Ben Levine | Pro Football Rumors

Cardinals Release OL Evan Brown

By Ben Levine | at March 12, 2026 6:07 pm

Evan Brown is hitting free agency. The Cardinals are releasing the veteran offensive lineman, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Brown was attached to a cap hit of $6.41MM in 2026, and the Cardinals will now be left with only $1.5MM in dead money. Brown was set to enter the final season of the two-year, $11.5MM deal he inked with Arizona last offseason.

The lineman bounced around the NFL as a reserve offensive lineman to begin his career, but he found a starting gig with the Lions in 2021. He started 24 games for Detroit between 2021 and 2022 before catching on with the Seahawks during the 2023 offseason. He proceeded to start 16 games at center in Seattle.

He joined the Cardinals ahead of the 2024 season and started a career-high 17 games during his first year in Arizona. That prompted the Cardinals to hand him a two-year contract last offseason, and Brown added another 11 starts to his resume in 2025. While Pro Football Focus generally ranked Brown as a middle-of-the-road lineman throughout his career as a starter, he bottomed out with a 60th-place showing among 79 qualifying guards in 2025.

Still, Brown’s ability to play both guard and center should make him a commodity in free agency. He may be hard pressed to garner a definitive starting gig, but he’ll surely be attractive as a key backup.

1 comment Arizona Cardinals Transactions Evan Brown

Bills To Sign DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson

By Ben Levine | at March 12, 2026 5:42 pm

After spending time with three different squads in 2025, C.J. Gardner-Johnson has found a new home. The veteran defensive back is signing with the Bills, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

It’s a one-year deal for Gardner-Johnson. The deal will be worth up to $6MM, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The veteran was dealt from the Eagles to the Texans last offseason for a late-round pick swap. He started the first three games of the season for his new squad, but he quickly fell out of favor in Houston following a disagreement over his defensive role. He was cut by the Texans before September was through, and he subsequently landed on the Ravens practice squad.

He only lasted a week in Baltimore before earning his walking papers, but he quickly caught on with the Bears, where he was reunited with his former Saints coach Dennis Allen. Gardner-Johnson started seven of his 10 appearances for Chicago, tallying 51 tackles, three sacks, and two interceptions. He suffered a concussion during the regular season finale that forced him to miss the Bears first playoff game, but he returned for the team’s eventual loss to the Rams.

Ceedy Duce has generally been a starter throughout his NFL career, but he’s struggled to stick with any single team. His longest stint came with the Saints to begin his career, but he was traded to the Eagles before his rookie contract was done. A torn pectoral muscle basically erased his lone season with the Lions in 2023, and he returned to Philly and won a Super Bowl in 2024.

Gardner-Johnson’s ability to play around the secondary will keep affording him NFL gigs. He’ll now be joining a Bills squad that may see some significant change to their cornerbacks and safeties corps in 2026. They’ve already dealt Taron Johnson to the Raiders, and Cam Lewis left for Chicago. Meanwhile, the likes of Tre’Davious White and Jordan Poyer are currently free agents. The Bills added Dee Alford to likely serve as their slot CB, but Gardner-Johnson should still have an opportunity to carve out his own role considering the uncertainty.

4 comments Buffalo Bills Transactions C.J. Gardner-Johnson

Chargers To Re-Sign LB Denzel Perryman

By Ben Levine | at March 12, 2026 5:27 pm

Denzel Perryman will be back in Los Angeles next season. The veteran linebacker is re-signing with the Chargers, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It will be a one-year deal for the veteran.

Perryman spent the first six seasons of his career with the organization, and he rejoined the Chargers ahead of the 2024 campaign. This will be the third-straight offseason that Perryman’s inked a one-year deal with the franchise. He earned around $3MM on each of his last two deals, and we can assume he’ll be earning a similar sum in 2026.

The linebacker has started all 21 of his appearances with the Chargers over the past two seasons, appearing in about half of his team’s defensive snaps. A groin injury forced him to miss a chunk of games during his first year back with the organization, and a high ankle sprain sidelined him for much of the first two months of the 2025 campaign. He was also inactive for the final two games of last season after being hit with a suspension for his repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players.

That was the player’s second career suspension, as he was also served a two-game ban during his lone season in Houston in 2023. Before that Texans stint, he spent two seasons with the Raiders, including a 2021 campaign where he tallied a career-high 154 tackles. A 2015 second-round pick, Perryman spent the first six seasons of his career with the Chargers, where he compiled 349 stops and five sacks in 69 games.

Perryman will likely play a similar role in Los Angeles next season. The team is set to return their primary linebackers corps, which also includes Daiyan Henley and Troy Dye.

2 comments Los Angeles Chargers Transactions Denzel Perryman

Giants To Sign WR Calvin Austin

By Ben Levine | at March 12, 2026 5:04 pm

After often playing against John Harbaugh while the two were in the AFC North, Calvin Austin is now joining the coach in New York. The Giants are signing the veteran wide receiver, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Austin is inking a one-year deal, per Schefter. The receiver will earn up to $4.5MM on his new pact. Connor Hughes of SNYtv clarifies that Austin’s deal is worth a base value of $1.5MM, including only $100K in guaranteed money.

The 2022 fourth-round pick out of Memphis played out his rookie contract in Pittsburgh. A foot injury forced him to redshirt his rookie campaign, but he immediately carved out a role on special teams once he made his NFL debut. In three healthy seasons with the Steelers, Austin returned 72 punts for 639 yards and a touchdown.

At the same time, Austin had a somewhat consistent (albeit minor) role on offense. He had his best showing in 2024, when he hauled in 36 catches for 548 yards and four touchdowns. His numbers took a step back with a deeper receiving corps around new QB Aaron Rodgers in 2025. Austin finished this past year with 31 catches for 372 yards and three scores.

Austin got into six games against Harbaugh and the Ravens during his time in Pittsburgh, with his nine catches representing the most against any one opponent. Now in New York, he’ll likely take on a similar role. The team hasn’t done much to replace Wan’Dale Robinson, and with Malik Nabers returning from injury, perhaps Austin will be in line for a larger offensive role with his new squad. When the WR corps is whole, the free agent acquisition will be competing with the likes of Darius Slayton and Isaiah Hodgins for reps.

8 comments New York Giants Transactions Calvin Austin III

49ers To Sign OL Brett Toth

By Ben Levine | at March 11, 2026 9:26 pm

Following his third stint with the Eagles, Brett Toth will be playing elsewhere in 2026. The veteran offensive lineman is signing with the 49ers, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

It’s a one-year deal for Toth. While the financials aren’t known, Fowler notes that 95 percent of the deal will be guaranteed.

After redshirting as a rookie with the Eagles (first stint) and Cardinals, Toth finally got an opportunity to play for Philly during the 2020 campaign. He got into 11 games the following year, but a serious knee injury suffered in Week 17 knocked him out for the entire 2022 season.

He got into three games with the Panthers when he returned from injury in 2023, but the Eagles were quick to snag him back at the end of that year. That marked Toth’s third stint with the team, and he’s exclusively been with the organization ever since.

He was forced on the team’s playoff roster in 2024, and he ended up having the most significant role of his career this past year. He finished 2025 having appeared in 17 games (four starts). Pro Football Focus actually ranked him 13th among 79 qualifying guards, although that score was solely supported by his run-blocking abilities.

The 49ers dealt with a number of injuries on their offensive line last year, so the team will surely take whatever depth they can get. The front office has already brought in veteran Vederian Lowe, although Trent Williams‘ future with the organization remains uncertain.

0 comments San Francisco 49ers Transactions Brett Toth

Chargers To Re-Sign Del’Shawn Phillips

By Ben Levine | at March 11, 2026 9:03 pm

The Chargers are hanging on to their special teams ace. Del’Shawn Phillips is re-signing with the team, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Phillips will be getting a two-year contract, per Pelissero. The deal will pay the special teamer $7.5MM but can climb to $10MM via incentives.

The veteran earned the first All-Pro nod of his career during his debut season with the Chargers. He finished the 2025 campaign with 37 tackles. The majority of his snaps (352 of his 434 snaps) came on special teams.

He notably didn’t make the team’s initial 53-man roster, and he only re-joined the squad when Eric Rogers landed on IR. Phillips clearly made the most of his situation and will be sticking in Los Angeles for the next few years.

The 29-year-old bounced around the NFL a bit to begin his career. Phillips has had stints with the Falcons, Bills, Jets, Ravens, and Texans since entering the league in 2019. He’s only garnered brief looks on defense as a linebacker, topping out with 160 defensive snaps in New York in 2021.

0 comments Los Angeles Chargers Transactions Del'Shawn Phillips

Vikings Re-Sign DB Tavierre Thomas

By Ben Levine | at March 11, 2026 8:54 pm

Tavierre Thomas is returning to Minnesota. The special teamer is signing a new two-year deal with the Vikings, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The veteran initially joined the organization on a one-year deal last offseason. The Vikings are committing to him for at least another two seasons, with Schefter noting that Thomas will earn a total of $4.6MM on the new deal.

Thomas primarily played on special teams during his first season with the Vikings. He ended up getting into all 17 games with his new squad, collecting 23 tackles.

The 30-year-old played a similar role with the Buccaneers in 2024, but he was a key part of the Texans secondary between 2021 and 2023. He started 19 of his 36 appearances over that span, collecting 178 tackles, five forced fumbles, and six passes defended. He also tallied a pair of interceptions during the 2021 campaign, including a pick-six.

Thomas can expect a similiar special teams role in 2026. The team added James Pierre to their secondary, but they could clear up some depth by not re-signing Fabian Moreau and Jeff Okudah.

0 comments Minnesota Vikings Transactions Tavierre Thomas

Ravens To Sign TE Durham Smythe

By Ben Levine | at March 11, 2026 8:42 pm

Following Charlie Kolar‘s departure to the Chargers, the Ravens have found their solution for a new blocking TE. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, the team has agreed to a deal with Durham Smythe.

The 2018 fourth-round pick spent the first seven seasons of his career in Miami. He showed some occasional flashes in their offense, including a run from 2020 through 2023 where he collected 110 catches for 1,060 yards. However, he was limited to nine catches in 2024 before getting cut by the Dolphins.

He caught on with the Bears, where he put up career-lows in catches (four) and receiving yards (25). The veteran also notably finished as Pro Football Focus’ lowest-graded tight end in 2025. However, Smythe continued a trend of being an above-average pass blocker, and he’s generally been serviceable in run blocking throughout his career.

He’ll be called on to play a similar role in Baltimore after Kolar left for a new gig. Smythe played under new Ravens OC Declan Doyle last year in Chicago, so there should be some familiarity with the offensive scheme. Of course, the Ravens also might not be done adding to the position. While Mark Andrews will be around for another season, the team watched as Isaiah Likely left for the Giants.