Falcons To Sign DL Chris Williams
The Falcons have agreed to a one-year contract with defensive lineman Chris Williams, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. It’s a $2MM deal.
Undrafted out of Wagner in 2020, Williams caught on with the Colts and spent his rookie season on their practice squad. The 298-pounder went on to play sparingly with Indianapolis from 2021-22, during which he appeared in 13 games and made six tackles.
After the Colts cut Williams in the spring of 2023, he had brief runs on practice squads in Kansas City and Cleveland. Although he did not play a snap for the Browns, they got some value from Williams in an August 2024 trade. The Browns sent Williams and a 2025 seventh-round pick to the Bears for a ’25 sixth-rounder. Ian Cunningham, now the Falcons’ general manager, was the Bears’ assistant GM when they acquired Williams.
During his two-year run in Chicago, Williams played in 31 games and clearly impressed Cunningham along the way. In 2024, his lone 17-game season, Williams racked up 23 tackles, seven QB hits and three sacks on 367 defensive snaps. The 27-year-old was on the field for 14 games and 219 defensive plays last season. He finished the year with 14 tackles, two QB hits and a sack.
The Falcons’ defensive line took an obvious hit when David Onyemata left for the Jets on Monday. They have since added Williams and Cameron Thomas in low-cost moves.
49ers Plan To Release Brandon Aiyuk; Commanders Most Likely Landing Spot?
The Brandon Aiyuk saga is nearing an end in San Francisco. The 49ers plan to release the wide receiver, Nick Wagoner of ESPN reports. The team could cut Aiyuk as early as today, per Wagoner, who points to the Commanders as his most likely landing spot.
A 49er since they spent the 25th pick on him in 2020, Aiyuk immediately became a key part of head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s offense. During his best season, 2023, Aiyuk hauled in 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns to earn second-team All-Pro honors. A lengthy contract standoff between Aiyuk and the 49ers occurred during the next offseason.
Unable to reach a deal, San Francisco had an Aiyuk trade in place with Pittsburgh in August 2024. However, after the Steelers’ extension offer for Aiyuk fell short, he agreed to stay with the 49ers two weeks later.
The 49ers kept Aiyuk around with a four-year, $120MM proposal that included $76MM in guarantees, but they will end up receiving little to nothing from the investment. Over his first seven games in 2024, Aiyuk caught just 25 of 47 targets for 374 yards and no scores. His season ended with a torn ACL and MCL in Week 7. Aiyuk has not suited up since then.
While Aiyuk was recovering from his injury last July, the 49ers voided the remaining guarantees on his contract. The team had issues with his rehab effort, and Shanahan revealed that Aiyuk was “extremely distant” during the process. Aiyuk could have filed a grievance against the 49ers through the NFLPA, but he let the 50-day window expire and lost over $26MM.
With Aiyuk still on the reserve/PUP list at the beginning of December, general manager John Lynch expressed hope that he would return down the stretch. Any chance of that vanished when the 49ers put the 27-year-old on the reserve/left squad list on Dec. 13. Lynch said in late January that the 49ers would move on from Aiyuk this offseason, though he has held out for a trade. With the new league year commencing Wednesday afternoon, it does not appear Lynch will find a taker for Aiyuk.
If the 49ers designate Aiyuk a post-June 1 release, they will spread almost $35MM in dead money over the next two seasons ($13.33MM in 2026, $21.25MM in ’27). The team will save $1.32MM on next year’s cap, though those funds will not be available until June.
Once he reaches the open market, Aiyuk will immediately become one of the most talented players available. However, considering the bizarre turn his 49ers tenure took, the 6-foot, 200-pounder will likely have to settle for a short-term contract.
For multiple reasons, Washington has stood out as an obvious Aiyuk fit for months. The team is cognizant of how much he wants to play there, according to John Keim of ESPN. Aiyuk would reunite with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels seven years after the two established a rapport at Arizona State in 2019. Adam Peters, now the Commanders’ GM, was in the 49ers’ front office when they drafted Aiyuk a year later.
With the Commanders in need of receivers beyond No. 1 option Terry McLaurin, Peters has been aggressive on this year’s market. Peters tried to sign Alec Pierce and Romeo Doubs before they reeled in lucrative paydays elsewhere. Having come up empty in those pursuits, Peters could turn his attention to Aiyuk soon.
Dolphins To Sign Josh Uche
After a one-year stint with the Eagles, edge rusher Josh Uche is returning to his native Miami. The Dolphins are signing Uche to a one-year pact, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
A Patriots second-round pick in 2020, Uche was at his best during an 11.5-sack outburst in 2022. He has been unable to reach those heights since then. Over the past three seasons, which he divided among the Pats, Chiefs and Eagles, Uche combined for six sacks in 40 games.
Uche has started just four of 76 games in the NFL. The 6-foot-3, 226-pounder continued in a rotational role last season in Philadelphia, where he came off the bench in all 12 appearances.
Across 244 defensive snaps, Uche registered just three QB hits and one sack. While those numbers are uninspiring, Uche accrued 23 pressures and 21 hurries, per Pro Football Focus. PFF assigned Uche an impressive 85.1 grade for his work as an Eagle.
Now that Uche is heading to Miami, he will reunite with new Dolphins linebackers coach Al Washington. He coached Michigan’s LBs in 2018, when Uche notched seven sacks during his junior year with the Wolverines.
Teaming up with Washington again, Uche could log more playing time on a rebuilding Miami club devoid of edge rushers beyond Chop Robinson. Bradley Chubb led last year’s Dolphins with 8.5 sacks, but they released him in a cost-cutting move. If Uche is successful in helping to fill Chubb’s void, he could set himself up for a better deal a year from now.
Patriots To Release Anfernee Jennings
Although the Patriots shopped outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings before last November’s trade deadline, he ended up finishing the season with the AFC champions. The team is now set to release Jennings, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
This will end a lengthy tenure in New England for Jennings, who joined what was then a Bill Belichick-led franchise in 2020. Initially an inside linebacker, the former third-rounder from Alabama made minimal impact as a reserve during his first three seasons. Jennings missed his entire second year with an undisclosed injury.
After a 16-game, three-start 2022, Jennings took on a much bigger role the next season. As a 14-game starter in 15 appearances, Jennings totaled 66 tackles and 14 TFL over 677 defensive snaps. Jennings only put up 1.5 sacks, but he was a force against the run. The Patriots were impressed enough to hand Jennings a three-year, $12MM deal during the ensuing offseason.
Jennings remained in a starting role in 2024, the Patriots’ lone season with Jerod Mayo as their head coach. The 6-foot-2, 255-pounder recorded career highs in snaps (831), tackles (78), starts (16), QB hits (nine) and sacks (2.5).
In a move that helped spark a drastic one-year turnaround for the Patriots, Mike Vrabel replaced Mayo in 2025. Jennings played 14 games under Vrabel and a new staff, but his impact diminished. Across 280 snaps and three starts, Jennings logged 26 tackles, seven QB hits, five TFL and a pair of sacks. He chipped in another 16 tackles and two sacks in the Patriots’ four-game playoff run. Pro Football Focus ranked Jennings’ regular-season performance a middling 57th among 119 qualifying edge rushers, though he earned a top-20 grade against the run.
In releasing the 28-year-old Jennings, the Patriots will save around $3.8MM. The club lost edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson to the Commanders earlier Wednesday, but it prepared for his exit in agreeing to sign Dre’Mont Jones on Monday.
Cowboys Unlikely To Pursue Maxx Crosby
The Cowboys were among the teams in talks for Maxx Crosby before the Ravens agreed to acquire him from the Ravens last Friday. The Ravens were prepared to part with two first-round picks until they shockingly backed out of the deal on Tuesday night. Crosby’s status is once again in limbo as the new league year begins.
The Raiders could still move Crosby, but the Cowboys are not expected to get involved in a new round of talks, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Baltimore called off the blockbuster swap after Crosby, who is recovering from a full meniscus repair, failed its physical. Dr. Dan Cooper, the Cowboys’ team physician, has expressed concerns over Crosby’s knee, Jane Slater of NFL Network told 105.3 The Fan.
Less than a year after shipping Micah Parsons to the Packers for two first-round picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark, the Cowboys would have sent a first- and a second-rounder to the Raiders for Crosby. While a healthy Crosby would have given the Cowboys a credible Parsons replacement, they have since pivoted to Rashan Gary in another trade with the Packers. Further pass-rushing acquisitions could still be on the way for Dallas, but it appears Crosby is off the table for owner Jerry Jones & Co.
Although Crosby’s balky knee scared off the Ravens and Cowboys, the five-time Pro Bowler is off crutches and “on schedule” in his recovery, Adam Schefter of ESPN relays. The goal is for Crosby to be ready for Week 1 next season.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed Crosby’s surgery, told Schefter: “Maxx Crosby is doing very well in the early part of his rehab and recovery from surgery to treat a significant meniscus tear and the related stress injury to the bone and cartilage in his knee. He is certainly on track in his planned program….he feels very well and is already much improved compared to before surgery.”
Dr. ElAttrache continued: “We truly respect the work of the Ravens staff with Maxx regarding the contract physical exam. We also understand the challenge the staff faces when tasked to provide a future risk assessment based on an evaluation early in the recovery process.”
While he added that “the apparent risk will lessen as [Crosby’s] recovery progresses,” neither the Ravens nor Cowboys are willing to make a significant investment in the 28-year-old. The Ravens moved on to fellow star defensive end Trey Hendrickson, whom they added on a four-year, $112MM deal on Wednesday. It appeared there was finally an answer on Crosby’s future last week, but now it is murkier than ever.
Bills Restructure Josh Allen’s Contract
Twelve months after inking superstar quarterback Josh Allen to a record-setting extension worth $330MM over six years, the Bills have tweaked the contract. The team has converted $15.2MM of Allen’s salary into a signing bonus, clearing $12MM in cap space for this year, according to Spotrac.
This is the latest noteworthy move the Bills have made to reach cap compliance before the new league year begins this afternoon. They agreed to a restructured contract with one of Allen’s targets, tight end Dawson Knox, on Tuesday. They reworked kicker Tyler Bass‘ deal shortly before adjusting Knox’s. The Bills are still approximately $2MM in the red, per OverTheCap.
Although the Bills are not in a favorable financial position, they nonetheless brought in high-priced wide receiver D.J. Moore in a trade with the Bears. They also re-signed center Connor McGovern to a four-year, $52MM pact. The edge rusher-needy club has also been in on expensive defensive ends Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby.
Baltimore beat out Buffalo and others to win the Hendrickson derby on Wednesday. The Hendrickson signing came after the Ravens’ agreement to acquire Crosby from the Raiders stunningly collapsed on Tuesday evening. Crosby, who is recovering from meniscus surgery, failed the Ravens’ physical. It’s unknown whether the Bills or other teams will circle back on trade talks for the five-time Pro Bowler.
Along with adding Moore and retaining McGovern, the Bills addressed their need at slot corner in agreeing to sign former Falcon Dee Alford for three years and $21MM. In addition to edge rusher, there are still holes to fill at linebacker and safety, among other areas. Even with a newfound $12MM from restructuring Allen’s contract, general manager Brandon Beane is facing an uphill battle in free agency.
Colts Targeting Two-Year Daniel Jones Extension
More progress is coming out of Indianapolis. After reports revealed Daniel Jones and the Colts were progressing on a deal Tuesday, more momentum is forming Wednesday morning.
The Colts and Jones have made “significant progress” toward what would be a two-year extension, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report. A deal could come together today. That would be a win for the Colts, who have a lofty transition tag figure ($37.83MM) clogging their cap sheet presently. They have around $30.95MM in space, but lowering Jones’ cap number would allow them to make more upgrades to their roster.
Indianapolis made a major commitment earlier this week in agreeing to re-sign wide receiver Alec Pierce to a four-year, $116MM contract. It appeared Pierce would test the market before his deal came together as the negotiating window opened Monday. But the four-year veteran’s desire to continue playing with Jones was among the reasons he decided to stay, according to Rapoport. As such, it is no surprise that the Colts are working diligently to get something done with Jones.
With Pierce’s help, Jones enjoyed a career year in 2025 before it ended with an Achilles tear in early December. The Colts bought relatively low on Jones, the former Giants starter and Vikings backup, in signing him to a one-year, $14MM contract last offseason. The 28-year-old rewarded them with personal-best marks in completion percentage (68.0), yards per attempt (8.1), passer rating (100.2) and QBR (63.0) over 13 games. The Colts went 8-5 in Jones’ starts and 0-4 under subs Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard.
Although the team missed the playoffs for a fifth straight year, general manager Chris Ballard is of the belief he finally has an answer at quarterback in Jones. Having traded his next two first-round picks to the Jets for cornerback Sauce Gardner last November, Ballard does not have an avenue to find a clear solution in the draft in the near future. Between that and an uninspiring class of free agent signal-callers, Jones has leverage in talks.
Jones also had leverage in talks when he inked a four-year, $160MM extension with the Giants in 2023. Had no deal come together, the Giants would have placed the franchise tag on Jones and allowed running back Saquon Barkley to reach free agency. The Jones agreement enabled them to tag Barkley, who wound up walking in free agency a year later. Meanwhile, signing Jones proved to be a mistake for the Giants.
Jones flamed out after securing a raise in New York, leading the team to waive him in November 2024. The Colts are not expecting a similar fate for Jones in their uniform. Judging by their desire to give Jones another sizable payday, they are confident his 2025 resurgence is sustainable.
Commanders To Add DE K’Lavon Chaisson
K’Lavon Chaisson completed a midcareer breakout last season, impressing on a one-year deal with the Patriots. While a multiyear pact will not come together for the Super Bowl regular, he will receive a notable raise after boosting his stock.
After losing out on the Trey Hendrickson sweepstakes, the Commanders are adding Chaisson, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. It is a one-year deal worth $12MM, with Chaisson joining fellow free agent Odafe Oweh to refuel Washington’s defensive end corps.
This represents an appreciable increase over the one-year, $5MM pact Chaisson signed with the Patriots last March. While Chaisson was coming off a personal-best five-sack season with the Raiders then, his career had nonetheless been a disappointment. The Jaguars thought enough of the former LSU standout to use the 20th pick on him in 2020, but Chaisson managed just five sacks over four years in their uniform.
Last season was another step forward for Chaisson, who registered a new career high with 7.5 sacks in 16 games (10 starts) for the AFC-winning Patriots. He added 18 QB hits, twice as many as his previous high of nine, as well as 10 TFL and two forced fumbles. Chaisson continued to produce in the postseason, a four-game run in which he added three more sacks and a forced fumble.
Aside from taking what proved to be a successful one-year gamble on Von Miller, the Commanders did little to address their pass rush last offseason. It has been a clear point of emphasis this year, however, with Oweh and Chaisson coming aboard to join Dorance Armstrong as Washington’s top edge rushers. Miller, who led last year’s team with nine sacks despite playing just under 37% of snaps, is now a free agent.
During a bitterly disappointing 5-12 showing in 2025, the Commanders’ defense ranked 27th in the NFL in scoring and dead last in yards allowed. Head coach Dan Quinn subsequently replaced coordinator Joe Whitt with Daronte Jones in January. General manager Adam Peters has since upgraded the unit’s personnel in adding Oweh, Chaisson, linebacker Leo Chenal, tackle Tim Settle and cornerback Amik Robertson early in free agency.
Latest On Potential A.J. Brown Trade
The Eagles are hoping to resolve the A.J. Brown saga by the beginning of the new league year on Wednesday. The Patriots have shown the most interest in trading for the three-time Pro Bowl receiver, but they have balked at the Eagles’ asking price so far. The Chargers and Bills have also been connected to Brown. It turns out those three teams and the Chiefs are on Brown’s wish list, Albert Breer of SI.com reports.
With the Patriots moving on from previous No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs, their need for a starter was glaringly obvious entering free agency. To some degree, the Patriots addressed it in agreeing to a four-year, $80MM contract with former Packer Romeo Doubs on Tuesday.
Doubs will at least give the Patriots a capable starter if they are unable to close the gap in talks with the Eagles. The reigning AFC champions are not necessarily out on Brown yet, per Karen Guregian of MassLive.com. Adding Brown to Doubs would give third-year quarterback Drake Maye a tantalizing one-two punch at receiver.
The Chargers have wideouts Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and 2025 second-rounder Tre Harris under contract for next season. Johnston may be a trade candidate, though, and Keenan Allen is still unsigned. There remains room in Los Angeles for Brown, especially with the team boasting the league’s second-most cap space ($66.83MM). The Chargers are well-positioned to take on the remainder of Brown’s three-year, $96MM contract, but Breer does not regard them as serious suitors.
While Brown is open to joining Josh Allen in Buffalo, that is no longer on the table, according to Breer. The Bills agreed to acquire a different expensive veteran wideout, D.J. Moore, from the Bears last week. Moore cost the Bills a pick in Round 2, whereas the Eagles have been holding out for at least a first- and a second-rounder. The soon-to-be 29-year-old Moore is owed significant guaranteed money through 2028.
Brown could form an intimidating duo with Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, but there is no indication KC is involved in this derby. The Chiefs went into free agency focused on adding a running back, per Breer. They accomplished that mission in signing former Seahawk/Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker to a three-year, $43.05MM deal. The team also wants to use its haul of draft choices to “replenish” its roster, Breer writes. The Chiefs own two first-rounders and three of the top 40 choices in this year’s draft, but it does not appear they will part with any of them for Brown.
Brown will see $4MM of his 2027 salary guarantee on the third day of the league year, giving the Eagles limited time to move him before it vests. Trading Brown before June 1 would hit the Eagles with a $43.45MM dead cap charge, a record for his position. They would also lose $20.12MM in cap room. If general manager Howie Roseman waits until after June 1 to move Brown, the Eagles would spread the dead money over two years. Philadelphia would be stuck with $16.35MM in 2026 and $27.1MM in ’27, though it would save $7MM on its cap next season.
Patriots To Sign WR Romeo Doubs
Wide receiver Romeo Doubs is leaving Green Bay for New England. The Patriots are signing Doubs to a four-year, $80MM contract, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. The deal comes with a base value of $68MM, Albert Breer of SI.com relays.
The Commanders were among the teams the Patriots beat out for the 6-foot-2, 204-pound Doubs, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. It was a “very close” race between the two, per Schultz, but the Commanders will have to look elsewhere for a complement to No. 1 receiver Terry McLaurin.
The Patriots have come up most frequently in trade rumors centering on Eagles receiver A.J. Brown. The Doubs signing does not rule out a Brown acquisition, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. But the Patriots may now be “less inclined” to meet the Eagles’ asking price, writes McLane, who adds there has been a “gulf” in negotiations.
Doubs is not on Brown’s level, but the four-year veteran has nonetheless put together a solid career. The 2022 fourth-rounder from Nevada started in 50 of 59 games in Green Bay. Doubs has averaged roughly 15 games, 51 catches, 80 targets, 606 yards and five touchdowns per season. He started in 15 of 16 games in 2025 and hauled in 55 of 85 targets for a career-best 724 yards and six scores.
Only two members of last season’s AFC champion Patriots, receiver Stefon Diggs and tight end Hunter Henry, caught more passes and totaled more yards than Doubs. The Patriots informed Diggs of his release last week, making it all the more obvious they would target receiving help for quarterback Drake Maye this spring. The team was in on Alec Pierce before he re-signed with the Colts on a four-year, $116MM contract on Monday. It pivoted to Doubs, PFR’s 11th-ranked free agent, on a less lucrative agreement a day later.
Further acquisitions could be in store for the Patriots’ receiving corps between today and the draft. As of now, though, Doubs will join Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas and Efton Chism to comprise the group.
As for the Packers, they are losing the receiver they relied on most in 2025. Doubs easily paced their wideouts in snap share (74.22%) and led the team in most major pass-catching categories.
The Doubs-less Packers still have a number of in-house options, including a pair of high 2025 picks in first-rounder Matthew Golden and third-rounder Savion Williams. Although their rookie production fell flat, they are in line to rejoin veterans Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks in 2026. The Packers will also count on a healthier season for tight end Tucker Kraft, who thrived before tearing his ACL in Week 9.