Jets “Highly Motivated” To Add Jadeveon Clowney
Following Jadeveon Clowney‘s visit with the Jets earlier this month, the team is focused on getting a deal finalized. According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, the Jets are “highly motivated” to sign the veteran edge rusher to a contract. Schultz notes that the two sides have been in “constant contact” since their in-person meeting.
[RELATED: Panthers To Meet With Jadeveon Clowney]
Since losing Bryce Huff to the Eagles, the Jets have been hunting for some reinforcement on the edge. As Schultz notes, the Jets were in the running for Shaquil Barrett “until the very end,” but they lost out on that sweepstakes when the pass rusher signed with the Dolphins.
Now, they’re shifting their focus to Clowney, who is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career. The former first-overall pick got into 17 games (15 starts) for the Ravens in 2023, finishing with 9.5 sacks, 19 QB hits, and a pair of forced fumbles. For his efforts, Pro Football Focus graded Clowney 18th among 112 qualifying edge defenders.
In New York, Clowney would slide right into the rotational pass-rush role previously held by Huff, who finished last season with 10 sacks. While Huff didn’t start a game last year, he still got close to 500 defensive snaps playing alongside Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers. For comparison’s sake, Clowney garnered 654 snaps with the Ravens in 2023.
We heard previously that the Ravens were looking to retain the veteran, and Clowney also met with the Panthers during his free agency tour. According to Schultz, both of those teams remain in the hunt for the free agent, but it sounds like the Jets have been especially active in finalizing a deal.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/22/24
Today’s minor transactions heading into the weekend:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Ka’dar Hollman
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: DT Larrell Murchison
The Ravens don’t lack depth cornerbacks on their roster, so Hollman will be competing throughout the summer with several others for an eventual roster spot.
The Rams bring back Murchison, who started three games for Los Angeles last year as a rotation lineman. Perhaps with Aaron Donald retired, Murchison will be looking to feature more heavily in the rotation.
Ravens To Host WR Josh Reynolds
The Ravens continue to seek out options on the veteran wide receiver market. Josh Reynolds will head to Baltimore for a visit tomorrow, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
[RELATED: Michael Gallup To Visit Ravens]
Reynolds began his career with the Rams, operating as a secondary receiving option for much of his first three years in Los Angeles. He took on starting duties in 2020, though, and he posted a career-best 52 catches and 618 yards that year. The former fourth-rounder joined the Titans in free agency off the back of that production, but things did not go according to plan in Nashville.
Playing on a one-year, $1.75MM pact, Reynolds was unable to carve out a role in Tennessee. He asked for and was granted his release, leading to a waiver claim by the Lions in 2021. With Detroit, the 29-year-old found more consistent playing time and earned a two-year, $12MM deal during the subsequent offseason. Reynolds remained a key member of the Lions’ attack over the past two years, totaling 78 catches, 1,078 yards and eight touchdowns in that span.
The Ravens will not have Odell Beckham Jr. in the fold for 2024, and the team is in search of a replacement for his complementary production from last season. Fellow veteran Nelson Agholor was retained earlier in the offseason, and former first-rounders Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are on their respective rookie contracts. With tight end Mark Andrews also in the fold, any WR addition will be joining the Ravens in a bid to serve in a rotational capacity and fill a depth role in the pass-catching pecking order.
Reynolds – who has averaged 13.3 yards per catch in his career – could fit the bill. The Lions have Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Kalif Raymond in place at the WR spot; the team also signed Tre’Quan Smith to a futures deal in January. Reynolds could thus be on the move for the third time in his career this offseason, and a Baltimore deal would make sense. The Ravens (a team which added offensive lineman Josh Jones earlier today) entered Thursday with just under $14MM in cap space.
Ravens Sign OL Josh Jones
The 2024 offseason has seen three starters from the Ravens’ 2023 offensive line depart. Additions up front will thus be a priority for the team, and a move in that regard has been made. 
Josh Jones has signed with Baltimore, the team announced on Thursday. The 26-year-old has seen time at both guard and tackle spots between his time in Arizona and Houston. That positional versatility could could lead to him seeing at least depth usage on the inside or outside with the Ravens.
A third-round pick in 2020, Jones made 47 appearances during his three-year Cardinals tenure. That stretch included 21 starts, most of which came in 2021 when he played primarily at right guard. Arizona then used him on the blindside the following year, and Jones drew strong PFF reviews. He earned a 75.8 grade on the back of strong play both in the run game and with respect to pass protection.
Jones was traded to the Texans last offseason as Houston aimed to find quality depth amidst multiple injuries up front. He wound up starting three games in 2023, splitting time at left tackle, left guard and right tackle. The Houston alum surrendered one sack and nine QB pressures in that limited action, which led to his PFF evaluation (49.3) landing in line with that of his first two seasons. This Ravens agreement will no doubt represent a short-term, low-cost investment as a result.
Still, Jones could find himself occupying a notable role in 2024. The Ravens have lost both starting guards from last season (Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson) to free agent departures; the team also traded away right tackle Morgan Moses in a cost-shedding move. None of those developments came as much of surprise, but they have added urgency to the need on Baltimore’s part to bring in replacements via free agency and next month’s draft.
Adding another blocker early in April will remain a priority even with Jones’ arrival. The latter will nevertheless likely have the chance to compete for the swing tackle role or playing time on the inside. At a minimum, Jones will be capable of serving as depth and a spot-starter at multiple positions up front. Considering the turnover Baltimore has experienced on the O-line, that could make this second-wave free agent addition an effective one.
Ravens To Meet With WR Michael Gallup
Odell Beckham Jr. has already bid farewell to Baltimore, though he remains unsigned. While the Ravens have their other top receivers from 2023 under contract, they are looking at free agents.
Michael Gallup will pay a visit to Baltimore to meet with Ravens brass Thursday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. A recent Cowboys cap casualty, Gallup has already met with the Panthers.
Spending six seasons with the Cowboys, Gallup was unable to rival the production he showed on his rookie contract. Dallas re-signed the former third-round pick on a five-year, $57.5MM deal in 2022 but saw him fall short of 500 receiving yards in each of the past two seasons. Gallup suffered a torn ACL near the end of his contract year, and while he was still able to score a decent payday, the team did not observe him as a reliable CeeDee Lamb complement on that contract.
Gallup, who turned 28 earlier this month, does have an 1,100-yard season on his resume (2019); he followed that up with an 843-yard, five-TD offering in 2020. Gallup missed a chunk of the 2021 season due to a separate injury, returning before ultimately going down with the ACL tear. In 17 games last season, the 6-foot-1 target totaled 418 yards and two TDs.
The Ravens saw Zay Flowers become an instant contributor last year. Beckham contributed 565 yards and three scores — second on the team. While Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor stayed healthy and enjoyed moments, neither surpassed 400 yards. More than two years after his knee injury, Gallup could certainly be viewed as an upgrade as an auxiliary target alongside Flowers. One season remains on Bateman’s rookie contract and the deal Agholor signed last year.
This year’s higher-end receiver UFAs have signed, and Mike Williams committed to the Jets on Tuesday. Some other talented options remain available. Gallup and Beckham join Tyler Boyd, Hunter Renfrow, Michael Thomas, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and DJ Chark as available pass catchers.
Ravens To Sign LB Chris Board
Chris Board is heading back to where he started his NFL career. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports that the free agent linebacker is signing with the Ravens.
The 2018 UDFA out of North Dakota State got his NFL start with the Ravens in 2018. He only missed a pair of regular season games during his four years in Baltimore, transforming into one of the team’s top special teams aces. Board also got a look on defense during his final two seasons with the Ravens, compiling 72 tackles and 2.5 sacks between those two campaigns.
Board spent the 2022 season with the Lions, serving in a similar role to his final years in Baltimore. He reverted back to just a special teams role with the Patriots in 2023. In 17 games in New England, Board got into only a single defensive snap, although he did log a career-high 407 ST snaps.
As Ryan Mink of the Ravens website points out, Baltimore has been in the hunt for a player like Board since they lost Del’Shawn Phillips in free agency. Phillips got into 81 defensive snaps this past season but played on a career-high 375 special teams snaps. Board will likely see a similar role in 2024 as an inside linebackers option behind Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, and recent re-signee Malik Harrison.
Ravens To Re-Sign CB Arthur Maulet
After catching on with the Ravens late last summer, Arthur Maulet will be sticking with the organization for the next few years. NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports that the veteran cornerback is re-signing with Baltimore on a two-year deal.
The former UDFA bounced around the NFL to begin his career, never spending more than two seasons with any single team. After playing out the 2021 and 2022 seasons in Pittsburgh, it took Maulet until last July to catch on with another AFC North squad.
The 30-year-old proceeded to start three of his 14 games for the Ravens, tying or setting new career highs in sacks (two), QB hits (three), and passes defended (five). For his efforts, Pro Football Focus ranked him 45th among 127 qualifying cornerbacks, including a top-10 positional grade for his pass-rushing ability.
Maulet always had a built-in role as a nickelback, but he could see an even larger role in 2024. Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens will still be atop the cornerbacks depth chart, but Maulet will no longer have to compete with Ronald Darby for the CB3 role.
As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley notes, the Ravens have done some work in retaining free agent defenders. Maulet is the fourth defender to re-sign in Baltimore, joining defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, linebacker Malik Harrison, and defensive end Brent Urban.
Lions To Sign G Kevin Zeitler
MARCH 19: Zeitler agreed to a one-year, $6MM deal, The33rdTeam.com’s Ari Meirov tweets. Although the Ravens had begun discussions with Zeitler about a return for a fourth Baltimore season, the veteran guard is headed to Detroit. Following Jackson’s Rams defection, Zeitler and Glasgow will form an affordable tandem — comprised of two 30-somethings — at the position.
MARCH 18: The Lions have found their replacement for Jonah Jackson. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions are signing veteran guard Kevin Zeitler.
[RELATED: Rams, G Jonah Jackson Agree To Deal]
The lineman will be inking a one-year deal with Detroit. Zeitler is flying to Detroit tonight to take his physical before officially signing with the Lions tomorrow.
The 12-year veteran earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2023 after starting 15 games for Baltimore. He graded out as Pro Football Focus’ 15th-best offensive guard last season, with Zeitler earning the second-highest grade at his position for pass blocking.
The 34-year-old is coming off a three-year stint with the Ravens that saw him start all 47 of his appearances. The former first-round pick spent the first five seasons of his career with the Bengals before his two-year stints with the Browns and Giants.
The Lions re-signed right guard Graham Glasgow last week, but Justin Rogers of The Detroit News believes Glasgow will likely shift to the left side of the line following Zeitler’s addition. After losing Jackson to the Rams, the Lions have been seeking a fifth starting lineman to play besides Glasgow, center Frank Ragnow, and tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker.
As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley notes, Zeitler marks the 10th player the Ravens have lost via free agency. That grouping includes fellow OL John Simpson who signed with the Jets, and the Ravens also dealt Morgan Moses to New York, meaning Baltimore will be eyeing a new-look offensive line grouping in 2024.
WR Odell Beckham Jr. Confirms Ravens Departure
Indications from earlier this month pointed to Odell Beckham Jr. departing the Ravens in free agency after his one-year stint with the team. The former Pro Bowl wideout confirmed that will be the case via an Instagram post. 
“Swea on everything, I appreciate the Flock more than all could EVER imagine,” his message reads in part. “Did everything I could with the opportunities I had. Wish I got to do it big for yall.”
The Ravens restructured Beckham’s contract – a one-year deal including $15MM guaranteed – before ultimately releasing him with a post-June 1 designation, as detailed by ESPN’s Dan Graziano. That move added further to the expectation his tenure in Baltimore would be a one-and-done endeavor. Now, the 31-year-old will turn his attention to free agency once again.
Beckham missed the entire 2022 season while rehabbing an ACL tear, and his time on the open market was a prolonged storyline around the NFL last spring. He ultimately joined the Ravens on a more lucrative pact than many expected he would receive, given the relative lack of suitors Baltimore was bidding against. The Jets showed interest last year, though, and they could once again be a team to watch with respect to Beckham’s next move.
The Super Bowl winner flashed the potential to remain a high-end producer during his brief time with the Rams prior to suffering the ACL tear. Beckham remained mostly healthy in 2023, suiting up for 14 games and posting a 35-565-3 statline. His 16.1 yards per catch average was the highest of his career, and he could prove to be a secondary receiving option on a new team with a short-term agreement in particular.
Many of the top WR options in the 2024 free agent class are already off the market, and the depth of highly-regarded draft prospects at the position could lead to many veterans remaining unsigned for the time being. Baltimore will be a team to watch regarding an addition next month to provide depth in the pass-catching department, as Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and the recently re-signed Nelson Agholor are on the books. Beckham will not be a part of that group in 2024, however.
Cowboys Never Pursued RB Derrick Henry
With Derrick Henry owning a home in Dallas and the Cowboys eyeing a new running backs corps in 2024, there seemed to be a natural connection between the two sides when the veteran hit free agency. Instead, Henry ended up signing with the Ravens, and during a recent appearance on “Schein on Sports,” the running back admitted that the Cowboys never reached out.
[RELATED: Ravens To Sign RB Derrick Henry]
“The Cowboys never called at all,” Henry said (h/t Lawrence Dow of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram via Yahoo). “That’s where I stay in the offseason. I’m kind of on the back end of my career and that’s a great organization. It would’ve been a great opportunity, but I’m thankful that I ended up here in Baltimore.”
The Cowboys were mentioned as a “dark horse” suitor for Henry back at the trade deadline, but a move never materialized. As Henry’s contract expired and Tony Pollard hit free agency, it seemed like this would be the time for the Cowboys to pounce.
Instead, the organization hasn’t done anything to address the depth they’ve lost at RB in recent years. Pollard led their backfield in 2023, and the organization moved on from offensive stalwart Ezekiel Elliott last offseason. At the moment, 2023 sixth-round pick Deuce Vaughn is expected to lead the depth chart, with the team also rostering Malik Davis and Snoop Conner.
While the cash-strapped Cowboys have been quiet this week, it wouldn’t have taken a massive commitment to sign Henry. The deal was described as a two-year, $16MM deal with $20MM upside. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero has more details on that contract.
In 2024, Henry will earn a guaranteed $1.21MM salary in addition to a $7.79MM signing bonus. In 2025, that salary will jump to $5MM, and Henry will be due $1MM via a roster bonus in March. There’s an additional $2MM that Henry can earn each season via incentives.