Colts To Sign DT Raekwon Davis
The Dolphins have Zach Sieler locked down via the extension he signed last year, but they are losing their other two defensive line starters. Following Christian Wilkins‘ defection to the Raiders, Raekwon Davis is leaving as well.
Davis is heading to Indianapolis, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting the young D-tackle is signing a two-year deal worth $14MM in base value. A four-year Dolphins cog, Davis started 48 games for the team. Despite the Colts re-signing Grover Stewart on Monday to stay in place alongside DeForest Buckner, the Colts evidently viewed this as a big enough need, and another notable veteran contract became necessary.
Davis only graded as Pro Football Focus’ 79th interior defender among 130 qualifiers, far behind Buckner (12th) and Stewart (22nd). Still, the free agent addition was better than the Colts’ DT3 from last season, as Taven Bryan ranked 99th on that same list.
Bryan is currently a free agent, so Davis will likely slide into his spot in the depth chart. Bryan, Eric Johnson, and Adetomiwa Adebawore accounted for 740 snaps last season, so Davis could see a significant role on Gus Bradley’s defense, even as a backup.
With Wilkins and Davis gone (and Emmanuel Ogbah having been released), the Dolphins are lacking depth on their defensive line. Other than Sieler, former UDFA Brandon Pili is the only other player who played defensive tackle for the Dolphins last season, and he was limited to 30 snaps (all coming in the first four weeks). Miami will surely look to add reinforcement either via free agency or the draft.
Giants To Add DB Jalen Mills
For a second straight offseason, the Giants have lost a starting safety. Xavier McKinney following Julian Love out of New York creates a void. They will bring in Jalen Mills to help fill it.
The former Patriots and Eagles defender is joining the Giants, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Mills has experience at safety and cornerback but played more on the back line last season. The Giants need more help at that spot.
The former seventh-round pick quickly burst onto the scene in 2016, but after missing only one game through his first two seasons in Philly, he was limited to 17 games between 2018 and 2019. When he returned in 2020, he was playing safety, and he proceeded to have one of the most productive seasons of his career, finishing with a career-high 74 tackles.
That performance earned him a four-year, $24MM contract from the Patriots in 2021. He started all 26 of his appearances through his first two seasons in New England, mostly playing cornerback. He was cut and re-signed last offseason and transitioned back to safety, where he got into 17 games (eight starts). He only graded 75th among 95 qualifying safeties on Pro Football Focus, although the site did give him one of the highest grades at his position in run defense.
The Giants do have some continuity among their safeties corps with Jason Pinnock. Mills will likely be in the mix for the other safety spot, competing with the likes of former fourth-round pick Dane Belton for reps.
Jaguars To Re-Sign RB D’Ernest Johnson
Plenty of running backs have reached agreements with new teams recently, but D’Ernest Johnson will be staying in place. The depth rusher is re-signing with the Jaguars on a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The former UDFA started his career as Nick Chubb‘s backup in Cleveland. Serving as a RB2 behind a workhorse RB naturally limited Johnson’s snaps, but the RB did get an extended look in 2021. He started two of his 17 appearances that season, finishing with 671 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns.
He caught on with the Jaguars last offseason but started the year as the RB3 behind Travis Etienne and rookie Tank Bigsby. He eventually supplanted his rookie teammate as the RB2, with the bulk of his 194 snaps coming in the second half of the season. Johnson ultimately finished the year with 248 yards from scrimmage, the second-highest total of his career.
The Jaguars will likely return the same RB corps in 2024. After missing his rookie season, Etienne hasn’t missed a game over the past two years. However, an injury could occur at any time, and Johnson may get the first look ahead of Bigsby in such a scenario.
Colts To Re-Sign P Rigoberto Sanchez
Rigoberto Sanchez has spent his entire career with the Colts, and that is set to continue in 2024 and beyond. Indianapolis is finalizing a new deal with the veteran punter, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Sanchez will remain in place on a three-year deal, Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star adds. The 29-year-old played out a four-year, $11.6MM deal signed in 2019. Instead of testing the market for outside suitors, he will continue in Indianapolis on a deal which Fox59’s Mike Chappell notes is worth $7.5MM.
Sanchez has been a mainstay for the Colts since the 2017 campaign, appearing in 96 games over his seven-year career. After missing the entire 2022 campaign with an Achilles injury, he bounced back and appeared in all 17 games in 2023. He actually set a new career high with 48.3 yards per punt this past year, and he was the only punter in the NFL to not record a touchback.
The 29-year-old watched the punter market unfold over the past 24 hours, as Cameron Johnston and Tommy Townsend joined new squads. Instead of switching cities, Sanchez will be sticking in Indy for the foreseeable future.
Browns To Sign RB Nyheim Hines
Running back moves continue around the NFL as the negotiating window enters its third day. Nyheim Hines has agreed to a one-year deal with the Browns worth up to $3.5MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
The former fourth-round pick emerged as a dependable pass-catching back in Indianapolis, where he had 235 receptions in four-plus seasons with the organization. He was traded to the Bills during the 2022 campaign, and he appeared in nine games for his new squad down the stretch.
He didn’t have the same offensive role in Buffalo, collecting only 11 touches. However, he did have a significant role on special teams, returning 19 kickoffs and 16 punts. He returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns during the team’s regular season finale against the Patriots.
He missed the entire 2023 campaign while recovering from a leg injury stemming from an offseason watercraft accident. He was cut by the Bills earlier this month.
The Browns had to dip into their RB depth in 2023 following Nick Chubb‘s season-ending injury. The team will return that same depth in 2024, with backups Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong expected to stick around. The team may be looking for some additional bodies at the position as Chubb gets back to full health, although Hines’ pass-catching ability will likely earn him some snaps either way.
Browns, Titans, Giants Eyeing QB Jameis Winston
MARCH 12: In addition to the Browns, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson reports the Titans and Giants have shown “preliminary interest” in Winston. Tennessee has Will Levis in place as the quarterback of the present and future, but adding an experienced option capable of starting or providing high-end insurance would be a logical move. Malik Willis holds the QB2 spot for now, but the Levis selection last spring has limited his ability to compete for a starting role in Nashville.
The Giants, meanwhile, saw Tyrod Taylor agree to a deal with the Jets yesterday. Linked to drafting a Daniel Jones successor this April, New York will at least need a veteran backup if Jones is unable to start the 2024 season on time as recovers from a torn ACL. Winston would fit the bill, and likely not at an especially high price tag.
MARCH 11: The Browns are hoping for a healthy season from Deshaun Watson in 2024, but that won’t stop the front office from pursuing a top-end backup. While the team navigates Joe Flacco‘s free agency, the Browns are eyeing another notable quarterback. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the Browns are interested in Jameis Winston as a backup QB.
[RELATED: Saints’ Jameis Winston Eyeing Starting Role]
Winston has been in New Orleans since 2020, and despite several changes atop the depth chart, he’s continued to serve as a fill-in at quarterback. As a result, the former first-overall pick was reportedly seeking a starting gig as he weighs free agent offers this time around. The 30-year-old has not played a full season as a starter since 2019, the year of his infamous 33-touchdown, 30-interception campaign with the Buccaneers
Of course, finding a QB1 job would be easier said than done, as few teams would simply hand the reins to Winston. For what it’s worth, the veteran has looked good as a backup in New Orleans. The Saints have gone 6-4 in Winston’s 10 starts with the organization, and the QB has tossed 20 touchdowns vs. 11 interceptions in his 21 games with New Orleans. He didn’t get a chance to start while serving as Derek Carr‘s back in 2023, with Winston completing only 25 of his 47 pass attempts while tossing two TDs and three interceptions.
The Browns lucked out with their backup plan in 2023. Flacco guided the Browns to a 4-1 record in his five starts, with the former Super Bowl winner finding the fountain of youth while tossing 13 touchdowns, his highest total since 2017. The veteran QB is reportedly looking to stick in Cleveland for the 2024 campaign, and the free agent confirmed that sentiment during a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“I can tell you that, all things equal, Cleveland is definitely the place where I’d feel best about,” Flacco said (via Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com). “Now, then you have to get into the world of, is someone actually going to give me a chance to play? And all the different things that go into that.
“But I can’t help but have a special feeling about Cleveland, just because of the few weeks that I spent there and how great the city was. And, listen, at the end of the day, I don’t necessarily want that to be a huge part [or] all of the decision. But I do think it will factor into the decision — if I end up having a decision to make.”
Patriots Re-Sign WR Jalen Reagor
Jalen Reagor has played for three different teams in as many years, but he will find short-term stability in 2024. The former first-round wideout has re-signed with the Patriots on a one-year deal. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes the pact is worth almost $1.3MM and includes $443K in guaranteed money.
While Reagor will likely be tied to Justin Jefferson for the rest of his career, the 2020 draftee does have a chance to play a fifth NFL season. The TCU product has not panned out as a wide receiver, but multiple teams — the Vikings and Patriots — have brought him in to help in the return game.
Reagor joined the Patriots practice squad at the end of the 2023 preseason and ended up getting into 11 games for the big-league squad. He returned seven kickoffs during his time in New England (including a 98-yard touchdown), but he also got into 308 offensive snaps. That didn’t necessarily translate into production; while Reagor garnered 23 targets, he turned that into only seven catches for 138 yards.
The former first-round pick started his career with the Eagles, with Philly selecting him one pick ahead of his future All-Pro teammate in Jefferson. Reagor hauled in 64 catches through his two seasons with the Eagles before he was traded to Minnesota in 2022. During his lone season with the Vikings, the receiver hauled in eight catches while serving as the team’s primary punt returner.
The Patriots could have some open reps at WR next season. The team moved on from DeVante Parker and is looking to ditch JuJu Smith-Schuster, meaning the team could have a spot open for a reclamation project like Reagor.
Titans To Sign LB Kenneth Murray
Kenneth Murray is staying in the AFC. The free agent linebacker is signing with the Titans, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Murray has since announced the move via Instagram (h/t Daniel Popper of The Athletic).
It’s a two-year deal worth $15.5MM, per Garafolo. The contract can max out at $18MM.
Murray was a first-round pick by the Chargers back in 2020. He earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors after finishing with 107 tackles, but a balky ankle contributed to him having an inconsistent role during his sophomore campaign.
He bounced back a bit in 2022, starting 16 of his 17 appearances. However, he was limited to only 76 tackles, and the Chargers declined his fifth-year option last offseason. As an impending free agent, Murray showed some of the ability he flashed as a rookie, finishing the 2023 campaign with 107 tackles and a career-high three sacks. While the numbers were up, Pro Football Focus still only ranked Murray 75th among 82 qualifying linebackers.
Despite the inconsistent showing, Murray managed to get a two-year commitment from the Titans. The team needed some reinforcement after Azeez Al-Shaair left for the Texans today. Al-Shaair finished last season with a team-leading 163 tackles, and the Titans are certainly hoping that Murray can make up for that absence.
Commanders To Sign OL Nick Allegretti
Following a standout performance in the Super Bowl, Nick Allegretti has earned a nice contract from the Commanders. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the guard is signing with Washington.
Allegretti earned a three-year deal from the Commanders. The deal is worth $16MM and includes $9.02MM in guaranteed money.
The former seventh-round pick spent the first five seasons of his career in Kansas City, earning three Super Bowl rings along the way. The lineman mostly served as a backup during his time with the Chiefs, starting only 13 of his 74 appearances. Nine of those starts came in 2020, when Allegretti got into a career-high 63 percent of his team’s offensive snaps.
2023 was looking like another footnote on Allegretti’s resume, as the lineman was limited to only seven percent of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps during the regular season. However, he was forced into the starting lineup for the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl after teammate Joe Thuney went down with an injury. Allegretti earned even more headlines when it was revealed that he played through a torn UCL during the title game without missing a snap.
Now, he’ll finally have a chance to be a full-time starter in Washington. The Commanders’ offensive line was inconsistent this past season, and OC Kliff Kingsbury and co. were expected to dedicate some resources to the unit. Allegretti will likely be part of the answer, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the team pursues more depth via free agency and/or the draft.
Texans To Sign P Tommy Townsend
Tommy Townsend is heading to Houston. The veteran punter is signing with the Texans, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Townsend will be inking a two-year deal worth $6MM. The former UDFA was taking his first trip into free agency and will earn a significant raise on his new deal.
The Florida Gators product caught on with the Chiefs as a UDFA in 2020. He ended up missing only a single game over the next four seasons in Kansas City, earning a pair of Super Bowl rings in the process.
Townsend earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in 2020, and he earned an All-Pro nod in 2022 after averaging more than 50 yards on his 53 punts. That number took a bit of a step back in 2023, as the 27-year-old finished with an average of 47.1 yards per punt, his lowest since his rookie campaign.
Cameron Johnston served as the Texans’ primary punter in 2023, but the Bill Burr lookalike is taking his talents to the Steelers, opening a spot on Houston’s roster.