Bengals To Re-Sign DT B.J. Hill
The Bengals unraveled defensively last season, squandering an All-Pro-caliber Joe Burrow season and an actual All-Pro campaign from Ja’Marr Chase. The team overhauled its defensive staff as a result, but at least one free agency piece from Lou Anarumo’s unit is staying.
Former trade acquisition B.J. Hill is rejoining the Bengals on a three-year, $33MM deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Hill will earn $16MM guaranteed as part of this agreement.
Monday’s agreement marks Hill’s second with the Bengals, who had benefited from their 2021 trade with the Giants in obtaining the former New York regular. Hill has started 50 games with the Bengals during his four-year Cincinnati stay. He previously secured a three-year, $30MM deal, having played a key role during the Bengals’ Super Bowl LVI season.
Hill fared better in 2023, having smashed his previous career high by posting 21 QB hits. The former Giants draftee has no other seasons with more than 12; he tallied nine in 2024. While Hill only added three sacks to his career total (23.5) last season, he also finished with a career-best seven tackles for loss. While little went right for the Bengals defensively in 2024, Hill showed enough to convince a new defensive staff he was worth bringing back at an eight-figure-per-year rate.
Cincinnati saw its Sheldon Rankins investment bust, amplifying Hill’s value. The team has also since agreed to terms with nose tackle TJ Slaton, who is on track to operate as a D.J. Reader nose tackle successor. The onus will be on Hill, then, to provide interior pressure, as Slaton is primarily a run defender. It remains to be seen — though it seems unlikely — if these two will play alongside Trey Hendrickson in 2025.
Chiefs To Sign T Jaylon Moore
After a host of left tackle plans eventually ended with a Super Bowl loss that magnified that issue, the Chiefs are spending to add a potential upgrade.
Jaylon Moore is relocating from San Francisco to Kansas City, with FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz reporting the Chiefs are adding the former 49ers swing tackle. Moore will sign a two-year, $30MM deal the Chiefs.
This still represents a bit of a gamble on the Chiefs’ part. Moore does have 12 career starts on his resume, but he has never operated as a preferred starter. The 49ers had stationed him as their swingman behind Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz over the past two seasons, as McKivitz was the swing player behind Williams and Mike McGlinchey previously. Moore, however, was rumored to be drawing extensive interest on the market.
Williams’ late-season ankle injury opened the door, however, for Moore’s first extended audition. Pro Football Focus graded Moore just outside the top 25 among tackles last season, though the four-year veteran did not have enough snaps (271) to qualify as a regular. That is the central part of the Chiefs’ gamble, and their recent efforts to staff this position should induce some pause before declaring this signing a win.
Kansas City let Orlando Brown Jr. walk in 2023, after failing to extend him at the 2022 franchise tag deadline, and used Donovan Smith as a stopgap in 2023. That was a more effective plan than the team’s 2024 route, which featured second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia benched in Week 2 and then 2023 third-rounder Wanya Morris parked later in the season. The Chiefs’ in-season D.J. Humphries addition preceded another injury for the ex-Cardinal, who went down in his first game with his new team. Joe Thuney then relocated to LT and fared reasonably well — until a poor Super Bowl showing reminded of the Chiefs’ blowout loss to the Buccaneers.
The Chiefs have traded Thuney to the Bears, making Trey Smith their high-priced guard. Suamataia has been rumored to be the team’s initial choice to replace Thuney at LG. Kansas City also has embattled RT Jawaan Taylor locked into his $19.5MM 2025 salary, thanks to his guarantee vesting a year ago. As the team will build around Smith and Creed Humphrey, it will hope Moore (27) will provide some elusive blindside stability for Patrick Mahomes.
Buccaneers To Re-Sign Chris Godwin
The Buccaneers keep investing at receiver. A year after agreeing to terms with Mike Evans on a third contract, Tampa Bay will bring back Chris Godwin.
They have agreed to a three-year, $66MM deal to retain Godwin, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported during an NFL Network appearance. Godwin will see $44MM guaranteed on this accord.
Godwin is believed to have left some money on the table to stay in Tampa, and the Bucs will keep Baker Mayfield‘s receiving corps intact. The cap-rich Patriots were believed to be readying a pursuit, but Godwin rejoined the Bucs shortly after the legal tampering period began. The second-leading pass catcher in franchise history continues to follow Evans. Tampa Bay, however, has the younger of its two receiver staples potentially in place to succeed Evans as the No. 1 option — as Evans is back in a contract year.
Although Godwin suffered a dislocated ankle seven games into last season, he did not see a chilled market. A report last week indicated the eight-year veteran could have approached $25MM per year. Godwin’s new deal will check in just south of that number, but he once again betters Evans’ contract.
Godwin, 28, had previously done so when he inked a three-year, $60MM deal as Tampa Bay’s franchise player. The Bucs tagged Godwin twice earlier this decade, and despite drafting Jalen McMillan in Round 3 last year, their commitment to the Evans-Godwin partnership persists.
When Godwin went down last season, he ranked second in the NFL in receiving yardage (576 yards). Godwin had made it back from the ACL and MCL tears sustained in December 2021, but he did not quite look himself during the 2022 and ’23 campaigns. Still, Godwin surpassed 1,000 yards in each season, helping Mayfield rebound in 2023. The Bucs will give Godwin a chance to rebound and will pay plenty for this opportunity.
This takes the top wide receiver option, per PFR’s Top 50 Free Agent list, off the market. Godwin being three years younger than Davante Adams made him the top prize this offseason, with Tee Higgins again off the market. Tampa Bay again proves it can retain talent despite imminent free agency. Godwin’s deal follows the re-signings of Shaquil Barrett, Carlton Davis and Jamel Dean after each had entered a legal tampering period unattached.
Cardinals To Re-Sign OL Evan Brown
The Cardinals have prevented Evan Brown from testing the market. The veteran offensive lineman has a deal in place to stay in Arizona, Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report.
This will be a two-year, $11.5MM deal. Brown operated as a starter in 2024, his debut campaign with the Cardinals. Handling first-team duties will be expected moving forward with a notable raise having been worked out.
Brown had roamed around the NFC over the past three years, playing for the Lions, Seahawks and Cardinals in that span. He had filled in for Detroit starters at center and guard during his time in the Motor City and stepped in as a Seattle center starter in 2023. Winning the left guard starting job in Arizona out of training camp, Brown started 17 games for Jonathan Gannon’s team.
Brown has yo-yoed between center and guard over the past four seasons. He was Frank Ragnow‘s primary injury replacement in 2021 before taking over at RG for Halapoulivaati Vaitai in 2022. The Cardinals added him with the intent on a guard path, after the Seahawks had used him as a replacement for the retired Austin Blythe.
Monday’s agreement also will bring a raise for Brown, who played for $2.25MM in 2023 and $2.35MM in 2024. Originally a Giants UDFA, Brown is going into his age-29 season. The Cardinals have given both he and center Hjalte Froholdt midlevel paydays to stick around on a line fronted by first-round left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and $15MM-per-year RT Jonah Williams. Will Hernandez is again a free agent, though the veteran RG has battled injuries during much of his desert stay.
Pro Football Focus graded Brown 30th at guard last season, and the Cardinals will keep supplying continuity for third-year OC Drew Petzing. With Brown coming back, Arizona is on track to have four of its five O-line starters in place for 2025. Hernandez re-signed with the Cardinals previously, but after he missed 12 games in 2024, the team may have some reservations about authorizing another accord.
Broncos To Meet With TE Evan Engram
Bo Nix‘s breakthrough rookie season came without much help at the tight end position. As the Broncos would seem to need help at all three skill-position spots, Sean Payton has emphasized tight end and running back over wide receiver.
A Denver free agency visit underscores that, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Evan Engram is meeting with the Broncos today. The Jaguars made a few moves stripping down their skill group last week, and Engram was moved off the roster. He may well have shot up the TE free agent rankings, and the Broncos will see about a fit ahead of the former first-rounder’s age-31 season.
The Jags moved on from Engram despite the ex-Giants draftee breaking and then re-breaking a franchise record for single-season tight end yardage. After a 766-yard 2023 that featured Engram scoring a touchdown in the Jaguars’ wild-card shootout/collapse against the Chargers, he posted 963 yards in 2024. Engram caught 114 passes in 2023, after signing a three-year extension; only Jimmy Smith‘s 1999 featured more catches (116) by a Jaguar.
Engram’s 2022 slate prompted the Jags to franchise tag him, letting their other tag candidate (Jawaan Taylor) walk. That proved to be a wise decision, but the Jags fired both Doug Pederson and Trent Baalke this offseason. Liam Coen and James Gladstone are retooling, having traded Christian Kirk and cut Josh Reynolds and Devin Duvernay. As the Jags regroup around Brian Thomas Jr., the Broncos are in dire need of receiving help at tight end.
Denver included Noah Fant in the Russell Wilson blockbuster and has been unable to approach the middling first-rounder’s production since. Adam Trautman has been among the brigade of ex-Saints players and coaches to trek to Denver to rejoin Payton, but he has offered little receiving-wise. The Broncos have seen their starting TE go for 204 and 188 yards, respectively, over the past two seasons. This makes even Engram’s nine-game 2024 (365 yards) appear flashy.
While Engram could help the Broncos immediately, it would stand to reason they will explore a draft addition — in a strong TE class — after largely sitting out the market last year. Nix still threw 29 touchdown passes — second-most by a rookie in NFL history — but the Broncos are early in a mission to further help out their new centerpiece player. It would be interesting to see the Broncos add Engram when ex-Saints TE Juwan Johnson is on the market, but the sides are exploring a move that would stand to prevent a Johnson-Payton reunion.
Chargers To Re-Sign Khalil Mack
Khalil Mack will not, in fact, test the market. The decorated edge rusher is set to remain in place for the Chargers for 2025.
Mack has agreed to a one-year deal to stay in Los Angeles, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The pact is worth $18MM and is guaranteed in full. The team’s preference was to keep Mack for 2025 at a minimum, and that will indeed be the case. The Bears and Buccaneers were mentioned as Mack suitors. While a return to Chicago would have been interesting since Ryan Poles traded him weeks into his GM gig, the Chargers will keep the decorated edge rusher off the market.
This represented Mack’s first time being set for free agency, and he did not quite make it to the market. The Bolts gave both Mack and Joey Bosa pay cuts a year ago but have now split up that three-year duo, keeping the older of the two players. While Mack is going into his age-34 season, he has stayed healthy since being traded to L.A.
Two of Mack’s three Chargers seasons did not feature tremendous statistical work, but the 2023 season sure did. Mack sandwiched one of his best seasons between two reasonably productive slates, totaling 14 sacks between the 2022 and ’24 seasons and 17 in 2023. The former Defensive Player of the Year also forced five fumbles in 2023. Granted, six of those came against the Raiders during Aidan O’Connell‘s debut, but Mack missed only one game during his three previous Bolts seasons. More reliable than the 29-year-old Bosa, Mack will be asked to keep going with Jim Harbaugh‘s team.
On the Hall of Fame radar, Mack will move forward with a Chargers team still rostering Bud Dupree and Tuli Tuipulotu. While Bosa’s exit may still create a depth need — at the very least — Mack sticking around will minimize the Bolts’ issue at OLB. This latest Chargers agreement can move Mack closer to the Hall of Fame. His 107.5 career sacks are 32nd in the sack era (1982-present); the former Raiders and Bears All-Pro could move into the top 25 with a seven-sack season.
Mack was tied to his six-year Bears-built extension from 2018-24. While he may have missed out on high-end edge rusher money, the 2014 first-round pick did well to remain on that deal and collect more than $140MM. The Buffalo alum may slide further into the situational-rusher setup, as his snap share declined from 81% in 2023 to 61% in 2024. The Bolts will attempt to keep Mack fresh, and moving on from Bosa certainly illustrates how highly they view the 11-year veteran moving forward.
Falcons To Release DT Grady Jarrett
Grady Jarrett‘s time with the Falcons is coming to an end. The two-time Pro Bowler is being released, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report.
The Falcons had been linked to exploring a Jarrett separation, initially via trade, and the cap-strapped team will move forward with a release. The Falcons will save more than $16MM by dropping Jarrett, their longest-tenured defender.
Atlanta had extended Jarrett — on a three-year, $49.5MM deal — in 2022 but saw him suffer an ACL tear in October 2023. Although Jarrett returned for the 2024 season on time, he totaled just 2.5 sacks. His 12 QB hits were also south of the prime-years production that landed a fifth-round success story two Falcons extensions. Ahead of Jarrett’s age-32 season, a Falcons team that entered Monday over the cap will move on.
Atlanta (again) has major questions to answer regarding its pass rush. Even with Jarrett in the lineup, the Falcons ranked 31st in sacks (31) last season. The team also has let Matt Judon and Lorenzo Carter hit the market. Former second-rounder Arnold Ebiketie remains on the roster, but Raheem Morris‘ team has work to do both up front and at outside linebacker this offseason.
Garrett’s exit will leave only Jake Matthews, whom the Falcons extended Sunday night, remaining from the team’s Super Bowl LI roster. Jarrett’s three sacks that night put him on the map, and the Falcons eventually paid him twice. After a four-year, $68MM extension, Jarrett earned a three-year, $49.5MM pact. After not being allowed to play out that contract, Jarrett will be heading elsewhere for the first time in his NFL career.
This transaction will move the Falcons into the black for cap space, but they still should be considered likely to make other roster adjustments to create room, as defensive needs are widespread going into Morris’ second season as a full-time Falcons HC.
Rams Sign WR Davante Adams
11:40pm: Adams’ deal contains an $8MM 2025 base salary and a $16MM number in 2026, per ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop, who adds a more notable number due in March 2026. Adams will be due a $6MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2026 league year. While Adams’ 2025 base salary is guaranteed, the Rams would appear to have something of an out in 2026.
Though, Barshop adds Adams landed a $12MM signing bonus. Half of that would account for dead money if the Rams cut him in 2026. This still looks like a wait-and-see situation, as SI.com’s Albert Breer adds only the $20MM from the signing bonus and 2025 base is guaranteed.
5:55pm: Davante Adams‘ West Coast aspirations are coming true. The Rams are bringing in the All-Pro wide receiver, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. The team has announced the signing.
The Rams are giving the decorated receiver a two-year, $46MM deal, Rapoport adds. He will see $26MM guaranteed. This is quite the haul for a player who will be 33 by year’s end. But Adams was by far the most productive receiver who changed teams last season, outshining Amari Cooper, DeAndre Hopkins and Mike Williams. Adams posted 854 yards in 11 Jets games and has secured another big payday.
Officially releasing Adams last week, the Jets made the three-time All-Pro a street free agent. That allowed him to speak with teams before the legal tampering period, which starts Monday. The Rams, who have not yet separated from Cooper Kupp, are spending big bucks to help Matthew Stafford after his recent recommitment to the team.
Linked to a West Coast landing spot weeks ago, the Fresno State alum sought at least $20MM per year and indeed was looking to return to his home state, Rapoport adds. Adams will now pair with Puka Nacua, coming in as a hired gun as the Rams — after losses in the wild-card and divisional rounds over the past two years — attempt to book a third Super Bowl berth in the Sean McVay era.
McVay told Kupp early this offseason the Rams were moving on, and Sunday night’s news cements it. Three years after giving Kupp a three-year, $80MM extension following his triple-crown season, the Rams are adding a bigger name. Adams is a year older than Kupp, but he has been much healthier than the 2021 All-Pro. The former Packers, Raiders and Jets star has missed only four games over the past four seasons. One of those (in 2021) came due to rest, and the three others were during a period in which Adams wanted to leave Las Vegas. Although Aaron Rodgers will not be coming with him, Adams will link up with one of the NFL’s most reliable offenses and attempt to make a difference.
Adams will go from leading a receiving corps housing Garrett Wilson to one including Nacua, as the veteran — after some squandered years from a contention standpoint — will return to a Super Bowl threat. Adams still posted a third straight first-team All-Pro season during his Derek Carr reunion season, but the Raiders had begun to decline. Adams showed visible frustration with the Raiders’ ensuing Jimmy Garoppolo plan the next season, calling for a benching of the 2023 FA signing. With Adams tied to Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell last year, the fit predictably ended quickly.
Even with the Jets going 5-12 during Rodgers’ comeback season, Adams played well. His 2023 season with Garoppolo and O’Connell also produced a 1,000-yard year. Adams will head to Los Angeles on the heels of six 1,000-yard seasons in his past seven. We ranked Adams as our No. 15 overall free agent, as only Chris Godwin came in ahead of the off-and-on Rodgers target. The $26MM guaranteed effectively justifies that placement, as the Rams will pay Adams while Nacua is still on a rookie deal. Nacua does not become extension-eligible until 2026.
Rodgers has not committed to even playing in 2025, but that is the expectation. It would appear his days of playing with Adams are over. Adams helped Rodgers to two MVPs, playing a tertiary role in his 2014 honor (Adams’ rookie year). Rodgers was briefly linked to the Rams, as they were sorting out their Stafford situation. Now, Rodgers is being connected to the Giants, who aggressively pursued Stafford during his trade talks. As the Giants and Raiders fell short, Stafford will play a fifth Rams season and have one of this era’s best pass catchers to target alongside Nacua.
Seahawks To Contact Aaron Rodgers
Closely linked to Sam Darnold after trading Geno Smith, the Seahawks are obviously not certain to land him. The Vikings are not expected to bring Darnold back, pointing to the QB having interest in a newfound suitor, but Seattle will still need to pay up to land a player we ranked No. 1 on our 2025 free agent list.
Darnold could certainly be labeled the Seahawks’ top target, as buzz about a potential Russell Wilson reunion has not built. But a more talented quarterback will be available soon. While Aaron Rodgers is 41, he is a four-time MVP who played decently last season. The Seahawks are not expected to pass through this free agency period without talking to the 20-year veteran, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports.
[RELATED: Sam Darnold Likely To Choose Seahawks?]
Rodgers has been connected to the Giants and Vikings, but a Seahawks landing would give the all-time QB talent a better chance at competing — in all likelihood — in 2025. The Seahawks are coming off a 10-7 season, seeing Smith’s 15 interceptions prove an impediment in Mike Macdonald’s first season. Klint Kubiak is now aboard as OC. He has not stopped through Green Bay or New York, but the second-generation coach does run an offense that resembles Matt LaFleur and Nathaniel Hackett‘s. Kubiak was on Hackett’s 2022 Broncos staff, though that might not be a ringing endorsement.
One connection could be more notable. Seahawks GM John Schneider was in Green Bay when the team drafted Rodgers in 2005. Schneider was also Packers director of football operations when they made the move to trade Brett Favre (after unretirement No. 1) in 2008. In his second year running the show (post-Pete Carroll), Schneider has now signed off on trading Smith and D.K. Metcalf. Seattle has plenty of work to do this offseason.
This connection aside, shifting from a 34-year-old quarterback to a 41-year-old passer who is not yet two years removed from Achilles surgery would be a fascinating plan for the Seahawks. Rodgers ranked 25th in QBR last season (four spots south of Smith) but did start 17 games after his Achilles rehab and finish with a 28-11 TD-INT ratio. Teams could certainly do worse, though much has changed about the baggage Rodgers brings since Scheneider’s time with the Packers.
Rodgers has not confirmed he is even playing in 2025, but all signs are pointing to it. The Jets are about to be tagged with $49MM in dead money, and offsets would make Rodgers’ 2025 landing comparable to where Wilson was in 2024. The Steelers had Wilson on the veteran minimum, as the Broncos were paying the rest. As the Jets prepare for the second-highest single-player dead money hit, they will be on the hook for the bulk of Rodgers’ 2025 money.
Broncos To Re-Sign DT D.J. Jones
11:25pm: The Broncos have their nose tackle locked up on a second contract, with DNVR Sports’ Zac Stevens reporting the deal is done. Fowler’s update turned out to be on-point, as 9News’ Mike Klis confirms it is a three-year, $39MM pact. Considering his run-oriented skillset, this represents a big win for Jones, though guarantees will tell the full tale. If nothing else, this continues a spree of Broncos extensions and re-signings, as Sean Payton is signing off on paying players acquired by GM George Paton.
11:14pm: Nary a word about D.J. Jones appeared on the PFR pages during his Broncos contract. That is generally a good sign for a lineman. Jones stayed mostly healthy on his three-year Denver deal and was a key role player on some solid defenses, including last season’s. The Broncos may not let him hit free agency.
The veteran defensive tackle is close to a deal to stay in Denver, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler. The sides are nearing an agreement on a contract that would be worth around $13MM per year. That would mark a raise for Jones, who played out a three-year, $30MM contract. The interior starter expressed interest in staying in Denver after the team’s 2024 season.
Missing only three games in three seasons, Jones operated as a quality run stopper in Denver. The former San Francisco fifth-round pick came up in a rumor about being traded back to the 49ers at the deadline, but no traction came out of that. Jones started all 17 Broncos games, helping the team snap a playoff drought.
ESPN’s run stop win rate metric viewed Jones as elite last season, ranking him second among interior D-linemen against the run. Not much of a statistical presence, Jones instead helped front-seven pieces Zach Allen and Nik Bonitto earn second-team All-Pro acclaim last season.
Jones did post 42 tackles last season and tallied five TFLs in 2023, helping the team recover after a dreadful defensive start. Denver’s NT compiled five sacks in three seasons with the team. The Broncos ranked third against the run and are interested in keeping Jones and Allen together inside. Allen is targeting an extension, having outplayed a $15MM-per-year deal.
Jones’ age (30) may not be working against him much, as a $13MM-per-year deal would be a nice bump. Denver has already been active in extending its current core, paying Patrick Surtain, Garett Bolles, Jonathon Cooper and Quinn Meinerz last year. The team has Bo Nix tied to a rookie contract through at least 2026, but it is still on the hook for the second leg of Russell Wilson dead money ($30MM-plus) this year.
The Broncos are carrying just more than $40MM in cap space, which would stand to go to some needs in free agency. Jones, however, could take up a notable portion of those funds hours before the market opens. Denver has until 11am CT Monday to nix Jones talks with other teams.