Dolphins To Sign QB Zach Wilson
The Broncos reached a pre-free agency deal to retain Jarrett Stidham, and Zach Wilson will relocate once again. The former Jets No. 2 overall pick is joining the Dolphins.
Miami is in agreement with Wilson on a one-year, $6MM deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The contract could reach $10MM. Wilson will return to the AFC East as a Tua Tagovailoa backup option.
Tagovailoa’s injury trouble has shined a spotlight on the Dolphins’ backup quarterbacks, as the team’s lack of production from this position sank a potential wild-card season. As Miami’s backup brigade struggled to find Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle (but not Jonnu Smith), Wilson may well be stepping into an important role. This comes after an effective mid-career redshirt, as the former Jets three-year starter became the Broncos’ third-stringer.
The Jets and Broncos agreed on a trade that split Wilson’s 2024 money, but he fell behind early in a competition for the starting job. Bo Nix distanced himself in that three-way competition, but Stidham beat out Wilson for the QB2 job. Wilson was not expected to stay in Denver, but he has secured a more important role for the ’25 season.
Wilson made 33 starts for the Jets, who benched him on three occasions between the 2022 and ’23 seasons. Although the Jets managed to fare better with Wilson at the controls than Aaron Rodgers, the latter certainly outplayed him. Wilson is a career 57% passer who carries a 23-25 TD-INT ratio to Miami. Averaging just 6.3 yards per pass for his career, the BYU alum does not bring stability to the Dolphins’ backup role.
Miami chose Skylar Thompson over Mike White as its 2024 backup, after White held the role in 2023 (when Tagovailoa stayed healthy). Thompson did not prove up to the job, leading to Tyler Huntley arriving and taking the reins last season, when Tua sustained a concussion and a separate injury. The Dolphins went 2-5 in the games Tua did not finish, and they will roll the dice with Wilson — barring a draft pick being added and quickly usurping the fifth-year vet — next season.
Steelers, Giants In On Aaron Rodgers; Latest On Russell Wilson Market
Seeing Justin Fields prefer to test his market rather than re-sign with the Steelers before free agency, Pittsburgh viewed it as necessary to enter talks with outside QB options. Although one target (Sam Darnold) is off the board, a much bigger name remains.
The Steelers are indeed in talks with Aaron Rodgers, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo. They might have a real chance to add the future first-ballot Hall of Famer. Although the Giants are believed to be eyeing Rodgers as their preferred bridge option, SNY’s Connor Hughes indicates some around the league expect Rodgers to end up in Pittsburgh.
The Giants are waiting to see if Rodgers is truly interested in staying in New York, Hughes adds. If Rodgers proves elusive for the Giants, Hughes adds they are still interested in Russell Wilson. Though, a handful of other teams are as well. While the Jets, Raiders and Seahawks checked the veteran QB box off their respective to-do lists, the Titans and Browns join the Giants and Steelers in pursuit of at least a bridge option. Cleveland’s Kenny Pickett acquisition may not represent the team’s true veteran option.
Tennessee is interested in Wilson as well, Hughes reports. The team was believed to be showing interest in Darnold before free agency, but a price ceiling — one that checked in south of where Seattle ended up going — came into play regarding that push. Wilson would profile as a stopgap for a Titans team that is not certain to exit Round 1 with a passer. Though, Tennessee would have the right of first refusal here due to holding the No. 1 pick.
As it stands, the Steelers do not appear interested in re-signing Wilson, per Dulac and Fittipaldo. The QB impressed at points but clashed with Arthur Smith during a season that ended with a five-game skid. The Steelers had been in talks with Wilson, but after so much noise came out about a Fields re-signing, the veteran may look elsewhere as well. Though, the Post-Gazette cautions Wilson could be back in play depending on where things settle. He does not look like the Steelers’ preferred option. It remains to be seen how serious the Steelers are about adding Rodgers. A few dominoes remain on the QB market as the legal tampering period rolls on.
Colts, CB Charvarius Ward Agree To Deal
Chris Ballard‘s January comments about an organizational shift have led to big-ticket investments in outside free agents. While that has not been a Colts staple under the current GM, it has shaped the team’s start of free agency.
After the Colts added Camryn Bynum, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports they have a deal in place with Charvarius Ward. The former Chiefs and 49ers starter is heading to Indianapolis on a three-year deal worth up to $60MM. The seven-year vet will receive $35MM guaranteed, with $20MM of that including a $20MM signing bonus.
The 49ers’ Deommodore Lenoir payday pointed Ward out of town, and he indeed is done in San Francisco after three seasons. Ward, 28, helped the 49ers to Super Bowl LVIII — a second-team All-Pro season for the talented boundary cornerback — and he was a key part of their top-tier defensive effort in 2022 as well. Last season did not go as well for Ward (or most other 49ers), but he still commanded considerable market interest today.
Intercepting five passes in 2023, Ward broke up an NFL-most 23 that season. Playing for two of this era’s most reliable teams, Ward has played in 17 playoff games. That includes three Super Bowls and six conference championship games. Last season’s 49ers step off the Super Bowl radar brought some potentially concerning Ward developments — during a season in which he also missed five games.
After allowing 56.8% and 54.1% completion rates as the closest defender in 2022 and ’23, Ward yielded 61.5% accuracy last season. This corresponded with a rise in passer rating allowed (116.6 – up from 2023’s 64.5 number). PFF had rated Ward as a top-six corner in both 2022 and ’23, but it dropped him to 93rd during Nick Sorensen’s season in charge. New Colts DC Lou Anarumo faced Ward on a few occasions during the latter’s Kansas City stay, and he certainly appears to believe more quality play will be in store on the former UDFA’s third contract.
Monday will bring a high-end talent to a secondary in need, as Ward joins slot staple Kenny Moore at corner while Bynum will accompany breakout performer Nick Cross at safety. After the Colts dropped to 26th in pass defense last season, Ballard is backing up his talk on adding reinforcements to a largely homegrown roster.
Patriots To Sign QB Josh Dobbs, Open To Trading Joe Milton
A busy day for the Patriots now includes a backup quarterback addition. Josh Dobbs is headed to New England on a two-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
This pact has a maximum value of $8MM, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes. He adds Dobbs will collect $3.8MM guaranteed. The journeyman will be in position to serve as an experienced backup for Drake Maye moving forward, a role Jacoby Brissett held at the end of the 2024 campaign.
The Patriots will continue Dobbs’ journey around the NFL. While not exactly close to Josh Johnson territory, Dobbs is heading to a ninth NFL team. He comes to New England after a season as San Francisco’s third-string quarterback. Brock Purdy sitting out Week 18 last season did led to a Dobbs start, however, and he impressed. Dobbs completed 29 of 43 passes for 326 yards, two touchdown passes and two interceptions.
While Dobbs dropped a notable performance to close out the season, he was never viewed as likely to re-sign with the 49ers. The team added him last year but bumped 2023 third-stringer Brandon Allen up to QB2, leaving Dobbs — a starter for the Cardinals and Vikings in 2023 — an afterthought until that inconsequential Week 18 game. Dobbs will replace Brissett as Maye’s backup, coming after Brissett had shown pessimism about being back in New England.
Dobbs, 30, has made stops with the Steelers, Jaguars, Browns, Lions and Titans before his three-team 2024. The Titans had used Dobbs as a late-season starter, playing him in front of Malik Willis late in the ’22 season on short notice. The Browns traded Dobbs to the Cardinals just before the 2023 season, and he started eight games for the rebuilding team. Dobbs was needed soon on short notice yet again, as the Vikings turned to him shortly after a deadline-day trade. Dobbs’ Titans tenure is relevant once again, as Mike Vrabel will bring him back despite only coaching him for two games.
For his career, the QB/rocket scientist is a 62.7% passer who has gone 3-12 in starts. A rebuilding Cardinals operation is largely responsible for tanking Dobbs’ win/loss record. He has managed to remain a viable option for several years, moving up from the practice squad level as of late. The Patriots no longer need a Maye bridge, but they will slide Dobbs in behind the prized prospect on their depth chart.
As Dobbs will settle in as the Pats’ QB2, the team is interested in seeing what it could land for Joe Milton. The cannon-armed passer, who started for Maye in Week 18, is coming up in trades, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. While the Patriots are high on the 2024 sixth-round pick, Maye is the team’s unquestioned starter and Dobbs is now on track to back him up. Three years remain on the Tennessee prospect’s rookie contract, and the Patriots have discussed him with teams already.
Adam La Rose contributed to this report.
Titans To Sign LB Cody Barton
Cody Barton is on the move once again. Following one-year stints with the Commanders and Broncos, the veteran linebacker has a deal in place with the Titans, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report.
Barton is headed to Tennessee on a three-year deal, per Garafolo. This pact is worth $21MM, which represents a major raise compared to his previous deals. The 28-year-old collected $3.5MM in Washington and then $3.75MM in Denver. Now, Barton has landed a multi-year commitment and a $7MM AAV, by far the highest of his career.
Alex Singleton‘s Week 3 ACL tear moved Barton to the Broncos’ three-down LB centerpiece last season. Barton had gone from battling Jonas Griffith in a training camp competition to start alongside Singleton to being Denver’s lead presence on its defensive second level. Singleton is on his way back from an ACL tear, and the Broncos added Dre Greenlaw after losing Barton.
This marks Barton’s fourth team in four seasons, but the former third-round Seahawks pick did better for himself on this contract than his Broncos deal (one year, $2.5MM). Barton, 28, is coming off three straight 100-plus-tackle seasons. He topped out at 136 for a suddenly Bobby Wagner-less Seahawks team in 2022, adding six pass breakups that year. He added 121 tackles for the Commanders in 2023 but became a cap casualty as a new Washington regime took over.
Pro Football Focus rated Barton 46th among linebackers. He has logged at least a 91% snap share in each of his post-Seattle seasons, doing so after not breaking through as a Seahawks starter until his fourth season. The Titans should be expected to plug in Barton alongside 2024 FA addition Kenneth Murray, as Jack Gibbens and 2024 trade pickup Jerome Baker are unsigned.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Raiders To Re-Sign Malcolm Koonce
Malcolm Koonce represented one of the more interesting free agents in this year’s group of edge rushers. Rather than taking a deal with a new team, though, he will remain in Vegas.
Koonce has agreed to re-sign with the Raiders on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Even though he missed all of the 2024 campaign, this deal is worth $12MM. A short-term approach makes sense from the team’s perspective, but that is a notable financial commitment in the wake of Maxx Crosby‘s new deal.
The Raiders were unable retain Tre’von Moehrig, Nate Hobbs or Robert Spillane today, despite Pete Carroll expressing interest in each prior-regime investment sticking around. But the team is bringing back Koonce and Adam Butler, whom Las Vegas re-signed Sunday night. They will continue as Crosby complementary pieces.
For Koonce, this will be a “prove it” deal. The Raiders have good reason for putting Koonce to a test (albeit a well-paid one). Other than a second-half eruption in 2023, the former third-round pick does not have much to show statistically for his NFL career. But as the Raiders’ Chandler Jones signing revealed itself to be one of the decade’s worst moves, Koonce stepped up ahead of top-10 pick Tyree Wilson.
Koonce finished the 2023 season with eight sacks; the Buffalo alum compiled all those from Week 9 on. Peaking with a three-sack performance during a Raiders Christmas Day upset of the Chiefs, Koonce also added two more in the Raiders’ 63-21 romp over the Chargers — one that ultimately led Tom Telesco to Vegas. Telesco is already out as GM, and after Koonce did not have a chance to build on his 2023 season (thanks to a season-ending knee injury sustained in a late-summer practice), Carroll, John Spytek and Tom Brady will observe his 2025 progress.
Playing on a defensive front housing Crosby and Christian Wilkins‘ monster contracts, it is possible Koonce will be auditioning for a 2026 free agency bid this coming season.
Packers, CB Nate Hobbs Agree To Terms
Mentioned as a player who could move toward the top tier of the slot cornerback market, Nate Hobbs has done so. The Packers are adding the four-year Raiders regular.
Hobbs is heading to Green Bay on a four-year, $48MM deal, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The veteran slot defender will see $16MM guaranteed. This comes after a season that featured Keisean Nixon playing more on the outside. If the Packers indeed have a slot-only role for Hobbs planned, this is that market’s new ceiling. Incentives could take the deal to $50MM, ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky adds.
The only slot corner included on PFR’s Top 50 Free Agents list, Hobbs has drawn trade interest in the past. The 49ers were among the teams to pursue him, but no deal came to pass, keeping Hobbs in Las Vegas. The Raiders have now lost three of their free agent defenders, seeing Tre’von Moehrig join the Panthers and Robert Spillane agree to terms with the Patriots.
A decade after All-Decade slot corner Chris Harris moved past $8MM per year, the slot market still resided south of $10MM AAV entering the 2024 offseason. Movement took place involving veterans Kenny Moore and Taron Johnson, with younger Jets slot Michael Carter topping both. Hobbs’ Packers deal, AAV-wise at least, checks in $1.75MM north of where Carter took the market last summer.
The 6-foot corner played roughly three-fourths of his 2024 snaps inside; he was also slot-focused in 2023, logging 504 of his 775 defensive snaps there. Pro Football Focus ranked Hobbs 73rd among CB regulars in 2024 but has placed him higher (42nd in 2023, fifth in 2021) in the past. If Hobbs is indeed the Pack’s slot preference, Javon Bullard‘s role would stand to change.
Hobbs, 25, will join a Packers team widely expected to bid farewell to Jaire Alexander‘s $21MM-per-year contract. The Packers have shopped the high-priced corner to no avail. The team still has Nixon and Carrington Valentine rostered, but work may remain as underwhelming first-rounder Eric Stokes joins Corey Ballentine in hitting free agency.
Jets To Sign CB Brandon Stephens
The Jets have seen D.J. Reed agree to a deal which will send him to the Lions, but they have quickly worked out a cornerback addition. New York has an agreement in place with Brandon Stephens, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
The former Raven will sign a three-year, $36MM deal, per Garafolo. Stephens entered the league as a safety, but over time he increasingly established himself as a perimeter corner. He will now be in position to operate as a first-team option in that role with the Jets.
Having invested big money in Marlon Humphrey and a first-round pick in Nate Wiggins, Stephens had been a clear candidate to leave town after the 2024 season. Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said that he expected Stephens to hit free agency, indicating the team would not pursue re-signing him before then. Stephens emerged as a starting outside corner in 2023 but took a step back this past year, especially when defending the deep ball.
Stephens was charged with four touchdowns allowed and a 106.1 passer rating yielded as the closest defender last season. While the Ravens will need a new perimeter starter, the Jets are betting on upside under Aaron Glenn. Stephens made 48 starts — both at corner and safety — with Baltimore, bringing considerable experience to Glenn’s defense.
It might be a stretch to suggest Stephens will be a one-for-one replacement for D.J. Reed, who joined the Lions today, and the new addition is barely a year younger than the more accomplished player. But Reed never appeared a real candidate to stay in New York, having seen the Jets pay Michael Carter a top-market slot rate and have Sauce Gardner on the radar for a potential record-setting extension. As Reed transitions to the Motor City, Stephens’ contract suggests he is moving into a starting role in the Big Apple.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Chargers, CB Donte Jackson Agree To Deal
Donte Jackson is the latest cornerback to find a new home on Monday. The veteran has an agreement in place with the Chargers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
This will be a two-year deal, Schefter adds. Jackson can earn $13MM on his latest pact. After a one-and-done season in Pittsburgh, he will look to secure a starting role on a Chargers team which may lose Asante Samuel Jr. in the near future.
Samuel has yet to sign anywhere just yet, but after a four-game 2024 season, the second-generation NFL corner — who obviously spent much more time in Brandon Staley’s defense than Jesse Minter’s — may heading out of L.A. soon. Enter Jackson, who will relocate for a second straight offseason. After being part of Diontae Johnson‘s first of many 2024 transactions, Jackson will join a Chargers team that also has Kristian Fulton out of contract.
Although the Steelers re-signed Cameron Sutton after his offseason arrest led to a Lions release, Jackson logged a higher snap share on defense. Jackson, 29, started all 15 games he played with the Steelers and played 82% of the team’s defensive snaps. He intercepted five passes for Mike Tomlin’s team.
The Chargers are in disagreement with Pro Football Focus re: Jackson, as the advanced metrics site graded him 110th overall at corner (among regulars) last season. Perhaps illustrating how far we still need to go for reliable coverage metrics, Pro-Football-Reference tagged Johnson with a solid 59.7% completion rate allowed and an above-average 69.9 passer rating as the closest defender.
Jackson had previously signed a three-year, $35.18MM extension with the Panthers, starting 76 games with the team that made him a second-round pick. The Bolts saw rookie-year promise from Tarheeb Still but have some work to do at corner even after the Jackson addition.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Raiders To Sign Jeremy Chinn
The Raiders are set to lose Tre’von Moehrig, but they have moved quickly in finding another starter at the safety spot. Jeremy Chinn has an agreement in place with Vegas, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
This will be a two-year deal, Garafolo adds. Chinn will receive more than $16MM if he collects the full value of the pact. Over 75% of the contract is guaranteed at signing, making this a lucrative move for the versatile defender.
Although the Raiders were connected to keeping Moehrig or pursuing Camryn Bynum in free agency, they will end up with Chinn, who made a difference in Washington after being phased out in Carolina. Formerly the Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up who was a stat machine as versatile piece in Phil Snow’s defense, Chinn faded to a part-timer to close out Ejiro Evero’s first season running the show. But Chinn did much better in Washington.
Last season, Chinn logged 412 snaps in the box, 299 at free safety and 202 in the slot. Chinn delivered an all-around season, notching 117 tackles (a career-high seven for loss) to go with two sacks, two fumble recoveries and five pass deflections. He also mixed in a forced fumble and an interception. This did not land Chinn a big-ticket deal like Moehrig or Bynum agreed to Monday, but he still should have a chance at another free agency trip down the line.
Going into an age-27 season, Chinn is on track to start for a Raiders team that lost Moehrig and has Marcus Epps out of contract as well. He of 67 career starts (including 17 last year), the former second-round pick has three 100-tackle seasons on his resume. The Raiders, who also lost linebacker Robert Spillane, have a player in Chinn who has extensive experience in the box.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.