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.
Raiders To Re-Sign DL Adam Butler
Adam Butler is returning to Las Vegas. The defensive lineman is re-signing with the Raiders, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It’ll be a one-year deal for the veteran.
After sitting out the 2022 campaign and settling for a reserve/futures contract with the Raiders last January, Butler proceeded to have one of the most productive seasons of his career in 2023. He finished the campaign having compiled 28 tackles and five sacks, and despite not starting any of his 17 appearances, he got into close to half of the Raiders’ defensive snaps. Pro Football Focus ranked Butler as a slightly above-average interior defender in 2023, although the site was particularly high on his pass-rush ability.
Butler spent four seasons with the Patriots to begin his career, including 2019 and 2020 campaigns where he combined for 10 sacks. He inked a two-year deal with Miami in 2021, but he only lasted one season with the team before getting released due to a failed physical. Butler ended up sitting out that subsequent 2022 campaign, but he rebounded nicely during his lone season in Las Vegas.
Butler should provide some continuity to the Raiders’ new-look DT corps in 2024. The team brought in a major name in Christian Wilkins to lead the grouping, while Bilal Nichols and Jerry Tillery have both left via free agency (John Jenkins remains unsigned). Butler could be in line for an even bigger role next season, although the Raiders will surely look for additional depth through the draft.
Texans, Jets Considered Keenan Allen Trades
Before Keenan Allen landed with the Bears, the veteran wideout attracted interest from a couple of other suitors. During his press conference today in Chicago, Allen said the Texans and Jets were the only other teams to express interest in a trade (via Adam Jahns of The Athletic).
[RELATED: Chargers Trade Keenan Allen To Bears]
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Texans finished second in the sweepstakes. The team offered the Chargers a 2025 third-round pick in exchange for Allen and a later pick. Instead, the Chargers opted for Chicago’s deal, accepting a fourth-round pick for the receiver.
As the Texans look to surround C.J. Stroud with as many weapons as possible, the organization has been mentioned a suitor for many wide receivers. Wilson writes that the rumors connecting the organization to some of the biggest names on the WR market are “inaccurate,” with the reporter pointing specifically to Deebo Samuel.
At the moment, Houston is set to return their same WR depth chart as 2023, with Nico Collins, Tank Dell, Robert Woods, and recent re-signee Noah Brown leading the way. Considering the youth on offense, it isn’t a surprise the Texans would be eyeing a reliable veteran like Allen. On the flip side, considering the team’s depth, the front office doesn’t have to act with any urgency.
Meanwhile, the Jets’ interest in Allen was mostly exploratory. As Dianna Russini of The Athletic passes along, the Jets did not make an offer for the former Chargers wide receiver.
The Jets have Garrett Wilson firmly atop the depth chart, but the team would be a natural fit for another talented pass-catcher. The team got disappointing results from ex-Packers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb in 2023, but the duo’s struggles could be partly attributed to poor QB play. UDFAs Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee took on expanded roles as the 2023 campaign went along, but with Aaron Rodgers back in 2024, the team may not want to be as reliant on the young wideouts.
Chargers Trade Keenan Allen To Bears
The Chargers’ cap crunch has forced the team to move on from their longest-tenured player. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Chargers are dealing wide receiver Keenan Allen to the Bears. FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer was first with the news.
Los Angeles will receive a fourth-round pick in return. Per Albert Breer of TheMMQB, the Chargers are receiving the earliest of the Bears’ two fourth-round picks (No. 110).
With the Chargers needing to clear $27MM to reach cap compliance, eyes immediately focused on their four massive cap hits: Allen, Mike Williams, Khalil Mack, and Joey Bosa. The front office put in extra work yesterday before the mandatory cap deadline, releasing Williams and reworking the contracts of both Mack and Bosa. Those three transactions didn’t mark the end of their efforts, however.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Chargers approached Allen about taking a pay cut today. The receiver refused, and the organization promptly dealt the player to Chicago. The wideout is attached to a $34MM-plus cap hit in 2024, and on top of his $18MM-plus base salary, he’s due more than $5MM via a roster bonus this month. Allen is still attached to a four-year, $80.1MM extension he signed with the Chargers back in 2020.
Even while the Chargers’ cap sheet continued to be untenable following yesterday’s machinations, an Allen trade is still a shocking development. When asked last month about his future in Los Angeles, the receiver definitively stated he’d be back with the team in 2024. And as the organization navigated their impending cap crunch, reports indicated that the veteran wideout was the safest among the team’s four highest-paid players.
Instead, Allen’s tenure with the organization will end after 11 seasons. The receiver wasn’t able to catch former tight end Antonio Gates‘ many receiving records, but Allen will still leave the organization ranked second in receptions (904) and receiving yards (10,530) and third in touchdown receptions (59). The former third-round pick earned six Pro Bowl nods throughout his career with the Chargers, and he’s topped 1,000 receiving yards in five of his last seven seasons. This includes a 2023 campaign where the 31-year-old hauled in a career-high 108 catches for 1,243 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
After acquiring D.J. Moore last offseason, the Bears are making another splashy move at the position. The expectation is that the Bears will trade Justin Fields and select USC’s Caleb Williams with the first-overall pick, and they’re certainly preparing the incoming rookie for success. The Bears have also added running back D’Andre Swift and tight end Gerald Everett to the offense, providing their 2024 quarterback with plenty of worthy targets.
Regardless of who is under center next season, it shouldn’t take long for Allen to get acclimated. New Bears receivers coach Chris Beatty spent the previous three seasons with the Chargers, so the coaching staff surely knows what they have in the veteran acquisition.
Things aren’t nearly as rosy in Los Angeles. Justin Herbert has watched as his top two receivers (Allen, Williams), his top tight end (Everett), and his top running back (Austin Ekeler) have all left the organization this past week. The Chargers did use a first-round pick on Quentin Johnston last year, and the organization will surely be banking on a big season from the second-year pro. The Chargers are also armed with the fifth-overall pick in the draft. That might not be enough to draft someone like Marvin Harrison Jr., but the organization should still be able to snag one of the draft’s other elite WR prospects.
Chiefs To Sign WR Marquise Brown
Following a season of inconsistency from Chiefs receivers, the organization is adding a notable name to Patrick Mahomes‘ arsenal. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Chiefs are signing wideout Marquise Brown.
“Hollywood” is signing a one-year deal worth up to $11MM, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Albert Breer of TheMMQB clarifies that the former first-round pick will earn a $7MM base with another $4MM via incentives and/or bonuses.
While free agency’s other top receivers (Calvin Ridley, Gabe Davis) earned multi-year deals, Brown ultimately had to settle for a one-year prove-it deal before hitting the market again next offseason. That arrangement seemingly intrigued a number of teams, as Russini notes that Brown garnered interest “from all around the league.”
It was uncertain if the Chiefs would be willing to open up the checkbook for an offensive weapon this soon. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted the prevailing sentiment was that the organization needed to trade L’Jarius Sneed before making a big-name signing. Instead, the Chiefs locked up a talented wideout on a reasonable deal.
Brown’s career has been highlighted by his own inconsistency. He started his career tied to one of the NFL’s most run-heavy offenses, but he still managed to build on his numbers in each of his three seasons with the Ravens. This culminated in a 2021 campaign where he topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage, although his six touchdowns marked his lowest total during his Baltimore tenure.
Despite the growing offensive role, Brown expressed discontent with his team’s offense and asked for a trade. The Ravens found a taker in Arizona, with the Cardinals sending a first-round pick for Brown and a third-round selection in 2022. The move reunited Brown with his college quarterback in Kyler Murray, but the receiver wasn’t able to elevate his play during his time in the desert.
Of course, that wasn’t entirely Brown’s fault. The Cardinals started seven different QBs over the past two seasons, which was thanks in part to Murray suffering an ACL tear during the 2022 finale. Brown struggled with his own injury woes, battling through foot and heel issues over the past two years. After finishing with 67 catches for 709 yards during his first season in Arizona, Brown was limited to only 51 catches for a career-low 574 yards in 2023.
Still, Brown provides the Chiefs with a high-upside target, and they’ve showed that they can win despite WR issues. Rashee Rice emerged as a rookie in 2023, and Travis Kelce will continue to command many of Mahomes’ targets. But other than that duo, the QB’s top options included the likes of Skyy Moore, Justin Watson, and Kadarius Toney.
Just Brown’s 1,000-yard pedigree gives him a higher upside than many of his teammates. Entering his age-27 season, Brown could help the offense rebound following a relatively underwhelming regular-season performance in 2023.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/24
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Re-signed: WR KhaDarel Hodge, OL Storm Norton
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: S Ar’Darius Washington
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OT Jake Curhan
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: DB C.J. Goodwin
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: LB Kristian Welch
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: RB Trey Sermon
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: DT Tershawn Wharton
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: TE Jody Fortson, DL Jonathan Harris
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Trent Sherfield
New York Jets
- Re-signed: OL Jake Hanson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LS Christian Kuntz
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: LB Jack Gibbens
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LB Anthony Pittman