Cowboys Never Made An Offer To DeMarcus Lawrence?
The Cowboys did not offer a contract to retain defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence before he signed with the Seahawks, per WFAA’s Ed Werder.
Lawrence signed a three-year, $32.5MM contract with Seattle that includes $18MM guaranteed and a maximum value of $42MM. In one of his first interviews after signing his new deal, he took a clear shot at his former team by saying he would never win a Super Bowl in Dallas.
Lawrence’s comments, according to Werder, “were directed at Jerry and Stephen [Jones] as they declined to offer him a contract and he was forced to find another team to finish his career and achieve his goals.”
Micah Parsons responded to Lawrence on X, saying he was driven by “rejection and envy.” Lawrence responded, doubling down on his claim and exposing simmering tensions between the former teammates. According to Werder, the two “disagreed on personality or approach” while together in Dallas.
Lawrence was already a two-time Pro Bowler by the time Parsons was drafted by the Cowboys in 2021. Lawrence played in only seven games that year, but he earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods with Parsons in 2022 and 2023. A foot injury ended Lawrence’s 2024 season after just four games, and the Cowboys opted to get cheaper and younger at the position.
In the past week, Dallas signed Payton Turner and Dante Fowler for less money combined than Lawrence received from the Seahawks. They will join Parsons, Marshawn Kneeland, and Sam Williams in a deep, talented edge rusher room.
Patriots To Sign OL Wes Schweitzer
The Patriots are signing veteran offensive linemen Wes Schweitzer, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The eight-year veteran has 62 starts in his career, but just 13 have come in the last four years due to a number of injuries. He will add offensive line depth in New England and could even compete for a starting job at guard or center.
The 31-year-old Schweitzer was originally a sixth-round pick by the Falcons in 2016. He did not appear in a single game as a rookie, but started the entire 2017 season at right guard. He lost that job during the following season’s training camp, but ended up starting 13 games at left guard after a season-ending injury to Andy Levitre.
Schweitzer appeared in 15 games in 2019 and once again ended the season as Atlanta’s starting left guard. With his rookie contract expired, he signed a three-year, $13.5MM deal with the Commanders. He started 13 games in 2020 – 10 at left guard and three at right guard – but his injury woes began in 2021. Schweizer appeared in 11 games with five starts, but went down for the year in Week 12. He struggled with injuries across the next three seasons, appearing in 17 games with eight starts and stints on injured reserve in each year.
In 2024, Schweitzer appeared in four games with 19 total snaps and just one on offense as a sixth offensive linemen. When healthy, he has proven to be a starting-caliber interior lineman, but he will need to avoid injury to earn playing time in New England.
Falcons To Sign DL Morgan Fox
The Falcons are signing defensive lineman Morgan Fox on a two-year deal worth up to $8.5MM, per FOX Sports’ Peter Schrager and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pellisero, and Mike Garafolo.
Fox has been spent the last three years with the Chargers, appearing in all 51 games (19 starts) with 80 total tackles, 15.5 sacks, and 17 tackles for loss. He lined up at multiple spots along the defensive line in Los Angeles as part of a stingy defense that allowed the fewest points in the league in 2024.
The 30-year-old began his career with the Rams in 2016, failing to make the initial 53-man roster but appearing in four games as a rookie. He carved out a rotational role in 2017, but tore his ACL during OTAs in the offseason and missed the 2018 season.
Since then, though, Fox has been impressively durable with 100 consecutive regular-season starts. He remained with the Rams for two seasons after his ACL rehab and recorded 6.0 sacks in 2020, earning him a two-year, $8.1MM contract with the Panthers. Fox couldn’t maintain his production in Carolina and was released after a disappointing 2021 that featured 1.5 sacks and two tackles for loss.
Fox then found a new home with the Chargers as a consistent, versatile defensive linemen who could line up along the interior or off the edge. He will now add a veteran presence to a Falcons defensive line that released Grady Jarrett on Monday.
Ravens Sign WR DeAndre Hopkins
MARCH 14: Hopkins’ pact – which is now official – includes a $1.26MM base salary which is fully guaranteed, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes. The deal includes a $3.75MM signing bonus, while its incentives are based on playing time and performance thresholds. With void years being included, Hopkins will carry a 2025 cap hit of roughly $2MM.
MARCH 11: The Ravens are signing veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
Hopkins’ deal in Baltimore has a base value of $5MM with another $1MM available via incentives, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. He will join former Titans teammate Derrick Henry and catch passes from two-time MVP Lamar Jackson in 2025.
The five-time Pro Bowler started the 2024 season in Tennessee before being traded to the Chiefs for a fifth-round pick that could be upgraded to a fourth-rounder, though details of the conditions have not been publicly reported. Hopkins recorded just 15 receptions for 173 yards and a touchdown in six games with the Titans last year, but fared much better in Kansas City. He posted 41 catches for 437 yards and four touchdowns in 10 regular-season games as a Chief, though he only caught three of his eight targets in the playoffs.
The Ravens have been linked with Hopkins multiple times over the last few years, but they were never willing to part with the trade or financial compensation to acquire him. His $5MM APY is a significant discount on his previous contracts, the lowest and most recent of which was a two-year, $26MM deal signed with the Titans in 2023.
Hopkins was originally a first-round pick by the Texans in 2013 who followed up a solid rookie year with a breakout season in 2014. He earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2015 before a down year in 2016 with Brock Osweiler under center in Houston. The Texans then signed him to a five-year, $81MM extension in 2017, at which point Hopkins began to take off. He averaged 105 catches, 1,372 yards, and 10 touchdowns over the next three seasons and earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in each year.
The Texans then surprised the league by trading Hopkins to the Cardinals in 2020, packaging him with a fourth-rounder to receive running back David Johnson and second- and fourth-round picks in return. Hopkins then signed a two-year, $54MM extension with the Cardinals.
Houston was widely criticized for the trade, especially after Hopkins’ debut year in Arizona ended with 115 catches for 1,400 yards and six touchdowns. That earned Hopkins his fourth-straight Pro Bowl appearance, but injuries plagued him over the next two years. After playing in at least 15 games in his first eight seasons, he appeared in just 19 across 2021 and 2022 with a commensurate decrease in production. Hopkins was released after the 2022 season and signed with the Titans, where he put up another 1,000-yard season despite inconsistent quarterback play from Will Levis and Ryan Tannehill.
Another downtick in production in 2024 showed that the 32-year-old Hopkins was no longer the dominant wideout he once was, but he won’t be asked to shoulder a heavy burden in Baltimore. The Ravens already have Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman at wide receiver and Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely at tight end, not to mention one of the best rushing attacks in league history with Jackson and Henry as the primary ballcarriers. Instead, Hopkins will play a tertiary role in the Ravens’ passing game, which has lacked a contested-catch specialist in the receiver room for most of Jackson’s tenure.
Jets To Re-Sign CB Isaiah Oliver
The Jets are re-signing cornerback Isaiah Oliver, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Oliver is a seven-year veteran who appeared in all 17 games for the Jets in 2024 with seven starts. He played primarily in the slot in New York, but didn’t make many plays on the ball with just three passes defended and zero interceptions. Oliver will likely return to a similar role in the Jets defense in 2025 while continuing to contribute on special teams.
Originally a 2018 second-round pick by the Falcons, Oliver emerged as a starter during his second season in Atlanta. He started 28 games across 2019 and 2020 and was poised for a similar workload in 2021. A knee injury ended his season after just four games, and Oliver missed the first five games of the 2022 season as he worked he was back to full health.
Oliver then signed a two-year, $6.75MM deal with the 49ers in 2023. He started five of San Francisco’s first eight games, but played sparingly for the rest of the year. The 49ers released him after the season, and Oliver signed with the Jets for $2.5MM in 2024.
The Jets lost D.J. Reed and Brandin Echols in free agency this week, so retaining Oliver alongside new addition Brandon Stephens was important to maintaining their secondary depth.
Falcons To Re-Sign WR KhaDarel Hodge
The Falcons are re-signing wide receiver and special teams ace KhaDarel Hodge, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Hodge was named to the Pro Bowl as a special teamer in 2024, the first of his career. He cashed in with a two-year, $6MM deal in Atlanta, a solid raise over his $1.3MM contract last year.
The 30-year-old originally signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He didn’t make the initial 53-man roster, but appeared in 14 games as a rookie by demonstrating the special teams prowess that would come to define his career.
Hodge was waived by the Rams during final roster cuts in 2019 and was claimed by the Browns. He played 16 games in Cleveland and was re-signed for another year as an exclusive rights free agent. In 2020, Hodge carved out a larger role on offense, but only appeared in nine games due to injuries. The Browns placed an RFA tag on him after the season, but moved on during final roster cuts before the 2021 season. Hodge spent the season with the Lions, playing 16 games with most of his involvement coming on special teams.
Hodge then found a long-term home in Atlanta, signing a one-year deal in 2022 and re-upping in each of the last two offseasons. Now, he’s set to continue playing for the Falcons through the 2026 season.
Cardinals To Sign LB Mykal Walker
The Cardinals are signing veteran linebacker Mykal Walker, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Walker appeared in 17 games for the Commanders in 2024 with more than 80% of his playing time coming on special teams. In Arizona, he will likely compete for a role on defense while serving as a core special teams contributor.
Walker was originally a fourth-round pick by the Falcons in 2020 out of Fresno State. He started eight games across his first two seasons before carving out a full-time role in 2022 with 12 starts.
His 107 tackles ranked third on Atlanta’s defense, but the team waived him during training camp the following summer. Walker then spent time with the Bears and the Raiders before receiving his next playing opportunity with the Steelers.
Pittsburgh signed Walker to their practice squad in October 2023 and earned a promotion to the active roster in November. He appeared in the Steelers’ last eight games of the regular season with five starts and even started their wild card loss to the Bills.
Despite earning a starting job, Walker was not retained by the Steelers and instead hit free agency last spring. The Commanders signed him to a one-year deal, but also chose not to re-sign him this offseason.
Giants Sign OT Stone Forsythe
The Giants are signing offensive tackle Stone Forsythe, according to his agency and confirmed by a team announcement.
The Seahawks traded up in the 2021 draft to select Forsythe in the sixth round. He only played 14 offensive snaps as a rookie, but emerged as a key swing tackle over the next three years as Seattle weathered injuries to Abraham Lucas and Charles Cross.
Forsythe appeared in 34 games with nine starts and 623 offensive snaps across the next two years, lining up at both left and right tackle. He opened the 2024 season as the Seahawks’ starting right tackle with Lucas rehabbing from an injury suffered in 2023.
Forsythe then landed on injured reserve in October and remained sidelined until Week 16. By that time, Lucas was back at right tackle in Seattle and Forsythe finished the season on the bench. He left Seattle with 53 total appearances and 14 starts, 13 of which came in 2023 and 2024.
Forsythe could compete for a starting job in New York. Andrew Thomas is locked in as the Giants’ left tackle, but 2022 first-rounder Evan Neal has struggled with injuries and consistency on the right side. If he can’t win a starting gig, he will likely return to his role as a swing tackle that can step in at left or right tackle in case of injury.
Chargers Re-Sign LB Troy Dye, WR Jalen Reagor
The Chargers are re-signing veteran linebacker Troy Dye, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Dye’s contract is worth $5.5MM over two years with a maximum value of $8.5MM with incentives, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. Multiple other teams were interested, but Dye opted to stay on the West Coast after growing up in California and playing college football at Oregon.
Dye appeared in all 17 games (five starts) for the Chargers in 2024 with a rotational role on defense and an 80% snap share on special teams. He finished the season with career-highs of 57 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two tackles for loss.
The 28-year-old was originally a fourth-round pick by the Vikings in 2020. He primarily played special teams in Minnesota with eight starts on defense across four years. He signed a one-year, $1.79MM deal with the Chargers in 2024 and is now under contract with the team through the 2026 season.
The Chargers also announced the re-signing of wide receiver Jalen Reagor. The 26-year-old appeared in eight games with seven receptions for 100 yards, but could be in line for a bigger role in 2025 after the departure of Josh Palmer.
Reagor was an Eagles first-round pick in 2020 who struggled to live up to his draft billing in Philadelphia. He was traded to the Vikings ahead of the 2022 season and waived after another disappointing year. Reagor spent 2023 with the Patriots, but couldn’t make the 53-man roster in 2024. He then joined the Chargers’ practice squad in September and was promoted to the active roster in November.
Ravens DT Michael Pierce Announces Retirement
After a nine-year career, Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce announced that he is retiring (via the Sports Spectrum podcast hosted by former NFL running back Matt Forte).
Pierce expressed appreciation for his time in the NFL and specifically thanked former Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome and former defensive line coach Joe Cullen, who brought Pierce to Baltimore as an undrafted free agent out of Samford University in 2016. He made the Ravens’ 53-man roster as a rookie and never looked back, quickly becoming one of the league’s stoutest nose tackles.
“They gave me a chance when not many people were willing to take a chance on me,” said Pierce. He also thanked “big brothers” Terrell Suggs and Brandon Williams, who mentored him during his first stint in Baltimore.
Pierce played in 60 games (30 starts) for the Ravens from 2016 to 2019 with 3.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss, earning him a three-year, $27MM deal from the Vikings. With a history of asthma and other respiratory problems, Pierce opted out of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. He finally debuted in Minnesota in 2021, but played in only eight games due to an elbow injury. He still put up a career-high 3.0 sacks, but the Vikings opted to move on before the 2022 season.
The Ravens then swooped in to reunited with Pierce on a three-year, $16.5MM deal. He played in just three games due to a torn bicep in 2022, but starting all 17 games the following year as a core part of Baltimore’s league-leading defense. Another injury limited Pierce to just 11 games in 2024, but returned by the end of the regular season to end his career with a highlight. In Week 18 against the Browns, Pierce became the heaviest player since at least 2000 to record an interception at 355 pounds. He was also the NFL’s biggest active defender before his retirement.
Pierce’s size made him an effective run-stuffer who could absorb double-teams in the middle of the defensive line. He remained a solid defender until his retirement, but stints on injured reserve in three of the last four seasons made retirement a serious possibility before his age-33 season. The Ravens are currently set to return Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington to their defensive line in 2025, but they will need to add depth over the next few months.
Pierce had an option year set to trigger on March 17 that included an additional $2MM option bonus if he remained on the roster, per OverTheCap. Instead, his retirement will leave $2MM in dead money, $1.33MM of which can be pushed into 2026 with a post-June 1 designation. That would save the Ravens $2MM against the 2025 cap with just $667k of dead money this year.