Packers Re-Sign OLB Justin Hollins
The Packers claimed Justin Hollins off waivers midway through the 2022 season, and his play upon arrival has earned him an extended stay. Per a team announcement, the veteran pass rusher has re-signed on a new deal in Green Bay. 
Hollins, 27, was a draftee of the Broncos but only spent his rookie campaign in Denver. He was waived ahead of the 2020 season and claimed by the Rams, with whom he took on an incrementally larger role in each season. Hollins registered seven starts across 34 games in Los Angeles, working his way up to a 50% snap share in his 10 games in 2022.
The former fifth-rounder notched only one sack in that span, however, leading the Rams to waive him in November amidst their general struggles in the pass rush department. No player outside of Leonard Floyd managed to record more than one sack for the Rams’ edge rushers, so the position figures to be a position of interest in the secondary waves of free agency and the draft.
With the Packers, Hollins saw a lesser role in six games compared to his workload with the Rams earlier in the year. He was more productive in Green Bay, though, notching 2.5 sacks and three tackles for loss. He added nine total tackles and four QB hits, numbers which will earn him a full season with the team in 2023.
The Oregon product will look to maintain a rotational role amongst the Packers’ edge rushers next season. Green Bay has Rashan Gary and Preston Smith at the top of the depth chart, but the former suffered an ACL tear in November. Hollins could serve as an insurance policy if Gary is unable to return in time for Week 1, and provide a depth option for the team when he is available moving forward.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/20/23
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: G Max Scharping
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Mike Ford
Denver Broncos
- Released: LB Wyatt Ray
- Waived: CB Lamar Jackson
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: CB Corey Ballentine
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: S Jaquan Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Lonnie Johnson
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Leonard Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: TE Ross Dwelley
The Giants are giving Leonard Johnson a three-year deal, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 tweets. The former Duke prospect suffered a torn ACL while training for the 2022 draft; the Giants worked him out Monday and saw enough to take a flier. While Ford made two starts for the Falcons last season, the ex-UDFA is best known for his special teams work. He saw action on 83% of Atlanta’s ST plays last season, and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (via Twitter) the Bengals are giving him a one-year deal worth up to $2.25MM.
Both Scharping and Lonnie Johnson are former Texans second-round picks. The Texans waived Scharping on roster-cutdown day in August, but the Bengals claimed him. Although Scharping only played 30 snaps for Cincinnati last season, the team will keep him around for another run at a backup gig. Months before bailing on Scharping, the Texans traded Johnson to the Chiefs. But Kansas City did not see much from the acquisition in camp and waived him. The Titans picked up Johnson via waivers, using him as a backup. Johnson has experience at both cornerback and safety, and The Score’s Jordan Schultz adds he agreed to a one-year Saints deal (Twitter link).
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/23
Here are today’s minor moves from around the league:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Tae Davis
Buffalo Bills
- Signed free agent tender: CB Dane Jackson
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: C Justin McCray
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: S Rudy Ford
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LS Jacob Bobenmoyer
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: P JK Scott
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: WR River Cracraft
New England Patriots
- Re-signed: DT Daniel Ekuale
- Signed: LB Chris Board
New York Jets
- Re-signed: FB Nick Bawden
- Signed: C Trystan Colon-Castillo
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DT Abdullah Anderson
Board is a strong special teamer, signing a two-year, $5MM deal with New England, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The contract reportedly includes incentives that can push the deal to a maximum value of $6.7MM.
Colon-Castillo reportedly visited the Falcons today, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Despite the visit, he decided to sign with the Jets.
Packers Sign S Tarvarius Moore
A 2021 season-nullifying injury postponed Tarvarius Moore‘s free agency by a year. After the safety’s contract tolled, however, the Packers will still add him to the mix.
The 49ers used Moore as both a cornerback and a safety, though he spent more time at the latter post. He competed with Talanoa Hufanga to start opposite Jimmie Ward last year. Hufanga going on to earn first-team All-Pro honors signaled San Francisco’s long-term plans at that position. But Ward and Moore have now relocated, with the 10th-year veteran joining DeMeco Ryans‘ Texans staff.
Moore will land with another ex-Kyle Shanahan coworker, joining Matt LaFleur‘s team. The Packers experienced some issues at safety last season, and Adrian Amos is now a free agent. The team is considering shifting Darnell Savage to the slot on a full-time basis, and Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com notes Rasul Douglas is a candidate to move from cornerback to safety. With the safety spot unsettled and Rudy Ford (six 2022 starts) also a free agent, the Packers may have an opening for Moore.
The former third-round pick — in part because of a 4.32-second 40-yard dash at Southern Miss’ 2018 pro day — began his 49ers career at cornerback moved back to safety in 2019. He started eight games in 2020, making 52 tackles and forcing a fumble. A torn Achilles in June 2021 kept Moore on the 49ers’ PUP list throughout the season, and since he was in the final year of his contract, his rookie deal tolled. Moore would have been unlikely to do well on the market last year anyway, considering his 2021 injury, and he played 13 games this past season.
Moore, 26, does not have a regular-season interception, but he picked off Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIV. Even if Moore does not mount a serious charge to start in Green Bay, the Packers have added an experienced special-teamer. Moore saw action on 66% of the 49ers’ special teams plays last season and cleared the 50% barrier on ST snaps in each of his other three active seasons.
Packers Still Eyeing First-Round Pick From Jets For Aaron Rodgers
Late last week, the notion the Packers wanted a first-round pick and change from the Jets for Aaron Rodgers emerged. Despite Rodgers declaring his intention to join the Jets, the Packers are not believed to be budging.
While rumblings of the teams having agreed to compensation also surfaced, that certainly does not appear to be the case. The Packers want a first-round pick and then another asset down the road. In the event Rodgers plays in 2024, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes the Packers want another draft pick in 2025. Former GM Michael Lombardi brought this asking price to the forefront last week.
Fifteen years ago, the Jets sent the Packers a conditional draft choice — which eventually became a 2009 third-rounder — for Brett Favre. It is clear that will not finalize the next blockbuster Packers-Jets deal involving a future Hall of Fame quarterback. Rodgers attempted to make clear during his latest Pat McAfee Show appearance he is not holding up this trade; the Packers are. The Jets view the Pack’s ask as unreasonable for a player not in their plans any longer, Florio adds.
Rodgers making his Jets intentions clear could up the ante for the Packers, with no other teams on the radar for the 39-year-old passer. It also would cost the Packers more to trade Rodgers than it will for them to keep him on their payroll in 2023. A trade now would saddle Green Bay with $40MM in dead money, which would match the record-setting amount the Falcons ate in last year’s Matt Ryan trade. A Rodgers trade after June 1 would tag the Packers with just $15MM in dead cap. This rather large gap between the two trade timelines could certainly entice the Packers to drag their feet, and while Rodgers said weeks ago he expects a contract adjustment to occur before he is traded, not doing so could lead to a lengthy delay.
The Jets being near-certain they will obtain Rodgers could prompt them to act as though his contract will be on their payroll and operate accordingly throughout free agency. But some doubt would naturally exist the longer this situation drags. The team’s other targets — Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo — are long gone, representing another leverage-boosting factor for the Packers.
Though, the Jets being set to install Nathaniel Hackett‘s offense — the Matt LaFleur-implemented system Rodgers has played in for four seasons — would not make it a requirement for this trade to happen immediately. Rodgers already has a rapport with new Jet Allen Lazard, but he would need to develop timing with Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore and possibly Corey Davis — should the former top-five pick remains in the team’s 2023 plans.
Same as it was 15 years ago, when the Packers installed Rodgers as their starter following Favre retirement No. 1, Green Bay will turn to a fourth-year passer (Jordan Love). Favre re-emerged from retirement that summer. Rodgers indicating Wednesday he is not planning to retire separates these two situations, but the Jets did not have their 2008 QB starter on the roster until August 6.
It would be shocking if the Rodgers trade saga lasted that long, but with the Jets not wanting to give up a first-round pick, it will probably take some time for the teams to finalize this.
Bears To Sign TE Robert Tonyan
After spending six seasons with the Packers, Robert Tonyan is moving to a division rival. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the tight end is signing with the Bears.
After not catching on with the Lions as an undrafted free agent, Tonyan joined the Packers in 2017. He didn’t play as a rookie and most appeared on special teams as a sophomore, but the tight end started to get some work on offense in 2019.
He had his breakout season in 2020, hauling in 52 receptions for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was hit with a second-round tender (and a sizable pay raise) the following offseason, but he only got into eight games in 2021 before tearing his ACL. Tonyan managed to return and appear in all 17 games this past year, collecting a career-high 53 receptions for 470 yards and two touchdowns.
Pro Football Focus has never been a fan of Tonyan, but that’s partly due to his abysmal blocking score. He’ll probably be on the field for sets that call for a pair of tight ends, with the free agent acquisition pairing with 2022 starter Cole Kmet.
The Packers offense will look a whole lot different next season with Aaron Rodgers, Allen Lazard, and likely Randall Cobb out the door. Tight end Marcedes Lewis is also a free agent, potentially opening up snaps for former third-round pick Josiah Deguara.
Aaron Rodgers Confirms Intention To Play For Jets
Wednesday marked another milestone in the 2023 version of Aaron Rodgers‘ decision-making process with respect to his playing future. During his latest appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, a number of important updates were provided. One of them was the four-time MVP confirming his intention to play for the Jets. 
Rodgers elaborated on the darkness retreat he went on at the end of last month, and the shift which took place in terms of his intentions. While prefacing a lengthy breakdown of his thought process, he said that a firm decision has already been made on his part (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Mike Giardi). Not long after that, he added that Friday marked the point at which he told the Packers of his desire to be traded to the Jets (Twitter link via Giardi’s colleague Tom Pelissero).
The 39-year-old admitted that he was “90 percent” leaning towards retirement upon beginning his darkness retreat. Once it had concluded, however, his reaction to the Packers’ openness to trading him (before he had confirmed he would continue his career) spurred a change of course (Twitter links via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). Now, attention will shift to the matter of trade compensation between the Packers and Jets.
On that point, Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that negotiations are still ongoing. He adds that Green Bay is not seeking multiple first-round picks in return for Rodgers, as recent blockbuster deals involving Matthew Stafford and Russell Wilson have. The latter two passers were younger at the time of their respective acquisitions, though they did not have the pedigree of the 10-time Pro Bowler. Matt Schneidman of The Athletic tweets that Rodgers has not yet formally made a trade request to Packers GM Brian Gutekunst, though doing is surely a mere formality at this point.
The Packers have been left waiting to find out Rodgers’ intentions with a number of salary cap-related moves to be made, and a backup in Jordan Love the team (and several of its players) is comfortable elevating to the No. 1 role. They have thus unsurprisingly been open to the notion of trading the longest-tenured player in franchise history, a move which has long been expected to send him to the Jets. Rodgers mentioned that the team delayed communicating that line of thinking until well after the season (Twitter link via ESPN’s Rich Cimini).
New York has been one of several teams adamant they would aggressively pursue an upgrade under center this offseason. They eyed veterans Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo as potential free agent signings, but they have landed in New Orleans and Las Vegas, respectively. Their top priority, signaled as early as their decision to hire Nathaniel Hackett as offensive coordinator, has remained Rodgers. The all-time great, in turn, said Hackett’s presence helped bring him around on joining the Jets.
In the opening days of the free agent period, it was reported that the four-time All-Pro submitted a wish list of pass catchers for New York to add. That included former Packer Allen Lazard, who has agreed to terms on a four-year, $44M pact with the Jets. When asked about the presence of such a list, Rodgers called the notion “ridiculous” (Twitter link via NFL Network’s James Palmer). It will nevertheless be interesting to see what further steps the Jets take in adding players tied to Rodgers if/when a trade is in place.
Rodgers also said that teams other than the Jets showed interest in him (Twitter link via Cimini). Schneidman’s colleague Jeff Howe tweets that the Raiders were one of them, which comes as little surprise given their need at QB before signing Garoppolo and the presence of Davante Adams. They have moved in a different direction, though, in agreeing to terms with Garoppolo.
Rodgers thanked the Packers organization on numerous occasions during today’s remarks. However, the next major element of his legacy appears to now be in place, and his career is all but assured to shift to New York. The Jets are set to land a massive addition at the quarterback position, while the Packers will fully commit to only their second transition at the position in the 21st century. It will look incredibly similar to their first, which involved Brett Favre being traded to the Jets (in 2008) and a fourth-year passer replacing him. Love will soon be set to step into the role Rodgers played for 15 seasons.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: RB Trayveon Williams
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Tremon Smith
Green Bay Packers
- Re-signed: TE Tyler Davis
- Signed: LS Matt Orzech
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: CB Tony Brown
Las Vegas Raiders
- Re-signed: S Roderic Teamer
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: DL Morgan Fox
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: OL Coleman Shelton
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: T Kendall Lamm
- Signed: TE Eric Saubert
- Claimed off waivers (from Broncos): WR Freddie Swain
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-signed: TE Ben Ellefson
Washington Commanders
- Re-signed: DE Efe Obada
Smith got a two-year deal from Denver that can max out at $5.5MM, per Mike Klis of 9News in Denver (via Twitter). Smith got a $1.4MM signing bonus to join the Broncos, per Troy Renck of Denver7 (via Twitter). After finishing last in kicker return average in 2022, the Broncos should get a bump from Smith, who averaged 23.9 yards on his 40 kickoff returns for Houston over the past two years.
Packers Place Second-Round Tender On OL Yosh Nijman
Yosh Nijman is sticking around Green Bay. The Packers have placed a second-round tender on the restricted free agent offensive lineman, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
Nijman joined the Packers as a 2019 undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech. He effectively red shirted as a rookie and mostly played on special teams as a sophomore, but he’s seen more playing time on offense over the past two years.
After starting eight of his 17 appearances in 2020, Nijman started 13 of his 17 appearances in 2021, appearing in 69 percent of his team’s offensive snaps. While Pro Football Focus only ranked him 54th among 81 qualifying offensive tackles, he earned high marks for his pass-rushing ability.
Any team is free to sign Nijman to an offer sheet, but if the Packers don’t match the offer, the suitor would owe Green Bay a second-round pick. If the 27-year-old lineman isn’t signed to an offer sheet, he’ll return to Green Bay on a $4.3MM deal.
Aaron Rodgers’ Jets Free Agency Wish List Includes Odell Beckham Jr., Marcedes Lewis
The Buccaneers loaded up their roster with Tom Brady-approved acquisitions in 2020, adding the likes of Rob Gronkowski, Leonard Fournette and Antonio Brown. Of course, those players became Buccaneers after Brady committed. The Jets may be dealing with a different situation.
Aaron Rodgers has given the Jets a free agency wish list that includes a few ex-Packers — Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Marcedes Lewis — but Dianni Russini of ESPN.com reports the future Hall of Fame quarterback also wants the team to acquire Odell Beckham Jr. (Twitter link). Both the Jets and Raiders are believed to be interested in Lewis, despite the tight end going into an age-39 season, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
It should not be assumed Rodgers will only commit to the Jets if they land all these targets, but the team has been connected to each of the ex-Packers already. The Packers were interested in OBJ back in 2021 as well, though the team stood down and let him sign with the Rams. This marks the first known Beckham-Jets connection, with his previous return-to-New York rumors involving his former team. The Giants, along with the Cowboys, Rams and others, are still believed to be interested in Beckham. Given the QB circumstances at play, the Jets should be counted among the talented but injury-prone wideout’s suitors.
The Jets and Packers have discussed a Rodgers trade for a while, and while it is not known if the parties have agreed to all terms, the holdup here is believed to be Rodgers’ interest in becoming a Jet. The four-time MVP has still not committed to playing a 19th season, despite a round of Jets players sending out celebratory tweets Monday. Putting out a free agency wish list, however, does point to Rodgers being prepared to suit up again.
Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson is obviously not going anywhere, but the Jets’ receiver room could look quite different soon — depending on how many of Rodgers’ guys the team acquires. The Jets have Corey Davis under contract for one more season, but with $10MM-plus in savings attached to cutting him, that should be considered a possible outcome. Elijah Moore and Denzel Mims also remain on Gang Green’s roster, each attached to rookie contracts. Both were in trade rumors last year; the Jets shopped Mims but did not honor Moore’s trade request.
Even as the Jets have made a run of overtures to Rodgers, the team rearranging its skill-position depth chart before he agrees to join them would be a notable development. Rodgers committing and then the team making an effort to add his preferred weaponry would be more in line with how Brady played it three years ago. While this might be a LeBron James-style effort to apply extra pressure to a team to acquire his preferred weaponry, he also may already be committed to the Jets. The latter scenario would make this list easier to understand, compared to an ultimatum.
As for Beckham, this represents another opportunity for him to maximize his value. It is unknown if he is interested in teaming up with Rodgers, but the 30-year-old wideout is once again seeking money seemingly well out of step with his value. Beckham was connected to a $20MM-per-year ask during his December free agency sweepstakes; that number has come up once again. While OBJ is extraordinarily unlikely to approach that price point, given his two ACL tears and missed season, this Rodgers tie could help him on the market.
Lewis was with the Packers throughout new Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett‘s Green Bay stay. He could profile as a third tight end for a team that already employs C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Conklin. A longtime Rodgers ally, Cobb has played 10 of his 12 NFL seasons with the all-time QB great. Rodgers drove the Packers, calling off his trade request, to reacquire him in 2021.