Cowboys To Re-Sign RB Rico Dowdle
There will be plenty of uncertainty in the Cowboys’ running backs room heading into 2024, but the team can at least count on some continuity at the position. SportsTrust Advisors announced that running back Rico Dowdle is sticking in Dallas.
Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports that Dowdle will be inking a new one-year deal with the Cowboys. The contract is worth $1.255MM and includes a $200K signing bonus.
The South Carolina product joined the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020. After appearing in only 19 offensive snaps through his first three seasons in the NFL, Dowdle saw a larger role in 2023. The fourth-year player served as Tony Pollard‘s primary backup and finished the season with 505 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 106 touches. The 25-year-old also returned six kickoffs this past season.
Pollard left for the Titans in free agency, and the Cowboys have yet to add a replacement. That would leave Dowdle and 2023 sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn atop the depth chart, with Malik Davis and Snoop Conner also around to soak up snaps.
Panthers To Sign OT Yosh Nijman
The Panthers have been seeking some offensive tackle depth, and they found an answer in a former Packers starter. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Panthers have signed free agent tackle Yosh Nijman.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Nijman is inking a two-year deal worth $8MM. The contract can hit a max value of $15MM and contains $5MM in guaranteed money.
Nijman joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech in 2019. After redshirting as a rookie and mostly playing special teams as a sophomore, Nijman got more offensive reps during his third season in the NFL.
After starting eight games in 2021, Nijman started a career-high 13 games blocking for Aaron Rodgers in 2022. Despite the uptick in playing time, the OT only ranked 54th on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings that season. Nijman reverted to a backup role in 2023, starting only one of his 17 appearances.
The Panthers have invested in guards this offseason, adding both Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis to their starting lineup. The team is now adding some experience to the tackle spot, where Nijman will likely compete with Brady Christensen to serve as the swing tackle behind Taylor Moton and Ikem Ekwonu.
Vikings To Sign DL Jonah Williams
After spending a single day with the Vikings in 2021, Jonah Williams will be eyeing a longer stay in Minnesota this time around. The defensive lineman will be signing with the Vikings, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Williams will be inking a one-year deal worth up to $1.5MM, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News in Minnesota. Fowler adds that the deal contains $350K in guaranteed money. Williams visited with the organization earlier today.
The former UDFA spent a year-plus with the Rams to begin his career before getting waived during the 2021 campaign. He caught on with the Vikings, but Minny cut bait following a failed physical. Williams landed back on the Rams practice squad and proceeded to win a Super Bowl ring that season.
He saw a bigger role over the past two years, culminating in a 2023 campaign where he started 16 of his 17 appearances. Williams finished the season having compiled 49 tackles and a pair of sacks, but Pro Football Focus only graded him 88th among 130 qualifying interior defenders.
In Minnesota, Williams will reunite with defensive line coach Marcus Dixon, who previously served as an assistant on the Rams staff. Williams also crossed paths with Vikings head coach (and former Rams OC) Kevin O’Connell in Los Angeles. The Vikings have been busy this season adding veteran reinforcement to the defensive line. In addition to re-signing Jonathan Bullard, the Vikings have also signed Jerry Tillery.
49ers Sign OT Brandon Parker
The 49ers are adding some depth to their offensive line. The team announced that they’ve signed offensive tackle Brandon Parker.
The former third-round pick had spent his entire career with the Raiders. He had an inconsistent role through his six years with the organization, alternating between starter and backup. Parker started a career-high 13 games for the Raiders in 2021, but his follow-up campaign was erased thanks to a triceps injury.
During his comeback season in 2023, Parker bounced on and off the Raiders active roster. He ultimately got into five games for the team, starting one. Pro Football Focus wasn’t especially fond of his performance this past season, ranking him as a middle-of-the-road lineman. However, they did hand him the highest grade of his career, so there was some positive.
Parker provides the 49ers with some veteran experience in the OTs room. The 28-year-old will likely compete with the likes of Jaylon Moore and Isaac Alarcon for snaps behind Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz.
Chargers Sign C Bradley Bozeman
The Chargers are adding an experienced lineman to their offense. The team announced that they’ve signed center Bradley Bozeman.
The former Ravens sixth-round pick emerged as a consistent starter in Baltimore during his sophomore season. Between 2019 and 2021, Bozeman started all 51 of his appearances for the Ravens (including postseason). After spending the early portion of his career as a left guard, he transitioned to center for the 2021 campaign.
He settled for a one-year deal with the Panthers in 2022. After starting 11 of his 17 appearances during his first season in Carolina, the OL signed a new three-year extension last offseason. Bozeman proceeded to start all 17 of his appearances in 2023, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 21st among 36 qualifying centers. He was released by the Panthers last week.
Bozeman can likely be penciled in as the Chargers starting center heading into 2024. A heart-related issue limited starting center Corey Linsley to only three games this past season, and there’s a chance the veteran ends up calling it a career. Career backup Will Clapp was forced into the lineup following Linsley’s absence, but the veteran is currently unsigned.
49ers To Sign QB Joshua Dobbs
Joshua Dobbs has found a new home. The free agent quarterback is signing with the 49ers, agent Mike McCartney announced.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Dobbs will be signing a one-year deal that includes $2.25MM in guaranteed money. The quarterback can also earn $750K via per-game roster bonuses.
It’s been a busy 12 months for the seven-year veteran. After re-joining the Browns last offseason, he was traded to the Cardinals during the preseason to serve as a fill-in for Kyler Murray. After going 1-7 in his eight starts, Dobbs was dealt to the Vikings to replace the injured Kirk Cousins.
The 29-year-old had some ups and downs during his brief stint in Minnesota. He started his stint with two-straight wins, including a debut where he tossed two touchdowns and scored another on the ground. The Vikings lost his next two starts, including a Week 12 loss to the Bears where Dobbs tossed four interceptions. He was benched for Nick Mullens during the team’s Week 13 win over the Raiders and didn’t see the field again in 2023.
Dobbs ultimately finished the campaign having completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,464 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He added another 421 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. The former fourth-round pick only had two career starts heading into the 2023 season.
With Sam Darnold now in Minnesota, the 49ers have been in the market for some QB depth behind Brock Purdy. Dobbs will likely compete with Brandon Allen to be San Francisco’s QB2 to begin the 2024 campaign.
Raiders To Sign RB Alexander Mattison
The running back carousel continues. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Raiders are signing free agent running back Alexander Mattison. Schultz reported earlier today that the two sides were meeting, with the reporter adding that “multiple teams” were in play for the running back.
[RELATED: Vikings To Release RB Alexander Mattison]
The former third-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career backing up Dalvin Cook in Minnesota. That still meant plenty of carries for Mattison, as he topped 500 yards from scrimmage in each of his first three campaigns.
Mattison’s counting stats took a step back in 2022 when Cook unexpectedly started all 17 games. The Vikings re-signed the backup last offseason before moving on from Cook, leading to Mattison getting a full workload for the first time in his career. Ultimately, the fifth-year player wasn’t able to elevate his play with a larger role. He finished the season with only 3.9 yards per carry, and his 4.2 yards per touch tied a career low.
After finishing the season with only 892 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, the Vikings moved on from Mattison last month. The organization has since signed Aaron Jones as a replacement.
With Josh Jacobs having left for the Packers, the Raiders had a hole atop their depth chart. Zamir White looked capable when he had a chance to start at the end of this past season, with the former fourth-round pick averaging more than 114 yards from scrimmage in his four games as the lead back. Mattison provides the Raiders with another capable running back, but neither of the players possess the same pedigree as the player they’ll be replacing.
Chargers, Denzel Perryman Agree To Deal
MARCH 17: Perryman is indeed expected to re-join the Chargers on a one-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Fowler adds this will be a $3MM agreement. Given the departures of Murray and Kendricks, a starting role could very well await Perryman upon his return to Los Angeles.
MARCH 16: Denzel Perryman is eyeing a reunion with his former team. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the free agent linebacker has discussed a new deal with the Chargers. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston describes the recent talks as “productive.”
The former second-round pick spent the first six seasons of his career with the organization. Injuries kept him from reaching his full potential, and the linebacker ended up leaving the organization having started 51 of his 69 appearances.
After signing with the Panthers during the 2021 offseason, Perryman was promptly traded to the Raiders. He ended up having a career season in 2021, finishing with 154 tackles en route to a Pro Bowl nod. He got into another 12 games with the Raiders in 2022 before signing a deal with the Texans last offseason.
Perryman’s 2023 campaign was highlighted by continuous penalties for initiating contact with his helmet. After earning seven such flags through the first 10 weeks, Perryman was slapped with a three-game suspension by the NFL (eventually reduced to two games).
The veteran ended the season having started 11 of his 12 appearances, compiling 76 stops. He added another eight tackles in two playoff games. Pro Football Focus graded Perryman only 71st among 82 qualifying linebackers, but his score was brought down by one of the worst coverage grades at his position. The 31-year-old expressed interest in sticking in Houston for the 2024 campaign.
The Chargers will need someone to soak up linebacker snaps after Kenneth Murray Jr. and Eric Kendricks left via free agency. Nick Niemann is still around for one of the ILB spots, but inexperienced options like Daiyan Henley and free agent addition Troy Dye are the team’s other answers at the position.
Cowboys Never Pursued RB Derrick Henry
With Derrick Henry owning a home in Dallas and the Cowboys eyeing a new running backs corps in 2024, there seemed to be a natural connection between the two sides when the veteran hit free agency. Instead, Henry ended up signing with the Ravens, and during a recent appearance on “Schein on Sports,” the running back admitted that the Cowboys never reached out.
[RELATED: Ravens To Sign RB Derrick Henry]
“The Cowboys never called at all,” Henry said (h/t Lawrence Dow of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram via Yahoo). “That’s where I stay in the offseason. I’m kind of on the back end of my career and that’s a great organization. It would’ve been a great opportunity, but I’m thankful that I ended up here in Baltimore.”
The Cowboys were mentioned as a “dark horse” suitor for Henry back at the trade deadline, but a move never materialized. As Henry’s contract expired and Tony Pollard hit free agency, it seemed like this would be the time for the Cowboys to pounce.
Instead, the organization hasn’t done anything to address the depth they’ve lost at RB in recent years. Pollard led their backfield in 2023, and the organization moved on from offensive stalwart Ezekiel Elliott last offseason. At the moment, 2023 sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn is expected to lead the depth chart, with the team also rostering Malik Davis and Snoop Conner.
While the cash-strapped Cowboys have been quiet this week, it wouldn’t have taken a massive commitment to sign Henry. The deal was described as a two-year, $16MM deal with $20MM upside. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero has more details on that contract.
In 2024, Henry will earn a guaranteed $1.21MM salary in addition to a $7.79MM signing bonus. In 2025, that salary will jump to $5MM, and Henry will be due $1MM via a roster bonus in March. There’s an additional $2MM that Henry can earn each season via incentives.
Browns, S Rodney McLeod Closing In On Deal
It sounds like Rodney McLeod will be back in Cleveland next season. According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns and the free agent safety are closing in on a new contract. It would be a one-year deal for the veteran safety.
McLeod inked a one-year deal with the Browns last offseason. He started five of his 10 appearances in Cleveland, collecting 29 tackles while appearing in about half of his team’s defensive snaps. He tore his biceps in November, ending his season prematurely.
The former UDFA had long stints with the Rams and Eagles to start his career. He landed with the Colts for the 2022 season and had one of the most productive seasons of his career. During his age-32 season, McLeod compiled career-highs in tackles (96) and passes defended (eight). He also had a pair of interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. The veteran finished that season ranked seventh among 88 qualifying safeties on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings.
The Browns dealt with a number of absences to their safeties grouping in 2023, with Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill both missing time. That duo should return to the top of the depth chart in 2024, but McLeod will now have more competition for playing time after Ronnie Hickman and D’Anthony Bell got extended looks down the stretch.