Dolphins, CB Kendall Fuller Agree To Deal
Kendall Fuller was among the top defensive options still on the market amongst 2024 free agents. He has found a new home, however. The veteran corner has agreed to a two-year, $16.5MM deal with the Dolphins, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
Fuller found himself as one of the best corners available due to Jaylon Johnson and L’Jarius Sneed receiving franchise tags. The 29-year-old has spent six of his eight seasons in Washington, having gone to Kansas City in between as part of the Alex Smith trade. Fuller served as a full-time starter during his first season with the Chiefs, but Sneed’s arrival pointed to his departure in 2020 following a smaller workload the previous campaign.
The Commanders inked Fuller to a four-year, $40MM pact, and he played out that contract while rarely leaving the field. The former third-rounder logged more than 1,000 snaps in each of the past three seasons, earning strong PFF reviews along the way. While his coverage statistics in 2023 in particular (120.4 passer rating, nine touchdowns allowed as the nearest defender) were not impressive, he posted those figures on a defense which saw its top two edge rushers traded away at the deadline.
The Dolphins were in the market for a new starting corner with Xavien Howard being released as a post-June 1 cut. A new Miami agreement briefly seemed to be a possibility, but by last week the former All-Pro confirmed that would not be happening. Fuller will step into Howard’s role as a starter opposite Jalen Ramsey moving forward.
Fuller posted 10 interceptions and 49 pass deflections during his second stint in the nation’s capital. He will aim to replicate that ball production on a defense which ranked 14th in interceptions last season and 15th in passing yards allowed. A number of changes have been made in the secondary, and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio departed after a single campaign in Miami. Anthony Weaver is now in place as DC.
Weaver will oversee a unit which lost Christian Wilkins in the early portion of free agency, a departure which will weaken Miami’s defensive front. On the backend, however, the combination of Ramsey and Fuller (who has experience both in the slot and on the perimeter) will be expected to provide high-end play.
Cowboys To Re-Sign CB Jourdan Lewis
Now employing two All-Pros at cornerback, the Cowboys will still find room for Jourdan Lewis. The career-long Cowboy will stay with the team once again, per the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken.
This will be Lewis’ eighth season with the Cowboys. The past three came under Dan Quinn. While the new Commanders HC is believed to have expressed interest in adding Lewis to the Dallas-to-Washington pipeline, via ESPN’s John Keim, Lewis will be set to work with Mike Zimmer next season.
With DaRon Bland posting one of the most productive seasons in cornerback history last year and Trevon Diggs coming back from an ACL tear, the Cowboys may have their top three corners in place. As Stephon Gilmore remains a free agent, Lewis is coming back on a third Cowboys contract. With Bland establishing himself as a boundary corner last season, Lewis working as the team’s nickel again in 2024 appears a likely scenario.
Lewis, 28, made it back from a severe foot injury to play that role in 2023. During the 2022 season, the former third-round pick suffered a Lisfranc injury that was deemed career-threatening. The Cowboys ramped up Lewis’ workload early last season. By the midpoint, he was working as a regular again. After playing out a three-year, $13.5MM deal, the 5-foot-10 cover man is signing up to play a supporting once in the Dallas secondary once again.
The Cowboys gave up on ex-second-rounder Kelvin Joseph after two seasons, but their Joseph-for-Noah Igbinoghene swap did not move the needle. Rolling out a Gilmore-Bland-Lewis trio, the Cowboys ranked fifth in pass defense. Pro Football Focus did not view Lewis’ first season back from injury in a positive light, however, ranking him in the bottom 10 among cornerback regulars. The Michigan alum did force three fumbles and intercept a pass. Lewis ranks behind only DeMarcus Lawrence as the longest-tenured Cowboy defender.
The Commanders have added Dorance Armstrong and Tyler Biadasz from the Cowboys, but they have not made a move at corner yet. Both Washington’s secondary starters who entered free agency among the best options available — Kendall Fuller, Kamren Curl — are unsigned on Day 4 of free agency.
Bears Sign C Coleman Shelton
The Rams expressed interest in keeping Coleman Shelton, but their interior offensive line blueprint changed via two big-ticket guard contracts. As a result, Shelton will collect some cash elsewhere.
Shelton signed a one-year contract with the Bears on Thursday. While Chicago was a candidate — due to cap space and the likelihood of Caleb Williams’ rookie contract helping the cause — to splurge for a center. But Lloyd Cushenberry went to the Titans; the Raiders retained Andre James. While Connor Williams remains unsigned, the Bears will go with Shelton, who is going into his age-29 season.
A Rams backup until the Austin Corbett free agency defection opened a guard spot, Shelton worked as an interior starter in Los Angeles for most of the past two seasons. After opening last season as a guard, Shelton became the team’s full-time center last season. He beat out former starter Brian Allen for the gig. The former UDFA started all 18 games for the Rams last year, ranking as Pro Football Focus’ 17th-best center.
L.A.’s offseason blueprint hinged on guards, and the team joined the Panthers in spending big to fortify that position in a deep market. The Rams re-signed Kevin Dotson on a $16MM-per-year deal and inked Jonah Jackson on a three-year, $51MM pact. Although Shelton’s terms are not known, the Rams already have three veteran contracts — counting longtime right tackle Rob Havenstein‘s — on their starting O-line.
The Bears have struggled at center in recent years. Their plan to move Cody Whitehair back to center did not last, and PFF ranked Lucas Patrick 30th at the position. With the rest of Chicago’s O-line seemingly in place, the team will see about Shelton at center ahead of the draft.
Joey Bosa Restructures Chargers Contract
The Chargers entered Wednesday needing to free up cap space ahead of the new league year. They did so by releasing Mike Williams, but edge rusher Khalil Mack remained in place via a restructure. Fellow defensive end Joey Bosa will take the latter route as well. 
Bosa has agreed to a re-worked Chargers pact, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. As a result, his 2024 cap figure will be lowered and he will remain in place for at least one more season. The former third overall pick was one of four players set to count more than $32MM against the cap in 2024, with a projected charge of $36.6MM. Converting the maximum amount allowable of Bosa’s $15MM base salary into a signing bonus would create $10.4MM in savings.
Given the team’s financial situation leading into free agency, it was widely expected the Chargers would cut or trade at least one member of the quartet set to occupy a major portion of their cap space (the three aforementioned players and wideout Keenan Allen). Mack and Bosa were reported as the ones Los Angeles was most likely to move on from, and the team spoke with potential suitors to gauge their markets. Any deal would not have come at market value, of course, given the contract an acquiring team would have taken on. New general manager Joe Hortiz has thus elected to run back the Mack-Bosa tandem in 2024.
The latter was due a $7MM roster bonus tomorrow, leading to urgency on Hortiz’s part to work out Bosa’s future despite the cap relief brought about by moving on from Williams and restructuring Mack. As The Athletic’s Daniel Popper reports, at least one team showed interest in trading for the four-time Pro Bowler before today’s move was worked out (subscription required). Rather than moving on with two years left on his contract, Los Angeles will keep him in place for a ninth season with the franchise.
Bosa has been limited to just 14 games over the past two seasons, so questions will be asked about his ability to remain healthy moving forward. The Ohio State alum has posted nine sacks in that span, after reaching double-digits four times in a season earlier in his career. At age 28, however, he should be able to continue playing at a high level with better luck on the injury front. The Chargers’ defense would benefit substantially if that were to be the case.
Los Angeles entered Thursday in worse cap shape than any other team in the NFL, per Over the Cap. That situation will change given today’s move with Bosa, but it will be interesting to see if another cost-clearing move is made with an Allen restructure. In any event, much more clarity has arrived for the team’s veteran nucleus compared to where things stood at the start of free agency.
Vikings To Sign DT Jerry Tillery
Continuing to re-shape their front seven, the Vikings have a deal in place with Jerry Tillery. The former first-round defensive tackle is set to join Minnesota on a one-year deal worth up to $3.25MM, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. 
Tillery had an underwhelming start to his career with the Chargers, despite seeing a full-time starting role 2020 and ’21. The 27-year-old saw his workload cut the following season, and he was ultimately waived midway through the 2022 campaign. He closed out that year with the division-rival Raiders, starting four of eight games. His play with Las Vegas earned him a two-year, $6.8MM contract last offseason.
However, Tillery was released last week as part of the Raiders’ cost-shedding moves. The Notre Dame product logged a 45% defensive snap share in Vegas in 2023, making 31 tackles and adding a pair of sacks. His nine pressures fell well short of his previous high marks in the pass-rush department, something of particular significance given his skillset. Tillery will get another chance to establish himself in Minnesota, though.
The Vikings have seen plenty of changes along the defensive front this offseason, with edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Marcus Davenport departing and Jonathan Greenard being added on a big-money deal along with Andrew Van Ginkel. Along the interior, Minnesota has retained Jonathan Bullard, but Tillery will add to the list of new faces for the unit. The latter will look to carve out a starting (or at least rotational) role under DC Brian Flores.
Minnesota ranked 19th in the league in sacks last season, and the absence of Hunter will lead to questions about the team’s ability to improve on that figure (even given the additions made to replace him). Known more for his ability to generate interior pressure than his run defense, Tillery could help in that regard if he earns notable playing time. Doing so would help the Vikings transition to a new look on the defensive front while helping his 2025 free agent stock in the process.
Saints To Sign QB Nathan Peterman
The Saints designated Jameis Winston as a post-June 1 cut, leaving the position of Derek Carr‘s backup open. Carr’s health issues last season made that role more relevant than it was in Oakland and Las Vegas. 
Nathan Peterman is heading to New Orleans to be one of Carr’s backups, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football tweets. Peterman has experience as a Carr backup, being one of the Raiders’ reserves under Jon Gruden, and has worked with new Saints QBs coach Andrew Janocko with the Bears. Peterman’s deal is for one year and worth the veteran minimum, Underhill notes.
Peterman spent the past two seasons in Chicago, finding himself on and off the Bears’ active roster. He was released during final roster cutdowns in August, confirmation that UDFA Tyson Bagent won out Chicago’s backup quarterback competition. Peterman was ultimately brought back into the fold later on in the year, though, and he remained on the active roster from mid-October onwards.
New Orleans faced increased expectations on offense after using Winston and veterans like Andy Dalton under center in previous years. Carr – who inked a four-year, $150MM deal – had an up-and-down showing while battling injury for part of the campaign. A new offensive staff is in place for 2024, and Carr will face pressure to perform under Klint Kubiak, especially given the fact his 2025 salary does not become guaranteed until next March.
Much of New Orleans’ success on offense will of course depend on the play of Carr, but Peterman could be tasked with stepping in for him if needed. The Saints also have 2023 fourth-rounder Jake Haener (who was issued a six-game PED suspension to start the year) along with Swiss Army knife Taysom Hill as other QB options.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Steelers, S DeShon Elliott Agree To Deal
The Steelers continue to bring in new faces on defense. Pittsburgh has agreed to a two-year, $6MM deal with safety DeShon Elliott, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz reports. 
Elliott entered the league with Baltimore in 2018, establishing himself as a starter during the final two seasons of his rookie contract. After one-year stints in Detroit and Miami, the 26-year-old will now join linebacker Patrick Queen as an ex-Raven making the move to Pittsburgh. Elliott played on one-year accords with the Lions and Dolphins, so this pact will offer slightly more security.
Injuries marred much of Elliott’s Ravens tenure, but he has managed to remain relatively healthy over the past two seasons. The Texas alum played 14 games in 2022, followed by 15 last season. Across that span, he recorded a pair of interceptions and 10 pass deflections while starting all but two games. Known best for his physicality, Elliott has made 178 tackles over the past two years (and 287 total in 57 contests), and he will look to remain productive in that area with Pittsburgh.
The Steelers have Minkah Fitzpatrick in place as a locked-in safety starter. Keanu Neal saw significant playing time last year, but he was released one week ago. With fellow veteran Damontae Kazee under contract for only one more year, the position was one in need of an addition either via free agency or the draft this offseason. Elliott will at least be able to provide experienced depth while playing in three-safety looks, or he could beat out Kazee for a starting role ahead of the 2024 campaign.
Pittsburgh ranked 17th against the pass last season, and while Elliott has not drawn stellar PFF reviews in coverage, he has remained consistent in that regard during his career. The former sixth-rounder earned an overall rating of 72.6 last season, the highest mark of his career. Replicating that success would be a welcomed development for the Steelers as they continue to re-shape areas of their defense.
Ravens To Re-Sign QB Josh Johnson
Josh Johnson signed with the Ravens last offseason, kicking off a third stint with the franchise. The journeyman quarterback is set to continue his time in Baltimore moving forward. 
Johnson has agreed to terms on a new one-year Ravens deal, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reports. Zrebiec adds the contract has not been signed yet, but presuming that takes place the 37-year-old will be in place to compete for the backup job. Johnson did not see any playing time in 2023, with former UDFA Tyler Huntley occupying the second spot on the depth chart.
It was the latter who started Baltimore’s regular season finale, a game which had no implications for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. That contest marked Huntley’s 10th overall start (and 22nd appearance) during his Baltimore career, one which began in 2020. After playing on an RFA tender in 2023, the 26-year-old is a free agent. The Ravens’ decision to keep Johnson in the fold (coupled with the midseason addition of Malik Cunningham) points to Huntley departing.
Johnson’s nomadic pro football journey began in 2009 when he was drafted by the Buccaneers. He saw playing time with Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Washington before playing in the AAF and XFL. The San Diego alum also has UFL experience on his resume to go along with tenures with a record 14 NFL franchises. Johnson was previously with the Ravens in 2016 and 2021, making one start in the latter campaign.
Regular season action in 2024 would of course only come about if Lamar Jackson were to miss time and Johnson were to beat out Cunningham (a 2023 Patriots UDFA who was used as a receiver in New England but is viewed by Baltimore as a quarterback) or any further additions as the backup signal-caller. With Jackson’s mega-extension in Year 2, the Ravens obviously need to be frugal with respect to other QB deals. Johnson has never played on an NFL deal worth more than $1.3MM per year, and that will no doubt continue on his latest Baltimore pact.
Bengals To Bring Back S Vonn Bell
As they did with Hayden Hurst‘s deal, the Panthers bailed on Vonn Bell‘s three-year contract a year after authorizing it. The latter will have a bounce-back opportunity in a familiar place.
The Bengals have reached an agreement to re-sign Bell, according to his agency. Cincinnati had hoped to retain Bell in free agency last year; the team will now circle back to a player who spent three seasons as a starter with the team.
Offset language will help the Bengals on this deal as well. The Bengals will only be on the hook for veteran-minimum money to re-sign Bell on a one-year contract, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport noting the Panthers are responsible for another $6MM due to the recent cut. Like the Russell Wilson development, Bell’s minimum Bengals salary will cut into the amount the Panthers owe.
Bell spent three seasons starting alongside Jessie Bates in Cincinnati. While the Bengals were prepared to let Bates walk after franchise-tagging him in 2022, they wanted to keep Bell. A three-year, $22.5MM Panthers deal that featured $13MM guaranteed at signing nixed that plan, but after Carolina changed coaching staffs for a second straight year, it moved on from Bell earlier this week.
Now 29, Bell spent a year toiling for a 2-15 team. Despite the Panthers retaining DC Ejiro Evero, the team did not view the former Saints second-rounder as a fit for a second year. Pro Football Focus did view Bell as having slipped from his Cincy level, ranking him outside the top 60 among safeties. The Bengals will bet a return to Lou Anarumo‘s defense will benefit the Ohio State alum.
Bell started 48 games as a Bengal from 2020-22. PFF slotted the ex-second-rounder as a top-25 option at the position from 2020-21 and placed him 35th in ’22. His 12 tackles for loss from 2020-22 ranked sixth among safeties. The Bengals are also retooling at the position, having released Nick Scott one year after signing the ex-Ram. Cincinnati is also determining where to slot former first-round pick Daxton Hill. PFF rated the Michigan alum as a bottom-five safety last year, and Bengals player personnel director Duke Tobin said (via the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway) the team is still determining the 2022 draftee’s position.
Hill, who trained behind Bates and Bell in 2022, played in the slot at Michigan. Tobin also said outside cornerback is also an option. As the Bengals pin down Hill’s role, Bell will provide the Bengals a proven option at safety.
Raiders Release WR Hunter Renfrow
MARCH 14: As expected, the Garoppolo release will be classified as a post-June 1 cut. The Raiders will pick up $24MM in cap space (via The Athletic’s Vic Tafur) as a result, though the money will not be available for nearly three months, and the designation will spread out the dead cap stemming from the 2023 signing over two offseasons.
MARCH 13: The Raiders’ Jimmy Garoppolo release will come to pass today, but the Silver and Black are also moving on from another offensive cog who has not lived up to his contract. They are set to release Hunter Renfrow, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. The team has since made the Renfrow and Garoppolo releases official as well.
Given a two-year, $32MM deal during the 2022 offseason, Renfrow strangely fell out of favor while on that contract. Trade efforts last year producing no deal will lead to the veteran slot receiver becoming a street free agent today. Renfrow was set to earn an $11.2MM base salary next season.
Although the Raiders did not get much out of the Clemson alum following his 1,000-yard season — which played a central role in their Rich Bisaccia-overseen playoff berth — they will save more than $8MM with this release. Since his 1,038-yard 2021 slate, Renfrow has combined for just 585 yards over the past two seasons. This will go down as a notable mistake during the brief Josh McDaniels era, as Renfrow proved ill-fitting in the Raiders’ most recent offensive scheme despite McDaniels and Dave Ziegler signing off on the extension.
The Raiders shopped Renfrow at the 2023 deadline, doing so as Mark Davis became resigned to another staff overhaul. Prior to the McDaniels and Ziegler firings, they could not convince any team to take on Renfrow’s remaining base salary. Las Vegas did not want to eat any salary to move Renfrow last year. The team resumed its effort to trade the former Jon Gruden draftee this offseason, but nothing came to pass. Renfrow, 28, will join Tyler Boyd and Curtis Samuel among available slot receivers on the market.
Renfrow poses as an interesting candidate for a bounce-back deal, given his production under Gruden and down the stretch in 2021. The former fifth-round pick strung together back-to-back 600-plus-yard seasons in 2019 and ’20, becoming the Raiders’ top complement — as their Antonio Brown move combusted before the 2019 season — to Darren Waller in those years. With Waller sidelined for a chunk of the 2021 stretch run, Derek Carr turned to Renfrow as his top chain-mover. The Saints would profile as a potentially interested party, but Renfrow has not put much in the way of quality on tape over the past two seasons.