Teddy Bridgewater To Rejoin Lions
Teddy Bridgewater is not heading back to retirement. The high school coach-turned-Buccaneers backup is heading back to Detroit. Bridgewater will rejoin the Lions, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
Bridgewater’s first stint with the Lions came in 2023, when he barely saw the field as Jared Goff‘s primary backup. He opted to retire following that campaign and became a high school football coach. However, he returned to Detroit late in the 2024 season, bumping Hendon Hooker from his role as QB2. Bridgewater made a brief cameo during the team’s Divisional Round loss to the Commanders, but he otherwise didn’t play that season.
Instead of returning to his HS coaching gig, Bridgewater decided to continue his playing career in 2025. He signed with the Buccaneers in late August and spent the season serving as Baker Mayfield‘s top backup. Bridgewater got playing time in four contests, connecting on eight of his 15 pass attempts for 62 yards.
Now, he’ll return to a familiar spot in Detroit. Besides his first stint with the organization, Bridgewater also has a connection to Dan Campbell, who was on the Saints coaching staff during the QB’s stint in New Orleans. The Lions needed some depth at the position following the loss of backup QB David Montgomery Kyle Allen, and they landed on a familiar face.
Goff hasn’t missed a game since the 2021 season, so the Lions may be content entering the regular season with only the two veteran signal callers. Of course, in the scenario where Goff is forced to miss time, it seems unlikely that Bridgewater can keep the offense humming. The 33-year-old last started a game in 2022 with the Dolphins. His last full-time starting gig came with the Broncos in 2021. That season, Bridgewater guided his squad to a 7-7 record in his 14 starts, connecting on 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,052 yards, 18 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
Still, the Lions clearly value Bridgewater’s veteran savviness, and the team is obviously operating under the assumption that they won’t have to lean on their QB2 in 2026.
Saints To Bring Back LB Kaden Elliss
After three Falcons seasons, Kaden Elliss is returning to his original side in this NFC South rivalry. The Saints are bringing back the 2019 draftee.
Elliss is headed back to New Orleans on a three-year deal worth $33MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. The veteran linebacker will receive $23MM guaranteed, joining a Saints team that just lost cornerstone defender Demario Davis (to the Jets).
The 2019 seventh-round pick out of Idaho spent the first four seasons of his career in New Orleans. He mostly served as a special teamer through his first three campaigns, but he took on a larger defensive role in 2022. That season, he compiled 78 tackles and seven sacks, a number that still represents a career-high.
That performance ended up earning him a three-year, $21.5MM deal from the Falcons in 2023, and Elliss ended up playing out that deal in Atlanta. He turned into a true three-down linebacker during his stint with the Falcons, averaging more than 125 tackles and four sacks per season. This past year, he collected 107 stops and 3.5 sacks, with Pro Football Focus grading him 31st among 88 qualifying linebackers.
Now, he’ll return to a familiar spot in New Orleans, but it doesn’t sound like the Saints were his only suitor. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Elliss was a popular target for many of his former coaches in spots like San Francisco and Cleveland. With the Saints, Elliss could slide into Davis’s spot atop the Saints LB depth chart, although the team is currently retaining the rest of their 2025 depth. This includes the likes of Pete Werner, Danny Stutsman, and Isaiah Stalbird.
Packers, WR Skyy Moore Agree To Deal
For a second straight year, Skyy Moore will relocate. Traded from the Chiefs to the 49ers in 2025, Moore is now headed to Wisconsin.
The Packers have a deal in place with the former second-round wide receiver, NFL insider Jordan Schultz tweets.
There were some high hopes for Moore when the Chiefs selected the Western Michigan product in the second round of the 2022 draft. The Chiefs had just moved on from Tyreek Hill, and there was a major open spot atop their depth chart. However, the wideout struggled to click in Kansas City. While he got into 30 games (11 starts) through his first two years, he only hauled in 43 catches for 496 yards and one touchdown. To his credit, he did catch a touchdown during the Chiefs Super Bowl victory over the Eagles.
Moore was limited to only six games in 2024 thanks to a core muscle injury, and the Chiefs sent him packing last August. Towards the end of the preseason, the wideout was traded to the 49ers for a late-round pick swap. Moore also struggled to carve out an offensive role in San Francisco, finishing with only five catches for 87 yards. However, he did find a gig on special teams, where he returned 33 kickoffs for 907 yards and 25 punts for 291 yards.
He’ll likely be penciled in for a similar role with the Packers, although there’s a chance he could earn some reps on offense. The team lost Romeo Doubs to the Patriots today, although they’re still rostering the likes of Christian Watson, Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks.
Texans To Acquire P Kai Kroeger From Saints
Punter action has been plentiful during the first two days of free agency. Now, we have a punter trade to process. The Saints are sending their punter — Kai Kroeger — to the Texans, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports.
[RELATED: Saints, P Ryan Wright Agree To Deal]
Kroeger and a 2028 seventh-round pick are headed to Houston, while New Orleans will receive a 2028 sixth-rounder. As a former UDFA, Kroeger is extension-eligible. Two years remain on Kroeger’s rookie contract; he punted in 17 games for the Saints as a rookie.
The South Carolina product initially joined the Jets as a UDFA but he was waived in late July. He was subsequently scooped up by the Saints, who were quick to make him their starting punter. The rookie was relatively productive in 2025, averaging 44.8 yards on his 56 punts, 18 of which landed inside the 20. While it wasn’t entirely his fault, Kroeger finished tied for the league-lead with two blocked punts.
However, the Saints pivoted at the position yesterday when they signed former Vikings punter Ryan Wright. That made Kroeger expendable, and now the sophomore is on his way to Houston. The Texans leaned on Tommy Townsend over the past two seasons, but the free agent apparently won’t be back in Houston for a third year.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/9/26
Here are today’s tender decisions:
RFAs
Tendered:
- Vikings: LB Ivan Pace
Non-tendered:
- Cowboys: S Juanyeh Thomas
- Ravens: RB Keaton Mitchell
- Titans: CB Darrell Baker Jr.
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Falcons: DL Elijah Garcia
- Patriots: FB/TE Jack Westover
Cowboys To Re-Sign DE Sam Williams
Sam Williams is sticking in Dallas for at least another season. The free agent defensive end is returning to the Cowboys on a one-year deal, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The one-year pact is worth $3MM.
The former second-round pick has spent his entire career in Dallas, although he hasn’t necessarily lived up to his draft stock. He showed flashes while playing a part-time role through his first two years in the NFL, when he tallied 8.5 total sacks. He finished fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2022 after he tallied 22 stops, four sacks, and three fumble recoveries.
There was hope he’d take another step in 2024 following the departures of Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler. However, Williams suffered a torn ACL during that year’s training camp, ending his season before it even began.
He was back in time for the start of the 2025 season and got into all 17 games this past year. He didn’t have the same pass-rush ability, but he still finished the year with a sack, seven tackles for loss, and four QB hits. He also got into a career-high 474 defensive snaps.
The Cowboys acquired Rashan Gary to line up opposite Donovan Ezeiruaku, meaning Williams may be hard pressed to work his way into the starting lineup. Still, considering the uncertain status of free agents Jadeveon Clowney and Dante Fowler Jr., there could still be plenty of snaps on the edge for Williams in 2026.
Chargers To Sign G Cole Strange
Cole Strange is heading to Los Angeles. The former first-round pick reached an agreement with the Chargers this evening, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Strange will ink a two-year deal worth $13MM, per Schefter. This move reunites the lineman with Mike McDaniel, who took a chance on Strange in Miami.
The lineman was considered a reach when the Patriots selected him out of Chattanooga in 2022. Strange started all 17 of his appearances as a rookie but was limited to 10 games as a sophomore thanks to a torn patellar tendon. He was activated back to the active roster the following December, and he ultimately got into three games for the 2024 Patriots. He was cut by the organization at the end of the 2025 preseason.
After initially catching on with the Browns practice squad, Strange joined the Dolphins active roster in September. He proceeded to start all 14 of his appearances with Miami, with Pro Football Focus crediting him with 21 pressures allowed and 16 hurries allowed. Strange was also responsible for a pair of sacks.
Still, McDaniel apparently saw enough in the lineman to recruit him to Los Angeles. The Chargers are down both of their starting offensive guards; the team released Mekhi Becton and free agent Zion Johnson agreed to a three-year, $49.5MM contract with the Browns today. The front office re-signed Trevor Penning, although he could profile as OT insurance behind Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt. That means Strange may initially be pencilled into the Chargers starting lineup.
Raiders To Re-Sign DL Malcolm Koonce
Malcolm Koonce is sticking in Las Vegas. The free agent defensive end is re-signing with the Raiders, according to Josina Anderson.
The 2021 third-round pick is signing a new one-year contract, per Anderson. The deal is worth $11MM.
Koonce is inking a one-year deal for the second-straight offseason. Last year, he re-upped with the Raiders on a $12MM contract. After missing the entire 2024 season thanks to a knee injury, he bounced back in 2025 with 30 tackles and 4.5 sacks. For his efforts, Pro Football Focus graded him 83rd among 119 qualifying edge defenders.
Koonce graded much better during his last healthy season in 2023. That breakout campaign saw the pass rusher compile eight sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 17 QB hits, earning him a 22nd-place showing by PFF. He had a standout performance during a Week 16 win over the Chiefs, when he tallied eight pressures and three sacks on Patrick Mahomes.
The Raiders have been busy adding to their defense today, signing the likes of Nakobe Dean, Quay Walker, and Kwity Paye. Still, with the departure of pass rusher Maxx Crosby, Koonce could once again find himself playing a significant role on the Raiders defense in 2026.
Texans To Sign S Reed Blankenship
The Eagles are losing yet another defensive free agent. This time it’s safety Reed Blankenship, who is signing with the Texans, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Blakenship is signing a three-year deal with Houston, per Schefter. The contract is worth $24.75MM.
The safety was a key find by the Eagles front office, as Blankenship joined the Eagles as a UDFA out of Middle Tennessee in 2022. He emerged as a starter during his sophomore campaign and proceeded to spend the next three years in Philly’s lineup. He had a standout campaign in 2023, finishing with 113 tackles and three interceptions, and he added another four picks during the team’s Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2024. That year, he was part of a defense that allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL (174.2).
He started all 16 of his appearances this past season, finishing with 83 stops and one interception. After grading out as at least a top-30 safety through his first three NFL seasons, Pro Football Focus ranked him 89th among 91 qualifiers this past year. That grade was entirely brought down by his coverage score, although he graded much better as a run stopper.
While Calen Bullock was a mainstay in the lineup in 2025, the Texans shuffled through their other safeties, with all of M.J. Stewart, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jaylen Reed, and K’Von Wallace getting into at least one game where they appeared in 90-plus percent of Houston’s defensive snaps. Blankenship will provide some stability to that unit, where he’ll likely slide next to Bullock in the starting lineup. This move also allows Jalen Pitre, who got in 51 snaps at the position last season, to play as the full-time slot CB.
Meanwhile, the Eagles continue to endure some key subtractions from their defense. Fellow starters Jaelan Phillips (Panthers) and Nakobe Dean (Raiders) have also departed Philly via free agency today.
Cardinals To Sign DT Roy Lopez
Following a one-season stop in Detroit, Roy Lopez is heading back to Arizona. The Cardinals have agreed to a contract with the free agent defensive tackle, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
It will be a two-year deal for Lopez, according to Rapoport. The contract is worth $11.5MM, including $7MM guaranteed.
Lopez inked a one-year, $4.65MM deal with the Lions last offseason. While he didn’t start any of his 17 games, he still got into about 40 percent of Detroit’s defensive snaps. The 28-year-old ended up finishing the season with 30 tackles and two sacks, with Pro Football Focus grading him 33rd among 127 qualifying interior defenders.
After spending two seasons in Houston to begin his career, Lopez spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons in Arizona. After starting five of his 14 appearances during his first year with the organization, he started all 16 of his games in 2024. He ended up finishing his first Cardinals stint with 70 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
Now, Lopez is back in Arizona, where he should play a significant role on the Cardinals defensive line. The team already moved on from Dalvin Tomlinson, who accounted for 555 snaps in Arizona last season. Lopez will likely soak up those snaps while joining Dante Stills and Darius Robinson as the team’s DT trio.