Transactions News & Rumors

49ers To Place Second-Round RFA Tender On Jordan Mason; Team To Sign Richie Grant

March 11th, 2025 at 8:45am CST by Adam La Rose

The 49ers are set to lose running back Elijah Mitchell once free agency officially begins, but Jordan Mason‘s short-term future has been assured. The latter will receive the second-round restricted free agent tender, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

This move means the 49ers are taking the same route as the Steelers did yesterday with Jaylen Warren. The second-round tender is worth $5.3MM fully guaranteed, representing a notable raise for Mason. Should he sign an offer sheet which San Francisco declines to match, the team will receive a second-round pick as compensation.

In addition, a deal has been worked out with Richie Grant. Schefter’s colleague Jeremy Fowler reports the former Falcon is signing a one-year contract. The 49ers saw Talanoa Hufanga reach agreement on a big-ticket Broncos deal yesterday, and Grant will look to help replace him.

While some teams are balking at even giving RFAs the low-end tender ($3.26MM) this year, the 49ers are doing plenty to ensure Mason stays for a fourth season. Mason beat out Elijah Mitchell to back up Christian McCaffrey last year, before the injury-prone back was lost for the season. A former UDFA out of Georgia Tech, Mason then impressed in McCaffrey’s stead by soaring to the top of the rushing yards leaderboard early — no small feat considering where Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry went last season. Mason finished with 789 rushing yards (5.2 per carry) and three touchdowns in an 11-game season.

Mason had also eclipsed five yards per carry in 2022 and ’23, but doing so on 153 totes in 2024 proved more impressive. Mason suffered a high ankle sprain during the same game — a Sunday-night loss to the Bills — in which McCaffrey’s PCL injury occurred. Although McCaffrey is on track to participate in at least some of the 49ers’ offseason activities, his injury history makes a proven backup important. Mason, 26 in May, will be on track for unrestricted free agency in 2026.

Grant comes over after a four-year tenure with the Falcons. The former second-round pick will join rookie-deal safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and Malik Mustapha — both moving into the starting lineup due to Hufanga injuries at different points — in the 49ers’ secondary. The 49ers have placed a premium on safety experience, as their deals with Tashaun Gipson have shown, and Grant is heading west after being supplanted in Atlanta’s lineup by Justin Simmons last year. He has made 33 career starts.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post

Vikings, G Will Fries Agree To Deal

March 11th, 2025 at 8:37am CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings added one former Colt along the offensive line in the form of center Ryan Kelly yesterday, and another is also headed to Minnesota. Guard Will Fries has a deal in place, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

This will be a whopping five-year, $88MM pact, Fowler adds. KTSP’s Darren Wolfson’s reported yesterday that the sides were discussing a deal, so it comes as little surprise one has now been worked out. Fries will face massive expectations upon arrival given the nature of this commitment.

Fries does not have a connection to Ryan Grigson like Kelly does, as Fries is a first-time free agent who had joined the Colts in the 2021 draft. Despite not joining a team on Day 1 of the legal tampering period, Fries will cash in. While this is on the longer end of the term-length spectrum — especially as the cap has climbed like his has this decade — Fries is receiving a big number to join the Vikings. Guarantees will provide more illumination, but it is clear Minnesota eyed Fries from the start.

The Vikings have been busy Tuesday, agreeing to deals with two high-profile street free agents (Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave) to beef up their defensive line alongside Harrison Phillips while adding Fries as their other new piece with Kelly. The two Colts defections come as Indianapolis added long-rumored Minnesota Sam Darnold fallback option Daniel Jones. As Jones prepares to take a run at another starting job, two Colts blockers will prepare to help J.J. McCarthy transition after missing his rookie season.

A Colts starter for roughly two seasons, Fries is coming off a season-ending injury. He sustained a broken leg early last year; that halted considerable momentum. The fifth-year veteran is not yet 100%, per ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder, but all indications point to him having no issues being ready for next season on time. This contract certainly displays Vikings confidence on this front. The Vikings needed to go big for Fries, whom the Colts tried to re-sign. Pushes from the Patriots, Giants, Seahawks and Cardinals drove the market to this place, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes, as Fries did very well for himself despite the early-season injury.

Fries, who emerged out of the 2021 seventh round, graded as the league’s second-best guard (per Pro Football Focus) and had won his run- and pass-blocking matchups at a career-best rate (per ESPN) before the Week 5 setback. This came after a 17-start 2023, as Fries had taken over for less effective starter Danny Pinter during the 2022 season.

Not on the younger end among this year’s free agent class, Fries (27 in April) will be asked to start at one of the Vikings’ guard spots. Former second-round pick Ed Ingram‘s Vikings future is in doubt, after a 2024 benching, and Dalton Risner — who has not seen free agent markets come close to Fries’ new level — is again out of contract.

Adam La Rose contributed to this report.

Dolphins To Add Ifeatu Melifonwu, Re-Sign Elijah Campbell

March 11th, 2025 at 8:30am CST by Adam La Rose

The Dolphins have worked out a pair of moves in the secondary on Tuesday. A deal is in place to add safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Melifonwu will head to Miami on a one-year, $4MM pact, Schefter adds. After being limited to only three games last season (the final one of his rookie contract), his market was due to be limited to a prove-it deal. The former Lion will look to deliver a healthy campaign in advance of free agency in 2026.

The Dolphins are also re-signing defensive back Elijah Campbell, per Schefter. His deal will also be one year in length, and it will be worth $1.9MM. The former UDFA has spent the past four years in Miami, and his tenure there will continue for 2025,

A 2024 spent largely on IR impacted Melifonwu, a former third-round Lions draftee. Melifonwu played in just three games last year, with an ankle injury leading to the low-participation slate. The Lions, however, valued Melifonwu enough — during a season that featured much higher-profile injuries — to use two IR activations on him. The Syracuse alum did not debut until Week 16 but started each of the four games (counting Detroit’s divisional-round loss) he played.

Used as a six-game starter in 2023, Melifonwu saw his role increase in part because of C.J. Gardner-Johnson‘s pectoral tear. The former tallied three sacks and two interceptions for the Lions that season, though Detroit’s defense struggled in Aaron Glenn’s third year. Rather than rejoining Glenn in New York, Melifonwu will aim to play a role for a Dolphins team that lost Jevon Holland to the Giants on Tuesday morning. With Jordan Poyer also not expected back, starting spots are open in Miami.

A former UDFA, Campbell has seen action on at least 65% of the Dolphins’ special teams plays over the past four seasons. This will be the 29-year-old DB’s sixth year with the team.

Falcons To Sign LB Divine Deablo

March 11th, 2025 at 8:18am CST by Adam La Rose

Robert Spillane agreed to a deal which will see him depart the Raiders on Monday. Fellow linebacker Divine Deablo is also set to head elsewhere in free agency.

The latter has agreed to a two-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The pact is worth $14MM and will pay out $8MM in the first year, Rapoport adds. After serving as a starter for much of the time spent playing out his rookie contract, Deablo will be expected to do the same in Atlanta.

Although Pete Carroll retained Patrick Graham and expressed interest in retaining several of the Raiders’ UFAs, Deablo and Spillane join Tre’von Moehrig and Nate Hobbs in leaving. The Raiders have been able to re-sign Adam Butler and Malcolm Koonce, however. The Falcons will now see if Deablo can assimilate into a new system.

A converted safety, Deablo has started 42 career games. He played a regular role for a 2023 Raiders team that snapped a long-running Raiders streak. After 20 straight seasons ranking in the bottom half in scoring defense, the Raiders finished ninth in Graham’s second season in charge. Deablo posted a career-high 106 tackles (for four loss) that season. He has logged a snap rate of at least 75% in each of the past three years, though the former third-round pick saw injury trouble limit him to only eight games in 2022.

Going into his age-27 season, Deablo will join a Falcons team that did not tender Nathan Landman (23 starts since 2023) as an RFA. The Falcons still roster former second-rounder Troy Andersen and versatile LB Kaden Elliss, who came over to join Ryan Nielsen from the Saints in 2023. Atlanta has changed DCs twice since that point, now employing Jeff Ulbrich in that role. Some turnover appears afoot at linebacker, as Deablo’s $7MM AAV would be a bit high to work as a backup or nominal starter who comes off the field in sub-packages.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Giants To Sign S Jevon Holland

March 11th, 2025 at 8:13am CST by Adam La Rose

Jevon Holland found himself as one of the top free agents left on the board in the aftermath of Monday’s action. He has managed to find a new home quickly during the second day of the negotiating period, however.

Holland has agreed to terms with the Giants, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This will be a three-year, $45MM pact, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds. The deal includes $30.3MM in guarantees, per Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero.

The top safety on PFR’s Top 50 Free Agent list, Holland checked in at No. 6 overall. The 25-year-old Canadian was held without an interception in 2024, a factor which threatened to hurt his earning potential on the open market. Another, of course, was the overall trend (which was particularly visible last offseason) of teams shying away from big-ticket safety signings. Nevertheless, Holland has managed to secure a notable payday.

With 301 tackles, 25 pass deflections and five each in the sack and forced fumble categories, the former second-rounder will be expected to produce in a number of areas for New York. Holland is set to join a team which ranked top-10 in pass defense last year but struggled on that side of the ball in several other areas. The Giants allowed Xavier McKinney to walk last spring, but they have made a commitment in line with many of the top safety deals worked out in 2025 to acquire Holland.

Once it became clear the Dolphins would not use the franchise tag in this case, a free agent departure loomed. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes the team did make an effort to re-sign Holland, but he had several options to choose from on the open market. The interested suitors included the Panthers, Commanders, Colts and Titans, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported yesterday. Carolina and Indianapolis have since made big-money commitments in other safeties, helping explain this Giants agreement.

New York has been active in adding on defense so far this offseason, including a lucrative deal for cornerback Paulson Adebo. He and Holland will be counted on to operate as impactful starters in 2025 and beyond as the team looks to bounce back from a disappointing season last year.

Vikings, Jonathan Allen Agree To Deal

March 11th, 2025 at 8:08am CST by Adam La Rose

Jonathan Allen‘s Monday visit with the Vikings has produced a deal in short order. The Pro Bowl defensive lineman has agreed to terms on a three-year, $60MM contract, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Allen spent the first eight seasons of his career in Washington, but he emerged as a potential cap casualty this offseason. The Commanders looked to work out a trade, but nothing materialized on that front. His release allowed the 30-year-old to explore a deal prior to the start of the negotiating period, and that slight head start has now produced a pact. The deal is official, per a team announcement.

The Vikings have placed a heavy emphasis on adding at the line of scrimmage this week, including deals for center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries. The team also plans to sign defensive tackle Javon Hargrave once his 49ers release is processed. Allen will join the latter in forming an experienced tandem along the defensive interior next season.

Allen was limited to five games as a rookie, but after that the former first-rounder enjoyed a lengthy run of durability. That stretch ended in 2024 due to a triceps tear, one which he was able to recover from in time for the Commanders’ run to the NFC title game. Injury concerns are clearly not an issue for the Vikings, as they have authorized a $20MM-per-year deal. 16 other players at the position are attached to a contract averaging at least that much on an annual basis, a sign of the DT market’s upward movement in recent years.

Minnesota ranked second against the run in 2024, and expectations will be high for the team to duplicate that success with a new-look defensive front next season. Allen (who has averaged 63 tackles and roughly 6.5 sacks per season in his career) will play a large role up front as he looks to find success during the second chapter of his NFL tenure.

Seahawks, Sam Darnold Finalizing Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 11:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

The rumblings coming out of the Geno Smith trade look to indeed have produced a deal. Sam Darnold is expected to head to Seattle as the team’s first outside QB1 addition since Russell Wilson 13 years ago.

Darnold and the Seahawks are finalizing a deal worth nearly $100MM, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Darnold had been linked to a Baker Mayfield-level contract, and it appears the 2024 Vikings Pro Bowler will settle on that tier after a breakthrough season. A price discrepancy has emerged, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the deal is for $110.5MM in total and comes with $55MM guaranteed. If the latter numbers are correct, Darnold bettered Mayfield’s Buccaneers terms.

A weekend report pegged the Vikings as being out on Darnold, and Minnesota now must shift to another veteran option. The Vikings passed on a $40.2MM franchise tag for the resurgent passer but expressed interest in a re-signing at a lower rate. That always ran the risk of a separation, as the open market opened the door for more suitors to speak with the seven-year veteran. Darnold will replace Smith as Seattle’s starter.

The Seahawks proposed a similar deal to Smith, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Seeking a contract north of $40MM per year, Smith rejected the proposal. That led to the sides separating, and it will be the Raiders who will enter extension talks with the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year.

Mayfield signed a three-year, $100MM deal to stay with the Bucs last March; $50MM came guaranteed. That contract came in well north of Smith’s 2023 Seahawks terms (3/75), and the Wilson successor angled for a better deal in 2024. The Seahawks passed at that point, as two seasons remained on their then-starter’s contract. While they were readier to extend Smith this year, a sizable gap in terms led to the impasse that produced the trade. Darnold, 27, does not have as much quality work on his resume compared to Mayfield or Smith, but he hit free agency after a $24MM cap spike.

Cast aside by the Jets and Panthers, Darnold has received training in the Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay (via Kevin O’Connell) offenses. New Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak coming from the Shanahan tree should make this a fairly smooth transition, though Darnold’s skill-position corps may not rival what the Vikings just presented. After throwing to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, Darnold is joining a team that just traded D.K. Metcalf and cut Tyler Lockett.

Although the Seahawks still have work to do at receiver, they do carry promising running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet. Noah Fant remains on the Seattle roster as well. Darnold will carry significant risk, as the Vikings presented a strong situation for a bounce-back season. The Jets traded him after three mediocre seasons, and injuries kept Darnold off the field for much of his Carolina tenure — one that featured Matt Rhule preferring Mayfield to him. Darnold did not threaten Brock Purdy for the 49ers’ job in 2023, though he did beat out Trey Lance for the QB2 position fairly easily.

Darnold threw 35 touchdown passes last season, eclipsing his previous career best by 16, and finished with 4,319 yards — roughly 1,200 more than his previous-best mark. This season included a Vikings road win over the Seahawks, as the team soared to 14-3 despite separating from Kirk Cousins.

Darnold, however, faceplanted in the Vikings’ two biggest games. Blowout losses commenced against the Lions in Week 18 — a do-or-die game for home-field advantage in the NFC — and against the Rams in Round 1. This undoubtedly proved costly for the passer, but it does not appear his market suffered immensely from the late-season undoing.

The Seahawks still figure to do work on the 2026 and ’27 QB draft classes, but this commitment covers them for a bit. Darnold will have a chance to prove last season’s breakout was legitimate, while the Seahawks can rest easier as today’s QB carousel heats up. Despite hopping on late, Seattle became a destination for PFR’s No. 1 overall free agent.

Texans To Trade LT Laremy Tunsil To Commanders

March 10th, 2025 at 11:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jayden Daniels is about to have a new blindside protector. After six seasons with the Texans, Laremy Tunsil is on the move. The Commanders are acquiring the Pro Bowl left tackle, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Washington will send second-, third- and fourth-round picks to Houston in the swap, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. Courtesy of The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, here are the full trade terms:

Commanders receive:

Tunsil
2025 fourth-round pick

Texans receive:

2025 third-round pick
2025 seventh-rounder
2026 second
2026 fourth

Tunsil, 30, has seen five Pro Bowl invites come his way. Never an All-Pro, Tunsil is certainly paid like one. The former Dolphins first-round pick secured two top-market contracts from the Texans, the current deal checking in at three years, $75MM. Two seasons remain on Tunsil’s contract.

Monday’s agreement marks Tunsil’s second time being traded. The Dolphins, as they gutted their roster during a then-controversial 2019 rebuild effort, obtained two first-round picks for sending Tunsil to Houston. The Texans had Tunsil in place protecting Deshaun Watson‘s blindside for two years, but the Pro Bowl quarterback’s off-field trouble (and a trade request) ended that partnership early. Tunsil, however, has served as a key part of C.J. Stroud‘s development.

The Texans did draft Blake Fisher in the 2024 second round, and the team has Tytus Howard — who has shuffled between tackle and guard during his career — as a right tackle option. A tackle duo including Howard and Fisher would make sense for the Texans, but they suddenly would have multiple guard needs if they went in that direction. Houston released Shaq Mason this weekend.

In Tunsil, the Commanders are acquiring a high-end LT who has started 125 career games. The shrewd negotiator has also stayed healthier in recent seasons. After missing 12 games in 2021, Tunsil has combined to miss only three since. He started 17 games last season, helping a Texans line that again dealt with injury trouble elsewhere. Pro Football Focus ranked Tunsil as a top-20 tackle in each of the past three seasons. Tunsil ranked 10th in pass rush win rate last season.

The Commanders used both Cornelius Lucas and third-round rookie Brandon Coleman at left tackle last season. PFF rated the more experienced blocker as a much better option (28th) than Coleman (63rd). Washington used one of its many Day 2 picks on Coleman last year, but he may not be in line for a starting role next season. The Commanders still have Andrew Wylie rostered at right tackle.

Adam Peters indicated defensive additions would be a priority, and the team has brought in Javon Kinlaw. But the second-year GM has made Daniels protection a priority in this Tunsil swap. It will be interesting to see if Tunsil maneuvers into another lucrative extension, as no guaranteed money remains on his current deal. Tunsil used the Miami-to-Houston relocation as a springboard to future contract leverage. With Daniels on his rookie deal, Tunsil could strike again soon.

Patriots, Milton Williams Agree To Deal

March 10th, 2025 at 11:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers looked to be the frontrunners to secure Milton Williams, but that will no longer be the case . The Patriots are adding Williams instead, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.

Williams will head to Foxborough on a monster deal that averages $26MM per season over four years. After the Cowboys kept Osa Odighizuwa off the market, Williams — PFR’s No. 3 overall free agent — will benefit from being allowed to speak with multiple suitors.

Carolina was deep in talks with Williams, who will parlay a big contract year into a seismic second contract. The Panthers were close to a deal, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Patriots then upped their price — on a deal that includes $63MM guaranteed — to end the derby. After Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins reset the D-tackle market last year, Williams will benefit. Assuming the $63MM represents Williams’ guarantee total (as opposed to the amount fully locked in at signing), that still ranks sixth among DTs.

The Eagles had re-signed Zack Baun, but the Super Bowl champions had left Williams, Josh Sweat and Mekhi Becton unattached as the legal tampering period began today. Williams represents the first defection, and Sweat has since committed to the Cardinals, rejoining Jonathan Gannon.

Williams’ contract year produced career-high numbers in sacks (five) and QB hits (10). Used as a part-time starter, the Louisiana Tech product totaled 18 pressures as well, ranking sixth in DT pass rush win rate. Pro Football Focus ranked the former third-round pick as the No. 1 interior pass rusher last season, and the Patriots will buy in while the Eagles will predictably build their DT future around Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis.

The Patriots extended Christian Barmore last year but saw him miss most of the season due to blood clots. Barmore returned late in the year and will now pair with Williams to round out a pricey D-tackle duo. Williams joins Harold Landry, Carlton Davis and Robert Spillane as additions aimed at restoring the Patriots to an upper-crust defense. After two-plus decades carrying such chops, New England plummeted to 22nd in yards and points allowed despite Christian Gonzalez‘s All-Pro ascent.

Coming into free agency with the most cap space in the NFL, the Patriots are delivering on Mike Vrabel’s push to both spend in free agency and bolster their lines. Williams will be the biggest bet any team makes on the D-line during this free agency period, and the Pats will expect him to build on a breakout season.

Williams showed flashes before, having supplied a career-high nine tackles for loss during the Eagles’ 2022 NFC championship season. Although his Super Bowl LIX sack-strip-recovery sequence introduced the former third-round pick to the casual fans — ones that were still watching by that point — Williams will be out to prove he is not a one-year wonder.

Browns To Sign T Cornelius Lucas

March 10th, 2025 at 11:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders made a play to add a more accomplished left tackle today, bringing in Laremy Tunsil via trade. One of their 2024 options at the position will now relocate.

Cornelius Lucas is heading to Cleveland, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reporting the 11-year veteran will join the Browns on a two-year deal. Lucas’ latest contract can be worth up to $10MM.

This will end a five-year Lucas stay in Washington. The Commanders used Lucas as a spot starter for much of that stay, but he ended up with 38 starts for the team. Going into his age-34 season, Lucas is preparing for a 12th NFL campaign. He is now set to play for a sixth franchise, having made pre-Washington stops with the Lions, Rams, Saints and Bears.

Lucas played 318 snaps at left tackle and 139 snaps at right tackle for the Commanders last season, helping a team that was breaking in third-round rookie Brandon Coleman. While Coleman manned Jayden Daniels‘ blindside post in the playoffs, Lucas started seven games last season. For his career, Lucas — a former UDFA — has 54.

The Browns have Jedrick Wills out of contract, after two injury-plagued seasons, and lost James Hudson to the Giants today. The team still rosters Jack Conklin, who is injury-prone himself and going into an age-31 season. While Joel Bitonio‘s return ensures interior-line continuity, the Browns still have some work to do at tackle. Pro Football Focus’ No. 28 overall tackle last season, Lucas could give the Browns a starter or swing option next season.

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