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Packers Re-Sign TE John FitzPatrick

April 14th, 2025 at 8:57pm CST by Ben Levine

The Packers are bringing back John FitzPatrick after all. The team announced tonight that they’ve re-signed the free agent tight end. Veteran reporter Howard Balzer was first with the news.

There was some uncertainty surrounding FitzPatrick’s future in Green Bay. The midseason acquisition was initially positioned to hit restricted free agency. However, the Packers never tendered him a contract, making the tight end an unrestricted free agent. Ultimately, the two sides will be looking to extend their partnership for at least another season.

A former sixth-round pick by the Falcons, FitzPatrick started last season on Atlanta’s practice squad. He was snagged by Green Bay in October as the Packers navigated Luke Musgrave‘s absence, and FitzPatrick proceeded to get into nine games (plus another playoff contest) for his new squad.

He finished his season with a single catch, with 53 of his 73 offensive snaps coming as a run blocker. The 25-year-old also got some looks on special teams. In total, FitzPatrick has appeared in 91 career offensive snaps and 133 ST snaps.

The Packers positional depth chart should look very similar next year. Tucker Kraft returns as the starting tight end following a breakout campaign, and Musgrave should also be fully healthy after returning late in the 2024 season. FitzPatrick could ultimately be competing for a roster spot with Ben Sims, who finished second at the position in 2024 with 224 snaps.

CB Patrick Peterson Retires

April 14th, 2025 at 1:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

APRIL 14: Peterson’s retirement ceremony has indeed taken place Monday, as scheduled. During his speech, he said a meeting after the Super Bowl with owner Michael Bidwill paved the way for today’s announcement occurring at the team’s facility. Peterson noted (via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss) he feels he could still play in the NFL but prefers to turn his attention to his post-playing days.

APRIL 11: A week after Julio Jones‘ retirement, the player chosen one spot ahead of him in a loaded 2011 draft is walking away as well. Like Jones, Patrick Peterson did not play in 2024. And the decorated cornerback is planning to retire with the Cardinals on Monday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports.

The former No. 5 overall pick did his best work in Arizona, which selected him in a first round that included Jones, J.J. Watt, Von Miller, Tyron Smith, Cameron Heyward, Cameron Jordan and several other standouts. Several Hall of Famers will come from that first round, and Peterson is likely among them.

Twice a first-team All-Pro as a cornerback and once as a return man, Peterson started his career with eight straight Pro Bowls. The first of those came for return-game work, but among DBs in NFL history, only a handful (Ronnie Lott, Champ Bailey, Steve Atwater, Jalen Ramsey) of post-merger cover men join Peterson as being named to seven Pro Bowls over eight seasons to start a career. Although a 2019 PED suspension brought a step back for Peterson, he did well to rebound upon leaving Arizona for Minnesota in 2021.

A lockdown boundary corner who would follow receivers more than his top peers of the period did, Peterson also displayed durability with the Cardinals. He did not miss a game due to injury in Arizona, going until his first Vikings season — which featured four absences — before seeing a health issue keep him off the field. Peterson helped the Cardinals to two playoff brackets, including a run to the 2015 NFC championship game, and was part of a 2010s defensive crew that featured fellow Pro Bowlers Calais Campbell, Tyrann Mathieu and Chandler Jones. That group splintered near the decade’s end, leaving Peterson as one of the stalwarts on a retooling team.

No second-team All-Pro honors are on Peterson’s resume, which is a bit unusual for a player with his reputation. He earned first-team All-Pro acclaim as a corner in 2013 and 2015. The first of those seasons helped Peterson score a monster extension (five years, $70.1MM) during the 2014 offseason, . The second came as Arizona journeyed to the NFC title game in a season that brought the most wins (13) in a season in the franchise’s 105-year history. Peterson joined Richard Sherman, Chris Harris and Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis on the 2010s’ All-Decade team at corner.

The Cardinals opted not to hand Peterson a second extension, having drafted Byron Murphy 33rd overall in 2019. This came during an early-2020s period that featured a host of quality defenders (Peterson, Jones, Watt, Murphy, Zach Allen) depart. The Vikings gave the LSU alum a one-year, $8MM deal. The 6-foot-1 corner stayed in Minnesota, despite the team changing HCs and GMs in 2022, but did so on a one-year, $4MM pact. Agreeing to a 50% pay cut, Peterson still intercepted five passes in 2022 — including a game-sealing theft of Josh Allen in a shootout win in Buffalo — and helped the team to a 13-4 season. Minnesota did not retain Peterson for his age-33 season, leading to a Pittsburgh one-off. The Steelers, who experimented with Peterson at safety in 2023, released him in 2024.

Peterson aimed to play a 14th season, but corners approaching their mid-30s have trouble landing deals. Peterson may well have received offers, but they clearly did not move the needle financially. He did quite well for himself there, amassing a career-earnings ledger of nearly $114MM. A lucrative rookie contract — the first in the rookie-scale era — and playing out that $70.1MM extension represented the lead drivers of Peterson’s earnings sheet.

The Cardinals cooled Peterson’s punt-return usage after the 2015 season, but he delivered one of this era’s premier seasons by returning four punts for TDs as a rookie. The former shutdown corner will retire with 36 career interceptions — including seven during a breakout 2012 season — and two pick-sixes. Peterson added a postseason INT but only wound up playing in five career playoff tilts. Nevertheless, the former top prospect will retire as one of his era’s top defensive contributors.

Browns Sign DE Julian Okwara

April 14th, 2025 at 11:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Julian Okwara will play for a third career team in 2025. The veteran edge rusher signed with the Browns on Monday, per a team announcement.

[RELATED: Browns Leaning Toward Travis Hunter Over Abdul Carter?]

Okwara spent his first four years with the Lions. The former third-round pick made 38 appearances with Detroit, but only four of those were starts. His highest workload came in 2021 with a 40% snap share; Okwara notched five sacks that season, which remains his personal best.

The 27-year-old landed a futures deal with the Eagles last winter, but he was ultimately among the team’s final roster cuts. Okwara quickly found a new home with the Cardinals, though, signing to their practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster in September and remained there the rest of the way. In all, Okwara made 13 appearances with Arizona in 2024, playing one third of the team’s defensive snaps.

That usage rate translated to just one sack and four quarterback pressures, which helps explain why Okwara remained on the open market this deep into free agency. The Notre Dame product will turn his attention to landing a roster spot during the summer as the Browns aim to add depth behind Myles Garrett along the edge. Za’Darius Smith was traded away midway through the 2024 campaign, creating a vacancy in the starting lineup. Former Bucs first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka signed a one-year deal in free agency, and the Browns still have the likes of Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Alex Wright in the fold.

Okwara will now join that group as he looks to carve out a role for himself. The Browns entered Monday with roughly $19.5MM in cap space, and this deal will no doubt check in near (or at) the veteran minimum. Cleveland could still look to make further moves before the draft as a result.

Browns Bring Back QB Joe Flacco

April 11th, 2025 at 10:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

10:50pm: Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports the Flacco deal will pay out $6MM if he operates as the Browns’ starter and the team does not reach the playoffs. A starting gig which does produce a postseason berth, meanwhile, will see him earn $8MM. Flacco would need to earn first-team All-Pro honors to achieve the maximum $13MM, an entirely unrealistic scenario for the zero-time Pro Bowler. If he can duplicate the success of his first Cleveland stint, though, Flacco can notably add to his career earnings.

8:02am: Joe Flacco will return to Cleveland for 2025. The 40-year-old quarterback has an agreement in place with the Browns, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move is now official.

This will be a one-year deal with a base value of $4MM, per Flacco’s agency. The pact can be worth up to $13MM thanks to incentives. After taking over starting duties late in the 2023 campaign, the former Super Bowl MVP will now return to the Browns as they continue to sort out their quarterback situation.

Deshaun Watson‘s second Achilles tear threatens to keep him sidelined for the entire 2025 campaign. As a result, the Browns have been active in pursuing veteran help under center, trading for former Steelers first-rounder Kenny Pickett earlier this offseason. More moves were expected, although signs pointed against the No. 2 pick in this month’s draft being devoted to a signal-caller. This deal represents another indication that will be the case.

Flacco’s time atop the depth chart with the Ravens ended with a knee injury midway through the 2018 campaign. Then-rookie Lamar Jackson replaced him in the lineup and has remained the starter ever since. After the season, Flacco was dealt to the Broncos, although his one-and-done Denver campaign did not go according to plan. The former first-rounder then saw time with the Jets and Eagles, making nine starts between 2020-22.

Uncertainty loomed over Flacco’s NFL future, but the Browns represented an opportunity to continue his career once Watson went down in 2023. The Delaware product was initially brought in as veteran insurance, but he quickly locked down the QB1 gig and helped lead Cleveland to the playoffs. Flacco averaged 323 yards per game and threw 13 touchdown passes in five regular season games, but interceptions proved to be a problem then and in the team’s wild-card loss to the Texans.

Flacco preferred to remain with the Browns for 2024, but he wound up taking a one-year Colts deal after Indianapolis was priced out of Gardner Minshew‘s market. Anthony Richardson began the season atop the depth chart, but the former No. 4 pick was benched at one point and again missed time due to injury. That allowed Flacco to made six starts, bringing his career total to 191. That figure could rise even further in 2025.

Pickett is now joined by Flacco as a healthy Browns quarterback option. Cleveland has been linked to a pursuit of Kirk Cousins, who is seeking a fresh start after being demoted to backup by the Falcons. A trade after the draft is still possible at this point since Atlanta is open to entertaining it, but especially if the Browns add a developmental passer sometime during the draft the market for Cousins will be quite limited. In any case, Flacco – who posted a 90.5 passer rating in 2024 – will be a familiar option for head coach Kevin Stefanski and Co.

Interestingly, Schefter adds Flacco also spoke with the Steelers and Vikings prior to making his Cleveland return. Pittsburgh is of course still linked to Aaron Rodgers as the team seeks a short-term starter; Rodgers’ preferred destination, meanwhile is Minnesota. The Vikings (barring a Rodgers deal) are set to hand the reins over to J.J. McCarthy in 2025, but they are clearly on the lookout for a veteran. Flacco could have fulfilled that role, but instead he will compete for playing time in Cleveland.

NFL Minor Transactions: 4/11/25

April 11th, 2025 at 6:43pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

King returned to the field last year for the first time since 2021. A former second-round pick for the Packers, King was a starter in Green Bay before deciding to sit out the 2022 season for personal reasons. He attempted to make a return in 2023, but a torn Achilles tendon prevented him from doing so.

Finally coming back to the NFL with the Falcons last year, King saw very few snaps on defense in the regular season despite being a standout in the offseason. King was praised for his defensive versatility throughout camp and the preseason, but the Falcons mostly utilized the veteran on special teams.

Colts Re-Sign TE Mo Alie-Cox

April 11th, 2025 at 10:07am CST by Adam La Rose

Mo Alie-Cox has spent his entire career with the Colts, and that relationship will continue in 2025. The veteran tight end re-signed on Friday, per a team announcement.

It is a one-year agreement worth $2.2MM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. This comes after the ex-basketball player played out a three-year, $17.55MM contract. And the latest Alie-Cox Indianapolis agreement comes as the team is being linked to this draft’s top two tight end prospects.

Alie-Cox entered the league as an undrafted free agent, but he has managed to carve out a notable NFL tenure. He has amassed 108 appearances and 47 starts with Indianapolis, and the both figures could continue to rise in 2025. Tight end is seen as a key Colts need entering the draft, leading many to believe one of the position’s top prospects will be selected their first-round pick.

Even if that takes place, though, Alie-Cox will represent a familiar option for the team. The 31-year-old has remained durable throughout his career, chipping in as a complementary pass-catching option and contributing as a run blocker. Over the course of his Colts tenure, Alie-Cox has seen his snap share range from 33% to 55%, although he has found himself playing less than half of the team’s offensive snaps in each of the past two campaigns. If Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland arrive as a rookie this offseason, that playing time rate could drop even further.

Tight end has been a sore spot for years in Indianapolis, and the team has taken a number of routes to try and address the position. Jelani Woods flashed potential as a rookie in 2022, but he has not seen any regular season game action since then. Woods is a pending 2026 free agent, but his roster spot has been a question mark this offseason. It will be interesting to see if the Virginia product stays in Indianapolis if the team makes a notable draft investment as expected.

Veteran Albert Okwuegbunam was among the players who signed a futures deal with the Colts in January. The team’s tight end depth chart also includes Will Mallory, Andrew Ogletree and Sean McKeon. Alie-Cox will once again be in the mix in that group as he prepares for an eighth campaign in Indianapolis.

Commanders To Sign QB Josh Johnson

April 11th, 2025 at 8:23am CST by Adam La Rose

Josh Johnson will be back in the nation’s capital in 2025. The journeyman quarterback has agreed to a one-year Commanders deal, ESPN’s John Keim reports.

Johnson’s career has included time with a record 14 NFL teams (in addition to his games played in the first edition of the UFL along with the AAF and the second iteration of the XFL). That lengthy resume includes a stint in Washington dating back to the 2018 campaign. Johnson started three games in four appearances that year.

One of the (many) stops he made after that was a pair of games with the 49ers in 2022. Johnson is therefore a familiar face to Commanders general manager Adam Peters, who ensured stability on the quarterback depth chart earlier this offseason. Marcus Mariota agreed to another one-year Washington pact last month, meaning he is in position to once again serve as backup to reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels.

That leaves Johnson, who turns 39 next month, in place to handle third-string duties and compete for a roster spot during training camp. In total, the former fifth-rounder has made 45 appearances and nine starts during his NFL tenure. Johnson has most recently spent the past two seasons taking part in his third stint with the Ravens. Baltimore added veteran Cooper Rush as a new backup in free agency, though, so it comes as no surprise Johnson finds himself on the move this spring.

The Commanders made a surprise run to the NFC title game in 2024, and they will look to repeat that success next season. Daniels will of course play a huge role in determining Washington’s ability to meet that goal, and if he is forced to miss time Mariota will represent an experienced fill-in option. Johnson could take on QB2 duties if needed, but his attention will turn to surviving roster cuts at the end of training camp.

Texans, Jalen Pitre Agree To Extension

April 11th, 2025 at 8:09am CST by Adam La Rose

The Texans made a major commitment in the secondary when they worked out a record-breaking extension for cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. The team now has another multi-year deal in place with a different member of the secondary from the 2022 draft class.

Jalen Pitre has agreed to a three-year extension worth $39MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The former second-rounder was set to play on the final season of his rookie deal, meaning he is now on the books through 2028. Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero adds the contract includes $29.16MM in guarantees. This accord contains a $10MM signing bonus, $18MM in new compensation for 2025 and can top out at $42.6MM, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports.

Pitre was drafted as a safety, and for the most part he occupied that role during his first two seasons in Houston. The 25-year-old handled full-time starting duties during that span, which included a five-interception rookie campaign. Pitre’s ball production took a step back in 2023, but he remained a mainstay in the secondary. Last offseason, the Texans committed to playing him at slot corner, a role he primarily handled in 2024.

While he was limited to 12 games last year, Pitre found success at his new position. The Baylor product earned a PFF grade of 73.9, easily the highest of his career. He handled a defensive snap share of 87%, and a heavy workload can obviously be expected moving forward. Houston has Stingley on the books long term, and 2024 second-rounder Kamari Lassiter represents another young player set to be a key member of the team’s secondary for years to come.

Since $39MM represents the base value of the contract, Pitre’s AAV of $13MM represents a new high mark for slot corners. That position has not seen much in the way of upward movement relative to boundary CBs, but the Texans have once again made a notable commitment to an in-house defender. Veteran edge rusher Danielle Hunter is also among the players who have received a lucrative extension this offseason as Houston looks to capitalize on the window of opportunity brought about by C.J. Stroud‘s rookie contract.

The Texans ranked sixth against the pass last season, and expectations will be high for their secondary again in 2025. With Stingley and now Pitre attached to long-term pacts, it will be interesting to see which position group is targeted next with respect to internal commitments.

Eagles To Sign WR Terrace Marshall

April 10th, 2025 at 5:55pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Eagles are continuing their pattern of acquiring former Day 1 and 2 draft picks by signing wide receiver Terrace Marshall, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Marshall visited the Titans at the end of March, but ultimately came to terms to join the Eagles instead.

Philadelphia has signed or traded for a number of players who were highly-touted prospects when they entered the league, but struggled to initially live up to their draft billing. Last offseason, the Eagles added former first-rounders Mekhi Becton and Jahan Dotson, as well as Zack Baun, a third-round pick in 2020.

Marshall was drafted by the Panthers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but he struggled to find his footing with just 17 catches for 138 yards as a rookie despite a robust 422 snaps. He showed more promise with 28 catches and 490 yards in 2022, but played only nine games in 2023 with multiple healthy scratches.

The Panthers waived Marshall during final roster cuts in 2024. He spent time on the 49ers’ practice squad before joining the Raiders, first on the practice squad before a November promotion to the active roster. He appeared in seven games in Las Vegas, but only recorded three catches and 41 yards by the end of the season.

Marshall will be looking to rebuild his value in Philadelphia, where he could compete for the WR4 job behind Dotson, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith. The Eagles also have Johnny Wilson, and Ainias Smith on the roster, but they represent either end of the physical spectrum and will likely have a more specific role as a result. Marshall is a solid athlete at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds and can line up out wide or in the slot, but he will have to prove he’s worth of playing time and targets before the regular season.

Rams Re-Sign LB Troy Reeder

April 10th, 2025 at 2:04pm CST by Adam La Rose

Troy Reeder will remain with the Rams for another season. The veteran linebacker was re-signed on Thursday, per a team announcement.

Reeder has spent five of his six seasons with the Rams; the lone exception came in 2022 when he played for the Chargers. The 30-year-old has played on one-year-deals since 2022. To no surprise, that will be the case once again this time around.

The former UDFA played a notable role as a rookie, logging eight starts across his 16 appearances. He remained a regular on defense over the next two seasons, reaching a career high in tackles (91) during his final campaign before joining Los Angeles’ other franchise. During his one-and-done Chargers stint, though, Reeder primarily worked on special teams. That largely remained the case during his first campaign back with the Rams.

Things changed in 2024, with the Delaware product starting all six of his appearances and logging by far the highest defensive snap share of his career (94%). A hamstring injury cost him the remainder of the campaign, however, something which also hurt his market value. Reeder’s previous Rams pact was worth $1.13MM, and given his missed time this latest one will likely check in at a similar value.

The Rams – who entered Thursday with $17.7MM in cap space – still have plenty of room to make any further moves at the linebacker spot before the upcoming draft. Reeder will re-join a group which also includes low-cost returnees Omar Speights, Tony Fields and Eli Neal in addition to free agent signing Nathan Landman. Even if a rookie is added in the near future, Reeder will be in position to compete for a starting gig during training camp.

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