Ravens To Sign RB Derrick Henry
A rumored fit for several months, the Ravens-Derrick Henry partnership is coming to fruition. The two-time rushing champion is committing to Baltimore, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
The Ravens will give Henry a two-year, $16MM deal, per Schefter, who adds the longtime Titans starter can earn up to $20MM with the AFC North team. The Ravens are guaranteeing Henry $9MM, making this look more like a pay-as-you-go pact. But the 30-year-old back has an interesting opportunity ahead, joining the team that soared to the AFC’s top seed last season.
Hovering as a potential Hall of Famer, Henry has been one of this era’s premier backs. He is coming off a fifth 1,000-yard season. While mileage should be a concern for the Ravens, the former Heisman winner has shrugged off workload-based fears in the past. After losing Gus Edwards to the Chargers, the Ravens will make a bigger payment to see how Henry looks alongside Lamar Jackson.
Closely linked to Henry at last year’s deadline, the Ravens stood pat and continued with their in-house setup. The team lost Keaton Mitchell to a late-season ACL tear, which came three months after J.K. Dobbins was lost for the season in Week 1. Dobbins is unsigned, and Mitchell is rehabbing. At long last, Henry will be part of the Ravens’ equation.
2023 saw the Alabama product earn a fourth career Pro Bowl, although his workload experienced a notable decline. Splitting time with third-round rookie Tyjae Spears, Henry averaged 16.5 carries per games last season. That marked the first time since 2018 that he logged less than 20 totes per contest, a sign that he may not be able to handle the same workload moving forward as he did in his prime. Still, Henry will be positioned to operate on plenty of early downs as well as goal-line situations if the Ravens make no further RB moves.
General manager Eric DeCosta made it clear at the Combine that backfield additions would be a priority for Baltimore, the league’s top rushing team from last season. New deals for Edwards and/or Dobbins were on the table, but that will not be the case for at least the former. The latter’s chances of remaining in Baltimore for 2024 have also taken a hit given today’s move. Midseason pickup Dalvin Cook is a pending free agent, and he could be enticed to look elsewhere after being used sparingly in his brief Ravens tenure.
The Ravens were linked to other backs prior to this unsurprising Henry agreement, including reported serious interest in Saquon Barkley. The Eagles ultimately agreed to a longer, more lucrative pact than this Henry one, though, and finances were no doubt a concern for a Ravens team which entered Tuesday marginally over the cap. Still, more cost-effective options were available for Baltimore, so the team’s investment marks a notable commitment to the top of its backfield depth chart.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Steelers To Trade WR Diontae Johnson To Panthers For CB Donte Jackson
The Diontae Johnson trade rumors will indeed produce a deal, and for the second straight day, the Panthers are involved in a big trade. The Steelers are sending the veteran wide receiver to Carolina, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.
One season remains on Johnson’s contract, with Schefter adding the Panthers will now pay the sixth-year receiver’s $3MM roster bonus due later this week. After five Steelers seasons, the shifty route runner will settle in as a Bryce Young weapon.
The full trade will involve cornerback Donte Jackson coming back to the Steelers, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. Carolina will send Jackson and a sixth-round pick for Johnson and a seventh. The picks will come in 2024. The Steelers are sending No. 240 in this swap, with the Panthers moving No. 178 to Pittsburgh, per veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer. The No. 178 choice is originally a Cardinals selection.
[RELATED: Steelers To Sign QB Russell Wilson]
A report earlier this month indicated the Panthers would move on from Jackson, via trade or release; Carolina has found a trade partner. After rumblings of a Johnson deal surfaced as well, the two will end up being exchanged.
For the Panthers, this provides Young with a proven wide receiver. The Panthers were light here last season, contributing to the steep freefall. Johnson will now join Adam Thielen atop the Carolina aerial pecking order. As Thielen is going into his age-34 season, this trade will provide a player in his prime for Young to target.
Heading into his age-28 season, Johnson has not been the most consistent receiver. Drops have plagued the elusive target, whose effort level has also come into question in Pittsburgh. But Johnson will be playing for a big contract in 2024. The Steelers gave the Toledo alum a two-year, $36.7MM extension just before the 2022 season. That deal fell short of the market set by fellow 2019 Day 2 picks A.J. Brown, Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel and D.K. Metcalf, but Johnson’s production has checked in south of those standouts’. He has still shown a consistent ability to create separation, doing so almost entirely with limited QB play. Johnson’s presence will help the Panthers determine Young’s value as a pro.
Johnson totaled 1,161 yards in 2021, Ben Roethlisberger‘s final season, and exceeded 850 yards in 2020 and ’22. Last season, the Steelers’ Kenny Pickett–Mitchell Trubisky–Mason Rudolph platter struggled for the most part. Johnson also missed four games due to a hamstring injury, coming in with 717 receiving yards and five touchdowns — after he memorably failed to score in 2022.
This will leave the Steelers with George Pickens leading the way at receiver, though it should be expected the AFC North club will target another starter-caliber wideout in a deep draft at the position. Johnson is one of many Day 2 wideouts the modern Steelers have turned into long-term starters. Pittsburgh broke with its usual tradition of these players leaving during or after their rookie contracts by extending Johnson, but after trading Chase Claypool and then executing this swap — and then cutting Allen Robinson — Pittsburgh will need to give Pickett (or, more likely, Russell Wilson) more help.
The Panthers also gave Jackson a second contract, re-signing the boundary corner in 2022. He is due a $4MM roster bonus March 16; these teams are trading picks, players and bonus obligations. One year remains on Jackson’s pact, a three-year, $35.18MM deal signed after the expiration of his rookie contract.
The former second-rounder has spent his entire six-year career in Carolina, but he was due to count $15.72MM against the cap in 2024. The Steelers will have Jackson on their 2024 cap sheet at $10.5MM, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac.
Coming back from a 2022 Achilles tear, the 28-year-old corner also had a down 2023 in coverage. Jackson allowed three touchdowns as the nearest defender and surrendering an opposing passer rating of 107.7. Pro Football Focus graded Jackson just outside the top 60 at corner, though he has shown better form in the past. The Steelers, who released Patrick Peterson last week, will see if Jackson can become a fit opposite Joey Porter Jr.
Danielle Hunter To Sign With Texans
The Texans’ talks with Danielle Hunter will produce an agreement, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport. After the Vikings poached Jonathan Greenard, the Texans will bring in the longtime Minnesota sack artist. Hunter will join the Texans on a two-year deal worth $49MM, Rapoport adds.
Although Hunter ran into significant injury trouble to start this decade, he bounced back in a big way over the past two years. That recent surge will allow for a uniquely structured Texans contract. Houston is guaranteeing nearly the whole contract, with Schefter adding the nine-year veteran will receive $48MM fully guaranteed.
The Colts also pursued Hunter, but they are not known for big spending on outside FAs under Chris Ballard. The Texans’ payroll also lines up well with this two-year Hunter guarantee. Hunter will receive $29.5MM in the first year of this deal, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News tweets.
This marks a homecoming for Hunter, who went to high school in the Houston area. Hunter spent the past six seasons tied to a contract that was widely viewed as Vikings-friendly in the moment. After two reworkings, the former third-round pick made his way to free agency. The second of those adjustments prevented the Vikings from franchise-tagging Hunter, which will lead him out of town. While the Vikes will lean on Greenard, the Texans will pair reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson with a more established sack ace.
While Greenard notched his first double-digit sack season last year, Hunter has five such seasons on his resume. Despite Hunter entering the NFL in 2015, he is still just 29. The youngest player in league history to reach 50 sacks, Hunter was a mainstay during Mike Zimmer‘s Minnesota years and played the lead role in the past two Vikings pass rushes.
This included a 16.5-sack performance last year, which also featured Hunter leading the NFL with 23 tackles for loss. That generated trade interest, and while the Texans were not pursuing Hunter at the time, they will come away with one of this year’s top free agents today.
Tied to a $14MM-per-year deal for an extended period — albeit with multiple adjustments, coming in 2021 and 2023 — Hunter will do well on this short-term agreement. The Texans will also take advantage of their setup. Last year, the team effectively had low- or mid-level deals across its roster save for along the offensive line. With Anderson and C.J. Stroud on rookie deals through at least 2025, Houston will capitalize. Hunter’s contract will overlap fully with the Anderson and Stroud rookie accords. He will join Azeez Al-Shaair and Denico Autry as new starters on DeMeco Ryans‘ defense.
Bears To Sign S Jonathan Owens
After a season in Green Bay, Jonathan Owens observed the Packers give Xavier McKinney a monster contract. A day later, Owens is committing to join the team’s top rival.
The Bears are bringing in Owens, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. While best known as Simone Biles’ husband, Owens has become a safety regular after starting his career as a special-teamer from the Division II ranks. He has worked as a starter for most of the past two seasons. Owens will sign a two-year deal worth $4.5MM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.
This contract would suggest the Bears are eyeing Owens for a depth role. Chicago agreed to terms with Kevin Byard recently, and 2022 second-round pick Jaquan Brisker remains in place. Although Owens started 28 games over the past two seasons — with the Texans and Packers — Pro Football Focus has graded him as a lower-end safety. That said, Owens made 125 tackles with the Texans in 2022 and notched a fumble-six with the Packers last year.
Using Owens as a starter in 11 games last season and both their playoff contests, the Packers gave McKinney a four-year, $68MM contract to help shore up the position. McKinney is now tied to the NFL’s third-most lucrative safety deal. The Bears recently shed their high-end safety contract — Eddie Jackson‘s — but will spend a bit extra to acquire an experienced backup.
Biles Soldier Field cameos can probably be expected, as the former Olympic champion made regular Lambeau Field appearances. Even if Owens is destined for a backup role in Chicago, he will make more than he did last season ($1MM). Undrafted out of Missouri Western, the 28-year-old defender has a runway to push his career to the eight-year mark.
Buccaneers To Re-Sign LB Lavonte David
A retention-based Buccaneers offseason will continue with one of the best players in team history. Lavonte David is staying in Tampa on another one-year deal.
The standout linebacker will stick around on a contract including $9MM in base value, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. This will represent a raise on David’s one-year agreement from 2023, which produced a $4.5MM payout.
This marks David’s fifth contract with the Bucs. A long-term extension in 2015 gave way to two- and one-year deals in 2021 and ’23. Despite moving toward his mid-30s, the 12-year starter has maintained his place as one of the game’s top off-ball linebackers. After the Bucs franchise-tagged Antoine Winfield Jr. and re-signed Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield, they are circling back to David — their longest-tenured player and one of the longest-serving Bucs in franchise history.
One of this era’s best off-ball ‘backers, David’s Pro Bowl count is lacking (one) due to the NFL still grouping rush linebackers and non-rush ‘backers together. David, however, is a three-time All-Pro who is the team’s second-leading tackler. Only Derrick Brooks (1,713) has more than David (1,480) among Buccaneers.
David played 15 games last season, rating as Pro Football Focus’ No. 28 overall linebacker. David’s 134 tackles were his most since 2015. On a Bucs team that saw Winfield contribute six sacks, David added 4.5 to help the cause.
Following his role on the team’s Super Bowl LV-winning effort, the stalwart defender has been central in the Bucs’ run of NFC South titles. As Devin White gradually fell out of favor despite a strong start, David has remained at the forefront at linebacker. With White likely leaving — presumably for a “prove it” pact — the Bucs will rely on David once again; the Nebraska alum is going into his age-34 season.
David did not sound especially interested in testing the market, indicating his decision was Buccaneers or retirement. The Bucs will run it back for at least one more year, allowing David to continue his run as one of the best players in team history.
Commanders To Sign S Jeremy Chinn
Jeremy Chinn will join Frankie Luvu in making the trek from Charlotte to Washington. The Commanders continue their run on defensive additions with the ex-Panthers safety, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets.
The four-year Carolina starter will be tied to a one-year deal that can max out at $5.1MM. Considering where Chinn’s value stood going into last year, this is a bit of a disappointment. But the former second-round pick will have a chance to reestablish his value in Washington.
It is certainly interesting the Carolina-to-Washington pipeline will continue without Ron Rivera, though ex-Panthers GM-turned-Commanders exec Marty Hurney was in place when Chinn was drafted in 2020. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up has seen his stock dip, falling out of favor with the Panthers. But he generated trade interest following Matt Rhule‘s firing. At 27, Chinn should still have some time to prove he can return to his early-career level.
Working in a hybrid role that featured extensive linebacker work, Chinn combined for 224 tackles (eight for loss) and three forced fumbles from 2020-21. An injury slowed Chinn in 2022, and he did not prove a good fit in Ejiro Evero‘s defense. The Panthers reduced Chinn’s workload a month into last season, and even though he made two starts down the stretch, the 2-15 team kept his snaps low. Chinn will be looking to bounce back.
This agreement may soon lead to Kamren Curl departing. The young safety came into the tampering period as one of the top defenders available, but the team still has 2023 second-round pick Quan Martin and Darrick Forrest. With Xavier McKinney signing for $17MM per year, Curl will likely be targeting a deal in that neighborhood. It will be interesting to see if another team will consider that kind of contract for a safety, given the cheaper options available. But Curl is probably the best option left.
Mutual Interest Between Texans, Danielle Hunter; Colts In Pursuit
3:41pm: The Colts are also in the Hunter market, according to ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder. Not known for big-ticket spending on outside FAs, Indy also saw progress from homegrown DEs Kwity Paye and Dayo Odeyingbo last season. Samson Ebukam remains under contract as well. But the team, which did once add Justin Houston in free agency, is looking into what it will cost to bring Hunter to Indianapolis.
2:11pm: The Texans may be eyeing what would amount to an edge rusher swap with the Vikings. After Jonathan Greenard committed to Minnesota early in the legal tampering period, Houston is eyeing the player Greenard is likely set to replace.
Mutual interest exists between the Texans and Danielle Hunter, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports. While no signing is imminent, the Texans have lost a key starter. Greenard led Houston with 12.5 sacks last season, providing a quality bookend for Will Anderson. Although Chase Young is available, Hunter has a more extensive track record of sack production.
This is Hunter’s first run in free agency. The youngest player in NFL history to reach 50 sacks, Hunter soon signed what became a team-friendly Vikings extension. That 2018 agreement became a source of tension for Hunter, and the Vikings reached multiple reworkings with their impact sack artist. While injuries interrupted Hunter during the early part of this decade, he has returned to form over the past two seasons. That included a 16.5-sack 2023.
Hunter, 29, led the NFL with 23 tackles for loss last season. He drew trade interest at the deadline, though with Greenard on the team at that point, the Texans were not on the radar. With Greenard heading to the Twin Cities and Bryce Huff (Eagles), Leonard Floyd (49ers), Za’Darius Smith (Browns) and Dorance Armstrong (Cowboys) committed elsewhere, Texans interest in Hunter adds up. With a rookie QB contract on the books, Houston has a chance to add a big name opposite Anderson. But options are dwindling.
The Texans have not waded into the deep waters of this year’s market, despite the opportunity Stroud and Anderson’s rookie contracts present. They have agreed to terms with Denico Autry and Azeez Al-Shaair on midlevel deals, however, bolstering DeMeco Ryans‘ defense. Hunter would act as a bigger needle-moving presence, having reeled off five double-digit sack seasons in his prolific nine-year Vikings run. An outside linebacker over the past two years, Hunter also spent six seasons as a 4-3 defensive end in Mike Zimmer‘s scheme.
49ers, DT Jordan Elliott Agree To Deal
Set to cut Arik Armstead and already seeing Javon Kinlaw commit to rejoin Robert Saleh in New York, the 49ers are making changes at defensive tackle. They will bring in a recent Browns starter.
Jordan Elliott is joining the team on a two-year, $10MM agreement, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. The former third-round pick started 31 games for the Browns over the past two seasons.
The Mizzou alum started for a bad Browns defense in 2022 but retained his job during Jim Schwartz‘s turnaround effort last year. Elliott ranked 12th in ESPN’s run stop win rate metric last season. Pro Football Focus was far less sold, ranking Elliott outside the top 110 among defensive tackles in each of the past two seasons.
Elliott, 26, will come over after spending time in a 4-3 scheme in Cleveland. That will make for an easier transition to the 49ers’ setup, which has been a 4-3 look for many years. Elliott combined for 4.5 sacks over the past two seasons, contributing to Cleveland’s No. 1-ranked pass defense — alongside DTs Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris — in 2023.
Although the 49ers still have Javon Hargrave anchoring their DT corps, losing Armstead will be a blow for the team. More additions here should be expected. T.Y. McGill and Kalia Davis remain under contract inside for San Francisco.
Eagles To Bring In WR DeVante Parker
Following his Patriots release, DeVante Parker will land on his feet. The former first-round pick is heading to Philadelphia on a one-year deal.
Parker is signing a fully guaranteed contract worth $4.69MM, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. Due to offset language in his Patriots deal, the Eagles are only picking up $1.2MM of this tab. This helps the Patriots regarding dead money, and the Eagles will take a flier on the nine-year veteran to see how he fits alongside A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
The Patriots agreed to terms on an extension with Parker last year, but after another down aerial season in New England, the team changed course. New England dangled Parker in trades recently but found no takers. The Eagles, who were in on Parker when the Dolphins made him available in 2022, will step in with a low-risk signing.
Philly has not been able to rely on a No. 3 wide receiver since assembling its Smith-Brown duo in 2022. Quez Watkins gave way to stopgap Julio Jones, brought in during the 2023 season. The Eagles also signed Olamide Zaccheaus last year. Jones, Watkins and Zaccheaus are out of contract, giving the Birds some work to do to staff this auxiliary job.
At 31, Parker still represents a risky bet — even alongside a potent starting duo. The former Dolphins starter has one 1,000-yard season on his resume, being a perennial trade candidate in Miami, and is coming off a 394-yard showing in his second Patriots slate. That said, Parker averaged 17.4 yards per catch with the 2022 Patriots and finished with 539 yards and three TDs. The Eagles receiving that kind of production would be a boon. If nothing else, Parker could provide a possession target for Jalen Hurts — even if the big-bodied target is not an above-average separator.
Packers To Re-Sign CB Keisean Nixon
Tuesday afternoon is providing developments on the slot cornerback market. Minutes after Kenny Moore‘s Colts deal came to pass, the Packers have an agreement in place to retain their inside cover man.
Keisean Nixon is staying in Green Bay on a three-year deal worth $18MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. The cornerback/return man’s contract can max out at $19.2MM.
The Packers came into the 2022 season with a play to move Rasul Douglas to the slot to accommodate Eric Stokes. Nixon emerged midway through that season as a regular, following Stokes’ season-ending injury, and came into last year solidified in the slot role. With Stokes unable to shake off injuries, the Packers will make a commitment to another of Jaire Alexander‘s CB sidekicks.
Nixon gives the Packers an interesting weapon, as he plays regularly on defense and resides as one of the NFL’s best return men. The former UDFA has scored back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods for return work. Contributing as a punt returner as well, Nixon led the NFL in kick-return yardage in 2022 and ’23, notching a return TD two seasons ago. While kick-return work is not nearly as prominent as it once was due to NFL rule changes designed to minimize that particular play, Nixon has been the game’s best recently.
The versatile performer’s coverage numbers were better in 2022, but the ex-Raider spent more time on defense last season. The Packers gave Nixon 809 snaps in 2023 — up by nearly 600 from his 2022 cameo. Pro Football Focus ranked him just outside the top 80 among corners. But Green Bay has a dual-threat player locked down through 2026, getting him signed at a reasonable rate months after sending Douglas’ $7MM-per-year deal to Buffalo.