Giants, RB Devin Singletary Agree To Deal
Not long after losing Saquon Barkley, the Giants have found a replacement. Devin Singletary has agreed to a deal with New York, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes the three-year pact has a base value of $16.5MM and it can reach up to $19.5MM via incentives. That marks a major raise compared to the one-year accord Singletary played on in Houston last season. He took on lead back duties midway through the 2023 season, and he has now parlayed that into a multi-year deal.
In terms of guarantees, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan adds Singletary secured $9.5MM locked in at signing. This includes $3.5MM of the 5-foot-7 back’s 2025 base salary ($4.75). This stands to give the ex-Bills draftee a reasonable shot at being part of the 2025 Giants’ roster.
The former fourth-round pick started 56 games through four seasons in Buffalo, topping 900 yards from scrimmage in each of those campaigns. Despite showing some ability in both the run and pass game, Singletary’s lack of top-level consistency led to him settling for a one-year contract with the Texans last offseason.
Singletary was expected to be a backup to Dameon Pierce, who was coming off a productive rookie campaign. However, the sophomore RB couldn’t carry that production into 2023, forcing Singletary into a larger role than expected. The veteran ended up starting 10 of his 17 appearances, finishing with 1,091 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.
He parlayed that performance into a three-year deal with the Giants, where he’ll temporarily sit atop the depth chart. With Barkley out of the picture and Matt Breida also sitting in free agency, Singletary will surely be penciled in for the RB1 role ahead of the likes of Gary Brightwell and Eric Gray, although the team could look to add additional depth either via free agency or the draft.
Texans Expected To Sign DE Denico Autry
Houston’s defensive rebuilding efforts continue. The Texans are expected to add defensive end Denico Autry, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The deal is two years in length and is worth $20MM, colleague Tom Pelissero adds. $10.5MM is guaranteed.
Autry spent the past three seasons with the Texans’ division rivals in Tennessee. The pass-rusher originally joined the Titans in 2021, signing a three-year, $21.5MM deal. Entering his age-34 season, Autry was able to top that AAV during his latest trip to free agency.
The defensive lineman started 33 of his 46 appearances for the Titans, averaging more than nine sacks per season. This included a 2023 campaign where the veteran finished with a career-high 11.5 sacks to go along with 50 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles. Despite the counting stats, Autry only ranked 78th among 112 qualifying edge defenders this past season, per Pro Football Focus.
Prior to his stint with the Titans, Autry spent time with the Raiders and Colts. He has 59 sacks on his resume, and he’s added another four sacks in five career playoff games.
Texans, CB Jeff Okudah Agree To Deal; Team To Add CB Mike Ford
Jeff Okudah has a deal in place with the Texans. The former first-round corner is set to join Houston, as first reported by Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. The one-year deal is worth $4.75MM with $2.5MM guaranteed, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 adds.
Veteran corner Mike Ford is also on his way to Houston. Ford will receive $4.5MM on a two-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The third-overall pick in the 2020 draft, Okudah struggled during his time in Detroit. He started six of his nine appearances as a rookie before a ruptured Achilles tendon limited him to only one game in 2021. He managed to get into 15 games for the Lions in 2022, finishing with 73 tackles and one interception.
He was shipped to the Falcons last offseason for a fifth-round pick, and Okudah once again struggled to carve out a consistent role. He started nine of his 13 appearances in Atlanta, finishing with 44 tackles.
Ford also got his start in Detroit and was teammates with Okudah in 2020. The former UDFA has bounced around the NFL in recent years, spending time with the Broncos, Falcons, and Browns over the past three years. He started only one of his 16 appearances in Cleveland this past season, finishing with 28 tackles.
Cardinals, DT Bilal Nichols Agree To Deal
Making another move on defense, the Cardinals are set to add Bilal Nichols to the fold. The veteran defensive tackle has agreed to a three-year, $21MM deal which includes $14.4MM in guaranteed money, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
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Nichols joins the Cardinals after having spent the past two seasons in Las Vegas. He didn’t miss a start for the Raiders, compiling 92 tackles and three sacks in 34 games. He finished this past season ranked 97th among 130 qualifying interior defenders, the third-straight year the site graded him as an average or below-average player at his position.
Still, Nichols brings plenty of starting experience to Arizona. Prior to his stint with the Raiders, the defensive tackle spent four years in Chicago, starting 49 of his 60 appearances. The former fifth-round pick bounced around the defensive line during his time with the Bears, and his versatility could come in handy for his new squad.
The Cardinals were busy adding to their DL mix today, as the team also signed former Bears lineman Justin Jones. The new duo will join a defensive line rotation that also features Dante Stills and L.J. Collier.
Vikings To Sign LB Andrew Van Ginkel
On a day already featuring one major defensive investment, the Vikings will make another. Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel has agreed to a two-year deal worth $20MM. The pact includes $14MM guaranteed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
After re-signing with the Dolphins on a one-year deal last offseason, Van Ginkel proceeded to have one of the best seasons of his career in 2023. The linebacker finished this past season with a career-high six sacks while also compiling some of his best numbers in TFL (eight) and QB hits (19).
Pro Football Focus was especially fond of the player’s performance. Listed as an edge rusher, Van Ginkel was ranked seventh among 112 qualifying players at his position. This included a top-four positional grade for his coverage skills and a top-seven positional grade for his pass-rush ability.
The former fifth-round pick had spent his entire career with the Dolphins, and considering his breakout, there was optimism that he’d stick around Miami. While both sides were reportedly interested in a new deal, it seems like the Vikings swooped in with an offer that the free agent couldn’t refuse.
The Vikings have been busy adding to their pass-rushing corps today. In addition to Van Ginkel, the team also added edge rusher Jonathan Greenard on a sizable four-year, $76MM deal. The two signings likely mean that Danielle Hunter will be heading elsewhere after spending nearly a decade in Minnesota.
Panthers To Move On From S Vonn Bell
Vonn Bell‘s time with the Panthers has proven to be short-lived. The veteran safety will be traded or released, ESPN’s David Newton notes.
Bell inked a three-year, $22.5MM deal with the Panthers just last offseason. He was due a $3MM roster bonus later this week, and the Panthers decided to ultimately cost their losses and move on.
Bell’s lone season with the Panthers wasn’t a disaster by any means. He started each of his 13 appearances, finishing with 69 tackles and one interception. Pro Football Focus ranked the veteran only 61st among 95 qualifying safeties, although that ranking was partly dragged down by his poor run defense score.
Pro Football Focus previously gave Bell much higher scores, ranking him as an above-average safety in four of his five seasons between 2018 and 2022. Bell spent three of those five campaigns in Cincinnati, starting all 48 of his appearances while compiling five interceptions. He also started all seven of his playoff appearances for the Bengals, including the 2021 AFC Championship Game where he had a key overtime interception on Patrick Mahomes. The defensive back began his career with the Saints, with the former second-round pick starting 45 of his 61 appearances.
With a new general manager in Dan Morgan and new head coach in Dave Canales, the Panthers have been focused on shaving some of the fat off their roster. The organization is also set to move on from the likes of tight end Hayden Hurst, center Bradley Bozeman, and cornerback Donte Jackson.
Broncos Trading WR Jerry Jeudy To Browns
Jerry Jeudy is heading to Cleveland. The Browns and Broncos have agreed to a deal for the wide receiver, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Denver will receive 2024 fifth- and sixth-round picks from Cleveland, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The deal will become official on Wednesday.
Jeudy has seemingly been involved in trade talks for more than a year, and we heard that the Broncos were actively fielding offers for the receiver prior to the trade deadline. Schefter notes that the Browns were among the teams that made a run at Jeudy last season, with NFL Network’s James Palmer noting that Cleveland’s front office previously thought the price was too high. The Broncos apparently reduced their demands, leading to today’s agreement.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the front office recently indicated that they were “warming up” to trading Jeudy (and, at the same time, presumably dropping their asking price). According to Fowler, the Jets and Patriots were among the teams that also expressed interest in the receiver before he was dealt to the Browns.
The former first-round pick never developed into a top-end receiver during his time in Denver, although that was partly due to inconsistent play from the quarterback position. Jeudy followed up a solid rookie season with a disappointing sophomore campaign, but he seemed to bounce back in 2022. Jeudy finished that season with 67 catches for 972 yards and six touchdowns, leading to the Broncos picking up his fifth-year option.
However, after emerging as a trade candidate in 2022, the talks picked up steam in 2023. Jeudy was constantly mentioned alongside teammate Courtland Sutton in trade rumors, but the Broncos ultimately decided to hang on to both of their top receivers. Jeudy wasn’t able to follow up on his promising 2022 campaign, as the wideout finished 2023 with 54 catches for 758 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games (11 starts). He finished the season ranked 62nd on Pro Football Focus’ ranking of 128 qualifying wideouts.
With the Broncos moving on from Russell Wilson, the organization will be featuring a new-look offense in 2024. That divorce probably contributed to the organization’s decision to finally rip off the Jeudy band aid, but there were also financial reasons to move on from the former first-round wideout. The cash-strapped Broncos will clear around $13MM with the trade, as Jeudy’s fifth-year option was fully guaranteed.
Focus will now shift to Sutton, who will likely continue to be on the trade block. Marvin Mims will also be eyeing a larger role heading into 2024. As Palmer notes, Sean Payton has made it clear that he wants the 2023 second-round pick on the field, but the coach believed the wideout was being blocked on the depth chart by Jeudy. This trade should clear Mims up for a significant role next season.
Jeudy will now look to rehabilitate his value in Cleveland before hitting free agency next offseason. With the Browns having made a massive commitment to Deshaun Watson, Cleveland’s front office has done everything in their power to surround the QB with intriguing targets.
The team first traded a fifth-round pick to have Amari Cooper lead their depth chart, and they later swapped a second-round pick for a third-round pick in order to acquire Elijah Moore. The organization has once again looked to add a target without giving up significant draft capital, although their offensive hopes will still depend on Watson’s ability to return to his previous form.
S Johnathan Cyprien Retires
Johnathan Cyprien is calling it a career. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the veteran safety is signing a one-day deal with the Jaguars to retire with the organization. The team has made the move official, placing Cyprien on the reserve-retired list.
Despite only spending four seasons in Jacksonville, Cyprien made a big impact on the organization. The 2013 second-round immediately emerged as a starter for the Jaguars, and he proceeded to start all 60 of his appearances through his first four seasons in the NFL. He topped 100 tackles in each of those four campaigns, earning him a top-10 spot in the franchise’s all-time tackles leader board.
Following a 2016 campaign where Pro Football Focus ranked Cyprien as a top-10 safety, the Jaguars let him walk via free agency. The defensive back ended up earning a four-year, $25MM deal with the Titans, and he started all 10 of his appearances during his first season in Tennessee (plus both of the team’s playoff contests). However, he suffered a torn ACL during 2018 training camp, wiping out that season and ultimately leading to his release in 2019.
Cyprien spent the 2019 campaign bouncing around the NFL, spending time with the Eagles and Falcons. He caught on with the 49ers in 2020, appearing in four games. He hasn’t earned another gig since getting released from IR towards the end of that 2020 campaign.
The 33-year-old was honored by the Jaguars during a private event on Thursday.
Raiders To Release DE Jerry Tillery
Jerry Tillery‘s stint with the Raiders has come to an end. The team informed the defensive end that they will release him following the start of the league year, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
After spending the second half of the 2022 campaign in Las Vegas, Tillery re-signed with the Raiders last offseason, inking a two-year, $6.8MM contract. Releasing the defensive lineman will free up around $3.8MM in cap space for the organization.
The former first-round pick disappointed during his three-plus seasons with the Chargers. Tillery steadily earned more snaps through his first three seasons in the league, but he wasn’t able to provide the Chargers with the top-end DL skills that they were seeking.
2021 marked a career year for Tillery from a counting stats perspective, with the defensive end compiling 51 tackles and 4.5 sacks while starting 15 of his 16 appearances. That extended look was apparently enough for the Chargers to determine he wasn’t a future piece, as the front office declined his fifth-year option the following offseason. Tillery found himself with a backup role in 2022 before ultimately getting waived midway through the season.
The Raiders ended up claiming the former first rounder, and he proceeded to start four of his eight appearances in Las Vegas. He started six of his 17 games this past year, finishing with 31 tackles and a pair of sacks. Pro Football Focus graded Tillery 40th among 130 qualifying interior defenders, although none of his skills graded out as anything more than above-average.
Considering his first-round pedigree, there’s a good chance Tillery can find a new home for 2024. However, following another underwhelming season, those changes may soon dry up for the 27-year-old.
Eagles Re-Sign DE Brandon Graham
Brandon Graham is sticking around Philadelphia for a 15th season. The team announced that they’ve re-signed the veteran defensive end to a one-year extension.
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There were rumblings earlier this week that the two sides were working towards a new deal, and Graham confirmed his plan to re-sign with the Eagles the other day.
There was some speculation that the veteran could call it a career following the Eagles’ disappointing end to the 2023 campaign. However, the defensive lineman was quick to dismiss that notion, stating that he still has a “little bit of juice” left in his tank. Graham also expressed interest in a farewell tour, an indication that 2024 will likely mark his final NFL season.
When he takes the field in 2024, Graham will set the record for the longest tenure with the Eagles organization. He tied Philly legend Chuck Bednarik by playing a 14th season with the team last year. Graham set another franchise mark last season, passing David Akers for the most games played in Eagles history.
Once one of the Eagles’ most dependable starters, Graham has transitioned to a backup role in recent seasons. He only started one of his 17 appearances in 2022, appearing in 43 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Still, the former first-round pick managed to compile 11 sacks, earning him a one-year, $5MM extension last offseason.
He continued to serve as a backup for Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat in 2023, appearing in all 17 games. However, he was limited to only 395 defensive snaps; ignoring his two-game stint in 2021, that was Graham’s lowest total since 2013. Despite the drop in playing time, Pro Football Focus still ranked Graham 17th among 118 qualifying edge defenders.
The future of the Eagles’ pass-rushing corps is in doubt, as both Reddick and Sweat are reportedly on the trade block. The organization could be eyeing a new and/or inexperienced edge grouping in 2024, highlighted by 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith. In that scenario, Graham’s veteran know-how will certainly come in handy as the team transitions to new defensive leaders.