Minor NFL Transactions: 3/11/24
On the busiest transaction day of the NFL year, here are a few moves that maybe didn’t make the headlines:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Charlie Woerner
Baltimore Ravens
- Re-signed: Malik Harrison
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: CB Cam Lewis
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-signed: OL Blake Hance
Kansas City Chiefs
- Re-signed: LS James Winchester
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-signed: G Blake Brandel, T David Quessenberry
New York Giants
- Re-signed: LB Carter Coughlin, WR/KR Gunner Olszewski
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Zack Baun
Woerner is probably one of the bigger names on this list. After serving as a reliable run-blocking tight end with the 49ers for the duration of his rookie contract, Woerner earns a new three-year deal worth up to $12MM to head to Atlanta, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.
Brandel may be the next biggest deal on this list. After making five starts in 39 game appearances with the Vikings during his rookie deal, Brandel earned a new three-year, $9.5MM contract to remain in Minnesota. Quessenberry joins him as a depth lineman sticking around.
Lewis also gets to stick around on a multi-year deal, signing a two-year, $4MM deal to remain in Buffalo. A valuable special teamer, Lewis has done a good job of getting himself worked into the rotation on defense a good amount over the course of his rookie deal.
Olszewski earns another year in New York after solving a big issue on punt returns for the Giants last year. Baun heads to Philadelphia as a strong backup after starting 14 games for the Saints during his first four years in the league.
Jets To Sign G John Simpson
After dipping their toe into the free agency waters with a few defensive additions, the Jets finally made a splash on offense by announcing that they will sign former Ravens offensive guard John Simpson, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The Clemson product will sign a two-year deal worth up to $18MM.
As a fourth-round pick by the Raiders, Simpson only made appearances on special teams or as an injury replacement, getting passed up by Denzelle Good for the opportunity to start in place of an injured Richie Incognito. The following year, Simpson was given an opportunity to start for Las Vegas and started every game of the season that year. He lost his starting job to Alex Bars in 2022 and was waived from the Raiders.
After clearing waivers, Simpson signed to the Ravens’ practice squad, signing a reserve/futures contract at the end of the year. That offseason in Baltimore, Simpson beat out rookie sixth-round pick Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Ben Cleveland, and, supposedly, fullback Patrick Ricard for the starting left guard job. Simpson started every game while leading the team in snaps played on offense.
The Ravens will need to address the loss of a starter on the offensive line in the offseason, perhaps two as the team’s other starting guard, Kevin Zeitler, is also bound for free agency. Cleveland, a massive former third-round pick, could factor in, and Aumavae-Laulu nearly won the job over Simpson as a rookie last offseason. Additionally, the team essentially red-shirted rookie guard Andrew Vorhees, who was projected to be a potential first-round pick before tearing his ACL at the NFL scouting combine. If the team isn’t sure about these options, they can certainly still address it in the draft or later in free agency, as general manager Eric DeCosta tends to avoid transactions that might cost the team compensatory draft picks.
Simpson heads to New York as a likely starter. While he’s never really graded out well, according to Pro Football Focus, with key interior offensive line contributors like Laken Tomlinson, Connor McGovern, and Xavier Newman-Johnson all bound for free agency, Simpson slides right into a starting spot, barring more incoming competition. The Jets have a bit more work to do along the offense to improve things for a healthy Aaron Rodgers, but bringing in Simpson to protect him is a decent start. His starting experience for a contender like the Ravens should bode well for New York.
Browns To Add LB Jordan Hicks
The Browns are set to reward Jim Schwartz‘s recent success as defensive coordinator by bringing in a former player of his. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Cleveland will sign former Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks to a two-year, $8MM contract. 
Hicks and Schwartz worked together when the pair were both in Philadelphia near the start of Hicks’ career. Health assisted, but after pairing with Schwartz, Hicks took a big step forward in his sophomore season, mostly showing his worth in coverage where he nabbed five interceptions and 11 passes defensed. He graded out as the league’s third-best linebacker that season, according to Pro Football Focus, out of 87 graded players at the position.
After two more injury-riddled years under Schwartz, Hicks spent three years in Arizona and two more in Minnesota. Since leaving Philadelphia in 2019, Hicks had mostly put his injury troubles behind him, starting every possible game until missing four this past year with a leg contusion. Despite the missed time due to injury, Hicks was still productive for the Vikings. Including his shortened 2023 season, Hicks has not totaled fewer than 107 total tackles since going to the Cardinals.
Minnesota has already made preparations for Hicks’ departure. Knowing that Hicks was likely on the move, the Vikings addressed the position by bringing in a younger free agent like Blake Cashman from Houston. Cashman should pair up with returning starter Ivan Pace to form the team’s new inside linebacker duo.
In Cleveland, Hicks arrives to fill some holes of his own after the Browns saw free agent linebackers Sione Takitaki and Anthony Walker sign with the Patriots and Dolphins, respectively. Hicks may have to compete with Jacob Phillips, but he should secure a starting position on the Browns defense alongside Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Phillips may be able to factor in as the team’s third starter, but it makes sense for Cleveland to continue to monitor the draft and free agency for at least one more potential linebacker addition.
Jaguars To Sign CB Ronald Darby
Veteran cornerback Ronald Darby is set to continue his road trip around the NFL. After time in Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington, Denver, and most recently Baltimore, Darby has agreed to a new deal with the Jaguars, per Jordan Schutlz of Bleacher Report. The deal will reportedly be for two years and worth a maximum of $10MM. 
Darby has been an NFL starter for most of his career since getting drafted in the second round by the Bills back in 2015. Routinely an extremely effective defender, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required) who ranked him as the 36th best cornerback out of 127 graded in the NFL this year, injuries have dogged Darby throughout his career, mostly during his time with the Eagles and Broncos. Though he hasn’t recorded an interception since the 2019 season, Darby effectively grades out at a strong cover corner and a good tackler.
He leaves Baltimore, where he started seven games as an injury replacement for All-Pro cornerback Marlon Humphrey. He proved to be a valuable offseason addition, just edging out Humphrey for the second-most snaps in the Ravens‘ cornerbacks room. Other offseason additions like Rock Ya-Sin and Arthur Maulet are also free agents, but the team returns Humphrey and starter Brandon Stephens and should be able to come to an agreement with nickel cornerback Ar’Darius Washington, who is a restricted free agent. Expect them to pursue depth additions through free agency and the draft, though.
In Duval, Darby arrives to a similar role. Tyson Campbell returns as a top starter and, after the team released Darious Williams last week, Darby will have a chance to compete with Montaric Brown and Tre Herndon for a starting role opposite Campbell. Any have the potential to earn the job, though Brown has struggled through his first two seasons, but the Jaguars may still opt to pursue established starters or a highly ranked draft prospect in the weeks to come in order to supplement the existing group.
Seahawks, 49ers To Host S Rayshawn Jenkins
MARCH 11: Jenkins’ next visit will see him meet with the 49ers next week, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. It comes as little surprise that multiple teams will look into a Jenkins deal given his continued production, and safety could be an area San Francisco looks to upgrade this offseason. It will be interesting to see if a deal with the Seahawks or 49ers materializes relatively soon, or if further suitors emerge.
MARCH 10: Former Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins was part of the recent purge of veteran safeties around the league after getting cut earlier this week. The 30-year-old out of Miami (FL) wasn’t able to finish out his four-year deal in Jacksonville, but he’s already on to the next chapter as Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report tells us that Jenkins is currently en route to Seattle to visit with the Seahawks. 
Jenkins took a couple years to develop as a fourth-round pick, becoming a starter in his third year with the Chargers. In two years as a starter in Los Angeles, Jenkins reeled in five picks while breaking up eight passes. His short sample size as a starter was enough to earn him $8.75MM per year with the Jaguars.
Over his time in Jacksonville, Jenkins has continued producing, nabbing five more interceptions and 24 passes defensed in three years, as well as finishing top-four in tackles on the team in all three seasons. Despite his production, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) has not reflected his time with the Jaguars favorably. This year saw his best grade with the team as he finished 70th out of 95 ranked safeties in the league.
Still, Jenkins is expected to field lots of interest in free agency. Seattle is in need of a veteran safety after cutting both Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs. Depending on how the contracts of pending free agent cornerbacks Michael Jackson and Artie Burns play out, Jenkins could be set to rejoin two former Miami teammates in the opposite corner of the country.
Other teams that could show interest in Jenkins are the Broncos, Cardinals, Bears, Bills, and Lions, who are all also parting ways with starting safeties this offseason. There are several free agent safeties available after all of the recent releases, but Jenkins seems to be getting a head start on finding a new home for 2024 as Schultz reports that Jenkins has several other potential visits on the docket, as well.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/10/24
With so many headline-grabbing transactions in the NFL today, here are a couple minor moves that may have slipped through the cracks:
New York Jets
- Re-signed: TE Kenny Yeboah
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: G/C Ben Bartch
The 49ers signed Bartch off of the Jaguars’ practice squad in late November and saw him immediately contribute as a backup on offense and as a special teamer. In San Francisco, Bartch appeared in regular season games at all three interior line positions. He’ll bring that same versatility back to the Bay in 2024.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/10/24
During a busy day of transactions and headlines, teams still had time for a few free agent tender decisions:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Commanders: LB Jabril Cox, RB Derrick Gore, LB De’Jon Harris
- Eagles: TE Jack Stoll
- Texans: CB Grayland Arnold, WR Steven Sims
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Lions: RB Craig Reynolds
Non-tendered:
- Saints: WR Lynn Bowden
While Stoll, one of Philadelphia’s top backup tight ends, is not being tendered by the Eagles, the team has reportedly not ruled out a return. Similarly, Cox, Gore, Harris, Arnold, and Sims will all join Bowden in free agency, though the door remains open for their returns, as well.
Ravens, OLB Jadeveon Clowney Have Mutual Interest In New Deal
After leading the NFL with a 13-4 record, the Ravens are primed to experience a potential mass exodus of talent in free agency. The team was able to secure defensive tackle All-Pro Justin Madubuike on a new four-year, $98MM extension, but other key contributors like Odell Beckham Jr., Kevin Zeitler, Gus Edwards, JK Dobbins, Devin Duvernay, and John Simpson on offense and Patrick Queen, Geno Stone, Ronald Darby, and Kyle Van Noy on defense are all still on their way to free agency. 
While many of the above players are expected to leave Baltimore this offseason, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic tells us that both the Ravens and outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney interested in keeping their partnership going. Clowney joined the Ravens halfway through training camp on a one-year, $2.5MM deal. After delivering one of his best seasons since his days in Houston, though, Clowney isn’t likely to play on another discounted contract.
Clowney finished second on the Ravens with 9.5 sacks in 2023, matching his career-high total from 2017. If Clowney can get a full offseason with the team under his belt, hopes are that he can avoid a letdown year with a system in which he thrived, something that occurred during his second year in Cleveland.
If the Ravens bring back Clowney, he will rejoin a group of outside linebackers that includes Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, two players Baltimore is still waiting to see break out. The team is still hoping to get Tyus Bower back after watching the veteran miss the entire 2023 season with a knee injury.
Bowser claims that he’s making a full recovery from knee surgery and will definitely be back next season, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Bowser will be coming back into a contract year, the final season of his four-year, $22MM deal. This is all assuming the Ravens don’t try to reduce his $7.5MM cap hit by $5.5MM by cutting him prior to his return.
The Ravens have some unproven, young assets at the position, but the team will likely hope to have some playmakers like Clowney, Bowser, and/or a potential new addition via the draft or free agency in the mix, as well. We’ll likely start to see their plan for the position moving forward as free agency starts this week.
Dolphins Re-Sign G Robert Jones
The Dolphins have lots of contracts to address on the offensive line this offseason, and they’ll start with re-signing offensive guard Robert Jones, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The third-year undrafted lineman out of Middle Tennessee State is set to return to Miami on a new one-year deal.
Jones has proven to be a valuable backup for the Dolphins over the past three seasons. Though never designated as a full-time starter on the offensive line, Jones has made 13 starts in 32 game appearances. Most recently, he filled in for an injured Isaiah Wynn this year, which graded out as an improvement, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). With starting guard Robert Hunt expected to earn a massive payday elsewhere, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Jones should return as a strong option to step into a full-time starting role in 2024.
While Miami still needs to deal with the expiring contracts of Hunt and center Connor Williams, they did receive some good news concerning starting left tackle Terron Armstead. Though Armstead was undecided on whether or not to hang up his cleats, a return to the field in 2024 has been trending. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, things continue to move in the right direction for Armstead to play next season. Armstead and Miami are even close to finalizing a new adjusted contract to reduce his cap hit in 2024. It’s not done yet but should reportedly be done soon.
With Jones and Armstead expected back and right tackle Austin Jackson under contract through the 2026 season, the Dolphins are set with three possible starters heading into next year. Decisions on Hunt and Williams should come soon, allowing the team to make plans on how to move forward with or without them.
Vikings Expect To Hear FA Decision From QB Kirk Cousins Tonight; Trending Towards Free Agency
7:36PM: Russini provided another update on the situation, telling us that Minnesota is “having internal conversations about their offer” to Cousins. They are still reportedly waiting to hear from the veteran passer on his decision, but there is a good feeling in the building that Cousins wants to remain a Viking. The prevailing concern is that the structure of the deal will be crucial to the determination of his decision.
6:57PM: We’ve heard lots in the past week or so on the Falcons’ interest in quarterback Kirk Cousins, but it’s all a moot point until his contract with the Vikings voids on Wednesday. In the meantime, the Vikings have not given up on their efforts to keep their quarterback of the last six years in Minnesota. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the team is expecting to hear Cousins’ decision on whether or not he intends to test free agency tonight. 
The Vikings have been working to come to a new agreement since his season-ending injury. Both sides have expressed their interest in extending their time together but talks stalled a bit as Cousins sought certain guarantees into the 2025 season. Time has almost run out, now, with free agency approaching. Tomorrow, teams will have the ability to communicate with free agents, so Cousins’ decision becomes crucial for the intentions of both he and the Vikings.
Also, Wednesday will be a date to watch as it is the day free agency officially opens and Cousins’ contract officially voids, leaving the Vikings with $28.5MM of dead money. The Vikings can avoid that headache with a new extension that allows them to redistribute that money, but if a deal can’t get done, Cousins will hold a $28.5MM cap hit in Minnesota while playing for another team.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network provided an update as the rumors continue to circulate, saying that, while he and Minnesota remain in communication, Cousins is expected to hit the free agent market tomorrow. Pelissero reiterates Atlanta as a possible destination, throwing in that Denver could also potentially pursue. He claims a new deal for Cousins will likely include over $40MM per year.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network also commented on the ramifications of Cousins decision. The quarterback dominos are starting to fall with news like the re-signing of Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay coming earlier today. Russini reports that both Minnesota and Atlanta were keeping a close eye on Mayfield’s eventual landing spot as they deal with their own situations. It sounds like Cousins is expected to be the next big domino to fall, with other options like Justin Fields, Sam Darnold, and even Joe Flacco having to wait to see how the market looks when the dust clears.