as detailed by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 (Twitter link).
Howard, meanwhile, will look to recover as soon as possible to begin his play after signing a top-five right tackle deal. Building off his success from last season would prove the team’s investment to be worthwhile, while also helping ensure his long-term future with the Texans. Wilson tweets that the Alabama State’s extension includes $1.8MM in guarantees for his 2025 base salary of $15.5MM.
With the first two years of the pact guaranteed in full, expectations will be high for Howard when he returns. Today’s news marks a setback and the first major injury news since his rookie season, though with Fant in place the team is well-positioned to handle any potential extended absence.