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Ravens, DT Travis Jones Agree To Extension

December 11th, 2025 at 10:37am CST by Adam La Rose

Travis Jones loomed as one of the Ravens’ top pending free agents for 2026. The fourth-year defensive tackle will not be reaching the open market, however.

Jones and the Ravens have agreed to a three-year extension, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports. As a result, Jones will be under contract through the 2028 campaign. This news – which is now official, per a team announcement – means one of the league’s top pending free agents at the position will not become available in March.

The Jones pact is worth $40.5MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That works out to an average annual value of $13.5MM, a sharp increase in the former third-rounder’s compensation compared to his rookie contract. Given the nature of the DT market, however, this deal will be viewed as a team-friendly one provided Jones can maintain his current level of play against the run. Jones will receive $25MM in guarantees, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds.

A rotational presence during his first two seasons in the NFL, Jones became a starter in 2023. The 26-year-old set a new career high with 42 tackles last year, a figure he has a strong chance of surpassing this campaign. Jones has only posted five sacks and 21 quarterback pressures to date in his career, and as such expectations will remain low regarding his future production against the pass. Still, his run-stopping presence will be welcomed in Baltimore for years to come.

The context leading up to this agreement helps explain its timing. As Zrebiec notes, a CBA issue meant Jones had actually been on track for restricted free agency this spring with one of his previous seasons not accruing for contract purposes. A grievance was filed on his behalf by the NFLPA, with a hearing scheduled for today. The outcome of that process would have determined Jones’ future regarding his free agent status. Being an RFA would have likely set him up for a second-round tender only covering the 2026 season.

Instead, that has now become a moot point. Negotiations between the Ravens and Jones’ agent prior to the hearing finalized this agreement, one which will ensure stability along the defensive interior for the foreseeable future. This extension comes amidst questions regarding fellow defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike‘s status. The All-Pro landed on IR in September due to a neck injury, and it was learned shortly thereafter that he would not return this season. Madubuike is on the books through 2027 on a pact averaging $24.5MM per season, so his recovery outlook will be critical moving forward.

In any case, Jones’ future is no longer in doubt. The UConn product was one of several pending free agents whom the Ravens viewed as high priorities for new deals. Another was tight end Mark Andrews, and team and player recently worked out a three-year deal in that case as well. As the 6-7 Ravens continue to push for top spot in the AFC North, it will be interesting to see if other agreements such as this one wind up being finalized prior to free agency.

CB Desmond King Retires

December 11th, 2025 at 9:43am CST by Adam La Rose

Desmond King‘s NFL career has come to an end. The veteran cornerback and return specialist took to X to announce his retirement.

King has not played in 2025, and his retirement announcement confirms he will not look to make a late-season return to the league. Nearing his 31st birthday, he will instead turn his attention to his post-playing days. King saw time with five different franchises over the course of his eight-year career.

A Chargers fifth-round pick in 2017, his NFL tenure began in Los Angeles and remained there until a November 2020 trade. King was dealt from the Chargers to the Titans, the team with which he finished playing out his rookie contract. During his first trip to free agency, a one-year Texans pact was worked out. King operated as a defensive starter during his debut Houston campaign, and he did so again the following year upon re-upping with the team.

After being released shortly before the start of the 2023 season, King had a brief spell with the Steelers. That was followed by a return to Houston which covered the remainder of the campaign. In 2024, similarly, King was cut after training camp before making one appearance with the Texans. His final NFL games took place as a member of the Ravens while serving as the team’s punt returner. Third phase success was a key factor early in King’s career; the Iowa product earned first-team All-Pro acclaim in 2018 for his work as a returner.

In all, King made a combined total of 113 regular and postseason appearances during his time in the NFL. He departs the game with $14MM in career earnings.

Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order

December 9th, 2025 at 11:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Week 14’s action brought about a few notable updates to the standings at both ends of the NFL’s conferences. Another four teams are officially out of playoff contention, while wins by Tennessee and New Orleans could prove to be rather important once the campaign has ended.

The Jets, Browns, Falcons and Commanders were eliminated from the postseason through the results of recent days. Of course, each of those teams have been out of the running for a playoff push for some time now. Still, that group will be worth watching closely over the closing four weeks of the season as the top-10 order for Day 1 of the draft gradually comes into focus.

Uncertainty regarding the quarterback class of 2026 will no doubt remain a talking point over the coming months. Fernando Mendoza strengthened his case to be QB1 in April’s draft, although it remains to be seen if other top signal-callers like Dante Moore and Ty Simpson will turn pro or elect to remain in school for one more season. Decisions on those fronts will be central storylines carrying significant implications for the teams near the top of the order which find themselves in need of a quarterback investment.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.

Here is an updated look at the first-round order:

  1. New York Giants (2-11)
  2. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
  3. Tennessee Titans (2-11)
  4. Cleveland Browns (3-10)
  5. New Orleans Saints (3-10)
  6. Washington Commanders (3-10)
  7. New York Jets (3-10)
  8. Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
  9. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
  10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
  11. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
  12. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
  13. Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
  14. Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)
  15. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
  16. Carolina Panthers (7-6)
  17. Detroit Lions (8-5)
  18. New York Jets (via Colts)
  19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
  20. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
  21. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
  22. Houston Texans (8-5)
  23. Chicago Bears (9-4)
  24. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
  25. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)
  26. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
  27. Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
  28. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
  29. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
  30. New England Patriots (11-2)
  31. Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
  32. Denver Broncos (11-2)

Ravens Sign Laken Tomlinson To Practice Squad, Release Carl Lawson

December 9th, 2025 at 3:32pm CST by Connor Byrne

One week after the Texans waived him, guard Laken Tomlinson has found a new home. The Ravens signed Tomlinson to their practice squad on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. They released defensive end Carl Lawson from their taxi squad to make room for Tomlinson.

Now 33 years old, Tomlinson entered the NFL as the Lions’ first-round pick (28th overall) in 2015. He has since started in a combined 162 of 173 appearances with the Lions, 49ers, Jets, Seahawks, and Texans. Known for his durability, Tomlinson has logged a full schedule in nine of his 11 seasons.

Having appeared in 10 contests this year, Tomlinson won’t put together his fifth straight 17-game slate. He started in seven games with the Texans before they bumped him from the lineup and later cut him. Tomlinson is Pro Football Focus’ 52nd-ranked guard among 80 qualifiers.

The addition of Tomlinson comes a day after the Ravens lost guard Ben Cleveland to a three-game suspension for a violation of the NFL’s Substances of Abuse policy. Cleveland has come off the bench in 10 games this season. Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele have served as full-time starters. With Cleveland unavailable for the next few weeks, Tomlinson will join Emery Jones in giving the Ravens another depth option at guard.

Lawson appeared in 15 games and picked up five sacks with the Cowboys last season, but his impact in Baltimore was minimal. He played in one game with the Ravens – a Week 13 loss to Cincinnati, one of his ex-teams – before they cut him. Lawson totaled 26 defensive snaps and made one tackle in that contest.

NFL Minor Transactions: 12/8/25

December 8th, 2025 at 7:09pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Houston Texans

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

The Ravens announced today that offensive lineman Ben Cleveland was slapped with a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Substances of Abuse Policy. While it’s uncertain if it’s related, Cleveland was arrested this past offseason on DUI chargers (per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). The veteran has appeared in 10 games this season, with the majority of his reps coming on special teams.

The 49ers got some good news today, as seventh-round QB Kurtis Rourke had his practice window opened. The Indiana product continues to recover from offseason surgery on his torn ACL. While the 49ers realistically have 21 days to activate the quarterback to their active roster, Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group says the rookie is still expected to be redshirted for the 2025 campaign.

Ravens Received Trade Interest In RB Keaton Mitchell

December 8th, 2025 at 9:39am CST by Adam La Rose

Keaton Mitchell has flashed potential when on the field, something which has caught the eye of interested teams. The third-year running back was the subject of trade calls ahead of last month’s deadline.

Teams reached out to the Ravens to discuss a Mitchell trade, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. To little surprise, he adds Baltimore (a team which was involved in three in-season swaps) turned down interest on that front. Instead of changing teams at the deadline, Mitchell remained in place for the closing stages of the 2025 season.

After entering the league as a UDFA, Mitchell was unused for the beginning of his rookie season. Things changed when he found himself in the lineup, though, as he totaled 489 scrimmage yards on just 56 touches while scoring a pair of touchdowns. An ACL tear ended his standout showing in 2023, and the 23-year-old only made five appearances last year upon returning to game action.

As expected, Derrick Henry – who signed an extension this past offseason – has continued to lead the way in Baltimore’s backfield in 2025. The future Hall of Famer has received at least 10 carries all but once this season, and a heavy workload will no doubt continue down the stretch. Henry has endured rough patches multiple times in 2025, and especially with Justice Hill residing on IR due to a neck injury, Mitchell is in position to operate as Baltimore’s change-of-pace option at the RB spot.

Mitchell scored a touchdown during the Ravens’ Thanksgiving loss, and his performance yesterday included a 55-yard run. The East Carolina product has only handled 93 carries to date in his brief NFL career, but he has averaged 7.0 yards per attempt. Maintaining that level of efficiency over time will obviously be difficult, but Mitchell will look to remain an effective contributor through the remainder of his Baltimore tenure.

Henry and Hill are both under contract for next season. Mitchell, by contrast, is a pending restricted free agent. Given the fact teams were interested in exploring a trade, suitors could emerge in short order provided he is non-tendered and reaches the open market. A more likely scenario would be a decision on the Ravens’ part to tender Mitchell; that would leave an unmatched offer sheet (or trade, of course) as the only means by which a change of scenery could be possible in this case.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/6/25

December 6th, 2025 at 7:01pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for the Week 14 Sunday slate:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Dort becomes Arizona’s 26th placement on injures reserve this year. The Cardinals’ receiving corps has been stretched thin with Marvin Harrison Jr. out with a heel injury and Zay Jones on injured reserve with an injured Achilles tendon.

Earning more and more responsibility over the course of his sophomore campaign, former undrafted free agent Roland-Wallace will unfortunately head to IR after starting in the Chiefs’ two most recent contests. As a roaming safety, he’s been functioning lately as a nickelback alongside the versatile pair of starting safeties behind him.

With Bosa set to miss this weekend’s game with a hamstring injury, Fox has been called up from the practice squad in Buffalo to help bolster a thin group of defensive ends.

Smyth gets the call again this week as the primary placekicker in New Orleans. He’ll be kicking in his second straight game following the team’s dismissal of Blake Grupe.

For Spector in Buffalo, this will be his third elevation this season, meaning the Bills will need to sign him to the active roster in order for him to appear in another game in 2025. The same is true of Turner in Denver, Hanson in Kansas City, and Banks in Tampa Bay. On the other side of that, Tindall in Arizona, Lewis in Jacksonville, and Cook in New York were all signed to 53-man rosters today after they used up their three allotted practice squad elevations.

Ravens Still Pursuing Extension Agreements

December 5th, 2025 at 5:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

Earlier this week, the Ravens ended speculation about Mark Andrews‘ future by working out an extension. Further contract work could be finalized relatively soon.

When speaking to the media on Friday, head coach John Harbaugh said (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic) the team is attempting to sign more players to extensions. No specific names have emerged on that front, but any number of candidates exist for a new deal in Baltimore. The tight end position in particular will be one to watch.

Andrews was a pending free agent prior to his new deal being signed. The same is also true of Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar. Both 2022 draftees are playing out the final year of their rookie contracts, but it remains to be seen what their value would be on new pacts. Likely flashed potential last season in particular, but he has not managed to emerge as a consistent producer when healthy in 2025. Kolar primarily offers special teams value, although his 40% offensive snap share for this season represents a career high.

Keeping Andrews on the books while also authorizing a notable raise for Likely and/or Kolar would be challenging given Baltimore’s cap outlook. Other notable players on expiring deals include center Tyler Linderbaum and defensive tackle Travis Jones. Linderbaum’s fifth-year option was understandably declined, but he and the Ravens are not believed to be close to an extension agreement. Jones, meanwhile, has played his way into a major raise on his second contract, whether it comes from Baltimore or another team.

Veterans such as edge rusher Kyle Van Noy, wideout DeAndre Hopkins and safety Alohi Gilman are also on expiring deals. One or more members of that trio could be seen as a priority for a new pact, especially if some of the team’s younger contributors sign for the long term. At the moment, Baltimore is projected to have roughly $47MM in cap space for 2026.

Of course, this comes against the backdrop of a Lamar Jackson extension being widely expected. Talks on a deal to lower the two-time MVP’s cap charge for next year (currently set at $74.5MM) have taken place, and finalizing a new pact would provide clarity on the team’s financial outlook moving forward. That, in turn, could allow for other deals to be budgeted for prior to the start of the new league year in March. As the Ravens continue to vie for top spot in the AFC North down the stretch, it will be interesting to see if they can take of more financial business as well.

Ravens, Mark Andrews Agree On Extension

December 3rd, 2025 at 10:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mark Andrews will not be testing free agency. For the second time, the accomplished tight end has agreed to a Ravens extension.

The longtime Lamar Jackson target agreed to a three-year deal worth $39.3MM, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports. The through-2028 deal includes $26MM guaranteed. This deal comes months after rumors swirled about an Andrews trade. Instead, the Ravens’ all-time receiving leader has secured a nice guarantee and will stick around.

Baltimore has secured Andrews at a lower rate compared to his 2021 extension. Considering the cap’s rise by nearly $100MM in that span, this represents good value for the team. Andrews had entered the season on his four-year, $56MM extension. This one checks in just south of that in AAV, at $13.1MM. That ranks sixth among tight ends.

The tight end market has not moved too much since Andrews’ first Ravens payday. George Kittle and Trey McBride moved the bar to $19MM this offseason, one that included Ja’Marr Chase dragging the receiver benchmark past $40MM per year. As Andrews’ position continues to make modest gains, the Ravens were able to construct a reasonable third contract to quiet doubts about his future and provide some much-needed clarity on the club’s post-2025 tight end situation.

A March rumor suggested the Ravens could trade Andrews this year, while Eric DeCosta‘s initial assessment of the situation did not assure the top pass catcher in franchise history would play an eighth season in Maryland. That noise quieted, but the Ravens had received trade interest on Andrews this offseason. With the team also interested in extending Isaiah Likely, it certainly looked reasonable Andrews could hit free agency and depart come March.

This extension does come at an interesting point. Andrews turned 30 in September and has seen his yards-per-catch average drop to 9.0. The dynamic tight end had not previously finished a season below 11.5, posting 12-plus-yard averages in all but one year from 2018-24. The Ravens did play without Lamar Jackson for a three-game stretch, and the superstar quarterback has not flashed MVP-caliber form in recent weeks. The Ravens are obviously confident Andrews still has prime form remaining, though it will be interesting to see the full guarantees in this deal.

The Ravens franchise has struggled to identify long-term receiving pieces. Only three players in franchise history have compiled more than 4,000 yards. Two of them are tight ends — Andrews and Todd Heap. Andrews eclipsed Derrick Mason‘s franchise yardage record this season; Mason was a Titans cap casualty who joined the Ravens ahead of his age-31 season. As the team has failed to groom a long-term receiving piece out of the draft — though, Zay Flowers may have something to say about that — it also missed on first-round tight end Hayden Hurst in 2018. Fortunately, Baltimore doubled up at TE in that draft by circling back via Andrews at No. 86.

Andrews has three Pro Bowls on his resume, including a 2021 season that produced 1,361 yards and a first-team All-Pro nod. Considering Travis Kelce and George Kittle‘s primes coming during this period, first-team All-Pro accolades were hard to come by. Andrews added 847 receiving yards in 2022, a second straight year bringing a late-season Jackson injury.

After suffering a major ankle injury in 2023, Andrews returned to play 17 games last season. Although Likely ate into some of Andrews’ receiving opportunities, the enduring presence totaled 673 receiving yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns to help Jackson to a second straight first-team All-Pro nod.

This season, Andrews has just 332 receiving yards. Though, he has scored five TDs. Pro Football Focus also ranks Andrews as a top-20 run blocker at the position. Likely missed the team’s first three games due to injury but has been active since. The fourth-year TE has 18 receptions for 223 yards and no scores. This extension could point the younger option to the market, but Likely re-up talks were believed to be on Baltimore’s docket. A franchise tag was even floated as a possibility.

With Andrews locked down, Likely may well have a chance to test the market. While the Ravens have until early March to negotiate exclusively with Likely, his FA price tag could make a return unreasonable.

OL Rumors: Teller, Bears, Packers, Ravens

December 3rd, 2025 at 2:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Wyatt Teller has been with the Browns since 2019, as the team made a savvy trade with the Bills to acquire a talented blocker who had not hit his stride just yet. The 2018 fifth-round pick has been selected to three All-Pro teams (as a second-teamer) and three Pro Bowls. Teller was a linchpin of Browns O-lines that paved lanes for Nick Chubb and produced two playoff berths this decade. But that group could splinter soon. Teller joins Joel Bitonio and Jack Conklin as longtime Cleveland blockers on expiring contracts.

The Browns lost Teller to a calf injury against the 49ers, but they had already cut into his workload in what The Athletic’s Zac Jackson calls a preplanned benching. This brought ex-Bears starter Teven Jenkins into the lineup, which NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes was by design. Jenkins is also in a contract year, signing for one season at $3.1MM. He has not started a game in Cleveland, but that is expected to change this week. As Jenkins prepares to replace Teller due to injury, the Browns having planned to reduce his playing time already points to a likely 2026 exit for the seven-year starter.

Teller said earlier this season he wanted to finish his career in Cleveland, and a new deal was believed to be under consideration as of September. Unlike Bitonio, the 31-year-old has not been linked to retirement. Teller’s four-year, $56.8MM extension voids on Feb. 10, 2026; no extension by that point would leave $10.39MM on Cleveland’s 2026 cap sheet. While Teller could expect to draw free agency interest, it will be worth following if he reacquires his starting job after this calf injury. Jenkins has plenty to play for as well, after his market underwhelmed this past offseason.

Here is the latest from the O-line ranks:

  • The Bears also made another change at left tackle, inserting Ozzy Trapilo into their lineup to open their Black Friday matchup. Trapilo replaced Theo Benedet against the Eagles, helping the Bears compile a stunning 281 rushing yards in a road upset. Ben Johnson pointed to the second-round rookie, primarily a right tackle at Boston College, receiving more time at LT. The first-year HC called Trapilo “an ascending player,” via 670 The Score’s Chris Emma, and hinted at more reps coming his way. Benedet, who started seven games after usurping Braxton Jones, worked as a reserve against Philly. Considering Jones’ likely free agency departure, Trapilo seemed on track to receive a chance. Given Chicago’s success up front this season, plenty of eyes will be on the 6-foot-8 newcomer playing on a veteran O-line. Pro Football Focus ranks Benedet 67th among tackles.
  • Green Bay also made a Week 13 change involving a second-round O-lineman, inserting Anthony Belton into its lineup at right guard over Jordan Morgan. After Belton ate into the first-round pick’s time in Week 12, he took over as the starter against the Lions. The Packers had alternated first-half series between Morgan and Belton in Week 12, but as The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman notes, Belton worked the entire second half. It appears the job is his. A 2024 first-rounder, Morgan has been unable to find a home on Green Bay’s O-line. He has competed at guard and left tackle. With Rasheed Walker likely departing as a 2026 free agent, Morgan’s next chance to start (barring injury) could come then. Schneidman points to Morgan moving to that spot if/once Walker departs in March.
  • Staying on the subject of O-lineman rotating into action, Ravens rookie Emery Jones did so at left guard Thursday. Jones, who came off Baltimore’s reserve/NFI list in late October, played 16 snaps in his debut. John Harbaugh pointed to more work, though the 18th-year HC said (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) it is unlikely Jones will be cross-trained at RG as well. Primarily a college tackle, Jones cut into Andrew Vorhees‘ playing time at LG in Week 13. A 2024 seventh-rounder, Vorhees has started every Ravens game there this season.
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