Steelers To Re-Sign Miles Killebrew
The Steelers are retaining a key special teamer. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Steelers are re-signing Miles Killebrew.
The Pro Bowler is signing a two-year deal, according to Fowler. The contract is worth $6.5MM.
The former fourth-round pick spent five seasons with the Lions before joining the Steelers in 2021. He hasn’t missed a game through his three seasons in Pittsburgh, collecting 43 total tackles.
After getting into only 57 defensive snaps through his first two seasons with the Steelers, Killebrew got into 111 defensive snaps in 2023. He also had a standout season on special teams, earning All-Pro honors. He ultimately finished this past season with 26 tackles. His 2023 highlights also included a safety and a blocked punt.
While Killebrew’s defensive role last season was mostly due to injuries, he could be in line for another look in 2024. The team moved on from Keanu Neal last week, leaving Minkah Fitzpatrick, Damontae Kazee, and Trenton Thompson as the only other experienced safeties on the roster.
Cardinals Release OT D.J. Humphries
D.J. Humphries‘ stint in Arizona has come to an end. The Cardinals are releasing the veteran left tackle, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The 30-year-old lineman was still playing on a three-year, $66MM extension he signed with the organization back in 2022. He was set to earn $16MM next season and was accompanied by a $22MM cap hit. The Cardinals will be hit with a $13.8MM dead cap hit in 2024 and a $6.9MM dead cap hit in 2025.
The 2015 first-round pick has spent his entire career with the Cardinals, starting all 98 of his appearances. The lineman has missed large chunks of three different seasons due to injuries, although he did appear in 16 games for three-straight years between 2019 and 2021.
After missing the second half of the 2022 campaign, the veteran bounced back and started all 15 of his appearances this past year. Pro Football Focus only ranked him 51st among 81 qualifying offensive tackles, but the site did still give him solid grades for his pass-blocking ability. PFF ranked Humphries as a top-five OT as recently as 2020.
The Cardinals used a 2023 first-round pick on Paris Johnson Jr., so the organization is likely counting on the sophomore to switch over to LT in 2024. The team is also still rostering Kelvin Beachum, although there’s a good chance the team looks to add some more youth to the position via the draft.
Latest On Potential NFL Trade Deadline Change
It sounds like some NFL teams have made progress in their quest to push back the trade deadline. According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, there were two recent bylaw proposals to move the trade deadline back from its current date of the Tuesday after Week 8.
[RELATED: Teams Proposing Pushing Trade Deadline From Week 8 To Week 10]
The Steelers proposed a bylaw that would see the deadline pushed back a week, which would make it the Tuesday after Week 9. The Browns, Lions, Jets, Eagles, and Commanders were looking to push it back even further, proposing the deadline fall on the Tuesday after Week 10.
The NFL moved the deadline to Week 8 back in 2012, but they didn’t make an adjustment when they added a week to their schedule in 2021. That’s led some GMs to propose pushing the deadline back and lining it up with other major sports’ trade deadlines.
While the hypothetical recently gained some traction, there were reportedly some GM and owners who questioned if the change even needed to be made. While Browns GM Andrew Berry previously expressed his belief that pushing the deadline would help improve the “competitive integrity” of the NFL, there was some fear that a deadline move could only incentivize tanking. Berry seemed to disagree with that notion, though, saying last month that a deadline change would only keep teams more competitive.
“We think as a league it makes sense to give teams the most flexibility as long as possible to have the best product down the stretch run of the playoffs,” Berry stated (h/t Spencer German of Browns Digest). “We wanted to make sure we maintained the competitive integrity of the season so you don’t get into player dumping late in the year.”
The next round of league meetings are set for March 24-27.
Dolphins To Sign DL Neville Gallimore
Neville Gallimore is heading to Miami. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the defensive lineman is expected to sign with the Dolphins. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes it’s a one-year deal, adding Gallimore turned down slightly better offers from other teams.
Gallimore spent his entire four-year career in Dallas after being selected in the third-round of the 2020 draft. Once rated the top Canadian draft prospect, Gallimore got an extended look on defense as a rookie, starting nine of his 14 appearances. After an elbow injury limited him to only five contests in 2021, the defensive lineman has mostly seen a backup role over the past two seasons.
Gallimore started one of his 33 appearances between 2022 and 2023, with the lineman playing in 691 defensive snaps between the campaigns. He collected 16 tackles and one sack in 17 games this past season, with Pro Football Focus ranking him 69th among 130 qualifying interior defenders.
In Miami, the defensive lineman will work with defensive line coach Austin Clark, with Rapoport noting that the two have trained together during the offseason. Gallimore will be part of the team’s answer to replace Christian Wilkins, with the team having also added Isaiah Mack and Daviyon Nixon for reinforcement on the defensive line.
Chargers Re-Sign S Alohi Gilman
Alohi Gilman is sticking in Los Angeles. The Chargers announced that they’ve re-signed the free agent safety. It’s a multi-year pact for Gilman.
The 2020 sixth-round pick played out his rookie contract with the Chargers, appearing in 57 games. He gradually saw more defensive responsbility through his four seasons in the NFL, culminating in a 2023 campaign where he started all 14 of his appearances while playing in a career-high 928 defensive snaps. He missed three games thanks to a heel injury.
He finished the 2023 season with 73 tackles, three forced fumbles, and a pair of interceptions. Pro Football Focus was especially fond of his performance last season, ranking him seventh among 95 qualifying safeties. This included the fifth-highest score at his position for his coverage ability.
While the Chargers will employ a new coaching staff in 2024, the team will have some continuity in their secondary. Gilman and Derwin James Jr. will once again top the depth chart at the two safety positions, and the latest signee it counting on an organizational turnaround in 2024.
“I’m an underdog story and you can say we’ve been underdogs for awhile and I want to change that,” Gilman told the team website. “I think I’m a good piece to add to that. Coach Harbaugh is all on board with that, his energy is contagious. I’m just super blessed.”
Vikings Have “No Intent” To Trade Justin Jefferson
MARCH 13: Kirk Cousins‘ free agency departure for Atlanta has not changed Minnesota’s plans with Jefferson. The team is not considering a blockbuster trade involving its elite wide receiver, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis note. The All-Pro undoubtedly served as a key selling point for Sam Darnold, who is positioned — before the draft, at least — to take over for Cousins.
FEBRUARY 27: The Vikings made a late push to extend Justin Jefferson last offseason, and while both sides made it clear that they were fine with tabling talks until this year, that hasn’t stopped pundits from speculating on a potential divorce. Head coach Kevin O’Connell was quick to dismiss those rumors, stating during an appearance on PFT Live that the organization has no intention of trading their star wideout.
[RELATED: Justin Jefferson Wants To Remain With Vikings]
“I can tell you we have no intent to trade Justin Jefferson,” O’Connell said (via Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com). “We have had zero discussions, dialogue about that either internally, externally, on this planet or another planet. I feel very strongly that Justin is best in his position in football. Any time you’re trying to reset the receiver market — we know who he is, we know what Justin’s earned through his first four years in this league — you know how hard it is. . . . It was never gonna be something that was just be easy to get done, but the intent was there. The intent is still stronger than ever to get something done with Justin.”
The former first-round pick is set to play the 2024 campaign on his fifth-year option worth $19.74MM, so it’s only natural for both Jefferson and the Vikings to explore an extension. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah admitted this week that the two sides got “unbelievably close” to an extension last offseason (per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert), and the executive reiterated that the Vikings want Jefferson to stick around Minnesota “for a long time.” Adofo-Mensah also said that any whispers of difficult negotiations were “completely false.”
Jefferson has expressed a desire to re-sign with the Vikings, but it doesn’t sound like he’s overly interested in giving the team a hometown discount. The 2022 first-team All-Pro said he wants to “break the bank,” a hint that he’s looking to surpass the position-leading $30MM average annual value set by Tyreek Hill. Three other WRs are currently making $25MM or more per season (Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, A.J. Brown), and Jefferson will surely be looking to join that accomplished group with his next contract.
While the organization may be willing to commit to Jefferson’s AAV, it sounds like they’re drawing a line in the sand with the guaranteed money. According to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, it’s common for the Vikings organization to only commit to one year of guaranteed money in extensions. However, while that’s been their “typical structure,” the organization did make an exception with tight end T.J. Hockenson, a factor that Jefferson’s camp will presumably point to during negotiations.
After not missing a game through his first three seasons in the NFL, Jefferson was limited to only 10 appearances this past season. He still managed to pass 1,000 yards from scrimmage, and his 107.4 yards per game actually established a new career-high.
Cardinals To Sign RB DeeJay Dallas
The Cardinals are making moves on offense. The team agreed to a deal with free agent running back DeeJay Dallas today, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. The Cardinals have also re-signed offensive lineman Keith Ismael to a one-year deal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Dallas was a fourth-round pick by the Seahawks in 2020 and played out his entire rookie contract in Seattle. While the Seahawks experienced plenty of injuries in their running backs room over the past four years, Dallas only garnered a pair of starts over that time.
Still, the RB managed to get into 61 regular season games for the Seahawks, collecting 864 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. After topping 50 touches in each of his first three seasons, Dallas was limited to only 16 touches in 2023, finishing with a career-low 62 yards from scrimmage. The 25-year-old did emerge as the team’s full-time punt returner, though, finishing the season with 25 punt returns (plus 17 kick returns).
Dallas will be joining a running backs room in Arizona that features plenty of intriguing depth behind James Conner. The Cardinals are also rostering Emari Demercado, Michael Carter, and Tony Jones, so Dallas may have to show off his special teams prowess to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
After bouncing between Washington and San Francisco to begin his career, Ismael joined the Cardinals last August. He got into 13 games with his new squad, with all of his snaps coming on special teams.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/12/24
During a busy day of transactions and headlines, teams still had time for a few free agent tender decisions:
RFAs
Tendered:
- Chiefs: G Mike Caliendo, LB Cole Christiansen, LB Jack Cochrane, DE Malik Herring, CB Nazeeh Johnson
RFAs
Tendered:
- Seahawks: DT Myles Adams
DT D.J. Reader To Meet With Lions
After missing the end of the 2023 season with a quad injury. D.J. Reader is starting to generate some interest in free agency. The veteran defensive tackle will be meeting with the Lions on Thursday, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.
Reader was completing a four-year, $53MM last season and appeared to be setting himself up nicely for his impending free agency. Through 14 games, the 29-year-old compiled 34 tackles and one sack while grading as Pro Football Focus’ 11th-best interior defender (among 130 qualifiers). However, a torn quad ended his season prematurely and put his free agency prospects in doubt.
The veteran tore his other quad in 2020, and while he managed to get into 15 games the following season, he was limited to only 10 contests in 2022. Injuries are now built into the defensive tackle’s profile, so Reader may be hard pressed to earn a long-term commitment.
Still, Reader would be a fit for a Lions squad that was reportedly in the market for help on the defensive line. Former third-round pick Alim McNeill has solidified himself as a starting nose tackle, but 36-year-old Tyson Alualu is currently penciled in next to him at defensive tackle. Reader would provide a high-upside option next to McNeill; even with the injuries, Reader hasn’t ranked lower than 12th on PFF’s positional rankings since 2019.
Thanks to that production, the Bengals are also hoping to retain the defensive lineman. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Bengals want to re-sign Reader, but the DT is expected to explore his options in free agency with a “few” suitors looming.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/12/24
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OT Hakeem Adeniji
- Re-signed: OL Michael Dunn
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: LS Trent Sieg
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: FB Michael Burton
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: OL Dan Skipper
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: CB Corey Ballentine, TE Tyler Davis
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Del’Shawn Phillips
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: S Deon Bush
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: LB William Kwenkeu
New England Patriots
- Re-signed: LB Christian Elliss, OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Philadelphia Eagles
- Re-signed: LS Rick Lovato, P Braden Mann
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: P Cameron Johnston
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Pharaoh Brown
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Saahdiq Charles
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LS Tyler Ott