Transactions News & Rumors

Raiders Sign Patriots LB Christian Elliss To RFA Offer Sheet

March 19th, 2025 at 4:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 21: Elliss’ offer sheet with the Raiders carries a $4.842MM cap charge, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson, nearly a 50% increase on his right-of-first-refusal RFA tag from the Patriots. New England has until Monday afternoon to match the offer sheet. If they don’t, Elliss will depart for Las Vegas and the Patriots will not receive any draft compensation.

MARCH 19: For a second straight year, a restricted free agency offer sheet has emerged. Following the 2024 Brock Wright proposal, the league could see Christian Elliss change teams.

The Patriots tendered the young linebacker at the original-round level, giving him a $3.26MM salary for 2025. The Raiders have stepped in and authorized a raise, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reporting the team signed Elliss to an offer sheet. The Pats have five days to match, per long-held league rules that rarely come up due to the scarcity of RFA offer sheets.

Because the Pats did not unholster a second-round tender, they would not receive any compensation if they do not match the Raiders’ Elliss offer by Monday. This proposal also comes shortly after the Pats signed former Mike Vrabel Titans charge Jack Gibbens — a linebacker not retained as an RFA by his previous team — to a one-year deal. This agreement also comes after the Patriots poached one of the Raiders’ starting linebackers, Robert Spillane, on Day 1 of the legal tampering period. The Raiders had hopes of retaining Spillane, but the Pats came in with a three-year, $33MM deal ($20.6MM guaranteed).

One of retired NFL defensive tackle Luther Elliss‘ four sons to venture into the league, Christian followed brother Kaden in earning a role as a linebacker. D-tackle Noah Elliss also has spent time in the NFL, while the Broncos chose edge rusher Jonah Elliss in last year’s third round. Christian has spent most of the past two seasons with the Patriots; he started five games for the team in 2024.

Using Christian Elliss on 49% of their defensive snaps last season, the Patriots gave the 25-year-old LB an expanded role. Elliss responded with an 80-tackle season, doing so despite making only five starts. He notched an interception, a forced fumble, 1.5 sacks and five pass breakups. The Pats have retooled at the position in recent days, and they still have Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai — extended in 2024 — on the roster as well.

It is a bit interesting the Raiders would turn to the RFA route here, as capable linebackers remain available in unrestricted free agency. The team, however, lost Divine Deablo as well as Spillane last week. The Raiders added Elandon Roberts but do not have much else at the position right now. While they might have Elliss, plans are on hold until word emerges if the Patriots match the offer. Terms of sheet are not yet known.

Dolphins, LB Willie Gay Agree To Deal

March 19th, 2025 at 3:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although Chase Young transitioned from Saints one-year deal to a lucrative second contract with the team, Willie Gay will depart New Orleans after a 2024 one-off.

The Dolphins are signing the former Chiefs starter, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. A two-time Super Bowl starter, Gay will join a Dolphins team that has done some linebacker shuffling recently.

Miami, which swapped out Jerome Baker for Jordyn Brooks last year, has been busy at linebacker this month. Re-signing the player they claimed after a Seahawks cut (Tyrel Dodson), the Dolphins also brought in K.J. Britt after his Buccaneers starter season. Gay passes both in terms of experience, and the former Nick Bolton sidekick is only going into his age-27 season.

Last year, the Chiefs prioritized Drue Tranquill over Gay, letting their longer-tenured LB walk. Gay’s market did not take off, as he joined the Saints on a one-year, $3MM deal. Gay did not emerge as a full-time Saints starter, lining up with the first-stringers in only eight of the 15 games he played. Gay only notched 28 tackles, though he did add two sacks, a forced fumble, two recoveries and three passes defensed. Gay’s 27% usage rate on defense paled in comparison to the role he played in Kansas City.

A 2020 second-round pick, Gay became a Chiefs defensive staple before Bolton’s arrival. Both players manned the Chiefs’ defensive second level in 2021, beginning a three-year partnership. Gay was a regular Chiefs starter, producing his best season in 2022 by finishing with 88 tackles (nine for loss) to go with 2.5 sacks and eight pass breakups. Pro Football Focus, which had respectively graded Gay as the 20th- and 32nd-best off-ball LB in 2021 and ’22, slotted him near the bottom during his part-time Saints season, viewing him as one of the league’s worst coverage ‘backers.

Gay played 88% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps in Super Bowl LVII but saw his role reduced coming off injury in Super Bowl LVIII, when he logged a 52% snap rate against the 49ers. The Chiefs have since re-signed Bolton to pair with Tranquill, allocating far more to their LB spot than they had during most of Gay’s time in Missouri. The Dolphins have Brooks on a three-year, $26.25MM deal, while Dodson and Britt are on lower-level accords. Gay can be expected to join the latter trio in vying for a job complementing Brooks.

Bears To Sign WR Devin Duvernay

March 19th, 2025 at 3:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Like Evan Engram, Devin Duvernay did not need to wait too long before finding a post-Jacksonville landing spot. The Bears will add the former All-Pro return man, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets.

The Jags dropped Engram, Duvernay and Josh Reynolds days before free agency, doing so after trading Christian Kirk to the Texans. The Bears will be Duvernay’s third team, and extensive return-game duties should be expected for the veteran wide receiver.

Although Duvernay has helped out as a receiver, his most notable NFL work has come via the third phase. The former Ravens third-round pick earned first-team All-Pro acclaim for his return-game work in 2021 and added a Pro Bowl nod in 2022. Duvernay has two career kick-return TDs, both coming in Baltimore, and he led the NFL in punt-return average (13.8) in 2021.

The Bears used journeyman DeAndre Carter as their primary kick and punt returner last season. Carter’s contract expired last week. Going into his age-28 season, Duvernay checks in as an upgrade. Duvernay has a notable receiver season on his resume, posting 37 receptions for 407 yards and three TDs during a 2021 season that saw the Ravens decimated at the position. Beyond that, however, the Texas alum does not have a 300-yard year on his resume. Duvernay has combined for 98 receiving yards since 2023.

His 12.0-yard career average on punt returns does give the Bears a quality weapon in the return game. Among players with at least 60 returns since 2010, only Hall of Famer Devin Hester has that beat. It has been a while since Hester dazzled in Chicago; Ben Johnson will hope to coax some impactful ST sequences from Duvernay in his first Windy City season.

Commanders, Deebo Samuel Agree To Reworked Deal

March 19th, 2025 at 2:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

No immediate Deebo Samuel extension followed his Washington arrival, separating this trade of a 2019 second-round wideout from the trades involving D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown. Samuel will be assured of a nice 2025 payout, at least.

Samuel’s near-$17MM base salary will become fully guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds $3MM in incentives will be attached to this revised agreement. That said, not too much has changed here; that may be more notable than any updated guarantee.

Metcalf agreed to a four-year, $128MM extension upon being traded to Pittsburgh. The ex-Seahawk joined Samuel in entering the NFL in the ’19 second round, and while Metcalf does not have a first-team All-Pro honor on his resume like the ex-49er does, he has been a more consistent player since each signed second contracts during 2022 training camp. Samuel saw injuries and modest performances ding his trade value, making the Commanders’ add more of a flier. Trade cost also separated this swap from the Steelers-Seahawks exchange, as Seattle obtained a second-round pick for Metcalf.

Samuel, 28, receiving guarantees early is not especially notable; as a vested veteran, he would have secured them shortly before Week 1. Remaining in a contract year, however, is key here. The Commanders may well look to evaluate their trade acquisition’s fit alongside Terry McLaurin, who joins Metcalf in having a more consistent career. Samuel’s best work has bettered both, but it has been a while since the versatile playmaker has made top-flight contributions.

Accumulating 1,770 scrimmage yards in 2021, Samuel powered the 49ers’ passing attack during Jimmy Garoppolo‘s final full season as the team’s starter. Samuel did improve on his 2022 dud with a 12-touchdown 1,117-yard 2023, but he struggled again in 2024. The 49ers moved on from Samuel after the near-$24MM-AAV player totaled just 670 receiving yards last year. The Commanders providing an extension now would not exactly be called for, given the South Carolina alum’s unreliability and potential durability concerns.

Still, Washington has secured what should be a substantial WR2 upgrade after being unable to provide McLaurin with a quality complementary option throughout the former third-rounder’s run. Samuel will give Jayden Daniels an interesting inside option, and the presence of Austin Ekeler may ensure not many handoffs go on Samuel’s odometer (202 career carries) this season. For now, though, the Commanders will wait and see on their trade asset’s post-2025 future.

Patriots To Sign LB Jack Gibbens

March 19th, 2025 at 2:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Titans did not tender Jack Gibbens as a restricted free agent last week, passing on the $3MM-plus number despite the young linebacker working as a multiyear starter for the team. Gibbens has found a landing spot.

Mike Vrabel is bringing his former charge to New England. Gibbens agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Vrabel coached Gibbens from 2022-23. Gibbens, 26, will join former Tennessee teammate Harold Landry in following Vrabel to Foxborough.

Under Vrabel in 2023, the Titans turned to Gibbens as an ILB regular. The former UDFA made 13 starts, working as Azeez Al-Shaair‘s primary sidekick. The Titans have made more changes at this position since, letting Al-Shaair rejoin DeMeco Ryans in Houston and then trading 2024 signee Kenneth Murray to the Cowboys. Shortly after adding Cody Barton during the legal tampering period, the Titans passed on giving Gibbens a $3.26MM RFA tender.

Working his way into a 66% snap share defensively in 2023, Gibbens made 95 tackles and registered a sack. Pro Football Focus viewed his initial emergence fairly well, ranking him 30th among ILB regulars that season. PFF graded Gibbens as a top-10 ILB last season, but the Titans did not give him enough snaps to qualify as a regular. Gibbens lost his starting job after Week 1, and while he regained it and logged three straight games with a 100% snap rate, an ankle injury ended his season after 10 games. Gibbens made 29 tackles during his final two starts last season, reminding of the form that caught Vrabel’s attention a year earlier.

The Patriots suddenly have a crowded ILB contingent. Holdovers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Jahlani Tavai remain, while the team paid up (three years, $33MM) to pry Robert Spillane from the Raiders. New England used the low-end tender ($3.26MM) to retain RFA Christian Elliss, though the Raiders’ offer sheet changes that equation. Fellow ex-Titan Monty Rice is also among New England’s LB corps. Gibbens could see a bigger role if the Patriots do not opt to match the Raiders’ Elliss offer sheet.

Rams To Re-Sign CB Ahkello Witherspoon

March 19th, 2025 at 12:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

A third Ahkello Witherspoon Rams season is on tap. The veteran cornerback is returning to Los Angeles on a one-year deal, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

It took until late June for Witherspoon to rejoin the Rams in 2023 and until September in 2024; the team will give him an earlier start in 2025. Witherspoon, who will turn 30 on Friday, has started 22 games for the Rams over the past two seasons.

The Rams used Witherspoon as a full-time starter in 2023, doing so after adding him June 29. The post-minicamp addition led to 17 starts, as Witherspoon served as a veteran presence along with Darious Williams at corner last season. With Tre’Davious White not working out on a one-year deal in 2024, Witherspoon moved up to the Rams’ active roster — after returning on a practice squad deal — and logged a 58% snap share on defense.

Intercepting three passes in 2023, Witherspoon added one pick and broke up nine more passes last season. His coverage metrics worsened, however. After allowing just 48.1% of the passes thrown his way to be completed in 2023, Witherspoon saw that number rise to 65.3 in 2024. He yielded 8.5 yards per target and a 96.9 passer rating as a the closest defender last season as well. Pro Football Focus saw the 6-foot-2 cover man as a middling corner, however, ranking him 53rd among regulars in 2024.

This agreement will give Witherspoon a chance to play a ninth NFL season. A 62-game starter, Witherspoon was a regular first-stringer on the 49ers’ Super Bowl LIV-bound team; though, he had been demoted to backup by the time that game came around. Witherspoon still started four more playoff games since, including both of the Rams’ contests last season. Witherspoon made a critical contribution during the Rams’ wild-card romp over the Vikings, stripping Sam Darnold of the ball to allow for a 57-yard scoop-and-score from Jared Verse.

Stopping through Seattle and Pittsburgh between his California stays, Witherspoon will continue to supply experience for a young Rams CB corps. Though, he is not the only such option. Williams, who re-signed with the Rams in 2024, is still under contract ahead of an age-32 season. Two 30-somethings at corner would be an interesting route for the Rams, who still have plans with Williams due to a recent development. Williams locked in $8MM, between a $5MM base salary and $3MM roster bonus, after remaining on the Rams’ roster by Day 5 of the 2025 league year. In addition to multiyear staple Cobie Durant, the Rams still have Emmanuel Forbes — whose first-round contract they claimed via waivers — rostered as well.

Broncos To Sign P Matt Haack

March 19th, 2025 at 11:43am CST by Sam Robinson

Riley Dixon has now left the Broncos a second time, joining the Buccaneers early in free agency. Denver has landed on a replacement, one with ties to new special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi.

Matt Haack is signing with the team, 9News’ Mike Klis reports. The eight-year veteran is joining the Broncos on a one-year, $1.26MM deal. He worked with Rizzi in Miami, doing so before going on a nomadic tour over the past several years.

Denver’s punter gig may not be settled just yet, as Haack is on a near-veteran-minimum deal after having punted in just five games over the past two seasons. After four years with the Dolphins, Haack has since caught on with the Colts, Bills, Browns and Giants. He has settled in as a replacement option — both for injuries and Buffalo’s Matt Araiza development.

The Colts had added Haack as a late-summer replacement, as Rigoberto Sanchez had suffered a season-ending injury during practice. The Bills turned to Haack after a sexual assault accusation prompted the team to waive Araiza before he played in a game. Haack did not resurface as a regular option in 2023 or ’24, being an injury replacement in Cleveland and New York. did average an impressive 51.7 yards per punt in four Browns games and he worked with Rizzi for two seasons in Miami.

A Dolphins UDFA in 2017, Haack held the Miami job for four seasons. He showed consistency in terms of punting average in Miami, settling between 44.5 and 45 yards per boot in each season. Enjoying the advantages Denver’s thin air provides specialists, Dixon averaged 46.7 yards per punt in 2024. Haack, 30, will attempt to replace Dixon and move his career back on track.

Using Dixon as their punter during a second stint that lasted two seasons, the Broncos have not enjoyed a long-term punter partnership since Britton Colquitt‘s tenure. While making Dixon an offer to stay, the team did not show interest in record-setting punter Ryan Stonehouse. For now, Haack is on track to take over. A late-round pick or a UDFA potentially could push the veteran.

Falcons To Sign S Jordan Fuller

March 19th, 2025 at 10:45am CST by Sam Robinson

After a half-season of work with the Panthers, Jordan Fuller will attempt to bounce back elsewhere in the NFC South. Fuller is heading to Atlanta, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

This continues a reunion theme for Fuller’s career. The former Rams draftee played under ex-Los Angeles DBs coach Ejiro Evero last season; he will now reunite with ex-Rams DC Raheem Morris. Not much of a market formed for Fuller last year; he played out a one-year, $3.25MM deal. He will have a chance to raise his value in 2025.

Fuller’s addition makes it appear Justin Simmons‘ Falcons stay will be capped at one season. Although the four-time All-Pro indicated interest in staying in Atlanta, Fuller profiles as a lower-cost addition to complement Jessie Bates. At 27, Fuller is more than four years younger than Simmons, who started 16 games for the Falcons last season.

The Rams’ signing Kamren Curl led Fuller elsewhere last year, and despite his low price tag, the former sixth-round pick has considerable starting experience. Earning a starting job as a rookie in 2020, Fuller has lined up as a first-stringer in 55 career games. Morris was not in place when Fuller arrived in L.A., having been on Dan Quinn‘s Falcons staff and then the team’s interim HC that year, but coached him for three seasons with the Rams. Fuller intercepted three passes in 2020 and again in 2023.

Making a career-high 113 tackles as a rookie, Fuller has run into a trend of seeing injuries cost him playoff time. A late-season injury in 2021 kept the Ohio State alum out of the Rams’ four playoff games that year; he later went down with an ankle malady in Week 18 of the 2023 season, preventing a wild-card appearance in Detroit. Fuller returned from a hamstring injury sustained last year, but he still missed eight games for the Panthers. That undoubtedly dimmed his second free agency market. Pro Football Focus graded Fuller as a top-20 safety before his 2021 injury but has viewed him as a worse option since. After placing Fuller 48th in 2023, PFF slotted him 82nd among safety regulars last season.

Although still in his prime at 27, Fuller is running short on time to capitalize on his form. A healthy season in Atlanta would go a long way toward positioning the former Day 3 success story with an opportunity to cash in come 2026. The Falcons, however, will first have a chance to see how Fuller fits next to Bates under new DC Jeff Ulbrich.

Jaguars To Sign T Fred Johnson

March 19th, 2025 at 9:23am CST by Sam Robinson

Jordan Mailata‘s primary fill-in at left tackle during the Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning season, Fred Johnson will be the latest member of the champions’ roster on the move. The veteran swingman is heading to Jacksonville.

The Jaguars are signing the six-year O-lineman to a one-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. A former Bengals and Buccaneers blocker, Johnson spent the past two seasons in Philly.

Jacksonville already signed Chuma Edoga as a possible swingman behind Walker Little and Anton Harrison, making this Johnson addition a bit more interesting. Johnson is coming off a season in which he saw at least 110 snaps at both left and right tackle for the Eagles. He primarily manned the left side, filling in for Mailata while he rehabbed a hamstring injury that landed him on IR.

Grading Johnson better during a 2023 season in which he logged only 35 offensive snaps, Pro Football Focus viewed him as a bottom-10 tackle option (among regulars) last year. The Eagles still thought highly of Johnson, keeping him in place throughout Mailata’s four-week IR stay. Philly’s word on O-linemen goes a long way right now, given the team’s success up front, and the Jags will give Johnson an opportunity.

Also making six starts for the 2020 Bengals, Johnson logged more than 100 snaps at right guard that season. The Jags have invested midlevel money inside this offseason as well, adding Robert Hainsey on a somewhat surprising three-year, $21MM deal while giving Patrick Mekari a three-year, $37.5MM contract. Considering Mekari’s versatile Baltimore past and Hainsey’s work at both center and guard, Jacksonville has acquired more flexibility up front since free agency opened.

Patriots, C Garrett Bradbury Agree To Deal

March 18th, 2025 at 11:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Garrett Bradbury has not needed to wait long to find his next NFL gig. The veteran center was officially released by the Vikings on Monday, and he now has a deal lined up with the Patriots.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Bradbury is heading to New England on a two-year contract. The pact has a maximum value of $12MM and includes $3.8MM in guarantees. The former first-rounder will be tasked with handling starting duties with the Patriots.

Bradbury started all 88 of his appearances during his time with Minnesota. The Vikings’ flurry of moves early in free agency included a deal for Ryan Kelly, however, and that pact indicated Bradbury would be on the move. Last week, it was learned the team would look to find a trade partner; as expected, no suitors were interested in taking on the remainder of his pact. The 29-year-old was designated a post-June 1 release on Monday.

That left Bradbury free to join a new team at any time, and to little surprise he has elected to join the Patriots. On Sunday, Schefter’s colleague Mike Reiss wrote New England represented a team to watch with respect to adding the NC State product. The Patriots’ decision to move on from David Andrews created a vacancy at the center spot, and this move will fill it for at least the short term.

Andrews operated as the Patriots’ starter each year since 2015 (with the exception of 2019, when he did not play). The possibility of a release was raised at the Combine, and New England when forward with it last week. That decision added to the questions facing a Pats O-line already in need of other starters, but Bradbury will now occupy a first-team role in Andrews’ place.

New England pursued Drew Dalman, the top center in the 2025 free agent class. A Patriots deal could not be worked out, though, as Dalman opted to join the Bears on a lucrative three-year pact. With the likes of Dalman, Kelly and Josh Myers off the market, it appeared the draft would be needed for New England to add a starter in the middle. The Bradbury release opened the door to a quick signing, though.

In 2022, Bradbury graded out as PFF’s 11th-best center. In each of his other campaigns, however, his evaluations have placed him between 23rd and 29th at the positions. Expectations will thus be tempered upon arrival in New England, a team which can now turn its attention to other offensive line spots until at least the draft.

Load More Posts