Rasheed Walker Wins Packers’ LT Battle
Packers offensive lineman Rasheed Walker said on Monday (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky) that he will start at left tackle in Week 1.
In training camp, Walker battled 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan for the right to protect Jordan Love‘s blind side this season. Walker, a two-year incumbent, long seemed to have a lead over his younger teammate, who only played guard in his six appearances before shoulder surgery ended his season.
Walker, a 2022 seventh-round pick, took over for an injured David Bakhtiari in his second season and held onto the left tackle job through 2024. However, the Packers’ selection of Morgan – a standout left tackle at the University of Arizona – indicated that Walker may not be Green Bay’s long-term solution on the blind side.
Walker will retain his job heading into the final year of his rookie contract, but an extension does not seem like a certainty. The Packers spent significant money on left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Tom this year and may not want to foray into an ever-growing left tackle market. They also added two left tackle prospects in Morgan and Anthony Belton across the last two drafts.
However, with neither of the younger tackles emerging as a more capable starter this summer, Walker will retain his job with the hopes of playing his way into a massive raise, either from the Packers or another team.
Offseason In Review: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In 2024, the Buccaneers won their fourth straight NFC South title – a feat dimmed by the division’s struggles in recent years – but lost in the wild-card round. The team again opted for continuity this offseason, extending general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles. The Bucs also rewarded quarterback Baker Mayfield with more guaranteed money after back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons.
Licht retained key talent – including star wide receiver Chris Godwin on a hometown discount – and stocked up on premium positions in the draft. With succession plans in place for the starters who departed in free agency, the team’s biggest loss this offseason was not a player, but a coach: offensive coordinator Liam Coen. He left Tampa to take the head coaching job in Jacksonville after a back-and-forth saga that may have frustrated the team’s decision-makers. Can replacement Josh Grizzard — the Bucs’ fourth play-caller in four years — keep the the offense in high gear as a pursuit of a fifth straight division title begins?
Extensions and restructures:
- Restructured Baker Mayfield’s contract to save 2025 cap room; team added $30MM in guaranteed money
The Buccaneers made multiple moves with Mayfield’s contract this offseason, starting with a traditional restructure in April. The team converted $18MM of Mayfield’s $30MM salary to a signing bonus that reduced his cap hit by $14.4MM and added $3.6MM to the four remaining years of the deal.
A few months later, Licht expressed a desire to keep Mayfield past the end of his contract in 2026, but no extension materialized. Instead, Tampa Bay converted $30MM of his 2026 salary into two roster bonuses.
The first, worth a fully guaranteed $13MM, is due in 2026 but will prorate across the team’s salary cap starting in 2025. That decreased Mayfield’s cap hit by $10.4MM in 2026 with $2.6MM added to 2025 and each of the three void years after 2026 (via OverTheCap). The second roster bonus is worth $17MM and guarantees in early 2026, per Pewter Report’s Joshua Quiepo.
As a result of these moves, Mayfield’s 2025 cap hit decreased by $11.8MM (to $26.48MM) and his 2026 cap hit decreased by $6.8MM (to $38.98MM). The Bucs also pushed $18.6MM into void years that increased the dead money scheduled to hit the team’s 2027 salary cap to $30.15MM. For a Bucs team that needed to swim in the shallow end of the QB pool in 2023 — thanks to the Tom Brady $35MM retirement bill brought on by void years — a clear incentive exists to extend Mayfield before that point.
Tampa Bay isn’t necessarily tied to Mayfield in 2026 by these contract restructures, but the tweaks indicate the team is planning for him to start for at least two more years. The release of 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask and the Bucs’ subsequent signing of once-retired Teddy Bridgewater as their new backup were additional signals that Mayfield would keep his job through 2026.
Mayfield, meanwhile, received $30MM in new guarantees along with an improved cashflow, both well-deserved rewards for an elite 2024. He originally signed with the Buccaneers in 2023 on a $4MM “prove it” deal and blew expectations out of the water with his first 4,000-yard season. That earned him his current three-year, $100MM contract — agreed to a day before the 2024 legal tampering period — that seemed like a good value at the time and aged well for the Bucs after just one year. Mayfield has seen Sam Darnold and Geno Smith eclipse his middle-class QB terms, and the Bucs appear prepared to enter into extension talks before his deal expires.
Among all quarterbacks in 2024, Mayfield ranked third in passing yards (4,500), second in passing touchdowns (41), and fourth in passer rating (106.8), all career-best marks. He did also throw a league-high 16 interceptions, but that didn’t stop him from earning the first MVP votes of his career. With his contract up after 2026, a similar performance this season will put the 30-year-old passer in a strong negotiating position next offseason.
Free agency additions:
- Haason Reddick, OLB. One year, $14MM ($12MM guaranteed)
- Riley Dixon, P. One year, $3MM ($3MM guaranteed)
- Kindle Vildor, CB. One year, $1.34MM, ($1.2MM guaranteed)
- Charlie Heck, T. One year, $1.57MM, ($400K guaranteed)
- Teddy Bridgewater, QB. One year, $1.26MM
The Buccaneers’ only major free agency addition was a dice roll on Haason Reddick with the hopes that he can recapture his pre-Jets form. Reddick’s holdout limited him to 10 disappointing games in 2024, with only one sack, but he reached double-digit sacks in each of his previous four seasons.
That production came with three different teams, so there’s hope that Reddick can quickly acclimate to Tampa Bay’s defense and consistently impact opposing quarterbacks. However, his 7.6% pass rush win rate in 2024 was almost half his 14.0% win rate in 2023, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Still, Reddick could be worth the risk with the rest of Tampa Bay’s pass rushers returning in 2025 including ascending talents YaYa Diaby and Calijah Kancey, both of whom contributed 7.5 sacks last season. Diaby’s official contributions – which also included 11 tackles for loss – somewhat underrepresent his pass-rushing performance; he was credited with 70 pressures (via PFF), tied with Micah Parsons and Greg Rousseau for seventh-most among edge rushers last year. Kancey, meanwhile, took a clear step forward from his four-sack rookie year and will look to pair with the always-imposing Vita Vea as an disruptive pair of defensive linemen.
This season will determine if Reddick can return to the upper echelon of EDGE earners, as last year’s failed holdout proved costly. As the position’s market exploded via the Parsons, Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt deals, Reddick was not in a realistic position to command more than what he did.
Despite Reddick powering an Eagles pursuit at the 1984 Bears’ single-season sack record in 2022, Philadelphia chose Josh Sweat over him to build around in 2024. Amid constant ownership intervention, then-Jets GM Joe Douglas balked at a post-trade extension largely due to Reddick’s age. Set to turn 31 in September, the former first-round pick faces a crucial year regarding his future value. In addition to Watt’s megadeal, Danielle Hunter scored another big guarantee at 31. Reddick will attempt to cash in again on the back of a strong Bucs season, potentially joining fellow accomplished (and disgruntled) 30-something Trey Hendrickson on the 2026 market.
The only other starter signed in free agency was veteran punter Riley Dixon. The Buccaneers cycled through three punters in 2024, none of whom cleared 40 net yards per punt, so they opted for reliability in the 32-year-old Dixon. The 10th-year veteran’s fully guaranteed $3MM deal quickly looked like an excellent value after the positional market eclipsed $4MM later in the offseason. He will look to add some consistency to Tampa Bay’s special teams operations this year.
Bridgewater has replaced Trask as Mayfield’s backup. This will be the Miami native-turned-high school coach’s eighth NFL team. The former Vikings first-rounder unretired last year to rejoin the Lions, replacing Hendon Hooker as Detroit’s QB2 late in the season. Bridgewater should probably be considered an upgrade on Trask, even if he is a year-to-year proposition at this point. Mayfield has proven durable in Tampa, making every start since his 2023 signing, but he has run into injury trouble in the past.
Bridgewater, 32, has made 65 career starts. Although Trask competed with Mayfield for the Bucs’ 2023 starting job, the team asking Bridgewater to come in late in the offseason reflects a lack of faith in the former second-round pick.
Re-signings:
- Chris Godwin, WR. Three years, $66MM ($44MM guaranteed)
- Ben Bredeson, G. Three years, $22MM ($12.5MM guaranteed)
- Lavonte David, ILB. One year, $9MM ($9MM guaranteed)
- Anthony Nelson, OLB. Two years, $10MM ($4.5MM guaranteed)
- Greg Gaines, DT. One year, $3.5MM ($3MM guaranteed)
- Sterling Shepard, WR. One year, $1.5MM, ($500K guaranteed)
Godwin started the 2024 season on pace for a career year before a dislocated ankle in Week 7 forced him to undergo season-ending surgery. At the time of the injury, Godwin’s 576 yards ranked second in the NFL. Despite an uncertain return timeline, he was expected to draw heavy interest in free agency, even with several other well-regarded veterans hitting the market. A February agreement to delay the void date on Godwin’s contract was an early sign that he would stay in Tampa Bay, but the Patriots and the Steelers — among other teams — tried to change his mind.
New England came in with a $30MM-AAV offer that would have made Godwin the sixth-highest-paid receiver in the league. Pittsburgh also expressed interest before pivoting to D.K. Metcalf. But Godwin declined to chase the biggest check and agreed to a three-year, $66MM extension hours before the legal tampering window opened on March 10.
The decision was a clear act of loyalty by the longtime Buccaneer, who began his NFL career in Tampa as a third-round pick in 2017. He was franchise-tagged twice at the end of his rookie deal and reached a $20MM-AAV extension off the second tag in 2022. His new deal is an increase of just $2MM per year, lagging well behind cap inflation and the receiver market as a whole. After all of the offseason dust settled, Godwin’s $22MM average salary only ranked 21st among all wideouts. Though, his $44MM in fully guaranteed money is a top-10 figure.
Adam Thielen Accepts Pay Cut From Vikings
Veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen has accepted a pay cut from the Vikings shortly after reuniting with the team via a trade from the Panthers.
Originally set to receive $6.25MM in base salary, per OverTheCap, Thielen has agreed to reduce that number by $2MM, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. $4MM of incentives – added earlier this offseason in a revised deal with the Panthers – were also removed.
Pelissero adds that Thielen volunteered for the pay cut to help facilitate his return to Minnesota. He had already agreed to the revised terms at the time of the trade, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, and will now rejoin a familiar group of players in coaches.
Thielen, 35, signed with the Vikings as an undrafted rookie in 2014 and made the 53-man rosters a depth receiver and core special teams contributor. The 6-foot-2 receiver broke out in 2016 with 967 yards and averaged 62 yards per game over the subsequent six seasons, earning two contract extensions in the process. Along with his 2023 free agency deal with the Panthers, Thielen has reached $83.6MM in career earnings (via OverTheCap) allowing the Minnesota native to give the Vikings a hometown discount.
With Jordan Addison suspended to start the season and Jalen Nailor dealing with a hand injury, Thielen immediately leaped to the top of the Vikings’ depth chart and will likely play a big role early on. Addison will be sidelined for the team’s first three games, while Nailor is “week-to-week” with a hand injury and hasn’t practice in almost two weeks. Thielen’s experience in previous Kevin O’Connell offenses could make him a quarterback-friendly target for first-year starter J.J. McCarthy.
Tom Brady Broadcasting Restrictions Lifted
When Tom Brady began to pursue an ownership stake in the Raiders as he approached his first season as a broadcaster for FOX Sports, the NFL took note of the potential conflict of interest and installed several rules in response.
Among them was a ban on attending pre-game production meetings with players and coaches from both teams. That restriction has now been lifted, per Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.
Previously, Brady had to get notes from a classmate – in this case, his broadcasting partner Kevin Burkhardt – to inform his color commentary. The league made an exception for the Super Bowl in February, which will now become a permanent rule.
Brady is still barred from stepping foot in other teams’ facilities or attending their practices, as he was last year. He must also continue to adhere to NFL rules that prohibit owners from publicly criticizing officials or other teams. Given Brady’s role as an analyst, he received some leeway on that front.
Other team owners – particularly the Chiefs’ Clark Hunt – insisted on Brady’s restrictions entering his first season as a broadcaster, but the NFL seems to have assessed his commentary and his role in Las Vegas and determined that the potential conflict of interest is not a major concern.
Brady has described himself as a “sounding board”, though he was reportedly instrumental in the Raiders’ organizational overhaul this offseason, helping land a triumvirate of new leadership in head coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Spytek, and quarterback Geno Smith.
Panthers To Re-Sign Hunter Renfrow, Place Jalen Coker On IR
The Panthers are swapping out receivers on their 53-man roster on Saturday by re-signing veteran Hunter Renfrow and placing Jalen Coker on injured reserve, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz and Joe Person of The Athletic.
Renfrow, 29, sat out the 2024 season as he dealt with a case of ulcerative colitis. He signed with the Panthers in April and spent training camp with the team before being released during final roster cuts. They wanted to keep him in the building, but as a vested veteran, Renfrow was free to sign with any team. Multiple were interested, per Schultz, but Coker’s IR placement allowed the Panthers to give the veteran wideout a spot on the active roster.
Coker pulled his quad chasing a deep ball during a 1-on-1 drill in a fully-padded practice on Thursday and is expected to miss four-to-six weeks, according to Person. The injury happened one day after the Panthers traded Adam Thielen, their primary slot receiver for the last two years, to the Vikings.
Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said on Thursday (via Mike Kaye of The Charlotte Observer) that Coker would “step into the slot” after Thielen’s departure. Morgan also said that he had enough confidence in the team’s trio of young receivers – Coker, Xavier Legette, and Tetairoa McMillan – to trade Thielen.
We have guys that we’re really excited about,” explained Morgan, “and that definitely made me feel more comfortable pulling the trigger and trading [Thielen].”
Renfrow’s “peaks and dips” in the preseason were the reason the Panthers cut him this week, according to head coach Dave Canales (via Person). However, his experience in the slot – where he’s played 72.8% of his career snaps, per PFF (subscription required) could give him a role right away.
The 2019 fifth-round pick leveraged interest from other teams and the Panthers’ need at the psoition into a stronger deal than the $1.3MM deal he signed in April. Renfrow’s new contract is worth $2.25MM ($2MM guaranteed), according to Person. It includes a signing bonus as well as incentives that can bring his compensation to $3MM, per Kaye.
The Panthers may also give sixth-round rookie Jimmy Horn Jr. after he led the team in slot snaps during the preseason (via PFF) and made the 53-man roster. Coker, meanwhile, will spend at least four weeks on the IR as he rehabs his quad and looks to regain his role in the slot upon his return.
Ikem Ekwonu Underwent Appendectomy, Considered ‘Day To Day’
Panthers left tackle Ikem Ekwonu had an emergency appendectomy last Sunday, according to an announcement by head coach Dave Canales (via team writer Darin Gantt).
Ekwonu was experiencing stomach pain and a consultation with team doctors led to surgery. Any procedure this close to the season will naturally put a player’s Week 1 status under question.
Canales said that Ekwonu would be “day-to-day, all the way up until the game,” a September 7 visit to Jacksonville.
Recovery from an appendectomy can vary, per Gantt: “Then-Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was back on the field eight days after a procedure in 2022, while Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari missed three games after his during that same season.”
Ekwonu, 24, is entering his fourth NFl season after the Panthers made him the No. 6 overall pick in 2022. He immediately took over as Carolina’s left tackle and started 46 games in a row to open his NFL career. He then missed two games with an ankle issue in 2024, but recovered to finish the season. The North Carolina State product has grown in each year and the Panthers picked up his fifth-year option in April. Like many members of his draft class, Ekwonu is angling for a long-term extension from his team.
If Ekwonu misses time in the regular season, the Panthers have two primary candidates to replace him on the blind side. Brady Christensen, a 2021 third-round pick, is listed as the backup left tackle on the team’s depth chart. He replaced Ekwonu during his brief absence last year. Veteran Yosh Nijman is another option. He started three games at right tackle in Carolina last year and 22 at left tackle in his previous three seasons in Green Bay.
Patriots To Release S Jabrill Peppers
The Patriots are releasing veteran safety Jabrill Peppers, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Peppers, 29, was set to enter his fourth season in New England before he was cut. As a vested veteran, he is not subject to waivers and is free to sign with any team (or their practice squad) right away.
The eight-year veteran was acquired by Bill Belichick in the legendary coach’s second-to-last season in New England. Peppers had a rotational third safety role in 2022 before emerging as a full-time starter the following year. He signed a three-year extension before the 2024 season, but missed eight games due to a suspension and three more to a hamstring injury.
The suspension stemmed from an arrest and subsequent charges for domestic violence and drug possession and cast doubt on Peppers’ future. In January, he was acquitted of the former and admitted to the latter without penalty. Given that he was suspended after the initial arrest but before legal proceedings played out, the league opted not to punish Peppers again.
With his legal issues behind him, it seemed like Peppers would return to a starting role in New England, but new head coach Mike Vrabel had other ideas. While the off-field issues were no longer a concern for the Patriots, per Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal, Peppers saw a role reduction in training camp and appeared in the team’s third preseason game, two signals that his spot wasn’t safe. With trade rumors swirling around Kyle Dugger, who had started at safety for the last four years, it seemed like Peppers was more likely to stick around. However, with no trade partner materializing for Dugger, he stayed on the 53-man roster with Peppers hitting free agency and looking for a new team.
Peppers was of the team’s remaining holdovers from the Belichick years. He was also one of six team captains under Jerod Mayo in 2024; the other five had been sent packing by May, per Ben Volin of The Boston Globe. His release is a confirmation of Vrabel’s desire to move on from the Patriots’ teams that struggled over the past few seasons and establish a new era of football in New England.
The Patriots defense will move forward with six-year veteran Jaylinn Hawkins and fourth-round rookie Craig Woodson as their starting safeties. Hawkins took over a starting role in Peppers’ absence last year, while Woodson has impressed since arriving in New England in the spring. Brenden Schooler and Dell Pettus will provide depth, but this does feel like a position that could use some veteran reinforcement before the regular season.
Peppers’ contract had $4.32MM in guaranteed salary for this season, per Volin. His deal also included offset language, so the Patriots’ dead cap charge will be reduced by whatever Peppers signs for elsewhere (if that happens). He will most likely receive a veteran minimum salary of $1.255MM, so the extra savings would be minimal.
Packers WR Jayden Reed Has Foot Fracture
Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed has a Jones fracture in his left foot, according to Channel 3000.com’s Jason Wilde, but is planning to play through the injury.
Reed was spotted sporting a boot during Green Bay’s first preseason game but returned to practice on Wednesday. He said that he’s not at full strength, but is “working through” the injury.
It typically takes a few months to recover from a Jones fracture, per Wilde. The injury can also require surgery, but Reed is committed to avoiding that scenario. His status for Week 1 remains uncertain, but the Packers’ decision not to place him on IR with a return designation indicates that they expect him back within the first four weeks of the season.
Reed’s absence would leave the Packers without their primary slot receiver. Christian Watson is starting the season on the physicall unable to perform list and won’t be an option for at least four weeks, though the team is hoping that’s all he’ll need to complete his recovery from last year’s ACL tear. Neither of the Packers’ rookie wideouts – Matthew Golden and Savion Williams – lined up in the slot for a large portion of their college snaps, so third-year wideout Dontayvion Wicks could be the next man up after a secondary slot role in 2024. Wicks returned to practice on Wednesday after missing multiple weeks with a calf injury and may take on a bigger target share at the start of the season.
Reed’s choice to play through the injury is a significant gamble due to the risk of further damage to his foot and of decreased production while hobbled. He’s entering the third year of his rookie contract after collecting a total of 119 receptions, 1,650 yards, and 15 touchdowns in 2022 and 2023. With other Packers receiver like Watson, Wicks, and Romeo Doubs up for extensions, re-injury or regression might hurt Reed’s chances of staying in Green Bay long-term. Shutting himself down, at least temporarily, would give him a better chance of staying healthy and continuing to grow his production.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/28/25
Teams around the NFL continued to adjust their practice squads as new players came free from Wednesday’s transactions. Here are all the latest updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Chigozie Anusiem, OL Demontrey Jacobs, QB Kedon Slovis
- Released: OL Sincere Haynesworth
Arizona Falcons
- Signed: OT Ryan Hayes
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Jalen Kimber, DE Andre Jones Jr.
- Released: CB Daequan Hardy
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Jaden Crumedy, DB Kalen King, RB DeeJay Dallas
- Released: DB Shemar Bartholomew
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Nikola Kalinic, DB Dontae Manning, DB Gervarrius Owens
- Released: LS Luke Elkin, DB Mekhi Garner
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: OT Javon Foster, S Russ Yeast
- Released: OT Devin Cochran
- Signed: CB Dom Jones, TE Brenden Bates, OT Logan Brown, G Garrett Dellinger, LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
- Released: DT Ralph Holley
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Isaiah Land
Denver Broncos:
- Signed: TE Patrick Murtaugh
Detroit Lions:
- Signed: DE Andre Carter
Green Bay Packers:
- Signed: OT Dalton Cooper, QB Clayton Tune, TE Josh Whyle
Houston Texans:
- Signed: OT Reid Holskey, WR Josh Kelly
Indianapolis Colts:
- Signed: WR Laquon Treadwell, S Ben Nikkel, WR Tyler Scott
- Released: WR Tyler Kahmann
Jacksonville Jaguars:
- Signed: DL Matt Dickerson, WR Erik Ezukanma
Kansas City Chiefs:
- Signed: S Jammie Robinson
Los Angeles Chargers:
- Signed: OT Foster Sarell
Miami Dolphins:
- Signed: RB JaMycal Hasty
Minnesota Vikings:
- Signed: S K’Von Wallace
New England Patriots:
- Signed: LB Mark Robinson, DB Corey Ballentine, DT Cory Durden, DT Fabien Lovett
- Released: LB Cam Riley, TE Gee Scott Jr., CB Brandon Crossley
New York Giants:
- Signed: TE Qadir Ismail
New York Jets:
- Signed: OL Marquis Hayes, DB Korie Black
Philadelphia Eagles:
- Signed: WR Britain Covey, OT Luke Felix Fualalo
San Francisco 49ers:
- Signed: QB Adrian Martinez, RB Sincere McCormick
Seattle Seahawks:
- Signed: LB Chris Paul Jr., WR/KR Courtney Jackson, CB Shaquill Griffin
- Released: DT Anthony Campbell, LB Jalan Gaines, RB Anthony Tyus III
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
- Signed: QB Connor Bazelak, DL C.J. Brewer, WR Garrett Greene, G Luke Haggard, CB Bryce Hall, S Jack Henderson, WR Dennis Houston, DL Nash Hutmacher, LB Nick Jackson, DL Jayson Jones, OL Michael Jordan, OLB Mohamed Kamara, T Tyler McLellan, T Lorenz Metz, G Ben Scott, TE Tanner Taula
Tennessee Titans:
- Signed: OL Corey Levin, OL Clay Webb, DB Sam Webb
Washington Commanders:
Signed: RB Donovan Edwards, CB Darius Rush
Ismail was one of 17 players to work out for the Giants on Thursday, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. He won the practice squad spot over more notable players like former Broncos safety Caden Sterns and former Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma also attended the workout, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, suggesting that the Giants might be looking for extra depth at the position.
Wallace worked out for the Vikings on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It must have gone well, as he was signed to the practice squad hours later as extra depth both in the secondary and on special teams.
Griffin returned to the Seahawks this offseason, eight years after they made him a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. He did not make Seattle’s 53-man roster, but as a vested veteran, he was able to re-sign to the practice squad without going through waivers.
Eagles, Saints, Dolphins Also Placed Claims On Jalyn Armour-Davis
One of the Ravens’ more surprising 53-man roster cuts was the release of 2022 fourth-round pick Jalyn Armour-Davis.
The fourth-year cornerback was quickly claimed off waivers by the Titans, who had the No. 1 priority. They weren’t the only team with interest; the Saints, Dolphins, and Eagles all placed claims as well, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Armour-Davis ended each of his first three seasons on the IR with two stints in 2024. The Ravens were still excited about his potential as a versatile backup in 2025 with defensive coordinator Zach Orr saying that Armour-Davis was the team’s smartest defensive back on multiple occasions.
It seemed that the injury bug may have struck again when Armour-Davis missed a few practices at training camp, but his MRI was clean and he returned to start all three preseason games. He played sparingly in the second, but in the other two, he allowed an 8.8 passer rating when targeted with two pass break-ups and an interception, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
The Saints could stand to add some cornerback depth after the departures of Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo in the last year. Behind a starting trio of Kool-Aid McKinstry, Alontae Taylor, and Isaac Yiadom, New Orleans only has veteran Ugo Amadi and fourth-round rookie Quincy Riley as backups.
Armour-Davis’ arrival in Tennessee is a reunion with former Ravens DBs coach and current Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. A successful claim by Miami would have similarly reconnected him with Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver, who coached the Ravens’ defensive line during Armour-Davis’ time in Baltimore. Miami’s need at cornerback has been well-documented this offseason, and the soon-to-be 26 year old could have provided immediate depth. The Dolphins were successful in claiming former Colts second-round pick Julius Brents after he was waived.
The Eagles have several young cornerbacks on the 53-man roster – five of their six are 25 years or younger – and sought to add another in Armour-Davis. Philadelphia spent the offseason evaluating their options at the position behind star 2024 draft picks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. They brought in veteran Adoree’ Jackson to compete with former SEC starters Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks. None emerged as a clear third starter, so the Eagles traded for Jakorian Bennett. That would appear to be enough depth, but Howie Roseman, the Eagles’ ever-active general manager, tried to add Armour-Davis for even more competition.
In Tennessee, Armour-Davis will once again play under Wilson in a cornerback room made thin by the absence of L’Jarius Sneed.